Volume 100 Issue 31
Thursday, January 28, 2016
www.studentprintz.com
USM responds to animal abuse allegation Hiba Tahir Printz Reporter
The University of Southern Mississippi responded to a formal complaint of animal abuse issued an activist group to the USDA on Wednesday. In the statement released, the university describes the nature of its primate research. USM fully denied the accusations of the Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!, the animal rights activist group, that accused the university of “blatant disregard of the Animal Welfare Act ” in primate laboratory research. According to the release, “[USM was] found to be in full compliance,
with no issues, following an inspection by the agency this past August.” SAEN is demanding a maximum fine against USM for the alleged violation. SAEN filed the complaint about USM’s primate laboratory after an anonymous source informed them that some of the lab’s bushbabies were so psychologically abnormal that they had become selfdestructive, biting off their fingers and ripping out their hair. If found at fault, this is not the university’s first AWA violation. They were reportedly given three USDA citations in 2014 and were the target of a 4-page USDA inspection report in 2012 after a
group of research rabbits subjected to prolonged tick-feeding were found to have large holes in their ears, ear discoloration and rectal bleeding, among other symptoms. “The University of Southern Mississippi has demonstrated a long-term pattern of allowing animals to suffer needlessly,” said Michael Budkie, SAEN executive director, in a recent press release. Regarding the abuse allegation, Budkie said, “The USDA should issue a severe penalty for the negligence which has allowed intelligent primates to become so psychologically abnormal as to Robbin Hutton/Courtesy Photo
ABUSE CONT. ON PG. 3
LOCAL
Pointless buttons fool unsuspecting pedestrians Nicolas Kubicki Printz Reporter
A man briskly walks down the sidewalk while glancing at his phone to check the time. Traffic surges in front of him, and he joins the throng of people waiting at the crosswalk. He pauses and then presses the button under the crosswalk signal. He feels the click under his fingers, audibly hears a beep and feels that it is letting him know his request to cross has been logged. In fact, every single person waiting there has followed the exact same ritual but the light remains unchanged. For those who use crosswalks, this is extremely common. Some press it over and over again under the impression that if it they push it enough, it will change. Some hold it for a long press. For most crosswalks the technique used does not matter, and the light will change when it is scheduled. The button means nothing. This phenomenon happens all over the world at crosswalks, on trains and even in elevators. A great number of the buttons are simply placebo and exist only to satisfy those pressing it. For some, this is not shocking. It is not some great revelation of conspiracy or even a surprise. But for others, it might be an astounding discovery. “I believe it,” said Shelby Burton, senior social work major at USM. “It makes you feel like you’ve got some control over how long you stand there and wait.” Burton said that it is all about giving some illusion of control over one’s situation. “If you wait for 10 minutes and nothing happens, it seems like it goes on forever. If you press the
Fadi Shahin/Assistant Photo Editor North side of Hardy 49 intersection.
button, you’ll still wait 10 minutes, but you feel better about waiting,” Burton said. Alex Stone of the New York Times investigated the psychology behind this illusion of control and concluded that button-pushing was as much about control as preoccupation. In a situation where a Houston airport dealt with complaints of wait times,
they moved the arrival gates farther from the baggage claim and the number of complaints plummeted. The same technique is applied in the grocery store where there are many candies, gums and magazines to distract people while they wait in line. The end result is all the same: Occupied time will end up feeling shorter than unoccupied time.
Timothy LaGrone, a senior psychology major at USM, takes a different approach. “I press it, every time. It may not work, but it feels like it works when the walk signal appears. Even though I’m aware of the effects, I continue to press it. Just because it might be placebo doesn’t make it feel any less real,” LaGrone said.
In fact, placebo buttons are quite commonplace all over the world. In an investigation of N.Y., The New York Times found that almost all of the pedestrian signals in the city were deactivated despite their continued existence. The Times learned from the New York Department of Transportation that when computer controlled traffic systems came about, most of the pedestrian signals became obsolete. There was no more reason to allow pedestrians to actually control the lights. However, while some buttons are non-functional, those of lower-traffic areas are often still functional. W. L. Sanders, head of the Division of Hattiesburg Public Works traffic division, said all pedestrian signals in Hattiesburg are still functional. “We can monitor all the pedestrian signals electronically, and we check them all each day.” Some pedestrian crossings are more advanced, like that at the intersection of Hardy Street and 31st Avenue, which couples a visible signal an audible cue for people with visual disabilities that may not be able to see the light change. “That pedestrian crossing was specifically requested,” Sanders said. “More could be added across the city if they were needed.” While the crosswalk button someone presses may light up and make noise, they usually have no way of knowing if they are working or not. While the buttons in Hattiesburg may be functional, there is not really a way to know about most others. Whatever they may or may not be connected to, they produce a very real effect in the brains of those who press them.
