The Student Printz November 14, 2016 by The Student Printz

Monday, November 14, 2016 Volume 101 Issue 21

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‘These boys felt empowered by Trump’s words’: Student speaks out as UPD investigates assault

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HIBA TAHIR

entertainment editor According to sophomore marine biology major Kaitlyn Buckley, two males wearing long-sleeved blue “Trump 2016” T-shirts accosted her at the Payne Center parking lot on the The University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg campus. “One was about [6 feet tall] and had long, blonde hair,” Buckley said. “The other was about [5 feet 10 inches tall] and had dark hair. As I passed them, the blonde reached out and grabbed my butt.” Buckley said that she immediately shoved the boy off of her, causing him to fall down.

“[Pushing him down] was not my intention, but I certainly don’t feel that it was unnecessary,” she said. The boy then allegedly called her a liberal b****, among other things and threatened to call campus police, according to Buckley. “I told him that I would be happy to tell the police what happened, when his friend pointed out that no one saw what happened, and that they would both say I attacked them for their political affiliations,” Buckley said. “[I] never mentioned anything related to politics during the encounter.” “I was a little nervous at this point,” she said. “Not because I was worried about campus police, but

because they were both visibly angry and much larger than me.” Buckley said she started to walk away from them. At that point, the dark-haired boy allegedly said, “Trump is going to be president now, so you better get used to it.” “I was very shocked,” Buckley said. “[I] called campus police as soon as I got out [of class]. An officer met with me, took my information and told me they would investigate. About 20 minutes later, the same officer called me to ask a few more questions and mentioned that someone else had recently filed a similar report.” Buckley said that she does not believe this is the way all Trump supporters act, but she thinks that Trump’s supporters should be making efforts to prevent this type of behavior rather than assuming the ‘not all Trump supporters’ defense. “These boys felt empowered by Trump’s words and validated by his ultimate win in the election,” she said. “While this was an extreme case and these boys were certainly indecent people, they were still proud to represent Trump in this manner. They thought they could get away with it, which is a big problem that needs to be addressed by everyone.” Many students heard Buckley’s stories through a public post she made on Facebook, which has been shared more than 200 times and

provided specifics of the incident. “I hoped [the post] would get around to my friends, who could be on the lookout for these boys,” she said. “As soon as I posted the incident, I received an overwhelming amount of support. Many of my friends and family members contacted campus police as well as school officials asking what’s being done to resolve the issue. Along with the mostly positive responses, however, came many claims that I had made the whole thing up.” Buckley mentioned one woman in particular who, convinced that Buckley was lying, called campus police on her behalf. Campus police then allegedly confirmed the report and the ongoing investigation. “I cannot make anyone believe that I’m telling the truth, but I know what happened and I would not wish [it] on anyone,” Buckley said. “I made the story public to make others aware of the situation, and I stand by that decision.” Buckley said anyone who fears for his or her safety in light of this occurrence and other similar incidents should remain cautious. “I carry pepper spray, [which] I now wish I had used, and I would encourage all girls [to] do the same,” she said. “I want to let [those who are afraid] know that their feelings are valid, and they don’t need to ‘just get over it.’ Most importantly, I urge anyone who sees this type of

behavior to please report it. “Campus police need to be made aware in order to stop these incidents from happening, and in doing so, you could save someone else from experiencing the same thing.” “After hearing that another girl reported these same boys, I wish that I had called campus police as soon as it happened so that they could have had a better chance of catching the guys,” Buckley said. “I now want to do everything I can to stop this and similar events from occurring in the future.” According to Capt. Rusty Keyes, university police received a report from a student Nov. 10, at 11:15 a.m. regarding an incident near the Payne Center parking lot at approximately nine that morning. “UPD immediately followed up on the report and is continuing to investigate the incident,” said Director of University Communications and Chief Communications Officer Jim Coll. “If members of the Southern Miss community have related information, they are encouraged to contact UPD at 601.266.4986.” Coll said the university takes reports of harassment and intimidation seriously and remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering an inclusive environment that supports all members of its community.

