The Breeze
EDITORS Emma Notarnicola & Landon Shackelford EMAIL breezenews@gmail.com
SGA garners record-high number of applications
By EMMA NOTARNICOLA The Breeze
Through marketing initiatives and outreach, the Student Government Association (SGA) received a record-high number of applicants this semester — 45 applicants, up by 36% from last year.
“Every year [we get] new ideas, new interests, and as the university gets bigger, that’s already really exciting,” senior SGA President Charlotte Bronaugh said. “[It’s] the first step for us, but we really took to new ways of marketing.”
Bronaugh said the SGA posted across their social media, tabled in Warner Commons, sent emails and started a referral process so senators could refer to friends in other organizations.
“JMU is like a circle and everyone’s kind of connected,” Bronaugh said. “And through knowing someone else, through seeing something cool that happens, through whatever different means, people get that interest to apply and be involved.”
With this, Bronaugh said as interest toward JMU continues to grow, the SGA grows with it. She said there was a high level of interest among first-year students this semester especially.
“We realized through looking at past numbers that there was an untapped potential there,” Bronaugh said. “This is solid, but like, what can we do to really excel in it and to thrive with these numbers?”
To do this, Bronaugh said the SGA analyzed data and examined areas where the SGA could diversify and how to reach other underrepresented groups, through attending meetings and networking.
“We took a look at what areas we seem to reach pretty well and made sure to amplify that,” Bronaugh said. “And then through
that we’re like, ‘oh, we didn’t necessarily get as much from these people.’ So, we took time, like if someone already in the org knew people in that demographic or something like that, they would reach out.”
This was true for Schuyler Cole VanValkenburg, junior academic senator for the College of Integrated Science and Engineering. He said that he heard about the SGA and learned about the applications from the clubs and activities he already participated in.
The application consists of a quick Google Form and an interview, VanValkenburg said, describing the process as very simple and not time consuming. He also emphasized that he thinks it’s important for students to know they don’t have to run politically for the office.
“Most people are aware of [the] SGA, but I think most people think you have to run even for the role of senator, and I think correcting that notion would probably get a lot more applicants,” he said.
Bronaugh said this semester, the SGA received applications from a diverse group of students, including students with different political affiliations, from multicultural organizations and in athletics; all groups have increased their engagement in SGA this semester.
“The [SGA’s] role is to represent, serve and inform the whole student body, and so the best way to have that proper outreach and have students feel supported is by making sure that we ensure voices are being heard from all over,” she said.
VanValkenburg said although he thinks the organization is diverse in some areas, the variety between different majors is lacking. He added he thinks the Department of Political Science is overrepresented.
“Outreach is definitely self-selecting in that outreach is kind of targeting everyone, not just any specific department,” he said, “the [Political Science] Department is just the ones more likely to pay attention.”
With this, Bronaugh said there were also a number of upperclassmen that offer valuable insight based on their experience, which paired with the influx of first year students creates a useful dichotomy that captures all perspectives at JMU.
“We always love to have first-years because their voice is so important … seeing how we can make positive changes to help that experience be better,” Bronaugh said. “We’ve seen a lot more [interest] from upperclassmen, like juniors … they are seasoned, they are established, but they still have another year to make changes and ask the questions they need to.”
In the future, Bronaugh said the SGA will continue to analyze data and find different avenues to reach new people to encourage them to get their voices heard.
Bronaugh said she encourages everyone to apply to the SGA to make sure their individual perspectives are heard, adding that she welcomes everyone who’s interested.
She added that the SGA is a valuable experience where students can make the changes they want to see for the university.
“Yourself, be the person that gets to share how you feel or share how others feel,” she said. “This is a great opportunity … There are tons of professional development opportunities and ways to make really cool, unique connections with all kinds of different people.”
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.
How the Harrisonburg poultry industry is handling the holidays
By EMMA BROWN
The Breeze
It’s the holiday season, which means it’s time for tables across the nation to celebrate using none other than turkey, a poultry product that plays a large role in the community surrounding JMU’s campus.
The Harrisonburg and Rockingham County region is known as Virginia’s poultry capital — the area is home to over 450 farms and supports thousands of jobs.
With feed mills and hatcheries tied to the industry, the local poultry industry generates $1.6 million per year.
“The city and county combine to be the most significant poultry region in Virginia,” Virginia Poultry Federation (VPF) president Hobey Bauhan said.
Founded in 1925, VPF is a nonprofit trade association for the poultry industry throughout Virginia. From farmers to processors, VPF represents each component of the poultry industry, while encouraging younger generations to get involved in the business.
“The poultry industry is helping support the livelihoods of hundreds of family farms and thousands of jobs in the Shenandoah Valley,” Bauhan said. “By supporting farming operations, we are preserving the open spaces that make the Shenandoah Valley such a beautiful place.”
Local poultry products are sold in local grocery stores across the Harrisonburg area, as well as distributed internationally, though primarily in retail markets on the East Coast.
“Most of the farms around here are family-owned operations trying to support families,” poultry farmer Brad Foltz said. “Many
farms have been family-owned for multiple generations. Our farm is on the 10th generation … a remarkable achievement.”
Thanksgiving and the poultry industry
Virginia is the sixth-highest ranking turkey-producing state in the country, Bauhan said. This gives Harrisonburg locals a wide turkey product selection — including ground turkeys, whole turkeys and deli meat.
“The state is producing a lot of turkeys for Thanksgiving, as well as for people to enjoy year-round,” Bauhan said. “It’s a big deal.”
