The Breeze 10.16.25 by The Breeze

NEWS

EDITORS Emma Notarnicola & Landon Shackelford EMAIL breezenews@gmail.com

President Schmidt tours the Commonwealth

By JACIN GARNICA contributing writer

University President Jim Schmidt has been on his first presidential tour since his summer inauguration. Schmidt hosted and will continue to host events across Virginia and the East Coast to meet with alumni, representatives and JMU affiliates.

During these tours, Schmidt shared his experience and ambitions for JMU while answering attendees’ questions and listening to their concerns.

“I want them to share with me what they would like to see us do,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt’s main goal is to better understand the culture of JMU and “to get up to speed with understanding everyone’s perspective about the strengths of the university,” Schmidt said. He wants to learn about positive experiences with faculty, he said, and has heard many stories about former JMU President Ronald “Uncle Ron” Carrier.

In addition, Schmidt said he aims to be transparent both as president and on his tours.

“I want to share what’s in my heart,” Schmidt said. “I really am hoping most decisions aren’t a big surprise.”

Infrastructure

At Schmidt’s first tour event on Sept. 24, a Zoom webinar, he shared infrastructure ideas such as building more oncampus housing to accommodate “at least half our students.”

“Students who live on campus are retained at higher rates, graduate [at] higher rates, do better in class and have a greater sense of community … as Harrisonburg has grown, a lot of the departments that students are living in are miles from

campus, and that can be very isolating,” Schmidt said in an interview with The Breeze.

In accordance with ongoing construction, JMU is expected to begin increasing student housing through Village renovations, starting with Potomac Hall, he said.

“Part of the plan is to take a look at the Village area … they’ve lasted about as long as they should last,” Schmidt said, also acknowledging “Eagle and Shorts as being two of the dormitories that are the least liked on campus.”

Schmidt also said there are discussions about opportunities and challenges JMU will face with Bridgeforth Stadium expansions.

“There are a lot of boosters that would like us to see us finish Bridgeforth Stadium,” Schmidt said. “I would love to see summer-long music festivals or other events that we take advantage of the stadium to do.”

Learning reinvention

In his webinar, Schmidt emphasized “reinventing learning.” Schmidt said he wanted to look at programs that stray away from traditional learning.

“Freshman year in college isn’t grade 13,” Schmidt said. “A lot of K-12 schools have a focus on test outcomes. There’s a lot of criticism about memorization and things that are often required.”

Schmidt said one proposal is “problem-based learning,” which involves working in a team to solve a problem using various subjects.

“It disrupts sitting in a row [and] taking notes to make it more active learning,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt also shared ambitions for re-examining how we approach AI, emphasizing using it as a tool rather than thinking of it as a way for students to cheat. This allows

students to enter the workforce with knowledge of AI and ethical use.

Philanthropy and funding

Schmidt said he plans to continue to spend a quarter of his time as president on “resource development.”

“One of the primary responsibilities a president has is to make sure that the people that I support have the resources necessary for them to do their work,” he said.

With these costly goals, Schmidt said there’s a need to secure funding through various sources during this tour.

“We will reallocate funds internally towards our goals, but I also want to get better funding from Richmond, from Washington, D.C., with federal grants,” Schmidt said. “I want to reach out to foundations, and I want to reach out to our alums and friends to say, ‘it’s time to pay it forward.’”

Reception

Schmidt said that so far these tours have been well-received, with many alumni expressing a desire for bolder moves from the university.

“They’ve been very positive; the alums that I’ve met with have been warm and welcoming,” Schmidt said. “They’ve shown enthusiasm for some of the things that we’re talking about. I was impressed that our alumni are saying, ‘Go bigger, go bolder.’”

Visit J MU’s website for future tour dates and locations

CONTACT Jacin Garnica at garnicja@dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.

Schmidt discussed plans to renovate dorms and rethink the Village.

Schmidt spoke about meeting alums and plans for JMU.

President Jim Schmidt talking about his tour. Photos by Landon Shackelford / The Breeze

Student reps share political stances of gubernatorial candidates

By EMMA BROWN & YOHANNAN GUGSA

The Breeze

The Student Government Association (SGA) hosted Dukes Debate — an event where two representatives debate policies of political candidates — on Oct. 13, in the Festival Ballroom.

This year, College Democrats representative senior Mason Hoey and College Republicans representative senior Reagan Polarek debated Virginia gubernatorial candidates Abigail Spanberger’s (Dem.) and Winsome Earle-Sears’ (Rep.) stances, respectively.

Each representative was allowed two minutes to respond to each question, followed by a 90-second response to the opposition and concluding with a one-minute rebuttal.

Junior SGA Legislative Affairs Chairperson Caroline Spurling and senior Breeze Editor-in-Chief Eleanor Shaw moderated the event.

The debate began with each candidate’s opening speeches, introducing their candidate and their political stances.

In his opening statement, Hoey said Spanberger is a strong candidate because of her experience as CIA agent and Congress representative and her dedication to Virginia as a civil servant.

During this speech, Hoey said Spanberger’s campaign represents a “moderate, cooperative, driven approach to building Virginia wide coalitions for policymaking.”

Earle-Sears’ campaign represents core conservative ideologies, Polarek said in her opening remarks.

Polarek emphasized how Earle-Sears is a Marine veteran, smallbusiness owner, prison minister and lieutenant governor, adding that Earle-Sears is “a leader who is not afraid to speak hard truths.”

Here’s what the representatives talked about their candidates stances on various political topics:

Gun control

The first question surrounded firearm regulations, gun control and Second-Amendment rights.

Gun violence remains a significant concern for Virginians, residents, Spurling said, with mass shootings at an all-time high and the recent assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk.

Hoey said Spanberger supports common-sense gun control, such as background checks, enforcing red flag laws and preventing the spread of ghost guns.

“In 2024, there were 83 school shootings, according to CNN — or 336, if you include after hours or other school property,” he said.

He said Earle-Sears’ plans differ from Spanberger’s, emphasizing Earle-Sears’ promotion of the Second Amendment.

“Winsome [Earle-]Sears does not care about these Virginian’s she believes that over policing will make our community safer,” Hoey said.

In her response, Polarek said Earle-Sears places value on the Second Amendment, emphasizing the right to self-defense and that Virginia has the infrastructure to regulate gun violence.

Polarek said Republicans don’t see the need for more laws, “If more laws were the answer, then why did violence rise under democratic control?”

In his rebuttal, Hoey said Spanberger is more equipped in understanding gun control, while still maintaining a strong connection with the Virginia Police Department.

