2008_10_02

A new state tax regulation was put into effect Wednesday that subjects “flexible spending accounts” included in student meal plans to sales tax.

When Ararmark introduced a collection of new dining facilities to campus in 2004, it also introduced Bonus Bucks as a way to supplement students’ meal plans along with Dining Dollars, which have been around for several years. Dining Dollars and Bonus Bucks allowed students to purchase food on campus outside of the cafeteria without having to pay sales tax.

The new regulation, which became effective April 1, defines a prepaid student meal plan, but also identifies Bonus Bucks and Dining Dollars as being “flexible spending accounts” with a declining balance. It goes on to say that the latter are no longer tax-exempt.

It states: “Prepaid student meal plans are only those plans that provide the student with a specific number of meals or meals for a specific period of time. Prepaid student meal plans do not include any meal plans or parts of meal plans that allow the student to purchase food on a declining balance account.”

Kathy Waterbury, director of communications for the Mississippi State Tax Commission, said the agency wrote the administrative rule to clarify existing law regarding student meals and sales tax.

“What the rule did is basically explain it to everyone ... so everybody’s on the same playing field,” Waterbury said.

Waterbury added that “back in the old days,” a student paid for room and board, which included meals at the campus cafeteria. She said that when universities began offering flexible spending accounts and more places to eat on campus “they started going into competition with the private sector.”

“There is no [tax] exemption when you go into competition with the private sector, and that was putting the private sector at a disadvantage,” Waterbury said. “So the legislature addressed this by setting to law the language … and clarify for people a little more so they understand.”

In other words, if a student purchases a meal plan that includes unlimited meals in the Fresh Food Company, those meals are exempt from sales tax because the money goes directly to the university, a state institution. Since students can add an unlimited amount of money into a Dining Dollars account, and upgrade meal plans to include more Bonus Bucks, the flexible spending accounts are subject to the state sales tax of seven percent.

Pat Foley, executive director

of dining services, said that students who benefit from Bonus Bucks the most are those who like to eat later than the Fresh Food Company’s stays open or want to pick a meal from a menu instead of the all-you-can-eat buffet. He added that supplemental spending accounts on meal plans are “pretty standard” for the university dining industry.

“The reason we have different plans with different amounts of Bonus Bucks is because we just want to appeal to as broad a spectrum of customers as

possible,” Foley said. “It just depends on your lifestyle.”

Southern Miss is not the only university affected by the new regulation, Foley said. Ole Miss and Mississippi State have similar provisions in their student meal plans.

“They’re all facing the same situation,” Foley said. “If it makes you feel better about it, there are a lot of people that ain’t liking this. I’d imagine there’s going to be some push-back, and we can hope for a positive result, but you never know how it’s going to go.”

Thursday, October 2, 2008 Volume 93, Issue 13

S P� e

Serving Southern Miss since 1927

TODAY

83 / 54

TOMORROW

85 / 56

We have podcasts now.Subscribe to the Printz Radio News now.

www.studentprintz.com

vs.pg. 8

LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN MISSISSIPPI IS TOMORROW, OCTOBER 3

Incident at athletic housing leaves player injuredHattiesburg police responded

to reports of gunshots and a fi ght at the 38th Avenue apartment complex that houses the Southern Miss football players early Friday morning, the same night that Eagle linebacker Korey Williams suffered a broken jaw, a police department spokesperson confi rmed Wednesday.

HPD spokesman Synaris Green said that offi cers responded to a call reporting a fi ght and several gun shots. Green said that no

arrests were made and that those involved in the dispute had dispersed by the time offi cers arrived on the scene.

After Wednesday’s practice Fedora said he was not yet fi nished gathering facts, but that he would discuss the incident

after he fully understood what happened.

“Right now I don’t know anything until the police get back with me, and tell me what they saw and what’s going on,” Fedora said. “We’re looking into it and we’re talking to guys, and we’ll know more as the police break down all their stuff.”

Fedora said that he wouldn’t speculate on what suspensions would be if he found out that players were involved.

Southern Miss athletic director Richard Giannini spoke to the Hattiesburg American

Wednesday, saying that he was aware of the situation.

“I’m aware of the police report and coach Fedora and I have spoken about it,” Giannini told the reporter. “He and I have had discussions about the incident, but that’s between he and I and the football team.”

A resident who lives near the 38th Avenue complex said he heard obvious gunshots at approximately 3 a.m.

“I usually stay up late preparing for lectures and working on school work,” said Malachi Martin, who is an adjunct student

at Southern Miss. “It sounded like three or four rounds. It just startled the heck out of me.

“That’s the fi rst time in my entire life, other than hunting with relatives, that I’ve heard a gun go off near our house. With two kids and a wife, it just really scared me. Not long after that, I heard sirens. Then I heard more (sirens) that went on for 10 or 15 minutes.”

A source close to Williams who asked not to be identifi ed said that the New Orleans native suffered the broken jaw when he was hit in the face with a beer

bottle after leaving The Palace, a local night club on Broadacres Drive off of Hwy. 49.

Earlier that night, police responded to a report of simple assault on at Broadacres Drive at 1:58 a.m., but the police report states that no arrests were made.

A source close to the redshirt freshman linebacker said he suffered the injury when he was struck in the face by a bottle.

“He went today to get it checked out,” Fedora said. “From people I’ve talked to it looks like it’s a four to six-week process. I don’t know if it’s

Tyler ClevelandSports Editor

Larry Fedora Korey Williams

INCIDENT continued on page 3

Top: Lindsay Smith returns Southern Miss student Sheena Allenʼs student ID in Seymourʼs Wednesday. Mississippiʼs tax law no longer recognizes Dining Dollars or Bonus Bucks as a part of tax-exempt university meal plans.Right: Southern Miss student Elena Robinson gets her card swiped at The Agora Wednesday afternoon. Dining Dollars and Bonus Bucks are no longer tax exempt, ef-fect Wednesday, because of changes in the Mississippi tax laws regarding university meal plans.

