The Student Printz. April 2, 2015

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Volume 99 Issue 47

www.studentprintz.com PAGE FOUR

PAGE FIVE

NEWS

UPD recognition

F E AT U R E

Campus police receives national accreditation.

SAE

Amid national controversy, USM’s chapter denies ever hearing chant.

PAGE ELEVEN

PAGE EIGHT

OPINION

‘The Hunting Ground’ Film explores sexual violence at universities.

S P O RT S

Jerontay Clemons

Junior women’s basketball player discusses 2014-2015 season.

Lewis places first in Golden Eagle Idol

Telvin Lewis wins SMAC’s Golden Eagle Idol Wednesday night in Bennett Auditorium. He brought home the gold by singing a memorable rendition of Sam Smith’s “Not the Only One.”

Sydne’ Autry Printz Reporter

Telvin Lewis, a senior entertainment industry major, won the first Golden Eagle Idol Wednesday night at Bennett Auditorium.

“I’m speechless right now,” Lewis said. “It’s been a crazy senior year. Wow, I’m just excited to win.”

Fellow Golden Eagles were in attendance to support the eight contestants competing for the

beloved title. Throughout the night, each contestant belted the song of his or her choice proving to the audience immediately that it would be a tough competition.

The competition, emceed by SMAC president Gavin Snyder and “The Voice” contestant Briar Jonnee Blakley, featured two full rounds of intense competition.

The first round consisted of pre-recorded introductions of each contestant, followed by his or her medley. During the second round, Sarah-Bailey

Roberts, a senior nursing major, joined Lewis on stage as they battled it out for the title.

One of the most memorable moments of the night was when the two vocalists went head-tohead with powerful tunes in the final round. Roberts chose to sing Whitney Houston’s “I Look to You,” while Lewis went with Journey’s “Open Arms” winning him the show.

“I ended up choosing ‘Open Arms’ because its my mom’s favorite song and I felt it really

shows off my vocal range,” Lewis said.

Another entertaining part of the night came when Chaotic Movement dance troupe treated the audience to a performance.

The dancers performed several routines to popular hits, providing the competition with a brief intermission.

While the judges deliberated on the finalists of this competitive night, a performance by The Stage Monkeys improv group took place that

Kelley Joe Brumfield/Printz

involved the crowd’s creativity and participation.

The People’s Choice Awards was presented to Roberts, along with the second-place title and a cash prize of $100. Lewis was awarded $200.

Lewis said plans to gain an internship at Sony Music Label and start a record label.

“I think Telvin won mainly because he’s a vocal genius, he’s very good,” Blakley said.

“He’s just talented. It’s a Godgiven gift.”

Page 2 | Thursday, April 2, 2015

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Dirty Birds

• On Monday, auto burglary was reported in the Century Park North parking lot at the Longleaf Trace entrance at 3 p.m.

The case remains open.

• On Tuesday, petit larceny was reported in Mississippi Hall at 5:25 p.m. The theft occurred between Wednesday, Jan. 7 and Tuesday, March 31. The case remains open.

Editorial Policy

The views represented in The Student Printz’s columns and editorials do not necessarily represent those of the faculty, staff, or administration of The University of Southern Mississippi.

We welcome letters to the editor representing similar and contrasting opinions. To be eligible for publication, all submissions must include name, class distinction, major, phone number, and email address. Submissions should be emailed to printzeditors@gmail.com by 5 p.m. 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.

Police Contact Information

When reporting, the following information should be provided:

• Nature of the crime or emergency • Name, address and phone number of the caller • Location of incident • Description of the scene and suspects • Description of any vehicles involved, especially license plate numbers

Source: www.krazydad.com

University Police 911 (emergency) 601.266.4986 (non-emergency) Bond Hall, First Floor West

NEWS

GREEK LIFE

Thursday, April 2, 2015 | Page 3

NPHC fraternity claims Chapter of the Year Kathryn Miller Executive Editor

The University of Southern Mississippi’s Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc chapter, Kappa Iota took home three notable awards during the 79th Provincial Council Meeting in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The provincial meetings are held each year for undergraduate and alumni members to come together and discuss things including national-level initiatives in the fraternity, fraternity business through interactive sessions and community service opportunities.

Over the past three years at provincial meetings, the Kappa Iota chapter has won numerous awards, and this year was no different. USM’s chapter was the third-time winner for the Southwestern Province Chapter of the Year Award.

“It is hard to win this award, but to win it three times in a row speaks volume about this chapter and the leadership

with in it,” said Perry Robinson, a junior broadcast journalism major and the vice-polemarch for the Kappa Iota chapter.

“I am so proud to be a member of this chapter and to see that our hard work, dedication and leadership does not go unnoticed.”

USM’s chapter competed against undergraduate and graduate levels in Kappa Alpha Psi, which make up 12 provinces across the nation, with the largest being the Southwestern Province.

Special recognition was given to undergraduate and alumni members that demonstrated exceptional campus involvement, campus leadership, community service, leadership in fraternity or fulfilled and led major fraternity initiatives in their chapter, province or nationally.

Jerome Brown, the fraternity’s offcampus adviser, also received the Adviser of the Year Award. He is an alumni member of the Hattiesburg Alumni chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi

Courtesy Photo

From left to right: senior broadcast journalism major Wilton Jackson, senior kinesiotherapy major Kyle Oatis and junior broadcast journalism major Perry Robinson

Fraternity, Inc., a graduate of Jackson State University and serves as the senior vice president and director of community development at First Bank of Hattiesburg.

“Serving my fraternity as an adviser is one of the greatest joys of

being a fraternity member,” Brown said. “It is important to put young men on a pathway for success in helping them to achieve in every field of human endeavor.”

Among the awards, senior broadcast journalism major Wilton

Jackson won the Highest GPA award, with this being the second time he has received the prize.

Trent Johnson, a senior exercise science major and 2014-2015 National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) president, said the success of his chapter over the last three years makes him proud to be a member.

“It is (a) pleasure to receive the awards because it’s a reflection of the time and effort that’s put in by members of the chapter,” Johnson said. “It is good to know that when my school days (are over), this chapter will remain in good hands in the years to come.”

