The Student Printz February 22, 2023 | Volume 108 Issue 15

Raylawni Branch on integrating Southern Miss

BY JA’TERRICA WILSON SM2 REPORTER

RRaylawni Branch, born in 1941, is one of the first two Black students to enroll at The University of Southern Mississippi in 1965.

Out of all schools and public universities in the state of Mississippi, Branch was led to Southern Miss by the persuasion and influence of one of her high school peers.

“Gwendolyn Elaine Armstrong, who was a high school student who applied here, was afraid to come alone,” Branch said.

By Armstrong being Black as well, it gave her comfort knowing that someone who looked just like her would enroll at the same institution with the help of the NAACP.

“So in 1965, the NAACP, Forrest County NAACP, asked me if I would enroll and come out here. And believe

it or not, Elaine and I didn’t have one single class together,” Branch said.

Although Armstrong and Branch did not have any classes together, there was still peace knowing that each other was on the same campus at the same time.

During her time of enrollment at Southern Miss, Branch already had a sick husband as well as three children.

The NAACP paid Branch’s tuition for school; but even with this academic help, she still struggled to keep money for her personal expenses.

“I worked on campus; we were paid work study for a dollar and five cents an hour,” Branch said. “We worked for 20 hours. So, we would take home approximately seventeen dollars and some change.”

Branch and her friend Armstrong

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Pat Tillman Scholar does Super Bowl LVII coin toss

USM student and Pat Tillman scholar Fabersha Flynt had the opportunity to toss the coin at Super Bowl LVII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. Flynt is one of 60 students nationwide selected for the scholars program. illman Scholars are military service members, veterans or spouses with high potential for impact and dedicated to service, scholarship and leadership.

Flynt is the first USM student to become a Tillman Scholar and one of few surviving spouses who have participated in the scholarship program. Her journey to becoming a doctoral student at USM has involved some of life’s greatest highs and deepest lows, but she finds purpose in each experience and draws motivation to keep pressing forward.

Photo by Matt Kartozian - USA

Raylawni Branch sits down for an interview with Southern Miss TV recently. Austin Lindsey | SM2 Photo

The Student Printz is the student-produced newspaper of the Southern Miss Student Media Center (SM2) in the School of Media and Communication at The University of Southern Mississippi. It is published every Wednesday morning and updated online at www.SM2media.com. The newspaper has been printed since 1927, serving the campus and community with news and information. Today, SM2 student journalists and media producers create and share stories with multiple medias on multiple platforms using the most modern technology housed in College Hall. SM2 includes Southern Miss Radio, Southern Miss TV, Southern Miss, SM2 Creative, and SM2 Strategic Communication.

Opinions

Opinions expressed in The Student Printz are those of the writer and not necessarily those of The Student Printz, its publication manager, USM, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning or the USM Board of Student Publications.

Editorial Policy

The University of Southern Mississippi presents the

@ southernmissstudentmedia

Southern Miss Student Media

ACROSS:

2. Southern Miss ____ (hint: on the billboard outside of the Century Park North)

4. School of _____ and Communication

6. the _____ Food Company

The views represented in The Student Printz’s columns and editorials do not represent those of the faculty, staff or administration of The University of Southern Mississippi. We welcome letters to the editor representing similar and contrasting opinions. To be eligible for publication, all submission must include name, class distinction, major, phone number and email address. Submissions should be emailed to printzeditors@ gmail.com by 5 p.m. on the Friday before publication. Please limit them to 500 words or less. The Student Printz reserves the right to refuse publication or edit any material on the basis of clarity, space or journalistic ethics.

DOWN:

1. Southern ____ Company

3. the ____ Green Coliseum

4. the new campus restaurant

5. the Honors College dorm in Century Park South

7. Coach Will ___

8. the football stadium

10. Seymour’s, PRISM, IME

13. our golden mascot

14. the _____ boat autism library

Daughter of Rev. Ralph Abernathy, Goddaughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Award-Winning Actress

Faculty, staff raise concern over AI ChatGBT

BY SETHANIE SMITH SM2 REPORTER

Have you heard of ChatGPT? If not, it is an artificial intelligence bot that was released in November 2022, and it helps students write and complete assignments with no effort.

However, ChatGPT is a tool that pulls information written by others from the internet and creates a generic response for the given question. In other words, plagiarism.

ChatGPT raised a lot of attention in January 2023 and is now causing teachers and professors to become concerned and worried for the future learning of students.

The University of Southern Mississippi faculty and staff members are raising awareness about ChatGPT and are taking necessary precautions to detect if the software is being used on student writing assignments.

Dr. Denis Weisenburg, the president of USM faculty senate and professor of Marine Science, said the senate has not “considered” individual faculty are “concerned if students might use ChatGPT.”

“I think right now it’s being handled through the Associate Provost Office, and it’s not really on the agenda for the Faculty Senate at the moment,” said Weisenburg.

To see it from the student perspective, Weisenburg accessed the software himself.

“‘What would the tides be like if the moon were twice its mass?’ I punched that in as an example, and it actually

gave a pretty coherent answer. So it’s obviously a tool that could be used if students wanted to use it, which I hope they won’t, to do some of their written assignments,” Weisenburg said.

The concern mostly stems from students being busy with jobs, classes and social life and not having enough time to spend on homework assignments. He is concerned students will look for an easy alternative to complete homework.

If students use ChatGPT, it is a violation of the USM academic integrity policy and there are consequences, such as getting a zero on the assignment and a failing grade for the class.

“It's critical thinking skills that we try to foster in our students, and so using ChatGPT to do that for them wouldn’t help them in their learning,” Weisenburg said.

The USM student academic integrity policy states: “Academic misconduct involves deception to improve a grade, earn course credit, complete a degree, or create an unfair academic advantage for oneself ... Because of the many forms of academic dishonesty that exist and because rapid technological changes constantly shift the possibilities for misconduct, it is difficult to anticipate and define all possible violations of this policy.”

Weisenburg is not the only professor expressing their thoughts on ChatGBT.

Dr. Hugh Broome is the associate director for the Center of Faculty Development as well as USM’s academic integrity officer.

