THE PURPLE & WHITE Millsaps College
VOLUME LXXX, NO.16
ARTS & LIFE
Sit down with honors students Whitney Gilchrist, Alex Cashman.
FEATURES
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI
Senior Janice Okeke (far right) and sophomore Shatoya White played key rules in Millsaps posting a 22-6 record and reaching the finals of the conference tournament.
Lady Majors celebrate breakthrough 2011-12 season Amelia Woolard Contributor
A Weighing the truth behind health myths.
SPORTS
THURSDAY, March 1, 2012
dream season? Well, not quite, but definitely not the nightmares the Millsaps women’s basketball teams had in years past. e Lady Major reached the finals of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament last weekend, falling to Centre 60-48. Hopes for an atlarge bid to the NCAA Division III women’s tournament were dashed despite a 22-6 record. Despite those disappoint-
ments, the Lady Majors are celebrating their newfound success and respect. Coach Chuck Winkelman says that people now recognize Millsaps as a force. “People are talking about (us) now,” says Winkleman. Record-setting senior Janice Okeke echoes that sentiment. “I am proud that Millsaps women’s basketball actually means something to our conference,” says Okeke. “When I came to Millsaps as a freshman, the other women’s basketball programs did not respect us. I am glad to see players and coaches from around the conBasketball continued - page 7 Photos by Frank Ezelle
Internet alters political news views Majors baseball sweeps through Georgia over weekend. ■
Inside
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Opinions........................2 Arts & Life.....................3 Features...................4 & 5 News continued.............6 Sports.....................7 & 8
Commentary by Salvo Blair News Editor Based on casual interviews conducted across Millsaps, it appears that the Internet is the preferred medium to stay current, whether it is by reading newspapers online, social newsfeed or watching youtube clips.
How does this affect the political atmosphere across campus, and in which ways does it affect students’ voting perspective? e United States Statistical Abstract states some 1.7 billion people use the Internet globally; meaning that one out of every four individuals is Internet friendly. is statistic reaches a nearly mandatory nature among Millsaps’ students and the other 72 million college-aged people across the U.S. With so many young people online, the Internet plays an integral role in reporting current events. In the 20th century, the only media for political communications were television and newspaper. So, the majority of the information the public had access to was limited to a small
number of mass media contributors, such as ABC. ese media outlets held enormous pull in the political process, and this is seen in viewers’ disapproval of Richard Nixon following his sweaty performance against make-up clad John F. Kennedy in the 1960s televised debates. e prominence of televised journalism in the political process led to changes in how policy was viewed by the public. It can be argued that televised news during this period was more policy and less opinion than the “infotainment” that has become so popular today due to several
facets of commercial journalism. e Internet brought a diverse lens for the public to become informed about policy. Along with the expansive amount of information made accessible to the public, pitfalls have been associated with the Internet. Collegeaged readers are more prone than their parents to personalize their flow of information by how they direct their searches online. It is easy to get lost amid the slew of information available. It requires conscious effort to obtain the iron-core of factual News continued - page 6
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O PINIONS
Contact Genny Santos, santogl@millsaps.edu
Millsaps’ Top Five:
“Mean Girls” quotes 1.“If you’re from Africa, why are you white?” 2.“There’s a 30 percent chance it’s already raining.” 3.“And none for Gretchen Wieners, bye” 4.“On Wednesdays we wear pink!” 5.“You can’t sit with us!”
