NOVEMBER 8, 2017 VOLUME 102 ISSUE 13
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News
USM’s research journal announces its relanuch this year.
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Features
Band Cowboy Mouth to play at Brewsky’s on Nov. 10.
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Opinion
Disney depicts it first LGBTQ+ coming out storyline.
serving southern miss since 1927
USM cuts budget by $8 million Kaitlyn Watkins executive editor
President Rodney Bennett announced in an email to the university on Thursday, Nov. 2 that The University of Southern Mississippi plans to permanently reduce its budget in the current fiscal year, which began on July 1. Bennett said the funding that Southern Miss receives from the state has decreased over the past four years. Over the last 18 months, the amount that the university receives has seen the most significant changes. In addition to loss of state funding, the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) Board of Trustees recently instituted a policy outlining financial expectations for all universities under the IHL. This policy “provides financial guidance and oversight so that the core functions of instruction, public service, and research can be accomplished in a financially sustainable manner for the long term benefit of Mississippi,” according to the IHL Board of Trustees’ Statement of Purpose for Institutional Financial Sustainability. In response to this policy and the budget cuts, the university will reduce its budget by approximately
$8 million and will eliminate twenty staff positions made effective on December 31 of this year. Bennett said those individuals had already been contacted. Visiting and temporary employees will not continue working at Southern Miss after their current scheduled end dates. The planned reductions are meant to not only address current financial situations, but also plan for the future. A 2% reduction in state education funding is possible in the upcoming fiscal year. “We continue to work hard to increase enrollment, and I am hopeful that state funding to public higher education will be restored,” Bennett said. Three employees and 33 vacant positions were already eliminated at the beginning of the current fiscal year. Bennett said the university has positive momentum that he is excited about but at the same time, there are budgetary shortfalls to address. “From my perspective, public higher education is transitioning in ways that many of us have never seen before, and at every turn, there are uncertainties that make it difficult to predict the future,” Bennett said. “As such, I cannot say to the university community that we
Kaitlyn Watkins, Printz will not be asked to do more or to do things differently; I am sharing the information I know today. We must remain committed to The University of Southern Mississippi; work hard
at the recruitment of new students and the retention, progression and graduation of current students; be mindful of all of our expenditures; think about ways that we can be
entrepreneurial; and think about ways that we can generate private giving to the university.”
Gallery: Southern Miss Art and Design Kaitlyn Watkins executive editor
The Southern Miss Department of Art and Design Open House allowed high school juniors, seniors, and community college students to explore the opportunites that the department provides. A scholarship competition was also held for student to submit
Cameron Cummins, Printz Student spray paints SMAD logo onto mural.
portfolios and be considered to the program. Students and faculty in the department hosted various interactive events showcasing what Southern Miss has to offer. Students participated in a “Drawing Extravaganza,” “Adventures in Printmaking,” and “Mural Mania,” among others. “I think that the open house is a great opportunity for incoming
Graphic deisgn student contributes to mural.
students to learn about our program and what we have to offer,” junior graphic design major Cameron Cummins said. Complimentary breakfast and lunch were provided to students who were registerd for the open house event.
Portion of mural created by students.
SARAH ANNE SCHLOEMER Webmaster sarah.schloemer@usm.edu
KAITLYN WATKINS
KENYATTA S. ROSS
HIBA TAHIR
NATHANIEL SCHUMANN
MORGAN CLARK
KYLE WILLIAMS
ALYSSA BASS
CAMERON CUMMINS
Executive Editor kaitlyn.watkins@usm.edu Managing Editor hiba.tahir@usm.edu News Editor morgan.clark@usm.edu Entertainment Editor alyssa.bass@usm.edu
Features Editor nathaniel.schumann@usm.edu
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Sports Editor kyle.williams@usm.edu Printz Designer cameron.cummins@usm.edu
AMBER COBBINS
ASHLEY HOBSON
CHUCK COOK
Social Media Editor ashley.hobson@usm.edu
The Student Printz
Photo Editor kenyatta.ross@usm.edu
JHAIMEE BULLOCK
Design Editor jhaimee.bullock@usm.edu
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Printz Designer amber.cobbins@usm.edu Printz Advisor chuck.cook@usm.edu
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. 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.
• The 12th annual Sigma Phi Epsilon Chili Cook-Off will be held on Saturday, Nov. 11, from 12:30 - 4:30 p.m. at Pete Taylor Park. A $5 fee entitles attendees to a hot dog, samples of the chili, soft drinks and a souvenir cup. The event is open to the community.
OPINIONS 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.
