February_03_2009

ENTERTAINMENT

OPINIONS

Has the War On Terror been worth it? Two of our writers sound off on page 4.

See what the Printz thought about the Super Bowl ads on

page 7.

MENS B-BALL

Courtney Beasley has been on fire the past two games.

See page 8 for coverage.

S P The

Serving Southern Miss since 1927

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

SGA campaigns kick off today James Osbourne Printz Writer

Students officially start campaigning for Student Government Association offices today.

SGA Election Commissioner J.R. Robinson said this election is special because this is the first year that USM will use electronic voting. The junior administrative justice and pre-law double major said his committee helped put together the new voting system for future student government elections.

Robinson said students will be able to use laptops set up at voting centers and log onto a program like SOAR to cast their votes. The program will automatically determine which elections students can vote in by using their names and classifications, he said, like when a sophomore can only vote for sophomore candidates during some Homecoming elections.

The election commissioner is also able to view the exact number of votes for each candidate and the percentage of votes they received automatically, he said. Only the elections commissioner and Associate Dean of Students Brooks

Moore will be able to view election results.

“I am really proud of SGA and the elections commissioner for putting together the new electronic voting,” said Joe Paul, vice president of student affairs. “It will provide a much faster and more reliable form of voting. I think it’s a great thing.”

The elections commissioner will also be able to view classification totals to research how many of each voted in an election, Robinson said, so SGA will know which groups to encourage to vote for the next election.

Robinson said voting in the upcoming election will be important to Southern Miss students because their new SGA officers will represent them and their needs to the administration. He urged that students should make thoughtful decisions and select an officer that will listen to them.

“You need to vote for the person whom you think will help the students out the most,” Robinson said. “If students come to us we are able to keep them in the loop from the administration side ... because we are the students’ voice to the administration and the voice of the administration to the

students.”

Elections Feb. 17 and 19 will decide who will replace SGA President Melissa Cirino, Vice President Luke Smitherman, Attorney General Jayson Newell, Election Commissioner J.R. Robinson and Treasurer Rebecca Wilks. New candidates turned in their officer applications Monday evening.

Candidates will stand off in an official debate Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. in the Thad Cochran Center Ball Room. This will be the best way for students to see each candidate and hear their goals and ideas if they take office, Robinson said.

He added that some students running for office will probably have Facebook pages up about their campaign, and will start explaining their plans and platforms this week. According to the SGA constitution, the officers’ administrations must be in place by Founders Day, March 30.

SGA executive offices up for election The Vice President presides over the student body Senate which provides legislation for the student body.

The Attorney General ensures that all student body actions are supported by the SGA constitution.

Candidates: Josiah Bell Zoe Beckham Mark Hemrick Jimmy Thomas

Candidates: Stacy Ahua Ken Busby Jayson Newell

The Student Body President acts as executive officer of the Student Government Association. He or she also assigns members of the cabinet different projects to meet his or her platform.

Candidates: John Gernon Glorioso J.R. Robinson

Campus services help students

‘‘

Volume 93, Issue 36

Faculty Senate planning for cuts Andy Hess Executive Editor

University of Southern Mississippi Provost Bob Lyman delivered a grim economic forecast at Friday’s Faculty Senate meeting.

In addition to the 6 percent budget cut the university must already account for by June 30, Lyman anticipates 10 to 12-percent cuts for next the fiscal year.

Faculty furloughs, eliminating open faculty positions and cutting programs are just some of the unpleasant options facing the university.

Lyman said the university must act now to curb the impending financial problem. To help stop the bleeding before it starts, he has “hijacked” an academic planning group previously assembled to assess university admission and enrollment management.

The group of 20 representatives of the academic colleges, student affairs and administration will meet over the next month starting today.

Members of the group consist of Lyman; Joe Paul, vice president of student affairs; Joe Morgan, chief financial officer; Lynn Smith, budget manager; Denise von Herrman, dean of college of arts and letters and Melissa Cirino, student body president.

Some possible remedies that will be discussed over the course of the month include suspending or eliminating between 70 and 85 faculty searches, faculty furloughs and increasing teaching loads for current

faculty. A furlough usually refers to a temporary lay-off from work.

Lyman said leaving job openings unfilled when they can be is “preferable to terminating personnel already on board.”

“One of the first things I thought about is that we have a bunch of courses in the College of Health on things like golf Bob Lyman and archery,” he said. “You think ‘we can cut these without harming our academic mission.’ The trouble is those are heavily enrolled courses.

“If we’re not careful we end up cutting things that reduce tuition revenue by as much as we save by cutting them.”

Lyman fielded questions from faculty members on budget related issues and asked for input on ways to eliminate without hurting the university.

Afterwards, faculty members expressed their willingness to confront the situation.

Chris Campbell, director of the school of mass communication and journalism, raised the possibility of using the university’s rainy day fund, but Lyman responded that there were already constraints on using too much from the $1.7 million fund.

“This really distinguishes us from our two peer institutions in the state,” Lyman said. “They have much deeper pockets.”

Students seek employment in harsh economy Alicia Ester Printz Writer

In a bad economy, finding a job can be a challenge. Two services on the Southern Miss campus are trying to help students find and secure jobs.

Rusty Anderson, director of career services, said there have been fewer employers coming to campus offering jobs to Southern Miss students. He added that the job market is very bad right now, and there is no time to be picky about where you want to work.

Students should get in front of an employer and submit their

Who you know leads you to who they know, then leads you to opportunity.

’’

-Rusty Anderson

resume to any company with available positions, he said.

“Who you know leads you to who they know, then leads you to opportunity,” Anderson said.

Anderson said employers are

David N. Jackson/Printz

Rusty Anderson, director of Career Services, shakes hands with Karlnequa Ball, wrapping up a meeting about the sophomore’s plans to get a job.

INDEX

CALENDAR............................2 OPINIONS...............................4 CONTACT INFO.....................5 ENTERTAINMENT.................6

ENT. CALENDAR...................7 SPORTS....................................8 SPORTS CALENDAR.............8

looking to hire someone with a strong resume and an even stronger presence, and Career Services can help.

Anderson said that students should start the job search early.

He added that graduates have been waiting longer to land jobs, between 9 and 12 months after graduation.

Career Services offers resumebuilding, mock interviews and career fairs. These services offer a student the opportunity to receive feedback and coaching, network and negotiate, Anderson said.

Career Services can help students prepare for jobs, but students can also find local work through student employment.

Student employment is a subdivision of student services that offers work-study and other wage jobs on and off campus, said Allison Emmet, job location and development coordinator.

Since work-study is awarded to students through federal funding, this division of jobs has not been affected at all by the bad economy, she said, but wage jobs have been affected because many employers are not hiring.

While Career Services can help with the job-seeking process, Anderson said it is ultimately up to the students to present themselves in a professional manner.

Career Services hosts baglunch workshops for job-seeking students every Wednesday in Bobby Chain Tech Building (TEC 102) from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.

To speak with a representative in Career Services, call 601.266.4153.

For more information or to view current job listings, visit them on the Web at www.usm.edu/cs.

Contributed by Hannah Rachal

Anchorsplash is an annual fundraising event hosted by the Delta Gamma sorority. These Greeks joined in the Anchor Splash celebrations in 2007.

