Senior Brielle Lacroix didn't come to JMU looking to join the Student Government Association (SGA). She has now served her first full semester as its president.
Through her role and social media presence, Lacroix has worked to lead campus-wide sustainability initiatives, spread awareness of available resources and promote community engagement. Now, she's going into her second semester looking to maintain momentum.
Mauser & Drake Miller
By MORGAN BLAIR
The Breeze
Joining the Student Government Association (SGA) was an instinctive decision for Brielle Lacroix when she first saw the organization tabling in Warner Commons during her freshman year.
“I just wanted to get involved at the most local level possible and see what it was that I could learn and what it was that I could change,” Lacroix said.
Three years later, the now-senior has been JMU’s student body president for one semester — a role she’s found “rewarding.”
Before leading the SGA, Lacroix became increasingly involved with the organization, first as a student representative, then the Class of 2025 Ring Committee chair, then executive assistant — later renamed chief of staff — to former student body president Nate Hazen (’24). In April, she was elected student body president herself.
While campaigning, Lacroix set three priorities for her term as president: to increase sustainability education, community engagement and student awareness of support services across campus.
Lacroix’s goal to increase sustainability engagement inspired her to found SustainJMU, a club that focuses on sustainability education on campus. Along these lines, she also joined the President’s Council on Health and Well-Being. Lacroix credits her passion for the environment to her parents and Robert Alexander, a JMU professor of political science.
“[Alexander] is the one who got me into sustainability and the importance of the environment,” Lacroix said. “Because of him, I decided to create a space for sustainability and be open and honest with the environment and not make it a scary or controversial thing.”
In September, Lacroix helped pass an SGA resolution in support of JMU’s adoption of the Okanagan Charter — an international charter started in 2015 to call “on postsecondary schools to embed health into all aspects of campus culture and to lead health promotion action and collaboration locally and globally,” according to its website. Lacroix did this through presenting the resolution to the SGA and being part of a working group that discussed the charter with interim University President Charlie King and his administration.
“[The Okanagan Charter] is something that’s going to be at JMU for years,” Lacroix said. “It was a huge achievement for the university, a great thing to be a part of and a very necessary thing to adopt.”
Senior Kieran Fensterwald, speaker of the Student Senate, said he has seen firsthand how Lacroix increased community engagement through her social media use, specifically through using her Instagram account @briellesaysgodukes and as an informative tool for Dukes — something that has become helpful for the SGA as a whole.
“She’s been working really hard through her social media account to publicize lots of JMU events … and the other work that student government has been doing,” Fensterwald said. “I think that her ‘briellesaysgodukes’ account has been one of the most important factors in reshaping how the org is perceived.”
Lacroix’s Instagram account is filled with purple-and-gold infographics detailing oncampus events or initiatives and other helpful information for Dukes — including a post encouraging students to explore downtown Harrisonburg and campus support services’ contact information.
As a part of her work to increase student awareness of support services, she has tried to use her social media account to publicize all opportunities and services available to students, Lacroix said.
Senior Rebecca McCann, an academic SGA senator for the College of Education, said Lacroix’s social media platform is useful for spreading the word about JMU’s services and opportunities because many students follow her and actively engage with what she posts — as of Jan. 21, Lacroix’s account is followed by 667.
Communication between the SGA, the university and the student body is an important part of her leadership and has helped avoid potential controversies that could arise from public misunderstanding, Lacroix said.
“We’re all 19- to 22-year-olds; we’ve never been in these situations before, so sometimes mistakes happen, but a lot of times it’s just not addressing things properly,” Lacroix said
By EDISON VRANIAN
The Breeze
A second on-campus Chick-fil-A is bound for the Festival Conference Center’s food court with the renovation starting this month and lasting until fall 2025.
“Chick-fil-A is an extremely popular venue on campus, with one of the highest favorability ratings of any brand at JMU,” JMU Dining's Director of Student Engagement Jenna Gray wrote in an emailed statement to The Breeze. “After a renovation last fall to expand the D-Hall first-floor Chick-fil-A location, demand and customer loyalty have not slowed high traffic volumes. A second Chick-fil-A location will reduce wait times and expand the options for those visiting or living near JMU’s East Campus.”
Dukes and Chick-fil-A employees are feeling a range of emotions about the new location breaking ground.
Chick-fil-A student supervisor and sophomore Joaquin Meza is optimistic about traffic deterring. However, he said he’s unsure if general stress and working hours would be significantly reduced.
“Chick-fil-A is very popular and when it gets busy, it gets really busy,” Meza said. “We’re basically always busy. We never have a moment of where there’s no customers, like most places do. So I think it might be a little bit better, but I still think we’re going to have pretty busy rushes.”
Senior and Chick-fil-A student supervisor Regan Elmore said the level of traffic depends on the time of day and the reason students are on campus.
“It really depends on how many people are really going over to East Campus and what type of people are coming to Main Campus because a lot of classes are on Main Campus,” Elmore said. “A lot of people just stop by D-Hall to grab something in the middle of the day or later at night, and so I think it could deter some of the traffic for people that are normally on East Campus more often — but I’m not necessarily sure how much traffic is really going to deter if a lot of people are still on Main Campus.”
