The Student Printz: October 13, 2021

SERVING SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI SINCE 1927 • WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM • OCTOBER 13, 2021 | VOLUME 107 | ISSUE 8

NORLINDO

PG 7

SQUID GAME

PG 10

FOOTBALL V. UTEP

PG 12

Homecoming week returns with annual Kick-Off Party

KYRA LAMPLEY PRINTZ REPORTER

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he University of Southern Mississippi resumed one of its annual homecoming traditions last Monday, Oct. 4, with the Homecoming Kick-Off party at Spirit Park.

This long-awaited homecoming week, themed “Back in Black and Gold”, comes after a year of postponed in-person events due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Katie Rogers, the Southern Miss Coordinator of Events and Traditions, was optimistic about the week’s homecoming festivities.

“I am really excited,” Rogers said. “I think we have come out of a year where we are just excited to be in spaces to interact with people and fellowship with each other as Golden Eagles.”

Each year, homecoming week is filled with fun events for the university community.

Southern Miss alumni can reunite with old friends while Hattiesburg residents participate in festivities.

Southern Miss has been known for going above and beyond for its campus-wide events, and this year was no exception.

boring.”

While the event’s attendance was a letdown for some students, the party’s offerings did not stop them from enjoying their time.

“The activities are inclusive, though,” Gramling said.

“I like the live music with the DJ,” Fagan added.

Both students expressed a positive outlook about the remaining homecoming weekly events.

“Yes, I am looking forward to the rest of the week,” Gramling said. “I’m not sure what Photo Courtsey of Southern Miss the activities are, but I am Southern Miss’s 2021 Homecoming Court. looking forward to having more However, even with more The night started out strong involvement in the university.” when the DJ cued up the play- than enough activities to go “Yes, I am very excited,” Faaround, the kickoff event did list, letting attendees know the not attract a large crowd. First- gan said. “I’m looking forward party officially started. In one to the step show Friday night.” year students Chloe Gramling area of Spirit Park, students Although the event drew and Destiny Fagan said that the entered and exited a photo a crowd smaller than expectlack of publicity probably led booth with a rotating camera, ed, several more events were to the small crowd. capturing memorable moplanned for the week, including “I don’t think it has enough ments that would later convert the infamous fountain sit and media reaching out to other through Airdrop into a video. people,” Gramling said. “A lot Friday Night at Spirit Park.

There were multiple games “This is really the start throughout the event, including of people are not going to go of it,” Rogers said. “It is just out of their way to come to a corn hole toss and interacsomething that people can tive inflatables, where students something like this.”

“They could have advertised come out and enjoy together as could become active and have friends and take a break from it more,” Fagan agreed, “and fun while doing so. It seemed more people would have come what’s a really busy week and certain that this would be a out. Right now, it is kind of just hang out.” night to remember.

OCTOBER 13, 2021 WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM Southern Miss celebrates return to campus with Homecoming

PHOTO GALLERY MEET THE CONTRIBUTORS SM2 News Director

Charlie Luttrell charles.luttrell@usm.edu

Executive Editor

Mary Murphy mary.s.murphy@usm.edu

SMTV Excutive Producers Sarah Kofman sarah.kofman@usm.edu

SEAN SMITH PHOTOGRAPHER

Koby Moore koby.moore@usm.edu

Printz Reporters

Garret Grove garret.grove@usm.edu Morgan Lawrence morgan.lawrence@usm.edu Dima Mixon joshua.mixon@usm.edu Brooke Parker cassidy.b.parker@usm.edu

Photographers

Tyron Dawson tyron.dawson@usm.edu Sean Smith sean.smith@usm.edu

The Pride marching band plays at The Eagle Walk before Southern Miss played UTEP.

The views represented in The Student Printz’s columns and editorials do not represent those of the faculty, staff or administration of The University of Southern Mississippi. We welcome letters to the editor representing similar and contrasting opinions. To be eligible for publication, all submission must include name, class distinction, major, phone number and email address. Submissions should be emailed to printzeditors@gmail.com by 5 p.m. on the Friday before publication. Please limit them to 500 words or less. The Student Printz reserves the right to refuse publication or edit any material on the basis of clarity, space or journalistic ethics.

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

Rebecca Sheffield wins the 2021 Fountain Sit event.

PHOTO GALLERY

OCTOBER 13, 2021

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Head Coach Will Hall watches his first Southern Miss Homecoming parade.

International students march in the Homecoming parade at Southern Miss.

