THE PURPLE & WHITE Millsaps College
VOLUME LXXX, NO.14
ARTS & LIFE
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012
Fraternity Row monitored for excessive drinking
Diverse array of writers comes to Millsaps.
FEATURES
Abed Haddad
Bells, virgins and Gandhi: What do they have in common?
illsaps recently begun heavily policing student drinking on campus. As stated in the student handbook, Major Facts, Millsaps students must comply with Mississippi laws, which restrict drinking to only students of legal age. Major Facts does, in fact, give students guidelines for drinking on campus, using such language as “discrete and inconspicuous.” The handbook even states “Any alcoholic beverages which are being consumed in public areas must be in containers which are opaque and which are not identifiable as holding alcoholic beverages.” However, what students tend to neglect is that those policies only apply to those of legal drinking age. While campus security usually only responds to student complaints, students have expressed concern about what they see as security intruding on their privacy. “I understand the role of
News Editor
M
SPORTS
security on campus, but it becomes an issue when it is at the cost of our privacy as students and adults,” commented freshman Hunter McClendon. In a recent Student Body Association (SBA) session, the topic was discussed and the new measures were instated. According to SBA, Dean Brit Katz expressed concerns with student behavior. “Students need to be held accountable,” he says. Beginning this semester, security will patrol areas around the dormitories as well as Fraternity Row to insure the safety of students. “If students behave properly and in a civil manner, then security is not as likely to ask questions,” says Director of Residence Life Patrick Cooper. Senior Whitney Gilchrist understands the implications of the new measures. “Concerns seem to be legitimate based on the heightened number of cases of serious alcohol poisoning,” comments Gilchrist. These new security measures affect most those living on fraternity row and the students
who go there on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Katz highlights the role of Fraternity Row in preventing any incidents related to drugs or alcohol. “Is it the Greek men on campus’ responsibility to take burden for all underage drinking at Millsaps? No,” he says. Nevertheless, he emphasized the responsibility of students to protect each other, ensuring the safety of the campus as a whole. Security guards can go into fraternity house at anytime, since the houses are on Millsaps property. If a security officer has any reason, he has the right to enter a student’s room for further inspection. “There is a lot of ambivalence about the rules,” says Gilchrist. “Had I not happened to hear about the new rules in a sorority meeting, I certainly would have inadvertently broken them.” A factor in maintaining safety on Fraternity Row could be the use of monitors, as stated in Major Facts, “All student sponsored events involving alcohol are required to have at least two
Monitors.” While the acknowledgement of alcohol consumption can pull a strain on fraternal function, it does serve well. “(Security Guards) can ask for the assistance of (party) monitors,” says Cooper. “Fraternity houses must abide by the school’s alcohol policy.” Nonetheless, these new measures open up a new window for reckless behavior on part of Millsaps students. Due to the stringent rules, students may be more likely to drink off campus, whether at a bar or a friend’s house, increasing the likelihood of drunk driving. While the severty of these measures can be debated, what remains clear to students is the role of security on campus. Sophomore Andrew Gargiulo states, “Security should help reduce excessive underage drinking, (but) I do not think the policy is being reiterated to end parties… They should help us ensure the parties do not get out of control.”
Dig this: Where did the Mayans go? Majors gear up for new challenges in 2012. ■
Inside
■
Opinions........................2 Arts & Life.....................3 Features...................4 & 5 News continued.............6 Sports.....................7 & 8
Tao Tang Contributor When Dr. George Bey and Millsaps students were broadcasted on Japanese TV in January, it wouldn’t be hard to tell that this small school had been doing something so big that its story had reached the other side of the world. In 2010 the Millsaps Anthropology professor’s work in Kiuic, Mexico drew attention from National Geographic after a USA Today featured a
story on Bey’s work. National Geographic’s interest led to the PBS documentary “Quest For the Lost Maya.” The documentary is based on Bey and Millsaps students research into why the people in the area of Kiuic abruptly left their homes. “Quest For the Lost Maya” will premiere on March 28 and will air nation wide with an expected 4.3 millions viewers. Dr. George Bey says the collapse of Maya was a gradual process and reasons of the collapse varies regionally. Since 900 BC,
Mayans had abandoned their cities fpr environmental and political reasons, but signs indicate that they returned to their abandoned cities. The Millsaps archeological project in Kiuic ,which was permanently abandoned around 850 likely because of drought, reveals a different story. “What we are starting to see there [Kiuic] is that there was drought. Kiuic’s very susceptible to drought because they depended completely on rain water” says Dr. Bey
Millsaps’ research in Yucatan explains why Mayans chose to live in places like Kiuc which have no sufficient water supplies. “The reason that they went a landscape that lacks water was the soils were so good. This area has the best soil in Yucatan. It was a kind of balancing act,” Bey explains. “The collapse of the Maya took place over 200 years. What happened in one place might not Mayans continued - page 3
2
O PINIONS Letter to the Editor
By Grace Williams Contributor
As a Millsaps student, and specifically as a former Purple & White staff writer, I found the inclusion of Katie Greer’s article “Numbers that should change your vote” in the news section – on the front page, no less – baffling and upsetting. Let me make clear that I do not consider myself an expert on American elective politics or the American tax code. Nor am I a stringent supporter of President Obama, or even a Democrat. However, I suspect that I was not alone in thinking Greer’s piece was inflammatory, misleading and perhaps even factually incorrect. For example, the assertion that the “bad debt” President Obama mentioned in his State of the Union Address came exclusively from
