The Daily Mississippian February 2, 2023

WORLD OF MUSICALS

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TAYLOR SWIFT

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MISSISSIPPIAN THE Daily

Thursday, February 2, 2023

theDMonline.com

Volume 111, No. 16

The clock stops here: UM bans TikTok on WiFi and university devices

In response to a directive from Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, TikTok is now inaccessible on university WiFi and banned from being used on state-issued devices. The ban has brought about uncertainty in unlikely places such as course curricula and popular university TikTok accounts. The ban went into effect on Jan. 31.

“As the state’s flagship university, we are obligated to follow state law,” UM News and Media Relations Director Jacob Batte said.

The ban on TikTok usage on state-issued devices comes in the wake of a federal ban enforced in early January. Republican Mississippi State Rep. Becky Currie introduced a bill on Jan. 26 to further codify Reeves’ order into state law. Reeves cited concerns over privacy and security as justification for the ban.

Although parent compa-

Ole Miss’ AI Task Force embraces AI in the classroom

ChatGPT continues to exceed expectations for artificial intelligence language generators as educators across the country struggle to adjust to the new, AI-enhanced educational climate.

ChatGPT is a large language model released by the artificial intelligence company OpenAI in late November 2022. By entering a series of simple prompts, anyone can generate pages and pages of written text. Students across the country have been using ChatGPT to write their essays and help them do their homework. Some educators fear that essay writing will become a thing of the past, but others are more optimistic about the future of AI in education.

Marc Watkins, a lecturer

in composition and rhetoric in UM’s Department of Writing and Rhetoric, has been using artificial intelligence tools in his classes and is optimistic about the future of AI in education. He recently wrote an article in Inside Higher Ed about how ChatGPT will impact education and the world.

“I think large language models like GPT-3 and ChatGPT can benefit students, if they are employed carefully and openly. Students can likely use the technology to augment their existing writing and research skills,” Watkins said. “Some of the apps we used with students in the fall, like Elicit and Fermat, are geared towards helping students brainstorm and use those

ny ByteDance claims that they would never share user data with the Chinese government, employees of the company located in China have access to app data from U.S. users.

“It’s no secret that the Chinese Communist Party is actively trying to steal U.S. intellectual property and Americans’ personal information. … Mississippi isn’t going to sit around waiting for the Chinese Communist Party to steal our state government data,” Reeves said.

Proponents of the ban fear that the Chinese government could access U.S. user data and possibly spy on and control U.S. phones, and the FBI has corroborated this. As many young people are increasingly exposed to political views on TikTok, analysts are especially concerned that the Chinese government could utilize the app to dispense propaganda.

Banning TikTok alone might be putting a bandage on a bullet

GRAPHIC: SAVANNAH SHOOK / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN

UM students bash plus-minus grading system

AKILAH FRYE thedmnews@gmail.com

At the end of the semester, a students’ hard work comes down to a matter of grading. As students complete work throughout the semester, they are simultaneously calculating how that work will be weighted, whether that be a pass-fail system or a plus-minus system.

These systems can make or break a student’s GPA, which can further affect standings within organizations or eligibility for scholarships that help pay tuition.

“I feel that ‘A’ and ‘A-’ should have no effect on your grade. You are basically doing the same amount of work and study time to get either an ‘A’ or an ‘A-’ but one is better than the other,” freshman pharmaceutical sciences major Jianna Lowe said. “I think that the plus-minus system is put in place as an incentive to make students try harder, but in most cases it hurts students because a tenth or hundredth of a point could determine whether their GPA keeps them in their individual programs.”

Another student concurred, for similar reasons.

“It’s a system I am not fond of, especially because it’s not the system that I was taught on, and I also don’t believe

TIKTOK

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hole, however, as many apps and games popular on smartphones are owned by large Chinese companies that could pose a security risk. Additionally, students will have no problem accessing the app as they can switch to their individual data plans instantly.

Some UM students express concern that the app compromises their privacy.

“I think it makes sense. Our military has already banned their members from using the app, and I don’t think it is a secret that they are stealing our data. I personally would gladly like an excuse to stop using the addicting app,” sophomore accounting major John Budd said.

Other students believe that this ban will have little impact on whether students use TikTok.

“I do have concerns about TikTok but not in regards to my schooling career. I understand a ban for government officials,” sophomore IMC major Gretchen Taylor said. “Students will still find a way to use TikTok, whether it’s using a VPN or turning off Wi-Fi. However, it could affect Ole Miss related TikTok accounts, such as those promoting the sports teams or the general Ole Miss TikTok profile.

Associate Athletics Director for Brand Strategy Kyle Campbell, speaking for Ole Miss Athletics,

that substantial grades should be given a minus. A ‘C’ letter grade is a ‘C. ’ We’ve earned that,” freshman journalism major Daylan Flowers said.

The plus-minus system was implemented at the University of Mississippi in the fall semester of 2011.

“The primary purpose of adding the plus and minus grade options is to give instructors the ability to more accurately assess and report a student’s performance,” the Office of the Registrar website reads.

Many arguments for the plus-minus system hinge upon combatting grade inflation, the phenomenon in which students often are awarded a higher grade than they deserve. The logic goes that a student barely earning an ‘A’ does not deserve the same grade as a student earning a perfect 100.

“Professors have always enjoyed the freedom to give grades as they choose since the creation of the university system in the 13th century. Grade inflation, a consequence of the privatization of the American public university, is the bigger concern. ‘Consumer scholars,’ not ‘citizen scholars,’ expect a higher grade for the money they are pouring into the system. I don’t blame them either,” UM professor of history and former Dean of the Sally McDonnell Barks -

declined to comment on how the ban will affect TikTok accounts run by the Department of Athletics.

These accounts are primarily a tool for Ole Miss Athletics to provide content to fans, potential students and athletes. Accounts such as @Olemissbsb (Ole Miss Baseball) and @Olemissfootball (Ole Miss Football) have approximately 360,000 and 100,000 followers, respectively, and millions of content views.

The pages remain active, with some like @Olemissfootball having posted as recently as Tuesday afternoon, after the directive banning TikTok on university devices and WiFi was issued.

