October_14_2008

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TODAY

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The Golden Eagles have lost three straight games at M.M. Roberts Stadium for the first time since 1977. See what Southern Miss is doing to curb their losing ways on page 8.

TOMORROW

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S P The

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

2008 Homecoming Election Results Mr. Southern Miss Jonathon “J.P.” Pegues Elementary Education Batesville

Miss Southern Miss Deborah Quave Tourism Management Gautier

Homecoming Queen Katie Christiansen Nursing Fairhope, Ala.

Freshman Maid Jessica Eli Psychology Petal

Sophomore Maid Jessica Parker Biological Science

Junior Maid Sarah Ali Biochemistry Hattiesburg

Senior Maid Brena Ward

Graduate Maid

Hilliary Walters Speech Language Pathology Ellisville

Serving Southern Miss since 1927

Volume 93, Issue 16

EcoEagle distributes reusable bottles Lesley Walters News Editor

With help from the Student Government Association and Eagle Dining, the Office of Sustainability is introducing its latest project today: Lug-a-mugs.

Michael Brown, marketing director for Eagle Dining, said that 2.5 million plastic bottles are being sent to landfills every hour.

EcoEagle lug-a-mugs are meant to provide the campus community with a reusable, environmentally safe alternative to bottled drinks.

“This program, with help from

‘‘

the SGA and the Office of Sustainability, will allow Eagle Dining to meet our customers’ needs for value while meeting the needs of the environment,” Brown said.

Brown said the lug-a-mugs will generally be sold for $6.99, and can be used to get 99-cent refills at the Agora, Power House, Seymour’s, and A Stone’s Throw.

They will also come with a coupon for one free fill. He added that the lug-a-mugs could be used instead of Styrofoam to-go cups in the Fresh Food Company.

The SGA has sponsored the first batch of lug-a-mugs in an attempt to make them easier – and

2.5 milion plastic bottles are being sent to landfills every hour.

EcoEagle lug-a-mugs are meant to provide a reusable, environmentally safe alternative to bottled drinks

’’

-Michael Brown, Eagle Dining

less expensive – for students to purchase. SGA President Melissa Cirino said the first 300 lug-amugs would be sold for 99 cents.

She said the lower cost would “get them in students’ hands” while establishing the product’s

presence on campus and creating “healthier bodies and healthier campuses.”

“It’s so simple to just refill a bottle and rinse it out, you know, as opposed to constantly getting Styrofoam or paper cups just to throw them away,” Cirino said.

“That’s such unnecessary waste.”

John Gernon Glorioso, SGA executive director of administrative affairs, said filtered water stations would be set up in Eagle Dining locations so that customers with lug-a-mugs can fill up freely.

“We’re really excited about them,” the junior public relations major said. “It’s going to be a great service to the students.”

Homecoming court announced Lesley Walters News Editor

The Student Government Association released the results of last week’s homecoming elections Monday and the numbers show more than just who won.

SGA Election Commissioner J.R. Robinson, a junior administration of justice major, said the turnout exceeded his expectations. He said the national average for homecoming elections is about 2 percent, but about 20 percent of the Southern Miss student body participated in the primaries.

“I think we pretty much set a record as far as homecoming elections on campus,” the Bolton native said. “Usually for primaries, we get about 16 or 17 percent and we got nearly 20 this time; for the runoff, we’d be lucky to get 12 and we got almost 17.”

Students may have been drawn by the offer of free chicken fingers and brownies, Robinson said, but he only ordered enough for about 200 people as he expected a much lower turnout.

While Robinson said he “couldn’t be happier with the turnout,” some students did not make it to the polls, despite the attraction of free fried food.

Ashley Holly, freshman

chemistry major, said she and her friends simply forgot, but planned to vote for Omari Pittman and Deborah Quave. She was happy to hear of Quave’s win as Miss Southern Miss, but regretted not voting for Pittman, who lost the title of Mr. Southern Miss by 11 points.

“I think they should do a re-vote because if everyone remembered, like me and my friends, he probably would have won,” Holly said.

The race for Mr. Southern Miss was a tight one, but not as close as the race for Graduate Maid, awarded to Hillary Walters, who won by a mere two votes.

SGA President Melissa Cirino said the races were so close, her office was told to “kind of be on stand by” over the weekend in case anyone contested the results. She said someone claiming voter fraud or other grievances could formally complain and, after a hearing, a new election would take place or the election commission would recount votes.

Robinson said the deadline to voice such complaints, however, was Monday at 5 p.m. At the time of publication, Robinson was not informed of any complaints, which means the current results are officially set and Southern Miss has its Homecoming Court for 2008.

Maggie Sanford/Printz

Lines at gas stations with the lowest gas prices, such as Kash King, extend out into roads as people wait fill up Monday. Gas prices have fallen because of a weak demand for petroleum products as the economy slows.

Lines form as prices drop Bob Worth Printz Writer

There appears to be at least one silver lining in the current financial turmoil - gas prices have dropped below three dollars per gallon in Hattiesburg. Deniz Gevrek, assistant professor of economics at USM, said that the recent drop in prices is “attributable to the slowdown in the global economy and the financial crisis.”

As the economy slows, demand for petroleum products is expected to weaken, which has caused prices to fall.

GasBuddy.com, a site which tracks gas prices, listed Kash-King, near the intersection of Hwy 49 and I-59, as the cheapest in town at

$2.56 per gallon for regular unleaded. The Chevron next door had the second lowest price at $2.57. The lowest-priced gas near campus was Pump and Save, located on Hardy Street, at $2.67.