Kappa Iota was chartered at The University of Southern Mississippi Oct. 10, 1980.

ON CAMPUS

McCauley talks religion, science in Tuesday’s lecture Jesse Hammett Printz Reporter

Starting a dialogue about religion and science is not unlike walking a tightrope. One slip and you can fall into a river of fallacies and backpedaling. The subjects are two poles in between which many would argue lies no connection at all. But as 100 students took their seats in an auditorium Tuesday night, Robert McCauley approached the microphone to set a few things straight.

In Bennett Auditorium, the Department of Philosophy and Religion, in partnership with the Southern Miss Honors College, Phi Kappa Phi honor society and the Mississippi Humanities Council, introduced guest speaker Robert McCauley of Emory University as a part of an ongoing lecture series called Philosophical Fridays.

McCauley discussed the cognitive aspect to religion’s organic development across the human spectrum and why he believes it is more natural than science.

During his lecture, McCauley emphasized the intersection of science and religion. He opened the talk by discussing what he called “intuitive versus maturational cognition” and later went on to discuss children’s organic development of language and understanding of basic physics. He afterward conferred about his views on science and inorganic human pursuit.

In the third and final portion of his lecture, McCauley gave a talk on the recentness of science in human history and divulged that religion, being widespread across cultures and even predating humanity as we know it, is a

natural development by way of universal human cognition. He suggested that religion’s popularity can be attributed to its nativity to the human mind.

Following the lecture, attendees had the opportunity to ask McCauley questions and purchase his book, “Why Religion is Natural and Science is Not.” Students and faculty alike gave McCauley a very warm welcome, applauding at every chance they could. He even made a few book sales.

According to English major Jeremy Childress, a student who attended the lecture, Philosophical Fridays are well worth the attention.

“I think I’ve attended every one of them,” Childress said. “They’re actually quite well done.”

McCauley has thus far written five books, two of which have been edited. He has another book on which he has recently started work with another author.

“The title of the book is to be ‘Gods in Disorder,’” McCauley said.

“What we’re going to be arguing is that, well, we’re defending a position we call ‘ecumenical nationalism.’ That’s to say that religious people aren’t crazy.”

McCauley said he has worked in education for 36 years. He is the director of the Mind, Brain and Culture at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and is a regular university speaker.

Tuesday evening was the fifth talk he has given this year, and he is scheduled to speak at the University of Texas next week. In January, he gave a lecture at a conference in China.

McCauley’s books can be purchased from his website, robertmccauley.com, where additional information and his blog can also be found.

Brandon Allen Heather Allen Julian Allen Rusty Anderson Sandra Anderson Sharon Anderson Kristi Baxter Ann Blackwell

Kim Brown Normia Davis Dilhan Fernando Connie Geske Rick Hankins Elayne Lockett Jeff May Beverly McNeese Vanessa Molden

Lawrence Panella Bob Pierce Kristi Pierce Andrea Phillips Pam Posey Melissa Ravencraft Karen Reidenbach Valerie Simmons Paige Strickland

Mary Sumrall Betty Sykes Paul Sykes Ed Tisdale Cheri Waldrup Sara Warren Delories Williams Gallayanee Yaoyuneyong

Page 4 | Thursday, April 2, 2015

ON CAMPUS

FEATURE

UPD meets rigorous standards, receives accreditation Colin Cameron Printz Reporter

The University of Southern Mississippi’s Police Department recently received national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). The accreditation was awarded for Southern Miss UPD’s excellence in several aspects of law enforcement including everything from emergency response to management.

According to CALEA’s official website, in order to receive accreditation, an agency must have a well developed set of written directives and an enforced preparedness program in the event of “natural or man-made unusual occurrences.”

UPD Capt. Charles Chandler said in a USM press release

To have an agency come in and confirm that the department is performing at such a level is definitely a good thing. We believe that this well represents the university.

-UPD Capt. Charles Chandler that the accreditation is a representation of the department’s commitment to uphold the highest of standards.

“The process of accreditation is something that all members of the department are responsible for,” Chandler said. “Each of (us) contributes in some fashion

large or small to our success in accreditation, and to our success in the field.”

Chandler said the department had to meet around 170 of CALEA’s standards to receive the accreditation, and that the accreditation itself is both impressive and beneficial for a

campus police department that has only been in operation since the 1990s.

“To have an agency come in and confirm that the department is performing at such a level is definitely a good thing,” Chandler said. “We believe that this well represents the university.”

Part of the accreditation process consisted of about four days in December when out-of-state assessors came to the university and evaluated the UPD’s current strong and weak points within each of CALEA’s standards to determine if the department is functioning at a level that meets the accreditation requirements.

Chandler further explained in a press release that the process is ongoing, with outof-state assessors examining each aspect of the department every three years to verify the overall upholding of the required standards. Also, the UPD reviews and analyzes different areas of its operations, training and procedures every year.

For more information about Southern Miss UPD, call 601.266.4986 or visit http://www. usm.edu/police.

LOCAL

Council appoints USM alumnus as city sustainability officer Nan Buti

Printz Reporter In January, the Hattiesburg City Council named a new sustainability officer, Nkrumah Frazier, a 2009 environmental biology graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi. As an undergraduate, Frazier was involved with various research projects while maintaining a full-time job and having a family during his last two years.

Frazier was raised on a farm in rural Jones County.

“As a result of my rural childhood I enjoyed a very close relationship with nature,” Frazier said. “As I got older I began to see the need for conservation and preservation of those areas, plants and animals that I had become so fond of. This love and appreciation for the great outdoors and our more natural neighbors lead me to get my bachelor’s degree in environmental biology and to research being ‘green’ on my own.”

His passion for environmental education, community outreach and environmental stewardship is a direct result of his love for the natural world and his desire to share those experiences.

Frazier was offered the job of sustainability officer for Hattiesburg for a number of reasons. In 2012 he volunteered with the Pinebelt chapter of the Gaining Ground Sustainability Institute of Mississippi (GGSIM). That year, Frazier learned that the city was investing a large amount of money on the curbside recycling program.

