Volume 100 Issue 55
Monday, May 2, 2016
www.studentprintz.com
Former Golden Eagles head to NFL A player-by-player breakdown
Julius Kizzee Sports Editor
Former Southern Miss receiver Mike Thomas has been hailed as one of the most productive receivers chosen in the entire NFL Draft this past weekend. But you would not have known if you looked at his draft position. Thomas was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the sixth round with the 190th pick. Thomas was rated much higher than when he was drafted by pundits, as most expected him to get drafted anywhere between the second and fifth round range. When he fell to the sixth round, it was a foregone conclusion that whoever drafted the receiver would find a hidden gem late into the drafting process. Thomas left Southern Miss as maybe the most productive USM receiver in a single season. He finished 2015 as a Golden Eagle racking up 1,391 yards on 71 catches. He also finished with 14
touchdowns with his 6 feet 1 inch frame. Where Thomas fits on the Rams roster is uncertain. Although talented, it is difficult to gauge where he may fit because he does not excel in any single area more than any other receiver on the roster. He will not be the fastest or tallest pass-catcher on the roster, and he may not have the most sure hands on the roster thanks to future Hall of Famer Wes Welker. The Rams will start the offseason with 12 receivers on the roster, including Thomas, and it remains to be seen how long it will take for him to crack the opening rotation. The optimistic Golden Eagles fan can expect Mike Thomas to occasionally crack the rotation this year. But barring a major injury to either Kenny Britt, Brian Quick or Nick Toon, he may not see the field no more than 200 snaps all season. Prediction: Thomas starts the season on the practice squad. By season’s end, he should crack the rotation.
Rashod Hill, OT, 49ers Julius Kizzee Sports Editor
Former Golden Eagle left tackle Rashod Hill is another Southern Miss player that will have a chance to prove his worth on the football field in the offseason. His chance will come for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Hill went undrafted in the 2016 NFL Draft but was offered a free agent contract to head to Florida and showcase his talents to land on an NFL roster. The undrafted tackle was a longtime anchor on the left side of the offensive line for Nick Mullens’ tenure as quarterback. According to Pro Football Focus, Hill had a 93.5 percent run block success rate, which was good for sixth among the offensive tackles in this class. Although this should have warranted him at least seventh round status, in my opinion,
it would not have been enough for him to warrant draft consideration. For Hill, it also starts with him being injured in some games this season. He was injured specifically in the crucial game against Nebraska where Southern Miss fell 36-28. He was sturdy at the left tackle position and was prone to injury at various times in his senior season. Although Hill may have his negatives, he has a bright opportunity with the Jaguars. The Jaguars only have four offensive tackles on the current roster, and they did not draft any this year. That leaves Hill with a more than well-off chance of being a key part of the rotation in not just his rookie year but in the years to come protecting third-year starter Blake Bortles. Prediction: Hill gets more playing time in his rookie season than Mike Thomas.
Kyle Williams Sports Reporter
With the 253rd pick of the NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans selected former Golden Eagle cornerback Kalan Reed. Reed did not only become a Titan on the night, but also became the 41st “Mr. Irrelevant.” But this “Mr. Irrelevant” has a plethora of talent to bring with him to Tennessee. Reed is a little short for the typical cornerback, measuring at 5 feet 11 inches. But what Reed lacks in height he makes up for with his weight and speed, checking in at 195 pounds and running a 4.38 40-yard dash. To put it in context, if Reed would have participated in the NFL combine, his 40 time would have been eighth among the other cornerbacks, and his 41.5 inch vertical jump would have been first — not too shabby for “Mr. Irrelevant.” Reed’s versatility could be a valuable piece to help improve the Titans 12th ranked defense that allowed 112.3 rushing and 229.9 passing yards a game, respectively. Reed allowed 48.3 percent of the passes his way to be completed
this past season while he played for the Golden Eagles. While playing efficient defense, Reed also recorded four interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns, and a school-record 19 pass breakups. Reed’s game is not just limited to pass deflections and interceptions, though. He also finished last year with 56 tackles and 152 total in his career with the Golden Eagles. Reed is a “give it your all” type of player. Throughout this past season, his efforts were never questioned. When the big play was needed, one of the first players that teammates would look to was Reed, and his statistics show that. The amount of athleticism he posesses is a rare find in someone of his size. Reed could impact the team instantly as he can gain the knowledge of current Titans Jason McCourty and Perrish Cox. “Mr. Irrelevant” could prove to be more valuable than many think. Prediction: Reed makes the 53-man roster. Fourth on the depth chart from day one.
Jalen Richard, RB, Raiders Kyle Williams Sports Reporter
Former Golden Eagles running back Jalen Richard went undrafted in this past week’s NFL Draft but signed with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent. Last season, the 5 feet 9 inch running back rushed for 1,113 yards and 14 TDs last season for USM. Richard weighs 207 pounds and runs a 4.6 40-yard dash. Compare this to Oakland’s starter, Latavius Murray, who is 5 inches taller and 16 pounds heavier, Murray runs a 4.4 despite the heavier features. Speed has been a concern for Richard throughout his career. He has aboveaverage vision for a running back but lacks the breakaway speed to complement it. Richard had many runs last year that had potential to be scoring opportunities, but
Richard was either tracked down or stopped before he even reached the secondary. With three running backs on the roster already in Oakland, current starter Murray handled all the heavy lifting with 1,066 rushing yards gained off of 266 attempts. Murray only finished the season with six touchdowns but was the only running back on the roster to record a touchdown. Richard is a big running back who resembles the frame of Pittsburgh Steeler running back DeAngelo Williams and is difficult to tackle at times. Richard still has a lot to learn as a running back. He is not the most athletic back and is in some cases considered a onedirection back. But that is not always a bad characteristic. Prediction: Richard is designated to the practice squad for two to three years while developing his skills.