The Pride marching band marches through the front of campus during the Homecoming parade.

Student Body Beau Benjamin Goudy and Maid Kennedy Hanna wave to the crowd during the Eagle Walk.

University of Southern Mississippi President Dr. Rodney Bennett rides in the Homecoming parade as the parade’s Grand Marshal.

NEWS

OCTOBER 13, 2021 WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM Southern Miss’s MBA program receives accolades amidst significant growth

GARRET GROVE PRINTZ REPORTER

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he University of Southern Mississippi’s College of Business and Economic Development recently received recognition for its Masters of Business Administration program.

The college’s MBA program, which was ranked as the best online MBA program in Mississippi back in 2019, was recognized as having the 56th best MBA program in the country by Fortune Magazine and the 74th best by the U.S. News & World Report.

U.S. News also ranked the fulltime MBA program 127th.

MBA Program Director and finance professor Steven Stelk noted that the accolades and online expansion have been attractive to students. This helps to account for why two-thirds of all current MBA students at Southern Miss are pursuing their degree online.

“We’ve had so much growth, particularly in the online program, over the last two years that we’re offering most of the cours-

es both face to face and online each semester now,” Stelk said.

“We’re even going to offer some in the summer.”

Over the last six years, enrollment in the MBA program has more than tripled. Additionally, since Fall 2019, enrollment has roughly doubled from 120 to 216 currently in the program.

The recent spike in enrollment can also be attributed to GMAT and GRE requirements to the MBA program being suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Graduate student Nichada Satasuk will graduate this semester with her MBA and an economic development certificate. Satasuk, who has received a Masters in Sports Management, gave high marks for the school and the MBA program.

“I would say the MBA program is pretty good here, not going to lie about that because I did learn a lot that I haven’t known before,” Satasuk said.

“The professors [are] really helpful.”

That includes Director Stelk, who has taught at Southern Miss

since 2011. He even has a YouTube channel where he uploads lectures and problem tutorials.

“I think I’m probably still subscribed to his channel because I still need it sometimes,” Satasuk joked.

The program hopes to further expand internally by having professors teach more core and elective classes. This will be useful for its plan in the works now to offer students in other undergraduate disciplines a pathway to get an MBA one year after receiving their Bachelor’s.

According to Stelk, this “4+1” program could be attractive to students at Southern Miss’s School of Polymer Science and Engineering and School of Music, among others.

There are currently 26,000 Business School alumni across six continents. If you are interested in becoming one through the MBA program, applications to attend classes for the spring semester close on Nov. 1.

NEWS

OCTOBER 13, 2021

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Service animals: more than just ‘man’s best friend’

DIMA MIXON PRINTZ REPORTER

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e all have that one friend we can rely on. The one who encourages us, who helps us, who we can hug while they say everything will be ok. For some people, that friend just happens to take on a furry, four-legged form.

Students at the University of Southern Mississippi depend on a wide variety of service animals. Ever since she was born, Mississippi native Nicole Gandy has been blind. She used to use a white mobility cane before deciding to get her service dog, Eva. "If I tell her to find a door, she will find it. If you tell that white stick to find a door, you are going to look like a crazy person," Gandy said.

Gandy spoke about the importance of raising awareness about service dogs and called for better education on the topic. Everyone sees a service animal as just another dog, but Eva is Gandy’s eyes. She is everything to her.

"Do not call someone's service animal,” Gandy said. “If someone calls my dog, she could walk me out in the middle of the street without me knowing.”

Though Bayleigh Blackard, the Vice President of Member Development and the Tri Delta Involvement Chairperson, is not blind, she too relies on service animals. Her emotional support dog, Savvy, has helped her through a lot of emotional distress, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Blackard also spoke of the need for service animal awareness on campus. She relies on Savvy every day, and Savvy is with her wherever she goes.

Blackard also wants people to recognize the many differences between service animals and emotional support animals. For

example, Savvy can be pet by strangers because she is there for emotional support. But Eva, as a seeing eye dog, cannot, since she is busy keeping Gandy safe.

Not only are there service animals and emotional support animals, but there are also therapy dogs. Melinda Lowery, who is currently training her Golden Retriever Cash to be a therapy dog, explained the difference between the two.

"A therapy dog is different from a service dog and can be used [in] several different ways. [They can help with] physical therapy and they work in assisted living," Lowery said.

