Monday, January 23, 2017 Volume 101 Issue 29
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A Pine Belt resident walks with what is left of her belongings following the storm on Jan. 21 on Edwards Street in Hattieburg.
Tornado devastates Hattiesburg community
JULIUS KIZZEE
sports editor
On Feb. 10, 2013, an EF-4 tornado ripped through the Pine Belt and caused a historic amount of damage to buildings and residences. Early Saturday morning, it happened again. According to the National Weather Service, the storm produced EF-3 winds and dropped 3.42 inches of rain on the Hattiesburg area. But just as all tragedies do not simply come down to numbers, this storm took its toll on the community. One account of the devastation came from Hattiesburg resident Jadaka Thurmond, who said the storm launched him into the air. “That’s what woke me up — rain hitting me in my face,” Thurmond said. “My first reaction, I didn’t know what was going on. I didn’t panic or nothing. I just reached out and grabbed the hitch and held onto it until it dropped, and when it dropped, I hopped up and walked off.” Thurmond said as he walked away from the destruction, he looked back to see what was left of his home. “When I got up off the ground, everything was gone,” Thurmond said. “[The trailer] didn’t even come down. It came apart in the air. Then the trailer in
front of our trailer came on top of our trailer.” The twister tore through trailer parks and hit a church, which was a block away from Thurmond. “The last tornado, it did not hit us,” said Carolyn Newsome, member of the affected Cottrell Memorial Church located on 1001 Edwards St. “But now it hit home. That means we have to start over again. But that’s okay. It will be better.” The tornado ripped through parts of the Hattiesburg area, specifically William Carey University and Edwards Street. The damage destroyed prominent buildings on WCU’s campus, including dormitories, the school gym and the School of Business building. Tragedy struck a trailer park that held more than 10 lots for homes. However, as people woke up to their homes on Saturday, the lots were empty. One resident, Jenova, lost her boyfriend in the tornado. The man stayed behind in his trailer as his family fled for safety. Jenova’s mother died in the same trailer the Saturday prior. “Everyone was trying to get out of the trailer, but he didn’t want to leave,” said Jennie, Jenova’s sister-in-law. “They thought he had left, but he didn’t. They were like, ‘Wayne, Wayne,’ and he answered, ‘What,’ two or three times. And
after that, he didn’t say anything. That’s when they realized he had died, because he wouldn’t answer anymore.” Wayne’s death was one of the four reported from the city during the early morning hours of Jan. 21. The trailer in which he stayed was next to another trailer belonging to Gladys Harvey, whose home was completely destroyed. “To be honest, I thought the world had come to an end,” Harvey said just hours after waking up to an empty lot. “I was that scared. I have never been that scared in my life.” Inside of her trailer during the storm was a 7-month-old baby who disappeared after the storm came through the park. The father later found his child motionless. After a few hours of care, the child regained consciousness. “Fiction is fiction — this is real,” said Annis Baker, who sat with her family on her porch in the aftermath of the storm. “This is as real as it gets. Look around. It don’t get no realer than this. This is happening to people. When it happened it 2013, it was on the other side of town. When it actually happens to you, it’s a different feeling altogether. It’s like your guts are tied up in a knot, and you want somebody to let it loose for you.” Some of these residents had not only experienced the tornado of three years
ago, but had also been through Hurricane Katrina in 2005. “By going through Katrina, it’s just basically almost the same, except there was more water in Katrina,” said Edna Smith, who sat on her porch waiting on family to help with cleanup efforts. “But it’s a little bit different by the way it came through with the sounds. You can hear it for a second,
and then it’s gone. Then, before you know it, everything is gone.” Smith was among those relocated from New Orleans following the hurricane. “What I do now is just start over again,” Smith said. “During Katrina, for 30 years living in New Orleans — lost everything, came to Mississippi and had to start all over. I have to start all over here, too.”
Adriana Garcia/Printz A Hattiesburg resident (right), who discovered her friend was killed by the tornado, embraces her neighbor (left) on Jan. 21.
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INTRODUCTION MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2017
Meet the Staff Fall 2016
FIND US ON THE WEB
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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.