Historic Downtown ushers in holiday season with Art Walk Morgan Clark news editor
On Saturday, Nov. 11, the annual Art Walk and Holiday Open House will take place i n D ow n t ow n H at t i e s bu rg from 1-7 p.m., hosted by The Historic Hattiesburg Downtown Association. The event is free and open to the public. Galleries and shops including OddFellows, the Kress Gallery, The Open Studio on Front, McKenzie’s on Main, Old Town Gifts, Southern Fried Comics, Main Street Books and the Little Gallery will all be open during the art walk. Many of the Dowtown streets will close in order to make room for all of the booths and other activities lining the streets. Most businesses in the area will also stay open later than usual to take advantage of the crowds out and about on the town. An infor mation booth will be available for those who are unfamiliar with the Downtown area. Along with the art walk will be the “Emerging Artist and High School Exhibit” in the Hattiesburg Cultural Center from 4-7 p.m. during the art walk, hosted by the Hattiesburg Arts Council.
The event will feature live music throughout the duration of the art walk. Cary Hudson will perform at 1 p.m., Royal Horses will perform at 3 p.m. and then Midnight Revel at 5 p.m. A “ C h a l k t h e Wa l k ” competition will be held for children along with other activities suited for the younger audiences. Children can even choose to paint their own pottery and explore other fun activities suitable for their ages. Artists and merchants will have booths for selling artwork and crafts. The event will provide the public with options from food trucks and local restaurants with alcohol available in a to-go cup for those of age. Along with other features, there will be screenprinted t-shirts available for purchase. Attendants will be able to view the Mississippi Bicentennial interactive photo exhibition, “Celebrating Storytelling” scattered throughout the downtown area in the windows of local shops and businesses. These photo essays capture the stories of local Hattiesburg personalities and were produced by Blue Magnolia Films.
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Interior design program hosts local designer showhouse Natalie Buckley printz reporter
USM’s interior design program hosted its first designer showhouse on November 2 at the home of Steven and Wendy Farrell to raise funds for the program and to display the talents of the program’s senior students. The event provided products available for sale from local vendors including Anderson’s Design Center, Tish Gammill Home, Summer House in Ridgeland, Blooms, J. Allan’s, Ashley’s Furniture, Swatches and Robert Williams’ artwork from The Gilded Grasshopper. Most of the vendors agreed to a profit share, meaning the profits from items sold will go to USM’s interior design program for future endeavors. Alum and local interior designer Matt Haskins proposed the idea of the showhouse as a fundraiser for the program. Haskins has served as the senior students’ mentor for this event, meeting with them at the home and taking trips with them to showrooms to find pieces for the event. “I decided it would make a great learning experience for the students to get out of the classroom and network with local vendors,” said Claire Hamilton, associate professor and interior design program coordinator. “As their instructor, I love that they are out of the classroom meeting with area business owners and also learning brand names and products that are common in the residential industry.” Hamilton said that eight senior students have furnished the home with all of its products, experiencing “ups and downs… from finding
Courtesy Photo exciting products to later learning they [had] been sold which [required] them to start over on their design.” Clinton native Audrey Neeld said that the most stressful thing is when they would find something and then realize that it had already been sold. Shanequia Whitfield from Mobile, Alabama said that they had to start their living room design over last week because they had to incorporate
the homeowners’ piano last minute. The task of creating a designer showhouse is not a common project for students to undertake and, according to Hamilton, is something “no other design program has done in our region.” “It’s a lot different from a model in class,” said Erin Baugh from Mobile, Alabama. Shyanna Bell from Forest,
Mississippi said they had to learn how to keep the client in mind while picking out the products. “While it isn’t unusual for professional designers to design a showhouse, it is very rare for students to tackle a project this size,” Hamilton said. “It is a little intimidating not knowing if the products will be available on the date we need them, but we know we have built good
relationships with area businesses that we can make it happen.” For more information about the interior design project or program, contact Claire Hamilton at 601-266-6437 or through the program’s Facebook page, Southern Miss Interior Design Program.
