The Student Printz: August 12, 2020

SERVING SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI SINCE 1927 • WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM • AUGUST 12, 2020 | VOLUME 106 | ISSUE 1

POLITICAL DONATION PG 3

“FLIGHT PLAN”

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TIKTOK BAN

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Students, faculty on returning to school amidst pandemic BRIAN WINTERS EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Photo by Brian Winters | Printz

tudents were expected to return to face-to-face classes at Southern Miss on August 17. That changed when it was announced the first three weeks of the semester will be online only.

To get the opinions of faculty and students on returning to face-to-face classes, a survey was sent out. A total of 192 students and 163 faculty members responded. All of the responses were anonymous, allowing for students and faculty to give their honest opinion.

The main concern of faculty members was that face-to-face classes

are not safe and there is a worry about the pandemic. Older faculty members in particular chose to teach online classes in order to stay healthy and avoid any sickness.

One faculty member said the university brings in thousands of 20-something-year-olds to move into apartments, dorms and Greek buildings. These students will be coming from many different Coronavirus hotspots, leading to sickness and possibly death.

Others pointed out that Southern Miss would need to close down again if the pandemic gets too bad, meaning no faculty or students could return for the Spring semester.

According to Ashish K. Jha, the Director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, Mississippi is

predicted to become the number one state in the nation for COVID-19 based on numbers per capita.

Jha went on to explain on Twitter that because Mississippi did not have a mask mandate and businesses were not taking proper precautions, it was on its way to become number one.

Although masks have since become mandated, testing for COVID-19 has gone down eight percent, which may make it easier for asymptomatic people to infect others.

An article from the New York Times said, by July 29, more than 6,600 COVID-19 cases have been linked to American colleges. The article specifically said Southern Miss had 49 cases linked to the university, all connected to the athletics department.

One faculty member at Southern Miss said the only way the campus would be safe is if there was a 14day period with no outbreaks. The same faculty member said it seems impossible to achieve that goal at this point, especially while teaching in an enclosed space with 10 to 15 students.

Another faculty member said the university’s administration did good work to protect everyone at campus under the extreme circumstances.

“They are restricted by the IHL and have had to abide by its policies,” the faculty member said. “I think the administration has done the best it can with an overwhelming situation.”

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NEWS MEET THE STAFF Executive Editor

Brian Winters brian.s.winters@usm.edu

News & Features Editor Mary Murphy mary.s.murphy@usm.edu

Entertainment/Opinion Editor Meg Fuller meghan.fuller@usm.edu

Sports Editor

Charlie Luttrell charles.luttrell@usm.edu

Photography Editor

Meg Fuller meghan.fuller@usm.edu

Multimedia Editor

Blair Ballou blair.ballou@usm.edu

Social Media Editor Bethany Morris

bethany.morris@usm.edu

Design Editor

Marissa Haas marissa.haas@usm.edu

The views represented in The Student Printz’s columns and editorials do not 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 eligible for publication, all submission must include name, class distinction, major, phone number and email address.

Submissions should be emailed to printzeditors@gmail.com by 5 p.m. on the Friday before publication.

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.

Opinions expressed in The Student Printz are those of the writer and not necessarily those of The Student Printz, its publication manager, USM, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning or the USM Board of Student Publications.

AUGUST 12, 2020

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Move-In Day 2020 photo gallery BRIAN WINTERS EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Photos by Brian Winters | Printz

tudents began moving into their dorms at Southern Miss on August 5.

Students this year had to do this in waves as a way to social distance and remain safe as they began the semester.

Sirena Cantrell, the Dean of Students and Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, said the campus is asking students to wear masks and has a schedule to reduce the amount of students on campus at one time.

“We’re sanitizing between the times students come in, so every hour and a half we are taking the time to sanitize and wipe down close spaces and high touch points,” Cantrell said. “[We are] just trying to keep people safe, keep people comfortable and have people ready to come back.”

Cantrell said Southern Miss has about 2,900 students booked to live in dorms.

“As we go on throughout the days, we will call students to make sure they are still coming or if they’ve changed their minds,” Cantrell said. “We have had some students change their mind because of the virus, and we understand that.”

Cantrell said there are some spaces being held for quarantine isolation if a dorm faces some positive cases. There is also a process in place for students living on campus to follow if they do test positive.

“We will help them go into isolation and make sure they are taken care of during the quarantine period,” Cantrell said.

Cantrell said compared to other move-in days, this one has been much more spread out. New students, instead of moving in all at once, are now moving in over a five day period, and returning students are given three days to move in.

NEWS

AUGUST 12, 2020

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Political memorabilia receives new home in McCain Library BRIAN WINTERS EXECUTIVE EDITOR

he McCain Library Archives received a donation of political memorabilia on August 4. The donation came from John Pendergrass, a retired ophthalmologist and long-time Hattiesburg resident.

