2011_04_05

The

S TUDENT P RINTZ www.studentprintz.com

SERVING SOUTHERN MISS SINCE 1927

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Volume 95 Issue 49

ON CAMPUS

LOCAL

Gay officer reinstated after case settlement Ashton Pittman Web Editor

No student from the University of Southern Mississippi has won the Harry S. Truman Scholarship for the past 12 years.

Marie Holowach broke that losing streak this year, becoming the first-ever speech pathology major to win the nationally prestigious award.

Holowach’s prize is a $30,000 scholarship for the graduate school of her choice. When the dean of the Honors College and her scholarship advisor came to tell her the news, Holowach was surprised.

“I was kind of in shock at first,” said the junior from Madison, Miss. “But it feels nice to have the work it took to get me here acknowledged.”

The work Holowach refers to includes the establishment of TEAAM-USM. The group, which seeks to increase awareness of autism here at USM, is personally important to Holowach, who said her “passion is for working with individuals with autism.”

The difficulties that people with autism face are familiar to Holowach, who said she has insight from facing the communication disorder in her youth.

She said, “I had to learn by rote how to interact in social situations and how to c om mu n i cate with Marie Holowach others. ... I want to use the opportunities given to me and pass those on to other autistic people.”

Holowach’s application for the Truman Scholarship focused on that desire to help those with autism. It included ten different essays about her leadership ex-

perience, community service and extracurricular activities.

In addition, Holowach had to create a policy proposal to be addressed to a government official in the field it focused on. She said the proposal was required to “suggest societal change in a legitimate way.”

She said, “While I was researching my policy proposal, I learned a lot about issues in our school systems and what structures are in place to deal with those.”

She added that the process helped her to narrow and focus

A n d r e Cooley is looking forward to returning to “a job that he loved,” following the settlement of a case in Andre Cooley which Cooley alleged that the Forrest County Sheriff ’s Department fired him because of his sexual orientation.

Last year, Cooley, a corrections officer at the time, made an emergency phone call to report that his boyfriend had become violent. Cooley alleged in a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union that he was fired after responders from the sheriff ’s department discovered that he was gay.

The settlement does not amount to an admission of guilt on the part of the sheriff ’s department, however, said Bear Atwood, an attorney for the ACLU of Mississippi.

As part of the settlement, not only will Cooley be granted a monetary amount, but he will also be reinstated and the sheriff ’s department will revamp its non-discrimination policy.

In a press release issued by the ACLU, Sheriff Billy McGee said the department was happy to see Cooley’s return.

See HOLOWACH, 3

See COOLEY, 3

OUTDOORS

SGA TREASURER

TENNIS

WEATHER

Eli Baylis/Printz

Southern Miss construction major William Herrera crawls through the mud at the Southern Miss Recreational Sports’ Dash and Bash Mud Run Sunday, April 3.

ON CAMPUS

Junior wins Truman Scholarship Jonathan Andrews Printz Writer

Tuesday

67/40 Wednesday

77/53 Thursday

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INDEX Calendar ........................ 2 Sudoku............................ 2 News .............................. 3 Feature ............................5 Opinion............................ 6 Sports...............................8

Calendar

Page 2

The

Student Printz Serving Southern Miss since 1927 Executive Editor Samantha Schott

samantha.schott@eagles.usm.edu

Managing Editor Meryl Dakin

meryl.dakin@eagles.usm.edu

Art Director Eli Baylis

ross.baylis@eagles.usm.edu

Chief Designer Christopher Bostick

christopher.bostick@eagles.usm.edu

Web Editor Ashton Pittman

ashton.pittman@eagles.usm.edu

Sports Editor Travis Thornell travis.thornell@eagles.usm.edu

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Mark Your Planner 6 7 8 9

5

11 a.m.

JAM for Japan Shoemaker Square and Union Lobby

11 a.m.

AKA Week – Make Love, Not War Union Lobby

12 p.m.

Walk A Mile in Her Shoes Union Plaza

11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.

ADPi Caliente Night Caliente

6 p.m.

Episcopal Church at USM (ECUSM) worship service with Rev. David Knight, followed by dinner and discussion – ‘Stump the Priest’ Danforth Chapel

12:15 p.m.

ECUSM Noonday Prayer Danforth Chapel

7:30 p.m.

RUF Bible Study TCC 210

2 p.m.

Day of Silence Informative Meeting Union Room D

3:30 p.m.

Disney college program interest meeting International Building Room 101

3 p.m.

SGA Cabinet Retreat HUB

7:30 p.m.

Spring Dance Concert PAC

11 a.m.

CSA Family Day Student Center 7:30 p.m.

Spring Dance Concert PAC

7:30 p.m.

Spring Dance Concert PAC

5:00 p.m.

