The Student Printz November 15, 2017

NOVEMBER 15, 2017 VOLUME 102 ISSUE 14

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News

Student organizations collaborate to talk about diversity and inclusion.

www.studentprintz.com

5

Entertainment

Learn Black Friday shopping tips for the holiday season.

7

Opinion

Was the Disney press ban childish?

serving southern miss since 1927

Academic calendar changes bring shorter classes Fall 2018 Alyssa Bass

entertainment editor On Tuesday, Oct. 3, President Ro d n e y B e n n e t t a p p r o v e d academic calendar changes proposed to him by The Scheduling Task Force. Assistant Provost and Chair of the Scheduling Task Force Debby Hill for med the Force in September of 2016 to add an additional week to now 14-day intersessions. The Force is composed of 26 members from all six colleges, the Admissions Office, the Office of Financial Aid, the Student Gover nment A s s o c i at i o n a n d m o re. T h e proposed three-week intersessions that will be offered in January, May and August prompted the Force to shorten the academic calendar. With the changes, the school year will begin a week later and end a week earlier than usual with the proposed start date of August 29 and end date of May 10.

C u r re n t l y, c l a s s e s at T h e University of Southern Mississippi meet for 17 weeks (including exam week) per semester. The Force was

able to shorten each semester by two weeks, also including exam week. To do so, the Force had to consider the Institution of Higher Learning’s (IHL) minimum required contact minutes (the amount of time students are in class) of 750 minutes per credit h o u r a n d Fe d e r a l F i n a n c i a l Aid’s minimum of 15 weeks in the fall and spring semesters.

T he univer sity achieved a 15-week schedule by adding 10 minutes to currently 50-minute Monday, Wednesday and Friday classes, 15 minutes to currently 75-minute Tuesday and Thursday classes and 30 minutes to currently 165-minute block (or night) classes. Hill said that the additions are not designed for faculty members to lecture for the entire class period, but rather to further engage with their students.

“I’ve taught these 50-minute classes,” Hill said. “If you want to have any type of engagement with the student to find out what’s going on in real life instead of just your subject material, by the time you have any type

of classroom management or discussion, the period is over with.

You don’t have time to really get in the meat of it. Adding even 10 minutes can help do that.”

Hill also thinks classes that meet on Tuesday and Thursday will be able to do more group activities. “[The time changes] are not designed for teachers to lecture the entire hour and a half,” Hill said.

“I know the mind can only handle so much, but it would definitely help with getting more academic engagement opportunities.”

Moreover, according to the Executive Summary, the changes a l l ow fo r s t u d e n t s t o k e e p all holiday breaks, provide a standardized schedule for block classes, balance the offerings with prime time meeting patter ns, sync the meeting patterns with the Gulf Park campus, increase space utilization from 52 percent to 74 percent (using fall 2016 course offerings as a model,) and add the official scheduling of a student “Reading Day” (commonly referred to as Dead Day) prior to the start of final exams.

Prior to the proposal being approved, focus groups were held with members of the SGA Senate, who were found to be mostly in favor of the idea according to Hill.

When Assistant Professor of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Studies Katie James announced the proposal to her Sociology 101 class two weeks ago, she was met with groans. James attributed that to students not understanding the possible benefits of longer classes.

“I think they may not have realized that longer classes will lead to a shorter semester, which will benefit them in a number of ways,” James said. “I think having slightly longer classes will allow us to explore issues more deeply in class.

I also think that the shortened semester (in terms of weeks) will provide more opportunities for students to take classes during the intersession, which is an option that many of our students need so that they can balance courses with work and/or family obligations.”

T h e ex t r a t i m e g i ve n t o intersessions is meant to give students the option of taking less

classes at once. For example, a student could sign up for four intersessions (two in Fall Session 1 and two in Fall Session 2) and one regular session to have a total of 15 credit hours, the minimum amount required to be considered a full time student.

For more infor mation about the Scheduling Task Force, visit w w w. u s m . e d u / p r o v o s t / scheduling-task-force online or call the Office of the Provost at 601.266.5002.

Southern Miss student finds fame, loses phone Hiba Tahir

managing editor USM parking’s latest casualties are a $1000 iPhone X and a devastated junior biochemistry major.

“I was running a little late to class, so I decided to take my car,” Samer Beauti, a long-time fan of the Apple company, said.

The decision would haunt him.

Beauti — who had just recently obtained the newest iPhone — had trouble finding parking anywhere and eventually ended up in the parking lot outside the honors house, a far walk from his physics class.

He hurried out of his car and was near the trunk when he heard something hit the ground.

“I turned around, and my phone [was] lying face-flat,” Beauti said.

“That’s when my heart dropped.”

Despite owning many different iPhones in the past, Beauti was a stranger to the experience.

He had ordered a case, but he didn’t think he needed it.

“I’ve had all my other phones out of [their] cases for a long period of time before,” Beauti said. “I’ve never cracked

a phone. I’ve never cracked a screen.

I never thought I’d drop it because I’ve never dropped a phone before.”

The incident took place on Monday afternoon, only three days after Beauti first received the phone. To add insult to injury, Beauti received his case in the mail Tuesday.

