THE
S TUDENT PRINTZ Thursday, November 13, 2014
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SERVING SOUTHERN MISS SINCE 1927
Volume 99 Issue 23
Same-sex marriage lawsuit continues Judge considers injunction against Miss. ban
Mary Sergeant
Printz Reporter & Photographer JACKSON - District Court Judge Carlton Reeves heard oral arguments Wednesday to decide whether a preliminary injunction will be granted against Mississippi’s ban on same-sex marriage or if the court will choose to stay on the subject and await the court decisions of similar cases occurring in early January. The plaintiffs of the case are the Campaign for Southern Equality, couple Rebecca “Becky” Bickett and Andrea Sanders and couple Carla Webb and Jocelyn “Joce” Pritchett. Defendants of the state include Gov. Phil Bryant, Attorney Gen. Jim Hood and Hinds County Circuit Clerk Barbara Dunn. Paul, Weis, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is the law firm representing the aforementioned plaintiffs. Roberta Kaplan, the lead counsel on the case who is also known as the lead counsel in United States v. Windsor, was first called to the stands to extend her argument to the court. Kaplan, a dominant force in the courtroom, argued for a preliminary injunction which would allow this case to serve as the deciding case for same-sex marriage and same-sex marriage recognition in Mississippi. Kaplan has been described by her firm as a “powerhouse corporate litigator and pressure junkie.” The New Yorker lived up to her reputation as she spoke to the court, often having to apologize to the court reporter for speaking a little
too quickly. One aspect of the case that she put much emphasis on was the fact that both couples she represents have two children. These children, according to Kaplan, do not share the same benefits as those
children who come from heterosexual parents. “The dignity and self-worth of these children (are) being demeaned,” she said. Following Kaplan’s arguments, which were met with some questions and comments from Reeves, the state’s lead counsel, Justin
Matheny, took the stand. Matheny argued the state should wait and decide what course of action they would
like to take, arguing that there are similar cases taking place in nearby states
Which will you choose? USM’s athletic department unveiled two new logos created by Rare Design, a firm owned by alumnus Rodney Richardson. Students, faculty, staff and the Hattiesburg community are encouraged to offer feedback and vote for either “Traditional Eye” (left) or “Dynamic Eye” (right) on the department’s website www.southernmisslogo.com until Nov. 21.
that could help the court come to a better understanding of what is best for Mississippi. During Matheny’s argument Reeves met him with a statement regarding the decision in Loving v. Virginia, as it applies to this case. The Loving case legalized interracial marriage. “Everything prior to Loving, people never thought people of opposite races would want to marry each other,” Reeves said. “In 2014, your children couldn’t even think that was going on back in 1967.” Matheny countered Reeves with the argument that the Loving decision dealt with two members of opposite sexes and, therefore, they also talked about procreation. The state feels procreation is a critical aspect of traditional marriage. To that statement, Reeves argued the state now prohibits conjugal visits for prisoners leaving them unable to procreate. He also discussed people who marry late in life, infertile couples and couples who choose not to procreate. “Where does that take us with procreation?” Reeves said. At the end of the day, Reeves decided he would consider ending Mississippi’s ban on samesex marriage. Reeves has two weeks to review the case, but many are hopeful he will make his decision before then. For more information, visit the Campaign for Southern Equality website.
Politicians discuss net neutrality Ardan Thornhill Printz Reporter
Obama went public with his feelings about net neutrality, putting Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler in an uncomfortable position. On Monday, Obama released a video statement offering his stance on and plans for protecting net neutrality, emphasizing the onus on the FCC. “The FCC is an independent agency and ultimately its decision is theirs alone,” Obama said. ”But the public has already commented nearly four million times asking the FCC to make sure the consumers, not the cable company, get to decide which sites they use.” Part of Obama’s plans include reclassifying the Internet under Title II, which would officially render it a telecommunications service and force Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to charge users as if it were a utility. In a White House statement, the president also asked for “no blocking,” “increased transparency,” “no throttling” and “no paid prioritization.” The public outcry sparked by the video statement all but demanded a response from FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, putting him at odds with long-time ally Obama. According to the Washington Post, Wheeler met with officials from Google, Yahoo and Etsy Monday afternoon, admitting his skepticism of Obama’s plan. Wheeler said he will address the concerns of the public as well as ISPs, such as AT&T, Time Warner and Comcast.
