September 18, 2019

SERVING SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI SINCE 1927 • WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM • SEPTEMBER 18, 2019 | VOLUME 105 | ISSUE 04

JACK’S MOVIE SHACK PG 4

THRIFTED GOLD PG 5

HOMETOWN HERO PG 8

Prism Center provides training for prospective

LGBTQ+ allies CALEB MCCLUSKEY NEWS EDITOR outhern Miss Allies and the Prism Center of Southern Miss is providing training for students and faculty that will help them to become official allies of the LGBTQ+ community here at Southern Miss.

“The allies training [program] is a network of faculty and students who are willing to be visibly supportive of individuals in the community on campus,” the program manager for the Office of Multicultural Programs and Services Tegi

Illustration by Alexandria Moore | Printz

Jenkins-Rimmer said.

The training was Monday, September 16 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in room 210 and Wednesday, September 18 from 2 p.m. in room 216, but for those still interested there will be a meeting on Friday, September 20 in room 216.

Jenkins-Rimmer said the response to the training has been great so far, and the center had to add the Monday class because their Tuesday class was filled. She said for those interested there is a signup form that can be accessed via their Facebook page, Southern Miss Prism Center.

“You don’t have to necessarily be a part of the community to be an ally,” Jenkins-

Rimmer said. “This type of training is necessary. Terms are changing. Students are changing, and I think it is important for the campus to be involved in that training.”

In the training, participants will learn how some terms have changed in recent years, how to create a welcoming environment and eliminate bias.

Associate professor of English Katherine Cochran, Ph.D., who has gone through the training herself, said that the training was instructive and helpful. She also said she found the language clarification portion the training particularly useful.

“I think the training could be instructive

for anyone, regardless of previous familiarity with LGBT+ issues, in part because it was such a welcoming space in which questions were encouraged,” Cochran said.

Those who complete the training receive a placard with the rainbow flag on it showing that they are allies. The placard also details the duties of an ally.

“For some students, seeing that rainbow symbol is very comforting,” JenkinsRimmer said. “An ally is someone that supports the community. It doesn’t mean you are taking on those beliefs. It just means you are supporting others on how they feel and what they believe.”

CONTINUED | PG 2

NEWS SEPTEMBER 18, 2019

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MEET THE STAFF Executive Editor

Alyssa Bass alyssa.bass@usm.edu

Managing Editor

Olivia Saldana olivia.saldana@usm.edu

News Editor

Caleb McCluskey caleb.mccluskey@usm.edu

Entertainment/Opinion Editor Jack McCallum john.mccallum@usm.edu

Feature/Lifestyle Editor Karigan Teer karigan.teer@usm.edu

Sports Editor

Makayla Puckett makayla.puckett@usm.edu

Multimedia Editor

Blair Ballou blair.ballou@usm.edu

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Omer Arshad omer.arshad@usm.edu

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Brian Winters brian.s.winters@usm.edu Lillie Busch lillie.busch@usm.edu Kathleen Hetherington kathleen.hetherington@usm.edu Alexandria Moore alexandria.casey@usm.edu

Printz Advisor

chuck.cook@usm.edu

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

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

CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 Being an ally is a great way to be a part of the community and help their LGBTQ+ community, according to not only JenkinsRimmer but also many other members of the community such as senior English licensure major Jaq Jefcoat.

Jefcoat, who is the university liaison for The Spectrum Center as well as the president of the Genders & Sexualities Alliance, formerly known as the Gay-Straight Alliance, said the training is a great way for those interested to support the LGBTQ+ members of the school.

“I appreciate and support the allies training on campus because it shows initiative for faculty and fellow students wanting Southern Miss to be an open, safe and accepting campus for all individuals of various gender identities and sexualities,” Jefcoat said. “The impact of this training is significant to campus life, and I feel that if more people knew about this opportunity, we’d have more visible allies.”

According to the treasurer of the Spectrum Center Mickie Stratos, allies are one of the strongest assets in the LGBTQ+ community because they strengthen the voice and numbers of the community as a whole.

“Allies are one of the LGBTQ+ community’s greatest assets because they can provide the strength in voice and numbers that queer folks so often are unable to access due to marginalization,” Stratos said.

“Because of this, Allies can and do often speak and act on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community, so it’s vital that they know how to correctly and respectfully do that.”

Stratos said they are excited to see the training at Southern Miss because it helps well-meaning students better their interactions with the community.

“I was excited to see the Allies training at USM because even wellmeaning allies can use an incorrect term or ask a rude question,” Stratos said. “Education and training is the only way to correct the use of offensive language and teach people unfamiliar with queer spaces how to interact with and stand for the people that occupy those spaces.”

Comic by Darius Harris | Printz

NEWS SEPTEMBER 18, 2019

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McNair takes student outreach and support role

LAURYN BOHN PRINTZ REPORTER

hen Delores McNair started her journey at Southern Miss, she was the office secretary. As she took on more responsibilities and duties throughout the years, the title of her position went through several changes too.

After serving Southern Miss for 21 years, McNair was named the new Assistant Dean of Student Outreach and Support.

“Anytime you can help a student continue in their classes and see them graduate, it is rewarding and outweighs the stressful days,” McNair said.

