The Student Printz April 14, 2016

Volume 100 Issue 50

Thursday, April 14, 2016

STATE

First lady pushes up Jackson State graduation Andrew Dutton Printz Reporter

Jackson State University scheduled first lady Michelle Obama to give the graduation commencement speech on April 23.

“We are honored and very pleased to have first lady Michelle Obama as the Commencement Speaker for the graduating class of 2016,” said JSU President Carolyn Meyers.

This is the first time that a sitting first lady will address JSU graduates. More than 30,000 people are expected to attend this year’s ceremony.

“This affirms that JSU always strives for the best for our students,” Meyers said.

Elayne Anthony, director of the University Department of Mass Communications at JSU, said tickets for the ceremony are hard to obtain.

“The community has been blowing up my email looking for tickets,” Anthony said.

Some, however, are angry at the university for causing problems for families by trying to accommodate for the first lady at graduation. Diana Kimbrough, parent to one of the graduating students, said the university changed the time of graduation twice.

“We got notice 30 days out that it’s being changed to April 23,” Kimbrough said.

Kimbrough also said the university changed the time from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. This has caused problems for more than 60 of her relatives.The university told her only 15 out of her 60 relatives will be able to attend the ceremony.

Because the graduation was rescheduled to April 23, the school will cut the semester short by almost three weeks.

Some students find this makes class work harder because OBAMA CONT. ON PG. 3

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‘This is our history’ Grant helps COHCH catalog Civil Rights history Elizabeth Lee Printz Reporter

On April 12, the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage hosted a formal launch for its National Endowment for the Humanities Project titled “The Struggle for Civil Rights in Mississippi: Providing Access at the 50th Anniversary of Freedom Summer.”

The African American History Museum in downtown Hattiesburg hosted the event in coordination with the Department of History, the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies and the Center for the Study of the Gulf South.

The center received the NEH grant in May 2014 to make the audio and text of more than 425 interviews related to the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi digitally available. At the event, the Center recognized the College of Arts and Letters, Southern Miss Libraries, the Department of History and iTech — all of whom worked together to make the project possible over the past two years.

According to the NEH’s website, the grant is a federally funded endowment presented to cultural institutions, such as libraries, museums and universities, that want to promote the humanities through research and archive preservation.

Hayden McDaniel, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of History, serves as the Project Coordinator for the COHCH. “The COHCH has been at the forefront of gathering oral histories since its inception in 1971 under Dr. Orley B. Caudill,” McDaniel said. “Our collections number more than 4,000, which makes it one of the largest of its kind in the nation. I hope to one day have all of these interviews accessible online.”

McDaniel said the techniques used in this project will set the precedent for similar projects by the COHCH and others in the future.

“The NEH grant and the

NEWS

POWWOW Golden Eagle Intertribal Society hosts annual event.

Austin Sylvest/Printz USM faculty member Hayden McDaniel presents during the NEH grant launch on April 12.

project launch represent a simple idea—the idea that the voices of these brave Americans do not solely belong on the shelves of archives or on the stacks at local libraries,” said Co-Director of the COHCH and history professor Kevin Greene. “These stories belong to the people — the folks here in Hattiesburg, and in Mississippi,

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and in the United States. This is their history. This is our history. And as such, we need to get these amazing testimonies in the hands of researchers and patrons investigating discrimination today, and also into the hands of those ready [to] challenge discrimination tomorrow. There are lessons to be learned from the brave folks

ENTERTAINMENT

REVIVALISTS New Orleans-based band performs on Miss. Gulf Coast.

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documented in this collection.

The Center is proud to support and direct such great work.”

For more information on the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage, as well as the National Endowment for Humanities Project, visit their web page at usm.edu/oral-history.

OPINION

AMAZON Modern shopping methods may be reaching into your pockets.

Page 2 | Thursday, April 14, 2016

INFORMATION

MEET THE STAFF SPRING 2016 Ardan Thornhill Executive Editor

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Jack Hammett Managing Editor

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Julius Kizzee Sports Editor

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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. on the Friday before publication. 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 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.

DIRTY BIRDS Sunday, April 10 • University Police caught a student in Mississippi Hall in possession of a weapon, drug paraphernalia and a misdemeanor amount of a controlled substance. The incident occurred approximately between 11:20 and 11:50 p.m. UPD referred the student to the dean of students.

Monday, April 11 • UPD responded to calls of harassment occurring nearby the Physical Plant around 9:45 a.m. 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

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Thursday - Luke Combs Friday - Misko with .50 liquor Saturday - Greystreet, a Dave Matthews Band Tribute 600 MAIN ST.

April 16 Earphunk at 10 p.m.

6028 HWY 49 MON-SAT: 11:00 PM - 02:00 AM SUN: 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM

Snapchat: MARLINSSNAPS Instagram: PEACE_LOVE_MARLINS As for us, we’ve got live music and a DJ almost every night: the best of both worlds!