Freshmen Nathan Delmarco and Amany Bot support the change and are itching to try out the new location’s perks.
“I’m [on] their highest rewards tier on their app,” Delmarco said. “I love my Chick-fil-A, so definitely I would be in favor of that.”
Delmarco said it wasn’t only his love for Chick-fil-A that caused him to favor the addition, but also the hope it will disperse the large crowd typical of D-Hall’s Chick-fil-A and improve access to the menu.
Delmarco, who currently lives on East Campus, said having a Chick-fil-A closer to the Skyline residence halls has the additional benefit of saving students “a whole trip.”
Like Delmarco, Bot supports the second Chick-fil-A location due to the original location’s popularity. In Bot’s eyes, an additional location will add more diversity to East Campus’ dining options.
Of course, with the excitement of a new Chick-fil-A comes uncertainty about the future of East Campus dining.
Sophomore Neil Mulvihill said he worries about the effect of the second Chick-fil-A location coming in the foreseeable future and after it opens — specifically about resulting construction and food location closures to make way for Chick-fil-A. Mulvihill said he foresees the issues the original location faced when it came to wait times will only carry over to Festival.
“There’s already one Chick-fil-A, and I don’t think another is necessary because the line there is just awful every time and it’s gonna be awful at Festival,” Mulvihill said
see CHICK-FIL-A, page 8
“Chick-fil-A is always very popular and when it gets busy, it gets really busy [...] I think it might be a little bit better, but I still think we’re going to have pretty busy rushes.”
Sophomore, Chick-fil-A student supervisor
By JOELLE MCKENZIE The Breeze
JMU’s retention rate for all first-year students who started in the fall 2023 semester increased to 91.9 percent, which the university credits to on-campus retention-focused initiatives.
According to a JMU press release, these retention rates are JMU’s highest since 2013 — when its retention rate was 92.4 percent for all first-time students. First-generation students, however, had a retention rate of 89.8 percent this year — three points higher compared to the rates for fall 2022, which was 86.3 percent.
According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, a higher education nonprofit that reports educational statistics, the national retention rate for students in fall 2022 was 68.2 percent — more than 20 percent below JMU. The fall 2023 statistics aren’t provided in the data from Clearinghouse.
An example of one of JMU’s retention initiatives — which was fully started this year after two to three years as a pilot program and was directed at all first-year and transfer students — is a weekly check-in survey sent via text, said Paul Mabrey, communication studies professor and director of Student Success and Enrollment Analytics.
“We ask students about if they’re finding their people oncampus, if they’re finding ways to be engaged and through
that kind of checking-in with students via text, we’re able to reach students on a one-on-one basis,” Mabrey said.
Mabrey said he was excited about the increasing rates, but “it’s something that we should not take for granted and really need to continue to support and monitor so that we can maintain high retention rates.”
For first-generation students, JMU’s initiatives include a variety of programs: the Valley Scholarship, the Centennial Scholarship, the Reddix Center located on the second floor of the SSC, financial workshops and wellness passport events, said Executive Director of First-Generation Student Success Shaun Mooney.
The Valley Scholars Program is offered to students local to the Shenandoah Valley starting in middle school and spanning into high school for “scholarship support to attend JMU;” and the Centennial Scholars Program to “talented first-generation Pell grant-eligible students” from Virginia to support aspiring college students access to higher education, according to their respective JMU websites.
Regarding the current retention rate of 89 percent for firstgeneration students, Mooney said it’s “an absolutely amazing rate compared to all of our peer institutions and compared to national statistics,” adding that he would love for this statistic to eventually match the retention rate for all first-year students at JMU.
While first-generation students may face financial and social capital challenges, they may be more resilient than their non-first-generation peers, Mooney said.
“First-generation students, also, I would argue, are more resilient than many of their peers because they’re used to facing these types of barriers and challenges,” Mooney said. “They feel competencies and skills to be able to navigate systems in a way that, sometimes their peers just haven’t had to deal with or address.”
First-generation students notice the benefits of JMU having these supportive programs.
“Coming in as a first-generation student, I was lost,” first-year engineering major Emelyn Benitez-Villatoro said. “I didn’t know how the transition would be and being here, especially in the Centennial Scholars in the Reddix Center and having a place where I can feel comfortable and know that there’s other people just like me.”
CONTACT Joelle McKenzie at breezecopy@gmail.com. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
from SGA PRESIDENT, page 4
McCann said communication is one of Lacroix’s strong suits as a leader, particularly when it comes to listening to all sides when issues arise.
“She hears out the people that do bring concerns to her, and I think that she does that for everyone equally,” McCann said. “Whenever I’ve brought concerns to her, she’s always been very down to earth and asks for all of the information before making judgment calls.”
Junior Charlotte Bronaugh, the SGA’s university services committee chair, said Lacroix’s communication and organization skills have strengthened Lacroix as a leader. All in all, she would best describe Lacroix’s leadership as “collaborative.”
“She's incredibly personable and works hard to both get to know the people closely in the SGA, but also the different offices on campus and all of the faculty and staff and students that inhabit those,” Bronaugh said. “She’s been planting a lot of great seeds to be able to refer back to if any offices or people she works with need assistance.”