“his stimulus plan” is, at best, an over-simplification of a series of complex issues affecting the economy. Similarly, I assume that “(a)s a result of the raised debt ceiling, the Gross Domestic Product exceeded 100 percent [sic]” was a typo of some sort, though what it was meant to say I cannot figure out. The implication that this summer’s raising of the debt ceiling was some sort poor decision on Obama’s part reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the meaning and significance of sovereign debt. However, in writing to the editor it is not my intention to refute Greer’s article point by point. There are countless members of the Millsaps community better qualified to address the specific facts and figures therein. Rather, the classification of this sort of highly biased and inflammatory writing as “news” suggests a poor understanding of what role a newspaper can, and should, play in a community. News is meant to inform and even sometimes enlighten. From the title alone it is clear that with her piece Greer meant instead to influence opinions and recom-
Letter continued on pg. 3
Contact Genny Santos, santogl@millsaps.edu
Capitalize on dancing in the rain:
finding self-respect in happiness
By Kenya Strong-Johnston Editor-in-Chief I wonder sometimes if we understand how to truly capitalize on happiness. In the end, are we really happy? I can understand if the contemplation of such a thought seems morose, maybe cynical, but I don’t care. I don’t think our world or our society places enough emphasis on the importance of true happiness and its actual meaning. In Spanish class we are reading about the importance of the present in ancient Aztec culture. An anonymous poem says “por breve tiempo, amigos.” For a short time friends, we are here. While we are we must be happy because “solamente aqui, nuestro corazon se alegra” – only in this time is our heart happy. So comes the valid question of what makes us happy? How,
among the clutter of our day-today lives, can we truly capitalize on the happiness we desire. Relationships–be it with friends, a significant other, professors or family–are the building blocks to happiness. Of course, these relationships include, and begin with, a secure and intimate relationship with the self. Self-respect, self-loyalty and self-assurance may be hard to come by at times. On days when it feels like a gray cloud is following you, it is easy to neglect any good feelings that come your way. Why do we do this? I like to believe that in our constant striving for relationships we feed off the idea that relationships can offer us a means of support. We are quick to assume relationships are unsupportive unless we are sad or upset, so we give them a reason to be. I say: Let the happiness and laughter of a relationship be the true foundation of its structure. If a relationship is built entirely off the negatives of a gloomy day and the desire for support of unwanted feelings then how is it a relationship at all? Regardless, it is this relationship with the self that begins to sustain our relationships. Gloomy day or not, we will al-
Happiness continued on pg. 3
#whensbreakagain?: A tweet cycle
Compiled by Genny Santos Opinions Editor
hipsterindisguise put fish in all the puddles on campus #bestworstpracticaljoke SororityGinger shoutout to the Millsaps library computers for losing all traces of my paper that’s due at 5. THANK YOU SO MUCH. thegreekgirl I prayed for my liver today in church #mylife MeowsapsSenior I want French fries & beer & no more computer screens HyperactiveActivist We walked all the way across campus for the kitchen but forgot the ingredients #reallifethreestooges ThatKidInPlaid to the person listening to my music library when I gotta disconnect it: sorry, you have to finish Will Smith’s Greatest Hits
when I get back
silentsarcasm Uhhhh how many quarters are there in a basketball game? #ImSorryIDontUnderstand biochemblonde I think the people above me are tap dancing in roller skates…? hipsterindisguise file a maintenance request & they’ll knock on your bathroom door while you’re showering. ACTUAL #MILLSAPSPROBLEMS @MillsapsBubble silentsarcasm Ever get the feelin the stranger beside you in the library just murdered someone? #stress #crossedtheline #WhatsInTheBriefcase #HopeImNotNext Meowsaps Senior I would say I find an average of three black and one white feather in or near my dorm room every day.
biochemblonde it’s sooo cold in my room! But I’m not going to put pants on. #ihatepants #moreblanketsplease!
MajorHipster Just did a backbend in the shower trying to avoid the cold water @MillsapsProbs
HyperactiveActivist When you realize that you put honey on your waffle instead of syrup due to the lack of labels in the caf.
fratguyepitomized Real security or beer pong police? Not sure which one Millsaps needs more at this point… #whoknows
MillsapsBubble Okay, let’s settle this: what is that smell in the Franny Lou garden?
loudandproud Hide yo kids, hide yo wife.. Detective Katz is on the prowl for this hooded miscreant. #brit2therescue #strangerdanger
ThatKidInPlaid class ended early cuz the internet was too slow to load the documentary we were supposed to watch #millsapsprobs
curlyQ THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED
sassysophomore Ppl get hilariously competitive over their ranking at housing selection.
hipsterindisguise speaking of campus robbers & valentine’s day, this is my inconspicuous pepper spray.
MillsapsProbs It takes about 27 minutes for the library computer to log me in #millsapsprobs
thegreekgirl Happy Valentines Day? More like Happy Bagel day in kava! #millsapsprobs
T HE P URPLE W HITE
&
Editor-in-Chief... Kenya Strong-Johnston Managing Editor... Lana Price Visuals Manager... Sonum Sanjanwala Layout Editors... Catherine Pereira Maryam Qureshi Photo Manager... Genny Santos Graphics Editor... Sonum Sanjanwala Business Manager.. Juan Fernandez News Editor... Abed Haddad Opinions Editor... Genny Santos Arts & Life Editor... Madeline Rardin Features Editor... Anna Nations Sports Editor... Ellen Bouyelas Advisor... Woody Woodrick Staff Writers... Carpenter Stevens Sara Sacks Contributors...
