Issuu

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Volume 99 Issue 40

www.studentprintz.com

SGA elections to take place next week Jeffrey George

Matt Balcer

vs.

Running for re-election as SGA president Junior political science major Former SGA experience: Current SGA president Co-director of Eaglepalooza, SGA Cabinet

Running for election as SGA President

Junior communication studies major Former SGA experience: Executive director of events, SGA Cabinet Assistant homecoming director, SGA Cabinet Freshman Finale director, Freshman Associates

Freshman Associates president “I believe the experience I have gained in the past year sets me up to continue to lead SGA. I love being able to meet students every day and advocate for them, which is what I hope to continue to do and continue to represent our students to the administration. (I want to) ﬁght to make your experience better on a day-to-day basis, because I’ve had such a great experience at Southern Miss.”

“I’d like to install printing kiosks on campus. I’d also like to explore a system called MoneyMate, used at many larger schools. I would like to reach out to students that aren’t as tended to (and perhaps) start a branch in the SGA Cabinet that explores getting transfer students involved. I’d also like to begin a program reaching out to international students that pairs them with local students.”

Autumn Sobel

J.D. Rimann

Running for election as SGA attorney general

Junior history and English double major

Sophomore history major

Former SGA experience: Current Judicial Board member

Former SGA experience: vice chairman of Judicial Board

Senator for Arts and Letters, SGA Senate

Judicial Board, chair of student initiatives

SGA philanthropy commission “I want to continue pushing out what the AG ofﬁce can do through social media. I also want to let freshmen know how the judicial board can help them, which ties into the ‘visibility’ part of my platform. The advocacy part ties into the idea that the AG is an advocate for the student. For the individual student, who perhaps has issues with a faculty member, parking, etc., the attorney general advises and advocates for the student in that situation.”

Blake Dunaway

Running for election as SGA treasurer Junior ﬁnance major Former SGA experience: associate director for The Big Event, SGA Cabinet

vs.

Quinton Cross

Running for election as SGA attorney general Freshman broadcast journalism major Former SGA experience: Freshman Associates Council

vs.

“I am a well-rounded person, I know how to listen. I can communicate with you and bring your concerns in a professional manner. I am also very passionate and I’ll be available to the students any time, any day.”

vs.

Freshman Council Adviser

“This next year, one of the main things I want to accomplish is having two events, one in the fall and one in the spring, that beneﬁt the Foundation directly. Another thing I want to accomplish is have the Philanthropy Commission be more involved with SGA. No matter the branch, I believe having the entire student government uniﬁed will create transparency within the student government as well as to students on and off campus.”

“I am running because I have a clear understanding of the student body’s needs in terms of parking. I believe I can advocate for them effectively as well as listen to new ideas and concerns. I believe students should vote for me because I’m very dedicated to Southern Miss and its students.”

Bradley Floore

Running for election as SGA treasurer Junior ﬁnance & accounting double major

Former SGA experience: Policies and Procedures Committee, SGA Senate

“If elected, I promise to lead with integrity, increase SGA fiscal transparency, and listen to the student body’s voice. Specifically, I want all students to understand how SGA is working to better their lives, and numbers are a clear way to do just that. I would like to periodically update the student body on what money is being spent for which student activities programs and how it benefits them.”

INFORMATION

Page 2 | Thursday, February 26, 2015

MEET THE STAFF OF SPRING 2015

EDITORS & STAFF Kathryn Miller

Alan Rawls

Crystal Garner

Mary Sergeant

kathryn.miller@eagles.usm.edu

gregory.rawls@eagles.usm.edu

crystal.garner@eagles.usm.edu

mary.sergeant@eagles.usm.edu

Executive Editor

Joshua Campbell Sports Editor

joshua.campbell@eagles.usm.edu

Yolanda Cruz Copy Editor

yolanda.cruz@eagles.usm.edu

Managing Editor

Multimedia Editor

Parker Brewer

Cody Bass

parker.brewer@eagles.usm.edu

cody.bass@eagles.usm.edu

Design Editor

Social Media Editor

Julie Gore

Hayley Howard

Nikki Smith

hayley.howard@eagles.usm.edu

ashly.smith@eagles.usm.edu

Web Editor

Susan Broadbridge Kara Davidson

Graphic Designer

Chuck Cook

Katherine Frye

chuck.cook@usm.edu

katherine.frye@eagles.usm.edu

Lesley Sanders-Wood Advertising e-mail Advertising Manager printzad@usm.edu

Printz Adviser

Ad Designer

julia.gore@eagles.usm.edu

News Editor

Photo Editor

Assistant Photo Editor

susan.braodbridge@eagles.usm.edu kara.davidson@eagles.usm.edu

lesley.sanders@usm.edu

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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.

