Thursday, September 1, 2016 Volume 101 Issue 3
student printz SERVING SOUTHERN MISS SINCE 1927
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$2.71 million: Gravel lot sold to fund parking, improvements CAM BONELLI
executive editor
The University of Southern Mississippi plans to begin constructing new parking lots for student use and will implement a mass transit system within the next 12 to 24 months in an effort to reduce vehiclepedestrian interaction. “Construction is set to begin on the paving, lighting and landscaping on a 135-space lot on 35th Avenue to be followed by similar work on a 100-space lot on 34th Avenue,” said USM Director of Parking Management Lucy Bowens. The proceeds from the sale of the university-owned property across from the Jr. Food Mart convenience store on Hardy street will fund the projects. Vice President for Finance and Administration Douglas Vinzant said the property was sold based on the average of two appraisals for $2.71 million, effective Aug. 25. “In keeping with state law and board policy, the sale was approved by the state legislature, the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration and the IHL Board of Trustees,” Vinzant said. “The proceeds were deposited into the university’s parking auxiliary enterprise fund and will support three upcoming parking projects.” According to Vinzant, the 35th Avenue lot will cost $879,000, the 34th Avenue lot will cost $690,000 and the Ross Boulevard renovations – paving of the lot, addition of lighting and addition of emergency phones – will cost $1.3 million. Vinzant said the construction of the 34th and 35th Avenue lot projects will begin during the 2016 fall semester. “The lot on 35th will happen first, the second will be the 100-space lot on 34th Avenue and the third project will be the Ross Boulevard lot,” Vinzant said. “The 35th and 34th Avenue lots will take about 75 days to complete – both
of these will be finished around Jan. 1 or the beginning of February.” The proceeds will also support improvements in lighting, parking surfaces, safety phones and handicapaccess similar to the improvements made on the lot south of the Liberal Arts Building on 31st Street. “It’s more than just parking,” Vinzant said. “It’s really about trying to provide safe, efficient parking for students and faculty.” “In addition to the improvements [noted], the university hopes to make the same improvements to the Montague lot across from Asbury Hall and to the Hillcrest lot if the funding is approved by the state for these projects,” Vinzant said. As of noon Aug. 31, USM’s Department of Parking Management has issued 4,459 student parking permits. According to Vinzant, the total amount of revenue from the 4,459 student permits issued is approximately $659,979. Of the 4,459 student permits, 3,742 students paid $162 for parking permits and 717 paid for temporary permits at $75. Bowens said Parking Management uses the funds from the permits for parking improvements such as signage; painting of crosswalks, curbs, striping and parking areas; and accessible sidewalks and entries for individuals with physical disabilities and parking locales, according to Bowens. “Student have access to 5,943 parking spaces designated for student use,” Bowens said. “No, we do not have enough convenient parking, but we do have parking available to students.” Vinzant said the conversation for a mass transit system has already started. “[Mass transit is] absolutely a part we are going to do,” Vinzant said. “I think it’s fair to say we did not have a longterm plan. A lot of growing pains we are experiencing now, other universities
WHAT’S INSIDE
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Daisy Stutts | Assistant Photo Editor have already addressed.” Vinzant said the university is trying to develop an integrated parking and transit operating plan for the university. Specific routes and pick-up and dropoff locations have not been determined, but the university anticipates those services will be provided within the next 12 to 24 months at the Hattiesburg and Gulf Park campuses, according to Vinzant. “I’ve been at places where buses, bicycles and transit were already a large part [of campus transportation]. Here, the City of Hattiesburg has mass transit, and we want to work with them to develop it.” Institutions such as the University
of Mississippi have implemented mass transit systems and seen success in the reduction of over-crowded parking on campus. Director of Parking and Transportation for the University of Mississippi Mike Harris said the transit system has been a tremendous help. “We offer a reduced rate permit to our park-’n’-ride lots, and we currently have 1,983 sold,” he said. “With the buses running every five to seven minutes, it is a convenient way to get to park and get to campus.” Vinzant said the challenge of effective and safe parking is not unique to USM. Harris said Parking Management receives complaints about parking as well, though they limit the amount of
Bid Day As told from an outsider’s perspective.
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permits distributed. “We limit the number of permits available on campus and once those are sold, the park-’n’-ride is used,” Harris said. “Year to date we have sold 13,421 student permits – including residential and commuter. We have [more than] 20,000 students so about 67 percent of our students have purchased permits at this time.” Vinzant said one of the challenges that schools often face is the current generation of students may not benefit from improvements. “It’s just the nature of the way universities evolve,” Vinzant said. “I would have loved to finish these projects a year ago.”
VMA’s Recap What you missed. . . and what you did not.
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INTRODUCTION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1,2016
Meet the Staff Fall 2016 Cam Bonelli
FIND US ON THE WEB The Student Printz
Executive Editor
catherine.bonelli@usm.edu
Jack Hammett
@studentprintz
Managing Editor
jesse.hammett@usm.edu
Garrett Minta
studentprintz.com
News Editor
garrett.minta@usm.edu
Hiba Tahir
Entertainment Editor
Send your ads to printzad@usm.edu
hiba.tahir@usm.edu
Julius Kizzee Sports Editor
southernprintz@gmail.com
Hunt Mercier Photo Editor
hunt.mercier@usm.edu
CORRECTION: The gravel lot across from Jr. Food Mart on Hardy Street was sold to a private developer on Aug. 25. The City of Hattiesburg does not own this property. A person quoted in a story posted about the gravel lot on Aug. 25, had no affliation with the university at the time of print.
