Issuu

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Volume 99 Issue 37

www.studentprintz.com PAGE THREE

PAGE SIX

NEWS UNC

Three Muslim students found dead in home.

PAGE ELEVEN

PAGE NINE

F E AT U R E

OPINION

S P O RT S

Students prepare for sold-out show.

Anti-vaccination proponents plague America.

Eagles gear up for Murray State, new season.

Hattiesburlesque

Measles

Baseball

Students reﬂect on retiring VP’s legacy, commitment to USM Wilton Jackson Printz Reporter

Every year, incoming freshmen and transfer students enter The University of Southern Mississippi with many thoughts and feelings. Some enter the golden doors of Bennett Auditorium for orientation feeling excited, nervous, overwhelmed but more importantly, the love of the Golden Eagle family. With student leaders screaming chants such as “all of the love in my heart, it goes to Southern Mississippi” or “ Southern Miss to the Top,” incoming students get the ﬁrst dose of Golden Eagle fever. Beyond this, Joe Paul, a pioneer for the growth and development of Southern Miss and the current vice president for student affairs, leads all incoming students in a duty to “leave Southern Miss better than you found it.” According to Paul, the coined phrase “leave it better than you found it” started roughly 20 years ago during new student orientations, beginning a proud tradition of encouraging young students to be active and involved in the campus and Hattiesburg community. “With the statement, I challenged students to begin with the end in mind,” Paul said. “I wanted them to think of ways while they were here to make this university a better place.” Serving 39 years at the university and 21 years as vice president for student affairs, Paul believes he has witnessed some of the best and brightest students during his tenure. “I’ve always said at Southern Miss, we have students who come from very ordinary backgrounds who go on to do very extraordinary things,” Paul said. “It is my hope that I played in encouraging students to dream bigger and reach farther.” Paul, who announced his retirement on Feb. 6, has a rich legacy for helping students, building student leaders for the world beyond and improving the overall student life of Southern Miss. Paul said there are multiple memories that highlight his time at Southern Miss. “The quality relationships built over the years with students, especially student leaders, is

Susan Broadbridge/Printz

Joe Paul, vice president for student affairs.

He taught me the true meaning of Southern Miss spirit.

-Kayla Patak, senior advertising major something that I will cherish,” Paul said. “These relationships have led to lifelong friendships.” Paul, who is also an avid Southern Miss sports fan, shared his proud sports memories in which athletics plays an important role in taking USM to the top.

“Watching USM defeat Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant and the Crimson Tide was huge and my all-time favorite (memory) was when the Golden Eagle baseball team competed in the NCAA College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska,” he said. While his last ofﬁcial day will

be June 30, students share their reﬂections, memories and Paul’s impact on them. “He taught me the true meaning of Southern Miss spirit,” said Kayla Patak, a senior advertising major. “Seeing an administrator care so much about his students shows he puts his heart and

He is the epitome of what it means to be a Golden Eagle, a friendly face and a constant support, qualities all leaders should possess. -Sarah Beth Selph, junior communications studies major

soul into this university.” Don Holmes, a May 2014 Honors College graduate and former attorney general of the Student Government Association, said Paul told him to believe in his abilities to be successful. “He was one of the first people to tell me that I could one day return to USM and thrive,” Holmes said. “I worked hard to leave Southern Miss better than I found it, but it was Joe Paul who left USM better by instilling pride, honor and service into every student that he came in contact with.” Paul has impacted many students in various ways, but for some students, it is his knack for good leadership they will cherish the most. “He is a true definition of leadership,” said Sarah Beth Selph, a junior communication studies major. “He is the epitome of what it means to be a Golden Eagle, a friendly face and a constant support, qualities all leaders should possess.” Shawn Gatlin, another former student leader and Southern Style 2011 orientation team leader, said he did not realize how big an influence Paul was to him until he began making a difference for others on campus. “I found myself in my junior year following these steps at making Southern Miss better than I, Shawn Gatlin, found it,” Gatlin said. “Serving in Southern Style and AASO president, I discovered the abilities to help those that were coming in after me and it was then I knew that I had truly made my difference.” Kacey Breaux, a junior nursing major, said she will truly miss Paul’s charm and dedication to the university. “From the moment I watched Southern Style members stroll into my freshman orientation to witnessing him say how well I competed in the Miss USM pageant this past year, I truly respected him as an administrator,” Breaux said. While retirement ends one phase of life to transition into another, Paul hopes his legacy will be forever seen throughout the “verdant trees and shelt’ring walls.” “My experience at Southern Miss has been joyful, exciting, fun, deeply rewarding and the ride goes on,” Paul said.

INFORMATION

Page 2 | Thursday, February 12, 2015

MEET THE STAFF OF SPRING 2015

EDITORS & STAFF Kathryn Miller

Alan Rawls

Crystal Garner

Mary Sergeant

kathryn.miller@eagles.usm.edu

gregory.rawls@eagles.usm.edu

crystal.garner@eagles.usm.edu

mary.sergeant@eagles.usm.edu

Executive Editor

Joshua Campbell Sports Editor

joshua.campbell@eagles.usm.edu

Yolanda Cruz Copy Editor

yolanda.cruz@eagles.usm.edu

Managing Editor

Multimedia Editor

Parker Brewer

Cody Bass

parker.brewer@eagles.usm.edu

cody.bass@eagles.usm.edu

Design Editor

Social Media Editor

Julie Gore

Hayley Howard

Nikki Smith

hayley.howard@eagles.usm.edu

ashly.smith@eagles.usm.edu

Web Editor

Susan Broadbridge Kara Davidson

Graphic Designer

Chuck Cook

Katherine Frye

chuck.cook@usm.edu

katherine.frye@eagles.usm.edu

Lesley Sanders-Wood Advertising e-mail Advertising Manager printzad@usm.edu

Printz Adviser

Ad Designer

julia.gore@eagles.usm.edu

News Editor

Photo Editor

Assistant Photo Editor

susan.braodbridge@eagles.usm.edu kara.davidson@eagles.usm.edu

lesley.sanders@usm.edu

@studentprintz

The Student Printz

@studentprintz

HAPPY Dirty Birds VALENTINES DAY & MARDI GRAS BREAK • On Monday, Feb. 9, petit larceny was reported in the Walker Science Building at 4:12 p.m. The case remains open. • On Monday, Feb. 9, harassment was reported in Vann Hall at 9:23 p.m. The case remains open.

