April 3,2019

SERVING SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI SINCE 1927 • WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM • APRIL 3, 2019 | VOLUME 104 | ISSUE 22

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Plaid Rhino leaves 35 people jobless ALYSSA BASS

NEWS/FEATURE EDITOR

The Plaid Rhino closed to the surprise of its workers and the rest of the Hattiesburg community on Friday, March 29.

“After 10 years in business, management has reluctantly decided to close the Plaid Rhino permanently. Thank you for your support over the years and sorry for any inconvenience,” a sign from management said.

This put 35 people out of work, according to WDAM. A former employee of Plaid Rhino Heather Morris said she “greatly appreciates” management giving her a job “when no one else would,” but she never received notification of the restaurant closing.

Morris said she was scheduled to work Friday at 4 p.m.

“I had been up since 9 a.m. that morning, and I got dressed and headed into work and got there around 3:50. I went to go inside for work, figured it was a slow day because the parking lot was mostly empty. I pulled on the doors, and they were locked. I peeked inside through the glass, and all of the lights were off. They put the sign off to the side saying that they were shut down for good,” Morris said.

Morris said she began to panic because she now needs to find a new job in order to provide for two sons.

“It was like a knife to my heart,” she said. “I have two young boys and was only making 2.30 an hour plus whatever tips I made, and now I suddenly had no job again.”

Leslie Barnes worked at the Plaid Rhino as a

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bartender for five years. Barnes said she received an email at 7 a.m. Friday from management about the restaurant closing.

She said she and the other employees became suspicious of the Plaid Rhino’s status the night before.

“The owner came in with friends and ate Thursday night but said nothing to employees that we were closing,” Barnes said. “At the end of the night, a few of us like to go on the Facebook page to read reviews, and the Facebook page had been deactivated. Then we all

started wondering, ‘Are we closing, or what’s going on?’”

Hattiesburg residents have been speculating if the restaurant closed because of its unpopularity and its alleged uncleanliness.

In December 2018, a woman claiming she was fired for falsified reasoning made a public Facebook post with photos showing the unsanitary conditions of what was allegedly the Plaid Rhino’s kitchen.

The post went viral and caused the Rhino to post photos to refute the woman’s claims.

At the time of its closing and at the time the post was made, the Plaid Rhino had an A rating, according to the Mississippi Department of Health.

The restaurant was inspected 30 times from 2009 to 2019. It received 25 A ratings, four B ratings and one C rating.

Barnes said the restaurant was slowly improving because of new management, food and an organized kitchen.

“The service was not on point at times because we were understaffed in the front of the house, but we were slowly hiring and training,” Barnes said.

“I loved my job there,” Morris said. “Sure, the restaurant had issues at times, and we all make mistakes.

But no one deserves to be dropped like they meant nothing.”

The owner of Plaid Rhino and Rainforest Carwash, Mike Gornak, has not responded to requests for comment.

Former employee Grey Rockwell worked at the Rhino for only five months before the closing. Rockwell said she would like everyone to boycott Gornak’s other business.

“We had no way of knowing or preparing for unemployment,” Rockwell said. “Most of the former employees were overworked and working in substandard conditions, yet none of the staff is receiving any kind of severance. [Gornak] failed to remember his employees relied on their job at the Plaid Rhino, and it’s affecting all of us. Mike Gornak should be held responsible for his complete and total neglect of his employees.”

This is not the first time a Hattiesburg business has closed without warning its employees. In 2016, Cheddars Scratch Kitchen closed “due to its struggle to remain profitable,” according to a statement by former Regional Vice President of Cheddar’s David Reckner and posted by WDAM.

High pollen levels create allergies, head colds ASHLYN LEVINS PRINTZ REPORTER

llergy season is upon us, and with blooming flowers and pollen in the air, head colds and sinus infections can make going to school and studying harder.

Last spring, the Moffitt Health Center saw just over 320 patients due to allergies and allergy related symptoms between January and April of 2018.

Kayla Johnson is the health educator and promotions coordinator with Student Health Services at the Moffitt Health Center, and she has a couple tips for remedies.

“For those who are seasonal allergy sufferers, there are several over-the-counter allergy medications available,” Johnson said. “For

those who have allergies that persist year round, we recommend seeing a provider to discuss other treatment options, which may include medications requiring a prescription.”

Johnson recommends researching allergy medications on Mayo Clinic’s website for more information. Over-the-counter allergy medications include two common types: antihistamines and decongestants.

Antihistamines “block histamine, a symptomcausing chemical released by your immune system during an allergic reaction,” according to the Mayo Clinic. Antihistamines come in several options depending on how you prefer to take medicine. Oral antihistamines come in the form of pills and liquids such as Zyrtec, Allegra and Claritin. They also can be taken through nasal sprays and eye drops.

Decongestants are used as a quick way to relieve nasal and sinus congestion and have a few side effects such as “insomnia, headache,

increased blood pressure and irritability.”

The Mayo Clinic does not recommend decongestants to people with high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, glaucoma and hyperthyroidism or who are pregnant.

Decongestants can be bought as pills, liquid and nasal sprays.

Pollen is a major factor in allergy flares.

According to pollen.com, the state of Mississippi is currently sitting at a high level of pollen in the forecast. A major attribute to the pollen levels comes from the maple species, specifically the Box Elder. Research done on pollen shows Mississippi with a high concentrate of the maple species.

Allergies and allergy symptoms can be a burden for students and impede on focusing on classes and studying.

Emily Ashley is a senior nursing student and struggles with school work because of head colds in the spring.

“I get head colds and bad allergies in the

spring,” Ashley said. “It makes me drowsy, and I get bad headaches which makes doing homework and studying harder. I definitely try to stay on top of taking medicine during the spring. I will usually take Zyrtec and a nasal spray.”

For those who would rather not use over-thecounter or prescription medicines, Mayo Clinic provides home remedies.

Staying hydrated is the most important thing when dealing with a head cold. Be sure to avoid coffee, caffeinated sodas and alcohol, which can worsen dehydration. Getting enough rest allows the body time to heal and fight the infection, and gargling warm salt water will help with a sore throat. Drinking warm liquids, such as chicken broth, and adding moisture to the air will help alleviate congestion.

If you feel the onset of a head cold, taking vitamin C beforehand can help shorten the duration of the symptoms. And as always, remember to wash your hands.

INTRODUCTION APRIL 3, 2019 ANDREW ABADIE

MARGARET MATTESON

GRANT CHIGHIZOLA

OLIVIA SALDANA

ALYSSA BASS

MADISON COLLINS

CARLTON MCGRONE

CALEB MCCLUSKEY

Executive Editor andrew.abadie@usm.edu

Managing/Sports Editor grant.chighizola@usm. edu

News/Features Editor alyssa.bass@usm.edu

Entertainment Editor carlton.mcgrone@usm. edu

EMILY BRINKMAN

Design Editor emily.brinkman@usm.edu

Photo Editor margaret.matteson@usm.edu

Copy Editor olivia.saldana@usm.edu

Multimedia Editor madison.collins@usm.edu

Assistant News Editor caleb.mccluskey@usm.edu

BRIAN WINTERS

Graphic Designer brian.winters@usm.edu

LILLIE BUSCH OMER ASHAD

Webmaster omer.ashad@usm.edu

Graphic Designer lillie.busch@usm.edu

CHUCK COOK

Printz Advisor chuck.cook@usm.edu

CORRECTIONS • Red Carnation Gala brings attention to domestic abuse March 27, 2019 • The article said Emily Bouzemann’s major and classification are unknown, but she is a senior psychology major.

• The article said she is a member of the Kappa Sigma chapter of Alpha Chi Omega, but she is a member of the Eta Zeta chapter of Alpha Delta Pi.

