9 Feb. 2012

THE PURPLE & WHITE Millsaps College

VOLUME LXXX, NO.13

JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI

ARTS & LIFE

In a pageant, what does it mean to be beautiful?

FEATURES

Millsaps takes honest approach to sexuality Abed Haddad News Editor

C

Hewitt’s talent extends beyond the walls of the Lewis Art Gallery.

SPORTS

Inside

tillo, a Foundations leader, recalls “Foundations provided a safe space for students to discuss sexuality openly, and as leaders we provide them with the information they need to be safe, on or off campus.”

The Wesson Health Center is also a fountain of information when it comes to sexuality.

Every year, Nurse Carol Lowe informs freshmen of the center’s value as a discreet resource.

“The Wesson Health Center is here to support all Millsaps students, so they have a positive experience and receive health care appropriate to their needs in a non-judgmental, caring way,” she says.

One way is through offering free condoms in the waiting room, but the Wesson Health Center had a plethora of other resources readily available to students.

For example, physicians are able write prescriptions for birth control pills if the students has had her annual physical and needs a short supply.

Lowe can also refer students to gynecologists in the area as well as free, local clinics. The center even offers pregnancy tests.

“There are also several clinics and services in the Jackson area and online that we will help (students) explore based on where they are in the decision process and what they decide to do” Lowe says when it comes to pregnancy cases.

And when it comes to the college’s affiliation with The United Methodist Church, Lowe states that “at no time do we offer an

opinion based on personal belief.”

However, the Wesson Health Center is limited in its scope, because it does not have a laboratory.

Sexually transmitted infections testing is not readily available on campus.

Lowe quickly points out resources in the area, such as the Crossroads Clinic. “(It) is the best resource for this because testing and treatment are free and confidentiality is guaranteed,” she says.

Wesson Health Center hours of operation Monday 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM Tuesday 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM Wednesday 10:30 AM - 3:30 PM Thursday 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM Friday 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM Saturday CLOSED Sunday CLOSED Medical Doctors are available by appointement (walk-ins seen when possible) Monday 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon Tuesday 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon Wednesday 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Thursday 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon Friday 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM Saturday NO HOURS Sunday NO HOURS (601) 974-1207 The Crossroad Clinic 350 W. Woodrow Wilson Suite 2516 Jackson 39213 (601) 987-6728

Numbers that should change your vote

Baseball swings into 2012 with an adundance of talent.

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hurch affiliated colleges have different approaches to the increased sexuality of their students.

Fordham University, a Roman Catholic institution, was in the spotlight recently because the student health center refused to prescribe birth control pills for a studnent.

St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, also in accordance with Roman Catholic tenets, states

on its website that it “provide(s) opportunities for today’s busy women to take care of themselves not only medically but also from a wellness perspective,” however, the hospital does not preform abortions.

Millsaps College, on the other hand, does not shy away from the issue, openly addressing the sexuality of her students.

Awareness starts with the Foundations program’s session on sexuality, where leaders educate students on the importance of safe sex.

Sophomore Sara del Cas-

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012

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Opinions........................2 Arts & Life.....................3 Features...................4 & 5 News continued.............6 Sports.....................7 & 8

Commentary

by Katie Greer Contributor

The lack of transparency in President Obama’s State of the Union address flags potential trouble for Republican presidential candidates.

Despite unemployment ratings and a failed stimulus plan, the presidential campaign rests not on a mass turnout of Republican voters, but on all voters and their investigative to President Obama’s economic

record.

In his State of the Union address, President Obama called for tax regulations where “everyone gives their fair share and everyone plays by the same set of rules.”

In defining “fair share,” President Obama calls for a “Warren Buffet Fair Tax,” titled after investments billionaire. Warren Buffet is paying a lower tax rate than his secretary. Buffet’s secretary pays at a higher rater because her taxable income is higher than his.

The same goes for Mitt Romney. On paper, Romney’s overall income is astronomically high, with Romney’s main source of income coming frominvestments.

Investments have a completely separate tax regulation than income. Not only is Romney paying the exact tax required

on what he pulls in as taxable income, he also donates $7 million of his income annually.

None of this was mentioned in President Obama’s address.

While President Obama manipulates Buffet’s tax record to sell the 2012 tax plan, President Obama does not reveal the lack of regulation on investments income or his personal economic record.

In his address, President Obama said that he will no longer support an economy based on “bad debt.”

While applauded, President Obama did not mention where the “bad debt” came from- his stimulus plan.

The stimulus plan President Obama rolled out in 2009 cost $787 billion, exceeding the cost of the Iraq War initiated by the Bush Administration.

While intended to stimulate

the economy, the stimulus plan required an increase in taxes and resulted in an increase in unemployment from 7.2 percent to 9.4 percent.

On top of the failed stimulus plan, Obama raised the debt ceiling after government spending reached $14.3 trillion just three years after Obama took office. As a result of the raised debt ceiling, the Gross Domestic Product exceeded 100 percent- a figure that has not been reached since World War II, in which the increase was due to war spending, not creating economic stimulus.

These are just a few resultsof Obama’s economic stimulus plan.

Before you cast your vote, and before you buy your “Four More Years” bumper sticker, ask yourself, “Four more years of what?”