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NEWS MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2017
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K&B serves up spicy competition
Courtesy Photo |
JAMES MASSENGALE
printz reporter
The Keg and Barrel will host its 7th Annual Gumbo and Chili Cookoff Feb. 4. One of the biggest days of business for this local hotspot – located at 1315 Hardy St. – is its annual Gumbo and Chili Cookoff. This year, the event falls on the
Saturday before the Super Bowl. Keg and Barrel owner John Neal said that he and his staff expect a large turnout of competitors and patrons. Neal said the event started in 2010 when he spoke with two University of Southern Mississippi psychology professors and fellow Texans Bradley Greene and Randy Arnau. “They brought up the idea of
having a chili competition at the Keg, and we started making plans for our first competition in 2011,” Neal said. “It really just spawned from there.” Neal said about 20 teams entered the competition the first year. “This year we’re expecting 40 to 45 teams,” Neal said. “It gets bigger every year.” Neal said three years ago he
decided to add another dimension to the competition: a gumbo category that would re-energize and bring more flavor to the competition. Keg and Barrel manager Diana Pennington said the event is a great day to come to the Keg. “It’s fun,” Pennington said. “You get to walk around and try different chilis and gumbos. We even have competitors and judges from other restaurants in town.” Butch Bailey, local Timber Beast and “Star Wars” fan, has competed in the cookoff every year. “Our team’s name is the ‘Scruffy Looking Nerf Herders,’” Bailey said. “We have a TV set up and play ‘Star Wars’ in the background at our booth. It’s all about having fun.” Owner of Hub City Beers and beer aficionado Alexander Ignatiev said that the chili cookoff is a great community event. “It’s always good to see a lot of the same teams as well as new teams joining each year,” Ignatiev said. “Some teams remain consistent while bringing new things to the table, like unique meats, i.e. wild game.” Ignatiev said he believes any collective can make chili, but he sees gumbo as a singular expression that cannot be made by a committee. The chili competition is broken into two divisions: traditional and non-traditional. Rules state that
the chili can have as many or as few ingredients as desired but specify that one of the ingredients must be craft beer. However much beer is used in the chili is strictly up to the competitor. All food must be cooked on site. Trophies handmade by Mumbling Brothers will be awarded to first, second and third place in each category. There is also a category for People’s Choice. DJ Branning, a liquor representative for Jim Beam, has won numerous awards at the cookoff over the years. “It’s not all about winning, but a good way to draw attention to your booth is to show off all the trophies you’ve won in the past,” Branning said. “This is one of the premier events that people look forward to in the City of Hattiesburg.” Tickets for the event are $20 (includes one beer ticket) or $30 (includes two beer tickets and an event t-shirt). Registration fees are $16 for two-person teams (includes two event shirts) or $32 for four person teams (includes four event shirts). There are no additional registration fees to enter multiple categories. Teams looking to enter must register by Jan. 30. For more information on rules or how to enter the cookoff, visit www. kegandbarrel.com or the Keg and Barrel Facebook page.
