THE
S TUDENT PRINTZ www.studentprintz.com
SERVING SOUTHERN MISS SINCE 1927
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Nuking Mississippi|
Volume 99 Issue 17
Remembering the “shot felt ‘round the world” in 1964
Kathryn Miller Executive Editor
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Tom Breshears remembered that eerie morning in October 1964 when the Earth shook in silence from his parents’ home near Baxterville, Mississippi. The whole community knew it was coming, so around 10 a.m., he walked outside in his yard and sat down on the ground. He said an engineer drove by his home and said, “Oh my God, get up off the ground. This thing will burst your insides.” Then, three distinctive ripples heaved up the ground under his feet. “You ever seen a rock thrown in a puddle? The way the ripples come out away from it? Can you imagine that in three-foot high dirt?” Breshears said today, as he compares it to the blast made by Project Salmon, a U.S. government nuclear test at Tatum Salt Dome, 2,700 feet below ground. Oct. 22 marked the 50th anniversary of Project Salmon, the first nuclear test east of the Mississippi River, according to the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Legacy Management. The Oct. 28, 1964, Student Printz shows a photo of a Confederate flag that “waves in the breeze over ground zero, the spot where a five-kiloton nuclear bomb was detonated.” Before the caption, one wrote the blast was the “shot felt ‘round the world.” On that date, about 400 residents were evacuated from the area and were paid $10 per adult and $5 per child for their inconvenience. A week after the blast, more than 400 nearby residents filed damage claims, reporting damage to their home or their water
HATTIESBURG
BAXTERVILLE
Illustration by Cody Bass
wells were dry, according to Mississippi History Now. About 28 miles away in Hattiesburg, the shock waves were felt by residents, including the editor of the Hattiesburg American, who said the newspaper building wobbled for three minutes. Called Project Dribble, the series of tests were designed to improve the capability of the U.S. or its allies in
NEWS Gary Johnson Former presidential candidate discusses libertarian values.
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detecting, monitoring and identifying underground nuclear detonations by other world powers, such as the USSR. The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and the U.S. Department of Defense detonated the Salmon Test in 1964 and Sterling Test in 1966. The Salmon Test was about one-third of the power of the atomic bomb that
FEATURE Community impact Baxterville resident recalls 1964 atomic bomb test.
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destroyed Hiroshima in 1945, which killed approximately 80,000 people. According to David Allen Burke’s book, “Atomic Testing in Mississippi: Project Dribble and the Quest for Nuclear Weapons Treaty Verification in the Cold War Era,” after the AEC tested various salt domes in Mississippi, it selected Tatum Salt Dome for the Salmon Test
FEATURE Unequal pay Women in the workforce still deal with discrimination.
strictly for its underground rock formation. The idea stemmed from the Cold War circa 1947, a point in time that the U.S. and the USSR were in direct competition with the development of nuclear weapons, according to Mississippi History Now. In 1963, Great Britain, the Soviet Union and the U.S.
See NUKE, 3
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SPORTS Football Eagles face 4-3 Bulldogs in Blackout Game.
OPINION
Page 10 | Thursday, October 23, 2014
LIFE
College life could be overrated Morgan Milburn Printz Reporter
I cannot tell you how tired I am of hearing how college is “the best four years of your life.” Don’t get me wrong; I realize I am lucky to have the ability to get a university education. Only 28.5 percent of adults in the U.S. have a bachelor’s degree or higher according to the United States Census Bureau. Though I do have a good time, I am hoping this is not as good as my life gets. It doesn’t seem that I’m the only one that feels this way. Though TV shows and movies show college as almost nothing but parties, hookups and good times, the reality is that a large number of college students have a tough time. In fact, a high number of students report feeling depressed at one time or another. Thirty percent of college students reported “feeling ‘so depressed that it was difficult to function’ at some time in the past year,” according to the National Institute of Mental Health. That’s almost one third. How are so many people feeling this way when they are supposed to be having the time of their lives? It makes sense that college is difficult. For many people college is the first time they have lived on their own, been
Kelley Joe Brumfield/Printz As college students we often use social media as a way to exaggerate our lives to seem more fun than they are in reality. After they choose the perfect filter for their selfie, no one will ever know that freshman Courtney Esch and senior Miranda Levy wear Nike shorts and tennis shoes when they post it on Instagram.
away from childhood friends, worried about money or had to manage a difficult academic course load. All this new responsibility can certainly lead to high levels of stress. Adding to the issue is
Facebook. Though social media can be a helpful tool for keeping in touch with family and friends in different cities, it can also make you feel like everyone else is having “the best four years of their life”
that you are supposed to be having. Anyone with Facebook, or any form of social media, knows that people tend to put only positive things out there for everyone to see. So all you see are the good things happening in people’s lives. It is nice to see good things happening to your friends, but nothing can make a bad day worse than seeing everyone else having the time of their lives and wondering why you’re not. Part of the problem is that while the expectation is that college will be the best four years of your life, you are bound to be disappointed at one time or another. I know I had incredibly high expectations for college. Halfway through my senior year of high school I started a countdown to when I would move into my college dorm.
Now here I am in year three of the “best four years of my life.” I have always been incredibly independent, and in that sense college is fantastic. I have met many amazing people, had the opportunity to travel and grown a lot as a person, but I have also had to turn down fun nights out in order to stay in and do homework, missed my friends and family and at times felt exhausted both physically and emotionally. We need to start thinking about college a little more realistically. Like every stage in life there are good and bad parts; new friendships that will last for life, drifting away from old friends, fun parties, sleep deprivation, freedom, finals, the list goes on and on. So, though college is great, please stop saying it’s supposed to be the best time of my life.