Religion major cut as enrollment number decreases HIBA TAHIR entertainment editor Students at The University of Southern Mississippi will no longer be able to pursue a major in religion starting the spring 2017 semester. The critical change in the Department of Religion and Philosophy comes amidst increasing concerns about programs and areas of emphasis with low enrollment rates. “The provost’s office has asked each of the colleges to review each of their degree programs and areas of emphasis,” said Chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion David Holley. “The religion

program was one that fell under the heading of not having many students. We had a drop in the number about a couple of years ago, and the program hasn’t grown significantly in the last few years, so we’re suspending admission to the major.” Currently, there are only 10 students majoring in religion at USM, which Holley said is “not enough to sustain a degree.” This number does not include religion minors or students in upper-level religion courses who are pursuing majors in other departments – about 75 percent of students who take upperlevel religion courses pursue majors in other departments, according to Holley.

“There are quite a few people from across campus that are interested in the area of religion and want to study it,” he said. “The kind of skills that [the religion major involves] are the sort you use in lots of jobs – general kinds of skills that could prepare you for lots of fields.” The department has proposed suspending the religion major and changing the philosophy major to allow more electives to be taken in religion so that students who want to study religion can do so as part of a philosophy degree. “It’s not the kind of thing that appears on your diploma,” Holley said. “It’s an informal area of concentration.”

Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religion Amy Slagle said the move, though heartbreaking, is not necessarily bad. “[It’s] going to be crafted a little bit differently so that the student who wants to have the religion concentration has to take more philosophy courses than just the straight-up religion major,” she said. “We don’t see that as necessarily a bad thing to have that kind of wider awareness and breath of study because there is a lot of overlap in some of the key questions posed [within both] philosophy and religion.” As for whether or not the university will ever offer the religion

major again, Holley is cautiously optimistic. “We’ll have to wait and see if we get some strong indication of student interest,” he said. “We’d have to have a lot of definite evidence that students [are] interested in majoring in it again.” “For me, it’s really important that we continue to have these conversations against the backdrop of things that are going on in our own country and globally,” Slagle said. “This kind of awareness and discussion of diverse perspectives and different ways in which people live their lives as reflected in their religious commitments is really important.”

INTRODUCTION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2016

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Students ‘Rally to Restore Sanity’ CAM BONELLI executive editor Students plan to rally in front of The University of Southern Mississippi on Nov. 14. Event coordinator Farah Habad said the rally is not an “AntiTrump Rally,” but a way to “fill the tangible void of love.” The event, titled “Rally to Restore Sanity,” has garnered more than 73 participants on its Facebook page and is set to begin at 5 p.m. The page said the event will take place where people normally rotest to bring back the confederate flag. “It’s just an attempt to counter balance the hate that manifested itself from a new Trump America,” Habad said. “For tomorrow, my

goal is to put just a little love out there to remind groups that have been told they are less than that they are still important.” According to the page, the protest will be peaceful and productive. “Come armed with positive energy,” Habad said on social media. “We only lose when we stop fighting for what’s right. I’ve seen and read some absolutely abhorrent things in the last few days, and I know we are better than that. Let’s use the strength of community to remind each other of that.” Upon Tuesday’s results, protestors took to the streets of New Orleans, rioting and burning effigies of Trump. According to New Orleans’ WWLTV, Sunday marked the first night without protesting, having organized through social media

since Wednesday evening. New Orleans is one of many major metropolitan cities nationwide that have consistently experienced organized protests against Trump. Habad said he would not classify the reactions in New Orleans as riots. “I can’t blame anyone for how they grieve,” Habad said.“For some, the trauma they feel from a Trump presidency is visceral and should absolutely be understood. That’s a big problem with how we view civil disobedience. We focus too much on the messengers over the messages.” Habad said participants should wear black to show unity and to ensure that the rally’s intended message is more important than the messengers.

