In the midst of the Trump administration rolling back DEI initiatives, I’m going to shed some light on my experiences as a mixed Black woman. DEI makes a way for me to thrive and survive in spaces that weren’t created with people like me in mind. I can’t count on my fingers and toes the […]
Read More Your Favorite DEI HireShows and movies are important in the media world in today’s society. One of the main things film media is meant to do is entertain. This can be shown in many forms, whether the form is fantasy, science fiction, documentary, etc., they are meant to draw you in and show viewers things/situations they may have […]
Read More Love on the Spectrum: Exploiting or BeneficialTurning 22 often feels like the expected launching point into the “real world” with a job neatly secured post-college. Yet, as I blew out the candles, my reality looked distinctly different. There wasn’t a corporate email address waiting, no orientation schedule tucked beside my diploma. Instead, there was a profound sense of open space, a […]
Read More 22 is for me.It’s 2025, and I’m 22 years old, still navigating the treacherous waters of body image. Growing up, my generation was bombarded with critical commentary on women’s appearances, and it has left its scars. Growing up, I was on a cheer team, and I thought at the time being assigned as a base was my worst […]
Read More When Will We Stop Talking About Women’s Bodies?: Selena gomez takes the brunt of this again!Late one night last week, my roommate and I were working in silence, an old video of our favorite YouTuber playing in the background, when it hit me: we only have a few more nights like this. The quintessential college experience, having a roommate, will be over for me in a matter of days, and […]
Read More The Secret to College Survival: Not Hating Your RoommateThere’s a common misconception that the summer “it” job is working at a Golf Course as a beverage cart girl. Well, as someone who has done that job for two straight summers, I can tell you it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Golf is a male-dominated, sport so making young girls the norm […]
Read More The Reality of Being a Beverage Cart GirlAs a senior graduating in less than three weeks, I have been reflecting on my time here, wondering what my college experience would have been like if I hadn’t gone to school 10 hours away. If I stayed at home, I would have gone to the University of New Hampshire, which is 20 minutes from […]
Read More Goodbye, hometown: my experience going to college out-of-stateThose who know me know I love live music. I don’t just love it, going to concerts is my absolute favorite thing to do. It’s where all my money goes and how I spend most of my weekends. There are so many things I love about live music. The pageantry, excitement, and performance are a […]
Read More How live music restores my faith in humanityOn Monday 4/21, tyrannosaurus_flex and Steelersfan shared local, national, and intergalactic news stories to the class; including JMU graduation, the 2025 WNBA Draft, and the all-female Blue Origin space flight. All eyes were pointed to the sky on April 14th as Jeff Bezos’s private aerospace company, Blue Origin, completed its 11th human space flight. This […]
Read More 4/21 Newsroom: Blue Origin Space Flight, WNBA Draft, & GraduationWelcome back. If you’ve made it through the first half of this story and lived to tell the tale, prepare yourself because the last seven tracks don’t just pick up where we left off, they chuck you headfirst into the abyss. This is where things get darker, louder, and unbearably real. So if you’re still […]
Read More Part 2 of “Preacher’s Daughter” AnalysisAfter watching the women’s tournament this year, I have a lot of things to say about it. First of all, why are the women playing back to back when the men have multiple days to rest and recover? There is no reason why women should not be getting the same treatment. I saw a TikTok […]
Read More 2025 Women’s March Madness TournamentOn April 22, a high-stakes law enforcement operation unfolded quietly within Harrisonburg. There was an arrest warrant issued to twenty-two-year-old Katelynn Ann Hipes, wanted for second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in connection to the death of Kevin Small. Hipes was taken into custody on Lee Ave. Harrisonburg […]
Read More When safety Meets silenceLet’s be honest: the beauty industry has been the moment for years. Our feeds have been overflowing with skincare hauls, 10-step routines, and bottles so pretty they practically beg for a selfie. But 2025 is shaping up to be the year we collectively say… yeah, we’re done. Reports from top beauty insiders show that skincare […]
