March_10_2009

ENTERTAINMENT

STUDENTPRINTZ.COM

See a gallery of pictures from the women’s basketball game Sunday from the Conference USA Championship in New Orleans, La.

Read our review of Watchmen on page 7.

SPORTS

Our men’s basketball team kicks off their conference tournament play tomorrow. See page 8 for a full schedule.

S P The

Serving Southern Miss since 1927

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

BUDGET

Volume 93, Issue 45

University closing during break to cut costs James Osborne Printz Writer

Southern Miss is closing down the Hattiesburg campus Friday afternoon in an effort to cut energy costs during spring break, but the measure will be an inconvenience for some students who were expecting to stick around.

Some international students in particular find the shutdown unfair.

“We are international students

and were invited to come here, and now they close the doors,” said Alexander Mitam, a Saunders f r e s h m a n from Romania majoring in finance banking. “I don’t think it’s fair to make us move and close the cafeteria for spring break.”

Mitam said having some staff

on hand to keep some of the oncampus housing open would save him the inconvenience of finding and paying for a place to stay during the break.

“I made my budget before I moved here, and if I had known that I would have to pay more, I would not have come,” he said.

Jana Bryant, assistant director of marketing and public relations for USM, said the school expects to save approximately $200,000 in utility costs during the nine-

day shutdown. The average yearly utility costs for the university are about $10 million, she added.

University President Martha Saunders announced the shutdown during a town-hall meeting Feb. 12. She said during the meeting that heating and air conditioning would be cut off in most buildings on campus, except for science and music buildings in order to protect equipment and scientific research.

Ming Zhang, an international graduate student majoring in

HEARTBREAK

public health, said she accepts the decision to shut down the university “because this financial crisis is affecting the whole U.S.A.” The money the university saves could help students in the long run, she added.

“It is hard to judge, though, because the university may need to save money, but some students may need a place to stay,” she said, adding that she plans to spend her See BREAK page 3

INFO YOU SHOULD KNOW • Students are expected to be out of the dorms by 5 p.m.

Friday and can return March 22 at 8 a.m.

• The Cook Library will close at 5 p.m. March 13, but will remain open from 1 to 5 p.m. March 16-20. It will also be closed the 21-22, and will resume normal operating hours on March 23.

STUDY ABROAD

Central Florida 65, Southern Miss 54

The deadline for applying for many summer programs, including those in India, Vienna and France, is Friday. The deadline for the Granada semester program is June 30.

India added to growing list of abroad programs Meryl Dakin Printz Writer

Sebe Dale IV/Printz

Southern Miss players Stephanie Helgeson (left) and Pauline Love (right) respond after Sunday’s loss to Central Florida in the Conference USA tournament final in New Orleans, La. See the full story on page 8.

NET LEGISLATION

Green legislation wilts at capital Lesley Walters News Editor

Despite the efforts of the Southern Miss Office of Sustainability and some Mississippi legislators, five proposed net metering bills have died in the 2009 Legislature.

Mississippi is one of eight states that do not have net metering laws, according to Motherearthnews.com.

Net metering supports individuals with renewable power sources who generate more energy than they consume in a month. Individuals receive credits on their utility bills while removing some of the strain on their local power grid.

Larry Lee, the chief sustainability officer at Southern Miss, said there are probably two houses in South Mississippi that generate their own energy, but net metering legislation would help draw attention to the benefits of solar panels and other sustainable power sources.

Lee admitted he was initially “seeing red” when all five net metering bills died recently, but added in humor that he has passed through all the stages of grief and has achieved “acceptance.”

“I have accepted the political workings of Mississippi – political workings

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in general,” he said. He is grateful for the preliminary work that researchers did to get the bills heard and expects Mississippi will have another chance of passing “green” legislation in the future.

“Come session next year, we’ll be back in Jackson,” Lee said hopefully, “making calls and trying to do the deals.”

Mississippi District 102 Rep. Toby Barker, R-Hattiesburg, wrote one of the five bills that failed so far this year. He said he fashioned the bill after a New Jersey law, and sought more to have net metering studied than passed to hedge his bets.

While Barker’s bill passed the Mississippi House of Representatives, he said the proposed legislation died in committee because of deadlines. Barker said other legislators plan to look into net metering this summer.

“There are going to be a lot of factors that play into it,” Barker said. He added that a committee would hear “reviews” from several interested groups, including power companies and public service commissioners, before deciding whether Jesse Bass/Printz to pursue a full study on net metering.

The solar panels atop USM anthropology professor Ed See GREEN page 3

ENTERTAINMENT.................6 ENT. CALENDAR...................7 SPORTS....................................8 SPORTS CALENDAR.............8

Jackson’s cabin survived Hurricane Katrina and provide all the electricity to the property.

The Southern Miss Office of International Programs is offering a new summer study abroad program this year, Religions of India, and has extended application deadlines for many of its programs.

Dr. Dan Capper, a religion professor at USM and coordinator of Religions of India, said it was a simple

See ABROAD page 3

SGA

Program aims to fight poor grades Roger Walker Printz Writer

Newly elected Student Government Association President J.R. Robinson suggested a new academic plan in his campaign platform that aims to increase student retention, and he plans to enforce it in his first 30 days as president.

The program would be open to any student, but it would be focused on students under academic probation to keep them from dropping out. It would require students to participate in a study hall for two or three hours a week, according to

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.

decision to start the new program.

“India is a place apart in terms of ways of being on the planet,” Capper said. “They tend to act in a very different way than Americans do, especially when it comes to religion, which is the primary focus of this trip.”

He said the people of India take religion very seriously but are also some of the most

For the latest Southern Miss news, see studentprintz.com

Robinson’s campaign Web site, jrforsgapresident.webs.com.

According to the Web site, the program is similar to those required for Leadership Scholars and other scholarship students. Robinson, a junior from Bolton, said his program would make those services available to students who are not scholarship recipients and may be at risk of academic probation.

Santee Ezell, a senior sociology and community health services major said she doubts whether students will take advantage of the program.

See GRADES page 3

TODAY

TOMORROW

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Page 2|News

www.studentprintz.com |Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Events Calendar

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME

03-10-09

•All Day -- Women’s Golf @ Eagle Landing Invitational -- Orange Park, Fla. •All Day -- Softball Registration -- Payne Center •All Day -- Learn to Swim Registration -- Session III -- M.C. Johnson

Natatorium •2:00 p.m. -- Men’s Tennis @ Southeastern La. -- Hammond, La. •2:00 p.m. -- Women’s Tennis @ Cal-Fullerton -- Fullerton, Calif.

