The Breeze 4.30.26

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THIS ISSUE

EDITORS Charlie Bodenstein & Emma Brown EMAIL breezenews@gmail.com

City Council postpones The Link rezoning vote to June 23

By EMMA NOTARNICOLA

The Breeze

Harrisonburg City Council unanimously delayed the B1C central business district voting request that would change the Lindsay Funeral Property from R3 — residential district — to allow for the construction of The Link, a sixstory apartment complex, until June 23.

This vote further delayed the decision after it was initially posponed for eight months to allow the developers of The Link to alter building plans to address constituents’ concerns. Though this time, this request was not pushed back to the Planning Commission.

“The Link represents the first large new building downtown in over a decade and the largest economic investment ever made in Downtown,” local land-use attorney and The Link representative Todd Rhea said during public comment. “Council’s decision is going to send an unmistakable signal for the city’s efforts to attract capital and investment to your Downtown without the expenditure of public dollars and incentives.”

Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed and councilwoman Monica Robinson acknowledged the need for housing but said currently there are still too many “red flags” and unanswered questions to support this project.

“We can’t turn back the hands of time and say, ‘Okay, let’s start over. Let’s fix that. Or why don’t we think about that?’” Robinson said. “If I voted tonight, I don’t even think ‘no’ might be in the best interest. I just think that it’s not done.”

This sentiment was echoed by the other council members, who, though they acknowledged the

risks of continuing to push the development, ultimately decided the unanswered questions outweighed the benefits and the best option was to push the vote.

The past 8 months

For months, the Friendly City has been split on the rezoning. Many residents pushed against the building due to potential increased traffic, student impact in the area and changes to Downtown infrastructure.

Others supported the project due to a potential increase in engagement with Downtown and more housing opportunities for residents.

After adjustments, the Harrisonburg Planning Commission recommended the proposal — for the second time — to increase housing opportunities and expand Downtown in accordance with its Downtown 2040 revitalization plan.

Changes — referred to as proffers — to the building included limitations to a maximum of 5,000 square feet of commercial space, regulations on apartment types and efforts to increase sustainability.

The proposal also has proffers in design to better match existing Downtown aesthetics and allow for access to the new potential community park. This also includes limitations on the height of the building and rooftop access.

Additionally, The Link’s developers added proffered traffic improvement efforts to mitigate effects on the area as well as 480 parking spaces on the property, reserving 65 for public use.

“Anytime a rezoning is approved, the new zoning district designation, and the proffers are binding on the property,” Deputy Director

of Community Development Thanh Dang said. “If it is approved by the City Council and the property changes hands and is sold to somebody else, that new property owner would have to come back and request a rezoning.”

Regarding apartment type, there’s a proffered maximum of 250 units with a minimum of 110 studio apartments and a maximum of 85 fourbedroom units. Studio apartments can only be leased to families with no more than two unrelated individuals, and for greater units, no more than one related individual per bedroom.

“[The Planning Commission] did express some concerns that we had that this proffer can be overly restrictive, because it could limit the choices for people who are non-students and non-family,” Dang said.

Additionally, The Link’s developers promised $93,738 to the Harrisonburg Affordable Housing Fund to encourage affordable housing in Harrisonburg.

For many residents, however, these changes didn’t meet their needs, Harrisonburg resident Todd Alexander said. He added that over 1,600 residents have signed a petition against The Link.

Alexander said many residents felt they were not fairly represented, even with the changes, adding that despite presenting an alternative proposal, many of their main problems weren’t addressed.

Developers offer new proffers

Further changes were made between the Harrisonburg Planning Commission’s recommendation and the City Council meeting, including an increase in the cash proffer for traffic improvements from $30,000 to $60,000.

This would account for any potential changes needed to address increased congestion in the area and take the burden of future improvements off city funds.

“I think with those funds, we could be robust enough to address any concern that we may see in the surrounding neighborhood from a traffic-calming perspective,” Director of Public Works Tom Hartman said.

This increased funding coincides with the preexisting proffers for an extension through Paul Street, as well as added sidewalks down Liberty Street and other adjoining streets. This extension will affect the Harrisonburg Baptist Church’s parking lot, an agreement that has not yet been made with the Church itself.

“In the future, if this rezoning was approved, we would anticipate that the applicant would be coming in to request for approval of variances or deviations from the subdivision and design and construction standards manual to reduce the street width, among some other design things related to this extension of Paul Street,” Dang said.

An additional proffer was offered regarding operational issues, which will be addressed through a designated local management representative due to concerns with potential management issues.

Student housing

One major concern brought up by the Council and in public discussion is the effect of more students living Downtown.

By JUSTIN BRAUNSTEIN & SARA HELWE PAGET

The Breeze

Students and community members gathered together in the Union Ballroom Monday night to promote social justice and solidarity in Harrisonburg and across the country.

Solidarity Night was hosted by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), a JMU student organization “dedicated to be an active agent in the struggle for a one-state solution and a liberated Palestine,” according to the group’s mission statement.

Around 70 people attended the event, which included zine-making, presentations and tabling by SJP, Harrisonburg-Rockingham Indivisible, Anti-ICE JMU, the Party of Socialism and Liberation, De-Flock Harrisonburg, Mountain Valley Mutual Aid and the Democratic Socialists of America.

Zine-making challenges digital dominance

Amanda K. Gross, an EMU professor, author and anti-racist organizer, began the event by introducing zines, defining them as “a mini magazine with an agenda.”

“Zines are self-published, independently published pamphlets or little booklets and

their own zines at their tables, featuring a variety of topics including mass surveillance, self-determination, a history of capitalism and herbal medicine-making.

“These self-publications can subvert the identities that have been placed on us, reclaim different identities and renegotiate power and identity,” Gross said.

Gross said zines challenge more than one societal structure, highlighting the low-cost and physical nature of zines in an age of digital dominance today.

Gross called for attendees to create their own zines for note-taking at Solidarity Night, providing materials to do so, and use zines in the future as a site for political and cultural intervention.

‘Best Practices for Aspiring Organizers’

SJP presented a “Best Practices for Aspiring Organizers” slideshow next, sharing what it puts at the forefront of the organization and emphasizing a commitment to the process of change.

These practices include a dedication to organizational respect and boundaries and an understanding that organizing is a collective

engineering major Luke Atelsek, spoke about how criticism and self-critism are pivotal parts of organizing and should be part of regular organization maintenance.

“Like cleaning dust before it piles up, regular maintenance keeps the organization on track and focused on serving its mission,” Atelsek said.

Many organizational skills, such as selfconfidence, relationship building and time management overlap with important life skills, sophomore anthropology major Abbie Funk said.

‘Solidarity as Sacrifice’

Organizers of The Party of Socialism and Liberation (PSL), DeAndre Miller and a second unnamed speaker, presented a slideshow titled “Solidarity as Sacrifice” next, breaking solidarity down to two approaches: internal and external.

Miller spoke about an external, or internationalist, approach to solidarity, defining it as the relation of the organization to people outside the organization.

