The
S TUDENT PRINTZ www.studentprintz.com
SERVING SOUTHERN MISS SINCE 1927
January 16, 2014
Calendar ....................... 2 News ............................. 3 Feature.......................... 4 Opinion.......................... 6 Sports............................ 7
Volume 98 Issue 28
ON CAMPUS
Tyndall agrees to fouryear contract extension Wilton Jackson
Printz Editorial Team
Printz Reporter The University of Southern Mississippi head basketball coach Donnie Tyndall signed a four-year contract extension with the Golden Eagles that runs through the 20172018 season. Tyndall set a Division I school record in winning 27 games last season, a berth into the National Invitation Tournament, broke 44 school records, eight Reed Green Coliseum records and seven Conference USA streaks in his first season as the head coach of the program. In his previous contract, Tyndall received $400,000 per year but will now receive $500,000 per year with the extension. “I am very pleased that Coach Tyndall has reaffirmed his commitment to Southern Miss,” said Southern Miss Director of Athletics Bill McGillis. “I’m excited for Donnie and his family, the young men in our basketball program and our terrific fans.” The second-year head coach eclipsed the 40-win mark faster than any other previous Southern Miss basketball coach. He has posted a 41-13 record through 54 games. Tyndall also has the Golden Eagles in a position to enter the Top 25 for the first time in 23 years. According to the latest ESPN/ USA Today coaches poll, Southern Miss received 15 votes and the team’s unofficial RPI is No. 27. “I am very appreciative of Dr. Bennett and Bill McGillis in showing their confidence in me to grow our program at Southern Miss,” Tyndall said. “I am very appreciative of the amazing support of our great fans and community.” Tyndall is no stranger to producing success on and off the basketball court. In his eighth season leading a Division I program, he has accumulated four 20-plus-win seasons in seven years including six seasons at Morehead State. He has taken his teams to four postseason tournaments, including twice to
A new beginning for the Printz
Jamie Gominger/Printz
USM men’s basketball coach Donnie Tyndall celebrates 63-52 victory over La. Tech in the 2013 National Invitational Tournament in Reed-Green Coliseum.
the NCAA tournament, once to the NIT and once to the CBI. Academically, since coaching at the Division I level, 16 of his qualified 17 seniors received their undergraduate degree and the Southern Miss basketball team has reached its highest grade point average as a team in 18 years.
“Donnie is an outstanding leader of young men and has set high standards for them both on and off the court,” McGillis said. “He expects excellence, and he gives every ounce of energy he has in developing each and every one of his players to their fullest potential.” The Golden Eagles (14-3) (1-1)
are set to open home Conference USA action Jan. 16 against Rice University. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Reed-Green Coliseum.
With a new editorial staff will come the opportunity to bring a new look and feel to The Student Printz. We want to hold onto some classic, cherished elements of the Printz while introducing fresh ideas to the paper. The general idea is to keep our school’s newspaper innovative, while keeping you, the readers, on your toes. This semester’s refurbished Student Printz is bringing back the Student Shout-outs once a week, though we will filter out the Shout-outs that mention names, use vulgarity and are, essentially, free advertisement for an event or group. Keep them funny, people. We’ll occasionally have an entertainment sidebar to keep you updated on what is going on in the music, film and literary realms. Be on the lookout for those. We’re so excited about mixing things up that anything could happen. Who knows? Maybe we’ll change the style of the entire paper. Another thing that we want is your feedback. Yes, it is true: we are on both Facebook and Twitter. Follow us on social media and tell us what you think of the paper. Give us your opinions and ideas. Just don’t give us the cold shoulder if you don’t think our paper is as good as it could be. We want your input.
PAGE 4
PAGE 6
PAGE 7
Forensics Society Two members debate abroad.
Confession Facebook page Students dish about latest guilty pleasure.
USM football Nick Mullens preps for 2014 season.
CALENDAR
Page 2, Student Printz
The
Student Printz
Serving Southern Miss since 1927
Executive Editor Kathryn Miller kathryn.miller@eagles.usm.edu 850.565.0812
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Mark Your Planner 17 18 19 20 21 10 a.m. The Legacy Spring Membership Drive
8:45 a.m. Dixie Darlings Clinics
Happy Sunday Funday!