USM online degree programs rank among nation’s top LORA LAVIGNE
printz reporter
Affordable Colleges Online recognized The University of Southern Mississippi as one of the Best Online Master’s Degree for 2016. Southern Miss ranked sixth among thousands of U.S. colleges with online master’s degree options. According to its website, AC online ranked the universities based on “factors students care about.” These factors include affordability, accessibility and quality. AC Online has distinguished its ranking scale by using a Peer-Based Value metric, or PBV. The primary data points used to identify this recognition were instate tuition and fees, percent of full-time undergraduate students receiving institutional financial aid, number of online programs offered and student-to-teacher ratio. “We believe tuition should be at the forefront of the higher education conversation, so we manually research and standardize tuition data in order to make it straightforward and easily accessible,” ACO’s webpage states. Southern Miss offers more than 20 online master’s degree in business, education, music, nursing
and health related fields. It also offers bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. programs, as well as workforce training. Interim Director of the Office of Online Learning Tom Hutchinson said the success behind the online programs is because of qualified faculty. “Our faculty online is the same faculty we have here on-campus,” Hutchinson said. “The quality of their work and how they operate on campus resembles exactly what is done online in order to give students that face-to-face type of interaction through distant teaching.” Through distance learning, students benefit from certificate programs, supplemental endorsements, single courses and hybrid and executive programs. “Earning an MBA seemed like one of those hard, unobtainable things that were only meant for CEO’s and corporate sky-rises, or those who wanted to stay in school forever,” said Katherine Miller who earned her Master’s in Business Administration. “But I’ve actually learned it shows your willingness to work hard and advance your own industry understanding.” Miller said that as an undergrad student, there is a lot of learning in the process, but as a graduate
student there is more applying involved. “Getting my master’s degree at Southern Miss was so unique because there is an energy at USM you can’t replicate anywhere else,” Miller said. “I wish I could have experienced courses in the new business building, but even
with taking online courses, the professors are willing to go the extra mile to ensure the students are understanding the information.” As tedious responsibilities become more and more demanding, many students across the nation are selecting an online education. “Southern Miss offers an
extremely affordable online program so that we can make education attainable to as many students as possible. It is such an honor for our university to be recognized for such a thing because it elevates awareness around the country of what Southern Miss has to offer,” Hutchinson said.
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FEATURE MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2017
Hunks pose with pups for humane society
Courtesy Photo |
LUKE SMITH
printz reporter
Hunter Deerman and Lelland Ducksworth are not professional models, but that did not stop them from ditching their shirts and striking a pose with cute puppies to raise money for a great cause. The two are featured in the Hub City Humane Society’s 2017
“Hunks for Hounds” calendar, with all proceeds from its sales going to helping animals in need of a home. Neither Deerman nor Ducksworth sought out the modeling gig. Deerman’s roommate signed him up after lifting a few pictures off of Deerman’s Instagram account. Likewise, Ducksworth was signed up by his supervisor’s wife. Both have always had a passion for animals, so
when they found out they’d been chosen for the “Hunks for Hounds” calendar, they couldn’t turn it down. Deerman, 31, is working on his master’s degree in biological sciences at The University of Southern Mississippi. Deerman grew up in the Mississippi Delta and has always loved biology and animals. He is currently researching mosquitos, but Deerman’s love for dogs
goes back to his childhood. “I’ve never gone a day in my life without having a dog,” Deerman said. “Right now, I have a Chihuahua. He’s got as ‘bout as much attitude as I have.” Ducksworth, 22, recently graduated from Southern Miss in 2016 with a degree in biological sciences. He grew up around animals in Hattiesburg and first fell in love with caring for them while visiting his grandfather’s farm in Arkansas as a child. Ducksworth currently owns six Rottweiler’s, a Great Dane, a Pomeranian and two pythons. Those are just his personal pets. He works as a zookeeper with the Hattiesburg Zoo, but he has accepted a position with the Blank Park Zoo in Iowa and will soon move there. It is a challenging job at times, but his love for animals more than makes up for it. “Eighty percent of the time, we’re fecal relocation technicians,” Ducksworth said. “In other words, we remove poop. The rest of the time you actually get to socialize and care for the animals. It’s an amazing experience. That’s what I love to do.” Ducksworth’s favorite way of interacting with the animals is singing to them. “I like to sing to my animals,” Ducksworth said. “I like singing all music to them, but mostly R&B, gospel and country. I keep it wild.” When Ducksworth first found out
that he had been chosen for the calendar, he was not sure what his supervisor’s wife had gotten him into. He is a competitive body builder on the side, but he was not too sure about posing as a “hunk.” “I thought it was going to be a photoshoot for the guys, but the dog obviously had more stuff than the guys,” Ducksworth said. “It was more of a photoshoot for the dogs. It was unique, and it was for an amazing cause.” Deerman’s only prior modeling experience was posing for some of his photographer friends, but he was also eager to help animals in need. “I couldn’t turn it down,” Deerman said. “It’s for charity, which is the main reason I did it. I love animals, so why not?” The Hub City Humane Society cares for homeless, abused and neglected animals in the Hattiesburg area. “A lot of people do not understand that sheltered dogs are still dogs,” Ducksworth said. “It doesn’t matter if they’re pure bred or not. They need a home too, and a lot of them are being put down every day.” The “Hunks for Hounds” calendars can be purchased for $15 from the shelter or from www.hchshunksforhounds. com. All money raised from the calendars will go toward helping the Hub City Humane Society find homes for neglected animals in the Hattiesburg area.