(Sunday night - live band only, Monday night - open mic night)

NEWS

STATE

Thursday, April 14, 2016 | Page 3

Attorney general takes on Google Nicolas Kubicki Printz Reporter

The Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals gave Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood official permission to resume his crusade against Alphabet, Inc. and Google on Friday.

Hood’s investigation on whether or not Google assists in illegal behavior reaches as far back as 2013, when, according to the Associated Press, he began complaining that the company did not do enough to prevent people from breaking the law.

In October 2014, Hood served Google with a 79-page subpoena asking that they produce information relating for an investigation into illegal activity including piracy and obtaining pharmaceuticals online.

Hood argued that by allowing users to search for illegal material like pirated music and allowing the auto-suggest feature to show illegal activities, the company was facilitating criminals in their actions.

“We’re not asking them to suppress any legitimate speech,” Hood said. “There’s so much that goes on on the internet that they could step up to help us.”

It should be a concern of every American citizen when a corporation tries such a brazen end-run around state law.

Jim Hood, state attorney general

However, Google filed a lawsuit in December 2014 against Hood accusing him of conspiring with the Motion Picture Association of America to revive the Stop Online Piracy Act, or SOPA. After emails from the Sony hack implicated Hood’s office and an MPAA lobbyist, Hood backed down and said he

was calling for a time out.

Despite the emails showing that the MPAA helped draft the subpoena and worked with Hood behind the scenes, he said the company used the leaked material as an attempt to embarrass him and stop the investigation. Hood defended his involvement with the MPAA in the copyright crusade.

“There is nothing inappropriate about working with a victim,” Hood said. “They have had their property stolen.”

Even though Google won an injunction in 2014 to halt Hood’s investigation, the appeals court threw out Google’s suit, which allowed Hood to continue his inquiry.

“The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals clearly saw through Google’s attempt to misuse the federal courts in an effort to obstruct a sovereign state’s investigation into state-law matters,” Hood said. “It should be a concern of every American citizen when a corporation tries such a brazen end-run around

state law.”

According to the Associated Press, Hood is unsure whether he will attempt to force Google to court in order to comply with the subpoena or attempt to sue them for violating state law.

However, the federal government still stands in the way of Hood and the MPAA’s requests. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act provides immunity for those who provide internet content posted by others. Simply put, Google and other internet aggregators cannot be sued by showing what others have put on the internet, and attempting to censor the information available would be a violation of Google’s constitutional rights.

Those on the other side of the issue disagree with Google and the ruling.

“Freedom of speech should never be used as a shield for unlawful activities, and the Internet is not a license to steal,” said Kate Bedingfield, an MPAA spokeswoman.

LOCAL

Jim Hood’s Twitter/Courtesy Photo

Google argued that Hood’s involvement with the movie industry was enough to taint his investigation past his stated motives. Hood stated in a release that while he was concerned about piracy, his main concern was on the availability of illegally obtained and counterfeit drugs.

Golf event funds WUSM Jonathan Urbina Entertainment Editor

The WUSM 2016 Round for Roots Southern Miss Radio will be held on Monday, April 25. The annual event will begin with lunch and registration at 11:30 a.m., followed by an afternoon of golf at Canebrake Country Club.

“Hattiesburg is a place of culture. And education. And history. And the arts,” said David Gustafson, WUSM Golf Tournament Chair. “Nothing ties those elements together more than WUSM.” Registration for the event is $125 an individual, $500 a team and includes lunch, free on-course beverages, unlimited 19th hole access and a gift bag. The revenue raised by the event will go directly to funding WUSM’s future endeavors.

“We’ve done this tournament before, and everyone that has been associated from the past as a player or sponsor has had a blast,” said Wilbur Martin, OBAMA CONTINUED

Courtesy Image

they are having to rush graduation.

Soon-to-be graduate Jimmy said this event did not hinder him from getting his full education, and the event will be great.

First lady Michelle Obama advocates education on a broad spectrum. She launched the Reach Higher Initiative in 2014, with the goal of inspiring young Americans to broaden their futures by attending and

general manager at WUSM. “The money coming in from players and sponsors is really necessary for us to provide the equipment for the radio program and the experience students would need to go into the commercial world.”

The tournament is the radio station’s largest fundraising event of the year. This year will be the sixth time the event has been held.

Part of the golf contest will be a special large cash prize sponsored by HattiesburgLaural Regional Airport, Jump’In, Newk’s and Southern Mississippi Federal Credit Union for the individual or team that gets a hole in one on the course.

WUSM is the Pine Belt’s sole community radio station and provides college students with hands-on experience within the radio industry. It offers a wide variety of music, focusing on southern-bred genres and alternative artists.

For more information and to register, visit southernmissradio.com graduating college. In 2015, she launched the Let Girls Learn initiative as a step to make education to women available around the world.

Obama has visited Mississippi twice as first lady, first in 2010 after kicking off her Let’s Move initiative encouraging people to eat healthier food and exercise more, and then in 2013 for a stop at an elementary school in Clinton, Mississippi to promote successful student efforts.