7:30 a.m. Alpha Phi Alpha MLK Prayer Breakfast
Managing Editor Alan Rawls Gregory.Rawls@eagles.usm.edu
8 p.m. Lifeline Campus Ministry Meeting
Chief Copy Editor Chris Greene chris.greene@eagles.usm.edu Copy Editor Courtney McNichols courtney.mcnichols@eagles.usm. edu
Sports Editor Joshua Campbell joshua.m.campbell@eagles.usm. edu Design Editor Joshua Byrd joshua.j.byrd@eagles.usm.edu
Webmaster Chris Greene chris.greene@eagles.usm.edu Designers Cody Bass Parker Brewer News Content Adviser Chuck Cook 601.266.4288 chuck.cook@usm.edu Ad Graphic Designer Katherine Frye katherine.frye@eagles.usm.edu Advertising Manager Lesley Sanders-Wood 601.266.5188 lesley.sanders@usm.edu Advertising e-mail printzad@usm.edu
Find us online at: www.studentprintz.com
The Student Printz is published every Monday and Thursday during the fall and spring semesters. Signature Offset of Hattiesburg provides printing services. Opinions expressed in The Student Printz are those of the writer and not necessarily those of The Student Printz, its publications manager, USM, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning or the USM Board of Student Publications.
6 p.m. CPC Gamma Chi Interest Meeting 6:30 p.m. SMAC Fashion Show Tryouts
y t Birds r i D
News Editor Nikki Smith Ashly.Smith@eagles.usm.edu
Art Director Susan Broadbridge susan.broadbridge@eagles.usm. edu
MLK Day No School
(information gathered by Kirstie Lowery)
Thursday, Jan. 9 at 2:49 p.m., a Nike backpack, student identification card and an iPhone charger were reported missing from the Payne Center. The theft happened approximately between 7 and 8 p.m. Wednesday. The case remains open.
Thursday, Jan. 9 at 4:27 p.m., cash, a student identification card and a driver’s license were reportedly taken from the Payne Center. The incident occurred between 6 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. The case is open.
Sunday, Jan. 12 at 2:38 p.m., a Windows tablet was reportedly taken from Jones Hall. The theft happened between 9 a.m. and 2:38 p.m. The case remains open.
Monday, Jan. 13 at 3 p.m., a bike was reported missing from McCarty Hall. The theft happened between Thursday, Dec. 12 at 12 a.m. and Friday, Jan. 10 at 6 p.m. The case is open.
Police Contact Information When reporting the following information should be provided: • • • • •
Nature of the crime or emergency Name, address and phone number of caller Location of the incident Description of the scene and suspects Description of any vehicles involved, especially license plate numbers
University Police • 911 (emergency) • 601.266.4986 (non-emergency) • Bond Hall, First Floor West
EDITORIAL POLICY The views represented in The Student Printz’s columns and editorials do not necessarily represent those of the faculty, staff or administration of The University of Southern Mississippi. We welcome letters to the editor representing similar and contrasting opinions. To be eligilible for publication, all submissions must include name, class distinction, major, phone number and email address. Submissions should be emailed to printzeditors@gmail.com by 5 p.m. Friday. Please limit them to 500 words or less. The Student Printz reserves the right to refuse publication or edit any material on the basis of clarity, space or journalistic ethics.
Thursday, January 16, 2014
NEWS
Student Printz, Page 3
ON CAMPUS
Construction limits parking on campus Wilton Jackson Printz Reporter A portion of Black and Gold Boulevard has been closed due to continued construction of Century Park South, a new residential complex scheduled to be completed by July 2014. The closed portion runs along the construction site and is directly north of the Thad Cochran Center. Limited parking will be available on the east and west ends of the Thad Cochran Center. As a result of the closure, left turns will be permitted on to Fourth Street from Eagle Walk. Upon partial completion of Century Park South, Black and Gold Boulevard will reopen as a twolane thoroughfare with no parking in July 2014. The parking garage, located across from Century Park North, was designed to provide parking space that would be lost during the construction of the state-of-the-art residential facilities, Century Park North and South, as well as the new home of the College of Business, Scianna Hall. “The remediation of lost parking spaces is always a priority in the planning process of every construction project on the Hattiesburg campus,” said Michelle Shinall, assistant director of marketing and campus relations. “As a requirement of the university’s master plan, for every space lost, an additional space is planned.” Despite having the parking garage, some students have mixed opinions about the construction project and its limiting of parking for students on campus. “Removing this space without replacing it makes this change bittersweet for the student body,” said Anna Francis, a junior broadcast journalism major. “As a commuter student, living off
Jessica King/Printz
Construction of the new Century Park South complex has temporarily shut down half of the commuter parking lot in front of the Thad Cochran Center, making the parking garage more congested.
