APRIL 11, 2018 VOLUME 102 ISSUE 26
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NEWS
Polymer science and art combine in first-ever Science Cafe.
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FEATURES
Read more about creative ways that students pay for college.
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ENTERTAINMENT
DC announces Zoom and Ink for young readers.
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Students engage in risky behaviors to pay for college Hiba Tahir
printz contributer “You could call me a therapist,” said USM student Kristen Burke.* “Call me a violent therapist.” Under moonlight and a complete disguise that includes a racy outfit, mask and wig, Burke sheds her usually unimposing identity in order to become a dominatrix. According to Merriam-Webster, a dominatrix is “a woman who physically or psychologically dominates her partner in a sadomasochistic encounter.” Burke pays for college by “basically beating the hell out of grown men.” By charging $400 an hour — a steep price that an unexpectedly large number of local business and servicemen, professors and even pastors have been all too willing to pay— she has established a surprisingly lucrative career that has paid for nearly her entire education. “As far as bills for school go, I think I have just $8,000 left to pay,” Burke said. “There’s something poetic about a young woman being able to get paid pretty decent sums of money to just beat the hell out of usually some asshole. More often than not [my clients] are usually crappy people. Not always— some people are genuine, high members of society.” Even so, Burke said that she hates she ever had to resort to this practice to pay for school.
She is one of many students who regularly engage in unusual and often risky practices in order to pay their way through college. Debra Michael,* another USM student, serves local men as a “sugar baby.” Though she doesn’t engage in any sexual activity, she knows that most people would probably assume that she does, so she doesn’t tell anyone. Even so, she finds it frustrating. “Even if someone in my situation was sleeping with their suitors, I believe that’s their business,” Michael said. “Casual sex shouldn’t be as taboo as it is.” Another student, Presley Newman,* attempted to sell marijuana in order to live comfortably. Newman admits that it was probably a bad idea, particularly because she wasn’t properly equipped. “I didn’t have the material I needed,” Newman said. “I didn’t have a scale. I didn’t have a lockbox or an airtight container or anything like that. I didn’t even get my first pipe until after I’d been selling for two months.” Newman said on top of her lack of preparedness, she was often afraid of getting arrested while transporting the drug because she almost always had about an ounce in her car. “That’s also what made it fun,” she said. “The adrenaline rush, and that sounds stupid. College kids are stupid. We do a lot of dumb stuff to feel that excitement, that thrill.” CONTINUED ON PG 4
Cameron Cummins, Printz
Hubfest celebrates Downtown Hattiesburg culture Caleb McCluskey printz reporter
Courtesy Photo
More than 30,000 festival-goers filled the streets of downtown Hattiesburg on April 7 for the annual Hubfest despite cold winds and the threats of rain. People from all over the Pine Belt gathered in one spot for music, food, crafts and a celebration of Historic Downtown Hattiesburg shops. “We love to take advantage of the Hubfest atmosphere and participate,” front of house manager at Gratefull Soul Jessica Thompson Bryant said. “It is a really good thing for Hattiesburg because it brings in a lot of tourists.” President of the Area Development Partnership Chad Newell said that there were more than 200 vendors at the festival and that they were using almost all of the downtown area for the festival. The festival boasted four
stages with over 14 acts playing at a given time. The ADP is a private, non-profit organization that attempts to stimulate Hattiesburg’s economic growth with events like Hubfest. “Fortunately, this is paid for by corporate and public-sector sponsors that have stepped up and by the exhibitors, so that allows our citizens throughout the Pine Belt area to come enjoy arts, crafts and live music at no cost,” Newell said. Freshman entertainment industry studies major from Birmingham, Alabama Anna Richardson said that this was her first time coming to Hubfest. “I really like how it is inclusive of all of downtown,” Richardson said. “It is really interesting because in Birmingham we have Sloss Fest, but it is only for part of downtown. It is not for the whole thing. It really brings families and everyone around instead of a certain demographic.”
APRIL 11, 2017 ANDREW ABADIE
Assistant Sports Editor andrew.abadie@usm.edu
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The Committee on Services and Resources for Women (CSRW) and co-sponsor The Shafer Center for Crisis Intervention are hosting the “What Were You Wearing?” Survivor Art Installation in the Cook Library Art Gallery. This installation provides a tangible response to one of our culture’s most pervasive rape myths. Check it out throughout the months of April and May.
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.
Science Café mixes science with art on April 12
Caleb McCluskey, Printz
Caleb McCluskey printz reporter The Division of Polymer Chemistry and the Division of Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering (POLY/PMSE) chapter of American Chemical Society will show the links between polymer science and art at 5:30 p.m. at the 3D Art Building on April 12. April Fogel, president of the Southern Miss POLY/PMSE, said
that the chapter tries to host, perform, and provide opportunities for grad students to participate in events that encourage professional and scientific development. “As a club, we try to have a balance of professional events that are internal, as well as activities that outreach to the public,” Fogel said. “The purpose of a science café is to engage the public in a scientific discussion on a pertinent scientific topic.” “We want to bring polymer scientists
and artists together and show them that these two fields can merge together and create a beautiful thing,” Vice president of the POLY/PMSE Cassandra Reese said. “The science café is a good way to show the interdisciplinary sections of science itself. I know a lot of are scared when they hear the word science or subject of science, but they don’t understand that they interact with science everyday,” Jessica Davison, secretary of the POLY/PMSE said.