NEWS

Page 4 | Thursday, April 14, 2016

LOCAL

Annual powwow preserves, promotes native heritage Hiba Tahir Printz Reporter

The Golden Eagle Intertribal Society at The University of Southern Mississippi will host the 14th Annual Powwow April

14-17 at Willie Hilton Park in Petal.

The annual event promotes preservation of Native American heritage and educates non-natives about Native American culture. It

Michael Kavitz/Student Printz Archives 2015 USM’s Golden Eagle Inter-Tribal sociey hosted the 2015 Southern Miss Powow at the Petal Middle School’s gymanisum. Celebrated outfits and songs of Native American tribes were displayed through dance, and many interesting and historic pieces of the Native American culture and history were available for purchase at booths around the gymanisum for the duration of the event.

typically features different types of dancing and the selling of various handmade Native American crafts, clothing and food. The park will host the event for the third time.

In previous years, it was held around the USM campus and at other nearby locations.

The event will begin with a school day for the fourth-grade Petal school children on April 14, during which they will be exposed to Native American games and crafts.

“Because statistics have been newly integrated into standardized testing for the youth, my statistics students come teach the Petal fourthgraders about means, medians, modes, ranges and graphing as they are playing games and learning the crafts,” said Tammy Greer, a Southern Miss professor and faculty adviser for the GEIS. The Powwow itself will take place on April 15 and April 16.

“Powwows are events where Native Americans can get

ON CAMPUS

together, see old friends, learn about the other native cultures and share our cultures with others,” Greer said. “There will be Powwow dancing and Choctaw social dancing, hominy and Indian Tacos to eat and lots of crafts and jewelry at the vendor booths. This year we are honoring those in our communities with disabilities.”

“A Powwow is a symbol for renewal for many tribes throughout the United States and Canada,” said Nicklaus Shumake, GEIS secretary. “[It represents] renewal in peace, friendship and a community celebration that shares a tradition to dance. [It] is an opportunity for us to get to know one another. It’s fun and family oriented with lots of food and dancing and songs.”

According to the United States Census Bureau, Native Americans made up about 2 percent of the total United States population in 2014. This sparse existence makes the need to preserve and promote

heritage all the more important.

“In order to understand something about a culture that is represented by only two percent of the population, we really have to outreach efforts,” Greer said. “We love to powwow, to meet new people and to share our cultures. And we would love for everyone to come and join us.”

“We have some fantastic and generous sponsors including the Mississippi Humanities Council, Forrest General Hospital, the Mississippi Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, the Southern Miss President’s Office, Honors College, College of Arts and Letters, College of Science and Technology, and College of Education and Technology, Coke, the Petal Chamber of Commerce, the City of Petal and the Hattiesburg Convention Commission along with several businesses in Petal,” Greer said. “We really appreciate their support.”

USM graduates its first leadership program participants

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leadership theories and how to put them into practice so they can better lead groups on campus and in the workforce. This also helps students in the workforce as they can put this program on resumes.

There is no commitment for the first course. However, for students to continue in certification, there are other required classes.

critical leadership and personal development skills that will Printz Reporter help you excel personally and The University of Southern professionally, both inside and Mississippi instituted a new outside of the classroom.” program in 2014 to give students Junior psychology major access to leadership training Christopher Huffman is among and resume building skills. This the program’s first graduates and new program will have its first is a 2015 Southern Style Team graduates this semester. The member, IFC Executive Board university put the program Member and a member of SGA. forward to help students enter Although he is not getting his the job market and appeal degree this semester, he said he to employers. is already using the information “We talk a lot about Through the Leadership that he is receiving from leadership theory, but more the program.

Certificate Program, I importantly, we concentrate Huffman said he is excited on practical skills,” said Christy and that one of the best things have gained so much on Arrazattee, director for the he and classmates have been Center for Community and personal and professional able to do is work with the Civic Engagement. “Students American Cancer Society on development. have the opportunity to Relay for Life. observe leadership skills and “Through the Leadership Christopher Huffman, junior then actually practice them Certificate Program, I have by implementing a leadership gained so much on personal project in their final semester.” and professional development,” Arrazattee said the Huffman said. “In our open program uses different tools class environment, we have to get students ready for the “If students wish to continue learned professional skills like working world. with the leadership certificate perfecting our resume, bettering “We also work on resumes, after taking IDS 181, they need to our interview skills, and learning future goals, interview skills, using complete three electives related new graphic design skills.”

Google Drive [and] building an to leadership — most of which Huffman said the material online portfolio — all important are general education classes — was easily applicable to his skills that will help once they get participate in and write reports many roles on campus. He said to the job market,” Arrazattee said. on three leadership experiences he plans to use these strategies All students are eligible for this outside of the classroom and throughout his life to help him as a program. Students have to sign up complete IDS 450 Practicum candidate for graduate schools or for IDS 181, an introductory course in Leadership, where they will possible employment. on leadership. According to the complete a large team leadership Huffman encouraged other course’s syllabus, the course can project,” Arrazattee said. students to try the program help develop leadership abilities “The Leadership Experience as well. by teaching students to identify Program is a great opportunity “I challenge any leader on certain behaviors. for you to enhance your existing campus to sign up for the program This course said its goal is leadership skills,” the site for to have your leadership skills to challenge students’ ideas of the Leadership Experience challenged and changed for the leadership and to teach students Program reads. “You will gain betterment of yourself,” he said.