Pendergrass’ collection was displayed on a table and included many a lot of different political memorabilia. Some of the memorabilia came from famous politicians that visited Mississippi, such as Dwight D. Eisenhower, Teddy Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan.

However, it also included more obscure items directly relating to Mississippi, such as Civil Rights activist James Evers’ campaign for governor or old buttons from Southern Miss.

Pendergrass said he got into collecting political memorabilia about 45 years ago. “Mainly because of my interest in history,” Pendergrass said. “I also grew up in an

age where boys collected things --- they collected stamps, coins and buttons --- and that’s sort of how I began.”

Pendergrass said he joined a hobby organization of other political collectors and made a lot of friends with an interest in this hobby. He acquired a lot of his items through these friends, along with scouring through flea markets, political memorabilia shows and eBay. Pendergrass said he enjoyed collecting a certain kind of memorabilia and watching it grow and become complete. However, he also said it was important for his items to be preserved. He donated the items to Southern Miss because he knew they needed a good home, and the McCain Archives were the perfect place to do so.

“I am not getting any younger and I wanted a place that would take good care of [the collection],” Pendergrass said. “I could tell from my experience already with the library that they take good care, preserve the items and have them available for other people to use

Pictured: Dr. John Pendergrass

and view.”

Brandon Ball, the processing assistant at the Archives, agreed with Pendergrass. Ball said preserving these collections can save bits of history, like seeing how campaign buttons and slogans have evolved throughout the years.

“People can come in and see what life was like in the old days,” Ball said. “There was a pin that had the Confederate flag, but we would not do that today.”

Lorraine Stuart, the Head of Special Collections and Curator of Historical Manuscripts, said the Archives focus on Mississippi’s history, particularly its political history. She said Pendergrass’ collection is like the visual chronicle of Mississippi political history. “[The collection] goes into fairly

detailed, obscure races that would, I think, be lost,” Stuart said.

“Except that Dr. Pendergrass has taken so much care and preserved these things.”

Stuart believes the collection is an entry way for people to stay educated on Mississippi politics as there is so much history in just one tray of the collection.

“It is a very important collection for us as it talks about Civil Rights and the Mississippi political history, like local oriented[,] that would be lost if he had not taken care of it,” Stuart said.

“Sometimes I feel like I am giving away my own children,” Pendergrass said. “I have grown so fond of many of these items over the years.”

Photos by Brian Winters | Printz

FEATURES CONT. FROM PG 1 The biggest concern students had while responding to the survey was how classes would operate.

“I am concerned that Southern Miss will be too eager to return to normal operation and that in-person classes and amenities will cause us to ultimately shut down completely,” one surveyed student said. “I wish they would offer both in-person and online options for course work so we have the choice of how to take on our education.”

The University of Southern Mississippi has been updating students and faculties throughout the entire pandemic at www.usm. edu/covid-19, including their most

AUGUST 12, 2020

recent plan titled “Flight Path”. Flight Path’s web page includes information about the academic calendar for the fall semester, how to stay safe and healthy during the semester and rules that require face masks and social distancing when possible.

A video was uploaded to The University of Southern Mississippi’s YouTube channel on August 3, where University President Rodney Bennett Ph.D addressed the faculty and students about the fall semester.

“The university has been working really hard since last spring and all summer to prepare for the arrival of our students,” Bennett said. “I’m really excited about what we have put into place.”

Bennett said he believes the university is well positioned to continue important work educating

and conducting research that helps improve the lives of all Mississippians.

Bennett also thanked faculty and staff for their hard work all summer to position Southern Miss for a productive fall semester.

With this in mind, two faculty members offered ideas for ways to make the next semester easier. One suggested live streaming classes for a specific time during the week, and the other wanted to see increased engagement between faculty and students.

“Under the realities of the pandemic that we are all facing, I would like to see more engagement between the faculty and students in how we can meet student needs and be safe,” the faculty member said.

Bennett agreed with several previously mentioned sentiments in

WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM the video, stating that the university is adding significant modifications to Southern Miss’ academic calendar and course delivery method.

“We are implementing numerous additional institutional health protocols while emphasizing the importance of personal responsibility that must be embraced by all of those connected to our university,” Bennett said. “Current information will continue to be updated online at usm. edu/flightpath.”

Bennett said it is Southern Miss’ commitment to prepare students for a bright future no matter what unexpected circumstances may arise.

“Our goal is to help you cultivate the confidence and the skillset to adapt quickly to changes in the world around you,” Bennett said.

Hattiesburg businesses discuss events, safety protocols BRIAN WINTERS EXECUTIVE EDITOR

he hustle and bustle of Hattiesburg came to a roaring halt when the COVID-19 pandemic made its way to the city in March. Businesses around the city had to close down and events had to be canceled or postponed. With the new semester starting and the city taking precautions, events and local businesses are opening back up for new and returning students to experience what Hattiesburg has to offer.

