The Breeze 4.13.23

JMU’s award-winning newspaper since 1922

The Breeze

April 13, 2023 VOL. 101 NO.25 BREEZEJMU.ORG

Dukes fret over enrollment troubles

By MICHAEL RUSSO The Breeze

The time for course enrollment can be “a weird experience,” as sophomore Carter King puts it. A system-wide outage on MyMadison — like the one that occurred Tuesday, when students like King stormed the portal simultaneously to sign up for classes — can make the situation evolve from weird to worrisome.

King, a music education major, was one of many scheduled to enroll Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. However, system overload reportedly caused the portal to run at slow speeds, then eventually, a full outage occurred. Ginny Cramer, associate director of communications and deputy spokesperson, said in an email Wednesday that JMU Information Technology (IT) resolved the issue at 8:16 a.m, though JMU’s IT webpage wasn’t updated until 8:43 a.m.

“I just refreshed and refreshed — a bunch of trial and error,” King said. “I thought it was an individual problem, but then everyone on group chats and stuff started talking about it. And so, I just waited.”

When MyMadison started functioning again for King, he said, he could enroll in the classes he needed for the fall and “everything was fine.” However, King said the possibility of a repeat occasion could spell trouble due to the course load of his program.

“Us music majors, we have a lot of classes we need to take,” King said. “If I can’t get in a class, I have to basically swap up my entire schedule. So I mean, it’s stressful, and knowing that these crashes can happen is worrying.”

In a poll released on The Breeze’s Instagram shortly after the MyMadison outage, 77 of 91 respondents (85%) said they experienced enrollment issues with the system.

Additionally, students took to Sidechat, a social media platform where users can post anonymously. Comments about enrollment ranged from sillier thoughts like, “Changing the instagram bio from ’24 to ’25 after that academic advisor meeting” and “HOW DID IT ALREADY CRASH” to more frustrated statements, such as, “Me being a senior next semester thinking enrollment wasn’t going to be that stressful” and “BROOOO, I’m going to be a senior next year, pleeease work my Madison. This system sucks.”

see ENROLLMENT, page 4

Lone freshman starter shines for No. 4 JMU lacrosse

By KADIEN BRIDGES The Breeze

The JMU lacrosse team stands together as it awaits its starting lineup to be called. Upperclassmen’s names are cheered on as they take the field. Then, No. 20, freshman attacker Maddie Epke, who’s started in all 14 games this season, makes her way to center field — ready to perform.

Epke has started strong in her JMU career. With only three conference games left in the Dukes’ season, Epke has the fourthmost points on the team with 29, behind attackers redshirt junior Isabella Peterson (71), senior Tai Jankowski (55) and junior Katelyn Morgan (38). She was also named the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Player of the Week on Feb. 27 and Freshman of the Week on April 10.

As she played in the midfield during her high school lacrosse seasons, Epke said her transition into not only college lacrosse but an attacking position for JMU has been an exciting opportunity. Epke is the only starting freshman on the No. 4 team in the nation.

JMU lacrosse head coach Shelley Klaes said she called Epke over the summer to see if she’d be interested in switching to the “X” position for the Dukes, which means Epke would help facilitate the offense from behind the goal.

Klaes said she asked Epke to put in some work toward her new position during the summer with the help of her mother, who was Epke’s lacrosse coach in high school.

“I’ve been really impressed with how she’s been able to do this despite the lack of experience,” Klaes said. “She’s

a freshman that’s helping to lead an offensive unit behind the goal. She’s done a really good job.”

Though she said she came into the program nervous — as was every freshman on the team, she added — Epke said she’s built the necessary confidence for her new role because the team’s full of love for one another and it’s constantly building each other up.

Morgan — who starts alongside Epke on the Dukes’ offense — praised Epke’s quickness, explosiveness and vision. Morgan said the move from high school to college can be tough, but Epke has found her role on the team and adjusted well.

. see LACROSSE, page 18

MACROCK music festival continues growth, celebrates biggest year yet

By K. MAUSER The Breeze

Pale Fire Brewing reached full capacity by 9 p.m., and a long line began to grow Friday — late into the night.

This was only the first of two nights for MACROCK, Harrisonburg’s nonprofit “annual DIY music festival,” according to the official MACROCK website.

Junior Annie McGowan said each of the festival’s venues last year had reached full capacity on both nights. As one of

the program’s three head coordinators, McGowan said this year was probably MACROCK’s “biggest year in recent history.”

By the end of the weekend, McGowan said MACROCK sold 261 presale tickets, which don’t include the complimentary tickets given to each band or the ones sold in person. They also said MACROCK’s Instagram followers had tripled within the past year, which indicated it reached a much bigger crowd online.

On the festival’s Instagram page, many of the bands were highlighted that performed

over the weekend. Out of all the 383 bands that applied, McGowan said the festival committee hand-selected 77 bands to perform in this year’s MACROCK.

McGowan said most of the bands that played this year go through an application process where the committee blindly listens to each artist’s music and judges it based solely on their music.

McGowan and the festival committee each listen to one minute of the three songs each artist sends in, McGowan said. If the artist’s rating is above a 2.5 on the five-point

scale, they said the bands move on to the next round of selection necessary to play in MACROCK.”

“We have some great bands coming,” McGowan said. “I think this is the most talented group we’ve had so far.”

One of the festival’s bands, lonelyisaneyesore, said this was its first time performing out of its Boston home town.

see MACROCK, page 10

Despite attacker Maddie Epke’s lack of experience, she’s effectively taken up the “X” position to lead the Dukes’ offense from behind the goal, lacrosse head coach Shelley Klaes said. Savannah Reger / The Breeze

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What's inside... 3

DUKES SUPPORT DUKES 24 STEP INTO SAFETY NEWS

6 FOR THE INITIAL TIME THIS YEAR, SGA SENATE SHOT DOWN TWO AMENDMENTS

A FIRST AND A LAST 16

STUDENTS CREATE PEER-TO-PEER MENTAL HEALTH GROUP

IMPROVED STAIR ACCESSIBILITY CAN PREVENT ACCIDENTS

CORRECTIONS: A culture article about the band Doghouse that ran April 6 incorrectly stated a St. Patrick's Day party was hosted at a Phi Gamma Nu (PGN) house. The event was a Doghouse concert, not a PGN-affilited party, that was hosted at an Exit 245 house. PGN is also a professional buisness organization, not a business fraternity. The online publication has been updated to reflect all corrections. A news article about changes to the General Education program incorrectly associated terms with the structure of the Gen Ed curriculum. The online article has been updated to clarify the class groupings are based on learning objectives, not on the various JMU colleges. This story also featured a graphic with incorrect terminology. "Cluster 4: Individuals in the Human Community" should be "Cluster 5: Individuals in the Human Community." The story's graphic also incorrectly stated this cluster is renamed as "The Natural World." It should be "Sociocultural and Wellness Area." A news article about last week's Board of Visitors (BoV) public meeting, Student Representative to the BoV Xaiver Williams' name was misspelled. The online article has been corrected.

Editorial Staff

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF GRANT JOHNSON breezeeditor@gmail.com

NEWS EDITORS

ELEANOR SHAW & LIZZIE STONE breezenews@gmail.com

COPY EDITORS EMMA JOHNSON & WILL MORAN breezecopy@gmail.com

Advertising Staff

EXECUTIVE EDITOR MICHAEL RUSSO breezepress@gmail.com

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

AUDIENCE EDITOR ALI MCCALEB thebreezesocials@gmail.com

MANAGING EDITOR AVERY GOODSTINE thebreezeweb@gmail.com

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

PHOTO EDITORS ABI MIDDLETON & RYAN SAUER breezephotography@gmail.com

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The Breeze, the student-run newspaper of James Madison University, serves student, faculty and staff readership by reporting news involving the campus and local community. The Breeze strives to be impartial and fair in its reporting and firmly believes in First Amendment rights.

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COVER PHOTO BY: SAVANNAH REGER / THE BREEZE

Ella Stotzky / The Breeze

Ryan Sauer / The Breeze

Valerie Chenault / The Breeze

Trial & error

Students’ existing enrollment anxiety heightened by MyMadison outage

from ENROLLMENT, page 1

The early bird gets the worm Students’ enrollment appointments are assigned based on their cumulative credit hours already earned and don’t include credits in progress, according to the Office of the Registrar’s website. For example, rising seniors or students with over 90 credit hours could sign up for classes beginning Monday at 7:30 a.m. On the opposite end of the spectrum, freshmen with 0-27 credit hours can sign up starting Thursday at 6:30 a.m, and the class of 2027 will enroll starting June 21.

Priority enrollment is granted to special student groups, like students in the Honors College. Ginny Cramer, associate director of communications and deputy spokesperson, said in an email, “There was not a significant change in the number of students receiving priority enrollment appointments for fall 2023 which did not impact the demand on MyMadison at any given time.”

Celeste Boseman, a junior studio art and art education major, said she had one of the first enrollment time slots available — Monday at 6:30 a.m., an hour before the rest of students that day due to her status in the Honors College. Boseman said she had an overall positive experience but struggled to fit in the classes she needed to fulfill her requirements during her last traditional semester, as she’ll be student-teaching next spring.

In fact, Boseman said, one of the Physical Principles courses she sought out to complete her final requirement for the General Education curriculum already had zero seats available when she logged into MyMadison for her appointment. She said she tried to satisfy this requirement for the past four to five semesters, but either class sections she managed to get a spot in were “administratively dropped” with no professor attached to teach them, or there weren’t any seats open.

“It was kind of just upsetting because [with] all of the other slots that fill that area, I don’t necessarily need a lab, so I wouldn’t want to take something that I don’t need,” Boseman said. “I don’t have the option to take it later on … so that’s one major struggle that I’ve had consistently throughout enrollment.”

Boseman said the ability to track how many seats are left open in a class helps when navigating which sections of a course will be available by the time one’s appointment arrives, as do waitlists. However, when she tried to help her friends who enrolled Tuesday morning, MyMadison’s “Student Center button didn’t even show up” to direct them to the page to enroll, Boseman said. Spreading out appointment times more would be a potential solution to help reduce the

demand on MyMadison all at once, she added.

‘A little trepidatious’

With news of Tuesday’s MyMadison outage spreading across campus, several sophomores who spoke to The Breeze said the prospect of another outage during their Wednesday enrollment appointments raised concerns.

Gene Leggett, a history major, said he tried to send his class preferences to MyMadison’s shopping cart Tuesday morning ahead of his enrollment appointment Wednesday. “It took forever to load just a search bar,” Leggett said, and the General Education courses he looked for were full or not offered. With these circumstances, Leggett said he felt “a little trepidatious” about how his appointment would go and planned to enroll

said. “I won’t be stressed like, ‘Oh my gosh, my internet broke.’ OK, whatever, I’m already guaranteed my spot.”

On the other hand, Morris said she had previous issues signing up for classes, with the system running slowly or sections filling up, leaving her with a lopsided schedule. Looking ahead for the next semester, Morris said, she has to reapply for the nursing program in addition to picking up an additional minor or major to maintain a full-time course load, and she said navigating her choices has been a challenge.

“I’m so stressed about it,” Morris said. “[Advisers] kind of give you advice, and then you just have to figure it out on your own. So, it’s like if you don’t know what you’re doing, you’re kind of in a tough situation.”

Despite students’ claims of system errors or slow speeds, Cramer said in her email that “IT did not experience any system issues with the previous enrollment period” and students who experience issues with the system are encouraged to report them to the IT Help Desk. Cramer also said MyMadison will eventually be phased out and replaced with new software through the Reengineering Madison plan. Some of the plan’s goals include fostering more efficient operations and communication with the JMU community in regards to data and software on campus.

in classes that aren’t completely necessary for his academic requirements but are enough for him to continue as a fulltime student (12 credits).

