The Daily Mississippian September 14, 2023

ASHLYNN

PAYNE

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Each September, mental health professionals and organizations recognize National Suicide Prevention Month. This month is dedicated to making strides in breaking the stigma surrounding suicide and encouraging those struggling with mental health issues to make the often tough decision to ask for help.

Because suicide is the second-leading cause of death for college students, it is especially important to provide people with more information about the issue. Clinical Supervisor and Director of the Psychological Services Center Kristin Austin believes that having a designated Suicide Prevention Month makes it easier to talk about suicide and its forewarnings.

“Suicide Prevention Month helps inform everyone about potential warning signs in their friends,

Campus organizations educate, inform during Suicide Prevention Month

family and colleagues that should be taken seriously as well as reduce the stigma of seeking treatment when a person is struggling and contemplating suicide,” Austin said. “It’s important for everyone to know how to ask about suicide in a caring, nonjudgmental way, how to keep people safe, what resources are available and when to get help.”

A major aspect of this month is making sure people are able to recognize when it is time to seek help, whether it be for themselves or others.

“Signs that someone may be struggling with their mental health include withdrawal from activities they typically enjoy, increased irritability and a change in their typical functioning like drinking more, sleeping more or less, not spending time with friends and family or a drop in grades,” Austin said.

It is recommended to seek out additional support when previous coping strategies no longer work or when symptoms persist and affect everyday life. Director of the University Counsel-

UM students in Morocco safe after earthquake

VIOLET JIRA

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All four University of Mississippi students currently studying abroad in Morocco are safe and accounted for after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck the region last Friday, killing and injuring thousands.

According to Blair White, senior international officer and director of study abroad, their safety was confirmed almost immediately.

“We have four UM students in Morocco right now studying in the Arabic Capstone Year program in Meknes, Morocco. All four are safe and accounted for,” she said.

Situated in northern Morocco, Meknes is the country’s sixth-largest city. It was not impacted by Friday’s deadly quake, though many in the city were both shaken and on high alert in anticipation of possible aftershocks.

“We have a robust emergency response and wonderful Arabic Flagship partners both on campus and off campus who reported their safety almost immediately,” White said.

The epicenter of the earthquake was in the Al Haouz region, where it is estimated by the Moroccan government that 60% of the population was killed by the natural disaster. Current estimates place the earthquake’s death toll at just shy of 3,000. More than 5,000 have been in-

village on Sept. 9.

jured, and many remain unaccounted for.

Currently, there is only one student from Morocco studying at the University of Mississippi. The Office of Global Engagement has reached out to them to offer support and assistance.

University of Mississippi students

ing Center Juawice McCormick elaborated on the opportunity Suicide Prevention Month provides.

“This month is an ongoing opportunity to remind us all that we matter, that help is available for all and that there are other solutions to our problems, other ways to manage and heal from the pain we are experiencing,” McCormick said.

Both the PSC and UCC provide therapeutic counseling for a variety of mental health concerns. The PSC allows graduate students in clinical training to provide supervised counseling for a sliding fee based on income, and the UCC provides up to eight free counseling sessions. Clients have the choice of a graduate student or a licensed counselor.

In addition to learning about the warning signs of suicidal ideation, there are other ways people can get involved in Suicide Prevention Month. UCC and

Artists weigh in on WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike

PALEIF RASPBERRY thedmfeatures@gmail.com

Due to an unresolved disagreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers regarding better working conditions and payment, the Writer’s Guild of America went on strike beginning May 2. Two months later on July 14, the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists aligned themselves with WGA and their goals by joining the picket lines.

The WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike has meant a pause in work for many professional writers and actors with the aim of securing, among other things, better pay rates. At the University of Mississippi, where the next generation of professionals are trained and educated through UM’s Theatre and Film department, the strike has given students and professors alike an opportunity to think more deeply about their industry.

SEE SAG-AFTRA PAGE 5

LINE LEAP

The LineLeap App promises a smoother bar-going experience for Oxford residents, but it remains unclear whether or not local bars are buying in.

SEE PAGE 3

CIRCLE & SQUARE

Circle and Square Brewing Company, Oxford’s first microbrewery, opened on Aug. 30 at 100 Depot Street.

SEE PAGE 3

Moroccan boys, Rayan and Ali walk amidst the rubble of their home in Ijjoukak

PHOTO COURTESY: MOSA’AB ELSHAMY / AP PHOTO

PHOTO CREDIT: ADOBE STOCK / PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: ERIN FOLEY

Will LineLeap App hop onto Oxford’s bar scene?

The mobile app LineLeap promises to give users the power to skip the line at bars and pay cover charges before even arriving. However it remains unclear whether Oxford bars will actually put this new innovation to use.

“LineLeap was founded by college students in 2017, and they now work with over 350 bars in 80 markets and have almost 600,000 users,” Maly Foote, LineLeap campus director said.

The app is available in over 70 cities across the U.S., from big cities like New York City to college towns like Auburn.

According to the website, the LineLeap app enables you to buy LineSkip passes, event tickets, drinks and pay cover from the convenience of your phone. Foote said the app first took off in 2020 to help businesses boost their numbers during the pandemic.

This fall, the company sponsored a Back to School Bar Crawl on Aug. 31, an event that took students to multiple popular bars on the Square, including Harrison’s,

Rooster’s, The Library, Tango’s, Funky’s and Round Table. Tickets started at $10 and approximately 1,300 students participated.

The biggest question about LineLeap is whether the bars are going to use this app, as it only works with bars that have undertaken a partnership with the company. The Oxford bars currently listed on LineLeap are Harrison’s, The Green at Harrison’s, Tango’s, Round Table and Roosters.

Kyler Collver, a sophomore finance student who is an employee at Harrison’s, said that the bar’s staff do not often utilize the app.

“I have seen it advertised at Harrison’s, but we do not really use it,” Collver said.

Collver’s statement aligns with the fact that there have been no active passes available to purchase on the app under Harrison’s, or any other bar listed, during any day of the week. An employee at Round Table also stated that they are not affiliated with LineLeap and are not advertising the app.

According to Max Schauff, co-founder of LineLeap, the app has yet to officially launch in Oxford.

“We are in talks with

some of the local bars and hope to officially launch in Oxford soon,” Schauff said.