Marlo Dorsey is the Executive Director of VisitHATTIESBURG, Hattiesburg’s official destination marketing and management organization.

Dorsey said the pandemic has caused the organization to adapt to responsibly and professionally do their jobs.

“With that sentiment, we’ve worked with Hattiesburg event planning partners and public health officials at the local and state levels to put in place the latest best practices on events and meetings here in Hattiesburg,” Dorsey said.

Dorsey said that while many of the large events for the fall have been canceled, there are still parts of festivals and events everyone can enjoy. The events held will be mostly the same, if now only from a distance or in smaller groups.

“Spoiler alert, you can still have fun while wearing a mask,” Dorsey said.

VisitHATTIESBURG will be promoting many activities that can be enjoyed individually or in small groups through videos, blogs, event calendars and social media. Dorsey said to keep a close eye out for all that the organization is working on to present fun options for college students and their families to participate in.

“We encourage all students to explore Hattiesburg and get to know their home for the next four years, all while following local and state safety guidelines” Dorsey said. “In the meantime, students can enjoy Hattiesburg’s

Brian Winters | Printz

public art, outdoor recreation offerings, vast shopping and many eateries while maintaining social distancing.”

Amanda Hargrove is the Director of Marketing for the Hattiesburg Convention Commission, which includes the Hattiesburg Zoo. She said Zoo Boo and Lights of the Wild are two major events the Hattiesburg Zoo would hate to miss.

“It’s heartbreaking to think that we have already missed hosting other major events this year because of the pandemic, such as Tacos & Tequila, Sloth-A-Thon, Pirate Days and Zoostock,” Hargrove said.

The Hattiesburg Zoo has implemented extra measures to enhance the zoo’s regular program of hygiene, cleaning and operation. The zoo has increased the frequency of cleaning high-touch areas such as door handles, railings, counters, photo op locations, tables and more. Additional hand sanitizing stations with more visible signage to lead guests to them have also been added.

“We are carefully monitoring operational activities of industry leaders in North American zoos to understand decision factors as they face some of the same issues we do,” Hargrove said.

“This means while we remain open, we may modify certain activities, programs or guest volume to provide the highest

level of safe enjoyment to all.”

Hargrove said it is the zoo’s goal to provide a safe sanctuary for parents and children.

“Everyone has gone above and beyond to make sure the zoo remains a clean and safe place for guests to enjoy,” Hargrove said. “We are still working hard to get everything in order to hopefully open our newest exhibit spaces in the Fall, which will include giraffes, and lots of other cool animal exhibits, new restrooms, a new restaurant, event space and so much more.”

Hargrove said the Hattiesburg Zoo has not had any issues accommodating guests. There is a lot of room to move around the zoo, allowing for people to maintain proper social distance from one another.

“We are very fortunate to have such a wonderful place for people to get some fresh air and experience the great outdoors to raise spirits during times like this,” Hargrove said.

Mik Davis, the record store manager for T-Bones, said the store had been running at 50 percent capacity per municipal state orders since the end of April. Davis said while new students are welcomed at the store, they are asked to exercise caution.

“All of our services are here to provide for them no matter the limitations,” Davis said. “As both a restaurant

and a retailer, we have been diligent with our staff and customers.”

Customers are asked to enter the store with a mask and to sanitize before touching any records, CDs, books or products.

Davis also said Record Store Day, an annual event held at many independently owned record stores, will now be split into three separate events over the next three months starting August 29.

“Each event will be properly stocked and socially distanced to provide our customers with the same opportunity as always -- but with their safety firmly in mind,” Davis said.

New and returning students to Hattiesburg were encouraged to explore the city and take advantage of the outdoor activities offered. In particular, Dorsey said students could bike or hike on the Longleaf Trace Trace, participate in outdoor yoga at Town Square Park, kayak on the Pine Belt Blue Ways and play outdoor games in greenspaces.

“We encourage students to create their own adventure and take the opportunity to experience the local flavor that is authentic to Hattiesburg,” Dorsey said. “By the time the long list of local shops, restaurants and attractions has been explored, events should be ready to safely resume.”

NEWS

AUGUST 12, 2020

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Moffitt Health Center offers 24hour COVID-19 test BRIAN WINTERS EXECUTIVE EDITOR

ohamed Elasri Ph.D, director of Southern Miss’ Center for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, turned existing resources at The Accelerator Lab into testing centers for COVID-19 when the virus was first reported in Mississippi in March. Elasri is using his expertise in infectious diseases and cell and molecular biology to ensure COVID-19 tests conducted at Southern Miss’ Moffitt Health Center will produce results within 24 hours.

