SERVING SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI SINCE 1927 • WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM • OCTOBER 23, 2019 | VOLUME 105 | ISSUE 09
BLACKFACE BACKLASH PG 3
KELTOUM ROWLAND PG 4
MAGICAL BILLY PORTER
Chronic health conditions pose difficulties for students MORGAN USRY PRINTZ REPORTER Photos by Meghan Fuller | Printz
eople who have chronic health conditions may face many challenges. This is even more true for those who are also students. On top of the normal problems that any college student has, they also have to deal with missing classes, constant fatigue and the other complications that a chronic health issue can pose. Six in 10 Americans have at least one chronic illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and four in 10 have more than one chronic illness. The CDC defines any illness that lasts more than a year and requires ongoing medical attention as a chronic illness. Among these illnesses are narcolepsy, lupus, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and any mental illness. Sophomore biology and public health double major Deborah Edwards is a student with chronic illness. She has several health issues, including narcolepsy, a heart condition and a weakened immune system. Because of her narcolepsy, Edwards said she gets tired more often than most people and experiences sleep attacks, which cause the uncontrollable need to sleep. “The other day, I was in my psychology class, and I meant to close my eyes for three seconds because the lights were hurting them, but then I completely went to sleep for a solid 45 minutes,” Edwards said. “I’ve also missed classes after I’ve slept through alarms because I’ve turned them off, and I don’t realize or wake up until four hours later.” Edwards said her heart condition also creates challenges, especially when it comes to getting around campus. Before getting medication, she said taking a few
steps would make her lightheaded and dizzy. “It’s better now that I’m on medication, but parking is a big issue,” Edwards said. “Such limited parking causing me to have to walk far is very physically hard on me.” Along with being a full-time student, Edwards also works two part-time jobs, which is physically and mentally draining. “I feel like it makes me have to schedule my day more than most people, because I have to get at least one or two naps a day, and being a double major makes it even more difficult to schedule my classes the way I’d like,” Edwards said. Senior history major Leah Burton is another student who deals with chronic health problems. She was diagnosed with lupus when she was 19 and also has complex migraines. Burton was homeschooled throughout high school. She said her health conditions have affected her much more during her time in college. “Lupus is definitely a stress-triggered auto-immune illness,” Burton said. “So it definitely makes it harder when you’re running back and forth between classes or worrying about when your next assignment is due because then it flares up, and you can’t finish writing your paper that’s due in two hours.” Burton said having lupus often causes physical pain, which can prevent her from doing everyday activities. If Burton’s lupus flares, which can last days to weeks, she is sometimes unable to leave the house and can miss a lot of classes. “My comprehensive abilities can also become slower to where I can’t think as fast on the spot, so if I’m in class and a professor called on me, I wouldn’t be able to answer their question as quickly as someone else because I can’t really form an answer in a timely manner.”
CONTINUED | PG 2
PG 7
NEWS OCTOBER 23, 2019 MEET THE STAFF Executive Editor
CONTINUED FROM PG 1
Alyssa Bass alyssa.bass@usm.edu
Managing Editor
Olivia Saldana olivia.saldana@usm.edu
News Editor
Caleb McCluskey caleb.mccluskey@usm.edu
Entertainment/Opinion Editor Jack McCallum john.mccallum@usm.edu
Feature/Lifestyle Editor Karigan Teer karigan.teer@usm.edu
Sports Editor
Makayla Puckett makayla.puckett@usm.edu
Multimedia Editor
Blair Ballou blair.ballou@usm.edu
Webmaster
Omer Arshad omer.arshad@usm.edu
Photo Editor
Brian Winters brian.s.winters@usm.edu
Design Editor
Emily Brinkman emily.brinkman@usm.edu
Graphic Designers
Brian Winters brian.s.winters@usm.edu Lillie Busch lillie.busch@usm.edu Kathleen Hetherington kathleen.hetherington@usm.edu Alexandria Moore alexandria.casey@usm.edu
Recently, Burton has also been experiencing seizures. Because of this, Burton has not been attending class and isn’t sure when or if she’ll be able to return. She said she is hopeful that she will still be able to graduate in December by finishing her classes online. “I’ve survived so much already. Lupus is not easy. The migraines are not easy, but I’ve survived them, and I’ll survive this too,” Burton said. “Even if my dreams don’t happen the way I wanted them to, I’ll just have to alter my plans and find a path that will work.” Aside from the physical and psychological toll of dealing with health issues, there is also the financial burden they can pose. Edwards had insurance that covered the cost of most of her prescriptions and doctor visits, but after she lost it earlier this year, the financial aspects of her health issues have become an obstacle. “I haven’t been to the doctor like I’ve needed to this year because of my lack of insurance,” Edwards said. “There are some serious things I probably should be going to the doctor about, and I haven’t been able to because I would have to pay so much out of pocket.” Health educator and promotions coordinator for Moffitt Health Center Kayla Johnson said their providers often work with students with chronic health
WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM
issues as long as the issues fall within their scope of practice. She said the health center also offers financial assistance to students for medications. Students can charge any medication fees to their student account and pay when they have the money rather than at the time of the visit. “[Charging fees to their student
accounts] affords the student a little more time to pay for the medication. Should a student be experiencing financial hardship, we can set up case management for that student on a case by case basis,” Johnson said. “We do not want a student to go without a medication that is essential to their health and wellbeing.”