Jhaimee Bullock Design Editor
jhaimee.bullock@usm.edu
Sarah Anne Schloemer Web Master
sarah.schloemer@usm.edu
OPINIONS 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.
Hannah Heneghan Printz Designer
hannah.heneghan@usm.edu
Amber Cobbins Printz Designer
amber.cobbins@usm.edu
Chuck Cook
Printz Advisor
chuck.cook@usm.edu
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.
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NEWS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016
Opportunities from TTIP talks with EU USM Children’s Center fail, says German SAMANTHA MCCAIN
southern miss now The Children’s Center for Communication and Development at The University of Southern Mississippi will host two continuing education opportunities for educators and early intervention specialists this fall. “With a commitment to providing individualized therapy to meet each child’s need, the focus of these learning opportunities include real-world, practical information presented by Center staff and associates,” said director, Sarah Case-Price, MS, CCC-SLP. “We believe these opportunities will equip today’s professionals working in early intervention with more tools and concepts that are proven to work.” Child Hearing Loss Summit: Developing a Plan for Success Held on Friday, September 23, this one-day workshop will provide participants with a deeper understanding for hearing loss, management of equipment, creating a positive listening environment to develop spoken language, and developing speech skills for functional spoken language. Sessions will highlight best-
practices and will be led by the early oral intervention and audiology team from The Children’s Center and Dr. Christina Perigoe, coordinator of the graduate program in Speech and Hearing Sciences (Deaf Education) at The University of Southern Mississippi. Participants will have an opportunity to earn up to .625 continuing education units, available through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and up to .6 through The University of Southern Mississippi. Cost is $25, and participants can register by visitinghttp://bit.ly/hearingloss_ summit. Fall Symposium: Press Play – Explore and practice communication strategies that work! Held on Friday, November 11, the Fall Symposium will focus on children with complex communication needs, who require multiple modes of communication to participate in essential learning opportunities. The whole child, including parent and family interactions, are pertinent to the programming and implementation of educational goals.
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Participants will have an opportunity to learn from The Children’s Center’s specialized therapy team through reviewing video case studies, as well as through participating in active and collaborative dialogue. Participants will have an opportunity to earn up to .7 continuing education units, available through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and through The University of Southern Mississippi. Cost is $50, and participants can register by visitinghttp://bit.ly/ tcc_pressplay. For more than four decades, the mission of the Center has included the education and training of university students and professionals. The methods and approaches used at the Center are based on evolving industry methods and are considered best practices across the country. “Our methods are evidencebased and come with years of experience. Both of these opportunities are affordable and will give participants tangible strategies to take back to their daily work environment – and be successful,” said Case-Price. For more information about the Center or additional professional development opportunities, visit www.usm.edu/childrenscenter.
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economics minister
Courtesy Photo |
GARRETT MINTA
news editor
On Aug. 28, German Minister of Economics and Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said talks between the European Union and the United States regarding free trade have failed, according to an Associated Press report. According to the report, Gabriel said neither side has been able to agree on any item in the 27 chapters discussed. According to the website of the United States Trade Representative office, TTIP “will help unlock opportunity for American families, workers, businesses, farmers and ranchers through increased access to European markets for Madein-America goods and services. This will help to promote U.S. international competitiveness, jobs and growth.” “TTIP will be a cutting edge agreement aimed at providing greater compatibility and transparency in trade and investment regulation, while maintaining high levels of health, safety and environmental protection,” USTR’s website said of TTIP. However, some individuals and groups oppose TTIP, the TransPacific Partnership and other free trade negotiation deals. “Those are really not free trade – that’s negotiated so-called free trade,” Chair at Loyola University New Orleans and economist Walter Block said. “That’s very different. That is where a bunch of people get together and say, ‘Well, look, we’ll lower the tariff on this if you lower the tariff on that, and we have to have labor provisions and environmental provisions.’ No, I favor something much more simple.”
Block said free trade should be exactly that: free. “I favor free trade,” he said. “I favor no negotiated free trade, just a unilateral declaration of free trade on the part of the U.S. and of every other country. This is the policy followed by Hong Kong and this is the free market philosophy.” Opposition to TTIP does not stop at the Eastern seaboard, as European organizations have joined the opposition of TTIP and free trade legislation. “We are an alliance of more than 500 European organisations running campaigns and actions against TTIP and CETA,” European Initiative Against TTIP and CETA wrote on its website. “We believe that these two trade and investment agreements must be stopped because they pose a threat to democracy, the rule of law, the environment, health, public services as well as consumer and labour rights.” Despite the efforts of such groups, the U.S. will continue its efforts to reach an agreement. “The European Commission and EU member state leaders have clearly reiterated their commitment to moving negotiations forward,” USTR spokesman Matt McAlvanah said. “We share that commitment and throughout the summer the United States has been focused on identifying pathways to an agreement that address the priorities of both sides. Ambassador Froman is looking forward to continuing that work when he meets with EU Trade Commissioner Malmstrom in the coming weeks.” No official dates have been released regarding further discussions of the TTIP at this time.
