The Student Printz September 24, 2015

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Volume 100 Issue 10

www.studentprintz.com PAGE THREE

PAGE FOUR

PAGE EIGHT

PAGE SIX

NEWS

F E AT U R E

OPINION

S P O RT S

Study shows greater use of THC, others among students.

Social media trend used to bring attention to conflict.

CEO Zuckerberg reveals possible ‘dislike’ feature.

Golden Eagles 1-0 in conference after win over La. Tech.

Drugs

USM orchestra opens 96th season

Syria

Facebook

Volleyball

Forum features Pulitzer-winning author

Afnan Buti

Printz Reporter The University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra will open its 96th season on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the Mannoni Performing Arts Center Auditorium. A symphony orchestra concert of recent works will also take place on Sept. 24 at 7:00 p.m. in Natchez. The special opening event is entitled, “New Acquaintances and Old Friends.” Guests are expected to come in their best attire.

The Symphony Orchestra at Southern Miss has a history of musical programming and prestigious features in its concerts.

The Symphony Orchestra has performed with classical celebrities from Plácido Domingo, Renée Fleming, Itzhak Perlman and YoYo Ma to popular icons including Ray Charles, Patti LaBelle, Dionne Warwick and the Pointer Sister. The Symphony Orchestra has become known nationwide for its talent and programming.

“Similar to glamorous openings at the Metropolitan Opera and New York City Ballet, this is the Pine Belt’s chance to ramp up the glamor and enjoy a first-rate musical evening with the incomparable Symphony Orchestra,” music director Jay Dean told Southern Miss Now. The concert, which will feature three pieces, will give the audience a chance to witness an awardwinning composer and wellknown musicians. The two “New Acquaintances” are both world premieres. “Nostalgic Dances” by Mississippi award-winning composer Luigi Zaninelli will initially be performed. This performance will also feature Mississippi pianist Theresa Sanchez. The second piece, “Radiant Dances for Horn and Strings,” is by Iowa composer James Naigus who is internationally renowned as a French horn player.

Jacquelyn Adams is the soloist for this work and also commissioned it.

“We are really excited to have James Naigus,” Adams said. “He wrote the entire piece in July and it’s fantastic. It’s mostly just for strings, but includes two percussion parts.”

Both premieres will be conducted

by Ivan del Prado, assistant conductor for the Symphony Orchestra. On the second half of the program, the “Old Friend,” is Johannes Brahms’s Symphony No. 1, one of the most famous works in the world of orchestra.

Former New York Times correspondent Rick Bragg was the speaker at University Forum’s first event of the fall semester on Monday night.

Afnan Buti

Printz Reporter The 2015-2016 University Forum kicked off Sept. 22 with speaker Rick Bragg, former correspondent for The New York Times and 1993 winner of the Pulitzer Prize.

Bragg, an author, presented his lecture “Writing the South” at 6:30 p.m. in Bennett Auditorium on campus. The award-winning writer has written works that have been admired for their ability to capture the essence of Southern culture.

Braggs was the first speaker for The University of Southern Mississippi’s fall 2015 University Forum. Braggs captured the audience with his wit and humor, recalling his history growing up in the South.

“I grew up at the knee of the best front-porch storyteller on the planet, and I think a lot of us did,” Bragg said, attributing his writing ability to the stories he has heard over the years.

He talked about his

experiences of getting “stuck,” or captivated, in time by referencing events that had happened to him, like gluing his knuckles to a wall, among other stories. He mentioned his mother and depicted their relationship in words and scenarios that brought laughter to the crowd.

This year, Bragg was named one of 12 initial inductees, along with Zora Neale Hurston and Harper Lee, into the Alabama Writers Hall of Fame. Bragg is the author of a collection of essays entitled “My Southern Journey: True Stories from the Heart of the South.”

In his nonfiction books, Bragg recollects accounts of Southern life often times based on his personal experiences living in the South. Bragg has a way of pulling his Southern experiences out and creating detailed sensory descriptions.

He recently wrote a best-selling biography of music legend Jerry Lee Lewis. His work includes coverage of the late Oseola McCarty, a retired washerwoman

who gained international fame after she left her life savings to USM in 1995.

Since 1974, University Forum has offered the premier lecture series at Southern Miss. The University Forum has brought some of the most accredited and prestigious speakers worldwide from areas of science, politics, literature, art and history to USM. Sponsored by the university’s esteemed Honors College with support from the Office of the President, these talks have been made possible and continue to captivate the public through Southern Miss.

“We are reinventing the forum,” university forum director Andrew Haley said. “The university and President Bennett recommitted to the Forum to ensure we can put on events like this. We searched for speakers who could add something to the academic mission of the university and could bring what was being taught in the classroom to life.”

