Thursday, March 26, 2015
Volume 99 Issue 46
www.studentprintz.com PAGE THREE
PAGE FIVE
NEWS
USM Founder’s Day
University celebrates 105th year Monday.
PAGE EIGHT
PAGE SEVEN
F E AT U R E
OPINION
S P O RT S
Symbols play heavily in theater’s new production.
Firth, Jackson give stellar performances in latest action film.
Five pitchers contribute in 3-0 shutout of Miss. State.
‘Machinal’
‘Kingsman’
Lady Eagles advance to Elite 8
Baseball
Miss. gov. bans texting while driving Alan Rawls
Managing Editor Gov. Phil Bryant signed House Bill 389 into law this week, making Mississippi the 45th state to completely ban texting and driving. According to The Clarion-Ledger, H.B. 389 bans both texting and posting to social media while driving, and the ban takes effect July 1. Initially, violators will be issued a civil fine of $25 per violation, but as of July 2016 the fine will be raised to $100 per violation. House Transportation Chairman Robert Johnson III, D-Natchez, heaped praise upon the new law. “It will save lives,” Johnson said. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported that Mississippi had been one of only six states to not completely ban texting while driving. Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri only have partial bans while Arizona and Montana have no ban whatsoever. Mississippi Center for Health Policy released a December 2014 report that said a texting ban could have prevented an estimated 95 deaths between 2008 and 2012, so long as police were able to identify and apprehend violators. Susan Broadbridge/Printz
Sophomore Brittanny Dinkins celebrates by the student section as the Lady Eagles win against Eastern Michigan in the WNIT Sweet 16 Wednesday night in the Reed Green Coliseum.
Jacob Kemp Sports Reporter
Despite the pressure of the Sweet Sixteen, the Southern Miss Lady Eagles sent Eastern Michigan home and advanced to the Elite Eight of the WNIT. This is the first time that the Southern Miss women’s basketball team has advanced to the quarterfinals of the WNIT. The Lady Eagles shot well in the first half, 48 percent from the field and 44 percent from the threepoint line. Despite their hot start in shooting, the Lady Eagles were hampered by 15 turnovers and ultimately trailed at the half, 36-32. Things did not appear to be any better as Eastern Michigan started the half on a 10-2 run. But Alex Coyne got the Lady Eagles’ offense in an efficient gear. Southern Miss cut down on the turnovers and kept up their hot shooting. After having 15 turnovers in
the first half, the Lady Eagles played almost flawlessly and held themselves to only five turnovers in the second half. As USM got hotter, Eastern Michigan got colder. Eastern Michigan shot 1-of-10 during the Lady Eagles’ run and allowed USM to gain their first lead of the game at the eight-minute mark. The Lady Eagles could have panicked, but they have been in similar situations in seven of their last eight games. They went on to win five of those games. Their poise showed in the second half of this Sweet Sixteen showdown. “When we go in at halftime and we’re down, we feel more comfortable than if we’re up because we’re known to be a second half team,” said USM sophomore forward Ashley Folsom. “We’re just more comfortable being the underdogs and down a little bit.” The Lady Eagles did not let up either. At the two-minute mark they
had stretched their lead to 68-59. With 1:26 left in the game, Eastern Michigan cranked up the pressure in desperation mode, but an Alex Coyne dagger from three-point land sent Eastern Michigan packing. “It was definitely a turning point to get the crowd in it too,” Coyne said. “That was definitely a time when the crowd was one of the loudest (times) of the game and that gets us going.” The Lady Eagles played some of their best basketball of the season as they had contributions from every member on the team. Tamara Jones had 23 points and led the team per usual. Coyne played almost as if she had ice in her veins with three huge three-pointers late in the shot clock. She had 11 points, six assists and four rebounds. “Holy smoke,” said head coach Joye Lee-McNelis. “Maybe Alex Coyne needs to have a hurt
ankle forever the way she shot the ball tonight and made money shots. She was truly the money player tonight.” Jerontay Clemons struggled in the first half, but came out firing in the second half and finished with six points, six assists and seven rebounds. Other key Lady Eagle contributions included Brittanny Dinkins and Ashley Folsom. The duo came off the bench and provided much needed rest for Coyne, Jones and Clemons. Dinkins finished with 10 points and five boards, and Folsom finished with eight points and four rebounds. “Folsom was unbelievable; she came in, she gave us a spark,” Lee-McNelis said. “Dinkins was a spark for us, gave us a lot of energy defensively.” The EMU Eagles (24-13) were outscored by USM in the paint, 3214, and outrebounded as well, 42-
36. Their hot shooting in the first half did not continue and went ice cold toward the end. They went from over 40 percent shooting to just 38 percent and turned the ball over 18 times in the game. Reed Green Coliseum was rocking as well, and the official attendance was 2,937, the second most for a Lady Eagle basketball game. “The fans propel (the players) to change their thought process about being in the NIT,” LeeMcNelis said. “We don’t know why things happen, but it’s happened the best for us. It’s given us an opportunity to give our community a close look into what Southern Miss Lady Eagle basketball is all about.” With the victory, the Lady Eagles improved to 25-10. Southern Miss will face the winner of the Michigan-Missouri matchup in the WNIT Elite Eight. The time and date are TBD.