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NEWS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016
USM teams up with #WeAreHattie NAN BEAUTI
copy editor
In a series of volunteer events set for Sept. 9-10, The Center for Community and Civic Engagement (CCCE) at The University of Southern Mississippi will participate with local organization Volunteer Hattiesburg at United Way of Southeast Mississippi for #WeAreHattie – a volunteer campaign and outreach project for the Pine Belt community. Project members aim to commemorate Sept. 11 with service projects in conjunction with the 9/11 National Day of Service. USM students can volunteer for various events through the Southern Miss CCCE or by signing up to volunteer online at GiveGab for USM’s 9/11 Day of Service. “We are trying to do things on Friday and Saturday to commemorate that time and to just show a united front with serving the community,” said CCCE Program Coordinator Christopher Ferrell. Through the CCCE office, the university will host an event on Sept. 10 at Thames Elementary School for volunteers to work on the school’s community garden. The event will be from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., and students are welcome to get involved. Ferrell said volunteers would be in the garden planting flowers, removing weeds and building new flowerbeds. The hashtag, #WeAreHattie, was used for the first time last year and is back this year with the combined effort of the university and city to unite the community. “We are catering to the students
and with our particular project,” Ferrell said, “We are hoping to get students [involved], but they are welcome to check out all of the other opportunities at Volunteer Hattiesburg and United Way.” Volunteer Hattiesburg is hosting community service events at 3 p.m. Friday at Edwards St. Fellowship Thrift Store, 8 a.m. Friday at
the Oseola McCarty Youth Development Center, 8 a.m. Friday at Petal Excel and 9 a.m. Friday at Christian Services Painting Opportunity. “We need volunteers to commit to serve in honor and remembrance of victims and responders on the 15th anniversary of the attack,” Volunteer Hattiesburg stated on its
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GiveGab page. The project will conclude at the city’s 9/11 Ceremony at 9 a.m. on Sept. 11 at the #1 Fire Station on Main Street. “There is something for everyone,” Elizabeth Winton, director of Volunteer Hattiesburg, told Southern Miss Now. “We have opportunities ranging from
helping out at the animal shelter to repairing and restocking the free libraries around town.” The #WeAreHattie initiative is intended to bring Hattiesburg residents together community service. For more information, go to GiveGab.com.
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NEWS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016
Southern Miss Alumni to host pre-game events
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NICOLE RUHNKE alumni association The University of Southern Mississippi Alumni Association is excited to announce its lineup for pre-game tailgates during the 2016 Golden Eagle football season. In conjunction with the Eagle Club, the Alumni Association will host four Eagle Landing tailgates, sponsored by Triton Stone Group, First Bank, ServiceMaster Restore by Charley Wallace, Jason Wesley – State Farm and Hederman Brothers. A benefit of membership, Eagle Landing tailgates are free for active members of the Alumni Association and Eagle Club. Nonmembers are invited to attend for $10 per person, and children ages 10 and younger are admitted for free. Eagle Landing tailgates begin two-and-half-hours prior to kickoff for each game, unless otherwise noted. “We are excited to partner with the Eagle Club and our generous sponsors to offer a family-friendly atmosphere that will serve as the primary tailgate location for Southern Miss alumni and fans prior to each game,” said Jerry DeFatta, executive director for the Southern Miss Alumni Association. “All alumni and fans who live in these areas, as well as those traveling to the games, are invited to celebrate with us and cheer on our Golden Eagles to victory.” Additionally, the Southern Miss Alumni Association will
host a free tailgate for all active members of the organization prior to the Golden Eagle football game against Conference USA-rival Troy on Saturday, Sept.17, 2016. The tailgate will be held at the historic Ogletree House from 3 – 5 p.m. and guests will have access to complimentary beverages courtesy of Chandeleur Island Brewing Company, in addition to heavy hors d’oeuvres. The event is sponsored in part by The Real Estate Center and The Claiborne. “After the success of last year’s membership appreciation event, the Alumni Association is excited to again offer the opportunity for members of the Association to tailgate at the Ogletree House before a home football game,” said Jenny Boudreaux, associate director for external affairs. “Membership is the lifeblood of our organization, and thanks to our generous sponsors, we are able to show our appreciation to those committed to their alma mater once again this season. We look forward to personally
thanking those who join us in our efforts as we continue together on this journey to the top!” Kick-off for the Southern Miss vs. Troy football game is set for 6 p.m. at M.M. Roberts Stadium. Additional information on this event can be found at SouthernMissAlumni.com/ AlumniTailgate. The mission of the Southern Miss Alumni Association is to build a feeling of pride and loyalty among the alumni of the institution while strengthening participation in alumni and University programs; to coordinate the efforts of alumni on behalf of the University as a whole; and to provide a unified voice for all alumni in the affairs of the University. To learn more about the Southern Miss Alumni Association, including membership benefits and rates, visit www.SouthernMissAlumni. com.
