Issuu

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Volume 100 Issue 8

www.studentprintz.com PAGE THREE

NEWS

Missouri State

Sorority changes bylaws to allow transgender women.

PAGE FOUR

PAGE EIGHT

PAGE SIX

F E AT U R E

OPINION

S P O RT S

Afterlife Parade artist goes solo in new single.

Editors share their favorite shows from the hit streaming service.

Team ﬂashes dominance in weekday victory against UNO.

Quinn Erwin

Netﬂix

Volleyball

USM hosts international poster exhibit Lindsay Adkisson Printz Reporter

As of Thursday, Sept. 3, The Gallery of Art and Design, located in the George Hurst Building, opened its doors to “Graphic Advocacy: International Posters for the Digital Age 2001-2012.” “Graphic Advocacy” is composed of 122 posters that display visually compelling images of modern time. The works of art promote social justice and equality, as well as advocate for environmental defense and commemorate lost lives. The exhibition has traveled all over the globe as non-commissioned visual substances to help raise money to support political and humanitarian causes. “Graphic Advocacy” was organized by professor Elizabeth Resnick and the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston. The exhibition is also available online. This has allowed the exhibition to gain even further support and feedback among its followers. The entirety of the exhibit, with the use of technology, has become a milemarker for advocacy through a graphic medium. Mark Rigsby, museum director at The University of Southern Mississippi, reached out to

Courtesy photos provided by The Department of Art & Design

Resnick and requested that the exhibition be displayed at the university. He said it is unlike anything the university has had before. He also said he has had positive feedback from the students on the exhibition and that they feel it is the best exhibition they have ever had. “I think it’s a great show,” Rigsby said. “The images are powerful and thought-provoking. The designs are colorful and beautifully executed. And most importantly, each work vividly communicates a compelling message. I think it’s a show that everyone should take the opportunity to see.” Rigsby also noted that the exhibition and closing ceremony lecture has been generously supported ﬁnancially by the College of Arts and Letters and Partners for the Arts. Partners for the Arts is a group that brings funding and opportunities to the various art departments on the Southern Miss campus. Gabrielle Graham, a graphic design major with a minor in art history, shared her thoughts on the exhibit. “It’s always very inspiring to see that many people voice their opinions about cultural and economic problems in society, but these artists present their viewpoints in a way that

evokes so much emotion from the audience,” Graham said. “There are so many ways to express yourself, but through the emotion-fueled pieces in this gallery, the passion for these matters is tremendously more evident than it would be in a speech about ethics or a monologue about our ﬂippant society.” Graham said that the piece that stood out to her was one entitled “Because This Mouth is Mine!” by Frank Arbelo. Graham described it as depicting a man whose mouth is being covered by a government “hand” and representing government censorship. “This speaks to me because it shows a simple photo that contains a magnitude of meaning that not only resonates with me personally, but also with those affected by the ‘hand’ that guards their mouth,” Graham said. There will be a closing lecture on Sept. 24 at 5:30 p.m. under the direction of Resnick on the “Propaganda and Protest Graphics: A Selective View of Civic Empowerment and Resistance by Artists and Designers.” Anyone is welcome to attend the lecture. It will be at the George Hurst building in the gallery where the exhibit is held.

Jillian Rodiguez/Printz The University of Southern of Mississippi displays “Graphic Advocacy: International Posters for the Digital Age 2001-2012” in the George Hurst Building each weekday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Page 2 | Thursday, September 17, 2015

INFORMATION MEET THE STAFF OF FALL 2015

Dirty Birds

EDITORS & STAFF

•

On Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 3:54 p.m., residential burglary was reported at Hattiesburg Hall. The case remains open. On Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 12:52 a.m., a harassment incident was reported next to the fountain and next to Wilbur Hall. The case remains open. On Friday, Sept. 11, at 11:43 a.m., grand larceny was reported at Pride Field. The case remains open. On Friday, Sept. 11, at 2:00 p.m., vandalism was reported at Sigma Chi. The case remains open.

