SERVING SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI SINCE 1927 • WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM • FEBRUARY 26, 2020 | VOLUME 105 | ISSUE 19
ESPORTS SIGNING PG 3
AH, WILDERNESS! PG 5
OPEN MIC NIGHT PG 7
United Campus Workers opens chapter at Southern Miss
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John Jester presents his ideas at the union office.
JOHN HOLLINS
PRINTZ REPORTER aculty and staff of Southern Miss have begun to take steps to ensure their own voices are getting heard by the school’s administration with the formation of a union with the United Campus Workers, an organization dedicated to helping create unions across the country, focusing particularly on southern states. One of their lead organizers, John Jester, has come to help Southern Miss get a chapter going. “We have a model calibrated for hostility,” Jester said. “I like to call it a throwback to the way things were. It’s old school organizing, building up a minority of workers who are going to be engaged enough to put
pressure on this institution.” Social work professor Michael Forster, Ph.D, has been working with Jester to get the word out about the chapter forming. Forster spoke about working with UCW at an interest meeting. “I found out about UCW very directly. There was an article in the Hattiesburg American about UCW organizing Maximus workers. They had a demonstration day with a mock pick-up line. I had no idea there was anybody organizing here in Hattiesburg, so I looked into UCW,” he said during the meeting. The attendees consisted mainly of professors and a pair of students .
Other issues addressed at the meeting were pay raises at Southern Miss, especially for those like custodians. Attendants also discussed the need for flat pay raises instead of percentage or merit-based raises. A major thread throughout the meeting was an overall feeling that employee voices are not being heard by the administration. “There is a common thread of less involvement, less engagement with the constituents. There used to be all these stupid committees like traffic committees, sign committees, etc. Amazing thing about those committees, though, it was made up of staff and faculty, sometimes students. It meant we got to work collectively. We’ve seen a real erosion of those places
where faculty and staff talk,” Andrew Haley, Ph.D., associate professor of history, said. Currently, UCW is focusing on recruitment to gather a large coalition of professors, faculty, staff and even student workers. Along with the blossoming chapter at Ole Miss, which now has more than 100 members only a year after launch, they hope to go on the offensive and begin some major campaigns advocating for wage increases. For Jester and UCW, getting the message of organizing is crucial. “There’s an old saying,” Jester said. “As the South goes, so goes the country. So we have to change things, ‘cause the country is going the way the South is.”
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Remembering Emmett Till forum shows students new perspective CHARLIE LUTTRELL PRINTZ REPORTER
n Feb.18, Dave Tell, Ph.D., a professor from the University of Kansas, discussed the history of how Emmett Till’s story has been remembered in the Thad Cochran Center as a part of the university’s celebration of Black History Month. At 14, Till was murdered in 1955, days after allegedly flirting with a white woman outside of a grocery store in Money, Mississippi. His story became a catalyst for the start of the civil rights movement. Tell has researched Till’s story for years and is involved in various commemoration efforts. His presentation focused on the challenges and controversies behind the commemoration of Till’s history, which he read from his book, “Remembering Emmett Till.” “The murder of Emmett Till cannot be confined to 1955,” Tell said. Before attending the event, junior psychology major and SGA Attorney General Jourdan Green said she already knew Till’s story, but was surprised by the topics that Tell discussed in the forum. “I had no idea about how people over time have
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tried to change stories about his death, so that was very surprising,” Green said. A group of students from the University of Guelph and Western University in Ontario, Canada, were in attendance. The group of 35 students was visiting Hattiesburg on their reading break to learn more about the civil rights movement and the intersection of race and poverty. Emily Kerr and Sydney Turack, juniors from the University of Guelph, said their knowledge on the civil rights movement is limited, but they are learning through experiences such as Tell’s presentation. “Coming from Canada, we don’t talk about the civil rights movement at all. Other than some basic research, we were coming here with almost no experience of who the really important activists were or what influencing events there were,” Kerr said. Turack said she had learned about Emmett Till’s story a few days before the trip. “I was taught MLK’s speech and the stories of Ruby Bridges and Rosa Parks, and that was the extent of my knowledge about Black History Month and the civil rights movement,” Turack said. Tell showed that the effort to properly commemorate Till’s story is a struggle, now 65 years after his death. Tell discussed this through examples such as the newest historical marker at Graball Landing, the area where historians believe Till’s body was found. The marker had been stolen, vandalized and
shot multiple times. A new bulletproof marker was erected in 2019 shortly after a picture of three students from the University of Mississippi posing with guns by the shot marker went viral. Tell finished his lecture by describing historical markers as important places to understand current racial tensions in America. “Memory sites are the new lunch counters,” Tell said. “The thing that came through the clearest for me is that racism does not end on the event that something racist happens,” Kerr said. “I think having these personal experiences has opened my eyes in a way you can’t get through literature and news reports.” Turack said she and her group hope to apply what they learn back home in Canada. Specifically, Turack said they are questioning, “How can we take the things we learned here about how you guys have celebrated black history, made memorials and talked so much about it and how can we do the same at home, both for black and indigenous history in Canada?” Green emphasized the importance for students at Southern Miss to learn Till’s story. “We had a great turnout, but it would have been better if more people would have come,” Green said. “The word needs to be spread because this is a big part of American history—not just black history.”