Delta Gamma hosts Anchor Splash Brandi Overstreet Printz Writer

Delta Gamma sorority begins celebrating Anchor Splash today. The weeklong annual event is a fundraiser to support Service for Sight, a charity for the visually impaired that was created by the Delta Gamma Foundation.

Along with raising money for Service for Sight, members said Anchor Splash brings awareness to what visually impaired really means.

“A lot of people don’t realize that visual imparity affects such a large percentage of the world,” said member Yvette Barr, junior advertising major.

“Most everyone has something that needs to be corrected with their vision.”

This year, Delta Gamma invited a visually impaired man to speak to their chapter and

have visited local elementary schools to speak about visual impairment and to encourage students to have eye exams.

Anchor Splash is the most successful way for Delta Gamma Sororities around the country to raise money and awareness for the charity. Anchor Splash here at Southern Miss consists of a week-long series of events including King Neptune, a dance competition between the fraternities, a dinner for the visually impaired at McAlister’s Deli, and relay races and water dancing at the Natatorium.

“It’s going to be a really good time,” said Natalie Temple, Delta Gama’s vice president of foundations. “The sororities and fraternities have worked really hard, and we would like to thank everyone helping us raise money for Service for Sight.”

POLICY

THE STUDENT PRINTZ IS PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY DURING THE FALL AND SPRING SEMESTERS. THE FIRST FOUR COPIES ARE FREE. EACH ADDITIONAL COPY IS 25 CENTS.

For the latest Southern Miss news, see studentprintz.com

Delta Gamma will not only be raising money for Service for Sight, however. The group also intends to collect eyeglasses for the local Lions’ Club and New Eyes for the Needy, Box Tops for Education for the Mississippi School for the Blind, and Campbell’s soup can labels for supplies for the Delta Gamma schools.

Though Anchor Splash is one of the biggest events Delta Gamma hosts, the sorority participates in volunteer activities throughout the year, such as hosting Bingo Nights at Wesley Manor, a local retirement home, every Monday.

To send donations to the Delta Gamma Foundation or to learn more about their philanthropy, Service for Sight, visit their website at www. deltagamma.org or contact a member of Delta Gamma.

TODAY

61/26

TOMORROW

50/26

Page 2|News

www.studentprintz.com |Tuesday, February 3, 2009

E�����C�������

TODAY •All Day through Thursday - Soccer Registration -- Payne Center. •All Day -- Learn to Swim Registration -- M.C. Johnson Natatorium •10 a.m. -- “Cross Connectionâ€?

Exhibit -- Museum of Art •3 - 5 p.m. -- School of Nursing degree program informational sessions -- Harkins Hall •7:30 p.m. -- Dr. Heidi Lucas Faculty Horn Recital -- Marsh Auditorium •8 p.m. -- Wesley Foundation JAM -- Wesley Foundation

TOMORROW •All Day -- Learn to Swim Registration -- M.C. Johnson Natatorium •10 a.m. -- Museum of Art “Cross Connectionâ€? Exhibit -- Museum of Art •10 a.m. - 4 p.m. -- “Hattiesburg Remembers the Freedom Summer of 1964â€? Photo Exhibit -- Hattiesburg Train Depot •12:15 p.m. -- Career Services Wed. Workshop -- CoOp v.

Internship -- TEC 102 • 6 p.m. -- Men’s Basketball @ East Carolina -- Greenville, NC • 4 p.m. -- “State of the Union: USM Editionâ€? -- Southern Miss Men of Excellence -- R.C. Cook Union Rooms B and C.

USM Public Relations

Area health care professionals, social workers and students attended the 8th Annual Issues on Aging Conference Friday (Jan. 30) at The University of Southern Mississippi.

friend us tweet us watch us The Student Printz is on your favorite social network

SUMMER IN MAINE Males and females. Meet new friends! Travel!

Teach your favorite activity.

4PDDFS 8BUFSTLJ ,BZBL 5FOOJT 1PUUFSZ (ZNOBTUJDT 4XJN #BTLFUCBMM 4JMWFS +FXFMSZ $BOPF "SDIFSZ &OHMJTI 3JEJOH 4BJM 0ċDF 3PQFT 3PDLT 4PGUCBMM $PQQFS &OBNFMJOH -BDSPTTF /FXTMFUUFS 'JFME )PDLFZ %BODF "SU ɨFBUFS $PTUVNFS 1IPUP

June to August. Residential. Enjoy our website.

TRIPP LAKE CAMP GPS (JSMT

1(800)997-4347 www.tripplakecamp.com

APPLY ONLIN E

Friday’s @ 2 A public affairs program hosted by The Student Printz.

Southern Hall Room 013

Obama eyeing N.H. for commerce Christi Parsons McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON - Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire is the leading candidate to become President Barack Obama’s commerce secretary, an administration official said Saturday, in a decision that could come as early as Monday.

Gregg’s appointment would add a third Republican to Obama’s Cabinet at a time when the president is preaching a bipartisan message and working to build GOP support for his agenda.

But it also could potentially tip the power balance in the Senate, if the Democratic governor of New Hampshire decides to name a member of his own party to take Gregg’s place.

Depending on how the legal battle over the recount in the Minnesota Senate race goes, a Democratic appointee from New Hampshire could give the party a 60-seat majority _ enough to shut down Republican filibusters and smooth the way for Obama’s plans whether there is broadbased support for them or not.

An aide to New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch declined to comment Saturday on whether

he would appoint a Democrat or Republican. A spokeswoman for Gregg also refused to discuss the possibility.

Still, there are reports circulating in the Senate that Republicans are trying to work out a deal with Lynch to keep the seat in their party’s hands in advance of Gregg’s agreement to vacate it.

Democrats think they would stand to benefit in either case, reasoning that a Republican newcomer would be easier to beat next year than if Gregg were running for re-election.

The Obama economic team would be adding a strong voice for business in Gregg, the lead Republican negotiator on last year’s $700 billion financial bailout. He is a 16year veteran of the Senate and ranking member of its budget committee and is known as a fiscal conservative from a state with a noted aversion to government spending and taxes.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democrat, was Obama’s first choice for the job. Richardson took himself out of contention not long after his nomination, citing a grand jury investigation into how state contracts have been issued in his state during his tenure.

www.studentprintz.com |News

Tuesday, February 3, 2009 | Page 3

Senate starts to tinker with $900 billion stimulus plan David Lightman

McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON - A divided and discontented Senate on Monday began debating a nearly $900 billion economic stimulus plan, while President Barack Obama launched a new grassroots campaign asking Americans to prod their lawmakers to act on it.

The Senate’s legislation could look dramatically different by week’s end, as lawmakers from both parties are eyeing changes in spending on infrastructure, housing aid and other features of the massive package.

The final Senate version must then be reconciled with the $819 stimulus plan that the House of Representatives passed last

week.

Concerns are growing among members of both parties about the price tag and the plan’s potential impact. The economy shrank 3.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008, its worst threemonth showing in nearly 27 years, and economists see few prospects for quick improvement without massive government intervention.

Obama, looking to bring some Republican critics on board in time to have the final bill ready for his signature by midFebruary, called Democratic congressional leaders to the White House on Monday for a strategy session.

In an e-mail sent by the Democratic National Committee, the president also urged voters to host or attend an “Economic

Recovery House Meeting” this coming weekend, where a videotaped message from party chairman and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine would be played to answer questions about the stimulus spending.

“I hope to sign the recovery plan into law in the next few weeks,” Obama said in the email. “But I need your help to spread the word and build support.”