SPORTS
Thursday, October 23, 2014 | Page 11
COLUMN
The good, the bad and the ugly of the NFL Joshua Campbell Sports Editor
The NFL is a multi-billion dollar corporation that has thrived over the last two decades, becoming America’s favorite professional sport. But over the last few years, the league has faced unprecedented scrutiny for a myriad of incidents. These incidents include lawsuits filed by former players, countless arrests and accusations made against owners and players alike. The biggest black eye on the league began in August 2011 when close to 5,000 former players jointly filed a lawsuit against the league requesting the NFL to shell out money to those who have suffered from longterm brain issues stemming from concussions sustained in the NFL.
I still to this day have no recollection of ever having played in that game. So whenever I see footage of that game, it’s like somebody else is out there doing it. -Troy
Aikman
However, the concussion debate actually began 17 years prior when Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman suffered a concussion in the 1993 NFC Championship game. Aikman later told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he had no recollection of ever playing in the game. “I didn’t know what planet I was on,” he said. “I still to this day have no recollection of ever having played in that game. So whenever I see footage of that game, it’s like somebody else is out there doing it.” Aikman later retired in 2000, citing concussions and back issues as his main reason for leaving the game during his retirement press conference. Aikman’s case was only the beginning of the concussion epidemic though. In September 2004, former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Justin Strzelczyk died in a car accident. Earlier that
year he began showing signs of depression and erratic behavior. Following his death, Dr. Bennet Olamu discovered that he suffered from CTE, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, which according to WebMD “is marked by a buildup of abnormal proteins in the brain. It can cause memory loss, trouble concentrating, impulsive and erratic behavior, depression and eventually dementia.” Several boxers including Muhammad Ali suffer from the disease, but Strzelczyk was only the second former player to be diagnosed with CTE. In 2005, former Steeler Terry Long committed suicide by drinking antifreeze at the age of 45. Dr. Olamu examined his brain after his death and discovered that Long was also suffering from CTE. In 2006, former Philadelphia Eagle Andre Waters committed suicide at the age of 44; Dr. Olamu discovered Waters also suffered from CTE. Dave Duerson, Ray Easterling and Junior Seau also committed suicide and it was discovered that all three suffered from CTE. Duerson committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest, but left a note saying, “Please, see that my brain is given to the NFL’s brain bank.” There are hundreds, if not thousands, of cases where former players are suffering long-term effects from suffering concussions while playing in the NFL. One of the more horrific stories comes from former New England Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson. In an interview with The Boston Globe’s Jackie MacMullan in 2007, Johnson said that he could pinpoint when his health first began to go downhill. In August 2002, Johnson suffered a concussion in a preseason game against the New York Giants. He blacked out for a moment and was ruled out for the remainder of the game. Upon returning to the practice facility, he was issued a blue practice jersey, indicating full contact. He immediately went to the trainer who said that it was a mistake. He was then given a red practice jersey, indicating no contact. However, during practice an assistant trainer ran over to him with a blue jersey right before one of the team’s more physical drills. “I looked at the trainer and said, ‘Who told you to give me this?’” Johnson said. “He just walked away. He didn’t want to say. But I knew who it was.
the ugly
Andy Marlin/USA TODAY NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addresses the media at a press conference at New York Hilton Sept. 19.
It was Bill (Belichick). I was so mad I wanted to scream. But I put the damn thing on anyway. I had my pride. They weren’t going to beat me.” Johnson revealed that over the course of his career, he was diagnosed with three to four concussions officially. However, he admitted that he suffered closer to 30 concussions over his 10-year NFL career. Since retiring, he has suffered from depression, memory loss, dizziness, fatigue, irritability and acute sensitivity to noise among other symptoms. Johnson suffered days where he could not even make it out of bed and could not face any light. Today, Johnson remains under the care of concussion expert Dr. Robert Cantu. In August 2013, the NFL agreed to a $765 million settlement to pay former players who have suffered concussions in the NFL. However, there are still details to be ironed out. The NFL is still figuring out how the funds should be disbursed regarding which injuries deserve what amount of compensation along with how to deal with potential injuries and medical findings in the future. The NFL has also made strides through officiating and disciplining to try to prevent concussions. Nearly every blow to head or helmet-to-helmet contact is an unnecessary roughness penalty today. Also, players are fined for such hits and repeat offenders are sometimes suspended. But simply calling penalties
and disciplining players will never erase concussions from professional football. The game is too violent and played at such a high speed that it is impossible for a player to decide in a splitsecond to hit a player lower. It is a catch-22 at this point. Many current players have gone on record saying that they would rather be hit in the head rather than in their legs, in fear of a major leg injury such as a torn ACL. The NFL is simply in a loselose situation. They will never be able to rid the game of
concussions and the long-term effects that come from them regardless of how many rules are made or how many fines or suspensions are handed out. It is simply a part of the game. There is only one certainty in the matter. Research on concussions and CTE need to continue to take place for the foreseeable future because the recent findings are terrifying. Dr. Ann McKee told FRONTLINE in October 2013 that of the 46 brains she has examined from former NFL players, 45 were diagnosed with CTE.
SPORTS
Page 12 | Thursday, October 23, 2014
FOOTBALL
Southern Miss looks for second conference win James Johnson Printz Reporter
Susan Broadbridge/Printz Coach Todd Monken prepares for the game against The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa Sept. 13.
