The Student Printz, November 20, 2014

The

S tudent Printz www.studentprintz.com

Serving Southern Miss since 1927

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Volume 99 Issue 25

Yearbook to discontinue after 79 volumes The Southerner cut due to budget crunch

Mary Sergeant

decision to end The Southerner was one of the more difficult decisions he has had to make.

“One, I appreciate the recorded history of the university,” he said. “And, two, the most painful part for me was there are 21 students

Current executive editor of The Southerner Kayla Patak is also disappointed about the recent changes.

“Southern Miss is built on tradition and I’m sad to see a cornerstone of our campus go away due to financial hardship,”

our university.”

Taylor Bostick worked on The Southerner staff during all four years of his undergraduate career, and in 2011, he was named executive editor. Today, Bostick works as a page designer and copy

news that this volume of The Southerner will be its final Printz Reporter & Photographer publication did not come as In April 2015, the 79th a surprise. volume of The Southerner “It was never a matter of if, it yearbook will become available was a matter of when,” he said. for students at The University During Bostick’s years on of Southern Mississippi. But, staff, he saw budget cuts affect due to recent campusthem multiple times. wide budget cuts, the Because of these cuts, 79th volume will also payroll was changed, be the school’s last. printing companies Vice President of were switched and Student Affairs Joe other measures were Paul was put in charge taken to keep the of a 4.5 percent budget yearbook afloat. reduction under his USM’s first division.

Student yearbook dates back affairs ranges from to 1914, and at that counseling services to time it was titled student recruitment to Neka Camon, which the The Southerner. means “the new According to Paul, the spirit” in a Native student affairs budget American language. is currently $4 million From there, the and of that, about $3.2 yearbook went million is personnel. through multiple The operating budget name changes until for The Southerner was it was permanently approximately $70,000. titled The Southerner Paul asked that each in 1947. department head under Throughout his division design a its history, The budget cut, cutting 4.5 Southerner has percent from their given suffered due to budget. After carefully financial struggles Mary Sergeant/ Printz analyzing each and other events in The Southerner yearbook dates back to 1914, when it was titled Neka Camon. The 2015 publication will be the university’s last division’s suggestions due to recent budget cuts. the nation’s history. and budgets, he came From 1918 to 1919, to his conclusion. on staff and there are 20 other she said. ”But I understand the editor for the Sun Herald it was not published because of Of his 21 years of serving students out there who won’t state of our economy and know in Gulfport.

World War I. Then, from 1932 in his position, Paul said the have their same experience.” it is essential for the success of According to Bostick, the See THE SOUTHERNER, 3

ON CAMPUS

Two arrests made in cyberstalking cases Lindsey Kelley Printz Reporter

The University of Southern Mississippi Police Department arrested two men this week for alleged electronic invasion of privacy at the Hattiesburg and Gulf Park campuses.

The first case detailed the arrest of Quandom Benn, a

4

NEWS Pie-A-Professor Fundraiser to aid math and physics societies.

Quandom Benn

5

former iTech employee on the Hattiesburg campus. He is currently being charged with seven counts of disturbing the peace and seven counts of stalking.

According to a statement from Southern Miss President Rodney Bennett in June of this year, Benn “violated the trust The University of Southern Mississippi places in

FEATURE Flu Season Simple tips to avoid taking a sick day.

6

its employees (by) accessing the personal information of certain members of the USM community on the Hattiesburg campus.”

UPD Detective Rusty Keyes said the investigation took over five months to complete due to investigation of forensic evidence.

“We submitted some computer equipment and Joshua Scarabin

OPINION Running the Race Learn to set and achieve your goals.

See Cyberstalking, 3

7

SPORTS Basketball Lady Eagles beat MVSU 61-59 Wednesday.

THE S TUDENT PRINTZ

Page 2 | Thursday, November 20, 2014

Editorial Staff Executive Editor Kathryn Miller kathryn.miller@eagles.usm.edu 850.565.0812 Managing Editor Alan Rawls gregory.rawls@eagles.usm.edu Multimedia/Web Editor Crystal Garner crystal.garner@eagles.usm.edu News Editor Nikki Smith ashly.smith@eagles.usm.edu Sports Editor Joshua Campbell joshua.m.campbell@eagles.usm.edu Design Editor Parker Brewer parker.brewer@eagles.usm.edu Photo Editor Susan Broadbridge susan.broadbridge@eagles.usm.edu

Source: www.alberichcrosswords.com

Opinions Opinions expressed in The Student Printz are those of the writer and not necessarily those of The Student Printz,

Assistant Photo Editor Kara Davidson kara.davidson@eagles.usm.edu

its publications manager, USM, the Board of Trustees of

Graphic Designers Cody Bass cody.bass@eagles.usm.edu

Editorial Policy

Julie Gore julia.gore@eagles.usm.edu

editorials do not necessarily represent those of the faculty,

Social Media/Copy Editor Yolanda Cruz yolanda.cruz@eagles.usm.edu

Mississippi. We welcome letters to the editor representing

News Content Adviser Chuck Cook 601.266.4288 chuck.cook@usm.edu

distinction, major, phone number and email address.