Broome is concerned students might

use ChatGPT to complete writing assignments and earn a good grade.

If a student used ChatGPT on his assignments, Broome would have a discussion with the student to gain an understanding of what is going on. He would report the student if he communicated the expectations of not using ChatGPT.

However, Broome thinks ChatGPT can be a tool to make students think more critically about writing.

“If you just enter a prompt into ChatGPT , it gives you a very broad response. And oftentimes, the writing is very stilted. It doesn't read very well. It doesn't have a “voice," as we would say sometimes as a faculty member. But if you continually prompt ChatGPT and critically ask it to include certain things in the writing, the writing does improve, and that's a process we want our students to do with their own writing,” said Broome.

Broome believes there are other uses for ChatGPT, such as showing students an essay or creative work done by the software and have students deconstruct it and examine its shortcomings.

Broome thinks that “with little effort, little know-how and intuition,” faculty can redesign their writing prompts” and prevent students from using ChatGPT.

“I think it can be used, but I think faculty are going to have to clearly communicate what are the expectations. And I think students are going to have to ask the faculty, ‘can I use this in your classroom? Is this okay?’ because I don't think, I don't think

anyone fully understands what is okay and what isn't okay at the moment,” Broome said.

Dr. Matthew Casey is the director of the School of Humanities and is a History professor. Casey is among the multiple professors concerned about ChatGPT. He thinks when a student puts their name on work not written by them, it goes against academic integrity policies.

“If you're not doing that, then even if you get away with it, you're then not learning in your class at all. You're not learning anything. The writing process is so important, and you're missing out on that,” said Casey.

Casey researched and discovered that ChatGPT pulls all types of information from different websites of people’s written work into one big chunk of answers.

“Before you use ChatGPT, just ask your professor for an extension before you do something dumb and get busted for plagiarism. Just ask for more time. And they might say no. But at least you didn't plagiarize,” Casey said.

Casey believes if someone wants to write something meaningful for others to read, the writing has to come from the person with authentic feelings. It is hard for artificial intelligence to write authentically.

“That's the most powerful thing about youth is that you're finding yourself, and you are yourself. And so why on earth would you put forward something with your name on it that's ChatGPT, since that goes against every other thing about you?” Casey said.

Educate yourself on suicide awareness

BY SHANNON BARBIN SM2 REPORTER

TDid you know that suicide is the second most common reason for death amongst college students?

Sometimes those who seem to have it all together and everything seems to be promising in their life, are the very ones who hearts cry out for help. According to brainsway.com 1,100 college students take their own life per year. This is a true tragedy.

“Every person is different, but suicidal ideation is a preoccupation with the idea of suicide. Feelings of hopelessness and despair may derive from adverse life experiences, depression, and/or mood disorders, increasing the risk for suicidal ideation,” said Carla Whitehead, Mental Wellness Counselor at USM Student Counseling Services.

“Suicidal ideation is a complex experience that we are still learning a lot about. What we know is that there are a variety of risk factors that can contribute to experiencing suicidal thoughts. This can range from a variety of experiences such as

depression and other mental health disorders, life stressors such as the loss of a job, feelings of hopelessness, trauma, and other personal, social, or environmental risk factors,” said Dr. Kristy McRaney, director for USM Center for Behavioral Health.

USM has several resources made available to its students such at the Center for Behavioral Health as well at Student Counseling Services. If you or anyone you know are going through a mentally disturbing time, please reach out. Even if you just need someone to listen to you, please seek refuge in one of these services.

“The Center for Behavioral Health provides evidence-based care and risk assessment. We conduct thorough and evidence-based assessments with our clients. When individuals are experiencing suicidal ideation, we work to help understand the level of risk that is associated with their thoughts, and then work to help keep them safe,” said Dr. McRaney. “We can often do this by increasing the safety of their environment, such as removing access to potential means of suicide, and increasing psychological coping

by outlining skills that can be used when they are having thoughts of suicide.”

“The University of Southern Mississippi prioritizes advocacy for physical and mental wellness through an encompassing directory provided by the Center for Student Success: (https://www.usm. edu/student-help/index.php),” said Whitehead. “Information is readily available for students to learn about options for crisis support on campus and off campus, which includes, but not limited to calling or texting 988, the free Suicide Crisis Lifeline, Student Counseling Services, 911, or the University Police Dept.”

Did you know the for currently enrolled students, you are able to receive free counseling services?

Sometimes, the fear of having to pay someone to just hear you out can be dehumanizing especially if you are not in a good place. Take advantage of this opportunity. The Student Counseling service also offers what is called an “Eagle Eye”. These Eagle Eyes help assist those in an immediate crisis during business hours. If you need someone outside of busi -

ness hours, you may call 601.606. HELP (4357) which is available to currently enrolled students.

“In addition to ongoing research efforts in the School of Psychology that are focused on learning more about what puts people at risk for suicide and developing new approaches to preventing it, the school also hosts an annual Out of the Darkness fundraising walk in partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

The fundraiser is spearheaded by Dr. Daniel Capron’s Suicide and Emotion Dysregulation Lab and students. Since the inception of the walk, tens of thousands of dollars have been raised to help local and national suicide prevention efforts,” said Dr. McRaney.

The sixth annual USM Out of the Darkness Fundraising Walk will be held on March 4, 2023. You can register or donate at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) website. For more information on this event, you can contact Morgan Buerke at Morgan.Buerker@ usm.edu.

Autism Speaks and USM: A harmful duo

BY ABIGAIL TROTH SM2 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The University of Southern Mississippi School of Psychology recently announced a fundraising initiative with a goal to meet Mississippi’s demand for mental health professionals who can diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorder. At the same time, they also announced a $5,000 Local Impact Grant from Autism Speaks. While the University passes this off as completely fine, there is a major problem with Autism Speaks.

Autism Speaks has a convoluted history of being harmful to autistic people. Though their message has changed since their conception in 2005, Autism Speaks still has a detrimental impact on the autistic community. The School of Psychology should not be partnering with them. For background, Autism Speaks has a history of controversies towards autistic people. Despite their constant statements that they’re a group that advocates for autism “awareness”, this organization is desperately unaware. According to a flyer from Autism Advocacy and Education as recent as 2020, Autism Speaks only had one autistic out of a total 28 people on their Board of Directors. At the same

time, Autism Speaks has only used a daunting one percent of their budget towards their Family Service grants. Forty-eight percent of their budget has gone towards awareness and lobbying, a tactic that is harmful to the autistic community. Awareness and lobbying does not teach acceptance.

