APRIL 18, 2018 VOLUME 102 ISSUE 27
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NEWS
The Honors College discusses The Hate You Give
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ENTERTAINMENT Be sure to read this week’s Lanie Diaries.
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OPINION
Trump ordered a missile strike on Syria on Friday the 13th.
serving southern miss since 1927
Joe Paul Student Theater set to open Fall 2018 Lanie Leach printz reporter
When author of The New York Times bestseller “The Hate U Give” Angie Thomas cancelled her University Forum appearance in March, an Honors College student made plans for her peers to discuss the book on the night of Sunday, April 15. Published in 2017, “The Hate U Give” is the story of African-American teen Starr Carter and her life after the death of her friend Kahlil, who was killed by a police officer. Because Starr was the only witness to Khalil’s death, she struggles to grieve while dealing with the burden of explaining police brutality to her wealthy, white friends and becoming an activist for her community. Freshman social work major Kelsi Ford chose the book because of its relatable themes. “I knew that some people hadn’t read the book because I know that reading isn’t a big part of a lot of people’s lives even if they are passionate about things that start with reading,” Ford said. “I felt that concepts in the book whether we’re talking about family or police brutality or the media, anything of that nature, I felt that even if you hadn’t read the book that you could be a part of the conversation.” The two-hour discussion was guided by eight questions about the acronym T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E., parentchild conversations about interacting
with officers, media portrayals of black men and code-switching. Although the questions were designed around the content of the book, the group of 25 predominately African-American participants shared their own personal experiences about leaving bad neighborhoods, family members in prison and mental health. According to a 2016 report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Mental Health, adult African-Americans are 20 percent more likely than white adults to report psychological distress and feelings of hopelessness. However, because five percent of psychologists are African-American, causing fear of sympathy regarding cultural differences, and mental health stigmas in African-American families, some cases still go unreported, according to the American Psychology Association. Freshman business administration major Joshua Williams assisted Ford in directing the conversation. “Actually, for the most part of today I’ve been researching minority mental health, and a lot of the topics that we discussed- a lot of these racial disparities that we talked about- a lot of underlying causes is mental health. We just like to wipe our hands and skip over that, but it was really great to hear everybody start to open up eventually about different things and give different perspectives,” Williams said. Racial trauma has also been linked
to PTSD, depression and anxiety in African-Americans. During the discussion, participants talked about how their own interactions with law enforcement have triggered these feelings. Sophomore elementary education major Asia Montgomery said she was arrested in early April for reckless driving and speeding on the highway. “After seeing what’s been going on in the news, I was very thankful that [the officer] was black. I felt a lot more comfortable,” Montgomery said.
She said she was thankful that she remained calm during the ride to the local jail and her short stay. “I was in there for maybe 45 minutes, but it was the scariest place I had ever been.” Montgomery said she would tell her future children to be obedient if they were stopped by the police, saying that if she would have yelled or resisted arrest that she knows her outcome could have been much worse. “I appreciated Asia coming in and giving her personal account with the police and going to jail and the fact that
she teared up and cried and felt like she could do that in this environment. I felt affirmed that I could create an environment for people,” Ford said. Freshman political science pre-law major Jourdan Green agreed with Montgomery. When she was driving to Raising Cane’s with Williams she noticed the police had blocked the entrances to Cane’s and Cookout and asked a nearby officer if the area would be closed for the rest of the night. CONTINUED ONLINE
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Southern Miss students discuss ‘The Hate U Give’ Alyssa Bass
managing editor When author of The New York Times bestseller “The Hate U Give” Angie Thomas cancelled her University Forum appearance in March, an Honors College student made plans for her peers to discuss the book on the night of Sunday, April 15. Published in 2017, “The Hate U Give” is the story of AfricanAmerican teen Starr Carter and her life after the death of her friend Kahlil, who was killed by a police officer. Because Starr was the only witness to Khalil’s death, she struggles to grieve while dealing with the burden of explaining police brutality to her wealthy, white friends and becoming an activist for her community. Freshman social work major Kelsi Ford chose the book because of its relatable themes. “I knew that some people hadn’t read the book because I know that reading isn’t a big part of a lot of people’s lives even if they are passionate about things that start with reading,” Ford said. “I felt that concepts in the
book whether we’re talking about family or police brutality or the media, anything of that nature, I felt that even if you hadn’t read the book that you could be a part of the conversation.” The two-hour discussion was guided by eight questions about the acronym T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E., parent-child conversations about interacting with officers, media portrayals of black men and code-switching. Although the questions were designed around the content of the book, the group of 25 predominately AfricanAmerican participants shared their own personal experiences about leaving bad neighborhoods, family members in prison and mental health. According to a 2016 report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Mental Health, adult African-Americans are 20 percent more likely than white adults to report psychological distress and feelings of hopelessness. However, because five percent of psychologists are AfricanAmerican, causing fear of sympathy regarding cultural differences, and
mental health stigmas in AfricanAmerican families, some cases still go unreported, according to the American Psychology Association. Freshman business administration major Joshua Williams assisted Ford in directing the conversation. “Actually, for the most part of today I’ve been researching minority mental health, and a lot of the topics that we discussed- a lot of these racial disparities that we talked about- a lot of underlying causes is mental health. We just like to wipe our hands and skip over that, but it was really great to hear everybody start to open up eventually about different things and give different perspectives,” Williams said. Racial trauma has also been linked to PTSD, depression and anxiety in African-Americans. During the discussion, participants talked about how their own interactions with law enforcement have triggered these feelings. Sophomore elementary education major Asia Montgomery said she was arrested in early April for reckless driving and speeding on the highway.
