SEPTEMBER 6, 2017 VOLUME 102 ISSUE 4
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Coming Soon
The District at Midtown opens soon in Hattiesburg.
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Entertainment
Flow Tribe and Levitt Amp Series bring music to town.
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Sports
Golden Eagles drop season opening.
serving southern miss since 1927
USM Students hit with flu outbreak A staggering 88 cases of the flu virus have been reported on the USM campus Crystal Tolible printz reporter
In an email sent on Aug 29, Southern Miss officials urged students to get vaccinated. There had been a reported 88 cases of the flu when officials sent the email. Since the Labor Day weekend, the number has since increased to about 90 cases in total. USM states that though there is not a significant number of reported cases along the Gulf Coast location, the university still encourages students to get vaccinated as a safety precaution. The influenza virus is a respiratory illness that can infect the nose, throat and lungs. The illness is easily spread person to person through coughing, sneezing, or talking, increasing a person’s likelihood of transmitting or contracting the flu. This could possibly affect others that are up to six feet away. Health officials have included preventive measures and tips provided by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to help steer clear of the flu: Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too. If possible, stay home from work, school and errands when you are sick. This will help prevent spreading your illness to others. Cover your mouth and nose
with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Practice other good health habits. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food. Kayla Johnson, Moffitt Center Health Educator, says that they are taking this outbreak very seriously. “Though 90 cases may not seem like a lot considering we have about 15,000 students, we are ensuring that the flu doesn’t spread further. That’s why we are offering vaccinations so early in the season.” Johnson will be a guest on 88.5 WUSM on September 6th to talk more about staying well through the cold and flu season. The Moffitt Center currently has 1,000 doses of the flu vaccination on hand for students, faculty and staff to receive for $20.
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Are you prepared for hurricane season? Kaitlyn Watkins exuctive editor
Irma was recently categorized as a Category 5 hurricane. The storm is projected to hit the south coast of Florida as early as Saturday or Sunday. Other parts of the Southeast are also going to be affected, according to weather. com. Hurricane Irma is reported to be the most intense Atlantic hurricane in 12 years. Several islands in the Caribbean have already been affected by the weather as the hurricane passed over it on Sep. 5. T h e N at i o n a l H u r r i c a n e Center recommends making a plan in case disaster strikes. First, be prepared to evacuate. Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency as of Monday in preparation of Hurricane Irma. Also, make sure to have at least a 3-day supply of food and water along with flashlights and batteries. Watch for a university email outlining the steps that USM will take in case Irma approaches Hattiesburg.
Jim Coll
printz contributor Did you know that we are entering the peak of hurricane season? Here are three things you should do to be aware, and be prepared! Read emails from University of Southern Mississippi officials to make sure you know how the University will operate in an emergency weather situation. Check to make sure your contact information is up to date in the University’s Eagle Alert emergency notification system: https:// www.usm.edu/safety/eagle-alert. Talk with your friends and family about what you should do in a weather emergency, and make sure your family is prepared by following recommendations from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency: http://www.msema. org/be-prepared/hurricanes/.
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KAITLYN WATKINS
KENYATTA S. ROSS
HIBA TAHIR
NATHANIEL SCHUMANN
MORGAN CLARK
KYLE WILLIAMS
ALYSSA BASS
CAMERON CUMMINS
Executive Editor kaitlyn.watkins@usm.edu Managing Editor hiba.tahir@usm.edu News Editor morgan.clark@usm.edu Entertainment Editor alyssa.bass@usm.edu
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AMBER COBBINS
ASHLEY HOBSON
CHUCK COOK
Social Media Editor ashley.hobson@usm.edu
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Features Editor nathaniel.schumann@usm.edu
JHAIMEE BULLOCK
Design Editor jhaimee.bullock@usm.edu
The Student Printz
Photo Editor kenyatta.ross@usm.edu
• Student Government Association applications for philanthropy commission and election commission are online. Deadlines are soon.
Printz Designer amber.cobbins@usm.edu Printz Advisor chuck.cook@usm.edu
OPINIONS
EDITORIAL POLICY The views represented in The Student Printz’s columns and editorials do not necessarily represent those of the faculty, staff or administration of The University of Southern Mississippi. We welcome letters to the editor representing similar and contrasting opinions. To be eligible for publication, all submissions must include name, class distinction, major, phone number and email address. Submissions should be emailed to printzeditors@ gmail.com by 5 p.m. on the Friday before publication. Please limit them to 500 words or less. The Student Printz reserves the right to refuse publication or edit any material on the basis of clarity, space or journalistic ethics.
