Ole Miss changes tornado policy following severe weather, complaints

By Donica Phifer

Changes have been implemented to The University of Mississippi's tornado policy following severe weather on April 27.

A line of severe, tornado spawning, thunderstorms moved through the area, damaging homes in northern Lafayette county.

While Ole Miss followed an emergency plan that was already in place, students, faculty and staff didn't know what to do, said Jim Windham, member of the university Crisis Management Team.

“The university had never been tested in this way,” Windham said, “We weren't prepared. But we found our plan had problems in it.”

For emergency situations, the university relies on a system of text messaging called Rebel Alert which notifies students of any warnings, cancellations or closings.

However, text messages are not sent for tornado warnings, sirens are the primary alert, Windham said.

“There isn't sufficient time to send text messages for a warning. Technology doesn't allow real time results for cell phones, and it can take five to 20 minutes for texts to reach everyone,” Windham said.

Even though the text alerts and sirens were operating correctly, students were still unsure what to do.

“I unofficially cancelled my own classes. I had that option so I just stayed home,” said Elizabeth Wilson, a junior theatre major. “I felt bad for the people who felt like they had to go to class because there was no one who told us we could stay inside.”

Complaints from students, parents, and faculty led the Crisis Management Team to develop a new plan of action, including a website that will give real-time updates during an emergency situation, Windham said.

The same type of website is also used by the University of Alabama, and proved useful during the F4 tornado near the campus on April 27.

Further clarification of the tornado policy and open communication with students, faculty, and staff is a goal. Letters indicating changes in the policy have been sent via e-mail, and placed in The Daily Mississippian, Windham said.

Policy changes include classes being suspended when a tornado warning is issued and resuming 30 minutes after the warning expires, provided half of the class period is left.

Classes that are missed due to severe weather will be given time to make up tests or class work at a later date, Windham said.

Limited Sunday alcohol sales begin this weekend

By Donica Phifer

For the first time on a Sunday, you can take your mother to drink alcohol at a restaurant in Oxford.

May 8 marks Mother’s Day, the first national holiday to fall on a Sunday since the Sunday alcohol sales law was passed by the city.

Matt Smith, junior hospitality management major, said he plans to go out and drink Sunday.

Although Smith is taking advantage of the new law, many restaurants on the Square, including the John Currence- owned Boure, City Grocery and Snackbar, will remained closed.

Currence’s fourth restaurant, Big Bad Breakfast, will be open but will not be serving alcohol.

Restaurants that are open on regular Sundays will remain so with the addition of alcoholic beverages to the menu.

“We’re not really going to bedoing anything different than on a normal day, but we are looking forward to the opportunity for people who want to have a drink to come in and have one,” said Rob Carpenter, general manager for South Depot Taco Shop.

Other businesses are following the same concept, opening for normal business hours but not preparing for large crowds.

“We aren’t expecting that much of a fluctuation because of alcohol sales,” said Ross Green, general manager for the Rib Cage.

Ward VI Alderman Brad Mayo said he had no expectations for Sunday sales, but that the current law was the result of a compromise.

“It’s not what everyone wanted,” Mayo said. “Some wanted Sunday sales every Sunday, and others didn’t want sales at all, but this is the compromise that we reached.”

The push for Sunday sales in Oxford began in February 2010, when Valentine’s Day fell on a Sunday and the Restaurant Association pushed for an exception to the no-Sunday sales law, Mayo said.

While the city granted the exception, the Mississippi State Tax Commission denied the request.

The summer months in Oxford brought campaigns and open forums for both sides of the Sunday sales issue.

“I just don’t agree with how they went about doing it by having special days or whatever,” Smith said. “I just think it’s all or nothing. I think it’s good for business owners in general.”

The Oxford Board of Aldermen passed the law Dec. 7, 2010, and it was approved by the state in January 2011.

With the adoption of the law, restaurants can now sell wine and liquor from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Sunday.

STD rates rising in Mississippi

In the past three years, Mississippi has topped the charts for gonorrhea and chlamydia infections, and the numbers are still rising.

Condoms are the best way to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, but they are not 100 percent effective.  At least 50 percent of sexually active men and women contract an STD during their lives.
Photo illustration by Mia Camurati

With Mississippi constantly topping the list of chlamydia and gonorrhea infections compared to other states, the Oxford medical community remains mindful of the potential health threat sexually transmitted diseases pose to the college town.