Things our money should be going towards 1. Security (and not the golf carts) 2. De-molding dorms. 3. Caf ’ food (I pay how much?) 4. Laundry facilities 5. Athletics (new turf?) List by Kenya Strong-Johnston
List by Jenna Johnson
Movies 1. “Fight Club” 2. “Training Day” 3. “V for Vendetta” 4. “Dumb and Dumber” 5. “Seven”
List by Ben Cooper
Just say no to Ron Paul
By David Guyott Contributor
In the last week or so I’ve seen and heard a lot about bringing Ron Paul to Millsaps. Being a Millsaps student, I have little time to keep up with any politics not covered on The Daily Show or The Colbert Report. All I knew about Ron Paul was he was a Republican presidential candidate who had not made a significant showing at any primary. While not a Republican, I
didn’t really have any problem with bringing a national political figure to campus. That was until I did my research. A little digging shows any self-respecting Millsaps student that bringing Paul to campus would be a colossal mistake. A serious concern about Paul is that his views are highly influenced by strict Libertarianism. According to the U.S. Libertarian Party, this means “the advocacy of a government that is funded voluntarily and limited to protecting individuals from coercion and violence.” He is interested in slashing the powers of the federal government until it does little to nothing. Here is a sampling of his political views according to an article in The Seattle Times. Regarding the U.S. national debt problem, Paul, if elected president, “would eviscerate federal government, slashing nearly half its spending, shut five Cabinet-level agencies,
[and] end spending on existing conflicts and on foreign aid.” To solve the problems with education, he would “abolish the Education Department and end the federal role in education.” In addition to cutting spending, taxes would essentially go away as he would “eliminate the federal income tax and the IRS. Meantime [he] would vote for a national sales tax, [and he] supports certain excise taxes and certain tariffs. [He] favors massive spending cuts to defund close to half the government and eliminate the need to replace the income tax at all.” I’m left wondering how we would pay off our national debt with no taxes and how our already ailing public education system would fare if it were suddenly cut off from government support. While the government does have its problems (such as No Child Left Behind, the funding of Social Security, etc.),
fixing those problems rather than doing away with the entire government seems to me the more rational solution. Even more frightening, however, is his plan to “return to the gold standard, eliminate the Federal Reserve, let gold and silver be used as legal tender, [and] eliminate most federal regulations.” For those who don’t know much about the gold standard, I suggest a brief look at www.econlib. org/library/Enc/GoldStandard. html. For those with limited time, I’ll summarize: “The gold standard was a commitment by participating countries to fix the prices of their domestic currencies in terms of a specified amount of gold.” This standard was officially abandoned by President Nixon in 1971. To understand why this would be a serious problem, I turn to a Business Insider article called “Why The U.S.
By Jayson Porter Contributor
The student actors in lastweekend’s “No Exit” not only gave an outstanding performance, but also an engaging learning experience. As an individual fascinated with how people learn, I was blown away by takeaways of the actors as students. Our student actors stunned crowds for a full 90 minutes without an intermission. Both the acting and the philosophi-
dents in unrelated disciplines worked together to recreate another world and left me excited to write about the liberal arts experience they embodied. What I’m trying to say is that in the performance of “No Exit”, I saw no doors leading from the arena of academia. I hope that for both the crowd and participants this was a liberal arts moment to be proud of. Although I simply could not pass up the opportunity to congratulate my friends, it was indeed the cast and crew’s overall effort that led me to take the time to write this. However, I can only ask if most class-happy students take as much time to study for a test? Or, pardon me for asking, if many students spend as much time preparing to become responsible graduates? I know responsible is a vague word, but with so many colleges concerned with producing civil and life-
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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... Salvo Blair Opinions Editor... Genny Santos Arts & Life Editor... Madeline Rardin Features Editor... Anna Nations Sports Editor... Ellen Bouyelas Advisor... Woody Woodrick Staff Writers...
Emma Spies Katie Greer
Contributors...
Emily Johnson Victoria Sherwood Misa Pjevac Amelia Woolard Payton Mansell David Guyott Jayson Porter
E-mail corrections to Editor-inChief Kenya Strong-Johnston, stronkk@millsaps.edu.
Guyott continued on pg. 7
No exit from knowledge cal anxieties portrayed made me look closer and ask more. Though the students depicted Jean Paul Sartre’s characters to a T, this is not a critique or my interpretation. Rather about the actors’ engagements as students. I saw no exits from learning in “No Exit”. These students managed to balance time between schoolwork and this extensive commitment. They dedicated themselves to sometimes more than four hours of rehearsal almost every day with virtually no complaint, not to mention the time spent memorizing massive monologues. As a close friend of Brandon Guichard and Anna Gary, I have seen very little of them this semester. Despite their “clustered” schedule, it would be hard to find happier students. A group of students in various classes spentsignificant time transforming a beautiful piece of literature into action; stu-
T HE P URPLE W HITE
long learners, I find it intriguing to look deeper into the actors’ experiences as performers, learners and future graduates. I often heard my friends using terminology by which I was sometimes fascinated. Both discussed the importance of completely empathizing with their characters to the extent of mapping out their lives. Gary explained this method, describing how as Estelle she went well beyond the script and attempted to rationalize her character’s actions through various poems and memoirs. How cool, I thought. And for the sake of avoiding hell, and thus breaking the fourth wall as the fourth person in the room, I am inspired by their efforts. A big question this play raised is what if we were all as excited about our endeavors? What if instead of complaining about
Porter continued on pg. 5
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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
“We’re starting a revolution”
Cashman, Gilchrist return creative writing to honors projects
By Misa Pjevac Contributor
Millsaps’ creative writing honor students Whitney Gilchrist and Alex Cashman have managed to distinguish themselves as talented, creative writers under the advisement of Dr. Steve Kistulentz. Both students have been recognized on a national level. Gilchrist recently won second place in the Southern Heritage Festival while Cashman was published in the University of Miami’s undergrad journal, ManGrove. While Cashman and Gilchrist are both participating in the creative writing honor’s project, they have chosen different paths. Cashman wrote a collection of poems called “Digging for Water,” while Gilchrist focused on fictional short stories. The students are both English majors. However, their experience in creative writing was extremely different. Gilchrist says she felt drawn towards writing since childhood sharing, “It was one of the three professions I always pretended to be when I was a kid.” Cashman explains that he was not always drawn towards writing until he took a class with Dr. Steve Kistulentz.
