Monday, February 2, 2017 Volume 101 Issue 32
student printz SERVING SOUTHERN MISS SINCE 1927
www.studentprintz.com
USM doles out sanctions to 25 SAE men Police report states five witnesses attest to sexual assault
Cam Bonelli | Printz The Sigma Alpha Epsilon house, home to approximately 30 fraternity members, was the location of the party in which a person alleged sexual assault on Oct. 29, 2016.
CAM BONELLI
executive editor
The University of Southern Mississippi completed its review of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter – with 25 of the approximately 30 members receiving various sanctions, according to Vice Provost and Vice President for Student Affairs Tom Burke. “With the assistance of the SAE National Office, the local Alumni Advisory Board and the Office of Greek Life, the fraternity has undergone a membership review that has resulted in five members being expelled from the fraternity, five members being placed on early alum [or] inactive status and 15 members being placed on probation,” Burke said. One case has been referred to the university’s Title IX Office – which handles sexual misconduct on campus – for its review, according to USM Chief Communications Officer Jim Coll. The University Police Department has made no arrests, and no charges have been filed at this time, according to Assistant Director for Media Relations Van Arnold. “SAE members in good standing are allowed to remain residents of the fraternity house,” Arnold said. The university’s investigation of the Oct. 29, 2016 incident produced no
medical evidence of other substances besides alcohol, according to Burke. “Individual violations of the Code of Conduct and other university policies discovered during the course of the investigation continue to be addressed through established university processes,” Burke said. However, police reports obtained by The Student Printz through a public records request suggest other misconduct. One discloses possession of alcohol by minors 18 - 20 years of age. Another reports five witnesses alleging that sexual assault was committed against one female student – who was seen taking a small white pill given to her by an SAE member. Witnesses in both reports alleged five sorority members who attended the party became ill and sought treatment at the emergency room. The names of individuals involved in the investigations are protected by the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and cannot be made public. USM Associate General Counsel Paul Walters wrote in response to the Printz request “numerous specific redactions in the report as well as entire pages” were redacted to protect the identities of individuals involved. “These redactions were necessary to protect the victims, witnesses and the accused – all of whom are students at USM,” Walters wrote. “There are
a number of required protections afforded to students enrolled at USM as well as exemptions in the Public Records act which affect this production.” According to the report filed on Oct. 30 at approximately 2:30 p.m., the mother of a USM student “advised [UPD Lt. Chris Graves] that her daughter went to an SAE party on Fraternity Row on 10/29/16 at approximately 2230 hours” and further stated that her daughter as well as “several other females consumed one alcoholic drink.” She said “after her daughter consumed the drink, she [did] not remember the rest of the night.” According to a report filed on Oct. 30, 2016, students contacted UPD Lt. Jared Pierce and advised him that their roommate “had possibly been sexual[ly] assaulted at the SAE fraternity house on Oct. 29, 2016.” “They further advised Lt. Pierce that [redacted name] was seen taking a small white pill given to her by an SAE member,” the report stated. “They added that she was later found by [redacted name] in an SAE members room ... lying in a bed unconscious.” The report stated that the victim’s friends searched for her after they were informed that the victim “was going to ‘make out’ with a guy in his room.” When the friends arrived, an unknown male was present in the
room while the victim was “semiconscious, wearing a black dress, [with] no clue as to [her] whereabouts and appeared to have been drugged.” Her friends checked on her periodically through the night, and when the victim awoke, “she had no recollection of the previous evening,” according to the report. The victim’s friends reported that the victim experienced “nausea then tingling in her limbs – eventually to where she could not walk.” The friend informed police that “they believed another female had been sexually assaulted as well.” The victim reported having physical sexual trauma and “agreed to go to the hospital for a sexual assault exam.” According to the police report, “the victim’s sexual assault kit was transported to the Mississippi Crime Lab for processing” on Nov. 7, 2016. Following the police reports, the university suspended SAE from campus activities after the alleged misconduct at the party, according to Coll. Burke and Associate Executive Director of Chapter Development for National Offices of SAE began conducting an extensive membership review and suspended activities of the chapter pending investigation results on Dec. 5, 2016, according to a letter sent to Greek Life leaders. On Dec. 8, 2016, Southern Miss Dean of Students