David Jackson/Printz

State begins to tax dining dollars

Lesley WaltersNews Editor

Paint USM Pink begins this month

’’

‘‘If it makes you feel better about it, there are a lot of people that ain’t liking this. I’d imagine there’s going to be some push-back, and we can hope for a positive result, but you never know how it’s going to go.

-Pat Foley Executive director of dining services

The College of Health decorates their building with pink bows in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The universityʼs Paint Southern Miss Pink Committee has organized several awareness activities that will take place through-out the month of October.

Samantha Montague/Printz

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and a whole series of events to raise money and awareness of the disease are on tap throughout the month.

Susan Bone, assistant director of wellness at USM’s Payne Center and co-chair of the university’s Paint Southern Miss Pink Committee which is in charge of coordinating the aware-ness activities this month, said while breast cancer is not that prevalent among young adults, knowledge of the disease and preventive measures are important for everyone.

“[Breast cancer] warrants its own month because of the magnitude of the disease,” said Bone. “It brings people to-gether to show their love and support for not only those who have survived breast cancer, but also for those who are no longer with us.”

Jewel Tucker, who is the administrative secretary to USM President Martha Saunders and a breast cancer survivor, said events like those planned this month are essential.

Faculty, students begin prepworkJustin M. Sawyer

Printz Writer

PREPARE continued on page 3

Campus events help spread wordCraig McNeese

Printz Writer

USM students are happy to do something to contribute to the ongoing fi ght against breast cancer by participat-ing in walks, painting projects and increasing awareness programs throughout the month of October.

“Breast cancer awareness is pretty much a campuswide movement in which everybody can be involved,” said Markeesha Overstreet, a sophomore accounting major from Mobile.

USM’s Paint Southern Miss Pink has a full slate of ac-tivities scheduled this month to promote awareness and education about breast cancer, which results in about 40,000 deaths each year. Students have the chance to raise money and awareness by such activities as eating Yoplait Yogurt, planting pink roses or taking part in an awareness walk.

As a residence assistant, Overstreet plans to team up with other RAs to do dorm-based activities throughout

EVENTS continued on page 3

www.studentprintz.com | Thursday, October 2, 2008Page 2|News

DirtyBirds09-24-08

•Elam Arms Lot - Vandalism - A student reported that unknown person(s) removed the fuel filter hose causing his vehicle to require repairs.

09-25-08•Elam Arms Lot - Hit and Run - Incident report on file.•Thad Cochran - Petit Larceny - A staff member reported the theft of a motorcycle license plate.

09-26-08•Payne Center - Hit and Run - Incident report on file.

09-27-08•Golden Eagle Av - Police Assist - Kimberly Smith, W/F, 24 yoa, Mosell address, was arrested and charged with Speed-ing and DUI.•Sorority Village - Disturbance - Campus Security officer reported a large crowd outside causing a disturbance by be-ing loud.•37th @ Montague - DUI - Blake T Feldman, 19 yoa, W/M, Newton address, was arrested and charged with Improper Turn and DUI.

09-28-08•Fraternity Dr - Disturbance - UPD responded to a fight call. Upon UPD arrival the suspects dispersed. Forwarded to Dean of Students office.•Fraternity Dr - Disturbance - UPD responded to a call regarding loud music from the house. Forwarded to Dean of Students office.•Sorority Village - Medical Assist - AAA ambulance was called by UPD. The victim refused transport.•Pinehaven Apt - One campus citation was issued for inde-cent exposure.•McCarty Hall - Petit Larceny - A student reported his bi-cycles as stolen; one 2006 Gary Fisher Marlin, blue in color; one 1988 gray Schwinn bike.

09-29-08•Tech Bldg - Suspicious Person - Four students were on the roof of the Chain building. UPD escorted them off the roof and locked the access doors. Forwarded to Dean of Stu-dents.•Center of Intl Ed - Disturbance - Ex-employees caused a disturbance in the Agora cafe.•Thad Cochran - Disturbance - Aramark employee reported a disturbance in the food court.•4th St Lot - Disturbance - One campus citation was issued for Noise Violation.•Panhellenic - Disturbance - Report on file.•Hillcrest Gravel Lot - Suspicious Person - A verbal trespass warning was issued to a non-student who was sleeping in his vehicle.

09-30-08•E Memorial Dr - Motor Vehicle Accident- MS Uniform Crash report on file.

Want to get your campus news in one place? Find us on Facebook!

www.studentprintz.com | Page 3Thursday, October 2, 2008|News

Enjoy amazing live entertainmentin the heart of downtown Meridian atMississippi’s magnificent, fully restored Grand Opera House theatre. Don’t miss your opportunity to experiencewhat artists and patrons are calling the best venue in the South.

For tickets call 601-696-2200 or visit www.msurileycenter.com

Upcoming Shows:Boyz II Men 11/6/08

The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley 11/21/08

A Tillis Family Christmas 12/7/08

MSU RILEY CENTER

www.msurileycenter.com

MSU Riley Center

An Evening with Garrison Keillor

The charming, witty and always Garrison Keillor is probably best known for his widely popular radio show A Prairie Home Companion. Keillor is also a best-selling author of

12 books, including Lake Wobegon Days, Love Me, and Homegrown Democrat.

“A dry, ironic sense of humor, a good manner and a reticence to talk about personal matters are what you get with Mr. Keillor.”

— The New York Times

Oct. 29, 2008 – 8 p.m.Tickets: $61 & $55

Robert Cray BandOct. 23, 2008 – 8 p.m. | Pre-Show Social – 6:30 p.m.