Ad Graphic Designer Katherine Frye katherine.frye@eagles.usm.edu

State Institutions of Higher Learning or the USM Board of Student Publications.

The views represented in The Student Printz’s columns and staff or administration of The University of Southern

ACROSS 1 Old programme showing Donald Duck lying in state?

(8) 5 Words of encouragement when husband’s caught in deceitful backsliding? (4,2) 9 Fuel that’s fantastic on paper (7) 10 Making complaints leads to malicious oaf taking a beating, first off (7) 11 Run away with girl after she’s dumped writer (5) 12 A source of illumination in the main (9) 13 Female’s back (4) 15 Inner yen, a hankering ultimately? Could be (8) 19 See 8 20 See 8 23 Dance mostly with a Russian space traveller?

This may provide the music (9) 25 Sheath is essential for estoc really (5) 26 With heavens breaking, a storm will do for this tiny creature (4,3) 27 Note, paying attention’s not hard but necessary (7) 28 Girl, right, turned heads of lads, dressed nicely in full skirt (6) 29 Sounds like I am able to date unknown person who’s attractive (3,5)

similar and contrasting opinions. To be eligilible for publication, all submissions must include name, class Submissions should be emailed to printzeditors@gmail.com by 5 p.m. Friday. Please limit them to 500 words or less.

The Student Printz reserves the right to refuse publication or edit any material on the basis of clarity, space or journalistic ethics.

DOWN 1 Hell, best man’s taking time! (6) 2 His contribution to medicine is of wee significance?

(9) 3 Stage play oddly taking hour and a quarter (5) 4 Playwright who makes you sick (6) 6 One lies in front of fire, rather drunk, wearing skirt (6,3) 7 Whinges endlessly when mobile charger makes this sound (5) 8,21,10d,19,14,20 Quiet thatched pub b-burning?

Bugger! Brewery much glad these characters are scrambled from 1 (4,4,6,6,8,6,3,4) 10 See 8 14 See 8 16 One chap covers up for criminal providing drug (9) 17 Perhaps foil container is a way of transferring money over to Director under the counter (8) 18 Performer in production of Tristan abandoning Lohengrin finally (6) 21 See 8 22 Very narrow lane that’s between high-rises? (6) 24 On which Parisian graffiti artist draws monkey-like creature? (5) 25 PM avoids controversy concerning oil (5)

Toys for Tots Marine Toys for Tots will contribute donations to the Hattiesburg community this winter. The program is

Advertising Manager Lesley Sanders-Wood 601.266.5188 lesley.sanders@usm.edu

sponsored by the Marine Corps in cooperation with

Advertising e-mail printzad@usm.edu

Donation boxes will be available on campus Nov. 20

Center for Veterans, Service Members and Families at collection locations on the Hattiesburg campus. through Dec. 18 near The Center, 3503 Morningside Drive, and the first floor of the Thad Cochran Center near Barnes & Noble. Gifts must be new, unwrapped toys for ages 0-12. Barnes & Noble management said

Find us online at: www.studentprintz.com

Instagram: Thestudentprintz

The Student Printz is published every Monday and Thursday during the fall and spring semesters. Signature Offset of Hattiesburg provides printing services.

people who donate can receive a 10 percent discount in the store once a toy donation is verified. For more information, contact Veteran Outreach Coordinator Doug Robinson, Douglas.

Robinson@usm.edu.

NEWS

Thursday, November 20, 2014 | Page 3

NATIONAL

Major retailers refuse to participate in ‘Black Thursday’ Colin Cameron Printz Reporter

The trend of Black Friday shopping beginning earlier and earlier on Thanksgiving Day has become increasingly common.

However, several companies have recognized the issue of taking employees away from their families on Thanksgiving and have declined to open their doors this holiday.

Companies such as T.J. Maxx, Dillard’s, Barnes & Noble, GameStop and Costco have declared Thanksgiving a nonshopping day.

Altar’d State is among many companies to recently decide to keep their doors closed on Thanksgiving.

“In an effort to support our associates and their holiday traditions, Altar’d State stores will greet you with a warm smile and attentive service at 6 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving,” said CEO Aaron Walters in a news release last week. “We choose to allow our associates more time with family and loved ones.”

The stores that will open Thanksgiving argue that they are doing so in response to positive consumer interest and pressure from competitors.

THE SOUTHERNER continued from page 1

to 1937, the yearbook took another break from printing.

According to Southern Miss archives, this could have been due to the Great Depression and the flu epidemic. Since 1947, The Southerner has continued to be published every year.

