The Daily Mississippian – January 24, 2014

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#BEATSTATE Ole Miss vs Miss. State, Saturday 3 p.m.

The Daily

Friday, January 24, 2014

Mississippian

Vol. 102, No. 72

The Student Newspaper of The University Of Mississippi | Serving Ole Miss and Oxford since 1911

Insight Park hosts first ‘Startup Weekend’

Gregory drafts bill to amend student elections By Allison Slusher ajslushe@go.olemiss.edu

Insight Park is seen on the campus of the University of Mississippi.

By Caty Cambron thedmnews@gmail.com

Almost two years after its grand opening, Insight Park continues its dedication to the survival and growth of startup companies and businesses by hosting Oxford’s first-ever Startup Weekend. Startup Weekend is a national movement geared toward teaching participants the basics of how to develop ideas or products into successful endeavors or potential businesses. With Startup Weekend’s unique composition, young entrepreneurs have the ability to hear, learn and grow from powerful businesspeople. “The weekend is not only an investment to the participant’s future but also a chance to lead to some immediate ventures,” said Lee Morris, event organizer and intern for Innovate Mississippi. Morris believes Startup Weekend has the potential to be a career launcher for those who participate in the events. Oxford’s Startup Weekend, hosted by the Innovation Hub at Insight Park, will kick off on Feb. 7 and end on Feb. 9. “The 54-hour weekend event is designed to give participants a

OPINION:

ALEX EDWARDS | The Daily Mississippian

once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to Lafayette County Entrepreneurwork with skilled business profes- ial Alliance, Innovate Mississippi sionals who will give them tips for and The University of Mississippi their business plans and encourage School of Business Administrathem as entrepreneurs,” said Blair tion, according to Executive DiJackson, senior journalism student rector Rick Duke. and Insight Park employee. Duke said Insight Park is alThose participating in the week- ways looking for ways to create end’s events will start by pitching a awareness about what exactly the business plan to a panel of judges. research facility does and about Based on the most popular ideas, entrepreneurialism, both for the teams of three or four contributors Ole Miss community and the city and one mentor are assembled to of Oxford. further enhance the original idea “It won’t surprise us to see some into a business plan and model. of the participants become tenFinally, the teams will be asked ants in The Innovation Hub’s into present their final creations in cubator in the near future,” Duke front of various Oxford locals in said. order to receive proper feedback. Both Morris and Duke believe Mentors and coaches from a Insight Park’s support of Startup wide array of entrepreneurial Weekend has benefits beyond backgrounds are set to help teams those that the participants can just during their business develop- take away. ments such as Josh Mabus, Beth“Obviously it helps Oxford any Cooper, Owens F. Alexander from an economical standpoint by Jr., Joyce Freeland, John Brandon having everyone come and bring and Ashley Locke. their dollars,” Morris said. “It also Insight Park was opened in helps put Oxford on a map of beApril of 2012 with a mission to ing innovative and a cutting-edge facilitate the growth of new en- city because it shows the fostering terprises while helping connect and encouraging of entrepreneurthe university at large with private ial growth.” sectors. In order to make Startup Duke believes the weekend will Weekend possible, Insight Park has partnered with the Oxford- See INSIGHT PARK, PAGE 3

Lady Rebs down the Bulldogs 87-85 in OT

Gov. Bryant needs a time machine

Associated Student Body Vice President Morgan Gregory and the Governmental Operations Committee are in the process of writing a bill that will give elected officials an additional month in office. Gregory said the bill is meant to maximize the time senators have during their term. She also said that by pushing the spring elections back, the inauguration for newly elected officers will be pushed back as well. “Pushing back inauguration will eliminate the need for such a drastic transition and filling of open seats in the spring,” Gregory said. “(Pushing back inauguration will) condense the overall transition time between inauguration and Senate elections to maximize valuable time in the senate, which will also add to the quality of work done by senators because they won’t be so rushed to cram everything they want to do into such a short period of time.”

Gregory said the change would require both a bill to change the code and an amendment to the constitution. If the bill passes, students will then have to vote on the change. The student vote would be taken by clicking “yes” when a student selects candidates on www.myolemiss.edu for spring elections. This will signify that students are aware that these candidates will be in office for an additional month. If passed, the change will go into effect in spring 2015, giving the officers elected in spring 2014 an additional month in office. Gregory said the draft of the bill is not yet complete. She hopes the bill will be a way to improve the efficiency and process of the ASB Senate. “My hopes are that this, in addition to the recently passed bill amending and improving the way open seats are filled, will set the future legislative branch up for a term much easier to be utiSee ASB, PAGE 3

From Bibles to textbooks, El viaje de una mujer By Anna McCollum aemccoll@go.olemiss.edu

behind. “Repeat after me,” Fer​ nandez says to a classroom of eager students. “Cuando era una nina, yo viajaba a la playa.” They mimic their professor, Southern accents tainting her perfect Spanish words. She giggles and makes a quick joke, her lighthearted and outgoing nature a draw for many students. ​Today, the 39-year-old teaches intermediate-level Spanish at The University of Mississippi.Her journey from Cuba to Oxford has been tu-

With a generous smile and a playful attitude, Spanish instructor Mevelyn Romay Fernandez might just fool you into believing that she has had an easy life. Above her desk hangs a ​ small Cuban flag, and around her finger and neck she wears tiny gold dolphins. These items and a heavy Spanish accent offer clues to a life Fernandez once had. Thanks to a couple Mississippians and a strong dose of steadfastness, she has long since left that life See MUJER, PAGE 3

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Rebels look to avenge lone SEC loss vs Bulldogs

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