Volume 100 Issue 33
Thursday, February 4, 2016
www.studentprintz.com
State breweries lobby for direct sales Kendra Smith-Parks Printz Reporter
The Mississippi Brewer’s Guild members, legislators and all Mississippi breweries are coming together to draft a sales bill and modernize the strict distribution laws in Mississippi to benefit smaller businesses. The Mississippi Brewers Guild will present a draft of House Bill 1158 to allow all breweries to sell on-site. Legislature will divide the bill into two parts, regulating the Mississippi large craft breweries and small craft breweries. Although the definition of small and large breweries remains unclear, the draft has limitations according to size that would allow the breweries to sell up to 2,000 barrels, or 10 percent, of total production depending on the larger quantity. Mississippi currently houses a three-tier distribution system prohibiting breweries from selling beer over a certain quantity or to be taken off-site. Forty-eight other states hold the same three-tier system. However, these states have managed to reserve their laws in order to give smaller breweries the opportunity to bring in a higher profit. Beer enthusiasts fought for highgravity beers and the ability to home brew, and are continue to fight for Mississippi’s right to fair brew laws that many other states have legalized. Matthew McLaughlin, general counsel to the Mississippi Brewer’s Guild and one of the bill drafters,
discussed a common misconception regarding the modification. “It’s essentially on-site selling and drinking that is being focused on,” McLaughlin said. “We are one of the last two states left without the rights to any direct selling. Most opposed are generally people who are under the impression that is is detrimental to the three-tier system, which is not the case.” According to the Mississippi Brewer’s Guild, out of the 30 million cases of beer sold in Mississippi each year, 90,000 of those cases are produced by state breweries. “If Mississippi made regulatory changes these numbers would increase significantly,” McLaughlin said. “The bill would give so many breweries the freedom to have a chance at being a competitive growing market.” The bill would allow breweries like Hattiesburg’s Southern Prohibition to sell six-packs, pints or half pints and for consumers to fill up their beer growlers. The bill would also allow one off-site retail in the same county, which could include a fully functioning taproom or brewpub. Emily Curry, sales & marketing representative at Southern Prohibition, discussed regulations effect on Southern Prohibition and other smaller breweries and how they will benefit from the bill. “The next step for Southern Prohibition is that we need to pass a few laws for us to see beer in the taproom,” Curry said. “We are one of two states that are not allowed to sell beer at the brewery. There are a lot
Southern Miss Now
Hannah Heneghan/Printz HB 1158, if passed, would allow breweries such as Southern Prohibition to sell directly from their brewery.
of restrictions to become a brewery.” Curry said that right now, laws are tough. “For now, we should just want to grow and keep making amazing beers,” Curry said. “There is such an industry to be made if change is accepted.” Mississippi legislators united to try to expand the growing craft beer culture. After supporting the organization Raise Your Pints 2013 effort, Toby Barker, state representative for District 102, will support of the bill. “The effort to modernize is the next step in microbreweries
because these are generally ran by young professionals,” Barker said. “By creating these products we are getting a large surge in Mississippi factoring. We should support it even if it does tweak long held institutions.” Barker plans on introducing being a cosigner of the bill and possibly plans on co-sponsoring alongside, Patti Willis, state representative for District 95. The official bill will release as early as the next couple of weeks to the public and is currently in the final stages of drafting.
Miss. flag controversy continues with new bill Printz Reporter
The battle over the confederate flag continues to unravel across the nation as protesters supporting and opposing the symbol take matters
into their own hands. State Sen. John Horhn filed a bill asking state lawmakers to make a decision to either keep or change the state flag once and for all. The requested bill introduced to the Mississippi
Fadi Shahin /Assistant Photo Editor Protestors in front of campus rallying in favor of returning the state flag.
Physics professor proposes free online textbook Meghan Burk
STATE
Lora Lavigne
ON CAMPUS
legislature includes establishing a commission to redesign and revamp a replacement flag, excluding the Confederate emblem. The South Carolina church massacre helped spark the national movement and call of action among southern states, such as Mississippi, that prominently incorporate the “Stars and Bars” in its flag. Enraged by past events, protesters from all walks of life have reached out to voice their beliefs on this controversial topic. “That symbol demonstrates nothing but violence and remembrance of such a disheartening time,” said junior media production major Tobias Griffen. “It is imperative that we take advantage of this opportunity and set an example for the younger generation, portraying that we can unite together to fight for a
greater cause.” In October, USM president Rodney Bennett ordered the state and universities flags be removed and replaced with American flags half an hour before a demonstration in opposition to the state flag was scheduled to take place on campus. Donald Holmes, Southern Miss alumnus and Ph.D. student at University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, expressed that the removal of any monument from a location does little towards the advancement of this nation if laws still uphold structural racism. “This issue is deeper than a flag, but it is a good place to start,” Holmes said. After the flag was removed, the Student Government Association passed a resolution stating that INITIATIVE CONT. ON PG. 2
Concerns about textbook costs are on the rise among college students nationwide. Each semester begins with finding which textbooks are required, price-comparison and the daunting decision of whether to rent or buy. Michael Vera, associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at The University of Southern Mississippi, created a proposal called “Electronic Resources for Introductory Physics” to ease the burden for students. The idea behind the proposal is to help encourage the use of free online texts. “Dr. Vera has piloted the use of an open, free, online text for our algebra- and trigonometry-based general physics course that is available through the OpenStax College at Rice University,” said Chris Winstead, professor and chair for the Department of Physics and Astronomy. “However, no such resource is available for our calculus-based course sequence.” Vera said the material covered in the introductory physics course hasn’t changed in decades. Textbook companies are not only producing new editions but spiking the price at $200 or more in many instances. Whether electronic books are as good as physical books depends on how each student learns; however, there are pros and cons to weigh. “Not every subject would be able to transition to this free online text due to updates to certain subjects, such as [introductory biology courses],” Vera said. “Introductory physics is all about can you systematically solve a problem, carefully read it, figure out what you got and what you want to execute it.” “Dr. Vera could reduce student costs for many years to come and provide an easily modified platform for improvements that actually impact students learning,” Winstead said.