THE
S TUDENT PRINTZ SERVING SOUTHERN MISS SINCE 1927
Monday, February 24, 2014
Volume 98 Issue 38
BASKETBALL
USM outlasts UTEP in 77-68 battle James Johnson Printz Reporter
The battle between the two best teams in C-USA did not disappoint as UTEP took its perfect road record to ReedGreen Coliseum where the Golden Eagles are undefeated. Southern Miss shrugged off a slow start, but came on strong in the second half, pulling away at the end as it defeated league-leader UTEP, 77-68 and remained perfect at Reed-Green Coliseum Saturday night. With the victory, Tyndall became the fastest coach to reach 50 wins in Southern Miss history. Southern Miss (23-5, 10-3) scored the first three points of the game with Jeremiah Eason going 1-2 at the free throw line then knocking down a jumper coming off an assist from Boardingham. A three-point play by Vince Hunter sent UTEP on a 10-1 run that gave the Miners a 10-4 lead just 3:54 into the game. Daveon Boardingham found Brown in the corner for a three-pointer to cut the lead to three, but a jumper from John Bohannon extended the lead to 12-7. A jumper by Brown, followed by a three from Chip Armelin, tied the game at 12 with 14:24 to play. UTEP’s Cedrick Lang was fouled by Michael Craig, who played just eight minutes as he was resting his sprained ankle, he made one-of-two free throws. The teams then traded baskets as the Golden Eagles led 16-15 with 11:16 to play. With the game close, a threepointer by C.J. Cooper sent UTEP (20-8, 10-3) on a 16-3 run as Southern Miss was held scoreless for nearly nine minutes; the Miners jumped out to a 31-19 lead, their largest of the game. Brown hit his second threepointer of the half to end the drought. But on the next
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Becky Vu/Printz
Freshman guard Matt Bingaya goes for a layup against the University of Texas at El Paso Saturday in ReedGreen Coliseum. The Golden Eagles soared to a victory of 77-68.
possession, Watson picked up his third foul, and Hunter hit both free throws. Bingaya hit a pair from the charity stripe, but after a missed jumper, Hooper Vint grabbed the long rebound and found Hunter for a dunk to extend the UTEP lead to 35-24. Deonte Houston would
NEWS Space Station Professors’s research project selected to go to ISS.
4
take it deep in the paint and finish with a layup. Following a missed shot, Brown went coast-to-coast for a layup, converting the ensuing foul shot to pull the Golden Eagles to with 35-29 with 1:20 to play before the half. Hunter then hit a three-point
FEATURE Anchor Splash Greek Life supports Service for Sight.
5
play to push the lead back to nine. A Bingaya tip-in cut the lead to 38-31 at the break. Freshman Matt Bingaya grew up right in front of the crowd’s eyes as he played a season-high 27 minutes and seemed to be in the right spot at the right times the entire game. Bingaya hit
A&E Snarky Puppy Award-winning band holds workshop.
3-4 free throws, then forced a steal off the inbounds pass and laid it in to pull Southern Miss to within four. After Hunter hit a jumper, the teams traded three-pointers. Brown’s second straight three made it 47-44. After Bohannon knocked down a jumper, USM went on a 7-0 run capped off by Watson’s three-pointer off of a Bingaya steal that gave Southern Miss a 51-49 lead 7:30 into the second half, its first lead since leading 16-15 in the first half. The arena exploded during the time out after Watson made the shot. Tyndall was so fired up; he broke the top button off his coat congratulating Matt Bingaya with a chest bump. A jumper by Hunter tied it, but Armelin’s second three of the game put the Golden Eagles ahead, by three. Norville Carey added a putback off Bingaya’s jumper for a 56-52 lead with 11:04 to go. Willms hit a jump shot followed by three free throws from Julian Washburn and Hunter gave UTEP a onepoint lead. Two foul shots each from Bingaya and Deonte Houston gave Southern Miss a 6057 lead with seven minutes remaining. Hunter pulled UTEP within two, hitting one-of two free throws. After the teams traded baskets, the game turned in USM’s favor as Houston hit a jumper and Jerrold Brooks drilled a threepointer for a 67-60 lead with 4:54 to play. C.J. Cooper and Cedrick Lang each hit one-oftwo foul shots, but Brown hit his fifth three-pointer of the night to extend the lead to eight. Washburn hit a jumper, but two free throws from Brown and a basket by Bingaya gave Southern Miss its first doubledigit lead of the game with two minutes to play, effectively
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See UTEP, 3 OPINION James Meredith Defacing of statue raises eyebrows.