Police Contact Information

When reporting, the following information should be provided:

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. Friday. 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

• Nature of the crime or emergency • Name, address and phone number of the caller • Location of incident • Description of the scene and suspects • Description of any vehicles involved, especially license

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.

plate numbers University Police 911 (emergency) 601.266.4986 (nonemergency) Bond Hall, First Floor West

NEWS

Thursday, February 12, 2015 | Page 3

NATIONAL

Three Muslim students dead at UNC Kathryn Miller Executive Editor

Three students from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill were shot dead Tuesday evening by 46-year-old neighbor Craig Stephen Hicks.

Newlywed couple Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23, and Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, 21, and Abu-Salha’s sister, Razan Mohammad, 19, were the three victims involved in the shooting. Hicks was charged with three counts of ﬁrst-degree murder

and he appeared in court Wednesday morning. According to the New York Times, local police and university officials said the incident occurred around 5 p.m. Tuesday when five to 10 shots had been fired at a quiet condominium complex near

the university. The victims were pronounced dead at the scene. Ofﬁcials said parking disputes among neighbors possibly motivated Hicks to kill the three students. However, Al Jazeera reported that many family members think the shootings are seen as a “hate crime”

Courtesy Photo

Left to Right: Deah Shaddy Barakat, Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha and Razan Mohammad

and a civil rights group has called for an investigation. “We understand the concerns about the possibility that this was hate-motivated, and we will exhaust every lead to determine if that is the case,” Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue said, according to Al Jazeera. In recent New York Times video featuring Hicks’ wife, Karen, she talked about how her husband was an advocate for individuals’ rights on his active Facebook page. On the page, he also indicated support for groups such as Freedom from Religion Foundation and Atheists for Equality. As of now, it is unclear what Hicks’ motive was. Director of Muslim affairs at Duke University Abdullah Antepli issued a statement that said for people not to jump to conclusions over Hicks’ motive, according to Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera America’s The Stream writer Wajahat Ali knew the family of one of the victims and described them as Muslim-American success stories. He said the students were three bright young stars not only in the Muslim community, but also in America. According to Barakat’s Facebook page, he used his dental skills for charitable work and he planned to travel to Turkey this summer and provide dental care to refugees in Syria.

INTERNATIONAL

USM launches ‘Panama Bilingue’ initiative Noé Cugny Printz Reporter

The University of Southern Mississippi launched a partnership with the Republic of Panama with an initiative known as “Panama Bilingue,” a project implemented by Panamanian president Juan Carlos Varela to ensure his citizens are bilingual in Spanish and English. In early January, Southern Miss welcomed 50 Panamanian educators to campus. Half of the group, pre-service elementary school teachers, now study English at Southern Miss’ English Language Institute. The other half, ESL teachers, will be on campus until March 6. These teachers are taking classes on teaching a second language methods and applied linguistics in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. “This is important for Southern Miss and Hattiesburg as well, as it will bring diversity and different cultures,” said Chrisopher Miles, associate professor and chairman of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. “These people are here really embracing American culture and we should be embracing and eager to learn

Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela

about them as well.” Hector Mendoza has taught English in Panama for 10 years. He arrived at Southern Miss in January and is following courses

Courtesy Photo

such as English Methodology, American Culture and Accent Reduction Therapy. “It’s been nice, but I would like to ﬁnd more people to practice

the language,” Mendoza said. “Because I’m here to improve my language, and sometimes it’s difﬁcult. Sometimes we feel shy to talk to people because

we don’t know their reactions at the moment.” Though he would like to have more occasions to practice his speaking, Mendoza improves his listening, reading and writing daily. Outside of classes, he works at the Joseph Cook Library, enjoys reading the American newspapers and watching the news on television. Varela pledged to send 1,000 Panamanians per year for the next ﬁve years to study English and second language teaching methods. Institutions of higher learning across the English-speaking world are hosting pre-service elementary teachers and teachers of English as a Second Language from the Latin American nation. According to Panamanian Embassy, the Ministry of Education and the government of the Republic of Panama seeks to train at least 2,000 teachers per year in bilingual education and prepare 20,000 high school students and 30,000 elementary students with this initiative. “Mississippi is one of the Republic of Panama’s most important trading partners,” said Steven Moser, dean of the College of Arts and Letters. “It’s an honor to be working with the government of Panama in such an important endeavor.”

NEWS

Page 4 | Thursday, February 12, 2015

NATIONAL

Harvard bans professor-student romances Karyn Lewis Printz Reporter

Harvard University’s new policy prohibiting sexual relationships between undergraduates and professors has stirred controversy among college campuses throughout the nation. Harvard University, along with Yale University, the University of Connecticut, Arizona State University and other schools, have banned sex and romantic relationships between professors and undergraduates, graduate students and professors who work together, and undergraduates and graduate students who evaluate their grades in some form. The Guardian reported Alison Johnson, the professor who chairs the committee on sexual misconduct at Harvard, said, “Undergraduates come to college to learn from us. We’re not here to have sexual or romantic relationships with them.” The University of Southern Mississippi students have conﬂicting opinions regarding the matter. Vinson McMurtery, a junior percussion music education major who is currently in a relationship with a graduate student within

his ﬁeld of study, said, “I feel that student-teacher non-professional relationships aren’t necessarily a bad thing. I think that society shines a negative light on it because of the way media portrays it and because of the sparse incidents on the news.” “When handled with maturity, especially at the collegiate level, student-teacher relationships, whether just friendly or beyond

that, can be beneﬁcial to the growth and social development of both the student and teacher,” McMurtery said. Brisha Rushing, a junior fashion merchandising major, has a different perspective. “I feel that there is nothing wrong with Harvard’s ban on sex between students and teachers. I believe that it is a good thing, actually,” she said. “I don’t think

that it’s OK for students and teachers to have non-professional relationships. Teachers and students should not be allowed to be friends. There should be occasional jokes and laughter, but I believe that the relationship should not gravitate out of the classroom. Students should feel comfortable enough around a teacher to talk to them about issues related only to class.”

