Thursday, November 3, 2016 Volume 101 Issue 18
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SERVING SOUTHERN MISS SINCE 1927
EAGLEPALOOZA Festival set for Nov. 5 LORA LAVIGNE
printz reporter
The University of Southern Mississippi’s Student Government Association (SGA) plans to host its 13th annual Eaglepalooza on Nov. 5. “Eaglepalooza is one of the many traditional Southern Miss events that I have always grown up loving,” said Event Coordinator Nina Bellipanni. ”It’s crazy that now, as student, I get the opportunity to head up such a great tradition.” Eaglepalooza is a free music festival open to USM students, faculty and staff. SGA works with student input and ideas each year to draw an attendance of more than 10,000 people. “I take so much pride in putting this event together because it’s such a fantastic time,” Eaglepalooza Assistant Director
Cameron Cloud said. “It provides the opportunity for people to come together and celebrate everything we’ve worked so hard for here at Southern Miss and just enjoy everything the university has to offer.” In previous years, Eaglepalooza’s organizers have booked both local and national artists such as Phillip Phillips, IconaPop and Echosmith. SGA considered student feedback and worked to provide R&B and hip-hop music for this year’s event. Performers this year include local rap artist Nate Rose and R&B headliner Kerri Hilson, known for tracks such as “Pretty Girl Rock,” “Knock You Down” and “Energy.” Nate Rose said he was excited to perform at this year’s concert. “I’m thrilled to be a part of such a large event that everyone
seems to be so passionate about,” Rose said. “I think this show is definitely going to be one to remember, and I am blessed to have the opportunity to rock the stage this year next to Kerri Hilson for the wonderful people at Southern Miss.” SGA President Caroline Bradley said the committee worked hard to bring these artists to Southern Miss this year. “We really worked together to find an R&B artist that everyone loves and recognizes,” Bradley said. “[We worked to bring] music that truly represents hiphop and R&B.” SGA also booked comedian Leonard Outzts for an opening act. “The Eaglepalooza team has been hard at work, and it’s sure t o be one of the most exciting and unique Eaglepaloozas yet,” Bellipani said. “Eaglepalooza to the Top.” This year the event will take place on Southern Miss’s campus at Spirit Park instead of Downtown Hattiesburg. “Eaglepalooza is such an amazing event we have here, and the fact that we can give it to the students for free is a bonus,” Bradley said. “We listen to what the students want and bring them exactly what they desire to listen to. Along with enriching our university, Eaglepalooza is giving thanks to all that students do for our school, and we’re happy to give back to them with this concert.” The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m., immediately following the Southern Miss versus Charlotte football game at Spirit Park on Southern Miss’s campus.
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INTRODUCTION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016
Meet the Staff Fall 2016 Cam Bonelli
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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.
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.
OWL COUNT How many of these owls can you find throughout the paper? Find the answer below. there are eight owls
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NEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016
SPUR scholarship deadline approaches DAISY STUTTS
printz reporter
The deadline for students to apply for The University of Southern Mississippi’s Eagle SPUR Scholarship and Eagle Wings Travel Funding Program is Nov. 15, 2016. The Eagle Scholarship Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) offers students up to $1,000 in scholarship funds for individual undergraduate research or creative projects conducted alongside a USM faculty member. The application process for an Eagle SPUR award includes a project proposal, budget, bibliography and a completed form from the faculty member involved. Students who receive this scholarship will be expected to complete 150 hours of work toward their project throughout the 2017 spring semester. Any majors can apply for this funding. Eagle SPUR funding cannot be used as part of a capstone project but can be used for academic credit, depending on the circumstances. Any tenured faculty member of USM can serve as the faculty mentor required by the program. The Eagle Wings Travel Funding Program began in the spring 2016
Drapeau Center for Undergraduate Research semester and provides up to $1,500 in travel expenses for students to attend conferences or travel to conduct research. Applicants must be fulltime undergraduate students with good academic standing during their semester of travel. The applicant must be the primary conductor of research.
Both of these programs are directed by the USM Drapeau Center for Undergraduate Research. “So many studies show that independent research give students the skills they need to succeed in their future professions,” said Chair of Steering Committee for Undergraduate
Research Marie Danforth. “They build resilience, problem solving skills and task management. I encourage students to really trust their mentors and revise their proposals as much as possible. Students should also apply year after year, as I’ve seen so many students achieve funding the second time they apply.”