INFORMATION
Page 2 | Thursday, March 26, 2015
MEET THE STAFF OF SPRING 2015
EDITORS & STAFF Kathryn Miller
Alan Rawls
Mary Sergeant
kathryn.miller@eagles.usm.edu
gregory.rawls@eagles.usm.edu
mary.sergeant@eagles.usm.edu
Parker Brewer
Cody Bass
Executive Editor
Design Editor
parker.brewer@eagles.usm.edu
Yolanda Cruz Copy Editor
yolanda.cruz@eagles.usm.edu
Managing Editor
Social Media Editor
Julie Gore
Graphic Designer
Graphic Designer
Chuck Cook
Katherine Frye
chuck.cook@usm.edu
katherine.frye@eagles.usm.edu
cody.bass@eagles.usm.edu
Printz Adviser
julia.gore@eagles.usm.edu
Ad Designer
Hayley Howard
Nikki Smith
Joshua Campbell
hayley.howard@eagles.usm.edu
ashly.smith@eagles.usm.edu
joshua.campbell@eagles.usm.edu
Web Editor
News Editor
Sports Editor
Susan Broadbridge
Kara Davidson
susan.braodbridge@eagles.usm.edu
kara.davidson@eagles.usm.edu
Photo Editor
Lesley Sanders-Wood Advertising Manager lesley.sanders@usm.edu
Assistant Photo Editor Advertising e-mail printzad@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.
Dirty Birds
• On Monday, simple assault was reported in the freshman quad near Stone’s Throw at 1:27 p.m. The case remains open. • On Tuesday, vandalism was reported in the Ross Montague gravel lot at 5:09 p.m. The incident occurred between 9:15 a.m. and 12:20 p.m. The case remains open. Source:www.brainbashers.com
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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.
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NEWS
Thursday, March 26, 2015 | Page 3
ON CAMPUS
Acclaimed musicians honor Women’s History Month Colin Cameron Printz Reporter
In celebration of Women’s History Month, renowned flutist Ulrike Anton, accompanied by pianist Russell Ryan, presented “If Only She Were a Man: Women Composers From the 18th to 21st century” in Bennett Auditorium Tuesday. Anton’s lecture featured the musical compositions of six different, relatively unknown female composers, and highlighted the struggles that these women encountered for being women in a male-dominated field. The lecture-recital also included performances of these women’s rarely performed works from Ulrike and Ryan, and it gave attendees the opportunity to explore these contributions to chamber music. The program celebrated the works of composers Anna Amalia von Preußen, Leopoldine Blahetka, Nancy van de Vate, Gabriele Proy, Mel Bonis and Grete von Zieritz. “The goal of this project is to increase the public’s awareness of the important musical contributions of these composers, but also to examine the societal challenges of composing as a woman over the past four centuries,” said Edward Hafer, an associate professor of music history. Anton echoed and aptly restated the lecture title when she quoted the criticism given to one of the composers in her presentation stating, “If only she were a man” in reference
Ulrike Anton presented “If Only She Were a Man: Women Composers From the 18th to 21st century” in the Bennett Auditorium Tuesday in celebration of Women’s History Month.
to the mindset toward talented female composers. “When we put this program together, it was really fascinating to discover these pieces from a performance point of view,” Anton said. “But of course researching the biographies (of the composers) was also extremely interesting as it
revealed many of the difficulties that women had to overcome when aiming for a career as a composer.” Anton and Ryan have both performed and taught at some of the highest levels and have been concertizing internationally since 2005. They have performed in cities throughout Europe, China
and the U.S. Both Anton and Ryan annually teach together at the Summer Music Program of IES Abroad (Institute for the International Education of Students) in Vienna. “Ulrike Anton and Russell Ryan have established international reputations as performers of the highest caliber,” Hafer said. The
Morgan Covington/Printz
event was made possible by the Mississippi Humanities Council through the National Endowment for the Humanities, and by support from The University of Southern Mississippi Honors College, the Austrian Cultural Forum New York and the Austrian Consulate General Los Angeles.
ON CAMPUS
University to celebrate 105th anniversary Monday Jesse Hammett Printz Reporter
On Monday, March 30, the Founder’s Day Ceremony will take place at 3 p.m. in Bennett Auditorium in celebration of the 105th anniversary of The University of Southern Mississippi’s legislative founding.
