2011_2_22

The

S TUDENT P RINTZ www.studentprintz.com

SERVING SOUTHERN MISS SINCE 1927

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Volume 95 Issue 38

LOCAL

Student murdered; suspect charged Printz Staff Southern Miss student Brittany Morgan of Waynesboro was the victim of a homicide Sunday night. The 22-yearold was found around 9 p.m. at Towne Villa Apartments on Beverly Hills Road.

Officials with the United States Marshals and Gulfport Police Department arrested 35-year-old Anthony Rico Gipson as a suspect in the case, according to WDAM. He was arrested Monday around 3 a.m. in the parking lot of the Island View Casino in Gulfport. Gipson put a gun to his head but then surrendered.

He has been released to Hattiesburg authorities.

The Hattiesburg Police Department told The Student Printz no one was available to answer questions Monday as it was a holiday.

Gipson is featured in a number of Morgan’s Facebook photos, and WLOX reported that Morgan was his girlfriend.

In a statement released by USM, Vice President of Student Affairs Joe Paul said, “The university was informed Sunday evening by the Hattiesburg Police of the death of one of our students, Brittany Morgan of Waynesboro.

We are reaching out to her family to share our heartfelt sympathy and support. We are making grief counseling available to her fellow students affected by this sad tragedy.”

Junior health and marketing major from Waynesboro, Miss., Keshia Harris had been friends with Morgan since kindergarten. The two went to elementary school together and grew up in the same neighborhood.

“Brittany’s personality was encouraging,” Harris said. “She always put a smile on others’ faces no matter the situation. She was also a very real person. She always spoke her mind no matter the situation. Brittany meant a lot to me as a friend because we experienced many firsts together – first day of

Eli Baylis/Printz

Crime scene tape flags the door where the body of Brittany Morgan was found late Sunday at the Towne Villa apartments on Beverly Road in hattiesburg on Monday, Feb 21.

junior high, first day of high school and first semester at a college. She was one of my first friends I ever made and was one of my closest.”

Junior Ladonna Sparkman from Carthage, Miss., was a friend of Morgan since freshman year.

“She was so funny and full of

laughter and she was just a beautiful person inside and out. I actually had the pleasure of being her roommate the summer after freshman year. ... Her smile could brighten even the darkest of days, and she could always do something crazy to make me smile. I am

truly going to miss her.”

Student Counseling Services (SCS) at Southern Miss is offering support for those impacted

by Morgan’s death. SCS hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MondayFriday. For more information, call 601-266-4829.

ON CAMPUS

Egyptians give perspective on revolution The forum on Egypt, held in Gonzales Auditorium Monday night, sparked a conversation both informative to the Southern Miss community and highly emotional for the Egyptian panelists leading the discussion.

In response to the recent revolutions in Egypt, the Center for Human Rights at USM hosted the forum to give a native perspective on the events. Emily Hoxie, a senior

political science major, organized the forum and began it by showing video footage of the uprising.

One of the panelists, Dia Ali, an Egyptian computer science professor at USM, choked up as he expressed his pride in the people of his homeland for overturning the corrupt dictatorship. “We thought we’d never see this day,” he said. “This is the first time I’ve seen this movie on the big screen and it’s very hard to watch. But I’m very jealous that I’m here, and I’m very proud.”

Political science professor Bob

Press fielded questions from the audience to the five panelists: Dia Ali; Nagwa Megahed, Egyptian Resident Fullbright Scholar; Mohamed Ismail, student president of the Arab American Association at USM; Isaac Gang, Sudanese computer science instructor at USM; and Ahmed Abdelvaher, who obtained his master’s in computer science and played on the track and field team at USM. Abdelvaher is still pursuing his Ph.D. at USM, but went back to Egypt

SGA ELECTIONS

SNAKEBIT

BASEBALL

Meryl Dakin Managing Editor

Eli Baylis/Printz

Mohamed Ismail, Egyptian student president of the Arab American Association, center speaks at the Forum on Egypt in the LAB on Monday.

See EGYPT, 3

WEATHER Tuesday

74/49 Wednesday

78/56 Thursday

Page 4

Page 5

Page 8

76/59

INDEX Calendar ........................ 2 Sudoku............................ 2 News .............................. 3 Arts & Entertainment .....5 Opinion ...........................6 Feature............................7 Sports............................. 7

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

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Mark Your Planner 22 23 24 25 26 8:30 a.m.

SGA officer elections LAB, TCC, Century Park, Library

11:00 a.m.

Kappa Alpha Psi’s Clothing Drive Union Lobby 7:30 p.m.

Snakebit Hartwig Theatre

12:00 p.m.

Career Fair TCC

10:00 a.m.

TOMS Club bake sale HUB

10:00 a.m.

Rock-A-Thon for Autism The Union

6:30 p.m.