Emma Spies Jake Warren Tao Tang Grace Williams
E-mail corrections to Editor-inChief Kenya Strong-Johnston, stronkk@millsaps.edu.
The Purple & White is published weekly.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in articles, letters to the Editor and cartoons printed in the Purple & White do not necessarily reflect those of the editors, Publications Board, Millsaps College, The United Methodist Church or the student body. Complaints should be addressed to the Millsaps College Publications Board. Contact Laura Domingue or Dr. Pat Taylor.
Advertising rates available upon request. E-mail Juan Fernandez at fernajd@millsaps.edu. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of the Editorin-Chief.
Letters to the Editor Submit letters to the editor to the Purple and White at Box 15070 or e-mail Kenya Strong-Johnston, at stronkk@millsaps.edu. Letters should be turned in before 12 p.m. on Sunday prior to the Thursday publication. Anonymous letters will not be published.
3 Contact Madeline Rardin, rardimr@millsaps.edu
A RTS & L IFE
: A website geared towards women? By Madeline Rardin Arts & Life Editor The 2011 holiday season, left a legacy of virtual gifts. Pinterest, an online scrapbook, captured the curiosity of many young tech-savy individuals; especially young women. Creating an account through Facebook and beginning the process of building a virtual board is free and easy. According to the Pinterest website, Pinterest is a place where “people use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.” Like Facebook, the social media site includes “likes” and comments along with the new idea of “repining,” or sharing someone else’s ideas. The unique ideas come in the form of crafts and recipes to more personal desires such as engagement photo ideas or wedding plans. The website’s main objectives and the array of “pinnings” attract: women. According to Dalecitypatch.com since its launch in 2012 Pinterest has had more Internet traffic than Google Plus or Tumblr. Not surprisingly,
data gathered by Techcrunch. com says that 97 percent of the steadily accumulating fan base is young adult females. “It doesn’t surprise me because it really doesn’t offer much for males” says Holly Harlan, a senior majoring in Communica-
tions. Despite the growth of the site, some people doubt the seriousness of its objectives. The age of its fans raises questions however, the same crowd drove sites like Myspace and Facebook to success. Targeting young women and their interests will most likely produce an ideal effect in the long run. Pinterest was not created just to appeal to women, however. It was hoped to, and has proved to be, a useful marketing tool for many businesses. Big budget designers such as Kate Spade have used Pinterest as a tool to market their products. Business
Insider interviewed Kate Spade’s vice president/ecommerce Johanna Murphy to discuss how the popular brand utilizes Pinterest. Murphy says Kate Spade does not use Pinterest to simply “pin” their own products but as a tool to share with fans what inspires them. Even though the popular brand hasn’t set up its boards in to make a direct profit from their boards it is a helpful marketing tool. Harlan noted that Pinterest does make a profit from brands that have marketed their products.“From Contributed what I understand Pinterest makes a profit from every product that is featured that gets sold,” she says. “If we look at it again,” says Murphy. “It’s kind of the fuel for the overall fire to the brand that will then ultimately drive sales.” The marketers and creators of Pinterest have tapped into particular market which has allowed them to be incredibly successful. Whatever reason people find for using Pinterest, it has proven itself the hot new social media site.
Mayans continued from pg. 1 have happened in another place. Some places might be environmental, other places might be (cased by) warfare or political conflicts,” Bey says “The big question is why didn’t they come back? The the answer to the question that seems to be emerging is politics and power.” He further explains why Mayans never returned to Kiuic which they occupied for 1,900 years, “ A lot of changes caused political instability and made it difficult to organize (to return). For example, if the government wasn’t there to help after Katrina, New Orleans would be abandoned. So the response of the Mayan power structure wasn’t able to organize people to get them back into these cities. And as a result, they moved to the northern part of the peninsula.” Jeremy Zipple, director of National Geographic documentary, “We knew that it is 2012. So there’s gonna be a lot of interests in Mayan stuffs. And we thought it would be cool to do a serious documentary on Maya for PBS that maybe didn’t buy into all those sensationalism
about the 2012 phenomenon. It is a serious project that wouldn’t be sensationalistic”. Zipple has two main focuses of the documentary, “One is that the Mayans who lived in the Yucatan were way earlier than anybody can imagine, like 1,500 years earlier. Secondly, evidence of what happened to those people. It’s a story about the civilization of the people,” Also, Zipple talks about the part of the documentary that he likes very much, called “Stairway to Heaven. It is a beautiful building built on the top of this hill. It looks like people who lived there weren’t royal. They were middle class Mayan. A lot of documentaries focus on the top of the chain. It’s just normal Mayan people and it turns out that the civilization was very affluent. Lots of diverse diet and activities,” he says. This archeological project in Yucatan is funded mostly through donors to the college, and Beys says, “ This is Millsaps doing some of the most important archeological in the world right now. And I think everyone should be proud of what they are doing.”