Opinions expressed in The Student Printz are those of the writer and not necessarily those of The Student Printz, its publication manager, USM, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning or the USM Board of Student Publications.
District at Midtown brings new development to the Burg Morgan Clark news editor
Construction of the District at Midtown began earlier this year. The project is intended to be a new center for shopping, dining, education and leisure for the city of Hattiesburg. The plan is to have two main buildings open to the public by December. According to the District at Midtown website, Taziki’s Cafe, Pyros Fresh Fire Pizza, Chicken Salad Chick, AT&T Wireless, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, The Midtowner Restaurant, South Boutique, Lavish Salon, Five Star Nutrition, Newks Café, Rock N Roll Sushi and Southern Kernels are currently all of the tenants on their roster. This project is about $59 million total investment for the city of Hattiesburg and is expected to generate around 200 jobs. Along with the other businesses, a Hotel Indigo location will open in April in the heart of the district. The theme will go along with the Hub City timber and rail industry with touches of themes from the University of Southern Mississippi. “It’s going to impact us economically -- get everyone more engaged,” transfer graphic design major Jordan Farrar said. “I’m excited about the diversity of the restaurants coming closer. Having Newk’s closer will be so much more convenient -- I’ll be able to go get my favorite salad and that’s awesome. It’s just going to make it so much easier on all of the students to have
Gabrielle Williams, Printz Photographer
more resources at a closer range.” The project is led by Rob and Craig Tatum along with partners David Oliver and Joel Ingram
and architect Larry Albert. The construction is taking place off of Hardy Street and on South 30th Avenue, South 31st Avenue
and Chevy Chase Drive. According to USA Today, there will be open space left for future endeavors off of South 31st Avenue.
Once the project is completed, the roads will be back open and new businesses available to local residents and USM students.
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Ashley Hobson
Social Media Editor The University of Southern M i s s i s s i p p i ’s C e n t e r fo r Community Engagement will be hosting a volunteer fair on September 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the RC Cook Union. Students will be able to mingle w i th local org a ni z ati o ns to find their ideal place to serve. T he Center for Community Engagement encourages students to become involved in community organizations as a way to give back. K arie Chatham, who currently serves on the board of directors for the Mississippi Pediatric Cancer Camp, has volunteered as a tutor at a local school, food bank, American
Cancer Society and Give Kids the World as an undergrad and currently works as a graduate assistant in the CCE office. “You get out what you put in,” CCE Graduate Assistant Karie Chatham said. “When you’re in school, the more effort you put into your class the better your grade will be. Hattiesburg is your home, at least while you’re in college, and the best way to get involved in your community is to serve them and be involved. You will grow as an individual and leave a positive footprint o n yo u r l o c a l c o m mu n i t y. ” It is most often in times of natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey that volunteers wait to come out in waves. Hattiesburg h a s ex p e r i e n c e d s eve r a l o f
these natural disasters in the past few year s such as the tornado that hit USM’s campus in 2014 and the more recent tornado that destroyed William Carey’s campus earlier this year. During these hard times, people opened their homes and wallets to come to the aid of those affected. However, as many opportunities as Hattiesburg is filled with, there is no shortage of service opportunities to fit every individual, schedule and need. According to the CCE website, as large as the needs are, volunteering for organizations will allow one to make relationships, gain experience and skills and be of true service to the community. Courtesy Photo
Funk-rock band Flow Tribe to perform at Brewsky’s Trevor Ritchie printz reporter
The American funk-rock band Flow Tribe will be gracing the city of Hattiesburg with a performance at Brewsky’s this Thursday at 9 p.m. This six-member group based out of New Orleans, LA, is currently on tour promoting their new album Boss that was released on April 28, 2017. Boss features songs like “You Know What It’s About” and “Turning Table” that have already given the project a spark. F low Tribe was founded in 2004 during the members’ high school years and disbanded after graduation. However, two years later in the ashes of Hurricane Katrina, the funk was revived. As those times brought questions on the worth of New Orleans, they asked the same of their talents. Flow Tribe valued the need to not only rebuild their city but to also
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The Southern Miss vs. Southern University football game will be Saturday, Sept. 9. All vehicles parked in the Century Park North and Payne Center parking lots must be moved no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 8. Students who park their vehicles at Century Park North will not be allowed back into the lot until 7 a.m. Sunday morning. All other vehicles parked in restricted areas must be moved by 8 a.m. on game day (Saturday). Any vehicle not moved will be towed at the owner’s expense.
