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EDITORS Emma Notarnicola & Landon Shackelford EMAIL breezenews@gmail.com
What’s next?
By EMMA NOTARNICOLA The Breeze
EDITOR’S NOTE: Because Emma Notarnicola also serves as a democracy fellow for the Madison Center for Civic Engagement, Landon Shackelford conducted all interviews with Kara Dillard, the center’s executive director.
The future of safe political expression moves to the forefront following Charlie Kirk’s assassination at a public university, leaving Dukes wondering what on-campus expression will look like in an era of intense polarization.
“This event has major implications for freedom of speech overall, but also on university campuses in particular,” political science professor Marty Cohen said. “The fact that [the assassination] happened on a college campus is noteworthy; it does strike at the heart of the university and colleges across the country.”
Partisanship has seemingly ramped up since the assassination of Kirk, a conservative media personality who hosted debates at universities across the country and founded conservative advocacy nonprofit Turning Point USA. Kirk was killed by gunman Tyler Robinson at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10 during a debate in one of its outdoor spaces, according to an NBC article.
“I hope that people continue to look to dialogue with others they disagree with, but it definitely has a chilling effect,” Cohen said.
Kirk’s death also runs the risk of causing universities to be more cautious when selecting controversial speakers and expressing speech overall, Cohen said.
“It could have been our campus,” said senior Reagan Polarek, who is helping organize a revival of JMU’s Turning Point chapter, “[Kirk] was supposed to go to Virginia Tech next week.”
Political science professor Robert Roberts said he believes this event will split people with different opinions on Kirk into three categories: critics, strong supporters and those uninterested in politics, adding to polarization.
After the announcement of Kirk’s assassination, along with the assassination of Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman, University President Jim Schmidt sent an email to the student body, encouraging the community to continue to engage in conversations and speech.
“Here at JMU, we value listening well across our political divides, and even holding doors for those with whom we deeply disagree,” he wrote. “Violence, no matter the speech, is never the answer. I am grateful to be part of a university that prioritizes civil discourse for all members of our community.”
Concerns with freedom of speech
The assassination also served to highlight some of the other prevalent conflicts across the nation regarding how free speech is handled, Roberts said. He added that higher education has a history of controversies regarding public expression — specifically, how universities nationwide have dealt with on-campus protests, including spring 2024’s propalestine protests, seen across college campuses regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict, Roberts said.
Polarek said she’s hesitated to express her political ideals for fear of retaliation from those with opposing beliefs.
“We are probably in the most bruised state of our nation,” Polarek said. “I think that a lot of people on this campus have felt like maybe they didn’t feel completely comfortable speaking up about their beliefs. I know that for me, even though I’ve been involved in a lot of political spaces on campus, I’ve still been afraid to speak my mind.”
Though Polarek said she’s had many supportive experiences with JMU professors, she’s also felt shut down by others.
“I think that if you’re a teacher at a university, it’s your duty to help students learn and facilitate conversation,” she said.
On the other hand, students like senior and College Democrats Campaign Director Jacob Boykin, say they haven’t yet experienced that same hesitance.
“I think JMU does a really good job of making sure that political leanings of all sides, whether you’re conservative,
liberal or anything in between, [are heard],” Boykin said. “I personally have always felt like I could share my political leanings at JMU.”
Boykin added that although he knows there’s a political division at JMU, he doesn’t feel it’s significantly different from that of other universities.
“We do live in a very politically divided time, and there’s always some kind of contentious battle and debate that’s going on,” Boykin said. “You really can’t escape it, whether you’re on campus or off campus.”
Madison Center for Civic Engagement Executive Director Kara Dillard said she believes the way that a university is structured plays into making students feel they’re unable to share their views, especially because most of their life and identity is centered on campus.
“In a situation where so much of life — not just on this campus, but at large — is built around the networks of people that we associate with, saying something that could put that in jeopardy, can be really tough for students, for 18- to 24-year-olds who are just building out that sense of identity,” Dillard said.
How political polarization may be increasing
In addition to seeking approval from peers, political polarization is also a large factor in making conversations difficult, Cohen said.
“The divisions are even greater than they’ve ever been, and every year, every month, it seems to be a more divided country and a divided campus,” Cohen said.
Social media and echo chambers are a primary contributor to this polarization on campus and nationwide, Roberts said.
He added that most people surround themselves with likeminded peers, so they don’t get as much interaction with differing views as they saw in the past.
“Candidates would say all these nasty things against each other, but after the election, they would go out and have beers or party together,” Roberts said.
The main difference between several decades ago and now, Roberts said, is social media. He added that because of social media, campaigning is necessary “24 hours a day, 365 days
a year.” This means everyone is constantly surrounded by division, and moments of genuine connection have become rare, except in cases of great tragedy.
“There’s no respite from the social media bombardment, the podcasts, everything else; there is no quiet time … that makes it very difficult for people to calmly [communicate],” Roberts said.
Social media also contributes to the echo chambers people find themselves trapped in, Roberts added.
“All of the social media out there is feeding one side or the other,” Roberts said. “[People] don’t look for impartial news sources; they look for news sources that reinforce their views.”
By surrounding themselves with like-minded people consistently, people develop a disdain or hatred for the other side, which makes compromise impossible, Roberts said.
“That’s the problem with social media, it unleashes the worst instincts in us,” he said, “that leads to the radicalization of people.”
How will universities handle controversial speakers?
One way to combat these echo chambers is to listen to voices that go against one’s beliefs, media arts and design professor Roger Soenksen said. (Soenksen is the legal adviser to The Breeze.)
“What this allows individuals to do is to hear like-minded or very diverse opinions and be able to gain information,” Soenksen said. “In terms of our college campuses to enlighten individuals, controversial speakers have always been an important component of the overall educational experience of undergraduates and graduate students.”
JMU is no stranger to controversial speakers. In April 2025, author and political activist Robert Spencer came to campus after a petition condemning Spencer was created and signed by Dukes. Similarly, students protested in response to conservative commentator Liz Wheeler’s “Ideology of Transgenderism” lecture in April 2023.
Soenksen added that speakers provide a counter to social media, where people can share radical ideas without having to show their identity.
“I can say anything I want over a social media platform,” Soenksen said. “It’s very different for the speaker who goes out in public and confronts crowds.”
However, after the Kirk assassination, security for speakers has come into question, which could cause a shift in speakers’ willingness to visit universities. Though Kirk’s assassination may affect speakers’ willingness to visit, Dillard said, JMU won’t deny any club’s request based on a speaker’s beliefs.
“The university is providing space for those speakers, is providing security for those speakers … and is telling students by university policy that nobody can come in and shut those speakers [down],” Dillard said.