campus means that I have to arrive earlier to find a parking spot.” Anghsylea Jones, a senior therapeutic recreation major, said the area should not be closed for construction. “By closing this section of parking, other parking areas will be over capacity with commuters and university faculty and staff,” Jones said. Throughout the year, other parking
spaces will be lost due to the construction of the College of Nursing building. The building will be located on the corner of Ross Boulevard and Montague Boulevard and in the north corner of the Theatre and Dance Building parking lot. Several nearby houses and apartment complexes have been demolished and turned into parking spots to make
up for the spaces lost when further construction begins in the summer of 2014. “I know losing parking spaces is not good for us as students, but construction means improvements are being made to our noble institution,” said Nick Missel, a senior kinesiotherapy major. “Thus, I am glad we are looking to the future with high ambitions and
a standard set at nothing less than the best.” As more projects, renovations and upgrades begin, construction will remain a familiar sight to the Southern Miss community. “We may have to endure the relocation of parking spaces,” Shinall said. “In the end, however, these projects will continue the growth and advancement of the university.”
LOCAL
Marchers to reenact Freedom Day Ardan Thornhill Printz Reporter Hattiesburg will have its 50th anniversary Freedom Day reenactment march through downtown Jan. 22, at 10 a.m. The march will begin at Trinity Baptist Church and proceed to the Forrest County Courthouse. This time marchers will not ask for voting rights, but for the city of Hattiesburg to erect a monument honoring local civil rights veterans who suffered and endured for equality. Notable community citizens will speak, including USM president Rodney Bennett, Hattiesburg mayor Johnny DuPree and Anthony Harris, son of activist and former Freedom School student Daisy Harris. The Freedom Summer dialogues, a series of memorial events, will follow the event, occurring the first Tuesday of each month from February to May from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Hattiesburg Cultural Center, hosted by the
USM Center for Black Studies. According to public records from USM McCain Library and Archives, Hattiesburg served as Mississippi’s largest Freedom Summer site in 1964. The 1964 Freedom Summer was a movement of over 1,000 volunteers that came to Mississippi to aid in educating and registering African-Americans in the community to achieve suffrage. A community movement for freedom came to Hattiesburg in 1962 with the arrival of two pilots of history, Hollis Watkins and Curtis Hayes from Pike County. They came to start a voter registration campaign that was eventually handed over to Victoria Gray, who taught voter registration classes. These movements culminated on Jan. 22, 1964, otherwise known as the South’s first Freedom Day. Many consider this to be the day Freedom Summer really began. Citizens marched down to the courthouse, where hundreds of Forrest County African-Americans stood in the rain outside the courthouse to attempt to achieve voter status.
Moncrief Photograph collection/Mississippi Department of Archives and History
Demonstrators march past confederate monument in front of Forrest County Courthouse on Freedom Day Jan. 22, 1964.
NEWS
Page 4, Student Printz
TECH
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Hacked over the holidays Kirstie Lowery Printz Reporter At the start of the new year, popular applications Snapchat and Skype were hacked in unrelated incidents. According to www.guardianlv. com, two of the most popular tools of today’s communication were hacked, and at least one of these incidents caused personal account information to be leaked onto the internet. On Dec. 27 Snapchat posted a blog concerning a vulnerability issue that was pointed out to them by a security group. The problem discussed was that users can find others based upon the telephone numbers in his or her contact list if he or she chooses to upload their contacts to the mobile app. This option entitled “Find Friends” enables each user to access a person’s Snapchat username based upon the phone number they search for. After the blog was published, anonymous hackers decided to prove this flaw. The unknown hackers compiled a database of 4.6 million Snapchat users and posted each of their names, phone numbers and locations on the www.snapchat.db, a site that is no longer active. According to www.dailymail. co.uk, the intent behind this event
was to prove how vulnerable each person is when he or she signs up for Snapchat. When the hackers posted account information online, they included every digit in each user’s phone number, except for the last two. Megan Metcalfe, a junior social studies major at The University of Southern Mississippi, agrees everyone is putting their private information at risk when using Snapchat and other similar applications. “You have to be aware when you download social media apps like that, it is entirely possible that your personal information could be compromised,” Metcalfe said. After the information was posted, Snapchat immediately updated their app in an attempt to fix the issue. In an unrelated event, Skype, the popular video phone call application, was also hacked. On Jan. 1, Skype was hacked by the Syrian Electronic Army (SEA). The organization hacked into each of the official Skype social media accounts and their blog, informing users not to use their Microsoft e-mail accounts because individuals were selling their private account information to the government. Also, the group posted information about Microsoft’s retiring chief executive, Steve Ballmer. While this type of events can
prove to be dangerous for anyone who has an account with a social media website or application, many users still appreciate the convenience that is provided by them. “I love the speed and convenience of being able to communicate pretty much anywhere,” said Amber Stallworth, a sophomore criminal justice major.