Garrett Minta

FEATURE

LOCAL

Thursday, April 14, 2016 | Page 5

‘Burg businesses denounce HB 1523 Jennifer Robinson Printz Reporter

House Bill 1523 supports business’ right to refuse service on the basis of religious beliefs.

However, the more vocal businesses in Hattiesburg disagree with this bill.

The Mahogany Bar has received attention for posting a sign on its front door reading, “Through these doors, all are welcome, all are appreciated and all are loved.”

“We have gotten a little attention because we posted the signs on our doors,” said Jared Patterson, a Mahogany Bar employee. “It’s how we’ve felt always, not because this law has become a thing. We’ve always felt that everyone is loved — our employees and customers.”

Facebook users showed their support in the comments of a photo The Mahogany Bar posted.

“It’s discriminatory, people have a right to choose,” said Landa Oglesby, owner of Landa’s Sweet Bakery.

Oglesby said she is preparing strawberries for a same-sex

OPINION

Hannah Heneghan/Printz

Crescent City Grill sign welcoming all.

couple’s upcoming wedding.

Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree voiced his own concerns about the bill.

“This law is not representative of the thousands of Mississippians who have dedicated their lives to promoting a diverse community and workforce,” DuPree said.

The Lotus Downtown owner Leigh Baugh also said the bill is discriminatory.

“I wouldn’t want to treat anyone any different than how I would want to be treated,” Baugh said. “I would never turn anyone away, especially a paying customer. We locals all support

each other.”

Other businesses chimed in on the bill.

“Whoever calls us, we don’t care,” said Trae Griffin, owner of Trazy Productions, a DJ service.

“We’re out to serve anyone who wants a DJ or entertainment.”

Marlin’s Bar and Grill posted

their reaction to the bill on their Facebook page on April 3.

“In the wake of the ‘Religious Freedom’ bill, Marlin’s would like to ensure our community that we look forward to serving each and every one of you, regardless of your personal lifestyle preferences,” the post read. “We have always emphasized Peace, Love & Marlin’s and will continue to do so. We have made mistakes in the past, like every young small business has, but we have ALWAYS strived to be the best we can be for our customers and our team members. You have been patient and generous with us, and for that, we can’t thank you enough. We love you, Hattiesburg. And we love you, Mississippians, just the way you are.”

Local business Eve Marie’s Boutique’s April Bullock promised business to everyone as well.

“Myself and my business welcome everyone no matter what,” Bullock said. “We’re a local business and if locals want to support us we welcome that. “

Letter to the Editor: Mississippi is not for you Garrett Jones Community Submission

Mississippi’s HB 1532 is not for you. It has nothing to do with you, whether you support it or not. Whether the rights of LGBTQ+ people are protected or trampled in the mud under the feet of the God-fearing masses.

HB 1532 is for an entire matter altogether, designed to divide you and distract you from what is truly happening right here in Mississippi.

The sole purpose of this bill is to ensure that you have no idea that this state is imploding, and soon there will be nothing left for us, the dwindling masses. HB 1532 is meant to show you that Mississippi is not for you, and it has not been for quite some time.

This week, I saw my social circles explode with chatter about this legislation: fraternity brothers arguing in the comments section on one of their posts on Facebook; retweets to attack or support opinions that person read on their feed; colleagues whispering quietly in the hallway, shaking their heads and sighing.

Many people everywhere are enthralled with this issue and for good reason. It essentially accomplished nothing but has huge ramifications not only for the LGBTQ+ community, but on anyone that might find themselves on the wrong side of any religion.

The disastrous policies of Mississippi’s government over the last few decades have led us to this point.

Our politicians blind us with contentious issues, and we take

the bait they dangle in our faces because we are too busy trying to cope with the consequences of previous measures. We are blind to what is happening around us, yet, we see the disastrous effects of our government’s oligarchic policies every day.

Each consequence is so isolated, and our lives so busy, that we do not take into the full account of what is happening.

This state is not dying. This state is dead.

There are a few pulses every now and then, but these are just the last signals sent. The brain has been dead for decades and the heart’s thump and powerful force is softly fading. Many of us know the Mississippi Delta is a place of poverty and extremes, a place of the Old South (because it must still be capitalized with unholy reverence) and old ideas.

Studies have shown that the GDP of the Delta is lower than third-world African nations. Yet, these problems have been neatly labeled “Delta” and tucked to the back of our minds.

The popular refrain forced upon us by the Mississippi government is the rest of the state, oh yes, it’s doing swell.

This is a lie perpetrated by those who profess they speak only the truth, which is based on complete fabrications and observations made on confirmation-bias.

Coffers are filled somewhere, and people are prosperous. But the people who are experiencing such wonderful results of the state’s “economic growth” are not the majority of Mississippians.