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FEATURE MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2017
Students share holiday travel stories NAN BEAUTI
copy editor
Just after Thanksgiving, students began scrambling to study for their final exams, eyes fixated on winter break. Right when the pressure of the fall semester ended, burned out students jetted off campus and out of town. Some traveled home to enjoy the simple pleasures of sleeping in, home-cooked meals and quiet time away from the hustle and bustle. Others went straight from being full-time students to full-time employees, racking up money to be able to financially breathe throughout the spring. Of course, some college students took vacations, driving for hours or flying high to take a solid month away from the ‘Burg. Southern Miss students made what they could of their traveling experiences to make it back just in time for the start of the semester. Senior interior design major Mollie Williams did not leave the state but stayed in North Mississippi and in Jackson. She said she needed a break from the rush of school before her last semester at Southern Miss. “I think it’s good to have a change of scenery every once in awhile,” Williams said. “Everyone needs a break because it’s good for your mental health along with your
physical health. I take the trip often to just spent time with loved ones. I enjoyed my time and just took a ‘break.’” Winter break for Southern Miss students was just over a month long, and several students made sure to savor their time off this holiday season. Information technology alum William Heaney took advantage of his graduation gift and traveled to multiple areas over the holidays. “I’m from Jackson, so I went up there to visit family, and we always go to my aunt’s house in Carrollton on Christmas day,” Heany said. “It was a good time spent with family since I don’t get to see some of them due to school.” Heaney also traveled over Thanksgiving break to Orlando’s Disney World and Universal Studios. “It was also an early graduation present for myself,” he said. Senior communications major Cole Carlock used his break time to take a trip to Houston. “A group of others from Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship and I went to the World Missions Summit, a conference devoted to giving people insight into what goes on with Assemblies of God missionaries, mostly overseas,” he said. Carlock had a memorable experience and further visited his family after the conference. “There were over 6,000 students
Courtesy Photo | from all over the country in attendance,” Carlock said. “They give us the opportunity to hear from these missionaries from these countries and gave us the opportunity to personally sit down and speak with some of them and learn more about where and how they serve.” Junior polymer science major Julian Richardson went abroad for break – all the way to Germany. “I went to Germany to reconnect with my mom’s family, because I
don’t get to see them often,” he said. Richardson said the most memorable part of his travel was celebrating his grandfather’s 77th birthday with his family. “I was frustrated that I was only able to stay two and a half weeks, and that’s the shortest I’ve ever stayed in Germany, so I wasn’t able to see all the family I wanted to see,” he said. Richardson said his motivation for making it through this semester are his plans to revisit Germany in
the summer. Wherever students ventured over the break, they found the value in travel, a change of view and precious family time. “While I’m no stranger to bigger cities, it’s truly an awesome experience getting to go somewhere where everything is so much larger,” Carlock said. “It’s truly breathtaking to see. I live in Hattiesburg, so it’s definitely nice to be able to go leave and experience a bit of different culture for a while.”
Students resolve to make better habits NAN BEAUTI
copy editor
As 2017 rang in, Southern Miss students found that the “New Year, New Me” motto would be an ineffective solution to the previous year’s woes. Instead, they are focusing on bettering themselves as students in their own unique ways. Although making these resolutions is a simple task, maintaining them is more difficult. According to Ameritech College of Healthcare, common resolutions for college students are to study harder and more often, aim for perfect attendance, sleep more, avoid procrastination by finishing assignments at least one day in advance and make healthier choices. Although “working under pressure” is a common method for students to get papers, studying, and projects done, the less stressful counterpart is to complete responsibilities beforehand. Students tend to underestimate the amount of work needed to get done and the time it takes, leading to cramming and a minimum effort put into work. This can result in lower grades and other penalties, according to the Poughkeepsie Journal. Senior music education major Florence James believes students are lacking spiritual guidance.