INFORMATION
Page 2 | Thursday, January 28, 2016
MEET THE STAFF SPRING 2016
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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.
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.
DIRTY BIRDS • On Friday, Jan. 22, at 2:33 p.m., simple theft was reported at Alpha Tau Omega. The case remains open. • On Saturday, Jan. 16, at 8:51 a.m., simple theft was reported at the softball complex near N. 25th Ave. 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
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NEWS
LOCAL
Thursday, January 28, 2016 | Page 3
HPD prioritizes officer hires and retention Joshua D. Starr News Editor
Preliminary Hattiesburg Police command status statistics indicate that crime in the city fell 8 percent in 2015 compared to the previous year. Chief of Police Anthony L. Parker attributes this apparent trend to a departmental emphasis on police visibility and engagement in Hattiesburg communities. Through the Hattiesburg Police Department’s focus on active community engagement and crime prevention, officer workloads have become more burdensome. According to HPD records, officers responded on scene to over 9,000 dispatch calls in December alone. In order to address the workload issue and maintain community involvement, Parker has been making rounds to meet and introduce himself to various community organizations and announce his top priority for HPD, bolstering the ranks. “Our officers stay real busy,”
ON CAMPUS
Parker said. “I know that people want them to stand there and talk to them a lot, but they will be going from one call to another — that’s why I said I need to get my numbers up. That’s my main focus right now.” Parker said his department is trying to overcome a cycle hindering an increase in officer ranks. A high call volume necessitates a larger staff to decrease the burden on individual officers, but with current staffers stretched thin, some individuals opt to transfer to departments with competitive pay and workloads similar to what he is trying to achieve. “We have such good officers and the surrounding communities have a lot less workload, and [HPD officers] can go make exactly as much money as they’re making here,” Parker said. Jessica Lightfoot, president of the Kamper Avenues Neighborhood Association, hosted a community meeting with Parker during which he discussed HPD priorities and
residents’ concerns. Lightfoot said she thinks increasing police ranks is important to reducing crime in the Hattiesburg community because more cops means more patrols. “The two main things to prevent crime from occurring are, one, police patrols and, two, neighbors reporting criminal and suspicious activity,” she said. HPD Lieutenant Jon Traxler also spoke during the meeting and said though the dispatch call rates can be high, that should not dissuade residents from reporting suspicious activity. “I’d rather you call us and find out that it’s a cousin that nobody knew about that came into town to visit than not get that call and it wasn’t the cousin it was somebody burglarizing the house,” Traxler said. “So please call us, because if we don’t get the call, we don’t know.” Lightfoot said for her neighborhood, asking for community vigilance can be a tall order. She said the Kamper
Avenues neighborhood has rental property rate of 80 percent, and civic responsibility is not a priority for many tenants. “A lot of them are students and they don’t take care of the property like the homeowners do,” she said. Parker said increased ranks would also allow more flexibility for HPD. He said a number of programs are in the works, including creating “net team” units dedicated to specific neighborhoods and an interdiction unit dedicated to policing interstate traffic. These programs however, are dependent on recruiting more officers. “We have K-9 units that [are] basically doing nothing, so I want to implement an interdiction unit,” Parker said. “The city of Hattiesburg has a part of an interstate running through it here, and we need to be working that interstate.” Traxler said HPD currently has four dogs working and is training more for the program. “The others are still in
training, and once they get the certification, then we’ll have the officer go through the certification as well to get matched with a canine,” he said Currently, HPD staffs 96 officers, though one is on military assignment. Police academy classes start Jan. 31 for 16 registered recruits, and with the department slated for 125 officers, Parker is already working toward another class before the end of the year. “If I can get up to 125, I’m going to try to ask the city council to let me go up to 140 officers,” Parker said. “That’s what my target is right now.” Through a new application processes and an active recruitment, Parker said hitting his number is doable. “We’re trying to go to online applications so we can expand our employment pool. We’ve started a recruitment team to go to colleges and junior colleges to recruit more qualified individuals,” he said. “I think we’re going to be successful in increasing our numbers.”