•6:00 p.m. -- Kim Wooly Bassoon Recital -- Marsh Auditorium •6:00 p.m. -- Softball v. Baylor -- Hattiesburg •6:30 p.m. -- Baseball @ UNO -- New Orleans, La. •6:30 p.m. -- Center for the Study of War and Society Roundtable --

Hattiesburg Public Library •7:30 p.m. -- Theater presents “Noises Off” -- Martha R. Tatum Theatre •8:00 p.m. -- Wesley Foundation JAM -- Wesley Foundation 03-11-09

Jesse Bass/Printz Sunday’s beautiful, sunny weather inspired numerous impromptu baseball games and sessions of catch at The Roost, Pete Taylor Park’s tailgating area.

•All Day -- Men’s Basketball @ C-USA Tournament -- Memphis, Tenn.

•All Day -- Career Services: Deadline Etiquette Dinner Tickets -- McLemore Hall Room 125 •All Day -- Softball Registration -- Payne Center •All Day -- Learn to Swim Registration -- Session III -- M.C. Johnson Natatorium •12:15 p.m. -- Career Services Wed. Workshop: Networking In Today’s Job Market -- TEC 102 •6 p.m. -- Softball v. Nicholls St. -- Hattiesburg •7:30 p.m. -- Theater presents “Noises Off” -- Martha R. Tatum Theatre

LOCAL ECONOMY

Residents consider hybrids despite gas prices, economy Kayla Rutledge Printz Writer

With gas prices and environmental awareness on the rise, Hattiesburg-area car buyers are following a national trend and shopping for hybrid vehicles.

Even though American automakers Honda and Ford each have hybrid selections on their sales lots, sticker shock tends to keep some car buyers at bay.

“Originally hybrids were mainly purchased by businessmen and women doing a lot of traveling,” said Joe Spradley, a salesman at Vardaman Buick-Honda in Hattiesburg.

Spradley said he has seen an increase in the number of customers looking to buy hybrids as gas prices continue to rise and fall, sometimes dramatically.

“Overall though, with the economy the way it is right now, not too many people are asking for hybrids,” Spradley said.

He speculates this may be because hybrids tend to cost more than conventional vehicles.

Honda’s main hybrid vehicle on the market is the Civic.

According to information from www. hybridcars.com, a hybrid vehicle combines the use of a gasoline engine, rechargeable batteries and an electric motor.

Information from www.abc.com states hybrid vehicles recharge each time the brakes are applied.

This eliminates the need to charge the vehicle using an electric outlet.

Hybrids get better gas mileage than vehicles that run primarily on gasoline.

According to information on the web site www.howstuffworks.com, hybrids get better gas mileage because they have much smaller gasoline engines than conventional vehicles.

These smaller engines are much more fuelefficient and create less of an impact on the

environment.

Ford currently produces the Escape as its main hybrid line.

John Parker, a salesman at Courtesy Ford in Hattiesburg, said he has seen an increase in the number of hybrid vehicles being purchased.

“We’re unable to keep them on the lot,” Parker said. “You can only get them through special order.”

Hybrids are much quieter than other vehicles. The battery power creates very little noise, and customers like how the vehicles ride and handle, Parker said.

Parker cites unstable gas prices as a factor in the increase of consumers purchasing hybrids.

“They’re more fuel-efficient vehicles,” he added.

MCT Campus Both Ford and Honda dealers will be Toyota’s hybrid Prius, shown here, is among the most environmentally friendly cars. releasing new hybrids this spring.

Honda’s natural gas Civic GX, which debuted in 2006 in California, is also at the top of the list. (Handout/MCT)

Page 3|News

www.studentprintz.com | Tuesday, March 10, 2009

news in brief University-wide power outage As part of the Data Center Renovation project, university-wide operations will be suspended during Spring Break beginning Monday, March 16th through Wednesday, March 18th, 2009. Campus will experience a complete network outage. The only systems that will be accessible are Faculty/Staff Email, Blackboard and TK20, and they will only be accessible through an off-campus connection.

Nursing director receives award

USM School of Nursing director Dr. Katherine Nugent is the recipient of the Mississippi Nursing Association’s 2009 Administrator of the Year Award. The award was given to Nugent at the Association’s fifth annual Nightingale Awards Gala, held in Jackson. Nugent has served as the school’s director for five years.

Top Russian education official visits USM

The Hattiesburg American reports that Nikolai Nikandrov, president of the Russian Academy of Education, is touring USM as a part of his survey of the American higher-education system. He said, “The three-level system of bachelor, master, and doctorate...will be introduced in Russia next school year. I come to understand as much as possible.”

GREEN continued from page one Barker said some power companies are more “willing” than others to work with legislators to get net metering laws on the books, Mississippi Power being one of the more “encouraging” companies. He said he is meeting with some representatives from Mississippi Power in the next week to hear more about their position on the issue.

Even if the House decides to study the idea, however, the Mississippi Senate could decide against a study and the measure would have to wait another year before being considered,

Barker said.

“It’s hard to get everyone on the same page,” he added. “I’ve just found that new ideas don’t always go well the first year – or the second year.”

Barker said it is a good sign, however, that he was not the only legislator to introduce a net metering bill, especially since the other lawmakers were from different political parties.

“I think there will be a broad coalition once people find out what it is and the benefits of it,” he said.

Government to increase aid to students James Osborne Printz Writer

In the past few months the government has been playing a bigger role in helping students pay for college with financial aid, and the Obama Administration looks like it will continue that trend.

There are three basic forms of financial aid: grants, loans and scholarships.

Grants, like the Pell Grant, are donations of money from the federal government given to students based on financial need after the student has completed the Free Application for Student Aid, and grants do not need to be paid back.

Thursday afternoon the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators met with the U.S. Department of Education, senior staff members from the White House, and the Office of Management and Budget for the president’s FY 2010 budget proposal.

Under the president’s budget proposal, the Pell Grant would now be increased to a maximum award of $5,550 in the 2010-11 school year, up from $4,731 for the 2008-09 school year.

The maximum Pell Grant award would cover the total cost of tuition for a Southern Miss student who receives it, said David W. Williamson, assistant

director for operations at USM’s Office of Financial Aid. That is, if tuition does not rise again next year. The Pell Grant would cover about $2,675 a semester and full-time tuition at USM is currently $2,548.

Williamson said a significant number of students at USM receive the Pell Grant, resulting in more than $17 million in Pell Grant federal funding.

According to www.ed.gov, the Federal Pell Grant Program promotes access to postsecondary education by providing need-based grants to lowincome undergraduates and post-baccalaureate students who qualify.

Grant amounts depend on the student’s expected family contribution, cost of attendance, the student’s enrollment status and whether the student attends for a full academic year or less. Financial aid is determined by the information students send to FAFSA, and the Department of Education is also trying to make the FAFSA easier for students to understand and fill out.

“I think the increase in Pell Grant will really help me out,” said Dereck Romero, a sophomore forensic science and administration of justice major, “but I will still need to take out loans next semester… for living expenses because living on your own is so hard.”

Romero said he had little choice in his decision to take out loans, since “it was either take out student loans or don’t further my education.”

Student loans come in the form of either government Stafford loans, which are loans from a lender that are backed and guaranteed by the government, or private loans straight from a lender, which are based on a borrower’s credit. Many students use a cosigner, often their parents, because of lack of credit.