After his phone broke, Beauti sat through his physics class and then went to the library to take a picture with his newly-shattered phone before doing what any millennial in his situation might.

“I decided I’d tell people on Twitter,” Beauti said. “I took a picture with my Macbook of myself holding my iPhone and tweeted it.”

Beauti tweeted his picture with the caption “if anyone is having a bad day, I just shattered my iPhone X if it makes u feel any better.”

The response was nearly instantaneous.

Beauti said that someone from Buzzfeed replied to his tweet, but he didn’t see it. On Tuesday, his friend messaged him a screenshot of his tweet in a new Buzzfeed article titled “People Are Spending $1,000 on a New iPhone X And Then Immediately Shattering It.”

“I started getting all these Facebook notifications,” Beauti said.

He didn’t realize at first that his picture had been used as the cover photo for the link.

“I thought I was just in the article, but they actually put me on the front page,” he said. “So whenever people shared the link, my sad face would be right there.”

Beauti’s photo ended up on Buzzfeed’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. He quickly learned the differences among various platforms.

“Facebook has a lot of angry parents,” he said. “They lectured me and asked me why I buy Apple products anyway. Twitter was more like teenagers my age giving me [their] condolences and Instagram was a mixture of both.”

Beauti was also interviewed in a radio show in Detroit, Michigan, during which he related his experience.

He said that the fame has made his unfortunate incident easier to bear, and that despite what happened, he still recommends Apple products.

“I’ve learned glass breaks,” Beauti said. “If you drop any other phone on concrete, the same thing will happen. I still think Apple is superior.”

Beauti also said that the steep price of the phone was worth it.

Courtesy Photo “People [ask] how can you spend a thousand dollars on your phone.”

Beauti said. “But for someone who really values and appreciates Apple, it’s worth it. I don’t eat out at all; I eat in the Fresh. Some people like new cars, clothes, you know.

Everyone enjoys something different.”

Beauti has learned some valuable lessons as a result of his experience.

“Just because it’s never happened

doesn’t mean it can’t happen,” he said. “Always have a case on your phone, no matter what.”

Because Beauti knows how easily he could have avoided it all, he concedes to his more negative commentators — and there are a lot of them — and many have even made him laugh.

“My iPhone X is now my iPhone Ex,” Beauti said. “Someone commented that and it made me chuckle.”

SARAH ANNE SCHLOEMER

www.studentprintz.com

Webmaster sarah.schloemer@usm.edu

KAITLYN WATKINS

KENYATTA S. ROSS

HIBA TAHIR

NATHANIEL SCHUMANN

MORGAN CLARK

KYLE WILLIAMS

ALYSSA BASS

CAMERON CUMMINS

Executive Editor kaitlyn.watkins@usm.edu Managing Editor hiba.tahir@usm.edu News Editor morgan.clark@usm.edu Entertainment Editor alyssa.bass@usm.edu

Sports Editor kyle.williams@usm.edu Printz Designer cameron.cummins@usm.edu

AMBER COBBINS

ASHLEY HOBSON

CHUCK COOK

Social Media Editor ashley.hobson@usm.edu

@studentprintz

Features Editor nathaniel.schumann@usm.edu

JHAIMEE BULLOCK

Design Editor jhaimee.bullock@usm.edu

The Student Printz

Photo Editor kenyatta.ross@usm.edu

The Center for Community Engagement is participating in the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program. Stop by their office to “adopt” a child for the holidays. Gifts are due by November 29.

Printz Designer amber.cobbins@usm.edu Printz Advisor chuck.cook@usm.edu

OPINIONS

EDITORIAL POLICY The views represented in The Student Printz’s columns and editorials do not necessarily represent those of the faculty, staff or administration of The University of Southern Mississippi. We welcome letters to the editor representing similar and contrasting opinions. To be eligible for publication, all submissions must include name, class distinction, major, phone number and email address. Submissions should be emailed to printzeditors@ gmail.com by 5 p.m. on the Friday before publication. Please limit them to 500 words or less. The Student Printz reserves the right to refuse publication or edit any material on the basis of clarity, space or journalistic ethics.

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

Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity returns to Southern Miss Kera Whiteaker printz reporter

The Delta Mu chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha plans to return to The University of Southern Mississippi and leave their former reputation behind. The IFC fraternity was removed from campus after a hazing incident that led to the death of a flamingo.

At “Meet the Pikes,” an event hosted to celebrate the return of Pi Kappa Alpha to the university and introduce the new founders, many Delta Mu alumni and Pi Kappa Alpha associates spoke about the chapter’s recolonization and return.

Ed Langton, Pike alumni and Hattiesburg local, was a featured speaker and shared his hopes of shifting the focus of the chapter from surface-level social events to core-values and principles.

“I think Delta Mu and Pi Kappa Alpha, ‘Pikes,’ are exemplary now,” Langton said. “We’re starting out fresh. We’re setting the standards.

And I will tell you there are three things that made this country great: faith, family and work ethic.”

Many noted their appreciation for the war m response of the community and student body and shared words of gratitude.

“We are, Pi Kappa Alpha, indebted to the greater Hattiesburg area community and The University of Southern Mississippi community for the opportunity to be standing here tonight and having this celebration,” Pike’s Delta Regional Advisor Tommy Walpole said.

