The Breeze 9.7.23

On the cover

This week's front page highlights the JMU vs. U.Va. matchup on Saturday, the first time in 40 years that they will face each other in football. The last time they played was in 1983, when JMU lost to the Cavaliers 21-14. The previous year, JMU beat U.Va. 21-17, and in 1979 — the first-ever matchup between the teams — the Cavaliers beat the Dukes 69-9.

The Breeze posted a message in JMU Nation, a Facebook group mostly made up of JMU fans, to ask about memories of the matchups and connections that families and alums hold between the neighboring schools. A collage of those messages and pictures are featured in the sports section on pages 14 and 15.

The front page photos features a collection of archived shots from the Sept. 20, 1982, edition of The Breeze that captured the Dukes' upset win over the Cavaliers, and pictures from Photo Editor Ryan Sauer from last season's JMU verses Georgia State matchup Nov. 19, in which the Dukes honored the three victims in the U.Va. shooting with helmet decals.

Editorial Staff

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

NEWS EDITORS

ELEANOR SHAW & LIZZIE STONE breezenews@gmail.com

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

Advertising

EXECUTIVE EDITOR MICHAEL RUSSO breezepress@gmail.com

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

AUDIENCE EDITOR ALI MCCALEB thebreezesocials@gmail.com

MANAGING EDITOR AVERY GOODSTINE thebreezeweb@gmail.com

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

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

Staff CREATIVE DIRECTOR AD DESIGNERS ALEX CANDELIER TRISTAN GAONA & MEGAN GOLINSKY

COVER ART BY: BEN MOULSE / THE BREEZE COVER PHOTOS BY: BREEZE FILE PHOTOS (LEFT) RYAN SAUER / THE BREEZE

OPINION EDITOR

EVAN WEAVER breezeopinion@gmail.com

ART DIRECTOR BEN MOULSE thebreezeartdirector@gmail.com

LEFT: JMU student Ava Doome makes a Drifters Cafe specialty coffee. Drifters opened on Aug. 29, taking over the space on South Liberty Street previously occupied by Black Sheep Coffee, which relocated. Drifters serves breakfast, lunch and smoothies in addition to coffee, which JMU students are looking for in alternative ways this year because of the renovation and closure of Carrier Library that featured a popular Starbucks location inside. Avery Goodstine / The Breeze

For more photos of Drifters Cafe, see page 13

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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.

Published on Thursday mornings, The Breeze is distributed throughout James Madison University and the local Harrisonburg community. Single copies of The Breeze are distributed free of charge. Additional copies are available for 50 cents by contacting our business office. Comments and complaints should be addressed to Grant Johnson, editor.

JMU leaders promote James Madison namesake to international guests

By ELEANOR SHAW The Breeze

The setting sun illuminates a room full of academics hailing from countries far and wide, all united uner one cause: democracy.

JMU’s Madison Center for Civic Engagement on Monday welcomed a group of 44 guests from Ukraine, Jamaica and Germany and other foreign places to Harrisonburg for a reception to commemorate the beginning of the 2023 Institute of Civic Studies and Learning for Democracy (ICSLD), a weeklong seminar and residential retreat.

Vision of engagement

Tanja Hoggan-Kloubert, a professor of adult education at the University of Augsburg in Germany who’s participated in ICSLD for nine years, said the institute, founded in 2009, aims to unite an internationally and academically diverse group of individuals to discuss their communities’ successes, failures and challenges in implementing democracy.

Together, Hoggan-Kloubert said participants brainstorm ways in which they can civically engage their communities to strengthen the governmental ideal.

“We see a person as not a spectator but as a creator,” HogganKloubert said. “We talk about tools we can use to organize in your own country or in a small village.”

According to a JMU press release on Oct. 25, 2022 , the school announced it would host this year’s institute shortly after it was named a third partner institution for ICSLD in 2022, joining North Carolina State and the University of Augsburg.

Hoggan-Kloubert helped organize the event alongside NC State education professor Chad Hoggan, Madison Center executive director, David Kirkpatrick, and its associate director, Kara Dillard.

Dillard said participants had to go through a competitive application process in which there were a limited number of positions available. The process, set up by Hoggan-Kloubert and Hoggan, required applicants to submit a resume and cover letter.

“There is a mix of academics and people who are working in non-governmental organizations — who are working

said they were grateful to have had their applications accepted and are optimistic about the week ahead.

“It’s a pretty prestigious honor, and we’re both super grateful to be part of the institute,” Waltz said.

The two said they were excited to engage with people from backgrounds different from theirs to gain a better understanding of democracy. Waltz said she is excited to learn about “democratic principles and ideals from all over the globe,” while Kalehadze said she looks forward to engaging with the American perspective of democracy.

First-time host

The reception, which took place in the Hall of Presidents within D-Hall, began with remarks from JMU President Jonathan Alger, Provost and Senior Vice President Heather Coltman and Kirkpatrick.

“Our move at JMU to host the ICSLD reflects the growth of our work in civic engagement and national and international leadership of JMU,” Kirkpatrick said.

PhotosbyRyanSauer

While at the lectern, Coltman brought attention to the Madison Center’s democracy fellows, who were in attendance.

Coltman said the 13 fellows — all of whom are undergraduate students — represent both the center and future leaders. She said they would “benefit tremendously to hear about the institute’s efforts to strengthen democracy globally” over the course of the seminar.

Senior SGA Senator Parker Boggs and sophomore class of 2026 President Reagan Polarek are among the fellows. The two are civically active on campus, with Boggs the founder and president of JMU’s chapter of Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) and Polarek as an intern in the Office of the President.

Boggs said the reception was the first part of the seminar he and Polarek were able to attend because of their busy schedules, but both said they’re excited to mesh their on-campus involvement with an international perspective.

“It’s really cool to put your passions into something that you can do on campus, and it’s not just a hobby,” Polarek said. “It’s wanting to represent people well and encourage civic engagement and let them know they have a voice.”

During his time speaking , Alger called back to JMU’s namesake, founding father and author of the U.S. Constitution James Madison, and said JMU works hard to unite people from varying political backgrounds and discuss civic issues.

Dillard agreed with Alger’s statement and said “there is no better place to host an international gathering like this.”

After his speech, Alger told The Breeze he’s “so excited” about the seminar because it unites people from diverse international backgrounds to discuss their ideas of democracy.

“We can actually learn a lot by listening to one another and by hearing one another,” Alger said. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for people in higher education to think about their role in supporting and sustaining a healthy and pluralistic democracy.”

Alger said when he considers democracy, he reflects on President Madison and his colleagues authoring the Constitution — a document he said was the start of an ongoing process of forming “a more perfect union.”

