FEBRUARY, 7, 2018 VOLUME 102 ISSUE 19
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News
State of the Union summary and analysis.
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Features
Alpha Chi Omega hosts Healthy Relationships Week.
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Opinion
Taylor Swift’s abuser gets a job at a MS radio station
serving southern miss since 1927
Crystal Tolible, Printz reporter Mississippi Freedom members stand side-by-side during the opening ceremony on Feb. 2, 2018.
Clyde Kennard celebration kicks off Black History Month Crystal Tolible printz reporter
On Friday Feb. 2, the University of Southern Mississippi kicked off Black History Month by honoring Clyde Kennard, a pioneer in the civil rights movement from Hattiesburg. The Mississippi Freedom Trail task force chose USM as its 25th marker to honor Kennard and all of his hard work to end segregation. Kennard was born and raised in Hattiesburg. At the age of 12, he moved to Chicago to be with his older sister and to go to public school full-time. Upon graduation Kennard
Crystal Tolible, Printz reporter
severed in the United States army as a Korean War soldier for seven years. When he returned, that is when his fight for education began. Kennard attempted to enroll in Mississippi Southern College (now known as the University of Southern Mississippi). Despite segregation being ruled as unconstitutional, Kennard was denied enrollment into the University because of his race. Though he was offered tuition at other universities, Kennard declined stating that he wanted to go to the university in his hometown. In 1958, Clyde Kennard wrote a letter to the Hattiesburg, American explaining the implications of
segregation and how integration would be inevitable at the Mississippi Southern College. Kennard was then framed by the state supported group, The Sovereign Commission. The group manipulated evidenced and accused Kennard of reckless driving and theft. He was sentenced to seven years in jail. During his stay, He became ill with colon cancer and due to improper medical treatment, he died. From 2005 to 2006 many worked tirelessly in attempts to get Clyde Kennard’s conviction overturned. Three high School Students from Illinois, along with their teacher, plead to former Governor Haley Barbour, in attempt
to fully pardon Mr. Kennard. However, Barbour denied the request stating that “it is not his policy to pardon anyone and would not do so for Kennard.” In May of 2006, his conviction was overturned was after they turned their efforts to a federal pardon. In Celebration of his heroic Civil rights efforts, USM held a celebration in his honor. In attendance, were the members of The Mississippi Freedom Trail Task Force, USM Presidents Dr. Rodney Bennett and Dr. Aubrey Keith Lucas (former), and Rev. Willie Grant, Brother in law to Mr. Clyde Kennard. The Celebration began with a
short reception, followed with the opening of the ceremony. Members of the USM Harlem Theatre Fraternity entertained attendees with an interpretive dance, of Clyde Kennard’s “Ode to the Death Angel” read by USM student Brandon Rue. In closing, Rev. Wilbert Singleton Jr, Implored the University for the addition of Clyde Kennard’s legacy to be added to the curriculum. “Without his courage and sacrifice, many of us would not be standing here today.” Says Singleton “ So I ask you, just like brother Kennard, what would you do to make your mark in history. Though we come so very far, we still have a long way to go.”
FEBRUARY 7, 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
MORGAN CLARK
News Editor morgan.clark@usm.edu
ALYSSA BASS
Entertainment Editor alyssa.bass@usm.edu
SARAH ANNE SCHLOEMER
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KENYATTA S. ROSS
The Student Printz
NATHANIEL SCHUMANN
@studentprintz
Webmaster sarah.schloemer@usm.edu Photo Editor kenyatta.ross@usm.edu
Features Editor nathaniel.schumann@usm.edu
KYLE WILLIAMS
Sports Editor kyle.e.williams@usm.edu
CAMERON CUMMINS
Printz Designer cameron.cummins@usm.edu
JHAIMEE BULLOCK
AMBER COBBINS
ASHLEY HOBSON
CHUCK COOK
Design Editor jhaimee.bullock@usm.edu Social Media Editor ashley.hobson@usm.edu
Beginning Thursday, Feb. 1, Moffitt Health Center will be running a “Know Your Numbers” promotion during the month of February. To help the faculty, staff and students take charge of their heart health, we will provide blood pressure, lipid and glucose screenings for $10.
Printz Designer amber.cobbins@usm.edu Printz Advisor chuck.cook@usm.edu
OPINIONS
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 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.
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USM Counseling Services offers Zen meditation Caleb McCluskey printz reporter
Geography professor and Zen practitioner, Mark Miller, has brought Zen meditation to The University of Southern Mississippi at the Counseling Services located in Bond Hall on Monday from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. and Tuesdays from 5:15 to 5:45 p.m. The sessions are equipped with the meditative sessions for about 20 minutes. Miller also holds sessions at The Yoga Room every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m. for those whose schedules may conflict.