Danforth said students who show enthusiasm and innovation stand out among the proposals. “We really want to see how the students’ projects relate to the work already done in their field, and how they plan to expand that previous knowledge through their research,” Danforth said. “The program is important because it allows students to choose what they want to research,” said Douglas Masterson, dean of the College of Chemistry and Biochemistry. “It allows students the opportunity to explore questions they may have about something that really interests them personally. Something that really stands out in a proposal is student enthusiasm and a sense that the project is done out of true interest in the topic and its benefits.” The program will accept nearly 25 projects per year, according to Masterson. Masterson recently hosted two seminars on creating effective proposal presentations, and the Drapeau Center web page offers examples of past proposals and guidelines to help students form their proposals. The Drapeau Center can be contacted through email at cur@usm.edu for more information on the application process or questions about the program.
Minor incident occurs at USM Homecoming game TICHINA WILSON
printz reporter
On Oct. 30, The University of Southern Mississippi’s police department (UPD) allegedly intervened in a dispute between audience members during The University of Southern Mississippi’s Homecoming football game, according to university officials. Dean of Students Eddie Holloway said an elderly individual allegedly became hostile with four crowd members when one occupied his ticketdesignated seat. Holloway said he became involved in the alleged incident. “I stand or sit near the student section of the stadium during most football games, and I heard a call for police,” Holloway said. “I went to see what the situation was. Upon arrival there were four African-Americans who had purchased tickets but had nudged into one or more seats in that section.” Holloway said an elderly man then approached the crowd members due to their allegedly occupying his seat. “I’m sure his season ticket seats were [where] there were family members apparently waiting for him,” Holloway said. According to Holloway, the elderly man allegedly called the four people “pigs” because they were taking up more than four seats. “The situation became very emotional with the people that were there becoming angry, rightfully so, that the [elderly man] was not tolerant, was not understanding, was not pleasant and
Courtesy Photo | was not encouraging,” Holloway said. Holloway said he attempted to diffuse the situation by asking the four individuals if he could help them find seats. “I asked them would they sit with the parents of the homecoming court, [and] they graciously accepted,” Holloway said. This incident occurred in the wake of the alleged Oct. 1 game incident involving two USM students who claimed they were attacked for refusing to stand during the National Anthem. On Oct. 30, more security officers than usual were stationed in the student
section, according to sources. Holloway said many have become more aware of what goes on in the student section when the Southern Miss Pride marching band performs the National Anthem. In the first incident, two female African-American students said they chose to sit during the National Anthem in a show of solidarity for the Black Lives Matter movement. The students said their actions caused fans in neighboring seats to harass and throw drinks on them. The university ruled the incident as accidental.
“I’m sure the public thought [the Oct. 30 incident] was a major issue, but it was diffused by me saying, ‘Hey, come
go with me – we can manage this and resolve this,’” Holloway said. “We do all we can.”
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OPINION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016
Vine dies, social media lives on
Courtesy Photo |
TACHINA WILSON
printz reporter
Before the cool effects on Snapchat and Instagram, there was Vine. You remember Vine, right? It’s the app that you probably deleted to make more space on your iPhone. Vine’s users had one simple mission: showcase the funniest
AKA
videos they could record in a short timeframe, originally six seconds. You could follow your favorite users and see their videos – looping as many times as you wanted to watch – on a timeline like Instagram. Vine made those short video clips so popular that eventually other apps began allowing their users to do the same thing. Before you really got the hang of
Twitter, and before Instagram allowed users to post videos, Vine was the place to be online. After three years, seven former executives’ creativity is now coming to an end, fast. On Oct. 27, Twitter announced it would shut down Vine’s mobile app sometime in the next few months. Vine reported to Medium.com that they value everyone but are going to discontinue the app the “right way.”
