FEBRUARY 14, 2018 VOLUME 102 ISSUE 20
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News
Astrophysicist to speak at University Forum on Feb. 20.
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Features
Micro Wrestling smashed its way through Hattiesburg.
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Entainment
Read “Crystal Ball” to discover your horoscope for the week.
serving southern miss since 1927
Amber Slaughter, Printz contributor Dating with a Purpose panel members pose for a picture in the Thad Cochran Ballrooms on Feb. 8, 2018.
‘Dating with a Purpose:’ Recent panel discusses love, importance of abstinence Alyssa Bass news editor
Instead of having a romantic dinner at The Fresh or cuddling in their dorm rooms, junior public relations major Imani Harris and her boyfriend, junior marketing major Jeremiah Willis, spent their second anniversary speaking on the Dating with a Purpose panel. Awws and applause were heard almost immediately from the predominantly female audience after the announcement of this milestone. The Men of Excellence and I.D.E.A.L. Women hosted Harris and Willis along with two other local couples, Pastor of West Point Baptist Church Tony Reimonenq and Lady Elizabeth Reimonenq and Jeremy and Robin Bender, on Feb. 8 in the Thad Cochran Center. Junior psychology major and vice president of I.D.E.A.L. Amber Slaughter said she was motivated by her own shortcomings in creating the program. “If I had to make an exact definition of what ‘dating with purpose’ means, I would say that dating with purpose means actively having a relationship with an individual that is geared toward motivating, uplifting and having an overall positive impact on each other
lives,” Slaughter said. “Have I dated with purpose in the past? To be honest, no, I haven’t. But this is why I wanted to do this program to make [others] aware of how to date with purpose and know what they should look for when dating or having a relationship with someone.” Slaughter said the women of I.D.E.A.L. invited Harris and Willis to speak after reading Harris’ blog Sincerely Imani. On her blog, Harris discusses her growing relationship with Jesus and its various effects on her life monthly — even if it means breaking up with her boyfriend. “I found it very inspiring that when Imani and her mate noticed that their physical connection to each other was going to get in the way of them honoring God, they knew had to set up boundaries,” Slaughter said. About 10 minutes before the event starts, Willis arrives from his campus ministry, sets his backpack on the floor and takes a seat next to Harris at the panelist table. Notably, Harris and Willis are the youngest in age and in relationship length at the table, sandwiching themselves in between marriages of 22 years and one year. They greet each other quietly with no public displays of affection. This behavior is normal for them
and has been for the last six months. In December of 2017, Harris introduced the idea of “fasting” from physical aspects of relationships when she announced that she won’t kiss Willis again until their wedding day. Although Harris expected to garner views from nosy peers for her admitted clickbait title, she never predicted 4,000 of them. “J is super private,” Harris says as she laughs. “And I am all the way out there. I believe there is healing in telling my truth, so I have to be open and vulnerable. I explained that to him when I mentioned writing about our relationship, and he understood.” “It’s the things that we do together that bring God glory,” Willis said. “People come to us and they tell us, ‘Man, when you spoke it was so powerful. When you wrote or when you sang, it was so powerful.’ It was something that I really needed to hear.” “I’m proud to see other people benefit from what we go through from us being transparent and open.” As the program begins, corresponding secretary of MOX and junior paralegal studies major Stepfon Green asks how the couples met. It was then that Harris and Willis revealed that their love wasn’t
one that happened at first sight. Meeting at an event for SGA’s Freshman Associates, they felt unsure of each other. Willis explained, “I’m from Jackson, and most of the people I’ve been around in my life were black people. And she’s from Petal, so she couldn’t say the same. When I would talk about black history and AfricanAmerican culture, she couldn’t always relate.” Laughter from the audience ensues as Willis jokingly cringes, concluding his story with, “She turned out to be alright.” Harris offers the same amount of playfulness and honesty in her quick account. “I couldn’t decide if I thought he was cute or not when I first saw him. Every time I would see him I thought he had nice arm muscles.” She giggles. Despite their eventual attraction, they stuck to their decision to abstain from sex, one they had made individually prior to meeting. “A desire to become more mature in our Christian faith is what keeps us out of that [hookup] culture,” Willis said. “The standards we set for our relationship are done to help us.” Without the pressure of having sexual intercourse, Willis and Harris have found other ways to be intimate. “We read together. We
talk a lot. We work out. We started doing stuff we didn’t do before we stopped kissing,” Harris said. “We do new stuff now. When you get rid of sexual stuff—which you really shouldn’t be thinking about anyway if you’re dating God’s way—then you get to create what you think intimacy means for you and your relationship.” As the three couples answered questions, child of two of the panelists and sophomore theatre major Tony Reimonenq attentively listened in the audience. Sitting next to him was his girlfriend of one year Asia Montgomery, who livestreamed the entire program. “Asia and I went to the event because as hosts of a web show that is centered around purposeful dating, we are always open to receiving insight from other couples on the same subject,” Reimonenq said. Citing his parents as his first teachers, Reimonenq said he found a recurring theme from all the couples.”One thing, in particular, stuck out to me and it was three steps a person should take before getting into a relationship. Those steps were: having a good relationship with God, having a good relationship with yourself, and knowing your purpose.”