Tickets: $41 & $35

Robert Cray has won five Grammys and been nominated for 11 more. His soulful vocal and instrumental artistry can be heard on classic titles such as Phone Booth, Poor

Johnny, and The Things You Do To Me. Cray’s repertoire has led to collaborations with Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, B. B. King, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Chuck

Berry and Bonnie Raitt.

An Evening with Shawn Colvin

Three-time Grammy winner, Shawn Colvin may be best known for her 1997 hit “Sunny Came Home,” but she is far from a one-hit wonder. A talented singer songwriter

respected by peers and critics alike, Colvin has performed with the likes of Allison Kraus, Lyle Lovett and Bruce Hornsby. Described as “a literate lyricist in the Joni

Mitchell tradition,” Colvin took a hiatus from the music business to raise a family. In 2006, she returned with a new folk rock album, These Four Walls, which received critical praise. Colvin is sure to captivate the audience as she performs her emotionally charged

lyrics in an all acoustic performance.

“Long on charisma and tenacity, Colvin can bring audiencesdeep into the worlds of her songs...”

— Acoustic Guitar, March 2007

Oct. 18, 2008 – 8 p.m. | Pre-Show Social – 6:30 p.m.Tickets: $41 & $35

2006, she returned with a new folk rock album, These Four Walls, which received critical praise. Colvin is sure to captivate the audience as she performs her emotionally charged

popular radio show A Prairie Home Companion. Keillor is also a best-selling author of

Incident Continued from page onegoing to be four or it’s going to be six, but I’ll plan for the worse

and go from there.USM football players moved out of Vann Hall dormitories and into

their current living arrangements over the summer. The idea behind the move is to increase the living conditions of the players to promote recruiting.

But according to Giannini, the move does not put the players in a position to get into trouble or be vulnerable.

“They just live a block away from campus,” Giannini said. “We’ve had incidents when players lived on campus. That has nothing to do with it.”-- Patrick Magee of The Hattiesburg American contributed to this report.

Prepare Continued from page one“(The events) draw attention to

the challenge of breast cancer,” Tucker said.

Student Activities Secretary Melissa Carpenter said the events are designed “to make the college community aware of breast cancer as well as other types of cancer.” Carpenter is in charge of tables in the Union Lobby and Shoemaker Square daily through Wednesday that provide information about breast cancer and related issues.

“We’ll be handing out literature about breast cancer, and we’ll also have a petition to make Mississippi a smoke-free state students may sign,” Carpenter said.

According to the National Cancer Institute, with the exception of skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among American women, with more than 211,000 new cases of the disease being diagnosed each year in the

United States.From decorating buildings to

racing pigs to a womanless beauty pageant, all the events are designed to make students aware of the potential risks of contracting the disease. Money raised during any of the month’s events goes to the American Cancer Society.

While breast cancer is uncom-mon among younger women, med-ical professionals advise women of every age be aware of the symp-toms of breast cancer.

Jodi Tate, health educator at USM’s Student Health Center, said, “Women in their 20s and 30s should perform a self examination every month in order to familiar-ize themselves with the texture of their breasts so that’ll they’ll know if something isn’t right.”

Students may call (601)266-5390 to set up an appointment to have their breasts examined.

Events Continued from page onethe month ranging from infor-

mational bulletin boards to educa-tional programming. Nicki Loef-fl er, a freshman political science major from Berkey, Ohio, said her sorority plans to use plenty of pink to decorate the front of the house.

Southern Miss men can get in-volved in the Pink Womanless Beauty Pageant on Oct. 23 or fi nd

other ways to be part of the effort.“I usually donate to a charity ev-

ery October,” said Marcus Dufour, a junior criminal justice major from New Orleans. Dufour said he has participated in past breast cancer awareness walks as well.

But Breast Cancer Awareness is more than activities, walks, and charities. Women like Overstreet

and Davis encourage other women as well as students to get self-breast exams monthly. “I usually go about once to at least a couple times a year to get check-ups”, Davis said. Overstreet is an avid supporter of breast exams, “Don’t think your to young to get it, but don’t think you too old to get it either.”

Some students who have love

ones who have been affected by breast cancer, this month is very special to them. Overstreet indicat-ed that one of her resident’s mother has breast cancer. “She continues to have a positive outlook in the hopes that a cure will be found, but right now she is looking forward to the campus events to help raise awareness”, Overstreet said.

It seems like every month, there is some new worthy cause of which we all should be aware. From s e a s o n a l d e p r e s s i o n to poison prevent ion,

there is some new obscure disease or facet of social activism I am told to support every month of the year, and honestly, it gets a little old. Even in October, Breast Cancer Awareness month, I am overpowered by pink ribbons and self-breast-examination pamphlets – but not for the reasons you might think.

Don’t get me wrong. It is absolutely worth dedicating an entire month to a disease that will kill more than 40,000 women this year, according to cancer.org. What bothers me is that I am so aware of breast cancer on such a personal level. I am more aware of that disease than I ever cared to

be.You see my mother died of

breast cancer when I was 11 years old. It took the cancer two years to take her away from me, but it has taken over 10 years for me to recover. Let it be known that while any cancer is painful, terrifying and humiliating for anyone diagnosed with it, watching someone die of cancer is also a long and painful process.

To be clear, I am not in any way comparing the loss I will feel for the rest of my life to the pain an actual cancer patient may feel. I am simply saying that as we celebrate the strength of survivors and honor the memories of lost loved ones let us not forget the families involved.

As a child of nine, I watched my mother suffer her first bout of chemotherapy. My father helped her drain the fluid from a stint jutting out from her mastectomy scar – where her right breast used to be. My family prayed together in the hospital room where she spent her last week alive, begging

God to let her die. That last bit I didn’t forgive myself for until after years of therapy.

But the worst part came later.

For years after my mother died, we didn’t know what to do with ourselves. We didn’t talk about her or her death, and when it did come up, there was always a sense of guilt involved for possibly making each other uncomfortable. We wallowed in our collective, however unspoken, sadness and envied the contentment of other happy, complete families.