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INTERNATIONAL
Forensics Society members compete in Chennai, India Yolanda Cruz Printz Reporter
Two senior members of The University of Southern Mississippi Forensics Society, Michael Sims and Brandon Hersey, represented the university in the World Universities Debating Championship in India Dec. 27 - Jan. 5. “There were 340 different teams representing 60 different countries at this year’s tournament,” said Sims, a senior polymer science major. “Competition was exceptionally intense, with teams from Ivy League schools as well as institutions such as Cambridge and Oxford participating.” Hersey and Sims were given this opportunity thanks to the USM Department of Communication Studies. “The department saw an opportunity for us to go and we took it,” said Hersey, a senior political science major. “They were the ones who applied for us and with the generous help of donations from alumni, they came up with funding for us to travel. I’m unbelievably thankful for all the work and effort they put in,” Sims said. The two did better than expected considering their inexperience with the team debate format, which required them to compete together for USM. “Our final standing was 227 out of 340 and honestly, we’re very pleased with that,” Sims said. “We still finished above quite a few
American teams, some of which had quite a bit more experience than us in this style.” “It was a new style for us. We had never competed in it before and we were up against the best of the best in the world,” Hersey said. Sims and Hersey were not only able to gain new knowledge and experiences from the debates, but also from traveling to a country on the other side of the world. “It was a bit of a culture shock for the first day, but then we quickly adjusted to a warm and deep culture of kindness and tolerance, the likes of which I have yet to experience in my travels,” Hersey said. “Not only were we halfway around the world in a completely unfamiliar environment, but we were also part of the largest debate tournament in the world,” Sims said. “It never really sunk in until we got back how unbelievable the entire experience was. Getting to experience a new culture firsthand, making friends from all over the world, and being a part of a truly global event are things I will carry with me for the rest of my life.” Sims and Hersey, two of the founding members of the Southern Miss Forensics Society, hope to make this semester one of the best, considering they will both be graduating in May. As for what is up next for the debate team this semester, Hersey had only one thing to say. “You will just have to stay tuned to find out.”
FEATURE
Thursday, January 16, 2014
LIFE
Student Printz, Page 5
Keeping up with New Year resolutions Kristy Shelley Printz Reporter It’s a new year and a new you. This phrase was pretty popular on Jan. 1. People were posting selfies on Instagram with it, updating their Facebook status with it and even tweeting it. So naturally, to be a “new you,” something has to change from the year before, or you’d be the same you. That’s where New Year resolutions come in. To get healthy, to exercise more and to quit smoking are some of the most popular New Year resolutions. Maybe some of you have chosen these resolutions as your own. Most of the time people don’t keep their resolutions. In fact, by Jan. 19, most people have completely forgotten about them. Part of this is because they set their goals too high or they don’t have someone to hold them accountable. To start off, one of my New Year resolutions is to get fit. I grew up playing sports, dancing and being active on a daily basis. Then I got to college, and pizza from A Stone’s Throw complemented with an Icee on my couch started to seem a lot better than jogging or working out. Well, I want to change that. I’m graduating in May and as much as I don’t want to admit it, I’ll no longer be a college kid. I can’t just sit around anymore, and Ramen is no longer going to be an acceptable dinner. So, I’m trying to get healthy and active again. The way I’m planning to keep this resolution is I have downloaded an app that helps me keep up with the food I eat and the exercise
I do every day. Plus, I can track my weight and progress along the way. I’ve also joined a Facebook group with a few people who have the same goal and we are doing similar workouts. It’s a way to hold each other accountable and to motivate each other to keep going. Many other students have made some New Year resolutions, some of them being serious. Alison Cuevas, a freshman business administration major, has made two resolutions: to be more scholarly and to be more like one of her role models. “I made these resolutions because these two things are very important to me,” Cuevas said. “I want to do better in school and watch myself succeed like one of my role models.” Cuevas said it’s important to make resolutions. “If you don’t have goals or something to work for, then what are you doing with your life anyways?” Cuevas said. Freshman advertising major Matthew Beck wants to do more community service and become a better person. “I chose these resolutions because community service is always a rewarding experience and as I’m becoming an adult, it’s for the best to just be a better person,” Beck said. “I plan to keep my resolutions by making better grades, going to the gym, eating right and treating people better.” Some resolutions were more of a wake-up call for other students. Junior music education major Allen Moore made the resolution to be young again. “Looking at myself, I realize I’m a 20-year-old workaholic, and that
