January_27_2009

WOMEN’S B-BALL

Head coach McNelis won her 300th game this weekend when the women’s basketball team beat Rice 65-50. See page 8 for details.

ENTERTAINMENT

GAMES

Need something to do in class? See page 7.

Check out our review of Franz Ferdinand’s Tonight:Franz Ferdinand on page 6.

S P The

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Serving Southern Miss since 1927

Volume 93, Issue 34

State budget presents continuing challenges Lesley Walters News Editor

Budget cuts statewide – including 5 percent at USM before the end of this fiscal year June 30 – have state legislators looking carefully at every expenditure.

“The governor is in a debacle,” said Mississippi District 44 Sen. Tom King, (R-Petal), during “Fridays at 2,” a public affairs program begun this semester by USM’s School of Mass Communication and Journalism, Student Media Center and The Student Printz to help students stay up to date on issues of interest.

Also on hand for the program were Chad Driskell, executive assistant to USM President Dr.

Martha Saunders for external affairs, and Mississippi District 102 Rep. Toby Barker, (R-Hattiesburg).

King said under Mississippi’s constitution, the budget must be balanced when the 2009 fiscal year ends June 30. With sales and corporate taxes significantly lower, Mississippi could face a deficit of $175 to $350 million when July 1 comes around, King said.

Gov. Hailey Barbour issued budget cuts to every state agency earlier in January. Driskell said Barbour has asked USM to cut its budget by 5 percent before June 30 and the university could face additional cuts in fiscal year 2010, which begins July 1.

Barker, who graduated from USM before being elected to the state House of Representatives in 2007, said the cuts do nothing to ease the yearly rise of tuition at Southern Miss.

How Southern Miss is dealing with the cuts Driskell said the university receives funding from two main sources: state appropriations and tuition. For fiscal year 2009, the state has provided $95 million in revenue, and tuition yielded another $91 million, he said.

The university will have to cut Sebe Dale IV/Printz around $6 million from its budUniversity of Southern Mississippi Executive Assistant to the president for External Affairs Chad Driskell, Mississipget between now and June 30,

See BUDGET page 3

pi District 44 Sen. Tom King and Mississippi District 102 Rep. Toby Barker discuss the happenings of the Mississippi legislator with students at the Friday@2 session in the Student Printz office.

Go Gold cards get mixed reviews

Andie Szabo

House passes cigarette tax

Illustration by Sebe Dale IV/Printz

Printz Writer

While the process of distributing loan refunds has always been a challenge for the Southern Miss Department of Business Services and students alike, the new system of replacing paper checks with Go Gold cards has been helpful to some King, when discussing past and a hassle for others. versions of the cigarette tax, The card was mailed to the home referred to a 2006 proposal address listed on student accounts that would both raise the for everyone enrolled in a class cigarette tax and cut the at USM. Since most of the cards grocery tax in half. At the were sent out during the holidays, time, Gov. Hayley Barbour, some students have not yet received a former tobacco lobbyist, theirs. vetoed the bill. He also Even without the card in hand, vetoed a previous version of however, most students have the bill that would have raised received several E-mails from the cigarette tax by $1 and Higher One, the financial service gradually eliminated the sales company that is processing the tax on groceries. refunds for Southern Miss.

For the 2010 fiscal year that Students can set up a OneAccount, begins July 1, the governor a free and federally insured checking has included a 24-cent per account offered through Higher pack cigarette tax increase in One, according to its Web site. the budget proposal he sent to According to the Higher One Web legislators in November. site, as soon as the OneAccount King said the tax is still a is activated and the refund is hot issue, especially now with delivered, a student can begin using the new budget cuts. He said the MasterCard® anywhere it is that many are on Medicaid accepted. due to cigarettes, so he hopes Southern Miss Assistant Bursar the added revenue from the Chris Cook said that in order to possible tax increase will go further help students, the Business towards Medicaid itself.

Services office has ordered two “There are so many needs automated teller machines to be out there,” said King. “We’re installed on campus with a third on going to have to take it one its way. issue at a time.”

One ATM is located in the Cook

Bill would approved 82-cent increase if passed in Senate Meryl Dakin

T

Printz Writer

he Mississippi House of Representatives approved an 82cent increase on the cigarette tax January 14, and the bill is on its way to the Senate for consideration.

Toby Barker, Mississippi state representative, explained that this bill has been proposed and considered for years. He said he has campaigned to raise this tax because there is a clear correlation between smokers and Medicaid recipients who suffer from a smoking-related illness.

Mississippi’s current cigarette tax is 18 cents per pack, the third lowest in the nation, said state Senator Tom King. The new measures would increase the tax to $1, higher than that of neighbors Louisiana at 36 cents, Alabama at 43 cents

and Tennessee at 62 cents per pack.

“We could unintentionally create a black market for cigarettes if the tax is raised too high,” said King, R-Petal.

With tobacco prices so low in surrounding areas, border smokers would simply buy their cigarettes from a neighboring state, Barker said, causing a loss of revenue for Mississippi.

Some representatives are vying for a smaller increase in order to keep Mississippi’s cigarette prices within range of bordering states.

Barker, R-Hattiesburg, said he expects the bill approved by the House to change as it passes through legislation.

“I can’t speculate on what the Senate’s going to do, but I can guarantee you it won’t be an 82-cent increase,” he said, “and then we’ll probably meet somewhere in the middle once we go to conference.”

Rep. Percy Watson, the bill’s sponsor, said the loss of tobacco customers to

other states “…may have a small effect on [revenue], but I don’t think it would be significant…I really don’t believe someone would go 60, 70, 80 miles just to get one pack of cigarettes.”

Should the new tax pass in Mississippi, legislators speculate an additional $78 million in tax revenue for this fiscal year and $200 million for the next.

Watson, D-Hattiesburg, said that the higher price of cigarettes would reduce youth smoking by 20 percent and lead 23,000 adults to quit.

Smokers who want to quit and avoid the new tax can go to Student Health Services at USM for smoking cessation products, including Chantix, which can be filled through the clinic for free to students.

According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, 4,700 Mississippians die each year from tobacco-related deaths, and smoking causes $264 million in Medicaid costs alone.

Library on the left side of the lobby.

The other is located in the RC Cook Union near the information desk.

Students can also opt to have the refund sent from the OneAccount to a personal bank account, or choose to have a traditional paper check sent to them here on campus or at home, though each process could take a few weeks.

To transfer a refund to another account, students must print out, sign and mail a form to the Higher One bank in Connecticut where it is processed before the transfer takes place. The Business Services office on campus has these forms on hand and can offer assistance to students, Cook said.

It is always a possibility, even once you have set up your account, to change the type of refund you will receive.

Cook said these cards are meant to be convenient for the students. The school is not making any money off of this service.

If anything, they are just saving money by not printing as many paper checks as in past years, Cook said. This new method also agrees with our campus wide movement to go green.

If students have any more questions or would like to know anything else about the card, contact Cook in the Business Services office or E-mail him at Christopher.

Cook@usm.edu. Students should also visit www.gogoldone.com for more detailed information.

United Blood Services: Blood supply ‘dangerously low’ Lesley Walters News Editor

A state of emergency has been declared by United Blood Services in Mississippi, the only provider of blood, plasma and platelets to 66 hospitals in the state and West Alabama.

Executive Director Dwight Sledge said only blood voluntarily donated to UBS is used locally “to help your family, friends and neighbors receiving treatment.”