“I knew that if something didn’t change, the city would not be able to afford to renew the contract that it had for curbside recycling with WastePro and Advanced Disposal,”

Frazier said. “I tossed ideas around with other members of the steering committee for our local GGSIM chapter.”

In 2013, the GGSIM chapter hosted a series of focus groups to attempt to ascertain what citizens and volunteers could do to help improve the performance of the curbside recycling program.

“I spearheaded the focus groups and invited concerned citizens, members of the Mississippi Depart of Environmental Quality, representatives from Waste Pro, Advanced Disposal and the city of Hattiesburg,” said Frazier. Once a month for six months, he and members met to discuss the status of the program, its strengths and its weaknesses. “The culmination of our efforts was the filming of a 30-second PSA encouraging the residents of Hattiesburg to recycle,” he said. The PSA titled “Recycle Hattiesburg” aired on local television stations for a few months.

In 2014, members of the Pinebelt chapter of the GGSIM met with Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny Dupree.

“Mr. Dupree shared our concern for the future of the recycling program and decided to create the Hattiesburg Sustainability Committee,” Frazier said.

This committee would consist of various members of the Hattiesburg community and members of several local organizations such as Keep Hattiesburg Beautiful, the Hattiesburg Jaycees and GGSIM. “So far I have been managing the City of Hattiesburg’s curbside recycling program,” Frazier said.

“Since the recycling program is a brand new program it has required me to invest a lot of time, effort and energy into ensuring that it is

operating efficiently.”

Frazier spends much of his time delivering recycle bins and has spoken at several neighborhood association meeting.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to serve the Hattiesburg community as the Sustainability Officer,” Frazier said. “Hattiesburg has an extremely bright future.”

The USM Office of Sustainability had representation on the Hattiesburg Sustainability Committee, which made efforts to advocate for the continuation of the city’s recycling program and the installation of a new sustainability officer position for the city. Frazier and Assistant Director of Sustainability at USM Halie McMinn have plans discuss how each of their sustainability initiatives can help the other.

“I imagine that such a partnership could include grant writing, alternative transportation initiatives and school education programs,” McMinn said.

Frazier is currently working on his plans for the betterment of the city’s sustainability. He has set the goal of the maturation of the city’s curbside recycling program to the point that it is running efficiently and able to operate without for significant input or management from him.

“I’d also like to see a network of community gardens being successfully and sustainably maintained throughout the city,” Frazier said.

“Once I am able to start branching out and working on other projects I plan to develop and implement an outreach and educational program designed to help people understand why things like having a recycling program is important.”

FEATURE

Thursday, April 2, 2015 | Page 5

GREEK LIFE

Local, national SAE chapters react to latest news Alan Rawls

Managing Editor Fraternity president disputes official OU findings While on a bus traveling to Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity’s Founder’s Day festivities March 7, the University of Oklahoma SAE chapter sang a now-infamous chant laden with racism and a lynching reference. A video of the chant made its way online and went viral. Within hours the national SAE organization suspended the Oklahoma chapter, and later the administration banned SAE from the campus.

University of Oklahoma president David Boren revealed the findings of what he called a comprehensive investigation into the matter March 27. The investigation, which entailed interviews with 160 people, found that Oklahoma’s Kappa chapter of SAE learned the chant at an SAE national leadership function about four years ago.

“Over time, the chant was formalized in the local SAE chapter and was taught to pledges as part of the formal and informal pledgeship process,” said the university’s report.

According to The Washington Post, the university found the chant had migrated to Oklahoma and became “part of the institutionalized culture of the chapter.”

SAE’s national organization confirmed the university’s report, saying the former Oklahoma chapter’s members likely learned it at the 76th annual John O. Moseley Leadership School in 2011. Typically held on a cruise ship, the Leadership School each year hosts 700 to 800 undergraduate SAE members from across the nation, members who participate in classes, seminars and other functions.

The Oklahoman reported that when asked whether he believed there was a racist culture within the national fraternity organization, Boren said no. Nonetheless, Boren called upon SAE’s national leaders to conduct their own investigation.

“I think it’s disturbing to think that it came into our chapter from the national level,” Boren said. “That’s why I’m hoping the national chapter will investigate.”

But SAE President Brad Cohen, a 1985 graduate of the University of Arizona, posted a scathing criticism of Boren on Facebook Monday, calling the Oklahoma president’s statement and official findings “disgusting, one-sided and biased.”

“If he truly believes these bigots at our former chapter at his university ‘learned’ or were taught that vile song as part of the curriculum at one of the greatest learning experiences for young college men ... (versus) heard it from a handful of equally bigoted idiots outside of the extensive leadership curriculum, then he should not hold the position that he does as president of a major university,” Cohen said in his

Facebook post.

“At the end of the day, it was his students that chose to hear a vile chant, take it back to their university and make it part of their culture in their chapter,” Cohen said.

Honore: USM chapter never knew racist chant President of the Mississippi Sigma chapter of SAE at The University of Southern Mississippi, Daniel Honore, clarified his chapter’s role in the national controversy by stating that neither he nor his fraternity brothers had ever heard the chant.

“The chant was never a part of what we are taught at those programs and would not have been accepted by any of our members,” Honore said. “The video was the first time I had ever heard a chant like that. If anything, the video, just like most of the nation, was a total shock to view.”

Honore neither confirmed nor denied the statement that his chapter had sent members to the 76th John O. Moseley Leadership School.

“Our national organization offers its members several regional and national opportunities for leadership development,” Honore said. “We send members to them to better their knowledge of the fraternity.

While in attendance those members focus on ways to positively impact our Mississippi Sigma Chapter.”

When asked about the fraternity’s recruitment and inclusiveness, Honore said, “SAE, nationally and at USM, seeks to recruit members that show scholastic, athletic and leadership abilities. We welcome all who seek to join. The actions of the Oklahoma chapter do not reflect SAE by any means neither nationally nor locally.”