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SISTERHOOD 6
JULIUS KIZZEE
sports editor
Pink, green, azure and white lined the route that new members of their respective sororities would walk on their way to The Village on USM’s Hattiesburg campus. “It actually overruled my expectations,” said Madison Marks, a new member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority. “I just expect to have lifelong friends and to do the service they promised we would do.” While others will see sorority girls as simply wearing big shorts and converses, always seeming to gravitate toward each other in every single class and somehow never running out of Taco Bell money, I have finally come to understand the side of sorority girls that most of us on campus outside of Greek Life do not. Bid Day showed me that sororities were not all glitter and an accumulation of social status through “sisterhood.” On Aug. 31, I was shown that this sisterhood became as much a part of these girls’ lives as going to class. These new
FEATURE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1,2016
organizations – eight to be exact – illustrated that the social status of college is not just predicated on paying thousands of dollars for lifelong friendships. “I guess so you can have sisters to help you,” Erin Golden said. “ A lot of people think it brings you down, but really they’re all there, and they lift you up.” Over 300 girls went through the six-day process of applying lavish makeup, avoiding boys and getting to know each other well enough to be selectively chosen for the prestigious honor of being known as a sorority girl. “I can see how she can branch out her friendships with friends,” said Jay Golden, father of Erin Golden, who joined Chi Omega. “It’s important for them to feel a part of something instead of an outsider.” Jay saw that his daughter was branching out to become a more complete person and focusing on more than academics. However, he is also wary of fraternity row being a little too close to The Village. “You don’t want to think about it as a father,” Golden said. “She knows right from wrong. She’s
an adult, and it’s her first time making choices in life.” As I walked into the Payne Center gym to watch the recruitment of CPC sorority girls, I had to look for some guidance walking into an environment that I had no idea to cope with. “We’re really trying to drive the values of each chapter,” said Vice President of Recruitment and Retention Madison Clark as I looked to her for guidance. “We’ve been trying to set real expectations for these girls, and there’s also an academic commitment as well.” My next question for Clark was simple: What happens when a girl chooses a sorority, but the sorority does not choose her in response? “It can be emotional sometimes, but what we really strongly encourage is for them to attend the Bid Day party because, at that point, there’s nothing to lose,” Clark said. “It can be pretty emotional at the time, but as long as you give it a shot, it could end up really great.” At that moment, the stereotype that some sorority girls would give up the process altogether if they did not get into their dream
sorority was shattered. These were not the spoiled girls that I had heard about on so many days prior to stepping out of my comfort zone and into theirs. Soon after I discovered that this environment was neither intimidating nor exclusive to Greeks, I ran to the head of the stampede that would be all 300 girls walking to their respective sororities in The Village. Outlining the streets were not only frat guys possibly looking for their next mate but countless family members who were there to support their daughters, nieces and sisters. This was not just Bid Day for an 18-year-old — it was Bid Day for an entire family. Inside The Village gates was an invisible wall with opposing but conjoined sides: those who waited to finally enter the houses they had been longing for, and those who waited to meet their “littles.” As the wall came crashing down, both sides met each other for the first time as sisters, and I could see not only the glitter exchanging on hands and faces but the raw excitement of these
girls establishing bonds that could last forever. For Madison Marks, she knew from the start that Tri-Delta would be a good fit for her due to the organization’s service to the community. “That’s the place I felt I can be the most [like] myself,” Marks said. “It was genuine. It wasn’t rehearsed conversations throughout Rush [Week]. They were the most true girls and wanted you to be your actual self.” “Genuine.” On Bid Day, I learned that these girls are more than just genuine. They were more than excited to meet their new sisters and potential lifelong friends. They were not some robots who usually dress the same and somehow always make over 3.5 grade point averages. Every single woman — newly joined or seasoned member — showed me that being in a sorority is not just a social commitment. It is, in part, finally joining a crowd with whom you were always meant to hang – and that is genuine.
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FEATURE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 Luke Smith | printz
Luke Smith | printz New members run to their sororities on Bid Day Aug. 30, 2016.
Luke Smith | printz
Members from Chi Omega sorority paint on the new potential member faces for Bid Day on Aug. 30, 2016.
New girls pose for a picture and hold up signs of their new sororities on Aug. 30, 2016.
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ENTERTAINMENT THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016
Comedy legend VMAs controversy free passes at 83 HIBA TAHIR
entertainment editor
Courtesy Photo |
GARRETT MINTA
news editor
We all know the meme, and we all know the movie “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,” in which a semideranged candy maker picks off children one by one in an attempt to find the one child to whom he will pass on the keys to his kingdom. It was Gene Wilder’s most iconic role and one of the most quoted – and often imitated – character portrayals of all time. This, however, was not Gene Wilder’s only film appearance. Consider “The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes’ Smarter Brother,” the movie in which Wilder played Sigerson Holmes, the younger and lesser-known brother of Sherlock Holmes. One recurring genre throughout Wilder’s filmography is the comedy. According to an NPR story on Wilder, he learned very early how to make
his mother laugh, and from there he would move on to audiences. Wilder told NPR about his comedic origins in a 2005 interview. “When Gene Wilder was 8 years old, his mother had a heart attack — and he took it upon himself to try to cheer her up. “It was the first time I ever tried consciously to make someone else laugh,” Wilder said. “And when I was successful, after peeing in her pants, she’d say, ‘Oh, Jerry, now look what you’ve made me do,’ “” Wilder began a working relationship with producer, director and actor Mel Brooks who gave the world “Blazing Saddles,” “The Producer,” and “Young Frankenstein”. Wilder will continue to inspire comedians, actors and filmmakers well into the future, and if anyone says otherwise- “Good day, sir. I said, good day!”