“I knew I was going to be an English major when I came here, but I didn’t start writing until sophomore year. I took Dr. Kis-
honors projects in one year, she says, comically, “We’re starting a revolution.” Cashman describes honor
was also a growing experience “We worked for a whole year, on the same poems or stories revising, over and over again. It’s rare
Photo by Misa Pjevac
Whitney Gilchrist and Alex Cashman discuss their literary journies.
tulentz’s intro to creative class and from there it just kind of happened,” he says. Both Cashman and Gilchrist described their experience of doing an honors project as an exceptional one. However, both shared that the process was not easy. Gilchrist expressed that she “went to the archives in the library was the only one creatively writing.” Now with two creative writing
process for him as “the first challenge of putting together a whole body – something big and cohesive, not just a separate poem that needed to be handed in every week”. In addition to writing, “we were reading books and essays, discussing techniques imposed and how they do or don’t apply to our work,” Cashman explains. Gilchrist says that the process
to be able to do that in college.” Both writers shared their inspirations and style as being relevant to their writing. “I emulate the stuff that I read or like to read for fun. The way I see it I’m not really going to develop my own voice for a very long time” Gilchrist says. “That’s what older writers say – ‘go ahead and emulate when you’re young then find your
voice when you’re older.” She finds the whole process of finding her “voice” in writing as a complicated one. “It is all very confusing. What am I doing right now? I’m just going to practice being a writer for 10 years and then I’ll be a real writer.” Cashman says he was inspired by writer Matthew Dickman. “I see a lot of me in him.” Gilchrist shared that she was inspired by Rick Moody and that one of her favorite writers was Lydia Davis. Both shared that inspiration was an ongoing process. Cashman expressed that he is “constantly running little phrases… I hear a bunch of stuff and I write it down and sometimes it makes sense. It goes through my head for like, 13 months and then I write a poem about it.” Gilchrist says that she carries a notebook with her at all times for her creative writing, which can be difficult because it “takes up so much time and discipline. It’s really a different kind of discipline than you have in college. A work day kind of discipline – you have to be consistent.” Gilchrist plans on pursuing a radio internship after college while Cashman plans on attending graduate school.
Exhibit captures the best of Mississippi By Madeline Rardin Arts & Life Editor
Mississippi has long been known for its rich history and the writers and artists it has produced. Few exhibits capture the state’s heart and soul as The Mississippi Story exhibit at The Mississippi Museum of Art. The exhibition is curated by Patti Carr Black, who expressed that the exhibition “explores art that is explicitly and passionately derived from Mississippi—its place of origin” as cited by The Jackson Free Press. The exhibit heavily focuses on the interactions of people, music, nature, history and landscapes. The Mississippi Story features a wide range of artistic works including glass art, photography, folk art and traditional works. The exhibit gathers the brillance of different regions of the state by dividing them into regions such as the Coast and the Delta. A third section of the exhibition is dedicated to individuals who have made a tremendous impact on the state. Junior studio art major, Su-
zanne Glemot describes the attention to detail. “Throughout the exhibit, view-
regions allow the viewers to get a sense of the identity of each area. For example, the Coast is represented by water color paintings by Walter Anderson of crabs, birds and fish. In addition to his watercolors works,
Photo by Madeline Rardin
The Mississippi Story art exhibit includes a variety of media.