PARKING IS AVAILABLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS: 34th Ave Lot 35th Ave Lot Arthell Kelley Lot Fraternity Row Ross
Hillcrest Gravel Lot Parking Garage Performing Arts Center Ross Boulevard North and South Lots
If a vehicle is towed for a football game, a towing fee must be paid to the Department of Parking Management before the vehicle is released. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. Southern Miss Parking Management 601.266.5447 or 601.266.4943 Daisy Stuss, Printz Acrchives
restore culture. They decided to do so by keeping their music alive. Official recording endeavors came later as Flow Tribe released Pain Killer (2012), At Capacity Live: Live at Tipitina’s (2013), Alligator White (2014), and now Boss all within the last five years. Flow Tribe brings a mixture of swagger and sound that is sure to create an atmosphere worth witnessing. Here are the names behind the skillful musicianship that will be on display Thursday: K.C. O’Rorke – vocals, trumpet Jo h n - M i ch a e l Early – h a r m o n i c a , vo c a l , k ey b o a rd Russell Olschner – drums Chad Penot – bass, vocals B r ya n S a n t o s – g u i t a r Mario Palmisano – guitar Tic k ets are $10 an d c an be found on either the F low Tribe webpage or at Brewsky’s. Door s will open at 8 p.m.
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Levitt Amp Music Series engages community and students Bradley Booth printz reporter
For weeks students at USM have volunteered hundreds of hours of their time, so that they could provide members of the Hattiesburg community with free concerts featuring world-class artists. The USM School of Mass Communication and Journalism has been collaborating with the City of Hattiesburg and the Hattiesburg Arts Council in an exciting effort to present the Levitt AMP music series that began on July 7 in Chain Park. The concert series is being provided free of charge due to the generosity of the Levitt Foundation and The City of Hattiesburg. Every year, the Levitt Foundation awards 15 grants to cities with underutilized public spaces in hopes of bringing communities together through music. When Jonathan Pluskota, an assistant professor in the School of Mass Communication and Journalism, took notice of the Levitt Foundation’s work, he quickly initiated the grant application and conceptualized the possibilities of a symbiotic relationship between his students and the city of Hattiesburg. The USM students and faculty have been at the helm planning this series for months. They received the grant with the help of diligent sponsors and professors, publicized the concert series through commercials and other advertisements and ensured the
success of the series with thorough planning and preparation. Though there were many contributions from the faculty, this concert series was largely student run. Cindy Blackwell, an associate professor and assistant director of the School of Mass Communication and Journalism, made it clear that the students’ contributions and dedication have been instrumental in the series. “It has been a lot of work, but it has been worth every minute because of the experience t h e s t u d e n t s h ave re c e i ve d . They come out here and they do everything from the set up to the sound with us.,” Blackwell said. Through the series, students not only were able to apply their major-specific skills, but were also able to gain new ones. Jamicah Mcniel, a senior media production major, created the commercials that were publicized on Fox 23. “There were 10 commercials for 10 weeks. Creating the commercials forced me to push myself. I had never worked with the After Effects software before. Afterwards, I felt more confident in my editing skills,” Mcniel said. Hunter Huff, a senior entertainment industry major and head stage tech, spoke of how he enjoyed getting to work so closely with all of the colorful artists from Mississippi. “I g rew up listening to Cedric Burnside’s music and his grandfather’s music. It really helped influence me as a musician
Bradley Booth, Printz reporter Alvin Youngblood Hart performed at Chain Park on Sep. 1. and an engineer. The opportunity to have an intimate conversation with him was a cool experience that I won’t ever forget,” Huff said. April Jackson, a senior media production major, felt that her part in the project from its inception and as its MC has been rewarding. “It’s a humbling experience for me because I hope I am able to change people’s day for the better,” Jackson said. Looking around Chain Park during a concert, you can see
families, couples, and students relaxing and basking in the ambiance of a Mississippi evening of music. All of this was for them, and it was evident that they were reaping the benefits. Sarah Dixon, the associate director of the Luckyday program on campus, attended the series Sep. 1 and was eager to express her enthusiasm for the series. “My daughter likes dancing; she is three. We want to expose her to artists and cultural events as well. You bring a blanket
and a chair and you come out and enjoy music. It’s awesome that this is national thing, but we got this here in Hattiesburg.” In the words of Quanterris Newby, a Southern Miss Recording Industry and Production senior and student leader for the project, said “Just come out here and enjoy some music. We are all friends and family.” There will be one last concert this Fri., Sep. 8 at 7 p.m. in Chain Park featuring The Cynical Twins and Lee Bains III & the Glory Fires.
