December_04_2008

Which albums made our best of 2008 list?

Check out page 6 to find out!

The Golden Eagles are headed to Louisiana for the New Orleans Bowl!

See page 8 for all the details.

THIS IS THE FINAL ISSUE OF THE SEMESTER The Student Printz will resume publication January 13, 2009 Have a great holiday break!

TODAY

59 / 34 TOMORROW

56 / 30

S P The

Serving Southern Miss since 1927

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Volume 93, Issue 30

Southern Miss graduates most in state Samantha Gholar Printz Writer

As this semester finally comes to a close, many students are eager for a break from school, but for some students, the upcoming week will mark the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.

The University of Southern Mississippi’s commencement exercises will be held on Friday, December 12, 2008 during two traditional ceremonies.

The first ceremony, for

graduates and undergraduates in the College of Arts and Letters and the College of Health, will be held at 10:00 a.m. The second ceremony, for students earning degrees from the College of Business, the College of Science and Technology and the College of Education Psychology, will begin at 3:00 p.m.

Southern Miss is scheduled to graduate 1350 students next week, making it the largest graduating class in the state, said Greg Pierce,

a representative from the Registrar’s Office. Because the fall 2008 graduating class is so large, the dual ceremonies help to keep the commencement exercises as short as possible.

Kenya Adams, 21-year-old public relations major from Greenwood, is a proud member of this fall’s graduating class.

“I feel blessed to be a part of the fall 2008 commencement activities,” she said. “I am graduating one semester early, so it is truly a blessing that I have this opportunity to get a

head start on my career.”

After earning her bachelor of arts, Adams plans to start law school in the fall of 2009.

Vice President of Student Affairs Joe Paul said that the most important job at Southern Miss is to create successful graduates.

“I am confident that our graduates are armed with an education that will help them not only make a successful living, but also a successful and happy life,” he said.

In reflecting on her time at

Southern Miss, Adams recalls the hospitality of the faculty and her peers, she said, and offers many words of encouragement to future graduating classes of Southern Miss: “Strive for the best at all times. Hard work will pay off in more ways than one can imagine. I would also encourage upcoming graduates to stay positive when seeking employment because opportunities come when you least expect it.”

The faculty and staff of

Southern Miss strive to provide more than adequate education and life experience to its graduates, Paul said, but the students at USM have a role to play in its success as well.

“I want to thank this semester’s graduates for leaving Southern Miss better than they found it,” he said.

“My hope for them is that each will reach and exceed their dreams, and maintain a relationship with Southern Miss for a lifetime.”

Study options diverse Meryl Dakin Printz Writer

photos by David N. Jackson/Printz (Top) Deena Nobles studies for her chemistry final on the second floor of the library.

(Left) Senior business and accounting majors Donarus Hall, Brittany Hall, Oscar Rayford, Randy Parson, and Brena Ward study for their Accounting 330 final.

Study Location Hours Javawerks: 24 hours Starbucks: Mon-Wed:7:30-Midnight Cook Library: Sunday: 10am-2am Mon-Wed:7:30am-2am

Dorm room too crowded? Too sleepy to keep studying? Need some study group space? Southern Miss students will find that several spots around campus are making extra efforts to relieve the strain of finals week.

For a quiet environment to study, the Cook Library has extended its hours. Sunday it will open from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.

Monday through Wednesday, it will open from 7:30 a.m. - 2:00 a.m. Friday it’s back to 8:00 a.m.

- 5:00 p.m. However, between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m., only the first floor of the library will be open to students, and the Circulation and Reserves desks will be closed. The library study rooms are especially fitted for group study, and some even include new equipment for better collaboration.

JavaWerk’s traditional 24hour study week commences Sunday at 7:30 a.m. The coffee shop, situated directly in front of the Administration building across Hardy St., will not close until next Friday at 11:30 p.m. Employee Courtney Rowe, voice major from Starkville, says the crew doesn’t get paid overtime for the late night and early morning hours. However, the sophomore says many of the JavaWerkers enjoy working the extended hours. “We know it’s a great help because we’re also students. We need to be studying here at 3:00 a.m., too.”

Students pulling all-nighters are always looking for some caffeine combatants to the sleep demons. But before stealing

an ADD roommate’s Adderall, consider some less illegal (and more effective) alternatives for staying alert.

Starbucks in the Cook Library will be open at regular hours this weekend and from 7:30 to midnight Monday through Wednesday for coffee and pastries on campus. Hub City Market next to the post office, Seymour’s, and the Barnes and Noble Bookstore are stocked full with energy drinks such as Monster, Rockstar, NOS, and Full Throttle.

The bookstore also sells caffeine-loaded supplements such as Superfly tabs, Kickers spray, NOS powershot, Vojo energy mints, NoDoz pills, and Vivarin pills. Even though the hours aren’t extended, students can stock up on these energy doses to use during late night studying. A sweet way of extending the day are the chocolate covered espresso beans. These can be purchased at both Starbucks and JavaWerks.

For those taking advantage of the 24-hour exam week at JavaWerks, Rowe points out a bestseller during study time: The Heart Condition. This 24 oz. frozen coffee contains 8 shots of espresso, so consume wisely. Also, for 50 cents extra, espresso shots can be added to any coffee drink.

Remember though, sleep (contrary to popular belief on campus) is necessary for human existence, and more importantly, for alertness on exams.

Planning your study time wisely will be of better assistance than anything else at the end of this fall semester.

Forrest County fourth highest for HIV NPHC send cards Anna Davis Printz Writer

New cases of HIV and AIDS are on the rise in Mississippi and across the United States.

A 2006 report from the Center for Disease Control ranks Hattiesburg’s Forrest County as the fourth highest in reported HIV and AIDS cases in Mississippi. Hinds, Rankin, and Harrison top the list. Kathy Garner, program director of the AIDS Services Coalition, says that number is startling when you consider population numbers. Hinds and Rankin are more populated than Forrest County, implying a greater proportion of HIV-positive people.

“The scariest fact I have been given is that one in four people that are positive do not know they are positive. That 25 percent is also responsible for 64 percent of new infections,”

said Garner. Many people do not get tested because of their sexual experiences, and they are afraid of the possible results.