University of Mississippi’s chief legal officer and general counsel David Whitcomb declined to comment on whether university affiliated TikTok accounts would have to be deleted in accordance with the ban, referring The Daily Mississippian to the University of Mississippi Public Relations Department.

UMPR did not respond in time to a request for information from The Daily Mississippian.

As TikTok has exploded with popularity in recent years, many companies utilize the platform to market products and reach new audiences. Knowledge about the app and how to advertise on it is becoming increasingly important for those entering the job market.

One UM professor teaches TikTok marketing as part of his course curriculum.

“A ban could certainly com-

dale Honors College Douglass Sullivan-González said. Sullivan-González went on to explain why some administrators consider the plus-minus system a boon for underperforming students.

“Why create debt peonage with a harsh grading scale that intentionally fails the weaker portion of the class? Instead, we create the ‘C-’ to give them some portion of credit while retracting credit for the major. Grading should be another pedagogical tool to encourage the acquisition

of knowledge and to deepen one’s understanding of a subject,” Sullivan-González said.

“I give ‘A;, ‘B+’, ‘B’, ‘B-’, ‘C+’, ‘C’, ‘D’ and ‘F’ in my courses.

I’ve become more disenchanted with the awarding of ‘C-’ since many departments consider it to be the equivalent of a ‘D’ or an ‘F’ for non-credit towards the major.”

Many students think that professors ought to consider the fact students juggle multiple classes and involvement in organizations while simultaneously maintaining a social

life, claiming that a student’s grade in a class does not always represent the work ethic.

“In my opinion, professors should extend students’ grace by putting them in the best position to have a high GPA. I am not suggesting for students to just be given credit where it is not due. If a student has proven that they put a lot of effort into a particular course, it would be appreciated if the professor adjusts their grading accordingly,” freshman general studies major Brooklyn Hall said.

plicate our methods of teaching about what is, by far, the most popular and important communication platform in popular culture today,” Instructional Assistant Professor of Social Media and Data Analytics Brad Conaway said.

Ultimately, Conaway does not think the ban will get in the way of his teaching the course.

“While we can’t show live TikTok videos in class from our state-issued devices, we will still be allowed to show previously downloaded TikTok videos. Also, while we won’t be able to access TikTok through the university’s Wi-Fi network, we should still be able to use the app by switching to individual data plans, if nec-

essary. And we’ll still be allowed to assign work dealing with the viewing, analysis and creation of TikTok content.” Conaway said. “So, the good news is, for now, we’re not banned from talking about TikTok or teaching about it. We’ll just need to be more careful about how and when we access it.”

Other states that have taken steps to regulate the app include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.

“The ban does have the vibe of parents banning dancing in the 1950s when Rock and Roll first started, doesn’t it? They still think it’s all about lip-syncing and dance trends,” Conaway said.

Conaway also expressed skepticism about the political motives behind the ban.

“I’d love to know if the government officials have evidence they’re not revealing to the public,” Conoway said. “So far, with what we know, TikTok feels like a convenient political punching bag that’s being used to score points, without any appreciation of the positive role it’s played in the lives of its users, marginalized voices and even in marketing.”

GRAPHIC: SEDLEY NORMAND / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN

GRAPHIC: SAVANNAH SHOOK / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN

skills.”

Elicit is an “AI research assistant” meant to streamline researchers’ workflow, while Fermat offers a wide variety of tools such as image generation and brainstorm assistance.

Microsoft announced on Jan. 23 that it is continuing a partnership with OpenAI while also investing $10 billion dollars in the company and considering implementing ChatGPT into Microsoft Word, Outlook and Powerpoint. Some of the most popular education software might be outfitted with AI soon.

OpenAI recently released a statement on educator considerations for ChatGPT outlining the potential uses and problems with AI in the classroom. The company also released plans to give students the ability to share ChatGPT usage as part of an assignment.

“Ultimately, we believe it will be necessary for students to learn how to navigate a world where tools like ChatGPT are commonplace. This includes potentially learning new kinds of skills, like how to effectively use a language model, as well as about the general limitations and failure modes that these models exhibit,” the article reads.

Watkins agrees with this sentiment.

“AI literacy is going to be a major topic for students and teachers, and this literacy isn’t going to be limited to language models. We’re increasingly seeing AI employed in search engines, self-driving vehicles, surveillance proctoring services, even the live captioning feature in Zoom uses natural language processing, a form of

AI. It’s all around us, and we need to be aware of its impact on our day-to-day lives,” Watkins said.

At the University of Mississippi, Watkins is part of the AI Task Force led by Robert Cummings, executive director of academic innovation for the Academic Innovations Group and associate professor of writing and rhetoric for the Department of Writing and Rhetoric.

“Writing is changing. Literacy is changing,” Cummings said. “One key thing to point out is that prior to the arrival of these tools, if we looked at a piece of writing, we assumed that a human had written it. That has changed and it’ll never go back. We can no longer assume that there’s a human behind a piece of writing. It’s going to take a long time for our brains to adjust.”

Cummings believes that using AI generators for writing is going to become increasingly commonplace and essential to many aspects of our lives in the coming years.

“Teaching writing is going to become more and more about the management of these tools, because everybody’s first draft is going to be increasingly AI generated. And I don’t just mean a first draft for papers in academia, but a first draft for business memos, a first draft on anything, it’s all going to have an increasing amount of AI generated content,” Cummings said. “It’s going to be increasingly important to be able to sort through whether your ideas are your ideas or AI ideas, and what’s going to happen is going to be a shift between humans staring at a blank page to him staring at a first draft generated by an AI, and thinking to himself, ‘Does this first draft say what I want it to say? Is that accurate? Is it my voice?’”

OpenAI has released a tool to determine whether text was possibly written by AI called the AI Text Classifier, but OpenAI admits that AI-generated text can be easily altered to by-

We’ll have courses about AI and how it impacts their field.”

the world will be sad. I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

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pass it.

Cummings announced that the AI Task Force is developing courses about AI for university undergraduates.