Transitioning from high school to college Lanie Leach printz reporter
After years of experiencing “Friday night lights,” trudging from room to room for classes, seeing your best friends every day, and going home after school, you’re finally in college and nothing is the same. Instead, you’re now spending Saturdays at The Rock, sprinting from the LAB to Walker Science building in under ten minutes, not knowing most of the people around you, and finally crawling back to your dorm (that you share with someone you probably do not know too well). Welcome home for the next four years. I would have never imagined myself truly missing the routine that my high school gave me. I missed block schedule, dancing at pep rallies and seeing people I actually knew, especially my favorite teachers. I was never one to truly fall in love with the setting of high school, but it was comfortable- and that is something I will always love and cherish. Comfort is not only important when buying shoes, but also when it comes to how I feel. I am a true sucker for sticking in my comfort zone. I have been following the same schedule since tenth grade and seeing mostly the same people every day since kindergarten. Each person’s specific college transition is a bit different. For me, my first week was utterly terrifying. I knew two people, and was not the best at making friendsonly because I am shy. I was super
Gabrielle Williams, Printz Photographer
homesick; after all, the longest I had been away from my family was about three consecutive days for a high school dance camp. I missed (and still do) my dog. Oh, and not to mention: the flu was spreading like wildfire throughout the dorms. The following week was equally as hard as the first. Although I was finally acclimated to my new surroundings, I was still getting
used to swiping my card every time I wanted to go get in my bed or even leave the complex to go to class. Making all the hikes to classes in the rain was miserable and excruciatingly painful when I wore the wrong socks with some tennis shoes, and I have the blisters to prove it. Oh and let us not forget how anxiety inducing the day of the
consecutive tornado warnings was. However, week three has opened me up to why my dad always tells me that “college is the time of your life.” After dropping sorority recruitment for personal reasons, I ended up signing a snap bid, and meeting some great people. I was hired by the Student Printz, which has been a dream of mine since I decided on pursuing my
collegiate career at Souther n Miss. I got to experience my first Southern Miss football game in the student section and my first time tailgating in the District as well. I realized that if I wanted to start having a good time, I needed to understand that I had to make things happen for myself, and I could not just expect other people to make it happen for me.
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Anyone who knows me or has been unlucky enough to stumble across my path at the wrong time knows that I’m far from an athletic person. Most days, I struggle to remain upright. I only recently learned baskets and buckets are interchangeable terms. I never once attended a single one of my brother’s football games. If I go to a game, it’s generally with a friend in pursuit of her latest athletic crush. Surprisingly enough, however, I do have some sports-related memories. Unsurprisingly, they intersect with some of my more embarrassing memories. In honor of our recent sports edition, I thought I’d share two in particular. The scooter incident, or how I stopped enjoying physical education As a child, I actually enjoyed P.E. It was a nice, high-energy break from mundane classwork and activities. My favorite P.E. units tended to be the things that didn’t require much in the way of actual physical activity - like the parachute unit or the cups unit (I’m aware that both of these words raise questions but I am unequipped to answer either at this time.) One of the few actually physical units I enjoyed was the scooter unit. For those unfamiliar with the P.E. “scooter” - it’s essentially a piece of plastic with wheels. To operate it, you sit and either push
back with your legs or pull forward, very carefully, with your legs. As you might imagine, it can be difficult to pull yourself with your legs and keep the scooter positioned correctly beneath your backside (I nearly fell asleep typing this paragraph. I hate sports.) For that reason, many people opt to use their hands to hold the scooter in place as they pull themselves. However, doing so keeps you from achieving the full benefits of scooter-ing (Scooting?) because you’re not using your legs as hard. Furthermore, your hands are dangerously close to the wheels and can be easily caught by them. For that reason, it’s generally discouraged - even in spite
of the scooter’s convenient handles. One time in the first grade - on my seventh birthday, in fact - back when I still enjoyed P.E., I used my hands to scoot from one side of the gymnasium to the other. When I reached the other side, the coach called out everyone but me for using their hands and forced them to “pull a card.” I was not called out. I did not pull a card. The guilt kept me from enjoying P.E. for the rest of grade school. This is my first time admitting it publicly.