Friday afternoon, the line for gas at Kash-King spilled out of the parking lot and into the turning lane on Highway 49. The station, which only accepts cash, was a hive of activity as customers pre-paid for gas, filled up, then returned to collect their change.

D.J. Patel, manager of the KashKing, said that their prices are set by their parent company, Race Way, which is located in Atlanta.

When asked if business had picked up since prices fell, Patel said “Oh, yes.”

Cherron McCloud, who works at Einstein Bros. Bagels on the USM campus, filled up at Kash-King Friday on her way home from work.

McCloud commutes from Carson, in Jeff Davis County, and said that the reduction in gas prices has had a significant impact on her budget.

This recent decline in gas prices was initiated by the International Energy Agency’s cut in its forecast for global oil demand in 20082009. Gervik said unless OPEC cuts production, prices should stay low.

The bad news is that as the economy recovers, increasing demand will probably drive gas prices back up. “A recovery in oil prices is possible around the first or second quarters of 2009,” Gevik said.

Fall brings welcome break for Southern Miss students Samantha Montague Printz Writer

Samantha Montague/Printz

Signs of the arrival of fall appear around campus as fall break approaches. Fall break begins Thursday and classes will resume Oct. 20.

With fall break coming up this Thursday and Friday, students and faculty are making plans on how they will spend their muchneeded time off.

For many, this will be a time to take a break from lecture notes, papers, and dreaded deadlines, including Melissa Cirino, president of the Student Government Association.

“I think it comes at the perfect time of year,” Cirino said. “You know, we’ve just had that second wave of exams and all need a few days to escape and relax.”

Cirino said she will be hiking in the Appalachian trail in the Smokey Mountains, “roughing it in a tent for four days.”

Instead of relaxing, some students are opting to use this break to get back on track academically, like Valerie Warrington of Meridian.

“I need this break,” the jour-

nalism major said. “It gives me more time to catch up.”

Meanwhile, other students find the fall break to be too short to qualify as an actual vacation.

“I hate it because we stress out over homework, projects, papers, and presentations until we make ourselves sick, said Casey McAlpin of Byron, a senior in Elementary Education. “A twoday break is not enough. At least in the spring we get a whole week. I plan to work so I don’t get a break anyway.”

Most Faculty members are working through the break as well, catching up on grading papers and tests, said Mary Peters, a math instructor.

“Fall break is really for students, not for instructors,’’ Peters said. She added that she will be using some of her vacation time to participate in a church fundraiser.

Fall break, which begins 6 p.m. Wednesday, is the last vacation before Thanksgiving.

Page 2|News

Recycle your Printz

www.studentprintz.com |Tuesday, October 14, 2008

D B

10-7-08 •Forrest County Hall - Disturbance - Incident report on file.

•Championship Lane - Hit and Run - MS Uniform Crash report on file.

10-08-08 •115 Fraternity Dr - Alcohol - One campus citation was issued for Minor in Possession.

•College Hall - Grand Larceny - A staff member reported the theft of a golf cart, which was later recovered by UPD. •Elam Arms Lot - Hit and Run - Incident report on file.

•McCarty Hall - Suspicious Person - A non-student was issued a verbal trespass warning.

10-9-08 •Pinehaven Apt - Suspicious Person - A juvenile was identified and interviewed then released by UPD and HPD. •Hub - Disturbance - Incident report on file.

•Polymer Science Bldg - Harassment - Incident report on file.

10-10-08 •McLemore Hall - Field Interview - One trespass warning was issued to a non student.

•Southern MS Drive - Alcohol - One campus citation was issued for Minor in Possession.

•34th Ave - DUI - Kyle C Rose, W/M, 25 yoa, Hattiesburg, was arrested and charged with DUI and Failure to Signal.

•Sorority Village - Vandalism - A student reported that her vehicle had been egged.

•Payne Center - Medical Assist - A non-student was transported to FGH by AAA ambulance.

10-11-08 •421 N 37th Av - Medical Assist - A staff member was transported by UPD to FGH ER. •118 Fraternity Dr - Larceny - A resident reported the theft of the center caps from the rims of his vehicle.

•Alumni Dr - Fight - Incident report on file, no arrests.

•East Stadium - Public Drunk - Kiel W May, W/M, 25 yoa, VIcksburg address was arrested and charged with Disorderly Conduct, Public Drunk and Resisting Arrest.

•Bolton Hall - Medical Assist - A resident was transported to FGH ER by AAA ambulance.

•Polymer Science - Petit Larceny - A visitor reported the theft of an ice chest, crock pot and tote bag from her tailgating area during the game.

10-12-08 •Fraternity Dr - Public Drunk - Blake A Riley, W/M, 21 yoa, Sumrall address, was arrested and charged with Public Drunk and Possession of Paraphenalia.

•Alumni House - Petit Larceny - A visitor reported the theft of chairs, table and a grill from her tailgating area.

•34th Av - Hit and Run - Incident report on file.

•Bolton Hall - Service Non-Criminal - AAA responded and administered treatment a staff member, did not transport.