The grant that the School of Psychology applied (emphasis on that word) for is apparently used for education and training, sensory equipment and technology, and other recreational activities. This might sound fine to most, but it is awfully ironic that an organization like Autism Speaks would be behind it.

The grant also allows for the training to administer the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2), a test that many people in the autistic community have found reasonable issues with. Key evidence points to the test having multiple biases, such as downplaying the existence of autism in Black and female children. When compared to White male children, Black and/or female children had an eleven percent bias in their findings after taking the test. It’s a small finding, sure. But it’s still a finding that implies the existence of a bias that should not exist on a behavioral test. It is quite concerning that the School of Psychology expressed such

an interest and excitement in being able to administer a test that has a considerable amount of controversies and bias.

In another harmful move towards the autistic community, Autism Speaks supports Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy. Many autistic people have found only negative results of ABA therapy. One of these negative results being the attempt to “rid autistic people of their behaviors.” The goal of the original version of the therapy (created by Dr. O. Ivaar Lovaas in the 1960s) was to make autistic people “indistinguishable from their peers.” Is the goal for autistic people to become neurotypical? Is the goal to strip them of what makes them who they are in the name of acceptance? What kind of therapy is that?

ABA is not as brutal now, but the goal is almost the same. It still harms autistic people. Disappointingly, ABA is taught at the School of Psychology, harming the autistic community that is fighting to have their voice heard by those that need to listen.

The point of all of this information is this: Autism Speaks deserves to have no place in the School of Psychology.

The School of Psychology needs to do their homework on the controversies and ignorances that Autism Speaks continues to display. Autism has made so many de-

velopments with how it is viewed by the modern world, though with the School of Psychology’s support of Autism Speaks, it proves that there is still much work to be done.

It is 2023, and we cannot afford to be misinformed or ignorant when it comes to organizations such as Autism Speaks. Many turn to the School of Psychology with trust and expecting to receive the best care they can get. If the School of Psychology willingly supports an organization with their history and current reputation among the autistic community, then they won’t listen. How can you trust those that don’t listen?

When I recently sat down with the creator of the Paper Boat Autism Library, Cara Larsen, she said it best. “For them to accept money from an organization that most autistic people do not like and do not trust, it shows that they’re not listening to autistic people and that they don’t really care what we have to say.”

To the School of Psychology, I ask that in the future you do extensive research on who you receive your grants from. Ensure that no one in the community that you are aiming to help feels hurt by your decisions.

Autistic people need acceptance, and they turn to you for it. Give it to them.

Caerus Mardi Gras parade rolls through Hattiesburg

The 12th annual Caerus Mardi Gras Parade came to Hattiesburg on Saturday.

The parade started rolling at 1 p.m. Hundreds from across the Pine Belt came to line Service Drive, Hardy Street and 38th Avenue. The parade attracted children, USM students and adults within the community.

Floats through beads, candy and toys to participants along the route.

Keith's Superstores sponsored the parade.

A member of the Hub City Hot Steppers waves a flag during the annual Caerus parade in Hattiesburg.

A parade goer reaches for beads.

A parade goer reaches for beads.

Hundreds gather in front of Southern Miss for the annual Mardi Gras parade. Parade goers reach for beads.

PHOTOS BY SEAN SMITH SM2 PHOTO EDITOR

Armstrong-Branch Distinguished Lecture Series features Donzeleigh Abernathy

BY SETHANIE SMITH SM2 REPORTER

Donzeleigh Abernathy will be coming to the University of Southern Mississippi for the Armstrong-Branch Distinguished Lecture Series to discuss her experiences with the Civil Rights Movement.

Abernathy grew up in the middle of the Civil Rights Movement as the daughter of Rev. Dr. Ralph David Abernathy and Juanita Jones Abernathy, who are the co-founders of the American Civil Rights Movement.

“It says that people are destined to repeat it and although we’ve only pretty much been free 15 years in my lifetime, here in the United States of America our young people of color don’t know our history,” Abernathy said.

The Armstrong-Branch Distinguished Lecture Series is an annual event that started in 1993. The series was set in place to honor the legacy of Raylawni Adams Branch and Gwendolyn E. Armstrong Chamberlin as the first African American women to enroll at The

University of Southern Mississippi.

In 2013, Dr. Eddie A. Holloway, Dean of Student and Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, proposed the idea to co-sponsor the lecture with the Honors College and gap together Academics and Student Affairs in promotion for the event.

Delores McNair is an assistant dean of students of student outreach and support. She is also the program coordinator for the Armstrong-Branch Distinguished Lecture Series.

“This will be the 30th year that we are hosting it here on campus. Both honorees are still alive and well and they do attend the event. What we do is bring in a speaker as a guest lecturer to present,” McNair said.

The speakers come to talk about their experiences, their historical perspectives and things happening in today’s society.

“We want to educate our students and attendees on the historical aspect, but we also want to make it relevant to what’s currently happening in society,” McNair said.

The Armstrong-Branch Distinguished Lectures Series past speakers were James Brown of CBS Sports, Clifton Taulbert, Charlayne

Hunter-Gault, Merlie Evers-Williams, Jasmine Guy, Wil Haygood, Kathleen Cleaver, and Angie Juzang.

Abernathy is the leading actress for the Warner Bros. Civil War epic Gods and Generals. She also was the leading actress for the Emmy and Golden Globe Award winning HBO film Don King - Only In America.

In 2004, she wrote a history book, Partners To History, Martin Luther King, Ralph David Abernathy and the Civil Rights Movement. The book was nominated by The American Library Association. It was nominated as the best book for young adults.

“ I realize I need to do it because there are books out there about our history and our young people don’t know them. And so you know, they don’t know what was done for their freedom,” Abernathy said.

Abernathy was inspired to write the book when her father passed away on April 17, 1990.