KC Herman, a Pike consultant

Courtesy Photo who played a crucial role in the 2017 colonization of the Delta Mu chapter said they have been very selective about choosing the new members in order to build a better organization.

“If you have any preconceived notions about what Pike is or what they’re about, I’d say set them aside and meet the gentleman that are inside of the organization,” Herman said.

Zach Broom, a junior health care

marketing major, was selected to be the Delta Mu Colony President after completing an in-depth interview process.

“I really broke it down how I felt about the other fraternities on campus,” Broom said. “I told them I didn’t like how most of them functioned. I didn’t like the leadership most of them had in place.”

Despite having reservations at first, Broom said he was encouraged

by the consultants to accept the position.

“They said, ‘You’re our guy. We want you to do it,’” Broom said.

While some students, like Broom, saw it as an on-campus leadership opportunity, others hope to utilize their positions to build their resume.

Hunter Richardson, a history major and Pike’s newly appointed Sergeant at Arms, shared his plans.

“A good bit of what a Sergeant at Arms does is maintain order

within the fraternity and I’m the head of the judicial side of our organization,” Richardson said.

“I’m in charge of the judicial side, and I’m actually planning on becoming an attorney and eventually a judge for the state of Mississippi.”

The vision of the reinstated Delta Mu chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha seems clear. The active members and alumni seem confident they will succeed in building a better Pike.

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Student panel holds discussion on diversity and involvement Kayla Thiry printz reporter

M e m b e r s o f f o u r d i f f e re n t University of Southern Mississippi organizations hosted a student panel and g roup discussion Tu e s d ay n i g h t a b o u t s t u d e n t diversity and involvement. The Vice Provost of Academic Affairs, Amy Miller, led the meeting.

Miller said she hopes this panel will set a foundation for more discussion on diversity and inclusion on campus. Miller started the conversation by asking the audience what diversity and inclusion meant.

Students said diversity was when a group of people have different backgrounds, ideas and values. Those values can range from religion, race, ethnicity, gender, physical ability and more. According to the group, inclusion is when those different p e r s p e c t i ve s i n t e r a c t , c o m i n g together in a safe and engaging way.

A professor in the audience said inclusion was the effort to include and bring people on the same table.

Each student on the panel took a moment to share his or her perspective. The four students said their childhood environment was not diverse. Through Southern Miss and the organizations they have been a part of, they have welcomed and learned more about diversity, different cultures and themselves.

“It has been a huge shaping experience for me,” junior and president of Advocacy for Civility, E q u a l i t y, S a f e t y a n d S o c i a l Justice Jack Hoda said. “We have diver sity at USM, and it has shaped me to be a better me.”

“VSA is a multicultural organization and it has helped

Courtesy Photo me find myself,” Alexis Oanh Le, a senior and president of the Vietnamese Student Association said.

Imani Har ris, a junior and president of the Afro-American Student Organization, said she wants to spread more knowledge and wants to educate her friends and peers.

“There were pieces of me that I couldn’t explore because of where I grew up,” Harris said. “College and [AASO] gave me the opportunity to explore black history and America and how they come together.”

Janay Morgan, a member of the Social Work Club and a senior, said she took a class on diversity that opened her mind; she was able to understand different p e o p l e ’s v i e w s a n d m i n d s e t s.

“Getting to know people different than you opens and changes your mind,” Morgan said. “I’ve put myself in uncomfortable situations, and it’s helped me for the better.”

A student in the audience asked the panel how

they deal with prejudice.

“Deal with the individual,” Harris said. “Be direct, firm and honest. Don’t do it publicly.”

Hoda said dealing with prejudice is different based on the situation and the relationship you have with the person or group. “ I r e c o g n i z e my p r i v i l e g e, but I hear about my friends’ experiences,” Hoda said. “I feel it’s wrong not to say something.”

Oanh Le said to try not to

get personally offended because some people are unaware. “ B e a n a d vo c at e fo r wh at yo u a re re p re s e n t i n g, ” O a n h Le said. “Help make the person under stand who you are.”

Dr. Miller said the student panel talked about how much the school impacts their lives and helped them g row to be more diverse and inclusive. She asked what the university could do to improve the community as a whole.

Bicentennial photo gallery celebrates Hattiesburg Amelia Strahan printz reporter

Hattiesburg unveiled the Downtown Photo Gallery celebrating Mississippi’s Bicentennial on Nov. 9 to honor stories told by Hattiesburg locals.

Storefronts lining the streets of Downtown Hattiesburg feature photos taken by leaders in the Hattiesburg community. Each of the 8 Hattiesburg community leaders’ photos featured in the gallery captured an element of authenticity in their photos that is representative of Hattiesburg.

Blue Magnolia Films in conjunction with Robert St. John, Hattiesburg Arts Council, Visit Hattiesburg, Downtown Hattiesburg and The City of Hattiesburg collaborated to create the gallery as part of the Mississippi Bicentennial.

“We have a walking history lesson that is about to be unveiled in Downtown Hattiesburg, and of course we want to share our story with the many visitors that walk the streets of Hattiesburg as well,” HHDA Executive Director Andrea Saffle said. “This collection ties into the statewide initiative of the Mississippi Bicentennial.”