See NEUTRALITY, 3
THE S TUDENT PRINTZ
Page 2 | Thursday, November 13, 2014
Editorial Staff
ACROSS 1 Chef, it’s said, has a couple of ducks and another bird (6) 5 Burning bush caused by US petrol refinery? (3,5) 9 The QE2 is a joke! (3,5) 10 Panic caused by gangster with gun (5) 11 Dine out with dog piecemeal (2,6) 12 Vehicle, one seen in newspaper – look out for one touring around (8) 13 (3,6,2,4) 18 They pay the bill and set up house (8) 20 One depends on the writer rejecting dirt about university lecturer (8) 21 Drink? Not one served by him (5) 22 Tooth or something else from the mouth ends up here (8) 23 Plant’s discovered by birds before feline sound is heard (8) 24 Nuclear agency returns holding cat (6)
Executive Editor Kathryn Miller kathryn.miller@eagles.usm.edu 850.565.0812 Managing Editor Alan Rawls gregory.rawls@eagles.usm.edu Multimedia/Web Editor Crystal Garner crystal.garner@eagles.usm.edu News Editor Nikki Smith ashly.smith@eagles.usm.edu
Source: www.alberichcrosswords.com
Sports Editor Joshua Campbell joshua.m.campbell@eagles.usm.edu Design Editor Parker Brewer parker.brewer@eagles.usm.edu Photo Editor Susan Broadbridge susan.broadbridge@eagles.usm.edu Assistant Photo Editor Kara Davidson kara.davidson@eagles.usm.edu Graphic Designers Cody Bass cody.bass@eagles.usm.edu Julie Gore julia.gore@eagles.usm.edu Social Media/Copy Editor Yolanda Cruz yolanda.cruz@eagles.usm.edu News Content Adviser Chuck Cook 601.266.4288 chuck.cook@usm.edu Ad Graphic Designer Katherine Frye katherine.frye@eagles.usm.edu Advertising Manager Lesley Sanders-Wood 601.266.5188 lesley.sanders@usm.edu Advertising e-mail printzad@usm.edu
Opinions Opinions expressed in The Student Printz are those of the
DOWN 2 Having currants and raisins originally left out of topping (6) 3 Vegetable stew: half of leek and half of carrot (diced with ends removed) (8) 4 Emperor, perhaps, once seen in ornate torc (8) 5 Cigar left in stew produces this flavour (6) 6 Plant – i.e. mint - mostly cooked in broken pot (8) 7 Greek heroine, one found in state capital (8) 8 I bet learner takes a risk playing on these off-roaders (5,5) 12 Outside of university, gets another painting (10) 14 One who imitates bird’s heard after a while (8) 15 West London shortly to be demolished? Disappointments evident (3,5) 16 Portion of lasagne is sickly, coarse-grained and rock hard! (8) 17 Dodgy tum? Boil with a bit of salt to prevent this (8) 18 Something put in stuffed capers? (6) 19 Old wine that’s to be shipped out (6)
DIRTY BIRDS
• On Friday, Nov. 7, vandalism was reported at the Phi Kappa Tau house. its publications manager, USM, the Board of Trustees of The vandalism occurred between 4 and State Institutions of Higher Learning or the USM Board of 6:45 a.m. The case remains open. Student Publications. • On Saturday, Nov. 8, harassment was reported in the Freshman Quad, occurring between 5:30 and 7 p.m. The The views represented in The Student Printz’s columns and case remains open. editorials do not necessarily represent those of the faculty, • A person in possession of a weapon at staff or administration of The University of Southern Gate 2 on the west end of M.M. Roberts Stadium was reported to campus police Mississippi. We welcome letters to the editor representing on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. The case similar and contrasting opinions. To be eligilible for remains open. publication, all submissions must include name, class • On Monday, Nov. 10, petit larceny was distinction, major, phone number and email address. reported at a concessions area in M.M. Submissions should be emailed to printzeditors@gmail.com Roberts Stadium. The theft occurred by 5 p.m. Friday. Please limit them to 500 words or less. between 5 and 7:30 p.m. The case The Student Printz reserves the right to refuse publication remains open. or edit any material on the basis of clarity, space or • On Monday, Nov. 10, petit larceny was reported in the Payne Center. The theft journalistic ethics. occurred between 7:45 and 8 p.m. The case remains open. writer and not necessarily those of The Student Printz,
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NEWS
Thursday, November 13, 2014 | Page 3
ON CAMPUS
Res Life changes guest policy Johnathan Parr Printz Reporter
In early November, the Department of Residence Life listened to students and departed from its old overnight visitor policy and moved to what has been called a less restrictive one. The old policy states that Southern Miss students are allowed to have overnight guests of the same sex if they are a USM student, 16 years or older and the hall supervisor is provided at least 24 hours notice to the guest staying, according to the Residence Life Handbook. However, the revised policy removes the USM student requirement and allows anyone 16 years or older of the same sex to spend the night if the hall supervisor has at least 24 hours prior to the guest’s overnight stay, according to the Residence Life Handbook. Safety was the reason for the first decision to limit overnight guests to USM students. “We were encouraged to limiting guests in the residence
hall to USM students only after multiple incidents of violence on campus” involving nonstudents occurred, according to Scott Blackwell, director for the Department of Residence Life. He stressed the decision was “not made lightly nor was it made without careful thought and consideration of the well-being and safety of students who live on campus in the residence halls.” Many roommate issues involved non-students’ staying, according to Blackwell. The age-sex requirement has always been university policy. It was “to protect students and safeguard the academic nature of the residence halls,” Blackwell said. He distinguished the difference between overnight guest regulations and visitation guidelines. “(Visitation guidelines) have allowed non-student guests to visit a residence hall provided that guest is accompanied by the host resident at all time while the guest is in the hall and the guest is registered at the front desk of the residence hall visited,”
Blackwell said. From 11 a.m. to midnight on Sunday through Thursday, guests are allowed to visit. From 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday through Saturday, guests are allowed to visit. The Southern Miss student requirement was removed in early November when SGA leaders listened to their constituents. “SGA President Jeffrey George and SGA Senator Douglas LeBlanc visited me about students’ concerns and asked that we in the Department of Residence Life reconsider the mandatory USM student part of the Overnight Guests policy,” Blackwell said. After listening to the SGA and discussing the concerns with staff in the department, the Department of Residence Life decided that non-students staying the night would not compromise students’ safety. USM students think the change is progress for the school. “I think it’s a good idea. It didn’t make much sense that, before, a student that lives here could stay
Michael Kavitz/Printz
Junior Will Huddleston checks in his guest Caleb Robinson at the front desk of Hattiesburg Hall on campus.