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O PINIONS Fantasy Football Team Names 1. The Brady Bunch 2. Kibbles and Vicks 3. Corn on the Schuab 4. Romosexual Tendencies 5. Favre Dollar Footlong

List by Genny Santos

Contact Genny Santos, santogl@millsaps.edu

Millsaps’ Top Five: Top Five Lists

1. Ways to solve World hunger 2. Replacements for fossil fuels 3. Ways to cure cancer 4. Resolutions to ensure World peace 5. Ways to master time travel

1. Empire Strikes Back 2. Attack of the Clones 3. A New Hope 4. Return of the Jedi 5. Revenge of the Sith Note: The Phantom Menace “sucks.”

List by Beccah Lenhart

List by Juan Fernandez

A king unfit?

New rhythms shake things up

By Mo Wilson Contributor

Dance music is everywhere nowadays. Dubstep artist’s such as Skrillix and Nero have songs in commercials. Pop stars Katy Perry and Britney Spears have fused dance music into their pop singles.

However some dubstep artists have started to play a new kind of dance music, using the same aggressive bass line and sound effects, while drawing from Latin and Dutch house music.

It’s called Moombahton, and it’s the new kind of underground dance music.

Moombahton (pronounced Moom-buh-tone) first got its start in Washington D.C. when DJ Dave Nada was urged by his cousin to play for “skipping parties” he hosted for his high school.

For those not in the know, skipping parties happen at noon during school days, with word of mouth used to promote parties that morning.

As Nada watched the kids roll into the party, he heard what they were playing and realized he had a problem. The kids were playing reggaeton, bachata and Latin music, but Nada had only brought fast-paced Dutch house music and techno.

Not wanting to go against the mood, Nada improvised by slowing down a Major Lazer and Afrojack song called Moombah to a reggae tempo of 108 bpm.

The kids went nuts.

Nada dubbed the song Moombahton and began spinning songs like it at other parties.

He saw the positive reaction his songs recieved at clubs and put

Star Wars Movies

his creations on Soundcloud.

Inspired DJs from all over the world began uploading their Moombahton edits of popular songs as well as their original creations.

Producer Diplo, who worked with “Paper Planes” singer/rapper M.I.A., released a Moombahton compilation on his Mad Decent record label featuring popular DJs such as Dillon Francis and Munchi.

What does this genre of music sound like? With so many different DJs involved and the speed of the Internet rapidly mutating the Moombahton sound, it can be hard to pin down a specific sound.

Most songs that are considered Moombahton feature popular Latin and reggaeton riddims such as the Dembow, coupled with the builds and drops associated with house music.

These are similar to those in dubstep, but drops in Moombahton are less aggressive and feature less bass. The combination is noticeably more Latin than most electronic music and extremely danceable.

Finding this music is easy.

Searching Moombahton on most muic sites generates some pretty cool remixes of your favorite songs.

Some mixes may not always be stellar, but like dubstep, if you look around you’ll be able to find some real gems.

I got into Moombahton through an online playlist posted on 8tracks, a website where users upload playlists. It features a sick remix of “Jump” by Kriss Kross, as well as a remix of Little Wayne’s “Up Up and Away”.

It inclued original songs by genre favorites such as Francis and Diplo and even a remix of “Riverside” that was played at the skipping party where Nada created Moombahton.

Find this mix at http://8tracks. com/blokinsmunts/moombahton-monday

By Jayson Porter Contributor

Instead of working on my senior thesis, I feel like laying down some history for Black History Month.

Haile Selassie I, or Ras Tafari, is an important figure in the Rastafarian tradition, however I neither see him as a god nor a man worthy of extraordinary praise.

I was raised in an afro-centric environment. My mother’s parents are both in the Nation of Islam founded by Elijah Muhammad, spread by Malcolm (Shabazz) X. Not only was my mother raised in that culture and my aunt a Shabazz, but many of my cousins have Islamic names. My grandfather even changed his name to X at one point.

I used to love the Black Nationalism that was pervasive in my family, but one day I realized its counter-productive aspects. I looked towards Rastafarianism for its afro-centricity and all the different people invited to this new form of locks of love. How pluralistic, I thought, as I indulged myself in the culture, declaring to never cut my hair again.

I believed I had found the best of both worlds until one day I got into a serious argument with a real Rasta about whether Selassie, the last king of Ethiopia, was a god. Being a history and philosophy major, I was skeptical. But this was a real Rasta; straight-outtaKingston, can-you-repeat-everything-you-just-said kind of Rasta. Let’s just say it didn’t go

so well. The only positive was that I became even more interested in the culture and wanted full immersion.

Selassie is recognized by Rastafarians as a god and bringer of Zion. He was the last African king with a connection dating back to King Solomon. Ethiopians believe their country’s founder, Menelik I, was the son of the Queen of Sheba and Solomon, 225 generations removed from Ras Tafari Makonnen, who changed his name to Haile Selassie I after crowned emperor.

Many Ethiopians, like me, have an impression of Selassie different from that of Jamaicans.

I can remember asking Ethiopian farmers in the countryside their thoughts on Selassie and hearing several times that he was not a leader of the people like Menelik, but a leader for foreigners and their interests.

That was certainly bittersweet to hear, given that my curiosity led to a 16-hour flight across the world.