“We’re in the process of developing an AI certificate or digital badge for undergraduates. Ambitiously, I hope to announce enrollments in the fall, but I don’t know if we’ll get there,” Cummings said. “It’s gonna be a three-course sequence; the first course is the principles of AI, so it’s going to be the fundamentals of how AI

As Google announces an AI that can generate music from text prompts and OpenAI’s Dall·E 2 image generator creates complex and strange works of art, many are worried that human creativity might soon be outcompeted by AI superiority. What’s more, many prominent AI art generators are currently facing lawsuits from artists who claim the AI was trained on their art without permission.

“You’re not composing music because you think you’re going to erase Bach from the face of the earth. You’re composing music, because it means something to you, right?” Cummings said. “If you stopped doing that because Google has developed an AI generator that’s going to create music for you based on textual inputs, you will be sad,

Like the vision of ChatGPT and AI creating the first draft of your essay, Cummings has a similar idea for how AI will impact human creative works.

“I just think it’s going to alter the way that you play music. Our first idea is more likely to be influenced by AI and where you take it from there is going to be up to you,” Cummings said.

However, Cummings acknowledged that this is the viewpoint pushed by shareholding companies and developers of AI, and what these impacts will be is impossible to forecast.

“I think the developers want us to believe that it’s about access and democratization. It remains to be seen,” Cummings said.

The AI Task Force is open for students and faculty to join and will hold its next meeting on Feb. 23 in student union room 326. The task force also held a meeting open to faculty and students on Feb. 1 at noon in the Union Ballroom.

Watkins made sure to highlight that while ChatGPT and AI technology are certainly impressive, they are far from being able to replace a human’s writing skills.

“One thing to keep in mind is language models like ChatGPT don’t actually write text — they generate it. To write something, a human being brings an understanding of purpose, audience, context, even morality into the process of writing,” Watkins said. “ChatGPT has no such capacity. It cannot tell you the purpose behind a response, who an audience is, reality test a source, or anything that a human can because AI cannot think.”

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decided

“ Writing is changing. Literacy is changing. One key thing to point out is that prior to the arrival of these tools, if we looked at a piece of writing, we assumed that a human had written it. That has changed and it’ll never go back. ”

- Robert Cummings

Pentecostal Church sees growth during pandemic

JORDAN KLEBER

On a Sunday morning in March 2020, Tammy Kalli sat in her bed watching her Methodist church’s service on her computer. It didn’t feel right. It was lonely. It was not church.

“I felt disconnected from God. I wanted a place of worship that was outside my bedroom,” Kalli said.

Spiritually lost during the pandemic in 2020, Kalli turned to Pentecostalism for guidance. Her Methodist church at the time had become remote during the pandemic, and she felt like her spiritual connection was on pause. In a time of confusion, Kalli discovered Wellspring Community Church through social media.

Wellspring Community Church was one of the first churches in Oxford to reopen for in-person services after the pandemic struck. This is what initially captured Kalli’s attention and is the reason she started going to its services.

was online for months.

“Even though we were doing services on Zoom, everyone was still participating as if we were there in person,” Thomas said. “While people of different churches were doing a lot of listening to the preacher, our Pentecostal Church members were singing, speaking aloud and clapping our hands.”

During the pandemic, a time of confusion and chaos, people craved structure, community and support. Pentecostal preachers are very enthusiastic and involved in members’ lives, which can be intriguing to people and encourages conversion.

According to the Pulitzer Center, the Pentecostal Church currently leads the world in adult conversions and is the fastest growing Christian movement. The Times of Israel reports that there are an average of 35,000 converts every day. There are currently 600 million Pentecostal believers worldwide.

According to Tony Cauchi in the Revival Library, Pentecostalism is described as a Protestant Charismatic Christian

es, and it is recommended for those to be below the knee.

“You won’t see us in shorter skirts or in shorts at all,” Kalli said. “Even though I grew up Methodist, if I wear something above my knee now, I get uncomfortable.”

The reason behind the dress code is to ensure women remain modest and traditional. Centuries ago, women did not wear pants or shorts, therefore, Pentecostals believe women today should do the same.

“To me, it’s more traditional in the sense of history,” Kalli said. “Women wear skirts and men wear pants. It’s a sense of modesty for us and for others.”

Modesty above all

The United Pentecostal Church defines modesty as a refusal to wear any clothing or accessory that might incite a man to lust.

The dress code also extends to makeup and jewelry. Members are not permitted to wear any form of makeup and the only jewelry that can be worn includes watches and wedding rings.

Neither men nor women can have tattoos or piercings.

“We don’t drink, smoke or participate in anything that would alter our conscience,” Kalli said.

Another unique restriction for women is that they are not allowed to cut their hair. In Pentecostalism, they believe that a woman’s hair is her glory, and it should never be cut. Hair is also considered to be a “covering” for praying, and members believe that you must always be covered to pray.

In contrast, men keep their hair cleanly cut and short.

Wellspring Community is a Pentecostal Church located on Old Taylor Road. It was founded by husband and wife, Nathaniel and Shera Rios, in 2014. Originally a Bible study, the group grew quickly and eventually developed into a church during 2020.

Kalli explained how the bond between church members at Wellspring Community is stronger than what she had previously experienced as a Methodist. As a small church, they focus on community and helping others get through their struggles.

“We put a strong emphasis on carrying each other’s burden. We’re aware of everyone’s backstory and hardships. A small church is like being in a big family,” Kalli said.

Growth during the pandemic

Kalli wasn’t the only one who converted to Pentecostalism during the pandemic. Wellspring Community experienced such growth during the pandemic that the congregation opened a new church in Eupora, Miss.

“The Pentecostal Church is so interactive. In COVID, I think that helped us stand out from the rest,” Bobby Thomas, who attends a Pentecostal Church in Hernando, Miss., said.

In the beginning of the pandemic, Thomas’s church

movement that emphasizes direct personal experience of God through baptism with the Holy Spirit. The name “Charismatics” comes from the belief that the Holy Spirit is alive, available and experienced by modern-day Christians Pentecostals.

Unlike other Christians who recognize the Trinity, Pentecostals believe in the oneness of God.

“While other religions believe God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are different beings, we believe they are one,” Kalli said. “The way we compare it is by saying one person can be a daughter, sister and mother without being separate people. That’s how we feel about God.”

Strict rules for women

The Pentecostal Church is considered to be one of the most traditional sectors of Christianity with very strict rules on their members, specifically, very strict rules for women.