Daniel Shields, a 25-yearold nurse from Jackson, said that he is concerned about con-

“

circle of friends has become stricter on condom use.

In the past few months, Shields has learned that five of his friends are positive. One of his friends he has known for three years learned that he was positive. His friend’s HIV

The scariest fact I have been given is that one in four people that are positive do not know they are positive. That 25 percent is also responsible for 64 percent of new infections

”

Kathy Garner

program director, AIDS Services Coalition

tracting the virus. “With my profession and sexual practices at certain times in my life, I would be stupid not to worry about contracting it.” Shields says that he is tested regularly, and since learning of the increase in HIV and AIDS, his

is almost undetectable due to a healthy lifestyle and proper medication.

Another friend discovered only a month ago that he was HIV-positive. Most new cases show higher levels of the virus, but as long as those pa-

tients maintain healthy lifestyles and closely monitor their body, they can live many years without medication.

Garner said that medication is one of the harder aspects of living a positive life.

HIV medication costs can range from $900 to $1500 per month. As a result, those infected with HIV sometimes forgo their medication for weeks at a time, allowing the virus to become immune to the medication.

Education is key to stopping the rise in HIV and AIDS cases. Shields says that while information is available, many people ignore it (even those in the medical field). He has noticed that patients that are HIV-positive receive fewer visits from nurses and doctors while in hospitals.

Many people in the medical field see HIV on page 3

Lesley Walters News Editor

More than a dozen children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses will soon receive personalized greeting cards from hundreds of Southern Miss students.

Members of the USM National Pan-Hellenic Council mailed the cards through the campus post office Tuesday. It marked the end of a successful philanthropy effort that began in late October, NPHC President Keith Lampkin said.

During this year’s NPHC Week (Oct. 22 through Halloween), the council decided to support the Make A Child Smile Organization as its main philanthropy. MACS provides the names, biological information and mailing addresses of children with chronic or lifethreatening illnesses so that well-wishers can send personal cards, letters or small gifts to

them.

Lampkin said that during NPHC Week, members set up tables every day and provided blank cards and markers, as well as the stories and pictures of the children, so that students passing by could stop and personally decorate a card.

Omari Pittman, who succeeded Lampkin as Mr. Southern Miss this year, said the cards are being mailed to each child’s home, as opposed to a hospital, since it seems “more personal.”

The senior sports medicine major from Jackson said many of the NPHC officers and delegates worked to get the project going and might be interested in doing the project again in future years.

Lampkin said the council usually tries to choose a different philanthropy to support each year, but “several fraternities and sororities thoroughly enjoyed it,” so even if it is not chosen as the see CARDS on page 3

Page 2|News

www.studentprintz.com |Thursday, December 4, 2008

CampusEvents TODAY

All Day -- “Breaking the Veils: Women Artists from the Islamic World” at the Hattiesburg Train Depot All Day -- Annual Senior Art Show at the Museum of Art 6 p.m. -- Ronald Laitano Master’s Voice Recital at Marsh Auditorium 7 p.m. -- Southern Miss Bands presents PRISM Concert at Mannoni Auditorium 7:30 p.m. -- Studio 115 Dance Concert at the Theatre and Dance Building

TOMORROW

12 - 5 p.m. -- Pottery/Art sale made by faculty and students at the 3D Arts Bldg. on West Fourth 4 p.m. -- Trombone Studio New Student Recital at Marsh Auditorium 6 p.m. -- Shanika Frontz Senior Voice Recital at Marsh Auditorium 7:30 p.m. -- Guitar Gala VII at Marsh Auditorium 7:30 p.m. -- Studio 115 Dance Concert at the Theatre and Dance Building

SATURDAY

Steve Rouse/USM PR

Dr. Donald Grady, police chief for Northern Illinois University, visited Southern Miss for an announcement of the grant and spoke briefly on how NIU officials responded to a campus shooting in February. Northern Illinois University also was a recipient of an EMHE grant.

9 a.m. to 1p.m. -- Pottery/Art sale made by faculty and students at the 3D Arts Bldg. on West Fourth 10:30am -- Suzuki Violin Program Final Performance at Marsh Auditorium 4 p.m. -- Horn Studio Recital at Marsh Auditorium 6 p.m. -- Jose Cuellar Junior Bass Recital at Marsh Auditorium 7:30 p.m. -- Rachel Keely-Wallace Junior Oboe Recital at Marsh Auditorium 7:30 p.m. -- Studio 115 Dance Concert at the Theatre and Dance Building

SUNDAY

4 p.m. -- Megan Distasio Sophomore Clarinet Recital at Marsh Auditorium

MONDAY

2 p.m. -- Stephen Redfield String Recital at Marsh Auditorium -- Compiled by Meryl Dakin

Interested in working for The Student Printz next semester? Apply now.

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www.studentprintz.com |News

Thursday, December 4, 2008 | Page 3

By Troy Wolverton San Jose Mercury News (MCT) SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Going online instead of going to the mall can be a convenient and cheaper way to get the holiday shopping done.

But it can have a downside.

Cybercriminals tend to come out in force around peak shopping times. Online shoppers, unless they guard against the threat, run the risk of having their credit card and bank account numbers stolen without even knowing what’s happened _ until it’s too late.

“The peak shopping period is an ideal time for criminals to target (consumers) for ... attacks,” said Symantec’s Vincent Weafer, a vice president in the security company’s research group.

Some security experts say the time to be on guard is now _ and probably even earlier. In the month before Thanksgiving week last year, security company PC Tools observed a steady rise in the amount of malware intercepted by computers running its security software.

It was as if the bad guys wanted to have their software in place “before the shopping began,” said Michael Green, PC Tools’ vice president of product strategy.

On the Internet, shoppers can find a vast variety of items, often at discount prices. And online shopping can help spare consumers from the hassle, traffic and parking problems of going to a physical shopping center, as well as spare them the lines at the post office.