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Advocacy groups discuss education issues in Mississippi CONRAD ACOSTA PRINTZ REPORTER

he Southern Miss School of Social Science and Global Studies hosted the Future of Education in Mississippi in the Liberal Arts Building, where members of three different public education advocacy groups gave insight into the issues regarding public education in Mississippi on March 25.

Representatives from the Mississippi Association of Educators, Mississippi Public Education PAC and Parents for Public Schools were present for the discussion.

The representatives talked about Mississippi’s teacher shortage first.

President of MAE Joyce Helmick highlighted a decrease in teaching licenses.

Helmick said in 2000 the National Department of Education issued over 7000 teaching licenses in Mississippi while in 2017 only about 630 licenses were issued.

Helmick said not every person who gets licensed ends up teaching either because they cannot find a job in their desired area or because they can earn more money in another state. She also addressed the idea that this shortage only affects some areas of Mississippi.

“I am from Desoto County,” Helmick said, “At the beginning of each year since I have become President of the MAE and left that district, I’ve had phone calls from the county office saying, ‘Can you help us find Special Ed. Teachers? Can you help us find math and science teachers?’ This is in Desoto County, which is the largest district in the state. If it’s there, then it’s everywhere.”

Another issue that was brought up was the lack of funding for Mississippi public schools.

According to a handout provided by Becky Glover, the Community Coordinator

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of Central Southeast Mississippi for Parents for Public Schools, the Hattiesburg School District’s state funding is $1,947,824 below the amount required by state law for the 2018-2019 school year. The handout highlights this along with four other school districts throughout the state that have similar numbers. Glover said that there is good news to come with this grim situation, however, because the money is there to close this gap.

“Money that we’ve already paid in state taxes is available if we just force the legislature to start prioritizing education instead of other things,” Glover said.

Pictured: Leslie Fye, Joyce Helmick and Becky Glover

“They’ve given away over $400 million in tax credits and tax incentives at the same time that our schools are underfunded by $239 million. They could’ve fully funded our public schools without raising state taxes and still had 160 million of our hard-earned tax dollars to give away in tax credits and incentives. So, the money is there, and that’s good news.”

Leslie Fye, a board member of the Mississippi Public Education PAC, offered advice to those who want to take part in the positive change in regards to these issues.

She said the best things to do are to follow education advocacy organizations on social

media, be informed on news in the state legislature and to reach out to lawmakers and communicate these concerns.

“As a PTO mom, I cooked a bunch of cookies and cupcakes, and I chaperoned.

But I had no clue what was going on in Jackson,” Fye said. “It is imperative that we understand what’s going on and also that we hold our lawmakers accountable. But we also need to let them know our concerns during the legislative session, not just during election season.”

For more information on these organizations, you can go to their websites or find them on Facebook.

Goodwill moves to new location on Highway 49 CONRAD ACOSTA PRINTZ REPORTER

he Hattiesburg Goodwill held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the growth of the store, its accessibility to its shoppers and the opportunities that it provides employees at their new location on Thursday, March 28.

The store moved from its location at 2305 Hardy Street to a larger space at 5916 US 49. The new location not only has more space, but it is also in a higher traffic area.

The ribbon cutting ceremony started off outside the store with a prayer and a few speeches from the leadership of Goodwill as well as from Councilwoman Mary Dryden. Dryden said that she is glad to see that the Goodwill philosophy of providing job opportunities and affordable goods for those who need them being carried out in the new location.

“Goodwill has been an important business in Hattiesburg for a long time,” Dryden said. “They help people, often those that need a second chance, learn the job skills that they need to further their education, sometimes just to finish high school and protect their dignity by putting them to work. The power of work is very important to us as human beings.”

According to the official Goodwill website, Goodwill employs hundreds of thousands of people every year, and the Goodwill mission is focused on

continuing to provide job opportunities to communities through their stores and donation centers.

Many of the Goodwill leaders present at the ceremony felt moving to this location will help them further carry out this mission within the Hattiesburg community, including Lauren Mozingo, a member of the Hattiesburg Goodwill Board of Directors.

Mozingo said the new location provides more space for both their retail floor and their donation center and more visibility thanks to its spot off of Highway 49. She also said the turnout at the ceremony shows how much of an impact Goodwill has on the community.

“It just shows how the Hattiesburg community is supportive of Goodwill and how Goodwill is supportive of the Hattiesburg community,” Mozingo said.

“We wouldn’t be able to do what we do if the community didn’t support us, so it was great to have that today.”

There were many different members of the Hattiesburg community at the ribbon cutting ceremony taking part in the celebration. Outside the store, a Coca-Cola trailer was serving hot dogs and sodas, and inside the store, a cake was being served. There were also some Southern Miss students there showing their support for Goodwill, including sophomore music education major Maggie Frisancho.

“I love Goodwill. I go to them all the time,” Frisancho said. “The location that they had on Hardy Street wasn’t very good, but now they have this one which seems a lot better.”

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The ribbon cutting for Goodwill.

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Students try to unite a divided America MARISSA HAAS PRINTZ REPORTER

he Divided State of America Series brought Southern Miss students together to discuss the age-old question, “How can we get work done even when we disagree?”

This event was put on by the Stennis Center for Public Service and the Association of Centers for the Study of Congress and emphasized the need for civil, yet meaningful engagement.

A video played during the event stated that many Americans have a fear that the country is too divided on the basis of political leanings, and this may have created a hindrance on our ability to come together to solve a serious problem on a local and national scale. Attendees were put into small groups to discuss how to fix this problem.

The series offered a dialogue guide to help facilitate these discussions. The first point of discussion was the need to revitalize cooperation and work with, not against, each other. Groups discussed how to bring people together and create a shared space where concerns can be discussed.

Groups then discussed the need to stand up for your beliefs and the need for advocacy. While discussing this, they asked questions regarding whether or not compromising on your beliefs was beneficial to achieving your goals.

“Is gaining some ground more effective than not gaining anything at all? One of my biggest platforms is mental health funding,” junior communications major and Democratic candidate for State Representative Brandon Rue asked the room.

“If they say they are going to give me $2,000 this year, and I know I need $10,000 in total, should I stand firm and say ‘No, I need $10,000,’ or should

I compromise?”

The last discussion point posed was the need to bring more people into public life. Groups discussed ways that we can ensure inclusion in political and public life.

SGA President and senior communications major McKenna Stone said what she took away from the event was the need to remove political ideology from these types of discussions.

“If you associate political identity, you’re automatically dismissing a person who has very valuable insight because that’s America’s trend today.” Stone said. “If you take off those labels, maybe you can actually get to progress.”

Overall, the feedback from the event was positive.

“I really don’t see this too often on campus, where our students are given a voice to share their opinions in a very safe environment. I think this needs to happen more often,” senior biology major Kevin Wilson, said.

Senior political science major Aaliyah Elbert said she liked hearing opinions different from her own.

“I, being a political science major, hear ideas all the time from the same 10 people, so the fact that I get to see other people in my community talk about what they’re interested in is amazing to me,” Elbert said.

Wilson said he gained enough confidence to share his opinions and beliefs while also learning to listen to other people.

“I also learned to take down the barriers that I might have because I recognized some of that tonight,” Wilson said.

Rue said he values being able to listen to other’s ideas.

“I think it was a very beneficial program simply because people were able to talk freely and bounce ideas off of each other,” Rue said. “I think it was very effective for what they were trying to do.”

Marissa Haas | Printz

Students discussing the need for advocacy.

Former member of Obama administration leads forum ROSY VANEGAS PRINTZ REPORTER

ina McCarthy, a member of the Environmental Protection Agency during the Obama Administration, traveled to Bennett Auditorium on March 26 to discuss the number one topic on her mind: climate change.

The audience consisted of mainly honors students, though the forum is always open to the public for free.

One student, in particular, freshman English major Rebecca Fish, expressed nothing but positive feedback for McCarthy.

“I absolutely adored McCarthy. I didn’t know her before I came to the forum, and I’m really glad I do now,” Fish said.

