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Thursday, June 15, 2017
Volume 105, No. 143
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
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Ole Miss Parking retracts new policy
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Kelly: ‘We will not be intimidated by cowards’ DM STAFF REPORT dmeditor@gmail.com
PHOTO BY: MARLEE CRAWFORD
Vehicles are parked on campus in Oxford on Wednesday illustrating that some drivers prefer backing into spaces next to large vehicles.
RACHEL ISHEE DANIEL DUBUISSON thedmnews@gmail.com
UM Parking and Transportation released an email Wednesday afternoon in response to criticism from students, faculty and staff about a new parking policy that was slated to go into effect July 1.
The new policy would have made pulling through or backing into a parking spot a violation on campus. Wednesday’s email stated that “based on feedback received over the past two days, we have reconsidered and will not be implementing the policy.” “As with all decisions
sometimes they work and sometimes they do not. This is one of those times it did not,” Director of Parking and Transportation Mike Harris said. “We however will continue to look for ways to be more efficient in our operation and help the university to move forward.” The original email that
came out Monday afternoon stated the university was looking into implementing LPR-License Plate Recognition software, a change that would have saved the university $100,000 a year. The new software would be able to read the license plate
SEE PARKING PAGE 4
ASB to renew push for student input LYNDY BERRYHILL dmeditor@gmail.com
Associated Student Body senators will continue to push for student representation this fall on the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on History and Context. This spring the Ole Miss AAB passed a resolution by a vote of 34-11 to pause the work of the committee.
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The committee has been working since 2015 to review buildings, monuments and other sites on campus. Senators and authors Coco McDonnell, Hunter Story and Brady Kies wrote the resolution because they felt students were not being adequately represented on the committee. Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter later released a statement
and said that the committee would continue its purpose of assessing campus sites. There was only one student on the committee, who was former ASB President Austin Powell. “Dr. Vitter’s response let all of the students the senate represents down,” said Kies, a rising sophomore criminal justice major. “We presented facts and
persuaded 30 of 41 senators based on factual evidence, but of course we are dismissed by the administration,” Kies said. Kies said members of the ASB have not made an official decision on what the next steps should be, but when school starts back they will meet and determine
SEE ASB PAGE 4
Ole Miss student journeys to PULSE nightclub
Rocket 88 leaves their mark on Mississippi music
Metcalf leaps by faith
SEE NEWS PAGE 5
SEE LIFESTYLES PAGE 8
SEE SPORTS PAGE 12
While practicing in Virginia for tonight’s lawmakers’ baseball game, Rep. Trent Kelly was reportedly shot at while on third base Wednesday morning, according to the Washington Post. Kelly tweeted, “I am safe. We continue to pray for my colleagues and their families,” after the incident. Kelly represents Oxford and the rest of Mississippi’s first congressional district. Majority Whip Steve Scalise was shot as well as a lobbyist, a congressional aide and a Capitol Police special agent. Several others present incurred injuries. The shooter was identified as James T. Hodgkinson, who was a 66-year-old home inspector, according to his Facebook profile. He later died from injuries. Hodgkinson had previously volunteered for Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign. Sanders later announced that he was “sickened by this despicable act. Let me be as clear as I can be. Violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society.” Kelly told the Daily Journal that he was the closest person to the shooter, and he was “thankful and grateful for the grace of God or I wouldn’t be here right now.” “It’s important now to let people know that we’re not going to be intimidated by cowards,” Kelly said. “We’re going to stand tall and do the people’s work.” Despite the shooting, Kelly and other congressmen said they intend to play in tonight’s Congressional Baseball Game, a tradition among Democrats and Republicans.
OPINION
PAGE 2 | THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 15 JUNE 2017
Marsha P Johnson was a transgender woman who was a vital part of the Stonewall riot. She was an LGBTQ activitst and an impotant part of the LGBTQ rights movement.
CARTOON BY JAKE THRASHER
OITNB attempts to start protest, but ultimately fails
MIKAYLA TURNER
thedmopinion@gmail.com
When one sits down for a night-long binge session of all their Netflix favorites, they do not usually sign up to be confronted with a plot line that encompasses some of the nation’s most taboo, controversial issues all at once. Although that is exactly
what we received when the fifth season of Orange is the New Black aired on June 9. The season picks up in the middle of a prison riot beginning to form and an abusive guard being held at gunpoint by an inmate, surrounded by other angry fugitives. The binge-worthy season encompasses issues like much-needed prison reform, unnecessary deaths of African Americans by authority figures, the reality of white privilege and racial profiling. The series tended to become more protest-like through its plot line in its last season with the death of a black inmate, Poussey Washington, at the hands of an untrained guard. The infamous words
“I can’t breathe” uttered by Washington in her last moments mimicked those of Eric Garner, who died after multiple officers used unnecessary force on the man. From there, the show’s strikes at the U.S. justice system and law enforcement have grown more and more prominent. It also made a controversial contradiction with the buying and selling of a white, elitist celebrity inmate by poorer white and African-American prisoners, playing with the idea of parodying the international and domestic slave trade. The show has become a full-on, wide-scale protest that takes advantage of its high ratings and large audi-
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ence to push it’s messages to more people. It encompasses real-life issues that do not get as much attention as they should in the real world. What is a shame about all of it is that there must be some type of show like OITNB, a post or a video that must go viral before people will look up from their laptops and phones and see that injustices like this are still happening every single day. Although, all they will do is give it a retweet, a heartfelt post, slap a hashtag on it, and move on to the next injustice. OITNB is trying to make us confront the problems we do not want to see, and the show’s main goal is to get us to do something about it. Not
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just move on to the next season, the next post, the next injustice without speaking out. Although their efforts are great and they may impact some people for a limited amount of time, at the end of the season their message will still be seen as nothing more than twists and turns in the story of Litchfield Penitentiary. The only way the show’s messages will be heard and acted upon is if people begin seeing that these types of problems are actually happening in the real world, not just in a fictional world. Mikala Turner is a sophomore social work major from Bruce.