FEBRUARY 14, 2018 ANDREW ABADIE
Assistant Sports Editor andrew.abadie@usm.edu
KAITLYN WATKINS
Executive Editor kaitlyn.watkins@usm.edu
HIBA TAHIR
Managing Editor hiba.tahir@usm.edu
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Entertainment Editor morgan.clark@usm.edu
ALYSSA BASS
News Editor alyssa.bass@usm.edu
SARAH ANNE SCHLOEMER
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USA Olympic Medal Count: 3 Gold 1 Silver 2 Bronze
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EDITORIAL POLICY The views represented in The Student Printz’s columns and editorials do not necessarily represent those of the faculty, staff or administration of The University of Southern Mississippi. We welcome letters to the editor representing similar and contrasting opinions. To be eligible for publication, all submissions must include name, class distinction, major, phone number and email address. Submissions should be emailed to printzeditors@ gmail.com by 5 p.m. on the Friday before publication. Please limit them to 500 words or less. The Student Printz reserves the right to refuse publication or edit any material on the basis of clarity, space or journalistic ethics.
OPINIONS Opinions expressed in The Student Printz are those of the writer and not necessarily those of The Student Printz, its publication manager, USM, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning or the USM Board of Student Publications.
USM Honors Forum to host astrophysicist Caleb McCluskey printz reporter
The Honors Forum’s latest featured speaker is astronomer John Asher Johnson, who will speak at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 20 at Bennett Auditorium. The Honors Forum has been a Southern Miss tradition for more than 40 years according to Andrew P. Haley, the director of the Honor’s Forum. “Selecting speakers is a huge responsibility because the University Forum is one of the oldest speaker series in Mississippi,” Haley said. Haley takes feedback from both faculty and students to bring a variety of voices and perspectives to the forum. Johnson was recommended by a faculty member, and Haley believes that Johnson’s experience is remarkable. Johnson received his Bachelors of Science degree in physics from the University of Missouri-Rolla and his Masters and Doctorate degrees from The University of California, Berkeley. He is also credited for discovering three of the smallest planets on record around red dwarf stars. Johnson is now a professor at Harvard University, home of Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics where Johnson is also a faculty member. The CfA houses about 300 Smithsonian and Harvard scientists who study a branch of astrophysics. Since beginning at Harvard, Johnson has partnered with another
professor to create the Banneker and Aztlán Institute, a summer program that brings AfricanAmerican and Latino-American high school students to Cambridge, Massachusetts each year to learn about astrophysics. The Banneker and Aztlan Institute spends 10 weeks of every summer researching alongside faculty and postdoctoral advisors to complete a long-term project. Students also work on advanced astronomical calculations and complete a final presentation. The participants not only learn about astrophysics, but they also take an indepth look into literature related to social and racial justice in order to arm students with critical information and confidence as they enter the STEM field. The STEM fields are notorious for being dominated by a white male majority. In a study conducted by the National Science Foundation in 2017, it was determined that white men still held a little over half of the jobs in STEM fields. On the other hand, Hispanic men made up four percent while black men accounted for three percent of jobs. Johnson said he plans to address these issues in his Forum speech. “I’m very excited about addressing a large audience of people from a wide range of backgrounds and telling them the story of how I got to where I am and what I’m doing to improve the way we identify and foster talent in STEM,” Johnson said.
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FEBRUARY 14, 2018
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Mississippi House passes equal pay amendment Ashley Hobson social media editor
Mississippi is currently one of two states that does not have equal pay laws in their state books. Rather than passing a bill dedicated to equal pay, the House added the equal pay provision into House Bill 1241. House Bill 1241 addresses employment regulations and laws that local governments can enforce. Specifically, the bill aims to prevent local governments from setting minimum wage above what is set by the state. Many argue that the original bill had wide support across party lines as well as with the public. Because Representative Alyce Clarke’s, D-Jackson, amendment passed with a bipartisan vote of 84-32, a bill would pass in much the same manner. Others argued that the bill was not needed since equal pay for men and women is already a federal law, referring to the Equal Pay Act of 1963 that Congress passed 35 years ago. “This amendment simply restates the law in all respects,” Judiciary A Chairman Mark Baker told Mississippi Today. “It provides no additional relief, but if you’re inclined to do it that’s fine.”
