SERVING SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI SINCE 1927 • WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM • MARCH 18, 2020 | VOLUME 105 | ISSUE 21
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WOMEN IN MALE FIELDS
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Student employees remain on campus despite coronavirus
Anastasya Cobanovic is one of many student workers who are still on campus.
Brian Winters | Printz
WILLIAM LOWERY PRINTZ REPORTER
n March 12, Southern Miss announced it would extend its Spring Break by a week and shift all classes online in light of the spreading coronavirus. However, those employed in Student Services will still have to work over Spring Break. Senior criminal justice major Villiman Magee said he is not upset about having to work at the Payne Center over Spring Break. His biggest concern, instead, is the possibility of someone contracting the virus at the gym. “Gyms are one of the high-risk places when it comes to catching the virus, so while I’m not worried, I know some of the older folks who come here need to be a bit more careful,” Magee said. While some are concerned about what’s
happening stateside, others, like freshman public health major Mark Saadalla, are worried about how their families are faring back at home. Saadalla is from Egypt and said he planned on visiting his family over the break. However, because of his newly extended hours, he is now unable. “We were supposed to be working more, but a lot of the big events got canceled. Not to mention, all the yoga classes and similar workout classes were canceled too because of the recent turn of events,” Saadalla said. Saadalla said he is keeping tabs on how the virus is unfolding and what effects it will have on campus. “The number of cases seems small, but it’s bound to increase as the days pass,” Saadalla said. As of March 16, the number of reported coronavirus cases in Mississippi is 12, which makes up a small margin of the more than 3,000 confirmed cases in the United States.
Southern Miss has currently not made any announcements to close its student service facilities. However, the university has given student employees the choice to either continue working or resign due to concerns surrounding the virus. Students who are working will still receive pay. For those who have chosen to stay, there are a variety of opinions on whether student workers remaining on-campus during the coronavirus outbreak will receive extra compensation for their efforts. “I don’t feel the campus should increase student pay for those working, but what they should do is allow people to work more hours. If student workers choose not to go home, then they should be allowed the extra time to work,” Magee said. Senior broadcast journalism major Jonathan Smith said some students might not be able to work because the facility they work in was shut down.
“I think Southern Miss should provide compensation to those unable to work, especially if working on campus was their only source of income,” Smith said. Saadalla said Southern Miss’ attention should be directed elsewhere. “What I think the university really needs to do is stock up on cleaning supplies. With all the stories popping up about people buying out the cleaning goods, Southern Miss needs to be prepared in case facilities run low on such items,” Saadalla said. Magee said that working over the Spring Break won’t impact how fast the break passes. If anything, the extended break means the days will go by even slower than before. “I don’t mind working here during this two-week break, because at the very least, I am still earning money, and it keeps me out of the house and off the couch,” Smith said. “And with the money, I can save it up for trips I am planning to take later this year.”
NEWS MARCH 18, 2020 MEET THE STAFF Executive Editor
Alyssa Bass alyssa.bass@usm.edu
Copy Editor
Mary Murphy mary.murphy@usm.edu
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Southern Miss seniors talk last days, graduation concerns
News Editor
Morgan Usry morgan.usry@usm.edu
Entertainment/Opinion Editor Jack McCallum john.mccallum@usm.edu
Feature/Lifestyle Editor Lillie Busch lillie.busch@usm.edu
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Blair Ballou blair.ballou@usm.edu
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ALYSSA BASS
EXECUTIVE EDITOR chools across the nation have canceled commencement ceremonies because of the coronavirus pandemic. As of March 13, the university has not made a plan for its commencement ceremonies, currently planned for May 14-16. However, university sponsored events expecting 50 or more people are canceled, and guidelines will not be reevaluated until April 30. “The team is diligently working on a plan for commencement as the situation with the coronavirus continues to evolve.” Bethanie DeFatta, assistant to the provost, said. Senior public relations major Sierra Wood said her big family was excited to visit the campus to see her walk across the stage. She said her parents, who do not have Bachelor’s degrees, were especially excited. “Graduating from college is a big milestone in my life, and I will be so disappointed if I can’t off icially share that with them,”
Woods said. On March 12, President Rodney Bennett alerted the Southern Miss community that classes will be online only after a two-week-long Spring Break. For many seniors, Thursday was possibly their last day of face-to-face classes. MaryClaire Rodrigue, senior legal studies major, was on her way home in Louisiana when she got the news. “I had my last class on a college campus yesterday morning and didn’t even realize it at the time,” Rodrigue said. “It was my senior capstone class with the people I’ve gone to school with for the past four years, and a professor who I’ve admired so greatly. . . In class we were talking about all the possibilities, but I honestly didn’t think our time would be cut short so soon. As a senior, it was devastating news realizing that there are so many lasts I will no longer be able to experience.” Rodrigue said the hardest realization is the possibility of not celebrating her hard work by walking across the stage during the commencement ceremony. However, she said she also understands the university’s attempts at keeping
the staff and students safe because of the pandemic. “As much as I would love to have a graduation ceremony, I understand that bringing hundreds of people in varying degrees of age and health into one building may not be the best idea. However, I hope and pray that things will improve, and we will be able to have a graduation ceremony,” she said. Woods is traveling to her home in Florida for the extended Spring Break. She said she plans to return to campus when classes resume so she can take advantage of student services like the library, housing and her meal plan. More than anything, though, Wood said she wants to spend time with her friends before her senior year ends. “It’s odd because after spending four years here, I feel like I’m not getting a real goodbye or any closure,” she said. The Mississippi State Department of Health announced three presumptive cases of coronavirus in the state, all in Forrest County, March 13. For announcements from the university on new policies related to the coronavirus, visit www.usm.edu/provost/coronavirus. php.
