The Student Printz. March 2, 2015

Monday, March 2, 2015

Volume 99 Issue 41

www.studentprintz.com PAGE THREE

PAGE FOUR

NEWS

Human trafficking

Task force works to end sex trafficking in Mississippi.

PAGE FIVE

PAGE SEVEN

F E AT U R E

OPINION

S P O RT S

Department of Theatre encourages gender equality.

Editors react to season three, episode one.

Men’s team records biggest comeback in school history.

Female technicians

‘House of Cards’

Basketball

USM buys research vessel from San Jose State Alan Rawls

Managing Editor

The State College Board approved The University of Southern Mississippi’s $1 million purchase of a research vessel from San Jose State Feb. 25.

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality provided USM the grant to buy the “Point Sur” vessel from the San Jose State University Research Foundation.

The ship will travel from Monterrey, California, to Gulfport via the Panama Canal, a trip estimated to last three weeks.

USM Vice President for Research Gordon Cannon said in a news release the acquisition will provide the university and other interested parties with a well-equipped vessel, with which to explore the Gulf of Mexico and conduct further research about the BP oil spill of 2010.

“Currently, there is no other oceanographic class research vessel home-ported in the northern Gulf of Mexico east of the Mississippi River,” said Monty Graham, chairman of USM’s Department of Marine Science. “Having this vessel in our front yard at the Port of Gulfport will not only provide valuable return to the community for understanding the Deepwater Horizon spill, but will be a prime resource should

ON CAMPUS

another oil spill impact Mississippi’s coastal waters.”

Vernon Asper, a professor of marine science at USM, said the acquisition will help to establish USM as a more credible and respected ocean research institution and one that academic peers will recognize.

“I think the main reason I’m excited about it is that this ship will allow USM to radically improve our educational programs in marine science by providing our students, both graduate and undergraduate, with enhanced opportunities to go to sea, collect samples and gain valuable experience with the ship’s equipment,” Asper said.

According to the Sun Herald, the 135-foot vessel was built in 1980 and can accommodate 13 researchers and technicians for overnight voyages, as well as a crew of eight. Its main deck is 1,100 square feet and includes both a primary laboratory as well as a wet laboratory. Its cruising speed is 9.5 knots and can cover a range of 6,800 nautical miles at 10 knots.

The idea to purchase the “Point Sur” was partly Asper’s. As part of the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, Asper called LUMCON (Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium) to reserve time for the research vessel “Pelican.” Asper was told the vessel was booked

for the year, but LUMCON then suggested USM purchase the “Point Sur.” Asper passed the idea on to Graham, and from thereon, it was a group effort.

“This ship is equipped with lots of state-of-the-art equipment,” Asper said. “As such, it is able to do all kinds of oceanographic research, including towing nets, obtaining deep water samples, measuring currents and obtaining undisturbed ‘core samples’ of the sediments, even in really deep water.”

“As of now, we have something like

seven cruises already scheduled for it in the Gulf and it isn’t even here yet.”

Asper detailed “some of the cool gadgets” that come with the Point Sur vessel: a more advanced and well-equipped CTD rosette for collecting and analyzing water samples, meters built into the hull for measuring currents, a large sediment corer capable of reaching the seafloor even at depths of 3,000 meters, echosounders and much more.

Due to LUMCON’s national reputation for being among the

Courtesy Photo

best research vessel operators, USM has agreed to let LUMCON operate the vessel. Asper said the first cruise will be in April, when he will take his undergraduate class out for a day to demonstrate the equipment onboard.

“We do recognize that this is a major undertaking for the university and for the state, and we very much appreciate the support that we’ve received from the IHL, state agencies and others,” Asper said on behalf of the Department of Marine Science.

Student to act as national consultant Yolanda Cruz Copy Editor

A Southern Miss Delta Gamma is taking an extracurricular and turning it into a career. Elena Lofton, a senior Spanish major, has been chosen as a national consultant for Delta Gamma sorority.

“I have wanted to apply to be a consultant since my sophomore year,” Lofton said. “I was so inspired by the women that traveled to our chapter. They represented what a Delta Gamma should be, and I looked up to them so much.”

Lofton is one of 11 women chosen from Delta Gamma chapters all across the country to become consultants for the

upcoming year. As a consultant, much of Lofton’s job will include being a liaison between the Delta Gamma chapters and the national executive office.

“I will meet with various officers and assist them any way that I can,” Lofton said. “I will also assist the chapters with officer transitioning, recruitment and other issues as needed. I will also do presentations on various topics that are relevant to chapter life such as leadership skills and risk management.”