The Golden Eagles captured their first road win of the season last weekend at North Texas and head coach Todd Monken said his team enjoyed a solid day of preparation for Louisiana Tech on Tuesday. Southern Miss is coming off a 30-20 victory against conference foe North Texas and hoping the momentum carries over to Saturday when they face the Bulldogs at home. This matchup, set to kick off at 2:30 p.m., is the annual Blackout Game. Southern Miss is now 3-4 and third in the western division of Conference USA. Last week, USM was able to get Jalen Richard in the back field in his first game since he was knocked out of week one’s contest against Mississippi State. “He gets it,” Monken said. “He was our leading receiver against North Texas. He can route run, he can catch and he can protect.” Southern Miss might lean on
Richard this week in order to keep a La. Tech offense that averages 33 points a game off the field. Against North Texas, Southern Miss was able to control the tempo of the game by possessing the ball for 37 minutes and 11 seconds. La. Tech’s defense is coming into this week’s match up with some momentum of their own, as their linebacker, Terrell Pinson, was named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week. He registered seven total tackles with a solo stop for a loss of two yards, two interceptions, a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown, two pass breakups and a quarterback hurry last week. Defensively, La. Tech gets off the field on third down, with opponents converting only 35 percent of their third down attempts. With USM’s offense in for a difficult challenge, the defense will need to play big and keep La. Tech out of the end zone. La. Tech is averaging 30 passing attempts a game and quarterback Cody Sokol has a tendency to
have a couple of errant throws, throwing eight interceptions so far this season. USM’s defense will have opportunities to return to their early season form, when they averaged two takeaways a game. One of the big reasons for La. Tech’s quick start is because of the play of outstanding running back Kenneth Dixon, who the Golden Eagles will have to try and stop this weekend. Dixon has 724 all-purpose yards and 11 total touchdowns on the season. He possesses some big play ability, running for a 99-yard touchdown against Louisiana-Lafayette. “It’s going to be a real challenge for us,” Monken said. “We’ve continued to play better and better as well. Not always perfect at times, but we’ve continued to get better.” In order for USM to get to the .500 mark, they will need to control the game clock and not put themselves in third and long situations. Defensively, the Golden Eagles will need to capitalize on turnover opportunities if given.
GOLF
Spriddle finishes third in Bulldog Invitational Jacob Kemp Printz Reporter
Devon Spriddle played the best golf of her career and landed herself in third place at the Old Waverly Bulldog Invitational hosted by Mississippi State. Her team fared well, too, and shot 320, good enough to place 12th. However, the weekend was about Spriddle. Spriddle fired on all cylinders on all three days of the tournament and shot an even par, the best finish of her career and first top-five finish. She finished the tournament only nine shots behind the leader, Ally McDonald from host Mississippi State. Spriddle started things off on Monday when she shot an incredible five birdies on the day and was only two shots off the lead. However, Jennifer Nguyen would not be outdone by her
teammate and shot a career-best 73 and left her tied at 14th. Not surprisingly, host Mississippi State led after the first day after they shot a three-under par and five shots ahead of secondplace South Florida. MSU’s Jessica Peng led the tournament until McDonald took over the following day. USM’s Nguyen did not continue her success of the first day and shot a career-low 152, good enough for 36th place. Spriddle improved on her second day at the tournament and moved ahead from fifth to fourth place. The lead did grow from just two shots to four though as Spriddle was still in the hunt for the individual lead with only one day to go. Mississippi State dominated on the green and further increased their lead from five shots to 22 shots, this time ahead of FIU and Memphis.
On the final day, Spriddle shot an excellent 76 and is just the fifth Lady Eagle to shoot an even par. Ally McDonald would go on to finish first and lead the host Bulldogs to the team win as well. Jennifer Nguyen ended the tournament with the best game of her career after a rough second day and finished 39th while shooting 14-over par. Belle Abrille would post an 85 to end her tournament at 25-over par and tied for 63rd place. MacKenzie Kelly played in her first tournament of the year and did not disappoint and finished 68th after she shot a 26-over par. Emily Ross and Nicola Callander would round out the Lady Eagles in 70th and 74th place respectively. The Lady Eagles will participate in the UAB Fall Beach Bash in Gulf Shores, Alabama on Oct. 27.
Courtesy Photo Sophomore Devon Spriddle finished in third place at the Old Waverly Bulldog Invitational, hosted by Mississippi State and played at the par-72, 6,229-yard Old Waverly Golf Club Wednesday.
THE S TUDENT PRINTZ
Page 2 | Thursday, October 23, 2014
Editorial Staff Executive Editor Kathryn Miller kathryn.miller@eagles.usm.edu 850.565.0812 Managing Editor Alan Rawls gregory.rawls@eagles.usm.edu Multimedia/Web Editor Crystal Garner crystal.garner@eagles.usm.edu News Editor Nikki Smith ashly.smith@eagles.usm.edu Sports Editor Joshua Campbell joshua.m.campbell@eagles.usm.edu Design Editor Parker Brewer parker.brewer@eagles.usm.edu Photo Editor Susan Broadbridge susan.broadbridge@eagles.usm.edu Assistant Photo Editor Kara Davidson kara.davidson@eagles.usm.edu Graphic Designers Cody Bass cody.bass@eagles.usm.edu Julie Gore julia.gore@eagles.usm.edu Social Media/Copy Editor Yolanda Cruz yolanda.cruz@eagles.usm.edu News Content Adviser Chuck Cook 601.266.4288 chuck.cook@usm.edu Ad Graphic Designer Katherine Frye katherine.frye@eagles.usm.edu Advertising Manager Lesley Sanders-Wood 601.266.5188 lesley.sanders@usm.edu Advertising e-mail printzad@usm.edu
Source:
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Opinions Opinions expressed in The Student Printz are those of the writer and not necessarily those of The Student Printz, its publications manager, USM, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning or the USM Board of Student Publications.