With that in mind, more than half of U.S. households are likely to do at least some online holiday shopping this year. Market research firm Forrester Research projects that U.S. consumers will spend $44 billion online this month and next, up 12 percent from the same period last year.

Growth in online shopping hasn’t gone unnoticed by criminals. Many have turned to the Internet as a relatively easy way to steal a buck.

Traditionally, viruses and other malicious computer programs were simply nuisances. They might shut down your machine or even wipe out your hard drive, but other than possibly forcing you to get a new computer, they didn’t affect your financial well-being.

That’s changed dramatically in recent years as criminals have started to employ malicious programs to steal consumers’ personal and

financial information such as Social Security, bank account and credit card numbers. Unlike a virus that shuts down a computer, spyware and malware can run quietly in the background, often without a PC user knowing it’s there.

“The profile of malware authors has shifted from punks to professionals,” said Nick Selby, a security analyst at the 451 Group, an industry research f i r m .

“They’re doing it for money.”

As the nature of malicious software has changed, so too have the means of infecting consumers’ computers, analysts say.

Increasingly, PCs are infected when they visit Web sites that can exploit security holes in their Web browsers or browser plug-ins like Flash.

Sometimes these sites are legitimate shopping destinations that have been unwittingly compromised. Other times, criminals use what security experts call “social engineering.” That could mean directing consumers to a particular site via an e-mail link to what promises to be a funny, controversial or topical video.

“The bad guys know ... what people click on,” said Patrick Runald, chief security advisor at F-Secure, a security software company. “These guys stay up with current events.”

Security experts say it’s difficult to estimate the size of the spyware threat, especially given that many exploits may go unnoticed. But FSecure detects some 80,000 to 100,000 new suspicious files each day, Runald said, of which 20,000 to 25,000 are new types of malware files that need to be combated.

Break continued from page one Dr. Paul stated that he is proud that Southern Miss educates more students than any university in the state, and that the most important job at Southern Miss is to create successful graduates.

“I feel Southern Miss’ graduates are well-prepared to enter the workforce or pursue additional educational opportunities,” said Pierce.

Adams feels the same and looks back at her time at Southern Miss as an undergraduate and remembers the hospitality of the faculty and her peers and offers many words of encouragement to future graduating classes of Southern Miss.

“Strive for the best at all times.

Hard work will pay off in more

ways than one can imagine. I would also encourage upcoming graduates to stay positive when seeking employment because opportunities come when you least expect it,” Adams said.

The faculty and staff of Southern Miss strive to provide more than adequate education and life experience to its graduates, and that is what makes the difference for the students. Dr. Paul expressed his gratitude and aspirations for this semester’s graduates.

“I want to thank this semester’s graduates for leaving Southern Miss better than they found it. My hope for them is that each will reach and exceed their dreams and maintain a relationship with Southern Miss for a lifetime.”

medical field). He has noticed that patients that are HIV-positive receive fewer visits from nurses and doctors while in hospitals.

Many people in the medical field also misuse the term AIDS to include all people that are HIVpositive. HIV is the abbreviated form of the retrovirus, Human Immunodeficiency Virus. After enough time has passed and a sufficient amount of damage to the body has been done, the body

produces certain indicators that are used to determine whether a person has AIDS. The Hattiesburg campus of the University of Southern Mississippi saw an increase in testing in late November in coordination of World AIDS Day, which was December 1. The health department did rapid swab testing and made results available within a few days.

HIV continued from page one

Cards continued from page one main philanthropy next year, “it will be done again in some capacity; that I am sure of.”

“It was very popular,” the senior political science major from Bentonia said. “So many students – all ages and all classifications – came through and made cards for the kids because they did realize that this is part of a bigger deal than just what we’re doing at Southern Miss.”

While NPHC Week was a time for all of its members to get behind one project, all nine of the fraternities and sororities of the NPHC at

Southern Miss participate in their own community service efforts throughout the year, Lampkin said.

“It’s definitely an important thing to do during the holiday season, but beyond that, just being able to help someone that is less fortunate than yourself is always something good to do,” he said.

“Its what we as NPHC organizations pride ourselves on.”

Anyone interested in sending a card can visit the organization’s website at www.makeachildsmile. org.

Rebecca Hall-Lucero/San Jose Mercury News 2008/MCT Campus

Cyber-criminals are shopping for holiday steals

Meanwhile, the number of identity theft complaints collected by the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel program hit 258,427 last year, more than a third of which involved stolen credit card or bank account numbers.

Despite the dangers, no one’s telling consumers to abandon their online shopping carts. Instead, security experts advise consumers to take practical, often obvious steps to protect themselves.

The most basic steps consumers can take are to install a security program on their PCs and to make sure that and other software on their computers _ particularly their operating systems, Web browsers and browser plug-ins _ are kept up to date. Software updates frequently plug known security holes and, on the security software side, provide protection against newly discovered malware.

Beyond that, security experts recommend using common sense _ and staying vigilant.

Consumers should be wary of clicking on emailed links or visiting unfamiliar Web sites, they say. It’s a good idea to go to security sites, such as one run by F-secure, that offer free malware scans. And they should keep a lookout for strange charges on their credit cards statements.

“I can’t say there’s a magic bullet,” said Natalie Lamber, a security analyst at Forrester.

“It comes down to good computer hygiene.”

Protecting yourself to ward off cybercriminals, online shoppers should take the following steps, security experts say: •Run security software: You shouldn’t be online without it.

•Keep your programs up to date: Make sure you’ve downloaded and installed the latest updates for your security software, operating system, Web browser and browser plug-ins.

•Be wary of e-mail links: Many will take you to sites you don’t want to visit.

•Scan your PC: Free online software can tell you if your computer has any known malware installed.

•Stick to the well-lighted places: You’re less likely to encounter malware at known and reputable online sites than at other places.

•Check your statements: Keep an eye out for questionable charges in your credit card and bank accounts.

Source: San Jose Mercury News research

Opinions

Page 4 opinions@studentprintz.com

They’re just not into you

A

s a gay man, Eric McKinley felt disenfranchised by online dating service eHarmony’s policy of matching only heterosexual couples. Founded in 2000 by an evangelical Christian psychologist who says he’s counseled thousands of couples, every one of them straight, eHarmony is famous for its 400-question application, which seeks to pair like-minded singles for marriage _ and to weed out the ones who aren’t ready to walk that path.