Miller has been practicing Zen meditation for several years, and his teacher, Tony Bland, who is a Zen Monk based in Starkville, has given him permission to hold these sessions. Though Miller is not a Zen master, he took the precepts—or vows—to serve as a Bodhisattva. At these sessions, Miller will instruct students in Zazen or a seated meditation, which is a nondenominational practice. Zazen involves sitting on the ground with a pillow called a zafu, which is a small round pillow filled with either Buckwheat of kapok, in a sitting or kneeling position, depending on the
students’ comfort and breathing levels. The USM Student Counseling Services is equipped with every tool one needs to practice zazen. The meditation pillows are provided, as well as, blankets to cushion the floor for comfort. Miller provides guidance on meditation beforehand in a calm and companionate attitude. Many stress the health benefits of Zazen, but Miller and his master Bond stress the benefits are not the point of the meditation. “We sit for the sake of sitting… We are always chasing goals… the idea here is just to sit; not chase one more thing,” Miller said.
The practice of Zen traditionally does not promise results. Though Mr. Miller said that they do not emphasis the benefits of seated meditation, there are a plethora of websites and sources that mention physical, health and spiritual benefits. Many websites attest that it helps with simple matters like better posture, better sleep, lower blood pressure and reduces stress, but Zen-buddhism. net claims it gives you a higher pain tolerance and even slows the aging process due to less stress on the respiratory system. “I think it sounds a little weird but if it actually helps somebody then
that’s cool,” English major Adrianna Hemphill said. Miller’s teacher, Bland has been a Zen Buddhist for over 30 years. He holds retreats in Starkville once a month for his students, which Miller attends. Bland’s teachings come for a lineage that can be documented back to the early 1900s. The sessions are open to anyone at any level of knowledge of meditation. Miller starts with about ten minutes of instruction on breathing, posture, observation and concentration. “We suggest people try it out, and for some people, it just clicks,” Miller said.
FEBRUARY 7, 2018
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POTUS suggests ‘new wave of optimism’ in SOTU address Nathan Barron printz contributor
President Donald Trump delivered his 2018 State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday, Jan. 10, just a week after the United States government was shut down due to the Senate’s inability to reach a compromise on immigration reform. As is customary, the President both touted his success and outlined his agenda for the year. Here are some highlights of the address: ECONOMY AND JOB CREATION Going into the 2016 election, most Republicans believed that Trump’s business prowess would translate into strong and evident economic successes, so it is no surprise that job creation and economic growth would be at the top of the President’s speech. The creation of nearly 2.4 million jobs, 200,000 new manufacturing jobs, rising wages, low unemployment, a soaring stock market, biggest tax breaks since the 1980s and repealing the penalty of the Obamacare mandate were mentioned. The state of the economy since Trump’s inauguration is unquestionably healthy—jobs are being created, the stock market is booming and employment is the lowest it has been since the 2008 recession. However, the trends of job creation, stock market expansion and plummeting unemployment rates have been present and healthy since 2010, meaning that those successes are more likely reflecting the selfcorrecting labor market and lingering Obama-era policies than just one year of Trump’s effort. Concerning the major GOP tax cuts, the amount of household bonus is contested, but is expected to be in the $2,000 range, although 60 percent of the total tax cuts will be going to the top 20 percent wealthiest Americans. INFRASTRUCTURE Since his campaign, Trump has waved around a vague (and arguably non-existent) plan for nationwide infrastructure improvement. Once the White House announced that the President would be discussing infrastructure in the SOTU, many were expecting a carefully-detailed plan that would reflect a year’s worth of otherwise ambiguous and unhelpful deflections. Although the President still did not give much insight to his plan, we were able to catch a glimpse of what Trump is
looking for: (1) “at least” $1.5 trillion in funding, (2) partnerships with state and local governments to reach that $1.5 trillion, (3) private sector investment “where appropriate,” and (4) to streamline building permits to two years or less. For the record, Trump will not be asking Congress for $1.5 trillion—and that is fine because the Republican Congress would not give it to him anyway. In fact, seconds after Trump said the words “one-and-a-half trillion dollars,” the Republican side of the chamber was notably quiet with the exception of a few gasps. Instead, it is more likely that Congress will offer somewhere between 1020 percent of that figure in federal funding and leave the other 80-90 percent of financing to state and local governments. Such reliance on local funding raises questions about how (or if) infrastructure improvements will make their way to low-income communities. IMMIGRATION Perhaps the climax of the SOTU was the President’s remarks on immigration reform, the topic considered to be the centerpiece of the negotiations to end the most recent government shutdown. The President outlined four pillars of his “bipartisan” immigration reform deal: (1) a path to citizenship for 1.8 million children brought into the country illegally, (2) “securing the border” (a.k.a. the wall), (3) ending the visa lottery, and (4) ending chain migration. When President Obama originally created the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, approximately 800,000 young people brought into the country illegally were projected to received protected status. Democrats should be excited to receive a path to citizenship (which DACA did not provide) for one million more people than DACA covered. Moreover, Senate Democrats have demonstrated a willingness to offer funding for Trump’s infamous wall in exchange for significant DACA protections. As for the third pillar, the lottery system was created by the Immigration Act of 1990 as a way for immigrants without family ties to the United States to gain a higher possibility of receiving a green card. Eligibility through the lottery system is randomly determined based on the country of the applicant’s current citizenship; however, eligibility does not guarantee the issuance of a visa or admission to the United States. Even though