Meghan Fuller | Printz
Junior biology major and pharmacy technician Abbye Tassin mixes prescriptions.
Printz Advisor
chuck.cook@usm.edu
The views represented in The Student Printz’s columns and editorials do not 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 submission 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.
Comic by Darius Harris | Printz
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.
Correction: In the October 16, 2019, edition, Niki Hardy’s first name was misspelled as Kiki in the news story “Singletary aims to stand out in election.”
NEWS OCTOBER 23, 2019
WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM
Country club faces backlash over blackface BLAIR BALLOU MULTIMEDIA EDITOR video of a man dressed in blackface at a Halloweenthemed country club party in Hattiesburg received backlash on social media. The now-deleted video was posted by Madewood Street Music, a wedding and event cover band, on its Facebook page Oct. 14. The video was a compilation of highlight reel photos taken at the 2019 Bamboo Shootout at Canebrake Country Club. The photo of blackface appeared seven minutes and 40 seconds into the video. The photo was of three unidentified Caucasian males standing side by side, dressed as a boxer, spy and what appeared to be Tiger Woods. Though the video was deleted, screen captures of the man were shared on Facebook and Twitter. Madewood Street Music issued a statement to the Clarion Ledger: “Madewood Street Music was hired to perform for the annual Canebrake Country Club Member Guest Golf Tournament. We were not aware of anyone at the party wearing black face until it was brought to our attention when someone saw a video posted on our social media. Once we became aware, we immediately removed the video. “We do not condone this person’s actions.” Canebrake Country Club also released a statement: “The Club recently held a private event where attendees were encouraged to dress as celebrity couples or someone famous. A guest of one of our members attended as Tiger Woods,” the statement said. “Our
Screenshot from Madewood Street Music video.
understanding is that there was no bad intent and does not reflect who we are as a Club. We apologize for any offense caused by this video, which has been taken off our Facebook page.” Community liaison for Sipp Talk Imani Steven said the photo did not shock her. “I don’t know who he is, but there is a possibility that he is someone’s boss.
There’s a possibility that he’s someone’s doctor or someone’s lawyer, and the amount of disregard that this man must have for black people in the way that he displays it is not ok,” Steven said. “You should know that this is inappropriate. Blackface is old and tired.” Senior broadcast journalism major J.R. Moody also said he was not surprised.
“With all the recent news of high-profile people in blackface, I know that it is still happening behind closed doors,” Moody said. “The audacity to post this and not have a reasonable conscience of thinking that was wrong is what shocked me, and this situation tells me that we haven’t fully addressed the issue of racial stereotypes, especially blackface.”
