The Student Printz. February 5, 2015

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Volume 99 Issue 35

www.studentprintz.com PAGE THREE

PAGE FOUR

NEWS Europa

Scientists search for life on icy moon.

PAGE SEVEN

PAGE SIX

F E AT U R E

OPINION

S P O RT S

Professor takes part in global publication.

Reporters weight benefits and consequences of pipeline.

Eagles set to face Cougars, Tigers in Sand Dollar Classic.

Political handbook

Keystone XL

GREEK LIFE

NPHC ‘sleepout’ benefits community

Softball

STATE

Mississippi senators combat Obamacare Chris Lee

Printz Reporter

Mississippi, which was $19,132 in 2012 according to The Wedding Report, to arrive at the predicted wedding spending amount of about $8.3 million total. That, combined with the spending of out-of-state couples whom they predict would come to Mississippi to marry, as well as the predicted number of out-ofstate wedding guests, helped the study to arrive at its final number of $10.8 million.

“The implications of the institute’s study on the economic

In January, several bills were introduced in the Mississippi Senate that would take steps toward nullifying the effects of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

The proposed legislation would implement state-level pushback to the controversial federal health care law.

Senate Bill (SB) 2534, introduced by State Sen. Angela Burks Hill (R-40), and SB 2535, introduced by State Sen. Michael Watson (R-54), were both introduced on Jan. 9. Both of these bills seek to protect patients and health care providers from being assessed taxes, fees or penalties for making direct payments for lawful health care.

“It’s about protecting the private health care industry in Mississippi,” said State Sen. Angela Burks Hill, who introduced SB 2534. “Right now we have some great doctors in the state of Mississippi that are no longer accepting Medicaid, Medicare or private insurance.

Instead they are charging yearly fees for medical visits on a cash basis because of the regulation of Medicaid and Medicare and the amount of paperwork that’s now involved.”

Private practice physicians in rural areas are especially susceptible to the effects of the increased regulations that have accompanied the passage of the Affordable Care Act. Overhead costs for health care practices are increasing due to new federal documentation requirements while insurance reimbursement rates are dropping. This can be especially detrimental to small private practice physicians who do not have the infrastructure support of a hospital.

The loss of smaller private

see ECONOMY, page 3

see REFORM, page 3

Susan Broadbridge/Printz

Valencia Walls, alumna of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. places razors to donate to Hope House along with other boxes of bathroom supplies Wednesday night on Weathersby Lawn. Zeta Phi Beta and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity’s “sleepout” event is set to raise awareness of homelessness conditions in Hattiesburg.

STATE

Same-sex marriage could boost economy Chris Lee

Printz Reporter A 2014 study by the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law concluded that the legalization of same-sex marriage in Mississippi would bring a significant economic boost to the state within the first three years.

The study predicted that Mississippi would see a $10.8 million economic boost in the first year of the legalization of same-sex marriage, with $6.9

million coming in the first year alone. Along with the increase in spending, the study’s findings predicted that Mississippi would receive over $750,000 in sales tax revenue. The study also claimed that between 49 to 146 tourism and recreation jobs would be created in the state as a result of the increased spending.

The Williams Institute came to this conclusion by using census statistics that indicate the number of same-sex couples residing in Mississippi and comparing the experience that other states had when they first legalized same-

sex marriage.

The institute looked at Massachusetts and a few other areas that have legalized samesex marriage. In those areas, over half of same-sex couples married during the initial three years that same-sex marriage was made legal. Using this information, the study predicts that if same-sex marriage were to be legalized in Mississippi, about 1,742 of the 3,484 same-sex couples who are living in Mississippi would marry in the first three years.

The study then applied the average cost of a wedding in

INFORMATION

Page 2 | Thursday, February 5, 2015

MEET THE STAFF OF SPRING 2015

EDITORS & STAFF Kathryn Miller

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Executive Editor

Joshua Campbell Sports Editor

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Managing Editor

Multimedia Editor

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Judicial Board Parking Tip

“Parking in tow-away zones, service zones, fire zones and handicapped zones is always forbidden, even after regular school hours and during weekends. You will not receive a warning for parking in a these zones; however, you will immediately get a monetary ticket.”

Source: www.alberichcrosswords.com

ACROSS 1 Best bit of meat around King’s Lynn? (4) 3 Country offering choice of judges, briefly? (6) 7 Eggs on violent activist at first (3) 10 They tend to badger or horse caught in snare, possibly (7) 11 Defend a believer, half cut, before court (7) 12 Politician involved in e.g. Afghan uprising is fellow national (10) 13 Gorgeous woman from borders of Bulgaria, born and second located in Helsinki (4) 14 Awful bad luck old bean, having to drop round daughter – you’ll get livid (5-3-4) 18 Old clergyman from the east’s decisive but too pernickety (12) 21 To carry child needs energy (4) 22 From now on, splashing her on covers of Finnish (etc)... (10) 24 ...press to check out and relish makes people primarily content (7) 25 Model first to appear in Roth’s Hostel Part Two in 2007 left out? Make the film again! (7) 26 Women love women? That’s amazing! (3) 27 A title for some Kipling stories? I agree (4,2) 28 Raunchy socialite’s deserted by Yankee (4)

DOWN 1 Topless joint in Sin City (6) 2 Government’s millions mount up, outwardly (6) 4 Lack of cooperation disrupts services but not seriously, at the start (15) 5 Full-length CD (10,5) 6 News for No 10 (4) 7 Musical drama’s lewd, not suitable for all? That can be put right in the theatre (8) 8 Like stag night, chucking guts, tucking into beer and wine (8) 9 Maybe copper’s description satisfied everyone in charge (8) 15 Perhaps Cod War’s over after day that’s very short (8) 16 Leftie recollected “What’s up Doc?” with sides splitting (8) 17 Laid up with temperature, virus we hear, tried Jumbo for the first time?

