The Breeze 12.7.23

The Breeze JMU’s award-winning newspaper since 1922

December 7, 2023 VOL. 102 NO.14 BREEZEJMU.ORG

COST OF

CONTROVERSY

He invited a conservative speaker to JMU. Then he faced backlash and lost friends.

News | 4

Students say campus lacks space with finals season here Culture | 10

Football moves forward without Curt Cignetti Sports | 14-15

Scaffolding added to Carrier Library renovation Multimedia | 21

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Vol. 102, No. 14

O$4NLY 29

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Vol. 102, No. 14

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What’s inside...

On the cover Senior Parker Boggs has worn many hats on campus during his years as a Duke. From being a senator in the Student Government Association (SGA) to serving as a Democracy Fellow in the Madison Center for Civic Engagment, Boggs has eestablished himself as a conservative activist in JMU political circles. But then, in April 2022, he became a campus-wide name when he invited conservative speaker Liz Wheeler to JMU as the president of the school's chapter of the Young Americans for Freedom (YAF).

Wheeler’s lecture, “The Ideology of Transgenderism” sparked outrage, and Boggs bore the brunt of it. Seven months later, he reflected on the aftermath that he’s still experiencing, which has included losing friends and being compared to Adolf Hitler.

Since Wheeler ’s speech, Boggs has said he does not agree with everything she believes, nor was he aware she would be speaking about transgender people.

For an in-depth profile on Parker Boggs, see pages 4-5.

Kimberly Aikens / The Breeze

As final exam season comes upon us, students have taken over new study spaces while Carrier Library is under construction. Some of these spots include Rose Library and Taylor Down Under. Students have mixed feelings on the availability of spaces. Some say there aren’t enough on-campus study spots without the availability of Carrier, while others haven’t had difficulty finding open places.

For more about preparing for finals week, see pages 10, 12 and 18.

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‘You don’t know me’: conservative activist Parker Boggs still wrestles with the cost of controversy

By SAM GAME The Breeze

Clad in a casual sweatshirt and gym shorts, Parker Boggs sips an iced coffee from the on-campus Starbucks truck and talks about his favorite Lady Gaga songs. He’s a big fan.

In fact, he recently took a 24-hour trip to Las Vegas for the sole purpose of seeing her latest residency performance.

Boggs said he loves Gaga almost as much as he loves working and engaging in politics — he just gets more opportunities to enjoy the latter, especially at JMU. “I had always been warned: ‘Parker, never go into politics. You don’t make money, or it’s too divided,’” Boggs said. “I understand that.

But at some point, you’ve got to push that aside to make what you want to get done, get done.”

Boggs is heavily involved in several organizations on campus, including the Student Government Association (SGA), where he is a senator, College Republicans and Student Ambassadors, a group that gives tours to prospective Dukes.

More notably, he’s the founder and chairman of JMU’s chapter of Young Americans for Freedom (YAF), where he works under its parent organization, Young America’s Foundation, to connect conservatives and empower conservative views on both high school and college campuses.

Until this year, Boggs was largely unknown outside campus political circles. That is until he hosted conservative commentator Liz Wheeler on campus last spring.

Since then, Parker Boggs has become a campus-wide name, one that has been attached to controversy, and he’s received hundreds of messages from outraged peers to prove it.

Wheeler’s views on the transgender community stem from her belief that sex and gender are intertwined and cannot exist as separate entities, according to her YouTube videos. Boggs said he does not agree with this specific view but does agree with her opposition of transgender women playing in women’s sports.

“I am a swimmer, and while I’m not the fastest swimmer in the world, I would not feel comfortable swimming against [biological] women in competitions,” Boggs said.

One major disagreement Boggs said he has with Wheeler is gay marriage. Wheeler opposes gay marriage being legally recognized — in a 2022 post on X, formerly Twitter, she said that by legalizing gay marriage, legislators “reinvented the definition of marriage.” She said this goes against her Catholic belief that marriage is solely between a man and a woman, and by “changing the definition of marriage,” she said legislators that allowed for gay marriage are inherently authoritarian.

Boggs is openly gay, and while he said he is a proud Christian, he also said he’s a strong believer in the separation of church and state.

“I am able to separate my politics and my religion, and I think [Wheeler] wades in-between the two,” Boggs said. “At the same time, I respect her views as a person whether we agree or not.”

Boggs said discussion around Wheeler speaking on campus started in September 2022 in an executive YAF meeting. During it, he said YAF planned to host other speakers, such as Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares (R, ’98), earlier that year. Boggs said to close out the semester, the group looked to choose a “big” speaker.

“We wanted to solidify our name within JMU to really show that conservatives are here,” he said. “We knew that Liz Wheeler is a name that would bring people out, whether they have a positive or negative reaction.”

After YAF made the decision, Boggs sent an invitation to Wheeler, stating the group would

The Liz Wheeler backlash

On April 17, the YAF Instagram broke the JMU internet with its announcement that Liz Wheeler would speak on campus about “The ideology of transgenderism.” The post brought attention to the organization from students, JMU alums and Harrisonburg community members, amassing over 1,230 comments the same day and 2,552 as of Wednesday.

Boggs was at a YMCA in Richmond volunteering for a high school model General Assembly conference when the comments began to come.

“We had the post scheduled on Instagram ready to go, and it automatically went out. I just saw my phone buzzing with comments,” Boggs said. “I ended up having to turn off my Instagram notifications.”

The online reaction filled with impassioned messages from people both in and outside of the transgender community.

One commenter said: “Regardless of anything, [Liz Wheeler] is insanely under qualified to even present on campus — especially in this field.

Stating an opinion does not grant the privilege of having a stage to say it louder.”

Throughout his four years at JMU, senior Parker Boggs has been civically engaged in the JMU community. He a senator in the Student Government Association, gives tours to prospective students and works as a democracy fellow in the Madison Center of Civic Engagement, among other commitments. Sam Game / The Breeze

“love to host her to share conservative views on campus.”

He also said he was not aware that Wheeler planned to speak about LGBTQ+, specifically transgender, topics before scheduling and funding the event.

“I would have loved to ask her why she chose this topic, but she ran with it. She brought a 150-person crowd in person and 15,000 online viewers,” Boggs said. “I’m glad that she chose it for herself, and I’m glad that she was bringing a conservative topic to campus.”

While Boggs’ views don’t align with Wheeler’s on every matter, some students who were against Wheeler coming to campus said that simply inviting her was an act of discrimination against JMU’s transgender community. Among this group is Heather Dueñas, the organizer of the protest held on the Quad during YAF’s event. “[YAF members] said a lot about how we were protesting their freedom of speech,” Dueñas said. “I was never protesting freedom of speech. I was providing a safe space for trans students and showing that JMU does value their voices and their presence and existence.”

As a student ambassador herself, Dueñas said she and Boggs used to be friends within the organization.

“After the Liz Wheeler event, I lost a lot of respect for him,” she said. “I have a trans partner, and Parker has hugged my partner. He has spoken to my partner before. For him to then bring a transphobic speaker onto campus — I felt betrayed.”

When the Liz Wheeler event was announced, Dueñas quit Student Ambassadors.

“As a student ambassador representing the school, [Boggs] has to go to SOGIE and the Lavender Lounge and talk about these LGBTQ+ safe spaces,” she said. “But on the other hand, he’s bringing Liz Wheeler to campus. While she may be protected by the First Amendment, she was arguably engaging in hate speech.”

Boggs said in a follow-up interview that as a student ambassador, he continues to show on-campus LGBTQ+ safe spaces such as the Center for Multicultural Student Services (CMSS), Sexuality, Orientation & Gender Identity Expression (SOGIE), and the Lavender Lounge to prospective students on his tours.

“Part of being a tour guide is highlighting the most important parts of campus, and those are places that Student Ambassadors asks us to highlight,” he said. “While I say I’m involved in political clubs during tours, I never say my political affiliation.”

Though Boggs said he disagrees with both the views and claims of most protesters, he said he appreciates their ability to organize without interfering with Wheeler’s speech.

“I wish that [the protesters] were able to come to the speech, but they chose not to,” Boggs said. “But that’s perfectly OK because they exercised their First Amendment right non-violently, in a way that didn’t shut down our event.”

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In April, Boggs was the target of online scrutiny after JMU’s chapter of Young Americans for Freedom — a student organization he founded and is president of — hosted Liz Wheeler’s lecture, “The Ideology of Transgenderism.” Boggs’ sexuality and physical attributes were attacked in the aftermath of the announcement, which he said caused him lots of distress. Ryan Sauer / The Breeze

Online response toward Boggs

While many commenters against the Liz Wheeler event stayed under the initial YAF post, Boggs said he received an outpour of hateful comments on his personal social media accounts — not only commenting on his choice of speaker but also on his physical attributes, such as his body and appearance.