current top Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) originally proposed the lottery system, he and seven other senators known as the “Gang of 8” attempted to repeal the lottery system in 2013. Given the opportunity, Sen. Schumer is likely to support the removal of the lottery system. However, Trump’s assault on “chain migration” takes a violent turn from bipartisanship as most Democrats are denouncing that term as racist and the concept as a non-issue. “Chain migration” refers to the ability of visa applicants to claim family ties to the United States based on extended family. Several key Democrats have argued that Trump is trying to leverage the term “chain migration” to demonize families who are trying to be reunited legally. Further, most Democrats are pointing out that Trump’s portrayal of “chain migration” is not even accurate as family visas are currently only available to immediate family relationships, e.g. sons, daughters, siblings, and parents. Either way, expect Democrats to strongly push back on any attempt to limit family visa in a future immigration reform deal. SURPRISES + Trump signaled support of Paid
Family Leave + Trump continues ambiguous relationship with pharmaceutical pricing (or “Big Pharma”) + Trump signaled interest in building (massive) nuclear arsenal Topics that were missing + Social Security and Medicare + Any mention of the national debt or deficit reduction + An education agenda (although he briefly mentioned vocational schools) CONCLUSION The President’s State of the Union remarks were met with pomp and protest, thundering applause and rumbling crowds. No matter how many appeals Trump made to “unity” and “bipartisanship,” deep divisions were clearly displayed during the SOTU address. Even with his expected gains in the approval ratings, Trump looks to remain under a 42 percent approval rating and above a 53 percent disapproval rating. One thing is for sure: the President had better be serious about this call to bipartisanship, since the federal government is set to experience another shutdown if a budget extension cannot be met before midnight on February. 8. Additionally, the Republicans are expected to focus on bipartisan
cooperation in 2018 because midterm elections could very easily result in a Democratic majority in the Senate if the President and his Republicancontrolled Congress can’t work together to achieve his agenda. The upcoming elections depend on a multitude of variables, but the President’s likability and approval ratings are being closely-monitored by state and local Republican candidates to determine whether or not they should align themselves with Trump. Finally, the President’s supporters and skeptics should recognize that Trump’s remarks were considerably moderated from where he was one year ago. This general trend has been astonishingly present since Trump secured the Republican nomination in 2016: his rhetoric was moderated for the general election (not entirely, but significantly in comparison to his primary rhetoric) and then again after the election. With midterms approaching and the President’s not wanting to jeopardize his Republican majorities in the Senate and House, this SOTU may just be a shift towards bipartisan negotiation and legislative dealmaking. We’ll see how this works out in November.
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Try out these fun puzzles: Sudoku Edition
FEBRUARY 7, 2018
Smoking on USM campus continues after ban Caleb McCluskey printz reporter
Many students are unaware of the new smoking policy at The University of Southern Mississippi. As of January, the campus has been completely tobacco-free. This new self-governing policy has left students scratching their head ever since. Smoking designated signs still adorn the walls around the school, such as the one behind the Liberal Arts Building. The Moffet Health Center worked with members of both the Hattiesburg and Gulfport campuses to assist the promotion, awareness and implication of the new policy. The center was given a grant from the American Cancer Society that helped provide the promotional items and marketing material. USM is holding multiple events to spread awareness, and they will be accepting feedback from those on campus. They will be holding two Tobacco-Free Campus Educational Sessions on Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. in the Thad Cochran Center room 210. There will be weekly tabling beginning Thursday, Feb. 1 and will continue at multiple locations through April. As the policy is self-governing, the success or failure is on the students and faculty of the campus. For those who do not want to confront smoking students or faculty, the school provides
pamphlets with the information on the new policy. These articles can be found inside the Moffet Health Center. There are no formal sanctions on the policy. USM said in its official policy statement, “Concerns about tobacco use should be respectfully addressed in the moment whenever feasible faculty, staff, students, volunteers, contractors and visitors who observe individuals using tobacco on university property re-encouraged and empowered to respectfully explain that its use is prohibited by the University’s TobaccoFree Policy.” “As long as there’s ashtrays out here, and that (smoking area) sign is up, I’m going to smoke,” anonymous USM student said. “I like the non-smoking policy,” another anonymous USM student said. Because the policy is so new, many students do not actually know the technicalities of the policy. The new policy does not only prohibit the smoking of cigarettes, but it also bans the use of smokeless tobacco and vaping. According to the USM website, vaping is prohibited because vapes have no short-term or long-term studies on the effects. The website also mentions that the policy does not extend to vehicles, but still urges students to be considerate. USM is not the first university to go smoke and/or tobacco free; many universities around Mississippi including, Mississippi State University, Delta State, Alcorn State and others.