SGA outlines spring agenda in first semester meeting Camille Myrick Printz Reporter
The Student Government Association hosted the first cabinet meeting of the semester Monday to prepare for events scheduled for the spring. SGA President Jeffrey George started the meeting with an upbeat attitude and got right to the point. “We had a lot of stuff going on last semester but we are ready to come back and get started,” George said. The fall semester of 2015 was intense for the student government after the removal of the state flag when the SGA passed a resolution cementing the decision not to raise the current state flag again on campus. After decompressing over winter break, the SGA picked up from where it left off. “Today we are getting some updates from within the SGA cabinet to get our semester started off,” George said. “Our cabinet meetings are when all our members come together to update each other on what is going on within SGA, because ABUSE CONTINUED engage in self-destructive behavior.” University Vice President of Research Gordon Cannon’s responded to the SEAN as follows: The University is committed to conducting ethical research. All work involving primates, no matter how high the level of care or beneficial the research, is subject to critical review. The research being conducted by USM undergoes USDA inspection, and has been consistently found in compliance, with no issues noted on the latest review completed this past fall. According to the university
we do have other branches outside of the cabinet.” Topics covered included plans for the Big Event, a student service project intended to give back to the community, and ways to show appreciation for the university. SGA resolved that it would like to dedicate focus to USM by having a University Appreciation day sometime this spring. However, students will not be neglected as freshman associates are already hard at work preparing for the Freshman Finale. The Freshman Finale, an event open to all Southern Miss students, will take place around finals so students can get a mental break from studying to enjoy events and free food. SGA advisor Wynde Fitts said significant opportunities to make a difference will be available to students on campus over the semester. “One of the things they really want to do is a campaign [for] It’s On Us, which is about sexual assault and bystander behavior,” Fitts said. “It’s
going to be very important to put our energy and finances behind this to do a good job educating men and women about sexual assault.” Fitts emphasized the importance of sexual violence awareness, citing an Association of American University’s study, which reported that one out of every five college women have been sexually assaulted. Fitts also commended the SGA team on their work reaching out to students on campus in general. “I think SGA puts together some great events, and they have made some strides in terms of reaching sophomores and students that maybe don’t always get thought about,” Fitts said. “That’s one of the things I’m really proud of that they have accomplished this year.” She said the SGA’s efforts will not go unnoticed and consistently attracts engagement by the community. “The students involved in SGA are good at reaching outside of the box and not only thinking about the people in this room but the student body,” Fitts said.
statement, the research focus of the Bushbaby Research Facility is to provide novel dietary and behavioral enrichment mimicking the nutritional composition of diets in the wild and providing sensory and cognitive stimuli specific to the species. Captive bushbabies are given a varied diet that includes foraging for insects and a large variety of fruits and vegetables that allows researchers to observe feeding behaviors and food preferences in order to make recommendations to zoos and research facilities. Continuing, the statement says the university has committed team, ensuring daily care of the
bushbabies through cleaning of their housing and enclosures, diet prep and disbursement that encourages natural foraging behaviors, and behavioral enrichment items that are regularly rotated and include nesting materials, stuffed animals, foraging boxes, climbing structures and auditory stimuli. The USDA and USM’s Internal Animal Care and Use Committee regularly inspects the research facility. According to Cannon, it was found to be in full compliance following a USDA inspection last August. USM’s latest review was completed on Nov. 19, 2015 and also found no issues.
Austin Sylvest/Printz SGA Members at the first senate meeting of 2016. Jan 25.
FEATURE
Page 4 | Thursday, January 28, 2016
NATIONAL
Car sales trend linked to oil prices Garrett Minta Contributing Reporter
As oil prices plummet in the wake of a market shortfall, local auto retailers have seen sales trends flip. Oil prices are hitting record lows of $26 a barrel, the lowest since 2003, and the market is expecting a challenging year. The Exchange closed with a strong comeback after plunging early in the day, with the S&P finishing in the green 38 points, the Dow Jones finishing 210 points up and the Nasdaq closing in the positive 119 points. These numbers all show a strong uptick within the market, signalling to investors a sign of hope. Hattiesburg car lots expect to be affected. “Typically, in the oil business, you work two weeks then come home two weeks, or so, but now a lot of guys aren’t going back out,” said Marc Kubicki, Ryan Chevrolet sales manager . Kubicki said with the prices being as low as they are, the
dealership is experiencing a heavy influx of customers buying larger vehicles in Hattiesburg. “The Chevy Volt was a great car with amazing technology, but people just weren’t into it,” Kubicki said. According to Kubicki, location affects people’s taste in vehicles. Kubicki said that the oil prices have affected the consumer more than they have the dealerships. He also said the features in cars are driving the selling point, mentioning Bluetooth capabilities and radio services as a few examples. Kevin Mattice, general manager of Dean McCrary KIA, was also one to notice that car buying has changed since the price dropped in oil. “People are buying trucks and SUVs and leaving smaller cars on the lot,” Mattice said. “Often times, no one would even open the doors.” He said that the oil industry has also been experiencing a hard time, noting that as people
are coming back home, they are not able to go back out, as there are fewer contracts. Mattice also discussed the problem with the oil industry dropping workers’ time on the rigs. “Offshore oil workers time has been cut in half, and when their money relies on that, it gets hard.” Sales and lease consultant at Toyota of Hattiesburg Drew Womack also weighed in on the situation. “People are more likely to buy SUVs and larger vehicles,” Womack said. “Their concerns seems to be with comfort.” Womack said the prices of larger vehicles are rising as more are being sold, and the prices on smaller cars continue to fall at the local Toyota dealer. Mattice said that prices remain steady at KIA. Edward Sayre, USM associate professor of economics and department of political science chair, said there are two factors involved in the oil price drop at home and abroad.