THE S TUDENT PRINTZ
Page 2 | Monday, February 24, 2014
Editorial Staff Executive Editor Kathryn Miller kathryn.miller@eagles.usm.edu 850.565.0812 Managing Editor Alan Rawls gregory.rawls@eagles.usm.edu Chief Copy Editor Chris Greene chris.greene@eagles.usm.edu Copy Editor Courtney McNichols courtney.mcnichols@eagles.usm.edu News Editor Nikki Smith ashly.smith@eagles.usm.edu Sports Editor Joshua Campbell joshua.m.campbell@eagles.usm.edu Design Editor Joshua Byrd joshua.j.byrd@eagles.usm.edu Art Director Susan Broadbridge susan.broadbridge@eagles.usm.edu Webmaster Chris Greene chris.greene@eagles.usm.edu Graphic Designers Cody Bass cody.bass@eagles.usm.edu Parker Brewer parker.brewer@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
EVENTS Monday, February 24
NAACP Meeting 6:00 PM TCC 214
Tuesday, February 25
Men’s Basketball Florida International 6:00 PM Hattiesburg, Miss.
Enactus Bake Sale 11:00 AM JGH Lobby
Young Americans for Liberty Meeting 5:00 PM Union Room A The Real Meeting 6:00 PM TCC 214
Wednesday, February 26 Softball Baylor 5:00 PM Hattiesburg, Miss
Women’s Basketball UAB 7:00 PM Hattiesburg, Miss.
Police Contact Information
Thursday, February 27
SMAC Member Meeting 5:30 PM Union Room B
Friday, February 28 Men’s Tennis Troy 1:00 PM Hattiesburg, Miss.
Sunday, March 2
Generation 6:20 Training Meeting 4:00 PM TCC 228
DIRTY BIRDS
When reporting, the following informaInformation gathered by Kirstie Lowery tion should by provided: Updates from last week: • Nature of the crime or emergency
• Name, address and phone number of caller
•
• Location of the incident • Description of the scene and suspects
•
• Description of any vehicles involved, especially license plate numbers
University Police 911 (emergency) 601.266.4986 (non-emergency) Bond Hall, First Floor West
Urban term of the week: 1961 (noun): The last year to appear the same upside down as it did right side up. 2002 would do so on a calculator, but that technically is outside the limits of this distinction. I was born some time after 1961. source: Urbandictionary.com
•
9:42 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 14, Krispy Kreme Doughnut coupons were reported missing from the Center for international Education. The theft occurred between Thursday, Feb. 13 at 6:00 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. The case remains open. 10:46 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14, cash was reportedly taken from Wilbur Hall. The theft happened between Tuesday, Feb, 4 at 8:00 a.m. and Friday, Feb. 14 at 11:00 p.m. The case is still open. 1:16 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14, two credit cards were reportedly taken from Bond Hall. The incident occurred between Thursday, Feb. 13 at 8:00 a.m. and Friday, Feb. 14 at 7:00 a.m. The case is still open.
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
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Opinions
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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.
NEWS
UTEP
continued from page 1 sealing the victory. “Both teams competed for 40 minutes,” said head coach Donnie Tyndall. “We just felt like the last 10 minutes of the game, if we could keep grinding on them, that we could wear them down, and I thought it did.” Aaron Brown led Southern Miss with career-highs with 26 points and nine rebounds. He also hit a career-high five threepointers. Matt Bingaya also had career-highs of 21 points and seven boards. Neil Watson added five assists. “At the beginning of the year my whole thing was to come in give energy and do what I can to help this team get wins.” Bingaya said. USM will stay at home to play FIU (13-15 5-8) Thursday night; tip-off is for 6 p.m.