Turkey production doesn’t increase during the holiday season and is treated like any other time of year.
Consumers have access to locally-produced turkeys, Bauhan said, as well as out-of-state products. Many supermarkets sell North Carolina turkeys, for example, since the state has the second-highest production turkey-production rate.
Poultry purchase rates are consistent during the holiday season, said Fred German, D-Hall’s executive chef. JMU Dining purchases its turkey breasts from the Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative, a grower-owned turkey cooperative based in Hinton.
JMU poultry purchases
When purchasing procuts, including poultry, German said JMU Dining is committed to working with small businesses — as well as businesses owned and operated by minorities, women and other diverse populations.
“We strive to purchase products from small-scale, communitybased producers that are independently or cooperatively owned enterprises,” German said.
JMU Dining’s Global Sustainable Sourcing Policy addresses its priorities, which include animal welfare, antibiotic stewardship, land conversion, no-deforestation and biodiversity, sustainable seafood and embedding circularity, according to the university’s website.
“These practices benefit local and global economies, the communities we serve and the planet,” German said.
Local Harrisonburg farmers share JMU Dining’s prioritization of ethical sourcing.
“We pour our hearts and souls [into] our crops and animals,” Foltz said. “I feel the biggest myth in poultry farming is that farmers mistreat their animals and that’s how they make money. That couldn’t be farther [from] the truth.”
The local poultry industry values animal health, Foltz said. Veterinarians often visit farms weekly to assess the birds’ health. Even fast-food chains also perform similar welfare checks.
JMU Dining ensures antibiotics are only used for the treatment of sick animals or the control of an identified disease outbreak, as determined by veterinarians to ensure appropriate use.
“We are globally committed to phasing out the routine use of antibiotics for use as growth promoters or disease prevention across poultry, beef, pork and seafood categories in our supply chain,” German said. “On a journey of continuous improvement, we are prioritizing antibiotic reduction related to those identified as medically important to human health.”
CONTACT Emma Brown at brown9eg@dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
Harrisonburg poultry products are distributed to local grocery stores and to some international markets. Photos courtesy of Brad Foltz
UREC hosts annual ‘Warm a Winter Wish’ event
By SAM WRIGHT
The Breeze
JMU’s University Recreation Center (UREC) is hosting its annual Warm a Winter Wish event, where students can donate gifts and needed items to local nonprofits in the Harrisonburg community.
The program — which lasts until Dec. 8 — serves the Mercy House, First Step and Brain Injury Connections charities, which respectively serve the homeless, domestic violence and brain injury communities and their families.
Students can choose a wish in one of two ways: either by picking one hung on the tree in UREC’s lobby or by visiting the event’s Amazon wishlist, according to the event’s website.
Once purchased, students can either return the gift with its wish tag to UREC or, if ordered from Amazon, have it shipped directly to UREC.
Wishes are to be dropped off in person by Monday at 5 p.m., or should be ordered from Amazon by Friday. The event will feature a baking competition, where attendees will judge the baked goods.
Once the Wishes are returned, UREC holds a wrapping party on Dec. 10 from 1 to 3 p.m. where people can receive their gifts.
“We wrap gifts, and we celebrate holiday cheer, and do our best to support the community,” said Katie Greaney, UREC graduate assistant for operations and student development.
This year, UREC has received about 450 wishes, which “could be anything from pajamas to a Spider-Man action figure,” Greaney said. Warm a Winter Wish is meant to meet the needs of local families, while also improving their holiday season.
“It’s really just awesome to see around the holidays, people contributing their money, resources, time and energy to this awesome event,” said Sabrina Leistikow, UREC graduate assistant of member services.
Representatives from each of the nonprofits will also attend the wrapping party to give students a better understanding of the organizations they’re supporting.
Sabrina Herron is a Mercy House shelter manager and said she greatly appreciates the Winter Wish event because they “come back from JMU with about 20 different bicycles and a van full of presents.”
The Wishes provided by JMU students allow Mercy House to rely less on donations while still giving the 50 to 60 families it serves positive holiday memories.
Most nonprofits give children two to three gifts each December, Herron said. The Winter Wish program allows Mercy House to differentiate itself by giving its children more gifts each.
Herron recalled one Christmas when Mercy House gave a particularly large gift to a struggling family.
“One Christmas, we were able to also tell one of the families that we had found them housing,” Herron said.
Through the Winter Wish program, organizations like the Mercy House can make local families’ holidays especially bright.
“A lot of our kids have the best Christmas they have ever had,” Herron 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.
UREC has received nearly 450 wishes this year. Sierra Stockman / The Breeze
JMU looks to improve Okta security using biometrics
By ALEXA NEWSOME contributing writer
JMU Information Technology (IT) is adding the final touches to Okta FastPass, a feature of the Okta Verify app that will introduce facial recognition, touch ID and PIN authentication on personal devices.
“Using Okta FastPass and the Okta Verify application on a personal computer is voluntary — however, it will likely improve your login experience to the applications that are protected by Okta, like MyMadison and Canvas,” Director of IT Security V Kagey said.
Okta FastPass is expected to improve Okta Verify security because “biometrics unique to you” cannot be stolen like a password, according to JMU IT’s website. PINs are also unique to each device and cannot be used without physical access to your device.
Students’ privacy is protected by the authentication built into their device, according to the same webpage.
Okta FastPass is only capable of using authentication that is already programmed into a device, meaning that only devices capable of facial and touch ID will be able to use Okta FastPass.