Undergraduate research journal relaunchs at USM Sierra Wood printz reporter
This academic year, The University of Southern Mississippi will be relaunching its research publication, “The Catalyst.” The Catalyst is an open access journal that allows undergraduate students the opportunity to submit their own research articles to be published. The journal is published through the Aquila Digital Community allowing students access to the published research articles online. It is released by a studentled editorial team along the support of the Center for Undergraduate Research. Josh Cromwell, the Institutional Repository Coordinator for the USM Libraries, has been one of the faculty advisors of the publication in years past and described the changes that will be made this year. “The Drapeau Center for Undergraduate Research (DCUR) has been vital to the relaunch of Catalyst,” Cromwell said. “In the past, the journal has typically been the responsibility of individual faculty members who had to try to balance their own workload in addition to working with the student editors to manage the journal, meaning that issues were published quite infrequently. However, with the entire DCUR team now overseeing the journal, it should now be far more sustainable than it has been in the past.” The changes are expected to take place in the next issue. “The Catalyst” began using the Aquila online forum in 2015 and, so far, has seen much success. JD Rimann, a graduate of USM, was previously the student editor of The Catalyst. “One of the real benefits of publishing online is that we will now
Courtesy Photo be able to display research done in video format in a way that could not be possible in traditional print format,” Rimann said. “When you’re applying to grad school, these top schools expect students to have already been engaged in undergraduate research. Furthermore, the very top tier [universities] absolutely expect students to have already been published.” Cromwell encouraged students who are currently involved in
research to consider “The Catalyst” as a showcase for their findings. “‘The Catalyst’ exists specifically to highlight the research and scholarship of undergraduates at Southern Miss, and my hope is that our students will take advantage of that opportunity,” Cromwell said. Cromwell said the research journal great opportunity for students to learn about the process of submitting their research to a
journal, which he said is a vital skill if they intend to pursue graduate study. “Many graduate schools already look for evidence that prospective students are conducting research and publishing their findings, so having your work featured in The Catalyst is a great way to accomplish this,” Cromwell said. According to the research journal’s website, “the purpose of the journal is to bring the importance of undergraduate research to the full
attention of faculty, staff, and students, and to serve as a showcase for the high level of academic excellence and prestigious research generated at The University of Southern Mississippi.” Through the Aquila online forum, students are able to apply and submit their research directly through The Catalyst’s website as well as read previous issues online.
Peter Anderson Festival brings crowds to Coast Kaitlyn Watkins executive editor
The 39th Annual Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival drew a crowd of over 100,00 to Ocean Springs on November 4 and 5. The popular festival boasted a recordsetting 478 registered vendors from all across the United States, including artists and craftsmen from Missouri, Texas and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. People flocked to Downtown Ocean Springs to enjoy the slightly milder temperature and the sights and sounds of streets crowded with a variety of wares. The Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce coordinates the event which began in 1978 and has since been held the first weekend of each November following. Blue Moon, a top sponsor in past years, now presents the festival as a top contributor. Of course, the festival pays homage to Peter Anderson, the original potter of Shearwater Pottery and the older brother of Walter Anderson. The Walter Anderson Museum of Art displays the works of the famous American painter, who dedicated much of his life to capturing the wildlife of Horn Island just off the Mississippi Coast. Ocean Springs seeks to continue the legacy of these local artists by
hosting the Peter Anderson Festival in order to showcase the vibrant art community of the town and bring together people from all over. Michael and Victoria Terra traveled from Paducah, Kentucky to participate in their very first Peter Anderson Festival. Both Victoria and Michael liked the area and decided to try something new. The Terras own Terra Cottage Ceramics and sell unique clay creations. The ceramic drinking glasses that they sell have a unique poem inscribed on them, written by Michael entitled, “Stream of Cuppishness,” implying a stream of consciousness as the poem wraps completely around the outside in a looping circle. “A lot of times, people are telling their story...but my observation is that the story that you are most interested in is your own story,” Michael said. “So, if i can write a poem that doesn’t tell you about my experience but reminds you of your own experience, then that’s going to be a better poem because it’s gonna have much more intricate appeal to you than listening to what happened to me.” Michael said he listens to other people in order to find inspiration for his work and uncovers universal experiences to connect to his audience. Local restaurants and food vendors set up near the music stage
Kaitlyn Watkins, Printz to provide a place out of the festival crowd for a moment to enjoy live music. The Colin Lockey Band, the Brennan Roybal Band, Ty Taylor, Rhythm & Rain and Jade Sanders all performed over the
Saturday and Sunday of the festival. Several USM students made the short trip to the Gulf Coast either visting or making a quick return to home. Sophomore microbiology and
political science major Mikayla Brown of Gulfport, Mississippi, said that her favorite vendor had a dream catcher booth. “It was a great festival filled with talented artists,” Brown said.
Southern Miss student performs before B.o.B at Eaglepalooza Nate Schumann features editor
Junior broadcast jour nalism major Hampton Lamar performed as one of two openers before B.o.B at Eaglepalooza on Oct. 27. Lamar, who grew up in Dallas, Texas, began his music career when he was in ninth grade and taught himself to play guitar. He learned by singing and playing to his favorite songs at the time, like “Gravity” by John Mayer and “Banana Pancakes” by Jack Johnson. Once his parents discovered that he could sing, Lamar said t h ey wo u l d m a k e h i m s i n g for company at their house. “At first I hated it,” Lamar said. “I wasn’t sure if I could really sing or if I was like [some]
people auditioning for American Idol who couldn’t hold a note.” However, after singing in front of others so often and receiving encouraging feedback, Lamar says that his confidence g rew and that he began to g e nu i n e l y e n j oy p e r fo r m i n g. Lamar started writing his own songs during his senior year of high school, co-writing his first song with his sister. He eventually began rapping, and by the end of the school year, he was performing at big parties and local clubs. S i n c e h e g r a d u at e d f ro m high school, Lamar has been m a k i n g mu s i c i n h i s h o m e studio, recording and editing tracks. According to Lamar, this is the year he started making tangible progress as a performer.