Monday, February 24, 2014 | Page 3
NATIONAL
USM professor’s project chosen to go aboard ISS grow the cyanobacteria in conditions as close to those Printz Reporter found on Mars as possible. The experiments will be sent aboard the International Space Station in late 2015 for further testing since the conditions surrounding microgravity are impossible to perfectly replicate on Earth. “The kind of research being done here on the Gulf Coast Scott P. Milroy Courtesy Photo campus is advancing USM as The University of Southern a leader in STEM (Science Mississippi is making a name Technology Engineering and for itself as Professor Scott Mathematics) technology and Milroy’s experiments are set furthering us as a national to go up on the International leader (in these fields),” Space Station. Milroy said. “If we can show Milroy, an associate that life can survive in Martian professor of marine science conditions, that opens up a from the Gulf Coast campus, whole new can of worms as to is conducting a series of whether or not life can exist experiments with a blue- on Mars and whether or not it green algae known as has in the past.” cyanobacteria in an effort The experiment began to prove that life could exist when NASA’s National under martian conditions. Laboratory Education The experiment aims to Project sent out a request
Destiny Reynolds
LETTER
USM President Optimistic about ROTC Future A message from
until they conducted a review of their assessment criteria. I Rodney Bennett traveled to Washington, D.C., and met with Army leaders to I am excited to share advocate for USM’s program. that after four months of We were told to expect revised uncertainty for our Army criteria by the end of January. Reserve Officers Training Under the Army’s newly Corps (ROTC) program at released annual evaluation The University of Southern model, no ROTC programs Mississippi, we received are currently on probation, the Army’s new program and all 275 programs across evaluation criteria, and I am the country will be evaluated optimistic about our future. and receive an annual In October, just a month performance report indicating after our cadets excelled whether their programs at the annual Leadership are retained or placed on Development and Assessment probation and assigned an Course, we were surprised to improvement plan. receive notification that the The most important Army intended to close our criterion is the number program and 12 others across of commissioned officers the country. I reached out to produced by an institution. our Congressional delegation, The Army will also Governor Bryant, local consider whether a program military leaders and alumni demonstrates “measurable for guidance and support, and progress,” the ability to I am grateful for their efforts meet required production to preserve our program. going forward. In November, the Army Based on past averages announced that program of commissioned officers closures would be suspended produced, our program may
be placed on probation in June 2014. However, our projected numbers of commissioned officers that will be produced in 2014, 2015, and 2016 are on track to exceed required production. I believe that we have a strong chance of avoiding probation due to demonstrating measurable progress – but, even if we are placed on probation this summer, I am confident in our projections that we will be able to come off probation, and stay off, after one year. We will not have a final decision regarding our status until the end of June, but I am pleased by our progress. Thank you for your continued support and for everything you do for our University. Please keep sending us bright, energetic students interested in joining our ROTC program. With your help, I am confident that USM will continue to produce quality military leaders who serve our country with courage, honor, and integrity.
asking for research proposals According to a press release, that could involve middle in addition to gaining school and high school national attention for USM, students in the research these experiments may also process. Milroy’s project help define the zones of was one of five projects habitability on Mars and across the nation that NASA provide crucial information about what materials and chose for funding. The ultimate goal of equipment may be necessary this proposal is to begin should expeditions to Mars cultivating the next be arranged. While this experiment may generation of STEM researchers and to encourage not prove that life currently the youth of the nation to exists on Mars, it is making pursue careers in related a giant leap toward proving fields. USM has long been that life could indeed survive a regional leader in STEM under martian conditions research, and with this and furthering possibilities future colonization opportunity, it can become a for true national leader as well. of the red planet, and it “There’s still a lot of proves that students of USM experimentation that needs should be incredibly proud to go on. We’re nowhere to attend such an advanced, near done with the scientific involved university. research,” Milroy said. “Our next mission is to miniaturize the experiments so the cargo can go up on the International Space Station.”
Caerus Mardi Gras Parade
Courtesy Photo
The third annual Caerus Mardi Gras parade in Hattiesburg Feb. 22 was a success. Float winners include: first place Village Hair Salon, second place The Cottages of Hattiesburg and third place WUSM radio.