Like Jamaican Pan-African leader Marcus Garvey, I was, and still am, fascinated by the culture and history of the African Horn. Not only did Ethiopia avoid the archetypal impacts of European colonization, Ethiopia also peacefully and pluralistically avoided the spread of Islam in North Africa. Ethiopia followed Egypt in the rejection of the Creed of Nicaea in 325 because they could not follow the Roman Empire’s complete separation of Jesus from his humanity.

Rastafarianism, as the PanAfrican reconnection to the motherland, is misconstrued by the idealism of Selassie. Selassie does not represent Africa, let alone Ethiopia.

Jamaicans looked to Selassie as the bringer of Zion. He represented hope for many Jamaicans who became Rastafarian between the 1940s and 1970s.

Selassie was removed from office in 1974 by a Marxist regime Black History continued - pg 7

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...

Sara Sacks Carpenter Stevens

Contributors...

Mo Wilson Tao Tang Jayson Porter Katie Greer Stevie Cantrell

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

In a world of beauty pageants...

Commentary

by Carpenter Stevens Staff Writer

In a world of screaming 5 year olds running from mothers chasing them around with a curling iron and hairspray, you would think that all beauty pageants are the same.

Mothers, like those on the TV show “Toddlers and Tiaras” give their children up to the cutthroat world of beauty pageants that they believe is preparing them for life in the world.

In reality, this world has been known to give children a distorted view of beauty and glamour. Some people say the experiences of these young girls are very different from pageants for older ages such as Miss America or the teenage Junior Miss Pageant. Generally, older pageant contestants have a choice to participate. However, the worlds do have similarities.

Every young pageant girl, regardless of age, knows the tricks of the trade: • No pageant girl is anything without her hair piece • The bigger the curls, the bigger the crown

By Sara Sacks Staff writer

At first, it does not sound Miss Rodeo Mississippi pageant “I don’t support ‘beauty pagHairspray is like duct tape. It can hold anything to- like anything out of the ordi- in 2004. She describes her pag- eants’; however, I do firmly gether (even bathing suit bot- nary right? That is what the eant experience as “positive”. believe that pageants focusing on education, community toms to your actual bottom) support, and scholarship are • You may have positive and uplifting to those long eye lashes, but you who participate in them.” are not a beauty queen un“What does it mean to be less you can put on a fake beautiful? Just because you are eyelash in two seconds flat talented, run every day, have a • Be tan or fake it, but no good attitude, and are attracone likes a pale beauty queen tive, does that make you any You better fight, and you more beautiful than someone better win, and to win you who doesn’t play an instruneed all the tools of the trade. ment, dance, or anything else?

This mindset of the conI argue no,” Richardson says. testants (and their mothers) With all the little girls getleads to stereotypes, such ting the perspective that as idiocy, that are somebeauty is sometimes skin times unfortunately upheld. deep, some hope that pagThe older contestants that Byline eants such as the Miss Rodeo hold prestigious titles are “Toddlers and Tiaras” contestant displays the suggestive nature of Mississippi, the Junior Miss sometimes just as smart as child beauty pageants. pageant or other pageants that the girls in TLC’s hit show.

Miss America Pageant website “I had a wonderful, educatfocus on academic scholarship Miss Oklahoma’s introduction at the 2006 Miss America quoted her as saying. However, ing experience with the pag- will continue with a vengeance.

Plenty of pageant girls thrive pageant in Las Vegas is a per- you would know that the word eant. My experience with the “elementary” was pronounced contestants in the pageant were on the support that winning fect example of this stereotype.

Miss Oklahoma and contest “eliementerry” and the word productive and positive… None gives them for scholarship and winner Jennifer Berry said to “children” was said as “chillren”. of them were concerned with personal development. It takes Surely, not every contestant up- beauty or winning as the main certain awareness though, to the United States in the fakholds certain assumptions and goal” she says. This pageant also know that this is for scholarest southern accent possible, “Hey y’all! My name is Jennifer generalizations. In fact, other focuses on the sport of rodeo as ship and not simply a crown.

Berry and I am Miss Oklahoma. types of beauty pageants involve a requirement for the queen, a In this cutthroat world, it is If I win Miss America I want to something of more substance. unique take on the distinction important to distinguish beGabrielle Richardson, a junior between a “beauty pageant” tween a spoiled little pageant become an elementary school at Millsaps, competed in the and a “scholarship program”. queen and a true beauty queen. teacher and teach small children.”

•

“Buskapading” means life with less

Everything about the Buskateers from song lyrics to comments to instruments- reveal the band’s quirkiness and creativity.

The Buskateers, a small but eclectic group of musically inclined travelers, recently made a visit to Millsaps. The group song’s like Apocalypse Love, a Star Wars Rap and an Anatomically Correct Dinosaur Song elicited laughter, applause and generous foot tapping.

Along with a guitar and a tambourine, the band plays a ukulele, clarinet, nose flute, miniature washboard and an ancient instrument called “bones”.

Originally “bones” were made from cow ribs. Today Ari Erlbaum, nose flute player and singer of the Star Wars rap, carves them from wood. Erlbaum learned to play the bones at a dance convention workshop. After seeing some of the best bones players in the world perform: “I was like, yeah, I gotta learn to play those things,” recalls Erlbaum.

The nose flute has also been a large part of Erlbaum’s musical influence. “It’s been a tradi-

tion in my family to stock pile nose flutes,” he says.