In spite of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, data supports the presence of a wage gap in Mississippi, specifically among women of color. According to a study published in January 2017 by the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, women who hold full-time positions earn approximately 18 percent less than their male counterparts. This is compared to the national wage gap, which the same study stated is only around 8 percent. Currently, women working in Mississippi earn only 76 cents for every dollar their male counterparts earn. According to the National Partnership for Women and Families, this equates to an annual $9,982 more that men earn than women who work full-time year round. The gap only increases for women of color. Black women earn only 56 cents on the dollar. The same study by the National Partnership for Women and Families stated the average working woman in Mississippi would be able to afford 78 more weeks of food for her family, nine additional months of mortgage and utilities payments, 14 months of rent or 27 more months of child care if the pay gap was closed. For many, addressing equal pay at the state level is also a step in changing the
Courtesy Photo culture women face in the workforce. The new amendment also aims to give women more options in seeking justice when it comes to unfair pay.
According to Mississippi Today, Clarke said, “It only says that [women] get the same pay as the [men].“It also says that if that doesn’t happen,
[women] are eligible to file for compensation.” The bill now awaits approval from the Senate.
Resident Hall Association hosts second date auction Crystal Tolible printz reporter
On Feb. 8, the Resident Hall Association held its second annual “Grab a Date Before It’s Too Late” event in the RHA Center. The event was initially introduced last year when members of RHA wanted a way to raise money for charitable organizations around Hattiesburg such as Extra Table, Miss Amazing and Southern Miss’ own Eagle’s Nest Food Pantry. Students were auctioned off for a date with their candidate for one night only. “I think that it went better this year than it did last year,” senior broadcast journalism major and RHA member Cahlen Fogg said. “You know, it was our first time doing an event like this. We didn’t know if people would show up or if anyone would sign up, but it was a good turn out.” Dates ranged from a dinner and movie to a walk in the park. The most popular contestant happened to be one who offered a “Nugs and Hugs” date, which entailed a McDonald’s/ Chick-fil-A chicken nugget meal and an unlimited amount of hugs. The date raised $25. At the end of the night, the new couples participated in games like three-legged race and balloon popping to get rid of first date jitters. The RHA are not rookies when it comes to philanthropic efforts. In 2017, a tornado tore through the Hattiesburg and Petal areas, leaving people displaced from their homes and left with nothing. The RHA not only raised money for the victims, but also helped with cleanup efforts during weekends all year round. Members were also in charge of making sure that William Carey students felt at home at Southern Miss. Many William Carey students lost clothing and other personal belongings during the tornado. The RHA along with
Mattie Gray, Printz Two members of the Residence Hall Association at “Grab a Date Before It’s Too Late” on Feb. 8, 2018.
Greek Life helped organize a special drive around campus to help those students in need.
Other notable events organized by the RHA are their mental health talent show, The Ultimate
Extravaganza and Spirit Week. “We just want to do all we can to make Southern Miss enjoyable for
everyone here,” Fogg said. “You can definitely expect to see more of our events around campus this year.”
FEBRUARY 14, 2018
Micro Wrestling Federation packs a huge punch Caleb McCluskey printz reporter
ns packed the Dollar Box Showroom on Thursday to see the Micro Wrestling Federation’s group of dedicated performers. The Micro Wrestling Federation (MWF) has been moving around the country for 18 years, and there is no doubting its performers’ skills. Southern Miss alum Mark Uldrick said that he was extremely excited, and that he thinks most people would enjoy the show if they gave it a chance. Uldrick, along with the crowd, cheered and made every effort to engage with the performers. Jack Darrell, owner of the MWF, said there was nothing he would rather be doing. He began working with the Federation as a booking agent in 2006 until he finally purchased the company two years later. “I think people have a misconception that these guys aren’t legit athletes, and I find when people come and see the show and see their athletic ability they will be totally amazed,” Darrell said. “By the end of the night they will have a newfound respect for these little
people.” Jacob Brooks, aka “Lil Show,” has been wrestling professionally for 13 years and training all his life with his father and his brother, Jamie Brooks, who is also known as “Baby Jesus.” He enjoys his career, but it has taxed his body significantly as he had just had his fifth knee surgery. The message most of the wrestlers wanted people to know was that even though the wrestling is choreographed, there is still a great possibility of injury. Ryan Delisle, who goes by the stage name “Flying Ryan,” has been wrestling for four years. “A lot of people think wrestling is fake,” Delisle said. “‘They don’t really hurt each other.’ Accidents do happen. People think it is fake, but there are a lot of injuries that happen behind closed doors. We put our lives on the line to entertain these people.” BreAnnah “Little Miss” Belliveau is the only female of the group, but she loves her job. She said there are many pros and cons. Belliveau said that the support and respect she receives from children is very motivational. Belliveau did mention, though, that she wishes she had
Courtesy Photo another girl to spend time with on the road. MWF boasted some 250 shows last year in a multitude of venues
all around the country. The owner of the Dollar Box Showroom, Ben Shemper, said that of the three groups he has booked, the MWF was
the most professional. “They take their job very seriously. They’re the only [group] I will book from now on,” Shemper said.