Read More No One’s Buying It: Why Gen Z Is Breaking Up With BeautyFollowing the release of the new Hunger Games book, Sunrise on the Reaping, I was one of the many people itching to get their hands on it. If you know Suzanne Collins then you know that she doesn’t release a book without it having a deeper meaning. She often touches on gender, race, and political […]
Read More Pretty Privilege and how it Connects to The Hunger Games SeriesCover by Anton Luzhkovsky on Unsplash There is a popular theory that spending enough time around other women will align your menstrual cycles. This anecdote has been passed from mother to daughter over the course of time despite no scientific consensus on its validity. I was about 15 when my mom passed it to me. […]
Read More How “Synching Up” With My Mom Changed Our RelationshipWhen I was seven, my next door neighbor accidentally pushed me over while we were out roller skating. Over my tears, my mom told me: “Forgive and forget” while putting bandaids on my scraped knees. At fourteen, someone stepped on my brand new Vans that I’d been excited to wear for weeks . When I […]
Read More Not All Healing Begins With ‘Forgive and Forget’On Monday, Travelqueen7 and Princessgoose shared local, national, and global news stories about DEI being eliminated, Rory McIlroy winning the Masters, and global tariffs with the class. On April 11th, James Madison University announced the removal of the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Charlie King, the President of JMU, expressed that this decision was […]
Read More NEWSROOM 4/14: JMU DEI, The masters, and tariffsIn two days, I am taking graduation photos, and I truly feel like I am preparing for prom again. There is so much to think about in regard to graduation photos. Should I get my dress altered? How am I going to do my hair? What color nails should I have? Should I wear open-toe […]
Read More Smile Through the Sweat: The Unexpected Stress of Graduation PhotosThe Coronavirus. A deadly disease that swept the world and changed the fabric of literally every person’s life for the better part of two years. Many lost loved ones and friends to the horrible pandemic. Still, aside from the direct effects of the sickness, there were also detrimental effects on society as a whole, especially […]
Read More Reflections from a covid Kid 5 years laterBlack women are already at a higher risk when it comes to healthcare, more specifically Black women are 2x likely to die compared to White women while giving birth. About 12 years ago, I got sick and wouldn’t be diagnosed for another ten years with what turned out to be Crohn’s Disease. My life completely […]
Read More More than just a tummy acheMy senior year of college can be described as one of the best and most stressful times of my life. This is the last “hoorah” before stepping out into the adult world. My goal is to make the most of it, but it feels like there’s no time for fun when one of the most […]
Read More The Post-College Job HustleEthel Cain’s “Preacher’s Daughter” is much more than an album. For me, listening at full blast in my headphones is just not enough. I need it injected into my veins. It’s a truly gut wrenching experience which takes you through themes of religious trauma, family conflict, love, sexual abuse, and death. If you’ve ever experienced […]
Read More Analyzing Ethel cain’s “Preacher’s Daughter”Cover Photo by Ekaterina Novitskaya on Unsplash When I first got my period, I didn’t bathe or shower the entire time because I thought the blood would do something bad to our plumbing. When I first tried to wear a tampon, it popped out at softball practice because I didn’t put it in all the […]
Read More 5 things i wish i knew before i got my first periodIf you love to binge cheesy dramas like I do, then you are probably familiar with the popular early 2000s show Desperate Housewives. You are probably even more familiar with the iconic character, Lynette Scavo. Lynette is one of those characters that you hate at the beginning then you grow to love by the end […]
Read More Lynette Scavo AKA The Corporate PowerhouseDisney’s remake of Snow White has been rated a 1.5/10, which is the lowest rating in IMDb history. After Disney released its plans for a live-action film, the conversation switched from magic mirrors to heated arguments. Its underwhelming box office performance has led to casting controversies that have flooded social media regarding Rachel Zegler and […]
Read More Disney’s live action Snow White: A Fairytale Flop?Tinder has been around for over a decade; over this course of time, it has developed a wide range of meaning to a wide range of people. Tinder functions less like a dating app and more like a portfolio exchange. Users carefully select 2 to 10 of their best photos, craft short bios, and highlight […]