Fogel said that there is usually an expert on the area at hand. Professor at Louisiana State University John Pojman will be opening the discussion with a demonstration of a special clay he created. “I got the idea to for this science café using Dr. Pojman because he gave a seminar last semester,” Fogel said. “He is a very quirky guy, but he has a lot of character. His research is really interesting because it has applications that he didn’t intend on.”
Reese explained that the departments seminars are more technical and that Pojman utilizes a hands-on approach to make lectures more engaging. “A lot of people—especially at the university—are judgmental of polymer science. I feel like I get a bad vibe when I tell someone I am in polymer science.” Reese said, “[The café] is a way to portray polymer science to the general audience which I think is the most important thing”
APRIL 11, 2017
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R&B, soul, punk and rap collide at Jazmo’s Caleb McCluskey printz reporter
Stay Green, Vitamin Cea, Pleather and Ray Kincaid brought their brands of soul, R&B and rap to Jazmo’s on April 9. Pleather’s singer Olesya Ufimtseva said that Pleather has been together for little over a year and that this is the first band she has ever performed with. Ufintseva said that the band met through the Hattiesburg punk scene. Ufintseva saw bassist Harley “Cow’s Man” White in a “punk tee” and knew they would be friends. White saw Ufintseva with blue hair and felt similarly. White said that the band has a demo tape available that is self-titled and are working on an album, but the band does not have a release date in mind. “We just want to rock,” White said. Charity Hicks, who goes by Vitamin Cea, is a singer and rapper from Jackson. She attends Jackson State University as a senior, but is “hanging on by a thread.” “[My hatred of school] is sad, but it is real life reflected in my music,” Hicks said. “I get a lot of musical inspiration from my family and the way I was raised. I was brought up in the church, so there was a lot of stipulations, so I used to maneuver around things I couldn’t do.”
Stay Green is comprised of three musicians: Benjamin Langston, the guitarist and vocalist of the group; Jeff Reynolds, the bassist; and Joshua Reynolds, drummer and brother to Jeff. The members of Stay Green pride themselves on mixing different styles and genres of music together. “It gets pretty intense, but for people to accept it means we did a good job,” Joshua said. “We make [mixing genres] acceptable and relatable,” Jeff said. “You may not listen to country, but the way we do country may make you reevaluate the genre.” Ray Kincaid, Jackson rapper and University of Jackson student, is inspired by all of the great East Coast rappers. “I’ve always been a fan of music, and I can’t sing, so rapping is the next best thing,” Kincaid said. “I grew up listening to terrible music. I didn’t know what good hip hop was until I got older.” Kincaid said that when he listened to east coast rap group A Tribe Called Quest, his whole life changed. Kincaid writes his own lyrics, but loves to do freestyle. “It is a chance to test your skills because it keeps you on your toes,” Kincaid said. Jazmo’s holds open mic night every Thursday.
Caleb McCluskey, Printz Stay Green doing a sound check.
Students seek to give young girls ‘ The TALK’ Ashley Hobson social media editor
A group of freshmen have started a new student organization aimed at mentoring young girls around the Pine Belt. Freshman elementary education major Chuna Lott currently serves as president of The TALK and is excited to see how the organization can grow to affect mentors and mentees alike. Lott volunteers regularly at Aldersgate Mission, a local ministry serving more than 88 youth in downtown Hattiesburg, according to their website. Lott said that an altercation between two female students one afternoon prompted her to do more to positively impact the
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lives of the young girls at Aldersgate. “We were just outside at recess, and we had a couple girls that were just going back-and-forth and arguing.” Lott said. “Just being illmannered, but they were cussing at each other and just being very loud. So we were just trying to dissolve the situation and get them to calm down so that they wouldn’t get in trouble.” Lott and her friends began working on becoming a chartered organization right away. According to the Southern Miss website, a group of 10 or more fulltime students and a full-time advisor are needed to charter a new student organization that cannot duplicate an existing organization on campus. There are several steps in the application process, including letters
of support from various departments and an organization constitution. However, Lott said everything fell into place. “After that me and a group of girls started talking and I told them I wanted to start an organization right now, and that’s when we came up with ‘The TALK,’” Lott said. “We came up with the idea of not only mentoring them, but having lectures about arguing with each other, respecting each other and respecting themselves.” The TALK’s goal is to have female young adults answer questions the girls may have about things going on in their personal lives while also giving advice on growing pains. Freshman nursing major Raven Spires is one of the original members
and currently serves as secretary for The TALK. “When I first went, I wasn’t a big fan of [Aldersgate],” Spires said. “But once I got involved with the kids I fell in love with it. We get our little’s based on our personalities, and if she has problems with school, family wise, or anything she can just come talk to me and mentor about certain situations and outcomes and just make her feel better about herself.” Most of The TALK’s mentees are girls enrolled in fifth grade and below. This does not mean that the organization will not grow to mentor older girls. Lott has begun calling local schools to attempt to implement the organization in more
communities. “When we get more people involved, they’ll see what we’re trying to do with the kids, and I think they’ll fall in love with it just as much as we do,” Spires said. Their main focus remains the young girls at Aldersgate for the time being, but the members plan to add a male chapter in the future. “Our initial goal is to help these ladies learn who they truly are and learn how to dissolve conflict in a healthy way,” Lott said. “Every time I’m walking somewhere, people come up to me and congratulate me on the chapter and ask how to join.” If you are interested in joining The TALK, you can follow them on Instagram @thetalk_usm or email Chuna Lott at chuna.lott@usm.edu.
