SERVING SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI SINCE 1927 • WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM • MARCH 11, 2020 | VOLUME 105 | ISSUE 20
MARCH DRAGNESS PG 4
CORONAVIRUS & AGEISM PG 7
FIRST DONATES TO BOWER PG 8
Student advocates for sexual assault prevention
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MORGAN USRY NEWS EDITOR
elma Newbill has many things to be proud of. She is a Forbes 30 Under 30 Scholar, an ambassador for the Honors College and a 2020 finalist for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship. But out of all these accomplishments, Newbill is most proud of creating the Sexual Assault Prevention Ambassadors, which she described as being the most rewarding experience of her life. Newbill, a junior political science and English double major, got the idea to
create SAPA in 2017 after she was sexually assaulted during her first semester at Southern Miss. “I went to somebody to talk to about it, and they said ‘What were you wearing? Were you drunk? Why were you out at 8 o’clock at night?’ And I said, ‘Not that it matters, but I was studying for my midterms, in the library sober wearing a t-shirt and shorts,’ and I got up and left,” Newbill said. Knowing that she wasn’t the only one to experience this, Newbill looked for any organizations on campus related to sexual assault, only to find nothing. Soon after that, she created SAPA. In 2018, the organization won Best New Student Organization in 2018.
SAPA currently has 85 members. Members are required to undergo Green Dot Bystander Intervention Training, which educates people on how to safely intervene in cases of sexual assault or violence. Because of this, Housing and Residence Life now require their professional staff to also undergo Green Dot training. Newbill and SAPA have also inf luenced changes in the way UPD handles sexual assault cases. Newbill said she has seen a noticeable difference in the way sexual assault is viewed on campus since the creation of SAPA. “I think SAPA has changed a lot of things. I’ve seen people become more accepting. I’ve seen a lot of survivors tell me that it’s
saved them and healed them,” Newbill said. Bella Brocato, a sophomore political science major, serves as the lead facilitator for SAPA. Brocato said that becoming a member of SAPA and becoming friends with Newbill has changed her for the better. “She is a really good role model, not just for me, but for everyone. She has motivated me to become a better person and leader, and I feel like we’ve accomplished a lot through SAPA,” Brocato said.
Coninued | PG.5
NEWS MARCH 11, 2020 MEET THE STAFF Executive Editor
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Mississippi Musicians Day explores history of music
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The views represented in The Student Printz’s columns and editorials do not 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 eligible for publication, all submission must include name, class distinction, major, phone number and email address. Submissions should be emailed to printzeditors@ gmail.com by 5 p.m. on the Friday before publication. 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.
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MICHAEL MAPP PRINTZ REPORTER
n March 7, the Hattiesburg Cultural Arts Center held Mississippi Musicians Day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. in and around the former Hattiesburg American building on Main Street. The event, held annually in March, is an official celebration of Mississippi Musicians. Executive Director of Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame Peggy Brown is happy to share exactly why MS Musicians Day matters. “Mississippi is the birthplace of America’s music. Blues started [here], country music started in Meridian with Jimmie Rodgers, and the first legitimate rock and roll record was done in Hattiesburg in 1936 with Blind Roosevelt Graves,” Brown said. “Hattiesburg can legitimately claim to be the start of rock and roll.” Many locals keep the history alive by studying and sharing it with others. During a panel called “Why is Mississippi the Birthplace of America’s Music,” Chris Goert-
zen, Ph.D., touched on the very first cases of inf luential music in the state. “The oldest music we can associate with Mississippi is fiddling,” Goertzen said. “One of the earliest fiddlers we know of was Samuel Watkins. He traveled up and down the Mississippi River as a schoolteacher.” According to another local authority on music history, Mik Davis, the key to Mississippi’s inf luence on music comes from the array of cultures that met in the state’s early days. “[Blues’] past takes us back to Africa, mainly the country of Mali… We get this drony blues based on African music,” Davis said. “Because there’s so much traffic up and down the Mississippi River, we get a blend of all these cultures… As blues music travels, it becomes rock and roll. These musicians… speed it up… and make it what everybody enjoys today… Blues is the undercurrent that is in everything you hear musically.” Harry Crumpler is the owner of T-Bones Records & Cafe. During the panel, he shared his opinion on Mississippi as the birthplace of music in America.