An estimated one out of every four college students has an STD, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but University of Mississippi Student Health Director Barbara Collier said approximately 80 percent of those with STDs show no signs and experience no symptoms of infection, causing many to go undiagnosed.

At least 50 percent of sexually active men and women contract an STD during their lives, with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) ranking as the most common STD in the nation.

Dr. Will Dabbs, a physician at Urgent Care of Oxford, said he most often treats herpes cases.

“It’s such a common occurrence,” Dabbs said. “I often get a student in the clinic asking about sores that have developed, and I have to break it to them that it’s herpes.”

Dabbs said he is almost always confronted with an immediate follow-up question: “What happens when I get married?”

“I tell them their future spouse better love them a lot, because they’ll get it too,” he said.

Both strains of the herpes virus (1 and 2) are passed by skin-to-skin contact between sexual partners, Dabbs said. Though condoms are often heavily promoted as a tried-and-true safeguard against sexually transmitted diseases, he said herpes is not adequately prevented through condom use.

Collier said she considers condom use 50 percent effective against STDs.

“That’s not the figure you’re going to read,” she said. “But condoms have to be put on, stay on and not break.”

Collier and Dabbs agree that condoms are the best option to prevent the spread of some STDs during sexual activity, a factor to keep in mind considering the amount of college students they treat on a regular basis.

“I probably see a student at least every other day, usually once a day, who wants to be tested for STDs,” Dabbs said. “If you’re being tested for everything, the bill can run into the hundreds of dollars at a commercial clinic.”

The full spectrum of STD testing costs approximately $150 at the University Student Health Center. The Lafayette County Health Department offers free STD testing every Monday from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and every Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Dabbs said it’s important students realize the harsh reality of sexually transmitted diseases.

“STDs are unbelievably dangerous,” he said. “It’s the gift that keeps on giving. In many cases, once you’ve got it, you’ve got it; and other times it’s life-threatening.”

“The people who have STDs look just like you and me. A lot of times the people passing them have no idea. It affects when you have children and who you eventually settle down with. The sad thing is that one moment’s inattention can have lasting effects the rest of your life.”

Digging Deeper with Mornah Dekuwmini

Mornah in his hometown of Ghana.

Many might think that making the move from West Africa to the United States might be a difficult adjustment, however, that was not the case with the 18-year-old Ghana native.

Mornah Dekuwmini grew up in the populous capital of Accra, Ghana. Born and raised in Accra, Dekuwmini was well accustomed to big city life. In high school, Dekuwmini knew that he wanted to move to the United States. Dekuwmini came to Ole Miss through the International Student Exchange Program, funded both by the US government and the University of Ghana.

“Coming to Mississippi wasn’t that big of an adjustment for me. When I got here (to Oxford), there were so many exchange students that I bonded so well with, we were oblivious to what was happening around us,” said Dekuwmini. “The culture in Mississippi is similar to Ghana, how respectful and hospitable the people are made me feel right at home.”

After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Accounting, Dekuwmini decided to continue his education and go to three more years of school to earn his PhD in Economics and Law. As part of his PhD program, Dekuwmini was required to teach economics classes, both microeconomics and macroeconomics.

Not only is Dekuwmini a professor to many students, he is a friend.

“I would usually dread going to a class like economics, but Mornah made it fun and interesting. He would integrate the concepts with aspects from our everyday life, making it easier to comprehend,” said senior Lauren Fitzpatrick. “Mornah is always so happy and never makes any of his students feel ashamed for grades they made, only encourages them to come in and discuss how to improve on the next exam or homework assignment.”

He goes out of his way to get to know you and help you succeed not only in his class, but also with any class you take.

“Knowing that I am making in impact in someone’s life is a great feeling. It’s so rewarding to see students earning great grades, that gives me a sense of accomplishment,” said Dekuwmini.

Having dealt with hundreds of students over his years of teaching, Dekuwmini doesn’t seem to find much about teaching he dislikes.

“I don’t really have many complaints about teaching, except that I hate grading,” said Dekuwmini. “It’s hard when students come to me at the end of the semester asking why they are doing so poorly in the class, with excuses as to why they have been missing homework assignments, classes, etc.. I feel bad for them, but it is their own fault and could have been avoided.”

Dealing with hundreds of personalities of the students is never easy, but Dekuwmini makes every student feel intelligent and accomplished.

Graduation: Where to go from here?