As of Friday, when Sledge de-

INDEX

CALENDAR............................2 DIRTYBIRDS..........................2 OPINIONS...............................4 CONTACT INFO.....................5

clared the state of emergency, the statewide blood supply was “at a very dangerous level.” The office in Hattiesburg had a combined 114 units of blood of all types, according to a Hattiesburg American article.

“There is no blood on the shelves,” Sledge said in a press release. “When United Blood Services has no blood, our hospitals and patients have no blood.”

Heather Knight, UBS marketing and communications specialist, said the only two other times she

ENTERTAINMENT..................6 ENT. CALENDAR...................7 CROSSWORD/SUDOKU........7 SPORTS....................................8

can pinpoint when the blood supply was critical were during Sept.

11, 2001 and the Lockheed Martin shooting July 8, 2003.

Knight said Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg uses more red blood cell products than any other recipient hospital, and used 10,768 units of blood last year. She added that in 2008 UBS was the primary provider of blood products to 74 hospitals and health centers in Mississippi and Alabama.

The UBS office in Hattiesburg needs to draw an average of 150

units each day to meet the needs of area patients, Knight said. In this month alone, UBS as a whole expects to be short between 600 and 700 units, she added.

Knight said only 37 percent of the national population is eligible to donate blood products, but only one in 10 actually give.

“If every eligible donor were to give three times a year, blood supplies would be at a safe and adequate level,” she said. “That is why David N. Jackson/Printz

See SUPPLY page 3

John Smith watches a DVD player he brought from home while he donates platelets at United Blood Services. Platelets are used during leukemia and cancer treatment.

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

TODAY

TOMORROW

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www.studentprintz.com |Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Dirty Birds

A view from the top

1.08.09 Pinehaven Apts -- Motor Vehicle accident -- Incident report on file 1.09.09 111 Fraternity Dr -- Petit Larceny -- Two incident reports were filed regarding theft of fraternity letters, a plaque, a canvas painting, composite photo and several personal items of residents.

1.11.09 31st Ave -- Police Assist -- One citation was issued for Disregard of Traffic Control Device. The vehicle driver was turned over to HPD officer for DUI. Montague Blvd -- Alcohol -- One campus citation was issued for Minor in Possession of Alcohol 1.12.09 31st Ave -- Vandalism -- UPD officer discovered a broken window at building 148. No sign of entry.

The report was forwarded to Physical Plant for repair.

Southern Miss Dr -- Motor Vehicle Accident -- MS Uniform Crash report filed Thad Cochran Center -- Disturbance -- Marcus Ducksworth, B/M, 21 yoa, Hattiesburg address, was arrested and charged with Trespassing. Another subject was issued a post release citation for Profanity.

1.13.09 Performing Arts -- Petit Larceny -- A student reported the theft of a black Huffy brand mountain bike.

Black & Gold Blvd -- Disturbance -- One campus citation was issued for Noise Violation.

Cook Library -- Petit Larceny -- A student reported his cell phone as stolen Polymer Science -- Suspicious Person -- Report on file. Follow-up by UPD investigators.

Thad Cochran Center -- Lost Property -- A student reported his wallet as lost.

Sigma Alpha Ep -- Hit and Run -- Incident report filed.

Walker Science Bldg -- Petit Larceny -- A faculty member reported the theft of a laptop computer.

Barnes & Noble -- Petit Larceny -- A student attempted to sell back books that were stolen 1.14.09 Honors House -- Motor Vehicle Accident -- MS Uniform Crash report on file

Eli Baylis/Printz

Raphael Serna takes a second to look down at his co-workers while repairing the roof of Southern Hall. He and the crew also repaired the roof of the Administration Building after Hurricane Katrina.

Events Calendar TODAY All Day -- Learn To Swim Registration, Session II -- M.C. Johnson Natatorium 10 a.m. -- Museum of Art presents “Cross Connections” Exhibition -- Museum of Art 11:30 a.m. -- EcoEagle Lecture Series -- Thad Cochran Center Ballroom 11:45 a.m. -- Climate Project -- Thad Cochran Center Ballroom 6 p.m. -- Emanuel Gruber Guest Artist Cello Recital -- Marsh Auditorium 7 p.m. -- Men’s Basketball v. Marshall -- Reed Green Coliseum

7:30 p.m. -- Dariusz Samol Guest Artist Saxophone Recital -- Mannoni Performing Arts Center 8 p.m. -- Wesley Foundation JAM -- Wesley Foundation TOMORROW All Day -- Learn To Swim Registration, Session II -- M.C. Johnson Natatorium 10 a.m. -- Museum of Art presents “Cross Connections” Exhibition -- Museum of Art 12:15 p.m. -- Wednesday Workshop, Online Image -- TEC 102

1.15.09 McCarty Hall -- Petit Larceny -- A student reported the theft of a green Schwinn mountain bike. The bike was recovered in a bike rack at Cook Library.

Owings-McQuagge -- Petit Larceny -- A student reported she left her purse on a table and when she returned the purse was gone.

Southern Miss Dr -- Motor Vehicle Accident -- MS Uniform crash report on file.

Walker Science Bldg -- Grand Larceny -- A faculty member reported these items missing: 1 electronic balance, 12 graduated cylinders and 3 digital thermometers.

Service Dr -- Motor Vehicle Accident -- MS Uniform Crash report on file.

1.18.09 Fraternity Dr -- Alcohol -- Four campus citations were issued for Minor in Possession.

Payne Center -- Medical Assist -- AAA Ambulance transported a student to FGH 1.19.09 Hattiesburg Hall -- Disturbance -- Incident report forwarded to Residence Life and Dean of Students office.

Cook Library -- Medical Assist -- A student was transported to FGH by AAA ambulance.

4th St -- Motor Vehicle Accident -- MS Uniform Crash report on file.

1.20.09 Chain Tech Lot -- Service Non-Criminal -- A vehicle driver reported she struck a pedestrian. The pedestrian advised he was not injured and did not want medical attention.

Polymer Science -- Damaged Property -- A student reported damage to her vehicle’s wheel caused by a boot.

1.21.09 Montague Blvd -- Police Assist -- A reserved parking sign belonging to Parking Management was found inside a parking vehicle. The owner was contacted and the case sent to the Dean of Students office.

Vann Hall Lot -- Vandalism -- A student reported his vehicle was scratched by unknown person.

Elam Arms -- Service-Non Criminal -- Incident forwarded to Residence Life.

Liberal Arts Bldg -- Suspicious Person -- A student reported to UPD seeing an unidentified looking into unoccupied offices.

Elam Arms -- Service Non-Criminal -- Incident forwarded to Residence Life.

www.studentprintz.com |News

Tuesday, January 27, 2009 | Page 3

People’s Poll: What are your thoughts on the GoGold card?

Chelsea Townsend Freshman Entertainment Industry Studies Brandon, MS Do you think the GoGold card is a good idea? I really don’t like it. I would rather have the check itself instead of getting it back on the card.

Are you going to use your card? No, I’m going to get a paper check. I have to give the money back to my parents.

Have you had any problems with your card so far? I just would rather have the check so I could cash it.

Phuong Bui Sophomore Nursing Hattiesburg, MS Do you think the GoGold card is a good idea? I think so, the thing is when people carry their money around, they usually drop their money everywhere, and then people find it and keep it for themselves. Another good thing about it is that it’s like a debit card. You know how in the future, all of your money is going to be kept on a card so you can just swipe it. I got a check in the mail Are you going to use your card? I might if there is money on it. I haven’t even started the account yet.