Sweet Tea Festival promotes shopping local WILLIAM LOWERY PRINTZ REPORTER he first Sweet Mississippi Tea Festival was held in Poplarville Oct. 18 and 19. The two-day event united people and businesses from across Mississippi to not only celebrate the town but also tea as a Southern delicacy, according to Poplarville Mayor Rossie Creel. “Sweet tea is a southern thing,” Creel said. “When people think of Mississippi and the South, they think of sweet tea.” Creel said the idea to hold a festival centered around the drink came from people’s requests for a fall festival. She also said the cooler weather for the festival
helped encourage attendance compared to the city’s summer festival centered around blueberries. Creel said these festivals are about building community and fellowship. “It’s economic development. It’s [the] community. It’s everybody coming together to have a good time,” Creel said. Vendors and artists from the surrounding area came to the event to promote their products or offer entertainment like face painting for the kids. One business, The Great Mississippi Tea Company, offered attendants a demonstration of how tea is processed. Owner of the tea company Jason Alexander McDonald said this festival isn’t just about coming out and enjoying a drink; it is about supporting local businesses as well. “When you come out to festivals or events like these, the big thing the person
contributes is their support to local businesses,” McDonald said. “Shopping local is the best way to help them out.” McDonald said his business chose to get involved with the festivities after receiving a call from the event’s organizers. He said their participation in the event helps to emphasize the local nature of something like the Sweet Mississippi Tea Festival. “It’s all about helping out the local economy, and what we do with our tea farm gives a model for small-time farmers to save up and make enough money through the small amount of land they might have,” McDonald said. “Coming out to events like this type will help save farms and let them prosper.” Special events were held throughout the day. On Oct. 19, seven people were chosen to partake in a sweet tea drinking contest. The winner, Long Beach resident
Sawyer Walters, said he prepared for the competition after hearing about the event, and the contest was the highlight of the festival for him. “When I heard about this festival, I got really excited because I like sweet tea, and everywhere I go, I like to have a glass of sweet tea,” Walters said. “My family lives in this town, so when I heard about it, I realized this was an opportunity to come out and support the local businesses.” Walters said he enjoyed the event, and the key ingredient for events like this is community support. “The Sweet Tea Festival gives the community an opportunity to support the local businesses. Small businesses do so much for us, so being able to come here and come buy different things and look at the paintings and whatnot is really fun but beneficial at the same time,” Walters said.
FEATURES OCTOBER 23, 2019
WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM
Being an immigration lawyer: “much more than a job” MOLLY SCHRAEDER PRINTZ REPORTER or Southern Miss alumna Amelia Steadman McGowan, being a lawyer is all about helping people who want to remain in the United States. As an immigration lawyer, McGowan works tirelessly to provide legal assistance to people who are often deprived of it. When she was a student at Southern Miss, McGowan distinguished herself as an extremely dedicated student. Today, she continues to distinguish herself with her hard work as a lawyer and her desire to help undocumented immigrants. After a Mexican history class inspired McGowan to major in history and Spanish, she began working with the English Language Institute on campus. She was so intrigued by the stories of international students that she wrote her honors thesis on their experiences. It was then that she learned about what pushed people into coming to the United States from Latin America and how important their stories are. Maureen Ryan, Ph.D., serves as special assistant to the provost at the Southern Missand served as dean of the Honors College when McGowan was an undergraduate student. “Even then, she did more than just be a good student,” Ryan said. “She was active in Honors College. She pitched in. She was engaged in what we were doing in her education.” Ryan remembers McGowan spending time on a bench outside of McCain Library as an undergraduate student, often speaking with international students and learning about their
Courtesy Photo from Amelia Steadman Mcgowan
stories. Professor of Spanish and American Indian studies Jeanne Gillespie laughed as she reminisced about her time teaching McGowan at Southern Miss. “She’s super curious, never takes anything at face value. She always investigates—no stone unturned. She must be an incredible lawyer,” Gillespie said. “She understands the regions and the context as well as the people and why they’re coming here, why they think it’s going to be better for them here.” Gillespie went on to give context to McGowan’s immigration work. Immigration services in Mississippi are
small, which is in part why McGowan decided to dedicate herself to working for immigrants. She has faced great adversity in finding volunteers to aid those in need of attorneys. “Even some of the bad things that a lot of the people have suffered, they’ve made the decision that immigrating is better than home,” Gillespie said. “We need to have a big picture when working with people coming here in crisis.” Earlier in the Fall 2019 semester, McGowan kicked off Southern Miss’ pre-law week with her talk “Raids and the Rule of Law: Immigration in Mississippi.” Students and faculty
members from all walks of collegiate life attended her speech, hanging onto her heartbreaking stories and lessons learned from working as an immigration lawyer in Mississippi. “Our service is not only to the profession but to communities with whom we work,” McGowan said during her speech. McGowan described circumstances she has witnessed working as an immigration lawyer. “I see prolonged issues that crop up in these detention centers. So, a Cuban client of mine has Type 1 diabetes he’s had since he was a kid. He would go days where he wasn’t getting any insulin, and he would just blackout,” McGowan said. “So, part of the advocacy was not even for his own case but just so he could survive in the U.S. detention center.” In addition to working as a senior attorney at the Mississippi Center for Justice, McGowan is a professor for the Mississippi College School of Law. Last August, she began working for the Mississippi Center of Justice for the purpose of starting an immigration program. She also works through Mississippi College to organize pro bono immigration work. “It’s very messy,” McGowan said. “Lots of people in detention are shifted around a lot, so it can be very difficult to get people an attorney or get them in touch with their families.” After seeing people, even children, defend themselves without an attorney in their non-native language, McGowan has only become more determined to benefit as many people as she can through her legal work. “It’s part of being a lawyer, understanding that it’s much more than a job,” McGowan said.