However, Roberts said, Kirk’s assassination does bring into question the ability of universities to provide sufficient security for political speakers.
"It’s a very complex issue that universities are grappling with now,” Roberts said. “If someone wants a controversial speaker, the university has a limited right to say no but not an absolute right to say no.”
Roberts said he believes some universities may try to avoid the problem altogether, which limits the “marketplace of ideas” — an ideology that believes the best ideas will emerge from open, transparent civil discourse.
“When universities begin censoring themselves, then they’ve lost their major mission, which is to be a marketplace with ideas where people can discuss things civilly,” Roberts said.
Through his experiences, Soenksen said that during this time, controversial figures should be encouraged on college campuses.
“If there should ever be an area where open, robust, uninhibited debate should exist, it should be on our college campuses,” Soenksen said. “To not have controversial speakers on college campuses does a real disservice to all students.”
Soenksen added that he’s seen similar instances of political division across the nation during his time growing up — including during the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War — where violence was a factor in speech, with nonviolence eventually prevailing as the more effective method toward change.
“Those individuals who resorted to violence ended up turning off the masses who said, ‘that’s not the correct approach to shut down other individuals, just because you don’t agree with the position they’ve taken,’” Soenksen said.
Though Roberts said he agrees that universities are the breeding ground for effective conversation, he added that universities have a complicated decision in balancing free speech and safety.
“You don’t want universities to become censors, but on the other hand, they want to maintain order on campus so it’s a safe space,” Roberts said. “How do you negotiate between free speech and trying to maintain some order?”
How Dukes can improve civic conversations
Although this issue is complicated, it’s important to take steps forward, Cohen said. He added that although a single solution is not obvious, softening rhetoric and tone while acknowledging one another for our humanity rather than highlighting political parties is crucial in fostering effective conversation.
Cohen said encouraging these ideas includes providing space for debates and civil discourse, and to “nip any kind of violent talk in the bud,” while acknowledging there’s a fine line between censorship and discouraging violent action.
“Politics should not be life or death,” he said.
Polarek said she encourages universities to help facilitate these conversations, especially in times of polarization by “recognizing our common humanity.”
“At the end of the day,” she said, “politics is very important and it affects every single one of us, but our political stances are not who we are,” Polarek said.
Similarly, Boykin of College Dems said, during these conversations, it’s important to frame politics and political differences in a way that doesn’t lead to animosity or friction.
“It truly is not like ‘I disagree with you, and therefore you’re the worst person ever,’” Boykin said. “That is not a political conversation — that’s an attack on moral character, and any political conversation needs to be policy-focused and policy-based. And I think our political conversations have been lacking that recently.”
Another method toward deliberation, Roberts said, is to dedicate more time to civic education and democracy. Helping students understand the power of deliberation and its impact in democracy creates a stable framework for having those conversations.
“In a democracy, you have debates and then you have a way to solve those debates through nonviolent democratic processes,” Roberts said. “Clearly, it’s not being taught in the elementary schools, it’s not being taught in high schools. And even in college, it’s being taught not as extensively as it should.”
However, it’s important to acknowledge the pitfalls that universities confront when trying to provide an open and
fair space for every student, Roberts said, especially with the general idea that all institutions are liberal leaning, putting universities in a “difficult position.”
“That’s how the outsiders view universities: that they … don’t provide equal access to all groups — they discriminate,” he said. “It’s very difficult to deal with that stereotype. That university faculty members are all liberal, and that the administrations don’t want to have groups that are, let’s say, more extreme, express their views.”
With this, Boykin said universities can face funding threats when making dramatic decisions on freedom of speech.
“It matters a lot what goes on at the federal level for matters,” Boykin said, “in terms of funding, in terms of like financial aid, all of these things are handled at the federal level, with states having some input, but federal education policy matters significantly if you’re a student at any given university.”
Resources for Dukes that encourage free speech
Though universities may face challenges, they are still a vital space for political discussion, Dillard said.
“[College is] an opportunity for four years to think through, to be exposed to different ideas and ideas you’ll disagree with, and people who come from different places,” she said. “[You] engage with those ideas, contest them, push them, challenge them. Find everything imaginable wrong with those ideas. Isn’t that what we should be doing?”
With this, Polarek said there are a variety of different spaces offered on campus that provide these spaces for deliberation in and out of the classroom.
In the classroom, Polarek said she’s seen effective conversation being facilitated, especially in her political campaign communication class with communication studies professor Dan Schill. She said he led an inclusive conversation about the Kirk assassination that gave her a place where she could freely share her ideas.
“Giving students the space and ability to talk in safe environments,that’s what our college should be,” Polarek said. “It’s a place to disagree respectfully and peacefully.”
Dillard said she saw a lot of engagement in political discussion from her class, Civic Leadership: Theories and Practice, as well.
“As I talked with other students and listened to other students across campus over the last week, what I’ve heard is that there is a definite interest in wanting to talk about what happened,” Dillard said.
Dillard added that she feels faculty are just as excited to have these experiences with students, and most professors
that she interacts with strive toward encouraging an inclusive environment.
“I think that that’s a testament to our faculty’s commitment to the mission and vision of James Madison University,” she said.
Polarek listed university programs and student organizations that provide this space to students on campus, including:
• The Madison Center for Civic Engagement
• College Democrats
• College Republicans
• Turning Point — once JMU recognizes it.
“Given that it’s named for the Father of the Constitution, I think [JMU] does a really nice job, and has done for a decade or more now … of supporting students’ free speech and free expression,” Dillard said, “giving students the opportunities to participate in debates, in dialogues, in deliberations on campus to be able to engage as student voters on campus.”
So, what’s next?
With threats to freedom of speech, especially with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s announcement of possibly prohibiting what would be classified as hate speech, Roberts said, now is the time to have these conversations.
“It’s possible that actual free speech will be curtailed because of this killing, which is sort of the opposite reaction that I think is necessary,” Cohen said.
In addition, some people have lost their jobs due to comments pertaining to Kirk’s assassination and other political ideologies, Roberts said.
Though there are complications, students should continue conversations and encourage free speech, Polarek said.
“There have been numerous instances of political violence in our country, especially over the last couple of years,” Polarek said. “I hope that we can use this as an opportunity to become more unified and to learn how to disagree without it being dangerous.”
Soenksen said free speech is a cornerstone of democracy and the most important of the Constitutional amendments, to which he referenced Benjamin Franklin: “Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech.”
Landon Shackelford contributed to this report.
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.