(4-4) 19 Removing clothing worn (Dior?), Axelle’s pair seen at last – that’s a beautiful bird! (6) 20 Gabby’s spiteful about husband (6) 23 Pilgrimage endured by Jack (4)

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NEWS

SCIENCE

Thursday, February 5, 2015 | Page 3

NASA begins search for life on Europa Aaron J. Stewart

Printz Reporter & Photographer

Ever since the first highresolution images of Jupiter’s moon, Europa, emerged in 1979, many scientists have dreamed of going to the icy moon to find it teeming with life. That is because Europa is a giant snowball of a moon, completely covered on the surface by a layer of ice, and shows a multitude of signs that it may be hiding an entire ocean of liquid water in its core.

Now, NASA plans to take its first step toward exploring this frozen satellite close-up, to find out if there is something swimming under the ice.

The proposed mission is called Europa Clipper, and the concept is that an orbital spacecraft will launch for Jupiter and conduct a thorough surveillance of the frozen moon, using a fully loaded set of instruments, including an infrared spectrometer, to find out what it is completely made of on the surface, radar to reveal what lies underneath its icy crust and a topographic camera so the scientists can see the moon’s surface with greater detail. According to NASA, the spacecraft will have to be highly radiation-tolerant and will most likely need to be solar-powered due Jupiter’s intense radiation and magnetosphere. It will perform 45 flybys of Europa, and get as close as 16 miles from the moon’s surface.

Many notable scientists, including cosmologist Stephen

continued ECONOMY

impact of same-sex marriage are that it will be a boon to people whose livelihood is connected to weddings,” University of Southern Mississippi history professor Douglas Bristol said.

Bristol, who is also the faculty adviser for the Alliance for Equality on Southern Miss’ Gulf Park campus, said, “I do believe that economic factors are important as a reason for ending the ban on same-sex marriage in Mississippi.”

According to Bristol, there are three reasons why samesex marriage might help boost Mississippi’s economy.

First, there is the positive economic impact from performing same-sex marriages, cited by the Williams Institute. Second, since the overwhelming majority of Fortune 500 companies have policies of not discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation, these companies are reluctant to open in states that do not protect the rights

Hawking and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, are firm believers in the notion that Europa may be hiding an ocean of life.

Hawking explains in his television series “Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking,” that Europa is constantly being molded by the gravitational forces of the planet Jupiter and its other surrounding moons, which creates heat inside Europa’s core, causing the water underneath to melt and sometimes erupt on the surface, much like the liquid magma deep inside the core of Earth.

“If so, their could be aliens living here, creatures that have evolved to exploit this dark and ancient underworld,” Tyson said on StarTalk Radio. “I’m a lifefan for Europa because its been liquid water for billions of years, and any place on Earth we find liquid water, we find life, even the dead sea.”

According to Tyson, the next step is landing a craft onto Europa’s surface that can melt through the layer of ice so that we can have camera footage of what is beneath it.

The discovery of life on Europa would be one of the greatest scientific finds mankind has ever uncovered. Not only would it finally give an answer to whether or not mankind is alone in the universe, but it would also skyrocket the number of places in the universe that science knows life can exist. It will not be too much longer before we pierce through the icy veil of this Jovian moon, and take a look at what is lurking in the deep. of LGBT employees. And finally, ending the ban on same-sex marriage will be an economic boon to LGBT residents of Mississippi who do not receive much-needed support even though 27 percent of LGBT Mississippians raise children, which is the highest percentage in the nation.

The study demonstrated economic benefits that Mississippi could possibly gain with the legalization of same-sex marriage.

But some marriage equality advocates want to make sure that the focus remain on equal rights.

“I think the study is important, because it shows the reverberations that marriage equality can bring throughout society and the fringe benefits to be gained,” said Zachary Stewart, a senior history major and Alliance for Equality executive council member.

“However, I think we have to remember that these economic benefits are not the goal of the movement for equal rights. This is a fight for civil rights guaranteed to all citizens by the Constitution.”

Courtesy Photo Jupiter’s ice-covered moon, Europa, has been the focus of many scientists’ work since the first high-resolution image revealed its icy surface. After 36 years, the mission to discover what is underneath the ice is finally being proposed.

continued REFORM

practice health care could pose problems for Mississippians living in rural areas. It could cause a reduction in health care accessibility for rural Mississippians.

“We want to protect these doctors, who want to set up their own practices, from government interference that might discourage them,” Hill said. “We’re doing everything we can to bring doctors into rural Mississippi.”