“To give them to people for their birthdays and to like always have a nose flute on you.”

Pete Talbot, whose beard gets in the way of his nose fluting, describes his fondness for the ukulele. “I play a ukulele because I thought it would be really adorable”. “Everything you play on a uke is cute or sad, but it’s mainly cute.”

The bus trip that brings the Buskateers from town to town originated with Talbot’s intentions to travel.

Byline “I wanted to visit the The Buskateers fill the Kava House with laughter and jams.

U.S., because I really Erlbaum joined the trip on None of their previous appearhaven’t before. So I built the Nov.13 and the bus continued ances had been on stage. The bus up and got it all ready and moving down the east coast. group calls it “busking,” or playI was going along and I thought The two Buskateers picked up ing to people on the streets. “It it would be way better to have and dropped off various friends was really neat tonight to play company,” he explains. as they made their way to Ath- when people were actually comTalbot and Erlbaum have been ens, Ga. where they met Dan ing to listen,” says Erlbaum. life long friends. Talbot says, “it Tinsley in early January.

Surprisingly, music is not the just happened to work out that “We weren’t in a band until primary purpose of the Buskawe were both musicians.”

Dan came along,” says Erlbaum. teers’ buskapades. “Creativity is “And both played ridiculous Though the Buskateers seem sort of a motivation in general,” songs,” laughs Erlbaum who as if they’ve graced the stage says Erlbaum. “So for Pete, the was inspired to play music by many times previous to their idea was to live on a bus and sell his summer camp counselor show at Millsaps, the boys had his art off of it.”

Talbot. only played three times before.

“I think we all wanted to do

something where we didn’t have to go into an office,” Talbot agrees.

The big green schoolbus that plays home to the Buskateers has been converted to run on vegetable oil. The hand operated converter lives inside a plywood box, which takes up a large portion of the right side of the bus. The rest of the bus tightly contains a large disheveled bed, mess area, sink, bathroom and art desk about which various stuffed animal appendages are packed tightly together in cubbyholes. With these stuffed animals and miscellaneous recycled items Talbot makes what he calls “no death required taxidermy.” They are imaginative stuffed animal heads mounted on taxidermy plaques.

The three Buskateers are a rare breed. “Live on a bus, it rocks,” says Erlbaum “it’s more efficient to need less than to have more.”

Along the way, their experience with others has been overwhelmingly positive.

“We’ve just met so many people who we didn’t really do much for but just entertain them with the idea of what we were doing, and they’ve jut been extremely hospitable,” remarks Tinsley.

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Contact Anna Nations, natioal@millsaps.edu

Multimedia artist translates passion into profit

By Madeline Rardin

easy for high school athletes by allowing them to upload videos to YouTube and make them accessible to colleges.

Along with digital arts, she has also managed to express her ar-

Arts and Life Editor

subjects.

Hewitt has combined both painting and film by creating eye-catching time-lapse videos of her paintings.

Hewitt credits both her family

Since a young age, senior Jade Hewitt has has had a fasination with art. Across many mediaHewitt has developed successful work and found a passion.

“I started filming when I was 12; I grabbed my dad’s video camera,” she recalls.

Over the years Hewitt’s skills in digital media have allowed her to express her love of film and to find a niche by creating college athletic recruiting videos.

In summer 2008, Hewitt used her experGenny Santos tise in the digital Senior Jade Hewitt proudly presents in her senior art show her media and softball developed ability to capture an artistic reality. to create her own business “Media by tistic abilities in paintings and and the Millsaps Art Jade .“ The company has become so photographs. She views paint- Department in besuccessful that Hewitt has pro- ing as her hobby in which she ing crucial parts of vided quality videos for more primarily focuses on New Or- making her career at than 60 athletes across three leans. She uses photography for Millsaps a success. high school senior portraits, She explains that her father is states.

She has made it particularly athletic shots and artistic based at every recruiting video shoot

throwing balls to athletes.

“Millsaps they challenge you to reason with your art, make sense of your art and have a purpose for it,” she says.

As a senior studio art major, she is required to produce a collection for the Lewis Art Gallery locat-

The subject of her senior thesis is “losing”—loss that takes place “across all types of people in all areas of life, whether you are a mom, athlete, business man, janitor, whatever; it’s all about times in our lives where we lose and keep losing but we get back up to accomplish things we want to accomplish,” she explains.

Hewitt hopes to attend a graduate program for film with a desire to pursue a career in the film industry.

Hewitt’s senior art show will open April 2. Her work will be displayed alongside fellow senior art majors Sue Carrie Drummond and Samantha Ledbetter.

The gallery talk for this show will be held at 2 p.m. on April 13 in the Lewis Art Gallery.

If you are interested in Hewitt’s company, Media by Jade, visit www.videosbyjade.com.

ed on the third floor of the Ford Academic Complex.

Fisher knows best: Hope for the hopeless Dear Fisher,

?

I always run across this obstacle in dating: when should I text the guy first? After a few days, if I haven’t heard from him, is it okay to text him? Or how long should I wait? I want him to know I’m interested without seeming obsessive.

Sincerely, Texting Terrors Dear Texting Terrors, If you are truly interested in this guy, and he has been pursuing you, then I think it is perfectly fine to text him first.

But, you need to use discretion when doing so.