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NEWS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2016

Philosophical Fridays hosts Justice Reeves DAISY STUTTS assistant photo editor Students, faculty and community members filled Gonzales Auditorium at The University of Southern Mississippi to listen to Justice Carlton Reeves speak on Nov. 11. Reeves was a guest of the Department of Philosophy and Religion’s “Philosophical Fridays” lecture series. Reeves, who was raised in Yazoo City, spoke on the topic of “Racial Justice and the Courts” to a diverse audience. He was the first person in his family to attend a four-year university and graduated magna cum laude at Jackson State University. Reeves received juris doctorate from University of Virginia Law School in 1989 as a Ritter Scholar. In 2010, Reeves was the first AfricanAmerican judge appointed to serve on the Supreme Court of Mississippi. Reeves said USM was his first choice in speaking at universities. He also explained the economic and social issues that arise from the amount of incarcerated individuals in the United States. The lecture consisted of a historical timeline of the relationship between race and justice in Mississippi. Some of the cases discussed involved that of James Craig Anderson, who was beaten and killed by three white teenagers in Rankin County, and another anonymous case of racial profiling by a police officer. He related these cases to how the justice system treats minorities with a prior opinion based in stereotypes.

“It’s important that the justice system recognizes that it is okay for us to all be different,” Reeves said. “Our differences and biases give us the ability to see a situation from many different perspectives. It’s always a good thing to have a diverse jury. Understand that your difference from someone else is a good thing.” Reeves showed a photo of 27 black males, who had recently been released from federal prison after being proven innocent. According to Reeves, these men collectively served more than 500 years in prison for crimes that they did not commit. Many students responded to Reeves’ discussion with questions about topics such as the war on drugs and community review boards to prevent racial profiling. One student asked if Justice Reeves felt that the War on Drugs is the cause of overwhelming incarceration of African-Americans and other minorities. Reeves said he thinks that the war on drugs has definitely contributed to the issue. Many students who attended the event for extra credit were pleasantly surprised by the amount of information they gained from the captivating speaker. Some were shocked at the nature of the cases Reeves discussed. “I think that non-minorities can be very blindsided by information like this,” said Oya Sanding, a sophomore criminal justice major. “I think it’s so important to understand your history. Although not everyone is black, I think that everyone has a part in shaping black history.”

Shraddha Bhatta| Printz

Alumni share career journey, advice with students AMIT TRAPATHI printz reporter The University of Southern Mississippi Department of Anthropology and Sociology hosted the Alumni Networking Panel on Nov. 11. The department celebrated its 40th year at USM and organized two seminars and the panel discussion to mark its anniversary. Chair of the Department of Anthropology and Sociology Ann Marie Kinnel opened the program with a welcome speech. She said she was grateful to welcome past and present students to the university. “This is the first big event and, hopefully, not the last where we welcome our alumni after homecoming and allow them to share their experiences with our students,” Kinnel said. “I and all our faculty members are happy to celebrate the 40th year at the university.” The panel consisted of 16 alumni, and current undergraduate and graduate students were encouraged

to engage in the panel discussion. The panel introduced itself and explained its journey from student life at USM to each person’s most recent career position. The panel included alumni Flint Brent, Sam Butz, Kaitlyn Hall, Jennifer Hotzman, Rita McCarty and others. Most of the alumni thanked the faculty members for their guidance and suggestions and gave special thanks to anthropology and sociology professor Edwin Jackson, who has served the department since 1987. Jackson said he would motivate his students by telling them to always be ready for an opportunity, to take it and apply knowledge to their fields. “The event was successful to meet its target of welcoming our past students and allowing them to share their ideas for our present students,” Jackson said. “[We want them to] get ideas about their career and be mentally prepared for their goals. It is the proudest moment in teaching to see our students succeed in their designated field.” The students asked the panel about their careers, ways to

follow them and job seeking tips for after graduation. Junior biology major Louise Berryhill said she thought the panel was informative and learned about the diversity of careers. “I did not know how diverse the

Shraddha Bhatta | Printz

sociology and anthropology field was,” Berryhill said. “I wouldn’t have known the diversity of this field if I hadn’t attended the discussion event.” Kinnel said the department will organize other events in the spring

semester. “I am thankful to the alumni for accepting our invitations and supporting us,” Kinnel said. “Their words are really valuable and inspire our students for their future plans.”