For Lacroix, the word she would use to describe her presidency is “resurgence” — citing the Homecoming Parade tradition she helped revive, the SGA’s work to grow student engagement during the presidential election and the changes she’s made to the organization's inner workings.
“A large part of my presidency has been changing things,” Lacroix said. “It’s been a big year of changing lots of stuff, but also bringing [the SGA] back to our mission, and bringing us back to being reliable and accountable and transparent. I just want on the smallest level possible [for people] to know that there are people out there that care and want to do a good job and want to represent [them].”
CONTACT Morgan Blair at breezepress@gmail.com. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
By SIXUAN WU The Breeze
The Student Government Association (SGA) introduced amendments to the positions of chief of staff and elections commissioner during its first Senate meeting of the semester.
The amendments refine the language for each position’s roles, with added responsibilities for the chief of staff.
Newly added responsibilities include “[to] collect and preserve, or oversee the preservation of, written records of meetings of all Committees, Teams, and Class Councils” and “handling requests for office equipment and supplies, and determining whether the space shall be closed in the case it is requested for a meeting or other professional work” while also serving as the SGA office manager, according to the amendments.
The amendments will sit for two weeks before the Senate votes on its proposed changes. Members of the SGA’s leadership team and committee chairs also gave reports at the meeting. Highlights include:
• A new ad hoc committee on mental health and wellbeing has been formed. Co-chaired by senior Student Body President Brielle Lacroix and junior Student Body Vice President Abby Herbert, this committee will focus on supporting existing mental health services on campus and providing increased student feedback.
• Senior and Class of 2025 President Faith Forman is starting a new ad hoc legislation implementation committee. The committee’s current focus is on implementing NaloxBoxes — opioid rescue kits of Narcan nasal sprays — in residence halls, following a Bill of Opinion passed in the 202324 spring semester.
• Senior Executive Treasurer Carson Tighe gave a summary of the past semester’s spending. He said all front-end budgeting (FEB) from the previous semester has been approved, and the groups Students for Minority Outreach and ResQED have been approved for their FEB status.
CONTACT Sixuan Wu at thebreezeculture@gmail.com. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
from CHICK-FIL-A , page 5
Last semester, Bot said she wasn’t “too worried” about the change because she doesn’t typically get food from East Campus. She added that she isn’t worried about it next semester either because most of her classes are on Main Campus.
However, Bot said she eats dinner late at 9 to 10 p.m — at least one hour after E-Hall’s 8 p.m. closing time. When E-Hall is closed, Bot said she’s worried about having to take a trip to Main Campus to get food.
Although Delmarco typically doesn’t eat at Festival, he said he’s “definitely a little bit concerned” about the limitations the renovations may place on accessible food options on East Campus. For Delmarco, Festival is where he gets his energy drinks and other snacks, and he said he worries it may be difficult for students to access non-dining hall food options as a result of construction.
Despite students’ worries, many food venues will remain open during the renovation process.
“Burgers + Fries, East Side Deli, and grab-and-go options — including sushi — will remain open during construction this spring,” Gray wrote. “Our Just Baked Vending Machine will also be available anytime the building stays open. Tenders, Love & Chicken’s (TLC) at AUBC (Atlantic Union Bank Center) is also set to expand operating hours, opening at 11:00 a.m. on weekdays, to provide another lunch option open during construction.”
Alongside the remaining venues, former East Campus pasta eatery Tavolino will move from Festival to E-Hall, and the homestyle entrée station in E-Hall is set to be rebranded as The Iron Skillet — “featuring home-style classics,” according to JMU Campus Dish — around the same time.
The Festival food court will be updated with an upscale modern design, new order technologies and several changes to existing eateries, Gray added in her email.
“The new technologies planned for the grand re-opening of Festival Food Court will include the addition of order kiosks throughout the
newly designed space … and will help reduce wait times at the D-Hall Chick-fil-A location,” she said.
After Festival is renovated, Chick-fil-A would be added “along with a new deli, Madison Press, complete with grab-n-go options; Ignite, a pizza and pasta concept; and a renovation to Burgers + Fries,” Gray wrote.
Delmarco, alongside other students in favor of adding the additional Chick-il-A, said having a second location will not only widen food options for students, but will also reduce wait times.
“Even before Chick-fil-A actually opens [at 11 a.m.] people are already lined up and filling the whole queue waiting,” Delmarco said. “I definitely think having another one on [East Campus] would alleviate at least a decent amount of that.”
CONTACT Edison Vranian at vraniawe@dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
EDITORS EMAIL
Abby Camp & Sixuan Wu
By ASHLEE THOMPSON The Breeze
As students adjust to their school schedules after the long winter break, they may notice some unfamiliar and missing dining spots.
JMU Dining announced on Instagram Jan. 14 a variety of changes being implemented across campus this semester affecting Festival Food Court, Dukes Dining and both dining halls. Some fan-favorite food locations have been relocated, renamed or shut down in preparation for renovations between now and the summer months.
Students frequent Festival for quick graband-go meals and to stock up their fridges on drinks like Celsius and Gatorade. But as Dukes return to East Campus this semester, they might find a different food court from the one they remember.