COurtesy Photo

Rushing also feels that unprofessional student-teacher relationships could cause conflict with other students. “The relationship could also eventually be exposed to other students, which will cause them to feel uncomfortable around the teacher,” Rushing said. When asked about the pros and cons of dating a graduate student, McMurtery responded, “Pros: I get a different point of view about education and our fields of study. We are both in the School of Music. She’s choral. I’m instrumental. She isn’t in any position to grade or evaluate me, so there aren’t any school rules against us being together.” “Cons: Our schedules conflict a lot, so we don’t get to see each other much during school hours,” McMurtery said. “Outside of the educational institution, we have no control over what kinds of relations students and teachers have. As long as public displays (of) affection between the two parties aren’t occurring at the institution, then I don’t think we should involve ourselves in these situations. It’s a matter of separating business and personal life,” McMurtery said.

ON CAMPUS

Students to revitalize Black Studies Alliance Chris Lee

Printz Reporter A group of students and faculty at The University of Southern Mississippi look to revive a student organization that focuses on celebrating black culture and history. The Black Studies Alliance was a predominant organization on the campus of USM during the early 2000s, but the student group has become dormant recently. A group of students, along with faculty support, is looking to give new life to this once thriving organization. The organization invites student of all cultural and ethnic backgrounds to join the organization that has begun its recent revitalization process. The group looks to organize events on campus and throughout the community as early as May of this year. “There is talk of an event that is currently developing for the month of May,” said Southern Miss student Destini Williams, who is involved in the startup of the alliance. “It is a project that celebrates the anniversary of the Voting Rights Act.”

It is important because you can visit downtown Hattiesburg and see the Confederate memorials that reflect the yesteryear of slavery. It would be great to see something of the Civil Rights Movement here being that Hattiesburg was home to Freedom Schools, Vernon Dahmer and other significant parts of the movement. -Kendall Laster, senior history major

Along with events celebrate black history

that and

culture, the alliance has set out to attempt to get a Civil Rights

memorial erected in downtown Hattiesburg. Though it is often

overlooked, Hattiesburg was a significant site of Civil Rights movement activity during the mid-20th century, especially during the summer of 1964 otherwise known as “Freedom Summer.” College students from the northern United States came to Mississippi to help African-Americans register to vote despite intimidation and unethical tactics used by proJim Crow Mississippians to prevent blacks from registering to vote. Currently there is no memorial in Hattiesburg that commemorates the civil rights activists that worked in the town, but there is a large Confederate memorial located near the Post Office in downtown Hattiesburg. “It is important because you can visit downtown Hattiesburg and see the Confederate memorials that reflect the yesteryear of slavery,” said senior history major Kendall Laster, who is also involved with the BSA startup. “It would be great to see something of the Civil Rights Movement here being that Hattiesburg was home to Freedom Schools, Vernon Dahmer and other significant parts of the movement.” For more information, email USMBSSA@gmail.com.

NEWS

Thursday, February 12, 2015 | Page 5

LOCAL

USM to uncover staph infection risk factors Colin Cameron Printz Reporter

Researchers from The University of Southern Mississippi and Forrest General Hospital have teamed up in an effort to combat the mortality rate of staph infections. Staph infections are becoming an increasingly prevalent issue. With approximately 86,000 cases and 11,000 deaths per year in the United States, the causative agent of staph infections, Methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), has essentially become antibiotic-resistant. According to a press release from the university, there had not been any previous studies to reveal the risk factors of highly resistant MRSA for those living in Mississippi and the Southeast United States. The project was headed by USM professor and director of Mississippi INBRE (Idea Network of Biomedical Research Excellence) Mohamed Elasri in partnership with Dr. Luis Marcos, medical director of the Infection Prevention Department and Head of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at Forrest General Hospital. According to the university press release, Elasri said that he is excited about partnering with Forrest General and he anticipates a very productive collaboration. “Dr. Marcos is very dedicated to reducing the rates of staph for his patients, and we have

Southern Miss graduate students Dhritiman Samanta, foreground, and Justin Batte are conducting research to determine the risk factors for contracting staph infection.

the expertise to study staph at the molecular level,” Elasri said. Elasri’s lab was able to partake in the experiments and antibiotic testing through funding from Mississippi INBRE, while Marcos collected patient information and MRSA samples. USM graduate students, Dhritiman Samanta and Justin Batte, also took part in Elasri’s lab. The students pointed out that the strains of MRSA vary among different areas of the

U.S. and it is important to know which antibiotic is effective for each particular strain. “We tested a variety of antibiotics on the isolated strains of MRSA to discover what drug would best kill the bacteria of each isolate tested,” Batte said. According to the press release issued by the university, researchers analyzed a total of 30 patients and identified several risk factors of MRSA in order to predict local outbreaks

of staph infections in the future. “After this paper (identifying the risk factors associated with MRSA) was published, we actually isolated a very highly resistant strain of staph from the same hospital,” Samanta said. “Currently, we are analyzing that strain with molecular techniques and in the future we will study the patient’s medical history and find out if any of the risk factor we identified earlier exist there.” “This research is helping us to

Courtesy Photo

identify risk factors associated with MRSA infections. If we can just do interventions to reduce the transmission of MRSA among health care facilities, this could potentially reduce the transmission of MRSA among health care facilities, this could potentially reduce the severe MRSA infections that place these patients into the hospital,” Marcos said. For more information regarding Mississippi INBRE, visit msinbre.org.