Editorial Policy The views represented in The Student Printz’s columns and editorials do not necessarily represent those of the faculty, staff or administration of The University of Southern Mississippi. We welcome letters to the editor representing similar and contrasting opinions. To be eligilible for publication, all submissions must include name, class distinction, major, phone number and email address. Submissions should be emailed to printzeditors@gmail.com by 5 p.m. Friday. Please limit them to 500 words or less. The Student Printz reserves the right to refuse publication or edit any material on the basis of clarity, space or journalistic ethics.
ACROSS 8 Post alternative drugs for party (8) 9 Voiced approval about vehicle returning sage (6) 10 Element in central heating component working (5) 11 Fifty divide whip round to visit a place in India (8) 12 It could be cream for char with just a taste of sugar (8) 13 Unit used to isolate new inflammatory disease (4) 15 Germanic person embraces Greek character by the river (7) 17 Maiden lady, English, kept strange pet (7) 20 Man returns without King (4) 22 Road that’s rebuilt includes a way to get to something mostly found between 20 & 15 (8) 25 Abandoned man returned carrying something of historic interest (8) 26 Burrow between 20 & 24 (5) 27 Shortly to believe foreign capital used for archaic tomb (6) 28 Reintroduce endless work for flatterer (8)
DOWN 1 Voluble outburst of horseplay’s on the up at game to see American (9) 2 A friend with short dress in the Middle East (3,5) 3 Hesitation with the opening of the canal (6) 4 Causing laughter about short cut (7) 5 Summon attendance where taxes are collected (8) 6 A road outside where the dead are kept? (6) 7 Cut short walk around state (5) 14 Two letters about land remove prejudice and superstition (9) 16 NHS lie involved having a man outside to protect (8) 18 Something made with skill and creativity in the little Italian restaurant before European added salt! (8) 19 Purposeful procedure shown by Spooner`s men on the course (7) 21 Would be holy man loses direction becoming bitter (6) 23 Rudolf had his end away in a barrel (3,3) 24 A day to celebrate 23`s upbringing (5)
DIRTY BIRDS • Wednesday, Oct. 15, petit larceny was reported at the Payne Center between 6:15 p.m. and 7 p.m. The case remains open. • On Monday, Oct. 20, auto burglary was reported on research drive. The incident occurred between 8:30 and 10:15 p.m. The case remains open.
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NEWS
Thursday, October 23, 2014 | Page 3
ON CAMPUS
University Forum hosts ex-governor Gary Johnson Johnathan Parr Printz Reporter
Gary Johnson, former twoterm Republican governor of New Mexico and 2012 Libertarian presidential candidate, visited The University of Southern Mississippi Oct. 21 to speak about his seven principles of good government at University Forum. In the public forum, Gary Johnson detailed different aspects of his life. In 1975 he graduated from The University of New Mexico with a degree in political science. After college Johnson founded Big J Enterprises, his successful construction company, where he learned how to “hire and fire folks.” He decided to run for governor of New Mexico as a Republican in 1994, even though he had never been involved in politics before, and the state has twice as many Democratic voters as it does Republican voters. Republican Party leaders said that he could not win. “But, I did,” Johnson said. He won re-election in 1998 by a higher margin than his first run. After providing the background on himself, Johnson began to relay some of his policies. “I am a flaming liberal when it comes to social issues,” Johnson said. He provided examples: same-sex marriage should be legal, and
abortion should be a choice for the woman, not the government, said Johnson. While he is socially liberal, he is also a fiscally conservative, freemarket capitalist. On taxation, he said he believes in removal of the income, corporate and capital gains tax. He said a fair tax—“a tax on consumption”—would be an economic reform that would create “tens of millions of (private sector) jobs.” Currently, Johnson is CEO of Cannabis Sativa, Inc. The company’s mission is “to market legal cannabis products throughout the world to the fullest extent permitted by law,” according to its website. While hinting at possibly having future political endeavors, Johnson playfully stated that he has achieved his dream job as CEO of Cannabis Sativa, Inc. His seven principles are: become reality driven, always be honest and tell the truth, always do what is right and fair, determine your goals, make sure that people who ought to know what you are doing know what you are doing, do not hesitate to deliver bad news and be willing to do whatever it takes to get the job completed. The event was part of the lecture series that makes up University Forum. “Every semester, we invite thoughtprovoking authors and lecturers from all walks of life who share
GREEK LIFE Fraternity vacates house On Oct. 17, a special administrative hearing was held regarding the Delta Mu chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity (Pike) following the hearing of former pledge, David Nottis. Nottis, 19, was arrested in connection with the theft and deaths of two flamingos from the Hattiesburg Zoo Oct. 8. Pike president David Sliman, alumni advisors, Dean of Students Eddie Holloway and a threeperson board were present for the hearing. The panel deliberated and decided Tuesday to suspend Pike indefinitely. “First, Pi Kappa Alpha
was found responsible for failing to govern the behavior of its members, resulting in harm to the Southern Miss and Hattiesburg community,” said Joe Paul, vice president of student affairs. Members are banned from hosting Pike meetings on or off campus and those living in the fraternity house must vacate by Friday at 5 p.m. These students have been offered on-campus living at no additional cost. If they choose to move off campus, they will receive a refund.
one thing in common: their message sparks discussion and debate,” said Alen Hajnal, coordinator of University Forum and a professor with the Department of Psychology at USM. Johnson exposes Libertarian Party ideas to students who may not be aware of them, and he provides an alternative to the two-party system that dominates political life, said Hajnal. Amy Brogan, a senior sociology major at USM, played a role in getting Johnson to speak at University Forum. “I started investigating the Libertarian Party and discovered that their ideals and my ideals matched,” Brogan said. “I contacted the chair of the Mississippi Libertarian Party who wanted me to get Gary Johnson to speak (at USM).” This motivated her to contact the Honors College and get Johnson to speak. “He agreed to speak readily, and his staff was very helpful in managing his visit,” Hajnal said. University Forum is a series of lectures that occurs in both the fall and spring semesters. For more information about Forum events, check the Honors College website.