“I was devastated. I never thought that I could live in the world without my dad. He made it possible for us to be free and to be the first time that black people were free literally in the United States of America.

Abernathy said her dad not only gave her freedom, he also gave her

God.

“He was my counselor and so I need to write about him in order to have him close to me everyday,” Abernathy said.

Abernathy will speak about her experiences and memories at the Armstrong-Branch Distinguished Lectures Series on March 7 in the Thad Cochran Center Ballrooms at 7:00 pm.

University Forum featured Talithia Williams

BY ABIGAIL TROTH SM2 EXECUTIVE EDITOR

USM’s University Forum has made its grand return for the semester by starting with a presentation from Dr. Talithia Williams on Feb. 7.

Dr. Talithia Williams is an accomplished woman in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) who has been internationally recognized for her studies. Williams’ research involves creating statistical models that emphasize the spatial and temporal structure of data and applying these models to real world problems. After receiving multiple degrees from Spelman College, Howard University, and Rice University, Williams is now an associate professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College. For her achievements, Williams received the Mathematical Association of America’s Henry L. Alder Alder Award

for Distinguished Teaching. Williams has worked with NASA, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the National Security Agency, and as a research partner with the World Health Organization. Williams has been featured on her own TED Talk, titled “Own Your Body’s Data.” Williams has had multiple publications: Learning Statistics and Power in Numbers: The Rebel Women of Mathematics. Williams was most recently featured as the co-host in the PBS NOVA series “NOVA Wonders.”

Throughout the forum, Williams showcased her research and how she became who she is today. During the presentation, Williams encouraged student participation. At one point, Williams asked the students to consider their own ways to communicate with those that work around them, using the “think, pair, share” method.

“Today was really important to

me because we got to see Talithia Williams, [who is a very] important woman, at least to me, woman in STEM who has made significant strides, participated in a lot of different things, and received a lot of exposure. And you know it’s just

very nice to see a person of color, a woman of color especially.” said Jaylin Jones, USM student.

The next University Forum will be on March 21 at 6:30 p.m. in Bennett Auditorium and will feature “Bad Feminist” author Roxane Gay.

Talithia Williams speaks at the University Forum. Sean Smith | SM2 Photo Editor

Donzeleigh Abernathy is set to speak at the university’s Armstrong-Branch Distinguished Lecture Series.

Puppies and Painting a huge success

BY LOREN JONES SM2 REPORTER

The USM Residence Hall Association hosted Puppies and Painting on Feb. 6 in Mississippi Hall. The event allowed students to come together, hang out, their creativity out and playing with a therapy dog. There was also a guest speaker there talking about the importance of having good mental health and where to go if you are struggling.

The therapy dog that came to Puppies and Painting was Major Payne, also known as Moo Moo around town. Although Moo Moo is not the therapy dog, most students still enjoy meeting and petting him.

“We were so happy to be invited tonight to come to share what we do, love on the students. That’s what we’re all about, loving everyone and giving love,” said Keri Ray Galey, Moo Moo’s owner.

Moo Moo also enjoyed meeting new people and interacting with the students.

“He loves, loves, loves seeing friends and meeting new friends, and he’s just excited and that's the best part of getting to go anywhere really,” Galey said.

Galey likes how when they visit people and get to know them better, they open up to the two and share a little about themselves.

“We get to encounter other people, we get to visit them, get to them better. And sometimes when you talk to people for a little bit, they start sharing about themselves,” Galey said. “We learn about them and so we love that. And so, getting invited to help with this organization was wonderful and we look forward to coming back much more.”

Puppies and Painting are the first of many events hosted by the RHA for students to come together and interact with each other and meet

new people. The next event will be a trivia night March 22nd from 6-8 p.m.

For more information on events hosted by the RHA follow them on Instagram @usmrha.

Cara Larsen’s Lending Library making impact on Hattiesburg

BY ABIGAIL TROTH SM2 EXECUTIVE EDITOR

If you catch a paper swan hidden around Hattiesburg, you will have discovered #OperationSecretSwan.

These tiny swans are a partner to the Paper Boat Autism Library, a special project started by Cara Larsen.

Cara Larsen is an autistic woman who has devoted her life to ensuring that autism has been properly represented and taught to the world around her. Larsen first started the library in 2019, when she held her first lending event with books that feature

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would eat at a hamburger place on campus called Wimpy’s every day. However, one of the FBI’s asked her to never go and eat at Wimpy’s. Why?

One day, at Branch’s grandmother’s house, a Hattiesburg police officer attempted to dangerously harm her, but he ended up physically abusing her.

“I would say he tried to kill me one time. He hit me in my head with a leg of a chair. I’ve never stood down, and I’ve never been afraid,” Branch said.

On the day that Branch and Arm-

proper autism representation.

“By then, I’d been thinking about it for a few years because I’d heard about an autism acceptance lending library in California, and one in Washington State, and I decided to start one here,” Larsen said.

The library mostly functions as a resource for autism representation and provides books such as The Obsessive Joy, Planet Earth is Blue and A Kind of Spark.

“Paper Boat is important to me because when I was growing up there wasn’t a lot of good autistic representation in books. So today, I want to collect books that represent autistic

strong went into Wimpy’s, after being warned not to go, she saw six bodyguards in the restaurant.

Branch identified one of the six bodyguards inside of Wimpy’s as the police officer that hit her in the head with a chair.

“When I realized that he was one of the bodyguards, I told Elaine, ‘Guess where we are?’ And she said, ‘Where?’ I said, ‘We are in WIMPY’S. And she just turned red and said, ‘We are not supposed to be here,’” Branch said.

Not only did Branch face triggering encounters such as this one, but she also experienced what could have

people accurately and respectfully and share them,” Larsen said.

Despite the recent advancements made relating to autism and neurodiversity in the 21st century, autism still has many harmful stigmas and stereotypes surrounding it. Because of this, Larsen has aimed to educate her community on just how important proper autism education is.

Alongside the lending library, #OperationSecretSwan operates through encouraging messages for the community as it relates to autism. Larsen crafts origami swans herself and writes small and encouraging notes on the side.

been a tragedy on USM’s Hattiesburg campus.