FEATURE
Page 4 | Monday, February 24, 2014
GREEK LIFE
Delta Gamma gives the gift of sight Kristy Shelley
“We started learning the dance a week and a half Printz Reporter before the competition, but we worked really hard,” he Southern Miss Greek Life said. “Sometimes we’d have came out to show their support practices that lasted more than for Service for Sight during four hours. It was exciting Delta Gamma’s philanthropy and relieving to find out we events, King Neptune and won and knowing that all of Anchor Splash. our hard work paid off. It was The fraternity dance that moment when everything competition, King Neptune, finally came together and we all had Bennett Auditorium knew those long practices were overflowing with spectators. completely necessary.” “I think overall, King Neptune Anchor Splash, the sorority was a huge success and (I dance competition and Greek feel) that everything went Life relay event, filled the as planned,” said Morgan Natatorium with organizations Lambert, Anchor Splash all the way around the pool. director and junior exercise However, it was interrupted science major. after the first relay event by Sigma Nu fraternity won a tornado warning issued third place in the competition, for Hattiesburg. Pi Kappa Phi fraternity won “Even though we were not second and Sigma Phi Epsilon able to finish the relays, I was won first place with their Justin happy all the sororities were Timberlake routine. able to show off their dances,” Hunter Freeman, a Lambert said. “Overall I think sophomore business it was a success with the little entrepreneurship major, was bit we were able to do.” crowned King Neptune. Lambert said the competition “It was awesome being will not be rescheduled and crowned King Neptune,” that the winners for Anchor Freeman said. “Delta Gamma Splash will be determined by is a great organization with a the dances and participation great philanthropy and I loved throughout the week, with the being a part of it. I’m so glad money drop, spirit, attendance I can represent Sigma Phi and profit shares. Epsilon in such a widely known Lambert said that she is event. It’s a honor for sure.” pleased with how everything Freeman also said it was turned out. great to see all their hard work “Watching King Neptune was well worth it. felt great once the night was
over because I got to see it all come together,” Lambert said. “Anchor Splash was different, though, because I didn’t get to see everything really fall into place like it should have.” “But overall I am happy with everything and glad things went as well as they could have.” “I would like to thank everyone who came out to support Delta Gamma this week and helping us raise money for Service for Sight,” Lambert said. Lambert is still in the process of collecting money, so she is still unsure of how much money was raised through the events.
A.J. Stewart/Printz
Freshman Katherine Billgreen makes a splash during Delta Delta Delta’s performance at Delta Gamma’s annual Anchor Splash event that took place Thursday evening.
A.J. Stewart/Printz
The members of the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity perform their dance routine for Delta Gamma’s King Neptune competition. Their performance earned them second place in the men’s division.
ON CAMPUS
Bennett Skypes students for generous donation Kristie Lowery Printz Reporter
The University of Southern Mississippi President Rodney Bennett had a Skype session with a class of sixth-grade students from Alice G. Mulcahy Middle School in Tulare, Calif. He called to thank them for contributing to the Oseola McCarty Scholarship Fund. According to the university website, Matt Johnson, a teacher at the middle school, introduced his students to the story of McCarty as part of an ongoing philanthropy discussion. As a result of the discussion, Johnson’s class made the decision to donate $40 to the fund, which then caused other students in the school to become interested in
Michael Kavitz/Printz Rodney Bennett, president of The University of Southern Mississippi, chats via Skype with a middle school class in California to thank them for their donation to the Oseola McCarty Scholarship Fund.