A new initiative to combat racism, promote diversity As one of the largest and oldest fraternities in the nation, having been founded in 1859 and boasting 15,000 members nationwide, SAE has “committed to identifying and rooting out racist behavior,” said Blaine Ayers, SAE’s national executive director, told the Washington Post.

“The song is horrific and does not at all reflect our values as an organization,” Ayers said. “If we find any other examples of this kind of behavior currently occurring, we will hold our members accountable, just as we’ve done in Oklahoma.”

Though Ayers has said there is no evidence that the chant is widespread throughout the fraternity’s 237 chapters, SAE recently announced an initiative to eliminate racism from the fraternity entirely. The initiative includes a hotline for people reporting troubling incidents like sexual assault or racist activity, hiring someone for an executive position that will oversee diversity issues and an SAE investigation into each chapter to find whether it has racist traditions or not.

Courtesy Photo

Members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon gather on the main deck of the Royal Caribbean cruise ship at the 79th John O. Moseley Leadership School in August 2014. OU’s investigation concluded the Kappa chapter of SAE, disbanded for its racist chant in early March, learned the chant at this Leadership School four years ago.

UO Investigation Findings: 1. The origin of the racist chant at the Oklahoma Chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon was that it was learned by chapter members on a national leadership cruise sponsored by the national organization of Sigma Alpha Epsilon four years ago. The chant was learned and brought back to the local chapter.

2. Over time, the chant was formalized in the local SAE chapter and was taught to pledges as part of the formal and informal pledgeship process.

3. Prior to the chapter’s annual Chapter’s Founder’s Day event on March 7, 2015, there was alcohol readily available at the fraternity house, and there is evidence that a significant number of chapter members were consuming alcohol prior to boarding the bus on which the chant was sung.

4. As part of the chapter’s normal recruitment activities in connection with its Founder’s Day event, the chapter had invited approximately one dozen high school students, who were present at the house and were exposed to the chant while on the bus.

5. It is clear that during the four years since the chant was brought to the University campus, its existence was known by recent members and that it became part of the institutionalized culture of the chapter.

In addition to the fraternity being disbanded, as a result of these findings, the University has issued discipline to involved students ranging from permanent withdrawals, community service and mandated cultural sensitivity training. Officers of the fraternity have also personally met with representatives of affected student groups and apologized.

These are the findings as stated in the University of Oklahoma’s investigation of the Kappa chapter of SAE.

Page 6 | Thursday, April 2, 2015

FEATURE

CAREER

College women talk post-grad job hunt Social Media Editor

The University of Southern Mississippi class of 2015 will say farewell to college life in exactly one month and six days.

Forbes Magazine reported that in June of 2013, 44 percent of college graduates were unemployed. That is 9 percent more than the number of unemployed graduates reported in 2008.

As if those statistics are not discouraging enough, many women across the country are finding it significantly more difficult for them to lock down a job post-graduation compared to their male colleagues.

In August 2014, Bloomberg Business reported that 52 percent of female business majors who graduated this year had been offered a job

by January, compared with 57 percent of male students.

Bloomberg Business also studied other industries and

discovered very few jobs that had a higher rate of accepting recent female graduates over recent male graduates.

Rachel Elahee is a leading psychologist and certified professional coach.

She is also the author of the book “Choose You,” which focuses on teaching women ways to combat inequality and lack of confidence in the workforce, especially when searching for a job. “‘Choose You’ is a quick reminder of ways you can choose you, and ways you can put yourself first,” she said.

“You are not likely to find new information in ‘Choose You’ but it’s a nice reminder of where you have gotten off track and how to get back on track.”

Through research, Elahee has found that many women will not seek out a job opportunity if they do not fit all of the hiring criteria, whereas men are more willing to take a chance and pursue a job opportunity even if they only meet two or three of the criteria.

“They are more likely to take the risk, take the plunge and jump in,” Elahee said. “(Women) need to be more aggressive in our searches.”

Senior Sophie Saizzon will graduate in May with degrees in both special education and elementary education.

“Since I am getting a degree in both special education and elementary education my job search has been pretty successful,” she said.

As for a comparison between her job search success and the success of her male colleagues, she has not seen much of a difference.

“There is a constant need for teachers so I have found that a lot of my friends both males

and females have been pretty successful,” Saizzon said.

Senior Megan Fink is also graduating in May, with degrees in both political science and journalism.

“I’m trying to work for the government,” she said. “So I have the stress of not knowing whether my dream job will pan out for months at a time.”

Like Saizzon, Fink does not feel as though being a woman is holding her back from finding a job after graduation.

“I haven’t gotten into the interview process to know about specific attitudes of people,” she said. “But I really don’t expect to be discriminated against in my line of work.”

Though many USM students,

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both male and female, are having an increasing amount of luck when it comes to finding a job after graduation, many are not.

As for women, Elahee suggests over 100 ways to build self-confidence and increase aggressiveness in the hunt for a job.

She suggested that her readers have a strong support system, but that they do not let that support system dictate what they do with their lives.

“It’s called the ‘your life is not a democracy’ strategy,” Elahee said. “Nobody has a vote in your life unless you give it to them.”

For more information on Elahee and “Choose You,” visit drelahee.com/.

MOVIE

NIGHT

DOUBLE FEATURE

Courtesy Photo

OPINION POLITICS

Social media dominates campaign strategy Andrew Dutton Printz Reporter

It seems the race to be president of the United States in 2016 is already underway. Ted Cruz announced March 23 that he will run for president. These days, it may seem odd for some older voters to imagine someone running for president announcing it via Twitter. However, this is the world we live in.

Social media is king and to ignore it entirely would be detrimental. An article from USA Today written by

Augustana College student Megan Raposa pointed out how Ted Cruz was not the first politician to use social media and he probably wouldn’t be the last.

She was right in her reporting. In the early ‘90s, former presidential candidate Bill Clinton would go out on late night talk shows and be watched by people around the nation from their televisions.

It might not be exactly equivalent to today’s climate, but the premise remains the same.

Social media isn’t just useful for candidates during elections but

Courtesy Photo

also for the voters themselves. An article from U.S. News reported the recent midterm elections in 2014 drew a record online audience.