“It’s up to all of us and particularly our students as the future generation of leaders to reflect on that and ask ‘What can I do?’” Alger said. “That’s what I love about JMU, and that’s why I think it’ll be so valuable from this set of leaders to share ideas and practices from literally across the world.”

Montpelier, D.C. & beyond

During the remainder of the seminar, Dillard said attendees will travel north to Washington, D.C., and east to see Montpelier, Madison’s estate. While touring, Dillard said participants will visit historic sites such as the U.S. Capitol to “showcase the home of democracy for the United States.”

Participants such as Waltz, the NC State Ph.D. student, hope to implement what they learned during their week with JMU beyond the ICSLD.

Waltz, who is studying education with an emphasis on social studies, said she plans to research further into how schools’ curriculums could be used to create democratically minded citizens.

Beyond the international scope, Boggs and Polarek said they hope to encourage their peers to broaden their political horizons and become active civic participants. Polarek said she plans to share what she learns with her peers via updates through Instagram.

At the reception, Boggs said he looks forward to engaging with a multi-national perspective to learn from others’ mistakes and successes — especially within the context of the Madison Center’s “skyrocketing” popularity and increasing national recognition, he said.

“We’re here to learn,” Boggs said. “We’re not here to sit around. We’re actually here to take it all and practice it.”

These aspirations are not exclusive to this year.

Hoggan-Kloubert said during her experience with ICSLD, returning attendees informed her they took and implemented the ideas discussed during the institute.

“We have people coming back and really trying to implement [these ideas],” Hoggan-Kloubert said. “They think: ‘I am not a spectator anymore. I can and I will do something.’”

CONTACT

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

TOP: Visitors hailing from Germany, Ukraine, Jamaica and other countries gathered Monday in the Hall of Presidents in D-Hall to commemorate the 2023 Institute for Civic Studies and Learning for Democracy with a reception. BOTTOM: Participants enjoyed refreshments and food while they listened to addresses from Madison Center Executive Director David Kirkpatrick, Provost and Senior Vice President Heather Coltman and President Jonathan Alger.

Student senate approves finance, election appointments at first meeting

By MICHAEL RUSSO & ELEANOR SHAW The Breeze

The Student Government Association (SGA) Senate appointed its elections commissioner and finance liaison for this year and heard a presentation from Developing Men of Color (DMC).

Riley Gilbert appointed to election commissioner

The SGA Senate unanimously approved the appointment of sophomore Riley Gilbert to the position of election commissioner for the 2023-24 academic year.

The position requires the commissioner to oversee election planning, marketing and certification, all while upholding election policy as detailed in SGA’s constitution.

“I’ve been talking with Riley for two semesters now and over summer break,” junior Lexi Alston, parliamentarian, said. “She’s been very passionate about this position, and she understands firsthand that this position is not going to be an easy one.”

Alston continued and said she’s worked with Gilbert during previous elections and was confident Gilbert would be an asset to Alston as parliamentarian — the position that doubles as the rules and elections committee chair.

Outside the meeting, Gilbert said to the Breeze she’s excited and honored to take on the roles and responsibilities of her new position. One of Gilbert’s goals as election commissioner is to focus on fairness while streamlining the election process — something she said she’d accomplish by emphasizing organization.

Mahek Shroff reappointed to finance liaison

The SGA Senate unanimously approved the reappointment of junior Mahek Shroff to be the finance liaison for the 2023-24 academic year. She held the same position last year.

The position assists the treasurer, senior Matt Haynicz, in leading the finance committee in addition to fulfilling the duties of a senator, according to SGA’s constitution. As finance liaison, Shroff also oversees the contingency funding process wherein student organizations can request funds from the SGA.

Haynicz spoke in support of Shroff, saying she “served dutifully” during her time as finance liaison, and he said he believed she’s qualified for the position.

After the meeting, Shroff said she was excited for the coming year and to serve as Haynicz’s finance liaison. Further, Shroff said she plans to focus on tightening policy.

“I feel like changing a few things,” Shroff said. “I feel like there was a lot of room for errors last year, and I want to get out and focus on that part.”

DMC presents about their mission to empower

DMC presented to the SGA as part of an ongoing invitation to organizations to raise awareness for their various services.

DMC president, senior Judahpraise Acheampong, said the group’s main principle is education and focuses on three levels of mentorship for members: Peer mentorship that allows upperclassmen to work with first-year and sophomore students; professional mentorship provides networking opportunities that help members “get their foot in the door”; and youth mentorship that sees club members working with students in local middle and high schools to discuss the benefits of higher education and act as strong “minority male” role models.

Besides the mentorship aspect of the organization, Acheampong said activities such as barber shop talks where members can get a haircut, headshots and professional development sessions to prepare resumes and cover letters, are in the works.

Acheampong said DMC is minority focused but not minority exclusive, so “anyone who’s looking to find that place where they can bond with different individuals who are kind of looking to all better themselves” is welcome to join the organization.

Other highlights:

Senior Nate Hazen, student body president, said during the meeting’s leadership reports that one of his goals is to expand SGA’s presence across campus and engage with other student organizations to share what SGA can do for them. Additionally, Hazen said SGA members should bring peers to Senate meetings to share their input, ideas and concerns that the governing body can address in their governance.

“We need to make sure … as many organizations as possible know what we can do for them,” Hazen said after the meeting. “That’s our lifeline, and we can’t forget about that. So I think right now it’s important to just [be] getting the word out there and making sure that every organization knows what facilities you have both financially but also in advocacy — what we can do for them in that time of need. It’s a positive feedback cycle that helps us, that helps them, helps the student body overall.”

Fall elections for open positions — academic senators who represent JMU colleges as well as class council seats — will be held Sept. 18 through BeInvolved, according to Alston’s leadership report. Alston will also be leading interest meetings this week to engage with prospective candidates.

Outside of the meeting, Alston said she hopes to see people who can bring new perspectives to the organization — a shared goal she said ties into Hazen’s outreach initiatives with other parts of campus.

“That’s always been the biggest thing, someone who wants to be what SGA’s about — serving, informing, representing,” Alston said. “So, if we can find someone that does that that’s a freshman, we just love seeing that. They have a bright set of eyes coming from COVID, being mainly COVID high schoolers, so they know more about what things are going on outside our college bubble than we do.”

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

The SGA has a standing invitation for student organizations to give presentations on themselves and their services to raise awareness for what they do. Developing Men of Color (DMC) spoke Tuesday to discuss their mission of supporting men, with a focus on minorities.