Graphic design major Sophie Parrish said many of her program’s classes only offer one section in each course, so when those classes fill up, there aren’t many alternatives. Parrish said half the classes she planned to take were no longer available after Tuesday morning’s enrollment rush. Like Leggett, Parrish said she had to adjust accordingly to find courses that will keep her on track to graduate on time, even if they weren’t part of the plan she was recommended to follow.

Jasmine Thompson and Alyssa Morris are both sophomore nursing majors, but their enrollment situations present different scenarios. Thompson was already admitted into the nursing program, which she said would reduce her stress heading into her Wednesday enrollment appointment.

“I like how we’re in certain sections, and all I need to do is get on and enroll then I’m guaranteed a spot,” Thompson

“IT works to ensure the university’s technology will support the requirements of heavy load periods like pre-registration,” Cramer said. “While the technology can handle the demand, there are sometimes changes required to support new usage patterns and processes. IT works closely with the Office of the Registrar to ensure their requirements are supported.”

Many students who spoke to The Breeze said they hope JMU implements changes to make enrollment an easier process and prevent future technological difficulties moving forward. Nevertheless, enrollment’s unpredictability remains at the forefront of students’ minds.

“I definitely think they should make it where less people should be able to enroll at the same time,” Thompson said. “I get it, they want to try to make it fair, but that’s not even fair because like half the people’s things break and then they don’t get anything anyway.”

Zoe Mowery contributed to this report.

CONTACT Michael Russo at breezepress@gmail.com. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow

Multiple students who spoke to The Breeze on Tuesday expressed concerns surrounding fall class enrollment. Ben Moulse / The Breeze

‘An uphill bAttle’

Three mothers in the Valley come together to discourage the sale of fentanyl-laced drugs

By JAMES CROWLEY contributing writer

A group of mothers from Rockingham and Augusta counties — Faythe Silveira, Alicia Dos Santos and Debra Frisk — are fighting for longer prison time for fentanyl dealers in Virginia after losing family members to the drug’s poisoning.

According to data from The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), fentanyl was responsible for around 70,000 of 106,699 recorded drug overdoses in the U.S. in 2022. In Virginia specifically, NIDA found there were more than 2,500 overdoses, with the majority caused by fentanyl.

The mothers’ pushes are in tandem with recent attention on fentanyl within the JMU community. Student Government Association (SGA) Senator Emily Butters drafted a resolution encouraging JMU to place Narcan in residence halls on campus during the SGA Senate’s Feb. 1 meeting.

Dos Santos, Frisk and Silveira are part of a larger group of women in Virginia who organized through a Facebook group called Lost Voices of Fentanyl, advocating for harsher punishments for fentanyl dealers.

The group has organized several marches in cities across Virginia, from counties in Northern Virginia, near Harrisonburg, Richmond, Washington, D.C., and more. At these marches, their goal is to raise awareness about fentanylrelated deaths and more prison time for the dealers, and get people to join them in their fight.

Silveira said some of the marches have gained attention. On May 6, Silveira, Frisk, Dos Santos and the other Lost Voices members will be joining the Association of People Against Lethal Drugs in Hopewell, Virginia, at a rally. All are welcome to join and “the more people they can get there, the better,” Silveira said.

Paula Moreria, Dos Santos’ daughter and Silveira’s niece, died from fentanyl poisoning at the age of 18. Frisk’s son, Keen Harper Frisk, died from fentanyl poisoning at 23. Each victim received the fentanyl-laced drugs from the same drug dealer — a “murderer,” Dos Santos and Frisk called him.

“We are living,” Dos Santos said, “but we are suffering. My daughter is not coming back. We don’t want other families to suffer the way they have to.”

Silveira said drug dealers who sell fentanyl often know the drug’s dangers and sell it anyway. The three women are “fighting every day” to pass legislation that will modify

punishments for those who distribute drugs laced with fentanyl.

Dos Santos, Frisk and Silveira said they believe dealers who distribute fentanyl to people unaware of what they’re receiving should be charged with first- or seconddegree murder.

he served less than a year.

Silveira said she hopes the mothers’ efforts to secure harsher laws result in lengthier, guaranteed prison time for drug dealers who knowingly sell laced drugs.

“This is not justice,” Silveira said of the drug dealer who didn’t serve his full five-year sentence. “Tougher sentences can be given and the perpetrators made to serve out their sentences.”

Frisk said the mothers “won’t be stopped” until stricter laws are made and the people selling fentanyl are put behind bars.

Though some Virginia lawmakers have “ignored” the mothers’ bill proposals, requests and declined to meet, Silveira said, that hasn’t slowed their momentum.

Frisk said she believes there’s political bias against passing Senate Bill 1188 — a bill classifying selling fentanyl as a “terrorist act” with dealers being charged with attempted second-degree murder. Virginia Democrats are against the bill for political party power reasons, Frisk said, rather than actually trying to solve the problem of fentanyl poisoning.

However, the women have gained support from other government officials, including First Lady of Virginia Suzanne Youngkin. On a recent trip to Richmond, Youngkin and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares (’98) voiced support for the mothers, Dos Santos said. Frisk said Miyares was “very kind and is eager to help” their cause for harsher penalties.

According to an NBC article, Youngkin spoke to the local news alongside Silveira, Frisk, Dos Santos and others to advocate for the movement and support the passage of the bill. The Virginia General Assembly passed the bill March 7 and it’ll be signed into law in July.

Silveira, Frisk and Dos Santos said it’s important for people to keep speaking up. If local residents and students can “be loud,” it’ll help the movement be heard.

“It feels like an uphill battle,” Silveira said about sellers getting any more prison time than a minimum sentence. Though she has faith: “If ordinary citizens could speak up and help raise awareness, it could go a long way in our fight for these harsher penalties.”

years in prison — but

CONTACT James Crowley at crowl2jm@dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on Twitter @BreezeNewsJMU.

Graphics by Ben Moulse/ The Breeze

By ASHLEE THOMPSON The Breeze

The Student Government Association (SGA) Senate rejected two amendments to SGA’s Constitution and celebrated its last regular season meeting Tuesday.

Attendees were rambunctious and sentimental with many exclaiming “aw” as Senate Speaker Daniel Gaffin struck the lectern with his gavel to commence the session for the final time.

Senior Senator Emily Butters proposed two amendments to SGA’s Constitution, both of which were rejected by the senators. This is the first time an amendment has been rejected at SGA.

The first amendment proposed would’ve added a fifth clause in Article X, titled “Amendments.” The amendment proposed for any change to be made to the constitution, it must be approved by a majority vote by the student body.

Butters proposed this amendment to increase SGA’s “accountability” to the student body and focus on the good of students when passing resolutions.

Junior SGA Representative Matt Haynicz disagreed with Butters, calling the reasoning behind the amendment “confusing” and said the student body would be making decisions on the Senate’s governing document.

Amendment rejected for first time this year during last SGA Senate

“If you were to ask most students at this school to say anything about student government, they probably wouldn’t be able to tell you a lot,” Haynicz said. “It is confusing that they would be making decisions on the governing documents.”

Junior Marcus Rand, SGA’s sergeant-at-arms, agreed with Haynicz and said putting the constitution in the student body’s hands was a “bad precedent to set.” Rand also said this amendment poses the risk of giving the student body “voter’s fatigue” when there’s already a low turnout for schoolwide elections.

Butters and senior Student Body President Shawdee Bakhtiari argued SGA should include the student body in its proceedings, but it wasn’t enough to sway the Senate’s opinion.

Butters’ second amendment would’ve changed the current 14 academic college senator limit — which was proposed by sophomore Academic Affairs Chair Zachary Fleming and approved by the SGA on Feb. 23 — to 50 total across all seven academic colleges.

The amendment would also allow all academic college senators, graduate senators and class council members to participate in the election of the next Speaker to the SGA Senate.

Butters said the goal of the SGA is to “represent, serve and inform,” which she feels isn’t being fulfilled by the low limitation number for academic college senators — w hich could be counteracted by increasing the maximum number of academic college senators to 50.

Sophomore SGA Senator Lexi Alston, said the 14-senator limit in Fleming’s original amendment “made the most sense” because students in each academic college knew who their two representatives were and would feel comfortable approaching them.

Alston also added the 14 seat limitation increases competition in elections, which she compared to the real U.S. Senate, which has two Senators per state.

“Fifty is an ideal number, but unfortunately right now there is not enough interest. That is the baseline of the issue,” sophomore Representative Brielle Lacroix said. “I think having two people per college is what we need for what the current student body is.”

Bakhtiari, who supported the amendment, told the Senate they’ll “never be able to grow” if they keep stopping themselves because of lack of a student body interest.

Butters called for a line-item vote to decide the amendment’s fate. This allowed the Senate to vote on specific parts of the amendment instead of all of it at once

Voting was divided into two parts, one for the 50-limit academic college senators and the other for allowing academic college senators, graduate senators and class council members to participate in the election of the Speaker to the SGA Senate.

Haynicz motioned for a roll-call vote to determine the approval of changing the senator limit. Twelve senators voted against the proposal, shooting it down. Eleven senators were in favor of the amendment and 11 senators abstained from voting. The proposal for participation in the election of the Speaker to the SGA Senate failed due to two-thirds of the Senate failing to approve.

CONTACT Ashlee Thompson at thomp6ab@dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on Twitter @BreezeNewsJMU.

Two amendments to the SGA Senate’s constitution were proposed. Photos by Valerie Chenault / The Breeze

The SGA struck down the amendments after much discourse among members of the Senate.

False Alarm!

By ABI MIDDLETON

The

Breeze

JMU residence halls have experienced 13 “malicious” fire alarm pulls over the course of the past few weeks, according to the JMU daily crime log.

JMU Police Chief Anthony Matos, answering a question from The Breeze about ultraviolet (UV) powder usage on fire alarms across campus, said in an emailed statement Monday that powder remains on skin for several days, and officers will randomly search with UV lights during suspected malicious activations of the alarm. The powder is intended to help the police department develop probable cause for an arrest.

“Due to the extremely dangerous nature of malicious fire alarm pulls, we will prosecute any individual who maliciously and intentionally activates a fire alarm system,” Matos said in the statement.

Sarah Dean, a resident advisor (RA) in Chesapeake Hall, said the frequency of these pulls is high, with six in the span of one week starting March 20. Dean said a similar pattern of malicious pulls happened last year, with 27 total pulls in Chesapeake alone.

“It wasn’t that bad at the beginning of [this] year, I don’t think,” Dean said. “For Chesapeake, it was only really bad the past two weeks.”

Dean said while the powder is visible in

Harrisonburg Fire Department Matthew Tobia said while the fire department doesn’t play a role in the investigations, it responds to If an RA or police officer declares no actual fire, then the fire department cancels its response, though it’s called as soon as the alarm is transmitted.

“We respond limited in an emergency mode,” Tobia said.

The malicious pulls are costly for the Harrisonburg community, as responding to a false alarm uses valuable resources, Tobia said, and it could cost precious moments for a life

Matos said false alarms are a danger, and the “biggest cost is the psychological

“Community members begin to ignore the fire alarms on campus and do not evacuate their rooms,” Matos said about when false alarms are pulled. “This is against the JMU Student Accountability Process and Standards of Conduct Handbook; it creates an unsafe environment for others

Abi Middleton at middleah@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on Twitter @BreezeNewsJMU.

Students are growing more reluctant to respond to fire alarms due to malicious pulls. Emergency responders agree this trend is a public safety concern. Photo Illustration by Ryan Sauer / The Breeze

BenMoulse/The Breeze

City council approves funding for emergency services, pool and more

By GRETCHEN NAGLE contributing writer

The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) — a multi-year plan of capital projects ranging from $50,000 or greater that each have an extensive financing plan to fund future endeavors — was discussed and approved unanimously during Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

The proposed 2024 budget presentation for City Council and public hearing highlighted the budget plan of a $5.8 million classification and job compensation study implementation.