making donations as well. A $135 donation was sent to Southern Miss. During the call, Bennett spoke with Johnson about each of the students and what led them to make the decision to donate to the McCarty fund, as well as how the donation has affected the school. “We all have learned so much from the generosity of Ms. McCarty and have been so inspired by her story,” Bennett said. “We believe it is just a life lesson for each of us that no matter what you do in life or how much money you have, there are always opportunities for you to give back and to help others.” Bennett said he hopes the generous spirit McCarty had will live on in others. “This is my fifteenth year
teaching sixth grade, and every class has their own distinct personality, and this class just seems to really understand what it means to give and to be philanthropists and to share with other people,” Johnson said. “They don’t hesitate to do it and it’s very encouraging.” Johnson informed Bennett that the idea to donate was not originally his, but the decision of one of his students. The Oseola McCarty Scholarship Fund was created by McCarty in 1995, when it was announced that she wanted to leave her life savings to the university, which was $150,000. Today, the fund totals approximately $745,000. There is also a residence hall on the Southern Miss campus that is named after McCarty, who died in 1999.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Monday, February 24, 2014 | Page 5
LOCAL
Snarky Puppy visits Hub City Kirstie Lowery Printz Reporter
The Grammy Award-winning band Snarky Puppy visited Hattiesburg Feb. 22, performing and providing a workshop at Brewsky’s. Snarky Puppy features a total of 40 musicians who often rotate positions in the band due to each of their schedules, as well as their ability to play numerous instruments. The event began with a brief discussion about the band, as well as the individuals who were involved in bringing them to the Brewsky’s stage. Afterward, members of The University of Southern Mississippi’s chapter of the National Association for Music Education continued the event by introducing Mark Waymire, assistant professor of music education at USM. Waymire then briefly informed audience members that he felt it was important to have students introduce the band rather than himself because many of them were the people who made this
event possible. “Snarky Puppy has been gracing us with their presence for about seven or eight years,” said Meghan Sheehy, a graduate student in the School of Music. “We are so fortunate to have them, they are amazing guys.” Sheehy introduced the band as they received applause from everyone in the room. Michael League, the band’s leading member, expressed his gratitude toward Hattiesburg and thanked everyone for supporting Snarky Puppy. “We are grateful to Southern Miss and Meghan for bringing us here,” League said. “Hattiesburg is the first town we played in where we actually have a fan base outside of Texas.” League continued to discuss the events of the day, informing the audience that they would not only be performing, but they would also be answering any questions throughout the show. League told listeners they would accept questions on any topic and also that each guest could direct his or her own questions to
Zachary Odom/Printz
Members of Snarky Puppy play a song for the audience at the workshop that took place at Brewsky’s on Saturday for School of Music students.
any of the band members. Afterward, guests were treated to numerous melodic tunes by the band. Between each song, band members answered questions and shared each of their personal stories. The band also discussed winning a Grammy for Best
Rhythm and Blues Performance. League said over the span of the 10 years since the start of the band, they have played over a thousand gigs, made eight albums and travelled all over the world. He also discussed how they built their fan base by creating
albums and posting performance videos on the video streaming website YouTube. According to Hattiesburg resident Daniel Garcia, the band originated in Denton, Texas. For more information check out their Facebook page or YouTube channel.
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FEATURE
Page 6 | Monday, February 24, 2014
INTERNATIONAL
Opposition takes over Allison Edwards Printz Reporter
You may have recently seen glimpses of burnt buildings and bloodied faces accompanied by headlines about the protests in Ukraine. It might seem as though many of these conflicts spring out of nowhere, invading our news stations in the night. But these revolutions (such the ones recently in Egypt, Greece and Venezuela) often have “a
long time ago, in a galaxy far far away” type histories that lead up to political friction between a government and its citizens. This makes it exceedingly complicated to summarize and explain what is going on in Ukraine in its entirety. However, below you will find answers to the key questions everyone should know about the current state of Ukraine. 1. Why did the protests start? The current conflict can be
Courtesy Photo
sourced by three main elements: Russia, The European Union and Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. According to The Economist, Ukraine was once a republic of Soviet Russia but won its independence in 1991. Yet unlike its surrounding Baltic states, independence did not bring prosperity for Ukraine. Instead it has struggled with economic and political corruption for years. In 2010 the country democratically elected Yanukovych, even after protesting his election in 2004 in an event known as the Orange Revolution, out of desperation for a strong political leader. While the country pushed for a contract with the EU for financial security and protection, Yanukovych secretly made deals with Russia to extract money and political guarantees. When several hundred students took to the streets to peacefully protest this, troops were sent in to beat them up. The next day thousands of Ukrainians poured
Three things to know about the conflict in Ukraine
out onto the Maidan, place of the original orange revolution, to join the protest in response. 2. What has happened recently? According to The New York Times, the Maidan was barricaded and taken as a free territory inside Ukraine’s capital, Kiev. For the past three months the government has refused to meet the demands of the protestors and new laws were enacted that effectively criminalized their right to protest. After months of tension, however, it seemed that there were signs of progress. Yanukovych’s government released detained protesters and introduced legislation to amend the constitution to create a more equal balance of power. Protesters began to vacate government buildings, barricades were being taken down and the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics provided a positive distraction. Yet the concessions were not
enough, and in a surprising turn of events on Feb. 18 radical protesters took to the streets causing violent fighting to ensue with police. The sudden escalation of the conflict has resulted in the death of 77 people and 600 wounded within 48 hours, according to BBC. Former prime minister and opposition icon Yulia Tymoshenko has been freed from prison. 3. What happens to Ukraine now? According to BBC, after launching investigations into Yanukovich’s administration, the president has been ousted and opposition figure Oleksander Turchynov has been named the interim president. The presidential election has been slated for May 25. The United States is backing parliament’s decision and has advised Russia not to offer military intervention.