Disney college program interest meeting International Building Room 101

Webmaster Chris Greene

chris.greene@eagles.usm.edu

Dirty Birds

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

Writers Jonathan Andrews Tierra Clemmons Courtney Carter Deonica Davis Alex DeMouy Mary Margaret Halford Michelle Holowach Earvin Hopkins Marie John Hannah Jones Stormy Speaks Sarah Rogers Photographers Jordan Moore Jay Van Orsdol Mary Alice Truitt Designers Lisa Gurley Taylor Fesenmeier Ila Higginbotham

03-27-11 Hit and Run Sorority Village - Two state citations were issued to the driver that left the scene; one citation for No Insurance and one citation for Leaving the Scene of an Accident.

03-27-11 Harassment Walker Science Bldg - Referred to Dean of Students office.

03-28-11 Narcotics Violation Jones Hall - Incident report filed and forwarded to Dean of Students office.

03-28-11 Vandalism Int’l Ed. Bldg - Molding around an office door glass pane was removed.

No entry was made into the room.

03-29-11 Vehicle Traffic Stop 4th Street - Joseph Hartfield, W/M, 33, yoa, Purvis address, was arrested and charged with Speeding, No Insurance, Suspended License, Child Restraint Violation, Possession of Paraphenalia, Possession of Controlled Substance, Resisting Arrest and Possession of Marijuana.

03-29-11 Motor Vehicle Accident 36th @ Montague - MS State Crash report filed.

03-29-11 Grand Larceny Pi Kappa Phi - Resident reported the theft of a composite picture from the house.

Level: 1

2

3

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www.studentprintz.com

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

Opinions expressed in The Student Printz are those of the writer and not necessarily those of The Student Printz, its publications manager, USM, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning or the USM Board of Student Publications.

Advertising Manager Lesley Sanders-Wood 601.266.5188 printzad@usm.edu Sales Representative Angel Wells angelique.wells@eagles.usm.edu

Discover how your emotions give you important guidance and how your thoughts create your life.

Learn four POSITIVE PRACTICES to strengthen your spirit and balance your life.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011 Noon - 1:00 p.m.

Union Room A

Brigid Elchos, RN, DMV, HLC Brigid Elchos is a registered nurse, veterinarian, yoga student, mother, wife and holistic life coach that has extensively used stress-reducing and personal empowerment strategies for balancing and enriching her life.

SOLUTION TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

4/24/11

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9.

For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit

www.sudoku.org.uk © 2011 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved. w-508-11printz

AA/EOE/ADAI

News

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Page 3

on campus

How will you use your feet today?

Stormy Speaks Printz Writer

Today, students are raising awareness by choosing which shoes to wear or not to wear shoes at all.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, in which men walk in high heels, is an international organized walk to call attention to the causes of sexual violence and how to implement prevention and recovery strategies.

The TOMS Shoes One Day Without Shoes is a worldwide campaign in which participants go barefoot for a day in order to raise awareness of the importance of shoes to children in impoverished countries.

Both events are simple yet effective ways to call out the various needs of communities worldwide.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes: The International Men’s March

Cooley, from 1

“His sexual orientation has no bearing on his ability to perform the duties of a corrections officer,” McGee said. “The Forrest County Sheriff ’s Department is an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate based on sexual orientation.

Our new written policy will

Holowach, from 1

her own goals.

After having her proposal accepted, Holowach was a finalist and faced the last part of the application process: a panel interview.

She said, “The point of that is to really grill you on the parts of your application. They make you defend your application and yourself.”

to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault, & Gender Violence was founded in 2001 by Californian Frank Baird and a small group of men who walked around a local park in high heels in order to draw attention to sexual injustices inflicted upon women. Since that time, the event has drawn tens of thousands of men and raised millions of dollars for crisis centers and shelters, and this year Southern Miss students have an opportunity to participate.

The Shafer Center for Crisis Intervention of Hattiesburg and Sigma Nu Fraternity invite men to meet outside between the Union and Walker Science Building between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to strap on some high heels and walk to raise awareness about violence against women.

Each group will be judged on best shoes, best sign and most sponsorship. All are welcome to watch and cheer on their favorite group. Drinks and T-shirts

will also be available, the profits of which will also benefit the Shafer Center.

Junior criminal justice major Carli Hankey works for the Shafer Center and helped organize the walk. She hopes the levity of men stumbling around in heels will draw attention to the more serious topic at hand and educate students.

“By doing something fun and goofy and something people laugh at will make people stop and watch,” Hankey said. “These are football players and basketball players and fraternity brothers – people [students] will know.”

“Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is such a wonderful event to raise awareness because it delivers a very powerful message about a tragedy that gets overlooked on a daily basis,” said senior electronics engineering technology major Wes King, a Sigma Nu member who will be participating in the walk to “support a cause I feel

very strongly about.”

“It can happen to anybody, and this is a good way to get men involved,” Hankey said.