The ceremony will include events such as the Student Government Association Inauguration, faculty and staff recognitions and various student awards. The event is open and free to the Southern Miss community and will be live streamed via usm.edu/live. Following the initial ceremony, the Founder’s Day reception will
During Founder’s Day, many students and faculty members are honored for their dedication to our noble institution, and I think it shows a great respect for our university when other students attend. - Jeffrey George, SGA president
take place at 4 p.m. on the Aubrey K. Lucas Administration Building’s north lawn. According to BayLee Long, the Southern Miss Alumni Association’s manager of programs, the Alumni Association spearheads the ceremony’s logistics in collaboration with the Founder’s Day committee. “These logistics include the planning and implementation of the Founder’s Day ceremony, reception, awards and other related events on the Hattiesburg and Gulf Park campuses, as well as the teaching sites at Stennis and the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory,” Long said. The coinciding Greek Alumni Founder’s Day Luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in R.C. Cook Union Room B. The Office of Greek Life, Eagle Dining and the Southern Miss Alumni Association are sponsoring the luncheon. This event will be open to USM alumni and chapter leadership
from the USM Greek Community. A Founder’s Day ceremony will also take place at the USM Gulf Park campus in Hardy Hall Ballroom from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on the same day. In addition, a reception will also be held following the Gulf Park campus ceremony. Jamie Jelinski, an interior design major, is one of 50 students to make this year’s Who’s Who list, and each student will receive recognition during the ceremony. Jelinski stressed the importance of the ceremony by noting that it is a celebration of USM as a whole. “By recognizing individuals, we really are showing the potential that anyone can reach,” Jelinski said. “I hope that students will see the people getting recognized and be inspired to go make a difference in their own way, to leave Southern Miss better than they found it.” Student Government Association President Jeffrey George said the ceremony is a way to reflect upon
and honor students and staff who have worked tirelessly to make USM what it is today. “During Founder’s Day, many students and faculty members are honored for their dedication to our noble institution, and I think it shows a great respect for our university when other students attend,” George said. George also gave his personal thoughts on the event. “Founder’s Day, to me, is one of my favorite days of the year at Southern Miss. This incredible university has given me so much in my short three years here, and I believe that Founder’s Day is a way for me to say thank you to our university.” George at last encouraged students to attend the ceremony at 3 p.m. or the reception at 4 p.m. and that if students could not attend, they could show their appreciation by posting what USM means to them on social media.
NEWS
Page 4 | Thursday, March 26, 2015
ON CAMPUS
Fraternity raises awareness about cystic fibrosis Kathryn Miller Executive Editor
A press conference for the cystic fibrosis annual event at The University of Southern Mississippi took place Tuesday. Delta Tau Delta Fraternity has spearheaded the event for the past 30 years and supported the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The Cystic Fibrosis Run for Breath 5K Run/Walk will start at 9 a.m. Saturday in front of the Payne Center. On-site registration and check-in will begin at 7:30 a.m. The top two contestants in each age category as well as overall male and female winners will be awarded prizes. T-shirts will be provided to all participants. Former NFL Carolina Panthers football player Kris Mangum is the 2015 grand marshal for the event. Mangum played at the University of Mississippi before being drafted into the NFL in 1997. He played with the Panthers for 10 years before leading
ON CAMPUS
the team to the Super Bowl in 2004. “The real celebrities are the ones who suffer from CF,” Mangum said. “I’m just a supporter. We hope to raise a large amount to help them and others.” Every year, Delta Tau Delta chooses a sorority to participate in the event. This year, Chi Omega sorority will participate with the fraternity in the fundraising efforts. Gonsoulin said the sorority members not only help with the 5K event, but they also take on writing letters to the friends and family and ask them to consider donating to the cause. According to the foundation’s website, cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the U.S, which is about 70,000 worldwide. Cystic fibrosis is caused by a defective gene and its protein product causes the body to make a thick mucus that congests the lung and leads to life-threatening lung infections. Though cystic
fibrosis may still be an unknown chronic disease to some, Delta Tau Delta at Southern Miss made it part of its philanthropy in 1985. Steven Richards, the fraternity’s first president, had cystic fibrosis. After the other members had learned of Richards’ case, the chapter began learning about CF. According to the foundation’s website, innovative research and comprehensive care have helped people with CF to live into their 30s, 40s and beyond. “The medicines that have been created over the years help us live longer,” Richards said. “Events like this have made it possible for medicines to be administered so people with CF can go to work, school, home and not in the hospital. I am the sixth oldest in the state with CF and am doing better than a lot of folks thanks to this generation.” “No one knew what this disease was about,” said Sidney Gonsoulin, associate vice president for student affairs and chapter adviser for Delta
“Events like this have made it possible for medicines to be administered so people with CF can go to work, school, home and not in the hospital. I am the sixth oldest in the state with CF and am doing better than a lot of folks thanks to this generation.” - Steven Richards, former Delta Tau Delta president Tau Delta. “One of the things that the Delts took on as a mission was (to) provide information to the community on what this disease was all about and how difficult it is.” Gonsoulin said the Delta Tau Delta chapter at USM raised over $400,000 since 1985 and continue
to share the story throughout the region. “What we’re trying to do here is find a cure for CF,” Delta Tau Delta President Ryan Lehman said. “I thank all of the people who made this come together and pushing us forward to help ultimately find a cure.”