“You’ll be able to access and download your Vines. We’ll be keeping the website online because we think it’s important to still be able to watch all the incredible Vines that have been made. You will be notified before we make any changes to the app or website,” Vine told Medium. com. Ironically, Vine was known as the “entertainment community where things happen fast.” This certainly happened quickly right before our eyes. You might ask yourself, “what’s the big deal?” Imagine waking up one day to a text saying the company you work for is going out of business. Hundreds of users utilized the app as a platform to create and become social media stars with tons of followers. Their following led to branding deals and merchandise that allowed them to profit from the short snippets. The quick demise of the video app might have some users wondering what social media app will be axed next, given that so many of what you see now is borrowed from other apps. One example that sticks out recently was Instagram’s decision to add “story” options that closely resemble Snapchat’s “stories” function,
or even Apple’s iOS 10 upgrade by which people could draw on photos and video and send them to others. “It’s one of those things where they invented something which people then mimicked & got overshadowed,” @eveewing Tweeted. Should Vine have sold to Twitter? Many fans are saying no. Twitter’s failure with Vine just confirms the broader struggles Twitter is having itself. Twitter possibly could still have justified the cost of keeping the video service around if not for the added pressure it now faces to cut costs. Vine isn’t just used for an array of comics, dancers, singers, and funny videos; although it is brilliant for all that, it was also used by journalists in covering events like Ferguson. Looking forward, Vine may be over, but the app creators have not given up yet. According to TechCrunch, Vine co-founders have created “Hype,” a live video app. Hype will be going up against Twitter’s Periscope app and Facebook Live. “Instagram is working on a live streaming launch called Go Insta,” TechCrunch reported. In the next year, you can possibly expect a battle of the apps with one following the other’s lead.
TEST FEST 2016 BATTLE of the NPHC GREEKS THE NUMBERS ARE IN AND THE WINNER IS ??? National Panhellenic Council Members Come to see which fraternity or sorority reigned supreme in getting members tested. What: Test Fest 2016 Reveal Party
RECEPTION, DOOR PRIZES, T-SHIRTS, AND THE GRAND WINNER REVEAL When: Friday, November 4th Where: USM Student Room A Why? Fun, Fellowship, Competition and Knowing Your Status!
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OPINION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016 HIBA TAHIR
entertainment editor
Regular, Single-Stuffed Oreos People who buy these are either desperate, don’t know about the existence of double-stuffed Oreos or are determined to be unhappy. What else do you prefer? Half-patty burgers? Mozzarella sticks with minimal cheese? Living till you’re half the average lifespan? (Although, if you don’t balance the double stuffing with double the exercise, you just might get to enjoy that one regardless.) The Hoodjab There’s a fine line between fashion faux pas and blatantly disrespectful crime against humanity. The hoodjab is a lovely wardrobe piece that happens to reside on the wrong side of that line, and claiming otherwise is offensive on every level. Most of you probably don’t even know what it is. It’s a mix between a hood and a hijab, and every bit as hideous as you’re imagining. (My strong feelings about this stem from the fact that I’ll never be “hood” enough to wear one successfully, and that makes me sad.) Zayn Malik’s decision to leave One Direction I know this happened years ago, but it’s still too soon for me to comment. (I got to the boy band obsession phase of my life embarrassingly late, okay?) The “How I Met Your Mother” series finale I am a happily adjusted young adult with a fairly bright outlook and lots and lots and lots of dark, unresolved feelings regarding “How I Met Your Mother” and that’s perfectly fine. I’m learning how to be fine. The Fact That It’s Barely Past Halloween and We’re Already Talking about Christmas Why is the whole “holiday cup” thing even already a concern? What happened to Thanksgiving and turkeys and feasting and family – oh right, we have an accused rapist running for president next week, and things are awkward because family allegiances are somehow divided. Haha, pass the gravy.
It’s that time of year again. The weather’s growing cooler (for those of us in Mississippi, this means that the thermometer reads a cool 99 degrees instead of the typical 100), basketball season is almost upon us, Starbucks is mere days from unveiling its widely anticipated holiday cups and contentious people have found an innocent inanimate object on which to project all their completely pointless hatred and disgust. This year’s object is, yet again, believed to be the aforementioned holiday cup. I say “believed” because the real holiday cup hasn’t even been released yet - Starbucks has actually pushed a limited edition green design featuring a mosaic of over one hundred people drawn in one continuous stroke. The cup, according to Howard Schultz, chairman and CEO, is meant to serve as “a symbol of unity as a reminder of our shared values, and the need to be good to each other.” It’s no coincidence that Starbucks chose to release it just days before the most divisive election in U.S. History, and if people weren’t so quick to jump to conclusions, they might appreciate the message. Instead, they’ve taken to social media in hordes, offended by what they believe to be Starbucks’ holiday cups. In order to show you just how ridiculous it is to complain about this or any cup, I’ve listed five things that I find more offensive.