Lofton has been a member of Delta Gamma since her freshman year and is a member of many other organizations, such as Southern Style and Student Government Association. Lofton also served

as the 2014 president of the College Panhellenic Council at Southern Miss.

“I’ve known Elena since I joined the chapter (in 2013),” said sophomore public relations major Hannah Haulsee. “Elena leads our chapter by serving others, but also with her enthusiasm for Greek unity here at Southern Miss. She is the first to congratulate our members (when) they do something great and the first to volunteer when our members need help.”

Members of the entire Greek community at Southern Miss have congratulated Lofton on her new position, speaking encouraging words of how much she was worked for the university

and Greek Life.

“I consider it a huge honor to be selected for this position,” Lofton said. “I hope to work to better the organization that has helped to make me the woman and leader that I am today.”

According to the Delta Gamma website, the sorority was founded in 1873 in Oxford, Mississippi, at the Lewis School for Girls by Anna Boyd, Mary Comfort and Eva Webb to create a club of mutual helpfulness. They chose the Greek letters Delta and Gamma because of their desire to “Do Good,” which remains Delta Gamma’s motto.

Delta Gamma consultants begin their duties in June of this year and serve until May 2016.

Elena Lofton

INFORMATION

Page 2 | Monday, March 2, 2015

MEET THE STAFF OF SPRING 2015

EDITORS & STAFF Kathryn Miller

Alan Rawls

Mary Sergeant

kathryn.miller@eagles.usm.edu

gregory.rawls@eagles.usm.edu

mary.sergeant@eagles.usm.edu

Parker Brewer

Cody Bass

Executive Editor

Design Editor

parker.brewer@eagles.usm.edu

Yolanda Cruz Copy Editor

yolanda.cruz@eagles.usm.edu

Managing Editor

Social Media Editor

Julie Gore

Graphic Designer

Graphic Designer

Chuck Cook

Katherine Frye

chuck.cook@usm.edu

katherine.frye@eagles.usm.edu

cody.bass@eagles.usm.edu

Printz Adviser

julia.gore@eagles.usm.edu

Ad Designer

Hayley Howard

Nikki Smith

Joshua Campbell

hayley.howard@eagles.usm.edu

ashly.smith@eagles.usm.edu

joshua.campbell@eagles.usm.edu

Web Editor

News Editor

Sports Editor

Susan Broadbridge

Kara Davidson

susan.braodbridge@eagles.usm.edu

kara.davidson@eagles.usm.edu

Photo Editor

Lesley Sanders-Wood Advertising Manager lesley.sanders@usm.edu

Assistant Photo Editor Advertising e-mail printzad@usm.edu

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ACROSS 1 Mole needs to take shelter (6) 4 Yes, we gad about towards the border (8) 10 A trade union backing Arabic style of despotism (9) 11 Take some exercise? That’s unknown (5) 12 Parish priest gets involved in country dance (5) 13 Making comeback, triumphed with great success in several European capitals (4,5) 15 A cold needs treatment at first, working on one part of the body (8,6) 18 Boiler burns out, requiring repair, but this will get flat functional again?

(6,8) 22 A science graduate’s letters will reveal causes of swellings (9) 24 One goes around Romania on trip, having abandoned university (5) 25 Conclude where a street should be located to make it faster? (5) 26 James perhaps will replace Mark in top committee of communists (9) 27 Friend restrains one burning to fight for cause (8) 28 Stockhausen’s not initially simple for the listener (6)

Opinions

DOWN 1 Wash the wound, removing one hospital bandage (6) 2 City chief ’s in charge but not in the right position (7) 3 On which several callers can talk firm political policy? (5,4) 5 Clip that’s cut short (3) 6 Give some women dowries? (5) 7 Made request for a very quiet song (7) 8 Lad’s eating bananas maybe – first off, they’re rich in protein (3,5) 9 Half of material’s associated with allernative names (not American) for Cape gooseberies (10) 14 Only engineer kept apart by struggling boss is becoming redundant (10) 16 One’s charged executive, first of all, with wrong crime (9) 17 Being in newspaper perhaps is maddening at the start (8) 19 University fellow, backtracking, accepts 3? On the contrary (7) 20 Summary dismissal of only child from elocution training (7) 21 Heartless guy pinches bottom (6) 23 Bird, eagle, oddly takes time crossing river (5) 26 Postman’s Knock on the way back (3)

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.

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. Friday. 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.