INFORMATION
Page 2 | Monday, May 2, 2016
MEET THE STAFF SPRING 2016 Ardan Thornhill
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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 Tuesday, April 26 • University police responded to suspicious calls to an individual located in Hickman Hall. The calls happened around 1:30 p.m. The case remains open. • UPD is looking into a case of indecent exposure that took place on Golden Eagle Avenue on the south side of the Fritz Gibbs Building. The incident occurred approximately 2 p.m. The case remains open. • Trespassing at Lake Sehoy was reported around 3 p.m. The case closed around 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 17 • Petty theft occurred at the Math Zone around 9 a.m. The case remains open.
POLICE REPORT 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
ON CAMPUS
Monday, May 2, 2016 | Page 3
National leadership society expands to USM Hiba Tahir Printz Reporter
USM will host its first Sigma Alpha Pi induction ceremony in Thad Cochran 218 on May 4. The university will recognize 53 sophomores for their accomplishments during the event as they are inducted into the society. “There’s not [another] organization like this,” said Johnny Brumfield, founder and president of USM’s Sigma Alpha Pi chapter. “We are the third in the state of Mississippi to be established and the first leadership society here on campus. I knew there was a need because there [aren’t] a lot of other societies that are really looking for your heart and goals.” Sigma Alpha Pi is the “National Society of Leadership and Success.” According to its website, it is the nation’s largest leadership honor society and has 590,483 members in 506 chapters nationwide. Members
are nominated based on academic standing or leadership potential. Before nominated students can be inducted, they must go through a step-by-step program in order to build leadership skills. This program begins with orientation, during which new members learn about the society and its origins, as well as steps of the leadership development program. They also receive a schedule of events for the semester. Students then participate in leadership training day, an interactive video training session during which new members “identify goals and overcome obstacles” in a seminar that helps them “identify true passions and strengths while creating action steps to achieve their goals,” according to the website. After leadership training day, new members must participate in threespeaker broadcasts, livestreamed events during which the members
Courtesy Photo
must listen to famous leaders speak about topics such as leadership, identifying goals, facing challenges, personal growth and transitioning from college to career. New members must then attend three success networking team meetings to set goals for future success. “Members hold each other accountable using a highly specialized formula proven to produce results,” reads a description
on the society’s website. “After each meeting, students submit a selective journal entry online, providing advisors the opportunity to coach and mentor in a format which actively engages students.” “When you get inducted into the society, we want you to participate in all of those programs,” Brumfield said. “You should learn something about yourself. You should have a grip on your drive to unlock your goals.” Upon completion of the program, members receive leadership certificates and are inducted into the society during a formal induction ceremony. Brumfield, a psychology major, has many ambitious goals for USM’s Sigma Alpha Pi chapter and believes he can set it apart from the national organization. “Of course, you’ve got to [follow] the national program to get inducted,” he said. “But we want to deviate from the program a little and
create our own program.” Brumfield hopes to collaborate with other leadership-based organizations on campus in order to create a stronger leadership presence. “We want to do a leadership panel, where we invite other executive board members from other organizations and have them talk to students and tell them how they overcame adversity or how they overcame certain problems that they faced in their organizations,” he said. Vice president Bruce Kirkwood said this year’s inductees are capable of great things. “I think it’s amazing how we’ve already had such a big impact on the students,” Kirkwood said. “I know we can only go higher from here. We have a great executive board. We have great, resourceful people — everyone’s always willing to hop on board for something that’s very impactful.”
Southern Miss award recipients continued Disclaimer: Some departments are not included because the information was not available at the time of printing.
HISTORY EDUCATION & PSYCOLOGY Outstanding Graduate Student In Child And Family Studies Award Karen Harrison Outstanding Graduate Student In School Counseling Award D’angela Durr Outstanding Graduate Student In Marriage And Family Therapy Award Vinalrae Brame Outstanding Undergraduate Student In Child Development Award Kala Kennedy Outstanding Undergraduate Student In Child And Family Studies Award Madeleine Cox Outstanding Undergraduate Student In Family Relations Award Najah Scott Outstanding Dual Major Award Kathleen Helen Canavin and Lauren Nicole Killgore Outstanding Junior Award Claudia Margaret Kapusinski and Alayna Mcknight Outstanding Senior Award Kelsey Brooke Wilson and Carolynn Regina Wood Outstanding Graduate Student In Elementary Education Award Lenzie Deanna Blake Outstanding Undergraduate Student In Special Education Award Jessica M. Henderson, Madison and Michele Ralph Outstanding Graduate Student In Special Education Award Chrisele Joaquin Flores National Business Education Association Award Of Merit Melinda Parnell Outstanding Instructional Technology And Design Student Award Cynthia Blair Slikker-Baertich Outstanding Instructional Technology Graduate Student Award Martha Lucille Resavy Outstanding Business Teacher Candidate In Secondary Education Award Melinda Parnell Outstanding Dual Education Teacher Candidate, Fall 2015 Award Suzanne Kilgore Davenport Outstanding Elementary Education Teacher Candidate, Fall 2015 Award Loren Leigh Jenne Outstanding Elementary Education Teacher Candidate, Spring 2016 Award Emily Claire Bordelon, Erin Marie De Los Santos Outstanding Special Education Teacher Candidate, Spring 2016 Award Madison Michele Ralph Outstanding English Teacher Candidate In Secondary Education Award Linsey Radich Outstanding History Teacher Candidate In Secondary Education Award Mallory Stone Gibbes-Liberto Lifelong Learning Scholarship Award Chasity Samone Davis