Fish said she plans to be much more of an advocate when it comes to the wellbeing of the planet.

Fish responded positively to not only McCarthy’s attitude toward the issues but also McCarthy’s stances on the issues. Fish said she hopes to be able to see more change around Southern Miss in light of the issues concerning climate change and turn toward more eco-friendly options in every way.

“Maybe my small tendencies won’t make a large difference, but maybe it’ll make a small difference, and that’s still a difference,” Fish said.

Sophomore sociology major Tammy Thompson felt moved by McCarthy.

Thompson said she expected McCarthy’s presentation to be politics-heavy with the possibility of sophisticated words and phrases that had not crossed Thompson’s path just yet, but that she found the lecture easy to follow and appreciated McCarthy for that.

McCarthy related these large scale problems into condensed situations. As

Gina McCarthy speaking about cimate change.

Brian Winters | Printz

McCarthy said in her speech, the young people of this generation have the “it” factor necessary to talk about climate change and change the world with their words.

Thompson said she has decided to take an ethical step forward and continue her

work with the Climate Reality Leadership Corps to not only bring some solutions to climate change but bring about awareness on the topic as well.

Thompson said she felt truly empowered by the speech delivered by McCarthy,

and she, along with Fish, cannot wait to advocate for the Environmental Protection Agency, the very administration that helped McCarthy broadcast her voice nationally for four years and has given her the platform upon which she still stands today.

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International Food Fair celebrates food and culture MORGAN USRY PRINTZ REPORTER he International Food Fair on Saturday, March 29 gave dozens of people the opportunity to experience different foods from across the globe in the Baptist Student Union.

The fair, which was hosted by the English Language Institute and International Student and Scholar Services, gave international and ELI students the chance to showcase foods from their home country and interact with other students.

Director of International Student and Scholar Services, Suzanne Omran, said that an iteration of the food fair has been happening for about 20 years.

“It’s a really great opportunity for them to give exposure to their home culture and an opportunity for our English language students to have English conversations and improve their skills,” Omran said. “But overall it’s really just an opportunity for our students to give back to the campus community that gives them so much.”

According to Omran, Southern Miss currently has around 450 international and ELI students from 72 different countries.

Around 30 students from 16 different countries, including India, Thailand and Mali, participated in cooking food for the event. Participating groups also made posters to display at their booths about their home country and culture.

Some students also chose to wear traditional clothing from their home countries.

Eniola Oluwakoya contributed to the fair by cooking ofada stew, a type of food from her home country of Nigeria.

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“I always do this every year. It’s just been like a tradition for me. And it’s fun to cook, and I like cooking my traditional dishes,” junior computer engineering major Oluwakoya said.

JT Lewis, a graduate anthropology student, was one of the event’s attendees.

“It’s a really good chance to meet the different demographics that make up USM and get to intermingle in a way

Ecuadorian band playing for the International Food Fair.

that you usually don’t,” Lewis said.

“Because you can go to different club meetings and organizations, but this is one of the few times you get to meet all international groups at one time. Plus the food’s really good.”

Along with all of the different varieties of food, the event also featured live music provided by a group of musicians from Ecuador. The food fair ended with

several lively performances by the band and dancing by the event’s attendees.

Freshman French and English language double major Olivia Ladner volunteered with the event with Association de Franҫaise.

“I think seeing everyone dancing at the end and all kinds of people from different cultures bonding together over music was great,” Ladner said.

Repertory Dance Company performs spring concert CONRAD ACOSTA PRINTZ REPORTER he Southern Miss Repertory Dance Company featured six routines, which were choreographed by both faculty members and students, in their Spring Dance Concert in Studio 115 of the Theatre and Dance Building on Thursday, March 28.

The concert opened up with a duo titled “From This World to Another.”

The routine featured the two dancers executing intricate and flowing motions to a song called “She Was in the Field Counting Stars” by Hammock, which is a soundscape-like piece that has a lot of electronic chords mixed with the soft strumming of a guitar.

Senior dance performance and choreography major Brian Martinez said the dance symbolized themes of space and astrology and it breaks the traditions of what people usually see as a duet. “[The choreographer] started off with this idea of being in space and kind of isolated,” Martinez said. “She knew that she didn’t want it to be a romantic duet, and oftentimes whenever you have a duet, there’s automatically a relationship put onto the dancers by the audience whenever they view it. So, she was trying to establish something that was not that.”

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One of the routines choreographed by a student was called “Winds of Time” and was choreographed by junior dance education major Brooke McDonald.

She said the goal of this routine was to allow the dancers to create their own movements to put into the dance and to create a dark, creepy atmosphere.

Students execute choreographed routine.

For the music, she chose the songs “The Mole” and “Supermarine” for their pulsing movement and ticking noises to help encapsulate that tone.

She chose very dim lighting along with movements that had the dancers moving all as one to further capture this foreboding atmosphere. She also

reflected on her experience being with the Repertory Dance Company and growing as an artist.

“I have been with the company for three years now, and I have grown so much,” McDonald said. “I have become a better dancer from my freshman year, and I feel like a better artist when I choreograph.”

McDonald said her favorite part of dancing is seeing how the dance develops from first rehearsal to concert day because she goes from having no idea what she wants to do to having a complete dance.

Choreographer for another routine in the concert junior dance performance and choreography major Tiana Kargbo echoed this sentiment. She said she feels choreography allows her to be truly creative and to open up as an artist.

She also said she prefers choreography to performing because she is able to see other people execute her ideas instead of her executing other people’s.

The piece that Kargbo choreographed was called “Cerebragraph,” and she said it was meant to depict what it is like to live with bipolar disorder through colored lighting.

“It shows the two sides of manic and depressive and how your brain can pull you in two different directions at once,” Kargbo said. “I wanted red to represent the manic and the purple to represent the depressive state, and then I had the whitewash to show that you don’t always get to choose how you feel.”

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Hub City Madness enters fifth year MAGGIE MATTESON PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

The Thirsty Hippo kicked off the fifth annual Hub City Madness on Friday, March 29 in Downtown Hattiesburg.

According to the Hub City Madness Facebook page, it is one of the largest underground music festivals in Mississippi.

The genre of the festival ranges anywhere between heavy metal to hip hop.

The music festival, which raged on for three days, accommodated 33 bands. Jes Sullivan, who goes by Snowflake, was a part of one of those bands. Snowflake said that the reason events like these are important is so that smaller, homegrown bands can know the festival circuit.

The dual stage setup made it easy for audience members to experience all the

Brian Winters | Printz Lead Singer of Wild Frame.

Noah Martin | Printz

Maggie Matteson | Printz Dingus Tron performing.

Maggie Matteson | Printz

Noah Martin | Printz

bands with little to no wait. The main stage hosted popular regional bands The Squid and the Whale, Vitamin Cea and Wild Frames, while the side stage hosted more local bands such as Hartle Road and Makeshift Lovers.

Amanda Kyrie, executive director of Downtown Music Media, said that the festival is a good way to show how diverse

the music scene is in Hattiesburg.

“A lot of bands want to come play at the Hippo, so this is a chance for them to play at the Hippo,” Kyrie said. “Not only does this [festival] help the local bands, but when people come in here, they are buying food and buying drinks, and the money is going to help the bands.”

Jes, lead singer of Space Trash.

Astrotrain performing.

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Guitarist of Blood(Horse) performing.

The one-man-band Blanket Swimming.

OPINION APRIL 3, 2019

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Night Owls BRIAN WINTERS PRINTZ REPORTER

wo a.m. seems like the perfect time to get some of your school assignments done and do the chores you have put off. Yes, even while noiselessly stumbling around your room in the dark because everyone is sleeping.

Late at night, there are no distractions, and no one will be awake to distract you with texts or updates on social media. It is easy to get distracted and lose your focus while doing homework if there are constant chimes from a phone.