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Southern Chorale travels to South Korea MOLLY SCHRAEDER PRINTZ REPORTER
he Southern Chorale, one of Southern Miss’ choruses, traveled to Jeju, South Korea, to participate in the Jeju International Choral Festival and Symposium Feb. 17 through Feb. 20. Artistic director of JICF Hee-Churl Kim said on the JICF website that this event is about promoting peace and happiness through choral music by choirs all over the world. Associate director of choral activities Jonathan Kilgore, Ph.D, said The Southern Chorale and Gregory Fuller,Ph.D, were honored to receive an invitation to be one of only five choirs from around the world and the only choir from the U.S. performing at the Jeju International Choir Festival & Symposium. “We are so very proud of them as they are sharing their talents and are ambassadors for the School of Music, the university and our community and nation as a whole. It is a testament to the dedicated work of Dr. Fuller, who has given Southern Miss Choral Activities a true national and international reputation,” Kilgore said. According to the School of Music website, The Southern Chorale is comprised primarily of upper-division voice majors and graduate students studying conducting, vocal performance and music education. However, it also includes some singers from other disciplines. For Laurel Lukes, a sophomore English major and member of The Southern Chorale, the trip to Jeju for JICF was her first time to travel internationally with The Southern Chorale. She said
Photo courtesy of Dani Nash.
she felt support from the other musicians performing for JICF. “I was completely unprepared for the overwhelmingly positive responses from the people around us and the deep connections made through music. Coming into this experience, I would have never guessed how enthusiastically our colleagues from all over the world have continually supported us as a group. The community formed over the duration of the festival was something I will never forget and am thankful to have been a part of,” Lukes said.
The Southern Chorale poses for a photograph.
The Southern Chorale spent a few days before the competition sightseeing and exploring Seoul, South Korea, before traveling to Jeju, an island that lies below the Korean Peninsula. Dani Nash, a sophomore choral music education major and member of The Southern Chorale, joined the choir in South Korea for JICF. “The Jeju International Choral Festival & Symposium has been one of the best experiences of my music career. Getting to meet and befriend musicians from countries all over the globe is a once-in-a-
lifetime experience I am so thankful for,” Nash said. The Southern Chorale returned from Jeju to Seoul for another performance at a church in Seoul before traveling back to Mississippi Feb. 23. “I love my Southern Miss Choral Department for giving me the opportunity to represent America and USM here in South Korea,” Nash said. To learn more about The Southern Chorale and Southern’s other choirs, visit usm.edu/choirs or facebook.com/ southernmisschoralactivities.
strong is most important to me given how competitive these types of games can be. At the same time, though, it’s exciting to be part of something new,” Jones said. At Friday’s conference, Bubrig said that the group is already receiving sponsorships from local businesses such as Five Star Nutrition and The Coca Cola Company.
“The signing day is significant on multiple fronts. It is a public celebration of the commitment students have made to the teams, and it is also a very public opportunity to thank many who have been some of our early partners. And it is a major milestone in working towards making the program sustainable,” Bubrig said.
Eagle Esports hosts first signing event WILLIAM LOWERY PRINTZ REPORTER
outhern Miss’ newly formed esports teams, Eagle Esports, held a signing event Friday, Feb. 21 to recognize its new members. Through Denny Bubrig, assistant vice president of Student Affairs, the group came to fruition 18 months ago, and is an attempt by Bubrig to branch the university out into the digital gaming community. “The idea of competitive esports is fairly new in the context of North America and is sweeping the collegiate landscape like wildfire. This involvement has the potential for Southern Miss to be a regional, if not national, leader in the community,” Bubrig said. About 20 colleges across the country have an esports program, including Boise State University and Georgia Southern University. Nearly 40 students have joined since open tryouts were held last year, and they are split into five teams, each of whom specializes in popular competitive titles like “Rainbow Six Siege” and “Overwatch.” Senior computer science major Cameron Thomas heard about the group after his friend, senior computer science major Peyton Berry, received an email about the tryouts. The two are part of a team that specializes in the video game “Rocket League.” “I see it as an opportunity to meet new people in addition to bettering my gaming and competitive skills,” Thomas said. “I think it’s cool to be part of something where you get to learn and expand your capabilities, not to mention being a part of something that will become big at Southern Miss,” Berry said. Bubrig said he is pursuing a leadership role when it comes to training the coaches and other staff that
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are part of the group to ensure they are capable of performing their required roles. Campus bookstore employee Isaiah Jones is in charge of the “Overwatch” players, and Jones said the biggest challenge he faces as a coach is making sure that their mental health remains strong. “As a coach, making sure players’ mental stamina is
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Hattiesburg coffee shops offer refuge for students BRIAN WINTERS PHOTO EDITOR
or many Southern Miss students, coffee shops off campus offer a place to study and get away from the normal rush of school. According to the VisitHattiesburg website, there are 15 local shops that serve coffee in Hattiesburg. Harry Crumpler III is the owner of one of these local shops, T-Bones Records & Cafe. Crumpler said JavaWerks is the only local coffee shop around from before T-Bones’ opening. “There were a few coffee shops around Hattiesburg when I was growing up here during the 90s,” Crumpler said. “The only local coffee shop still here is JavaWerks, though now under different ownership.” T-Bones initially opened as a record store, where Crumpler was an employee. The original owner, Tim Ramenfosky, decided to move and offered to sell the store to Crumpler in 2002. “My mother and father backed me on it, and the rest is history,” Crumpler said. Crumpler said the store is definitely a great spot for college students to visit. He said he has met some of his favorite people inside of T-Bones. “We really enjoy being a place that people feel at home in,” Crumpler said. “It really is a nice swath of Hattiesburg here.” Crumpler said when it came to expansion, he was happy with the size. “I have always been a fan of being unique, only experienceable in one place,” Crumpler said. “Plus, I would probably lose my mind if we had another location.” Another local coffee shop is Mulvi’s Coffee Co. Matthew Mulvihill is the owner of Mulvi’s and said the store has been open since last February. Mulvihill said there are two things that