Although FastPass isn’t available yet, Okta Verify aims to be a more user-friendly program since it was first implemented to replace Duo last spring.
“In spring break 2025, we adjusted the timeout for Okta within Canvas to be four hours,” Kagey said.
With Okta’s ongoing improvement, Duo has been left in the past. Kagey said many institutions are moving on from text message (SMS) verification as “it is no longer a best practice.” Duo was a verification app that used SMS as one of its verifications.
Kagey said the Okta verification app has improved JMU security because of time-based one-time passcodes that expire after 30 seconds instead of Duo’s codes which are valid until used.
CONTACT Alexa Newsom at newsomaa@dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
Okta Verify will increase student security by using biometrics-based authentication. Anna Thomas / The Breeze
Heres what students think about Okta
“I feel like it could be better on our laptop because I’m always pulling out my phone when I’m late to an exam and they always think I’m cheating.”
Aiden Brinkley, senior sports and rec management major
“I prefer DUO just because, even though you have to change you password every month or so, you don’t have to log in every single day.”
Li Rauss, junior business management major
“I honestly like it more than DUO because we don’t have to change our passwords every month. I do not like the fact you have to do the push notification every 30 seconds, though.”
Solomon Iem, senior musical theater major
“I will say the nice thing is that it does remember passwords and I don’t think DUO did that for me. Logging into Canvas and MyMadison is a lot easier.”
Declan McAlevy, senior political science major
“I think it’s overly redundant ... it’s too far of a cyber security measures than what is necessary, because there is no reason anybody should have to authenticate multiple times a day.”
April Kelly, junior biotech major
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EDITORS EMAIL
Isabel Lewis & Charlie Bodenstein
JMU offers paratransit bus through HDPT for students with limited mobility
By EDISON VRANIAN The Breeze
Each day, dozens of the Harrisonburg Department of Public Transportation (HDPT) buses roll down JMU’s hills. One of them stands out not just in size, but also in its wheelchairlifting features — the Harrisonburg Paratransit.
Designed for those who need assistance getting around campus, the Harrisonburg Paratransit is a wheelchair-accessible bus system that runs through the HDPT and is free for JMU students and employees, according to the university website. Each bus is equipped with seatbelts, a rollout ramp and a wheelchair lift with a maximum occupancy of 20 people.
In an emailed statement to The Breeze, Office of Disability Services (ODS) assistant Susan Czyszczon wrote that students who are recovering from an injury or surgery can write to ODS to request paratransit rides. After the student contacts the office, ODS sends the necessary applications before they can schedule rides with HDPT.
Czyszczon added in the email that the process for applying it is “very easy and quick.”
“If a student were to contact us today and complete the necessary paperwork, they can begin using the service the following day,” Czyszczon wrote.
Junior Kaelyn Linahan said she came across the Harrisonburg Paratransit when preparing for knee surgery in September, and she knew she needed to get around campus while recovering.
To schedule rides with HDPT, Linahan said she filled out a spreadsheet shared with the HDPT at the beginning of every week, detailing when and where she needed to be transported.
“I didn’t have any issues with getting on the bus, getting off the bus. Everybody was super nice,” Linahan said.
However, Linahan said sometimes the waiting period could be long, especially when requesting a ride from the bus at the last minute.
“One time they didn’t copy my route down correctly, so somebody had to come pick me up … and I had to wait 20 minutes,” Linahan said.
Linahan also noted that she didn’t have the ability to track the bus to see when it would arrive at her location, which caused her to wait outside for the bus.
“You didn’t really know when the bus was going to be there or if they were running late,” Linahan said. “At the time, I was using a walker, so I would be lingering outside of these classrooms, waiting for the bus on my walker.”
Despite Linahan’s complaint, JMU’s website emphasizes that riders should be at the requested location at the requested time so as not to keep the driver waiting.
“DO NOT keep the driver waiting. Be at your pickup location at the time you requested,” the website reads.
The website goes into more detail about what to do if someone needs to cancel their trip, the no-show policy, who to contact if questions and concerns arise and other important information.
Overall, Linahan said she found the Harrisonburg Paratransit was convenient for her “limited mobility,” with the bus’ ability to drive closer to where she needed to be picked up or dropped off at to help her avoid unnecessary movement.
To learn more about the Paratransit service and how to apply, visit JMU’s website.
CONTACT Edison Vranian at vraniawe@ 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.
To schedule rides, students fill out a spreadsheet that’s shared with HDPT. Charlie Bodenstein / The Breeze
Julia Tanner / The Breeze
From Ukraine to the US: Meet the owner of Prosto Nails & Co.
By ALYSSA MILLER The Breeze
Prosto Nails & Co. is a nail salon that opened in October, operated by an award-winning nail technician who hails from across the Atlantic Ocean.
The owner, Kateryna Tsabilieva, is a licensed nail technician in Virginia with over 10 years of professional experience. Tsabilieva had her own nail office in Ukraine and moved to Harrisonburg in 2023.
When she moved to the United States, she wanted to open her own salon. She said she chose Harrisonburg for its supportive and welcoming community.
“I’ve always been drawn to the beauty industry, to fine detail and to the idea of bringing joy to people through my work. From the very beginning, I felt that nails were not just a service, but a true form of art,” Tsabilieva said. “Having my own salon allows me to maintain high standards of cleanliness, technique and service, while also creating a cozy atmosphere.”
Tsabilieva studied European techniques, modern sculpting methods, safety standards and competition-level skills through her international training. Her international background helps her create work that is more precise, durable and tailored to each client.