Participants in the gallery include: local restaurant owner Robert St. John, Executive Director of the Hattiesburg Arts Council Rebekah Stark Johnson, Musician Carey Hudson, Founder of Hattiesburg Clinic Dr. Richard H. Clark, Managing Editor of The Student Printz Hiba Tahir, Hattiesburlesque songstress Abigail Lenz Allen, Historian David S. Price, and U.S. Army Veteran and Hub Award Recipient Charles Brown.

Chuck Cook, Printz adviser Each of the photographs in the gallery tell one of the many stories that makes up the character of Hattiesburg.

Tahir is the current managing editor of the newspaper at The University of Southern Mississippi, and she was chosen to tell her story through her photos in the gallery. Window storefronts feature a photo story by Tahir which captures the writing of her novel.

“I’ve been working on a novel…

about a hijabi who writes popular anonymous stories and then has to deal with the fallout when they begin to come true in her small suburban hometown,” Tahir said in her photo essay video.

“For Hattiesburg [the photos] represent the diversity and tolerance and love and acceptance that you will find in this town.” Allen said.

“You would think when you come to the Deep South you might find less

tolerance and acceptance and comfort between different races, and religions, and all that. But it is a very warm and inviting place that accepts people for who they are here in Hattiesburg and that’s an incredible thing.”

For 9 months, storytelling workshops were held across the state to encourage communities to take part in the project.

“That creative can-do progressive and respectable perspective is captured

with the narratives and character with our own set of story tellers in this city,” Barker said. “When you think of the good that permeates from Hattiesburg, these are all from the folks who have sowed the seeds of prosperity and quality of life.”

The Celebrating Mississippi’s Bicentennial Downtown Photo Gallery will be posted from November through the end of January.

Chateau program offers life-changing experience Sierra Wood printz reporter

This past spring, I was fortunate enough to be able to be study abroad through the Chateau Program. The University of Southern Mississippi’s Chateau Program is a semesterlong program that sends students to be taught by USM professors in France for nearly three months.

The first week of the program is spent in Paris learning from professors in places like the Louvre, the Pantheon and various cities. After a week in Paris, our group travelled by train to Strasbourg where we arrived at the chateau that we spent the next two months living in.

While over there, we took around 15 credit hours of classes and could spend any of our free time exploring Europe. On the weekends, if we weren’t travelling for a field trip then we were free to travel wherever we wanted.

As a group, we all bonded through our shared experiences and memories.

Many of us travelled together on our free weekends to places like Amsterdam and Germany. Some of the people I met by studying abroad, I hope to still call friends years from now.

Every day while studying abroad was a new and exciting adventure. Travelling by public transportation into the city, walking to the grocery store, going out to eat and ordering in another language, all were things we went through almost every day and each was something that we learned from. Because of this, we were no longer just learning in

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the classroom, but through the world.

By studying abroad, I learned so much about the world and about myself that I could have never even imagined. I learned another language and about a foreign culture both inside the classroom and through experience. I made so many amazing memories while study abroad.

While abroad, we were taught by some amazing USM professors that we all owe our gratitude to for being there on our many field trips and travels and giving us lessons that will last us a lifetime.

The person our group owes the biggest thanks to is Madame Rowland for being such an incredible director of the program and for so generously dedicating herself to every student she teaches and travels with.

“Even if you don’t go on the Chateau program, don’t graduate from college without studying abroad,” Keltoum Rowland, French Professor and director of the Chateau Program said.

Rowland explained that after college the opportunity to study abroad will no longer be so readily available and many countries, especially in Europe, offer transportation and travelling discounts for students under the age of 26.

The Chateau Program is only one of the many study abroad programs that USM offers. The Office of Study Abroad, located in the International Center, has Study Abroad Coordinators that can discuss your options with you academically and financially. Don’t miss the opportunity to study abroad.

Sigma Phi Epsilon spices things up with Chili Cook-off Crystal Tolible printz reporter

USM’s Sigma Phi Epsilon held their 12th annual Chili Cook-off at The Pete Taylor stadium. All proceeds from the cook off benefit Hattiesburg’s own Extra Table and The USM Eagle’s Nest. For five dollars, chili-goers were able to get a wristband which gave them all access to chili, hot dogs and drinks.

Each participant submits their chili which is judged by a panel of four that scored on overall flavor, consistency and recipe. Sororities such as Delta Delta Delta, Chi Omega and Phi Mu submitted their own chili recipes in hopes to come out on top. The event contained live music, dancing, cooking and fun. The fraternity also showed a live feed of the Southern Miss Eagles playing in Houston, so that Eagle fans would not miss out. A raffle was also held where the community could win various prizes such as a Yeti Rambler b o t t l e, a p e r s o n a l i ze d B re t t Favre signed football and more.

Wi l l Wa l k e r, t h e re i g n i n g champion, is the,proud owner of the Manmeat Cave. He retur ned for a chance to claim victor y once more.

“We like to make our Chili with simple ingredients, nothing too complicated or crazy,” Walker said. “We love it. Even if we don’t win this year, we were still able to come and help out; which is what is really important in the end.”