In addition to these comments, Boggs said he was sent a video comparing Wheeler and himself to Adolf Hitler by inserting videos of a Hitler speech overtop of their speeches from the event.

“They assumed that because Liz Wheeler came to campus and spoke about the ‘ideology of transgenderism’ that I was a neo-Nazi or a fascist that hated people who weren’t my type,” Boggs said. “That is not who I am. I don’t care what a person looks like, acts like or sounds like. I think people didn’t understand that.”

The following week, he said he had to take a mental health break from classes because of the comments. He said it was a “damaging time for a 21-year-old college student,” and his best option was turning his phone on do not disturb and staying home, on the Eastern Shore, for a couple of days.

“The first two days were really, really hard. I didn’t feel comfortable going to class because of what people were saying,” he said.

“I don’t want to think I was unsafe, but I was concerned for my personal safety.”

During that time, Boggs said he knew he would get through it because of the support from his mother and grandmother, who raised him together after his father left his family the day before Boggs’ 13th birthday.

“These two strong women in my life have always defended me for who I am when there was such hardship in my life with my dad, and that’s what really shaped me into who I am,” he said. “After Liz Wheeler happened, people would ask me if I was OK and if I could handle the responses. I told them that all I need is their support.”

Impact on Boggs’ SGA work

On April 25, the SGA released a statement regarding its funding of Wheeler’s visit to campus, eight days after YAF’s announcement.

The statement, posted on the SGA’s

Instagram, said its finance committee passed YAF’s initial funding request, and when the request was presented at its regular Senate meeting, it passed with 43 votes and two abstentions. In the statement, SGA said YAF “listed a few possible topics for Wheeler’s talk, not including the one that was chosen.”

SGA’s statement also said: “Given the recently announced topic of Wheeler’s talk, ‘The Ideology of Transgenderism,’ we believe that YAF’s request for funding was misleading. We did not approve, nor were we aware of this topic.”

Boggs said he believes he didn’t mislead the SGA in any way while trying to receive funding for the event.

“I emphasized to both the finance committee and in Senate that the topics I presented were directly from YAF’s website, listed as topics that she can do, but it’s up to the speaker to make the final decision,” he said. “If we do apply [for funding] again, I’ll make sure to solidify a topic beforehand.”

While Boggs said he considered asking Wheeler to change the topic, he ultimately decided against doing so.

“After the third day of receiving comments on Instagram, I had messages coming to me privately with people saying they’re behind

me,” he said. “That’s when I thought, ‘Maybe we’re doing something right at the end of the day.’”

After the SGA released its statement, Boggs said the energy toward him and his proposals shifted.

“I lost a lot of connections and friends within SGA last year,” Boggs said. “There are other people within SGA that won’t talk to me, that will push me aside. On the other hand, I have people who disagreed with [Wheeler] coming to campus but called me after [the backlash] and said, ‘I disagreed with her coming, but I’m here for you.’”

Helen Nguyen, an SGA representative, was just that: one of Boggs’ friends, as well as a Democrat, who does not agree with Wheeler’s views.

“If we’re about representing the student body, we also have to represent different beliefs,” Nguyen said.

She said she thinks the SGA as a whole leans more liberal than conservative, and there can be a stigma when it comes to rightleaning members.

“Parker’s a Republican and I’m a Democrat, but I don’t think that affects our friendship whatsoever,” she said. “We can learn a lot from each other.”

“I hope I don’t leave a ‘Parker Boggs’ legacy.

But if I do, it’s that conservatives, and everyone else, know they are free to speak on campus and that they shouldn’t be ashamed of who they are.”

Parker Boggs

Senior YAF president, SGA senator, student ambassador and democracy fellow

SGA President Nate Hazen also commented about maintaining a neutral workplace.

“The SGA is very devout on making sure that we’re apolitical,” he said.

When speaking about Boggs’ impact on the SGA, Hazen said Boggs makes the SGA more productive as a whole by bringing different views to Senate debates, like when he was the only senator to vote against the passage of an amendment in September that looked to review any social media content regarding SGA elections prior to its posting, citing a “blatant” First Amendment violation.

“I don’t know how else to express my feelings professionally for Parker without saying how much respect I have for him as a human being,” Hazen said. “I can’t think of any people that care about this campus more than him.”

While Boggs said he’s ready to cross the stage this spring as a graduating senior, he said he hopes that in his time at JMU, he has “emboldened free speech” and added “a new face to conservatism on campus.”

He doesn’t have plans penciled out after graduation, but if students find themselves in similar situations, he’s only one call away.

“Moving forward, if I hear about a free speech crisis — whether the person is a Democrat or a Republican — I will be the first person to reach out and help them,” he said.

“I’ve been through it, and I want to make sure [future students] don’t have to go to hell and back to get through it.”

Boggs said he wants to leave a mark on JMU, not by founding YAF, but by ensuring that students continue to understand the importance of the First Amendment and be unafraid to speak their minds despite the “status quo.”

“I hope I don’t leave a ‘Parker Boggs’ legacy,” he said. “But if I do, it’s that conservatives, and anyone else, know they are free to speak on campus and that they shouldn’t be ashamed of who they are.”

CONTACT Sam Game at gamesl@dukes. jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @BreezeNewsJMU.

Thursday, December 7, 2023 | breezejmu.org

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NEWS

Local food drives relieve meal pressures for holiday season Forbes Center, JMU research group invites students and locals to donate

By SIXUAN WU The Breeze

Holiday lights and decorations add a festive touch to campus, but the lobby of the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts is illuminated by another color — the warm orange of donation bins for the Forbes Center Holiday Food Drive.

The food drive — the first the Forbes Center has ever hosted — started Nov. 6 and runs through Dec. 15. Donations will go to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, which provides food to those in need across 25 counties, said MaryBeth Killian, theater management associate and organizer of the food drive.

In her first year organizing, Killian said the experience has been enjoyable and eye-opening.

“In today’s time, it’s very easy to be ignorant to the things around us,” Killian said. “This has definitely helped me open up a broader perspective and see how we can come together and really help the community as a whole.”

According to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank fact sheet, one in every 12 people

This is the Forbes Center’s first time hosting its holiday food drive, and all donations will go toward the Blue Ridge Food Bank. Photo illustration by Landon Shackelford / The Breeze

in each ZIP code in the Blue Ridge area is affected by hunger.

“The lines at food pantries haven’t gone down, even though it’s not on the news anymore,” said Robin Swecker, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank’s partner engagement manager for the western region. “It’s invisible because the person next to you could be struggling, and you don’t know it because people don’t talk about that they need help.”

In the western region, which encompasses Rockingham and Augusta counties and Harrisonburg, the food bank distributes 7.2 million pounds of food — equivalent to 6 million meals — to 35,700 people each month, according to the food bank’s fact sheet.

Other initiatives around campus, such as the fall food drive organized by JMU Research, Economic, Development & Innovation (REDI), also partner with the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank to help alleviate hunger in the region.

“Every year, there are a number of people that report that at some time during a month, they have to choose between spending money on food or spending money on electricity,” said Ben Delp, director of Federal Relations

and Communications and organizer of the fall food drive. “When you think that some people have to make choices like that, it really makes you want to support an organization like the food bank so that they can hopefully alleviate folks that are dealing with such a hard challenge.”

This is the 16th year REDI has hosted the food drive. Since 2008, donated 20,500 pounds of food and raised $12,500 on its online donation site, an equivalent of 67,000 meals, Delp said.

“I can do a little bit as far as a donation, but when you look at a large community like the university and how much we can do collectively, I think that’s the big thing — the power of numbers,” Delp said.

Many of the donation bins have already been filled with food items, such as the containers in EnGeo and King Hall, where integrated science and technology (ISAT) students have joined forces to donate over 500 items, according to the REDI Facebook page.

The JMU REDI fall food drive ends Friday.

Donations of non-perishable items can be dropped off at locations in EnGeo, Foundation 2

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Hall, the Health and Behavioral Studies (HBS) building, Jemmy’s Corner market on the first floor of E-Hall, the P.O.D. Market in Paul Jennings Hall, King Hall, Leeolou Alumni Center, Massanutten Hall, Memorial Hall, Mr. Chips, Rose Library, Sonner Hall, the Student Success Center and Wilson Hall.

For the Forbes Center Holiday Food Drive, donations can be dropped off in bins ​​in the lower lobby adjacent to the main box office or upstairs in the grand lobby between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m.