These people are the nobles with their multi-thousand acre

properties in the Delta, their homes on the square in Oxford, their beachfront properties in Pass Christian, their long driveways to a columned portico in Madison.

The real Mississippians live like the sharecropper of yesteryear in a world where their lives are incomparable to the upper echelon and will never improve if conditions do not change.

We are failing our state by not holding the people who are responsible accountable.

Garrett Jones, community member

Poverty is rampant. Ignorance – blind, helpless ignorance – is prevalent in every major aspect of our society from schools, courthouses, barbershops, law firms, to even, yes, by God, the state capitol.

STDs ravage both communities and cities while teen pregnancy is just as equally high. Obesity, not the result of laziness but poor nutrition, kills thousands each year. Others die from failure to treat their illnesses due to a lack of proper education of their disease or because they simply cannot afford care.

You can chalk these issues up to the ghosts of slavery and denial of civil liberties. You can blame the failure of agriculture to recognize the future. You can

blame the lack of resources for major industry.

Numerous times in our history we failed to do what was right when it was needed. We have blamed the failures of our day on those around us or said we are powerless to fix what is already broken. That has not changed.

That is happening at this very moment with HB 1532.

We are failing our state by not holding the people who are responsible accountable.

We are not actively engaged in our own state’s future, ignorant to machinations of powerful men with powerful friends. And it is because of the politicians’ deceitful practices that we are not even able to call them on their intentional wrongdoing.

Instead, we have to work over 60 hours a week to pay the bills.

We are single parents responsible for the well-being and happiness of multiple future Mississippians.

We have to clean, cook, dress, bathe and support our families and ourselves in what extracurricular activities we can afford privately or through school.

Mortgages, car notes, hospital bills, student loans and credit cards haunt us every single day because they adversely impact our ability to spend and grow and educate.

We simply cannot afford the lives we need, our kids need, our parents need, let alone the life of which we dream.

The state legislature and the governor’s office have been against Mississippi and its people for some time. They strip away our finances. They attract new businesses that do not live up

to the promises they made and outsource their hiring processes.

Tax cuts are given when the state already has a budget deficit with no realistic plan to recoup the losses. They blame “welfare queens” instead of their own greed for the lack of resources available to the average Mississippian.

They accuse outside interests for any backlash against their policies when their own campaigns are funded by major corporations outside of Mississippi. They offer us flashy “progress” with no substance, adding “In God We Trust” to the state seal. An amusement park attraction that has not bettered the life of any Mississippian. The infrastructure needed to support new businesses, trade and growth has long been underdeveloped and under-budgeted and will likely continue to be for some time.

Without proper infrastructure for our citizens and businesses, without, not adequate, but excellent education for our citizens, without proper taxation, without proper representation of what not only people truly want but what all Mississippians truly need, then this state will fail.

We will not be able to support a tax base when the cities and roads crumble, no one is prepared for the workforce, and people have no hope for a better future.

Our leaders’ actions suggest this is the future they have envisioned for us, and the message is loud and clear.

Mississippi is not for you, it is not for me, it is for them. ...to read the rest of the letter, please visit studentprintz.com

Page 6 | Thursday, April 14, 2016

MUSIC

ENTERTAINMENT

Q&A: The Revivalists take stage in Miss.

Ardan Thornhill Executive Editor

In the midst of their national takeover, The Revivalists will take the stage at the 24th Annual Crawfish Music Festival at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi on Sunday. Last month, Rolling Stone named them one of the ‘Top 10 artists to know.’

The seven-piece band formed during their college years in New Orleans, all hailing from different pockets from the Eastern seaboard region. They flew straight into the Crescent City after their April 12 performance on The Today Show to relax for a few days before performing in Biloxi. Drummer Andrew Campanelli took a few minutes for a phone interview to discuss the upcoming event as well as the bands’ intricacies.

AT: So you’ve been on the road since early March and don’t have much of a break

ahead. In the last month, you’ve been picked up by Rolling Stone, The Today Show.. Your success is booming! Tell us what that feels like.

AC: The Today Show yesterday is a good example. The biggest thing to me that feels different is the amount of support. The online community has grown tremendously. For instance, ‘The Rev Heads’ have formed as a fan group and organized themselves.

The support from the fans has been the most tangible change lately. It used to be little pockets of the country, but now it’s kind of unified.

AT: None of you are from the South, but you have this groovy, bluesy sound that really speaks to people in the region. How exactly did a seven-piece band of Northern-raised guys come together to produce a sound that feels so familiar?

AC: Part of the reason we all moved to New Orleans is that we

had a draw [to the music culture of the city.] We all moved here in part because of our love for the music, but our sound also developed just because we a mix of influences. One thing we all really like is groove-oriented music. We never set out to write soul songs or funk songs, we just played what spoke to us. The thread throughout was the groove.

AT: Suppose I never heard your music before. How would you describe it in terms of other artists, if that’s something you can even do?

AC: It’s hard. We’ve often been compared to so many artists.

We fall a little bit between funk and rock, something like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but a very song-writery sound, if that makes sense.

AT: Bring me into the writing process. What’s that like?