Have you had any problems with your card so far? All I have done is hold on to it.

Ngoc Vu Sophomore Biochemistry Biloxi, MS Do you think the GoGold card is a good idea?

I think it’s a good idea. It’s kind of a debit card which makes it a lot safer for girls to carry it around, and you actually get your money that day.

Are you going to use your card? I’m currently using mine, but I’m probably going to transfer some money out into my other bank account, because I like my other bank account.

Have you had any problems with your card so far? I just don’t like the idea that you have to run it as credit, because it charges you when you run it as debit.

Brittany Bridges Graduate Student Accounting Newton, MS Do you think the GoGold card is a good idea? From what I know about it, yeah it’s a good, productive idea.

Are you going to use your card? If I receive refunds, I don’t know if I will since I’m a grad student and I have a graduate assistantship which pays for my tuition. If I was in undergrad I probably would.

Have you had any problems with your card so far? I haven’t received it yet.

Ken Busby Junior Molecular Biology Mobile, AL Do you think the GoGold card is a good idea?

I think it is a good idea, I don’t know too much about it, I still haven’ t set mine up, but I think that it’s efficient and it lets people work with their accounts online and they can deal with it that way instead of

just getting their check in the mail.

Are you going to use your card? Yeah, I plan to use it. I should have a refund, so I will use it.

Have you had any problems with your card so far? I haven’t set it up. I plan on using the card though, I don’t think I will get the check form.

Apryl Jackson Senior Public Relations Mobile, AL

Budget continued from page one Driskell said.

“Every dime we lose from the state appropriations side, or that we are not able to retain, is a direct negative impact,” on the quality of programs, faculty and education offered on the Southern Miss campus, Driskell said.

Maintaining quality is “the number one concern with the university right now,” Driskell said. Much of the university’s budget goes to personnel, he said, and Saunders has said that cutting personnel is the last option she wants to consider in meeting budget demands.

The first step, Driskell said, is to cut travel and avoid new equipment purchases. The university has also instituted a hiring freeze that will last until at least July.

“None of us like that,” King said.

“My responsibility as a legislator should be lowering tuition so that more people can come. The higher it goes, the fewer people are going to be able to come to school.”

Also a Southern Miss alum, King said he wants to avoid another tuition increase in the fall, but admitted it is unlikely that another increase can be avoided in the current budget crisis.

King said 63 percent of the state’s general funds budget goes to education, with K-12 education getting a large chunk of that money. “Lately the universities have missed out; (they) should have received more,” King said.

However, getting a majority of legislators to vote in favor of universities over K-12 education is hard to do, he said.

Do you think the GoGold card is a good idea? I don’t think it’s a good idea right now, because the school is in a financial freeze, and I think that was unnecessary money spent that could have been spent on taking away this whole financial freeze thing. It is efficient in teaching students how to manage money on a credit card. Because it does come in the form of a credit card, and I know it has limit on how much money you can take out a day and things of that nature, but I don’t think we should have been forced to use it. It should have been an option.

Are you going to use your card? No, probably not. If I get a refund, it’s going to be pretty minimal, so I will probably just get the check and we encourage residents to pay off my bookstore bill. make it their goal to donate Have you had any three times a year.” problems with your card so The Hattiesburg UBS cenfar? I haven’t done anything with it. I’ve kind of ignored those emails, but I found out today I need to read those emails so that I can find out what to do with the card once I get it.

Barker said he has introduced a bill that would make student flex meal plans tax-free again. A new law taxing college meal plans went into effect in November.

“It’s not going to affect state revenue that much, but it ... might help you guys individually, and I think that’s worth the effort,” he said.

PLANS FOR THE COAST Statewide budget cuts stem from a lack of tax revenue, including homeowners’ taxes, King said.

Since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the housing situation on the Gulf Coast has improved, but King said many residents are leasing apartments or renting homes -- not buying them.

“When your insurance premiums are higher that your mortgage payments, people can’t live there or buy homes,” he said. “That’s the problem.”

A $600 million expansion project for the port of Gulfport using federal grant money earmarked for Katrina recovery has proved divisive because many feel those funds would be better used in urban development. But Driskell said expanding the port could provide the real base for recovery on the Gulf Coast, turning the port into one of the busiest in the world.

Driskell said current work to widen the Panama Canal coupled with the “migration” of low-cost production to the west coast of Africa, closer to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, makes Gulfport a prime spot for a thriving port. Also, the

expansion would take place in 15 feet of water, which is much easier and less expensive to build than other ports around the country, Driskell said.

“The university has been involved with the port planners ... Dr. Saunders has got several of us working on projects related to the port,” he said, including degree programming to help educate those working in the port.

PROBLEMS IN THE STATE King described himself as “an eternal optimist” but admits coming out of the recession will be a long, slow process for the Mississippi economy and as a result, for lawmakers.

“We have a big and awesome responsibility,” he said. “There are many issues on the table. … It’s sad, but it’s happening all over -not just our area, and not only our state -- it’s happening all over the country,” King said. “Believe it or not, we’re probably doing a little better than some.”

King said Louisiana and Alabama each have more than $300 million in deficits and Tennessee faces a deficit of nearly $1 billion.

Another silver lining in the dark cloud of this economy, he said, is that Mississippi added some money to its rainy day fund last year, bringing the total to around $380 million. King said using that money frivolously or spending it all in one year “would be very foolish.” He said Barbour has advised against spending more than $90 million from the rainy day fund each year for the next

four years.

“I think everyone -- Republican or Democrat -- can honestly say that when July 1 hits in the next fiscal year, we’ll be taking $90 million out a year,” Barker said. “So yeah, the umbrella is coming out.”

That may be the only thing Mississippi republican and democratic legislators can agree on, Barker said.

“I ran (for office) to be a consensus-builder,” he said. He quickly learned that was not going to be easy.

King agreed many legislators “forget why we’re here.” He said elected officials should “serve and do what’s right, and get along and pass legislation that will help the people of Mississippi.

“If you don’t feel that way, and you’re an elected official, then you need to resign,” King said. “That’s the way I feel about it.”

While those in the Legislature continue the fight to make every penny sing, students should make the best of a poor economy and stay focused on their future careers, Driskell said.

“Get your education as quickly as you can so you do not incur too much debt, and get out and become a productive citizen in the work force,” Driskell said. “Now might be the time, if you are considering graduate school ... get all the education you can now so you can be a more productive citizen and contribute more money back through the tax system.”

Supply continued from page one ter is located at 805 S. 28th Ave. They are open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday and

Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturday from 1 to 6 p.m. Knight said centers in Hattiesburg, Meridian and

Tupelo are staying open during weekends to accommodate more donors.

Go green! Recycle this issue of the Printz when youʼre done with it.

Garrick Aubé Freshman Computer Science Poplarville, MS Do you think the GoGold card is a good idea? It’s a good idea because it gives students another option on how to receive their refunds and ensure that students get their refunds as soon as possible.

Are you going to use your card? I am not. I have decided instead to receive a paper check. I still like it, but the check gives me more options as to how I will use my refund.

Have you had any problems with your card so far? I haven’t. I just got the link to set it up on my email account. I actually had not problems at all. It was a really smooth process.

Erin Sorey Junior Biological Sciences Jackson, MS Do you think the GoGold card is a good idea?

Yes, I do. I think it will be very convenient. Although I still haven’t gotten mine in the mail, I’ve gotten five emails about it.

Are you going to use your card? Yeah, if I get one, if it ever comes in. The email keeps telling me it will come in the mail, but it’s not here yet.

