March_03_2009

ENTERTAINMENT

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SPORTS

The Lady Eagles fell short of regular season C-USA title. See page 8 for details.

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Serving Southern Miss since 1927

Thursday, March 3, 2009

YEARBOOK

Volume 93, Issue 43

Computer glitch deletes mugs, portraits held today Lesley Walters News Editor

Today students will have their last chance to re-take photos for USM’s yearbook, the Southerner, after a “devastating” computer error last week resulted in the loss of most of the portraits collected throughout the past year.

To gather as many students’ portraits as possible in time for their deadline tomorrow, staff of the Southerner held an “emergency re-take” session yesterday, and will hold the last one today in

the Thad Cochran Center lobby from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“It’s just unfortunate because we try so hard to put out this publication on time so that students can enjoy it,” said the Southerner’s Executive Editor Elizabeth Maloy, “and the whole point of having a yearbook is so people can be in it.”

The junior art major from Long Beach said the portrait “spreads” must be sent to the publishing company in Canada tomorrow, but more than three-quarters of students’ photos were lost when a Photo Services computer crashed

last week.

Photo Services takes all of the student head shots for the Southerner and collect them throughout the year.

Danny Rawls, manager of Photo Services, said the student head shots were stored on an external hard drive which crashed last week when they tried to open the data and send the pictures to the Southerner staff. They called iTech to see if the data could be recovered, Rawls said, but the effort was unsuccessful.

There was no other data on the external hard drive that was not

backed up elsewhere, Rawls said.

The hard drive has been sent to a company that specializes in data recovery, he added, but they won’t know if that will result in success until after the Southerner’s deadline this week.

“Rather than wait [for the results], with their deadline contraints, we decided it would be better to go ahead and try to redo it,” Rawls said. “If we wait and nothing comes out then we would be behind schedule.”

Facing a rapidly approaching See YEARBOOK page 3

‘ONE TOUGH LADY’

David N. Jackson/Printz

Kelly Dunn of Photo Services remakes a portrait of Jeremy Snowden, a sophomore business management major from Gloster, for the Southerner.

EAGLE DINING

Dining bill passes House Bill 856, if passed, would make Bonus Bucks tax exempt once again Lesley Walters News Editor

Herbert Randall/Submitted Photo

Hattiesburg’s Mobile Street bustles with actvity in 1964. Raylawni Branch was born in this area, and spent much of her childhood here as well.

Editor’s note: This is the first of a four part series regarding Women’s History Month in March. Look for part two in Thursday’s edition.

R

Jesse Bass

Opinions Editor

ail thin and four years old, a black girl lay crying in the muck of a ditch next to a rural red clay road, under sheets of torrential rain.

School let out early because of the storm; she and most other black students walked home. A bus full of white students sped by only moments prior and ignored her cries for shelter and transportation. The bus slung mud all over her.

She lay in the ditch until she heard her father’s voice. He walked the muddy road in search of her.

“Daddy, do you know the bus went right by me?” the girl asked in innocent ignorance.

“Oh it did?” replied the father.

“Yes,” said the girl, drenched and mud-caked, “I flagged it

but it didn’t stop and pick me up.”

“Baby, one of these days that bus is going to stop and pick you up.”

That experience would change her for life, as noted in the book “My Soul Looks Back in Wonder.”

The skinny black girl was Raylawni Branch.

Now, the grandmother of 12 can get on nearly any bus she wants. But she has no need to ride the bus, as she smartly drives a Toyota Prius.

Raylawni’s appearance can be misleading--this concept the crux of countless chapters of her life.

Hearing her tiny, warm voice emanating from a face worn from 68 years of smiling and little else leads one to infer almost nothing about her life’s work.

Nor do her kind eyes, sparkling and genuinely emotive, reveal a lifetime of struggle and triumph, adversity and commitment.

Barely 5 feet tall, the woman houses the beating heart See BRANCH page 3

ThestateHouseofRepresentatives passed a bill last week that, if passed into law, would make university meal plans with declining balances, like our own Bonus Bucks or Dining Dollars, tax-exempt again.

House Bill 856 states that sales of prepaid student meal plans and retail sales of prepared food sold on the campus of any public colleges or universities in Mississippi would be free from the state sales tax.

Mississippi District 102 Rep. Toby Barker, (R-Hattiesburg), was the primary author of the bill, which passed Wednesday with a vote of 117-3.

Barker said the bill is on its way to the Senate Finance Committee, and expects it will have some support, “especially from the eyes of representativeswhohaveuniversities or colleges in their districts.” A recent alumnus of Southern Miss, he sits on the Universities and Colleges Committee and USM makes up a significant portion of his constituency.

“I think that everyone is kind of aware that higher ed probably won’t get what it should get in the appropriations process this year, everyone is aware that textbooks cost entirely too much,” he said, “and so any chance that we get to give students a break, I think most people realize we should do that.”

If the bill is passed into law, it would reverse a regulation of the Mississippi State Tax Commission that started affecting student meal plans in October. The regulation

defined prepaid student meal plans, but excluded “flexible spending accounts” from Barker tax-exemptstatus and making them subject to the state sales tax of seven percent.

In October the MSTC Director of Communications Kathy Waterbury told The Student Printz that the regulation was meant to define tax code to balance the unfair advantage on-campus eateries have over their off-campus counterparts because of the exemption. She said that when universities began offering flexible spending accounts and more places to eat on campus “they started going into competition with the private sector.”

Barker, a fiscal conservative, said the exemption does not create a disadvantage for off-campus businesses “simply because students eat on campus for convenience and necessity.”

He explained that students with 45-minute lunch breaks cannot leave the Liberal Arts Building, walk to the Thad Cochran Center, stand in line at the Fresh Food Company, eat a meal and make it back to class in time. Those students might opt instead for a meal at the Agora, he said, but prepaid meal plans don’t cover that cost -- flex plans do.

“All this bill does is make students’ flex plans last a little longer,” Barker said. “It just increases their purchasing power and lets the meal card last longer than it would have.”

USM FOOTBALL

Unlikely win over Ole Miss still sweet for ‘Wee’ Willie 39 years later, Heidelburg’s feat has paved the way for black athletes in Mississippi and across the South Tyler Cleveland Sports Editor

Later this month in Jackson, Belhaven College running backs coach Willie Heidelburg will stalk the sidelines of the Blazers’ football field, watching this year’s crop of tailbacks compete for a roster spot and a college scholarship.

INDEX

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

Belhaven’s football team will be about half black, half white when they take the field for the 2009 season – a ratio that is almost universal in the modern age of college football.

For Willie, it’s a trend he once thought impossible.

A much younger Heidelburg was on the front lines 39 years ago, and his actions changed

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

football in Mississippi forever.

USM coach P.W. “Bear” Underwood recruited Heidelburg Willie as a sophomore out of Pearl River Community College in the Spring of 1970.

He was to be the first black football player at the University of Southern Mississippi.