Deadline for exchange programs approaches Hiba Tahir
managing editor March 1 is the deadline for all 2018-2019 international exchange programs. According to exchange coordinator Hannah Jones, these programs differ from typical study abroad programs in that they work for more majors and allow students more independence. “Through an exchange program, students have the chance to immerse themselves in the culture of their host country by being in classes, joining student organizations, and participating in events, just like any other student on [the partner university’s] campus,” Jones said. Other perks exchange students receive include 12 to 18 hours of Southern Miss credit per semester while paying only in-state tuition, an application fee and a program fee. Jones said that there are many benefits of studying abroad. “As cliché as it is, studying abroad is life-changing,” Jones said.“Not only is it going to help students discover themselves, but it is also going to help them gain valuable skills and experiences that they can articulate in their future job applications or graduate school personal statements.” Junior marketing major Gaby Alongia, who is currently at an exchange program with Keele University in the United Kingdom, said that studying abroad is very different from organizing a trip of your own. “If you go on a trip, you don’t truly experience the country,” Alongia said. “Studying abroad is such a unique experience that you won’t get to live at any other moment in your life. It has humbled me and made me realize that the world is much bigger than we think.” “All study abroad programs are beneficial to students’ personal growth, career aspirations, and
more,” Jones said. “However, semester [or] academic year international exchange programs intensify those benefits.” “Exchange students don’t just get a taste of the culture, they are living and breathing that culture for an entire semester or year,” Jones said. “They don’t have just a weekend or two to travel, they have a whole semester to find times to really explore the country they are in as well as nearby countries. If they are studying a language, instead of only having weeks to practice their language skills, they have months to use and perfect that language in their daily lives.” Junior Spanish major Collyn Bassett enjoyed a study abroad program in Jaen, Spain, where she had the opportunity to practice her Spanish skills among few English speakers. “In the beginning, it was very challenging,” Bassett said. “But in retrospect, I learned more than just another language there. I learned the value of communicating well and finding connections with people. Spending a semester in Jaen was the most challenging, rewarding and exciting thing I had ever done. Now I find myself accepting more challenges and encouraging other people to do the same.” Like Alongia, junior public relations major and Study Abroad Peer Advisor Emily Runnels spent last fall at Keele University. Runnels said that she would not trade her exchange experience for anything. “Living in a foreign country allowed me to see how others live while also enhancing my love for the United States and Southern Miss,” Runnels said. “I was able to go to 11 countries all while staying on track with my classes. I joined several societies and made friends from all over Europe and America and now whenever I want to go back I have a guaranteed couch to stay on.”
Junior English major Jack Hoda, who is currently studying abroad at the University of Exeter in Devon, England, said that meeting people has been the best part of his experience so far. “At Exeter, specifically, you have the opportunity to live in a complex full of other international students, so everyone is scrambling for friendship that first week,” Hoda said. “I love being able to have so many new experiences and meet amazing
humans from all over the world.” Hoda said that the cost of the exchange programs should not discourage interested students from applying. “It’s little more than you would be paying for tuition, room and board at Southern Miss for a semester, and there are tons of scholarships to apply for,” Hoda said. “Don’t let fears of finances get in your way of exploring what opportunities are out there,” Jones
Courtesy Photo Jack Hoda and his flatmates at Exeter Cathedral.
said. “If you are considering studying abroad even a small amount, take 15 minutes to come and talk to us in the Office of Study Abroad about your options.” As the first step in the application process, interested students can make an appointment with Jones at Hannah.L.Jones@usm.edu to figure out the right program for them.