“This generation, so to speak, doesn’t have spiritual guidance or a moral awareness, so they think they can do what they want to, which includes procrastination,” she said. “My spiritual relationship with God and disciplining myself and going beyond my limits and pushing myself more. As a student, I need to practice my instruments and sing more.” Ameritech College of Healthcare suggests that being specific in one’s goals helps make them a reality. Start by writing down when your assignments are due. Make your due date one day earlier. Junior psychology major Alexis Chiles aims to up her academic performance at the same time as improving her athletic skills as a member of the Track and Field team. “I need to balance my academics and my athletics better than I did last semester,” she said. “I need to get my study hall hours in, actually read the materials, take better notes.” Just like 21.4% of Americans in 2017, According to Statistic Brain, Chiles aims to better her eating habits. “Diet and trying to lose weight is a life struggle,” Chiles said. “We workout and run and practice a lot, and I just need to meal plan better. I live off campus and it’s a little harder for me to eat as often as I’m supposed to eat. It’s hard when I’m
Shraddha Bhatta | not home.” According to USA Today College, students should make goals to secure internships to increase their chances of graduating college with a job as well as network with coworkers, classmates, and teachers. College is not only about
academic success, but professional presence. Ultimately, the New Year and new semester is a fresh slate for students who have resolved to replace bad habits, form worthwhile routines and connect with beneficial people all in 365 days.
Email or text Marcus: 228-213-3781 or
whynottryitagain@hotmail.com
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ENTERTAINMENT MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2017
Brands use ‘clapback’ for marketing TICHINA WILSON
printz reporter
The latest social media strategy that has been gaining a lot of attention is from none other than popular restaurant chain Wendy’s. According to Forbes.com, websites are now recognizing this approach and are deeming it “roasting at its finest.” The Wendy’s Twitter account is replying to user comments that are usually ones insulting Wendy’s and/or praising its competitors. Wendy’s comebacks go from humorous to flat-out offensive. One incident included Wendy’s tweeting a photo of a garbage can after a user wanted the restaurant chain to help find the nearest McDonald’s – a bold move for a fast food chain established in 1969. Another incident involved Wendy’s sarcastically reminding a user that refrigeration is necessary to prevent
meats from becoming contaminated after the establishment was accused of using frozen products. One might wonder if this sort of “clap back” strategy is beneficial for a brand. The numbers do the talking in this case. Wendy’s now has 1.2 million followers with individual tweets getting up to 10,000 shares and more than 30,000 likes. If this were a popularity contest, Wendy’s is in a great spot. From changing its Twitter bio to, “We like our tweets the same way we like to make hamburgers: better than anyone expects from a fast food joint.” According to Forbes, there are many reasons why the fast food joint has gained so much popularity: unexpectedness, controversy, humor, consistency and escalation. It has become increasingly common to use controversy to gain momentum. It was one of the most popular angles for many
brands in 2016. In the end, some people will hate Wendy’s for the comments and some will love them. But above all, they will still receive media coverage and shares, which equals more attention for the brand. Although there are pros to the “clap back” tactic, there are also cons. Marketing strategies such as these have a great potential of blowing up in a brand’s face. Like most things, this gimmick will eventually get old, and people will become tired of it. It is temporarily rewarding but not good in a long-term aspect. Brands like Wendy’s should always consider their target audience, as what may be funny to young adult as may not be amusing to an older age group. As we all know, one joke can be taken too far, even under the best intentions just as one brand’s reputation can be completely wrecked using this type of
marketing strategy. It is best to be careful not to wander into offensive territory. Wendy’s went from the top of the world to the bottom of the barrel after just one tweet. The chain posted a Pepe the Frog meme after a customer tweeted, “Got any memes?” If you are not familiar with the image, it was designated a white nationalist symbol and a hate symbol by the Anti-Defamation League. As expected, Wendy’s deleted the post. The brand still receives praise; some internet users say that Wendy’s showed that social media isn’t just about focusing solely on answering customer inquiries and promoting food. The brand has been praised for not seeming robotic. No more of the usual, “Sorry to hear that, please call *insert phone number here.* We’ll be happy to assist you.” So, I guess there may be a silver lining after all, or I suppose you would say “a silver wrapper (with a burger inside it).”