Algerian linguist finds community in Deep South JACK MCCALLUM ENTERTAINMENT/OPINION EDITOR orn in Algeria, Keltoum Rowland has spent over 20 years living and developing a community in the Deep South. Apart from teaching French at Southern Miss, Rowland is one of eight Honorary Consuls of France in the Southeast United States and the only honorary consul in Mississippi. Rowland moved to the United States in 1993 to finish her English degree and married her nowhusband Richard Rowland. Twenty years living in Mississippi has led to Rowland establishing herself in the local French community through her roles as an honorary consul, Southern Miss professor and study abroad director. As a Hattiesburg local, Rowland has made herself known for her energetic personality and intense love of language. “I taught Spanish and Latin. I love languages, and I love being a linguist. Languages fascinate me,” Rowland said. Rowland became the Hattiesburg Honorary Consul of France in 2011. As an honorary consul, Rowland’s main role is as a communicator between France and Hattiesburg. Her role as honorary consul led to a trip in November 2018 to a French village with the family of a World War II pilot who was killed while flying over a village located near Normandy. Hattiesburg-born Sam Bond Dale Jr.’s plane was shot down in 1944 by the German military in Le Mesnil-Fuguet, France. The village wanted to reach out to his family and honor him, but that was difficult because the American Army retrieved the body after the war ended. Thanks to social media, the village was able to reach out to Dale Jr.’s family. Rowland accompanied them on a trip to France, so he could be honored on Veterans Day.
Brian Winters | Printz
Keltoum Rowland holds her certificate for honorary consulate.
“My job is also to promote the French culture and the French language in the state of Mississippi,” Rowland said. Rowland’s office bookshelf is filled with reference books on Spanish, French, English, Latin and more. Language-related knick-knacks clutter her shelves and desk. While there might not be too many French people in Hattiesburg, Rowland said she has been able to connect with the few that do live in the area. “We try to get together sometimes, but it’s not easy when you only have two or three in Mississippi, and most are along the coast,”
Rowland said. “When we get together, it’s an amazing opportunity just to speak the language and just to go over what’s happening in our country.” One topic that Rowland said comes up is the yellow vest protests throughout France that started as a way of protesting President Emmanual Macron’s economic policy. These protests have made their way to U.S. news, which led to some fear surrounding the study abroad program in France this past summer. Despite the protests, Rowland said that Paris seemed fine. Rowland has made herself known through
the university’s French study abroad programs. Last summer, Rowland led a group of students through Paris in the month-long French in France program. While French in France is being taught by Joanne Burnett, Ph.D., next summer, Rowland will be the director of the semester-long Château Program Spring 2020 in Strasbourg, France. Rowland’s role in the school’s study abroad programs has received a lot of positive feedback from students over the years. Sophomore English licensure major Abigail Jordon said she found Rowland’s energy to be extremely contagious both in class and on the trip. “As soon as she walks into class, it’s all smiles and a big happy ‘Bonjour,’” Jordon said. “Because she was so high energy and cared about students actually learning, it made me want to learn [French] better for her.” Former student Korina Lopez changed her major to foreign language licensure after taking Rowland’s French class. “She honestly was so awesome,” Lopez said. “She was kind and listening to all of her students. I could tell she really cared about all of us because she really hated the distracting students.” Today she might be at Southern Miss, but Rowland would like to explore and move around some more. She said she would love to live on the beach, making Florida a spot she would not mind settling down in. Dreams of owning her very own bistro also exist in the front of Rowland’s mind. However, Rowland’s goals of having her own spot for charcuterie does not mean she plans to stop teaching. “When I retire I think I will never stop teaching. I will still be teaching one class or two,” Rowland said.