ON CAMPUS

Renowned scientist to speak on Darwin Day Nan Buti

Printz Reporter

Courtesy Photo

Darwin Day at The University of Southern Mississippi will take place Friday on the Hattiesburg campus. The series of activities are organized by the Department of Biological Sciences with assistance from the BSC Graduate Student Forum and the “Tri-Beta Biological Society, Southern Miss.” The day of activities will feature various exhibits and a documentary educating the public on Charles Darwin and his works. A faculty panel, T-shirt sales, a bake sale and a lecture by renowned scientist Jerry Coyne from The University of Chicago and author of the book “Why Evolution is True” will take place during the day. Darwin Day is a global commemoration, held on or near Feb. 12, of scientiﬁc achievements of evolutionary biologist Charles Darwin, born on this day in 1809. Charles Darwin was the ﬁrst man to discover that the pattern of

biological evolution resulted by means of natural selection. This is USM’s second Darwin Day celebration. “Each year, we invite a prominent national evolutionary biologist to give a talk at the event and the talks are aimed to the general public,” USM biology professor Jake Schaefer said. “We want them to talk about evolutionary biology in ways relatable to anyone on campus.” On the organizing committee are USM biology professor Donald Yee, Mac Alford and Jennifer Regan, all of whom are from the Department of Biological Sciences. They are responsible for bringing in Coyne and generally organizing other events. “Darwin Day is celebrated by other universities in the U.S. and there are Darwin Days celebrated by various countries all over the world, all centered around his birthday,” Yee said. “The goal of Darwin Day at USM is to promote not only Darwin’s contribution in science, but to highlight the university and

its science departments.” The scheduled events for Darwin Day will begin at 9 a.m., when evolution exhibits will be displayed along with a public viewing of the PBS documentary “Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial” until 1 p.m. From 11-11:45 a.m., a panel discussion of “Judgement Day” will take place with Sam Bruton from the Department of Philosophy and Religion, Andrew Haley from the Department of History and Frank Moore from the Department of Biological Sciences. Throughout the day until 4 p.m. Darwin Day T-shirts will be sold at the Thad Cochran Center entrance and a graduate student forum will occur and, until noon, a bake sale will take place. A keynote address titled “Why Evolution is True, and Why Americans Aren’t Buying It” by Coyne will take place from 2-3 p.m. in Thad Cochran Ballroom I, followed by a cake and ice cream social and a book signing by Coyne. All events are free and open to the public.

Page 6 | Thursday, February 12, 2015

FEATURE

LOCAL

Burlesque troupe to perform ‘Part Deux’ Lindsey Kelley Printz Reporter

This Friday at the Thirsty Hippo, local dance troupe Hattiesburlesque will bring its particular style of entertainment to the Hub City in a special show, ‘Part Deux.’ According to the Hattiesburg American, Hattiesburlesque began in 2014, with musical director Abigail Lenz Allen and lead choreographer Rebecca Chandler teaming up to bring a

new, more risqué form of art to the town. Women of all ages and body types were invited to show their talents and audition for the troupe. Allen told the Hattiesburg American that she believes Hattiesburlesque is about celebrating self-conﬁdence. “What I actually think we’re here doing is lifting up women and celebrating women in all different body shapes and all different ages and that all women are beautiful,” she said.

Burlesque is a diverse form of entertainment, with a variety of acts compromising a single show. This show has a “Love is a Circus” theme, complete with pearls and circus-themed shows. Performers will hula-hoop, sing, dance, twirl batons and many other acts. A few of these lovely women are also students at The University of Southern Mississippi, where their backgrounds are as diverse as their talents. Maria Shumaker, a junior

dance major, was born in Russia and went to high school in Brandon, Mississippi. She heard about the dance troupe through the Department of Dance at Southern Miss and decided to try it out. While she also dances in the larger company numbers, her individual solo dance is both fun and sensual. “For my solo I am dancing to (the song) ‘Whatever Lola Wants,’ and it’s going to have a lot of cheeky moments,” she said. “I am also going to be

draped in all pearls.” Amy Allegrezza, a senior advertising major, explained that her route into the burlesque troupe was a little more unconventional. “I actually missed the audition in order to audition for (another dance troupe),” she said. “Maria taught me the audition dance and I decided to show up for the first practice. I walked in and pretended that I’d been at the audition. They didn’t know (that I hadn’t) until a few weeks later when I finally told them.” The first show of the new troupe was performed in October to a sold-out crowd. “People loved it,” said Allegrezza. “I still hear about my (jazz adaptation of) ‘All About that Bass.’ (People in Hattiesburg) have taken to (burlesque) a lot more than I would have predicted.” She also contributed the success of the show to the city of Hattiesburg’s artistic leanings. “Hattiesburg is really metropolitan and open minded. I really think that if it had happened in any other town in Mississippi, people wouldn’t have been as receptive.” Shumaker said the success of Hattiesburlesque is attributed to the relationship that the performers have both on and offstage. “We didn’t know each other when we first met and we became friends,” she said. “I would have to say we all click together.” While the acts are sexy and sultry, this show remains firmly PG-13. “We’re a very mild version of burlesque,” Allegrezza said. “Hattiesburg specifically has very (strict) nudity laws. We have someone who does ‘panty police,’ who watches the last run and makes sure nothing has the possibility of slipping out.” With the success of their first show in Hattiesburg, the women are taking the show on the road. Ardenland, a booking company that recently hosted Seryn and Young Valley at the Thirsty Hippo, offered to bring the girls to perform in Duling Hall in Jackson, which holds up to 500 people at once. The show sold quickly for their Feb. 20 performance date. “It’s amazing,” Allegrezza said. “I’m so excited to perform in my hometown.” Hattiesburlesque is sponsored by Southern Prohibition Brewery and in conjunction with the Grand Ballroom of Hattiesburg. Tickets are currently sold out for all shows on Feb. 13 and 14 in Hattiesburg. However, through the Ardenland website, some tickets are still available for the Feb. 20 show in Duling Hall of Jackson. For more information on the performers or the show itself, check out their website at www. hattiesburlesque.com.