The Pew Research Center found the amount of Americans who use their phones to access political news has doubled over the years.

The amount of Americans who follow political figures on social media has tripled since 2010.

Is this a good thing? Is it acceptable that our political leaders are using social media as a strategy to win elections? Yes, for a number of reasons.

First, it makes our political candidates more human and less like higher figures of authority. For an average college student to be able to contact the U.S. President and him respond would make any student feel overjoyed with importance. It makes it seem like one’s opinion matters and thus college voters will more than likely vote for said person in the future.

Second, social media makes the opinion of the masses matter so much more. Never before in history has the common people had almost unlimited access to knowledge and entry into people’s personal lives. Today, if an important figure does something controversial, it’s reported on online news sites, blogs, Twitter, Facebook and more.

As a college student, social media impacts one’s daily life. As part of the voting population, no doubt young college students will be encouraged to vote. Whether it’s locally or nationally, elections will now more than ever be a part of social media. More and more college students will vote because politics and social media are becoming more acquainted with each other

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Thursday, April 2, 2015 | Page 7

STATE

The Point Sur: USM’s opportunity to advance south Mississippi By: Rodney Bennett

Recently, I had the opportunity to experience a significant milestone in the growth and development of The University of Southern Mississippi’s research program as the research vessel Point Sur made its way across the Panama Canal.

As I traveled to the country of Panama, entered the waters of both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and explored the most recent addition to USM’s fleet, I was struck by the impact this vessel will have on our marine science research initiatives.

As you may know, in February USM purchased the Point Sur from San Jose State University with a $1 million grant provided by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.

The Point Sur will be the only oceanographic class research vessel home-ported in the northern Gulf of Mexico east of the Mississippi and will allow USM marine science researchers and other parties to explore the Gulf of Mexico, including research on the BP oil spill of 2010.

The 135-foot-long vessel accommodates 13 researchers and technicians and a crew of eight while housing a 1,110-square-foot deck that includes a primary laboratory and a wet laboratory.

Not only will acquisition of this unique vessel help USM enhance the high-quality education and research opportunities we provide as the leading marine science institution in the state of Mississippi, but it will also provide valuable benefits to our community and associated marine economy. For example, research conducted through

the Point Sur will serve as an important resource should another oil spill impact the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

While I am certainly excited about the research opportunities this vessel will bring to our university and the Mississippi Gulf Coast region, I am also eager to utilize the Point Sur’s journey from Monterey Bay, California, to Gulfport, Mississippi, as a rich educational experience for our Hattiesburg and Gulf Coast communities.

Panama’s strategic location as a major shipping route makes it a key economic partner for the United States, and the Point Sur’s transit through the Panama Canal provides a unique opportunity to educate our children about the country of Panama, the rich history of its Canal, and the significance of international partnerships to commerce and economic development.

Each of us should use the Point Sur’s journey to help our children understand how geography, other cultures, international relations, and ocean research can be applied to our own communities.

I am excited to see our Hattiesburg and Gulf Coast communities embrace the opportunity to learn and grow through USM’s newest research vessel, and I look forward to continuing to advance transformative ocean research for our state, our nation and our world, right here in south Mississippi.

Rodney Bennett is the President of The University of Southern Mississippi. Contact him via e-mail at Rodney. bennett@usm.edu

OPINION

Page 8 | Thursday, April 2, 2015

REVIEW

Film sheds light on sexual assault on campuses J.D. Rimann Printz Reporter

Stories about sexual violence a n d exploitation on college campuses have dominated news stories across the nation recently, ranging from the photo scandal at Penn State to the provenfalse article about campus rape by “Rolling Stone” to Jameis Winston being accused of rape and the subsequent legal fallout at the University of Virginia.

Indeed, by any measure sexual assault and rape on campus are an issue. Both anecdotally and statistically, this fact has become quite clear.

What is lost in the recent furor regarding “Rolling Stone” withdrawing its story is when published, it was almost universally taken at face value, because hearing about something that heinous on a college campus isn’t surprising in this day and age.

In fact many studies claim that over 25 percent of women will suffer an attempted rape during their college career.

It’s into this environment that documentary maker Kirby Dick’s latest offering, “The Hunting Ground,” has been released.

So far the documentary has been well received. It carries a 90 percent approval rating on

Rotten Tomatoes and, while several college administrators have given it starkly negative reviews or released statements challenging its veracity, it has been endorsed by several U.S. senators and celebrities.

Released to only a limited amount of theaters across the U.S., “The Hunting Ground” explores two primary themes: the commonality of sexual violence on U.S. college campuses and the deep culture of covering up and prioritizing the reputation of the institution over investigating claims of sexual violence being perpetuated on campus.

In fact, one of the main claims of “The Hunting Ground” is that administrators around the nation do their best to cover up criminal investigations at schools ranging from Harvard to the University of North Carolina.

It is a good step forward that people around the nation – and especially in the media – realize that rape and sexual assault on college campuses are major issues, and this new documentary is a milestone in continuing the nationwide conversation that recent events like those discussed above have initiated.

However, the fact that sexual violence on college campuses continues to be an issue is an incredibly poor reflection on a

generation of college students, and apparently administrators, who tacitly condone, enable or even participate in such behavior. It also reflects poorly on administrators at many schools, who oftentimes come off more

concerned about the image of their institutions than the safety of the students who attend them.

If you get the chance, check out “The Hunting Ground.” The filmmakers said they want to release it to a wider audience

Courtesy Photo

later this year and it is an enlightening film that helps to shine a light on something that people all too often still want to push under the rug and raises some serious questions about America’s college campuses.

REVIEW

Sia’s album excels with deep, personal lyrics Lindsey Kelley Printz Reporter

In July, Australian pop artist Sia debuted her sixth studio album, titled “1000 Forms of Fear,” after a four-year stint recording and writing for other artists “1000 Forms of Fear” is a raw and emotional ride, showcasing Sia’s struggles with alcoholism and bipolar disorder. She rips out her heart and wears it on her sleeve, showcasing the best of her own work and exploring the inner depths of her past struggles with love, mental illness and abuse.