“One is the opening up of the spickets by Saudi Arabia,” Sayre said. “They’re able to withstand much lower oil prices than other countries, than most other producers, and because of their wanting to push out a lot of the higher cost producers that we’ve seen arise – especially with North American shale production. They have been more than willing to increase their revenues just by increasing their volume.” Sayre said Saudi Arabia is trying to out compete Iran before it enters the market, deliberately driving down prices and affecting Iran and North American producers. “Right now, we have two things,” Sayre said. “We have Saudi Arabia pushing the price down deliberately to hurt both Iran, as well as North American shale producers. But in addition to that, people are anticipating Iran to come into the market, which is going to increase the volume even more. In anticipation of more volume, they have already
calculated that and pushed down oil’s future prices.” “I would expect for the next four to five months to be fairly steady,” Sayre said. “I wouldn’t expect the crude oil prices to stay as low as they are right now, that there will be some seasonal volatility. Things will change a little bit depending upon weather conditions, geopolitical issues that go on, if there’s additional turmoil in the Middle East [or] something unforeseen happens with the war against ISIS.” With the markets closing higher on Friday and the end of January nearing, it may be that the worst is gone. Iran has begun oil production now that the sanctions have been lifted due to the nuclear deal signed by Barack Obama. The country has restarted production at 500,000 barrels a day. Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has been considering calling an emergency meeting, but has not done so, hoping to avoid further damage to the oil markets.
STUDENT
SPOTLIGHT Henriette Syr Where are you from? A: I am originally from Norway.
What are you studying at Southern Miss? A: I am a freshman International Business major.
How are you involved at USM? A: I moved to Hattiesburg because I wanted to play golf while in college, which I could not do in Norway. I am on the women’s golf team.
What are you hobbies and passions? A: I love all types of sports and have participated in European handball, soccer, swimming, dance and gymnastics.
What do you love most about golf? A: I always compete against myself to strive for perfection. It’s frustrating but fun.
Fadi Shahin // Assistant Photo Editor
FEATURE Underlying factors contribute to habitual tardiness Thursday, January 28, 2016 | Page 5
HEALTH Cam Bonelli Printz Reporter
For the perpetually late, the obstacle of getting out of bed to get to work or school on time can seem insurmountable. Some set a multitude of alarms to no avail and arrive late to almost every occasion. People read self-help articles and make well-intended efforts only to fall back into their punctuality dilemma. Brandon resident and hair stylist Amelia Bobo frequently arrives late to work, social gatherings and appointments. She said her lack of punctuality affects her career. “Being a hairstylist, my career revolves around me being able to keep appointments in the allotted time,” Bobo said. “When I am late, it throws my entire day off, and I’m typically left with several things to do but wasn’t able to because of being rushed.” Chronic lateness affects many students, especially with those early morning classes, which can impact academic success. As these habits have developed over time, the affected person’s inability to be punctual can damage his or her
professional and personal life. While the causes vary, many punctuality issues are related to sleep. Problems can be linked to their natural sleep cycle — or circadian rhythm — as well as psychopathological disorders. Bobo said she has difficulty getting to sleep at a reasonable hour. “I’m not doing anything in particular — I just can’t shut my brain off,” Bobo said. “As a result, I sleep through several alarms. I have two alarm clocks – both placed so that I have to physically get out of bed to hit the snooze button, as well as 10 alarms set at 10 minute intervals on my iPhone. [I have] anywhere from one to three coworkers that call me in the morning to make sure I’m awake in time for work.” According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, circadian rhythms control sleep and wake cycle daily. The human body uses visual cues, such as light stimulus, food and exercise to determine a person’s internal synchronization. Disrupted sleep patterns through poor sleep quality and trouble initiating sleep can cause circadian rhythm
sleep disorders. AASM said delayed sleep phase disorder, advanced sleep phase disorder and irregular sleep-wake rhythm coincide with circadian rhythm disruptions. The person affected with delayed sleep phase stays awake after 1 a.m., whereas someone with advanced sleep phase disorder will fall asleep from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Irregular sleep phase disorder causes one to nap frequently throughout the day and has an undefined sleep schedule. Charles Freeman, a sleep and behavioral medicine psychologist in San Diego, said Axis I disorders, including anxiety and depression psychopathology disorders, could contribute to lateness. “Some people are night owls, and they are more active at night,” Freeman said. “Whatever required amount of sleep they needed that night they didn’t get. Borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder are related to insomnia, and because they have this energy at night, they want to stay awake. Now they are waking up late and tired with their mental acuity and moods