scared me,” Moore said. “When I realized I hadn’t celebrated a birthday in three years or spent the holidays with my family in two because of work, I knew it was time for a change.” Senior public relations major Carlie Dikes picked to meditate once a week for her New Year resolution. “I decided to meditate for 30 minutes to an hour once a week because I work every day of the week besides Sundays, plus I’m a full time student and I have two internships – so my life is pretty chaotic,” Dikes said. “I wanted to find a way to start finding peace in my daily schedule so I can remain sane.” Freshman kinesiotherapy major Emily Murphy made a few resolutions, such as cutting back on swearing, not using her cell phone while driving, paying more attention in class and spending more time with her sorority sisters and roommate. “I swear too much and I feel trashy when I do, so I’d like to become more classy than nasty,” Murphy said. “I got a C this semester from not paying attention as well as I could have, so I’d like to really focus. And I want to be close with everyone. That’s my main goal.” “I plan to remind myself of these every morning. Maybe I’ll start leaving little Post-it notes around the room to remind me, too,” she said. Junior speech pathology major Alicia Frazier made the resolution to “Rise then Shine.” She plans to wake up, read a devotion and then workout every morning. “I read this idea in a yoga journal and I decided it was something I desperately needed to do in my life,” Frazier said. “To me, this is the best way to start my day off on the right foot for success.” So whether your resolution was
Katherine Perry/Printz
Senior Chelsea Barnett rings in the new year by spending her first week of school in the Payne Center.
similar to these or completely different, just remember to hold yourself accountable or get others to help you keep your resolutions. Remember, it’s a new year so be a new you!
This was an article of opinion by Kristy Shelley, a writer for the Student Printz. Email questions or comments to Kristy. Shelley@eagles.usm.edu.
ENTERTAINMENT
Best of 2013 and what’s to come Bradley Presson Printz Reporter
Albums:
A$AP Ferg – Trap Lord The debut album of the self proclaimed “hood pope” was one of the year’s most ridiculously enjoyable albums, merging the grittiest hip-hop beats with Ferg’s eccentric rapping. Death Grips – Government Plates The experimental hip-hop outfit returned with their most bizarre album yet. Torn between noise rock, hip-hop and dance music, the album is one of the darkest, most mysterious and yet catchiest albums of the year. Giraffage – Needs “I went through the worst time of my life and also the best time of my life while recording the songs on this album.” This message, left by electronic music producer Charlie Yin (aka Giraffage) on his bandcamp page, completely sums up the feeling of sampled R&B nostalgia that “Needs” perfectly provided.
Nails – Abandon All Life In the 17 minutes found on Nail’s sophomore release, the Californian hardcore extremists unleashed the most unrelenting and aggressive music that 2013 had to offer. Melt-Banana – Fetch By infusing the catchiness of J-Pop with the energy of hardcore punk, the Japanese noise rock legends returned after a studio hiatus to give the world the most beautifully bizarre and joyous album of 2013.
Movies:
A Band Called Death This documentary, while a tribute to the work of the forgotten black proto-punk pioneers, was also a powerful testament to the power of family. The movie ultimately stands as a monument to three brothers who put their artistic vision ahead of financial prosperity and after 30 years are finally seeing the fruit of their labor. Gravity Most movies aim to suspend disbelief, but few try, let alone accomplish, to put you into a new reality. While the plot was ultimately bland and
somewhat forgettable, the cinematography of this film was easily the best of 2013. The Conjuring Harkening back to the glory days of 1970s horror films, “The Conjuring” relied upon atmosphere and quality scares rather than gore to earn its place as 2013’s best horror film. Prisoners The disappearance of two young girls after a Thanksgiving dinner causes an unraveling of mysteries in this tense thriller. Anchored by Hugh Jackman’s Oscar-worthy performance, “Prisoners” was one of the year’s must-sees. 12 Years A Slave The most emotionally devastating film released in 2013, “12 Years A Slave” swallows the viewer in the tragic tale of kidnapped freeman Solomon Northup, in a film that managed to be equally poignant and horrifying. Her Is it a science fiction movie with a romance subplot or a romance film utilizing a science fiction plot device?
Regardless of what lens you view Spike Jonze’s masterpiece, it is quite obvious that the film succeeds on all levels. A touching examination of love and relationships, “Her” was easily the best film of 2013 for me.
Moments:
Miley Cyrus’ VMA performance No other moment in 2013 was as talked about as this pop culture spectacle. Whether you saw it as vapid or you saw it as rebellious bravado, there was no doubt that you were hearing about it. The Iron Bowl and the War Damn Miracle Auburn’s last second win over their in-state rival, who was the number one team in the nation, completely captured the excitement that only college football can provide. The Breaking Bad Finale No other moment in television could compare to the range of emotions that both viewers and Walter White felt as his swan song played out. It was the perfect conclusion to one of television’s finest offerings.