Student receives Orrin Swayze Award Chris Lee
Printz Reporter University of Southern Mississippi senior Tanner Shaw recently received the Orrin Swayze Award at the Mississippi Young Bankers Annual Study Conference and Convention in Mobile, Alabama. While it has been a few years since a USM student has been selected as the recipient for the Swayze Award, this year the university was well represented. The list of finalists included Southern Miss students Kent McCarty, Nic Zogaib and Tanner Shaw, who went on to receive the Swayze Award. “I was glad to see USM so well
represented in the finalist selections for the Swayze Award,” said senior banking and finance major and Swayze Award finalist Kent McCarty. The winner of the prestigious award was Fairhope, Alabama, native Tanner Shaw, a senior accounting and finance double major at USM. Shaw said he was humbled by the award and credits much of his success to his time at USM. “Being awarded the Orrin Swayze scholarship is a huge honor that I am truly humbled and thankful to have received,” Shaw said. “However, the honor extends beyond me to The University of Southern Mississippi. USM has not had a Swayze scholarship winner in
several years, but, this year, three of the five finalists were Southern Miss students. I would not trade the time that I have had at The University of Southern Mississippi for anything. I believe that it has prepared me well, over the course of the past three years, to be competitive not only in this type of competition, but also in the job market at large.” “My experience of Tanner as my student was altogether positive,” said Gary Kelly, professor and chair of the Department of Finance, Real Estate and Business Law at
Southern Miss. “It was a pleasure to see him take control of a relatively large body of information and make it his own.” Each year, five finalists are nominated for the award that recognizes banking and finance students and are encouraged to pursue banking careers in Mississippi. From the five finalists, one student is chosen to receive the Swayze Scholar Medallion and a cash award of $5,000. The other four finalists are recognized as Mississippi Young Bankers Scholars
and each receives or receives an award of $1,500. Nominations are made by the department head of each Mississippi university every December. A scholarship committee then narrowed down the nominations to five finalists. The five finalists are then invited to the MYB Annual Study Conference and Convention, where the scholarship then conducts personal interview with the finalists before recommending a winner to be approved by the MYB Executive council.
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Tanner Shaw wins the Orrin Swayze Award at the Mississippi Young Bankers Annual Study Conference and Convention in Mobile, Alabama.
FEATURE
Thursday, March 26, 2015 | Page 5
ON CAMPUS
‘Machinal’ delves into choice, repression Yolanda Cruz Copy Editor
This semester’s latest performance from the Department of Theatre is Sophie Treadwell’s “Machinal.” Set during the 1920s, the play is about a young woman named Helen trying to find her individuality with all of the restraints in place on a woman of that era. “Helen is really an everywoman,” said Moriah Whiteman, a third-year MFA student who plays Helen. “She is a compilation of women as a whole for the time period. It’s all about finding her own voice and making her own person,” she said.
“She lives in a society that is moving toward mechanization and uniformity, so she (is) essentially fighting for her humanity,” said second-year MFA student and director of “Machinal,” Nathan Adam Sullivan. The play is heavy on expressionist themes, so audience members may need to understand there are messages and symbols scattered all throughout the play. “The actors move in rather mechanical ways,” Sullivan said. “All of the characters are wearing some piece of red on their shoes, except for Helen. Through subtleties in the play, I wanted to portray how she is an outsider.”
From Helen’s first appearance on stage, it is obvious she feels she does not belong with the way she talks to others and carries her body. She feels alienated from the rest of the world. “She does what she does because it’s what she feels she had to do to survive,” said Matt Huffman, a second-year MFA student who plays George Jones, Helen’s husband. “She’s felt pressured to make these decisions from the people around her,” he said. She does come to make a few selfish decisions in an attempt to find happiness, but they turn out to have negative consequences for those around her. Even though the audiences
ON CAMPUS
Student to premiere dance for film, ‘Artefact’
Courtesy Photo
James Riley, senior dance performance and choreography major, helps choreograph Samantha Russell’s dance for film, ‘Artefact.’ The film will begin at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Woods Theatre at the USM Theatre and Dance Building.
Sydne’ Autry Printz Reporter
Most have come across the saying, ‘Take time to smell the roses.’ If asked what it means, many would assume it is stressing the importance of appreciating life in all its beauty. The beauty of life everyone harps on does not only happen in moments of tranquility. In fact, those striking instances occur in everyday life, during ordinary endeavors. Samantha Russell, a junior dance and performance choreography major, emphasized that attraction with her dance for film, “Artefact.” The film will explore instants of “creativity and beauty that catch our eye throughout the journey of making and pursuing art.” Dance for film, put on by the Department of Dance, is funded
by the Eagle Scholars Program for Undergraduate Research and constructed each semester. Russell said “Artefact” is intended to show the connection between the arts and explore how the process of creating art can be viewed as a work of art itself. Inspiration for the film came from the movement visual artists use in their creative process. Throughout the semester, Russell filmed senior art and design major, Kyla Clary working on a current art project. Close observations from the artist’s work helped her to create choreography with James Riley, senior dance performance and choreography major. The duo used unique illustrations to create original choreography. “It’s going to be an interesting
and abstract film and something you wouldn’t expect in a dance for film piece,” Riley said. The first half of the film will show how an artist creates work. Toward the second half, Russell hopes viewers will get an idea of what goes into the final product. “I hope when people watch Artefact they are not only entertained, but also begin to think differently about art and how it can occur in many different ways,” Russell said. The film will begin at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Woods Theatre at the USM Theatre and Dance Building. Admission for the general public is free and an “artist talk” will immediately follow the show. For a sneak preview of the film, visit www.facebook.com/events/. Artefact.