After converting, Kalli had to change her wardrobe.

“I kept clothes I already had, but I added more to them to make them more appropriate. Old Navy or Marshalls are places I visit for clothes. I just figure out how to modify them for my personal modesty standard,” Kalli said. “Sometimes, I just make them myself.”

Women are allowed to only wear long skirts or long dress-

“It’s a shame for men to have long hair; it’s supposed to be a woman’s glory,” Tammy Thompson, member of the Jesus Name Community Church in Walnut, Miss., said.

Other than refraining from cutting her hair, Thompson admits she does not follow the rules and regulations as strictly as most other Pentecostals do. She wears pajama pants when she goes to sleep rather than a nightgown, wears some jewelry and has an occasional alcoholic drink on the weekends.

“Each church is different. My church doesn’t put as much of an emphasis on dress codes as others do,” Thompson said. “You are only held accountable for rules if you are in a leadership role at the church. Otherwise, members usually do what they feel comfortable with.”

While some may view these rules as strange or unnecessary, Pentecostals believe their guidelines bring them closer to God and strengthen their faith.

During prayer, Pentecostals sway, sing and tap their feet to the sound of the preacher’s voice. Their church service has been compared to a jazz concert by Harvey Cox, a Harvard theologian, who explained the effect of playful performances and collaborative enthusiasm. Pentecostals call this keeping rhythm with the Holy Spirit.

Speaking in tongues

Another unique factor of Pentecostal prayer service is “speak-

ing in tongues.” It is one of the biggest differences between Pentecostals and other Christians.

“I’ve witnessed first-hand someone speaking in tongues and it was such an overwhelming experience. My pastor’s mother, who only knows Spanish and English, started fluently speaking in Chinese,” Kalli said.

In some Pentecostal Churches, speaking in tongues is both “evidence” of baptism through the Holy Spirit and is experienced only by those who have been “truly saved.”

Speaking in tongues is somewhat controversial among different Pentecostal Churches as well as throughout the Christian community.

Many Christians in other denominations believe speaking in tongues is a gift from the apostolic age, from the first century, that is no longer given.

The combination of wardrobe restrictions, hair length regulations and unique prayer services are just a few factors that make the Pentecostal controversial to some and intriguing to others.

During the pandemic restrictions, Pentecostalism flourished.

“Some people may have wanted to get to know the Lord before they died,” Jessie Carter, a Pentecostal and student at the university said. “People were actively seeking God and Pentecostalism might have given them an answer.”

In times of crisis, people want to be reassured that everything will be alright.

The Pentecostal preachers gave people hope. They

encouraged their members to have faith in God and believe in the prosperity of men. In hard times, people want to be told everything is going to be okay.

“People like the message that is being preached in a Pentecostal Church,” Carter said. “They’re intrigued by the unique doctrines, practices and regulations, probably because the structure of the Pentecostal Church is so different from other Christian religions.”

Appealing to working families

During the pandemic, many people lost their jobs or their hours were cut back. Families were losing money. According to journalist Eric Newberg of the Journal of Theology, the Pentecostal Church has historically resonated with individuals who are members of the lower working class.

Individuals and families of lower income feel welcomed by Pentecostal Churches as they offer a community where everyone is equal. They all wear similar clothes and no jewelry, so there is little room for wealth to be on display. As a community, Pentecostals help each other find work and homes to live in.

“When everyone else was slowing down during the pandemic, we pushed forward,” Kalli said. “I think Wellspring Community will continue to grow, and more people will connect with Pentecostalism because they will recognize our dedication to our faith and our commitment to welcoming new members.”

GRAPHIC: LIBBY FLANAGAN / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN

“ We put a strong emphasis on carrying each other’s burden. We’re aware of everyone’s backstory and hardships. A small church is like being in a big family, ”

- Tammy Kallli

Starting Feb. 3, students, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to join together, have lunch and converse at Famished Feminist Fridays. The lunch will occur every third Friday.

The lunch started in 2016 when the current director of the Sarah Isom Center, Jaime Harker, was being interviewed for her position.

“We had lunch with a bunch of people who were feminists across campus as part of the interview process. We had so much fun just talking that (Assistant Chair of Psychology Kate Kellum) was like, we should just do this regularly because we never get together,” Harker said.

Thus, FFF was created.

“I think it is important for folks from across campus and with different types of relationships with the university to gather in social spaces and share information about events or happenings of which they are aware. I also think it is important to have a bit of fun during our work or school days — and I always have fun at these lunches,” FFF founder Kate Kellum said.

The length of the meeting is unplanned, and attendees are able to come and go as they wish.

“We’ll talk about things that are happening at the Sarah Isom Center (and) events that we know about happening in town,” Kellum said.

FFF is an open invitation to all who identify as feminists.

“To me, what feminism

THE FUTURE HAS ITS HAND RAISED

means is that we all have the full range of our humanity, men and women, and we’re not limited to narrow gender roles that tell us how we can feel or act or be in the world. The freedom to be your full self … The more we think about it, and talk about them and expand them, I think it makes us all freer and more human,” Harker said. Kellum suggested that in the future there could be a student-based group as well.

“Students can join us and help spread the word. Perhaps, students would like to organize a Young Feminist Friday,” Kellum said. Join FFF this Friday from 11:40 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the back of Rebel Market, where a room is reserved for the luncheon. All are welcome to join.

‘No agenda, just lunch’: Famished Feminist Fridays are back Find your platform to tune into The Weekly Scoop

Assistant Chair of Psychology Kate Kellum started Famished Feminist Fridays in 2016.

Arts&Culture

A night to remember ‘All Too Well’

Spotlights project against smoke to create a familiar lavender haze, life-size cardboard cutouts of one of today’s biggest music sensations stare out into the crowd with a permanent smile and a sea of raging Taylor Swift fans chant the lyrics to the singer’s biggest hits and underrated classics.

On Friday, Jan. 27, the Lyric kicked off the first weekend of the semester with a live DJ streaming “All Too Well: A Taylor Swift Dance Party.”

This event, which boasted a high turnout, is part of the artist-themed dance party trend rising not only at The Lyric in Oxford, but also at venues around the United States.