Graduate Student Teaching Award Tyler A. Rotter John E. Wallace Award Jamie Henton Outstanding Senior in International Studies Anna Kate Baygents Outstanding Student Teacher Award Mallory Lynn Stone Phi Alpha Theta Award Jonathan Harton Treadwell Davis Award Kelsey Marie Sims Claude E. Fike Scholarship Amy Delores Myers Jay Washam Memorial Scholarship Samantha Alisha Taylor John E. Gonzales Senior Award John Daniel Rimann John e. Gonzales undergraduate Scholarship Jordan Elizabeth Graves Lamar Powell History Graduate Scholarship Tracy Barnett, Jonathan Mortimer John E. Gonzales Study Abroad Scholarship Nicholas John Schaefer, Kelsey Marie Sims Dr. Kenneth G. McCarty History Scholarship Amy Delores Myers Dr. James H. Mcphail Professor Emeritus Scholarship Award Melissa Ann Lewisand Tara Frances Rigdon Joseph O’hara Carson Scholarship Award Melandie Katrice Mcgee Nancy Whitten New Scholarship Award Chasity Samone Davis Outstanding Dissertation Award Deidre Joy Smith Dr. Ralph S. Owings Scholarship Award Melanie Lynn Taylor Pyschology Outstanding Graduate Research Award Adam Douglas Collier Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award Savannah Joleen Merold Outstanding Sophomore Award Lisa Michelle Brackeen Outstanding Junior Award Alexandra Diane Utley Outstanding Senior Award Robyn Marie Riley
LIBRARY & INFORMATION SCIENCE Anna M. Roberts Award Ruby Olivia Potter H.W.Wilson Annual Scholarship Award Stephanie Ann Evans and Rebecca Humbert Warren Tracy Award Jessica Ann Whipple
THEATRE Outstanding Freshman in Theatre Sloan Garner Outstanding Sophomore in Theatre Lorena Cohea Outstanding Junior in Theatre Taryn McGee Outstanding Senior in Theatre Kensey Coleman Outstanding Graduate in Theatre Rebeca Lake
ARTS & LETTERS Junior Faculty Member of the Year Joyce Inman Dept. of English Teacher of the Year Susannah Ural Dept. of History Researcher of the Year Jonathan Barron, Dept of English Instructor of the Year Mary Beth Farrell, Dept. of History Service Award Andrew Haley, Dept. of History Staff Person of the Year Twillia Morgan, Dean’s Office
FOREIGN LANGUAGES & LITERATURE Outstanding Student in German Zach B. Howell Outstanding Student in Classics Jon Michael Platt Outstanding Student in French Marlena Barron Outstanding Student in Spanish Joshua Polk
Page 4 | Monday, May 2, 2016
LOCAL
NEWS
Bi-annual vintage market finds home in ‘Burg Cam Bonelli Assistant Photo Editor
Jack Hammett/Student Printz Vendors at Junknista repurpose vintage items to feature and sell.
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Junknista: A Vintage Market hosted its bi-annual community trade event from April 30 to May 1 at the James Lynn Cartlidge Forrest County Multi Purpose Center in Hattiesburg. On the opening day of the event, a confirmed 2,500 people attended the market which housed more than 86 vendors. On Saturday, the market lasted from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The vendors showcased a variety of handcrafted, vintage, antique and repurposed items such as jewelry, collectibles, outdoor decor, clothing and more. Junknista promoter and owner Kirsten Arbo said Junknista is no longer a traveling show and that it will be stationed in Hattiesburg bi-annually. “This is our first two-day show,” Arbo said. “But by demand, we decided we would go ahead and do it. It’s been great so far, so we decided we would do it in the fall and a holiday show. We have vintage, repurposed, handcrafted [items], and we always try to bring in a little bit of homemade, homegrown element as well. But
we focus on vintage, antiques, retro, mid-century, shabby, chic, farm decor, french farm – it’s very eclectic.” Southern Miss Alumna and Mississippi Sunshine Girl owner Becky White said the event provided a family-friendly atmosphere that everyone could enjoy. “There’s a good variety of different things here,” White said. “There’s things for men. It’s not just for girls, it’s for guys too. [There is] something here for everyone, even cotton candy for the kids.” Many of the items for purchase were made from repurposed antiques or vintage items. Arbo said she goes junking for items to repurpose. “I’m a diehard junker and picker,” Arbo said. “I’m a lover of vintage and all things rusty and crusty. I just got tired of waiting and begging so I separated from all the shows I was affiliated with and decided I would just do [my own show]. I love finding free things – things that you can repurpose and bring new life into.” White said this event was different from the other events she had participated in. “It has really unique items-things that I don’t see normally,”
White said. “I do mainly arts and crafts, [but] this is a little different because it’s all vintage. I’ve really enjoyed seeing what the other vendors have. I saw some really cool things that I saw when I was growing up.” Arbo said Junknista is not just about her passion but is also about supporting the local area. “It’s about revenue and tax dollars for the Hattiesburg area,” Arbo said. “[It’s] not just about supporting the vendors and the artists. It’s about bringing more attention and supporting business people of the area.” Arbo said the event provided another activity for the Hattiesburg community. “We want to be a staple [event],”Arbo said. “We want are family-friendly event. It’s something else to do – it’s not a movie, it’s not bowling. It’s something that Hattiesburg can count on twice a year and three times [a year] when we have a holiday show.” Junknista plans to hold another market this year on Oct. 8-9. For more information about Junknista, visit the website at junknista.com. A video of the event can be found on the studentprintz.com.