empathizes with her by the close of the play, some will still walk away feeling she deserved what she got. “This piece encourages a sense of exploration, especially about the self,” Whiteman said. “She isn’t allowed to express herself, so she’s repressing so much until it all comes out and once in an explosion that she takes out on others.” For anyone who has ever felt trapped or pressured, this play will resonate and hit home. All throughout the play, Helen is mainly doing what she thinks she is supposed to do. She follows her mother’s wishes, then her husband’s, doing what she thinks she is supposed
to do without any real desire behind her actions. Unlike most plays, Helen does her costume changes onstage, with some character always being the one to dress her. “She’s meant to live as the embodiment of a living doll,” Whiteman said. While in the end, Helen is finally able to express her freedom, whether it is worth the consequences is for the audience to decide. “Machinal” opens Thursday at 7:30 p.m., with subsequent runs March 27, 28 and 31, as well as April 1 at the same time. A matinee will be performed on March 29 at 2 p.m. with a preshow talk an hour before curtain.
Page 6 | Thursday, March 26, 2015
FEATURE
NATIONAL
Students discuss LGBTQ+ inclusive Greek Life Emma Reeves Printz Reporter
USA Today recently reported students led by Lauren Ferguson at the University of Texas at Austin began the “queer-inclusive” sorority Gamma Rho Lambda after feeling excluded from other Greek Life organizations due to their sexuality. In the same vein, Delta Lambda Phi at Purdue University is one of the most popular LGBTQ+inclusive fraternities in the country because it prevents discrimination to students who wish to participate in Greek Life. With recent scandals and discriminatory events in the Greek community nationwide, two questions remain for students at The University of Southern Mississippi: does Southern Miss Greek Life exhibit exclusionary
tendencies toward members of the LGBTQ+ community, and what do students think about the concept of an LGBTQ+-based Greek organization? Charles Childress, the director of Greek Life, said the official stance of USM is non-discriminatory. “If a potential member embodies the mission, values and creed of an organization, they should have the opportunity to gain membership in that organization,” Childress said. Jamiaus Marion, a junior dance and performance and choreography major and vice president of USM’s Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity, said he personally saw the USM stance in action. “The Greek community here at Southern ranges from all different types and accepts anyone willing to succeed and leave Southern Miss better than they found it,”
“(My fraternity brothers have) all welcomed me in with open arms and shown me the same love they would any other brother. - Jamiaus Marion
Marion said. “(My fraternity brothers have) all welcomed me in with open arms and shown me the same love they would any other brother,” Marion said, despite his views on the LGBTQ+ community. “I consider myself bisexual. I’ve found that my sisters love me for who I am and whoever I prefer to date,” said a USM sorority member, who wished to remain anonymous. Still, both students said they appreciate the efforts being made to incorporate more of the LGBTQ+ community in Greek communities nationwide. Both said these organizations are very good for both the members and the university. The sorority member said she appreciated the freedom of being able to take a male or female as a date to a social function.
“Having an LGBTQ+ fraternity and sorority (would) highlight (a) willingness toward being a well diverse school,” Marion said. As far as the possibilities for such a fraternity or sorority at USM, Henry said, “Unfortunately, where we are in Mississippi, I can’t see this ever happening.” Marion offered no speculation, but he said that should it ever occur, “It will show that we do not discriminate, and it will crash the stereotype that Southern Greek communities shun out those things.” Currently, several of the Greek Organizations at USM are listed on the Lambda 10 Project for fraternities and sororities which identifies Greek organizations that have inclusive policies or have educationally address issues of sexual orientation.