--Compiled by Andy Hess

H C E TUESDAY 7:30 p.m. -- Wind Ensemble Concert @ Bennett Auditorium

THURSDAY 8:30 p.m. -- Meghan Stewart and the Dan Schroeder Trio @ The Martini Spot 9 p.m. -- Cozy Corley @ Bottling Company 9 p.m. -- Alcus Hudson @ M.J. Hooligans 9:30 p.m. -- Elise @ Keg and Barrel 10 p.m. -- Walking Bones, Before I Hang, and Overnight Lows @ The Tavern 10 p.m. -- Grayson Capps @ Boom Boom Room FRIDAY 9 p.m. -- The Bar-Kays w/ T-Bone Pruitt @ Bottling Company Rotary Downs, 10:00 p.m. @ Thirsty Hippo Loyd Munn, 9:30 @ Keg and Barrel Face on Mars, Raum, and Ol’ Scratch, 10:00 p.m. @ The Tavern The Dave Allen Band, 8:00 p.m. @ Walnut Circle SATURDAY Natalie Kirk & Co., 9:00 p.m. @ Bottling Company The Figs, 10:00 p.m. @ Thirsty Hippo Steal Your Face (Grateful Dead Tribute), 9:30 @ Keg and Barrel Carter Road, 9:00 p.m. @ M.J. Hooligans Matches for the Fuse and American Sugar, 10:00 p.m. @ The Tavern T-Bone Pruitt, 8:00 p.m. @ Walnut Circle SUNDAY Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, 9:00 p.m. @ Thirsty Hippo Caleb Bebold, 9:00 p.m. @ M.J. Hooligans MONDAY Elise Thornton and Sam Donald, 10:00 p.m. @ M.J. Hooligans --Compiled by Bob Worth

www.studentprintz.com |News

Tuesday, October 14, 2008 | Page 3

Freshman weight gain isn’t par for course Special to the Printz HACKENSACK, N.J. -- It’s difficult to think of a way to add pounds faster than living the stereotypical college lifestyle.

Juggling coursework, jobs and a social life leaves little time for exercising or even regular meals.

Late-night study sessions are often fueled by the nearest 24-hour greasy spoon. Getting too little sleep can also trick the body into craving more food.

On top of all that, many freshmen are taking in many more calories from alcohol than they have in the past.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that not every entering freshman puts on weight, and there are some easy things students can do to avoid packing on pounds.

The first thing to do is to forget the phrase “Freshman 15.”

A 2006 study by Rutgers University nutritionists tracked the weight of 67 students in their first year. Most students did gain weight, but more than one-fourth of students actually lost weight.

Those who did gain weight put on an average of seven pounds, not 15.

But gaining seven pounds doesn’t require all that much extra food. The Rutgers study said that taking in just 112 extra calories each day _ roughly equivalent to a cup of Cheerios _ would do it.

Jackie Ehlert-Mercer, a registered dietitian who runs nutrition programs for students at the University of British Columbia and teaches a course in nutrition at Ramapo College, said that freshmen who gain weight their first semester and don’t lose it in the second semester are more likely to keep gaining weight throughout college. If the pat-

tern continues, adulthood obesity and related health problems such as heart disease and diabetes may follow.

“An overweight adolescent ... is probably going to become an obese adult if they don’t mediate their weight during college,” Ehlert-Mercer said. “The stresses they face such as getting married or getting a full-time job tend to increase. They don’t tend to diminish.”

Scott Fisher, director of the Fairleigh Dickinson University Health and Fitness Center, recommends that students plan their days to ensure that they eat regularly and healthfully. Skipping meals to lose weight usually backfires, he said.

“You should really go no longer than four or five hours without eating something,” Fisher said. “If you go for too long a period of time without eating, your blood sugar level drops. When your blood sugar level drops, your body essentially sends you signals that it wants a very quick source of energy, which are the typical sugary foods, and some concentrated calories, which are fatty foods.”

Eating frequently has worked for Mike Sciscione, 22, a senior at William Paterson University.

The Rockaway native eats six small meals a day. Something as simple as a fruit smoothie counts, he said. Sciscione buys bulk packages of 100-calorie snack packs and keeps a bottle of water with him to stave off hunger pangs. “It keeps your metabolism going and keeps you from gaining weight,” he said.

Some students who gained weight said they were able to lose it again by reassessing their food and exercise choices.

Ramya Pallavajhala, 22, a senior at Fairleigh Dickinson University, lost most of the weight

Amy Newman/The Record/MCT

Students ponder lunch options in the cafeteria at Bergen Community College, September 22, 2008, in Paramus, New Jersey. On a tight schedule and budget, eating healthy isn’t always easy.

she gained the first semester of freshman year by cutting out cheese and cooking healthy, vegetable-rich Indian dishes.

She also walks between her Hackensack home and the Teaneck campus and squeezes in the occasional gym workout when her schedule permits.

“Once you gain the weight, it’s very tough to regain your shape,” Pallavajhala said. “But it’s easy to prevent it.”

Going easy on the alcohol can also make a big difference.

Daniel Hoffman, a co-author of the Rutgers study, said that the body metabolizes alcohol before either carbohydrates or fat. That means the body has less opportunity to burn off carbohydrates and fats from food.

The sheer number of calories in alcoholic drinks is enough to make most people gain weight, especially if they are consuming the same amount of food and non-alcoholic beverages. A single shot of 80-proof vodka contains 97 calories, and a typical light beer contains about 99, according to thecaloriecounter. com. Combine hard liquor with mixers (110 calories for an 8ounce glass of orange juice) or down a few beers during a drinking game, and the calories add up quickly.

“A lot of students don’t realize that the number of calories per gram in alcohol is closer to fat than to carbohydrates,” Hoffman said. “If you look at binge drinking ... you’re looking at a

Hofstra prepares for candidates Special to the Printz

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- After investing $3.5 million in construction and planning, Hofstra University found out there was something missing from its preparations for this week’s third and final presidential debate.