Even now, when I go to the mall or work over the summer in retail, seeing mothers and daughters shop for shoes or body lotion makes me cringe inside. Hearing young girls complain about how controlling or old-fashioned their mothers are makes me livid. In the first few years after my mother’s death, hearing about someone who had survived the disease roused in me a deep sense of resentment. To this day, I have not witnessed the Breast

Cancer Awareness Walk.I plan to change that this

time around. I have gotten past the naïve jealousy that has kept me away for over a decade, and this year I want to celebrate with those survivors. I want to watch and wave and wish my mother were among that number. Besides, statistics tell me that while my own risk for developing breast cancer is very high, the likelihood that I would survive it is higher too. Prevention, of course, is the key.

My mother had regular mammograms after her 40th birthday, just like she was supposed to. She was diagnosed with breast cancer at 46, and we were all happy that she caught it early. Her sister did the same thing, but was diagnosed with breast cancer at 42 and died a few years later. But cancer treatment and prevention were very different a decade ago.

These days, I can get tested for the breast cancer-associated genes. My doctor tells me that I should start

getting mammograms when I turn 32, since one should begin such testing ten years prior to the earliest age a family member was diagnosed. Also, since younger women tend to have denser breasts that better hide developing tumors, I can opt to get an ultrasound along with a mammogram just to be safe.

I am also very comforted in knowing that the American Cancer Society estimates that the mortality rate for women diagnosed with breast cancer has decreased by about 2 percent a year since 1990.

While I dread the onset of October with each year that passes, I do take comfort in knowing as much as I do about breast cancer. I am aware of how to catch it, how to stop it and where to go for help if I am ever diagnosed with it. Ignorance may be bliss, but awareness can make the difference between life and death.

Regardless of whether g l o b a l warming is a natural cycle or the result of human i m p a c t , anyone who d o e s n ’ t believe in it is blind, plain

and simple. And denial is just an excuse which doesn’t help the situation at hand.

Recently, the Sierra Student Coalition hosted a film called “The 11th Hour,” which discussed how big our carbon footprint is and just how much damage to the environment we

are actually causing.The film’s images were

enough to wrench your heart; the facts were enough to turn all doubters into fellows of “green action.”

The relative youth of the human species is discussed in the film. We are very young considering how long the Earth has been here and the number of species that have existed and gone extinct before us.

Considering that, we are like children taking whatever we can get our hands on and wanting everything we see, constantly looking for more. What we really need is to enter a time of maturity where we see everything on Earth is

not for the taking.We are a part of nature, a

part of the natural cycle of the Earth. Nature does not care in the slightest about us and nature can wipe us out in a heartbeat. In history, many have said we are living in order to crush ourselves in the end. We’re looking more like that “destroy ourselves” species every day.

I am a scientist, therefore, I believe in evidence, in things that I can understand by using the five senses. I do not have to travel to the north or south poles to believe that the polar ice is melting. I can see photographic evidence and read what other scientists (and

non-scientists) have found.Evidenced by ice and soil

samples taken from many places on Earth’s surface, some many meters deep, scientists have concluded that the earth is warming at an exponential rate. There are thousands of pieces of data – all evidence of our impact on Earth. We have tapped into the ancient sun (oil and coal) and the use of this has been, and still is, disastrous to the environment.

Either go rent “The 11th Hour” or go outside anywhere and see the evidence for yourself. Talk to your parents, grandparents, or anyone who is older by at least 20 years and get their perspective on

how the world was when they were young.

Ask how the air smelled, how the ground looked beneath their feet. My mother has shown me coastal beaches which sparkled with clarity in her day, but which are now murky.

Go swim in clear water while you still can. Go hug a tree, because you never know when it will come crashing down under the oppression of humankind’s influence. Enjoy the earth now, because by the time the trees crash down, we’ll be really screwed.

Opinions Page [email protected]

www.studentprintz.com

StudentThe

Serving SouthernMiss since 1927

Andy HessExecutive editor

printz

Abby McMullenWeb Editor

Lesley WaltersNews Editor

Jesse BassOpinions Editor

Eric NagurneyEntertainment Editor

Tyler ClevelandSports Editor

Sebe Dale IVMultimedia Editor

Maggie SanfordPhoto Editor

Brandon PhillipsCirculation Manager

Crystal ScretchingGraphic Designer

Publications ManagerMaggie Williams

The Student Printz is pub-lished every Tuesday and Thursday during the fall and spring semesters. Printing is done by Signature Offset of Hattiesburg.

The first four copies of The Student Printz are free. Each additional copy is 25 cents.

Accuracy is important to everyone on the staff of The Student Printz. Please report any factual inaccuracies to the executive editor of The Student Printz as soon as possible.

Opinions are expressed in The Student Printz are those of the writer and not necessarily those of The Student Printz, it’s publications manager, USM, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning or the USM Board of Student Publications.

The Student Printz is located in the basement of Southern Hall Room 013. Applications for employment are available and should be returned to the office.

Reaching usNewsroom:

601-266-4266Executive Editor:

601-266-6431Publications Manager:

601-266-6746Newsroom Email:

Advertising Manager:

601-266-5188Advertising E-mail:[email protected]

Look at the past for the truth on global warming

Brandon DrescherPrintz Writer

In 1996, Alan Greens-pan, the for-mer chairman of the Federal Reserve, used the phrase “ i r r a t i o n a l exuberance” to describe the perfor-mance of the

U.S. stock market at that time. The Dow-Jones Industrial index had grown annually by double digits over the period 1990-1996 and the chairman was concerned about a “bubble” situation where assets become “overvalued”. A stock bubble had developed and a “correction” occurred as the Dow dropped by 34 percent be-tween 1999 and 2002.

