THE DAILY
MISSISSIPPIAN
Friday, March 24, 2017
Volume 105, No. 110
T H E S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R O F T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F M I S S I S S I P P I S E R V I N G O L E M I S S A N D OX F O R D S I N C E 1 9 1 1
WHAT’S INSIDE...
An alternative to pro-life and pro-choice debates
‘More Life’ review: Hey Drake, WYD?
Ole Miss tennis shuts out Auburn
SEE OPINION PAGE 2
SEE LIFESTYLES PAGE 4
SEE SPORTS PAGE 8
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Thousands register for Oxford day of volunteering KIARA MANNING
thedmnews@gmail.com
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY: CAMERON BROOKS
On Saturday, Ole Miss students will once again host the university’s largest community service project. This year, 2,700 students registered to volunteer with more than 215 service projects during the Big Event. The Big Event has been in Oxford and Lafayette County for 7 years and offers students a way to give back to the community through various service projects. “Students will be performing tons of different types of community service, such as raking leaves, painting, gardening, cleaning and hanging out with the community members,” Big Event director Miller Richmond said. Richmond said that although thousands have registered, the Big Event will also accept walkin volunteers for people who still want to be involved. Volunteer group leaders will arrive at The Pavilion at 7:15 Saturday morning, while student volunteers will arrive before the opening ceremony begins at 9 a.m. Richmond said Theresa Adams, executive director of the Leapfrog after-school program, will deliver the event’s keynote address. Student volunteer teams will be dismissed at 9:45 a.m. to complete projects around the Oxford-Lafayette area. A team of student adminis-
trators works hard throughout the semester to ensure the day’s events run smoothly each year. “It takes hundreds of hours of work from the executive committee of around 25 people, and we have three subcommittees of about 80 people total,” Richmond said. “It also takes tons of support from university administration and community leaders.” Richmond said the Big Event’s goal is always to provide thousands of hours of community service to the Oxford-Lafayette community as a way to give back and to help students make a connection with their local project hosts. Big Event adviser Bradley Baker said the event is unique and brings people together. He said he enjoys seeing interactions between Ole Miss students and citizens, young and old. “Students should feel compelled to give back to their community regardless of a planned event or simply showing up to a place to volunteer,” Baker said. Freshman international studies and public policy major Katie Davis said she signed up for the Big Event because it gets students out of the college bubble in a gratifying way. “A lot of times college students, myself included, can be a little self-centered and busy, and volunteering is a great way
SEE BIG EVENT PAGE 3
Bill prohibiting sanctuary cities heads to governor
MISSISSIPPI TODAY
KENDRA ABLAZA Cities, counties, community colleges and universities could be banned from adopting policies that protect undocumented immigrants if Gov. Phil Bryant signs a bill now headed to his desk. On Tuesday, the Senate agreed to changes made in the House on Senate Bill 2710, sponsored by Sen. Sean Tindell, R-Gulfport. By concurring with the House, the bill goes straight to Gov.
Phil Bryant for consideration. Once approved by the governor, the bill would take effect immediately by voiding policies that municipalities, counties and agencies may adopt that prevent employers from punishing people because of their immigration status. “I appreciate the work of Sen. Tindell to ensure our local governments and educational institutions follow federal immigration laws,” Lt. Gov. Reeves said in a
statement. “No government entity – whether at city hall or a university campus – can grant amnesty to illegal aliens and violate federal laws.” Gov. Bryant’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Bryant has long been critical of illegal immigration. When he was state auditor, he commissioned a 2006 report that estimated some 49,000 undocumented immigrants cost state taxpayers $25 million.
Meanwhile, critics of Bryant’s study say it ignored contributions of immigrants, including sales tax paid and local property taxes they pay when they buy homes. The report is often cited in political circles as evidence that undocumented immigrants hurt Mississippi’s economy. It has been some five years since the Legislature has made a serious attempt at state-level immigration reform. In 2010, the city of Jackson passed what it called an anti-racial-profil-
ing ordinance that prohibits police officers from asking about suspects’ immigration status during routine traffic stops. However, in floor debate, supporters of this year’s legislation noted that no Mississippi communities currently have passed so-called “sanctuary” regulations attempting to escape from enforcing federal immigration law. This year’s proposed legislation saw little resistance from lawmakers.