Delta Gamma’s King Neptune Bennett Auditorium

11:00 a.m.

SAAC Date Auction Shoemaker Square

7:30 p.m.

Snakebit Hartwig Theatre

7:30 p.m.

Snakebit Hartwig Theatre

christopher.bostick@eagles.usm.edu

5:30 p.m.

College of Health Forum: “Perspectives on Health Care Reform-Which Way Forward” TCC I

Web Editor Ashton Pittman

ashton.pittman@eagles.usm.edu

7:00 p.m.

Delta Gamma’s Anchorsplash M.C. Johnson Auditorium

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

7:30 p.m.

Snakebit Hartwig Theatre

Webmaster Chris Greene

chris.greene@eagles.usm.edu

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

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

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

7:30 p.m.

Snakebit Hartwig Theatre

Dirty Birds

Level:

02-19-11 Destroying Private Property MK Turk- A student reported a bleach type substance was sprayed on his vehicle damaging the toolbox.

02-19-11 Motor Vehicle Accident Century Park Lot- One state citation was issued for no insurance.

02-19-11 Motor Vehicle Accident Century Park Lot- Incident Report filed.

02-20-11 Indecent Exposure Kelly Lot- A vehicle driver was turned over to HPD for DUI charges and a passenger was cited for indecent exposure by UPD. 02-20-11 Welfare Concern Century Park- Report filed by Residence Life.

02-20-11 Lost Property Performing Arts- Prescription medication was taken from an unlocked locker.

02-21-11 Vehicle Traffic Stop 4th Street- John Blakeney, W/M, 44 yoa, Ala. address was arrested and charged with suspended drivers license.

1

2

3

4

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 SOLUTION TO MONDAY’S PUZZLE

2/8/11

© 2011 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.

Forum presented by Perspectives on Health Care Reform: Which Way Forward?

5:30 - 7 p.m.

Thursday, February 24, 2011 Thad Cochran Center Ballroom Admission is free. Refreshments will be served.

Speakers will share non-partisan views of the current state of health care reform, the impact that reform has at both the local and national levels, and a glimpse into the future of reform.

Panel: Dr. Joe H. Campbell Jr., Hattiesburg Clinic Dr. Thomas Dobbs, State Medical Officer Ricki Garrett, Mississippi Nurses Association Roy Mitchell, Mississippi Health Advocacy Program Ed Tucker, The University of Southern Mississippi

AA/EOE/ADAI

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

SCIENCE

News

Page 3

Forget Pluto; hello possible new planet Tyche Jonathan Andrews Printz Writer

EGYPT, from 1

to renew his visa. While there, the revolution began and the embassy’s functions put on hold, so he joined the discussion via Skype and the video was projected onto the wall.

During the protests, Abdelvaher himself was exposed to tear gas and saw people shot with rubber bullets.

“There were times when it was really dangerous and really happy. Every hour was as if Egypt had won the World Cup, which we hope one day will happen,” he said with a smile.

Megahed began by saying, “I feel we have our country back.”

“I was very inspired by the determination of all the Egyptians to confront this police state and bring back our country to every Egyptian,” she said. “We have a big change ahead; this is the beginning not the end. But I am optimistic, and I hope it’s the beginning of a bright future for Egypt.”

One man asked how Ali would compare the current revolution to the one in 1952 against the monarchy. “Well I think that they start good for all, we trust them, that they’ll change everything,” Dia began, “and 50 years later, we learn that we shouldn’t trust them for more than two months,” he finished as the audience laughed.

Keltoum Rowland, a professor in

Courtesy of NASA

sisted, and the likelihood that it is a statistical fluke has lessened,” Matese said.

Matese said no alternate evidence has been put forward to explain the patterns in the comets and if it exists, Tyche would be about 3000 times further from the sun than Jupiter.

“It would not have formed in our planetary disk, but most likely would have been captured in the complex environment where our Sun was

born,” Matese said.

“As such, the [International Astronomical Union] might choose not to use the term ‘planet’ for such an object.”

According to him, the object would likely be called a “giant planet” or an “ultra cool dwarf.”

Dominique Thompson, a music performance major from Clinton, Miss. said the possible existence of another planet is not that important

the French department and a native of Algeria, asked Megahead and Abdelvaher about the emerging conditions for women in Egypt. “In Algeria, we heard about Mubarak and what he had done for the emancipation of women in Egypt,” she said. “What will the situation be for women after this revolution?”

Megahed said she believes that after the revolution, the women will want to change things as well. “The former first lady did a lot for women’s emancipation. However there is still a high illiteracy rate among women versus men; 44 percent of women over age 15 are illiterate in Egypt,” she said. “There were women from all ages and levels of educations who expect they will have their rights as equal citizens to men in Egypt.”