In its first meeting of the year, the SGA filled its election commissioner and finance liaison positions. Elected positions will be filled later in the year. Photos by Eleanor Shaw / The Breeze

Breeze file graphic

Candles in residence halls now result in automatic fine

By JOELLE MCKENZIE contributing writer

During move-in in mid-August, students were given a bright yellow or white half sheet of paper with “NO CANDLES!” typed out in large, capitalized letters.

These words were accompanied by two pictures: a candle behind the prohibited circle symbol, and a picture of a smoke detector. According to this sheet of paper, only battery-operated candles are allowed in residence halls.

This slip of paper marked the beginning of on-campus students facing stricter enforcements pertaining to candles from the Office of Residence Life (ORL) on the candle ban.

Last year, if a student living on campus had been found with a candle in their room, it resulted in a warning. Now, having

in an automatic $75 fine. Even tampering with or covering fire safety equipment now results in a fine, according to ORL. ORL Director Kathleen Campbell said in an email to The Breeze on Aug. 29 that both candles and repeated tampering with fire safety equipment were a “problem on campus despite warnings being issued.”

From Aug. 1, 2022, through May 2023, there were 68 reports of candle infractions in residence halls, JMU Media Relations Coordinator Eric Gordon told the Breeze in an email Wednesday.

Campbell continued, saying the change is because of the fire marshal noticing a series of problems over several years. In the statement, she noted increased strictness was also “put in place to increase fire safety in residence halls.”

Returning Residential Advisor (RA) and junior Emily Allen said she remembered only one resident being found with a candle during her first year as an RA — which she said may have been used for decorative purposes.

Allen said she could not remember the exact

of candle

being an issue last year, but, for the most part, she recalled following

the fire and candle policies.

As an RA, she did not immediately notice the change in policy or read the flyer handed out to on-campus residents. Allen said she doubted that “actual residents are paying attention” to the policy change, given that not even she noticed the policy change herself.

Junior Naara Román, who lives on campus in the Bluestone Area and is a transfer student, said she was confused and taken aback when she heard of the policy change during move-in.

“I feel they have been very adamant about it, which makes students a little more nervous about the policy,” Román said. Both Román and Allen said they hope to learn and understand the reasons behind the policy change.

“I think it was a good idea in terms of the safety of the students,” Román said. “But, I do wish they would have given us a little more context.”

CONTACT Joelle McKenzie at mckenzjl@dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on Twitter @BreezeNewsJMU.

Ben Moulse / The Breeze

Review | ‘Can’t Feel at Home’ shines light upon dark history of the Valley

By K. MAUSER & EVAN MOODY The Breeze

Just as the ambient glow of the fireplace enveloped the singing ensemble, the light of the families forced off their land will never go out for as long as this art is shown.

“Can’t Feel at Home,” an original play by Dr. John Glick — adapted and directed by Stanley Swartz — returned Aug. 31 for its third production at the Court Square Theater by popular demand, according to the theater’s website. The play follows the story of families displaced from the Blue Ridge Mountains for construction of the Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive during the Great Depression.

Based on oral history — some of which Glick received while caring for the displaced people — and court documents, “Can’t Feel at Home” highlights the importance of family and faith through its focus on the Lamm family between 1934-36.

Right before the play begins, a musical accompaniment made up of a guitar player, a fiddler, a washboarder and a vocalist set the tone. As people took their seats, those on stage and in the audience sang a variation of “Amazing Grace.” At this point, the gap between viewers and actors was closed to make way for an authentic production, filled with early 20th century-based costumes and Appalachian jargon.

The production opened with a fireplace prop at the center of the stage, as well as a chair and a table on the side. Farther toward the left stage exit were two chairs facing the audience. In Scene 1, Grandma Zeta Lamm (Ryan Woolsey) and granddaughter Heather Glick (Isabelle Beyeler) discuss a family heirloom quilt and a dress Zeta made when she was young.

As Heather asks more about the artifacts and the family’s history, Grandma Zeta begins a retelling of their family’s displacement. In the retelling, which is performed in scenes throughout the production, Grandma Zeta is played as a child (Virginia Tompkins).

In most respects, Zeta’s retelling is a tragedy; however, the

actors depicted the family’s displacement with musical tradition, humor and faith that the audience would fall into the connections of these portrayals, bringing light upon the dark content.

The small band that begins the production recurs throughout the play. Live instrumentation, a feat for theater and played by the same small group, adds an authenticity that draws the audience in and has them singing from their seats again.

The play features many gospel hymns, adding to its heavy religious theme. The gospels are performed by an array of cast members, who differ in age and vocal pitches. “When We All Get to Heaven,” sung by the congregation at Grandma Sadie’s funeral, was particularly well-executed in its resonance with the audience, drawing applause after the scene ended.

Another notably well-crafted song was “Single Girl,” sung by Ruthie Hensley (Emily Stemper), Nell Lamm (Jackie Hensley), Jenny Baugher (Naomi Tompkins) and Fern Lamm (Tori Kaltenborn) at the wedding party. This number displayed a grace in the family, offering humor and joy after a daughter of the Lamm family ran away to get married.

“Rye Whiskey,” sung by Oscar Dean (Phil Easley), Wren Lamm (Doulas Alan Diehl), Sheriff Bob Hansborrow (Marty Pavlik), Cletus Hammer (Steve Carpenter) and Levi Hammer (Joseph Seitz), was exceptional in its difference from the gospel hymns of the production. An ode to the life-sustaining vice of drinking, the number used a humorous tone to uplift spirits at the beginning of the second act after such a sorrowful end to the first.

In this musical number, each member tried the whiskey and winced at the flavor, causing the audience to laugh each time a new cast member tried it. This small act of humor lightened up the play despite a nearing sense of gloom.

Humor also wove itself in during the introduction of each child in one of the schoolhouse scenes. Twins Fay Shifflett (Corinna Kaltenborn) and Floyd Shifflett (Cameron Kaltenborn) came into the classroom with a possum they found outside. Their other classmates jumped with excitement while the audience laughed on until the teacher intervened.

One element that resonated with the local audience was the

various jokes cracked about the surrounding towns and counties. Along with several references to Harrisonburg and Charlottesville, Elkton was dealt many blows such as saying it’s not that bad to live there. Thus, said jokes eased the audience’s thought of families resorting to move there.

To get by in the more solemn moments, the Lamm family prayed extensively and drew a few “amens” from the crowd. It was evident that Grandma Sadie was the pinnacle of faith for the family, teaching hymns throughout and having the children recite them as challenges. On her deathbed, Sadie pledged her emancipation from the world and expressed her excitement to make it to heaven.