The position was held by Alfreda Horton until May 2019. McNair worked closely by Horton’s side for years, and she said it felt right for her to step in and fill those shoes when Horton retired.

McNair has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is currently pursuing her master’s in child and family studies here at Southern Miss.

While pursuing both her degree and beginning her new position, she said she discovered getting her degree is more about knowing and understanding where students come from and less about career choices.

“It is about what the family dynamics are and what could be occurring that is impacting their education and knowing how to address those issues,” McNair said.

McNair previously served as Administrative Assistant to the Dean of Students where her title consisted of doing clerical tasks, working closely student organizations like the Student Government Association and helping with event management and budget costs.

“I serve as a resource to students, particularly students who are having difficulty with continuing their classes, either due to illness or other circumstances,” McNair said. “We serve as a liaison between the student and the instructors.”

McNair said she believes she has had exposure to all areas of student affairs, which has given her the knowledge needed to jump into her new position.

Vice President for Student Affairs Dee Dee Anderson said she is excited about McNair’s appointment.

“Delores has an extensive amount of experience working in the Dean of Students Office, helping us to achieve our mission of developing healthy, connected, learningfocused students and communities,” Anderson said.

Because her previous role was more administrative, she said she would often refer students to Horton.

“I am now the problem-solver—I am not the referrer anymore,” McNair said. “I am that person; I take ownership of what a student is experiencing so I can know how to help them.

I am learning so much more about Southern Miss and so much about the students.”

McNair’s new position still deals with student services; however, it will give her more one-on-one time with struggling students in order to help them. With her open-door policy, students are welcome to walk in and ask for help if any problems arise.

“There is no time frame when dealing with students—they pretty much just come in when needed,” McNair said. “You have to be prepared for walk-ins. You have to be prepared for when you are just walking around campus, and someone knows what you do; you will be stopped and asked for help. It is more of a hands-on with student resources job.”

Associate Dean of Students Thomas Deus said he believes this position is perfect for McNair.

“I think she is a great asset to the department,” Deus said. “With all the knowledge and experience that she has, it is very beneficial. As far as supporting students, that is all she has done her entire career. ...

The students are really going to like her and appreciate all that she will continue to do for them.”

Courtesy photo from Southern Miss

Southern Miss retention rate below national average WILLIAM LOWERY PRINTZ REPORTER outhern Miss students are more likely to drop out according to national averages.

Southern Miss New Student and Retention Programs director Katie McBride said financial, academic and adjustment issues are contributing factors.

According to statistics provided by the student retention program at Southern Miss, the average retention rate for students is about 72%, which is eight points below the national average.

Retention rate refers to the number of students who come back for another year of college.

An article published by U.S. News reveals Columbia University has the highest percentages, with average retention rates at 99%.

When compared to other universities in Mississippi, though, Southern Miss’ percentage seems low. The University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University had averages of 85 and 80% respectively.

McBride said the most significant reason freshmen might end up dropping out is because of financial and academic difficulty.

“College is really expensive, and even with federal aid, most students have to pay out of pocket,” McBride said. “Coming into college, some students are more aware of this than others, and then there are those who get to the end of their first semester or first year and realize they don’t have the money to continue.”

Senior public relations major Asia Montgomery said she believes adjusting to college life is a contributing factor. “It’s

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hard to get adjusted, and they may not feel like college is for them,” Montgomery said.

“You’re on your own to figure things out.”

Southern Miss graduate and communications major Bailey Alford recalled how she felt lost when she first arrived at Southern Miss.

“When I first came here, I had no idea what I was doing, and I felt extremely lost.

But I was in the Lucky Day Scholarship Program, and they had mentors to help us out,” Alford said. The NSRP provides

multiple resources to help students, both new and returning, get through college, according to McBride. One of these sources is TRIO Student Support Services, a federally funded group that offers tutoring and computer labs to those struggling.

“I feel Southern Miss could do more to reach out to students as soon as they get here,” Montgomery said. “I know they already do a good job through things like Golden Eagle Welcome Week, which is where freshmen can come and learn about

where they’re going out be for the next four years.”

Alford said new students should take their time and think about what they’re doing while Montgomery said consulting with the financial aid office will help freshmen learn how to keep track of how much left they owe.

“There’s a lot of transition that comes with becoming a college student.

Consulting the programs, we offer will help them out in the long run,” McBride said.

FEATURES SEPTEMBER 18, 2019

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Terrell lives dream through restaurant KARIGAN TEER FEATURE/LIFESTYLE EDITOR ictoria “Vikki” Terrell’s life has not necessarily been an easy one. Growing up in Hattiesburg, Terrell was faced with the challenge of living up to the legacy of her father, Southern Miss football legend Clemon Terrell.

However, Terrell is creating her own legacy as the owner of her restaurant, Vikki Layne’s Bar and Grill.

At 32 years old, Terrell is one of the youngest restaurant owners in Hattiesburg.

“I opened my first restaurant when I was 28, but I’ve owned different businesses well before that,” Terrell said.

Being from Hattiesburg, she originally chose to go to Jackson State but found herself back at Southern Miss after struggling with homesickness and missing her young daughter.