While both SB 2534 and SB 2535 were not passed through committees, another bill aimed at health care reform was introduced to the State Senate. On Jan. 19, State Senator Chris McDaniel (R-42) introduced SB 2768. The proposed bill would totally remove the state from any part of the implementation of the ACA. “Our constitutional system

demands that all power that is not given to the central government belongs to the states and the people respectively,” McDaniel said. “We conservatives aren’t saying that we’re against health care. What we’re saying is that there are proper ways to experiment with it and ways not to experiment with it. The central government has no power in this regard and all states have the right to experiment as they see fit.”

The Affordable Care Act has become a very controversial issue due to its centralized nature.

Traditionally states have handled health care policy; the Affordable Care Act signifies that the federal government is taking on a more significant role than it traditionally has in regards to health. This has caused much concern amongst state lawmakers such as Sen. McDaniel.

“I think that it’s important for state government to find their proper role

in the system again,” McDaniel said.

SB 2768 would also place a ban on Medicaid expansion in Mississippi. The reasoning behind this provision is that the expansion of Medicaid would result in greater state spending.

“Medicaid is expanding at an unsustainable rate, and it’s beginning to eat more and more into the state budget,” McDaniel said.

“We know that federal government is $18 trillion in debt and it’s expanding so rapidly that we have to recognize that the growth is unsustainable. We have to begin to prepare for a more conservative government.”

When asked about his expectations for the bill, McDaniel said that he does not expect the bill to make it to the floor for a vote this year.

“Many people in positions of authority are killing bills for purely political reasons, primarily out of a vindictive nature,” McDaniel said.

Page 4 | Thursday, February 5, 2015

FEATURE

LIFE

Fans find community in geek culture Lindsey Kelley Printz Reporter

With TV shows like “The Big Bang Theory” and “King of the Nerds” or the recent proliferation of movies based on comic book character classics, geek culture is more prevalent than ever before.

What is a geek, and is it different from a nerd? Shelby Gable, a senior theatre major, said the difference is subject matter. “(A geek) is someone with an obsession, or someone who fixates on one element of popular culture,” she said. “They spend a lot of time into a specific hobby or interest. A nerd is more focused on knowledge and education.”

While most people may assume that geeks are simply an offshoot of popular culture, looking deeply at the definition of culture reveals that being a geek may mean something more.

John Warrick, chair of the Department of Theatre, defines culture in his lectures as “a way of life; the behavior, beliefs, values and symbols that a group accepts that are passed from one generation to the next.”

“It’s a collection of knowledge, experiences, beliefs and values shared by a group of people,” Warrick said.

ON CAMPUS

Anyone who has encountered a geek of any sort can say that geeks fit into this definition. Geeks value passion and knowledge on specific subjects, whether they be Marvel comics or “Doctor Who.” It is not uncommon to make fast friends at a convention when a fellow fan spots one donning their favorite character’s costume.

Geeks have a language of their own, as well. With the added vernacular of the shows and comics in tow, geeks have added several words to the dictionary such as “cosplay,” “LARPing,” “shipping” and “Whovian.” Walk past a group of fans discussing their favorite show and sometimes they might as well be speaking Greek.

The best culmination of experience that can best be described as geek culture is ComicCon. While aimed toward comic book geeks, ComicCon attracts the best of all genres of geek: anime geeks, gamer geeks, sci-fi geeks, technology geeks, fantasy geeks, role-playing gamer geeks and people who are a lovely mix of all of the above.

“Cosplay” is a large part of these conventions, adding to the fun with costume contests and the opportunity to get a picture with one’s favorite characters. Sarah Runyan, cosplay artist and a senior

theatre major, defines cosplay as “when somebody dresses up as a character from an anime, manga, video game, book, movie (or something else in pop culture).”

“I believe that cosplay is something for everyone,” she said.

“If you are wearing cosplay of a character you admire for whatever reason or to show how much you love the story they are from, then you’re doing it right.”

With the rise of superhero movies such as “The Avengers” and “The Dark Knight,” comic book geek numbers have been rising as popularity increases. “The Big Bang Theory” brought geekiness into the mainstream and Batman and Superman emblazoned merchandise is in vogue, with stores like Hot Topic jumping on the opportunity.

Liz Havard, manager of the the Hattiesburg Hot Topic and proud geek, said she believes accessibility is the key to mainstream geek culture.

“When I was younger, finding comic books and sci-fi goodies required a trip to the comic book store,” she said. “There was only one in Hattiesburg. It was nicely lit and clean, however it was a maledominated place. Now, if a girl wants to find comic books or sci-fi merchandise, she can simply walk

Courtesy Photo

into most retailers or order online.”

With Marvel and DC having slated their production schedules for the next five or more years, the age of the superhero movie has no foreseeable end. Marvel breaks ground in diversity by announcing the first “Black Panther” film as well as “Captain Marvel,” giving the first stand-alone movies to women and

minorities, which has previously been relegated to sidekicks and love interests.

Geek culture is wide and diverse and shows no signs of halting growth. With superhero movies and shows staying on the rise as well as the proliferation of science fiction in media, the age of the geek is here to stay.

Gulf Park professor edits political handbook J.D. Rimann Printz Reporter

At The University of Southern Mississippi, many things go on every day that have a significant impact worldwide. One of these things is the editing of the “Political Handbook of the World,” a nearly 2,000-page tome that weighs in at over six pounds.

The book is more than simply a Texas-sized monstrosity, however.