“We’ve repurposed our research capabilities and expertise into doing this clinical test, so it’s very familiar to us since we use these techniques in research,” Elasri said. “These are all things we do in our research programs at the Center for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, and we are proud to have the ability to combat the virus’ spread in this way and assist

our community during the pandemic.”

The tests conducted by the center are molecular PCR tests, which deals with microbes and isolating molecules. It is the most accurate test to date and the one recommended by the Centers for Disease Photo courtesy of The University of Southern Mississippi Control and Prevention. ter to quickly diagnose and isolate In March, Elasri’s lab was helppositive cases,” Johnson said. “It Educator and Promotions Coordiing the Hattiesburg Clinic with nator at the Moffitt Health Center, will also allow quicker notification testing. As the fall semester neared of close contacts of the positive said the situation surrounding and the clinic transitioned to a cases in order for them to be tested COVID-19 is continuously evolvcommercial testing service, Elasri and quarantined as well.” began to shift his focus to solely as- ing, including how Southern Miss Dee Dee Anderson Ph.D, the sisting Southern Miss’ clinic on the is responding to it.

Vice President for Student Affairs, “The benefit [of these tests] is Hattiesburg campus. COVID-19 said Elasri’s laboratory, in partnerthat we can identify positive cases tests taken at Moffitt Health Cenship with the Moffitt Health Cenand close contacts of those cases ter will now be sent to Elsari’s lab ter, is integral to the health and located at The Accelerator, located in a more timely fashion which safety of Southern Miss students. would then allow us to reach those four miles away from Southern “Streamlining the reporting on individuals before they have the Miss’ Hattiesburg campus. the Hattiesburg campus will allow chance to expose more people,” Results will be available within us to enact our isolation plans Johnson said.

24 hours and the lab currently has quickly to help to mitigate the Johnson said the PCR test is the the capacity to return 100 results spread of COVID-19,” Anderson ‘gold standard’ for COVID-19 each day. As of now, four full-time said. diagnostics since it is the most technicians are working in ElasThe latest information about specific and sensitive test currently ri’s lab, and will be prepared to Southern Miss’ return to fall classavailable. quickly increase test capacity once es plan can be found at www.usm.

“Having a 24-hour PCR result classes start on August 17. edu/flight-plan. will allow the Moffitt Health CenKayla Johnson, the Health

Southern Miss prepares a “Flight Path” to the fall semester MARY MURPHY

NEWS/FEATURE EDITOR ith COVID-19 remaining a huge concern as the fall semester approaches, the University of Southern Mississippi is pulling no punches to ensure everyone remains healthy and safe on campus. The official website launched a “Flight Path 2020” page on August 3, detailing the various precautions being taken to ensure the health and safety of students and staff.

“Each individual’s role is important as we continue our journey ‘To The Top’,” Rodeny Bennett Ph.D said in a video address on August 3. “Each of us must take personal responsibility to do our part to limit the spread of COVID-19, just as we have banded together to overcome countless challenges in our past.”

Most of the “Flight Path” details specific social distancing guidelines the university will follow over the next few months. Masks will be

mandatory throughout every campus building, including residence hall lobbies and dining areas. All students and faculty will have to self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms daily, and will not be able to go on campus if they are symptomatic.

A lot of new tech will be available at Southern Miss to help keep others informed on possible COVID-19 cases. Temperature monitoring kiosks will be available throughout campus to check for fever. An optional Trailant course will be offered by Southern Miss to generally educate others on COVID-19, including prevention methods. Most significantly, all USM on-campus dining locations will transition to cashless payment methods to “reduce contact between employees and customers as much as possible”.

Classes will also change to better prepare for the fall semester. For the first three weeks of school, all classes will be online only. As of writing, Southern Miss still expects to hold face-to-face and hybrid classes following these three weeks, and have

protocols in place to help protect students and faculty in classrooms.

“All of our classrooms are enrolled at about 25 percent capacity, and we will have assigned seating in those classrooms.”Amy Chasteen, Executive Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, told WJTV-12. “It spreads students out that minimum of six feet apart, and we will block off chairs.”

Should someone believe they have COVID-19, the “Flight Path” also has procedures in place. Three different COVID-19 tests will be available to students at the Moffitt Health Clinic, including the CDC recommended PCR nasopharyngeal swab test. However, all tests will be conducted on an appointment only basis, with priority given to those showing symptoms.

“This helps us best utilize medical resources like testing supplies, test processing and medical staff needed to care for patients,” Kayla Johnson, the Health Educator and Promotions Coordinator at Moffitt, explained.

It is easy to become discouraged by rising COVID-19 numbers as the school year approaches. However, Johnson and Bennett also made sure to tell students not to lose hope and stay connected with others during these hectic times.

“The potential for personal, intellectual, spiritual and social growth is vast during these times,” Johnson said. “Don’t limit yourself based on the circumstances surrounding your current situation.”