The Daily Mississippian is published Monday through Friday during the academic year, on days when classes are scheduled. Columns do not represent the official opinions of The University of Mississippi or The Daily Mississippian unless specifically indicated. The Daily Mississippian welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be e-mailed to dmletters@ olemiss.edu. Letters should be typed, double-spaced and no longer than 300 words. Letters may be edited for clarity, space or libel. Third-party letters and those bearing pseudonyms, pen names or “name withheld” will not be published. Publication is limited to one letter per individual per calendar month. Letters should include phone and email contact information so that editors can verify authenticity. Letters from students should include grade classification and major; letters from faculty and staff should include title and the college, school or department where the person is employed.
OPINION
THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 15 JUNE 2017 | PAGE 3
Will Puerto Rico become the 51st state of the U.S.?
NESTOR DELGADO
thedmopinion@gmail.com
For the second time in five years, voters throughout the United States’ territory, Puerto Rico, went to the polls in support of statehood with a vote of 97 percent. Although the vote was an overwhelming majority, the question must be asked, will Puerto Rico really become a state? According to the Hill, “Puerto Rico previously voted in favor of becoming a state in 2012, but statehood opponents said the voter turnout was not high enough to accurately reflect will of the Puerto Rican people (voter turnout was 23 percent). Some fear that
they will make the same case this time around.” When the Governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rossello, enacts the Tennessee Plan, the formality to accession when U.S. territories are able to send a congressional delegation to demand to be seated in Washington, two things will be on the mind of Congress: money and majority. First order of business, money. NPR reported on the first of the many hearings to come regarding Puerto Rico’s $123 billion debt that the islanders are currently struggling with as well as Associated Press reporting on the proposed $500 million cuts to the Puerto Rican university system that led to a three month student strike ending with the university president and other top-level officials resigning. It is fair to say that President Trump’s tweet back in April stating “The Democrats want to shut government if we don’t bail out Puerto Rico and give billions to their insurance
companies for OCare failure. NO!” shows that the GOP, rightfully so, would be unwilling to ‘bail out’ Puerto Rico. So in regards to money, Puerto Rico will get a big thumbs down from Washington as the GOP will seek to use Puerto Rico’s debt restructuring board, which has jurisdiction from Chairman Rep. Rob Bishop’s (R- Utah) House Natural Resources Committee, as a viable alternative. Second order of business, majority. As of the current makeup of the 115th Congress, Republicans currently hold 52 of the 100 seats in the Senate and 239 of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives. With a slim marginal voting advantage ahead of the Democratic Party, it wouldn’t make sense for a Republican controlled Congress, at least in the present moment, to allow Puerto Rico to become a state as they would essentially be adding two Democratic Senators as well as five
Democratic Representatives which would decrease the GOP’s legislative power. This is once again another thumbs down from Washington to Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico statehood advocates should have capitalized on the initial 2012 victorious vote because with their $123 billion debt crisis
and a Republican majority in Congress, I don’t expect Puerto Rico to become the 51st state of the United States of America for quite some time. Nestor Delgado is a junior public policy leadership major from Pascagoula.
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PAGE 4 | THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 15 JUNE 2017
continued from page 1 of vehicles and determine if a parking permit had been purchased for the particular zone a vehicle enters. Had the original policy been enacted, vehicles would have been required to park so that the rear license plate would be visible to parking officers from the aisle. Although the policy has been revised, the LPR technology will still be implemented within the next few years and accommodations will be made to the software for those who back into or pull through parking spots. Prior to Wednesday’s announcement, Harris said that implementing this new policy was the first step towards the gradual use of the new technology. “The LPR system does not go into effect this year. It will start next year fall 2018 when we will roll it. We will use a dual system for that year, both permits and LPR, to make sure all works properly,” Harris said. “Then the following year fall 2019 we will drop permits altogether, if all works properly.” Following the initial announcement of the policy, senior Associated Student Body Senator Hunter Story started a change.org petition titled “Help NOT make Ole Miss parking any worse.” With over 1,800 supporters, the petition lists several reasons why preventing students from pulling through or backing in is a mistake. “The potential for avoidable wrecks that would take place while trying to park forwards into a small spot for some students as well as the overall prospect of being told how to park is not a well thought out policy for the school to impose in the best interest of current and new students,” the petition reads. But the petition is not the only way Story says students planned to voice their opposition. He says the response he received might have led to some type of student-led
demonstration. “Other feedback included students, faculty and outside community members curious about this petition possibly leading to a day or longer of protest on campus. And I can say at this time myself and other senators will fully back a protest to recall this ridiculous policy if the administration refuses to repeal this rule.” Taylor Delaney, recent graduate of Ole Miss, was also confused by the new policy, saying that parking on campus, regardless of any policy changes, is still subpar. “Parking is a student need. You’re making that need harder to have, and to have comfortably,” Delaney said. Students were not alone in their disdain for the original statement. Assistant professor of electrical engineering Matthew Morrison posted an email to his Facebook timeline that he sent to UM Parking Services regarding the policy. “any policy implemented by our university should be inclusive and promote the safety of the students, staff and faculty,” Morrison said. “The National Transport and Safety Authority states that ‘267 people are killed and 15,000 injured each year by drivers who back into them, usually in driveways or parking lots’ and that reverse parking you are discouraging through your policy would save the majority of those lives.” (This statistic is actually provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) The retraction of Monday’s email seems to be welcomed by the Ole Miss community. “I think the petition was a great tool to show how much opposition there was to this policy from students, faculty and parents alike in a quick and efficient manner,” Story said in response to the new email. “A quick retraction of this policy was the outcome we all wanted and I am glad it all worked out before the policy went into effect.”
FILE PHOTO BY: CAMERON BROOKS
Chancellor Vitter speaks at the CAHC Listening Session on Monday, March 6 at The Inn at Ole Miss.