Marissa Haas marissa.haas@usm.edu
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Lack of internet access hinders some students ERYKAH DRONE
PRINTZ REPORTER
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.
Opinions expressed in The Student Printz are those of the writer and not necessarily those of The Student Printz, its publication manager, USM, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning or the USM Board of Student Publications.
ith Coronavirus, or COVID-19, rapidly expanding into a pandemic, many colleges and universities across the country have decided to relegate their students to virtual learning. Southern Miss announced on March 12 that it is following suit, and, following spring break, all coursework would be continued online. While there are many potential problems with this solution, like differing learning styles and refunding tuition for cut physical class time, one of the biggest is internet access. Cherish Triplett is a senior English major who is uncertain about the move to online classes. “I have to f igure out how to get a laptop. I have rent, and I
can only work so many hours because of school. That’s why I have to rely on the library so much,” Triplett said. Outside of not having laptops, some students have to travel back to homes that do not have internet access. Homes in wooded areas or on the outskirts of towns are often without access, meaning some may have to commute just for the library. Jade K itchens, a senior child and family sciences major, said she suffers from a lack of strong internet access at home. “The internet is extremely slow and doesn’t work well enough to watch classroom lecture videos. Last night, I couldn’t even submit my PowerPoint because the signal wasn’t strong enough,” K itchens said. Internet carriers like Comcast and AT&T are offering support by making prices lower for students and allowing free hotspots for those who are not customers. Many students rely on the school library to be able to complete assignments and study.
The library closes at 2 a.m. on most days, except Friday and Saturday. But with many facilities temporarily closing across campus, students are not sure how the virus will affect these hours. In an email March 12, Southern Miss President Rodney Bennett announced that many student services,including Cook Library, would remain open with adjusted hours. Currently, the hours for Cook Library are: March 16-20: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. March 21 and 22: Closed March 23-27: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. March 28: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. March 29: 12 p.m.-9 p.m. Students can follow the Southern Miss Cook Library Facebook and Twitter pages for updates.
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Students fear lack of experience in switch to online learning BRIAN WINTERS PHOTO EDITOR
n March 13, the College of Education and Human Sciences announced the possibility of practicums and student teachers not being able to meet anymore due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The announcement added that practicum and f ield placements are now fully at the discretion of the host district. Alison McIntyre is a senior social work major who visits hospitals and similar facilities for class. “It is diff icult to understand what is expected of us,” McIntyre said. “We were told to continue going to our placements, but if our placements told us we could not go, that we should talk with our supervisors about what to do.” McIntyre said having online classes instead of placements doesn’t make sense. “We can write papers at home, but many of us deal with classif ied documents that cannot be accessed at home,” McIntyre said. “We will not be learning the same at home.” Brandi Bond, a senior elementary education and special education major, agrees with McIntyre. “Other classes earlier in the degree program could make the transition [to online, but not f ield placements],” Bond said. “Since teaching is a career that relies so heavily on the experience you get in the f ield, it would put future teachers at an extreme disadvantage.” If she could make an executive decision, Bond said she would give emergency licenses to all Mississippi education majors so long as they have passed all required tests, and
discontinue student teaching for the semester. “Realistically, we could do the remainder of the work in our classroom beginning in August,” Bond said. “Completion of the work would change the state of the license from emergency to permanent.” Mississippi governor Tate Reeves issued a state of emergency on March 14 which asked for all Mississippi schools to stay closed for at least a week. Bond said the closure of schools until March 27 would affect all student teachers statewide. “With so many schools not going back until March 27 at the earliest, there’s no way we can do the program as originally planned,” Bond said. “Because it is impossible to do an internship like this online, everyone in the education department is on edge waiting to see what happens.” Elizabeth Knowles, a senior forensic science major, said she found out on March 11 that her internship was canceled. Instead, Southern Miss told her class they would be getting an alternative assignment. “If you are not going to force us to do f ield study later, just give us the credits so we can move on,” Knowles said. “We have already done the book study.” Still, Knowles said she does not expect a solution right away. McIntyre said she understands it is not The School of Social Work’s fault that practicums and f ield study are being canceled. “They have sent many emails giving precautions to students and are some of the most caring faculty and staff,” McIntyre said. “This virus will hopefully not affect our campus, nor its people, and I pray for those affected a speedy recovery.”