“It is important that we remove guns from our society, because guns make gun violence easier, and violence in general easier,” Hoey said. “Allowing the current laws to stay in place will not produce a safer Virginia.”

College affordability

The second question addressed how each candidate would approach college affordability.

Polarek opened with Earle-Sear’s and Republicans’ stance, saying they believe parents are entitled to transparency, accountability and real choices, especially when Virginia has performed low academically, ranked 51st in math recovery after the pandemic.

In regards to affordability, Polarek said Earle-Sears is focused on trust, while Spanberger pushes for more government funding.

In response, Hoey said Spanberger advocates for public education and affordability, “she has three daughters in the Virginia Public School System, and she fights for the equal education of our public school system.” he said.

Polarek countered that Earle-Sears was a part of an administration that put education first and gave families a choice on their students’ education as lieutenant governor.

Transgender issues and parental rights

Earle-Sears has publicly criticized Spanberger on issues regarding transgender policies, making the policies a central focus of her campaign, Spurling said. The question asked the representatives to address transgender rights in schools.

Hoey started by saying Spanberger believes that all Virginians should be treated equally with “dignity and respect” not with standing their sexual orientation or identity.

“[Earle-]Sears continues to attack our queer Virginians,” Hoey said. “It’s important that we recognize that is not how we protect our students.”

Polarek said Earle-Sears values common sense, promoting that biological boys shouldn’t be in girls’ sports or bathrooms.

“This issue is about balancing respect for students with parental rights, student safety and basic fairness,” Polarek said.

In his counterargument, Hoey said Earle-Sears doesn’t support students and repeated that she will attack queer students.

“It’s important that we notice that she focuses on ideological battles, rather than raising costs and ensuring our students can receive adequate education,” Hoey said. “She doesn’t care about our students, she only cares about gender and identity politics.”

Cost of living

The next question focused on the economy and cost of living, emphasizing how housing prices in Harrisonburg rose by 25% last year, and 50% in the last five years, Shaw said.

Polarek said Earle-Sears emphasizes less government support and thus tax reductions, giving families more capital to invest in homes.

“[Earle-]Sears is offering real relief, cutting taxes, removing barriers to housing and energy development and fostering job program,” she said.

Hoey said Earle-Sears hasn’t pushed any initiatives to end the car tax while serving as lieutenant governor, simply supporting Governor Glenn Youngkin’s policies. He added that Spanberger has a three-step plan to make the cost of living cheaper, including raising the minimum wage and supporting unions.

Environmental effects of data centers and AI

The next question asked the represenatives to address the environmental and economic impacts of general artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers.

Hoey said Spanberger’s administration will prioritize clean energy expansion, reduce imports and ensure data centers pay for energy.

Polarek said Earle-Sears sees the expansion of data centers as a productive development.

“[Earle-]Sears argues that the Virginia Clean Economy Act removed reliable power from the grid too quickly, without realistic replacements, leaving families vulnerable to higher costs,” she added.

Hoey countered this by saying Spanberger will ensure that Virginians have the investments to produce enough energy for Virginians.

Federal government shutdown

The next question addressed the government shutdown on Oct. 1. Specifically, its effect on government workers, especially as Virginia houses roughly 147,358 federal employees who are currently on unpaid leave, Shaw said.

Government shutdowns hit Virginia families directly, Polarek said, adding that Earle-Sears has pushed for senators and representatives to take the steps to prevent this shutdown from happening.

Hoey said the President is at fault for the shutdown, not the representatives. He also emphasized the shutdown’s effects on health care.

“More than 350,000 Virginians are set to lose Medicare coverage because of the Big Beautiful Bill,” Hoey said. “This will close rural hospitals and devastate the local health care economy of Virginia.”

As a representative, Spanberger contributed to this shutdown, Polarek rebutted.

“She talks about protecting Virginia, but she’s voted for some of the bloated budgets that keep leading us here,” Polarek said.

Reproductive rights and contraception

This question asked candidates their opinions on access to abortion.

Hoey said Spanberger works to protect abortion, while EarleSears voted in opposition of Virginia’s Right to Contraception Act, which was ultimately vetoed by Governor Youngkin.

“[Spanberger] will work to protect the reproduction rights of Virginia women; [Earle-]Sears does not, and she will not protect women’s rights, not even in cases of rape and incest,” Hoey said.

Polarek said Earle-Sears has been open about her personal opposition to broad constitutional protections for abortion, writing that there’s no protection for the child.

Legalization of marijuana

The next question addressed marijuana legalization in Virginia as efforts persist nationwide.

Polarek said Earle-Sears has consistently supported the use of medical marijuana while opposing recreational use.

Polarek said Earle-Sears considers marijuana a “gateway drug” and asserts that Virginia shouldn’t normalize or commercialize drug use when communities are already struggling with addiction and mental health crises.

Emma Notarnicola contributed to this report.

Republican candidates for Virginia election visit JMU

By EMMA NOTARNICOLA

The Breeze

The 2025 Virginia gubernatorial Republican ticket spoke about their campaigns and introduced themselves to students on Monday.

In Bridgeforth Stadium, gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears, lieutenant governor candidate John Reid and incumbent Attorney General of Virginia Jason Miyares interacted with students, Harrisonburg citizens and other attendees.

Four on-campus conservative groups — Young Americans for Freedom (YAF), College Republicans, Turning Point U.S.A. and Network of Enlightened Women (NeW) — came together to host a meet-the-candidate event, YAF Chairman and senior Tristan Jackson said.

“Events like these are crucial, especially at JMU,” he said, adding that it’s increasingly important with rising political tensions. “Bringing speakers into more of an intimate space with students also alleviates tension.”

Many attendees supported their fellow Republicans and connected with the community, including Harrisonburg resident Abbey Christophel, who said, “I know it’s not easy to be a conservative … I know that sometimes there’s a real divide on campus, and I just want to be supportive on campus … supportive to both sides.”

At the event

Management professor and adviser to the conservative clubs Marshall Pattie gave the opening speech introducing the event and speakers.

“This is the first time we had a full slate of Republican nominees come talk to us, so we’re really excited,” he said.

Following the speech, sophomore NeW member Charlotte Rhodes led the group in prayer before the speakers took to the stage. Jackson then introduced the first speaker of the night, John Reid.

“Reid is a lifelong Virginian, a trusted voice in conservative media, a bold leader with experience and communication skills to deliver real results,” Jackson said.

In an interview with The Breeze, Reid said introducing himself to vital voters — college students — was one of his main goals.

“I can’t ignore you,” Reid said, “I’m not leaving any vote untouched in the whole state of Virginia.”

