The Daily
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Mississippian
Vol. 102, No. 43
The Student Newspaper of The University Of Mississippi | Serving Ole Miss and Oxford since 1911
UPD working to retain officers in spite of budget BY PHILLIP WALLER pcwaller@go.olemiss.edu
Even as the budgets for university departments continue to tighten, recruiting and retaining quality officers remains a top priority for the University Police Department. “Everybody on campus is understaffed and overworked,” said University Chief of Police Calvin Sellers. “I’m proud of what we do, but I think we can do better.” With just nine resignations over the past five years, the University Police Department is on track to maintain a voluntary separation rate of just under 5.5 percent, which is nearly 2 percent lower than the 2012 Bureau of Labor Statistics annual rate for government employees. Making sure officers stay with the department is important to the department’s bottom line. New hires must go to a 12 week police academy that costs the department up-
wards of $3,600. During those 12 weeks, the department pays the officer his full salary, Sellers said. “While they’re there, we get no benefit,” Sellers said. After the police academy, officers have to enroll in UPD’s field training officer program for four to six months where they complete their education under the direction of experienced officers, Sellers said. “You’re looking at a year before we ever get full use out of an officer,” Sellers said. “If they stay less than a year, then we don’t really see any return on that.” Sellers said it is his job to make sure officers get the full satisfaction of being an officer so that they stick with the force, though he recognizes that police work is not for everyone. “Policing is different on a college campus.” Sellers said. “We all have different responsibilities that we go about differently.”
FILE PHOTO (KATIE WILLIAMSON) | The Daily Mississippian
UPD values the training its officers receive.
One of the benefits that Sellers pointed to is that all university police officers get the same
perks as any other university employee. Officers are allowed to take up to six credit hours
of classes a semester with three See UPD, PAGE 3
Freshman wins first Rebels Got Talent competition BY KAYLA CARPENTER krcarpen@go.olemiss.edu
AUSTIN McAFEE | The Daily Mississippian
Freshman journalism major Bella Ernst sings a song she wrote during Rebels Got Talent on the Grove stage as a part of Homecoming Week on Wednesday night
Opinion: Halloween: a mask
More than 70 students attended the first ever Rebels Got Talent held in the Grove on Wednesday night. The Student Activities Association sponsored the event, which included nine performances from Ole Miss students. “We think that Rebels Got Talent had a great turnout,”said Fritz Valerio, Student Activities Association co-director of entertainment. “We will definitely continue to do this.” A variety of acts were performed on the Grove stage including cover songs, original songs, and puppetry. Ole Miss freshman Chase Moore performed the song “Ordinary People” by John
Feature Photos: Homecoming festivities
upon a mask
the Ole Miss Yearbook Union room # 412
Sports: Prewitt increasing level of play for Rebel defense
See Page 6
See Page 2
Legend and was chosen as the 2013 Rebels Got Talent winner. Moore, a Hornlake native, has been singing since he was in the fourth grade. “Since I was young I have sung with my family, at church, at weddings, at my former high school and even at birthday parties,” Moore said. “I am not shy about getting in front of people, I just do not tell everybody that I sing.” Moore is a part of the University Chorus and Gospel Choir at Ole Miss. “God blessed me with this talent and I am thankful that I get to use it to represent where I am from, the organizations I am in and the University of Mississippi,” he said. “I am excited to be the first ever winner of Rebels got talent and I plan to use this
LAST 2 DAYS for yearbook pictures!
gift for the rest of my life. Freshman journalism major Bella Ernst performed a song that she wrote herself and played the guitar. “I have always wanted to perform my own music,” Ernst said. “I write a lot of original songs. Being able to perform your own song in front of people is like telling a story.” Freshmen Kelsey Jackson attended Rebels got Talent to check out the many performers. “ I think it is important to support people and their talents,” Jackson said. Miss University Caroline Conerly, 2013 Ole Miss Idol Yasmin Glover and Ricky Burkhead, director of percussion studies, served as judges for the competition.
MORE INSIDE Opinion .............................5 News .............................4 Lifestyles .............................6 Sports ...........................12 thedmonline . com
See Page 12
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OCTOBER 24 & 25 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M.
Seniors need to schedule a senior portrait appointment at www.ouryear.com. School code: 141 or call 1-800-OUR-YEAR (1-800-687-9327). Freshmen, sophomores & juniors do not schedule appointments; just show up and your photo will be taken on a walk-in basis.