AC: The process is interesting – and you can hear it a bit in the songs – but they never adhere to one sound. So, we take them as they come, try to make them interesting, personal and never try to play too much. As a sevenman band, sometimes one person will write a song by themselves, and that will be it. Other times, someone will bring in a song, and once we all get our hands on it, it’s turned into something completely different. Sometimes, we just start jamming, and Dave will write lyrics. So, it’s a very collaborative process. Lyrically, we try to write honest songs that use real experiences that act as a barometer as our song. We are very conscious of being honest.

We like many kinds of music, but [the common factor] of all of our influences is honesty.

AT: Earlier you mentioned something about ‘not playing too much.’ Tell me a little bit about what that means and how it factors into defining yourselves as a band.

AC: At first, we were playing as much as we could in New Orleans.

A – we had no other options. It was about getting routine shows.

But then we starting playing out out town. We quickly found out that [by taking these out-of-town gigs], our local fan base was more excited to see us when we came back. It was the best way to build a band. People don’t assume they can see you every week. You slowly build these new audiences. Taking a step out of your city is really valuable because the people that like you will really support you when you come back. It was really the thing that got us here.

AT: What about you? What’s your story?

AC: I grew up outside of Washington, D.C. in Virginia. I was in a school band in fourth grade. I would watch these instructional videos. One was by Chad Smith in the Red Hot Chili Peppers, another was by the drummer of the Dave Matthews Band. So, I always watched them and played along. When I went to Loyola [University in New Orleans], I got to know the [other band members] through music workshops at Tipitina’s.

Major people in the drumming world attended these workshops.

When we started touring, we got to play with all these giants like Dumpstafunk,Intergalactic, Snarky Puppy.

So I got to be around some of the best drummers in the world and just learned from that.

George [Gekas, the bassist] and I’s fathers had really similar taste in music. We both grew up around 60s soul and music that came before rock & roll, so we have a lot of common references.

AT: So you guys are the more toned-down, mellow guys?

AC: Not necessarily. We both really like gangsta rap.

AT: Bringing it back to Sunday’s event, so I know you’ve

been working on some new music. Are we going to hear some of it? And who are some artists you guys are excited to play with?

AC: So we have been working on some stuff, but we are probably not going to debut any of it just yet. It’s all in development. The North Mississippi All-stars will be there, and I love those guys.

Really looking forward to seeing them and playing in Biloxi. The whole Gulf Coast area is just a second home to us.

AT: Does playing in small pockets like Mississippi offer any unique opportunities or audiences?

AC: We’ve had opportunities to play on a lot of different stages over the years. The size of the crowd is not the defining factor of the show – it’s all about the crowd’s energy. So, if you go to a small space with a small stage, people are often very excited to see you. That often is so much better than being in a large, sold-out space where people are kind of in-and-out and milling around. When we play in smaller spaces, we often tap into a niche fan base. In any case, it’s all about interacting with the audience.

For you guys in Mississippi, we’re going to bring our all to the show! Can’t wait to see everyone.

-------------------After the show, The Revivalists will make their way to Athens, Georgia and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. They will return to the Gulf Coast region on April 23 to play at the Orpheum Theatre in New Orleans with The Soul Rebels and Wolf Pack.

You can also catch them at the Jazz & Heritage Fest at the end of the month before they hit the road again. For information on tickets for the 24th Annual Crawfish Music Festival, visit http://www.mscoastcoliseum. com/events/2016/24th-annualcrawfish-music-festival(3).

Travis Shinn/Courtesy Photo

OPINION

LIFE All

Thursday, April 14, 2016 | Page 7

Does Amazon enable shopping addiction?

Jonathan Urbina Entertainment Editor

Shopping in 2016 goes as follows: after dark, in bed, multiple tabs open and a pint of Ben & Jerry’s in hand (or at least for me). It is a scary truth, but that is how most Americans fulfil their shopping lists these days — through the click of a button.

Over the past few years, society has phased out of its traditional methods of shopping and adjusted to a life on the World Wide Web. What people have learned through this is that the Internet is more than just a place for late-night Facebook rants and is actually a magical mall that never closes (no, really).

Through the web, everything has a price. You name it: groceries, albums, textbooks and N*SYNC memorabilia. All of it can be yours with the click of a button.

The only downside to this newfound clickable merchandise is the fact that there seemingly is no downside.

Online shopping is easy, and companies like Amazon are working to make the process even easier.

Zoom in on Amazon Prime for an example of a shopaholic’s paradise. Pay $99 annually and receive free same-day delivery, ad-free music, Prime Video and more. The deal seems almost too good to be true, and that’s because it is.

The problem with a

service like this is the commitment factor.

When paying a “small” fee of $99 to garner exclusive shopping perks, the rule of thumb is to put those perks to use. That said, there is reason to believe that customers who are members of the service tend to shop through Amazon more than the average customer, therefore spending more money.