“It’s truly a labor of love,” Delp said.

“Obviously the main goal is helping those in the community, but when you see everybody that contributes, it’s a wonderful thing and a good reminder that JMU is all in when it comes to participating in things that help those in the community.”

CONTACT Sixuan Wu at wu3sx@dukes. jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @BreezeNewsJMU.

Thursday, September 21, 2023 | breezejmu.org

Vol. 102, No. 6

Vol. 102, No. 14

Thursday, December 7, 2023 | breezejmu.org

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NEWS

Biology professor makes big impact with her little bike

Heather Griscom encourages students to adopt a more eco-friendly lifestyle through her daily routine

By PJ BARUA contributing writer

Those commuting to JMU might have caught a glimpse of Heather Griscom, a JMU biology professor and associate unit head, pedaling through town to get to East Campus.

Whether it’s a clear day with blue skies or in heavy rain or snow, she is dressed for the occasion, ready to bike. Griscom has been doing this for 18 years as a way to avoid using fossil fuels.

Growing up on a farm in California prompted Griscom’s love for the outdoors. While attending Smith College (Mass.) and working toward her Ph.D. at Yale, that love grew into a passion for protecting the environment.

As an undergrad, she specialized in plant biology, which shifted to a focus on conservation and then restoration in ecology while getting her Ph.D. She said her professors during those years played a significant part in shaping her interests in those different fields.

“Professors have a large role in students’ passion for certain topics, and I had a couple of professors in college that were really passionate about plant ecology,” Griscom said. “Those types of experiences guided me.”

Now she has taken on the role of creating a path for her students to follow their passion.

For Erin Naman, a junior biology major with an environmental science minor, Griscom has become an inspiring figure in her forest ecology class. Naman also does research with Griscom to follow her interests in the biology and environmental fields.

“She’s just honestly inspiring as a person, and she is super busy all the time but still

when she is and pollution. talking to you, it Griscom said feels like she is the engines of taking her time our cars burn with you, and f o s s i l f u e l s, your opinion is releasing actually valuable carbon to her,” Naman dioxide into said. “It’s really the air, which nice to feel that has a direct way, especially link to global from a professor.” warming — Being a college something she student with a said is also not heavy workload, good for us to Naman also inhale. said Griscom’s “That has class has given made it more her a chance to important to briefly step away me to bike and from academic to be a model pressure. for others that “ Yo u c o u l d you can safely be the most bike around stressed person campus,” in the world, and Griscom said. talking to her For the past 18 years, JMU biology professor Heather Her is like a stress Griscom has ridden her bike to work every day in order to advocacy has relief,” Naman reduce fossil fuel emissions. Courtesy of PJ Barua become an said. inspiration to During Griscom’s college years, buying a car others around her. Biology department head on her own was not a possibility, leading her Kyle Seifert, who’s known Griscom for 18 years to start walking to campus, which carried over and has been working closely with her the past to her years in graduate school at Yale, where two as biology department administrators, she invested in a bike. proudly talks about the work Griscom has done After moving to Harrisonburg, she became to better others. acutely aware of the consequences of climate “She is amazing; she is so very talented, change that come from the city’s car traffic and I mean in her teaching, her work with her

students — they do great work,” Seifert said.

“She is a talented scholar and does research in Panama, over in West Virginia, publishes with her students and has been just a very nice colleague to work with in the administrative part of our job.”

Griscom actively encourages her students, especially those in graduate school, to invest in a bike, which she said she believes will help them save money and avoid the stress of driving and fighting over parking spots.

“For me, it’s easier to bike than drive because I don’t have to worry about traffic, and I don’t get stressed,” Griscom said. “I watch my neighbor leave the same time as me, and we work at the same department and get there about the same time.”

Griscom tries to better the community around her in different ways, whether through donations, encouraging her students to bike or by traveling to Panama to restore forests.

Both Naman and Seifert said they believe she plays an influential role in the communities she’s involved in.

Seifert summed up Griscom’s significance in the JMU community with one simple sentence.

“She is a role model to colleagues, a role model to students and a role model to her community,” Seifert said.

CONTACT PJ Barua at baruapx@dukes. jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @BreezeNewsJMU. Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @BreezeNewsJMU.

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Asbury United Methodist Church, located in downtown Harrisonburg, is now offering meetings for the Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) group program on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

MOPS began in 1973 when a group of mothers united and shared experiences parenting. Over the past four decades, MOPS has expanded to include all mothers — both working and marital status — according to Asbury’s website.

The program came to Asbury over the summer after MOPS reached out to the church. A Zoom session secured Asbury’s affiliation with the program, said Betsy Peters, adult christian education director and co-leader of MOPS at Asbury.

Asbury has conducted five meetings as of Wednesday and is seeing consistent attendance from three mothers. After its establishment, it’s apparent that there’s a need for the MOPS program at the church, said Director of Children’s Ministries at Asbury Kevin Otrhalik, whose role in the program involves working with those who volunteer.

“We have a handful of young mothers,” Otrhalik said. “We know that mothers are stressed, and they need the opportunity

to be with other mothers and to have a little bit of a break from their children.”

The meetings offer demonstrations and videos of MOPS lessons with food prepared by congregation members.

Many resources are available to harvest conversations among mothers with topics such as parenting stages and strategies, as well as affirmations.

“The moms will just do activities and have snacks and time together,” Peters said. The mothers also provide input on what they like to complete at the meetings and their expectations for the group.

Free childcare is available during the MOPS sessions, with all employees having completed a prior background check. Lessons are also provided for the children during the meetings, Otrhalik said.

Shaena Rogers, co-leader of the MOPS program at Asbury and member of the congregation, said she understands the separation anxiety between a mother and her child that may occur during meetings.

“I tried to tell the moms that are interested that they couldn’t find better helpers for their kiddos,” Rogers said.

For one mother in their group, Otrhalik said, this is the first time she has been away from her child.

“We’re kind of breaking that one in,

getting that little one used to being away from mom,” Otrhalik said.

Reflecting on the start, Rogers said feedback on the program has been positive, with one mother saying she looks forward to meeting every two weeks.

Going forward, higher attendance numbers are expected as word of the program slowly spreads.

“Just being a place where moms can come and feel like they have a few hours of rest is my goal,” Rogers said. “I think if we just touched two or three, that’s fine.”

A yoga instruction led by a pastor at Asbury is also anticipated. As of now, coordinators are thankful for the opportunity to be involved with mothers and their children, and for those who have stepped up and helped with the program.

“It just really feels right that a church should be a place where we care and support everybody in our community and, in this instance, mothers of young children,” Rogers said.

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CONTACT Evan Moody at thebreezeculture@gmail.com. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @BreezeNewsJMU

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CULTURE

EDITORS Morgan Blair & Evan Moody

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@Breeze_Culture

Lack of single study and dining spots fields mixed reactions JMU does offer individual zen study booths in Rose Library, but some students complained that they’re not soundproof, making it difficult to watch class vidoes or participate in calls.

Photos by Kimberly Aikens / The Breeze

By LUCE SAMPSON contibuting writer

between classes, he might be left with just 45 minutes to study after searching for a spot.

Banocy said he rarely finds a space he’s satisfied with. He also said it was so hard to get seats at D-Hall that he stopped going in October. Recently, he tried going back, and it was the same: He had to walk multiple laps around the building before he could find a place to eat.

However, not everyone experiences JMU’s study and dining spaces this way.

“I feel you can find a place most of the time,” freshman health sciences major Emma Megginson said. “It just might not be one of your preferred spaces.”

JMU study and dining spaces seem to encourage community — large tables offer seats for large groups to talk around. Two or more people are required to use Rose Library study rooms.

Couches are set up in The Union across from each other, and patio spaces boast multiple outdoor chairs in close proximity.

But the hustle and bustle of dining spots and study spaces isn’t always brought on by group activity; In fact, many people eat and study alone. Large tables might actually be used by individuals — people who couldn’t find smaller tables for themselves.

Freshman media arts and design (SMAD) major Andrew Banocy said he prefers having a table to himself. He said he likes to work outside, but this has become harder as the weather has gotten colder. Sometimes, he said he has to sit at the end of a table occupied by one or two people when he can’t find his own.

Banocy cites the closure of Carrier Library as a cause for difficulties when finding study spaces, as does sophomore engineering major Cooper Zimmerman, who described on-campus study spaces as “lacking.” Zimmerman transferred to JMU from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and said VCU’s dining hall was less crowded and study spaces were easier to access there.

