Monday, October 24, 2016 Volume 101 Issue 15
student printz SERVING SOUTHERN MISS SINCE 1927
www.studentprintz.com
SASW to host Your Voice, Your Vote CAM BONELLI
executive editor
On Oct. 25, the Student Association of Social Workers (SASW) plans to host Your Voice, Your Vote, an event focused on voter registration awareness and education, from 6 to 9 p.m in Gonzales Auditorium LAB 108. The Student Association of Social Workers is dedicated to the graduate students in the masters of social work program at USM, according to Co-President of SASW and Masters of Social Work graduate student Olivia Ismail. “The goal of SASW is multifaceted,” Ismail said. “First, it is dedicated to providing services to the School of Social Work, the university and the community. As our membership consists of students, we are dedicated to promoting the personal and professional growth of students. Last, SASW is organized to protect the individual rights of each student.” SASW plans to educate students about voting and voters’ rights during the event with a film about voters’ rights during the Civil Rights Movement followed by a forum, according to Ismail.
Courtesy Photo |
“We have worked in collaboration with the BSW Club and Disability Rights of Mississippi to register around 200 students and faculty [and] staff through a series of three days of tabling in Shoemaker Square,” Ismail said. “Along with this effort, SASW has planned two voter empowerment events. These events have been titled ‘Your Voice, Your Vote’ and include a documentary and panel discussion from differing perspectives on the importance of voting, Supreme Court voting during the 2016 election and considerations when going out to the polls.” SASW invited professors, local legislators and representatives of organizations in Mississippi that work to educate the public about voting rights to speak on the panel at the event, according to the event’s Facebook page. This event is to encourage, educate and spark conversation about the voting process in Mississippi, according to Master of Social Work Graduate student and Co-President of SASW Brian Street. “A disproportionately small percentage of residents of MS show up to vote,” Street said. “This stems from the feeling that their vote
doesn’t matter, to their disapproval of current mainstream candidates, or simply disconnection of how current issues affect them.” Street said the main goal of the event is to encourage a larger turnout of voters going into the upcoming as well as future elections. “So few show up in my opinion because media tells us the electoral college chooses the president, and they are uneducated to how they can impact that in the long run by beginning to get active in local voting today,” Street said. “Also, many young people are simply politically disconnected and don’t pay attention to elections.” SASW choose to host this event as a board of officers and discussed what important issues it wanted to cover such as the presidential election, according to Ismail. “A goal of the profession of social work is service,” Ismail said. “In following with this, our board decided to bring the service of education to voters. The goal of the event is to educate voters from a historical perspective through the viewing of the film ‘Selma’ and to create a space for discussion on voter rights, issues and how the process of voting works in
Mississippi. It is important for students to get involved, first to gain information. It is not enough for students to register to vote.” Street said he has no right to complain about current issues and injustices if he did nothing to try to put someone in office who would serve his interests. “I personally feel it [is] important to vote because it is a right afforded to me as a minority by numerous honorable civil rights activists that put their lives on the line and some even who lost their lives in doing so,” Street said. “I feel that I am giving away all of my power to speak my voice towards the desire for change and improvement in our society I don’t vote.” Ismail said voting is important because it demonstrates concern for the betterment of one’s community, state and country. “It also allows an opportunity to be engaged in your future, at a higher level,” Ismail said. “Politics can muddle the very fact that voting puts power in the hands of all American citizens – to be a part of advancing their communities, states and country by simply educating themselves and visiting their polling precinct on election days.
Our generation should take voting seriously because it is important.” Street said he feels that the recent incidents should elicit emotions that urge people to want to become more politically involved. “The easy thing is to complain and share a social media post,” Street said. “True change begins when we show up at the polls, and even after that, we maintain an active presence in the community creating coalitions backed by actions.” SASW plans to continue bringing educational opportunities to campus through documentary and panel discussion nights, according to Ismail. “In the Spring, we hope to organize a 10k called the ‘Race to Inclusion’ to increase awareness and foster appreciation for diversity on campus and in the community of Hattiesburg,” Ismail said. “Along with the race, we hope to invite several groups to represent and celebrate diversity through cultural performances, games [and more].” For more information about SASW, Your Voice, Your Vote, voter rights or education, contact SASW@usm.edu.