Callie Mounger (left) and Annie Horsley (right) pose in their graduation ensambles 

In the next few weeks, college graduations will be happening all around the country. It is a time of jubilation and gladness for the stress of test taking is over, a time to reminisce of the freedom and lack of responsibility of the past four years, and a time of fear, fear of the unknown and fear of finding a job.

In the economy today, young adults just getting out of college are finding it difficult to find a job. Reid Wesson, an Ole Miss alum, said he was turned down from multiple jobs for months after college before finally finding a job the following fall.

“It was very disheartening. I had graduated college with an Accounting degree, my grades were good, and yet no one would hire me. I couldn’t understand why,” Wesson said.

Other students graduating did not find getting a job so difficult. Whitney Vance, a Taylor medalist, will be starting a job this summer teaching at a public school in Jackson.

“I am from Alabama and it is very uncommon for someone outside of the state to stay and teach. Most of the time, teachers go back to where they were from. I had two job offers in Jackson, and had the fortunate time of being able to choose where I wanted to go. I know that most people don’t get to have that,” Vance said.

While others are moving on, some are being left behind. Senior Liz Fair will be staying an extra year to finish up an art degree after receiving a rejection letter from nursing school.

“I know it’s for the best and I am really excited about staying in Oxford for one more year. I am also glad that some of my friends will be with me. I don’t think that a ton of people are graduating in four years,” Fair said.

With Ole Miss graduation rates of graduating in four years only at 35 percent, Fair most certainly wont be alone. In the current market, Fair may be the smarter one by staying in school. More than 2.4 million people will graduate with bachelor and masters degrees this year. These job seekers will be competing with fellow classmates, laid off workers and the still unemployed. Whether you are staying or leaving college, take the time to enjoy each phase of life.

College Students celebrate graduation with colorful confetti

Sources:

Reid Wesson 901-857-4549

Whitney Vance 256-861-0440

Liz Fair 601-457-5786

Lafayette fights against obesity

Lafayette County and sponsors are trying to keep the obesity rates down with local programs for residents.

Source: countyhealthrankings.org

Mississippi has been ranked as the most obese state for the seventh year, but Lafayette County ranks 12^th among the least obese counties.

“Obesity, physical inactivity and many chronic diseases demographically affect low-income minority populations, particularly in the southeast portion of the United States,” said Abigail Gamble, Ole Miss Health and Exercise Science graduate research assistant.“One reason that Lafayette County is one of the lower ranking obese counties in Mississippi is because the population is not predominantly minority, and in comparison to other counties where obesity is more prevalent, Lafayette County residents have a higher median household income and typically have a higher education.”

In 2010, Lafayette County had an adult obesity rate of 31 percent, with heart disease the leading cause of death.

“Health problems associated with obesity are extensive,” said Barbara Collier, University Health Services director. “The ones we see the most are joint problems, especially knees and feet, esophageal reflux, hypertension and trouble walking. Long-term obesity can cause Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, damage to heart and kidneys, and inability to do work.”

A person is classified obese when they have a Body Mass Index higher than 30. BMI measures weight in relation to height, and is closely associated with measures of body fat.

“We did a record review of students over a three-month period, and determined that 30 percent of the students seen during those months had a BMI of 30 or above, with 30 being considered obese,” Collier said.

In 2009, Baptist Memorial Hospital began several programs to help promote wellness and change in Lafayette County.

Its most recent project is “Healthy You, Healthy L.O.U”, a five-month program that begins with a registration of starting weight, body mass index, and blood pressure. There are currently 600 people involved.

“Baptist Memorial Hospital has really taken the lead on the ‘Healthy You, Healthy L.O.U’,” said Kathy Sukanek, United Way of Oxford-Lafayette County executive director. “United Way is a partner in helping with getting the word out and volunteers when needed and in planning the initiative. We also have a focus on health in the work we do currently, and are looking at other programs that would help address obesity in Lafayette County with the goal of increasing healthy choices and physical activity and healthy lifestyles.”

However, not all residents are suffering from obesity. Many live healthy, active lifestyles.

“Exercise is good medicine,” Gamble said. “There are so many benefits to being active beyond weight loss. Once people begin to move and start to feel good, it’s hard to stop. The trouble is getting people off the couch, away from the computer and video games to take the step to get their body moving.”