Since the Bush Administration, the government has been supporting lending institutions and helping those in trouble by purchasing loans and servicing them for the students. The federal government has had to give a type of bailout to companies like Ed America to ensure that students can still use their loans.

In his budget proposal, President Barack Obama suggested doing away with student lending through private lenders and making all student loans come directly through the department of education. Williamson said students would probably not experience much of a change in the process.

Frantz Salomon, a senior music education major, said he uses student loans to supplement his scholarship.

“I did try private loans,” he said, “which were a lot more hectic of a process than federal loans that go straight to the university. Stafford loans are not as hectic because the university helps take some of the stress out of the process, and it’s a lot easier.”

There are two different types of Stafford loans from the government, sub-

sidized and unsubsidized. Subsidized is based on need, and the government pays the interest while the student is in school. Unsubsidized is not needbased. The interest builds while the student is in school, but the student has the choice of paying the interest while in school.

The average student at USM will owe $17,000, Williamson said.

“Student loans are always available, but be careful how much you borrow and don’t use loans as a crutch,” Williamson said. “There are scholarships available. Even if they are small amounts, those small amounts can really add up.”

Scholarships are usually given through the individual departments of a school or through private organizations, and can be both need- and merit-based. A scholarship search is available at the financial aid department’s Web site at usm.edu/finaid.

Williamson said students should “apply early and often” even if they are not sure they will get anything through filling out the FAFSA. He added that students should be careful of websites and companies that ask for money for scholarship searches, and keep up with deadlines for the HELP scholarship and the William Winter scholarships, which are coming up later this month.

Abroad program extends to incorporate India continued from page one tolerant in terms of religious pluralism. India is the birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism and is home to large communities of Muslims, Christians, and Parsees.

Students on the India trip will visit Bodhgaya, the location of the Buddha’s enlightenment; Varanasi, the holiest place in the world to Hindus; Agra’s Taj Mahal; Calcutta, where Mother Theresa conducted most of her ministry; Delhi’s Gandhi Museum, and Dharamsala, home to the Dalai Lama.

“I don’t mean to besmirch the other study abroad programs, but

if travel is about opening you to a new reality, and other ways of thinking and acting, you’ve really got to go to India,” Capper said.

“I’ve traveled to many places, and no place has changed me as much as India has.”

Sophomore pre-nursing major Will Nunnery described his study abroad experience as “unforgettable.” He spent a semester at the Abbey in Pontlevoy, France, a satellite program like the new one in Granada.

“Study abroad really gave me a chance to find my true self by being thrown into a different culture with 33 complete strangers,” he said. “I

BREAK continued from page one spring break in Orlando, Fla. Ramon Lima, a junior international studies major from Brazil, said he is also not upset about the campus shutdown, but understands why some foreign students could be frustrated.

“For international students this is our primary residence – it’s like our house,” he said. “It should not be that big of a deal for me because I have been here three years now and have many friends, but it will be hard for some international students here for the first time.”

Barbara Jackson, administrator of International Student and Scholar Services, said international students have been informed of available housing options.

“Besides the hotels, the University Baptist church has

GRADES

offered the chance to stay with families in the area,” Jackson added. “We have sent several emails out to our students. No one has come to us yet saying that they have no place to go.”

Information about housing options is also posted in residence halls so that no student finds himself stranded during spring break. The Department of Residence Life suggests the Western Motel on 3501 Hardy St., which will charge $55 plus tax for double occupancy to students who present their university ID. It is each student’s responsibility to secure his or her own reservations, but the department of Residence Life can help students who are having trouble finding housing. For more information, contact Residence Life at 601.266.4783.

continued from page one

“If students don’t know anything by freshman or sophomore year they are not going to know where to get this help,” she said, “and some are not willing to admit they need help because [they] want to keep their problems confidential.”

“It’s not a program designed to show everybody that someone has bad grades … no one even has to know that a student is getting tutoring for a specific reason such as bad grades; they may just need help for their upcoming test or something,” Robinson said.

The administration of justice and pre-law major said the program would operate on faculty feedback to ensure that students take advantage of its services.

According to his campaign Web site, Robinson wants to make Introduction of University Studies, UNV 101, a required course for all students, specifically incoming freshmen. For students who are not Leadership or Luckyday Scholars, the course would provide some “necessary resources to perform well

throughout their college career.”

Lauren Furticle, a sophomore nursing major, said there may still be a problem with the plan.

“Maybe the reason many students are not in good academic standing is because of lack of motivation,” she said. “If they aren’t motivated to go to class, they won’t be motivated to get extra help.”

While there may be a few holes in the plan, SGA Vice President Jayson Newell said the program would benefit the whole university community, not just individual students. If the enrollment retention rate rises and stays high, the university may receive more funding from the state and possibly keep tuition from rising next year.

“If we want to continue to grow numbers then we must take the correct steps in providing a program that will assist students,” Newell said. “If we want to increase the money for this university, we have to keep the students here.”

made memories and friends that will last a lifetime.”

The fall semester in Granada program is in its second year at USM. Dr. Rafael Sanchez, director of the program and professor at USM, is from Spain and first presented the idea of a satellite semester there in 2004.

“I always tell students they’ll get out of a program as much as they put in … with this one, you can get so much more,” Sanchez said.

Students can enroll in 15 to 18 hours of credit with the Granada program. Courses offered last semester ranged from English drama to marketing and tourism,

as the program is intended to cover a core curriculum for students who aren’t Spanish majors or minors. Core classes are taught in English, so even students with no Spanish experience are welcome to participate.

Granada itself is home to the third-largest university in Spain, and Sanchez said the city has a wealth of opportunity for students to immerse themselves in Spanish culture. It is located 45 minutes from the Mediterranean Sea and 45 minutes from the Sierra Nevada.

“With a three-month program, you experience the culture so much more than you would in

a four-week summer program,” Sanchez said.

Laura Garcia, a fourth-year business administration student from Madrid, said she is spending a year abroad at USM specifically to improve her English.

“I get the experience of living in another country, knowing another culture, and learning a different system from my school,” she said.

“I’m having fun, and I think it’s a great idea to study abroad.”

Even if the House decides to study the idea, however, the Mississippi Senate could decide against a study and the measure would have to wait another year

before being considered, Barker said.

“It’s hard to get everyone on the same page,” he added. “I’ve just found that new ideas don’t always go well the first year – or the second year.”

Barker said it is a good sign, however, that he was not the only legislator to introduce a net metering bill, especially since the other lawmakers were from different political parties.

“I think there will be a broad coalition once people find out what it is and the benefits of it,” he said.

Opinions

Page 4 opinions@studentprintz.com

Don’t let a few bad apples ruin the whole government S ince Illinois Governor Milorad Blagojevich was impeached, convicted of corruption and removed from his office at the beginning of this year, countless news and editorial sources have tried even harder to measure just which state is the most corrupt. Is it Illinois? What about Louisiana, which has been historically notorious for political corruption? One state that appears near the top of many lists is our very own: Mississippi.