While Festival will remain open during the spring semester, it will have fewer options due to the renovations introducing a second on-campus Chick-fil-A and other new dining spots, such as Ignite and Madison Press.
Burgers + Fries, East Side Subs and the Just Baked vending machine will be the only locations remaining open in the food court. Atlantic Union Bank Center’s Tenders, Love &
Chicken will also remain open with extended hours from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays to offset the newly closed locations.
Tavolino, the fan-favorite pasta hub inside Festival, has been moved to E-Hall and will feature the “same delicious menu,” as stated on JMU Dining’s Instagram.
Also new to E-Hall is The Iron Skillet, which will serve homestyle favorites.
Although she doesn’t go there often, senior political science major Fiona Bellizzi said she “feels” for students living on East Campus, who already didn’t have many food options outside of dining halls compared to those living on Main Campus — who have easier access to other dining locations, such as Dukes Dining and Market 64.
“Festival should be expanded to have healthier and more options for East Campus people,” Bellizzi said. “But the renovations are inconvenient for this semester.”
The renovations inside Festival are projected to be complete by fall 2025. Additions to the new Festival will include Chick-fil-A, Ignite and Madison Press, with Burger + Fries remaining, as announced on JMU Dining’s Instagram in December.
see DINING CHANGES, page 12
By SIXUAN WU
The Breeze
For 25 years, John Hodges has worked behind the camera — both literally and figuratively — as a technology manager and instructor in the School of Media Arts and Design (SMAD). During JMU’s nationally televised football game on Oct. 10, Hodges stepped into the spotlight as he was recognized as the “Game Changer” of the College of Arts and Letters (CAL).
“[It’s] very gratifying,” Hodges said. “I was surprised and indeed honored to have somebody think of [me] in that way, to put [my] name forward.”
“Game Changer” is an honor Athletic Director Matt Roan introduced this year to recognize one faculty member from each of the eight colleges for both their work benefiting JMU Athletics and their overall contribution to their colleges.
The deans of each college nominated one faculty member, which was then reviewed by JMU Athletics. CAL Dean Traci Zimmerman said she “immediately” thought of Hodges after learning about the award.
“I knew just how much he has given to the university, and particularly to SMAD, and he’s the kind of guy who works really
hard, does amazing things,” Zimmerman said. “He’s a behindthe-scenes guy, but he’s so vital to everything that we see, so I was like, ‘I know who’s going to get this award.’ I think he’s the perfect person.”
Hodges’ roots in JMU run deep — graduating in 1978 and working as SMAD’s first and only technology manager since 1999. Aside from teaching classes and assisting professors in SMAD, he directs live productions for football and basketball games. He has also been lending his video expertise to the Furious Flower Poetry Center — JMU’s academic center for Black poetry — since 1994.
“It just seemed like all the way around — a lifetime of service, and also being a student here,” Zimmerman said. “And I thought, ‘If he’s not a Game Changer, I don’t know who is in the college.’”
Friends and colleagues described Hodges as a kind, humble person who doesn’t “seek the limelight.”
“I knew just how much he has given to the university, and particularly to SMAD, and he’s the kind of guy who works really hard, does amazing things. He’s a behind-the-scenes guy, but he’s so vital to everything that we see, so I was like, ‘I know who’s going to get this award.’ I think he’s the perfect person.”
Traci Zimmerman
Dean, College of Arts and Letters
safe and warm in the cold
By GRACE SAWYER The Breeze
Welcome back to campus, Dukes! Not even the frigid temperatures can dampen the excitement and reunions all around Harrisonburg.
As thrilling as it is to be back, the low temperatures, wind, snow and ice can make travel, moving in and personal safety more challenging. Fortunately, there are many steps you can take to combat the winter weather and ensure a safe and comfortable move-in and beginning of the semester.
The American Heart Association noted that colder temperatures directly affect your body and can pose serious threats. The body may lose heat faster than it can be produced, blood pressure may increase and you could become more susceptible to illness. These issues could lead to problems including hypothermia, frostbite, heart attacks, strokes and sickness becoming more frequent and severe, which is why winter safety is so crucial.
There are many ways to enjoy the cold temperatures while mitigating their negative effects. The first method to stay warm in the winter seems simple but is often forgotten: layering and wearing the right clothing. The American Heart Association suggested covering as much exposed skin as possible with garments like hats, scarves and gloves in addition to a winter coat, long pants and boots. The organization also recommends staying active and moving in the winter weather — but be wary of too much exertion, which can make you sweat and become colder faster. Additionally, ensure that a family member or a friend knows where you are and when you plan to return if you do venture out into the snow.
Many Dukes have cars, and taking care of them in the colder months is essential to keep them working well. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), there are a multitude of things to make sure your car has during the winter. You, or a mechanic, should check your car’s antifreeze levels, brakes, lights, fuel and air filters, heater, tire pressure and oil among other essentials. Remember to lift your windshield wipers in snowy conditions or freezing temperatures, and turn your car on at least twice a day to ensure all functions are fully operational.
from DINING CHANGES, page 10
From Oath to Heirloom
Don’t be surprised when you walk through the second floor of Dukes Dining: Oath Pizza has been renamed Heirloom Pizza. In November, JMU Dining’s Director of Student Engagement
Jenna Gray told the SGA the crust used at Oath during the fall semester is the same crust students can expect when ordering from Heirloom.