Have you had any problems with your card so far? It’s not here yet so… definitely not, or definitely so depending on how you look at it.

Opinions

Page 4 opinions@studentprintz.com

Times are hard;be ready Budget change is needed

Like most of you, I’m a broke college kid. At some point, almost all of us are.

We have trouble making Olivia rent, paying Lightsey our Visa bills, Printz Writer or eating more than cold cereal for dinner. It’s a normal, natural part of growing up and surviving college, right?

But there’s a bigger problem now. If things keep going the way they’ve been going, we’ll be a bunch of broke college kids attending a broke college in a broke state.

Gov. Haley Barbour recently declared a five percent budget cut for Mississippi’s eight major universities, effective this fiscal year. I can almost hear you saying, “So what?

Five percent isn’t much.” That’s where you’re wrong. Between IHL appropriations and other state funding, USM is losing roughly $6 million--right now.

In other words, between now and June 30, USM has to cut $6 million out of its budget. See the problem?

The university is doing everything it can to avoid laying people off,

including immediately freezing university-funded travel and equipment purchases that aren’t absolutely essential.

Student workers, beware. If your job is not really necessary, you might be in the line of fire. Professors, I hope you don’t need a new laptop anytime soon. And staff members, be sure you’re crossing your t’s and dotting your i’s.

I know we all feel like USM milks us for every penny. We’re charged for everything imaginable, and tuition has gone up every year for as long as we can remember. However, there are some basic things we can do to help make USM’s job of cutting back a little bit easier. Maybe we can even avoid more seemingly random and petty charges to our student accounts.

USM is Mississippi Power’s biggest non-industrial customer. The power bill for this campus is higher than any of us can imagine. If you live on campus, turn your lights off when you leave your dorm room, or turn the bathroom light off when you’re not using it. You could even be eco-friendly and turn the water off while you brush your teeth.

Professors, flip the lights off while you’re teaching classes or working

elsewhere. If a campus-wide effort is made to drop USM’s electric bill, I bet we can knock quite a chunk off the budget almost immediately.

I’ve also noticed vandalism all over campus, from writing on bathroom walls to graffiti on the outside of buildings. Not only are these things childish and immature, but they cost a lot of money to clean.

Every $2 scrub brush and $3 bottle of cleaning spray adds up, and fast.

That doesn’t even touch the labor cost to pay someone for cleaning up an unnecessary mess.

Treat the university’s property with care and respect. Library books, lab equipment, and other items provided for our use can be quite expensive to replace, and USM really can’t afford it right now, just like you can’t afford that new pair of shoes you were drooling over at the mall this weekend.

Our university can be as incredible as we want it to be, but every student here is responsible for doing his or her part, especially now. We owe it to all the people who have devoted their lives here to teaching us, helping us grow, and improving our quality of life.

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

Most of us have noticed the decrease in school jobs and the continuing increase in William C. tuition cost.

However, Allred most never Printz Writer stop to realize why these are required or how relatively worse it could be.

Any student who looks up the tuition costs of the major universities in this state or the surrounding area will find our financial situation well within reason for what this institution offers, if not much better. Auburn is over $3000 per semester. Memphis is over $3000 as well, with fees and all the other costs. The University of Alabama at Birmingham is an insane $4700 for the freshmen year before the other fees are added.

Consider what we have in commodities and programs at

Southern Miss: academic and athletic curriculum with restaurants, a massive gym and much more for our use. Would a little increase in tuition to maintain these really scare you away? Let me guess, you wonder if your hard-spent money really goes toward this, right?

Dr. Joseph Paul, President of Student Affairs, invited me into his office and explained how the school gets the majority of its funding. Dr. Paul said our college experience is made possible by private grants, donations, state aid and student tuition. He said state funding and tuition takes up about 52 percent of the facility’s operating income, tuition being over half of that.

Clearly, any time there is a cut to one of these areas, the other must be able to compensate. Since a university does not run on air, money is needed to keep the level of education as high as possible.

Why the decrease in student

employment if the tuition takes up the loss of state budgeting? Why the cutting of departmental budgets?

Well, in consideration of the students, the university decided to only raise costs slightly, Dr. Paul said. Therefore, other cutbacks had to be made until alternate means of income are discovered. All of this preserves the quality of our education and allows for student growth.

I, for one, will not complain these next few years as the university tightens its belt.

Instead, we all should remember why we attend this place: to get an education. With an education, more money and opportunity awaits us all in the real world.

Take it from someone who has worked out there for years. It will be much more than what awaits the guy who drops out.

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

Yes, my president is black The election and recent inauguration of President Barack Obama is something Marika Americans Smith of all races Printz Writer and classes will be perpetually discussing throughout the coming years.

While there is a certain level of excitement that should be gained from the fact that the United States now has its first president with African-American blood, citizens must also be wary of getting their hopes up and becoming ignorant.

Following the election of President Obama, there was what can only be defined as a riot near my home. There was a person jumping on a car yelling something to the effect of “My president is Black! I don’t have to pay my mortgage anymore!”

First of all…what? How exactly does the election of a person automatically forgive someone else his or her debt? I doubt the President of the United States is going to come to a college

town in Mississippi just to tell one person that they no longer have to pay their mortgage.

Citizens, regardless of race, class, or circumstance, must be wary of these assertions. These statements not only make the speaker appear uneducated, they also imply a certain level of ignorance to everyone that associates with him or her.

There are students at local high schools who are not supporters of our new president merely because of how they are treated by the students that do support him. These students have endured verbal abuse and even beatings by their peers who believe because their president is black they can now do whatever they want. They treat these students as if they do not all have the same president. It is exciting that the country has its first black president, and I do not mean to imply that we should not be excited about this great milestone in our nation’s history. I merely hope to convey that there should be a sense of trepidation combined with the sense of hope that has overcome the majority of the country (myself included). We must

guard against becoming ignorant. Things won’t only fail to change overnight; they may not change very much at all. These are the situations for which we must be prepared.

We have made great strides in the past century, especially in the realm of equal rights, and this election is by far the most exciting yet; however, we must realize that President Obama is the President of the United States. He is everyone’s president. This is a fact we must understand. Just like how we all still have to pay our bills and go to work to feed our families, we all must follow the rules and laws of the country. Discrimination of any kind is to be discouraged. We have been fighting for equal rights for all, all races, all genders, and all orientations. This country was founded on the assertion that “all men are created equal”, and we all have the same president.

My president is black and if you are a citizen of the United States, so is yours.

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

Weight shouldn’t be an issue In today’s society, everyone is expected to look a certain way, especially celebrities. Most Shakeshia of the time weight plays Harris a big part in Printz Writer their appearance. I get really sick of hearing about the people who society thinks is too big or too skinny. Never in all my days did I imagine this would apply to government officials such as the first lady.

While surfing the net I came

across an article by Irene Rumaum-Keller from “The Huffington Post” entitled “Do You Think Michelle Obama Needs to Lose Weight?” I said to myself, “Oh my God they can’t be serious!” As I read on, Irene wasn’t at all trying to accuse Michelle of being overweight or anything like that. Rumaum-Keller was merely stating that she didn’t think Michelle was a perfect size and wanted to know if anyone else felt the same.

Of course Rumaum-Keller got a great deal of comments in response to her article, and for the most part they were very positive. Most of the were cheering Michelle on, hoping that she sets a new standard

for women in society. Females of all ages everywhere are looking to her to make a difference and be a positive role model who can step outside the box and stay there.