Less distractions give you a chance to do the hobbies you have wanted to do for a while now. Reading is easier without the chance of a phone call or being invited out. Creative outlets can be easier after gathering inspiration after a full day.

Being a night owl is easiest in college when you do not have any morning classes, so signing up for

classes that meet in the afternoon or at night is your best bet. If you do have to take a morning class, caffeine will be your best friend during the semester.

There is a sense of calm in the world late at night. Feeling as though you are the only one in the world can be therapeutic after being surrounded by other students for a better part of your day.

Taking personal time and finding time to relax is important, and nighttime can be good for this.

Being an early bird has its perks, but being awake at night offers a relaxing atmosphere and a chance to wind down for the day. Spread your wings and take flight into the night, you beautiful night owl.

Jordan Peele’s new horrors LAUREL THRAILKILL PRINTZ REPORTER

hen Jordan Peele’s “Us” hit theaters recently, it seemed like just about everyone went out to see it. It smashed some big box office records, generating over $70 million in its opening weekend. As this is a follow-up to the widely successful “Get Out,” it seems apparent that Peele is on an upward swing. There’s no denying that his works are a huge success, but is Peele reinventing horror or is he just producing exceptionally good cinema?

Having seen both of his original horror films, I can say with certainty that there are aspects, at least of the horror genre, that Peele has revolutionized through his recent work.

At this point, nearly everyone can recognize the iconic imagery of Daniel Kaluuya’s face streaked with tears and frozen in apt terror. The legacy of this imagery is revitalized in “Us” by Lupita Nyong’o’s character. That frozen expression of raw, unbridled fear has become a signature of the Peele brand.

The act of incorporating primarily black actors and creators is changing the way many people view modern horror. The genre has been revitalized, and the fresh new layer is providing a blank slate for political and social commentary.

Suddenly, horror has become more purposeful and consequential rather than something used primarily for getting thrills and shock factor.

It can certainly be said that “Us” is not quite as straightforward as “Get Out” was. The setup and concept for “Us” is simpler, but not unoriginal: Adelaide and Gabe Wilson set out for a family vacation with their children only to find themselves tormented by their own doppelgangers.

The Wilsons’ otherworldly lookalikes, known as The Tethered are made all the more unnerving by their identical red jumpsuits and large golden scissors. The aesthetic of the film really shines through in this aspect and remains consistent with the imagery found in Peele’s previous film.

The Tethered are depicted as unnerving, jarring counterparts to the Wilsons, and while their intentions of The Tethered are not entirely clear, it is obvious that they do not mean well.

There is a plethora of potential themes and ideas to examine in “Us,” and possible interpretations are snuffed out as quickly as they can be generated. The imagery and cinematography are as incredible and complex as they are terrifying and unnerving.

The beauty of Peele’s films is that they are so open to interpretation. The political undertones are clear; however, it is very difficult to determine for certain exactly what is being commented on. From immigration to gentrification, “Us” potentially has something to say about everything.

While it is too early to say if Peele is revolutionizing the horror genre of film as a whole, or just particular aspects of it, it is apparent that he is producing exceptional cinema nonetheless.

Whatever he’s doing is clearly a success as “Us” had the biggest opening weekend for an original horror film to date.

Early Birds LAUREL THRAILKILL PRINTZ REPORTER

t’s late on a Saturday night, and you have no obligations the next morning. The appeal of staying up later is tempting, but does it outweigh the benefits of being able to get up early the next morning and get a jump start on the day?

As an early riser myself, I encourage the latter.

There are so many reasons that getting up early as opposed to staying up late is

better for your mind and body. While you may have more time to relax and bingewatch your latest Netflix addiction if you stay up late, the benefits of waking up early just can’t be outweighed.

By waking up early, you automatically have a head start on everyone else who is still in bed. You can have a nice healthy breakfast, go to the gym or knock out some homework you have been procrastinating on. According to a study by sleepadvisor.org, being an early riser can lead to healthier skin and healthier eating habits because it gives you time to eat breakfast, which everyone knows is the most important meal of the day.

The benefits are more than just physical. Waking up early improves concentration and enhances productivity.

Regulating your sleep schedule to wake up earlier can even increase the quality of your sleep.

People who wake up late also miss one of the most beautiful spectacles nature has to offer: the sunrise. There’s nothing like watching the daybreak over the horizon and seeing the pinks and oranges streaked across the sky. The quiet solitude of the morning before the traffic and people is another big plus.

Waking up early isn’t for everyone, and staying up late can have its benefits, but the experience of getting up feeling refreshed and unrushed is something with which sleeping in will never compare.

OPINION APRIL 3, 2019

n my last Grub N the Hub article I touched on sushi, which is growing more and more in popularity. For this article, I wanted to touch on a few more ethnic style foods that I love so much.

I’ve said it many times, but in Hattiesburg, we are lucky to have so many great places to eat. The culinary scene in Hattiesburg is on the up and up, and with so many options available, we get to try so many different things. So, when it comes to bold flavors, Thai, Indian and Mediterranean are bringing it. Here are some of my favorite places to eat: Jutamas (910 Timothy Lane) If you actually take the time to look at reviews of local restaurants, one that is usually at the top of the list is Jutamas Fine Thai Restaurant. Jutamas is such an amazing place to get some Grub N the Hub. They have dishes for every type of palate.

When I first started going to Jutamas, I would always get one of the Phad Thai (rice noodle) dishes and was always impressed with the flavors. One thing that Jutamas is known for is great plating. The dishes they bring you are works of art. As I started getting more acquainted with the restaurant, I decided to start trying curries and experiencing new flavors.

One of the dishes I get more these days is the Gang Dang, which is a red curry blended with coconut milk, bamboo shoots, carrots, green beans, bell peppers and sweet basil.

I will usually switch up the protein to whatever I’m in the mood for, but OMG… it’s so good! Whenever my mother or some friends come to town, I love taking them to Jutamas. You can’t go wrong with an order of Fresh Rolls either, trust me! There are still many things on the menu I have to try at Jutamas because they offer so much. I better get after it!

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Indian Delight (163 Turtle Creek Dr. Suite 10) I was a little late to the game when it comes to going to Indian Delight, but now that I’ve been, it has been a full-on snowball effect. My frequency of eating at ID is getting up to about once a week. One of my favorite things about Indian Delight is that they provide a lunch buffet, and it allows you to try many different dishes. I also usually go to eat Indian with vegetarian friends, for the restaurant provides a good many options when it comes to dietary restrictions.

Some of my favorite dishes at Indian Delight are the veggie samosas (triangular crispy pies stuffed with mildly spiced potatoes and green peas), aloo gobi (cauliflower and potatoes cooked in onions, tomatoes and ginger with light spices), vegetable korma (a blend of fresh garden vegetables, nuts and raisins flavored with fenugreek leaves and cooked in an aromatic creamy tomato onion sauce), paneer tikka masala (cubes of fresh tender homemade cottage cheese sauteed with ginger and garlic flavored with bell peppers cooked in a delicately spiced tomato onion sauce), murg makhani (boneless tandoori chicken tender pieces delicately cooked in a special tomato and onion butter flavored sauce) and of course, murg tikka masala (chicken tikka kababs delicately broiled in the clay oven then cooked in a special tomato and onion sauce with a buttery sauce flavored with bell peppers, a curry popular from the days of Shahajan, builder of the world famous Taj Mahal). Let’s just say

the flavor is naan stop. Get it? Naan, as in the bread you get at Indian Delight. Ok, good. If you haven’t been to Indian Delight, go check them out!

Glory Bound Gyro Company (6174 US 49, across from campus) When you are in the mood for some delicious Greek food in the Burg, we only have a few options.

One of my favorite joints is Glory Bound, and they have definitely changed the game when going Mediterranean.

They provide great authentic options while also allowing you to stay in your comfort zone if tzatziki sauce isn’t your thing. One of Glory Bound’s big sellers is the Pepperjack Gyro, which ain’t your average gyro.