At 5-foot-6, 147 pounds soaking wet, he was the smallest player on the Southerner roster.

On Oct. 17, the Eagles were

set to take the field against fourth-ranked Ole Miss Rebels and legendary Rebel coach John Vaught in Oxford.

A week earlier, the Eagles had been thrashed 41-14 by San Diego State. A headline in the Meridian Star that week bore a picture of Ole Miss senior captain quarterback and Heisman Trophy front-runner Archie Manning putting on his cleats, with a headline that read “Is this one even worth suiting up for, Archie?”

The Southerners went into Oxford a near 30-point underdog, and early on, it looked like the

game might get that ugly.

Manning hit his favorite target Tommy Franks for a 51-yard touchdown strike on the opening drive, and made it look as easy as a stroll in the park.

Nothing was easy for the Rebels after that.

The undersized, outclassed Southern Miss team kept plugging away at its high-caliber counterpart, and as Heidelburg remembers, “just kept making plays.”

“We were just thankful to get a chance to get on the field with a team of their notoriety,” Heidelburg said. “Realistically,

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.

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we knew the probability of us getting beat was overwhelming, but as the game went on, we just hung around and hung around.”

Heidelburg, who according to lore was the only black man in the stadium aside from Ole Miss’ equipment manager, carried the ball three times and caught one pass, scoring twice on end-around reverses.

Retired New Orleans Saints scout Hamp Cook, then the Southern Miss offensive line coach, said he remembers the two scoring plays like it was yesterday.

See HEIDELBURG page 8

TODAY

TOMORROW

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Page 2|News

news in brief

www.studentprintz.com |Tuesday, March 3, 2009 ball Scholarship can be made to the Athletic Foundation.

Athletic Department Need a headshot? holds rededication See Photo Services The Athletic Department is holding a re-dedication of the Stephen Hatten Memorial Grove before the baseball game against Cal State Fullerton at Pete Taylor Park Saturday from 12 - 12:30 p.m. Donations to the Stephen Hatten Base-

Photo Services, located in Room 101 of McLemore Hall, can provide resume photos, ID cards and images of student life, campus landscape and university events for students, faculty and others in

the campus community. Services can be charged through interdepartmental accounts or to student accounts before the semester deadline.

The U.S. Postal Service will deliver mail to campus, and mail will be placed in campus mailboxes between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. during the break.

Post office to close over spring break

“Motorcycle Diaries” to play Thursday

The Southern Miss Post Office located in the Hub will be closed during spring break, March 16-20.

“The Motorcycle Diaries,” an autobiographical account of Ernes-

to “Che” Guevara will be shown in Room 101 of the International Building at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Gamma Theta Upsilon, Latina American Student Association, and Geography and Geology Student Association are hosting the event, which is free to the public.

School of Music hosts flute concert

holding a performance of the Flute Choir as the first in the Presidential Brown Bag Lunch Concert Series from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday at the Aubrey K. Lucas Building Rotunda.

Bring your own lunch, and for a list of all the concerts, visit usm.edu/music/news.

The School of Music is

SEE AN ERROR? LET US KNOW. 601.266.4266

Events Calendar TODAY 9 a.m - 3 p.m. the last emergency yearbook photo re-take session, Thad Cochran Center Lobby, the Southerner 10 a.m. Student Health Fair in the Union Lobby, Student Health Services 6 p.m. Cello/Piano Recital in Marsh Auditorium, free, School of Music 7 p.m. Keynote Speaker: Margarett “Gretta” Boley, forest supervisor of Mississippi, in Bennett Auditorium, Womens’ History Month event TOMORROW Noon - 4 p.m. Spring Career Fair on 3rd floor of Thad Cochran Center, Career Services THURSDAY 11:30 - 2 p.m. annual Meet the Deans Session outside the Johnson Science Tower, College of Science and Technology 6 p.m. Film Review: “Running in High Heels” in Room 123 of Cook Library, Women’s History Month event 6 p.m. Women’s History Month Poetry Readings in the library at Gulf Park campus, USM Gulf Coast Library 7:30 p.m. Lehar’s Merry Widow in the Mannoni Performing Arts Center, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre

Miscellaneous $$$ Donate plasma to save lives and receive up to $240 a month in extra spending money! At BioLife it’s easy and simple. Just down the street from USM. Donate while you do your homework or watch tv. Friendly, professional staff. For more information call or stop by BioLife ofHattiesburg. Across from WalMart in the Super Fred’s shopping center. Photo ID required. 601-582-7600 P. S. Have a smiling face and enjoy the medical industry?

BioLife is an equal opportunity employer

Help Wanted Survey Takers Needed: Make $5-$25 per survey.

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SPRING BREAK AT THE BEACH!

PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL OCEANFRONT W/ BALCONY! ONE-BEDROOM DELUXE CONDO. SLEEPS 4 Historic Home For Lease MAX. 604 Bay Street, Built 1896, 3/2 Formal Plan, WYNDHAM RESORT Undergoing complete interior restoration, central DATES: SAT. 3/14-SAT. 3/21/2009 hvac, new appliances, paint, cabinets, ceiling fans, and $1800 more. Walk to Sacred Heart and Downtown Galleries CALL OR EMAIL: MIKE and restaurants. 601-582-8410 madarua@megagate.com (601) 268-5302

www.studentprintz.com |News

Yearbook continued from page one deadline with a daunting task ahead, Maloy said “it’s a very frantic feeling” but believes her staff will succeed if tonight goes well. The Southerner staff has worked more than one “allnighter” this year, she added.

“I think right now it’s just whelming because we’ve worked so hard to make one of the best publications this university has

ever seen,” she said, “and to get so close to the end and have such a devastating loss like this one is actually a little heart-breaking.”

Maloy said the Southerner must meet this final deadline if the yearbook is to be delivered on time, May 1, so that they can be distributed during finals week.

“Maybe we don’t realize how

of a local civil rights champion, fearless and driven in her pursuit for justice and equality.

Broken barriers fill her impressive résumé, having played a key role in integrating many a Hattiesburg institution--including the University of Southern Mississippi.

A preview of fearlessness Raylawni waited tables at Fats’ Kitchen, a diner on Hattiesburg’s Mobile Street, for the last three years of high school to help her mother make ends meet. When she graduated from Rowan High in 1959, Raylawni quit her job, married Johnny Young and became a housewife to the three children they had together during the next three years.

On a brisk October night in 1962, the young couple finished a movie at the Saenger Theatre and returned to the home of Fannie Mae Hossley, Raylawni’s grandmother, to pick up their children and go home. Hossley had been illegally selling whiskey from her home. She began to draw the attention of the local authorities.

As Raylawni and her husband opened the door, two Hattiesburg Police officers lunged from the shadows and stormed in the door before it hinged shut. They began to dissect the home--failing to find the whiskey cleverly hidden in front of their faces in jars meticulously painted, appearing quite convincingly to contain innocent fig preserves.