When making an account, the LineLeap app asks users to put in their birthday to verify that the user is 21 or older.

“Even though we technically bought a pass to go to all of the bars (at the Back to School Bar Crawl), we still had to show our ID at each one,” sophomore marketing major Olivia Mattingly said. “Each bar had their own right to decide who was and was not being allowed in.”

When asking Maclain Pierce, a senior integrated marketing communications major, if she would spend the extra money on a line skip pass or a cover pass she said, “Game days are already so hectic, so anything that would help the day go smoother I would purchase,”

From the perspective of the bars, LineLeap is a source of passive revenue.

“LineLeap only makes money when it brings the bar new revenue in the form of Line Skipping,” Foote said. “For Line Skip passes the bar keeps the majority of the revenue and LineLeap keeps a small percentage, but again this is

all brand new revenue for the bar.”

Going into football season, Schauff is confident that the app will thrive.

“Oxford has some of the best college bars in the country, and we know they would find great success in the app,” Schauff said.

Circle and Square: a brew addition to Oxford

Circle and Square Brewing Company, Oxford’s new microbrewery, opened its doors to the public last week at 100 Depot Street. The name is a nod to two Oxonian landmarks: the historic Square, which is the center of downtown, and the Circle, the heart of the University of Mississippi.

Circle and Square lies next door to the Oxford University Depot along the tracks of the old Mississippi Central Railroad. According to Sumner Abraham, one of the brewery’s founders, the location serves the city as the railroad once did. It functions as “a transportation hub for rich and poor that welcomes people and ideas from all over,” Abraham said.

“I moved from Charlottesville, Va., another college town. It was amazing that breweries were places that all different types of people from all walks of life would gather, whether they were drinking beer, or they were just hanging out,” Abraham said. “It’s a great place for conversation, fellowship, busi-

ness meetings, reuniting with old friends, interacting with your family or hanging out with coworkers.”

Upon moving to Oxford, Abraham realized that the city lacked a space for this type of causal company. Until July 2021, there was a law prohibiting microbreweries to exist in the city, but once the law was lifted, the Circle and Square Brewery team was constructed.

Joel Weyenberg is the head brewer at Circle and Square. “He came from Summit Brewing in Minneapolis, which is kind of the crème de la crème of craft brewing in Minnesota. They’ve got hundreds of craft breweries up there,” Abraham said.

Weyenberg said that he got into craft brewing for various reasons, but the science behind the fermentation process really interested him.

to maintaining a good relationship with it. Thus far, the brewery’s proprietors believe they have done a great job stewarding it.

Circle and Square Brewery operates from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. If a Saturday football game runs past the usual closing time, the brewery will remain open until the end of the game.

The brewery offers a variety of food and drink and takes pride in local flavors. They have guest taps and cocktails, as well as sodas and coffee. Appetizers and small bites are offered on their menu, as are vegetarian options.

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“I would say the difference in science is the diplomatic answer, but deep down and dirty it was because we could make it before we were 21,”

Weyenberg said.

Because Circle and Square operates in such close quarters to the university, its owners have expressed a commitment

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Much like their menu, Circle and Square has a diverse crowd of customers. The parking lot is shared with a commuter student lot, which gives students the opportunity to grab a quick coffee in the morning. In the afternoons, Abraham said they see a lot of working professionals from the university.

“I found out about Circle and Square through a friend and was immediately interested to see what

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it would be like. I liked how different it was from anything else we have in Oxford,” Ole Miss alum Channing Martin said. “Unlike anything else Oxford offers, the brewery had a chill atmosphere and plenty of space to eat and drink with all your friends and even your family.

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It’s not just for college students or just for locals, it’s for everyone.”

The brewery is in the process of arranging details for hosting private events, and is also planning to sell trademark merchandise. Cheers to that.

Cases of Circle and Square’s in-house brews in front of the bar’s microbrewery equipment.

PHOTO:ELYSE LITTLETON / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN

Proud Larrys’ patrons wait outside of the establishment on Sept. 2.

JAMARI OSBORNE / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN

ASB builds trust with student body

The Associated Student Body held its annual Socialize with Senators Night on Sept. 12. The event, which broke from tradition by taking place in the Student Union Plaza instead of within senate chambers, sought to capture student attention in a way it has failed to do in the past.

Camryn Rios, a junior public policy leadership major and current religious and spiritual organizations senator, explained that the idea to change the location of the event and to incorporate activities such as games, music, dancing and free food was inspired by similar events held by the Student Activities Association.

“I think we realized that their activities on the Union Plaza get a lot more student engagement in the past few years,” Rios said. “And since we haven’t had any student engagement when it’s been inside the union, we figured we’d bring it out here.”

ASB Vice President Mason Greenwald said the changes were meant to target beliefs among that student body that ASB is “culty” and “cliquey.”

“Our goal tonight was to be more inclusive, share pizza with people rather than just senators, have a good time and make the students feel more connected to ASB,” Greenwald said.

MOROCCO

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abroad receive pre-departure training on how to use their international insurance, including security assessments and emergency response. Students also subscribe to the Alert Traveler program, which sends them texts and emails when a crisis occurs abroad in addition to other resources.

“We have partners on the ground who report safety concerns and provide updates in an emergency. We also highly encourage U.S. citizens studying abroad to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program provided by the U.S. Department of State, which provides guidance to citizens through the embassies abroad,” White said.

North of the epicenter, the

The event also comes on the heels of a discovery that the ASB Student Issues Form, the primary avenue for students to voice their concerns, was not operational during the last academic year. While submitted forms are required to be read aloud during senate meetings, the faulty form left many student voices unheard.

In response to the development, ASB President Sara Austin Welch said that the online form has undergone significant changes in design to make the forms more accessible. Welch said that the student resource, now listed as the ASB Senate Opinion Form, is functional again.

“Our Secretary Department has done a fantastic job, so we are hopeful for no problems like that this year,” Welch said. “If it ever has a technical difficulty, I hope that we get it solved immediately because there’s really no reason we shouldn’t be reading them every single time.”

In addition to repairing the opinion form, ASB is pursuing new ways of connecting with the student body.