The Pepperjack Gyro hits you with traditional beef and lamb mixture but also adds bacon, pepperjack cheese and comeback sauce. Oh yeah, that’s for real.

One of my favorite things to order at Glory Bound is a tuna plate. Yeah, I said a tuna plate. The Ahi Tuna is amazing, and they do it right, hooking me up with some rice, some veggies and maybe some pita chips and hummus (great flavored hummus made in house) on the side, and some homemade ahi sauce.

Wooo! My mouth is watering! I usually get them to just sear the tuna and serve it rare, cause that’s how tuna’s done. Another big seller about Glory Bound, aside that it’s very affordable, is they sometimes provide free live music. I heard if you’re lucky enough, Massive J and Battle Cat will serenade you while you eat. Say what!?

‘Harry Potter’ universe continues to expand LILLIE BUSCH PRINTZ REPORTER

ew things are better than an immersive universe and compelling storylines, which explains why fantasy has been and always will be, an extremely popular literary genre. Even fewer things are better than cultural cornerstones such as “Harry Potter.”

In 2018, the mobile “Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery” game released to excited wizardry fans everywhere. Recently, another mobile game, ominously titled “Wizards Unite” was announced to ride the societal high of “Pokémon: Go.” The “Harry Potter” franchise already has movies, a theme park, LEGO sets and other merchandise.

When is enough enough?

More importantly: how does the franchise manage to be continually milked for all its worth yet is met with little criticism? First, fantasy is such an appealing genre because of its infinite possibilities, and the “Harry Potter” universe is no exception.

Similar to peers like “Lord of the Rings” and “Star Wars,” the wizarding world is where – almost – anything is possible, and any questions can be answered. How was the wizardry community established? Do American wizards exist? What is character Newt Scamander’s history?

“Harry Potter” also has the benefit of its creator J.K. Rowling being closely involved with different additions to the franchise. So unlike other cultural cornerstones, the original creator’s voice remains intact.

These two factors, the fantasy and a continuallyinvested mastermind, make the wizarding world a prime target for expansion.

Furthermore, the situation would be different

if the “Harry Potter” creators, sitting in their ivory tower, released weak content with no effort to revitalize the fandom. For example, Niantic released its mobile “Pokémon: Go” game before it was finished. As a result, the app suffered from a multitude of bugs, which did not bode well for its long-term reputation. The app fell as quickly as it rose.

In comparison, the quality of the “Harry Potter” renditions are overall consistent. The RPG “Hogwarts Mystery” game offers more customizable options for the avatar, more opportunities to earn free items for quick advancement and a better story arc. And that is just the game.

Ever since the release of the first film in 2001, the “Harry Potter” movies have featured some of the best CGI of the time. The soundtracks are timeless. The costumes are elaborate. It is difficult to be upset when the creators succeed with bringing magic into the real world.

Interactive content like the mobile apps, and immersive content like the beautiful movies, make the fandom more accessible for those who never read the books. The new additions aim to both create new fans and keep the original fans hooked on a leash. Like a toxic relationship, it is hard to leave, especially with the memories and sentimentality at its core.

The point is this: yes, the “Harry Potter” universe continues to expand with spin-off movies and roleplaying games. Yes, the franchise is being milked for all its worth. However, because of the quality of the content and the circumstances of the wizarding world, each addition is welcomed with open arms.

So when is it enough? The answer: when “Harry Potter” runs out of stories to tell.

Courtesy photo from Pottermore

ENTERTAINMENT APRIL 3, 2019

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‘The Act:’ Hulu’s new stranger-than-fiction true crime drama LAUREL THRAILKILL PRINTZ REPORTER

veryone’s sympathy kicks in when it comes to witnessing sick children. The glaring reality of all the things a sick child is missing out on in life is usually cause for pitying smiles and generous monetary donations.

No one would ever suspect that the premise could all be a scheme orchestrated by the parent of a perfectly healthy child. Unfortunately, this was the case for the mother of the real-life girl, Gypsy Rose. Now, with the Hulu original series, “The Act,” Gypsy and her mother’s story is being brought to life for the screen.

Episode three is now out as of March 27, and so far the story of this dysfunctional mother-daughter relationship makes for compelling, heart wrenching cinema. All of the gritty details are layered from the abuse to fraud to murder.

From the first episode, we are shown flashbacks that imply that the care Dee Dee provided for her seemingly sickly daughter was not quite as selfless as it seemed. Despite this, “The Act” enjoys making its audience squirm as it reveals the intricacies of the deception and lies painstakingly slowly. Each twist in the story is more and more shocking as the unbelievable tale unfolds.

As each new mistruth is revealed, Gypsy’s frustration with her mother and feelings of being trapped increase. “The Act” puts just

as much emphasis on the events leading up to the murder as it does the murder itself. In short, “The Act” makes the “why” just as prevalent as the “what.”

The story itself captures our interest and holds it so that we simply cannot tear ourselves away, but why? It has a lot to say about the complexities of human nature, why we do what we do and how love can become entangled and confused with attachment and dependency. “The Act” explores the ranges of human emotions and does and exceptional job exemplifying their unique complications and contradictions.

The two leads, Patricia Arquette and Joey King are exceptionally believable in their roles. When watching “The Act,” it feels as if you are watching something real unfold, and, in a way, you are. The fact that the tragic story was based on true events remains prevalent in the viewers minds in a way that won’t allow you to forget what you are seeing is unfortunately all too real.

“The Act,” while undeniably disturbing, sheds light on the unique kinds of abuse that can be perpetrated by parents and serves as a reminder that some types of abuse can be extremely difficult to detect. What we can take away from “The Act” is a simple message: Abuse comes in many forms and the complex emotions of the victim can make it incredibly hard for them to break away in some cases. Because of this, it is important to take action and take responsibility if you feel something isn’t right. The face someone shows the world could simply be an act.

Courtesy photo from Hulu

Jonas Brothers and the changing boy band image JACK MCCALLUM PRINTZ REPORTER

very few years there seems to be a new boy band that sells out stadiums and dominates the back-to-school supplies section in a monstrous manner. “Sucker” has been a huge comeback single for the Jonas Brothers that has shown that the public is desperate for the boys to put out pop bops.

This Jonas Brothers reunion has seemingly come out of nowhere for anyone who has not kept up with the bros barring Nick’s marriage to Priyanka Chopra. Maybe the surprise aspect is why “Sucker” shot to number one, or it could be the nostalgia. Whatever the reason it was, the massive success of “Sucker” has been a shock to nearly every casual listener of the Jonas Bros.

It might surprise some Jonas Brothers loyalists to find out that “Sucker” is not only the band’s first and only number one single, but it is also only their second single to break the top five of the Hot 100.

This success has proven so many people wrong who felt that the Jonas Brothers were a thing of the past and locked in the Disney Channel dungeon along with Lindsay Lohan’s short-lived pop career.

Being in their late 20s and early 30s, the Jonas Brothers have entered a new

Courtesy photo from Jonas Brothers Twitter.

era of adulthood that has not yet been successfully conquered by a pop group.

The success of the Jonas Brothers is definitely a sign of the times. Most people think of teenagers when they think successful of boy band members, not 31-year-old Kevin Jonas. Pop music is an incredibly ageist industry, especially to women. While they have obvious advantages as white men, the Jonas Brothers have put together a successful boy

band comeback that is mature, modern and registering with the public.

No other pop group has seen close to comparable comeback success like the Jonas Bros have with “Sucker.” Backstreet Boys have tried as well as New Kids on the Block, but only the Jonas Brothers have gone on to surpass their previous success with their comeback. Not only that, there was little-no conversation about the desperation or irrelevance of the

Jonas Brothers in comparison to similar conversations that surround other boy band comebacks.

