The
S TUDENT PRINTZ November 4, 2013
www.studentprintz.com
SERVING SOUTHERN MISS SINCE 1927
NATIONAL
Calendar ....................... 2 News ............................. 3 Feature.......................... 4 Opinion.......................... 6 Sports............................ 7
Volume 98 Issue 20
MUSIC
Bennett listed among Ebony’s Power 100
School of Music named EPIC school Kristy Shelley Printz Reporter
Wilton Jackson
The Southern Miss School of Music is now considered “EPIC.” The Kawai Corporation of America named The University of Southern Mississippi School of Music to its roster of Elite Performing Instrument Collection (EPIC) schools. Director of the School of Music Michael Miles said this speaks about the high quality education at the School of Music. “Becoming an EPIC school sends a very clear message to our students, faculty and patrons that this institution is dedicated to providing the highest quality of education to our students,” Miles said. “High performance standards in our music programs must be met with equally high standards for our instrument inventory, and Kawai instruments meet those standards in every way possible,” he added. According to an article on the School of Music’s website, the Elite Performing Instrument Collection is a unique institu-
Printz Reporter University President Rodney Bennett accompanies a distinguished group of individuals after being named to Ebony Magazine’s annual Power 100 list of the nation’s most esteemed African-Americans. In the December/January issue that hits newsstands today, Ebony highlights African-Americans across many disciplines who have made remarkable achievements over the past year. The list of renowned individuals includes President Barack Obama, entertainment mogul Oprah Winfrey and five-time NBA Champion Magic Johnson. The Power 100 list contains 14 categories of recognition. Bennett is included among “The Firsts” for his accomplishment of becoming the first African-American to lead Southern Miss or any of Mississippi’s historically white institutions of higher learning.
See EBONY, 3 Mary Alice Truitt/Printz
tional program made possible by the Shigeru Kawai Endowment. Qualifying institutions are given the opportunity to acquire an elite assortment of fine Kawai and Shigeru Kawai instruments at sponsored cost levels. This status ranks the school among other EPIC programs including the Conservatoire de Musique du Quebec and the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan. Southern Miss is the only university in Mississippi to receive the EPIC designation. Because of this designation, the School of Music will receive 33 new Kawai pianos, which will comprise half the instruments in the department. In a ceremony held Oct. 29 in the Trent Lott Center, Miles commented on the strength of the school as a whole. “Today we stand in the presence of one of our beautiful Shigeru grand pianos to celebrate not just our EPIC status, but the School of Music’s resolve in the wake of the storm to come back stronger than
See MUSIC, 3
ON CAMPUS
Southern Miss student to host MPB series Monicia Warner News Editor Southern Miss student Courtney Calato was recently selected to host a new Mississippi Public Broadcasting web series, “Geek South.” The show will explore different aspects of geek and nerd culture in the South. Lisa Lott, public relations specialist for MPB, said “Geek South” will show what life is like for geeks in the South. “They’re going to travel to all different places in the southeastern area of the United States,” Lott said. “[They’ll go] to different conferences, talk to different people and find out what makes them a geek.”
Courtney Calato
Courtesy Photo
Calato, a senior theatre major, was selected as a host after participating in a three-day audition process in Jackson. During the
audition, candidates had to recite a monologue and complete a cold read, where they read a script on the spot as if they were on camera. “They weren’t looking for a specific type of person,” Lott said. “[They wanted] someone who was interesting [and] who was comfortable on camera to really do a good job of explaining what a geek is.” Calato will join three other hosts as they travel throughout the South, attending festivals and conventions to find out more about geek cultures and subcultures. “The thing I’m most excited about is when I get to travel and go see all these places [and] all the different people I get to talk to,” Calato said. “…Everyone is so
unique and you just have to see what it is about them that makes them unique.” Jennifer Diaz, a senior theatre major, said Calato will be a great addition to the series. “Her quirky charm, strong point of view and passion sparks your curiosity in the subject; she has the ability to make you an instant fan,” she said. Diaz added that Calato completely immerses herself in the fandoms she’s connected with. “The girl owns an authenticated Indiana Jones fedora and named our apartment complex Privet Drive,” Diaz said. “It doesn’t get any geekier than [that].” Calato credits her theatre training with allowing her to be
at ease in front of the camera. “We learn to talk to people and relate ideas and articulate questions,” Calato said. “I think having that training helps me when I go on location to be able to relate to people and make them [at ease around me].” Her first assignment was to report on HubCon, Hattiesburg’s tabletop gaming convention. “I was really nervous when I got there because I’ve never been exposed to that ever in my life,” she said. “These people build their own little models and figurines and its tabletop so they act it out and they conquer buildings and regions and stuff.”
See MPB, 3
>>PAGE 4
>>PAGE 6
>>PAGE 8
Corey Smith
No Shave November
Golden Eagle Football
Artist will perform at Brewsky’s Nov. 5.
Let the growing season begin!
USM falls to Marshall 61-13.