Eddie Holloway sent a letter outlining sanctions against the fraternity for two violations of the Code of Student Conduct to the Mississippi Sigma Chapter of SAE. “Those violations were: (1) vandalism of University property and (2) violation of the University’s alcohol and drug policy related to the presence of ‘community alcohol,’’’ Burke said. “The investigation of the chapter and any individuals affected did not produce medical evidence of other substances besides alcohol.” Burke said in addition to various sanctions against individuals, the Mississippi Sigma Chapter “continues to undergo a continuous improvement plan that incorporates the fraternity’s ‘True Gentleman Experience,’ individual member accountability through a working Chapter Standards Board and a renewed approach to new-member recruitment.” “The office of Greek Life will continue to monitor the chapter’s progress and will make recommendations to the Dean of Students concerning the future of chapter activities at the end of the 2017 spring semester,” Burke said. “The Dean of Students Office will continue to monitor the developments and will respond according to the guidelines of the Code of Student Conduct as we work to resolve this matter and improve our Greek Life system.”
2
INTRODUCTION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2017
Meet the Staff Fall 2016 Cam Bonelli
Executive Editor
catherine.bonelli@usm.edu
Jack Hammett
Managing Editor
jesse.hammett@usm.edu
Kaitlyn Watkins News Editor
kaitlyn.watkins@usm.edu
FIND US ON THE WEB The Student Printz @studentprintz studentprintz.com
Hiba Tahir
Entertainment Editor
hiba.tahir@usm.edu
Julius Kizzee Sports Editor
southernprintz@gmail.com
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.
Daisy Stutts
Photo Editor
daisy.hunt@usm.edu
Jhaimee Bullock Design Editor
jhaimee.bullock@usm.edu
Sarah Anne Schloemer Web Master
sarah.schloemer@usm.edu
Nan Beauti
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.
Copy Editor
afnan.beauti@usm.edu
Amber Cobbins Printz Designer
amber.cobbins@usm.edu
The printz website is down for maintenance. We applogize for any inconviences.
Chuck Cook
Printz Advisor
chuck.cook@usm.edu studentprintz.com
Send your ads to printzad@usm.edu
NEWS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2017
3
Organization empowers minority students MADISON ETHRIDGE
printz reporter
On Jan. 25, The University of Southern Mississippi officially approved the Queens Uplifted organization, helmed by President Imani Harris and Vice President Maya Rex. The organization’s Facebook page describes it as “dedicated to exploring womanhood and the intersections at which it exists in black women.” Rex defined the mission statement of the group as “black women existing unapologetically, creating safe spaces and supporting each other in every facet of their lives.” Harris said she hopes to “create a better community of black women on campus.” Rex said she looks forward to “creating spaces of inclusion and understanding, taking in every perspective possible.” While the organization already has more than 80 members on its roster, Harris and Rex said they welcome newcomers of every race and gender. Though there are requirements
Courtesy Photo | for leadership positions (including a cabinet and committees), the only requirement for membership is “to come as you are,” Rex said.
“Membership is open to everyone – black women don’t exist in isolation.” “Our intention was never only
black women exploring black women,” Harris said. The duo said they do not plan to actively “recruit” members; they said they believe in simply existing and allowing their presence on campus to draw like-minded new members. Queens Uplifted began as the brain-child of Harris about two years ago. A year later, she and Rex shared a casual conversation about the possibility of forming the group. The conversation led to serious planning and the creation of the current organization. The cabinet members met informally several times during the planning stages and held their first official meeting Jan. 30. Harris said she originally dreamed of “filling a void” and creating a space specially dedicated to celebrating black women’s lives and accomplishments. “[The reason wasn’t] necessarily current events but living life as a black woman and feeling the need to dismantle stereotypes of black women,” Harris said. Harris and Rex later approached
Ebony Jackson, now in charge of the group’s campus relations, about a leadership position. According to its members, Queens Uplifted plans to work with other organizations on campus while still distinguishing themselves and highlighting what they have to offer that other groups do not. “I think this organization has so much power and potential to make a statement: We exist, we are here and we are just as important,” Jackson said. “We shouldn’t have to justify or apologize for a space of our own. We should be asking ‘What took so long?’” Queens Uplifted is currently developing a structure for leadership within the group and planning events. Students interested can keep up with the group’s activity by liking the Queens Uplifted page on Facebook and following the group on Instagram at @queensuplifted. The group is also open to questions and can be reached by e-mail at queensuplifted@gmail.com.