Reid opened his speech by sharing a story about a time he and former President Ronald Reagan were in a McDonald’s drive-

through, and Reagan told him about the Democrats’ version of a Happy Meal — relating it to Democrats’ government spending.

“[A Democrat Happy Meal is] when you go through the drive through, and you order everything on the menu, you pull up to the window and you say the guy behind you is going to pay for it,” Reid said.

As lieutenant governor, Reid said he’ll push for less government spending, expansion of job opportunities and reduced political violence.

BE WHERE THE STUDENTS

Jason Miyares, incumbent Virginia attorney general, encouraged Dukes to vote. Photos by Landon Shackelford / The Breeze

“[Democrats’] stupid ideas will make it impossible for you to get a job when you get out of college,” he said. “It will make it harder for you to move up the ladder and increase your earnings potential.”

In closing, Reid complimented the work done by both EarleSears and Attorney General Miyares and encouraged students to use their voices to vote for the Republican ticket.

“The type of commonwealth that you’re going to live in as you continue your time at JMU, the type of state that you’re going to start working in, is being decided on Nov. 4,” Reid said. Next, junior and College Republicans Chairman Mason Main introduced Miyares, a former Duke, to share his journey and the future of his campaign.

At the beginning of his speech, Miyares spoke fondly of his time at JMU and encouraged students to value their time and experience here.

Being an incumbent, Miyares said his experience has given him the ability to know the position and know how to perform it well. With this, Miyares encouraged the reelection of EarleSears — current lieutenant governor — for similar reasons.

“You hired us to go work for you, and, folks, it has been the single most remarkable four-year turnaround any state has seen in modern American history,” he said. “We call it the Virginia Renaissance.”

Similar to Reid, Miyares spoke about limiting excessive taxation and government regulation, creating jobs and encouraging entrepreneurs, adding that small businesses make up around two-thirds of all jobs in America.

“By every objective standard, Virginia is safer today [than] the one I took office in, and it’s been the honor of my life to be the people’s protector,” he said.

He added the current Youngkin administration contributed to a decrease in crime and addiction rates, a rise in safety, higher prosecution of repeat offenders and increased job growth.

Miyares also spoke on his opponent, Democrat Jay Jones, explaining his lack of qualifications, and adding that he has poor character — referring to a recent alleged text scandal released about the attorney general candidate in which he alledgedly condoned violence against former House Speaker Todd Gilbert. He said this election was an opportunity to share student voices in a time of freedom of speech contention, referencing the

one-month anniversary of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

“In America, we settle our differences at the ballot box, not with bullets,” Miyares said. “Your vote is your voice.”

Miyares introduced the final speaker, Earle-Sears, as a strong leader who he said will be a great governor.

Earle-Sears focused her speech on three major topics: reduction of taxes — specifically car tax — addressing immigration issues and creating jobs.

“We know how to do this,” she said. “We’ve gotten rid of, what, almost 100,000 regulations now? Job-killing regulations. We are making an environment that businesses want to come to.”

Earle-Sears spoke about her belief in America and her experience living in Jamaica and immigrating to the United States.

“My father came to America at the height of the Civil Rights Movement,” she said, “so it was a bad time for us, for people who look like me, and, yet, he said to himself, America is where he will restart his life.”

She added that she wanted to continue those ideals that made her father want to settle in and see the U.S. as a place of freedom and opportunity.

“A win for me is not a win for me,” she said. “It’s a win for common sense. It’s a win for continued success. It’s a win where we’ll have jobs and you’ll have your money in your pocket.”

All three candidates encouraged students to vote and spread their voice encouraging the idea of the importance of being civically engaged.

“You have got to be involved,” Earle-Sears said in her speech. “You cannot be bystanders. This is you now, this is your time. You must take your place in society. You must vote. You must knock on doors. You must pay the price. Freedom is not free.”

In her speech, Earle-Sears mentioned an African proverb, which encourages teamwork and camaraderie while promoting the community to come together.

“If you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go together,” Earle-Sears said.

CONTACT Emma Notarnicola at breezenews@gmail.com. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU

By SAM WRIGHT

The Breeze

The Student Government Association (SGA) allocated $3,000 contingency funds to a cappella group Low Key and the National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association (NSSLHA), respectively, and heard a presentation from JMU Dining on upcoming programs.

Low Key receives $3,000

The SGA unanimously approved $3,000 in contingency funds to the JMU Low Key to cover the costs of its Fall Concert and preparation for the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) competition.

The club’s treasurer, sophomore Eva Johnson, represented the group. The ICCA is “a competition with all of the college a cappella groups around the country,” Johnson said.

The ICAA has also gained popularity in recent years due to it being the competition that the “Pitch Perfect” movies feature.

Low Key last competed in the ICCA competition in spring 2024, where it almost placed fourth in the quarter finals, Johnson added.

“Overall, it’s just a great opportunity to grow closer,” Johnson said about the importance of the ICAA competition for the club.

National

Student Speech Language Hearing Association receives $3,000

The SGA unanimously approved $3,000 in contingency funds for the JMU NSSLHA group to cover costs for it to attend the annual American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) convention.

The NSSLHA participates in local outreach programs and volunteers at the Explore More Discovery Museum in Downtown Harrisonburg, where they work with children with speech and developmental disabilities.

NSSLHA’s treasurer, senior Katy Jendzurski, represented the club. During her presentation, Jendzurski said ASHA is “the

most comprehensive education event in the world for speech, language and hearing professionals.” This year, the convention takes place Nov. 20 to 22 in Washington, D.C. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

She added this convention will provide students with the opportunity to learn about speech- and hearing-related research while also expanding students’ knowledge about skills and techniques and finding new resources.

“[It’s] an amazing educational opportunity for our members and a great way for us to represent JMU at the national level,” Jendzurski said.

JMU Dining presents to SGA

Culinary Director Seth Kondor and Marketing Manager Heather Holsinger delivered JMU Dining’s October presentation to the SGA.

Holsinger and Kondor gave the SGA an overview of some events that will be taking place in the dining halls over the remainder of the semester. These events include Oktober Fest in D-Hall on Thursday and Subway’s reopening on Monday.

The grand reopening of the Subway on Grace Street will

feature “a raffle, door prizes and the first 50 in the door will get a coupon,” Holsinger said.

Holsinger added that JMU Dining may also host a “wizard wonderland of bagels” at Lakeside Café near the end of October, where the area would be redecorated in “Harry Potter” style. This event will put a magical new spin on Lakeside Café’s bagels, Holsinger said.

Holsinger said JMU Dining is also adding a new station at both D-Hall and E-Hall where students can celebrate their birthdays each month by taking a picture in a photo booth and decorating their own cupcake.