Courtesy Photo As of a 2015 census from “The Truth Initiative,” 20 percent of young adults in Mississippi are smokers against a national average of 17 percent; 7 percent of young adults use smokeless tobacco and 6 percent vape.
“By endorsing a tobacco free policy, The University of Southern Mississippi joins the many colleges and universities nationwide in demonstrating its commitment to eliminating tobacco exposure, promoting healthy practices
and choices for individuals,” USM statement said. The campus is not forcing students, faculty and staff to quit smoking, they only ask for them to refrain from it while on campus.
Stage Monkeys bring laughs to a new semester Nate Schumann features editor
The Stage Monkeys, Southern Miss’s student-led improv group, held its first performance Thursday. Harrison Cunningham, junior advertising major and vice president of the Stage Monkeys, hosted the show, which had a zoo theme. Each ‘Monkey’ came to the show dressed in animal-themed garb. The Stage Monkeys have had themed shows in the past, but the group is currently aiming to have themed shows be more common moving forward. At shows, the Stage Monkeys play many improv games that often involve audience participation. They often ask audience members for suggestions for scene locations, character traits and more during the games, and audience members get a kick from seeing their suggestions realized on stage. For Thursday’s show, the Stage Monkeys premiered two new games: Objection and Time Machine. In Objection, the Monkeys split into two groups arguing opposing points. In Time Machine, the Monkeys establish a scenario wherein they would begin to act and then suddenly pretend to jump forward or backward in time and continue the scene. Senior biology major and Stage Monkey President Andrew Robertson said, “I think the
show Thursday was a big success. Everyone had a good time participating, and it kicked off the new semester very well. We had a lot of audience participation, which is always a great way to interact with our fans.” One game called Freeze Tag, allows anyone, including audience members, to actually participate and perform with the Stage Monkeys. The game starts with some Monkeys engaging in a scene. At any point, someone can say “Freeze!” and tag someone out of the scene and replace him or her and continue the scene. When this game was played Thursday, freshman polymer science major Jaren Jones took the stage a couple of times during the skit. Keeping up with the Monkeys, he elicited laughs from the audience as well. Jones said, “[Participating on stage] was fun. At first, I thought, ‘Should I?’ but I am glad I went up.” The next Stage Monkey show will be on Thursday, Feb. 15, at Wilbur Stout Hall from 7 pm to 9 pm. Tryouts for the Stage Monkeys will be held the day after, Friday, Feb. 16. Students are encouraged to attend Thursday’s show and see if the Stage Monkeys may be a good fit, whether as a regular audience member or potentially as a member of the troupe. Jones, who had not attended a Stage Monkeys show before this one, found the experience enthralling. “I
will definitely be trying out [for the Stage Monkeys],” Jones said. Cunningham, who had done theater all throughout his schooling and holds a love for acting, encouraged those who have an interest but are nervous to come.
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“Improv is an inclusive place for all kinds of people. If you’re shy, the best way to not be is to come out and try [performing with the Stage Monkeys],” he said. Robertson said, “[The Stage Monkeys] are a student-based
comedy organization made up of students from all majors and classifications. We want to welcome anyone interested in comedy or looking for fun to come to auditions to have a good time and see what we’re all about.”
FEBRUARY 7, 2018
Alpha Chi Omega raises domestic violence awareness Vivian O’Neal printz reporter
On Feb. 14, Alpha Chi Omega sorority will be kicking off its annual “Healthy Relationships Week,” which lasts until Feb. 16. The women of Alpha Chi Omega will be tabling outside in Shoemaker Square from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day during the last part of the week. Wednesday’s activity is entitled “Doughnut Let Love Hurt.” Participants will write an encouraging letter to a victim of domestic violence at the Domestic Abuse Family Shelter and receive a doughnut from Shipley’s in return. Thursday’s campaign titled “Love Is...” invites all students to stop by and write what love means to them on a whiteboard. Finally, on Friday, Alpha Chi Omega encourages all members of the Southern Miss community to stop and take the “These
Lanie Leach printz reporter
One of the best things about graduating high school and going to college is meeting so many new people. However, going to college and meeting new people meant leaving my best friends behind. My best friends are scattered across the United States now. They’re living their lives and meeting new people too. Although I am doing the same, I really miss my best friends. I miss being able to drive 10 minutes down the road and talking to them in class. Luckily, I’ve recently visited with some of my best friends from high school.