FEBRUARY 14, 2018
2018 Pyeongchang Olympics brings unity Will Veazey printz reporter
On a frigid night in Pyongchang, the winter Olympics opening ceremony took place. The 2018 Olympics have been riddled with controversy as the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was in attendance at the opening ceremony. Mike Pence sat nearest to her, with the two never shaking hands. The ceremony itself was beautiful in its simplicity as the South Korean light show was absolutely awe-inspiring; however, it did not attempt to be as intense as the Beijing Olympics. To start the show, South Korean golfers Se Ri Pak, the woman who dominated women’s golf 20 years ago, and Inbee Park paraded in carrying the South Korean flag. The torch was carried into the stadium by figure skater Yuna Kim. She appeared out of the shadows, and other Korean athletes scaled the steps of the stadium to give the torch to her. The dance routine that followed was one of the most incredibly choreographed routines I have ever seen. The dancing was so precisely executed that it seemed as if they were robots. Symbolically, the show was intended to represent the values of peace and unity. The simplistic complexity of the show was indeed
powerful. As some may know, North and South Korea unified for these Olympic games and are competing as part of one unit. This hasn’t been done since before the two countries divided over 50 years ago. Politically, these Olympic games should be a huge step in the right direction for a unified Korea. The opening ceremony wasn’t without copious amounts of political tension though as Mike Pence and Kim Jong Un’s sister never shook hands or made eye contact throughout the entire show. The tension wouldn’t have been as noticeable if they hadn’t been sitting right next to each other. The opening ceremony was incredibly short this time around, which must have had almost everything to do with the frigid temperature of the night. The temperature didn’t bother Pita Taufatofua, Tongan Olympian, who competed in the last summer olympic games as a track and field runner, and who wasn’t wearing a shirt as he paraded into the stadium. Though Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un themselves didn’t come to the opening ceremony, two impersonators who look strikingly like them did come. They walked around the stadium together high-fiving, talking and acting like they were great friends. The impersonators garnered huge amounts of attention from fans. People
Courtesy Photo were shockingly turning their heads, completely believing it might actually be Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un. They were escorted out by security within minutes of making their walk around the stadium. Pictures of the
pair went viral almost immediately. The 2018 Olympics games have so far been set up to be an Olympics of new things. Multiple countries are making their first appearance at the games. San Marino, a country with a population of
only 32,000 people, has an athlete in the tournament. Nigeria sent their first athletes to the Winter Games this year to compete in bobsledding. If the games are anything like the opening ceremony, this Olympics promises to be exciting.
An open letter to the girl in the dorm room directly above mine: You, who have woken me from many a well-deserved nap, who have made it impossible to study, who are slowly driving me out of my alreadyhardlystable mind, are my only certain Valentine this February 14th, and you are probably too busy to realize it. You are probably working on an exercise regimen. I wonder if you also choose to eat salads, and if you feel bad about all the jumping. If you think the more you jump now, the less you’ll have to jump later. I think my immigrant parents come here with similar mindsets. I think my parents have since regretted it. I remember the day I, too, exercised (day, singular) I ordered some roller skates online yesterday— you would love them. White leather with sharp eyelets, crisp speed-hooks and an adjustable toe stop. Imagine how much more annoying You’d be in those? I realized, after living with the exact same P.O. box for four long, solitary years I have finally Finally Finally learned my address. Irony. Because it’ll be someone else’s in less than three months. Still, I relish the small things. The fact that I finally had the courage
To correct the guy at the Post Office When he butchered my brown-ass name. The fact that we will lift the box and wonder what’s within And his imagination will likely run wild. But you and I know— it is only my leather skates. Harmless to all but my own brown ass, who is currently sporting a bruised wrist, and an even-more-bruised ego. I never belonged to a clique. I was always the jumper of the group. Perhaps that’s why I’m covered in bruises. But I’m not entirely without fault. For the past several months, I [the victim, who hates to feel victimized] have been allegedly throwing a tennis ball at the ceiling in order to discourage you [the perpetrator, who is probably still c ompletely oblivious] from jumping. This is working as successfully as you might expect it to [as the knots under my hijab will prove]. Lately I’ve been hitting yellow lights only. I grit my teeth when I see them change, and I wonder what would happen if it turned red with me in the middle of the intersection And then I think about intersections. I think about the collisions that have made me, And I think of you— the girl upstairs— who has made me. “Closing time” by Semisonic is my favorite song. But I didn’t know that until yesterday, when I was forced to stop in an intersection, and my life flashed before my eyes, and I realized that I probably won’t ever know your name, but that I know, all too well that the concept of “closing time” doesn’t exist in your mind. It is entirely silent in my room most days. Silent until my inner voice is screaming. Silent until you begin your jumping. At times I think you are extension of me— the voice pounding ceaselessly
on the confines of my skull asking why I’m still here. Why I haven’t finished. In the 11th grade I heard Third Eye Blind’s “Jumper” for the first time. I have never desired to jump in that manner [Though I can’t say I haven’t briefly considered other methods.] The song helped encourage me to consider it [It’s an excruciatingly bad song.] Was that too much? I struggle, at all times, with being too much. I’ve been living in this dorm complex for four years and I wish at times that I could turn back time Because no matter where I choose to go next year, I’ll be on my own. There are places that I really really want to go, but I think my problem is so far, none of them outweigh my desire to really really stay. I wrote you, girl above me, this horrible poem Dedicated an entire column to it Because your RA couldn’t get you to stop jumping. And I thought I could take matters into my own hands. But I’ve realized now that it isn’t about the jumping. It was never about the jumping. Lately I’ve been dreaming about moving to New York. Literally, dreaming. I just pack my bags and escape in the night with no regard for school, no regard for family or friends. no regard for a summa cum laude degree. I’m standing at the top of the tallest skyscraper in a cool breeze. I am free And despite the excess of jumping in my waking life— despite your own intrusions, and my constant awareness of it— I don’t jump.