Some professors at JMU encourage deliberative political conversations and civic education. Landon Shackelford / The Breeze
‘This reeks of a lack of creativity’: AI-generated social media content has sparked controversy
By JACIN GARNICA
contributing writer
The debate on the ethics of artificial intelligence (AI) has increased on college campuses over the past two years. Over the summer, it reached JMU when the advising department released a series of AI-generated images depicting Duke Dog as a student in his first week at JMU, joining several other university accounts, including UREC’s.
The images included Duke Dog moving into his dorm, walking on the Quad, exercising at UREC, eating lunch with James Madison and talking with his adviser — all completely composed by AI, as labeled on the post.
This post led to backlash from students. One Instagram account, @jmu_sac, Students Against Clankers (SAC), made a post titled “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, calling out @jmuadvising.”
In this post, the person described the art as “soulless” and wrote, “This reeks of a lack of creativity.”
The account then noted JMU has many students enrolled in the School of Art, Design and Art History (SADAH), adding that “not one of them was commissioned for their work,” and “JMU Advising CAN do better and SHOULD do better.”
“The purpose of the post is to inform and engage our students,” director of University Advising Marquis McGee said.
A majority of the criticism from SAC about using AI instead of commissioning a student artist isn’t entirely accurate, because JMU has worked with students in art or media programs in the past, McGee said.
“It wasn’t enough work for them to do … We have a limited budget for student staff, and most of that funding goes towards hiring and training our Madison Advising Peers,” McGee said.
Advising has no plans of using AI imagery until it has a better understanding of AI and how to properly use it, McGee said.
“It was a moment where we were educated as a department about the proper protocol if you want to post AI images in the future,” McGee said.
“Our school is currently working on understanding AI as well as developing policies and guidelines related to it this semester,” MiKyoung Lee, director of SADAH, said.
The Students Against Clankers Instagram account
The SAC Instagram account, with more than 780 followers, confirmed in a written interview with The Breeze that it was a single JMU student who was inspired by their dislike of “AI and robots emulating humans in any way.”
The student wouldn’t disclose their identity during the interview.
“This account is a way for me to express my frustrations in an exaggerated and unserious manner,” they added.
They defined a “clanker” to be “the personification of a robot,” and in a message intended for any JMU students or faculty considering using AI, they said, “don’t outsource your creativity, cultivate it.”
Recently, this account changed its username to @jmu_ campusevents, or JMU Events, and deleted its post calling out JMU Advising.
In a follow-up message with them, they said, “the account is ultimately a point of self-expression for me … I have no loyalty to running this account one way or keeping anything the same … who knows what it’ll be next.”
CONTACT Jacin Garnica at garnicja@dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
JMU Instagram accounts have used AI when making social media posts. Photo illustration by Annabel Dewey / The Breeze
DoD name change may impact JMU’s ROTC program
By SARAH TEWODROS contributing writer
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Sept. 5 changing the name of the Pentagon’s Department of Defense agency to the Department of War as its secondary title, according to the official White House website. This change may impact JMU’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program as the missions and goals of the military will likely shift from merely defending to fighting and winning.
This Cabinet-level agency was originally named the Department of War prior to 1949, before the National Military Establishment renamed it after World War II, according to the Office of the Secretary of Defense Pentagon history webpage.
This shift emphasized the nation’s decision to focus on its defensive capabilities and to unify the U.S. military branches, according to a History.com article.
Seventy-six years later, the reintroduction of “War” to the agency’s title has initiated conversations about the image of the United States military. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says that the department plans to become a more offensive force.
JMU’s ROTC program prepares students for roles in the U.S. military, as stated in the JMU Army ROTC webpage, and this decision is prompting reflection on how this name change could alter the way military is perceived by framing it as a combative force. ROTC members have already been briefly informed of the name change.
“We have intel drops each week, it is basically a summary of the week and just big things that have changed,” sophomore international affairs student and ROTC
member Kiera Latta said.
She said this rebrand may impact the demographic of students who join ROTC, potentially generating more interest in direct combat rather than support-based positions. Latta added that this shift could broaden the appeal of the program to those previously uninterested in ROTC.
“I think that people who want to join the military who may not because they’re just going to be sitting on a base for majority of their deployment, I think those are the people who will start joining, because they’ll
think that they will actually be put to use,” she said.
Rhetorical choices can influence and shape perception and how the public understands them, sophomore political science major Leila Morshed said, adding that the shift from “defense” to “war” may alter the tone of the military and ties this rebrand to the broader political climate.
“It definitely reflects the sort of shift we’ve seen towards right-wing politics recently,” Morshed said, “but I don’t know if this is a sustainable or permanent change.”
Morshed said there’s a different implication between defense and war, which could affect people’s perceptions of the military and ROTC program.
“It could reflect a spike in those who decide to join ROTC,” Morshed said. “The word itself forecasts a spike in militarism, not so much in defense but in war.”
This potential spike could also change JMU’s recruitment within the program, Morshed said.
“I think it might cause a little bit of confusion in terms of what people can expect from a career in the military,” sophomore intelligence analysis major and ROTC member Clara Crawford said.
She pointed out this change could appeal to those motivated by the prospect of war while deterring others. With recent media coverage of the military and the National Guard, she said this rhetoric shift and imagery may cause a reluctance to join.
Despite the name change, the overall expectations for students in ROTC have remained relatively the same, Crawford said.
“There’s always been an expectation of being deployed and having that potentially offensive role, so maybe that aspect will be more highlighted,” Crawford said. “But it’s nothing new, so it’s not too drastic of a change.”
CONTACT Sarah Tewodros at tewodrsx@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
The now-Department of War’s name change initiated conversations about the military’s image. Landon Shackelford / The Breeze
SGA allocates roughly $5,000 to Women in Technology club, appoints representative to the city council
By EMMA BROWN contributing writer
The Student Government Association (SGA) approved both a roughly $5,000 program grant for the Women in Technology club and a nom ination for its student representative to the Harrisonburg City Coun cil during its regular Tuesday meeting.
The SGA first unanimously approved a program grant request of $4,725.51 toward the Women in Technology club’s Nov. 1 Dukes Inspiring Girls Into Technology Across Limits (DIGITAL) event.
The club’s faculty adviser, assistant professor Zhuojun Duan, as well as club members junior Ellona Macmillan, junior Vicki Poku and senior Karalynn Yoder represented the group.
The event will provide technical workshops taught by JMU students to high schoolers on topics including augmented reality, cybersecurity, micro-bits, programming and the ethics of ChatGPT.
The workshops will be complemented by a keynote speaker in technology, who has yet to be announced, plus a student and alumni panel. This event is a collaboration with the computer science department and will be held in King Hall.