Zimmerman also said Rose Library is inconvenient because it’s on East Campus, and he lives closer to Main Campus. He said he has to return to his house off campus to find a quiet spot to study, “Or anywhere with an outlet or a desk.”

Noise is an issue for others as well. Sophomore studio art major Elena Tempestra is minoring in Japanese and said the sound of people talking in English can make it harder to study.

Zimmerman, Tempestra and Banocy said searching for While places like Rose Library do offer places to study, many students a space can impact the amount of time they have to study. expressed feeling that these spaces are made for groups and not single Banocy said on days when he has 1 hour and 30 minutes studiers.

The expressed lack of spaces on campus comes during a time when many students need it, final exams week, in the backdrop of JMU’s steady increase in enrollment. Last year, the university broke a record with 22,760 incoming freshman for the class of 2027.

Megginson described her experience finding study and dining spaces at JMU as mostly positive. She said she likes hearing background noise while working and doesn’t like to work in the same space every time. Normally, Megginson said, she finds a space she is satisfied with.

Even still, Megginson said she would appreciate more single study rooms. She said she typically studies individually, then works in a group to review material once she already understands it.

Megginson also said there is a lack of places to study alone and play a video out loud. For instance, study rooms in Rose require at least two people, and the individual zen study booths are not soundproof, she said.

Megginson might have to sit at a stranger’s table during busy dining hours but said this could be looked at as beneficial: She said she’s had positive interactions with others in these situations.

Banocy described his experience asking to sit with strangers.

“Usually, people are just like … ‘Yeah, go ahead, I don’t care,’” he said. “’Cause, I mean, they found a spot — they know that they had to find a spot.”

In that way, maybe JMU study and dining spaces are fostering community. Or maybe, as Banocy said, the spaces are simply “not good.”

CONTACT Luce Sampson at sampsoll@dukes.jmu.edu. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on X and Instagram @Breeze_Culture.

CULTURE

Thursday, Decembe 7, 2023 | breezejmu.org

Mercy House offers aid to unhoused locals

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Rapid rehousing, emergency shelter and holiday gifts among resources provided

By ARIANNA TAYLOR The Breeze

With the holiday season underway, JMU groups, church groups and businesses such as Cisco are asked to create Angel Trees, which gather Christmas presents for adults and children in the Mercy House emergency shelter. University Recreation Center (UREC) is hosting an Angel Tree and a Christmas wrapping party on Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

This work is done by Mercy House, a local nonprofit organization, which has an annual Snowflakes Wishes program that adopts families to give them Christmas presents.

Mercy House, which opened in 1988, specializes in homelessness prevention, rapid rehousing and an emergency shelter in Rockingham County and the Harrisonburg area. It’s a faith-based organization, but religious participation is not required to receive its services, according to Mercy House’s website.

With a budget of $2 million in 2022, the nonprofit receives funding through federal and state grants, private donations and social enterprise, Mercy House Executive Director Shannon Porter said.

Mercy House has three locations: a thrift store in Harrisonburg, one in Timberville, Virginia, and a building supply store, also in Harrisonburg. A majority of its employees have experienced homelessness.

“We’re giving them a supportive work environment to be able to be successful,” Porter said. “Almost everything we do kind of permeates the mission of trying to address people getting back into homes.”

In addition to creating jobs, the profits from the thrift store go into the budget dedicated to helping meet families’ needs.

The stores also contribute to keeping the environment clean by reselling gently used items and selling them at a low cost, according to Mercy House’s website.

Its shelter has 12 efficiency units allocated for families with dependent children. Each unit has a door that locks, a restroom and a kitchenette that are all secured through a keypad door at the front of the building, Mercy House Director of Operations Seri Perry said.

“We’re trying to provide a secure place where people can keep their dignity and also feel like they’ve got some peace of mind with their children,” Perry said.

Mercy House assists in finding affordable housing for families within the Harrisonburg area. However, rent prices are continuing to rise in the city, and landlords are reluctant to take on individuals they aren’t confident can afford rent. “[Clients] have an extensive list of evictions, poor credit, criminal history, that landlords are trying to screen out,” Perry said. “But everybody deserves housing.”

With real estate being a supply-and-demand market, Harrisonburg’s housing supply is much lower than the demand.

As JMU continues to grow, more people are brought into the area, and students inadvertently take housing away from the community, Porter said.

“Students sign the lease, but the reality of this is most cases they’ve got mom or dad as a cosigner,” Porter said. “They don’t have poor credit yet because they haven’t had a chance to strip their credit in most cases.”

Porter said JMU has a “huge economic and social impact on this community.” Though he said one area where JMU does hurt the community is that it does not provide sufficient on-campus housing as alternatives to students who move off-campus.

A new on-campus residence hall is under construction in the Village and set to open in fall 2025. The residence hall, which is being built overtop where Ikenberry Hall was, will offer 459 beds as part of an expansion project to mitigate overcrowding caused in part by increases in enrollment. To begin the fall semester,

roughly 60 students were placed in temporary triple rooms on campus.

Perry said she feels in order Mercy House is a nonprofit organization that specializes in homelessness prevention. A majority for families experiencing of its employees have experienced homelessness. Photos courtesy of October Grace Media homelessness to find housing, landlords have to be willing to take a chance on the clients.

“Finding landlords that are willing to be the second chance and to partner with us and work with the households that we work with knowing that people do better, thrive and are better citizens when they have proper housing [is important],” Perry said.

Affordable housing is defined as being “30% or less than the household income”, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD.) A two-bedroom apartment in the Harrisonburg area is, on average, $1,027 a month as of 2023, according to HUD. A single parent would need to make $19.75 an hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent, which is set

by HUD to show the average Mercy House offers rooms in an emergency shelter, like the one shown above, for unhoused cost of affordable housing in a people that include a door that locks, a restroom and a kitchenette. specific area.

Mercy House funding also to see the best for them.” helps cover expenses for obtaining legal documents such as Mercy House favors gift cards throughout the holiday season birth certificates or licenses and items like work boots that are so they can be used later in the year, Perry said, and one has necessary for a job. It also tries to connect families with the been used so that a child could purchase gear to try out for junior Harrisonburg Community Health Clinic and social services so varsity soccer. they can receive dental and medical care, Perry said.

“We want to create a sense of normalcy for kids,” Perry said.

Through its aftercare program, families are contacted once a month after finding new housing. The program focuses on “We’re trying to get kids to keep being kids.” “intensive case management” and “financial interventions” to Most of Mercy House’s clients have ties to Harrisonburg keep clients focused and prevent experiencing homelessness through family, employment or schooling, Porter said. again, according to Mercy House’s website.

“When we try to create a better shelter, we’re often told we’re Porter said connecting families with services involving going to bring people from all over,” Porter said. “Reality is, mental health and substance abuse in Harrisonburg is homeless folks don’t say, ‘Oh, well, there’s a better shelter 75 or challenging because there are not enough counselors, providers 100 miles away. So I’m going to take a little money, I’ve got to or rehab beds. go there.’”

“We’re grateful for the partners that we do have in the Porter emphasizes that homelessness has a stigma that “you community that provide those services,” Porter said, “but we must have a substance abuse disorder, mental illness or be lazy need more.” and not willing to work for your family.”

Perry said that Mercy House works with the households to He said he feels that Generation Z is more concerned make sure they’re not “blowing” the budget they’ve provided them with for stabilizing their home or making Christmas happen, about social equity and social justice than prior generations. and that they continue to do so until they’re able to do so on Homelessness is a large issue in Harrisonburg, he said, and addressing the problems in the community is just as important their own.

The program used to be a collaboration between the as national issues.

“Students, at the end of the day, are the customers,” Porter said.

Harrisonburg Police Department,the Harrisonburg Radio Group and Mercy House. However, Mercy House pulled it back so only “So having you aggressively involved and trying to further that those in house were working on the project. The nonprofit is able awareness at the administration level is very helpful.” to give two or three pieces of clothing, two or three toys and a CONTACT Arianna Taylor taylo3af@dukes.jmu.edu. For more stocking to each child this holiday season, Perry said.

“It’s really exciting to see parents be so excited to get this for on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg their kids and to give it to kids,” Perry said. “[Parents] need to communities, follow the culture desk on X and Instagram know that there’s somebody out there who cares and that wants @Breeze_Culture.

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CULTURE

By JULIA VARVERUD contributing writer

under renovation.

“I like Rose a lot because the architecture of the building is very nice,” she said. “I like the Starbucks, and it’s both quiet enough and loud enough to focus.”

Mendoza said she prefers Carrier but has moved her studying to Rose Library this year.

DeWald and McGeehan said they both prefer to study in Taylor Down Under, which is in the basement of Union.