An argument by Brad Tuttle of Time Magazine claims Prime members are more likely to make purchases through Amazon to fulfill their perks rather than browse the Internet for more affordable options. In this case, customers hold the blame for blatantly not being smart shoppers, and Amazon shares the blame for making a

POLITICS

Twists, turns as elections push forward JD Rimann Printz Columnist

Two fairly interesting things happened over the course of this last week or so.

First, the decision by Speaker of the House Paul Ryan to come out and unequivocally announce that he will not seek or accept the Republican nomination for president. Second, the rapidly intensifying war between Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Secretary of State and first lady Hillary Clinton, which while not quite at Trumpian levels, is certainly getting pretty nasty.

First, let’s look at the decision

by Congressman Ryan to not run. Paul Ryan is perhaps the most level-headed and nuanced Republican thinker in the Congress today. He is not a populist, he does not employ ridiculous and overthe-top rhetoric and he is unafraid to reach out across the aisle to get things done.

He has a well-developed and reasonable plan for reforming the federal budget, and during this tumultuous primary campaign the Speaker has often been a voice of reason and moderation on the right, acting as a counter-

weight to the fiery Senator from Texas, Ted Cruz, and the racist misogynist millionaire Donald “The Donald” Trump. These are all admirable things.

However, in this year of the antiestablishment candidate (between Trump, Cruz and Sanders the “anti-establishment” forces have dominated this election cycle so far) all of these things would likely be counted against the current Speaker of the House, without even considering the fact that many in the conservative grassroots predominantly associate Ryan with Mitt Romney and his brutal loss to Barack Obama in 2012. All that said, sitting it out and waiting until 2020 or 2024 is probably a very smart move by a very smart man.

Second, let us briefly consider this rhetorical warming between the Democratic candidates. After calling out Hillary Clinton last week by declaring her “unqualified” to be president – a claim which he quickly walked back – Bernie Sanders stuck again this week, accusing his opponent of being in the pocket of the “billionaire class” at a rally yesterday due to amount of Super PAC money her campaign has taken advantage of. Clinton, for

her part, was quite happy to strike back. If there is anything those in politics know about the Clintons, it is that they love to strike back and to strike back hard. In an interview with Politico’s Glen Thrush last week, the former Secretary said she understood some of the problems which Sanders is having because “He’s a relatively new Democrat, and, in fact, I’m not even sure he is one. He’s running as one. So I don’t know quite how to characterize him.” Ouch.

Clinton piled on further this week while addressing voters in New York City, accusing Sanders once more of helping to contribute to gun violence during his time in the Senate, a common line of attach from the Clinton camp this year.

What is so fascinating about all of this sparring is that the Democrats were originally so committed to being polite this year, attempting to draw a contrast between themselves and the ridiculousness which has been the Republican primary. However as the race has heated up, so has the rhetoric as Clinton starts to feel the squeeze, and America starts to feel the Bern. It will be fascinating to see how things unfold after New York.

Architect of the Capitol/Courtesy Photo

service that is too good to beat.

For this, the coin falls one way: into the hands of Amazon.

Members pay $99 annually regardless and then divert all of their online shopping excursions to the jungle of merchandise that is Amazon.

However, this is not something to necessarily protest over.

People who sign up for Prime membership have some inkling as to what deal they are making.

The customers who make the deal are usually veterans in the online shopping game and know a thing or two about a virtual transaction.

What they are looking for is not necessarily the best deal (which Amazon sometimes offers), but rather the luxury of a convenient shopping spree.

Prime members also tend to shop more than the average customer because they are attached to the company and spend more of their time getting shopping done online than they do in an actual brick and mortar store.

That said, it is hard to measure how much Prime customers are actually shopping when the real life and virtual worlds are so far apart.

But, whatever the case maybe, money is money.

Whether in a real store or behind a screen, money spends the same. The key to not letting companies like Amazon put you in debt is to be be a smart shopper. At the end of the day, it takes two to tango, so make sure you know the dance.

SPORTS

Page 8 | Thursday, April 14, 2016

SOFTBALL

Alabama routs Southern Miss at home, 7-1 Kyle Williams Sports Reporter

Southern Miss (20-23) hosted No. 4 Alabama (36-7) this past Tuesday losing 7-1. The Golden Eagles came into the contest after a dominant offensive showcase against the University of Texas at San Antonio this past weekend but failed to repeat the offensive showing against the Crimson Tide.

Southeastern Conference opponents have proved to be Southern Miss’ kryptonite as the Golden Eagles have only won one out of their last five games against an opponent in that conference.

“One thing we have to learn is – no matter who we play, no matter what uniform they are wearing – we can play anybody,” said coach Wendy Hogue.

The Golden Eagles knew that they would have to play their best ball to defeat the No. 4

SOFTBALL

team in the nation. They did just that early in the game by retiring the first three Alabama hitters in order.

The efficient pitching and fielding displayed by the Golden Eagles in those early innings did not last long.

In the top of the second inning, Alabama started to prosper off of Southern Miss’ mistakes.

In the circle, Danielle Block walked four batters and gave up two hits. Block walked two consecutive batters in bases loaded situations, resulting in Alabama scoring two unearned runs.

Block pitched three innings before being replaced by Jillian Johnson in the fourth inning.