When USA Today measured each state’s rate of public corruption convictions won by federal prosecutors from 1998-2007, Mississippi had a secure spot in the top five among all 50 states, with roughly 7.3 convictions

per 100,000 residents. However, when only the top 35 most populous states were ranked, Mississippi came second only to Louisiana.

Sarah How did our Coleman home state get that Printz Writer kind of reputation? Take, for example, what the Hattiesburg American calls “one of the most sweeping federal judicial bribery investigations on Mississippi.” Hinds County Circuit Judge Bobby DeLaughter, who was known in the ‘90s for prosecuting white su-

premacist Byron de la Beckwith for the 1963 murder of civil rights leader Medgar Evers, has recently been accused of conspiracy, mail fraud and obstruction.

The national media has picked up the case, with the New York Times reporting that, “Prosecutors say that in the incestuous, everybody-knows-everybody world of the Mississippi Bar, Judge DeLaughter carried coziness just a bit too far.”

Travel southward in Mississippi and you’ll find yet another case of political corruption on the rise. In Poplarville, Former District Attorney Glenn White of Petal was charged with bribing a witness in a case involving a Picayune bonding company. If he is convicted,

he could serve up to five years in jail.

When Newsvine.com asked, “How widespread do you think political corruption is in the U.S.?”, just over 15 percent of the almost 10,000 people polled answered, “All politicians are corrupt.”

78.5 percent answered, “There is more corruption than we know.” In the section below the poll on the website where users can leave comments, almost every remark made the assertion that no political leader is to be trusted.

One comment in particular caught my eye. It said, “How widespread [is political corruption]? From sea to shining sea.”

It seems like the corruption accusations and convictions previously men-

tioned have made all judges, politicians, and attorneys look bad. Because of people like Blagojevich (and DeLaughter and White if they are convicted), those who want to pursue careers in the legal and/or political realms face much more difficulty in doing so.

It’s no wonder I get plenty of eyerolls when I tell people I want to go to law school after I graduate. It has gotten harder for me to tell someone I want to pursue a legal career, because there’s a very good chance the person I’m talking to will tell me that every single lawyer is dishonest (believe me, it has happened; apparently my father, an attorney, is dishonest, too. I guess you learn something new every day).

Scores of people I talk to about the subject assume that every lawyer, judge and politician goes into his or her profession for illegitimate reasons (self-promotion, for instance). While there are plenty of bad politicians out there who are in it just for themselves, there are just as many politicians who go into the profession to make positive changes in their communities (I happen to think our president is a good example). Ultimately, the corrupt should be punished; however, it’s not fair for the negative actions of a few to overshadow the good deeds of many.

sider forms of energy aside from coal and oil, or will we continue to trudge along in the dark?

In February, five net metering bills died in the Mississippi Legislature’s public utilities committees. Net metering uses a typical meter to measure the flow of

energy between a home generator and the power grid. When a home owner utilizes a small windmill or system of solar panels to increase the energy produced by their generator, the extra energy can be used to support the needs of their home.

The homeowner will then only be

charged for the energy drawn from the grid. If an energy surplus is produced, it can be directed back into the grid and the homeowner is then paid for that energy.

This system rewards the choice of renewable energy sources, but it is having a difficult time getting

off the ground in Mississippi. According to the Pew Center of Global Climate Change, seven states continue to refuse net metering legislation, including Alaska, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, South Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi. In interviews with the Hattiesburg American, Larry Lee, USM’s sustainability officer, said that “the government should be encouraging us to do this stuff.”

Will Watson, an English professor at the Gulf Coast campus, believes that “Mississippi isn’t last in everything good for no reason.

There are interest groups deeply invested in keeping things [the way they are].” The portion of the public clamoring for sustainable energy is growing.

This state needs to get with the program or stop complaining about the stereotypes and generalizations thrown our way. Luckily, according to Rep. Toby Barker, R-Hattiesburg, there is hope. Barker says “the Legislature is always fairly cautious when looking at any new piece of legislation.” And, according to Sen. Gray Tollison, D-Oxford, the bills were important in getting net metering on the “power companies’ radar.” This issue, says Barker, will get a “fair hearing.”.

A fair hearing, however, does not always mean that the best decision is made. While Mississippi has

not accepted net metering, we are improving upon current technologies. On March 5th, the Southern Company, an energy company, met its goal of installing one million Smart Meters. The new meters are very similar to standard meters, but they have a digital display and communicate the amount of energy used directly to the energy company. These meters will reduce operating costs, cut down on millage logged by vehicles used to monitor meters, keep customer rates low, make the eventual switch to net metering easier and may provide customers with the opportunity to more closely manage their energy usage.

The Southern Company’s energy program will, in time, see 4.4 million Smart Meters in place for their customers in the southeast, including Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power and Mississippi Power. How our state uses energy falls on our shoulders. We need to support the development of programs like that of Southern Company, and urge our leaders in government to make necessary commitments to sustainable, renewable energy. Let’s not fall too far behind again.

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

It’s time for responsible energy, Mississippi Jennifer Lamb

Printz Writer

W

ill Mississippi c o n -

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

Barnes & Noble Change in Operating Hours Through Thursday, March 12th: Normal Hours 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.- 6:00 p.m., Friday: 7:45 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Saturday: 11:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.

your school. your bookstore.

Page 5|Opinions

www.studentprintz.com | Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Equal means all Who are you to pass judgment?

B T efore I begin my argument, I will preface it with a few statements.

While technically this column is Marika about ProposiSmith tion 8, the same Printz Writer sex marriage ban in California, I do not intend to discuss my personal views on the lifestyles of gays and lesbians. I do not desire to open that can of worms. The intention of this column is to attempt to show readers that there is a side of this issue that affects everyone in the country, homosexual and heterosexual alike. Also, I hope to show a side of this issue that perhaps some people have yet to consider.

In May of last year, the Supreme Court of California determined the California ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. Chief Justice Ronald M. George wrote the majority opinion, which said that any law that discriminates based on sexual orientation would be “constitutionally suspect”, just like any law that discriminates based on race or gender. Almost immediately following this decision, opponents of gay marriage began working to put together a proposition the California populace voted on last November -- Proposition 8.

It passed, amended the state constitution, and denied homosexuals the basic rights married people enjoy.

The problem I find with Proposition 8 is the implication it has for the millions of people who are not members of the dominant gender, race, or sexual orientation -- in other words, the implications it has for people who are

not heterosexual white males. Don’t read that as a jab at straight white men, I merely want to point out that heterosexual white males are historically dominant. Not a sarcastic punch, merely a historical fact. The passing of Prop. 8 implies that the majority has the authority to take away rights explicitly given to a minority group.