Acclaimed authors bring more than words to Millsaps By Madeline Rardin Arts & Life Editor This semester’s Visiting Writers Series will feature a variety of presenters that it should appeal to just about any Millsaps student. Poet Tom Sleigh of Brooklyn, N.Y. will be the first to present. Sleigh is the winner of numerous awards including the William Carlos Williams Award, the 2008 Kingsley Tufts Award in which he won $100,000, and a finalist in the Los Angeles Times Book Award. His works include After One, The Dreamhouse and most recently Army Cats. In a 2003 interview conducted by Allegra Wong of the Full Circle Journal, Sleigh described his influences “I’d have to say that Browning for his technique; Wallace Stevens for a certain quality of gravitas, what Keats feels near his death, when he
said he was living a sort of posthumous existence; Philip Larkin for his sense of extremity; Pound for his fluidity of conception and hardness of execution; Baudelaire for his music and intense scrutiny and affection for street life; and Bishop and Lowell for their immersion in the physical world, would be my fathers and mothers.” Sleigh will present at 7:30 p.m February 23. The trio of talented artists Rick Moody, Welsey Stace and Joe Pernice are scheduled to present March 28. Rick Moody who has critically acclaimed novels, novellas and story collections will present first. His 1994 novel the The Ice Storm was such as success that the popular movie database IMDB. com noted that it caught the attention of director Ang Lee. Lee adapted the novel into a 1997 feature film starring Tobey McGuire, Christina Ricci
Contributed
This year’s visiting writer’s series brings in an array of writers passionately sharing their successes.
and Elijah Wood. English author and musician Stace, also known as John Welsey Harding will be the next to present. Stace has produced 17 albums in the past 20 years. Stace’s literary work Charles Jessold, Considered As A Murderer was noted by Caroyln
Kellog of the LAtimes as being “carefully plotted and brilliantly executed.” Singer and writer Joe Pernice complete the event. Pernice has been a part of the music industry for more than a decade and has released 13 albums. The
New York Times has praised Pernice’s work calling it a startling slice of beauty.” This event will take place at 7:00 pm. The event will be ticketed and prices will be $10 for the public but free for Millsaps students with ID. The final author of the spring 2012 series to present will be Matt Bondurant. Boundurant’s presentation will take place on 7:30 pm on April 5th. A native of Virginia, Bondaurant’s work includes novels: The Third Translation, The Wettest County in the World and The Night Swimmer. His 2008 The Wettest County in the World has been made into a film starring Shia LaBouef and Tom Hardy and will be released this year. For more information on the Visiting Writer’s series contact Dr. Steve Kistulentz at steve.kistulentz@millsaps.edu.
4
F EATURES
Contact Anna Nations, natioal@millsaps.edu
Millsaps landmarks continue to keep legends alive
By Carpenter Stevens Staff writer
Millsaps is not only rich in culture and diversity, but it also holds a heritage that has fostered some notable campus legends. From the popular tale that stepping on the seal in the Bowl will delay graduation to the virgin cannon shooting off outside the Ford Academic Complex and the mystery of Gandhi’s disappearing glasses, these stories are part of what gives the campus character. Freshman Christina Tilton heard these legends when she came to visit as a volleyball recruit. She heard stories of the M Bench, the seal in the Genny Santos Bowl, the “virgin canSome of the most familiar non” and the cursed sights on campus hold hidbell outside the library. den stories to tell. “I heard that they have refused to put the bell in a building because the Major Reuben Millsaps and past two buildings it has been his wife were buried in the tomb in caught fire,” remarks Tilton. on the South side of campus Another legend is the “virgin umtil allegedly some students cannon,” rumored to fire when- from Belhaven University stole ever a virgin stands in front of it. the bodies, leaving a vacant tomb. Another Millsaps myth claims
Letter continued from pg. 2 mend that the reader not vote to reelect President Obama. The piece does not take a complete look at President Obama’s economic record, or even the complete effect of the stimulus package. For example, Greer neglects to mention the 10 straight quarters of GDP growth to-date or that the unemployment rate of 8.3 percent is an improvement on the October 2009 peak of 10 percent . I hope that in the future the editorial staff will exercise better judgment in the articles it runs as front-page news and hold its contributors to higher journalistic standards. If this sort of demagoguery and misinformation has any place in our campus newspaper, surely that place is Opinions. If you have a letter for the editor, please submit to Kenya Strong-Johnston at @ stronkk@millsaps.edu Happiness continued from pg. 2 ways be in relation with ourselves and the sooner we can learn to ignore the glooming cloud and dance in the rain, the sooner this relationship can blossom. Words of advice: If you find yourself
Freshman Taylor Ziegler enjoys the legend of the M bench. “I think it’s a great romantic spot,” she declares. “They say
struggling with this self happiness, begin to note the things that leave tingles in your toes. These are the things worth pursuing. Do you get a jolt from doing yoga or taking a jog? How about sitting in the sun reading a good book, just for the fun of it? Maybe you think the only thing that makes you happy is out of this world and seems like a rare experience? This, I doubt. I guarantee that you pass by at least a dozen things each day that make you truly happy. Sure, there might be those things that are hard to come by but what are the things you can grasp right now? These things are like a rainbow on that gloomy day, a hint of sun from behind the clouds. These are the things that – despite the time you need to spend studying, performing, giving, excelling, succeeding – you cannot pass up. In order to build the foundation of a truly happy life you first have to make sure you, yourself are happy. Take the gloomy days for what they are but remember that weather always moves on. You can’t have a rainbow without a little rain. Challenge yourself today and every day to put aside an assignment, a feeling of distress, a scheduled out day to recognize and utilize those special little things that make the sun shine.
that when a guy kisses you on the bench that you will fall in love and get married.” Many a girl has waited for a night of the full moon when her Prince Charming sits on the M Bench and grants her a kiss. While romance may be in the air for some, the legends and myths also stem
to the supernatural. Becky Bacot Hall stands as a memorial, named after a prominent Methodist couple’s daughter who died in a car crash. She is said to roam the halls to this day. “It’s pretty freaky to think about. But I just try not to think about it,” says Tilton. Ziegler also expresses her concerns. “I try not to believe in that kind of stuff,” Ziegler adds. “It’s not worth it, but still, you wonder if it is real.” Many people wonder: Are the legends and stories real? Is it true that the glasses of Gandhi were stolen so many times that they are now locked away and only put out on the statue for special occasions? Or is it true that streaking around the Bowl will actually save you from not graduating if you stepped on the seal? Though the truth behind these legends is questionable, the myths undeniably strike curiosity in both students and faculty.