Lamar was able to perform at this year’s Eaglepalooza when an Eaglepalooza committee member suggested him. After reviewing some of his material, the rest of the committee was on board and invited Lamar to perform. “It was an absolute honor to perform at Eaglepalooza,” Lamar said. “Only a few years ago, I was attending Eaglepalooza as a spectator. I remember telling my friend that I would one day be the performer. And now, for it to have come full circle before I could even graduate is just amazing to me.” With around one thousand attendees in the coliseum, Eaglepalooza was Lamar’s largest performance yet. Lamar said the audience was very responsive, even singing along to many
of his songs and finishing the “Souther n Miss, to the top!” chant that is iconic to USM. “Opening for B.o.B was pretty dope,” Lamar said. “For me to have been singing his songs for so many years made [opening fo r h i m ] k i n d o f s u r re a l . ” Lamar also complimented the hospitality crew. “They had probably 30 bottles of room temperature water for me, police escorts if I needed to go to the restroom, and there were the most amazing people constantly making sure I was okay,” he said. Going forward, Lamar said he wants to keep pushing
USM encourages students to remain safe Carlton McGrone printz reporter
A f t e r s eve r a l o n - c a m p u s robberies, University of Southern Mississippi students are encouraged to be fully aware of their surroundings at all times and keep in mind various safety precautions. T h e U n i v e r s i t y Po l i c e Department’s (UPD) crime log indicates that a vehicle was stolen Wednesday night, and an armed robbery that occurred earlier in the semester was reported by WDAM. Students and faculty are advised to remain aware of
their surroundings and use safety precautions when walking through campus, especially at night. Make sure to walk along the many well-lit paths, and if there are any issues with lighting, report the problem on the USM website. Walk in groups, if at all possible, or call the 24-hour escort service provided by UPD. Check your surroundings frequently and listen for nearby or hurrying footsteps. Dial UPD’s number, which can be found on the website, and be ready to call the department, if you feel unsafe. There are also 45 blue telephone poles placed around campus that have a direct connection to UPD.
“I call my mother or at least pretend that I’m on the phone while walking,” freshman Ann Marie Norris said when asked how she remains safe when walking on campus. “I ball up my fist and try to remain as intimidating as possible,” sophomore Kathryn Verplaetse said. “I try not to stay out too late, anyway.” Student and faculty safety is USM’s top priority. Know what route you’re going to take and remain vigilant wherever you go.
Hiba Tahir, Printz
and share his music with the world, citing that performing at Eaglepalooza has motivated him to continue down this career path. “I’ll get there by continuing doing what I’m doing and staying grounded,” Lamar said. “I feel that with any amount of success, we can start to lose sight of how we achieved it. It was God that gave me every talent that goes into my craft. Without God I wouldn’t be able to walk, talk or breathe so I believe that if I just remember where the blessings are coming from, I’ll eventually make it to where I want to be.”
‘Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp’ may be your new favorite app Carlton McGrone printz reporter
Gamers are ready to lose themselves in yet another huge release after Nintendo’s re c e n t a n n o u n c e m e n t t h at the long-awaited addition to the popular Animal Crossing series will release on mobile devices in late November. After years of waiting for a new game, Animal Crossing fans were overjoyed to find out that their precious series will now be playable wherever they go. Nor mally confined to the restrictions of consoles such as the Nintendo GameCube and most recently the Nintendo 3DS, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp will be released on phones, a true game-changer for Nintendo. Following the massive cultural phenomenon that was the company’s hit app game Pokémon: Go, gamers are well-prepared for this new game to take over their lives, and in many ways, Pocket Camp will reach a wider audience than its massive predecessor. A s u r p r i s i n g re l e a s e i n 2002, Animal Crossing on the GameCube has become widely known as the game that stole gamers’ childhoods, allowing players to fall in love with their virtual towns and avatars as if it were their real lives. As a staple in every Animal Crossing game, you play as an avatar that lives
in a quaint, cartoony town where you are the only human. Your neighbors and closest friends are adorable humanized animals with vibrant personalities that make you form instant connections, unlike with your pesky real-life neighbors. Though basic plotwise, this series has grown to the megahit that it is simply because of the natural humanistic desires the games draw upon. Animal Crossing has been criticized for the lack of story in each game, but since its humble beginnings, the game has been celebrated because of its simple, open atmosphere and relaxed play-style. While living in your town, you get a job, decorate your house however you see fit, make fish trips, catch bugs, go out to late-night bars, become best friends with town members and even become mayor in the series’ latest addition. In Pocket Camp, the premise remains the same except instead of being in a town, you’re camping, which instantly peaked many fans’ interests. The fact that the series is now coming to phones is huge news because of the wide scope in its target audiences. “If executed well, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp has the potential to be Nintendo’s biggest mobile hit yet,” Sam B y fo rd , re p o r t e r fo r T h e Verge said. “Animal Crossing is an even more natural fit for
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smartphones, with its focus on communication, daily play, and small in-game purchases.” “Thing is, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is just as addicting as previous games and its new, simpler format is a perfect fit for playing in downtime on your phone,” Jed Whitaker, reporter for Motherboard, said. In an age where no one is ever without his/her phone, the sheer potential for this game is higher than anything Nintendo may be
expecting. Unlike previous app games Nintendo released, Pocket Camp ranked number one in a matter of two hours during its soft launch in Australia, according to MacRumors. Numbers are only expected to grow once the game has made a full release. Also, unlike Nintendo’s recent mobile release, no prior knowledge of the product is required to enjoy Pocket Camp. Virtually anyone can download the app and immediately begin enjoying
the relaxing, fulfilling atmosphere that gamers have enjoyed for years. Anywhere, players can open the app and fiddle with their recently purchased campsite decorations or continue to work off their ever-growing loan from the dastardly raccoon, Tom Nook. Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp will be released in late November, and you can watch the wonderfully whimsical announcement t r a i l e r o n Yo u Tu b e n o w.