Every Thursday, Cash and Lowery stand outside the Thad Cochran Center so students can pet and talk with them. Cash is a

light to those who need him, and I asked what he thought of this. He left no comment.

Even outside these three unique stories, there is a definite need for more awareness about service animals. According to the Office for Disability Accommodations at Southern Miss, "700 students registered with ODA and 3% of those students have an Emotional Support Animal (ESA).” And this number may actually be a lot higher -- students that have service animals are not required to register them with ODA or Housing and Residence Life.

These animals also should be recognized for their hard work.

They have to go through rigorous training to learn specific talents, such as how to alert a diabetic that their blood sugar is getting low,

A service dog in training sits at Southern Miss’ Homecoming parade.

before being assigned to a person.

They also have to be identified as a service animal when in public, a place which adds additional stresses and responsibilities.

When you think back to that friend who has guided you through your darkest days, remember Gandy, who cannot go anywhere without Eva. The next time you are in a dark place, remember Blackard, and her words about emotional support animals.

If you ever need to hug someone, remember Cash and Lowery, and just how much one hug can change someone's life.

We all have unique systems of support. For these three -- and for many more -- they have a dog, who is so much more than just "man's best friend".

Sean Smith | Printz

OCTOBER 13, 2021 WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM Does caffeine dependency negatively affect college students?

FEATURES

SARAH KOFMAN SMTV EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

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affeine is the lifeblood of the college experience for many Southern Miss students, fueling everything from early morning classes to late-night study sessions. But when does this pleasant pick-me-up become a cause for concern for college students looking to meet societal expectations?

According to the Journal of Caffeine Research, a 2013 study on caffeine use disorder by Roland Griffiths, John Hughes, Laura Juliano and Steven Meredith concluded caffeine is the most widely used drug in the world.

“More than 90% of adults use it regularly,” the researchers wrote in the study. “And, among them, average consumption is more than 200 mg of caffeine per day -- more caffeine than is contained in two six-ounce cups of coffee or five 12-ounce cans of soft drinks.”

Despite belonging to the psychoactive stimulant family of drugs, which includes methamphetamine, cocaine and nicotine, caffeine is rarely discussed with the same emphasis regarding addiction.

As a result, this legal stimulant has become accepted as a social norm for generations of Americans. Pulling an all-nighter with pots of coffee bubbling in the background is often considered a rite of passage for many students.

University of Southern Mississippi freshman Hannah Fritz, a library science major, has noticed the impact of her classmates’ caffeine dependency. She believes college students feel pressured to sacrifice sleep and mental health in order to balance their school, work and social lives.

“We’re young adults,” Fritz said. “We’re still very social, and we still are not entirely in a routine that allows us to take care of

Coffee may give more than just a quick jolt of energy.

ourselves, and our school, and our friends.”

Junior Tori Ricks, a social work major, recognized the casual acceptance of caffeine as an issue for most students.

“I think that there’s a caffeine problem everywhere, especially in this generation of college students,” Ricks said.

However, another Southern Miss first-year student, Wiio Meinheit, does not see a connection between caffeine and unhealthy behaviors in her classmates. She studies healthcare marketing.

“Most of the people I know who drink coffee have pretty good control over how much they should drink and how much they need. I haven’t really seen a problem with it,” Meinheit said.

Michael Madson, a Southern Miss Professor of Psychology, said caffeine affects sleep regulation,

dependency on it. But is it really causing a lot of problems for that person’s life?”

For Ricks, the answer is yes.

She believes caffeine is an issue among her peers due, in large part, to their numerous responsibilities, which cause stress and anxiety.

“I think that a lot of people just need to stay awake,” Ricks said.

“And they don’t have enough time to rest and get the rest for their mental health that they need. So, they have to [use] caffeine to live up to society’s expectations.”

While routine caffeine drinkers depend on the drug to feel physically normal or free from the effects of withdrawals, the behavioral component of caffeine dependency is a significant concern for Madson.

He believes that, if a student that spends five dollars every Sarah Kofman | Printz day at a coffee shop runs out of blood vessels dilation and the money, they may end up in a central and peripheral nervous situation where they have to steal systems. The effects generate a from their roommate to get anfeeling of alertness and concenother drink. At this point, caffeine tration that mask the feelings of would affect that person’s interdrowsiness. personal relationships and ability “It doesn’t take long to develto make sound decisions. op a dependency on caffeine,” While caffeine typically does Madson said. “But if it’s done in not produce the extreme negative moderation and it’s not having a behaviors that, say, cocaine does, negative effect on your life in any Madson identified three other way, it’s not the worst thing in the aspects for its acceptance in our world.” culture.