“We just want to recognize everyone and share in their joy,” Holsinger said.

The club’s mission statement is to “change kids’ health and change the future by raising the critical funds needed by the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals,” Wheeler said

CONTACT Sam Wright at wrigh4sx@dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU

Music that moves

JMU Wind Symphony enchants audience with orchestral mystique

By ALEXIA SHOEMAKER contributing writer

On Friday night, the Forbes Center Concert Hall was filled with a kind of energy that only live music can create.

Under Director of Bands and wind conducting professor Christopher Cicconi’s direction, the JMU Wind Symphony delivered a five-movement performance that carried the audience through every shade of emotion; the symphony played like one heartbeat, every note alive and deliberate.

The concert opened with “Toccata and Fugue in D minor,” composer Johann Sebastian Bach’s iconic organ piece, famously tied to the Dracula mythos. Its haunting power was almost immediate.

The brass dominated early, sending bold waves of sound across the hall. Yet, it was the piccolo’s stunning clarity that caught everyone off guard, piercing through the texture like a sharp glint of light in a gothic cathedral.

Cicconi conducted with what could only be described as a powerful display of passion. His gestures seemed to breathe life into each section, drawing out every ounce of drama from the piece. By the final notes, the audience was locked in silence, waiting for that echo to fade.

The tone shifted with the next piece, “October” by Eric Whitacre. If the first movement was all shadow and thunder, this one was all sunlight and air. The orchestra reconfigured itself before playing, and the change in the formation seemed to reflect the music’s shift in energy.

The piece opened soft and reflective, like an early autumn morning, then built into something brisk and full of color. Each instrument felt like a leaf swirling in the wind, moving through cool air and golden light. Incorporations of the euphonium, bass drum and tuba gave the music depth and weight, grounding the fluttering woodwinds. There was something cinematic about it that felt as if the audience had stepped straight into a world of orange leaves and quiet beauty.

The third movement, “Of Our New Day Begun” by Omar Thomas, took the mood in an entirely different direction. It was somber and deeply human, originally written to commemorate the victims of the early 2015 Charleston church shooting. The orchestra’s front line could be heard breathing between phrases, every inhale pulling the audience closer.

Humming replaced the silence in several moments, blurring the line between voice and instrument. When the full ensemble erupted near the end, the sound was so powerful it seemed to shake the entire hall. It wasn’t only loud, it was emotional. It felt like collective mourning made into music, and for a long moment after the final note, no one moved.

After the intermission, percussion associate professor Casey Cangelosi stepped forward to speak about the Dr. Marlon Foster Memorial Scholarship. His brief remarks reminded the audience that music at JMU isn’t only about performance but about legacy and community. It set the perfect tone for what came next.

“Home Away from Home” by Catherine Likhuta followed, a Ukrainian folk-inspired piece that blended passion with mystery. The melody felt both nostalgic and searching, as though it belonged to someone trying to remember where they came from. The piano guided much of the emotional flow, weaving between woodwinds and brass with a gentle persistence. There was a warmth in it but also a sense of distance. Likhuta’s piece had a sense of yearning for something just out of reach.

Harrisonburg falls short in the annual Barstool Sports college town competition

By EDISON VRANIAN The Breeze

Harrisonburg was one of the final four in the annual Barstool competition the 64 best college towns, and the organization hosted an in-person voting night Oct. 9 with Urgie’s Cheesesteak shortly before JMU was announced lost.

The competition chooses the best college town using a bracket tournament system.

JMU Barstool and Barstool U, the official college account of Barstool Sports, published their initial Instagram post with the 64 town brackets for this year’s competition on Sept. 2.

Notable college towns, such as Athens, Georgia; Austin, Texas; Blacksburg, Virginia; and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, are among the competitors. The college towns are sorted into four categories: heritage, icons, legends and dynasty, with 16 towns competing amongst each category as shown on Barstool U.

After over a month of public voting, the 12-seed Harrisonburg reigned through the Heritage Region and was in the final four, before falling short against College Station, Texas, home of Texas A&M.

JMU’s run started against fifth seeded Stillwater, Oklahoma, home of the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Harrisonburg then won against three other college towns: Ames, Iowa; Columbia, Missouri; and Bloomington, Indiana.

Harrisonburg faced Ames, Iowa, in the round of eight. During this round, Dukes could vote on an Instagram poll from a collaborated post

between the respective school’s Barstool and Barstool University Instagram accounts, where each vote on the poll equated to 10 votes for their college town.

Four hours after voting started in the round of eight on Sept. 29, JMU’s Barstool Instagram

posted a collage of the poll voting showing Harrisonburg losing to Ames, 55% to 45% votes.

Throughout the tournament, each of the school’s Barstool Instagram accounts trash talked the opponent during each round of voting. One example is an Oct. 1 post in which

JMU Barstool was calling out Iowa State’s Barstool for calling JMU a “No Name School.”

On the same day, the poll race was closer with Ames being up 51% to 49%, but JMU Barstool posted the poll results and urged dukes to vote in its caption.

After a full day of fans reposting their school’s Barstool post, students voted through the Instagram poll and completed different challenges — the round of eight Instagram post showed on Oct. 2 that the 29,000 votes were evenly split between Harrisonburg and Ames.

However, more goes into determining the winner than the total percentages of the votes on the Instagram post. Other methods of voting — including liking the posts and posting #HarrisonburgBCT on X during the round — are also taken into account.

With everything tallied up, Harrisonburg won the round and would move forward to represent the Heritage Region in the round of four.

The voting for the round of four is five votes per #HarrisonburgBCT post on X, 10 votes for texting “JMU” to 90448 and 15 votes for in-person voting Oct. 9 at Harrisonburg restaurant and bar Urgies Cheesesteaks.

Each of the four towns remaining in the tournament had a bar representing their town for Barstool producers to hold their respective voting events, Urgie’s Cheesesteaks co-owner and operator Tommy Urglavitch said.

see BARSTOOL, page 12

Review |‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ leaves audiences chuckling

By AUDREY FLETCHER contributing writer

There’s a common expression in the entertainment business, “The show must go on.” When it comes to live theater, sometimes things go wrong, but what happens if these mistakes are intentional?

“The Play That Goes Wrong” is a British production by Henry Lewis, Henry Shields and Jonathon Sayer of the Mischief Theatre Company. Premiering in 2012, the play has toured in the UK, run on Broadway from 2017 to 2019 and continues to run off-Broadway.

The JMU School of Theatre and Dance (STAD) held performances of its rendition of the play from Oct. 7 to 12 on the Mainstage Theater of the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts.

