Volume 100 Issue 46
Thursday, March 31, 2016
www.studentprintz.com
Students celebrated at 106th Founders’ Day and other members of the USM community to participate in future ceremonies. During the celebration, Floore presented SGA President Caroline Bradley with the Southern Miss ring. Other inducted SGA officers include Vice President Jesse Robinson, Treasurer Franky Lopez, Attorney General Autumn Sobel and Election Commissioner Christen White.
hopes that community members will experience a renewed excitement for the past, present and future of Southern Miss,” Long On Tuesday and Wednesday, said. “As a sponsor of Founders’ The University of Southern Day, the Alumni Association hopes Mississippi hosted Founders’ Day that the Founders’ Day events will ceremonies in Hattiesburg and on encourage alumni to become more the Gulf Coast in celebration of its involved with the University and legislative founding. reconnect with their alma mater.” During the ceremonies, the The Gulf Park ceremony university and the Legacy Student began at 9 a.m. in Hardy Hall Alumni Association inducted new Ballroom. The Hattiesburg Student Government ceremony began at 3 p.m. Association officers and in the Mannoni Performing honored select seniors, After more than 100 years, our Arts Center. faculty and staff. USM President Rodney Alumni Association fundamental purpose remains Bennett gave a speech during President Bradley consistent: to impact the lives the Hattiesburg celebration. Floore said Founders’ of students, the families in our “After more than 100 Day is a great spring years, our fundamental program because it communities through high-quality purpose remains consistent: provides the Southern education and research programs. to impact the lives of Miss community a students, the families in way to connect and Dr. Rodney Bennett, university president our communities through celebrate the university’s high-quality education accomplishments over and research programs,” the past year. “Hearing from Dr. Bennett Bennett said. “I am certainly “As a graduating senior, this Founders’ Day program is and others share Southern Miss’s grateful for the time, for the especially important to me,” successes will inspire you and talent and for the efforts each [community member] has Floore said. “As an underclassman, motivate you,” Floore said. Alumni Association programs contributed to our legacy. And I knew about the program, but I didn’t fully comprehend its manager BayLee Long said I look forward to continue to importance, and I think this is Founders’ Day is a celebration of work to move The University why more students don’t attend the university’s rich history and of Southern Mississippi into promising future. the future.” the program.” “[The Alumni Association] The university presented the Floore encouraged students
Jack Hammett Managing Editor
Cam Bonelli/Assistant Photo Editor Rodney Bennett speaks as Hall of Fame recipients listen on stage on Founders’ Day at the Mannoni Performing Arts Center on March 30.
Outstanding Freshman Female and Male awards to Corai Jackson and Cameron Cloud, respectively. The Best Citizens award went to Douglas LeBlanc and Ukamaka Nwaokorie. The Leave it Better than You Found It award was presented to Perry Overstreet, and the Barbara Ross Gold Leaf Scholarship was presented to Raven Winding. USM Hall of Fame inductees included Haleigh Bradley, Katherine Brewer, Kristen Dupard, Bradley Floore, Jeffery
George, Phoenix Pope, Sarah Beth Selph, Kyle Stoner, Jessica Thompson and Aleke Vehos. In addition, the university recognized staff and faculty who have been involved on campus for a decade or more. The university’s Alumni Associated designated March 30 as Founders’ Day in 1955, according to the USM website. In 2010, the university celebrated its centennial anniversary and dedicated the Centennial Gateway.
ON CAMPUS
Recycling Olympics promotes sustainability across student body Nicolas Kubicki Printz Reporter
Austin Sylvest/Printz Southern Miss mascot Seymour participates in the Recycling Olympics on Weathersby Lawn on March 30.
The students who participated in the inaugural Recycling Olympics hosted by the Office of Sustainability and the Physical Plant at USM competed not only against their fellow students but against the elements as well. This event was hosted in order to raise the profile of the Office of Sustainability on campus and to spread awareness and knowledge about recycling to the USM community. The wind whipped across Weathersby Lawn on Wednesday, mitigating the efforts of students participating in recycling-themed events such as the catalog shot put, the tube javelin toss and the scrappaper basket shoot. Even with the wind, the participants enjoyed themselves during the small break in their otherwise busy day. Former SGA Senate Secretary Lakelyn Taylor also participated. She said that events like this one are great for getting the attention
of students and getting them started on recycling. “In the dorms where I am, it’s unfortunate that there’s not more of an opportunity for recycling,” she said. USM Sustainability Coordinator Christina Foreman said the event provides an engaging manner of teaching students about recycling that makes it easier for them to recycle more in their daily lives. “Just knowing the benefits doesn’t mean people will make that change,” she said. Volunteers from Petal High School’s Future Business Leaders of America group ran all of the events except the timed sorting competition. Dakota Savage, high school senior and president of Petal High’s FBLA said the event was an opportunity to exercise their organization skills in the real world. “It’s a way to come together with the community, with all different kinds of people to show respect and awareness for what our world is coming to,” Savage said.
USM students manning the trash sorting competition had laptops available for students to sign the pledge to not litter on campus. By the end of the event, there were an estimated 200 to 250 signatures. “There were more people than I thought,” said Jessie Foreman, high school senior and vicepresident of Petal’s FBLA. “When you see trash and pick it up, it doesn’t matter what it is or where it is. It makes a difference,” said junior music major Karsten Smith, who worked the trash sorting station. “We believe in leaving a place better than we find it.” Assistant Director of Sustainability Haley McMinn said since recycling varies from place to place, those new to it can sometimes be confused by the guidelines. “Recycling is universal, but it varies from place to place based on who will buy the goods that are RECYCLING CONT. ON PG. 3