The first track, “Chandelier,” received four Grammy nominations and was the third best-selling single in 2014, and rightfully so.

Between the combination of visual performance art that she has involved in the marketing of this album and the skill of songwriting involved, “Chandelier” promises to be one of the classics of our generation.

Sia’s rough vocals and hip-hop inspired beat drive the song along as we feel the singer’s life begin to spiral out of control.

“Help me, I’m holding on for dear

life,” she begs the listener. “Won’t look down, won’t open my eyes/ Keep my glass full until morning light, ‘cause I’m just holding on for tonight.”

Her second single off of the album, “Elastic Heart” is a militaristic fight of a song, and a fierce exploration of the struggle to keep going after losing a meaningful relationship. Sia’s strong cry for strength makes this a classic breakup song coupled with an ethereal vocal quality that helps this single to shine amid the album’s other songs of sensuality or surrender.

After the complex rhythms and sounds of the other tracks, “Fair Game” is a simplistic strings piece paired with Adele-style vocals that sing of desiring an equal relationship with trust. It has a certain childlike quality about it that hearkens to the artist’s desire to find a certain amount of vulnerability with a partner that she considers able to handle her and her past.

The beauty of this song is found in the lyrics, which are some of the best work on the album.

“You terrify me, we’ve still not

kissed and yet I’ve cried/ You got too close and I pushed and pushed hoping you’d bite.”

With the gentle instrumental background, it makes the listener want to lean in and listen to every single word she sings, listening to a story all too familiar to some.

The album also features an expansive masochistic exploration in “Free the Animal,” in which the mechanistic vocals describe the many ways that the artist asks she be killed. “I love you so, wanna throw you from the roof/ The pressure builds, wanna put my hands through you.” This track, much like Florence and the Machine’s “Kiss with a Fist” is an ardent exploration of the rough nature of love and sex.

Not far behind that is the explosive “Fire Meet Gasoline,” a hip-hop inspired song about the heat of passion and the smoldering feelings of a strong relationship.

Here, Sia’s deep chest belt shines as she sings out the driving chorus, “Flame that came from me/ Fire meet gasoline.”

While most of these songs are more on the darker side, “Hostage,” co-written with The Stroke’s Nick Valensi, is a playful, upbeat

Courtesy Photo

description of a love game of cops and criminals.

It rounds out a diverse and wellwritten album displaying the best of a singer-songwriter about to explode in popularity and come into artistry on her own.

“1000 Forms of Fear” is a

pleasurable, relatable album with a wide range of styles and rhythms. I would advise anyone who enjoyed the songs “Chandelier” or “Elastic Heart” on the radio to listen to the entire album and discover their own hidden emotions that this album is sure to reveal.

SPORTS

Thursday, April 2, 2015 | Page 9

GOLF

Men’s team places two into top 10 Jacob Kemp Printz Reporter

Senior Drew Kirby and sophomore Ryan Argotsinger both placed in the top 10 at the UALR/First Tee Collegiate. The classic was played at Chenal Country Club, a par-72, 7,100yard golf complex.

The pair finished one-over par and tied for 10th place.

Argotsinger played some of his best golf in the final round and shot a 72. Kirby shot a 75 and with the top 10 finishes, it is the second straight top 10 finish for both. Kirby has two top 10 finishes and Argotsinger has four for their careers.

Before the final round, Kirby was tied for sixth place, but a subpar final round cost him a top five finish. Still Kirby is one of USM’s top golfers and will have a chance in their next invitational.

Only a sophomore, Argotsinger should be one of the premier golfers on USM’s squad for years to come.

Before the final round today, Argotsinger was on the outside looking in, as he was tied for 16th place before turning things around.

As a team, USM posted a

Casey Fernandez, a senior business administration major, practices at the Hattiesburg Country club as the golf team comes out every day to improve on its season.

final round of 28-over par, good enough to place in the top 10 as well after being just 13th the previous round.

Senior Casey Fernandez shot five-over par in the final round, posted a total 73 and finished tied for 24th place.

Junior Hayes Weathersby and freshman Vasill Kartos posted a 21-over par after a 75 and an 82 to finish 78th and 89th, respectively.

Tulsa won the team

competition at two-over par, two strokes ahead of Memphis.

In a tight race, Tulsa’s Matt Mabrey finished first among individuals and was ahead of Central Arkansas’ Pep Angles and ULM’s Greg Smail.

USM will return to action April 6 and 7 as they travel to West Point, Mississippi for the Old Waverly Collegiate. It will be their final invitational before the Conference USA Championship tournament.

Applications are now being accepted for: Academic Year 2015-2016

Executive Editor, The Student Printz All applicants for the positions should email a packet that includes: 1. A formal letter of application.

2. A personal statement of intent which includes: a. A statement of philosophy of goals for the publication b. A plan for carrying out those goals c. An evaluation of the 2014-2015 operation 3. A resume 4. Three letters of recommendation to cover some academic as well as professional credentials.

5. A complete transcript of all college-level work (Minimum 2.5 overall GPA is required) 6. At least three writing samples by the applicant.

Submit to: Dr. Jeanne Gillespie, chair jeanne.gillespie@usm.edu

Deadline: 4 p.m., Thursday, April 9 All materials should be 8 1/2 x 11” No materials can be returned

Interviews: Wednesday, April 15 at 2:00 p.m.

Dean’s Conference Room, LAB 209

All applicants must attend

Susan Broadbridge/Printz Archives

SPORTS

Page 10 | Thursday, April 2, 2015

BASKETBALL

Kentucky and Duke favorite to win title Joshua Campbell Sports Editor

Every year, the Final Four captivates the country and produces some of the greatest moments in history. This year will be no different as Kentucky, Wisconsin, Duke and Michigan State all have a chance to be the team to cut down the nets.

Duke and Michigan State will get things started Saturday night with tipoff set for 5:09 p.m. Kentucky and Wisconsin will follow directly after with a 7:49 p.m. tipoff.