As the officers became increasingly frustrated with their failed attempts to locate the illicit spirits, Raylawni’s husband began to get nervous.

“Hurry up so we can get out of here,” said Young to Raylawni as she was collecting their offspring.

One of the policemen swung the blunt end of a heavy flashlight at Young, slamming into his skull and missing the six-month-old child in his arms by only inches. The other officer sensed the scuffle about to unfold and drew his gun.

“Why don’t you hit somebody who isn’t holding a baby?” Raylawni‘s protective maternal instinct shouted.

The aggravated officer splintered a lamp table into its most basic components against a door frame in a fit of rage.

He picked up a long leg and lunged at Raylayni. The beehive hairdo still crowning her head today cushioned the blow, leaving the 94-pound woman standing and ready to react.

Before the second swing of the table leg, Raylawni thrust her petite body into the officer with enough force to throw him offbalance, getting close enough to ensure she didn’t catch any hot lead from his partner.

As the man fell backwards, he grappled the tiny woman and spun her around in a split second.

He landed atop her on the daybed where Raylawni frantically groped in a blind fury for her salvation.

As she tried to reach around the officer’s large girth, she felt his pistol before he did. She drew it from the holster and shoved it deep into his soft belly. He stopped struggling.

Raylawni offered an ultimatum. “You can get off of me or you can die.” She looked at the

special our experiences here at Southern Miss have been right now, but 10 years from now we’ll want to flip back through these pages and remember the stress, the fun, and most importantly the friends. Please take your head shot again, if not for yourself, so that long-lost best friend can remember you in 10 years.”

Branch continued from page one

Teen sues Facebook, ex-classmates for $3 million for bullying Reid J. Epstein Newsday

NEW YORK -- An Oceanside, N.Y., teenager is suing four former high school classmates, their parents and Facebook for $3 million for allegedly bullying her in a private forum on the social-networking service.

Denise Finkel, who is now a student at the University at Albany, filed a lawsuit in State Supreme Court in Manhattan accusing the former classmates of creating a password-protected Facebook group “calculated to hold the plaintiff up to public hatred, ridicule and disgrace.”

The defendants _ Michael Dauber, Jeffrey Schwartz, Leah Herz and Melinda Danowitz _ are, like Finkel, 2008 graduates of Oceanside High School. The suit claims they asserted Finkel, among other things, participated in bestiality and contracted AIDS. Excerpts of the Facebook group from 2007 attached as an exhibit to the lawsuit did not identify Finkel by name, but her attorney, Mark Altschul of Manhattan, said the derogatory statements referred to her.

“She had a very difficult time in high school,” Altschul said.

“They were making sure that she was an unwanted soul there.”

The number of online defamation lawsuits is increasing rapidly and it remains unclear if they are legally viable, said Andrew Keen, the author of “The Cult of the Amateur: How Today’s Internet is Killing Our Culture.”

Finkel’s mother, Linda Finkel, said her daughter has known the other teens named as defendants and their parents for “a long time.”

“It’s not a pleasant situation for anybody,” she said.

Danowitz’s mother, Bari Lewis, called the lawsuit “completely frivolous.” She said her daughter, who attends the University of Delaware, “never wrote anything defamatory about anybody.”

The other defendants and Facebook did not respond to messages Monday.

Branch surprised officer across the room still brandishing his pistol “You see my brothers and these men here and all these people? We will cut you up in little bitty pieces and drop you in the outdoor privy, and nobody will ever find you. So we can go downtown, or we can start shooting. It’s your choice.”

Raylawni marched the officers outside to their car and held the violent officer hostage through the car ride to the police station, where she called the U.S. attorney general‘s office and explained the evening’s events. The police locked her husband up for a night.

The brutalities coupled with the officers’ lack of a warrant and Washington D.C.’s knowledge of the event led the Hattiesburg Police to file no charges against anyone.

“They just told me to take those children and get my crazy self out of there,” said Raylawni.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009 | Page 3

Opinions

Page 4 opinions@studentprintz.com

Same problems, different project

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Meeting the dropout challenge Robert Balfanz John Bridgeland MCT Campus

G

ood news is rare these days. Home foreclosures, a credit crunch, and rising unemployment have sent ripples of fear through the American economy. Youth unemployment is approaching levels seen during the Great Depression. The nation could use a ray of hope, and progress is being made on one issue that deepens unemployment and poverty _ the high school dropout epidemic.

The landscape in our nation’s public schools is now familiar. Each year, more than 1.2 million students do not graduate with their incoming freshman class. In many communities, dropping out from high school is as likely as graduating, often triggering unemployment, poverty, incarceration and single parenthood.

Fortunately, the nation is responding in large cities as

well as rural communities.

This week, we will release a report examining progress in raising graduation rates in all 50 states. Some states and communities are graduating more students in the thousands, even as graduation requirements mount. Eight states have seen graduation rates increase by five or more percentage points. The percent of minority students attending high schools in which nearly all students graduate has doubled, and 300,000 fewer students across America attend high schools in which as many students drop out as graduate.

A growing number of elected officials believe attacking the dropout crisis should be one of their priorities. Both the governor of Colorado and the mayor of Philadelphia have pledged to cut the dropout rate in half during their terms in office, and dozens of other officials are showing similar leadership.

Now is the time for coordinated action at all levels. America’s Promise Alliance is leading the charge

with 105 “dropout summits” in all 50 states over the next few years. The alliance released a comprehensive guide on how communities can increase high school graduation rates by collecting accurate data, implementing school reform and community supports, and sustaining those efforts over time.

Governors will continue to play a critical role, as they build systems to track graduation rates, set ambitious graduation and college readiness goals, and raise compulsory school age laws with new supports for struggling students.

Congress should pass the Graduation Promise Act to improve or replace the 15 percent of high schools that produce over half of all dropouts, as well as the Serve America, Success in the Middle and Keeping Pace acts. The federal government will save $45 billion per high school class in extra tax revenues and lower costs when the dropout rate is cut in half among 20 year olds, representing critical savings as government costs

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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 601266-6431 or 601-266-4266.

Letters to the Editor

A letter to the editor forum will be open to the expression of fact or opinion that will be of interest or importance to The Student Printz readers. Letters which fit within the scope of First Amendment protection, and that meet other stipulations spelled out in this document will be published on a space-available basis as explained below.

Each edition of the paper will include a letters column if letters are available. Letter writers may expect prompt publication of their letters in the paper’s opinion section, as space is available. Letters of up to 350 words will be allowed. Published letters must be free of libel, since the publication is held legally accountable for all content. Although personal controversy will be tolerated, it is the responsibility of the editor to check statements purporting the facts. The editor is also responsible for making decisions as to the pertinence of the letter to the USM community.

Letter writers must sign all contributions and the editor must verify the signer and the writer are one in the same through personal conference. Letters will not be published without the contributor’s name.