“[Mississippi] wasn’t always a comfortable melting pot, but we get something nice out of that from time to time, which most of the time is music,” Crumpler said. “There’s no place quite like it... Blues, folk music, country… all stem from eras that weren’t great for people: slavery, Jim Crow, the Great Depression; just destitution. A bad situation can’t help but shoot something beautiful out of it… with music we see that more than anything... Conway Twitty, Leontyne Price, Elvis Presley; part of the reason we get a great name is because we’ve cranked out some mega forces in music over the years.” After the panel, everyone congregated in the empty warehouse for four hours of live Mississippi music. The acts ranged from the up-andcoming Red Meat Rhetoric, consisting of three 16-year-olds from Yazoo County, to well-known artists like Dr. John Wooton and Vasti Jackson. Bill Summers even made an appearance, playing percussion with Wooton. While not a Mississippi native, Summers is famous for his intro to the song “Watermelon Man” on the album “Headhunters” by Herbie Hancock.
NEWS MARCH 11, 2020
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Awareness week brings attention to eating disorders BRIAN WINTERS PHOTO EDITOR
rom Feb. 24 until March 1, the National Eating Disorders Association hosted an eating disorders awareness week. The National Eating Disorder Awareness Week’s theme this year was “Come as You are: Hindsight is 20/20.” According to NEDA, eating disorders are serious but treatable mental and physical illnesses that can affect all people. National surveys show that 20 million women and 10 million men in America will have an eating disorder at some point in their life. Chelsea Kronengold, the communications manager for NEDA, said the goal of NEDAwareness Week is to shine the spotlight on eating disorders and put life-saving resources into the hands of those in need. “Our goal is to raise awareness, bust myths, highlight unique stories, get people screened and point people to support and resources,” Kronengold said. Kronengold said there are many myths and misconceptions about eating disorders. One common misconception is that eating disorders are a fad, phase or choice. “Several decades of genetic research show that biological factors play a signif icant role in who develops an eating disorder,” Kronengold said. “Furthermore, eating disorders were once thought to affect only a narrow portion of the population in the teens and early twenties, but we now know they affect people of every age, race and gender.”
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Risk factors for eating disorders range from biological, psychological and sociocultural issues. One of these issues is a form of perfectionism called self-perfectionism, which involves setting an unrealistically high expectation for oneself. “Most young people will compare themselves to others both in their day-to-day life and on social media,” Kronengold said. “It is important to remember that people typically post their highlight reel on social media
Eating disorders are common among young adults.
consisting of their best photos and most exciting adventures.” Michelle Brazeal, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in social work at Southern Miss with an area of expertise in adolescent disruptive behaviors. Brazeal said eating disorders typically begin in adolescence or early adulthood, but can develop in younger children. “Eating disorders are more common in adolescence and early adulthood, but no age is immune,” Brazeal said.
“If you suspect someone may have an eating disorder, you should encourage them to seek help regardless of age.” Kayla Johnson is the health educator and promotions coordinator at the Moff itt Health Center at Southern Miss. Both Johnson and Kronengold agreed that eating disorders are seen in both men and women. “Eating disorders are not something that affects women, [eating disorders] are diagnosed in men and non-binary individuals as well,” Johnson said. “While they are more prominent in women, anyone can be affected by an eating disorder.” Kronengold said about one in three people struggling with an eating disorder is male while subclinical eating disorder behaviors are nearly as common among men as they are among women. According to NEDA, recovery from an eating disorder can take a long period of time and requires a lot of support. Johnson said even when signs and symptoms are noticeably present, it can still be a diff icult topic to approach with friends and family. “Prevention methods may include working together to reduce negative risk factors or increasing protective factors,” Johnson said. “If you are struggling with the pressures of achieving what you see in media, limit your screen time and be mindful to select media that builds your selfesteem.” The National Eating Disorders Helpline can be reached at 800-9312237. The NEDA website, www. nationaleatingdisorders.org, has information and resources for support systems and individuals who may be struggling with an eating disorder. Crisis support is also available via text message by texting ‘NEDA’ to 741741.