The MTV Video Music Awards this year were underwhelming at best. Despite the incredible, starstudded lineup – performances from Beyonce, Britney Spears and Rihanna – the night seemed understated and disappointingly controversy-free. For a show typically known for its iconic, tweetable moments, this year’s edition was extremely lacking. Still, there was much to celebrate. First, Rihanna delivered a number of medley performances featuring a wide array of her more popular songs. She received the Video Vanguard Award, “the event’s biggest honor acknowledging the breadth of an artist’s visual accomplishments,” according to RollingStone. In one of the bigger moments of the night, Drake presented Rihanna with the award. “Captivating from day one, the iconic being that is Rihanna was already at a place where most artists only dream of going,” he said in his speech. “For them, that’s often the peak, but for her, that was the starting point, and she has kept ascending to an untouchable level ever since. When it comes to music, she relentlessly takes over the charts with every release. When it comes to performance, they swarm in masses just to be in her presence.” But it was the endearing and somewhat desperate manner in which Drake presented the award that had many on social media reeling. “She’s someone I’ve been in love with since I was 22 years old,” he said, causing some to speculate whether a proposal was imminent. Rihanna had many to thank in her acceptance speech. “My success is not my own,”
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she said. “It’s my family’s. It’s my fans’. It’s my country’s. It’s the Caribbean as a whole. It’s women. It’s black women.” Black and female solidarity was also a topic of discussion in perhaps the most important and certainly the most tweeted part of the event: a 16-minute show from Beyonce, whose incredibly socially-conscious album “Lemonade” produced a number of thought-provoking, vivid performances resplendent with emotion and empowerment. She even swung a baseball bat at the camera, surrounded by flanks of women throughout every performance and ending in a formation that resemebled the female gender symbol. Other standout moments featured surprising (at least to me) visits from America’s decorated Olympians. Four of the Final Five – Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, Laurie Hernandez and Madison Kocian – presented the Moonman for Best Collaboration to Fifth Harmony. Gabby
Douglas was absent due to illness. Micheal Phelps also took the stage in order to introduce Future and reveal that the artist’s track “Stick Talk” was the reason for his now famous stink-face freezeframe. “If there’s been one thing that’s been constant through my entire career, it’s the motivation and inspiration that I get from hiphop,” Phelps said. “Remember in Rio when I made that face that ended up all over the internet? I was in the zone, with Future’s track ‘Stick Talk’ blaring in my headphones.” The only moment that might have held potential for controversy was Kanye West’s reference to Kim Kardashian’s feud with Taylor Swift. However, the moment was so brief and hurried over that it might as well have not happened at all. Notably absent during the night were tributes to Prince and David Bowie, who both passed away in 2016.
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OPINION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016
Britney Spears: Take it or leave it DEEJAY ROLISON
printz reporter
Britney Spears is an entertainer. Whether or not you like her or her music is really not a part of the question, because no matter how much you might dislike her, no one can deny her monumental impact on pop culture. Britney Spears is just as relevant now as she was in the early 2000s, because her ninth studio album, “Glory,” showcases Britney at the top of her game.
From schoolgirl skirts, to dancing with reptiles, to one of the most public meltdowns of all time, the Princess of Pop has been a driving force in pop culture for nearly all of the 21st century. After debuting in 1998 with the game-changing debut single “…Baby One More Time,” Britney has had a tumultuous, yet massive career, resulting in a Grammy, six MTV Video Music Awards, eight Billboard Music Awards, six (potentially soon-to-be seven) number one albums, five number one
songs and two of the best-selling albums of all time. She’s easily considered one of the most iconic female artists of all time, yet people still question her relevance, legitimacy and talent. Let’s be honest. Britney Spears is not a singer. She can’t hold up next to powerhouse vocalists like Christina Aguilera, Adele, Beyoncé or Ariana Grande. She is not a songwriter like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry or Taylor Swift. She has something else. Britney Spears is an entertainer. She
captivates an audience and entertains for a living with songs written by other people (although, she does have some co-writing credit on “Glory”) and prerecorded vocal tracks, and that is okay. No one comes to Britney Spears for vocals or songwriting skills. Her newest album is an outstanding example of Britney being a pop powerhouse. She has a confident persona
and superstar attitude that play well with the sexy, tongue-in-cheek lyrics she is reciting. She is taking creative control, doing things that make her happy, and it really does pay off, resulting in her most solid album effort since 2007’s “Blackout”. It is safe to say that we shouldn’t expect Britney Spears to stop anytime soon, and I, for one, am thankful for that.