ASB
continued from page 1 what actions will be taken. “While Dr. Vitter’s response wasn’t surprising, I know that myself and the other senators who helped write this legislation and those who supported and voted in favor of it, are very disappointed in the response,” Kies said. “The Chancellor, once again, is pushing his own agenda and is not listening to the agenda of the students, the body I was elected to represent.” Kies said the authors thoroughly researched their proposition, which included interviews with committee members, attending listening sessions and meeting with students. Kies said it is time for students to demand their voices be heard. “Myself and other members of the ASB senate will continue to fight for student representation, and we will not back down,” Kies said. “We are tired of personal agendas being pushed and not the agenda of the student body, the body myself
and 46 other senators were elected to represent.” Fellow author Hunter Story, a senior legal studies major said in the long-term, the ASB senators plan to continue putting the wants and needs of the students first. “With this issue and any other issue that comes up the goal will be the same: making sure the voices of the students are heard,” Story said. “Like with the parking policy that came out this week. The opinions of those directly affected, the students, was not courted first and that can not happen anymore.” Story said any change to the university or policy enactment should not occur without the consent of its largest stakeholders, which is the student body. Chancellor Vitter’s response: First, I would like to recognize and thank the students of the ASB for their service in student government and being active participants in the life of our campus. Student government is a tremendous responsibility and deserves much effort and commitment. Our university has long been committed
to honest and open dialogue about its history and how to make our campuses more welcoming and inclusive. Unfortunately, the ASB resolution and discussion around the resolution were based upon inaccurate information. Since I first announced on March 29, 2016, that I would establish the CACHC, we have been transparent and open with our communications with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends. From meetings to determine the criteria for membership, the nomination process, a dedicated website, online input forms for both Phase I & II, group meetings, email communications, ads, and social media platforms, among others, we have sought input from our community every step along the way to keep all aware of the process and to engage the public. I especially encourage all to check the full context.OleMiss.edu site, which provides details and is regularly updated. I look forward to receiving the committee’s report, representing the CACHC’s extensive work over this entire academic year.”
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THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 15 JUNE 2017 | PAGE 5
PULSE: A student’s search for answers one year later JACQUELINE KNIRNSCHILD thedmnews@gmail.com
Wesley Craft stands at the Pulse Night Club in Orlando, staring at a Christmas tree covered in photos of the 49 victims of the nation’s worst terror attack since 9/11 and worst hate crime in modern history. He is photographing the scene before him for his honors college Freshman Ventures video, but, for Craft, the Pulse shooting and its aftermath have been more than a school project. Craft grew up in Raleigh, a town of fewer than 2,000 people, many of whom are Southern Baptist. Until recently, Craft kept his sexuality a secret. Following the June 12, 2016 attack in Orlando, Craft said he felt isolated because he could not explain to his family and friends why the shooting affected him so strongly. It was the crux for his inner struggle between his faith and identity. Traveling to Pulse for the six-month anniversary of the massacre was Craft’s chance to find guidance from the Orlando community’s exemplification of love conquering hate and confront the internal conflict he feels between his religion and sexuality, a dichotomy that plagues many LGBTQ people, often resulting in not only self-hate but also hate towards others. “Growing up, I was always taught that gay people were bad, disgusting, perverted people. I was rewarded with acceptance when I said bad things about gay people. They were the enemy,” Craft said. Craft said these teachings naturally made him hide the uncertainty he felt toward his sexuality as an adolescent. “At 11 years old, I decided that even though I was attracted to boys, I wasn’t gay. I wasn’t some far-off person who hated God. I made myself promise that no matter how strong the feelings were, I would never admit them, not even to myself,” Craft said. Craft said he handled this problem the same way he handled all of his other problems growing up: He prayed. “I prayed for five years. I begged God to take these feelings away,” Craft said. Despite all of his praying, Craft said nothing in him changed. In high school, he said he tried dating a few girls, but as soon as things escalated beyond kissing, he recalls feeling “like he wanted to throw up.” So, he said, he decided to stop praying. “I stopped my relationship with Jesus because everyone I knew had always taught me that one cannot be gay and Christian,” Craft said. While in Orlando, Craft interviewed Robin Maynard, the
AP PHOTO BY: JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL
Pulse nightclub owner Barbara Poma tends to the memorial in front of her club on Saturday in Orlando, Florida. Many events are being held across central Florida to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the June 12, 2016 massacre at the nightclub that left 49 people dead. vice chair for the non-profit organization Pulse of Orlando. During the interview, Maynard said that she grew up Southern Baptist and is also a lesbian. Off-camera, Craft opens up to Maynard about his own struggles growing up Southern Baptist and gay. Maynard reads him a Facebook post that she wrote in light of the Pulse shooting. “I didn’t want to be gay. I really, really didn’t,” Maynard said. “I would watch Grease with my sister and while she would go on about John Travolta, I knew I was more drawn to Olivia Newton John.” At age 16, Maynard said she admitted to herself that she had feelings or one of her female friends. Maynard said growing up, she had a good, personal, spiritual relationship with God and thus, in the same way as Craft, prayed and begged for God to take such feelings away from her. “I bargained and pleaded and made promises I surely couldn’t keep,” Maynard said. “I left my high school my senior year to remove the temptation of being around the girl I was so drawn to – flee temptation.” Maynard said she then paid her own tuition to attend a small Christian school and immerse herself in doctrine and Bible classes. She said her relationship was more than recite prayer but a true relationship – on a daily basis, with mindful intentions, she convened with her creator. “Everything was great minus this one huge flaw,” Maynard said. “I was confident,
PHOTO BY: JACQUELINE KNIRNSCHILD
Wesley Craft stands under lights in front a memorial at the PULSE nightclub in Orland on six-month anniversary of the shootings. had great friends, kept a smile on my face but inside I felt like a fraud from this awful plague of feeling love and attraction for the wrong sex.” Despite her pleading, Maynard said at age 18, she fell in love with another beautiful, thoughtful, funny, adventurous girl. “This should have been an incredibly happy time, but it was torturous. I cried. A lot. My internal conflict would not allow me full happiness based on what had been instilled in my core being.” At this point, Maynard said she turned away from God and didn’t pray for the next five years. “I had been told again and
