The
S TUDENT P RINTZ www.studentprintz.com
SERVING SOUTHERN MISS SINCE 1927
February 23, 2012
Volume 96 Issue 40
ON CAMPUS
SGA changes election policy Mary Margaret Halford Executive Editor On Tuesday, Southern Miss students will vote to elect the new executive officers for Student Government Association, one of the biggest elections the campus has seen in years. Four people are running for the presidential spot, an election that usually sees only one or two candidates. Along with the surge of candidates, this election marks a significant change in the voting process at USM. Candidates for president and vice president will be running on one ticket, which is the same process used in the election of the President of the United States. During the summer, a committee of nine members of SGA voted 5-4 to enact the policy, which will also be up for a school-wide vote on Tuesday. An initiative will be on the bal-
lot for whether students support the ticketing system or not, according to SGA election commissioner Jessica Dominguez. SGA president Erick Brown was in favor of the policy change and feels that the new voting system is a good thing. “The things we’ve seen in this campaign have all been improvements,” Brown said. “This is the most people I’ve seen in an election in my time here, and that’s all the proof we need that this is good.” Brown added that the initiative has been talked about in previous SGA administrations but just came to reality this year. “This idea of a ticketing system has been around for awhile; it started as an idea and now it’s acually happening,” Brown said. “I think a healthy population of people feel different ways about it, but I think it is a great idea, and we’re happy it’s happening.” However, SGA vice president Jeffery McClendon has a differ-
ent take on the new voting policy. “I just don’t think it was a good move because it really creates massive division in the student body,” McClendon said. “We are one united campus. We aren’t representing political parties so I don’t see a need to run on a ticket.” McClendon added that the policy might cause problems for potential candidates. “People who are willing and want to run might have to forfeit their plans if they can’t find someone who wants to run on the same ticket,” McClendon said. “It’ll create confusion and uncertainty and become too political for a student body election.” In addition to the four presidential candidates and their vice presidential candidates, there are four people running for election commissioner, two people for treasurer and three people for attorney general. “I don’t know if it’s because of the ticketing system, but this
has been an exciting election so far,” Dominguez said. “We have people from all different organizations running, and I’m really happy that it’s not just the same people.” Dominguez also said the candidates will be participating in a debate tonight at 6 p.m. in the Thad Cochran Center ballroom. All students are invited to attend, and the debate will run a little differently than usual, too. Instead of asking questions aloud at the debate, students can tweet their questions to @USMSGA and hashtag the particular candidate or position the question is addressed to. The polls will open Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. and close at 4 p.m., and the voting locations are Century Park, Liberal Arts Building, Thad Cochran Center and Cook Library. A run-off election will be Thursday from 8:30 a.m. un-
til 4 p.m. in the same locations. “I’ve worked hard to make sure people are going to carry on the legacy of SGA, and from this election I’m feeling like it’s in good hands,” Dominguez said. “I’m excited to see who’s going to win because all of the candidates are very strong. This is going to be a great election.”
To see a list of candidates turn to page 3.
LOCAL Justin Mitchell/Printz
Last weekend, Southern Miss Recreational Sports sponsored the 27th Southern Miss Coca-Cola Classic Rodeo at the Hattiesburg Multipurpose center. Susan Bone, assistant director of wellness of Recreational Sports, said the organization plays a significant role in putting together the rodeo. “It is our responsibility to seek sponsors and to actually work the rodeo,” Bone said. “Rec Sports sells tickets the day of the event. Students and staff are responsible for ushering, parking and taking pictures.” Stephanie Patterson, marketing and public relations coordinator of Recreational Sports, said the rodeo sold out Saturday night. “It’s definitely a community event,” Patterson said. Smith, Harper and Morgan Rodeo sponsored the cowboys who performed at the rodeo. The group was also responsible for producing the Dixie Nationals Rodeo as well as providing livestock to the National Finals Rodeo. Southern Miss Rec Sports, Coca-Cola, Southern Beverage, Comcast, B 95.3, McMullen Motors, Polks Meat Products, Keith’s Superstore, Forrest General Hospital, Landry & Lewis Architects, Copycats Printing and the Hattiesburg American sponsored the event.
RUMORS
CASABLANCA
BASEBALL
WEATHER Thursday
79/62 Friday
62/41 Saturday
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INDEX
Calendar ........................ 2 News .............................. 3 Opinion ...........................5 PULSE...............................7 Arts & Entertainment.....15 Feature ..........................16 Sports.............................19