2
INTRODUCTION MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016
Meet the Staff Fall 2016 Cam Bonelli
Executive Editor
FIND US ON THE WEB The Student Printz
catherine.bonelli@usm.edu
Jack Hammett
Managing Editor
jesse.hammett@usm.edu
@studentprintz
Garrett Minta News Editor
garrett.minta@usm.edu
studentprintz.com
Hiba Tahir
Entertainment Editor
hiba.tahir@usm.edu
Julius Kizzee Sports Editor
southernprintz@gmail.com
Hunt Mercier Photo Editor
hunt.mercier@usm.edu
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.
Jhaimee Bullock Design Editor
jhaimee.bullock@usm.edu
Sarah Anne Schloemer Web Master
sarah.schloemer@usm.edu
Nan Beauti Copy Editor
afnan.beauti@usm.edu
Amber Cobbins
Hannah Heneghan
amber.cobbins@usm.edu
hannah.heneghan@usm.edu
Printz Designer
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.
Printz Designer
Chuck Cook
Printz Advisor
chuck.cook@usm.edu studentprintz.com
Send your ads to printzad@usm.edu
NEWS MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016
3
Game incident investigation concludes CAM BONELLI
executive editor
On Oct. 19, The University of Southern Mississippi concluded its investigation of an Oct. 1 football game incident and ruled the actions that occurred were accidental and that the students’ involved did not violate the Student Code of Conduct. According to the persons involved, two African-American students were allegedly called names and had drinks thrown at them when they remained seated during the national anthem. The university police department investigated these claims in conjunction with several offices within the school, according to the email. “The University of Southern Mississippi’s police department (UPD) has completed its investigation of the incident at the Saturday, Oct. 1 football game and delivered its report to the Dean of Students Office for disciplinary review under the Student Code of Conduct,” Dean of Students Eddie Holloway wrote in the email. “Captain Rusty Keyes led this investigation with the assistance of the Department of Athletics and the Division of Student Affairs. Our standards of student behavior are set forth by the Code of Student Conduct.” Holloway said he met with all persons involved and viewed the footage captured at the game. “We have investigated the [alleged victims’] posts on social media about being verbally insulted, kneed in the back and having beverages poured on
them,” Holloway said. The university and all individuals involved in the incident did conclude that there was a verbal exchange as reported by the alleged victims but that there was no physical contact made directly or indirectly by the students in question. No targeted or intended contact was made, according to Holloway. “In conclusion, the verbal exchange occurred during the playing of the national anthem,” Holloway said. “Later during the first quarter of the football game in response to a fumble of the football, a beverage was waste or spilled on approximately six persons. It was concluded that the spillage was accidental or unintended. This was what was concluded by police and all people that were interviewed – witnesses or otherwise.” Holloway said the verbal exchange was not in the spirit of the Southern Miss creed. “The verbal exchange was made from one individual to two young ladies during the first quarter of the game,” Holloway said. “Student behavior is governed by the student handbook and that’s the creed at Southern Miss. It sets forth a spirit of togetherness. We all strive to be a member of a big family called Southern Miss. Cursing is not condemned in the student code of conduct, but the comments made may or may not have violated the spirit of the creed.” “We encourage students who feel that they have been harmed or bothered may reach out to campus police,” Holloway said. “
Courtesy Photo | “I appreciate UPD’s rapid response and your patience as we completed a thorough review of this occurrence,” Holloway wrote in the email. “President Bennett recently reminded us that when we disagree with one
another, we must, as members of the Southern Miss community, respect each individual’s right to express his or her opinions and beliefs without fear or intimidation. As stated in the student-adopted Creed at Southern
Miss, I am hopeful that in the future we will all exhibit behavior and choose language that demonstrates respect for fellow members of the Southern Miss community.”