ON CAMPUS
USM Dance showcases students, faculty Jack Hammett Managing Editor
The University of Southern Mississippi’s Repertory Dance Company will perform their Spring Studio 115 Dance Concert May 3-7 in the Theatre and Dance Building. Performances will be split into Concert A on May 3, 5 and 7 at 7:30 p.m. and Concert B on May 4 and 6 at 7:30 p.m. and May 7 at 2 p.m. According to visiting instructor Angie Simmons, the concerts will alternate over the course of the week. “Each concert has one faculty work and several student works,” Simmons said. “Some dances have spoken word involved, some have text spoken by the dancers and there is a nice diversity of music. The concert features USM’s very skilled dance majors, ranging from freshmen to seniors.” Simmons said she worked with seniors Sierra Howard and Alex Robinson, who will perform a piece called “Bending the Road” in Concert A. “The work is both personal for me and very accessible to anyone who has experienced having to make a new start in life,” Simmons said. “Working on the new choreography was a bit like carving a sculpture. The dance itself had to be crafted and emerge over time. And the dancers had a lot of
Courtesy Image
input. I asked a lot of them, and they rose to the challenge like true professionals.” Simmons said the concerts help students outside the classroom and after they graduate. “[The concerts] allow other USM students to experience this part of the rich arts community within the school,” Simmons said. “The concerts provide an opportunity to share artwork with the local community and to connect with arts lovers outside the university. This is a strong concert and represents our students well.” A Meet the Artists
event will take place after each performance. According to the USM Department of Dance website, the RDC’s concerts’ intimate settings are “a chance to see dance up close and personal.” On May 8, the Department of Dance will host the Student Dance Organization Showcase in the Theatre and Dance Building studio 115 at 2 p.m. At 4 p.m. the same day, the Department of Dance will host the High Def Dance Concert in studio 115. For more information on scheduled performances, visit the Department of Dance webpage on the USM website.
FEATURE
ON CAMPUS
Monday, May 2, 2016 | Page 5
Students voice concerns over Eagle Dining, Aramark Garrett Minta Printz Reporter
USM student Jarrod Colley recently started a petition to reassess or remove Aramark Corporation from the student dining experience. This would also remove them from the several other restaurants on campus, as they also are run by Eagle Dining. The petition was sparked by a blog post, written by USM student Carmine Harrell on The Odyssey Online. The post was an expose of the conditions of food fed to students by Aramark and the Fresh Food Company. “The students of The University are tired of Eagle Dining, and how it is run. We pay so much money for meal-plans, and for what?” Harrell wrote. “We come for orientation blissfully ignorant to all of your many flaws and get sucked into your lies about how great the cafeteria is, and which meal plan would be the best, but it’s all a crock.” Harrell said the Fresh Food Company is not able to actually provide what they promise when it comes to unlimited meals. Harrell said that The Fresh has a policy that students can only swipe into The Fresh once per hour. “Once you look at this, factor in classes, work, extracurriculars[sic], your chances at
eating are very limited, so good luck,” Harrell wrote. These sentiments were included in the petition that was started to get the university to reassess their relationship with Aramark, whether through negotiation or termination. “The hours of the main cafeteria on campus, known as ’The Fresh Food Company’ are not excellent to begin with, but when I finally break away for a meal (usually 1pm [sic] for lunch and 7pm [sic] for dinner), The Fresh does not have any food that they advertise online,” Connelly wrote in the petition. “This is simply unacceptable considering how much money I have to pay for the required meal plan.” Connelly said he has some concerns of his own about The Fresh and its conditions. “Low quality food, poor hours, an intense price for said food and nothing drives me more crazy than the ‘We’re out’ excuse,’” he said. Connelly said he would like to see Aramark change its practices. “Honestly, I just want good food,” Connelly said. “SEC schools use Aramark, and the food is considerably better. If Aramark can’t deliver quality food like that, then it has come [time] for us to end contractual relationship with them or see nobody purchase a meal plan for the next school year.”
GREEK LIFE
Hannah Heneghan/Student Printz The Fresh Food Company is partners with Aramark Corporation.
According to USM’s catering policy, Aramark has exclusive rights and privileges in USM’s dining experience. While the exact contract could not be accessed in time, a summary from USM’s catering policy is available online. “Aramark, or ‘Eagle Dining’, by contract, has exclusive rights to provide the university with meals, including a la carte items and non-alcoholic beverages. Eagle Dining shall provide catering services for all events located on the Hattiesburg campus as Eagle Dining serves the university in hosting business meal functions, and entertainment for guests and students of the university,” the catering policy reads. This is echoed in the full
version, where neither a date of origination nor a date of expiration were available. The next revision of this policy is scheduled for Feb. 20, 2017. Students are not the only ones that have run-ins with the policy — some university staff and organizations also have their share of issues. “University departments located on the Hattiesburg campus cannot use department funds for off-campus food vendors while on or off campus,” the policy continues. “However, Eagle Dining permits all registered student organizations and departments to bring in snack food and beverages not totaling more than $100 to organizational and departmental meetings.” Chief Communications Officer Jim Coll said that Aramark has already spoken with the student and that plans are being made. “Aramark representatives have already had a productive meeting with the student whose experiences sparked the petition and has also engaged representatives from the Student Government Association who will continue to serve as an ongoing voice for students in this matter,” Coll said. Coll said that students, faculty and staff all have a voice in what is on the menu and lists many things that Aramark is doing for
USM. Aramark VP for Corporate Communications Karen Cutler said in statement that the university is committed to “[providing] a positive, safe and healthy dining environment.” “We will continue to take all necessary precautions to ensure food safety and maintain a quality dining program for the USM community,” Cutler said. Coll said recent student feedback related to food services has been increasingly positive. “We expect that this will also be the case in the future and will continue to work with Aramark to ensure USM students, faculty and staff have quality and convenient on-campus food options at affordable prices,” Coll said. Harrell and members from SGA have already met with Aramark to address the situation, according to Cutler and Aramark. “We have met with the SGA, as well as several student and student leadership groups to get their feedback and have an open dialogue,”Harrell said. “Right now we are evaluating what changes we can make to The Fresh over the summer to accommodate as much of the feedback as possible.” Eagle Dining refused to comment and University President Rodney Bennett could not be reached for comment.