Keep in mind that it is nice to feel chased. That is certain, but you do not want to seem uninterested either. If this guy is really into you, then he will appreciate a simple, “Hey (insert name of hot, available

guy)! How are you doing?”

This lets him know that you are still around and that you are still interested. You don’t want him to give up or move on to someone else because he thinks that you are not into him.

If it’s been a couple of days since you two have talked, chances are that he has been busy, especially if he is a fellow Millsaps student. The truth of the matter is that most of us stay busy most of the time whether that involves classes, clubs, sports or even just squeezing in the occasional meal in the caf ’. Or, he could even be waiting to hear from you.

I would just advise that you keep it casual. You want to let him know that you are available, but there is a delicate balance between available and desperate. You don’t want to seem over-zealous, i.e. obsessive. Just sending a simple “How are you doing?” or “What have you been doing?”

should do it.

If he doesn’t respond “soon enough,” do not resend the message or keep sending more. If he isn’t that into you or is unsure about how he feels about you, then you don’t want to seem too eager. That is definitely off-putting.

Also, stay away from the awkward “Good Morning” and “Good Night” text messages. Let him initiate those.

Wait until later in the day before you text him though. You don’t want to be that girl who wakes him up in the morning or makes his phone sound in class. Not only is that embarrassing, but he also might not remember to text you back if he is scrambling to silence his phone in the midst of class. If you wait until the afternoon, then things will more than likely have slowed down, and there is time for conversation.

But, to be honest, the best advice I know to give is to (I know it might seem taboo) ask him to hang out. There is too much that can get lost in

a text message: nonverbal cues lost in translation or sarcasm that could be hidden between the lines. Dealing with the absence of nonverbal clues can be a really difficult hurdle to overcome, and it can be weird and even anxiety-evoking.

Not to mention there is the wait to get a response or having that infamous “Oh, no! I shouldn’t have said that, but it is already sent into cyberspace. I can’t get it back now,” feeling about a text message. If you ask him to get coffee sometime or let him know that you are studying in the library one night, then you will be able to spend time together.

You’ll be able to figure out more quickly whether or not the relationship will go anywhere, and there is the opportunity to get some chemistry going. You cannot go out on a date or get a first kiss through a text message.

Also, if he is made nervous by you, then it might be a relief if you open that door for him to spend some time with

you. Ultimately, a dating relationship will not form 160 characters at a time. You need to spend time with him, and to be honest, some guys just need that extra little push if they think that there is even a slight chance they could be turned down.

Sometimes it doesn’t hurt to just put yourself out there.

The worst thing that will happen is that he says no, and if that is the case, then you know that there is no need to waste your time reading, editing and sending text messages to a guy who is not interested. The last thing you want to do is spend time talking to him through flat, emotionless lines when he really has no intentions of pursuing a relationship with you.

Sincerely, Fisher If you would like to receive a response from Fisher, please email your question to natioal@millsaps.edu

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Contact Anna Nations, natioal@millsaps.edu

Millsaps leadership conference empowers young Mississippi women

By Stevie Cantrell Contributor

bu M m ill pe sa Ch sa r s ps ur y i tic ch t a ke & ll: rs St at e

From political to religious leadership, participants at the second annual Miss. Young Women’s Leadership Summit were exposed to a variety of outlets in which they could serve their school, community and state.

The event at Millsaps strives to empower ninth and 10th grade women, giving them the knowledge and tools to seek a career in public service.

This year’s conference, held Jan. 27, included 40 attendees from the Delta, Gulf Coast, North Mississippi and the Jackson area.

The summit originated last January as the honors project of former senior Victoria Romano.

Her vision was to provide the conference at no cost to young Mississippi women.

Romano passed down the organization of the conference to senior Laura Domingue, junior Stevie Cantrell and sophomore Sara Del Castillo.

Romano returned to the conference in a different manner this year. Now a teacher at Forest Hill High School in Jackson, Romano participated in the conference as the chaperone of 10 students.

“Its like watching the students

you taught graduate from high school and tell you what a difference you made in their lives.

I couldn’t be more proud of what these young girls are learning and becoming,” Romano says.

The attendees spent the day learning from their peers as well as from the Millsaps College students who served as menContributed tors for the conference.

This was the first year for junior Hannah Enloe to participate as a mentor.

“This is such a great event to be a part of. I wish I had had something like this when I was 16,” Enloe remarks. “It is a great resource for young women, and it should be continued for years to come.”

Twenty other Millsaps students, ranging from freshman to seniors, served as mentors, provoking discussions among

their groups, chaperoning the service projects and serving as a friendly face to the participants.

Throughout the day, the participants, as well as the mentors, were addressed by a number of the state’s prominent female leaders.

Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler and State Treasurer Lynn Fitch recounted the struggles of their journey to serve as an elected official.

Rabbi Valerie Cohen of Temple Israel and The Rev. Rwth Ashton, Millsaps Chaplain, addressed

the young women from the viewpoint of religious service.

The speakers urged the young women to seek out leadership opportunities in their school, community, church and beyond.

“In your hometown you have a great responsibility. You need to serve in some capacity,” urged Butler.

In one activity, the participants were able to do just that.

The participants presented pressing issues, asked to construct a plan of action and required to present their work to the entire conference.