“In the past two years, I have been given the opportunity to volunteer at DIGITAL,” Yoder said. “I was able to see [girls] start getting engaged, getting excited, asking questions. They wanted to go beyond what
we prepared for them and add their own ideas to the project. And that’s exactly what DIGITAL is designed to inspire.”
The club has various fundraisers planned for this fall to supplement the program grant. It’ll host a button sale, a merchandise sale and a Chipotle fundraiser. The program grant will go toward food costs and supplies, the presenters said.
The event’s purpose is “to inspire and empower high school students — particularly young women — to explore computing and technology through i mmersive, hands-on experiences,” according to the organization’s presentation slides.
After approving the program grant, the SGA unanimously approved sophomore Isabel Deer as the student representative to the Harrisonburg City Council. As the representative, she will attend city council meetings on behalf of JMU students and advocate for their interests.
“Isabel is so unbelievably passionate about SGA and has so much potential as a leader, especially in that role,” senior and SGA Membership Chair Ella Stotzky said.
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.
EDITORS EMAIL
Isabel Lewis & Charlie Bodenstein thebreezeculture@gmail.com
Review | Shakespeare meets punk rock in ‘Romeo & Juliet’
By AUDREY FLETCHER contributing writer
Everyone knows the classic Shakespearean tragedy of starcrossed lovers Romeo and Juliet, but what happens when it takes on a rock ’n’ roll twist?
Having ran from Sept. 10-13, students from the JMU Stratford Player’s drama club held performances each night in the Studio Theatre at the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts.
Opening night, before the start of the performance, student director Amy Jo Lee addressed the crowd with a message advocating for suicide prevention and said the first performance of the show was specifically chosen to take place during suicide prevention month, week and day to raise awareness. The back of the show’s program provided a QR code with mental health resources.
The punk rock theming could be seen throughout the show, from the set design meant to resemble a nightclub — “Club Verona,” with graffiti spray-painted along the floor and walls — to the costumes and makeup; many actors wore graphic band tees, leather jackets and heavy eye makeup. At the same time, other than references to smoking and drug use, very little of the plot and script itself was changed to fit the modern theme. Because of its adherence to the original, the production had quite a long run time. Due to the nature of a Shakespeare play, some scenes felt as though they dragged on or were tedious compared to others. Still, there was a great deal of humor used to lighten the mood of what would normally be a fairly dark and serious tone.
One of the show’s most unique aspects was the stage’s configuration, which was on the same level as the audience, whose seating was arranged to be a thrust stage — that features the stage extending out to the spectators who surrounded it on three sides.
It also featured a loft, which actors could access by ladder or stairs, creating distance and opportunities for actors to interact with one another from both levels.
With the backstage located opposite the stage, actors often entered through the aisles between rows, allowing the performers many opportunities to pause and interact with audience members or perform directly beside them. However, this did mean that during some scenes, it was difficult for some audience members to see the main storyline because background characters blocked their view.
Because the audience was so close to the action and so much was going on in the background, it could be challenging at times to follow the storyline. Overlooking these minor issues, the overall production — from the music and lighting to costumes and props which all helped enhance the punk rock theme — made for a captivating performance.
The immersiveness was also exemplified by the presence of a live band, whose original music, created by senior Christopher Hall, could be heard throughout the play.
This unique incorporation would provide additional context and help clue the audience in about what was occurring in the story. For example, when a character died, a loud bell sound would ring out to signify their death. Or, exhilterating metal music would play during a fight scene.
While all the performers were very impressive and entertaining to watch, a few stood out in both talent and crowd
engagement. Sophomore Kal Collins, who played Romeo, was among them. His loud and humorous personality, coupled with his witty sarcasm and deep emotions, created a new, edgy take on the classic character.
Sophomore Jordyn Kinard, however, was by far the audience’s favorite performer, with her double-casting of both Mercutio and Paris, who had two vastly different personalities.
During the first half of the play, Kinard’s performance as the intoxicated Mercutio — who wore intensely dark eyes with heavy eyeliner and edgy clothing — was constantly making crude jokes and innuendos or barely able to stand on their feet. Kinard stole the show whenever she was on stage. Contrastingly, her portrayal of the shy, almost nerdy Paris couldn’t have been more different. Not only was the rockstar makeup and ensemble replaced with a suit and tie that was too big to fit her, but the high-pitched, nasally voiced Kinard used to enhance the performance had the entire audience erupting in laughter multiple times, even causing her to break character. While this modern rendition of a cultural classic might not have been the most traditional or easiest rendition to follow, it was certainly a new and exciting take on one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays.
CONTACT Audrey Fletcher at fletc2am@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.
Despite the punk rock theme, the play’s script remained relatively unchanged from the original play.
Sophomore Kal Collins (right) played Romeo. Photos courtesy of Ryan Michalowicz
Whisker withdrawal
How Dukes are making furry connections away from home
By BELLA ARIST contributing writer
As college students settle down into their new living spaces, many face homesickness — not just from their family or friends. Students may miss the comfort and unconditional love given by their pets back home. The emotional gap is difficult, but there are ways to help ease that feeling.
“I knew I was going to miss my pets, but I didn’t know it was going to be this bad,” freshman nursing major Sophie Deibler said.
Deibler has a 4-year-old yellow Labrador named Izzy and a recently-adopted 5-monthold chocolate Labrador named Roo.
“I will miss seeing [Roo] grow up. The next time I see her, she will be so different, and not being able to watch her as a puppy makes me really upset,” Deibler said.
Deibler video calls her mom every day, but sometimes just calls to see her dogs.
“I have a bunch of pictures I look at and also took videos before I left, so it can feel like I am always with my dogs,” she said.
If she sees a dog on campus, she will always pet them, Deibler said.
“My advice to anyone missing their pets at home is to go somewhere on campus where you can get the same type of animal love and soak it up,” she said.
Puppy City is an accessible adoption center that welcomes visitors to play with any puppy for free. Puppy City employee Amanda Whitman has been working in Harrisonburg for nearly four years. She takes care of the puppies and the floors as customers come to play.
“Everybody comes in because what is better than puppy therapy?” Whitman said. “Sometimes people will come in and just be like ‘I had a really bad day’ and anyone else who needs an extra snuggle will come here.”
Whitman says it’s about 50/50 regarding people coming in to just play with the puppies or adopt.
“A lot of families have kids and are looking to add a member. I personally think it’s important for your kids to mesh with the dog’s personality,” Whitman said. “As much as you pick a dog, the dog also picks you.”
Along with Puppy City, Harrisonburg and JMU have other resources for pet-loving students. Downtown, there is Cat’s Cradle, which offers the company of cats while customers enjoy a cup of coffee, and Aristocat Cafe — providing snacks, tea, coffee and cats. The Counseling Center also has therapy dogs available for student comfort.