White vs Black Greek Life: “There’s a Greek letter ... for everyone” Afnan Beauti Printz Reporter
Some might argue that forms of segregation still exists within Southern states. Progress and change have been pushed for throughout the years, but universities in the South like The University of Southern Mississippi continue to face the aftereffects of racially charged pasts. Others are fighting the social stigma and defeating the societal expectations of “black” versus “white” fraternities and sororities. Opponents criticized Greek Life, calling it “institutionalized racism.” “Dying While Black” author Vernellia Randall said institutional racism involves policies, practices and procedures of institutions that have a disproportionately negative effect on racial minorities’ access to and quality of goods, services and opportunities. “Fraternities and sororities, on balance, make life worse on campus,” said Boston Globe columnist Carlo Rotella. “I wouldn’t mind seeing them banished by colleges and universities, but it would be even better if students just stopped joining them and they went away.” The Greek community has been under fire for decades and was targeted again in 2013 after predominately white sororities at the University of Alabama
were accused of denying AfricanAmericans bids exclusively because of their color, according to an article by The Huffington Post. The University of Alabama has since desegregated its sororities. Greek organizations at Southern Miss are trying to break racial barriers and broaden the road of opportunities for students. The National Panhellenic Council (NPHC) was created in 1930 and caters to the Divine Nine, which includes four historical African American sororities and five historical African American fraternities, according to the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Incorporated website. According to the research project “Cool Like That: Exploring the World of Historically Black Fraternities and Sororities,” by Timothy Wilson, black people were not allowed to join Panhellenic and IFC organizations in the past due to racial segregation, so they created their own. They were also denied the permission to purchase a house similar to their white counterparts, hence the reason some black sororities and fraternities did not have houses on college campuses. Senior biology major Emily Wilson is a white student who recently joined the historically black Sigma Gamma Rho and has struggled with other Greeks’ expectations of her as a member of a Divine Nine organization.
“People have their eyes on me to see if I know what I’m doing, especially when it comes to strolls or struts and stepping,” she said. “They want to see if I know my information. It has a lot to do with race, honestly. There are stereotypes that people will associate with me before even speaking to me.” Wilson said her sisters are very accepting of her, regardless of race. “My sisters behave towards me with as much love and understanding in their hearts as they would give to any of our other [sisters], but someone will always have something negative to say,” she said. “At the end of the day, it’s about the sisterhood, service and improvement to the community.” An anonymous AfricanAmerican student was previously involved in a CPC sorority at Southern Miss. “Being in CPC made me realize that it wasn’t for me,” she said. “A lot of my views and opinions didn’t align with how they operate, and they aren’t really willing to branch out of their comfort zones. Sadly, I didn’t realize it until after I left the chapter that CPC dwells in their comfort zone and likes to keep it that way.” Southern Miss alumnus and member of Kappa Alpha Psi Wilton Jackson said segregation in Greek life exists today because of the dynamic of each council. “In certain councils, they just
have certain things that they just like to do,” he said. “The culture is just different. The dynamics are different.” The main cause, he said, is poor leadership from each council that does not reach out to other councils. “The way to break the segregation is to figure out what the other organizations are doing,” Jackson said. “At the end of the day, it’s all about impacting people’s [lives]. The segregation lies where there is that each councils are not communicating with each other. The world that we live in is not just black, it’s not just white. It involves some of everybody.” Jackson said white people in NPHC Greek Life or black people in predominantly white Greek Life have the ability to make a change. “If that was their choice to go with that organization, it’s their free will,” Jackson said. “It starts with them wanting to change. If they don’t get accepted, they can at least say that they tried.” Southern Miss Greek organizations accept people of any and all ethnicities, races, cultures and colors, as all institutional Greek organizations are expected to do. “Segregating organizations like fraternities and sororities, especially on campus, defeats the aim of brother or sisterhood,” Wilson said. “You can’t have love in your heart if you harbor hatred because of something like skin
color.” Southern Miss alumni Ethan Bradshaw has been a brother of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated for four years and has received mixed views from others. “Some have been surprised, and some have even asked me why I chose to pledge a NPHC organization,” he said. “I feel that it has helped me improve a lot as a person. Aside from a stronger focus on brotherhood and service, it has also helped me open up to others, specifically public speaking.” Bradshaw said he sees major differences in aspects of white and black Greek Life such as the bonds and purposes. “Traditionally, white organizations in Greek Life don’t show a strong brotherhood [or] sisterhood like NPHC organizations do,” he said. “They also seem more socially oriented as opposed to scholarship and community service. NPHC is also a lifetime commitment and not just a collegiate experience. It doesn’t end.” Bradshaw, like Wilson, sees color as an insignificant component in Greek Life. “My brothers treat me and embrace me as their brother. There’s a Greek letter organization for everyone. It’s just about what’s in your heart, not the color of your skin.” For the rest of the story, visit studentprintz.com.