FEBRUARY 14, 2018
Nintendo announces ‘Mario Kart’ app, ‘Super Mario’ movie Carlton McGrone printz reporter
Following the success of Nintendo’s previous apps, the company recently announced “Mario Kart Tour” for mobile devices, which will launch sometime in March. Along with this, Nintendo decided to bring Mario to the big screen in his first animated film. Though there is no information besides the game’s name, Nintendo confirmed that “Tour” will be the next installment of its massive cartracer. After seeing the success of apps such as “Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp,” “Fire Emblem Heroes” and “Mario Run,” this announcement hardly comes as a surprise, considering Nintendo’s push into the mobile market. Fans of the series were hoping for another “Mario Kart” release on the company’s Nintendo Switch console, especially since the latest instalment “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” sold upwards of eight million copies. Despite this, there is an optimistic buzz around the project based on the quality of Nintendo’s previous apps. Lou Contaldi, a reporter at video game news site Dual Shockers,
found it odd that in the company’s announcement tweet, Nintendo referred to “Tour” as a “mobile application” rather than a game. Contaldi went on to say that this could be a subtle hint at something bigger to come for the Nintendo Switch with “Mario Kart Tour” serving as a peripheral app to the base game. “The checkered flag has been raised and the finish line is near. A new mobile application is now in development: Mario Kart Tour! #MarioKartTour Releasing in the fiscal year ending in March 2019,” Nintendo tweeted. Not only was “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” a best-seller for Nintendo but “Super Mario Odyssey,” the next main-line “Super Mario” game, sold 9 million units, according to an article on Game Spot. Following the “Odyssey” release, The New York Times reported a rumor that an animated Mario movie was in production, and Nintendo recently confirmed the suspicions. In another tweet, Nintendo announced that it will be working with Illumination Entertainment to create a Mario movie. Illumination was responsible for movies such as the “Despicable Me” franchise and
the “Minions” film. Considering the internet’s love-hate relationship with the Minions, fans are understandably cautious about the news. “Nintendo and Illumination are partnering on a movie starring Mario, co-produced by Shigeru Miyamoto [creator of ‘Mario’ and co-CEO of Nintendo of Japan] and Chris Meledandri [CEO of Illumination]!” Nintendo tweeted. This is not, however, Mario’s first movie. After the very underwhelming live-action “Super Mario Bros.” film, fans have been clamoring for a legitimate “Super Mario” movie, so there will be a great buzz around this film for some time. Beyond the initial announcement, there has been no news released on the upcoming film. The “Super Mario” film will be competing with Nintendo’s “Detective Pikachu” movie, which Courtesy Photo has no release date and little details beyond the casting of Ryan Reynolds as Pikachu. “Mario Kart Tour” will release on mobile devices in March 2019.
Exciting trailers drop during Super Bowl LII Carlton McGrone printz reporter
Along with the elaborate commercials viewers have come to expect from the Super Bowl advertisements, highly anticipated trailers also dropped, and they did not disappoint. Here are the biggest trailers released during Super Bowl LII. “Solo: A Star Wars Story” (May 25) “Solo,” possibly the biggest and most popular trailer to debut, gives audiences a taste of what to expect from everyone’s favorite smuggler. Much like trailers for the most recent “Star Wars” films, this trailer gives quick glimpses of the universe and its forces before giving what audiences have wanted all along: a look at a young Han Solo in action and CGI-riddled scenes of the iconic Millennium Falcon. “Avengers: Infinity War” (May 4) Starting with the well-known theme of the franchise, the “Infinity War” trailer managed to cram as many superheroes as possible into a 30-second spot. As the trailer proclaims, an entire universe will collide. With the villain Thanos closing out the trailer, fans are expecting huge things from this new addition. “Jurassic World: Final Kingdom” (June 22) Described as “downright terrifying” by The Verge writer Bryan Bishop, “Fallen Kingdom’s” trailer seemed to provide fans of the widely popular “Jurassic World” with the haunting yet adventurous atmosphere of the original films. The trailer begins with the
silhouette of a dinosaur creeping into the bedroom of its sleeping prey and ends with chilling scenes of deadly stampedes. “Mission Impossible: Fallout” (July 7) Same Tom Cruise, same insane stunts, different city. Entering its sixth film, this franchise seems to have no plans of slowing down at all. The first full trailer for “Fallout” introduces viewers to the next impossible mission that Cruise and company face. There are fist fights, motorcycle chase scenes and helicopter stunts galore. This promises to be yet another enjoyable impossible mission. “Tom Clancy’s: Jack Ryan” (Aug. 31) In 2016, Amazon announced a series based on one of Tom Clancy’s most prominent characters, Jack Ryan. The shocking twist that no one expected was John Krasinski being casted as the titular character. Even more surprising, Krasinski looks to be a stellar CIA agent despite the lacking trailer. However, there’s still no telling how this adaptation will live up to the beloved novel series it’s based on. “Skyscraper” (July 13) Dwayne Johnson stars in yet another action film that’s sure to be preceded by multiple sequels and spin-offs. As skyscraper security, Johnson must rescue his family from the 240th floor for unexplained reasons, and there are a ton of bullets and explosions to keep viewers entertained. From the 45-second trailer, “Skyscraper” seems to be heavily inspired by the acclaimed film “Die Hard.”