Despite being down 4-0, Johnson did not let the deficit affect her play as she finished the ball game with three strikeouts, allowing one hit and one run.

“Jillian is doing some

really good things.”

Hogue said. “She has a short memory and pitchers need that.”

Southern Miss not only struggled at times with the defensive aspect of the game but also with hitting. The Golden Eagles accumulated three hits in the entire game. Much can be accredited to Alabama’s pitcher Alexis Osorio, who recorded 10 strikeouts on the night.

“The difference between our pitchers and their pitchers, is their pitchers hit their spot,” Hogue said.

Despite being behind the whole game, Southern Miss’ effort never deteriorated. Tori Dew leads the Golden Eagle squad in batting percentage, batting a.355 on the season.

Dew’s effort and energy was present throughout the game.

Dew recorded one hit on the night to extend her three-game hitting streak, showcasing her

Hunt Mercier/Photo Editor Merris Schroder slides into home base before the ball reaches Samantha Papp at home base on Tuesday, April 12.

leadership on the field.

“I have never really been a follower, I like being a leader.”

Dew said. “The weight on my shoulder does not really bother me too much. I have to do the right things with being considered a leader.”

Southern Miss should not dwell on the loss as it still has 10 regular season games left to reach the .500 mark.

The Golden Eagles will host North Texas April 16 at home to start a three-game series. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

USM still lacks offensive potency Julius Kizzee Sports Editor

These Golden Eagles have seen their ups and downs as a team this season. Whether they have beaten No. 23 Florida Atlantic on their field or have lost four straight series’ in Conference USA play, this team has been unpredictable to say the least.

Although the game of softball is not predicated on just one side of the ball, that one side has held the team back from rising in the standings.

“We’re getting runners on, we just have to get that big hit,” said coach Wendy Hogue. “We just have to get the big hits with runners in scoring position.”

The softball team’s offense has been inconsistent, to say the least.

The team has been shutout eight times this season and failed to score three or more runs 21 times.

Although it is not only about the offense, too much of a burden cannot be put on one player.

The team’s offensive prowess centers around junior Tori Dew, who is batting .353 combined with 11 doubles and two home runs on the season.

Dew believes this team is making strides towards prominence on the offensive side of the diamond.

She sees that as a leader in several offensive categories, she has been thrusted to be a proverbial leader on the field by trade.

“I’ve never really been a follower, so I like being a leader,” Dew said. “I like making myself a statute for people. The weight on my shoulders doesn’t really bother me too much.”

That weight on Dew’s shoulders is a pretty big one. The back half of the rotation of Sarah Evans, Michelle Stringer, Rachel Johnson and Kaelyn Christofferson is hitting a .245 batting average

combined, a drastic drop from Dew’s .355 or even fellow junior Lauren Holifield’s .295 average.

“We’ve been talking about the bottom half of our lineup having quality at-bats to turn it back over to the top of the lineup,” Hogue said.

We have some big things coming and people might not think that and people might not see it.

Tori Dew, first baseman

Combined with Dew, Holifield also feels a weight on her shoulders offensively. She’s batting a .295 with 36 doubles and leads the team with eight home runs. Although she is not as vocal as Dew may be on the field, she feels that she doesn’t have to be.

“Just step in the box and do what I do, and try my best to help my team out,” Holifield said. “You don’t really make it happen, it just happens.”

The team as a whole may be turning a corner with the wins that it is accumulating.

After losing four straight series to start the season, the team has won its last two against Western Kentucky and UT-San Antonio.

The offense in those games though, still failed to separate itself from the opposition. The Golden Eagles scored 21 runs, against the 19 runs combined by the Lady Toppers and Roadrunners.

Dew feels that it is her responsibility to get runners to cross home plate when she gets up to bat.

“You just take what you get,”

Dew said. “You get runners on in front of you, you have to do something with it. When you have that on your back, you have to take it, and not let up and not let your teammates down.”

She said that she and the team must keep taking strides when they take the bat.

“You can’t take steps back — you [have] got to keep working,” Dew said. “[You have to] be that hitter for your team and for the university.”

At this point of the season at 20-23 and 7-8 in C-USA, the team sits fourth in the West Division of the C-USA standings. It is not unfathomable that the team can catch the top seed in the division, UTSA, but it will take some work.

“No matter who we play, no matter what uniform they’re wearing, we can play with anybody,” Hogue said. “If we’ll play consistent, we’ll win a whole lot of more ball games.”

Those ball games will come around as Dew believes this team can go nowhere else but up.

“We don’t really have anything to lose,” Dew said. “Just play the game that you’ve been playing since you were three years old.

Don’t question yourself. We have no pressure, just come out swinging.”

Although the record may not be what is desired at this point in the season, the team still has a sense of optimism. Dew believes the work her team is putting in will pay dividends in the end.

“We have some big things coming and people might not think that and people might not see it,” Dew said.

Dew and her fellow Golden Eagles will start their run towards relevancy at home against North Texas in a three-game series starting Saturday with a doubleheader at 1 p.m.

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