Daisy Stutts | Printz
Lemony Snicket series a fortunate remake ALYSSA BASS
printz reporter
When Netflix announced its remake of the popular book series and movie “A Series of Unfortunate Events” starring Neil Patrick Harris as Count Olaf, many internet users were excited but critical. In the few previews released before the remake’s premiere on Jan. 13, viewers were quick to doubt Harris’ ability to be as frightening as Jim Carrey in the 2004 film adaptation. Initially certain of the series’ inevitable failure, I was pleasantly surprised. However, after pressing play on the first episode, I found myself a tad confused. As a former devoted middle school reader and fan of the book series and movie, I remembered the Baudelaire story quite well. Long, tragic story in short, Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire lose their parents to a house fire and are sent by banker Mr. Poe to live with relatives and family friends they’ve never met. Unfortunately, their stay is never long due to Count Olaf, the antagonist after the Baudelaire fortune, murdering the children’s aforementioned next of kin. While you would expect the story to be told with solely dark themes, the Netflix series took a different approach. After being informed by Mr. Poe of their parents’ deaths, the Baudelaire children take a “joyride” with Mr. Poe accompanied by chipper music, sunny skies and bright, colorful backdrops to Count Olaf’s less-than-ideal house. Notably, Count Olaf’s dark house is the ugliest one on the block with cloudy skies above it. Sure, in the real world when personal tragedy strikes unexpectedly, the world continues to house annoyingly optimistic people who are having much better luck than you are, and Mother Nature will not always rain on everyone else’s parade just for you, but come on.
In the fictional as well as the real world, you are expected to have at least one person who is there to pat you on the back and wipe away your tears as you ugly cry. But of course the children do not have that luxury. This is truly a series of unfortunate events after all. I tried to continuously remind myself that the show is fictional. However, I was almost annoyed at the producers for not setting the appropriate mood and focusing on the Baudelaires’ grief for more than 10 minutes. I later realized that the unusual, light-hearted atmosphere foreshadowed the adults’ constant state of oblivion. The children being more knowledgeable and aware of their surroundings than the adults is not a Netflix-invented quirk; it is in line with the book series and the film. However, the difference between the Netflix series and the film is that instead of pitying the Baudelaires and being scared of Count Olaf and his henchmen disguised as a theatre troupe, I laughed more than I thought I would. It was definitely the supporting characters who provided the muchneeded comic relief and who ultimately made the show a must-watch. Harris, whom I thought was going to be the reason the show failed, was actually a great Count Olaf – not because he scared the audience, but because he played the role of Count Olaf, Yessica Haircut, Stephano, Captain Sham and Shirley (the latter four of whom are disguises Olaf takes up in order to murder the Baudelaires’ every guardian). The addition of childish jokes, random musical numbers and creative costumes made Harris’ Olaf more pleasant to watch than Carrey’s. Harris aside, I was delighted when I saw black and brown actors. Mind you, I did neither notice nor care as a child watching the film that the actors were all white. However, as I have gotten older, I have realized how important representation in media is. These days,