Talking about the changing face of boy groups in pop music is impossible without acknowledging the rising popularity in K-pop groups like BTS. The constantly growing popularity of such groups in the U.S. has shown that the market for boy bands is obviously there. This American success from a non-Western group in both singles and albums is unexpected and shows how pop music is continuing to grow and adapt.

Not only that, the success of “Sucker” is proof of how pop music is alive now more than ever. There has been a continuing talk on the interwebs over the past few years about how pop music is dead. This is mostly due to people upset at the success of rainbow-haired SoundCloud rappers and bitter from the lack of success of pristine pop stars. “Sucker” has shown that pop is not dead, it just needed to be refreshed.

As a song itself, “Sucker” is not that outstandingly original. It is a catchy, fun pop track that anyone can get down to, that is a given. But this is not some obscure track that feels like an unforgettable moment in pop culture. What it is, though, is a great pop track that boosts confidence and brings out nostalgia while introducing new fans to the Jonas Brothers in a fresh, inoffensive manner.

ENTERTAINMENT APRIL 3, 2019

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Billie Eilish delivers spooky sad-pop on debut JACK MCCALLUM PRINTZ REPORTER “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” is Billie Eilish’s highly anticipated debut album that is a mix of taunting, spooky pop and sad, moody jams. Eilish’s debut is an incredibly solid album that fully encapsulates this 17-year-old’s vision with dark lyrics over beautifully crafted production from her brother Finneas O’Connell.

Despite only being 17 and this being her first studio album, Eilish already seems like a vet in the music biz. Eilish has been a main pop focal point for loads of kids that relate to her unapologetically sad and relatable lyrics since the release of “Ocean Eyes” in 2016. The lyrical content of “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” can come across as cringy at times but feels very authentic for how a 17-yearold would write and feel.

Brother of Eilish and only 21, O’Connell is a standout star of this album with his wicked production. O’Connell has an outstanding ear for beat placement, and the sound he and his sister have crafted is so different and unheard of in pop music. His exciting production makes the awkward lyrical moments less apparent on songs like “wish you were gay” and “xanny.”

It can be easy to dismiss the album as childish and/or corny with the opening track “!!!!!!!” being a recording of Eilish announcing that she is removing her Invisalign and that the album is starting.

This idea is immediately tossed with

Courtesy Photo from Consequence of Sound

the swift transition to the dark, gritty dance song “bad guy.” “bad guy” places Eilish in the villain role as she delivers popping, taunting phrases in a whisper tone over a beat that sounds like it came from the grimiest of all nightclubs. An accompanying video for “bad guy” dropped mixes humor, aesthetic and

horror, all common themes for Eilish.

A great moment on the album is the single “you should see me in a crown,” a crisp, haunting pop track with a vertical video that features Eilish covered in several kinds of spiders. It is impossible to not hear a heavy Lorde influence when listening to “you should see me in a crown,” but it

still feels fresh. The mix of electropop and trap-pop that often comes up in Eilish’s sound is best represented on tracks like this and “all the good girls go to hell.”

Unexpected yet well-placed samples from “The Office” appear on the fun and mysterious-sounding “my strange addiction.” These interesting and exciting production decisions on “my strange addiction” go well with its lyrics that make reference to the Oxford comma at one point. More interesting lyrical choices appear on “wish you were gay,” a song that has been accused of queerbaiting with its title and themes. While wishing that your crush was a different sexual orientation can come across as selfish, it is a real emotion that Eilish delivers in the form of a bop.

Eilish gives plenty of emotionally raw and authentic moments through songs like “bury a friend,” a thumping dance-pop song full of dark imagery. Death, suicide and the sort appear all throughout the album but strongest on “bury a friend” and “listen before i go.” Emotional, beautiful-yet-disturbing ballads like “listen before i go” and “i love you” show how Eilish is able to express herself through various genres.

A few tracks might not be up to par with songs like “bad guy,” but even the weaker points on the album show undeniable potential. At only 17, Eilish beautifully expressed herself on this album with the help of her incredibly talented brother O’Connell. “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” is like a lucid dream put into an album.

Eilish has an artistic vision that has not yet been heard in pop, and this album serves as proof.

Korean Pop continues its obsessive growth in U.S. CARLTON MCGRONE ENTERTAINMENT/OPINION EDITOR Spilling over into the American music charts on all streaming services and flooding every avenue with extreme splashes of color and Koran models, K-pop has claimed the lives of so many unexpecting music fanatics, and it continues to steadily grow with each new debuting group. Attempting to dive into such unfamiliar waters may prove to be a disastrous venture, but there’s actually very little to lose in beginning the journey into K-pop and so much to gain.

K-pop has far surpassed its niche roots over the past decade or so. Groups such as the impossibly huge BTS, the bold and rising Blackpink and the untimely beautiful and elegant Twice have crossed into the mainstream of the U.S. conscience, implanting themselves as regular, if not overhyped, K-pop groups that millions of Americans have come to enjoy as their primary source of musical entertainment.

BTS made history last May in releasing the first K-pop album to debut number one on Billboard’s album chart. Blackpink will be the first K-pop girl group to perform at Coachella, alongside megastars such as Childish Gambino, Kahlid, Ariana Grande and Tame Impala. These milestones only prove that there is much-welcomed space

for bursting K-pop groups and their rabid fans.

Of course, one could easily fall into any one of these huge groups, browsing their accumulated songs until he finds one that suits his taste. However, this method is for those that merely wish to dip a toe into this cast world of beautiful teens and odd fashion choices. For the blissfully ignorant, music videos are the only way to truly fully embrace this strange, influential world.

Performances are where K-pop groups really shine. I still remember the day I mindlessly stumbled upon Twice’s “What is Love” music video and was instantly hooked by the girl group’s synchronized dances over a vast array of green-screened venues.

So what if you can’t understand the language? So what if you don’t know one member from the other? Lose yourself in the winding, glorious tale that this group wants to relay to you about falling in love in different stages of their lives. Never mind the fact that the members most likely didn’t write the song and worked for several break-less days to nail every instance of the choreography at the risk of being dropped by their label.

To really get into a specific group’s fandom, however, you’ll want to seek out a debuting group, one whose first EP is either coming out soon or just released. A personal recommendation is the boy group Tomorrow x Together, whose first EP “The

Dream Chapter: Star” dropped March 4 of this year. Kind of an offshoot of BTS’s edgier “sensitive bad boy aesthetic,” TxT members proudly display their more playful, color-obsessed sides in their “Crown” music video.

Soon enough you’ll be able to pick out each member of your favorite group simply by listening to their vocals on a track.

Learning the song’s set choreography will

become a daily routine. You’ll purchase merch, rummaging through long-forgotten piggy banks because you just have to own BTS’s limited edition poster that they all signed on their first American tour.

Truly, becoming a K-pop stand is a commitment that isn’t to be taken lightly.

However, going in with an open mind on a search for fun and personality will take your leagues into this world.

SPORTS APRIL 3, 2019

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Softball take one of three from Marshall JAMES CALHOUN JR. PRINTZ REPORTER he Southern Miss softball team (18-16, 5-7 C-USA) won one game in a threegame weekend series against Marshall (23-12, 6-3 C-USA) from March 30 to 31 at the Southern Miss Softball Complex.

In Game 1 of the series on Saturday, Marshall scored one run during the top of the first inning on an RBI groundout. In the top of the fifth inning, Marshall extended its lead after hitting a home run while having two runners on base, allowing three runs to score.

After five scoreless innings on the offensive side of the ball and another run from Marshall in the top of the sixth inning, right fielder Karley Nichols scored after a single by Madison Rayner in the bottom of the sixth, giving Southern Miss its first run of the day and cutting Marshall’s lead to 5-1.

However, a Marshall home run in the seventh inning cemented the 6-1 win for the Thundering Herd.

Makenna Pierce started Game 2 for the Golden Eagles in the circle. Pierce entered the game with a record of 2-1 and an ERA of 3.03.