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FEBRUARY 14, 2018
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Rich Brian’s ‘Amen’ tells the story of the 18-year-old’s come-up Carlton McGrone printz reporter
Launching his career, like most young artists, Brian Imanuel began making rap videos on YouTube beginning in early 2016. Two years and 85 million views later, he launched his first record and it’s one of the best rap albums I’ve ever heard. Rich Brian, previously known as Rich Chigga, had a very eventful 2017, producing several popular videos and featuring with mainstream artists such as 21 Savage and Offset. Following his eventful name change with one of
his most popular songs “See Me,” Brian announced the album on the first day of 2018. A day later, Brian made history as the first Asian artist to reach #1 on the ITunes hip-hop chart. “HISTORY. @richbrian is the first Asian artist in history, to ever reach #1 on the ITunes Hip Hop Chart,” 88rising, the company to which Brian is signed, tweeted. “This has been the best day of my life,” Brian tweeted hours after the release of “Amen.” A few days after the album’s release, Brian did an interview with Billboard. Brian talked about his name change and how he intends
to portray himself throughout the future. “Rich Chigga isn’t me anymore,” Brian said. “Being in the United States made me realize that I wanted to [make the] change. I wanted to go a certain way with my music, a certain direction. It just felt right… It’s pretty hard as an Asian rapper to not be put in a box. I do my best to avoid that. I’m finding new ways to make things catchy. I’m just trying to be more versatile.” After all, his previous stage name was a creation of 2016 internet culture and was used to portray the more childish, joking side of Brian. With the release of the controversial
song “Dat $tick,” in which Brian drops the N word, he was seen as mocking rap culture. Despite this, in a video on the 88rising YouTube channel, several popular rap artists complimented Brian on his boldness and the flow of his lyrics. As one may guess from the name change and the subject matter of his latest lyrics, “Amen” is intended to serve as a sort of rebirth for the young rapper. “Amen,” the first song on the album, gives an overview of his life up to current day. Brian utilizes his talent in fast-paced rapping to tell listeners about his headspace and even references how he learned fluid English through
watching YouTube videos. Moving through the other 13 tracks, Brian gives interesting accounts of his love life, tells how his sudden fame has affected his social life and even gives a play-by-play of the trials of losing his virginity in a catchy, intense tune. “I produced like 95 percent of it [‘Amen’],” Brian said in an interview with Vulture. “I’ve been really inspired by Drake [and] Kendrick Lamar. I’m definitely going to keep working on songs, nonstop. And I want to get into acting…I feel like acting is what I really wish to do.” “Amen” is available now on ITunes and Spotify.
Trump threatens another government shutdown over immigration Vivian O’Neal printz reporter
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America was built on the idea of achieving the American Dream: creating a better life for yourself and your loved ones through opportunity and hard work. However, for hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants, their dream of remaining in the United States could become a nightmare. The week of Feb. 6, 2018, President Donald Trump threatened another government shutdown over the issue of immigration. “If we don’t change this legislation, if we don’t get rid of these loopholes ... if we don’t change it, let’s have a shutdown,” Trump said, according to ABC News. “I’d love to see a shutdown if we don’t get this stuff taken care of,” Trump said to law enforcement officials. Trump’s feelings on the issue are no secret. The Republican Party has allowed him the power to be the voice of the party. There is no way to comprehend how frightening it is to know that your fate is in the hand of those who do not even know who you are. Can politicians
notsee that they are playing games with people’s lives? The Deferred Action f o rChildhood Arrivals has been an issue for many years, but over the last couple of months, it has become political volleyball. With passions high on the left and on the right, the question must be asked: Are these politicians thinking about the individuals or their political opponents? Washington D.C. has changed dramatically in the past 20-25 years, so it’s becoming a challenge to figure out if that is because of immigration or because of clashing political parties. Is it too much to ask of our elected officials to share some common beliefs? While it is noble to have politicians care deeply about an issue, Republicans and Democrats are using those who fall under DACA to be a political bargaining chip. Both parties feel strongly about their beliefs and the immigrants are the ones caught in the middle. It has slowly become more about using these immigrants as a pawn in a disagreement so that one party can win the argument, rather than focusing on the actual individual and their situation at hand. In November of 2017, Senate
Democrats were discussing the possibility of a government shutdown over immigration. In Washington D.C., it is all about leverage. Both CNN and Politico discuss California Democratic Senator Kamala Harris stating her lack of support for a spending bill that left out DACA. Although the government was eventually shut down, the leverage the Democrats thought they had, gained them nothing. There were no changes to the DACA regulations. There is a deadline on March 5 for the “Dreamers.” Trump has the most influence to help the immigrants, but he wants them out. Thousands and thousands of immigrants now call America home. The dream they have that is only found in the United States rests in the hands of one who was and is willing to take whatever means necessary to remove them from the only home that some have ever known. A decision is coming down the road before long. Will it be a dream come true or will it be a nightmare, further dividing our country. Our political leaders should not use immigrants as a pawn in a game, but remember the most important part of the equation happens to be human.