“I think we’ve all been in a place of just feeling overwhelmed by the circumstances of the pandemic,” Bennett said, “and I think it’s time for us to sort of start smiling more[,] to be a little more upbeat and a little more encouraged about our future.”

To keep updated on all Southern Miss decisions regarding COVID-19, please visit the official website’s response page at https:// www.usm.edu/covid-19. To view the full details of the “Flight Path”, visit https://www.usm.edu/flightpath.

ENTERTAINMENT

AUGUST 12, 2020

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‘Fall Guys’ offers competitiveness, fun with friends BRIAN WINTERS EXECUTIVE EDITOR

he video game ‘Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout’ was released for PS4 and PC on August 4. It was released for $20 on PC and is free for PlayStation Plus users.

‘Fall Guys’ is a battle royale game developed by Mediatonic and published by Devolver Digital. In the first 24 hours, the game had attracted over 1.5 million players, according to the ‘Fall Guys’ official Twitter.

It has also gained some interesting publicity, with Chuck E. Cheese streaming the game on Twitch, and receiving shout-outs on Twitter from Walmart Canada and ‘The Witcher’ game series.

Players are able to play a total of 11 randomized game modes in ‘Fall Guys’, ranging from survival minigames to team-based tasks. Tasks include playing a game of soccer to racing ahead of everyone to a finish line.

The game can contain up to 60 different players. A certain number of players are eliminated each round until 11 or less remain. Survival rounds

Photo courtesy of PlayStation Store

last until a number of players fall into slime below them, while other races eliminate the last few players to cross the finish line.

There is a party system that allows up to four friends to play together. Anyone who was eliminated can stay in and cheer on their friends. Depending on the player’s choice, however, they can also knock over their friends and make it so they do not qualify for the next round.

If someone manages to survive to the finals, they have to complete one more challenge to win, such as being the first

one to run up a hill and grab a crown, being the last player to have a tail when the timer runs out or being the last player to survive falling into slime.

Finishing games -- called “episodes” -- will give the player experience and points to buy new outfits, colors and skin patterns. Winning an episode will give players a crown, which can be used to purchase unique cosmetic items.

Cosmetics in the shop change after 24 hours, meaning each day there is something new for the player to buy.

There are also taunts and celebrations

that can be bought either using points or crowns.

Players can also unlock Cosmetics by leveling up, with the top level being 40. ‘Fall Guys’ is split up into seasons, with the game currently being on Season One. At the end of each season, the player’s score will reset back to one, starting everything over again.

Players can submit designs for the characters that can be picked and used as Cosmetic items in the game.

This can be done by going to the ‘Fall Guys’ website and clicking on the ”Contest” tab.

The game takes inspiration from many real-life game shows, such as ‘Wipeout’ and ‘It’s a Knockout’. ‘It’s a Knockout’ also had a system where contestants dressed up in different costumes throughout. Some courses take direct inspiration from ‘Wipeout’, such as courses where players must dodge swinging balls, jump over spinning tubes and avoid blocks that push out of the wall and block the player’s path.

‘Fall Guys’ is a fun, cheap way to play with friends or have fun with others around the world. There’s nothing like entering the special winning screen at the end of the episode, where a player gets extra points, a crown and bragging rights.

‘Unsolved Mysteries’ gets a modern reboot BRIAN WINTERS EXECUTIVE EDITOR

nsolved Mysteries’ was rebooted by Netflix on July 1.

The original series’ creators, John Cosgrove and Tyler Dunn Meurer, have come back to help produce the new episodes. The series will include a total of 12 50-minute episodes, with six now available to watch.

The original series ran from 1987 to 2002, with a brief reboot on Spike in 2010. In 2017, Cosgrove and Meurer said they were interested in reviving the series, and successfully did so this year.

Most episodes of the original ‘Unsolved Mysteries’ explored mysterious deaths or disappearances of people, sometimes relating to urban legends, UFOs, cold cases or hidden treasures. Viewers would then be able to go to the ‘Unsolved Mysteries’ website and provide any tips or information related to a case mentioned during the episode, as its ultimate goal was to help get these mysteries

Photo courtesy of Unsolved Mysteries Facebook

solved.

The new series keeps a lot of these same elements, although it now only focuses on one case per episode, going deep into topics such as UFOs in Massachusetts. The more documentary styled presentation of the new series also differs from the original, as well as there being no host or narration each episode.

The new episodes include interviews from family members, friends and witnesses relating to the episode’s case. The interviewees bring the show’s crew to locations

related to the case, such as the last place where a vehicle was found, where the victim’s body was found and where the person was last seen. Then police and family are interviewed to bring the story of the whole case together.

Despite seeming morbid to listen to, it is a good way for viewers to provide any tips or information they have about a certain case.