Sigma Phi Epsilon is not new to philanthropic efforts. Last year the fraternity teamed up with Chi Omega to help raise $80,000 for the American Heart Association.

Members of the fraternity are also avid volunteers in the Hattiesburg

Courtesy Photo

community. During the tornado that tore through Hattiesburg, Sigma Phi Epsilon members joined together in efforts to help

clean up the destruction it caused.

Souther n Miss Alumni Tyler Akins took home the grand title of Chili Cook-off master and will

return next year to defend title. “I would like to thank roommate for waking up with and cutting onions at 2 a.m.

his my me We

didn’t expect to win. We just came because we felt that we were doing something good by giving back.

So it all worked out in the end.”

Freshman stressed about hectic Hattiesburg traffic Lanie Leach printz reporter

There’s no place like home especially when it comes to driving comfortably without any stress.

That’s one of the biggest benefits of living in a semi-small town, no super busy roads that make you want to pull your hair out and scream your head off and headbutt the horn in disgust. Sadly, every single one of those things is exactly what I want to do while driving through Hattiesburg.

Let’s face it - Hardy Street is basically a gift from the Devil.

Constantly jam-packed with traffic and people who really can’t drive, Hardy Street is a screaming asphalt death trap. With all of the places of business and restaurants how could there not be an overwhelming amount of traffic 24/7? The thing is though, people not understanding the traffic signs is what gets me the most - especially at traffic lights.

Here’s a quick lesson for everyone: Green means go. Yellow means slow, and red means stop - not keep going! When I say that I have almost died everytime I drive down Hardy Street, I’m kind of over-exaggerating, but at the same time I’m being totally serious.

Another road from the depths of Hell would have to be HWY 49. This past week I traveled up and down 49 four times, and each time at least one

Courtesy Photo person didn’t know how to use their blinkers. News flash people: Blinkers are free to use and come equipped in all cars, trucks and SUVs! They allow the people around you to know which lane you’re going to change into so they can either speed up or slow down to allow you to move lanes safely. Also, randomly putting on the brakes on a highway really is the exact opposite of safe. Like come on little car, why are you stopping in

the middle of the road? No one is in front of you! If you’ve ever gone north on HWY 49 from Hattiesburg or south from Jackson, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Pedestrian traffic is another problem in the Burg, for instance: walking to CP North from campus.

We’ve all had some near death experiences here. Personally, I was almost hit by a Toyota Tacoma on that little cross walk. So, I stopped,

turned to look at the driver for a few seconds, and then kept walking.

Also, some pedestrians have trouble understanding where crosswalks are. Of course I’m going to yield to a pedestrian wherever they are, but can you at least use a crosswalk instead of just jay-walking in the middle of the road? That right there is very dangerous people.

Basically, everyone in Hattiesburg really just needs to take a course

in traffic and driving safety. People need to learn how to properly yield, drive the speed limit, avoid running over pedestrians, use crosswalks and know where they are, use their blinkers, and know what each stoplight color means. These are basic safety principles people so we can all drive and walk safely. Oh, and don’t forget: click it or ticket!

Black Friday Survival Tips Carlton McGrone printz reporter

It’s that wonderful time of year, once again. Hot chocolate is now a necessity; sweaters are being unpacked from their months of storage; and announcements for the “best” Black Friday deals have begun to surface. Don’t go into that flurry of chaos unprepared. Here are some tips to make sure you survive this joyous holiday tradition.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

Don’t be an amateur Black Friday shopper. A few days before Friday, research the locations that will actually have the best deals that you’re looking for. Also, have a set goal in mind for what you plan on purchasing, which will help you map out what locations will be worth your time and effort. Technology-focused sites such as “The Verge” and fashion-centered site “Racked” give updates as stores announce upcoming deals and interesting articles about Black Friday.

SET YOUR ALARM(S):

Unless you plan on going to midnight sales, brew some coffee and prepare your multiple alarms so that you’ll have plenty of time to secure a spot in line well before the doors open. Droves of people will surely be after the popular items, so get the advantage and be one of the first ones at the door. It wouldn’t hurt to bring a tent and sleeping bags to make the wait extra cozy.

AT LEAST TRY TO BE COURTEOUS: We all know that Black Friday has become an every-man-for-himself, maddash for the electronics, but it shouldn’t be an excuse to act without regard to others. While you may be searching for a $10 Amazon Alexa, take into consideration the grandmothers and uncles that just want a cheap video game that their grandchildren and nieces have been begging for.

ORDER THINGS ONLINE:

It’s 2017. Take advantage of the arguably better online sales and rejoice in the fact that you avoided the sheer amount of stampedes that will inevitably be reported about come Saturday. If Black Friday is too much or you forget to do your shopping online, you don’t have to worry. Cyber Monday is the following Monday for those that would rather stay in.

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Character devlopment makes Stranger Things Season Two shine Lanie Leach printz reporter

Stranger Things Season Two did everything but disappoint. It excited, it saddened, and it immersed you into the town of Hawkins, Indiana as if you were one of the town’s inhabitants.