The grassroots tactic resembles Obama’s presidential campaign efforts to keep supporters across America involved and energized, and is a novel extension of computer-based campaign tactics into governance.

Ironically, Republicans, in urging more tax relief and housing assistance, said Monday that they’re truer to Obama’s

spirit than Democrats in Congress are, while warning that most GOP lawmakers are likely to oppose the Democratic plan unless there are major changes.

No GOP lawmakers voted for the House version last week.

“It appears the Democratic leadership has not gotten the memo _ or the message, if you will _ from the president,” said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. “We believe, Republicans, that a stimulus bill must fix the main problem first, and that’s housing.

That’s how all of this began. We think you ought to go right at housing first.”

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs urged McConnell to “look at the whole bill,” calling the Senate measure “a good plan.”

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated that 64 percent of the House stimulus plan would be pumped into the economy by Sept. 30, 2010. It hasn’t yet assessed the Senate plan.

Economists disagree on the value of the Democrats’ stimulus plans.

The plans “won’t reverse the current economic downturn,” said economist Mark Zandi, who advised Republican John McCain during last year’s presidential campaign and recently testified on Capitol Hill.

“It will be severe, regardless.

But (the stimulus) will provide a very vital boost to the flagging economy if it’s passed quickly, in the next few weeks.”

However, the Urban InstituteBrookings Institution Tax Policy

Center found little to praise in the tax part of the Senate plan.

It didn’t give any tax provision a grade of A, which it awards for measures that would “begin quickly and go primarily to people who would most likely spend it or to businesses that would most likely use funds to retain workers or expand.”

It gave B-pluses to the rebates of $500 to most taxpayers, and to an expansion of the child credit.

That sort of lukewarm expert evaluation, coupled with growing rumblings from wary constituents, could fuel a bipartisan consensus to do more about housing and infrastructure, which both are more well-suited for “stimulus” actions than some Democratic proposals are.

Unclear if stimulus Hard times bring out scam artists will spark economy Claudia Buck

McClatchy Newspapers

Kevin G. Hall McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON - Tax provisions in the economic stimulus legislation introduced Monday on the Senate floor would cut Treasury revenues by at least $350 billion in a bid to spark economic activity. Tax experts say the legislation would achieve that goal, but there’s plenty of room for improvement.

The nearly $900 billion plan includes tax cuts and credits as well as a wide range of spending on infrastructure, aid to states, energy, the environment and much more _ all designed to prevent the economy from sinking further.

Many Americans swoon at the high price tag and ask a simple question: How will we know it works?

There’s no single answer. The Obama administration has said it will use employment as a metric, expecting the stimulus effort to create or save between 3 million and 4 million jobs. However, proving that jobs have been saved that otherwise would’ve been lost is more art than science.

Another way to measure success is to gauge whether the plan spurs demand for goods and services. If it boosts demand for things that U.S. companies make or sell, more workers will be needed to make, ship and sell the goods and services.

“The trick from the tax side is putting money in people’s pockets in ways that they spend it. How do you get people to do something they otherwise wouldn’t do if you just gave them money?” said Roberton Williams, a senior fellow at the Tax Policy Center, a joint venture between the Urban Institute and The Brookings Institution, two center-left research organizations in Washington.

In tough economic times, consumers and businesses typically pay down debt and save money in case problems grow worse.

That’s rational behavior and one reason why consumer spending has plunged. Usually, consumption drives about two thirds of U.S. economic activity. If people

are saving, they’re not spending, and the economy contracts.

“If people want to save, giving them money will not force them to spend it,” Williams said.

To counter this, the Senate measure would put more money into people’s paychecks in small amounts that would be more likely to be spent than saved.

Academic research shows that small increases in paychecks are viewed as “spendable” income, while larger lump sums are viewed as wealth to be saved.

The legislation would reduce taxes withheld from paychecks.

This involves a refundable tax credit worth up to $500 for single filers and $1,000 for joint filers over one year.

Other tax measures in the Senate bill are designed to support poorer Americans who presumably would spend, not save, the money. These include expanding the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit. These wouldn’t immediately stimulate the economy since they’re claimed on tax forms, and the expansion would apply to the 2009 tax year.

The Senate bill also includes a number of tax provisions designed to free up cash for businesses, but how well they’d work is in dispute. Many of these provisions were sought by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which thinks that the Senate effort isn’t sufficient.

“We are generally just disappointed with the amount of business incentives in there,” said Caroline Harris, senior director of tax policy for the Chamber.

The group convinced Democrats to include a provision that would allow them to defer some tax if a company pays down its debt this year or next.

That would help companies with ready cash. Helping them lower their debt burdens presumably would discourage layoffs and perhaps even spark hiring.

To help more companies, the chamber wants this provision to be expanded to allow companies to reduce debt through issuance of additional stock or bonds.

“We’ll be pushing for some sort of amendment to expand this,” Harris said.

When it comes to investment fraud, the perpetrators chase the news.

After 9/11, it was phony antiterrorism technology. During the housing boom, it was real estate scams. A year ago, it was “green technology” swindles. Today, amid a financially stressed economy, it’s “prime bank” and other high-yield, quick-money quackery.

“They always seem to mirror economic times. They exploit whatever’s current,” said Kevin Baker, head of the FBI’s whitecollar crime squad in Sacramento, Calif.

And while none approach the heft of the current Bernard Madoff scandal that has wiped out billions from trusting investors around the world, Baker says Ponzi schemes and other investing scams are running so rampant that his 25 or so agents can’t keep up.

Baker’s agents go after only the most egregious cases, typically those that have cost victims at least $1 million in total losses. That includes several local cases now under active investigation.

The FBI doesn’t maintain data on investment fraud as it does on

mortgage fraud, which is often reported by banks and lenders. But in the Sacramento field office, which covers Central California between Bakersfield and Redding, Baker said reports of investment fraud have “significantly and noticeably increased since the economy has weakened.”

Likewise, officials at the California’s Department of Corporations say the rocky economy is playing into the hands of fraudsters.

“People who aren’t normally susceptible to pitches for (risky financial) products may be more so than a year ago,” said Andrew Roth, who oversees financial fraud education for the department. “It’s more true of seniors and close-toretirement folks because they have less time to weather the financial storm.”

That’s why many can fall prey to “high-yield” scams that try to entice investors with promises of better-than-a-bank returns.

The FBI says scammers use the same methods, regardless of whether they’re peddling real estate, gold bars or new technology.

These include slick promotional brochures, touting great returns; official-looking prospectuses, financial filings and pending patents; and aggressive salespeople, known as “promoters,” who are paid up to

40 percent in commission, making them highly motivated.

In one case, Baker said, a potential investor came to the Sacramento offices of a phony investment company, asking to see evidence of its “facial recognition” software. To accommodate him, the fraudsters scrambled to download some crude software off the Internet and line up a conference room. They were convincing. The investor, apparently the only one who bothered to request a demonstration, handed over $200,000.

To avoid becoming a victim, here are some tips from law enforcement, public officials and investing watchdogs: be skeptical; do your research on the individual and the companies; get second opinions.

“A crooked adviser can turn your nest egg into a goose egg overnight and leave you destitute,” said Don Blandin, CEO and president of Investor Protection Trust, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that promotes investor education.