NEWS

STATE

Monday, March 2, 2015 | Page 3

Southern Miss professor helps fight sex trafficking J.D. Rimann Printz Reporter

In December 2014 Gov. Phil Bryant created a state-wide task force focused on human trafficking.

“We’ve got to stop it,” Bryant said. “(Victims) should not be put through the human trafficking corridor that passes through the state of Mississippi.”

Entrusted with bringing together various agencies and coordinating the effort to fight human trafficking in Mississippi, the task force will also review current practices regarding the response by the state to human trafficking, and will suggest new ideas.

Human trafficking might, at first glance, appear to be an issue that is not pressing in Mississippi, but Brittney Eakins, a political science major who served as the president of Southern Miss Students for Human Rights and focused her

STATE

capstone on human trafficking confirms Bryant’s statement.

“Human trafficking is most definitely an issue in Mississippi,” Eakins said. “Many people wouldn’t expect that, (but) only because they do not understand fully the many different forms of human trafficking.”

The members of the task force were selected from across the state, and one of those members actually makes her home at The University of Southern Mississippi. Tamara Hurst is a professor of social work on campus, whose professional life has been devoted to helping deal with the issues of sex trafficking, especially in regards to the child sex trade.

Hurst was appointed to the task force in large part to help educate other members who may not have the same amount of knowledge regarding human trafficking and its various issues.

“I feel my research, training

and experience in the field of child abuse and child sexual exploitation are my biggest contributions to the task force,” Hurst said. “I also have worked on another state task force and bring with me ideas of what might make the most impact in Mississippi.”

Hurst also pointed out the role universities and other research institutions can play in the battle against human trafficking.

“Universities have a unique and underutilized opportunity to address human trafficking from a workforce development perspective,” Hurst said. “In the USM Social Work Department, the topics of labor and sex trafficking are addressed in our forensics elective.”

It is also important to remember that it is not only certain types of specialists who have a part to play in putting a stop to human trafficking.

“Social workers represent

just one profession that might come into contact with victims of trafficking,” Hurst said.

“Graduates of criminal justice, nursing, mental health, business and education programs also have roles to play in addressing this issue. Members of these professions can work together to assist victims, identify exploiters and prevent exploitation.”

STATE

Tamara Hurst

The task force itself reflects this diversity of roles and is composed of a wide variety of not only of law enforcement officials and academics but also business leaders, state representatives, community representatives and therapeutic experts. Their recommendations are due to Bryant July 1 of this year.

House passes plan to nix income tax Ed Board scolds legislature Alan Rawls

Managing Editor The Mississippi House of Representatives passed a bill 83-32 Wednesday that aims to phase out individual income taxes by 2030.

“I am so proud of the House members who stepped up to support such a transformative income tax cut proposal,” House Speaker Philip Gunn said, according to The Clarion-Ledger.

“This legislation will make a significant, positive impact on the lives of the hard-working Mississippians paying income tax.

They will be able to keep more of the money they earn, in turn stimulating economic growth.”

Though House Democrats opposed the bill, H.B. 1629, and decried it as election-year pandering, enough of them helped the Republicans reach a three-fifths majority Wednesday to send the bill to the Senate.

According to House Democratic Caucus Leader Bobby Moak, D-Bogue Chitto, the tax cut proposal was merely a trap set by Republicans.

“Democrats who voted no would have been set up for nasty negative campaign tactics in their campaigns for voting against the measure,” Moak said. “I do not believe this bill will make it through the legislative process and informed (Democrats) to vote yes in order to stop the Republicans from using the vote against them.”

“It was a sad day that political votes instead of public policy differences were the reason behind the vote for and against on this measure,” Moak added.

As of now, Mississippi residents pay a 3 percent tax on their first $5,000 of income, 4 percent on the next $5,000 and 5 percent

on income exceeding $10,000.

Authored by Rep. Brad Mayo, R-Oxford, the House’s plan would eliminate state income taxes for the 3 percent bracket by 2019, the 4 percent bracket by 2022 and the 5 percent bracket by 2030.

The plan, if passed by the Senate, would go into effect July 1, and is estimated to cost the state $21 million in its first year, escalating to a final cost of $1.7 billion.

House Democrats argued against H.B. 1629 citing Kansas’ revenue problems as adequate reason to kill the bill. In 2013 Kansas approved legislation that would eventually eliminate individual income taxes, but the state’s government revenue dropped by more than 11 percent within a year. Kansas has since made budget cuts for public education, universities and other agencies, and officials there are considering tax hikes.

Mayo’s tax proposal, Republicans say, includes a “growth trigger,” which makes it staunchly different from Kansas’ tax cuts. Gunn said this growth trigger means that the income tax cuts would only go into effect in years that state revenue grows by at least 3 percent.