“After seeing what’s been going on in the news, I was very thankful that [the officer] was black. I felt a lot more comfortable,” Montgomery said. She said she was thankful that she remained calm during the
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ride to the local jail and her short stay. “I was in there for maybe 45 minutes, but it was the scariest place I had ever been.” CONTINUED ON PG 3
APRIL 18, 2017 ANDREW ABADIE
Assistant Sports Editor andrew.abadie@usm.edu
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Executive Editor kaitlyn.watkins@usm.edu Managing Editor alyssa.bass@usm.edu News Editor nate.schumann@usm.edu Entertainment Editor carlton.mcgrone@usm.edu Design Editor jhaimee.bullock@usm.edu Social Media Editor ashley.hobson@usm.edu
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Dr. Chris Winstead was named as the founding dean of the University’s College of Arts and Sciences. Winstead will begin his work on July 1, pending IHL Board approval.
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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.
Alpha Chi Omega hosts Red Carnation Gala Kaitlyn Watkins executive editor Alpha Chi Omega at The University of Southern Mississippi will host its second annual Red Carnation Gala on April 20, 2018. The Kappa Sigma Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega is proud to support the local Domestic Abuse Family Shelter as part of its national philanthropy - domestic violence awareness. All proceeds raised from the event will benefit the local shelter.
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The event includes a fashion show at 5:00 p.m. sponsored by local boutiques with members of Southern Miss Greek Life as models. A cocktail hour for guests 21 and older will follow at the conclusion of the fashion show. Admission to the event is free, but the members of Alpha Chi Omega do ask that attendants make a donation. Tickets to the cocktail hour are $25 and include two drinks as well as food. Cocktail hour tickets can be bought from any member of Alpha Chi
Omega or by messaging the Alpha Chi Omega Facebook page. “Our Red Carnation Gala is more than a reason to get dressed up,” Alpha Chi Omega Vice President of Philanthropy Anna Claire Walker said. “Last year, this Gala provided the funds for the Domestic Abuse Family Shelter to purchase a van, something they have gone without for 34 years. The funds raised by this year’s Gala will directly impact survivors of domestic violence as they are granted sanctuary at the
local Hattiesburg shelter. It is an honor to be able to support an organization so close to campus and to our hearts.” Alpha Chi Omega partners nationally with Mary Kay, Allstate Foundation Purple Purse, the One Love Foundation, RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network), and It’s On Us. Domestic violence affects 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men. Members support local shelters and organizations that work to help those who have been affected by domestic
violence. Alpha Chi Omega works to educate its members and give them the tools they need to raise awareness of the widespread issue, build healthy relationships and end domestic violence. For more information, visit alphachiusm.org or contact: Alpha Chi Omega President Amanda Blanchard at amanda. blanchard@eagles.usm.edu Alpha Chi Omega Vice President of Philanthropy Anna Claire Walker at anna.c.walker@usm.edu
APRIL 18, 2017 CONTINUED FROM PG 1
Alyssa Bass
managing editor Montgomery said she would tell her future children to be obedient if they were stopped by the police, saying that if she would have yelled or resisted arrest that she knows her outcome could have been much worse. “I appreciated Asia coming in and giving her personal account with the police and going to jail and the fact that she teared up and cried and felt like she could do that in this environment. I felt affirmed that I could create an environment for people,” Ford said. Freshman political science pre-law major Jourdan Green agreed with Montgomery. When she was driving to Raising Cane’s with Williams she noticed the police had blocked the entrances to Cane’s and Cookout and asked a nearby officer if the area would be closed for the rest of the night. “I said ‘excuse me’ and everything. I put on my professional voice. Then the police said, ‘The roads are blocked, ain’t it?’ Just disrespectful as heck,” Green said. “I thought to myself this is part of the reason why we get in
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so much trouble because what if we don’t know how to hold our tongues?” “It was hard for me to hold my tongue. You’re not going to speak to me in that way when I was respectful to you. When I think about people who weren’t raised to hold their tongues and to not respond back, I think about how this is part of the reason. They provoke it,” Green said. “Silence is a good thing, but it’s hard to do,” she said. Ford said she was satisfied with the turnout. “Every advocacy starts with a conversation, and that’s what I wanted to spark tonight,” Ford said. Williams said he hopes the participants realized how their knowledge can impact others. “I hope that they understand that they now have a responsibility to now use their voice because they have a platform. Their platform is college. They are on their way to becoming collegeeducated people of society, so this is a platform that they can really use to advocate and pull younger people forward.” Ford is planning to start a literacycentered social justice organization in the fall. Those interested in joining the organization should contact her at kelsi.ford@usm.edu. Courtesy Photo
Stand Up, Mississippi is a statewide initiative to end the opioid crisis and inspire all Mississippians to work together to create a stronger and healthier future.
Together, we can end the opioid crisis.