The remainder of the talks

Fadi Shahin/Printz

will take place Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. on the Hattiesburg campus. Bragg will be followed by five “thought leaders.” They are physicist Diandra LesliePelecky, lead attorney in the Landmark U.S. v. Windsor case Roberta Kaplan, reporter for The Clarion-Ledger Jerry Mitchell, inspiration for the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act Lilly Ledbetter and author of “Nickel and Dimed” Barbara Ehrenreich.

“These are all people who are part of the national conversation on things that matter to America,” Haley said.

“We’re a university and our job is to educate. Our first job is to educate our students, second job is to educate our faculty but our third job is one that often gets forgotten—is to educate the public.”

A Q&A session and a book signing followed the speech.

“We want to encourage people to come see this as a series,” Haley said. “The rest of the five speakers are just as fantastic as Rick Bragg.”

Page 2 | Thursday, September 24, 2015

INFORMATION MEET THE STAFF OF SPRING 2015

EDITORS & STAFF

Dirty Birds •

•

• •

On Friday, Sept. 18, at 10:55 p.m., simple assault and stalking were reported at Scott Hall. The case remains open.

On Saturday, Sept. 19, at 9:06 p.m., simple domestic assault and larceny petit were reported at Eagle Walk near McLemore Hall. The case remains open.

On Monday, Sept. 21, at 12:49 p.m., larceny petit was reported at Century Park North. The case remains open.

On Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 6:54 p.m., public disturbance was reported at Sigma Nu. The case remains open.

Police Contact Information When reporting, the following information should be provided: • • • • •

Nature of the crime or emergency Name, address and phone number of the caller Location of incident Description of the scene and suspects Description of any vehicles involved, especially license plate numbers

University Police 911 (emergency) 601.266.4986 (non-emergency) Bond Hall, First Floor West

Contact Us

The Student Printz is on social media.

Keep up with the latest news on and off campus at all times!

Editorial Policy

The views represented in The Student Printz’s columns and editorials do not necessarily 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 submissions must include name, class distinction, major, phone number, and email address. Submissions should be emailed to printzeditors@gmail.com by 5 p.m. Friday. 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.

@studentprintz

The Student Printz

@studentprintz

NEWS

Thursday, September 24, 2015| Page 3

ON CAMPUS

Theater students present FST showcase Afnan Buti

Printz Reporter The Department of Theatre at The University of Southern Mississippi presented the Freshman, Sophomore, Transfer Showcase on Sept. 21 at 5:30 p.m. in the theater building. Members of the theater performed a skit entitled “15 Reasons Not to Be in a Play” by Alan Haehnel. The Freshman, Sophomore, Transfer Showcase (FST) served to provide students who are new to the theater department a chance to showcase their work to the community and theater faculty.

Ryan Mahannah is a second-year graduate theater performance major at Southern Miss and is also director of the Freshman, Sophomore, Transfer Showcase.

“It also gives them valuable

performance experience that they can learn and grow from as artists,” Mahannah said. “Each time we work on a show we grow and better ourselves as artists.”

Mahannah selected the material and ran rehearsals for about three weeks. Students involved benefited by gaining the experience of putting on a show.

“They have made some really strong bonds as a group,” Mahannah said. “This bond allowed them to find friends in the department when some of them may not have known anyone coming in. Having a safe place to work is key to a successful theatrical career.”

Once the main-stage casting for the season was complete, the freshman, sophomore and transfer students who were involved in any roles this semester signed up on the call-board and

came to the first FST meeting.

“They all came, and we played improv games and did some cold readings from the script, and then the next day I cast the show with everyone who showed up and we started working,” Mahannah said.

The ironic play about not being in a play was delivered through a series of duets, monologues and ensemble scenes. The play was humorous as the students went through the 15 reasons not to put on a play. Costumes were plain as students dressed in jeans and solid-colored shirts. The only props on stage were chairs that were used as other students.

“The cast got to work on a whole bunch of different characters in one show and got to stretch themselves as actors,” Mahannah said.

“The showcase gives new students a chance to be seen and

ON CAMPUS

Jillian Rodriguez/Printz Students perform ‘15 Reasons Not to Be in a Play’ by Alan Haehnel at the FST (Freshman,Sophomore and Transfer) Showcase on Monday.

to build their resumes,” professor of theater Monica Hayes said.

“It was a successful night.The department is proud of these students who represent the future

NATIONAL

of our program.”

More information on future events can be found on the Department of Theatre’s web page.

School acquires $1.2 million Drug usage on the rise among college students Camille Myrick Printz Reporter

The School of Social Work at The University of Southern Mississippi will soon have the opportunity to expand their reach beyond the Hattiesburg area. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have awarded the school more than $1.2 million in Affordable Care Act funding. The funds will make it easier for people in southern Mississippi to sign up for health care coverage in 2016.

Navigating the health care system can be tedious and confusing. The School of Social Work seeks to assist with the application process.

Michael Forster, dean of the College of Health, is the principal investigator for the health access project. He explained who would be affected by this expansion and how it will be helpful.