the night but someone from out of town couldn’t,” said Lauren Blankenship, a junior forensic science major. “If my friend from back home wants to visit, then she should be able to stay the night.” Haley Zirlott, a freshman broadcast journalism major, also thinks it is a needed rewrite of the rules. “It’s a great change. If my friend from home wants to visit, it would be more convenient for her to stay the night with me than to
rent a hotel room for one night so she doesn’t have to drive two hours at midnight to get home,” Zirlott said. “I think that this is a fantastic recruitment opportunity for USM,” said Madison Etheridge, a freshman English major. “It allows potential students to come to campus and experience all that USM has to offer. Overnight stays will also allow them the opportunity to get the chance to see themselves at USM.”
ON CAMPUS
Organizations honor local veterans Brtittny Roberts/Printz
NEUTRALITY
continued from page 1 “What you want is what everyone wants: an open Internet that doesn’t affect your business,” Wheeler said. “What I’ve got to figure out is how to split the baby.” Those attending the event said Wheeler appeared to be “visibly frustrated.” Wheeler, a former lobbyist for the cable and telecommunications industry, said Obama’s plan could be “too simplistic.” Republican leadership, indifferent on the topic before, has taken a skeptical, if not hostile position on the issue as well. Moments after Obama’s video, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex) responded in a tweet “Net Neutrality” is Obamacare for the Internet; the Internet should not operate at the speed of government.” Cruz expanded upon that idea
on Facebook. “It puts the government in charge of determining Internet pricing, terms of service, and what types of products and services can be delivered, leading to fewer choices, fewer opportunities, and higher prices for consumers,” Cruz wrote, calling net neutrality the “biggest regulatory threat.” Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) blasted Obama’s ideas as just another ploy for more government regulation over business. “It’s disappointing, but not surprising, that the Obama administration continues to disregard the people’s will and push for more mandates on our economy,” Boehner said in a statement. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) conceded with Boehner’s statement, claiming applying a Title II classification would “restrict Internet growth and increase costs on Internet users.”
Herbert Slay was one of the many that attended the Veterans Day dinner and celebration Tuesday evening honoring the Veterans and their families. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at USM partnered with Student Veterans of America, Southern Miss Chapter, for the event. The veterans and their families were honored with speeches of gratitude, remembrance and experience of their time in the military.
Other members of the GOP referred to Obama’s Title II resolution as “last century’s plan.” However, Obama’s stance has galvanized much support from the Democratic convention. Many, including Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Sen. John Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), quickly issued statements praising the president’s plan and urging the FCC to adopt it. “Net Neutrality ensures everyone has a voice on the Internet, and no one can be silenced simply because they can’t afford to pay,” Udall said on his website. Rockefeller, Chairman of the Commerce, Science and Transportation committee, said in a Democratic Press office statement that the FCC should use its “full statutory authority” to uphold net neutrality. “I join the President’s call
for the FCC to preserve net neutrality by using the full scope of its authority, including Title II, subject to appropriate forbearance,” Rockefeller said. “It is now critical for the FCC to act expeditiously, and I know Chairman Wheeler is already engaging all stakeholders for input on how best to move forward.” Warren tweeted that it’s time that the FCC “do the right thing” and adopt the plan. Warren, a long-time supporter of open internet, said that threats to overturn Net Neutrality is “just one more way the playing field is tilted for the rich and powerful” on her Facebook page in April. “Our regulators already have all the tools they need to protect a free and open Internet - where a handful of companies cannot block or filter or charge access fees for what we do online,” Warren wrote. “They should stand up and use them.”
The culmination of the publicity leaves Wheeler in a catch-22 situation. On one hand, Obama would veto any Republican strikes at Net Neutrality, and the vast public support for it could shed bad light on the FCC; on the other, the Republican-ran Congress could back the FCC into a corner by withholding funding. Companies such as Verizon also threaten further lawsuits if Title II regulations are implemented. In the company’s policy blog, General Counsel Randal Milch said such proceedings would “fairly guarantees litigation.” One thing is for certain: the ball is in Wheeler’s court, and Obama will not back down. “Americans are making their voices heard and standing up for the principles that make the Internet a powerful force for change,” Obama said. “As long as I’m president, that’s what I’ll be fighting for too.”