Although there is a national chain of Taylor Swift dance parties sweeping the nation, Lindsay Dillon-Maginnis, general manager at The Lyric, revealed that this particular dance party was The Lyric’s own take on the idea.

Dillon Maginnis said that the local version benefits the local community financially and culturally.

“We could get a DJ from

New York to come for the show, but why do that when there are plenty of local DJs who can play Taylor Swift music and draw a crowd,” Dillon-Maginnis said.

Outside of The Lyric entrance, partygoers gleamed with anticipation as they scanned their ticket barcodes. Among the excited bunch was University of Mississippi freshman Mallory Williams, who was using the dance party as an opportunity to pregame for a certain musician’s tour in April.

“I’m really excited to be here. I’ve never been to one before, but I am going to see Taylor Swift in April,” Williams said.

“I’ll be in Houston for less than 24 hours, but it’ll be worth it.”

Inside the teeming showroom, attendees shared a consistent good time with each other, with the good time graduating to a great one when the bass of Swift’s hit “... Ready For It?” boomed across the theater. From that point onward, fans rarely stopped dancing for anything other than a bathroom break or a photo with one of the cardboard cutouts.

Throwback hits like “Our Song” and “Better Than Revenge” made appearances almost as frequently as new-

bies like “I Think He Knows.”

The ocean of Swift followers had no problem dancing to tracks of any speed, era or length — even when the songs ran a whopping 10 minutes. When fans finally did start trickling out of the build-

ing, the popular opinion was that the night was a success.

Florida native Lexi Baxter found the event to be a great way to start her second round of classes at Ole Miss. Baxter ecstatically shared that she had a particularly fun

‘The World of Musicals’ presents the best of Broadway

debut as a recent addition to “The World of Musicals.”

After touring across New Zealand in the latter half of last year, “The World of Musicals” made its way to the Ford Center Jan. 27 as a part of its U.S. tour. The Broadway musical revue included more than 25 numbers from some of the most popular musicals of all time, from “Phantom of the Opera” to “Oklahoma!”

“This tour has taken about two years to get to this stage,” “The World of Musicals” cast member Ciarán John Olohan said. “We’ve had several push backs and postponements for us to be performing here at the University of Mississippi in this beautiful, stunning venue in this wonderful, great state.”

As a singer and musician, Olohan’s musical abilities have led him to showcase his talent around the world in more than nine countries. His Irish roots inspired him to take part in Celtic Nights and other folk-inspired musical theater productions.

In addition to getting to see veteran performers like Olohan, the audience was in for a special treat as Cassie Davenport made her U.S.

As professional dancer from North Wales, Davenport spent time at Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and studied at the Creative Academy.

Brought together by a passion for musical theater, the international cast of nine professionals come from across Europe and have trained at various prestigious companies and universities. “The World of Musicals” featured both pieces featuring multiple members of the cast, such as “Mein Herr” from “Cabaret,” and solo tunes like “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” from “Evita.”

“We are so fortunate to have such talent come and perform here in Oxford,” an audience member said. “The cast was great and the finale was especially wonderful.”

Their emotional repertoire also proved to be diverse, containing both pieces infused with emotion, such as “Memory” from “Cats,” and songs that prompted sing-alongs, such as beloved tunes from “Mamma Mia!”

Although the scenic design of the production consisted merely of varying illustrations

time dancing to the 10- minute version of “All Too Well.”

“I will remember this show all too well for my whole entire life,” Baxter said.

“The World of Musicals” cast stands side by side to perform in harmony on Friday, Jan. 27

projected onto the backdrop, the actors captivated the performance through their impressive execution of choreography and euphonious vocals. In lieu of props during “Gee Officer Krupkee” from “West Side Story,” actors Ciarán John Olohan and James Kemp arranged themselves

to form a couch on which the other actors reclined.

Throughout the evening, many numbers, including the ensemble’s rendition of “Oh Happy Day” from “Sister Act 2” elicited applause and singing from the audience.

“The World of Musicals” concluded its performance

with a grand rendition of tunes from “Les Miserables,” which received a standing ovation from the audience.

“We’ve had such a wonderful time with you tonight we are happy to announce that we will be coming back next year,” Olohan said at the end of the show.

University of Mississippi students and Oxford residents dance and sing along at the “All Too Well: A Taylor Swift Dance Party” at The Lyric on Jan. 27.

ASHTON SUMMERS / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN

Hitz cooks up something special with new book

of soul food and exoticism.

Alex Hitz visited Off Square Books on Jan. 26 to promote his latest book release: “Occasions to Celebrate: Cooking and Entertaining with Style.”

Fans of Hitz’s works poured into the building to be treated to an impressive arrangement of wines and snacks.

Hitz, who has sold more than 200,000 books, has led a vast and varied career.

He was born on Feb. 10, 1969, spending his formative years traveling between Atlanta, Ga., and France.

In his late 20s, aside from his work as a chef, Hitz spent some time as a Broadway producer before deciding to extend his talents to Hollywood.

He moved to Los Angeles in 1996 with hopes of becoming a movie producer. He has subsequently accumulated great wealth as both a television host and a co-owner of an Atlanta restaurant, where he was once employed.

Hitz’s upbringing is evident in his cooking style, displayed in his intricate balance

Hitz’s personality is as intriguing as his work. He warned the excited Off Square Books audience to “never stop smiling,” which was an easy rule to keep as he hilariously recalled many of his favorite moments throughout his multifaceted career.

His latest book highlights the importance of such moments.

“Food is a part of what happens when people are together,” Hitz said. “It’s not about specimen.”

Hitz often found the dinner party scene in Los Angeles difficult to become accustomed to as consumers often treated a meal as a specimen to be admired rather than an outlet for meaningful conversation and growth.

“A lone radish and a Starbucks coffee served as a full meal,” Hitz said.

Hitz insisted that it is not uninspired or less meaningful to keep meals simple in both execution and presentation.

Hitz’s book lays out the ideal ways to plan a menu and, furthermore, how to best prepare the consumer for the meal and overall experience ahead. He also provided his fair share of insider secrets.

“Never order the special of the day,” he said. “That’s usually just the food that has gone bad that needs to be gotten rid of.”