Source: www.alberichcrosswords.com

ACROSS 1. Lousy, perhaps? That makes you irritable (6) 4. Don’t start to give up and slowly pass away! (4,3) 9. Around end of April eccentric local man’s abandoning new type of fuel (5-4) 10. Second child married old and boring person (5) 11. Poet, say, is arrested by English officer (7) 12. Part of maths group is competent in two foreign languages? (7) 13.Standing up before court (5) 14. So she hurriedly wraps present – it’s winter footwear (8) 17. Papa’s dog eating staple food? The cost of it! (5,3) 19. Conference for one lecturer is a model of perfection (5) 22. Artist appears in photo as well (7) 24. Hoarse from speaking, Chuck finishes off pint quickly (7) 25. Writer reflected on one small antelope (5) 26. For a start, John Bull’s desperate to meet girl from Prague, perhaps, or another capital (9) 27. Incidentally, article will appear in Times twice (2,3,2) 28. Suffer, following live act (6)

DOWN 1. Pampered girl’s back in school (8) 2. A disreputable sort regularly visited Vermeer scholars’ world (7) 3. Projectile or bullet, one cut to penetrate (9) 4. Eddy’s admitting solicitor reasoned soundly (4-7-3) 5. Attack falls short, very, when scoring (5) 6. One love after another comprises misery after short time – it’s a tragedy (7) 7. American poet unknown to be unfriendly (6) 8. Sells hot oyster stew, kept warm in this? (7,7) 15. Repair gel sure to hold up? (9) 16. Take no risks? Lincoln’s wife wouldn’t have agreed with this! (4,4) 18. It gives man right to return things primarily? (7) 20. American academic supports one-party state (7) 21. See doctor after old man boosted conﬁdence? (6) 23. Conversely some step in solely to criticise (5)

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. Friday. 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.

NEWS

ON CAMPUS

Thursday, February 26, 2015 | Page 3

Nau shares alternate foreign policy at OLLI J.D. Rimann Printz Reporter

Henry Nau, a professor of political science at The George Washington University, presented his lecture “Conservative Internationalism” at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Monday. Henry Nau, a Hattiesburg native and the author of several books on foreign policy and America’s role in the world, devoted his lecture to the discussion of foreign policy traditions and current global affairs. Nau previously served as a senior staff member on President Ronald Reagan’s National Security Council and has an extensive background in foreign policy. The title of Nau’s lecture was “Conservative Internationalism: A Neglected Foreign Policy Tradition,” a topic on which he has also released a book. Throughout both the book and the lecture, Nau argued that American foreign policy generally follows one of three paths — nationalism, realism or liberal internationalism, though American history is a cycle between nationalism/realism and internationalism. Nationalism, associated with the concept of isolationism, is the idea that America needs to worry about itself ﬁrst and only

deal with others if they present a direct threat to American security. Liberal internationalism, meanwhile, is more concerned with being out in the world, acting to spread freedom and democracy, primarily through being involved in international institutions such as the U.N., without having to resort to force. This approach tends to be much more idealistic and trusting of human nature. An example of a leader who was a liberal internationalist would be Woodrow Wilson. Nau suggested that these two approaches cycle in America: we are out and involved in the world, employing liberal internationalist policy for a while, but once something bad happens — such as Vietnam — we withdraw from the world and follow a more nationalist approach. In contrast, Nau argued for an approach he calls conservative internationalism. This approach is more involved in the world than nationalism, but also more willing to resort to force and operate without the full backing of international institutions and taking a more realistic view of human nature than is seen in liberal internationalism. Nau elaborated on his conservative internationalist approach, and then took several

questions from the audience before wrapping up. Dozens of people were in attendance, among whom were a number of undergraduates who seemed to enjoy it. Celsey Shaddox, a senior economics and French double major, said she found it “quite unique and interesting to hear from someone who has such rare, personal experience with foreign policy.” Jeffrey George, a junior political science major and current SGA president, concurred. “It was an honor to have Dr. Nau speak on campus,” George said. “He provided great insight into U.S. foreign policy. It was great to hear someone who has so much experience in a field that is affecting each one of us every single day.” Nau gave his lecture to OLLI in memory of his father, John Nau. He was the first chaplain at The University of Southern Mississippi, as well as the first chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion, and he was instrumental in the fundraising campaign that led to the construction of the Danforth Chapel. In honor of their father’s legacy at USM, the children of John Nau will donate to the John F. Nau Endowment in Philosophy and Religion.