I for one love the fact that Michelle is a healthy size! She is 5”11 at 175 pounds and wears a size 12.

For a mother of two, that’s not a bad size at all. Michelle finds time around her busy schedule to work out whenever she can to keep her weight stable. I really admire her, and hope that Michelle keeps up the good work.

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

Anniversary continues debate S������ The

������ Sexual education programs need reform 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

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David Jackson Photo Editor

Brandon Phillips Circulation Manager

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Publications Manager Maggie Williams

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On the 36th anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision to protect abortion rights under Tyler Cleveland the law of the United Sports Editor States, there are many who wish the decision reversed.

Many more, however, want to see it upheld.

According to a recent USA Today poll, only 18 percent of Americans would outlaw abortion if given the chance.

The exact same percentage of people wanted to outlaw abortion in 1975, just two years after the Supreme Court

decision establishing abortion rights.

While demonstrations have become more drastic and flamboyant, the public perception hasn’t changed its tune.

No matter how you break it down, laws to diminish abortion rights would also impede the first amendment by imposing one set of religious views upon the entire nation.

While the “choose life� camp has been in the spotlight but has actually made no headway in the national opinion on abortion, cooler heads have come up with a way to decrease abortion effectively by using sexual-awareness education and distributing contraceptives at every turn.

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control, the number of abortions in the United States in 2003 was 848,163.

That’s a big drop from the peak number of 1,429,247 reported in 1990.

While the government should be applauded for its efforts in the sex-ed department, bolder steps should now be taken to further reduce the need for abortions.

According to ABC news in March of 2008, 17 states started to reject money from the federal government that was allotted for “abstinence only� sex education, stating there is a “lack of evidence� that abstinence actually works.

Go figure.

I’m sure Congress will put

together some kind of blueribbon panel to get to the bottom of this, but I’ll sum it up for them in two words: Horny teenagers.

Now we have a recent federal report that shows the state of Mississippi currently ranks first in teen pregnancy rates with numbers 60 percent higher than the national average.

Surprise, surprise: state law does not require sex-ed in the classroom.

Yet Mississippi, if given the choice, would probably be the first state in the union (save possibly Utah) to outlaw abortion all-together.

Now take a look at the states of Minnesota, New Jersey and Vermont. All three have roughly half of the national

As the nation rejoices for our new President, there are many who stand brokenhearted over Brittney the change Cooley that Barack Printz Writer Obama plans for the future--more specifically, his plan to sign the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) if Congress approves it. The FOCA is a piece of potential legislation that aims to protect the right of choice regarding pregnancy from a federal level.

Many don’t understand my position. They can’t comprehend the injustice of abortion, but this issue has stood out to me in recent times and through-

out the elecowner. Can we tion season. draw a paralWe have become a cannibalistic na- not I can’t let it lel to this? Aborgo.

Killing tion, feeding our convenience with tion is today’s the unborn is slavery. It’s simthe innocent lives of our offspring. simply imple: one person moral. makes a choice More than which forces anthe history of these enlightened ever before, other’s life to be we as a nation have looked times will scarce believe that it changed forever--just like buyback in history to the days of has been suffered to exist so ing a slave. slavery and have been remind- long a disgrace and dishonor to The FOCA has been designed ed of how far we have come. this country.� to repel any threats to the suWilberforce was a member preme court case Roe v. Wade, Just one thought of this degree of human inequality turns our of Parliament in Britain, who meaning that any woman, dedicated the last 20 years of anywhere in the United States stomachs.

I believe there will come a his life to ending slavery in would have the legal right day when we will look back his land. He followed in the to kill her unborn baby. The on abortion and feel this same footsteps of Rev. John Newton FOCA also includes provisions who called upon his people to about lifting the requirement disgust.

I quote William Wilberforce, “speak up for those who cannot of parental consent for minors “Never, never will we desist till speak for themselves.� wishing to have an abortion.

A slave by definition is the we ‌ extinguish every trace of America voted in this electhis bloody traffic, of which legal property of a human be- tion for the best interest of their our posterity, looking back to ing, who is forced to obey the pocketbooks, and now we have

average of abortions per capita, and all three require sex-ed by state law.

The right to choose is not the culprit here. If you really want to see an end to abortions, support comprehensive sexual education so that teenagers can make informed decisions.

The fact is that abstinenceonly does not and will never work. The only proper way to effectively limit the number of required abortions in the United States is to treat kids like adults when talking about sex and properly inform them about the birds and the bees.

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

Freedom Of Choice Act harms unborn

‘‘

’’

Changing Micro Jacob Key Printz Writer

The past few months have proven that no one is recessionproof, not even Microsoft.

CEO Steve Ballmer’s technology giant recently broke the news that 5,000 employees were getting a pink slip, with most coming out of the company’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington. Microsoft has owned the home computer sector, well, forever. But a slow market has proven damaging to the company’s fortunes. What’s interesting though, is that overall revenue actually grew by two percent last quarter; so I must wonder, why the thousands of layoffs? What’s Microsoft so afraid of?

You may wonder how rival Apple is riding out the storm.

While Microsoft is floundering, Apple seems to be running smoothly. With hardware components selling for low prices, Apple’s notoriously cookie-cutter-like Macs are being made for less money and sold for more, helping to boost profits; the iPod and iPhone are also moving units at a healthy rate.

However, iPod sales always plunge after Christmas and new iPhones won’t be manufactured for several months, so Apple can’t ride the success of its record holiday season for long.

According to cnet.com, there is even speculation that a significant portion of the company’s income, namely sales to educational clients, may take a hit in the coming months. So, despite Apple’s hardy resistance to economic slowdown, I can’t see blaming Apple for Microsoft’s problems; the company may be raking in cash, but that’s nothing new.

The answer to Microsoft’s woes is buried a little deeper still. Perhaps you’ve seen someone using one of those ridiculously small $300 laptops, called a netbook. Netbooks are laptops just powerful enough to surf the internet and do basic desktop publishing, but they

can also use the internet to access the raw computing power of a larger server to perform tasks that the netbook can’t handle, making them very cost effective. And since these very basic netbooks don’t have the resources to run Windows Vista, they use either Windows XP or...Linux.

That’s right. Community-developed Linux (which is widely available for free, for those of you who don’t know) is taking on Microsoft and winning. The frugal economic atmosphere and the allure of a free and powerful alternative to the $300 Windows system are making Linux more attractive to businesses and financially pressed consumers, rather than just enthusiasts and technophiles; cnet.com reports that President Obama is even looking into folding opensource software into governmental use. It’s even possible to easily run Windows programs on a Linux computer since the release of Wine 1.0 last June.

Currently, thirty percent of netbooks are running Linux, which was enough to make Microsoft’s client software dive eleven percent last quarter.

The future is hard to predict for any company in a market as volatile as today’s, but some things are looking likely: the popularity of netbooks is going to challenge Linux as a true market contender, but the development community seems up to the challenge. Microsoft is hard at work crafting a version of the upcoming Windows 7 to run on the netbook platform, and will most certainly have to release it before 2010 to beat back Linux’s strides into the market. I can’t wait to see how this goes: Microsoft has never really had to actively compete before. I’m excited to see what their guys come up with to try and maintain the company’s slipping market dominance.

It’ll have to be more impressive than Vista, gentlemen.

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

a dilemma on our hands.

We have become a cannibalistic nation, feeding our convenience with the innocent lives of our offspring. There are 50 million people missing in our generation because we thought it unnecessary for them to live.