NUKE
continued from page 1
Partial Ban Test Treaty, which prohibited testing of nuclear bombs in the atmosphere or underwater, according to Burke’s book. According to Mississippi History Now, a number of nuclear testing experts said it was not a good idea to prohibit underground testing, because some nations might cheat by secretly testing nuclear weapons underground. At The University of Southern Mississippi, faculty members remember the explosion and reported that one can still find minor cracks from the blast around campus. “(President David) McCain complained for years about the cracked walls in his residence,” said William “Bud” Kirkpatrick, a former USM employee and the longest, continuously serving employee at Southern Miss before he retired in 2002. Former USM President McCain lived in what is now the Ogletree House, which was formerly the president’s house. President Emeritus Aubrey Lucas also remembered a long, distinctive crack that can be found staggering along the
Brittny Roberts/Printz Former presidential candidate and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson spoke Tuesday night in Bennett Auditorium. Johnson spoke on his views of politics as part of the University Forum lecture series.
east side entrance of the Lucas Administration Building. In 1964, 30-year-old Lucas was the USM Registrar. “I do remember some discussion about there being cracks in buildings on campus, including the Lucas Administration Building,” Lucas said. “My recollection was that the cracks were caused by the Tatum Salt Dome blast.” Lucas’ wife, Ella, also remembered her concern about what the blast might do to the atmosphere, especially the release of radiation because she worried for their four children. According to thenewamerican. com, Mississippi Historical society said, “some Lamar County residents complained of lingering health effects in the decades after the blast. Some argued that the number of cancer deaths in the Tatum Salt Dome area is higher than national averages.” However, they said no reports offer anything to support such health-risk claims. According to Hattiesburg American archives, Mississippi Gov. Paul Johnson favored the nuclear project and announced the possibility to test in Lamar County in 1960. Senators John Stennis and James Eastland were
eager to get federal money from atomic technology for the state. In fact, many state and federal officials had a goal of using Project Dribble as the beginning of “a long, financial boon to the area,” according to Hattiesburg American archives. On Feb. 3, 1964, the Hattiesburg American published an article about the economic impact of Project Dribble, predicting the amount to be a staggering $15-20 million. However, the tests never resulted in any long-term economic development to the area. Many residents in Lamar County see Project Salmon in 1964 as a distant memory from their younger years. Younger citizens, college students included, typically have never heard of Project Dribble, said Stephen Cresswell, a professor of history at West Virginia Wesleyan College and contributing author to Mississippi History Now. “Many people will argue that nuclear weapons are an important part of a strong defense strategy for nations that control them, while many others believe that nuclear weapons make the world a very unsafe place,” Cresswell said. “(They have) potential to wreak tremendous harm to the environment and to end human society as we know it.”
NEWS
Page 4 | Thursday, October 23, 2014
INTERNATIONAL
Teenager awarded Nobel Peace Prize Yolanda Cruz
Since her recovery, when she had to get a titanium Malala Yousafzai, 17, plate put in her skull to became the youngest protect her brain, she has person to receive the become an activist for Nobel Peace Prize on women’s rights. In trying to kill Malala, Oct. 10. the Taliban made a Many people know Malala because on Oct. mistake. They wanted 9, 2012, a gunman shot Malala when she was traveling home from school. She survived and has continued to speak out on the importance of education, according to Biography.com Malala was nominated in 2013, and was nominated again and won for 2014. Malala Yousafzai/Courtesy Photo Social Media/Copy Editor
to silence her, but they amplified her voice. Her message has been heard around the world, from cramped classrooms to the halls of the U.N. and national governments. The Taliban made her a powerful symbol. A story as tragic and triumphant as hers can raise an army of disciples, according to a story by TIME magazine. She continues not only to inspire girls her age in the Middle East, but also young women across the globe hoping to join her fight for human rights. “As a feminist and a
supporter of the universal right to education, I am inspired by Malala’s work and life,” said Dru Mozingo, a senior political science major with a human rights minor. “Her courage and sacrifice will continue to be the example that all nations and government should follow. Everyone, girl or boy, has a right to education. I hope that her influence will further human rights for all of global citizens,” she said. Others are thankful they do not have to be put in such a situation.
“I think she’s an amazing young woman with an unbelievable amount of courage, said Taylor Provencher, a junior political science major. “Most people would not have survived what she did, let alone go on to become a world renowned advocate for peace in an area that hasn’t seen peace for a long time.” As a Nobel Peace Prize winner, Malala will join the ranks of many renowned human rights activists and be remembered throughout history for her efforts.
ON CAMPUS
Gulf Coast acquires program for student-veterans Mary Sergeant
Printz Reporter & Photographer
The University of Southern Mississippi has announced that its Gulf Coast campus will begin to offer an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program for those students who have spent time serving in the United States military. Patsy Anderson is the director of the Veteran’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program. “Currently the military, since it is pulling out of Afghanistan, is discharging a significant amount of service members,” she said. “And we have a nursing shortage, off and on. We need to put our soldiers to work and we need to improve the health care of our nation.” The Division of Nursing, Bureaus of Health Professions, the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services granted Southern Miss a three-year grant of $1.1 million to start its program.