•

• •

Police Contact Information

When reporting, the following information should be provided: • • • • •

Nature of the crime or emergency Name, address and phone number of the caller Location of incident Description of the scene and suspects Description of any vehicles involved, especially license plate numbers

University Police 911 (emergency) 601.266.4986 (non-emergency) Bond Hall, First Floor West

Editorial Policy

The views represented in The Student Printz’s columns and editorials do not necessarily represent those of the faculty, staff, or administration of The University of Southern Mississippi. We welcome letters to the editor representing similar and contrasting opinions. To be eligible for publication, all submissions must include name, class distinction, major, phone number, and email address. Submissions should be emailed to printzeditors@gmail.com by 5 p.m. Friday. Please limit them to 500 words or less. The Student Printz reserves the right to refuse publication or edit any material on the basis of clarity, space, or journalistic ethics.

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.

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The Student Printz

@studentprintz

NEWS

LOCAL

Thursday, September 17, 2015 | Page 3

GREEK LIFE

Okatoma Creek Missouri State University sorority opens doors cleanup day to transgender women set for Sept. 18 Nan Buti

Printz Reporter The Center for Community and Civic Engagement at The University of Southern Mississippi will take students on a day-long trip down the Okatoma Creek on Friday, Sept. 18. Students will travel to Seminary to pick up any trash from the creek, a popular outdoor attraction. Every semester, the Center for Community and Civic Engagement and the United States Department of Agriculture organize the trip. “Unfortunately, several individuals that canoe or kayak down the Okatoma litter and leave trash everywhere, leaving a lasting human imprint on the creek and its surroundings,” said Harry Wadsworth, graduate assistant in the Center for Community and Civic Engagement. “This is a wonderful opportunity, because it helps students not only give back to the community, but conserve one of the most beautiful creeks in Mississippi.” Students will either be canoeing or kayaking down the river, picking up trash along the way. “It can really take some time, because sometimes there is so much trash that we need to stop

on the small shores to collect it,” Wadsworth said. Kray Scully, a counseling psychology graduate who will attend the cleanup, shared her thoughts as well. “By cleaning up the Okatoma, we are increasing the quality of life for all wildlife in that area,” Scully said. “Plus, it improves the experience for everyone that goes camping out there.” Each student will have a bag for trash. At the halfway point, they will drop off the trash with a ranger and continue cleaning with more bags. Sign-up is closed for the upcoming trip as the ﬁnal number of attendees has been conﬁrmed. The next opportunity will be in late spring once the warm temperatures kick in. Those attending Friday will meet in the Hub and carpool to Seminary. They will then take buses to a drop-off point, and ride back down the river, picking up trash. In the past, the group has completed cleaning the creek by 3:30 p.m. and returned to campus by 5 p.m. The center is expecting between 15 and 20 students this year. Free lunch will be provided on the trip, scheduled from 8 a.m. to the late afternoon.

LOCAL

Andrew Dutton Printz Reporter

Missouri State University sorority Xi Omicron Iota has changed its bylaws to allow transgender students to join if they identify as a girl. According to USA Today, sorority president Danielle Marquard, a senior marketing major at Missouri State University, said the bylaw change was suggested by fellow sorority member Kara Venzian. The bylaw was enthusiastically embraced by the rest of the local chapter. “Transgender equality is a hot topic right now, and it’s something everyone is paying attention to. We have a lot of open and welcoming women in the chapter,” Marquard said. Liz Lersch, vice president of the sorority and junior exercise and movement science major, said that after the news of the change broke this week, a transgender woman reached out to say thank you. “She wished she had something like that,” Lersch said. “When I read that, it just touched my heart.” The change immediately took effect after a vote on Aug. 30 and was made public last week just before fall recruitment. There are currently 75 active members. No transgender students have been accepted yet at Xi Omicron Iota. Students at The University