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FEATURE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016
USM students endure long distance relationships NAN BEAUTI
copy editor
Long distance relationships date back generations and to many people’s surprise are becoming more common. These relationships can have a painful stigma associated with them; they are difficult to maintain and often end in heartbreak or a drifting apart from one another. Yet many find the willpower and crazed passion to be involved with someone at long distances. Some University of Southern Mississippi students endure the hardships of long distance relationships while gaining academic ground. Senior broadcast journalism and philosophy double major Ileana Kristina started dating her boyfriend when she invited him to join her family and friends in a game of laser tag.
“I knew he was from out of town, but he offered to drive to Hattiesburg to hang out with us,” Kristina said. “We started off just hanging out and doing stuff we both liked, and eventually we thought maybe we could make a relationship out of what we had.” According to The Center for the Study of Long Distance Relationships, nearly 15 million people in the United States said they were in a long distance relationship in 2005. Fast forward to 2016, and about the same number of people consider themselves to be in a long distance relationship. More than three million in marital relationships are long distance. The Center for the Study of Long Distance Relationships said college is the number one reason people end up in long distance
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relationships. College relationships dominate 32.5 percent of all long distance relationships. Long distance marriages are also rising due to work-related circumstances or the economy, where the price to commute is too costly. A major factor that plays prevalence in long distance relationships, however, is the Internet. Virtual relationships form from online dating websites or social media sites that flourished into something unexpected. Advances in the virtual word have made it possible for people to almost replace the real-feel of a relationship, regardless of how far apart the people live. A hint of hope for those contemplating a long distance relationship is that there is no evidence suggesting these types of relationships are more likely to fail than other kinds of relationships. Some couples end their relationship after 14 months, while others feel the relationship will not work after less than five months. Failures may be due to long distance relationships involving a downside to trust, where one partner worries about the other cheating. The factor of not knowing the full truth will always be there in a long distance relationship. On the optimistic side, there is no evidence to suggest that long distance couples are more likely to cheat than other types of couples. Although some will fail and others will lead to a serious stage, long distance relationships compare in no way to other types of relationships. Long distance couples still have to make an effort if they want the relationship to grow and last. “One drawback is not being able to have regular breakfast, lunch and dinner dates, but that’s kind of superficial,” Kristina said. “It also stinks that if I have a bad day and just want to hug my significant other, I have to drive a few hours or he does.” On average, those in long distance relationships are at least 125 miles away from each other. An anonymous sophomore accountant major said he remained in his relationship because of his love for his significant other. He said the main struggle with their relationship was the distance. “Being in a long distant relationship means you’re generally very far from each other, in my case [it was] about 2,000-plus miles away,” he said. “Not being able to see them for three to four months at a time would get somewhat difficult on both ends of the relationship.” Anonymous said there is a special spark between couples in long distance relationships that those in short distance relationships do not experience. “Although when we did get to see each other, I would agree it was a very enjoyable moment that couples in shorter distance relationship
Daisy Stutts | Assistant Photo Editor might not feel,” he said. “Some advantages would be getting to know your girl, and in my case, very well. I get to know her in and out, all her dislikes, fears, goals, dreams and learn about interesting events that have happened throughout her life. Couples tend to visit each other less than twice a month and call each other at least once every three days. Long distance couples tend to be successful in their relationships when they live separate lives and have optimistic attitudes about the distance they endure. Kristina said that as a busy college student, she is involved in her own schedule. “We make it work by just being ourselves,” she said. “We both know the other has [their] own life going on, and we understand that. If we don’t have a chance to communicate all day, we’ll at least send a text saying something like, ‘Hey, I’m busy today. Will call you later.’” Although long distance relationships have their challenges, there are ways to make them work. “Definitely communicate,” Kristina said. “Communication is key in any relationship, really. Also, don’t be jealous or untrusting. That’s the worst thing you could be in a long distance relationship. There has to be a reason you’re with someone other than to have a relationship, so trust that your significant other has your same intentions.” Senior nutrition and dietetics major Anatasia Kasper and her significant other started out as high school sweethearts. Her reasons for staying with her boyfriend goes beyond the amount of time she has invested in the relationship. “Many things make me stay in my relationship with my significant other,” Kasper said. “He is kind, he supports me emotionally, we enjoy spending time together – whether homework, movies – or family gatherings, he believes in me. I love spending time with him and his family, he makes me laugh, he is handsome, he is intelligent, hardworking, he is motivated and