not at their best. You might even see they have more anxiety and depression contributing to them being late because they are more scattered.” Freeman said that people with bipolar disorder can also have the reverse effect and sleep excessively. “When people have the downside of bipolar, which is depression, they may sleep 10 to 12 hours a night,” Freeman said. “In the mania phase, they may only sleep four to six hours, and eight hours would be a lot of sleep for someone who typically sleeps six hours. We see high correlations with anxiety and difficulty falling asleep. We see high correlations with depression with disrupted sleep and waking too early in the morning and sometimes sleeping too long. Insomnia can vary.” According to a 2010 study conducted by McGill University,
insomnia or hypersomnia waking up on time, restful sleep and altered REM sleep are common symptoms of bipolar affective disorder. The study suggests that the association between the sleep wake phases can predict episodes of mania or hypomania due to sleep duration. The study found a link between circadian rhythms and treatment of BPD patients. Treating the advanced sleep timing effectively helped BPD patients during bought of depression. Many people seem to not recognize disrupted sleep patterns as a medical issue. Sometimes people wake up late. Sometimes people have a hard time going to bed. When a person is consistently having problems going to sleep, staying asleep and waking up on time, it may be because of a sleep disorder instead of a case of the Mondays.
WE HEARD
YOU!
STUDENTS WANTED A LATE NIGHT VENUE... WE ARE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT POWER HOUSE IS OPEN UNTIL MIDNIGHT MONDAY-FRIDAY! GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK AT: YOURDININGVOICE.COM
Tardiness is a common issue among those unable to get a good night’s sleep.
Hunt Mercier/Photo Editor
OPINION Trump’s lead fueled by ‘low-information voters’ Page 6 | Thursday, January 28, 2016
POLITICS JD Rimann Printz Reporter
Donald Trump is the name on everyone’s tongue and on every newspaper’s headline.
He continues to poll relatively high in the early primary states and nationally – something of which he constantly reminds the public. Half of the media, as well as members of the so-called
Hunt Mercier // Photo Editor Donald Trump at Ladd-Peebles Stadium promoting his campaign for presidency in Mobile, Alabama Aug 21, 2015.
Republican establishment, has all but crowned Trump the 45th US president. To top it all off, “the Donald” has withdrawn from the Republican primary debate tonight – the last before the Iowa caucus – and threatens to air a counter-program to see which broadcast receives a higher viewership. Of course, polls can be misleading, and big media is often in the business of selling the news rather than reporting it. As for the establishment wing of the Republican Party, there is a reason that Sen. Ted Cruz once referred to them as the “surrender caucus.” Still, all of the action swirling around Trump and his campaign and the rest of the primary race can be something of a mess to sort through, so the question arises: What do we make of it? First, regarding the debate: “The Donald” is absolutely correct in assuming that Americans would rather watch him blabber than watch
politicians debate. It is an unfortunate fact that Americans in this day and age are largely not politically responsible, paragons of civic virtue that would make Cicero proud, but rather low-information voters who generally only turn out every four years to vote for in the presidential election. This fact is reflected in the relatively small share of Americans who watch the primary debates. On the other hand, many Americans love nothing more than to put on some pajamas, flick on “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” “The Bachelor/ ette,” “The Apprentice,” grab some ice cream and settle in for some reality television viewing. This unfortunate fact has made its way into our political system. Trump is a living, breathing reality television show with a well-known brand, so it is extremely likely he would get higher ratings. Second, the sudden rush
of establishment Republican leaders like Gov. Terry Branstad, former Sen. and (miserable failure of a) presidential candidate Bob Dole and New York Rep. Peter King to endorse or at least signal support for Team Trump is less a reflection of their stoic embrace of the inevitable and more a reflection of their feckless cowardice in the face of loud-mouth demagogy. Trump has literally won nothing yet. There are no trophies for dominating media coverage. His unfavorability ratings are the highest of any candidate ever, no states have voted yet and polls indicate that the group which supports Trump the most is Americans who have not voted in the last four elections. In summation, let’s not crown Trump before he actually wins anything. Personally, I have my doubts that he will win a single state primary. We’ll find out in less than a week.
