Thursday, March 31, 2011

Feature Profile: Justin "Fish" Robinson

It’s a Thursday afternoon and I’m sitting in Chick-Fil-A having lunch with Justin “Fish” Robinson and his two sons. It’s the only free afternoon he has all week and they’re whom he chooses to spend it with. Caleb, his youngest at 5, has gone off to play since he has finished eating. 6-year-old Adam, the oldest, remains at the table awaiting his father’s attention.

“Do you know why you had to sit here?” Fish asks.

“Because I made a bad decision.”

“And you understand why you shouldn’t have made that decision?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Alright, you can go play now.”

As Adam scampers off to join his brother, Fish turns to me and explains that he tries to convey to his children why they’re being punished so that they truly understand what it is that they’ve done wrong.

“I feel like I got punished as a child just for being a little boy,” he says. “I want my children to know that I’m listening. Does that mean them arguing is going to change daddy’s mind? Not at all. But by listening we build a relationship. I want to set the standard of them being comfortable talking to me now so that they’ll be able to talk to me about bigger issues later in life.”

Fish regularly goes on mission trips to Peru, Togo in West Africa, China and Jordan. He leads a Bible study each Wednesday at a windshield repair shop that has blossomed into a weekly gathering of nearly 100 men and women. He is currently youth and college minister at North Oxford Baptist Church, assisting with the missions and transportation committees there and he also volunteers as chaplain for the Ole Miss football team and the Lafayette Co. and Oxford Law Enforcement Associations, as well as their Fire Departments. Fish fights fire with the Lafayette County Volunteer Fire Department and is a reserve fire fighter for the Oxford Fire Department.

But nothing on Fish’s resume measures up to his devotion as a father.

“The night before we went to Peru we had one final meeting. Fish hurried out of it because he’d been so busy that week preparing for the trip that he hadn’t spent enough time with his family,” said Zach Brent, a senior pharmacy major from Oxford.

“Fish has always been very dedicated to his family,” added senior accounting major Michael Buise, who also attended the Peru trip.

Also of note was Fish’s behavior during the trip. His excitement for sharing the Gospel with the people of the small village of Chirani was only matched by the eagerness that overcame him each night as he waited in line to use the satellite phone to call his wife and children.

“I feel like being a husband and father is super important,” he said. “Regardless of how late I got home the night before, I always make time to wake up in the mornings and have breakfast with my family and sometimes take the boys to school.”

Fish said he balances his obligations to his ministry and the community with time he spends with his family. He coaches all of Adam and Caleb’s sports teams such as baseball, football and soccer, and finds time at least once a week to go watch Caleb at his taekwondo class.

“People say all the time ‘I bet you don’t kill many deer when you take them hunting’ or ‘I bet you don’t catch many fish when you take them fishing,’ but that’s not what it’s all about, at all,” Fish said. “The point isn’t the deer that we kill or the fish that we catch: it’s spending time together.”

Friday, March 25, 2011

David Hankins

David Hankins is a senior walk on kicker for the Ole Miss football team. He had his first on field kick off during the Cotton Bowl his Sophomore season, but has sense remained a back up. Hankins is from Louisiana and has a personality that would add a lot of content too a story. But I am more interested in the story of Hankins loosing his father Junior year and the perseverance and drive that has characterized his life recently. With one more year of eligibility, Hankins will return this next football season. What is driving him now? Will he start? Why come back?

Life of Fikes


For my feature story I will be interviewing Brain Fikes. Fikes a native of Tupelo Mississippi is a student at Ole Miss. Fikes had a challenging time growing up in Tupelo. His love of music and hip hop have saved him from returning to his past. A dark past. After literally setting the Library Sports Bar and Grill on fire while rapping his recently new single, "Anthem for the Suburbs," DJ Mario and Soulja Boy's producer have high aspirations for this upcoming artist. Fikes is a fine example that the rap can come from a blonde-haired, blue-eyed, self-proclaimed prepster that will open up for Gorilla Zoe on April 1.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Hard News Story- Swan Lake Set to Perform at Ford Center


February 25, 2011 By Callie Mounger

The Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts proudly welcomes back the return of the Russian National Ballet set to perform “Swan Lake” on March 4. The show will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 to $28 for various seating. Norm Easterbrook, the Ford Center director is responsible for booking the performers that come the Ford Center. He has been doing this kind of work for many years and knows and has worked with many agents.

“Traditional story ballets are very popular so Norm likes to book them at least every couple of years,” said Kate Meacham, Assistant Director of Marketing for the Ford Center for the Performing Arts. “Norm contacted CAMI to see if they were available and if coming to Oxford worked with their tour schedule.”

RNB is represented in the US by Columbia Artists Management. The Russian Ballet Theatre was founded in Moscow during the 1980’s, when many of the great dancers and choreographers of the Soviet Union’s ballet institution were exercising their newfound creative freedom.

“Swan Lake” is based on a German fairy tale and follows heroic young Prince Seigfried as he labors to free the beautiful swan maiden, Odette, from an evil sorcerer’s spell. The music is by Tchaikovsky.

“The Russian Ballet is a very disciplined, classically trained company. They send dancers to compete during the International Ballet Competition set every four years in Jackson, Ms. Their dancers are some of the best in the world,” said William D. Mounger, Chairman of the International Ballet Competition.