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inspired him to open his shop. The first is when he was a student at Southern Miss, he did not feel most coffee shops in the area had a good atmosphere. “I have always loved to work or study at a coffee shop,” Mulvihill said. “In Hattiesburg, I felt there just was not the perfect combination of great coffee and great atmosphere for studying, or hanging out with friends.” The second thing he said inspired him was
his wife, Sarah. Mulvihill said as he and his wife were dating, they were always in coffee shops trying to find the best coffee as they traveled around the country. “We noticed that there were certain shops that make you feel special and that they really paid attention to every detail,” Mulvihill said. “This truly inspired us to try and make a shop that felt different when you walked in and had a lasting positive impact on your day when
you left.” Mulvihill said for the first few months, it was mostly college students who came into the store because of the proximity to the school. As Mulvi’s grew and its name spread, the store got a mix of both working people and students. “That is always what we intended,” Mulvihill said. “Mulvi’s is here for everyone to get a great cup of coffee.” Mulvihill said making a place that felt like home and where students would feel welcomed was Mulvi’s goal. “This has been a dream for a while,” Mulvihill said. “We are just happy that people have welcomed us in Hattiesburg.” When discussing the recent boom of local coffee shops, Crumpler said he would rather see local shops pop up instead of corporate or franchise stores. “Coffee is pretty amazing, I would not want to be without it,” Crumpler said. “Competition always sharpens your claws, too.” Mulvihill said most coffee shops were still local before the boom. He said Hattiesburg is so loyal to local shops that chains do not always work. “For the most part, the older coffee shops were pretty old school coffee,” Mulvihill said. “The newer generation of shops seem to be trying to step up the level of coffee, which is exciting.” Senior marine biology major Jordan Waller said she went to the coffee shops around Hattiesburg five or more times a week during her time at Southern Miss. “When I go to a coffee shop, I always look for the ‘chill vibe,’” Waller said. “Those that have a calm atmosphere and friendly baristas are my go-to’s.” Waller said she prefers local coffee shops over chains, and believes the specialties from local coffee shops are the best. “From seasonal drinks to items available by harvest, their drinks seem fresher sometimes or even better quality,” Waller said.
Local dancers bring art to Hardy Street JOHN HOLLINS
PRINTZ REPORTER f you peek into the broad, transparent windows of Xfinity Dance Academy in the afternoon, you will witness a ballet or hip-hop class with its members swirling and strutting vigorously on a flat, wooden dance floor. Each Wednesday evening at 8:30, however, the sound of clicking heels and blaring pop music fills the room. This “Stiletto Style” class is taught by Southern Miss’s own senior dance major Taylor Lucien. “EJ [the owner] originally started the Stiletto class, but overtime it eventually died out. When I first started dancing here, there was carpet, no mirrors, no sign out front. Real sketch,” Lucien said. “Yet it was extra dance for me, being a dance major.” Lucien plans to open her own company that emphasizes heel dancing. “USM is not going to give me everything I need. So through doing this I’ve learned the different avenues I should be taking that USM has not told me: going to different auditions, what I need to be looking out for, how I need to carry myself,” Lucien said. Aside from the professionalism lessons, Lucien said she has also learned her own style of leadership while dancing at Xfinity. “I just don’t myself as the kind of person to be like ‘Alright guys,” Lucien said. “I’d rather be like, ‘Alright what we doing?’ So this has really forced me to take action and be prideful about things. But the fact that people want to learn my choreography blows my mind.” Lucien’s students, many of which are Southern Miss students and alumni, speak eagerly about their love for the class. One of the class’s regulars, Timeiya Harris, a senior theatre major, remembered the shock of the class’s layers. Even twerking had its own
choreography. “It really helps me with heels. It gives more momentum, more stamina and it makes my endurance go through the roof. It makes everything without heels feel so much easier. It’s a great confidence builder,” Harris said. Erret Jones, otherwise known as “EJ,” is the owner of Xfinity Dance Academy and a Southern Miss dance program graduate. Jones has owned his own dance company since 2001. “I started in high school. I graduated in 2004 and started my first dance program in 2001. I basically rented out a community center. I did shows, events, arts in the park, and around 2014 I opened up my first studio in 2014 in Picayune, Mississippi,” he said. In the following decade, Jones opened another sector in Slidell, Louisiana, as well as Wiggins, his hometown. He proceeded to sell the Wiggins branch and leave Mississippi, transferring from Southern Miss to Florida State University, then to Duke University, to eventually return to finish at Southern Miss and open a new studio in Oak Grove. However, Jones met this return to Hattiesburg with initial resentment. “Honestly, I was not supposed to be in Hattiesburg. I was not supposed to come back, because that clientele I just didn’t want. I was just so used to Slidell and Picayune. Hattiesburg area is not really big in the arts. Coming from Slidell and Picayune, they take arts very seriously. So I didn’t look at Hattiesburg as a place that wanted anything,” Jones explained. After three years in Oak Grove, Jones finally made the move to Hardy Street to seek out new clientele. Compared to what felt like a close-minded community in Oak Grove, the Hardy Street community brought back something into Jones’ life and work that he felt began to waver after such a long, straining career: family. “People in Hattiesburg, they are loving, giving, they are family. And I started my studio
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based off of family. But in the course of all my years I got away from that. But now, I’m back where I started. You want to have a relationship with the clientele, have a relationship with the kids, go to their parties and graduations,” he said. In only a year since transitioning to Hardy Street, Jones has managed to triple his clientele. He continues efforts to make the Xfinity Dance Academy grow by reaching out to other community artists. He keeps an extremely hands-off approach on other people’s courses, allowing students like Lucien freedom to
Lane Martin, Taylor Lucien and Timeya Harris dance at Xfinity Dance Academy.