ers can observe how the smallest things, details such as particular flowers have equally influenced artists depicting Mississippi,” says Glemot. The division of the exhibit by
the exhibition also features Anderson’s shearwater pottery which depict birds amongst complex designs. The exhibition also features the photography of Eudora Welty including her famous piece
“The Ruins of Windsor” which depicts the remains of a burned mansion. According to southpoint.com, the mansion shown in “The Ruins of Windsor” is located outside of Port Gibson and once housed Mark Twain who is said to have watched the Mississippi River from the property. Landscape and nature-based pieces ofthe exhibit allow the viewer to either identify areas or gather ideas of what each area looks like. Three dimensional cityscape painting “Jackson, MS” by Carol Cole accurately captures the bareness of downtown Jackson. “Kudzu” by Caroll Cloar depicts a young African-American girl walking along a street overtaken by the incredibly invasive Kudzu plant that covers many Southern regions. The heart of the Delta land-
scape is captured in William Dunlap’s “Delta Dog Trot” featuring a bird dog in the foreground with flat fields of cotton aligning the background. The lives and history of African-Americans in Mississippi are represented with pieces such as Gwedloyn Magee’s quilt “Five Years of Hard Labor”. The quilt’s bright colors depict two African-American male chain gang prisoners working under the gaze of an armed guard. The exhibition features a number of memorable folk art works, including Steve Shepard’s “No Good Stinking Real Estate Developers” complete with colorful designs and aliens. The Mississippi Story captures the best of Mississippi through diverse artists and rich history. The exhibition is located in the Mississippi Museum of Art and admission is free. The museum is open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from noon until 5 p.m. Sunday.
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F EATURES
Contact Anna Nations, natioal@millsaps.edu
Healthy living? Maybe, maybe not By Payton Mansell Contributor
Rumors float around the gym, the weight room and the cafeteria about health rights, wrongs, dos and don’ts and about choices students make regarding their diet and their lifestyles. The Purple and White researched the truth about common health myths that some Millsaps students may not know.
1. You can spot reduce for tight abs or toned arms. According to Alice Burton—a spokeswoman of the American-Council on Exercise and a former female bodybuilder—in CNN Health, one will not gain
much muscle definition in abs or arms regardless of the amount of reps performed if a layer of fat is covering the muscles. “Don’t focus on a body part. Try to get them all,” advises Burron. “You might have beautiful triceps. It may not be flopping all over the place. Until the fat is gone, most people wouldn’t know it’s there.”
2. Combining a protein shake and a meal after a workout is beneficial. Mark Macdondald, a personal trainer interviewed by CNN Health, says, “It’s eating another meal; protein shakes, powders and bars are good for emergencies, but they’re the lowest quality food…you’re better off eat-
ing real food.” A better way to get the protein one needs is to eat foods such as turkey sandwiches, Greek yogurt, nuts and fruits. 3. Women who lift weights get bulky. Burron explains it is very difficult to create bulk because a woman would really have to overload the muscles. CNN Health says, “Women have too much estrogen to build large amounts of bulk. Guys build muscles faster because they have testosterone… Strength training helps decrease body fat, increase lean muscle mass and burn calories more efficiently.”
4. Your cardio machine is counting the calories you’re burning.
many calories, period, that makes you fat.” The body needs carbohydrates to have a successful, healthy diet. Eating good foods that have plenty of whole grain, along with fruits and vegetables, help the body maintain a healthy nutritional balance. Harvey-Berino also mentions “that low-carb eating can help many people manage their weight.” “The number calculated by your machine is likely not accurate,” says Macdonald. “Some machines don’t even ask for your weight or sex.” Even if the machines did ask for your weight, sex or body fat percentage, not many people will know what their body fat percentage is. 5. Carbohydrates make you fat. “The Eating Well” website dispells this myth. Jean Harvey-Berino, Ph.D., R.D. and chair of the department of nutrition and food sciences at the University of Vermont claims, “There’s nothing inherently fattening about carbohydrates…it’s eating too
Photos contributed
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F EATURES
Contact Anna Nations, natioal@millsaps.edu
Veganism: Getting started
Commetary By Emma Spies Staff writer
Many people want to go vegan, but don’t know how to take the first step. And to be honest, that first step is not easy. But every vegan I’ve ever met acknowledges that it’s absolutely worth it. Here are some tips that will make the transition easier. . .
If you have any questions regarding the topic of veganism, or would like advice or recipes, please email Emma Spies at spieser@millsaps.edu.