FEATURE

RELIGION

Thursday, February 12, 2015 | Page 7

Millennials drift from traditional Catholic customs J.D. Rimann

Printz Reporter For over 1,000 years, the Roman Catholic Church has observed the 40 days of Lent leading up into Holy Week with fasting and prayer. Traditionally those who did not observe a true fast were asked instead to give up something else they held dear – be that a food item or perhaps an iPod in these modern times – in commemoration of what was given up by Christ and as preparation for the celebration of the Holy Week. However, it seems that a new generation of millennial Catholics are drifting away from observing this particular rite, even as many more millennials drift from the church itself. According to a study by the Pew Research Center, 79 percent of Catholics who leave the church do so in college, and 1 in 10 Americans is an ex-Catholic. The Roman Catholic Church

they are giving up for Lent. The vast majority of students surveyed were not actually giving up anything at all. Deanna Payne, a senior history major, said that while she was raised in the Catholic Church, attended mass throughout high school and understands that the point of Lent is to sacrifice something valued in reflection of the sacrifice of Christ, she said, “(I do) not give up anything for Lent because I don’t think that giving up chocolate or Facebook or things of that nature really matters. If people really want to do something for Jesus they should promote his passion for... the well-being of others, not just during Lent, but year-round.” Chamara Moore, a senior English major who is a practicing Catholic and actively involved in the Catholic Student Association, disagrees with the assessment that just because many Catholic students are not giving up anything for

Courtesy Photo

(I do) not give up anything for Lent because I don’t think that giving up chocolate or Facebook or things of that nature really matters. If people really want to do something for Jesus they should promote his passion for... the well-being of others, not just during Lent, but year-round.

-Deanna Payne, senior history major

as a whole seems to be trying to combat this drift by moving in a more liberal, less strictly orthodox direction with the election of Pope Francis. Many church observers speculate it was a move made in direct response to the number of millennials leaving the church, and in fact TIME Magazine proﬁled the Supreme Pontiff as “Francis: A Pope That Millennials Can Love.” However, in the meantime, anecdotal evidence would indicate that many college students – the group most likely to fall away from the church – have moved away from abstaining from anything during Lent. This would be in line with the experience of this reporter when assigned to interview Catholic students on-campus about what

Lent means that they are not celebrating it. “Lent isn’t necessarily about sacrificing so much as doing more. That’s why, as an organization, CSA covers an hour of Eucharistic adoration (prayer and meditation before the Lord) every week during Lent,” she said. “(Lent is) a season of penance, reflection and fasting to prepare for his Resurrection....‘giving something up’ is just a small part of that.” It would seem that millennials have a slightly different take on Lent than their elders might have a take that was recently echoed by Pope Francis, who in a recent sermon proclaimed that “a selfish attitude of indifference” is what should truly be given up during Lent.

MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY & SATURDAY 8:30AM-4:00PM TUESDAY & THURDAY 8:30AM-6:00PM

OPINION

Thursday, February 12, 2015 | Page 8

Singles can enjoy Cliché holiday a Feb. 14 without Cupid burden on couples Karyn Lewis

Printz Reporter Valentine’s Day is often associated with couples expressing their unconditional love for one another, but that isn’t the only way the holiday should be celebrated. Each year couples stress over finding the perfect emblem of their affection, no matter how much it may cost. The National Retail Federation predicts that Americans alone will spend about $19 billion on Valentine’s Day gifts this year. That averages out to each person spending approximately $142. A positive to being single is that you are one of the Americans who will save, but if you don’t mind spending the extra cash there are alternatives to celebrating the holiday other than being in a romantic relationship. Everyone isn’t in a romantic relationship, but everyone is in a relationship of some sort. You can express affection to anyone: granny, mom, your neighbor, your dog. Valentine’s Day is simply a day to show those whom you care about the most that you are thinking of them. Remember in elementary school when everyone brought a Valentine for everyone in the class? You didn’t have to have any commitments to that person. It was simply a gesture of appreciation for that person being himself or herself. That has not changed. It’s still totally OK to bring personalized

Valentine’s Day cards and candy to share with the class. I doubt anyone will deny treats that will give them the much needed energy boost to get through lecture. Another plus to sharing with your class is making someone whom you may not know that well feel a little special. If you want something a little more intimate you could always #TreatYoSelf. There’s nothing more personal than the moments we spend with ourselves. Treat yourself to dessert or a movie. Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to get dressed up and splurge on an expensive dinner or other guilty pleasure. Be creative! Also, if you have been wanting to get out more, whether just to have fun or to meet a significant other, there’s no better day than Valentine’s Day. Everyone who hasn’t found love will be looking for it, but don’t be desperate or naive. There will probably be inconsiderate people looking to prey on those who are a little more vulnerable during this season. Just go out and be yourself. You’re not supposed to find love anyway; it finds you. Keep in mind that when it comes down to it, Valentine’s Day is just another day. If you treat every day like it’s special — which they all are — then happiness will find its way into your life. Express your love towards yourself and loved ones as often as you get the chance. Don’t just wait for Feb. 14.

Emma Reeves Printz Reporter

My boyfriend and I will be celebrating Valentine’s Day, but if I am honest, I find the tradition to be overrated. I see Valentine’s Day as a day that celebrates merchandise more than love and causes couples to become lazy in their relationships. Think about it: Walmart is currently red, pink and drowning in over-priced, over-stuffed plush animals. Chocolate is at a premium, and florists are raking in orders for roses. Advertisements flood us with the message that these cliché gifts must be given on this one arbitrary day. The holiday has become a marketing ploy, convincing people to pay billions of dollars as if that will mean true love. It is as if this repetitive ideology drills into our minds a false concept that says to love must equate to something like an expensive, socially-prescribed event complete with dime-store souvenirs. Now, this does not mean gifts are not appreciated. What it means is that there is no longer any romance in Valentine’s Day because there is no longer any creativity in the gifts. As said, most of them come from the front aisle of Walmart and require no real thought to buy. What happened to the idea that the thought is worth more than the gift itself? Moreover, why do we need one day to celebrate love instead of showing that

we care all year? In a way, Valentine’s Day makes people think that romance only happens on special occasions. We put so much emphasis on one day, but what does that imply about the next day? Is the magical exaggeration of feeling supposed to come suddenly and last only 24 hours so Walmart can clear out the red and bring in Easter eggs? Couples become lazy, believing romance does not matter as much all the other days. Finally, to the few people who do put thought into Valentine’s Day: why do we put so much pressure on this day? Valentine’s Day is meant to be fun, yet what should be personal instead becomes a Facebook contest to see who has the best significant other. Love is intimate, private and different for everyone. We have created a holiday that demands perfection from something that is subjective and therefore cannot be compared or measured, but we still compete to display perfection even if it is a false reality, leaving the few who do put thought into their gifts with the pressure to please their significant other and all his or her Facebook friends. I am cynical, so please excuse my generalizations. To me, love is more abstract than flowers and more selfless than dinner and a movie. Love is putting another before yourself, so if for you that means a teddy bear and chocolate, go for it; celebrate your idea of love as you see fit. As for me, I’ll be avoiding Walmart and Facebook like the plague.