To send a letter to the editor email printz@usm.edu or send to campus mailbox 5088.

mount for stimulus.

The perspectives of dropouts too give us hope _ most see the value of a high school diploma, are confident they could have graduated with the right supports, and long for a more engaging and challenging curriculum. Parents of students trapped in low-performing schools are the most likely to see the importance of a rigorous curriculum, and their own involvement, as critical to their child’s academic success.

Our nation has finally woken up to its dropout challenge, and with youth unemployment soaring to new heights and an economy in deep recession, it is not a moment too soon.

Robert Balfanz, a research scientist at John Hopkins University, and John Bridgeland, CEO of Civic Enterprises, are authors of numerous studies on high school dropout and co-authors of “Grad Nation: A Guidebook to Help Communities Tackle the Dropout Crisis.” Readers may write to the authors at: Civic Enterprises LLC, 1828 L Street NW, 11th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20036; Web site: www. civicenterprises.net; e-mail: bridge@ civicenterprises.net.

ecent Longleaf Trace construction will create an 864-residence dorm while destroying about 400 commuter parking spaces – what’s a commuter to do?

Parking has always been an issue for off-campus students looking to conveniently get to class, and this decision feels like a blow aimed toward the group.

I understand the university’s goal -- to attract as many students as possible with the promise of education and reasonable living areas -- but I question their logic when it comes to commuters, who make up nearly 41 percent of the current student body, according to Parking Management.

This leaves commuters, like me, wondering what we are to do without the once-convenient 4th Street parking lot when commuter parking areas were already few and far between.

USM officials released a statement two days prior to the closure regarding the new dorm and a plan to deal with parking problems.

Until 2010, the project’s estimated completion date, those who relied on the lot will now be pressed to the gravel pit north of Hillcrest dormitory where a shuttle will be available.

This shuttle will be making trips to and from the Thad Cochran Building from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday.

Let’s be honest for a mo-

ment.

Most commuters arrive just moments before their classes begin because of work, William off-campus Curits events, extraAllred curricular acPrintz Writer tivities, etc.

Even if commuters were able to arrive earlier, the shuttle would have no room for delay from traffic or other factors in order for them to make it to their classes on time -- talk about stressful.

The shuttle is clearly a rough counter-balance to begin correcting this year’s outstanding waiting list of about 800 freshmen looking for campus housing.

To clarify, I am not implying the residence hall isn’t needed, but should commuters be the ones to suffer because our campus is growing so much?

The university has to do better for the people who work doubly hard to get to and stay in school. There has to be something more USM can do.

Please go to studentprintz. com and comment on this column with your suggested solutions. We’d love to hear from all of you, and if your suggestions are especially thoughtful, you may see them in an upcoming edition of The Student Printz.

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

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Fashion follows function

T

he recession was evident at Fashion Week in New York City— where top designers were price conscious with their designs. It was slightly disheartening for some fashion fans and members of the fashion industry—a business typically so full of glitz and glam.

But this isn’t a new trend. In the past, products of the fashion industry have consistently reflected the spirit of the times.

According to the “Survey of Historic Costume,” American fashion’s transition from the styles of the 1930s was slow, as World War II kept fabrics tightly rationed through the next decade.

Later, during the social upheaval of the 1960s, fashion provided a dissident and nonconformist look for individuals to express their countercultural views towards the civil rights movement and Vietnam War. This year at Fashion Week, the industry gave us back the classics that will last through the recession and then some.

For fall 2009, we will see basic styles in neutral tones with splashes of bright colors.

After reviewing several fashion collections on style.com, I noticed there weren’t many heavy, costlier fabrics featured on the runway. Instead, most designers focused on lighter cheaeper options. While some

designers featured deep blues, greens, and purples in their designs, the t i m e l e ss Valerie and always Warrington fashionable Printz Writer color black was the most popular on the runway, especially in Giorgio Armani’s new collection.

Even designer duo Mark Badgley and James Mischka (known collectively as Badgley Mischka) toned down their designs. In the past Badgley Mischka wooed fashion audiences with extravagant, intricately designed dresses. But interspersed throughout their fall 2009 collection, audiences were surprised to see many allblack dresses. Of course, for their final designs, the pair did showcase the colorful, elaborate gowns that their faithful audiences are accustomed to.

It’s a wise choice for couture designers to keep the majority of the public in mind during their design-making decisions. Designers do not create the next season’s styles or trends, the collective public creates them. By featuring classic styles on the runway— as opposed to ultra-trendy and frilly fashions—the less affluent consumers will be more

willing to accept and buy the fashions.

Designers also kept retailers in mind this season. According to New York Daily News, designers were worried how buyers would respond to their collections.

“The stores will be buying more carefully,” said Paul Wilmont, a public relations executive representing many clothing brands.

It’s imperative for designers to make economical and wearable designs this season. Buyers and consumers will invest their money in a classic over a fad. Although Fashion Week was slightly less glamorous this year, at least the industry is making smart choices to stay afloat in this economy.

I hate to see the fashion industry struggling with finances. For me, couture collections are an escape from reality. Fashion is an art form and should be expressed freely—not encumbered by looming financial barriers.

However, fashion is a vice, not a basic need. It is forced to accommodate the people.

While I missed the lavish designs, frills, and fur typically seen in Fashion Week, at least I know I will be making a good investment in the classic pieces I purchase for the fall.

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

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

www.studentprintz.com |Opinions Entertainment

Let’s save the turtles and the ocean S  C The

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

Curtis Allred Circulation Manager

Crystal Scretching Graphic Designer

Maggie Williams Publications Manager

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

rush, the sea turtle from “Finding Nemo,” is an optimist, oblivious to the threats facing radical turtles like himself. Ocean waters, including the Gulf of Mexico, aren’t safe.

Humans are responsible for the present decline in sea turtle populations. We are destroying nesting sites, polluting oceans, and killing sea turtles in bycatch from fishing operations.

The National Oceanographic and Aeronautical Association admits that “fishing activities have been recognized as one of the most significant threats to sea turtle survival.”

We need to protect sea turtles because they play key roles in beach and sea-grass ecosystems. Sea turtle eggs

contribute to the nutrients available to dune vegetation. This vegetation prevents certain types of Jennifer beach eroLamb sion.

SeaPrintz Writer grass beds, which are important breeding and hatchery sites for other marine animals, need to be trimmed to remain healthy; sea turtles are one of the few species that take on that duty. Nature is comprised of systemic relationships, and we need to be aware of this to prevent further degradation of the environments upon which we rely.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has giv-

en NOAA the opportunity to do something about the problem of disappearing sea turtles. The Council requested on January 29th that NOAA enact a temporary emergency rule that would halt any bottom long line reef fishing in waters shallower than 300 feet.