LIFESTYLE OCTOBER 23, 2019
WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM
DIY costumes made cheap, easy MEGHAN FULLER PRINTZ REPORTER s Halloween approaches, many students are coming to terms with the fact that costumes cost more than necessary. This is why low-budget costumes are gaining popularity. Halloween can sneak up on college students due to busy schedules throughout the fall, but last-minute costumes are what fit within a college budget. Costumes created in a timecrunch do not have to be perfect, but they also aren’t necessarily trashy. Many costumes from a store range from $20—$40, but DIY costumes could be as cheap as $10 or less. When putting together a costume, the most essential things are theme, cost and production. When thinking of a theme for a costume, remember the event in which this costume will be worn. Whether or not the need for modesty is important, this is something to think about, especially with a specific audience. The cost of a costume is important, especially when on a budget. In order to create a cost-effective costume, think of the elements being put together throughout the production. Limit the items needed and price each item while staying within the budget. These four costumes are quick, easy and budget-friendly. Dr. Pepper When thinking of Dr. Pepper, many make the assumption that they are dealing with the soft drink. This costume is not only a great way to show a creative point, but to play around
Kaylyn Jones | Printz
with puns as well. The only items needed are scrubs, printed peppers, safety pins and a name tag. After attaching the printed peppers to the scrub top along with the name tag, the costume is essentially done. Any other elements could also be added for creative effect. 50 Shades of Grey Pop culture has defined the movie “50 Shades of Grey” as trendy but immodest. However, this costume plays along with the title of the famous film. The only items needed are a t-shirt, grey paint samples and safety pins. After attaching the samples to the shirt
using the safety pins, the costume is complete. Grapes The next costume is a healthy choice for a snack as well as a fun choice for Halloween. Dressing as a bundle of grapes could sound like a challenge, but it truly only consists of four different items. All that is needed is a t-shirt, around eight balloons, safety pins and a hair bow. After blowing up and pinning the balloons to the shirt, place the hair bow on top and enjoy. This costume is most enjoyed in a family setting and can be used with either purple or green balloons.
Granny When dressing up a granny, remember to add some personal flair to the costume. Whether using special effects makeup or a simple grey finish, this costume can be enjoyed by those of any age. The only items needed are a robe, glasses, a shower cap and a wooden spoon. These costumes can easily be made after a quick trip to the store or simply with household items. Many DIY costumes could take weeks to make, but each of these could be done in little to no time.
Sophomore sacrifices time to make ends meet MOLLY SCHRAEDER PRINTZ REPORTER n Monday morning, sophomore social work major Kelly McMaster goes to work from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. She eats dinner, often her only meal of that day, and does her schoolwork for the week. The next day, she has class from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and then she goes to her second job from 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. On top of being a full-time student, McMaster works at both Banana Peel Consignment and Crescent City Grill. Like many other college students, McMaster is unable to get by without multiple sources of steady income. The cost of living is increasing nationwide, requiring college students to work more jobs or go into debt in order to live while receiving an education. Though working is part of life, McMaster said she feels that her jobs often take away from her education. “Kelly honestly works harder than anyone I know,” sophomore social work major Brianna Rimes and friend of McMaster said. “She takes her jobs very seriously and puts her everything into her jobs.” With working every day, going to class, doing homework and trying to occasionally sleep, McMaster often has to make sacrifices to balance it all. Unfortunately, her attention to school cannot always rank as her highest priority. “I feel like my main focus is work and college is second just because I have to
Illustration by Alexandria Moore and Kathleen Hetherington | Printz
financially support myself in every way,” McMaster said. Though she values hard work and independence, McMaster said she would love to have the opportunity to fully focus on her education. College students across the country experience similar struggles as McMaster. According to The Hechinger Report article “The hidden risk in off-campus housing costs,” off-campus costs for students attending public universities rose 24% between 2000 and 2017. For students whose scholarships do not contribute to their housing, it makes sense
for many of them to live off-campus. But, according to the article, there is no great option when it comes to paying for housing. Many students, like McMaster, pay for their phone, car, insurance and food all on their own in addition to the increasing housing costs. “Having two jobs is definitely hard. It’s not ideal in any way,” McMaster said. “Even some people having one job in college is too much. I mean, I don’t think one job is too bad that you can’t handle it. But I work anywhere between 50 to 65 hours a week on top of being a full-time student.” With costs being what they are, McMaster
said she has no choice but to push through and make the most of her situation. “Working two jobs while being in college is not easy, but [McMaster] puts all her time and effort into her school work and jobs,” senior psychology major Brooke Cole said. Cole said McMaster’s persistence as the reason she can push through her crazy schedule, and McMaster said she knows that her persistence will pay off in the long run. “I wouldn’t recommend it, but at the same time, it’s not like you can’t do it. Because if you want it bad enough, you can obviously do it—just not with a lot of sleep,” McMaster said.