Though originally targeted at Christians, eHarmony now places more emphasis on values than on faith. The site boasts that it serves “a vast array of ethnicities, ages and religions.” But you have to get past the first screen, which requires you to register as either “man seeking a woman” or “woman seeking a man.”

That left out McKinley, who found the experience “hurtful.”

So he sued. In a settlement announced last week, eHarmony agreed to set up a separate site for gay matches. It will also pay McKinley $5,000 and provide free six-month subscriptions for the first 10,000 gay members.

Talk about hollow triumphs.

Would you want to put your love life in the hands of an organization that thinks your lifestyle is icky? EHarmony has said it excludes gays because it doesn’t know what makes them tick. “I don’t know what the dynamics are there,” founder Neil Clark Warren said in a 2005 interview.

“We think the principles probably are different.”

EHarmony’s notoriously thorough screening process, based on research on heterosexual couples, matches members according to 29 “dimensions,” such as autonomy, communications style and conflict resolution. EHarmony says

236 marriages a day can be traced to connections made on the site.

It’s not surprising that gays as well as straights would find eHarmony’s pitch appealing.

Heterosexuals aren’t the only ones who aspire to committed, compatible relationships. But since when do Americans have the right to force a company to do business their way? Should restaurants be required to cater to vegan and kosher diets? Should department stores have to stock petite sizes?

When it comes to online dating services, the pool of choices is vast. There are sites for gays, for straights, for both. There are sites that target smokers, Ivy Leaguers, nerds, plus-size women, dwarfs and men with mullets. There are sites for those who want to skip the romance/compatibility step and go straight to marriage (or sex). It appears there’s a site for everyone. Maybe several.

Three years ago, California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing rejected a similar lawsuit for that very reason, saying eHarmony wasn’t required to provide services that are available elsewhere. It also said the state’s civil rights act “does not mandate a result whereby a business offers the same services to every customer.”

New Jersey’s attorney general saw things differently, finding probable cause that eHarmony had violated the state’s anti-discrimination laws. The company caved, though its settlement acknowledges no wrongdoing.

Whether the folks at eHarmony don’t know enough about same-sex relationships to broker good matches or just don’t want to know, McKinley is now free to sign up. But why would he want to?

This editorial appeared in the Chicago Tribune on Monday, Dec. 1.

Obama’s got the ‘look’

By Julia Keller Chicago Tribune (MCT)

R

ichard Nixon had “My fellow Americans.”

George W. Bush has “Folks.” Increasingly, Barack Obama is revealing the latest linguistic fingerprint of leadership: “Look.”

In Monday’s press conference to announce his national security team, Obama slipped in at least two “looks” -- a colloquialism in which the president-elect regularly indulges. Anyone who listened closely to Obama’s sentences during the primaries and general election would not have been

surprised. By now, “Look” is a certified Obamaism, as fundamental a signature of the next president’s lexicon as “Friends, Romans, countrymen” was to that of Mark Antony.

Asked by a reporter how he could justify appointing Sen. Hillary Clinton to the job of secretary of state, after denigrating her foreign policy credentials when both were vying for the Democratic presidential nomination not too long ago, Obama replied, “Look -- I think this is fun for the press, to try to stir up whatever quotes were generated during the course of the campaign ... and you’re having fun. And there’s nothing wrong with that.”

When the reporter persisted with his point, the presidentelect said, “But look -- I think if you look at the statements that Hillary Clinton and I have made outside of the heat of a campaign, we share a view that America has to be kept safe and secure.”

The word “look” often introduces what grammarians call an imperative sentence.

“Imperative” comes from the Latin word for “command” -- a fitting etymology for a word beloved by a newly minted commander in chief.

Obama’s affection for “look” -- which he sometimes swaps out for “Understand” -- may date to his days as an instructor at the

University of Chicago law school. The word does have a certain professorial -- and, some might say, condescending and even belittling -- ring to it. The implication: “Look, buddy, here’s why you’re all wet.”

In the days ahead, keep an ear cocked for “look” at the outset of the new president’s sentences. Perhaps a drinking game may emerge: Take a swig each time Obama says the word -- although given the shaky state of the economy he is inheriting, the beverage of choice for the “Look” game may be water.

Julia Keller is a columnist for the Chicago Tribune. Readers may send her e-mail at jikeller@tribune.com.

www.studentprintz.com |Opinions

Thursday, December 4, 2008| Page 5

What I don’t get about Team Obama printz The

Student Serving Southern Miss since 1927 Andy Hess Executive editor Abby McMullen Web Editor Lesley Walters News Editor Jesse Bass Opinions Editor Eric Nagurney

Entertainment Editor Tyler Cleveland Sports Editor Sebe Dale IV Multimedia Editor David N. Jackson Photo Editor Brandon Phillips Circulation Manager Crystal Scretching Graphic Designer Publications Manager Maggie Williams

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By Will Bunch Philadelphia Daily News

T

he big story this week - except for, you know, that recession thing - has been Barack Obama’s new team, and while it’s more center-right than many people, friend or foe, had expected, it’s basically fine - as long as it can implement Obama’s campaign proposals like a pull-out from Iraq in as little as 16 months, etc.

But here’s what I don’t get.

Remember this summer when there was all the talk

about whether Obama should pick Hillary Clinton for vice president? To a lot of people, it seemed like a slam dunk - HRC would unite the party, fire up female voters and appeal to the blue collar electorate that backed her so heavily in Rust Belt swing states like Pennsylvania and Ohio. But the problems seemed obvious, too.

There was too much leftover tension between the Obama and Clinton camps.

There were huge financial disclosure issues with Bill Clinton, and the idea of both the larger-than-life ex-presi-

dent and his wife looming over the White House was just something Obama probably didn’t need. Those were all valid reasons, but it was a huge risk not to pick her.