he is close with my family, especially my dad.” Kasper said the tough part includes not being able to see her significant other as often as they would both like. “It is tough to not completely include your partner in your everyday life,” she said. “However, it gives you a lot to talk about. It can cause tension, because you are frustrated, you are so far away and you can misplace feelings of missing your partner for anger towards them.” Regardless of the distance, Kasper sees the value in her relationship. “If your relationship is meant to be, then you will be able to push through the long distance, because you realize whether or not the person is worth the extra effort and pain it can be to miss someone you love so much,” Kasper said. Kasper and her significant other find their relationship is worth it and try to stay in touch as often as possible. “We text as much as we can, we talk on the phone and we also think about each other naturally,” she said. Kasper said being a college student in a long distance relationship is balanced with being distracting as well as productive. She and her significant other have future plans to get married once they are both stable enough to support themselves and live in the same area. “My advice is it is well worth the struggle,” she said. “If you love someone, do not let someone tell you it will not work. It will be hard and some relationships may not last, but it is all in the mindset.” All in all, despite long distance relationships’ challenges when missing each other or needing a physical presence, there can be benefits between the two lovers. “The saying goes ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder,’” Kristina said. “I miss him when he’s not around, and when he is around, I know our time is limited. Distance definitely makes me more appreciative of the time we do spend together.”
OPINION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016
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Internet activism sparks awareness, not change ALYSSA BASS
printz reporter
At the end of October, Facebook users began sharing statuses encouraging their online friends to check into the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota, hoping to confuse The Morton County Sheriff Department, which is allegedly targeting protesters who check into Standing Rock. The practice has raised a question: Is social media activism enough to save the Standing Rock Sioux from the Dakota Access Pipeline? “I didn’t know there were Indians in Maine,” said one of our very own Honors College students at an Open Forum in reference to a previous forum event regarding the Native Americans. Though my first instinct was to roll my eyes and tweet about this girl’s ignorance, after much thought, I realized I couldn’t really blame her. When discussing American history in elementary and high school classes, we barely discussed the horrors the Native Americans experienced. Teachers included the fact that the Native Americans were indeed here first and that the white travelers brought various diseases that killed millions of indigenous people, but the conversation usually ends there. Many teachers fail to go into detail about where the remaining people went (with the possible exception of the Trail of Tears,) and – at the time, at least – none of us bother to ask. We treat the Native American people as if they’re extinct, only to talk
about them during Thanksgiving plays, history classes and Halloween when many of us are making a mockery of their symbolic traditional dress or when one of us is trying to claim that we have (insert percentage) Native American in us without knowing which tribe. It’s a classic example of liking a culture without having any respect for the people of that culture. This disrespect is exemplified by the recent issue of the Dakota Access Pipeline, which according to its website is meant to “safely transport U.S. crude oil from the Bakken/Three Forks formations in North Dakota to a terminus near Patoka, Illinois to support U.S. consumers’ energy needs.” The website also claims that the pipeline will “reduce the amount of crude oil shipped by truck and by rail and increase the amount shipped by pipeline.” It’s great that the federal government is looking for more national oil sources rather than importing oil from foreign countries, but the Dakota Access Pipeline threatens the Standing Rock Sioux’s main drinking water resource: the Missouri River. Not only that, but the pipeline runs through the tribe’s sacred burial grounds. The tribal leaders claim that no federal government members contacted them during the permit process, which Time claims is required by law. Ever since white travelers stepped foot on American soil, Native Americans have been disrespected. When the travelers arrived, they killed Natives off with disease, gave them tobacco and alcohol and forced them
off of the majority of their land to be secluded on reservations. When Americans so generously let the Natives into American culture, the Natives were forced to assimilate: boys had to cut their long hair, adults and children were strongly persuaded to convert to Christianity, and most appallingly, children were taken away from their communities and put into the foster care system to be put with white families to quicken the assimilation process. According to the Huffington Post, for years the Native people have been dealing with issues such as police brutality and mass incarceration, high poverty rates, the continual loss of land at the hands of the federal government, mental health disorders like PTSD and depression, violence against women and children, overcrowded housing, poor healthcare, youth suicide, the death of their languages and non recognition of some native communities by the federal government. The fact that the indigenous people (5.4 million according to the 2014 census and 567 tribes according to the U.S. Department of the Interior) have experienced so much turmoil since the arrival of Europeans is disheartening, as is the fact that their worsening problems have gone unnoticed in recent years. However, it could be argued that we as a nation have been trying to better the indigenous people’s way of life. In a document provided by the White House’s website, there have been programs put into place to do so. The document titled “Obama Administration Record for American Indians and Alaska Natives”