Sadie’s grandchildren carried on her influence. Outside of a flashback, Grandma Zeta discusses with Heather a memory of the community church being torn down by large machinery. “Amazing Grace,” is brought back into the piece as a reprise, the song that eased the the clergy members’ pain, a well-laid-out sense of foreshadowing.

This theme returned near the end of the production, bringing some peace upon the family as their home was referenced to being burned down and signaling a definite end to the struggle the Lamm family withstood. Following an incredibly heart-wrenching scene of a standoff between the family and law enforcement, the members of the wagon sang in their descent off the mountain.

The production is one of the most important artistic pieces in the Shenandoah Valley area, and the actors for each role projected the crucialness beautifully. As this piece of history may never go into darkness, neither should the fire of the production.

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

“Can’t Feel at Home” covers the stories of families displaced by the Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive construction. Evan Moody / The Breeze

Local resident to open up independent bookstore

By ASHLEE THOMPSON The Breeze

No, Amanda Friss doesn’t view parentheses as just a little punctuation mark or the first step in the PEMDAS math acronym. Rather, she sees them as the “literary equivalent of a hug” and the perfect name for her new independent bookstore.

Friss is looking to open Parentheses Books by the end of September, she said. Parentheses will be located in the Liberty Street mercantile across from Magpie’s Diner, filling a void of independent bookstores in the Friendly City, aside from Downtown Books.

“I was missing going to one locally, so I figured I’d open one myself,” said Friss, who has lived in Harrisonburg for 11 years and said Parentheses is aimed at creating a community for people to gather and enjoy books.

While Friss had little-to-no business experience before starting up Parentheses, she said she learned the ins and outs of book buying and selling from working at an independent bookstore in New York City called Three Lives & Company. Eight years at the shop gave Friss the knowledge and inspiration to open Parentheses, she said.

“I’ve always been a big reader, and working at the store really showed me that there is more to bookstores than just selling books,” Friss said. She was inspired by the welcoming atmosphere, book displays, eagerness of the staff and the overall “magic” Three Lives & Company had, she said, and plans to bring that to Harrisonburg.

Parentheses was just an idea on a whiteboard in January 2021, but by early 2023, it raised nearly $56,000 on Kickstarter with the help of local supporters — one of whom matched donations up to $5,000 for 24 hours during the campaign. Friss said she was surprised by how many people chipped in to fund her store and send positive messages, which she called the “best support” a new business owner could receive. Without the contributors, Friss said, the bookstore would never have happened.

Friss said she knows students are a big part of the Harrisonburg community and hopes they find their place in Parentheses. She’s already drawing students to the bookstore’s website by providing a place to buy a required text for a JMU art history course, a lane she wants to branch out into and provide more of in the future.

JMU English professor Sofia Samatar said students will benefit from Parentheses because of its curated book collection, selected by “someone who has her eye on the interesting things being published right now.” But Samatar is also looking forward to the shop’s launch in her own right.

“This is pretty much the best thing that has happened to Harrisonburg since I moved here seven years ago,” Samatar said of Parentheses. “This will make Harrisonburg complete.”

Although Amazon is dominating the book market with its cheap prices and fast shipping via Amazon Prime, Samatar said she doesn’t see independent bookstores going anywhere.

“If they were going to disappear, I think it would have happened already,” Samatar said. “A bookstore offers more than just books. It’s a space, an experience and an atmosphere.”

Samatar, who’s been publishing books of her own for 10 years, said she encourages locals to shop inside bookstores to support local businesses. If they have to order online, Samatar suggests using Bookshop.org because it benefits independent

bookstores by giving them online and financial support, including Parentheses.

Friss says Parentheses’ space will be fairly small at 890 square feet, but she said she hopes to host events such as author readings and open mic nights periodically. Friss also said she’s excited about the openness and brightness of her new store, particularly pointing out the huge windows, large brick wall and the overall “good vibe.”

Associate professor of history and author Evan Friss, Amanda’s husband, has learned about the bookstore process, such as stocking and selling books, by watching his wife immerse herself in the business. Doing so has helped him get the idea for his next book, “The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore.”

“During the pandemic, some people found themselves with a lot of time and rediscovered the wondrousness of reading,” Evan said. “I think some people are craving the quiet intimacy that books provide more than ever.”

Amanda said that at the start of her business journey, she was warned people don’t read anymore, especially those in their 20s. She said she thinks independent bookstores “might be the ones to keep the physical book from dying out.”

Amanda said she hoped to open her store this past spring but was forced to postpone the grand opening because of multiple construction delays. But with the launch in a few weeks, she said she’s excited for what’s to come.

“I’m hoping Parentheses will be a community store where people can come and find things serendipitously,” Amanda said. “I hope they will be able to come in and feel comfortable and welcome in the space.”

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

“This will make Harrisonburg complete.”

Sofia Samatar

JMU English professor

Parentheses Books will be located in the Liberty Street mercantile. Owner Amanda Friss hopes to connect with the JMU community by selling required textbooks. Photo by Kailey Garner / The Breeze

Brewin’ up business

Drifters Cafe opens in former Black Sheep Coffee location downtown

By AVERY GOODSTINE The Breeze

With Harrisonburg being only its second storefront location, Drifters Cafe has already proven to be a popular spot, amassing nearly 2,000 ordering customers during its first week of operation, co-owner Lukas Shifflett said.

Moving into the spot previously occupied by Black Sheep Coffee on South Liberty Street in the Icehouse, Drifters had its grand opening on Aug. 29 and has 13 employees, all made up of mostly JMU, Eastern Mennonite University and Bridgewater College students.

Shifflett said he chose this location,which is off the main part of the street, because he’s originally from Harrisonburg; he moved to Montana after high school. There, he met his wife, Lexi, and they traveled before ending up in West Virginia where they opened Drifters as a mobile coffee truck.

Before moving to Harrisonburg, Drifters had just one other storefront location in Wardensville, West Virginia — a town of around 500 people Shifflett said.

While Drifters does have a familiar local coffee shop vibe, Shifflett said he and his wife made purposeful changes to make the space feel different, including the vast menu and the utilization of space, such as getting rid of the cubicle work spaces and building a half wall.

As previous Black Sheep customers may remember, the dining area was completely open, covered with tables big

enough for two people. There were also single-person work areas along the back wall.

At Drifters, the half wall separates the back and front halves of the dining area, and the cubicles have been replaced with an open space, but it’s still meant to serve studying students, Shifflett said. There’s also more group seating options.

The reason for the half wall, Shifflett said, is to separate the space into two sections: a more family or group-oriented space and a study space.

“There wasn’t really a family style sit-down area, and over the last week, we’ve noticed a lot of families in here and a lot of bigger groups,” Shifflett said. “It’s more of a nicer place to sit down and gather with them.”