One of the rebooted show’s producers said viewers had submitted over a dozen credible tips relating to three of the season’s cases only a week after the series premiered.

The original series helped solve a number of cases. According to the producers, the original ‘Unsolved Mysteries’ has helped solve over 260 cases, and may help solve more with its latest season.

‘Unsolved Mysteries’, no matter what series you watch, is truly unique, as viewers can help play a part in solving a case if they have any information.

Viewers can go to Unsolved. com to find older episodes of the show and any news relating to any of the cases the show has covered.

OPINION AUGUST 12, 2020 Glorifying musicians is dangerous MARISSA HAAS DESIGN EDITOR

eenage girls are a large driving force behind the DIY music scene. They spend countless hours listening to and promoting their favorite artists solely because of their love of the music. Yet these same girls are seen as “lesser” fans, sometimes even abused by the band members directly. Recently, multiple girls have come forward about times they have faced sexual assault at the hands of band members. We need to talk about this and stop it from happening again.

Teenage girls with “stan” Twitter accounts do more publicity for bands than their actual publicists. These girls dedicate such a large portion of their time to listening to their favorite artists and sharing their music with others, constantly flooding hashtags or comment sections with links to official band media on trending topics. A large amount of musicians essentially owe their success to them.

While teenage girls are certainly not the only listeners of music and people

of other demographics also partake in promoting them, it’s not on par with the way these girls promote their favorite artists. Why, then, are these girls treated so poorly?

A lot of times when a band has a large female-led fanbase, they are labeled as bad or less than simply because their fans are young girls. This is especially the case in pop music, where bands like One Direction and BTS are considered music for the tasteless.

Again, teenage girls get the short end of the stick. They build these musicians from the ground up and are talked down upon by music gatekeepers for simply liking a certain genre.

While teenage girls give these musicians careers, they also fall victim to abuse by these same musicians.

Recently, a girl has come forward to say that she was assaulted by a member of the band The Growlers. Soon after, other girls began to share their stories on social media about having been assaulted by other band members as well.

One band in particular that was called out, SWMRS, has previously branded and prided themselves on creating “safe spaces” for women. They created a “safe space for women at shows”

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Illustration by Marissa Haas | Printz

zine to hand out at concerts all while they knew one of their band members was assaulting a 16-year-old. They tell these young girls they’re on their side, that they love and support them, yet actively contribute to their abuse and exploitation.

The glorification and idolization of band members needs to stop. It’s dangerous and actively harms the girls who idolize them so much. It puts them in a position to make themselves vulnerable to these musicians because they believe they do no harm - especially in the case of SWMRS, who promoted them-

selves as being allies to women. Seeing someone as larger than life, as musicians often are, allows them to get away with a lot more than everyday people.

They have power over their audience, most of whom are underaged, and use that to exploit them.

If we truly want to create a safe space in music for women and girls, we need to stop painting artists as being above everyone else and call them out when they do harmful things. Glorifying them only leads to harm, especially to those who love them most.

Possible TikTok ban is nonsense, but survivable MARY MURPHY

NEWS/FEATURE EDITOR n August 5, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo doubled down on President Trump’s “TikTok ban” by announcing a multistage “Clean Network” plan.

This plan aims to reinforce American networks against cybersecurity threats and further protect user data. Pompeo made sure to specifically rail against the “Chinese Communist [Party’s] content censorship” in his press briefing, explicitly referencing companies like ByteDance, which owns TikTok. This entire saga has been equal parts fascinating and frustrating. Instead of focusing on global crises such as COVID-19 or the Beirut city explosion, Trump has invested a lot of time, money and manpower in taking down a video sharing app. It’s not as though this was a national security concern last month. Many have noted Trump’s attacks on TikTok only began after users falsely inflated attendee numbers for his July Tulsa rally.

Ignoring the logistical problems of this supposed “ban” -- because, no, Trump can’t actually take down TikTok -- this is just another example of Trump’s ego getting in the way of policymaking. Nothing is likely to come from it.

However, as I thought more about this story, I started wondering: would

Illustration by Marissa Haas | Printz anything actually be lost if TikTok was banned?

This article is not intended to rag on TikTok or say there is no value to it. I personally love TikTok. I love watching weird, funny videos from it, and I don’t want to see it disappear. However, I doubt its disappearance would be as catastrophic as others hype it up to be.

TikTok is a unique app in that its success is not entirely its own. When TikTok first achieved worldwide fame, people would often describe it as “Vine Two”. This is not a totally unfair comparison -- Vine and TikTok do share similarities in the way they’re structured and marketed.

However, there are key differences between them. Unlike Vine, limited to six second video loops, TikTok’s longer video lengths allow for a much wider variety of content creators to thrive.

No matter what you’re interested in -- dancing, animation, acting, witchcraft, woodworking, frogs -- chances are good there’s a subcommunity for it on TikTok. This accessibility is a double-edged sword, though. In trying to cater to as many different tastes as possible, TikTok lacks the cohesive identity Vine had.