Hitz clearly has great admiration for cooking and the sense of comfort and belonging that it

brings to both him and his fans.

“The best food I ever had was always at home,” Hitz said.

Mistakes are always going to come with the cooking process, but Hitz believes that is what makes the culi-

nary experience so special.

“If you mess up, it’s always okay to throw it out and start over.”

“Occasions to Celebrate: Cooking and Entertaining in Style” is available in stores now, including at Square Books.

Organizational tips to start the semester off right

dedicates specific times on certain days to a particular subject.

Journalism major Al-

College can demand a lot from a student.

Whether that be turning assignments in on time or getting involved with extracurricular organizations, it is not easy.

Amidst everything, here are a few organizational methods that I and other students use to conquer our busy schedules and achieve academic success.

Biology major Kennedy James takes a more traditional approach by “checking her email and syllabi regularly.”

She likes to look at them weekly to know what is coming up.

Most students look at their syllabi only at the beginning of the semester, but James posits they should treat their syllabi as an essential course material. Professors usual -

ly put the dates of important events and assignments on the syllabus, so checking it only a handful of times during the semester is not ideal.

“I also like to keep sep-

arate folders for different classes,” James said, keeping her notes and assignments from getting mixed up. When it comes to organizing her study time, James also

iza Warner stays organized by making lists and prioritizing her tasks.

“I’m a big believer in time blocking and dedicating one hour at least to certain tasks,” Warner said.

Organizational skills help in her field of study by disciplining herself, Warner said. They help her focus on meeting deadlines, which is an important skill for journalists.

Warner said students do not need “some fancy planner” or a “certain software” to become organized. People can accomplish the same thing by simply taking out pencil and paper. On the other hand, some people like to use software that can aid in organization and time management.

Personally, I like to use the productivity software Notion, which provides many features that are customizable to the user. I especially like the feature allowing a user to create a spreadsheet and enter in all due dates in chronological order and mark them off like a digital checklist. In conjunction, I use Google Calendar as a digital planner to keep track of any events, appointments or meetings that I have scheduled. These two things help me keep track of what I have to do within a week and how I need to go about managing my time.

There are various approaches to staying organized. Whether it is more traditional and analog like Kennedy’s or more electronically based like mine, there is a method for everyone.

Alex Hitz, left, discusses “Occasions to Celebrate: Cooking and Entertaining with Style” at Off Square Books on Jan. 26.

GRAPHIC: SAVANNAH SHOOK / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN

CAMERON LARKIN

thedmsports@gmail.com

Daeshun Ruffin, the former Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year, has decided to take a break from basketball so he can spend more time rehabilitating his injuries. In his two years at Ole Miss, the star point guard has suffered numerous injuries that have kept him out of play for extended periods, and he believes it is time to put his health and future first.

Despite this leave of absence, Ruffin states that he is not leaving the team for good and that he is excited about returning sometime in the future.

As an Ole Miss Rebel, Ruffin averaged 11.3 points and 3.3 assists per game in 25 games played, less than half of the 55 basketball games

Sports

Daeshun Ruffin steps away from team to focus on recovery

the Rebels played last season and so far this season.

Ruffin’s first major injury dates back to Feb. 1, 2022, when he tore his right ACL. He rehabbed for the remainder of last season and the whole offseason.

Ruffin played in Ole Miss’ exhibition game against West Georgia at the start of this season, but he was ruled out for the season opener the next day with a bone bruise.

In his statement, Ruffin said, “This decision is me simply putting myself and my future first, alongside my family.”

Ruffin also said, “I look forward to being back with my Ole Miss teammates in the future and giving them and you the very best version of me.”

Ruffin has consistently sacrificed his body to compete for Ole Miss, so now it is Rebel nation’s turn to have his back.

Ole Miss men’s basketball loses its first half moment, falls 75-66 to Kentucky

Going into Tuesday’s men’s basketball matchup in Oxford, both Ole Miss and Kentucky were coming off losses and needed a win — Kentucky to keep its March Madness hopes alive and Ole Miss to save its season.

The Rebels played their best half of basketball in the first period against the Wildcats. They made shots that kept them within striking distance and also defended reigning consensus national player of the year Oscar Tshiebwe to five points in the first 20 minutes.

Freshman guard Amaree Abram put Ole Miss on his back at the beginning of the game as he scored nine early points to give the Rebels a spark. He would finish the half with 11 points to lead all scorers.

The Rebels played at a faster pace than they have all season,

and their speed was a big reason why they ended up tied with the Wildcats at 32 at halftime.

This kind of half — whenOle Miss comes out swinging and goes into halftime with a lead — has happened a couple of times this season, and each of those games has ended in a loss. So the question, once again, was could Ole Miss replicate its first-half performance enough to come out with a win.

Many observers thought Tshiebwe would dominate, but this was not the case as Ole Miss played him tough in the first half. He still finished the game with 14 points and 11 rebounds, but it was Antonio Reeves with 27 points off the bench who led Kentucky to this win.

Reeves finished the game missing only four shots while shooting 86% from three on seven attempts.

Matthew Murrell, who has been Ole Miss’ leading scorer this

season , missed his third-straight game with an injury, and the offense has not looked the same since he went down. In the second half, when Ole Miss needed a goto scorer, the shots did not fall.

That is not to take away from Abram’s 17-point performance and consider how good the offense could look with Murrell and Abram in the same lineup consistently.

A silver lining from this game is Ole Miss went toe to toe with a college basketball blue blood for 34 minutes. It was encouraging for fans to see their team compete and never give up.

Ole Miss’ schedule for the next four games goes as follows: at Vanderbilt, at Georgia, home versus South Carolina and at Florida. These are four winnable games considering how each of those teams has performed recently, so stay tuned into Rebel basketball as they look to pick up some conference wins.

Ole Miss guard Daeshun Ruffin drives past Missouri guard Kobe Brown during a game on Jan. 24.

HG BIGGS / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN

Ole Miss guard TJ Caldwell falls to the court, as Missouri point guard Sean East II steals the ball during a game on Jan. 24.