Fast forward to today. Another bubble. This time it was in hous-ing. The increase in home prices began innocently as the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates following the 2001 recession. Although this recession was mild, the Fed’s actions were ag-gressive, cutting rates 11 times in 2001 (from 6.5 to 1.75 per-cent). Rates continued to fall to a record low of 1 percent in 2004. Money became very cheap.

The low cost of borrowing stimulated an increase in de-mand for homes--driving home prices up. This was especially true in California, Nevada and Florida where population growth was strong. Rapidly rising home prices lulled buyers into believ-ing that what goes up always goes up. Speculators began to purchase homes for immediate resale, called “flipping”.

Mortgage lenders viewed ris-ing home values as additional security to their loans. Some lenders increased their loan-to-

value ratio to 100 percent be-cause they believed that rising prices created immediate equity. Risks seemed so low that lend-ers issued mortgages to borrow-ers with marginal credit history or even with unknown credit (so-called “liars loans”). Low “teaser” rates were issued to get more mortgages issued. Rising home values would guarantee the lenders investment.

To raise additional capital to lend, banks began to sell their mortgages to other financial in-stitutions who packaged them into pools called mortgage backed securities. Bonds repre-senting ownership in these pools were sold to other investors. Mortgage payments produced a cash return to investors. The originators of the loans (bank, credit unions, savings and loans, etc.) no longer owned the mort-gages.

Because they could quickly sell these mortgages at a profit, loan originators had little incen-tive to worry about default risk. Purchasers relied on rising home prices to manage their risk. Ad-ditionally, “credit default swaps” were created as a form of default insurance, although they were outside the regulated insurance industry and required little in the way of reserves against potential losses.

As long as home prices contin-ued to rise, the system worked. Between 2004 and 2005, medi-an home prices in the U.S. rose almost 7 percent while prices in the West rose by almost 15 percent. However, rising prices began to cool demand and price appreciation began to slow. At the same time, reacting to infla-tionary pressures, the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates in 2004 (5 times), 2005 (8

times) and 2006 (4 times). As rates rose, many borrowers

found their adjustable rate mort-gages resetting and monthly payments increasing. Marginal borrowers were unable to make higher payments and began to default in 2006. The increased supply of homes on the market began to push home prices down starting in 2007. Home prices have fallen in many markets including Denver (down 5 per-cent) and Las Vegas (down 34 percent). As home values fell, the value of MBSs fell as well.

Institutions (retirement funds, banks, investment houses, for-eign governments, etc.) who own MBSs are finding those assets have lost value. If home

prices continue to fall, the value of MBSs will also fall. The ex-tent to which a given bank is ex-posed to these MBSs is largely unknown to outsiders, thus other banks are unwilling to loan to them. They are unable to raise new capital since investors are fearful of losing their money. Credit dries up, slowing spend-ing in all sectors of the econo-my.

We now have a crisis of confi-dence. Confidence that the mon-ey you save or loan will be repaid is essential to encourage savings and investment. That loss of con-fidence leads to the withdrawal of savings from banks and other financial institutions. The result-ing bank “failures” caused by

these “runs” can create a greater loss of confidence, more “runs” and further failures. The cycle is stopped by restoring confidence that investments are secure and savings are safe.

Any bailout must address this loss of confidence. Any bailout must also address the decline in home values which is causing MBS value loss. When home values stop falling, individuals will return to the housing mar-ket and banks will be willing to issue mortgages. That this must be done is clear. How it can be done is far from clear.

William Gunther

Guest Columnist

William Gunther is a professor of economics at University of Southern Mississippi. Comments can be sent to [email protected]

Economics professor explains crisis

Cancer awareness is worth it in the long run

Leslie Walters is news editor for The Student Printz. Comments can be sent to [email protected]

Brandon Drescher is a staff writer for The Student Printz. Comments can be sent to [email protected]

CORRECTIONS

The article entitled ‘Congress rejects bailout deal’ in the September 30 edition of The Student Printz contained inaccurate information. The Printz regrets the error.

Lesley Walters

News Editor

I am a nursing student at the Gulf Park campus in Gulfport, MS . I recently saw both the Sept. 11th and the Sept. 16th editions of The Student Printz newspaper on campus. I felt grateful that the newspaper staff made such an effort to make the papers available to the students here, so I took a copy of each paper. I read both papers the following weekend since studying kept me busy the week prior. I have a few thoughts about each paper I want to share.

In respect to the September 11, 2008 paper my overall impression was good. I was completely unaware of the Free Ride Eco Eagle bikes program before reading the paper. I like knowing what’s going on at the main campus, even if I am not there. Then I got to the opinion section, a source of most student write-ins, I’m sure.

I saw the illustrated cartoon of Obama and McCain, and while not agreeing with it, was grateful for the right of free speech. But, then I read Evan Jones’s “Obama book misleads readers” article. I don’t think such faulty reasoning should be published.

Yes, it is his opinion. He seems to have thought about his viewpoint before writing his article. But, it didn’t seem as if he attempted to have any discussions with anyone about the topic before submitting the article for publishing. For example, he criticizes the author of the mentioned book for advertising himself as, “...the author of the swift boat veteran book”. He compares it to his own idea of, “From the people that brought you

World War I.”Clever as that seems, it

is faulty thinking. If we students all agreed with that rationale, then director Steven Spielberg couldn’t advertise as “from the director of E.T., and Jaws”. Let me be clear, I am not criticizing Evan Jones for having his opinion. I am criticizing him for not discussing his arguments before they are published. If he had discussed his materials, such trivial points as these would be omitted from his writings and more substantial points could be made.

Regarding the September 16, 2008 paper, I thought it was positive in many ways. There were again some serious fl aws that could have been prevented with a little more thought before publication, though.

I’m sure you all know there were two repeated paragraphs in the “Eco Eagle bikes missing after one week” article that was on the front page of the paper. Come on newspaper staff, it was the cover page. Does anyone proofread?