In addition to changes made in the dining area, Shifflett said they replaced everything that was there when they moved in to accommodate Drifters’ menu since it offers specialty coffees, breakfast and lunch options, and smoothies.

One thing Drifters did keep the same from Black Sheep was its operating hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., every day.

While this was the original plan, Shifflett said the larger space and team of employees makes those hours easier to maintain. He also said it allows them to hire more people, which may not always be the most cost-effective move for the business, but it does help more college students who are looking for employment

“Very easily for us, we could close at 2 and only have five staff,” Shifflett said. “It would save us money, it would be more cost effective, but I want to give as many opportunities for

everyone as we can.”

Shifflett said it’s important to him they help local college students pay for school by giving them a good place to work. He said he also offers his employees paid vacations and shows his appreciation for the team by using some of the money the business brings in to have “company fun days.” Lily Stanek, a JMU sophomore and Drifters employee, said that Shifflett is planning a day of pumpkin carving and a holiday party.

Stanek said she enjoys the welcoming and laid-back work environment and has seen many people visit the new destination, in the midst of the Carrier Library renovations.

“Especially since Carrier’s closed now, I think this is a good spot for people to study and there’s a lot of tables and outlets and, I mean, we don’t stay open that late, but I think it’s definitely a good environment,” Stanek said.

Another employee and a JMU junior, Lauren Hudak, shares the same sentiment about the work environment as Stanek and added that, “it’s nice to know that there’s other JMU students here that I can relate to and hang out with.”

Shifflett said he’s “super pleased” with how everything has gone during the first week, and he’s looking forward to partnering with other local businesses and becoming more involved with the local community.

CONTACT Avery Goodstine at thebreezeweb@gmail. com. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on Twitter and Instagram @Breeze_Culture.

Drifters Cafe, a new coffee spot in downtown Harrisonburg, opened at the end of August, presenting a robust menu and spaces for students to study, as well as an area with more family-style seating. Lily Stanek, an employee and JMU sophomore, said the cafe benefits from the closure of Carrier Library, giving students a new place to study.

Photos by Avery Goodstine / The Breeze

Madalyn

shows how Drifters Cafe accommodates students’ coffee needs in downtown Harrisonburg.

Drifters Cafe opened downtown on Aug. 29 in Black Sheep Coffee’s old location on South Liberty Street in the Icehouse. The cafe offers coffee, sandwiches, breakfast, student employment and a place to study, among other perks. Lukas Shifflett, owner of the cafe, said he and his wife, Lexi, renovated the space to create an area for families to spend time together separate from the part mainly used by students to study.

Drift Off Campus

Breeze TV reporter

Cornwell

EDITORS Kaiden Bridges & Jackson Hephner

More than a football game

JMU and U.Va. fans reminisce on their deep-rooted connection before Saturday’s long-awaited matchup

By KAIDEN BRIDGES The Breeze

In a Breeze Facebook post in the fan group, JMU Nation, families and alumns who have memories about the JMU vs. U.Va. football games from 1979-83 retold stories about their gameday experiences and detailed how the in-state connection between the two universities has played a large role in many peoples’ lives. With the Cavaliers and Dukes playing for the first time in 40 years, fans expressed their excitement for the matchup in Charlottesville on Saturday.

CourtesyofJanicePattonDec

GraphicsbyBenMoulse/TheBreeze

I remember best about the ‘83 game is that the Marching Royal Dukes were awesome and that’s why I decided to go to JMU and march!”

“... It’s gonna be a good game - ready to stand in a sea of purple!!”

-

“Did not expect JMU football to be a 7-point favorite on Saturday but it’s deserved. That is unheard of for a G5 team to be favored at a P5 school. I was there in ‘82 and again in ‘83. Can’t wait for Saturday!”

- Steve Brown

“My dad had season UVA tickets. You better believe I sent him that copy of The Breeze.”

-Katie Carter Lemon

now,“Notsureifitisstillathing but,backinthe90’s, peopleIhatedwhenI’dhearUVA saythatJMUstood for‘justmissedU.Va.’Intheir-dreams.”

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“40yearsago,theJMU/ UVAgamewasthefirst dateformyhusband and me. We’re married38yearsnow.We’re season ticket holders forfootballandvery rarelymissagame.”

- Alice Brown

“What

- Jennifer Faigle Musser

Natalie Carey Mitchell

The front page of The Breeze after JMU’s 21-17 win over U.Va. in 1982. Breeze archives

Courtesy of Greg Caldwell

-“SeeyouallinC-ville!”

“My girls and I got tickets to the game and I am thrilled! I am a ‘77 grad of Madison College (last class), my oldest daughter is a ‘13 grad of U. Va. and my youngest daughter is a ‘22 grad of JMU. Should be fun!!”

- Marcia Sullivan

“I was in the stands with my UVA freshman fiancée and now wife of 40 years.” - George Payne

-“1981was41yearsago...jeez.”

Ross Blommel

Dave Pleasants

-“Irememberthosedays!” DorisHulvey

“Ohyeswewereallthere. -Amazingnight.”

David Caldwell

Courtesy of Daniel Johnson

CourtesyofAmyOsborneLyon

Courtesy of Daniel Johnson

CourtesyofAmyOsborneLyon

Courtesy of Daniel Johnson

By JACKSON HEPHNER

The Breeze

Redshirt senior wide receiver Phoenix Sproles, a Minnesota native and transfer from North Dakota State, isn’t too familiar with Virginia’s in-state rivalries. But because of his time with the Bison, Sproles knows the

Preview | JMU looking for laser focus in U.Va game 40 years in making

importance of in-state and border matchups.

“You're not supposed to look forward to those games because you want to focus on whatever team you're playing that week,” he said, “but in the back of players' heads, they're thinking about those in-state or border games, and they propel you as a team for the season.”

Sproles specifically mentioned NDSU's longstanding rivalry against South Dakota State, but while the Bison and Jackrabbits have played every year since 1919, JMU will be facing its own in-state opponent, U.Va., for the first time since 1983.

The Dukes and Cavaliers square off Saturday at noon in U.Va.’s home opener. The Cavaliers are coming off a 49-13 loss to No. 12 Tennessee last Saturday, while the Dukes won their home opener against Bucknell 38-3 the same day.

Despite the four decades between matchups, Sproles said his teammates are going into the matchup “hungry” and looking to dominate U.Va. JMU head coach Curt Cignetti said that while he doesn’t want the “noise and clutter” surrounding the matchup to impact preparation, he’s well aware of the importance of the game for his team.