Checking the tape on Ole Miss’ new defensive coordinator Pete Golding

Monthly music recs from Rebel

Radio

“Sun for Someone” by Oscar Jerome

“Dirt and Grime” by Father’s Children

“Inside” out by River Tiber

OWEN PUSTELL

thedmsports@gmail.com

After a disappointing defensive effort in 2022, the Rebels overhauled their defensive staff, hiring a new defensive coordinator from Alabama.

Pete Golding has been a defensive coordinator since 2016, spending two seasons at University of Texas San Antonio before joining Nick Saban at Alabama for four seasons, winning a national title with the team in 2020.

Base

Last year, Alabama’s base personnel was a 4-25 (or “nickel”) defense.

The defensive line consisted of a 3-tech, a 0-tech and two EDGE defenders (one is constantly in a twopoint stance and the other alternates between threeand two-point stances.)

The Crimson Tide played two linebackers who would split outside the tackles in order to match with running backs or tight ends in coverage. Both boundary cornerbacks used a lot of press coverage, but also did a fair amount of off-man.

They used two safeties who appeared in two-high and one-high shells depending on the offensive personnel. They also used a nickel back to cover slot receivers,to blitz and to be a force player on runs.

From this personnel, Golding ran a lot of man coverage and was not afraid to put his CBs in press. Alabama also brought a lot of five-man pressures (usually blitzing a linebacker) and ran mostly cover-one man on the back end, but mixed in some cover-three, as well.

Strengths

This scheme puts a lot of emphasis on physicality on the boundary.

Ole Miss has taken a trio of longer cornerbacks in the transfer portal, so expect to see them use their length to disrupt routes at the line of scrimmage and play physical coverage down field. If the secondary can play disruptive football and not let timing routes develop properly, opponents will find it very difficult to generate a strong passing attack.

Playing man coverage allows the defensive line to get in a lot of good pass rushing situations, especially on fiveman pressures. Alabama was lucky enough to have linebacker Will Anderson last season, and while UM may not have that level of talent, there will be no issues if the defensive line can collapse the pocket and force throws.

Weaknesses

The emphasis on individual matchups certainly has pros and cons.

When it works, this defense will be impossible to move the ball against, but all it takes is one false step from a cornerback and there is usually no help to cover up the mistake.

In the run game, linebackers need to be very active in getting to the ball. There are a lot of situations in spread formations where the offense has a numbers advantage in the box and there is just one LB to fill just about every gap.

Having an interior defensive line that can eat up blocks is crucial to the success of the LB, otherwise it will be up to the safeties to stop a touchdown. The biggest exposable flaw in this defense that I saw is the isolated cornerback in 3x1 formations.

LSU worked this a lot by

splitting three receivers to the boundary and isolating the best route runner against a single cornerback with about half the field to work with. That is a situation that makes it almost impossible for the CB to win, and expect that to be used in crucial conversion situations.

What to expect

Based on the player acquisitions made in the offseason, Golding likely will run this same defense at Ole Miss next season. Starters should be as follows:

CB: Deantre Prince, DeShawn Gaddie

S: Isheem Young, Trey Washington

NB: Ladarius Tennison

LB: Khari Coleman, Monty Montgomery

EDGE: Jared Ivey, Cedric Johnson

IDL: J.J. Pegues, Zxavian Harris

Gaddie is at the spot with the most competition, but his fluidity likely will impress the staff.

Overall, this unit may not have the star power of Alabama, but the talent and scheme are there to field a much more competent squad than we saw last season.

Coleman will be the X-factor of this defense. His speed and playmaking ability is unique to the roster, but he needs to be able to shed lineman climbing to the second level.

Coleman is also the best chance the Rebels have at stopping dual threat quarterbacks, and completing his game could give Ole Miss the upper hand against the best in the SEC West.

“Hey!” By Jay

“OMG” by New Jeans

“Science Class” by Westside Gunn

“It Never Rains in Southern California” by Albert Hammond

“Once in a Lifetime” by talking heads

“Weird Fishes/Arpeggi” by Radiohead

“ON POINT” by LUCKI

“SICK, NERVOUS, & BROKE!” by JPEGMAFIA

Alabama defensive coordinator Pete Golding works with linebacker Christian Harris (8) as Henry To’oTo’o (10) listens at left during practice at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

PHOTO COURTESY: VASHA HUNT / AP PHOTO

With the start of a new semester, we welcome back the challenges and assignments that we said goodbye to over the holiday break.

These challenges and assignments will of course be remedied with traditional resources such as textbooks, quizlets, sparknotes, etc.

They will also have to face an ever adapting and clever student population whose procrastination knows no bounds.

This boundless procrastination enables students to not only exhibit astronomical amounts of focus and energy mere hours before due dates, but also pushes students to find new and better resources to leap over the hurdles of classwork and homework.

One such emerging resource is ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence tools that have the ability to write essays and in some cases avoid plagiarism algorithms.

ChatGPT is “a ‘language machine’ that uses statistics, reinforcement learning and supervised learning to index words, phrases and sentences,” according

to industry professional Josh Bersin. In simpler terms, ChatGPT has the ability to write and answer questions as well as refine answers which means essays that once took an entire night of cramming and a case of Red Bull will now take mere minutes.

The question now becomes: How will this affect college assignments? More specifically, how will this affect my GPA and conversations with my mother about my grades?

The Oxford English dictionary defines plagiarism as “the practice of taking someone else’s work or ideas and passing them off as one’s own,” but would work produced using AI be considered someone else’s if I gave the AI software the instructions?

Lane Kiffin and I both played a combined 0 downs this season for the Ole Miss football team, but his record for the year was a middling 8-5 while mine was still 0-0 simply because he gave instructions.

If I were to “coach” AI to mimic my writing style and answer prompts in a way that I would, who is to say that the work produced is not an accurate represen-

tation of my ideas and thoughts?

When I read the traditional definition of plagiarism, it seems that to plagiarize, there must first be something to copy. When you first open ChatGPT, there is not already an essay readily available specifically answering my prompt. So, who is to say that you plagiarized, and who exactly did you plagiarize?

While currently, there is major pushback concerning ChatGPT, let’s not pretend that it is the first of its kind. When writing essays, we already have access to many sophisticated and helpful AIs, such as spell check, autocorrect, Grammarly and even autocomplete. Each of these programs significantly improves writing ability and none of them are considered unfair, cheating or plagiarism.