of Southern Mississippi gave their opinions on whether or not transgender students should be allowed into fraternities or sororities. Raven Smith, a senior criminal justice major, believes people should be allowed to pursue Greek Life regardless of gender. “Everyone’s free to do as they please,” Smith said. “If joining a fraternity or sorority is what they want to do then they should be allowed to do it.” Isaac Hitt, a senior computer science major, said it should be contingent on whether or not a Greek organization is up for it. “Basically, I think it’s up to the fraternity or sorority itself whether or not they ﬁt into the culture or the way the fraternity or sorority’s established,” Hitt said. Charles Childress, director of Greek Life at USM, said all Greek organizations on campus are encouraged to follow their national organization guidelines on membership recruitment and extension. “The organizations allow all students the ability to gain membership provided they embody the mission values and creed of the organization,” Childress said. Childress said membership selection is different for each organization and chapter. Members of each Greek organization must

ensure the organization and the new member are compatible. According to USM’s Office of Greek Life, each year the average sorority and fraternity member donates 34 hours to community service and raises $200 a year in charity. Douglas Case, coordinator for Lambda 10 Project for Fraternities and Sororities, wrote a letter last November requesting guidance from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights regarding membership of transgender students in social fraternities and sororities. Specifically, Case asked for confirmation that Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 does not apply to membership practices of such organizations. The U.S. Department of Justice said that Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity. Assistant secretary for Civil Rights Catherine Lhamon sent a response letter in December 2014. Lhamon said membership practices of sororities and fraternities are specifically excluded from Title IX coverage. The exclusion lasts as long as the organization is exempt from taxation under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code and its active membership consists primarily of students in attendance at institutions of higher education.

Protests rage over prayer in school Camille Myrick Printz Reporter

The debate over school prayer came to Oak Grove Middle School after a teacher posted a prayer board in the back of her classroom in August. Eighth grade teacher Randi Rogers confronted a student, who felt intimidated by the word “prayer,” after the student

snapped a picture of the board with a cellphone. Shortly after the incident, the American Humanist Association wrote a letter threatening to take the school to court if the board was not removed. “Ms. Rogers said that even if the word ‘prayer’ was illegal, she would continue to write names on the board of those for whom she would be praying,” the letter said.

Jillian Rodiguez/Printz Oak Grove Middle school was the center of a protest earlier this week. Parents lined up outside with signs for and against a prayer request board in a classroom.

It also accused Rogers of being aggressive toward the student for disrespecting her religion. “Ms. Rogers said that if the student didn’t like it he could move to another part of the classroom,” the letter continued. Mississippi College School of Law professor Matt Steffey conﬁrmed that the board violated separation of church and state. “The board and the teacher’s response to the student are almost certainly unlawful,” Steffey said. “I think the reason why courts generally frown upon activities of this kind is because it sends a message to the students who do not share the teacher’s religious perspective that they may not be treated as warmly inside the classroom.” Despite the controversy the prayer board has provoked, Lamar County Superintendent Tess Smith mediated by saying the teacher’s actions were not intended to be offensive. Smith wanted it to be known that religion was not being forced upon students. Instead, the students

were the ones who sought out prayer. “I think what has occurred over time is that students would ask her for prayer and she thought the best way to handle the situation without infringing on her class time was to put up a board in the back of the classroom where students could write the names of people they wanted her to pray for,” Smith said. “There was no open prayer going on. That was not part of it. If students wished to participate, they could.” Smith assured that whether or not it was coercive, the board has since been removed. Some parents have been actively supportive of Randi Rogers and her prayer board. Protesters gathered outside of Oak Grove Middle School with hand-written posters to demonstrate their approval of Rogers. One protester, Mike Woodard, felt that the rights of Christians were being challenged. “We should have the right,” Woodard said. “That’s what this country was founded on—

Christian beliefs—and we should have the right to pray if we want to and offer it. If they don’t want to participate, then that’s their choice. But they don’t need to be able to take away my choice from me.” WDAM polled 900 adults in the area on whether or not they would be okay with a prayer board in their child’s classroom. About 91.5 percent said they had no problem with a teacher offering prayer, while 8.5 percent were not okay with the religious exposure. According to the group’s website, the American Humanist Association advocates for a society where goodness without a god is an accepted and respected way to live life. The humanist group’s attorney Monica Miller made a statement about the Oak Grove case after the board was removed. “This is a victory for the First Amendment and ensures that teachers in the district will not endorse prayer or religion in their ofﬁcial capacities,” Miller said.