Ismail chimed in on the question of women from a younger generation’s perspective. “Women know they have a voice now. Because it’s not only a revolution of freedom, but a revolution of equality as well. So if the constitution is laid down and women do not have rights, then you can expect them to ask for rights.”

Smiling, he added, “If they don’t get what they want there, there’ll be a women’s revolution.”

An audience member asked Abdelvaher if he was worried the mili-

tary would take over during the absence of an established government.

“For me I only trust the army until we get our new president,” he said.

“For me to sleep comfortably is for me to see these elections done in the right way.” He said they should not only be recorded but every government official should be checked by a civilian official as well. “Even if it was the most corrupt military in the world, if the people will do these little things, we will make great changes,” he said. “It’s in our hands, actually.”

“I don’t think it was just by ourselves that we did this,” Ismail said.

“I think it was the people supporting us, the people standing in the name of democracy that did this with us.

We thank every American citizen who prayed for us. Thank you very much for having this forum as well.”

In her closing comments Megahed said, “I feel like the university celebrated with us the success of the revolution so far. And we continue to celebrate.”

And those from the university at the forum did indeed celebrate with the panelists. Every audience member stood up with the panelists as Ali started to sing the Egyptian national anthem, showing solidarity with the revolutionaries in their road to freedom.

to him.

“When Pluto lost its status as a planet, it wasn’t that significant to me either,” said Thompson.

Thompson said astronomy, in general, has never been something he was very interested in following, but he is able to name all the planets with no problem at all.

“I use a mnemonic device to remember them all, but I guess now that’ll have to change,” Thompson said.

The scientists believe the planet is a gas giant, mostly composed of hydrogen and helium, like Jupiter.

Also, like Jupiter, Tyche is believed to be ringed and surrounded by moons.

If scientists find conclusive evidence of Tyche’s existence, it will be, by far, the largest planet in the solar system, nearly four times the

SO

UT

H

MIS ERN

S R E C R E AT I O N A

L SPO

size of Jupiter.

Mandy Deese said, “It’s interesting that something like a planet so much bigger than the biggest one in our solar system could exist and we’ve only just found it.”

Deese, a senior from Marianna, Fla. said she hadn’t really followed the news around Tyche, but she planned to do so after hearing about it.

“I don’t know that we can ever know about everything that’s out there.”

Tyche, in Greek mythology, is the goddess of fortune and prosperity of cities. She oversaw city’s destinies and can essentially be seen guardian of luck.

Matese and Whitmire could use some of that luck in finding out if the gas giant on the edge of the solar system is really there.

SOUTHERN MISS

RT S

Upcoming Events

OUTDOOR

PROGRAM

O

Pluto may have lost its planet status, but scientists believe another gas giant could be lurking on the outskirts of our solar system.

The evidence to support the possibility of a new celestial body within our solar system comes from two astrophysicists at The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, John Matese and Daniel Whitmire.

Matese said that he and Whitmire asserted that “there was an ‘unusual’ aspect to the observed pattern, affecting 20 percent of the comets coming from the Oort Cloud.”

The Oort Cloud is hypothesized to be a large mass of comets about one light year from the sun and is the origin of many of the comets that fly through our solar system.

So, in other words, Matese and Whitmire observed that the orbit of these rogue comets was consistent with the presence of a “Jupiter mass solar companion” making its orbit through the cloud.

“Tyche” – that’s what the possible planet has been named – supposedly threw off the comets’ orbits as they passed close to its gravitational field.

Matese and Whitmire have been searching for conclusive evidence to prove Tyche exists since their first observation of the comets’ strange behavior in 1999.

“What is new is that since then, is that this unusual aspect has per-

S

FREE Outdoor Clinic - Orienteering Wednesday, February 23 6 - 8 p.m.

For more information, contact

Airey Lake Day Hike Saturday, February 26 Cost: $5

Jessi Hobart 601.266.5405 jessica.hobart@usm.edu www.usm.edu/recsports/outdoor

AA/EOE/ADAI

News

Page 4

on campus

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

SGA election demonstrates diversity Tierra Clemmons Printz Writer

The Student Government Association officer primary elections are today, and diversity is definitely on the ballot.

While there are several diverse candidates running for different offices, the most interesting is the SGA presidential race. Erick Brown is a junior sociology major from Columbus, Miss., and Javaron Buckley is a junior paralegal studies major from Bassfield, Miss., and besides being the only two candidates running for SGA president – they are both black. Although this isn’t the first time blacks have run for this office, this rare occurrence can definitely be added to the record books.

Eddie Holloway, dean of students, credits the university’s acceptance of diversity to enrollment.

“I think since the first African Americans enrolled in 1965, there’s been a steady increase in African American student presidents on campus,” Holloway said. “So, overall I think the African American enrollment is approaching near 30

on campus

percent which speaks volumes in terms of acceptance.”