Porter continued from pg. 2 time, or the lack thereof, we looked forward to our studies and our attitudes towards them? This lesson works alongside Sartre’s message and this untraditional review. Despite having seen “No Exit” twice and three of the actors in previous plays, I have no opinion worth hearing concerning the details that I’m sure make up a traditional critique. All I know is that, from my seat, each performance was flawless, perhaps
1. Do your homework. Although you shouldn’t expect to become an expert on all things vegan overnight, you should do some basic research. Look into why veganism is healthy and beneficial as well as how to go vegan. Because veganism is becoming such a popular global movement, there are a ton of great places to look. Colleen Patrick-Goudreau’s “The 30 Day Vegan Challenge” and Virginia Messina’s “Vegan for Life” debunk common vegan myths, provide references to scientific research on the benefits of a plant-based diet; address groups with special needs, such as athletes, children, and people with certain diseases and provide basic information about eating out, traveling on a vegan diet, going vegan on a budget and cooking vegan staples.
4. When it comes to recipes, the Internet is your best friend. Think of your favorite meat-based or “omni” dish. Lasagna? Mac and cheese? Chocolate cake? Google “vegan mac and cheese,” for example, and you will find dozens of recipes and tips for recreating non-vegan foods. Some of the best websites with the most creative and well-tested recipes are www.theppk.com, www. yourveganmom.com, hipsterfood.tumblr.com (which actually links to dozens of other vegan websites and blogs) and www.vegweb.com.
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2. Make small changes first. Most people experience lasting success by easing into veganism. This often means going vegetarian first. That is what I did, and it made becoming fully vegan infinitely easier than it could have been. If you eat meat every day, start by cutting it out once a week, then two days and so on. Experiment with substitutes for meat, like beans, cheese or eggs. Let your body get used to vegetarianism, and when you’ve cut all or most of the meat out of your diet, start experimenting with foods such as soy or almond milk, tofu, tempeh, soy or rice cheese, soy-based butter and soy or almond yogurt. When you’ve prepared your body and figured out which vegan foods you enjoy the most, begin making the substitutions. 3. You can do it, and it will be worth it. Everyone thinks they are the one person who could never go vegan, and everyone has that one food they think they can’t go without. The fact is, anyone can go vegan, and the enormous variety of healthy and delicious foods that are now widely available allows for virtually any taste, texture, vitamin or mineral found in an omnivorous diet to be replicated in a vegan diet. So if you are truly drawn to veganism, just try it. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. “purrfect” as Gary would say. I write this as an aspiring lifelong learner inspired by the efforts and engagements of others’ learning. These four student-actors may have just completed an intellectual journey that may never end in memory. As a student who often forgets information after handing in exams, it is cool to see learning with such a capacity to endure. That is what I call learning for the sake of knowledge. With that said, I can only applaud with a “bravo” for the sake of not ranting too long.
5. Don’t be afraid of messing up. When you slip up, and you probably will, just start over. Early in my vegetarian life, I ate some turkey chili. My body had gotten used to my new diet, and I felt absolutely great. The chili made me feel bloated and sick, and until going veggie, I had eaten ground turkey at least once a day. I committed myself anew the next day. If you accidentally eat something non-vegetarian or non-vegan, don’t sweat it. It happens. If you willfully give in to temptation, don’t use it as an excuse to give up altogether. Keep trying. It will get easier, and soon you won’t even have to think about it. 6. Ask lot of questions. Don’t be afraid to ask if your food contains animal products whether you are in a restaurant, at a friend or relative’s house or in the Caf ’. People aren’t usually offended by this, and if they are, who cares? You have a right to know what’s in your food and a right to decide what you’re going to eat.
Caf ’ Creation: Fresh falafel wrap with a kick
Follow the Purple & White on @purple_n_white to learn more about upcoming issues and find ways to get involved! We also take suggestions!
Photo by Emily Johnson
Contributed by Emily Johnson For an easy treat on falafel night, try a wrap to put a spin on the same old meal. The wrap can be dressed in a variety of ways, but here is my new-found favorite. Ingredients: • One wheat tortilla • Three pieces of falafel • Spinach
• • • •
Tomatoes Green peppers Onions Chipotle sauce
Place the falafel on a wheat tortilla, and top with spinach, tomatoes, green peppers and onions. For extra flavor, dress with chipotle sauce. Also, try experimenting with other ingredients, whether that means trying another flavor tortilla or adding a little extra cheese on the side.
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N EWS By Katie Greer Staff Writer
Contact Salvo Blair, blairws@millsaps.edu
Pipeline pushed to rejection
Pressure from the left and right led President Obama decision to reject the Keystone XL Pipeline extension. President Obama’s decision, originally planned to be revealed after the 2012 Presidential election, was pushed to mid January by Congress. The presiden’ts rejection, rushed by Congress’ 60-day deadline, came after several months of bipartisan debate. The pipeline would serve as Canadian energy corporation TransCanada’s offer to greatly enhance oil exports to the U.S. The New York Times reports, “The pipeline extension was designed to increase Canadian oil exports to the United States by 700,000 barrels a day.” While House Republicans and economists flash unemployment rates and energy benefits to approve the pipeline’s extension, House Democrats and environmentalist protest potential environmental harms.