again that you can’t be a lukewarm Christian,” Maynard said. “It’s either black or white, you can’t live in the gray.” She said she realized that being gay was not her choice, as she had always been taught, but intrinsically part of her identity. Since she couldn’t change who she was, Maynard said she thought she had to give up being a Christian. Now, in her mid-forties, Maynard said she has long reconciled her relationship with her creator and recognizes that many religions create a block separating gay people from God. “You can, in fact, have it all – a creator who loves you exactly for who you, that knows
your heart,” Maynard said. “It’s the so-called representatives of Christ that are causing division between God and the gay community that are going to feel the repercussions.” Maynard said she knows many of her friends and family don’t agree with her faith but it doesn’t matter because it’s her faith and not theirs. “That’s the joy of not judging people,” Maynard said. “We get to coexist in unity, of all different faiths and beliefs.” Maynard told Craft she hopes he can learn to love all of himself. “You won’t be able to have a complete relationship with Je-
SEE PULSE PAGE 6
NEWS
PAGE 6 | THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 15 JUNE 2017
PULSE
continued from page 5 sus until you love all of yourself,” Maynard said. “Jesus demands that we love ourselves.” Local pastor Jim Davis said that Grace Bible Church accepts people with same-sex attractions, as long as they want to repent. “In some manner you’re going to have to choose – I’m not creating the rules here – there is a Bible that is very clear on it, and I believe the Bible,” Davis said. Davis is the executive pastor of Oxford Grace Bible Church, which, he said, despite contributing to the Southern Baptist Convention, has a “non-denominational feel.” “What people often want to say in all different categories is that they can have Jesus and their sins,” Davis said. “Those sins, however, Davis said, will never give them more satisfaction than the hope of Jesus.” Homosexuality is a sin, Davis said, because it doesn’t follow God’s design and therefore, he would not perform a homosexual wedding. Davis said God gave us these designs not as “bunch of rules to keep us in line,” but because we flourish best in those designs. “There is more satisfaction to be found, more joy to be found choosing Jesus over any relationship that goes against the design,” Davis said. When one embraces God, Davis said, his love will overpower the satisfaction derived from acting upon one’s sinful desires.
FILE PHOTO BY CADY HERRING
Community members gathered to support the LGBTQ+ community and honor the victims of the Orlando shooting at Lamar Park in Oxford, Tuesday, June 14, 2016. “There’s a real God that enters into your life and your heart and satisfies you in a way that makes you want to resist a myriad of other desires,” Davis said. “I’ve just not seen anyone in that [same-sex] lifestyle that is thriving,” Davis said. “Our own devices harm us.” Multiple news sources, including the New York Times and CBS have found evidence that Omar Mateen, himself, could have been gay and due to his Muslim faith, was experiencing self-hate and in turn hate towards the LGBTQ community. Craft admits that as a prod-
uct of sexuality, he has had many strong feelings of hatred. “I truly believed it was wrong to be gay so I hated myself and anyone who was like me,” Craft said. “Then when I realized that maybe it’s not so wrong, I was mad seeing open people being happy because I never thought I’d have that.” “That’s why it’s so dangerous to make people hate themselves. A lot of people will do something to themselves or others.” Davis said a “good Church” could prevent such feelings of self-hate that Craft, Maynard and possibly Mateen all felt. Having an open community
one can go to and say “this is what I struggle with” makes all the difference, Davis said. Davis said stories like Craft and Maynard’s make him sad because they didn’t have a community they “could come out to and just say ‘this is what I desire and I don’t know how to process this.’” Davis said he hopes he is explaining same-sex attraction to his children in a way that they will feel open to talk to him and not feel like any less of a person if that’s what they struggle with. A year later, Craft has been reflecting on everything that has happened since the shoot-
ing. He is currently a counselor at a summer camp in Nashville. “Last year on June 12, I felt paralyzed, this June 12, I was doing what I love,” Craft said. He prays again, but for sends up different prayers. Craft said he thought a lot about the Pulse victims and why the shooting even happened. But this year he is working toward helping LGBTQ youths realize their worth. “The whole thing is still difficult to think about, but I’m better now,” Craft said. “I pray the same for everyone else affected.”
And The Echo performs at Summer Concert Series
PHOTOS BY: ARIEL COBBERT
And The Echo performs live in The Grove Sunday evening as a part of the Summer Sunset Series. People of all ages pulled out their pinic baskets, blankets and lawn chairs. This Sunday Rocket 88 will continue the series.
LIFESTYLES
THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 15 JUNE 2017 | PAGE 7
Peggy Myles: tailoring A-listers to Oxford residents KIRSTEN MCGILL
ktmcgill@go.olemiss.edu
Local tailor Peggy Myles began sewing so she could have clothes to wear growing up, but eventually her skills made it on to the big screen. Nestled right off of North Lamar Boulevard sits a quiet little alterations shop that seems to never slow down. The ladies at Peggy’s Specialty Alterations and Dress Making work hard to perfectly alter dresses and outfits for Oxford residents and even customers across the country. In the 1990s, Myles had the opportunity to work on movies that featured a number of well known actors and actresses that range from Alec Baldwin, Sandra Bullock and a number of others. Myles said that Matthew McConaughey was one of the most memorable actors she worked with because he would spend a lot of time with them, and he had a very friendly attitude. “Matthew was one of my favorites because he was really, really a nice young man,” Myles said. “He was kind of the person you could just hangout with and and talk with. I’ll always remember him.” Some of the movies that Myles had the opportunity to work on included “A Time to Kill,” “The Chamber,” “Ghosts of Mississippi” and “Finding Graceland.” Myles was recommended by a fellow seamstress to work on these movies’ wardrobes. In previous years, photos of celebrities from these movies hung on the walls of her shop, but now photos of local customers and Ole Miss students fill the wall. She depicted a time when she was working on a dress for Bridget Fonda that was a replica of a Marilyn Monroe dress. With only an hour to spare, Myles had executives from Australia, New York and California on their way to inspect Fonda in the newly altered work. “When I would put the pin inside the fabric, the fabric would kind of like disintegrate,” Myles said. “The dress did very well, but if I didn’t get it right that one time I was gonna be fired.” Myles’ start in sewing and alterations was not as glamorous as working on movie sets and hanging out with celebrities. As an Oxford native, her grandmother got her interested in sewing when she was just a little girl. She enjoyed watching her grandmother make little dresses for her with only a needle and thread. Myles had no formal training in sewing; it just came to her
Peggy Myles works with a customer to perfect the alterations on a dress.