Branch gives credit to Dr. William D. McCain, who was the president at the time of her enrollment at Southern Miss, for stopping this dangerous act.

“The Klan wanted to come on campus and burn a cross,” Branch said. “Dr. McCain told them that they would not burn a cross on our campus.”

After dismissing the Klan’s proposal to come to campus, McCain stated in a meeting, “School and classes will go on as usual.” McCain took care of

Autism acceptance is something that has become incredibly important to Larsen, as she has been personally affected by the harmful stigma surrounding it.

“[I want] to help to dispel stereotypes about autism and to help people understand that awareness alone is not enough. That we need acceptance.” Larsen said.

If you are interested in learning more information on the Paper Boat Autism Library, you can contact Larsen by email at paperboatlibrary@ gmail.com or follow her on instagram @autismlibraryms.

it all, and Branch is truly grateful for that to this very day.

There are many more stories, incidents, victories and triumphs that Branch has experienced in her life, even outside of attending USM. Branch has been a professional nursing educator as well as a US Air Force Reserve officer.

At 82 years old now, Branch is assisting the student-doctors of osteopathy at William Carey University. Branch’s name will forever be known, valued and respected at The University of Southern Mississippi.

A student pets a therapy dog at Puppies and Painting Loren Jones | SM2 Reporter

Deputy State Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor revisited the University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg campus after graduating more than 30 years ago. Dr. Taylor’s professional career spans from first starting as a teacher, then principal, to district superintendent, until then landing as the Deputy State Superintendent of Instruction. He met with faculty and education students to discuss his responsibilities as superintendent and detail the significance of his experiences in each occupation. Dr. Taylor explained that during his prior employment, he would help teachers by developing programs for them. But now as a state superintendent, he helps entire school districts in Mississippi develop their own programming while “managing the department of education and working with the governor and legislator.”

His vision involves creating an impact on a local level, and he wants to make education “something useful for the state’s children.” He went into more detail about this vision he shares with his colleagues: “We want them to graduate knowing their options, to be either career or college ready, by giving them the education they need to live in the world they occupy. We do that by making sure every community has the resources they need to make their schools useful for their children,” he said.

Those who got the opportunity to listen in on Dr. Taylor’s meeting appreciated hearing his vision and insight. Many commended the respect and regard he has for each person in the school environment, as he knows it takes many parts to make a whole. Because of his experience as a teacher and principal, Dr. Taylor understands the necessity of every employee and works to serve those who need it.

Dr. Taylor’s enthusiasm and support toward educators were greatly appreciated by current students and staff and were the perfect motivation to continue advocating for the future of education.

Briefs and Events

USM Professor Offers Perspective on ‘Cancel Culture’ in Online Discussion

Dr. Katie Howie, Assistant Professor of Marketing at The University of Southern Mississippi, served as one of the featured experts in an article titled, “What is Cancel Culture and Who Benefits?” published by Divided We Fall.

MOU Signed by USM and Hinds Community College for Honors Students Transfer

The University of Southern Mississippi and Hinds Community College came together recently to ease the student transfer process for those transitioning into USM’s Honors College during the completion of their degrees. Both institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which will grant HCC students in good standing automatic admission into the two-year Keystone program in USM’s Honor College. Admitted students must maintain a GPA of 3.25 or higher, pursue an independent research project for an Honors thesis, and make satisfactory degree progression.

“We’re excited to be formalizing this relationship,” HCC’s President Dr. Stephen Vacik stated.

USM’s President Dr. Joe Paul, who happens to be a graduate of USM’s Honor College, agreed, ecstatic to bridge the gap between the schools and work together for the benefit of the students. “We have a rich tradition of Hinds students transferring to USM, where they continue to be successful students and then graduate and go on to do great things in the world, so to now solidify this agreement makes it a joyful day for us,” Dr. Paul said.

The dean of USM’s Honor College, Dr. Sabine Heinhorst, shared these sentiments, noting how the partnership is “a win—win situation” for everyone involved.

The University of Mississippi gladly welcomes those transferring from Hinds Community College and wishes them well on their academic endeav-

Divided We Fall is a non-profit news publication working to provide bipartisan dialogue for the politically engaged. The site publishes written debates between individuals who disagree in order to expose readers to different viewpoints and demonstrate productive civil discourse.

In the article, Dr. Howie discussed the topic with two professors from Monash University and the University of Melbourne, sharing opposing views while agreeing with others. The open nature of Divided We Fall encourages such open-minded conversation and allows readers to engage in the discussion by considering the strengths and weaknesses of each argument and weighing the stakes on their own.

Alpha Phi Alpha USM Chapter, Graduate Chapter Award Scholarships, Honor Community Members at MLK Jr. Event

Several area high school students were awarded scholarships, and individuals with stellar records of service to the Hattiesburg area were honored, during the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast held Jan. 16 on The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Hattiesburg campus.

The event was hosted by the Mu Xi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity at USM, along with the fraternity’s local Mu Gamma Lambda graduate chapter.

The fraternity’s “Go to High School, Go to College” program awards textbook scholarships to deserving high school seniors who plan to attend college in the fall.

“Our dear fraternity is pleased to recognize these outstanding members of our community, as well as support the dreams of our treasured young people as they prepare to take the next big step of their lives in readying for college this coming fall,” Dr. Holloway said.

For information on how to support Alpha Phi Alpha’s “Go to High School, Go to College” textbook scholarship, as well as the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast, contact Dr. Holloway at eddie. holloway@usm.edu.

USM Plants Live Oak Trees for Arbor Day

On Feb. 10, The University of Southern Mississippi celebrated Arbor Day by planting three oak trees at the front lawn of the Hattiesburg campus. The planting took place during the 10th anniversary of the destructive F-4 tornado that tore through the campus in 2013 and symbolized the resilience of USM to overcome such disasters. Of the 75 lost trees, three from the front of the campus, where the recent planting took place, were estimated to be at least 90 years old.

Michael Scully, Superintendent of Campus Landscape, explained that although much was lost, the rebuild was a successful one. “Since the tornado, we have planted about 130 trees and also added a significant irrigation system to the campus. All of this has helped to complete the vision of 2013,” he said.