“Growth trigger or not, the Mississippi Republican House plan and the Kansas plan have a lot in common,” Moak said.

“If you look at the (committee) debate, they were so stung with the Kansas analysis they tried to distance themselves from it immediately when explaining their bill from the podium.”

According to Moak, there are some important similarities between the Mississippi and Kansas plans. Both plans result in cuts to state institutions like public schools and universities, both will

decrease revenue for basic needs of government and both cater to the wealthiest citizens.

“Fifty-one percent of the population pay income tax,” Moak said. “Of that 51 percent the lowest will only see a $13 per year savings while the top bracket taxpayer will see a $22,000 savings.”

Income tax comprises 31 percent of state revenue, or $1.7 billion. Senior policy analyst at the Mississippi Economic Policy Center Sara Miller said the elimination of the state income tax would likely result in a “tax shift.”

“If we eliminate the income tax, in order to avoid drastic cuts to vital state services like schools and universities, revenue would have to be raised in other ways like sales taxes and property taxes — taxes that hit lower and middle-income Mississippians especially hard,” Miller told The Clarion-Ledger.

“Generally speaking, individuals in Mississippi are going to spend more money in a more productive manner than the government will,” said Forest Thigpen, president of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy. “The states with no income taxes are those seeing the most growth in their economies and in job growth.”

But according to Miller, the states with no income tax have special circumstances, allowing them to collect revenue via other taxes. USA Today reported that the seven states with no income tax — Alaska, Washington, Texas, Nevada, Florida, South Dakota and Wyoming — relied on natural resources and a flourishing tourism industry to make up for lost revenue.

State legislators have until late March to pass a budget and pass or kill tax proposals.

Chris Lee

Printz Reporter Last week, the Clarion-Ledger reported several harsh comments made by the Mississippi Board of Education regarding the state legislature’s attitude towards education reform. The remarks came after a meeting where the board discussed ways to improve failing school districts and other issues. According to the report, Board President called the current situation in Jackson, “the worst political environment for education since desegregation.”

“There’s a hostile environment across the street toward public education,” Board of Education member William Harold Jones told the Clarion-Ledger. The board members criticized the legislature’s lack of commitment to improving Mississippi’s public education system.

The legislature came under fire following the house voted to delay the Literacy-Based Promotion Act, which has come to known as the third grade reading gate. The act, that was passed in 2013, would require third grade students to be reading proficiently before being allowed to advance to the fourth grade.

The legislature’s actions induced a frustrated reaction from Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant, who supported the reading gate legislation. The Governor responded by saying, “it is little wonder that Mississippi’s public education system has been an abysmal failure.”

“I have not walked a mile in any of their shoes, so I choose not to judge,” said Lamar County Superintendent Tess Smith. “I do wish that people in key positions would stop making generalized statement like calling our education

system an abysmal failure. It is not a true or fair statement.”

Bryant’s Spokeswoman, Nicole Webb, specified that the governor’s comment was directed at members of the state legislature rather than educators and students.

“The governor’s comment last week was directed toward House members who apparently have decided it’s a good idea to scrap probably the most important education reform enacted so far,” Bryant’s spokeswoman, Nicole Webb told the Clarion-Ledger.

“While I understand the frustration of Board members, I do not think the governor’s recent remarks criticizing the state of education or the State Board reflect the attitude of rank and file House members,” said House Education Committee Member Toby Barker (R-102).

“Rhetoric is very powerful, and it shapes the attitude and morale of all stakeholders. Therefore, all elected and appointed officials need to be careful with their words.

Our education system needs real commitment to resources and evidence-base policy, not finger pointing or unproductive generalizations.”

“Funding, leadership, community involvement and efficiency are all equally important factors in growing student achievement,” Barker said. “The Legislature has made strides in all four of these areas in recent years but needs to do more.

Specific to funding, it’s important to look at the whole of our state budget. We must examine which other agencies are requiring more spending; simply because these other agencies take resources away from education. If we can bend cost curves in programs like Corrections and Medicaid, this frees up more funding to invest in education.”

FEATURE

Page 4 | Monday, March 2, 2015

ON CAMPUS

Women enter male-dominated scene Emma Reeves Printz Reporter

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; the acronym is commonly used to refer to highly technical fields. It is also thought to be a stereotypically male category of work.

However, in the Department of Theatre at The University of Southern Mississippi, there are several female technicians ready to work as equals to their male counterparts. Working in the scene shop, these women regularly use STEM knowledge to do carpentry, welding, electrical lighting and other skills needed to create the sets for the many productions performed by the department.