“As the election commissioner, I think this change can be attributed to many things,” said Kyle Nixon, current SGA election commissioner. “But I think the overarching theme is the fact that we go above and beyond to make people feel welcome at Southern Miss,” Former SGA president and election commissioner J.R Robinson was one of many who portrayed black leadership on campus.

“More than anything, I didn’t just want to make a change,” Robinson said. “I wanted to make a difference – and that meant more to me than anything. And, well, the fact that some said it couldn’t be done for various reasons only made me work that much harder.”

“I think we have reason to be very proud of our progress here at Southern Miss,” Brown said. “Diversity has been one of the greatest advantages of being a Southern Miss student since the day I arrived.

I just think that this year’s ballot is evidence of the diversity that many universities boast but few, including this one, actually exhibit.”

Mary Alice Truitt/Printz

Jeffrey McClendon, a double major in political science and English from Houston, Texas, participates in the SGA debate on Feb. 15. Jeffrey is one of two vice presidential candidates.

Robinson also gives advice to others who are thinking about running for an SGA officer position in the future.

“Make sure that you are doing it for the right reasons,” Robinson said. “This is such a big sacrifice to take this prestigious office and requires dedication, loyalty and a work ethic unparallel to others.

Understand that the more you put in, the more you get out of it. Make sure service is your passion and always keep that first.”

SGA officer primary elections will take place today at 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The voting precincts include the Thad Cochran Center, Cook Library Lobby and the Century Park

Courtyard. The candidates are: President – Erick Brown and Javaron Buckley; Vice President – Jeffrey McClendon and Tyler Chastain; Attorney General – Rebecca Masters; Election Commissioner – Jessica Dominguez, Will Hinton and Ameer Jackson; and Treasurer – Ashley Barber and Davontae Washington.

Dress to impress at USM Career Fair Mary Margaret Halford Printz Writer For students interested in finding a job, internship or just networking, Career Services is hosting its spring Career Fair on Wednesday from noon to 4 p.m.

The event will take place in the Thad Cochran Center with over 55 businesses scheduled to attend.

Local businesses, large corporations and graduate schools will all

be present, and there will be something for students of all academic areas.

Lisa Parker, marketing specialist for Career Services, is hopeful that students will benefit from attending the event.

“This is such a great opportunity to see what is out there,” Parker said. “Sometimes people discover jobs they didn’t even know applied to their majors.”

Parker also encouraged professional dress for those students who plan to stop by the Career Fair.

“Dress for the business you want, not for classes,” Parker said.

“Even those students there to network and not necessarily find a job should dress professionally.”

In addition to dressing professionally, students should also bring extra copies of their resumes to leave with potential employers.

Kathy Killam, assistant director of Career Services, stressed the importance of doing her part to help students with their professional lives.

“We just want to present all the

opportunities available to aid them in their job search,” Killam said.

Killiam also pointed out that students who attend will have the opportunity to talk one-on-one with employers.

This is basically the first step of a job interview process for students,” she said.

Several students are helping Career Services plan and execute the event, including junior Keshia Stringfellow.

“This will be my first career fair and I’m very excited to see how it

will turn out,” Stringfellow said. “I am hoping students gain new business connections with employers at the event and job interviews for potential careers.”

According to Career Services, about 1500 students typically attend the event, and they hope this year will be just as successful.

Freshmen through seniors are welcome to attend, as well as graduate students and alumni. For more information, including a list of employers that will be present, visit www.usm.edu/cs.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Arts & Entertainment

Page 5

on campus

USM opens first show of season Earvin Hopkins Printz Writer

The theater department at USM is opening their first show of the season today with a modern play called Snakebit.

The play will be showing all week at the Gilbert F. Hartwig Theatre, located in the Theatre and Dance building, starting today at 7:30 p.m. It will run at the same time Wednesday through Saturday, and Sunday there will be a 1:00 p.m. pre-show followed by the play at 2:00 p.m.

Snakebit is a play studying what happens when friends are put through the test of life. It focuses on a couple that moves to Los Angles. Jonathan wants to be an actor while his wife, Jennifer, is submissive to his subtle abuse.

They move in with a guy named Michael who is dealing with his boyfriend leaving him. Then the play twists with the introduction of Gary, Michael’s new flamboyant love interest.

Cute puns, rated “R” language and energy were in the air in the Hartwig Theatre as the vivacious cast of Snakebit rehearsed.

The cast talked about their upcoming play, the overall message, the issues this play addresses and the characters they play.

Third year MFA and performance major Sean Scrutchins plays Jonathan and talks about his character.

“Jonathan is an actor trying to get a role in a movie,” Scrutchins said.

“He’s hot tempered, to the point, but not an asshole, more like a jerk.

“My favorite part is that I like playing the jerk, because normally I play the nice guy. It is very difficult, but I must be the antagonist and be natural at it.”