Hands Don’t Hurt” pledge. This event involves placing your hand in purple paint and leaving your handprint on the banner. The handprint will symbolize the promise that participants made to never commit acts of domestic violence. Throughout the week, the members of Alpha Chi Omega will also be handing out pamphlets about domestic violence. “Healthy Relationships Week is a time for shedding light and creating awareness about the importance of preventing domestic violence and ensuring a healthy environment,” Vice President of Philanthropy Anna Claire Walker said. “One in three women are harmed by domestic violence and as real, strong, women, the Alpha Chi Omega fraternity is on a mission to empower women no matter their past.” The members of Alpha Chi have had great experiences in the past
and Walker believes that by utilizing their PR and Marketing team, they can involve even more people and make them aware of how important their philanthropy is. Sophomore Emily Matherne described the week as a time to shed light on a topic that is typically kept in the dark and not talked about like it should be. She said it gives victims a chance to no longer be victims. Last year, a victim pulled aside Junior Alpha Chi Laura Vallejo because she was wearing an Alpha Chi t-shirt. The girl shared her story about her experience in an abusive relationship and asked for help. Matherne says hands-on work makes her feel as though she is making an actual change in the community along with her sisters. “To me, Healthy Relationships Week is about making a change, a week for victims to know that they have someone in the corner who wants to help them, no matter what Courtesy Photo their story is,” Matherne said.
Here’s how that went: A few weeks ago, I went home and met up with my high school newspaper editor Katie. She is the kind of person you can tell anything to, knowing that she would never judge you. She was always there to lend a helping hand or tell a weird story to make you smile. She came home to speak at a conference, and I came home just because. We talked all about our collegiate adventures and how much we had missed each other. This past weekend, my two very best friends came to Hattiesburg for a quick visit. They’re twins named Maddie and McKenzie. We went and ate burgers and drank milkshakes
at Ed’s—where else, honestly? After dinner, I took them to where I work: The Lucky Rabbit. As we pulled up to the store, they seemed skeptical and rightfully so. We were about to walk into an old warehouse building in the middle of downtown Hattiesburg at 7:30 p.m. As I opened the front doors to let them in, I watched their eyes get bigger as they fell in love with the store. We finished the night talking about the memories we had made in college and reminisced about our middle school years. Visiting with your best friends and being able to talk to them about everything is so
comforting. There’s almost nothing better— well, except maybe puppies. Puppies are great. Like puppies, your friends can really help you get rid of some stress. Your best friends are always there for you, and if they’re true friends, they will never judge you. They have always had your back, and they always will. It is so strange to think about how Maddie, McKenzie and I have come so far as friends. Who would have ever thought that we would be able to look back on the goofy things we did as awkward middle schoolers? I knew that we were going to grow up, but it feels like the growing
up came so soon. It feels like just yesterday we were playing hideand-seek in their old neighborhood late at night, and now we live in totally different states to attend college. The moral of my reflection is that time is forever fleeting. I am growing up and getting older. I am making new friends and keeping old friends close. I am making new memories and feeling nostalgic about old ones. I think that during a time of so much new, it is important to stay in touch with the familiar, especially your best friends. From the wise words of my grandmother’s foot rest: “Friends are flowers that never fade.”
FEBRUARY 7, 2018
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‘Glee’ Star Mark Salling found dead in California Lanie Leach printz reporter
Mark Salling’s body was found in California near the TujungaSunland neighborhood hanging in a riverbed area adjacent to a little league baseball field. The coroner released a statement on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018, ruling Salling’s death was indeed caused by asphyxiation by hanging. He was 35. Salling was known for his character Noah “Puck” Puckerman in Fox’s hit series Glee from 20092015. Glee fans saw Salling as their favorite “bad-boy” character for so many years until he became an indicted criminal for the possession of child pornography in December 2015. A search warrant found over 50,000 child pornography images on Salling’s personal computer and other personal drives. In October 2017,
Salling pleaded guilty on one count of possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor. Salling’s sentencing was scheduled for March 7, 2018; he was expected to serve only four to seven years. Since Salling died before sentencing, questions have risen about if the victims will be paid and if Salling’s estate will pay for their restitution. An anonymous source told Us Weekly, “Restitution would be a part of his sentence. The amount of the restitution is determined by the sentencing judge … He will not be sentenced. Therefore, there will be no restitution order. Therefore, I doubt that there is anything to take to civil court. Any restitution order would be allocated among multiple known victims.” “Just because the criminal case is going to be dismissed does not mean his estate is off the hook financially,”
Defense Attorney Troy Slaten said. “Any victims can sue his estate in civil court and receive monetary awards for damages. These awards can be in the neighborhood of hundred of thousands of dollars or even in the millions.” Salling’s death adds to the multiple controversies and tragedies that occurred offscreen with the Glee cast. For instance, Cory Monteith died at the age of 31 after overdosing on heroin and alcohol in 2013. Monteith starred as quarterback Finn Hudson in Glee. Monteith discussed his teenage drug use in a 2011 interview with Parade. “Anything and everything, as much as possible. I had a serious problem,” Monteith said. Creator of the show Ryan Murphy attempted to reach out to Monteith, urging him to get help and promising him a job once his health improved.