Blandin, who recommends checking on a financial adviser’s credentials, follows his own advice. Just last week, he said, a colleague recommended a Florida adviser as a conference speaker.

When Blandin plugged the adviser’s name into the SEC’s database,

he discovered the “highly recommended” adviser had failed a few financial exams, been fired from two jobs and fined by regulators.

Even someone “who seems wonderfully nice,” said Blandin, “may not be any good _ or worse.”

The FBI’s Baker said victims of investment fraud cross all income, education and age ranges. “We’ve got doctors who are victims; we’ve got plumbers who are victims.”

The common denominator, he said, is that they drop their guard, become too trusting or are too reluctant to appear ignorant and don’t ask the probing questions.

“No investment is so hot that you can’t take 24 or 48 hours to make sure it’s legitimate and the person has the appropriate licensing to offer it,” said Roth, with the California’s Corporations Department. He advised discussing a potential investment with someone who has nothing to gain _ your CPA or “even a neighbor whose judgment you trust. It can really make a difference.”

The best prevention is arming yourself with information.

As Blandin urges investors: “Don’t just be scared about the news on scams. Get angry and commit to become a wise and safe investor.”

START ThinKing AheAd.

START RAiSing youR expecTATionS. START Above The ReST. ST ST.

START RiSing To The occASion.

START TAKing on chAllengeS.

START ReAching youR goAlS. START becoMing A leAdeR.

START STRong.

SM

There’s strong. Then there’s Army Strong. Enroll in the Army ROTC Leader’s Training Course at The University of Southern Mississippi and you will be ready for life after college. Because when you attend this 4-week leadership development course, you will take on new challenges and adventures. You will also be on course for a career as an Army Officer.

To get started, contact 601-266-4456 or armyrotc@usm.edu or visit http://www.usm.edu/armyrotc/.

ASK ABOUT OUR SUMMER LEADERSHIP AND SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES! VISIT USM ARMY ROTC AT THE GEORGE HURST BUILDING, ROOM 106. ©2008. paid for by the united States Army. All rights reserved.

Opinions

Page 4 opinions@studentprintz.com

War On Terror: Have the seven years been worth it?

Imagine that tomorrow C a n a d a launches a full-scale offensive against the United States.

Jacob They take us Key by surprise, Printz Writer crippling our infrastructure and eliminating our leaders.

At what point would you stop fighting? When would you throw down your weapons and learn to speak French? When would you burn the U.S. Constitution and leave behind your way of life?

That’s the fundamental problem with the United States’ War on Terror. We’re not fighting terrorists anymore, but rather combating freedom fighters, which is different altogether.

Terorists blow up trade centers, but freedom fighters just want to be left alone in their homeland. The Iraqi insurgency has far more in common with Che Guevara than Osama bin Laden. The jihad of the Iraqi insurgency is a struggle for the homeland, a battle against a massive Christian foe that thinks itself above international

law. That’s why they don’t give up, and that’s why their numbers have multiplied by five since 2003. Until we completely evacuate there will be no peace.

And why shouldn’t we? It’s not like there’s any particular benefit in staying over there.

The world was behind us when invaded Afghanistan after the Towers fell in 2001. We had the support that we did because our enemies had a face, namely bin-Laden, the Al-Qaeda and Taliban organizations. When the smoke cleared, many of those enemies lay dead, and many others were missing. And now, seven and a half years later, we’re still looking for them. I want to see bin Laden hang just as much as any cardcarrying American, but I can’t say I believe in just throwing the sons and daughters of America into battle until we catch him.

We’ve lost 576 in Afghanistan, plus another 4,391 in Iraq— 4,897 total. If by any chance you were counting, that’s about 2,000 more deaths than 9/11. Of course there haven’t been any major terrorist attacks against America since 2001—we’re delivering more than enough American lives to extremism’s

front door.

But Afghanistan is one thing.

Iraq is another. The well of support has been dry for quite some time, and yet American soldiers still line the desert, waiting for the jihadists to surrender. You wouldn’t believe how expensive waiting about in the desert can be: Last year, U.S. spending in Iraq translated to about $5,000 per second.

Roughly $800 billion has been spent on or alloted for the war through the middle of this year.

Think about that for a minute.

Bottom line: Iraq is a black hole that eats money and spits out broken promises and dead Americans.

Yet the Bush junta clung to that lofty idea of victory. On the contrary, the fledgling Obama administration saw the light long ago and is getting the hell out of Dodge. The new president plans to have all combat brigades removed within an optimistic 16 months. The way I see it, that’s time enough for another 1,000 soldiers to be killed.

But I suppose these things take time.

Jacob Key is a staff writer for The Student Printz. Comments can be sent to printz@usm.edu

The War on Terror has been costly in terms of money and lives, but successful in my view.

Kevin W h e n Kyzar the War Printz Writer on Terror started people supported it mostly to get retribution against those who attacked America. Our troops entered Afghanistan, ran the Taliban into the mountains eliminated the Taliban’s presence—while everyone cheered them on.

The goal in Afghanistan was to capture Osama bin Laden, which was obviously unsuccessful. Our troops still don’t have him. Osama is a smart man. He’s been hiding in the mountains for years and has probably gotten pretty good at staying hidden.

When the war’s concentration moved to Iraq, many supporters suddenly flip-flopped.

The reason given to the American public for war in Iraq was Saddam Hussein’s alleged weapons of mass

destruction. When U.S. forces failed to find WMDs, even more Americans withdrew their support.

Saddam Hussein was the president. He probably had the capability to move those weapons easily and quickly.

His underlings would have obeyed his commands to hide the WMDs without question.

I’m not saying we were right for invading without proof of WMDs, but I think we helped the country profoundly. Our troops removed one of the most oppressive and tyrannical leaders in the world.

Since Saddam’s capture, Iraq has become a nation learning to unite and discuss their problems instead of killing each other. Since the beginning of U.S. involvement, Iraq held two democratic elections, in 2005, and recently in 2009.

President Barack Obama said because of these elections he could see less U.S. troops in Iraq. Obama is more worried about Afghanistan and a nuclear Iran. I hope Obama doesn’t mean pulling all troops from Iraq. Enemies waiting for our troops to leave Iraq coupled with the

potential for more sectarian and ethnic violence makes Iraq susceptible to going back down the drain.

I agree that Afghanistan and Iran are big problems, but Iraq should still be a concern.

Afghanistan will eventually become the main focus for our troops and is where most of them will eventually be deployed from now on; however, we should also leave soldiers in Iraq to prevent additional serious problems.

The loss of soldiers’ lives is a great concern for many Americans, but before we completely focus on Afghanistan and Iran, remember the potential for heavy loss of life is there too.

It isn’t as bad over there as we think it is; Americans only see what the media wants them to see. The media mostly show horrible things like Iraqi citizens throwing objects at U.S. troops. The media doesn’t show the groups of children who love the troops and thank them for coming and saving their country.

Kevin Kyzar is a staff writer for The Student Printz. Comments can be sent to printz@usm.edu

Women in politics adds humanity to countries Valerie Warrington Printz Writer

Thousands of women in Iraq ran for the mere 25 percent of political seats set aside for women on the Iraqi provincial council. Recent provisions in the Iraqi constitution guarantee that one woman will receive a provincial seat after every three elected men. Although it is unfair women are elected only after men, it is a step in the right

direction for oppressed women in Iraq.

