Volume 100 Issue 51
Monday, April 18, 2016
www.studentprintz.com
Surviving Abuse Student finds voice to share his experience of sexual assault Joshua D Starr News Editor
In 2015, fall classes began at Jones County Community College in August, and when Kristen arrived for her first semester on campus, she was filled with excitement at the endless possibilities. Away from home, college life offered a newfound sense of freedom. She quickly made friends. There were parties to go to. And of course, there were guys. One particularly cute guy in her circle, Andrew, liked her. Kristen could tell Andrew took care of himself. She could tell he worked out by the way his broad shoulders and thick, muscular chest filled his shirts. Andrew was a couple years older than her, but by all accounts, he was a great guy. Gregarious and funny, he had an innate ability to connect with people, and he was smart, too. Andrew told their mutual friend Liam he wanted to make his move before another guy came along. He put his cards on the table and asked Kristen for her number. And in short order, they were dating. Kristen and Andrew started spending all their time together. A month into their relationship when things started to turn, their friends could tell something was off. Maybe it was because life at home wasn’t so great for Andrew. His parents were in the middle of a bitter divorce. Or maybe it was something else. Whatever was going on, Kristen and Andrew were keeping it to themselves. Now six months later, Andrew wants to tell his story. He wants to bring light to the issue of abuse he, like countless others of every age and gender, have suffered at the hands of someone he thought he loved. Looking back, he sees the signs of abuse he had been blind to early on. “In the time of a month, we grew from being completely strangers to like know our life’s story, because that’s all we would do,” Andrew said. “We would spend six to eight hours on the phone. And when you’re spending that much time with a person, you really get to know them -- when that’s all your life really is.” What at the time seemed to be growing intimacy in their relationship came to be in actuality the groundwork of dependence and isolation that USM health services counselor Michelle Howard said is typical of psychologically abusive relationships. Liam said at first Kristen seemed like a sweet girl, but slowly he began to notice Andrew was acting differently and that Kristen was becoming mean and more demanding of Andrew when they were together. “I guess I didn’t really confront Andrew about it too much because I wanted to be polite and I didn’t want to be rude and be like, ‘You’re girlfriend is kind of a terrible person sometimes,’” Liam said. “Now, I would have maybe told him that.” Howard provides group counseling for rape survivors individual counseling for students who have experienced rape and domestic violence. She said friends of victims may not hear what is all going on because the person who is abused may be too scared to say anything and may protect the abuser because of that manipulation. She said if you have
never been in an abusive relationship, it can be hard to identify the telltale signs. “Most likely the person who is being abusive wants to cut out people in their [partner’s] life that are going to be encouraging and supportive because they may see what’s going on in this relationship,” Howard said. Andrew said he remembers one of the first times Kristen put him down, focusing her insult, as she often would, on his appearance. When she called the Converse shoes he was wearing ‘hideous,’ he was taken aback, but he shrugged it off. “I was in that phase that I was starstruck,” he said. “I was like, I really like this girl. I get to play with boobs on a daily basis, let me not complain about it. And I just kind of let her stomp all over me. Now that I can go back and analyze it, that was the first spark of where it started to downturn. She wanted me to change into something that I was not. It spiraled from there. That was not the first nor the last thing that she ever did to me.” Andrew describes the change between them as the flip of a switch. Andrew said though Kristen would call him names, put him down and make him feel insignificant on a daily basis, he did not want to give up on her. “My big thing is you don’t give up on a relationship that easily,” he said. “You don’t just drop it. When something’s bad, you try to fix the problem and move on with your partner. You’re there for them with the good times and the bad.” Andrew said he tried to change himself to become the person Kristen wanted. “I changed how I looked,” he said. “I changed my haircut, I changed what I wore. I went and bought a brand new wardrobe just so she was happy.” Andrew said despite his efforts, Kristen could not be appeased. “I would come out of the house and she would see me, and I hate to use this word, but she would say, ‘You look like a f***ing faggot. You need to go back in the house and change your shirt right the f*** now.’ Just like that, for no reason,” he said. Howard said from the outsider perspective, leaving an abusive relationship seems like the obvious choice. She said, however, abusers can be deft in their manipulations, breaking their victim through humiliation, guilt and criticism and controlling their actions through the constant threat of such emotional abuse. “A lot of times there’s this misconception that [someone] goes into an abusive relationship when they see someone being mean or cruel,” Howard said. “A lot of times that’s not how they meet the person. There’s a cycle of abuse that goes on, a manipulation of power where I’m going to show you what I want to show you in the beginning. And then once you’re vulnerable,and that’s when the other person feels comfortable with being who they truly are.” As the abuse continued, Andrew began to believe he was as worthless as Kristen said he was, unwanted by anyone but herself. Andrew fell VIOLENCE CONT. ON PG. 5
INFORMATION
Page 2 | Monday, April 18, 2016
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NEWS
ON CAMPUS
Monday, April 18, 2016 | Page 3
‘The Seagull’ showcases modern life on stage Julius Kizzee Sports Editor
The University of Southern Mississippi’s Theatre Department will present “The Seagull” by Anton Chekhov on April 21-23 and April 28-30. All shows are set for 7:30 p.m., and a special performance will be given on May 1 at 2 p.m. “A story of a small community of people who are searching for dreams that they fear they cannot have,” director Adam Sullivan said. “These are people who desperately need something, and while it feels like something very small, when you get in real life, the small things are the things that mean the most.” The play will connect themes of modern life including art, romance and love, while giving the audience a relative look into their own lives from those onstage. “I would hope that people when they see this that they would see parts of themselves in the characters,” Sullivan said. “There
is some funny stuff in the show, then there is some tragic, dramatic stuff that happens between the characters.” Two main characters in the play, Konstantin Treplev, portrayed by Will Lovorn, and Nina, played by Annalee Richards, are both presumed lovers. Although the love that Konstantin gives Nina is unwavering and pure, Nina finds love in another character — Boris Alexeyevich Trigorin. Besides the love triangle that her character dabbles in throughout the play, Nina has a longing for a stage career. For Richards, this parallel helps her relate to her character. “It’s been amazing how much my life has actually been incorporated into the character’s life,” Richards said. “I’ve found a lot in myself in her.” Lovorn’s character is left to fight not only for his lover, but also for his struggling stage writing career. He said he can relate to not being in the spotlight, despite all of the hard work that he has put forth to be
noticed. In the state of Mississippi, Lovorn feels that he has to put in extra effort for his work in the theater to be appreciated. “Being a theatre major, especially in this state, people always ask you what are you going to do with it,” Lovorn said. “Sometimes, you can feel a bit underappreciated and misunderstood, or feel like your works are nothing. That’s been a major way it helps me connect.” The cast, especially Richards, wants to not only give the audience a spectacle on the stage but also a reflection of their own problems and issues that they may face. “What I want this play to be is to open people up to emotions,” Richards said. “It is a very realistic play in the sense that these people are real people. I want people to come to the show and have an emotional experience and have a better understanding of themselves going through the story with us.” “The Seagull” will start its production this Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Tatum Theatre.
ON CAMPUS
April showers bring flash flooding, leaves no damage
Julius Kizzee/Sports Editor Annalee Richards and Will Lovern rehearse for “The Seagull.”
STATE
Psychology professor Stan Kuczaj dies April 14 David Tisdale Southern Miss Now
Hunt Mercier/Photo Editor Southern Miss students cross ankle-deep water at the Century Park crosswalk to get to their dorms on April 14.
Hiba Tahir Printz Reporter
The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Warning in Hattiesburg around 7 p.m. Thursday. Although the water cleared out fairly quickly, several students on campus felt the effects.
Jillian Larson, a Century Park North resident, was on the crosswalk between Century Park North and South when the flooding was at its worst. “It was like, six inches of water,” Larson said. “My feet got really wet and my shoes were almost ruined. Across the crosswalk, [the water]
was just surging. It was scary.” Most affected were those residents on the first floor of the Luckyday Building in Century Park South, several of whom had to move across halls and get rid of rugs when water seeped into their dorms. So far, there have been no reports of actual damage.