ON CAMPUS

USM holds forum for administrative ﬁnalist Mary Sergeant Social Media Editor

The University of Southern Mississippi held an open forum Wednesday, which featured Richard Mullins, one of two finalists being considered for the positions of associate vice president for enrollment management and dean of admissions. Mullins has been on campus working in a temporary capacity since November 2014. A selfproclaimed “admissions geek,” Mullins has been working in higher education for 27 years. The open forum took place Wednesday morning in the Polymer Science Research Center auditorium. Several members from different departments and offices across campus attended the forum to hear the ideas Mullins wants to implement at Southern Miss. The forum also was made accessible to members of the Gulf Coast campus. One of the first things Mullins mentioned was the university’s need for goals in order to succeed in enrollment. “Simply saying you want more students is not enough,” he said. Mullins believes that the university needs to take a closer look at what each department needs as far as the number of students needed in

their department. He suggested the same tactic be used for areas such as Residence Life and student life. Mullins also suggested the university expand the pool of students it reaches out to. Currently, Southern Miss enrolls 60 percent of the students it admits. That is an exceptional number since, according to Mullins, Ivy League schools enroll 65 percent of the number of students they admit. “We have been so efﬁcient that we have made a small pool,” Mullins said. By expanding the number of potential students the university contacts, Mullins believes Southern Miss will not only increase the quantity of students, but also the quality. He suggested the university do this in several ways. One way is for the university to double the number of campus visitors. According to Mullins, there have been three studies that indicate a student who visits Southern Miss is 52 percent more likely to enroll, whereas if they do not visit campus, there is roughly a 18 percent chance they will choose to enroll. Another suggestion he made was for USM to reach out to out-of-state markets. Mullins said both Florida and Texas are the fastest growing states for high school graduates.

Southern Miss is located less than 10 hours from some of the major cities in both states. For out-ofstate recruitment, Mullins believes alumni support will play a vital role. One of the last points Mullins brought to the forum was the university’s need to implement some form of enrollment indicator. He believes that by initiating some form of commitment for students who are admitted, whether it be an enrollment fee or a pledge to sign, will help the university to better assess how many students to expect for the coming year. “We will never cease to be ﬁshermen,” he said. Mullins began his career in 1989 as a graduate program assistant for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Stratton Student Center. Since then, Mullins has worked at Miami University, Lambuth University, St. Peter’s College and several other universities and colleges where he has either worked with enrollment or worked as the vice president for enrollment management. The university will hold another open forum in the Polymer Science auditorium March 4 for Deborah Heslep, the university’s second ﬁnalist for the positions. Southern Miss encourages all interested students and faculty to attend.

Noé Cugny/Printz

Henry Nau visits the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute to lecture on foreign policy traditions and current global affairs. The lecture, titled “Conservative Internationalism: A Neglected Foreign Policy Tradition,” was well attended and enjoyed by USM students.

Page 4 | Thursday, February 26, 2015

LIFE

FEATURE

Students share atypical spring break plans Mary Sergeant Social Media Editor

Most students at The University of Southern Mississippi see spring break as a week of fun in the sun. Many spend their weeklong vacation basking in the Destin sun, running around Whales Tail and going shot-for-shot with other college students from across the state. This year, there are some students who are choosing less sandy spots at which to relax and explore. Senior business administration major Rebecca Hyde booked a round-trip ticket to the Las Vegas, a.k.a. Sin City. Hyde and her best friend, fellow USM student Crystal Boyne, planned the ultimate girls weekend. The two are planning to skydive, visit some local shops and indulge in a spa day as well. A large number of Southern Miss students will travel across the Atlantic Ocean to Dublin, Ireland. The Pride of Mississippi Marching Band has been invited to participate in the city’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. “This will be different than any other spring break because it’s something completely new and different,” said Caitlyn Dobson, a senior education major and a member of the Dixie Darlings. “I normally hit the beach with my friends, but this time I’m hitting the British Isles.” Senior finance major and member of the Pride Brent Newsom is also going to Dublin. He is most excited to visit the Guinness Storehouse, where the band will also perform.