Theater BFA performance major Annie Cleveland talks about her character, Jennifer.

“Jen is very maternal, protective and sweet,” Cleveland said. “She’s been walked over in her marriage, and she must find the courage to stand up for herself.”

Cleveland said that the cast has been rehearsing for this play since Jan. 12, a week before school started.

Third year MFA performance major Nelson Rodriguez plays Michael in the play.

“Michael is a very nurturing person. He wants to help people, but he’s at a point in his life where he doesn’t know what his next

Eli Baylis/Printz Graduate student Nelson Rodriguez rehearses a scene from Snakebit while director Joe Hernandez watches and offers suggestions.

step is,” Rodriguez said. “His relationship just fell apart.”

Rodriguez talked about the overall message of the play.

“The story is about finding hope, and figuring out what their lives are all about, and everybody does that.”

Senior BFA performance major Matt McDaniel plays the larger than life character Gary.

“Gary is Michael’s new boyfriend,” McDaniel said. “He’s very sly and becomes a confidant and helps him through a lot of problems. Gary makes all the jokes, and he is the typically sassy gay person.”

McDaniel said that the title of the play has deep meaning to him, because according to McDaniel, being snake bit is a term people use when they are

in a rough position, and like a person who is snake bitten, they need someone to suck the venom out, and he said that Gary is that character to Michael.

“Everyone needs to come see the play because ‘it’s fierce,’” McDaniel said, quoting the character Gary from the play.

For ticket information, call 601-266-5418.

Opinion

Page 6

STATE

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Too many uncertainties to condemn or commemorate Forrest David Martin Guest Writer

Every time I see the word ‘Mississippi’ in a newspaper, I instantly cringe. Not because I expect Mississippi to disappoint me again; but because I know that the story will be written by a journalist who neither understands, nor attempts to understand the people of this state.

Last week, for example, an opinion was featured here which condemned the Sons of Confederate Veterans for trying to propose a commemorative Nathan Bedford Forrest license plate. The author condemned Forrest of being personally responsible for a wartime massacre. While I will not get into

the details, Forrest’s direct involvement in the massacre is uncertain in many respects. For the single letter that the author showed that condemns Forrest, there are three which absolve him.

Oh and about his KKK involvement? The U.S. Congress’ investigation into the KKK declared Forrest to be a non-member who used his influence on the terrorist group to implore them to disband. Forrest himself claimed to be relieved that three racists in the (pre-violence) KKK were shot by the group because they wore hoods and tried to terrorize African Americans.

I am not saying Forrest was innocent, not by a long shot. He is the last Confederate I would want to represent Mississippi, simply because his name is associated with these awful groups and racist ideas. Personally, I would rather avoid conflict altogether and not see these license plates

made if it would offend even one person (and it would). I am saying, though, that every coin has two sides. Trying to honor Forrest might be incomprehensible to the author of the previous article, but when he condemns the Sons of Confederate Veterans as ‘stupid’ for attempting a simple homage, he risks being just as biased and worse: published.

The point is that if we really expect Mississippi’s image to improve, we are going to have to investigate the facts more thoroughly before encouraging an idea to be publicly scorned. If this license plate deserves our scorn, so too does the Hattiesburg courthouse.

After all, it features a portrait of Forrest as its centerpiece, right above a medal of honor. What’s worse is our entire campus is located in Forrest County! Should our campus and city by condemned as indefensibly racist as well?

If we want Mississippi to shake

AS WE SEE IT

off its negative stereotypes, we must all think more objectively.

Rather than condemning, we should analyze and try to understand all viewpoints; then, and only then, should we choose to condemn the villains.

This month is Black History Month. I do not want to take away the significance of this month by focusing any more on the wrong issues, like exonerating racists or examining offensive license plates. However, until we can respect ourselves, and realize that Mississippi today is not like Mississippi in 1960 or even 1860; and that our history is not just black and white, but also grey, we will never fully break the awful associations between us and our negative stereotype.

Student Shout-outs

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

“

Officer on the motorcycle ... You really riding on the sidewalk and gonna tell me to get out the way? I don’t see your lights flashing, so there obviously isn’t an emergency. Get your lazy ass in the street!

Nike athletic shorts should be worn for This was an article of opinion by David Martin. Email questions exercise, not as a fashor comments to david.martin@ ion statement. Take eagles.usm.edu. them off (especially if you do not exercise), and put on a pair of (*gasp*) jeans!

The Student Printz’s Editorial Board

Elect your new SGA today

The Student Government Association elections are taking place today from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. In addition to encouraging all students to vote and show concern for your university, we would like to offer the following recommendations for the officers of 2011-2011.

Election Commissioner Junior Jessica Dominguez, an elementary education major from New Orleans. Dominguez was a member of Southern Style 2010, and she was the Eaglepalooza Director in 2009. She is on USM’s recruitment team Eagle Connection, and she is a member of the Lambda Sigma honor society.