Duke and Michigan State is an intriguing matchup of two legendary coaches, Mike Kryzyzewski and Tom Izzo, and a team that is starstudded against a team that just happened to get hot at the right time.

Duke (33-4) is led by a core of stars in Jahlil Okafor, Tyus Jones, Justise Winslow and Quinn Cook.

Okafor is by far the main attraction as the presumptive No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, but the Blue Devils would not be in the Final Four without Jones, Winslow and Cook.

Jones is the steadying force for the Blue Devils as the point guard and averages 5.8 assists per game.

Winslow is a multi-faceted wing who tends to step up in the biggest moments when the game is on the line.

Cook is the least-heralded of the group, but is just as important as anybody on the team. He is the only senior in the starting lineup and has been the unquestioned leader while scoring 15.7 points per game as Duke’s biggest threat from behind the arc.

Michigan State (27-11) is on the opposite side of the spectrum as a 7-seed that pulled upsets against the No. 1, 2 and 4 seeds in their region to make the Final Four. The Spartans were a trendy pick before the tournament to make a Cinderella run and proved that they belong on

the big stage.

It’s not like the Spartans are a huge surprise though as this year marks their seventh appearance in the Final Four over the past 16 years, winning the National Championship in 2000.

MSU is led by a pair of upperclassmen guards in Travis Trice and Denzel Valentine along with former top-recruit Branden Dawson. Trice and Dawson share a leadership role as seniors, but there is not questioning that Trice is the heart and soul of the Spartans.

Trice has saved the best basketball of his career for the NCAA Tournament. He is averaging 19.8 points per game and shooting a scorching 51 percent from the field.

Those numbers are considerably higher than his season averages of 15.3 points and 39 percent from the field.

Valentine serves as the secondary scorer for MSU while Dawson is a do-it-all combo forward. At 6-feet, 6-inches, Dawson has posted huge numbers for his size as he averages 9.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 54 percent from the field.

This matchup will come down to how the Spartans defend the dynamic offense of Duke. The Spartans lack a big man capable of guarding AP First-Team AllAmerican Okafor one-on-one in the low post so they will most likely double-team him the majority of the game. However, Michigan State must stay disciplined in their zone to not let Duke’s shooters have too much room to get their shot off.

While Trice and Valentine will keep Michigan State close into the second half, the Blue Devils simply have too much offensive firepower and will advance to the National Championship.

Kentucky and Wisconsin’s matchup may have the most intrigue

Courtesy Photo/USA Today Sports

Duke Blue Devils center Jahlil Okafor (15) shoots during the game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the finals of the south regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at NRG Stadium.

as any college basketball game in recent memory. The two teams squared off a year ago in the Final Four with Kentucky advancing to the title game in nail-biting fashion, 74-73.

But this season, the game has a much different feel to it as Kentucky enters the game undefeated and looking to become the first team in NCAA history to finish a season 400. Last year, the Wildcats entered as an 8-seed after knocking off thenundefeated Wichita State in the round of 32.

This game’s intrigue is not solely about it being a rematch, the intrigue centers around who wins the battle of the big men.

Kentucky fields three starters taller than 6-feet, 10-inches in Trey Lyles, Karl Anthony Towns and AP FirstTeam All-American Willie CauleyStein, all of which are projected to go in the top half of the first round in

the NBA Draft. But Wisconsin may be the only team in America that has three quality big men that can match up with Kentucky.

Frank Kaminzky may be the toughest individual player to guard in the country as he stands 7-feet tall and shoots 41.5 percent from behind the arc for the Badgers. Not to mention, the AP First-Team All-American shoots 55 percent from the field and can score from anywhere on the court whether it be in the post, from mid-range, behind the arc or off the dribble.

But Kaminzky is far from alone.

Sam Dekker is a versatile 6-feet, 9-inch forward who has exploded so far in the tourney. Dekker is averaging 21.8 points per game and shooting a scorching 49 percent from deep in Wisconsin’s four NCAA Tournament games.

At 6-feet, 7-inches and 250

pounds, Nigel Hayes is the Badgers’ swiss army knife. He can also score from anywhere on the court and brings the Badgers a certain toughness and tenacity they will need to knock off Kentucky as evidenced by his 7.7 rebounds per 40 minutes.

Despite being 38-0, Kentucky has been challenged a few times this season and is coming off their biggest test yet, a 68-66 barn-burner against Notre Dame.

The Wildcats can be beaten and Wisconsin certainly has the right pieces to pull it off.

However, it is just so hard to pick against Kentucky. Every time a team has punched them in the mouth, the Wildcats have responded with a haymaker.

It appears as if the stars will align and America will get the glamorous National Championship it’s been yearning for, Kentucky vs. Duke.

SOFTBALL

Fifth-ranked Alabama rolls over Lady Eagles Ashley Hickman Sports Reporter

Southern Miss traveled to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, falling 12-1 in five innings to the fifth-ranked Crimson Tide Wednesday night at Rhoads Stadium.

Katie Cleary led off the game for the Lady Eagles with a single to right center field. Samantha Reynolds then sacrifice bunted for an out at first base, but advanced Cleary to second.

Sarah Evans reached first on a fielding error by Alabama’s first baseman Jadyn Spencer.

USM threatened to score early with runners on the corners, but

two fly outs for the Lady Eagles ended the inning.

Crimson Tide’s Chandler Dare singled to shortstop in the first inning for Alabama’s first hit of the game. Haylie McCleney walked and Dare advanced to third base on a wild pitch from Shelbee Rodgers.

McCleney stole second base and as the ball was mishandled by the shortstop, Dare crossed home plate giving the Crimson Tide a 1-0 lead. Danae Hays drilled a single to right field scoring another Alabama run.

Marisa Runyon followed with an RBI single to the right side, increasing Alabama’s lead to 3-0.

Michelle Stringer gave the USM offense a spark in the top of the second inning, crushing a solo home run over the left field fence. Stringer’s second homerun of her career cut the deficit to 3-1.

In the bottom of the third, McCleney led off with an infield single. Runyon followed with a double to center field for her second RBI of the night, increasing the Crimson Tide lead to 4-1.