Stan Kuczaj, professor of psychology and director of The University of Southern Mississippi’s internationally recognized Marine Mammal Behavior and Cognition Laboratory, died April 14 at his home in Hattiesburg. He was 65. Kuczaj joined the faculty of the university’s College of Education and Psychology in 1996. In addition to his duties as professor and director of the laboratory, his service included a stint as chairman of the Department of Psychology. “Dr. Kuczaj was a beloved professor and respected colleague in the College of Education and Psychology, and his death represents an irreplaceable loss for all of us,” said Ann P. Blackwell, dean of the college of education and psychology. “He brought great distinction to The University of Southern Mississippi through teaching and research that benefitted students from around the world.” Kuczaj was president of the American Psychological Association’s Division 6, and recently selected editor-in-chief of the Oxford University Press Encyclopedia of Mammalian Social Behavior. “The Department of Psychology and The University of Southern Mississippi lost a valued member of our family today,” said Joe Olmi, chairman of the psychology department. “Stan Kuczaj was a brilliant scientist, a dear friend
Courtesy Photo of Stan Kuzjac
and a cherished teacher and mentor. His loss will be felt deeply by us, by his family and by many others.” Kuczaj and his graduate students conducted international research concerning comparative cognition, marine mammal behavior, communication and play for on marine mammals and other animals both in the field and in captive facilities. His work gained international recognition, having been featured in National Geographic, on Public Broadcasting Service, BBC and Japanese Public Television. During Kuczaj’s tenure at USM, Marine Mammal Behavior and Cognition Laboratory projects received grant support from the Office of Naval Research and the U.S. Department of Commerce, among other renowned agencies and organizations. “On behalf of the Southern Miss family, I extend our sincere condolences to Dr. Kuczaj’s family, friends, students and colleagues,” Provost Steven Moser said.
NEWS
Page 4 | Monday, April 18, 2016
ON CAMPUS
Skip the Script hosts ‘April Foolin’ Around’ Hiba Tahir Printz Reporter
Skip the Script’s Masters of Magic hosted “April Foolin’ Around,” or “All Play” with a Harold performance at 5 p.m. on April 15 in the Southern Miss Woods Theater. Skip the Script, an improvisation group formed in 2013 under the direction of graduate student Drew Davidson, seeks to “entertain, enrich and expound” through the medium. “Improv is not just about being ‘funny,’ although it can be,” Davidson said. “Improv is not the illegitimate stepchild of Theatre Proper, although some people think that it is. Improv can be used to sharpen the tools of the actor, but it is an art in and of itself.”
Davidson’s group was inspired by the Second City Training Center in Chicago, a renowned performance school that offers several programs focused on the study crafts, including improvisation, comedy writing, stand-up, clowning, and music improvisation, among others. Classes at the Chicago training center, as well as the other Second City centers throughout the nation, are taught by professionals, many of whom are Second City performers themselves. Notable alumni of the program include Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Stephen Colbert. In order to join the Skip the Script performance troupe, students must audition. Once cast, they all decide their troupe name. The founding group was
I don’t like to think of improv as an exhibitionist event, but an event that engages the audience directly. Drew Davidson, troupe director
called “Skip the Script” and last year’s was the “Hip Hop Doctors.” This year’s troupe is referred to as the “Masters of Magic,” and Friday was their first time doing a long-form improv or “Harold.” “In Chicago, students study for hours a day for weeks to master this difficult format,” said Davidson. “We only recently started playing with the Harold, and only put in four hours of practice total. This is a testament to the talent of Skip the Script’s Masters of Magic.” Friday’s performance offered audience members free “fiddle faddle and lemonade” and consisted of two parts. The first was a 30-minute “All-Play,” during which audience members were invited onstage to play various short improv games, including a challenging forward, reverse scene. Eliza Olson, a freshman international studies major who participated in some of the improv games, enjoyed her time onstage. “I’ve never been to one of these [shows] before,” she said. “It was great. I loved the games in the beginning and the ending. I loved it all.” Davidson said he loves when the audience gets involved during the show. “I always look for opportunities
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to get the audience involved,” Davidson said. “I don’t like to think of improv as an exhibitionist event, but an event that engages the audience directly. Normally, improv troupes involve the audience by getting suggestions from scenes. I say why not just get them on the stage too? It seemed like the audience had fun playing, and I know I had fun watching them.” Amoy Cooper, one of the members of the Masters of Magic troupe, added the show had been received very well. She
plans to continue taking part in improv shows as long as she is in the program. “I’m a really shy person, so when I joined the group I felt like I was doing everything wrong,” said Cooper, a freshman journalism and theater double major. “That’s not the case with improv, because with improv anything you say or do can be used in whatever scene you’re doing.” The Masters of Magic will perform once again this semester in their “End of the Year” show in May.