Page 4 | Thursday, September 17, 2015

FEATURE

MUSIC

USM alum makes single debut Friday Hiba Tahir

Printz Reporter University of Southern Mississippi alumnus Quinn Erwin will release his ﬁrst single “Iron & Wood” on Friday, Sept. 18. Early reviews of the track are largely favorable. “It uses simple chord progressions,” said Molly Evans, a music education major. “But he does a nice job of layering the different electronic sounds. Overall, it’s a nice upbeat tune.” Matthew Fera, another music education major, agreed. “It does a good job of sounding familiar while not falling into the category of cliché pop music,” Fera said. Erwin is the lead singer of Afterlife Parade, a critically acclaimed indie rock band based in Nashville that has received much recognition since its inception.

Its numerous credits include headlining for The University of Southern Mississippi’s ﬁrst tailgate series, performing at Van’s Warped Tour in Nashville and being named a ‘Local Lightning Artist’ by Nashville’s Lightning 100 radio station as well as a ‘New and Notable Artist’ by Noisetrade. The group has been licensed for various popular outlets like MTV and Google, and their successful bout on the indie scene has led some to declare that they are more than just a band. “Afterlife Parade is something much more than a group of musicians playing songs – they represent a message of hope and celebration for the journey through life and death alike,” said Larry Kloess of the Nashville-based Cause a Scene Music. The “message of hope and celebration” resonates in Erwin’s solo artistic venture, which he is

pursuing while the band takes a break to gear up for its next project. Afterlife Parade’s success has given Erwin the platform and conﬁdence required to launch this phase in his career. However, he feels that his time at USM was also paramount to his development as an artist. “I started to really believe that a career in music was my ultimate goal while I was a student there, but I also felt that I needed to absorb more life experience,” Erwin said. “USM provided the environment for that to happen because of the multicultural atmosphere and just the opportunity to experience people from all walks of life.” However, Erwin was not always a musical artist. During his time at USM, he pursued an English degree and went on to become a full-time teacher. His time spent in the English department helped develop his songwriting ability.

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“Spending time in the English department deepened my desire to dig into the truth of great literature and shaped the way I approached writing lyrics,” Erwin said. “I believe that great art comes

from a deep sense of empathy, and empathy is cultivated through life experience, through trial and error.” “Iron & Wood” will be released Friday and will be available in all online stores and streaming outlets.

LOCAL

Outdoor adventures await USM students

The sun peers through the branches of a longleaf pine tree at Paul B. Johnson State Park, about 15 minutes south of the Southern Miss campus.

JD Rimann Printz Reporter

This is the time of year in Mississippi when it is ﬁnally enjoyable to spend large amounts of time outdoors, and not solely at the pool. The trees are changing colors, the temperature is dropping and the climate is signiﬁcantly better for hiking and other outdoor activities. Here in the Hub City, the change

in temperature is noticeable and welcome. Many students are aware of the things to do in the city of Hattiesburg, but may not be as knowledgeable of the outdoor activities that are there for the doing just outside the city limits. However, Hattiesburg is absolutely surrounded by enjoyable outdoor recreational areas. To help students who might want to take advantage of this seasonable change, The Student

Printz has asked a number of students here at The University of Southern Mississippi what their favorite outdoor places are. Several names came up, but the three that were heard repeatedly were Paul B. Johnson State Park, the Okatoma Creek and Red Bluff. The Okatoma Creek is actually a part of the Bouie River but a great place to go whether in the heat of the summer or the relative cool of the fall. Located a mere 20 minutes