“The beneficiaries of the project are uninsured individuals and families in Mississippi’s three southernmost health care districts eligible for health insurance under the landmark Affordable Care Act,” Forster said. “Assessing options and matching them to people’s needs is complicated, to say the least, hence the value of providing trained navigators to help in the process.”

Navigators are trained specialists who use their expertise to make health insurance more understandable by answering questions and guiding consumers while they apply. The School of Social Work will aid the health access project by hiring a project coordinator and three navigators.

“Navigators will engage in two different types of tasks: in-reach, where they will recruit and train agency personnel who will help individuals enroll, and out-reach, where they will bring services to community agencies such as WIC distribution centers,” said Laura

Andrew Dutton Printz Reporter

Courtesy Photo

Richard, assistant professor of social work and project co-director.

Graduate students in the School of Social Work will also be trained on the enrollment process. Students will be more capable of helping people find the health care plans that best fit their financial situation and personal needs as they complete internships with state agencies.

“As an applied discipline the goal is that we not only engage in scholarship for students and faculty, but that we do something for the community,” said Tim Rehner, director of the School of Social Work.

“In Mississippi, there are many social determinates that prevent people from having access to health care. This project provides a unique opportunity for the School of Social Work to make a difference in the health and well-being of residents.”

Funding will expand these needed services outside of Hattiesburg and into 24 other counties in Mississippi.

The project is in relation to the E3 Health Initiative of the city of Hattiesburg and School of Social Work. E3 stands for Educate, Enroll, Empower—three goals that the initiative and this new project share.

The idea is to reduce the number of uninsured children and families

in Mississippi.

“I am very proud of the success the City of Hattiesburg’s E3 Health Initiative has had over the past 12 months,” said Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree. “Many Hattiesburg children and families now have health coverage through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Plan as a result of E3 efforts to simplify the enrollment process and to make health coverage more accessible.

Our long-term partnership with the Southern Miss School of Social Work has again resulted in an opportunity to maintain and extend needed services.”

The grant will begin positively affecting Mississippi as soon as Nov. 1, when Marketplace Open Enrollment begins. The Marketplace will allow consumers to compare and contrast different plans. Funding will help connect these people with local assistance as they sift through their options.

“I have always believed that if we could solve problems in Mississippi, we can solve those problems across the nation,” DuPree said. “Earning the Navigator Grant due to the success of a City of Hattiesburg program is proof that we are well on the way to doing just that.”

A new study from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) shows a rise of drug usage among college students.

The NIDA study shows daily marijuana use among collegeaged young adults is at its highest since 1980, surpassing cigarette smoking for the first time in 2014.

In 2013, 36 percent of college students said they used marijuana, compared to 30 percent in 2006. In the same year, 35 percent of college students said they binge drink, and the use of amphetamines, such as Adderall and Ritalin, have nearly doubled between the years 2008 and 2013.

Nora Charles, assistant professor at the Department of Psychology at The University of Southern Mississippi, studies drug use and other risky behaviors in adolescents and young adults.

Charles explained why young college students may turn to drugs.

People at most risk for drug abuse are those who have a family history of abuse, possess personality traits such as being impulsive and thrill-seeking and are often in stressful environments.

“If you have a lot of friends that are involved with alcohol and drugs, or if you have a lot of stress in your life, increases your chances of using drugs,” Charles said.

For a person to realize a drug problem on their own, it varies depending on the level of drug problems a person has. Usually, people do not believe they have an issue until there is a consequence such as grades slipping or a

car accident.

“Generally, if people identify their problem themselves, they have a better likelihood of actually beating it rather than if it’s your mom or your girlfriend telling you that you have a drug problem,” Charles said.

Charles believes the best possible reason for a rise in drug use is easier access to them, particularly prescription drugs.

University Police Department has provided statistics of the number of calls of service and arrests on campus between 2011 and 2015. The nature of arrests varied from being sent to jail, state citations for misdemeanor possession and campus citations.

Campus citations can only be written to faculty, staff and students. Misdemeanor marijuana possession is given out to those caught with under an ounce of marijuana.

There have been 142 calls for service and over 181 arrests between 2011 and 2015. Of these arrests, there was a total of 17 drug-related felonies in regards to having over an ounce of marijuana, possession with intent to sell or a scheduled drug such as cocaine, heroin or LSD. Chief of UPD Robert Hopkins gave his analysis of the records.

“When I look at this, it shows me that in regards what the officers are seeing, initiating or getting calls for service we’re averaging about normal,” Hopkins said.

“Some years we have a number and the next year we have a little less or a little more. There are no high numbers to indicate a growing problem at USM.”

Page 4 | Thursday, September 24, 2015

FEATURE

INTERNATIONAL

Memes shed light on Syrian conflict Camille Myrick Printz Reporter

When memes and gifs show up on a Facebook newsfeed, users get a laugh.