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Program leaders discuss university trip cancellations BRIAN WINTERS PHOTO EDITOR outhern Miss announced the cancellation of all university sponsored trips on March 9, including the Italian study abroad trip and the Center for Community Engagement’s trip to New York City. The Division of Student Affairs has also strongly recommended avoiding international travel and asked for students to register any personal travel they may take over spring break. The provost warned that any student who travels over spring break may have to go into a 14 day self-quarantine. The Office of Study Abroad has released a statement saying summer programs that do not have a CDC Alert Level 2 or higher or a U.S. State Department Travel Advisory Level 3 or higher are still scheduled to go. The statement also included a list of countries where travel has been banned, which includes China, Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea. Shawn Bertucci is a mass communications graduate student who said cancelling the Italian study abroad was a smart move. “It is better to be safe than sorry,” Bertucci said. “The university has been keeping a close eye on students who had not just been out of the country, but even out of the state, so it is a good precaution.” Bertucci said he has mixed feelings on the university asking students to register personal travel. Bertucci said on one hand, it is responsible to cancel trips until the university can understand what the whole circumstances are behind coronavirus. “On the other hand, it is one of those ‘who trumps whose’ rights situations,” Bertucci said. “If students want to set up their own thing and go do it, by all means.” Bertucci said he feels bad for the seniors who will not be able to go on these events because he fondly
Courtesy Photo from Office of the Provost
remembers the feeling leading up to his own study abroad trip to London last summer. “To have the rug pulled out from under your feet, I would have been heartbroken about that,” he said.” Nneka Ayozie is the assistant director for the Southern Miss Center for Community Engagement, where she coordinates all alternative service break trips. “Due to the cancellation of this year’s NYC trip, we are planning to reschedule the same trip for spring break of 2021,” Ayozie said. “There are no current plans to create a similar experience in Hattiesburg during spring break.” Ayozie said the cancellation was necessary so the group could stay in alignment with university mandates on how to prevent the spread of the virus.
Jon Pluskota, Ph.D., is an assistant professor at Southern Miss who leads a class to go to SXSW in Austin, Texas. Pluskota has been hosting the SXSW class since 2015. “Last week, which was the week before we were scheduled to fly, I started a communication channel with my dean,” Pluskota said. “It is not just about students getting sick, but what happens if they bring it back to Mississippi.” Pluskota said he looked at the possibility of SXSW not being cancelled and what the school would do. On March 6, Pluskota said he and his dean were leaning towards cancelling the trip because there was a high risk for everyone involved. “No sooner [after] I got off the phone with [the dean], I got a text message from a friend in Austin,” Pluskota said. “He said he did not know if it was
official, but the City of Austin cancelled the event.” When coronavirus started to pop up in the states and more cases were showing up, Pluskota said he started to think how he would react. “I started thinking, ‘As a teacher, do I run away from this or look at it as a learning opportunity,’” he said. “I was already thinking what I could change in the class if I had to.” Pluskota said students have to be smart when it comes to coronavirus by washing your hands, not putting your hands on your face and carrying wipes around. “I think the university is smart. Someone can go to Florida over spring break, and someone else goes to Texas and bring it back,” Pluskota said. “I think the idea of minimizing the risk until we can figure it out is a smart practice.”
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Hattiesburg launches anti-litter campaign LAUREL THRAILKILL PRINTZ REPORTER
n March 6, Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker and other city officials held a press conference to launch a new initiative against littering. The campaign, “Don’t Be a Litterburg,” is a part of a partnership with the Great American Cleanup. The Great American Cleanup is the nation’s largest community involvement program, taking place in around 15,000 communities annually. Hattiesburg’s initiative consists of four key steps: coordinating special events with big cleanups, launching education initiatives, encouraging business outreach and promoting social responsibility. “It’s our goal to educate all of Hattiesburg about the effects of littering and to engage our community in keeping Hattiesburg clean and free of trash,” Barker said. Sustainability coordinator for the Southern Miss Office of Sustainability, Melissa Covington-Olsen, said littering can have many different negative effects on the environment. “Litter, debris and chemicals that are not properly disposed of can enter our storm drains that will eventually enter our local waterways,” CovingtonOlsen said. “This allows for serious water contamination. This can lead to damaged ecosystems, injury to wildlife, reduction in property value and even harm to human health.” Covington-Olsen said there are also more little-known consequences of littering on the environment. There are various economic impacts with littering, such as lost tourism revenue.