The second speaker described the internal, organizational approach to solidarity, encompassing both how the individual

today are going to become increasingly important as the contradictions of capitalism continue to become more apparent and impactful,” the speaker said.

‘Democracy and Organizing’

Sam Wyse, a member of the Shenandoah Valley chapter of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), and Ethan Funk, a junior art education major and DSA and SJP member, presented a slideshow titled “Democracy and Organizing” next.

Wyse said democracy is vital in organization, adding that companies often have an organized workspace with no sense of democracy.

“Democracy in an organization looks like everyone having a say in what’s happening, everyone being aware of what’s happening,” Wyse said.

Funk spoke of the tenets of democracy being accountability, access to and transparency of organization information, space for deliberation and open debate, and a collective decisionmaking process.

New regulations for sending mass emails

By MAYA PEREZ contributing writer

JMU Communications implemented new regulations for sending mass emails to students and faculty members. This affects not only the university emails sent to each student, but also major organizations, clubs and faculty members that use email as the main communication method about events, weekly updates and other necessary information.

JMU Bulk Email Services provided information about how and who gets to send mass emails, as well as the regulations and criteria for sending a mass email to members of the JMU student body. According to JMU’s official website, students who want to send a bulk email must have a sponsoring faculty member as well as the names and emails of each student they want to send it to. For a student sending a mass email, it can be a lengthy process that involves many regulations, which can be found on JMU’s website.

The website includes information about protocols students must follow, such as a nine-day period in which mass emails must be approved by the Office of Student Affairs or Dukes Weekly — which regulates all emails on JMU campus regarding updates and even job listings on campus — a JMU spokesperson wrote in an emailed statement to The Breeze.

Mass emails will not be sent out through Dukes Weekly for a number of reasons, including if the email contains messages that incite violence, political advocacy and links to forms that aren’t on JMU-approved platforms, according to JMU Bulk Email Services. Along with sending a request for a mass email, students must also have the message in .docx form, with the correct Dukes email address either to or from the sender or recipients. The Reengineering Madison Initiative has been the major voice and change behind the new email regulations, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson stated that Reengineering Madison’s main goal is to “increase readership of communication across the university,” which includes a more concise way of emailing

to avoid having “spam” emails. In an effort to increase readability, the new initiative also includes prohibiting reminder emails, with the exception of research projects, in which one reminder email is allowed, according to Bulk Email Services. Attachments are also prohibited, but students are strongly encouraged to refer to a website for longer information to shorten the length of the bulk email. Information for faculty

and staff will be received through JMU News, an electronic newsletter that is published biweekly, the spokesperson said. For organizations and clubs on campus, student outreach through mass emails has provided new obstacles to get new incoming students to come to an event or information session, Junior and Phi Sigma Pi President Graham Goodall said. Organizations such as Phi Sigma Pi, an honors fraternity, have faced similar problems. Goodall said the new regulations have put them at a disadvantage when trying to get new members and new outreach to students on campus. He added that “a third of the members were brought in through this kind of outreach,” with numbers dwindling significantly due to the new regulations the university implemented with the Reengineering Madison Initiative.

Because of the Reengineering Madison Initiative, there have been significant changes to the readability of mass emails to faculty and students. The new regulations limit the number of mass emails sent out to each student, with the quality of emails being more digestible and productive for information shared. The new regulations have been a difficult transition for students from major organizations trying to get more outreach, Goodall said. However, the university has been transparent about the changes and provides information on websites about the Reengineering Madison Initiative as well as how this will affect students now and in the future.

“JMU is focused on improving student success, strengthening data-informed decision-making, increasing operational efficiency and enhancing how we communicate as a university,” the spokesperson said.

CONTACT Maya Perez at perez3mv@dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.

Iran war causes flight prices to skyrocket at Shenandoah airport

By JUSTIN BRAUNSTEIN The Breeze

As the war in the Middle East persists, the flight industry has taken increased financial hits and struggled to provide customers with reliable service.

Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (SHD) has experienced an increase in its own fuel cost according to Fixed Based Operations (FBO) Manager Chris Botkin. JMU students have also reported an increase in delayed flight times and flight prices.

“I can only imagine that airlines would have to raise prices of tickets [if the war continues],” Botkin said.

On Feb. 28, within just an hour of the United States’ strikes on Iran, the price of jet fuel jumped significantly.

Botkin said the price of jet fuel has increased 35% for SHD and has increased to as high as 85% at other airports. With the continued raises in price for fuel, Botkin expects air traffic to decrease because people will fly less.

The growing tensions have also led to the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, heavily contributing to the increase of airport price expenditure. While the price of jet fuel fluctuates weekly, there has been a general increase in its cost. Botkin said he’d like to see fuel prices go down.

“Immediately after the first strike, we saw a bump in price, and since then, it’s continually gone up,” Botkin said “I even think that $6.50 a gallon for jet fuel is an expense, I can’t imagine what paying $7 or $8 dollars has done to people.”

In addition to the increased costs of flying, Botkin said airlines will try to manage the deficit loss as result of the war in Iran by possibly charging extra for services or items in the airport.

“I have seen some things where airlines are going to start getting creative with other means of recuperating the cost from the war,” Botkin said.

Sophie Zecker, a junior psychology major, said that on her recent trip to Arizona, she paid $50 for her checked bags.

Senior media arts & design (SMAD) major Carson Oleksy said his recent flight to London over spring break was the “most ridiculous flight experience [he’s] ever had.”

Read more online at breezejmu.org

CONTACT Justin Braunstein at braunsjw@dukes. jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU

By JACK FRIEDMAN

The Breeze

JMU College Democrats hosted U.S. House of Representatives candidate Tom Perriello (D) Monday night, where he discussed his campaign and platform and participated in a Q&A session.

Perriello, a Charlottesville native, is running for Congress in Virginia’s new 6th District following a redistricting referendum. Perriello served as a representative in Congress for two years, from 2009-2011.

Previously running and serving in VA05, Perriello is welcoming the opportunity

Tom Perriello visits campus

to run in the new district. “I’m really excited about it,”

Perriello said. “It

is going to be the third youngest district in the whole county.”

“It’s not just an opportunity for us to turn the Blue Ridge blue and give this area some Democratic representation for the first time in a whole generation, but it’s really a chance for young people to have a lot of voice,” Perriello said.

Despite the legal challenges the redistricting is facing, Perriello said he believes that it will stand up. He emphasized that what Virginia did was within the law, in contrast to other states.

“It’s no fun to have your voice taken away in politics,” Perriello said.

Perriello said one way to prevent redistricting is to expand the House of Representatives. He added that it is currently difficult to draw fair districts with how many people each one encompasses.

Perriello said his past experiences in both Sierra Leone, as a peace negotiator, and in Congress taught him that nothing was impossible, relating that back to living in the Trump era.

“When people tell me we just can’t get through the Trump era, I don’t believe that,” Perriello said. “We call Trump reactionary for a reason, which is that he is a reaction to progress.”