Students ‘cultivate’ interest in sustainable farming KELLY BRAMBHATT
printz reporter
This semester, The University of Southern Mississippi’s Horticulture Club founded the Southern Miss Community Garden to promote environmental advocacy and as an experiment in sustainable urban farming. The idea for the garden came to USM juniors Sara Watts and Grace Fuller last July. Watts and Fuller, who have been friends since preschool, both wanted to apply their majors to the project. Watts, a geography and sustainable development major, acts as the Horticulture Club president and Community Garden coordinator. Fuller is an Environmental Biology major. “Instead of growing outward, wasting acres and acres of land and tons of water, you can grow up and actually not have much waste at all,” Watts said. “Community gardens allow people to learn about different types of vegetables – their nutrition improves, and their overall health improves.” Fuller, an environmental biology major, said she is generating interest for the garden to get more people connected to nature. “People go in the grocery store and don’t really think about it, but all the food that you get is wrapped in plastic and not natural,” Fuller said. “People don’t think about the processes that it took for that food to get to their plate, because we
Courtesy Photo | all live in such a fast-paced world that knowing where our food came from and who picked our food is not as important.” Watts said the project was important to her and her partner. “This community garden means the world to both myself and my partner, Grace Fuller,” Watts said. Members of the Horticulture Club and volunteers from the USM Center for Community and Civic Engagement built a fence around the perimeter of the garden Jan. 28 as its first related project. “Thank you to our officers, volunteers and the USM Center for Community and Civic Engagement for all of their help with getting this event out to the public,” Watts
wrote in a Facebook post. “We are so excited for events to come and the positive impact that we will have on the USM campus and in the community.” Contributions to the Southern Miss Community Garden can count as community service hours, for students interested. The Southern Miss Community Garden is now accepting donations for gardening equipment, construction tools and painting supplies. Watts said the garden is cash donations as well as looking for sponsorships from local businesses “We are accepting sponsors as well, and actively trying to gain any sort of help, Watts said. “With the
proper funds, we can do so many amazing things with our garden.” Community members interested in donating or finding out more about the community garden may
contact Watts at sara.watts@usm. edu or Fuller at mary.fuller@usm. edu. More information can be found on the Southern Miss Community Garden Facebook page.