StandUpMS.org
Students and Faculty: You can “Make A Difference” for USM Student-Veterans! Our Student-Veterans are special men and women who served Our Nation for many honorable reasons; to include that we might enjoy the freedom to pursue a college degree. At USM we are forever grateful for their selfless service, loyalty, sacrifice and personal courage.
In fact, it is hard to imagine what life would be like had it not been for generation after generation of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen answering the Call to Duty in defense of peace and freedom. In this regard, on behalf of the
USM Center for Military Veterans, Service Members and Families we respectfully request you consider “Making A Difference” for our Student-Veterans by donating one or more of your textbooks to our “Textbooks for Troops” program. This recently created program
provides a no-cost textbook loan service for our Student-Veterans and thus relieves the financial burden they most often face in transitioning from Service Member to college student. We are most grateful to accept any textbook or reference book
donation you might be willing to make If you choose to “Make A Difference,” we ask that you stop by the Hattiesburg Campus Veteran Center located at 3503 Morningside Drive or contact Doug Robinson (601-264-4629 or douglas.
APRIL 18, 2018
Jimmy Buffett returns to Hattiesburg after 38 years Kaitlyn Watkins executive editor
Singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett admitted that when he was a student at The University of Southern Mississippi he focused more on his music and partying than his classes. “I went [to Southern] not to get an education,” Buffett said in his book “A Pirate Looks at Fifty.” “I went there because it was close to New Orleans. xThat was where I was really getting the education that would prepare me for life.” The Pascagoula-born, Mobile-raised singer had no intention of becoming a Jesuit priest or a naval officer like his parents intended. Instead, he focused on forging a path in the music industry, beginning with learning how to play guitar from a fraternity brother at Auburn. Buffett hoped that learning to play the guitar would help attract girls, and his efforts did not go unnoticed. He soon became distracted by his newfound
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passion for music and women, which led to him flunking out of Auburn after only a year in 1964. In August of that same year, the United States became involved in the Vietnam War, and Buffett was in danger of being drafted. He attempted to enroll at Louisiana State University and was denied because of his low grades. As Buffett was wandering back home from Baton Rouge to Mobile, he came across the town of Poplarville, Mississippi. He became distracted by women he saw crossing the street on the way to their classes and decided to go to the administration building to beg for entry. To his surprise, his grades qualified him to be a freshman on probation. He immediately drove home, packed his bags and left a note for his parents that he had enrolled at Pearl River. Thanks to a college deferment, Buffett kept out of Vietnam. After a year at community college, Buffett’s grades were high enough for him to transfer to Southern Miss in 1966. “My heart had stayed in New Orleans though I went through the motions of being a student, but the war was the big pickle and my student deferment, that amazing ‘get out of jail free’ pass, was all that kept me from trading my guitar for a gun,” Buffett said. “If you flunked out of school, you were drafted. If you graduated, same thing. It became the game of the decade to try and figure out how to beat the selective-service process.” The musician continued taking classes Monday through Wednesday in Hattiesburg and raced to New Orleans to play with his band, the Upstairs Alliance, the remaining four days of the week. That’s where Buffett received his real education: on the streets and in the bars of the late 1960s French Quarter. After he graduated, the singer applied for Officer Candidate School of the United States Navy but was denied when he failed his physical.
Finally, Buffett was free to pursue his passion for performing. He met his first wife Margie Washichek at St. Joseph Chapel in Spring Hill, and the couple moved to Nashville after Buffett’s graduation from Southern Miss in 1969. There, he got a job at Billboard magazine working as a reporter, his first and only nine-to-five job. Buffett signed with Barnaby Records in 1970 and produced his first album with over thirty more albums to follow. His first albums “Down to Earth” and “High Cumberland Jubilee” went largely unnoticed by the public. It wasn’t until the early 1970s when Buffett began spending time in Key West, Florida, and developed his signature beach bum style that his music style evolved. With instant hits such as “Why Don’t We Get Drunk (And Screw)”, the singer started to attract his loyal followers who began to call themselves “Parrotheads” as they adopted the Hawaiian shirts and laidback attitude of Buffett himself. President of the University of West Florida Martha Saunders and former president of Southern Miss graduated with Buffett in 1969 and spoke about his passion for performing. She said that she and Buffett were only casual acquaintances in college, but he and Saunders’s roommate were very good friends. “I remember him well playing and singing on campus,” Saunders said. “He was always a popular act. More importantly, he never took his eye off the prize. He created opportunities for himself and never passed up a chance to pursue his dream.” “Jimmy told me recently that he made sure he learned the ins and outs of the music industry - a wise move on his part given the mercurial nature of the business,” she said. “His concerts are a lot of fun and take most of us fans to our happy places of warm sun and sand -but there’s a lot of substance behind the