The country has a history of violence against women. “Iraqi Women’s Rights and International Law” from scribd.com explains this is a country with harsh laws that justify honor killings—the killing of a woman by a male relative to cleanse the family of the impurities the woman has caused. Honor killings can be a result of incidents ranging from a woman being raped

to being seen in public with a man who isn’t her relative.

How a law like this can be justified, unpunished and considered ethical is absurd and inhumane.

Iraq desperately needs women in politics to change such sadistic laws, and many campaigning women are risking their lives to save the future of their country.

If women can get their foot in the door of Iraqi politics, the country could see a massive political clean-

up. It is similar to how women took power after the genocide in Rwanda by becoming involved in politics. The genocide in Rwanda left thousands of women widows and childless. Dee Dee Myers, the first woman to be press secretary to a U.S. president writes in “Why Women Should Rule the World,” that the women of Rwanda helped rebuild the country’s political stability and brought healing to the people.

Women in power in Iraq can work to improve the lives of women and men in their country. They can provide healing for a war-ravaged country and help people of different faiths to live peacefully alongside one another. They can modernize the unethical, misconstrued Islamic laws.

It is time for women to be involved in politics on a local and national level, not just in Iraq, but all over the world. How can any

government adequately represent its people by eliminating representation of the female population?

Twenty-five percent of women may seem like a small percentage, but can lead to a big change in Iraq. And although the percentage is small, it is only 9 percent higher than the number of women in the United States Congress.

Valerie Warrington is a staff writer for The Student Printz. Comments can be sent to printz@usm.edu

SGA Executive Officer Elections

for SGA President, SGA Vice President, SGA Attorney General, SGA Treasurer, and SGA Elections Commissioner

Applications for these executive officer positions go out Jan. 26 Due back: Feb. 2 by 5pm

Applications can be picked up outside the SGA Office, Eagle Alley, Room 120

SGA Executive Officer Debate Feb. 11, 7:00pm Thad Cochran Center Ballrooms

SGA Executive Officer Elections Primaries: Feb. 17 Elections: Feb. 19

Vote in the Thad Cochran Center, Cook Library, Liberal Arts Building (LAB), FYE Classroom from 8:30am-4:00pm

Absentee voting will take place on Monday Feb. 16 in the Dean of Students Office, Union Room 231

www.studentprintz.com www.studentprintz.com | |Opinions Entertainment

The

S

 Serving Southern Miss since 1927 Andy Hess Executive editor Lesley Walters News Editor

Jesse Bass Opinions Editor

Eric Nagurney Entertainment Editor

Tyler Cleveland Sports Editor

Sebe Dale IV Multimedia Editor

David Jackson Photo Editor

Brandon Phillips Circulation Manager

Crystal Scretching Graphic Designer

Maggie Williams Publications Manager

The Student Printz is published every Tuesday and Thursday during the fall and spring semesters and is printed by Signature Offset of Hattiesburg.

The first four copies of The Student Printz are free. Each additional copy is 25 cents.

Accuracy is important to everyone on the staff of The Student Printz. Please report any factual inaccuracies to the executive editor of The Student Printz as soon as possible.

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

The Student Printz is located in the basement of Southern Hall Room 013. Applications for employment are available and should be returned to the office.

How to reach us Newsroom: 601-266-4266 Executive Editor: 601-266-6431 Publications Manager: 601-266-6746 Newsroom Email: printz@usm.edu Advertising Manager: 601-266-5188 Advertising E-mail: printzad@usm.edu Corrections/Clarifications

The Student Printz values accuracy and works diligently to check facts before publication.

However, if inaccuracies occur, we want to know. Please report errors to the editor at printz@ usm.edu or by calling 601-2666431 or 601-266-4266.

Tuesday,January February 3,2009 2009|| Page Page 7 5 Tuesday, 13,

Social networks kill casual conversation It seems that our society is becoming more and more obsessed with technology.

But Sehban has all this Siddiqui technology Printz Writer hindered our social relationships? I think so.

Most of us feel naked without our cell phone, iPod or laptop. People are not content hanging out around friends or family, but instead feel the need to constantly update their absentee acquantances about every minor incident

within the minute. This need to be surrounded constantly by technology also imposes on others. It’s surely irritating to attempt conversation with someone who is not listening because he or she is too busy text messaging.

Well now that I’ve ranted about cell phones, there is also the Internet. Facebook has become a stalker’s dream come true. Yes, it’s a great way to keep in touch with friends who may live far away, but many seem to misuse Facebook.

It’s great that your hobbies include “texting, shopping, hanging out, and God!” and that your favorite books are “I don’t read,” but we don’t need

to know everything about you. I have a Facebook account, but don’t feel the need to publish every detail of my life or chat with people whom I could easily converse with by walking down the hall. Is Facebook that awe-inspiring?

Is it really a better interface for communication than our mouths and ears?

The internet has also caused a surge in the number of college students who are addicted to Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games such as Warcraft and Everquest. These video games allow students to form a virtual life that is completely separate from reality.

A Korean couple even sepa-

rated themselves from reality like this for so long their child allegedly died from suffocation caused by their neglect.

Don’t believe me? Look it up on Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo’s website. It’s sad to find out people have allowed video games to take over their actual, reality-based lives.

I’m a huge technology junkie, but I try to use it in moderation. Cell phones, the internet, and video games entertain me and make my life much easier. However, I try not to rely on technology as a sole means of communicating with my friends.

I write letters to friends, read, play sports or simply

The United States is standing on its tip-toes to see how President Barack Obama is going to make Brittney the dollar bill Cooley feel heavier Printz Writer in the palm of our hands.

However, if we can’t learn that money isn’t god, then no stimulus package will be good enough to satisfy.

We hold the dollar to such a high standard. It may not always

be there when we need it, but when we have it we are unstoppable. The old cliché “money can’t buy happiness” has almost become a statement of irony in our country.

The basis for the economic crisis in this nation doesn’t seem to be how much value is in the American dollar itself, but how much value we place on it.We’re money gluttons. We can’t have enough of it and when we get our hands on the least little bit, we indulge until we don’t have room to budge.

Every time something goes wrong in life, it seems like we

turn to money to fix it. You do something and make your boyfriend or girlfriend upset, so you buy them something and it’s all better. School is stressing you out, so you blow half your student loan on a flat screen T.V. That’s how our system works.

Money, money, money. That’s all we want or need. It never fails us, right? What about when you have to pay back thousands of dollars in interest on those student loans years later? Or when the car you financed for many years to be able to afford falls apart?

Money is a momentary joy.

There is a sudden rush when you

buy something new, but then after using it a few times, the new wears off and it’s time to replace it. It’s a never-ending cycle.

So what happens when the money runs out? There has to be something else there to carry you through. Something substantial.

Something real.

The only way America will ever truly see an upside to this crisis is if we stop asking the dollar bill to heal itself. Our national debt is now over $10 trillion. We can’t just snap our fingers and bring everything back to normal.

Something has to shift.

We as a nation have to take our

talk to other people... with my mouth. But instead of going out and getting fresh air, talking to someone, or reading a book when we’re bored, most of us probably glue ourselves to reality television or look up funny videos on YouTube.

Maybe we could learn to be more content with experiencing life like so many human beings have before us--without the constant aid of technology and the need to feel “connected.” Try it. You may like it.