would sit through long, meticulous baths. After a good thirty minutes or so of intense scrubbing, my mother would dress me in the frilliest frocks, place bows in my hair, and sit me in my toddler bed for a nap before disappearing in the kitchen. She would come back moments later to find me back in the tub, splashing away in frilly frock and all. I don’t know what the longterm effects were of that experience because I only know of it through my mother’s stories. I will, however, confidently conclude any child who voluntarily sits in soaking Swimming and other wet clothes probably isn’t water-related trauma 100% normal. When I was a toddler, I Speaking of being
abnormal, I was asked to bring a bathing suit to pre-K for a loosely-defined “pool party” (it was more of a sprinkler and mud party.) My mother sewed me what was essentially a tankini with shorts for the occasion. I thought I looked cute. Little opinionated Matthew did not, and he made sure to tell me. “That’s not a swimsuit,” Matt said. “You’re not a swimsuit,” pre-English major Hiba responded. And then cried. My freshman year of college, I attempted to learn how to swim in the USM natatorium early one Saturday morning. A friend of mine who gave swimming lessons in her spare time offered to teach me. We agreed on a tentative schedule. I bought a badass burkini for the occasion and, with memories of my last swimsuit infraction in the back of my mind - made sure my friend saw it before we went. “That’s… cute,” she said unconvincingly. It was not cute. I thought I’d be swimming by the end of our two-hour session. I was not swimming. I was, at best, floating for a couple seconds at a time. At worst, I was treading water and splashing like a beached incubus (you have my permission to use that as your band title.) Needless to say, I have not returned.
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Swift strives to reinvent herself Alyssa Bass
entertainment editor During the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards, pop star Taylor Swift reemerged into the limelight with the release of her music video for “Look What You Made Me Do.” By d e c l a r i n g t h e “ o l d Tay l o r ” dead, Swift proved that she is embracing the snake narrative. Before the release of Look What You Made Me Do as a single on August 24, Swift had created anticipation for her new album Reputation by deleting all of her Instagram photos and tweets, eventually replacing them with (what we now know was promotion for LWYMMD) ambiguous snake videos. Swift was attempting to reclaim her Kim Kardashian We s t - g i v e n “ s n a k e ” t i t l e . West exposed Swift after the airing of the July 17, 2016, episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians on her Snapchat, accusing Swift of lying about her ignorance of the use of her name in the Kanye West song “Famous” by posting videos of Swift giving West permission over the phone to use the line “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex.” Later in the video, Swift says, “You gotta tell the story like the way it happened to you and the way you experienced it. You honestly didn’t know who I was before that.” Everyone knows wh at h a p p e n e d n ex t . S w i f t claimed that she didn’t know West would say, “I made that b*tch famous,” took offense, and later wished to be “excluded from this narrative, one [she has] never asked to be a part of.” And she did just that. Swift
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disappeared from the public eye for one year by successfully hiding from paparazzi, travelling in secret to Britain to visit her boyfriend Joe Alwyn, and clearly plotting her comeback while parties celebrating her downfall commenced. I don’t think I realized how much I missed Swift until her music retur ned to Spotify in June. Suddenly, I found myself listening to old bops like “Fifteen” and “I Knew You Were Trouble,” reminiscing about the nonexistent love life of my middle school years. But my throwback celebration got old fast as I realized that Swift had evolved since Fearless, Speak Now, Red, and even 1989, which was only released three years ago. Just like how I and the rest of Swift’s fans had grown up over the years, finally knowing our worth and resigning crying over failed relationships (or at least, less often than before,) Swift grew up alongside us. The only difference being that she did so publicly, perhaps before she was ready. The seemingly innocent, curlyhaired girl from Nashville, Tenn., is no more, and her death was slow. Her good-girl image began to deteriorate with West interrupting her Best Female Video acceptance speech in 2009. We sympathized with her because yes, West was wrong. Next, the tabloids began shaming her for her dating habits. We sympathized with her because yes, men who use their romantic relationships as song inspiration can usually do so without any backlash. Eventually, her problems evolved with the times as she received criticism for not being socially aware. Examples include but are