explore their craft. “I’m trying to build an outside. Trying to give more artists, choreographers, teachers and educators an opportunity to come here and not have a studio owner that just takes and takes. I’m getting up in age and I want to be more of a mentor. To do that, I have to trust educators to do their job,” Jones said. Jones and his team only continue to grow and have big plans of expanding. If you are interested, you can always step in and come learn to be confident in heels every Wednesday at 8:30 pm.
ENTERTAINMENT FEBRUARY 26, 2020
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Southern Miss Theatre warms hearts with
‘Ah, Wilderness!’ JOHN HOLLINS
PRINTZ REPORTER outhern Miss Theatre Department kicked off the spring season with the late, early 20thcentury American playwright Eugene O’Neil’s comedy “Ah, Wilderness!” Set in 1906, the play follows the story of a young, well-read adult named Richard Miller, a few months from entering Yale and hopelessly in love. We follow the Miller clan as Richard and his family must learn to deal with heartache, purpose and ultimately what it means to love and be there for someone. The set design by Professor Stephen Judd was a true marvel with a vast backdrop depiction of a grand lake with a mountain in the distance on a blue, partly cloudy day. The period furniture for Richard’s home was fitting with all aged wooden tables, chairs and white drapery. Yet, the real eye-catcher was the tiny white, red-lined boat upstage left, a beautiful embodiment of the optimism and hope of the play’s message. The set invoked the idealistic, hopeful nature of pre-World War I America. The lighting design by graduate student Katy Baronich was well utilized and delivered with provoking that dream-like atmosphere,
helping the audience keep an understanding of time with the way the backdrop was lit, making the landscape transition from a dawning morning into dusk. The whimsical, soothing piano compositions by sound designer and grad student Caleb Garner were effective at keeping the audience engaged in the downtime. This was a performance that wanted its audience to vibe with the show’s atmosphere before a line was even uttered. The biggest aid to this production, though, was that of the performance of David Neely as character Richard Miller. It is a real pity that Neely will be graduating this semester, as he showed a true understanding of what it meant to slip into a character with this performance. After his performance as the cruel, spitting mean antagonist Ceaser in “Gem of The Ocean” last semester, this transition to a young, hard-headed, poet-quoting lover shows the depths this actor has. His sincerity especially shines whenever Richard is quoting dense poetry. It could have very easily come off as someone mechanically reciting Shakespeare, yet Neely’s vulnerability allowed the crowd to listen to him without question. Other cast standouts were Chris Cooper as the audience’s favorite drunk, Syd Davis. Cooper played into the comedy of the role superbly with great comedic timing, while never undercutting the rather tragic addiction Syd struggles with. Elizabeth Boykin also stood out as the domineering yet loving
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mother Essie Miller. Despite being a bit of an antagonistic force throughout the play, Boykin showed her love and reverence for the character with wit and subtlety, delivering some really sharp lines. This performance was at its peak, though, as an ensemble. Each scene with the entire family shows the energy and chemistry in the cast. Show director Louis Rackoff explained that picking “Ah, Wilderness!” tied into the current state of the world. “This world that we live in, where there is so much really tough news every day. From
somewhere, or some corner of the world or nearby. I think a good theatre season needs to have a play in it, or even more than one play, that celebrates life and celebrates joy and kindness, giving and love,” Rackoff said. “Ah, Wilderness!” is a living portrayal of the American Dream. The play itself challenges that campy idealism as outside forces squeeze on the family, yet it is in their undying love and support for each other that they persevere and love is allowed to win at the end. It is the ideal story for this month of love and a great beginning to a season.