Perriello said his No. 1 priority if elected would be to end the war in Iran, if it hasn’t already ended by the time he’s elected, and “restoring the role of Congress” as a check to the power of the executive branch.

Perriello ended his introduction talking about his campaign strategy, which involves listening to the people around him and the people most affected by these issues, and to “then go fight like hell for them.”

Read more online at breezejmu.org

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

Board of Visitors Round up

The JMU Board of Visitors (BoV) approved increased tuition rates and the Madison Promise: JMU 2032 Strategic Plan, acknowledged record highs in donations and detailed plans for further improvement during its final meeting of the academic year.

Here are the key highlights:

• Unanimously approved a 2026-27 tuition increase and a 4.4% university budget increase

• Discussed transition to R1 research university

• Approved revisions to the JMU handbook

• Approved Gen Ed revamp process

• Approved the Madison Promise: JMU 2032 Strategic Plan

• Shared that 5% of university employees are "actively unengaged,” according to a survey

• Approved a graduate certificate program in Sports Coaching

• Discussed integrating AI into classrooms

• Introduced new Student Body President Jessica Abadji and Student Reprensentative to the BoV Gram Sher

• Acknowledged record Giving Day dollars raised, garnering $1.24 million from 3,455 donors Read more online at breezejmu.org

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

2026 SPRING HARNESS RACING

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from SOLIDARITY, page 5

Starbucks Workers United Starbucks Workers United organizers JMU alumnus Michael Hulleman and senior health science major Ethan Jung presented next, sharing their grievances towards Starbucks and how to organize within a community to support a larger social change.

The duo described their experience working at Starbucks, the backlash they received when they tried to unionize and how that drove them to speak out today.

“We want to show that labor unions and solidarity can still be utilized as a massive force to fight for change in our workplaces, and also to enact change in our larger society,” Jung said.

The speakers prompted a conversation with audience members about their experience with collective action, and students shared their own stories of unfair treatment.

Senior psychology major Hana Mahyoub spoke about her experience with JMU administration during the encampment that followed Oct. 6.

Mahyoub mentioned an instance when MSA was denied access to light Wilson Hall the colors of the Palestinian flag, after JMU Hillel had lit Wilson the colors of the Israeli flag, blaming JMU’s public statements about Israel for the prohibition.

“It was not a long conversation and ultimately [Vice President for Student Affairs Tim Miller] ended up saying we are not going to light up Wilson Hall,” Mahyoub said.

‘Roots of Solidarity: What We Owe From Below’

Jonathan McCray, caretaker of Silver Run Forest Farm, finished by presenting a slideshow titled “Roots of Solidarity: What We Owe from Below,” using his background

as an agroforester to explain his view on solidarity through metaphor.

McCray’s metaphor, that solidarity should be like the system of a tree, is first contextualized by the separation of the “above” — any person, group or belief system that’s seen as “better” — and the “below.”

Roots and non-extractive, mutual debt are the vital aspects of this solidarity and are informed by three different root systems, McCray said.

McCray used the term mutual debt to describe a system where people always owe each other, creating a cyclical community of exchange.

“The first [root system] is etymology,” McCray said. “The word solidarity grows from a word that means mutual debt, it means a group of people that mutually hold debt together.”

The second root system is the history of our ecosystem, as solidarity gets clarified when we understand our role in the ecosystem and what we owe in this position, McCray said.

“We’re rooted in that history, our role or our niche, our role in the ecosystem, but also our position in the structure of above and below,” McCray said.

The radical underground system of roots is the final system that solidarity can learn from, McCray said, adding that the origin of the word “radical” comes from the word “root.”

Audience members called out different roles of tree roots which McCray said were all the vital functions of roots: From providing food and water to the tree to holding the tree down. Read more online at breezejmu.org

CONTACT Justin Braunstein at braunsjw@ dukes.jmu.edu & Sara Helwe Paget at pagetsh@dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.

The main issues include parking and traffic impacts, increased student density and the effect of the Campus Master Plan — the planned expansion of on-campus JMU housing passed by the JMU Board of Visitors on Friday.

For parking and traffic, Rhea said the cost of parking, not included in rent, will discourage car ownership, adding that the location of the building between campus and Downtown will increase walkability as well as student engagement with Downtown.

“The project ties JMU to Downtown as a visual waypoint, filling in the current economic and activity dead zone as identified and present in South Downtown,” Rhea said. “The Link would bring a large cohort of residents as potential retail workers and retail customers within easy walking distance of Downtown business establishments."

Council members and residents expressed concerns regarding the impacts the Campus Master Plan will have on future occupancy of The Link.

“[The Link] would be the highest quality housing in the Downtown area, close to campus. It will be the last place that people leave when they move out of student housing off campus,” Rhea said.

Especially as JMU enrollment increases, Rhea said Timberwolf — the Link developers — is not worried about the impacts of increased on-campus student housing, adding that people who aren’t students will still want to live in Downtown regardless.

Harrisonburg residents from all walks of life came to voice their opinions on the rezoning, which, similar to previous meetings, represented a myriad of issues and support for the project.

These comments can be compiled into several categories:

Necessity of increased housing:

Many residents pointed toward the necessity of increased housing for Harrisonburg, especially in central Downtown areas.

One resident, Gary Flory, said this project presents strong opportunities for increased housing that would help mitigate rising rent costs.

“Housing is scarce. Scarcity increases the cost. I find myself paying significant amounts of money to find student housing off campus at the universities that my children attend,” he

said. “But it’s not just the students that are impacted by these housing scarcity and the cost of increasing rent that comes with; it’s everybody that lives in that community and who has a responsibility to pay rent.”

He added that the building will serve as a “catalyst” for increased engagement in Downtown, the economy and the Harrisonburg community overall.

“We are blessed here in Harrisonburg that we have a tremendous diversity of cultures and experiences and people who could come together and learn from each other,” he said. “But we need the spaces to do that. We need a vibrant Downtown — that doesn’t happen by accident.”

However, another resident said that this project would not address the larger issue in Harrisonburg: affordable housing. The resident added that the planned on-campus housing at JMU will provide increased availability of housing for students.

“Do we need low-income housing? Yes, absolutely, but the project doesn’t provide any, and the construction

that’s planned by JMU will result in considerably more trickle-down housing than the proposed project will,” the resident said.

Walkability and Downtown engagement:

JMU senior Ryan Morneau said The Link will increase walkability between Downtown and campus, as well as encourage student engagement in the Downtown area.

“If I were to live in this proposed Link project that’s now a walkable area to Downtown, I thoroughly believe that this would be a very different story, as now food and just the Downtown experience becomes a walk,” Morneau said.

Read more online at breezejmu.org

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

CULTURE

Bella

Arist & Audrey Fletcher

EDITORS EMAIL

Mother and daughter graduate together

By EDISON VRANIAN The Breeze

After one JMU student struggled with her degree path, her mom stepped in to obtain a degree for herself. Now, they bond through college life and plan to walk the graduation stage together.