Alabama’s offense exploded for eight runs on five hits in the fourth inning. Two errors by USM were costly in keeping the inning alive for Alabama.

Demi Turner smacked a two-

RBI triple to right center field.

Dare followed with an RBI single, increasing the Crimson Tide lead to 6-1. McCleney then walked forcing USM to bring in Danielle Block from the bullpen to relieve Rodgers on the mound.

Hays then hit a single, sending two Alabama runs across home plate. The Lady Eagles were unable to slow down the Crimson Tide’s hot offense.

With runners on first and second, Chaunsey Bell stroked a three-run homer to left center field, adding to the Alabama lead, 12-1. Block was able to force a couple fly outs and one strikeout to end the rough inning for the Lady Eagles.

Southern Miss had to score three runs in the top of the fifth inning to avoid the run-rule, but came up empty handed as Selena Estrada struck out and Morgan McKeever and Reynolds grounded out to end the game.

Rodgers took the loss for the USM pitching staff, giving up nine hits and nine runs.

The Southern Miss offense could not keep pace with the Crimson Tide as USM had four hits compared to Alabama’s twelve.

The Lady Eagles return to action Tuesday April 7, hosting a double header against Troy at 4 and 6 p.m.

SPORTS

Thursday, April 2, 2015 | Page 11

PLAYER HIGHLIGHT

USM’s Jerontay Clemons discusses ‘monumental year’ Wilton Jackson Printz Reporter

With just four days separating the Southern Miss women’s basketball team from its loss against Michigan in the 2015 WNIT Elite Eight game, the team has not stopped in its quest to reach greater heights as a team.

After losing in the Women’s Conference USA Championship game and ending their dream of making it to the 2015 NCAA Women’s Tournament, the Lady Eagles began their quest to win a WNIT Championship.

Despite falling two games shy of achieving their goal, players such as junior guard Jerontay Clemons do not look at this obstacle as a failure, but a challenge to be better in the coming year.

Clemons, a junior interdisciplinary studies major, finished second on the team in scoring, averaging 12 points per game, second in rebounds with six per game and leading the team in steals with 62 this season.

During the WNIT, Clemons played a significant role in the Lady Eagles’ success on the court, averaging 13 points through the four games and recorded double-digit performances against TCU and Michigan.

Now in the offseason, Clemons reflected on the 2014-2015 season.

“It was a great experience for me and my teammates to make history at the university,” Clemons said. “It took a lot of focus and hard work to get there and I would do it all over again any day.”

The Coldwater, Mississippi, native also said having a core group of senior players surrounding her made her experience playing even more worthwhile.

“Our seniors players played a huge role in our success this year,” Clemons said. “I think replacing them is going to be very tough, but with the recruiting coordinator we have and the players we have returning, it is going to work out just fine for us as a team.”

Due to the departure of former Lady Eagle point guard Jamierra Faulkner, many thought the team would struggle to duplicate its success on the court. However, the team proved critics wrong, going 2511 overall and advancing to the Elite Eight of the WNIT, which was the furthest any Lady Eagle team has gone in school history.

“Jamierra was the key player in our success last year, so we knew what had to be done to fill in her piece of the puzzle,” Clemons said.

“All of us, as returning players, had to step up and really bring our A-game early on in the season to have back-to-back winning seasons without Faulkner.”

Preparing for her senior year, Clemons gained a new perspective and will look to embrace a new leadership role on the team next season.

“As a rising senior, I learned from this season that my younger

Susan Broadbridge/Printz

Junior Jerontay Clemons drives the ball to the basket against Michigan Sunday afternoon as the Lady Eagles play in the WNIT Elite 8 at the Reed Green Coliseum. Southern Miss ends its season 25-11.

teammates look up to me and that I have to set a example for them to follow,” Clemons said. “Nothing is going to be handed to you and if you want successful results, you have to work hard each and every day to get those results.”

With leadership comes responsibility, and Clemons said head coach Joye Lee-McNelis stresses consistency and being a team leader on the floor.

“Coach is like a mom to me. She told me that in order for the team to be successful, I have to show up with a positive attitude and the will to win everyday, whether for practice or gameday,” Clemons said. “I truly value her advice and I know what I have to do in the offseason to be a better player, staying in the gym all summer and improving my game.”

Beyond her individual goals, Clemons said her ultimate goal is to

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win a conference championship and make it to the NCAA Tournament.

“We did really well this season, but as a team, we will not stop until we win a championship in Conference USA and receive an automatic bid into the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament,” she said.

To do so, she plans to improve on her skills as a player to better put the team in position for success.

“I plan to master shooting the

three ball more, sharpen my jump shot and enhance my basketball IQ,” Clemons said. “I look forward to meeting my new teammates and building a bond with them off the court, helping us to build a strong chemistry and feel for each other.”

Clemons definitely has the talent to be a go-to scorer for the Lady Eagles and lead them further than this year’s history making squad.

Now it is time to prove it.

r! a e y t x e n e s a e r c n i e t a r g n si u o h Self-Reassignment no

for Current Residents is Underway!

RESERVE YOUR ROOM for FALL ’15 – SPRING ’16 at www.usm.edu/residence-life

BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE! SPACE IS LIMITED!

march 17 – 23 Men and Women (2.8 – 4.0 GPA*)

march 24 – 30 Men and Women (2.0 – 4.0 GPA*)

march 31 – april 17 All students currently in housing *cumulative total GPA

DEPARTMENT OF RESIDENCE LIFE

live. learn. connect. succeed.

Prior to SelfREAssignment reAssignment

. . . .

Review building information for the 2015-16 academic year online at www.usm.edu/residence-life and communicate with your preferred roommate regarding the process for roommate pull-in; Review the Housing Contract Lease Agreement (online); Test your SOAR login and password on our website to be sure you can access the RMS portal for selfreassignment; and Remember to use Internet Explorer 9.0 or above and turn off pop-up blockers. (MAC users will need to use Firefox.

Safari is not compatible with the application portal.)

*Please understand that due to space availability, private rooms are not available at this time.

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