Another issue with the Glee cast involved star Naya Riviera who played cheerleader Santana Lopez. Riviera was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery after getting physical with her now exhusband Ryan Dorsey. Rivera was reportedly drinking at the time. Charges were dropped at Dorsey’s request, and the couple divorced in December 2017. A show that brought so much “glee” to its viewers ended in too many tragedies. Vocal coach for Glee Tim Davis tweeted, “Today we lost another #Glee cast member. Yes, he committed crimes against children. Yes, it’s horrific. But #MarkSalling was a broken man, no doubt an abuse victim himself. I loved Mark, and am sad when I consider the devastation of his parents. PLEASE withhold your cruel comments.” Followed by: “Let me be clear. Having
Courtesy Photo compassion for #MarkSalling in no way minimizes his crimes, nor does it minimize the pain and devastation of the victims of those crimes. I’m just saying stop adding to his family’s pain. This was their son. If you’re without sin, feel free to cast stones.”
Super Bowl LLII delivers with entertaining commercials and halftime show Will Veazy
printz reporter Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018, was a night filled with things to celebrate. The commercials played during the Super Bowl were absolutely revolutionary in their approaches this year. Pop singer Justin Timberlake impressed the crowd with old and new hits, and the Eagles won the Super Bowl championship. Firstly, Budweiser’s commercial was meaningful to those affected by Hurricane Maria. The advertisement opened with a dramatic song and was followed by Budweiser cans filled with water sent to assist Puerto Ricans in hurricane relief. This was not at all what one would anticipate from Budweiser, for in year’s past, the company had a far more lighthearted approach to their advertisements. Toyota’s commercial also contained important sociological implications. The commercial involves Christian, Jewish, Buddhist and Muslim men riding together to a football game and sitting together. Though they contained fundamentally different ideas about the supernatural, the commercial showed that in the end we are all just people. There’s nothing that separates us from getting along and having fun. This was another unexpected advertisement. Next, CBS played a teaser of the new Star Wars spinoff Solo: A Star Wars Story. This long awaited commercial came after troubling news regarding Disney’s development of the movie. The original directors for the film were fired after months of no filming. The new directors later scrapped most of the original filming. However, the biggest surprise came from a new J. J. Abrams film called The Cloverfield Paradox, which was filmed in secret and revealed for the first
time on Super Bowl Sunday. The film is set in the same universe as the first Cloverfield as well as the sequel 10 Cloverfield Lane. The Cloverfield Paradox was available for streaming exclusively on Netflix immediately following the game. And now to the halftime show. Justin Timberlake’s show was plagued with controversy leading up to his performance. Janet Jackson, who performed at the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show with Timberlake, was not invited back this time around. In contrast, Timberlake has received hardly any fallout for the 2004 scandal and didn’t mention her during or after his show. Timberlake’s performance began in a dugout below the stadium. The scene was dark with the exception of lasers darting about the room and Timberlake’s silhouette. As he began to move through the crowd in the dugout, he performed a great deal of his past and recent hits. The most important part of the show was the Prince tribute. About midway through the performance, Timberlake sang along to a recording of Prince’s “I Would Die 4 U.” There was plenty of backlash on Twitter from people who thought this tribute wasn’t fair to Prince, assuming that Prince would not appreciate the tribute. The show ended with Timberlake traveling through the crowd and taking a selfie with a little boy. His performance was incredibly impressive. Finally, the icing on the cake was the Eagles beating the Patriots. Nick Foles contemplated retirement after being released by the Kansas City Chiefs last season. The Philadelphia Eagles had never won during the Super Bowl Era, but did have one NFL Championship. The record not only for total yardage in a postseason game was broken, but also the record for total yards in a NFL game ever played. The 52 year drought brought the city of Philadelphia its first taste of victory. What a night.