To be for real, ChatGPT and its fellow essay bots are simply the scientific calculators of writing in a world that is still obsessed with four-function calculators.

Jaylin Jones is a senior real estate major from Lucedale, Miss

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Equality is a hefty topic of conversation in the world, with leaders and activists constantly discussing how we can go about increasing equality in politics, education, health, etc. What is often missing from this conversation, however, is what equality really means. Equality is defined as the state of being equal, particularly in status, rights and opportunities.

Achieving equality is a difficult road, and leaders have a habit of cutting corners to create blanket statements of equal access when this does not often equate with equal opportunity. Citizens on all party sides have a habit of believing what they hear, even if not backed by research or facts, and it is the job of politicians to educate rather than justify outdated practices by creating anger amongst their constituents. The conversation is in desperate need of changing, specifically towards equity.

Equity is similar to equality but different in that it adjusts for fairness. You can think of it as leveling the playing field. If three different people of different heights are all standing behind a fence trying to watch a baseball game, one may be able to see over it on their own, one may need a small stool, and one may need a much larger stool to be able to have the same view.

What this means is that

different people need differ ent things to be able to achieve the same end goal. To reach a truly equal opportunity landscape, we need to create equitable opportunities for different groups within society.

In Mississippi, groups like the American Civil Liberties Union are working toward creating an equitable future by enacting campaigns and legislation that challenge the embedded power imbalances in the state. This battle is difficult, especially in a conservative state with a history of not acknowledging the inherent disparity between citizens of different races, ethnicities, gen-

der identities and sexualities. Basic facets of society like education and public health are affected deeply by the lack of equity between groups and while working for equality in these spheres is admirable, it is not enough. One of the most prominent steps forward in the education sector in regards to equity was affirmative action, a set of policies within universities across America that ensured adequate representation of minority groups.

This year, affirmative action is being brought before the Supreme Court with the possibility of being eliminated altogether, which would lead to the com-

pounding of lingering racial inequities in all of society, not just education. Considering the Supreme Court only hears cases when the social climate calls for answers, this case is already proof that all too many citizens do not understand the institutional practices that continue to promote racism and other prejudices to this day.

Take, for example, pay in the workforce. Studies show that while companies often have equal pay for the same jobs, white employees tend to hold the highest-paying jobs, which is not an equitable workforce.

Pay equity employs a more complex approach to study

these problems in efforts to determine where systemic issues could be affecting pay gaps. Subconscious bias and discrimination affect all aspects of the workforce, from hiring to pay to promotional timelines. These biases affect all sorts of underrepresented groups, with prejudices extending based on gender, sexuality and even age.

Making steps to create equitable environments means a lot of hard work, from everyone. People need to take the time to examine themselves for where their own biases exist and work toward correcting outdated and discriminatory perceptions and practices.

Giving people the exact same resources may seem at first glance like a beneficial practice, but real change comes when we start tailoring the resources we give to people’s individual circumstances and needs.

Despite popular opinion, fairness is not determined by ensuring you have the same things as everyone else; it is determined by ensuring everyone has the things they need to reach the same finish line as everyone else. And — heads up — if you think that is unfair to you, it is because you already have the resources you need. Fighting for fairness is fighting for equity, for everyone, not just those who already have it.

Liv Briley is a junior integrated marketing and communications major from Lemont, Ill.

Shouts of joy are heard while sorority and fraternity members stroll with pride. Happiness is spread across the face of all who crossed their line; a symbol of unity, family and joy in their blackness.

But my mind can’t help but think of how my blackness shouldn’t be on a schedule.

A scheduled time to enjoy my culture is a joke. An ideal day to walk into spaces where my culture is uplifted should be

every day, not just on Thursdays from 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Each day is spent attempting to make the university more diverse and respecting, but the work is never complete. Sit back and think of a space on campus for Latin, Native American, Asian, African and Caribbean, and African American students to unload, enjoy their culture and see familiar faces.

Events are only put into action when a small group of students bears the load and responsibilities to ensure they are represented, and it shouldn’t be this way.

Union Unplugged, a 45-minute time slot where you see Black Greek students strolling or maybe a fashion show from the Black Fashion Society, is one of the only dedicated times when African American students can see familiar faces and enjoy each other.

You hear, “I didn’t even know this school had this many Black people,” from freshmen and other students as they see everyone come out. After the alloted 45 minutes, that sense of community and pride is proven to be ever so fleeting, like prematurely dismissing a class on togetherness and identity.

Why?

Because you wouldn’t want to disrupt students from class, would you? You wouldn’t want to impose your culture on anyone else, would you?

Integration week was a time to uplift African American students and the trailblazers that came before. After it was over, everything went back to normal. Regularly scheduled pro-

gramming. No questions were asked as everyone ended the events to highlight Black excellence. A general disinterest could be seen across the face of many students when the significance was mentioned in class.

Why?

Because my blackness is put on a schedule. There is a time and place to celebrate my roots and acknowledge my hardships. And as society tells it, I should be grateful for the amount of time I receive.

But this is about more than African American students. This is about the Latino community, Asian community, African and Caribbean community, Native American community, LGBTQ community and other religious communitiesthataren’tChristianity.

Anyone who lacks characteristics that aren’t seen as often in spaces such as Ole Miss are often forgotten and their culture, beliefs and ideas are placed on a schedule — a schedule that comes around ever so often and the time is expected to be appreciat-

ed because it is seen as an honor.

I’ve been told that if I want the Black experience I should go to a Historically Black College or University. But there shouldn’t be a space that isn’t touched by every race, ethnicity, religion and culture.

I refuse to be held to one space, one idea and one way of life. America was established as the melting pot, so where is the combination of ideas, beliefs and cultures? It exists in pockets here and there. The further you traverse, the more homogenous the pot becomes.

Everything that isn’t accepted by society is labeled as incorrect, illiterate, ignorant and placed on a stopwatch when it is acknowledged. It’s time to replace the separation with unity… or at least acknowledgment.

The change begins when everyone is tired. I don’t know about anyone else, but I sure am.

Bre’Anna Coleman is a sophomore political science major from Drew, Miss.