Cowboy Mouth to play at Brewsky’s Nov. 10 Trevor Ritchie printz reporter
Rock-and-roll band “Cowboy Mouth” is headed to Hattiesburg to showcase its unique style b r a n d e d f ro m t h e g ro u p ’s hometown of New Orleans at Brewsky’s on Friday, Nov. 10. “ C o w b oy M o u t h ” u n i t e s elements of rock, punk and blues to present live concerts that have run across the festival circuit for over twenty years. The Louisiana natives have played more than 2,500 concerts, performing for over nine million fans during their existence. Band leader Fred LeBlanc fills many roles for these southernstyle entertainers. LeBlanc is “Cowboy Mouth’s” lead singer, drummer and writes a large portion of the group’s music on guitar. Joining Leblanc onstage will be guitarist John T h o m a s G r i f f i t h , wh o h a s been with the band since its founding, guitarist Matt Jones and bassist Brian Broussard. During the 1990’s, “Cowboy Mouth” released original music through MCA Records and Atlantic Records respectively; however, the band created its own music label in the early 2000’s to focus solely on its audience. Wi t h s o n g s l i k e “ Je n ny Says,” that once sat in the upper half of the “Billboard” rock charts, “Cowboy Mouth”
l o o k s t o g i ve H a t t i e s bu r g what Leblanc called “one of the most kick-ass rock shows you’ve seen in a long time.” LeBlanc added that this show will be the first in a short tour run, with concerts following in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Nov. 11 and St. Louis, Missouri on November 17 and 18. After that, the band will return for another tour stretch on Dec. 28 in Memphis, Tennessee. If you need some relief, “Cowboy Mouth” ensures that this concert is the place to be. “If something’s bothering you or pressuring you, come blow it off and drink it away with us,” said LeBlanc. “I’m in it for the fans, the celebration and the joy.” Follow “Cowboy Mouth” as they plan to start recording new music next month for the first time in over a year, and do not miss them grace Hattiesburg this Friday, Nov. 10 at Brewsky’s.
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Last week, I attended the Voodoo Music + Arts Experience, a multi-day Halloween-themed music and arts festival in New Orleans with an impressive list of nationally (and in many cases, internationally) renowned performers. It was my first time at a music festival. I had a great time, enjoyed a lot of great music, and came back with what I hope are some great tips. Here’s a few. 1.) Remember where you parked. First off, accept that you probably won’t get good parking - no matter how early you arrive. So park where you can, and then— for the love of all that’s good and orderly— mark the location of your vehicle so that you’re not traipsing desperately through the wilderness six hours later. I was lucky enough to be with a friend with a good memory. If I’d been alone, I’m convinced I would have been traipsing until sunrise. 2.) It’s all downhill from the mozzarella sticks. If mozzarella sticks are the first thing you seek in the food court, good luck topping that later. I did have a surprisingly satisfactory experience with some Krispy Kreme bread pudding just before I left the festival, but it was nothing compared to the mozzarella sticks, and honestly, I think my audience would immediately leave if I attempted to build a brand around bread pudding. 3.) Bring a portable charger - or five. Consider literally every possible thing that could go wrong and prepare for it. I thought I had. I brought my charger along with an adapter to make sure I could charge my phone in the media tent. I spent hours charging my portable charger before we even left for New Orleans. When I left the media tent for The Killers, I left my purse (with the portable charger) in my locker and used my phone sparsely to make sure I’d have enough power before I returned. But then my phone abruptly died in the middle of a picture— at 30% power— the media tent closed, and my portable charger broke. 4.) Accept your height. Originally, I’d planned to wear heels to the festival so that I’d have a couple more inches to see over crowds. Thank God I changed my mind just before. I was miserable in boots. I would have been more miserable in heels and considering that I was constantly surrounded by people much taller than me, they wouldn’t have helped anyway. 5.) Become a journalist. Speaking of height and lack thereof, the media balcony is by far the best place to observe everything. I loved seeing Animé and Post Malone and the massive crowds around them. Also, I liked not having to wait forever in line. Also, I liked having a place to sit and recharge. Basically, journalists get to have the best time at music festivals. Become a journalist.