Biden leads in Super Tuesday results LAUREL THRAILKILL PRINTZ REPORTER
arch 3 was Super Tuesday, the day when 14 states hold their primary elections for the Democratic presidential nominee. Joe Biden won nine states while Sen. Bernie Sanders won four, one of which, California, is considered the “big prize.” Biden emerged victorious in Minnesota, a state that Sanders extensively campaigned in during the days leading up to Super Tuesday. As far as delegates go, Biden won 628 national delegates while Sanders won 545 as of March 8. Mark Brockway is an assistant professor of American politics at Southern Miss. “The Democrat primaries will tell us whether Democratic voters support the more liberal policy positions of Bernie Sanders or the more moderate proposals of Joe Biden,” Brockway said. “They will also tell us who voters think can beat Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election.” Brockway said that Biden obviously has an edge. “Considering his strong showing on Super Tuesday, I expect that Joe Biden will emerge as the party’s nominee,” Brockway said. “As Biden becomes the clear frontrunner, Donald Trump and his campaign will increase their attacks on Biden. Also, I expect Donald Trump to take a favorable view of Bernie Sanders in an effort to inf luence Sanders supporters to not support Biden for president.” Mere days before Super Tuesday, Biden’s campaign was lacking in funding and demonstrated little organization. None of
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that mattered on Super Tuesday, however, as he emerged as the clear front-runner. Bezal Jupiter, a sophomore political science major, said the Super Tuesday results show that Sanders’ campaign needs to increase its efforts. “The results show that the Sanders campaign needs to make more of an effort to organize among black voters and nonvoters in the South,” Jupiter said. “The only reason Joe Biden is popular among southern Democrats is because he has name recognition. Another factor is that voting sites had to go later than expected because many polling sites, specifically in poor black communities, were closed. This is a sign that both parties have a problem
with voter suppression, at least to some degree.” Associate political science professor Troy Gibson, Ph.D., said participating in elections is the most direct way of exercising one’s rights as a citizen of a republic. “The founders of our country emphasized that exercising that right and duty comes with a tremendous responsibility to be as informed and knowledgeable as possible,” Gibson said. In regard to the Super Tuesday results, Gibson said the center emerges strong. “We may be learning from the primary results so far that, despite all the talk and evidence of polarization and extremism
between the two parties, the nation hasn’t sprinted to the poles and the center is still a force to be reckoned with,” Gibson said. Only time will tell who will emerge as the new president. Some debate has arisen over whether America is ready for change or if the said change would be a positive thing. “If we really want to change America into a more progressive place, then we need a third party. Both now, and in 2016, the Democratic Party has shown that it would rather see a Trump presidency than a progressive transformation,” Jupiter said. “We need political action that goes beyond the ballot box, that comes from grassroots organizing.”
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Drag queens kick off March Madness JOHN HOLLINS
PRINTZ REPORTER he Hattiesburg Drag Show, hosted by Team Xclusive and the Haus of Hattiesburg, kicked off their first show this month, “March Madness,” with a flurry of magic tricks and gorgeous wigs at the multipurpose venue on Highway 49 on March 6. Attendees gathered inside the compact venue, with some dressed as extravagantly as the performing queens. Two years ago, the drag community was much smaller and looking for a revival. After an hour long conversation with the multipurpose venue owners, the queens got a drag show secured and now host them the first Friday of every month. One local drag queen, Vañilla Galore, clad in shimmering fabric as a magician’s assistant, co-hosted the show along with her long-time friend and fellow queen Madame Willow. “I started this show, me and Madame Willow, around August 2019. Previously, years before, this was called ‘unapologetic black gay pride,’” Galore said. Drag has been around for centuries, but it has recently come into huge popularity with shows like “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Many people associate drag with explicit sexuality, but this is not always the case. While many Queens seek to push the bar with just how X-rated they can be on the stage, others layer their performances with elements of comedy, pole dancing and other artistic tools. “It all came together, and we became the Haus of Hattiesburg. The venue is [a multipurpose venue], and owned by Team Xclusive, so these shows are a Team Xclusive and Haus of Hattiesburg team-up,” Galore said. Vanilla’s own performance consisted of pulling dildos out of her magic hat and making the audience’s money disappear. Madame Willow, dressed as a sexy vampire
Vañilla Galore performs at March Madness on March 6.
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student, did a number to the opening lines of “Scary Movie” spliced into a pop song. But for these queens, drag is much more than just the glamour and performance high. Ashley Heinlein is a frequent patron of drag shows along the coast who came to “March Madness” to support one of the queens. “These shows here are more exotic. The shows in Gulfport, they lip-sync and stuff, but these here are special, more for adults,” Heinlein said.
For many performers, including another queen Diamond, drag is an outlet for expression. “There’s a multitude of reasons why one would get into drag,” Diamond said. “For me personally, it’s a way I can express myself. I do know personally that in the past it was illegal. But now it’s come to where we can actually do this, this is actually a career. You kind of never get what you put into it, but it’s an outlet to be creative.”
Galore said she hopes to continue to help grow the drag community in Hattiesburg and let it be known just how inclusive drag truly is. “We book very diverse shows. Willow is out there cutting splits, and then I’m going to bring comedy or whatever. It’s just so broad. Drag can be whatever you want to be,” Galore said. “I think because of ‘Rupaul’s Drag Race’ drag has to be so cookie-cutter, and you have to look like a woman, blah blah blah. And [drag] really is, whatever you want to be.”