Tsabilieva is implementing a service system specifically for clients undergoing oncology treatment that will follow medical providers’ recommendations.
In 2015, her mother faced a battle with cancer, and Tsabilieva saw how chemotherapy affects health and appearance. She had several clients who were going through chemotherapy in Ukraine and the U.S. and was eager to help them feel welcome.
“I want to create an atmosphere of support and gentleness because I know how important it is for a woman to feel beautiful during a difficult time,” Tsabilieva said.
Tsabilieva said she prioritized safe and comfortable care while creating her salon.
“I wanted to build not just a salon, but a place with heart,” she said.
Tsabilieva is a multiple-time winner of international nailart championships. She participated in the international Naillympia competition in the U.S. — one of the most recognized and respected competitions in the industry. It was one of the most meaningful moments of her career.
“It was also an emotional journey: creating my Extreme Poster entry was a true challenge, but everything paid off when I won first place,” Tsabilieva said. “For me, Nailympia is not just a competition; it is a celebration of creativity and professionalism.”
Her professionalism and dedication to her work have allowed her to build strong customer relationships.
“Everything was absolutely perfect,” customer Alexandra Larkina said. “The salon is clean and cozy, the staff is very friendly, and my nails look amazing. I’m really happy with the service — highly recommend.”
Another customer, Serhiy Bohdan, said, “Katya always provides high-quality service. She is a professional nail technician who truly cares about her clients and delivers excellent results every time.”
CONTACT Alyssa Miller at @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.
JMU fitness classes: Fun and functional
By GRACE SAWYER The Breeze
Whether you’re already familiar with or just becoming interested in physical fitness, changing up a routine can be daunting. Simply getting into working out can be a challenge, and once you feel comfortable in one area of fitness — whether it be weightlifting, swimming, cycling, running, yoga or something else — it can be even harder to find the desire to try others, even if you have reached a plateau in the form you enjoy.
Luckily, JMU offers a wide array of free group workout classes to help introduce students and staff to different forms of movement, regardless of skill level.
Classes open for registration 48 hours before the class is scheduled to take place and closes 15 minutes before the class begins. However, the earlier you sign up, the better because some classes fill up quickly. To sign up for classes you must register through UREC using your eID and password.
Different forms of exercise can provide very diverse benefits and work out muscle groups in different ways. Implementing different forms of exercise also can help an individual work towards their specific goals; like flexibility, strength, cardiovascular endurance or even appearance.
Many people utilize the group workout classes in different ways, seeing as they each provide different benefits and skills.
Barre
Barre classes at JMU are a blend of ballet-inspired movements with elements of pilates, yoga and even strength training. Barre is a good option when looking to build cardio-respiratory endurance, strength and flexibility through low-impact movements.
This class can also improve muscle tone, posture, coordination and mobility. These classes are also meant for all fitness levels, and no ballet experience is necessary.
Boxing
Looking to learn some fun punching techniques or take your fitness to the next level? The boxing fitness class, intended for people with intermediate fitness levels, might be the perfect class.
Kateryna Tsabilieva is a multiple-time winner of nail-art championships. Courtesy of Kateryna Tsabilieva
Exploring the Shenandoah Valley’s landscape
The Shenandoah Valley is historically rooted in agriculture. Photos by Landon Shackelford / The Breeze
Corn covers the rolling fields in the Shenandoah Valley.
An Angus cow swims in the Mossy Creek.
An abandoned chicken coop sits alone on a hill.
A bird flies through a freshly-harvested field.
SPORTS
EDITORS Preston Comer & Gavin Avella EMAIL
How Bob Chesney’s move from JMU football to UCLA broke in real time
By PRESTON COMER
The Breeze
On Nov. 30, 2023, then-JMU head coach Curt Cignetti finalized a deal with Indiana University to assume the same position at the school.
Two years and one day later, history repeated itself. This time, Bob Chesney was the head coach in question, and he signed on with UCLA.
Like in Cignetti’s case, rumors flurried around a potential Chesney departure in the weeks before news broke.
But unlike his predecessor, the news came less than one hour after Chesney told reporters who asked about his next steps:
“To me, what matters the most is we’re focused on this game, this championship game, right now. What you’re talking about is next year, and next year will have its time and place to be talked about. Right now, I think we should be talking about this championship game and the playoffs and the run we’re about to go on when we get there.”
Here’s how that Monday went down.
11:30 a.m.
First, Chesney joined the Sun Belt’s coaches call over Zoom to answer media questions. This time around, the only other coach present was Troy’s Gerad Parker since it’s championship week.
Once Chesney finished the Zoom call, he followed his normal routine of welcoming local media to the team room for his weekly press conference.
In the weeks leading up to that Monday, the rumors surrounding Chesney’s departure included two popularly speculated landing spots: UCLA and Penn State.
But leading up to Monday’s presser, and following the conclusion of JMU’s regular season, no news of Chesney’s future had been reported. During the press conference, Chesney was asked a handful of questions about job openings.
Noon
The first question asked Chesney about the challenges of the timing of coach hirings and the College Football Playoffs.
Next, Chesney was asked about the odds of deciding on his future by the time the Dukes play in Friday's conference championship.
“I don’t know,” Chesney said. “I can be transparent about all of it. I have an agent, there’s a lot of conversations happening, and those opportunities are afforded to you because of the success that you have … There’s life-changing situations that could show up for you, and I think those are things you just have to weigh and kind of figure out as you go through it.”