APRIL 11, 2018
Students engage in risky behaviors to pay for college Hiba Tahir
printz contributer CONTINUED FROM PG 4 In addition to the thrill selling drugs gave her, Newman said that she pursed the practice because it made her feel as though she was able to take care of herself, and she enjoyed the resulting peace of mind. Burke said that peace of mind can come at a high price. “[Being a dominatrix] isn’t the weirdest way that people make money, and if this is how I’m able to pay for school on my own, I can only imagine how much more difficult other [students] struggle,” Burke, who remembers the feeling of being broke and in despair all too well, said. Three years ago, she was working a minimum wage job and complaining to a friend. In addition to paying tuition, she was paying for an apartment and for her father, a Vietnam War veteran with PTSD and Alzheimer’s, to receive care at a nursing home. “I told my friend, ‘I’m not making any money, I’m broke as hell, I hate this, I don’t know what to do and I can’t afford school,’” Burke said. “She said, ‘Let me introduce you to something, see if you’d like it. See if you’d be interested making money how I make money.” Burke, who was also dealing with a painful diagnosis of endometriosis, said she had no idea what her friend was talking about and assumed she was selling drugs. Though she had never sold drugs before, she was familiar with the practice and begrudgingly agreed out of desperation. “I grew up in a really crazy environment,” she explained. “Both
of my parents were drug dealers when I was younger.” When she wanted to move north to pursue her dreams of going to music school, her parents refused to support her. They expected her to stay home to take care of them and gave her an ultimatum when she told them she wouldn’t. “[They said] either I do what they want me to do, or I’m on my own,” Burke said. Burke decided to be on her own and got emancipated from her parents at the age of 17. Even so, her mother regularly asks her for money, though she never questions where her daughter got it— and Burke never wants to have to tell her. “Even though my parents were drug dealers and heroin abusers, I could never tell them [what I do],” she said. “God’s still everything [to them], you know? The minute I tell them, [they’d tell me] you’re going to hell. Fire and brimstone for sure.” Burke puts care into her practice in order to ensure that she can give her clients exactly what they need. She learned how to be a dominatrix by being a submissive first. “I feel like you can’t try to control someone unless you know what it feels like to be controlled,” she said. “It’s not fair otherwise. You’re doing an injustice by not knowing what it feels like to be in their shoes. I was
someone’s submissive for a year, but it wasn’t sexual for me.” In fact, Burke maintains a strict, no sexual contact rule. “Most people think it’s prostitution,” she said. “It’s not. I’m not. I’m very weird about interactions with clients. I never touch them with my bare hands or anything like that.”
dominatrix to find relief, Newman said some students seek relief from their problem by turning to drugs, and that drug dealing and usage is more common in her age group than most people realize. “We have super high levels of anxiety, depression, even PTSD,” she explained. “When the generation before us doesn’t believe in mental health issues like that, then a lot of people our age have to self-treat and a lot of them do it with recreational drugs. It isn’t the best answer, but it’s one that’s readily available.” B u r k e says that not e ve r yo n e can talk to a therapist, and that some people have serious mental issues that otherwise go untreated. When her clients have particularly unusual and unsettling needs, she sometimes finds herself questioning her role. “Like, some people like to get cut over and over again because they’re into murder fantasies, and sometimes, I’m like, ‘What am I doing? This is screwed up. How am I facilitating this?’” she said. “But then I realize if not for me, then that aggression and sexual frustration goes somewhere else. I’ve had clients get arrested. I have clients sitting in jail for [things] they’ve acted out on.”
“[Being a dominatrix] isn’t
the weirdest way that people
make money, and if this is how I’m able to pay for school on my own, I can only imagine
how much more difficult other [students] struggle.”