Mississippi Anime Festival highlights anime, pop culture WILLIAM LOWERY PRINTZ REPORTER
arch 7 saw the return of the Mississippi Anime Festival, a yearly event in Jackson created to celebrate all things related to anime and pop culture. Since its inception in 2017, the convention has drawn in bigger and bigger crowds with each passing year. Many people waiting in lines at the event were dressed as their favorite characters from shows like “Naruto” and “My Hero Academia.” “It’s an opportunity to meet new people with similar interests and to celebrate said interests,” Lucedale resident Leo Carter said. Vendors, artists and special guests dotted the Mississippi Trade Mart, giving fans the opportunity to buy merchandise and talk with voice actors who bring their favorite characters to life. Texas resident David Slbibar attended his f irst convention in 2017. At the time, he was unsure if he would enjoy the event due to his introverted nature. It turned out to be the opposite. “This is a great place; I don’t hate anything about it. People come to cons for different reasons, either to meet the guests or spend money on merchandise, but I come to them because they’re cool and I like to savor the moment,” Slbibar said. Similarly, Mississippi State University senior TV production major Jesse Calandra said his favorite
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thing about the Mississippi Anime Festival is the social aspect and being able to meet people with similar hobbies. “It allows people who have a common interest to come together and have some fun, as well as break away from the normal, mundane life for a little bit,” Calandra said. Many panels were held over the day, dedicated to various facets of anime culture like cosplaying, watching old anime and discussing newer shows.
People browse a booth at the Mississippi Anime Festival in Jackson.
One panel, “Let’s Talk About Your Favorite Anime,” was held by Jackson residents Zayden Johnston and Bailey Cape. “This was the f irst time I did something like this, so I was really nervous, but it turned out to be a pretty good experience because everyone was kind and non-judgmental,” Johnston said. Johnston said she chose to focus on talking about anime because she wanted to know why people watched
anime and which ones were their favorites. In addition to the Q&A panels, the convention had areas dedicated to console and tabletop gaming, as well as a screening room that allowed attendees to watch different anime movies over the duration of the con. “It’s like fellowship. You can walk around the grounds, talk with other people about what it is you like and not feel strange for doing so,” Cape said.
FEATURES MARCH 11, 2020
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YAL member responds to Jones free speech controversy JOHN HOLLINS
PRINTZ REPORTER
n February 2019, a case erupted out of Ellisville that gained local and national attention. The case sparked a national conversation on the state of free speech on college campuses. Jones College was faced with a lawsuit from now Southern Miss transfer student Michael Brown. Brown is a junior history major and a member of the Young Americans for Liberty, a national student Libertarian organization. At Jones, the YAL members asked for people’s stances on marijuana legalization. The marijuana event was immediately met with security approaching them and demanding that they end their activities. Security approached the YAL members on the grounds that they did schedule the event with the administration three days prior. Brown was introduced to YAL by Mitch Streider, a family friend, in the summer of 2018. Streider eventually became state chairman for YAL in Mississippi and attended the YAL event at Jones. “They threatened to arrest me. It was not a pleasant experience at all,” Streider said. Streider said it’s important for groups like YAL to have a platform on college campuses. “I think it’s very critical to have an open market of information so you can determine what is and what is not a legitimate source,” he said. Brown got in contact with the non-prof it law f irm Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. FIRE focuses on free speech cases on college campuses. The organization has since helped Brown f ile a lawsuit against Jones College. FIRE has worked on over a dozen similar cases to Brown’s and has yet to be on the losing side of a lawsuit. Greg Greubel, one of Brown’s
Courtesy photo from Young Americans for Liberty
attorneys, explained the mindset that many of these administrations have when taking action against students like Brown. “Universities want their campuses to be places where [students] feel safe. And many times, some students feel that another student is making them feel unsafe,” Greubel said. Greubel said there has been a trend with students becoming the main proponents of wanting to silence others. He said speakers, conservatives and liberals alike, have faced massive protests with the purpose of silencing. “This is what we refer to in First [Amendment] Law as Heckler’s Veto,” Greubel said. Greubel and the rest of FIRE believe fear is not a precedent to
silence and revokes the right to free speech. “Speech shouldn’t make them feel unsafe if that individual is not provoking violence,” Greubel said. Though the suit is still waiting to go to trial, the Department of Justice f iled a Statement of Interest Dec. 2019, expressing the belief that the Jones College rules were unconstitutional. Betsy Devos, Secretary of Education, even voiced her opinion on the matter. “This is happening far too often on our nation’s campuses. This administration won’t let students be silenced. We stand with their right to speak and with their right to learn truth through the free exchange of ideas—particularly those with which they might disagree,” Devos said.