Chesney was then asked if he had already turned down any head-coaching jobs offered to him.
“There’s been a whole bunch, a whole bunch,” Chesney said. “Let’s not make this about anything other than we’re hosting a Sun Belt Championship game for the first time in school history. Let’s make it about that, let’s talk about next year when that moment presents itself.”
12:23 p.m.
Chesney’s presser continued for another 17 minutes. At the conclusion, he stood from his chair, thanked the media and walked out of the side door.
The presser was business as usual. Or at least everyone thought.
Moments after Chesney had left the room and the door had latched shut, phones started buzzing and chatter arose.
12:24 p.m.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Chesney would be filling the head-coaching vacancy at UCLA. Thamel also reported the deal was for five years and that Chesney already informed JMU players of his intentions.
In a matter of seconds, the mood of the room had shifted. Chesney walked out, and the news broke before senior safety Jacob Thomas — who was already in the room — could walk up to the podium.
Media members were unable to ask players questions about the breaking news.
The Breeze reached out to UCLA Athletics for a statement. Here’s what it provided:
“We are pleased with the search process for a head coach, led by Martin Jarmond and our dedicated search committee. We look forward to sharing more information about the new coach at the appropriate time.”
Now, just two seasons after losing Cignetti, JMU football finds itself in a similar situation.
The Dukes are losing their head coach to a Big 10 program and will look for a new leader at the conclusion of their competitive season.
JMU will face Troy in the Sun Belt Conference Championship on Friday at 7 p.m.
CONTACT Preston Comer at breezesports@ gmail.com. For more football coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.
JMU head coach Bob Chesney is leaving to become the next head coach of UCLA. ESPN’s Pete Thamel broke the news on Monday. Photos by Annabel Dewey / The Breeze
Chesney is currently 20-5 with JMU, and led the program to its first bowl-game victory in 2024. Caden Burch / The Breeze
Championship bound
JMU football to host SBC Championship against Troy
By TOMMY GURGANOUS The Breeze
After accomplishing its first undefeated regular season in the Sun Belt Conference play on Saturday, JMU football (11-1) will host Troy (8-4) for the Sun Belt Conference Championship this Friday at Bridgeforth Stadium.
Regardless of JMU’s bowl game fate, the game marks one more chance for its seniors to play for their teammates as well as for family.
“Family is really what we do it for; that’s my why,” JMU senior linebacker Trent Hendrick said. “My group that comes out and supports me every single week, I was gonna be excited to go out there and look at them right after we run out the tunnel one last time before the game.”
JMU hasn’t played Troy since Sept. 16, 2023, a game the Dukes won 16-14 on the road. Had the university been eligible to play in the Sun Belt Conference Championship that year, the Trojans would have been its matchup.
“It just makes this even sweeter coming in,” senior safety Jacob Thomas said. “It’s my final year, and most of these guys’ final year, so to play in this championship at home with our crowd behind us is just a special feeling.”
Troy comes into Harrisonburg as winners of its last two games — a 31-19 win over Georgia State and a 28-18 win over Southern Miss to clinch a Sun Belt Championship game berth.
“It takes a lot to get to this point to be here,” JMU defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler said. “You got to be tough, and you got to continue to fight and fight through adversity and the hard times.”
Troy averages 25.17 points per game on offense this year. Its redshirt junior quarterback Goose Crowder played in the
team’s last three games after missing six consecutive games due to a broken collarbone.
After passing for just 98 yards in a 33-0 loss to Old Dominion on Nov. 13, Crowder passed for 646 yards and seven passing touchdowns in Troy’s last two regular season games.
“He’s really dangerous as a football player, and we got to be really aware of that,” JMU football head coach Bob Chesney said of Crowder. “He reads coverages really well, he finds tight windows and he trusts his receivers to make plays in those tight windows. And if he doesn’t like what he sees, he pulls it down and runs.”
Crowder has run the ball 47 times for just 37 yards this season. Troy junior running back Tae Meadows has a teamhigh 685 rushing yards on 152 carries, including 94 rushing yards on 21 carries on Saturday against Southern Miss.
The Trojans also feature three players with more than 400 receiving yards. The group is led by senior wide receiver RaRa Thomas with 495 receiving yards and five total touchdowns.
As for Troy’s offense-related struggles in its 33-0 loss to Old Dominion, Chesney doesn’t consider it to be a relevant point ahead of Friday’s game.
“It’s just different because of the way ODU was rolling at that moment in time,” Chesney said, “and [Troy] just didn’t find their rhythm on offense; they’re back now.”
Hitschler added that JMU has prided itself on “extreme intensity and intentionality” at every practice and that he doesn’t consider there to be any heightened motivation going into the conference championship game.
“The air gets thin at the top of the mountain,” Hitschler said, “and we’re chasing thin air, so just keep climbing.”
Troy’s defense allowed an average of 23.92 points per game this season, the third-best mark in the Sun Belt behind JMU and Old Dominion. The Trojans rank 58th at the FBS level
in stop rate, which is the percentage of a defense’s drives in which it forces a punt, turnover, or turnover on downs.
Troy also recorded 29 sacks as a team this season, the thirdbest mark in the Sun Belt for that category. Junior defensive end Donnie Smith paces Troy in sacks with nine, including two sacks against Southern Miss in the regular season finale.
“I think they do some good stuff with movement,” JMU graduate offensive tackle Pat McMurtrie said of Troy’s defensive linemen. “Personnel-wise, they got some new players as well, and obviously, they’re here for a reason.”