Juana Hamlett is a master of business administration (MBA) candidate with a concentration in information security, and her daughter, Marissa Hamlett, is a senior hospitality management major from Stafford, Virginia. Both are set to graduate from JMU this spring.

Marissa said she tried to convince her parents to enroll at JMU and aspired to be the “legacy child” like her brother, who followed in his parents’ footsteps.

“I think the most exciting part for me is my mom was a Marine, my dad was a Marine too and then when my brother graduated high school, he joined the Marine Corps,” Marissa said. “People would always make jokes that, ‘He’s the legacy child,’ and I harassed my parents about [enrolling at JMU] for a few years.”

Marissa recounted a time before her sophomore year when she struggled academically and switched out of her major.

“I think part of the driving factor was right around my sophomore year, I was changing my major,” Marissa said. “I was switching out of the College of Business, and I didn’t really know what I wanted to major in. I was having a tough time academically, and I remember talking to my mom a lot about it.”

With Marissa’s academic struggles and dreams of being the legacy child, she attempted to convince her parents to enroll in JMU, but only convinced her mother.

“I tried to convince my dad to come get his doctorate [at JMU],” Marissa said. “Didn’t work out very well.”

However, Juana enrolled in the graduate program at JMU despite having a full-time job, obligations to her family and academic responsibilities with no plans to take a different career step. She added that her cohort graduated in December, but she will walk with her daughter.

“I didn’t really need to go back to school, but I wanted to share the experience with her,” Juana said. “When I contacted

JMU and got accepted to the program, I explained to them that the intent was for me to walk with Marissa.”

Marissa attended her classes on campus while Juana completed her master’s degree online. Despite not often crossing paths on campus, they shared a relationship of typical processes a JMU student would go through, including doing homework, setting up Okta, logging into MyMadison and creating a JMU ticketing account to reserve graduation tickets.

“I wouldn’t have come back to school unless [my daughter] asked,” Juana said. “I’m truly grateful that she asked me to do this with her, because it pushed both of us. It took me outside of my comfort zone because I was already situated.”

As Marissa and Juana celebrate their graduation, their friends and family from across the world will come to their home to celebrate their accomplishments.

Juana said her friends and family coming out of town only know Marissa is graduating, as Juana had been keeping her working toward her master’s degree a secret for over two years.

“I posted a picture of Marissa’s cap and gown, and everybody is like ‘Congratulations, Marissa,’ but there’s very few people that know [I am graduating too],” Juana said. “As matter of fact, it was one person that said ‘congratulations to you both,’ but they live here with us, so there’s very few people that know. It’ll be a big event, and it’ll be a shocker for the majority of them, because obviously we didn’t tell them.”

JMU alumna Sara Michel (‘25) obtained a degree in sports and recreation management and is among the attendees for Marissa and Juana’s graduation party. Michel said she was a high school sophomore when she met Marissa Hamlett, then a freshman in high school.

Read more online at breezejmu.org

CONTACT Edison Vranian at vraniawe@dukes.jmu.edu. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.

F1 Resets in Miami

Formula 1 holds first U.S. race of 2026 season

By AUDREY FLETCHER The Breeze

Formula 1 is set to return the first weekend of May after a month-long hiatus with its first American race of the season in Miami, Florida.

So far this season, there have only been three races — with the most recent being at the Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka International Racing Course on March 29.

Originally, the 2026 FIA Formula One Race Calendar scheduled two races in April — April 10-12 at the Bahrain International Circuit and April 17-19 at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia. However, on March 14, both races were canceled due to security concerns regarding the conflict in the Middle East, according to a post by FIA on Instagram.

“Canceling them was probably a good idea,” freshman kinesiology major Julián Reynaldo said. “Instead of cancelling it, I feel like they could have just rescheduled it for a different time because now we’re down two races.”

The primary safety concern was how close the Bahrain circuit is to a targeted United States base. The two are only about 20 miles apart, and on Feb. 28, a missile strike hit the naval base.

During the break, fans took to social media to express their frustrations over the current regulations and criticize the shift in battery management and reduction in what some consider “actual racing”. Many point out the unpredictable speed disparities caused by the “boost mode” — a button that can allow drivers to access maximum power from the engine and battery.

In response, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) has moved quickly to address these concerns by announcing on social media midseason adjustments ahead of the Miami Grand Prix — including the reduction of excessive energy harvesting, limiting maximum power available when boosting, and tweaking small adjustments in the qualifying and start procedures.

Freshman nursing major Hyunseung Nam has been a fan of the sport for several years, but is unsure about the new regulations implemented by the FIA.

“I’m not sure that the changes will matter that much,” Nam said. “I don’t think that they are going to impact the outcome of the race.”

Additionally, it was revealed on April 23 that the Free Practice 1 would be extended from 60 to 90 minutes. According to a FIA Instagram post, the decision was due to “recognition of the gap

since the last Grand Prix, the recently announced regulatory and technical adjustments, and the fact that the Miami Grand Prix operates under the Sprint format.”

Miami will be the first race to take place in the U.S. in the 2026 season, followed by Austin, Texas (Oct. 23-25), and Las Vegas, Nevada (Nov. 19-21).

The event will be held over the course of three days, May 1-3, and is available to stream live on Apple TV through its F1 channel partnership.

The full schedule includes:

Friday, May 1

Practice One: 12-1.30 p.m.

Sprint Qualifying: 4:30-5:14 p.m.

Saturday, May 2

Sprint: 12-1 p.m.

Qualifying: 4-5 p.m.

Sunday, May 3

Miami Grand Prix: 4 p.m.

The Miami International Autodrome is a 3.36-mile-long track with 19 corners, three long straights and is a temporary street circuit built around Miami Gardens’ Hard Rock Stadium. The race typically runs 57 laps and lasts around 90 to 100 minutes, testing driver precision and racing technique in the Florida heat.

The first few races of the season have already shown a fierce competitive landscape. In Melbourne, Australia, Mercedes claimed the top two podium positions with George Russell claiming the win ahead of his teammate Kimi Antonelli, followed by Scuderia Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

Shanghai International Circuit saw Antonelli’s first F1 career victory, followed by Russell and the other Ferrari driver — the highly decorated Lewis Hamilton.

In March, fans witnessed Antonelli continue his winning streak in Suzuka, Japan, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri secured second and Leclerc in third, adding another podium for Scuderia Ferrari.

Mercedes enters Miami as a clear front-runner, with both Russell and Antonelli delivering consistently strong performances so far this season. Kimi’s performances have secured the title as a standout rookie from his multiple wins early in the season.

“[Antonelli’s] done well so far, but I think that it’s too early to tell if he will win the championship,” Reynaldo said.

McLaren’s season, however, has been far less smooth, with both Lando Norris, the 2025 World Champion and Oscar Piastri hitting major setbacks by failing to start at the Chinese Grand Prix. While its performance in Japan showed signs of recovery, it’s still sitting at fifth and sixth place in the current standings.

“I think Lando [Norris] or Piastri have a good chance at winning in Miami if they can do what they did in the last race and not have any issues with their cars,” Nam said.