“It’s amazing how much the yearbooks are used by researchers,” said Cindy Lawler, assistant curator for historical manuscripts and archives in McCain Library.

Lawler also mentioned that Chester Morgan, the author of “Treasured Past, Golden Future: The Centennial History of The University of Southern Mississippi,” used the yearbooks as sources for his publications.

In a story written in 2010, NPR said that about 1,000 yearbooks were still printed nationwide. That is 1,400 less than those printed in 1994.

Former USM student, Kelly

Despite these justifications, many large retailers have issued statements acknowledging the questionable economic benefits

of opening on Thursday and the importance of preserving the holiday for both employees and customers, according to The

Huffington Post.

Major retailers that will open on Thanksgiving this year include Walmart, Best Buy,

Courtesy Photo

Michael Kavitz/Printz While many stores open Thanksgiving Day to begin Black Friday sales early, certain stores such as GameStop choose to remain closed to allow its employees time to spend the holidays at home.

Price began working as a member of The Southerner staff in fall of 2010 as a photographer.

Like Bostick, Price was named executive editor her senior year.

Currently, Price works as the athletics support assistant for the University of Alabama’s Athletic Photography Department.

According to Price, the University of Alabama has also recently cut their yearbook, The Corolla, out of its budget due to a decline in yearbook sales.

“I know budget cuts are always a concern, but the university is doing away with an important historical document,” she said. “It’s a shame we’re heading into an age where print publications are becoming seemingly obsolete.”

Price also expressed her concern that this is only the beginning, for she fears the end of The Southerner will create a snowball effect, eventually ending other print publications on campus.

According to the Washington

Post, “college yearbooks have been slowly disappearing as campuses expand and diversify and students’ lives move online, away from paper records of their college memories.”

This year, The Southerner is being sold for $20. In 2013, according to Joe Paul, roughly 300 were sold to students.

Emily Holmes, assistant director for student activities and the adviser for the yearbook, said they have chosen to order a limited number of copies due to lack of interest in recent years.

“If the demand is not there and the money isn’t coming in to supplement the budget, it’s inevitable we are going to hit a rough patch,” she said.

Students can still purchase copies of The 2014-2015 Southerner in the Student Activities Hub at any time.

For more information regarding The Southerner, contact Kayla Patak at Kayla.

Patak@eagles.usm.edu.

Cyberstalking

continued from page 1 phone equipment we had seized from Benn during the investigation for forensic analysis,” Keyes said. “It just takes a while to get those results back.”

Benn had no previous criminal record before these allegations. He turned himself in to UPD Tuesday, coming into the station alongside his lawyer, and his case has been handed over to the Forrest County Justice Court for trial.

During the same day, an arrest was made known on the Gulf Park campus dealing with yet another cyberstalking case.

Former USM Gulf Park student Joshua Scarabin allegedly stalked two former professors and made threats against the University via email.

According to the news release issued, Scarabin was arrested Saturday after warrants were issued by the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Office. He has been charged with two counts of

Kohl’s, Macy’s, Target and Kmart. Kmart plans to open at 6 a.m. Thanksgiving and keep their doors open for the following 42 hours. Meanwhile Walmart declared a “five-day Black Friday event.”

While a store opening on Thanksgiving is not necessarily a new tradition, the new earlier opening times have prompted many to protest and speak out this year. Jillian Fisher, the 21-year-old daughter of Kmart employee Donna Fisher, has started a petition on Change. org to adjust the store’s holiday hours. According to an ABC News report, over 1,500 have already signed the petition as of Nov. 14.

“I don’t have a problem working,” Fisher said. “I have a problem with having to be at their beck-and-call 24/7.

I’m not a first responder out there saving lives. I’m selling clothing. I really don’t think we need to be shopping for napkins on Thanksgiving.”

Whether or not beginning Black Friday on Thanksgiving actually yields any significant benefits, some major retailers have decided that the more important order of business is time spent with family for this year’s Thanksgiving holiday. cyberstalking and one count of posting a threat to cause injury.

Bond was set in Forrest County Justice Court at $75,000.

Keyes said students and faculty should be leery of information shared on the Internet.

“You need to be careful about social media, about who you accept emails from and things of that nature,” Keyes said. “Be aware of who you’re communicating with, and who you’re talking to, how much personal information you’re letting them have.”

Keyes said every person should do his or her best to prevent cyberstalking. “It’s decisions the individual has to make to prevent (themselves) from becoming a victim,” he said.

Anna Hotard, Residence Life staff member and senior English major, agreed with Keyes and stressed the importance of reporting suspicious behavior or harassment. “Be careful with what you post,” she said. “Report if anyone starts threatening or harassing you.

Don’t just blow it off because it could turn serious.”