Burke said that she likes what she does because it all boils down to healing. “People are odd and people have problems, and people don’t know how to fix their problems,” she explained. “Most of the people I work with have some sort of trauma that they’re usually hung up on. I see them in their absolute weakest states, when they’re completely vulnerable and willing to drop all walls and barriers to just be able to have someone who can provide them with some sort of relief.” While Burke’s mostly middle-aged clients may require the services of a
Newman, who found that selling drugs wasn’t lucrative for her, quit not too soon after she started. Though she never faced consequences for what she did, she acknowledges that she would probably have gotten off easy because of who she is, and that bothers her. “They probably would’ve been pretty lenient on [a middle class white girl],” she said. “I feel like certain people have access to means of privilege, even illegal privilege.” That hypocrisy is a common theme all three girls have seen or experienced. “I work very hard on my own,” Michael said. “I have two jobs and I maintain above a 3.0 GPA in school, but I think people would label me as a ho just because of what [they] think I might be doing for these men to spend money on me so easily. [It’s] the judgment that comes with the title ‘sugar baby.’” Burke said the prevalence of hypocrisy is one of her biggest takeaways from three long years as a dominatrix. “People are hypocrites,” she said. “People that you would think have the most control of their lives, who seem to have it all together— they don’t. [The] holiest of thou are sometimes the ones that, behind the curtains, are into the weirdest shit.” Even though she has seen and experienced some horrifying things, Burke remains optimistic about people and hopes to someday work with underprivileged communities as a teacher. “I don’t think I could ever be bitter about humanity, to be honest,” she admitted. “I’m too much of a hopeful person.” *Names have been changed using a random name generator to protect
‘Dharma’s Dog’ author to appear at T-bones Caleb McCluskey printz reporter
Ira Sukrungruang, a professor at the University of Southern Florida, will read and sign his new book on April 13 at T-Bones. “Dharma’s Dog” is a collection of essays that revolve around finding a sense of self. Sukrungruang said that his new book uses the lenses of family, body image, American pop-culture and dogs. “Part of the book is about a life with dogs and how dogs love without thought to the problems of the world,” Sukrungruang said. “They love you and don’t care about your bad day, bad marriage, bad whatever. It is such a comfort to know a love like that.” Sukrungruang said that his inspiration comes from growing up in the south side of Chicago as a first-generation immigrant of Thai heritage. “When you grow up a person of color, an immigrant son, you love the world presented to you,” Sukrungruang said. “That world is America. That world is of people made from different cultures and ethnicities. Or, of a dominant white culture. When you grow up in a world when you are the minority your lens can sometimes lean and
love the majority because it is what you know.” Sukrungruang is an awardwinning writer; his collection of essays “Southside Buddhist” and his debut book “The Melting Season and Other Stories” both won bronze medals from the Florida Book awards. His autobiography “Talk Thai: The Adventures of a Buddhist Boy” also won the American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation, a non-profit organization that prides itself on promotion of American multicultural literature. Bryana Fern, a doctoral student at Southern Miss focusing on fiction writing, is excited for Sukrangruang’s visit. Fern said that she took his creative nonfiction course, and he opened her up to idea that she has a story to tell. “Everyone’s voice is important,” Fern said. “Everyone has a story, even if they think they don’t. And his particularly story comes from a unique place because it is all about the Thai experience. He incorporates his childhood— and adult— questions of religion, culture, heritage and identity into much of his work, which spans from stories and novels to poems and essays.” Fern said that many in the English department have their English 101 students read “Southside Buddhist” during the memoir unit. “His
essays resonate with me in the way the secret version of yourself, the self you don’t usually let others see, is always with you,” Fern said. Manager of T-Bones Mik Davis helps to put on events with the English graduate students and the Center for Writers at Southern Miss. Davis has been working with the C4W for five years. Davis said that he read and
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enjoyed many of Sukrangruang’s short stories. “The neat thing about a short story writer is a lot of times in reading, people who write long prose kind of get short changed,” Davis said. “But if they read an entire short story, you get a really good idea of the voice of the writer, what his intent was and whether he met his goal.” “It’s like listening to a song
or two on an album. If you get a couple of songs, you go into it thinking, ‘Man I’m really going to like this,’” Davis said. “We like embracing new writers, and think it is very important to [do so].” You can find and buy all of Sukrangruang’s work online at buddishtboy.com and copies of “Dharma’s Dog,” on sale at the reading and signing.
APRIL 11, 2017
Aru Shah is the Indian protagonist children deserve Carlton McGrone entertainment editor
Aru Shah proves to be the perfect influential protagonist for this modern retelling on Hindu mythology. Masterfully weaving Hindu mythology with adolescent adventure and intriguing facts, “Aru Shah and the End of Time” is a nearly perfect read that will entice the young heroine in every reader. From the very beginning, “Aru Shah” sets out to be the most charming mythological retelling in print, and in many ways, it succeeds exponentially. Roshani Chokshi does an excellent job at not only building the modern world around Aru but also giving an easy-to-follow succinct history of traditional Indian religion and beliefs. Like her colleague Rick Riordan, Chokshi not only does mythological retellings well, but she is also a master at character progression and storytelling. An addition to the widely critical “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” universe, “Aru Shah and the End of Time” is the first novel in Riordan’s imprint “Rick Riordan Presents.” Much like Riordan’s own “The Kane Chronicles” book series that focuses on Egyptian myths rather than Greek, Chokshi was given free range to create her own universe that focuses on Hindu mythology. Still centered around demigods, albeit a different breed of demigods, “Aru Shah” follows a 12-year-old