‘Miss Anthropocene’ places listener in dystopia JACK MCCALLUM
ENTERTAINMENT/OPINION EDITOR rimes’ latest album, “Miss Anthropocene,” plunges listeners into a dystopian future filled with all-powerful A.I. and otherworldly spirits celebrating global warming. Nearly five years since 2015’s “Art Angels,” Grimes’ latest album helps the listener answer any questions that have since popped up. With Grimes now in a relationship with one of the world’s most prolific billionaires, Elon Musk, many have questioned Grimes’ authenticity. While “Miss Anthropocene” is unsurprisingly vague, cerebral and without straightforward answers, it is apparent that the Grimes on “Visions” is still present on “Miss Anthropocene.” The artwork and promotion for “Miss Anthropocene” help place the listener in Grimes’ dystopian, A.I.-filled future. She is not present for any artwork, but her team’s computer-generated promotional tool is. This use of technology in album promotion places Grimes ahead of the game, even if it leads to accusatory claims about her connection to Musk. “Miss Anthropocene” centrally revolves around Grimes’ love and life all while the earth is crumbling. “So Heavy I Fell Through the Earth” opens the album and has Grimes dealing with the complicated feeling of falling in love and carrying life. Set over ethereal, twinkling production, Grimes delivers lyrics in an almost-whisper about the love she is full of. Though it is unlikely to make listeners
Illustration by Lillie Busch | Printz
fall in love with Musk, “So Heavy I Fell Through the Earth” emits this intense, unending love that Grimes has for both Musk and their unborn child. Grimes has always operated outside of societal norms, which makes sense when you hear her addressing serious issues through the lens of sci-fi and the supernatural. “Violence,” featuring i_o, compares humans’ relationship with earth to a physically abusive relationship
over a steady, dancef loor-ready pulsing synth. “Violence” is the perfect Grimes song: catchy, rich and saturated with metaphors. One of the hardest-hitting tracks on the album is “My Name is Dark,” in which Grimes brings her traditionally wispy, high-pitched vocals over a humming pop-punk beat as she sings lyrics about her mental struggles. “My Name is Dark” has Grimes dealing with manic episodes,
wishing for death and hating literally everything she sees on social media. “My Name is Dark” is truly a song for everyone who has scrolled Facebook, seen a post and thought, “no one cares about what you are talking about.” The dark energy of “My Name is Dark” continues on track “You’ll miss me when I’m not around,” where Grimes’ layered vocals accuse people of not appreciating her when she is still alive and present. This is expected from Grimes, who is regularly taunted on social media over her relationship with Musk as well as her general oddities. “You’ll miss me when I’m not around” brings out a genuine sense of earnestness from Grimes, hopefully bringing the public to the realization that she is a unique talent. Grimes does not leave the party tracks by the wayside on “Miss Anthropocene,” though. “4ÆM” transitions from an airy intro with Bollywood-inspired production into an intense, bouncing club track with Grimes talk-singing through the chorus. This fun, care-free vibe is not central to the album, but it is still present. Many tracks on “Miss Anthropocene” will probably benefit from a club remix. Grimes is an artist like no other. She produces, writes and sings all her own music. Each song continues to feel like a piece of herself. “Miss Anthropocene” proves that Grimes still has plenty to say, whether it be about Lil Peep’s death on “Delete Forever” or polytheism on “New Gods.” Despite everything she’s gone through, it’s clear Grimes still wants her vision on our future world to be heard.
LIFESTYLE FEBRUARY 26, 2020
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PSL touches base with Hattiesburg JOHN HOLLINS
PRINTZ REPORTER arlier in February, there was a screening of “The Murder of Fred Hampton,” a documentary about the life and death of the prolific Illinois-based revolutionary. The screening occurred at a local union’s office. Only a handful of attendees came, looking awkward and discouraged seeing there were little more than themselves. A young man stood with a welcoming smile and intensity about him. He encouraged everyone to mingle and enjoy the socialist reading material laid out on the table. He shook hands and tried to shoulder the mood of the more hesitant audience members. When it was time to begin the screening, the handful of attendees all sat down, and that initial stiffness of regret settled in. Still, the young leader of the evening kept high spirits. He introduced himself as Bezal Jupiter, a sophomore political-science major at Southern Miss, and an active member of the Party of Socialism and Liberation. He also provided background information on Hampton and proceeded with the documentary. When the documentary finished, no
one rushed to their cars. The film opened a wound in the entire room. The attendants stayed afterwards and eagerly discussed the issues in the country. “It really got the people wanting to know how to get involved.” Cade Colleta, one of the attendants, said. Colleta is also a member of the People’s Defense League, a free-speech, second-amendment advocacy group based in Louisiana. The People’s Defense League occasionally partners with groups like PSL for educational events such as the Fred Hampton screening. Colleta and Jupiter actually began their relationship with PDL after a social event organized by Jupiter. For Jupiter, getting involved became imperative after the election of President Donald Trump. “With Trump being elected, I could no longer be apathetic. And before that, with the rise of Bernie Sanders, I began to look into more revolutionary politics,” Jupiter said. Sen. Bernie Sanders became a leaping point for Jupiter to delve into socialism. “Learning about socialism led me to learning about things like the Black Panther Party, Angela Davis, and that Martin Luther King was a socialist. I learned about looking at both the Civil Rights movement and the Black Power movement through the lenses that these movements were really propelled by socialism,
or at least by some form of economic justice too.” Jupiter felt even more emboldened after the egregious “Unite the Right” Rally in Charlottesville in 2017. “The fact that you had this emboldened Neo-Nazi group, Neofascist movement, stoked by the Republican Party,” Jupiter said. “I looked over to what the Democrats were doing, and they do not want to address the root of the problem which produces fascism and economic inequality. That problem is capitalism. It made me realize we need something outside the Democratic Party to address that. And that needs to be something that is revolutionary.” Jupiter then joined the Party of Socialism and Liberation. He discovered the party after following their monthly magazine, “Breaking the Chain,” and direct messaged them online. Unlike other political parties, PSL actually has a vetting process for their members, which includes a series of interviews and educational sessions. PSL aims to continue the legacy of revolutionaries like Hampton who seek to inspire fundamental change in society, grant power back to unions and give workers a say in their own lives. While Bezal and many other college students are finding great purpose and drive in socialism, it is still looked at by many in the United
States as almost a political disease. “People tend to think socialism is about giving handouts,” English professor Charles Sumner, Ph.D, said. Sumner identifies as a socialist. “You need a certain economic freedom from economic fear in order to pursue the things that you’re most passionate about.” Whether or not you agree with socialism, Bezal and his constant strive to stay involved shine a light on how just one individual can help a movement with his own strides.