It features a vast quantity of information regarding the political parties and organizations – both major and minor – in over 200 different countries and territories around the world, as well as entries on various intergovernmental organizations like NATO and the U.N. The guide was declared “the best of its kind” by the Foreign Policy Research Institute, a highly regarded nonpartisan think tank devoted to foreign policy and politics.

Courtesy Photo

The man in charge of this editing process is Tom Lansford, a professor of political science who was the academic dean at the Gulf Coast campus for many years.

“The Handbook provides the most comprehensive overview of the political and governmental systems of all of the countries and territories of the world,” Lansford said.

Lansford first got involved with the guide in 2004, when he joined the team that composes it as an associate editor. Originally in charge of only a cluster of countries in Europe and Africa, his responsibilities steadily increased, until he became co-editor in 2013 and finally sole editor in 2014.

Lansford described the process of putting the renowned volume together. Each edition takes about nine months to be assembled, with the entries being assigned to various contributors in May and the final deadline being in November, when the copyediting process starts.

There are, however, rolling deadlines for each entry to ensure that each one is up to date, with the most current election results or coup information included. Contributors will update entries throughout the entire process in response to sudden political changes. The editor in charge of Yemen is likely scrambling to update his entry right now. The

final editing is then completed in late January or February.

Celsey Shaddox, a senior political science major, found it interesting that the man in charge of this valuable resource is a member of

the Southern Miss faculty.

“The fact that a Southern Miss professor is directly involved with something that is so imposing and important is a great step for not just the university, but the state of Mississippi

as well,” she said. “(Sometimes) it seems like Mississippi tends to get nothing but bad press, but for us to have such an influential hand directly related to large-scale politics is fantastic.”

FEATURE/OPINION

REVIEW

Thursday, February 5, 2015 | Page 5

Hip-hop artist releases aggressive debut album Bradley Presson Printz Reporter

Equipped with rugged flows and the classic boom-bap stylings of ‘90s era goldenage hip-hop, Brooklyn native Joey Bada$$ sets out to prove himself on his debut studio album “B4.Da.$$.”

For those unfamiliar with Bada$$, he has been one of hip-hop’s most promising young faces since 2012. At 17 he garnered critical acclaim for his “1999” mixtape which saw him breathing new life into the hiphop landscape by revisiting the beloved boom-bap sounds of ‘90s era New York greats such as the Wu-Tang Clan, Gang Starr and Nas. Three years later and a few more projects under his belt, his long awaited debut album “B4.Da.$$” has finally been released.

After following Joey’s career since the release of “1999” and not having been as charmed by some of his other projects, I entered “B4.Da.$$” with high hopes and crossed fingers. Luckily, he managed

to completely destroy all of my expectations.

Despite being 15 tracks long with a runtime of nearly an hour, there is little filler.

The entire album is filled with fantastic songs that are a mixture of gritty boom-bap bangers and introspective looks into the pitfalls of newfound success and fame.

One aspect of the album that had me worried, but that I actually found to be a strength of the album, is the relatively small list of featured artists. This lack of outsides voices leaves the project feeling very cohesive and keeps Joey in the spotlight at all times, which is great because he is the best he’s ever been on this album.

The grittier songs on the record like “Big Dusty,” “Christ Conscious” and “No. 99” feature some of most aggressive verses and intricate wordplay of Joey’s career, while the introspective songs “On & On,” “Piece of Mind” and “Paper Trail$” show how much he has matured as he deals with heavier topics like mortality and the pitfalls of wealth in a very sophisticated

and poignant manner.

Joey’s verbal skills are aided by great production from a variety of producers, such as New York legend DJ Premier, Pro Era crew mates Chuck Strangers and Kirk Knight and modern day big names such as Samiyam and Hit Boy. If I had to point to a negative on the album, it is that the album loses momentum after the song “On & On” as the following songs are less aggressive than anything on the front half of the album.

The song “Escape 120” is probably the weakest moment in the album, seeing Joey spit over an electronic-inspired breakbeat. It is nice to see him step out of his usual boom-bap comfort zone but the track just slightly missed the mark.

Overall, Joey Bada$$ has released a stellar debut album and one that will probably stand as one of the best released in 2015. If you are a fan of ‘90s golden age hip-hop or if you don’t want to miss out on one of hip-hop’s most promising young talents, be sure to give this album a listen.

MARDI GRAS

Students find alternatives to NOLA’s hectic festivities Jesse Hammett Printz Reporter

With Mardi Gras rearing its peacock-feathered head in the coming weeks, students are gearing up to make the trip down to New Orleans for the pre-Lent blowout, a promise of dense crowds and thousands of bead necklaces.

Comprised of an audience stretching down the French Quarter, standing elbow-toelbow, the annual parade is reserved for those who find stimulation in high-octane forms of festivity. The celebration will take place in various parts of the city—including Uptown New Orleans and the French Quarter—throughout the week before Lent, but predominantly on Feb. 17, otherwise known as Fat Tuesday.

Not everyone is looking to celebrate in the Big Easy, however. Some students prefer quieter, less crowded venues for merriment, resorting to small gatherings of close friends or family, or taking part in their hometown’s version of the New Orleans events.

Such alternatives are considered by many to be safer ways to have a good time during Mardi Gras’ short season.

Blake Meranto, a junior nursing

major, said he enjoys celebrating with his family at the Nereids Parade in Bay St. Louis.