I agree that there needs to be a change in our nation. We need change in our economy, the housing market, employment rates and so much more.

But no matter how big of a turnaround we see in those areas, if we continue to murder the generations who are to follow in our footsteps, America will be no more. We have to be the change.

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

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

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Reviews

Page 6 entertainment@studentprintz.com

MUSIC

Franz Ferdinand falls flat with Tonight Eric Nagurney

Entertainment Editor

For a while, Franz Ferdinand seemed awfully hard to hate. By taking Gang of Four’s angular dance-punk riffs and infusing them with Smiths-like self-deprecation, the Scottish group initially came off like an 80’s Brit-rock supergroup. Their debut played like a dance party hosted by the world’s most depressed man, all brought together by infectious super-hit “Take Me Out.” Sophomore effort You Could Have It So Much Better dropped much of the sadsack act for pure whimsy and a newfound aggressiveness. In an interesting flip on the rock stereotype, the group didn’t make a more mature (read: boring) sophomore slump, laughing at such notions with pure campy fun.

FRANZ FERDINAND

TONIGHT: FRANZ FERDINAND

If Franz Ferdinand was initially attempting to subvert a typical career arc, their third record, Tonight: Franz Ferdinand, makes it clear they’ve abandoned that plan. Tonight is very much the typical “difficult” third record, in which the group tries to expand their sound with bold experiments. In theory, this isn’t the worst plan. After a four year gap between records, rehashing the 2004 debut wouldn’t quite cut it.

While the majority of Tonight takes the band’s sound to new places, most of these experiments fall a bit flat.

The band has referred to Tonight as their “night album” and their new bass-heavy, club-ready sound certainly reflects that. Lead single “Ulysses” is the best realization of this sound, even if its pulsing bassline and whispered lyrics sound weirdly similar to Spoon’s “I Turn My Camera On.” Once the song reaches its chaotic (by Franz Ferdinand standards) climax, it has become quite satisfying, even if the realization that it is probably the band’s weakest single makes things a tad bittersweet.

What’s less satisfying is that about half the record is spent trying to capture the same force as “Ulysses.” These aren’t terrible songs, but most aren’t really anything more than serviceable. “What She Came For” is probably the record’s brightest spot, as its hooky chorus and sudden burst of overdriven guitars are

FILM

genuinely rousing. It’s arguable that Franz Ferdinand has simply been trying to recapture the magic of “Take Me Out” their whole career and they’ve simply shifted focus here. Problem is, “Ulysses” isn’t close to the classic “Take Me Out” is and its imitations are far weaker as a result.

While the rehashes of the new Franz Ferdinand sound aren’t particularly interesting, what’s worse is how bad the group can get when exploring sounds even further out. Most notably, the eight-minute “Lucid Dreams” stands as a low point for the group. What starts off as one of the record’s more exciting and energetic songs eventually devolves into meandering electronic noodling. The idea of an electronic Franz Ferdinand song isn’t the worst prospect, but this track’s only purpose

in existing is to be an electronic Franz Ferdinand song. It says nothing else and does nothing interesting.

Even with its bright spots, I find Tonight to be a rather distressing record.

This is partly personal. Coincidentally, my time at USM has been bookended

by Franz Ferdinand records. You Could Have It So Much Better came out during my first semester here and now we’ve got Tonight during my last semester. I’d love to say that my college career was bookended by great Franz Ferdinand records, but, sadly, that’s only half true.

DOWNLOAD: “Ulysses” Eric Nagurney is the entertainment editor for The Student Printz. Comments can be sent to printz@usm.edu

BOOKS

Gorgeously Green offers tips on fun, green oriented lifestyle Jillian Rochelle Printz Writer

Dev Patel, left, plays Jamal Malik in “Slumdog Millionaire.”

In the past few years, hundreds of books have been published with hopes that readers will be enlightened from the “green” movement.

A search for “green” books on Amazon shows over MCT Campus half a million hits, with Sophie Uliano’s book at the top of the stack and for good reason. Sophie Uliano has a million tricks up her organic cotton sleeves. She is a sassy environmentalist who compiled her tricks and tidbits into her how-to book, “Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple is through this love story thread Steps to an Earth-Friendly that the film is held connected Life.” and given a universal appeal.

It’s broken into eight Told with vibrant colors, a chapters, each focusing on a rhythmically original score, and certain aspect of life: home, unique editing techniques, “Slum- fitness, food, travel, gardening, dog Millionaire” transcends the style and beauty. Each chapter average movie simply by the has numerous facts about how way it is made. The genius of the to color your world green film, though, lies solely in the without running out of that story. Jamal endures struggle after other green: money. struggle throughout his life, but never ceases in pressing on. It is a story of courage and integrity that can hold truths for any moviegoer, in any situation.

“Slumdog Millionaire” is a movie that is worthy of recognition from the Academy with a cast of complete foreigners.

Cory Taylor Finally, an uplifting and inspiring movie that had nothing to do with Printz Writer football!

Though it was originally Cory Taylor is a staff writer for The Student Printz. Comments can be sent published in 1961, Richard to printz@usm.edu Yates’ novel about an average suburban couple slowly tearing apart has resurfaced.

Thanks largely to the buzz surrounding the film adaptation, which will be widely released Friday, January 23, “Revolutionary Road” has been thrust back into the spotlight and met warmly with it adds to the film’s sense of praise. realism. In this way, the audience There is something dreadis not watching a movie per se, fully fascinating about getting but simply footage someone lost in other people’s lives, acquired while submersed in these especially when those people people’s lives. The camera use also are externally normal, but adds intensity and depth to the internally insane. Such is the performances, which are case with Frank and April all phenomenal.

Wheeler, a pair of young, “Rachel Getting well-kept adults conforming Married” is a triumph to life in 1950s Connectiof uniquely grand cut. They have two young proportions.

Anne children and, although they Hathaway will probably never say so out loud, both not win the Oscar for children were, essentially, Best Actress because accidents. Frank works at a this is, without question, machine company in New Kate Winslet’s year. York, pretending to enjoy his But winning is not job while mindlessly pusheverything. What Hathaway has ing papers. April remains at done with this performance is home, performing the expectastonishingly intense and, in short, ed functions of a suburban perfect. I pray, now, that Disney housewife. does not confront her with “The The most wonderful thing Princess Diaries 3,” because films about Yates’ novel is his ear like “Rachel Getting Married” for dialogue; before the 100are treasures that don’t have to be page mark, these two main buried.

Slumdog Millionaire turns film cliches into brilliance Cory Taylor Printz Writer

Director Danny Boyle (“28 Days Later”, “Trainspotting”) never set out to make a masterpiece with “Slumdog Millionaire.” He did, however, set out to make a film that tells a relatively predictable story with a voice of fresh innovation and a teeming pulse.

“Slumdog Millionaire” opened quietly at the Toronto and Chicago film festivals earlier this year and won the Audience Award at both festivals. The film was catapulted to the spotlight after it swept the Golden Globes, taking home four of the top awards, including Best Picture. Now, it has received 10 Oscar nominations and may walk away with every single one. What is it, then, that makes “Slumdog Millionaire” so ostensibly brilliant?

The story is centered on a young man named Jamal (Dev Patel), who lives in the slums of Mumbai, India. Much like life, though, the movie does not follow a linear pattern in telling this story. We become acquainted with Jamal as he is being harshly interrogated by police who think he has cheated on the game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” because he has successfully gotten up to 10 million Rupees.

How could a teenager from the slums be so smart or even get on the show? The film backtracks to tell us.