Arbor Day is a secular day of observance in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant trees.

Meistersingers Civic Chorus

Presents an American Portrait March 5

The Meistersingers, Hattiesburg's Civic Chorus, will be performing “An American Portrait” on March 5 at 3 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Hattiesburg. Admission is free but donations are appreciated.

The Meistersingers is an accomplished ensemble, having showcased its talents in Mississippi, New York, and London. The Chorus recently celebrated its 25th anniversary last summer with the Brahms Requiem, which was a farewell concert led by conductor Joeseph Wilkinson.

New Artistic Director Dr. Joel Dunlap is excited to lead the choral

USM and HCC sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Feb. 10 for HCC students transferring to the USM Honors College

Mississippi Superintendent of Education Dr. Robert Taylor speaks with USM education students during a visit on Feb. 7.

State Superintendent Visits USM Hattiesburg Campus

Dr. Katie Howie, assistant marketing professor

Students from the DuBard School for Language Disorders help plant trees for Arbor Day Photo by Kelly Dunn | USM

The Meistersingers performing at FestivalSouth, a three-week annual event

program and conduct this semester’s concert. “We are excited to offer the first concert of the 2023 season to our Hattiesburg community,” he said. “This program is a collection of choral works by some of our country’s most beloved composers and arrangers.”

The concert features a broad range of musical settings, from the rollicking Nelly Bly to the inspiring Spiritual Ride On, King Jesus, and ending with Homeland, a glorious tribute to patriotism.

The Meistersingers, Hattiesburg’s Civic Chorus, is an all-volunteer, community group of musicians that has offered concerts for local audiences since its founding in 1996. In addition, the choir has performed at Lincoln Center in New York City, at Cadogan Hall in London, and at Canterbury Cathedral.

News Briefs and Events

on an annual basis,” said Dr. Colin McKenzie, director of the School of Music. “This year, with added elements of jazz and composition as well as CEU credits for teachers, there is even more reason for area educators and students to participate.”

To learn more about the event or register, visit www.frettedslide.com/ tromboneday. Individual and group rates available. CEU credits are available to music educators attending the event.

The University of Southern Mississippi will host the biennial North American Saxophone Alliance Conference March 30 through April 2

USM School of Music to Host Biennial North American Saxophone Alliance Conference March 30 – April 2

of our school to the incredible alumni and friends who keep a song in the air from churches to clubs, this is a chance to showcase and be involved in a nationwide event, right here at our doorsteps.”

This conference was made possible with the generous help of VisitHattiesburg. Evening concerts included in the conference schedule are free and open to the public. To register, and for more information, visit the North American Saxophone Alliance website at https:// www.saxophonealliance.org/.

USM To Host Annual Economic Outlook Forum

Southern Miss will celebrate trombone day on March 4

USM School of Music Presents

Trombone Day

The University of Southern Mississippi will be hosting its annual Trombone Day in partnership with the Karen Cubides Agency on March 4 on the Hattiesburg campus.

This all-day event includes a variety of lectures, masterclasses, and exhibits led by top trombone experts and performers. The day’s festivities end with a concert in Bennett Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. and features the Southern Miss Trombone Choir, with special guests like New York Philharmonic trombonist Colin Williams, jazz superstar Marshall Gilkes, and Wilfrid Laurier University’s assistant professor of composition Kevin Day.

“I am so grateful to have support from Partners for the Arts and our wonderful vendors like SE Shires Trombones, Greg Black Mouthpieces, Giddings Mouthpieces, and Cinematic Solos, to bring such an incredible lineup of guest artists/teachers to Hattiesburg,” said Dr. Ben McIlwain, Southern Miss trombone professor and event organizer. “From jazz to classical, and from careers in music to composing music, there will be a little bit for everyone.”

“The Southern Miss community is fortunate to have this incredible event

Dr. Sarah Morgan, a professor and associate director in The University of Southern Mississippi School of Polymer Science and Engineering

Morgan Keynote Speaker for Mississippi Academy of Sciences’ 87th annual meeting in Biloxi Feb. 23-24

Dr. Sarah Morgan, a professor and associate director in The University of Southern Mississippi School of Polymer Science and Engineering, will be the keynote speaker for the Dodgen Lecture at the Mississippi Academy of Sciences when it hosts its 87th annual meeting in Biloxi, Mississippi Feb. 23-24 at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention Center.

The Dodgen Lecture honors Dr. Charles L. Dodgen of the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Dr. Dodgen joined the MAS in 1959 and became executive officer in 1972, a post he held until his death in 1980.

“I am honored to be selected to present the Dodgen Lecture,” Dr. Morgan said. “The MAS annual meeting is the premier venue for faculty, students, and researchers from colleges and universities across the state to share research findings and develop new research collaborations. The Dodgen Lecture will allow me to share research in polymer-based biomaterials applications and to discuss career opportunities for graduates of our polymer science and engineering program.”

Learn more about Dr. Morgan’s work at USM by visiting https:// www.usm.edu/faculty-directory/ profile.php?id=1935959; for more information about the Mississippi Academy of Sciences, visit https:// msacad.org/.

The University of Southern Mississippi will host the biennial North American Saxophone Alliance Conference Thursday, March 30 - Sunday, April 2 which will include more than 250 presentations, performances, lectures, and masterclasses focusing on saxophone performance and education, and taking place in multiple venues at the USM School of Music on the Hattiesburg campus.

“There will be many saxophonists, educators, performers and sax enthusiasts from all over the country visiting Hattiesburg, many for the first time,” said Dr. Dannel Espinoza, USM Professor of Saxophone and event host. “The incredible lineup of events available to everyone is truly incredible, and I hope our community will embrace the opportunity to be a part of it all.”

The North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference boasts a lineup of top saxophone experts and educators from North America and abroad, with plentiful opportunities for conference attendees to interact with and learn from the top saxophonists in the world, including trade shows and exhibits, performance opportunities for teachers and students alike, and a special evening concert featuring esteemed guests and performers.

With a focus on the highest level of performance and pedagogy, The North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference will provide saxophone enthusiasts and musicians of all disciplines a unique and enriching experience.