Restaurants and Campus Dining Facilities Fail Inspection Exams

(Food Inspection Letter Grade at the Market at Crosby)

What do McAllister’s, Abner’s, Bouré, Back Yard Burger and the Market at Crosby all have in common? They are all restaurants in Oxford, Mississippi… and they have all received C’s in inspections at some point.

However, this issue is not limited to Mississippi. In New York City, health inspectors have started requiring restaurants to post letter grades for cleanliness. In March, Fordham University was cited for violations including live roaches and unsanitized food-preparation surfaces to qualify for a C, the lowest grade, inducing a mass meeting between students and administrators. Last month at the Pace University in Manhattan, the city unexpectedly closed the main cafeteria all together for two meal periods.

UNDERSTANDING FOOD FACILITY INSPECTION GRADES

Grade C violations are given if some or all of the critical violations found were not corrected during the inspection. Restaurants cited with a C are required to be re-inspected and must have all violations corrected within 10 days or they will be shut down. Restaurants are inspected a minimum of once every six months.
“We received a violation last summer for having the cooler temperature about three degrees above what it should have been. This comes from opening and closing the cooler a lot in the morning while getting set up for the day,” John Spreafico, bar manager of Bouré restaurant said.

Bouré quickly corrected the problem and was given an A on the next inspection. Spreafico claims that typically the two most frequent violations that restaurants are cited for are the temperature of the cooler or for not having a lid on your cup. ”They will also get you for having seafood or meat out without running water over it,” Spreafico adds.

College campuses, which serve more daily meals than a typical restaurant, are a whole other category. Students can easily go online and find the unpleasant details of each inspection as well. The Market at Crosby dormitory is one restaurant that received a C on the Food Facility Inspections for Lafayette County.

“I’m not sure why we received a C last time during inspection but I know why we currently have a B. We have a B right now because last time we never posted our inspection letter grade when we received a C,” Kesha from the Market at Crosby said.

Restaurants are required to post their letter grades at all times, even if the grade is disconcerting. All of the restaurants in the Student Union at Ole Miss have their letter grades posted and all have A’s. The University of Mississippi is doing a good job of keeping the campus eateries sanitary. However, they are not the only place in Oxford that needs to be vigilant of food inspections. It seems to be a universal problem.

Sources: John Spreafico, bar manager of Bouré, (601)-941-9515
Kesha, employee at the Market at Crosby, (662)-915-1933

1L

Welcome to Corey Allen's study environment. Monday through Sunday, 6 in the morning till midnight.  

It’s a Friday night in Oxford, Mississippi and Corey Allen sips her coffee as she is sitting at home buried in her constitutional law textbook. Allen has been up since 6 a.m. and she is tiring.

Allen along with 199 of her fellow classmates at the University of Mississippi School of Law are in the midst of their two-week exam period.

Allen has an exam on Monday. One single exam that not only determines whether or not she passes the class, but determines her class ranking. Imagine being tested only once during a semester over 17 weeks of extremely detailed material. This exam is the most important criterion that will determine the future of a 1L.

A 1L is known as a first year law student. These students undergo several academic challenges. As for Allen, she is the youngest in her first year class and an alumnus of The University of Mississippi. The rigorous study schedule of a 1L has been extremely demanding and stressful for her.

An English major, Allen graduated in three years from The University of Mississippi. Before her undergraduate degree was completed, she made the decision to advance her education by applying for and was accepted into the University of Mississippi School of Law. Allen has adjusted well to the demanding academic criteria. One of the most difficult adjustments is studying for the exams, which occur only once a semester.

“Being an English major has had its pros and cons. Pros being I can use my writing skills and cons I’ve had to adapt my study habits differently,” says Allen. “I was used to reading books and writing papers on them, now I read cases and get tested on them once a semester,”

“I think the exam process, though highly pressured and stressful, is beneficial for law students because it prepares us for a stressful career,” says Catherine Servarti, a second year law student at the University of Mississippi School of Law. “My hat goes off to Corey for only being twenty-one and being in law school."

“Law school exams are traditionally just one exam at the end of the semester and that tradition has been around for a long time,” says Dean Richard Gershon, Dean of the Mississippi School of Law.

According to Dean Gershon, students are tested once a semester to examine their analytical abilities. These abilities are determined by several components the student must possess to be successful in a law program.

"These components you really can't see until the end of a semester in how they understand the material and simulate it all together," says Dean Gerson. "That's why the exams are a good way to review the material as a whole to tie it all together."

According to Allen, learning law is everything she expected,but wishes her professors would accept other type of grading standard.

