THE
S TUDENT PRINTZ www.studentprintz.com
SERVING SOUTHERN MISS SINCE 1927
Thursday, January 15, 2015
NATIONAL
Volume 99 Issue 30
Appeals court considers same-sex marrirage Ardan Thornhill Printz Reporter The fight for same-sex marriage in the South pressed on after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held a hearing Jan. 9. Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas presented cases before a three-judge panel in the federal appellate court in New Orleans. Opponents asked the appeals court to withdraw rulings from Mississippi and Texas judges that would ban laws that prevent same-sex unions and to uphold a similar Louisiana law. Mississippi argued the laws on marriage are rooted in tradition regarding procreation. “It’s what traditional marriage was founded around,” said Justin Matheny, a lawyer for Mississippi. “It was the legitimate interest in the first place and it’s still the legitimate interest today.” Matheny said the state may change one day, but should not be asked to yet. “Those words: ‘Will Mississippi change its mind?’ have resonated in this hall before,” U.S. Circuit
ON CAMPUS
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Washington and Judge Patrick Louisiana’s special Higginbotham said counsel, argued to in response. preserve Louisiana’s Higginbotham’s lower court victory. allusion to Duncan called Mississippi’s role same-sex marriage in the Civil Rights a “novel perception” movement left in terms of recorded Matheny in silence. history and said Roberta Kaplan, Louisiana had a duty who paired with to protect its citizens the Campaign for from such unions Southern Equality that are risky and for the case in unproven. Mississippi, said “There are now the board has a 36 states and the proud tradition District of Columbia of pushing the that allow same-sex South’s conservative marriage and nothing community beyond -Gov. Phil Bryant, October 2014 has changed,” said its comfort zone Camilla Taylor, a with civil rights. Source: Clarion Ledger Lambda Legal In the ‘60s, the Kaplan, the attorney who Defense Fund court systematically struck down racial segregation in 2013 won a Supreme Court attorney representing seven decision that struck down part couples challenging Louisiana’s laws. “Times have blinded this of the U.S. Defense of Marriage ban. Texas Solicitor General country about African-Americans, Act, told the court that the statute times have blinded this country in Mississippi causes thousands Jonathan Mitchell had feelings about women and times have of gay people in the state to be similar to Duncan. “The people of Texas have the blinded this country about gay treated as second-class citizens. Kyle Duncan, an attorney from right to proceed with caution and people,” she said.
"In 2004, over 86 percent of Mississippi voters supported a constitutional amendment providing that marriage in Mississippi is valid only between a man and a woman. I will continue to uphold the constitution of the state of Mississippi."
see how this social experiment plays out,” he said. Mitchell used Europe as a model of contrast, blaming its fertility rates on a general acceptance of same-sex unions there. Like Matheny, Mitchell said Texas has an “interest in encouraging couples to produce children.” Joining Higginbotham and Graves on the panel was U.S. Circuit Judge Jerry Smith. Higginbotham and Smith were appointed to the court by former President Ronald Reagan; Graves was appointed by President Barack Obama. Graves and Higginbotham were said to frequently interrupt and challenge state arguments. The judges heard arguments from all three states for more than three hours, ending without a ruling or any sign of one in the near future. The hearing could be among the last federal appellate hearings before the Supreme Court decides the issue.
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Students to attend Clinton Global Initiative Wilton Jackson Printz Reporter
Two students at The University of Southern Mississippi will attend the highly competitive Clinton Global Initiative to take action toward developing real-world solutions to global challenges. Called the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U), former U.S. President Bill Clinton started the program in 2007 to allow the next generation of world leaders the opportunity to invest in their futures, bringing together college students, university representatives, topic experts and celebrities to discuss the pressing issues that affect the global community. “This is a special opportunity for me as a future leader to create innovative ideas that will address
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and change our community, “I simply want to be a difference instead of just talking about the maker in my community.” problems at hand,” said Kristen CGI U focuses on five major Dupard, a junior biochemistry areas for innovation: education, major and 2015 CGI U attendee. environment and climate change,
peace and human rights, poverty alleviation and public health. The area of education focuses on improving education systems by integrating more technology
Susan Broadbridge Printz Junior Jeremy Moore and junior Kristen Dupard are 2015 Clinton Global Initiative University attendees. The CGIU collects college students to take part on global challenges. The event will be held at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, from March 6 to March 8.
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into classrooms and helping disadvantaged groups in providing them access to opportunities for higher education. Environment and climate change discusses the climate changes due to human interaction, ways to expand renewable energy economy and become more sustainable. Poverty alleviation allows students the opportunity to create innovative platforms for economic stability, cost-effective technology and agricultural development. Peace and human rights give future leaders the idea of devising awareness campaigns about a wide variety of topics concerning the geopolitical, military and cultural conflicts around the world. Public health lets students
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See CGI, 3 SPORTS Basketball Lady Eagles look to become 3-1 in conference play.