Gray previously said the pizza rebrand would be “a JMU concept” and would have more menu flexibility than before, such as bringing back specials including the vegetarian Bella pizza.
Sophomore marketing major Sydnie Booze was originally worried the change would mean a whole new recipe, but since the crust is the same, she doesn’t have any problems with the updates.
“I like the new name,” Booze added.
The grand opening for Heirloom Pizza will be Jan. 30 from 1 to 3 p.m., and free T-shirts and stickers will be given out to those in attendance.
JMU Dining also announced last week that different local restaurants are coming to D-Hall as a part of “A Taste of Downtown Harrisonburg at D-Hall.”
Downtown Korean restaurant Mashita will be at D-Hall on Feb. 7 for lunchtime, while burger joint Billy Jack’s Shack will be available for lunch on March 26.
The Dunkin’ Donuts in the Student Success Center is still under renovation. JMU Dining plans to move Dunkin’ from its first-floor location to a bigger space on the second floor to allow for more seating and a better experience, Gray said. This renovation is slated to be completed during the fall semester.
The Dunkin’ Donuts in the Student Success Center is still under renovation. JMU Dining plans to move Dunkin’ from its first-floor location to a bigger space on the second floor to allow for more seating and a better experience, Gray said. This renovation is slated to complete during the fall semester
CONTACT Ashlee Thompson at thomp6ab@dukes.jmu. edu. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
from HODGES, page 11
“[He’s] very nice and we get the job done, but there’s no pressure,” SMAD chief engineer Jon Wenger said. “He’s been a real good boss, and has helped me along the way.”
Hodges’ daughter, Sara Hodges (’05, ’20M), was also recognized as the “Game Changer” for the Honors College during the Nov. 30 football game. As an adviser in the Honors College, Sara has mentored students for the past 15 years, also teaching freshman Honors seminar classes and serving on the college’s admissions committee.
“I felt very warm, and I felt very supported, and I feel very grateful to work in an environment that is eager to look for the people who are making a difference, and to recognize that,” Sara said.
She added that she’s very proud of her father for being recognized as a “Game Changer,” and that they joked about making their awards a matching set.
“He’s so very, very worthy of all the recognition that he gets and more, and so it was really cool to receive the same award as he did,” Sara said. “I have a long way to go before I make that kind of impact. He’s just such a special person.”
In conclusion of his 25 years working with JMU, Hodges will retire this January.
“I think a lot of people come and go, and we value them, but Hodges has left a legacy for sure,” Zimmerman said
CONTACT Sixuan Wu at thebreezeculture@gmail.com.
For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
EDITORS Hayden Hundley & Preston Comer
By JACKSON HEPHNER
The Breeze
Last week was far from perfect for JMU men’s basketball (11-9, 4-4 Sun Belt).
It started with a nail-biting 67-64 win over Marshall on Thursday that inspired head coach Preston Spradlin to joke he “could probably use an ibuprofen,” at the start of his postgame presser. Two days later, the Dukes fell to App State in a defensive slugfest 58-50, dropping back below .500 in conference play.
Both games were rematches from the previous road trip the week before. JMU fell to the Herd 80-78 that Thursday, Jan. 9, then lost decisively to App State 86-66 two days later. Despite the split results, on Monday Spradlin said both rematches were improvements.
“Did we finish the Marshall game exactly the way that we had wanted? We did not, but we finished it better than we did a week ahead of time,” he said. “Did we come out on the right side of the App State game? We did not, but we certainly did a lot of things better than we did a week ahead of that.”
Spradlin brought up these improvements when discussing the “process-oriented” approach he and his staff are taking with the team. He hopes this approach will give his players confidence as they once again try for their first road win — now with an away record of 0-6.
As he did last week, Spradlin said the Dukes’ problem on the road has been their connectivity and energy with one another. He hopes that by focusing on their improvements from the past two games, his team will maintain a productive mindset.
“We don’t want to add any more pressure to them and say, ‘Man, we’ve got to win a road game,’” he said. “They know we haven’t won a road game, but they need to know why, and they also need to know that the reason is certainly within our control and is fixable, and let’s address it, and let’s fix it, just like the problems we did last week.”
Another noticeable change in attitude has come from the players themselves. Spradlin said the locker-room culture has become more positive as teammates are increasingly willing to hold each other accountable. He said the Dukes have become more player-led since they returned from winter break.
“I think hitting those tough moments has made the guys realize how much they need each other and just how important this season needs to be to everybody,” he said.
JMU will continue its season on Thursday against an opponent more familiar than any other: ODU. The Dukes and Monarchs shared a deep basketball history from their time together in the then-Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). Despite ODU holding an overall record of 58-33 against the Dukes, JMU has won the last six matchups since both joined the Sun Belt in July 2022.
This season, the Monarchs are 8-11 (4-3 Sun Belt) and coming off two straight losses at home last week — first a 62-43 defeat to App State, then a 67-63 heartbreaker against Georgia Southern.