In case of inclement weather, participants should meet in The Hub for instructions on an alternate route inside R.C. Student Union.

The One Day Without Shoes event was started in 2008 by TOMS Shoes, which was founded in 2006 by Texan Blake Mycoskie.

TOMS makes lightweight footwear based on an Argentine shoe style, and for every pair of shoes the company sells a pair is donated to a child in an underdeveloped country in need of a pair of shoes, called the One for One movement.

Every April, people all across the world are asked to go barefoot for one day to experience the hardship not owning shoes brings.

This year, The TOMS Campus Club of USM is joining in the effort to raise awareness of the necessity of shoes. Last week the club held the Eagles for Shoes

shoe drive to collect gently worn pairs of shoes to donate to the Oseola McCarty Youth Development Center in Hattiesburg, and today the club will have a barefoot picnic and march. Students are invited to grab lunch and eat outside on the Centennial Lawn at noon and march barefoot across campus afterward starting at 1 p.m.

“Go barefoot to learn what it’s like for those who don’t have [shoes],” said sophomore English and film studies major and president of the TOMS Campus Club Kristen Walker. “We take it for granted because we have closets full of shoes. They can’t go to school because they don’t have shoes, and it denies them to have a chance to better their community.”

For more information about these events, visit www.walkamileinhershoes.org and www.onedaywithoutshoes.com, and decide how you will use your feet today.

make this position clear to every employee in our department.”

Atwood said that she was very pleased with the sheriff department’s decision to update its policy.

“As far as I know, this is the first sheriff ’s department in Mississippi to do so,” Atwood said. “And we just hope that every law enforce-

ment department follows suit.”

But in the long run, Atwood said she hopes that federal legislation will put an end to sexual orientation-based workplace discrimination once and for all.

Anna Davis, a graduate student who serves on an advisory role in the Gay-Straight Alli-

ance at Southern Miss, said that tackling the issue of workplace discrimination is highly important to the gay community.

“I would say it probably affects more people than marriage equality or Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Davis said. “Marriage isn’t really something that

everybody goes into, whatever your sexual orientation may be. And Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, it’s purely military and not everybody goes into the military.

A good portion of the American population, though, is employed – or would very much like to be.”

After that, Holowach simply waited for the decision, which was announced on March 29.

Overall, she called the process was “self-defining.”

Her desire to help others is part of what defines Holowach.

She said her proudest accomplishment, before winning this scholarship, was putting on

TEAAM-USM’s Rock for Autism.

In February, the group raised nearly two thousand dollars at the event, which Holowach said “came together very well.”

Holowach also makes and sells candles for charity.

Daniel’s Voice Candles are made in Holowach’s mother’s

kitchen in a variety of colors, but instead of keeping the profits, she donates them to TEAAM. Holowach said she most likely plans to continue her education at Purdue, but is keeping her possibilities open. She is also considering Vanderbilt University.

She feels that going through

the process to become a Truman scholar has helped her more clearly define her goals.

“It made me sit down and think about what I really want to do and, at the same time, prepared me to convince other people those goals are valid,” she said.

News

Page 4

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

local

Lightning strikes Hattiesburg church

Jonathan Andrews Printz Writer Lightning from storms in the Hattiesburg area Monday night are believed to be the cause of a fire at Immanuel Baptist Church on Weathersby Road.

Hattiesburg fire chief Daniel Webster said the fire would likely have firefighters on the scene “into the wee hours of the night.”

“It’s difficult to tell exactly what caused it at this point, but its a matter of getting the flames out so we can get our investigative unit in there to sort through it,” Webster said.

Webster said two-story buildings like this one provide a unique challenge to firefighters because the crews can’t be sure about the integrity of the second floor.

He said, “In cases like this, we are really cautious about sending our people inside.”

A tornado warning, strong storms

and wind also proved to be obstacles for firefighters trying to control the flames which witnesses say were “50 feet in the air” at times.

Richard Baker is a deacon in the church from Hattiesburg, and has been a member there since 1999.

He and his wife were at home when they got a call from another deacon about the fire.

“We checked Eli Baylis/Printz to see if the A firefighter douses the flames at the Immanuel Baptist Church on Weathersby Road Monday night. clouds were ing that was on fire was the edu- still planning to do but the church church’s campus. clear enough to come out to the “This isn’t a crushing blow, it’s a cational building where Sunday would likely move activities into church and got out here,” Baker said. school classes, and other church their main worship building or the chance for a rebirth... a new beginBaker explained that the buildactivities took place. He said there is Youth Hut, another building on the ning,” Baker said.

News in Brief Parking garage opens Thursday Members of the Southern Miss community are invited to attend the grand opening of the university’s new parking garage Thursday, April 7, at 10:30 a.m.

Located off of West Fourth Street and next to Bond Hall, the fivestory facility will include approximately 1,200 parking spaces and will offer open zone parking for faculty, staff and students. The facility will be open for park-

ing following the conclusion of the grand opening ceremony.