NEWS

Page 4 | Thursday, November 20, 2014

ON CAMPUS

USM considers transit system for student use Mary Beth Wolverton Palmers Crossing. Each stop Printz Reporter

Despite various complaints about parking on campus, most students at The University of Southern Mississippi may not know how to take advantage of public transportation to get around the Hub City.

However, Hattiesburg is not without public transit. Hub City Transit buses routinely travel up and down Hardy Street and other main roads.

Students may be unaware of the existence of the transportation system or may simply choose not to use it.

Southern Miss’ Office of Sustainability is invested in increasing easy access to public transportation.

On Nov. 17, the Office of Sustainability posted a survey to their Facebook page, looking for responses from students and faculty concerning the use of Hub City Transit. The questionnaire “will be used to help develop a transit program that is viable and convenient for the university population.”

Hub City Transit buses run on four different routes: Hardy Street, Dabbs and Cloverleaf, Mobile and Broadway and

on the route is visited once an hour by a bus running that route. The Hardy Street route, for example, begins at the Train Depot at 6 a.m., with the bus returning at 7 a.m., 8 a.m., and so on until 6:30 p.m. Along the way, the bus hits major stops such as USM, Westover, Turtle Creek Mall and the Highway 98 Walmart.

According to the service’s website, a trip on the bus costs 50 cents for adults, and 25 cents for children, members of the military and senior citizens. Yet despite its cost effectiveness, relative ease of use, and accessibility, most students prefer the use of private vehicles.

Gabby Chamoun, a sophomore therapeutic recreation major, is one of the students who has taken the survey.

“The survey was short and easy,” she said. “I was not aware prior to taking the survey that there was a bus system in Hattiesburg, but I would definitely use it if it was easy (to use).”

Chamoun, a student from Maryland, does not have a car on campus, and her ability to travel off campus is limited to

rides from friends.

“Not having a car is a struggle,” she said. “In Maryland, everyone recycles, everyone carpools, but when I came here, no one did those things.”

Working with Southern Miss would be an easy way to improve the functionality

ON CAMPUS

Pie-A-Professor fundraiser to benefit physics outreach Mary Sergeant

Printz Reporter & Photographer The Society of Physics Students and the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics will give students the chance to pie their favorite - or least favorite - professor Friday.

The Pie-A-Professor fundraiser will be held at the fountain in Shoemaker Square at noon.

Eleven professors have agreed to participate.

Donation jars have been placed in both the physics department and the math department with the faces of the professors.

The physics professors that will participate are Khin Maung, Michael Vera, Lawrence Mead, Christopher Sirola and Chris Winstead.

From the math department,

professors Bernd Schroeder, James Lambers, Sungwook Lee, Jeremy Lyle, Karen Kohl and Marlene Naquin will participate.

On Nov. 21, the professors with the most money in their jar will get a pie thrown in their face. A professor from the physics department, one from the math department and a runner-up will be chosen.

The Pie-A-Professor fundraiser will help both SPS and SIAM do several different things.

“The Society of Physics Students is a social and outreach organization for both physics majors and anyone with an interest in physics,” professor Michael Vera said. “We regularly perform demonstrations at schools in the area and occupy a booth at Hubfest every year.”

The SPS will host an event called Zone 10 in the spring.

“We will be having college physics students from Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and part of Tennessee all come to USM to talk about physics, present research and hang out,” said Robert McGrath, president of SPS. The Pie-A-Professor event will help SIAM jumpstart its presence on campus, as it is the newest math society to come to Southern Miss.

“We wanted them to have a good start with some funding for seminars (and) group activities,” McGrath said.

The donation jars are still up in the physics and math departments for students to donate. For more information regarding this event, contact Elliot Roberts at Elliot. roberts@eagles.usm.edu.

of the bus service, Chamoun pointed out.

“One thing the buses could do is let students show their Student ID when they get on the bus instead of getting a ticket somewhere else,” Chamoun said. “And I live in Hillcrest, so the current stops aren’t easy to get to.”

Courtesy Photo

With the plans in motion to allow greater accessibility to public transportation moving forward, Southern Miss students and the rest of the Hattiesburg community will have to remain tuned in to see what Office of Sustainability and the City of Hattiesburg have planned next.

ON CAMPUS Team Creative Economy to participate in Blueprint Mississippi state competition

Brittny Roberts/Printz

Blueprint Mississippi Social Business Challenge was held Monday at 4 p.m. at the Ogletree House on campus. The first place winner is Team Creative EconomyGrowing the Film Industry, and they will now go on to compete in Jackson for the state competition. The team members included: Chair, Andrew Young and Co-Chair, Ashley Edwards, Kaitlin Horon, Thomas Kern, Susie Veglia and Gabriel Idakwo. Beginning in the hallway, each group presented their presentation board to the judges individually. At 5 p.m., everyone moved into the Poynter Room for formal slideshow presentations that two members of each group were only given five minutes each to present and had to answer one question.