New smartphone device systems for Harrisonburg and Rockingham County Emergency Communication services, an additional fire station, a kid’s splash pool and restroom additions at Riven Rock are among

the projects proposed by the CIP plan.

“We are not only removing hazards but we are increasing efficiency, potentially increasing revenues here and it’s a new service [that] is absolutely a convenience in this area,” Adam Fletcher, director of the Department of Community Development and Harrisonburg Planning Commission, said.

Throughout a five-year planning period (2023-27), a CIP plan will be prepared annually to simplify planning and to determine priority among capital improvement needs, Fletcher said. The CIP plan is intended to identify projects for all city agencies as well as Harrisonburg City Public Schools. Funding specifics were discussed for a majority of the meeting.

After key issues in the proposal were discussed during the hearing, Fletcher said the CIP isn’t a budget and the incorporation of projects in the proposal doesn’t ensure they’ll be funded as stated. The city’s allocation of funding for capital items will occur with the passing of the yearly budget for each fiscal year.

The CIP isn’t a fixed plan, Fletcher said. It’s part of a yearly plan and program, in which every year expenditures, requirements and funding sources are reassessed in order to maintain the five-year projection, as a year is added.

According to the CIP, several of the plans, for which funding is either being sought out or it’s already set, will start construction or undergo renovations in the next few years.

“Each week, I am more amazed by how efficient our city is run,” City Council member Monica Robinson said about the five-year financing plan. “This is a very efficient running machine, and there may be some parts that need a little bit of extra oil every now and then, but for the most part, I’m very impressed.”

The next city council meeting is scheduled for April 25 at 7 p.m.

CONTACT Gretchen Nagle at naglegm@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on Twitter @BreezeNewsJMU.

Adam Fletcher presented the Capital Improvement Plan, which was approved unanimously. The projects will be officially funded as part of the city budget. Christopher Timothy / The Breeze

The City Council members spoke about the CIP for most of their meeting.

Mayor Deanna Reed said she’s been impressed by city administration recently. Photos by Christopher Timothy / The Breeze

The Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) will be planned annually over a five-year period to make sure priorities are updated.

Harrisonburg independent music festival has largest year in recent history MACROCKED

from MACROCK , page 1

“This is probably the best venue we’ve ever played at,” Juan Molina, the band’s guitarist, said. “There’s nothing like this in Boston.”

Lonelyisaneyesore said it began playing together a little bit before the pandemic, but couldn’t do much due to quarantine regulations. In August 2022, lonelyisaneyesore released its first three-song album called “thin skin.”

The band’s music takes on an experimental, screamo tone that many of the performers at MACROCK didn’t showcase. Not only was lonelyisaneyesore performance loud, emotional and deeply vulnerable but the energy it exhibited on stage kept its audience engaged throughout its whole set. Unlike many of the other bands performing, the lead singer walked across the front of the audience while performing rather than singing on stage with the rest of the band.

The band said it appreciated the opportunity to add to the variety of musical genres at MACROCK.

“If they like having music, if they like experimental stuff, if they want something that’s heart-wrenching,” Molina said, “come check us out.”

Lonelyisaneyesore also said it hopes to play at more events like MACROCK in the future, and that the annual tradition of MACROCK was something it really liked.

“There’s definitely some organizations that kind of do a similar thing,” McGowan said. “I just don’t think there’s anyone else doing it as long as we have.”

Kiernan Green, senior English major, said he decided to attend MACROCK for the first time because he has a lot of friends in and around the DIY music scene.

“All the people performing here are also just regular,

everyday people, students like us, or [former] students like us,” Green said. “They’re making music for all the right reasons that people should be making music: expressing themselves, telling their stories and also just connecting people together.”

Green said performances by Chico Romano and Venus Twins were his favorite sets of the night. He also said the “incredible passion” both the bands and the audience had during their performances impressed him.

Venus Twins, an experimental punk duo who traveled from Brooklyn, New York, to play in MACROCK, is only composed of two members: a drummer and a lead vocalist/bassist. The bassist moved through the entire audience while performing at Pale Fire Brewing, his aux cord dragging behind him as he brushed past listeners. Green said he’s never been into this genre of music, but that the music is “much more evocative.”

Green added he’s thankful for the opportunity to attend MACROCK.

“It feels very passionate and it feels really authentic,” Green said. “Everyone here that is performing very clearly has incredible passion for it, and everyone here attending also seems to as well.”

McGowan said the Harrisonburg music scene is particularly special because everyone’s so welcoming.

“It’s such a fun weekend because you just get to hang out with your friends in the city that we love, at places that we love, listening to cool people,” McGowan said.

CONTACT K. Mauser at mauserkk@dukes.jmu.edu. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on Twitter and Instagram @Breeze_Culture.

EDITORS

The most recent MACROCK festival featured bands that specialize in various subgenres of rock.

MACROCK, an annual DIY music festival that takes place in Harrisonburg, welcomes a variety of artists from across the nation. Photos by K. Mauser / The Breeze

A WEALTH OF HEALTH A WEALTH OF HEALTH

Meal-prepping for college students

By HANNAH LIFRIERI The Breeze

Take flight

Review | Ben Affleck’s ‘Air’ revolutionizes the sport film

By JACK CALABRESE The Breeze

We’ve seen plenty of stories about Michael Jordan, one of the greatest and most recognizable athletes on the planet. “Air” isn’t one of those tales. It’s the story of a hapless talent scout who makes the riskiest bet of his life and wins bigger than anyone could’ve imagined.

In 1984, the Nike basketball division was crumbling under the heavy competition of Converse and Adidas. It didn’t have the same star power — Converse had “Magic” Johnson and Larry Bird — or connection with the youth, Adidas had the flyest tracksuits around, to maintain relevance in the basketball sector. It needed a home run.

Unlikely hero Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon), a basketball guru and talent scout, stumbles across a rookie who he thought could change Nike forever. The only problem was nobody else believed in him.

Damon, Viola Davis, Jason Bateman, Ben Affleck and Chris Tucker headline an all-star — rather, an all-NBA — cast in this one. Each role fits the stars perfectly, save for Damon, who’s trying a type that blossomed in the later years of his career. His performance is reminiscent of his 2019 role in the critically acclaimed “Ford vs. Ferrari,” except his character’s swagger and accomplishment are at a much lower level in this movie. But his motivation, to find and create greatness, remains the same.

This film’s cast raises a great question: Can anyone be a standout when everyone is absolutely on fire? Everyone in this movie’s cooking. They’re surely helped by a great script with wit and humor, and a sleek tonality orchestrated by Affleck’s direction.

The sports movie has evolved significantly over the last 50 years, and this movie may be the first in a new generation of sports-related media. It’s also the final form of a shifted sports movie archetype that “Moneyball” set in motion in 2013, in which the drama takes place on the sidelines, behind the scenes and in the office instead of in the games. There are dozens more stories like “Air” waiting to be told, and they may get

their shot now that a movie like this worked.

The reunion of Affleck and Damon has dominated this movie’s headlines, and they deliver. They’ve got great chemistry as always, and they share the most intense scenes of the movie. From these scenes alone, you would’ve never guessed they’re great friends off screen because they effectively bite into each other. We can only hope they’ll continue to work with each other both on screen and behind the scenes.

By far, the most emotional scene is the meeting between Jordan’s family and the Nike team. The stakes are set, and now it’s up to Vaccaro and Nike to execute their plan and sign Jordan. Vaccaro gives a passionate speech set to a montage of Jordan’s greatest and worst moments. It’s the most of Jordan’s face we see in the movie, and it leaves the viewer with the most to ponder coming out of the theater.

While the absence of Jordan is handled effectively for the most part, there are a couple of scenes where it’s unavoidably incomplete without him. The movie tries to fill his place by emphasizing the role of his parents, James and Delores Jordan, but it’s hard to believe he wouldn’t have been vocal and active in this process.

This movie will definitely prompt younger generations to check out the styles and music of the 1980s. It’s really an ode to the ’80s in many ways but doesn’t let the vibes dominate too much. The opening montage especially captures the magic of that decade by including a carefully curated mix of popular figures and items.

“Air” is one of the best written and acted pieces of the year. It’s a must-see, and it’s a movie that will keep people talking about the sports world and Jordan for years to come. You don’t want to miss this one; go see it in theaters now.

CONTACT Jack Calabrese at Calabrjl@dukes.jmu.edu.

For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on Twitter and Instagram @Breeze_Culture.

As students find themselves busy with classes, extracurriculars and work, it becomes difficult to maintain a healthy diet. Reaching for a bag of chips saves more time than trying to cook a meal between classes, but it may result in poor health outcomes. Meal-prepping is a great way to have meals on the go for multiple days.

Meal-prepping is, essentially, planning out your meals for the next day and so forth. It also allows you to store meals in the freezer or fridge if you have extra. While meal-prepping does take some time, marking a day on your calendar to prepare your meals alleviates the stress of trying to prepare one with a busy schedule. Mealprepping can also be budget-friendly, rather than buying snacks every day or eating out. Having a meal that’s been prepared ahead of time can also reduce the amount of money you spend. Rather than going to the grocery store multiple times a week, meal-prepping allows you to buy most of your food in one day, and then you’re able to cook it all that same day.

Prepping your produce is key for meal-prepping. Vegetables aren’t only important for overall health but also easy to prepare and store. Fed & Fit, a nutritional and wellness website, goes over the easy steps to prepping veggies. Start off by washing your vegetables with cold water to limit the risk of unwanted germs. Once you let your vegetables completely dry, you can chop them depending on what you’re prepping-- ingredients for soups may require diced vegetables rather than leaving them whole. After you’ve prepped your vegetables you can store them away in a container, jar or bag.

Meats and fish can also be stored before or after being cooked. Depending on the “best used by” date on the package, some raw poultry can be left in the freezer for over six months. Meal-prepping meats doesn’t have to be difficult; for example, cooking chicken for the week and using it in numerous meals can help to beat repetitiveness as it gives you more options.

Having staple foods around your apartment or house is equally as important. Foods such as rice, bread, cereal or whatever you may find necessary are useful to have on hand if you ever find yourself in a time crunch. Staple foods are what you would normally find yourself eating, so switching to healthy alternatives and substituting candy for fruit can aid in your long-term health. According to the National Geographic Study, food staples supply a lot of nutritional value and energy to support your daily functions.

Read the full article at breezejmu.org

Ben Affleck directs and co-stars as Nike CEO Phil Knight in new film ‘Air.’ Photos courtesy of IMDB

Both Affleck and Damon deliver powerful performances in their film reunion.

‘Paint’ is dry Review | Bob Ross satire film lacks texture

By GRAYSON BANNING contributing writer

“Paint” is a film that lacks a sense of identity, compelling acting and a strong storyline.

Britt McAdams wrote and directed “Paint,” which released in theaters April 7. This new comedy features a cast of Owen Wilson as the main character and includes supporting actors from various backgrounds of film and TV experience. For Wilson, this movie’s far fetched compared to his other films like “Zoolander” and “Wedding Crashers.”

First, I must mention the elephant in the room. This film’s main character, Carl Nargle (Owen Wilson), is inspired by Bob Ross. Carl’s presence on screen is similar to Ross, radiating a sense of calm paired with a giant perm, however, that’s where the similarities end.

I couldn’t pinpoint what theme this film was going for. It desperately wants to be a comedy but fails to include any laugh-out-loud moments.

For example, he’d been painting the same picture of Vermont’s Mount Mansfield for years on his show. He’d done this to impress Dr. Bradford Lenihan (Micheal Pemberton) who oversees the Burlington Museum of Art. Carl’s reason for doing this could be boiled down to the fact that he just wants to feel appreciated for his work, hence why we see Carl using different women as his muse.