There is no single style of editing or presentation unique only to TikTok. It instead piggybacks off other platforms,

especially Vine, for mass appeal. To this day, one of the most frequent compliments a TikToker can get is a variation of, “This video reminds me of Vine.”

TikTok’s lack of identity means it’s very easy to find a replacement for it.

Byte, for example, is an American-based video sharing app created by one of Vine’s co-founders. When Trump initially went against TikTok, Byte saw a huge spike in downloads. It’s possible that this upcoming platform, once marketed as an alternative to TikTok, may become a “TikTok Two” following the “Clean Network” plan.

There are also plenty of other ways to watch TikTok outside of TikTok. Its most popular content creators have alternate accounts on other social media websites to follow and enjoy. There are thousands of TikTok compilations available to watch on YouTube. A lot of people outside the States use TikTok, and share downloaded videos from it on their Twitter or Facebook accounts all the time.

Even if worst comes to worst and TikTok is banned, it’s only temporary.

The next administration can put TikTok back on the market as soon as they’re able to. Trump’s decisions are only law as long as he is in office. Afterwards, they can be easily ignored and repealed.

Like Vine before it, TikTok would be missed if banned in America. I would miss TikTok if it was banned in America. But even if TikTok were to disappear from the face of the Earth tomorrow, I feel that things would probably stay the same.

SPORTS

AUGUST 12, 2020

WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM

NCS4 leads way in sports safety research during pandemic CHARLIE LUTTRELL SPORTS EDITOR

he COVID-19 pandemic presents safety complications for sporting leagues and organizations attempting to return to play. Southern Miss’s National Center For Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) has taken the initiative to combat these challenges by publishing the “COVID-19 Considerations for Sport and Entertainment Venues and Events”.

The document is a 70 page guide that gives considerations to professionals in the sports industry on a variety of safety issues the NCS4 believes needs to be addressed for sports to safely return during the pandemic.

Interim Director of NCS4 Stacey Hall, Ph.D., explains why the NCS4 worked to create the guide.

“Once COVID-19 halted all sports operations in the US, industry professionals were seeking information and resources on how to safely return participants and spectators to their venues,” Hall said.

“Since NCS4 is a leader in the sport and special event security space, we thought it would be prudent to create a task force to develop a considerations guide to assist professionals in their planning efforts.”

Manager of Curriculum Michael Finley coordinated the efforts of assembling the task force for the guide and was instrumental in its development. The other 24 members of the NCS4 task force included various organizations across the country, from the NFL and MLB to universities and police departments.

Photo courtesy of NCS4 “We created the Task Force utilizing our partners in the sports and entertainment industries,” Finley said. “We wanted a broad spectrum of personnel representing high schools, colleges, professionals, marathon/endurance and entertainment. We also endeavored to have some diversity by selecting personnel with backgrounds in athletics, facilities, security, law enforcement, medical and event organization.”

The members worked through online meetings and were split into five sub-committees: Spectators, Staff, Participants, Venue and Medical. The task force developed several considerations for each of these subjects, which were categorized into four subgroups: “Pre-event”, “Event”, “Education and Training” and “Policy and Procedures”.

The NCS4 and task force referred to information released by several different health agencies to develop the considerations.

“When we first started this process, we reviewed documents and material from organizations such as the World Health Organization, the Center for Disease

Control, European League, FEMA, Interpol and other organizations,” Finley said. “This material formed the basis of our considerations.”

While the document is based on these agencies’ guidelines, the NCS4 maintains that the considerations are for guidance and are not designed to supersede existing laws in specific areas.

“These considerations are to be used in conjunction with federal, state and local mandates as they differ across the country,” Hall said.

The considerations suggest that exterior fan zones and tailgating should be restricted or eliminated if social distancing guidelines cannot be followed.

Similar considerations suggest restricting pedestrian flow and attendance to ensure distancing.

“Around the country, we have learned of outbreaks whenever large groups gather, especially when no safety precautions were implemented,” Finley said.

“Going forward, the fan experience will be offset by the safety and security of not only the fans but the staff and participants as well.”

Some of the other considerations for staff and participants include creating screening zones, encouraging the use of personal protective equipment and establishing a safe zone that restricts others from entering. The NCS4 also suggests that organizations train their staff and participants on the various safety and sanitation protocols that are implemented.

While the document was released on July 13, the NCS4 is committed to updating it as needed.

“Now, our industry partners are learning and sharing their protocols of what works and what does not work in dealing with COVID-19,” Finley said. “As we learn more, we will continually update our considerations to reflect this.”

Finley notes the importance of fan compliance to the effectiveness of the considerations.

“Even if collectively, we learn the best way to continue, if fans do not comply, those plans are useless,” Finley said.