‘Thor: Ragnarok’ is a hilarious, beautiful sci-fi film Carlton McGrone printz reporter
The God of Thunder reigns supreme in his third solo film, but instead of portraying the formulaic superhero flick that Marvel has become infamous for, Ragnarok breaks new ground as a stellar intergalactic film packed to the brim with laughter. Commonly known as the most lukewarm hero of the bunch according to several film critic sites such as Rotten Tomatoes, the Thor franchise shocked viewers in this new addition with its well-timed jokes and light-hearted fun with a pinch of the typical superhero action to pack a punch. Director Taika Waititi (known for “Boy” and “What We Do in the Shadows”) was clearly adamant to break the seemingly endless stereotype that comes with a new Marvel film and, as promised, he delivered an astounding ride of excitement from the moment the film begins. Complete with an absolutely outstanding cast and beautiful set designs, the enjoyable nature of Ragnarok stems from the fact that it feels less like a generic superhero film and more like a monstrous, extensive science-fiction movie. Thor: Ragnarok picks up right after Thor: The Dark World. Once Odin disappears, Hela, Odin’s first born and goddess of death, returns to claim her throne and seize control over all realms. Thor, trapped on the alien planet Sakaar, must find his way back to Asgard and stop the destruction of
his home in the form of Ragnarok. A common criticism of Thor and Marvel films in general, according to sites such as Plugged In, is the fact that the same formula is carried out in every film; in that, superhero has a tragic accident and he’s also a jerk, but in the end, he overcomes the ‘curse’ that is his powers and learns to be less of a jerk. By no means does Ragnarok completely break free of these signifying traits, but it does a good job at making itself distinct enough that audiences will finally give Thor the respect he deserves. Instead of being bogged down on Earth, like the previous two films, the writers make the brilliant move to set Thor up against ferocious aliens and an Incredible Hulk on an entirely different planet. This gave writers the chance to branch out from the usual roles given to Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) characters and focus on the humanity of gods: the raw emotions of a Valkyrie and a not-sofrightening fire giant. This a true sci-fi film that can stand on its own without being tied down by the franchise’s previous entries. This film’s also sporting possibly the best female cast that the MCU has yet to offer with only two female leads. Tessa Thompson does a phenomenal job at portraying Valkyrie and is arguably the best MCU character to date, closely followed by Cate Blanchett as the chaotic and truly terrifying Hela. Both women carry the film, and I’m confident in saying that without their humor and general toughness, the movie would have
Courtesy Photo most likely fallen flat. Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Tom Hiddleston as Loki make for a hilariously fantastic duo, as usual, and adding Mark Ruffalo as Hulk and Jeff Goldblum as Grandmaster makes for incredibly clever, fast-paced humor that sticks unlike any other Marvel film. The set designs and CGI were nothing short of magnificent. In my opinion, the prettiest of all Marvel movies, Ragnarok features a psychedelic wasteland and a glorious haven for gods, both fit with intricate moving parts that’ll make you feel the amount of whimsy that was put into crafting these areas. As for Waititi’s plan to make Ragnarok more light-hearted than
other Marvel films, he definitely succeeds, as there are several moments where cheeky banter between two characters bring levity to an otherwise bleak situation. However, only so many times can a monstrous pile of rocks make a quick one-liner in the middle of battling gods before the joke becomes stale and overused. As for Hela, she has a grand introduction that brings actual terror and fear that Thor may not be able to defeat her, considering she is basically a personification of death, but once she’s settled into her role as a villain, she doesn’t actually do much. Sure, she kills and conquers, but Hela almost serves as a secondary threat to Thor as he fights to stay alive
on Sakaar. It isn’t until very late into the story that Hela becomes a clear threat to our hero and his home world. Overall, Ragnarok isn’t my favorite Marvel movie, but it definitely stands out amongst the now-oversaturated genre that Marvel has almost solely created by making the story its own and bringing levity to a world of gritty, serious superheroes. This film also serves a great bridge to Avengers: Infinity War that will usher in the beginning of Marvel’s third phase of the MCU films and will surely bring more experimental works such as this. See Thor: Ragnarok, available in theaters now.