I thought one of the purposes of our system of government was to have rule by the majority with respect to the minority, so all people were represented and all civil rights were observed. We have overcome numerous obstacles when it comes to racial discrimination and gender discrimination.

But we have yet to reach the finish line. Things have come a long way, especially in Mississippi. For example, look back into history in Mississippi during the 1960s. See how far we’ve come? Why is discrimination based on sexual orientation any different?

Because we live in the “Bible Belt”, there are probably more homophobic people in this region than in any other.

Many churches here teach that samesex romantic relationships are sinful, therefore increasing ill feelings toward homosexual people and ultimately fueling discrimination. What happened to letting God be the judge?

In my opinion, if a person is going to work for equal rights for one group, then they should work for equal rights for all people. When it comes to civil rights, we cannot pick and choose who should get them and who should not. If we want equal rights, then we want equal rights for everyone, not just blacks and women.

Michal Thornton Printz Writer

o be honest, this whole issue over same sex marriage is completely baffling to me. I am a heterosexual female, and so are many of my friends, but we don’t have the same taste in men. By the same standard, my lesbian friends and I do not have the same taste in romantic or sexual partners. To me, that’s just the way it is, and my friends accept my preferences with the same laissez-faire attitude. I don’t want a tattoo, so I’m not going to get one. Everybody else can go tattoo their eyeballs for all I care. I don’t want a same sex marriage, so I’m not going to have one. Get my drift?

Since the issue of same sex marriage and Proposition 8 has been stirred up, I’ve gotten curious. What, exactly, do people find so offensive about the legal union between people of the same sex who are good, law-abiding citizens and who love each other? Is it just a thoughtless reaction people have, based on their upbringing? Or is it possible that their arguments hold some water? Yes, I decided. If I’m going to write a fair opinion, this merits some research. I went after personal interviews taken from protesters (on both sides) outside of the

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

Commendable Acting at USM Letter to the Editor

Last evening, my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the USM Theater’s production of the comedy “Noises Off.” We would like to commend all who Mark Leach took part in this production. Bravo! The stage was wonderful, and the acting was impeccable. There was not a sub-par performance among the whole cast. I have never seen a poorly acted play at USM, though I have not laughed that hard while watching a comedy in years. I highly recommend that everyone see this performance, though I am sure that the next one will be equally laudable.

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California Supreme Court while Proposition 8 was being re-reviewed, and here’s what I found: Hollers interviewee Julie Pronina outside the California Supreme Court said, “I hope that today the victory will be on the side of God. I think [same sex marriage] is wrong because it’s against children, it’s against people, it’s against human nature, it’s against moral rights. A moral wrong cannot make a civil right!”

Hmm. First of all, since when did marriage become just about children? And, if it is, what about all of the heterosexual couples that make a conscious decision to not become parents? What about those who are physically unable to have children? Not to mention the ones who are totally neglectful and abusive to the ones they do have. Aren’t they, too, in defiance of some deity or “moral law”?

As for human nature, I would be fascinated to meet a homosexual person who became so voluntarily. Seriously -- what kind of masochist do you have to be to put yourself in that position at this point in history? Homosexuality is not a choice anymore than preferring chocolate over vanilla is a choice. It’s just a part of who a person is.

60-year-old Jack Warner’s take is, “number one, the state of California has already voted on Proposition 8...my second front,

and more important for me, is what the Bible has to say about homosexuality. I believe it makes it plain that…homosexuality is an abomination in the sight of God.” I’m glad the Civil Rights advocates didn’t cave after one try, aren’t you? Ditto for the instigators of the American Revolution.

And for those of you who believe that the Christian, Protestant Bible is just the cat’s pajamas, I have something for you: that’s great. Believe your little heart out, just quit trying to inquisition everyone else. At the very least, do what Jesus would do and practice a little tolerance instead of all that self-righteousness.

All of the anti-gay marriage interviews provided by the New York Times online had essentially the same argument against same sex marriage: it goes against God, it goes against human nature, and it’s morally wrong. Well, sorry.

That’s not supported well enough, and I’m not biting.

I am much more compelled by interviews like Spencer Jones, who, in tears, said, “I’m just mystified because…why are we such a threat? What about our love makes them feel like they need to be out here chanting?”

That’s been my question from the get-go and, apart from some higher power rubbish that shouldn’t be able (according to our Constitution) to hold up in

a United States court of law, I haven’t gotten an answer. I guess that whole separation of church and state thing was just a joke.

Ha-ha.

Remember, please, that at one point it was against the law for people of different ethnic backgrounds to marry. At that point, supporters of interracial marriage were condemned to hell and social outcasts. Those who did the persecuting were sure to be in the right. In retrospect, we see how ignorant, absurd, and unfair that attitude was.

I’m sure the day will come when our country looks back on this time of intolerance for homosexuality with the same remorse.

Those people who today are picketing to keep love from being legally recognized will come to regret their small-mindedness.

If you don’t want a same-sex marriage because you think it’s immoral or in conflict with your deity, fine. Look to your own salvation, and let others look to theirs. If you think it goes against nature, fine. Act on your own perception of the natural world, and let others act on theirs.

In short, mind your own stinking business.

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

Entertainment

Page 6 entertainment@studentprintz.com

Live Spears an entrancing spectacle Andie Szabo Printz Writer

O

n Tuesday, March 3, the New Orleans Arena experienced the first Britney Spears performance in five years.

Opening the show was the Pussycat Dolls. Once a gentleman’s club act, the girls of the Pussycat Dolls have since moved away from stripping, while still keeping many of the same dance moves. Nicole Scherzinger held her own in the vocals department, keeping the act afloat. Though the group is surely aware of their young fan base, the Pussycat Dolls don’t seem to tone down their cabaret act for anyone.

Being very acrobatic dancers, their set featured some very athletic pole dancing that was surprisingly tasteful. No one could deny that the Dolls kept the crowd involved and entertained.

Britney stayed true to her word and created a true circus atmosphere for the show. During the time between the opening act and the main event, circus performers came out on stage and started doing unique awe-inspiring tricks.

Throughout her career, Britney Spears has been famous for her dance moves. A few years and a couple of children later, her dance

Britney Spears launched her new Circus Tour at the New Orleans Arena, Tuesday, March 3.

moves are not what they once were. That is not to say that the show itself did not contain amazing dancers. Those dancers just were not Britney Spears. The entire time

she was on stage, she was running around, trying to get all of her perfectly choreographed blocking exactly right. The overall effect was too specific and became rigid.

Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images

After almost every song, Spears would leave the stage for a few minutes and return wearing another outfit of sparkly underwear. The time it took was not worth the

subtle change in costume. The dead air and Britney’s absence were palpable several times during the non-stop program – most of the costumes were very similar and underwhelming.

Each break between songs was timed down to the second to go with the video display screens that accompanied the show. The show was entirely impersonal without even a greeting to the crowd. In fact, the audience did not hear Spears’s actual voice until the encore when she said, “Thank you, New Orleans.”