Come join us!
Dr. Michael Reinhard’s Winston Churchill class unleashes a fresh atmosphere for political science enthusiasts. At 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday, the class, joined by regulars and curious customers, gathers at Pizza Shack’s Old Canton Road location to watch films that highlight Churchill’s political involvement and world spanning conflict. Millsaps alum and Pizza Shack owners Mike Parker
and Larry Emmett offer more than just a space for political conversation. They throw in free pizza, too. Since the beginning of the semester, Reinhard’s Churchill class has nearly doubled in size, and he gives the credit to Parker and Emmett. While pouring over Churchill’s “History of World War” brought the students in, it’s Pizza Shack’s award-winning pizza that makes them return.
5 Contact Anna Nations, natioal@millsaps.edu
F EATURES
Vegan Wonderfoods
Column by Emma Spies Contributor
bu M m ill pe sa r p s a s W y ti s it it ck & al er wi l: s sd om
Every vegan has two or three foods that compose about 90 percent of his or her diet. This is not to say that variety is difficult; in fact, the list of foods we can eat is much longer than non-vegans might imagine. But, because so many vegan staples are healthy, many of us are able to eat lots of the foods we really love without becoming full or packing on the pounds. For vegan activist and Mixed Martial Arts fighter Erin Red, the staples are kale and hummus. My staples are tofu and spinach—although I rarely turn down a piece of vegan carrot cake with cream cheese icing. This is obviously not one of the healthier options. Vegans and non-vegans alike are probably familiar with hummus. It is a thick spread that originated in Middle East-
ern cuisine. Hummus always protein, about 94 calories and Grocery Cooperative members. contains chickpeas and tahini no cholesterol. As vegan chef Virginia Mes(ground sesame paste), but it You can also find calcium-for- sina points out, tofu’s blandness can have virtually any combina- tified tofu if you want even more actually increases its culinary tion of spices or flavors added. nutritional bang for your buck. versatility. Being a porous food, We might think of hummus Also, tofu is usually pretty in- it can easily soak up the flavors as just a snack food, but it’s so expensive. Prices vary depend- of spices, sauces, and marinades healthy that most of us would ing on the store and the brand, Now, on to the greens. Alprobably benefit from eating more of it. Chickpeas are loaded with fiber, which promotes healthy digestion, as well as folic acid, iron and protein. Moreover, hummus is usually made with olive oil, a great source of healthy monounsaturated fatty acids. Spread hummus on bread or crackers or use it as a dip for baby carrots, sliced cucumbers or other veggies. Another vegan essential is the soybean derivative tofu. Poor Contributed tofu is weird looking, A few key foods in the vegan diet serve as foundations for an array of flavors and difficult to cook prop- spices. erly and has, along with granola, been denigrated to the realm of perpetual but Kroger carries 16-ounce though most of us probably hatjoke foods. packages of tofu from $1.79 to ed them when we were young, But, once you figure out how $2.69. it is time to accept that leafy to cook tofu, it can be your best Vacuum-sealed Mori-Nu greens are as important to a friend. brand tofu, which has a very healthy diet as our parents alFor one, it is a great source long shelf life, is available for ways told us. of protein. Four ounces of firm as little as $1.50 for a 12-ounce Numerous studies have shown tofu contain about 10 grams of package for Rainbow Natural that green leafy veggies lower
Take a look at what we say and how we say it.
the risk of heart disease. They are great sources of vitamin C, folic acid, potassium, magnesium and other important nutrients. Luckily, as adults, we can choose how to prepare our greens, so we can choose to make them delicious. My personal favorite, spinach, is a great alternative to the limp, boring, nutrient-lacking iceberg lettuce we often see in salads. If you want a more hardy green, try kale. It is usually less expensive than spinach—about 99 cents per bunch at Kroger— and is probably a better option for a stir-fry or soup because it holds up to heat better than spinach. Kale has more antioxidants than almost any other veggie and is also loaded with calcium, B-vitamins and fiber. My favorite way to eat kale is to sauté it with a little olive oil and garlic. Watch for the dark green leaves to turn bright green, and you’ll know it is ready to eat. Find Red at www.erinred. tumblr.com, or check out her podcast, Red Radio, which is available for free on iTunes. Want some simple vegan tips, like my tried-and-true low-fat hummus recipe or some suggestions for how to wrangle tofu into submission? Email me at spieser@millsaps.edu.