For some, this was their first exposure to public speaking. For others it was an opportunity to further develops their problem-solving skills.

Whether it was hands on service, exposure to new forms of leadership, or mere camaraderie between young women of different backgrounds, the participants received a day filled with experiences.

The event was made possible by the generous support of the admissions department, SBA Executive Board, the communications department, women and genders studies and the College Republicans.

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Contact Abed Haddad, haddaag@millsaps.edu

Foreign students give world view of Millsaps

By Tao Tang Contributor International students are rarely asked why they chose to attend Millsaps and what they like and dislike about the school.

Eight international students from six different countries answered these questions.

For the most part, generous financial aid attracts these students. All are on at least half tuition. “ I got offers from five schools and I decided to chose Millsaps because it has pretty high rankings accordingly to U.S News and World Report, and it gives me the biggest scholarship compared to other offers,” says Tung Hoang of Vietnam.

The international community also likes that both Millsaps’ campus and classes are small. The students say the small campus makes them feel closely connected to people, and small classes offer them attention from professors.

Luka Khakhnelidze, a freshmen from Georgia, says, “I like the small campus and classes of Millsaps. I can interact with professors in class discussion”.

Some international students comment that American students are friendly and willing to help, but for various reasons, they are difficult to become real friends with them.

Serbian sophomore Misa Pjevac says, “the school is friendly in general but there are cliques that divide students”.

A Chinese student, Kajia Zhou says, “I think American students are

nice to me. But, I sometimes feel lonely because not many American students seem interested in foreign cultures.”

Cultural exchange can be educational and also help interna-

tional students become better understood.

Kali, An international student from Beijing, reveals

“One of my American friend once told me that Asia had noth-

ing but comics,” he says.

Yuan Fang, a senior international student from China, says, “ I sometimes find it difficult to communicate with a lot of A diverse group of American international students students. I at Millsaps speak out don’t think about their personal English is experiences and muthe probtual challenges. lem,” she explains.

“We just have different topics that some students do not know for conversations.” much about foreign cultures.

In addition to the challenges

of interacting with American students, some international students complain about the inconveniences of shopping.

Most international students don’t have cars, so they depend on help from their friends and volunteers from Millsaps International Buddy System for transportation. Six of the eight international students worry that, despite the availability of help from MIBS and friends, their transportation requests might be annoying if they are made too often.

Kailang Qi, a junior from China says that shopping is very inconvenient.

“I don’t have a car for shopping but MIBS buddies are busy students, too. I don’t want to bother them too much.”

Qi suggests a school-operated bus.

“I want a school bus with regular shopping schedules for everyone,” he says. “The bus can operate once or twice a week for students and our shopping problem would be solved”.

International students make up small part of Millsaps’ population (1 percent of the total enrollment). but this group of people might help U.S students to learn more of the differences and similarities of people from around the world.

Syria’s unclear future leads to escalated violence

By Abed Haddad News Editor

For more than 10months, the Syrian government has been under attack by the international community.

Driven by the Arab Spring revolts in Tunisia and Yemen, Syrians took to the streets of Damascus and Homs in demonstration against the dictatorial regime of Bashar al-Assad.

Al-Assad came into power with hopes for a progressive Syrian government. He inherited the position through a public election in 2000 from his father Hafez al-Assad, running unopposed both then and again in 2007. His father, Hafez al-Assad ruled for three decades with a notorious iron fist, even ordering massacres against his own people.

Al-Assad took a similar approach to that of his father, ordering the killing of several thousand people. The United Nations stopped counting the number of deaths after it exceeded 5,400, with thousands more detained in holding cells

Contributed

Riots continue in Damascus as Al-Assad’s troops remain in the city.

around the country.

Al-Assad’s government is no stranger to violence against its own people. His secret police routinely torture, jail, and murder political or civilian protestors, placing it on the Humans Rights Watch’s list. The Syrian government has long supported the groups Hamas and Hezbollah, two terrorist groups in Lebanon and Israel, which receive financial and political support from Syria and Iran. The

Syrian government was also accused by some members of the international community of the assassination of Rafik alHariri, two-time prime minister of Lebanon, and 21 others in an explosion that targeted alHariri’s motorcade.

Perhaps what is most interesting about the staying power of the current Syrian government is al-Assad’s supporters, many of whom are elite Sunni business men and women. He even

established several security services made up to a large extent

by Alawites.

Al-Assad’s family belongs to the Alawites klan, a small but powerful sect that controls most of the Syrian government.

Even Syria’s Arab partners showed some restraint when it came to dealing with al-Assad’s regieme. In a surprising move, The Arab League voted to impose heavy sanctions on Syria, only to vote again, expelling Syria from the League. While it was a move applauded by the international community, it was overturned by request of some countries, mainly Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

The League then agreed to let Syria rejoin only if they let foreign monitoring satellites in the country, a move that failed after increased violence, including the assassinations of the secretary general of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, Dr.Abd-alRazzaq Jbeiro, and a Christian priest, the Reverand Basilious Nasser.

“The Syrian government failed to make any serious effort to co-

operate with us”, Sheik Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr al-Thani, the prime minister of Qatar, tells the United Security Council.

But in a surprising move on Jan 31, Russia reached a deal with Syria to start informal negotiations with the opposition.