TELEVISION
‘The truth’ returns Jack Hammett Managing Editor
The science fiction community rejoiced when FOX chairmen Dana Walden and Gary Newman and television producer Chris Carter announced “The X-Files” would finally make its long-awaited return. Production for the six-episode season began in summer 2015, followed by the debut of the first two episodes on Sunday and Monday, respectively. Series creator Chris Carter directed the first episode, and series directorial veteran James Wong directed the second. Before I go any further, I suppose it’s important I offer my credentials. In my younger years, this show made me believe in aliens. That sounds stupid — namely because it’s (frankly cheesy) television — but “The X-Files” has a certain quality that other shows do not. For the longest time, this show had a power over me and the others who wanted to believe. It appeals to a visceral paranoia many keep locked away, to the side of us that trusts no one. To this day, I have Mulder’s “I WANT TO BELIEVE” poster hanging above my writing space. It’s safe to say I have waited years for this event. The first episode is a little jarring. Mulder’s and Scully’s lives have changed to the point of unrecognizability, but what’s most off-putting is Mulder’s degeneration to a shut-in 9/11 truther. Essentially, Mulder (David Duchovny) regressed into being someone on the Internet we might all hate. Fortunately, the episode rolls forward and quickly dives into the character’s reasoning.
Courtesy Photo
This snaps the viewer right back to understanding why we love and side with Mulder. He isn’t just a paranoid on the Internet — he’s a man on a crusade. Joel McHale’s character Tad O’Malley, a conservative, NRA sympathizing truther, plays Mulder’s foil and is quick to show us that our protagonist is not of the angry conservative ilk with whom we’re all too familiar. Scully (Gillian Anderson) shines in these episodes the way she always has. For the show’s last couple of seasons, Scully took up the role of believer (as opposed to skeptic) following Mulder’s departure. However, it seems that her time away from the X-Files and Mulder has allowed her some time to fall back into old habits. Scully, a woman of science, once again questions everything that Mulder and others believe. This was a smart move on the creators’ part. Since the duo is back together, Mulder needs someone to keep him in check. Otherwise, we might see
a little more crazy than necessary. This is how the show stays grounded and how it continues to appeal to our skeptical side. I originally didn’t think I’d care to see any monster-of-the-week episodes and that it would be best for the show to focus on its mytharc, what with there being so many loose ends left. But the second episode changed that for me entirely. When Scully and Mulder appeared on screen in their suits, working a bizarre suicide case, I was in awe at how much I wanted to see the monster-of-theweek format again. While the first episode felt like an afterthought to the series, the second episode made me feel like I was truly watching my all-time favorite show again. The episode’s entire 42 minutes was enthralling, and the final few minutes are some of the most emotional I’ve ever seen in terms of “The X-Files” and the show’s character arcs. Mulder and Scully are still developing in a genuine and almost literary way — something that most shows, especially ones this old, neglect to allow. If you’re on the fence during the first episode, the second one is certain to make you fall in love again. Seeing those suits feels so right. I was initially hesitant because returning to old properties often doesn’t work out so well, but needless to say, “The X-Files” is back. You can view the first two episodes of “The X-Files” miniseries for free by visiting FOX’s website. The show’s original nine seasons can be found on Netflix, and the feature film, “The X-Files: Fight the Future” can be found or rented fairly easily through the Internet.