FEATURE
Page 4 | Thursday, November 13, 2014
LIFE
Men support feminism movement Johnathan Parr Printz Reporter
Perceived by some to have “girls only” scrawled in crayon on yellow construction paper that hangs from the entrance to a pillow fort, feminism is beginning to have an increasingly higher male participation rate as
equality, for some, becomes more desirable than power. Feminism, also known as the Women’s movement, is a trimovement campaign fighting for the rights and equality of women. The first wave occurred in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the second wave ran from the 1960s into the 1990s and the third wave
Aaron J. Stewart/Printz A photo illustration of Rosie the Riveter depicts the male participation and support of feminism and women’s rights.
began in the mid-1990s and has not stopped, being “informed by post-colonial and post-modern thinking,” according to an article by Martha Rampton, a history professor at Pacific University. An oftentimes forgotten part of the feminist movement is the male feminist, according to an article by Noah Berlatsky, a contributing writer for The Atlantic. “There actually is a long tradition of male feminism in Europe and North America, dating back at least 175 years to the famous ex-slave and abolitionist Frederick Douglass,” Berlatsky said. Abolition and women’s suffrage are interwoven in American history. Douglass was among a handful of men who attended the women’s rights convention in 1848. “After the Civil War, Douglass had tactical disagreements with many women’s rights activists,” Berlatsky said. “Douglass felt that there was more ‘urgency’ to give the (right to) vote to black men through the 15th Amendment, neatly shelving the small fact that black women were still denied the ballot.” Douglass’ support for female suffrage never ended, however, with his 1888 reading, “I believe no man, however gifted with thought and effect, can voice the wrongs and present the demands of women with the skill and effect, with the power and authority of
woman herself. The man struck is the man to cry out. Woman … is her own best representative.” John Stuart Mill introduced the first bill in the British Parliament calling for women to receive the right to vote. John Stoltenberg created the group “Men Can Stop Rape” and wrote radical feminist works. Adam Jones is a political scientist who analyzed gendercide—violent acts because of gender-related issues—through feminist theory. These people are not perfect, but that does not mean that “these men aren’t real feminists,” according to Berlatsky. “The fact that Mill or Douglass or Stoltenberg or Jones have flaws is all the more reason to point to their examples,” he said. “It reminds us that male feminists are neither new nor perfect, but they make important contributions to the advancement of women.” Some people believe that male feminists are impossible and incongruent with what the feminist movement stands for. “Male feminism requires constant modification and direction from women,” said Sarah Ali, a contributor for Medium.com. “(The male feminist) relies on the labour (sic) of women in the same way his non-feminist counterpart does.” She questioned the difference between women doing house work and women validating male
feminists. “In both cases, cis-men are using the labour of women to do things that, really, they should be able to do on their own,” Ali said. Male feminism is patriarchy—a social system where men rule— in women’s clothing, according to Ali. Others disagree with this viewpoint, arguing that feminism is just the fight for equality. “If one defines feminism as the belief in equality of both sexes, then sure. And I think that’s how a lot of sociologists actually define feminism,” said Matt Ward, professor of sociology at USM’s Department of Anthropology and Sociology. Patriarchy is perhaps the most prominent issue feminism combats, according to Ward. “(Patriarchy) affects women’s roles in the economy, the family, the workplace and politics,” said Ward, who then detailed the effects of traditional gender roles on people, especially men. “What it means to be a man, what it means to be a woman affects how people behave,” he said. “One of the most common ideals we have in our society is this thing called hegemonic masculinity, the idea that a man must be tough, not taking on any feminine roles.” To see the rest of this story, visit www.studentprints.com
LIFE
‘Noshember:’ more than just a beard-growing contest Colin Cameron Printz Reporter
For many, the month of November represents time spent with family, Thanksgiving dinner and college football. However, for many others, November also represents the time when men and a few shameless women alike stow away their razors and unite in an act of poor grooming for the annual event called No-Shave November, or “Noshember” for short, by not shaving their faces, legs or armpits over the entirety of the month. The tradition of boasting one’s masculinity for a month is in full swing for students at The University of Southern Mississippi. Sophomore Caleb Faulkner participates in NoShave November every year and said he was excited about this year’s event. “Honestly, I’m just excited to see if (I) can grow a great
beard by the end of the month,” Faulkner said. “Not to mention all the benefits that the month has to offer like saving money on razors and shaving cream and saving time getting ready in the morning,” he continued. Faulkner also said he likes to take pictures every day to be able to look back on his day-to-day transformation at the end of the month. Faulkner is just one of many students participating in NoShave November just for the fun of doing it with no other motives aside from the curiosity of a finished product at the end of the month. However, No-Shave November is perhaps a bigger trend among students that are participating in the event for awareness, fundraisers or for charity. No-Shave November actually began in 2009 as a way to encourage men to grow beards and collect money that would go to benefit cancer research,
awareness and treatment. According to the official website of No-Shave November, money is raised by “donating the money you usually spend on shaving and grooming for a month to educate about cancer prevention, save lives and aid those fighting the battle.” Likewise, students at USM get involved in a similar way through the Baptist Student Union. Participants sign up to grow their beards for the month of November to have them auctioned off at the BSU’s annual Christmas party Dec. 1. Students can bid money on each beard and the winner of the auction gets to shave the participant’s beard any way they choose. The participant’s uniquely shaven beard then must stay like that for the next 24 hours. “All of the money we raise goes directly toward helping students go on missions,” said BSU President Alissa Clouse. “It’s always a really fun event we have raised over
$2,000 in the past.” Previous events have helped fund over 180 students statewide and 17 students from USM to go on foreign missions. Anyone who would like to participate in the fundraiser can still sign up at the BSU.