Before the economy tanked, it looked like the election against John McCain would go the wire and Obama would need every vote, and no one disputed that Clinton meant more extra votes than any other pick.

But instead Obama chose Joe Biden. Not a terrible choice, but there were legitimate worries about gaffes, especially with a veep debate

on national television, about his past including the plagiarism scandal that derailed his 1988 White House bid, and his close ties to the credit card industry in Delaware.

The one area where Biden’s credentials were fairly impeccable (2002 Iraq vote aside) was foreign policy, which is why Biden was on the top of everyone’s list . . . for Secretary of State.

Now, four months later, Joe Biden is vice president-elect, and Hillary Clinton is the Secretary of State-designate.

Why? The issues regarding Bill Clinton that would have

had to have been worked out for the vice presidency still had to be worked out for SoS. And as for Obama and Hillary Clinton getting along, apparently they do. Some pundits say sending Hillary to the State Department removes her as a future rival (an unlikely scenario anyway), but so would have the vice presidency.

And Biden will probably be a fine No. 2, but it still feels like he belonged at State.

So what am I missing here?

Will Bunch is a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News. Contact him at bunchw@phillynews.com.

Renewable energy a core solution to challenges

I

n just several short weeks President-elect Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States before a crowd of millions in America and billions worldwide. This historic occasion represents to many a break with the politics of the past and hope for newfound solutions to many of the difficult issues that confront our nation.

As the incoming Administration and Congress gets down to work in January, their plates will be full dealing simultaneously with the financial crisis and economic downturn, the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, restoration of our foreign relations, healthcare reform, education reform, and the enormous package of energy, climate and environment issues.

In this tsunami of policy issues there is one golden (green) option that unlocks

solutions for almost all; renewable energy. Immediate investment in this field will unravel the errors of the past and begin to weave a tapestry of positive impacts that will cover every one of our current policy challenges.

Incentives that cause investment in wind farms, solar power projects and other renewables will create immediate markets for new hightech companies and jobs in manufacturing, engineering, finance, installation, maintenance and repair. This will be a boon to corporate America, including the auto workers who are already skilled at such jobs, as well as the high tech venture capital investors who are in the business of creating new companies.

Germany did this in 2003, and by 2007 this country of 90 million people had created a total of 250,000 new jobs directly attributed to renewables: 82,000 jobs

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in wind power, 27,000 jobs in solar power, 13,000 jobs in solar heating, 9,400 jobs in small hydropower, 4,200 jobs in geothermal energy, and 95,200 jobs in biomass energy, power and fuels.

Had the United States done the same thing, our country with over 300 million people could have created approximately 750,000 new jobs as a result.

Renewable energy can even help ameliorate the financial crisis. The banks see risk everywhere and have stopped lending. But, they will slowly come back through a “flight to quality.” And what is more high quality than a wind farm or solar project that has both revenues from the electric utility and real assets as collateral for the loan?

The Obama-led energy strategy can be based on a commitment to increase renewable energy to 25 percent of our nation’s energy supply

by the year 2025.

This will require an investment of $2 trillion to $3 trillion starting immediately; directing our money into new, job creating investments.

Renewable energy takes us forward as a nation, and makes money doing it.

Renewable energy can also give us a new focus on education. We will need to educate and train the millions of scientists, engineers, technicians, installers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and all manner of workers to rebuild our infrastructure. Hundreds of thousands of workers in the U.S. already possess the vast majority of occupational skills necessary to reduce global warming and make the shift to a clean energy economy. Today, green-collar workers are installing solar panels, retrofitting buildings to make them more efficient, constructing transit lines, refining waste oil into biodie-

sel, erecting wind farms, repairing hybrid cars, building green rooftops, planting trees, and more.

In fact, according to research by the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) and Management Information Services, Inc. (MISI), aggressive development of the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries could generate up to $4.5 trillion in revenue and create 40 million new jobs by the year 2030.

It is widely recognized that renewable energy will play an integral role in energy supply in the 21st century.

Let’s unleash the power of innovation that will create the immediate jobs that are needed to return our country to its rightful place on the global stage.

Michael Eckhart is founding President and a member of the Board of Directors of the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE).

Beware of gift card risks

G

ift cards can be useful for holiday shoppers, especially when it comes to that distant cousin nobody knows very well. But the cards carry some risks, and consumers should take the time to consider them.

With the economy in a tailspin, the financial status of a company becomes important because of the limited protection given to holders of their gift cards.

A card purchased from a company that files for bankruptcy may lose some or all its value.

In addition, it may be difficult to redeem a card if a retail chain closes down some of its locations, although the advent of Internet shopping has surely alleviated this somewhat.

Opting for gift cards that can be used in a wide variety of locations, such as those issued by shopping malls or major credit card companies, helps avoid the possibility of a card losing its value if a particular retailer

disappears.

But though these gift cards offer more protection for consumers, they often come with potential fees.

If a card isn’t completely used after a year, for example, it may have a certain amount subtracted from it, with more fees exacted in succeeding years.

Under Kansas law, for example, these fees can’t begin until at least a year after a card is bought, and customers must be informed of them at the time of purchase. But not everyone is aware of these fees.

Be sure to tell card recipients about them.

It is frustrating to find an old gift card only to discover it has lost all of its value. And for those who are afraid cards may get set aside and forgotten, there’s always cash.

The following editorial appeared in the Kansas City Star on Friday, Nov. 28. Visit The Star Web edition on the World Wide Web at http://www.kcstar.com

Entertainment

Page 6 entertainment@studentprintz.com

Best of

The Student Printz’s Top 10 Records of 2008

By Eric Nagurney Entertainment Editor

I

t’s been a bizarre year for music. Artists from the weird to the seemingly normal embraced strange, adventurous sounds. Sure bets were rare, as it seemed even the most reliable acts indulged in artistic left-turns. Most forays into the familiar fell flat, though that made the ones that didn’t all the more satisfying. All in all, it was a year with a surplus of great releases, but very few that entered the realm of the truly exceptional. For what it’s worth, here’s my top ten records of the year.