Sehban Siddiqui is a staff writer for The Student Printz. Comments can be sent to printz@usm.edu

Stimulus packages won’t cure everything

Civil Rights No. 1 When the Rev. Joseph Lowery delivered the benediction at President Barack Obama’s inauguration, he wore the joyful expression of a man vindicated after a lifetime of struggle.

Lowery, as a Methodist minister in Mobile, Ala., helped to lead the Montgomery bus boycott in the aftermath of Rosa Parks’ arrest in 1955. He was a partner of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the creation of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference _ one of the strongest, clearest voices of the civil rights movement _ and served as its president for 20 years.

Many factors brought the nation to the day when Lowery was able to stand before a world audience to celebrate the election of a black man as president of the United States. But no single factor hastened that historic day more than the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The act added teeth to the post-Civil War constitutional amendment that prohibited denial of voting rights “on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” It forbade state and local governments from imposing any kind of discriminatory voting requirement or policy.

Dr. King considered voting rights “Civil Right No. 1,” calling it “the foundation stone for political action,” and surest means to racial equality.

Civil Right No. 1 is under attack.

This term, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear a challenge of a legal provision that requires nine states, most of them in the South, and some local jurisdictions with histories of discriminatory practices to obtain “pre-clearance” from the U.S. Department of Justice for any proposed changes to their election systems.

The changes requiring pre-clearance could be as broad as redrawing election district lines or as narrow as changing voting machine locations.

The protection was designed to force jurisdictions with checkered votingrights histories to explain their proposed actions before making changes. By placing the burden of proving compliance on local elections officials, the law relieves aggrieved voters from having to file a lawsuit to correct violations after the fact.

In 2006, just days after Congress extended the Voting Rights Act, a municipal utility district in Texas filed suit challenging the constitutionality of the pre-clearance requirement. The district had been formed in the 1980s. It never has been accused of discrimination, but it is subject to the pre-clearance requirement because Texas is one of nine states covered by the requirement.

The utility district claimed that Congress exceeded its power by imposing the pre-clearance requirement too broadly, particularly given that the utility district had no record of previous discrimination.

That is a potent argument. But the Justice Department still regularly finds violations of the Voting Act in many jurisdictions. Rules allow many kinds of jurisdictions to be freed from the pre-clearance requirement if they prove no discrimination occurred for 10 years, but the rules don’t apply in the narrow case of the public utility district.

In short, by striking down the pre-clearance requirement in this narrow instance, the Supreme Court also might strike down a valuable protection that still is needed broadly. Such a decision would entail the court substituting its judgment for that of legislative bodies, the kind of “legislating from the bench” that conservatives and conservative judges claim to abhor.

The justices also should consider Dr. King’s advice on what’s needed to uphold Civil Right No. 1: “You cannot depend upon American institutions to function without pressure. Any real change in the status quo depends on continued creative action to sharpen the conscience of the nation and establish a climate in which even the most recalcitrant elements are forced to admit that change is necessary.”

The following editorial appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Friday, Jan. 30. Comments can be sent to printz@usm.edu

gaze off what we can buy to make us feel better and start looking at where our problems lie. Work things out with the boyfriend or girlfriend. Sit down and talk.

Organize your schoolwork, go to class and keep working hard.

Be a little more outgoing, show kindness to a stranger and people will take interest in you.

Our everyday problems can seem to fade away with spending money, but they always come back. Find another solution. Find something else to believe in.

Brittney Cooley is a staff writer for The Student Printz. Comments can be sent to printz@usm.edu

Entertainment

Page 6 entertainment@studentprintz.com

Speedball Widow defies geography to rock Hub City Eric Nagurney

“I like Hattiesburg better than I like Starkville,” said Butler.

“Plus it gives me a chance to come back to my favorite bar in the world [The Thirsty Hippo.]”

Young says he’s appreciative of his bandmates’ perseverance.

“These guys have made a lot of sacrifices to get here,” said Young. “Often they’re not

Entertainment Editor

Sebe Dale IV/Printz

Jimmy Young, frontman of Speedball Widow, sings during a recent house show around Hattiesburg. Speedball Widow has been playing around Hattiesburg since last June.

Calling Speedball Widow a local band would only be about half right.

There’s a lot of evidence supporting the idea that Speedball Widow is a local band.

It’s the brainchild of Hattiesburg songwriter/guitarist Jimmy Young. All of its members are veterans of the Hattiesburg music scene. At the moment, the band almost exclusively plays shows in Hattiesburg. For most purposes, Speedball Widow is a Hattiesburg band.

Yet as far as the pure geographic locations of its members are concerned, they’re only half Hattiesburg-based. While Young and guitarist Warren Ard live in town, bassist Justin Butler and drummer Joe VanZandt currently reside in Starkville and New Orleans respectively. This fact can make band obligations (i.e. practicing, playing shows) a little inconveniencing. A love for Hattiesburg makes it a little easier. “It sucks, but not terribly, because I like Hattiesburg better than I like New Orleans anyway,” said VanZandt. “Pretty much any excuse to come back is alright with me.”

‘‘

We always talk about doing something else but time permitting, it’s gonna take us ten more years.

’’

-Jimmy Young, Speedball Widow

getting paid very much, but they keep doing it.”

Though Young had been writing songs for the group for some time, Speedball Widow as a whole first came together in June of last year. About a week after their first practice, the band played their first show.

The group’s members were no strangers to playing together in Hattiesburg bands, though.

Young and Ard had previously

played together in Micro Dream Home, while Butler and VanZandt are both alumni of Stale Fashion.

Recalling 1990s indie rock legends like Guided By Voices and Pavement through their penchant for noisy but simple melodies, the group aims to be both cerebral and fun. Young reflects this idea in the band’s mission statement. “We’re just trying to make your head open up a little bit,” said Young. “We play rock, but we also try to put our own little twist on it.”

At the moment, the band’s plans for the following year are fairly modest. Outside of playing more shows and possibly recording, the group is basically playing it by year. “We’re still just kind of embryonic,” said Young. “We always talk about doing something else but time permitting, it’s gonna take us ten more years.”

When pressed further for a description of future plans, the band displayed their easy-going attitudes. “Well, I might move to a new house,” said Ard. Young’s main plans for the moment were even more modest.

“When I get home, I’m probably going to make a sandwich,” said Young.

Lee Boys bring Sacred Steel to Hippo crowd

Submitted Photo

The Lee Boys, of Perrine, Fla., played at The Thirsty Hippo last Thursday. The four man rhythm and blues band have appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien and played at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.

Valerie Warrington Printz Writer

Thursday night at the Thirsty Hippo, Hattiesburg’s hub of underground music, attendants were presented with a talented sacred steel band — the Lee Boys.

The Lee Boys are a family group of three brothers — Alvin Lee (guitar), Derrick Lee and Keith Lee (vocals )— and their three nephews — Roosevelt Collier (pedal steel guitar), Alvin Cordy Jr. (7-string bass) and Earl Walker (drums).

Rising from their House of God Church in Perrine, Fla., they have had numerous career highlights, ranging from appearing on Late Night with Conan O’Brien to playing at the Bonnaroo music festival.

Founder, Alvin Lee, began the band at seven years old with his late brother, Glen.

Their music fills the dimly lit, hazy bar with an overpowering presence. As the bass booms and the cymbals crash, people are soon out of their seats dancing to the eclectic beat infused

‘‘

We want to make people feel good, and if we can do that, our job is done

’’

-Jimmy Young, Speedball Widow

with gospel-style lyrics.