For more information, contact the Department of Parking Management at 601-266-5447.

Doctoral student seeks participants for study Doctoral student in the communication studies department Andrew Dix is seeking participants for a speed-dating study.

Dix will host a series of six to

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eight speed-dating sessions in order to test whether a brief 3-minute speed-date can alter cognitive judgments of other persons. The sessions will be conducted in the workshop room of the Southern Miss Speaking Center located in Cook Library. All undergraduate students are eligible to participate and will have the opportunity to meet other potential dating partners free of charge, receive complimentary food and get the chance to go on several dates in one night. The sessions remaining are April 9 and April 10. Interested students should email andrew.dix@eagles.usm.edu.

Planned Parenthood visits USM Planned Parenthood’s big pink bus stopped at USM on its national tour, educating students, handing out condoms, and raising support for their petition to Congress.

“It was hard not to be aware of it!” said Zach Booth, a senior from Vicksburg and a member of VOX, the USM student organization Voices for Planned Parenthood (VOX). The volunteers’ petition would “call on elected officials to reject the extreme proposal that would bar Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funding for preventive health care, including lifesaving cancer screenings, family planning, birth control, and testing

for sexually transmitted infections.”

See www.studentprintz.com for read about Planned Parenthood’s visit to USM. Big Event held Saturday The second annual Big Event was held Saturday. The Big Event is a day when Southern Miss gives back to the Hattiesburg community by doing different community service events around the city. Last year’s event brought in around 400 people to help, while this year’s event brought in an estimated 600 people.

See www.studentprintz.com to read about the Big Event.

Feature

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Page 5

on campus

From SADD to SGA, Davontae leads Jonathan Andrews Printz Writer

Mary Alice Truitt/Printz

Davontae Washington

On August 20, 2009, a drunk driver struck the vehicle Davontae Washington and three other friends were riding in.

That accident killed one of Washington’s close friends, LeJulia White.

Instead of simply mourning the loss of his friend however, Washington saw an opportunity for improvement for himself and to the Southern Miss campus as a whole.

He went on to revive the university’s chapter of Students Against Destructive Decisions.

In addition to that undertaking during his freshman year, Washington became involved in the SGA as a Freshman Associate. Now, in his junior year, he is SGA’s treasurerelect. Washington is excited about the work to be done in the coming year with his fellow officers.

“We all have similar goals,” he said.

“One of our biggest things is putting students back into Student Government.”

Washington said putting a more direct line between students could improve the effectiveness of SGA and allow the group to better serve the student body.

Washington cited “Graffiti Groan,” an event where students were allowed to write their complaints and ideas to SGA directly on the officer’s shirts, as an example of this direct line.

“When [Kasey Mitchell] and her administration begin ideas that come from things like that late in the year, it allows us to come in the next year and try to move those things along,”

Washington said.

“A lot of things that get planned take more time to do than people outside the meeting rooms might understand.”

An example of this, he said, was a plan to bring scantrons closer to students on test days, possibly through vending machines. Washington said that project is one of many that he and the other officers this year will inherit from Mitchell’s administration.

He said, “It’s constantly progressive.”

Washington would like to see the student body at-large become a part of that progression.

“I’d like to see communication between student government and students as a whole improve so that we can find an accord. ... We all need to be on the same page,” he said.

Washington’s campus involvement outside of SGA includes Eagle Connection, GEWW Crew, Delta Sigma Pi and Lambda Sigma honor society among others.

Though he was involved with these organizations as well, Washington’s idea of synergy stems from his work with SADD, which he served as president of for three semesters, before leaving that post to become more involved with SGA. “It was more time-consuming and tiring than I accounted for sometimes, but it was worth it,” he said.

“It taught me to be a humble leader. I learned that even though I might be in a position that put me at ‘the head,’ we’re all equals because we’re working toward a common goal.”

on campus

USM enjoys warmer weather

Marie John Printz Writer With warmer weather drawing students outside, students find themselves looking for outdoor activities in which to bask in the pleasant springtime season.

Junior Dan Roberts, a finance major and Collinsville, Miss., native, fills his spare time by being an active member of the Bass Fishing Team. This fairly new organization focuses on student participation in fishing tournaments and qualifying for intercollegiate fishing competitions across the nation. “Fishing is a pretty big part of my schedule.

It’s a great way to get outside and stay active,” said Roberts, who has competed in tournaments across the Southeast region.

Bass Fishing Team president Daniel Nettervile, along with other members of the organization, has even been spotted practicing various cast maneuvers in Lake Byron in the front of campus to better his skills. The organization itself has sent representatives to national level fishing tournaments just in the past two years.

Another way in which students can bask in the pleasant weather is to participate in spring semester intramurals, sand volleyball being a popular choice.