“I went to USM for two semesters, and I hated it.

Everyone knew my dad, so I would be late for class, and they would call him and tell him. It was too much,” Terrell said.

Although she said it was difficult living up to certain expectations from the community, Terrell decided to open Vikki Layne’s around four years ago.

Her first building was located close to Camp Shelby, and the business flourished due to people on the base eating plate lunches almost every day.

Despite her success, the storm that damaged William Carey University also hit her restaurant.

“I had to go back to the drawing board, get a regular job, which I hated,” Terrell said.

Terrell had the opportunity to open another restaurant in Hattiesburg around two years ago. She reopened on the Highway 42 Bypass, and the restaurant outgrew the location within six months. After seeing an opening in downtown Hattiesburg, Terrell felt like that was where she needed to be.

Blair Ballou | Printz

“I look at an area and see what’s missing, and I want to do that. My passion isn’t really restaurants; my passion is building. Taking nothing and building it into something,” Terrell said.

Southern Miss alumna Rosiland Jenkins grew up with Terrell and praised Terrell’s entrepreneurial spirit.

“Vikki was always a hustler. She was the kid that would let everyone else eat up all their Halloween candy and then save hers until theirs were gone.

Then she would go to school and sell it for 25 cents a bag,” Jenkins said. “Her father always instilled in

her and her siblings, ‘if you don’t work, you don’t eat.’”

Jenkins remembered Terrell being so determined to get a job that she went and got a permit from the school to be able to work at the early age of 14.

Despite her hard work, Terrell did not anticipate how successful she would be.

“We pray for things, and we ask God for all this stuff. I figured I would get something, but I didn’t think it would be like it is,” Terrell said.

While she is grateful for her success, Terrell said it is difficult to be a business owner in her home-

town.

“I feel like people don’t take me as seriously as they do other people. People will wait forever at McDonald’s, at the Crab House, but I kind of feel like I have to work twice as hard,” Terrell said.

“People don’t want to admit it, but I feel like some people counted me out, because I have been in trouble before.”

She said that she felt that people who have watched her grow up did not expect her to be able to move past her previous struggles.

“When you overcome things, when you stand up and do better for yourself, when you’re resilient, I think people envy you for that,” Terrell said. “I’m a solution-oriented person, so when things are difficult, I just push through.”

Junior communications major Da’qūan Holloway knows Terrell and has frequented Vikki Layne’s. “[Vikki] is very down to earth, and she has great customer service,” Holloway said. “She is a very genuine woman. The restaurant was amazing, and her food is fantastic.”

Despite struggling, Terrell said she is truly living out a dream of hers.

“I’m just a little black girl from Hattiesburg. I’ve been able to show people that you can make it out of any situation. I want to show little girls that they can do this, because there aren’t a lot of female restaurant owners here. To be able to break these barriers, even with backlash, it feels amazing,” Terrell said.

Terrell said that her plans from the beginning were to end up where she is now, but she hopes to continue to expand and give back to her community.

“We take the best talent and send it to other areas, and those areas become great. I want to use my talents here,” Terrell said.

In addition to expanding her menus, Terrell plans to establish scholarship foundations for local students.

“Her father would be so proud of her success,” Jenkins said.

Jack’s Movie Shack keeps movie rentals alive BLAIR BALLOU MULTIMEDIA EDITOR outhern Miss alumnus Daniel Greer co-owns Jack’s Movie Shack in Laurel with his wife Tiffany, and the two can often be found below the neon glow of an open sign in one of the last movie rental stores in the country.

Daniel and Tiffany Greer grew up in Ellisville, and became high school sweethearts through their love of horror films.

The previous owner of the movie shack was named Jack Adams, so everyone in town affectionately referred to the store as “Jack’s Movie Store.”

“I rented movies [at Dollar-Per-Day Video] from the time I was a toddler,” Tiffany Greer said. “I remember I was banned from renting Ghostbusters because I brought it home so much.”

Daniel Greer said he was usually in Adams’ store twice a week, and he thought Adams was a grumpy old man behind the counter.

Tiffany Greer remembered watching Adams roll cigarettes on the counter, so the place reeked of smoke, and everyone knew where she had been when she came from his store.

When Adams passed away in 2014, his store faced permanent closure, and the Greers were not willing to settle.

The couple drove by each day wishing someone would reopen it, and in 2016, purchased and reopened the movie store under a new name in honor of Adams.

Nestled between a wall of his most highly recommended movies from cinemas past and a countertop decorated with gumball

William Lowery | Printz

machines and popcorn for sale, Daniel Greer said he found his calling through the movie store.

“I love this,” Daniel Greer said. “My favorite part is getting to share my love for film with people while helping them expand their horizons, nothing’s better than suggesting a movie to somebody and having them come back and tell me that they loved it, that’s my motivation, you know, it’s hard to describe the feeling.”

Daniel Greer believes that among the many differentiating qualities of his store, his movie selection puts any streaming service to shame. He said that even with all of the available streaming services, he can go to any shelf and find something that is

not online.

“I’m not going to be a millionaire anytime soon, but that’s what I enjoy about it,” Daniel Greer said. “It’s sharing my love of all things film related and getting to hear about other’s passion for film while introducing a whole new generation to this, a lot of them have never even seen a video store.”