Season 2 left viewers starving for more after the season ended with an ominous cliff hanger lingering in the background of the Upside Down’s version of Hawkins Middle School. Something’s coming… but what? I guess we’ll just find out in the confirmed season 3. While we wait ever so impatiently, let’s recap of what happened in the latest installment of Stranger Things.

Season Two comes in about a year after the first season ended. In the first episode we are introduced to the new kid on the block - Mad Max. Maxine Mayfield and her family moved from California to Hawkins after her mom and step dad got married and to get away from Max’s dad. Step-brother and new high school hot-shot. Billy

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Hargrove proves to be a miserable kid whose dad is semi-abusive. Billy takes all of his anger out on Max- thus the name Mad Max. Lucas and Dustin commence to fight for Max’s “love” by stalking her throughout school and the arcade. Mike, on the other hand, can’t stand the thought of another girl possibly taking the place of his beloved El. Joyce Byers also has a new love interest - Bob Newby. When we first meet Bob, he is your average guy.

There didn’t seem to be anything special about him. Honestly he was my least favorite for the longest timehe just seemed like a goober.

While Dustin and Lucas are busy fighting over Max, and Joyce is head over heels for Bob, Will is fighting something much bigger. After seeing Doctor Owens (the new head of Hawkins Laboratory) every so often, he is misdiagnosed with PTSD for his time spent in the Upside Down.

Will was having moments where he would return to the Upside Down (unintentionally of course) and he couldn’t get out without the help of

someone noticing something was wrong. Will was encountering “The Shadow Monster.” During one of his episodes, Will was being chased by the Shadow Monster and, thanks to average Bob, when Will tried to tell the monster to “Go away” the monster went inside of Will - much like a parasite.

The show is then centered around understanding what exactly is inside of Will, and how to get it out. Thanks to Bob’s bravery, Joyce’s love, and Eleven’s powers Will is saved… for now.

In my opinion, the character development in this season was what made it far better than the first, or honestly any other season of television in general. By the end of the season, I was almost in tears, and that can only come as a result of the exquisite character development by the Duffer brothers. Each character was, in some way or another, relatable, and it feels like I know them so well after knowing what all they’ve been through. I could not be more excited to see where this saga heads next.

Taylor Swift owns her bad “Reputation” Alysa Bass

entertainment editor Ugh, Taylor. Look what you made us do: Buy your new album “Reputation” rather than stream it on the day of its release. In fact, according to your Twitter stans, I hear that we will not have the option of streaming the album for at least one week.

A great business move for you, sure, but was the album actually worth the $13.99 charged to my mother’s iTunes account? Eh. I’m not sure.

Prior to Taylor Swift’s retur n to her Instag ram account three months ago, where she fully embraced the snake title given to her by Kim Kardashian West, Swift had fallen off of the face of the earth. For about a year, Swift disappeared from the public eye. The paparazzi couldn’t keep track of her. She deleted all of her social media posts.

She was even rumored to be travelling inside of suitcases!

And so, the parties celebrating her demise commenced.

Unbeknownst to us, she was spending that year painting (as those rediscovering themselves often do), travelling with her English boyfriend Joe Alwyn, and writing songs about the very narrative she “never asked to be a part of.” What resulted was an album centering around fame, finding herself and of course, her new love interest Joe. Prematurely judging the

Courtesy Photo album by the first two singles, “Look What You Made Me Do” (LWYMMD) and “...Ready for It? ,” one would believe that Swift’s album is full of petty bops, promising to unleash her wrath on Kanye West and the rest of her

haters. And that’s partially true.

The first half of the 15 track album is the better half. “...

Ready For It?”, “End Game” and “I Did Something Bad” make the listener feel like the old Taylor can’t come to the phone (or sound

booth) because she really is dead.

We’re meant to believe that new Taylor is an intense and spiteful badass who can curse and rap alongside Ed Sheeran and Future as heard in “End Game,” the only song with featured artists on

the album. Shockingly, the song is not as awkward with the trio as one might guess.

In “End Game,” I can’t tell if Swift is mocking the nosy media or if she is really concer ned about the inevitable increase in attention that comes with a new lover, but I like it.

The lines “Big reputation, big re putation/Ooh, you and me would be a big conversation,” show Swift’s reservations and awareness about stepping into a new relationship, but as we all know, she ends up disregarding that in the end, which one can also tell from later songs.

My favorite song on the album “I Did Something Bad,” where gun shots can be heard sporadically throughout as Swift sings about how she has been the player in all of her relationships. This song is for the girl who is bouncing back from a bad relationship who wants to play the field (with liars, narcissists and playboys in Swift’s case) with the understanding that “you gotta leave before you get left.” Take notes, ladies.

After that, the album gets pretty boring, especially a second and third time. Instead of keeping the momentum that the first three songs achieved, the album begins to slow down with “Don’t Blame Me” and “Delicate” where she raves about how enamored she is with her latest crush.

They’re the predictable, catchy love songs we expect of Swift.