states that the relationship between the federal government and Native government will be strengthened, there will be improvements in healthcare and economic development, tribal communities will be safer and representation will be heightened, among other pleasant sounding things that probably didn’t happen. Thanks, Obama (and every other president that came before you.) It’s even more saddening when you think about how common it is for other minority groups to gain national recognition for protests against injustices while the natives, America’s first people, are ignored. As an African American, I am inspired to check my own privilege. Though I am a minority, my race has been given a platform through highly publicized social justice movements like Black Lives Matter. Because of movements like that one, the majority of the nation is now educated on significant issues the black community faces and is forcing those issues to be addressed. While it was up to us, the members of the black community, to organize the movement (as it is the responsibility of any other group to be their initial advocates,) we couldn’t have gained higher ground if without the support of allies of all races. Frankly, I don’t think the Natives have a strong enough community to organize their own effective movement. The Natives have been and still are powerless due to the Europeans treating them so in centuries past. More importantly, they have been
erased from most of our minds because they are secluded on reservations, aren’t that integrated into everyday American cultures and lack representation. To answer the initial question regarding the power of social media activism in regards to saving the Standing Rock Sioux from the Dakota Access Pipeline, it’s not saving anyone from anything. Like most social media activism, the Facebook status and checkins are simply bringing awareness. While that may be useless in saving the Sioux, this social media activism serves as a reminder to the rest of us that the Native people are still here. And I think that’s important for people like me, a minority who is often concerned with the problems within my own community, or people like my Honors College peer who forgot that the Native people can be found in every state. While awareness is great, I definitely believe that we need to do more to actually begin to help. We can show solidarity for the Sioux by signing petitions against the Dakota Access Pipeline, donating to GoFundMes that go toward the legal defense of protestors or directly to the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and finally, being an active protesters ourselves in North Dakota. For far too long, we as a nation have failed to acknowledge the Native Americans’ rights as human beings and have forgotten that they even existed. Now that the Standing Rock Sioux’s concerns about the Dakota Access Pipeline have been recognized by social media users, there’s slight hope for the tribe’s future.
2016 election one week away, Senate still toss-up J.D. RIMANN
printz reporter
One of the most remarked on and least predictable parts of the recklessly bizarre 2016 election cycle has been the control of Congress. At the start of the year, the Republicans were acknowledged by all sides as being guaranteed to maintain a vice grip on the House of Representatives, while certainly being seen as on the defensive, the Senate still considered to possess a solid shot to maintain a narrow majority in the upper chamber. Enter Trump and these plans are in shambles with the House potentially being in play, and the Senate looking grimmer than it did this time last year. Trump has burned the bridges Republicans had with the Hispanic community in important swing states like Nevada and Arizona while also potentially alienating the moderate suburban voters in states like North Carolina, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and Ohio, whom Republicans have long depended on. Because of this fracturing, the Republicans are much more vulnerable than they were once thought to be in Congress. With a 54 - 46 disadvantage
in the Senate, Democrats need to win either four or five seats to take the chamber (four with the vice president as tiebreaker would win the Senate if Hillary is elected; if Trump is elected it would be a shocker if the GOP did not win every one of the Senate races discussed below). Today we will look at the swing races in the Senate. Democrats initially hoped to unseat high-profile Republican senators in Ohio, Arizona and Florida, a hope which has faded in the last two weeks. In Ohio and Arizona races, which were once thought to be competitive, seem to be leaning Republican – with incumbents Rob Portman and John McCain holding on due to a combination of name recognition and popularity (especially for former presidential candidate McCain) and unforced errors by their opponent (Rob Portman’s rival, former governor Ted Strickland, is a Democratic mini-Trump who cannot seem to control his mouth). In Florida, Sen. Marco Rubio holds a narrow but steady lead over Democratic Congressman Patrick Murphy, polling at about 3 percent higher than Murphy – even as Trump has fallen behind Hillary Clinton in this key swing state. Murphy, the son of a billionaire construction
tycoon, has been plagued by accusations of elitism and potentially disreputable financial dealings and is now considered a weaker candidate than was initially thought. Indeed Senate Democrats halted funds to his campaign earlier this month, signaling that they do not believe that the Murphy has a true shot at unseating Rubio. However, it is interesting to note that in a display of strategic divergence, President Obama has planned a series of trips this week to Florida to stump for both Murphy and Hillary in the lead up to Election Day. Still, Rubio probably handily wins this race. In Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, New Hampshire and Illinois, incumbent Republican Senators Patrick Toomey, Ron Johnson, Kelly Ayotte and Mark Kirk were all initially favored to lose their reelection campaigns handily. in Illinois. In New Hampshire, Senator Ayotte is facing popular Democrat and twoterm Governor Maggie Hassan and will probably not be able to pull the race out in the year of Trump, whose visage has haunted her race in particular.