Lil’ Wayne Tha Carter III Number 10 It’s an odd year when the best selling album is also among the weirdest. Though the press may be setting up Wayne as the next Jay-Z, his head-scratching eccentricity puts him more in the league of another hip-hop legend: Kool Keith. Very rarely do the worlds of top 40 rap and unhinged underground creativity collide, but it’s just that collision that makes Tha Carter III the year’s most intriguingly listenable hip-hop record.

The Hold Steady Stay Positive Number 4 On paper, The Hold Steady’s flawed fourth record makes no sense. It’s both a murder mystery and positive message record. It’s an ode to trying to age gracefully expressed through the band’s most energetic and experimental songs yet. No, it’s not a record where everything works and, yes, it’ll probably eventually be viewed as a transition album. Yet the happiness and pure songcraft expressed in these songs makes that all okay.

Titus Andronicus The Airing of Grievances Number 9

Hiding under layers of murky recording, references to art both high and low, and loads of angry, self-deprecating lyrics, there lies a simple rock ‘n’ roll record.

No album this year transformed pure frustration and sadness into triumphant rock anthems as well as this Jersey six-piece’s debut.

In the hands of most, four guitars would be extraneous. Here, they sound simple, urgent, and vital.

Los Campesinos!

Hold On Now Youngster...

Number 3 For hyperactive indie-poppers Los Campesinos!, it’s keeping attention that’s the challenge, not garnering it. Music fueled solely by energy and enthusiastic runs the constant risk of wearing thin. Given that this record came out in February, it should be obvious that the songs on Hold On Now, Youngster have done no such thing. Instead, these songs have grown more comfortable as time has passed, feeling less like a hot-shot debut and more like an indie rock classic that’s been with us for years.

Max Tundra Parallax Error Beheads You Number 8

A record akin to a hug from a robot. Somehow, Max Tundra (aka Ben Jacobs) made conspicuously dated electronics beep and bloop with humanity. As complex as Parallax Error’s six-year gestation time must have been, nothing about the record sounds complex and it’s all the better for it.

Fleet Foxes Fleet Foxes Number 2 Despite what that number may tell you, I feel Fleet Foxes debut is the year’s most perfect record.

There’s no bum notes, no filler, no missteps on this record. Just song after song of beautiful, room-filling folk-rock. Much has been made of the group’s gorgeous harmonies, but it’s not harmonies alone that sell these songs. The harmonies are just a part of compositions that build into something bigger and better, making something progressive out of something traditional.

Like television or food? Become a critic. Apply now.

The Student Printz: Southern Hall, Room 013

TV On The Radio Dear Science, Number 7 With Dear Science, TV on the Radio took their usual paranoia and made it into something brighter. It’s a record that lacks the same highs of their previous releases, but lacks the same lows as well. Instead of the splintered, awkward genius of those past albums, the group finally made a truly cohesive, singular work.

Man Man Rabbit Habits Number 6

Cut Copy In Ghost Colours Number 5

It’s not that they actually became less weird, but on Rabbit Habits, Man Man somehow sounds normal. A possible explanation is that material this energetic and infectious leaves no time for the listener to think about how strange it actually is.

The comparatively weak middle section hurts the record, but with the album’s bookends being the group’s strongest songs ever, all is forgiven.

It’s not that they actually became less weird, but on Rabbit Habits, Man Man somehow sounds normal. A possible explanation is that material this energetic and infectious leaves no time for the listener to think about how strange it actually is.

The comparatively weak middle section hurts the record, but with the album’s bookends being the group’s strongest songs ever, all is forgiven.

Of Montreal Skeletal Lamping Number 1 This, however, has nothing to do with perfection.

This is a portrait of a man breaking down all his boundaries to make the most beautiful mess you’ve ever heard. Frontman Kevin Barnes succeeded, but not by making an unlistenable, experimental catastrophe.

Skeletal Lamping is, at its core, still a pop album. It’s just a pop album that throws hundreds of hooks, genre hops, and unexpected turns at the listener. Somehow, Of Montreal have fit whole albums into single songs, a task as thrilling as it sounds. It’s a flawed, bizarre pursuit perfect for a flawed, bizarre year.

Printz’s Top 10 Films of ‘08

By Cory Taylor Printz Writer Although Oscar season has only begun, it is important to comprise a list of films that are, to date, the best of 2008. Some of the movies on this list are already brimming with Academy-potential buzz, though only time, and the release of more movies, will tell for sure.

1. “The Dark Knight” Having become the secondhighest grossing movie of all time with over 500 million dollars, “The Dark Knight” stands as proof that Hollywood is still capable of greatness and the rest of the world resoundingly agrees. The film contains some of the most creatively entertaining action sequences ever made, not to mention taking time to make sociological observations about the necessity of “heroes” and the nature of Americans today. Although the movie has been somewhat shadowed from a Best Picture nomination, no one doubts that the late Heath Ledger is a lock for Best Supporting Actor for his brilliantly disturbing turn as the Joker.

2. “Wall-E” Disney and Pixar have been making movie magic together for over 13 years and, it seems, are just getting started. “Wall-E” tells the rather simple story about a lonely robot wandering Earth 700 years in the future. Insightful social commentary is made about mankind’s growing laziness, wastefulness and ultimate destruction of earth. Plus, Wall-E encounters his first lady robot, EVE, and an indescribably adorable relationship is born. “WallE” is a brilliant animated film that spans all age, gender and cultural demographics.

3. “Changeling” Perhaps the most emotionally challenging film on the list, “Changeling” tells the true story of a woman desperately searching for her missing son in 1920’s Los Angeles. Angelina Jolie takes center stage in a powerful performance and Clint Eastwood provides masterful direction.

4. “W.” Oliver Stone’s biopic of the soon-to-be ex-president, George Bush, is one of the most apolitical and absorbing movies this year.

Josh Brolin still has a chance to claim a Best Actor nomination in the lead, though considering the general political ideology of the Academy, this may be wishful thinking.

Still, “W.” is a very personal and telling journey of our nation’s 43rd president.

5. “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day” Frances McDormand is the title character in this whimsical film about an older woman who learns, over the course of a day, that life is about taking chances.