“First and foremost, you need to know about ASB in order to get your problems addressed,” Greenwald said. “We are planning on going to EDHE classes on campus and giving presentations about ASB. We think this will make freshmen aware of ASB and make it seem more accessible.”

historic city and popular tourist destination of Marrakesh has seen significant damage. Madeleine Dotson, a senior political science, Arabic and public policy leadership major has visited and studied in Marrakesh several times over the past five years. She spent Saturday contacting her friends and former host families overseas.

“My initial reaction was shock and surprise. Earthquakes aren’t necessarily unheard of in Morocco, but quakes of that magnitude are once in a century. Once that shock faded, I immediately messaged friends and former host families across the country,” she said. “Luckily, my friends and host families in Rabat and Meknes were not impacted. Although, my family in Meknes said they spent hours of the night outside, just in case.”

One of these friends was Hassan Ait Hammou, an English teacher, social activist and higher education Ph.D. candidate at

Yasmine Ware, a sophomore majoring in international studies and Chinese, is preparing for her first year as a senator in ASB. She echoed the sentiments of ASB leadership, explaining, “ASB is an opportunity for students to have their voice not only shared but have legislation passed to amplify it.” She also offered an explanation for why she believes ASB is so important for students on campus.

Ibn Tofail University in Kenitra City, Morocco. On Friday evening around 11:10 p.m., when the earthquake struck, he was visiting his family. Within seconds, he and his family went from thinking there were cats on the roof, to thinking they were the victims of a home invasion, to finally realizing that they were actually in the midst of a terrible earthquake.

“This happened within seconds — we then realized that we were in an earthquake. I screamed, ‘It’s an earthquake, go out, go out.’ I was with my mom, my dad, my wife and the mother-in-law of my sister. In the blink of an eye, things started trembling,” he said.

After helping his sister’s mother-in-law out of the house, all of Hammou’s family members were outside, and all of them survived the earthquake. Of the 130 homes in his community, no one was hurt.

“The majority of people were still awake at that time,”

“Ole Miss is very diverse in terms of thought and socioeconomic status, and there’s just so many students with nuanced opinions. I think ASB works to bring those all together and make sure that the student body, no matter where they are from, has a voice,” Ware said.

Socialize with Senators seemed to achieve its purpose, as students were impressed with ASB’s organization of the event. Some

he said. “If they were asleep, it would have been a catastrophe because after the quake, a lot of rooms and houses fell down.”

In the impact zone, most people’s homes are completely or at least partially damaged. Roads are blocked, and crucial infrastructure, like school buildings, is damaged and closed. In addition to infrastructure issues and a strain on resources, Hammou described significant emotional challenges in the aftermath of the earthquake that will require advising and emotional counseling.

“The trauma, the experience that they’ve had — it’s the worst experience of their lives. We don’t live in Japan. We don’t live in a place where earthquakes are to be expected,” he said. “In Morocco, natural disasters are rare. Imagine someone experiencing a volcano eruption or a volcano for the first time. It’s

students also said they believe this year’s ASB will be able to represent them and handle their concerns despite the previous year’s technological difficulties.

“I think if they fixed the problem then it shows they took it seriously,” Aniya Lewis, a freshman African American studies major said. “I really like this event, and it made me want to join ASB next year.”

always there. The tragic night is always there in their minds.”

For UM students, and citizens in general, Hammou emphasized the importance of cross-cultural understanding and global solidarity.

“Even when we’re living far away from each other, we have to be compassionate. We have to be merciful. We have to be peaceful. We have to develop this culture of solidarity and the ability to feel the culture and sadness of others. Because at any time, any place, people may be affected. And together, we can help each other,” he said.

While there are currently no relief efforts being organized on UM’s campus, Dotson and White encouraged students to donate to legitimate charitable organizations such as High Atlas Foundation, CARE Morocco and International Federation of the Red Cross and Morocco Red Crescent.

ASB legislative aide Kieffer Schwartz talks with multiple students at Socialized with Senators on Sept. 12.

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Arts&Culture

Peace, love and The Pinksheets

JERIDIANE RAY

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Formed by three junior Ole Miss accounting majors, The Pinksheets is fresh to the indie rock scene. The group’s friendship, however, is longstanding.

Tupelo natives Bryson Heatherly and Carter Maharrey met in third grade, and Dylan Gray joined the duo a few years later. Heatherly and Gray harmonize and strum their guitars while Maharrey plays the drums.

Though the band officially formed in 2021, the three bandmates have been collaborating since 2017 when Heatherly and Gray began playing for Structure, their high school’s show choir band. In 2019, Maharrey auditioned for Structure, and from that moment, the trio shared a musical connection.

“We all just kind of fell in love with music there,” Maharrey said.

“We all started playing together, and once we graduated, we were like, ‘Let’s keep this going.’”

Inspired by their interest in stocks as accounting majors, the band’s name is a reference from the film “The Wolf of Wall Street,” in which penny stocks are called pink sheets. Gray decided that would be the perfect name for their trio.

SAG-AFTRA

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Sophomore film production major Arkasha McGinness expressed his surprise that the strikes occurred but shared that he has learned a lot more about the inner workings of the industry as an aspiring screenwriter and filmmaker.

“It’s clear that writers are not receiving the amount of money they are owed when their work reaches millions,” McGinness said.

These strikes have caused a pause in development and conception of new projects in Hollywood, including films, television shows, video games and the like. McGinness hopes that as a result of the strikes, the public will have a greater awareness of the work writers and actors put into their work in the film industry.

Don Waller, a senior who studies theater, journalism and business, discussed his knowledge of the current compensation model when it comes to streaming services.

“With this new age of streaming services, there’s been no rules set up so that the writers and actors get their fair cut,” Waller said. “They would be making, per episode, change, you know? Scraps compared to what the streaming services were making.”

Waller is referencing a viral video of actress Kimiko Glenn from Orange is the New Black revealing how little in residuals actors make from

Maharrey insists that indie rock is simply a label and that The Pinksheets are meant for anyone who is willing to listen.

“Whenever we put on a show we try to have genres for everyone,” Maharrey said. “Anybody who likes alternative indie, college kids and there’s even some older people who just love what we’re playing.”

From recording their album in Tampa to playing at the Old Man Music Fest in Starkville, Miss., The Pinksheets have graced a plethora of crowds and places.

The Pinksheets’ biggest moment thus far was getting the chance to play with acclaimed alternative band Hotel Fiction on Aug. 26 at Proud Larry’s in Oxford.