What to look for in 2014
Film – Wes Anderson’s next project, the star studded “The Grand Budapest Hotel” looks very promising, as does “22 Jump Street,” the sequel to the hilarious “21 Jump Street.” “Inception” director Christopher Nolan will return to science fiction with his next project, “Interstellar,” which is slated for a November release. The highly anticipated movie adaptation of “The Fault in Our Stars” is due for release in June. Music – Both R&B crooner Frank Ocean and modern electronic music legend Flying Lotus have announced work on new albums. Up-and-coming New York rapper Joey Badass is slated to release his highly awaited debut album “B4.Da.$$.”. According to Fuse, Californian punk outfit Joyce Manor was reported to have been recording their next full-length record in late 2013 with a potential spring release in 2014. Mississippi’s reigning rap heavyweight, Big K.R.I.T. has an album slated for release in 2014, his second full-length “Cadillactica.”
OPINION
Page 6, Student Printz
ON CAMPUS
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Confession page sparks debate Yolanda Cruz Printz Reporter The Confessions of a Southern Miss Student Facebook page exploded over winter break. This page has become very popular and is still growing with more than 2,500 followers. The confession page gives Southern Miss students a place to share their deepest secrets and desires anonymously. I have seen just about everything on this page. From confessions about one-night stands to complaints about loitering and even people reaching out for help with serious issues like harassment and eating disorders. This confession page has gained so much popularity that after being inactive for almost 24 hours, a new page was created because many people wanted it back. “Confessions of a Southern Miss Student is an interesting page, something I haven’t seen in regards to Southern anywhere else,” said John Davenport, a freshman exercise science major. “I know other schools like Ole Miss have some quirky Twitter pages, so I
“
think it’s a fun idea to have a laid back page about Southern [Miss]. I don’t think it’s meant to be taken very seriously, and when that’s how it’s run, I think the page is a lot of fun.” Senior English major Alison Beeson likes the support this page offers to the student body. “Some of the things being said, especially the supportive comments on the binge eater’s confession and the responses to whether or not there are any men who like big girls, seem to be pretty nice,” Beeson said. “A n o nymity does tend to make people b o t h braver and more r uthless, however, so I’m a little worried about w h e r e some people may take it,” she said. T h e confession page has also helped people feel like part of the Southern Miss community. “I think the page is a good thing because hearing some of the secrets from the student body helps us all relate to each other in a way,” said Rebecca Traylor, a senior theatre design major. “I mean, we probably all think that we do weird things individually, but now we can read these confessions and think, ‘Oh, there are people
I made a joke about one of my friends smelling like she doused herself in perfume and said, you smell like a baby prostitute. She didn’t know I was referencing ‘Mean Girls’ and hasn’t spoken to me in two weeks.
”
Anonymous
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on this campus who are even weirder than I am.’” While I admit this page has done some good, it looks like it is spreading more trash than anything else. One complaint made about the page is its obvious Greek bias. In the about section of the page, followers are told not to make any confessions saying negative things about Greek life. This is repeated again once students are directed to the Google doc where confessions are submitted. The submission form said: “If your confession is just hating on the Greek system, please keep it to yourself. Greek people don’t walk around hating on non-Greeks. Let’s just keep it fair.” I personally know a few nonGreeks who said this is definitely not true, so how exactly can that be considered fair? One confession said non-Greeks were just jealous of those who weren’t. Sounds like hating on non-Greeks to me. Even people in the Greek system feel this bias is not fair. “I think allowing it to become Greek propaganda is a mistake,” said Tanner Shaw, a junior accounting and finance double major. “I am a Greek student myself, and I would prefer it if submissions that are obviously intended to promote a specific Greek organization were thrown out.” Some students are also worried about how this page will make the university look to students who don’t actually go to Southern Miss. While the page is intended for USM students, any Facebook user can like this page. This is where the real danger lies. Bruce Kirk, a new student to USM this semester who transferred from Jones County Junior College, said this page could really give the school a bad reputation. “I think it started off as a cool idea and maybe had different intentions in the beginning, but I’ve seen a lot of vulgar confessions, mainly about sex, and I feel its showing the negative side of the campus and its students,” said Kirk, a junior accounting major. “If someone has never been to our campus before, they might think it’s just a party school and the students
don’t take their education seriously. It scares me that there might be a bunch of STDs going around,” he said. “No disrespect to those running the page or anyone posting but I would never want a prospective student to see this page and not attend USM because of things said on this page or fear of being posted about,” said Jeffrey George, a sophomore political science major. As with anything on social media, some students think the page should not be used as anyone’s personal diary, but rather that people should deal with their problems on their own. “Keep your personal business to yourself,” said Abbi Thomas, a sophomore art major. “Don’t publicize it to the entire web and potential students who would want to come to USM.” Still, is it really that bad? Junior finance major Bradley Floore doesn’t believe so. “When you give students the opportunity to say whatever they want without fear of judgment or embarrassment, you are going to be exposed to more than a few juvenile posts, but overall I think the page is harmless and at times, even informative,” Floore said. While Floore may see this page as harmless, some feel like this is a horrible thing to happen to the university. “The garbage posted on there now is pointless and sometimes even harmful,” said Amy Brogan, a junior sociology major. “I saw one post suggesting that our football team is purposefully spreading herpes around campus. That could cause extreme damage to our school and football team’s reputation,” Brogan said.