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OPINION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016
Kaepernick sits for social injustices J.D. RIMANN
printz reporter
This past weekend, San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick stirred up quite the controversy. After all, effective dialogue is not developed by immediate reactions to headlines on Huffington Post or Breitbart. According to NFL.com, “Kaepernick has willingly immersed himself into controversy by refusing to stand for the playing of the national anthem in protest of what he deems are wrongdoings against African-Americans and minorities in the United States.” “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick
told NFL Media in an interview following his team’s loss that night to the Green Bay Packers. “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.” This is the quote that is on the front page everywhere, and the one which has been singled out as the primary soundbite to be played constantly by the national media. Unsurprisingly, Kaepernick’s statement unleashed a storm of controversy, with pundits from ESPN to the Trump campaign all butting in to give their two cents on the matter – or at least on the action and on that one exact quote. If one isolated that quotation,
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plucked it out of context and delivered with an extra side of scalding hot take, as many talking heads have done over the last few days, then it may very well come across as superficial, perhaps not patriotic, maybe not very well thought out and, something that types like Tomi Loren, Shaun King and other media blowhards can milk endlessly. If, however, one actually looks at the entire transcript of Kaepernick press conference, things are a little bit different and certainly a little more nuanced. Some of it I disagree with – and to be sure I disagree with his sitting during the anthem – but I respect that this was not a spur of the moment decision and that by all appearances was a legitimate attempt to engage in wider dialogue. With that in mind, let’s try and move beyond the one quotation being featured in the media and focus more on the transcript of the entire press conference Kaepernick participated in after the game – an action which should help us get a clearer picture of Kaepernick’s stance and thought process. From the right and even the left, one of the main criticisms is that he is not respecting soldiers and the sacrifices made by the American military. He was actually asked if he was concerned that this act would be seen as disrespectful to the military, and his response was solid, if a little unclear. “I have great respect for the men and women that have fought for this country,” Kaepernick said. “I have family – I have friends that have gone and fought for this country. And they fight for freedom, they fight for the people, they fight for liberty and justice, for everyone. That’s not happening. People are dying in vain because this country isn’t holding their end of the bargain up, as far as giving freedom and justice, liberty to everybody. That’s something that’s not happening. I’ve seen videos, I’ve seen circumstances where men and women that have been in the military have come back and been treated unjustly by the country they have fought for and have been murdered by the country they fought for, on our land. That’s not right.” So yes, Kaepernick does respect the military and was aware some people might take his protest as disrespectful to our brave troops. I agree with him maintaining that it is not disrespectful to the military, and I agree with other commentators who have rightly pointed out it is in large part because of the military Kaepernick has the freedom to speak his mind in our open society. And historically
Kaepernick is correct: there were several instances of black soldiers being lynched upon returning home from the world wars. That is not only terrible – it is a national shame. This is all straightforward enough and should not be controversial. What confuses me about this statement is his reference to the government “not holding their end of the bargain up.” He lists what the government is supposed to provide citizens – broadly: security, liberty, justice. Crucially, he makes no reference to what the people are supposed to provide. I would be quite interested to hear him expand on this point, because obviously a bargain involves two parties entering into an agreement. He is begging the question here of what he considers the duties of an American citizen. The next common criticism of Kaepernick, very much in line with the anti-military part, is that he is anti-police. Again, he was directly asked whether he thought his stance was anti-police and again answered in a way which was direct and articulate. “There is police brutality,” he said. “People of color have been targeted by police. So that’s a large part of it and they’re government officials. They are put in place by the government. So that’s something that this country has to change. There’s things we can do to hold them more accountable. Make those standards higher. “You have people that practice law and are lawyers and go to school for eight years, but you can become a cop in six months and don’t have to have the same amount of training as a cosmetologist. That’s insane. Someone that’s holding a curling iron has more education and more training than people that have a gun and are going out on the street to protect us.” At this moment the focus is often on racial aspects and on the more heinous acts of police brutality – it is not uncommon for police officers to get away with crime in general. The Cato Institute released a study a couple of years ago reporting that at least 6,000 officers a year engage in some sort of criminal misconduct. It is not unpatriotic, un-American or even anti-police to state that fact, and it is honestly pretty obvious when one considers the fallen nature of mankind: If you give a group of humans vast power, some of them will abuse that power. Not all will act in that way, but enough of a minority will abuse their power to make it an issue. If this was not true, then why do most major police departments in America have Internal Affairs units?
Most of us have seen the videos of police officers in Minnesota or New York escalating situations and ending them in violence. Most of us have also seen the videos of the shootings of police officers in Dallas, an incident which gives a sobering reminder to those who criticize officers that theirs is an occupation both noble and dangerous. In light of these facts, is it ridiculous to wonder whether or not we could do more to certify and train our police officers and do our best as a nation to protect both police and our fellow nonsworn citizens? Another criticism that many people have had of the NFL player is along the lines of, “How are you oppressed Colin? You’re a multimillion dollar football player. Give us a break.” I believe this is both an unfair and unjust criticism of any wealthy individual who speaks their mind. Now, public figures who speak up – or sit down –in protest may be incredibly incorrect in what they are standing for or disingenuous. Generally, I do find it admirable for anyone to try and start a healthy dialogue on an issue which they truly believe is important, regardless of their wealth or lack thereof. After all, some sort of healthy dialogue is generally a prerequisite for any sort of peaceful social change to occur. In the end, Kaepernick has identified something that is an issue in society and has used his platform as a celebrity to advocate for his beliefs in a manner in keeping with the freedom provided by America – a nation which has its issues but remains the beacon of liberty for the rest of the world. That is something to be respected, even in disagreement. Finally, this entire incident was apolitical, something which shows Kaepernick in a more genuine light than if he had followed up his stance by advocating for a particular candidate or party. Instead, he did not spare either presidential contender. “I think the two presidential candidates that we currently have also represent the issues that we have in this country right now,” Kaepernick said. “You have Hillary, who has called black teens or black kids super predators. You have Donald Trump, who’s openly racist. So, what is this country really standing for?” Being ashamed that America has two obviously terrible, possibly criminal, certainly hypocritical and completely subpar presidential candidates running for office this year? Now that’s something that Colin and I can both agree on.