Russia has been known as a supporter of Syria, writing off 80 percent of its debt in exchange for weapons and artillery. The opposition has expressed no interest in talks so far until alAssad steps down, a position expressed by world diplomats who gathered at the United Nations to attempt a security council resolution to pressure al-Assad to leave office.

In a country at the verge of civil war, the government in exile, the Syrian National Council, has threatened al-Assad’s government with retaliation. The future of Syria is unclear as of now, with no indication of any change, only increased violence and turmoil.

7

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Contact Ellen Bouyelas, bouyeen@millsaps.edu

Unprofessionally critiquing $3.5 million media 2012 Super Bowl ads deemed sub-par

Kenya Strong Johnston Editor-in-Chief is is the first year I remember watching the Super Bowl for more than the commercials and the half time show.

Recently, in my growing understanding of the details of the game, I have begun to develop a mild interest. Which, this year, was a good thing. e commercials and Madonna’s halime show weren’t all that impressive. (Not to mention that our cable NBC was flooded with an array of poorly made local commercials).

I tried my best to find enjoyment in the one day a year I sit down to purposely watch commercials though, baffled by the $3.5 million paid for every 30 seconds.

Unrated, but remembered: For some reason, sticking out in my mind are the Coca Cola “open happiness” commercials with the polar bears. Sure, there were a variety of scenes with recognizable music and even a moment of childish suspense; however compared to Coca Cola’s elaborate past productions the polar bears didn’t compare.

5: Doritos, four of their commercials making it to “the finals” last year, seemed to lose some of their humor in 2012.

“Sling Baby,” a true fight for the Doritos commercial, made it on the “Washington Post’s” list of commercials that deserve a second look by half time.

Teased by his older brother, the young baby sits in a bouncy swing on the back porch beside his grandmother. Grandma really wants the Doritos and takes it in her own hands to launch the baby (who thoroughly enjoys the ride among the animated rays of sunshine) who snatches the Doritos from his brother.

I personally believed the animation was poorly done; however, the crowd I watched the game with rated it among the

Black History continued from pg. 2 which claimed that he was a tyrant.

To some extent, this is true. Even though Selassie developed the capitol of Addis Ababa in form and fashion, he did very little for most of the nation’s countryside.

In addition to a lavish life style and poor distribution of wealth, Selassie fled to London when Italy invaded in 1935, returning only when Italy had lost power.

On the other hand, when Italy invaded in 1896, Menelik I and his wife took the battlefield with his army and defeated the Europeans. is was a catalyst to Garvey’s Ethiopianism and Pan-African movement. Some believe Garvey to be one of the earliest civil rights activists.

To be fair, I will mention that Selassie eradicated slavery in Ethiopia in 1923 in

better commercials this year.

4: I have never considered 2: Chevy threw a car out of an the concept of a naked M&M. airplane. Rob Dyrdek managed However, I do admit that when to pull off a barrel roll over the the red M&M stripped off its world’s longest skateboard. outer coating and danced to ey introduced the world’s well known songs I felt a grin first car bungee jump. I don’t across my face. know why I’m not Almost evrating that first I eryone in the think because ...I room laughed, the idea of which I guess tried my best to find a parachute was a good an acenjoyment in the one pulling sign. Had it celerating car not been for day a year I sit down out of mid the familiar air makes me to purposely watch want to hurl. rhythm of the commercials. . . music though, I would bet the 1: Ever naked M&M since they inwouldn’t have troduced the been a hit.

E*Trade baby commercials, I have waited for one that would 3: Next on my list is a com- make me laugh. I think I finally mercial I saw only half way found one. through, but it definitely caught Initially touching on the my attention. e numbers on sensitive subject of a moneythe field flashed by as years, the starved-first-time-father the player’s gear transforming. commercial ends perfectly with e National Football League a hilarious, perverted twist: presented the history of the Bobbie is speed dating. game (a true American tradiTurning now to the half-time tion) in a fashion where anyone show. Lady Gaga, there is a can connect. chance you have been outdone: A fairly new “fan” myself I ancient warriors, cheerleading even felt a small tingle of enjoy- Nicki Minaj, singing choir with

order to become the first African state in the League of Nations, but Rastafarians fail to mention that as a reason for his praise.

I cannot give any extraordinary appreciation to Selassie. He was not even the last African king. His name, aer all means “holy trinity,” taunting Ethiopia with its long complicated history of Christianity.

Rastafarians got one thing right: their dedication to oneness and love of Africa.

I only pray of once again standing on the edge of the Ri Valley where our ancestral hominids first arose. Can we not all remember and love our recently discovered ancestor Lucy?

Perhaps one day, but until then, learn from Lucy, and keep your head up. Happy Black History Month; One Home, One love…

Follow the Purple & White on @purple_n_white

ment as the years passed by.

to learn more about upcoming issues and find ways to get involved! We also take suggestions!

“

”

C Lo Green all in one. Not to mention some well thought out animation that made the stage appear to be floating. It baffles me the amount of money that is spent on such a show when the people in the stadium can hardly witness it live.

It’s amazing what television has done to our culture (not to mention our economy). Even aer all that money I believe I heard the words “wardrobe malfunction” at least three times in the room during the show – that’s rather unprofessional Madonna.

I will give her the benefit of the doubt in one thing though – she did keep our attention.