Sophomore Alexis Browning,

a biology major and Pensacola, Fla. native, is a member of an all girls team that is currently dominating the scheduling bracket.

“We’ve been really fortunate this semester to have a strong group that continues to show up and do well,” Browning said. “The weather has been perfect on most game days with just enough wind to keep us cool. Hopefully the rain will continue to hold off until after we’ve finished up the season.”

Students have various options when it comes to choosing how to get outside and stay active. From university sports, intramurals and student organizations, there are plenty of ways to get outside and enjoy the warmer weather.

Kelly Price/The Southerner

Junior Andrew Artmann, and senior J.T. Howell from Oak Grove are bass fishing in Lake Byron in the front of campus.

Opinion

Page 6

ON CAMPUS

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Let’s discuss race relations A response to KKK photos

Jonathan Andrews Printz Writer History can stir strong emotions and, even temporarily, remove the blindfold we wear regarding the reality of many situations.

Race in the United States is one of them.

As much as some people think or try to pretend that it is, the situation regarding race here is not as harmonious as we’d like to believe.

Some people even claimed that racism had ended when the first black president was elected.

The fallout from Thursday’s Printz cover story about James Edward Bates’ exhibit coming to the museum of art, if for only

here at USM, shows just how unrealistic those notions of harmony actually are.

The Ku Klux Klan is an ugly blemish on the history of the South and our country as a whole. One that has undoubtedly had ripple effects into this day and age. Even with that history, the time a group like that should instill fear in anyone is over.

Even though their extremist views represent a real demographic, it’s a very limited one.

The majority of Americans won’t identify with that organization, not here in 2011.

Regardless, here, in 2011, an article about a man documenting the KKK and pictures from his art exhibit have stirred tensions and picked at that sore spot in history.

Rightfully so. The things that the Klan did to minorities in the South are appalling and the things that happened to my ancestors and those of many other

people of color at their hands are unforgivable.

This isn’t about the editorial decision to run the pictures and article in that way, nor is it about a photographer’s subjective views of his work.

Honestly, it shouldn’t even be about the Klan.

The important thing that should come out of an exhibit like this is a discussion. Attention needs to be placed on the fact that things, contrary to the beliefs of some, are not okay.

Being the first of its kind in the country, this exhibit puts USM in a unique position to start a real discussion about race relations.

Further, this is an institution of higher learning, where the next generation of people who will go out into the world carrying on the beliefs of the past are being educated.

It’s not only a chance for us to talk about race. It’s our responsibility.

Attorney General Eric Holder said in 2009 that, in regards to discussing race, the U.S. is “a nation of cowards.”

Our cowardice is not simply a matter of being afraid to do something, but one of seizing an opportunity to have a real discussion about history, about racism, presents itself.

Philosopher George Santayana said, “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

This exhibit is an opportunity to do that – reflect on the past and learn from it. It should be viewed as such. Go see it yourself.

If not, talk about it with someone.

There needs to be action where, now, there’s only tension constantly building.

This was an article of opinion by Jonathan Andrews, a writer for The Student Printz. Email questions or comments to jonathan. andrews@eagles.usm.edu.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Printz disappointed readers Brittany Alexander is a senior accounting major from Jackson.

Hello, my name is Brittany Alexander. I am an African Ameri-

can senior at USM. I am e-mailing you in regards to the coverage of the KKK exhibit coming to USM. First off, I would like to say that I love The Student Printz

and that I read it daily to stay informed about campus events and news.

But, the most recent edition disappointed me greatly. I feel

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that in running the story the way you did, The Printz disregarded the feelings of a large portion of its readers who have in some way our another, directly or indirectly, experienced the hatred of the KKK. Yes, the exhibit is significant and without a doubt a monumental event at the university.

But, I feel that spotlighting the article on the front page of the paper sends the message that this is something that everyone at USM is looking forward to, but it isn’t. Seeing a large picture of a Klan member on the front of the page only evoked fear and served as an unneeded reminder that they still exist.

What disappointed me was that it seems that no one seemed to consider that reaction, which leads one to believe that no one considered the reactors whom have been most affected by the hatred of the KKK. If the Printz staff sought to present the exhibit as a reminder and catalyst for discussion, instead of magnifying pictures of the Klan it should have given them coverage proportional to the role their existence should play in our nation’s future, and if The Printz feels that that was done with the article in question, we have a big problem on our hands.

Student Shout-outs To see your anonymous comment in The Student Printz, submit it under the ‘Contact’ tab on studentprintz.com.

“

Hey USM, you and your dumb decisions are pissing me off more and more everyday.

I pay much for Hey USM, youtooand your bull!!!!

your dumb decisions are pissingcute me off You’re andmore I’m and cute. more everyday.

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To whomever is making voice came amy bigbagel deal aabout birthday over the intercom. shout outs in The The Printz, Are you upset that no one employees were playing shouted Anyway, an audioyou fileout? of a preachhappy birthday Shanta er racially discriminating Lott!

against Caucasian people.