The humorous media usually depicts a satirical take on everyday life events. Some examples are “first-world problems” memes or reaction gifs with sarcastic headlines.

Recently, these mediums, usually used for comedy, have been used to catch the eye of someone scrolling and deliver a very real message. On Twitter, they are focused on the current bloodbath ISIS is inflicting on Syria. These memes provoke the audience to consider why more people don’t care about the slaughter and why our attention is turned toward celebrities and infotainment rather than the threat in the Middle East.

Benjamin Lyons of Southern Illinois University made a presentation about the political influence of memes in social media at the annual meeting of the Midwest Association of Public Opinion Research.

“Political memes have recently risen as a popular form of online expression, blending humor, fact and opinion,” Lyons said in his presentation. “Memes may be a part of popular culture, but are also capable of elevating real political concerns. They can bring politics to wider audiences and put focus on otherwise overlooked topics.”

Lyons addressed the 20th century evolution of public opinion. The format of opinion grows and changes along with technology and social media platforms. In many cases, the use of gifs and memes is intended for bringing comedy to mundane observations, but now the influence has spread into elections, lawmaking and, in the case of Syria, foreign affairs.

The word “meme” originated from a book written by biologist Richard Dawkins in 1976.

Dawkins defined the term as a unit of cultural transmission, or a unit of imitation and replication. Over time, the Internet adopted the term.

In 2013, Dawkins approved the new definition of his term.

“The meaning is not that far away from the original,” Dawkins said. “A meme is anything that goes viral.”

It is no wonder then that memes are being used presently to get the word out about ISIS. The first step in combating the worldwide influence of ISIS is to understand what the organization is. Though memes do not give the entire story, they

deliver enough information to provoke their audience to take a stance on the issue.

ISIS is short for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The terrorist group seeks to seize and control massive chunks of land in the Middle East.

ISIS was an ally of Osama bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda, and though the groups are similar, ISIS is bigger, more powerful and highly effective in controlling seized territory. As of Sept. 14, over 200,000 Syrian civilians have been brutally killed in the conflict, most of them mass shootings or beheadings.

Among those is American journalist Steven Sotloff. His beheading was videotaped and published on the Internet at the beginning of September.

The video was titled “A Second Message to America.” Memes have adopted a still shot of Sotloff with a knife pressed against his neck as the

picture to the text. It cannot be overstated how important these modes of media are in spreading awareness of ISIS and the bloodshed in Syria.

This is a group that beheaded an American after his mother publicly begged the militant group to release her son.

One of the most influential leaders of the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X, despite the positive or negative effects of his life, identified the power of having a voice in the media before the turn of the 21st century.

“The media is the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power, because they control the minds of the masses,” he said.

We live in an age that depends on Facebook as a news source.

In that context, consumers have the loudest voice. We cannot

Courtesy Photos

be fully informed by depending on social media outlets alone, but we can get a glimpse of what is currently happening in our world by paying attention to the underlying messages in memes, gifs and viral videos. If a political meme calls for attention, the next

step is researching the topic, verifying the information and then spreading the word. The situation occurring in Syria at the bloodstained hand of ISIS is a subject worthy of attention and calls for public involvement.

Participation is possible just by clicking “Share.”

FEATURE

Thursday, September 24, 2015 | Page 5

NATIONAL

Colleges join Test-Optional Movement Camille Myrick Printz Reporter

Earlier this year, five minutes changed the viewpoints around standardized testing. A typo in the June SAT workbook misled proctors and test-takers to think that the normally 20-minute math and reading sections were allotted 25 minutes. Though some proctors caught this mistake and administered the sections in 20 minute increments, other students were allowed 25, calling into question the validity of the scores and the credibility of score calculation. As a result, the Test-Optional Movement gained spotlight in national news.

The validity of standardized test scores has been questioned for a long time, but now more and more universities are starting to take action. The Test-Optional Movement allows students to opt-out of taking the SAT or ACT and does not require either of

these scores for undergraduate admission. The latest participating school is Cornell College, which recently started a three-year pilot program to see if removing that requirement will broaden their reach or attract more students.

Cornell President Jonathan Brand thinks the new option will encourage greater flexibility and creativity for the students. “We want strong students from a broad range of backgrounds— regardless of their standardized scores—to know that we’re interested in them and that they may be a good fit here,” Brand said.

Cornell is offering two options for applicants. They can either submit an essay along with their standardized test scores or a portfolio of their work with two short-answer essays. Students can choose to represent themselves according to their personal talents and interests.

The portfolio can take on a wide

range of mediums including video, photography, writing, art or music.

Ann Cannon, a statistical analyst and professor at Cornell, reviewed research in regards to this change. “The bottom line is that while both SAT and ACT are of some use as predictors of success, there is a lot of variability among students, and these test scores are only a small piece of the puzzle,” Cannon said.

She concluded that determining a student’s work ethic could be just as good or better in predicting success.