I do not write for a newspaper, and I’m sure I’m not as talented as the generous students that dedicate time from their busy college schedules to create a campus newspaper. So, I’m not trying to insult those people who are “do-ers”. But, this error could have been easily prevented.

The more disturbing aspect of the September 16th front page was the color photo for Sigma Nu’s doughnut eating contest. Marc Smith was wearing a shirt that says, “I’m A Drinker, Not A Fighter”.

Does anyone reading this letter see that as a problem?

Our new college president, Dr. Martha Saunders recently had to revoke a fraternity’s charter due to a hazing incident involving alcohol! Why are we projecting USM as a party college?

Two students were hospitalized after the hazing incident, one in critical condition. I got to read that news in the Sun Herald, like thousands of other people. Thank goodness, this campus newspaper won’t be read by as many people. Because, it would have only taken one staff member’s intuition or critical thinking about the photo to prevent it from being published. I’m sure there were other photos submitted by Maggie Sanford that could have been used. Did anyone even stop to verify if Marc Smith is even of legal age to consumer alcohol? In essence, we could also be publishing photos of under-age drinkers.

I’m sorry that the tone of this letter is critical and negative. But, if we students do not speak up nothing will be changed. There needs to be an overall editor or collaboration on each newspaper staff members’ part to analyze the paper in its entirety before it is published. It seems as if the USM student newspaper is a rushed, or hastily put together medium.

I will be giving the student newspaper the benefi t of the doubt for now. I have only read two issues so far. So, I will continue reading and hoping for improvements.

Stacy Harlow

www.studentprintz.com| Page 5Thursday, October 2, 2008|Opinions

(Dean of Students Office)

Homecoming and

Mr. & Ms. Southern Miss

Thad Cochran Center LobbyBolton Hall Classroom

Liberal Arts Building LobbyCook Library Lobby

Locations

DatesAbsentee voting

from 8am-4pm

October 7th and 9thOct. 6th

As I watch with disdain and embarrassment the outrageous reactions to Gov. Sarah Palin by the left side of my gender, I am deeply perplexed--who’s running this movement for gender equality?

At what point did conservative women consent to representation by groups such as NOW? I never received my membership card. Perhaps that is because, much to their astonishment--they don’t speak for me! Radical, tradition-loathing, bigots toward religion have hijacked the righteous cause of advancing women’s equality.

For the fi rst time in our nation’s history, not only do we have a woman on the Republican ticket, we fi nally

have a conservative woman’s voice! And the claws on the left have sharpened and attacked.

It’s never been pretty to see women argue. We come across as silly, vindictive, emotional, irrational, shrill--you know, the adjectives men always use. So why are we arguing? We have in Sarah Palin what a feminist should gladly embrace: a strong, intelligent, accomplished, independent woman. Is she not the one we should put forward to represent and advance our cause? Or does her beauty, Christian faith and femininity disqualify her?

I thought one of the goals of this election for women was to crack the glass ceiling. We fi nally have a ticket to the dance. Never before have we

seen the opportunity to reach this political pinnacle. (Hillary, I know, but she didn’t win the primary.)

This election ironically, will be decided by.... women. And we are not in agreement. The great divide in this country doesn’t end between Republicans and Democrats. We can break down the opposing sides as such: Hillary vs. Palin/pantsuits vs. lipstick. The great divide also exists on the planet of Venus.

Laurie Williams

Corrections/Clari� cationsThe Student Printz values accuracy and works diligently to check facts before publication. However, if

inaccuracies occur, we want to know. Please report errors to the editor at [email protected] or by calling 601-266-6431 or 601-266-4266.

Letters to the EditorA letter to the editor forum will be open to the expression of fact or opinion that will be of interest or

importance to The Student Printz readers. Letters which � t within the scope of First Amendment protection, and that meet other stipulations spelled out in this document will be published on a space-available basis as explained below.

Each edition of the paper will include a letters column if letters are available. Letter writers may expect prompt publication of their letters in the paper’s opinion section, as space is available. Letters of up to 350 words will be allowed. Published letters must be free of libel, since the publication is held legally accountable for all content. Although personal controversy will be tolerated, it is the responsibility of the editor to check statements purporting the facts. The editor is also responsible for making decisions as to the pertinence of the letter to the USM community.

Letter writers must sign all contributions and the editor must verify the signer and the writer are one in the same through personal conference. Letters will not be published without the contributor’s name.

To send a letter to the editor email [email protected] or send to campus mailbox 5088.

Gov. Palin an embarrassmentPrintz needs to work on fi xing errors

Entertainment Page [email protected]

www.studentprintz.com

A p p l i c a t i o n s A v a i l a b l e O n l i n e O c t o b e r 1 a twww.usm.edu/fye/southern_sty le .php

A p p l i c a t i o n D e a d l i n ef r iday.NOVEMBER.07.2008

Need something to do tonight? Check out calendar online.www.studentprintz.com/calendar Live After Five returns

Downtown Hattiesburg’s “Live After Five” concert se-ries kicks off with the Zydeco group the Bluerunners this Fri-day.

Every Friday in October, the Historic Hattiesburg Down-town Association will host a free concert in Town Square Park from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Through this series, the associ-ation wants to promote interac-tion in downtown Hattiesburg.

“Downtown Hattiesburg of-fers so many unique venues for people to experience a variety of activities,” said executive di-rector Betsy Rowell. “Live Af-ter Five is a wonderful oppor-tunity for people to wind down after a busy day at the office and it is a family friendly event to be enjoyed by all ages.”

“Live After Five” was first held last April. Though marred by forced relocations of events due to rain, the shows were successful, boasting over 200 attendees at the final concert. The association hopes to hold

the series again next spring, but will decide based on the suc-cess of this month’s events.