not limited to: promoting a Eurocentric, imperialistic view of Africa in her “Wildest Dreams” music video, using twerking black girls as props in the “Shake it Off ” video, downplaying her white and skinny privilege in the music industry when Nicki Minaj voiced concer ns about “Anaconda” not being nominated for Video of the Year at the VMAs and wrongfully inserted herself into the conversation (in turn, making Minaj look like the “angry black woman,”) her not walking in the Women’s March though her brand celebrates feminism, using her “Bad Blood” with Katy Perry for album sales with her exclusive squad, her refusal to use her platform to denounce Donald Trump, and finally her insistence on continuing to play the victim with West. For all of these reasons, it is hard for me to publicly support Swift, for she embodies white feminism. Somehow, I am still able to listen to her new songs (“LWYMD” and “...Ready For It”) and refer to those songs as bops. Although her transition from good girl to self-aware villain has been called “awkward” and “Disney Channel pop star trying to be edgy” by some, her new image and the songs that follow are effortlessly growing on me. Maybe it’s because Swift represents a part of my childhood. Maybe it’s because I love when women (famous or hot mess Becky from English class) reinvent themselves. Or maybe it’s because Swift is my problematic fave. While her new songs may be petty, they definitely are catchy, and I probably will buy Reputation on November 10.
Game of Thrones season finale leaves more questions than answers Natalie Buckley printz reporter
The HBO phenomenon “Game of Thrones” wrapped up its seventh season Sunday, leaving its audience with a plethora of questions that have led to numerous theories about the eighth and final season. The season finale only focused on four major events: the discussion of a truce between Daenerys Targaryen and Cersei Lannister, the surprise trial of Petyr Baelish, the truth about Jon Snow and the white walkers entering Westeros. Jaime Lannister finally broke free from Cersei’s metaphorical chains and left King’s Landing. Petyr Baelish, better known as “Littlefinger,” paid for his unhealthy scheming and betrayal, and Arya Stark satisfyingly acted as his executioner. Jon Snow was born as Aegon Targaryen to Rhaegar Targaryen, Daenerys’ brother, and Lyanna Stark, Ned Stark’s sister; this also means that Daenerys is Jon’s aunt and that Jon is the true heir to the Iron Throne-- not Daenerys. Finally and most importantly, winter has officially come to Westeros, with the Night King and his army and dragon marching past the wall to wherever hell is supposed to freeze over first. Many fan theories that have surfaced have to do with Bran Stark. Anyone who watches the show knows that Bran is the Three-Eyed Raven, but neither the characters in the show nor the audience really knows what that means. According to the Los Angeles Times’ article “most believable GOT fan theories,” four out of seven of the theories have to do with Bran and his ability to see everything. One of the theories that I think could be true is that Bran went back in time to become the ThreeEyed Raven, meaning that the old man who taught Bran past the wall was really just old Bran mentoring young Bran. Another one that is very convincing is that Bran drove the Mad King crazy trying to warn him about the white walkers; Bran told him to burn them all, in which the
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king misunderstood and started burning all his people instead. Although I do believe that there is definitely more to see from Bran and his abilities, there are way too many theories that don’t make enough sense to even consider. One of the most popular of these is that Bran is the Night King. I don’t see this theory making that much sense with that the Night King is coming into Westeros to potentially annihilate its people— for what reason? I don’t know. However, I do think that Bran and the Night King have some sort of connection. Perhaps the Night King was a Stark or the Three-Eyed Raven at some point. Another compelling theory is the one about young Cersei and her fortune teller, Maggy the Frog. In episode five of season one, Maggy tells Cersei that she will marry the king and be queen “for a time” until a “younger, more beautiful [woman] will cast [her] down and take all that [she] holds dear.” Maggy also tells her that the king will have 20 children while Cersei will only have three who will wear golden crowns. In the book, though, Maggy adds to the prophecy, suggesting that her “valonqar,” or “little brother” in High Valyrian, will kill her: “And when your tears have drowned you, the valonqar shall wrap his hands about your pale white throat and choke the life from you.” If the show incorporates this last part of the prophecy, I can definitely see Jaime killing her, especially since he basically broke up with her in the finale. As for me, I am looking forward to Jon’s reaction to his ancestry and how the writers are going to include Jon and Dany’s new relationship in the storyline. I also hope to see some character reunions (particularly between Arya and Jon and Sam and Jon,) and I am absolutely excited for the Great War and some major dragon battles. While the season eight premiere date hasn’t been set, it is estimated that the show will return in 2019 since the cast will start filming this October. There will be six episodes, almost half the amount as seasons past, but they will all be 80 minutes instead of 60 minutes.