“This grant serves to bridge the gap for veterans who have encountered complications in gaining academic credit for their military health care training while placing them in a superior BSN career path at one of the finest and most progressive nursing schools across the United States,” said Retired Maj. Gen. Jeff Hammond, director of veterans and military student services at Southern Miss. The degree program will begin in Spring 2015. During that semester, student-veterans will be able to finish their basic prerequisite courses. They will also be able to take 11 hours in assessment classes that will determine if they are capable of skipping some of the classes other nursing students are required to take. If the students prove to have knowledge of the subjects tested in the assessment classes, they will qualify for the fasttrack program allowing them to only spend four semesters in nursing school, rather than the five that are
typically required. After the four semesters, they will be able to sit for the state licensing exam. “Our student-veterans possess many of the most critical skills needed in caring for others: leadership, discipline, maturity, a global perspective, diversity of thought and higher graduation rates,” Hammond said. The grant will allow Southern Miss to offer student-veterans mentoring, counseling and other additional student support services. The university will also have the ability to assist studentveterans with any mental health and stress issues that could be plaguing them. Financial assistance will also be given to these students. “Student-veterans will be able to capitalize on the Post 9-11 GI Bill Education Benefits while attending class on the (USM Gulf Park campus) which is designed to cover their higher education expense,” Hammond said. “Also, application and out-of-state tuition
Photo credit: William Colgin
fees will be waived for our student-veterans.” Gulf Park campus is located near both an Air Force and a Navy base, providing affordable living arrangements. Also, the Gulf Coast is home to a veteran’s assistance hospital and many veteran’s service organizations. During the course of the next three years, Southern Miss hopes to find that these student-veterans qualify to skip more than the 11 hours that are offered to
them now. “Our College of Nursing will deliver the highest quality education to men and women with great experience and allow them to pursue a fouryear degree efficiently and effectively at our Gulf Park campus,” President Rodney Bennett said in a USM press release. For more information on the program, visit www. usm.edu/gulfcoast/collegenursing/veterans-bachelorscience-nursing-degree.
FEATURE
Thursday, October 23, 2014 | Page 5
LIFE
Groups raise animal cruelty awareness Karyn Lewis Printz Reporter
There is a shocking amount of animal cruelty cases reported in the media daily, and with recent controversy over the flamingo deaths in Hattiesburg, it is only appropriate to bring further awareness to the ongoing battle to end animal abuse. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that nearly one million animals are abused or killed in connection with domestic violence each year. HumaneSociety.org reports the media reveals the most commonly reported victims of animal cruelty cases are dogs, particularly pitbull types. The Hub City Humane Society takes in an average of 1,800 animals per year. Many of the animals are in poor condition. “Perhaps 5 percent have injuries associated with being hurt by a person in some way. If the animal has been kept on a chain it is usually damaged emotionally,” said Brenda Sumrall, doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) on the board for Hub City Humane Society and owner of Advanced Pet Care. Most animal abuse and neglect cases go unreported. “As a veterinarian, it is very disheartening to see animals abused in any way. Some of these pets are vicious but it is a very small percentage. Usually the aggressive ones are just frightened,” Sumrall said. For a better understanding of the term neglect, the Humane Society explains it as “not giving an animal the right food, water, shelter or vet care.” Because most neglected animals are in an unhealthy state for extensive periods of time, they can suffer just as much as animals who are purposefully harmed. “Most animals are grossly neglected, but some do show evidence of abuse. Scout, a young terrier mixed breed, was found by a young man recently in a rural area of south Mississippi. She had a telephone cord embedded in the skin around her neck and required surgical debridement by a veterinarian,” said Christine Gibson, DVM of Animal Advocate. Shelters often euthanize severely abused and aggressive animals and even resort to euthanization for unaggressive
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animals as a result of a lack of space. “Some of the animals that we have tried to rescue have been vicious,” Gibson said. “There are hundreds of animals being euthanized in shelters across the country every day that have never shown aggression nor have they bitten anybody. In some situations it takes a veterinary professional and sedatives to capture these poor creatures and to see that they receive a humane death. Isn’t it ironic that we use the word ‘humane’ in these cases?” Raising awareness of animal cruelty issues start within your community. “Humane protection laws are one solution when common sense and decency fail,” Gibson said. “Taking responsibility for your own pets or your roommates pets seems like a no brainer, but many wellmeaning people are guilty of letting unaltered pets
roam free. They are also guilty of not providing basic veterinary care for their pets.” Mississippi has strengthened its animal cruelty laws and is
working toward creating safer environments for animals. “The laws in Mississippi are frustrating but are getting stronger. Now abuse can be a
felony charge,” Sumrall said. “To become more involved read up on the laws and contact elected officials about areas you feel are very lax.”
Page 6 | Thursday, October 23, 2014
FEATURE
NUKE MISS.