ON CAMPUS
Speakers analyze slur in oratorical contest Alana Dixon Printz Reporter
The Mu Xi Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. hosted the Lampkin-Hughes Oratorical contest at the Trent Lott Center Wednesday, Feb. 19. The prompt given to orators asked for a definition of the N-word as it is used in today’s society and asked to decide whether it should be used at all in any sense by members of any race. The president of the Mu Xi Chapter, Donald Holmes, who
presided over the event said the goal was to have an intellectual conversation about the word and about how history impacts today’s society. Holmes said events such as the oratorical contest demonstrate a certain consciousness of how important knowing our history is, especially being in the Deep South. The night’s orators included president of the USM chapter of the NAACP, Candanise Walter; member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., Tyler Artis; member of the Church of God in Christ Ministry, Kandyce Gamble;
member of the Mississippi Governor’s Student Advisory Board, Jade Dedeaux; member of the SGA Senate, Kristen Dupard; recipient of the humanitarian award from the League of Women Voters, Benjamin Reynoso; and the winner of the 2011 and 2012 Mobile Chapter of Jack and Jill of America Oratorical Contest, Jaylen Hackett. The orator awarded honorable mention was Kandyce Gamble. Using a commanding voice, Gamble argued the N-word had no place in today’s society. One part of Gamble’s speech that got a reaction from audience members was when she gave a list of the first African-Americans who achieved great success in the professional arena, and then asked, “now who are you calling a nigger?” The orator awarded runner-up was Jaylen Hackett who argued it is up to the African-American community to rid society of the N-word. Hackett said, “(m) an is what he speaketh and (if) the way the black community continues to allow this negativity to be acceptable then we are bound to be mentally enslaved in a free nation and will not even realize it.” The winner of the competition was Kristen Dupard who was also runner up in the 2013 LampkinHughes Oratorical competition. Dupard argued the word is
Courtesy Photo
Kristen Dupard, winner of the Lampkin-Hughes Oratorical contest, stands at the podium with her award.
at the center of our dealings with discrimination although it seems to have an unclear definition, and thus should not be used by African-Americans to define ourselves. “It’s an identity without a name,” Dupard said. “It’s a hateful, yet edifying, not to mention cool word our society has become accustomed to identifying with.” Dupard said she enjoyed the chance to participate because she believes the contest allows students to voice their opinion without worrying about keeping things in line. “That’s what we need so much in society,” Dupard said. “We need honesty.” While judges deliberated, the USM Director of the Office of
Professional Development and Educational Outreach, Lt. Col. Frederick Eugene Varnado, was asked to take the stage. Varnado who will be celebrating his 60th birthday this year decided to share some of his experience of racism. “I know what it means to be called nigger, to ride on the back of the bus, not having an opportunity to sit down at the theater, not being able to sit at the counter,” Varnado said. He said there are still places he cannot go before singing, “Oh, Freedom” and “I’ll Be Somewhere Listening.” Holmes said the event went well and that all of the students demonstrated their passion and were well versed in the topic, concluding, “the audience left different from when they came.”