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Disney makes right decision about LGBTQ depiction Lanie Leach printz reporter
Children and adolescents across America are growing up watching shows on Disney Channel. Popular shows back in my Disney days used to include Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and That’s So Raven. Today, the popular shows include Raven’s Home, Liv and Maddie, Bunk’d, and America’s most recent controversial spotlight star: Andi-Mack. Andi-Mack is centered around the main character trying to figure out who she is with the help of her mother. Seems like a normal TV show, right? Well people are freaking out because one of the characters, Cyrus Goodman, is going to discover his sexuality during season two of the show. Joshua Rush, who plays Cyrus Goodman, posted on his Instagram page about his personal thoughts on his character’s development: “Starting conversations about trust, love, relationships and family dynamics is easier when you have a show that you can relate to. AndiMack gives young people and their parents, mentors, and champions a meaningful way to talk about these topics and the power to decide their futures.” Shouldn’t this be the outlook we’re all havingbecause Disney is not trying to force anything on anyone. Disney is just trying to teach people to be more understanding as they grow up, and I think that that’s great. Personally, I never thought about my sexuality as a young
Courtesy Photo child. I didn’t even know the word “sexuality.” This doesn’t mean that other kids never thought about their sexuality though. The point is that Disney is NOT going to be showing anything inappropriate on Andi-Mack, so what exactly is the big deal? I’m sure that everyone (old enough to understand) knows at least one LGBTQ person, so what’s the big deal that your kid is going to see an LGBTQ person on television?
Seriously, I don’t get it. Other shows depict adolescents getting involved in heterosexual relationships, so don’t try and pull the “I’m trying to keep my child pure” card. Plus, Disney shows like Good Luck Charlie portrayed a lesbian couple, as did Doc McStuffins. Disney is just trying to open kids up to being more accepting - which could possibly start a path towards ending some bullying problems. It’s really
a win-win situation here, people. In today’s day and age, we are growing up in a more accepting society than previous generations. This show is actually very relevant since many youth are growing up as LGBTQ youth who deserve to be properly depicted on television just like any other kid. Disney gave a statement to Variety concerning the show’s appropriateness, as well as commenting on the reason for the
character’s sexuality: “…Everyone involved in the show takes great care in ensuring that it’s appropriate for all audiences and sends a powerful message about inclusion and respect for humanity.” Disney is on the right track here. We should be aiming at having a much more inclusive and respectful society, especially when it comes to LGBTQ youth.
Abuse allegations topple Kevin Spacey’s “house of cards” Will Veazy
printz reporter A l y s s a M i l a n o, a f a m o u s Hollywood actress urged any women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted to write two words on Twitter: “Me too.” “Me too” has been the label for a campaign that has come to light in the past month. This campaign aims to give a voice to those who have been assaulted and are afraid to share their stories. One of the most recent and major developments has been that Kevin Spacey, formerly the star of Netflix’s House of Cards, has been accused of assaulting many young boys dating all the way back to the 80’s. Kevin Spacey was a wildly re s p e c t e d a c t o r, w i t h m a ny formerly looking to him as one of the benchmarks of modern acting. Spacey was at the top of Hollywood and had a great deal of power and influence in the industry. This power is the medium through which Spacey would accomplish his sinister lustful nature. One example comes from the testimony of Harry Dreyfuss, who alleged that Kevin Spacey groped him as a young man while he and his father were rehearsing a play with Spacey at Spacey’s apartment. In a piece for Buzzfeed in which he details what happened, he wrote: “Looking into his eyes, I gave the most meager shake of my head that I could manage. I was trying to warn him without alerting my dad, who still had his
eyes glued to the page. I thought I was protecting everyone. I was protecting my dad’s career. I was protecting Kevin, who my dad surely would have tried to punch. I was protecting myself, because I thought one day I’d want to work with this man. Kevin had no reaction and kept his hand there. My eyes went back to the script and I kept reading.” According to Vox, Dreyfuss concluded that “In retrospect, what disgusts me about Kevin was how safe he did feel. He knew he could fondle me in a room with my father and that I wouldn’t say a word.” Since the revelation of Kevin Spacey’s many alleged assaults, Spacey has been virtually stripped o f h i s p rev i o u s l i f e. H o u s e of Cards has been cancelled, The International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences rescinded the 2017 International Emmy Founder s Award they planned on giving him, a five hour acting course taught by Spacey has been removed from the website MasterClass’s catalog, his agent and publicist both dropped him and his standing in Hollywood has forever diminished. I n my o p i n i o n , t h e m o s t sickening part of this whole ordeal is how Spacey responded to this situation. Instead of being a good person receiving justice for what he’d done, Spacey deflected all of this by coming out as gay, which is usually celebrated. People far and wide immediately fired back at him for his attempted deflection, saying “it helped fuel a damaging myth
Courtesy Photo that conflates queer male identity with pedophilia.” Kevin’s behavior was for decades truly a “house of
cards,” all it would take was one push for the entire thing to fall. Thanks to the wonderful “Me Too”
campaign, we’ve seen real justice happen as a result of Kevin’s “house of cards” being toppled.