To appeal to their audience, the director and cast decided to add fun nods to JMU and the Forbes Center throughout the production. One of the ways they did this was cameo appearances of “distinguished individuals,” such as Vice President of Student Affairs Tim Miller and Executive Director of the Forbes Center of the Performing Arts Regan Byrne.

This unique play within a play follows Cornley Drama Society Theatre Company as it performs “The Murder at Haversham Manor” — a murder mystery “whodunnit” set in the 1920s by Susie H.K. Brideswell, who also happens to be the director and cast in the role of Inspector Carter, who is determined to find the culprit of Charles Haversham’s murder.

This comedy had the audience laughing the entire time, with recurring bits that are shown throughout the show such as a crew member throwing fake snow every time someone looks out the window, or drinking “paint thinner” and immediately spitting it out while also saying “God, I needed that.”

During the performance, things don’t go according to plan as props break and fall off the wall, performers drop from collapsing floors, props are misplaced, and both stagehands and actors hide inside a grandfather clock.

Before the play even begins, the audience is given an insight into how the rest of the show will go. The cast pulled up a volunteer onto the stage to help fix a broken mantelpiece and sweep the dirty stage, only to make the mantelpiece worse and end up breaking the broom.

The “production crew” runs around the stage trying to get the stage ready while the stage manager, Trevor, addresses the audience — asking if they had seen his Duran Duran CD boxset.

We repair instruments

Fans cheer at JMU’s white-out football game against Louisiana. Annabel Dewey / The Breeze from BARSTOOL, page 11

Parking pandamonium at JMU

By BELLA ARIST The Breeze

As university enrollment continues to climb, so do issues students and staff run in to finding parking spots on campus. Throughout the week, students circle crowded lots or give up and park on the other side of campus. With limited spaces and increasing demand, many find it difficult to navigate campus parking options.

The number of students enrolled at JMU has gone up every year — most recently reaching 4,850 for the class of 2030 — but the number of parking spots hasn’t increased since 2019. There are roughly 6,500 commuters, 3,000 residents and 3,350 faculty/staff parking spots.

JMU Parking and Transit Services has a live tracker of how many spaces are available in each parking deck. This website aids students wanting to find quick parking without having to check in person. However, Dukes still have parking-related frustrations.

“My overall experience with parking at JMU is beyond frustrating,” sophomore pre-nursing major Shannon VanAllman said.

VanAllman lives at The Mill, an off-campus student-housing complex, and most of her classes are on campus. This means she has to use a vehicle to avoid a 45-minute walk to campus.

“I have one class on the Quad, so I try to park at Grace [Street Parking Deck], but all of the spots are taken by 8 a.m.,” VanAllman said. “I have to go all the way to East Campus to park in Ballard when my class is on the Quad.”

Parking spots for commuters cost $300 per year and aren’t included in tuition.

“I am already paying so much for tuition, I shouldn’t have to pay that much for a parking pass especially because the spots are limited,” sophomore finance major Brady Blackmer said.

“It is crazy to me that we have to pay that much for a spot when, most of the time all of the lots are full,” VanAllman said. “I have to leave my house an hour before my class starts just to secure a spot.”

VanAllman added that she’s has considered taking the bus or walking instead, but she chose not to because she would be “wasting” her money after buying parking pass.

“I have to take the bus anyway to get to my classes since I park so far away,” she said. “This honestly ruins my mood in the mornings.”

There are five primary parking decks: Champions Drive Parking Deck, Warsaw Avenue Parking Deck, Ballard Parking Deck, Grace Street Parking Deck and Chesapeake Parking Deck. Spots are available to both students and faculty in each complex.

“Every time I go into the Warsaw or Chesapeake Parking Deck, the first two floors [that] are all faculty and staff, always empty,” VanAllman said. “I wish they gave some of the spots to students since no one parks there anyway.”

VanAllman said she believes that this issue can be solved with an additional student parking deck on Main Campus.

While many students express frustration with the daily struggle to find parking, university staff recognize the issues.

“I have heard many students complain about the parking problems, so I am very aware this is an issue for our campus,” Coordinator of Wellness Programs Virginia Wrobel said. Wrobel commutes every day and uses faculty parking.

She said she’s yet to experience parking issues as a staff member, but acknowledges that others may face challenges.

“I have only been here for six months, so I haven’t been able to see the issues first-hand, but I know it is very frustrating when people are trying to get to class or their job, not being able to find parking,” Wrobel said.

‘Once-in-a-career type of player’ SPORTS

Kennedy Louisell cements her name in JMU volleyball record book

By JACOB WISSOT The Breeze

JMU faced Georgia State on Oct. 4 and ended up playing a back-and-forth fifth set during which the Dukes struggled to gain an edge over the Panthers.

Finding itself at set and match point (1412), JMU was on the verge of losing and splitting the series. However, junior outside hitter Kennedy Louisell helped the Dukes pull off a spectacular comeback, tallying the final three kills to finish the sweep.

Louisell also cemented herself into the Dukes’ record book — she earned a JMU single-match record of 37 kills. The record stood for 41 years, previously held by middle blocker Sheila Chittams in 1984.

In JMU volleyball’s locker room, you’ll find a “Why Wall.” The wall shows the purpose for why each Duke is playing volleyball. Before every home game, Louisell looks at them as a source of motivation.

The tradition started this year, and it has appeared to be a great success and motivator for the players.

“It was cool to see the girls open up and show a little vulnerability as to why they play,” JMU volleyball head coach Lauren Steinbrecher said.

Louisell is in her first season with JMU, having spent two years at High Point. As a freshman, she played in 31 sets, averaging

1.26 kills per set. During her sophomore year, she increased her playing time to 87 sets, and averaged 2.23 kills per set.

However, Louisell decided that she was not getting the most out of her time with the Panthers.

“The environment at High Point wasn’t for me, and I wasn’t able to grow as much as I would like to as a volleyball player,” Louisell said. “I wanted to look for something different.”

Since she arrived at JMU, she has reunited with her former High Point teammate, redshirt junior middle blocker Anna Wilson.

Neither planned on a reunion — nevertheless, it worked out.

“Playing together now is a full circle moment considering that I was there on her visit at High Point when she was a freshman,” Wilson said.

Louisell turned to Wilson for advice when she entered the transfer portal, since she had already gone through the process, transferring to South Carolina after the 2023 season.

Wilson praised Louisell for being a great teammate on and off the court.

“She is just a great human,” Wilson said. “She’s the teammate every girl hopes to have in college, so I am very lucky to be able to do that twice with her.”

Steinbrecher echoed this praise, and called Louisell a “once in a lifetime type of player” with an “A+” in all categories.