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“In addition, litter clean-up costs the U.S. more than an estimated $11.5 billion each year,” Covington-Olsen said. “Businesses pay up to 80% of this while educational institutions spend approximately $241 million dollars annually for litter clean-ups.” Joby Bass Jr., Ph.D., an associate professor at Southern Miss specializing in human-environment relationships, shed light on some other unknown effects on littering within a community. “Litter increases people’s perceptions of what is sometimes called ‘social
disorder,’” Bass said. “Places with litter are often seen as places to avoid. Much like what is called the ‘broken windows effect,’ for some people, the presence of litter indicates a breakdown in social order and may actually lead people to avoid the place. In this way, litter can have a negative social and economic impact and perhaps even lower property values.” Covington-Olsen said campaigns like the “Don’t Be a Litterburg” campaign are important for communities like Hattiesburg because a clean
environment inspires confidence in people. “These programs such as ‘Don’t Be A Litterburg’ help unite communities to better educate everyone how dangerous littering can be,” CovingtonOlsen said. “Many do not realize we are only hurting ourselves and future generations by not taking care of our environment. Programs also help those participating regain a sense of pride for their community with the hope they will encourage others in their neighborhoods to do the same.”
‘Orange is the New Black’ actress, activist talks to students MORGAN USRY NEWS EDITOR
range is the New Black” actress and activist Selenis Leyva visited Southern Miss on March 11 for an event sponsored by
SMAC. Leyva began her speech, titled “Untold Stories: A New Beginning in Promoting Intercultural Competence, Developing Social Change, Inclusion, and Finding the Courage to Never Give Up and Follow Your Dreams,” by talking about her story. When she was young, her middle school counselor discouraged her from applying to a performing arts high school. She instead followed her gut, applied and got accepted. “What really changed my life was that 14-year-old girl who walked into that guidance counselor’s office and said, ‘I am going to go to LaGuardia High School. Give me the application, please.’ That’s what changed life. Somehow, I believed in myself,” Leyva said. She also spoke about the struggle she went through as an actress, working for 20 years on various odd jobs to make ends meet before her big break in “Orange is the New Black.” “Later on, I got to a place in my life where I was a single mom and I was not making enough money. I kept calling the telephone company, saying, ‘Look, if I give you $50, can you keep my phone on?’ That was life up until around nine years ago,” Leyva said. Throughout her talk, Leyva especially
focused on the importance of believing in yourself and focusing on your dreams. “The only person who can get in your way is you. Once I tapped into that reality, I realized that I could do anything that I want… Once you believe in yourself, there is nobody, nobody that can tell you that you can’t achieve what you want,” Leyva said. After telling students about her journey to success, Leyva answered questions about her experiences and gave advice on topics ranging from mental health to career advice. Asia Montgomery, a sophomore entertainment and film major, was one of many students who attended the event. Even though she had never seen any of Leyva’s work, Montgomery said she wanted to hear from a fellow woman of color in the film industry. She said she enjoyed the talk and the advice that Leyva gave to students. “Some people are overnight successes, and that happens a lot today, but I think her story is just proof that if you put in the hard work and if you really want to, you can make something truly genuine,” Montgomery said. “Even though now I may feel like giving up on my dreams, she didn’t and she’s doing well.” Sophomore theater major Camille Colley said she attended Leyva’s speech to hear from a woman with so much experience in the entertainment industry. She said she thought Leyva’s story was inspirational and a learning experience. “I couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that I am 20 years old. It took her my entire life to make her big break— 20 years. But her strength, faith and hard work drove her to build a career for herself, and I really, truly, think that that is an amazing and inspiring thing,” Colley said.
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Activist and actress Selenis Levya addresses students on March 11.
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Study abroad group returns early with mixed emotions LILLIE BUSCH
FEATURES EDITOR ver since COVID-19 struck American soil, students’ lives across the country have stilled. Colleges are shutting down and transitioning to online classes. Upcoming events are cancelled. For many, graduation commencement remains uncertain. At Southern Miss, alongside summer study abroad postponements, the spring semester Château Program has ended abruptly. The Château Program, ideal for freshmen and sophomores, offers 15 credit hours in French, English, and political science courses. The students live at the Château de Pourtalès in Strasbourg for much of the semester. Though students can typically withdraw from the program at any time, university officials and the Office of Study Abroad have decided to cancel the on-site portion of the program entirely. On March 14, 23 students and professor Keltoum Rowland returned to the United States. “The program was supposed to be until April 28, but had to be cut short due to the CDC level 3 for most of Europe,” Rowland said. A French professor, Rowland is the director of the Château Program as well as an honorary consul of France. Rowland also clarified that the students will continue to take the French and English courses online. The political science course was an early January class that every participant had to take before embarking to France. The Château Program members experienced France in its final days before shutdown. Though trips to major areas and
Courtesy photo from Keltoum Rowland
Students in the Chateau Program have to come home on March 14.