OPINION
Page 6 | Monday, May 2, 2016
ENTERTAINMENT
Struggling to ‘Keep up with the Kardashians’ Jonathan Urbina Printz Reporter
Regardless of whether you love them or love to hate them, the Kardashian-Jenner dynasty has completely taken over the entire E! network and our brains. Since 2007, viewers have struggled to keep up with the Kardashian’s sex tapes, lip injections and infamous family feuds. Now, fresh off the heels of their 12th season premiere, viewers are getting a taste of the sisterly clan with new truck loads of drama making for a season of pure gif-able potential. However, all the hype around the famous family begs the question: why? The truth is keeping up with the Kardashians is harder than it looks. Breaking the family down, you have a recently transitioned transgender parent, a money
hungry momanger, a former porn star, an unmarried mother of three, a waist training gym rat, a Victoria’s Secret model, an 18-year-old with lip injections and a recently engaged sock line mogul. (If that list isn’t long enough for you, then add in their countless love interests and various offspring.) In my many years as an avid Kardashian aficionado, I have never felt more disconnected from the family than I do now. Not only is the drama nearly impossible to keep up with, but of all of their viewers, there is not a snowball’s chance in hell they’ll ever have to deal with the stresses of being a Kardashian. For example, in season 11 of the show, Kim Kardashian bet $1 million that her mother, Kris Jenner, would not be able to find the Calacatta gold slabs needed to complete her bathroom counters —
Kim Kardashian’s Twitter/Courtesy Photo
literally #firstworldproblems. If that did not prove my point, then reminisce on that one time Kim lost a $75,000 earring while swimming in Bora Bora as Kourtney Kardashian reminded her that
“there are people dying.” This season, the family will face their most complicated web of drama yet: the recent engagement of Rob Kardashian with Dash Clan enemy Blac Chyna. The plot twist? Chyna is Tyga’s baby-mama and Tyga is dating Kylie Jenner, Rob’s half-sister. In short, if both couples were to get married then Rob and Kylie would both be stepparents to Tyga and Chyna’s child. Yes, it is all really confusing and a storyline straight out of “All My Children.” But what this scandalous web of drama has done is brought to light the fact that we the viewers need to stop pretending we can relate to this family and move on from caring about the eclectic antics of their doing. The truth is, I will never have to contemplate whether or not to go nude in Playboy like pre-Kanye Kim,
never have a lip-kit like Kylie, never walk in a Balmain show in Paris like Kendall and never organize Oreos in massive glass jars like Khloe because seriously, that seems quite time consuming. The reality is the show that started out about a “wholesome” family from Calabasas is now a never-ending soap opera that seems to be inspired by lazily written tabloid headlines. And, as true as that is, I’m still watching and still writing about them. Consider that: the Kardashian effect. No matter what this family does and how little we can relate, it is impossible to escape their grasp. They are on our televisions, iPhones, Instagram feeds, Twitter timelines and in our magazines, making them part of the conversation regardless of whether we want them in it or not.
LOCAL
‘Hot’ choices for students in the ‘Burg this summer Afnan Beauti Printz Reporter
For most Southern Miss students, the feeling of freedom after enduring finals week and packing one’s things up to head home for the summer is a great one. Summer break is a time outside of the classroom meant
to be spent away from late nights at the library. Local events are held every summer in big cities like Atlanta, but Hattiesburg also has a taste of fun to offer. Some of the events include Matthew Logan Vasquez of Delta Spirit performing at the Thirsty Hippo in Hattiesburg
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May 14. On July 19, Ardenland will present American musician and artist Dylan LeBlanc at the Thirsty Hippo. Hattiesburg will celebrate FestivalSouth presented by the Hattiesburg Concert Association May 30 to June 18, marking the seventh annual city-wide celebration. FestivalSouth is a multi-week, multi-genre festival for local residents, and cultural tourists are invited to participate in events involving music, dance, art, theatre, film, food and more. For running fanatics, among numerous local 5ks, The Festival 5K will be June 4 at Kamper Park at the Hattiesburg Zoo. For beer enthusiasts and connoisseurs, The Historic Hattiesburg Downtown Association will host its Fourth Annual Hattiesburg Craft Beer Festival June 11 at the Hattiesburg Historic Train
2906 Hardy Street between IHOP and Subway
Depot. The event will feature various craft beer brewers and enthusiasts. Others, however, plan to remain in the barely bustling college town of Hattiesburg this summer and will be doing more than just lounging by the pool as they want to get a head start on their college and post-college careers. Lynne Sarikas, director of Northeastern University’s MBA Career Center said soon-to-be sophomores seriously thinking about their careers should use the summer as a time of networking. “Talk to people who work in fields that interest you or companies that interest you,” she said. “Start with the ‘low hanging fruit’ — parents of your friends [or] people your parents know.” As summertime approaches, several students begin the hunt for a summer job in hopes of gaining money and experience. “Having a summer job also shows future employers that you are motivated and focused,” Sarikas said. “Doing most anything is better than doing nothing. Retail or fast food experience at least exposes you to customer service skills and time management.” There are numerous job opportunities for students in Hattiesburg, accounting for more than 1,000 job openings in the city. Sophomore social work major Brendid Williams will remain in Hattiesburg to gain professional experience. “I’ll be staying here to work at Regions bank, but I’ll also be relaxing and not thinking about school too much,” he said. Soon-to-be juniors are advised to look into internships in their field of study or continue
working to gain professional experience and skills to benefit their future careers. Students can take advantage of the resources Hattiesburg has to offer, from volunteering, attending educational events, shadowing and getting involved. Junior music major Daron Roberts will also stay in Hattiesburg and gain further experience in his field of study. “I plan to keep playing for my church and perform at other gigs, so at least I won’t have to take tests every other week like during the semester,” he said. Apart from building a résumé, some students plan to spend their summers preparing for major examinations like the MCAT or GRE for entrance into professional schools. The convenient location of Hattiesburg offers travel to tourist locations like Biloxi and New Orleans, both less than a two hour drive. The coast area and Cajun tradition city have plenty of activities for visitors, whether they want to fish in the gulf or want to try a French Quarter restaurant. For casino lovers, The Beau Rivage Resort and Casino and Hurricane Katrina Memorial are in Biloxi and Island View Casino Resort in Gulfport. The Hollywood Casino is a popular place in Bay St. Louis. Mississippi is filled with Tupelo, Columbus, Oxford, Natchez, Ocean Springs, Bay Saint Louis and Jackson. For those interested in road trips and traveling to beaches, Pensacola, Florida requires just a three and a half hour drive. Regardless of what students decide to do this summer, the common goal is to enjoy it to its fullest and use it to prepare for what’s next: fall semester, which the full term starts Aug. 24.
