The
S TUDENT P RINTZ www.studentprintz.com
SERVING SOUTHERN MISS SINCE 1927
April 10, 2012
Volume 96 Issue 51
STATE
Bryant brings better brews to state Justin Mitchell News Editor Governor Phil Bryant signed a bill into law Monday morning that would increase the alcohol by weight, or ABW, cap in beer from 5 to 8 percent in the state. Thus, the alcohol by volume, or ABV, cap will increase in Mississippi from around 6 to 10 percent. The bill, known as SB 2878, will go into effect on July 1, 2012. Local bar owners and beer supporters rejoiced and immediately planned events in celebration of the new beer law. Raise Your Pints, a non-profit grassroots organization fully composed of a volunteers, played a large role in the bill’s passing Monday. Butch Bailey, president of Raise Your Pints, said the organization is an advocate of craft beer and beer drinkers in the state of Mississippi who promote legislation, education and public awareness of craft beers throughout the state. “This was our bill,” Bailey said. “This is the third year we’ve been pushing for it. We got this intro-
duced and lobbied for it hard as well as got partners in the beer industry to support the bill.” Bailey said he was happy with Monday’s outcome. “This is the culmination of three years of really hard work and effort on a volunteer basis,” Bailey said. “This is definitely thrilling and humbling. We are very thankful to the governor for signing the bill.” John Neal, owner of Keg and Barrel, said that the ABW increase is great for local business owners in the Hattiesburg area. “It’s important for Mississippi business owners to be on a level playing field,” Neal said. “Currently my customers are driving out of state spending their money on gourmet beers that the Keg and Barrel cannot legally provide.” Neal also said the bill’s passing is a win-win situation for residents and business owners alike. “With the passage of SB 2878, our customers can spend money locally, which means more tax dollars for the state,” Neal said. To celebrate, Keg and Barrel hosted music by the 6550’s and all-you-can-eat crawfish for $15
Mary Alice Truitt/Printz
To celebrate the passing of SB2878, which increased the ABV allowed in beer in Mississippi, Keg and Barrel hosted an all-you-can-eat crawfish event Monday evening.
Monday evening. A beer truck was also brought in by Neal that carried various craft beers for customers to enjoy while celebrating SB 2878’s victory. “It’s great the law passed because now there will be a better beer selection in Hattiesburg,” senior medical technology major and attendee Crystal Thompson said.
Neal also said the beer truck will be filled with beer from Lazy Magnolia Brewery and Rogue Beer as a thank you for the two companies for supporting Raise Your Pints in the legislative process of passing SB 2878. Senior business administration major Barret Cobb works as a bartender at Keg and Barrel. Cobb said
he was happy the law passed so he could venture into business owning. “I want to open my very own brewing company,” Cobb said. People who wore their Raise Your Pints t-shirts also received a complimentary beer courtesy of Raise Your Pints and Keg and Barrel.
ON CAMPUS
Feral Cat Association caters to campus cats Tyler Hill Printz Writer When walking around campus at the University of Southern Mississippi, one may see many beautiful landmarks, such as the historical district, the dome on the Administration Building and the Friendship Tree located next to one of the oldest buildings on campus, Hattiesburg Hall. Another inescapable part of Southern Miss is the presence of felines. Many wonder who takes care of the cats, so the question was taken to students, faculty and staff members.
“IT” LIFESTYLE
“I’ve heard that the places, and they are very cats are a part of a feral fertile creatures.” cat program to help us “I think the nice cafrid of bugs, mice and eteria ladies and janiother creatures,” senior tors take care of them,” communication studKramer said. ies major Paige LeBlanc Finally, and perhaps the most bizarre said. “I know that they answer, was given by live in cat world, which freshman Nektarios is below the George Schwartz. Hurst Building, and Printz Archive “I heard that it was they take care of themThe Feral Cat Association at USM aims to provide for an experiment of selves, I’m assuming.” fair treatment of the campus cats, including food and Freshman biology spaying/neutering. some sorts,” Schwartz major Brock Kercher said. “I have seen food loves PETA takes care of them.” expressed a different opinion. bowls outside of various buildings Yet again, another opinion was ex“I heard that Southern Miss in strategic locations.” pressed by sophomore Ginny Kramadopts the stray cats,” Kercher said. Not surprisingly, these answers er. She said the cats are on campus “Anybody that is a tree hugger or were wrong, but luckily, Karen because “there are a lot of hiding
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Reidenbach, iTech Business and Operations Officer, and Susan Dobson, UG Coordinator, are members of the USM Feral Cat Association and helped answer the questions. The USM Feral Cat Association was created in January 1997 for the purpose of finding an effective and humane method to control USM’s growing feral cat population. Feral cats have been abandoned by their owners, become lost while in search of a mate, reverted in some degree to a wild state, or they are the offspring of such cats.
See CATS, 3
INDEX
Calendar ........................ 2 Sudoku ............................2 News .............................. 3 Feature ...........................4 Arts & Entertainment......5 Opinion ...........................7 Sports...............................8