Departments plan new courses for spring semester NAN BEAUTI
copy editor
As students sign up for advisement appointments and register for next semester’s classes, many anticipate what the spring has to offer. “New courses need publicity or students won’t find out about them,” said Associate Professor of Political
Science Bob Press. Departments such as the Department of Theatre and Dance and the Department of Science and Technology, to mention a few, will offer the same courses students need to gain credit and earn their degrees. The Department of Political Science, International Development and International Affairs, however, will offer two new courses in the spring
of 2017. Women and Human Rights PS 455/PS 555 with Press will be offered Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:45 - 3:40 p.m. in Cook Library 208. “Women comprise 70 percent of the world’s poor,” according to the course’s description. “In this course, we will examine the issue of women’s rights within the context of global human rights with case
examples from the developing world, including Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, China, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo and others.” Press said the class would critically analyze these conditions and practices, which need changing. “And we will examine efforts by women to improve human rights for women,” he said. Political Development PS 457/
PS 557 has been taught in the past, but has not been offered for several years. The theme in the spring is “Who Owns the Earth.” The course will be offered Tuesdays and Thursdays 11 - 12:15 p.m. in Cook Library 208 with Press as well. “Land grabbers are buying up vast chunks of poor countries,” the course description said. “Spurred by fears about future food supplies, China, Russia, Indian billionaires – and others are signing shady deals that push poor farmers aside and make a few wealthy.” The course aims to focus on global land grabbing cases and the competitors within the cause. The course’s text title reads, “New Fight Over Who Owns the Earth,” The new human rights course will earn credit for the human rights minor, sponsored by the department. The department also sponsors a Center for Human Rights and Civil Liberties and Students for Human Rights. The later meets Tuesdays from 12:15 - 12:45 in LAB 107. Both courses are offered for both undergraduate and graduate students.
4
NEWS MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016
Hattiesburg scores low in human rights JENNIFER ROBINSON
printz reporter
Hattiesburg scored two points less than last year on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index, according to its 2016 report. The Municipal Equality Index (MEI) examines how inclusive municipal laws, policies and services are of the LGBTQ people who live and work in each city, according to the HRC’s website. “Cities are rated based on nondiscrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement and the city leadership’s public position on equality,” the website stated. “The 2016 MEI is the fifth annual edition and rates a total of 506 cities from every state in the nation. The number of cities rated increased by 98 cities from 2015 and increased by 369 cities since 2012.” In 2014 and 2015, Hattiesburg scored 6 out of 100 on the Municipal Equality Index in the Leadership’s Public Position on LGBT Equality and Leadership’s Pro-Equality Legislative
or Policy Efforts categories. “HRC’s Municipal Equality Index demonstrates the ways that many cities can – and do – support the LGBTQ people who live and work there, even where states and the federal government have failed to do so,” the HRC website stated. “This is a super low score for us being an arts school,” said Leslie Varner, a senior music education major. “It’s shocking that we scored so low. Hattiesburg has a lot of different people with different cultures and backgrounds.” The overall state of Mississippi scored a 17 out of 100. The average score, however, was 55 out of 100. “Below average does not even begin to touch on explaining how unbelievable a score of 4 out of 100 really is,” said senior kinesiology major Melanie Massey. “On one hand, I am baffled, but at the same time, I am not in the least surprised. I do believe Hattiesburg to be a more progressive area than others that I have encountered in Mississippi. It is ridiculous that even these places that are more open-minded can be
so very far behind. I think the score is totally accurate, which hurts [for] me to say.” Massey said out of these five categories being LGBTQ nondiscriminatory laws, employee rights, city services and programs, law enforcement and leadership relations, the four points that Hattiesburg earned were under leadership relations. “Which means four out of five of our leaders have a positive position towards LGBTQ rights, which I believe to be accurate,” Massey said. Massey said State Representative of House District 102 Toby Barker has played a positive role in LGBTQ rights in Hattiesburg. “Our leaders need to act on their so-called positive positions in regards to LGBTQ+ rights, rather than claiming them and not having any legislature be a result of it,” Massey said. “Progress cannot just be made from positive thinking, but affirmative actions throughout our community.” The city of Oxford scored 4 out of 100, and Starkville scored 2 out of
Courtesy Photo | 100. The highest score in Mississippi came from Jackson with 71 out of 100. Not all students agree with the score. Masters of Business Administration graduate student Melanie Santiago said she was surprised Hattiesburg scored low. “I think that being in the Bible Belt would cause me to guess something like 30 out of 100, but with events like Pride and the general openmindedness of the college population,
I wouldn’t rate Hattiesburg quite that low,” Santiago said. “However, tolerating and embracing are definitely different sentiments, and Hattiesburg certainly leans toward the former currently. I say that because I feel comfortable expressing my sexuality but only because I have accepted the potential stigma that comes with my openness.” The 2016 report can be found on the hrc.org website.
