Serving James Madison University Since 1922 Vol. 87, No. 16 Thursday, October 21, 2010
Windy n 67°/ 39° chance of precipitation: 10%
local politics
drugs
fake pot, real high
Students disinterested in city council elections By Amanda Caskey The Breeze
As Election Day nears on Nov. 2, candidates for Harrisonburg City Council are moving into the final stages of their campaigns. Many are focusing on JMU students and how the university as a whole affects the community. Six candidates are running for the two available council positions: Sal Romero, Charlie Chenault, Ted Byrd, Joe Fitzgerald, Greg Coffman and Carolyn Frank. Incumbents Byrd and Frank are serving terms on the council. According to students and the candidates’ websites, some of the most important issues are public transportation, the construction of roads, education and turmoil in the community over instances such as Springfest.
“I think trying to develop an answer to our joint traffic issues is probably the biggest issue facing us right now, and several things are involved in that,” Chenault said. “One is student housing and, two, is we can’t build anymore roads out there so it seems to me we have to find a different way to transport people. To me that’s buses and bicycles.” Byrd, who graduated with a master’s degree from JMU in 1990, said that through efforts with the Harrisonburg public transportation department and JMU, the council has increased student ridership by more than 400,000 over the past two years. “One of the defining messages I’d like to get out to students is that we are working in cooperation with JMU to see COUNCIL, page 4
City Council Candidates Ryan Freeland / the breeze
K2, Black Magic and Spice are all names for a new, legal cannabinoid sold in Virginia. By Jordan Krug contributing writer
A new legal kind of chemically engineered synthetic cannabinoids have similarities to THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. Sold under names like K2, Black Magic and Spice, these chemicals priced at $10 to $30 per gram are sprayed on herbs or potpourri and sold as incense. Those buying the products aren’t looking for an air freshener. Like marijuana, the leaves can be rolled and smoked, and some doctors say it can give the same — if not more intense — effects to the user. Not far from the JMU campus, the Exxon on Reservoir Street sells several brands. There are at least 30 flavor options; most are priced at $8 per gram, others are more expensive. An employee didn’t want to talk about the store’s sales, but he did say it’s a popular item. Henri Yount, a sophomore media arts and design major, noted that the product is not sold for smoking purposes, but participants ignore the warnings on the packages. “I bought my first [package] at a gas station at home,” Yount said. “I thought it was a waste of my money. It didn’t last as long and it hurt because it’s not really meant to be smoked. I don’t see the need in doing it again.” Dr. Chris Holstege, medical director at the Blue Ridge Poison Center, strongly suggests to not use these products. “We’ve gotten calls of people becoming psychotic, seizures, agitations, there’s a number of things,” Holstege said. “It’s really a Russian roulette, you don’t know
Business
Occupation: Paralegal at Litten & Sipe LLP Website: charliechenault.wordpress.com
Greg Coffman
Joe Fitzgerald
Occupation: Retired, Harrisonburg City School Board member
Occupation: Technology Coordinator for College of Arts and Letters Website: fitzforcouncil.com
Carolyn Frank
Sal Romero
Occupation: Community technician with Verizon Website: carolynwfrank.com
Occupation: Fourth grade teacher at Smithland Elementary School Website: romeroforcouncil.com
see DRUGS, page 4
Purple out for LGBT support Purple on JMU’s campus is not out of the ordinary, but on Wednesday many JMU students wore purple in support of recent suicides in the gay community. The event was organized nationwide on Facebook. As of Wednesday, one version of the event had attracted more than 1.5 million people “attending” across the country. Wednesday was unofficially deemed “Spirit Day” in honor of the six young men who have committed suicide in the past month. Earlier this month, Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi jumped from the George Washington Bridge after his roommate allegedly broadcast a video
Charlie Chenault
what substance you’re getting.” The Blue Ridge Poison Center HotLine has received an increase in calls involving synthetic cannabinoids, said Sue Kell, a certified specialist at the Poison Center. “It’s a big hot topic in toxicology.” Symptoms users report include vomiting, accelerated heartbeat, paranoia, heightened senses and hallucinations. As of Oct. 5, the product has been banned in 10 states and at least four more are listed on the National Conference of State Legislatures as having pending legislation on the matter, including New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Virginia is one state that has not banned it yet, but
spirit event
By Molly Haas The Breeze
Ted Byrd Occupation: Incumbent city council member, farm manager
of him having a sexual encounter with another male on the Internet. At JMU, Hannah Martin, a sophomore theatre major, received five invites for the spirit event after hearing about it on Facebook. “I am gay, and I know a lot of people struggling,” Martin said. “I wore purple to show that I support those out there.” Martin was shocked when she first learned of the recent suicides. “I really thought things were more accepting,” she said. “It’s a little scary actually. If only those kids knew that they had people to support them like I had.” Jessica Page-Mallory, a sophomore hospitality and tourism management see PURPLE, page 4
David Casterline/ the breeze
More than 1.5 million people “attended” the purple out on Facebook.
Fuzionz of East,West
New downtown restaurant seeks to westernize traditional Indian and Pakistani dishes By Kaleigh Somers The Breeze
Umar Ali will bring Eastern flavor to Western palates with Fuzionz, the new restaurant opening Nov. 15 in downtown Harrisonburg where Cuchi Guidos used to be located. The only thing they’re waiting on is the pending approval for a liquor license from the Alcohol Beverage Control Board. But the focus now is on the food. Rather than fuse cuisines from the tristate area like its predecessor, Fuzionz will westernize traditional Indian and Pakistani dishes. Although Ali was born and raised in 01.FRONT.PRO.indd 1
Woodbridge, Va., his parents are from Pakistan. He grew up on the country’s food, but he wanted to open a restaurant that would offer more mild dishes with those same flavors. “Why not do something that everyone’s palate can enjoy?” Ali said. “There’s a lot of spices that are involved in that style of cuisine that don’t necessarily have to be hot or spicy, but you can still get that flavorfulness out of them.” Ali graduated from JMU in 2002 with a degree in integrated science and technology — because of his background, see FUZIONZ, page 4
10/21 Inside
3 The Center for Multicultural news Diverse history
Student Services celebrates a quarter century at JMU.
5 A student’s experience with opinion Impaired etiquette
cerebral palsy prompts a discussion about disabilities.
7 Band’s performance at life Scientific success
science fiction convention launches fan base.
9 Football looks for seasonsports On the brink
saving win at Villanova.
Eben knowlton / contributing Photographer
Mausam Shrestha (left), Ashok Kunver and Umar Ali, co-owners of the new downtown restaurant, plan to open Fuzionz by mid-November. 10/20/10 8:13 pm