Get a preview of Saturdays game on p. 8
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Serving Southern Miss since 1927
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Volume 93, Issue 4
Southern Miss begins preparations for Gustav Bob Worth Printz Writer
As Tropical Storm Gustav makes its way through the Gulf of Mexico, students are being urged by the University Police Department and iTech to sign up for Eagle Alert. The free emergency notification system allows university safety officials to send messages to members of the campus community via e-mail, and if one so chooses, text and voice messaging. The UPD will send out updates on Tropical Storm Gustav through the Eagle Alert System as information becomes available. Bob Hopkins, chief of University Police said the UPD will meet with the university’s Emergency Response Team Friday. “We’ll use the Eagle Alert System as a way of sharing information,” Bob Hopkins said. He added that the Eagle Alert System “lived up to expectations” during tropical storm Faye.
The textmessaging phase of the Eagle Alert System is complete, and work is currently being Bob Hopkins done to prioritize email alerts within the University system. Hopkins said that the Voice Notification System in campus buildings is nearing completion. The system has been installed in all residence halls, as well as high traffic areas such as the Thad Cochran Center and Cook Library, leaving only academic buildings to be completed. “As people realize the importance of early notification, participation will go up,” Hopkins said. Brandi Simmons, a customer service specialist at iTech, said that student response to the system has been strong. “We’ve had a lot of students sign up,” Simmons said. “We en-
courage all students and faculty to sign up.” She added that students can add their parent’s phone numbers to the system as well. Sophomore anthropology major Maeghan Dahlen, 23, of Hattiesburg, has not signed up for the alerts, but plans to. “I’m going to sign up for information about the weather and anything about campus I need to know,” Dahlen said. The text-messaging phase of the Eagle Alert System is complete, and work is currently being done to prioritize email alerts within the University system. Hopkins said that the Voice Notification System in campus buildings is nearing completion. The system has been installed in all residence halls, as well as high traffic areas such as the Thad Cochran Center and Cook Library, leaving only academic buildings to be completed. In addition to text and email alerts, students can find up-to-date information by following the updates link on the USM homepage.
Graphic courtesy of the National Hurricane Center If students have problems signing Tropical Storm Gustav was named a Category 1 hurricane, but up for the alerts, they should conthe storm slowed as it crossed Haiti. tact the iTech help desk at 2664357.
Ready to Rock and roll Golden Eagles kick off their season with a new nest
Security starts to tighten as new season approaches Bob Worth
fied the lock down as part of a “broad upgrade of policies As visitors to M.M. Rob- and procedures.” erts Stadium for the USM Beau Smith, 28, a senior versus Louisiana-Lafayette economics major from Long game Saturday admire the Beach, plans to attend the new stadium expansion, they game, and is glad to know probably won’t notice the that stadium security is a priwide-ranging security im- ority. provements which have been “It’s encouraging to hear recently implemented. A that security is being adPublic Service Announcement dressed,” he said, adding “affrom Head Coach Larry Fe- ter all, it’s all about defense.” dora, which will be broadcast Beginning with a grant in on the jumbotron, will inform 2005 from the Mississippi students of the improvements Office of the Department and encourage them to report of Homeland Security, the anything suspiCSSSM concious to stadium ducted risk asstaff. sessments of all Walter Cooper, It’s encouraging to seven University training director stadiums in Misat the Center for hear that security sissippi. Stacy Spectator Sports is being addressed. Hall, associate diSecurity Manrector for CSSSM agement, said said some com-Beau Smith, that communicamon vulnerabiliLong Beach tion between all ties were identielements of the fied, including game day secuperimeter conrity team will trol, emergency be tuned to the same radio management and inadequate frequency, is among the im- closed-circuit television. provements. Since 2005, we have contin“Now, what one hears, ev- ued to receive grants from the eryone hears,” said Cooper. Mississippi Office of HomeDr. Cooper encourages stu- land Security to assess secudents to be observant and re- rity at collegiate stadiums and port anything concerns to the arenas. We saw room for imcampus 911 system. provement,” Hall said, noting The recent stadium expan- that the most common probsion has created enough extra lem they encountered was a room for the mobile command lack of training for personpost, operated by Forrest nel. County Emergency ManageAs a result of the security ment Director Terry Steed, to upgrades, USM is the first be moved from the end zone school in the nation to receive to a space in the press box. the CSSSM’s Sports Event SeCooper said that Steed will curity Aware seal of approval. be monitoring tropical storm Hall said that the certification Gustav during the game Sat- begins with a risk assessment urday. followed by training, which Another new policy is a sta- includes exercises simulating dium lock down beginning 24 dangerous scenarios. Finally, hours before games in order SESA recipients are subject to prevent unauthorized per- ongoing compliance audits. sons from gaining access to “We’re advocates for prothe stadium. Cooper identi- viding standardized security Printz Writer
Maggie Sanford/Photo Editor Saturday, Aug. 30 opens the Golden Eagles first home game of six throughout the 2008 football season. The entire project cost $31.5 million dollars and was built over the course of 596 days. Samantha Montague Printz Writer
There are several new additions at M.M. Roberts Stadium this season besides new players on the field. This season the University will be unveiling one of its newest additions, 34 luxury suites, otherwise referred to as the Sky Boxes. Richard Giannini, director of the athletic department, said it has been a recent trend in college and professional football to add luxury suites to their stadiums for fans who want to escape the elements while they support their favorite team. Deputy Director of Athletics Scott Carr said the additions to the end zone and the east side of the stadium follow that trend, but that Southern Miss has “elevated it to a whole new level. This is an exciting time for the whole Golden Eagle family.” The suites are equipped with amenities that most fans do not get to enjoy including air
conditioning, high definition televisions, a dining area, a buffet, outside guest seating and a view of the field that is worth the cost. All of the suites are privately leased and were purchased prior to their being constructed. There are two levels in the new south end zone addition. The 400-level which houses 26 luxury suites that cost $26,000 a year sits above the 300-level, which contains six suites that range in price from $28,000 to $31,000 a year. Included in the 300-level, centered between the six luxury suites, is an open area referred to as the Touchdown Club. The east side of the stadium has been given a face lift as well, adding the Eagle’s Nest for even more luxury viewing. Fortunately for fans there are still some premium seats available in this section. For pricing and reservations please contact the Eagle Club. For those fans who are perfectly content with the elements there have been over
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Maggie Sanford/Photo Editor The new endzone will house the Pride and has thirty-four hundred seats added to the stadium. The excitement is building as Saturday’s game nears, allowing fans not only a chance to see the Golden Eagles in action, but also their first look at the new and improved M.M. Roberts Stadium. Eagle pride is abundant among the Alumni involved in this project. Amongst them is Major Projects Coordinator Joel Lucero, who expressed this sentiment,” It is not just a statement for the athletics department, it’s
a statement for the University. To complete a structure of this magnitude within sixteen months is incredible. The folks involved, the architects, the contractors, the athletics departments and the physical plant have all worked together as a team and we are very proud of our University’s accomplishments.” “We are really proud of the new addition. We are sure it will get more people involved with Southern Miss football,” Giannini said.
Inside the numbers on the new M.M. Roberts Stadium: • 35,000 yards of dirt • 1,815 squar yards of asphalt • 1,542 linear feet of concrete sidewalks
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• 8,175 square feet of grade beams • 52,272 square feet of concrete walls • 37,000 square feet of concrete slab
• 1,100 tons of reinforcing steel • 90,000 concrete block • 500 feet square feet of stainless steel countertops