Amy Adams (“Junebug,” “Enchanted”) co-stars as the vibrant and adventurous key to Miss Pettigrew’s journey. This movie is extremely well-made, lighthearted, and a wonderful pleasure to watch.

6. “The Fall” Without question, “The Fall” is one of the most visually beautiful movies ever made.

If for no other reason, everyone needs to see this film simply for the experience of looking at it. Director Tarsem (“The Cell”) takes the audience on an imaginative jour-

ney that spans thousands of years and covers hundreds of countries.

It is unforgettable.

7. “Stop Loss” Though many people are tired of seeing Hollywood renditions of the war, terrorism, etc., Kimberly Peirce’s “Stop Loss” is worth giving a chance. Instead of glamorizing the war, Peirce focuses the audience on a group of soldiers who have returned from duty and are being re-deployed too quickly.

“Stop Loss” does not mention politics or policies, but instead is concerned with the psychological effects of war on young adults today.

8. “El Orfanato” “The Orphanage” is a Spanish-language horror film, of sorts, that is much more psychological than suspenseful or scary.

The main reason “El Orfanato” is successful is that it does not cheat the audience with cheap thrills or scares, but instead invites them to become involved in the character’s lives.

9. “In Bruges” A movie that is entertaining from start to finish, “In Bruges” tells the story of two hit-men awaiting instruction in the European tourist hot-spot Bruges. The most interesting and successful part of “In Bruges” is that the city itself is just as vibrant and important as the human characters.

10. “Chop Shop”

A film that functions mainly through quiet assertions, “Chop Shop” tells the story of two orphan children living in a junkyard on the outskirts of New York City.

The film stands as a representation of

hope, even in the most destitute of situations.

Thursday, December 4, 2008 | Page 7

www.studentprintz.com |Entertainment

In Brief

From staff, special reports Lady Eagles set to host William Carey HATTIESBURG - The Southern Miss Lady Eagle basketball team will host cross-town rival William Carey Lady ‘Saders Saturday at 4 p.m. at Reed Green Coliseum.

The Lady Eagles come into the game with a 4-3 record coming off a win over Arkansas-Little Rock Wednesday in Little Rock.

Admission is free to all students and $6 for non-students.

Weekley to speak to golf team HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Professional golfer Boo Weekley will speak to the men’s golf team this Tuesday afternoon.

Weekley was a member of the 2008 United States team that won the Ryder Cup. “We are really excited to have Boo speak with us,” said Southern Miss head coach Jerry Weeks. “He can give us insight into the game of golf that we would not get anywhere else.”

ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR Tonight Mayhem String Band @ Bennie’s Boom Boom Room - 10 p.m.

Silver Tongue Devil @ M.J. Hooligan’s - 10 p.m.

Tomorrow Chance Fisher w/ The Big No @ Bennie’s Boom Boom Room - 10 p.m.

Percy Sledge @ The Bottling Company - 10 p.m.

Saturday Good Enough For Good Times @ Thirsty Hippo - 10 p.m.

Rollin’ In The Hay @ The Bottling Company - 10 p.m.

Roots Reunion @ The Saenger Theater - 7 p.m.

Trial By Fire @ M.J. Hooligan’s - 9 p.m.

Sports

Page 8 sports@studentprintz.com

Golden Eagles to play in New Orleans bowl Tyler Cleveland Sports Editor

The Southern Miss Athletic Department announced Wednesday that the Golden Eagle football team will play in the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 21 in the Lousiana Superdome.

The Eagles will play the champion of the Sun Belt Conference, which will either be Troy University (7-4) or Arkansas State (6-5). The two teams will play on Saturday at Troy, Ala. to determine the champion.

The Eagles defeated Arkansas State 24-21 in the regular season, but have not faced Troy since 1977. Southern Miss owns the all time series against the Trojans with six wins and just one loss.

“We are extremely excited about going to the New Orleans

Bowl,” Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora said. “This is a tremendous bowl setting we hope that our fans will come down and support us and the bowl. I know our team is excited about this opportunity to get down there and represent Conference USA.” What was once thought as nearly impossible is a reality: and the Eagles will make an appearance in their sixth straight bowl game despite having a first year head coach and freshman starters at key positions.

“What a tremendous job that Coach Fedora and this team did to get us to a bowl again by winning the last four games,” said Southern Miss Director of Athletics Richard Giannini. “We are looking forward to going back to New Orleans as we have not played in the city since facing Tulane in 2006 during the regular season. I know this was a

destination that our fans really wanted and we hope to see the city of New Orleans decorated in Southern Miss Gold that weekend.”

The payout for the New Orleans Bowl is just $325,000, so all of the money Southern Miss makes will be from ticket sales. Sideline tickets are $40 and $20 for students and can be purchased att the Pat Ferlise Athletic Office on West 4th St. The deadline for priority tickets is Dec. 11.

The University is also getting a discount for accomodations for fans at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. The nightly rate is $89.

It’s been a while since the Southern Miss football program has had a true “November to remember”, but if there ever was one, this was it.

Just five weeks ago, head coach Larry Fedora’s Eagles

closed the month of September with a 36-30 loss to Memphis, their fourth loss of the month.

Anyone who has ever been around college athletics knows that both winning and losing are contagious, and once a team is labeled, it’s hard to go back.

According to Fedora, his team never let it get to them.

“I’m extremely proud of this football team and its coaches,” Fedora said Monday. “We were 2-6 at one time, and everybody had written us off and probably the only guys in the room that still believed it could be done were the players and the coaches. They just kept their blinders on focused on what they needed to do.

I can’t tell you how proud I am of them because their character was revealed at that time, and we found out a lot about this team.”

The turnaround, which is ar-

guably the biggest in school history, has been fueled by outstanding play calling from the coaching staff and play from the players. According to Fedora, the approach to the game has not changed, the game plan has not stayed the same and most importantly the team never got down.

“There’s really not one thing that I could pin (the turnaround) on. We didn’t change anything; we just kept doing things the exact same way because we felt as a coaching staff that the things we were doing were the right things to do. We just weren’t making the plays we needed to make, and from (the UAB game) on, our guys started to make plays.”