JMU offers many resources to students during finals by providing quiet or loud studying locations, office hours with professors and mental health resources for anyone struggling with anxiety or stress.

Students can access the JMU Counseling Center by calling the 24/7 number at (540) 568-6552.

Good studying habits can also be important when preparing for any type of test or exam — regardless of how close it is to the

semester’s end. Everyone finds what techniques work the best and, for DeWald, Quizlet Premium is helpful, she said. McGeehan’s studying mostly includes repeating math problems — as she said, “practice, practice, practice.”

When asked what advice she’d give to underclassmen, Mendoza said to start studying sooner and dedicate a couple of hours a day to studying.

“The final is going to go how it’s going to go and, if you fail, it’s OK,” she said.

Students discuss finals stress, tips to overcome it It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but with finals looming, the holiday joy may be postponed for some JMU students.

Final exams are Saturday, Dec. 9, and depending on what each professor decides, finals can look like an exam on paper, an online test with LockDown Browser or an alternative assignment to turn in on Canvas.

Freshman students Ava DeWald, an education major, and Kate McGeehan, an integrated science and technology (ISAT) major, both said they are taking finals for the first time since they were not required by their respective high schools.

Now that finals are mandatory, both expressed feeling overwhelmed. “[I’m] stressed to say the least,” DeWald said. “I have finals in all my classes, so I’m a little nervous.”

While many students find the studying habits that work best for them later in college, it can be difficult to know the roadmap for a successful final exams season as a freshman.

“It’s a bit more stressful to prepare because I’ve never really had to prepare for them before, so it’s not even stressing about the final in general, it’s ‘How do I prepare for it?’” McGeehan said.

Emma Mendoza, a junior international affairs major, said some of her professors haven’t mentioned finals. At the beginging of the semester, she was only given a syllabus that mentioned a final.

“I feel generally prepared, but if I don’t, which I usually don’t until way up to the point, I usually look online for resources like YouTube videos explaining concepts or that kind of thing,” Mendoza said.

On the other hand, McGeehan said her professors have done a good job providing additional resources outside of class such as office hours and study sessions.

Although most students are beginning to prepare for their finals, study locations will probably be crowded with Carrier Library

CONTACT Julia Varverud at varverja@dukes.jmu.edu and K. Mauser at mauserkk@dukes.jmu.edu. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on X and Instagram @Breeze_Culture.

Due to the renovation of Carrier Library, students have moved their studying locations to Rose Library and Taylor Down Under, which is in the basement of Union. Kimberly Aikens / The Breeze

CULTURE

Coffee Hound manger brews up success

By MINA HAKIMPOUR, JACK TELEP & CAMPBELL SUTTON contributing writers

When he’s creating art or playing music with a group of friends, Matthew Cohen said he cherishes his team of employees and customers who come to enjoy the delicious beverages they serve.

Cohen, the general manager of Coffee Hound, is originally from Roanoke but moved to Harrisonburg after graduating from JMU with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and drawing.

He said his late nights and early mornings as a student prompted him to become an avid coffee drinker.

“I started drinking coffee when I first came to JMU and have enjoyed the taste and health benefits it provides ever since,” Cohen said.

After struggling to find work in fine arts, Cohen tried a variety of service and labor jobs, including landscaping and computer repair. He also worked as the manager of Benny Sorrentino’s, a popular pizza place in Harrisonburg, for five years before joining the staff at Coffee Hound, located at 64 S. Mason St.

Beginning the grind

Cohen’s attraction to Coffee Hound started when a few of his friends who worked there

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encouraged him to apply after he left Benny Sorrentino’s. In June 2020, the shop’s owner at the time, Dave Fafra, offered Cohen a job as a cashier at Coffee Hound, formerly known as Shenandoah Joe’s.

“I started at [Coffee Hound] on register and did not create any of the espresso drinks until getting trained on the espresso machine about a year later,” Cohen said.

Cohen went on to a management position at Coffee Hound. As manager, he said, the responsibilities he has are important for the shop’s operation.

“Even as an introvert for the most part, it has been great learning about others’ lives and making connections I wouldn’t otherwise have made,” Cohen said. “Unlimited access to delicious coffee is also a personal favorite perk.”

Each day, Cohen is in charge of overseeing employees, making beverages, ensuring quality and satisfaction standards, creating schedules, communicating with employees, and purchasing and delivering inventory.

During the transition from Shenandoah Joe’s to Coffee Hound, Cohen said he had to shift gears in November 2021 for the new shop.

Since working for the new owner of Coffee Hound, Hailey Athey, Cohen said he enjoys his time as manager even more. Athey’s leadership and kindness has set a model example for her

employees to follow, and her patience and determination to help Cohen succeed at the store has made the working environment more pleasurable, he said.

“I have learned that sometimes you need to make bold moves in life as she has demonstrated for us all by deciding to run a new, independent coffee shop in Harrisonburg,” Cohen said. “It takes a brave person to run a small business when success is not guaranteed, and she has done a great job at creating a calm and productive vibe at the shop.”

The work culture at Coffee Hound exudes camaraderie, Cohen said, and the baristas comes from diverse backgrounds that complement one another to make a welcoming environment for staff and customers.

“I feel as if we have fostered a wonderful group that feels close to family,” Cohen said. “I love working with each employee and getting to learn new things each day from them about their lives and experiences.”

With a wide selection of coffee beverages, Cohen is most fond of black coffee, as he drinks it every day, he said. However, he recommends Coffee Hound’s creative lattes, with syrup flavors like lavender and peppermint, to new customers that can rival the other popular cafes in town.

In addition to being a dog-friendly shop that roasts its beans locally, Coffee Hound has more aspects that set it apart from chains such as Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts.

“Our baristas have a wealth of knowledge about coffee and also take great interest in the customers as well,” Cohen said. “I feel as if we make connections that would not be possible in the rushed and hectic visits to Starbucks, where the care is only about speed and the volume of drinks made.”

While Coffee Hound runs smoothly now, it faced a few obstacles in 2021, even after COVID19 pandemic restrictions slowed down. Cohen and his co-workers underwent a winter where they were all affected by the virus. Business

Before working at Coffee Hound, Matthew Cohen managed at Benny Sorrentino’s.

Courtesy of Matchbox Realty

declined at first; however, since Athey took over ownership, it’s steadily grown to pre-pandemic numbers, Cohen said.

With business back to being productive, Cohen said he relishes in the fact he’s seen as a fair and competent leader among the staff.

He said he enjoys guiding a team of qualified people and ensuring that both employees and costumers are happy with the work they do.

CONTACT Mina Hakimpour at hakimpmx@ dukes.jmu.edu, Jack Telep at telepjj@dukes. jmu.edu & Campell Sutton at suttoncb@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on X and Instagram @Breeze_Culture.

SPORTS

By KAIDEN BRIDGES & JACKSON HEPHNER The Breeze Alongside the reveal of JMU’s bowl matchup Sunday afternoon came another announcement.

After former head coach Curt Cignetti, who left for Indiana on Thursday, said he was uncertain about his status of coaching JMU’s first-ever bowl game, Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne said in a press release Sunday that offensive line coach/associate head coach for the offense Damian Wroblewski would be the acting head coach for the Armed Forces Bowl versus Air Force (8-4, 5-3 Mountain West) on Dec. 23.

Wroblewski has been with the Dukes since 2018, initially starting as an assistant head coach before transitioning over to his current position in 2021.

“Our student-athletes have been through a lot over the last week, and he will be a strong, unifying presence of stability for them,” Bourne said of Wroblewski in the press release.

“Our student-athletes have shared their full support for him as their coach. I’m confident in [Wroblewski]’s ability to lead our team and excited for him to have this opportunity.”

Wroblewski said while he hasn’t had much time to reflect on the opportunity yet, he’s optimistic about what’s ahead for him and the team over the next few weeks. He added that during this time of uncertainty for the Dukes, he felt the need to step in and help get work done that he knew was needed.

“As the opportunity became more and more obvious, more and more things went through my head that needed to be done,” Wroblewski said in a Zoom press conference Sunday evening. “There’s a checklist to do, and I’m excited to do it. It’s a humbling feeling at the end of the day, you know, it’s really pretty fascinating.”

As a coach, Wroblewski said he’s fueled by passion. He said his favorite part of the day is inspiring JMU football players — whether it’s in meetings, on the practice field or coaching position groups. But while Wroblewski has to now oversee more players, he said his style won’t differ.

“I get to teach and influence these young people to be the best that they can be,” Wroblewski said. “And now, the task is bigger because there’s more people that I’m responsible for, but that’s not going to change. At the end of the day, every one of us is trying to be better. Every one of us is trying to chase excellence.”