A common theme among many

women in shop was an early introduction into theater, as well as a love for creating.

“When I took scene design, I really got to use the creative side of my brain and the logical side of my brain, and that satisfied all of what my brain wanted to do,” said Lacey Lites, first-year graduate student in scenic design for theater and graduate assistant in the scene shop.

However, another common theme found among these women was the need to combat stereotypes. Bronwyn Teague, a first-year graduate student in light and sound design, mentioned the “funny looks” people give her when she mentioned her job, and Lites mentioned the tendency of people to question her capabilities because of her gender.

“No matter how good you are, people will always doubt your abilities,” Lites said. “It’s harder to get a job in this field.”

“Being a female in this specific program, it’s kind of frustrating to know that you’re constantly kind of trying to prove that you can do the work,” said Kensey Coleman, a senior theatrical design and technology major with a focus on scenery and the assistant scene designer for the upcoming production, “Machinal.”

Teague, Coleman and Lites all agreed bias against women is beginning to vanish, especially as more people are made aware of the problem; however, it is still problem because there are fewer women than men in the field.

“It’s difficult to kind of stay motivated when you aren’t seeing a lot of the women doing

the heavy work,” Coleman said.

“We need more visibility when it comes to the work female engineers have already accomplished, so young girls know it’s not just men who are behind technology they use in their everyday lives,” said Heather Huhman in a 2012 Forbes article.

The three students agreed the best way to combat stereotypes and bias is to ignore it while working hard. Confidence in doing the job well was the main advice all three women had to offer. “Don’t be afraid to do it. If that’s what you want to do, do it.

Try not to listen to the negativity, and do the job the best of your ability, and if you do the job well, they’ll like you regardless,” Teague said.

According to an Forbes article

by Heather Huhman, she reported that, “A 2011 report by the U.S. Department of Commerce found only one in seven engineers is female. Additionally, women have seen no employment growth in STEM jobs since 2000.”

The National Girls Collaborative Project, an organization dedicated to instilling an interest in STEM in girls kindergarten through 12th grade, said, “Female scientists and engineers are concentrated in different occupations than are men, with relatively high shares of women in the social sciences (58 percent) and biological and medical sciences (48 percent) and relatively low shares in engineering (13 percent) and computer and mathematical sciences (25 percent).”

We need more visibility when it comes to the work female engineers have already accomplished, so young girls know it’s not just men who are behind technology they use in their everyday lives.

- Heather Huhman, Forbes

Lindsey Kelley/Printz

Lindsey Kelley/Printz Taylor Russell, Amanda Boe and Ashley Fitzgerald sand and grind a set of steel stairs to be mounted for the studio production of “Machina,” which opens March 26.

Kensey Coleman welds a piece of meatal in the Theater and Dance building.

OPINION

Monday, March 2, 2015 | Page 5

TELEVISION

Tensions brew in House of Cards opener Alan Rawls

Yolanda Cruz

Nikki Smith

Unlike the last two seasons, I plan on savoring each season three episode of “House of Cards” by watching one episode at a time. That being said, I really wanted to watch four or five more after that first episode, because I’m wondering what in the world this season will be like.

The first two were great — a cutthroat politician, willing to do anything to get to the top, ascended to the presidency. So what’s the Underwood presidency going to look like?

Some things were expected, and some things weren’t. I wasn’t at all surprised at Frank’s unorthodox visit to his father’s grave, and Netflix didn’t catch me off guard by showing how rocky of a start Frank had in the White House.

But I had kind of hoped the character Doug Stamper would just die off so that we didn’t have to put up with his weirdness, but lo and behold, the first episode focused mostly on him. I want to see Frank dominate Washington, but this “Chapter 27” briefly showed a glimpse into his struggles within the first six months of his term.

I appreciate the realism of it though. Clearly Frank and Claire have a marriage based on political agreement — Frank’s gogetter politics would propel Claire into a political career — and now we begin to see what Claire really wants to do.

Finally, I can’t wait to see how Frank’s jobs program goes.

What was one of the surprising things I saw in “Chapter 27?”

President Underwood’s goal of cutting any and all entitlement programs did the trick.

All in all, I’m satisfied (temporarily) but I’d be more content if Stamper would get it together.

The phrase “a house divided” takes a deeper meaning when the house in question is the White House. As I began watching the newly released season this weekend, this was the best way I could sum up what is going on with the First family.