As of now, over 250 colleges in the U.S. have converted to testoptional admission; however, standardized testing has become a social tradition involves more than student performance.

Jacqie Johnson, a junior resident assistant and psychology major at The University of Southern Mississippi, said there are two sides to the story.

“I can see the importance of these scores determining whether or not students have mastered college level material, but there are also financial consequences that can hinder students,” Johnson said. “I had an above-average ACT score, but I still didn’t get the financial aid I needed and that has set me back.”

The state of Mississippi offers grants that discriminate between students based on where they fall on the scale of ACT scores.

The Eminent Scholars Grant distinguishes the difference between a 28 and 29 on the ACT. Student’s scoring 28 and below can be offered $3,000 in state aid, but that one point pushing a score to a 29 grants $10,000 in state aid. Is one point really worth $7,000?

Johnson made another point, disregarding university admission and financial aid altogether. “I would think that the higher score

you have, the more likely you are to have a high self-esteem and believe you are higher achieving,” Johnson said. Standardized testing has become a rite of passage for high school juniors and seniors, as if a high score really determines that student’s academic worth.

Michelle Obama is thankful that she was not judged on her score.

“If my future were determined just by my performance on a standardized test, I wouldn’t be here. I guarantee you that,” she said.

There is a balance that can be achieved when considering an applicant for admission to a college. There is validity in standardized test scores, but a blanket cannot be thrown over motivation, work ethic and creativity. Now that universities are taking away that requirement, research will soon show how important these scores really are.

NATIONAL

Companies develop apps to combat ADHD

Lindsay Adkisson Printz Reporter

ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a common disorder in today’s society.

The demand for ADHD medication is rapidly increasing by a shocking 42 percent. Some claim ADHD is becoming more prevalent because of the increasing use of technology. Many agree that the use of smartphones and social media outlets have been a large contributor to lack of concentration in many people. However, a newlyreleased app, uHealth, could be the answer to eliminate all

Courtesy Photo

these distractions.

The app is designed to “improve your focus and attention abilities, helping you decrease impulsivity, lengthen your attention span and learn to keep focused while avoiding the endless everyday distractions” as described on the Apple iTunes store. The app uses eyetracking technology to make the users more aware of becoming distracted, which is expected to improve their attention span.

The app is comprised of two different games: “Attention” and “Focus.” “Attention” is designed to develop attention, listening and focus skills. The users must master the first level of

“Attention” for seven days before progressing to “Focus.” Users are expected to show improvement in attention span within a few weeks of using uHealth.

Before beginning the game, users must calibrate the screen to detect their eyes by holding their smartphones or tablets at least 30 centimeters from their faces. During the game, the users are required to only move their eyes to play along with the games. If any slight movements are detected by the eye-tracking technology, the users will lose points.

Alen Hajnal, associate professor at The University of Southern Mississippi, shared his opinions on the app. Hajnal researches visual perception and said that “visual training is a must.” He feels the game is on the right track to benefit people struggling with attention disorders; however, he feels it needs improvements and proper research before any real conclusion can be made.

This app is not the first attempt at improving attention span through technology.

Lumosity is a popular brain game that focuses on improving the user’s memory, attention span, problem-solving capability and critical thinking.

In Lumosity, there are three games. The games challenge the user by changing with each play and allotting a certain time frame. Unlike uHealth, Lumosity focuses on more than just attention span, so it is questionable whether it is as effective for the purposes of

eliminating ADHD medication.

Another app hoping to better attention span is focus@will.

This app aims to increase attention span by stimulating the limbic system with various instrumental music. It is a new neuroscience-based music service that encourages its users to use it while performing everyday tasks. The idea is that focus@will will make it easier to begin concentration and then keep the mind there.

Although all three of these apps have a common goal to obtain focus and increase attention span, many researchers have claimed them to be frauds. A meta-analytic review in the Developmental Psychology journal details various studies on gamerelated attempts to improve attention and its correlation to ADHD. The journal states, “There was no convincing evidence of the generalization of working memory training to other skills.”

USM associate professor Brad Dufrene further explained the research in the psychology journal. “That is, the training programs produce weak effects for improving performance for authentic tasks that individuals would perform in their day-today life,” Dufrene said. He also said the studies show that the games tend to produce only short-term, task-specific gains.

In other words, games that require the user to do the same task repeatedly will eventually result in a learned skill to that specific task.

Hajnal agreed that one can become an expert on certain learned tasks. He feels that in the early stages of learning a new task, a person will notice more things than necessary.

Over time a person will ignore what is unnecessary and become an expert of the task. uHealth’s eye-tracking technology could help with this concept because it will force the user to move minimally.

Erica Smith, a student at the university who has ADHD, tried the uHealth app. She mainly tried the “Focus” game in the app, but claimed she feels it is a great idea in theory. She said that the eye-tracking technology tries to combat the user’s attention problems by training his or her eyes, but that does not actually target the problem of overstimulation in the brain. She even explained that she felt so focused at one point that it made her miss the next command and lose points.