When Ambrosia entered the picture as the better artist, Carl’s ego was threatened. I loved seeing the dichotomy between Carl and Ambrosia’s art. If this movie had anything going for it, it was the competitive nature of two artists battling it out for glory, so much in fact, Carl proposed an idea to his producer of a bidding war for the artists to paint a portrait of a loyal viewer.

Tony, the station manager, decided to go through with the idea, which led to Carl surpassing Ambrosia for raising the most money. His job was easy. All he needed to do was paint a simple portrait of an elderly viewer named Bridget. Instead, he painted a picture of Mount Mansfield-- shocker.

In the opening, we’re introduced to Carl and the show he hosts on PBS Burlington called “Paint.” The show’s a carbon copy of Ross’ “The Joy of Painting.” Carl’s ability to hypnotize viewers into a state of relaxation is what made him a success; however, this success would soon be taken away by another painter named Ambrosia (Ciara Renne). Unlike Carl, Ambrosia’s youthful and willing to experiment with what she paints. After bringing in better ratings, Carl’s let go by the station’s manager, Tony (Stephen Root).

With seemingly everything taken away from him, Carl’s self-discovery story came to light. His behavior toward those who surrounded him wasn’t admirable. Carl up to this point in the film was mistreating women, narcissistic and inflexible. Though, I was excited to see how Carl would change his fate. But, I was still frustrated with the discombobulation of the storyline. This film doesn’t follow a classic narrative structure. Instead, the motif is that of throwing senseless scenes together and calling it a film.

For those who are suckers for love stories, “Paint” has your back. Carl and his co-worker, Katherine (Michaela Watkins), were former lovers that split due to Carl’s overwhelming fame. At the time Carl’s show first got big, his suave stoner vibe was a big hit with the ladies, but Katherine felt betrayed as Carl stopped paying attention to her. In a way, I wasn’t too shocked when Katherine decided to cheat on Carl with a Vermont Mountain Express driver (Ryan Gaul). She wanted to be loved by Carl, but he didn’t show up when he needed to. When Katherine admitted to cheating, Carl remained narcissistic and slept with Wendy (Wendi Mclendon-Covey) as revenge.

This romance story was a rare bright spot for the film. It gave Carl’s character a sliver of depth as Katherine’s the only woman he truly respects. Carl’s misogyny toward female characters isn’t something to be inspired by. Unfortunately, he uses his fame and charisma to exploit women for sex instead of treating them as equals. However, it’s obvious that Carl’s a lost man with low self-esteem.

This scene had the most meaning out of the entire film because it showed Carl being stuck in a fantasy world. Carl was so convinced that a painting of Mount Mansfield would land him in the Burlington Museum of Art, that he forgot how to acknowledge people outside of himself.

Don’t worry, Carl’s character grows by the end of the film. Katherine realizes she made a grave mistake by cheating on Carl all those years ago. At the same time, Carl also has a moment where he realizes he never stopped loving Katherine. Carl finally got a chance to put his ego behind him by filling in for Ambrosia’s show. Instead of going with his usual style where he paints Mount Mansfield, he portrays a message of love to Katherine by painting a portrait of her posing in the back of his van. It was loving Katherine that gave him passion and creative ambition.

Carl finally corrects his abysmal fate by finding love. It’s a touching ending that was somewhat abhorred by weird events. Carl decided to fake his own death and move to a lake house with Katherine. PBS Burlington used Carl’s “death” to sell one of his paintings for a mass amount of money. Then, they took the money and used it to save the station from monetary woes. These events are a perfect summation of a weird plot.

I can honestly say this is the worst movie I think I’ve ever watched. A drab storyline complemented by a weird script isn’t my idea of what makes a successful movie. Not to mention, this movie was a disservice to the greatness of Bob Ross. I said it once and I’ll say it again; this movie should’ve never been made.

CONTACT Grayson Banning at banningj@dukes.jmu.edu. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on Twitter and Instagram @Breeze_Culture.

“This movie should’ve never been made.”

Grayson Banning Contributing writer

MAKE MAKE THE THE CHOICE CHOICE TO LIVE... TO LIVE... SAFE with

CLOSE SUPPORTED CONNECTED

A shared commmunity

Dukes Pride Week celebrates LGBTQ+ students and allies on campus

By MATEO CSERNECKY Contributing writer

At a table full of LGBTQ+ students, everyone went around sharing their stories, stories about coming out to their friends and family, stories about LGBTQ+ role models they look up to and stories of being cut off by family members and friends. No matter what the stories were about, every student shared what being part of the LGBTQ+ community was like for them.

On April 6 in the Highlands Room of the Festival Conference and Student Center, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) held a pride-themed barbecue and gave out free food to students. This was one of several different events being held as part of Dukes Pride Week, a weeklong celebration of LGBTQ+ students, teachers and staff at JMU.

One of the most notable events was held April 4, where SOGIE invited Nicole Maines, a transgender actress and activist who portrayed the first transgender superhero on TV, to speak. Maines talked about her life as a transgender person and activist as well as the future of transgender people around the world.

Maines specifically discussed being a plaintiff in the Maine Supreme Judicial Court case, Doe v. Regional School Unit 26, in which she argued her school district couldn’t deny her access to a female bathroom for being transgender.

“It was really exciting to see her speak,” Riley Alvarez, a sophomore and Madison Equality Board member, said. “I really admire her and her work, and it means so much to me and other students to have her speaking here. She was so kind when I was speaking to her after, and her entire speech was so powerful.”

Alvarez praised SOGIE for sponsoring the event and getting Maines to speak. They further

BenMoulse/ TheBreeze

noted how exciting it was to get to see someone who does so much work for the transgender community speak at JMU. Maines’ event, however, wasn’t the only major pride event held during the week that drew praise from JMU students.

SOGIE held a community chat in the Lavender Lounge in the Student Success Center on April 5. Students discussed their experiences and thoughts there on what being a queer student was like.

“It was really cool to get to experience and hear everyone else’s stories and thoughts,” Jacob Houston, sophomore said. “It was probably my favorite event this week.”

Houston expressed appreciation for how the event let LGBTQ+ students at JMU who might feel shy come together and “get out of their shell and meet people.’’ Houston also mentioned how well the chat went and how giving people the space to tell their own stories and talk about their experiences was a “necessary part of any celebration of Pride.”

“The whole week as a whole was pretty well done, and I felt as if the whole thing definitely brought a good amount of people out to the events,” Houston said.

Houston and Alvarez both discussed the highlights of the week as a whole, admiring the free food and games at April 6’s event, as well as the community-building efforts sparked by the pride week. Both noted how important it was to have JMU and SOGIE recognize the LGBTQ+ community and make them feel as if they’re welcome on campus, safe and happy.

“Having these community events like this means a lot to me knowing that I can go into a room without people thinking I’m weird, even if it’s a subconscious thing that happens so often in so many other places,” Houston said. “It feels really nice to have this here.”

While both Houston and Alvarez said they felt appreciative of the work and events put on during Dukes Pride Week, both agreed there’s more the university could do to get more LGBTQ+students involved with the festivities and help make more people feel as if they belong, such as advertising SOGIE and Madison Equality to students more and offering LGBTQ+ history classes.

“There are a lot of resources that are out there for students but may not be readily available and require digging,” senior Ken Kensky said.

Kensky highlighted several issues with the university’s attempts at including queer students, specifically accessibility concerns, such as gender-neutral bathrooms. Kensky noted the lack of these on campus, saying how some buildings didn’t have any gender-neutral bathrooms and how some buildings used to have some, but have gotten rid of them. Kensky said she

appreciated what JMU was doing for queer students but noted how much work is left.

The Dukes Pride Week events celebrated those who identify as LGBTQ+ by bringing together students as a community and, as Houston said, encouraging them to feel safe and included on campus. While Houston, Alvarez and Kensky all praised SOGIE and the university for their efforts during Dukes Pride Week, all three agreed there’s still a long way to go to fully improve things for LGBTQ+ students on campus.

“These are great steps, but there is still progress we can work towards to make queer students feel truly welcome on campus,” Kensky said.”

CONTACT Mateo Csernecky at csernems@dukes.jmu. edu. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on Twitter and Instagram @Breeze_Culture.

“The whole week as a whole was pretty well done, and I felt as if the whole thing definitely brought a good amount of people out to the events.”

Jacob Houston

A need fulfilled

Students create mental health support group organization

By MORGAN VUKNIC The Breeze

Mental health has been a major discussion point at JMU since the two on-campus suicides in early 2022. Since then, JMU has increased its mental health resources by creating more free counseling visits for students and introducing TimelyCare, a virtual counseling platform. In noticing a lack of student-led resources, though, junior history major Rilie Bass, junior psychology major Kevin Cottrell and junior accounting major Connor Basset created Dukes Support Network (DSN), a peerto-peer mental health support group.

Cottrell, executive director of the club, said DSN has been in the works since last summer and launched this semester. He said the group fulfills a need at JMU, but he, Bass and Basset want to continue the group because it’s something they wish they had as freshmen.

Cottrell, Bass and Basset came into college in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, which they said was difficult for them mentally. While JMU does have the Counseling Center, they said they wish there had been a space as freshmen to talk with other students about what they were feeling, which is why they’re so passionate about DSN.

“What’s motivating a lot of us to push forward with this club is because we want to give that opportunity of being in a small group,” Cottrell said. “We hope that we’re able to give the experience of being seen and heard to incoming students.”

Cottrell said DSN is a space for students to receive support but it isn’t a replacement for counseling or therapy. He said people should still use the resources available to them on campus, like individual and group counseling, self care spaces such as the Serenity Center and mental health workshops.

While he’s never had experiences with JMU’s Counseling Center, Cottrell said he believes the Center’s a great on-campus resource and, with the few times he’s talked with the faculty, he’s been “blown away” with the professionalism and the dedication they have.

“The space they’ve created in terms of empathy and compassion is really just amazing,” Cottrell said. “I honestly don’t think they get enough credit for how hard

they work to constantly improve mental health services.”

What makes DSN different from other on-campus mental health-related organizations is the fact that it’s more of a completely student-led support group. DSN states on its Instagram that each small group leader has received training in suicide prevention, active listening, diversity, equity and inclusion and campus resources such as the Counseling Center.

Currently, DSN has regular support group meetings but hopes to expand in the future, with more meetings and more events on campus that raise awareness to mental health as well as the group itself.

Bass and Basset are both small group leaders and said they’ve been surprised by the response from members and how they've been willing to share their own mental health experiences. Bass said the key to being a support leader is to have no expectations because that’s not how you grow or progress.

“As facilitators, I know we left having a better day,” Bass said, “but we want everyone to leave our meetings in a better space than they came in.”

While DSN is a relatively new club, there’s currently about 30 students involved with it. Basset said the purpose of the group is to create a community for students. He said he wants this space to be a place for students to find new friends and connections they feel comfortable discussing their experiences with.

The community that DSN has created allows students to learn about themselves and their peers, Basset said. He hopes, as the group progresses and grows, more people will join and become more and more comfortable to share stories.

“We’ve already had some people in small groups be super open,” Basset said. “I think when you have that, it allows the whole group to feel like they can be vulnerable as well.”

Reagan Polarek, 2026 student body president, was endorsed by the club because Cottrell said she’s one of the most conscientious students he’s met and he greatly values the support she’s shown for DSN — though Polarek isn’t currently involved with it. She said she’s “honored” to be part of the Student Government Association (SGA) and is looking forward to keeping mental health awareness as one of her main initiatives.

Morgan Blair / The Breeze

2026 student body president

“I ran so that every JMU student would feel safe, secure and supported,” Polarek said about being class president. “This includes making sure that JMU students feel like they belong. It meant so much that DSN endorsed me. I’m so glad I get to work with them for another year and can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together.”