Aru, a notorious liar and seeker of all things imaginative and mystical. While living above a museum that specializes in ancient Indian artifacts, Aru sets the events of the novel in motion when she lights a curses lamp that frees an ancient evil and freezes time. With her pigeon guide and newfound sister, Aru must travel to the Land of Death in order to stop the Sleeper before time remains still forever. The amount of buzz surrounding this book before its release was practically unreal. As Riordan said several times in interviews and in his books’ notes, fans of his Greek, Egyptian and Norse mythology series begged for him to branch out to the lesser known myths. So that he could provide readers with stories from those that have first-hand experience in these belief systems, Riordan created his imprint. Immediately upon starting “Aru Shah” it becomes increasingly apparent that Chokshi is a seasoned author. Her writing leaves little to be desired as she almost perfectly sets up Aru’s daily life before jumping into the main plot and storyline in the second chapter. It can be argued that Chokshi is a far better writer than Riordan, and she does not attempt to hide her skills whatsoever. Much like Riordan, Chokshi does not hold back when it comes to names of legends and artifacts that may be hard to pronounce, which ultimately make the story and Chokshi that
Courtesy Photo much more legitimate. Luckily, she places a glossary in the back of the book that informs readers on how to pronounce names and gives short definitions of the many myths. Far more interesting than Riordan, though, are Chokshi’s characters and arguably her world. Aru is in many ways much more relatable than Percy Jackson or Magnus Chase. She does not pretend that popularity is not
important to her. Yes, she is an outcast like many of us, but she yearns for that sense of importance and that feeling of belonging somewhere. This crucial character flaw causes Aru to become a chronic liar. She lies about what car her mother picks her up in. She lies about her lackluster vacation spots. She lies about her mother’s job and unexplainable absence. As one may predict, the novel
truly breaches incredible ground when Aru is forced to face her trail of lies and confront her wrongdoings head-on rather continue to run. Aru, in the vein of Riordan’s other creations, is also young and naïve, leading her to discover her true self over the course of her hero’s journey. Using this classic storytelling method, Chokshi stretches the bounds of Aru’s quest, forcing her to face the tough and deadly situations that normally males are only seen to handle in Riordan’s books. Literally traveling to the Land of the Dead, facing down gods and surviving the end of time, Aru proves several times over that she is far craftier and tougher than Percy ever was when he began his first quest as a demigod. Another crucial aspect of the plot is that Aru is not ashamed of her Indian heritage. In fact, considering the novel is about Hindu mythology, her heritage is celebrated and elaborated further as both Aru and the reader discover more about Hindu beliefs and traditions. Aru is never separated as “different” or “unnatural” because of her race. Rather, Aru and her sister find solace in each other, growing from what they can learn from one another about the Otherworld and the many gods in Hinduism. “Aru Shah and the End of Time” is only the first novel of the planned quartet “Pandava Series,” and fans are excited for the more-than-likely 2020 release of its sequel “Aru Shah and the Song of Death.”
“Craig of the Creek” is another diverse gem from Cartoon Network Carlton McGrone entertainment editor
A show meant to bring viewers back to their youthful days of exploration and imagination. “Craig of the Creek” is not only incredibly charming but also surprisingly intriguing in its themes and diverse characters. Nothing can ever quite match those days of discovering hidden temples and battling deadly dragons in your backyard. Luckily for cartoon-lovers, writers of the beloved LGBT show “Steven Universe” Matt Burnett and Ben Levin, naturally tapped into that adventurous side of Cartoon Network’s viewers with their new, highly charismatic show. Craig is a 10-year-old boy whose sole purpose is to enjoy his days with his best friends, Kelsey and J.P., as they explore the illustrious creek. Described as a utopia for kids, the creek plays its own role as a titular character, coming to life
with the many kingdoms and fantastical lands constructed by the children in Craig’s neighborhood. Like their previous work on “Steven Universe,” Burnett and Levin were able to create an up-and-coming masterpiece with a few simple tweaks to the commonplace cartoon formula. Going back to the basics of classic 90s shows, “Craig of the Creek” doesn’t boast galactic fights or impossible storylines to follow. Instead it is more atoned to shows such as “Ed, Edd n Eddy” that celebrate the freedom and imagination that come along with being a child. Through each turbulent, yet fantastically mundane, adventure, Craig and pals not only learn to depend on one another for emotional and physical support, but they also constantly come to the realization that they are in fact children exploring their own fantasy worlds. These lessons allow Craig to come up with creative ways to solve
mysteries and defeat whatever bully may be terrorizing his kingdom. Premise aside, possibly the biggest reason the show has been a popular discussion topic among critics and cartoon fans is because of the titular character’s social and racial situation. Craig is black. He does not reside in poverty. He does not come from a broke home. As shown several times in the show’s opening sequence, he comes home after school every day to a loving, nuclear family complete with an annoying older brother and a curious younger sister. Craig, as the namesake of the series, is one of the most dynamic characters in Cartoon Network’s history. He’s intelligent, interesting and enjoys a good mystery. Craig also manages to realize the overall lackluster and unrealistic life that he and his friends reside in. Specifically, in the episode “The Final Book,” Craig is the one who solves
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the mystery of the missing novel with little help from his friends. Also, while following the plot of a classic “Hardy Boys” mystery novel, Craig is privy to the unrealistic nature of the teen-detectives’ lives and isn’t fazed when he’s forced to admit that white teenagers owning convertibles is not only undeletable but also ultimately a stale idea. The creators spoke about the importance of representation in cartoons in business magazine Fast Company. “We saw first-hand [working on “Steven Universe”] how much representation mattered to people and how important it is for people to feel seen,” Levin said. “And so, when we had the opportunity to create a show, we wanted to make something fun that the kids would love but would also have a positive impact. In animation, you’re creating the world from the ground up. So, every character is a decision in its own way. So, as we’ve gone through
the show, we talk about ways that we can provide representation as we create characters.” “We worked hard to put together the team that would help shape the show, a very diverse group of voices to add something that we needed that we couldn’t do on our own,” co-creator Burnett said in the same article. “That was always our goal when we decided to create the show, to work with a huge range of people and get their voices heard on TV.” As episodes are being re-run at the top of every hour, there is obvious heavy support from Cartoon Network. Twitter profiles have been created in support, and the show’s fan base, and fan wikis have begun to garnish attention on various platforms. Undoubtedly, much like its sister shows, “Craig of the Creek” will prove to be another niche cartoon that will only collect more viewers as the series grows.