ENTERTAINMENT OCTOBER 23, 2019
WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM
‘Gem of the Ocean’ shows Southern Miss Theatre at its best MORGAN USRY PRINTZ REPORTER Illustration by Lillie Busch | Printz
outhern Miss Theatre’s production of “Gem of the Ocean” was a profound and engaging experience that included powerful acting and effective design. The show, which was Southern Miss Theatre’s first production for the 2019-2020 season, was performed on Oct. 17, 18, 19 and 20 in the Gilbert F. Hartwig Theatre and directed by Amanda Washington. The play was written by August Wilson as part of his 10 play Pittsburgh Cycle which focuses on the African American experience throughout the 20th century. “Gem of the Ocean” focuses on the household of Aunt Ester Tyler and her guidance of a man named Citizen Barlow on a spiritual journey. The set design for the play was well-done and benefited the play in several ways. The design was true to the time period during which the play was set and helped build a sense of realism. The build of the set allowed the different ways in which actors entered and exited the stage to flow seamlessly and not be a cause for distraction. It, along with the lighting, gave off an intimate atmosphere that made audience members feel as though
they are actually in Aunt Esther’s home. Along with contributing to the intimate feeling of the set, the lighting played a large role in conveying different tones and plot points. The biggest example of this would be the intense ending of Act 1, with the local mill burning down. The darkness of the stage contrasted with the orange light in the background gave off a sense of the calamity that was to come. Another great use of the lighting was to create the illusion of stars, which was used several times throughout the play. The sound and music of “Gem of the Ocean” played an integral role in setting the mood and ambiance of the story. The music that played before the play began and between scenes fit perfectly with the time period of the story and helped set the stage for what was to come. The few instances of singing in the play were impactful, mostly because
of the situations during which they occur. It helped emphasize the solemn and important meanings of scenes in a beautiful way, especially during the final scene. Another integral part of the play was the costuming. The design of all the costumes fit impeccably with the setting and time period without coming across as over-the-top. The costume changes for different characters do a good job of signifying changes in the character and plot. Although these features of the play supported the overall greatness, the performances of the actors are what stand out the most and made it worth watching. The acting proved that a show with few characters could hold its own and fulfill any necessary task. All of the actors seemed to truly embody their characters and bring them to life and feel like well-written, real people.
The emotion and feeling the actors brought to the characters helped emphasize the themes of the story. The acting from Marissa C. Gilliam and Sheldon Chinedu Mba, who played Aunt Ester and Citizen Barlow, was particularly impressive, especially during the second act. Robinson J. Cyprian’s performance as Solly Two Kings was also strong as he effortlessly provided moments of often needed comedic relief. The best performance of the entire play was during the scene of Citizen Barlow’s journey to the Gem of the Ocean and the City of Bones. All of the different elements of the play come together to portray this intense moment and Mba’s performance stands out amongst it all. Overall, Southern Miss Theatre’s production of “Gem of the Ocean” puts great effort into every part of this play to create a stunning show.
‘Lifeforce’ gives vampires a sci-fi edge WILLIAM LOWERY PRINTZ REPORTER hen people hear the name Tobe Hooper they associate it with horror classics like “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” or “Poltergeist.” Though he’s left an impact on the genre, nothing can quite compare to the sci-fi, horror masterpiece that is “Lifeforce.” A NASA research team stumbles upon a mysterious craft in the tail of Haley’s Comet. Their investigations lead them to discover the remains of mysterious, bat-like
creatures and three pods containing humans in each of them. To give away what happens next would spoil the fun that lies within. Based on the Colin Wilson novel “The Space Vampires,” “Lifeforce” is a movie that overlaps into many genres, including sci-fi, horror, mystery and erotica. The result is a film like no other. “Lifeforce” is like Dracula but with a sci-fi twist. The humanoids are vampires, but instead of wanting blood, they’re out to claim the life force of anyone w h o
Illustration by Kathleen Hetherington | Printz
comes into contact with them. Those who are sucked dry become mummified corpses who can then feed off others to prolong their lifespan by two hours, or else they turn to dust. Of the three space vampires, the one who stands out the most is the Space Girl, played by Mathilda May. She uses her beauty to prey on and manipulate her victims, most notably the head astronaut, played by Steve Railsback. Much of the middle act is spent with the British government agents who are on the hunt for the Space Girl. It plays out like a mystery, and an enthralling one at that, before the third act hits
the viewer upside the face as chaos unfolds in London thanks to the vampires’ actions. Made during a time when filmmakers put time and effort into effects, “Lifeforce” is a technical marvel. For such a B-movie concept, it has A-plus production value, not to mention an epic soundtrack by Henry Mancini. “Lifeforce” is the type of movie that could only be made in the ‘80s. It has a ludicrous premise, but in the hands of writer Dan O’Bannon and director Tobe Hooper, it becomes an enthralling picture, one that is equal parts scary but adventurous. “Lifeforce” was the first of three movies Tobe Hooper made for Cannon Films, a studio known most for schlocky endeavors like “American Ninja” and “Breakin.” This was their attempt to go mainstream but unfortunately, the movie was heavily edited for release in the United States and flopped at the box office when it premiered in 1985. Through the power of home video and the internet, “Lifeforce” has found a new life. With a special edition that contains both the theatrical and director’s cuts, now is the time to give this misunderstood masterpiece a second chance.