continued at studentprintz.com
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SPORTS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016
Golden Eagles prepare for tipoff JULIUS KIZZEE sports editor
Hunt Mercier | Printz
The end of the Golden Eagles 2015 season looked bleak. With NCAA sanctions still hovering like a dark cloud, some of the players were not able to look forward to anything at the end of the season. No postseason. No banners. No games after March 5, 2015. But this year, it is different for the Golden Eagles. “I don’t know if I could’ve gotten through the last two years without the support, effort and the character of the players,” said Head Coach Doc Sadler. “When the players came each and every day to work and to get better, that’s what really this is all about. That’s not what made the last two years go by fast, but help you get through all those things.” On April 8 of this year, the NCAA handed down their sanctions on the Golden Eagle basketball program after the school already self-imposed a twoyear postseason ban as well. Alsoa, Southern Miss received scholarship and recruiting violations as well as three years of probation. But after that news was handed down, the Golden Eagles can start their season 0-0 in 2016 with a chance to make a run at the postseason. “Now that we can play for a
championship, it just means a lot more to us,” said senior guard Michael Ramey. “That’s gong to get everyone excited to start the season.” The Golden Eagles have a roster of 17 players this season, up from the roster last season as some players have transferred out or redshirted and did not play. Four seniors, Michael Ramey, Quinton Campbell, Raheem Watts and Khari Price will lead the team according to Doc Sadler, and they return not only leadership, but also players that can provide the intangibles necessary for the Golden Eagles to succeed in an era where Southern Miss is transitioning towards championship aspirations. “The season and the success that we have is going to have a lot to do with the success of those [four] guys,” Sadler said. “As a coach, I couldn’t be more pleased with the preparation that they have put in to have a great year.” Specifically for Ramey, who is a senior guard and had the best three-point shooting percentage in the NJCAA in 2014-2015 at a 59.3 percentage clip while at Seminole State College, took his time this summer to work on his overall offensive game and not just being a spotup shooter. “This summer, I just really tried to basically get in the best shape I could get in so I can be able to run all day,” Ramey said. “I worked on getting my shot off faster. Being able to shoot off the dribble and off the move better and really just
working on my all-around game.” Senior forward Raheem Watts is another player who also used his summer to get better and also commended his team on the chemistry and their goals for this season. “Definitely, the mindset of all the guys,” Watts said. “We’ve just got to continue to do good things. Last year was very tough for us. We’re trying to be the best defense in the league this year.” All four seniors were transfers into the program last year and they started most of the games as Southern Miss players over the course of the year, en route to winning eight games. But, they have much bigger aspirations for this season. “I don’t have any idea on how many games we’re going to win,” Sadler said. “We’re going to compete each and every night. If you do that and stick with it, we’ll win our share of games.” The Golden Eagles surely will not be undefeated but will win their fair share of games. One other thing is also for certain — they can have realistic aspirations. “What an exciting time, it really is,” Sadler said. “For a lot of reasons, [I’m] as excited as I’ve been in a long time. Everybody wants to play for a championship and now we have that opportunity.” The Golden Eagles will play their first exhibition game on Thursday as they host Mississippi College at Reed Green Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.