When students skip their regu“There’s the moral piece to lar dose of caffeine, whether a cup it,” Madson said. “How much it’s of coffee or a soda, they might experience withdrawal symptoms, integrated into our society and the legality. All of those things come like headaches, fatigue, difficulty into play there.” concentrating and a dampened If a person wants to know the mood. These symptoms are not personal effects of caffeine on necessarily an indication of probtheir life, Madson suggested one lematic behavior, however.

“To me, the bottom line is that sure-fire way to figure it out.

“They would have to see what if somebody is using it in moderation, the body might adjust to it,” their life is like without it,” Madhe continued. “It might develop a son said.

OCTOBER 13, 2021 WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM USM scientists make discovery on search for World War II shipwreck

FEATURES

CHARLIE LUTTRELL SM2 NEWS DIRECTOR

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group of marine scientists at the University of Southern Mississippi recently completed an expedition attempting to find the long-lost shipwreck of a vessel sunk in the Gulf of Mexico during World War II. While the team did not end up finding the SS Norlindo, they did find new information they believe will help them continue the search for a long-lost piece of history Research Associate Professor Leonardo Macelloni operated as the Chief Scientist for the first part of the expedition and focused on analyzing data from the search.

Macceloni and other researchers teased the idea of searching for a shipwreck for years, but finally got the funding this year to go search for the vessel.

“I had never been able to discover a wreck,” Macceloni said. “I was very excited about this project because searching for a wreck on the seabed is like looking for a needle in a haystack.”

Maccelonli and a team of 16 other researchers from Southern Miss and other institutions set sail Aug. 18 for the search area from USM’s Point Sur in an attempt to find the Norlindo.

The Norlindo isn’t just any shipwreck, either. The vessel marked the first casualties in the Gulf of Mexico during World War II. In 1942, German submarine U-507 fired torpedoes that sank the Norlindo, a vessel carrying approximately 5,000 barrels of oil to Allies in Europe. 23 people survived but five died on board. 79 years after its demise, the vessel remains lost at sea.

The attack spurred the “Second Happy Time”, a period of German assaults on American vessels near the mainland. During the eight-month period, German U-boats sank 609 Allied ships, while only losing 22 U-boats.

“In the aftermath of it, the newspaper in Galveston ran the

headline, ‘Wake Up Galveston’,” Douglas Bristol Jr., Gen. Buford Blount Professor in Military History, said. “There were rumors of enemy submarines in the Gulf before but this time, [with the Norlindo] there’s no doubt.”

Bristol said that the Norlindo’s fate, along with the other 608 boats lost in WWII, served as an important lesson for the Allies in the War. “It’s not a foregone conclusion the Allies would win the war, but the reason they did is they learned as they went along,” Bristol said.

“They learned how to come up with an effective convoy system, they learned tactics like blackouts and then they applied it consistently throughout all the theaters of operation.”

Macceloni also realized the lasting significance that the Norlindo had beyond scientific research.

While at sea, a family member of a lost relative on the Norlindo contacted him and told him what the search meant to his family.

“When I got this email, I got goosebumps,” Macceloni said.

“For many years, their family was trying to find out what happened to the Norlindo because they always wondered where their uncle was. [The Norlindo] is a graveyard. It’s very sensitive, so I was touched because, in addition to science, there’s something that touches the lives of people that were involved in this.”

Before Macceloni and his team sailed into the Gulf of Mexico to search for the Norlindo, they had to find out which “haystack” to look at first. His team relied on the historical coordinates from U-507’s captain.

Their research revealed a different and deeper position than the team originally thought the Norlindo was last located. Using the coordinates, Macceloni and his team narrowed the search area to a ten by ten-kilometer square.

Because of the depths Macelloni and his team were observing, the team had to use an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) to scan the area. The navigation system reports the vehicle’s movement data and the echosounder acoustically “illuminates” the seafloor, revealing the structure of the area it is passing.

Max Woolsey, an engineer on the expedition, operated Southern Miss’s AUV, the Eagle Ray. “If the Norlindo had been within a 150-meter wide swath of seafloor as Eagle Ray surveyed along its trackline, we would have seen a characteristic hull shape and strong acoustic amplitudes returned in contrast to the softer returns off a muddy seafloor,” Woolsey said.