Alyssa Davis put Southern Miss up first after an RBI single by Destini Brown in the fourth inning. Brown scored later in the inning after an RBI single by Samantha Papp, giving the

Makayla Puckett | Printz

team a 2-0 lead.

Marshall took a 3-2 lead over Southern Miss in the top of the fifth inning; however, as the Thundering Herd scored two runs on a fielder’s choice and an error, as well as another run on an RBI groundout.

Pitcher Bailie Springfield relieved Pierce in the circle in the top of the fifth inning, Pierce ended her time in the circle having pitched 4.1 innings and allowed one hit and three runs and walked only two batters.

Southern Miss tied the game up in

Samantha Papp throws down to second base.

the bottom of the fifth inning, but on a Brown walk with the bases loaded that allowed Chase Nelson to score, but Southern Miss was unable to score any more runs in the inning.

Marshall added one run in the sixth inning and two runs in the seventh inning to retake the lead and get a 6-3 win over Southern Miss in Game 2, earning the series win in the process.

Abby Trahan replaced Springfield in the circle during the top of the seventh inning. Springfield ended her time in the circle by allowing four hits and

three runs and struck out one batter.

After losing the first two games of the series, Southern Miss got a victory in Game 3 on Sunday by a score of 5-0. Amber Pack hit a two-RBI double in the second inning to give Southern Miss an early 2-0 lead.

The team expanded on its lead with three more runs in the sixth inning, one from Caroline Casey on a Sarah Van Schaik RBI groundout and two more runs from Brown and Davis on a Marshall error.

Southern Miss head coach Wendy Hogue talked about the series following Sunday’s win.

“We played well today I didn’t think we played well yesterday, yesterday we had too many freebies and defensively I don’t think we pitched up to our abilities yesterday,” Hogue said. “Today I think we completely dominated in the circle and that we swung the bat well.”

Trahan pitched a complete game in the circle for Southern Miss in Game 3, recording eight strikeouts, while allowing one hit and zero walks.

Trahan also improved her overall record to 8-8.

“That was total domination, she gave up one run. When Abby’s at her best she can beat anybody in the country and she had a great game in the circle,” Hogue said.

Southern Miss returns to the diamond for a midweek road contest against South Alabama on April 3 at 6:30 p.m. The Golden Eagles lost at home to the Jaguars 4-0 on March 19.

Southern Miss salvages series at UTSA with Sunday win GRANT CHIGHIZOLA MANAGING/SPORTS EDITOR eading into the weekend series on an eight-game winning streak and two consecutive conference series sweeps, Southern Miss (17-8, 7-2 C-USA) lost its road series against UTSA (13-15, 5-4 C-USA) from March 29-31, but the Golden Eagles were able to get a win in Game 3 of the series to end the weekend.

In Game 1 on Friday, UTSA jumped out to an early lead with a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning. Southern Miss tied the game up in the third inning with a home run from Bryant Bowen, but UTSA retook the lead in the third inning on an RBI single.

The Roadrunners then added six runs in the fifth inning, including two home runs, to expand their lead over the Golden Eagles to 8-1. UTSA continued its scoring tear in the sixth inning with three more runs and one more run in the seventh inning to take a 12-1 lead. A Matt Wallner RBI single in the top of the ninth inning cut UTSA’s lead to 12-2, but Southern Miss was unable to garner any more runs in the loss.

Overall, Southern Miss was outhit 15-3 in the contest, with Wallner and Bowen accounting for all of the team’s hits in the game. On the mound, Walker Powell took the loss after allowing seven hits and four runs over 4.1 innings pitched.

UTSA took an early lead over Southern Miss once again in Game 2. Solo runs in the

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bottom of the first and second innings gave the Roadrunners a 2-0 lead over the Golden Eagles.

After scoreless third and fourth innings for both teams, Southern Miss took its first lead of the game in the top of the fifth inning. Danny Lynch scored a run, which was followed by Will McGillis scoring on a Matthew Guidry RBI triple and Guidry scoring later in the inning on a wild pitch to

Junior Matthew Guidry dives for ball.

take a 3-2 lead.

However, the Roadrunners scored a run in the bottom half of the fifth inning to tie the game up again at 3-3.

Southern Miss earned the lead back in the top of the sixth inning on a Danny Lynch RBI single and then added another run on another Lynch RBI single to take a 5-3 lead in the contest.

Trailing by two runs in the bottom of the

ninth inning, UTSA scored three runs on a two-RBI single and subsequent throwing error to take a 6-3 walk-off win and the series win.

In their final chance for a win in the series on Sunday, Southern Miss started off the game trailing 1-0 after an RBI single from UTSA in the second inning. However, Southern Miss scored five consecutive runs over the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings to take a 5-1 lead.

Another UTSA RBI hit in the sixth inning cut the Southern Miss lead to 5-2, but the Golden Eagles responded with two runs scored on an error and two more on an RBI single from Will McGillis in the seventh inning to extend the lead to 9-2.

In the bottom of the seventh, UTSA cut the Southern Miss lead significantly, scoring four runs in the inning to close the Southern Miss lead to 9-6. Once again, the Golden Eagles responded with four runs scored in the eighth inning and another in the ninth inning to end the game with a 14-6 win.

The Golden Eagles collected 13 hits overall in the contest. Notably, McGillis was 3-for-3 with four RBI at the plate in Game 3, while Hunter Slater, Bowen, Hunter LeBlanc and Guidry each had two hits in the game.

Sean Tweedy earned the win on the mound after allowing a hit and striking out one batter in 2.1 innings pitched. Seven Southern Miss pitchers appeared in the contest.

The next conference series for Southern Miss is a three-game home series against Marshall from April 5-7. First pitch for Game 1 on April 5 is set for 6 p.m.

SPORTS APRIL 3, 2019

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Akinniyi rekindles love for running with Southern Miss track team ANDREW ABADIE EXECUTIVE EDITOR outhern Miss senior Ola Akinniyi has made the rare transition of becoming a two-sport athlete. Akinniyi has been on the Southern Miss soccer team for four years, but at end of her final season decided to take up her previous high school sport and joined the Southern Miss track and field team.

Joining the track team had been something Akinniyi wanted to do since coming to Southern Miss. However, since she was on scholarship for soccer, Southern Miss soccer Mohammed El-Zare wanted Akinniyi to focus on soccer.

“Since freshman year I wanted to run track but [Coach El-Zare] wanted me to focus on soccer and get better for fall and be better prepared,” Akinniyi said. “I played three sports when I was in high school and track was one of them and so was soccer so I didn’t think it be any different.”

That focus on soccer paid off, as Akinniyi had one of the most successful soccer careers in Southern Miss history. In her junior year, she was the first Golden Eagle to be named to the All-Conference USA first team since 2007. In her senior year, Akinniyi again was named to the All C-USA first team and helped lead the soccer program to its first ever appearance in the C-USA championship game.

In high school, she ran in the open 400m race, the 4X200 relay, the 4X400 relay, high jump, long jump and triple jump. Akinniyi took was part of two relay teams that competed in the state finals.

In the 4X200, her team finished second and her 4X400 team finished in eighth place. In addition, her personal best time in the 400m open race of 58.46 ranks as fastest time in her high school’s history.

Still, just after soccer season ended, Akinniyi was still just playing with the notion of running track, but after much encouragement she decided to give

it a shot.

“Our old Athletic Director [Jon Gilbert] and Caroline Bevillard, [the former Associate Athletic Director for Development] they were always telling Jon ‘oh yeah you should see this one girl on the soccer team. She’s pretty fast,” Akinniyi said. “So many people kept saying [you should run track] and I was just like, why not? What could go wrong?”

She approached Southern Miss head track coach Jon Stuart, who was open to giving her the opportunity.