Courtesy Photo from Bezal Jupiter
Thrifted Gold: dreaming of denim BETHANY MORRIS
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR can’t think of anything more classic that screams Americana style than denim. Denim has been a fashion staple since it was first designed as laborers’ workwear on the farms and mines of America’s Western states in the late 19th-century. Cowboys may wear denim, but so do supermodels, farmers, presidents, housewives and everyone in between. Fashion trends come and go, but denim jeans will always be a staple in many closets. Denim has had multiple styles and cuts over the years, but the classic “mom jean” style and cut, the eclectic 60s look and the baggie 90s grunge look constantly make reappearances in fashion. Finding the perfect retro jeans at thrift stores and Goodwill can be a struggle if you don’t know where to start. Looking in the women’s section for mom jeans isn’t always your best bet. Instead, check out the men’s section for classic Levi’s and Wranglers that have a high waist and the bagginess for the perfect mom jean. aesthetic. For groovy 60s inspired jeans, I would still look in the men’s section to find some worn jeans to which you can add embellishments, such as patches and scrap fabric. A lot of the jeans in the 60s were just worn out denim with simple embellishments that gave new life to a pair of jeans. In the 1990s, big and baggy jeans
Bethany Morris | The Printz
were a popular trend; this style and cut of jeans is still popular today. Again, it would be great to look at the men’s section of thrift stores if you’re going for a more grunge-esque vibe in your jeans. I’ve found a 90s GAP denim jacket at Goodwill for $1, so it’s definitely not impossible to find the perfect piece that screams “blue jean baby!” Aside from shopping Goodwill and local thrift stores, it would also be in your interest to also explore estate
sales. An estate sale could be the pot of thrifted gold for denim. Just think of the decades of denim you would be able to find at any given sale! I’m a stickler for shopping local and at thrift stores, but there are also some nice online thrifting spots that my friends and I frequently browse. Ragstock.com can be tricky, because their jean pieces cost anything from $40 to over $1000. However, you can always get inspiration for a cheap jean DIY from the high dollar
pieces at Ragstock. Thredup is an online thrift store that also has online codes to grab additional savings on your favorite finds. Depop hosts many individually owned thrift stores, but it does not offer online codes. It would still be worth your while to browse the site since you can barter with the sellers. Be sure to look for denim inspiration everywhere and find your perfect pair of blue jean thrifted gold.
OPINION FEBRUARY 26, 2020
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Say no to cashless businesses DIPIN SUBEDI
PRINTZ REPORTER he State of New York recently enacted a bill into law that makes cashless businesses illegal. Restaurants, stores and other businesses that use electronic methods, credit and debit cards for transactions, but refuse to accept cash, will be banned. Although the cashless industry is surging in bigger cities in the United States, it still might not be the best idea to discontinue the use of cash. People find it easier to make a transaction using their credit cards instead of hard cash. It is convenient to carry plastic cards instead of loose change, waiting lines will be shorter at restaurants and crimes related to money will decline if nobody carries cash. On the supply side, the businesses also seem to profit from cashless transactions. Handling cash requires labor that slows the business down. As a result, a lot of companies
endorse a cashless economy. Facebook is planning to start its own digital currency, Libra, in the future which will be undoubtedly followed by other tech giants who will start their own digital currency. This dawn of digital currencies, however, comes with its inevitable shortcomings. The people who enjoy the cashless economy need to have one basic requirement: a bank account. In the state of Mississippi, 15.8 percent of people living are “underbanked,” meaning they do not own a bank account to get access to those cashless privileges. With the poverty rate still high, the idea of limiting cash payments seems to hurt the people who are unable to make ends meet. Furthermore, poverty-stricken people do not have sophisticated mobile devices that support the apps for payment and money transactions. This system increases the costs of services for businesses, too. They have to pay a significant amount of money for card processing fees and
high tech devices must be installed that will accept the various types of payment methods available in the market today. For businesses, especially small businesses, this can incur huge costs if they opt for the digital method of processing money. Such increased costs eventually trickle down to customers through a price hike that dissuades customers from spending their money. It is true that the cashless system of transactions promises a wider range of services than a cash-based system. The benefits might be attractive, but the cost incurred is higher and makes this system not presently Illustration by feasible. Kathleen Hetherington | Printz
Open mic nights are predictable, boring MEGHAN FULLER PRINTZ REPORTER