SPORTS
FOOTBALL
Thursday, January 28, 2016 | Page 7
Monken era brings USM back to relevancy NOV. 2012 EAGLES ARE WINLESS
Deantae Smith Sports Reporter
Todd Monken inherited a program with a prestigious past and uncertain future on Dec. 20, 2012. Following the 0-12 season — the first winless season in the school’s history Monken entered a project that from the outside looking in would take more than one contract. Monken’s first task was to change the culture and get started immediately. “The only bad part is that they have to go home,” Monken said at his introductory presser. “I wish we could just go ahead and get to work now.” Monken went about things differently than coaches did in the past. He made roster spots more competitive with a new “show and prove” approach when it came to earning an athletic scholarship. What players had done in the past up to that point meant very little to him. Monken’s inaugural season was a struggle to watch, as it opened with a disappointing 22-15 loss to Texas State. What followed next was a 5613 drubbing to Nebraska and two more double-digit losses to Arkansas and Boise State. The Golden Eagles seemed to have turned the corner against Florida International, but fell short 24-23 due to a late field goal. The Golden Eagles lost their next six games by double digits. In the midst of an 18-game losing streak, Monken decided to take a drastic approach and go against reproach, and named freshman Nick Mullens the starter. Frustration and anger grew throughout the season until the season finale versus the University of AlabamaBirmingham. Mullens and the offense erupted for 62 points in the 62-27 victory for the Golden Eagles’ first win in two seasons. The win was the first of the Monken era and a stepping stone for the next season. Monken rode the momentum from that win and was able to convince recruits and transfers that Southern Miss was ascending back into football relevancy. Following a 1-11 season, Monken was able to go out and recruit players like sophomore running back Ito Smith and defensive backs Cornell Armstrong and Picasso Nelson. He was able to influence them to
DEC. 2012
MONKEN BECOMES 20TH COACH
buy into the rebuilding process, which took a great deal of skill. Monken also found junior college gems in wide receiver Michael Thomas and offensive lineman Norman Price, two players who stepped in and filled key positions right away. Monken’s second season started with a 49-0 embarrassment in Starkville against in-state rival Mississippi State. The next week, Alcorn State came to visit the Rock, and the Golden Eagles pulled off a 26-20 win that was too close for comfort. That was the first win of the season, but USM knew it had little time to turn around and get ready for Alabama in the next week. After a loss to Alabama 52-12, the Golden Eagles bounced back to beat Appalachian State 21-20 on Sept. 20. At 2-2, the program sat at its best start since 2011. Unfortunately, the Golden Eagles would fall to 2-4 before defeating North Texas for their third win of the season. The Golden Eagles would lose their last five games, ending their 2014 season, 3-9 and 1-7 in C-USA. With a 4-20 record in his first two seasons, Monken was focusing on teaching his Southern Miss players how to win. The head coach embraced the rebuilding process of the program. “You have to embrace that part of it,” Monken said at the conclusion of the 2014 season. “You have to find guys that want to be a part of [the rebuilding]. The 2015 season would be the season where coach Monken put it all together. The Golden Eagles opened the season at home against Mississippi State in the biggest game in Hattiesburg in recent memory. It was apparent early on in the contest that this was a different Southern Miss team, as on the opening Bulldog drive that reached the red-zone, the ball carrier attempted to run in for the easy score at the goal line when D’Nerius Antoine forced a fumble that was recovered in the end zone by the Golden Eagles. A common phrase heard over Monken’s tenure was “compete.” That is exactly what Southern Miss did, competing for three quarters before the Bulldogs’ depth and Heisman hopeful Dak Prescott took over in the final quarter. The Golden Eagles would go on to lose in the season opener 34-16. After a 52-6 win over Austin Peay, Monken urged fans to come out and fill the Rock to
2013
MONKEN BREAKS LOSING STREAK
watch a once-again competitive Southern Miss team. The Golden Eagles would find themselves in a shootout against Texas State the next week on the road, but were able to pull out the 56-50 win in San Marcos, Texas. The team then traveled to Nebraska and fell behind early before gaining their footing in the second half, making the game competitive. Antoine led a defense that kept the Cornhuskers out of the end zone on five scoring drives in the contest, but fell in a close effort 36-28. The Golden Eagles split their next two games with a win over North Texas and a loss to Marshall. Southern Miss got back on track versus UTSA with a 31-10 victory. Over the next six games to end the season, the Golden Eagles outscored opponents, 289-98. Monken led the Golden Eagles to a 9-5 record, a Conference USA West Division title and the school’s first bowl game since the 2011 Hawaii Bowl. Monken brought the program back to life and was rewarded with an opportunity to take his talents to the next level as offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “It has been a privilege to lead this program over the last three years,” Monken said. “We accomplished a lot, rebuilding the Southern Miss football program, and we did it together.” Coach Monken leaves the program in better shape than he found it as athletic director Bill McGillis echoed in a press conference for the departure of Monken. “Coach did an incredible job here the last three years rebuilding our program and he is a special coach and a special leader.” McGillis said. “I thought he was rebuilding our program to stand the test of time and I believe that will prove to be the case moving forward.” Monken led the Golden Eagle program for three seasons to a 13-25 record. While it does not look good on paper, Monken showed that a plan he put in place in 2012 was on its way to being a successful product. The Golden Eagles are in good shape with a proven quarterback in Mullens and a tenacious defense all returning in 2016. Youth has been a concern in past seasons, but now that players have been in big games and experienced adversity, experience could be a reason the program can be successful again.