“That is such a high honor for collegiate marching bands,” Newsom said of the trip. Emily Volnoff, a junior elementary education major, is also traveling overseas this spring break. She, along with other members of the Baptist Student Union, are spending their vacation on a mission trip in Vancouver. For Volnoff, this will be her fifth time to mission in Vancouver and her third spring break there. “When we go, we work with a husband-and-wife team that are both alumni of Southern Miss,” she said. “Being a missionary in Vancouver is like no other because we don’t go to build houses or hand out food. We are there to strictly go out onto the streets and share the Gospel.” Another popular destination for students choosing an alternative spring break destination is none other than Walt Disney World. For junior communications studies major Sarah Selph, this will be her second consecutive spring break at the “happiest place on earth.” She is going with her Alpha Delta Pi sorority sisters. “We are going to Disney because we wanted to do something different than go to the beach,” she said. “And we have other sorority sisters doing the Disney College Program we want to visit.” Also visiting Disney World this spring is senior communications studies major Rylee House. For her, a spring break spent in Disney is practically a tradition. House’s grandparents work at Disney World and are able

MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY & SATURDAY 8:30AM-4:00PM TUESDAY & THURDAY 8:30AM-6:00PM

to provide her and two other friends free tickets and a place to stay every year. “I always try to bring two people that have never been so they can have the experience of Disney World that every person deserves,” she said. “This year I’m bringing two of my childhood

best friends.” David Sliman, a junior biochemistry major, is on his way to Honduras with fellow student Rachel Keuhn and a group from Baptist Medical and Dental International. The group will assist three surgeons conduct pro-bono surgeries throughout the week. Sliman said the group will awake at 6:30 a.m. every morning to prepare the operating room and to ensure all of the equipment is clean. On some of the days, the group will rotate the ability to assist the surgeons with the procedures. “We are both really excited to participate in this mission trip,” Sliman said. “Not only do we get priceless experience, but we get to assist in the basic principle of being a doctor, which is to help those in need. That is what makes this trip so meaningful.” Senior recreational therapy major Myra Roebuck plans to road trip roughly 13 hours with her fellow Delta Gamma sorority sisters to visit her ﬁancé in South Carolina. “We’ll be visiting the camp that I worked at to do some fun activities like canoeing, the rock wall and archery,” Roebuck said. “We’ll also be visiting the beautiful towns of Greenville and Charleston while we’re there.” Though they do not have much planned yet, Roebuck says

Courtesy Photo

she knows it will be a “wicked road trip.” Jacob Fail, a senior criminal justice and psychology double major, is traveling alongside his ﬁancé Taylor Button to Miami to visit some friends and to go scuba diving. “We are both advanced scuba certiﬁed and have heard it is great diving in Miami,” Fail said. “We also plan on going free diving on a shallow reef.” Senior political science and journalism double major Megan Fink is also spending her time doing unlikely things at the beach. Fink is attending Daytona Bike Week in Daytona, Florida. The week allows her and fellow motorcyclists to hang out and network with each other. “My entire family rides motorcycles, so biker events are good quality times we can spend together,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to the rides with my mom and dad, and just getting out of Hattiesburg for a while and letting the stress levels drop.” Though Southern Miss is conveniently located near several beautiful, yet frequently visited, spring break destinations, these students are going out into the world and exploring something new. Spring break 2015 will be one they will surely remember for the rest of their lives.