Polarek has used resources such as the Counseling Center and TimelyCare and said they’ve been helpful for her. While these resources are a great start, she said there’s always room for improvement, and that DSN fills a major need within the JMU community.

“I think it is a unique struggle for a lot of college students, who are transitioning into new parts of life,” Polarek said. “As someone who has their own struggles with mental health, it helps to know I’m not alone. I think that DSN does a phenomenal job at making people feel connected to a community of people that are going through some of the same things.”

Cottrell said another way DSN is unique compared to other student organizations is that it serves as a proactive resource. Since there’s a different level of interaction when talking with someone’s peers, Cottrell said DSN serves as a space for students to feel heard and get mental health support before they ever get to the place of contemplating harming themselves or ending their lives.

“We see this as a proactive measure on campus to try and help students before they get to a point where they may find themselves in a crisis,” Cottrell said. “I hope this becomes a space where we can look upstream and prevent those cases from happening.”

CONTACT Morgan Vuknic at vuknicma@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on Twitter and Instagram @Breeze_Culture.

“I think that DSN does a phenomenal job at making people feel connected to a community of people that are going through the same things.”

Reagan Polarek

Junior psychology major Kevin Cottrell founded the Dukes Supprt Network with two of his peers last summer. Ryan Sauer / The Breeze

from LACROSSE, page 20

“To have an impact on the team as a freshman is really special,” Morgan said. “Something that I really admire about her is her willingness to make mistakes, and when she does make mistakes, she doesn't let things unravel.”

Klaes complimented Epke’s “mental fortitude.” Despite the pressure Epke receives during games with the amount of time she spends with the ball, Klaes said she remains collected.

Klaes added that Epke receives a lot of coaching from assistant coach

Young, quick and explosive

Epke finds niche in JMU's veteran-laden offense

“She does a lot of work outside of practice,” Klaes said. “I think she’s been showing that she’s willing to put in the work to generate and build that trust as a freshman.”

Epke said the chemistry between her and the upperclassmen attackers was nervewracking initially because of the time they’ve spent together for a few seasons now, but nonetheless, all have been welcoming to her. She said attackers such as Morgan, Peterson and Jankowski have been a big help to her transition, and that the whole team shares a “passion towards totally helping me out.”

Morgan added being as close as JMU is as a team off the field helps bring the chemistry to the field during games.

have overall increased from playing so much more than I ever have before,” Epke said.

Klaes said she believes Epke is on a strong track to potentially be awarded AAC Rookie of the Year, especially due to her ability to win draw controls and overall production.

“If Maddie’s not taking the draw, she can be used on the circle because of her ability to possess the ball,” Klaes said. “I think one of her top priorities in our offensive unit is to help us win the ball.”

Colleen Shearer, and with that, lots of constructive criticism.

“Her ability to manage the critical feedback and to stay confident in her decisions and skill despite the honest, direct feedback, has been impressive,” Klaes said. “I think that she gives us a lot of confidence because of the way she manages those conversations and the way it doesn’t take away from her ability to stay balanced.”

When speaking about Epke as a player, Klaes also praised her for “gelling” so well with the upperclassmen as quickly as she has.

“I think one of the most difficult things about an offense is building rapport and chemistry,” Morgan said. “Being freshmen, coming into a team with more upperclassmen on the attack, it can be tough. But I think Maddie and the other underclassmen have been willing to take any role they need to take, and they’ve been doing a great job.”

Along with her lacrosse career, Epke said she also grew up playing both field hockey and ice hockey. She said she’s been on ice skates since about a month after she learned to walk. Epke said this is her first full year solely playing lacrosse, which “has been such a difference-maker.”

“I’ve noticed that my stick work, hand-eye coordination, wrist strength and shot speed

Klaes said as the season continues, she hopes to see Epke take more shots on goal. She said she’d like to see Epke’s position shift the offense into a dual threat, and not just a passing threat, meaning that players in Epke’s position will produce more goals and improve the offense, making it more balanced overall from a scoring perspective.

Klaes said, so far, Epke has been a joy to coach and work with and that she fits well into JMU’s program. She added that she’s excited to see Epke continue to grow.

“She’s just someone you enjoy being around,” Klaes said. “She loves the game, and she’s really passionate about learning — and I think she’s just someone who’s easy to be around."

EDITORS Kaiden Bridges & Jackson Hephner EMAIL breezesports@gmail.com

CONTACT Kaiden Bridges at breezesports@ gmail.com. For more lacrosse coverage, follow the sports desk on Twitter @TheBreezeSports.

Freshman attacker Maddie Epke attempts to secure a draw control during No. 4 JMU's 20-10 win over No. 23 Richmond on April 5. Photos by Savannah Reger / The Breeze

Head coach Shelley Klaes praised Epke for "gelling" with so well with the upperclassmen so quickly.

DOWN, BUT NOT OUT

JMU baseball starts conference play with close wins, blowout losses

By JACKSON HEPHNER The Breeze

Down 3-0 with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, sophomore catcher Jason Schiavone steps up to the plate.

With one swing of the bat, Schiavone gives JMU baseball its first Sun Belt Conference three-game series win with a walk-off grand slam versus Georgia State on April 7. It’s a dramatic end to a game that JMU looked like it was going to lose, but close wins have been common for the Diamond Dukes in 2023.

Just the night before, JMU won game one of the series via a walk-off hit-by-pitch in the 10th inning — it was the first time it won game one of a Sun Belt series in three tries.

“It’s so big getting the opening series win and getting the opportunity to win the weekend tomorrow,” sophomore infielder Coleman Calabrese said after the win.

It was the third time this season JMU had the chance to win a Sun Belt series. The Dukes have yet to lose a game two in Sun Belt play in three series, even when they’ve had to bounce back from lopsided game one losses.

In its series against South Alabama from March 31 to April 2, JMU lost game one 19-3 — its worst loss of the season. The next day, the Dukes won a back-and-forth game two against the Jaguars 13-8.

“It just shows the resilience of our team, for one,” JMU head coach Marlin Ikenberry

said afterward, “and No. 2, it shows that when you do get knocked down like we did, you do get back up and play the game the right way — and that’s what I was proud of.”

But then, JMU was run-ruled 14-3 in the series finale the next day. Following wins with losses, and vice versa, are results the Dukes have been familiar with, starting all the way back in the beginning of conference play.

Before Georgia State, the Dukes had faced three Sun Belt opponents across seven games. Their record was 3-4, with two series losses and a 9-4 victory over Arkansas State in their only game after the first two games of their series were canceled.

After Georgia State, the Dukes are now 5-5 following a 3-1 loss in their final game against the Panthers.

The big difference between JMU’s five wins and five losses are the win margins. JMU’s average margin of victory is +3.4. Its average margin of defeat is -8.8. The Dukes’ wins have been mostly close, but plenty of their losses are decisive.

Likewise, plenty of those close wins have come immediately following a bad loss. In both of their series defeats, the Dukes weren’t swept after following up doubledigit game one losses with game two wins.

This trend of bouncing back after tough losses started in JMU’s first Sun Belt series against Coastal Carolina on March 17. In game one, the Chanticleers won decisively, 16-3. In game two, the Dukes

flipped the script — beating Coastal 8-3 and never letting the Chanticleers hold a lead in arguably their most dominant win in conference play to this point. The series finale was also close — a 3-1 JMU loss that was tied entering the top of the ninth.

After Coastal, JMU hit the road to face Arkansas State in a standalone game March 26 after games one and two were canceled due to weather conditions. Head coach Marlin Ikenberry told his players before the game that it was a “one-and-done” series, making it clear it still counted.

The two teams played like it did. The Red Wolves came back from down 4-1 in the fourth to tie the game in the eighth, forcing a 10th inning to decide the matchup. The Dukes scored five runs in the 10th to win.

Now, after South Alabama and Georgia State, JMU is headed to Southern Miss, the first of many tests still left in its season. While the Dukes have already played Coastal, which is tied with Louisiana for No. 1 in the Sun Belt, they’ve yet to play any other Sun Belt opponents with a conference record above .500. Four of JMU’s six remaining opponents are above .500 — Southern Miss, Louisiana, Appalachian State and Old Dominion.

It’s a daunting slate for any team, let alone one that lost two games by double digits to South Alabama, which currently sports a 5-7 conference record, but JMU knew the task ahead of it ahead of the Sun Belt move.

Before conference play began, junior

pitcher Ryan Murphy predicted the Sun Belt would be “super competitive,” saying the slate would be “a big challenge for us.” Sophomore outfielder Fenwick Trimble said he felt like the Dukes’ last nonconference series from March 10-11 against USC Upstate, which JMU lost two games to one, was the first weekend the team had some close games, giving JMU experience with tight matchups which was “kind of what we needed,” going into conference play.

Just under a month into Sun Belt action, and it’s definitely been a challenge for the Dukes, one that’s given them even closer games than their nonconference matchups. After the game two win against Georgia State, Ikenberry said every team in the league has “top line arms’’ and “big hitters,” adding that “every game is exactly what you’ve seen these last two games.” But when it comes to his own team’s success, Ikenberry said simply: “They’re battlers. They compete.”

“I think they’re seeing, hey, we string together some really good pitching performances and some really good at-bats, we can score runs and win games,” Ikenberry said.

CONTACT Jackson Hephner at breezesports@gmail.com. For more baseball coverage, follow the sports desk on Twitter at @TheBreezeSports.

JMU baseball’s four Sun Belt series have been defined by narrow victories, and lopsided defeats, starting with Coastal Carolina on March 17. Graphics by Ben Moulse / The Breeze

The Dukes’ series against Arkansas State was shortened to one game on March 26 due to weather conditions.

JMU lost two of their three games against South Alabama by double-digits, getting run-ruled in the series finale on April 2.

The Dukes won their first three-game Sun Belt series against Georgia State from April 6-8. JMU won both games one and two with walk-offs.

By ZACH MENDENHALL The Breeze

The mindset of a track and field athlete never remains the same during the season. Behind the team’s multiple first place finishes this spring are athletes spending hours visualizing their races, measuring their jumps and overcoming mental hurdles. Field sports which the team competes in include discus, hammer and shot put, but there’s one that stands out as the most harrowing on an athletes mindset.

Javelin is both a physical and mental sport, senior thrower Shelby Staib said, making it important for athletes to master their mental health just as much as their physical strength. She usually has lots of “nervous jitters” during the first few meets. That nervous energy is eventually released and by the middle of the season she’s more focused on the little aspects of her throws, she said. By the end, she has to “trust all the muscle memory you’ve built up over that last couple of months of competing,” she said.

Although she can visualize the sport all she wants to, the most difficult part for Staib is muscle memory.

“If my muscles aren’t trained to do those specific moments, they won’t all come together in a single throw,” she said. “There’s so many moving pieces, whether it’s the arm or your legs and your hips and all those things play a role together.”

Trusting that her body knows what to do during exercises and applying that to her throw is what keeps someone from getting hurt, Staib said. If she tries to throw a javelin like a baseball, injury will ensue.

“Mastering muscle memory comes down to ‘routine repetitive movements,’” Staib said. “If you’re repeating a bad habit over and over and over again, you’re gonna keep that bad habit, so it’s really breaking down, ‘okay, what are my bad habits and what do I need to force my body to do.’”

Staib’s coach at Parkland High School (Pa.) — Pennsylvania’s one of 14 states where the javelin throw is a high school sport — helped her find different types of “mental training,” different types of run, sprints and foundations at the professional level that would provide guidance and techniques for her, she said.

It’s easy for athletes to get into a “tornado mentality,” Staib said, where they can become

Mentality behind the meters

Inside the mindset of JMU track & field’s athletes

their own downfall. If an athlete makes a mistake on their first throw, it’s very easy for them to calculate in their head everything that went wrong, and think the same thing is going to happen during the next throw.