He added that while he tries to motivate people within the program, he feels equally touched by being a member of the JMU Athletics community.

“I can’t put my finger on it, I’m not exactly sure why, but James Madison University attracts successful, happy, proud people,” Wroblewski said. “It’s really impressive. It’s

@TheBreezeSports

Dukes in the portal

e reez eB h T

Jordan McCloud, QB

• 2023 Sun Belt Player of the Year • Finished the regular season with 3,413 passing yards, 311 rushing yards and 40 total touchdowns • One year of eligibility left

Taurus Jones, LB Damian Wroblewski said he’s both excited and humbled to be named the acting head coach for JMU’s first bowl game. Ryan Sauer / The Breeze

really amazing to be a part of, and [it] inspires you or myself to be the best coach that I can be, and to be a member of the community is an awesome feeling.”

Players have praised Wroblewski all season, especially his offensive lineman.

“He never lets us get down energy wise,” redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Josh Toner said on Nov. 14. “He’s always on us to keep us ready to go. I mean, he’s a great coach. He coaches the crap out of us every single day. There’s never a dull moment.”

Junior offensive lineman Tyler Stephens also complimented Wroblewski, just days after junior offensive lineman Tyshawn Wyatt went down with a season-ending injury in JMU’s 30-27 win over Old Dominion on Oct. 31. Wyatt was the second lineman to be lost for the season, but Stephens, who was preparing to play his third position of the season, said Wroblewski got him ready.

“He prepares us for any situation,” Stephens said, “and he makes us apply our knowledge rather than just memorize stuff or know things, and I think that’s where he stands out as a coach.”

Last week, as JMU faced further adversity, in what Wroblewski called an “emotional roller coaster,” he said he saw the players needed guidance. But despite what’s been a chaotic few days for the Dukes, he said it’s time to be excited and embrace the opportunity the team and university has been fighting for the last eight months — a spot in a bowl game.

Wroblewski said in an interview with ESPN Harrisonburg on Monday the Dukes will have a skeleton crew of coaches for the bowl, including the four coaches that remain on staff, previous coaches Wroblewski has worked with and Nick Kidwell — a redshirt senior offensive lineman who suffered a season-ending injury against Utah State on Sept. 23.

“There’s this uncertainty of the future, but yet there’s this really awesome experience that’s coming up upon us,” Wroblewski said.

“So I think the moods [have] been pretty solid.

People are resilient … they’re an impressive group. To go 11-1 in the Sun Belt Conference is a testament to their dedication day in and day out, and we’re looking forward to this one more experience together with this particular season — the 2023 James Madison Dukes.”

Wroblewski said he wanted the players to get a good workout in on Friday, then decompress over the weekend before returning to work on Monday. Despite many impact players entering the transfer portal for the Dukes, Wroblewski said he expects them all to play versus Air Force.

“We are all outrageously excited,” Wroblewski said. “We can’t wait to get there, but there’s a lot to be done between now and then. We’re looking forward to that and the daily work in preparation as well.”

CONTACT Kaiden Bridges and Jackson Hephner at breezesports@gmail.com. For more football coverage, follow the sports desk on X @TheBreezeSports.

• • •

Finished the season with 38 total tackles Started 13 games the last two seasons One year of eligibility left

Aiden Fisher, LB • • •

Pho tos co u U Athletics f JM yo es rt

Damian Wroblewski named acting head coach for JMU’s first-ever bowl

EMAIL breezesports@gmail.com

Kaiden Bridg es /

EDITORS Kaiden Bridges & Jackson Hephner

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All-Sun Belt Third Team Led the Dukes in total tackles (91) Two years of eligibility left

Zach Horton, TE • All-Sun Belt First Team • Had 266 receiving yards and six touchdowns this season • One year of eligibility left

Brent Austin, CB • Played in 10 games this season • Had 12 total tackles and a pick-six against UConn on Nov. 11 • Two years of eligibility left

Mikail Kamara, DL • • •

All-Sun Belt Second Team 6.5 sacks and 52 tackles this season Two years of eligibility left

Jailin Walker, LB • • •

All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention Played in 10 games, 55 total tackles in 2023 One year of eligibility left

Chauncey Logan, CB • • •

All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention 42 tackles and an interception this season Two years of eligibility left

Carter Miller, OL • Played in 15 games over the last two seasons, starting in nine • Three years of eligibility left

James Carpenter, DL

• All-Sun Belt Second Team • 48 tackles, one interception and two fumbles recovered this season • One year of eligibility left

Though this isn’t a comprehensive list of all the JMU players currently in the transfer portal, make sure to check out the updated list online as more Dukes enter.

SPORTS

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JMU football continues search for coach 6 days after Cignetti’s departure

By JACKSON HEPHNER The Breeze JMU announced Curt Cignetti’s departure as the Dukes’ football head coach last Thursday as he took the same job at Indiana.

That afternoon, Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne said JMU hoped to fill the position within a week.

That deadline is now here, and so far, there’s been no official hire.

While the search committee finds candidates behind closed doors, players continue to enter the transfer portal. As of Wednesday evening, 12 players have entered the portal and five high school recruits have announced on social media that they’ve decommitted from JMU. The exit of players and recruits has exacerbated the need for a head coach.

Bourne knew this when Cignetti left, which is why he said the search looks to be quick.

“I want to have at least a week or 10 days for the new coach to be able to evaluate things and have access to that portal before it closes,” Bourne said. “So, it’s telling you that window becomes very narrow.”

The portal closes Jan. 2, making time of the essence if Bourne wants his new coach to still have that window.

But it seems the committee has yet to come to a consensus. A source told the Daily News-Record (DN-R) on Saturday that JMU was considering four candidates, all head coaches or former head coaches. The Athletic reported on Tuesday that sources said Holy Cross head coach Bob Chesney and Rutgers defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak were being seriously considered but weren’t the only names in the mix.

Additionally, the DN-R reported that a jet with Bourne, JMU ​​ faculty athletic representative Roger Soenksen, graduate assistant coach Dimitri Holloway and Cliff Wood, head of the Montpelier Collective, an independent NIL collective that works with JMU student-athletes, left Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport for Worcester, Massachusetts, on Monday, making a stop at Teterboro, New Jersey, on the way back.

Worcester Regional Airport sits 6.1 miles from Holy Cross’ campus, while Teterboro Airport is 14.9 miles from Rutgers.

On top of it all, the same four individuals were seen by the DN-R boarding a plane on

Joe Harasymiak has spent the last two seasons at Rutgers as defensive coordinator. The Scarlet Knights went 6-6 (3-6 Big Ten) in the regular season. Rutgers Athletics

Wednesday headed to Indianapolis. Flight trackers indicated the plane was scheduled to stop in Cincinnati on the way back, but it was taken off the tracking website that afternoon.

A post in the Facebook group “JMU Nation” also added to the discourse on Wednesday.

The post claimed that a press conference was being scheduled for later Wednesday, according to a self-proclaimed Holy Cross insider, but a JMU Athletics spokesperson told The Breeze it was not true.

While there’s no word on who the other candidates could potentially be or if they are still being considered, Chesney and Harasymiak both bring impressive resumes to the table.

Chesney just wrapped up his sixth season at Holy Cross, capping the 7-4 campaign off with the Crusaders’ fifth straight Patriot League Title. Chesney has 14 seasons of head coaching experience across the FCS, Division II and III. While at Holy Cross, Chesney was named Patriot League Coach of the Year three times and led the Crusaders to a 12-1 record in 2022.

Harasymiak joined Rutgers’ staff in 2022 after four seasons at Minnesota, spending

two as defensive backs/safeties coach before being elevated to co-defensive coordinator.

Before his stints in the Big 10, Harasymiak spent the majority of his career at Maine, a former conference foe of JMU in the CAA. He joined the Black Bears as a defensive assistant before rising up the ranks, eventually being named interim head coach in November 2015, then head coach in 2016.

Harasymiak finished his three seasons at the helm of Maine 20-15 (15-9 CAA). In his final season, the Black Bears went 10-4 (7-1 CAA) and advanced to the FCS semifinals in 2018 before falling to No. 4 Eastern Washington. For his efforts, Harasymiak was voted FCS Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association.

For now, JMU fans will have to wait to see who will lead the Dukes in 2024. In the meantime, JMU (11-1, 7-1 Sun Belt) prepares for the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 23 against Air Force (8-4, 5-3 Mountain West), led by acting head coach Damian Wroblewski, and a skeleton staff of four assistants.