Courtesy Photo

MARDI GRAS

OPINION

Thursday, February 12, 2015 | Page 9

Seize the season on a budget Mary Sergeant

Social Media Editor Mardi Gras season is upon us. This means it’s time to either bring out your most elegant formal gown or it’s time to run off to the nearest shop to rent your tails and let the good times roll. And then you think about it and ask yourself, “How am I going to afford all of this?” Mardi Gras can get pretty expensive when you add it all up. From hotel rooms to the cost of tickets to finding the right thing to wear, you can dig yourself a mighty big hole. But have no worries, I am here to lend you some tips and ideas on how to save some cash but still enjoy your Mardi Gras festivities. For my ladies out there, finding the perfect dress for a ball can be a daunting task. If you’re like me, you have worn your prom dress from high school to any and every formal occasion you have attended in the past year. Not only is it out-dated, but it’s a little snug in the hips and needs to take a long vacation at the dry cleaners. But that doesn’t mean that one of your more fashion-forward friends doesn’t have an elegant gown in their closet just waiting for you to take for a spin. The first step

to saving money on a gown is to ask your friends. Girls usually wear a formal dress once or twice and then stow it away in our closets never to be seen again; so your best friend shouldn’t mind you borrowing hers for the night. If you cannot gather a dress that way, try Rent the Runway. On this website, you can pick from countless designer gowns and choose prices from $60 to $500. The company sends you two sizes for the price of one; and on your first purchase, you receive $25 off. For my gentlemen out there, Mardi Gras events are the best events to take a girl on a date. Every ball I have attended in Mobile has an open bar and food of all varieties. All you have to do for the date is find a nice coat with tails. Do some price shopping and you’ll be able to find the cheapest in town. My boyfriend went to a smaller city and was able to rent his for $130 for two weeks. Some of the more popular venues rent for $60 a night and are very strict on their return policy. So ask or call around and you’ll find a deal. One of the biggest struggles, even if you aren’t attending a ball, is finding a place to stay when traveling to Mobile, New Orleans

Susan Broadbridge/Printz

Parade goers stand on Canal Street in New Orleans during Mardi Gras day and wave their hands to grab some beads from the Zulu parade.

or the coast during the Mardi Gras season. If you want to stay in a hotel, book early. The rooms ﬁll up fast and they get more expensive the longer you wait. Also, you could choose to rent from a hotel 20 minutes or so from the big events and will probably ﬁnd a cheaper price. Before you book a room, think about where you are located. Hattiesburg is called the Hub City for a reason. I am sure

you have more than one friend from the Mardi Gras areas. Ask if you can crash for the night or ask them where are the cheapest places to stay. If all else fails, designate a driver, promise him or her a few drinks the next time you hit up Brewsky’s, and drive the two hours back to Hattiesburg after the night is over. Lastly, if you are looking to have the cheapest Mardi Gras of all, skip

the balls and just head to the streets and attend the parades. They are super fun and you get free stuff thrown at you from left and right. Not to mention, the corn dogs from the food trucks are the best things I have ever eaten in my entire life. Mardi Gras is a time of fun and giving thanks before the Lenten season begins. Don’t let money or the glitz and glam keep you from having the time of your life.

HEALTH

U.S. needs a vaccine for ignorance Jesse Hammett Printz Reporter

An onslaught of measles outbreaks began in late 2014 and has since expanded across 17 states, the case count reaching 121 reported infections since December. Last year’s total cases

hit an impressive 644 infections, a number sure to pale against the ever-growing 2015 total. Reasons for opting out of vaccinations are varied, but parents are choosing to not have their children immunized due to their belief that inoculations cause autism. Major news outlets,

including The New York Times and PBS, presented study results that universally show no link between vaccinations and autism. Even after having all the evidence before them, parents are still saying no, and that is ludicrous to me. Misinformation that causes people to make dangerous decisions like

Courtesy Photo

opting out of keeping their kids safe has been going viral since the dark ages. These parents are looking more and more like the 19th century people who thought bloodletting for health was a good idea. It would seem baseless fabrications spread as easily as the outbreaks they cause. More to the point, children are at risk because of decisions that are being made for them. I feel as though the general consensus is to keep kids healthy and safe, not to consciously choose to let them get ill. According to the CDC, encephalitis will occur in one in 1,000 kids infected with measles, leading to convulsions and mental handicaps. This makes the autism argument moot, regardless of how veriﬁable the argument is. The strangest piece of news to come out of this outbreak of misinformation is that, according to TIME, some parents are throwing “measles parties” in which infected children are encouraged to play with uninfected children. The alleged purpose of these gatherings is to create an organic resistance against measles in children by exposing them to the virus. At this point, we might as well be equipping kids with explosives and sending them out into the neighborhood. The parties are not just nonsensical; they are dangerous. These parents are

actively, deliberately risking the health—and even the lives, to a degree—of their own children because of their fear of autism. Let it be known that autism should not be dreaded in any case, let alone this one. Not to say that the autism argument has a foot to stand on, but the notion that an autistic child should be a parent’s greatest fear is ableist and promotes such kids’ demonization. The continued fear is a result of not understanding autism and should be weighed critically when considering the vaccine issue. Barring vaccines, many people’s beliefs about the autistic spectrum are erroneous and based on hearsay, often untrue; with this considered, the argument against vaccination becomes even more unfounded. The outbreaks will carry on so long as there are parents who are not self-aware enough to realize that the nation is rolling its collective eyes at how extreme they are acting. The measles vaccine wasn’t invented so that adults could act this way. Inoculations are not given to put children at imaginary risks. Doctors did not pay for medical school so they could give children autism. Ultimately, nobody, not even a child, should have decisions made for them if those decisions can endanger his or her life.