Hurricane Ida disrupted the crew’s expedition as it moved through the Gulf of Mexico.

Though the crew was able to return to the area to scan again, they were unable to find the Norlindo.

However, the crew did discover that the map they were using did not give them a “full picture” of the area they were searching for.

“We didn’t find the Norlindo, but we found that this [area] is a much more severe cliff than it was known to be,” Macceloni said.

“That is important because[,] geologically speaking, this kind of situation is only caused by a major fault or other phenomena [that] are important to understand.”

The cliff area the crew searched in had a greater depth than noted, as Woolsey deployed Eagle Ray to depths of 1,200 meters.

Using this new knowledge, Macceloni hopes to not only research the area more, but also to continue the search for the Norlindo. Macceloni said his team is currently focused on obtaining more funding to continue the search so they can sail again as early as December.

8 ENTERTAINMENT

OCTOBER 13, 2021 WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM Pine Belt Pride provides laughs with comedy show

MORGAN LAWRENCE PRINTZ REPORTER attiesburg’s annual October Pride is back this year as The Pine Belt Pride presented a “Queer” comedy show on Friday as part of its week of activities.

The comedy show was hosted

by The Spectrum Center, which is the only LGBTQ+ non-profit community center with a physical location in Mississippi. Comedians Emily Escolas, Roman Ellis and Amanda G. were among the participants that took the stage and filled the room with joy and laughter.

The event took place at the Hattiesburg Community Arts Center on main street. In addition to the comedians, there was a bar and merch table where guests could purchase drinks and Pride merchandise, as well as participate in a silent art auction.

During the intermission, audience members who were looking for some competition participated in a shot contest where the winner won a pride t-shirt and a mystery box from one of The Pine Belt Pride’s sponsors, Pepper’s Parties, Too!, to celebrate the business’s 25th anniversary.

DJ Milkstache opened the night with some groovy beats from popular songs to get the crowd warmed up for a night of fun. Escolas then began her portion of the show.

Escolas said that she’s mostly been doing open mic events and seemed excited to be performing for Hattiesburg.

“I’m excited to see Hattiesburg embracing the gay,” Escolas said.

She was also glad to perfom in front of a crowd mostly made up of other gay people, who were able to understand her jokes better than a mostly straight and cis audience would. She joked that most of her shows are about

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Various Mississippi residents show their pride as they march Downtown.

“convincing people that everyone is a little bit gay”, and that she is happy to openly live as a lesbian in Mississippi, a historically homophic state.

“It’s just really good to be able to laugh about controversial topics,” said Escolas.

During her show, Escolas talked about her experience of being in jail, her journey to sobriety and her cat, which is ironically named Will Smith.

Next to the stage was Roman Ellis, a trans man from New Orleans. When asked about his experience performing at a queer based comedy show, Ellis said that he was relieved about the venue.

“I can do almost any kind of room, [but] there’s less expiation as far as who I am in the gay room,” Ellis said. “There’s lots of people in comedy and the queer community it tight.”

During his show, Ellis talked about being trans, especially the

odd questions that he gets from people because of it, as well as growing up in the city capital of Kansas. Ellis also touched on his experience during the pandemic, as his bipolar disorder caused him to avoid moving in with his partner during lockdown. He also joked that Zoom meetings and online based comedy shows felt like “talking to an aquarium.”

Ellis said that he enjoyed Hattiesburg holding pride in October because, if he could have it his way, “pride would always be in October.” Fellow comedian Amanda G. agreed.

“In June we get booked for all the shows,” said G. “So, we are open in October.”

G. also wrapped up the night with her segment. G., like Ellis, is from New Orleans, and, like Escolas, joked about her life as a lesbian. She said lesbians suffered more during the pandemic than others because they could not get a haircut.

Brooke Parker | Printz

“We all know that lesbians care a lot about their hair,” said G. Just like the other performers, G. enjoyed being able to do Pride events again, as well as telling her jokes to a crowd who can truly appreciate them.

“I am happy to be able to have a Pride event here,” said G. “I don’t have to explain myself in this environment, it feels like my home.”

This event was proof that times have changed for LBGTQ+ people, especially in the South, now that they feel safe to publicly host events like these. Pine Belt Pride and The Spectrum Center have connected the community and encouraged people to be open minded to inclusivity.