“I wish there was at least one additional test during the middle of the semester so we could have something else to base our grade on,” says Allen.

“It’s almost like being thrown into a French class and someone is asking you to speak French even though you haven't had a lot of background in French,” says Allen.

“Going through one set of exams per semester during a two-week period is very stressful,” Allen says, “It is preparing me to work under stressful circumstances that in turn are preparing me for my career.”

“Learning the law my first year has consisted of; how to analyze situations, thinking on my own feet and taking a problem and looking on both sides of that problem,” says Allen. “These thinking processes are developing and training me to become what I eventually want to be.”

“The disadvantage of law school is that if you don't keep up throughout the entire semester and you try and cram before for the exam, it’s just never going to work" says Dean Gershon. You have an entire semester to assimilate, and that’s a lot of law.”

“Also, the biggest help has been from LexisNexis.com and Westlaw.com. We use these sites to find the law and to help us better understand the main concepts of each case or statute,” says Allen.

To further Allen goals she is working with Kevin Frye,Oxford's 2010-2011 Favorite Attorney.Kevin Frye , a criminal defense attorney, was voted favorite attorney by The Local Voice.

“Allen will be studying law from defense trails involving misdemeanors and felonies in the Oxford area,” says Attorney Frye.

“The advice I would give to new 1L students for next year is you have to keep up. Time management skills, attending study groups or anything else that will keep you on top of it,” says Allen.

Dean Gershon encourages all 1L students to keep abreast of and be diligent in their study of law. Hopefully, each student will follow Allen's example and be well prepared for their exams. So, Allen, grab another cup of coffee and assimilate that knowledge. The one exam tradition lives on.

Dean Richard Gershon 662915-6900

Kevin Frye 6622590050


Corey Allen 6012097488

Catherine Servati 6623227644

Farley a Shining Example of Ole Miss

Farley Hall stands proudly on the Ole Miss campus.

Situated on the corner of Grove Loop and Sorority Row, Farley Hall occupies a quaint position a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of the heart of campus. Being across the street from the Grove allows for some improvisation in the area of classroom setting when the weather is pleasant. Saturated with history, exemplifying antebellum architecture, housing top notch teaching technology, Farley is the quintessential example of an Ole Miss facility.

But the history of Farley Hall begins long before its construction in 1929.

Early History

A marker was placed on the grounds near the building’s West entrance in 1954 by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History detailing the site’s history:

“Originally built for use as magnetic observatory. Used as Confederate Morgue after Battle of Shiloh in April 1862. Also used by Gen U.S. Grant in fall of 1862 and later by forces of Gen Nathan B. Forrest.”

The morgue, or “Dead House” as it was once known, was demolished in 1958 to allow for expansion.

Farley has gone through many renovations since that time, the last of which being the Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics in 2008.

The Overby Center

As suggested by the inscription of “RELIGION, SPEECH, PRESS, ASSEMBLY, PETITION” that dominates the façade of the building, The Overby Center’s mission is “to create better understanding of the media, politicians and the role of the First Amendment in our democracy.”

“The building’s location is the most strategic on campus,” said Dr. Samir Husni, “It’s close to the Grove. It’s close to the Union. It’s close to everything.”

This proximity invites students to come to guest lecturers in Overby’s 225-seat auditorium, explore headlines from across the South on one of the Center’s nine news televisions or enjoy the Daily Mississippian in the Samuel S. Talbert Reading Room.

When asked about the importance of our facilities an atmosphere, ASB President Taylor McGraw said, “My fondest and most vivid memories of growing up in Oxford are tied to physical structures… images of 'place' are inextricably tied to my sense of the culture here. I take ownership of these images and store them in the part of my brain that is labeled 'home.’”

The University of Mississippi as an institution is saturated in culture and history. But the whole couldn’t exist without its individual parts, and Farley Hall exemplifies the best of what is our beloved Ole Miss by embracing the past in its architecture and the future with its technology, all while paying homage to some of the university’s greatest alumni.

The Year of the Student

The University of Mississippi Welcomes Incoming Students

Ole Miss breaks records this year with largest ever freshman class

All over the country, admissions advisors are seeing a substantial increase in their applicants, admits, and attendees.

The University of Mississippi is among those experiencing the increase. This year’s freshman class of 2010-2011 is the largest in Ole Miss history, with a 36% increase from 2006-2007.