Even after the honor of playing with Hotel Fiction, Maharrey and Heatherly still insist that friendship is the most valuable aspect of their experience as members of The Pinksheets.

“We all live together, so if one of us is down, both of us will just help the other out,” Maharrey said. “The Pinksheets are three guys who are just there for each other.”

“The Pinksheets is like a brotherhood. We always have each other’s backs, and we can make a good time out of any situation,” Heatherly said.

hit TV shows by showing her own paycheck from the famous series. Despite playing a prominent role on “on a major show that defined a generation,” Glenn had to keep a day job to stay afloat financially.

Waller regards writers as the backbone of the entertainment industry and thinks that streaming services like Netflix have fallen short when it comes to their treatment of workers, particularly with the emergence of AI and how companies are starting to use it to replace both writers and actors.

Waller declared his support of both unions and stressed the importance of the strikes.

“When I become a part of the industry I want to have the protections that actors and writers deserve,” Waller said.

UM Theatre professor and active SAG-AFTRA member Dan Stearns shared his insight into the ongoing strike. Stearns served as a delegate for New Orleans Local, which represents SAG-AFTRA members in Louisiana and Mississippi, at the union’s 2019 national convention.

Over 95% of SAG-AFTRA members voted for the authorization of a strike, Stearns being one of them. He emphasized that guild members are striking out of necessity, not desire.

“No one wants to go on strike. It’s always a last resort,” Stearns said. “While there certainly are many very successful actors who make millions of dollars, the vast majority do not.”

Stearns clarified that it is not A-listers who need the strike to succeed–it is everyday people

The value of friendship and unity speaks even louder through their message to their listeners.

“Our slogan is peace and love. That’s just really what we want to spread — just everybody being together and having fun,” Maharrey said.

Friendship not only binds the trio together, but it also fans the flame of their creative sparks and onstage chemistry.

“There’ll be some days where we play a venue and there’s 10 people out there, especially during the summer, but some of those gigs are the most fun,” Maharrey said. “We love playing those because we’re all just having a good time with ourselves.”

The Pinksheets were not built in a day, and Maharrey shares that the members’ shift in priorities allowed them to take their band to the next level.

“We were focusing on school a lot, and then (we figured) if music is something we want to pursue, then that’s what we want to do,” Maharrey said. “So we really just focused a lot on starting to write songs and trying to find some more places to play.”

Along with the anticipation of their unreleased new single, “Just a Friend,” The Pinksheets look

forward to gracing more stages and connecting with more crowds.

“We’d like to come up with a tour pretty soon. So we’ve got a couple of venues that we’re look-

ing at. We’ve been in talks with a couple of other bands, like opening for them,” Maharrey said. “So we’re really excited for the future, and we’re ready to get going.”

who make their living as actors.

“I think it’s the working actor, you know? It’s the one who picks up a role here and there. It’s the one who’s hustling to try to find jobs, who really needs the support of the union,” Stearn said.

With the rise of streaming services in the last decade, writers and actors alike are looking for a solution to the system of financial compensation currently in place in the entertainment industry. Entertainment workers are paid via residuals, which are payments made when a show or movie is rerun after its orig -

inal release. With each rerun, the residual amount decreases incrementally. Most workers usually receive a flat rate upon the completion of a project and get paid pennies in residuals.

Better pay rates are a major reason for both unions going on strike, seeing as 12.7% of SAG-AFTRA’s 170,000 members do not financially qualify for health insurance. However, they are also fighting for assurance that AI will not take their jobs.

The strikes are specifically against “struck” companies, or companies who are under AMPTP contract like

MGM, Warner Bros. and Amazon, among many others. But some independent companies and filmmakers are still working due to special agreements that SAG-AFTRA has made with certain projects.

The last joint strike between the WGA and SAG (before the merger with AFTRA in 2012) happened in 1960, and it was the first of its kind. The strikes were caused by reasons that reflect the present: the desire for better compensation. This resulted in the guilds getting health plans, pension funds and improved residual payments.

The Pinksheets performing a set at Rooster’s in Oxford. Left to right: Bryson Heatherly, Dylan Gray and Carter Maharrey in April.

OLIVIA CANGELOSI / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN

GRAPHIC: SEDLEY NORMAND / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN

The End of All Music amplifies Oxford’s love of the arts

CLAY HALE

Above one of the Square’s most prominent and historic boutiques sits a record store that provides a whistle of audible art to the streets of Oxford. Founded in March 2012, The End of All Music has been equipping college students and Oxford residents with a vast collection of physical records, CDs, cassette tapes and more for over a decade.

Now dubbed “the record guy” by customers of the long-standing record store and fellow Oxonians, The End of All Music founder David Swider has been a familiar face in Oxford for years. He left his hometown of Greenwood, Miss., in 2003 to attend the University of Mississippi and earned degrees in both journalism and English in 2008. During and after his collegiate endeavors, he worked at Square Books but wrapped up his time with them in 2011 to work toward opening The End of All Music.

Though Swider would not consider himself a collector of records, he would certainly consider himself a “record-buyer.” When traveling to any town, Swider says that the first question he asks is, “Where is the record store?” Swider felt certain that he was not the only music con-

noisseur in Oxford, and when this mindset was mixed with his deep affection for music, he found ample motivation to kickstart the store.

“It started out with just selfishly wanting my own place to go buy records, but if I feel this way, surely there’s a market for other people that feel this way in this town — especially with it (being) a transient college town,” Swider said.

“If 10 freshmen can come through every year and be into buying records, we might be alright.”

With the Double Decker Arts Festival and International Record Store Day both taking place in April, Swider said the spring month is easily his busiest time of year. Interestingly, he revealed that Double Decker creates more attendance at the store, but Record Store Day is the lead time where its business really booms.

“I think Double Decker is more of just people wanting to come to town because it’s a free festival. Record Store Day, on the other hand, is more for people who buy records,” Swider said. “I’m not saying people that come to Double Decker don’t buy records — we have a really busy day — but they’re not (solely) record-buying fans like on Record Store Day.”