Fadi Shahin/Printz

from Hattiesburg, it offers great kayaking, canoeing and some swimming beaches. “I really enjoy being on the Okatoma (Creek),” said junior international business major David Jordan. “I was just there last month for a kayaking trip, and it was a blast. I would highly recommend kayaking on the Okatoma (Creek) to anyone who wanted to get outdoors this fall. It is great for any skill level

and is a great way to relax on a weekend.” If one is more inclined to stay on dry land, Red Bluff is the place to be. Situated about an hour away from Hattiesburg and sometimes called Mississippi’s Little Grand Canyon, Red Bluff is a bluff created by erosion over a period of a couple hundred years. Composed of a combination of red clay, sand and a combination of other sediments which mix together to make a beautiful view, Red Bluff is particularly great for an early morning sunrise. “Red Bluff is a (fantastic), beautiful place to explore. I have been several times and hiked all the way down and around the entire cliff,” said junior marketing major David Walker. “The best time to go is during the fall or spring and watch the sunrise.” Finally, Paul B. Johnson State Park is a great place to go on a laid back weekend afternoon or evening only a scant 15 minute drive from Hattiesburg. It has a lake for rental boats, trails for running, hiking and biking and a plethora of tables for picnics or grill outs. “I recently went to Paul B. Johnson Lake and had a wonderful time. We took boat rides on the lake and ate lunch under one of the pavilions, and the whole atmosphere was very relaxing,” sophomore English major Christina Vehos said. “I would deﬁnitely recommend it to anyone who wants a place to enjoy nature and spend time with friends.” With fall rapidly coming into view, it is great to have many options for outdoor activities in southern Mississippi.

FEATURE

Thursday, September 17, 2015 | Page 5

NATIONAL

Racy site’s charity raises concern Camille Myrick Printz Reporter

Pornhub believes that giving back to fans is important. The company is offering a scholarship of $25,000 to anyone with a GPA of 3.2 or higher and a desire to “make people happy.” The scholarship offer, available to applicants through Oct. 31, has raised a lot of eyebrows. Some question the intent of this charitable act in concordance with the moral implications of the company. The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) made an ofﬁcial statement of their disapproval. “The scholarship is a blatant attempt to exploit economically vulnerable young people and get the mainstream to accept the porn industry.” Executive Director Dawn Hawkins of NCOSE is especially disgusted with the idea. “If Pornhub truly cared about disadvantaged youth, they could give away scholarship money without exploiting thousands of teenagers,” Hawkins said. “This company is built upon a legacy of exploitation and it is no more charitable in mind than a tobacco company that offers a scholarship to whichever teen can smoke the most of its brand-name cigarettes.” However, Pornhub does not require that applicants watch videos in order to win. In fact, everyone is invited to participate regardless of major or view of the porn industry. Mike Williams, a Pornhub spokesperson, told USA TODAY College, “If someone is against porn and/or Pornhub, then they don’t have to apply for the scholarship. That is

perfectly acceptable, especially since some might get turned off by the porn association regarding where the

grant came from.” Yes, some might get “turned off,” no pun intended. The company also

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forbids the use of sexual material in the required video submission. All that is required is an essay

explaining how the student strives to make people happy. “We will not seriously consider anyone if they include explicit material in the video,” said Pornhub Vice President Corey Price. “We are not looking for that whatsoever. I want to make that abundantly clear.” Pornhub wants to judge the winner solely on the purity of heart and mind, which may seem contradictory to the company’s purpose. The website aggrandizes punishment, bondage and domination, which some may consider to be abusive sexual encounters. The scholarship is being launched in honor of their new charity, Pornhub Cares. Pornhub cares? Certainly not for the perspective they form around women. In cases where women have suffered sexual abuse, the content of Pornhub’s website may be especially disturbing. Not only that but it is representative of an industry that has involved the abuse and exploitation of children. In efforts to leave no one out, I must mention that there are support websites for men who have suffered sexual abuse and coped with the trauma with an addiction to pornography. “Often the sexual acts that men carry through are nothing less than them recreating the abuse they suffered, which is a part of addictive cycle,” one support website claims. It raises deﬁnite questions about the motive of the demographic that trafﬁcs Pornhub. In the end, it all depends on the applicant’s personal view, and part of me is glad that there will be some good, no matter how controversial, to come out of the porn industry.