FEATURE / ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Thursday, November 20, 2014 | Page 5

HEALTH

Ways to escape the flu this winter Lindsey Kelley Printz Reporter

With the hallowed halls of Southern Miss being immersed in contagion and disease, it can be easy to succumb to the pressure of school and a compromised immune system. However, all hope is not lost for the healthconscious student. Use these tips to stay healthy this cold and flu season.

The first way to stay healthy is to have a good sleep schedule. With finals coming up and many papers due, it can be tempting to stay up late or even pull an all-nighter to prepare for an assignment.

However, according to the Brown University Health Promotion, losing sleep can weaken the immune system and make the body more susceptible to bacteria and viruses. Instead of staying up late to cram, make sure to keep an organized study schedule.

Another way to avoid sickness is for students to

wash their hands regularly.

According to a recent study

by Wright Patterson Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio, out of the 68 paper bills they analyzed, five of the bills contained bacteria that can cause an infection in perfectly healthy people. Also, 59 of them were contaminated with bacteria that could cause an infection in anyone with a compromised immune system.

These common sources of bacteria, as well as other sources like computer keyboards and mobile phones, can increase the chances of catching something nasty.

Think of everything like working in food service: wash hands after using the bathroom, handling money or after touching anything shared with the public.

Another method of remaining healthy is to keep a humidifier around. According to the UK Daily Mail, the flu virus loves dry air and thrives in low-humidity conditions such as houses and places with centralized heating. One

option is to keep the centralized heating turned low to keep it from blowing too much and to save on energy costs.

However, for those who like to be warm and snuggly at all times, invest in a humidifier. A humidifier will also help keep one’s skin moist and prevent possible nosebleeds from dry nasal passages.

Alanna Fopiano, a senior nutrition major, stresses the importance of a good diet in preventing sickness.

“Now is not the time to go on a diet,” Fopiano said.

“Cutting calories when your body needs them most can lengthen recovery time and potentially make you sicker.”

Last but not least: those who are sick should stay home. In the winter, people are more likely to stay inside and spread germs through contact with each other.

Recently, the theatre department learned a tough lesson: trying to fight through a sickness in the name of staying productive usually ends badly, and one may end

Courtesy Photo

up making others sick.

Whitney Randall, a junior theatre major, recently fell ill during the tech week for USM’s production of “The Wind in the Willows.”

“It was really hard,” she said. “I wanted to be there and I wanted to work and keep going, but I knew the reason I was sick myself is because

so many sick cast members came to rehearsal anyway.

So I stayed in bed and got better before coming back for performance.”

The flu season can knock the wind out of one’s sails, but it does not have to hinder his or her life. Use these tips to keep healthy and coast through finals feeling fit as a fiddle.

REVIEW

Big K.R.I.T. may well be ‘King of the South’ Bradley Presson Printz Reporter

After nearly a decade of humility and hard work, Big K.R.I.T. has finally come to claim the throne of Southern hip-hop.

The Meridian, Mississippi rapper’s second record “Cadillactica” puts the rapper’s Southern charm on full display.

However, the album combines that charm with a newfound aggression and purpose as he seeks to prove that his less-thanstellar debut album “Live From the Underground” was a fluke.

For those unfamiliar with K.R.I.T and his sound, he is easily the best Southern rapper in hiphop today. Picking up the torch that genre pioneers Outkast left behind, K.R.I.T. is a chameleon that is able to seamlessly combine trunk-rattling bangers with sensitive and thought-provoking conscious rap tracks. Regardless of what style of song he finds himself on, K.R.I.T. never shies away from his Mississippi and Deep South roots as well as his love of cars, women and southern hip-hop.

With this background in mind, “Cadillactica” is a slight departure from K.R.I.T.’s typical sound. In the album, K.R.I.T.

works with more collaborators than he usually does, including outside producers, a rarity for K.R.I.T. The album also features a more electronic sound, particularly due to the synths that are utilized frequently on the album.

As previously mentioned, K.R.I.T’s debut album had a lukewarm reception, as K.R.I.T tried to blend in more mainstream appeal to the Southern hip-hop he had perfected on mixtapes like my personal favorite “Return of 4eva.”

So how does “Cadillactica” compare? Well, “Cadillactica” is best described as an album of two halves. The first half, featuring singles like the title track, “Pay Attention” and “Soul Food,” is some of the best K.R.I.T. material I have ever heard. Every song on the first half is stellar, featuring some of his best material since “Return of 4eva.”

The track “King of the South” is especially powerful, as it feels like the mission statement for the album. K.R.I.T’s previous material is marked by his humility, but it is refreshing to see an artist confidently, and correctly, state that he is the best at what he does.

The second half of the record is where the appeal of the album begins to wane. This is not to say that the material on this half of the record is bad - it’s not - but compared to the near perfection of the first half, the slight missteps in the second half become more glaring.