Read More Tinder: Love, Ego, and the Swipe EconomyStrap in because I am about to keyboard rant about all of the things that were so wrong with Trump’s address. As expected, it was an absolute dumpster fire circus performance of misleading statements, fearmongering, and bold face lies. Here are 8 things that made me want to throw a brick at my TV. So […]
Read More 8 Things that pissed me off about the State of the Union AddressThere is always a common question asked between women. What type of birth control do you use? The pill? The patch? The shots? The Ring? The implant? Truly, the options for birth control are endless. When I first started learning about all the different types of birth control, I thought it was such a positive […]
Read More Navigating the Birth Control Maze: A Guide to Your OptionsIn my previous post, I discussed how beauty standards meant to oppress women continue to prevail even when women make up the majority of athletes within a sport meant to be a safe space for all types of people. While I focused on mindsets of many women in the sport in my last post, it […]
Read More “Does this flag make me look skinny?” pt. 2The hit HBOMax series, White Lotus, has returned for its third season and episode 4 is the show’s best episode yet. The scene that stuck out to me most when watching included Jaclyn, Laurie and Kate. These three ladies are the middle aged, well-off guests in the hotel, with Jaclyn being a famous actress. While […]
Read More White lotus season 3 episode 4 scene reviewThe Oscars, arguably the biggest award show of the year, made its annual appearance on March 2, and presented some controversial awards. I am a huge movie buff so this was a big day for me, although there were some big snubs in my opinion. I am no movie critic but I’d like to give […]
Read More A Review of the 97th oscar awardsHave you heard of the term “pick-me girl”? It is defined by Urban Dictionary as “a girl who seeks male validation by indirectly or directly insinuating that she is ‘not like the other girls’”. Even if this is the first time you’ve heard the term, chances are you have encountered some pick-me characteristics. Where did […]
Read More Stop Picking On Pick Me GirlsOn Monday, Sassysag and Chicandroaming shared local, national, and global news stories with the class, discussing personal anxieties, public health, and global safety concerns. We explored Dr. Lindsey Harvell-Bowman’s research on flight anxiety, which focuses on death anxiety and terror management. Even though statistics show that flying is much safer than driving, many people still […]
Read More Newsroom 3/3/2025According to the Education Data Initiative, the average cost of a year of college in the United States of America is $38,270. The same source provides that the average price of college in 1980 was about $6,041. The difference in these values showcases a 533.504% increase over time. On Monday, January 20th, 2025, President Trump […]
Read More COLLEGE… What is to come?I want everyone to imagine that it is a beautiful day on campus. It is the first nice day since the cold days of winter and you were finally able to dig into your spring clothes. You are currently on the way to class, making your way through the quad, when all of a sudden […]
Read More From Preaching to Harassment: The Unspoken Reality for JMU WomenOn Sunday, March 2nd, the 97th Oscars took place. All eyes were on Emilia Pérez’ lead Karla Sofía Gascón, as she became the first transgender woman to receive an Oscar nomination for best actress. In this musical/thriller film, Karla’s character is a Mexican drug lord who transitions into a transgender woman, Emilia Pérez. Living in […]
Read More Breaking barriers: transgender representation in filmWhen people think of a country music singer, they typically picture a white man in a cowboy hat and boots with a banjo or guitar by his side. This is how country music has been represented in the United States and around the world for as long as I can remember. Country music has been […]
Read More cowboy carter: A new era of country musicTo View the Music Video of “Labour” by Paris Paloma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvU4xWsN7-A The phrase “run like a girl” has long been used as an insult, implying weakness, fragility, and incompetence. But a recent TikTok trend is reclaiming that phrase, transforming it into a powerful statement about women’s endurance, bravery, and survival. Set to Paris Paloma’s song […]