Jones College has responded to the Department of Justice’s statement. The institution conf irmed that the rule of scheduling events three days in advance is there to protect students. The college wants the lawsuit to be dismissed. Despite the lawsuit and alleged hostility from campus police, Brown said he does not harbor any ill will towards Jones College. “I have no hard feelings toward Jones at all,” he said. “I just think there’s lots of old, archaic policies that haven’t been updated. It’s been around since 1911, and many probably take those laws for granted, like how people take their rights for granted,” Brown said. As of March 2020, the case has yet to be absolved or dismissed.
to represent other people, not just myself and my interests. And when Briles didn’t get hired, that was amazing.” Since then, Newbill now meets with Bennett every semester to discuss SAPA and what the university can do to prevent assaults. In April 2019, SAPA held its f irst Denim Day, which encourages people to wear jeans to bring awareness to sexual assault. Newbill said the event is observed worldwide but is not very common in the South. Newbill spoke about the event with Bennett, who offered his support and publicized the event with staff and faculty. “He showed up in his sports coat and jeans on that day. All of Student Affairs and Moff it was in jeans and they were posting
it online. It was just amazing,” Newbill said. Soon after, the Division of Student Affairs created the Selma Newbill Pursuit of Passion Award and awarded it to Newbill. “I didn’t stop where I think a lot of people probably would have. Dr. Dee Dee Anderson presented me with that award, and I was so thankful,” Newbill said. Project Director for Nationally Competitive Programs Carlee Causey worked with Newbill on her application for the Truman Scholarship and said that Newbill has reignited her passion for social change. “Selma is equal parts passion and compassion,” Causey said. “She is boldly f ighting this diff icult, personal f ight of sexual assault prevention and awareness, and she cares deeply for those
around her and is intent on including them in her work and/ or supporting them in whatever battle they’re f ighting.” In the future, Newbill said she wants to keep advocating for sexual assault prevention by working in policy and starting her own non-prof it for sexual assault survivors. Newbill said that although it can be hard to make a difference, anyone who wants to work toward a change in their community should follow their dreams and passions. “It can be hard to make a tangible difference, and I still feel like I’m f ighting a f ight that I still lose sometimes, but the reality is that I’m not and that I was making a difference when there were only f ive people in SAPA,” Newbill said.
Coninued from PG.1 One of the def ining moments for Newbill and SAPA happened in February 2019 when Southern Miss considered hiring Art Briles. Briles was f ired as head coach at Baylor amidst a sexual assault scandal. Newbill said she took the issue seriously due to the progress she’d seen the university make regarding its views on sexual assault. Newbill said she spent three days contacting everyone she could at the university to try to make her voice heard and stop the hiring. Her efforts eventually got her a meeting with Southern Miss President Rodney Bennett, Ph.D. “He really wanted to hear what I had to say,” Newbill said. “He wanted to listen to me, and he ended up talking to me about the problem and he was very understanding that I was trying
ENTERTAINMENT MARCH 11, 2020
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‘Onward’ does nothing for LGBT representation JACK MCCALLUM
ENTERTAINMENT/OPINION EDITOR Illustration by Emily Brinkman | Printz
ena Waithe’s character in “Onward” contributes little to the plot, and her sexuality is only referenced in a throwaway line about her and her girlfriend’s kids. The ruckus over the character being the first LGBT character in a Disney Pixar film is pointless because her sexuality would be completely ambiguous if that one line was cut. Waithe plays the character Specter in “Onward,” Disney’s latest animated feature film set in a magical world filled with elves, centaurs, fairies and other creatures who have succumbed to the ease of modern technology. Specter is a kind, but tough cyclops police officer with a girlfriend and children who are referenced, but never shown. This isn’t Specter’s movie, though. “Onward” centrally revolves around brothers who are on a quest to fulfill an ancient spell that can resurrect their father for one day. Ian and Barley Lightfoot, respectively played by Tom Holland and Chris Pratt, set themselves on an overnight road trip to find the mysterious phoenix gem for the spell. Specter does not have anything to do with this. She does not personally know the brothers and is not introduced until the second half of the movie. The first time viewers are introduced to Specter is when the brothers are pulled over and have to