APRIL 11, 2018
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Alyson Stoner reveals her sexuality in essay for Teen Vogue Lanie Leach printz reporter
Alyson Stoner, professional dancer, singer and once child actor for Disney and “Cheaper by the Dozen,” recently came out as sexually fluid in her essay “It is the Soul that Captivates Me” for Teen Vogue. “I, Alyson, am attracted to men, women, and people who identify in other ways,” Stoner said. “I can love people of every gender identity and expression. It is the soul that captivates me. It is the love we can build and the goodness we can contribute to the world by supporting each other’s best journeys.” Stoner recalls struggling with the ability to find herself attracted to men, and because of that she thought that there was something wrong with herself. She attempted to smother feelings she deemed ‘wrong’ and made excuses for the way she really felt. Stoner even spent time in therapy trying to figure out if something really was wrong, but deep down she knew the truth of her sexuality. One of the main reasons why Stoner had a hard time coming to terms with her new found sexual-identity was because of her religious beliefs. She believed that being gay would ultimately send her to hell. Stoner went through conversion therapy multiple times, so that pastors and community members could attempt to
eliminate her attraction to women. Stoner wrote, “Like many, I had internalized some of the harmful beliefs and misconceptions about LGBTQ people and identities.” Stoner also wrote about how people in the industry warned her that coming out could potentially mean the downfall of her career. Stoner recalled feeling very pressured that way, in her essay and wrote, “Imagine receiving death threats (as I have); would you choose to live a lie in order to protect your loved ones? What if your partner felt like you were hiding them, and it created stress and tension because you couldn’t be open outside of your home? To celebrate her coming out, Stoner released a new song titled “When its Right” which is about her experience of falling in love with a woman for the first time. “Our bond didn’t feel quite sisterly or platonic,” she wrote. “Flashes of her smile progressed to flashes of her wavy hair followed by the curve of her hips through her straight-leg pants. I realized I had never fantasized about a guy this way, nor really ever felt comfortable dating guys.” “If you’re questioning or struggling with your sexuality, gender identity, or anything else, know that I and so many who’ve gone before us are with you. Whatever your identity, you are lovable and wonderful and enough.” Courtesy Photo
DC announces imprints for young readers Nate Schumann news editor
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At WonderCon 2018, DC Comics gave attendees and online live-streamers an inside look at the company’s recently announced Zoom and Ink imprints during a panel on March 24. Both imprints will be targeting young readers and will have their first products released later this year. “Superheroes are more popular than ever so it only makes sense to bring these DC characters to an entirely new generation of young readers,” DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Consumer Products president Diane Nelson said. “The first comic books created decades ago were for kids, and as the business evolved and matured, it became more focused on adult readers.” “DC Ink and DC Zoom present an exciting new opportunity to grow our publishing business and ensure beloved stories built around iconic characters like Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are endeared as part of the fabric of childhood for years to come,” Nelson said. DC Zoom is geared toward readers in the middle grade range, whereas DC Ink is geared toward young adult readers. Acclaimed writers from both the MG and YA genres, such as Gene Yang (“Avatar: The Last Airbender”) and Kami Garcia (“Beautiful Creatures”), respectively, have been charged with creating these stories. Ferdy Pippen, Southern Miss alum and principal at Waynesboro Riverview Middle School, said he thinks it is important to capture the attention of young readers. “As a middle school principal, I see firsthand how hard it is to motivate students to read. [Zoom and Ink] will give teachers a reading tool that students will want to read versus being forced to read,” Pippen said. “I think DC is
going in the right direction, to capture the hearts and minds of children early so that they will become lifelong readers and learners.” Pippen said that DC’s new imprints may help parents encourage their children to read. “The current research shows that the earlier a child starts to read and hear the spoken word, the further in education and higher paying position the child will eventually achieve,” Pippen said. With a baby set to arrive in May, Pippen said programs like DC Zoom and DC Ink are important. “As a future parent, I am already picking out stories that I will read to my child. This will ensure that she is off to a good start.” Manager and owner of Bombshell Comics Justin Adcock said that he has had more families with young children ask for books their children can read. Adcock has a section in his store stacked with age-appropriate content for children. “I’ve sold more [young readertargeted] books in about the last year than I have the last 16 years I have had this shop,” Adcock said. The success of one of DC’s top-selling books for children, “DC’s Super Hero Girls,” helped DC decide to make more books for children. Adcock echoed this story of success. “For comparison, ‘Super Hero Girls’ now outsells ‘The Walking Dead,’ which used to be my best seller,” Adcock said. Adcock said he will order some products from DC Zoom and DC Ink and place them on the shelves of his young reader’s section and hopes that they do as well as “Super Hero Girls.” Upcoming books for DC Zoom include “Batman: Overdrive” and “Green Lantern: Legacy,” while upcoming books for DC Ink include “Teen Titans” and “Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed.”