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FEATURE
ON CAMPUS
Monday, April 18, 2016 | Page 5
Health Services notes rise of student STIs Emerald Alexis Ware Printz Reporter
In a survey of 700 students, New York Magazine found approximately 41 percent of women and 49 percent of men said they were not sexually active. Although collegeage students, those between the ages of 18-24, make up a small percentage of the total sexually active population, the CDC reports that demographic makes up nearly half of the 20 million sexually transmitted infection cases. For The University of Southern Mississippi, that statistic rings true. Over the course of the academic year, Student Health Services has seen an increased number of STIs. USM Director of Wellness and Health Promotion Jodi Ryder said the clinicians have reported that this is the highest number of positive STI tests they have recorded for several years, with chlamydia and gonorrhea being the most common. “I think we’re seeing it more in females but that means it’s high in VIOLENCE CONTINUED deep into a depression that, to his friends, appeared to be the result of his parents’ ongoing divorce proceedings. He said that while the divorce of his parents, who were married for 34 years, affected him deeply, he did not find solace from his girlfriend. Instead, Kristen exerted more and more over his life. “Like if you’ve gone through your parents divorce, when you’re that emotional and you have somebody every day of your life telling you how ugly you are or that they’re the only one that will ever have you, it can really destroy you,” he said. “It takes a toll on you, yet they expect you to be in charge of them. They expect you to [...] go wherever they want to go and do whatever they want to do.” Andrew reached his breaking point the day after Christmas, but not before Kristen committed her final act of violence against him. On Dec. 28, 2015, Kristen raped Andrew. “My mom and her boyfriend went out of town for Christmas,” he said. “I was at home alone, and Kristen came over. I was sick and I had taken [Benadryl] — It’s like being drunk [....] We went into [my room], and she’s like ‘I want to have sex.’” Andrew said that moment was the lowest point in his life. “There was something in me at that moment … I could have killed her, I could have watched the life drain out of her eyes because she took something from me that I can never get back,” he said. Liam said when Andrew told him the next day, he was
males,” Ryder said. “Often times, males are asymptomatic, and so they don’t tend to get tested as often. So typically males are carriers of it, and they transmit it. And a lot of times, all STIs are asymptomatic — someone will never show symptoms — they don’t think there’s a reason to get tested.”
I always say if you’re not ready to talk to your partner about sex and how to protect yourself, you’re not ready to have sex with that person. Jodi Ryder, director of Wellness and Health Promotion
The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority does its part to encourage students to get tested regularly. Senior AKA member and kinesiology major Jessica Thompson said the sorority’s program Get Tested mainly in disbelief. “It was crazy because you hear about things like that but you don’t imagine it happening to one of your best friends,” he said. “It really kind of hit home.” Andrew is among the 3 percent of men that has experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime, according to a report by the National Institute of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Howard said despite what people think, female on male survivors of emotional abuse are not unlike their female counterparts. She said that is true also of rape. “Honestly, rape doesn’t discriminate,” she said. Though he has spoken to his therapist about the abuse, Andrew said experience has taught him about his trauma with many others. “A lot of people that I’ve talked to about this, they laugh about it,” he said. “When I stand up, I’m 6 foot 1 inch. It would have been easy for me to hurt Kristen, but you can’t do that to someone. If they’re hurting you emotionally or psychologically, you can’t just punch them. That’s not something that’s OK to do. And a lot of people don’t realize that. They say, ‘Oh, you’re a man. You’re tough. You’re not going to get abused.’ It happens.” Andrew said now he just wants to move past his trauma and find closure. “At the end of the day, I want to be able to forgive her,” he said. “I want to be able to look her in the face and say, ‘You are a troubled human being and I love you very much and care
encourages students to get tested for HIV/AIDS, but she feels all sexual health is important. “The mission (of Get Tested) is to educate young people of the importance of safe sex and the prevalence of HIV in the community — specifically the African-American community — and to give them the chance to be tested,” Thompson said. Senior nursing major Elizabeth Tramuta said lack of symptoms may contribute to the lack of awareness of positive status among students. “I believe a large percentage of young people aren’t getting screened for STIs and, subsequently, don’t know that they’re infected,” Tramuta said. Failure to treat an asymptomatic infection can lead to long term damage. Ryder promotes getting tested every six months or with each new partner. Along with regular testing, the best way to ensure sexual health is to protect yourself before engaging in sexual activity including intercourse, oral sex or any sexual touching. Ryder said some students for you even though you never cared for me.’” Andrew said his life has been a work in progress, but he has made progress. The night of Dec. 26, he tried to commit suicide, but therapy and time has helped him deal with his trauma. According to the World Health Organization, sexual assault victims are 13 percent more likely to abuse alcohol, and though he once turned to alcohol to cope, he said he has developed more positive methods. “One of the many things my therapist taught me is if you can get up and do one nice thing for a person and help somebody out that day, you’re better than the person you were the day before,” Andrew said. “No matter what happens to you, if you can be nice and be a good human being and care for people, you can overcome. And that is something I live by.” Andrew said he hopes his story will help others spot signs of abuse in their friends’ relationships. And he said he wants others that experience what he has to know that there is hope. Howard said members of the USM community who see signs of abuse can report them through the Campus Action Referral and Evaluation System. For more information on CARES, visit usm.edu/studentcounseling-services/reportcritical-incidents-southernmiss-cares. Disclaimer: Names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals involved.