“This is a big game for our players,” he said. “I mean, look, we all understand it. Now, how we approach it: We approach it a little differently than you guys do. We know what this game is all about.”

Cignetti said he doesn’t want his players to be too emotional. He wants them to have

energy but be laser-focused. He compared it to JMU's game against Appalachian State last September — JMU’s first-ever game against a Sun Belt foe as a member of the conference — recalling that none of his players showed frustration when they went down 28-3 in the second quarter, nor did they enter a celebratory frame of mind until after they secured the 32-28 win.

Senior safety Josh “Cheese” Sarratt shared a similar sentiment to his coach, adding that he won’t put U.Va. above or below any other opponent.

“Of course, I'm going to be excited for every single game,” Sarratt said, “but you got to understand you got to have focus and discipline along with that excitement, because too high, too low, you don't want to have a roller coaster of emotions.”

Although JMU will be entering the game as seven-point favorites, Cignetti took time to praise U.Va., downplaying the Cavaliers’ Week 1 loss by saying “they walked into a hornet’s nest, but they had their moments, especially on defense.” Sarratt also expressed his respect for U.Va.

“We're going to have to be on our A-game,” Sarratt said, “but I feel like as long as we do what we do, we should be good, all respect to them, man.”

One of the biggest questions for JMU heading into Saturday is at quarterback. On Monday, Cignetti confirmed redshirt senior Jordan McCloud would start against U.Va. McCloud was the backup going into JMU’s opener, but after redshirt freshman

‘Proud,’ grieving U.Va. to play in first home game since shooting

By JACKSON HEPHNER The Breeze

There are plenty of reasons why JMU’s matchup against U.Va. on Saturday will be historic. It’s the first time since 1983 that these schools separated by roughly 55 miles across the Shenandoah Valley will face each other. It’s JMU’s second-ever matchup against a Power 5 school since moving up to the FBS, and it is U.Va.’s 2023 home opener.

But it will also be U.Va.’s first home game since three of its players, D’Sean Perry, Devin Chandler and Lavel Davis Jr., were shot and killed last November.

U.Va. took the field for the first time since the shooting this past Saturday. After the Cavaliers’ 49-13 loss to No. 12 Tennessee, head coach Tony Elliott put the result in perspective.

“Just to see them get a chance to play football was a victory for me,” Elliott said postgame. “Ultimately, we’ll be judged by what the scoreboard says, but internally, as a program, I couldn’t be more proud of a group of young men, an administration, a staff that fought.”

While the Tennessee game was played in Nashville, Elliott also said postgame that being in Scott Stadium on Saturday will add a “different component” for his players, some of whom are still grieving. The U.Va. athletic department plans to commemorate the tragedy before the game with a pregame ceremony as part of “UVA Strong Day,” as it’s

called on the team’s promotional calendar, to honor the three players killed in the shooting and their families.

JMU head coach Curt Cignetti called the shooting a “horrible tragedy” on the Sun Belt Coaches’ Call on Monday but said the focus of his team this week will be on the field.

“When it happened … we prayed as a team for the individuals and the families, all the people involved,” Cignetti said. “Our focus will be on the football game.”

JMU will wear helmet decals during the game to honor U.Va., Cignetti said Tuesday, and Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne, President Jonathan Alger and Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill will be on the field during the pregame ceremony.

“We're absolutely going to need your support in the stands!” Bourne said to JMU fans in his “Bourne Dialogue” on Wednesday. “However, we must find the appropriate balance between competition and compassion by standing strong with UVA to offer our support for healing.”

The matchup will carry more emotion because of the tragedy, but U.Va. graduate running back Mike Hollins, a survivor of the shooting, said in July at a media luncheon that he’s hoping to honor his teammates’ legacies simply by playing.

“Just trusting that us being here and being able to play again and touch the field, and just come together as a team, is doing their legacy justice in itself,” Hollins said at the luncheon.

But simply continuing to play is difficult, Elliott said on Saturday. He said that the program is still healing, and that his players regularly remember what happened.

“Every day they walk out on that field, they’re reminded,” he said. “Every day they walk off that field, they’re reminded. Every day they go to class on Grounds, they’re reminded. I mean, every day, they’re reminded of what happened.”

Regardless of who wins on Saturday, the fact that U.Va. is playing back in Charlottesville 10 months after three of its players died is, as Elliott said, a victory in its own right — and a testament to the resiliency of this year’s U.Va. squad.

“What we had to endure was unprecedented,” Elliott said, “and still, it’s hard to quantify and put into words and really just wrap your head around it. For these guys to make the decision to come back to the University of Virginia, that was a tough decision.”

Alonza Barnett III struggled in his firstcareer start, McCloud entered midway through the third quarter. He went 7-for-11, throwing for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Cignetti said that while McCloud won the starting spot for Virginia, any guarantee beyond that is “speculative.”

“Going into the season, I said at the press conference [at Sun Belt Media Days], too. It'd be nice to have a guy with experience,” Cignetti said. “But you know, Alonza had a great camp. It just didn't show up in the Bucknell game.”

For now, McCloud will be at the helm as JMU heads to Charlottesville for a matchup four decades in the making. Favorites or not, toppling the Cavaliers presents challenges. Sproles specifically highlighted the Hoos’ “experienced” defensive line, which features returning starters senior defensive tackle Jahmeer Carter and sixth-year defensive tackle Aaron Faumui, who combined for 67 total tackles in 2022.

With that in mind, Sproles said the offense needs to be sound, and that starts with the offensive line, which gave up one just sack to Bucknell on 24 dropbacks. If the offensive line rises to the occasion, Sproles said he isn’t worried about the rest of the offense.

“Quarterback, receiver, running back,” Sproles said, “we'll be ready.”

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

JMU enters Scott Stadium this weekend as seven-point favorites, coming off a 38-3 win over Bucknell in Week 1. The game kicks off Saturday at noon, and the pregame ceremony is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.

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

Senior safety Josh “Cheese” Sarratt said the Dukes have to be on their “A-game” to come out of an emotional Charlottesville on Saturday with a win over the Cavaliers. Ryan Sauer / The Breeze

On Saturday at U.Va., JMU plans to wear helmet decals, which it wore versus Georgia State on Nov. 19 last season after three Cavaliers were shot and killed on Grounds. Ryan Sauer / The Breeze

Hephner Sports Editor Colby Reece BTV Sports Director

William Moran Copy Editor Avery Goodstine Managing Editor Grant Johnson Editor-in-Chief

Kaiden Bridges Sports Editor

Ryan Sauer / The Breeze

Evan Weaver EDITOR EMAIL breezeopinion@gmail.com

Wildfires in Maui, Canada are an omen for future climate challenges

News of wildfires have been exploding in the media throughout the summer, with massive flames flashing across screens displaying significant damage. While the recent wildfires have been detrimental to surrounding towns, people often forget that fires are essential to nature's growth, as they replenish the soil and wildlife. Though, because of climate change and the lack of controlled fires, they have been causing more destruction than rehabilitation.