disguise themselves as their mom’s new cop boyfriend, Colt Bronco, to get away from Specter. Specter, accompanied by another police officer, lets them go, but not before she lets Bronco know about her and her girlfriend’s adopted children. The entire scene where Specter is introduced only serves as a funny but unnecessary gag until the brothers leave. Specter then raises suspicion of the situation and calls for backup. Apart from that one scene, Specter is only shown one more time, where she has a single line during a police chase. Specter is essentially a background character in “Onward,” which makes the conversation around what it means for there to be an LGBT character in a Disney movie seem so overdramatic. If it were not for that one word, “girlfriend,” Specter would just be some forgettable, undeniably ugly, sexually ambiguous cyclops cop. LGBT representation is not done by writing a single, easily cut throwaway line. Specter is barely even a character. How can she represent anything? Specter’s only character trait is that she is a police officer with some unseen, unnamed family. Disney could not even be bothered to show Specter and her family during the final cheery sequence where the movie goes around town, showing how great everything is thanks to the boys’ quest. Specter’s limited appearance and importance in “Onward” has not stopped several countries from banning it. Russia released the film only after editing the scene
by changing the word from “girlfriend” to “partner.” The minimal LGBT references and the ease of which Russia edited the film really show how much Disney actually cares about representing marginalized communities: not at all. Director of “Onward,” Dan Scanlon, even said he wished Waithe’s role was more fleshed out. If Disney cared more about representation and less about dirty, box office dollars from conservative countries, then maybe there would be more fleshed out LGBT characters. It’s not like Waithe’s character is the first time Disney has claimed LGBT representation over some vague, throwaway line or scene. Specter does not need her own movie, TV spin-off or even more screen time in “Onward.” She is just a weak character that has been falsely hyped up by media outlets as some monumental moment for Disney and Pixar. If anything, Specter’s line about her sexuality should have just been cut. It was a dull line for LGBT representation, and if Disney wants Russia’s money so bad, then they should just go all-in for it. This circus that goes down every time Disney has some minuscule queer representation has got to stop. It is exhausting and overdone on all sides. Disney needs to write an LGBT character with some semblance of a personality and importance to the plot or just not write them at all.
Separating art from artists hurts survivors MARISSA HAAS
PRINTZ REPORTER
rench actress Adèle Haenel shouted “Bravo, la pédophilie,” which translates into “Congratulations, pedophile,” as she walked out of the 2020 Céser Awards after Roman Polanski was awarded Best Director. The entire “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” cast followed suit, as did other audience members. When discussing sexual assault within the entertainment industry, many people urge us to separate the art from the artist. However, separating the art from the artist only hurts survivors. For many women like Haenel, herself a survivor of childhood sexual assault, we are expected to sit back and not make a fuss when we see known sexual predators having successful lives and careers. Polanksi’s sexual assault case is widely known. Yet he, like many abusers, is still praised in the public eye. Why is that? Rewarding abusers tells survivors that, although we claim to care about them, we actually don’t. If the art their abusers make is important enough, survivors are pushed to the side and told not to make a scene. When survivors rightfully protest these injustices, they are told that they are being too dramatic and need to keep their thoughts and feelings to themselves. A French casting director, when discussing the Céser Awards walkout, said that Haenel’s career deserved to die, and even threatened to blacklist her from the industry. Rape accusations don’t ruin men’s lives. Rape convictions don’t ruin men’s lives, if they are powerful enough. Yet those who come forward can have their
Illustration by Lillie Busch | Printz
lives and careers ruined. And we claim to care about sexual assault survivors. When discussing sexual assault within the entertainment industry, many people urge us to “separate the art from the artist!” However, that’s unrealistic and ultimately only shows that we care about abusers rather than survivors. It’s also incredibly selfish. Separating the art from the artist only hurts survivors. When we stream a song, buy a movie ticket or support art in any way, we are saying that we support the people who made the art. Our money has power.
It allows these people to make more art and confirms their importance in the industry. When we stream a song or see a movie made by an abuser, we are saying that we support them regardless of their actions. We are saying that their art is so good that we do not care that they have ruined someone’s life. This allows abusers like Polanski to thrive in the entertainment industry. It also shows survivors like Haenel that their pain and trauma ultimately does not matter if their abusers are making art that is deemed important. This exceeds the entertainment industry, too. Statistically, one in four women and one in 33 men will
be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. When survivors see how we consume and celebrate media made by abusers, we tell them that their own experiences can be disregarded and pushed to the side if their abuser is powerful enough. If we want survivors to feel comfortable coming forward and sharing their stories, we need to start changing the way we consume media. We need to be more mindful. We cannot claim to stand with survivors, shout “#MeToo” and fight for justice while still rewarding known abusers. Until we as a society place importance on survivors’ justice rather than the art their abusers make, sexual predators will continue to thrive.