4
NEWS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2017
Community gathers for refugees, immigrant vigil HIBA TAHIR
entertainment editor On Jan. 30, Southern Miss alumnus and Spectrum Center volunteer Taylor Vines brought hundreds of students, faculty, staff and community members to Shoemaker Square in protest of President Trump’s ban on immigrants and refugees. The protest took the form of a solemn vigil, where participants carried candles and signs that showed disdain for the administration and its actions and support for the affected communities. Vines had the idea for the event after asking his Facebook friends if anything similar had been planned in Hattiesburg. “When people said the closest one was in New Orleans, I knew I had to organize one here,” Vines said. “I assembled some activists at the Spectrum Center Sunday night, and we planned out the vigil.” Vines said he believes most people in Hattiesburg want to feel safe and that they want others to be safe as well. A recent executive order from the White House has temporarily banned travel from seven Muslim-majority countries. The ban has sparked protests around the country and raised a number of legal questions, including whether or not it “violates the 1965 immigration law, the right to due process and the First Amendment clause that bars Congress from establishing a religion, among other
Carly Snyder | Printz Two USM students light candles before the vigil to honor refugees, immigrants and Muslims on Monday, Jan. 30, 2016. things,” according to National Public prove to be impactful in the long run. them. Also, they ask others who Radio. “Actions like the vigil serve two might not agree with us to take a Vines, who graduated from USM purposes,” he said. “They remind moment to think about why they with a degree in History, believes people affected by the ban and the believe what they believe.” that demonstrations like the vigil will wall that we see them and stand with During the vigil, participants
listened to various speakers, yelled protest chants and sang protest songs. Senior chemistry major Wisam Beauti, who serves as president of USM’s Muslim Student Association, spoke at the event. “I was delighted to see the amount of support and political awareness of so many people in the Pine Belt,” Beauti said. “It was inspiring and very heartwarming.” Beauti said she hopes the vigil served as a “positive stepping stone” that will result in “a more educated, active and accepting society.” “I predict more people will take it upon themselves to become more educated about Islam, immigration laws and other political topics dictating our daily lives,” she said. Vines said events like the vigil can increase knowledge and serve two purposes. “[These events] remind people affected by the ban and the wall and that we see them and stand with them,” he said. “Also, they ask others who might not agree with us to take a moment to think about why they believe what they believe.” Vines said he wants those affected by the recent executive actions to know they have his support. “I will do whatever I can to combat bigotry and discrimination against people based on their race, religion or country of origin,” he said. “After [the event], I think that a lot of other Hattiesburgers and Golden Eagles will too.”
USM student stranded overseas due to executive order HIBA TAHIR
entertainment editor President Donald Trump issued an executive order Jan. 27 that will suspend new refugee admissions for 120 days and will ban travelers from the Muslimmajority countries of Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia for 90 days, with refugees from Syria banned indefinitely. The order had far-reaching and immediate effects nationwide, including in The University of Southern Mississippi, which has six international students from the affected countries. Suzanne Omran, director of International Student and Scholar Services at USM, said in a statement to Mississippi Today that one of those six students affected by the order is now unable to travel to the United States to begin attending class. “That is especially concerning to me,” Blake Feldman, USM alumnus and Advocacy Coordinator for Criminal Justice Reform at the ACLU of Mississippi, said. “I believe that the university should more fully and transparently inform the Southern Miss community what exactly the administration is doing to support these students. If more can be done, there is limited time.” Feldman cited a temporary
injunction blocking the deportation of anyone, including enrolled students with valid visas, from the seven Muslim countries legally authorized to enter the U.S. “District Judge Burroughs granted a temporary restraining order on Jan. 29 preventing the U.S. Government from even detaining ‘holders of valid immigrant and nonimmigrant visas ... and other individuals from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen who, absent the executive order, would be legally authorized to enter the United States,’” Feldman said. “That order is temporary and will remain in effect until Feb. 5. Although Darweesh and Tootkaboni didn’t concern individuals who had not yet arrived in the U.S., the orders stay the ban, and thus, if individuals can arrive in the U.S. In the next few days, they will be protected by the orders.” Feldman said he is not suggesting that the university give any of the six students false assurances that there will be no complications. “Undeniably, the past few days have been chaotic, and the coming days will likely be no different,” he said. “However, should the student who is still abroad still want to study at Southern Miss and contribute to its diverse culture that makes it great, I want to know that the university has not failed to inform him