“Maybe this would work with lots of practice and conditioning, but it didn’t do much initially for me below the surface level,” Smith said. She explained that, unfortunately, it did not give her the life-changing experience she had hoped for. uHealth was created by a recently adapted Israeli startup. The startup has been creating various apps with the use of eye-tracking technology since 2010. uHealth is the first consumer-facing app they have developed and is available as a free download in the Apple iTunes store.

Page 6 | Thursday, September 24, 2015

OPINION

ENTERTAINMENT

‘Captive’ shows new side of Christian genre Alexis Ware Printz Reporter

With the tragedy of a Lifetime movie and the heart-warming, coming-to-Jesus conclusion of a Hallmark film, “Captive” presents a storyline for a variety of audiences to latch onto.

The thriller is a welcome from seasoned director Jerry Jameson. Based on true events, “Captive” follows the story of Ashley Smith (Kate Mara), a single mom struggling with a meth addiction as she is held captive by Brian Nichols (David Oyelowo), a killer on the loose.

The opening scenes of the movie highlight both characters and their individual lives. Neither character is particularly likeable.

As their characters are holed up together, Mara and Oyelowo create a dynamic that breathes

life into their stifled roles. This, however, isn’t totally satiable.

Throughout the film, Oyelowo’s character is portrayed as ruthless and dangerous, but the depth of the plot humanizes him in a way that makes the viewer feel compassion for him though he has committed heinous crimes.

I suppose that is a compliment to the script and acting, but it is unsettling to feel sorry for a killer.

Likewise, Mara’s character seems hopeless. She captures the essence of a woman who’s at her wits’ ends when tragedy hits.

Mara does an excellent job of portraying a woman who needs help but isn’t ready for it. As the characters progress through the night, the relationship becomes more than merely attacker and victim. The depth of their relationship could have been the result of theatrical leisure,

but it worked well to create a connection between the audience and the characters.

The camera angles and color of the film lacks that of a highbudget Hollywood film, which helps to create a truer real-life feel. This can also be attributed to the fact that it is a result of the movie’s aim to be a faithbased film. It feels like a thriller but with a Christian book “The Purpose Driven Life” at its center.

The characters have deeper discussions about purpose and redemption. Yet, with the content and themes, “Captive” doesn’t fall into the usual genre of Christian films.

While I’m sure “Captive” isn’t on its way to winning an Academy Award, in its essence it creates believable characters and remains engaging for the better part of its length.

Courtesy Photo

NATIONAL

Critics dislike Facebook announcement Hiba Tahir

Printz Reporter

Courtesy Photo

During an informal Q&A session on Sept. 15, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that his company had been working on a soon-tobe-released “dislike” button.

The revelation ignited a firestorm of backlash among the social network’s many users, some of whom were particularly annoyed by Zuckerberg’s previous statements that such a thing would never be possible.

“Some people have asked for a dislike button because they want to be able to say ‘that thing isn’t good,’ and we’re not going to do that,” Zuckerberg said last December. “I don’t think that’s socially very valuable or great for the community.”

At the time, Zuckerberg and many others believed incorporating a dislike button could only serve to increase bullying and would have few, if any, positive effects.

But in a company that boasts roughly 968 million daily active users, changing opinions are inevitable.

According to Business Insider, Zuckerberg now realizes people aren’t just looking to “downvote” one another.

“What they really want is the ability to express empathy.

Not every moment is a good moment,” he said during the session, citing news about the recent refugee crisis in Europe and posts about people who

have died as examples of things that some users might be uncomfortable “liking.”

Though most people refer to the new feature as a “dislike” button, expressing disdain for posts isn’t its intended purpose, and it is still unclear exactly what form it will take.

Furthermore, there has been no word on exactly when it will become available.

“It’s surprisingly complicated to make an interaction that will be simple,” Zuckerberg said.

If the feature does end up being merely a way to express empathy, it could prove to be quite useful.

After all, who hasn’t felt awkward “liking” a status about a loved one’s death?

Having a middle ground allows more flexibility, clarity and efficiency in communication.

It is much easier to click a button to share our condolences than to think out a well-written comment on how sorry we are for our friends’ losses. In today’s turbo-charged society, ease of use is a greater force than empathy.

Then again, increased efficiency in digital communication could have dire repercussions on the very nature of human interaction itself.

The “dislike” button might just be another way to avoid face-to-face interaction, just one more button in a string of new methods to become increasingly detached from friends while maintaining the illusion that we are always and constantly connected.

SPORTS

Thursday, September 24, 2015 | Page 7

FOOTBALL

Eagles head to Lincoln for Game 4 Julius Kizzee Printz Reporter

Through three games, Southern Miss has taken strides to gain respectability in the college football ranks. The only loss that Southern Miss has taken so far was to in-state rival Mississippi State. After that crucial game to kick off the season, the Golden Eagles have been on the uptick.