11
SPORTS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016
Golden Eagles in the Hopson era Printz reporters predict USM football season LUKE SMITH
printz reporter
The Southern Miss Golden Eagles will begin the 2016 football season Saturday in Lexington, Kentucky against the Kentucky Wildcats of the SEC. After a successful 9-5 season last year, new head coach Jay Hopson looks to continue Todd Monken’s success in 2016 with a favorable schedule. Southern Miss features an explosive offense led by 2015 Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year senior quarterback Nick Mullens. Kentucky has an inexperienced defense, so expect a shootout in Lexington. I believe it will be a close game, but Kentucky will pull away in the end. If Southern Miss was playing them later in the year, I would expect a different outcome. You cannot expect to bring in a new coaching staff without hitting a few speedbumps, but I hope I am wrong. The good news for the Golden Eagles: the two toughest conference games, Marshall and Louisiana Tech, are both being played at home during the
second half of the season, leaving plenty of time for Hopson to work out any kinks. Southern Miss should win nine or ten games in 2016 if they stay healthy, with Kentucky, LSU, Marshall and Louisiana Tech being the toughest games on the schedule. I expect Southern Miss to drop both games to SEC opponents and possibly lose to Marshall in Week 8. If that is the case, the Golden Eagles should not worry because there is a good chance of getting another shot at Marshall in the Conference USA Championship game, should they beat out Louisiana Tech for first place in the West. The players that I will keep my eyes on are obviously Mullens, who was named to the Davey O’Brien Award watch list. Junior halfback Ito Smith, who was one of two Golden Eagles to rush for 1,000 yards last season, should also have another exciting year as well. On defense, expect senior defensive end Dylan Bradley and senior safety D’Nerius Antoine to do big things for the Nasty Bunch in 2016.
KYLE WILLIAMS
JULIUS KIZZEE
ANDREW ABADIE
printz reporter
sports editor
printz reporter
Sept. 3, the Golden Eagles will unveil their highly-anticipated squad under new head coach Jay Hopson and his nearly entire new coaching staff. The Golden Eagles are coming off of a 9-5 season with a 7-1 record in conference play. The Golden Eagles’ past successes stemmed from numerous playmakers such as D’Nerius Antoine, Nick Mullens, Mike Thomas and Dylan Bradley, just to name a few. While four out of five of these players will return to the gridiron this year, wide receiver Mike Thomas’ 1,391 yards and 14 touchdowns last season will be one factor coach Hopson will have to look to fill. While there is great potential in the receiving core this year with D.J. Thompson, Isaiah Jones and Allenzae Staggers, nothing is guaranteed at the end of the day. This year, the Golden Eagle schedule is fairly less difficult than the one prior. With the two hardest teams consisting of LSU and Kentucky, other teams like Louisiana Tech and Marshall are not teams to look over. My biggest concern this year with this squad is who will be the player to step up to make the big play when needed? Who will make the crucial impact plays? Besides my sole concern, I feel the Golden Eagles can improve this year and win the conference title combined with a bowl game appearance donning a 10-2 record.
The Golden Eagles are not the team of last year …. or are they really? Besides the almost entirely new coaching staff, there is not much different about this team fans will not recognize from last year. Nick Mullens, Ito Smith, D’Nerius Antoine, Dylan Bradley and a whole host of returning players will look to improve on the renaissance 9-5 record the team recorded last year. My biggest question marks of the year have nothing to do with the offense, despite losing star receivers Mike Thomas (1,391 yards, 14 TD’s) and Casey Martin (80 receptions, 925 yards). Those losses will be mitigated by the influx of junior receivers in Isaiah Jones and Allenzae Staggers. Not to mention new offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson has had success wherever he has taken a job. My biggest concern will be the front seven on defense. Elijah Parker, Dylan Bradley and Xavier Thigpen will lead the group — but who will step up next to those mentioned? Whether it is Sherrod Ruff at linebacker, Jerry McCorvery at defensive tackle or Darian Yancey at the wolf position, the opponent’s ground game may be of emphasis week in and week out. The Golden Eagles could run the table and go undefeated. But, that would be wishful thinking as a Golden Eagle fan. Rather, this team should set the bar at 10 wins with their losses coming against LSU and Marshall in back-to-back games. Then again, predictions are just predictions.