believe the myth that oral contraceptive pills are enough to protect against STIs, but that is not the case. “Consistent and correct condom use is the only way,” Ryder said. “[Contraceptive medication] only protects against pregnancy, not sexually transmitted infections. So it’s important that you use a barrier method, such as a condom, or — if you’re having oral sex — a dental dam to protect yourself.” Tramuta said her personal advice aligns with her studies as a nursing major. “I’ll quote what every nursing textbook says: ‘Abstinence from all sexual activities is the only method that is 100 percent effective in preventing sexually transmitted infections,’” Tramuta said. However, for those who want to engage in sexual activity, the CDC campaign Talk. Test. Treat.
website gives advice on how to bring up the conversation with your partner. “I always say if you’re not ready to talk to your partner about sex and how to protect yourself, you’re not ready to have sex with that person,” Ryder said. Ryder said though some may think that it only happens if you are promiscuous, it can happen to anyone sexually active, whether it is your first time or not. Thompson said the more people get tested for STIs, the less people will spread infectious diseases unknowingly. The USM Moffitt Health Center offers students STI testing at a reduced fee and free HIV screenings. Ryder said if students are unable to afford the clinic, there are health centers in the Hattiesburg area that offer more affordable or free tests.
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Page 6 | Monday, April 18, 2016
NATIONAL
FEATURE
Organizers cancel events, call for repeal of HB 1523 announced his cancellation in an Instagram post, calling the state’s discrimination of its LGBTQ+ citizens “incomprehensible.” “I cannot in good conscience perform in a state where certain people are being denied their civil rights due to their sexual orientation,” Adams wrote in the
the others. “What literature teaches us is empathy,” Smith wrote in the Many people throughout letter. “It reminds us to reach out the nation view Mississippi’s a hand to our neighbors – even if new Religious Liberty law as a they look different from us, love shockingly blatant invitation to different from us – and say, ‘Why, discriminate and have shown I recognize you; you’re a human, their discontent by cancelling just like me, sprung from the events in or associated same messy place, bound with Mississippi. on the same hard road.’ Mississippi Gov. Phil It is deeply disturbing to Bryant signed House Bill so many of us to see the Mississippi should not be 1523 on April 5, creating rhetoric of hate, thinly proud, nor does it deserve the “Religious Liberty veiled, once more poison Accommodations Act” our political discourse.” to celebrate their State in which catalized backlash Organizers of the 37th this park if they don’t share across the nation. Annual Mississippi Picnic The controversial act in Central Park also New York’s values of diversity, defines marriage as “the cancelled the event due inclusion and mutual respect. union of one man and one to passage of HB 1523. woman” and forbids the The picnic serves as a Bill de Blasio, New York City mayor state government from networking opportunity taking any discriminatory and heritage celebration action against an that involves New Yorkorganization that refuses based Mississippi natives to officiate marriages on religious post. “Using my voice, I stand and others who travel to attend. grounds. It also prohibits in solidarity with all my LGBT Nathan Herring, a Starkville, discriminatory action against friends to repeal this extremely Mississippi native who lived in those who refuse employment, discriminatory bill. Hopefully New York and attended the picnic sale, rental, housing and adoption Mississippi will right itself and in the past, said the picnic is a due to sincerely held beliefs I can come back and perform reminder of home and a lot of the and convictions. for all of my many fans. I look good things about Mississippi. Bryan Adams is one of many forward to that day.” “I don’t think it was totally artists who have cancelled Ninety-five Mississippi writers necessary to cancel it,” Herring Mississippi shows in wake of the also called for the repeal of the said. “[There’s] not a huge state’s new law. The Canadian bill in a letter written by novelist number of people there, so I don’t singer was supposed to perform Katy Simpson Smith and signed think it really made a statement. in Biloxi’s Mississippi Coast by John Grisham, Donna Tartt I understand the opposition to Coliseum on April 14. He and Kathryn Stockett, among the law, but it’s a shame for both
Hiba Tahir
Printz Reporter
Cam Bonelli/Assistant Photo Editor Natialie Offiah, teacher at Mississippi Safe School, speaks at the HB 1523 protest at the Governer’s Mansion April 4.
New Yorkers and Mississippians because it’s such a good thing for people from both places to experience a new culture and remember their old one.” The event was cancelled in part due to a petition to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and others. “Mississippi should not be proud, nor does it deserve to
celebrate their State in this park if they don’t share New York’s values of diversity, inclusion and mutual respect,” the petition said. “The measure, cloaked in the language of religious liberty, is essentially an attempt to legalize segregation between LGBTQ+ people and the rest of society.”
OPINION
MUSIC
Monday, April 18, 2016 | Page 7
Spanish punks bring moves, grooves Jack Hammett Managing Editor
The Porn Hall played host to Spanish punkers La URSS and local junkers Dumspell, Nap and Baghead on April 13. The event lasted from 7:30 p.m. to whenever and saw a turnout of at least 50 patrons. Well, the Europeans came to town and suddenly everyone wanted in on this business. Just kidding. La URSS deserved every pair of eyes and ears that could be squeezed into the Porn Hall stomping space. The venue found itself jammed with more people than usual, which was welcome and wonderful as we could share our little celebration with people who’d never come out. The Porn Hall is a one-of-a-kind deal. Everyone deserves to be there at least once. Dumspell exploded into their set as I fished a PBR out of the fridge. There’s not a lot I can say about this band I haven’t already, other than prepare yourself for a buttwhooping. I still listen to their selftitled demo that I bought from them way back, and I still find myself singing along to their tunes at every show. The boys at the front of the crowd slammed the crap out of each other during each song’s breakdown. I stood next to a couple of the La URSS guys and gladly saw they were
POLITICS
Cam Bonelli/Assitant Photo Editor Punkers moving to La URSS set at the Porn Hall April 13.
Cam Bonelli/Assitant Photo Editor La URSS vocalist belts at the April 13 show at the Porn Hall. McDaniel presents during the NEH grant launch on April 12.
enjoying themselves — so there’s your endorsement by European punk veterans if you needed a weirdly specific reason to listen to them. If you’re a Thirsty Hippo regular and want more punk in your life, you’re in luck. Dumspell will blow the place’s doors off their hinges May 18. Then came Nap, formerly known as Nap and the Secret Wands. The last time we saw Nap was our first stint at the Porn Hall, and their set
Spain-brewed tunes. This was who everyone had come to see. The boys fired up their first number and had me on my knees in moments. As one could imagine, the punk climate in Europe is likely different from the one here in the South of America. Their sound aesthetic reflected that with bright but aggressive numbers that had everyone grooving. The guitar work felt like a heavy rain, good and wet,
this time was just as memorable as it was then. Frontman Dylan Kern is a double threat, simply put. His vocals really shone, and he tore through the numbers with maniac guitar solos that make my own skills look elementary. Needless to say, Nap was a pleasure. They’ll be performing alongside Dumspell at the May 18 show. Afterward, it was finally time for La URSS to bang out some
while the vocals were smooth and accessible. To boot, the vocalist broke out some moves — some sweet dance moves. “If you super like us,” vocalist Africo said after the set, “you can buy a T-shirt or a tape.” We bought a tape. Just as everyone had expected, La URSS became an instant highlight. Their set was not one to forget. Baghead closed out the night with a few rowdy numbers that made everyone get along nicely. Crunchy guitars and a bang-up rhythm section complimented Hampton Martin’s gruff and powerful vocals. There is nothing quite like a nice Baghead set in the same way there is nothing quite like a good Big Bleach set. Both of these bands are drastically different — Big Bleach a bright and confident-sounding foil to the former — but Baghead touts a realistic pessimism toward local politics and acts as a voice for our little music community. Listening feels amazing. You can never go wrong with a Baghead set. Music and more information about these bands can be found on their respective Bandcamp profiles. Information on the Porn Hall and Spice World can be found pretty much nowhere, as it is only distributed on a need-to-know basis.
Cornered, Clinton deflects questions in N.Y. debate Nicolas Kubicki Printz Reporter
Hunter Thompson once wrote that a career politician smelling the White House is like a bull elk in heat. “He will stop at nothing, trashing anything that gets in his way, and anything he can’t handle personally, he will hire out- or, failing that, make a deal,” Thompson wrote. At Thursday’s debate, Hillary Clinton came out of the gate like an animal, rabid and snarling. On that night, she smelled the White House. She wanted this to be her turning point. She saw her opportunity to take the crowds, New York and the nomination. Clinton seemed to have three basic strategies throughout the night: Invoke 9/11, talk about President Obama and speak over pretty much everyone. Over the course of the night she mentioned the president 24 times, five of those in one response. At some point, she realized that the moderators would not mute her once her time was up, so she yelled over anyone she could. The first question for Sanders was about his remark on Clinton’s qualifications. The senator asserted that obviously she had the qualifications to be commander-in-chief, but he questioned her judgement, referring to her vote on the war in Iraq, her use of super
PACs and the trade agreements she supported. In an almost expert deflection, Clinton told the audience that an attack on super PACs was not only an attack on her, but on President Obama as well. Those in the crowd who recognized the dodge began to boo Clinton. This was not a crowd that was going to sit by idly while she repeated her tired rhetoric. Early on in the debate, the moderators asked the question on everyone’s mind: If there is nothing incriminating on the transcripts of speeches she gave to Goldman Sachs, why not release them? Given her angry responses to previous requests, the entire room went silent, waiting on edge to listen to her. “I’ve said before, I will release them when everyone else does,” Clinton said. And the crowd erupted in screams and jeers. The moderator asked her twice more, and she deflected each time, saying that she would provide her transcripts once all her opponents, including the Republicans, did. Then, she tried to overshadow the issue by demanding Sanders’ tax returns. If I were an uninformed and undecided Democratic voter, this exchange might be the most damning of the entire night. Not only did she avoid a direct question three times, she told the voting public that she would allow her standard
of leadership to be set by those in the Republican party. In that instant, she showed her true colors as a follower rather than a leader. Right before the commercial break came the most heated moment of the entire night. Through her entire campaign, Clinton has advocated for raising the minimum wage to $12 an hour, while Sanders has called for $15. On stage in front of millions of people, she said that she had supported a national minimum wage of $15 an hour for years. Those in the crowd knew this lie for what it was and erupted in objection. Much to the annoyance of the host, after the moderators gave Sanders his time to respond, Clinton shouted over him. The entire night, Clinton failed to answer a single yes/no question, and I am not sure she could answer one if she tried. The moderators asked her if she was prepared to lift the cap on social security and she talked around the question. Sanders called for the U.S. to lead the world in fighting climate change and called for an end to fracking, something Clinton has supported for years. When he asked her about supporting a tax on carbon, she waffled. The moderators asked her if she was as responsible for the state of Libya as President Obama and she talked around that one as well. Once before I said that Clinton
sounded like someone upset that Sanders was not willing to step aside and let her do what she wanted, and Thursday’s debate only solidified that. When the moderators held her to a point, she threw a tantrum. When Sanders pressed her on issues, she lashed out and tried to distract from the subject
at hand. When the audience showed their disapproval, she chided them like a mother scolding her children. From shouting over the moderators, shouting over Sanders and talking down to the crowd, Clinton demonstrated how untrustworthy and out of touch she is.
SPORTS
Page 8 | Monday, April 18, 2016
SOFTBALL
USM secures first series sweep since ’11 Julius Kizzee Sports Editor
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For the first time since 2011, Southern Miss (23-23, 9-8) swept a Conference USA opponent in a season series. North Texas (20-23) came to Hattiesburg having lost four out of their last five contests. After not having a reputation of being an offensive juggernaut, the Golden Eagles came into the contest looking to make their statement on defense. That defense was led by the pitching of Samantha Robles and Danielle Block, who limited the Mean Green to just two runs in three games. Robles led the way, shutting out the Mean Green in game one by only giving up four hits and striking out seven batters. For the rest of the team, Robles’ leadership on the mound gave way to a productive outing for Southern Miss.
Both teams headed into the third inning tied at zero. But, led by a Tori Dew single to center field, USM scored four runs in only the bottom of the third inning. Robles finished the Mean Green off by pitching her complete game shutout. The game two doubleheader went just as game one, as Block took her turn and also pitched a shutout. She gave up three hits and struck out three batters in her seven innings of work. The Golden Eagles garnered three hits in the fifth inning, scoring one run on a Kaelyn Christofferson single to bring in Arielle Pollock for the score. In the next inning, a Sarah Evans home run would bring home both Samantha Reynolds and Evans to put up an additional two runs, giving the Golden Eagles a 3-0 victory.
In game three, North Texas came out and matched the early lead that Southern Miss put up in the first inning. The game remained tied at 2-2 through to the sixth inning, where USM had a rare occurrence on the diamond. Rachel Johnson singled down the right field line, and Tori Dew stepped up to bat. After a Dew single gave Johnson an opportunity to advance to second, she took third base instead looking to score. With two outs at that moment and the game possibly on the line for USM, Johnson did the unthinkable and stole home successfully. The game three victory gave Southern Miss its first C-USA series sweep since 2011 at home versus UT-San Antonio. Southern Miss will travel to Starkville, Mississippi to play the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
Blazers end Golden Eagles’ C-USA win streak Kyle Williams Sports Reporter
Southern Miss continued its five-game road trip this weekend at The University of Alabama at Birmingham with a three-game series. The Golden Eagles lost two of the three games this past weekend, ending their previous 10-game win streak against Conference USA opponents this season. In the weekend contest, the Golden Eagles accumulated 21 runs off of 26 hits, while allowing
UAB 13 runs off of 28 hits. Despite producing more runs than the opposition, Southern Miss’ efforts fell short of taking the series. In game one, Southern Miss scored three runs in the top of the fourth inning to push ahead, 3-0. The lead seemed to be comfortable for the Golden Eagles until the Blazers had a three-run inning of their own following soon after. UAB’s Jared Nixon hit for the cycle on the night. His solo home run in the bottom of the
fifth helped UAB decrease the deficit, 3-1. Nixon’s hitting proved to be contagious as the Blazers recorded three more hits in the inning, two singles and one triple. The four-hit inning proved valuable to the Blazers as they cut the deficit completely, 3-3. UAB went on to score a point in the two innings that followed and limited Southern Miss to only gain hits but no scores. Between both teams, seven different pitchers saw action on the mound in the contest. UAB got the upper hand and took the game, 5-3.
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Game two showcased the dominant offensive performance from both sides. Out of the gate, Southern Miss’ Dylan Burdeaux doubled to right center. After a hit-by-pitch and two consecutive walks, the Golden Eagles managed to put two runs on the board early in the ball game. UAB would not let their slow defensive start translate to the offensive side of their game. After a walk and a strikeout, Esteban Tresgallo homered to tie the game up, 2-2. Riley McCown tripled to left field and collected an RBI to put UAB ahead, 3-2. A wild pitch right after the McCown triple resulted in him advancing home to score, giving UAB a 4-2 lead. The Blazers’ hot inning would last through to the bottom of the second inning when they scored two more runs to make the lead, 6-2. Southern Miss would counterattack at the top of the third inning off of a Chuckie Robinson home run. Robinson’s home run was his second on the season and gave the Golden Eagles two more runs to cut into the deficit, 6-4. Southern Miss would shut out UAB for five consecutive innings while making a run of their own.
The Golden Eagles scored five runs in this period and took the lead, 7-6. The ball game looked like it was Southern Miss’ to take until a double and hit-by-pitch put UAB’s Griffin Gum in the box. Gum delivered a single and brought home the game-tying run with two outs in the inning. Following Gum’s single was Carter Pharis, who also singled and brought home the game-winning RBI to solidify the Blazers win, 8-7. In the series finale, Southern Miss controlled the entire ball game. The Golden Eagles managed to score in five of the seven innings, with three of them being multiple run innings. Southern Miss shutout UAB’s offense, only allowing three hits and no runs. UAB was forced yet again to explore deep into their pitching core as five pitchers saw time on the mound. Despite multiple pitching changes, the Golden Eagles never decreased their effort on offense. Southern Miss won the contest 11-0 with nine hits, five strikeouts and two home runs. Southern Miss is set to face Tulane Tuesday in New Orleans. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
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Julius Kizzee/Sports Editor Dylan Burdeaux hits a single against Middle Tennessee on April 8.