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Stricter gun laws could have prevented Texas church shooting Will Veazy

printz reporter On November 5th, 2017 a deranged man with “a lot of demons” by the account of his ex wife, walked into First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, and murdered twenty six people in cold blood during a contemporary Sunday service. The perpetrator was a man by the name of Devin Patrick Kelley. Kelley was twenty six years old, and this was not his first crime to commit. In 2012, Kelley was found guilty of domestic violence in a court-martial. He should never have been able to purchase a firearm because those who commit violent crimes are banned from owning one. However, the Air Force failed to report his conviction to the FBI Crime Information Database, which would’ve made it impossible for Kelley to acquire a firearm. The Air Force has since launched an investigative review into how these crimes are reported to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.

Kelley also had a history of Mental Health issues. In June 2012, before his domestic abuse conviction, he escaped from Peak Behavioral Health Services and ordered weapons and tactical gear to a P.O box in San Antonio.

According to Tessa Brennaman, his ex wife, he once threatened her life after she got a speeding ticket. He pointed a gun at her and told her that he would kill her whole family and her. This was not an isolated instance of abuse. Tessa said that she lived in “constant fear” of Devin, and that he was constantly abusing her and the whole family.

On the day of the shooting, Devin

loaded his AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, grabbed many extra magazines, put on a tactical vest and mask with a skull on it, and made his way to the church. Upon arriving at the church, Devin parked at a little gas station across the street. As soon as he exited the vehicle he began firing at the church while walking towards it. Once Devin walked in the door, he yelled “everybody dies motherfuckers” and began walking down the aisle, systematically shooting everyone in the pews. He had no discrepancy about who he was shooting- an 18 month old baby was shot and killed. When he left the church he was attacked by a local resident who was taking cover close by. The resident managed to hit Kelley twice in the gut. Kelley dropped his rifle and continued to run back to his vehicle. A high speed chase would ensue in the coming minutes, driving over ninety five miles per hour. Kelley called his father to tell him that he loved him and that he thought he wouldn’t survive. While on the phone, he lost control of the vehicle, hitting a road sign and flipping over into a ditch. when the police approached the driver’s side window, the immediately noticed that he was completely motionless, with many gunshot wounds including a self inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Twenty six people were shot to death as twenty more were injured on his rampage, which makes this instance the deadliest single mass shooting in Texas ever. Two pregnant women, children, and many others are now dead for absolutely no reason. It’s unfair that these lives have been destroyed by a man who should’ve never been allowed to own a gun in the first place.

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Disney’s move to ban press was immature, unprofessional Lanie Leach printz reporter

After the Los Angeles Times ran two stories on Walt Disney Co.’s business ties with the city of Anaheim, Califor nia in September of 2017, Disney revoked the newspaper from accessing all press screenings, the ABC press site, and other media events concerning Disney.

The articles talk about how the city of Anaheim paid for Disneyland’s huge parking garage and how the money generated f ro m t h e p a rk i n g g a r a g e i s going to Walt Disney Co. and the city of Anaheim as well as how an election changed the relationship between Anaheim and Disneyland. Disney thought this series of articles was “unfair,” creating the ban of the LA Times.

What kind of professionalism is Disney portraying here? To me, it sounds more like a little kid getting his feelings hurt by someone and then disinviting them to their birthday party.

I n re ta l i ati o n o f D is n ey ’s ban, several other media outlets d e c i d e d t o b oyc o t t D i s n ey screenings; in fact, four major critics’ organizations voted to disqualify Disney’s films from year-end awards unless they lifted the ban on the LA Times.

O n c e D i s n ey r e a l i z e d t h i s (literally that same day), they ultimately made the decision to revoke the ban on the LA Times. Nice save there Disney.

After consulting with the LA Times, Disney announced that,

“regarding our specific concerns … as a result, we’ve ag reed to restore access to advance screenings for their film critics.”

The thing that’s especially strange is that there was no other word about the LA Times series on Disney and Anaheim… So did Disney just forget why they banned the LA Times? Or was there something more going on?

Or did Disney just feel bullied?

T h i s i s n o t t h e t i m e fo r c o r p o r at i o n s t o b e b a n n i n g journalists. As it is, journalists are mostly just berated all over the place for fake news - even if it isn’t. Journalists are good people, and that was definitely shown when the New York Times and the A.V. Club (just to name a couple) decided to boycott any advance screenings of Disney films. Those jour nalists were standing up for the basic rights all journalists are supposed to have.

Alyssa Rosenburg, critic from the Washington Post, added her two cents in on the subject by saying, “As long as Disney is blocking the critics from the Los Angeles Times from press screenings, I c a n’t i n g o o d c o n s c i e n c e attend similar showings or write reviews in advance,” she wrote, adding: “I like a lot of movies that come out of the Disney cor porate behemoth … but I like jour nalistic independence from corporate influence more.”

Honestly the press ban was just a pure act of wanting revenge. It was an act of pure childish vengeance. The thing is though, what the LA Times did was nothing wrong. It was an

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investigative piece on how Disney and Anaheim have extremely close business ties. There must be something else going on

for Disney to have reacted the way they did, but then again maybe there isn’t. Hopefully, the most magical place on

earth can grow up a little and be able to take articles written about them with more maturity, i n s t e a d o f t h ro w i n g a f i t .

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Softball focuses on hitting in the fall season Andrew Abadie printz reporter

In 2015, the Golden Eagles won the C-USA West and made it the semifinals of the conference tournament. However, last season the Golden Eagles stumbled and took some steps back as they missed post season play with a 27-26 record.