“We didn’t quite anticipate the number of applicants we got last year, and we didn’t quite anticipate the number of students who actually enrolled,” said Whitman Smith, director of enrollment services.

Ole Miss has done little to change their approach towards incoming students, but recent economic stress, national media attention, and a widely respected football team may be one of the primary reasons behind the increase.

“The school went from about 32 percent to 35 percent this year out of state,” Smith said. “That makes us the most diverse in terms of geography in the state of Mississippi.”

Diversifying the University has always been a goal, and with the growing out of state applicants, it is anticipated to continue. Ole Miss has been receiving applications from as far west as California, and as far east as Rhode Island.

But with the increase comes the question of whether or not Ole Miss can accommodate the growth.

“You can definitely feel the increase on campus. I have never seen the Union so overcrowded, people were literally sitting outside to eat,” said senior business major Misha Vause.

Teachers are feeling the increase as well, “It may come down to us having to convert other rooms or classrooms into laboratories,” said Lucile McCook, instructor of Biology.

One solution may be increasing the requirements for admissions. Because Ole Miss is a private school, they are not responsible for setting their own standards. If schools across the state begin having complications on campus due to over population, it is possible that the public school’s admission requirements might be raised.

The University is still in the preliminary stages of addressing the increase of students, and future campus changes are dependent on the continued trend. Until then, the University will continue to welcome students from where ever they may call home.

Hampton's Find Canvas Making During Economic Recession

According to April’s ADP Employer Services Report, employers in the private sector added 179,000 jobs last month. Although this comes as good news to America’s recession, many families are still feeling the pull from strained finances and are taking a look at all areas of life to cut back wasteful spending.

In Oxford, MS, Allen Hampton is at work in his garage. He is constructing a canvas, using scrap wood and bulk bought materials, in which his wife and painter, Reina Hampton, will use as the medium for one of her abstract masterpieces.

Hampton works for younglife, a ministry here in Oxford, and is not a trained carpenter. “To buy canvases from an art supply store is crazy expensive,” Hampton said. “This allows Reina to paint more, and to sell her art for a more affordable price. So I learned how to make them, and turns out, it’s pretty easy.”

Hampton goes through the process with ease. First taking measurements, then cutting boards to the proper length with his chainsaw. After nailing the boards together, he stretches the canvas material across the frame and uses a staple gun to secure it.

Hampton’s wife, Reina is an artist renowned throughout the south and displayed in galleries from Baton Rouge to Atlanta. “Money got tight but I didn’t want to cut back on painting,” she said. “Allen making canvases for me has not only allowed me to paint more than I usually do, but we save on average $300 a month by doing it.”

Aside from the financial benefits of using homemade canvases, the Hamptons have found canvas making to be a place where the two have grown closer. “I’m not an artist, but I feel connected with Reina’s artwork when I contribute to the canvas making,” Hampton said.

As the local and national economy begin to rebuild and recuperate, families like the Hampton’s have found that the money saving tactics they incorporated during the recession have actually improved their quality of life.

“We buy the wood and canvas material local,” Reina said. “So we know that our money is being recycled back into the Oxford community and not sent off to some huge company.”

Sing. Mate. Die

Biology department chair, Dr. Lago

with cicadas from previous years.

Great Southern Brood

Allow me to introduce the laziest insect to crawl on (or under) the earth. According to history and the true nature of tradition, the emergence of 13-year periodical cicadas is expected any day now.

There are seven different species of periodical cicadas and of those, there are multiple broods that vary depending on when they emerge and in what geographical area. Periodical cicadas’ black bodies measure about 1-½ inches long with red eyes and four wings with a gold, orange, or red tinge.

Brood XIX or, the ‘Great Southern Brood’ last emerged 13 years ago in 1998. These cicadas spend 13 years buried 18 to 24 inches deep in the soil of forested areas where they feed on sap from tree roots. After eating sap in total darkness for 13 years, the cicadas emerge from the ground to do three things: sing, mate, and die.

“…The males get up in the trees and start singing their little hearts out hoping to attract a female,” says Dr. Lago, department chair of Biology at the University of Mississippi.

After shedding their exoskeleton, thus becoming adults, the male cicadas are on one mission for the rest of their time above ground. The song of the cicada sung by the male to attract a mate can reach up to 100 decibels.

Up to 40,000 cicadas can emerge from just a single tree. “So, you’ve got hundreds of thousands, if not millions of them singing all at once…” says Dr. Lago; the laziest and loudest insects, looking for a mate.