PHOTOS BY: KIRSTEN MCGILL
Bushba works on sewing part of a military uniform. naturally. After not having success at owning her first alterations shop, The Golden Spool, Myles went on to work at Virginia’s Alterations for ten years. In 1998, she decided to quit working at Virginia’s and open Peggy’s Specialty Alterations and Dress Making 19 years ago. Although Peggy used to design dresses, she has begun to focus more on alterations at her shop. There are a number of alterations shops in Oxford including Square Alterations, but Myles says what makes her store stand out is they try to bring things back to their original state. They want the altered clothes to fit each customer, and also look perfect after the alterations are complete. The friendly employees and family-friendly atmo-
sphere are also aspects that Myles and her employees take great pride in. Myles says it is important to smile and make customers feel as welcomed as possible when they choose her business. “It’s more than just being able to alter a dress or a pair of pants,” Myles said. “You have to have something that makes people feel welcomed and puts their minds at ease when they are really worried about something.” The work dynamic and welcoming attitude are a big part of why customers continue to come back for their services. They work with customers and help them get exactly what they want. According to Ole Miss student Liz Newsom, they helped her get the right alteration on her dress adding a little bit of their professional opinion to make it
perfect. “They’re very community-oriented and nice,” Newsom said. “They take the time out to get to know you or at least make you feel at home.” Many customers go to Peggy for their alteration needs, and they know that she will take the best possible care of them. Morgan Pirtle, a frequent customer, brought a skirt to Peggy during football season, and she was able to get it back to her two days later perfectly altered. “I think what makes Peggy’s Alterations stand out from other alteration shops is that Ms. Peggy is so sweet and really cares about her business,” Pirtle said. “She assures me every single time I walk in there that whatever I need altered will be done to her best ability,
and will be done at the time that I need it.” Peggy loves to meet all of the wonderful people that come through her doors from all over the world. Although at times mistakes can be made, Peggy says 99 percent of the time customers are pleased with the final product. She looks at dresses the way a sculptor looks at a sculpture; pinning and adjusting the dress to fit the person perfectly. “For customers to be happy with the final product, it makes me happy,” Myles said. “That’s one of the joys of it; you make a living out of it and make someone happy in return.” The job isn’t always easy though. They are usually busy all year around, but see a large increase in foot traffic during football season, recruitment, winter and spring formals and graduation. The work is mentally stressful and they work long hours to continue to satisfy their many customers. Myles just takes a deep breath and gets back at it again. Peggy’s usually sees 75 to 100 customers on a busy day and no less than 15 to 25 customers on slower days. With prices that range from just $1 to sew on buttons to $150 and up to work on wedding dresses or evening gowns, customers continue to come back to Peggy’s. A handful of women work alongside Myles. A TV sits on a file cabinet for them to enjoy throughout the day, and they are always willing to lend a helping hand when a fellow employee is in need. The work environment makes it easy for employees to feel at home in their “office.” Bushba, an employee from Sri Lanka, came to America when she was nine with her family. She was able to learn how to sew through studying it in high school. “The work dynamic and everyone is very good,” Bushba said. “I enjoy my sewing, and I’m so happy I work here.” In addition to Bushba, seamstresses Rubby Wilson and Sellie Liggins love having the opportunity to work for Myles and spend time with their co-workers who can turn into family. With their sewing machines situated right next to each other, they too have been sewing since a young age. According to Wilson, they may just sew all day long, but they always joke around and make sure to have fun. “The easiest part about working here is we have a great boss,” Wilson said.
LIFESTYLES
PAGE 8 | THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 15 JUNE 2017
Rocket 88 leaving mark on the Oxford music scene
5 p.m. - Barbara Phillips and John Maxey 6 p.m. - Goodnight Market - Old Armory Pavilion 7 p.m. - Shane King - Ajax
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There are big things in the works for Rocket 88 as the summer continues to move along. Shows at Rowan Oak and the Grove are two big events on the radar for the group as they continue to leave their imprint on the Oxford music scene.
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in the very near future. “It’s been awhile since we put out a full length album. We all have day jobs,” Robbins said. “Last time I checked we have about 100 unreleased originals. There’s definitely the plan to put out more music, for sure.”
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down, intimate set on the rooftop of The Graduate. Rocket 88 released its first album, “Full Circle,” in 2007, according to their website. Although it’s been almost 10 years since that last release, the group is more than ready to put out another project some time
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Rockett 88 performs live at The Coop Wednesday evening. The band will perform in The Grove on Sunday.