Water glasses.

“We actually had to give the campaigns the exact water glass the candidates will be using during the debate,” said Hofstra President Stuart Rabinowitz. “So they know the heft of it, I guess.”

From the massive to the mundane, Hofstra has spent the last year getting ready for its closeup, re-tooling its David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex into the venue for a debate that will be watched by millions on television worldwide.

“There are people cleaning

and painting everywhere,” said freshman Melissa Barnshaw, 17, of South Brunswick, N.J. “And there’s so much security. But it’s not that inconvenient - I mean, it’s not like this happens every day.”

Construction crews have laid tens of thousands feet of cable and carpet, and installed thousands of phone lines and hundreds of flat-screen televisions. A television stand-up platform was built outside the Mack sports complex, where the debate will be held.

Inside the arena, the university had to install equipment to reduce the noise from its air-conditioning system, after a sound crew from the Commission on Presidential Debates determined it ran too loudly.

Special vents were cut above the spot where each candidate will stand during the debate, to improve air flow so they won’t perspire as Richard Nixon infa-

mously did during the first-ever televised presidential debate (and the last one held in New York) in 1960.

“They’re still asking and we’re still doing,” Rabinowitz said on Friday of the debate preparations.

“Whatever they want, we do.”

Although Hofstra has played host to four former presidents, including Bill Clinton in 2005, officials say those events don’t rival the work involved in preparing for the debate.

“You can’t compare anything we’ve ever done to this,” said Melissa Connolly, Hofstra’s vice president for university relations.

“Absolutely nothing compares to this level of attention.”

More than 3,000 media are credentialed to cover the debate.

MSNBC’s “Hardball with Chris Matthews” and WNYC radio’s Brian Lehr show will broadcast live from campus on Wednesday.

Some parking lots will be closed to house television satellite trucks, Wednesday classes are canceled, and parking will be limited to students and faculty with valid passes. Shuttles will run from four area hotels and Mitchel Field.

Resident students are being asked to “Host a Commuter” student on Tuesday night, to reduce traffic on Wednesday from commuter students eager to visit campus on debate day.

Campus security officers are working 12-hour shifts, instead of their normal eight-hour shifts, and athletic schedules have been rearranged so most teams are playing away games.

“I knew this would be a major event,” Rabinowitz said, “but until you’re living through it, you really have no concept of how many media are here, the excitement for the students - how big it really is.”

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lot of calories.”

Eating is only one side of the weight-gain equation. Working out can help burn off the occasional late-night pizza or homesickness-induced pint of ice cream.

Fisher recommended at least half an hour of cardiovascular exercise most days a week, and augmenting that with strength training a few times a week.

Relaxing a little isn’t a bad idea, either. Researchers at the University of Chicago found that college students who slept for four hours a night produced more of a hormone called ghrelin, which causes feelings of hunger, and less of leptin, which makes people feel full, than peers who had been allowed to

sleep for as much as 10 hours.

Though most freshmen will err on the side of eating too much and exercising too little, some students respond to stress by becoming too restrictive with their diets. Students who have experienced disordered eating patterns before college face the highest risk of developing serious eating disorders in college, Ehlert-Mercer said.

Students who find themselves thinking obsessively about food, purging after eating or exercising compulsively in order to lose weight should see a counselor or doctor.

Most college health centers either employ or can refer students to a nutritionist or psychologist to treat eating disorders.

Opinions

Page 4 opinion@studentprintz.com

Osama for president?

Voters in upstate New York who received their absentee ballots were surprised to see who was runAndy ning on the Hess Executive Editor D e m o c r a t i c ticket for president this year. The ballots read, “Barack Osama.”

According to the article, Obama’s name was misspelled on Row 1A as Barack Osama -- an unfortunate resemblance to 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden -- but further down on the ballot it was spelled correctly.

After the Times-Union of Albany, N.Y. reported the error Friday, the Rensselaer County Board of Elections insisted that it was only a spelling mistake

and had only made it to “300 of around 4000” of the ballots.

“The board of elections acted quickly to correct the typographical error and regrets the error,” the board said in a statement. “The error was not deliberate and the Board of Elections is continuing to fairly manage the upcoming General Election in a bi-partisan and cooperative manner.”

This is something that should not have been an issue in the first place. One can’t help but be suspicious about the situation.

Yes, spelling errors are going to happen regardless of how many eyes see a piece of writing. Earlier this year, the news agency Reuters made the same mistake with little notice when they referred to Obama as Osama twice in one story.

Yet Democrats and Republicans are playing it off as noth-

ing more than a spelling error.

“Of all the letters to hit by mistake,” County Democratic Chairman Tom Wade said in the Times-Union article. “Unfortunately it is a mistake which negatively impacts our Democratic candidate for president.”

You’re right Mr. Wade, it is funny how out of all the letters, “s” was chosen. And it is a mistake, but it’s a mistake out of human error that should have been corrected.

In a campaign season that has turned from the issues such as the economy or the war in Irag to character assassination within the past few weeks, a spelling error on something as important as a ballot could become more costly than any article.

Andy Hess is executive editor for The Student Printz. Comments can be sent to printz@usm.edu

Mudslinging getting out of hand Recently on the news there has been a great deal of political slander going on, and oddly the majority of it Shakeshia is not coming Harris from the opOpinions Writer posing side.

