WELCOME, LOVED ONES Family Weekend Supplement
INSIDE
Also inside: Vol. 95, No. 6
OPINION
NOT IN OUR TOWN Racism in Harrisonburg has gone too far
5
SPORTS 10
SKATIN’ BY Roller derby team comes together breezejmu.org
Thursday, September 29, 2016
A grand reopening ERIN SCOUTEN / THE BREEZE
Former JMU President Ronald Carrier cuts the ribbon to unlock historic doors after 34 years of being closed. Last Friday marked the reopening of Carrier Library’s Centennial Fountain entrance. Read more online at breezejmu.org.
Freshmen lead tennis charge Paul Mendoza and Damon Roberts start strong By MATT TYSON The Breeze
COURTESY OF JMU ATHLETICS
Paul Mendoza started off his Dukes career a perfect 6-0.
The JMU men’s tennis team has some new faces this year, and they’re making a big impact. Freshmen Paul Mendoza and Damon Roberts have been two of the most successful members of the team after just under a month of tournaments. “They’re great, they all get along and listen well,” head coach Steve Secord said. “Their aspirations are in line with the team’s values and our goals.” Mendoza began his JMU career at University of North Carolina at Wilmington’s Seahawk Invitational and has since gone 5-1 in singles match play. He’s also a perfect 6-0 in doubles matches as well with fellow freshman Tate Steinour. During the team’s second tournament at the East Carolina University Fall Shootout, Roberts went 3-0 in singles. This was his first appearance in a tournament for the Dukes. “During my first match I was pretty nervous to be honest,” Roberts said. “But
once I got through that one I loosened up and I felt really good about how I was playing.” Mendoza and Roberts trace their success at JMU in part to feeling like they’re a part of something that’s bigger than them. Both said the support they’ve received from their teammates has helped drive them to play their best. “Having the team gear and the team colors and everyone cheering you on helps you get through the matches,” Roberts said. The Dukes feature a large group of new players this season. Of the nine players on the team, four are freshmen. Another addition to the team is junior Theophile Lanthiez, who transferred from Old Dominion University. With a majority of the team playing their first season for JMU, players like Mendoza and Roberts had to step up to make an impact. “I came here with the attitude thinking if I do my best, or do my best in practice, I’m going to perform best on the court,” Mendoza said. “Luckily I did.” see TENNIS, page 10
Soul-searchers in Syria Artists discuss their time with Iraqi refugees in Syria By EMMY FREEDMAN AND MATTHEW CALLAHAN The Breeze
You hear about dangerous love affairs, but falling in love with Syria could be the most dangerous one of all. “Everyone told me it was crazy to travel to the Middle East at that time; it was going to be dangerous,” Daniel Demeter said. “I kind of ignored all those warnings and trusted my instincts that it would be all right.” In 2003, Demeter embarked on a journey around the Middle East that turned into three years of photographing Syria. His end product is “Lens on Syria,” a photography book that documents his trip to each of the four cardinal directions of the country. Demeter got a chance to present his work at Pale
Fire Brewing Co. on Saturday. He was joined by Gabe Huck, a retired publisher and one-time monk, and Theresa Kubasak, a former teacher. Kubasak and Huck co-wrote “Never Can I Write of Damascus,” a work that encapsulates their time working with Iraqi refugees in Syria from 2005-2012. “I was teaching second grade at the time and I told my principal I’m going to go and live in Syria and try to learn Arabic,” Kubasak said. “We ended up staying seven years because we loved it so much.” Once there, the duo realized that the best thing they could offer displaced Iraqis was education. They designed a year-long program of college preparation classes using materials from University of Oxford. Their goal was to reach out to colleges in the hopes that they’d offer scholarships to these students. see SYRIA, page 8
ALEXIS MILLER / THE BREEZE
Gabe Huck, Theresa Kubasak and Daniel Demeter presented their work about Syria at Pale Fire Brewing Co. on Saturday.
Visit us during Madison Union Open House and you could win up to $500 in JMU Swag! Wednesday, Sept. 28 ꔷ 11am–2pm ꔷ Free food, fun, & giveaways
Hit a home run and a chance to win up to $75 cash when you refer family and friends to bank with us.
cofcu.org/madisonunion
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