Major changes are needed to stop the fires from reaching even more monstrous sizes. The narrative that fires are “bad” is what’s creating cataclysmic burns.

JMU integrated science and technology and geography professor Wayne Teel said wildfires are important for the health an forest, sentiments discussed in the book “Firestorm" which addresses the issue of wildfires.

“We have had, both in the United States and Canada, a long history of antagonism to fires,” Teel said. “And because of that ‘Smokey Bear’ kind of image, we have allowed the fuel of these forests to build up to a point when they do catch fire, they become catastrophic. The conditions promoted by climate change enable these conditions to occur more frequently.”

The wildfires this summer are an example of this phenomena. The Canadian wildfires started in late April as lightning strikes sparked several that spread across Canada; 5,700 fires accumulated, stretching from one end of the country to the other. The smoke from the fires covered parts of 28 U.S. states in ashy, orange hazes. Cities on the East Coast such as New York and Washington, D.C.,

were heavily affected by this, with the air quality index reaching 413 in Brooklyn, approximately eight times the average index of 50. This level of air quality causes respiratory issues if inhaled for too long, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Off the U.S. mainland, wildfires erupted Aug. 8 on the Hawaiian island of Maui. These fires have been the deadliest in the U.S. has seen in centuries,

with a death toll of 114 and over 1,000 people missing. Three thousand homes and buildings have been destroyed as of Aug. 21 per CNN.

The first report was of a brush fire seen in Kula, located in the Upcountry region of Maui. This fire burned through 700 acres of land, leading to a mass evacuation. Once the fires broke out, the dangerous winds caused by Hurricane Dora escalated the fires immensely. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green told CNN on Aug. 11 that he believes it was an unfortunate mixture of weather conditions that led to this disaster.

“It is a product, in my estimation, of certainly global warming combined with drought, combined with a super storm, where we had a hurricane offshore several hundred miles, still generating large winds,” Green told CNN.

While there’s no way to prevent all wildfires from occurring, there are measures that should be implemented to prevent the severity and strength of them. Controlled fires are an excellent way to manage forest build-up and return nutrients back to the plants. According to National Geographic, controlled fires reduce the chance of fires becoming destructive by getting rid of dead leaves, branches and other debris that typically feed fires’ strength. They’ve especially become more important as recent fire suppression efforts have increased, which has led to an accumulation of flammable materials, insect infestation, underbrush and invasive plant species.

see WILDFIRES, page 19

ORIANA LUKAS Breeze columnist

The smoke from the Canadian wildfires over the summer caused a decline in air quality in states on the East Coast. In Brooklyn, N.Y., the average air quality index is fifty but during the Canadian wildfires, the index was over 400. Tribune News Service

Drought, high winds from Hurricane Dora and alleged negligence regarding downed powerlines by Hawaiian Electric were all potential factors in the Maui wildfires according to CBS. Tribune News Service

from WILDFIRES, page 18

The Shenandoah National Park in Virginia has annual prescribed fires to maintain healthy forest life. Fire professionals burned about 50 acres of Big Meadows in Shenandoah National Park over 24 days in 2021. Prior to their burns, park staff notifies all neighboring communities to minimize concern. During the burns, there’s typically no disruption to surrounding towns and minimal complaints according to the National Park Service. While forest cleanup is a great preventative

to wildfires, global warming is a large factor in creating them. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, climate change has created an overall warmer and drier environment, which fuels longer and stronger fires. There is a strong correlation between climate change and the amount of fossil fuels the U.S. burns. Teel said cars are the largest indirect contributor to wildfires.

“Car culture that dominates the U.S. is indirectly, but strongly, linked to those forest fires,” Teel said. “Us burning fossil fuels leads to burning forests.”

There are various factors that have led to the spike in uncontrollable wildfires. U.S. leaders need to be focusing on addressing climate change and implementing controlled fires to reduce fatalities. Teel said individuals can become politically involved to drive the change they want to see.

“The biggest single thing people can do is to make sure we have politicians in place who want to solve the problem,” Teel said. “People who recognize it as a legitimate concern, who are willing to work locally to solve the problem. It’s not going to be done by individuals.”

Climate change has become political, but it shouldn’t. People are dying and towns are being wiped away because there’s rarely a consensus on the matter. If there isn’t major improvement soon, irreversible damage will be inevitable.

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

Commentary | The 2023 World Cup was important for promoting female aspirations

MARY MABRY Breeze columnist

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup was one for the books. A record 32 teams participated — eight of which made their first World Cup appearance — and games spread across two countries for the first time in nine tournaments, with Spain taking the crown on Aug. 20. Needless to say, it’s worth talking about.

Australia and New Zealand’s co-hosted tournament gathered nearly 2 million in-person spectators, according to BBC, which is 600,000 more than the previous attendance record.

Following the historic competition and Spain’s victory, attention turned toward a non-consensual kiss from Spain Football Federation President Luis Rubiales on player Jenni Hermoso. This incident is upsetting and deserves to be brought to light but should not overshadow the positive impacts of the tournament.

Beyond the numbers and controversy, the World Cup was internationally groundbreaking for female athletes. Here are some noteworthy teams and players — and what their lasting impact will be.

Stand-out teams

Jamaica: the ‘Reggae Girlz’

Even as a professional soccer team, Jamaica had to raise money via a GoFundMe to attend the World Cup. According to ESPN, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), which is responsible for providing these funds, has had a rocky relationship with the women’s team.

Because of financial limitations, the JFF disbanded the women’s team in 2008 and again in 2016. After the 2019 World Cup, the JFF did not provide the team with participation compensation for months and then failed to allocate adequate funds for this year’s tournament.

The “Reggae Girlz,” Jamaica women‘s national football team, released a statement on June 15 articulating their frustration with the JFF prior to the tournament, calling out the federation for its “subpar planning, transportation, accommodations, training conditions, compensation, communication, nutrition, and accessibility to proper resources.”

These women — professional athletes representing their country — have had to fight for attention and respect. While the Reggae Boyz have only appeared in one World Cup, in 1998, they have not had to fight for their spot in the JFF. However disheartening the situation has been for the women, it did not prevent them from performing well on the pitch this summer. Jamaica made it to the round of 16, knocking out an impressive Brazil team.