ON CAMPUS
New criminal justice class being offered for first time Nan Buti
Printz Reporter There are many aspects to Southern schools that differentiate them from the rest of the world. Because of the rich history and distinct culture of the South, places like The University of Southern Mississippi are able to offer unique courses discussing African Americans, their history and how they interact with the criminal justice system and vice-versa. The School of Criminal Justice at Southern Miss now offers a unique class that incorporates the history of and relates the African-American community with the criminal justice system. The course, CJ 480, is called The African-American Criminal Justice Experience and is new to the Hattiesburg campus. Southern Miss is the only institution to offer this class. “The course is very special,” said assistant professor in the School of Criminal Justice and instructor of the course Charles Scheer. The course is said to examine the history and also special topics between the criminal justice system (police, courts and corrections) and the black community. In the spring of 2013, Scheer and three students, Keturah Minor, Alexis Hall and Mack Thompson, from his Criminal Justice Ethics class met to discuss the idea of offering a course that linked the AfricanAmerican perspective with the criminal justice system. “They helped me develop ideas for the course as a sort of ‘focus group,’ and the course was put together after those discussions,” Scheer said. Scheer said he does not know why the course is just
now being offered, but the students are showing a unique interest in the material. After the recent racial incidents throughout the country, the course helps students understand these situations. “It seems to be a class that is important in light of some of the events that are happening between police and African-American communities,” Scheer said. “My expectations are to develop a better understanding of the issues occurring and how we can deal with them differently,” said Stephanie Redd, junior criminal justice major who is enrolled in the course. Scheer describes the first part of the class as a rundown of the major developments in African-American history since the Jim Crow era as they pertain to the criminal justice system. “Many of these events that took place are about conflicts with the system: the fight for laws to protect rights, conflict with the police, and in the ‘80s and ‘90s—which we call the Second Civil Rights movement—a new sense of pride and a continued fight for respect,” Scheer said. The second half of the course will cover individual issues. “The issues we talk about are connected to these events, like racial profiling, high incarceration rates and police legitimacy,” Scheer said. “This is a big issue now because many Black communities feel the criminal justice system is against them and does not represent them in a legitimate manner. This is a big problem in society right now.” The course is in progress of developing a Legacy Program to be implemented into the community to
change the relationship between the community and law enforcement. Although the idea for the Legacy Program is what is being developed, it remains to be seen if any police agencies would be interested in actually implementing it. The class is developing an exclusive program in which police officers would be engaged in mentoring students in public school systems to create a positive image of police in general, and also to begin a dialogue between two groups who rarely talk to one another about significant issues. The idea of the program will be presented to police departments in May. “When police go to schools, it’s always surface discussions, where I think the class is trying to create a program where police are actively involved in students’ lives by doing things like career and college planning and other deeper things,” Scheer said. “This was created by the class itself through discussion and creative meetings they have had.” Scheer and his students hope that an agency tries to implement these ideas so that it might actually result in improved relations. The department has built relationships with various local police departments, such as Gulfport Police, and hopes to convince these departments to agree with the Legacy Program’s implementation. Scheer will instruct the class, which focuses on projects and discussions. It is now being offered Mondays and Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. with 50 students enrolled. The course, offered as an elective this year, is open to any student, regardless of major.
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OPINION
Thursday, March 26, 2015 | Page 7
REVIEW
‘Kingsman’ a must-see for spy movie fans J.D. Rimman Printz Reporter
Ever watched a Quentin Tarantino movie and thought it didn’t have enough violence? Did “300” leave you wanting more bloodshed? Do you think that James Bond movies are too realistic these days? Well, good news. British director Matthew Vaughn (“Kick Ass,” “Layer Cake”) agrees and his latest offering, “Kingsman: The Secret Service,” addresses those concerns. The plot line is fairly linear, with a couple of twists and turns, but nothing too original. Eggsy, a young man living at
home with his mom and his cruel step-dad, is unaware that his real father was an agent with the secretive Kingsman organization, an international spy agency that does not work for any government but rather the greater good. He ends up being recruited by his father’s former mentor to join the agency himself, and eventually must step up to foil the diabolical plot of the film’s main baddie, a billionaire eco-terrorist played by an amusingly out-of-character Samuel L. Jackson. The movie itself is gorgeous to watch, and everything from the landscape of the villain’s mountain hideout to a brawl between some
bullies and Colin Firth’s ice cube cool secret agent Galahad looks absolutely fantastic. Teeth fly by in slow motion, explosions run rampant and heads literally explode, not into gore but instead into spectacular fireworks. Now, the film has received a large amount of press for its violence, and this is certainly deserved. However, it is not the violence of a horror movie such as “Saw,” but rather a stylized violence, visually stunning that and comes off as a vampire’s attempt at art. Action scenes proceeded in slow motion, with each knife thrust, armbar or punch zoomed in on and tracked from start to finish. Most of these crazy action scenes were
actually filmed in only one or two takes and took a physical toll on the actors involved. Firth himself had to work out for six months prior to filming just to get in sufficient shape to film the now infamous scene where he battles an entire fauxWestboro Baptist Church. Really though, this film is just plain fun, even if that fun is ridiculous and over-the-top. Not taking itself too seriously, it functions not only as a faithful adaptation of the comic book that inspired it but also as a homage to spy movies, and especially the Connery-era Bond films, though where the classic Bond films made use of the subtle rapier of humor, Kingsman gleefully goes for the
battle axe instead. Throughout the film the gadgets and gizmos that Daniel Craig’s rugged Bond might scorn are given center stage, and our heroes are equipped with everything from poisoned pens to cigar lighter hand grenades. Of course, neither of those things matches the sheer ridiculousness of the movie itself. From the plot line to the gadgets, from the characters to the filmography, from the witty quips to the crazy villains, the movie is proudly and unabashedly over-the-top. Bottomline: 7.5 out of 10. A good choice if you’re looking for a fun spy movie that has its tongue planted firmly in the side of its cheek.