Whether it is to raise money for a cause or to simply put one’s beard-growing abilities to the test, students at USM are putting down their razors and uniting at the peak of laziness this November to keep this unique annual trend alive.
Kelley Joe Brumfield/Printz
Clark Kunz, a senior forensic science major, has already been growing his beard for No-Shave November. Clark began growing his beard back in August.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Thursday, November 13, 2014 | Page 5
REVIEW
‘Wind in the Willows’ involves little conflict Yolanda Cruz
Social Media/Copy Editor Sometimes when I go to see a play presented by the Southern Miss Department of Theatre, I forget that it is meant to be a learning environment for all of the actors, directors and crewmembers. Commercial theaters worry all about the bottom line and attracting as many audience members as possible, so they pick plays they know will do that. The plays at USM are all about broadening the horizons of the students. I’ve been to all three season shows every semester since my freshman year, and, I believe, “The Wind in the Willows” is the first children’s play ever done by the department. Because of this, audiences should not go in expecting any raunchy material or deep allusions to political struggles. Am I saying this is a bad thing? Not at all. Sometimes people just want a break, and students especially don’t want to have to
analyze everything they encounter looking for a deeper meaning. With the academic crunch that comes at the end of every semester including the numerous papers and projects approaching, it might be nice to simply allow your mind to relax for two and a half hours and enjoy a good show. “The Wind in the Willows” is about the anthropomorphic adventures of woodland animals. While the character Rat enjoys a casual ride along the river in his boat, he meets Mole, and the two quickly become friends. Rat introduces Mole to many of the other animals in the woods, such as Badger and Mr. Toad. Badger is the closest thing I saw to a crotchety old man and Mr. Toad is so confident and energetic that he just makes anything he does the most exciting thing to ever do. There are other creatures who make up the ensemble like rabbits, squirrels and the obviously evil weasels. After all, what says evil better than all red and black clothing? The play doesn’t have much
serious conflict aside from Mr. Toad’s shopping and adrenaline addictions. While it gets him into trouble all throughout the play, there are no serious consequences for his actions. It seems to be one of those plays where everything just works out in the end. As I said, it is a children’s play. Any children in the audience may also enjoy the random songs placed throughout the play. No, this isn’t a musical. There just seem to be points where the characters spontaneously burst into song. Honestly, it was a bit distracting from the action of the play. The songs rarely furthered the plot in any way, and just seemed to make the flow of the play come to a screeching halt for a few minutes. This is probably the least complex production for Southern Miss so far. If you are looking for a play filled with political and social commentary, this is not the play for you. If you are looking to give your mind a break or are hoping to stir up some nostalgic feelings for reading the book or
Susan Broadbridge/Printz
Brandon Campbell performs as Mr. Toad, and Ryan Mahanah plays Mole in the upcoming play “The Wind in the Willows.” The USM Department of Theatre opens the show Nov. 13 with other times to follow.
watching the Disney version, then this would be the perfect treat for you. It is apparent the actors have worked extremely hard trying to make their animal body movements and makeup perfect, and for that I recommend the play. However, it left me feeling a tad bit underwhelmed. Seeing as how I am a college student with no association to young children, I might not be the key target
audience for this show. Check it out, but don’t go in expecting the play to be something it isn’t. The play opens Nov. 13 and runs again on Nov. 14, 15, 21 and 22. Each show begins at 7 p.m. Matinee shows will also be performed on Nov. 16 and 23 at 2 p.m., with a pre-show talk at 1 p.m. before the Nov. 16 performance. All shows are in Tatum Theatre.