A few of those players that made plays were seniors Ryan McKee, Shawn Nelson and Eric Phillips, all of which will have been to a bowl game all four

years they wore the black and gold.

Fedora said that he couldn’t point to one moment off the field in which the players changed their attitude, but said that the seniors definitely played a role.

“There wasn’t any one moment,” Fedora said. “The seniors called a meeting, and we talked about it, we could pack it up or we could keep fighting, and they wanted to keep fighting.

I just wanted to know that they wanted to keep fighting.

Then the seniors had a meeting with the team and said, ‘This is what we want to do.’ Whether that was the turning point, I don’t know.”

The game will be Southern Miss’ third appearance in the New Orleans bowl in four seasons, with the Eagles winning the past two appearances over the Sun Belt Champion.

Alden Ward/Printz

TOP: Andre Stephens drives to the basket against South Alabama Tuesday night. The Golden Eagles lost in overtime against the Jaguars 76-73. RIGHT: Sai’Quon Stone takes a jump shot against South Alabama. The Golden Eagles are 4-2 overall on the

Eagles fall to Jags in OT

By Jermaine Powell Printz Sports Writer The Southern Miss men’s basketball team came within three points of sending Tuesday night’s battle against South Alabama into a second overtime.

“This was a game that we felt we needed to win for post-season consideration”, said Eagles Junior Sai Quon Stone.

Southern Miss virtually dominated the entire first half leading by as many as 10 points.

The Eagles then took a six point lead into halftime by the score of 38-32. Jeremy Wise set the pace early with a hot hand from the field.

In the second half, South Alabama switched from a man to man defense to zone coverage.

That changed seemed to directly impact a cold start to the half for

the Eagles.

With 10:51 left to play in the game, the Jaguars took a 48-47 lead and gained a ton of momentum heading to the finish.

Jaguar guard DeAndrae Ross, hit several timely jumpers on his way to a 12 ponit, 12 rebound performance.

“There was times we forced them to take difficult shots, yet the shots still managed to fall,” said Eagles Senior Courtney Beasley.

Beasley finished with 15 points on 7 of 22 shooting. Craig Craft hit a long three-point basket to tie the game sending it iwnto overtime. Southern Miss had one chance to win it in regulation as Wise’s running jumper rimmed out as the buzzer sounded.

In the extra period, both teams traded basket for basket until two late free-throws by the Jag-

uars sealed the victory. Jeremy Wise who was huge all night for the home team, missed a threepointer as time expired failing to send the contest into a second overtime.

Wise led all scorers with 28 points.

One bright spot for the Eagles was the scrappy play of true Freshman Rodney McCauley.

McCauley came up with several key rebounds and hustle plays. “ Rodney provided us with toughness that we seemed to lack as a team”, said Coach Eustachy.

Up next for Southern Miss is a trips out west to face the New Mexico Lobos and the Kansas State Wildcats. The Eagles will face the Lobos on Saturday at 5 p.m. and then travel to Kansas on December 11 for a date with the Wildcats.

NEXT UP

SATURDAY 5 p.m. -- Southern Miss @ New Mexico THURSDAY, DEC. 11 7 p.m. -- Southern Miss @ Kansas State

Cleveland: Golden Eagles improvement worth noting this year

By Tyler Cleveland Sports Editor As we all get ready for the final stretch and prepare to head home for the winter break, we can take solace in knowing that all is right with the world.

The football team pulled a Rocky-like comeback and slid into a bowl game for the sixth straight season, the basketball team is pesky but still undersized and we finally held a free election in the United States that couldn’t be contested in a court of law.

The Golden Eagles accepted a bid to play in the New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 21, which is fitting

for a team that showed over the month of November that they belong in some type of post season play.

New Orleans is a great fit for the Eagles because its an easy trip for the fans and our chances of winning against the Sun Belt Champion, whether it be Troy or Arkansas State, are good.

That will let us run our consecutive winning season streak to 15 years.

Plus, it’s New Orleans and who doesn’t want to spend a weekend in the Big Easy.

I’ve written negatively of the Eagles in this space before, and at the time it was warranted. That

said the Eagles deserve all the credit in the world for not throwing in the towel. They worked hard and they deserve credit and a great crowd for the bowl game.

SMALL BUT STRONG The basketball team is currently 4-2, and have a big road swing coming in the next week.

They lost to South Alabama Tuesday night, but that shouldn’t be too discouraging to fans. The Jaguars are a NCAA tournament team and have been strong for the past five or six years.

The Eagles will travel to face New Mexico Saturday in Albequerque, then head to Manhatten, Kan. for a tilt with Kansas State

on Fox Sports Net. These teams may not have the name recognition of a Duke or a Florida, but these are tough games, so don’t be too quick to judge the Eagles if they don’t win them all.

The Eagles are undersized, but they play bigger than their stature and can score at will when the right players have the hot hand.

Newcomer Rodney McCauley can play, and when head coach Larry Eustachy gets all his players eligible the Eagles will be a true NCAA contender.

BE THANKFUL Overall, it’s been a great season for Southern Miss, with

many more ups than downs.

Credit for the victories goes to all the players and coaches, but a lot goes to the unsung heroes of the Athletic Department, from Director Richard Giannini to student-trainers and the sports information staff.

If there is any doubt that Southern Miss athletics is headed in the right direction, just compare our facilities to what we had five years ago.

Gone is the press box at Pete Taylor Park that looked like an extra dugout at the top of bleachers. Gone are the tents set up in the south endzone of M.M. Roberts Stadium to make room for

the new endzone and skyboxes.

Shoot, Eustachy even has a steam room in the coaches locker area.

With plans laid, there is no reason that 2009 won’t bring even more improvements. Even now the ground is leveled for the new tennis courts.

Remember that we as sports fans at Southern Miss have a lot to be thankful for this Christmas.

That’s it ‘til the spring, boys and girls. Everyone have a great break, and please be safe when travelling.

Tyler Cleveland is a sports editor for The Student Printz. Comments can be sent to printz@usm.edu