Strangely enough, the audience did not seem disappointed at the lack of singing involved in the performance. The show was more about spectacle, of which it did not disappoint. In a positive way, the show had a feeling that it could be only steps away from becoming one of those permanently installed shows in Las Vegas.

At the end of this review, it seems like the show was not worth seeing or fabulous in any way. In fact, the opposite is true. The concert was a show that I could not tear my eyes away from, and, if given the chance, would definitely go see again. The show was amazing, but Spears was the least amazing part. Maybe I expected too much for her to speak

to the audience or actually sing her songs on stage.

If you get a chance, ride the wave of pop culture and see Britney. It is truly a circus whose soundtrack just happens to be Britney Spears. True, genuine, sugary entertainment awaits. Too bad Britney is just the sideshow.

SPEARS LIVE Uniondale, NY -- 3/11/2009 Newark, NJ -- 3/13/2009 Boston, MA 3/16/2009 Toronto, ON -- 3/18/2009 Washington, DC -- 3/24/2009 Uncasville, CT -- 3/26/2009 Pittsburgh, PA -- 3/27/2009 Dallas, TX -- 3/31/2009 Kansas City, MO --4/2/2009 Minneapolis, MN 4/3/2009 Edmonton, Alberta -- 4/6/2009 Vancouver, BC -- 4/8/2009 Tacoma, WA -- 4/9/2009 Sacramento, CA -- 4/11/2009 San Jose, CA -- 4/12/2009 Salt Lake City, UT -- 4/13/2009 Los Angeles, CA -- 4/16/2009 Anaheim, CA -- 4/19/2009 Glendale, AZ -- 4/24/2009 Las Vegas, NV -- 4/26/2009 Rosemont, IL -- 4/28/2009

‘Night’ mixes good music, great cause Eric Nagurney

Entertainment Editor

Q

uite simply, you should buy Dark Was The Night.

All profits from the two-disc compilation go to The Red Hot Organization, a group dedicated to raising funds for HIV/AIDS research and awareness. Pretty unarguably a good thing, but what separates this from other charity projects? Red Hot is making the case with 31 tracks from the “indie rock class of 2009.” The lineup looks good on paper, but charity comps like this have a history of being filled with dull throwaways.

Does Dark Was The Night

prove an exception to this rule?

For the first few tracks, Dark Was The Night is pretty unstoppable.

Opening with avant-poppers Dirty Projectors is a daring move, seeing as they are one of the most experimental groups here. It’s a gamble that pays off, as the bouncy “Knotty Pine,” their collaboration with Talking Head David Byrne, is one of the compilation’s strongest entries. The pair of folk cover collaborations that follow surprise, as The Books and Jose Gonzales’s take on Nick Drake’s “Cello Song” sounds far less bizarre than expected, while Ben Gibbard and Feist’s stab at Vashti Bunyan’s “Train Song” sounds far

less milquetoast than expected.

High quality contributions from Bon Iver (“Brackett, WI”) and Grizzly Bear (“Deep Blue Sea”) maintain the hushed mood before three louder numbers.

The National’s “So Far Around The Bend” finds the band in surprisingly loose, spirited form.

While Yeasayer occasionally puts out great material, they tend to overstuff their songs, making their easy-going “Tightrope” a likable shock.

Lastly, My Brightest Diamond’s “Feeling Good” manages the tough job of performing lounge theatrics without kitsch.

Things don’t fall apart after the initial hot-streak, but they do get choppier. The rest of disc one is plagued by contributions that tend to last too long, before making a tail-end comeback with Grizzly Bear and Feist’s gorgeous “Service Bell” and “You Are The Blood” by Sufjan Stevens. Stevens re-imagines the Castanets original as a massive ten-minute dirge, filled with bubbling electronics, gospel harmonies, twinkling keys, and pretty much everything else Stevens is known for. When Stevens finally releases a new record, I hope he looks to this grim masterpiece for inspiration.

Most disappointing about disc two is the underwhelming efforts of some heavy hitters, especially those who could have added a

poppy jolt. Spoon’s “Well Alright” is notable only because its guitar riff sounds incredibly similar to “Footloose.” Other big-shots, like The Arcade Fire and My Morning Jacket, provide merely adequate material. However, nothing is as bad as “Happiness” by Riceboy Sleeps, the side project of Sigur Ros’s Jonsi Birgisson. Basically, the track sounds like Birgisson’s day job, minus everything interesting about that group.

Not all is lost on disc two. Beirut’s “Mimizan” is another classy contribution to an increasingly satisfying discography, as is Yo La Tengo’s “Another Saturday.”

Most importantly, needed energy is provided by the feelgood soul of Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings’ “Inspiration Information” and Dave Sitek’s fuzzy, horn-filled take on The Troggs’ “With A Girl Like You.” Obviously, Dark Was The Night isn’t the most balanced listen. It is surprisingly cohesive, as the fairly muted theme maintains throughout, though perhaps to the detriment of the record’s momentum. If you’re a fan of even half the bands on the bill, it’s worth a purchase. Even if you’re not familiar with most of the artists, the first eight tracks and other scattered gems make it worthwhile. Worst case scenario, you just gave a fifteen buck donation to a good cause.

Page 7|Entertainment

www.studentprintz.com | Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Newest Madea doesn’t disappoint Jonah S. Taylor Printz Writer

T

Based on the graphic novel of the same name, Watchmen premiered in theatres Friday, March 6, 2009.

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

‘Watchmen’ is faithful, lacks subtlety Zachary Lee Printz Writer

A

fter last year’s slew of great comic book movies, it was really only a matter of time before somebody showed some initiative and endeavored to adapt the king of graphic novels into film. Alan Moore’s “Watchmen”, published in 1986, chronicled the complex psychological drama of a group of costumed crime-fighters, providing a realistic look at what superheroes might have been like in the real world. While director Zack Snyder certainly did a good job of staying true to the source material, the film somewhat falls short of its hype.

The movie tries way too hard to cater to the mainstream idea of what a superhero movie should be. The fight scenes (and sex scenes, for that matter) are uselessly prolonged, and I was halfway through the second one before I wondered if Snyder would walk into the theatre, tear his own face off, and reveal himself as one of the Wachowski brothers. The acting is forced and melodramatic, though fans may appreciate that most of the dialogue is repeated verbatim from the comic. You might say that superheroes are inherently over-the-top, but remember the intent of realism.

To its credit, the film certainly looks good, having very impressive visuals, as expected of the director of 300. Audiences will be intrigued by the wide range of interesting characters, from the chaotic Rorschach to the aloof Dr. Manhattan. “Watchmen” certainly makes its point about the flawed aspects of superheroes in general and is entertaining enough in its own merit.

I know that many people may dismiss this review as the angry ranting of a dork, but I feel that “Watchmen” missed its mark. Rather than being a movie that defied conceptions about superhero movies, as the book did to conceptions of superheroes in general, it solidified many of them. We’ve seen it all before. The subtlety of Moore’s work is all but gone, replaced by eye-roll-inducing dialogue and (admittedly nice) special effects.

