Letters to the Editor
Posted on April 6, 2006

Circles review danced around important event

In Monday’s issue of The Breeze, there was a blurb and photo detailing the events that occurred at the Breakdance Club’s seventh annual charity event, Circles, on Saturday, April 1. While the photography was wonderful, there was no in-depth article written either prior to or following the event, and the information included was inaccurate and in some cases, completely incorrect. A reporter for The Breeze arrived at the doors to the event on Saturday, asking for free admission for herself plus three friends to an event publicly known to be benefiting local charities.

It seems odd to me that The Breeze always has time to report on things like fashion, but when something comes along that is culturally relevant and benefits the community, it is not seen as a priority. As a student newspaper, this particular aspect of the media is extremely valuable and pertinent in providing information that can benefit the community. For the last seven years, the proceeds from Circles have benefited local Harrisonburg charities such as the Boys and Girls Club and Mercy House, not to mention the $4,000 donated to Katrina relief last semester.

The Breakdance Club is not the only organization on campus that helps the community, and it is certainly no more important than any other group, but it strikes me as irresponsible media when an opportunity to further a valuable and established cause is overlooked and underestimated. When students work hard to make a difference and do something worthwhile, a little recognition goes a long way.

Phillip Yudson, senior kinesiology major

Negative Iraq news reports negative events

Monday’s opinion article by Anthony Reidel is yet another example of the continued mischaracterization of the Iraq War. The focus of Mr. Reidel’s piece was to honor Paul Ray Smith, a heroic soldier who gave his life for his men and his country. I join Mr. Reidel in praising this man, and all those like him who serve our country, and I, too, believe that our soldiers don’t receive enough praise for their service. But Mr. Reidel’s use of this example to assert that the media coverage of this conflict is inappropriately biased toward negative events, instead of positives such as this one, is dismissive and unrealistic. By his numbers, 61 percent of national news coverage of the war is “focused on negative topics.” I’ll assume this to mean that the remaining 39 percent is focused on positive topics. Based upon the reality of our nation’s actions in Iraq, this distribution sounds about right. The fact is the results of this war, to date, have been more negative than positive. Despite whatever gains we’ve made in terms of limited freedoms for the Iraqi people, and a supposed (and often-stated) increase in our national security, the war has caused the deaths of more than 2,300 American soldiers and unknown thousands of Iraqis, along with incredibly high financial expenditures far beyond those initially proposed, and, most recently, a surge in Iraqi sectarian violence that looks very much like the foundations of a civil war — not exactly a situation conducive to a people expected to shortly assume political, economic and military control over their country. Whatever future benefits may come from this action on America’s part, at present, the facts are what they are. The bad ones far outweigh the good, and I’d say 61 percent to 39 percent is putting it generously.

Brian DuBoff, senior ISAT major

Lack of coverage sold Breakdance Club short

I picked up a copy of Monday’s issue of The Breeze and was shocked and offended by the lack of story on Circles 7. People complain at JMU about lacking diversity, and being only about partying. This was a chance to prove to JMU that there is something bigger here. Circles is one of the largest hip-hop events on the East Coast, and the fact that it is hosted by the JMU Breakdance Club and takes place on campus is huge. This event brings in people from all over to battle and watch, and deserved more than what it was given.

The Breakdance Club does so much work for charity. Every year we donate what we make from Circles to charities. Last year we donated $7,000 to local charities and to Katrina relief. We are one of the top donators on campus. We also have been donating to the Boys and Girls Club for several years now. None of the money we make from Circles goes toward us, unlike many other organizations on campus who use money they make to throw parties. The Breakdance Club also helps out so many other organizations on and off campus by performing. So besides the money we make from Circles, we are helping others to raise money for their causes all year round.

I don’t know if it has been recognized how important and unique this is, but the lack of coverage let me down, and let the Breakdance Club down.

Lindsay Jaworski, junior graphic design major