“Our industry partners have shared their concerns over fan compliance, and the impact non-compliance will place on venue staff and security.”

The NCS4 sent a copy of the guide to the athletic department at Southern Miss.

Director of Athletics Jeremy McClain says that the considerations are useful in preparation for the upcoming season.

“I think that it’s very helpful and a great piece of information for us to take and digest and really compare it to what we’re seeing in other places,” McClain said. “Around the country, we’re having multiple conversations about how people are handling things […] so it’s an important piece of the puzzle.”

For more information and to stay updated, visit ncs4.usm.edu.

A new normal: student-athletes share experiences during pandemic CHARLIE LUTTRELL SPORTS EDITOR

or the last five months, college athletes have battled with the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic. From the cancellation of spring sports to the preparation to play in the fall, Southern Miss athletes reflect on their experiences with COVID-19 and their desire to return to normal.

When the NCAA canceled spring sports in March due to concerns over Coronavirus, many athletes’ seasons abruptly ended. Senior volleyball and beach volleyball player Madison Lawler remembers when she learned the news.

“We were told we could go home for a week and just kind of chill out and that we were going to figure things out,” Lawler said. “Then we got home and they canceled beach season as a whole, so that was already emotional for all of us beach players because we had only been two weeks or really two tournaments in.”

For senior golfer Valeria Pichardo, the spring season’s cancellation presented a challenge of deciding whether she should go back home to Mexico with her family or stay in Hattiesburg. She decided to stay in Hattiesburg for the whole summer.

“The reason I didn’t go home is I knew it was going to get worse and everything was going to shut down eventually,” Pichardo said. “Golf courses were closed for two months and here, we were lucky that our golf course was not closed.”

Pichardo spent time over the summer using the open courses for practice,

sometimes by herself, sometimes accompanied by Head Coach Lucy Burke and Burke’s husband. Pichardo says that, while she enjoyed the Burkes’ company, she missed her teammates. At the time, her nearest teammate was in Alabama.

“Everyone else was either out of the country or a few states away, so I was here by myself,” Pichardo said.

Regardless, Pichardo appreciates that she was able to practice over the summer and attributes it to the safety of golf during the virus.

“Golf is probably one of the safest sports to do right now. We’re out and about and we’re not in a closed area,” Pichardo said. “So, we are lucky because of that and I was able to practice the whole summer, which I feel really privileged because I know that a lot of sports weren’t able to practice for months.”

Lawler was one of the many athletes who could not practice during the early months of the pandemic.

“Whenever everything was shut down, it was like, wow, I’m probably losing all my skills because I can’t even go practice right now,” Lawler said.

Now, Lawler and the volleyball team are back in the gym and able to practice. She says that the team is slowly working back to normal for the next season.

“We’ve definitely been easing back into things,” Lawler said. “We’ve just made sure to keep everything low impact to start with and just progressing throughout the summer.”

As teams at Southern Miss return to practices and prepare for games, athletes will have to adjust to new safety protocols. Lawler explains some of the procedures now in place at volleyball practices.

“We’ve had to do temperature checks when we come into the gym, and then we’re split into groups[. We] have to wear our masks everywhere and we sanitize before and after practice,” Lawler said.

After the first football practice on Aug. 5, senior quarterback Jack Abraham says that the added procedures do not change much.

“There’s obviously different little safety precautions, but we just want to go out there and play ball,” Abraham said. “We’ll do whatever we have to do to halt the spread of this thing and keep us safe so we can play some football.”

Pichardo says she believes the golf team will be splitting groups into smaller groups or pairs to practice social distancing when they return to practice on Aug. 24. She says that the measures will not bother her at practice or as the team plays tournaments this season.

“I don’t feel nervous about going back to tournaments, especially following the rules,” Pichardo said. “It will feel different, it will feel weird, but there’s nothing else you can really do about it. Golf, right now, is one of the safest sports[,] so I don’t really feel that uncomfortable going back to play.”

While student-athletes at Southern Miss are ready to return to play, they also understand the uncertain future for this season.

“I have no clue what the future’s going to hold and of course, I want to have a season,” Lawler said. “I want

to be able to play my senior season, but I also know how serious the virus is. I want to make sure we’re doing the right thing with having a season and we’re keeping each other healthy.”

Aside from all of the complications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, athletes are still looking forward to the season and school year.

“I just want to enjoy my senior year.

I think that’s the thing I’m looking forward to the most,” Pichardo said.

“I’m also looking forward to seeing how classes go because that’s also going to be interesting.”

“I think I was planning on taking my senior year one day at a time just because it’s my last time do[ing] it, but I’m definitely taking it one step at a time, one day at a time, because of everything else that’s going around,” Lawler said. “Just doing that and cherishing the memories I’m going to make this season for sure.”