Ironically, “Cadillactica” suffers in dealing with the balance of the mainstream and underground influences that its predecessor did, but “Cadillactica” is weighed down by its conscious rap tracks as opposed to the mainstream appeal.

My least favorite song on the album, “Saturdays = Celebration,” features a gratingly cheesy, bluesy vocal appearance from Jamie N Commons and a beat that tries too hard to be cinematic and instead feels lame and forced.

Other songs such as “Angels” and “Third Eye” are quite good, but feel like less emotionally impacting versions of previous songs in K.R.I.T.’s back catalogue.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed “Cadillactica.” K.R.I.T. has been a favorite of mine for quite some time and this record feels like a well-deserved celebration after

the hard work and dedication K.R.I.T. has put into his material.

I highly recommend the deluxe edition of the album because it features two fantastic tracks that I wish could have made the

record, a reinterpretation of the fiery “Mt. Olympus,” a response to Kendrick Lamar’s infamous “Control” verse, and “Lac Lac,” a delightful collaboration with A$AP Ferg.

OPINION

Page 6 | Thursday, November 20, 2014

HEALTH

Editor’s column part III: tackle your goals Nicki Smith News Editor

On New Year’s Eve, I planned to make this year different. My focus was on losing weight, but I had no idea how much would change in just a few short months.

Instead of the same old New Year’s resolutions I would forget about by the time February rolled around, I sat down and scribbled out a list of everything I wanted to accomplish this year and taped it to the inside of my closet. I did this so every morning when I woke up to select an outfit those goals were staring me right in the face.

I started out with a few small health goals - lose 10 pounds and run a 5K – along with academic and workrelated goals. After running my first 5K in February, I was hooked. All of a sudden my list was covered in running goals, and my focus switched from weight loss to getting stronger and faster.

As my first half marathon was Nov. 1, training took place over the summer. Saturday mornings were devoted to training, and I refused to skip – well, only occasionally skipped – 5:30 a.m. runs on hot, humid mornings.

Waking up to see my Asics lying at the foot of that closet door was usually enough to

get me out of the bed and onto the Longleaf Trace.

We have all heard the saying “nothing worth having comes easy,” and with running that is certainly the case. I think that’s how it is with anything, though. If you want to run your first 5K, sign up for a training plan. If you want to make good grades, devote more time to studying. The only way to improve is to work harder.

As trying as those days were and no matter how long of a day I had ahead of me, I never once woke up and said, “I wish I would have slept that hour instead of running.” What I am trying to say is no matter how farfetched your goals seem, go for it and don’t wait.

I’ve found the way to get the things you want is to: 1.

Set your goals. First figure out what it is that you want and write it down. Do not just write it down and put it away, but look at it often and figure out what you have to do to get there. Nothing is more motivating than seeing your plans on paper.

2.

Give yourself a deadline. Over the past year it helped me to reach a new distance to go ahead and sign up for a race. That way, I couldn’t back out or quit my training. Having that date marked on my calendar helped me to keep going and

Courtesy Photo

push through the hard days.

3.

Take some time for yourself. I know, hard work is important, but so is fun. A person has to take some time off from all the work, put the Garmin down and spend some time relaxing. If you push

too hard for too long you’re going to get burned out, and it will be that much harder to pull through.

I have tackled 13.1 miles and accomplished all of the goals I set for this year, but no matter how many things are crossed

off the list, there is always something new to add to it.

No matter how you decide to spend it, another year is going to pass anyway. You may as well devote it to doing something you care about. As for my next goal, I’ve got my eye on 26.2.

POLITICS

Republicans cannot afford a shutdown Johnathan Parr Printz Reporter

CNN reported that the disagreement about immigration could create another government shutdown because some Republicans could get mad over the president’s overreaching executive action, but the government will not shut down again, or it should not if the Republicans are smart.

“We went down the government shutdown route a year ago,” said Representative Tom Cole (R – Oklahoma).

“It didn’t work, and I think a lot of people recall that don’t think it’s wise to repeat that exercise. We’ve got a lot more

than just a sledgehammer in the toolbox, and so let’s use some of these other weapons that we have.”

Yes, the Republicans should leave the building and construction to Bob the Builder and Tim “the Toolman” Taylor.

The Republicans need to focus on not compromising the powerful political position they are in, and if this means allowing a few liberties for Obama, then go ahead.

Of course, every Republican will say they are going to fight tooth-and-nail against Obama. That’s fine, but they should play their cards carefully, not allowing Harry Reid in his last moments as Senate majority leader to

make a fool of them.

They can do this by not

We went down the government shutdown route a year ago. It didn’t work.

-Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma) listening to dim-wit Michele Bachman (R – Minnesota).

“We want the government fully funded.” This statement is good. “But that particular area needs to be defunded.”