Jamal and his older brother, Salim, have had a tough childhood.

Left as orphans after witnessing the murder of their mother, the boys lead a life of petty crime and thievery to make ends meet. Early on, a young girl named Latika befriends the brothers, and Jamal falls instantly in love with her. It

For instance, Uliano lists evil ingredients in categories, such as red and orange. Red alert ingredients should be thrown out immediately, while the orange alert products should simply not be bought again.

Not only has Uliano created a great resource book, but also it tells of her embarrassing path to becoming the environmental guru she has become, which started as a panic about pesticides used in cotton.

Soon, Uliano was researching all the chemicals in her daily

Printz Writer

If “The Wrestler” bears witness to the resurrection of actor Mickey Rourke, then “Rachel Getting Married” stands as representation of Anne Hathaway’s emergence into full-fledged actress. Far removed from the days of “Ella Enchanted” or “The Princess Diaries,” Hathaway explodes onto screen with a powerful performance as a recovering drug addict that has earned her a Best Actress Oscar nomination.

Just as the title suggests, a woman named Rachel is indeed getting married. The point of the movie, however, is the repercussions of this wedding on an already dysfunctional family.

Over the course of two days, we learn secrets and truths about these people which uncover more than just sad, explanatory information.

On short leave from a rehab center, Kym (Hathaway) stumbles back into her father’s Connecticut house where the wedding is being held, spewing insults, sarcasm, and

cigarette smoke at everyone. Kym’s sister Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt) is well-kept, successful, and happily in love. There is not a sibling rivalry between them, but more a quietly bitter acknowledgment of social acceptance.

Working with a script from legendary director Sidney Lumet’s daughter Jenny, Jonathan Demme creates more than just memorable characters. Anyone familiar with Demme’s previous work, films such as “Philadelphia,” “The Manchurian Candidate,” and “The Silence of the Lambs,” may consider “Rachel Getting Married” a unique removal from tradition. While this choice of story may not seem typical, I believe there are personal attributes connected with the movie that make it special to the director.

The entire film is shot with a handheld camera, giving it a documentary-style quality. This technique is important, because

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

Richard Yate’s Revolutionary Road worth a second read

Critics praise Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married Cory Taylor

products and realized that not only were they harmful to the environment, but they were also secretly killing her.

Uliano stresses throughout the book and her website that it only takes little changes throughout the day to make the world a better place. In fact, each step has a fivepoint checklist for making the transition to having a more eco-friendly life more convenient, especially for people who are very busy.

That is, it’s so easy a college student could do it.

One important thing about Gorgeously Green is that the book is fun to read. Uliano is witty and incredibly informed about how to save money while saving the earth. Her new book, “The Gorgeously Green Diet: How to Live Lean and Green,” will be released April 16.

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

characters have been brilliantly brought to life and the reader becomes invested in their struggles. The novel is a brutal examination of how fundamentally average young adults can bend and shatter under the pressures of social conformity and the imaginary rules set in place to achieve happiness.

In an interview for an American literary journal, Yates wonderfully explains the undertones associated with the novel’s title. “I think I meant it more as an indictment of American life in the 1950s,” he said. “Because during the Fifties there was a general lust for conformity all over this country, by no means only in the suburbs--a kind of blind, desperate clinging to safety and security

at any price, as exemplified politically in the Eisenhower administration and the Joe McCarthy witch hunts.”

Let’s be honest, everyone feels pressure to remain conventional and traditional, be it from family, friends, or employers, or other social forces. Though their efforts are not exactly successful, Frank and April Wheeler stand in complete retribution to the modern current of what is deemed normalcy.

Aside from the Oscar-nominated film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, there is a level of modern relevance attached to “Revolutionary Road” that has helped the novel transpire to a new generation of readers.

It is one of the most absorbing and fascinating novels I have ever read. Anyone with a hunger for a story about two people who believe something more spectacular awaits them (though it seems they are running to a grand nowhere) should give this book a try.

Who knows, it may even make you reconsider starting a family; or, at the very least, living in a gated community where everyone has the same mailbox.

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

Visit T S P online: www.studentprintz.com

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Tuessday,January January13, 27,2009 2009|| Page Page 7 Tuesday,

Sudoku

Thursday, Jan. 29 •Cobalt Call @ The Tavern •Dash Rip Rock @ Side Street Bar •The Lee Boys @ The Thirsty Hippo •George McConnel’s “Singles Only Band” @ The Bottling Company

Calendar Friday, Jan. 30

Saturday, Jan. 31

•Aaron Hall w/ Avenue Hearts @ Bottling Company •Mike Blount @ The Tavern •Speak Freely @ Bennie’s Boom Boom Room •Speedball Widow w/ •The Parasols @ The Thirsty Hippo •Velcro Pygmies @ The Bottling Company •Subtle Shot w/ Tomorrow Tomorrow @ Side Street Bar

•DJ Walt @ Mugshots •Good Enough For Good Times @ The Thirsty Hippo •17th Floor @ The Bottling Company •Sam Zeanah Band w/ Red Hill City @ Bennie’s Boom Boom Room

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SGA Executive Of�icer 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

Sports

Page 8 sports@studentprintz.com

Eagles hold off Montana State, 68-60 Kevin Kyzar Printz Writer

Jesse Bass/Printz

Andre Stephens squeezes in a dunk, regrettably after the whistle was blown.

Box Score:

Montana State

Southern Miss

TOTAL FG% Game: 51.0% TOTAL FG% Game: 47.2% 3-Pt. FG% Game: 53.8% 3-Pt. FG% Game: 33.3% F Throw % Game: 30.0% F Throw % Game: 66.7%

A solid second-half performance led Southern Miss to a 68-60 win over Montana State Saturday night at Reed Green Coliseum.

The Golden Eagles (12-6, 2-2 in C-USA) got off to a slow start against the Bobcats, who were picked to finish eighth out of nine teams in the Big Sky Conference by both Big Sky coaches and media.

In the first half, the Eagles were out-rebounded 20-9 and did not take a shot from the free throw line.

The Eagles’ 11-3 edge in turnovers kept them in the game, and the first half came to a close with the Eagles trailing 32-21.

“Yeah we took it personally when we were out rebounded in the first half… coach was frustrated,” senior guard Craig Craft said. “‘Unless you change you’re gonna lose the game,’” Craft said Eustachy told the team.

The big adjustments in the second half for the Golden Eagles came in rebounding, turnovers and free throw shooting.

Southern Miss out rebounded Montana State 18-13 and reached the free throw line 21 times making 14 of their shots.

The Golden Eagles again won

the turnover battle 7-5. Southern Miss reeled off a 18-7 scoring run over a ten-and-a-half minute period giving the Eagles their largest lead of the night 49-39. “(Turnovers) were a huge factor,” Eustachy said. “We put a lot of good pressure on them.”

Montana State answered with a 13-2 run to cut the Golden Eagle lead to two with 5:36 left in the game, but the Eagles extended their lead to 58-50 and never led by less than four in the final minutes.

Craig Craft led all scorers with 20 points and nine rebounds.

R.L. Horton scored 13 points and Courtney Beasley added 18 points, 14 of which came in the second half.

Beasley sunk eight of his nine free throws, and had nine of the 18 points in the 18-7 run in the second half.

The Bobcats fell to 9-9 overall 3-4 in Big Sky conference.

The Eagles will look to build on Saturday’s win when they host Marshall today at 8 p.m. at Reed Green Coliseum.

Next Game:

Tonight @8 p.m.