With 57 seconds le in the game, the 21-17 Giant lead and the Patriots dropped pass squashed my hopes for the one good commercial I hadn’t yet seen.

Unfortunately, it never came, and I was le with a tinge of lingering disappointment and a hope for better media performance in 2013.

Maybe next year it won’t really matter though, and I’ll write about the game.

Major Athlete: Michelle Wheeler Classification: Sophmore Major: Biology Sport/Position: Track and Field/Sprinter

How would you describe yourself in three words? Charismatic, energetic, determined.

If you were given one wish, what would it be? I wish that every child in Mississippi will receive the best possible education as the children elsewhere in the world so they will be able to compete for high paying jobs and so they will learn that anything is possible and there is a world outside of their home full of opportunities waiting for them.

If you could be any animal which one would you be? Honey badger.

Favorite musical artist: Aaliyah, Drake, and Adele.

What keeps you motivated throughout your season? Knowing that I’m running to win or do my best for myself isn’t what keeps me motivated, but knowing that when I win or do well, I am also winning fro God, my team, my coach, my teachers, my family, and the entire Millsaps community.

If a biography was written about you, what would the title be? Michelle: e Secret Life of a Misunderstood Middle Child.

Favorite TV show: e Fresh Prince of Bel-Air/ Gossip Girl.

S PORTS

8 Contact Ellen Bouyelas, bouyeen@millsaps.edu

For baseball, nothing beats a love for the game in 2012

By Kenya Strong Johnston Editor in Chief

adds that this is “a team that is made up of many strong players. We have a team made up of many leaders.”

The seniors on the team are taking the lead.

“We have seen being number

on a strong fall offseason.

“He just plays the game,” says Page. “He’ll get what he earned this year.”

Joining Zemke and Roussel in the outfield will be

A bottom-of-the-ninth rally in the season opener Tuesday night got Millsaps’ 2012 baseball season started on a good note.

The Majors beat neighborhood rival Belhaven University 8-7.

The Majors appear to have a good mix of young talent and experience this season..

“I like the demeanor and chemistry of this team,” says Head Coach Jim Page.

“They do work hard, but they love to be out there.”

For the 2012 season, Genny Santos the team has a decent balance of experience Above: Catcher junior Wes Perkins. Right: Junior Will bringing in 10 fresh- Edwards will take a lead on the mound this upcoming season. men and returning eight seniors along with two one in the nation and barely Leonard who according to Page sophomores and 11 juniors.

However, “there’s a lot of new squeaking into the Southern “has a cannon for an arm” and people at a lot of new places,” Collegiate Athletic Conference “can absolutely motor.”

Tournmament,” says senior Alex The group offers the team not says Page.

Only two out of eight return- Granier of the seniors returning only talent, but also leadership.

Page thinks the seniors are doing starters will be opening in for their last year as Majors.

Seniors Jules Roussel, Ryan ing a great job “setting the stage” the same position.

“With that, I don’t know how Zemke and Drew Leonard are for the freshmen and the rest of we are going to start,” he admits. among the eight returning se- the team.

“They are finding a balance of “But if we have a rough go at it niors who bring experience and talent to the field this season. pressure and enjoyment,” comthere won’t be any panic from “Joules can do it all,” says Shu- ments Page. the coaches.”

Not only are the Majors prePage recognizes his team’s love maker.

Page agrees, asserting that senting an able outfield, Page for the game and knows that even in new positions when Roussel is “an outstanding right believes the pitching depth on the team could be the best in they play with passion, they can fielder.”

Zemke, starting in left field his 24 years at Millsaps. Page succeed.

Freshmen Keith Shumaker this season, hopes to follow up notes the “vast improvement” in

Senior Night!

Come support your Majors!

Women: 3:00PM Men: 5:00PM in the Hanger Dome Millsaps College vs.

Rhodes College

the catching position.

Junior Wes Perkins, senior Tanner Woodson and freshmen

Ken Stewart “could be a huge factor for us,” says Page.

Junior Kevin Wall and freshmen Sam Doucet are picking it up on defense as well.

Looking at all aspects of the game, what the Majors have to offer this season is promising.

They have been swinging the ball well and “will be able to score runs with our speed and offensive power,” says Shumaker.

Schumaker believes the deep team will keep away fatigue from playing the majority of games on the road.

Granier thinks it may be chal-

lenging to “focus so much away from our normal environment” but is up for the challenge.

“It’s one more challenge where we get to see what we’re made of,” says Page.

In the middle of the season the Majors will play six consecutive weekends away.

However, the team “takes pride in going into other people’s stadiums and in essence taking it over,” says Wall. “(We play) like it is our own field.”

Their competition against World Series qualifying teams such as Mississippi College Illinois Wesleyan, and Methodist University will challenge them, but the team seems confident.

The ultimate goal for the Majors is to score a spot (and a championship) in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.

They are remaining focused “on respecting and loving the process” though says Wall.

Page believes “nothing takes the place of the enthusiasm and chemistry” the team has developed.

“Win or lose,” he says. “I like to be around guys that love the game and get after it.”

Wall agrees, saying that “as a team we wish to be known for playing relentlessly game-in and game-out. I’m sure we will have our ups and downs this season, but we’re excited to get out there and play some ball.”

The Majors return to action at 2 p.m. Friday when the University of the Ozarks visits Millsaps.