Read More Run Like a Girl: The TikTok Trend Showcasing Women’s Strength and ResilienceOn Monday, February 24th, dietcoke4lyfe shared local, national, and global news stories to the class. Image from The Breeze JMU The first story discussed was the recent fire in Garber Hall, which is located in the middle of the village at JMU. The fire started last Thursday, February 13, around 9 pm and was eventually […]
Read More Newsroom 2/24/25At the end of January, Haley Bieber’s makeup/ skincare brand, Rhode Beauty, released its one-of-a-kind “Peptide Lip Shape” collections. It featured 11 new shades of liners with names such as “press” and “lift,” aligning with the idea of shape and movement. The liners also contain a revolutionary rubber smudging tool on the end of the […]
Read More Tate McRae Champions Body Positivity in Rhode Beauty “Lip Contour” CampaignWinter guard is called a “sport of the arts” because of the mix of artistry and physical demands, but it also rings true when it comes to gender stereotypes found in both performing arts and sports. Even though the guard may spend hours on hair, makeup, and are clad in sequin studded, vibrant uniforms, the […]
Read More “does this flag make me look skinny?” pt. 1In the summer before fourth grade, I went to a summer camp where I contracted a seriouscase of Lyme Disease. At this time, Lymes was not a very researched disease and there was notmuch to be known about its symptoms or its effects. I lived with it for 2 months before theyfinally figured out what […]
Read More Life Without Medication: Journey Through Mental Health and Self-DiscoveryIn March 2024, there were multiple videos going viral on tiktok of women in New York City being punched in the face while walking. At the time when these several incidents occurred, the stories went viral for numerous reasons. It raised lots of concerns for women everywhere, but especially women in NYC. The first time […]
Read More Punching fear: The nyc attacks that shook Women EverywhereIt only took an estimated 4.543 billion years of the earth’s existence for workouts to be tailored to women. In this world of social media, which emphasizes societal constructs of what a woman should or should not look like, we have finally found an answer: it’s different for everyone. For years, the only workouts tailored […]
Read More Working out is for us.Historically, professional sports have held a stigma that their athletes are all macho men. You know the kind of people I’m talking about: Mean Joe Greene and Shaquille “Diesel” O’neal are a couple of prime examples. These are men’s men—Guys who show no weakness, no fear, and no mercy. These athletes set the tone for […]
Read More Combatting the stereotype: Why male Athletes are starting to express themselvesDo you ever imagine what it would be like to live a life where women don’t have to be in debilitating pain once a month for most of their lives? That is the dream of women everywhere who experience hardships during their menstrual cycle. Sadly, it is something women must face in their lives, and […]
Read More The True Enemy of Periods: MenWe all know social media influencer Alix Earle who’s famous for her “Get Ready With Me” videos and beauty advice. Her fans admire her for keeping it real and sharing her personal life. In mid-January, Earle collaborated with the brand Frame to launch her pair of skinny jeans called “The Alix”. The Gen Z influencer […]
Read More Skinny Jeans and Self-ConfidenceSuper Bowl commercials are known for their boldness, humor, and occasional controversy. This year, Novartis, a global pharmaceutical company, took an unexpected approach with their ad “Your Attention Please.” Featuring Hailee Steinfeld and Wanda Sykes, a breast cancer survivor, the commercial aims to raise awareness about breast cancer screenings. The ad cleverly plays on society’s […]
Read More “Your Attention Please”: The Controversy of Effectiveness of Sexualizing Women’s Bodies for Breast Cancer AwarenessJD Vance has been fixated on the United States having “more babies” long before being sworn in as Vice President. Vance complained in a 2021 interview with Fox News of US democrats being “a bunch of childless cat ladies”. While he has since expressed regret for how he phrased this statement, he has stood by […]
Read More why are birth rates in the us declining?On Monday February 10th, ThatScarletWitch shared local, national, and global news stories. Image from Danville Register and Bee The Book Lady, a Virginia resident that started a mission to hand out one million books, is changing lives one story at a time. She started with local county schools and a local jail and has now […]
Read More Newsroom 2/10/25
ShoutOut! James Madison University 