Southern Miss hosted the conference tournament but missed it becoming third host team in C-USA history to miss the conference tournament.

The Golden Eagles now look to replace eight players the biggest two for the offense were sluggers Lauren Holliefield and Tori Dew, now a student assistant.

Holliefield led the team last season in all hitting categories with 36 runs batted in, .337 batting average and nine homeruns. Dew was fourth on the team with a .277 batting average, was second the team with 27 RBIs, led the team 43 hits, and 12 doubles.

As a whole, the team had a batting average of .261; the average NCAA qualifier had a batting average of .292.

Now looking to get back on track, they will try to focus on not only qualifying for the conference tournament, but also the NCAA tournament as well, which has not been done since 2004.

This year the team will see a change of faces, including in the coaching staff. The hiring of hitting coach Carlos Castro and his brother, volunteer assistant, Christian Castro should boost the team’s hitting.

The duo came from Jones County Junior College’s softball team where their .388 team batting average led to a 55-4 record last season. The change in hitting coaches has naturally changed the team’s plan of hitting as they are switching to a more guerilla ball style rather than the slap hits they used last season.

Kyle Williams, Printz Selena Estrada slides into second base on April 29 at the Southern Miss softball complex.

This year the team will have seven new freshmen and one transfer as each will play important roles on the team. The team beat every team they faced in the fall season with the exception of Mississippi State. In that doubleheader matchup, the team lost 7-0 but battled back in the 4-3 loss.

The incoming freshman class shows much promise. Freshmen Rebekah DiLavore, Alyssa “Tata” Davis, Destini Brown and Kaley Fruge will look to make the biggest impacts on the team, specifically offensively. Compared to

the spring, the offensive potency looks much more consistent and strong.

DiLavore looks to currently be the starting third baseman and brings a strong consistent bat. In the fall doubleheader against Jones Junior College and East Central Community College, she put up three doubles and did not miss a beat at third base.

Davis, although not currently the starting shortstop, has the makings to be a major impact player on the team because of her variety of skills. Davis boasts a very strong arm and shows that she has

big play ability. In addition, her bat may be just as dynamic as her style of play.

Brown looks to be the next big slugger for the Golden Eagles. While she may be just a utility player in the field, she has home run ability on any given pitch.

Fruge will look to switch between right field and utility play and her bat shows the ability in having both consistency and power.

Overall, the freshmen all show high softball IQs that most young players need to learn over several seasons. Whether they are just a good crop of players or

have benefitted from strong coaching, they will be crucial for the season and in helping the program go forward.

“It’s been a lot of fun anytime you have that much youth,” said Head Coach Wendy Hogue. “They are all so very talented and they all bring something different. A lot of those kids are utility players that can do some different things. They are bringing in energy, an energy that has just renewed the fire on the team.”

Southern Miss bowl eligible with win over Rice, 43-34 Chris Moran printz reporter

The return of Kwadra Griggs under center, along with Ito Smith’s 150 yards on the ground and two touchdowns, led the way for the Golden Eagles as they defeated Rice 43-34, handing the Owls their eighth straight loss.

Griggs totaled 331 yards through the air and tied his career high with three touchdowns. Griggs’ patience showed in the pocket, helping Southern Miss score on all eight of its offensive possessions.

Junior Korey Roberson lead the way in receiving with a career-high 157 yards on eight catches and two touchdowns, one of which a 47-yarder that saw Robertson make three defenders miss to make his way to the end zone. Freshman Tim Jones added 56 yards receiving on two catches and the first score of his career on a 51-yard reception midway through the first quarter.

Another Golden Eagle with a Career-high on the day was Parker Shaunfield, who drilled a 51-yard field goal as time expired in the first half, pushing the lead to 2214. He now has made his last 12 attempts and went 3-3 on the day.

Rice was very much in the game, especially in the second half. Running Back Nahshon Ellerbe totaled four touchdowns and 153 yards on the ground

to keep the Owls’ hopes alive.

Fo r eve r y O w l t o u ch d ow n , the Golden Eagles answered, never relinquishing the lead.

Ito Smith eclipsed 4,000 yards on the ground for his career, making him the 10th running back in FBS history with 4,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving. His 150-yard total also gave him his 21st career game with at least 100 yards on the ground.

Although the Southern Miss defensive front sacked Milko Smalls four times, penalties and 254 yards allowed on the ground are what kept Rice in the game. The Golden Eagles totaled 10 penalties for 86 yards on the day, three of which came on the same Rice drive, resulting in a touchdown for the Owls. Draper Riley was ejected for throwing a punch on that drive, as the defense showed some frustration in the second half.

The 34 points were a season high for the Owls. Ito Smith’s rushing score with 2:55 left in the game put it away for the Golden Eagles, who then did not allow an answer.

The win snaps a two-game losing streak and makes Southern Miss Bowl-Eligible for the thirdstraight season, the second in a row under Head Coach Jay Hopson. Now sitting at 6-4 (42, Conference USA) on the year, the Golden Eagles return to the Rock for Senior Day to face UNCCharlotte this weekend at 2pm.

Kenyatta S. Ross, Printz The Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles are now bowl eligible!