Jimmy Buffett phenomenon based on good strategy and hard work.” Besides being a singer, songwriter, actor, author and businessman, Buffett recently produced a musical, “Escape to Margaritaville” which premiered on Broadway in February 2018. However, he is best known for his hit song “Margaritaville” which was inducted into the 2016 Grammy Hall of Fame. He also recently announced a string of Margaritaville-brand retirement homes, beginning with Daytona Beach, Florida. Buffett eventually returned to Southern Miss for a visit after recording his second album in 1971 where he met famous harmonica player and Coral Reefer Band original member Greg “Fingers” Taylor. Taylor described his first encounter with Buffett in an interview with Mississippi Blues Newsletter, “I was just wandering through the Hub one night, and there was this guy with long blonde hair and a mustache playing ‘Why Don’t We Get Drunk and Screw’ to about five little old ladies on break from their night class. . . So we got up there and it was just sort of a chemistry, just one of those things.” The university honored the pair’s meeting with a plaque placed near the steps of The Hub in 2015. “It’s only fitting we recognize the legacies of Buffett and Taylor, whose contributions to American popular music are indeed significant. The story of their session at The Hub and what followed is a treasured part of the Southern Miss story,” University Historian Chester “Bo” Morgan said. At the ceremony, President of Kappa Sigma Epsilon-Nu Phillip LemEre represented Buffett, who was a member of the fraternity, and Harrison Cunningham represented Taylor, who was his relative. “[I was] mostly very aware of his success,” Cunningham said. “We always
enjoyed listening to his music. Because he was a busy working musician and living in another state, face to face time was rare! He was not able to attend due to health reasons and his brother Brent (also a USM alum) was aware I was a student at USM and thought it would be a perfect opportunity for me to represent the family during the marker dedication and I was extremely honored to do so.” The Southern Miss alumnus has not performed in Hattiesburg in 38 years since his concert at Reed Green Coliseum on Oct. 31, 1980. For one night only on April 26, Buffett plans to bring back his signature “Margaritaville” music and style to the Saenger Theatre for a sold-out concert. Members of the Coral Reefers Mac McAnally, Robert Greenridge, Eric Darken, Nadirah Shakoor and Tina Gullickson will accompany Buffett to Hattiesburg. Special guests Sonny Landreth and ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro will also play with Buffett. Tickets for the show at the Saenger Theater went on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 6 and sold out within two minutes, a new record for the venue. Many fans were upset with how quickly they sold out the 997-seat theater. Executive Director of the Hattiesburg Convention Commission Rick Taylor said Live Nation contacted the commission about Buffett performing at the Saenger. Taylor said that the production company set aside a “sizable block” of tickets before they were available to the general public, but she did not say how many tickets were sold from the Saenger. The Saenger also plans to host a “Margaritaville”-themed street party in front of the Saenger at 5 p.m. on the day of the show. In addition, Buffett and the Acoustic Airmen will make an appearance during the 2018 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on Sunday, April 29.
Live at Five returns to Downtown Hattiesburg Jamie Massengale printz reporter
Hattiesburg residents are once again packing their folding chairs, blankets and coolers and taking them to Town Square Park for the return of Live at Five. The event is a free, outdoor live music series in Downtown Hattiesburg and takes place on Friday evenings from 5-9 p.m. until the fall. Local blues legend Tommie “T-Bone” Pruitt and the Rhythm Rockers kicked off Live at Five this year on April 6 and Young Valley performed April 13. Sarah Newton started Live at Five in the spring of 2008. Newton said the idea formed when she was president of the Downtown Association. “This is our tenth year,” Newton said. “My parents were involved with a program held in Baton Rouge and suggested I start a concert series in Hattiesburg. In a way, I helped start Live at Five as a way to pay tribute to my father.” Newton said Live at Five has grown over the past five years. “I love knowing that people enjoy it,” Newton said. “Even my kids ask me ‘When does it start?’ They call Town Square Park ‘Live at Five’ Park.’” Mayor Toby Barker expressed
his appreciation for what Live at Five does for the Hattiesburg community. “Live at Five has become a gathering of anyone who loves Hattiesburg,” Barker said. “Every bit of the diversity that we enjoy and we celebrate in this city, whether from neighborhoods or age, everyone is here. There’s great music. You have a ton of vendors. And it’s a great display of community in our city.” “I like the fact that the community has gotten behind this event,” Stacey Hall said. “It’s very family-oriented, so after getting off work on a Friday, it’s the place to be.” “I come to enjoy the music, the food, the flavors the fragrances. It kind of reminds me of a little festival in New Orleans where I grew up” Lance Hegwood said. “It’s family oriented. People are here with their families and their dogs. That’s what I love about it.” The performer for April 20 has yet to be announced. This season of Live at Five will include performances by Sput Seawright & Biscuit Kids on April 27, Shaun Martin on May 4 and Cary Hudson on May 11. For more information on Live at Five check out their Facebook Page Live at Five H’Burg or at www. hattiesburglivemusic.com/ live-at-five.
Hannah Beaver, Printz Hattiesburg’s Live at Five on April 13 featured the band Young Valley.
APRIL 18, 2017
Lanie Leach printz reporter
Right now school has become the last thing I want to do. I am in such a slump. I think it is because of my hatred of all of these General Education Courses. GECs are all the classes everyone hates: college algebra, composition and an assortment of others to choose from. They are required for everyone, but I do not understand why we need to take them. I feel like I am redoing high school when I came to
college to learn about what interests me. I am so sorry, but anthropology is one of the last of those things. I want to get into my major so badly, but I cannot until these GECs are done. Thankfully, after this semester I will be done with GECs, but the thought of me being nearly done has not motivated me to keep pushing through this semester. I truly care about my grades, but how can I care about classes that I have already taken? They bored me in high school, so let me please move on.
I really need someone to clarify this for me because I spent four years already taking similar courses. I needed to take those to get into college, and I did that. Now that I am in college, I have to take more to get into my major. It just seems ridiculous to me. Other reasons as to why I feel so fed up with college at the moment is because it seems as though this semester is never going to come to an end. End-of-the-semesteritis is so much worse than high school senioritis. It feels like all of my teachers have
decided to make everything due on the same day. I have papers upon papers to write, tests upon tests to study for and other important events running at me, giving me no way to escape them. I need summer to hurry and take me away from all of this stress. I have been struggling since the end of Easter Break, and it is not because I am not trying. It just feels so hard to try in classes that do not truly interest you. Call me lazy, but everyone has gone through this. I am not quitting by any means. I
just need to figure out a way to get out of this end-of-the-year slump. The fall semester was not nearly this awful towards the end. I have been counting down the days until the end of this semester. “Less than a month,” I keep saying over and over in my head. College has great benefits, but there are also many times when you are longing to be back in kindergarten with nap time and no responsibilities. I really love USM, but right now we need to take a break. Sincerely yours, Lanie
Cardi B bares all of her naked truths in ‘Invasion of Privacy’ Carlton McGrone entertainment editor
With its interesting use of beats, dynamic rhythms and
Devon Dollar, Printz
head-bobbing rhyming patterns, there are few weak tracks on “Invasion of Privacy.” The lyrics are masterfully written, containing harsh weight that feels as if the
artist is truly sharing her life with listeners. Composed of 13 songs, rapper Cardi B’s newest album not only exceeds expectations, but it also soars past modern rap albums,
cementing her status as a highly celebrated female voice in the rap genre. Typically known for her trapinspired style of rapping, Cardi B actually manages to throw a curveball for listeners. It is always a good sign when an artist’s singles are the weakest songs on an album. It comes as a pleasing discovery to discover her singles “Bodak Yellow,” “Bartier Cardi” and “Drip” are thankfully some of her least desirable songs, but the fact that these tracks are above average sets a high bar for this album. Within the first few seconds of listening to the first track “Get Up 10,” “Invasion of Privacy” begins with a slow, raw rap that catches the ear. Though, as the song progresses it steadily builds until reaching an incredible apex that spirals to a heart-thumping final stretch. The lyrics of this first song also do an excellent job of introducing the main objective of this incredibly personal album: Cardi B herself. Undoubtedly, the highlight of this album is just how raw Cardi becomes with the progression of each track. Rather than constructing a rap album about the life of luxury she now lives, Cardi takes listeners on a journey through her dark, typically unsightly life before her takeoff success. Several songs focus on her life as a struggling stripper, referencing the many derogatory prejudices and dangers she faced while dancing. In fact, several songs are based on Cardi embracing her more promiscuous side rather than vying to keep her sexual urges a
taboo subject from her audiences. While there are several lyrics that may portray a raunchy, seemingly unnecessary of the artist, her lack of restraint only helps each track rather than hinder. Cardi B is clearly not afraid to talk about having to do typically unspeakable, disturbing acts to get to where she is, and she is unafraid to allow listeners to know where she gets her thrills. Cardi also displays her soft and gushy side in multiple songs. In possibly the best song on the album, “Be Careful,” Cardi takes a step back to examine her past life in order to construct a vulnerable narrative, writing a pseudo-love letter to a future lover. The artist manages to expertly mix her gruff style with a smooth, sultry tone to produce a tune that rivals Drake’s highly emotional songs. Cardi allows fans to take a look into her soul and connects with listeners on the most personal level. Another fantastic piece features SZA in the song “I Do,” which is a sort-of love anthem to listeners, especially women, who feel toyed with and emotionally beaten by past lovers. With the song’s very first words, SZA comes in with a sassy, empowering chorus that only strengthens Cardi B’s explicit, unapologetic verses “Invasion of Privacy” is a solid album that is not for everyone, but there are plenty of empowering themes that women must hear at least once. “Invasion of Privacy” is available now in-stores and on iTunes and Spotify.
APRIL 18, 2018
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‘A Quiet Place’ tells of a family’s struggle to survive Carlton McGrone entertainment editor
In the past few years, a very select few of outlandish horror films manage to amaze audiences as true representations of the horror genre. It is with great pleasure to say that “A Quiet Place” is without a doubt one of these films and will surely be held as one of the most influential and classic horror films of this decade. This film is not only genius in concept and execution, but its themes and unique look at a dire situation are nearly flawless. Even unlikely director John Krasinski, known mainly from his role as Jim Halpert from NBC’s “The Office,” has admitted his shock to audiences’ responses in multiple interviews. However, the extremely unusual high score on Rotten Tomatoes is very much deserved because of Krasinski’s expert eye when it comes to world building and directing. What the film lacks in story, it makes up with its compelling plot that begs to be made into a franchise to rival the likes of survival-powerhouse “The Walking Dead.” Taking place in the year 2020 on an almost post-apocalyptic Earth, “A Quiet Place,” follows a family’s survival under the gaze of blind yet monstrous, carnivorous hunters. As the title suggests, these monsters can only track beings that make noises. Krasinski and his family have lived a mute existence for over 400 days. The film specifically focuses on the family surviving through the night once Emily Blunt’s character goes into labor, a brilliant concept in a world where even whispers can lead to one’s death.
Within the first ten minutes, I was sure this film would become one of the best horror movies to be produced simply because of its subject matter. Rather than attempting to scare audiences with an overabundance of tasteless gore that has little to do with the actual plot, it is immediately apparent that every piece of this world was crafted with close attention by Krasinski. For instance, Krasinski’s family never wears shoes because socks obviously will make too much noise. Each member of his family exclusively uses sign language to communicate. Doors are never closed, and each floorboard is painted with a path that will not creak. Krasinski also does audiences a favor by not attempting to hide the monsters until the very end of film like most lowbudget horror movies. Within the first few minutes of this strange world being established, Krasinski and co. come faceto-face with a sightless creature, allowing this concept of an empty, mute world to terrify viewers rather than the looming threat. Krasinski was able to pull off such an astounding feat that is this film because of his clear extensive research in the survival genre. As stated in interviews, he did not just create another horror flick. Instead, Krasinski chose to focus on a deep, enriching story about a family’s survival and the normalcy in their lives within this abnormal world, effectively creating a plot that can be easily revisited in sequels or spin-off novels. Like Krasinski said, Blunt wants her children to experience a bit of normal life despite the constant fear of being hunted over their heads. The movie begins with
the youngest son begging Krasinski for a toy rocket ship, and Krasinski obviously says no because of the amount of noise it makes. That does not stop the daughter from rebelling and nabbing the toy for her brother. There are even several moments that seem impossibly trivial as Krasinski argues with his children through sign language about the incredible importance of his son learning to hunt and his daughter recognizing when to back down from a fight. As trivial as this may be, these moments of family fallout are essential to the story that Krasinski wants to tell. Much like “The Walking Dead,” which focuses on the human bonds of a zombie apocalypse, “A Quiet Place” is meant to depict how a family survives when forced to protect one another from far deadlier adversaries. What is more surprising is the need for a sequel or some sort of spin-off media to this narrative. The storyline behind this film was a bit weak as it felt more like an hour-and-a-half episode rather than a self-contained film. Though, with its intricate plot and detailed, sprawling world, Krasinski could easily take the helm of a Netflix miniseries or even sequel films that detail the survival of several other groups of families. With very few flaws, “A Quiet Place” presents the perfect example of a fantastic horror film because of its minimal effort in shocking audiences. Krasinski seems to be following the trend of unlikely comedians making critically acclaimed horror films, and it’ll be interesting to see what this man of many talents will do next. “A Quiet Place” is out now in theaters.
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#Beychella dominates Twitter during Coachella Carlton McGrone entertainment editor
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If you had the misfortune of falling asleep before 2 a.m. on Saturday, you truly missed out on an incredible landmark of a performance by Beyoncé at Coachella. Plenty of surprises were thrown into this hourlong performance including her homage to HBCU marching bands, an appearance by her husband Jay-Z and a mini-reunion of Destiny’s Child. Though, the experience was still an enjoyable one for those that could only afford to tune in via livestream and through the hashtag #Beychella on Twitter. The first black woman to headline Coachella, Beyoncé took this opportunity to promote her usual M.O.: the representation of black people, specifically women, in society. She took the chance to promote the importance of black education with her surprise of a traditional, allblack marching band, and she also celebrated the achievements of what black men and women can do with talent and a degree by allowing several performers to display their talents in dance and song. Beyoncé also took several moments to propel the true missions of feminism with her hit singles “Single Ladies” and “Run the World” as leading anthems. Tweets with the hashtag #Beychella followed the performance every step of the way. “Beyoncé is the best f— performer, y’all need to be so excited to be alive right now because this s— ain’t gonna happen every day so appreciate this day #Beychella,” Alex55657871 said on Twitter. “THIS. IS. BLACK. CULTURE!!! #BEYCHELLA,” Shannondrewthis
said. “Beyoncé really made this performance for the black community. This is just giving me EVERYTHING. THIS is power. #Beychella,” Lolyia4 said. The fun and energy on stage could be felt through the screen as several members of the buzzing marching band took center stage and danced with no remorse. Different dances through the ages were performed, and dancers were picked up and twirled while dangling from their band members’ shoulders. In many ways, Beyoncé played as a small role throughout several moments of the performance so that her black performers could shine. Despite this, one of the most comical moments of the night was reading people’s reactions to the live audience. “That da— ungrateful audience had to be told multiple times to be louder, Bey I would never #Beychella,” shennelmelody said. “This audience truly does NOT deserve Beyoncé. LIKE Y’ALL CAN’T SING ALONG NO MORE??? #beychella,” brayezyy said. “Every person involved with this performance (except the audience) did a phenomenal job. What a blessing. #Beychella,” Phunky_Brewster said. Midway through her performance, the Queen Bey herself gave a speech to the Coachella audience that she had to turn down an earlier chance to be at Coachella because of her pregnancy with her twins. Though in her typical fashion, Beyoncé took the final five minutes of her performance to thank every person that helped put the show together, including the audience, which was much undeserved.
APRIL 18, 2018
www.studentprintz.com
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Why the Syrian airstrike was a great move Will Veazey printz reporter
On Friday, April 13, 2018, President Donald Trump faced the nation and detailed a United States airstrike to condemn Assad’s chemical weapons stockpiles in Syria. The operation was condensed to only a few known stockpiles although General Mattis stated they had other targets in mind. The targets were chosen because they were not close to any major areas where civilians reside. The airstrikes were conducted alongside Britain and France in response to the recent chemical
weapons attack in Douma, Syria, that killed over 40 civilians. The chemical weapons attack has been vehemently denied by the Kremlin who deems the report a “hoax.” Russian forces moved into Douma following the attack, which made the United Nations’ investigation to find chemical weapons difficult. For an investigation to conclusively determine whether chemical weapons were used, the investigation would have had to take place within two days of the chemical discharge, a window that had already passed. However, blood samples of civilian survivors show traces of chlorine
gas. The Russian ambassador to the United States said, “There will be consequences,” in response to the attack. However, although Russian radar was active and operational, none of the fighter jets were fired by Russians. This shows that they were very careful not to escalate tensions between the United States in the region. Rather, their response was empty rhetoric. Don’t pay attention to a lot of the mainstream media’s scare tactics on this event. No, this won’t cause World War III. There’s no chance of it. Most people think that somehow Russia and
the United States are “equal matches” in a war. The truth is, in a limited war, the combined powers of the United States, France and Britain are so superior that Russia wouldn’t last very long in a war against us. Additionally, Russia doesn’t want to bring the United States into a conflict in the Middle East against Assad. Our military influence in the Middle East is vastly greater than theirs, and they want to keep their main asset in power in the Middle East. The Russian response will be next to nothing; any military, cyber or diplomatic response they could have would be incredibly risky for them.
The airstrike was a great move to make, and the safe manner in which it was conducted limited any unintended consequences that the airstrikes may have caused. The reason why the airstrike was absolutely necessary is simple: chemical weapons must not be used. The United States and our closest allies seem to be the only nations willing to uphold the Geneva Convention, which outlawed chemical weapons. The airstrike sends a clear message to Assad: keep using chemical weapons, and more consequences will come.
DC Comics announces new ‘Titans’ lineup Nate Schumann news editor
On Friday, April 13, DC Comics released the solicitation and cover for “Titans” issue #23, written by Dan Abnett. Typically, DC Comics releases its list of solicitations in full around the third or fourth Monday of every month, but now and then a solicitation or two will be announced earlier. Solicitations are set three months ahead of release. The significance of July’s “Titans” issue is that it will feature a brand new team. Presently, in the comics, the Titans team has disbanded. There will be no Titans-related issues released in May in deference to the “No Justice” event DC is publishing that month. The “No Justice” event is a largescale company event where members of the Justice League teams, Titans teams and some villains will have to all work together to defeat a cosmic threat. The results of the event are that all current branches of the Justice League and Titans will disband, with new teams forming in July. The three new Justice League teams and the Titans team will now work closely together, even sharing a homebase. This instance will be the first time the Titans have worked as peers alongside the Justice League on a regular basis. All of the new Justice League teams and the “New Titans” team were announced in-full at WonderCon 2018 last month. However, the full lineup of the upcoming “Titans” team was left a mystery.
With Friday’s reveal, comic book fans everywhere can now see the sevenperson team with their own eyes. The new team consists of Nightwing, Raven, Beast Boy, Donna Troy, Steel, Miss Martian and one male mystery character. Nightwing, real name Dick Grayson, has had arguably the largest role in Titans history. As the original Robin, he was the original Teen Titans’ leader and one of its founding members. He has continued to lead incarnations of the team, both as Robin and as his adult identity of Nightwing. Likewise, he will also be leading this new incarnation of the team. While he has no powers, Nightwing has many skills that make him an asset to the team – including his combat prowess, his investigative talent, his tactical know-how and his charismatic nature. Raven, who sometimes uses the civilian identity Rachel Roth, has mostly been a mainstay in Titans history since her introduction in 1980. Given her nature as a half-demon, Raven provides a supernatural and sometimes magical power set to the team. While she displayed many powers, some of her more prominent abilities include empathy, healing, teleportation and magic. In the new Titans team, Raven will serve as co-leader alongside Dick – marking her first position of leadership within the team. Beast Boy, real name Gar Logan, has become a name prominently associated with the Titans as well. He is known for his green skin and hair, both of which being a result of the incident that gave him his powers. Beast Boy has the ability to shape-shift into any animal within the animal kingdom. He retains his intellect
and ability to speak even in these bestial forms. Gar is known for his quick-wit and fun-loving nature, which he uses to cope with his dark past. Beast Boy and Raven are often on the same team together, and it is fun to see him follow Raven and move up from the “Teen Titans” to the more adult “Titans.” Donna Troy, formerly known as Wonder Girl, brandishes her sword and shield for this new team of Titans. Along with Dick, she is the only member from the previous incarnation to continue to be on the new team. Donna, who was also a founding member of the original Teen Titans team, has the second highest tenure as a member. Usually serving as the levelheaded den-mother of the group, Donna is often Dick’s secondin-command, although she is stepping down from such a role in this new team. Donna Troy has superhuman strength and durability, and in addition to a sword and shield, Donna has the Lasso of Persuasion, which can compel anyone she traps in it to obey her commands. Steel, real name Natasha Irons, is joining the Titans for the first time. In the past, Natasha has shown interest in joining the team, only to be disallowed by her uncle, who also acts as a superhero and Justice League member under the identity Steel. Natasha wears a full-body, armored suit she designed herself that gives her superhuman strength and durability and allows her to fly. Sometimes, her suit is shown to allow her to grow to skyscraper-like heights. Steel also wields a hammer that strikes with more kinetic force than the swing would normally boast. CONTINUED ONLINE
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April 18, 2018
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No. 12 Southern Miss take two games from FIU Thomas Turner printz reporter
The No.12 Golden Eagles (23-11, 9-4 C-USA) closed out their three-game series against Florida International University (17-19, 7-8 C-USA) in explosive fashion with a 13-1 mercy rule win on Sunday. The Golden Eagles started the series off hot on Friday night behind junior Stevie Powers’ complete game shutout, 5-0. Powers was consistent throughout his outing, tossing 10 strikeouts while allowing nine hits and only one walk. The Southern Miss offense gave Powers all the support he needed, led by sophomore Matt Wallner’s ninth home run of the season to open the scoring in the top of the second inning. Freshman outfielder Gabe Montenegro turned in a two-run RBI performance to continue his breakout 2018 campaign. The Saturday meeting between the two teams ended up being a heartbreaker for the Golden Eagles as they dropped the contest 5-4 with the bases loaded in the ninth inning. Southern Miss had every opportunity to overcome the Panthers’ lead but left 11 runners stranded and wasted an 11hit performance. Junior Luke Reynolds cut the deficit, 5-4, for the Golden Eagles with a tworun RBI single in the top of the seventh
inning. However, that was as close as Southern Miss would get to taking the lead. The Golden Eagles continued their impressive performance at the plate on the weekend to close the series out on Sunday. Southern Miss turned in a 12hit performance and 10-run ruled the Panthers. Senior LeeMarcus Boyd’s two-run home run in the top of the third inning was his fourth of the year and gave the Golden Eagles a commanding lead, 5-1. The offense erupted in the top of the seventh inning when the Golden Eagles battered the Panthers, turning eight hits into six runs and slamming the door on the series in front of the FIU home crowd. Junior pitcher Mason Strickland recorded his first victory of the season, allowing four hits with one earned run to go along with four strikeouts. Junior J.C. Keyes collected the first save of his career behind four strikeouts and one walk in three scoreless innings of relief. The two conference wins puts the Golden Eagles within a half a game behind C-USA leader Florida Atlantic University (26-9, 11-4 C-USA). Southern Miss travels to Hammond, Louisiana, on April 17 to take on Southeastern Louisiana (25-15, 12-6 Southland). First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
Andrew Abadie, Printz Stevie Powers pitches a shutout against FIU Friday night.
Track and field competes at Warkhawk Classic Andrew Abadie
assistant sports editor The Southern Miss track team continued its season at the Warhawk Classic in Monroe, Louisiana. The Golden Eagles had five event winners and set a school record. The teams in attendance were The University of Louisiana Monroe, Louisiana Tech, Grambling, Alcorn State, Southern Arkansas, Northwestern State, McNeese State and Louisiana College. The women’s sprinters were led by second and third places in the 100m dash. Freshman Rickianna Patterson ran 12.03 to finish second, and sophomore Keiyana Gaskin ran 12.05 to finish in third place, respectively. In the 200m dash, sophomore Shundoria Hardy finished in 16th place with a time of 26.88. In the 400m dash, juniors Chenelle Ricketts and Rian Robinson also finished in second and third place with times of 56.33 and 57.13. The men’s sprinters saw the most success with wins in the 100m and 200m dash. Senior Alexander Richemond won the 100m dash with a time of 10.68, and junior McKinely West placed second with a time of 10.70. In the 200m dash, senior Cra’Vorkian Carson won the event with a time of 21.82. Junior Lorenzon Burton finished in second place in the 400m dash with a time of 49.81 The men’s 4X100 relay team won the race, running a time of 39.76. In the women’s 100m hurdles,freshman Callie Jones and senior Talia Thompson ran 14:84 and 15:06 to finish in fourth and sixth, respectively. In the 400m hurdles, Thompson finished in second place running 1:02.65
Andrew Abadie, Printz John Warren breaks school record at the Warhawk Classic.
while senior Brooklyn Polk finished in fifth running 1:05.27. In long jump, Jones jumped 5.65m to finish second place, respectively. In the triple jump, freshman Adrianna Mitchell also finished in second
place with a jump of 11.48m. In the men’s triple jump, junior John Warren won and set the school record with a jump of 15.83m. Junior Danisha Jones won the women’s discus with a throw of
51.10m. In the men’s shot put, sophomore Isaiah Carter threw 12.42m to finish in ninth place, respectively. Sophomore Robert Watson and senior Donald Daley finished in second and third
place with throws of 59.91m and 59.04m. The Golden Eagles will travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on April 21 to compete in the LSU Alumni Gold Meet.