Long story short, if you’re not a fan of the book and can tolerate unintentional camp, give it a try. It’s not terrible. If you are a fan, try not to get your hopes up too much; just enjoy it for what it is.

Director Zack Snyder brings Alan Moore’s 1986 graphic novel to the big screen.

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4. Three letters of recommendation to cover some academic as well as professional credentials.

5. A complete transcript of all college-level work (Minimum 2.5 overall GPA is required) Submit to: Dr. Jeanne Gillespie, chair Board of Publications Send packet to: jeanne.gillespie@usm.edu Deadline 4 p.m., Wednesday, April 8 All materials should be submitted in PDF form.

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All applicants must attend

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

here’s no one I love to see get thrown into jail more than the gun totin’ granny Madea. Once again, Tyler Perry delivers a barrel of laughs, courtesy of his feisty female counterpart, in “Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail.” Madea’s luck with the law finally runs out when a high-speed chase (along with some anger management issues) eventually lands her in the slammer.

A violent case of road rage, a reverse psychology battle with Dr. Phil and a parking dilemma that involves a forklift all mark Madea’s journey to prison where she encounters some colorful characters. Among these jail mates, she meets Candace Washington, a young former prostitute and drug addict who is struggling with a dark and painful secret that pushed her over the edge and into the street life.

Meanwhile, Assistant District Attorney Joshua Hardaway risks his personal life and successful career to fulfill a strong sense of obligation to his old friend, Candace.

As usual, Perry presents a creation of well-balanced laughs and tears that splits the side one moment and tugs at the heart the next.

The award for best emotional scene goes to poignant young stars Keshia Knight Pulliam and Derek Luke, but it’s no surprise that Perry steals the role of comic relief and masters it quite effectively.

On the other hand, if one is like me and has previewed the movie over and over just

Courtesy of Lionsgate

Tyler Perry delights audiences again with his latest Madea film.

for the sake of a laugh, then a slight sense of disappointment may set in when seeing the movie. Let’s just say the devil is in the previews, meaning the main humorous scenes are used up in the trailer, which kind of makes it a spoiler. If one hasn’t seen the trailer or hasn’t obsessively replayed it over and over, then it’s nothing but tearful laughs from here.

Either way, it’s a must-see for all the Madea fans out there.

Don’t expect to be blown away by the performances (except, maybe, those mentioned earlier) or the plot, because it’s a typical Tyler Perry film with all the same elements: faith, family and forgiveness.

Also, I probably wouldn’t call it his best work with the brazen southern matriarch as the lead, but he definitely gives his fans what they’ve been waiting for—Madea at her rowdiest!

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

Sports

Go online to see photos from Sunday’s Women’s Basketball championship game @ studentprintz.com

Page 8 sports@studentprintz.com

Lady Eagles fall short in C-USA finale

Sebe Dale IV/Printz

Lady Eagles head coach Joye Lee-McNelis looks on during the overtime period of Sunday’s Conference USA Tournament Championship game in New Orleans.

Tyler Cleveland Sports Editor

Sebe Dale IV/Printz

USM guard Candace Rucker shoots over two UCF defenders Sunday in New Orleans.

NEW ORLEANS – Southern Miss’ ticket to the big dance was all but punched when the Lady Eagles took the floor Sunday at Fogelman Arena on the campus of Tulane. All that was left was a rubber-match with Central Florida, who USM defeated 69-64 in their last meeting on Jan. 18.

Unfortunately for USM, Sunday’s was a much different game.

The Lady Eagles worked to get the game to overtime, but went cold in the five-minute final period and fell, 65-54.

For the Lady Eagles (19-12), it

was a heartbreaking end to a season in which they overcame so much adversity.

While the possibility of a National Invitational Tournament bid is still on the table, in all likelihood USM will be left on the outside looking in when the tournament brackets are announced.

Last year, the NIT took just one team from Conference USA -- regular-season champion Southern Miss.

Because SMU won the regular season crown, and their RPI rating is 119 (according to Insiderpi.com) the Lady Eagles’ chances at an at-large bid to the NIT are slim to none.

“It’s very disappointing,” Southern Miss coach Joye Lee-McNelis said. “I’m not disappointed in the effort. I’m disappointed in the execution. We feel as low as the belly of a snake. All of us are disappointed because of how close we were to being able to win the ballgame.”

The Lady Eagles overcame a nine-point second-half deficit to push the game into overtime, but missed a golden opportunity to win the game just before the final buzzer in regulation.

USM junior forward Pauline Love threw up a prayer from the top of the 3-point arch with seven seconds to go, and UCF’s Angela

Mealing grabbed the rebound. The ball was immediately stolen by USM’s Candace Rucker, who tried to lay it in as time expired. Rucker’s layup bounced off the back of the rim and out, sending the 200-plus Southern Miss fans reeling.

In the first half, the Lady Eagles couldn’t get into any kind of rhythm due to Central Florida’s suffocating pressure defense, and shot a miserable 25.9 percent.

Central Florida struggled as well, and turned the ball over eight times, but played well enough to grab a 24-19 halftime lead.

For USM seniors Kendra Reed, Andrea Barber and Amber Eugene, it was likely the last chance ever to put on a Golden Eagles jersey.

“I just hate it for the seniors,” McNelis said. “These three girls made a commitment to come in here and help in the rebuilding process of this program, and I can’t imagine how they could have done a better job.”

The seniors combined for 21 points Sunday, and tallied eight rebounds and seven assists.

USM junior Pauline Love was brilliant in defeat, tallying 13 points and 12 rebounds.

“I wish it could have come out a little better,” Love said. “I wanted it for the seniors. They are all real good players and I love them to death. You can really say the seniors kept our head in the game. Nobody gave up. If we were down, they were always encouraging us, telling us to never give up.”

Eagles get wake up call from Fullerton Tyler Cleveland Sports Editor

The Southern Miss baseball team’s high hopes heading into the past weekend’s series with Cal State Fullerton were dashed early and often at the hands of the Titans, but according to Southern Miss coach Corky Palmer, the team can use the experience to get better.

“Hopefully we will,” Palmer said. “[Fullerton] is a very good team, but we didn’t play very well. It wasn’t just the fielding mistakes, we didn’t get the starting pitching we needed to stay in those games.”

The Eagles fell out of the major college baseball polls after the weekend’s 26-run flattening, and are currently No 57 in the Warren Nolan Power Index, a poll which they were number one in just over a week ago.

Cal State Fullerton moved to No. 2 in that poll, and stayed steady at No. 7 in both the College Baseball Writers’ Poll and the Coaches’ Poll.

Palmer credited Fullerton’s success to its high number of returning players at key positions.

“They were an older team and they had six starters back; that had a lot to do with [what happened],” Palmer said. “We have a lot of new players in the program and when you play some younger guys, that is going to happen.