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Oxford continues to produce more and more original bands and music. One of the newest groups on the scene is Rocket 88, a band that self admittedly has a bit of an identity crisis. “Americana, I think, doesn’t really fit us. Hill country blues, straight ahead rock kind of stuff; it’s a mix of all that. Somebody called it juke joint gospel at one point,” the group’s bassist, Nathan Robbins, said. “That’s always the hardest question. It’s kind of rock ‘n’ roll with hill country influence, some blues mixed in there. And, even some old traditional country-type stuff.” The group is based out of Oxford but also represents cities from all across the state of Mississippi, with almost every member being born and raised in the state. This down-home South-
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ern charm is represented in their live show, which is described as a bit different than some other rock ‘n’ roll groups. “I always think of them like family reunions,” Robbins said. “Everybody is having a great time. It’s music that everybody knows, and if you don’t know it you can identify with it.There’s always good energy, and the goal is always for that energy to transfer to the crowd.” The group has had the opportunity to tour all over the Southeast, as well as participate in a few festivals. As the lives of each member change with jobs and family, such an extensive playing schedule isn’t as realistic anymore, but they still put their best foot forward to get out and play as much as possible. Most recently the band has been featured in a regular rotation at The Coop. One Wednesday of every month the group has a more broken
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AUSTIN HILLE
LIFESTYLES
THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 15 JUNE 2017 | PAGE 9
Juneteenth festival celebrates monumental day LEXI PURVIS
capurvis@go.olemiss.edu
Not many people are familiar with the significance of the Juneteenth Festival even though it’s been celebrated in the United States for several decades dating all the way back to 1865. The 10th Annual Juneteenth Summer Festival will take place from 3 p.m. - 8 p.m. this Saturday at the Oxford Intermediate School. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration that commemorates the ending of slavery in America. On June 19, 1865, two years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger led Union soldiers to FILE PHOTO BY: MARLEE CRAWFORD Galveston, Texas, where they Children from the Oxford community play on the water slides at last year’s Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 18, received the news that slaves 2016. were now free people. Enforcing the new Executive Order in ry on this legacy was Cecelia Not only does the event have erts Wilson Law Firm. Texas was difficult due to the James-Webb, who is now the numerous vendors, but also an Juneteenth has so much lack of Union troops there to event chair and has worked on incredible amount of sponsors more than just great vendors enforce the new law. the festival for the past eight including the City of Oxford, and sponsors giving away free With Granger’s regiment and years. The Juneteenth Festi- Action Auto, Good Nutrition, the surrender of Gen. Robert E. val planning committee now Bob Well Catering from New Lee in April of 1865, there were consists of Sally Stark, Frances Orleans, Chick-fil-A and Robfinally enough Union forces Howell, Oxford Alderman Ulable to enforce the order and ysses “Coach” Howell, Roberts overcome resistance. Wilson and Kesha Howell-AtJune 19 was a significant day kinson, who is the event chair in American history because alongside Cecilia James-Webb. after two years of delaying free“This is a freedom festival dom to those enslaved, inde- where you come and enjoy pendence was finally granted to free food and free fun,” JamesStudent Media Center those who still did not yet have Webb said. “We want this to be Shifts available for their freedom. a place of freedom which is why the 2017-2018 Juneteenth celebrations have everything will be free.” school year been around for decades, but The festival will have various Oxford is now celebrating its vendors from around the comWork Hours: 10th Juneteenth Festival which, munity who will be giving away Monday-Friday was started by Pastor Debra free items at their tents. Local between 10am-4pm Palmer. businesses and other local orPalmer had a vision for the ganizations such as Snowbiz, • REQUIRED: knowledge of and festival, and she worked to Oxford Dental, Mugg Cakes, experience in InDesign and gather people from around the Andy’s Art Tent, Delta Sigma Photoshop. • An understanding of the community who she believed Theta, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Pi fundamentals of graphic design could properly fulfill the legacy Beta Sigma, The Bullseye 95.5 and what constitutes good AD of Juneteenth. One individual and many other vendors will be design handpicked by Palmer to car- in attendance.
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items. There’s also a ton of fun activities to participate in at the event. Face painting, games, waterslides, barbecue and live entertainment with a performance from the band Eclipse will be at the event. The fraternities and sororities involved in Juneteenth will be participating in a Greek Stroll-off, a type of dance competition which is performed by multicultural greek organizations that have ties to African roots. The Juneteenth Summer Festival will be able to celebrate summer in the summer heat by being involved within the community, playing games, visiting vendors and enjoying free food and entertainment, all while celebrating an incredibly monumental day in American history. “We are very excited for this year’s festival,” James-Webb said. “We would like to give a huge thank you to the city of Oxford for all of their support and effort.”
SPORTS
PAGE 10 | THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 15 JUNE 2017
Warriors redeem themselves with finals victory QUE’TAURUS CERTION thedmsports@gmail.com
The Golden State Warriors are the NBA champions. The four-headed monster of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green set out on a mission to avenge the previous year’s loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers led by Lebron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. The team had a record-breaking start to the NBA playoffs going 15-0 before losing in Game 4 of the finals. This year, Durant earned the NBA Finals MVP after his stellar play while being guarded by James for most of the series. Durant averaged 35.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.6 blocks. Durant’s greatest moment of the finals and perhaps of his career came in the final moments of Game 3. KD scored the last seven points for the Warriors and guided them to victory over the Cavaliers in the closest game of the series. He drilled a goahead 3-pointer with under a minute remaining with James guarding him on the play. The Finals may have ended shortly in five games, but they were filled with record breaking performances. James was
AP PHOTO BY MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ
Golden State Warriors players, coaches and owners pose for photos after Game 5 of basketball’s NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Oakland, Calif., Monday, June 12. The Warriors won 129-120 to win the NBA championship. the first player ever in NBA history to average a triple double with 33.6 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 10.0 assists per game. The Cavaliers also broke the record for most 3.pointers in a single game with 22 in Game 4. “It would be the same if you wrote the best column of your life, and somebody picked another one over you. How would you feel? So, you wouldn’t hold your head down, but you would be like,
OK, it’s just not my time” said James after Game 5. The road to redemption for the Warriors began after the painful loss in the Finals last year after leading the series 3-1 against the Cavaliers and failing to win another game. The loss in the Finals made the team feel as though all their accomplishments were discredited. In that year, the team broke the record for most wins in a season with 73 and hailed the first ever
unanimous MVP in Stephen Curry. These were the Warriors’ finals to lose as they have been the league’s favorite all year to win the championship. Ever since landing KD in the free agency the team had been compared as one of the greatest if not the greatest team of all time. It is hard to argue this statement after the team’s performance this year and dominance in the playoffs.
Regardless of how badly the Warriors wanted to redeem themselves, this Finals was most important for allstar Durant. After receiving heavy criticism for joining Golden State and many calling the move “weak” and bad for the NBA, the star had to perform and excel on the biggest stage, and he did just that. “He’s the only one I’ve been looking at since 2012. He’s the one who looked me eyeto-eye. I told him we tied up now, and we going to try to do this thing again” said Durant on facing James again. Durant has succeeded in gaining the elusive championship ring that he has sought his entire 10-year career. He should feel no shame for joining the Warriors because at the end of the day the NBA is a business. To not capitalize on your success and to not do what’s best for yourself in any industry is quite unreasonable. The NBA is in a strong state and is reminiscent of the golden days when the 1980s Lakers and Celtics teams would constantly play each other in the finals. The Warriors and Cavaliers have recreated a similar rivalry, and there is no reason to believe these teams will not see each other next year as well.