NEWS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2016

USM dedicates week-long event to diversity HIBA TAHIR entertainment editor The Office of Multicultural Programs and Services will host International Diversity & Education Week (IDEW) at Southern Miss this week. The week-long event “aims to highlight the diversity within the Southern Miss community and start the conversation on important current events and issues,” according to Office of Study Abroad Coordinator Hannah Jones. The week will start with a “Minorities Abroad” program Monday at 5:30 p.m., during which minority students, who have been abroad, will discuss their experiences with participants in the R.C. Lounge. The Office of Study Abroad will sponsor a “Study Abroad Fair” Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Thad Cochran Center Atrium, during which students interested in studying abroad can talk to study abroad program directors, as well as talk to other students who have been abroad. “Study Abroad 101,” which will

take place on Tuesday 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m. Students can learn further details about various study abroad programs during this event. The English Language Institute and International Student & Scholar Services will host a “Cultural Fair” Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Thad Cochran Center Atrium, during which USM students from different countries will speak to others about their cultures. “I think it’s extremely important now more than ever to take a moment to celebrate our differences,” Jones said. “Our backgrounds and cultural differences are what make America an amazing place to be. We are a rich melting pot, and sometimes, I think we forget that. [That’s] why I love International and Diversity Education Week; it tries to remind us of [that.]” The Office of Study Abroad will sponsor “British Studies Program: Fish & Chips Lunch” Wednesday from 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m. in the R.C. Lounge, during which those interested in going on the British Studies Program can learn about it

Courtesy Photo | while they enjoy a popular English dish. During all the week’s events or in the Office of Study Abroad, students will be able to get a IDEW “passport.” “They will have a chance to win prizes based on the stamps in the passport,” Jones said. “They get those stamps based off the items completed in the passport, [such as] liking our study abroad Facebook page and going to events.”

Participants are asked to turn in their passports before 1 p.m. Friday to the Office of Study Abroad or at the passport table in the Thad Cochran Center Atrium for a chance to win raffle prizes. According to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, International Education Week celebrates “the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide” and is part of the U.S. Department of State and

the U.S. Department of Education’s “efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn and exchange experiences in the United States.” For more information about International Diversity & Education Week visit the USM Office of Study Abroad’s webiste at usm.edu/study-abroad.

Students make early finals-week preparations NAN BEAUTI

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As the semester nears its end, students have one more major task to overcome: Finals week. The dreaded week of exam after exam, projects and papers is almost here, as much as students do not want to believe the truth. Studying for finals a month or even a few weeks in advance can be a difficult task with challenges of busy student schedules, tests to study for before finals, fear of the dreaded week and a lack of motivation. Studying for several finals can be a difficult task. Some would rather skip out on the task in the long term and procrastinate in the short term. Struggling college students collectively endure finals week every semester, and this fall, Southern Miss students begin their weeklong journey on Dec. 10. To maintain sanity and a positive wellbeing, students should focus on staying healthy in times of hectic studying, working and test-taking. Stress can put strain on a person’s health. When a student is overwhelmed by two tests and a presentation in the same day, exercising is the last thing on his or her mind. Being sure to get enough sleep and adequate nutrition before and during finals week can help those grades go up. According to a study, college students who worked out before class improved test scores 17 percent on average. Senior therapeutic recreation major Ray Moore said he takes care of his body not only during finals week,

but throughout the entire semester to maintain his well-being with his academics. “I realize that I need sleep and that I will do better with sleep,” he said. “I get the studying off my mind and go play tennis or Frisbee.” Students commonly struggle with time management and prioritizing. Finals week is a crammed week of exams, tests, and even schoolsponsored events such as distressing activities and professor-hosted review sessions. Managing time is an essential tactic in lowering stress and avoiding procrastination. Junior microbiology major Evan Derrick said he prepares for finals typically by himself, organizing study times for each subject. “I look at stuff in advance, throughout the year looking over my stuff, making sure for each test I write notes and I keep them in a folder, and at the end, I’ll review those notes and go back and possibly hopefully remember all the stuff,” he said. When a student crams for an exam, anxiety forms, lowering his or her ability to retain information. Allotting periods of time to studying one subject before the other or working on one project at a time is the key to time management. “As far as prioritizing, it’s all about the date,” Derrick said. “What day is my test? If I have test A on Monday and test B on Tuesday, of course I’m going to spend time on test A first. It’s not about the difficulty of the test; it’s about which one comes first, because they’re equally important. During the study process I