OPINION Trump, Hillary nominations spell Republican victory Monday, May 2, 2016 | Page 7
POLITICS Nicolas Kubicki Printz Reporter
No matter who is on the ballot when August rolls around, I can tell you that the 2016 general election will be unlike any other of its kind. With both parties cruising toward a goal of contested convention, this kind of ideological split between the voting populace can only spell troubled times ahead for America. In both the Republican and Democratic parties, we already see movements from those who claim they will never vote for the opposition: Donald Trump supporters who echo John Boehner’s words that Ted Cruz is “Lucifer” and will never cast the ballot for him. On the other side, there are Sanders supporters who proclaim “Never Hillary” in opposition to her condescension and practices. If Ted Cruz wins the GOP nomination due to a contested convention, I wholeheartedly believe that he will lose the general election by a landslide. Hating Trump is popular and trendy, but hating Cruz is a reality. No matter who the Democratic nominee is, people will turn out in droves to keep this man out of the White House. If Trump wins it fair and square, the battle for Washington will be a long and bloody fight. Skeletons will be aired, and if there are none, they will be created, if only to momentarily distract from the matters at hand. Then we come to the Democratic party, and all hell breaks lose. At this point, historically, those falling behind have dropped out of the race. The reason being mostly that those behind the candidate has lost funding. They have switched to funding their opponent, and the campaign can no longer continue. The Sanders campaign is
Hunt Mercier/Printz Photo Editor
different, since it runs on donations from everyday Americans with donations averaging about $27 a person. As long as the people continue to donate, the Sanders campaign can continue running all the way to the convention, pulling as many delegates as they can. If, come the convention, neither candidate has the total delegates, we go into a contested convention. The only two outcomes are a coronation or a revolution. In August, there will be two candidates telling you, the voter, why they deserve your vote. They will be begging for your support. They will ask you to move forward, to make America great again, to cast
your vote for someone who you believe in. If you happen not to believe in either of them, the people around you will tell you to vote in order to keep the status quo. They will talk about supreme court justices and congress, and the importance of why their candidate is the right choice. Here are my future predictions for November, all possible futures involved: Trump versus Clinton – the most probable outcome – will more than likely end with a Trump victory. I predict large numbers of independent voters voting blue, with some democratic voters switching out of protest. In Cruz versus Clinton, less probable but still possible, it will be a
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close Clinton victory. I do not see Republican voters switching to Clinton, but I see many voters abstaining or voting third party. According to aggregate polls, Clinton only leads Trump by seven points, and Cruz by 11. In both polls, undecided voters could turn the election either way. In the less probable futures, Trump versus Sanders is the most clear-cut race we see in history. Almost nobody votes third party here, and independents are strongly swayed one way or the other. I would predict a Sanders victory provided his rise was without a Clinton indictment. If he were to win the nomination due to Clinton being disqualified, I
could easily see a strong push from Clinton supporters to not vote. For Cruz versus Sanders, it would be a Sanders landslide. I would predict people voting for Sanders purely out of protest against Cruz. In the above mentioned polls, Sanders leads Cruz by 21 points, and Trump by 16. In both polls, undecided voters leaning to one side or another would not win or lose the election. Even polls conducted by Fox show Sanders’ favorability towering over Cruz’s. However, there is a bit of time left before July and even more before August, and things have hurt candidates in less time. For the rest of us, all we can do is wait.
ECONOMICS
The Fed. reserves interest rates, puts brakes on inflation Garrett Minta Printz Reporter
The Federal Reserve decided to keep interest rates low as the year has carried on with relative success. While the Fed has the option to do so, this could have deep implications in the rest of our financial system. NPR reported that the Federal reserve had seen job growth and growing risks and decided to keep interest rates low while allowing for some flexibility. “So given that balance of good news and growing risks, the Federal Open Market Committee decided to take no action on the target range for
the federal funds rate at the close of its two-day meeting,” NPR reporter Marilyn Geewax wrote. This news comes well for consumers, as they are the ones who benefit from low interest rates. Interest rates, when it comes to the Fed, are typically treated as brakes for inflation. The interest rates function as the government vehicle to curb inflation through federal rate hikes. When the Fed does this, the rates for banks as a whole go up, making borrowing more difficult. However, people with loan applications flood banks and other lending groups when rates fall. When you buy a house, would you rather be
The lending rates will increase from where the economy was years ago and will help tame inflation.