“This is a big game for everybody,” Spradlin said. “It means a lot to both of our programs being a rivalry, and certainly with them coming off of two home losses, and then us coming off the App State loss, it’s going to mean a lot to both teams, just with where we’re at within the midst of our seasons.”
The Dukes did grab their first road victory of the season Wednesday with a 74-60 win over ODU. JMU will head to Georgia State (7-12, 3-4) for its matchup on Saturday at 4 p.m.
CONTACT Jackson Hephner at hephnejt@dukes.jmu.edu. For more men’s basketball coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.
By HAYDEN HUNDLEY The Breeze
After first-year head coach Bob Chesney led JMU football to its first-ever bowl win during its second bowl-eligible season, the Dukes have added 19 transfers to supplement their returners for next season.
At the time of publication, JMU added six pass catchers, four defensive backs, two quarterbacks, three defensive linemen, two offensive linemen and a linebacker. Eight of the Dukes’ most recent additions have at least two years of eligibility remaining.
Let’s take an early look into how all 19 transfers could fit into next season’s roster as it looks in January:
When looking at the transfers who will provide the biggest boost next year, graduate quarterback Matthew Sluka and rising junior quarterback Camden Coleman must be mentioned.
The latter burst onto the scene as a freshman at Richmond in 2023, tying a program record six passing touchdowns during his first career start against Maine. The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder was a Third Team All-CAA selection last season and is 13-1 as a starter.
Sluka, on the other hand, arrives in Harrisonburg with ample experience under Chesney, offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy and running game coordinator Chris Smith — all of whom coached him at Holy Cross.
He completed 21-48 (44%) of his passes in four starts at UNLV last season before leaving the team due to complications surrounding his NIL deal. He said on social media that he left after promises made to him weren’t upheld. All things considered, with Coleman still having an available redshirt and Sluka’s familiarity with Smith and Kennedy’s system, he may have a leg up in what should be a highly-competitive battle.
Next is rising redshirt senior wide receiver Nick DeGennaro, who aims to pick up where he left off at Richmond. DeGennaro broke the Spiders’ single-season touchdown reception record with 11 during his redshirt sophomore season in 2023 and was named First Team Preseason All-CAA in 2024. With
either Coleman or Sluka at quarterback, expect DeGennaro to command a large portion of JMU’s target share next season.
Incoming senior edge from Maine, Xavier Holmes, had a breakout season with Maine last year with 12.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks and 38 pressures according to Pro Football Focus. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound Clarksburg, Maryland native was a key acquisition for JMU as the Dukes are losing pass rushers Eric O’Neill and Khairi Manns — both of whom were named to the All-Sun Belt First and Second teams.
Next is Villanova transfer wide receiver Jaylan Sanchez who caught 67 passes for 1,253 yards over the past two seasons; he’ll be a senior next year. According to PFF, Sanchez played 617 of his 788 snaps last season in the slot, which likely means he’ll compete with rising junior Yamir Knight for playing time.
Lastly is former Holy Cross safety Curtis Harris-Lopez, who’s reuniting with Chesney as a graduate transfer. HarrisLopez is coming off his best season as a Crusader — where he totaled 9.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions returned for touchdowns. JMU’s defense under defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill occasionally used three safeties last year, but still expects to see Harris-Lopez plug in next to rising senior safety Jacob Thomas.
Two transfer cornerbacks will compete for a starting spot opposite senior Chauncey Logan next season. Redshirt senior Chantz Harley and senior Mekhi Rodgers had different journeys to JMU, as the former played 185 snaps at Maryland last season and the latter was a standout player at DIII Saint Francis University. Both provide similar value to the position, though, as both Harley and Rodgers are 6-foot-1.
Next is William & Mary transfer TJ McGill, who comes to JMU with three seasons of eligibility remaining, but could see early playing time. McGill was named a 2024 Phil Steele Freshman All-American last year. He also played at Julius S. Chambers High School in Charlotte with rising sophomore nickel KJ Flowe.
North Carolina transfer Zach Greenberg will also compete for a starting spot at center. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound senior played in four games last year for the Tar Heels.
Another Richmond transfer, rising junior wide receiver Landon Ellis, joins the Dukes with 70 catches, 802 receiving yards and five touchdowns in two seasons with the Spiders. The 6-foot-2 Ellis will likely compete with USF transfer Abdur-
Rahmaan Yaseen for starting reps. Yaseen joins the Dukes as a graduate transfer after catching 46 passes for 583 yards during the past two seasons.
Another potential starter is senior offensive tackle Jeremiah Mawali, who transferred from DII Valdosta State. The 6-foot-6, 300-pound mauler will likely compete with rising junior tackle Joseph Simmons, who played well in 331 snaps last season.
Two special teamers will also join the Dukes this spring. After the graduation of All-Sun Belt punter Ryan Hanson, JMU added Lexington Matthews from Savannah State and long snapper Josiah Kennard from East Texas A&M. The latter has one year of eligibility left, while Matthews has three.
Former Charlotte defensive end Locota Dippre will join the Dukes as a tight end in the spring, with three seasons of eligibility remaining. He was originally recruited out of high school as a tight end. The 6-foot-3, 255-pound athlete will have time to grow comfortable into a role even if he doesn’t find immediate playing time.