Be sure to check out Hattiesburg’s Pine Belt Pride next year for some more fun events like this one. To get in touch with The Spectrum Center, visit their website at www.thespectrumcenterofhattiesburg.godaddysites.com

OCTOBER 13, 2021 Pine Belt shows off its pride

ENTERTAINMENT

BROOKE PARKER PRINTZ REPORTER

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he City of Hattiesburg celebrated the seventh annual Pine Belt Pride last week, capping off a week dedicated to bringing visibility to the LGBTQ+ community.

Pine Belt Pride offers a unique opportunity for the LGBTQ+ community in Hattiesburg to come together in a safe place. It is presented by The Spectrum Center, the first and only LGBTQ+ physical community center in Mississippi. Pine Belt Pride first began in 2014 and has since become a valuable resource for the LGBTQ+ community of Hattiesburg.

“Each year we strive to create a space for those who may not feel comfortable navigating spaces that are not queer spaces,” Keenon Walker, President of The Spectrum Center, said.

“Local Pride celebrations bring much needed visibility to the LGBTQ+ community. I want to continue building a sense of community, so people can know they are not alone.”

Pride in any city is important in creating a welcoming and loving environment for both its LGBTQ+ residents and its visitors. This is especially the case in a conservative state like Mississippi, which makes it harder for same-sex couples or gender non-conforming individuals to live openly. Pine Belt Pride achieved just that, and many have loved going to the celebrations.

“You get to see the people that are unseen,” Will Parrish, a nurse visiting from central Mississippi, said. “It gives them

the chance to come out here, be who they really are and not be ashamed of it in Mississippi.”

Hattiesburg residents weren’t the only ones to join in on the fun, either. People traveled from all over the state to show their pride this week.

“Visibility is key to progress in this state,” said Jay Barnhart, a pharmacist who traveled down from Jackson, Mississippi to attend.

Barnhart also attended Jackson Pride the previous week, and was thrilled to support Pine Belt Pride.

“Supporting organizations and events like this help bring our awareness to the cities in which we visit,” Barnhart said.

The week started with a kickoff cookout on Monday, Oct. 4, and consisted of a different event every night leading up to Pride in the Park on Saturday.

Pride in the Park was held at the Town Square Park with 40 vendors, a march through downtown, live music and a drag show.

Pine Belt Pride, with the help of its sponsors, creates a fun and safe environment for everyone to enjoy. It also helps fundraising efforts for Pride events that happen throughout the year at The Spectrum Center.

The proceeds from this year will go towards a new roof at The Spectrum Center.

“As the event grows, I hope to see more acceptance, more support and with luck, more kindness,” said Walker. “And who knows, one day we could have a full Pride parade.”

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10 ENTERTAINMENT OCTOBER 13, 2021 ‘Squid Game’ isn’t afraid to show its teeth

WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM

MARY MURPHY EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Jae-il for the show’s soundtrack, as he somehow managed to make he Korean drama ‘Squid a recorder sound menacing.

Game’, first released ‘Squid Game’ is the latest in Sept. 17, has quickly a widely popular survival horror become one of the most popular subgenre known as the “killing shows Netflix has ever produced. game”. ‘Battle Royale’, which Though at first seeming like a sees a group of high schoolers standard, if stylish, entry in the fight to the death on a deserted survival horror genre, ‘Squid island, remains one of the most Game’s’ tight execution and expopular Japanese horror films plicit commentary gives the show ever made. ‘The Hunger Games’, a unique bite. which features a killing compeSet in modern day South tition with significant financial Korea, the titular Squid Game rewards, has been credited with is a competition where hundreds single-handedly repopularizing of competitors, desperate to pay the YA dystopian novel. off incredibly expensive loans or However, ‘Squid Game’ still debts, must survive deadly vermanages to keep a unique idensions of popular children’s games tity within said subgenre due to like “Red Light, Green Light” or its explicit social commentary.

“Tug-O-War” for cash.

Though social problems are defiThough most of the series nitely a large part in stories like follows protagonist Seong Gi‘Battle Royale’ and ‘The Hunger hun (Lee Jung-jae), a well meanGames’, they also tend to allude ing gambler, it still manages to to those problems a lot more by, take time to humanize a good say, setting the story in a dystopichunk of the other competitors. an future.