Daniel Greer said that despite the popularity of modern streaming services his regular customers range from all ages, his most excited customers are the children that have never seen a movie store before and adults that remember having video stores.

The Greers said they receive positive reactions from their customers. Many customers live in rural parts of Jones County and don’t

have satisfactory internet service to stream quality movies online.

“There’s something to the experience of actually going out and going on the hunt for movies. It’s more fun than sitting on your couch and scanning through the titles on the screen,” Daniel Greer said. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve fallen asleep just looking for movies to watch [online].”

The couple ran the store at its original location in Ellisville for two years before moving to the Sawmill Square Mall in Laurel.

“I had a vision of making this ‘nerd central’ for Jones County because there was no other comic book shop in Jones County. We had to drive all the way to Hattiesburg to find a comic book shop,” Daniel Greer said.

Ellisville native Nick Martineau is a Jack’s Movie Shack regular and believes the store has helped shape Jones County for the better.

“I grew up in this store. When I was 11 years old, I remember Mr. Jack called all of the kids from around the neighborhood and said, ‘Hey, this is a place where you can come and hang out and not get into anything bad,’ because the streets had gotten pretty crazy around that time in Ellisville,” Martineau said. “He was trying to keep us out of bad stuff, and since he died, [Daniel and Tiffany Greer] have been doing a great job keeping this place alive.”

In the future, the Greers would love to further expand their store.

“In the next 20 years, it’d be awesome to open a second location if we do well enough financially,” Tiffany Greer said. “We don’t have huge dreams. We don’t expect to be millionaires, but for some people this store fills a need for entertainment. And for some it’s a novelty, but all in all, we’re happy to do it.”

LIFESTYLE SEPTEMBER 18, 2019

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MLMs provide entrepreneurship, irritation ALYSSA BASS EXECUTIVE EDITOR hen full-time general manager Elizabeth Stewart* heard that a woman she followed on social media was making $10,000 a month selling Arbonne, she knew she wanted to give it a try.

Arbonne is a wellness company that prides itself on being a green, multi-level marketing scheme. MLMs like Arbonne rely on consultants to not only sell the product but also to recruit people to join their sales team.

Marketing professor and Direct Selling Education Foundation Fellow Joanne Cao, Ph.D., said the top 20 largest direct selling companies account for about $14 billion in sales. She credits this popularity to a path to micro-entrepreneurship.

“I think people choose direct selling for several reasons, including being their own boss, flexibility, earnings in proportion to efforts, a lifestyle change or earn extra income or simply being advocates of the products or services they love,” Cao said.

Although Stewart did not feel qualified to sell the products, she said her up-line was supportive.

All that her up-line required of her was to use social media and host recruitment parties at her house.

“I really loved the people selling with me, and I seriously loved the products,” Stewart said. “It felt good to promote and sell something that truly helped people better their lives. The only thing I really felt was difficult was reaching out to people who I knew probably did not want to participate and not being able to balance it with my current job.”

Women are often recruited through social media with direct messages, posts or stories, and the recipients of these messages have joked about the

Meghan Fuller | Printz

consultants on social media.

Senior elementary education major Brandi Bond tweeted, “there needs to be a spin-off of shark tank called snake pit but instead of investors buying into businesses it’s all girls who mocked you in high school having to pay you money for your suffering using whatever profits they’ve made from their mlm scheme of the month.”

While Bond said she does not have firsthand experience with MLMs, she said she believes “they are extremely predatory” after doing her own research.

“They target young mothers by promising them more time with their families, but 95% of MLM participants lose money in the long run,” Bond said. “It can spread like wildfire, and the false promises given by MLMs should truly be outlawed by the [Better Business Bureau].”

Research published on the Federal Trade Commission website found that 99% of MLM

participants lose money.

Cao said she believes MLMs get a bad reputation from moving one step beyond the direct selling model through recruiting tactics. Cao said this leads to the misconception that some companies use the MLM business model to create pyramid schemes, which are illegal.

“They provide no value to the customers as these companies make money off customers and not off selling the products or service,” Cao said.

When the FTC determines if an MLM has an unlawful compensation structure, the staff considers whether the MLM encourages consultants to purchase products for reasons other than to satisfy demand.

Cao said she enjoys moderating debates about MLMs in her principles of marketing class.

“Students do have fruitful discussions regarding direct selling and MLMS, and I enjoy being on both sides of the coin when debating if MLMs offer value,” Cao said. “Despite its crit-

icism and negative connotation, direct selling is a business model guided by a code of ethics and commitment to consumer protection.”

Junior media and entertainment arts major Anna Richardson said she was introduced to Arbonne through a girl she graduated high school with and began selling the products in college.

“The girl who sold me Arbonne was super sweet, but I do find myself getting annoyed at Arbonne consultants’ constant social media promotions,” Richardson said.

Richardson said consultants from MLM ItWorks! have also tried to recruit her multiple times.

“Each recruiter followed me on Instagram and then followed up by direct messaging me at a later time and date. In the direct message, most of the recruiters started by complimenting either my physical appearance, style or feed then moved on to telling me about how they were looking for girls to ‘mentor’ to sell products and make money ‘right from your phone,’” Richardson said.