REVIEW
‘Fight Club’ author satirizes fashion industry Lindsey Kelley Printz Reporter
“I’m an invisible monster, and I’m incapable of loving anybody. You don’t know which is worse.” Chuck Palahniuk’s “Invisible Monsters: Remix” is a grotesque, biting look at the fashion industry and modern standards of beauty. Palahniuk, known for writing gritty surrealist novels such as “Fight Club” and “Damned,” brings his best work to the story of a fashion model disfigured by a tragic “accident.” The original novel, “Invisible Monsters” was initially published in 1999 and re-released in 2012 as “Invisible Monsters: Remix,” adding 10 chapters’ worth of new material and a puzzling
mix-up of chapters. The chapters, according to the introduction by Palahniuk himself, are supposed to read like a fashion magazine, easy to be lost in and leaving the reader never truly knowing how many pages they have left. Some chapters are even set in reverse print, requiring the use of a mirror to be read properly. While these ideas are fascinating, often I felt so distracted by the flipping of the pages and finding the new material that I didn’t get lost in the book: I just lost my place. The story begins with a fashion model, Shannon McFarland, who has had her face completely disfigured in an “accident.” Upon meeting transsexual Princess Brandy Alexander, she finds a new lease in the love and hatred stirring
Courtesy Photo
inside of her for “Princess BA” and travels across the country under a plethora of disguises gathering hormones, selling stolen prescription painkillers and trying to sabotage her exfiance, Seth. The book is a harsh and unforgiving read, much like Palahniuk’s usual style, and isn’t for the faint of heart. Palahniuk bites into the harsh reality of the human psyche and never backs away from controversy, speaking to parental guilt over their dead homosexual son whom they disowned, obsession with the one who could never reciprocate love, betrayal by one’s best friend and the desire to be loved despite extenuating circumstances. “Nothing of me is original. I am the combined effort of everybody I’ve ever known,” said Shannon upon realizing her fate. It also speaks on the futility of the idea of beauty quite poignantly, discussing how in the name of capitalism women are often exploited to advertise commercial products of all kinds. At one point in the novel, Princess Brandy Alexander advises Shannon to not watch herself
too closely. “Times like this, it helps to think of yourself as a sofa or a newspaper, something made by a lot of other people but not made to last forever,” Princess BA said. While the book may have
been grating, I enjoyed Palaniuk’s rough style and no-nonsense writing. I would recommend this book to anyone with an open mind, a love for seriously biting wit and a passion for tenacious literature.
OPINION
Page 6 | Thursday, November 13, 2014
LIFE
Maynard’s death sparks dialogue One has a right to Natural death is die with dignity still honorable Bradley Presson Print Reporter
Brittany Maynard stirred up a national controversy when she announced that at 29 years old she would be ending her life before a terminal disease ruined her quality of life. Maynard recently carried out that act, and the national debate over the right to die has not ended. But should it really be a debate at all? For a nation that values conducting itself in an ethical and humane manner, is denying someone the right to end his or her life in the face of unimaginable suffering at the hands of disease a humane action? As long as someone is confirmed to be of sound mind and have a terminal illness,
As long as someone is confirmed to be of sound mind and have a terminal
seeing a young person, such as Maynard, as the face of the death with dignity movement might cause a reevaluation of our collective beliefs on the legality of death with dignity, which would culminate in a new federal law allowing for the right to die. In the past, this issue has been seen as a debate left for the elderly. Few think of the end of life coming in your ‘20s or ‘30s, but now that Brittany Maynard has publicized her battle and the struggle that dying a death with dignity was for her, a younger generation might recognize the need for this right and actively fight to protect it. Maynard argued for her right to die a death without prolonged pain and without prolonging the suffering of her friends and loved ones, as they would watch her be debilitated by her disease. I cannot imagine a more noble reason to end your life, and I hope that with time others will have the right to make that choice.
Mary Sergeant
Print Reporter & Photographer At the age of 29, Brittany Maynard decided she would die with dignity after being diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, a form of cancer that according to the American Brain Tumor Association leaves patients with a median of 14.6 months to live. After her decision, she and her family moved to Oregon because the state has the Death With Dignity Law, which allows terminally ill residents to voluntary selfadminister lethal medication. I can’t imagine what it would be like to find out I have less than a year to live. Maynard was young and had so much of her life left to live, so to be told she was going to die a painful death probably hit her like a freight train.
illness, what is the reasoning behind denying someone the right to a death with dignity? -Bradley Presson which is a component of every piece of assisted suicide legislation in the states that have legalized the procedure, what is the reasoning behind denying someone the right to a death with dignity? The main argument against allowing death with dignity is that suicide is forbidden in many religions, as in many sects of Christianity and Eastern religions. While these views are seen as an ironclad no to death with dignity, according to the Death with Dignity National Center, even the Catholic Church, one of the staunchest groups opposing euthanasia, have offered differing views of what is and is not acceptable. Emmanuel Kant argued for the innate value of human life, and some opposed to death with dignity use a Kantian defense to argue that by allowing people to take their lives, human life loses its value. Brittany Maynard’s argument against this is a life of suffering would be a life with no value. Rather than try to prolong her life with treatments that would erode the quality of her remaining time, she chose to embrace the remaining time she had with open arms and then to end her life before it lost its meaning. Others may argue that since they are forbidden by the federal government that euthanasia or assisted suicide are wrong. However, as quoted in the Washington Post, Arthur Caplan, head of the Division of Medical Ethics at New York University Langone Medical Center, believes that
But then I thought about how many close friends and family members I have who have known people to suffer deaths similar to that of Maynard’s. From children to mothers of young adults to men and women who have lived long, full lives, terminal illness can strike anyone. It’s a disgrace to say that these people died without dignity. Dignity by definition means “the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect.” Yes, when you are on the brink of dying and you are in an intense amount of pain and suffering, you may feel your dignity is gone. But, I for one, think that sticking it out and fighting the fight makes you worthy of the utmost honor and respect. Another point to be made on this subject is that Maynard could have used her illness for good. According to the International RadioSurgery Association, roughly 13,000 Americans die every year from brain tumors like the one Maynard suffered from. She could have given her body and her illness to science while she was still alive. She could have saved thousands of lives by allowing doctors to treat her with experimental drugs and procedures. That could have brought her more suffering in her last six or so months of living, but in the grand scheme of things, she would have died a hero.