events were canceled, such as the European Parliament and the Louvre, the French citizens themselves were described to be mostly at ease and calm. “The French people, to me, were not reacting in the crazed way that Americans are. The government was taking necessary actions and precautions, but citizens weren’t going to stores to hoard toilet paper or hand sanitizer, that’s for sure,” sophomore English licensure and French double major Olivia Ladner said. “For the most part, it was normal. You mainly had people wearing masks on the public transportation,” sophomore elementary education major Chandler Lersch said. Only on their packed flight home did the group discover that France announced a nationwide lockdown. The lockdown closes
all nonessential businesses, such as cafés, restaurants and museums. Ladner described the flight from Frankfurt, Germany, to Dallas as super crowded and stressful. She said everyone was wearing masks in fear of catching the virus from the contained and circulating air. Similar to the Southern Chorale students that returned to the United States in February, the study abroad students will have to selfquarantine and self-monitor for at least two weeks. No one in the group is required to be tested for COVID-19. “When we touched American soil at the DFW Airport, we had to fill out a form and be interviewed by CDC officials before we could go through security. We were told that once we were home, we would have to be self-isolated
for a period of fourteen days,” Clancy Slay, freshman healthcare marketing major, said. Slay added that the study abroad group is also being closely monitored by Southern Miss health officials at the Moffitt Center. “We would all love to see our families, but may not be able to for their safety,” she said. Despite the early cancellation of the Château Program and leaving their new French companions behind, some students, like Lersch, were happy to return home. “I would much rather be here at home than in Europe, even if there are confirmed cases. I just feel a lot more stable and safer here, because now I won’t have to worry about being able to get home or not,” Lersch explained. In comparison, Ladner would have preferred to stay longer. “I was mainly scared of getting sent back early,” Ladner said. “I’m not happy that we got sent home. The U.S. is in the same state viruswise as France, and I felt way more secure in Strasbourg than I do back in the States.” Regardless of personal feelings, the last national disasters in recent memory for some college students are Hurricane Katrina or 9/11. On a broader scale, not since World War II have citizens across the world experienced the same crisis at the same time. “It all seems unreal to me,” Clancy said. “I can’t help but wonder how [the coronavirus] will affect my future college career. I think this does have a direct effect on how I view the staff of Southern Miss and everything they do for the student body.” University updates about the coronavirus, including hours and event cancellations, can be found at https://www.usm.edu/provost/ coronavirus.php.
Professors discuss working in predominantly male fields MOLLY SCHRAEDER PRINTZ REPORTER
t is no secret that there are majors, fields and careers that are either perceived as or statistically proven to be maledominated. Even in 2020, there are women who face challenges in their work and studies due to their gender. However, several traditionally male fields, ranging from art to criminal studies, are increasingly taught and studied by women at Southern Miss. Professor Jennifer Torres is a sculpture professor at Southern Miss. Throughout her education and career, she has experienced trials due to her position as a woman in what was very often a room full of men. “In school, I had to make them answer my questions as if I knew what I was talking about and not sort of look at me like, ‘Oh, did your husband send you?’” Torres said. Women are statistically underrepresented in art. According to the National Endowment of the Arts, while women earn 70% of BFA degrees, only 46% of working artists are women. So, in her career as a female sculptor, Torres said that the women she has met and worked with have all supported and helped one another. “There’s a lot of really strong women sculptors out there, and I’m seeing the tide change. The women that I met, we all kind of bonded together and really worked to help each other to grow and be successful in our careers. And that meant things like fighting for equitable pay,” Torres said. Women across all art professions make an average of $20,000 less per year than their male counterparts. Torres said it can often be difficult to teach women who are not seeing themselves
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represented enough in their profession. She said that one way she and other professors encourage their students is by continuing to help them after graduation. “Once my student, always my student. I am always keeping in touch with them, supporting them, writing them letters and sending them opportunities… It becomes a long-term relationship of mutual support and respect,” Torres said. Across campus from the George Hurst building, Lisa Nored, Ph.D., studies and teaches criminal justice. Nored was an attorney before she began her career in criminal justice. She entered both of
Professor Jennifer Torres at work in the woodshop.
these fields as a minority due to being a woman. However, she did not allow her identity as a woman to deter her from pursuing what she is passionate about. An active researcher, Nored specializes in justice policy, child welfare and juvenile justice. “What drew me to these fields was that they were pathways and career opportunities where I thought I could find fulfillment,” Nored said. Assistant teaching professor Leffi CeweMalloy teaches construction and design. Similar to Torres and Nored, Cewe-Malloy also teaches and works in a traditionally male field, but does not allow that to deter her from success. However, Cewe-Malloy’s field of study
easily has the lowest representation of women compared to art and criminal justice. The number of women in construction has lingered at about 9% for the last 25 years. “I do not see it as a negative; I’ve never seen it as a negative. I see it as a positive, being one of a few females in a male-dominated field,” Cewe-Malloy said. According to these professors, areas of study such as sculpture, criminal justice and construction have seen a rise in the number of women working and succeeding within them. Cewe-Malloy said that she is excited to see the number of women in engineering, architecture and construction rising. She said that she believes the number of female faculty in her school also encourages more women to pursue a major in construction and design. Nored said that the criminal justice field is more diverse now than it ever has been in terms of gender and race. For people who wish to pursue a career in a field in which they would be a minority, she said that she hopes that would not deter them from giving it their all. “Go for it. Do not let fear of what might happen or how you might be received stop you from fulfilling your dreams. There is always a barrier in life, always. And most of life is learning how to successfully navigate barriers,” Nored said. Torres said that she believes women should decide for themselves how they want to live their lives and what they want to pursue. Though Torres chose not to have a family in order to focus on her career, she knows many successful women in sculpture who also have families. “Don’t feel like you have to fulfill someone else’s definition of what you are as a woman. That is for you to decide, so now is your opportunity to make that clear to everybody,” Torres said.