Stewart said she was encouraged to utilize polls in Instagram stories. Stewart said she enjoyed this method because it allowed the customers to make themselves known instead of her seeking them out. Still, she thought the members of her team were too aggressive with their sales pitches.

“I know some consultants will reach out to people, and they will say no,” Stewart said.

“Then they will message them again asking if they had changed their mind. I feel like that is a little too much and not really my personality.”

Stewart quit after two months. Although Stewart never received a $10,000 paycheck, she said she still loves the products and is interested in selling it again in the future.

“I truly have loved every product I have tried with Arbonne, and I will probably use it forever.”

As for how she feels about posts claiming MLMs like Arbonne are pyramid schemes, Stewart said she just laughs. *Name has been changed to protect identity.

Thrifted Gold: groovy headscarves BETHANY MORRIS SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

hroughout the 50s and 60s, ladies wore headscarves around their necks and in their hair. This trend has popped back up in today’s fashion, and it’s pretty amazing how even after all these years, the headscarf is still a classic staple in women’s clothing.

A headscarf can be a very versatile piece in a lady’s wardrobe—the options are endless. In addition to wearing the scarves around their necks or in their hair, women also tie the scarves around purses and bags as a pop of color.

If you’re a college student like me, being up to date on fashion trends while trying to live on a budget can be quite difficult. Buying such groovy headscarves from Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters can be pricey: prices range from $18-$29 at Urban Outfitters and from $10 to $78 at Anthropologie.

An alternative to shopping at Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters for groovy headscarves is to shop at your local thrift store. I don’t know about you, but $78 is a little steep for a headscarf when you’re living on a

Bethany Morris | Printz

college budget and most likely making minimum wage.

I have found multiple patterns and textures of headscarves from thrift stores across Mississippi. The headscarves I have found were priced from 90 cents to $4, so there is no need to spend a fortune on a silk scarf or a vintage look-a-like when you can find authentic vintage items. It’s fun to browse thrift stores in hopes to find that perfect hidden gem.

I have found the majority of my headscarves at City Thrift in Jackson, Lucky Rabbit in Hattiesburg and

Sophomore psychology major Lyndsey Anderson models vintage head scarf from city thrift in Jackson.

Southern Antiques in Laurel.

When going thrift shopping, here are some tips: Keep an open mind. Don’t go into a thrift shop with a goal in mind; just browse, and great thrifts will show up.

Be sure you know the worth of the item you’re interested in so you don’t overpay.

Shop local. It’s always great to give back to shop owners and vendors that are from your area. When you do this, you are in turn giving back to your state and local economy.

For upcoming articles in the Thrifted

Gold column, I will be featuring more thrift stores throughout Mississippi. I will also be demonstrating easy DIYs with some of the thrifted items I have found, while providing a modern and trendy twist. It’s so important to be resourceful in today’s economy, especially when you’re living on a budget.

Through this column, I hope to encourage others to shop locally, to help people realize that it is possible to still be stylish while on a budget, and to prove the theory that “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”

ENTERTAINMENT September 18, 2019

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‘Charli’ confirms that Charli XCX is that girl

JACK MCCALLUM ENTERTAINMENT /OPINION EDITOR

harli XCX’s third studio album “Charli” is a heightened continuation of her mixtapes “Number 1 Angel” and “Pop 2.”

Featuring mixed themes of isolation, indulgence and friendship, “Charli” near-perfectly melds frenetic dance tracks with somber pop ballads.

It has become a bit trite to say Charli XCX is the future of pop music, but there really is no one else doing it like her. “Charli” is here to prove it, even with its couple of blips. Executive produced by A.G. Cook, this record is incredibly cohesive with futuristic, sci-fi concepts blending into Charli’s current self-understanding.

The blaring, anthemic opener “Next Level Charli” builds the album’s foundation with glitzy synths leading into Charli’s harsh vocals. “Next Level Charli” has Charli XCX announcing and celebrating her latest evolution as a celestial pop being. Featuring shoutouts to her own post- “Boom Clap” tracks, “Bounce” and “Vroom Vroom,” Charli is using this as a way to officially declare she is not that “Sucker” girl anymore.

Themes of loneliness from “Pop 2” have made their way to “Charli” and remain as relatable as before.

“Gone” is an essential Charli XCX track with claps and steady synths.

Featuring Christine and the Queens

Graphic by Alexandria Moore | Printz

and heavy-hitting lyrics about feeling alone in a room full of people, “Gone” exemplifies Charli’s masterful ability to mix moody lyrics and dance beats.

Charli XCX understands what her fans need more than any other artist. This understanding can be heard in “Click” featuring Kim Petras and Tommy Cash. A pop track that switches from glossy Mother Gooselike choruses to gritty, confident verses is already perfect. Tossing in a closing 30 seconds that sounds like drills and blown-out speakers is just a cherry on top.

“Charli” builds on Charli XCX’s continued love of huge collaborative tracks with a total of 14 credited features. Some people might not like the idea of having so many features on a solo album, especially a self-titled one. The thing is that most of these features sound authentic and feel like a way of extending the artists’ creativity.