But, I for one, think that sticking it out and fighting the fight makes you worthy of the utmost honor and respect. -Mary Sergeant
Courtesy Photo
I am not saying that Maynard’s decision wasn’t made without much thought. But, I do think that there was much more life left for her to live. Six months, a year, a lifetime, you never know when a miracle can strike. You never know when it will become your time to change a life or save a life. Before her death Maynard started a movement, but she could have just as well become encouragement for millions of people suffering from terminal illnesses to fight the good fight. She could have fought and tried to live the life she always wanted.
SPORTS
Thursday, November 13, 2014 | Page 7
FOOTBALL
The good, the bad and the ugly the good Joshua Campbell Sports Editor
Despite the headaches NFL league officials have encountered due to myriad players being arrested and the heated concussion lawsuit that has hung over the league over the past half-decade, the NFL could not be more popular and its popularity continues to grow every year. To put it into perspective, the 2014 Super Bowl averaged 112.2 million viewers while Game 7 of the World Series this year totaled 23.52 million viewers according to The Hollywood Reporter and that Super Bowl was the most watched program in U.S. history. According to Businessweek, in 2013, 34 of the top 35 most-watched programs on television were NFL games and the league’s total revenue sits
around $9.2 billion annually. For all the criticism that commissioner Roger Goodell endures daily, his salary is just north of $44 million a year. While rises in TV ratings suggest that more fans are staying home rather than actually attending the games, that is far from the case. Well besides the Jaguars, whose stadium resembles a ghost town most of the time. The average attendance for a game is 67,509, while the average stadium capacity 68,280 is nearly sold out every game. Considering the average NFL ticket price is around $275, it is quite remarkable. What the NFL has succeeded with most is keeping their league on everyone’s mind year round. The NFL has done an incredible job of spacing out their offseason so there is always something for the fans
to be focused on. Once the season concludes, draft season is immediately in full force. It begins with the Senior Bowl, featuring the best senior prospects from around the country and then there is the NFL Scouting Combine. The NFL has turned the combine into a national spectacle, broadcasting live on NFL Network in mid-February. Fans of the NFL have become consumed with the draft process as draft analysts release mock drafts constantly, making fans giddy about the prospects of drafting players to get them closer to the Lombardi Trophy. But before the draft actually takes place, there is free agency. Free agency does not create quite the same amount of buzz as draft season, but it attracts the attention of all fans as they hope their team signs one of the premier veteran free agents in
early March. After months of speculation and constant media coverage, the draft finally takes place at the end of April. Although the draft is easily the most exciting period of the offseason, it is far from the end of the excitement. The weekend after the draft, rookie minicamps begin, giving fans the chance to get their first look at the rookies. Several minicamps, with veterans and rookies, are held up until training camp begins in late July, which carries into the preseason. Through all of this, the NFL has created a continuous cycle that is rivaled by no other sport. The NFL’s willingness to consider options galore to improve the game to appeal to wider audiences is one of the main reasons the league is so successful. Sunday’s matchup between the Dallas Cowboys
and the Jacksonville Jaguars will be the third game played in London so far this year and several owners and Goodell have been pushing for there to be a franchise in London as soon as 2020. Among other considerations to increase interest and revenue, the NFL has explored lengthening the regular season, expanding the playoff field, eliminating extra points and changing the format of overtime periods to resemble the current NCAA overtime format. As history has proven over the past two-plus decades, the NFL is by far the most popular sport in America by a wide margin that continues to increase. While the negative attention the league has endured over the past few years is disturbing, the NFL continues to weave through adversity and grow into an 11-figure business.
SPORTS
Page 8 | Thursday, November 13, 2014
FOOTBALL
USM looking to improve in Thursday night matchup Jacob Kemp Printz Reporter
The Golden Eagles are no longer bowl eligible after dropping their last contest 63-17 to Marshall. With a 3-7 record and only two games remaining, the Golden Eagles are playing for pride and building for the future now. The Golden Eagles went down fighting against Marshall and scored the first 14 points in the ball game after a gutsy onside kick by head coach Todd Monken. Monken said after the game that he intended to kick onside kicks all game until Marshall recovered one. After an offsides penalty negated the second successful onside kick, Thundering Herd quarterback Rakeem Cato stepped on the field and dominated to keep Marshall undefeated. The same problems that have affected the Golden Eagles all season continued to plague them against Marshall. After sustaining several drives and chewing some clock, Southern Miss made errors that cost them chances to score points. “That has been kind of unfortunate as we are going through these growing pains as a coaching staff and playing. We don’t find a way to score enough on opportunities we’ve been given,” Monken said. “We, for
the last five or six weeks, have done a pretty nice job of moving the ball. We just haven’t been able to sustain those drives and consistently get touchdowns.” The Golden Eagles will have to forget the game quickly with a Thursday night matchup with UTSA. The short week makes things harder for coaches and players. Not enough preparation time and little rest from a fourquarter battle the previous Saturday is taxing for all parties. UTSA comes into the contest with only two wins on the season and match up poorly with the Golden Eagles. They have been highlighted by great defensive play and pitiful offensive production, which should play into the Golden Eagles’ hands. The Roadrunners will have an advantage on Thursday that most Golden Eagle fans will not remember. Head coach Larry Coker was not always at UTSA. He once was the head coach of the Miami Hurricanes from 2001-2006. The stint with the Hurricanes included a national championship in 2001 with players such as Jeremy Shockey, Ed Reed, Andre Johnson and Sean Taylor. They went to the national championship again the following year, but lost in overtime to Ohio State. “Coach Coker has done a
Susan Broadbridge/Printz Photo Editor
Head coach Todd Monken speaks with his players during the last home game against Marshall. The Eagles head to San Antonio to play UTSA this Thursday in the hopes of becoming 4-7.