McMurtrie added specifically that Troy will incorporate “read stunts” into its defense — a tactic in which defensive players adjust their movements to the offensive players’ actions.
JMU offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy noted that there are “not a lot” of instances where Troy’s defense is on its own 10-yard line against a team’s offense. Kennedy added that Troy does a good job of forcing its opponents into third-down situations, particularly third-and-long.
The Dukes feature the best scoring average in the Sun Belt this year at 37.8 points per game. Coming off of accumulating 59 points and 525 total yards of offense against Coastal Carolina on Saturday, Kennedy also looks forward to playing at home one more time this season.
“I think this place is going to be rocking; it’s rocking every game,” Kennedy said. “We’re super excited for that side of things and to be able to host the first playoff game and have a chance to win it.”
JMU and Troy will kick off at 7 p.m. on Friday.
CONTACT Tommy Gurganous at gurgantr@dukes.jmu. edu. For more football coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.
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.
An “I’m-just-not-thatinto-it” dart to terrible dating advice that makes me scared to reach out.
From someone who doesn’t want to people-please and wait for him to text.
Saudi
Arabia’s comedy festival proves we shouldn’t take comedians seriously anymore
LUTHER COVERT contributing columnist
From Sept. 26 to Oct. 9, 2025, the Saudi Arabian government opened the doors for the Riyadh Comedy Festival, to where tons of wellknown comedic superstars took the stage. Huge names such as Kevin Hart, Bill Burr, Pete Davidson, Andrew Shultz and more performed at the festival, with Saudi Arabia’s royal family in attendance. Comedians who attended were paid whopping amounts of money, with performers reportedly earning between $350,000 and $1.6 million dollars. The Saudi government hosted this event in hopes of boosting the country’s image as part of its Vision 2030 Program, according to Time Magazine.
On a surface level, this just seems like a whimsical two weeks of chuckles, laughs and smiles, with some of your favorite jokesters, brought to you by a government that seems pretty fun and totally-not-corrupt if they’re hosting a massive comedy festival — right?
founding father of this podcasting style. His podcast consists of bringing on huge and sometimes controversial figures, such as politicians, political commentators, scientists, billionaires, musicians, conspiracy theorists and more. However, since his brain has turned into mush from all the flying knees and LSD he’s taken, he manages to have the least intelligent conversation possible with his guests.
Of course, every comedian you know was heavily inspired by his work, and they all decided to dip their toes into podcasting, while trying to one-up each other with the guests they could get, and the guests just got worse and worse.
So when the same big-shot comedians who complain about “cancel culture” and attempt to have their opinions held on Jesus’ levels of importance get bought by a corrupt government to come perform for them under strict censorship rules, it takes away all the credibility that these comedians think they have.
Washington, D.C.-born comic Dave Chappelle, who performed at the festival, even went as far as to say that “it’s easier to talk here than it is in America” while being interviewed regarding the festival, which is just absolutely moronic.
A “thank-you-prof” pat to all of the professors who canceled class this week.
From someone who enjoyed the extra hours of sleep.
The controversy from this event arises from the fact that the Saudi government imposed strict censorship rules on performers; not allowing them to talk about anything that remotely criticizes the Saudi government, the Saudi royal family or Islam.
A “fake-as-f*ck” dart to that weak snow day last Tuesday.
From a student who still had to get up for their 8 a.m.
On top of this, the Saudi government has had a notorious history when it comes to people voicing their opinions on it. In 2018, Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered at the hands of the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul due to his outspoken criticism of the Saudi crown prince, and recently Saudi journalist Turki bin Abdulaziz al-Jasser was executed by the Saudi government on June 14 for his comments, with the execution ironically taking place in Riyadh.
But where the Saudi government lacks in morals, it makes up for in money, and sadly that’s all it took for these already filthy rich comedians to cave in and attend.
The problem is that comedians’ entire careers rest on the foundation of free speech. Because most comedians use controversial and polarizing topics, vulgarness and politics for comedic mediums, it’s a guarantee that some jokes are going to strike a nerve in people — or cause others to rally behind them.
Back in July, the 30-year-old frat guys known as the Nelk Boys had Israeli Prime Minister and war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu on their Full Send Podcast, who’s not exactly popular right now for … you know why. At least they grilled him with some hard-hitting questions, though, like what his favorite fast food burger was. Prior to the 2024 election, comedian Andrew Schulz had then-presidential candidate and close friend of Jefferey Epstein Donald Trump on his podcast, where Trump charmed Schulz and his friends like he was jingling keys in front of a group of babies, and his appearance along with Schulz’s support for Trump following the episode resulted in a big spike in the polls for Trump, ultimately helping him win the election and get the country in the poor state it’s in now.
It’s still an example of freedom of speech when these jokers decide to voice their opinions on everything and host these types of people, and doing so shouldn’t be limited, but it ends up being dangerous. These podcasts rack up millions and millions of listeners, and it’s clear that people take them seriously, forgetting that a comedian’s job is to make us laugh, not influence politics on a global scale.
Bill Burr, who was recently becoming an advocate for the working class, speaking out against CEOs and corporate greed, and making himself appear for the common person through his material, was bought by the same people he swore he hated so much and still decided to go in circles trying to justify it. Two insanely great points by Burr that completely justify his appearance were “it was necessary” and “it felt right.” Of course, he just ends up being a rich dummy who uses a political stance to garner a following, and then completely goes against it. We must stop acting like these entertainers are a reliable source for your identity politics and opinions on the world. Sure, they put their opinions and self-perceived wisdom in the package of a joke, which makes it a lot easier to rally behind, but they’re not experts in that field, and they tend not to practice what they preach. Journalism should be left to the journalists, not the jesters.