This statement is bad. “We

don’t want a government shutdown at all.” This statement is good. “But,” oh no, Bachman, “we’re going to super-scalpel on that area where the president is acting illegally.”

Her sage advice will have people regretting their votes from Nov. 4.

Her attack plan is foolish, and thankfully the Republicans and America will not have to deal with her having “representative” in front of her name since she is removed in January.

The Republicans have two plans of action. One, avoid a shutdown by making yet another compromise. If they have to pony up a little bit of money to keep the

government running until they can take the reins from Reid’s shriveled hands, then so be it. It won’t be the first, nor will it be the last time Republicans compromise. The second thing they must do is create a persuasive argument as to why they are the correct choice.

Because they can be right, but if they are not convincingly right, then they mean nothing.

Since immigration is potentially the issue that will keep the Republican Party a national party or sink it to state level oblivion, it’s important that they do not ruin their chances of governing before they begin.

So, Republicans, prove me right, and do not shut the government down.

SPORTS

Thursday, November 20, 2014 | Page 7

BASKETBALL

Southern Miss rallies late to top USA Ashley Hickman Printz Reporter

Aaron J. Stewart/Printz Junior Rasham Suarez goes for a layup shot against William Carey junior Corey Brister during the Nov. 14 match-up.

Southern Miss hosted South Alabama Monday night, defeating the Jaguars 68-59 in comeback fashion, improving to 2-0.

Head coach Doc Sadler said his team had the best practice of the year the day before the game. That practice did not carry over though, evidenced by USM’s first half struggles.

Turnovers were a huge factor leading to many transition layups and uncontested shots for South Alabama. The Golden Eagles had 15 turnovers the entire game; most were in the first half of play.

USM’s mental mistakes and inability to convert on fast breaks resulted in a 10-point deficit, 29-19, with 3:18 remaining in the first half. Southern Miss was able to cut the lead to only seven at halftime.

USM looked like a brand new team in the second half. A huge block by Matt Bingaya led to a fast break jump shot nailed by Chip Armelin, which put the Golden Eagles only down by one, 40-39.

“That was a tale of two halves,” Sadler said. “We turned

the ball over 11 times in the first half, and I honestly didn’t know what team I was watching. But, in the second half, we only turned it over four times, and we played much better. I think it shows what kind of guys we have. They never got down.

They just kept plugging away and they were rewarded in the end.”

Southern Miss was clicking on all cylinders when Norville Carey’s dunk late in the second half kept momentum with the home team. That momentum sparked a 21-9 run over the final four minutes to secure the win.

“Normally when I dunk the ball, I don’t show any emotions, but I just felt some energy after that,” Carey said. “It got the fans into it. It was a good feeling.”

The home crowd definitely was a factor in the game as the Golden Eagles extended their home winning streak to 17 games.

“The fans really helped us tonight; we probably wouldn’t have won the game without them,” Sadler said.

Bingaya led all scorers with 14 points and added nine rebounds and three blocks while Armelin finished with 13 points.

Shadell Millinghaus continued his hot start to the season with 11 points while Carey gave USM the a spark off the bench that they lacked against William Carey. Carey had 10 points, six rebounds, two blocks and a steal in just 19 minutes.

USM was able to make clutch free throws late in the game, 71 percent in the second half, which was a key part of the win.

“Anytime you win a basketball game you should be excited,” Sadler said. “Enjoy every single win.”

Overall, the Golden Eagles shot 41 percent from the field with ten assists. USM dominated the boards with 44 rebounds compared to the Jaguars’ 29.

The Golden Eagle defense was once again stifling, holding their second straight opponent to under 40 percent from the field. They will need that stellar defense to continue against Alabama (20) who is averaging 81 points per game and have three players averaging doubledigit points.

Southern Miss will take on the Crimson Tide Nov. 20 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama at 8 p.m.

Lady Eagles remain unbeaten Ashley Hickman Printz Reporter

Southern Miss traveled to Mobile, Alabama, Monday, defeating the Jaguars on its own court 64-53 for the first time since 1997.

After trailing and struggling to find an offensive rhythm early in the game, Markia Nix found Brittanny Dinkins for a layup, tying the game 19-19 with nine minutes left in the first half. The Lady Eagles were able to take the lead at halftime 28-25.

Bench play was crucial to USM’s victory. Tamara Jones and Kierra Jordan led the team in scoring off the bench with 16 and 14 points, respectively.

With 5:34 remaining in the game, Southern Miss took an 18-point lead. Jones was the spark USM needed, scoring all of her points in the second half. The Jaguars were able to come within nine points, but

it was too late.

USM had nine steals on the night while South Alabama did not have any. Jerontay Clemons and Jordan each grabbed seven rebounds for the Golden Eagles.

Jordan dominated in the paint, making 60 percent of her shots. The Jaguars did not have an answer for Jordan’s strong post performance.