USM ranked ‘most affordable online college’ in nation On Oct. 19, Affordable Colleges Online (ACO) recognized Southern Miss as the best in the United States for its ability to bring academics to online students with a more manageable price tag. Fully online students can access numerous student success initiatives from online appointments with the
The Collegiate Recovery Community (CRC) is designed to support students with struggles they may have in maintaining sobriety while being a successful college student. CRC is open to all students at USM committed to their recovery. CRC members have access to the “blue house,” where they may relax, study or attend meetings. CRC membership is confidential.
For more information or questions about CRC, contact
Lisa Wright Student Health Services Phone: 601.266.5340 or 601.658.9CRC Email: lisa.a.wright@usm.edu or CRC@usm.edu
UC 75337.5066 10.16
southern miss now
Writing and Speaking Centers to 24/7 learning management system support. “Bringing academic excellence to all students, including online students, is at the heart of our mission at Southern Miss,” said Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Amy Miller. “We work consistently to enhance programs and services to online students at Southern Miss, and we appreciate the
AA/EOE/ADAI
TARA BURCHAM
Courtesy Photo | recognition from this organization for both our quality and exceptional affordability.” ACO is comprised of researchers and higher education experts who analyze data from every accredited postsecondary institution in the United States to identify the colleges that score high on academic rigor and support and that have the lowest out-of-pocket costs. According to ACO, the ranking includes student-
to-faculty ratio, graduation rates and count and breadth of online programs available. Interim Director of the Office of Online Learning Thomas Hutchinson said earning the top ranking in the nation is recognition of efforts of the entire campus community. “Administration, faculty and staff have been collaborating to offer high quality programs and courses that
equip our students with the skills to be successful,” Hutchinson said. “We are pleased Affordable Colleges Online recognizes our efforts.” The University of Southern Mississippi offers nine undergraduate degrees and 21 graduate programs fully available online. To learn more about the online programs at Southern Miss, visithttps://online.usm.edu/
5
FEATURE MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016
Rewind: Tapes play to new generation JACK HAMMETT
managing editor
In the past few years, lovers and collectors of music have made clear their fascination with the recovery and redistribution of decades-old audio mediums. The vinyl market saw a resurgence circa 2010 when both independent and major record labels began pressing records again due to demand, according to The Independent. Hattiesburg residents are no exception – especially evident in T-Bones Records’ popularity – but vinyl is not the only medium finding new life. According to local punker Hampton Martin, if CDs are the Terminator, then audio cassettes are Kyle Reese: They have “seen better days but can still put up a fight with the best.” “The only good thing that came out of CDs was the Compact Disc logo,” Martin said. “Holding a CD in your hand just feels cheap, just another thing to misplace and lose.