CONTACT Jackson Hephner at breezesports@ gmail.com. For more football coverage, follow the sports desk on X at @TheBreezeSports.

Bob Chesney has led Holy Cross to five straight Patriot League titles during his six seasons as head coach. Holy Cross Athletics

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SPORTS

SPORTS

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Kaiden Bridges Sports Editor

Jackson Hephner Sports Editor

Colby Reece BTV Sports Director

William Moran Copy Editor

Avery Goodstine Managing Editor

Michael Russo Executive Editor

Grant Johnson Editor-in-Chief

Editor’s record

41-25

37-29

47-19

43-23

47-19

50-16

49-17

JMU vs. Air Force

JMU

JMU

JMU

JMU

JMU

JMU

JMU

Michigan vs. Alabama

Michigan

Alabama

Michigan

Alabama

Michigan

Michigan

Michigan

Washington vs. Texas

Texas

Washington

Washington

Texas

Washington

Texas

Texas

Georgia vs. Florida St.

Florida St.

Georgia

Georgia

Georgia

Georgia

Florida St.

Georgia

Ohio State vs. Missouri

Ohio State

Ohio State

Ohio State

Ohio State

Ohio State

Ohio State

Ohio State

Oregon vs. Liberty

Oregon

Oregon

Oregon

Oregon

Oregon

Oregon

Oregon

Grace Sawyer / The Breeze

OPINION EDITOR Evan Weaver

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EMAIL breezeopinion@gmail.com

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 “it's-all-about-themoney” dart to former JMU head coach Curt Cignetti.

From someone who believes integrity, character and commitment are priceless.

A “kudos” pat to CNN anchor and chief domestic Jim Acosta for frequently mentioning his alma mater on his weekend news shows and taking the weekend off to attend GameDay at JMU. From someone who loves his reporting and thinks he is a great example of a successful JMU alum.

@Breeze_Opinion

Students should be more intentional about their studying As self-study and group study both have their advantages, Dukes need to try both to decide which works best for them SARA CURLING | contributing columnist The key to achieving good grades in college, doing well on exams and comprehending material is generally the same across the board: studying. For many, building good study habits is unfortunately postponed until college. The increased demands of university courses typically catalyzes more structured study skills.

At JMU, just about every building is bound to contain at least one student hunched over a laptop or textbook, trying to make their class’ material stick. Of these students, there are several different ways they may prefer to study based on their own learning style. Some prefer flashcards, brain dumps, verbalizing or teaching others.

It’s crucial that students understand the importance of good study habits, regardless of which method they choose. Without these habits, students are bound to fall behind and have difficulty succeeding with their degree requirements and graduating. Unfortunately, JMU students could be failing to grasp this

idea. Among 115 respondents to a Breeze Instagram poll, 59% reported they only study 1-2 days a week.

Building good study habits can seem like a daunting task, with lots of options available to be implemented into a student’s routine. One of which is whether to study alone or with peers. Each presents its own advantages and disadvantages, so examining these is worthwhile for students who want to strengthen their studying skills.

Twenty five percent of 135 respondents to The Breeze’s poll said they preferred to study in a group or with other peers rather than alone. There are some significant benefits to group study: Washington University in St. Louis found that studying in groups is more effective because of how students solidify information interactively between others with certain feedback. Along with this, it can be less boring and more fun to study in a group.

Other students could be good motivators for one another in a group setting, and hearing other perspectives could help students retain information. Although

An “all-for-nothing” dart to the Starbucks truck for ending free drinks early.

From a busy student who gaslit himself into thinking the 15-minute detour was worth it.

A “this-is-an-outrage” dart to T-Mobile for removing the auto-pay discount if you use a credit card.

From an unsatisfied customer.

Editorial Policies The Breeze 1598 S. Main Street Harrisonburg, VA 22801

freshman Mallory Salley typically prefers individual studying, she said she could appreciate the advantages of group study for certain subjects such as chemistry.

She finds that for chemistry, group studying helps because she can “think through her process.” She said it depends on both the subject and the person — who someone surrounds themselves with can play a role, Salley said. Some peers are a distraction, whereas others can be great tools.

The remaining 75% of students polled by The Breeze said they preferred studying alone.

There are also plenty of benefits to studying this way: The University of Bolton found that self-study allows for more flexibility and fewer distractions. This method often allows for the most personalized, catered study style.

Sophomore Elena Miravite said she prefers studying alone. For her, she finds she can practice “active recall” better as well as figure out what she knows and doesn’t know. She also said individual sociability plays a role in whether or not group studying is as effective.

Out of 134 Breeze poll respondents, only 29 indicated they find their study habits are “very effective,” with the rest finding their methods to be either only somewhat effective or not at all. Studying is an integral part of a college education, but many JMU students are less than confident in their abilities to do so effectively.

It’s crucial that students find what study method works best for them. It’s evident that there are pros and cons to both group and individual studying, and that many of these factors rely on an individual’s personality and study goals. Because it depends on an individual’s specific needs, it can be surmised that individual study could be the safest bet.

However, students should explore all kinds of studying, both individual and group, as well as different methods like flashcards or mindmapping. It’s through this experimentation that students can find what works and decide for themselves which study method ismost effective.

CONTACT Sara Curling at curlinsp@dukes.

Studying alone can be beneficial for some students, as it minimizes the distractions that sometimes come with studying in a group. Kimberly Aikens / The Breeze

The Breeze welcomes and encourages readers to voice their opinions through letters and guest columns.

The Breeze reserves the right to edit submissions for length, grammar and if material is libelous, factually inaccurate or unclear.

The Breeze assumes the rights to any published work. Opinions expressed in this page, with the exception of editorials, are not necessarily those of The Breeze or its staff.

jmu.edu. For more editorials regarding the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the opinion desk on Instagram and X @Breeze_Opinion.

Letters and guest columns should be submitted in print or via e-mail and must include name, phone number, major/year if author is a current student (or year of graduation), professional title (if applicable) and place of residence if author is not a JMU student.

OPINION

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Thursday, December 7, 2023 | breezejmu.org

JMU: America’s team The NCAA’s two-year FBS transition rule is arbitrary and hinders developing football programs PATRICK HANOVER | Breeze columnist With Clemson’s victory over South Carolina on Nov. 25, JMU officially became bowl eligible. Following the initial rejection of full Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) status the NCAA last spring, this is what JMU fans were thinking: The Dukes cannot be bowl eligible except on a technicality. Due to JMU still being in its two-year transition period into the FBS, it was foretold that unless there aren’t enough six-win eligible teams, JMU wouldn’t be allowed to bowl.

Well, thank goodness that technicality fell upon the NCAA on Nov. 25.

JMU ended the season 11-1 (7-1 Sun Belt) and, despite its loss to Appalachian State on Nov. 18, the record the Dukes built up pins them against a quality Air Force team (8-4, 5-3 Mountain West) in the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 23.

The idea that not making JMU eligible to bowl for two years helps the program adjust to heightened competition is incredulous. If the NCAA can show definitive proof that this transition rule helps teams adjust, then I could understand the transition period rules.

On Nov. 15, JMU submitted a second request to waive the transition rule, and again, the NCAA declined to allow the Dukes to bowl. It was unacceptable, wrong and arbitrary. JMU tried twice to ensure its season wouldn’t go to waste, yet the NCAA persisted in its arbitrary rule.

A wasted season seemed almost as foul as buying $300 worth of crab meat and then throwing it all in the trash! The thought of doing something as horrendously wasteful as

that just makes me reel in disgust. The twoyear transition rule is supposedly intended to ensure that the teams that enter the FBS are ready to participate in a bowl game. What more preparations does a team need, especially if it demonstrates it has what it takes already?

Furthermore, what does participating in a bowl game do to strain a team that just entered into the FBS? For JMU specifically, it proved there wasn’t some magical barrier of hardship that exists in the FBS, going 17-4 over such teams in its first two years in the Sun Belt Conference.

All of this suddenly changed on that great day, Nov. 25, when JMU was finally allowed to bowl as a result of the technicality. With this victory, we must remember that, at the end of the day, JMU took on an aggressive bureaucratic force that didn’t give into compromise — that refused to listen to reason. JMU battled hard and got completely kicked to the curb. Despite all this, the players and coaches continued to give it their all. In the end, JMU’s record proved it to be a formidable force to be reckoned with, and the true Sun Belt champions of 2023 — unlike Troy, which played a team, App State, with a worse conference record than the Dukes.

Troy might be the official 2023 Sun Belt champions with their 49-23 win over the Mountaineers, but the universe knows who really is the true 2023 Sun Belt champion.

America’s team isn’t the Cowboys, but rather, JMU football.