This rule would apply to the entire eastern Gulf of Mexico, and, if implemented, would last for 180 days with the possibility of being extended for another 186 days. Bottom long line reef fishing involves stringing thousands of baited hooks from a line that runs for miles along the ocean floor. The rigged bait tempts the five turtle species inhabiting the gulf--green, hawksbill, Kemp’s ridley, leatherback, and loggerhead. The temporary halt is not only meant

to give these turtles room to breathe, but it will also allow these federal agencies to come up with more efficient methods for the protection of sea turtles.

But will NOAA do it, will they enact more restrictions, harsher penalties, and anything else necessary to bring the aforementioned threatened or endangered species back from the edge? A 2006 – 2007 NOAA report showed that the number of loggerhead sea turtles caught using bottom long line fishing exceeded the level allowed by federal regulations.

We are flawed, so our methods of fishing are flawed, this is why some bycatch, albeit regrettably, is permitted. That being said, anything above that limit is completely unaccept-

Is it possible to be completely happy and satisfied without having a significant other?

Brittney Of course it Cooley is! Society Printz Writer teaches us that life isn’t truly complete until we’ve found that special someone.

But that is far from the truth.

Whether or not you’re in a relationship, it’s impossible to have true joy until you can define who you are without the opinions of others. Forgetting about everyone else, what do you think of yourself?

Whether you realize it or not,it’s hard to answer that question without including other people. But no one else can answer it for you. No matter how incredible your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife, they’ll never be enough if you aren’t satisfied with yourself.

When judging your own worth with the opinions of others, even the slightest disappointment can leave you broken-hearted. A missed call or even an ignored text message could lead you to tears without even understanding why. Many people suffer like this. Society majority currently defines people like these as overly emotional or just ten-

derhearted, but I beg to differ.

I think this emotion comes as a consequence of bad social habits, not necessarily a tendency to be tenderhearted.

With this bad habit, we try to fill the void in our lives with the opinions of others over and over again, but it never sustains us. It never will. The only way to live life feeling like you don’t have to have someone else is by simply believing in yourself. Believe in your appearance, whether you have a date this weekend or not. Believe in everything that you are, not because someone says you’re incredible, but because you know it’s the truth.

When you find this, you can be happy and single. And when

able. It is not due ot unavoidable chance but to laziness and greed. NOAA estimated that due to bottom long line reef fishing during that period in the Gulf of Mexico, 974 sea turtles were taken, and that of those, 433 were released alive, 325 were released dead, while the remaining 216 had unknown fates. Some of those turtles taken were sexually mature adults. As sea turtles are slow growing and slow to sexually mature, the death of adults is of significant concern.

NOAA should take the suggestion and do everything possible to protect our remaining turtles and in turn, our oceans and beaches.

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

Companions not needed for happiness

T

hrough my personal experiences and seeing those of others, I have realized that we as a society are overly reliant on the opinions of other people to determine how we feel about ourselves.

We sit. We wait -- for that call, that text message. The one that initiates a mutual attraction or desire between ourselves and another, making us feel loved and wanted.

What about when we realize the phone isn’t going to beep or buzz? We’re left with a sudden empty feeling that drops our self-esteem and hopes at once.

Is that how the world is supposed to be? My answer: no.

you finally meet that someone to share your life with, it will overwhelm you that they agree that everything about you is spectacular.

So when you go about your day today, smile. Don’t wait to see if those who walk past you seem to find you interesting. Don’t glance at your phone every five seconds to see if someone wants to talk to you. Live your life and enjoy it. Don’t spend it waiting for someone to tell you it’s enjoyable.

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

Congress, not the EPA, should cap carbon

T

he U.S. Environmental Protection Agency seems poised to limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, and possibly also from vehicles. New EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson asked her staff last week to prepare a document that clears the way for new rules limiting carbon-dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants. Those emissions are a major contributor to global warming.

This week, EPA officials indicated they may go even further, by setting a national standard for greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks.

Vehicles and power plants together account for about 62 percent of the nation’s carbon-dioxide emissions.

There’s no question where President Barack Obama stands. During his address to Congress this week, he indicated support for “a market-based cap on carbon pollution.”

The EPA could deliver it now, simply by rewriting rules established under the Clean Air Act. That would avoid the risk of political stalemate in a Congress that faces numerous other serious challenges on the economy, national defense and health care.

Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA can act without congressional authority _ the U.S. Supreme Court made that clear in 2007. The question is whether it should act. The answer is no.

There’s no question that a carbon cap is coming, and the sooner the better.

Scientists say that global warming is already occurring. Because carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere for so long, climate change will continue to worsen in decades to come.

The United States can _ indeed it must _ take action now to stave off long-term consequences that are potentially even more disastrous than what we’ve already created.

Equally important, as Obama acknowledged in his speech Tuesday, are the potential economic benefits.

He warned that China has launched a major effort to create an energyefficient economy. Germany and Japan have leapt ahead of the United States in solar power, while Korea is making batteries for hybrid vehicles.

“The country that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will lead the 21st century,” Obama said.

With such high stakes, the temptation to act administratively is understandable. But doing so would be a mistake.

Capping carbon emissions by administrative rule would be ineffective.

Opponents would immediately file suit.

They’d eventually lose, of course.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2007 that the EPA not only has the right,

it also has the obligation to regulate carbon dioxide emissions. But while the appeals continued, implementation of the cap would be delayed.

More important, though, a carbon cap-and-trade system created by Congress would likely be better

designed and more palatable than one created by administrative fiat. It could mitigate problems in states like Missouri that depend heavily on coalfired electrical generating plants.

Such a system would limit total carbon emissions and establish a

market so businesses could buy “credits” for additional emissions.

The EPA’s tough talk about limiting carbon emissions already is putting pressure of Congress to quickly address global climate change. That’s a good thing. But shaping the system

that limits greenhouse gas emissions should be done by Congress. And soon.

The following editorial appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Thusday, Feb. 26.

Entertainment

Page 6 entertainment@studentprintz.com

Southern Cinema returns to campus after brief hiatus Bradley Glasco Printz Writer

‘‘

Southern Cinema, the University of Southern Mississippi’s film group, has been revived this semester.

The group was inactive after its president, Corey Hart, graduated last semester. Michael Williams, a senior film major from West Point, decided to restart Southern Cinema this semester to in hopes of providing a foundation for the group to continue after he graduates in May. “Southern Cinema had been around since well before 2006 when I came to USM,” Williams said.

“I really wanted to provide a base of support for film majors and organize the student film festival.”

Williams wants to bring together film majors and movie buffs of all majors so that they can watch movies and develop their film projects. At every meeting, they choose a different film to watch and discuss. “I like the fact that we watch movies that a lot of people probably haven’t heard of. I like the variety and want to be exposed to new ideas and techniques in moviemaking,” Kyle Wittlief, a sophomore film major from Ackerman, Miss., said.

The group also helps film students on the Hattiesburg

I really wanted to provide a base of support for film majors and organize the student film festival.

-Michael

Williams

campus that have not begun taking their courses on the Gulf Coast campus to meet other film majors.