Whether they are music-loving

Ole Miss students or die-hard record collectors, Swider welcomes fans of all music genres into his store. “There’s no such thing as good music,” Swider said. “Everybody’s subjective. Everybody’s got their opinion. I think we do a good job of catering to just about any kind of music fan, and that’s a big part of what I wanted The End of All Music to be for Oxford — you can

come in here and feel comfortable no matter what you’re into.”

Creating an environment open to all music tastes has paid off in Swider’s point of view. The environment he has created over the last decade has provided him with relationships that may not have been formed without it.

“I have made some lifelong friends doing this — both with

customers that have come in that I don’t consider customers anymore and (with) old employees that are now family to me,” Swider said. “We have our doors open and allow literally anybody that wants to come in, as long as they’re not being an a—hole. They’re welcome here, for sure, and that’s not going to change. And I give Oxford props for letting us be that way.”

Off Square Books holds signing for NOLA party hosts

On the quiet afternoon of Sept. 10, Off Square Books hosted a signing of “Classical Shindig,” a book by New Orleans-based party hosts and pianists Michael Harold and Quinn Peeper.

The book features an array of ideas for entertaining in one’s home, reflecting Harold and Peeper’s talent for cooking, decorating and music. From photographs of elegant dining table displays to detailed recipes based on aspects of different places, “Classic Shindig” includes it.

Harold shared what sparked the duo’s collaborative impulse.

“Because we like entertaining, and I like to write and eat good food, and Quinn loves the art of a tablespace and

the beautiful things that a table can have, we got together and decided let’s just show what (we have),” Harold said.

Throughout the book, there are many recipes reflecting where they have lived, such as “Lemon Gâteau Soufflé,”

“Hush Puppies with Caviar” and “King Cake Tea.”

This book highlights beautiful components of Southern culture. Mississippi and Arkansas play prominently – as does New Orleans.

“New Orleans has a big part of it, because we live in this great old house and it looks like a classic New Orleans house with tall ceilings and pretty crown molding,” Harold said.

Harold has spent his life in New Orleans, while Peeper was born in Osceola, Ark., but also has spent time in Germantown, Tenn., and now New Orleans.

Their backgrounds in these different places influenced not only their book, but also their lives and how they embody the “warm Southern host.”

“I feel like having people in your house is one of the greatest things you can give to your friends,” Harold said. Music is an integral part of Harold and Peeper’s hosting philosophy. Not only does it play a prominent role in “Classical Shindig,” but also in the duo’s lives.

“We both love the art of entertaining,” Harold said. “We both play classical music, and we don’t ever get paid for the music. We like to just play for nonprofits.”

Bookseller Jennifer Mason spoke to the writers’ hospitality.

“(The authors) are just so charming and so warm,” Mason said. “Which is not

surprising right? They have a whole book about hosting. They have just been really lovely. Just carefree.”

The End of All Music is located on the Square.

CAROLINE MCCUTCHEN / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN

Harold and Peeper plan to release a follow-up to “Classical Shindig” focusing on a house in Pass Christian, Miss.

“Classical Shindig” authors Michael Harold and Quinn Peeper at a book signing event at Off Square Books on Sept. 10.

LYDIA WATERS / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN

Arts&Culture Reviews

Olivia Rodrigo’s punk-edged album ‘GUTS’ cuts deep

CAROLINE MCCUTCHEN

thedmfeatures@gmail.com

After the release of her widely-acclaimed single “drivers license” and album “SOUR” in 2021, Olivia Rodrigo became an overnight sensation, skyrocketing to the top of the charts and receiving immense critical acclaim.

In her latest album“GUTS,” Rodrigo goes beyond the bounds of the bedroom pop sound of “SOUR” and into rage-induced punk, giving listeners a full display of just how potent the pangs of betrayal and social paranoia can be.

“For me, this album is about growing pains and trying to figure out who I am at this point in my life,” Rodrigo said in a recent press release, “I feel like I grew 10 years between the ages of 18 and 20. It was such an intense period of awkwardness and change. I think that’s all just a natural part of growth, and hopefully the album reflects that.”

Right out of the gate, the album’s lead single “vampire” takes a stab with a double-edged

sword of a predatory past relationship and the dark side of fame with a piano ballad that first pulls at the heartstrings and then pools into a blood-splattering riot by the song’s end.

Throughout “GUTS,” Rodrigo leans toward instinctual lyricism that lends itself to her attempts to express an array of emotions. With the double entendre of the song’s title, “get him back!,” she seamlessly oscillates between love and hate and obsession and revenge, culminating into the witty wordplay of “I want to meet his mom / Just to tell her her son sucks.”

Rodrigo displays the ability to thread themes of self-image throughout the album in “ballad of a homeschooled girl,” as she reflects on her adolescent regrets and shortcomings through brash vocals and sharp lyrical wit.

However, as Rodrigo grapples with similar themes of self-image in “pretty isn’t pretty,” the song’s simple, cut-anddry lyrics fall short in comparison to the rest of the album.

While “GUTS” as a whole

showcases Rodrigo’s deliberate attempts to step out of Taylor Swift’s spotlight and into one of her own making, “lacy” brings us back to their rumored rift with a stark resemblance to Swift’s “Folklore” with an idyllic string melody and lyrics that ring of torn relations, “I despise my rotten mind / and how much it worships you.”

For those searching for their newest pop-punk heartbreak anthem, Rodrigo presents a mixed bag from the piano-driven vulnerability within “the grudge” and “logical” to the brash rock tunes infused with tongue-in-cheek quips such as “bad idea right?” “get him back!” and “love is embarrassing” that perhaps stand as the hallmark of the pop star’s new era. Naturally, “GUTS” is subject to a side by side comparison to “SOUR,” but each represents a different period in Rodrigo’s path to stardom. “GUTS” proves to be a worthy successor to the album that brought her to fame with its emotional and musical experimentation and versatility.

“GUTS” displays a full range of roaring rock pop-punk to emotionally captivating piano ballads

in less than 40 minutes, offering just enough music to savor and then replay, again and again.

Tyler Childers revitalizes country sound

ELLIS FARESE thedmfeatures@gmail.com

In the ever-evolving world of country music, Tyler Childers has emerged as a refreshing and authentic voice.

Childers hails from eastern Kentucky and is known for his passionate lyricism, revolving around rural life. His memorable country ballads seem to come straight from the heart as he digs into difficult topics that country artists typically shy away from.