But tapes, there’s a physicality there – weight and feeling.” Tapes are not loved by a few but by many. Martin’s tape sales reflect that. “Between all my bands, I’ve probably sold over 500 tapes at this point,” Martin said. “I could never sell anywhere near that much with [CDs]. It’s 2016. If people want your music, they will get it off the internet. Bandcamp and peer-to-peer sharing programs have made music CDs and ripping the audio obsolete.” Martin said tapes are innovative and come out on top in the end. “It’s just so much more fun playing a tape – the physicality of flipping sides, pressing play on that old-a** tape deck you found at your mom’s house that still sounds good as new,” Martin said. “The warmth of tones that comes from a tape is like no other medium.” Ri Wardlow, half of Hattiesburg lofi duo Jizz Kitten, said producing and selling tapes makes the distribution process intimate. “From the amount of work you put into recording the tape, to the art you add, to the cover of the tape
and even the warmer sound you get from the cassette – I think it’s a very nostalgic, personal feeling compared to how a lot of the music we obtain is digital and less intimate,” Wardlow said. “It almost reflects a simpler time when people made more of an effort to try to connect with one another.” Wardlow said one of the reasons for using cassettes again is to achieve a comforting sense of “what things used to be like.” “I feel like since we grew up in the age that technology really peaked and took over as the norm, a lot of us feel like we would have been happier if things hadn’t become so impersonal and mainstreamed,” Wardlow said. Musician and former Hattiesburg resident Kris Kolakowski said tapes “add natural compression and saturation to recordings, giving things a bit of warmth.” “Lots of producers bounce tracks to cassette and then back into software to give them a bit of depth and character,” Kolakowski said. “You’d be surprised at some of
Jack Hammett | the prices that secondhand cassette mixers reach.” According to Martin, cassettes offer versatility to recording artists. “You can buy old used tapes and just record over them,” Martin
said. “There’s a home-brew quality that gives life to the artist’s work in a cassette tape. Any idiot with a computer can make a CD. But it takes a crafty idiot to make a tape.”
Office of Sustainability offers vegetarian cooking class Sustainability Haley McMinn said the USM campus is not limited by the number of “plant-eaters” there are in the community. With classes like these, McMinn hopes to bring together the community of vegetarians, vegans, pescatarians and more. “There are quite a few pescatarians on campus, and vegans,” McMinn said. “There’s several different levels, and I think they’re kind of out there meandering about, so we’re kind of looking for a way to consolidate them – almost like a support group. It’s hard sometimes to lead
Julius Kizzee | Dietician Matthew Usmiller prepares the zucchini frittata on Oct. 17 as he hosts a vegetarian cooking class in Fritzsche-Gibbs Hall.
JULIUS KIZZEE
sports editor
On Oct. 17 before fall break for students and faculty, the Office of Sustainability offered a vegetarian cooking class, not only for those avoiding to put meat in their diets but also those who are willing to try it. The class, held in the FritzscheGibbs Hall building on campus in their kitchen, prepared two dishes: a zucchini fratata and a black bean soup, much to the crowd’s delight. “I thought the cooking class went extremely well,” said biological sciences instructor Melissa Gutierrez. “It was interesting to see different individuals from the USM
community. I thought it was very informative about suitability and how cooking affects your body and the biosphere in general.” The class, which promoted eating a vegetarian lifestyle and not leaving a “footprint” for other generations to follow, was led by dietician Matthew Usmiller. Usmiller stressed the importance of eating healthy and wanting to spread the message of healthy eating. “Meat is expensive,” he said. “Eating a high vegetarian diet, you can eat more and not feel as full and take as many calories in. Eating a vegetarian diet can be cheaper because there is less meat.” Assistant Director of
a vegetarian lifestyle, especially in the south.” Gutierrez was one of more than 20 people who attended the class, and the vegan lifestyle is not new for her. After watching a PETA video as an undergrad, she decided to change her eating habits to a more healthy diet. However, it did not start with just the PETA video. Gutierrez later found out she was allergic to meat. Through the progression of her undergrad experience, she found an appreciation for her new diet. Gutierrez said it was not easy for her at first but that she pushed
through and got the hang of her new lifestyle. “If you are beginning in the early stages, it can be very difficult in learning what to eat,” Gutierrez said. “You have to read a lot of labels. So you have to put forth the effort in terms of what it means to be a vegetarian.” Gutierrez had one last piece of advice for her fellow vegans. “Once you do the research, it becomes quite easy,” Gutierrez said. “Early on, just keep trucking. Later, you’ll get the hang of it.”
campusbookmart.com/usm 601.261.9690 2906 Hardy Street by IHOP Extended Gameday Hours
Get your Game Day Gear Here!