Despite only having one element of familiarity at a new school, JMU’s

coaching staff has supported Louisell to assist her growth.

As the players moved into their living spaces, the coaches offered to help them get settled in, allowing them to impact Louisell outside of volleyball.

“We all got into this to make a difference in people’s lives,” Steinbrecher said. “It’s something that [the coaching staff] is really passionate about.”

To those around her, Louisell fulfills what it means to be a JMU student. She carries herself with a high standard, never looking at the stat sheet, but rather examining her overall performance value and the success of her teammates.

“I think it’s important not to identify with those things,” Louisell said. “It’s just a number on paper.”

Even if it’s just a number on a paper, Louisell leads the nation in one category — total kills. No player in the country has more kills than Louisell, who’s tallied 331. She’s also second in kills per set (5.34).

“She is unlike anything I’ve ever seen,” Steinbrecher said. “I have a 7-year-old daughter, and I hope she grows up to be just like [Kennedy].”

Louisell’s success doesn’t just come natural. She’s worked to improve herself as a defensive weapon.

“Her blocking has gotten extremely better over the course of the season,” Steinbrecher said.

Louisell said she thinks her court vision has improved the most since she joined JMU.

Last season, she had only three games with double-digit numbers in digs recorded, while this year, she recorded seven games with double-digit digs.

It’s easy for athletes to get caught up with success in the spotlight, but Kennedy has proved to her fans, teammates and coaches she’s a true team player.

“I’ve never been the type of person to take my success and run,” Louisell said. “To me, it’s more about giving to other people, and that’s just the way I was raised.”

This season, JMU volleyball has a younger team in comparison to previous years, so Louisell has stepped into a leadership role. Despite this being her first season with the Dukes, she’s leading the charge as a role model.

“It was a given that when [Kennedy] got here, she would be a leader,” Wilson said.

Louisell pairs her leadership, resilience and athletic dominance with her silent strength: her humility.

“I always come in with a grateful attitude,” Louisell said. “Not everyone gets to do this, so I might as well do it my best and give it my all.”

CONTACT Jacob Wissot at wissotjr@dukes. jmu.edu. For more volleyball coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.

Junior outside hitter Kennedy Louisell leads the nation in kills. Breeze file photo Louisell tallied a JMU single-match record 37 kills against Georgia State. Sierra Stockman / The Breeze

JMU field hockey’s Puck Jansen makes her mark as a freshman

By MAEGHAN STOCKLI The Breeze

JMU field hockey freshman defender Puck Jansen has played since she was just 3 years old — coming from the Netherlands, field hockey was one of the biggest sports, especially for women.

Jansen said that while she’s away from friends and family, she still makes sure to maintain connections through calls. Jansen has also found a second family through her team, which she said has helped her immensely.

But Jansen saw her family when they came to visit the weekend JMU faced Ball State and No. 8 Duke.

“There was an immediate connection and they started talking about how JMU was really like a family … and I really liked that concept,” Jansen said.

When it came to choosing where she’d play after high school, Jansen found JMU, and the rest was history. She had discussed her next steps for higher education with a firm, and she found JMU.

When Jansen visited the university, she immediately fell in love with the campus and culture. Other players said she immediately clicked with the team, and the Dukes love her family.

Jansen knew JMU was the right fit when it emphasized the concept of the team being a family for one another — something she valued.

“On her official visit, we were like ‘oh yeah, she’s going to fit in,’ and with her parents’ personalities … we just knew,” redshirt junior defender Maddie Tierney said.

Jansen has mainly been a defender and honed in on what she knows best in that role. Jansen said she loves defending because, if she makes a play, it allows the offense to score.

Jansen has been an integral piece for JMU this season, especially since defense was a big priority for the team during the offseason.

“She’s extremely steady and she has a very calm mindset even in the chaos,” redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Molly Schreiner said.

Jansen knows that if you’re more confident in yourself, then it can go a long way to help the team feel more confident.

“We trust each other even more now, and that trust gains confidence for yourself so you can really rely on people,” Jansen said.

Jansen said she wants to build off her confidence and maintain a ‘we instead of me’ mentality. But she also wants to score more goals in the future.

“She knows that she has the ability to grow, and she has the desire to grow,” head coach Christy Morgan said. “She’s coachable.”

CONTACT Maeghan Stockli at stocklma@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more field hockey coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.

JMU football to face off against Old Dominion in 4th Royal Rivalry

By GAVIN AVELLA The Breeze

JMU football (5-1) returns to Bridgeforth Stadium for its second consecutive weekend to continue its Sun Belt slate this Saturday against ODU (4-2) in the “Royal Rivalry,” coming off a 24-14 victory against Louisiana.

Just like all the Dukes’ previous six opponents, conference foes or not, the Monarchs are formidable on both sides of the football, and they could arguably be JMU’s biggest test this season.

“We’re looking forward to this week,” head coach Bob Chesney said. “Obviously, we have a tough ODU team coming in here — they’re really, really good, as you all know, and that’ll be a tough team to slow down and stop.”

Old Dominion began its 2025 season with a trip west to Bloomington, Indiana, to face the Hoosiers, a team JMU knows quite well — the Dukes’ former head coach, Curt Cignetti, left the program two seasons ago for the same job at Indiana and paved the way for Chesney to become the ninth coach in JMU’s history.

The Monarchs lost 27-14 to the Hoosiers, and jumped out to an early 7-0 lead only to squander it away thanks to two consecutive turnovers and a long punt return Indiana turned into points, but the fact they were in that game at all against now one of the Big Ten’s powerhouses speaks volumes.

“[ODU’s] one of the top offenses in the country that we’ve played, explosive players all over the field, a lot of speed, a unique scheme, and are led by an elite quarterback that knows what to do with the ball and can make plays with his arm and his feet,” defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler said.

Old Dominion certainly is one of, if not the best offense JMU football will face this year. It’s on par with even some of the best units in the nation, averaging 6.4 yards per carry — a mark tied for second in the nation with Navy and behind Vanderbilt.

While the Monarchs’ main strength of their offense is their rushing attack, they’re no slouches through the air. They average 9.3 yards per passing attempt, a mark good for 12th in the nation.

“They’re going for 500 yards a game, pretty balanced too, not exactly, but close to 250250, so it’s not just in the pass game, they spread you out to run the football,” Chesney said.

After losing its season opener to thenNo. 20 and now No. 3-ranked Indiana, ODU returned home to Norfolk for its home opener against North Carolina Central — a game the Monarchs won 54-6 and put up a whopping 544 total yards of offense.

The Monarchs then marched into Blacksburg to take on their in-state rival, Virginia Tech. They upset the Hokies 45-26,

another game in which they scored 40 plus points and surpassed 500 yards of total offense.