“
“Unless the content of the page changes drastically I don’t see any reason why it should continue to exist.” Denman Mims, a sophomore political science major compared the entertainment value of the confessions page to that of a “Jersey Shore” episode. However, Mims can’t help but continue to follow the page. “I can’t name a single student, myself included, who does not feel some degree of guilty pleasure when reading the material,” Mims said. So should we really be so worried about this page? Kinsey Eiland, a junior hotel, restaurant and tourism management major, doesn’t think this is anything more than just a fad. “It’s just a Facebook page so it’ll probably be really popular for a little bit then people will move on like they always do,” Eiland said. Maybe we are all taking this Facebook page just a bit too seriously. I saw some very nasty remarks break out over something like tipping in restaurants. Really, guys? Calm down. The confessions page could be adding more stress to your life that you don’t need. Listen to a great piece of advice from junior marketing major Ashley Grillot. “In the end, it’s an extremely entertaining page that let’s students say whatever they want without being judged. As long as the posts stay away from negativity and bullying, I approve,” Grillot said.
I’m obsessed with Southern Miss confessions even though I go to state. #oops #hailstateTTT? #sorrynotsorry
”
Anonymous
This was an article of opinion by Yolanda Cruz, a writer for the Student Printz. Email questions or comments to Yolanda.Cruz@ eagles.usm.edu.
SPORTS
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Student Printz, Page 7
FOOTBALL
Mullens motivated for 2014 season Alan Rawls Managing Editor Trailing the UAB Blazers with less than 12 minutes left in the third quarter, USM freshman quarterback Nick Mullens threw a strike to Dominique Sullivan for a 43-yard touchdown pass. It was the first of six touchdowns for Mullens in that second half. It not only sparked a comeback, but also a 62-27 rout of the Blazers on their home field. For Southern Miss, it was the school’s first win in almost two years and the only win of the 2013 season. For Mullens, the 18-year-old quarterback from Spain Park High School in Hoover, Ala., it was a game that garnered him a lot of attention. Mullens completed 24 of 39 pass attempts for 370 yards, five passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. That week, Mullens was recognized as the C-USA Co-Offensive Player of the Week, one of eight
“Stars of the Week” (as recognized by the Manning Award) and the recipient of an ESPN College Gameday helmet sticker for his performance. It was his second game of the season with over 300 passing yards, and his career-high five passing touchdowns tied for a school record. When asked about his success in that game, Mullens focused his answers around humility and hard work These are two valuable lessons that he learned and continues to learn each day. Growing up in Hoover, Ala. certainly helped Mullens get ready for college football. At Spain Park High School, Mullens put in numerous hours of hard work that resulted in the first regional title in the school’s history. His work at Spain Park not only produced immediate results for him, but also prepared him for Southern Miss football by teaching him to be both competitive and levelheaded. “At Spain Park, football’s pretty
big, so I think that kind of helped me mentally,” Mullens said. “I can’t let the big stage affect me.” Spain Park ran an Air Raid offense, which coincidentally was the type of offense Coach Todd Monken wanted to install at Southern Miss. Once Mullens realized that he would be a perfect fit at USM, he was immediately on-board with Monken’s program. Redshirt junior Cole Weeks and redshirt senior Allan Bridgford were also vying for the position of starting quarterback in fall camp. But amid the competition both Weeks and Bridgford both became friends and mentors to Mullens. “He actually became a bigger mentor when I got the starting job,” Mullens said of Bridgford. “He was very accepting and he’s a great teammate. He’s real nice, and both he and (Weeks) offered me words of advice and of confidence.” Having known Monken’s style of offense for quite some time and with advice from his peers, Mullens put
forth a remarkable effort for a true freshman in the last six games of the 2013 season. In that time he passed for 1,776 yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging more than 276 yards per game. The last game of the season, in what Mullens described as a “door-die situation,” he led the Golden Eagles on a 28-0 third-quarter rally after an eight-point halftime deficit. “The receivers made plays, the offensive line blocked well, Randall Agee did a great job at center for us,” Mullens said about the UAB game. “Everything was clicking. In coach Monken’s offense you can score a lot of points. It’s just a matter of getting out there and doing your job.” Rather than focus on his individual performance in that game, Mullens chose to celebrate the success of his team. “I was happier for the team and for Southern Miss,” Mullens said. “I saw all the fans gathered around the walkway when we headed back to the campus and that was a really cool feeling.