OPINION MARCH 11, 2020
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Coronavirus reactions insensitive to seniors, immune deficient LILLIE BUSCH
FEATURES/LIFESTYLE EDITOR magine scrolling through Twitter or Facebook, and reading posts assuring the audience that, as long as they’re not old or immune deficient, they are safe from coronavirus. Instead of being comforted, your skin crawls because you are a senior citizen or you have an immune deficiency. Coronavirus is quickly becoming another example of how your life is an inconvenience for the greater public. No one is asking what they can do for you. Instead, you’re almost the butt of the joke. With confirmed cases climbing into the 300s, coronavirus fears continue to thrive in the United States, especially in light of SXSW’s cancellation and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention setting new travel restrictions. As of March 6, 15 American citizens have died from the virus. But don’t worry. You’re safe from the 1-3% fatality rate, as long as you are not a newborn baby, an elderly citizen or otherwise immune deficient. Twenty-four hours would not be enough time to explain everything wrong with this so-called assurance. Really, the statement should be revised
into a warning, not a joke: if you are not able-bodied, or if you are elderly, then you are at a higher risk of contracting, and possibly dying, from the virus. According to an article published by BBC, in an analysis of more than 44,000 cases from China, the death rate was 10 times higher in senior citizens than those middle-aged. On a local level, by not making a concise statement, Southern Miss has failed its students with immune deficiencies. It has also failed the students who, after attending class, return home to a newborn or an elderly person. This is not to say that Southern Miss should quarantine the Southern Chorale students or anyone who has traveled abroad in the last few weeks. Rather, the university has failed by not making a statement or action at all. Vague press releases that talk around the subject only accomplish so much. Any action is better than passive inaction. Not to sound like some old-fashioned technophobe, but an online hivemind does not help the current hysteria situation. The internet perpetuates the myth that everyone else is just like you. Social media has shaped this shadow of a person: a young—or somewhat young—adult that still remains relevant by the skin of his or her teeth. Aging citizens, no matter their efforts, struggle
Illustration by Kathleen Hetherington | Printz
to maintain this relevancy, whether in beauty magazines or coronavirus threats. The threat of the coronavirus has revealed the seedy underbelly of humanity more than the actual virus itself. Besides exposing xenophobia,
coronavirus fears also encourage one of the most toxic ideals of capitalism: that you are no longer worth anything if you do not financially contribute to society. More media attention should be paid to those who are unable to defend themselves, not less.
Dropouts’ endorsements divide Democratic Party BRIAN WINTERS PHOTO EDITOR
t is no secret the Democrat Party is worried Sanders will hand the election to Trump, but supporting one specific candidate instead of any Democratic supporter seems irresponsible. Ahead of Super Tuesday, three Democratic candidates dropped out of the presidential race. Tom Steyer dropped out on Feb. 29, Pete Buttigieg dropped out on March 1 and Amy Klobuchar dropped out on March 2. Following Super Tuesday, Michael Bloomberg suspended his campaign on March 4. Elizabeth Warren suspended her campaign on March 5. Of the candidates, Buttigieg, Klobuchar and Bloomberg endorsed Joe Biden. Steyer went for the broader approach of saying he would do whatever is necessary to beat Donald Trump. As of March 8, Warren has not endorsed anyone. Biden seems like he is riding off his time as Barack Obama’s vice president as a selling point. He is even quoted in an article as calling himself an “Obama-Biden” Democrat. Obama, however, has taken a much different approach. He is quoted in a USA Today article saying he would not endorse a candidate and that voters must choose for themselves. Obama’s idea is perfect, and the Democratic Party should follow his thinking. Biden will benefit from the endorsements of Buttigieg and Klobuchar, but people who supported Buttigieg and Klobuchar never considered Sanders as a choice anyway. This just detracts from people who prefer Sanders’ campaign, causing unnecessary friction. Sanders might be a radical candidate, but
Illustration by Lillie Busch | Printz
remember that Trump had no political experience in 2016. An article from Time shows seven election predictions of Hillary Clinton winning the presidency, but here we are four years later. The outsider candidate might just be the one to win the race again. With Sanders and Biden so close in the race, it seems stupid to put all your faith in Biden.
Klobuchar tweeted she believes Biden has the “heart and decency” to lead the country, but has no words for Sanders. Now, what if Biden does not get the nomination? For a party that wants to remove Trump from the White House, they sure are working on keeping him there. If Sanders gets the nomination, all the Democratic Party’s hard work of trying to stop Sanders might just be his downfall.
Steyer’s approach of saying he will do whatever possible to stop Trump is the best solution the Democrat Party can adopt. The Democratic Party should sit back and let the election cycle run its course. If people vote for Sanders, that is the will of the people. Supporting him instead of isolating him might just help in the long run. Maybe next election cycle, the Democratic Party will learn its lesson.