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Southern Miss drops season opener to Kentucky, 24-17 Grant Chighizola printz reporter
After a 44-35 victory against the Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington to start the 2016 season, the Southern Miss football team could not repeat its success against the Wildcats, losing 24-17 in a game notable for turnovers and a change at quarterback. “Tough loss, hard fought loss,” said Head Coach Jay Hopson. “I felt like we played pretty well and just didn’t execute on some things.” Both teams came out playing tough defense in the first quarter. Southern Miss forced three punts and a fumble on Kentucky’s first four possessions, while the Wildcats forced the Golden Eagles to punt on their first three possessions and recovered a fumble on their fourth possession in the quarter. Kentucky got on the scoreboard first with an eight-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback Stephen Johnson, giving the Wildcats a 7-0 lead at the beginning of the second quarter. The Golden Eagles offense responded to that touchdown with a 14-play, 82yard drive, but the team stalled in the red zone and had to settle for a 22-yard field goal. Johnson 23-yard touchdown pass to tight end C.J. Conrad with 7:01 left in the second quarter helped to give the Wildcats a 14-3 advantage heading into halftime. Looking for a way get the offense going after gaining only 87 yards through the air in the first half, Hopson made a change at quarterback, replacing Keon Howard with Kwadra Griggs starting with the last play of the first half and during the entire second half. “I just got my mind prepared,” Griggs said. “I know coach [Hopson] was going to put me in the best situation possible.”
Kenyatta S. Ross, Printz Wildcat Junior TE C.J. Conrad (87) scored in the mist of two USM players. Griggs promptly lead the team down the field 85-yards on six plays on their first offensive drive in the third quarter. Griggs capped the
drive off with a 42-yard touchdown pass to Korey Robertson and cut into Kentucky’s lead, 14-10. As the third quarter progressed,
Kentucky was able to gain some separation on the Golden Eagles score wise, starting with a 41-yard field goal by kicker Alan MacGinnis following a
failed fake punt by Southern Miss with 5:30 left in the quarter. The field goal was immediately followed by a 20yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by Kentucky linebacker Denzil Ware on the next Southern Miss drive, giving the Wildcats a 24-10 advantage heading into the fourth quarter Despite scoring the only points of the fourth quarter for either team after another yard touchdown pass from Griggs to Robertson with 12:42 left in the game, the Golden Eagles couldn’t capitalize. Kentucky recovered an Ito Smith fumble on the next Southern Miss offensive possession and held on the rest of the way defensively to earn the victory. “We felt like were ready to make a run in the fourth quarter,” Hopson said. “They [Kentucky] played tough football.” Offensively, the Golden Eagles outgained the Wildcats offense 364 yards to 254 yards, but three lost fumbles gave the Wildcats good field position during key moments of the game. The Kentucky defense also kept running back Ito Smith in check, holding the senior to just 37 yards on 16 carries. After completing 15-of-26 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the second half of the contest, Coach Hopson indicated at his press conference on Monday that Griggs would be the starting quarterback for their next contest against Souther n University. “We’re probably going to start with Kwadra this week,” Hopson said. “He really had an outstanding second half.” The Golden Eagles will attempt to get their first win of the season next Saturday when they host the Southern University Jaguars at M.M. Roberts Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
Kentucky loss offers positive takeaways for the team Andrew Abadie printz reporter
Despite dropping the season opener to Kentucky, many offseason questions have been answered and the Golden Eagles look to put together a competitive team again. Starter Keon Howard’s play in the first half was like that of last season, as he looked panicked at times and over-thought plays. He proved to be effective when running the ball and found his way with the deep ball. However, the short passes often missed the mark, and he struggled holding drives together as he finished 7-of-14 with 87 yards. Kwadra Griggs stepped in for the second half and found some instant success throwing 15-of-26 for 222 yards and two touchdowns. Griggs ignited the passing game with the 42-yard touchdown pass, and used the talent of the receivers to the best of his ability. Griggs did not look as confident running the ball as Howard, nonetheless he made the plays when needed and was more comfortable in the pocket. “He made some plays,” Head Coach Jay Hopson said. “He definitely did some good things. He threw the ball well and ran the ball well so there a lot of positives.” The offensive line struggled holding its own in the run game, but Kentucky’s defense seemed to have a game plan on keeping Ito Smith at bay. The run game averaged just 1.4 yards a carry and missed several blocks for the running backs. However, the offensive line created pass plays and consistently gave each quarterback protection.