Ferrari has remained competitive and gained a position on the podium at every race so far, but it’s the on-track dynamic between Leclerc and Hamilton that most spectators are centering their attention on. The two have had frequent battles this season, competing for the higher position, but this strategy has ultimately prevailed as Ferrari sits in second place in the current team standings.

With regulation changes being put into effect by FIA and teams returning to competition after a long break, the Miami Grand Prix will play a key role in revealing which drivers will emerge as contenders for the world champion title for the rest of the season.

CONTACT Audery Fletcher at thebreezeculture@gmail. com. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.

New Puppetry Club for students begins at JMU

By RYAN TIBBS The Breeze

On April 16, the newly formed student Puppetry Club at JMU officially held its first meeting. The meeting was held in the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts by junior business management major Thomas Locke and sophomore theatre major Madison Hill.

Locke created the club after noticing an empty space for puppetry after JMU stopped teaching classes about it a few years ago. After hearing that the student musical “Holler if You Hear,” which played at the Forbes Center in February, planned to incorporate puppets, he wanted to find more people who share his interest.

“Sparks flew in my brain,” Locke said. Then, after meeting Hill, who shared a similar interest in puppetry, the two officially started the club.

“It’s been a creative outlet for me,” Hill said.

In her freshman year, Hill built a puppet elephant for the School of Theatre and Dance’s (STAD) production of “Big Fish.”

Though both Locke and Hill share a passion for puppetry, each has a different focus. Locke is more concerned with the performance aspect of puppetry, while Hill is focused on how the puppets are designed.

“Puppetry is so unique because you’re giving life to something that is lifeless,” Locke said. “A puppeteer can turn it into a living, breathing person with personality quirks and interests and dislikes, and to me that is so cool.”

Locke’s focus on performance has allowed Hill to help with the construction and design part of puppetry as the club’s vice

president. Both founders’ different experiences with puppetry make them a good team as leaders for the club, with opportunity to grow.

“Even as a founder, I’m still coming into these meetings so excited to learn more,” Locke said.

Locke said that each meeting will begin with them going over the basic fundamentals of puppetry. “Every meeting will be treated like a beginner’s level workshop unless it’s explicitly stated otherwise.”

Future advanced-level workshops are based on what the club can achieve, like getting professional puppeteers to speak to the club. The club hopes to perform a show for an audience.

“Developing a play that we can bring to the students of the Harrisonburg and Rockingham County area would be such a fulfilling project to take on with this club,” Locke said. “It’s so important to make theatre and performing arts accessible and receivable to children.”

The club’s faculty advisor, James Ogden, is a scenic design professor who said he’s working to connect the group with puppetry groups in Staunton.

“Since it is a very niche subject, networking is going to be key to keep it going past these two students’ interests,” Ogden said. Even networking within JMU has been a struggle. Especially when trying to advertise to students outside the Forbes Center.

Read more online at breezejmu.org

CONTACT Ryan Tibbs at tibbsra@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.

Future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe

By CALEB BICKMORE contributing writer

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has grown a cult following after the nearly two decades of blockbuster releases. The MCU’s first film, “Iron Man” (2008), broke the barrier for what superhero movies could be and set the stage for the movies that came after. In 2012, Marvel would do something never done before on the big screen: bring superheroes from other movies within the cinematic universe together.

2012’s “The Avengers” was a hit, and ever since, superhero films have taken over cinema. Marvel has released 37 films in its canonical “Cinematic Universe,” making it the largest cinematic franchise of all time.

In 2026, Marvel has already released two shows on Disney+, “Wonder Man” and “Daredevil: Born Again” (Season 2). “Wonder Man” takes a different look at the hero’s journey and presents a character that most have probably never heard of.

“Daredevil: Born Again” (Season 2) is the highly anticipated sequel season to the gritty, hard-hitting drama. Both shows have been nothing but audience-pleasers, leaving viewers wanting more. Luckily, the year will only get better for the audience.

‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’

Spider-Man returns to the big screen in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” on July 31.

The last time we saw Spider-Man on screen in the MCU was in “Spider-Man: No Way Home” (2021), where Doctor Strange cast a spell to make everyone on Earth forget who Peter Parker was, including his love interest, MJ Watson, and his best friend, Ned Leeds.

The new film focuses on the mental battle Peter has to face, throwing his personal life aside to focus on being New York’s friendly neighborhood hero. But with a string of crimes that leads him into a battle bigger than he could’ve expected, SpiderMan will have a lot on his hands in this new film.

‘The Punisher: One Last Kill’ Fans and critics rejoiced when Jon Bernthal returned to play the Punisher in the first season of “Daredevil: Born Again.” Late last year, it was confirmed that Marvel would bring the beloved

character back to the big screen for the first time in nearly 20 years. Punisher returns in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” but his role is still mysterious to the film’s main plot.

Not only does the Punisher appear in the new Spider-Man film, but he’ll have his own Disney+ special presentation called “The Punisher: One Last Kill”. Marvel has released two previous specials, “Werewolf by Night” and “The Guardians of the Galaxy Christmas Special.”

“The Punisher: One Last Kill” will be one of the MCU’s most intense projects, with a TV-MA rating. The Punisher is known for his brutal nature, and when the series releases on May 12, it will be a must-watch.

‘Avengers: Doomsday’

“Avengers: Doomsday” has left fans patiently waiting for two years. Ever since Robert Downey Jr. was announced at San Diego Comic-Con (2024) as the iconic villain Doctor Doom, the film has been widely regarded as one of the most anticipated films of 2026. Marvel hit a home run with the finale of the Infinity Saga, and it plans to do so again for the Multiverse Saga in “Avengers: Doomsday” on Dec. 18. The epic conclusion in “Avengers: Secret Wars” is scheduled to premiere in late 2027.

With a stacked cast of A-listers, Doomsday looks to be one of the biggest films in the history of the superhero genre — and maybe even the history of cinema. Chris Evans will return as Captain America, Benedict Cumberbatch will reprise his role as Doctor Strange, and Pedro Pascal’s Mr. Fantastic and the rest of the Fantastic Four will finally meet our beloved MCU heroes. Fans have been begging for a comic-accurate Doom for years, and this is Marvel’s chance to give its fans what they want. Since Marvel knows there’s so much hype surrounding the film, there’s been next to no information released about it.

Future of the MCU

Marvel’s slate for 2026 is nothing less than exciting, and with two massive film releases like “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” and “Avengers: Doomsday,” the box office will be bustling.

On Disney+, Marvel Television will gather audiences every week for shows like “Wonder Man” and “Daredevil: Born Again.” The Marvel Cinematic Universe expands, and fans have even more to look forward to every year.

After “Avengers: Endgame,” fans and critics were concerned about whether the MCU would ever return to its original form — ambitious creative stories with characters that have overarching arcs from film to film.

Read more online at breezejmu.org

CONTACT Caleb Bickmore at yw4jkx@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.

I Y K Y K

C h a n e l l o s p i z z a . c o m

f o r 2 0 % o f f y o u r E N T I R E o r d e r ! C o d e D U K E S 2 0

EDITORS Madi Perini & Libby Mercer EMAIL

JMU shaped her life, now she’s shaping JMU

By MADI PERINI The Breeze

On Dec. 17, 2004, JMU football won the FCS National Championship. A month later, on Jan. 16, Madison Edwards was born — and her first name is no coincidence.

Born and raised in Berryville, Virginia, and being the daughter of two JMU alumni, the junior second baseman had been surrounded by purple and gold from the start. But Edwards wasn’t just attending as a fan. She’d been immersed in JMU softball’s program since she was in elementary school.

“[Madison’s] been coming to camp since she was 10,” head coach Loren LaPorte said. “We’ve had a lot of players we’ve known from a young age, and [we’ve] seen them develop and grow into the women they are.”

Edwards announced her commitment to JMU at the beginning of her junior year of high school, following in the footsteps of both her parents and her brother.

“Growing up, coming here, I came to all sporting events — football, softball, everything,” Edwards said. “I think just the family atmosphere that JMU has with all athletes and just students in general, really drew me here.”

Now with Edwards being a third-year veteran, LaPorte said she doesn’t need to say anything to Edwards because “she knows exactly what I’m about to say.”

It’s not common to start every game as a freshman, but Edwards defied the norm. During her first two years in Harrisonburg, she started every game at second base, putting up a combined .222 average in 107 games — backed up by 40 runs, 59 hits, 43 RBIs and six home runs.

Through 47 games in her junior season, Edwards is tied for second on the team with a .329 average to go with 31 runs, 46 hits, 20 RBIs and eight triples.

“I think I have a lot more confidence this year,” Edwards said. “I know I believe in myself and the preparation I’ve done preseason and through every week throughout the season.”

LaPorte is confident in Edwards’ stability at second, but praised her growth at the plate this season.

“She’s really stepped up for us offensively,” LaPorte said. “She had to put in some work this summer, making sure she

could stay in the lineup — and she’s doing really good for us in [the] two spot.”

Edwards said she leans on graduate right fielder Kylee Gleason — who has been on the team since 2022.

“I’ve really looked up to her. She’s one of the hardest workers I know,” Edwards said. “She’s always doing the right thing, whether it’s out on the field, setting up pregame, talking in the team meetings we have. I think that’s just someone I’ve really looked up to and bonded with a lot.”

Following in her family’s footsteps, Edwards has nothing but gratitude for the support system behind her.

“I started playing softball [when] I was 9 years old, I don’t think I could count on my hands how many games [my dad] missed,” Edwards said. “He’s been at everything, and I think that’s a big help, knowing I have that support behind me, whether I’m doing good or bad, I know they’re always there for me.”

While Edwards leans on her parents and older brother,, there’s someone smaller who’s her biggest cheerleader: her 5 year old sister, Mason.

Mason goes to every home game, and runs around with a big No. 5 on the back of her sweatshirt.

“I think that’s really cool having her look up to me,” Edwards said. “I just hope she’s old enough to remember this when she’s older, because it’s really cool [that] she’s at every game.”

Whether on a win streak or going through a rough patch, Mason serves as a ray of positivity not only for Edwards, but the whole team.

“Everyone on our team really bonds with her,” Edwards said. “If we’re playing bad or anything, like, if you just look at her, she’s just here having fun — why can’t we all be?”

Looking ahead to the rest of JMU’s season, Edwards has only “one goal”: to win the Sun Belt Championship, which kicks off in Lafayette, Louisiana on May 6.

CONTACT Madi Perini at breezesports@gmail.com. For more softball coverage, follow the sports desk on X at @TheBreezeSports.

Rongo leads lacrosse in her final season

By LIBBY MERCER The Breeze

Entering her final season with JMU lacrosse, senior defender Olivia Rongo said she “had nothing left to lose,” putting it all on the field to establish her place on the team.

“I give it my all to prove to everyone that I do deserve to be here, just like everyone else. I really just put that at the top of everything, and it’s showing,” Rongo said.

Rongo currently sits sixth in the NCAA in caused turnovers and has racked up three American Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors. Additionally, Rongo received Defensive Player of the Year from the conference and a spot on the all-conference first team. She also holds the program’s record for most turnovers caused in a single-season with a total of 53.

“Olivia’s using her size really well. She’s able to use her wingspan to make contact on the offense players and close space really quickly,” head coach Shelley Klaes said. “I think with her seniority right now, her game experience, she’s just anticipating really well.”

Rongo came to JMU from Long Island, New York, a difficult transition, she said.

“I definitely struggled a little my freshman year, and just over the course of the three years, I’ve really began to love where I am,” Rongo said. “The main thing that’s changed has been my confidence with playing lacrosse.”

A main support for Rongo has been her older sister, Lindsay, who was a defender for Stony Brook, graduating in 2023.

“I think that really just talking through a lot of my struggles, or even what I’m doing well, just talking to her and talking about the lacrosse side of things has really helped,” Rongo said. “She’s always been there for me, and she can be there for me in other ways, but lacrosse is just an added-on thing.”

In addition to having her sister, the senior class is “super close-knit,” said senior midfielder Josie Pell — Rongo’s roommate since freshman year.

“I think that our senior class — now that it’s down to five — we’re closer than we’ve ever been,” Pell said. “I think that really helps with all of us on the field having

great chemistry, just knowing that we have those seniors that we can go to whenever we need anything on and off the field.”

The current defense has been playing together for more than a season, which hasn’t been the case since Rongo first became a Duke.

“When I came in as a freshman, the entire defensive unit had been playing together for so long; They were so good,” Rongo said. “There was no new person coming in, [so I had to try to] fit into the rest of the unit. I feel like that’s what it is again this year.”

Joining the team as a freshman, then-redshirt senior defenders Mairead Durkin and Rachel Matey were role models for Rongo, as she tried to fit into their established defensive schemes.

“We had a few conversations when we saw each other this summer,” Rongo said. “That really helped me going into my senior year as a defender and stepping into my role.”

With that guidance, Rongo has developed her skills as a leader this season.

“We’ve seen through her play that she’s really stepped up as a leader with all of her stats and just being a backbone to our defense,” Pell said.

Rongo is a vocal leader, which translates to the entire unit’s comfort level with one another.

“I’d say I’m more vocal than some of the other girls that are playing, but everyone always [tries to] speak up,” Rongo said. “I think that that helps a lot with our success, because we trust everyone, everyone has a voice, and even people who maybe don’t play as much are still speaking up and telling us what they see from the outside.”

Looking toward the rest of her final season, Rongo hopes to return to the NCAA tournament and make it further than the Elite Eight, the round JMU reached during her freshman year in 2023.

“We have some work to do,” Rongo said. “I think that’s definitely a doable goal, but we need to put our head down and start making some changes.”

CONTACT Libby Mercer at breezesports@gmail.com. For more lacrosse coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.

Bridgeforth’s bright lights

A look into JMU’s pyrotechnics for football games

By TOMMY GURGANOUS

The Breeze

When JMU football plays a home game, a separate team is working toward delivering an experience for fans through pyrotechnics. For pregame, in-game and postgame moments, the sound of a “bang” and different colors spraying across the sky adds an extra layer of excitement for the crowd.

According to its July 2025 contract renewal with Image Engineering, JMU spent $124,850 across six home football games for the 2025-26 season under the commodity of “Pyrotechnic and Firework Displays.” Image Engineering is a special effects and laser design company that’s also worked with NFL teams, including the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns.

“We lean on [Image Engineering’s] expertise to help us understand, on the campus level, what is going to be feasible for us, one within our budget, but two, within the limits of our stadium and our safety and risk management approval,” said Melissa Wyant, the JMU Associate Athletic Director for Fan Engagement and Experience.

Multiple facets of pyrotechnics go into the total cost JMU pays, as well as other factors of preparation and safety compliance that go into the use of pyrotechnics at football games.

What’s a pyrotechnic?

Virginia Assistant State Fire Marshal for Special Operations Troy Bower said that many pyrotechnics look

similar to fireworks. The difference is pyrotechnics shoot sparks and “self-consume” on their way into the air, but traditional fireworks shoot up and explode, requiring more of a “fallout radius” that can’t be provided inside a stadium.

Close-proximity pyrotechnics are generally low-smoke and low-debris. These can be used for confined areas like concerts or sporting venues — like Bridgeforth Stadium — to meet safety requirements.

JMU also uses structures with carbon dioxide (CO2) jets, which are used as a feature for player introductions and can work in conjunction with other on-field elements, like the videoboard and other pyrotechnics. The CO2 is stored in liquid form, which vaporizes into a cold gas when released into the air.

Additionally, the plumes of smoke created by the CO2 machines dissipate rapidly, as opposed to smoke machines, and it doesn’t pose a fire risk. It also doesn’t leave residue on the field after use, doesn’t leave lingering odors and has a low risk of breathing hazards in an open stadium environment. Since there’s no fire risk with the use of CO2, Bower said it doesn’t fall under pyrotechnics which are regulated by the Virginia State Fire Prevention Code (SFPC), and don’t permit or regulate their use at football games.

from PYROTECHNICS, page 15

Pyrotechnic spending for the 2025 season

Before the 2023 football season, JMU announced its partnership with Image Engineering.

New CO2 structures for on-field use, and fireworks being moved to the top of the Robert & Frances Plecker Athletics Performance Center (APC), were also announced in the press release.

“When JMU moved to the FBS, we took a really hard, long look at our game days and asked ourselves, ‘How do we make game days more fun and engaging for all ages?’”

Wyant said. “Fireworks and on-field elements are just one part of that, but a lot of what my team strives for is to keep fans engaged throughout the game, but also to provide a high-class experience for our student-athletes as well.”

Wyant also noted the costs related to JMU’s pyrotechnics extend beyond just what is required to shoot fireworks off of a roof. Rather, a variety of equipment and people are taken into account for the total cost.

JMU’s 2025 home regular season subtotal for equipment and elements was $73,294. Part of this total was season

rentals for two field intro towers, two field intro cryogenic sleds and two field game asset towers that can produce CO2. Each asset utilized at least two CO2 jets, CO2 hoses and fitting and power cabling. Each asset also required multiple 20-pound liquid siphons to be ordered by JMU before each game.

Wyant said the pregame field intro tower structures can have added elements beyond CO2 if wanted, and that they are much taller than the two field game asset towers, in-game asset towers have baseplates, and Wyant said they only use CO2.

JMU’s rooftop pyrotechnics package (included as part of equipment and elements) cost a subtotal of $53,091 over the six games and was to be used among four positions.

Read more online at breezejmu.org

CONTACT Tommy Gurganous at gurgantr@dukes.jmu. edu. For more football coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.

This week’s scoreboard

Softball

Most recently: JMU softball swept Georgia State in its three-game series. Next up: The Dukes travel to Marshall to round out the regular season with a three-game series.

Most recently: JMU baseball was pummeled 14-1 by Virginia Tech on Tuesday.

Next up: The Dukes return home for a weekend series against Marshall starting Friday.

Baseball Lacrosse

Most recently: No. 25 JMU lacrosse took down ODU 14-7 in its regular season finale.

Next up: No. 2 seeded JMU will travel to Nashville, Tennesse to face No.3 ECU in the American Confrence Championship semifinal on Thursday.

fan FAVORITEs

EDITOR EMAIL Cali Gilmer

Want to praise someone or get something off your chest? Darts & Pats is the place to do it. Submit your own at breezejmu.org.

Dump your mediocre boyfriend

Women, stop settling for less in relationships

An “I-miss-yummygreens” dart to the vegan section in D-Hall getting lazy this year.

From a vegan who still wants to enjoy their meals.

A “stress-relief” pat to my professor for canceling our final project.

From a student who finally has room to breathe between final exams.

There’s a woman you know, maybe even yourself, who has lost sleep over the same man for days on end. You sit, listening to her defend him, saying, “He texts me back, I swear,” or “Sometimes he just needs a reminder that it’s our anniversary.” He forgets things that matter to her. He shows up with the excuse that he forgot or he was busy. It’s a cycle, watching her run around trying to make up excuses to make him seem like a decent boyfriend, but the excuses start to repeat themselves. She brings up the time he bought her flowers or took her out to dinner … three months ago. She never argues with him. It’s the type of “healthy” relationship where there are no problems, but there’s no spark. Then that becomes the problem, but she refuses to address it, claiming “he’s a good person” and “does no wrong.” He’s not evil, just careless.

Unfortunately, this scenario is a common occurrence for many. Whether it takes form in the dragged-out high school relationship that’s hanging on by a thread in college, the male-centered friend that will settle for any guy that comes her way, or the hookup that turned into a situationship, women constantly settle for less, and it’s becoming an epidemic. Why have women become conditioned to accept so little from their significant other that their mediocrity has become rebranded as a realistic expectation?

A “c’mon-weather” dart to the cold, windy rain getting me down in the dumps.

From a student who wants to lay in the sun.

What counts as mediocrity isn’t a one-sizefits-all mentality. It has no universal definition because no relationship is the same. The broadest example of this in a relationship is, “He’s not amazing, but he’s not abusive … he’s just fine.” Women shouldn’t have to dip their toes into different kinds of relationships to determine which one is just right. A mediocre relationship is just considered safe, a gateway to finding someone who treats you fine, but never does enough.

An important term to consider in a mediocre relationship is “soft failure,” which means a gradual decline. It can be characterized by emotional detachment, one-sided effort and unrecognizable hurt that doesn’t go away. These are just a few of the dozens of emotions women feel in a stable yet empty relationship. He’s not a bad person, yet you don’t feel fulfilled, making leaving feel difficult because there’s no pinpoint reason to walk away.

some relationships, winning is walking away from a man who clearly doesn’t love you or care enough to make the effort to meet you halfway. If you stay and try to fix a relationship, a burnout will occur on both ends. After all, what isn’t meant for you will disappoint you a thousand times before it’s clear to let it go.

Another reason why women “settle” is the fear of men’s scarcity. They think, “there may not be another one like him,” (good) or “What if I never find someone else?” My advice is to stop treating men like a scarce resource; the only thing that should be scarce is your patience in the relationship. The idea of a relationship completely consuming us all the time is a sickening thought.

An “I-love-coffee” pat to 7 Brew for never disappointing me in providing yummy drinks.

From a caffeine addict.

So why don’t women leave relationships with no sentimental value or excitement?

According to an article by Dr. Zoe, a psychotherapist, on why strong women stay in bad relationships, a woman’s fear of leaving a relationship isn’t always a fear of being alone or abandonment. Although this can be a factor, some women choose relationships with the idea that “I can fix him.”

If you do fix your minimal effort boyfriend, congrats, this article isn’t for you. However, in

Stop choosing your partner over your friends you haven’t seen in months, and stop complaining to said friends about your boyfriend when you finally see them. There will always be other men; they’re unfortunately all around us. A breakup is never the end of your love life, but a chance for each partner to grow and find what they truly need in a relationship.

In long-term relationships, leaving can feel impossible … until you realize it’s more

achievable than getting him to plan a date without asking. This article isn’t meant to advise you to break up with your boyfriend, but instead to ask you to weigh your values and goals against what you’re currently receiving in your relationship. Are you happy? Or do you want more, even though you’ve repeatedly asked for it? Standards shouldn’t be seen as a checklist, but a reflection of what you know you need in a partner to genuinely thrive. Direct communication and defining your expectations in a relationship are important. It’s not always, “if he could, he would,” but if he knows he can, he should. And if you’re a boyfriend who stumbled onto this article, wondering if you’re the problem, you probably are. Go buy her flowers. No reason needed.

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

Mom and Dad, please stop fighting

People shouldn’t blindly use insulting terms for political figures

COLLIN EYLER

No historical precedent exists for the hate both sides of the political spectrum have thrown at each other in recent years. Whether you’re “Mamdani the Commie” or “Mango Mussolini,” name-calling has spared few people on both sides of the political aisle. Terms like “communist” and “fascist” have drifted away from their historical limits, and people are now using them to describe everyday figures, so much so that we’re forgetting their meaning. The terms that both the media and the general public use to refer to political camps have distorted the history of certain terms, killed public discourse and will create long-term consequences for everyone.

Concept creep is the idea that over time, certain terms, especially ones referring to horrible things, tend to expand beyond their historic and realistic definitions. The idea is that as we give one horrible term multiple meanings, the horror of the original term is lost because it means so many different things. For instance, the identifier “Nazi” refers to a member of the German Nazi party between 1920 and 1945 that aided in the genocide of over 10 million people, primarily through racist and nationalist policies. If we were to attach more meanings to that definition — for instance, one who makes a nationalist policy or one who celebrates patriotism — we would greatly distort the horror of that original view. One who’s simply patriotic is clearly not a Nazi, but by referring to them as such, society is making the term less impactful.

Aside from the Nazi example, the overgeneralization of identifiers is also a fearmongering technique that attempts to silence voices on both sides of the political spectrum. When policy discussions

generally disagrees with political violence).

As Daniel Byman pointed out in a Brookings study, “An analysis of the manifesto issued by El Paso Walmart shooter Patrick Crusius, who killed 23 people, mostly of Hispanic heritage, found that he used words like ‘invasion’ and ‘replacement,’ drawing on conspiracy

Satterfield/ The Breeze #%@$&!

terms discredits the millions who, in this example, fascism killed, while also hindering future efforts to effectively address extremist policies. Many of the people describing center-right policies as fascism or center-left policies as communism are misrepresenting what actual fascism or communism is and

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

$#&%@!

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“Dan” by Noah Kahan

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“Carla’s Song” by Harry Styles

“Everywhere” by Fleetwood Mac

“Whenever, Wherever” by Minnie Riperton

“Hard to Explain” by The Strokes

“Californication” by Red Hot Chili Peppers

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Rent This 4 Bedroom 2 Bathroom

Adorable Cottage Just Two Blocks from JMU campus

Cute Cottage for Rent Just Two Blocks from JMU Campus and Bridgeforth Stadium - $1999/month. 6 month lease or month to month lease available.

Counseling Services Available!

Arcadia Apartment Available NOW

Dec. Grad needs to rent Arcadia Apartment room that is available immediately until July 31, 2026. Great roomates! Base rent is $599 with utilities included. Please email Kailey.garner0804@gmail.com

JOBS

PT Professional Wanted!

Cross Keys Equine Therapy is taking new clients! Struggling with depression, anxiety, or just need someone to talk to? We offer equine assisted therapy sessions, nature based therapy, or traditional talk therapy. Only 15 minutes from campus! Give us a call today at 540-607-6910.

New Services For Women

Discover your own beauty and improve it naturally—inside and out. Build lasting confidence, feel empowered to be your best self, and experience greater happiness while living a richer, more fulfilling life. Ask about membership. Please reply to: winstonempowers@gmail.com

Transportation Services Airport transfers, wine tours, special events Motorcoach trip to Liberty football game Sept 20 Contact Adventures-N-Travel.com Call or text 540-810-1196 mikepackett@aol.com

Car Wash Express and Laundromat Express!

Car Wash Express and Laundromat Express! Now accepting credit cards for car wash and laundromat! 3 Minutes from campus! Self-serve and automatic options. 48 Kenmore Street, Harrisonburg, VA.540810-1196 mikepackett@aol.com

HIRING! HIRING!! HIRING!!!

Wanted: P/T by Project. Professional Assistant. Critical Thinker. Familiar with para-legal or related, court filings, start up Llc, research & record keeping. Advertising our performance, Attend Local / County meetings and establish contacts within VA. Positive Energy Required .... Will not be boring assignments - promise! 767 645-6868, 540 456-2668

Work from home

Serious inquiries only

Data entry clerk needed

$15 per hour, no experience needed

We train, bonuses, full benefits 5 days work per week, if interested Contact: elevancehealth533@gmail. com

Internship Opportunity - City Manager’s Office (Harrisonburg, VA)

Are you a student seeking real-world experience in public administration with a locality recognized both regionally and nationally for a variety of achievements? If so, apply to the City of Harrisonburg’s City Manager’s Office Internship Opportunity! Find out more/apply online: https://www. harrisonburgva.gov/employment. EOE.

Part-time Opportunity - VFW Bartender

Part-time bartender no experience necessary will train must be 21. Apply in person at VFW 450 Waterman Dr Harrisonburg Va 22802 .

Property for Sale in Staunton Building for Sale. Three store fronts. Two Apartments. Needs Total Renovation. 300 Central Ave., Staunton, VA 24401 $310,000 or best offer. Call 540-290-0375

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