OPINION
Monday, February 24, 2014 | Page 7
STATE
Symbolic racism is still racism Addreonna Seger Printz Reporter
Feb. 16, at The University of Mississippi, two unidentified persons tied a noose to, and placed a Georgia state flag with a Confederate battle symbol, onto the James Meredith Integration statue. My first reaction upon reading this was very similar to yours if this is your first time reading it. I was shocked, disgusted and embarrassed. It’s a hard place to be between loving your home state and being ashamed of it. This is foolish behavior and shows a lack of moral character. It also plays right into all the accepted stereotypes of the South without giving all of the voices in the South a fair shot at saying: “no, this is not okay.” James Meredith, who is still advocating for AfricanAmerican rights and education, had to relive the terror he must have felt being the first African-American to have gone to the university. It
Courtesy Photo
was 1962 and Meredith had to be surrounded by hundreds of federal authorities whom President John F. Kennedy ordered to escort Meredith onto campus.
This is because integration was a fairly new idea and there was still a lot of hatred from Southern whites who were against integration. They rioted and boycotted
Meredith’s admission to the Owner’ or newly selected school. In fact, two people ‘Black Bear’) perpetuates an were killed and several more ideology of racism. Even the were injured. Still, Meredith name “Ole Miss” is racist as it held his head up, went to was a common nickname for school and finished too. a slave owner’s wife. This isn’t the university’s Despite everything he had to endure, he persevered. He is first incident, either. In 2013, a hero for African-American during a play about the murder students of the ‘60s and an of a homosexual Wyoming inspiration to students today. student, homophobic slurs were It is now 2014 and we still screamed at the actors from have incredibly racist ideology students in the audience. These floating around the South boys are ‘good ole boys’ at ‘Ole that seems to settle here. Miss’ and they’re ‘rebels.’ As always, university This is especially true of the Mississippi Delta. And if you officials claim they are were ever unsure of why—this appalled and do not condone is your answer. It baffles me the actions of the vandals. Campus police said that that I have to read something like this in the paper or see two men were seen near the it on the news. At the same statue and a construction time though, I wouldn’t have worker recalls that the men expected it to be anywhere were screaming racial slurs. The campus police are except for Ole Miss. There seems to be this sort of looking at the campus video tension in Oxford that doesn’t surveillance for any clues and get any better with streets like a $25,000 reward is in place Confederate Road keeping for any information that leads the Old South imagery alive to an arrest. and a mascot who (either retired ‘Southern Plantation
REVIEW
‘Clybourne Park’ still working out kinks Chase Ladner Printz Reporter
Student productions get a bad rep. Audiences are trained since middle school to expect an easy comedy. Slapstick is fairly common; sometimes they take a more satirical route, and on occasion they are just bizarre. Bruce Norris’ “Clybourne Park,” put on by the Department of Theatre, is not that. There are jokes, and they are pretty good jokes, but those jokes are laced into a discussion of race, handicap and
political correctness, with a little LGBTQ+ discussion thrown in for good measure. The main thing to note is that it is a discussion and not a bunch of sharp quips thrown from an obviously right character at straw men. The characters are flawed, the views are varied and issues are not necessarily resolved at the end. That is OK though, because the play is enough of an emotional ride to keep anyone invested without having some sort of end point to look forward to. Thankfully, the actors bring
the necessary energy to make this work. The small cast ends up working double by altering their characters in the second half of the play, with the added challenge of the second-act characters being very different as the story jumps ahead 50 years. Modern Chicago definitely suits the actors more with all the performances becoming much more lively. For instance, Hilary Scales does a complete turn when going from a timid housekeeper to a dominating force on stage.
Zachary Odom/Printz
Michael Morrison, left, and Wesley Guthrie gesture off stage in character on the set of “Clybourne Park.”
The same is true for Wesley Guthrie, who seemed much better suited for a more comedic role in the second act. While in several ways his character does not change much from act to act, his first-act character could use some work. Going from lighthearted but tired to growling angry may work once for that type of character, but the juxtaposition was too jarring and, at times, a little funny. There has to be a few emotions between depressed and seething. Act One also has issues trying to find something for the characters to do. There were several instances when a character would stand up and walk to another part of the room to sit down again. This happens numerous times and seems unnecessary, distracting and unrealistic.