For most college students, being away from the physical comfort of their pets is a significant challenge.
“Personally, for me, the touch of a dog improves my mental health. A dog’s love is so endless and comforting, being with puppies is such a boost of serotonin because all they want to do is love, play and snuggle,” Whitman said.
Any student who is missing their pet can go to Puppy City for free to play with the dogs.
“There are always dogs here that need love and care, just like humans. Always feel welcome to come in if you’re looking for some TLC or some puppy cuddles; that is exactly what we love,” Whitman said.
For many students, the presence of other dogs around campus offers a comforting feeling of home.
“I extremely miss my dog every day, and that feeling is hard to adjust to here at college,” sophomore music industry major Matthew Chandler said.
He has a 4-year-old Australian shepherd named Sammy. When Chandler misses her, he will look at pictures he took while he was home.
“When I see other dogs on campus, I don’t go up and pet them because I am too afraid,” Chandler said. “I like to look at them, but since it is not my dog, I am not comfortable enough going up to pet them.”
Like Deibler, Chandler will also FaceTime his mom just to see his dog.
“Although not having my dog here affects my mental health negatively, it is manageable and doesn’t disrupt my daily life,” Chandler said.
CONTACT Bella Arist at aristai@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.
Aristocat Cafe partners with the Humane Society of Shenandoah County to foster cats. Breeze file photo
Cat’s Cradle, another cat shelter and cafe, is located in Downtown Harrisonburg. Breeze file photo
Some JMU students will video-call their parents just to see their pets at home. Breeze file photo
Students can go to Puppy City to pet dogs for free. Annabel Dewey / The Breeze
All aboard or all annoyed?
The
on-campus train tracks may relocate
By BELLA ARIST contributing writer
The trains that run through campus are a familiar sight and sound to students, sometimes causing delays for cars, buses, bikers or people walking around. Where are these trains going? Will they be relocated off campus? Here’s some information about the train line and a dive into students’ thoughts.
Two sets of Norfolk Southern tracks are located on JMU’s campus. One set of tracks runs between Chesapeake Parking Deck and the University Services Building, while the other is near the JMU Bookstore and Bridgeforth Stadium.
This train line started in 1827. Today, Norfolk operates in 22 states with connections across the globe.
“Norfolk Southern stands ready to help customers find rail-served property, or property near rail, to expand their business and build for the future. We offer an unmatched network of sites and the expertise to serve customers from the first to last mile,” according to Norfolk Southern’s website.
“The train that runs through our campus has made me late to class so many times, and it makes me very frustrated,” junior finance major Jacob Seeley said.
Seeley lives in his fraternity, Sigma Nu’s, which is located near one of the tracks. He said it wakes him up every morning.
“The spot on campus that the train disrupts the most is the one near Grace Street Apartments because of the people like me who park in that parking deck,” Seeley said.
Seeley would support the process of rerouting the tracks to move them off campus. He added, “it is very unnecessary and more of an annoyance than anything.”
Freshman health sciences major Isabelle Manning said she wouldn’t want these tracks to be relocated.
“I read in one of the museums that one of the reasons JMU was built here is because it was close to the tracks. Having them here adds history to our school and it is also cool to watch them go by,” Manning said.
Students have mixed opinions about the train that runs through campus. There is potential for the relocation of the tracks, moving them off campus.
“The City of Harrisonburg has been awarded up to $240,000 in federal funding to study the potential relocation of Norfolk
We repair instruments
Southern rail lines,” according to the Harrisonburg Rockingham Metropolitan Planning Organization (HRMPO).
There are two tracks which run through main campus. Photos by Jack O’Dea / The Breeze
Brenna Faye
The new planning study will look into alternatives for relocating the rail line that currently intersects multiple crowded areas throughout Harrisonburg.
“The project aims to eliminate 10 highway-rail crossings and nine pathway-rail crossings in densely populated areas, significantly enhancing safety for vehicles and pedestrians while improving traffic flow,” the HRMPO website said.
If this study goes beyond potential plans, it will affect JMU students’ daily walks or drives to class. Relocating the tracks to somewhere less populated would cause less traffic and stress.
“I live in the Village (an on-campus residential complex near the tracks), so I hear the train at least once a day, which is very annoying,” freshman justice studies major Mason Bloxsom said.
Bloxsom said the spot on campus that this affects the most is the track near the JMU Bookstore. There’s often a crowd that builds up from students trying to get to their classes on the Quad.
“Sometimes I have the urge to jump over the signal crossing just so I can miss the train because it takes so long for it to go by,” Seeley said. “ I don’t even watch it pass anymore, since I have gotten so used to seeing it.”
CONTACT Bella Arist at aristai@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.
tracks are a common cause of tardiness in classrooms.
The City of Harrisonburg has received $240,000 of federal funding to explore relocating the train tracks.
EDITORS Preston Comer & Gavin Avella EMAIL breezesports@gmail.com
Battle of Blue Ridge SPORTS
Preview | JMU football set to take on Liberty and renew in-state rivalry
By PRESTON COMER & TYLER CHINN The Breeze
In what’s been over a decade since playing each other in the first round of the FCS playoffs in 2014, JMU (1-1) is headed down I-81 to Lynchburg to take on Liberty (1-2) on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
The Dukes are looking to flip the script from the last time they played the Flames, which resulted in a 26-21 loss back when both teams were still at the FCS level.
Fans might be familiar with some of the names around Liberty’s roster, with its head coach Jamey Chadwell coming over from Sun Belt foe Coastal Carolina two seasons ago. Another recognizable name is redshirt junior quarterback Ethan Vasko, who hopped ship with Chadwell from Coastal. Through three games, Vasko has thrown for 726 yards through the air along with six touchdowns. Chesney offered some praise to the quarterback in the press conference leading up to the matchup, and said Vasko is a “tough” competitor.
JMU defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler said Vasko is like “a fullback with the ball but has half back speed.”
“We’ve just got to be aware of his skillset and all of the things he brings to the table,” Hitschler said.
Chesney said the Flames have one of the best pass defenses in the country, and they emphasize the length of their defensive backs. Liberty has allowed an average of just 110 passing yards per game this season.
“They play an aggressive style of ball, and then they mix it up quite a bit,” Chesney said. “They’ll be in three-down, they’ll be in four-down, they’ll blitz the free safety.”
Chesney also said that Liberty’s aggression can cost it missed gaps, but regardless, the Flames will send a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Heading into the matchup, the Flames are currently giving up an average of 226 rushing yards per game. The Dukes have
rushed for 494 yards so far this season, averaging 4.8 yards per attempt.