Poor field position played a major role against Kentucky for the defense. The strongest point, as predicted, was the defensive line who held the Kentucky team to a total of 78-rushing yards. The secondary showed more improvement compared to last season, and apart from the early 59yard pass; the secondary held the Wildcats to just 117 yards of passing. Along with the notable stats, the defense made the stops when the outcome of the game was on the line and forced Kentucky to turnover on downs in crucial moments in the fourth quarter. The offense has kinks to work out, but if Griggs can solidify his play as the single-starter then the passing game can be equally as successful as last season. The offense’s focus should be utilizing the run game by focusing on their blocking, to get Ito Smith better involved for the run. The defensive had minor breakdowns, but their focus should be keeping penalties at a minimum since those were a deciding factor in their loss to Kentucky. “I like the spirit of this team our guys are fighting hard,” Hopson said. “These guys kept clawing back and kept putting themselves in a decent position. I was pleased with our effort. We are young at some spots, but I think we have a good football team.” Overall, the team has the talent and personnel to be successful for this season, but developing leadership will need to this team’s focus if they are to reach their goal of winning the conference championship. The Golden Eagles will take on Southern University at the M.M. Roberts Stadium on Sept. 9 at 6 p.m.
Gabrielle Williams, Printz Photographer
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Golden Eagles sweep opponents in Mississippi College Opener Andrew Abadie printz reporter
The Golden Eagles took the top 11 spots in the race, scoring 15 points. The Golden Eagles faced smaller local colleges such as: Mississippi College, Blue Mountain, Delta St., Spring Hill and Mobile. Despite the lighter competition, Souther n Miss showed much promise with several runners displaying much improvement compared to last season. “It was really encouraging to see different people step up and fill some different roles,” said Head cross country coach Aaron Kindt. “We got a big day out of freshman Kate Mattox and sophomore Savannah McMillon.” Sophomore Savannah McMillion’s 14:49 helped her finish second on the team which is major improvement compared to finishing seventh on the team in conference last season. “I am also really proud of the work Savannah put in this summer and I’m excited to watch her take on a bigger role within the cross country team this fall,” said Kindt. The most notable performance came from Kate Mattox who led the team with a time of 14:46. Mattox is the lone freshman recruit this season, who was the Mississippi Gatorade athlete of
the year, and has already made an immediate impact on the team. The Golden Eagles picked up with their pack running again as the team averaged 15:03. Junior Theresa Harto ran 15:10 to finish third on the team, senior
Courtney Filliben ran 15:12 finishing fourth on the team and sophomore Natalya DeklevaHall ran 15:19 to finish fifth for the Golden Eagles. Sophomore Monika Gebarzewska and Regen McGee rounded out the top
Thank You Thank you Dr. Rodney Bennett and the USM faculty, staff and students for your support following the January tornado. We appreciate the dorm and classroom space you provided and the welcome extended to our students.
seven, running 15:21 and 15:23. Graduate Daphney Stanford ran unattached and won the race with a time of 14:45. “Overall, really strong team ef fort,” Kindt said. “It was a little hot and muddy but
ve r y p l e a s e d w i t h t h e w ay they handled themselves.” The Golden Eagles will look to test their team in Oxford, M i s s. t o r u n i n t h e Re b e l C ro s s C o u n t r y I nv i t a t i o n a l o n S e p t . 1 5 at F N C Pa rk .