As always, this season does not disappoint. It opens with Frank Underwood’s approval rating as president being shockingly low while trying to propose a jobs bill to Congress and dealing with the possibility of re-election. Even Claire seems to be losing faith in her husband as she is constantly put to the side to get Frank’s goals achieved. I began to wonder if he would really make it out of the situation triumphant.

Though, when you consider the fact that the show is a loose adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Richard III,” one could probably guess Underwood’s fate already.

One of my favorite parts of the new season is how the audience gets to know more about Doug Stamper. He was just Underwood’s go-to guy, but the opening of season three is the first time I’ve really felt he was human. Seeing him in his vulnerable state during his recovery made me empathize with him more, and I want to follow him as he tries to find his place again. A man who has put his whole life into his work doesn’t know what to do with himself with everyone urging him to rest, and his story takes a much interesting turn in this season.

I don’t want to give away any spoilers for anyone who was actually productive during the weekend, but make sure to give it a watch. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys politics, drama and scandal.

The long-awaited third season of “House of Cards” caught me off guard. Frank Underwood left me in awe after his elaborate and twisted rise to the presidency at the end of season two.

Frank Underwood is one of those characters I love to hate. He is repulsive and terrible, yet I want everything to go his way anyway. I catch myself cheering him on as he lies and cheats his way to power.

After only watching the first episode, I can say I’m pleased to see that Doug Stamper is still alive, even if he is kind of a creep. God help Rachel if he ever finds her. I imagine he will kill himself over the course of this season just trying to get his old job back.

I have suspected a power struggle between Claire and Frank Underwood since the very beginning. As they both have worked to further his political career, I have been waiting for her to resent his tactics.

I could see a bit of this brewing last season, but their fight over her nomination for ambassador proved my suspicion. She echoed my exact feelings when she said, “I’ve been in the passenger seat far too long. It’s time for me to take the wheel.”

As Frank Underwood said at the end of season two, “The road to power is paved with casualties. Never regret.” I can’t help but wonder if one of these will be his marriage.

Managing Editor

Copy Editor

News Editor

Courtesy Photo

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

SGA fails to consider social aspect of smoking

To the editors of The Student Printz:

I would like to comment on the proposal to make USM smoke-free in fall 2016. While the idea is that this will make the campus healthier for non-smokers and perhaps encourage smokers to quit, there is little evidence to support this.

First, almost all studies of secondhand smoke involve people who are in small, enclosed spaces such as bars and restaurants, not in outdoor spaces such as our designated smoking areas.

Regardless, no one on this campus is forced to be around us smokers, and if they choose to be, they are not in enclosed spaces.

Second, despite all the efforts to get us to quit, 25 percent of Americans still make the choice to do what is perfectly legal. Forcing us off campus is not going to change that. We will quit when we are ready, not because you want to force health on us.

But for me, the real loss for us at the Liberal Arts Building patio will be the community that we have formed. Smoking is not just

personal; it has social components.

We smokers sit on the LAB patio between classes and we talk to each other — unlike non-smokers who sit with their faces glued to their smart phones and never talk to each other.

We discuss politics and culture and other interesting things that were discussed in class or seen on the news. For myself, I thoroughly enjoy the time I spend on the patio with students — not just mine. I establish real relationships with them. I learn their names, what they like and dislike, what is going on in

their lives and more.

If I am forced to go off campus to smoke, I will lose this valuable time connecting with students. And students who know they can find me on the patio are more likely to come find me there than in my office. It is very lonely holding office hours in my office.

Kicking smokers off campus will change little as far as health is concerned, but it will diminish the quality of the social environment for many of us.

In a world where so many of us already feel isolated and

disconnected, I find it sad that the SGA wants to add to that isolation and disconnection. I support the SGA’s effort to improve the quality of food on this campus, since obesity actually creates more health-related problems and increases health costs more than smoking, but I wish they would consider that making USM smokefree has social costs that are rarely considered in this debate.

Professor of political science Kate Greene, Ph.D.

SPORTS

Page 6 | Monday, March 2, 2015

BASEBALL

McMahon’s complete game shutout clinches series Ashley Hickman Sports Reporter

The Southern Miss Golden Eagles traveled to Alabama for a weekend series against Troy, resulting in a series win over the Trojans.

In game one, Troy quickly jumped ahead of the Golden Eagles in the bottom of the first inning.

Trojans’ Nick Masonia singled to the left side on a 3-2 count and then advanced to second on a wild pitch from Christian Talley. Logan Hill then crushed the ball over the center field fence for a two-run home run, giving the Trojans an early 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the second inning, Troy scored another run on an RBI groundout by Matt Sanders increasing their lead over USM to 3-0.