OPINION OCTOBER 23, 2019
WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM
Lack of ASL classes cause disconnect LAUREL THRAILKILL PRINTZ REPORTER he importance of American Sign Language is often discounted and as a result, it is taught infrequently at schools and universities in the US. “American Sign Language is a complete, natural language that has the same linguistic properties as spoken languages, with grammar that differs from English. ASL is expressed by movements of the hands and face. It is the primary language of many North Americans who are deaf and hard of hearing, and is used by many hearing people as well,” the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders reported. It is important to understand that there is no universal sign language. Sign language varies from country and region. British Sign Language is a completely different language than ASL. You might be wondering why it could be beneficial to learn ASL if you are not deaf. Even if you are not deaf or you do not know anyone who is deaf, there is a good chance that you will come across someone in your life who is. If you do not know ASL, you will have limited ways to
communicate with this person and you could miss out on a potential new friend or even romantic relationship. This is not to say by any means that students should be required to learn ASL. The option needs to be there for students, however, who are interested in learning. It is also important to note that not all people who rely on ASL are deaf. Individuals with communication disorders or people who are hard of hearing but not completely deaf rely on ASL too. According to StartASL.com, 28 million Americans have some degree of notable hearing loss. This is about 10% of all Americans. Of these people, 2 million Americans are classified as deaf. This means that they cannot hear everyday sounds and speech even with the help of hearing aids. ASL is the natural language of 500,000 deaf people in the US and Canada. A natural language means that it is learned as a first language in early childhood. There is unfortunately not much data available regarding the rates at which ASL is used and the rates at which it is being taught in schools and universities. This can make is hard to determine how often ASL is really offered. It may not be necessary for most people to learn ASL, but those who want to learn should not be deprived of the
resources to do so. In short, ASL is a language just like any other. It takes time and practice to master. Universities offering more classes in ASL could provide a solution for those students who want to learn, but do not have a means of doing so.
Ilustration by Lillie Busch | Printz
Porter’s ‘Cinderella’ casting comes with racial implications KAYLYN JONES PRINTZ REPORTER mmy-award winner Billy Porter playing the Fairy Godmother in the upcoming live-action Cinderella has dark implications regarding race and sexual orientation. Sony Pictures is developing its own live-action Cinderella. Cuban-American singer-songwriter Camila Cabello is debuting her acting career as the iconic heroine. “Frozen” star Idina Menzel has also joined the growing cast as the evil stepmother. The news of the production left a mixture of emotions and questions. Based on the diversity of three of the confirmed cast, the film could be taking notes from the definitive Cinderella adaption starring ‘90s superstar Brandy and vocal legend Whitney Houston. If Sony plays their cards right, they could have a hit adaptation that resonates well with millennials and Gen Z audiences. One nagging concern clouds over what seems like progress, though. Billy
Porter being a cast as the Fairy Godmother looks great on paper. Porter is charismatic, larger-than-life and talented. As a fan, it is painful to be pessimistic about the casting. However, there is a long history of black characters being used to serve white characters and gay characters being used as background props. A trope in cinema and literature called the Magical Mystical Negro is about supporting characters whose main function is to help the white characters; sometimes they have magical powers or are solely wise. Gay characters specifically in cinema have been villainized throughout multiple decades and then transformed into props for appearing woke. For example, in the live-action 2017 Beauty and the Beast, the villain Gaston has a sidekick named Lefou. Disney used the character as a lazy marketing ploy to scream about how progressive they are. Lefou became the first openly gay character in Disney, which is not a compliment when considering Hollywood’s history of villainizing homosexuality.
Illustration by Alexandria Moore | Printz
When gay characters are not villains they are typecast as the gay best friend. A sideline character, similar to the Magical Mystical Negro, who are used to say words of wisdom or give their straight friend fashion advice. Breaking down the role of Fairy Godmother, she magically appears, befriends Cinderella, says a few lines of wisdom, gives the protagonist a makeover and solves all problems with a magical wand similarly to an episode of “Queer Eye.” Put Billy Porter in the role of Fairy Godmother, and it is a mashup between two problematic archetypes that are remnants of an ignorant past.