Student news continuted from pg. 1 information online. Also, since the individual is responsible for the direction of his Internet searches, one can easily reinforce biases without realizing it. This requires media companies to develop new applications of old journalistic tactics such as agenda setting, framing and priming. When developing his own agenda (if one is not provided prior to his searches) the reader must first decide what key words to search by, if using an aggregator such as Google. The terms chosen may have different connotations, which lead to websites that provide different agendas. For instance, if one were to search “pro-abortion” the reader may be lead to sites with conservative agenda; whereas, if that same person had searched for pro-choice then he would be lead to pro-
Contributed
The Public Broadcasting station (PBS) reports, “The 1700 mile pipeline would cross six states,” connecting Alberta, Canada and Houston, Tex. Nebraska, home to the Ogallala Aquifer, would be one of the six states crossed in the pipeline’s route. Nebraskan
citizens residing along the route protested heavily claiming the pipeline endangers the aquifer. Nebraska’s Republican State Senator Tony Fulton, in an interview with PBS, insists a new route that “bypassed the (Ogallala) Aquifer” was needed for his support.
“We ought to have some say as to how that pipeline makes its way through Nebraska,” says Fulton. As a domestic issue, Fulton highlights that states’ rights are being overshadowed. He says, “It’s been President Obama, Secretary Clinton and
gressive sites. This exemplifies how Internet newsreaders may prime their own agendas by their word choices. On the topic of the Internet providing users with a medium to set their own agendas, Junior T.J. Tippit says, “Before the world wars, popular agendas were multi-polar, each state or nation polarized its agenda with its leadership. Then during the cold war, it was east versus west; and now, there’s millions of individual polarizations.” Could the command of information that Web offers be a major factor in the rise of individualism that Tippit refers to? Within the past few years, social media has become a recognized force in the newsoriented community. In recent years it has proven to be an integral component of the campaign process. Through social publication of short blurbs, Twitter is reshaping the poli-
cies of whole nations by providing unregulated forums for anonymous posting. It is exceedingly important for a presidential candidate to have Twitter and Facebook accounts. The field of campaign consultancy is still trying to determine the effectiveness of social media applications. Speakers such as Hal Malchow, who is a nationally recognized campaign consultant, have recently visited Millsaps. Malchow argues that the use of social media programs are being over-estimated due to their age-related demographic. This argument seems to undermine the beauty of social applications—it has a minimal cost. So, if it provides only a handful of votes, the medium should be deemed effective. Even though the demographic effected is not as large as a direct mail or e-mail blasts. Malchow regards face-to-face canvassing having much higher import than ad-
vertising on Facebook. Other consultants hypothesize social-media campaigning is an asset that will only grow in effectiveness due to constantly growing online populations. Campaigning on Facebook and Twitter offer a virtual version of face-to-face campaigning through peer-topeer sharing. For instance, if a respected colleague of a social media user sees that his colleague “liked” the Facebook page of Mitt Romney, that user may be slanted to seek more information on Romney, whether or not the “like” provides verifiable voter metrics to campaign consultants. Reports from social media research show that younger generations are more apt to express themselves in a candid manner on a public forum than their older counterparts. Does this mean that expression on social medium platforms will become more conducive to
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TransCanada who have chosen this route.” While most Nebraskans are against the pipeline’s construction, Nebraska is also home to unemployed construction workers who support the project. Supporters back the estimated “20,000 good-paying construction jobs” projected by TransCanada. The final number of jobs created by the project may eventually reach 114,000. Transcanada representative Robert Jones tells protestors that TransCanada’s “16,000 sensors” installed for picking up “pressure drops” potential leaks in the pipeline should not be of concern. Supporters point to the U.S. Department of State’s threeyear-long study on the impacts of the Keystone XL Pipeline. The study reports, “It poses no significant impact to the environment.”
shaping the overall politics as the younger generation ages, or does this mean that online expression is becoming less valuable? If the former, Tippit’s acknowledgement of the rise of individualism in agenda setting may be countered by the social conscious of new media. A good example of this counteraction may be the polarization of disenfranchised people of the mid-east to certain social movements. The trend of social movements all over the world seems to relate to the explosion of online media where individuals may escape the professional norms of news media and connect to massive networks of social information directly pertinent to the reader. Oppressive leaders worldwide are cringing as they acknowledge the power of sites such as Twitter to direct masses into civil disobedience.