do tend to spend a lot of time on what comes first, and then I’ll go and review what’s upcoming.” He said his finals week consists of late nights and some nights with no sleep at all. “Also lots of overeating because I’m so sad,” Derrick said. A helpful tip to students in understanding so much material is to ask questions and visit instructors’ office hours. Professors, the Writing Center, the Speaking Center and tutoring services at Southern Miss are in place to help students achieve success in their academic endeavors. And all students endure academic difficulties. Consulting someone for help guides students in achieving their goals on difficult tasks or in challenging courses. Moore said he asks questions in class or after class if he doesn’t understand, but he also answers questions asked by the professor during a class session. “I don’t usually reach out to my professors if I’m not struggling,” he said. “A lot of people might have the same questions, but a lot hesitate from asking in class. In A&P [anatomy and physiology] class, it’s a big auditorium of students, so it’s hard to ask questions sometimes.” Studying means focusing and to focus on material in order to retain information requires the proper study and learning environment. Believe it or not, the location where one studies can affect how one studies and how much is retained. Most people can focus in a quiet place without noise or distractions – the ideal habitat for digging into a book and notes. Where tutors are

conveniently hanging out such as in the building of one’s particular department or the library is a sure way to access help whenever needed. Regardless of when a student studies or how, finals week can be a demanding time, inflicting stress on a majority of students. Take a breath. While procrastination is a common misstep in studying for finals or writing papers, over-studying and overworking can exhaust a student by the time due dates and finals roll around. “After a while of non-stop studying, you begin to lose focus and the quality of your studying begins to falter,” Joel Delgado from FIU News said. Taking a break is acceptable and

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encouraged when students have a load on their shoulders. A small break can lift a tremendous amount of stress off a student’s shoulders and provide energy for efficiency. Naturally, students need to recharge. Junior biological sciences major Louise Berryhill also studies better by herself and tries to prepare weeks in advance for her finals. “I try to prepare weeks in advance and review my notes after every class,” she said. “I like to rewrite my notes for some classes, especially ones with detailed lessons and with professors who don’t send powerpoints. It helps. I don’t like stressing out about tests, but we all do. I worry about worrying.”

FEATURE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2016

Gallery: Fall dance exhibition 2016

Fadi Shahin | Printz

ENTERTAINMENT MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2016

The meme is dead: Harambe write-ins not funny JENNIFER ROBINSON printz reporter In an election, every vote counts and the presidential election is no exception. This election has been ridiculous to follow. Social media has been filled with people endorsing one candidate over the other since people started announcing that they were running for president. While social media is an open platform to discuss your political beliefs, I don’t think many are going to be swayed due to them having their own opinions – but it’s worth a shot. On election night, tweets started claiming that Harambe,

the Cincinnati gorilla that was shot this past summer, received thousands of write-in votes. Since then, Snopes has disproved that and said that no actual number has been given as to how many votes Harmabe got. As for the final vote count, CNN said Donald Trump finished with 47.3 percent of the popular vote (60,294,775) to Hillary Clinton’s 47.8 percent (60,882,368). Every vote counted and your vote always matters. While voting for a third-party candidate is your choice, writing in a dead gorilla is wasting your vote. You must be 18 years or older to vote in a United States election. That means adults got up on election day and stood

in line to cast their vote for an animal that has been dead for months. As for write-ins, ABC News said, “Only eight states – Alabama, Iowa, North Dakota, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont – tally writeins without requiring candidates to file paperwork, the NASS says, and even the least restrictive states have some disqualifying criteria.” Mississippi isn’t even one of the states that count your writeins unless that person has filed the necessary papers weeks or months prior. That means that if you wrote anyone in as your presidential candidate who did not file their papers, you threw

your vote away. I don’t think people who write candidates in as a joke take the election process seriously. I find it insulting to everyone who took the time to research the actual candidates and vote for who they wanted to run this country. I’ve heard people say that third party candidate votes are throwing your vote away or giving it to Trump or Hillary in this election, but at least those were real candidates. I’ve also come across several people saying that they were going to write in Bernie Sanders before the election. I was a Sanders supporter, but I did not write him in. I chose not to because he was no longer running for president.