ODU then continued its win streak, by stacking on another two victories — first a 21-7 victory over Liberty, and then a 47-7 conquest over Coastal Carolina in which they totaled a whopping 619 yards of total offense and capped a string of four consecutive wins and brought the Monarchs to 4-1 on the season headed into the meat of their conference slate.

While ODU is coming into Harrisonburg fresh off a 48-24 loss to Marshall and its second conference game of the season, it turned the ball over five times.

“I thought Marshall did a really nice job of it, [slowing them down], but I can’t imagine they come in here and turn the ball over five times,” Chesney said.

Old Dominion is led by redshirt sophomore quarterback Colton Joseph, who’s in his second year at the helm of the Monarchs’ offense and looks every bit as problematic for opposing defenses as he did last year.

“In that offense, he is the guy,” Hitschler said. “He presents lots of issues with just an elite arm talent and elite speed.”

JMU football has a leg up in the head-to-head series against ODU, holding a 3-2 overall record since 2011. Caden Burch / The Breeze

True freshman defender Puck Jansen scored her first-ever collegiate goal against Villanova on Aug. 29, helping the Dukes beat the Wildcats 3-2, and has since played every game. Kailey Garner / The Breeze

from FOOTBALL, page 15

Joseph is building on a 2024 campaign where he finished fourth in the conference with 11 rushing touchdowns and sixth in rushing yards per game with 71.89.

Through six games in 2025, Joseph has posted a 63% completion percentage.

“They got some pretty capable receivers outside with a quarterback that if he doesn’t like what he sees on the pass play, pulls the ball down and runs, and he’s physical like a running back,” Chesney said.

While ODU’s offense is seemingly the star of the show and is ranked in the upper percentile in the country — 41st out of 136 eligible FBS offenses in points per game with 34.2 — its defense is far from a slouch itself and it’s actually directly on par with the offense which ranks 41st out of 136 eligible FBS defenses in points allowed per game.

“They do have a unique defense,” junior wide receiver Landon Ellis said. “They have that extra safety in there, he’s flying around, and I think on film, they play with a different type of confidence or swag that some of the teams that we played previously don’t have, they fly around and are really aggressive.”

The extra safety in question is part of Old Dominion’s “unique” defensive schematic alignment, where it often employs three-shell coverage with three safeties instead of the traditional two.

OPINION

EDITOR EMAIL breezeopinion@gmail.com Caroline McKeown

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 “beep-boop-boop” pat to QR codes.

From a student who doesn’t know how they work but thinks that they’re really cool.

Conservatism on the rise

COLLIN EYLER contributing columnist

From London to Seoul, hundreds of thousands have gathered in the past month to mourn the death of American conservative icon Charlie Kirk. The mass mourning of Kirk’s death is only a sliver of a far broader trend unfolding in many Western nations. While Western culture is often described as secularizing and increasingly liberal, recent developments suggest a possible shift in the opposite direction: a renewed push toward traditional Christian and conservative values.

After Kirk’s public assassination Sept. 10, Christian conservative advocates rallied in Western cities to show solidarity with the ideas he championed. The emergence of these rallies — which occurred in cultural hubs such as Sydney alongside numerous U.S. cities — revealed how conservative Christian ideas remain woven into public life. What was once considered a declining political ideology may soon establish itself as a tenet of Western society, sparking both solidarity with traditional ideas/ morality and deeper polarization.

party lost its majority in parliament, far-right parties in France’s parliament won enough seats to block left-wing votes, Germany’s ruling party flipped back to conservative and a conservative nationalist recently won the Polish presidential election (among several other slightly less notable examples in other countries).

This global movement has caused many nations to push for a slew of traditionally conservative reforms, including restrictions on mass immigration, policies that are unfriendly to LGBTQ+ individuals/groups and a return to Judeo-Christian values in domestic laws and foreign policy. As this relates to us, we can expect a decrease in international exchanges, and, seeing our nation’s government has also shifted conservative, we can expect weakened global alliances due to the mass embracing of the “faith and flag before feelings” mentality in international relations. While this inward focus could lead to countries giving special attention to their citizens’ wellbeing, it may also embolden our ideological enemies in the global South — such as China — to grow their power in places where the West is no longer aiding.

the right to gain favorability when voting is economy or social service-based.

Rettl further analyzed a connection between a decline in the attractiveness of liberal governments leading to an increase in the power of religious institutions and consequently an increase in support for conservative causes. Ultimately, the shift to the right appears to be the cause of the left’s failures to be economically appealing or attached to a major religion.

With this new rise in conservatism, what can we expect? Aside from the aforementioned policies, we can expect to see a general decrease in globalization. With many western nations turning inward for trade and production, and fewer countries being willing to rely on foreign nations for resources and commodities, we can expect dissatisfaction from countries who are unable to access markets and resources they determine are vital. However, this may also lead to a decrease in global conflict because of a decline in nations interfering in the affairs of other nations.

A “broken-egg” dart to the E-Hall omelets for no longer being superior.

From a student who journeyed across campus just for a bite of her oncefavorite breakfast.

The Kirk rallies, however, weren’t an isolated spurt of conservative support. These events reflect a broader cultural shift that can also be seen in Europe’s immigration protests and in public opinion polls showing renewed support for traditional values across the West.

For instance, Smith et al. of Pew Research Center in 2025 found that, although Christian identification in the United States had declined for decades, the percentage of Christians has stabilized since 2019. Similarly, a 2025 Gallup poll has shown that the number of individuals in the United States who identify as right-leaning has stopped leveling out and is now at its highest rate since 1991 after a sharp increase over the past three years.

While the fact that this shift has occurred is obvious, the cause for it is unclear.

During an interview with journalist Rachel Layne, Harvard business professor Paula Rettl said the rise in conservative leaders is a result of dissatisfaction with liberal economic policies and a perceived lack of social mobility.

In relation to conservative policies, Rettl said that in Italy, for example, “the [far-right] solution of limiting access to public services by excluding immigrants becomes more appealing to many voters,” thus allowing

While we can’t know for certain where this shift will lead us, we do know that the political landscape of the West is changing and may never go back to where it was. Regardless of whether this change is beneficial or not, we’re certainly experiencing times that will be written about in the textbooks of tomorrow.

CONTACT Collin Eyler at eylercj@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more editorials regarding the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the opinion desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.

A “thank-God” pat to Timmy Miller for the pizza at the tailgate on Sunday.

From a student who didn’t believe you were pulling up.

A “brief-is-beautiful” dart to yappers.

From someone who thinks people need to get to the point in under three minutes.

