FEATURE
Page 4 | Thursday, March 6, 2014
ON CAMPUS
‘Flag guy’ talks Southern Miss passion Crystal Garner Printz Reporter
James Bueno goes by many names, but he is best known as the “flag guy” to sports fans at The University of Southern Mississippi. “I used to be the guy with the dreads and the flags, now I’m just the guy with the flags,” he said. Bueno, a staff member with Southern Miss Athletics and a sports management major, covers audiences with original flags during football and basketball games in an effort to promote school spirit and engagement with fans. Inspired by soccer traditions in his home country of Brazil, Bueno decided to share his excitement with USM. “It is a way for me to express my enthusiasm at games and support Southern Miss,” Bueno said. “Every year (that) it gets bigger, the bigger the enthusiasm.” Bueno currently has three flags, all of which he made himself. “The Nasty Bunch flag, I had to sew the whole thing with a $20 sewing machine,” he said. “It took me three weeks to sew it.” Bueno said the larger flags take more work.
April Garon/Printz
James Bueno stands in front of one of the Southern Miss flags he designed. He has a passion for sports and wanted to share it with the university by creating flags to be used for school spirit at sporting events.
“The biggest one I have is so big that I have to put it in my trunk,” he said. “It fills the whole trunk of my car and I need to have at least three or four guys to help me out.” When it comes to the sizes of the the flags, Bueno gave a rough estimate. “In the coliseum, it goes from the first row all the way to the last row,” he said. “It covers the whole student section.” According to Bueno, with a large crowd, the flag can cover up to 1,500 students.
It takes more than the love of the game to produce such large flags. Bueno puts in time and his own money. “The black and gold flag is the biggest, and I’ve spent around $2,500 on it,” he said. “On the Nasty Bunch flag, I spent around $600 dollars, including fabric and paint.” So what keeps Bueno inspired to keep making and extending the flags? “I just feel like if I don’t, no one else will, at least not on their own,” he said. “I’m a really
passionate sports fan.” That is how it is done in Brazil. “At home games, that’s what we do; we have flags,” Bueno said. “Back home, it’s a big deal.” Bueno said he would carry over ideas from being a fan for the Brazilian soccer team. Bueno’s girlfriend, Malin Collin, a tennis player at William Carey University, called what he does remarkable. “It’s remarkable how much passion he has for all of the games,” Collin said. “Even when they were losing, he was
still there.” According to Collin, there were many times when their friends would discourage him from attending. “No matter what, he would still be there,” she said. In 2011, Bueno was recognized for attending all of the football games during USM’s winning season, including the Hawaii Bowl. When it comes to the home games, Bueno said he only has one request from fans. “If you see the flag, try to help out; I don’t try to block anyone’s view of the game,” he said. “Don’t be that person that stops the flag from going up; it just ruins it.” Bueno encourages fans to try to enjoy it and have some fun. “Flags will not come up at every game,” he said. “It gets too heavy if there aren’t enough people under it,” Bueno said. “I need a good group of at least 12 people to help with the big flag.” Like the sports he supports, Bueno said managing the flags requires teamwork. If students would like to get involved with flag management, contact Bueno at Leandro. Buenodasilva@eagles.usm.edu.
GREEK LIFE
Sorority recognized for St. Jude donation Kristy Shelley Printz Reporter
The Phi Epsilon Chapter of Delta Delta Delta Sorority at The University of Southern Mississippi donated $68,000 to St. Jude
Children’s Research Hospital. The St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., has a Southern Miss flag hanging on the wall with each member’s signature on it. Other university flags hang alongside to represent top fund-
raising chapters. The flag represents the Phi Epsilon chapter raising the most money for the medium division of the sorority nationally. Tri Delta member Becca Daniel said seeing the flag hanging in St. Jude was humbling. “The fact that the USM flag is hanging in St. Jude gives me such a sense of pride for my chapter, my school and my community,” Daniel said. “Having personally seen the flag there with all of our signatures is extremely humbling and it really makes all of our hard work worth it. It really puts into perspective what all of our efforts are for.” Tri Delta Philanthropy Chair Elizabeth Whitehead said she is overjoyed. “Words cannot describe it,” Whitehead said. “It is so humbling knowing that we are a part of something that is moving mountains. It just makes us more hungry and eager to do more and beat the next goal St. Jude challenges us with.” White said they are eagerly
waiting to hear the new goal in June. In 2010, Tri Delta set a goal to raise $15 million in five years, but the goal was completed a year and a half before. Daniel said she is proud to have been a part of it. “Prior to the goal of 15 in five, Tri Delta had a goal of $10 million in 10 years and met that goal in just four years,” Daniel said. “Meeting these goals so far ahead of schedule just proves how much Tri Delta cares about the children at St. Jude and the impact that we know we can make for them.” Whitehead said Tri Delta not only is recognized for the contributions, but the university is also recognized. “I have fallen in love with the mission and am so honored and eager to lead our chapter in achieving our new goal,” Whitehead said. For the 2014 year, the Phi Epsilon chapter hopes to raise $72,000 so the Southern Miss flag can continue to hang on the Tri Delta Patient Care floor. “Knowing we can really make
a difference changes our whole mindset when it comes to fundraising,” Daniel said. “After several visits to St. Jude, we all know where our money is going and how much of an impact we can make if we continue to work hard.” Whitehead not only agreed, but also said it is an honor to work toward these goals. “It’s overpowering to know we have had the privilege to contribute to saving the lives of many children,” Whitehead said. “St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a place that all of our members will truly hold close to their hearts for a lifetime.” Whitehead said their annual Triple Play Cheer Competition will be March 26 and the softball tournament will be March 28-29. Both of these events are fundraisers for the Phi Epsilon chapter and all proceeds will go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. For more information, e-mail Elizabeth.Whitehead@ eagles.usm.edu.