“I was almost happier for the fans than the team,” Mullens said. “They never gave up on us, and then we won and it was like the greatest day for Southern Miss. It was amazing to see all the support flow in from all around Mississippi.” Mullens believes the UAB game provided the boost of confidence that Southern Miss needed to win more games. He is confident in the coaches, the teammates, the new recruits and the fans. But as quarterback, he knows that he must be both a confident leader as well as a hard worker. “That (UAB) game let me know that I can be something better than what I was in those previous games, that I can certainly get better and work hard to get better,” Mullens said. “So I use that game as motivation more than I do reason to have a big head. Part of being a quarterback is making your teammates better as well as yourself, and that’s what I’ve got to do a better job of.”
Southern Miss Sports Box Score
Women’s Basketball 1/8/14 vs. Louisiana Tech W, 67-56 1/11/14 vs. UTSA W, 70-57
Men’s Basketball
Upcoming Games
1/3/14 vs. Drexel W, 66-49 1/9/14 vs. North Texas W, 74-64
1/16/14 7 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. Rice Hattiesburg, Miss. 1/18/14 12 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. Louisiana Tech Hattiesburg, Miss. 1/19/14 2 p.m. Women’s Basketball vs. Tulane New Orleans, La.
Marvin Gentry/Contract Photographer
Southern Miss quarterback Nick Mullens scrambles with the ball during the game against the UAB Blazers at Legion Field.
The NPHC would like to congratulate the ladies of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and the men of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. for their outstanding Academic Performance in the Fall semester. These organizations have the highest GPA in the NPHC. Also, the NPHC would like to commend the following Greek scholars for their Academic Excellence in the Fall semester. *Denotes above a 4.0 GPA Alpha Phi Alpha Jaron Brown* Brantley Cumberland Brandon Hersey Donald Homes Dequarios Overstreet* Davis Vernon Drako Wells John Johnson Jacoby Bell Timothy Palmer Alpha Kappa Alpha Kaneeshia Abney Tanesha Barnes Morgan Bradley Jessica Catledge Iesha Cotton* Yasmin Cunningham Shaniqua Davis Olivia Dishmon Dessrae Edison Chanda Edwards Jessica Fielder Diamond Forkner
Tayla Jones Rakaeja Nickson* Charla Payton Tayler Prude Briana Rodericsia India Sprinkle Jalisa Stauss Shaniqua Truly Ariel Warren Kathryn Winsley Sabrina Young Jasmine Bates La’Royale Douglas Paige Jones Kaylyn Mallory Ka’Nesha Matthews Ajasiz Smith Lauren Taylor Mariana Zamarripa Charlita Zollicoffer Kappa Alpha Psi Morris Bevily Lyeneal Griffin Wilton Jackson Brandon Walker
Omega Psi Phi William Coleman Ta’Dren Kennedy Hakeem Oduniyi Delta Sigma Theta Monique Brogan Takara Calagan Kierra Garner Bergandee Hibbler Ebonie Hopkins Karen Johnson Amanda McDaniel Kristen Melton Candanise Walter Catrice Cezar Diana Garrett Chasidy Johnson Areiona King Jasmine McKinney Courtney Roberson Brianna Stewart Eboni Thompson Jasmine Topp Jelesa Wiley
Raven Winding
Phi Beta Sigma Javon Atterberry Jeremy Evans Aston Williams William Owens Zeta Phi Beta Jamie Bingham Elizabeth Cobbins Keanu Gaston Crystal Johnson Angelic McIntyre Carmen Moore Mirreka Morris Saqueta Simmons Kendra Smith Eyrka Wallace Sigma Gamma Rho Iesha Taylor Jasmine Thomas* Tiara Williams Candace Pickett
Page 8, Student Printz
THE STUDENT PRINTZ
Thursday, January 16, 2014
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