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FEBRUARY 7, 2018
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Mississippi radio station offers Taylor Swift’s abuser job Alyssa Bass
entertainment editor Before the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements became mainstream, Taylor Swift held a man accountable for inappropriate behavior. After being found guilty of assault and battery of pop star Taylor Swift in 2013, radio personality David Mueller accepted a job in January as the co-host of morning show “Jackson and Jonbob” in Greenwood, Mississippi. Swift was posing with Mueller and his then girlfriend at a RED tour meet and greet when Mueller allegedly lifted her skirt and touched her backside. Mueller lost his job at country music station KYGO and proceeded to deny the story, suing Swift for defamation at the price of $3 million. The $280 million-star Swift then countersued for sexual assault, asking for only $1. “She’s just trying to tell people out there that you can say no when someone puts their hand on you.” Swift’s attorney J. Douglas Bardridge said. “Grabbing a woman’s rear end is an assault, and it’s always wrong. Any woman — rich, poor, famous, or not — is entitled to have that not happen.” Swift won the case and eventually donated to several organizations dedicated to giving women legal support. “I acknowledge the privilege that I benefit from in life, in society and in my ability to shoulder the enormous cost of defending myself in a trial like this,” Swift said in a statement. “My hope is to help those whose voices should also be heard. Therefore, I will be making donations in the near future to multiple organizations that help sexual assault victims defend themselves.” CEO of Delta Radio Larry Fuss has been ignoring the five-year-old
allegations, telling CNN he believes that Mueller is innocent and “sincere.” As expected, Mueller and other employees at the Greenwood station received backlash from Swift’s fans “as far away as Sweden and Saudi Arabia” according to Greenwood Commonwealth. The station even had to evacuate after Mueller was emailed a bomb threat. Fuss only agitated fans more with this insensitive message, “I’ve been getting calls and emails from people saying, ‘My uncle molested me when I was 14’ or ‘My boyfriend beat me severely,’” Fuss said. “I understand that and I’m sorry for those people that had to go through those ordeals, but what does that have to do with me and what does that have to do with David Mueller?” Fuss later told The Washington Post, “It’s extremely difficult to get people to come to the Mississippi Delta to work. I felt like he needed a break or a second chance.” Fuss’ argument echoes the problem that some supporters of #TimesUp have been wrestling with since comedian Aziz Ansari’s scandal in January: Does everyone who commits an act of sexual misconduct deserve to be blacklisted like Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and James Franco? Ansari’s accuser by the fake name of “Grace” told babe.net writer Katie Way that Ansari was unreceptive of her verbal and nonverbal cues that signaled her disinterest in engaging in sexual activity. “Grace compares Ansari’s sexual mannerisms to those of a horny, rough, entitled 18-yearold,” Way writes. Feeling like she couldn’t say no, Grace eventually gave into Ansari’s persistent requests for oral sex. Way and Grace were criticized by multiple news outlets for “lazy
journalism” and unfair reporting; some even blamed Grace herself. Michael Cunningham, a psychology professor at the University of Louisville told Time, “It appears that Grace wanted Ansari to treat her as a potential girlfriend to be courted over multiple dates, rather than a pickup from a party engaging in a mutually acceptable transaction. When he did not rise to her expectations, she converted her understandable disappointment into a false #MeToo.” New York Times opinion writer Bari Weiss tweeted, “It sounds like a terrible night. And I’m sorry she experienced it. The idea, though, that this is assault is quite terrifying. If this is assault than I don’t know a person - man or woman—that isn’t a survivor.” What victims of sexual misconduct
find relatable in the stories of Swift and Grace is that they are perhaps even more common than the severe stories told by the victims of predatory, Hollywood men who showed their power by manipulating women into sexual situations even after hearing the word “No.” The idea that one must be violently raped or molested to be a member of the #MeToo movement is tone-deaf and reminds me of “the oppression Olympics.” There is a spectrum of sexual misconduct. Swift suffered only from a tasteless butt grab, and yet, she was still violated. Grace, after showing signs of disinterest in sexual activity verbally and nonverbally, performed oral sex on Ansari. She was still violated. They were violated because they did not show consent, which is necessary
for even the smallest sexual acts. Women have the right to not be touched by men, and they also have the right to change their mind in the middle of sexual intercourse. And as for the men who assault them? Well, for acts like those listed above, they deserve to be reprimanded. Depending on the severity of the situation and input from the victim, everyone doesn’t have to lose their job, but they do need to be educated on what sexual behavior is welcome and unwelcome. With that knowledge comes the idea that consent is not solely verbal and that how your partner reacts to sexual advances is also important. Maybe by women bringing attention to “minor” acts of sexual misconduct like these, more aggressive acts like rape can be avoided.
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Republicans release dull Nunes memo Jarrod Colley printz reporter
On Friday, Feb. 2, 2018, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence released a memo written by staffers for Representative Devin Nunes (R-CA22). This memo alleges that the Obama-era FBI abused surveillance laws to spy on Trump officials, creating the “witch hunt” of Russian interference in the 2016 election. The HPSCI voted along party lines to allow the memo to be released, and the White House approved its declassification. This was to the dissatisfaction of the FBI and Justice Department, who saw it as partisan and undermining to the work that they do within the agency. After reading the memo, I was shocked at how incredibly dull it was. The memo was talked up by Congressional Republicans to be shocking and earth-shattering. It wasn’t. It not only failed to live up to the hype, but also failed to even unite the party. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) was furious at its release saying, “We are doing Putin’s job for him,” insinuating that the Russian conspiracy will undermine the public’s faith in American Institutions. What is just as concerning is that the HPSCI did not allow for the Democratic Party’s response memo to be released. The memo they had written was largely ignored— even though it is said to have been
a fair and balanced rebuttal to the original memo. Clearly, we are seeing a deepening divide between the vocal American right and the federal government. The distrust of public institutions is what led Donald Trump to victory, and it appears that he is using the same ideology to stop the investigation into possible collusion with Russia. Every American should be outraged by the continued effort to smear the Mueller probe into election tampering and potential collusion. The purpose of such investigations is to do exactly what the public wants: preserve the integrity of American elections, which serve as the foundation of our democratic republic. The messages given by Fox News and other partisan networks don’t help our nation and only add fuel to the fire. Though I would not attempt to call Fox News (or any legitimate news station) “fake news,” the partisan spin that they place on their information is very obvious to a member of the opposition or someone who has heard coverage from a multitude of networks. So how do we stop allowing our perceptions being warped to create our reality? My suggestion is for students and all Americans to get their news from multiple outlets and stick solely to the facts and not the interpretations. If something seems fishy, then it is worth a quick
Google search. I cannot begin to say how many times I have used Congress.gov to either corroborate or refute wild Facebook conspiracy posts about people saying that the DNC will take their guns. To me, the moral of this story is to
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not give into the hype surrounding political issues. I have danced around directly stating this, but the perception of the world or situation in front of us is our reality. A constant barrage of hyper-partisan information from any party will
distort our reality and only place us against each other. This is not what we need, especially with a legitimate and very serious investigation going on. A cordial attitude and levelheaded analysis of facts will preserve our nation.