The series will host a diverse variety of acts with a focus on blues and folk music. Upcom-ing performers are blues mu-sician T-Bone Pruitt Oct. 10, New Orleans bluesman Wash-board Chaz Oct. 17, Jewish folk band The New Orleans Klezmer Allstars Oct. 24, and blues harmonica player Lloyd “Hurricane” Munn Oct. 31.

Eric NagurneyEntertainment Editor

The New Orleans Kelzmer All-Stars will play in Hattiesburg as a part of the Live After Five series on Oct. 24.

Photo courtesy of the New Orleans Kelzmer All-Stars

Tomorrow:Bluesrunners @ Town Square Park5-8 p.m.; Free

Oct. 10T-Bone Pruitt Oct. 17Washboard ChazOct. 24The New Orleans Kelzmer All-StarsOct. 31Lloyd “Hurricane” Munn

LIVE AFTER FIVE SERIES

TONIGHT7:30 p.m. -- Waiting For The Parade @ Martha R. Tatum Theatre9 p.m. -- Red Hill City @ M.J. Hooligans9:30 p.m. -- Casey @ Keg and Barrel10 p.m. -- Sam Zeanah @ The Thirsty Hippo

TOMORROW5 p.m. -- Bluerunners @ Town Square Park8 p.m. -- Bryan Lee @ Walnut Circle Grill9:30 p.m. -- John Wooten @ Keg and Barrell10 p.m. -- Big Sam’s Funky Nation w/ Smooth III @ Bottling Company10 p.m. -- Molotov Bros. @ The Thirsty Hippo10 p.m. -- Glenn Chandler @ Brownstone’s10 p.m. -- Tyler Reev @ Mugshots

SATURDAY8 p.m. -- T-Bone Pruitt @ Walnut Circle Grill9 p.m. -- Trial By Fire @ M.J. Hooligans9:30 p.m. -- Elise and Co. @ Keg and Barrell10 p.m. -- Blue Mountain @ Bottling Company10 p.m. -- Snarky Puppy w/ John Ellis, Matt Perine and Jason Marsalis @ The Thirsty Hippo10 p.m. -- Jay Stevens @ Brownstones10 p.m. -- Charmed I’m Sure w/ Squirrel House @ The Tavern10 p.m. -- Michael Warren @ Mugshots

ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

www.studentprintz.com | Page 7Thursday, October 2, 2008|Sports

Southern Miss softball coach Howard Dobson announced Wednesday that his team will not participate in the annual fall Spring Klein Tournament in Spring, Texas, citing health concerns with his team.

“We have a lot of players right

now that are under the weather and it would not benefi t us at this juncture to make that trip,” Dobson said. “We need to get our players feeling better and focus our concentration on our fi nal fall tournament later this month.”

The Lady Eagles conclude their fall schedule, Oct. 11, by hosting a three-team tournament with William Carey and Millsaps College.

Softball cancels trip due to illness on team

The Southern Miss men’s tennis team recorded fi ve wins in the second day of the Southern Miss Fall Invitational.

Domagoj Anic defeated Thomas Petrich (UAB) in straight sets, 6-3, 6-0. Jan Burmeister knocked off John Holliman (UAB), 6-2, 6-2. Strate Krstevski downed Phenyo Matong (Nicholls), 6-1, 6-4, and Felipe Sylva defeated Rohan Shetty (Nicholls), 6-1, 6-4.

The Golden Eagles won

three doubles’ matches with Oscar Machuca and Krsteveski defeating Thomas Petrich and Dan Cornei (UAB), 8-4. Andrew Poole and Burmeister knocked off Eric Fisher and Rohan Matong (Nicholls), 8-5. Diego Machuca an d Markus Wessinghage defeated Rohan Shetty and Sami Mouline (Nicholls), 8-0.

Next, the Eagles will head to Atlanta to compete in the Georgia Tech Invitational, Oct. 3-5.

Southern Miss Director of Athletics Richard Giannini announced Friday that the Golden Eagle football team will play Louisiana Tech in a four-game series beginning with the 2010 season.

The series will include two games in Ruston at Joe Aillet Stadium and a pair of contests at Carlisle-Faulkner Field at Roberts Stadium on the Southern Miss campus.

The series begins in Ruston on Sept. 25, 2010, and then continues the following year in Hattiesburg on Sept. 3. After a year hiatus, the team renews the series with a Sept. 14, 2013, game in Ruston and ends the four-year

agreement Sept. 6, 2014, in Hattiesburg.

Three Golden Eagle players recorded dou-ble digit kills, led by seniors Ashley Petrinec and Stevi Cherry, but it wasn’t enough as SMU (9-7, 2-1) bested Southern Miss, 3-1 (30-28, 25-18, 17-25, 25-20), in Conference USA play Sunday.

Petrinec (14 kills, 15 digs) and Cherry (13 kills, 11 digs) put together double-doubles for Southern Miss (10-6, 0-3), while Lauren Sears added 10 kills. Maia Ivanova tallied 17 digs.

Eagles have good showingin Invitational

Football signs deal with La. Tech

Lady Eagles fall to SMU in volleyball 3-1

Sports Briefs The Student Printz is looking for Sports Writers and Layout Designers.

Apply at Printz Today!

Located in Southern Hall, Room 013

Richard Giannini

Four game series begins in 2010 at Joe Aillet Stadium

TOMORROW• All Day -- Men’s Tennis -- Georgia Tech Invitational -- Atlanta, Ga.• 4 p.m. -- Women’s Soccer v. East Caroli-na -- Soccer Complex -- Hattiesburg• 7 p.m. -- Women’s Volleyball v. East Carolina -- Reed Green Coliseum -- Hattiesburg

SATURDAY• 10 a.m. -- Women’s Cross Country -- Auburn Invitational -- Auburn, Ala.• 6 p.m. -- Football v. UTEP -- The Rock -- Hattiesburg

SUNDAY• 12 p.m. -- Women’s Volleyball v. Marshall -- Reed Green Coli-seum -- Hattiesburg• 1 p.m. -- Women’s Soccer v. Marshall -- Soccer Complex -- Hattiesburg

MONDAY• All Day -- Men’s Golf -- Memphis Intercollegiate Tour-nament -- Colonial Country Club -- Memphis, Tenn.• All Day -- Women’s Golf -- Lady Herd Fall Invitational -- Sleepy Hollow Golf & Country Club -- Hurricane, W.V.