great job,” Monken said. “He did a great job at Miami. It is not easy to start a program and then jump right into Division I. They had a tremendous year last year. That is not easy. They are always well prepared. It is not like they are doing unsound things. They have just had some unfortunate things happen to them at the quarterback position.” UTSA is in a similar situation the Golden Eagles were last year. Their quarterback went down and in came a young, inexperienced quarterback who is asked to lead. Things are looking up for
the Golden Eagles coming off a short week. Quarterback Nick Mullens has been upgraded from questionable to probable and he looks to start against UTSA. Mullens will have little preparation time when he goes against one of the better defenses in Conference USA. UTSA is led by eight seniors on defense who are the heart and soul of the team. “They play awfully hard defensively. They have seven or eight senior starters with a number of senior and junior backups,” Monken said.“That is one thing you can say about them. I don’t
think they are very complicated, but I think they are very sound in what they do. They play hard and they challenge you.” The Golden Eagles have done nothing more than stretch and try to get their bodies back in game shape this week. The Golden Eagles left Wednesday to travel to San Antonio and play in the Alamodome later tonight. Southern Miss hopes they can end the season on a high note and win their last two remaining ball games to send their seniors out the right way. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
BASKETBALL
Southern Miss eager for upcoming season James Johnson Printz Reporter
The Southern Miss women’s basketball team kicks off the regular season against crosstown foe William Carey Friday at noon in front of its home crowd at Reed-Green Coliseum. A strength for the Golden Eagles will be their play in the paint with their roster holding four players that stand at least 6 feet. For the Lady Eagles’ starting five this season, Alex Coyne has the keys to the offense. Coyne is a returning starter with a knack at finding her teammates in the right spot at the right time. She has the perfect skills to be in the AllConference USA talk at the guard position. In exhibition play against
West Florida, Coyne finished with a game-high six assists. “We do feel comfortable with Alex (Coyne) running the offense,” said head coach Joye Lee-McNelis. “This is her sophomore year and over the summer she worked hard to better understand where her teammates will be open on the court throughout the game.” Brittanny Dinkins is the other starting guard for the Lady Eagles and has been a streaky shooter throughout her collegiate career. If she gets into a zone early in the game, then it is going to be a long night for the opposing team. She possesses good ball-handling skills and loves getting herself open coming off of screens and knocking down
mid or long-range jumpers. Kierra Jordan will play a big role for the Lady Eagles, as their forward she is asked to get the hard buckets in the paint. In exhibition play against West Florida, Jordan led the team with 15 points and eight rebounds while shooting 56 percent from the floor. Voche’ Martin does her damage on the defensive side of the ball. Standing at 6-feet, 3-inches, she makes it difficult for the opposing team to get into the lane and score easy baskets. “Martin’s impact may not show up on the stat sheet,” McNelis said. “Her impact goes beyond the stat sheet and her selflessness is something everybody on the team looks up to.”
Brooke Rhodes rounds out the starting five for the Lady Eagles. Rhodes has the most experience out of all her teammates and is the heart of the team on the court. In their first exhibition game, Southern Miss was without Preseason All-Conference forward, Tamara Jones. Jones is expected to pick up the scoring the Golden Eagles lost when Jamierra Faulkner was selected by the Chicago Sky with the 34th overall pick in the 2014 WNBA draft. Jones enters her last season for Southern Miss and does not want it to end like her junior year did. “To lose in double overtime to Mississippi State was crushing,” Jones said. “It also gave us confidence that we can play with
not only teams in our conference, but teams in bigger schools too.” That confidence is what the Lady Eagles are going to need if they want to dethrone Middle Tennessee, the reigning Conference USA champs and preseason pick to repeat. Southern Miss is projected to finish third in C-USA, but with a healthy Jones and focused supporting cast the Golden Eagles can be the surprise team to represent C-USA when the NCAA tournament begins. Southern Miss starts the 2014 season with one goal in mind, to play for the C-USA championship in Birmingham, Alabama, for the chance to represent the conference in the NCAA tournament.