“I’m glad that Southern Cinema is back this semester.

It has been frustrating for me because I haven’t felt a sense of community when it comes to meeting other films majors here at USM,” Wittlief said. “Most of the time I only get to talk about movies is with my friends and they’re not film majors.”

The main project for Southern Cinema is its student film festival, which provides an outlet for current film students to showcase their work. This year’s film festival is set for May 1 at 7 p.m., but it is subject to change.

“I’m really excited to see the movies and short films that everyone presents. It’s a great opportunity for film majors to gain real experience and hone their craft,” Williams said. “Plus, it gives students on campus a

Barnes & Noble at Southern Miss Change in Operating Hours Thru Thursday, March 12th: Normal Hours of Operation Friday, March 13th: 7:45 a.m.- 6 p.m.

Saturday, March 14th - Sunday, March 22nd: Closed

Monday, March 23rd: Start New Hours of Operation

Monday-Thursday: 7:45 a.m.- 6:45 p.m., Friday: 7:45a.m.- 5 p.m., Saturday: 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. & Sunday 1 p.m.- 5 p.m.

your school. your bookstore.

way to support independent, local filmmaking.”

Dr. Chris Campbell, director of the School of Mass Communication and Journalism, sponsors the group.

Southern Cinema meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Southern Hall room 115. Any students interested in film are invited to attend.

Southern Cinema

Southern Cinema will be showing “Lucy James: Part 1” this Wednesday. The film recently won the Elana Zastawnik Award for Best Written Film at the Magnolia Film Festival in Starkville.

Five questions for “Saving Grace’ star Holly Hunter David Martindale McClatchy Newspapers

Truth be told, Holly Hunter isn’t convinced her character in “Saving Grace” needs saving. At least not right away.

Back in 2007, when the first episode of TNT’s hit drama series aired, Grace Hanadarko was visited by a “last-chance angel” who warned her to change her ways. But Grace, a brilliant Oklahoma City police detective whose personal life is a train wreck, is more interesting, and more fun for Hunter to play, as a randy, rebellious, unrepentant hell-raiser.

“I want to explore who she is (the way she is now),” the Oscar-winning actress says. “I don’t want her to become a saint.”

At most, Hunter promises, there will be “incremental changes.” “Saving Grace” resumes its second season on TNT at 10 p.m. EST Monday. Grace still drinks too much, still sleeps with all the wrong men, still has a rambunctious spirit and still has a tortured soul. Her actions often make Earl, her angelic adviser, cringe. But we wouldn’t want her any other way.

1. Is there a lot of you in Grace and a lot of Grace in you?

Grace is all me. Grace is my imagination, my experience, kind of a combination of all of it. It’s great to have the life experience that I’ve had to be able to put into Grace. But one of the things that I love about Grace is her impetuousness. And as I’ve gotten older, being impetuous is something that I really kind of have to think about, which means I’m not impetuous anymore. You collect responsibilities. You have other people who depend on you. It’s a very beautiful thing to be young and impetuous. But I’ve tempered that part of me, because I’m more aware of consequences

than I think Grace ever has been.

2. Given that there are fantasy elements to the show, do you work extra hard to make the police procedural aspects ring true?

Well, there has got to be something that’s authentic, regardless of whether it’s fantasy or fiction. And “Saving Grace” is not totally real. It has an angel in it, for God’s sake! So it has to have some authenticity to who these people are, the humanity in them.

3. Speaking of that angel, is it possible that, instead of being persuaded to change her ways, Grace ultimately might change Earl?

It’s so interesting that you bring that up, because in this season, one of the things that we really wanted to explore between Grace and Earl was Earl’s admiration of who she is: her humanity, her frailties, but also her heat and her passion for living. She’s passionate in so many ways that I think that Earl falls more in love with Grace as Season Two goes on. I think you see a little bit how an angel might want to be a human.

4. Are you and your co-stars treated like royalty when you visit Oklahoma?

The love that (series creator) Nancy Miller has for Oklahoma is very apparent. And the people have given us total carte blanche. Every time we come to Oklahoma, I can call them any time, day or night, with any questions. They’ve been fantastic.

5. Is it fun - therapeutic, even - to play so flawed a human being?

I have a lot of fun being Grace. It’s dark, but it’s also kind of thrilling.

I think that’s one of the reasons why so many people want to watch. Because it’s a bit of a thrill ride, a ride that you’re probably not taking in your own life but that you might fantasize about taking.

www.studentprintz.com/multimedia

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

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

Theatre dept. presents “Noises Off” Lisa Parker Printz Writer

When the doors open at the Martha R. Tatum Theatre next Wednesday night, actors will be late, props will be lost, and sound effects will be heard at the wrong times.

A disaster? Think again – it’s part of the plot of the USM Theatre Department’s latest production, “Noises Off,” a manic comedy that gives its audience a behindthe-scenes glimpse of theatre.

Director Yolanda Williams, a third-year graduate student from Jackson, explained that the show allows audiences to see what goes on behind the stage during a theatre performance, including dress rehearsals, technical rehearsals, and what happens when things go wrong.

“It’s really a show within a show, because the USM actors are playing actors, who are playing characters in a fictional play,” Williams said. “So it’s like the audience is getting a backstage pass.”

Submitted Photo

“Noises Off” will be presented March 4-7 and 10-12 at 7:30 p.m., and March 8 at 2 p.m. in the Martha R. Tatum Theatre.

Shana Soloman, the show’s set designer and props supervisor, says what makes this production so unique is the mechanics – the two-story set is built on a rotating turntable that stretches 30 feet across the stage.

“During the first and third acts, the audience will see what happens onstage,” explained Soloman. “But during Act II the stage rotates and [the audience] will see the backstage area.”

Windows will break, fights will erupt, and chaos will ensue between the characters.

“The show is very heavy in slapstick with a lot of stunts,” said Soloman, a Greeneville, Tenn., native. “Everything that can go wrong, goes wrong, and it will really make you laugh.”

Cast member and secondyear graduate student Courtney Susman from Lewisburg, W.Va., describes the show as a “wild,

theatrical ride.”

“The characters are so human, so full of flaws,” said Susman.

“They’re just like everyone in today’s society that we come across every day.”

Over 18 people contributed to the efforts of the show, many of them designers, cast members, and practicum students. Most of the work and preparation began in January at the start of the spring semester.

So how was this group able to pull together a three-act farce in just over a month’s time?

“It’s all about passion for the theatre,” said Williams. “That’s why we do what we do. The students and the faculty are passionate about the arts that we produce, and with everything we produce you’ll see that passion.”

“Noises Off” will be presented March 4-7 and 10-12 at 7:30 p.m., and March 8 at 2 p.m. in the Martha R. Tatum Theatre. Order tickets online at http://www. southernmisstickets.com or call the Southern Miss Ticket Office at 601.266.5418 or 800.844.8425.