6
ENTERTAINMENT MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016
Rocky Horror Picture Show rocks ‘Burg HANNAH HENEGHAN
printz reporter
On Oct. 20, The Dollar Box Showroom hosted the live viewing and shadowcasting performance of The Rocky Horror Picture Show by The University of Southern Mississippi’s dance and theatre majors. Walking into the venue, you automatically got the feel of the show. There was smoke and red lighting everywhere. I immediately saw many college students from USM – not only from the theatre and dance department but from an array of majors. To my surprise, I also saw a couple of families in attendance. The cast members embraced their roles perfectly. Jay Marion, who played Dr. Frank N. Furter, seemed to have enjoyed the whole production. “My favorite part of doing Rocky Horror Picture Show would have to be getting to play the lead as Dr. Frank N. Furter, my dream role,” Marion said. “I think anyone wanting to do theatre knows that this role is the ultimate role to play in your theatre career. I worked really hard on trying to entertain
the guests while also staying true to my character, and morals as a person. The show exceeded my expectations. It was a packed out house and it was grand ole time. When I left, I was very proud of myself for not only performing the role as Dr. Frank N. Furter but being able to flip, turn, and dance in 6 inch heels. Glitter will forever remain on my body.” There was some concern for how the play was going to be executed since the movie was streaming from FOX, meaning there would be commercials. While there was some minor delays in turning the sound off for the cast to perform during those breaks, they were still able to continue their performance in between. These commercial performances were able to incorporate the audience too by pulling them up to dance on the stage with the cast members. USM junior and attendee Lauren Pounds enjoyed the show but had critiques. “I’ve always been a fan of the movie, but I’ve never seen it performed live,” Pounds said. “I thought it was interesting. I had always heard that the audience was supposed to use props throughout the show and so I was kind of
disappointed about that. Other than that thought it was a really fun experience.” While there were some props that were given at the Dollar Box Showroom, people were expected
Courtesy Photo |
to bring their own along with their costumes. Those who appeared in costume brought the essences of their characters with them. This was my first time going to a live viewing of The Rocky Horror
Picture Show. The live performance exceeded my expectations. The cast truly brought their characters to life and really engaged with the audience, making it an experience rather than just a play.
OPINION MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016
7
American invasion: ISIS losing crucial battle
Courtesy Photo |
J.D. RIMANN
printz reporter
A week ago Sunday, the largest military engagement in Iraq since the American invasion in 2003 commenced in the vicinity of the Iraqi city of Mosul as more than 100,000 fighters from the grand coalition of the Iraqi Army, the Kurdish Peshmerga, various Iraqi militia paramilitaries and an assorted crew of advisers and observers from Turkey, the United States, Great Britain, France and Canada started the final push against the forces of the Islamic State and its holdings in northern Iraq. Mosul is of crucial importance in the struggle against ISIS/ISIL both symbolically and materially. Symbolically Mosul is the birthplace of the caliphate which the Islamic State claims to encompass, as it was in the Great Mosque of al-Nuri in Mosul that the leader of ISIS, selfstyled Caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, proclaimed the dawn of the new Caliphate in 2014. Materially Mosul – a city of between 1 million and 2 million people (it was over 2 million prior to the fighting but thousands have left due to the Islamic State’s invasion and the coalition counter-attack) – is the second largest city in Iraq and the largest in the regions controlled by ISIS. It is also a fairly wealthy city and is surrounded by oil fields, and so losing it will deal a painful blow to the economy of the Islamic State.