FEBRUARY 14, 2018
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Kenyatta Ross, Printz
Golden Eagles bounce back at home against Charlotte, 72-54 Grant Chighizola printz reporter
After losing their first home game of the season on Feb. 8 against the Old Dominion Monarchs, the Southern Miss Men’s basketball team (13-13 ,6-7 C-USA) bounced back against the Charlotte 49ers (518, 1-11) with a win on Saturday at Reed Green Coliseum. The Golden Eagles got ahead of the 49ers early in the contest, relying on early Charlotte fouls and turnovers to gain an early lead.
Though they maintained a lead for the entire first half, the team had trouble offensively against the Charlotte defense, converting only 38.2 percent of their shots offensively, including only 2-of-12 three-point attempts. Charlotte also grabbed 15 defensive rebounds in the half, denying the Golden Eagles many opportunities for second-chance points. After trailing the Golden Eagles 24-12 with 3:32 left to play in the first half, the 49ers offense found a
spark, outscoring Southern Miss 12-6 the rest of the way to make it a 30-24 contest heading to halftime. Guard Cortez Edwards led the way with 10 points and seven rebounds for the Golden Eagles in the first half. “[We] thought the game was going to be a little easier than I knew it would be,” Head Coach Doc Sadler said. “They’ve [Charlotte] played everybody close.” Southern Miss got things back on track in the second half, however. The team shot 48.1 percent overall
and 50 percent from the three–point line in the second half, scoring 42 points on their way to the 72-54 victory. Seven more turnovers and 10 Charlotte fouls proved to be the difference in generating and keeping positive momentum for the Golden Eagles in the half. Edwards and Magee led the team with 12 points apiece, followed by Ladavius Draine, who had three big three-pointers for the team in the second half and finished with 10 points on the night. With five games left to play in
the regular season, guard D’Angelo Richardson believes that this win is an important confidence-builder. “We’re trying to get the momentum going back towards positive [momentum] and winning,” Richardson said. “This is a good start for us.” The Golden Eagles will look to get their second straight home win when they take on Middle Tennessee in the third game of a four-game home stand on Feb. 15. Tipoff at Reed Green Coliseum is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Runs hard to come by in Golden Eagles 0-4 start Andrew Abadie printz reporter
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It was a tough weekend for Southern Miss softball team as they had to battle rain delays and lastminute defensive changes because of injuries. Unfortunately, the Golden Eagles could not overcome the diversity as they left the Tiger Classic with an 0-4 start to the season. “Lot of stopping and lot of starting, the weekend was just really choppy,” Head Coach Wendy Hogue said. “I feel like that kind of explains our team, we’d get going and get hot and then get cold. We just have to figure a way out to stay hot for seven straight innings.” The defensive suffered two injuries just before the start of the weekend. Infielders, Heather Hill tore her ACL a week before the tournament and Chase Nelson missed the weekend due to a quad injury. This forced several freshman and other members of the team to play positions that they haven’t practiced. Despite the setback, the infield played well with the lack of personnel but the outfield and infield still had rocky moments as they posted eight errors in the opening weekend. Freshman Rebekah DiLavore was forced to move to shortstop and
freshman “Tata” Davis was forced to play third base, a position she had not practiced in until several days prior. While first and second base saw a rotation between Sarah Van Schaik, Karley Nicholls and Jamie Powell. “I thought the left side of our infield played great defense,” Hogue said. “I thought Tata and Rebekah had great weekends. I thought Jamie Powell did a good job. She played second base until about three days before we got on the bus to come here.” Errors were not the only issue as the offense struggled, being outscored 22-7. The offense only gathered 18 hits the entire weekend but despite the low number the hits became more consistent as the tournament progressed. The team had zero hits against Massachusetts but finished with eight against Syracuse. Notably, Davis now has a three-game hitting streak which was key in salvaging the offense. “Lot of things exposed, lot of good and a lot of bad,” Hogue said. “Unfortunately, we just couldn’t put a full game together. I thought my pitchers did well, we had a lapse in defense and we didn’t get timely hits. A lot of good things, but we just have to do a whole lot more of those good things if we are going to win some ball games.”