Contact Editor-in-Chief Kenya Strong Johnston for more information stronkk@millsaps.edu
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S PORTS
Contact Ellen Bouyelas, bouyeen@millsaps.edu
Equal support for woman’s sports
Victoria Sherwood Conributor Photos by Frank Ezelle
Players credit Coach Chuck Winkelman with changing attitudes about Lady Majors basketball.
Basketball continued from pg. 1
The road hasn’t always been easy. Winkelman lost players early in the season. Scheduling and playing more road games than home games also placed a strain on the group, along with the fact that five of the 10 players are freshmen and had to face the transition from high school to Millsaps. “I am proud that we met our goal of being the best defensive team in the conference. It’s said by many great coaches that defense wins championships. I know next year we will put a lot of effort into making sure that happens,” says White. “I hope that we have built a foundation
ference acknowledge all that we have accomplished and are yet to accomplish in the near future.” Okeke set a tournament record by pulling down 42 rebounds during the tournament, played at Birmingham-Southern. She was named to the All-Tournament team along with Shante Morton. In addition, Okeke and sophomore Shatoya White are among five women chosen for a special all-star team. Had the Lady Majors won Sunday’s title game, it would have marked their first outright SCAC title and second title in school history. It was the first time the Lady Majors had reached the title game. Millsaps reached the finals with wins over archrival Trinity and Southwestern University. Centre was ranked No. 1 in the East for Division III. The Lady Majors took a huge step forward this season. The reason, Winkelman believes, can be found in the players’ commitment to hard work and consistently getting better at the game. A sense of unity has also been evident. “That’s one of the greatest things that I’ll remember, they really, really believed that they could do this as a group,” says Winkleman. Okeke agrees. “My teammates and coaches never gave up on what we wanted to ac- Guard Samantha Perez was one of five freshman on the squad. complish,” she says. Guyott continued from pg. 2 Dollar ‘Works’ And Why A Gold-Backed Currency Doesn’t.” Wrier Charles Hugh Smith explains, “If the U.S. had to pay for its gargantuan imports with gold, it would run out of gold in less than two years. Surplus imports would cease, and the deficit would fall to near-zero: imports would have to equal exports. The consequence of this reduction of U.S. imports to zero would be catastrophic for the rest of the world, which would collapse into depression.” Paul’s platforms demonstrate a fundamental lack of understanding of global economics.
Given that the current economic crisis is generally the biggest problem which our country, and the world, presently faces, this makes Paul a poor presidential candidate. However, the most pressing reason that we should not bring this man to campus is that he is a racist. Though he has recently denied these allegations, an article on thinkprogress.org explains the truth behind them. In a 1992 newsletter Paul claims that “we can safely assume that 95 percent of the black males in (Washington, D.C.) are semi-criminal or entirely criminal.” He later defends the statement and “told the Dallas Morning News the statistic
for the future Millsaps women’s basketball student athletes that come through this program and that they know that they can accomplish anything as long as they are dedicated, have a self-sacrificing attitude, and a will to win,” adds Okeke. Okeke says convincing others that Millsaps could be SCAC champions was difficult. Wanting that title is what gave the team strength through all of the difficult times, she says. What’s next for the Lady Majors, especially with captain Okeke graduating this semester? Winkelman laughs and says with tenderness, “She will never be replaced. She’s unbelievable.” White agrees. “Janice was the most inspirational leader anyone can ever have. Her faith and advice on and off the court is just simply amazing. She will always be the leader of Millsaps women’s basketball. Her name will be passed down through our team for as long as the players of the 2011-2012 team are alive to see that it happens,” says White. For Winkelman, showing off the Millsaps spirit ultimately makes people wake up and pay attention. “I really believe our success as a program this year is nothing but a reflection of Millsaps’ greatness. And we have been surrounded by great people all over this campus throughout this special season,” says Winkleman.
was an ‘assumption’ you can gather from published studies.” According to the same article, “In 1999, (Paul) was the only member of Congress to oppose the issuing of a Congressional Gold Medal to Rosa Parks. In May 2011, Paul says in an interview that he opposes the Civil Rights Act of 1964.” Millsaps prides itself on tolerance. For that reason, I was initially not opposed to bringing Paul to campus, in spite of my general opposition to Republicans. Even when I learned of his radical and ignorant economic platform, I still wasn’t convinced that opposing him was worth a lot of time and effort into. His blatant
racism, however, is the straw that broke the camel’s back. Bringing to Millsaps any political candidate who opposes the Civil Rights Act — whatever his or her party-affiliation — would be a disaster. It would likely, and rightfully, infuriate the Jackson community of which we are a part. It should also infuriate any self-respecting student at this school. If you continue to support bringing Paul to Millsaps, I hope you will be aware of the facts rather than supporting it simply because “It would be totes cool to have a major political figure on campus, man.”