or her of the option, and I want to know that the university has offered assistance while the executive order is stayed.” Feldman said if the affected student is being prevented from boarding his or her flight here, he or she should be
assist the student in this unique and unforeseeable situation, the student should be provided contact information for the ACLU or similar organizations. Someone from the Southern Miss community should be waiting at the
I believe that the university should more fully and transparently inform the Southern Miss community what exactly the administration is doing to support these students. If more can be done, there is limited time.” -Blake Feldman USM alumnus and Advocacy Coordinator for ACLU
encouraged to carry copies of the courts’ decisions in Darweesh and Tootkaboni. “Be prepared to explain to airline personnel that there is currently no ban in effect and the U.S. Government cannot send [him or her] back on arrival,” Feldman said. “If USM’s legal counsel cannot be made available to
port of entry just in case CBP officers violate the court orders.” Feldman’s concern arose because he was not sure whether the university was “advocating for the student or just sitting back and letting the student decide whether to attempt to travel to the U.S.” “Given legal victories over the
weekend that are temporary, there is a narrow window of time for the student,” said Feldman, who felt defeated Saturday morning as he read about the Muslim ban but encouraged as he watched, via social media, as protest crowds grew at John F. Kennedy. “Witnessing millions mobilize within a day to file briefs and flood airports encouraged [me] in a way that I’ve needed for months,” Feldman said. “So Monday night when I read that a foreign Muslim student, blindsided by an unconstitutional executive order, was suddenly unable to study at southern Miss, I wanted to help. An hour or so later, I learned that a vigil had taken place at the fountain on campus.” Feldman said the vigil was fitting. “My first exposure to human rights and social justice was as a student at Southern Miss, and I’ll always be grateful for the privilege of being a part of that community for four wild but formative years,” he said. “I desperately want Southern Miss to be the community I’ve always thought it to be, but for that to be the case the university must demonstrate that it will do whatever it can to make sure a student it granted admission can make it to Hattiesburg in what could be the last week for a while that our country allows lawful entry for Muslims from seven seemingly arbitrary nations.”
5
ENTERTAINMENT THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2017
HIBA TAHIR
entertainment editor Ah, spring, when a young college student’s fancy turns to activism. Unless you’re living under a rock, you’ve been inundated for the past several months
with images in your feeds of passionate protests and counterprotests, walks and marches. The people involved in these sorts of things – contrary to what the media sometimes shows – like to smile. If you ever plan to attend, be prepared to have sore cheeks for hours to
follow and maybe don’t bring up the fact that your entire social media presence revolves around self-deprecating humor. After all, successful protesting is centered on empowerment, and empowered people don’t joke about self-combustion. You might be surprised to learn that I, too, have dabbled in the art of peaceful demonstrations and my fair share of posed pictures with Refugee-approved Starbucks cups. I, too, have witnessed the powerful transformation brought about by the deep, emotionally-fulfilling experience of working with large groups of people for a common noble cause. I’ve learned some important things along the way. Although, none are as personally jarring as my realization that if I attend such an event in smalltown Mississippi, I’ll likely be the only hijabi there. When anyone is the only anything anywhere, they become the token version of that thing. Now, I’m making it a point to be more optimistic in 2017. So, even though this realization makes my mind wander back to my horrifying days – of being the only hijabi in my elementary, middle and high schools – I’m going to try to focus on the positive. Believe it or not, there are benefits to being the token hijabi. First, if you stop breathing (as so many of my classmates were concerned I’d do when I wrapped my hijab too tightly),
you’ll receive immediate medical attention because everyone’s already staring. Second, when they ask you outlandish personal questions preceded by the inevitable “I’m not trying to say anything, but …” you can answer in any way you want. It’s like Tinder trolling in person! Obviously, this one doesn’t necessarily hold true in the midst of a protest. For one thing, people at protests tend to not antagonize their fellow protesters and are generally quite apt at searching the web for answers to the more obvious questions. One thing I’ve noticed about protesters is that they tend to be quite nice – if, sometimes, in backhanded ways. There’s nothing quite like walking by a group of boys and hearing the
words “Middle Eastern” and then “yeah, but she’s pretty though,” or being told, “You’re the best Pakistani speaker/ writer/organizer I’ve ever known!” By someone who only knows you and Nawaz Sharif. Still, all in all, I quite enjoy exercising my American right to complain, and I can think of no better time than now, when so many things I care deeply about have been threatened, to do it. If there’s one upside to the political upheaval we’ve experienced in these past few months, it’s my realization that there are a lot of good, passionate people in this world who refuse to go down without a fight. And that’s something I’d “swipe right” on any day.