Southern Miss was able to get runners on base for the third inning in a row, but could not score. After three innings, USM had left five runners on base.

Troy added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning on a bases-loaded walk by Tripp Calhoun, leading to Jake Winston relieving Talley on the mound.

The USM offense finally felt a spark when leadoff hitter Connor Barron crushed the ball over the right field fence for a solo homerun. It was Barron’s second of the season and narrowed

the gap to 4-1.

Troy added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, increasing their lead over the Golden Eagles to 6-1.

USM’s Tim Lynch led off the top of the sixth inning with his second home run of the year over the right field fence, but that was the last run the Golden Eagles scored.

Southern Miss was unable to catch up with the Trojans’ lead and lost game one 6-2.

Talley took the loss for the USM pitching staff, giving up nine hits with five strikeouts. Ryan Ellis had three hits for USM as Barron and Lynch had two hits and a home run apiece.

Cody Carroll was granted the start on the mound for USM in game two, which turned out to a pitching duel.

The game remained scoreless throughout the first six innings, with both teams playing hard-nosed defense.

In the top of the seventh inning, Matt Durst singled up the middle and Daniel Keating came in to pinch run. Lynch then crushed a two-run home run over the right center field fence, his third of the year, giving USM a 2-0 lead.

Carroll’s no hitter ended in the bottom of the eighth when JoEl Bennett reached first on an infield single. The Golden Eagle defense held off any Trojan attempts to score.

Junior Cody Carroll pitches for the Golden Eagles as the baseball team wins two of the three games against Troy in Alabama this weekend.

In the bottom of the ninth, Ryan Milton was brought in to relieve Carroll off the mound, looking to close the game for USM. Milton walked the first two batters and Trevin Hall sacrifice bunted to the pitcher, advancing the runners to second and third base.

Cody Livingston replaced Milton on the mound for Southern Miss.

David Hall doubled to right field, scoring both runners and tying the

game 2-2.

Southern Miss was able to get out of the inning and send the game into extra innings.

Chase Scott led off the top of the tenth inning with a walk for USM. Sterling then sacrifice bunted, advancing Scott to second base.

Scott advanced to third on a Nick Dawson ground out followed

by Barron and Breck Kline loading up the bases on a walk and a

Courtesy Photo

catcher’s interference call.

Dylan Burdeaux then walked, scoring Scott from third base.

Keating drilled the first pitch he saw to right field, clearing the bases, for a three-run triple, increasing USM’s lead to 6-2.

Nick Johnson swapped with Livingston on the mound, ready to close out the win for USM. Southern Miss retired Troy in the tenth inning, winning the game by a final score of 6-2.

Southern Miss dominated a windy, rainy game three Sunday afternoon.

The Golden Eagles jumped out to an early lead when Sterling singled to center field for an RBI and a run-scoring grounder by Barron gave USM the 2-0 lead.

In the top of the third inning, Durst led off for USM with a double to right field. Lynch followed up with a double of his own, scoring Durst from second and increasing the Golden Eagle lead to 3-0.

Barron led off the top of the fourth inning with a solo home run shot to left field on a 1-1 pitch, making the score 4-0 in Southern Miss’ favor.

In the top of the seventh, Burdeaux singled between third base and the shortstop. Durst then grounded out, advancing Burdeaux to second base.

Lynch followed with a single to right field, giving Taylor Braley the opportunity to push another run across home plate. Braley answered with an RBI groundout to first base, increasing USM’s lead to 5-0.

The Golden Eagles shutout Troy in a 5-0 win behind McMahon, who pitched a complete game.

McMahon gave up six hits with eight strikeouts and earned the win.

USM will travel to Mobile, Alabama, Tuesday to face the South Alabama Jaguars at 6:30 p.m.

SPORTS

Monday, March 2, 2015 | Page 7

BASKETBALL

Armelin goes out in style in final home game Julius Kizzee Sports Reporter

Southern Miss (9-19, 4-13) defeated the UTEP Miners (19-9, 11-5) at home Saturday, 63-60, completing the largest comeback in school history. The Southern Miss team held a ceremony for leading scorer Chip Armelin for the last home game of his collegiate career.

Southern Miss won back-toback games for only the second time this season. The last time they had back-to-back wins was Nov. 14 and 17.

Southern Miss used a 30-8 run to come back in the game, overcoming a 24-point deficit in the final 11 minutes. Southern Miss overcame the biggest deficit in school history, tying the game at 58 on an Armelin three-pointer.