“She had run some good 400s as a high school athlete and we know she had been in some pretty good shape playing soccer,” Stuart said. “I’m always happy to have a two-sport athlete. Anyone that can help us is a benefit to us. Usually it happens in football but rarely in soccer, but I’m appreciative from any kind of help from any other teams.”

However, the first day of track practice was a difficult experience, and as Akinniyi explained, she learned the difference between soccer shape and track shape.

“Hard,” Akinniyi said when describing her first track workout. “Really hard. There’s soccer shape and there’s track shape and they are really different things. So day one track I had to run six 120m [reps]. Coach Jon ended up letting me just run five which thank the Lord that was the best present ever because, not going to lie, after the third one my vision was going kind of blurry because I was running them full out.”

“We tried to start off her easy too but exercise is very specific to each sport where you can be in great soccer shape but bad track shape and vice versa,” Stuart said. “She’s done really well; she handles workouts just fine and she’s getting better every day and getting better is a slow process. It doesn’t happen overnight, sometimes it takes several weeks and sometimes months, but she’s doing a great job for us right now.”

Another difficult aspect for Akinniyi is dealing with her heavy class schedule as an architectural engineering major. She’s not always able to make

track practice, but fulfills her duty by doing the workouts either on her own or compensates with weight lifting as well as running on her own.

“It’s tough because she has a really tough schedule and in her senior year,” Stuart said. “She has a tough, tough schedule that makes it really hard for her to get to practice on some days. It’s always a challenge for the whole track team, much less one athlete that is in architecture. I’m just going to take whatever effort she can give me right now so that she can maintain her GPA and have fun with this.”

So far, Akinniyi has competed in the 400m where her season best in a 59.29 and has run a season best in the 200m dash with a time of 26.37.

“I’m just hoping she can get to a point and be competitive in our conference possibly score a point

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by making a final or running on a relay that’ll score some points for us in the conference championships.”

Akinniyi has been accepted into Miami University’s graduate school program for architecture.

Whether she will compete at Miami University as a track athlete seems unlikely, but her goal for her senior season at Southern Miss is simple, and that is to break her high school personal best and run a time of 57 in the 400m race.

“I just wanted to her have fun with this as she develops as an athlete,” Stuart said. “[And] by the end of the year she’ll get in good enough condition and be fit enough and be in track shape to help us maybe on a relay and possibly in the open 400m race.”

Ola Akinniyi competes in 400m race in Southern Miss Invitational.

Shaunfield and Nelson highlight Pro Day Picasso Nelson Jr. DARRELL REESE JR. PRINTZ REPORTER hen you think of the prototypical hybrid defensive back, Picasso Nelson Jr. fits the bill.

Nelson is a player that that can play box safety, line up at linebacker and cover the best team’s receiver in the process. Nelson measures 5 feet 10 inches and 195 pounds, so the size is there as well to play those positions.

During his time at Southern Miss, Nelson has arguably been one of the best defensive players on the field when healthy.

The defensive back racked up a total of 201 total tackles and five interceptions in his time as a Golden Eagle while also earning a Preseason All-Conference USA selection. The resume is there and so is his will to compete on and off the field.

The Oak Grove native graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business and finance back in 2017 and has been pursuing a master’s degree in business administration as well. His skills off the field have prepared him for his play on the field. Football is a game of intelligence, and he has shown that he is sharpened and prepared in every level of the game.

With all his preparation on and off the field, Nelson has stated that he has been training with his dad to get ready for pro day, a chance for players to showcase their talents in their environment in front of NFL scouts. Southern Miss’ Pro Day was held on March 25 at M.M. Roberts Stadium, and scouts from the Cleve-

land Browns, New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars were in attendance.

During his 40-yard dash performance, Nelson ran unofficial times of 4.41 and 4.42. During interviews, Nelson stated that he ran a 4.39 during training, so the speed is there and that is what most teams are looking for: a guy of his skills and caliber to play multiple positions on the field and adjust to their style of play.

“I didn’t run that [Monday], so I’m really still kind of mad about that,” Nelson said. “I thought I was going to do better at a lot of things, but that’s kind of my personality. But, I did okay today.”

Nelson focused on the why when reflecting on his Pro Day experience.

“For me, I think that’s the most peaceful moment,” Nelson said. “I try to think about my ‘why,’ like, ‘why am I here? What drives me to do what I’m doing?’

That’s the peaceful part.”

NFL scouts usually want to be up close and personal when they are interested in drafting a player. Of course, the film shows a player’s play on the field, but it is the brains of the player that keeps them upright off the field.

Nelson was asked how the meetings went and how he felt about the process during his interviews.

“It felt good talking to scouts for NFL teams,” Nelson said. “Obviously, that’s been a dream of mine for a long time, so Lord willing, things just keep getting better.”

Overall, Nelson has the skills to compete with anyone on the field. If he gets drafted and or signs as an undrafted free agent, Nelson has the ability to play in the NFL for a long time. Nelson also has the size to play multiple positions on the field and the IQ to understand what is going on in between plays.

So, what’s next for Picasso Nelson Jr.? A chance at the pros and to live his dream of playing the NFL.

Parker Shaunfield ANDREW ABADIE EXECUTIVE EDITOR ow former Southern Miss placekicker Parker Shaunfield is looking for his opportunity to take his career to the professional level.

Shaunfield had said that he had hoped to gain more attention on Pro Day, but felt that his day was average.

“It was alright,” Shaunfield said. “A little windy out there. It was kind of hard just playing the game out there and get back being used to everything in the stadium. I wanted to really hit my kickoffs well and hit a couple of pretty good. The best one was about eight deep, I think a decent hang time. Overall, a fairly average day.”

Since the end of the 2018 season, Shaunfield had trained in Buffalo, New York to work with kicking coach Adam Tanalski for a month. After that, Shaunfield traveled to Arizona to compete in a kicking combine. Since February, Shaunfield has been home in Dallas-Fort Worth where he has continued to train.

The only team that Shaunfield has been in contact with is the Chicago Bears.

“Their special teams coordinator came out to Aledo [High School], my school, and I had a private workout with them two weeks ago,” Shaunfield said.

Shaunfield went into detail with the workout and explained that it was a simple workout.

“If they are coming to look at you they’ve seen the game film,” he said. “They are not going to spend money to come and see if they are not interested Basically nine [or] ten field goals starting at extra points and work your way back to 64

[yards]. Then two kickoffs down the middle and two in each direction that’s all it was. Just enough for him to see me in person.”

Shaunfield had said that if he was to hear anything back from the Bears it would be after the NFL draft.

“I think they are not planning on drafting [someone] as far as I know,” Shaunfield said. “They already have got two guys signed. [The Bears special teams scout] looking at the other college guys they are interested in as well, as far as I’m concerned. He was going around the country to look at three or four other guys. It’s really just a tossup right now” The Bears are looking for a kicker after releasing their former kicker Cody Parkey, who missed a potential game winning-field goal in the NFL Wild Card round against the Philadelphia Eagles.

If the opportunity does not present itself with NFL, Shaunfield said he is willing to explore the option of playing in other pro leagues, including the Alliance of American Football.

“I haven’t done too much looking into it, but it’s really interesting because all they do is kick field goals,” Shaunfield said. “The payment is the same for any other player and it’s a 10-week season, so if the NFL doesn’t work out I’ll definitely talk to my agent about it and see about getting into it. Because the pay is good for 10 weeks and then have something to do for the rest of the year to earn some more money. It’s not a bad gig since field goals is my strong suit.”

The AAF signs players to a three-year non-guaranteed contract worth $250,000 that includes health insurance as well as an education stipend.

In the last two seasons of Shaufield’s career, the kicker was named to the Lou Groza Award Preseason Watch List twice.

The Lou Groza Award is college football’s award for the nation’s best kicker. He was also named First Team All-Conference USA in 2017.

In his final two years at Southern Miss, Shaunfield was also 33-for-40 in field goals, 66-for-69 in extra points and kicked a career long of 51-yards.