OPINION

CAREER

Thursday, February 26, 2015 | Page 5

Trim your resumé to one page Lindsey Kelley Printz Reporter

Picture this: it’s senior year, and you are praying for a job in your field. You’re sitting in the office of some corporate headhunter that has seen at least 50 other faces just like yours in the past day. She sighs, rubs her forehead and picks up your resumé only to grimace at the word ‘vomit’ that has so awfully graced that expensive parchment paper that you bought at Office Depot. Oops. A resumé, much like a picture, says a lot about a person. It should succinctly and effectively tell the interviewer what that applicant values, the career experience of that applicant and advertise that applicant’s skills and potential in that particular company. It should be clean and follow a standard, but not be boring and formulaic. Sounds a bit like asking for the moon. However, the most important aspect of a resumé is that it needs to only be the length of the front of one printed page. W. J. Bates, owner and founder of B & G Equipment, said that he refuses to look at twopage resumés. “I’m a busy man,” he said. “I (am not) going to sit there and read about some (person’s) middle school volunteer work when I’m looking for a salesman that can sell with a short, effective sales pitch.” Debbie Webb, president of B & G Equipment, said that she places more value in quality, not quantity of jobs. “I tend to look at how long an applicant stayed at a particular job,” she said. “If I have an applicant with a few long-term jobs as opposed to an applicant with many jobs where they might have worked a few months, I go for the previous. The (person with more jobs) seems like they may be flighty or inconsistent, therefore not worth spending the time training them.” First, it is not necessary to list every single job down to that job at the ice cream place in ninth grade. List the most recent and relevant jobs in reverse chronological order, usually about three or four. For example, say freshman year you worked in the mall, sophomore year you worked at a pizza place and junior and senior year you were a resident assistant. The order would go: RA, pizza place and then the mall. If you have military service, internships and major volunteer roles in your past and think those are relevant to the job you are applying for, add them as former jobs if you so choose. If you were the South regional volunteer coordinator for the International Quidditch Association and you are applying to be an event coordinator for XYZ Industries, then having that leadership and coordination experience is helpful to have on your resumé. For the education section, list education in reverse chronological order, degrees or licenses first, followed by certificates and

advanced training. For example, a USM undergraduate student would ﬁrst put The University of Southern Mississippi, followed by their Bachelors of Whatever (est. graduation 2015), Liberal Arts. If you have any certiﬁcations or honors, that would be listed under the appropriate university. So, maybe you have an acceptable amount of jobs, but you’re an overachiever with a long list of awards, achievements and accolades. If it is an award associated with education, that notation would be under the “Education” section.

These are awards such as STAR Student, President’s List, Dean’s List or Valedictorian. Awards that are not education-related (District Employee of the Month for retail, conference awards or special career-speciﬁc honors) will be placed under here. Many people argue whether references should be included in the resumé. Many accept a “references provided upon request” line and if interested, actually request your references. According to the Rockport Institute, listing your references is

not necessary, nor is the tagline mentioned above, as they are assumed to exist. What is most important about building a one-page resumé is choice. Do not marry yourself to one single resumé; if you need to tailor a resume to one job or another, that is completely acceptable. Choose the jobs and the awards that are going to appeal you to the speciﬁc company in mind, and use wise judgment in what needs to be or not be included. If you are still struggling with creating a proper resumé, visit

Kara Davidson/Printz

USM Career Services for some extra one-on-one help with a professional career counselor. They will look at a draft of a resumé you have and give you tips on how to improve it. A strong resumé is a calling card of a great career-minded person and an important tool in the hiring process. Don’t let a piece of paper intimidate you; master it and gain the conﬁdence you need to get that job. For more information on USM Career Services, visit www.usm. edu/career-services.

Page 6 | Thursday, February, 26, 2015

OPINION

REVIEW

Music department brings new life to classic Yolanda Cruz Copy Editor

Nostalgia can be a powerful influence on a person’s memory. Say you go to a carnival every year as a child. That’s where you saw your first clown, rode your first “big kid” ride and the first memory you have of throwing up. As an adult you visit this carnival again only to realize the food is terrible, the rides are in shambles and all of the workers have the smell of alcohol on their breath. Even though it turns out not to be what you remember, that carnival will always hold a place in your heart because of nostalgia. For me, that carnival is “Mary Poppins.” I remember watching “Mary Poppins” so many times as a child that I’m surprised the tape didn’t wear out. I loved the songs, I loved the dancing and I loved the nonsense of it all. “Mary Poppins” holds a special place in my heart, which is why I was so excited to see the musical performed by USM students and produced by the School of Music. As I settled myself in for a wonderful experience, I quickly remembered two things: nostalgia clouds memories and an adaptation is not a copy. This doesn’t mean that the adaptation won’t be great or heartwarming, but it does mean you have to be open to some change. In any case, Mike Lopinto, director of “Mary Poppins,” prefaced the performance by saying, “Creating magic, especially Disney magic, is really hard,” he said. Well, the hard work paid off because the production was phenomenal. Lori Birrer did a

fantastic job of bringing to life Poppins’ loving nature but curt delivery. Peter Lake almost never lost his smile as Bert, playing him as content as ever, and he even included the thick Cockney accent. The comic relief in the form of the overbearing

job making the scenes come to life, even if the actors were just in the background. Moreover, the dance numbers were unlike anything I have seen in a live show. My favorite characters were deﬁnitely Jane and Michael

is clear that if they continue their careers in musical theater, they will have bright futures ahead. The only ﬂaw I have with the musical is its script, which makes the parents, George Banks and his wife Winifred, very different from the movie. George Banks,