I always get excited when I see some diversity, especially when I least expect it. I thought black actor K. Todd Freeman, who played Mr. Poe, was going to be the token minority, but I was wrong. Freeman’s character, who is in charge of managing the Baudelaire fortune and housing the children, is quick to dismiss the children’s claims of abuse from Olaf and is always ready to head back to the bank, hoping to earn the title of number one banker. Oh, and not to mention that his cough remained for the entirety of season one. Freeman’s version of Mr. Poe kept me laughing but was one of the main reasons I pitied the children. Looking back at the film, I believe I assumed Mr. Poe was a single, chubby white man who lived alone (with the possible exception of a few cats), so I was more than happy when Mr. Poe’s wife Eleanora Poe, played by black actress Cleo King, was introduced. For three episodes, the journalist was perhaps more amusing than her husband. Her interest in using the Baudelaire children for headlines in her newspaper and disregard for their feelings makes her a great addition to the cast. Oh, and spoiler alert: She uses some of her black girl magic (or logic – whatever you prefer to believe) to save the Baudelaires from child labor. No big deal. Indian actor Aasif Mandvi seemed natural playing Uncle Monty, one of the children’s guardians who happens to house reptiles. Thankfully, Mandvi’s character received one additional scene not featured in the 2004 movie. The additional scene incorporates a new twist to the Baudelaire story, alluding to a secret spy organization the Baudelaires’ parents were a part of and thus making a connection to these random family friends. Aunt Josephine, played by black actress Alfre Woodard, also had some minor extra scenes. Apparently, Aunt Josephine was a boxing, bungee-
jumping thrill seeker and member of the unknown spy society before becoming a grammar fanatic and recluse after her husband’s death. Who knew? Honorable mention to South African actor Usman Ally who played the “Hook-Handed Man” and served as Count Olaf’s sidekick. There was nothing spectacular about his performance; he only had a few lines. Still, I was grateful for his casting. For the most part, the plot has remained unchanged. If you remember
Courtesy Photo |
reading the books as a child, you will most likely know the ending of each episode. However, the unexpected comical approach, diverse actors and addition of new characters keeps the audience interested and perhaps makes the Netflix series more family-friendly than the film. With only eight episodes in the first season, viewers will be left wanting more. Audiences may also seek out the book series while anticipating the announcement of next season’s air date.
OPINION MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2017
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Education secretary nominee needs schooling
Courtesy Photo |
KAITLYN WATKINS news editor Several of Trump’s picks for his Cabinet have all been highly controversial, including Ben Carson, General James Mattis and now Betsy DeVos as the Secretary of Education. After her Senate confirmation hearing on Jan. 17, concerns were raised over whether or not she is ready to handle the job. DeVos, a billionaire from Michigan and former chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party, has thus far been known for her advocacy of school choice and voucher programs and for being a strong supporter of charter schools in Detroit and Michigan. Most people expect that these will be the issues that she focuses on most during her time as Secretary of Education. However, DeVos has had absolutely no experience in the realm of public education and even seems to be against it. The nominee for Secretary of Education went to a private high school before she attended Calvin College – which you guessed it is a private college. Her children
have never attended public school either, which would make DeVos the first Secretary of Education to be completely unfamiliar with the public school system. Besides the questions surrounding her familiarity with public school, many liberals and conservatives have noticed that DeVos’ stances on early childhood and higher education issues remain unclear. Elizabeth Warren was one of the Democratic committee members who fiercely questioned the nominee during her confirmation hearing. She managed to ask key questions about the most concerning issues even though each Senate member had only five minutes to interview DeVos. DeVos admitted she has no knowledge about student loans, which is concerning, especially due to the fact that the U.S. manages a massive program of $1 trillion and about 44 million people are currently paying back student loans. “So you have no personal experience with college financial aid or management of higher education,” Warren said to sum things up.