SPORTS

BASKETBALL

Thursday, February 12, 2015 | Page 10

USM prepares for conference game against FIU Josh Campbell

Sports Editor The Southern Miss men’s basketball team will look to win its second conference game tomorrow against Florida International University at Reed Green Coliseum. In the last meeting between the two teams, the Golden Eagles defeated the Panthers, 78-66, to stay perfect at home last season. Coming off a loss against UAB, Southern Miss (6-16, 1-10) struggled to grab offensive rebounds, limit second chance opportunities for the Blazers and found itself in foul trouble, sending UAB players to the free throw line. However, the Golden Eagles look to minimize their mistakes, maximize offensive production, crash the boards and play tough, but smart on defense against FIU. Riding a two-game losing streak, FIU (11-12, 4-6) sits in eighth place in Conference USA, coming off a tough loss against UTEP, 67-64. The Panthers feature three prominent scorers in guard Dennis Mavin and forwards Adrian Diaz and Daviyon Draper. Mavin averages nearly 18 points per game, leading the

conference in scoring and serves as the leading scorer for the Panthers. Diaz, a 6-feet, 11-inch forward, averages close to 14 points per game and ranks seventh in the conference in rebounding, averaging nearly seven per game. He also records at least four blocks per game and set a school record for blocks in a single season with 62. Draper, another forward, shoots 30 percent from behind the arc, recording 8 points per game. As a team, FIU averages 63 points and 35 rebounds per game. The Panthers rank third in the league in field goal percentage, shooting 45 percent from the floor, fourth in scoring offense, 12th in free throw percentage and 13th in three-point field goals made. The Golden Eagles will have their hands full in terms on offense as FIU ranks third in the league in blocks, sixth in steals and fifth in defensive rebounding. The Panthers play smart on defense, limit their foul situations while playing aggressively on defense and regulating its opponents from getting second chance points. Southern Miss averages

61 points per game, but gives up 69 to its opponents, something FIU will look to maximize on. The Golden Eagles snag 29 rebounds per game, ranking dead last in the conference for offensive and defensive rebounding. However, USM ranks fourth in field goal percentage and sixth in three-point field goal percentage. It is important that Chip Armelin puts on a strong performance in the game as the Golden Eagles leading scorer, averaging 15 points per game. Norville Carey and Matt Bingaya will also be looked upon for offensive production with the duo combining for 25 points per game. Southern Miss must find a way to limit the offensive production of Mavin, shoot the ball well from the floor because the Panthers do not allow many second chance opportunities for points and win the battle on the boards. If they can winning the rebounding battle and score efficiently, Southern Miss has a strong chance to come away with its second victory in conference play. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. in Reed Green Coliseum.

Susan Broadbridge/Printz

Redshirt senior Chip Armelin reaches for the ball against Western Kentucky defense at the home game Jan. 31. The Golden Eagle’s take on FIU Thursday night in the Reed Green Coliseum.

BASKETBALL

Lady Eagles should not look past FIU Jacob Kemp

Susan Broadbridge/Printz

Sophomore Alex Coyne speeds past the Middle Tennessee State defense during the Lady Eagle’s home game on Feb. 5. The women’s basketball team is heading to Miami to take on FIU Thursday evening.

Sports Reporter The Southern Miss Lady Eagles (15-7, 8-3 C-USA) take on the Florida International Panthers (318, 0-10 C-USA) Thursday, Feb. 12, in Miami, Florida, and will try to stay hot after winning their last three games. The Lady Eagles beat the top two teams in Conference USA in Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee State then UAB to solidify the third spot in the Conference USA standings. However, if Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee State both drop a game, there would be a threeway tie for ﬁrst. The Lady Eagles cannot afford to drop a game now; every game counts. They survived a poor shooting performance against UAB and used spectacular defense to overcome a potential let down game, 44-39. That has been the theme for the Lady Eagles this season—play great defense to open up their offense and it has been a success so far. If they want to take the next step and take the Conference USA crown, they will need a better half court offense. Young point guard Alex Coyne will have to lead them as she plays with a lot of tenacity and although

it does not show up on the stat sheet, she is the X-factor for the Lady Eagles. Jerontay Clemons and Tamara Jones, both of whom average double digit points per game, will provide a scoring punch, but role players like Brooke Rhodes, Voche’ Martin and Kierra Jordan need to step up on the offensive end. Rhodes is an efficient player. She is second in three-point percentage and fourth in three pointers made on the team. However, she does not take enough shots and is often too selfless and needs to take more shots and along with Martin. Martin is a rebounding machine; however, she does not capitalize on her size like she should. Standing at 6-feet, 3-inches, Martin towers over most other centers in Conference USA and can easily snatch up offensive rebounds and put them back up for easy points. The Lady Eagles are disgustingly good on defense, but they need to hit their shots when Coyne finds them an open look. This would be the perfect game to hone their half court offense into a more deadly weapon. Head coach Joye Lee-McNeils knows it is their weakness, but also knows her Lady Eagles are

capable. They cannot afford to have an off shooting night anymore now that they are in the last stretch of the season. After shutting down MTSU’s Cheyenne Parker and Olivia Jones, the Lady Eagles should have no problem solving the FIU Panthers. They simply need to keep playing the same way they have all season on defense to shut down the Panthers’ offensive attack. The key factor in the game might not even be offense or defense for the Lady Eagles, but rebounding. FIU does not rank ahead of the Lady Eagles in very many statistical categories, but they do lead them in rebounding. FIU pulls down 41.7 rebounds a game to USM’s 37. 6. That could provide the struggling Panther offense with second chance points and make the game a lot closer than it should be. This game will be a test for the Lady Eagles and they will have to play their A-game to pull it out. However, if they improve their offense enough to match their defense, they will be a dangerous team and be a serious contender to make the Women’s NCAA Tournament. Tipoff for the game against FIU is at 5 p.m.