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Penalties plague Golden Eagles in 24-10 loss to Tennessee Grant Chighizola printz reporter
Penalties and a stout Tennessee defense proved to be too much for the Southern Miss football team to overcome on Saturday night, dropping the contest against the non-conference opponent, 24-10. Defensively, Tennessee kept Southern Miss’ offense in check for most of the contest, forcing t w o t u r n ove r s a n d h o l d i n g running back Ito Smith to just 51 yards on the ground. The Golden Eagles also struggled to convert third downs against the Volunteer defense, converting just 7-of-20 third down opportunities on the night. The Volunteers put points on the board on the first possession of the game. After a 46-yard opening kickoff return, Tennessee freshman quarterback Jarrett Guarantano led his team to the end zone in nine plays, culminating in a threeyard quarterback keeper to give Tennessee the early 7-0 lead. Kicker Parker Shaunfield put the Golden Eagles on the board with 8:16 in the second quarter with a 27-yard field goal, narrowing the deficit with a 7-3 score. However, Tennessee responded with a 38-yard field goal on the very next drive to make the score 10-3 heading into halftime. The Souther n Miss defense made several stops at the end of the second quarter and start of the third quarter. However, q u a r t e r b a c k Ke o n H ow a rd ’s interception with 7:55 to play in the quarter set up a 20-yard touchdown for Tennessee running back John Kelly on the very next play, extending Tennessee’s lead to 17-3. Howard’s fumble on the Golden Eag les’ next offensive drive set up another Kelly touchdown, giving the
Kenyatta S. Ross, Printz
Volunteer s a 24-3 lead with 3:17 to play in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Howard was replaced with junior quarterback Kwadra Griggs in an attempt to give the Golden Eagles an offensive spark. Griggs immediately led the team down the field 90 yards in 10 plays, scoring on a one-yard quarterback keeper with 6:45 left in the game. Unfortunately, a tur nover on downs on the next drive sealed
the 24-10 loss for Southern Miss. “The tur novers really killed us right there,” Head Coach Jay Hopson said. “That was a really tough thing for us to overcome.” Howard left the contest having completed 7-of-22 passes for 161 yards and an interception. Griggs finished the game with 61 yards through the air, completing 6-of-11 passes in the process. Overall, penalties were a cause for concern for Southern Miss
during the entire contest. At the end of the first half, the team had committed eight penalties for 75 yards. The team committed 14 penalties for 120 yards, compared to just two penalties for Tennessee. The most notable penalty of the night came near the end of the third quarter. During a Tennessee field goal attempt at the 3:21 mark in the third quarter, a questionable leaping penalty was called on Souther n Miss,
giving Tennessee an automatic first down. A furious Hopson was flagged immediately following the call for unsportsmanlike conduct after he ran on the field to argue the leaping call with the officials, paving the way for Kelly’s second touchdown on the night. Next up for the Golden Eagles is another road contest against a 1-8 Rice squad. Kickoff in Houston is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 11.
Southern Miss drops four-set Match against Rice Thomas Turner printz reporter
Souther n Miss traveled to Houston to face conference opponent Rice this past Sunday. The Golden Eagles were able to start the contest in the fashion they wanted but could not leave the contest with a win as they lost, 3-1. “ We c ertain ly didn’t play our best today, but we will have to rebound quickly for this weekend,” said Head Coach Amanda Berkley. “Conference USA play is very challenging and you have to come ready to play and today just wasn’t our day.” USM, who was ag ain led by junior Kylie Granby in the kill category, jumped out to an early one set lead against the Owls. Southern Miss took the first set 25-22, but failed to capitalize on solid play from t h e G o l d e n E a g l e s t a r t e r s, dropping the next three straight sets 25-17, 25-18 and 25-23. In the second set, the Golden Eagles found themselves down 11-2 and closed the margin to 14-10 but unfortunately it was not enough as they dropped the second set. In the next set, the Golden Eagles
took a 15-12 lead but Rice rallied back 10-3 to win the set. In the final set, the Golden Eagles battled back in forth tying the match 2323 but the Owls completed the comeback by pulling ahead 2523 winning the set and match. Southern Miss either led or tied for the lead, in every major statistical category except blocks but could not seem to find a rhythm when it mattered. Junior Sarah Bell led all players with 44 assists, while Grandy added 14 kills to go along with three aces. Freshman Chandler Marshall provided 13 kills, while sophomore Catherine Repsher added ten, giving USM a team total of 50 kills for the match. Southern Miss drops to 17-11 overall and 7-5 in conference play. Rice improves to 20-7 overall, and 10-3 in conference, respectively. USM will host Louisiana Tech on Thursday. The match is set for 6pm in Reed Green Coliseum. The Golden Eagles will close out regular season play this week, before the C-USA Championships kick off on Nov. 17th in Bowling Green, Ky.
Kenyatta S. Ross, Printz Southern Miss volleyball team celebrate after a point scored.