Letter from Parking Management In follow-up to the article regarding parking for commuter students published in the Aug. 27 edition of The Student Printz, the Department of Parking Management would like to provide the following information. Commuters are allowed to park in their designated areas and open zones. 1,106 spaces are designated for commuter parking. However, commuter students may also park in open zones which contain 3,283 spaces. All parking information can be found in the Traffic and Parking Regulations which govern how parking is assigned, utilized

and paid for at The University of Southern Mississippi. Hattiesburg Campus - parking zone restrictions will be enforced from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays when Saturday is a designated class day, with the exception of mandatory tow areas. Mandatory tow areas include service areas, fire lanes, fire hydrants, handicapped parking, handicapped curb cuts, reserved parking, sidewalks/ grounds, no parking tow-away areas and obstructing traffic. These areas will be enforced 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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Since the start of the new academic year, there has been significant underutilization of two large open zone lots, (the) Hillcrest Gravel lot (387 spaces) on the northeast side of campus and the Ross Boulevard, South

lot (previously Sigma Nu) (160 spaces) on the southwest side of campus. Students are encouraged to take advantage of these locations. If you should have any other

questions/concerns, please contact The Department of Parking Management at 601.266.5447 or 601.266.4943, located in McLemore Hall 152. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

OPINION

Page 6 | Thursday, September 17, 2015

ENTERTAINMENT

Most binge-worthy shows on Netﬂix

Ardan Thornhill Managing Editor

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Oh, how I love to hate and hate to love the formidable and remarkably ambitious Underwoods. What? You expected me to go against the grain and write about a show less popular than the monstrosity that is Netflix original House of Cards? Well, too bad. If you haven’t already been afflicted by this life-sucking virus of a show, I’m uncertain whether or not it would be morally negligent to recommend it to you, but for the sake of this blurb, I will. House of Cards can be considered the credential Netflix needed to transcend its status as a secondary distributor to a competitor in show business. Based on a 1990s British analog of itself, the postmodern series follows the serpent

Alan Rawls

Executive Editor

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Jesse Hammett Copy Editor

Scully and Mulder became cultural icons in the late 90s for good reason. “The X-Files” lasted nine 22-episode seasons and spawned two feature films alongside an incalculable amount of expanded universe content. What makes the series near-perfect is the chemistry between the lead characters and the many, many interpretations of well-known conspiracies. The agents will

make a believer out of you by the second season, and you will be a fanatic by the time you finish “Fight the Future,” the critically acclaimed first feature film. The show’s popularity can be attributed in part to its dark monsterof-the-week format. From its haunting pilot episode to its bittersweet final season, “The X-Files” moves at a gleefully breakneck pace. Fair warning: once you finish this series, nothing will be able to replace it. “SCULLAAAAAYYYY!”

I was tempted to say that “Parks and Recreation” was my top pick for most bingeworthy show on Netflix, but I’m sticking with Marvel’s Netflix series “Daredevil.” Yes, “Arrow” and “Flash” and the other superhero-themed shows are great, but “Daredevil” takes the cake. First, the cinematography and overall production make this show phenomenal. Watching this show makes me think that ABC Studios and DeKnight Productions spared nothing in the quality of this production. The lighting was always just right, and “Daredevil” features one of the longest continuing shots I’ve ever

of a politician Francis (portrayed by Kevin Spacey) and his cunning wife, Claire (portrayed by Robin Wright – otherwise known as ‘Jenny’ in Forrest Gump) as they navigate the arteries of political power and cut right to the heart of Washington. Its intent, as exemplified in the dark-satire of the British series, is to provoke deep suspicions from the American public towards the political machine. Trying to describe the series without spoiling all the fun proves itself quite difficult, as there is much discussion to be had on its intricacies. Spacey’s character, especially in the first two seasons, steals the interest of the audience with his deliciously amoral, ruthlessly pragmatic and unfettered methods of ascension. There’s something