SportsPage [email protected]/sports

Struggling UTEP can still present challenge

Mike Price and Texas-El Paso fi nally found their way off of the notorious ESPN Bottom 10 poll.

The sixth-ranked Miners, who were staring down an 0-4 start and riding a nine game losing streak, fi nally got a win last weekend, a 52-13 whooping of Central Florida that got them off the poll and put Central Florida front and center.

That does not mean that Southern Miss head coach Larry Fedora is about to let his team overlook UTEP, who managed 30 points against Southern Miss last year in a 56-30 loss. After watching the tape from the Miners’ game against Central Florida, Fedora said he isn’t taking anything for granted.

“There is nothing surprising in college football anymore,” Fedora said Monday. “Anything can happen on any Saturday and there

is no doubt about it. Probably no one expected (them beating UCF), but they have the talent to do it. They have people that can make plays.”

That’s a good mentality for Fedora to have, considering UTEP, a seven-and-a-half point underdog, has showed that they can be explosive on offense and take advantage of opponent mistakes. Last week, the Miners scored twice on defense and used six Central Florida turnovers to set up 35 of their 52 total points.

This season, the Miners are plus-fi ve in turnover margin.

“If you can (take care of the ball), then you will be successful,” Fedora said. “If we take care of the football, then we will have a chance in every game we play. If we don’t, then obviously your chances become slim.”

UTEP quarterback Trevor Vittatoe has improved every game this season, and thew for

263 yards, two touchdowns and an interception last week. Vittatoe does not have the legs to hurt a defense on a scramble, but has shown consistency from the pocket by throwing eight touchdowns through four games.

The rest of the Miners’ offensive attack isn’t anything to write home about. Leading rusher James Thomas has just 206 yards in four games, and top receiver Damaris Johnson averages 16.1 yards per catch, but has just 15 catches all year.

The UTEP defense is the real achilles heel for head coach Mike Price. It is currently allowing 395 yards and 38.6 points per contest.

On special teams, the Miners’ have a serious weapon in kicker Jose Martinez. The senior is just eight of 12 in fi eld goal attempts this year, but last week drilled a 64-yarder for his thirteenth point of the game.

The Eagles are relatively healthy

going into the game, except for starting linebacker Korey Williams, who has a broken jaw suffered in an off-the-fi eld incident

last weekend.Defensive back Ivory Williams

and linebacker Blake Spiers will be available for the fi rst time all

season, and should help shore up the defense, which has allowed 196 yards-per-game on the ground.

Soccer opens C-USA play

The Golden Eagle soccer team will return to the Southern Miss Soccer Complex this weekend as they host East Carolina and Marshall for the Conference-USA home opener.

The Golden Eagles (5-4-2. 1-1-0 C-USA) traveled last weekend to Memphis and UAB to earn the weekend split, thanks to Samantha Polly’s game winning goal in overtime at UAB Sunday afternoon.

After one weekend of conference play East Carolina remains the only 2-0 team in C-USA, Houston is the only team that started the conference season 0-2. The other 10 teams, including Southern Miss, are sitting at 1-1 in C-USA play.

Through the teams fi rst 10 games senior Sarah McFadden leads the Golden Eagles in points with eight on three goals and two assist this season,

McFadden also leads the Conference in shots with 58 on the season.

Senior transfer Obafemi Alao has tallied three goals on the season and Renee Hrapmann, Mallory Barnes and Samantha Polley each have a goal as well.

In the nets, redshirt junior Holly Cox has recorded 40 saves while posting three shutouts on the season. She is allowing 0.79 goals against per game and has a save percentage of .833, which are both second in the conference.

East Carolina comes into Fridays match ranked 13th in the Southeastern Region by Soccerbuzz after posting shutouts in both C-USA games this past weekend. The ranking is the highest for the Pirates (7-3-0, 2-0-0 C-USA) since 1999.

The Pirates will bring in a strong defense with seniors Madison Keller (Midfi elder) and Amber Campbell

(Goalkeeper) having both been recognized by Conference USA as Defensive Players-of-the-Week. Kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m. Friday afternoon.

Marshall will visit Hattiesburg for a Sunday afternoon contest set to begin at 1:00 p.m. The Herd (3-3-4, 1-1-0 C-USA) will be led by sophomore Erica Duncan, who leads C-USA with six goals already this season, and freshman Angela DeSumma, who leads C-USA with six assist on the season.

At halftime during Sunday’s match Southern Miss will present the annual “Spirit of Blake Nettles Award” given to a deserving individual serving the Hattiesburg Youth Soccer Association with the same qualities of patience, caring, and integrity as Blake did for many years.

Any child from HYSA wearing their jersey will gain free admission to both matches this weekend.

Special to the Printz

Sports Calendar

Top:Head coach Larry Fedora chants with the Golden Eagles after stretching before practice Wednesday. Fedora is hopeful the Golden Eagles will defeat UTEP Saturday at the Rock at 6 p.m. Bottom: Justin Estes, sophomore kicker from Marietta, Ohio, practices kicking a fi eld goal Wednesday afternoon. The Golden Eagles return from their off-week this Saturday with a 6 p.m. game against UTEP at the Rock.

Maggie Sanford/Printz

Tyler ClevelandSports Editor

Golden Eagles look to rebound from their 34-27 loss at the hands of Marshall