Junior running back Wayne Knight said this will be a “huge” test for the Dukes to yield success. But depth in the running back room is something JMU can rely on.
“Being able to have this kind of depth is going to be huge for us moving forward, especially when we get into conference games later in the season,” Knight said.
JMU offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy said both redshirt junior quarterback Alonza Barnett III and redshirt senior quarterback Matthew Sluka have to be prepared in order to win.
“We’re all out here collectively to win the football game,” Kennedy said. “There’s so much stress that’s put into this team game.”
Kennedy said after reflecting on and watching film from JMU’s loss to Louisville, the biggest thing he learned about his two-quarterback system is allowing both to “play confident.”
“The big thing is putting them in a position to be confident,” Kennedy said. “If you look at [Louisville], it was hard in that specific game to do that with them. Making sure people get into a flow is probably the best way to describe it.”
Chesney said playing on the road against Louisville could help for a possible raucous crowd at Williams Stadium.
“You know you’re going to walk into a pretty hostile environment,” Chesney said. “And I think the one we just played in helps prepare you for that, we’re hoping it has a ton of energy and we’ll be excited about that opportunity.”
CONTACT Preston Comer at breezesports@gmail. com and Tyler Chinn at chinntc@dukes.jmu.edu. For more football coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.
Saturday, JMU football will face Liberty for the first time since the 2014 FCS playoffs. Photos by Caden Burch / The Breeze
Redshirt junior Wayne Knight is the only JMU running back with a touchdown this season.
Preview | JMU men’s soccer gears up for Sun Belt play amid rough start
By LUKE FAIRCLOTH The Breeze
After two consecutive seasons of national recognition and winning records, JMU men’s soccer appears to be entering a rebuilding year after losing three of its top four point scorers through graduation and the NCAA transfer portal.
JMU’s 2025 recruiting class was ranked No. 27 nationally, and the Dukes were picked to finish sixth in a poll of the Sun Belt’s 10 head coaches.
However, the beginning of the season hasn’t matched the preseason expectations set for JMU. Through five games, the Dukes’ offense has managed just one goal — while allowing 10 — en route to a 0-4-1 record.
Despite the slow start, JMU junior midfielder Jeffrey Aguilar — one of the few returnees from last year’s team — still feels confident moving forward.
“Everyone individually is a good player,” Aguilar said. “We’re going through a building process right now with new faces and personnel, and we’re slowly getting to where we want to be, and things are starting to click.”
Leading JMU this season is eighth-year head coach Paul Zazenski, a rare marker of stability in an era of NCAA sports defined by constant change.
“My staff and I have had a lot of continuity and stability,” Zazenski said. “We know what we like and we know how to run a program.”
After struggling mightily on defense against Rutgers and Georgetown, JMU took some positive steps in its most recent game against Liberty, shutting out the Flames. However, the Dukes’ struggles on offense persisted, which led to a 0-0 tie.
To compete in the Sun Belt, JMU will need to continue to showcase a strong defense, as the conference perennially produces national championship contenders.
“The players and our staff definitely enjoy the Sun Belt,” Zazenski said. “The conference gives you plenty of exposure and big game moments against some teams that are national powerhouses.”
Chasing the crown
No. 10 Marshall — a national finalist in 2024 — looks to be the team to beat this year. Marshall landed eight-of-10 firstplace votes in the Sun Belt coaches’ poll and has looked the part on offense through five games, scoring multiple goals in four of those games. However, Marshall’s defense has been significantly worse than anticipated, allowing multiple goals in three of its five games, producing an unexpected 2-0-3 record.
Meanwhile, No. 15 West Virginia, the defending Sun Belt Conference champions, has been off to a hot start. It scored 17 goals through six games, with its only loss coming 1-0 to Gardner Webb — a team that also beat JMU by the same score in the Dukes’ second game of the season.
The Mountaineers’ prolific offense is led by junior forward Pablo Pozos, a transfer portal addition from Wingate University. In 2024 at Wingate, Pozos scored nine goals in 15 games. In 2025, Pozos took his game to the next level, averaging a goal per game, leading West Virginia in scoring.
Rounding out the conference’s top contenders is No. 18 Kentucky, which remains unbeaten through five games at 3-02. Kentucky’s defense has been the story of the team so far, putting together three shutouts and allowing just two goals so far this season.
Firmly in the hunt
UCF entered last year’s Sun Belt Tournament as the No. 3 seed but was stunned in the first round by No. 6 JMU. This year, preseason expectations were high for the Golden Knights, ranked as the third-best team in the conference in the preseason poll, thanks to a strong crop of returning players and a sizable group of newcomers.
However, the Golden Knights have fallen short of those lofty predictions through their first handful of games, allowing 11 goals in their first four games, before seemingly getting it together in their previous two, landing on a 2-3-1 record heading into their first conference game.
In contrast, South Carolina looks ready to compete this year after unofficially marking the end of its rebuild in 2024. The Gamecocks started slow, going 1-2 — including a 4-1 loss to No. 2 Clemson. Despite that, South Carolina has since ripped off four straight wins, capped off by a comeback 2-1 win over No. 11 UNC Greensboro. The Gamecocks are
getting hot at the right time and are ready to contend in a conference of heavyweights.
Caught in the middle
Since joining the Sun Belt in 2022, ODU has posted a losing record every season, but it still has been a competitive team, as evidenced by its two one-goal losses to Marshall and a 1-0 loss to West Virginia last season. Make no mistake, ODU isn’t a pushover, despite what its record may say. During 2025, it’s been more of the same out of the Monarchs, who have posted a 2-2-2 record through six games.
Georgia Southern, coming off a 2-5-2 Sun Belt record in 2024, hasn’t lost yet this year, albeit against a weaker schedule. Predicted to finish eighth in the conference this year, the Eagles could sneak up on some of the top teams if they can continue to perform on defense in conference games.
Fighting an uphill battle
At the bottom of the conference sits the same two teams as in 2024: Georgia State and Coastal Carolina. Both teams were expected to be bottom feeders heading into the season and have reflected that with their play so far, both only managing to win one game, both over 0-5 Winthrop.
Coastal Carolina’s situation seems especially bad, as they ride a three-game losing streak into a date with No. 10 Marshall in its first conference game on Friday. Georgia State, by contrast, has been more competitive, managing two ties.
However, these teams should remain competitive in 2025. In fact, both tied with Marshall in 2024, and Georgia State beat JMU 1-0 in the Dukes’ penultimate regular season game.
“We feel really confident in our players and our team,” said JMU sophomore forward Diego Ossa, the author of JMU’s lone goal this season. “I think we’re ready to perform the way we need and the way we all want. We’re in very good shape right now.”