Next is Tusculum transfer wide receiver Za’ron Collins who totaled 21 receptions for 389 yards and two receiving touchdowns in 12 games. The 6-foot-2 pass catcher has three seasons of eligibility left, so he’s a name to watch out for in the future.
The anomaly in this tier is Shepherd transfer JT KouameYao. He joins the Dukes with one season of eligibility left after a standout career at Shepherd; he’ll just have to prove he can make the jump from DII to FBS. The 6-foot, 215-pound linebacker has 145 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and three interceptions over his career.
The final two players are former highly-recruited defensive linemen — with tackle Kells Bush by way of Louisiana Tech and edge Aiden Gobaira transferring from Notre Dame. The latter will have three seasons of eligibility remaining, while Bush has two seasons left. Gobaira is one of the most intriguing transfer additions during this cycle as a former four-star recruit out of Chantilly High School. The 6-foot-5, 245-pounder was the 21st-ranked defensive lineman coming out of high school in 2021 by 247sports.
CONTACT Hayden Hundley at breesesports@gmail.com For more football coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.
EDITOR EMAIL breezeopinion@gmail.com
Maya Skurski
Want to praise someone or get something off your chest? Darts & Pats is the place to do it. Submit your own at breezejmu.org.
A “true-heroes” pat to the JMU workers clearing the snow from the snow storm.
From someone who appreciates the hard work being done in below freezing temperatures so that students and faculty aren’t trekking through snow to class.
A “small-vacation” pat to The Breeze for returning to local businesses.
From alumni who feared it may never return.
A “hot-dog-havoc” dart to The Breeze for publishing an expired coupon to Sam’s Hot Dog Stand.
From a hungry Duke who knows a good bargain when they see it.
A “worst-doormat” dart to the ice rink that has formed on my front door step.
From someone who has no figure skating experience and can’t keep falling while attempting to enter their house.
Triple-roommate dorms, 200+ class sizes, long lines in the dining halls, overcrowded buses and the everworsening parking situation are just some consequences of JMU admitting too many students. Yet the population of students in American colleges has fallen by 15% over the last decade — a collective loss of 2.7 million students — and it’s only going to get worse. How is it possible for JMU students to be packed like sardines on campus while the nation struggles with declining enrollment?
Demographers estimate that across the next 15 years, colleges will lose another 650,000 students to low birth rates and high tuition costs — a threat dubbed the “enrollment cliff.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, birth rates fell dramatically after the Great Recession in 2007, and the effects are finally beginning to hit universities. Experts predict that the number of high school graduates will continuously decrease from 2025 to 2041, resulting in a smaller collegeapplicant pool and, therefore, fewer incoming freshmen. Additionally, the age demographics in America are slated to shift to a higher elderly population by 2029 and will remain that way until as far out as 2100. Because enrollment factors into how much state funding public universities receive, fewer people on campus could translate to fewer available services, less financial aid, poorer quality of education or even an uptick in college closures.
The Commonwealth of Virginia will experience a 7% decline in high school graduates, or about 7,500 fewer students, which is less of a decline when compared to other states. However, that relative stability doesn’t mean the enrollment cliff isn’t still a threat.
“Will there be other schools, perhaps from the Northeast where there are significant declines in high school enrollments … will they see Virginia as an opportunity to recruit students?” Melinda Wood, vice president of Enrollment Management, said.
As such, increasing enrollment now to prepare for the eventual dropoff is a priority for colleges despite their lack of infrastructure to accommodate larger class sizes. JMU is no exception. From 2015 to 2024, JMU’s undergraduate student body size increased by 8.8%, and it shows no signs of lessening. The recently admitted class of 2028 broke university records when Wood accepted “about 1000 extra students to the university,” which resulted in a “first-year class of about 5000 students.” Projections for the class of 2029 show much of the same.
“We have received over 33,000 applications for the fall class of next year. We have one more admissions deadline to go in January, and I suspect … that we‘ll see well over 40,000 high school students applying to be a part of JMU next fall,” Wood said.
Multiple years of record-breaking enrollment have overcrowded JMU’s campus. The bus system — which was once fairly reliable — now lags as students
are forced to watch one, two or even three already-full buses pass by before they can board. Having your own car doesn’t make any improvement, as JMU staff refuse to acknowledge the problems with parking availability on Main Campus. Certain departments struggle to find enough seats, forcing students to wait until the first or second week of classes to finalize their schedules and causing undue stress. On top of this, JMU has just admitted the largest freshman class in the university’s history while an entire residence hall is torn down, pushing underclassmen into temporary or permanent triples and upperclassmen into off-campus housing, only exacerbating the parking issue. Instead of putting window air conditioning units in older dorm rooms or building new parking decks — all improvements that would benefit current students — JMU has chosen to pour $60 million into expanding the Village’s housing capacity for nonexistent future freshmen. The construction takes place during the years of peak enrollment, disrupting those currently living in the Village and limiting on-campus options for upperclassmen. By the time all the expanded buildings are completed, there’ll be more rooms than underclassmen — but JMU can house upperclassmen and pocket their room and board money instead. More options for upperclassmen housing gives JMU less reason to expand parking as students can simply live on campus again instead of having to drive to school, but many upperclassmen still choose to bring cars, such as those living in Paul Jennings. Whether there are plans to construct new parking decks for the future upperclassmen in the Village or expand the bus system for the 200 new students that can fit into Ikenberry Hall remains to be seen.