Attorney General Junior Rebecca Masters. She is a nutrition major from Ellisville, Miss. and a Luckyday Scholar. A member of Southern Style 2010, she is in the Honors College. She also has served on the SGA Judicial

Board and is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She played on the Southern Miss soccer team as an underclassman.

Treasurer Sophomore Davontae Washington from Hattiesburg. He is a member of Delta Sigma Chi business fraternity, SGA Cabinet, GEWW Crew, Eagle Connection and is founder of Students Against Drunk Driving.

Vice President Junior marketing major Tyler Chastain from Jackson, Ala. He serves on both the Senate and Cabinet of SGA and is a member of

I’m sick and tired of the BSU looking down on the rest of the campus because of our different Delta Sigma Chi business fraternity. man Associates adviser and mem- beliefs. When will they President ber of Southern Style. realize that Jesus loves Junior Erick Brown, a sociology major from Columbus, Miss.

For an outline of the candidates’ everyone, not just Brown is an Honors College Am- goals, visit the Facebook event “SGA Christians? bassador and served on the SGA Cabinet. He is the current Fresh-

Executive Officer Elections.”

The Fresh Food Company should be renamed the “Not-soFresh Food Company.”

Sometimes that food sits out just a bit too long.

I think the campus could use a 24/7 Taco Bell. Just sayin’.

Why don’t I get President’s Day off like I have for the past 19 years? Not cool, USM.

”

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Feature

Page 7

On campus

WUSM: the voice of the Eagles Stormy Speaks Printz Writer Since the 1970s, WUSM-FM (88.5 fm), Southern Miss’ own radio station, has brought music and campus news to the Hattiesburg area.

According to WUSM’s website, the station “celebrates American roots music with a strong Mississippi influence,” meaning the station mainly plays music by Mississippi musicians. However, according to interdisciplinary studies major and Southern Miss Today host Cindy Morgan, the station is shaking things up this year.

“The format of the music we play on the station has changed in the last year with Justin Martin taking it over,” Morgan said. “We have gotten away from playing the ‘grandma and grandpa’ music and now play music that will interest the 20, 30, and 40 somethings.”

These new formats include shows such as Synchronicity (alternative), Electronic Phonics (dance), Nine O’Clock News (new music), and much more.

With a library of 60,000 songs, the station has a plethora of genres to offer.

“I immediately gravitated to WUSM since their music taste mirrored my own in so many ways,” said junior biochemistry major Michael Samel. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard one of my favorite songs – the type of song that compels you to roll down all the windows and

Cindy Morgan, an interdisciplinary studies major from Lucedale, Miss., prepares for her radio show, “Gear Jammin’ Radio.”

sing as loudly as you can.”

In addition to the music shows is Southern Miss Today, a live news segment produced by junior broadcast journalism major Houston Hunt and hosted by Morgan and Printz staff member Courtney Carter. The half-hour show is broadcast at noon Monday through Thursday and features campus and community news and interviews with faculty, students, people in the community and local bands.

The personality differences

among the approximately 20 staffers at WUSM is what Morgan believes brings diversity to both Southern Miss Today and the music shows.

“I am older and have different interests and more ‘life’ experience than Courtney does,” Morgan said. “But it is that difference that makes the shows we host unique, informative and entertaining. The listening audience, no matter how old they are, can find something that will interest them.”

The station is supported solely on

listener donations, which Morgan said has been a huge hurdle to clear.

“There are many things that we all envision for the station, but need the money to buy the equipment,” Morgan said. “Being a public radio station means that we are listener-supported and need donations and sponsorships from them and area businesses. With the change in format, we are getting more listeners and the word is spreading about the station.”

“We want people to let us know what they think because we want

Mary Alice Truitt/Printz

to be the voice of the community,” Hunt said.

“I find that no other FM radio stations cover the range and depth of music that WUSM offers,” Samel said. “The station will remain number one on my radio presets as long as I’m in Hattiesburg.”

For the entire schedule of the shows and more information on how to support WUSM, visit southernmissradio.com. The station also broadcasts online, so listeners can tune in wherever they may be.

on campus

Eagles for Life spread message at USM Michelle Holowach Printz Writer The sidewalk in front of the Thad Cochran Center could not be ignored as Eagles for Life etched out their pro-life messages in vibrant chalk.

Eagles for Life at USM has been an active group on campus since January 2010 but lately they have found themselves growing on people’s radars. Just this past January, Eagles for Life hitched a ride on a bus with Alabama for Life and took a long journey to Washington, D.C. where they participated in the March for Life.

“It was really awesome,” said Erika Hosler, an Eagles for Life member who marched in D.C. “There were a lot of people there, and it was the first time I went so I didn’t know what it was going

to be like, but it was really awesome. I just liked being there and marching. It made me feel like I was helping out.”