“I think that this is way safer and easier than a New Orleans parade because there is more space, which makes it less crowded,” Meranto said. “Plus, it is a more kid-friendly environment.

I feel that New Orleans parades get out of hand due to alcohol and large populations.”

The 48th annual Krewe of Nereids Parade begins on Sunday at 1 p.m. and is free for spectators.

Online sources such as the Gulf Live blog, which has a complete detailed list of Mardi Gras parades in Mississippi this season, also have information on where to go for local festivities.

Notable parades in Mississippi include the Gulf Coast Carnival Association Parade in Biloxi and the Krewe of Gemini Night Parade in Gulfport, both of which will take place Feb. 17.

Another student-recommended alternative to the New Orleans parades is the Krewe of Selene Parade in Slidell, Louisiana, which is home to freshman therapeutic recreation major Bethany Vicknair.

Vicknair also said that celebrating in New Orleans does not have to be dangerous and difficult.

“I feel it is safer to go with your whole family or a big group of people,” Vicknair said.

“On Mardi Gras day, my family and I will usually go to the New Orleans or Metairie area and attend the parades there all day long. Although it can sometimes be a hassle to lug coolers, chairs and tents across Lake Pontchartrain, it’s a very fun time once everything is set for the day.”

When asked about their usual methods of celebrating, other students answered with the quick and easy suggestion of getting together with friends and throwing a small party.

Though this may not have the same kind of appeal as heading to New Orleans for a day or two, many people who prefer milder settings find this type of gathering far more suited to their proclivities.

Now is an age in which introversion is a normalcy, since social media and the Internet at large have made it easier for self-identifying introverts to interact with others; no one will raise an eyebrow if you tell them you would rather kick back or even hit the books during Mardi Gras. Most importantly, there is no shame in finding safer ways to celebrate a holiday. Safer, after all, does not mean lesser.

Courtesy Photo

OPINION

Page 6 | Thursday, February 5, 2015

U.S. debates Keystone XL Keystone will hurt more than help Keystone to provide needed jobs Colin Cameron Printz Reporter

Over the past year, the benefits of constructing the Keystone XL pipeline have been hammered into a political staple by the Department of State and supporters, while the cons of such a project were put on the backburner or not logically considered.

In an environmental analysis report, the state department ultimately said the pipeline wouldn’t yield any significant impact on the environment, but fails to recognize the exterior factors in each of its projected “scenarios.” The report fails to include any considerations for the dirty tar sands oil that will be extracted and transported by the pipeline and the greenhouse gas emission that will be produced as a result. For one, this “tar sands oil” that will be extracted and burned is not only extremely labor intensive to retrieve, but is the dirtiest type of liquid fuel on the planet - producing a harmful highsulfur, high-carbon byproduct known as “petcoke.”

Furthermore, the Keystone XL pipeline poses additional environmental threats as well. If constructed, the pipeline would pass directly through America’s agricultural hub, putting the American heartland, as well as one of the world’s largest aquifers, at a constant threat of an environmental catastrophe by potential spills and leaks.

TransCanada’s leaked a total of 14 times in only its first year of operation. In Canada, the consequences regarding this have already begun to take a devastating turn for the unfortunate communities residing downstream from the project.

A health study conducted by the University of Manitoba, titled Environmental and Human Health Implications of Athabasca Oil Sands, revealed and confirmed the association between the oil sands contamination and the increased rate of rare cancers in the surrounding communities.

Should the U.S. follow through with the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, we will likely find ourselves in a similar situation.

However, pipeline construction supporters have seemed to overlook the obvious environmental and health threats that the pipeline poses and instead have chosen to appeal to the American capitalistic spirit, boasting the economic opportunities that the project will generate.

This, quite frankly, is a lot like putting a tiny bandage on a broken arm. The argument that it is necessary to invest in such a dirty source of energy is played out and no longer relevant.

The pipeline will create a few jobs; however, clean-tech jobs are quickly replacing the oil industry as it is, and are actually yielding positive, cleaner forms of energy. Not to mention these jobs are higher paying as well.

Regardless, overall production of this low quality fuel would constitute a rise in gas prices for American consumers.

A logical gray area is insinuated as a result, for the very reason why consumers are having to pay more at the pump is merely being exported and is in no way guaranteed to stay in America.

Should the project pass, it is likely due to the failure to provide adequate considerations for the harmful facts that are pitted against and associated with the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.

Chris Lee

Printz Reporter One of the highly controversial bills making its way through the federal legislature is a bill allowing the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. The passage of this legislation would bring more than 42,000 jobs to the United States at a time when Americans need it the most. Both American workers and American towns, which the pipeline will run through, will benefit greatly from the construction of this pipeline.

The proposed Keystone XL pipeline would stretch from Alberta, Canada, to the oil refineries located on the U.S. coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The pipeline would allow Gulf oil refineries to receive crude oil from Canada they need in order to produce products that are vital to the American way of life, such as gasoline. The pipeline is not a government-funded project. It is a private project that TransCanada wishes to build in the United States that would benefit both the U.S. and our neighbors in the Great White North.

But, the final product is not all that would benefit the United States. To build and maintain this pipeline, TransCanada is going to needs thousands of highly trained and educated U.S. workers.