“Hattiesburg is, in many ways, defined by the music of our community,” said Dr. Colin McKenzie, director of the School of Music. “From the innumerable concerts and performances

The University of Southern Mississippi will host the Economic Outlook Forum on February 23 in the Thad Cochran Center’s thirdfloor ballrooms on the Hattiesburg campus.

State and national economic forecasts will take center stage when USM’s College of Business and Economic Development hosts the 2023 Economic Outlook Forum. The annual forum brings together experts from banking, finance, and academia to explore several issues and research related to the economic outlook for 2023. The First Bank serves as the title sponsor. This year’s event returns to an in-person format, beginning at 10 a.m. in the Thad Cochran Center’s third-floor ballrooms. The forum is free and open to the general public. However, seating is limited, and registration is required.

Forum speakers include Dr. Chris Smith, Visiting Assistant Professor for Economic Development in the School of Finance; Thanh Roettele, Managing Director of Mortgage Finance; and Dr. Gary Wagner, who currently holds the Acadiana Business Economist Endowed Chair at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

“The annual Economic Outlook Forum is a much-anticipated event in our region,” said Dr. Bret Becton, Dean of the College of Business and Economic Development.

“We are thankful for our partnership with The First Bank that allows us to provide this resource to our community. Having experts provide a national, regional, and local outlook is very useful in planning for the current year and those to come.”

Coach Jay Ladner: Hattiesburg’s favorite son

BY JACKSON HOWELL SM2 SPORTS REPORTER

It seems unthinkable. Improbable. Impossible. Yet here we are. A team that went 7-26 last season sits at 23-4 and holds a two-game lead in the Sun Belt. How did we get here?

The buck stops with Jay Ladner. The Southern Miss Men’s Basketball head coach faced immense backlash entering this season, as his squads had seven, eight and nine wins in each of the last three seasons, respectively. Despite the dismal three seasons, Ladner received a vote of confidence from USM Athletics Director Jeremy McClain. The Hattiesburg native knew his back was against the wall, though, and he immediately went to work.

In potentially the most impactful hire of the 2022 offseason, Ladner brought assistant coach Juan Cardona to Hattiesburg. Cardona, whose only collegiate coaching experience came in a two-year tenure at Mercer, was out of coaching and looking for a new home. A hidden gem doesn’t begin to describe it. Cardona brought an intense energy to Southern Miss, and he brought that in spades into the locker room. Ladner said in the preseason that he met Cardona on a recruiting trip in Miami, where Cardona was the coach of Miami Christian High School. The pair went to Hooters – yes, Hooters – after a practice to talk basketball, and the two formed a bond that would pay dividends years later.

With Cardona came transfers Neftali Alvarez and Felipe Haase. The latter is arguably the team’s heartbeat, while the former is a do-it-all guard who can do anything and everything on the court. Cardona coached the two at Miami Christian, and Haase and Alvarez both consider Cardona a father-figure. Naturally, the duo followed Cardona to Southern Miss.

“Without Juan, none of those guys would be at Southern Miss,” Ladner said.

Without Ladner, neither would Cardona.

Another player that followed an assistant coach was Austin Crowley, following Nick Williams from Ole Miss. The trio are just the tip of the iceberg of how Ladner’s team turned around.

Team chemistry was the main

talking point by Ladner leading up to the 2022-23 campaign. Chemistry seems to be a buzzword in sports these days, but you can tell that there is something different about these Golden Eagles. Ladner quipped about all the Spanish being yelled on the court between Cardona and the newcomers. Between them and the established players, Southern Miss has turned into a melting pot of greatness.

Speaking of the returning players, senior Deandre Pinckney leads the bunch. He’s been as efficient as his nickname says, and he’s seen plenty of lowlights at Southern Miss leading up to this year’s highlights. He is third on the team in scoring, with 39 points coming in the team’s two most recent games against Louisiana and Louisiana-Monroe, respectively. Mo Arnold provides great defense and stability as a starter, while Tyler Morman makes his presence felt defensively as well. Morman was one of the unsung heroes for the Golden Eagles against Louisiana by locking down Jordan Brown – this year’s preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year averaging nearly 20 points per game.

Prior to this season, Ladner said that he wanted his team to look like the Golden State Warriors. He was talking about the offense, but the main similarity came in the form of winning. Nobody

could have predicted this; with four games remaining, the Golden Eagles have a chance to make history. If Southern Miss wins three out of the final four regular season games, they will have increased their win total by 19 from the previous season. If they win their final four games, they will have achieved history with a 20-win improvement. The current record is a tie between 1979 Murray State and 1998 Ohio State with a 19-win improvement.

Excluding vacated wins, Ladner’s .270-win percentage during his first three years was the worst in program history. What’s worse is that he only went .189 in conference play over that span. Last year, his team only won one conference game. With a 23-4 record to date, Ladner has already boosted his win percentage at USM to .405 in the blink of an eye. Southern Miss is 14-0 at home this season while potentially having a chance to clinch a double bye in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament with a win at South Alabama Thursday.

For Ladner, relief might not be a strong enough word. “It’s a whole lot better than losing. I can promise you that,” Ladner said.

The turnaround has to be extra special for Ladner. He practically went from one of the most hated men in Hattiesburg to one of the most beloved. That’s the nature

of the business. As someone who grew up in the area, he knows this, too. Both of his parents worked at USM. He talks about how he grew up running around at the old gym on campus. He watched as the Golden Eagles joined Division I, and he watched as the program joined the Metro Conference before ultimately winning the 1987 NIT in the conference as a player. He watched from afar as the head coach at St. Stanislaus High School when USM joined Conference USA, and he helped the Golden Eagles join the Sun Belt with an exclamation point.

The contrast between the beginning of Ladner’s USM tenure to now could not be starker. Even the contrast between the first home game of the season to this month is eye-opening. Reed Green Coliseum seated 2,350 fans – 29% of the arena’s capacity – Nov. 14 as Southern Miss defeated Loyola (LA) 86-62. Feb. 9, 8,097 fans among a sell-out crowd witnessed the Golden Eagles topple Louisiana to undisputedly claim first place in the conference. Saturday’s final home game has been announced to be a “gold-out.” If it’s anything like the “white-out” against Louisiana, then the Coliseum will be a madhouse once again.