With To the his coolvibrant Sigma choices Nu who’s inofmy ENG 333 class:an-we slandering words, should hangIfout. ger grew. you want the racism to stop, stop being Anyone who preaches racist towards others. of against “the stupidity

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Anyway, happy birthday

Ashton, you rock. Thank Shanta Lott! you for bringing some of the best journalism to The Printz.

To the cool Sigma Nu Keep it up!

who’s in my ENG 333

Obviously, the ice cream class: we should hang went the way of the cookout. ies. The Fresh Food Co. is giving an all-new meaning to “Let them eat cake!”

”

Opinion

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Page 7

LOCAL

Nothing ‘Wright’ about hate Ashton Pittman Web Editor Last week, I wrote an opinion article about my experience during Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s visit to a local church, Shady Grove Baptist Church in Eastabuchie, Miss. Since then, I’ve received numerous e-mails from church members. I would like to clear up some misconceptions and answer some questions presented to me in those e-mails.

First of all, I did not set out to “come into God’s house to dig up dirt.” I visited Shady Grove several times before Rev. Wright came, and I was genuinely interested in hearing what he had to say. I went in with an open mind. In fact, I was prepared to find that the media had misrepresented him by using a few select clips and sound bytes.

But that’s not what I found. In fact, what I found was that Wright was even worse than the media’s portrayal. To report otherwise – to omit Wright’s racial rhetoric

– would be an abrogation of my duty as a journalist.

Still, some have said that I “mixed-up” select portions of Wright’s sermon to make him look bad. That’s not true – I wrote, not only from my memory, my notes and from interviews, but from a video I had of the sermon.

In context, there’s no denying the intent behind Wright’s message.

Wright is a master of the art of manipulative preaching. He established the premise for his sermon while reading a passage from the Gospel of John. But Wright subtly twisted it in such a way that most of the eager-eared believers in the room didn’t even notice the racial overtones he had injected.

Essentially, Wright took Jesus’ spiritual proclamation to Pontius Pilate that his kingdom was “not of this world” and made it racial.

“Pilate was European; Jesus was not European,” Wright pointed out.

He contrasted Jesus – the Savior – to Pilate, the European “oppressor.”

Wright went on to spend a good portion of the sermon, entitled “Believers, Beware,” attacking all things European. Wright warned to be careful about engaging in conversations with those who are different.

“Believers beware,” he said.

“You may find yourself in a conversation with somebody who

lives in a different world than you altogether” – perhaps including someone who dares to challenge Wright’s preaching.

His message can be summed up this way: “Believers beware – of people who are different from you.”

That kind of teaching and thinking is what engenders the kind of ignorance that develops into prejudice, then bigotry, and finally hate.

Yes, I am aware that many people who were present in the service may not have consciously understood it that way; Wright intertwined his sermon with emotional stories, anecdotes and ideas that everyday people can latch onto. For those who were present for the purpose of personal growth, that’s what they will have found. But for those with a discerning ear, Wright’s message had far broader implications.

I’m sure there were people in attendance who understand exactly what Wright meant and completely agreed with him. But despite the fact that most people in the service were shouting and clapping at Wright’s statements, I do not believe that most of the people at Shady Grove are racist or that they truly embrace his doctrine.

I believe that most people at Shady Grove are probably kind,

decent people.

At the same time, I don’t believe most of those kind, decent people grasped Wright’s true message. In fact, I think Wright knew they wouldn’t. Church people are notorious for falling for the wiles of charismatic preachers without questioning them. That’s why such people are Wright’s primary prey.

Wright did not preach to a hateful congregation. He planted the seeds of racism at Shady Grove. He planted the seeds of anti-Semitism.

He planted the seeds of acceptance for the black supremacist organization that calls itself “The Nation of Islam.” He planted the seeds of hate. It’s up to Shady Grove to refuse to nourish them.

I sincerely hope that Shady Grove will not succumb to the poison that Wright sought to inject among its congregation. But first, Shady Grove must recognize that Jeremiah Wright is not the “Prince of Prophets.” It must repudiate him for the discord he has already managed to spread.

Believers, beware of men like Jeremiah Wright.

This was an article of opinion by Ashton Pittman, a writer for The Student Printz. Email questions or comments to ashton.pittman@ eagles.usm.edu.

ON CAMPUS

Don’t document my drinking ‘Testing Fridays’ not a good idea Earvin Hopkins Printz Writer First of all, let me clarify something. The “Testing Fridays” suggestion from the city council is not to test students’ knowledge on Fridays; it’s to test the students for alcohol consumption on Fridays.

Hattiesburg mayor Johnny DuPree asked various prominent members of Hattiesburg to be part of a committee called Town Gown to make suggestions to the city council that would help them create laws to make Hattiesburg club and night life safer.