uirky open mic nights at the Thirsty Hippo and other venues throughout the Pine Belt offer a creative release for aspiring writers and artists, but lack originality and substance. The Thirsty Hippo has been providing opportunities for local artists to showcase their talents for years. However, open mic nights aren’t always the best occasion to do so. These particular events were created for amateurs to network and practice their performances on a willing audience, but many have given up on the idea of embarrassing themselves on an unfamiliar stage. When f irst experiencing an open mic night, the scene is often how one would view a bar at closing hour: empty and f illed with drunk wannabes. This is seemingly the case at many open mic nights throughout the Hattiesburg area. Open mic nights seem repetitive, constantly having the same artists seeking approval from the regulars in the crowd. Although better than a karaoke bar, these ample opportunities to showcase local talent have become lacking and refuse to seek new boundaries when arranging live entertainment. Instead, they feel as though the venue itself has run out of ideas for entertainment and choose to prompt performers to practice their work instead. This never truly ends well, as performers who seek open mic nights to practice typically set
themselves up for failure. Because of this, the awkward beginning to the set is welcomed by an even harsher ending: crickets. While most nights put on by any club are hit or miss, the Thirsty Hippo could very well seek out live performers in the Hattiesburg area instead of continuously planning open mic nights. Whether strictly for music, poetry or comedic relief, many open mic nights lack variety, sampled by the same lineup each time. While there are benef its to open mic nights, such as testing the waters
Brian Winters | Printz
before an actual performance or even networking to meet like-minds, many opt-out due to the lack of pay or the whole experience of the gig. Depending on how popular an artist is, they seek payment instead of the other way around. In other situations, performers might only seek free publicity in exchange for entertainment. Artists often have a love-hate relationship with open mic nights. Some performers endure through the event just to get their name out there, even when audiences aren’t receptive. The Thirsty Hippo, however, seems
to have an audience that knows what it wants most nights. Performers might personally be more open to showcasing their work if other unique opportunities surface. If guests seek an open mic night and know what they’re in for, they don’t leave disappointed. If a performer seeks to get a fair payment at the end of a gig, open mic nights won’t be their best bet. The Thirsty Hippo can improve in f inding other entertainment opportunities for guests, but if an open mic night is requested, once a month will simply be enough.
Tommy Tee-Ray-Bergeron performs at Open Mic Comedy Night on Jan. 26.
SPORTS
FEBRUARY 26, 2020
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Golden Eagles win series over Central Arkansas MAKAYLA PUCKETT
Dickerson home.
SPORTS EDITOR
or their second home series, the Southern Miss baseball team faced Central Arkansas from Feb. 21 to Feb. 23. GAME 1 In the top of the first, Central Arkansas put two runs on the board with a double from Connor Emmet, bringing home Ryan Meek. Afterwards, a single to right by Ben Ayala brought Emmet home. The Bears expanded their lead in the top of the third with two more runs. Ayala’s single up the middle allowed both Emmet and Beau Orlando to score. “We should have been out of that [first] inning with nothing,” head coach Scott Berry said. “In the third inning, we had a chance to turn a double play to be two out with nobody on, but, as a result. we weren’t and they stayed alive to get some swings on [Gabe] Shephard.” The Friday night starter, Shepard, spent just 2.2 innings on the mound, allowing four hits, four runs and four errors. However, he also had six strikeouts. Another unanswered run in the top of the fifth came after Nathaniel Sagdahl singled up the middle, allowing Ayala to score. Josh Ragan doubled to left to bring home Emmet in the top of the seventh. Danny Lynch put the Golden Eagles on the board in the bottom of the inning with a homerun to right. Reed Trimble stepped up to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and singled to the center to allow Dustin Dickerson to score. Matthew Guidry, up next, then singled to left to bring home Gabe Montene-
Makayla Puckett | Printz
gro from second. Still, the Golden Eagles lost their first game of the season 6-3. “The biggest thing [for game 2] is that you wake up in the morning and realize you just lost a baseball game for the first time this year and understanding what it takes to come out and win a baseball game,” Berry said. “We have to want to come out here and defend our home.” GAME 2 On Saturday, Lynch singled to right in the bottom of the first, allowing Guidry to score from second. Will McGillis extended the Golden Eagles’ lead with a homerun to left field in the bottom of the fourth. Central Arkansas scored in the top of the fifth when Ragan homered, bringing in Cole Fiori as well. Reed Trimble grounded out in the bottom, but Dickerson was still able to reach home. Charlie Fischer flied out to center in the bottom of the eighth, but Guidry scored
Charlie Fischer celebrates at second base.