Sanders did not fill out the papers to run and was openly endorsing Clinton. Since this election is over, it is too late to change your vote now. In future elections, however, keep in mind that you should be informed about who’s name you write on your ballot. On another note, there are countless twitter accounts for Harambe that you can follow instead of voting for him as your candidate and, remember, you can always unfollow people on Facebook without them knowing if the political debates become too much to handle. Also, it is illegal to take a photo of your ballot in Mississippi, so try to avoid going to jail.

SPORTS

USM volleyball concludes successful season The Southern Miss (22-7, 11-3 C-USA) volleyball team concluded its regular season with a victory, claiming a 3-1 victory over Florida International (9-19, 3-11 C-USA) on Nov. 11. The win boosted Southern Miss’ win streak to six consecutive wins, all against C-USA opponents. Set one was

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.

Head Coach Rita Buck-Crockett used her timeouts wisely to kill Southern Miss’ momentum at key times. Soon after the timeout, the Golden Eagles committed four errors, allowing FIU to cut into the deficit, 13-10. A 5-2 run for the Golden Eagles following their errors forced another

UC 75337.5066 10.16

printz reporter

no competition for USM, as it managed to never trail at any point in the set. The Golden Eagles obtained a 10-point lead at one point during the set, which Southern Miss claimed the victory of this set, 25-13. After a lineup adjustment, FIU found its rhythm in set two. Both teams would trade points backto-back for the first seven points. Southern Miss gained momentum to achieve a 12-7 lead. The lead would not phase FIU, as

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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

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timeout for FIU, 18-12. Four kills by Katie Hogan gave FIU the ability to comeback and win the set, 25-21. During set three, Kylie Grandy dominated the court for Southern Miss, contributing four kills to help win the set 25-16. The final set was fought hard by both sides. Twelve ties occurred

before Southern Miss obtained the first multiple-point lead at 17-14. FIU tied the game back up at 22, but Stephany Purdue’s kill and a service ace clinched the win for Southern Miss, 25-22. Southern Miss looks to bring home the C-USA championship trophy this Friday in Houston.

SPORTS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2016

Cross country finishes historic season ANDREW ABADIE printz reporter After a victorious season, the Southern Miss cross country team finished in historical fashion. The Golden Eagles placed eleventh out of the thirty teams on the 6K course in Tallahassee, Florida. Their finish tied the school record for best performance at a regional meet and they also broke the school record for fewest points at a regional meet. Senior Dana Dillistone finished her career by leading the team with a time of 21:15, finishing 39th overall. “Dana had the race we’ve been waiting for all year,” said Head Coach Aaron Kindt. “She has been our number one all year, a role she hadn’t really been in her first three years here. She ran a tremendous race, and I am really happy that she could finish her cross country career with her best yet.” Freshman Theresa Harto had a time of 21:51, Monika Gerarzewska, 21:57, Daphney Stanford, 22:04 and freshman Regen McGee, 22:13. Each kept a tight pack that was separated between 22 seconds. Senior Courtney Filliben finished with a time of 23:23 and sophomore Victoria Hoppe with 24:02. The two closed out the race in the final two spots of the team. “Theresa, Monika and Regen have been huge for us this year,” Kindt said. “These three are the future of this program and a future that is very

Courtesy Photo | bright. You will hear a lot from [them in] the next 4 years.” The team shows much promise in future seasons despite losing seniors Dillistone, Stanford and Filliben. A combination of young talent and

several returning members are poised to build off of the success of this team. If the team has another strong recruiting class, and if other members continue to train hard, a conference championship is in the cards for the team in the near

future. “This is a great way to finish the year,” Kindt said. “It will go down as the best team in school history. I am really excited to get this group on the track this spring.”