6
OPINION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2017
Facebook algorithms combat fake news TICHINA WILSON
printz reporter
Have you ever wondered what spreads fake news? Well, algorithms are part of it. According to BBC.com, juicyyet-false stories that grow popular can be pushed out to new eyeballs by the software that runs social networks. We’re all familiar with fake news, wittingly or otherwise. In fact, fake news was widely spread during the 2016 presidential election. Some internet and journalists have argued that fake news contributed to the election’s outcome.
But sites like Facebook and Google have plans to eliminate the ways that makes bogus news profitable. Facebook users can pitch in to help the cause: By clicking on the upper-right-hand corner of a post, a user can report a suspicious story. A team of fact-checkers will then follow the report and examine the news. If found to be fake, the post will be flagged as “disputed by third-party-fact-checkers” and attached to the story within the news feed. Now that you know how to combat fake news on Facebook,
Courtesy Photo | be sure to tell your friends and relatives as well. It is also essential to check a
story’s source for credibility. In addition, Facebook has once again changed its trending algorithms. Personal preferences are now a thing of the past. “Facebook will no longer be personalized based on someone’s interests,” Facebook stated in a press release. “Everyone in the same region will see the same topics.” As of now, a region is considered a country, so everyone in the United States should see the same trends. The new algorithm will lower the possibility of fraudulent articles to trend because it will look at “the
number of publishers that are posting articles on Facebook about the same topic,” accounting for coverage by multiple news outlets, Facebook wrote. Let’s hope this works, because fake news content producers are quick to adapt to social media rule changes. According to the New York Times, fake news is spread “from misinformed social media posts by regular people that are seized on and spread through a hyper partisan blogosphere [sic].” Facebook’s new algorithm is being received positively.
Emmett Till: Bryant admits lies ALYSSA BASS
printz reporter
With four convenient locations to serve you: 6524 US Hwy 98 West Hattiesburg, MS 39402
551 Eagle Day Avenue Columbia, MS 39429
5003 Hardy Street Suite 350 Hattiesburg, MS 39402
1242 Highway 29 North Ellisville, MS 39437
Services Include: ° ° ° ° ° ° °
Routine Examinations Birth Control Counseling and Management Premenstrual Syndrome Management Treatment for Painful Menstrual Cycles HPV Vaccinations STD Screening Cosmetic Services such as Skin Care & Skin Care Facial Peels ° CoolSculpting© (601) 268-9393 www.womenspavilionms.com
On Thursday, Jan. 26, news broke that Carolyn Bryant, the white woman who accused black 14-year-old Emmett Till of whistling at her in 1955, confessed in 2007 that she lied. Because she revealed the truth too late, Emmett Till died after being beaten, shot and sunk in the Tallahatchie River. I think we all knew – at least the black kids in class knew – the moment we learned about Till’s tragic death that this woman lied. I do not remember learning Bryant’s name, and I suppose her name did not matter. The fact that she was a white woman in 1955 with a racist husband, Roy Bryant, whose halfbrother, J.W. Milam, hastily hunted for this black boy was enough to make me suspicious. In 1955 white people actually took “crying wolf” seriously. Black people – no matter their age – were the wolves continuously being hunted. The white hunters required no proof of “wolf sightings or attacks.” Simply claiming that you saw one was enough for the community hunters to deliver a death sentence not only for the community’s recognition but also to serve as a warning for other wolves near the area. Because Till’s mother chose to show the mutilation of her son at his funeral, Jet, an African-American magazine, published the story and gave the Till family national attention, which led to the trial. Carolyn Bryant took an oath on the stand and told the same story to the jury that she had told to her husband – despite emotional testimonies from eyewitnesses who had seen Roy Bryant and Milam kidnap Till and claim that they had received death threats. The all-white jury discussed Milam and Bryant’s verdict for only one hour and declared the men not guilty of Till’s murder due to the state failing in proving that the body belonged to Till. A juror said, “We wouldn’t have taken so long if we hadn’t stopped to drink pop.”