Rebel Rags files lawsuit against MSU Players QUE’TAURUS CERTION thedmsports@gmail.com
Ole Miss released their response to NCAA allegations against the school’s football program on June 6. After releasing responses from head coach Hugh Freeze and former Ole Miss assistant coach Barney Farrar, the whirlwind story further developed once Rebel Rags filed a lawsuit against Mississippi State’s Leo Lewis and Kobe Jones. Rebel Rags is a local Ox-
ford business that is known for selling Ole Miss apparel. Lewis and Jones claimed in their testimonies that they received free merchandise from the store while they were both recruits. The attorney for Rebel Rags, Charlie Merkel, stated that in the lawsuit the company is seeking to recover damages and harm that were caused due to the “false claims” made by the three parties. The lawsuit states that the three
are being sued for defamation, civil conspiracy and commercial disparagement following the accusations that were given to the NCAA during its investigation into Ole Miss. There were inconsistencies in the allegations made by Lewis and Jones, as they were interviewed on multiple occasions by the NCAA. Rebel Rags claims that these inconsistencies discredit the accusations and verifies the false fabrication of testimonies by the individuals. The inconsistencies are also present with Lindsey Miller’s testimony, who is former Ole Miss left tackle Laremy Tunsil’s stepfather. In the following excerpt from Ole Miss’s NCAA response Lewis is “Student-Athlete 39,” Jones is “Student-Athlete 40,” Miller is “Family Member 1” and Rebel Rags is “Booster 8.” “Not a single witness corroborates these claims-in fact, every other witness denies it, including those
closest to the prospects and without University affiliation. [Booster 8] purchase records from the specific dates [Student-Athlete 39] and [Student-Athlete 40] claim to have received hundreds of dollars of merchandise also objectively disprove their claims. Finally, it is important to note that the enforcement staff previously investigated the [Family Member 1] and [Student-Athlete 40] allegations and did not find them sufficiently credible to support an allegation. [Student-Athlete 39’s] claims are no different.” Rebel Rags has faced severe backlash from Ole Miss fans due to the investigation as the store has received threats of boycotts and hate mail as the fans believe the company is responsible for the turmoil surrounding the football program. The store has received support of their claims against the accusations of the parties being sued in the responses of the university,
coach Freeze and even Farrar. Farrar was one of the main topics in the initialc response release from the university. He has been dismissed from the coaching staff because of the accusations against him, but in his response to NCAA allegations he continues the narrative of the players giving false testimonies. “It is known that since day one of this investigation [name redacted] has yet to tell the same story twice” said Farrar in his response. Merkel does state that Jones and Lewis were never cross-examined, and the belief is that the NCAA’s offering of immunity led to the false accounts of the two. The legal proceedings of this suit against the players and Tunsil’s stepfather will not likely begin until next summer with a trial, but the parties stated in the suit have 27 days to respond.
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SPORTS
THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 15 JUNE 2017 | PAGE 11
Ole Miss track awarded All-American honors
Craig Engels competes at the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon on Wednesday, June 7th. al best 8:32.38 finishing fourth in men’s hammer throw with Even if they didn’t achieve the in the event. Erb has the sec- a 69.14m/226-10 throw. Nor- results they were after, I am ond-best finish in Ole Miss his- mally this would’ve propelled very proud of them.” said head tory in the event, trailing only McGuigan into the nine-man coach Smith. 2007 NCAA champion Barna- final but failed to due to historic Olympian Rebel Raven Saunbas Kirui. throwing from the field. ders came up short of expectaNewcomer Williams entered The Ole Miss men finished tions but still finished fourth the meet as the collegiate leader with a tie for 14th in the team in the shot put. The four-time in discus and placed fourth in standings, giving the school it’s NCAA champion in shot put his championships debut with fourth-best men’s outdoor fin- gave Ole Miss it’s second-best a throw of 59.95m/196-8. Wil- ish. finish in the event behind her liams’s finish is the best all-time “I am pleased for the men to own record from last year. by a Rebel in the event. have a top-15 finish. All NCAA First timer Stewart had one McGuigan rounded out the points are hard to come by, and busy meet. Stewart competed men’s team and finished 10th I think they all competed hard. in women’s shot put, women’s
discus and women’s hammer throw earning 5th, 9th and 10th place respectively. Stewart became the first Rebel woman to earn All-American distinction in three events. Brown finished 23rd for the women in the 3000m steeplechase in her first ever NCAA championships appearance. The 4x100-meter team of Henderson, Ray, Deanna Tate, and Breanna Tate placed 19th. The women ultimately finished in 29th in the meet. “It wasn’t a great week for them, but I’m still proud. Janeah competed and made finals in both the shot and the discus. Shelby (Brown) had her first experience here and will hopefully be back next year. Raven just needs to get back into competition shape, and she’ll be ready to go” said Smith on the women’s team. The Ole Miss Track & Field athletes tallied eight All-America honors, with five of them being first team (Engles, Erb, Saunders, Stewart, and Williams) and the other three second team (McGuigan, and Stewart twice). Brown and the women’s 4x100m team all earned honorable mention All-America status for finishing 17th through 24th. The 2016-17 Ole Miss athletics season concluded with the finish of the meet. However, several Rebel track & field athletes will compete this summer at the U.S. Championships in Sacramento, California from June 23-25 and hope to advance to the IAAF World Championships.
passion is his “family and faith” and his love for cooking. He never shies away from giving praise to those that helped him get where he is today. Being headstrong in his faith and devoted in his love for his family, he uses these motivators every time out on the field. He looks at football as more than a game but as an opportunity to enrich others. “I look at football as a platform to help other people or to spread the word of God. I know many people don’t want
“It’s just a blessing knowing that many people don’t get this opportunity to play at the next level, period. I wake up every day blessed, thanking God for another opportunity and blessing me with the talent I have” Metcalf said. After an exciting spring game in the Grove Bowl, Rebel fans, sports spectators, analysts and reporters are due for a year to behold from Metcalf, and should remember these words from the wide receiver: “I’m breaking records.”