Resident tells rendition of shock wave Kathryn Miller Executive Editor
About two miles before the locked gates to Tatum Salt Dome lied a dirt-road entrance to Tom Breshears’ home he has inhabited since 1974. A halfmile down the dirt road, his old wooden house appeared with overgrown grass and trees and old equipment littering his lot. On Breshears’ farm, there were large bales of hay and two large tractors. Breshears, 68, lived in Baxterville, Mississippi, a city situated next to Purvis, most of his life and remembered the morning in October 1964 when three distinctive ripples shook the earth three miles from his parent’s home. “It was something to see,” he said, describing the scene that looked exactly like the ripples a rock makes when it is thrown into a puddle. Breshears sat on a rusted tractor scoop wearing blue snap front cotton overalls, a Nasonex camouflage cap and a silver watch. He steadied himself with a wooden cane tied with colorful scraps of fabric, tattered at its edges and talked about the memory he carried 50 years later. Eighteen-year-old Breshears was just released from the hospital from knee surgery a few days before the blast. He lived in his parents’ house a few miles away during this time. The government told residents that the test was scheduled for 10 a.m. Breshears said he walked outside in his yard and sat down on the ground. He said an engineer drove by his home and said, “Oh my God, get up off the ground. This thing will burst your insides.” Breshears stood up and shortly after, the shock waves began. “You could see the trees moving up in the air,” he said. Breshears also described the ripples as a “three-and-half foot terrace row running at you about 75 to 100 yard-lot wide.” During the blast, the area was strangely quiet with the blast being 2,700 feet below the surface. “My mom and dad lost 14 head of cows that day,” he said. “Some (were) only three or four years old.” Breshears remembered that cracked walls and ceilings were not the only part of the atomic bomb aftermath. Once the blast dissipated, residents’
water turned off. He said more reported damage was in the areas surrounding Baxterville, such as Hattiesburg being only about 28 miles away. “But it wasn’t their fault. You must remember that it’s not the (government’s) fault,” he said sarcastically when discussing the community effects of Project Dribble. According to Tatum Family Business Records from USM Digital Collections, more than a thousand property claims were made in the months after the test and owners received maximum compensation of $5,000. Today, Breshears’ rendition marks the anniversary of an event comparable to a “shot felt ‘round the world.”
Aaron J. Stewart/Printz Tom Breshears poses by his farm behind his home in Baxterville located about two miles from the nuclear test site. On Oct. 22, 1964, Breshears witnessed the shock wave that he described as “three-and-half foot terrace row running at you about 75 to 100 yard-lot wide.”
Kelly Joe Brumfield/Printz Oct. 22 marked the 50th anniversary of the first nuclear test conducted east of the Mississippi River. President Emeritus Aubrey Lucas stands next to a diagonal crack on the east side of the Southern Miss Administration Building. Lucas said the distinctive crack was damage from Project Salmon.
FEATURE
Thursday, October 23, 2014 | Page 7
Aaron J. Stewart/Printz Locked gates guard the entrance to the Tatum Salt Dome area, where the underground nuclear explosion took place in 1964 between Baxterville and Purvis.
Aaron J. Stewart/Printz Cattle skulls rest upon a barrel outside the home of Tom Breshears’ home in Baxterville. He said local cattle died due to Project Salmon’s detonation during midday when most of the cattle lied on the ground.
Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Moncrief Photograph Collection Tatum Salt Dome, Lamar County, nuclear test, Oct. 22, 1964. As pictured and identified in a Hattiesburg American newspaper article, Oct. 23, 1964, Horace Burge home “ramsacked (sic) by blast” about two miles from ground zero. Burge surveys damage.
Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Moncrief Photograph Collection Tatum Salt Dome, Lamar County, nuclear test, Oct. 22, 1964. Seismograph machine at official observation point.
FEATURE
Page 8 | Thursday, October 23, 2014
NATIONAL
Modern women still face unequal pay Lindsey Kelley Printz Reporter
In the Declaration of Independence, the forefathers of America embraced the truth that “all men are created equal.” However, they conveniently left out if women were entitled to these selfevident truths, a hypocrisy whispered even today as women struggle against inherent sexism in today’s modern workforce. According to Census Bureau figures, despite women comprising 47 percent of the working population of the United States, the median income of a female working full-time will be 23 percent less than her male counterpart. According to the National Women’s Law Center, while some states have pushed for pay equality, the State of Mississippi remains in the lower tier, with women making from 70 to 77 cents to the male worker’s dollar. While some may argue that women tend to work in lower tier, lower paying jobs, these assumptions hold little water. According to the the Journal of Organizational Behavior, even while working in traditionally femaledominated careers such as education, nursing or human resources, men still manage to earn more money and rise faster through the ranks than their female counterparts. Victoria Sappington, a senior education major, explained her idea that men are paid more in the education fields because of their rarity, specifically in primary and secondary education. “If there’s a male who wants to be teacher, schools and districts are willing to pay them more because it makes their school look more well rounded,” she said. “They’re like unicorns.” In higher education, the discrimination does not end. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and
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Council for Graduate Schools, while the majority of people graduating with doctorates are women, only 28 percent of tenured professors are female. This small percentage of female professors make on average over $280 less per week than male faculty. Kate Green, a professor of political science, brought the issue home and explained that even on a progressive campus like Southern Miss, women still make less. “In the business school, they make the most money, yet have the least women,” she said. “Then, when you look at the colleges that are dominated by women such as the College of Health, their average salaries were much lower.”
She explained that even in female-dominated colleges, male-dominated departments within those colleges made a much higher average salary than departments that were majority female, giving the example of the School of Human Performance. “That’s even within a department,” she said. Another issue women face is the lack of females in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) career fields. According to the Department of Commerce, women make up a mere 24 percent of the STEM workforce. Also, engineers are the second-largest STEM occupational group, but only 1 in 7 engineers is female. There are several
explanations as to the lack of females in STEM careers, including but not limited to hierarchical segregation, biological gender differences or lack of female interest in the sciences. However, Harvard University professor Margaret Rossiter explains that women may naturally experience “territorial segregation,” in which women wander to careers with more women due to a lack of support in STEM fields where they are outnumbered by men. This creates a lack of positive role models in the industries for girls to look up to and emulate. Jocelyn Goldfein, director of engineering at Facebook, said in a recent
interview that the process was a vicious cycle. “The reason there aren’t more women computer scientists is because there aren’t more women computer scientists,” she said to Associated Press. These numbers may be discouraging, but it is important to remember that things will change if people push forward and enlighten the new generation. Green said the best way to help end sexism in the workplace is to raise and educate the children of society. “If we can fix education, we can fix the problem,” she said. “Change is up to (all of us). Change yourself, (and you can) change the world.”