Courtesy Photo | Till became one of the motivations for the Civil Rights Movement. Myrlie Evers, Medgar Evars wife, explained in a 1985 interview why Till sparked national attention. She said,”[his death] shook the foundations of Mississippi— both black and white, because . . . with the white community . . . it had become nationally publicized . . . with us as blacks . . . it said, even a child was not safe from racism and bigotry and death.” I wonder if Carolyn Bryant felt remorse during or immediately after the trial. I wonder because she chose to confess her lies decades years later to a stranger, Timothy Tyson. Tyson is the author of new book The Blood of Emmett Till and senior research scholar at Duke University. According to Tyson, Bryant approached him and offered to be interviewed. According to Tyson, she had clearly changed her views on white supremacy and said, “Nothing that boy did could ever justify what happened to him.” I wonder how it felt for Bryant to admit a lie that cost a black boy his life – presumably in the comfort of her own home. I wonder how it felt to get away with perjury and go into hiding.
Some believe that she should be arrested, and I see why: so that justice will be served and Bryant will serve her time in jail for the rest of her life. I am conflicted on where I stand on the issue. On one hand, I partially agree with Mississippians who are urging Governor Phil Bryant to publicly condemn his aunt and even support her arrest. To show disapproval of the past, corrupt Mississippi court system and assure Mississippians that government officials work to benefit all Mississippians would possibly be significant to black Americans. But I cannot tell you how trusting they would be of his words. Personally, it would not make me feel better if she served her time in jail. Her rotting away in jail will not change the fact that she caused Till’s death, and even if she was arrested, my celebration would be short-lived. wI am frankly more concerned about present issues than I am with a case that occurred decades ago. For now, I think we can let this one old, white lady slide as we deal with present injustices and attempt to take our country back from President Donald Trump and his team of white supremacists.
7
SPORTS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2017
Southern Miss signs Class of ‘17 JULIUS KIZZEE
sports editor
The Golden Eagle football program announced its latest recruiting class, signing 24 high school and junior college prospects to join Southern Miss. “I always talk about Southern Miss guys,” said Head Coach Jay
Hopson. “These guys are Southern Miss guys. It’s a group of men that are high character. Tough. Guys that have a chip on their shoulder.” Hopson said he was excited about the Feb. 1 signing of the new Golden Eagles. “You know where your needs are with your graduating senior class and your upcoming senior class,”
Hopson said. “So you know you got to have depth for the future. I think you also saw a strong high school class, building for the future. Definitely excited about the guys.” Southern Miss’s most pressing needs were in the defensive backfield and along the offensive line. The Golden Eagles will lose four offensive linemen and four
defensive backs to graduation this offseason and will lose eight defensive backs next year. This was a need that the Golden Eagles addressed, gaining six defensive backs — five of which are fresh from the prep ranks. The ability to gain experience in the system while sitting on the sideline can be valuable for a young player. These young players garnering early playing time is not out of the question for Hopson. “That’s always up to them,” Hopson said. “We’ll find out in August who’s going to play, [and] who’s going to redshirt.” Besides defensive backs, the offensive line also took up six spots in the signing class, highlighted by 6-foot-3-inch Gautier, MS lineman Paul Gainer, who Hopson says “can do anything up front. “Extremely excited to have him,” Hopson said. One prospect hails from Alabama, and eight prospects are from Florida. Hopson, who worked at the University of Florida in 1994 as a graduate assistant, said the southern states stretching from Louisiana to Florida are prime for the Golden Eagles’ future. “We’re The University of Southern Mississippi,” Hopson said. “We want to stay in that footprint – South Mississippi, always, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi – that’s kind of who we are and always have been. Good to get those local guys here in black and gold.” Those local guys are highlighted
by not just Gainer but prospects like three-stars Tim Jones and Darius Maberry, who have the potential to step right into the Golden Eagle system and make an impact. The high school products out of the Mississippi area are the ones Hopson said he prides himself on and puts his most belief in. “We have to build from the ground up – high-school wise,” Hopson said. “I believe in Mississippi. At the end of the day, I just believe the guys in this state can play football.” As former record-setting quarterback Nick Mullens prepares for his shot at the NFL, the Golden Eagles restocked the cupboard. Hopson added two additional quarterbacks to join sophomore Keon Howard, signing Florida quarterbacks Marcelo Rodriguez and Steven Anderson. “All quarterbacks are different,” Hopson said. “I think both of them do things [strongly], but it’s going to be fun to watch them battle. That’s the great thing about football is competition. You put the ball out there, you let them compete for it.” Competition will be apparent when fall arrives and players vie for positions along the offensive line, defensive backfield and even push for Howard’s spot at quarterback. To Hopson, that is what National Signing Day is all about. “It’s one of my favorite days in football,” Hopson said. “It’s a fun day, and it’s an exciting day. It’s a celebration.”