“It’s not really the sittingdown type of music,” says Alvin Lee. Sacred steel is a diverse mix of music, blending genres such as blues, jazz, rock, and funk.

It was an unknown type of music outside of the church until the mid-1990s. Lee says he felt inspired to take the music outside the four walls of his church after the passing of his brother, Glen.

“Our mission is to share with the world something we’ve been doing all our lives,” says Lee. “We want to make people feel good, and if we can do that, our job is done.”

Well, job well done on Thursday night. Men and women, young and old alike were jumping out of their seats dancing to this rhythm and blues-based beat. The Thirsty Hippo successfully presented their music-loving crowd with another cherished genre of undivulged music as provided by the Lee Boys.

Valerie Warrington is a staff writer for The Student Printz. Comments can be sent to printz@usm.edu

Entertainment Calendar Thurs, Feb. 5 •Velcro Pygmies @ the Bottling Company Fri, Feb. 6 •Superjam with Jon Gros, Jeff Mills and Vastie Jackson @ Bennie’s Boom Boom Room •Blackstone Cherry w/Steadlur @ the Bottling Company •Zelazowa w/Makeshift Lover @ the Thirsty Hippo •Chad Knight @ the Tavern Sat, Feb. 7 •Swampnoise @ the Side Street Bar

•The Legendary Shack Shakers @ the Thirsty Hippo •Yo Mamas Big Fat Booty Band @ the Bottling Company •Haddonfield Massacre, Werewolf Casey, Amadeus St. Vidus @ the Tavern Sun, Feb. 8 •Benjy Davis Project w/ Pat McGee and Ernie Walter Wed, Feb. 11 •Just Another Hangover Comedy Tour -- No Cover @ the Bottling Company

www.studentprintz.com www.studentprintz.com | |Entertainment Entertainment

Tuesday,January February 3,2009 2009|| Page Page 7 Tuesday, 13,

Advertising for Super Bowl not great, but entertaining Andy Hess

Executive Editor

Editor’s note: All of the advertisements can be viewed in their entirety at studentprintz. com.

I enjoyed some of the 2009 SuperBowl ads like I enjoyed the amazing 100-yard return by James Harrison last night.

Out of all the Super Bowl XLIII commercials for cars, websites, and movie previews, which ones deserve a second look? Which ads will I fast-forward through

the next time they interrupt my TiVo’d shows?

With that said let’s begin this with the best, the disappointing and the downright horrible.

THE BEST Career Builder.com’s “Tips” commercial was by far the best in show with their very repetitive yet very funny commercial about people who hate their job and hate going to work. All I have to say is that the bespectacled koala was ace in my book.

THE DISAPPOINTING: Bud Light, which is usually

king among the advertisement kingdom, missed for the most part with their ad involving future Tonight Show host Conan O’Brien. The beer might have drinkability, but the commercial did not.

THE DOWNRIGHT HORRIBLE: I cannot express my hatred for the “MacGruber” skit on SNL. It’s quite possibly the worst thing on the planet. To make matters worse, the people over at Pepsi decided it would be good to capitalize on the “MacGruber”

fan base by making “Pepsuber”.

I’ll save my rant for another day.

BEST CAR AD: The “Audi: Chase” ad has one of my major mancrushes in it. “Transporter” star, Jason Statham, is driving through car chases in the 70s, 80s and 90s.

The transitions are beautiful and it ends with Statham in his gorgeous black Audi Supercharged A6. Sold.

COOLEST MOVIE TRAILER: Sorry Transformers fans, I’m going with Disney/Pixar and

Star Trek on this one. There were tons of first timers during the Super Bowl, but those two took the cake.

MOST UNNECESSARY ADS: Did you pick up your pair of 3D glasses? I didn’t. The last 3D film I watched was Bolt in 3D and it was just okay, though the glasses were surprisingly comfortable. However, I don’t think it’s necessary to take movie trailers and spice them up with a fad that isn’t all that interesting.

MOST AWKWARD AD:

Hands down, this goes to Cash4Gold.com. To quote Seth Meyer’s and Amy Poehler, “really?!?” While I don’t plan on cashing in on my previous marriage, Ed McMahon’s “gold hip replacement”, or MC Hammer’s “gold records” I do know I will be skipping this with my TiVo. Despite the lack of great ads this year, at least the game was interesting.

Andy Hess is executive editor for The Student Printz. Comments can be sent to printz@usm.edu

Sports

Sports Scoreboard: Men’s Basketball

1/31 Southern Miss 75 @ UTEP 87

Women’s Basketball

1/29 Marshall 64 @ USM 70 1/25 East Carolina 60 @ USM 68

Page 8 sports@studentprintz.com

Beasley lighting up C-USA Tyler Cleveland Sports Editor

After scoring 54 points in two outings last week, Southern Miss senior guard Courtney Beasley was named Conference USA Player of the Week on Monday.

The honor was the first of Beasley’s career and the first for a Southern Miss player since 2007, when Jeremy Wise garnered the same recognition.

“He’s been our most valuable player this season by far,” Southern Miss coach Larry Eustachy said. “The competition

really isn’t that close either.”

Beasley is averaging 15.3 points and 6.7 rebounds for the season, but in Conference USA play, he’s upped his game to 19.3 points and 7.7 rebounds on average.

In his first game last week, an 84-79 win over Marshall in Hattiesburg, Beasley scored a then-season high 24 points. In the second game Saturday in El Paso, Texas, he scored a careerhigh 30 points in a 87-75 loss to the UTEP Miners.

“It’s great to be honored, but I’d trade the honor for the win over UTEP in a heartbeat,”

Beasley said. “It was a winnable game, and we are a better team than we are showing right now.”

The Golden Eagles are 13-7 overall and 3-3 in Conference USA play, and Monday were ranked No. 85 in the RPI ratings.

Beasley has just 10 games and 14 practices left before his college eligibility will be used up, and admitted that he’s not taking one second for granted.

“After this I can never play another game at the college level,” Beasley said. “I want to finish this thing the right way, and go out on top.”

Eustachy said he credits Courtney’s mother, Shelby Beasley, with the senior’s team-first mentality and overall selflessness.

“He’s a product of a great mother,” Eustachy said. “There’s basically no father figure, and she works two jobs to support herself and her son, and can’t make it to some games because she works so much.”

The player of the week honor seems to be a culmination of a year of hard work for Beasley.

Before the season started the Butler High (Ala.) product made a conscious effort to lose weight, and has improved tremendously in his shooting and physicality.

Next Game:

Christopher Bostick/Printz

Beasley named Conference USA Player of the Week on Monday for scoring 54 points in two games.

Thursday Women’s basketball vs. SMS, 7:05 p.m., Reed Green Coliseum

Wednesday Men’s basketball @ ECU 6 p.m., Greenville, N.C.

Friday Softball vs. Arkansas 6 p.m., Hattiesburg, MS Saturday Men’s basketball vs. UAB, 5 p.m., Hattiesburg

Softball vs. Arkansas 4:30 p.m., Hattiesburg, MS

@

Softball vs. Samford 7 p.m., Hattiesburg, MS Women’s tennis vs. SMU 1 p.m., Hattiesburg, MS Sunday Women’s basketball vs. Tulsa, 12 p.m., Reed Green Coliseum

Lady Eagles down ECU 68-60, fight breast cancer

Christopher Bostick/Printz

Andrea Barber help lead the Lady Eagles to a 68-60 victory over East Carolina.