ON CAMPUS
Student shares senior struggles, strife, stress Mary Sergeant Social Media Editor
The time has come for the class of 2015 to say goodbye to the hallowed halls of The University of Southern Mississippi. In less than two months, seniors will be taking everything we have learned, or think we have learned, in the past four years and applying it to the real world. So, we should be excited, right? Wrong. Most of us are either freaking out or in denial of what is to come. For me, there are five struggles I deal with every day as a senior. 1. Finding a job We have always been told that college is the answer. We go to college, we get a job and make lots of money. It’s the American dream that’s been embedded into our minds for our entire lives. But nowadays there is so much more to that. We have to have the perfect GPA, the perfect resume and a large portfolio with a wide variety of work completed during outside class. And to top it all off, we have to be busy looking for jobs or applying to grad schools while also handling class, jobs and involvement. 2. Feeling old and out of place During freshman year, I remember feeling like the queen of the kingdom. I spent hours on end with all of my friends hanging out in The Fresh, hopping down fraternity row and lying on Centennial Lawn to catch some rays and do homework. It seemed like every face on campus was a friendly face. However, these days, I barely have time to eat, much less plan a lunch date. And more importantly, most seniors live off campus, keeping us distant from the inner-workings of USM social
life. All seniors have that day, or a couple if you’re like me, that you head to Seymour’s and leap for joy when you find someone to sit with. We’re old and we feel irrelevant, and it truly sucks. 3. Figuring out who your real friends are Another part of being a senior is realizing which friends are worth keeping throughout the rest of your life. But it’s pretty difficult to figure that out, when you barely have time to get a meal in. Time is precious as a senior, so you can’t be everyone’s “best friend” anymore. It just doesn’t work that way. So, you spend your precious time with the people that matter. And the struggle of that is all of the flak you get from not being at the parties anymore or never being available to go out for lunch with that one friend you can barely hold a conversation with. 4. Leaving your beloved student organizations As an involved member of the student body, I am so sad to leave my student organizations. I can’t help but have the lingering feeling that every event I attend or every article I write is going to be one of my lasts. You see new people taking over positions you once held, new members getting excited about the things that once made you so happy and you suddenly feel like you are being pushed out, like everything you did was unimportant and that these new people will do it even better. 5. No motivation My final struggle as a senior is simply finding the energy to care. I am only in 12 hours this semester and I feel like I am in 24 hours. Senioritis is large and in charge. To help me keep myself in check, I drink lots of coffee, make sure I
get eight or more hours of sleep every night and keep a countdown until graduation in viewing site at all times. The struggle that is senior year is real. It’s tough, it’s sad and at times, it’s exhausting. But we have to remember that we came here for a purpose, to graduate. That time is finally near. So forget the hard feelings and remember you are accomplishing what you set out to do four years ago and relish in that moment.
Kara Davidson/Printz
Maintaining one’s sanity during senior year can be tough. With impending full-time job interviews, capstone class projects and work, it can be difficult to find time to recharge and hang out with friends.
Applications are now being accepted for: Academic Year 2015-2016
Executive Editor, The Student Printz All applicants for the positions should email a packet that includes: 1. A formal letter of application. 2. A personal statement of intent which includes: a. A statement of philosophy of goals for the publication b. A plan for carrying out those goals c. An evaluation of the 2014-2015 operation 3. A resume 4. Three letters of recommendation to cover some academic as well as professional credentials. 5. A complete transcript of all college-level work (Minimum 2.5 overall GPA is required) 6. At least three writing samples by the applicant.
Submit to: Dr. Jeanne Gillespie, chair jeanne.gillespie@usm.edu
Deadline: 4 p.m., Thursday, April 9 All materials should be 8 1/2 x 11” No materials can be returned
Interviews: Wednesday, April 15 at 2:00 p.m. Dean’s Conference Room, LAB 209
All applicants must attend
SPORTS
Thursday, March 26, 2015 | Page 8
BASEBALL
Pitching staff continues impressive start in shutout Joshua Campbell Sports Editor
Southern Miss snapped a six-game losing streak to Mississippi State Tuesday, shutting out the Bulldogs in a 3-0 victory at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Mississippi. Although the game was played at a neutral site, it was considered a home game for the Golden Eagles. James McMahon got the start for USM, but only pitched 3.2 innings in order to save his arm for his scheduled Sunday start. USM manager Scott Berry wanted McMahon to get work in after his spot in the rotation was skipped over in the Louisiana Tech series as a result of the finale being cancelled. Despite pitching on 10 days rest, McMahon showed no signs of rust as he only allowed two hits, one walk and no runs. Berry turned to relievers Cody Livingston and Jake Winston for long relied and was rewarded with four more innings of shutout baseball. The game was very much a pitchers’ duel as neither team could muster any offense in the early going. It took until the bottom of the sixth inning before the first run was scored. After Connor Barron and Daniel Keating popped and grounded out, respectively, to start the inning, Taylor Braley continued his recent offensive tear with a single to left field. Designated hitter Matt Durst followed with a triple to right field off a 1-0 offering from Mississippi State starter Lucas Laster to score Braley from first base. Tim Lynch kept the two-out rally going with an RBI double to expand the lead to
Courtesy Photo/Joe Harper
James McMahon starts for USM against Mississippi State Tuesday, only allowing two hits, one walk and no runs. The Eagles shut out the Bulldogs in a 3-0 victory.