“We’re The University of Southern Mississippi,” Hopson said. “We want to stay in that footprint – South Mississippi, always, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi – that’s kind of who we are and always have been. Good to get those local guys here in black and gold.” -Jay Hopson | Head Coach
Julius Kizzee | Printz Southern Miss’ new Director of Athletics Jon Gilbert becomes emotional during his introductory press conference on Jan. 24.emotional during his introductory press conference on Jan. 24.
8
SPORTS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2017
New Athletic Director brings pros and cons ANDREW ABADIE
printz reporter
From what it seems, Jon Gilbert, the Southern Miss Athletic Director as of Jan. 24, appears to be the man USM President Rodney Bennett was looking for. He shows a sincere interest in understanding what all of the student-athletes experience on campus and plans to walk through their daily routines. “[Gilbert has] a real sense of compassion and transparency and honesty,” Bennett said. “A real caring person that loves his family and shares the values of south Mississippi in particular. I was looking for a person with depth and breadth of experience with a real vision for what The University of Southern Mississippi could evolve into over the next 10 or 15 years. I feel confident that we’re able to get every one of those with Jon Gilbert.” But hiring Gilbert for his character does not give the public a sense of what kind of athletic director he will be. Former Athletic Director Bill McGillis has left Gilbert in almost
a near-perfect situation, which may or may not put pressure on Gilbert to stay successful. If the athletics programs begin to fail, it will solely be Gilbert’s doing. Gilbert has also never previously held the official position of athletic director. In the same sense, Gilbert has been molded to be an AD his entire career. His biggest positive is his experience working with every aspect in the athletic departments of the Universities of Alabama and Tennessee, where he crawled his way to the top through natural progression. He worked all angles from event management in the athletic facilities, athletic development, marketing promotions and multiple sport administration opportunities at Alabama. Gilbert served as U of T Athletic Director Dave Hart’s number two, overseeing day-to-day operations. During this tenure, he helped Tennessee football find a resurgence, negotiated a $35-million contract deal with Nike and contributed to student-athletes retaining a 3.0 GPA average, which exceeds the NCAA requirement.
There are still drawbacks to consider. One of Gilbert’s biggest could be that all of his experience comes from the Southeastern Conference. Adjusting to the smaller budget of C-USA could pose a problem in knowing how to properly divert funds and keeping the athletic department fiscally efficient. At the same time, Gilbert’s experience in the SEC gives him a foundation of how to create constant successful sports programs. His time being around legendary coaches like former Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt and Alabama head football coach Nick Saban hopefully showed him how to turnout successful teams year in and year out. Gilbert’s contribution to the SEC’s success can hopefully be applied to Southern Miss athletics. “The brand that Southern Miss has is profound across the Southeast,” Gilbert said. “It is something that I hold dear. There are a lot of institutions that have things that we don’t have, but I can tell you this: They don’t have our
Adriana Garcia | Printz Southern Miss Director of Athletics Jon Gilbert speaks during his introductory press conference on Jan. 25 inside the Duff Athletic Center. brand. That’s what attracted me to this community.” Gilbert comes here untested but has the pedigree to do the job successfully. He comes here with numerous pros and cons and a high expectation from the fans. One
can only hope he is a great addition to the University of Southern Mississippi. “I couldn’t be more excited to be here,” Gilbert said. “I’m fortunate, I’m lucky and I’m excited to be here.”