The old saying is “Build it, and they will come.” Ladner exemplified that this year.

Jay Ladner encourages his team against Louisiana.

Charlie Luttrell | SM2 Sports

USM sweeps Liberty to start the season

BY DIMA MIXON SM2 SPORTS REPORTER

Southern Miss baseball swept the Liberty Flames in Pete Taylor Park to open the 2023 campaign. Here is a recap of the weekend.

Southern Miss beat Liberty 3-0 in the first game of the weekend series behind a stellar performance from the pitching staff. The Golden Eagles held the Flames to just one hit through all nine innings.

“Hats off to our pitching staff. Tanner Hall, Tyler Martin, and Justin Storm combining for a shut out tonight.” Southern Miss head coach Scott Berry said.

Hall got the start tonight for Southern Miss and pitched a masterpiece in the five innings he pitched. Halls stat line this evening: 5.0 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 5 K, on 72 TP. The one hit he allowed was a little blooper to the mound, which bounced over his head.

“Definitely had the jitters going a little bit, that’s part of it. But overall, we were very excited, and I was ready to go.” Hall said.

On the offensive side, Southern Miss struggled a lot to get things going, and when they had opportunities to open things up, they squandered them. The Golden Eagles had the bases loaded three separate times, and all three times, Southern Miss would strand the bases with them loaded. The three through six holes accounted for 12 of the 16 strikeouts, which is a bit concerning for USM fans. Not to mention the 13 runners on bases the Eagles stranded.

“Yeah, it wasn’t pretty at all, we are going to have to improve on that [strikeouts.] That’s the meat and potatoes of your order, and those guys are supposed to produce, and they will. You got to give hats off to their pitchers too.” Berry said.

Southern Miss fans got a quick first-hand view of the new piece in the lineup that USM added in the transfer portal in Matthew Etzel. Etzel went 2-5, with a double and single RBI to give Southern Miss a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. The hit that he turned into a double displayed his speed.

Another player who was feeling it tonight was catcher Blake Johnson. Johnson would go three for three at the plate. Including a 373-foot home run over the left field wall in the bottom of the fourth.

Southern Miss rallied from behind

to beat Liberty 2-1 to win the second game of the opening weekend series.

"Hard fought win. Could have gone either way as you saw. Really proud of our guys and how they held the game there. They have our offense a chance to get back in the seventh," Berry said.

Matthew Adams started on the mound for the Golden Eagles in his first weekend starting role. Adams helped Southern Miss contain Liberty's strong lineup by only giving up one hit through three innings.

"Adams, I thought was really good. You really got to give him a lot of credit." Berry said. "Matt covering those five innings and keeping it to a one-run game."

The game's story, however, was freshman debut, Kros Sivley. Sivley, who had never thrown a colligate pitch in a game, dialed four scoreless innings. Sivley's final line: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K's, on 59 pitches; it was an extraordinary scene, no doubt.

Turning to the offensive side of the ball, Southern Miss really, really struggled. Only mustering up one hit for the first six innings. Danny Lynch got Southern Miss their first hit in the bottom of the third. He was caught stealing on the next pitch. After that, USM could not get a hit off Liberty's Left-handed starter Nick Morgan. After Morgan was done, USM was able to get their offense working.

Carson Paetow led off with a walk in the bottom of the seventh. After stealing the second, Tate Parker would drive him in with an RBI single. Parker's first hit as a Golden Eagle and his first RBI to tie the

game at 1-1.

Blake Johnson reached base on an error in the bottom of the eighth.

Gabe Lacy batted him in with an RBI single to take the lead, eventually the game-winner. That was Lacy's first hit as a Golden Eagles

Southern Miss baseball swept the opening weekend after beating Liberty 7-2 in Sunday's game.

After a challenging first two games on the offensive side of the ball, Southern Miss was able to get their offense working with nine hits and seven runs. Dustin Dickerson started the day off with a double in the first inning, to which Carson Paetow scored him on a fielder's choice RBI to give USM a 1-0 lead.

Liberty responded in the top of the third, with Gray Betts coming up with an RBI single to tie the game up at one apiece. After that, it was all Southern Miss. In the bottom of the fifth, after a couple of walks, USM plated a run via a wild pitch. Afterward, Matthew Etzel doubled down the right field line, which plated another to bring the score to 3-1.

In the sixth, Tate Parker scored on a wild pitch to give Southern Miss a 4-1 lead. However, most of the action happened in the bottom of the eighth inning, starting with a Parker home run to left field.

After Parker's home runs, Slade Wilks doubled, and Blake Johnson reached base on an error to which Danny Lynch doubled and brought in Wilks to bring the score to 6-1. Gabe Lacy flew out, but Etzel brought in another run after a sac fly to give USM a 7-1 lead.

Liberty knocked a home run out of

the park in the top of the ninth, but that was all she wrote by that point as Justin Storm closed the game out for the Eagles.

If this weekend tells us anything, the future is bright for this bullpen and pitching staff this season. USM gave up just three runs, with two being unearned. Niko Mazza was USM's starting pitcher for this afternoon. He came in and threw for five innings and got the win. His final line: 5 Ip, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 K's on 75 TP. It was also his birthday today.

"Niko Mazza, you know what a great birthday he had today and picking up the win." Berry said.

Mazza might be a name Southern Miss fans are not used to hearing, but he will be a household name in the future.

The bullpen continued to shine after Mazza's day was done, with JB Middleton coming in for USM. Middleton is a true freshman and pitched two innings and struck out four with no walks.

All in all, for Southern Miss pitching, they only allowed Liberty one extra-base hit through all three games, and it only happened in game three of the series in the ninth inning. That is pure domination on the mound, which is why they call pitching coach Christian Ostrander, "the wizard."

The Golden Eagles have won every opening weekend series since 2015 and swept in eight of the past nine years. Liberty was the preseason favorite to win their respective conference, so definitely a formidable opponent that USM was able to sweep.

Blake Johnson celebrates his home run with his teammates.

Charlie Luttrell | SM2 Sports