“Pretty much after (Shadell) made his three, I already knew we were going to win,” Armelin said.

“Just kept digging in, trying to find a way to win.”

Southern Miss finished the game making all seven of their last shots and holding UTEP to miss their last four field goals.

Millinghaus finished leading the team in both points and rebounds for the game with 17 and six, respectively.

The Golden Eagles as a team shot 27 percent from the field in the first half, en route to only having 20 points. The team shot 1-of-11 from beyond the arc as well. In the second half, the Golden Eagles came to life, scoring 43 points in the half on 53 percent shooting from the field.

Norville Carey shot 58 percent from the field on 7-of-12 shooting for the game. He also added five rebounds and made three free throws. Carey helped put the game away with a late jumper with just under 30 seconds left to put the Golden Eagles up two.

“We stuck together and played as a team and everybody contributed,” Carey said. “We came out victorious.”

The Golden Eagle defense provided the offense, forcing 11 steals and swatting four shots away. UTEP finished shooting 42 percent from the field and 32 percent from three for the game.

USM only committed five turnovers during the whole game. The team forced 17 UTEP turnovers, leading to 22 points for the Golden Eagles.

Armelin scored only four points in the first half, shooting 1-of-5 from the field and going 0-of-2 from deep. But he came alive to hit 5-of-

7 shots from the field in the second half. His only three-pointer, was the dagger to tie the game up in the second half.

Armelin is the only senior on the team and leaves Hattiesburg with a win for the fans.

“We hate to see Chip leave,” said head coach Doc Sadler. “(I’m) very happy for him, very happy for all the guys.”

Starting two players at 6-feet, 8-inches, the Miners had a size advantage on the Golden Eagles squad. The Golden Eagles were outrebounded 40-29, allowing every player that played for UTEP grab at least two rebounds.

“This is a good comeback,” Carey said. “Somehow, we did not feel like down about it because when were losing by that much. We normally put our head and say we don’t have a chance. We just kept on fighting.”

The Golden Eagles gave up 26 points to Earvin Morris, who 8-of-17 shots and 5-of-11 from deep. Morris had 16 points in the first half and 10 points in the second half. No other player scored more than 10 points in the game for the Miners.

Southern Miss will play its last game of the season on March 5 against Louisiana Tech in Ruston, Louisiana.

Abby Smith/Printz

Junior Norville Carey makes a shot for his team during the game against UTSA Thursday night. The Eagles won 70-66.

BASKETBALL

Lady Eagles top UTEP on the road, 66-60 Jacob Kemp Sports Reporter

The Southern Miss Lady Eagles competed in their final road contest against UTEP Sunday and came away with the victory, 66-60. The game was tightly contested as there were nine lead changes in the ball game.

The win improved the Lady Eagles’ record to 20-8 on the year and 13-4 in conference play.

The Lady Eagles used a 25-point game from Tamara Jones and a 12-point, nine-rebound game from Jerontay Clemons to overpower UTEP. Voche Martin led the Lady Eagles with 10 rebounds and as a whole, USM dominated on the glass, 48-39.

The first half was a war between both teams, each team trading the lead throughout. UTEP shot a miserable 34 percent from the field in the first half compared to Southern Miss’ 51 percent.

Despite their shooting woes, the Lady Miners led at the half 37-35 and USM’s Conference USA championship hopes were in danger. With the start of the second half, the contest remained much of the same.

USM stormed back in the

middle of the second half and used an 8-0 run, led by Tamara Jones, to gain the lead. The Lady Eagles led 54-45 before UTEP went on a 7-2 run of their own before a media timeout helped the Lady Eagles to refocus.

The Lady Eagles could not shake the pesky Lady Miners late as they had done with previous opponents. UTEP kept the score within two with less than a minute left.

The Lady Miners could not stop the Lady Eagle offense down the stretch and had to resort to playing the foul game.

Clemons came through and nailed the first free throw. She missed the second.

Alex Coyne earned a defensive rebound on the other end and she was also sent to the line. She hit the first and missed her second.

Clemons then came away with her ninth rebound and earned her second trip to the line in the span of 30 seconds. She sank the first free throw, but again missed the second and gave the Lady Eagles a 63-60 lead with 25 seconds left.

UTEP missed the ensuing three pointer and it all but sealed the game for USM. On the defensive end, Martin picked up key rebounds and a

couple of blocks and stifled the Lady Miners down the stretch and held them to just eight points

through the last four minutes in the game.

The Lady Eagles will conclude

the regular season at home next Thursday against Louisiana Tech. Tipoff is at 4 p.m.

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