6
N EWS
Contact Abed Haddad, haddaag@millsaps.edu
In defense of President Obama
Commentary by Jake Warren Contributor While browsing the internet a few weeks ago, I came across an attention-grabbing website that lists something the Obama administration has accomplished in the past three years, ranging from “Health Care Reform Bill,” which allows childrn to remain covered by their parents’ insurance until the age of 26” to “Eliminated subsidies to private lender middlemen of student loans and protect student borrowers” to “Creating more private sector jobs in 2010 than in all Bush years.” The punch line of the website is the way you get to the next Obama accomplishment- by
clicking a button on the page. Each time, the button contains a saying, things like “That doesn’t affect me personally so who cares” or “But what has he done for me lately?” The tongue-in-cheek website almost perfectly encapsulates the way President Obama is viewed by a number of Americans, both inside and outside of his political party. Regardless of the outcome of the 2012 election, Obama’s time in office from 2009-2013 will be seen as one of the more ambitious and successful presidencies we Americans have seen, at least in terms of legislative undertakings. Obama was inaugurated into a presidency that was drastically different than the presidency he campaigned for in 2008. Rather than working for “Change We Can Believe In” Obama had to struggle to simply keep the country’ above water. But he did it. The stimulus bill worked. It was not enough, but it did what it could- well enough so that some jobs kept recieving funding and others were created. He reformed health care cov-
erage and placed two Democratic justices on the Supreme Court, which seems to guarantee that the reform is probably here to stay. The war in Iraq is done, and the war in Afghanistan is winding down. Tax breaks for the middle class and certain small businesses have reinforced the backbone of this country, and the unemployment rate has dropped steadily and heavily for the past 4 months (from 9.0 percent in October 2011 to 8.3 percent in January). The American automobile industry is growing again, in part because the Obama administration refused to let it die. He has somehow managed signing legislation even against a Republican owned House that only votes “no” and Republican Senators who use filibusters like coffee filters. Not to mention that Obama has shown himself to be a shrewd tactician when it comes to foreign policy, supporting the Arab Spring revolts while keeping our troops out of it, assassinating much of alQaeda’s brass through planned drone strikes, boldly utilizing
the SEALs when needed and almost flawlessly offsetting China’s growth through strengthening America’s influence in Asia and a new permanent Marine base in Australia. Yet the approval rating for the President sits at a lukewarm 4650 pervent, depending on who you ask. Why? If we’re being honest here, it’s because Obama took on a job that he wasn’t really ready to do. He lacked the political network that a Clinton or a Bush could bring to office, relying instead on charisma and a strong grassroots movement to put him into office, without the political thinkers prepared to help him when he got there. So once there, he could only be defined as “wild-eyed” or “naïve”. This is fair. In the first two years, Obama struggled to get his rank and file congressmen in line. He could not make his plans sound nearly as imperative as the Republicans could make them sound frivolous and ultimately paid for that in the 2010 elections. Couple that with the fact that his campaign rhetoric was overwhelmingly inspiring and
raised expectations to Messiahlike levels. If you followed the presidential campaign closely in 2008, you know that flawless speeches from Obama were a dime a dozen, and sometimes that is all it takes to get elected. But, early on in his administration, the Messiah was missing, and the economy was not fixed immediately. For that matter, not much else was. But a president’s legacy is not defined by how he begins after taking office. Rather, it is defined by how a president grows and understands the complexities of his office and the workings of Washington’s political machine. This is what we are seeing from Obama now. He still calls on his rhetoric, and over the next nine months, he will do that more frequently. But, 2012 is not 2008. Obama can sell a track record to match his rhetoric, and he can sit back and watch as Republican candidates tear themselves to pieces while the economy improves. By no means is our President a lock for re-election, but don’t be surprised if Barack hangs out in Washington for the next four years.
Greece faces more austerity measures Commentary by Abed Haddad News Editor Violence increased in Athens on Sunday, with more that 80,000 protestors taking to the streets to voice their anger agabout the austerity measures taken by the Greek parliament to ease the country’s foreign debts. In the past 10 years, Greece’s position in the Euro Zone has allowed the country to take on more loans than it can repay, causing the economic state of the country to spiral out of control over the past year. Greece has been under international attack for its socialist government, which undertakes much of the country’s infrastructure, relying on major dollars from tourism and the shipping industry. However, the country’s private sector has not been as healthy as it once was, taking shortfalls for the lack of investor confidence in the country’s economy. After the initial shock of the crisis, the European Union (EU) hastily put together a bailout measure to help the ailing economy that consisted of $152.6 billion in aid. European leaders have even
persuaded banks to take a 50 An interim government was A big challenge that faces the of Greece. percent loss on their loans in formed to handle the finan- interim government is public Germany and France, two of fear of default, raising that fig- cial crisis, headed by Lucas Pa- support, as throughout the fi- the strongest economies in the ure to a 70 percent loss by early pademos, an economist and nancial crisis, Greek workers Eurozone, have been the stron2012. gest opposers to the fiHowever, in order for nancial measures taken by Greece to receive the fithe Troika, citing Greece’s nancial package, Euroinability to take serious pean leaders imposed a parliamentary action. series of financial condiFacing a sovereign detions on Greece, urging fault on international the country to cut spenddebts to private banks ing and public sector and other nations, Pajobs. pademos suggest a fourth Moreover, The Europeround of cuts, this time a an Union’s tax increases, 22 percent cut in minispending cuts and pubmum wage and public lic-sector wage cuts have sector layoffs. pushed Greece into a While five cabinet memdeep recession. bers resigned in opposiThe country’s economy tion, Papademos pushed shrunk by 12 percent the proposed measures Contributed through the Greek Parliabetween 2009 and 2011. European Union reported More than 80,000 civillians violently protested the latest economic cuts. ment on Feb 12, garnering an expected shrink of up to 199 votes for and 74 votes six percent in 2012. The crisis former vice president of the Eu- have been leaving their posts in against the package. protest to massive cuts, leaving has also lowered Greece’s politi- ropean Central Bank. But with increased public vioPapademos’s interim govern- the country with a 19 percent lence against the government’s cal legitimacy, as it was a weak player of within the Eurozone ment has faced multiple ob- unemployment rate. decision to cut spending, a shift But, the interim government in political power might be from the inception of the finan- stacles, forming and reforming several times in public response has more to worry about tham pending. With tentative eleccial alliance. In an expected move after to the government’s actions. The rallying public support. The tions in April, one can only Greek financial turmoil reached interim government consisted European Commission, The guess the future of Greece. a high point, Prime Minister of the three coalition members: European Central Bank (ECB) George A. Papandreou stepped The Panhellenic Socialist Move- and the International Monetary down, lowering public trust in ment, the New Democracy Par- Fund (IMF), collectively known both the Socialist Party and its ty and the Popular Orthodox as the Troika, has pushed other Rally. european countries in support government.