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Lil Uzi Vert’s ‘Eternal Atake’ does nothing new CHARLIE LUTTRELL PRINTZ REPORTER
fter nearly two years of teasing, Lil Uzi Vert released his highly anticipated album, “Eternal Atake,” on March 6. While Uzi still does what he does best, the album ultimately fails to live up to its hype. “Eternal Atake” does not deviate from the typical Uzi material. For the majority of the album, he raps about his cars, wealth and relationships. The album starts strong with “Baby Pluto,” an energetic intro with a catchy hook. Unfortunately, not all of the album keeps up with that energy and effort. Other songs like “Silly Watch” and “POP” are almost painful to listen to. The beats are some of the best on the album, but Uzi’s lyrics are overly repetitive and his voice is drowned behind the heavy bassline. One thing that is constant throughout the album is the production. Every track is wellproduced and each beat has a unique quality. “You Better Move,” produced by Brandon Finessin, samples sounds from a 1995 computer game, “3D Pinball for Windows – Space Cadet.” The beat recaptures Uzi’s obsession with the unusual synths and sounds that make his music unique. The production does not save the entire album, though. Songs like “Chrome Heart Tags” and “Bigger Than Life” ultimately feel misplaced among the album’s loose themes. The songs also tend to drag on, which doesn’t help matters. The album lacks a real identity and shows little effort to create one. “P2” samples Uzi’s “XO Tour Llif3” and attempts to replicate the success it had. The drums are the same and the melody is hardly unchanged. It feels like
Illustration by Alexandria Moore | Printz
a cheap stab at trying to make a hit and lacks the originality that made “XO Tour Llif3” successful. On March 13, Uzi released a deluxe version of “Eternal Atake.” The extension adds 14 songs and gives 43 minutes of extra music. This brings the entire album to a hefty amount of 32 songs. The extension is titled “LUV vs. The World 2” and serves as a sequel to Uzi’s 2016 album “Lil Uzi vs. The World.” This extension adds more life to the album.
It features artists that the original tracks desperately needed. While the first 18 tracks have only one feature, the deluxe version adds nine features with high profile artists like 21 Savage, Future and Gunna. Not only does the deluxe version add features, but Uzi also shines on his own more than he did before. Uzi seems to naturally flow on “Moon Relate” and “Trap This Way,” arguably his most original tracks on the entire album. Still, while the deluxe version adds great
tracks, it confuses the identity of “Eternal Atake” even more. It seems like Uzi dumped whatever music he could onto the one album fans had been eagerly waiting for. To Uzi fans, “Eternal Atake” gives them music they wanted for years. However, “Eternal Atake” lacks cohesion and does not live up to the creative masterpiece it was meant to be. When you consider that the album stretches to almost two hours of meaningless music, it becomes old very quickly.
‘The Hunt’ does not choose sides BRIAN WINTERS PHOTO EDITOR
he Hunt” is a movie from Blumhouse Productions that received criticism before it was released. The premise of the movie is similar to “The Most Dangerous Game,” where a group of 12 strangers are being hunted by a group of elites. The hunted group is referred to as ‘deplorables’, a term used by Hillary Clinton during her 2016 presidential campaign. This caused major backlash, which included a tweet from President Donald Trump calling liberal Hollywood racist. Test audiences also expressed a lot of discomfort with the politics of the film. The movie was originally scheduled to be released on Sept. 27, 2019, but was rescheduled for March 13, 2020, after mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas. Following the movie’s new release date, promotional materials were remade to include negative media reviews and taglines
like “the most talked-about movie of the year is one that no one’s actually seen” and “decide for yourself.” While the trailer makes it seem like the movie targets one group over the other, both sides of the political spectrum are shown to be overexaggerated versions of themselves. One of the prey calls real refugees “crisis actors,” and another says he owns seven guns because he believes in the Second Amendment. But the movie doesn’t target conservatives. The elites are shown to be just as helpless throughout the film, constantly arguing amongst each other about being politically correct. The movie is no different from a “Family Guy” or “South Park” episode in making fun of both sides. When the hunted could have been shown as stupid, most of them are smarter than the elites hunting them. The smartest of the hunted is a woman named Crystal from Mississippi. Despite the stereotype of Mississippians being the dumbest in the United States, Crystal is able to outsmart the hunters and is smarter than Hilary Swank’s character and leader of the elites, Athena.