QUE’TAURUS CERTION thedmsports@gmail.com
The Ole Miss Rebel Track & Field men’s and women’s teams took their talents to Eugene, Oregon in last week’s NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships delivering eight All-American Honors. Senior Craig Engels was “the star” of the meet, but not for his running ability but for his social media captivating mustache and mullet combination. The team was led by second-year head coach Connie Price-Smith, who served as Team USA women’s head coach in Rio and was elected to the USATF Hall of Fame in 2016. The men’s team entered the meet ranked 17th in the country and the women’s team 20th. Rebels making a return to Eugene included: Craig Engels, MJ Erb, Nicole Henderson, Dempsey McGuigan, Shannon Ray, Raven Saunders and Breanna Tate. First timers were Shelby Brown, Janeah Stewart, Deanna Tate and Brian Williams. Senior Engels was the viral sensation of the meet due to his thick mustache and neatly flowing mullet. He placed third in the men’s 1500m run with an impressive time of 3:43.54. The result was the best in Rebel history in the NCAA 1500m. “Craig’s definitely an interesting guy. Someone that certainly likes to express their personality” said Ole Miss assistant track coach Ryan Vanhoy. Erb competed in the 3000m steeplechase and ran a person-
METCALF
continued from page 12 appearance in the state championship tournament. “Basketball gives me handeye coordination. I can jump out of the gym, and that helps translate to football, and my track experience gives me my speed.” Accolades aside, D.K. Metcalf exemplifies what a humble athlete should be. Outside of football Metcalf.’s biggest
PHOTO COURTESY: OLEMISSSPORTS/PETRE THOMAS
to just sit in church and just listen or to go to church. Me looking at it as ‘How’d you get here, what’d you do’ I put my faith in God, my trust in God and that he’s blessed me each and every day to play the game of football. Me spreading the gospel through football is how I look at it.” Metcalf’s humbleness is demonstrated on and off the field. He states that he doesn’t model his game after other professional athletes, because he wants to inspire others to
follow his example. “I just try to be myself. I don’t try to be like everybody else, because I want people to model their game after me.” The Oxford native’s proudest moment was deciding to play for the team he had spent his entire life watching, the Ole Miss Rebels. The highly touted recruit out of high school had plenty of offers elsewhere, but decided to stay home and is one of few Oxford citizens to play for the Rebels in recent years.
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PAGE 12 | THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 15 JUNE 2017
Metcalf lets his faith guide him to excellence
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Saturday, September 20, 2016. A day Ole Miss wide receiver DeKaylin Metcalf, better known as D.K., will never forget. On this day, the Ole Miss Rebel football team played against the Wofford Terriers. Metcalf hauled in the second touchdown of his freshman season in only his second game as a Rebel. This was Metcalf’s last catch of the season as he broke his left foot in the second quarter of the game, ending his freshman year. “When I got hurt, it hurt me. It hurt me really bad knowing that I couldn’t play anymore, but I looked at it as God does everything for a reason. I looked at it as he wanted me to get better in another aspect of the game. So, I wasn’t sad about it, I went to rehab every day. I built relationships with the training staff. I worked out twice a day. I was getting stronger; I was watching film every day and was mentally prepared every week so I really didn’t lose anything,” Metcalf said on his injury and path to recovery. Faith and passion for the game weren’t the only motivators for Metcalf to return better than before. He credits fellow standout wide receiv-
PHOTO COURTESY: OLE MISS ATHLETICS/JOSHUA MCCOY
D.K. Metcalf and his mother, Tonya, sit and talk in The Circle in October of 2016. er A.J. Brown for much of his success and drive to be great. “A.J. Brown really pushes me, and we’ve built a strong relationship. I know that we have a goal to make it to the NFL one day. He’s going to push me and I’m going to push him. We’re trying to be AllSEC, All-American, All-Everything. We just want to go out and compete and when DBs face us at the end of the game I want them to know we’re the toughest receivers they’ve ever been against,” Metcalf said. Brown finished his fresh-
man season as one of Ole Miss’s future premier weapons, tallying 29 receptions, 412 receiving yards and two touchdowns. The relationship between Brown and Metcalf began before their joint arrival at Ole Miss. The two Mississippi high school All-Americans faced off against each other in matchups coined the “Little Egg Bowl” between Brown’s Starkville Yellowjackets and Metcalf’s Oxford Chargers. In their senior seasons, the two combined for a total of
177 receptions, 2,826 receiving yards and 35 touchdowns. Adding fuel to their rivalry, they shared the MVP title in the Mississippi-Alabama AllStar Classic after leading the Mississippi team to victory. “I see the work we put in day in and day out. How we push each other and compete,” Metcalf said. “We are always working trying to perfect our craft. He’s helping me and I’m helping him and it’s just a give and take relationship.” D.K. is the son of former Rebel All-American and NFL
offensive lineman Terrence Metcalf. D.K. has always been around football due to his father being a professional player, but states that his dad never forced the sport on him at a young age though he is his inspiration for playing the game. “I grew up watching him play football. I really didn’t know anything while he was in the NFL. He never put me in peewee games. I used to just go in the backyard and play catch,” Metcalf said. “We moved back down here and I started playing with the Buccaneers. Coach Searn Lynch and Coach Michael Abraham, they brought me into football and my dad pushed me and worked me and told me that my hard work is going to pay off. Having that mindset is what really got me.” Metcalf is an Oxford native and has made his name well known in other sports besides football. While attending Oxford High School Metcalf was a three-sport athlete playing basketball, football and track. In his senior year at Oxford he placed second at the MHSAA 5A State Championship for Track & Field in both the 110m hurdles and the triple jump and helped lead the basketball team to an elite eight
SEE METCALF PAGE 12
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