CONTACT Luke Faircloth at faircllr@dukes.jmu.edu. For more men’s soccer coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.
JMU men’s soccer opened the season 0-4-1 and will look to bounce back in conference play.
Sophomore forward Diego Ossa has the Dukes’ only goal of the season. Photos by Annabel Dewey / The Breeze
Dukes’ defensive anchor
Molly Schreiner leads JMU field hockey’s defense to strong start
By LIBBY MERCER contributing writer
JMU field hockey has found a groove in playing with a strong defense led by redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Molly Schreiner, bringing them to 4-3 on the season.
Schreiner achieved a career high of 11 saves against Stanford on Aug. 31. This record number of saves broke her 10-save game last season against Cal.
“I felt a lot more calm in the Stanford game,” Schreiner said. “[Stanford was] coming at me a lot, but I felt like I could still organize and remain composed with my defense.”
Both games were losses for the Dukes, but strongly played by Schreiner’s defense.
Not only have Schreiner’s 11 saves been a highlight this season, but assistant coach Ethan Larsen said her twostroke saves against Villanova and Richmond are “pretty unheard of for a goalkeeper.”
Schreiner started her field hockey career in eighth grade as a player in the field since there were too many goalies.
“I wanted to be a field hockey goalie, but they told me that there were too many goalies, so I couldn’t play,” Schreiner said, “so I played on the field and wasn’t very good.”
Schreiner followed in her cousin’s footsteps when deciding to commit to JMU, but was also drawn in by the culture.
“[The coaches] make you feel like home and like you’re a part of something, and the culture is like no other place,” Schreiner said. “I think that’s what drew me in.”
Head coach Christy Morgan described Schreiner as a “director” in the back.
“It’s nice to know that you’ve got security in the backfield,” Morgan said. “I think what creates her greatness is her early awareness. She knows the angle of the shot [and how to] make split-second decisions.”
Last season, Schreiner was named to the 2024 All-MAC Freshman Team and was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 15. Schreiner earned that title for her three saves and for facing 11 penalty corners in the 3-0 game against Kent State, while also finishing out her freshman season with a total of 41 saves. Even with her impressive stats, Schreiner feels as though this year she’s more confident.
While Schreiner stays solid in the back, the entire team works to help her defense.
“In the past, it’s always been go, go, go forward,” junior midfielder Ava Drexler-Amey said. “But we’ve definitely taken a step backwards to really establish strong defense, not even just in the back but throughout the entire field within each line.”
Senior midfielder Skyler Brown said even when she’s tired, she wants to “get back to help Molly.”
The heart of the Dukes’ defensive successes, however, is built in their bond and teamwork.
“When we say we work as a team, I think it comes with uplifting one another, cheering on every small success and big success, really just keeping that energy high,” Drexler-Amey said. “Which is what I feel like makes us such a family bond out there, and we use it to perform our best.”
CONTACT Libby Mercer at mercerlm@dukes.jmu.edu. For more field hockey coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.
Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Molly Schreiner recorded a career-high 11 saves against Stanford on Aug. 31. Sierra Stockman / The Breeze
OPINION
EDITOR EMAIL breezeopinion@gmail.com Caroline McKeown
Want to praise someone or get something off your chest? Darts & Pats is the place to do it. Submit your own at breezejmu.org.
A “beautifully-done” pat to The Breeze.
From a faculty member who was very impressed by the quality of the articles by your columists and reporters.
Modern-day weed use isn’t all peace and love
LUTHER COVERT contributing columnist
Over the past few decades or so, the negative connotation of cannabis being “the devil’s lettuce” has started to die down. As many states began legalizing its recreational use, the common stigma associated with weed is that it’s basically harmless compared to other drugs, and its recreational use can actually be beneficial. However, the term “harmless” might not be the best way to describe cannabis use.
Just to clear the air, a plant that makes watching SpongeBob and eating fast food the best two things on planet Earth for a few hours is something that should be experienced by everyone at least once in their lives. Then again, this same plant has evolved into something so potent — and so varied in form — that it sometimes makes this experience not worth it, or not even attainable in the first place.
In 1990, the average THC content in cannabis was around 5%, so a few puffs would most likely make someone mellowed out and giggly, like weed should be.
to develop schizophrenia versus those who haven’t — and that’s from 2008 — it’s only gotten stronger since.
This is where the “harmless” connotation is really questioned because that can’t be said for the countless examples of teens and young adults whose lives are severely affected by the negative cognitive and emotional effects from excessive use of THC products, real or from the gas station. It’s not just “brain fog” or the stereotypical laziness that’s associated with excessive cannabis use. It’s the risk of psychosis, derealization, dissociation and severe depression that’s so common in young adults due to weed becoming so normalized.
This isn’t just strictly going off information online; this is going off my own personal experience. I was one of the many kids who started smoking in high school, and it was some of the most fun I’ve had.
that the feeling of being disconnected from everything around you, exhausted, depressed and anxious didn’t have anything to do with weed.
Eventually, I started to use marijuana less and less, and I began to regain the mental clarity I forgot I used to have. I felt closer to people, less anxious, more productive, less dissociated and less paranoid. It took an extremely long period of not smoking to get back to normal, though, and it really put into perspective how psychoactive weed has gotten; its residual effects impacted me for months on end.
A “twilight-overcast” pat to global warming for this raining, cooler weather.
From a student yearning to wear a sweater.
An “I-still-remember” dart to Ned Fulmer for making a podcast profiting off of him cheating on his wife.
From someone who watched The Try Guys religiously in middle school.
However, thanks to commercial manufacturing and advertising, the average THC in today’s flower is up to 15% to 20%, according to the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB). So now, a few puffs for the average non-smoker have the potential to make them too afraid to leave their bedroom.
And it’s not just the average THC content in cannabis alone being abnormally high compared to a decade or two ago. Other recreational marijuana products that have been manufactured since its legalization, like dab oil, edibles, pens and more, can contain up to 90% THC.
The legalization of weed and THC products also means that the availability increases. Not only can you get it from the dispensary, you can also grow it, sell it and face fewer legal repercussions if caught. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing on paper, there are a few things to consider:
One, you can also get “weed” at the gas station nowadays. Almost every 7-Eleven you walk into has pens and edibles made with “D8,” a lab-made THC product made to be a legal loophole for selling weed legally in nondispensary stores, and yet it’s also not yet approved by the FDA for safe use.
Sneaking out of my friend’s house at 1 a.m. to light a joint on the wrong end, getting convenience store food because it tasted like a Michelin Star establishment under the circumstances and crying laughing at the least funny things imaginable.