CONTACT Luther Covert at covertlj@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more editorials regarding the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the opinion desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
A “miss-my-pup” pat to my dog, who I’m coming home to this break.
From someone whose mood depends on their dog.
Due to this, they almost become martyrs of free speech — and they wear that title like no other.
Because of this perceived looming threat of “cancel culture” and “wokeness,” and ironically the massive surge in many comedians popularity because of them trying to fight these almost imaginary monsters, they’ve now taken it upon themselves to share their immense intelligence with the world. Now, they’re transcending the stand-up realm into a mystical medium called podcasting.
Former MMA fighter turned self-proclaimed comedian Joe Rogan is referred to as the
Julia Tanner / The Breeze
The Breeze’s December graduates
When I first started as a student at JMU, I had already had my sights set on The Breeze. My budding passion for photojournalism was growing, and I was eager to continue learning and doing something that made me so happy. I set a goal to be on the staff and maybe one day be a photo editor.
After joining in September of my freshman year, I was excited to start covering events and telling the stories of this campus and the surrounding community. When the opportunity to apply for the photo editor position came, I was hesitant for about a day before deciding this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.
Throughout the past three and a half years, I’ve covered countless campus events, sports games and performances; the list goes on. I’ve spent an unknown number of hours staring at my laptop editing away and have poured everything into this paper week after week and I am so grateful for it. I’ve grown as a photographer and storyteller, learning new ways to capture the human experience in one shot. Watching people’s lives play out from behind my lens like a fly on the wall has made me scarily observant, but it’s also the reason so many moments have been captured that would otherwise never be seen.
There’s such beauty in the role of a photojournalist to share those stories and the emotions carried within them. The Breeze has connected me to this campus in so many ways, and I have met so many inspiring people. I’ve grown immensely as a leader, communicator and person because of this organization.
When I look back at myself from freshman year, I don’t recognize her. I thought I had come out of my shell then, when I really had so much growth to do, and I still do now; but I am leaving JMU more grounded, confident and ready for the next chapter. But before I go, there are some people I want to thank for shaping these past few years.
To my photography staff: I’m so endlessly proud of each and every one of you. You all are everything I hoped this staff would one day be. Your care, passion and willingness to commit to this organization has transformed the photo section into something truly special. Watching your growth this semester has been a true honor. Thank you for showing up, challenging yourselves to tell stories more creatively
I applied to join The Breeze in the middle of my film class with Dennis Lo. It was my sophomore year, my first year as an English major after spending a year in biotechnology.
I spent the next two years writing for the opinion section under various amazing editors. I’ve learned a lot. I took hundreds of edits to some of my articles, had to rethink a lot of my ideas and got ghosted by numerous interviewees. At the end of the day, I couldn’t be more grateful for all of it.
Working with The Breeze as a writer allowed me to develop my technical skills, of course, but it also taught me to understand that every good project has failures at some point. What we do with our losses and how we overcome them is what helps us to actually grow more than just completing a project could.
When I became the opinion editor, that mindset helped keep me sane. As long as I kept showing up and learning from my mistakes, I was evolving and growing. I would love to say I did it all alone, but that would be a blatant lie.
My previous opinion editor, Maya Skurski, helped train me on all things The Breeze. I will truly forever be grateful for her reaching out to me and giving me this opportunity.
To the Big Three — Eleanor, Hannah and Sixuan — for always being pillars of support for all of the editors. We truly couldn’t have such an amazing paper without you guys. Your work and effort have made The Breeze what it is today, and I can’t thank you enough for letting me be a part of it.
To Copy, Culture, Graphics, News, Photo, Sports and Socials, for being such amazing co-workers and peers. Coming into the position last semester and not knowing anyone inside of it, you can only imagine how nervous I was. You guys have made The Breeze feel like home. I am so happy to have met you all, and I am so excited to see where you guys go.
and making our section shine. I’m confident the photo section is in good hands with all of you.
To Landon Shackelford: My forever co-editor. There’s no one else like you. You came into The Breeze ready to take photos, but when you became photo editor, your innovative and adventurous mindset completely changed the way our section tells stories. In doing so, it’s made The Breeze that much stronger. You’ve made an impact that won’t be forgotten. It’s been a pleasure to work alongside you these past few years and bring our vision of the photo section to life. A part of me is devastated that our time together in this organization is at its end, but I don’t doubt that you will continue to do incredible work for this publication and beyond.
As you return to the photo section, remember to advocate for your ideas and your photo staff, and to keep trying new things. Thank you for being the best person to work with, and for always communicating with me. I
am so lucky to know you, and I can’t wait to see what you create next.
To Grant Johnson, Michael Russo and Avery Goodstine: Thank you for believing in me. I came in knowing the photo section needed a change, needed to be reinvigorated, and I’m so grateful you all allowed me to do it. I’ll always cherish that year spent with you all and the amazing success we had as a staff. I proudly hold on to my paper plate award.
To the ’25 soon-to-be ’26 staff: Thank you all for your commitment to telling impactful stories with strong visuals. Each one of you is so talented and deserving of success. I’ll miss coming into the office and being greeted by the busy chaos of the newsroom, the endless jokes and yapping away about the silliest things. Keep pushing to tell stories that need to be talked about, and when it gets hard, remember why you love what you do. I wish you all continued success and will happily, sappily, be watching from afar.