The Golden Eagles look to build off of last season especially in conference play. The traditional conference contenders, Louisiana Tech and Marshall, have lost many of their key starters from last season. The Golden Eagles look to take advantage of the relatively easy conference slate, as they were picked to win it by several news outlets. However, the biggest indication for how the season will go is the first game of the season against Kentucky in Lexington. Despite the fact that Kentucky has struggled in its powerhouse conference, no SEC team can be overlooked. A win in Week 1 will set the tone for the season. The toughest game on the schedule this season is the road game at LSU. Tiger Stadium is one of the toughest places to play in the entire country. The upside to such a tall order is that LSU has been known to overlook teams like Southern Miss in the past during the Les Miles’ coaching era. The Golden Eagles just need to slow down Heisman-favorite junior running back Leonard Fournette and rattle their returning quarterback junior Brandon Harris. If all of this somehow happens, then an undefeated season is in sight. This season will have to count on Nick Mullens having another great year, although it is just as important for the defense to improve from last season. In a best case scenario, the Golden Eagles could go 12-0. In the worst case scenario, they should easily go 10-2, get a fairly big bowl game and land a place in the collegiate Top 25.
Julius Kizze | printz
Mullens throws ball at preseason practice.
12
SPORTS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016
Kaepernick should not sit alone KYLE WILLIAMS
printz reporter
This Friday, San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick raised eyebrows when he refused to stand for the national anthem prior to his team’s 21-10 preseason loss to the Green Bay Packers. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick told NFL media during an exclusive media session following his team’s defeat. While the 11-point loss to the Packers is not the headliner, more people are interested in whether or not Kaepernick’s actions were justifiable or just plain disrespectful. From the quote alone, many will try to connect Kaepernick to the numerous movements that are focused around the inequality of minorities still existing in America. I feel as if Kaepernick did not do this for those movements. Kaepernick, who was a household name seasons ago en route to leading the 49ers to a Super Bowl berth in 2012, used this moment to bring light to a sensitive subject many athletes with power usually stay quiet about due to status on a team, endorsements and so on. “If they take football away, my endorsements from me, I know I stood
up for what is right,” Kaepernick said. Kaepernick’s stance on not standing for the national anthem can be accepted by many, like myself, and at the same time be flawed by many as well. Kaepernick’s position stems from honoring a country that has had a very one-sided judicial system dealing with police forces against minorities in recent years. Not only am I not mad at Kaepernick’s actions, I feel it was the perfect time to act. Most athletes are idle role models to the youth and their actions can be a great impact to the coming generations. Kaepernick’s actions are expanding beyond the gridiron and into the classrooms and households of millions. Can someone really fault a man for not honoring the wrongdoing of a nation? Not to overlook all the great this country has to offer, but in the past year alone, 136 black people have been killed by the police. But people still want you to look over the fact because we are in the “Home of the Brave and Land of the Free.” Many people are taking the stance that military veterans and active soldiers did not fight for this country and Kaepernick to disrespect them like that. But let us reflect back onto what our soldiers really fight for. Soldiers in this country fight for the right of freedom. That includes
the right to free speech, the right to vote for whomever and the right to practice one’s own religion. Basically, the right to be a free individual with certain bylaws. So Kaepernick did not disrespect anyone but better yet exemplified how to properly practice and use the amendments granted as “free” American citizens. My biggest problem with this whole situation is far from Kaepernick’s actions, but with the astounding amount of ignorance directed toward him. The biggest evil in this world today is ignorance. Point blank period. Instead of looking into the perspective of Kaepernick, everyone jumped to the conclusion of him being disrespectful and “un-American.” I am certain if one was to run a survey in high schools or colleges around the USA and see how many students even sing the words, yet alone know the words to the National Anthem, one will get the same result equivalent to Kaepernick’s actions. Let us go even further and analyze some of the forgotten lyrics of the National Anthem. I warn you now, if you contain a closed mind, this one will really get your blood boiling. “No refuge could save the hireling and slave. From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave: And the starspangled banner in triumph doth wave. O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”
Courtesy Photo | These four little sentences depict the ruthless and harsh past of the United States. If you analyze closely, “No refuge could save the hireling and slave.” In the Merriam-Webster dictionary, hireling is defined as a person who works for material reward only, and we do not need to define what a slave is. No one could save these individuals “from the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave: and the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave.” Now it may just be me, but the context of this text is clearly glorifying that individuals who were basically forced to fight this war were killed so that the glorious Star-Spangled Banner could be sung for generations. Some actually did care about the country they were fighting for, but most were probably handed a gun and told their lives or families’ lives depended on
whether they went out there or not. But hey, that is irrelevant to this “great” nation. Nothing could stop these individuals from “the GLOOM of the Grave.” It is somewhat terrifying seeing that one line is still relevant in our actions today, but that is a topic for another article. When it comes to defending America, we always want to defend how we are such a “peaceful” country and the greatest. But does an NFL player sitting on his behind really outshine all the violent actions America has done centuries prior? I fully back Kaepernick’s decisions and hope other athletes join in with him. Everything that glitters isn’t gold, and surely enough, America’s actions, past and present, are far from prestigious.
Lanna Wakeland Band September 10, 2016 Southern Miss vs. Savannah State Game: 6 PM Concert: 4:15 PM
October 29, 2016 Southern Miss vs. Marshall Game: 6 PM Concert: 4:15 PM
September 17, 2016 Southern Miss vs. Troy Game: 6 PM Concert: 4:15 PM
November 5, 2016 Southern Miss vs. Charlotte Game: 2:30 PM Concert: 12:45 PM
October 1, 2016 Southern Miss vs. Rice Game: 6 PM Concert: 4:15 PM
November 25, 2016 Southern Miss vs. Louisiana Tech Game: TBA Concert: TBA