Shakespearian about him – an Iago in his own right with his seductive, sociopathic asides and soliloquys. Wright, as the seemingly perfect accomplice Claire, shines with just as much brilliance and guile as well as uncanny similarities to upcoming presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton. Unlike Francis, Claire possesses an air of ambivalence – she is not murderous and appears much more restrained than him. The blind eye she turns towards Frank’s antisocial maneuvers constantly provokes the question of whether or not she has a human-like quality kept underneath the surface, or simply a narcissist without any feeling or empathy towards others. The series garnered critic acclaim and multiple awards in its inaugural season and continued its ascent in its second, much like Frank and Claire themselves. USA Today critic Robert Bianco concised summed it when he said, “if you think network executives are nervous, imagine the actors who have to go up against that pair in the Emmys.” If you haven’t already hopped on the House of Cards train, now’s the time to jump right in and join the conversation. I mean, ‘tis the season, right?

seen. It sounds bizarre, but this was a great shot because it was non-stop action and it flowed very well. “Daredevil” fans ought to remember it well: Matt Murdock, after hearing the Russian mafia abducted a young boy, goes into their hideout and smashes some skulls in order to rescue the kid. Second, the 13-episode season allows the viewer to really delve into Daredevil’s origin story and understand what all he is capable of doing. Let’s face it: that monstrous atrocity from 2003—the “Daredevil” movie starring Ben Affleck— hardly did the character justice. Yet the Netflix show makes the viewer aware of how tortured Matt Murdock is, especially by how far he must go in order to defend his city and what real

justice looks like. Third, the makers of “Daredevil” hold nothing back. The silver screen rakes in a lot of money for Marvel Studios, true, but in making big-budget, widely recognized movies, they are limited in what they can do since they have to appeal to younger audiences and parents who don’t want their children seeing much violence. That’s not a problem with a Netflix show. At one point, Kingpin decapitates a guy with a car door. Yes, that’s disgusting and not good, but the fact that they don’t shy away from the nitty gritty side of Marvel is fantastic. All in all, give a couple of “Daredevil” episodes a try. You’ll be glad you did.

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SPORTS

Thursday, September 17, 2015 | Page 7

FOOTBALL

USM looks to prove itself against Texas State Julius Kizzee Printz Reporter

Mike Granse/Courtesy Photo Texas State Bobcats running back Robert Lowe carries the ball during the game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Texas State Bobcats at Memorial Stadium on Sept. 20, 2014. Illinois beat Texas State 42-35. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports

The Golden Eagles were untouchable last weekend, thrashing Austin Peay 52-6. There were a lot of positives coming from that game and they hope they carry them into this week when the team will travel to San Marcos, Texas, to play Texas State. The defense held Austin Peay to only 189 total offense yards in the game. That same defense also gave in-state rival 442 yards of offense. Nonetheless, Heisman candidate Dak Prescott led the charge against Southern Miss. This game, it was a more clear barometer of the potential of the Golden Eagle attack. Austin Peay only scored in the first quarter, being shut out for the rest of the game. That shutout was pitched by a defense that held them to only 12 first downs. Also, the Governors only managed a mere two yards per carry. That effort, can be attributed to the defensive line. “Our defensive front and linebackers gave their offense problems all afternoon,” said head coach Monken. “If you are good up front, there is so much you can do.” The defensive line is one of the most improved areas on the team across the board. From the addition of Naim Mustafaa to the maturation of players like Xavier Thigpen, the growth along the defensive front is more than warranted. Junior Dylan Bradley had a game for the books against Austin Peay. He finished with eight tackles, with

seven of those in a solo effort. He also ﬁnished with two sacks to add to the stat sheet for this game. ‘(Bradley is) a hard guy to block and he likes to play the game,” Monken said. “We had an advantage up front and it showed.” The offense for the Golden Eagles was potent in every facet. Quarterback Nick Mullens threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns in another great showing for the junior quarterback. “He is only going to get better,” Monken said. “We are expecting to get guys back Saturday that will help him with that.” This weekend, the Golden Eagles will travel to take on the Bobcats in what should be a very explosive game from both offenses. But that wont stop the optimism of coach Monken. “I know they have a good quarterback,” Monken said. “I know we’re better on both sides of the ball.” Texas State went 7-5 last season, just missing out on a bowl game. This season, Texas State is looking for the same respect the Golden Eagles desire. “We’re signiﬁcantly different, but then so are they,” Monken said. “They’re much further along now than they were then, but so are we.” Texas State hung up 63 points against Prairie View A&M last week in their home opener. Although they lost to Florida State 59-16, there were some positives. They racked up 300 yards of offense and only committed one penalty. They may