Even more minor characters like But ‘Squid Game’ is set in the conwoman Han Mi-nyeo (Kim contemporary world, and is not Joo-ryoung) and doctor Byeong-gi afraid to engage with its problems (Yoo Sung-joo) are given time to or criticize its socioeconomic shine as the series goes on. systems. This is especially the case Some of the standouts of the whenever the show breaks from main cast include Park Hae-soo genre conventions. as the ruthlessly practical busiFor example, most “killing nessman Cho Sang-woo, Jung game” stories find some way to Ho-yeon as the icy North Korean trap its characters within the defector Kang Sae-byeok and competition, making it so they Anupam Tripathi as the kind Pa- physically cannot leave without kistani-born worker Abdul Ali. risking death. This is not the case Aside from its excellent perin ‘Squid Game’. forming cast, ‘Squid Game’ has Very early on, we learn there is also garnered widespread praise a rule in place that, if more than for its striking visuals. A lot of half of the players vote to end the the show is built around the most game, it will end without consebasic shapes of the Hangul for quence. The prize money would “squid” -- a circle, a triangle and instead be distributed out to the a square -- and bright colors, esdeceased players’ families, with pecially teals and pinks. These de- everyone else otherwise able to sign considerations not only make return to their normal lives. the show pop, but help to better But, for a majority of the playcontrast the childish nature of the ers, said normal lives are nightgames with the brutal deaths they mares in their own right. They’re cause. I would also like to give a constantly hounded by tax collecshout out here to composer Jung tors, loan sharks and police offi-

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cers. Their equally impoverished family members are on the verge of financial ruin. The cost of living keeps rising, but their wages do not, making it hard to get their hands on even the cheapest gas station foods.

The main creators, or “V.I.Ps”, of the Squid Game -- a group of bored, bloodthirsty rich men -- specifically designed the competition to prey on the economic insecurities of its competitors. And the main tragedy of ‘Squid Game’ is that...it works.

Even when they vote to end the game in episode two, 93% of players are back by episode three.

I personally found the commentary aspect of ‘Squid Game’ to be its most compelling part, and, on a thematic level, I was really satisfied with its progression and ending. This also, admittedly, does make me wary of talks about a potential second season, especially if they decide to expand on their puzzling picks for the game’s masterminds.

But, if ‘Squid Game’ does end up returning, I will absolutely tune in. This show is more than its visuals, and I really enjoyed watching it from beginning to end.

ENTERTAINMENT

OCTOBER 13, 2021

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11

Entertainment Spotlight: the Wu-Tang Clan strikes again on Hulu

KOBY MOORE SMTV EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

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he RZA, the GZA, ODB, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon the Chef, U-God, Ghostface Killah and the Method Man”: it’s one of the most important roll calls not only in hip hop, but in the history of music. And it’s been given brand new life in a Hulu exclusive.

The Wu-Tang Clan is one the most notorious and legendary hip-hop groups of all time. The group’s first album, ‘Enter the Wu-Tang’, came out in 1993.

Since then, everything they have produced -- whether a single or an album, a group or a solo project -- has become classic. Their influence has not only spread throughout many different genres of music, but in movies, fashion trends and T.V. shows.

There have been many documentaries on the group released over the years, as people love the story of how the group became

so popular in the first place. But none of the previous documentaries released are quite like Hulu’s ‘Wu-Tang: An American Saga’.

IMDb describes the show as “a vision of Bobby Diggs, who strives to unite a dozen young, black men that are torn between music and crime [...] to become the unlikeliest of American success stories.”

Now, although parts of the show are fictionalized, it overall tells the origins of the Wu-Tang Clan. Honestly, it might be because of the fiction that this show stands out as much as it does. I enjoy biographies as much as the next person, but I appreciate it when things get creatively different to enhance the story.

I love the different graphics that they use in the show to highlight certain moments in time.

The most recent episode, which, at writing, is the seventh episode

of season two, there was a video game graphic that showed Raekwon and Ghostface Killah on their walk to the radio station.

Also, there was a martial arts scene to show how they worked together, and it creatively added another layer to the show.

One of my favorite episodes came just before then, where The Wu-Tang Clan recorded “Protect Ya Neck”. It showed Diggs’s, or RZA’s, mindset while recording a song as a big room with the band, music and rappers blaring. These moments help really illustrate what is going on with the characters, and got me really invested in the show.

The main stars that stand out in ‘Wu-Tang: An American Saga’ are actors Shameik Moore and David Brewster. Moore portrays the legendary rapper Raekwon the Chef, and he perfectly embodies Raekwon’s personality

and charisma. Brewster, better known by his rapper name “Dave East”, portrays the legendary Method Man. In the first season, Brewster doesn’t seem like a good match for Method Man, but as you continue to watch, Brewster definitely takes to the role.