The March for Life took over the streets of Washington, D.C. on Jan. 24, the day after the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, and covered ground from the Capitol to the Supreme Court building proclaiming its pro-life message.

“We marched to let our federal government know that we’re serious about the pro-life message and about protecting unborn human life,” said senior Mark Harris, the president of Eagles for Life. “This year was the largest march ever; there were about 400,000 people there.”

Groups from as far away as Oklahoma, Michigan, Florida and even Maine carried their signs through D.C. for an hour on this frigid day. “I was just really glad to

see that many people there from so many different places,” Harris said. “It’s just amazing how far people come to participate.”

Sterling Ulrich, another Eagles for Life member, was also in awe of the massive support being shown for pro-life. “I think just the size of the march was the impressive thing, to know that the pro-life group is growing is encouraging … we believe that a human being is a human being from the moment of conception.”

The Sunday before the event was a day of conferences in which pro-lifers got to hear from many famous speakers, including Alveda King, the niece of Martin Luther King Jr. “It’s the third time I’ve been, and every time I go up I come back with a renewed vigor,” Harris said. “I always come back with a feeling that we’re making progress, and

we are going to be successful.”

Harris said that ever since Eagles for Life went to the March for Life, interest in the pro-life group has been growing throughout Southern Miss. He said that membership is up, and he is always hearing from people who want to get involved. “The march has really excited a lot of people,” he said.

On Wednesday, Feb. 16, Eagles For Life got the attention of the campus with pro-life chalk messages lining the sidewalk in front of the Thad Cochran Center. Hosler was the driving force behind the Pro-Life Chalk Day. “I got the idea when we went to Washington D.C. for the March for Life,” she said. “We went to a pro-life convention, and they were talking about different activities that you can do to get students involved on your cam-

pus, and so after that I went up to Mark and I was like we should do the Chalk for Life.” The first two times the chalk got rained out, but the third time seemed to be the charm for Eagles for Life.

Phrases such as “Life is beautiful,” “Smile if your mom chose life,” and “Abortion stops a beating heart,” were just a few of the brightly illustrated messages coating the sidewalk. By the end of the afternoon the chalkers were covered in colorful dust, but their mission to get the prolife message out for USM to see was accomplished.

“Turn-out for chalking today was great; we had probably about a dozen people here,” Harris said.

“I’m just excited that more people are getting involved. I think the more people that help out the faster the message is going to get around on campus.”

Sports

Page 8

BASEBALL

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Eagles sweep Panthers Tyler Cleveland Printz Writer

Josh Thomason might have had reservations about his first start at the Division 1 level, but if he did, it didn’t show Sunday.

The Oxford native and Navarro Community College transfer scattered five hits over six innings and retired 18 of the 24 batters he faced to pick up a 6-0 win and a three-game sweep of Eastern Illinois.

“I just tried to battle today,” he said. “We wanted to get ahead, pitch to contact and let the defense work. Todd (McInnis) and Geoffrey (Thomas) came out and shut them down Friday and Saturday, and I just tried to follow their lead.”

He did just that, and the defense did its part, completing the third game of the weekend without committing a fielding error.

Reliever Josh Rogers pitched the seventh and eighth innings, retiring all six batters he faced, and Southern Miss closer Collin Cargill got his first inning of work in the ninth.

BASKETBALL

Short stop B.A. Vollmuth ran his hitting streak to 23 games with an infield single that hit third base and popped straight into the air in his final at-bat in the bottom of the eighth inning.

“We hit well today,” Tyler Koelling said. “I think we left eight or nine runners out there, but we scored enough to win behind another good pitching performance.”

It’s hard to imagine a better opening weekend for the Golden Eagles (3-0), who out-scored their opponent 21-3 over the three games. More importantly, some questions about the Eagles’ weekend rotation were answered.

Staff ace Todd McInnis showed he has come back from an elbow strain that limited him in last year’s NCAA Regional Tournament, throwing eight innings of shutout baseball Friday night, and Saturday’s starter Geoffrey Thomas gave up just three hits and one walk over seven innings of work after finishing 1-6 with an earned run average of 8.37 last season.

“It’s great to get these first three under our belt,” Southern Miss coach Scott Berry said. “Any time you play in Division 1 baseball it’s

tough to keep your guys focused and go out and sweep a weekend; I don’t care who you are.”

While they were all smiles after Sunday’s sweep-clinching win, there are some areas in which the team would like to improve.

The Golden Eagles hit for power and average, but couldn’t seem to get those hits to come in key situations. USM hitters combined for 17 RBI’s but stranded 30 base runners in three games.

“We can’t be doing that,” Koelling said. “We know it’s the first weekend of the season, but we need to get into the routine of executing in those situations.