FEBRUARY 7, 2018
www.studentprintz.com
Courtesy Photo Left-handed pitcher Stevie Powers delivers pitch to home plate.
Pitching will be deciding factor in the upcoming season Andrew Abadie
assistant sports editor Last season the Golden Eagles led Conference USA with a team earned run average of 4.16. The loss of weekend starters Kirk McCarty, Taylor Braley, relief pitcher Hayden Roberts and pitching coach Mike Federico left a hole in the pitching staff. However, with a new influx of pitchers, experience in the bullpen and a new pitching coach, the team still looks to be able to duplicate
last season’s results. The weekend starters: The loss of McCarty and Braley leads the team to look to J.C. Keyes and Colt Smith who combined for 14 starts last season. Keyes had eight starts and made 16 appearances where he posted a 5.56 ERA and threw 48 strikeouts. Smith made weekend starts in the second half of the season posting a 6-2 record and throwing 3.36 ERA with 43 strikeouts while appearing 23 times.
Jones Community Junior College transfer Mason Strickland, made 13 appearances throwing 65 strikeouts in over 79 innings and posting an 11-1 record. Although pitching roles have not been established, Strickland looks to be a future starter. The return of Walker Powell creates another plausible weekend starter for the Golden Eagles. The 6’7 junior missed last season due to his second Tommy John surgery. In Powell’s freshman season he was a weekend starter posting
a 3.46 ERA and a 4-3 record before he was injured. The Bullpen: Hayden Roberts was a go-to bullpen pitcher as he posted a 5-2 record in 20 appearances, but a plethora of experience returns to the bullpen. Preseason pitcher of the year, closer Nick Sandlin, returns after throwing 80 strikeouts and posting a 2.38 ERA. A hip injury limited Matt Wallner to only nine appearances last season with all of his appearances as a relief pitcher.
Stevie Powers and Alex Nelms are both familiar relievers that could see starts early in the season. Both took time to develop last season and became two of the most reliable pitchers in the bullpen. A new addition is the University of Louisiana Monroe transfer relief pitcher Keller Bradford. In the 2016 season at ULM he had a 2-3 record and threw 35 strikeouts in 48 innings.
Golden Eagles defeat FAU on road, 77-66 Grant Chighizola printz reporter
Kenyatta S. Ross, Photo Editor The Southern Miss mens basketball team was able to get the win against Florida Atlantic.
Heading into the game with a 1-9 record on the road, the Southern Miss men’s basketball team (12-12, C-USA 5-6) found success at FAU Arena on Saturday night, defeating the Florida Atlantic Owls (10-13, C-USA 4-7) by a score of 77-66. The two teams fought for control of the contest, changing leads seven times during the first half. Southern Miss was able to head into halftime with a 38-21 lead by taking advantage of 10 defensive rebounds and converting 54.2 percent of its first-half shots. Junior guard Tyree Griffin added 13 points while freshman Ladavius Draine added three defensive rebounds for the Golden Eagles. Southern Miss maintained its lead for the entire second half despite being outscored by the Owls 45-39. FAU made it a sixpoint game after two successful free throws by William Pfister with 37 seconds left to play, but
the Golden Eagles closed out the game with five consecutive points of their own to earn their second road win of the season. Four Golden Eagles had doubledigit scoring nights. Griffin led the way with 21 points while junior Dominic Magee tacked on 16 points in the second half. Junior Cortez Edwards finished with 15 points and senior D’Angelo Richardson had 10 points on the night. Magee also led the team in total rebounds with seven. Head Coach Doc Sadler was pleased with his team’s effort during their second straight road game. “Total team effort and a great win for us,” Sadler said. “I knew it would be difficult, but you have to tip your hat to our guys for playing all 40 minutes.” The Golden Eagles will look to get win number 13 when they return to Reed Green Coliseum on Feb. 8 to face Old Dominion. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.