Theatre students win Irene Ryan scholarships Special to the Printz Five students and two faculty members from the University of Southern Mississippi Department of Theatre and Dance received awards last week at the 2009 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region IV in Greensboro, N.C. Southern Miss junior Shelby Cade, along with scene partner and fellow USM student Chris Marroy, received the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship, while students Ardice Cotter and partner Caleb Blackwell were finalists for the same award. Thomas Sowers, a Technical Theatre and Design major, received honorable mention for his sound design in USM’s production of “Waiting for the Parade.”

Greenwood, Miss., native Cade, who was nominated for her October performance in “Waiting for the Parade” at USM, performed a monologue as well as two scenes with Slidell, La., native Marroy at the festival.

“This could not have happened to two finer students,” said USM Theatre professor Monica Hayes. “Chris and Shelby are also President

and Vice President of Alpha Psi Omega, the National Honorary Theatre Fraternity. They are always working to improve in every class they take.”

“It was an intense experience,” said Cade, “but the fact that Southern Miss could come out on top really shows how strong the program is.”

Stephen Judd, Associate Professor of Theatre and the department’s head of design at Southern Miss, said that 495 students were nominated for the Irene Ryan award in Region IV alone, which spans nine states across the southeast. Out of the 16 finalists chosen, USM produced both a finalist and a winner.

“There are eight regions [of this competition] across the nation,” Judd said. “Region IV is one of the top regions, so having our students win this competition is a thrill.”

The Irene Ryan Scholarship is made possible by a program named after the late actress known for her role as Granny Clampett in “The Beverly Hillbillies.” The award is intended to provide recognition, honor, and financial assistance to outstanding student performers seeking to further their education, according to

information on the Kennedy Center’s website at www.kennedy-center.org.

Judd also noted that Sowers placed in the top three in Region IV among 61 sound designers for the Award for Sound Design Excellence, which required a demonstration of Sower’s work to professionals in the field.

Cade and Marroy will next travel to Washington, D.C. in April to showcase their work at the annual national festival held at the Kennedy Center.

“I am thrilled beyond measure,” said Hayes.

“USM is the only school in Mississippi to break through to the finals [for this event]. The arts at Southern Miss are flagship for this state.”

Professors Hayes and Judd were also recognized during the week-long event, receiving two of the four faculty awards presented at the festival. Judd won the KCACTF Region IV Faculty Teaching Award for his work in design, and Hayes received the same award for her expertise in directing.

“It’s such an incredible honor,” said Judd of the award. “Our peers in this field are a group of people that I greatly respect, so it’s just an honor to be chosen for this.”

Livemocha offers free language education Rachel Hall Printz Writer

With the advent of programs such as Rosetta Stone, many people are jumping at the chance to learn a new language. With the world as globalized as it is today, it is an essential ability to communicate effectively in a language other than one’s own.

While some will shell out up to $600 to hone their language skills through Rosetta Stone, a website called Livemocha.com offers free online language education. Livemocha not only offers training in the more common languages of English, Spanish and French, but also in the lesser-known languages of the world such as Icelandic, Hindi and Mandarin Chinese.

Once you have signed up with Livemocha, you can select the fluency level of languages you speak and the languages you want to learn. For example, I selected “English—native” and “Spanish—fluent.”

I provide feedback to such groups as Russians, Croatians and Brazilians that are trying to learn English. In order to improve my Spanish, I post audio clips and writing samples in Spanish, and native Spanish speakers leave me feedback and comments.

Livemocha offers the option to “enroll in classes,” complete

with academic lessons and interactive learning activities. Each “unit” offers pronunciation of words, a review session that tests your knowledge of vocabulary, as well as reading, listening and word order skills.

My favorite activity is the “Speaking” component of each lesson. All you need is a computer with a microphone (Livemocha automatically detects the microphone). Each lesson gives you a paragraph to read, and it is as simple as clicking “Record” and “Submit.” Native speakers will post feedback on your pronunciation skills, and many will reply with an audio clip that includes correct pronunciation. To test out the quality of response, I posted a Spanish audio clip at 2:30 p.m. When I checked my post at 4:45 p.m., I already had 22 comments from native Spanish speakers.

Livemocha offers language practice at the 101, 102, 201 and 202 levels. The language services are not targeted only to those students who want to acquire fluency. In addition to comprehensive language study, Livemocha also offers “Travel Crash Courses”. These courses are designed to help students quickly learn the basics of a language, beneficial if you are planning a short trip abroad.

Sports

Page 8 sports@studentprintz.com

Golden Eagles take two of three from ULL Tyler Cleveland Sports Editor

David N. Jackson/Printz

Southern Miss senior centerfielder Bo Davis, from Meridian, steals second base Saturday against UL-Lafayette. .

The Southern Miss baseball team capped another solid weekend, taking two of three games from Louisiana-Lafayette at Pete Taylor Park.

The Golden Eagles’ 7-1 record earned some national recognition in the new college baseball polls released Monday.

The Eagles were 27th in the National College Baseball Writers’ Poll, and 47th in the Coaches’ poll and the ratings percentage index (RPI) poll.

“It’s early, but it’s always nice to get some kind of recognition,” Palmer said. “It helps with recruiting and it gives the guys confidence, but it’s all about where you end up at the end of the season.”

The Eagles took the first two games of the weekend 10-1 and

13-6, but fell in the series finale 7-5.

Scott Copeland took the loss in Sunday’s game, the victim of some poor fielding. Copeland committed one of two Eagle errors that allowed a pair of runs.

The Eagles continued to pound out the hits, tallying 28 runs on 36 hits over the weekend.

But again, the weekend was marred by the loss of another crucial part of the Golden Eagle lineup being sidelined with a knee injury.

Senior centerfielder Bo Davis left Saturday’s game with a twinge in his knee, and could not play Sunday in the series finale.

“He went to see (team orthopedist) Dr. Lance Line today, and he had an MRI on his knee,” Palmer said by phone Monday.

“We’ll know tomorrow how serious it is.”

Asked how bad it would hurt

to lose Davis, his leadoff hitter, Palmer said it would be “tough”.

Davis came into the weekend hitting .478 with three homeruns.

The news about Davis comes on the heels of senior secondbaseman James Ewing having to sit out the entire weekend after having minor surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.

The team had Monday off, and will practice today before hitting the road for Monroe on Wednesday to take on Louisiana-Monroe at 6:30 p.m. in their first road game of the season.

Next Game: Wednesday @ UL-Monroe 6:30 p.m.

Starting pitcher: J.R. Ballinger

Lady Eagles fall short in bid to win C-USA Special to the Printz HATTIESBURG – Southern Miss placed five players in double figure scoring, but it wasn’t enough to offset the onetwo punch of Memphis’ Alex Winchell and Paris Leonard who scored 26 and 21 points, respectively, in leading Memphis to a 77-74 overtime win over Southern Miss Saturday.