For the night, USM dominated the boards with 41 rebounds compared to the Jaguars’ 26. Southern Miss shot 59.1 percent from the field in the second half.

USM continued their hot start Wednesday night, topping Mississippi Valley State 69-51.

The Lady Eagles controlled the game from the tip behind Lashyra Cotton’s teamleading 14 points. Jerontay Clemons had a complete game, scoring 10 points and adding seven rebounds and four assists.

USM held the lead nearly the entire game after Brittany Dinkins stroked a threepointer a minute in to make 3-2 and the Lady Eagles never trailed again.

The Lady Eagles were dominated on the glass, only pulling down 25 total rebounds compared to MVSU’s 48. However, the story of the game was offensive execution.

MVSU committed 35 turnovers with just eight assists while USM only turned the ball over nine times and had 19 assists.

The Lady Eagles’ defense stood tall all night, forcing turnovers and holding the MVSU to shooting just 37.8 percent from the field.

The Lady Eagles will travel to Lake Charles, Louisiana, Sunday to take on McNeese State University before hosting the Lady Eagle Thanksgiving Classic which begins Nov. 29 when they host Austin Peay.

Courtesy Photo/ Joe Harper, Southernmiss.com Senior Voche’ Martin goes for the basket during the home game against West Florida Nov. 8.

SPORTS

Page 8 | Thursday, November 20, 2014

FOOTBALL

CFP: Buckeyes, Ducks may be among final four Jacob Kemp Printz Reporter

In college football, if a team loses early in the year, it’s going to have time to recover in the rankings. If a team loses late in the year, it’s a goner. It’s a famous line used by most college football analysts, but it has never been truer for this season of college football.

Take a look at Alabama. After a loss to Ole Miss and barely squeaking by Arkansas, many counted them out. But here they are, ranked No. 2 in the AP top 25.

Who would have thought Ohio State and Oregon would be where they are midway through the season? The Buckeyes had one of the worst losses by any top 10 team this year, a loss to Virginia Tech that might not even make a bowl game. Oregon dropped a game per usual, this time to Arizona, but both Oregon and OSU still currently sit in the top ten.

The same case can be made for several one-loss teams with the exception being Mississippi State, and all have a chance for the College Football Playoff. Instead of ranking them like the playoff committee, these rankings depict

the teams with the best odds make the playoff.

Florida State is once again the frontrunner. They have been bashed for their strength of schedule, but the Seminoles are the defending National Champions and are riding a 26-game win streak. They have come-from-behind wins over Miami and Louisville and one of the easiest remaining schedules in the country. They host Boston College and Florida to finish out the season. Boston College is 6-4 and Florida just fired head coach Will Muschamp. The Seminoles also have Heisman winner Jameis Winston and a dangerous freshman running back, Dalvin Cook. Florida State is the safest bet to make the College Football Playoff.

Oregon follows the Seminoles with the second highest odds. The Ducks are also almost a lock to make the College Football Playoff.

They have their toughest games out of the way and host Colorado Saturday. They do have to travel to play in the Civil War game against Oregon State and play a top-tier opponent in the Pac12 Championship Game, which

could be tricky. There are teams out there that can beat Oregon, but they are not in the Pac-12.

Alabama is once again in prime position to play for another title.

How could we ever have doubted them? Love them or hate them, Alabama once again is one of the best teams in the country. They had the right things fall their way: an Ole Miss loss, Auburn losing in consecutive weeks and then they got to play Mississippi State at home. An anemic offense that is wildly inconsistent and a secondary that has yet to be challenged are significant weaknesses, but they get Auburn at home and if they win, they go to the SEC Championship game and likely earn a playoff spot.

Ohio State sits just behind the Crimson Tide. The Buckeyes have earned their chance to be in the College Football Playoff.

They lost early in the year and then lost seasoned quarterback Braxton Miller and everyone counted them out. However, the emergence of freshman JT Barrett has the Buckeyes playing at a high level. They beat their only true threat on their schedule in Michigan State and have a

Courtesy Photo

cupcake schedule the rest of the way. There is a chance that they drop the Big 10 Championship Game in Indianapolis, provided that Wisconsin is their opponent.

Melvin Gordon set the single game rushing record last week with 408 yards rushing and could easily wreck the Buckeyes’ title aspirations.

Baylor is just on the outside looking in. Many analysts think TCU should be here, but since Baylor won the head-to-head match-up at home earlier in the

year, they deserve to be ahead. By no fault of their own, the Big 12 no longer has a championship game and that severely hurts the Bears.

If they had one, they would likely jump Ohio State, as their resume is much better. But only playing Kansas State in their last game will hurt them and ultimately keep them out.

This is an article of opinion written by Printz reporter Jacob Kemp.

To read more, visit the studentprintz.com.

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