Every girl and gay who logged into Tumblr in 2012’s dreams were met on

the Sky Ferreira featuring “Cross You Out.” Decorated in twinkling piano chords and a creeping bass, “Cross You Out” blends the melancholic sounds of Sky Ferreira and Charli XCX’s music in an ‘80s-inspired power ballad.

A standout track for plenty of reasons, “Shake It” is a CGI alien-strip club bop that features four femmes delivering heavily explicit and confident verses.

Big Freedia, Cupcakke, Brooke Candy and Pabllo Vittar all deliver with not a single weak point.

“Warm” featuring the Haim sisters is an essential example of Charli XCX using her features to actually collaborate with other artists. Both Charli and Haim sound as though they are using each other like instruments in an effort to create a great pop song.

This is what Charli usually succeeds at as there are barely any moments on this album that stand out as charthungry desperation.

Lack of chart-hungry desperation on tracks like “Warm” and “Cross You Out” make the Lizzo feature

“Blame it On Your Love” all the more disappointing. Even if choosing to ignore how “Track 10” is a far superior version of this song, this entire song’s existence feels basic. This is really the only moment on the album where it seems like a feature was tossed on a song to gain streams.

Charli does not need features though.

All the solo tracks are solid. “Silver Cross” is by far one of the best songs on the album with its shimmery, icy, video game-like beat. Moody tracks like “Thoughts” and “Official” also benefit from lacking features as it ups the level of lyrical intimacy.

“Charli” might not be the most digestible album of Charli XCX’s, but it is her most intimate. Off the wall tracks like “2099” and “Click” mixed with friendlier tracks like “White Mercedes” and “1999” might seem awkward, but it all works for the most part. “Charli” stands to prove Charli XCX as a continually evolving artist with an incredible ability at building a cohesive record.

‘Hustlers’ reveals a complex and gripping story CONRAD ACOSTA PRINTZ REPORTER ustlers” is a breathtaking drama that peels away at the archetypal story of a disadvantaged group of people making their way to the top by stealing from the powerful, to reveal a beautiful story about family, loss and growth.

Lorene Scafaria’s “Hustlers” is a crime drama that follows a group of women as they go from being exotic dancers to running a multimillion-dollar operation through the merit of drugging rich, powerful businessmen and stealing their credit card information. Based on a 2015 New York Magazine article titled “The Hustlers at Scores,” the film tackles the grim and complex morality of the Robin Hood mentality with a large amount of grace and tact. This results in an emotionally impactful, thought-provoking experience.

The plot is structured in an interesting way with the timeline of events being narrated by the main character Dorothy, played by Constance Wu, as she is interviewed for the aforementioned 2015 article.

This lasts until about two-thirds into the story when the audience is abruptly taken out of this structure and thrust into a more abstract collection of recordings and

Graphic by Kathleen Hetherington | Printz

interviews collected by reporter Elizabeth, played by Julia Stiles. These recordings allow the film to slip between the past and the present fluidly, leading to a smooth and polished story.

Another strong plot point is the development of conflicting, overarching themes that are present throughout the story. This is how the movie explores the gray morality of the main character’s actions as she grapples with things like her being critical of Wall Street for

manipulating the public in order to live lavish lives while she is also manipulating wealthy people to do the exact same thing.

The multiple conflicting dynamics create a thought-provoking atmosphere for the story to take place and add to the overall impact of the film.

The soundtrack is a diverse one with songs ranging from late 2000s hip-hop to classical piano. The stark musical contrast is often used to stylistically denote the difference in how the characters

act for their clients and their actual life experiences.

This artistic decision of using contrasting music in such a way helps to establish the complexity of the characters and their situation. The film also knows when to show restraint. In one scene in particular, there is a notable lack of additional audio beyond the main character and Jennifer Lopez’s dialogue that serves to highlight the emotional weight of the moment.

The performances were phenomenal across the board. From Jenifer Lopez who stole every single scene, to Cardi B who had more of a cameo performance, not a single person phoned it in. Every character felt dynamic and interesting, partly because of the amazing writing, but also because of the incredibly talented actresses that made up the hustling crew.

The technical elements of the film were ambitious, particularly when it came to audio. There is one scene where the narrative is being told through the recording of a police sting and the audio is designed to sound like it is coming from a hidden microphone. Rather than just having the audience imagine all of those thematic elements, “Hustlers” actually presents them.

Choices like these provide the audience with powerful moments that leave them stunned. A story told in the way of “Hustlers” reveals the incredible talent of everyone who worked on it and also provides a memorable experience to those who see it.

OPINION SEPTEMBER 18, 2019

WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM

Students possibly benefit from mental health days LAUREL THRAILKILL PRINTZ REPORTER 2013 study conducted by the American Psychological Association concluded that 41% of college students suffered from anxiety and 36% suffered from depression. You might be surprised, or you might not be if you are one of the hundreds of thousands of college students suffering from a mental illness.

The bottom line is this: there is a clear issue that is not being acknowledged.

Many college students suffering from a mental illness report having to miss class on at least one occasion due to mental health. These students also report feeling embarrassed and afraid to speak up about it. Overly strict college attendance policies do not help this problem.