This might be a pessimistic reading, but the media has a huge responsibility when portraying marginalized groups. Placing a black gay character in a supporting role who serves a straight woman with Eurocentric features sends audiences tone-deaf messaging. It subconsciously validates the stereotypes that marginalized groups exist only to serve. Sony would not dare to make a movie with a lead that is black and gay with magical powers because corporations like Sony still have outdated views and pander to the status quo. That premise sounds way more awesome than this latest iteration of Cinderella.
SPORTS
OCTOBER 23, 2019
WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM
Eagles choke against LA Tech Bulldogs CHIPPER BAUDRY PRINTZ REPORTER
outhern Miss traveled to Ruston, Louisiana, to take on the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (6-1, 3-0 C-USA) for the third conference matchup of the year for the Golden Eagles (4-3, 2-1 C-USA). The Golden Eagles were off to a hot start when De’Michael Harris ran back the opening kickoff to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead right out of the gate. From there, the offense was clicking. Quarterback Jack Abraham connected with tight end Ray Ladner for a 15-yard touchdown pass. This was followed by Malik Stanley and J’Mar Smith finding the end zone to give LA Tech their first touchdown of the night. At the start of the second quarter, the score was 14-7 with Southern Miss in the lead. Abraham threw an interception that led to LA Tech securing points off the turnover on a 30-yard Justin Henderson touchdown run which tied the game. Abraham came back by burning the LA Tech defense on a 37yard scramble into the end zone to get the lead back. Southern Miss kicker Andrew Stein set a career long field goal when he made a 46-yard field goal in the second quarter. Another touchdown run by LA Tech’s Henderson left the score at 2724 with the Golden Eagles in front. No scoring took place in the third. In the fourth quarter the Golden Eagles offense fell apart. Smith scored the first points of the second half on a 1-yard sneak up the middle, giving LA Tech the lead at 35-27.
Ray Ladner carries the ball down the field.
Michael Sandoz | Printz
Abraham threw another interception to Amik Robertson, which LA Tech immediately turned into points after a 70-yard pass. Stein drilled a 41-yard field goal for a score of 38-30 with LA Tech in the lead.
With the Golden Eagles down by eight, Abraham proceeded to throw his fourth interception of the game, which was returned for a touchdown and stretched the LA Tech lead to 45 over Southern Miss’ 30.
What seemed to be like a strong showing from the Golden Eagles turned into a tough loss. The Eagles look to bounce back in Houston, Texas, on Oct. 25 against the Rice Owls.
Men’s basketball prepares for upcoming season MAKAYLA PUCKETT SPORTS EDITOR
ith the 2019 basketball season starting Nov. 5, head coach Jay Ladner and the Golden Eagles have spent the past seven months adjusting to the new coaching administration. “It’s just a different culture. I have the greatest admiration for Coach Sadler, and I thought he did a good job mitigating the situation here. It’s just a different style of play now,” Ladner said. “The way we play is strategically, and we like to run good offense. We want the best offense for our shooters to make the best shots.” Inheriting a team of 11 rookies created a challenge for Ladner, and he has relied on Harper-Baker and junior guard LaDavius Draine to be leaders during this transition. “We have a lot of freshmen and sophomores, so there’s not that much experience. It’s back to the drawing board,” Harper-Baker said. “A lot of these guys haven’t played Division One or know what it’s like to be Division One, so [Lander] wants us to set a big standard.” Harper-Baker led the Golden Eagles in rebounds with 239 total, and Draine led in three-pointers with 78 for the 2018-19 season. “I will be playing more of the guard spot like last year,” Draine said. “It gives me more freedom, more moving around. They’ve been on me a lot because I shot well last year, so they have been emphasizing helping me get my shot and my pump fake and my driving one-dribble pull-ups and stuff like that.”
Makayla Puckett | Printz
Ladner said he sees freshman Artur Konontsuk as another leader on the court. “If we had to start today, I think you’re certainly going to see Artur Konontsuk. He’s got an opportunity to play right off the bat,” Ladner said. The six-foot-seven forward from Estonia brings a different style of play to the Golden Eagles squad.
Coach Jay Ladner addresses the media after being named head men’s basketball coach in April 2019.
“He isn’t shot shy at all. Coming from overseas, he’s just different,” Harper-Baker said. “Being able to shoot the ball at a higher rate is something we haven’t really seen coming in as a freshman.” Ladner said other potential starters include sophomore guard Tyler Stevenson, redshirt sophomore guard Jay Malone and freshman forward Hunter Dean. Although the roster is
not officially set, Ladner hopes to put players on the court who will make the Golden Eagles successful. “Our overall goal is to become a national power,” Ladner said. “We are not quite as prepared for that at this moment because of our youth, but that’s okay. We will welcome that challenge with open arms, and I can’t wait to get started.”