City council would then take these suggestions into serious consideration for actually be-

ing laws, and the most extreme proposal was mandatory alcohol testing on Fridays.

So for my 21 and older students, this means that your private drinking life could possibly be documented and could potentially be seen by a future employer and professors.

But what does this mean for the students who are under 21? If you test positive for alcohol consumption, well – you know what would happen. They wouldn’t create a testing day just to let you get away with underage drinking now would they?

The university would punish you and the law would also.

I am not a heavy drinker myself (I am over 21), but I don’t want to be tested for alcohol whenever we could take that money the university would be wasting and bring back an instructor or program that was cut.

I understand that Hattiesburg might need help in con-

structing a safer nightlife, and creating suggestions for such a big problem is not an easy task.

Most of their ideas were great suggestions, such as enforcing security that has a background and/or credentials that meet the job requirements and not just hiring a random person. I stand by the Town Gown’s suggestions to the city council, except for “Testing Fridays.”

Although “Testing Fridays” is just an idea, there still is a possibility that this idea could turn into a law. Like a colleague of mine said before, some students purposely don’t schedule class on Friday because they go out on Thursday nights.

I know it is a rough time for all my fellow students; losing Mugshots was a hard pill to swallow, and now we are faced with “Testing Fridays,” which, with all the chaos going on, I wonder if the students’ voices were heard in this decision

making process? The answer is yes and no.

Their meetings were open to the public as well as the city council meeting whenever these suggestions were proposed to the city council. However, I don’t think the effort was taken to let students know about these suggestions. I think this was a really bad time for students because our SGA elections had just finished and old members were leaving and the new ones were getting used to their positions.

If students want their voices to be heard, they must attend a city council meeting and speak publicly at the end of the meeting to tell them how you feel as a student about this issue.

This was an article of opinion by Earvin Hopkins, a writer for The Student Printz. Email questions or comments to earvin.hopkins@ eagles.usm.edu.

Student Shout-outs

To see your anonymous comment in The Student Printz, submit it under the ‘Contact’ tab on studentprintz.com.

“

I don’t agree that USM is the place for the KKK photo exhibit. Bates is asking for acceptance and understanding of an organization that has had bad relations in the South, and we’re talking about the South, Hattiesburg and USM teachers funding and supporting this exhibit.

Dear Ashton Pittman, I appreciate your opinion and honesty... But I was there, in the congregation, sitting right behind you, and honestly, can you be any more dramatic?

We are losing one of the finest individuals this institution has ever had. Dr. Stanley Hauer is a professor of brilliance, supreme work ethic, and he has certainly impacted this entire university. You will be missed, Dr. Hauer.

No one can ever compare to you! We love you!

Mugs will rise from the ashes like a Phoenix!

In regards to last week’s “KKK article,” last time I checked, being a photographer wasn’t a hate crime.

Read the article before you make ignorant comments.

I have hidden 4 Ninja Turtle action figures across campus. The first person to find them wins.

”

Sports

Page 8

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

TENNIS

Golden Eagles play a tough match Travis Thornell Sports Editor When the first serve hit the court on Sunday’s match against Tulane, the Southern Miss Golden Eagle tennis team knew they were out of gas. They were playing their third match in three days in the C-USA Shootout and were completely exhausted. After being served with a 5-2 loss against UAB on Friday and another loss to East Carolina, 4-3, the Golden Eagles were too fatigued to take down an extremely tough Green Wave team.

With two players injured, the Golden Eagles (3-17, 0-5 Conference USA) had to play without one doubles team and forfeited a singles match. They were already down 1-0 to start the match and could not make up any ground to Tulane losing 7-0.

The Green Wave seemed to outmatch the Southern Miss in doubles competition by winning both by the scores 8-0. Tulane’s Idan Mark and Joe Young took down the No. 1 doubles team for USM of Jan Burmeister and Julien Roussel, while the No. 2 team of Paulo Alvarado and Jovan Zeljkovic suffered the same fate at the hands of Rodrigo Rappaccioli

and Shaye Wali.

Senior Jan Burmeister talked about how the early deficit hurt the Eagles: “Momentum is really important, but when you start the match off with only five players it’s tough. It was important to get those doubles points, but when we did not it put us in the position to have to win four out of five single matches to win overall. We came back well though.”

During singles’ competition, the Golden Eagles did not surrender easily. In number one singles, Julien Roussel took on nationally ranked No. 109 Idan Mark.

Mark put away the strong effort of Roussel 6-4, 6-1.

“We have had tough matches the past two days and somehow he was just in better shape than me today. [Mark] was a great player and I could have done better. I felt like I played great the past two days, but today was not that great.

This weekend was tough on us and we are just going to rest up,” said Roussel.

Tulane would go on to sweep the singles’ matches. Burmeister lost his No. 2 singles match to Joe Young 6-3 and 6-4. USM’s Paulo Alvarada was taken down by Tulane’s Shaye Wali 6-2 and 6-2.

