THE
S TUDENT PRINTZ www.studentprintz.com
SERVING SOUTHERN MISS SINCE 1927
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Volume 99 Issue 21
From basketball to blues
USM alumnus returns for WUSM concert Noé Cugny Printz Reporter
The Southern Miss community will be reunited with one of its biggest stars for the homecoming edition of the WUSM Tailgate Concert Series, as former Southern Miss basketball player Jarekus Singleton returns to make an appearance on campus at 4:15 p.m. Only this time, Singleton will carry a guitar rather than a basketball and singing the blues rather than scoring points for the Golden Eagles. “It’s going to be a phenomenal feeling, because I spent five of my years there,” Singleton said about returning to the campus to perform for the Southern Miss community. “You know, I went from boyhood to a being a man. That transition was a very important part of my life.” Singleton, according to Alligator Records, brings a terrific youthful energy and creativity to the blues, with his cutting-edge sound melding blues and rock with hip-hop wordplay. He creates unexpected and memorable rhymes and images - a true wordsmith who writes like a rapper while playing and singing like a highenergy bluesman.
Photo by Paul McCarthy Former USM basktball player Jarekus Singleton plays in Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska against San Diego State in 2005.
“Alligator Records sent me a copy of his CD and I thought ‘wow this is great,’” said Justin Martin, general manager for WUSM. “This is really good rock, funky-soul blues. Alligator’s been talking to us about doing a show together. Opportunity came up and we said ‘yeah let’s do it.’” During his basketball career,
Photo by Marilyn Stringer Singleton jams to one of his songs on his new album “Refuse to Lose” at the 2014 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee.
Singleton became a top national success today with the release of player in college. He led the his album “Refuse To Lose” on nation in scoring at William Alligator Records in May 2014. Carey University and was the The album traces Singleton’s NAIA National Player of the story and sends a strong message Year in 2007 until an ankle of hope and perseverance. injury ended his career in 2009. “I cherish these moments After his injury, Singleton when my spirit is low because rediscovered himself in music I know it’s going to make me a and started his journey as a stronger person,” Singleton said. blues singer. This led to his “Because I just refuse to lose and
just embrace the moment and I keep pushing through it to get to the other side. That’s what I would tell anybody to do: keep pushing no matter what. You can be disappointed but don’t be discouraged.” Today, the blues singer looks back at his years at USM and said he is grateful for the academic environment and the staff surrounding student athletes, with a particular affection for Associate Director for National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security Stacey Hall. He said Hall took him under her wing and helped him get through school, being a young first-generation college student. Singleton said his enjoyment of stage performance is similar to his former basketball performance in many ways, but also much different in others. “In music, I don’t have to run faster or jump higher than anybody. It’s more of an emotional thing,” he said. “Since I started playing music, being on stage and performing a lot, I feel like I’m emotionally balanced. Before now I didn’t see it that way, it’s like something was missing. Music is the universal language; it’s soul to soul.”
NATIONAL
GOP paints America red until 2016 Johnathan Parr Printz Reporter
After a long and expensive midterm election cycle, Democrats have lost the Senate, increased their minority in the House and saw losses in gubernatorial races because of economic woes and presidential unpopularity, leaving Republicans reinvigorated and in control of the legislative agenda
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for the next two years. Republicans have gained Senate seats in North Carolina, Arkansas, Montana and South Dakota because of disappointment with unstable economic growth and resentment of President Obama, according to the New York Times. Sen. Thad Cochran effortlessly beat his opponents Democrat Party candidate Travis Childers and Reform Party candidate
FEATURE ‘The Historian’ USM professor writes, directs and stars in film.
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SOURCE: LA TIMES
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Infographic by Cody Bass
A&E Taylor Swift album Lack of country still leaves desire for substance.
Shawn O’Hara to gain a seventh term representing Mississippi in the Senate. Mississippi’s representatives are Republican Alan Nunnelee, Democrat Bennie Thompson, Republican Greg Harper and Republican Steven Palazzo, all of whom won re-election in the first, second, third and fourth districts, respectively. Turnout in Mississippi was lower
SPORTS Basketball Eagles need to overcome inexperience, lack of leadership.
this election cycle than midterms in 2010 and 2006. Only a little over 575,000 voters appeared in this midterm, compared to 788,000 in 2010 and 610,000 in 2006, according to data from the Secretary of State. “With the great voter inflation in 2010 due to the President’s polarizing legislation, I expected this year’s midterm election to
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See ELECTIONS, 3 SPORTS Football
Herd’s Cato to challenge an improved USM defense.