His latest album, “Rustlin’ in the Rain,” reaffirms his unique position in the country music scene. With this album, Childers continues to break new ground while appealing to a variety of listeners.

Seemingly less complex than his past two albums, “Long Violent History,” which addressed systemic racism in the United States, and “Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven?” which confronted the contradictions

of Christianity, “Rustlin’ in the Rain” may lack a hard-hitting thematic centerpiece, but it is compact, thoughtful and full of easy roots-country tracks.

The album begins with the title track, where Childers wails vulnerably against twangy instrumentation, singing, “I am yours to use / And I sure wish you would use me.”

Next comes “Phone Calls and Emails,” in which Childers slows the pace with a steady melody accompanied by simple lyricism.

Childers then covers Kris Kristofferson’s “Help Me Make It Through the Night” and S.G. Goodman’s “Space and Time,” and although his renditions do not stylistically differ from the original versions, they are still valuable additions to the album.

The controversy surrounding the music video for “In Your Love” has ignited important conversations within the country music industry and beyond. In a genre historical-

ly characterized by heteronormativity, the inclusion of gay miners as the video’s central characters challenges long-standing norms.

By embracing diverse narratives and highlighting underrepresented communities, Childers demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity, signaling that country music can be a medium for all people to connect with regardless of their background or sexual orientation.

In doing so, he not only contributes to the evolution of the genre but also provides a platform for those who have felt marginalized within it, reminding us that music’s power lies in its ability to unite and uplift all individuals.

“Rustlin’ In The Rain” is a solid addition to Childers’ discography, highlighting his ability to produce catchy roots tracks to keep his audience captivated while also attracting new listeners. Overall, the album is worth a listen for country music fanatics and for people are just interested in the genre.

Tyler Childers’ album cover for ‘Rustlin’ In The Rain.’

PHOTO COURTESY: HICKMAN HOLLER RECORDS /RCA / SONY VIA AP

GRAPHIC: SEDLEY NORMAND / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN

Sports

Ole Miss looks to move to 3-0 before SEC play begins

Against Tulane last weekend, the Rebels showed some remarkable resiliency on the road against a tough opponent. The Tulane defense showed up ready to play, terrorizing the Rebel offense with multiple looks and blitzes that resulted in Jaxson Dart having a tougher day than he would have liked.

IAN SPARKS

The Rebels ultimately outscored the Green Wave 27-3 in the second half, but Tulane is over and done with. Now, the focus shifts to Ole Miss’ bout with Georgia Tech on Sept. 16 in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

This will be another reunion between Rebel defensive lineman Jared Ivey and his former squad. Last season, Ivey and the Rebels got the best of the Yellow Jackets 42-0.

Tech has had an average start to its season. The Jackets had victory snatched away in week one against Louisville, a game where they led the Cardinals by two scores at halftime.

After pummeling South Carolina State last week, Head Coach Brent Key will have his hands full against the Rebel offense.

The new quarterback in Atlanta, Ga., is not exactly a stranger to Ole Miss. Haynes King, the former Texas A&M QB, has shone thus far in 2023. He threw for

over 300 yards and three touchdowns against Louisville and 290 yards and four touchdowns against SC State.

One thing to look for against Tech is how much freshman linebacker Suntarine Perkins plays. The former four-star and top player in the state did not see the action that many had hoped he would against Tulane.

As for the Rebel offense, it will be a massive point of emphasis to win the battle in the trenches. There are many criticisms of the Rebels’ offensive line play against Tulane — and rightfully so. Coach Lane Kiffin is going to need to see a big improvement this week in his o-line before beginning conference play.

Look for Quinshon Judkins to have a breakout game this week. He was bottled up pretty effectively by Tulane, rushing for just 48 yards on 18 carries. While he did have a crucial touchdown that knotted the game up at 17 in the third quarter, Judkins is capable of much more.

Of course, there are worries about a game like this. A weaker opponent at home before going on the road to Alabama screams a potential trap game. That being said, Kiffin and his staff will have this in mind and keep their guys focused on the task at hand. It is always easy to look ahead to those big games, but the Rebels ought to stick to their professional mindset and take it one game at a time.

According to the film: taking down Tech

OWEN PUSTELL

thedmsports@gmail.com

Offensive Film Breakdown:

Former Texas A&M QB Haynes King leads a Georgia Tech offense that has averaged 41 points per game through the first two weeks of college football. Unlike Tulane and Mercer, Ole Miss’ previous opponents this season, Tech spreads out its formation with four or five receivers.

This means the secondary will have its work cut out for it, but it also means that most of the defensive line will be getting isolated reps against an inferior offensive line unit. I do not think Ole Miss will need to blitz much.

A four-man rush can probably generate enough pressure to drop seven in coverage and dial in on stopping the passing concepts Georgia Tech likes to run.

Expect Ole Miss to be aggressive in the pass game, potentially forcing multiple turnovers. Additionally, a loud Vaught-Hemingway Stadium certainly will hinder Tech’s coordination.

The Jackets also seem to favor the run game despite their personnel groupings, which bodes well for the Rebels. I think the Ole Miss defensive line can control the line of scrimmage, which will force Georgia Tech into uncomfortable passing situations.

Getting King behind the sticks and then forcing him to move the ball through the air is the best way to secure turnovers. Ole Miss needs to limit the number of blitzes, let the linemen do their job and see what Tech can do to beat itself. Additionally, I would like to see a healthy dose of Suntarine Perkins this week. His athleticism at LB can seriously help corral Georgia Tech’s offense.

Defensive Film Breakdown:

This unit is far less talented than Tulane. The defensive linemen struggle to hold up blockers, the LBs do not have the same discipline and the unit is generally less cohesive.

Ole Miss fans have been waiting for Quinshon Judkins to feast, and I think this might be the week. Running downhill against the Jackets should be achievable. The Rebels’ offensive line looked sketchy at best last week, but I think they can handle this front, hopefully resulting in a confidence-boosting game for the guys in the trenches. I expect Judkins to hit 150 yards with a couple of touchdowns.

In the passing game, Jaxon Dart’s composure will be tested. The Jackets like to heat up the QB with a variety of blitzes, often gaining a numbers advantage on the offensive line.