2014
USM IMPROVES TO 3-9 SEASON
2015
USM SUCCEEDS WITH 9-5 SEASON
Fadi Shahin // Assistant Photo Editor
Southern Miss Golden Eagles head coach Todd Monken runs onto the field before their game against Old Dominion university.
SPORTS
Page 8 | Thursday, January 28, 2016
FOOTBALL
USM continues search for next head coach Julius Kizzee Sports Editor
The search for the next head coach rolls on at Southern Miss with former coach Todd Monken gone for just about a week. The list of coaching candidates is rather short because athletic director Bill McGillis would rather keep the search in-house. “There are some [coaches] in particular,” McGillis said. “We’re going to consider sitting head coaches, outstanding assistant coaches and I don’t think we are locked into a specific category of a next head coach.” Although he spared no details on who he specifically wants at the helm, he did elaborate on the mindset the coach will need to have. With the last three coaches staying at Southern Miss for a maximum of four years each, McGillis hopes that his next head coach will be here for an extended amount of time.
“I want to find a head coach that can win in 2016 because we are going to have a championship football team,” McGillis said. “We would love to have a head coach who could be here for the next 18-20 years.” Although he has not released a specific number of names, the pedigree and efficiency that he is looking for is not a secret. The last three out of four head coaches have all been offensive coordinators before coming to Southern Miss, but McGillis says that he will not specify his search to just an offensive mind. “This will be a true national search,” McGillis said. “We’ll move fast but efficiently and make the right decision over the course of the next week.” Although the names of the candidates have not been released, there are a few names in the proverbial pool that stand out. A mainstay on the USM coaching staff, defensive coordinator David
Duggan is the front-runner at the moment of candidates, only for continuity sake. The Concord, Massachusetts native has more than 15 years of coaching experience and has been the Southern Miss defensive coordinator since 2013. Under his guidance this season, the USM defense was much improved and players credit their success directly under Duggan’s tutelage. Where most people would credit his NFL Europe head coaching gig to prepare him to take the helm at Southern Miss, he only was at the head for two years, posting a combined record of 10-9. After the demise of University of Alabama-Birmingham football back in Dec. 2014, head coach Bill Clark was optimistic to start the program anew. He refused to take another job offer saying he saw “a glimmer of hope” for the program. Clark mirrors Monken by not giving up on a program that reached rock bottom, just as Southern Miss did
David Duggan
USM Defensive Coordinator Over 15 years coaching experience Southern Miss defensive coordinator since 2013 Record of 10-9 in two years coaching NFL Europe
in 2012. That perseverance and determination may get Clark a look in this wide open coaching pool. Clark signed a five-year extension back in Sept. 2015, and that could serve to be the main deterrent from plying Clark from UAB. Why is Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Mike Yurcich a wild card in this coaching search? He would be the fourth Oklahoma State offensive coordinator to be hired by Southern Miss in the last five hires. His team ranked 24th in offense nationally and Yurcich could bring the same offensive firepower that Monken did when he was hired. Although his case to be the head coach is unwarranted, it is still valid just from the history of his potential predecessors. Texas Christian University offensive coordinator Doug Meacham throws his name into the pool as a wild card for the head coaching job, but his resume goes without question. In his first season
in 2014, his team’s offense improved in total yards (+188.2 ypg) and scoring (+21.4 ppg), according to gofrogs.com. With Josh Doctson and Trevor Boykin at his disposal, Meacham was able to guide a TCU offense to third overall in the nation in total offense. Although McGillis is not limiting his search to just offensive minds, Meacham may be too bright of a mind to pass up. The Alcorn State head coach Jay Hopson may be offered a homecoming of some sorts. He was an assistant at Southern Miss under Jeff Bower, and he may be next in line to take the job outright himself. After leading Alcorn to a 3217 record in four seasons, Hopson could be plucked away from Loman, Mississippi and back to his old stomping grounds in Hattiesburg. It has been rumored that Hopson was offered a job under Dan Mullen’s staff at Mississippi State, but Mullen has denied that report.
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YOU WON’T FIND A N YW H E R E E L S E
Bill Clark
UAB Head Coach Mirrors Monken’s perserverance and determination Signed five-year extension back in September 2015
Mike Yurcich
Oklahoma State Defensive Coordinator Fourth potential OSU offensive coordinator to be hired by Southern Miss in the last five hires His team ranked 24th in offense nationally in 2015
Doug Meacham
TCU Offensive Coordinator In his first season in 2014 , his team’s offense improved in total yards and scoring Guided TCU offense to third overall in the nation in total offense.
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Jay Hopson
Alcorn State Head Coach Assistant at Southern Miss under Jeff Bower Led Alcorn to a 32-17 record in four seasons
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