“You’re only focusing on what you did badly instead of visualizing like the greatness and visualizing the good things that you’re going to do,” she said.

Visualizing that the next throw will go better than the first is a huge component of keeping the little aspects strong, Staib said, Overanalyzing how you did in the moment will only hurt you, Staib said, as it’s better to reflect upon performances after meets conclude.

Taking breaks from the speed

A runner must contain as much mental and physical fortitude as a field athlete. Taking days to herself, whether it’s to journal or watch Netflix, is just as important as physical practices, graduate student runner Skyla Davidson said. Still giving 70% is better than nothing, and clearing your mind by telling yourself it’s OK is important, she said.

She’s experienced multiple injuries as a Duke, causing her to miss at least half the season every year at JMU except her junior year, where she still did not get to compete in the spring due to COVID-19. She said being

injured throughout most of her time at JMU has taken a large mental toll on her.

During her sophomore year, Davidson decided to take a mental health withdrawal, feeling that she had “lost the love for the sport.” Experiencing injuries was also something Davdison never had to go through in high school, and she felt like she didn’t understand what she was doing.

Things like journaling, going outside to get some sun and just doing the things she loves to do has made a significant impact on her mental health, allowing her to tell herself she’s doing OK, Davidson said.

“I like to journal and write down all my goals and everything that I did at like either a meet or what I did that week at practice … just so I don’t forget that and I don’t lose sight of that,” Davidson said. “I feel like seeing myself journal means that it’s not in my mind anymore, and it’s out and it has cleared the slate.”

She came back for a sixth season, calling it “the best decision I’ve ever made.” This season, Davidson has set a personal record twice in triple jump (12.60m), 60m hurdles (8.72) and long jump(19 ft).

“I don’t think I would have ever been able to come back or be where I’m at mentally without everyone in my life right now,” Davdison said.

During the outdoor season, she’s been listening to her coaches for her best interest, as she trusts them, she said. She feels comfortable talking to them and understands they are supportive.

For example, Davidson’s coaches ensure she feels comfortable when it comes to practicing different techniques instead of just telling her to do them, such as making her run to the pit longer by two strides, she said. They focus on perfecting one aspect at a time before moving on to another exercise she said.

To practice her timing, Davidson uses short approach jumps. Taking just 8-10 steps, instead of the normal 16-18 steps a runner takes in a long jump, allows the runner to focus on the timing and learn how long to “hold each phase,” and when to take each step, Davidson said.

In her first year at JMU, assistant coach Rebekah Ricksecker has been pushed to learn both the individual and group dynamics of the team as she continues to try and find what motivates each athlete to perform, she said. She has also worked with the team’s nutritionist and psychologist at JMU much more than in the past.

Ricksecker is a big believer in team chemistry, but sees getting to know athletes and their goals on an individual basis as just as important. She wants to know how her athletes feel every day, makes it routine to talk to them, and pays attention to their training logs. This helps her determine the best workouts for athletes to participate in throughout each week.

“I try to enter them in races that are confidence builders so that they know that they can hit their goal at the right time,” Ricksecker said. “I view most of the season as build up races to gradually build more and more confidence each month, so that they’re most likely to hit their goal at the end.”

Each member of the team receives a practice schedule for the semester, which allows the team to “take it one day at a time,” Davidson said. “If I’m having a jump day on Tuesday, but I have sled pulls on Monday I don’t have to think about the jump day,” she said, adding that it allows athletes to better prepare for practice each day.

Senior Shelby Staib participates in the javelin throw at last year’s JMU Invite on April 16, 2022. Breeze file photo

Sophomore Jaiden Martelluci participates in the hammer throw at the JMU invite. Breeze file photo

from TRACK & FIELD, page 20

When Ricksecker makes the schedule for each of her athletes, they begin with the championship meets, as this is when it’s ideal for them to be at their peak. The rest of an athlete’s schedule is determined around the goal they choose to accomplish, she said.

“I do see every race as an opportunity to show where you are and push yourself, but I wouldn’t say that athletes should dig as deep as they possibly can every time because then they’re not going to have gas left at the end of the season,” Ricksecker said.

Races leading up to championship meets allow athletes to practice different types of racing strategies and different racing situations, Ricksecker said. Fitness and endurance are also increased during these meets, and athletes are not expected to “go into the well,” for every meet, she said.

One workout designed to challenge the endurance of runners is to move from 600m, to 400m, to 300m, to 200m, while progressively running faster. Runners choose to do as many sets as they want and are grouped with people doing the same amount. The team will also practice running 10 sets of hills, where they will sprint up a hill then jog down to recover, Ricksecker said.

For Ricksecker, it’s all about building up the team’s endurance throughout the season.

“The one or two days leading up to races are always more recovery days,” Ricksecker said. “Some of the early season races I don’t expect people to be running their fastest if they want to be running their fastest at the end during the championships.”

If an athlete is able to perform well throughout the season, their chances of reaching postseason competition are increased.

“Just deciphering which goals are more important for certain weekends, I think adds an element to track that may be different from maybe some other team sports,” Ricksecker said.

Not every meet is determined by overall team points, leading to some weekends being more individual based and allowing athletes to focus on records for themselves.

After heaving 48.92m earlier in the season at the Raleigh Relays, pressure has been relieved on meet days for Staib, she said, as the chances for postseason competition have been increased. The middle of the season has been focused on breaking down different techniques and still focusing on what she needs to work on, Staib said.

“Now we’re kind of taking a couple steps back,” Staib said. “One, to take care of my body, make sure that it feels good during my rehab

… for the technique I’ve been working on, and then we’ll be wrapping back up again for the end of the season to try to put those pieces all together and then project myself through to the SBC.”

Staib said her goal is to compete at the NCAA East Regionals for the third year in a row, but she’s experienced shoulder pain throughout the season. Her training is targeted toward being “explosive” and has consisted of high-intensity speed work with medicine balls in strength and conditioning.

Staib often uses medicine balls to replicate throwing a javelin and work on hip power and shoulder rotation. She works on explosive sprints through sled pulls. Three to four times a week, Staib rehabilitates her rotator cuffs, chest and shoulders to manage any pain and ensure her muscles are functioning properly and together for her throws.

For her runs, Davidson practices A-skips and B-skips, which focuses on her core and hamstrings. She ensures these muscles stay engaged throughout the entire practice.

“I like to try to train my mind and my muscles to do that during warmups so that when it comes to actually going over a hurdle or actually jumping, it just comes as secondhand and I don’t have to think about it anymore,” Davidson said, saying she makes sure she’s not skipping

any part of practice so her muscle memory can become second nature.

As an athlete’s mental health is equally important as their physical health, Staib takes care of herself outside of practice by stretching before bed, doing yoga and hitting the weight room three to four times a week. Whether it’s at home or with a trainer, she said she’s always doing extra rehab and is always busy outside of practice. Davidson echoes a similar sentiment. “You can physically all be there and you can be physically in the best shape possible,” Davidson said. “but if you’re mentally thinking about something different, it can change everything.”

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

“I do see every race as an opportunity to show where you are and push yourself.”

Rebekah Ricksecker

Assistant track and field coach

Junior Maya Gary competes in the long jump at the JMU Invite last season. Breeze file photo

Power hitter, quiet leader

Trimble leads by example for JMU baseball

By MADI ALLEY The Breeze

It’s the bottom of the ninth in game three of JMU baseball’s first home series of the 2023 season. The Dukes trail Cornell 5-3 with two outs and bases loaded. Sophomore outfielder Fenwick Trimble steps into the batter’s box with a chance to keep the Dukes alive.

“I actually made a base running error in the bottom of the eighth inning and it cost us,” Trimble said. “So kind of that whole inning I was like, ‘Please let me get up again so I can redeem myself.’”

The sophomore delivered, driving a grand slam out to right center on his final at-bat of the day. The game-winning grand slam secured the Dukes a 7-5 win.

“When we have a guy that can hit a home run at any point, it helps tremendously,” redshirt senior infielder Kyle Novak said.

Trimble’s success in the batter’s box this season has been pivotal in redefining the Dukes’ offense after losing key producers last season.

After the conclusion of the 2022 season, the Dukes needed hitters who could start to fill the holes left by MLB draft pick Chase DeLauter and U. Va. transfer Travis Reifsnider.

“I had to step up a little bit, but I don’t look at it as a pressure thing,” Trimble said. “I look at it more like I worked hard to get to this position and this is what I want.”

The sophomore wasted no time becoming the top threat for the Dukes this season in the batter’s

box, leading in hits, home runs and RBIs.

Trimble credits assistant coach Michael Roberts for pushing him to make adjustments and holding him to a high standard.

“You always want someone pushing you, and I think the biggest X factor this year has been coach Mike Roberts,” Trimble said. “The way he pushes us and pulls out extra work that we didn’t necessarily know we had within ourselves — I definitely think that has been a key for this year.”

Roberts joined the program in August 2022 after serving as the special assistant to the head coach at U.Va. Roberts played collegiately under JMU head coach, Marlin Ikenberry, at VMI and was later drafted to the MLB in 2008, playing for the Milwaukee Brewers until 2012.

Coach Roberts said it’s Trimble’s “adaptability” that makes him such a coachable player.

“I can mention something to him and he’ll be able to put it into action pretty quickly. I can say, ‘Hey, you should try this with your hands—and within a few pitches,’” Roberts said. “He’s able to do that pretty consistently. A lot of other hitters can’t do that, period.”

Trimble had his sights set on making improvements and “fine-tuning” his game heading into his sophomore season.

“I wanted to get better in as many aspects as I could,” Trimble said. “I just wanted to be confident defensively and also in the batter’s box too.”

The sophomore’s success with hitting this spring stemmed from a season of growth and adjustment after “really struggling, not hitting anything” in the fall, Roberts said.

But that changed in the spring.

“He didn’t second guess it and he kept plugging away with it,” Roberts said. “Finally, you know, after three or four weeks where he didn’t hit the ball period, it all clicked. He hit the ball and, I mean, he crushed it.”

Novak tipped his hat to Trimble’s work ethic and dedication during the offseason.

“He was just grinding every day, working so hard on his swing. Hitting extra swings inside our indoor cages and working every day on finding his swing with Mike,” Novak said. “And then, he found it, and he’s been crushing it since.”

Trimble has already crushed nine home runs this season in 31 games. As a freshman, he only tallied seven across the whole 2022 season.

“If he continues to progress like he has over the past few months, and then you look at another year or two, he’s got a chance to be a really special talent and a special player for JMU baseball,” Roberts said.

Roberts said it’s not just Trimble’s strength on the field that makes him special but also his character and the ways in which he leads by example for the Dukes.

“He’s such a great teammate, and he’s here to serve others,” Roberts said. “That’s what it’s all about, right? That’s the best thing I can say about him.”

Novak echoed Roberts, putting an emphasis on Trimble’s quiet, yet confident leadership style.

“He’s not the guy that’s screaming and getting everyone fired up in the middle of the circle,” Novak said. “He’s the kind of the guy that just goes up to you individually, and just gives you little pointers and things to keep your confidence up and keep you pushing through the game.”

Trimble and the Dukes will continue their offensive goal of applying pressure as they prepare for their three-game series down in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, against Southern Miss. The first pitch of the series is set for Friday at 7 p.m.

CONTACT Madi Alley at alleyml@dukes.jmu. edu. For more baseball coverage, follow the sports desk on Twitter @TheBreezeSports.

Celebrating after his score, sophomore outfielder Fenwick Trimble heads back to the dugout after heading home plate. Savannah Reger / The Breeze

Want to praise someone or get something off your chest? Darts & Pats is the place to do it. Submit your own at breezejmu.org.