Dart does not duck when faced with a big hit, and if he can identify and attack the soft spots left by Tech’s aggressive blitzes, Ole Miss should drive down the field at will. Look for Kiffin and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. to resort to a lot of crossing routes to expose this defense.

Georgia Tech likes to run man coverage, leaving them exposed to leverage routes. It will be important, however, for Dart to have a check-down route available to him on every play. If the blitz gets home, Dart cannot start shooting from the hip or risk getting sacked.

Three Keys to Victory:

Force King to throw under pressure

Finally get Judkins going Create real home field advantage.

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If you are a Mississippi supplier or contractor interested in doing business with us, please register with us at atmosenergy.com/HireMississippi.

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Week 3 College Football Pick ‘Em

No. 11 Tennessee at Florida: Tanner Shapiro

Final Score Prediction: Florida 31, Tennessee 20

This game will spotlight Tennessee’s high-power offense and the young defensive core of the Florida Gators. Two weeks ago, Florida QB Graham Mertz struggled against Utah and its elite defense in the first game of this season. The Gators have an insane rushing attack, along with a great pair of WRs with a lot of speed. CB Jason Marshall Jr. needs to be a factor for the Gators to stop the big arm of Tennessee QB Joe Milton. Tennessee’s offense is commanding, and they have an elite rushing attack as well. I believe the key to the game will be what defense can stop the offense with more consistency, and that team will be the Florida Gators.

No. 8 Washington versus Michigan State: Owen Pustell

Final Score Prediction: Washington 35, Michigan State 17

I expect Washington to take whatever they want from MSU on offense. QB Michael Penix and his duo of elite WRs are simply better than the MSU secondary. MSU is still recovering from the investigation and suspension of head coach Mel Tucker over charges of sexual harassment. For Washington to lose, it would take a monumental collapse. Michigan State has flashed in their first two games, but they faced sub-par competition, and their roster remains average at best. Their best chance at victory comes from a defensive line unit that boasts a

couple of former elite recruits still looking to put it all together. If they can get constant pressure and penetration, they have a chance to force Penix into bad decisions. Controlling the clock while on offense is also crucial. If MSU can run the ball well and win the turnover battle, they may have an outside shot.

No. 18 Colorado versus Colorado State: Teddy King

Final Score Prediction: Colorado 35, Colorado State 10

With the debut of new Colorado Head Coach Deion Sanders, aka “Prime Time,” Colorado made a statement in Fort Worth, beating No. 17 TCU 45-42 in one of the most thrilling games in Week 1 of College Football. After steamrolling Nebraska in Sanders’ home opening game at Folsom Field in Week 2, the Buffs host the unmatched in-state rivalry: Colorado vs. Colorado State. Along with the heated rivalry of both Colorado schools, the Big Noon Kickoff Show and College Gameday are showing up to see who gets to be

the best in Colorado. Based on the first two weeks of college football, Colorado has proven they have what it takes to be the best in Colorado, as well as the Pac-12.

No. 14 LSU at Mississippi State: Ian Sparks

Final Score Prediction: LSU 28, MSU 17 Kicking off SEC conference play, the LSU offense should prove to be too much for the Bulldogs. Against Arizona, Mississippi State gave up 431 yards. However, that

included five turnovers forced by Mississippi State’s defense that still saw the Bulldogs needing overtime to get the win at home.

Having said that, State does have one of the most efficient quarterbacks in college football in Will Rogers. Despite throwing for only 162 yards against Arizona, three of his 13 completions were touchdowns. Add in dynamic playmakers Tulu Griffin and Woody Marks, and it can be a lot to handle. But Jayden Daniels and the potent Tiger offense will be too much for the Bulldogs.

GRAPHIC: LIBBY FLANAGAN / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN

Ole Miss Women’s Golf breaks

multiple records in seasonopening tournament victory

The Ole Miss Women’s Golf team opened its season with the Cougar Classic in Charleston, S.C., on Sept. 11. As the tournament wrapped up on Tuesday, the Lady Rebels secured first place for the second consecutive year at the event, giving them an impressive win for their resumé.

Not only did Ole Miss come out on top among a field of very competitive opponents, they also shattered both team and tournament records in the process.

The Lady Rebels finished with a three-round team score of 816 (-36), the lowest score ever recorded at the Cougar Classic; this also broke the Ole Miss record for lowest tournament total.

This whole tournament was a showcase for just how menacing this team can be, especially if they can maintain the standard they just set. Ole Miss ended the competition ranked first in par-5 scoring (-19) while simultaneously outranking everyone in birdies (64).

A win like this is certainly a team effort, but Ole Miss’ performance in Charleston cannot be fully explained without highlighting the transfer duo of Justine Fournand and Caitlyn Macnab. The two women made things look easy through three rounds of action. Their final scores came out to 203 (-10), and they tied for fifth place, which ultimately helped secure the season-opening title for the Rebels.

Inclement weather constantly disrupted the Cougar classic, but Fournand, the South Carolina transfer, did not let that bother her. She picked up in round two, pitching a birdie in four of her last six holes. At the end of her day, she finished with five birdies in the final round.

Fournand’s duo partner Macnab, from Johannesburg, South Africa, also contributed in a big way. She garnered a score of 66 (-5) in her second-round performance; she then went on to score 65 (-6) in her final-round curtain call.

On the topic of top finishers, Natacha Host Husted had a nice weekend of her own. She

wrapped up her Cougar Classic bout in the top 10, finishing 3-under par (68) in each of her three rounds. The junior standout’s overall score came out to 204 (-9), which solidified her as lone golfer in the eighth spot on the individual leaderboard.

Andrea Lignell and Sophie Linder also showed out for the Lady Rebels. Lignell finished with an overall score of 209 (-4), which was good enough for a 20th-place tie. She also ranked second on the individual leaderboards in par-5 scoring (-6).

Linder, who competed in her first collegiate tournament, capped off her debut with a score of 212 (-1). Her second-round performance stood out the most, as she posted a score of 68 (-3) on her way to helping Ole Miss secure the Cougar Classic victory.

With the Cougar Classic over, Ole Miss looks toward a trip to Franklin, Tenn., for the annual Mason Rudolph Championship starting on Sept. 22 and running through Sept. 24. The tournament will take place at the Vanderbilt Legends Club.