2-0. Dylan Burdeaux lined out to end the inning, but the damage was done, especially the way the Golden Eagle pitching staff was throwing. The Golden Eagle offense started another two-out rally in the seventh as Nick Dawson got things going with a single up the middle. Barron followed with a single of his own to right field, advancing Dawson to second. Then Keating singled
between the shortstop and third baseman to score Dawson from second as an insurance run. That insurance run was plenty enough for USM as Ryan Milton shut the door in the ninth to pick up his fifth save of the season and preserve the shutout. “Both sides pitched really well,” said manager Scott Berry. “But our guys got out of the gate well with (James McMahon) and they all pitched really well.
Three double plays turned in the game. We really controlled anything on the bases that they had.” Pitching was expected to be a weakness for the Golden Eagles after losing so many quality arms from a year ago, but the pitching staff has been an incredible strength as they boast a team ERA of 2.18. That number is inflated a bit by the inordinate amount of
24 unearned runs the Golden Eagles have given up in just 23 games so far. However, if the pitching staff continues to pitch the way they have been, USM has a chance to go far this season, regardless if the team ERA comes back to earth a little bit as the season progresses. Another revelation for the Golden Eagles has been the hot bat of Braley, who is hitting .404 on the season with a 1.013 OPS. Chase Scott was expected to be the everyday third baseman this season, but since Berry decided to give Braley a shot, the offense has taken off. It is quite amazing what Braley has been able to do as a true freshman. Rarely does a true freshman earn a starting job, but not only has the former Oak Grove High School standout become a starter, he has become the team’s threehole hitter and most consistent bat in the middle of the lineup. Berry envisioned Braley to mainly help out of the bullpen before the season, but he has found a gem. Even if Braley cools off at the plate some, he has established himself as the future of Southern Miss baseball. The Golden Eagles (14-81, 3-2 Conference USA) have a much-awaited road trip this weekend as they travel to Houston, Texas, to take on Rice (17-9, 7-2). Many Golden Eagle players said before the season that the conference series they were most looking forward to was against Rice, as the two teams have jockeyed for the top spot in the conference over the past few seasons. First pitch of the series will be Friday night at 6:30 p.m. at Reckling Park.
BASKETBALL
Cleveland Cavaliers getting hot at the right time Wilton Jackson Sports Reporter
Although dealing with team chemistry issues early on in the season, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers sit in a good position with nine games remaining in the regular season. Throughout the months of January and February, the Cavaliers’ rank changed from fifth to sixth position in the Eastern Conference. However, Cleveland (46-26) now ranks second and will look to keep its winning success as the Cavaliers prepare for the NBA Playoffs. The Cavaliers could not have picked a better time to play their best basketball, winning eight of its last 10 games.
Not to mention, five of their victories were against playoffbound teams on the road and three of them were against conference opponents. While the Cavaliers have surged in the standings in recent weeks, their conference opponents have struggled, giving them all the more reason to continue on a path of success. The Atlanta Hawks (53-17), the leader in the NBA Eastern Conference, have gone 5-5 in their last ten games while the Toronto Raptors (42-29) have dropped six of their last 10, forcing them to drop from second to fourth in the conference. The Cavaliers control their own destiny to how they will finish the season and their position in the playoffs. Much of
Cleveland’s success stems from the play of James but also the consistent, offensive production of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and J.R. Smith. Currently, James ranks third in the league in points scored, averaging 26 per game and leading the Cavs in assists and steals. Kyrie Irving has posted a 57-point performance and averages 22 points per night. His consistent offense and ability to step up when James struggles from the floor will help the Cavaliers in the playoffs. Kevin Love is not far behind, averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds per game followed by J.R. Smith with 13 points. What may not seem like much, it will be important that Irving, Love and Smith continue playing at
this level to take some of the pressure off of James. Like the starters surrounding James, other players like Timofey Mosgov, Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson will be key to how the Cavs finish season and how far they will get in the playoffs. Mosgov, Waiters and Thompson combine for an average of 31 points per game. As a team, the Cavs rank seventh in offensive production, 11th on defense and 19th in rebounds. The Cavaliers have nine games in remaining and it will be critical for them to play efficient on offense and defense. Out of those nine games, four of them are at home against playoff bound teams such as the Boston Celtics, Washington
Wizards, Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat. Here’s an interesting point: in their last 10 games, the Cavaliers lost at home to Miami, who currently sits in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. If the playoffs started today, the Cavaliers would play Miami in the first round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs. Thus, every game matters. Other remaining matchups for Cleveland include the Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics. With a balance of tough conference games left and a mixture of what should be fairly easy wins, the Cavaliers should finish the season with success going into the playoffs.