Most universities across the country recognize and excuse absences for medical reasons, but they do not have a policy in place regarding absences involving mental health. A physical illness can be easily identified. It is hard to ignore a cold, a case of the flu or a sprained ankle. What is not so easy to identify is depression or anxiety. That is why these mental problems are so often cast aside when it comes to attendance policies.

A new law in Oregon might be challenging the lack of inclusion of mental health in attendance policies.

Oregon will now allow students to take mental health days in just the same way they would take a sick day. Suicide is Oregon’s second leading cause of death in young people aged 10 to 34. The hope is that this new law might be able to relieve some of the stress put on students and eliminate feelings of embarrassment when it comes to speaking out about

Alexandria Moore | Printz

Many college students suffering from a mental illness report having to miss class on at least one occasion due to mental health.

mental health.

Critics of the new law are afraid that some students would abuse the policy and fake having a mental illness as an excuse to miss more school. The unfortunate truth is that there are people that will always try to find a way to abuse the system. That being said, it is not fair to deprive a sick student of resources to help combat mental illness out of the fear that a few people might exploit the system.

The example that Oregon has set

will hopefully encourage other states to follow suit and consider laws that would protect students who miss class because of legitimate mental health problems.

As a student myself, I can attest that strict attendance policies can cause anxiety and stress even if you do not have a mental illness. The attendance policies for many of my classes in the past stated that no absence will be excused without a doctor’s note. While it is understandable that professors must set attendance

policies, I have never taken a class with an attendance policy that took mental illnesses into account.

Issues like this are always difficult. The fear that some will abuse the system is enough to make many hesitant to get on board with laws like the one passed in Oregon. What we have to ask ourselves is if it is worth letting a few dishonest people slip through the cracks in order to connect people that are mentally ill with the tools they need to succeed.

Slacktivism boosts egos, not donations LILLIE BUSCH PRINTZ REPORTER hen checking your phone during class, you see that someone tagged you in a post, along with eleven other people.

Maybe it is finally those photos from the previous weekend, or maybe it is a funny meme. Instead, it is a video filmed by a shaky hand.

Beyond the camera frame, someone drops a bucket of ice onto your friend— really, an acquaintance, but Facebook makes everyone your friend. You then reward your friend with a small smile, pause the video and continue scrolling through your newsfeed.

The video is left unwatched, and your part in the challenge is left unfulfilled. In the future, you may possibly recognize the acronym for the illness.

The ALS ice bucket challenge. The DIPG lemon face challenge. The online trends together earned the term “slacktivism”: the idea that interacting with posts and other social media is pseudo-activism due to the lack of commitment and effort.

In the real world, slacktivism can be as simple—and that’s the point!—as wearing a button to support a specific cause.

Slacktivism goes hand-in-hand with viral internet challenges. Such social media trends raise awareness on important issues,

but how engaging are the videos, truly?

While likes, shares and hashtags may raise awareness for a specific cause, rarely does simply clicking a button lead to larger acts of service, such as attending a protest.

According to a British Columbia study by researchers Kirk Kristofferson, Kather-

Illustration by Lillie Busch | Printz

ine White and John Peloza “The Nature of Slacktivism,” acts inspired by social media do not always inspire more volunteering with an organization. On the other hand, service acts (e.g., running a 5K) lead to bigger acts in the future (e.g., donating money towards a cause.)

A different study, performed by researchers at Michigan State University, theorizes that slacktivism usually leads to other passive acts, such as signing a petition. They do not always inspire active acts, such as volunteering or protesting.

This article is not trying to say that the videos and challenges are completely ineffective; they do garner attention and donations. After all, according to a 2016 New York Times article, research for ALS received $115 million in donations, due in part to the ice bucket challenge.

Needless to say, that is not a sum of money to easily dismiss.

But challenges are not permanent (Is anyone still doing the ice bucket challenge?) and donations are not physical actions like volunteering. Posting a video does not make you an activist. Rather, it continues the façade that social media encourages us to endorse.

When uploading a video, tagging friends is seen more as showing off rather than raising awareness. Slacktivism may spark conversation, but that does not always lead to action.

Popular hashtags like #BringBackOurGirls may spread awareness, but they do not produce results. #BlackLivesMatter was quickly copied by #BlueLivesMatter and #AllLivesMatter in an attempt to diminish the original movement.

Online, we are all performing for one another. What you do off-screen, when no one is watching, that is what really matters.

SPORTS

SEPTEMBER 18, 2019

WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM

Mitchell plays final season in black and gold MAKAYLA PUCKETT SPORTS EDITOR fter a 31-16 Southern Miss win over Kansas in 2010, young Jordan Mitchell found himself on the field of M.M. Roberts Stadium.

“I remember getting on the field not exactly for the players but the Kansas cheerleaders. I’ve got a picture with them somewhere,” Mitchell said.

As a child, the Hattiesburg native would beg his mother to take him to Southern Miss football games with dreams of one day wearing the black and gold like his heroes Damion Fletcher and Austin Davis. In high school, Mitchell was a dual-sport athlete at Oak Grove High School playing baseball and football.