Whenever we get into conference, there’s no way we can strand that many runners, especially against a team like Rice.”

Berry echoed what Koelling said about the high number of runners left on base, but said overall he was happy with the way his team played. For the notoriously hardto-please USM skipper, the sweep was sure enough a relief.

“What I liked the most was the way we played defense,” Berry said. “Like today, we didn’t strike out a whole lot of people – I think Josh struck out just one – but we

Jordan Moore/Printz

Junior pitcher Josh Thomason launches the ball toward home plate at the baseball game against Eastern Illinois on Sunday, Feb. 20.

were able to turn a double play one inning, he pitched effectively and we played great defense for a third straight game.”

The Golden Eagles return to

action today with a 4 p.m. game against Louisiana-Monroe. Berry said he has Jonathan Thompson penciled in as his starting pitcher for that contest.

Southern Miss wins over East Carolina Travis Thornell Sports Editor Senior forward Gary Flowers led the Southern Miss Golden Ea-

gles to 72-55 win over East Carolina on Saturday.

Flowers took control from the opening tip and set a new careerhigh for points with 32. He had 21 points in the first half. He hit

on four of eight three pointers.

He needs only one more point to get 1,000 for his career. The senior from Dallas also was able to snag his third conference player of the week award of the season.

“I had a good warm up and we came out popping on defense.

That made it easier to get things going on offense. A lot of my points came in transition off of steals and run outs. I got in the groove early,” said Flowers, who recorded his 6th double-double of the season with 11 boards.

From the opening possession, ECU (13-13, 5-7 C-USA) knew they were in trouble. The Golden Eagles (20-6, 9-4) were able to get a turnover from the Pirates after they failed to get a shot off before the shot clock expired. USM rode the hot-handed Flowers to a 3630 halftime lead.

The Golden Eagles who pride

Men’s Basketball vs. Loyola (N.O.) Day: Tuesday, February 22 Location: Reed Green Coliseum Time: 7:00 p.m.

Overall record: 13-12, Southern States 5-5

Loyola’s last 5 games:

2/05 vs. Spring Hill W, 67-56 2/08 vs. Dillard W, 88-75 2/12 @ Faulkner L, 68-60 2/17 @ Belhaven L, 76-67 2/19 vs. Auburn Montgomery W, 96-91 (OT)

Southern Miss Box Score

M. Basketball: 2/19 vs ECU W, 72-55 W. Basketball 2/20 vs Rice L, 79-52 Baseball: 2/18 vs. EIU W, 6-2 2/19 vs. EIU W, 9-1 2/20 vs. EIU W, 6-0 Softball: 2/18 @ Auburn L, 3-0 2/19 vs. Western Carolina W,4-2 2/20 vs. McNeese St. W, 4-3

themselves on defensive rebounding were shocked to see that ECU had the advantage in the category.

Southern Miss was able to turn that stat around and break the game open. Flowers and co-Conference USA freshman player of week D.J. Newbill ignited a 20-6 run to start the second half.

Junior Maurice Bolden, who threw in 11 points and 6 rebounds, spoke of the adjustments and fast second half start, “At half time Coach Eustachy was telling us that (ECU) wasn’t going away.

They’re gonna fight. Coach talked about rebounding on offensive end and defense and being stronger with the ball.”

With the win the Golden Eagles are now tied for first in Conference USA with four games remaining.

“That’s probably the best overall performance that we have had all

year. This was a game that I circled before we played Memphis. I asked that guys that after playing Memphis and UTEP, `Do we have the character to play a very, very good team that we had already beaten. And we proved that we did.’ This is the most pleased that I’ve been with our team all year,” said Coach Larry Eustachy, who has now coached Southern Miss to three 20+ wins in his seven years at the helm.

The Golden Eagles have four games left on the schedule before heading into the Conference USA tournament. They will play Loyola (N.O.) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at home and then travel to Orlando on Saturday to take on Central Florida. Their final home game will be next Wednesday against UAB at 6 p.m. and will finish the season with a game at Tulsa on March 5th.

Southern Miss Sports: Upcoming Games Tuesday, February 22 at 4:00 p.m.

Baseball vs. Louisiana-Monroe Hattiesburg, Miss.

Wednesday, February 23 at 4:00 p.m.

Softball at Mississippi State Starkville, Miss.

Tuesday, February 22 at 7:00 p.m.

Men’s Basketball vs. Loyola (N.O.) Hattiesburg, Miss.

Wednesday, February 23 at 4:00 p.m.

Baseball vs. Alcorn St. Hattiesburg, Miss.

Wednesday, February 23 at 2:00 p.m.

Women’s Tennis vs. New Orleans Hattiesburg, Miss.

Thursday, February 24 at 8:05 p.m.

Women’s Basketball at UTEP El Paso, Texas