This trend isn’t confined to the United States. Movement toward conservative ideas has also been evident in Europe’s protests and citizens’ actions against mass immigration. Writer Selin Hacialioglu for Türkiye Today noted demonstrations in Warsaw, Poland; Berlin, Germany; Paris, France; and even the small town of Ballymena, Northern Ireland — evidence that the defense of Christian conservative values resonates in both major cities and smaller communities across the continent.

In fact, Hacialioglu also stated that in the Netherlands, “civilians began organizing unauthorized border checks near the German border. Dressed in high-visibility vests, individuals stopped cars and claimed to be monitoring for asylum seekers.” While many have declared these stops blatant acts of vigilantism, others view them as being necessary to safeguard their country from what they see as immigrants who are overwhelming their social service systems.

This phenomenon isn’t an isolated instance, however. In the past year alone, Japan’s liberal

Julia Tanner / The Breeze

US residents are becoming desensitized to gun violence

In a country where gun violence has become part of the daily news, American residents have grown desensitized to the tragedies.

This became evident following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a political commentator who was shot at Utah Valley University. His death dominated headlines, with different reactions from people all over the country.

Many spoke publicly about his death and the emotions that followed the assassination of such a public figure, but the topic of gun violence was rarely brought up during discussion. While Kirk’s death left an impact on many, others didn’t react with shock, but rather fatigue.

“Honestly, it felt more like just another headline,” junior health sciences major Molly Assouad said.

Assouad’s reaction reflects the reality of living in a time when tragedy feels like routine. It’s not that people don’t care — it’s the constant exposure to gun violence that has left us numb. According to research by Gun Violence Archive, there were over 41,000 deaths caused by gun violence in 2024

alone. Gun violence has become a normalized part of daily life, as have the constant headlines that report it.

The extent of gun violence in America, combined with growing social media use, makes gun violence seem like white noise. Each tragedy is reported through multiple media outlets, creating an overload of violent media that leads to a lack of sensitivity.

Senior art major Sabrina Burks shares this feeling.

“We live in an era of media saturation,” she said. “There’s no way we can react with full emotion to everything we see. It’s impossible.”

We are left to pick and choose which incidents to react to with care and empathy. This has become America’s normal, and we’ve become accustomed to it.

The intensity of media not only contributes to desensitization but also increases interest in politically charged or high-profile cases. People notice because the tragedy involves someone well-known. People don’t respond the same way to other acts of gun violence.

The contrast becomes clear when comparing Kirk’s assassination to the school shooting in Colorado just one

minute later. Kirk’s death was featured prominently in the news, while the school shooting received little attention. This is largely because Kirk was a public figure whose name and image were already familiar across social media.

Gun violence was rarely mentioned in the discussions surrounding his death. Instead, the conversation shifted almost immediately into a political debate. It wasn’t about gun violence at all; if it had been, that would have been the focus of public concern, and the school shooting would have drawn far more attention than it did.

JMU itself exemplifies how attention often centers on the political figure rather than the violence itself. Following Kirk’s death, JMU’s Office of the President sent an email emphasizing civility and free speech, but not the issue of gun violence.

“While it is not my practice to comment on current affairs, the assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, a visiting speaker on a public university campus, truly hits close to home,” the message read.

This response reveals how empathy in America has become increasingly selective.

Current media isn’t the only factor contributing to America’s growing desensitization to gun violence. In both childhood entertainment and major films, violent imagery has been abundant. This exposure can dull empathy over time.

Justice studies professor Rita Poteyeva offered valuable insight into this issue, and explained that the American lack of empathy has both cultural and social explanations. Having grown up in Russia, she contrasted to the culture surrounding firearms in the United States.

“The cartoons that I watched as a child are nothing like the cartoons and television available today,” she said. “If you take the violence depicted in Tom and Jerry, I don’t think there’s a single episode of Tom and Jerry without multiple incidents of that poor cat getting hurt. In the Russian cartoon, it’s significantly less.”

Culturally, she said, in Russia, “I didn’t know a single teenager who had a gun.”

She compared this with the United States and said “maybe for students, it’s more casual, maybe their friend has a weapon, has a license, so they see it and are reminded this can be a dangerous thing.”

She added that “even if watching violence doesn’t make you more violent, it makes you less empathetic.”

Our lack of sensitivity to gun violence isn’t formed by indifference, but from overexposure. We’re confronted with tragedy so often that it has become background noise. It has become something acknowledged but rarely felt. With every news headline being yet another shooting and every image another casualty, it’s not possible to respond with genuine empathy.

Poteyeva’s comments help explain how this numbness is shaped by both cultural and social factors. Exposure to violent media and firearms themselves contribute to a gradual decline in emotional responses. The images of violent acts that people in America encounter from a young age normalize gun violence in ways that we still don’t fully understand.

This desensitization is evident in reactions to high-profile shootings compared with other incidents of gun violence. Some tragedies provoke widespread attention, while others barely register. This isn’t because people don’t care, but because repeated exposure has made intense emotional reactions close to impossible. Empathy becomes selective, and the focus shifts toward politics rather than the tragedy of gun violence itself.

The constant presence of gun violence in American life has created a society in which tragedy is both physically visible and emotionally distant. Even as discussions about shootings take place across the country, they’re often framed around politics or spectacles rather than the reality of the victims of gun violence.

The desensitization to gun violence isn’t about a lack of caring, it’s about a psychological adaptation to constant exposure.

CONTACT Cali Gilmer at gilmersc@dukes.jmu.edu. For more editorials regarding the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the opinion desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.

CALI GILMER Breeze columnist

Julia Tanner / The Breeze

S EAT DOMINO’S DUKES DUKES

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“Spring Into Summer” by Lizzy McAlpine

“Home” by Phillip Phillips

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by Patti Varol

By Ginny Too

MADISON MARKETPLACE

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.

HOUSING SERVICES

JMU Student Housing at Copper Beach

4 bedroom/4.5 Bath Location: Copper Beech, 1.7 miles to campus $830/month, first month rent FREE, co-ed (JMU students)

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Apartment for Rent

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Career Opportunity - Police Recruit

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

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2015 Hyundai Accent Sport 4DR Hatchback black, 82,350 miles $7950

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Missing Giraffe! Please Help!

This large concrete giraffe yard ornament was stolen from an elderly resident Aug. 22 on Port Hills Drive. It is a very sentimental gift and is 40 inches high. Please return to 1588 Port Hills Drive No questions asked. If you have seen it please call Andy at 757-592-2888

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Large folding ping pong table with accessories. Foosball table with extras. Both in good condition. Must pick up, cash only $75 each. 540-578-2362

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