“He only played those two years [of football.] He was quite baseball player, just unbelievable,” former Oak Grove football coach Nevil Barr said. “We could see what kind of athlete he was, so we talked and got him out.”

In the two seasons Mitchell played for Barr, he had 1,347 yards receiving, 76 receptions and 10 touchdowns. He was named Oak Grove’s 2014 offensive player of the year and helped lead the Warriors to two consecutive state championship games.

In 2013, Oak Grove claimed the 6A state championship title with a 14-7 win over Tupelo.

“I remember just from the day we started summer practice, we knew that we had the team,” Mitchell said. “We were the leaders on that team for sure, no doubt me and

Makayla Puckett | Printz

Picasso [Nelson] and a few other guys. That was one of the most fun times just playing football just because we were all bought in.

I see a lot of similarities in that team as I do on this team this year.”

During his senior year, offers from junior colleges began to pour in. After several college visits, Mitchell and his family decided Jones County Junior College was the best fit.

“I had visited a few junior colleges, and I felt like Jones was the best one for me and my family to be able to come support and everything like that, but I had always wanted

Jordan Mitchell signs autograph at DuBard school.

to come to Southern Miss,” Mitchell said.

The day before he inked with Jones, Southern Miss assistant head coach Steve Buckley called Mitchell to offer him a scholarship.

“My mom had a cake for Jones just to celebrate me signing with Jones,” Mitchell said. “[Southern Miss] was my only D1 offer and I had always wanted to play here, so I figured ‘Why wait?’ That’s why I chose just to focus on football once I got here and see how good I could be.”

Barr assured Coach Todd Monken that

taking a chance on Mitchell had little risk despite his short career. “[Monken] was definitely willing to take a chance on my own somebody with that much talent,” Barr said. “He knew; I knew; our coaches knew. It really wasn’t taking a chance because this guy can play.”

Throughout his time at Southern Miss, Mitchell has felt the support of his community.

“I think Hattiesburg is definitely a supportive community, especially coming out of Oak Grove. We have a lot of guys who have come this route,” Mitchell said. “That support system from Oak Grove and just the community is definitely there. It’s really strong, and I appreciate all of them for all the support they give me.”

So far as a Golden Eagle, Mitchell has 683 receiving yards, 57 receptions and five touchdowns. An injury in 2016 forced Mitchell to take a redshirt.

“He finally got healthy last year, and he really kind of blossomed at the end of last year,” Head Coach Jay Hopson said. “We knew he was a football player, and he’s just worked hard in spring, worked hard in summer, and he’s just gotten better and better.

He’s made a ton of plays for us this year, and we need that to continue.”

In game two of the 2019 season, Mitchell had a 65-yard reception at Mississippi State for his first touchdown of the season.

“He’s made big plays for us. He’s a guy you can count on catching and blocking, and he’s just a total football player,” Hopson said.

Mitchell and the Golden Eagles will be back in action on Sept. 21 in Tuscaloosa to face the Alabama Crimson Tide.

College athletes should not be paid to play WILLIAM BURKE PRINTZ REPORTER he life of a student athlete comes with many perks, and getting paid for being a student athlete is not one for a reason.

The endless amount of work a student athlete puts in day in and day out sometimes goes unnoticed. A typical schedule for an in-season student athlete is a hard schedule to work with: workouts at five to six in the morning; practice before class; classes all day; practice after class; and watching and breaking down film after practice. This workload is just a glimpse of what a day in the life of a student athlete consists of.

Yes, this may come off a little harsh, but at the end of the day, they are putting their body through much more energy, stress and work than the regular student. They are doing it for the love of the game, not because it’s their job.

Some would say that Division One student athletes do not get paid enough to put their bodies through what they go through daily. This is true because they aren’t getting paid at all. They do not make a salary for what they go through, but the student athletes who are good enough are granted scholarships.

These scholarships serve as their paycheck.

At the end of the day, they are student athletes.

There is a life after sports. Only one percent of student athletes play at the professional level; the other 99 percent are put in the work field.

Having a helping hand in paying for college is the best paycheck any college student could ask for. Not all student athletes are on scholarship, but that just gives them a goal to achieve as a

Makayla Puckett | Printz

student athlete.

Not only do scholarships play a factor in a student athlete’s life, but so does traveling. Teams travel across the nation and get to experience some of the biggest cities and see sights that not all college students get to see while they are in college. The best part about the student athlete experience is that they travel for free. The student athletes don’t pay to travel; instead, they play their way.

Ethan Edmondson, Eriq Kitchen and Nick Dawson pose for a picture at practice.

Between scholarships and traveling experiences, Division One student athletes get paid just fine for what they do as student athletes. It is not a paycheck they are playing for; it’s the love of the game. The other things that come with it are just extra incentives to continue to play the game they love.

The endless workload may seem to be underappreciated to the student athletes and ultimately lead us to this conversation, but at the end of the

day, they are still students just like every other college student trying to make it in the world.

Put in the work to land a scholarship or put in the work to make it to the next level. Don’t complain about putting in work to play a game you love so much at the division one level, because not all athletes get to compete at such a high level.

Be grateful for the opportunities both in sports and in the classroom.