Over the last few days, the allied offensive has met major success, completely encircling the city and clearing a number of strategically vital villages and suburbs in preparation for what the Pentagon has grimly predicted will be weeks to months of urban warfare and house-to-house fighting (allow the Pentagon has also admitted that currently the offensive is moving ahead of schedule). One of the keys to this success has been Western airpower, as American jets and helicopters and a French aircraft carrier among others have provided close air support to the advancing coalition troops in a way reminiscent of the stunning success of that small groups American Special Forces operating and advising the Afghani Northern Alliance had in the jaw-breakingly rapid blitzkrieg invasion of Afghanistan which deposed the Taliban in a matter of weeks back in 2001. Somewhere, former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is smiling. Rumsfeld, who was both the youngest and oldest Secretary of Defense in U.S. history, was one of the foremost proponents of the socalled Revolution in Military Affairs, the idea that advanced technology and precision firepower used in conjunction with relatively small units of highly-trained elite soldiers from the future of warfare. This hypothesis was blisteringly successful in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks and in the early days of the invasion of Iraq in
2003, but proved disastrous in the consolidation phase afterwards, when large-scale insurgencies in both Iraq and Afghanistan conclusively demonstrated the need for large troops numbers on the ground still exists in the 21st century. In short Rumsfeld was right and wrong. He was wrong because states generally still cannot get away without using massive numbers of troops in large-scale combat operations. Even the coalition battling ISIS in and around Mosul today is more than 100,000 men strong. However, he was right in a limited sense. The major powers can get away with a smaller troop footprint in a limited capacity. If fighting a conventional war with open formations and having a large amount of allied forces present than a small number of U.S. or French or Russian or Chinese advisors paired with a heavy air power presence does appear to provide a cost-effective way for the most powerful countries on Earth to wage war against less powerful nations or non-state actors without putting many of their own citizens at risk. This strategy will not work across the board and will prove – and has proven – ineffective in counterinsurgencies and conventional wars. Conventionally two powers of equal or close to equal strength cannot defeat each other with limited force as if they were beating down ISIS or Syria or whomever. These techniques will not work against an insurgency, which
by its very nature cannot be defeated with massive amounts of firepower and few numbers of troops but instead requires restraint and the provision of security to local populations. This point is illustrated in the way which President Obama lost Iraq and helped set the stage for the rise of
ISIS in the first place. He attempted to use this type of strategy against an insurgency, utilizing a limited troop footprint and major amounts of firepower. However, as an insurgency requires major numbers of troops and limited firepower this failed. Now that ISIS has tried to transition into a semi-conventional military force this type of strategy is working to defeat them, but once ISIS has no territory left there is a risk that it will be able to reform, regroup, and retake territory if the American-led coalition is unable to consolidate the gains made after they win the battle of Mosul. The apparent success in Mosul offers both a template and a warning. As a template it shows that well-trained local forces can be quite successful if supported by overwhelming allied airpower and advised by elite cadres. While as a strategy this is quite expensive in terms of material goods and dollars, the number of American troops required—reportedly around 5,000 in Iraq today—and the reduced number of lives lost render this an excellent strategy, if the situation allows for it. However, for any war against a major or major-esque power (such as Iran or North Korea) large numbers of American troops will be required. Likewise, if American is committed to fighting an insurgency that would require more men and less firepower. That is in the future though. Today the Islamic State is being ground to dust in Mosul. A decade ago Americans were detested as conquerors and invaders in Iraq. Now they are hailed as liberators and saviors. What a difference a few years and a truly evil enemy make.
8
SPORTS MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016
Southern Miss capitalizes in homestand finale to score in two overtime periods, resulting in a draw. Southern Miss goalie Brittany Taylor finished the game with five saves and one goal allowed. Junior Becky McMullan led the Golden Eagles with six shots and one assist.
The draw put Southern Miss at 7-62 on the season, while UAB incurred a mark of 4-10-2 on the year. In their next game, the Golden Eagles hosted Middle Tennessee State on Sunday at 1 p.m for its annual senior day, beating MTSU 4-0 in a
shutout. After a first half goal from Stephanie Garcia put the Golden Eagles up 1-0, Southern Miss scored three goals in 20 minutes in the second half. Taylor and the Golden Eagle defense shut out Middle Tennessee as
Courtesy Photo |
LUKE SMITH
printz reporter
The University of Southern Mississippi’s soccer team’s annual pink game for breast cancer awareness ended in a 1-1 draw on Oct. 20, against the UAB Blazers in Hattiesburg. Southern Miss sophomore Stephanie Garcia scored first for the Golden Eagles in the 63rd minute of the second half to give Southern Miss a 1-0 lead. UAB’s Rachel Green responded by scoring in the 86th minute to send the game into overtime. At the end of the first overtime, UAB’s Amy Brewer appeared to make a game-winning goal as time expired, but officials reversed the call after determining that time had expired before the shot. Both teams failed
Courtesy Photo | Caption
Courtesy Photo |
Taylor recorded five saves and limited them to 13 shots on the day. It was the last Southern Miss home game of the season before the Golden Eagles conclude regular season play on the road against UTEP on Oct. 28 at 7 p.m.