Southern Miss (18-11, 11-5) missed an opportunity to share the regular season title with SMU and now will have to wait to find out what seed the Lady Eagles will enter the 2009 Conference USA Championship, Mar. 5-8.

“You have to say congratulations to Memphis,” Coach Joye Lee-McNelis said. “They came in here and fought hard and execut-

ed their game plan. Alex Winchell and Paris Leonard had phenomenal nights. Alex Winchell totally took the leadership role of that basketball team in the first and dominated the Lady Eagles.

We had no one who could guard her. From that frustration set in and we turned the ball over 15 times in the first half. When you do that in a half, it’s not going to give you much of a chance to win.”

Pauline Love led USM with 16 points, followed by Amber Eugene with 14, Stephanie Helgeson had 12, Kendra Reed and Andrea Barber each scored 10 points. Eugene and Helgeson also grabbed 11 and 12 rebounds, respectively.

In overtime, Memphis jumped out to a four-point lead, 69-65,

before Eugene scored off a Helgeson miss and a steal to tie the game. Ellis came up with the offensive rebound and put back for a 71-69 lead. Thornton connected on two free throws to extend the Memphis lead to four, 73-69.

Candace Rucker cut the lead to two, 71-73, with 54 seconds remaining in the game.

Southern Miss had an opportunity to take tie the game or take the lead when Leonard missed two free throws with 35 seconds remaining. The Golden Eagles got off two shots but couldn’t connect.

Memphis made two more free throws before Love sank a threepointer in the waning seconds.

The C-USA tournament is set to get underway on March 5-8 in New Orleans.

David N. Jackson/Printz

Stephanie Helgeson, a junior from River Ridge, La., grabs a rebound and makes the basket against Memphis.

2009 Women’s C-USA Tournament Friday

Thursday (8) ECU

(1) SMU

(5) UCF

(6) Tulane

Sunday

Noon

(9) UAB (12) Rice

Saturday

2:00 p.m.

2:30 p.m.

(4) Houston

(11) Tulsa (7) Marshall (10) Memphis

2:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

(3) USM 8:00 p.m.

(2) UTEP

4:30 p.m.

Heidelburg continued from page 1

yesterday.

“Willie scored on the same play, twice,” Cook said. “I remember thinking, ‘Man I can’t wait to get home and watch some tape to see how great my guys blocked.’ But when I got home to look at the tape, we didn’t block anybody, Willie just dodged them all.”

As the game went on, the Southern Miss players started to believe, and when the Eagle defense stuffed an Ole Miss drive and got the ball back with two minutes remaining, it sunk in.

“I remember my best friend on the team was a third-string running back from Magee named Bubba,” Heidelburg recalls. “He turns to me with two minutes to go and says ‘We’re gonna beat Ole Miss!’ It was the first time I had looked at the game clock since halftime.”

Southern Miss defeated Ole Miss 30-14, with Heidelburg scoring the two touchdowns that made up the difference showing on the scoreboard.

Manning was as brilliant in defeat as ever in victory, completing 30 of 56 pass attempts for

C-USA Champ

341 yards. The former NFL quarterback says he will never forget that day.

“I remember we had just put in new astro-turf on the playing field,” Manning recalls. “We all thought it was cool, but we started to back track a little after Willie was just too fast on it for us to stop him.”

For days after the game, the headlines in the state’s newspapers were dominated by recounts of the game. Some called it the greatest upset in football history, some the “shot heard ‘round the football world.”

The repercussions from the game have spanned the decades in the state of Mississippi.

Later that season, John Vaught, still Ole Miss’ all-time winningest coach, suffered a heart attack and was forced to retire. The next season, Ole Miss signed its first black player, “Gentle” Ben Williams, who went on to become an All-American for Ole Miss.

The Rebels have never been ranked as high in the polls nationally since that day.

The next week, Southern Miss

would get thrashed 51-15 by Miss. State, but the Ole Miss game would live on in USM lore forever.

The win meant a surge of funds for the USM football program that helped to more than double the capacity of the stands at Faulkner Field – now M.M. Roberts Stadium.

Southern Miss defeated Ole Miss five more times before the series ended in 1984, but no win was as meaningful as that day.

Heidelburg, who now resides in West Jackson, finished his USM career without much ado.

In fact, the next week at Mississippi State, he was crushed on that same end-around call on the first play from scrimmage and forced to sit out the rest of the game.

But his legacy as the first black player to help a division-one university in Mississippi win a football game over an all-white team was cemented.

Of course, he was the first to ever be given the chance.

“I didn’t see it like that at the time,” Heidelberg reminisces from his office at Belhaven. “I was just happy to have the oppor-

tunity to go to college and play collegiate athletics.”

Heidelburg went on to get a degree in education, and taught at Jackson’s Murrah High School for 25 years.

Now retired, he has a chance to get back to his favorite past-time, college football.

“Growing up in Lumberton, my parents got the Hattiesburg American every morning,” Heidelburg said. “I read about Southern Miss and Ole Miss and Mississippi State, and I just wanted to be a part of college football.”

Now in his tenth season at Belhaven, Heidelburg is teaching the next generation the lessons he learned with the opportunity he received many years ago.

“It’s a feeling that’s better than winning, to know you had a hand in the growth of these young men,” Heidelburg said. “The best part is getting to watch our players come in as boys and helping to mold them into young men.”

On a muggy day in October of 1970, Heidelburg helped mold every college football player in Mississippi, whether he was trying to or not.

Briefs

Davis named C-USA hitter of the week IRVING, Texas - Southern Miss leadoff hitter Bo Davis was named the Conference USA Hitter of the Week announced today by the C-USA office.

Davis paced the Golden Eagle offense starting in all four victories last week. He hit .500 (816) with three home runs, eight runs scored and six RBI from his leadoff spot. He totaled 17 total bases including three walks for an on base percentage of .579 while slugging 1.063. In addition he was a perfect two-for-two on stolen bases and had a sacrifice bunt.

Softball continues road swing HATTIESBURG – The Southern Miss softball team continues its current road swing with a twogame, mid-week trip beginning Tuesday with a single contest at McNeese State. Game time is set for 6 p.m.

Southern Miss (8-10-1) has won two consecutive games, after defeating North Carolina Central and Eastern Illinois in the Owl Classic last weekend in Kennesaw, Ga. USM women’s track places fourth at C-USA indoor HOUSTON, Texas -- The Rice women and Houston men captured their third consecutive championship at the 2009 Conference USA Indoor Track and Field Championships held at the University of Houston Athletic/ Alumni Center.

The Owls topped the women’s roster with 148 points, followed by host Houston who had 108.

UCF tallied 86 points and UTEP finished fourth with 54 points.

Rounding out the women’s side of competition was Memphis (51), SMU (45), Tulsa (42), Southern Miss (40), UAB (32), Marshall (20), Tulane (20) and East Carolina (14).

Photo courtesy USM Athledic Media Relations

Lumberton’s Willie Heidelburg was the first black player in USM football history.