7
S PORTS
Contact Ellen Bouyelas, bouyeen@millsaps.edu
Tennis focused on more than wins and losses Sara Sacks Staff Writer Millsaps’ tennis teams have had enough of competing against one another. Both squads are ready to face opponents they don’t know. They will get the chance this weekend when they travel to Conway, Ark., for season-opening matches against Harding University and Hendrix College. “I think we’re very ready,” says new head coach Jason Box. “In a sport like tennis when you’re always having to play one of your teammates in practice, you’re ready to see someone you don’t like across the net from you.” Despite the team’s eagerness to see some new, rival faces on the court, the team’s chemistry during pre-season training has been great. “The girls get along so well,” contends senior Lauren William, captain of the women’s team. “It’s a nice dedicated group of six girls. They are so much fun to be around.” “The chemistry is actually really good,” agrees men’s team captain senior David Bastian. “We all get along pretty well.” For Box who has had experience coaching Division III athletes, the joy of coaching comes from the family atmosphere of his teams. “Our jobs as coaches are
fun because of the players we get to coach,” says Box. “They have really started to come together as a collective unit on both teams,” Box remarks. Both the men’s and wom-
of the season is to come in the first half of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship,” says Williams. Bastian agrees. “Coming in the top four in the confer-
Box is less concerned about wins and losses than effort. “I can’t predict how many wins and losses we’re going to have. I’ve only seen our players play a few matches in the fall, but I’m not real concerned about that this year,” he says. “What I’d really like to see our team do is start preparing and competing the right way, and I am certainly starting to see that in the first few weeks of practice. Now, we just have to start doing it in competition which is always much harder.” Box trusts Williams and Bastian, to help move the team in the right direction. “Both of them are doing a really good job at leading our teams and understanding that things are going to be more serious this season than they have been in the past,” he says. The players and the coach believe that they will be able to move the team back to the successful season that the Millsaps tennis program has enjoyed in the past. “He’s awesome,” remarks Bastian about Box. “We have the same kind of goals and objectives which is just a general betterment of the team.” The tennis teams travel for Contributed the first five weeks of their Top: Senior Malte Schick; Bottom: Sophomore Callie Creekseason, playing their first more. home match on March 30th. en’s teams place value in ence is a big goal. With the winning their matches. team this year, we have pretty “One of our goals for the end good chance of doing that.”
Finding memories in baseball
By Kenya Strong Johnston Editor-in-Chief
People are often surprised to hear about my love of baseball. Most are quick to assume that the obsession comes from dating a baseball player, but in reality it started long before that. Every weekend (when available) my dad and I would watch a game on televisionthat is where my fascination began. We would blare the volume, partly because of my
dad’s poor hearing, but primarily because he claimed you couldn’t hear the true sounds of the game through a television screen, and turning the volume as high as it would go could help. We smiled at the unmistakable sound of bats on balls and the muffled background noise of crowds cheering. Already I had fallen in love. Television couldn’t even begin to compare to my first game though. The grass was greener than any crayon I had ever used. The rhythmic pace of the game was mesmerizing. Fenway Park was like a dream to a young girl dreaming of witnessing the game in person. With my cousin I found my seat and kept my eyes trained on the field the entire time, leaning forward in my seat. Unfortunately, as I grew older and my weekends filled with my own athletic events, the time I spent watching the
game began to dwindle. The small town were I grew up couldn’t support a baseball team (besides Little League) so I wasn’t exposed an incredible amount in person to the game I love so much. My best friend and I collected packs and packs of baseball cards, our collections still saved in the bottom drawer of a family dresser. We would compete with the number we had, but more importantly liked the idea of browsing the faces, the stats, the names. Unlike many die-hard fans, I didn’t find a team to follow. If I had to say one, it would be the Red Sox (because of my first game), but that sounds generic. For me, it is more than following a team. The game of baseball is what I love. • The “blunk” or “ding” of a hard hit ball. • The food: sunflower seeds and peanuts • The breeze
• The lack of a clock • The slow pace that is relax-
ing and suspenseful all at the same time • As I get older, the way their uniforms perfectly hug their behinds • Red sliding stains • The history • The smell of loved leather gloves • The emergence of different heroes every day It’s unfortunate to me that so many people find the game “boring.” I claim that they are afraid to give into something slow. Our every day lives move so quickly around us that there is rarely time when we sit back and just watch and listen. Baseball gives you this perfect opportunity. It is unlike anything else and should be taken as such. For me, it is not only a childhood memory but a piece of me that will remain forever.