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OPINION

K-12 students cheated in test scandal

JUSTICE ROSE thedmopinion@gmail.com

State tests are, in many ways, the bane of K-12 teachers’ existence. No matter how much students enjoy the class or think they have learned, it all comes down to one evaluation: a singular, multi-hour assessment in a quiet room with minimal breaks. Even if you are proficient or advanced in a particular subject, stakes like those make for a more intimidating testing environment.

State tests are used as an indicator of growth and performance, albeit a controversial one.

Despite the many things wrong with standardized testing, it’s the system we have in place, and it is teachers’ and administrators’ duty to enforce academic honesty during these tests. So, when allegations of cheating in Mississippi reached national news, many questions arose.

Nearly 1,000 state test results were voided earlier this month due to an investigation probe finding unusual examination results. What exactly can be considered unusual? The Mississippi Department of Education defines the irregularities as either “having an extremely high level of similar responses or numerous instances of wrong-to-right answer changes” according to Mississippi Today.

I remember state testing days as the strictest days on campus in high school. On these days, there were no bathroom breaks, and absolute silence was mandated throughout the building. Lunch was pushed back well into the afternoon, and no visitors were allowed, among many other rules to ensure a secure testing

site. Forget hearing a pin drop — you could hear students’ heartbeats as anxiety mounted during tests.

With that being understood, it’s shocking that teachers and administrators alike are cited as perpetrators in this investigation. In the case of Jackson Public Schools, which reported fraudulent test results from seven schools in their district, a board meeting revealed a litany of misconduct. Teachers and administrators helped students during the test by leaving hints for more difficult questions, viewing test questions early and making copies for classroom prep, changing answers post-submission and allowing students to continue testing beyond the allotted test time.

Talk about audacity and disregard. Not only did these individuals endanger their own reputations as leaders and educators, but they potentially committed misdemeanors and felonies according to Mississippi law.

Other school districts have not been as transparent during their investigations. One can reasonably assume similar antics took place in order to trigger a probe from state investigators.

Beyond that, the worst outcome of this development is that too many kids have now been set back by inconsiderate leadership. The Department of Education says that these students will have to make up for these transgressions one way or another. Some students will be forced to re-test depending on the assessment that was flagged as fraudulent.

As it stands, students already dread test prep. I can assure you no student wants to take time out of the regular school year to prepare for a test

they thought they already passed once before.

Many of the elementary assessments are designed to gauge the basic understanding and literacy required to progress in any school district. By helping a third grader cheat so your numbers look better, you may have worsened the learning outcomes of a child who was at risk educationally.

It’s a shame news like this has overshadowed Mississippi’s overall improvement in academic performance. More than 500,000 state tests were taken this past school year, and the results showed Mississippi scoring above average or middle of the pack in most categories. This is a historic increase, and the educators who did the right thing to achieve it deserve a round of applause.

Moving forward, I worry about the schools that reported a high number of fraudulent tests. According to Mississippi Department of Education policy, any school that has over 10% of results invalidated due to fraud will consequently have their entire school’s letter grade voided. As a result, eight schools listed in this investigation will be gradeless for the school year.

All in all, I wish the best for the students and school districts affected, as a minor setback can lead to major issues down the road. I especially hope this doesn’t scare families away from relocating to Mississippi. We are still home to some of the brightest, most innovative young people in the country. That’s shown by our ridiculous braindrain rate, but that’s a conversation for another day.

Justice Rose is the opinion editor and a journalism major from Madison, Miss.

Mental health matters

LIV BRILEY thedmopinion@gmail.com

The mental health crisis in America is one of the most discussed and debated topics in the modern media, with activists consistently working toward creating an unbiased, destigmatized perception of what mental health is and how it can best be protected. With September being Suicide Prevention Month, there is no better time to discuss the stigma around mental health treatment. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for college students in the United States, and it is an issue that often goes unaddressed.

While depression and other mental health issues are not entirely preventable, they are treatable if people have access to the right resources. Studies have shown that 75% of people who attend some form of psychotherapy show improvement by the end of treatment.

The question then becomes: Why isn’t everyone who struggles with mental health issues in therapy? The unfortunate truth is that the social perception of mental healthcare carries a stigma strong enough to discourage people from seeking help. About 80% of people struggling with mental health issues do not seek professional help. Some of the most common fears people

Opinion Policies:

list about going to therapy are not about the effectiveness of treatment, but about how others will perceive them, both in their personal and professional lives.

The University of Mississippi does have services in place to help students easily access mental healthcare. The counseling center offers free appointments to all students and has an after-hours helpline for emergencies.

While this and the resources available through their website are great steps toward providing a safer space for students, they are useless if people do not feel comfortable enough to go. Fear and shame are incredibly powerful emotions, and until people are made to feel safe in asking for help, the mental health crisis will only worsen.

On a personal level, I have dealt with anxiety and depression since I was young. I have been fortunate enough to have access to therapy and medication and to have people in my life who support my mental health journey. I can personally attest to the efficacy of therapy and how life-changing it can be to have someone to help you navigate your emotions and find the best coping mechanisms in times of crisis.

No matter how strong you think you are, dealing with mental health issues alone is not the answer. The greatest strength we have when it comes to getting through the hardest times is our ability to

communicate and lean on others for support. The more people who share their stories and experiences with mental health issues and treatment, the greater chance we have of destigmatizing asking for help.

If you are fortunate enough to not deal with significant mental health issues, take the time to do your research and talk to the people in your life who do — I promise you know more people who struggle with these things than you think.

Ignorance is not an excuse in an era in which reaching people and their stories is easier than ever. Ending the stigma around mental health treatment starts with each and every individual, and if we all put in the effort to understand the people around us a bit better, we can be better equipped to be there for each other.

Suicide is not an isolated decision: It is the culmination of months and years of feeling alone and not knowing how to get help. If we want to push suicide down the list of leading causes of death, it starts with giving people compassion and the piece of mind that if they are not okay, we will stand by them while they work toward a better state of mind.

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

Columns do not represent the views of The University of Mississippi or The Daily Mississippian. The Daily Mississippian welcomes letters to the editor, which should be emailed to thedmopinion@gmail.com. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. They may be edited for clarity, brevity and libel. Third-party letters and those with pseudonyms or no name will not be published. Letters are limited to one per individual per month. Letters should include contact information, including relationship to the university, if applicable.