have been outmatched that game, but they showed a fight that they can bring to the Golden Eagles. This week, Southern Miss will have a few surprises on the field in Texas. “We’ve had some guys nicked up, so getting those guys back for this week, so we’re at full strength,” Monken said. “We’re going to need to be at full strength.” This offseason, all of the hype coming out of fall camp was due to the arrival of certain players and some players who developed significantly. Seniors Wil Freeman and Mike Thomas were both hurt early in Week 1, but hopefully they will see the field. Transfer Julian Allen has yet to step onto the field, but he will be another Golden Eagle to look out for. For the Golden Eagles to win this game, they will have to bring the same fire that they brought in the past two contests. “(Monken) said it starts with the (defensive) line,” Bradley said. “We know we got to go out there and make our own energy.” This week, we will really get a chance to see just how far Southern Miss has come. Their test will be against a very capable Texas State team, itching for the same respect. “Whether you win or lose, it is about what you take away from the game,” Monken said. “It is all about working your rear ends off every day, failing, correcting those mistakes and getting better.” Kickoff is at 6 p.m.

SPORTS

Page 8 | Thursday, September 17, 2015

VOLLEYBALL

Lady Eagles ﬂex muscles against UNO Joshua Campbell Sports Editor

Southern Miss continued its historic start Tuesday, sweeping New Orleans 3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-21), improving to 12-1. Studs Stephany Purdue and Quinci Hayward got the night off as head coach Amanda Berkley decided to get some of the younger Golden Eagles some experience. It was a savvy move by Berkley as USM will need its underclassmen to be prepared when conference play begins next week. “It was nice to get some underclassmen in there and get some experience for them,” Berkley said. The ﬁrst set was hotly contested in the early going, but USM closed the set with a 9-3 run to take the early 1-0 advantage. Kylie Grandy, Sarah Bell and Rachel Johnson each played big roles in securing the opening set. The second set was a back-andforth affair until Alexis Coombs broke up a 14-14 tie. Mary Pursell served three consecutive points as part of a 11-4 run by the Golden Eagles to close out the set. In set three, Shelby Russell was dominant serving the ball, collecting three aces. The set remained close throughout, but the Privateers just could not break through and failed to capture the lead once. Grandy capped off the

match with a kill assisted by Bell. Without Purdue and Hayward on the court, Berkley lauded Pursell’s leadership as the team’s libero. “Pursell is a good team leader for us,” Berkley said. “She’s our libero so she’s on the court a lot. She’s got to be a calming inﬂuence back there, digging a lot of balls. (Pursell) has done a really nice job for us.” Despite her head coach’s kind words, Pursell knows the team’s success boils down to teamwork and being there for one another. “Part of our success this year is the fact that we’ve been playing as a team completely, 100 percent,” Pursell said. “That’s how we’ve been winning because we’ve been clicking (as a team).” Grandy and Chanel Joyce each collected double-digit kills with 11 apiece. Bell was the table setter for the USM offense all night, assisting on 33 kills. Pursell and Coombs led the way defensively as Pursell recorded 19 digs while Coombs had eight total blocks. As a team, the Golden Eagles had 39 kills on a .281 hitting percentage, 40 digs and 12 team blocks. The Golden Eagles will look to continue their dominance this weekend when they travel to Memphis, Tennessee, for the Tiger Invitational. They will play Mississippi State, Memphis and Austin Peay.

Beth Cunningham/Printz Chanel Joyce strikes against University of New Orleans’ defenders. The Golden Eagles defeated the Privateers 3-0 Sept. 15.

Beth Cunningham/Printz

Sophomore Kelsey Chambers jumps to hit the ball in the Tuesday matchup with UNO.