Southern Miss avenged their loss at home against the Bulldogs with a 52-6 beatdown against Austin Peay. They followed up that effort with a 56-50 road win over Texas State. With those two wins, Southern Miss has the confidence that they need to take on their next opponent—Nebraska.

“You have to have enough playmakers to make plays,” Monken said. “The bottom line is that this is a different team with a different feel.”

In the past two contests with Nebraska, it has not been close.

In 2012, the Golden Eagles fell to the Cornhuskers 49-20 in Ellis Johnson’s 0-12 season. In 2013, Southern Miss again traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska, but this time

losing by an even wider margin 56-13.

“We went up there a couple of years ago and didn’t put our best foot forward, but we are significantly better now than we were then,” Monken said.

Southern Miss is definitely a better team now. It’s games like these when teams prove their worth.

Quarterback Nick Mullens is averaging 306.3 yards passing in the three games to start the season. Mullens has shown poise and a comfortability behind a revamped offensive line that’s now giving him time to progress through his reads. Although Mullens appears to have reached a new level, Monken still stresses the importance of getting better as a team.

“Part of growing as a team is correcting those mistakes and moving on and getting better,” Monken said. “This is another measuring stick for our program as every game is, but this is a very good program with a very good staff.”

The offensive line will have their hands full against Nebraska,

especially coming off of a weak front against Texas State.

Nebraska has held their three opponents this season to a total of 283 yards rushing. Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week Jalen Richard will have his hands full in this contest.

Southern Miss will have to prove that they have grown up. Win or lose, Southern Miss cannot leave Nebraska with a demoralized attitude that carries over into its home game against North Texas.

“No matter if you win or lose, you have to look at the game and assess what you did well and what you didn’t do so well,” Monken said. “Part of growing as a team is correcting those mistakes and moving on and getting better.”

Monken has stressed the same lessons over and over again. Part of his philosophy is the importance of always striving to get better and never settling.

“We control our effort, our energy and our attention to detail,” Monken said. “I don’t know if we will ever be perfect but if you strive for perfection then we could be really good out there and we can

Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports Nebraska Cornhuskers kick returner Ameer Abdullah is pursued by Southern California Trojans safety John Plattenburgh in the 2014 Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium.

be better out there (like) we were on Saturday.”

Although this year is different for the Golden Eagles, it will take a perfect effort from them to get the win. Nebraska does sit at 1-2, but they had close calls at Miami and at home versus BYU, two very good programs. The Cornhuskers will not lie down for Southern

Miss and they are looking for respect in the tough Big 10 conference.

“It’s an opportunity to see how far we have come and a measuring stick against a good football team and coaching staff,” Monken said. “I hope our guys don’t look at or approach it any differently.”

Kickoff is at 11 a.m.

Keys to upsetting Nebraska Jacob Kemp Printz Reporter

These are not the same Golden Eagles of previous years, posting horrid records and being blown out nearly every week.

Southern Miss (2-1) is closer to the Larry Fedora era Golden Eagles than ever before and their contest against Nebraska (1-2) could be the biggest win in Todd Monken’s tenure.

Do not let Nebraska’s 1-2 record fool you however. The Cornhuskers are still going to be a top team in the Big 10 and will be the biggest test so far for USM. If Southern Miss is to pull the upset, they will need several things to go their way.

1

Score Early

In every game so far for Southern Miss, they have scored early and often, which led to their two wins and a competitive game against Mississippi State. USM put up 21 points in the first half against Texas State and 28 points in the first half against Austin Peay.

It will take a valiant effort from quarterback Nick Mullens and company to continue that trend for this game.

Courtesy Photo Thousands of fans gather at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska, to watch the Cornhuskers football team. The USM Golden Eagles will play Nebraska there on Saturday.

2

Stick to the Run

Sticking to the run will be crucial against Nebraska.

Senior running back Jalen Richard rushed for 230 yards and four scores against Texas State. He will not be able to do it by himself against Nebraska. It will take a combined effort from Richard, Ito Smith and Justice Hayes in order to establish a solid rushing attack, which will allow quarterback Nick Mullens plenty of time in the pocket to make accurate throws.

3

Mullens Needs a Career Game

This may seem like a stretch considering the caliber opponent that he will face. However, in their two losses, Nebraska has given up over 500 yards of total offense with over 370 of those being passing yards. Mullens has taken the reins after the quarterback controversy in camp and has burst out of the gates with career numbers. He will have to make big throws and sustain long drives to keep Nebraska’s offense off the field.

Jake Roth/USA Today Sports Cornhuskers wide receiver Jordan Westerkamp carries the ball as USC Trojans safety Gerald Bowman defends during the first quarter in the 2014 Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium.