Many would argue that the unemployment rate in America is down, but they would be ignoring the fact that many U.S. workers have simply given up hope and dropped out of the workforce. The jobs created by the Keystone XL pipeline are a step in the right direction for restoring that hope. The delay of this project delays American workers from receiving the $2 billion in wages that the construction of the pipeline would offer.

In addition to providing well-paying jobs to American workers, the counties in which the pipeline will be built could be see significant economic benefits from the millions of dollars in property taxes that would be payed

by TransCanada. The tax revenue in these counties would be increased significantly allowing the cities to increase spending, which would result in better schools, better buildings, and better services.

America needs gasoline. America needs jobs. America needs the Keystone XL pipeline.

Courtesy Photo

The Southern Miss Interfraternity Council would like to congratulate the following men on their achievement of a 3.0 (or higher) GPA for Fall 2014.

Chapters represented include Alpha Tau Omega, Delta Tau Delta, Kappa Sigma, Phi Kappa Tau, Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, Sigma Nu, and Sigma Phi Epsilon.

Jason Abide Randal Agee William Allen Colton Allgood David Anderson Haden Anderson Richard Apperly Clay Armstrong Hunter Aultman Hunter Authement Aaron Baker Matthew Balcer Austin Banks Benjamin Barham Brooks Becton Ross Bedenbaugh Shelby Beech Preston Bell Ian Benge Matthew Bennett Taylor Blackwell Nick Bohte Ty Bordenkircher Chuck Boucher Morgan Bourne Hunter Braddock Alexander Breaux

Shane Brewer Benjamin Brewer Ross Bridley Jean-Paul Brion Graham Broome Andrew Brown Zachary Burnett Taylor Caffey Reed Caldwell Rodney Campbell Matthew Cantrelle Denton Carney Perre Carter Erik Caves Taylor Christian Clisby Clarke Blake Coco Alexander Collins Adrian Conner Daniel Cook Dylan Copeland Jerry Cruse Andrew Cullinane Matthew Cullinane Turner Davison Jonathan Dawkins Garrett Dawson

James Deen Storm Dees Darry Delaune Chandler Denson Joshua Diaz John Marshall Diffey Mikhail Dixon Ryan Domiano Eric Duckworth Blake Dunaway Herman Dungan Brandon Dunnam Hunter Easterling Tyler Escarra Douglas Estes Andrew Fonte Brooks Foster Brandon Foto Jamie Fountain Hunter Freeman James Garraway Jacob Garrett Trey Garriga Jeffrey George Trenton Goff Maxwell Goodwin

Zachary Gosnell Luke Goss Eric Granberry James Hall Richard Hall Erik Hansson Jordan Hardin Denver Harrelson McKay Harris Hunter Hawkins Austin Hayes Austin Hecht Alexander Herty Michael Heubach Gardner Hewes Scott Hight Chris Hill Andrew Hoang Brady Hoda Zach Howell Jonathan Hughes Zachary Irons Josh Jones Joseph Kasal Austin Keel Dylan Kennedy

Christian Kessenich Tyler King Patrick Kirby Joseph Klepac Tyler Ladner Lloyd Lambeth Zachary Lankford Jonathan Lawler Johnny Le Jonathan Leard Joey Lee Harrison Livingston Francisco Lopez Philip Lott Matthew Mangrum Jamiaus Marion Hunter Martin Will McBryde Michael McCarty Kent McCarty Connor McCleery Will Mcclure Richard McDaniel Peter McDermott Patrick McDermott Matthew McMullan

Jacob McNeese Cody Meadows Taylor Medeiros Ryan Medeiros Adam Miller Trey Mitchell Jordan Mitchell Blake Moore Nicholas Morgan Demetries Morrow Deac Motter Adam Muhsin Ned Nelson Grant Nichols Jeremy Norris Ben Nowell Drew Odom Connor O’Keefe Wayne O’Neal Jacob Palmer Daniel Paul Jackson Perkins Will Pettey Michael Phillips Connor Pitre Benjamin Powell

Anthony Rahaim Christian Randall Thomas Ranshaw Wade Reeder Ryan Reeves Patrick Regan Ross Regan Warren Reilly Brandon Richardson Micah Rimes Tyler Roberts Andrew Robertson Jesse Robinson Travis Rodgers Ty Roepke Tyler Roney Anthony Rooney Cody Rosser Luke Rowe David Rowell Mark Rubelowsky Jordan Russell Christian Saavedra-App Austin Sanders Andrew Sanderson Christopher Satcher

Kent Saucier Zachary Schonewolf Richard Scoggins Mason Seidenburg Tanner Shaw Austin Shelton Kade Sikes Noah Simmons Aaron Smith Joseph Smith Jake Smith Luke Smith Jake Smith Nick Souhlas Adam Sparks James Spear Gary Stanton Will Stevens Drew Stewart Kyle Stoner Samuel Street Brandon Sullivan Josh Sullivan Ashton Swartzfager Nathan Taylor Caleb Taylor

Zack Theriault William Thomas Micah Tompkins Jarred Tramell Justin Untereiner James Valentine Cody Vaughn Derek Vick Jacob Vickers Colin Warren Reid Warren Matthew Warren Tanner Watson Brentley Wells Charles White Samuel White Jonathan Wilkinson Colby Williams Dustin Williams Wilson Williams Chase Wilson Blake Windham Ty Woldanski John Woods Henry Woodyard Kevin Zabawa

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Thursday, February 5, 2015 | Page 7

Blue Raiders’ depth poses steep challenge for USM Joshua Campbell Sports Editor

The Golden Eagles (6-14, 1-8) will continue their frustrating season Thursday as they travel to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to take on Middle Tennessee State (1210, 5-4) in hopes of notching their second conference win.