One step at a time

Putting contrasting stripes on the edge of stair steps across campus can help prevent injuries

A “finally” pat to Dunkin’ for getting my drink right.

From someone with high standards.

A “life-saver” pat to my friend for uncovering Bistro in SSC for me.

From a junior who missed out on short lines and delicious food for two years.

JMU’s campus, in both its geography and climate, is up and down. Just up and down all the time. Anyone who’s walked any stretch of campus is aware of the flows of hills. There are many staircases on campus, like the hellish nightmare the steps outside Godwin are, but these staircases aren’t completely accessible for all members of the JMU community.

According to a poll from The Breeze’s Instagram, when asked, “Have you ever had difficulty on campus (falling, slipping, trouble distinguishing steps, etc.)?” 60% of 63 respondents indicated they had.

Contrasting stripes on staircases would make stairs more accessible for everyone, including people with visual impairments. They can mark the edge of steps to make them more visible, and a cane can bump against them as a person ascends or descends the stairs.

According to Amezz Industrial Structures, one of the leading causes of accidents on stairways is poor visibility. Stairs, at times, can seem to blend together in appearance, especially in low-light conditions. People can misread the edge of a step, which can cause a fall.

An “I’m-walking-here” dart to the person in Dukes Dining who threw trash at me.

From someone who just wanted to pick up their food in peace and doesn’t have time for your shenanigans.

Contrasting stripes can also make steps more slip resistant. The weather in the Shenandoah Valley constantly changes. One week it’s in the 80s, and the next is rainy and in the 50s. When it rains, it can make it harder to see. With the number of hills, things can get slippery.

Having contrasting stripes can not only help when it rains — making the many stairs on

A “that-made-my-day” pat to the Tesla with a license plate that said plug in.

From someone who needed a good start to their Monday.

campus more slip-resistant — but it also makes the steps more visible, as contrasting stripes also locate the end or beginning of the staircase. Contrasting tape provides higher visibility on steps, which could be beneficial to those with visual impairments, physical disabilities and just the average student who may be traversing the stairs too fast.

According to Synergi, a company that specializes in installing and designing stairs, contrasting stripes on stairs can give an effective visual safety trigger, which allows for better cues in both the central and peripheral zones of

vision. This also prevents steps from appearing to blend, which creates a dangerous illusion of a ramp.

Campus walkers believe they’d benefit from the placement of contrasting stripes. A poll conducted on The Breeze’s Instagram reported that 77% of 65 respondents voted “Yes,” when asked, “Do you think you would benefit from increased accessibility of stairways including the placement of contrasting stripes at the edge of steps?”

Better visibility on staircases is important. Not only should everyone in the JMU community be able to access campus but campus should also be safe for them to do so. Higher visibility on steps might prevent a misstep on a staircase late at night, distinguishing each step even in the dark. It could also prevent slipping in the early morning when everything is covered in dew. The last thing you want when you’re running to class is to wipe out, run up a flight of slippery steps and skin your knee, wind up late to class or have to take a trip to the University Health Center.

JMU has a large campus that spans across 721 acres. Over 21,000 students attend the university and there’s a large number of staff it takes to run and teach at this institution. Inclusion and accessibility is important for all — this should include contrasting stripes on staircases.

CONTACT Hailey Ruffner at ruffnehl@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more editorials regarding the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the opinion desk on Instagram and Twitter @Breeze_Opinion.

HAILEY RUFFNER hailey’s opinion dominion

Contrasting stripes are an effective way to help people visually distinguish steps on a stairway.

Sixty percent of respondents to a Breeze Instagram poll indicated they’ve experienced difficulty on stairways across campus. Photos by Ella Stotzky / The Breeze

First year facts

Commentary | Advice for the class of 2027 on how to optimize its time at JMU

CARLISLE COPELAND | contributing columnist

Transitioning into college is hard. Picking the perfect school, deciding on a major, reaching out to strangers to find a suitable roommate and figuring out what to pack all culminate into a stressful period for many people. I’ve been there. If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably been scouring the JMU website and every blog that mentions JMU to figure out exactly what it'll be like when you arrive.

Making friends takes time

You won't meet your lifelong friends during the first week — and that’s OK. Freshman Maci Ryan said she didn’t even meet her best friends the whole first semester. It takes time to find your groove in a new place and figure out who you want to surround yourself with. The key is to be patient — it'll happen. JMU offers so many opportunities to meet new people.

Participate in FROG week

The first week of college for incoming freshmen, affectionately referred to as FROG week, is an experience you only get once. Go to absolutely everything.

My No. 1 regret from my first week of college is skipping school-sponsored events to do other things, such as going to parties.

There will be plenty of parties to go to later in the semester. School events are where you meet most of your friends, so take advantage of them. The first week will feel long. It’s going to be hot and overwhelming, but it’s worth it, so go to events such as Block Party in the 'Burg and make the most of your first week here.

The climate

If you’re not from Virginia or an area with a similar climate, the Valley weather might take some getting used to. The first couple of months are going to be really hot.

Freshman Haley Wilson said the No. 1 thing she wishes she brought is bedsheets that don’t trap heat. If you end up living somewhere like the Village that doesn’t have air conditioning, lightweight bedding will truly make a difference. It’s also smart to bring multiple fans because it can get musty in the buildings without air conditioning.

My roommate and I both only had small desk fans beside our beds and found ourselves sweating whenever we were in our room, so larger area fans are a must. After the first few weeks, the heat will become more manageable, but other weather surprises will come.

It’s beautiful on some days with the Quad flooded with people playing spikeball, throwing a frisbee or doing homework, then sometimes freezing cold the next — so be prepared for all seasons here.

The smell after it rains

If you were fortunate enough to tour campus on a sunny day without rain then you might not be familiar with one of JMU’s trademark scents — dog food.

Pack an umbrella and maybe some nose plugs because when it rains here.

It rains hard and leaves behind an interesting aroma.

Harrisonburg is famous for poultry production, so when the chicken feed gets wet, we can smell it on campus, but it isn’t actually that bad. It’s something students love to complain about, but it’s manageable and brings us all in on a community-wide joke.

The size

With a little over 20,000 undergraduate students, JMU is definitely a big school. This is great because we have all the benefits of a big school, such as the many dining options, exciting football games and various clubs and organizations. However, don’t feel too overwhelmed.

I almost always see someone I know on my way to class or in the dining halls and never feel alone or lost in a sea of people.

JMU does an excellent job of making us feel like a community and providing opportunities for everyone. Most of the professors offer office hours, so if you want one-on-one time with them, it’s still possible — even if you have a 300-person lecture. There’s a great combination of big and small activities on campus to make everyone feel at home.

Greek life

As a large school, JMU does have a prominent Greek scene. There are various fraternities and sororities on campus that many people love to get involved with. It has its pros and cons.

Greek life gets a bad rap sometimes and even clashes with the community as a December, 2022 Breeze article reports complaints from community members over downtown parties. Off-campus Greek houses aren’t able to display letters and often get penalized for residential disturbances. Still, joining Greek life is a great way to make friends.

However, if that isn’t your cup of tea, don’t worry. There are plenty of other organizations to join. Only 20% of the students are actually in Greek life and JMU has over 450 other clubs and organizations to join.

Many people have concerns they won’t be able to fully participate in the college experience or be able to go to events without being part of a Greek organization, but that's only true if you let it be. If you're interested in the more traditional college experience similar to the one in movies with large social events, then perhaps Greek life is for you.

Greek life, particularly fraternities, does have many social events that can only be attended by members. Other organizations, such as club sports teams, student ambassadors, JMU

Give and more, also host plenty of events to get involved with. There’s truly something for everyone on campus.

Dukes hold doors

I’ve never met a community of more friendly people than here at JMU. The on-campus saying “Dukes hold doors” is actually true. I’ve never once had a door shut on me and have even sometimes had to speed up because other students hold doors whenever they see someone coming, even if it’s an awkward distance.

This saying goes beyond the physical act of holding a door open. It means the students and staff here truly care about everyone. We physically and metaphorically open doors for each other and hold them until we get through. The community is welcoming and everyone cares for each other more than in any place I’ve ever seen. Of course, JMU can’t be perfect for every single person. However, if you're looking for a place that feels like a family and where you know people care, then this is it.

JMU truly is amazing

Everyone thinks their college is the best, but JMU really is amazing. Ninety percent of JMU's students return for their second year, which is

pretty impressive.

Our campus is beautiful with some of the prettiest sunsets lighting up the sky almost every evening. Our football games, while not reaching the extent of those at SEC schools, are like no other. We have a cannon go off after every touchdown and students throw purple and gold streamers from the stands that bring the spirit. It can neither be confirmed nor denied that some graduating seniors even take a Quad brick to keep a little piece of it with them after graduation. Dining hall food can sometimes be questionable at many universities, but JMU's almost always has excellent food with fun themes ranging from cheesy Thursdays to buffalo mash Fridays.

There are so many things to do off-campus too. Since we are located right in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, there are plenty of opportunities for hiking, skiing and even just a beautiful downtown to explore.

Come to JMU. Do it. It’s a decision you won’t regret

CONTACT Carlisle Copeland at copel2cp@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more editorials regarding the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the opinion desk on Instagram and Twitter @Breeze_Opinion.

On April 14, prospective students from a record high number of applicants will descend on Harrisonburg for CHOICES. Ryan Sauer / The Breeze

Attitude toward solitude

DUA contributing columnist

Do you remember the simpler and innocent days of your childhood? The moments where you’d be nervous and excited about going to a new classroom or starting a new grade? You might’ve felt anxious and concerned about whether you’d make any friends or fit in, but by recess you’d have a whole new group of friends to play with. Do you miss those days? I do. As adults, making friends isn’t as simple as it was in kindergarten. Making friends is complicated and it doesn’t get any easier as you get older. It’s elusive, they’re difficult to find and keep, and sometimes friendships can be illusive, deceptive and insincere.

We’re such an individualistic society. It seems we only look at friendships as a matter of what we can get out of them instead of as an opportunity to form a trusting kinship. We also prioritize romantic relationships so much we let our friendships fall into the back seat of importance. Though many people want to have others in their lives they can relate to and feel like they have a place where they fit in, they often lack those friendships.

Cigna Group’s 2020 report on loneliness uses UCLA’s loneliness scale, which specifies loneliness as a score of 43 and above, to state that 61% of Americans are lonely. Cigna Group also reports young adults ages 18-24 are twice as likely to feel lonely than people aged 66 and older. Many of us want to make friends, but why is it challenging?

JMU has 20,346 undergraduate students, according to its fall 2022 statistics. With this many students, it can seem that it would be easy to make friends and connections, but unfortunately that’s not the case. It feels like the more people we have around us, the lonelier we become and the more drowned out we feel our voices get in the ocean of others.

Some might attribute their loneliness to a lack of a romantic partner instead of a lack of a friend group. There’s a perception in society that the only place where we can get emotional fulfillment and acceptance is within the confines of a signigicant other. This belief is so strong that we’re willing to sacrifice friendships in order to maintain or acquire a relationship. So, could part of the reason for our loneliness be that we’re only looking toward romantic relationships for companionship? When you put all of your focus on a romantic partner for all of your intimacy, emotional fulfillment and sociability, then you have the risk of having no one if that relationship ends. People need to learn that friendships are just as important as romantic relationships and both need to be cherished and nurtured.

Could this tendency to focus on one person for all of our emotional needs be complicated human biology?

between male and female friendships in an interview with podcast host Chris Williamson. In the interview, he describes how women’s friendships are built off one-on-one conversations that involve relationships, the social world and emotions. Also, what keeps friendships going between women is the frequency they’re able to communicate with each other. Women’s friendships can also be more fragile and prone to breaking than men’s. The frequency of conversation oftentimes doesn’t affect the strength of men’s friendships; instead, it’s how often they do activities together. Also, male friendships can be more stable because they’re oftentimes spread among many people, are tightly connected to a team or organization and men are less resentful in conflict. However, male friendships

that we’re not fully present with them and that’s something’s ‘a little off.’”