The media has been making a mockery of today’s politicians and targeting their personal lives more than ever.

Sarah Palin, John McCain’s running partner, has been getting hit heavily by the media. Some of the comments and remarks made makes you wonder how low is too low for the media when it comes to the traditional mud slinging competiton. I must admit I was shocked to hear that they questioned her methods of parenting after sources revealed that her

teenage daughter was pregnant and that Sarah Palin herself had just given birth to a child with Down’s Syndrome. My question is, what does this have to do with how she runs a country? None of these things have anything to do with her political experience or capabilities of being a good vice president.

However, none of those statements even compare to an editorial cartoon which ran on the Washington Post website drawn

by Pat Oliphant. This move was far below the belt. The cartoon features Sarah Palin, John McCain, and what appears to be God. The cartoon made mockery of Sarah Palin’s religious beliefs, and also implied John McCain has no spiritual relationship with God or any other form of religion whatsoever. The cartoon was also extremely disrespectful in that the depiction of God was using pro-

fane language and acted as if he knew neither of the politicians.

What do Palin’s religious beliefs -- or anybody’s religious beliefs -have to do with this campaign?

This is not the first time this issue has come up during this election. Barack Obama’s pastor made some politically incorrect statements during the campaign and Obama was held responsible for them. How can you hold one grown man responsible for what another grown man said? You can’t!

I got really sick of the media running it into the ground. I was told a long time ago that one should never discuss religion or politics -and especially never mix the two.

I don’t know how true that is, but I definitely feel that you shouldn’t use one against the other.

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

www.studentprintz.com |Opinions

Tuesday, October 14, 2008| Page 5

Rachel’s Cry not heard Although this great land of America was founded on the principles of God, it seems as though 90% Brittany of this nation Cooley Opinions Writer couldn’t care less if it remained that way. Something has to be done.

People need to be awakened. I believe it’s time that the righteous of this generation stand up and proclaim the word of God. For years, we the church have sat on our hands and watched this nation slowly turn away from God’s heart. Abortion has been made legal, prayer has been taken out of schools and purity has been altogether lost.

I myself am guilty of not heeding the call to action. I have watched sin overwhelm this city and my only response has been to say, “That is awful”. But we aren’t called to simply see things we disagree with and make comments based on our opinions. We are called to an offensive attack-to pray and fast until we see these things come to an end.

There are thousands of people out there who have made up their mind to answer this call, and on August 16, 2008, we gathered in Washington D.C to fast and pray over the nation in a movement known as “The Call.”

From the Capitol Building to the Washington Monument, the Jef-

ferson Memorial to the Lincoln Memorial, an estimated 70,000 people stretched out. Lou Engle, founder of The Call, led us in 12 hours of prayer and intercession for our nation.

Several speakers included Alveda King, Martin Luther King’s niece, who prayed over us to carry out the “dream” for unity between the races as her uncle carried.

Governor Mike Huckabee was there too, leading us in prayer over the political leadership of this nation.

The most intriguing speaker was Norma McCorvey, who was Roe from the Roe vs. Wade case of 1973. This woman was used as the example to make abortion legal in this nation, but she chose not to have the abortion and is now promoting pro-life. She led us in prayer for life over the nation and now carries the burden for the 50 million babies that have been aborted since 1973.

It was so invigorating to stand in the midst of a group of people who share the same heart, and unite our faith. It’s almost unexplainable to say how victorious I felt, to know that I was a part of shaking the nation on that day.

Engle often says that we are to be the “hinge of history”, and I agree with him 100 percent. It’s our job to call America back to its roots. This doesn’t mean we are to leave everything behind to protest in front of the Supreme Court seven days a week.

If that’s what you feel God is

Haskel Burns

A few days after, we attended her funeral, which was held at a local church. The pastor took the stand to say a few things about Mrs. Geraldine. During the speech, he actually took time out to start on what essentially became a full-fledged sermon.

He started preaching about how everyone in the church needed to make life choices. Basically, he said that we all have a choice: either be good and go to Heaven, or be bad and go to Hell.

What the hell? Here’s a church full of people grieving over their dead relative, and this guy’s got the nerve to preach about how we all need to be saved so we won’t face eternal damnation?

This is the kind of stuff they teach to Sunday school kids.

I’m no expert on funerals, but I really don’t think a funeral is the place to hold Sunday Mass.

My girlfriend and I were extremely offended. I really don’t think we were the only ones. My girlfriend and her sister had a conversation about in on the way home, and her sister agreed that it was out of line – and she’s a strict Baptist.

I was born and raised outside of New Orleans, and I lived in the city itself for a few years.

I’ve been to many other places in the country, and I’ve never had religion pressed on me the way it has been in Mississippi.

calling you to do, then go for it.

But what I am talking about is a daily commitment to stand on what we believe and be bold.

When someone in class says something that contradicts your faith, say something! When you see things on this campus that you know are breaking the heart of God, pray!

I can’t express to you how much the future of this nation depends upon every choice we make. Will we choose to sit back, in fear of man’s opinion, or will we fight this? Every Thursday night, there is a group of young people that meet on this campus to pray for righteousness to invade USM. This very moment, there is an organization being raised up in Hattiesburg called “The Cry of Rachel”, that is fighting to see abortion come to an end in Mississippi. There are houses of prayer all over this entire nation that spend 24 hours a day fasting and praying over our nation, and over you. Step out of your comfort zone and into what God is calling you. This is an open door to change history.

Will you join me?

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”, Ephesians 6:12.