SPORTS
MARCH 11, 2020
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Softball wins home series against Gamecocks MICHAEL SANDOZ PRINTZ REPORTER
outhern Miss softball was back in action March 7 and 8 in a series against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. The Golden Eagles won the first two games, but fell in the third. On Friday, Southern Miss took the win with a 2-1 score in game one. The game remained scoreless until the top of the fourth inning when the Gamecocks drew first blood, scoring and then loading the bases. Southern Miss was able to end the Gamecocks’s success with a double play. After loading the bases themselves, in the bottom of the fourth, two Lady Eagles were walked in to give Southern Miss the lead. Scoring threats from Jacksonville State came again in the fifth, but another impressive display of damage control came when Kayley Fruge caught a line to right field and doubled back to first for Southern Miss’s second timely double play of the game. “That’s just softball IQ there,” head coach Brian Levin said of the play. “We did a good job of battling out a few jams.” Southern Miss held on to their lead, but ended the game with only three hits. On Saturday, Southern Miss started their first game of a double-header with a bomb by freshman Hannah Borden in the bottom of the first, which hit the left field deck and scored two runs. The Gamecocks took a one-point lead by scoring in the third and fourth innings. In the bottom of the fifth, Borden hit an RBI to tie it up. The Golden Eagles broke the gridlock in the bottom of the seventh after Borden singled, hitting Karley Nicholls home. “It felt great,” Borden said about the
Makenna Pierce throws the ball to Karley Nichols.
Michael Sandoz | Printz
game-winning RBI. “We did a great job of making the adjustment to get hits.” Following game two’s exciting win, the Lady Eagles struggled to get hits in the last game of the series. With only two hits, the Golden Eagles were unable to score in seven innings and lost to the Gamecocks by three. “When we got runners on base, we just were a little too anxious and swinging at balls out of the zone,” Levin said following the loss. “It looked like the
strike zone recognition wasn’t good.” Despite the loss, Southern Miss looked strong in the field and pitching. Thirdbase woman Allyssa Davis is optimistic about this year’s team. “I feel great about us,” Davis said. “When we’re just having fun and playing the game we love, there’s nothing that can stop us, and nobody that can beat us.” Despite the loss, Davis herself had a few stolen bases and made several good plays, including a pop-out that she snowballed
after an impressive reach over the home dugout. Next, Southern Miss will play the Mississippi State Bulldogs at home March 11. The Lady Eagles and their head coach are hoping to increase their amount of hits and provide run support for their stellar pitching and fielding staff. “I think we were not very disciplined this week,” Levin said. “Just shake off the last loss and prepare for the next game, that’s all we can do.”
The First donates funds to Bower Academic Center MAKAYLA PUCKETT SPORTS EDITOR
n March 5, The First, A National Banking Association, contributed $150,000 to the $1.7 million privately funded Bower Academic Center project for student-athletes at Southern Miss. “We are excited to be able to partner with the university to make this facility a reality,” First Bank President and CEO Hoppy Cole said. “It’s a competitive tool. It’s important for us that Southern Miss remain competitive athletically and academically.” Director of Athletics Jeremy McClain and his staff understand that the first priority of working with studentathletes is education, extends beyond the classroom. “It’s not just about wins and losses. It’s not just about the even GPA and graduation. It’s about being prepared for what comes after that and this is a big piece of that puzzle,” McClain said. The Bower Center will house study spaces, classrooms, a computer lab and office space for academic staff. The donation by The First will also support a financial literacy program for student-athletes. “One of the great opportunities we have in Hattiesburg is partnering with our friends at the University of Southern Mississippi,” Cole said. “The financial support we are providing for the Bower Academic Center will make it possible for student-athletes to be better prepared to compete off the field
Makayla Puckett | Printz
as well as on. This is another part of our commitment to financial education and building strong communities.” Aspects of the program will include teaching life skills, such as resume writing, how to invest and spend money. As students progress, the options for what they will have learned will lead to more options of what to study. “It will not be optional, and I can answer that pretty quickly. It’s not that we don’t make a lot of things mandatory,” McClain said. “We want to put together a life skills program that will kind of walk with [student-athletes] through their four or five years on
The First presents a check to the Southern Miss Athletic Foundation.
campus.” The First sees this investment as a way to benefit both Southern Miss and the community. “I think it’s an important tool for the university to remain competitive. It’s an important tool to attract talent and it’s important to educate our young athletes on financial stewardship,” Cole said. “We were founded here in Hattiesburg some 24 years ago and Southern Miss is a major economic driver in our market. So it’s important for us to give back and it’s important for Southern Miss to do well.” As of now, roughly 400 student-
athletes use a 3,500 square foot space in M.M. Roberts Stadium for academic services. McClain said there has not been a decision made on what will be done with the “cramped” and “crowded” area. The new 18,000 square foot Bower center is scheduled to open in July in time for classes in the fall of 2020. “This space will allow us to spread out and really function in a way that will benefit them at the highest level,” McClain said. “It is something that has been on our radar in our studentathletes, and they’ll be very, very thankful.”