Next on the agenda is for the team to recover and prepare for track season in the spring. After a successful cross country season, the Golden Eagles show a promising performance for track season.

SPORTS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2016

USM defeats Tougaloo in season opener JULIUS KIZZEE sport editor Southern Miss won its regular season opener against Tougaloo College in a closing fashion on Nov. 10 at Reed Green Coliseum. After defeating Mississippi College in double overtime on Nov. 3, Southern Miss found itself in the same situation against the Tougaloo College Bulldogs. Both Southern Miss and Tougaloo were unable to maintain leads in the first half. The Golden Eagles watched as their nine-point lead with 3:10 remaining in the first half was cut to four points when Tougaloo forward Andravious Smith hit a buzzer-beating three point shot. Forward Raheem Watts led Southern Miss in the first half with nine points and six rebounds. After cruising to a 76-66 lead with 5:23 remaining in the second half, the Golden Eagle defense and offense faltered, allowing the Bulldogs to tie the game 79-79 with 10 seconds remaining in regulation. The Golden Eagles committed 28 turnovers in the game,

and Head Coach Doc Sadler said he believes the turnovers contributed to the Eagles losing their large lead at the end of the second half. “When we were up 10, we had three or four opportunities to go put the game away, and we just turned the basketball over,” said Head Coach Doc Sadler. “You can’t beat good teams and turn the basketball over 28 times.” The first overtime period was back and forth for both teams, with neither team holding more than a four point lead. Tougaloo was able to pull ahead of the Golden Eagles 88-86 with four seconds remaining, but a subsequent Tougaloo foul allowed Richardson to make two free throws with one second remaining on the clock. With the Golden Eagles down 95-96 in the waning seconds of the second overtime, guard D’Angelo Richardson put the Golden Eagles ahead 98-96 when he made a crucial three point shot with 34 seconds remaining. “I knew we needed a bucket, and I knew we needed it fast,” Richardson said. “My thought was shoot it and live with the consequences.”

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Richardson then sealed the win with for the Golden Eagles with 10 seconds remaining by making two free throws. Coach Sadler believes that his team’s toughness is what helped

them to survive both double overtime games this season. “My first two teams wouldn’t have found a way to do this,” Sadler said. “We found a way to win both of them.”

Southern Miss will travel to Baton Rouge for its next game against the LSU Tigers on Nov.15. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m

Golden Eagles out of contest for C-USA West Division crown ANDREW ABADIE printz reporter After a 4-1 start to the season, the Golden Eagles are poised to achieve their goals of winning the conference championship and possibly making a prestigious bowl game appearance. However, after several missteps, the Golden Eagles are now 1-4 in the last five games and may have jeopardized the goal of a bowl appearance as USM is out of contention for the C-USA West Division crown. The Golden Eagles are now in the wake of the toughest part of the schedule and still have yet to reach the six win mark to qualify for a bowl game. Not to mention, one of their last two games are on the road, and the only home game is against rival Louisiana Tech. However, if the Golden Eagles were to win out and achieve an 7-5 mark, a bowl game is still achievable and the goal. If the Golden Eagles manage to play to its fullest potential, they could easily defeat whomever Courtesy Photo |

they would have to play in the bowl game. In the event that they were to win out, they could possibly end up in the Military Bowl, Armed Forces Bowl, or the Birmingham Bowl. In a more likely scenario, based off of how the team has played in recent weeks they look to be able to win one more game by the end of the season and will most likely reach a 6-6 record. In this case, the Golden Eagles could find themselves right in the New Orleans Bowl. If they were to make the bowl, they would most likely face a rematch with Troy, who has dominated the Sun Belt. Although they lost to Troy earlier in the season, the Golden Eagles could walk away with a victory. Despite the fact that the team would end the season without the conference championship title, it would still be the school’s first bowl game win since 2011. This would also be the senior class’ first title after being part of the forgettable 0-12 season.