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

Religion has its place Opinions Writer

I’ve lived in Mississippi for several years now, and it’s appalling to me to see just how far some people in this area of the South will take their religion.

I am not, and have never been, a religious person. I have, however, always been tolerant of everyone else’s beliefs. I have never judged anyone based on their religion or faith. It’s none of my business.

I will gladly engage in conversation with anyone about religion. In fact, I love it. I enjoy having intelligent discussions with people that are tolerant enough to at least listen to other ideas even if they don’t agree with them. My mother is a devout Christian, and she and I have enjoyed many late-night religious debates.

In contrast, I will not tolerate anyone shoving their beliefs, practices, or religion on me. I feel that everyone has the right to practice whatever they want on their own time. I think that the fact that everyone has different viewpoints and morals makes the world a more interesting place. There is a line, though, and I do not appreciate the fact that some people choose to cross it.

My girlfriend’s grandmother Geraldine recently passed away.

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Maybe I feel this way because I don’t spend time in churches, and maybe that’s the way things are done around here. I’m not downing Mississippi; I live here, my parents live here, and I like it here. All I’m saying is that certain people need to back off and realize that people are individuals who don’t have to feel the same way you do.

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

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Entertainment Fall break gives students options Eric Nagurney Entertainment Editor

As you surely know, fall break is coming later this week. If you didn’t know, good news, you don’t have to go to class Thursday and Friday. Now the question is, what exactly are you going to do over the break? Well, you could always just sleep in (and I’m certainly not saying you shouldn’t), but there are plenty more possibilities besides that. If you’re having trouble making plans, here’s a quick guide to fall break ideas that just might help.

With gas prices relatively low, this weekend would be a great time to take a road trip.

Hattiesburg is called the Hub City for a reason, namely its close proximity to various major cities. Both Memphis and Atlanta are less than a six hour drive away, though make sure to factor in the time zone change when making plans for Atlanta. Even Austin, Texas, can be reached in a day’s drive, though

a fairly lengthy one at nine and a half hours.

Due to its two hour proximity and variety of attractions, New Orleans is an easy choice for a fun fall break. Encompassing all there is to do in a city as vibrant and varied as New Orleans would be impossible within the space of this article, but I can provide a few suggestions. During the day, the Audubon Zoo and Aquarium are both great ways to spend the afternoon. Of course, everyone should visit the French Quarter at least once in their life. At night, the city’s music scene provides plenty of options for all musical tastes. Shows range from mash-up Disc Jockey Girl Talk at the House of Blues on Friday to metal veterans Opeth at the same venue on Saturday. You could even indulge in some early ‘90s nostalgia by seeing New Kids on the Block at the New Orleans Arena on Saturday.

For an in-state option, Starkville will be holding the second annual Flower Pickin’

Festival this weekend. The festival was created as a way for the city to honor the life of Johnny Cash by giving him a symbolic pardoning for his 1965 arrest in Starkville for public drunkenness. In addition to commemorating the Man in Black’s life with photo exhibitions and lectures about Cash, a variety of musical acts will be performing, including Johnny’s daughter Rosanne. Since the festival it-

self is free, it could be a good choice for those who can’t afford to spend too much cash.

As great as road trips can be, you don’t have to leave town to have a fun fall break.

Noteworthy this weekend is the Mobile Street Renaissance Festival on Saturday, beginning at 8:00 a.m. and continuing until 4:30 p.m. The festival will kick off with the unveiling of a Mississippi Blues Trail historical marker and features art exhibits, gospel, Latin, and world music stages, and barbecue. As always, the Hattiesburg music scene provides a number of great shows throughout the weekend, as can be seen from the events calendar elsewhere on this page.

Whether you follow any of my suggestions or not, I’m sure everyone will find something worthwhile to do over the break.

Whatever you do, make sure to be safe and don’t get yourself into any serious trouble. Of course, if you really can’t think of anything to do, sleeping in is still a perfectly viable option.

Page 6 entertainment@studentprintz.com

Things going On in Hattiesburg Thursday

9 p.m. -- Alcus Hudson @ M.J. Hooligans 9 p.m. -- Cozy Corley @ Bottling Company 10 p.m. -- Grayson Capps @ Boom Boom Room 10 p.m. -- Walking Bones w/ Before I Hang and Overnight Lows @ The Tavern

Friday

5 p.m. -- Washboard Chaz @ Town Square Park 9 p.m. -- The Bar-Kays w/ T-Bone Pruitt @ Bottling Company 10 p.m. -- Face On Mars w/ Raum and Ol’ Scratch @ The Tavern 10 p.m. -- Rotary Downs @ Thirsty Hippo

Saturday

8:30 a.m. -- Mobile Street Renaissance Festival @ Downtown Hattiesburg 9 p.m. -- Carter Road @ M.J. Hooligans 9 p.m. -- Natalie Kirk & Co. @ Bottling Company 10 p.m. -- The Firs @ Thirsty Hippo 10 p.m. -- Matches For The Fuse w/ American Sugar @ The Tavern

Sunday

9 p.m. -- Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears @ Thirsty Hippo

Review: American Carol misses comedic mark Patrick Laughlin Printz Writer

With the exception of June’s absurd ‘The Happening,” I must admit that I’ve never really had the urge to full-out flee from a movie theater.

That is, until I watched director David Zucker’s new film “An American Carol.”