To my family, for always supporting me and my next steps. To my brother, for always helping me keep my argumentative side alive. To my dad, for drawing sentence diagrams on the hallway mirror in Expo marker. To my mom, for always being there to hear about the good, the bad and the ugly.
One of my biggest achievements in life will always be being able to tell people I’m Joe’s sister, and Megan and Scott’s daughter. You guys have shaped me into the
person I am today, and I am extremely proud to say I am a McKeown.
Finally, a thank you to my dog, Opie. He can’t read, but I’m sure he would appreciate it if he could.
To anyone reading and to myself looking back, keep asking questions and keep trying new things. Without that random Tuesday in film class, I wouldn’t have gained the experience, the drive or the appreciation that this paper has gifted me.
CAROLINE MCKEOWN Opinion Editor
Opie is Caroline’s dog and has been a loyal friend of The Breeze Annabel Dewey / The Breeze
KAILEY GARNER Photo Editor
Kailey Garner has worked with The Breeze since her freshman year. Kailey Garner / The Breeze
S EAT DOMINO’S DUKES DUKES
The Breeze
Editorial Staff
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Eleanor Shaw breezeeditor@gmail.com
NEWS EDITORS Emma Notarnicola & Landon Shackelford breezenews@gmail.com
COPY EDITORS Kayla Katounas & Joelle McKenzie breezecopy@gmail.com
PRINT MANAGING EDITOR Hannah Kennedy breezepress@gmail.com
CULTURE EDITORS Isabel Lewis & Charlie Bodenstein thebreezeculture@gmail.com
PHOTO EDITORS Kailey Garner & Annabel Dewey breezephotography@gmail.com
ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR Sixuan Wu thebreezeweb@gmail.com
SPORTS EDITORS Preston Comer & Gavin Avella breezesports@gmail.com
AUDIENCE EDITORS Ella Warren & Madeline Buynak thebreezesocials@gmail.com
568-7889
OPINION EDITOR Caroline McKeown breezeopinion@gmail.com
ART DIRECTOR Julia Tanner thebreezeartdirector@gmail.com
TV NEWS DIRECTOR Alexa Bonilla jmubreezetv@gmail.com
“Get Low” by Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz
“WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” by Raye
“TWO OF US” by Beauty School Dropout
@BreezeJMU! “All I Ask of You” by The Phantom of the Opera “‘tis the damn season” by Taylor Swift “Anything” by The Carpenters
your answers on our
If you have any corrections, please contact the section editors via their designated email or the editor-in-chief at breezeeditor@gmail.com.
By Emet Ozar
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
1 Bedroom 1 Bath Apartment
1 bedroom 1 bath Apartment located at Sherwood Apartments on Robbin Hood Ct in Harrisonburg. Rent $950, W/S/T included. Washer and Dryer in the unit along with a full kitchen and all appliances. Available December 2025. Inquiries please email klinemaint@comcast. net or by phone 540-833-6104
Arcadia Aprtament Available NOW
Dec. Grad needs to rent Arcadia Apartment room that is available immediately until July 31, 2026. Great roomates! Base rent is $599 with utilities included. Please email Kailey.garner0804@gmail.com
JOBS
Career Opportunity - Software
Portfolio Specialist
Are you ready to be the driving force behind cutting-edge public safety technology? Join the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Emergency Communications Center’s team as a Software Portfolio Specialist and help shape the future of emergency communications in a high-impact, mission-driven environment. Find out more/apply online: https://www.harrisonburgva. gov/employment.EOE.
Rent This 4 Bedroom 2 Bathroom
Adorable Cottage Just Two Blocks from JMU campus
Cute Cottage for Rent Just Two Blocks from JMU Campus and Bridgeforth Stadium - $1999/month. 6 month lease or month to month lease available.
Counseling Services Available!
Cross Keys Equine Therapy is taking new clients! Struggling with depression, anxiety, or just need someone to talk to? We offer equine assisted therapy sessions, nature based therapy, or traditional talk therapy. Only 15 minutes from campus! Give us a call today at 540-607-6910.
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.
Part-time Opportunity - VFW Bartender
Part-time bartender no experience necessary will train must be 21. Apply in person at VFW 450 Waterman Dr Harrisonburg Va 22802 .
Internship Opportunity - City Manager’s Office (Harrisonburg, VA)
Are you a student seeking real-world experience in public administration with a locality recognized both regionally and nationally for a variety of achievements? If so, apply to the City of Harrisonburg’s City Manager’s Office Internship Opportunity! Find out more/apply online: https://www. harrisonburgva.gov/employment. EOE.
Transportation Services Airport transfers, wine tours, special events Motorcoach trip to Liberty football game Sept 20 Contact Adventures-N-Travel.com Call or text 540-810-1196 mikepackett@aol.com
Car Wash Express and Laundromat Express!
Car Wash Express and Laundromat Express! Now accepting credit cards for car wash and laundromat! 3 Minutes from campus! Self-serve and automatic options. 48 Kenmore Street, Harrisonburg, VA.540810-1196 mikepackett@aol.com
ITEMS FOR SALE
Game room
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
REAL ESTATE
Property for Sale in Staunton Building for Sale. Three store fronts. Two Apartments. Needs Total Renovation. 300 Central Ave., Staunton, VA 24401 $310,000 or best offer. Call 540-290-0375
O rd e r t o d a y a n d e n j o y !