CONTACT Patrick Hanover at hanovepv@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more editorials regarding the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the opinion desk on Instagram and X @Breeze_Opinion.

Abigail Paredes / The Breeze

Supreme Court’s Clean Water Act restrictions will endanger the environment EMMA SELI | Breeze columnist The further our Earth’s climate changes and poses a significant threat to the environment and humankind, the more attempts there have been to thwart environmental protection legislation there have been. The U.S. Supreme Court is merely one of these opposition forces.

The court issued the Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) opinion on May 25. The decision restricted the Clean Water Act’s (CWA) ability to protect our natural waterways.

Case Watkins, a JMU environmental justice professor, said the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948 was adapted and expanded into the Clean Water Act of 1972. The legislation aims to protect U.S. waters and their ecosystems. Protecting and valuing our oceans, rivers, lakes and other bodies of water also shields us.

Michael and Chantell Sackett, the petitioners in Sackett v. EPA, began backfilling a newly purchased property near Priest Lake, Idaho. The EPA informed the Sacketts that the wetlands on their property fell under the CWA’s protection and that backfilling was a violation. The EPA said the surrounding waters were “waters of the United States” — and the Sackett’s sued, claiming they weren’t, according to the court filing.

The question rested on the dispute over waters protected by the CWA; it protects “navigable waters,” or “waters of the United States.” Justice Samuel Alito scrutinized the act’s reach in his opinion, claiming that “waters of the United States” is far too broad.

“Does the term encompass any backyard that is soggy enough for some minimum period of time? Does it reach ‘mudflats, sandflats, wetlands, sloughs, prairie pot-holes, wet meadows, [or] playa lakes?’ How about ditches, swimming pools, and puddles?”

Alito wrote in his opinion.

In the court’s holding, it significantly narrowed the CWA’s reach to cover “only those ‘wetlands with a continuous surface connection to bodies that are ‘waters of the United States in their own right,’ so that they are ‘indistinguishable’ from those waters.”

Ultimately, the Supreme Court decided that the wetlands on the Sackett’s property are distinguishable from the “waters of the United States” under the CWA. While the EPA overstepped its authority by attempting to force the Sacketts off their land, it has no right to restrict the waters protected by the CWA. According to an article published in May by Earthjustice, a nonprofit environmental law organization, “half of the 118 million acres of wetlands in the U.S. are no longer protected by the Clean Water Act, embracing the decades-long demands of mining companies, the fossil fuel industry, reckless developers, and other big polluters.”

Watkins said restricting the environmental protection legislation will damage wetlands across the country, eliminating extensive wetlands from the CWA’s decadeslong protection.

Watkins said the ecosystems within these wetlands include abundant wildlife — reptiles, mammals, birds and endangered species. Many of these species rely heavily on wetlands for survival and are at significant risk without adequate environmental protection.

But animals aren’t the only ones harmed by this decision — humans will also feel the repercussions. Watkins said low-income regions and communities of color are increasingly affected compared to wealthier ones.

“Decades of unjust policies and systems have restricted these communities to urban and rural areas more vulnerable to climate impacts like flooding,” Watkins said. “Without wetlands, many of these areas are more vulnerable to these environmental risks.”

Watkins said state and local authorities must step up to develop their own protections and regulations in the face of this climate emergency. Congress can formulate new legislation in favor of environmental protection, but in this political climate, it seems unlikely, he said.

Read the full story online at breezejmu.org CONTACT Emma Seli at seliek@dukes.jmu.edu. For more commentary on the Supreme Court, stay tuned for future editions of “The Court Corner” column, follow the opinion desk on Instagram and X @Breeze_Opinion.

JMU became eligible to compete in a bowl game on Nov. 25 when not enough teams in the FBS had won six games. Ryan Sauer / The Breeze

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Thursday, December 7, 2023 | breezejmu.org

Vol. 102, No. 14

DOC FEST 2023

Thurs, Dec 14, 2023 Court Square Theatre

41 Court Square Harrisonburg VA

7–9 pm FREE ADMISSION

create. engage. impact.

A screening of local community inspired non-fiction films produced by students from

All drinks purchased between 9–11 pm (12/14/23) at Three Notch’d Brewery, 241 East Market St. Harrisonburg, will benefit the Collins Center.

Design by Iliana Gardner

MULTIMEDIA

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Thursday, December 7, 2023 | breezejmu.org

winter

market

The last farmers market of the semester had a winter theme, with vendors selling holiday-inspired products on Wednesday. Despite the cold weather, students browsed the variety of tables on The Union Patio. Photos by Kailey Garner / The Breeze

THIS Week on BREEZE TV TOP STORIES

For more photos of JMU’s winter farmers market, view the full gallery online at breezejmu.org/ multimedia.

Students celebrate the start of the holiday season around campus JMU Nation prepares to travel to Dukes' first-ever bowl game Student radio station revives live, in-studio performances CONTACT Kailey Garner at breezephotography@gmail.com For more multimedia content, visit breezejmu.org/multimedia.

Progress Report

Weekend weather forecast

Photo timeline: Tracking the Carrier Library renovation project

Now seven months into reconstruction, tall scaffolding has been built on the Carrier Library renovation site facing the Student Success Center. Photos by Kimberly Aikens / The Breeze CONTACT Kimberly Aikens at aiken2km@dukes.jmu.edu. For more multimedia content, visit breezejmu.org/multimedia.

Tune in to Breeze TV LIVE from the Alison B. Parker Studio every Friday at 3:30 p.m.

December 2023

Scan the QR code to view our YouTube livestream.

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Vol. 102, No. 14

Thursday, December 7, 2023 | breezejmu.org FOR RELEASE DECEMBER 4, 2023

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Patti Varol

DOWN 1 Turkey__: breakfast meat that’s both halal and kosher 2 Game of chance similar to bingo 3 Writer who visits a lot of galleries

12/4/23

By Brian Callahan

4 Word in many concert album names 5 Floral wreath 6 Pine leaf 7 “See ya” 8 Mass transit option 9 Facility with a supercomputer array 10 Strip of gear, as a ship 11 Michelangelo sculpture in St. Peter’s 12 Ewoks’ home 15 Fashion designer Geoffrey 17 Sweetheart 21 Hunk of turf 23 Quaint suffix with school 24 Barn topper 26 Players who have mastered the art of the deal?

28 NorCal airport 29 Suffix with Dickens or Orwell 30 Signs off on 32 Wind instrument that might have a curved head 33 French pronoun

Saturday’s Puzzle Solved

stumpe

find the answers online

d?

ACROSS 1 Court sport, for short 6 Pen tip 9 Building manager, casually 13 Nest on a crest 14 Ostrichlike bird 15 Country between Togo and Nigeria 16 TikTok posts by some pet owners 18 Went astray 19 __ upon a time ...

20 College URL part 21 Actor Danny in Jersey Mike’s ads 22 Neither’s partner 23 Tart sprinkle for fish and chips 25 Words of compassion 27 Say confidently 28 Indian lute 30 Singer Yoko 31 Autumn 35 Appraiser’s determination 39 Like most software, once 40 Mass. MLB team 41 Ziff who’s infatuated with Marge Simpson 42 Tequila order 44 Beyond compare 46 Ability to see in low light 50 To and __ 53 Flattened at the poles, as Earth 54 Knee injury initials 55 Sty fare 56 Seize illegally 57 Inflatable river float, or what the answers to 16-, 23-, 35-, and 46-Across have 59 Looks for 60 Shar-__: wrinkly dog 61 Dine at home 62 Fades to black 63 Curved piece 64 Small songbirds

www.breezejmu.org/ site/crossword_ answers/

©2023 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

34 Director Ang 36 Over 37 Naan relative 38 Narcissistic 43 Encrypted URL starter 44 Dine outside 45 Part in a film 46 “It’s pointless” 47 Playwright Henrik 48 Used Elmer’s 49 More levelheaded

12/4/23

51 “Good Morning America” co-anchor Roberts 52 Unseals 55 Celebrity 57 Hoppy beverage with New England and West Coast varieties 58 “Go back” button: Abbr.

Thursday, December 7, 2023 | breezejmu.org

Vol. 102, No. 14

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Career Opportunity - Outreach and Communications Specialist The City of Harrisonburg Police Department (HPD) is seeking an Outreach and Communications Specialist to market, promote, and disseminate information regarding the department’s various projects/initiatives and emergency public information. If this sounds appealing to you, apply today to be considered for this opportunity! Find out/ apply online: https://www.harrisonburgva. gov/employment. EOE.

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Vol. 102, No. 14

Thursday, December 7, 2023 | breezejmu.org

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