@

Jesse Bass/Printz

Courtney Beasley shoots for two points over his opponents’ heads.

Southern Miss won 68-60 over Montana State.

McNelis etches 300th win Special to the Printz

Bryant Hawkins/Printz

The new deck at Pete Taylor Park provides students with a new perpective on the 2009 baseball season.

Dugout Club’s renovation puts more students on deck Tyler Cleveland Sports Editor

The Southern Miss Dugout Club recently finished renovations at Pete Taylor Park that should improve the game day experience for Southern Miss students.

Using private funds raised mostly from the Forrest and Lamar County Boards of Supervisors and the City of Hattiesburg, the club oversaw construction of a deck and three-tiered cement seating area down the right field line, complete with landscaping and barbecue grills.

Dugout Club president Jimmy Pierce estimated the total amount of funds used for the construction was just over $55,000.

The improvements are part of an ongoing effort to get Southern Miss students more involved in the baseball program.

“We want the students to feel like they have a place to sit all to their self,” Southern Miss Director of Baseball Operations Chris Kirtland said. “We’d love to see

Sports Briefs Love named C-USA player of the week HATTIESBURG – Southern Miss women’s basketball player Pauline Love earned her first Conference USA Player of the Week honor this season.

Love posted consecutive double-doubles in the Golden Eagles’ wins over Houston and Rice. The redshirt junior averaged 18.0 points and 14.5 rebounds as Southern Miss topped Rice for the first time in four

the student section packed out, and we feel like this upgrade will help us do that.”

The construction, which was completed on Jan. 5, took three weeks to complete after the concrete was laid.

The Golden Eagle baseball team provided the labor, along with volunteers and several coaches.

The concrete seating provides fans with the opportunity to bring lawn chairs or blankets and sit along directly in front of the opposing team’s bullpen, well within heckling distance.

Also, the USM student section of the bleachers has been moved from the third base to the first base-line, so it is positioned

HOUSTON, Texas - Southern Miss used an 11-0 run early in the second half to push its lead to double digits over four minutes and defeated Rice for the first time in the four tries, 65-50, Sunday afternoon.

With the win, Head Coach Joye Lee-McNelis notched her 300th career win.

“You have to congratulate our players on how they showed some resilience when Rice came storming back and pulled the game close,” McNelis said. “I thought we showed a lot of poise in the way we just bumped our lead by double digits. A lot of that came with the play of Andrea (Barber) and Pauline (Love) and Tanesha (Washington) on the run getting some easy baskets for us.

I thought that was the key in getting us back rolling.”

Pauline Love paced the Lady Eagles (12-7, 5-1) with 16 points, followed by Stephanie Helgeson and Andrea Barber with 15 points each, and Tanesha Washington chipped in 10. Love also added another double-double after hauling in 11 rebounds.

Megan Elliott led Rice (5-14,

directly behind the visitor’s dugout.

In another effort to get students involved, the university is looking for 15 volunteers to be the first ever Pete Taylor Park grounds crew. While music plays, the crew would drag the infield during the fifth inning at home games. The volunteers would also receive a free “Southern Miss Grounds Crew” t-shirt.

A meeting for potential crew members is planned for WednesSpecial to the Printz day at 7 p.m. at the Shelby, Thames and Welch baseball center at Pete Taylor Park.

The baseball season begins HATTIESBURG – After losFeb. 20, when the Golden Eagles ing two football coaching assishost Lehigh University at 4 p.m. tants in the past month, Southern Miss appears to have filled one of the positions.

The athletic department anMen’s Basketball nounced Friday the addition of 1/24/09 Southern Miss 68 @ Montana St. 60 Pat Washington, a former Mississippi State assistant, to Larry Fedora’s staff pending approval Women’s Basketball by the Board of Trustees, Insti1/22/09 Houston 65 @ Southern Miss 74 tutes of Higher Learning.

1/25/09 Southern Miss 65 @ Rice 50 The 45-year-old Washington will coach the running backs, tries, 65-50. The win over the Spring game date set replacing Frank Wilson who reOwls also marked Coach Joye signed from the school earlier Lee-McNelis’ 300th career vicHATTIESBURG – Southern this month to pursue a similar tory.

Miss announced Monday that job at Mississippi State.

The Luxora, Ark., native had the school’s 2009 Black and “We are pleased to welcome 20 points and a season-high 18 Gold Spring Football Game will rebounds against Houston and be held, Sat., April 18, at 6 p.m. followed with 16 points and 11 The game will be a part of rebounds against Rice. Best shot several activities on the Golden 45.5 percent from the field and Eagle campus that day, includ66.7 percent from the line. The ing the baseball team’s Conferforward also had four assists and ence USA contest against UAB. connected on two-of-three from The contest begins at 2 p.m. at Today behind the arc. This is Love’s Pete Taylor Park.

Men’s basketball vs. Marshall, second career C-USA Player of Tickets for the Spring Game 8 p.m., Reed Green Coliseum the Week honor. are $10 for adults and $5 for

Sports

Joye Lee-McNelis basketball head coach

0-6) with 16 points and Maudess Fulton added 15 points.

Southern Miss opened the game scoring the first eight points just four minutes into the game. Rice finally got in the scoring column on an Elliott free throw at the 15:57 mark.

Southern Miss eventually built as much as a 12-point lead, 2513, with 6:30 to go before the half.

From there, Rice outscored Southern Miss, 8-2, over 2:53 and cut the lead to single digits, 27-22, with 3:37 remaining in the half. Neither team was able to score any more points before the break.

The Owls came back in the second half and outscored the Lady Eagles, 11-7, cutting the lead to one, 34-33, just four minutes into the second half. From there, Southern Miss hit a roll and scored the next 11 points to take control again.

USM eventually built a 19point lead, when Barber connected on three of her 15 points.

Barber just missed a triple double as she finished with nine assists and eight rebounds.

“The play of Andrea was very solid,” said McNelis. “I didn’t think we played well in the first half, but you have to give Rice a tremendous amount of credit.

We came out of the starting blocks, and we played very well.

We sort of lost our focus and Rice came back. Fortunately, we had half time, and we were able to get rolling again.”

There were no ties or lead changes with Southern Miss leading from start to finish.

“I was proud of the overall team effort we had today,” McNelis said.

Southern Miss returns home to begin a four-game homestand beginning with Marshall, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m.

Football fills one position

Score-

children.

Pat Washington

running backs coach

Pat,” said Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora. “He will be an outstanding addition to our staff, as he brings a wealth of experience on the offensive side of the ball. We look forward to him Thursday Women’s basketball vs. Marshall, 7 p.m., Reed Green Coliseum Friday Track at Houston Indoor Invitational, All day, Houston Saturday Men’s tennis vs. Southern University,

working with our running backs as they continue their maturation process.”

Washington comes to Southern Miss from Mississippi State, where he served as wide receivers coach for the last two tumultuous seasons under head coach Sylvester Croom.

A native of Mobile, Ala., Washington graduated from Auburn in 1987 with a degree in management.

As a quarterback for the Tigers, Washington led the Tigers to the 1984 Liberty Bowl and 1986 Cotton Bowl.

Fedora said that he wouldn’t rush to fill the other position, left

by Tony Hughes who departed for Mississippi State a week ago.

2 p.m., Hattiesburg Women’s basketball vs. ECU, 4 p.m., Reed Green Coliseum Men’s basketball at UTEP, 8 p.m., El Paso, Texas Track at Houston Indoor Invitational, All day, Houston