It’s what the majority of people my age did, and so when the mental consequences started catching up to me, I ignored them just to keep having a good time. I kept smoking, and kept convincing myself
Weed can indeed be a beneficial drug, and it has proven so by relieving symptoms for Parkinson’s and the side effects of cancer treatment. It can also be a perfectly safe recreational drug under the right conditions, moderation and proper product choice. However, it needs to be known that its use isn’t free of consequences. The bottom line is: It’s fun. It’s useful. It should be legal. But it needs to be watched a little more carefully.
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 “where-do-ourpriorities-lie?” dart to JMU for having free condoms but not free printing.
From a student who is not getting laid and has assignments due.
Two, the kids. Not only does everyone in the neighborhood have a weed plant in their backyard now, making it extremely easy to find someone that’s selling it, it’s also now possible to walk into a gas station with a fake ID and buy a disposable pen with sketchy, chemically produced “THC.” High schoolers with underdeveloped frontal lobes may be one of the prime demographics to rip off when it comes to selling drugs, inside and outside of a convenience store.
A 2008 study found that those who have tried weed by age 18 were 2.4-times as likely
Alya Giavis / The Breeze
The Madison Center for Civic Engagement:
Fostering a healthy campus culture (and democracy) starts with civil conversation
This letter was lightly edited in accordance with Breeze and AP Style.
Every Friday, the Union Ballroom transforms into a loud, crowded space to practice democracy. For six hours, we sit in small groups with hundreds of our fellow first-year students — sometimes hesitant at first, but we almost always find our way into something deeper. Together, we wrestle with wicked questions about how artificial intelligence will shape our future careers, whether our generation has more opportunities than those before us, and what “success” really means. Awkward silences give way to sparks of connection: One of them turns to the person sitting next to them and says, “I hadn’t thought about it that way,” or asks, “Can I ask you more about what you just said?” These are the moments where we practice democracy, not in theory but in real time, through listening, questioning and learning across differences. It’s magical, and our campus should do more of it.
As democracy fellows at the Madison Center for Civic Engagement, we are committed to fostering a campus culture for our peers where proactive dialogue and deliberation across differences isn’t just possible, it’s expected. We come from different majors, backgrounds and political perspectives, but we share a common belief: Dialogue across differences is not only possible, it’s vital. We take this responsibility seriously, facilitating conversations with our peers about the issues that matter most through the Better Conversations Together program. We know the awkward silences that come from wanting to share a view but not sure how it’ll be received, the personal breakthroughs that come from the courage it takes to speak honestly and the humility it takes to truly listen. And when each person at the table reveals their political view at the end of the conversation, you can see people rethinking their assumptions about whether we are truly as divided as
it seems. It also reminds us that democracy is sustained not by agreement, but by the ability to engage with each other with respect, openness and trust.
This work of facilitating free speech has been hard. For every student who leans in and takes seriously the work of deliberating, listening and talking across differences, there are others who are fatalistic that any conversation can have an impact, others who say they hate politics and some who are downright mean to us. We do this work not only because we come from different perspectives but because we are brought together by the idea that better conversations truly bring students together. Being able to connect through facilitation, but also bring students together across divides, is a testament not only to the work of the Madison Center but also to the culture we all share as Dukes. We hold open doors not just for those we agree with, but for everyone.
In the wake of the Charlie Kirk shooting at Utah Valley University, we recognize the need to remain steadfast to our commitment to democracy and civic discourse across divides. We must create spaces for students to feel safe to disagree honestly and productively with each other. That’s why Better Conversations Together is designed and facilitated by students for students. This peer-to-peer engagement is important for students to feel understood, valued and heard when sharing their perspectives. It’s imperative that college campuses not only be safe spaces for the exchange of ideas, but also protected spaces for the rights and beliefs of students. We, as Democracy Fellows, strive to uphold these values every day and work to support students across our divides.
On Sept. 29, we’ll be facilitating conversations while having dinner in the Festival Ballroom. Now more than ever we need to talk — and we’re here to help make that happen. And the peanut butter pie is on us!
Signed, Ella Crangle, Brady Dunn, Kieran Fensterwald, Bubuney Havi, Reagan Polarek, Alexia Politis, Ella Stotzky, Christian Souders, Annika Thompson, Caden VanValkenburg, Caroline Woodson
Better Conversations Together is one of the Madison Center’s programs to encourage civil discourse. Breeze file photo
S EAT DOMINO’S DUKES DUKES
DOMINO
The Breeze
Editorial Staff
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Eleanor Shaw breezeeditor@gmail.com
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OPINION EDITOR Caroline McKeown breezeopinion@gmail.com
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(9/11/25): The online article on Furious Flower Poetry Center has been updated with clarifications regarding the center’s new location in Carrier Library and its funding sources.
Sabrina Carpenter
Sombr Wallows
Mac Miller
Thug and Gunna
Submit your answers on our weekly Instagram poll @BreezeJMU!
by Patti Varol
By Freddie Cheng
MADISON MARKETPLACE
Madison Marketplace is open for business, and all text-only listings are FREE ! Post job listings, announcements, rentals and more using our online placement tool. Ads run two weeks online and in two print editions.
HOUSING SERVICES
JMU Student Housing at Copper Beach
4 bedroom/4.5 Bath Location: Copper Beech, 1.7 miles to campus $830/month, first month rent FREE, co-ed (JMU students)
Newly renovated and fully furnished! Includes: Deck, in-house laundry, parking, and more. Popular community! Interested or know someone who is? Please contact cb.studenthousing@gmail.com and reference The Breeze Ad.
Apartment for Rent
Two Bedrooms, partially furnished, shared bathroom and kitchen private sink and vanity in each bedroom. May be shared by two people. Both required to sign lease. Electric, gas and water included. TV and internet available. 10 miles North of Harrisonburg. Lease and security deposit required $1,300. Call 540746-7445
ITEMS FOR SALE
2015 Hyundai Accent Sport
4DR Hatchback black, 82,350 miles $7950
2015 Hyundai Accent Sport 4DR Hatchback black, 82,350 miles beautiful maintained per schedule, garaged, steam cleaned engine, waxed often. Market price sells priced $9759 with 120K miles is average. KBB Valued $8600. Priced $7950 well below average with less miles beats all offers. Reliable college transportation see Autotrader.com
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
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
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.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Missing Giraffe! Please Help!
This large concrete giraffe yard ornament was stolen from an elderly resident Aug. 22 on Port Hills Drive. It is a very sentimental gift and is 40 inches high. Please return to 1588 Port Hills Drive No questions asked. If you have seen it please call Andy at 757-592-2888
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.
JOB