SPORTS

Thursday, February 12, 2015 | Page 11

BASEBALL

Golden Eagles aim for return to regionals Josh Campbell

Sports Editor The Golden Eagles made it all the way to the Conference USA championship game with a chance to make it to Regionals last season, but lost 7-0 to UTSA in the final game of the tournament, failing to qualify for further play. But Southern Miss hopes it has learned from the experience and believes to be more prepared to win on the big stage. However, the Golden Eagles lost a ton of pitching through graduation and the MLB Draft. Christian Talley will be called upon to be the staff ace as the Friday starter and has the makeup to be successful as the leader of the rotation. Talley posted a 4-4 record last season, but pitched much better than his record suggests. He had the second lowest ERA on the team last year at 2.67 and had a mind-boggling 5.3 strikeoutto-walk ratio. “I’m very confident,” said head coach Scott Berry when asked about Talley as the ace. “Christian isn’t just a thrower, he’s a pitcher. He’s got a great mix of his pitches. He’s confident with any of those pitches in any count so when you have that kind of person on the mound, you got to have confidence behind him.” “He’s a strike thrower, threw very well in a tough league in junior college last year. For a lot of people, that’s a major adjustment for them, but he adjusted quickly,” he said. Cody Carroll is going to be the No. 2 guy in the rotation as the Saturday starter. He struggled with his command last season as he walked 19 and hit seven batters in 49.2 innings en route to a 3.99 ERA. “(I want) to cut down on the walks, go deeper into games and limit the freebies—walks, hit by pitches and command my breaking ball more,” Carroll said. He has made adjustments to his mechanics over the offseason and believes it will make a big difference in his control to limit the freebies. “Out of the windup, I made it a little more simple. Instead of a big rocky step, it’s more of a tight step that limits all the movement in between until I throw a pitch,” Carroll said. James McMahon will fill out the weekend rotation as the No. 3 starter. He struggled mightily last season with a 6.97 ERA in 10.1 innings, but Berry believes that the struggles had more to do with McMahon not going through a routine like a starter would rather than his ability. “James is one of the hardest guys to hit against,” said outfielder Dylan Burdeaux. “He

can do a lot of things for you. He can bust you in then go away with his off-speed pitches. He’s looked really good facing our own batters and hopefully he can step up and be that third guy for us and have a big year.” Last season, Bradley Roney

time at that,” Berry said. “I don’t think we have just one guy like Bradley that we just say ‘hey, here’s the ball, go get it.’ We’ll use senior Ryan Milton as well as freshman Taylor Braley. “Braley has that competitiveness that everyone

senior Connor Barron. He garnered some prestigious awards in the offseason as the Texas Collegiate League MVP and was ranked as the eighth best senior in the nation by Perfect Game. “He had a tremendous

Last season, Christian Talley posted a 4-4 record and had the second lowest ERA on the team last year at 2.67.

was as dependable as they come as a closer with 1.24 ERA and 12 saves, but he graduated and was drafted in the eighth round by the Atlanta Braves. Instead of having that go-toguy as the closer, Berry will rely on a pair of pitchers to close out games. “Late in the game here early on, two gentlemen will split

that’s from the Hattiesburg area has seen that young man compete both on the baseball field and on the football field,” Berry said. “He’s not afraid of anything. That’s what I like about him there at the end of the game and he has the stuff to go with it.” Offensively, it all starts with incumbent leadoff man and

Courtesy Photo

summer,” Berry said. “He was the MVP of the Texas Collegiate League. (He) has developed into a really fine leader for this club. This is his fourth year; it isn’t (his) first rodeo. He’s our guy. He’s our sparkplug.” Last season, Matt Durst started the season as the everyday catcher, but after he returned from an injury, he

became the everyday DH as Austin Roussel was the starter behind the dish. However, after a strong fall, Chuckie Robinson beat them both out and will get the nod as the starting catcher. Durst will remain as the DH as he is too valuable at the plate to leave out the lineup. He led the Golden Eagles in batting average, home runs and RBIs last season and will remain as the cleanup hitter in the lineup. Much of the infield will remain the same as Tim Lynch (first base), Nick Dawson (second base) and Michael Sterling (shortstop) all return as starters. Roney also served as the starter at third base last season, but Chase Scott will be the guy manning the hot corner this season. “Chase is a tough-nose, JUCO kid from Chipola (College), who has not only made the routine play (defensively), but has made the great play,” Berry said. “He’s not afraid to dive, to get dirty, those are the kind of things you got to have at that corner.” In the outfield, Burdeaux will be in right field, Barron will be in center field and Breck Kline and Ryan Ellis will platoon in left field based upon who the opposing starter is. “(Kline) is going to split time with Ryan Ellis,” Berry said. “Ryan is a left-handed hitter who has really played well this past fall and spring. We planned to redshirt him (last season), but due to injuries, we had to pull that redshirt off.” Burdeaux is coming off a huge freshman season as he was named to the All-Conference freshman team, hitting .266 with three home runs and 24 RBIs. USM is counting on him to continue his production in his sophomore season. “I’m a right-handed bat that they expect to drive in runs, somewhere in the middle of the lineup. When we get our speed guys on, I have to be able to get them over and get them in,” Berry said. A big problem for USM over the past few seasons has been coming out of the gate strong. Too often, the Golden Eagles have started slow and picked up their play right before the conference schedule started. It could pay huge dividends to win a lot of games early in the season in their quest to make it back to the Regionals. “We have to come out strong and win games early because plays big into the later of the season,” Barron said. “I just want to win. That’s who I am. I want to take take this team back to the Regionals. That’s all I really want to do.” There are some questions that need to be answered, mainly with the pitching staff, but there is no denying that USM has all the pieces to get into and potentially past the Regionals.

Page 12 | Thursday, February 12, 2015

SPACES GOING FAST apply online today for fall 2015

save $150 with zero deposit

PRIVATE SHUTTLE TO USM + FULLY FURNISHED WITH LEATHER-STYLE FURNITURE + PRIVATE BEDROOMS & BATHROOMS ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED (ELECTRICITY UP TO A MONTHLY CAP) + 24-HR FITNESS CENTER + 24-HR COMPUTER CENTER WITH iMACS

EAGLESTRAI L .CO M • 8 E AGL E S TR A IL • 6 01. 26 4 . 6 4 0 4

Fees, amenities & utilities included are subject to change. Limited time only. See office for details.