Kevin Kyzar Printz Writer

Pauline Love rattled off her sixteenth double-double of the season, and the Southern Miss Lady Eagles held off a late second-half run to defeat East Carolina 68-60 Saturday at Reed Green Coliseum.

The Lady Eagles took the lead 23 seconds into the game, and never gave it up.

Love led all scorers with 23 points and added 12 rebounds, and guard Andrea Barber contributed 17 points and six assists.

The first half included a 19-6 run over a seven minute period for the Lady Eagles, which gave them a 19-8 lead. East Carolina responded with eight consecutive

points cutting the lead to 19-16.

The Lady Pirates never got closer to catching the Lady Eagles.

Southern Miss stretched their lead to ten points twice in the first half, the latest at 31-21 at the 3:15 mark. The Lady Eagles went into the half leading 38-31.

In the beginning of the second half, Pauline Love scored the first four points and the Lady Eagles eventually pushed their lead to 13 points midway through the second half.

“We lost our focus during the last game,” Barber said of her teams’ second half energy, “We learned from that.”

Love explained that coach McNelis did not even have to say anything at halftime.

“Coach didn’t have to pump us up, we did it ourselves,” Love

“I’m still not as athletic as a lot of the guys I go up against,” the 6-foot-3 guard explained after practice Monday. “For me, the difference has to be all heart.”

Asked when he started to see the change in Beasley’s attitude, Eustachy referenced his weight loss.

“I know how hard it is to lose weight,” Eustachy said. “For him to lose that 20 pounds before the season told me that he was making a serious re-commitment, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him down to around 200 or 210 (pounds) before the season is over.

“He’ll make money playing basketball after college. He can go overseas and play if he wants to, and those club teams will love him.”

If the Golden Eagles win six of their remaining 10 games, it will be the most victories for one Southern Miss player of the course of three seasons.

That stretch begins on Wednesday when the Golden Eagles travel to Greenville, N.C. to take division rival East Carolina at 6 p.m.

The Eagles will then return home to host UAB at Reed Green Coliseum Saturday at 5 p.m.

said.

McNelis said she was proud of her team.

“You want them to learn from their mistakes,” said Coach McNelis, “It makes you feel great as a coach.”

East Carolina responded by outscoring the Lady Eagles 15-6 over the next ten minutes making the score 59-55 with 2:58 left in the second half. Southern Miss responded by outscoring the Lady Pirates 9-5 in the last minute-anda-half of the game.

Barber scored seven of the Lady Eagles points including a huge three pointer with two seconds left on the shot clock at the 1:30 mark left in the game.

“Yeah I knew there were two seconds left,” said Barber, “My team needed me and being a senior I just kept my cool and shot.”

Southern Miss improved their record to 14-7 overall and 7-1 in C-USA. East Carolina fell to 12-9 and 3-5 in C-USA. As a part of the “PinkZone” promotion, The Lady Eagles wore pink uniforms that were auctioned off after the game. Kendra Reed and Stephanie Helgeson brought in $700 and $500 respectively, and there was also a pink and white basketball auctioned for $1,000.

“The big thing is we’re playing like a team, and we’re really clicking,” said Pauline Love, “The best thing was that my jersey sold for $3,200!”

The Lady Eagles raised a total of $8,925 for the “Waiting for a Cure” foundation, a local breast cancer survivor group that helps with medical expenses.

“The greatest part of the game was the auction for Waiting for a Cure,” McNelis said.

Feb 4th @6 p.m.

Greensboro, N.C.

Jessie Bass/Printz

Beasley is averaging 19.7 points and 7.7 rebounds a game in Conference USA play.

Baseball Preview: Get ready for another season at the Pete Tyler Cleveland Sports Editor

The first of February may not mean much to most college sports fans, but for some it was circled on the calendar for months.

The Southern Miss baseball team officially opened the 2009 season with their first practice Sunday, and has just 17 days to prepare for opening day against Lehigh University at Pete Taylor Park.

The team ran defensive drills and took batting practice on the field.

“It was good for a first practice,” Southern Miss coach Corky Palmer said. “I liked that everyone was giving good effort, especially the younger guys.”

The first of February might seem early to some on the east coast, but for Southern Miss coach Corky Palmer, the first practice date allowed by the NCAA couldn’t come fast enough.

“I’d love to go a week earlier,” Palmer said. “The biggest concern we have is that we still have some competition going on at certain positions and you want to give those as much time as possible to play out. Hopefully ours will play out in time.”

The time the team is allotted couldn’t be more important to the Eagles, who have to replace several departed seniors who carried the team at times last season.

“Guys like Drew Carson, Chris Matesich and (Keith) Winstead you just can’t replace immediately,” Palmer said. “The guys that are replacing them are probably more talented, but they had experience, and you can’t replace or coach that.”

The two returning infield starters for the Eagles include second baseman James Ewing and Brian Dozier, who have both been named preseason All-Conference USA. Dozier, enters the 2009 season with 253 career hits, tenth most in school history.

Ewing, who garnered allconference honors last season, led the team in batting average

Christopher Bostick/Printz

Hattiesburg Adam Doleac practices defensive drills during the first offical practice of the 2009 baseball season.

(.359) and on-base-percentage (.436).

At first base, the Eagles brought in Alabama Southern CC transfer Joey Archer to compete with Hattiesburg native Adam Doleac for playing time. Archer should provide some power to compliment the Eagle’s strong hitting lineup.

Third base is possibly the most wide-open position, and Palmer didn’t name a front-runner for the position. Freshman B.A. Vollmuth and senior Josh Fields might share time at the hot corner, and junior Taylor Walker and freshman Travis Creel are still in the mix.

“We have a lot more options than we did last season,” Palmer said. “Hopefully we had our fair share of injuries last season and this year we can stay relatively healthy.”

Eastfield CC transfer Travis Graves, a Mesquite, Texas native, will share catching duties with returning junior Kyle Maxie. Maxie will likely handle the designating hitting duties like he did last season.

The outfield is as crowded as it has been in a while, with Bo Davis, Michael Ewing and Corey Stevens all returning as seniors.

Davis was all-conference last season and should return to his lead-off role, Stevens hit .271 last season on one leg and Ewing belted 11 home runs to finish second on the team to Drew

Carson.

Junior Nick Smith and sophomores Anthony Doss and Tyler Koelling are all expected to see playing time at some point as well.

The biggest change from last season will be in the Southern Miss starting pitching rotation.

The Eagles return Saturday starter Todd McInnis, who as a sophomore was 6-3 with a 5.45 ERA. The right-hander with the wicked slider will be Palmer’s Friday night starter to open the season.

“Todd is a shut-em-down pitcher,” Palmer said. “On any given day he can go out and give us a shutout-type performance.

We just need to keep him healthy for an entire season, which we’ve had trouble doing.”

Behind McInnis, it’s all JuCo guys.

White Oak, Texas native and Panola CC transfer Scott Copeland will likely end up starting Saturdays, with junior Bossier Parrish CC transfer Moses Munoz or junior Colorado native Cody Schlagel closing out the weekend rotation.

The midweek starters and relievers are a lot more proven, but also added some new faces in the offseason.

Proven arms like Collin Cargill, Johnathan Johnston and J.R. Ballinger will anchor a bullpen that will try to replace departed closer Tyler Conn.