Sen. Bernie Sanders was also present at the hearing. When he brought up the topic of tuitionfree college from his own 2016 presidential campaign, DeVos avoided the question saying, “Senator, I think that’s a really interesting idea. We also have to think about the fact that there’s nothing in life that’s truly free.” When Sanders repeated the question two more times, DeVos added, “I think we can work together and we could work hard on making sure that college or higher education in some form is affordable for all young people that want to pursue it, and I would look forward to that opportunity if confirmed.” Sanders’ question was only one of many that the nominee for Secretary of Education avoided. The “Dear Colleague” letter in 2011 under the Obama administration dictated key policies that colleges must have in place when dealing with issues of sexual assault on campus under Title IX. According to this letter, any higher school’s administration also has a responsibility “to take immediate and effective steps to end sexual harassment and sexual
violence.” DeVos, however, said “it would be premature” for her to commit to supporting that letter. After Trump was accused of sexual assault by numerous women, DeVos’s unwillingness to make a promise to keep campuses safe is especially troubling. If the president believes that he is entitled to talk about women in the manner that he does, then what is the future of how sexual assault is dealt with both on and off campus? Sen. Tim Kaine asked DeVos if all schools should meet the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which guarantees services to students with disabilities. DeVos replied that it is a matter that’s best left to the states. Further questioning revealed her apparent lack of knowledge about IDEA which has been a federal law since 1990. DeVos justified herself by saying she “may have confused it.” DeVos additionally stated during her hearing that she would support any move that Trump might make to ban gun-free school zones. Her response to the question of whether guns had any place in schools prompted
laughter in the room and spawned several memes mocking her on the internet. “I will refer back to Sen. Enzi and the school he is talking about in Wyoming,” she said. “I think probably there, I would imagine there is probably a gun in a school to protect from potential grizzlies.” James Corden of “The Late Late Show” joked about her comment, saying, “She knows the right to bear arms isn’t about actual bears, right?” Jan. 20 saw Donald Trump officially become president and some of his first actions included signing executive orders. As he signed, he remarked on several of his choices, saying of DeVos, “Ah, Betsy. Education. Right?” The committee vote on DeVos has been postponed as of Jan. 22 after receiving the completed ethics review. Typically, the ethics review is finished before the nominee’s confirmation hearing. DeVos pledged to resolve any sources of conflict that were identified, including education foundations and family trusts.
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SPORTS MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2017
Rice outlasts Golden Eagle comeback, 61-58
Julius Kizzee/Printz Head Coach Doc Sadler directs his offense in Reed Green Coliseum against North Texas on Jan. 19.
ANDREW ABADIE
printz reporter
The Golden Eagles offense’s 42-point second half was not enough to beat the Rice Owls, who are ranked No. 25 in the nation in points per game, with a 61 - 58 loss. Southern Miss started the game with a quick 3 - 0 lead, but Rice answered with a 17 - 0 run. Rice’s man-to-man defense kept Southern Miss in check for the entire first half. The offense looked leaderless without their senior point guard Khari Price, who missed the game due to a finger injury. “The first half was just brutal offensively, [and] we never got into any kind of rhythm,” said Head Coach Doc Sadler. “We didn’t know [Khari wasn’t] going to play until today. So, it was too late for us to change much.” The Golden Eagles offense seemed unsettled and jittery and looked to get the ball out of its hands as quickly as possible, causing 12 turnovers, three more than it had total in its previous game against North Texas. Rice’s defense scored 13 points off of Southern Miss’ turnovers and held the Golden Eagles to shoot 5-of23 from the court. Rice went into halftime with a 34 - 16 lead after Rice’s Egor Koulechov hit a half-court three-pointer as time expired. The Golden Eagles came out in the second half with more calmness to their offense. The halftime
adjustments helped them cut the Rice 24-point lead of 40 - 18 and close the game within 11 at 49 - 38. The offense found some life with senior forward Quinton Campbell, who scored all of his 13 points in the second half. The biggest contributor to the change in the second half was the Golden Eagles’ bench. Sophomore forward Eddie Davis led the bench’s 23 points with 13 himself and D’Angelo Richardson’s point guard ability to take the role of Price and lead the offense. “At first, we weren’t ready, but we found five guys who were ready to play in the second half,” said sophomore guard Cortez Edwards. Rice began to feel the pressure as the Golden Eagles chipped away at the Owls’ lead. The Golden Eagles came within two points at 55 - 53 with 20 seconds left in the game, making the game clock the biggest problem for the team. Rice and Southern Miss began a free-throw chess match with Southern Miss attempting the threepoint play several times, trying to grab its offensive rebound after the first made free throw of two. As the clock dwindled, the Golden Eagles had one last opportunity with less than two seconds left in the game as Campbell just missed the game tying half-court shot to end the game. The Golden Eagles will go on the road to face Middle Tennessee State Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m.
Adriana Garcia/Printz Forwards Quinton Campbell and Raheem Watts react to Campbell’s missed three after their 61 - 58 loss to Rice on Jan. 21 at Reed Green Coliseum.