When looking simply at records and the fact that the Blue Raiders are the home team, this game may appear to be on its way to a blowout.

But Southern Miss actually matches up well against MTSU and lost a heartbreaker to them, 62-61, just three weeks ago.

In that Jan. 15 matchup, MTSU had the lead with under a minute to play before Reggie Upshaw made what would be the game-winning layup with 40 seconds left. USM had a chance to win at the end,

SOFTBALL

but recently dismissed point guard Rasham Suarez missed a threepointer with one second left.

The Golden Eagles held the MTSU offense in check as only two Blue Raiders scored in double figures. What was USM’s undoing in that game was its lack of depth as the bench only logged a total of 27 minutes, leading to many of the Golden Eagle players being exhausted and forcing them to make mental mistakes, evidenced by their 18 turnovers.

USM led in nearly every statistical category: field goal percentage, free throw percentage, rebounds, steals and blocks. But they lost in the two most important categories: turnovers and points.

MTSU is a very balanced and deep team as none of their players average double digits in points and they typically field a 10-man rotation.

That type of depth and balance gives them a huge advantage over Southern Miss as the Golden Eagles only have an eight-man rotation with Chip Armelin and Matt Bingaya seemingly never on the bench.

The Blue Raiders’ fresh legs allow them to play much smarter basketball than the Golden Eagles.

When athletes tire down physically, it becomes harder and harder to stay sharp mentally, leading to costly mistakes. Time and time again this season, USM has been in games late, but failed to close the game out due to mental errors such as poor shot selection, ball movement and assignment defense.

One of the biggest keys to the game Thursday will be Matt Bingaya’s play. Against Western Kentucky, he played arguably the worst game of his collegiate career, scoring just three points on 1-of-6

shooting with four turnovers. Head coach Doc Sadler grew tired of it and took Bingaya out of the game.

While Bingaya has not had the type of breakout season many expected, he has easily been one of the Golden Eagles’ three best players, averaging 13.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals. He will likely be tasked with guarding the Blue Raiders’ leading scorer in Upshaw.

The sophomore forward possesses the same blend of size, strength and athleticism as Bingaya and has taken his game to another level this season. He averages three more points and rebounds than he did as a freshman and is shooting 45.5 percent from the field.

While Armelin has become the Golden Eagles’ heart and soul this season, Sadler will need to find a way to spell him against the Blue

Raiders. Over the past three games, he averages an otherworldly 40.1 minutes per game and 22.7 points.

But against MTSU, there is no way Sadler can afford to play Armelin the length of the game again with the Blue Raiders always having fresh legs on the court. It would be smart to let Armelin sub out a few times over the course of the game, even if it is only for a minute or two, to let him catch his breath and get his legs back underneath him.

It will be an interesting matchup to see how Sadler combats the Blue Raiders’ depth and balance, but without question, this game is going to come down to how well the duo of Bingaya and Armelin to play. At this point, that duo and Norville Carey is about all the Golden Eagles have going for them.

Tipoff is at 7 p.m. at Murphy Athletic Center.

Team eager to surpass low expectations Wilton Jackson

Sports Reporter The Southern Miss softball team will begin the 2015 season on Friday, Feb. 5, traveling to Gulf Shores, Alabama, to take on Jackson State and the University of Houston in the Sand Dollar Classic.

In 2014, the Golden Eagles finished the season (22-31,10-14) in Conference USA under then cohead coaches Kirsten Voak and Jon Malgradi.

This season, the team features a new head coach in Wendy Hogue and an assistant coach in Pete Vamvakas, who are both eager to establish a successful program at Southern Miss.

“When I think about Hattiesburg and Southern Miss softball, I think back to 1999,” said Wendy Hogue when she was named head coach of the softball team. “The very first Southern Miss softball game I ever went to - Courtney Blades, Kenya Peters, Chrystal Stevens. There was an excitement that was around not just softball, but Southern Miss softball. I am excited to finally be a part of that.”

Hogue came over from William Carey where she built the Lady Crusaders into a NAIA powerhouse.

She led the team to six NAIA National Tournament appearances and coached 13 All-Americans.

Her most successful year was 2014 when the Lady Crusaders finished 52-12, ranking second in the final NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 Poll and runner-up in the NAIA Softball World Series.

Like Hogue, Vamvakas came from Baylor University, a team that reached the 2014 Women’s College World Series with a record of 49-16. He spent six years with the Lady Bears.

The Lady Eagles played six exhibition games in the fall in preparation for the spring, allowing players to play at different positions to

see where they fit best on the team.

The Golden Eagles went 5-1 in the six games.

“I think it was a measuring stick.

Not us against other teams, but us against ourselves and where we need to be,” Hogue said. “Now, we have to go from getting better every week to getting better every day.”

On Jan. 8, the Golden Eagles kicked off the season with its first practice which consisted of a conditioning test and practice sessions in nearly freezing temperatures, building the team’s confidence for the upcoming season.