After finding a mate, the female cicadas cut open the bark of a branch or twig to lay their eggs.

“The eggs don’t stay there, they hatch and then the nymph crawls out and falls to the ground…it goes into the ground, finds a root, attaches to it and there it stays for 13 years,” says Lago.

Although these bugs emerge by the thousands and make a lot of noise, they are completely harmless. Some people, including Jay Staler, a senior at Ole Miss, look forward to the hatching of cicadas.

“As an angler, the cicada hatch is one of the best possible times to go fishing. The fish take advantage of all the available food while they can and so do the fishermen,” says Staler.

Annual and periodical cicada carcasses

Addressing Sexual Harassment at Ole Miss

A lack of sexual harassment awareness leaves many victims with nowhere to turn

A former Ole Miss athletic department employee has recently sued the school claiming he was wrongfully terminated for sexual harassment. Jay D’Abramo, former media relations contact for the women’s basketball team, claims Ole Miss fired him for race discrimination following allegations that he was dating a black player. D’Abramo alleges that he was fired after an investigation concluded “there was no sexual harassment.”

This brings up bigger issues, however. Namely, what is sexual harassment, and what is Ole Miss doing to educate its employees and students of its ramifications?

The Campus Sexual Assault Victims’ Bill of Rights (1992) requires all institutions of higher learning participating in any program that utilizes federal funds to establish policies aimed at preventing sexual offenses.



Ole Miss Violence prevention coordinator, Linda Abbott, said that the violence prevention office’s main concern is educating students about the threat of sexual harassment.

“Not all of our reports want to be associated with law enforcement. Since the majority of sexual assaults are non-stranger attacks, it makes it difficult for women to report.” Abbott said.

Abbott said that the school hosts “Take Back the Night” and “Jeans for Justice Day” to provide victims an opportunity to gain closure. It also provides a space for them to speak up without fear of their attacker.

“I think these are great programs because they help raise awareness for abuse and assault against women,” Tamar Coleman, senior history major, said.

“Take Back the Night” is sponsored by the Ole Miss Violence Prevention Office and “Jeans for Justice Day” is co-sponsored by Family Crisis Services of Northwest Mississippi, Inc. and the Ole Miss Staff Council.

The University insists that, if any employee or student believes that he or she has been subjected to sexual harassment, they should:

• Immediately report this to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Regulatory Compliance
• Mail an anonymous complaint to Post Office Box 1848
• Stop by 217 Martindale Student Services Center
• Call 662-915-7735
• Email eeo@olemiss.edu

Are We Alone?

Exploring the possibilities of extraterrestrial life and "visits" in Oxford

By: Lance Ingram

On May 25, 1977, the first Star Wars film was released, and went on to earn more than $11 million at the box office and captivated audiences about the possibilities of extraterrestrials.

However, Star Wars was not the first medium to capitalize on people’s curiosity of outer space and the idea that we are not alone.

In 1898, H.G. Wells released his novel, War of the Worlds, that depicted an alien invasion on earth. Later in 1938 the story was adapted and performed on the radio and led to mass panic.

Due to the public’s interest in the possibility of extraterrestrials and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), many have reported their interactions with them.

But Ole Miss Astronomy professor, Luca Bombelli, said that while he is skeptical of the possibility of extraterrestrial life, he does not believe we are alone in the universe.

“Just by studying astronomy and the other stars surrounding us and the immensity of the universe there must be other places where life has evolved,” he said. “However, I don’t think that aliens or extraterrestrial forms of life have traveled to us because the distances are so big.”

Bombelli said the nearest star with the capacity of the sun is four light-years away, which means traveling at the speed of light it would take someone from earth four years to get there.

“You cannot do what you see on Star Trek,” he said. “Its impossible. ”

He added that with our current technology it would take many thousands of years to reach something so far away.

“For a form of life to exist similar to ours they would have to be not too far from a star, like in our case, the sun, which allows the ability to grow and sustain life,” Bombelli said. “You can’t exclude microbial life, but we are fairly certain there is no large life form like us in our solar system.”

But what about the sightings and first hand experiences people have had throughout the years?

The latest sighting to be reported at a international level is a video released from Siberia in early April that shows an alien’s body after an apparent crash in the snow. It hasn’t been determined if the video is a hoax or not, but many claim to have seen the real deal.