Major fans
By Ellen Bouyelas Sports Editor
As a Millsaps cheerleader and Sports Editor of the Purple and White I have seen the ins and outs of Majors basketball this year. I have talked with the players throughout the season, and have shouted my fair share of “rah-rahrah” at the games. With the women completing a streak of 15 straight wins, the Millsaps student body was getting pumped. With each passing weekend, the crowd in the stands seemed to multiply, especially during our white out game. Yet, with the growing attendance, I noticed there was a severe lack of fan participation. Certain individuals such as Raven Scott and her volleyball teammates led the crowd in chants and cheers, trying to get everyone involved. However, even with their efforts, not everyone in the bleachers took part in the spirited fun. As an underclassman in high school, I attended each football game, but never cheered much, partially because I really had no clue about the rules of the game. Second, I was petrified of drawing attention to myself. I learned by my senior year that the more you chant along, the faster and easier it is to understand the game. When I stayed light-hearted and had fun with the crowd surrounding me, I realized I had drawn more attention by not cheering. Plus, I was missing out on a much more enjoyable experience as a fan. Many of my friends who are athletes have come to a unanimous agreement that nothing feels better than to have a huge crowd of fans encouraging you and cheering you on, no matter how well the team is doing in the game. Whether Millsaps is winning or losing, in any sport, it is our duty as Major fans to come out and support our team, our peers, our friends. What can we do to get these crowds of Millsaps fans at all sports games? How can we make sure everyone cheers on our teams? Track has been up and running for a couple weeks now. Tennis, softball, baseball and women’s golf are starting up this weekend. Lacrosse, along with men’s golf, will begin late February, early March.
S PORTS
8 Contact Ellen Bouyelas, bouyeen@millsaps.edu
Softball brings new sincere belief to 2012
Ellen Bouyelas Sports Editor
Millsaps softball team hopes hard work in the fall pays off this Spring. “I feel good about the upcoming season, and I say that because I feel like we had a good fall season. From a work stand point we were very consistent with our workouts and approached them all with a good attitude,” says Head Coach Roland Rodriguez. “ The team developed a good work ethic and really seemed to work together. I’ve seen that carry over to our spring workouts.” The women have been working harder since they will have to compete against some of the top schools in the nation right out of the gate this season. “I feel like we have a lot of potential and talent that will take us a long way. Everyone is super excited and takes it very seri-
Genny Santos
The Majors softball team hopes their new intensity and passion will carry them through their 40 games this season.
ously. So, if we lose it won’t be because we didn’t give it our all,” says sophomore Logan Dukes. Senior Jade Hewitt echoes her teammate, “I feel really positive about this season. This team is different from any team I’ve ever
been on, and we have a team bond that is hard to describe. Each girl on this team contributes something different to the team, but when we are all put together, we are something incredible. It is all about
the team, not the individual.” One of the biggest challenges the team will face is to stay focused for the entire season, which consists of more than 40 games and never to lose sight of their ultimate goal, which
is a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship. “Sometimes during the season it gets hard; mental toughness is just as important as physical toughness,” explains. Hewitt Rodriguez elaborates, “What I think I’m hoping for is that this team has a stronger and more sincere belief than we have shown at times in the past. We have had a couple of good seasons since I’ve been here, but something was always missing.” Both Dukes and Hewitt portray the confidence their coach seeks. These women know they are not a weak team and that under the leadership of Rodriguez, one of the most successful softball coaches in SCAC history, the team grows stronger with each practice. “He is the leader of our program, and we all respect and look to him each and every day,” says Hewitt.
Kappa Delta Emerald Evening Silent Auction benefiting Prevent Child Abuse America and the Jackson YMCA’s Family Support Services
7 p.m. -10 p.m. on Feb. 25th at the Mississippi Children’s Museum Live music, heavy hors d’oeuvres and silent auction items Come and have a great time with Kappa Delta and support our philanthropy!
C.S.’s
Major Athlete: Ryan Zemke
Friday is Millsaps College Night Classification: Fifth year senior Major: Administration Hometown: Baton Rouge, La Sport/Position: Outfielder/ Pitcher Favorite Hobby: Watching movies Describe the best game you’ve ever played. 2010 season at LaGrange. We were down 2 runs with 2 outs in the top of the ninth inning. With an 0-2 count, I hit a 2-run single that tied the game. I went on to score the go-ahead run later in the inning to mount the comeback victory.
Specials on food & drinks for students, faculty and staff Live music 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. Saturday: The Yard Dogs
Chad Ochocinqo changed his name a few years back. If you could change your name for your sport what would it be? I’ve always thought hockey players have the coolest names, so any of those would be fun. But if I had to choose, I’d probably change it to Evgeni Malkin because he’s my favorite.
Most influential person in your life: My dad Have you played any other sports, if so for how long? Started playing baseball at the age of 4. Growing up, I played basketball and football in 7th and 8th grade. I also played ice hockey from ages 8-10. Favorite catch phrase: Another day, another dollar... If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why? Drew Brees. He is both a respected athlete and a wonderful person. Not only was he able to transform the greatest franchise ever, but he also helped rebuild one of the greatest cities on Earth. WHO DAT 4 LIFE!