Courtesy Photo

maid Mrs. Brill, played by Myka Murphy, and the bumbling butler Robertson Ay, played by Michael Boyte, kept me watching them the entire time they were onstage. The entire ensemble did a great

Banks, played by Emmie Perkins and Cade Ortego, respectively. Their talent blew me away from their very ﬁrst song. These young actors had just as much talent as anyone else on stage, and it

played by Matt Bischoff, comes off as very tyrannical toward his wife and children, expecting everything to be perfectly in order. Winifred, played by Michaela Moore, seemed too

concerned with being what her husband wanted her to be. But the script isn’t so much flawed as it is different. The script was produced by Disney Theatrical, which acquired the rights from Cameron Mackintosh, to whom P.L. Travers, the author of the original “Mary Poppins” books, had already sold the rights prior to the classic Disney film’s production. As I said already, the musical was phenomenal. I couldn’t have imagined a better performance from the cast, yet I didn’t feel satisfied for some reason. During the “Step in Time” routine, which has always been my favorite, the little girl next to me lit up with joy. She tapped her feet, clapped her hands and laughed at the mounting feats of the chimney sweep dancers. That’s when I remembered what these things are all about. Classics are often defined as such because they are able to stand the test of time. In an age when children’s entertainment mainly consists of animation and fast-paced action, they may not be able to see the value in something like “Mary Poppins.” But this little girl seemed to love USM’s newly arrived musical. Even while I may have forgotten to take my nostalgia glasses off when I first arrived, things like this are about making memories for new generations. If today’s children walk away from this production loving “Mary Poppins” as we all do, then the musical did all the right things. If you are one of the lucky ones who snagged a ticket for this sold-out show, then you’re in for a real treat.

NATIONAL

Okla. legislators try to paint rosy picture of US history Karyn Lewis Printz Reporter

The Oklahoma state legislature feeds into the infamous ethnocentric reputation of America by attempting to nix the current Advanced Placement history curriculum, claiming that it makes the United States look bad. Oklahoma lawmakers are planning to rewrite the bill on AP history funding. The proposal faces stiff criticism from parents and educators who feel that cutting funding will hurt the already suffering school system. New framework for the course was introduced in 2012. The Republican National Committee passed a resolution calling on the College Board to revise the curriculum in 2014, stating that

the work is a “radically revisionist view of American history that emphasizes negative aspects of our nation’s history.” The bill to drop the AP U.S. history curriculum’s funding passed through an Oklahoma House committee this week, with 11 Republicans voting for the measure and four Democrats opposing it. Proponents of the anti-AP bill said the revised guidelines for AP history courses “cast the United States in a harsh light by giving undue emphasis to topics such as slavery and the treatment of Native Americans, while distorting events such as the U.S. involvement in World War II,” according to Southwest Times Records. I’m not sure if Oklahoma lawmakers are aware of this, but

altering information in history books is equivalent to lying to students about our nation’s

I am proud to be an American and I respect the values of this country, but the U.S. has its faults. history. The last time I checked, the unfair treatment of Native

Americans and African slave trade were aspects of American history that lasted for quite a while, perhaps so long that they can’t just be overlooked. You may even say that America was founded on slavery. I’m positive that Oklahomans have heard the popular, “Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492.” What exactly do they think happened once the Spaniards arrived? Fun in the Caribbean sun? The real answer is enslavement of the natives. Removing details about the Civil War, Japanese-American internment camps or the Trail of Tears (a piece of American history tied specifically to Oklahoma) can only further damage our nation by leaving students ignorant to the

racism, classism and sexism so prevalent in U.S. history. This bill would alter the way U.S. involvement in WWII is taught in high school classrooms. There are negative and positive effects to war and students should be fully aware of this. I am proud to be an American and I respect the values of this country, but the U.S. has its faults. We should encourage students to understand the negative and positive impacts that U.S. involvement in foreign affairs has had and may have in the future. Neglecting to educate the future leaders of America with an accurate history of this nation could do more harm than good. We create better futures by learning from our past.

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