APRIL 11, 2018
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LGBTQ not included in 2020 US census Will Veazey printz reporter
The 2020 United States census will not be recording data on LGBTQ Americans. LGBTQ Americans have been campaigning for years to instill questions about sexual orientation on the 2020 census. On the initial release of a draft of the 2020 census: lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people were included. The LGBTQ community was elated by this news, however a day later the United States Census Bureau removed the line of questioning, and stated that the inclusion was a mistake. “The Subjects Planned for the 2020
Census and American Community Survey report released today inadvertently listed sexual orientation and gender identity as a proposed topic in the appendix,” the U.S. Census Bureau said in a statement to NBC News. “This topic is not being proposed to Congress for the 2020 Census or American Community Survey. The report has been corrected.” The LGBTQ community has responded with utter outrage, and rightfully so. The census records data on everything from your race and ethnicity, to how long your commute is to work and the type of plumbing in your house. However, there’s no questions regarding one’s sexual orientation. This is vitally important because the
census provides the government with hard data on the size of different communities to support them and answer to their needs. Without data on the size of the community, how will they be supported? It doesn’t make any sense why the LGBTQ community and a line of questioning for identifying its members hasn’t already been added to the 2020 census. According to NBCNews, “No previous U.S. Census has ever included LGBTQ Americans, which makes it challenging for federal agencies and researchers to accurately track the size, demographics and needs of the community.” The Census Bureau has since
responded that the initial inclusion of the LGBTQ community into the census was a mistake, and they would not be appealing to congress to make any additions to the survey. They have also stated that there is no federal need to have this data. The way they achieve that verdict is unclear. On the original draft of the Subjects Planned for the 2020 Census that the Census Bureau made, there was a perfectly clear explanation for the inclusion of a line of questioning regarding the LGBTQ community. Acquired by NPR under the Freedom of Information Act request to the Census Bureau, the original draft says: “Sexual orientation and gender identity questions are being evaluated
and may be proposed to aid in planning and funding government programs and in evaluating other government programs and policies to ensure they fairly and equitably serve the needs of all people. These statistics could be used to enforce laws, regulations, and policies against discrimination in society.” This information is clearly pertinent to the 2020 Census and would serve the interests of a large community within America that is growing. The written description of why their inclusion is necessary came straight from the bureau and was later cut out on a basis we aren’t aware of. It is confirmed that the LGBTQ community will not be included on the 2020 Census.
The gun violence situation in America Will Veazey printz reporter
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On Tuesday, April 3rd, yet another major shooting took place in America. This time, the shooting occurred at the YouTube headquarters facility in Northern California. The shooting was conducted by a woman named Nasim Aghdam, who had been an avid YouTuber since 2010. She posted over 500 videos that largely promoted her vegan ideals and fitness workouts. Aghdam had about 30,000 subscribers, which is nowhere near the level of being a “YouTube Star.” However, she was generating a small income from advertisements on her videos. Everything changed when YouTube recently altered their algorithms on what type of content is advertised. Her videos were cut out of being advertised after the change as a result of some of the content that was being shown in her videos. Particularly, in some of her videos she showed animals in factories being tortured and slaughtered. This type of content directly conflicts with YouTube’s guidelines for its goriness. Thus, her content stopped being advertised. Aghdam saw this action as a conspiracy in which YouTube was suppressing her vegan ideals from potential viewers. Aghdam’s father had known for a while that Aghdam
had a major problem with YouTube, however he would never have imagined it would bring her to murder three people in cold blood and injure even more. Some are saying that YouTube is responsible for suppressing Aghdam’s ideals, and that YouTube’s demonetization is completely at fault, rather than Aghdam herself. This is demonstrably false and is a conclusion that comes out of a certain level of ignorance about what YouTube is. YouTube is not a governmentowned organization - they are a corporation. Thus, it can suppress whatever they want. If something on the website doesn’t reflect what the company decides it wants to allow to be on the media sharing site, it can simply remove that content. The content that Aghdam was posting on YouTube, whether you agree with her stance on veganism or not, does not meet the new standards for what can be advertised. Therefore, YouTube was completely entitled to taking away her advertisement income. The problem is much deeper than a YouTube policy issue. This act was a problem in the psyche of the perpetrator. If Aghdam was making a seven-figure income from YouTube that was suddenly removed, then we might be able to understand her motive more clearly. However, we are talking about someone who didn’t even make a mentionable income from the
site. This leads me to wonder about the status of our society right now. All of this gun violence that has been committed in the past few years has come from people who felt suppressed or betrayed in some way or another, and the parents and close relatives of these perpetrators had no idea that they were planning such actions. On the whole, a majority of people would obviously never dare to murder people. However, there’s a small percentage that feels utterly betrayed, suppressed, and not listened to. The Parkland shooting, Sandy Hook massacre, the Elliot Rodger killings, all of these perpetrators felt deeply wronged and wounded by society. They felt on the other side of the door to the rest of the world, and the only way they could open that door was by blowing a hole in it. The bottom line to all of these shootings is that they’ve all come with a deep psychological problem that no-one addressed. I don’t have all of the answers to the gun control debate, they certainly shouldn’t be taken away in their entirety, however it’s not fair for a student to have to worry about being shot when he goes to school, or someone who works at YouTube to fear being shot when he or she goes to work. As long as this issue goes unaddressed, the people who are forgotten by society will have power over everyone in our society. Something certainly must be done.