JMU’s efforts may or may not reap benefits, but one thing is clear: the future of JMU has been prioritized at the expense of its current population. Shifting enrollment patterns isn’t an excuse to neglect the college’s present state, and JMU needs to be careful about biting off more than it can chew — lest the students bear the brunt of the burden of overcrowding.
CONTACT Ella at warre3ej@dukes.jmu.edu. For more editorials regarding the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the opinion desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
MAYA SKURSKI Opinion Editor
Editor’s note: This story includes mention of suicide and mental health. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.
There’ s a resounding answer at JMU from students that they chose this campus because they felt they belonged here, myself included. Yet each semester, unfortunately, another student takes their life, feeling as though they don’ t matter here; too many of our own are now a statistic in a heartbreaking nationwide case. Suicide shouldn’t be an annual event on any campus; it shouldn’t be a sadness that becomes a routine part of every student’s college experience. Where JMU may not be able to address a dire need for attention toward students’ mental health, students must step up, making kindness, suicide prevention and mental health solutions the forefront of our conversations.
“I couldn’ t imagine you not being alive and having to come home to all your things,” my roommate said to me after a tragedy a few years ago.
This is a sentence that stuck with me because there are multiple — if I could emphasize that word I would — JMU students who have had to go home to the room of the friend they lost. Still to this day, I’m left with goosebumps at that thought.
But here’ s the agonizing truth: grieving and discussing tragedy when it happens simply isn’ t enough — and has never been. We need action and ongoing conversation, but most importantly, we need change — and we need it before another life is lost.
Where would one even start to create that change? Well, a societal shift in the stigma would be helpful. In the meantime, we can remember that it’s easy to become stuck in a cycle where
grabbing D-Hall stir-fry with a friend.
We need to discuss why smiling at strangers — a simple act — feels so awkward nowadays. We need to go a step beyond “Dukes hold doors” and take its meaning into every action. These genuine interactions of kindness aren’t dead — just forgotten — and it’s not impossible to bring them back. Not everyone has one friend who always has their back no matter what, giving us even more of a reason to strive to be that friend for everyone all the time. No more waiting until after the crisis has struck to bring mental health to the forefront of our actions and
JMU is obligated to provide mental health resources, ensure that everyone knows where to find help and that these services are available for every Duke when they need them. That obligation will always stand, but this piece isn’t about where they lack, but rather where students can excel in the mental health crisis. Students should be committed to creating a loving, kind environment that upholds the unity and connection they first felt stepping foot on campus — one that affirms JMU’s s
Creating a culture of openness begins with baby steps. By talking about our
health in classes, dorms or even parties — if the drinks lead you into that conversation, — JMU can build an environment where it ’s okay not to be okay — an environment where that ’ s not just some cheesy slogan you hear; it ’s reality. A place where seeking help is a strength and is celebrated — that ’ s a campus I would be proud to be part of. After all, college is all about learning and growing, and that includes the knowledge of all relationships and learning how to support and love others.
Let’s remember change starts with each of us.
Each person on this campus has the power to create a ripple effect in our community by showing empathy, offering support to strangers and actively participating in mental health initiatives. We as Dukes can contribute to a more caring, resilient campus environment by being what a Duke is truly meant to be. With the right amount of action, JMU can spread kindness and positivity faster than the negativity surrounding us. Every day needs to be a time of reflection instead of saving that for a period marked by grief or loss.
Always remember: if you’re ever struggling, you’re not alone. Ending your life doesn‘t fix the problem; it just eliminates a solution. There are people all around who want to love and help you. Every person deserves to stay and to be fought for.
CONTACT Maya Skurski at breezeopinion@gmail.com. For more editorials regarding the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the opinion desk on X @ TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
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Maya Skurski breezeopinion@gmail.com
ART
Patti Varol
By Susan Gelfand
Madison Marketplace is open for business, and all text-only listings are FREE ! Post job listings, announcements, rentals and more using our online placement tool. Ads run two weeks online and in two print editions.
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The Breeze, JMU’s award-winning student media organization, seeks a student graphic designer for print and online advertising. Job requirements include creating ads fro clients, collaboration with Advertising coordinator, page layout and design. Must be deadline oriented. Knowledge of Adobe software and previous design experience. EOE. Apply at jobs.jmu.edu
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The best place for banking isn’t a bank at all!
CommonWealth One is JMU’s trusted, full-service credit union, and student banking is better here. We’re conveniently located on campus and offer everything you might need financially as a student. What we don’t have? Excessive and unnecessary fees.
When it comes to handling your finances as a student, we’ve got your back with:
The secret is out – CommonWealth One is here to help you thrive financially at JMU.
To open an account or learn more about JMU Student Perks, which include special events, free food and prizes, visit cofcu.org/DUKES or stop by our branch in The Union (next to the post office)
The Union (Next to the Post Office) Monday – Friday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm