News

The University Recreation Center (UREC) hosted a Q&A panel Nov. 9 to discuss mental health, featuring three voices from across JMU to share their insight. Kevin Kustral, a junior at JMU who’s involved in mental health awareness; Matthew Hunsberger, the coordinator for mental health in the Dean’s Office; and Magali Laitem, a licensed clinical psychologist who works at JMU’s Counseling Center, took questions on taking care of mental wellbeing, resources available at JMU and how to help others in need of assistance. 

Three people were killed and two were injured in a shooting at the University of Virginia (U.Va.) late Sunday night. The JMU community expressed its support for U.Va. on social media. 

As vote totals for Harrisonburg and Virginia roll in, The Breeze will keep you updated on all the local races.

JMU’s selection of majors and minors may soon become wider. Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) professors Mary Thompson, Dawn Goode and Kristen Kelley have proposed a new LGBTQ studies minor. 

With the Nov. 8 midterm elections right around the corner, it’s crucial that Harrisonburg voters stay informed on who’s running in the district. Positions on the ballot in Harrisonburg include three Harrisonburg City Public Schools (HCPS) school board seats, two city council seats, one special election city council seat and the U.S. House Representative for the 6th congressional district. Here’s who’s on the ballot next week.

As election day nears on Nov. 8, five candidates for Harrisonburg City Council participated in a series of town halls on JMU’s campus at Hoffman Hall and the Apartments on Grace on Oct. 20.

Whole Woman’s Health of Charlottesville, a women’s health and abortion clinic, has seen a major spike in the amount of out-of-town patients asking for abortions following Senate Bill 8 that passed in Texas in September 2021 and the overturn of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2022.

Halloweekend is the all-encompassing term for not only the days leading up to Halloween but the events, gatherings, parties and preparations for the holiday. However, after three gun-related incidents in the past few weeks, students have their safety concerns. Contributing Writer Jane McConville spoke to students and staff about ways to stay safe this weekend. 

City councilmembers announced Ande Banks as the new Harrisonburg city manager, discussed the recent increase in crime in Harrisonburg and heard allegations of unfair treatment of the Northeast Neighborhood at Tuesday’s city council meeting. 

The Student Government Association (SGA) Senate passed the JMU Anime Club’s request for contingency funds, denied the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship’s request for contingency funds and passed a Bill of Opinion for American Sign Language (ASL) to be included in JMU’s curriculum during Tuesday’s meeting. 

One person died in a shooting on Monday morning at the 200 block of Community Street, according to a Harrisonburg press release. The Harrisonburg Police Department (HPD) is investigating the homicide. 

The Department of Political Science and JMU's modern European Studies program hosted a Ukraine and the Future of Europe event on Wednesday, where students could voice their opinions and ask questions to a panel of professors with expertise on the subject. 

Students, alumni and other visitors to campus will have plenty of events and activities to choose from during this year’s Homecoming weekend from Friday, Oct. 21, to Sunday, Oct. 23. Here are highlights of the weekend’s events.

Eight people were injured and no one died after a shooting overnight Sunday, Oct. 16. No suspects were on the scene when the Harrisonburg Police Department (HPD) arrived, and no arrests have been made. HPD is investigating.

An armed robbery of a JMU student by an unknown individual took place, after the student used GroupMe to get a ride, according to a message sent out by the JMU Police Department. 

David Hogg and the March For Our Lives foundation, an activist group that focuses on youth action against gun violence, received the National Nonviolence Award from JMU’s Mahatma Gandhi Center for Global Nonviolence on Saturday.

As JMU families flock to campus for Family Weekend, the John C. Wells Planetarium will welcome them with a selection of free educational programs Oct.1. Each event will take place in the planetarium’s dome theater and are first come, first served.

This year’s Family Weekend is from Friday, Sept. 30, to Sunday, Oct. 2, featuring a fun-filled weekend of activities and events for students and visitors to campus. The Breeze highlighted some of the weekend’s events.

The Environmental Management Club (EMC) organized this year's Harrisonburg Climate Strike, where advocates marched from JMU's Quad to Court Square in Downtown Harrisonburg, and is pushing for new initiatives for the 2022-23 school year.   

The Student Government Association (SGA) Senate nominated Marcus Rand to the position of Sergeant-at-Arms and heard a presentation from the Xi Delta chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha at Tuesday’s meeting.

The third week of September is nationally recognized as hazing prevention week. Hazing isn’t only happening at other universities across the country, but at JMU as well. Tune in to Breeze TV Friday at 3:30 pm to watch part II of this hazing investigations series.

The Harrisonburg Department of Public Transportation (HDPT) has implemented a new bus app called Passio GO for commuters and students in Harrisonburg, leaving students with varied opinions on the new app. 

Flo Milli will headline this year’s Homecoming concert Oct. 20, announced Monday by JMU’s University Program Board (UPB). The decision was met with varying opinions from students and a barrage of complaints and praise on social media. The Breeze spoke with a member of UPB about the planning and decision-making that goes into organizing the Homecoming concert and picking a performer for the event.

The Student Government Association (SGA) Senate nominated senior Emily Butters to the position of SGA Representative to the Faculty Senate, ratified an amendment to the SGA Constitution and approved a statement condemning a recent hate crime at the University of Virginia (U.Va.) at Tuesday’s meeting.

At Tuesday night's meeting, the Student Government Association (SGA) Senate voted to update its spring 2023 elections policy and approved a $720 contingency fund for Quizbowl, a competitive academic club available to all members of the JMU community.

JMU will begin Carrier renovations in the summer of 2023, with an anticipated reopen date in fall 2026. While JMU has added a variety of libraries and other facility renovations over the years, this is the first major renovation of Carrier in 28 years. Print managing editor Ashlyn Campbell spoke to JMU Libraries about how its preparing for the renovations and what students can expect to see once the renovations are finished.

Homelessness is a national crisis in the U.S., and it doesn’t only affect large, urban areas but smaller cities like Harrisonburg as well. Harrisonburg and JMU are working together to make a difference in the community regarding the local homeless population and shelters.

JMU Police Department (JMU PD) vehicles will have a new look this fall. Andrew Genese, senior media arts and design (SMAD) major, recently worked with JMU PD to rethink and redesign the appearance of the department’s cars.

A vehicle hit five cars and damaged the electrical system in JMU’s D3 parking lot outside of the Festival Conference & Student Center on Thursday night, according to JMU PD Chief Anthony Matos. There were no injuries, he said.

Adam's Law — put into place after Adam Oakes, freshman VCU student, died as a result of hazing — is requiring student organizations in the Commonwealth of Virginia to participate in an in-person, anti-hazing training program. Adam's Law went into effect July 1 and training began at JMU in August.

JMU has stopped tracking COVID-19. The Stop the Spread dashboard, which used to include JMU’s COVID-19 positivity rates, vaccinations and other information regarding the pandemic and its hyperlocal effects, now acts purely as a resource page.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced nominees for the Board of Visitors (BoV) of universities across Virginia, including five new members for JMU. As Youngkin is Virginia’s first Republican governor since 2014, this could shift education initiatives across the commonwealth, and the BoV itself. The Breeze spoke with the new members about their goals for their terms and what they hope to bring to the table.

Changes at the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement, including new interim director David Kirkpatrick, have created new initiatives at the Civic Center. This year, the Civic Center hasn’t slowed down but instead is supplementing its original offerings. 

The Student Government Association (SGA) Senate held its first meeting of the 2022-23 academic year Sept. 6. The Senate voted to approve an amendment on behavioral misconduct and appointed a senator as the JMU Student Representative to the Harrisonburg City Council.

With the monkeypox virus on the rise — both globally and across the country — JMU, local and state health departments are working to combat the virus and inform the community about the disease.

Starting this semester, JMU has implemented a new virtual parking pass system, where driver’s license plates are now their parking passes. Students must now register their vehicle and license plate on the Parking and Transit Services portal. 

After appealing a Title IX case against JMU, New Civil Liberties Alliance tabled on campus during freshman move-in Aug. 19. An individual dressed as a kangaroo held a sign that read “guilty” to raise awareness on how JMU is handling Title IX cases. 

JMU students have varying experiences at the Counseling Center, but students who were seen were often surprised by the service they received. Sports editor Grant Johnson investigated student experiences, and the process of walking into the counseling center as told by a JMU therapist.

Students and faculty in the School of Art, Design and Art History (SADAH) face the complex world of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) and the discourse surrounding them.

JMU Libraries announced the renovation and expansion plans for Carrier Library, with three years planned to complete the project. Construction will begin in May 2023 and is anticipated to be completed by the fall of 2026. 

JMU has announced new senior administration hires — Kristina Blyer, the new associate vice president for health and well-being, and Malika Carter, JMU’s inaugural vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer — and additions to the president's cabinet for the 2022-23 academic year. The Breeze spoke with Blyer and Carter about their backgrounds and what they hope to bring to the university.

The Breeze investigates the state of mental health at JMU, including new resources, national trends and counselor perspectives, following tragic events in the spring semester. 

JMU announced the extension of Fall Break and new mental health resources and initiatives that are being implemented for the fall. 

The Executive Committee of JMU's Board of Visitors met in Reston, Virginia, on Wednesday to reevaluate tuition increases, given the finalized funding from the General Assembly.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected many students and recent graduates in JMU's School of Nursing, making them rethink their careers in the field of nursing.

At this week's Harrisonburg City Council meeting, Richard Baugh was sworn-in, council approved a focus on sustainable transportation for the Environmental Action Plan, a potential free concert series was introduced and the monthly rate for water and sewer was increased.