Zucker, known for directing such classic irreverent parodies as “Airplane!” and “The Naked Gun,” fails spectacularly with his latest movie. “An American Carol,” starring Kevin Farley, Kelsey

Grammer, and Jon Voight doesn’t begin to be the funny, political satire that its trailers suggest. It is really just a movie whose every scene competes to be the most tasteless.

The story line admittedly appears to be a mildly clever one: take the glorified (and suspiciously familiar) American antihero Michael Malone and throw him into a modernday “A Christmas Carol” complete with ghosts of America past. Although it would probably cause Dickens to wobble in his grave, the plot nonetheless seems workable. The result is a complete backfiring

of Zucker’s political humor.

Rather than looking like a sarcastic film made by conservatives to make fun of liberals, “An American Carol” ends up resembling a movie made by liberals to mock conservatives mocking liberals. At least the movie has a twist of sorts.

“Carol” does the most damage to itself by making sure it upholds every political stereotype available. Liberals are either sniveling schemers (such as college professors), idiots listening to the schemers (college students), or sexual deviants. Or zombies.

Yes, the ACLU makes an ap-

pearance as undead lawyers who are shot on sight with buckshot.

Perpetuating yet

We’re online!

another stereotype, the heroic conservatives are seen shooting guns all over the place and high-fiving each other.

In fact, if political insight was drawn from “An American Carol,” I would assume that all conservatives were horny, country music-loving, firearm-toting, war-mongering men, yet all the while managing to be God-fearing.

The jokes in “An American Carol” are also about as subtle as an elephant and incredibly un-funny. Of course, the butt of the film’s crude humor, Michael Moore, is no model of subtlety either – but to

portray him as a donut-inhaling pervert is quite an overstatement. Michael Malone, played by Farley, seems to be a product of Homer jokes that got left out of “The Simpson Movie.” In the thoroughly stupid scene mirroring Ebenezer Scrooge’s vision of his death in “A Christmas Carol,” we see Malone’s severed buttocks being salvaged from a nuclear explosion and being made fun of and thrown around. This kind of humor throughout makes up Zucker’s conservative comedy.

Patrick Laughlin is a staff writer for The Student Printz.

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Tuesday, October 14, 2008 | Page 7

www.studentprintz.com |Entertainment

Brewster Rockitt

Sports

Page 8 sports@studentprintz.com www.studentprintz.com/sports

Perfect Ten

Tyler Cleveland Sports Editor

It might have happened in passing Saturday night, but Reggie Collier’s big moment could not have been bigger for a guy that was known as “The Pefect 10.”

His number 10 jersey, which is still worn to games by fans, was retired on Saturday, making him just the third player and second quarterback in Southern Miss history to have his jersey retired, the others being legendary punter Ray Guy and some guy named Favre.

Most current students probably don’t know it, but Collier led the Eagles to two bowl games in three seasons from 1979-82, beat Ole Miss once and Mississippi State twice and once beat Florida State 58-14 in Tallahassee.

But it’s not just his exploits on the field that make Reggie’s relationship with the school special.

Now in his 40’s, Collier works for the athletic department as coordinator of development and community relations for the Athletics Department.

Sure, Collier didn’t have a stellar post-college career, he’s not the NFL’s most prolific passer, but his service to the University on and off the field is a perfect example of how former Southern Miss athletes can move the University forward through service.

The only question remaining with Collier is why did it take so long to retire his jersey?

When you older fans talking about Ole Miss and Miss. State being afraid to play Southern Miss, think Reggie Collier. So here’s the “Perfect 10,” Reggie Collier.

Maggie Sanford/Printz Right: Quarterback Austin Davis attempts to run the ball during Saturday’s game against Boise State. Boise State won the game 24-7, leaving the Golden Eagles with a third straight at-home loss. Top: Senior tight end Shawn Nelson gets taken down by Boise State’s defensive line during Saturday evening’s game. Southern Miss fell to Boise State 24-7.

Broncos buck Eagles No. 15 Boise gives Southern Miss fourth loss Tyler Cleveland Sports Editor

All week in Hattiesburg, fans crowed about Boise State’s explosive offense, about Keiland Williams and Ian Johnson.

But it was the Boise defense that shined Saturday, holding the explosive Southern Miss offense under 300 yards for the first time in 2008 as the Broncos continued their undefeated march through the regular season, defeating Southern Miss 24-7 at M.M. Roberts Stadium Saturday before an announced crowd of 30,912.

Sure, Moore had his usual steady hand, completing 21 of 30 passes for 170 yards, almost all coming in the first half, and three touchdowns. As for Johnson, a ho-hum 56 yards to match teammate Jeremy Avery’s total.

The Bronco defense showed that there’s a reason they have only allowed eight or more points during one game this

‘‘

How we deal with this adversity is going to determine what kind of team we are. We’re going to find out over the next few weeks. I’m talking about in the classroom, the study hall, the dining hall, the apartment complex--it’s all part of it.

season, holding Southern Miss’ offense, which came into Saturday averaging 452 yards per contest, to just 278 yards.

Reigning Conference USA offensive player of the year Damion Fletcher was limited to just 69 yards on 14 carries.

The Golden Eagles continued their trend of allowing 21 or more points, making it a perfect 6-for-6 in that department.

“I still think we are getting better,” Southern Miss head coach Larry Fedora said. “Boise State is a good football team; they were the better football team tonight. They made more plays than we did, and they made fewer mistakes than we did. It is as simple as that.”