For a movie described as an attack on conservatives, it makes the elites unlikable and makes the audience feel sorry for the prey. The plot has a group of businesspeople getting fired for a text thread joking about hunting down “deplorables”. When the text thread leaked, forums and podcasters started to react, criticising the thread’s participants. These are the people chosen to be hunted. The ending even reveals the members of the text group were only
Michael Mapp | Printz
joking about hunting “deplorables, but started the hunt to prove their initial opinions of those groups. As confusing as it may sound, Athena says the hunt started because people kept saying it happened. So they proved them right. “The Hunt” did not deserve the criticism it originally received. It might have used the word “deplorable,” but other than that, it never mentioned Trump or Republicans. The tagline, then, is very fitting: watch the movie and decide what it is for yourself.
Dan from Lemon of Choice
OPINION MARCH 18, 2020
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Coronavirus crushes entertainment industry WILLIAM LOWERY PRINTZ REPORTER
With the coronavirus spreading its way across the world, the entertainment industry has had no choice but to delay several movies and cancel highprofile events. Major motion pictures such as “No Time to Die” and “Mulan” have had their release dates delayed to later this year. There were also much more drastic delays in release like the ninth “Fast and the Furious” movie, pushed all the way back to April 2021. Then, to avoid the possibility of the disease spreading, major conventions like SXSW and E3 were canceled, with no word yet on what will happen to summer juggernauts like San Diego Comic-Con. Then, in case you thought things can’t get any worse, actor Tom Hanks and his wife announced this week they had contracted the virus while filming in Australia. With all that’s happened this week, the entertainment industry is bound to take a huge hit. Experts suggest the global film market will lose $5 billion
because of the delays. Though it’s a bit disappointing to see that the next few months will be a drought for movie releases, we should take solace in knowing they will eventually come out. Granted, delaying a “Fast and the Furious” movie until next year may be a bit too much, but you can’t blame the studio for wanting to play it safe despite the marketing loss with advertising. Still, the financial losses from these delays will hurt the studios, especially since the likes of “No Time to Die” had plenty of money put into marketing, all of which has now gone to waste. One industry that hasn’t suffered too much from the pandemic is the gaming industry. You also have to remember that, although the cancelation of E3 is a loss to some, many major publishers like Sony had already made the decision not to appear at the expo. None of the upcoming games many speculated would be shown off at E3, like “Doom Eternal” and the remake of “Resident Evil 3,” had been pushed back, either. Even though E3 is not happening, this will not stop publishers from making announcements elsewhere since individual press conferences have already been scheduled in place of the convention.
Illustration by Alexandria Moore | Printz
There are still some concerns the virus might push back the launch of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox One Series X, but no concrete information has come out regarding any release date changes. Though only time will tell what happens next, expect plenty of empty
theater auditoriums due to the lack of new movies. If nothing else, gamers can imagine they are slicing the coronavirus in half with a chainsaw while playing “Doom Eternal,” so at least video games will provide us entertainment during these hectic times.
Hulu documentary shows Clinton’s sexism battle DIPIN SUBEDI
PRINTZ REPORTER Illustration by Kathleen Hetherington | Printz
hen most Americans hear the name Hillary Rodham Clinton, chances are they will think of the words “email” or “Benghazi.” However, the Hulu documentary “Hillary” might change the way we perceive this Iron Lady and absolve her of the sinister acts we subconsciously ascribe to her. The four-part docuseries gives insight into Clinton’s life, primarily told by herself, close relatives and friends. It goes into everything from her humble beginnings in a middle class Chicago suburb to her devastating loss to Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. One of the main focal points of the series, and of Clinton’s
life in general, is battling against sexism. Clinton hailed from an era where women could not and were not supposed to win.. She was an innate leader, but had to face barriers from all sides to express her views. She was constantly forced to subside when she could perform better than male candidates, from sidelining at school elections to being turned down from Harvard Law School. Societal pressures remained a constant presence throughout her life, especially involving her husband, Bill. She was adamant about keeping her last name after marriage, but that was deemed a hindrance to her husband’s gubernatorial campaign, so she had to change it. Though she tried to introduce new policies as First Lady, including a universal healthcare system which would have introduced the eff icient and cheap measures now necessary to contain COVID-19, she was repeatedly talked down by opponents who wanted her to keep quiet, letting her husband talk instead. She was even reproached for not acting like a stereotypical woman when she found out about her husband’s inf idelity.