On Jan. 30 the Women’s Professional Soccer League announced its season’s cancelation. The popularity of women’s soccer in the United States has grown significantly. The second place finish in the Women’s World Cup was just another stepping-stone for the players. With the cancelation of the WPSL season, players and fans wonder where the fate of women’s soccer in the United States lies. With that comes the question of women’s sports in general. Support of women’s athletics has been a slow moving process. The WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) had to join forces with the NBA to be able to support its women’s teams. While women’s sports are supported by fans, their numbers pale in comparison with all men’s athletics. Women playing sports is still a relatively new concept; older generations can remember a time when women’s athletics were not prevalent in society. When Title IX was set in place at colleges and universities across the U.S., a balance began to set in between funding for men and women’s sports. Title IX requires an equal amount of women and men’s sports. At Millsaps there is a noticeable difference in attendance between the men’s and women’s games. In a culture that thrives on high impact, thrilling, on-the-edge-ofyour-seat games, women’s sports just don’t hit the high that some fans seek. As Division III athletes, there is a level of dedication put into sports. Dedicated to succeeding in both, students choose sports and their education as the main focus of their college years. Women athletes work just as hard to achieve perfection in their sport as male athletes. As a whole, Millsaps students should work to support men and women sports teams equally. Their dedication and athletic ability deserves equal praise.
S PORTS
8 Contact Ellen Bouyelas, bouyeen@millsaps.edu
Millsaps sweeps through Georgia By Ellen Bouyelas Sports Editor
Millsaps baseball team returned from a weekend road trip with Georgia on its mind. The Majors swept three games from York College (7-4), La Grange (17-10) and Emory (61). The wins helped ease the sting of a 2-1 loss Feb. 21 at Huntington College in Montgomery, Ala. After Tuesday night’s 16-10 loss to Mississippi College, the Majors stand at 8-3. Senior Jules Roussel says, “I feel the season is coming along pretty good. We’ve had really good starting pitching so far and our defense has been solid. We haven’t hit as well as we are capable of, but that is going to come around.” In Atlanta against York, the Majors fell behind by one, but came back as freshman Samuel Doucet singled at the top of the third. “The best part of baseball is that it helps you escape reality, once you’re on the field nothing else matters but the here and now,” says Doucet. After the game in Atlanta, the Majors rode an hour and a half to play LaGrange that same night.
Photos by Genny Santos
Left: Junior Jerrod Myers had two hits and wo RBI Tuesday against Mississippi College. Right: Sam Doucet allowed just two hits against LaGrange University over the weekend.
Against La Grange, Millsaps scored runs in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings which led to a tworun lead against the Panthers. Once Doucet came on to pitch, Millsaps continued to hold the seven-run lead. The next day Millsaps traveled back to Atlanta to defeat the Emory Eagles. Junior
Will Edwards pitched 7.1 innings locking in the lead. “Nothing is better than playing in front of a packed crowd that makes every pitch feel important. We greatly appreciate each and every fan that comes to the games and ask for as many people as possible to come support us,” states Edwards. Junior Will Elmore replaced
Edwards midway through the eighth inning and struck out two to close the win for the Millsaps. “I think every game we are getting better and better. If we continue to play good defense, have good starting pitching, and start squaring up the baseball on a more consistent basis, we are going to be in pretty good shape. Coach Jiim Page does
a great job in preparing us for each game,” concludes Roussel. Edwards echoes his teammate. “It is still early in the season and we still have some things to work out but so far we have played pretty well. We have a team full of hard workers and coaches that know what it takes to win and we do a good job of trying to get better everyday,” says Edwards.
Major Athlete:
Vincent Bresina Classification: Freshmen Major: Psychology Hometown: Sugarland, Texas Sport/Position: Lacrosse, Attack
1. If you could be any animal, what would you be and why? A dolphin, because they’re smart. 2. What is your dream job? A high school teacher 3. Describe yourself in one word. Crazy
4. What color power ranger would you be? I’ve never watched power rangers, but I like the color blue. 5. Who is your favorite musical artist/ group? Incubus 6. If you could have any super power what would it be? To have the ability to fly