’’

BOISE: A MODEL

-Larry Fedora, Head coach

Oddly, all the scoring for both teams Saturday came in the second quarter, with Boise exploding for 17 points in three possessions with a pair of touchdown tosses from Moore to Jeremy Childs and Austin Pettis and a 32-yard field goal from Kyle Brotzman.

Southern Miss responded with their lone touchdown, a 17-yard scamper from Fletcher that cut the Bronco lead to 10, but the route was already on. Boise finished the Eagles off with another touchdown toss from Moore to Pettis from four yards out.

Southern Miss fell to a very unfamiliar spot at 2-4. The Golden Eagles dropped their

third straight home game for the first time since 1977, and the team’s streak of 14 consecutive winning seasons is in real jeopardy.

“We’re going to find out about each and every man in the room, including myself,” firstyear Southern Miss head coach

Larry Fedora said. “How we deal with this adversity is going to determine what kind of team we are. We’re going to find out over the next few weeks. I’m talking about in the classroom, the study hall, the dining hall, the apartment complex--it’s all part of it.”

SPORTS CALENDAR TODAY • All Day – Men’s Golf @ Squire Creek Invitational – Ruston, La.

– Houston, Texas SATURDAY • 8:30 a.m. – Women’s Cross Country @ Mississippi Invitational – Clinton • 1 p.m. – Women’s Volleyball @ Houston – Houston, Texas • 2 p.m. – Football @ Rice – Houston, Texas

TOMORROW • All Day – Men’s Tennis @ Hammond Futures Tournament – Hammond, La. • 4 p.m. – Softball v. Pearl River CC – Hatiesburg • 6. p.m. – Softball v. Pearl River CC – Hattiesburg

SPORTS BRIEFS LADY EAGLES ROLLING THROUGH FALL The Southern Miss softball team continued its fall season with four games this weekend.

On Saturday, The Lady Eagles posted an 11-5 win over Millsaps College, before coming back to tie William Carey, 5-5.

The following day, Southern Miss took a doubleheader from

SAINTS ARE COMING

SUNDAY • 1 p.m. – Women’s Soccer v. Rice – Hattiesburg • 2 p.m. – Baseball v. Nicholls State -Hattiesburg

FRIDAY • 4 p.m. – Women’s Soccer v. Houston – Hattiesburg • 7 p.m. – Women’s Volleyball v. Rice

Jones Junior College, 17-0 and 8-4.

Southern Miss finished Saturday with 10 hits that included a double, a triple and two home runs, including a grand slam by Ashley Hurley.

Southern Miss concludes their fall slate this Wednesday, Oct. 15, when they host a Pearl River CC at 4 p.m.

Boise State came to Hattiesburg, nearly an eight point favorite, and walked away with a dominating 24-7 win over the Eagles, dropping Southern Miss to an unimaginable 2-4 overall record.

What’s worse, the Southern Miss defense could not put pressure on Boise freshman Keiland Moore, allowing him to pick apart the Southern Miss defense and put over 21 points on Southern Miss for the fifth straight game.

Southern Miss defensive coordinator Todd Bradford is an exceptional defensive mind, and will find ways to get pressure on future opposing quarterbacks.

That said, it’s not going to be easy with the personnel on hand.

The Boise State football program is a shining example of the direction in which Fedora wants to take our program, and we’re not as far away as one would think.

Boise doesn’t get the best recruits. In fact, Southern Miss has out-recruited the Broncos the past two years, and are well on their way to out-recruit them again in 2008. What makes the Broncos special is the fact they run a very tight ship. They don’t make mistakes in coverage, they don’t line up incorrectly and most importantly they don’t turn the ball over.

Photo courtesy of Media Relations

Former Golden Eagle quarterback Reggie Collier holds up his number 10 jersey at a ceremony during halftime at M.M. Roberts Stadium on Saturday. Collier is the third football player in Southern Miss history to have his jersey retired.

LADY EAGLES DOWN MEMPHIS, 3-1 The Southern Miss volleyball team knocked off Memphis in Conference USA volleyball action, 3-1 (25-19, 22-25, 25-23, 25-21), snapping a seven-match losing streak to the Tigers, dating back to the 2003 season.

Southern Miss improves to 13-7 overall and 3-4 in league

play, while Memphis drops to 12-9, 3-4.

Angela Hlavaty paced the Golden Eagles with a matchhigh 17 kills followed by Sarah Jane Bowden with 14 and Lauren Sears added 11. Maia Ivanova recorded her fourth match with 20 or more digs.

Kelsey Seymour had 47 assists to go with 14 digs. Hlavaty also added 10 digs.

TV PROGRAM RESCHEDULED Because of the MLB National League Championship Series game running after 10 p.m. last night, Southern Miss Sports Today with Larry Fedora slated for WXXV Fox 25 (Gulfport/Biloxi/Pascagoula) was not shown.WXXV will instead air this week’s program, Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 10 p.m.

I know, I know: it’s just the Raiders. True, but the Saints are showing they pack more of a punch than a 3-3 team. Deuce McAllister is becoming more and more involved in the Saints offense, opening doors for Reggie Bush and slot receivers like Lance Moore and Devery Henderson.

What Drew Brees is doing has been really fun to watch. Saturday, Brees completed 26 of his 30 attempts for 340 yards and three touchdowns. Folks, that’s about as close as you can come to pitching a perfect game.

With Brady out of the picture due to injury and Peyton Manning’s slow start to the season, we could have an MVP candidate right in our backyard in New Orleans.

Tyler Cleveland is the Sports Editor for The Student Printz. Comments can be sent to printz@usm.edu