I think it showed the younger guys what big-time college baseball is all about.”

Palmer said he plans to shuffle the pitching rotation around next week in an attempt to get more consistency from his starters, and sophomore J.R. Ballinger and junior Kyle Lindsey will be the new Friday and Saturday night starters, respectively.

Previous Friday night starter Todd McInnis and Saturday starter Cody Schlagel both entered the weekend sporting 2-0 records, but were roughed up for seven earned runs in 2.1 innings.

Lindsey, a junior college transfer from Pearl River Community College, worked four innings in Saturday’s game against Fullerton, and allowed one earned run on five hits while tallying three strikeouts.

Ballinger, a sophomore, didn’t pitch over the weekend but sports a 1-0

Sports Schedule Today

Jesse Bass/Printz

Cal State Fullerton’s Shevis Shima connects with the ball Friday night at Pete Taylor Park.

record, and a 2.19 earned run average in 12.1 innings.

“It doesn’t matter who you are playing, whether it be Fullerton, East Carolina or Rice, you have to have solid starting pitching or you are going to get beat,” Palmer said.

McInnis will get a shot at redemption today, when he takes the mound for the Eagles against UNO in New Orleans at 6:30 p.m.

Indoor track and field in NCAA Indoor Championships, All day, College Station, Tex.

Saturday

Wednesday

Women’s tennis vs. New Orleans, 10 a.m., Tatum Park Men’s tennis vs. Rice, 11 a.m., Houston, Texas Softball vs. East Carolina, Noon, USM Softball Complex Baseball vs. Louisiana Tech, 1 p.m., Pete Taylor Park Men’s golf in Pinehurst Intercollegiate, All day, Pinehurst, N.C.

Friday

Baseball vs. Louisiana Tech, 6:30 p.m., Pete Taylor Park

Sports Briefs

USM’s Jeremy Wise Honored HATTIESBURG - Southern Miss junior Jeremy Wise earned Third Team All-Conference USA honors in a vote by the league’s 12 coaches and various media, announced today by the league office in Irving, Texas.

It is the junior’s third straight all-conference selection. He earned second team honors the last two years.

The Jackson, Miss., native led the Golden Eagles this season with 16.2 points and 4.7 assists, en route to placing eighth on the junior scoring list. His 486 points give him 1,644 for his career, good for sixth all-time in school history.

Women’s tennis vs. Samford, 10 a.m., Tatum Park Men’s tennis vs. Lamar, 1 p.m., Beaumont, Texas Baseball vs. Louisiana Tech, 1 p.m., Pete Taylor Park Softball vs. East Carolina, 1 p.m.

Doubleheader, USM Softball Complex

Sunday

Lady Eagle netters fall to UAB NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Southern Miss lost a close match to UAB after winning the doubles competition in Northridge, California on Sunday.

The Lady Eagles took an early lead in the close match, winning the doubles competition. Hollie Robinson and Shannon Rogers defeated Jenny Cape and Ceylan Engin, 8-5. Zoe Lee and Alexandra Kaluza also tallied at win at No. 3, defeating Brittany DeFelice and Jessica Orton, 8-3. Elja van Berlo and Lauren Gutterman fell just short to Paula Alvarez and Evelien Strijker, 9-8.

USM softballers drops series BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB starting pitcher Lindsey Croft limited Southern Miss to five hits and struck out nine to lead the Blazers to a 1-0 C-USA victory here Sunday afternoon at George Ward Park.

With the victory, UAB (8-10, 2-1 C-USA) took the series two games to one.

The Blazers got their lone run in the first. After a one-out walk

by Southern Miss starter Courtney Ramos, UAB collected three straight singles. The second one by Amanda Allen drove in Catherine Douglass.

Jesse Bass/Printz

USM second baseman James Ewing swings and misses Sunday against Fullerton.

UTEP downs USM, 81-70 Special to the Printz

Men’s tennis vs. Southeastern Louisiana, 2 p.m., Hattiesburg Country Club Women’s tennis at Cal. State Fullerton, 2 p.m., Fullerton, Calif.

Softball vs. Baylor, 6 p.m., USM Softball Complex Baseball vs. New Orleans, 6:30 p.m., New Orleans, La. Women’s Golf in Eagle Landing Invitational, All Day, Orange Park, Fla.

Men’s basketball vs. UCF, 2:30 p.m in C-USA Tournament, Memphis Softball vs. Nicholls State, 6 p.m., USM Softball Complex

Palmer called Monday’s practice one of the season’s best, and said he was glad to see his seniors starting to take more control of the team. “[The seniors] are showing a lot more leadership,” Palmer said.

“There wasn’t a lot of yelling from the coaches, it’s coming from our leaders.

“Right now we just need to get back to work, and try to start another winning streak tomorrow.”

HATTIESBURG – The Southern Miss men’s basketball team got down early and could not recover in its regular season finale, and fell 81-70, to UTEP Saturday night at Reed Green Coliseum.

With the loss, the Golden Eagles took the 11th-seed in the Conference USA Tournament. Southern Miss will face sixth-seeded UCF, Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.

R.L. Horton led Southern Miss with 21 points. Courtney Beasley recorded his sixth double-double of the year, scoring 16 points and pulling down 12 rebounds.

Jeremy Wise had 15 points and six rebounds, and Craig Craft added 12 points to become the 33rd Golden Eagle to score 1,000 career points.

Southern Miss started slow out of the gate, hitting just two of its first nine shots. An Andre Stephens jumper 4:39 in to the game pulled them within two points. But, the Miners went on a 10-2 run over the next 2:59 to take an 18-8 advantage.

The teams traded baskets before a Stefon Jackson three-pointer gave UTEP a 30-17 lead with 7:29 to play in the half.

Southern Miss went on a 9-3 run, cutting the deficit to 33-26 with 3:24 to play. But, the Miners closed

the half on a 12-3 run, capped off by a Randy Culpepper three-pointer with four seconds on the clock.

A three-pointer by Jason Jones to open the second half gave the Miners its largest lead of the game.

Southern Miss tried to fight back, but they could not get closer than nine points.

Stefon Jackson led all scorers with 30 points, while grabbing five rebounds. Randy Culpeper scored 23 points and Arnett Moultrie added six rebounds for the Miners.

UTEP shot 56.0-percent (2850) from the field, while holding Southern Miss to just 41.1-percent (23-56). The Golden Eagles held the rebounding advantage, 36-28.

2009 Men’s C-USA Tournament Wednesday (7) Marshall (10) Rice (6) UCF (11) USM (8) Tulane (9) ECU (5) Houston (12) SMU

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Noon (CSS)

(2) Tulsa 2:30 p.m. (CSS)

3:00/5:30 p.m.

(CBS)

(3) UAB 10:35 a.m.

(CBS)

6:00 p.m. (CSS)

(1) Memphis 8:30 p.m. (CSS)

(4) UTEP

3:00/5:30 p.m.

(CBS)

C-USA Champ