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Thursday, October 23, 2014 | Page 9
MOVIES
Snowden interview focus of ‘Citizenfour’ film Noe Cugny
Printz Reporter This week marks the U.S. release of Laura Poitras’ new film “Citizenfour,” and possibly the birth of a new breed of documentary and storytelling. Poitras’ eighth documentary premiered at the New York Film Festival Oct. 10 and at the London Film Festival Oct. 18. It will be released in theaters Friday, Oct. 24. The film follows an iconic political chess piece of recent years, Edward Snowden, during the eight days he spent in a hotel room in Hong Kong, in company of The Guardian journalists Ewen McAskill and Glenn Greenwald. Poitras was investigating cases of national security abuses for a new documentary project when an individual writing encrypted emails under the nickname “citizen four” contacted her in January 2013, expressing his interest for her previous films and specifically for her recent research on the National Security Agency. In June 2013, Poitras traveled to Hong Kong, accompanied by the two journalists from The Guardian, to meet the whistle blower. She filmed a series of tense meetings that resulted in world breaking news as former NSA
contractor Edward Snowden made his identity public and lifted the veil on what happens behind closed doors at the NSA. If the movie does not make new revelations about the “Snowdengate,” it offers an experience that plunges the viewer into the concrete reality and intimacy of the encounter, with offering “not retrospective insight, but you-are-there, right-in-the-hotel-room-withSnowden urgency,” according to Telegraph. With Poitras’ expertise in documentary making, the reality of the situation and the historical significance of the events portrayed, “Citizenfour” showcases an entirely new, very modern way to go about the art of storytelling. In fact, “Citizenfour” is a film in which the documentary form is met by the journalism aspect with the newsworthiness of the images and a plotline worthy of a Hollywood-produced political thriller. Snowden is shown being “notably calm and reasonable,” according to The Guardian, while addressing Greenwald with meaningful statements. “We are building the biggest weapon for oppression in the history of
mankind,” he said. All those elements constitute a very modern form of documentary that might become more common as film technique develops, technology allows more versatility and the journalism profession gets closer to documentary making. The director has found great success in the past with politically driven documentaries such as “My Country, My Country” that covered the 2005 elections in Iraq, “The Oath,” which followed the paths of two men through al-Qaeda, 9/11 and the U.S. Supreme Court and “Flag Wars,” which addressed the issue of gentrification in the U.S. With “Citizenfour,” Poitras takes considerable risks for her career as a journalist and a filmmaker as she asserts herself as the link between Snowden’s revelations and the public world, disturbing the actions of many government agencies with her initiatives. In a 2008 interview about “My Country, My Country,” Poitras said, “The right reason is not to make a successful film. The right reason is that you’re trying to express something and trying to honor those people who are trusting you with their lives.”
Courtesy Photo The New York Film Festival featured the release of “Citizenfour” Oct. 10. The film follows Edward Snowden during his eight days in a hotel room in Hong Kong.
TECH
Students find HBO Go appealing but expensive Bradley Presson Printz Reporter
On Oct. 15, cord cutters everywhere rejoiced as premium cable giant HBO announced that starting in 2015 their HBO Go service, the online version of HBO, would be available without a cable subscription. One of the reasons for jubilation is that HBO is home to many beloved shows, but until this announcement these programs were only available via a subscription to HBO’s premium cable package. HBO’s line of exclusive titles includes the hit shows such as the award-winning dramas “True Detective,” “Game of Thrones” and “The Sopranos,” comedies such as “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Veep” and “Girls” and unscripted programming like “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” and “Real Time With Bill Maher,” as well as the rotating selection of movies the company secures the rights to. Rumors online have the service being priced at $15, which is
more expensive than competitor Netflix’s streaming service. The news of a stand-alone HBO streaming program has received mixed reception from college-age Mississippians. PJ Ladner, a graphic design student at The University of Southern Mississippi, uses his
price to be acceptable for the programming offered, but would want to see technical improvements for such a price. “Whenever they have big premieres the servers tend to crash,” Ladner said. “If I were to pay $15 a month, the servers should never crash.”
originally intended. He views the $15 price point as steep, but said that it is worth it if you have the money. His biggest qualm with the service HBO Go provides is that the interface is not as userfriendly as its competitor Netflix. Rowe said that if HBO was not included in his cable package,
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parents’ HBO subscription. The main shows he uses HBO Go for are “Game of Thrones” and “Entourage.” Ladner finds the rumored
Caleb Rowe of Jackson gets HBO Go as part of his cable package. He says that once he acquired the service, he used it to watch more shows than he
he is unsure if he would use the standalone service. Those without HBO Go seem a little more negative about the service, particularly the price
point. Haley Buchanan, a senior business management major, said while the movies offered on HBO entice her, the rumored $15 price is too expensive for her, especially in comparison to Netflix. “The account offers great services, but a lower price is what would make it more appealing to me,” Buchanan said. “A price point closer to $10 would give more incentive for me to sign up for my own account.” Budget woes are also what keeps USM graduate Shawn Chambliss from signing on to the program. While he wants to watch shows such as “Game of Thrones” and even thinks that the price point is fair, as a recent college graduate he is unable to budget the service into his monthly expenditures. Despite the contention over rumored pricing, it is obvious that HBO programming and services are in high demand, and that consumers are awaiting the stand-alone version of HBO Go. The question going forward is will other premium and nonpremium cable services follow HBO’s lead?