Act Two seems to be where the meat of the play is. The set is much more interesting, and that is where the best performances are. It really seems like a completely different production, and I am not sure if that is intentional. Overall I left with a pretty positive impression, though not blown away. The script and story are extremely solid, but the show itself takes time to get where it needs to be. If you are looking for a fun, lighthearted time at the theater, this is not where to go. If you are OK with being challenged and potentially offended, it is definitely worth seeing. You will also pick up some pretty good offensive jokes.
SPORTS
Page 8 | Monday, February 24, 2014
BASEBALL
USM swept by Ragin’ Cajuns Joshua Campbell Sports Editor
In the opener of the three-game series, Southern Miss (2-5) fell to Louisiana-Lafayette (7-1) 6-2. The day-night doubleheader ended in the same result as ULL won 8-5 in the day game and 9-5 in the night game. Expected inclement weather pushed the Sunday tilt to Saturday night, forcing the doubleheader.
In game one, ULL got on the board in the first inning as Seth Harrison led off with a bunt single before Jace Conrad doubled him home. Consecutive fielder’s choices netted the Ragin’ Cajuns their second run of the inning. Going into the eighth inning, ULL held a 3-2 lead before putting a crooked number on the board. Evan Powell singled home a run before Nick Thurman doubled down the line, scoring two. The lead would stand
Hunt Mercier/Printz
Nick Dawson attempts to tag a Ragin’ Cajun out at second base at Pete Taylor Park Saturday night.
through the final two frames as ULL won 6-2. The Southern Miss offense was stagnant for most of the game, mustering just five hits. Dylan Burdeaux had two of those hits and an RBI; Michael Sterling also had an RBI. Conor Fisk turned in an impressive start for USM, throwing six innings, giving up just four hits, two runs while striking out 11. Nick Johnson took the loss as he pitched 1 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on five hits while striking out two. In the first game of the doubleheader Saturday, it took 12 innings to decide the game, but a three-run 12th won the game for ULL. USM got another impressive start from Cameron Giannini, but the bullpen couldn’t deliver once again. Giannini threw six innings of two-hit ball, struck out two and did not allow a run. Southern Miss started the game swinging the bat well, scoring four runs in the first inning. Three singles, a walk, a wild pitch and an error gave the Golden Eagles a 4-0 lead in the first. Pitching dominated the next six innings as the lead held up
going into the eighth inning. After striking out three batters in the seventh inning, Jay Myrick walked the first two batters he faced in the eighth before being replaced by James McMahon. After McMahon hit Powell, ULL first basemen Chase Compton singled home two runs. After a sacrifice fly from Greg Davis, Harrison singled home another run to tie the game 4-4. A scoreless inning in the ninth forced extra innings. The two teams traded runs in the 11th inning, but ULL put the game away in the 12th. Compton singled home two runs and Michael Strentz had a sacrifice fly to give ULL an 8-5 lead. USM’s Breck Kline started the bottom of the 12th with a walk, but Michael Sterling and Mason Robbins both struck and Chuckie Robinson grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the game. In the night tilt of the doubleheader, USM starter Taylor Nunez was solid, but errors allowed ULL to take an early lead in the first inning. USM gave up three runs in the first, all unearned on two errors and a wild pitch. Pitching dominated for the next few innings before Strentz
hit a two-run homer in the fifth to extend the Ragin’ Cajun lead to 5-0. ULL would add another run in the inning off a Nick Thurman double. ULL tallied another run in the sixth before USM finally got on the board with two runs in the inning. Sterling and Robbins led off the inning by getting hit by pitches. Two batters later, pinchhitter Michael Gilbert singled home two runs. ULL extended their lead to six with two more runs in the seventh. USM would add three runs of their own in the frame, but it wasn’t enough as ULL held on for the win. Matt Durst led the Golden Eagle offense in the final game with two hits and three RBIs, all coming on a three-run double in the seventh. Nunez pitch 4 2/3 innings, giving up four hits, six runs (three earned), walked three and struck out three. USM will hope to get back on track as they host Alcorn State and Alabama Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, before Troy comes to town for a threegame series this weekend. Both weekday games are scheduled for 6 p.m.