paying 7 percent or 16 percent interest? Of course, the majority will say the 7 percent, because most people like to
save money. Federal rates determine when or if banks are going to raise their rates. Banks can raise or lower their rates if the Fed chooses not to, but it is uncommon. This can make it harder for people to be able to afford the things that they need such as housing and cars. However, the Fed has decided to keep the interest rates down, which will make it easier for people to borrow. This news comes to the good fortune of many, as this will allow rates to be lower. However, this does nothing to combat the problem of inflation. Unfortunately, inflation keeps going up because there is less control of the currency already
in circulation. The Fed’s Robert Kaplan said he is advocating for gradually increasing the federal interest rates to be able to counteract problems with inflation and urging businesses to continue creating jobs to feed the labor surplus, according to CNBC. Bankrate.com wrote that the higher interest rates work in America’s favor in multiple ways to be able to raise the dollar exchange rates overseas. The lending rates will increase from where the economy was years ago and will help tame inflation. While the Fed decided not to go forward with raising interest rates, it still has the option to raise or lower rates in June.
SPORTS
Page 8 | Monday, May 2, 2016
SOFTBALL
USM struggles on offense against La. Tech Julius Kizzee Sports Editor
Southern Miss missed another opportunity to gather momentum heading into the conference tournament starting on May 11 by dropping a conference series against Louisiana Tech, 2-1. After sweeping North Texas on April 17, the Golden Eagles could not recapture that offensive magic against the Lady Techsters. The Golden Eagles’ offensive struggles were exemplified in this series, as the team scored only two runs in two games in the series. Only in game two did the Golden Eagles go above the status quo and score six runs in an offensive display where they accumulated 13 hits. In game one of the series, Samantha Robles was tested on the mound. She gave up five
BASEBALL
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runs on six hits. She also walked three batters in her 3.2 innings of work. Southern Miss struck first on the scoreboard with a sacrifice fly to put the Golden Eagles up 1-0. The Lady Techsters would strike back often after falling down to the early deficit. Louisiana Tech scored seven
straight runs throughout the contest until Southern Miss answered back in the seventh inning with one run on three hits of their own. The Golden Eagles lost 7-1 and looked for redemption in the game two doubleheader. The Golden Eagles tore offensively in the second game
of the series, led by lead-off hitter Lauren Holifield who had three hits and two RBIs in the contest. She led her team to a 6-1 win over the Lady Techsters with the help of Danielle Block who turned in a dominating pitching performance. The Golden Eagles went on offensive tears in both the third and fourth innings, lifting Southern Miss to take a five-run cushion on the Lady Techsters. Block shut out the Lady Techsters through six innings. She did give up six hits, but only gave up one run in the sixth inning. She was replaced by Robles, who closed out the game not giving up a single hit. Game three was crucial for both teams, and the Golden Eagles struck first on the scoreboard. After two singles by Michelle Stringer and Bailey Stokes, the
Golden Eagles drove in two runs on an error by Louisiana Tech, putting the score at 2-0 heading into the third. The Golden Eagles were held in check for their part of the third inning, but their counterparts would not be. The Lady Techsters scored four runs on four hits in just the third inning alone. The score was a mere 4-2, but the Golden Eagles would not relinquish the lead again. Robles turned in a solid performance for the box score, but the offense on the other side was not productive enough to clinch a second series in a row for USM. Robles gave up four runs, four hits and three walks, putting her record for the season at 15-10. Southern Miss will travel to Ita Bena, Mississippi to play Mississippi Valley State on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
Golden Eagles drop series against FAU
Kyle Williams Sports Reporter
After a 7-2 win against the University of Louisiana at Lafayette on April 26, No. 14 Southern Miss (31-14, 15-6) took to the road for a three game series against No. 17 Florida Atlantic (30-12, 14-7). The Golden Eagles fell short in their efforts, losing the series 2-1. With the C-USA series loss, Southern Miss is currently tied with Rice for first place in the conference. Game one started just like the Golden Eagles wanted it to. In the top of the first inning, Dylan Burdeaux and Jake Sandlin both managed to get on base. With one out, Hunter Slater stepped in the box and delivered a three-run home run, giving Southern Miss an early 3-0 lead. The Owls followed up Southern Miss’ efforts with a score in the bottom of the second and two in the bottom of the third to tie
the game at 3-3. The scoring streak would not end for FAU as they followed up the two-run inning with a three-run inning in the fourth inning putting them ahead 6-3. Ace pitcher Cord Cockrell was tagged for six runs off of seven hits over the three innings he pitched. Cockrell was pulled and the Golden Eagles were forced to dig deep into the bullpen, using five pitchers on the night. Southern Miss’ pitching efforts would not be enough on the night as FAU took the series opener 9-5. Cockrell would suffer his first loss of the season, falling to 7-1 on the year. Game two proved no different for Southern Miss. The Owls got away with leaving 16 runners on base throughout the game but still managed to take the win, 9-4. Southern Miss relied again on a good amount of pitchers in the ball game, with six in game two.
Not all was bad for Southern Miss as Tim Lynch, Sandlin and Burdeaux collected solo home runs. These home runs pushed Southern Miss’ streak to five on games with a home run. On the final day, the tides turned for Southern Miss. Pitcher Kirk McCarthy held the Owls’ offense to only one run off of eight hits with five strikeouts in the five innings he pitched. Southern Miss was able to rest a lot of their bullpen Sunday as only three were called on in the contest. After a walk, wild pitch and hit-by-pitch, Chuckie Robinson stepped up to the box with two outs and doubled to center field in the bottom of the sixth. Robinson drove in two runs and helped the Golden Eagles solidify the win with a score of 4-3. Southern Miss looks to remain nationally ranked and No. 1 in conference as they face Western Kentucky this Friday at home. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
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