Shelbee Rodgers, a fifth-year senior pitcher, said fans can expect a lot from the team this year, despite what critics may think.

“As a team, we have a lot of energy, passion and excitement,” Rodgers said. “We are going to go all out in every pitch, get the university and the community behind us and

more importantly, the foundation of a new era for this program will be laid.”

When Conference USA released its preseason polls, Southern Miss was picked to finish 10th in the conference. C-USA officials picked Tulsa and UAB in a tie for first, Florida Atlantic in second and Marshall in third.

Despite the odds against them in early season predictions, the Lady Eagles are not worried and are focusing on the growth and chemistry of the team.

“We are working hard each and every day on the mental aspect of the game,” Rodgers said. “We want to be mentally tougher than all of our opponents. We have the talent, now (too).”

USM features a total of 22 players with Shelby Rodgers being the only senior, followed by six juniors, 10 sophomores and five freshman.

Mallory Hayden, a freshman

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infielder from New Braunfels, Texas, said she has no doubts in team being able to boast a winning record and win a conference championship.

“The sky is truly the limit with this team and I expect for us to shock a lot of people and do big things,” Hayden said.

Hayden also said to have success, the team must capitalize on the small aspects of the game.

“Coach Hogue stresses doing the little things that allow you to be a top team in the conference,” Hayden said. “Whether it be having a high field percentage or productive batting average, it is important to get better every single day, stay within ourselves and remain confident in all areas of the game.”

The Lady Eagles’ schedule features two non-conference tournaments in the Sand Dollar and Lion Classics, followed by matchups against Mississippi Valley

State and Ole Miss. Then, they will travel to Gulfport to participate in the Mississippi Gulf Coast Softball Classic before getting into conference action.

Leadership and playing for each other will be key in how well the Lady Eagles can perform as the season unfolds.

“When we come together, I have no doubt we will do great things,” said junior outfielder Katie Cleary. “I am excited to see our offense come together this year because every single player on our roster has the ability to do damage with the bat” The Lady Eagles will start the three-day tournament on Friday against Jackson State at noon, followed by a 3 p.m. matchup against Houston. On Saturday, Southern Miss will play McNeese State and Lamar and close out the tournament on Sunday with a noon matchup against Florida Gulf Coast.

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Page 8 | Thursday, February 5, 2015

BASKETBALL

Lady Eagles must contain Jones and Parker Jacob Kemp

Sports Reporter Coming off an emotional, twopoint win over Western Kentucky over the weekend, the Southern Miss Lady Eagles (13-7, 6-3 C-USA) have no time to rest as they host one of the better teams in the conference, Middle Tennessee State (14-5, 8-1 C-USA), Thursday.

The Blue Raiders have claimed sole possession of first place in Conference USA and have won 10 out of their last 11 ball games, which includes a current five-game win streak.

They hammered UTEP 74-53 on Saturday and gave the Miners their first five-game losing streak since 2004.

The Blue Raiders also have two of the deadliest weapons in the conference. Cheyenne Parker recorded the program’s first triple-double against UTEP and has been the front-runner for the Blue Raiders all season.

Parker is not the only threat for the Blue Raiders; sophomore guard Olivia Jones tacked on 31 points, five rebounds and four steals in Saturday’s contest.

Jones has scored 30 or more points in three games this season and gone over 20 points in 11 games. Parker is the dominant force, snagging over 10.6

rebounds per game, but Jones is the silent killer, hitting shots from everywhere on the court.

There is a weakness for Jones: she has a tendency to take too many shots and not make many. Jones has jacked up over 20 shots in six games this season and a ludicrous 31 against UTEP. If Jones has an off night and throws up 31 shot attempts against the Lady Eagles, MTSU could be in for a long night.

While USM does not have a dynamic duo like the Blue Raiders, but it does have several scoring options that should worry the Blue Raiders. In their last game against Western Kentucky, the Lady Eagles had three players go over doubledigit points.

USM has also won games based on its depth on the bench and has outscored other team’s bench players several times this season, which could be a key factor against MTSU. Voche’ Martin will likely be the one guarding Parker as they have nearly identically height and skill sets. Parker is 6-feet, 4-inches and Martin is just an inch under her at 6-feet, 3-inches and it should be a war down low to see who can get the key rebounds.

While on the flip side, Brooke Rhodes might be the one who could equalize Jones and has one thing Jones does not at this point in her young career, leadership.

Rhodes is a veteran and a senior leader that will look to use her experience to cancel out the high scoring Jones. She could also use her quickness to frustrate Jones, as Rhodes is slightly smaller and quicker than her.

However, do not think Rhodes will only look to play good defense on Jones; Rhodes is also a sharp shooter and gets most of her points from behind the arc.

If Rhodes cannot slow down Jones, then the Lady Eagles could stick Tamara Jones on her and know they would find immediate success. The top rebounder on the team last year, Tamara Jones has a height advantage on Olivia Jones and would probably be the better option to play her defensively.

The Lady Eagles simply need to play as hard and as fast as they did against Western Kentucky which would allow them to pull the upset over the Blue Raiders.

Tipoff is at 6 p.m. Thursday at Reed Green Coliseum.

Courtesy Photo/Joe Harper

Senior Voche’ Martin goes for the basket as the Lady Eagles play against Rice in January.

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