The Reggae Girlz have garnered much

attention from their journey to the 2023 World Cup. They’ve inspired many along the way, showing the world what persistence and dedication looks like.

Khadija “Bunny” Shaw, Jamaica’s all-time leading goal scorer, never thought she would have the opportunity to play professionally.

Shaw told her club, Manchester City, that her parents banned her from playing soccer when she was younger because it wasn’t something girls did in that area, and they wanted her to focus on her education. However, Shaw ensured her mom that she would pass all her classes in exchange for the opportunity to play soccer.

“I remember one day I got so mad and I said: ‘Mum, you never know: I could be the one to change football in Jamaica. Just give me the chance, give me the opportunity.’” Shaw said to Man City.

For young female athletes in Jamaica, this team offers even more than a glimpse of hope for their future careers.

Morocco

The North African team was another highly underestimated squad heading into the tournament that instead showed out.

This was Morocco’s first appearance in the World Cup, and it was the first Arab or North African country to qualify for the Cup and make it to the round of 16, according to the Associated Press.

Although Morocco lost 6-0 to Germany in its first game, it later beat Colombia 1-0, which knocked Germany out of the tournament, an unanticipated upset.

Keeping the tournament exciting and unexpected was one of the things that made this year’s World Cup so special, and Morocco contributed to that.

Morocco defender Nouhaila Benzina broke down barriers in another way: she was the first player to wear a hijab in the World Cup, according to The Guardian.

There are many other players like Benzina who made history too.

Athletes paving the way

Michelle Alozie

Alozie, a defender for the Nigerian national team, is an astounding inspiration to female athletes.

In addition to being a professional soccer player, she is a cancer researcher; Alozie graduated from Yale with a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology. She spends her mornings training with Houston Dash in the National Women’s Soccer League and works as a research technician at Texas Children’s Hospital in the

afternoon, she told FIFA.

Splitting her days between soccer and science, Alozie shows young girls they can be athletes at the highest level while also pursuing other careers if they so choose.

Marta

Six-time FIFA World Player of the Year Marta Vieira da Silva, known affectionately as just “Marta,” is a forward on Brazil’s national team and was the first woman to win that many. She has scored the most goals in the World Cup history (men’s or women’s) with 17.

Marta, whose first World Cup was in 2003, is a role model for female athletes, and she articulated this best in a press conference during

this year’s tournament.

“When I started playing, I didn’t have an idol, a female idol. You guys didn’t show any female games — how was I supposed to see other players?” Marta said, translated from Portuguese. “Today, when we go out on the street, people stop. The parents stop and say, ‘Oh my daughter loves you, she wants to be just like you’ … This wouldn’t have happened if we had stopped in the first obstacles we faced.” She also expressed gratitude for those who came before her and encouraged those coming after.

see WORLD CUP, page 20

The FIFA Women’s World Cup this summer was Brazilian soccer player Marta Viera da Silva’s sixth time in the competition. In a press conference before Brazil’s match against Jamaica, she commented on how she didn’t have a female soccer role model growing up because of a lack of coverage. Tribune News Service

from WORLD CUP, page 19

“It’s a continuous persistency, and it didn’t just start with me but with a lot of women back then,” Marta said in the same press conference. “We are all very proud and we ask a lot for our generation to continue to do that, to inspire more girls, more boys. It doesn’t matter their age.”

Linda Caicedo

At only 18 years old, Caicedo is considered one of the best players on the Colombian national team. However, it wasn’t easy to get there.

According to NPR, Caicedo started playing professional soccer at 14 years old but was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at 15. After overcoming this obstacle, she charged ahead, playing in three world cups in just the span of a year — the other two being under-20 and under-17 tournaments.

Caicedo is on track to have a career just as legendary as Marta’s and is already serving as a role model for people younger and older than her.

The champions (and controversy): Spain

Spain won the 2023 World Cup defeating England in a tight 1-0 final to claim the country’s first-ever women’s title. Midfielder Aitana Bonmatí received the Golden Ball award, given to the tournament’s best player.

Sadly, Spain’s victory was overshadowed by Rubiales’ non-consensual kiss on Hermoso after the game.

This act, Hermoso said, was unjustifiable: “I felt vulnerable and a victim of an impulsedriven, sexist, out-of-place act without any consent on my part.”

Although Rubiales said he made a mistake, he refused to resign from his position, CNN

reported. All players from the World Cupwinning team, along with 50 other professional Spanish players, said they will not play for the country until there is a change in leadership.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation did not respond appropriately and even accused Hermoso of lying, but fortunately, FIFA placed a 90-day suspension on Rubiales from “all football-related activities” according to CNN. The future of the team and federation is, at this time, unclear.

The incident is discouraging, to say the least. What was meant to be a celebration instead turned into frustration and protests. Additionally, it shows that even world champions are susceptible to sexist mistreatment. However, this team’s willingness to fight and not back down to abuses of power will hopefully inspire other female athletes to speak up against unfair treatment.

Looking forward

The future is bright for women’s soccer, but there is still work to be done.

According to CNN, soccer players at the 2023 Women’s World Cup earned just 25 cents for every dollar earned by men at their World Cup last year.

With a need for more pay, visibility and respect, female athletes have their work cut out for them. But this year’s World Cup was monumental for the next generation of athletes — which can be found right here at JMU.

According to a poll on The Breeze’s Instagram, 69% of respondents — 33 out of 48 voters — think that the World Cup impacted the way people view women’s sports. Hopefully, this sentiment will be reflected in JMU’s women’s sports: how empowered the athletes feel, as well as how people treat them.

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

Spain won the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup after defeating England 1-0 in the final. During the awards ceremony following the match, Jenni Hermoso (center) recieved a non-consensual kiss from Spain Football Federation President Luis Rubiales, which has been the subject of controversy following the cup. Tribune News Service

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JMU started its season this past Saturday with a win over Bucknell. Despite an offensively shaky first half, the Dukes took down the Bison 38-3 on the backs of redshirt senior transfer quarterback Jordan McCloud's twotouchdown performance. JMU next plays U.Va. on Saturday for its first away game of the fall and first time playing the Cavaliers in 40 years. Photos by Ryan Sauer / The Breeze

CONTACT Ryan Sauer at breezephotography@gmail. com. For more multimedia content, visit breezejmu. org/multimedia.

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Eastern Mennonite Elementary School Seeking After School Care Assistants

Eastern Mennonite Elementary School is seeking 2 assistants for our K-5 After School Care Program. It runs Monday - Friday from 3:00 - 5:30 pm. Days can be divided based on availability. Experience is appreciated but not required. Contact Maria Archer at archerm@easternmennonite.org if you are interested.

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