These misogynistic comments unfortunately made their way to her public service too. As Senator of New York and Secretary of State, the general public kept trying to drag her down with nonsensical allegations. During her presidential campaign, Donald Trump accused her of playing the woman card to win the presidency. Media coverage was equally unf lattering. Instead of analyzing her resume, political commentators questioned if she was likeable enough to be president. This documentary shows Clinton struggling with a lot of issues, especially sexism in the media and workforce. It is time to f lush our preconceived notions about her because she is not that bad after all. She is but a prey to the vicious society that undermines women and their achievements. Had she not been the kind of woman she is, I believe women would not be regarded as equal human beings as men in this country. With all of the trials she’s gone through in her life, Clinton serves as a great role model to the women of the next generation, reminding them that they have an equal opportunity to create change in the world.
SPORTS
MARCH 18, 2020
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NCAA and COVID-19 cancel winter, spring sports MAKAYLA PUCKETT SPORTS EDITOR
arch 12, 2020, will go down in sports history as the day the sports world stopped. The cause of this distribution? Potentially increasing the spread of the Coronavirus. In a matter of 24 hours, collegiate sports went from Final Four tournaments continuing without fans in attendance to all winter and spring sports, including championship tournaments, being cancelled. The main concern is that the airborne COVID-19 would be diff icult to contain in such large crowds. In a statement, the NCA A said, “This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities.” Conference USA also announced the suspension of all spring sports Thursday morning. Southern Miss Athletics released a statement regarding the decision: “The decision was made in an effort to limit the spread of this virus and in the interest of the health and safety of our student-athletes, campus personnel, working and event personnel, the Hattiesburg community and all those who attend Southern Miss athletic events.” This meant seniors had possibly played for the last time. Questions of future eligibility and recruitment arose from the sudden suspension of
Southern Miss sports are cancelled because of COVID-19
Makayla Puckett | Printz
seasons. Student-athletes across the country expressed the frustration of having their sport taken away. On March 13, student-athletes saw a light when the NCA A announced an extension of eligibility. “Council leadership agreed that eligibility relief is appropriate for all Division I Student-athletes who participated in spring sports. Details of eligibility relief will be f inalized
at a later date,” the NCA A said. “Additional issues with NCA A rules must be addressed, and appropriate governance bodies will work through those in the coming days and weeks.” Whether or not seniors will take advantage of this ruling is to be determined. While some may want to f inish what they started, it could also require unnecessary classes. There is also quite a gray area
pertaining to recruitment. How will scholarships work? How many athletes will be allowed on a roster? How will additional eligibility impact professional sports? Will there be an inf lux in athletes playing for community colleges f irst? During these times of great uncertainty, the sports industry, especially collegiate sports, has great obstacles to overcome.
Sports cancellations amid COVID-19 concerns are appropriate CHARLIE LUTTRELL PRINTZ REPORTER
s COVID-19 cases continue to grow across the nation, many professional and collegiate sports have been canceled or suspended. While these actions will not be feasible as long term solutions, cancelling seasons provide safety and relief for players and fans alike. The initial proposals in response to the coronavirus scare were highly problematic. Various collegiate conferences initially decided to cancel conference tournaments altogether. This meant that the regular-season title champs would have automatically advanced to the NCAA tournament. This would have eliminated other teams’ chances to compete for a tournament spot and unfairly ended their seasons. Then, before suspending its season, the NBA had plans to play without fans in attendance. The NCAA also planned to play the entire March Madness tournament without fans in attendance, when last year’s total attendance for the championship tournament was nearly 700,000. These plans were opposed by various athletes, including Los Angeles Lakers star Lebron James. Playing professional
sports without fans would be like playing without a ball. Leagues would have suffered from continuing to play without fans in attendance. Viewer ratings, as well as ticket refunds, would have caused further complications. Player and team staff safety were also unresolved. On Mar. 11, the Utah Jazz were scheduled to play against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Minutes before tipoff, a Thunder team doctor talked to officials about Jazz players’ illnesses. The players were sent back into the locker rooms and the game was canceled. As thousands of fans exited the arena, a report confirmed that Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for coronavirus. While he was not present with the team, other players in the arena were tested, which also revealed Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell had the virus. This incident showed the reality of the issue. If leagues continued to play, athletes most likely would have spread the virus among each other and staff. Shortly after the Jazz incident, the NBA suspended its season. The announcement caused other leagues to follow. Within a day, the MLS, NHL, MLB and other professional sports organizations suspended and canceled their games. While the sports industry will still suffer from suspending and canceling its seasons, it is the appropriate decision to make. As much is still unknown
Illustration by Emily Brinkman | Printz
about the virus, this is the safest way to prevent its growth and control the fear around the issue. Both athletes and fans are protected from these decisions. Although many financial questions remain, Mark Cuban and other team owners have offered aid to their teams’ arena employees. Players such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Zion Williamson and Blake Griffin pledged money to assist paying their teams’
arena employees that are affected by the hiatus. These actions have set an example of the support needed to alleviate the struggles caused by this decision. While fans and athletes will have to endure not being able to play and watch the sports they love, the decision to temporarily cancel play is necessary to prevent and prepare for the spread of COVID-19.