again, giving Southern Miss a two run lead. The Bears tied the game in the ninth with a single from Hicks as well as Ragan. Fischer hit a walk- off single in the bottom of the tenth inning to bring Blaylock home and secure the 5-4 win. “He was throwing soft stuff the last two innnings, and obviously he got me on the fastball the inning before, so I had to come back to it and luckily I was able to put the barrell to it,” Fischer said. “I saw Brant on second, and I wanted to have him score again just because he was supposed to pinch run for me the inning before. And I flew out, so I figured we could have some fun again.” GAME 3 Searching for a series win, the Southern Miss offense heated up in Sunday’s game. Fischer hit a home run to left in the top of the second, which Hunter LeBlanc added to with a single that brought Fisher Norris and
Hunter Hicks hit a double for the Bears, which brought in two runners. Coby Potvin flew out to left, allowing Orlando to score in the third. Dickerson then doubled, which also brought in two runners. Guidry walked after he was hit by a pitch filling the bases, allowing Brian Davis to score. “[Dickerson] is playing well,” Guidry, a second year team captain, said. “He came out last weekend, and he was nervous and excited, but he’s doing well. He’s really improving. You can tell he’s letting go of the anxiety a little bit, but he’s really coming into his own.” In the bottom of the fifth, Guidry singled, giving the Golden Eagles two more runs with Montenegro and Dickerson crossing the plate. Southern Miss clinched the series with an 8-6 win on Sunday. Following freshman Chandler Best’s 2.1 innings, freshman Ben Ethridge took the mound for four innings allowing six hits, two runs and two errors, but striking out six, earning him the win. “I just go out there and give it everything I have,” Ethridge said. “No matter the situation, I just go out there and give it my all and give what they want from me to stay out there as long as I can.” Up Next With Drew Boyd, Matthew Adams and Sean Tweedy out with the flu, Berry is adjusting his pitching staff accordingly. Adding to the injury list, Trimble sprained his ankle coming around first base early in game three. “We were really shallow in the bullpen with the flu going around and we were missing a lot of key pieces that we normally wouldn’t worry about,” Berry said. The Golden Eagles will return home for a series against Little Rock March 6-8.
Track and Field compete at C-USA Indoor Championships MICHAEL SANDOZ PRINTZ REPORTER
n Feb. 22 and 23, the Southern Miss Track and Field squads competed in the Conference USA Indoor Championships. The men’s and women’s teams overall finished seventh and sixth respectively, with several individuals achieving podium finishes in their events. The Golden Eagles were without several prior topthree finishers and double-digit scorers, who graduated or transferred out last year. “We did lose some very good athletes,” head coach Jon Stuart said. “We are expecting leadership from a few upperclassmen who were a part of the 2018 championship team, but we are very young.” Ashlee Osaji, a member of the large freshman squad this year, barely missed a podium finish in the women’s long jump. She finished fourth with a jump of 6.03 meters. Lance Williams, another freshman long jumper, finished fifth for the men’s team by jumping 7.06 meters. DJ Butler, whose performance has been a “nice surprise” to Stuart, placed sixth in the 400 meter dash as a freshman. Elijah Miller, a transfer from Tennessee, and Dylan Evans, another freshman, were both able to qualify for finals and score in the 60 meter and 800 meter dashes respectively. “We’ve got a good group of young people, and it is just going to take time for them to develop,” Stuart
said. “You can’t sneak up on success.” However, for many on the Southern Miss Track and Field team, success was achieved this weekend. Southern Miss started strong on the first day of competition. Junior Callie Jones earned bronze hardware in the women’s pentathlon, placing number one in both the 60 meter hurdles and shot put sections. “That was only the second pentathlon I’ve ever done,” Jones said. “Not being able to prepare how I know I could have just shows that I have a lot left in the tank.” Following the pentathlon events, Eric Richards soared over 2.12 meters in the men’s high jump to win his second straight gold medal at CUSA Indoors. On his final jump, though, Richards went down, unable to walk off the mat without assistance. According to Stuart, the extent of his injuries are unknown. Richards will be seeing a physician to determine how they will move forward on the situation. During the day one running events, sophomore Lina May took third in the women’s 5k race with a time of 17:00, a 30 second improvement to her personal best and third in school history for the event. “Getting a medal wasn’t even a goal for the day, so it was pretty unexpected,” May said. “I’m excited for the rest of the year.” Theresa Harto also scored in the event, taking sixth with a time of 17:14. Southern Miss closed out the first day by taking gold in the women’s distance medley relay, an event that Golden Eagles have silvered in the last three years at conference. The DMR team consisted of Sandra Szpott, Taylor Harris, as well as Savannah and Sarah McMillon. The team took a commanding lead after
Michael Sandoz | Printz
Twins Sarah and Savannah McMillon celebrate gold in the women’s DMR with their mother and team.
Savannah handed the baton to her sister Sarah who ran a personal best, sub-five-minute mile as the final leg. “I was nervous when I got the baton in first,” Sarah said. “I just knew I needed to hold that lead.” During day two, several athletes who qualified the day prior were able to score for the team. Szpott took fourth in the women’s mile. Christian Strong and Jasmine Griffin both scored for the men’s and women’s teams in the 60 meter hurdles. In the 400 meter race, Trey Johnson and DJ Butler scored for the men’s team. Elijah Burton and Elijah Miller went sixth and seventh in the 60 meter dash, and Dylan Evans took sixth in the men’s 800 meters. Szpott, May and Harto all went under 10 minutes in the women’s 3000 meter, with Szpott and May
scoring points for the team. Patton Little ran a time of 8:22 in the men’s 3000 meter and placed sixth. During the second day of field events, Zaria Jones narrowly missed the podium and took fourth in the women’s high jump, jumping 1.70 meters. Marquasha Myers placed fifth in the women’s triple jump with a height of 12.14 meters. Freshman Tyler Proctor was able to score in the men’s triple jump as well. The young Southern Miss teams ended their indoor season with eyes on more medals and top team finishes. They are now preparing for the outdoor season, which starts competition in Mobile, Alabama, on March 20. Athletes like May and Jones showed their excitement for the outdoor season, with May mentioning she was “pumped to see what the team can do.”