April 11, 2018
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Lady Eagles drop weekend series against UAB, 2-1 Kyle Williams sports editor
Southern Miss (15-29, C-USA 5-10) looked to gather momentum after losing six games on the road and losing at home against Ole Miss this past Wednesday. The Golden Eagles had the chance to improve their record but only managed to win one game in the threegame series against the University Alabama at Birmingham (15-24-1, C-USA 7-4-1). The first game started slow for both sides, despite the Golden Eagles scoring in the bottom of the first inning to take their only lead of the game, 1-0. The next two innings consisted of three and outs for both sides. While Southern Miss struggled to find its offense, UAB capitalized. In the top of the fourth, three Blazers managed to record a double, a single and a stolen base with no outs to tie the game, 1-1. Sarah Crawford then knocked one over the center field wall to push UAB’s lead to two, 3-1. The offense’s surge did not stop as the very next batter homered to left field, 4-1. Southern Miss managed to cut the lead to one, 4-3, but UAB’s tworun seventh inning was enough to
solidify the 7-3 win. “Game one we just did not get the job done,” Head Coach Wendy Hogue said. “I thought we lacked effort but in game two we came out and challenged them and played Southern Miss softball.” In game two, Southern Miss fell behind early as UAB’s momentum carried them, 2-0. Southern Miss found its groove in the third inning when Alyssa Davis tripled to right center field. Sarah Van Schaik followed up with a single to bring home Davis and cut the deficit to one, 2-1. A throwing error after Cierra Cherry’s single brought home Van Schaik to tie the game, 2-2. Southern Miss scored in the bottom of the fourth to take home game two of the double header, 3-2. Game three mirrored game one as Southern Miss managed to take an early lead but failed to produce any offense after that. UAB managed to score three runs in consecutive innings then three more in the seventh to coast to the 9-1 win and take the series. Southern Miss looks to spark some momentum as they face Southern University Tuesday at home. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
Devon Dollar, Printz Samantha Robles in the circle throwing a strike.
Southern Miss still searching for consistency after WKU series Trevor Ritchie printz reporter
Mattie Gray, Printz Matt Walner at the plate during the Western Kentucky series.
Southern Miss won its home weekend series over Western Kentucky, but the team is still searching for a level of consistency after spoiling two sweep opportunities in consecutive weekends. After being delayed in the eighth inning on Friday, the first game of the series was completed prior to the second matchup on Saturday. Notably, starting ace pitcher Nick Sandlin was pulled in the first inning but the bullpen still salvaged the game. Southern Miss took the first game 8-2, but WKU bounced back to rout the Golden Eagles 7-1 in game two. Starting pitcher Stevie Powers had rough outing giving up seven earned runs on nine hits through five innings pitched. Southern Miss was held to less than four runs in just the third game this season. Western Kentucky kept the Golden Eagles to one run on eight hits and was bolstered by a seven-run offensive attack. Following the loss, Head Coach Scott Berry was reflective of Southern Miss’ recent inconsistency and inability to get a collective performance in all departments. “If you look at the last eight games, we’re 4-4,” Berry said. “We have not defended the ball well. Offensively, we have not had good swings. We’ve had to come from behind several times. We are not able to control and minimize the damage that’s been happening. We’re just not doing enough right
to win baseball games like you have to, in a consistent manner.” Berry’s comments came in reference to a collapse against Ole Miss, a failed sweep against Rice, a midweek series split with Louisiana-Lafayette and another failed sweep against WKU within a two-week span. The Golden Eagles had their RPI drop outside of the Top-50 after Saturday’ loss as well, making it even more critical for the team to find its stride heading into the final half of season. Despite Saturday’s loss, the Golden Eagles regrouped and came alive on Sunday during the series finale. Walker Powell pitched a complete game on a mere 69 pitches while giving up just three hits as the Golden Eagles took a 14-1 run-rule win. Matt Wallner helped lead the way with two hits and four RBIs on the day. Gabe Montenegro contributed three hits himself, including his first home-run of his Southern Miss career. For Montenegro, it’s all about getting a rhythm. “It felt good when it went out,” said Montenegro. “I was trying to make contact and get on base to help out the team. I just wanted to put the ball in play. [The win] is important for our confidence so we can get back in rhythm. We’re just trying to be prepared mentally.” Southern Miss (22-9, 8-3 C-USA) will have the chance to make a bounce back statement as it is set to take on No. 3 Ole Miss next at Trustmark Park in Pearl, MS. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.