The Daily Mississippian - July 2, 2015

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THE DAILY

MISSISSIPPIAN

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Volume 103, No. 137

T H E S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R O F T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F M I S S I S S I P P I S E R V I N G O L E M I S S A N D OX F O R D S I N C E 1 9 1 1

lifestyles

lifestyles

sports

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U.S. Pizza Team comes to Oxford

Oxford’s American Idol-ers

Visit theDMonline.com

Position Preview: Defensive Line

Ole Miss hosts Idol auditions

A different TAYLOR BENNETT

Rebel

tbennett@go.olemiss.edu

PHOTOS BY: LOGAN KIRKLAND

American Idol wrapped up auditions for its final season in front of the Union Monday where 408 students and travelers tried their luck for a ticket to Los Angeles. Oxford was both the last stop on an 11 city tour and the only stop for auditioners from as far as Baton Rouge and Nashville.

SEE ONE AUDTIONERS EXPEREINCE INSIDE ON PAGE 5.

UM begins bicycle initiative LASHERICA THORNTON lthornto@go.olemiss.edu

Complete Streets Pop-Up Project, which builds temporary additions to streets that make paths for cyclists and pedestrians, will begin construction this month both onand off-campus. On the sections between 5th Street and Grove Loop of University Avenue, the temporary transformation of the street will include infrastructure for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians and will demonstrate what the road will look and feel like without a permanent change to design. Residents and tourists alike will get a taste of how the flow of traffic will go with two bicycle lanes, a pedestrian island, crosswalks in some places, and the addition of shared

lane arrows. When it comes to transportation, travelers have a want and need for safety, which was one of the main goals for this project. “Cyclists and pedestrians will now have designated facilities for them to travel on or cross the road safely,” said Sara Douglass of the University of Mississippi Center for Sustainability. “We want cyclists and pedestrians to feel safe and encouraged to ride and walk.” Safety relies not only on the design of roads, but also on travelers, Douglass said. Motorists must be aware of the significance of driving at or under the speed limit, especially in areas where cyclists and pedestrians are present. Douglass said she believes by reducing the number and width of travel lanes, the traf-

@thedm_news

fic speeds will consequently reduce. Will Schenck, a member of the UM Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory, said transportation has shown that transitioning from a four-lane to three-lane road reduces motorist speeds and the risk of collisions by 19-47 percent. “A temporary project like the one we’re proposing will allow Oxford Pathways Commission and BPAC to evaluate the impact of the changes by gathering data about speed and usage and taking feedback from users,” Schenck said. “Since this route serves as a bridge (literally and figuratively) between the Square and the University, making it usable by motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians alike will serve as an important symbol and concrete sign of the prog-

SEE BICYCLE PAGE 2

Given the recent ruling on same-sex marriage by the Supreme Court, it should be safe to assume that more lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people across the South would feel comfortable displaying their sexuality to the rest of Mississippi. While that may be the case for some, others still keep their true selves hidden for fear of losing their jobs, homes and even family members. Running under the Twitter handle @ADifferentRebel, one former Ole Miss student still hides behind an alias for fear of his future as an LGBT student. On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled 5-to-4 that the United States Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage. The new law allows same sex couples to marry in all 50 states, as well as have their marriages from more progressive states recognized nationwide. “Hell yeah, damn right, about time we saw an end to this fight!” said a Twitter message from @ADifferentRebel sent on Friday afternoon. HottyToddyAlum, whose Twitter bio states, “I receive the privileges that come to white males but I’m tired of hiding myself in that,” has more than one reason to hide behind his Twitter handle. “Marriage equality is a

protections are not in place.” @ADifferentRebel, who is a former Ole Miss student from Georgia, said that he prefers to stay anonymous, because outing his sexuality could cost him a lot more than his job. The Daily Mississippian interviewed him and agreed to not publish his name because of his fears of retaliation. “I’m ‘out’ to many in Oxford, but can’t have my real name printed with anything that deals with sexuality - not just my current summer gig,” @ADifferentRebel said. He said he experienced discrimination well before going to college, too. “In high school my brother found out I’d kissed a guy and he beat me up,” @ADifferentRebel said. “My parents’ response was to put me in conversion therapy.” The National Center for Lesbian Rights describes conversion therapy as “a variety of behavioral, cognitive, psychoanalytic and other practices that try to change or reduce same-sex attraction or alter a person’s gender identity.” The center warns that the practice is devoid of scientific validity and it poses serious dangers to patients— especially to minors. “The therapy was, multiple times a week, having to talk to a counselor, going over Bible verses and discussing how one shouldn’t choose sin,” @ADifferentRebel said. Ole Miss, however, was able

“We just need them to know they can be themselves.” @ADIFFERENTREBEL huge milestone, but the work isn’t done. I currently work for a company that bars nonstraight adults,” @ADifferentRebel wrote.“People can be fired in many states because

to provide @ADifferentRebel more of a safe haven after moving out of his home, he said. “Ole Miss has a benefit that they are smaller than most

SEE REBEL PAGE 2


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