Currently, ‘Wu-Tang: An American Saga’ is in its second season, with the eighth episode streaming this Wednesday on Hulu, and I highly suggest watching it. It’s different from regular biographies in a lot of ways, and it makes watching it all the more interesting. It also gives you a lot more information than a two/three hour movie would as a series, which helps you really understand how much work went into making that iconic roll call happen.

12 SPORTS

OCTOBER 13, 2021

WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM

Southern Miss Football falls to UTEP during homecoming DIMA MIXON PRINTZ REPORTER

S

outhern Miss Football fell to the University of Texas El-Paso (UTEP) 26-13 on its homecoming night.

With this most recent loss, the Golden Eagles fall to 1-5 on the season and 0-2 in the conference, while UTEP improves to the inverse of 5-1 and 2-0 in conference play.

The story of the night is visible in the rushing totals. UTEP had 255 rushing yards while Southern Miss had just 15. The Miners’ defensive front bullied the Golden Eagles’ line and prevented the run game.

“It’s the same song, a new verse,” Head Coach Will Hall said. “It’s the same deal and that’s the way every game is going to be for us. We tell these kids that from here on out, we’re going to be in one-score games.”

UTEP received the opening kickoff and drove 11 plays and 62 yards right down the field after three third-down conversions, scoring the opening touchdown on a 17-yard rush by Ronald Awatt. It would be the first time all season, outside of the Alabama game, where a team scored on the opening drive on the Southern Miss defense.

The opening drive set the tone for the rest of half, as the Miners accumulated 302 yards throughout the first two quarters, including 182 rushing yards.

However, in his first collegiate start, quarterback Jake Lange answered the UTEP score with a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Lange connected with Jason Brownlee on a ball that Brownlee leaped to and made a spectacular catch. The score tied the game and showed signs of momentum, but Southern Miss’ offense did not keep up the pace.

On the next drive, Lange tried to force the ball into double coverage, but had it intercepted by Dennis Barnes, marking Lange’s fourth interception of the year.

Tyron Dawson | Printz

Jakarius Caston leaps for a catch against his defender.

The second quarter began with three straight punts for Southern Miss as the Miners held the Golden Eagles to a total of 32 yards in the period.

The Miners put together a solid drive and marched all the way to the five-yard line. However, the Nasty Bunch made a goal-line stand and forced UTEP into a field goal situation, which Miners’ kicker Gavin Baechle missed.

Southern Miss went three and out and punted the ball back to UTEP. The Miners then ran a reverse play, which Jacob Cowing took 53 yards for a UTEP touchdown, giving his team a 14-7 advantage at halftime.

Southern Miss got the ball to start the second half, along with two first downs, but then, once again, punted. Punter Mason Hunt kicked a 60-yard boomer, which was downed at the UTEP one-yard line. Hunt continued his high-level play in the game as he punted six times for a 51.7-yard

average.

Southern Miss gained momentum from the punt as Malik Shorts came up with an interception on a ball sent to the sideline.

“Rachuan, he had a big oneon-one by himself over there and Coach [Austin] Armstrong called the play before they even snapped the ball,” Shorts said. “The credit goes to the two of them. I was just able to be there and catch the ball.”

But just two plays later, Lange was sacked and fumbled the ball, which Breon Hayward recovered for a touchdown. UTEP took a 21-7 lead, and Southern Miss was in desperation with an offense that just wasn’t clicking.

The next drive saw Southern Miss go right down the field on two 30 plus yard completions, and Southern Miss was inside the five.

Southern Miss ran it four times, including twice with backup quarterback Jack Walker, ending in no points and turning the ball over

on downs.

“It was embarrassing, wasn’t it,” Hall said. “We put Walker in there because he gives us a little bit of a presence running and we’ve been good out of the [I formation] this year and we got a little bit on third down. We got to the one-inch line on fourth and didn’t get in.”

A field goal and safety for UTEP extended its lead to 26-7.

Southern Miss managed to score before the end of the game with a three-yard touchdown pass from Lange to Demarcus Jones.

For the second consecutive season, the Golden Eagles drop to a 1-5 start.

“As a team, we know we don’t like losing,” running back Frank Gore Jr. said. “We know we can’t get down on ourselves because that’s when it’s over. We’re going to keep rolling and keep going.”

Southern Miss (1-5, 0-2) will face UAB (4-2, 2-0) next Saturday at the Rock.