4

Create Turnovers & Avoid Penalties

This will be the biggest key of the game for both teams. Nebraska is third in the nation in penalties and penalty yardage, but Southern is right at their heels at sixth in penalties. Nebraska also has just as potent an offense as Southern Miss and will put up a lot of points. Which leads us to the two big keys: one, creating timely turnovers in order to get more possessions than Nebraska, which will allow USM to keep the ball away from them. Two, limiting their offense through penalties. Southern Miss’ defense is struggling, but if they can force Nebraska to make mental mistakes and put them behind the sticks, they can rally and force just enough stops for the offense to win the game.

It helps that Nebraska is coming off an emotional loss to Miami in which they came back, only to fall in overtime.

Nebraska may be looking past Southern Miss and will be mentally and physically spent, which could allow the Golden Eagles to sneak into Lincoln, Nebraska, and steal a win.

Page 8 | Thursday, September 24, 2015

SPORTS

VOLLEYBALL

USM ready for C-USA Deantae Smith Printz Reporter

Southern Miss opened conference play against Louisiana Tech with a victory. The Golden Eagles were able to win 3-1 (25-18, 25-15, 21-25, 25-17), pushing their schoolbest start to 13-4 and 1-0 in conference.

After matching point-for-point the first 16 points, the Golden Eagles scored seven of the next nine points to take a 15-10 lead.

Southern Miss closed out the set scoring six of the final nine points for a 25-18 win.

Southern Miss started the second set strong with six different players recording at least one kill as the Golden Eagles finished with 14 digs. The USM defense held the Techsters to just eight kills for a 25-15 win.

After Southern Miss scored the first point to open the third set, Louisiana Tech then went on a 10-3 run in taking a 10-4 lead. Southern Miss fought back and cut the lead to 21-20, but failed to close out the set as the Techsters scored four of the final five points for the 25-21 win.

The Golden Eagles scored 10 of the first 16 points in taking a 16-10 lead to start the fourth set. Southern Miss continued to add points to the lead and ran the score to 20-14, forcing Louisiana Tech to take its final timeout. Southern Miss finished the set strong for a 25-17 win.

Three Golden Eagles registered double-figure kills, led by sophomore Kelsey Chambers with 15 kills while Kylie Grandy had 11 and Stephany Purdue pitched in 10. Mary Pursell came up with 19 digs while freshman Sarah Bell, senior Shelby Russell and Grandy added 17, 10 and 11 digs, respectively. Bell also tallied 35 assists on her quest to a double-double.

With conference play underway, USM knows it has to play as well as they did to start the season in order to compete.

Conference USA boasts several teams capable of bringing home the conference title. Reigning conference champion Western Kentucky and runner-up Rice look to be in top form as both teams enter conference play with double digit wins, the Hilltoppers with 12 and the Owls with 10 wins.

North Texas, the team that ended the Golden Eagles run in the conference tournament last season, have gotten off to a hot start with 11 wins. The Golden Eagles face Florida Atlantic (9-4, 0-1) for their sec-

ond conference tilt at Reed Green Coliseum. FAU fell to Florida International in their conference opener.

Following a non-conference match versus South Alabama, the Golden Eagles will travel to Charlotte to face the 49ers on Oct. 1. Charlotte struggled in the early portion of their season, but defeated UTEP 3-1 in their conference opener.

After traveling to Charlotte, Southern Miss will head to Birmingham to face UAB. UAB is winless through three games in conference play so far this season. Southern Miss returns to Reed Green to face Middle Tennessee State on Oct. 9.

The Blue Raiders went 3-12 in the first part of their schedule, taking victories over Bowling Green, Liberty and conference foe UAB. The Golden Eagles then travel to face WKU who took last season’s matchup 3-1 (23-25, 25-9, 25-10, 27-25).

Southern Miss look to even the score this season on Oct. 11.

FIU and Louisiana Tech come to town the following week as the Golden Eagles will look to top the Techsters once again.

The Golden Eagles will travel to face FAU for the second time on Oct. 21, this time in Boca Raton, Florida.

For a two game home-stand the Golden Eagles will host UTEP and UAB. UTEP finished in the middle of pack last season, along with the Golden Eagles in the conference standings. UTEP will visit Oct. 23 and UAB comes to town Oct. 25 for a second showdown.

Southern Miss travels to Rice on Oct. 29 to face last season’s conference tournament runnerup. Rice ended the season .500 in the conference, but made a run in the conference tournament to put a bow on what would have been a mediocre season. The Golden Eagles will then travel to compete at North Texas in Denton, Texas, on Oct. 31.

Southern Miss will close the season at home for the final two matches, hosting Charlotte Nov. 8 and last season’s regular season champion UTSA on Nov. 12.

Southern Miss has a ton of senior leadership and has shown the ability to dominate at times.

But whenever it comes to conference play, anything can happen. The Golden Eagles have a legitimate chance to make some noise this season if their torrid start is any indication.

Courtesy Photo