Ole Miss sophomore, Blake Johnson, said one night while at Lamar Park in Oxford he saw something that can only be described as a UFO.

“There was a really bright light in the sky, and then this circular object zoomed away really quickly,” he said. “I never really believed there were aliens before, but I have no idea what that was and it was very convincing."

Johnson said that was his only experience with a UFO or extraterrestrial life but it has convinced him of the possibility that we are not alone.

Despite Johnson’s encounter, Bombelli is slow to assume that the student's sighting was a being from another planet.

He said that most UFO sightings tend to be clouds, airplanes or other things that may be in the sky and for some random coincidence have shapes that make people think of UFOs.

“There are cases of hoaxes, but even supposed pictures are a bit vague when you look at them,” he said. “If you look at these things thinking you’re going to see a UFO then you’re going to interpret them that way.”

Regardless of whether there is life on other planets, Bombelli said we do not have the technology to discover life on other planets yet. He said it could be thousands of years before develop the technology to determine if we have neighbors in this universe.

To view a map of alien sightings with a detailed report of each encounter, click here.

(Picture Caption : The Star Wars series has expanded beyond the silver screen. Audiences have been captivated with the idea of extraterrestrials and life forms beyond our galaxy for centuries.)

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Sources:

Luca Bombelli - 662.915.5319

Blake Johnson - 281.851.3586

Rising Gas Prices Affect Ole Miss Graduates

Students prepare to factor in high gas prices to their new budgets 

Senior education major, Mimi Edge, frowns while watching her gas tank fill up.

             Ole Miss graduates are not only worried about finding jobs, internships, and places to live… they are also concerned about how they will get there. Gas prices are continuing to rise across the United States.

            In Mississippi, the average gas price for the month of April is about $3.80, but the average gas price for the United States is $4.01. Students who are moving to larger cities like Washington, D.C., Nashville, Tenn., or Dallas, Texas can expect prices higher than the average.

            “I am moving to Washington, D.C., in June and I heard gas prices were over $5,” said Lindsey White, senior English major. “I had a talk with my parents, and we decided it would be more economical for me not to take my car with me.”

            Several students have always had their parents pay for their gas, or a gas allowance has been figured into their monthly budgets. Graduates are now starting to think economically about how to save money on gas. If you don’t have gas, you can’t get to work.

            “I can’t afford to fill up my whole tank; I have an SUV and it costs almost $100 to fill up, so I usually just put in $20 or so at a time,” said Derek Hoppe, senior management major. “I always carpool around Oxford, but I am moving to Nashville and I know it is about to cost a lot more to get around the city.”

            Some experts suggest that students and graduates lay out a specific budget plan each month, so they can know exactly how much money they have to spend. Many college graduates will be on their own financial plans for the first time and are worried about the extra expenses.

            “I was only thinking about major expenses I will have to cover, like rent, when my dad reminded me that it’s the little things, like gas, that really add up. My family and I are in the process of laying out all my expected expenses before I move away in August,” said Liz Gift, senior hospitality management major.

Going Viral

Inspired by Nylon Magazine

When Online Exposure is a Good Thing

OXFORD, MISS.- Mary Sheats knows that blog exposure of her artistic talents will help push her career to the next level. "I hope my hard work and love of art is obvious when people stumble across my niche of the web," said Sheats.

With graduation ahead, and countless art classes under her collegiate belt, Sheats decided to bridge the gap between her passion and the reality of her future career. The benefits of positive blog exposure are countless; just a few are listed below.

• Free advertisement
• Shows personality behind the work
• Network system for any career
• Stands out among competitors
• Viral look book for any talent

Though new to blog world, Sheats is already gaining popularity. A past art teacher to Sheats raves about the raw exposure of the art. "Seeing her work presented like that changes the way I view Mary as an artist," said Oaks. "Her effortless talent will get the credit it deserves."

Blogging lets anyone freely own property in the cyber neighborhood we call the internet. "I enjoy the fact that I can put as much or as little time into my blog as I want," said Sheats. "I can be selfish and keep my work to myself or make it available to a stranger across the world.

"Displaying artwork is not the only reason blogging offers benefits to a novice starting out in the art world. Jumping into a new career will make anyone feel like a little fish in a big pond. "It's so worth it," said Sheats. "Creating my blog made the career pond feel a little bit smaller for once."

Sheats encompasses the artistic abilities to go far in the creative world. In the meantime she will be turning her blog into a career success story.