The No. 4 and 5 singles of Jovan Zeljkovic and Michael Sims lost

Eli Baylis/Printz

Southern Miss tennis player Julien Roussel, backhands the ball at the USM tennis courts Sunday.

to Rodrigo Rappaccioli and Holger Norregaard respectively.

Coach Ki Kroll talked about what he thought of his team’s performance: “We had two guys injured, but Tulane is a good team. It was the third day and everyone is tired, but I am pleased.

We are working a lot harder in our singles.”

The Golden Eagles will travel to The University of LouisianaLafayette next Sunday for their last regular season match before the Conference USA tournament on April 22.

Roussel talked about what the team will try to do headed into the end of the season. “First, we are going to rest a little because

the last three days have been tough. We need to work on our doubles, because the last three matches, they have been better than us. Winning doubles gives us some momentum for singles.

It is really important for us to work on that.”

SOFTBALL

Softball struggles against East Carolina Alex DeMouy Printz Writer

Over the weekend the Southern Miss (10-24, 0-9 C-USA) softball team was swept in their three game series with East Carolina (28-10, 8-4 C-USA). The team struggled offensively and were never able to get it together long enough to score many runs.

Southern Miss player Chanell Thurman said, “I think everyday we’re learning more and becoming better. We’re having a tough time right now and we really need

to just stay together.”

In Game 1 of the double header on Saturday East Carolina pitcher Toni Paisley (21-5) flirted with a perfect game and held Southern Miss to no hits in the game. The East Carolina centerfielder dropped out number three in the seventh inning to ruin the perfect game. Southern Miss pitcher Gabby Luciani (2-4) picked up the loss giving up three runs on three hits, and striking out three.

In Game 2 Southern Miss showed a lot of heart in not just giving up after almost pitching a

Baseball vs. Mississippi State Day: Tuesday Location: Trustmark Park, Pearl, Miss.

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Overall record: 19-9, SEC: 4-5

Ole Miss’s Last Five Games: 3/27 vs. Auburn 3/30 vs. Alabama A&M 4/01 @ Georgia 4/02 @ Georgia 4/03 @ Georgia

W, 5-0 W, 18-0 L, 4-1 L, 4-3 L, 4-1

perfect game on the same day, but were unable to come away with a win losing 5-1. They were able to connect on seven hits on the day but only managed to manufacture one run out of it. The lone run for Southern Miss came from an RBI single by Britney Dinelt scoring Jill Mathis. Beth Dietrich (5-11) pitched a complete game for the Golden Eagles picking up the loss, and Faith Sutton (7-5) picked up the win for East Carolina.

In the final game of the series Southern Miss lost 8-1 in a game that ended in the sixth inning due to travel time for East Carolina.

Southern Miss Box Score

East Carolina took an early 2-0 lead on starting pitcher Courtney Ramos and Southern Miss was never able to catch up. Southern Miss’ run came on a Taylor Brown RBI single that scored Britney Dinelt. Courtney Ramos (1-7) picked up the loss for Southern Miss allowing two unearned runs and striking out two batters. Toni Paisley won her second game of the series for East Carolina giving up one earned run and striking out eight.

When asked how she thought the team played today, Thurman responded, “Today we had a lot

better at bats, so I know that we will find the breaks soon”.

Despite the team’s struggles lately, the players are staying optimistic about the future and are sticking together as a team. “We know that our time will come so we just need to keep pushing forward,” said Thurman. Southern Miss’ next shot at a victory will be against an SEC opponent and in-state rival Mississippi State (19-18, 7-6 SEC).

Southern Miss travels to Madison, Miss., to face Mississippi State in a single game at Liberty Park at 6:30 p.m., on Wednesday.

Southern Miss Sports: Upcoming Games

Baseball: 4/1 @ Central Florida 4/2 @ Central Florida 4/3 @ Central Florida

W, 6-5 W, 13-2 W, 5-2

Tuesday, April 5 at 6:30 p.m.

Baseball vs. Miss. State Pearl, Miss.

Saturday, April 9 at 9:30 a.m.

Men’s Tennis @ UTEP Memphis, Tenn.

W. Tennis: 4/2 @ Rice 4/3 @ Houston

L, 6-1 L, 5-2

Wednesday, April 6 at 6:30 p.m.

Softball vs. Miss. State Madison, Miss.

Saturday, April 9 at 1:00 p.m.

Softball @ Tulsa Tulsa, Okla.

M. Tennis: 4/1 vs. UAB 4/2 vs. ECU 4/3 vs. Tulane

L, 6-0 L, 5-1 L, 8-1

Friday, April 8 at 6:30 p.m.

Baseball @ Memphis Memphis, Tenn.

Saturday, April 9 at 1:00 p.m.

Football Spring Game Hattiesburg, Miss.