Kerr also suggests that loneliness can create a self-fulfilling prophecy and if we become worried about rejection, we might behave in a way that causes it.

Could a reason for the high rates of loneliness today be that we’re all more occupied with our cellphones and internet friends to make friends in real life? According to the Pew Research Center, 54% of teens say it would be hard to give up social media. We can look at our social media accounts and see hundreds and thousands of people’s names. But how many of us can state more than a few names of friends we communicate with weekly? Our social media notifications can light up like a Christmas tree, but our cellphones will be as dry as the Sahara Desert.

A 2021 article titled “Loneliness in America,” published by Harvard’s

media can amplify feeling lonely, unwanted and rejected through the perception of not having enough likes and viewing curated images posted on social media. It can intensify longing for understanding and connection. Also, young people commonly are less satisfied and feel more distant in their relationships than older adults.

Making friends can be hard, but it shouldn’t have to be. I know the anxiety of being in a new environment and wondering if you can relate to anyone around you. In my previous major, I felt like everyone around me was from a different planet. I couldn’t relate to anything that anyone around me talked about. I felt like I was just moving with the tide. When we’re putting ourselves out there to make friends, we ask ourselves if we’re really making friends or just close acquaintances. I realized I was surrounded by people, but I felt the most alone I’ve ever felt.

There’s a difference between a friend and a close acquaintance, and what I had were close acquaintances. The worst way to find out your friend is a close acquaintance is when you realize you can’t depend on them. My friendships were illusive. We had little in common and they didn’t understand me as a person. Many of us want to develop strong friendships like the ones we grew up watching on TV, but those true friendships are elusive — hard to find. For some of us, that’s one of the reasons we chose to go to a big university. Because we hoped we’d make those types of friendships. But as you go through university, friendships can be like playing musical chairs: You make a friend during the semester, then you end that friendship and find another.

The Harvard Graduate School of Education report also described a 2013 survey that compared the level of importance of high achievement, happiness and caring for others among young people. Almost 80% of those surveyed picked some aspect of success, high achievement or happiness, and only 20% picked caring for others. The report expressed families and schools do little to nurture the skills necessary for establishing caring friendships. For example, the capacity to listen, ask questions, identify feelings in others and respond to the negative feelings of others with sensitivity.

can drift apart instead of breaking.

JMU psychology professor Natalie Kerr said she believes in this modern age we’re living in, we’ve all become disconnected. She attributes individualism, social media and distractions from smart phones as possible reasons.

talked about the differences

Robin Dunbar, an anthropologist and evolutionary psychologist at the University of Oxford,

“All of us are wired for connection and when we don’t get enough of it, we suffer emotionally as well as physically,” Kerr said. “Loneliness distorts our thinking … This distorted thinking can create a barrier to connection, causing others to perceive

Graduate School of Education, states about half of the young adults it surveyed reported that no one in the past few weeks had taken time to ask how they were doing in a way that made them feel cared for. Forty-two percent of respondents said they have fewer people outside of their family who care about them than they’d like. The article also stated that loneliness can lead to depression, anxiety, heart disease, domestic abuse and substance abuse, and that lacking social connection has the same level of health risks as heavy smoking, drinking and obesity.

The report also detailed how social

Despite the difficulty of building friendships for modern youth, sophomore Matt McCaskill holds a positive view on the issue. He defines this generation’s perspective on friendship as friendships that are many in number and easier to keep in contact with due to social media. The only downside is the bond between friends might not be as strong and sincere. Some of them might be superficial, but he hopes most friendships are sincere and genuine. McCaskill thinks this generation values friendship and that many of his friendships are genuine and will last after graduation.

JACQUELINE

College students need to be intentional in forming lasting relationships to combat widespread loneliness among young adults

61% of Americans are lonely according to UCLA’s loneliness scale

54% of teens say it would be hard to give up social media according to a Pew Research Center survey

About half of young adults report no one had asked how they were in the past few weeks according to Harvard’s Graduate School of Education

Evan Weaver / The Breeze

from RELATIONSHIPS, page 26

His advice for students struggling to make friends is to “Take care of yourself physically, mentally and spiritually. Have a positive outcome on life and the time you have at JMU because you won’t be here forever.”

Kerr also offered advice for students at JMU: “Expect the best. Go into a social situation expecting that people will like you. Research shows most of us underestimate how much others like us. Get out of your head. During conversation, try to really focus on what the other person is saying instead of what’s running through your mind.”

Kerr recommends that students be patient when pursuing friendships and to think of social connection as a muscle that becomes stronger with practice.

With age friendships become less effortless and if we want to make deep friendships that will last through time, we must make an effort to keep in contact with our friends. This means knowing how to balance the commitments of a romantic relationship and friendship. Also, we need to choose people we have things in common with. Making friends shouldn’t be a matter of having someone to go to parties with or someone you only hang out with after a breakup. When making friends, we must consistently ask ourselves: Do they understand me as a person and is this someone I can always depend on?

CONTACT Jacqueline Dua at duaja@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more editorials regarding the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the opinion desk on Instagram and Twitter @Breeze_Opinion.

Reader CONDEmns JMU’s Holocaust remembrance response

I am writing as a JMU alumni, resident of the Shenandoah Valley and Virginia taxpayer. I would like to commend The Breeze’s coverage of the university’s failure to properly plan and conduct a Holocaust commemoration ceremony this year.

Unlike the most recent author of a letter about this issue, I am not a member of the Jewish community. Nor am I a personal friend of the JMU provost. I have no connection to Florida Atlantic University (FAU) — the provost’s previous employer, and more than coincidentally, the current employer of the guest speaker at this year’s Holocaust Commemoration Ceremony.

- I know enough about organizational behavior and history to recognize that:

- The provost mishandled the Holocaust Commemoration Ceremony by circumventing the will of the Jewish committee members responsible for planning the event.

- The guest speaker for the ceremony was from the provost’s former academic institution, FAU, and was not the choice of the committee. The individual that recently wrote a letter to The Breeze was also a friend of the provost’s from another Florida

university. The fact that the two of them performed together in concert makes it very unlikely that the letter to The Breeze was spontaneous or unbiased.

- The failure of JMU’s president to address the concerns of the university’s Jewish community is lamentable and invites accusations of antisemitism.

To the Breeze editor and team, please continue to cover this important story and to serve as a critical venue for free speech and thought at JMU.

Sincerely, Jeff Bolander

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

Edited by Patti Varol and Joyce Lewis

Jon Pennington

MADISON MARKETPLACE

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COMMUNITY

Dance Instructor

NOW HIRING Dance Teachers for Fall 2023-Spring 2024 at well-established studio in downtown Harrisonburg. Seeking teachers with extensive dance training, performance experience and love of teaching! Send resume to dancencompany@gmail.com and call 540810-3631 to begin the interview process. Interviews begin in April-Call Now! More info - dancenco.com/ employment-opportunities.

Fully Furnished Apartment

One bedroom, fully furnished, cookware, silverware, dishes, appliances & furniture. Electric, heat/AC included. TV & high-speed internet available. Country setting 10 miles north of city along Route 11. $1000 per month. Security deposit required. 540-432-1989 cell 540-746-7445

Springfield

Interstate Moving Summer Jobs and student internship program. * Gym Membership * know of anyone looking for summer work $100 per referral to anyone who refers somebody - once their hired. Contact Jenny for details and to be set up with an interview: Jenny Pardo 571-220-6485

REAL ESTATE AUCTION

Real Estate Auction 376 College Street, Dayton, Va.

Thurs., April 20 at 6 p.m. Beautiful brick home with a large rear yard. Great investment property. Close to campus! TOURS: Thursday, April 13-4 p.m. & Sunday, April 16-2 p.m. See Terms at MarkCraigAuctions. com. MARK CRAIG AUCTIONS - VA#2905002160 - 540/246-6430

Pianist/Music Leader at Church

Mount Hermon UMC, located near Bayse, VA, is seeking an energetic and talented pianist and music leader for Sunday services at 9:30 a.m. Music leader would work with Pastor Josh Orndorff, JMU Ph.D. student. Email him at orndorjr@dukes.jmu.edu for more information. Pay is $100 per worship service.

JMU Athletics Tutors

JMU Athletics is hiring Tutors for the 23/24 Academic year. GPA 3.0 or higher and tutors must have received a grade of B+ or higher in any course tutored. Tutors are needed for all Gen Ed courses and for a variety of majors. Pay rate $15-20/hour. For more information and to apply go to JMU Job Link Posting Number J2159 (https://joblink.jmu.edu/postings/14222).

STUDENT ASSISTANT: JMU International Study Center

20hrs/week, $10/hour, May or August start date. The International Study Center is a pathway program for international students at JMU that is run by Study Group, LLC. Submit resume to Jennifer Little, littl2jr@jmu.edu.

Harrisonburg English Tutor

Searching for a college English tutor. Must be available this week please to start and other times . Hours are somewhat flexible. Pay is only 15 an hr, slightly negotiable

CITY OF HARRISONBURG JOBS

Career Opportunity - Specialist I (Traffic Signs & Pavement Markings)

Do you want to work in a team environment and repair/maintain/troubleshoot/install traffic signs and pavement markings? If so, the Specialist I-Traffic Signs & Pavement Markings position within the City’s Public Works Department may be the right career for you, and we’ll provide on-the-job training! Find out more/apply online: https://www.harrisonburgva. gov/employment. EOE.

Job Opportunity - Office Assistant

Are you seeking a rewarding administrative job that allows you to make a difference in the local community? If so, consider applying to the City of Harrisonburg’s Office Assistant position within the Registrar’s Office! Find out more/apply online: https://www.harrisonburgva. gov/employment. EOE.

Job Opportunity - Office Assistant

Are you seeking a rewarding administrative job that allows you to make a difference in the local community? If so, consider applying to the City of Harrisonburg’s Office Assistant position within the Registrar’s Office! Find out more/apply online: https://www.harrisonburgva. gov/employment. EOE.

HEC Summer Position

Harrisonburg Electric Commission is looking for summer help in the customer service department. Good customer service, communication skills, and the basic computer skills are needed. Hours are M-F, 8:00-5:00. Visit harrisonburgelelctric.com to complete an online application, call (540) 434-5361 or stop by our downtown office.

Career Opportunity - Training & Quality Assurance Program Specialist

Are you searching for a challenging yet rewarding opportunity to use your knowledge/experience in adult learning and development, training program and curriculum development, quality assurance, or auditing?

If so, the HRECC Training & Quality Assurance Program Specialist may be the right career move for you! Find out more/apply: https://www.harrisonburgva.gov/ employment. EOE.

MORE CITY OF HARRISONBURG JOBS

Career Opportunity - Firefighter

The Harrisonburg Fire Department is seeking to create a Firefighter hiring list (due to anticipated future vacancies) of individuals desiring a challenging career in public service! No prior certification or training as a firefighter or EMT is required to apply. Find out more/apply online: https://www.harrisonburgva.gov/employment. EOE.

Police Officer (Testing & Employment Opportunities)

The City of Harrisonburg is currently accepting applications for individuals interested in joining HPD, which offers a rewarding career plus an excellent benefits package, including enhanced hazardous duty through the Virginia Retirement System (VRS). The next Police Officer Testing is scheduled for Saturday, April 28. Find out more/apply: https://www.harrisonburgva.gov/employment. EOE.

Natural Resource Management Technicians

Virginia Forestry and Wildlife Group, located in Afton, Virginia is seeking candidates for the position of Natural Resource Managment Technician. For more information please visit: https://vaforestwild.com/jobs.

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