The Ford Center is eagerly awaiting the arrival of the ballet company. In preparation for the ballet, the Ford Center staff work diligently to make sure everything is perfect.

“When any artist comes there are technical preparations that need to be made. These include setting lights and for a dance performance, we usually put down a marley floor. Also, any set pieces and final light focus. In addition to the technical aspects, other preparations include arranging any hospitality (food, drink) listed in the contract and also all marketing efforts,” Meacham said.

“Our technical crew and the company crew work together to prepare for the performance. Our crew does as much as we can do prior to the day of the show. Everything else is done when the company arrives on the day of the show,” Meacham stated about the preparations for the day of the performance.

The dancers performing and their roles are listed below:

Prince Siegfried: Ruslan Mukhambetkaliev, Yuri Ostrovsky

Queen Mother: Yulia Ruchay

Von Rotbbart: Evgeny Rudakov, Samat Abdrakhmanov

The Princes Tutor: Dmitry Romanov, Evgeny Rudakov

Jester: Didar Sarsembaev

Pas de Troi: Maria Klyueva, Ekaterina Pankovskaya, Samat Abdrakhmanov, Marlen Alimanov

The Russian National Ballet has visited the Ford Center twice since 2008. Tickets are available by calling 662-915-7411 or by visiting the UM Box Office at the Student Union from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays or the Ford Center Box Office beginning at 10 p.m. the day of the show or by going to http://www.fordcenter.org.


Resources

Kate Meacham

kmeacham@olemiss.edu

William D. Mounger

601-982-0970

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Feature Profile

For my feature profile I would like to feature senior business major, Katie Hewes. Katie is the daughter of Billy Hewes who is currently serving his fifth term in MS Senate. Senator Hewes is also currently running for Lt. Governor. Along with her siblings, Katie has been campaigning for her father since a very young age. Katie was also recently accepted to the University of Mississippi's Law School. I would like to focus on her life as the daughter of a man in the spotlight.

Feature Profile

When a door of opportunity opens up before you, you don't hesitate at the thresh hold scared to take a step inside. Joseph Martin didn't hesitate. He boldly walked through and embraced his new position as Sam Haskell's personal assistant. Sam Haskell is the former President of William Morris Agency and now resides in Oxford, Ms. Joseph Martin was a music major at Ole Miss until he was offered a job with Mr. Haskell.

Joseph now handles all of Mr. Haskell's business affairs and speaks with celebrities such as Dolly Parton regularly. He also attended the Miss America pageant and had the honor of walking one of the final five contestants across the stage. He is an amazingly talented person and has an interesting story and life.

Callie Mounger

Mary Katherine Perry

For this feature, I would like to write about my friend Mary Katherine Perry. Recently Ole Miss students were asked to participate in a pack-a-thon for children in Africa. Mary Katherine is responsible for this event, her devotion and passion for the charity is inspiring. I would like to write about how Mary Katherine became involved in the charity and what lead her to bringing such a large event like this to campus. Sources that I will include are teachers, family members, and charity member of the event.

Feature Profile

John Currence, I believe he would be a great person to profile because his chain of restaurants continue to be successful in Oxford, they have been written up in national magazines and at the beginning of April, he will be a guest on the popular television show, Top Chef. I would interview John Currence, local Oxford resident and an employee of one of his restaurants.

Another profile I thought about doing was on Forrest Hinton at Hinton and Hinton. How does he keep up with the trends and cater his clothing store towards both students and adults. What does he look for when selecting merchandise. Does he have someone young helping him pick out the merchandise for his store. Interview Forrest Hinton, a Hinton and Hinton employee who designed and created the 'Gone but Not Forgotten' apparel, a student on their opinion of the store, and possibly a local resident.


Feature Profile

I plan to profile Brian Morris. He is a junior walk-on football player who transfered from Oklahoma State last year. He has a very interesting story as he has had to overcome a lot of adversity in order to get where he is today. It has been a very long and unpredictable road for him but he has continued to believe in himself and stay strong throughout the process. I plan to interview his parents, high school football coach and maybe a childhood friend.

chef Hal Rusk

I plan to feature the head chef at Lenora’s restaurant, Hal Rusk. I chose him because I thought that he was an interesting person and wanted to find out more about his career, how he got to where he is, etc. I chose him now because Lenora’s has established itself as a prominent restaurant on the Oxford Square during the past year. I wanted to see where he is with that and what his plans are for the future.

Profile Idea


I plan to feature PMQ’s Art Director Ellen Kellum and her accomplishments. For many years, Ellen designed costumes for Broadway shows, and worked with many greats like Renee Fleming. Ellen did not want to raise her little girl in the big city, so she moved back home to Mississippi. Ellen got her master’s at Ole Miss, and now currently works at PMQ Magazine here in Oxford. I chose Ellen because I think it is interesting how she went from working on Broadway to designing a pizza magazine. The story should be reported now because it is unique and not seen often.


Sources: Steve Green, PMQ Magazine Publisher

Ellen Kellum

Liz Barrett, PMQ Magazine Editor in Chief

Feature Profile

For my feature profile I decided to write about Justin "Fish" Robinson. Fish currently holds the position of youth and college pastor at North Oxford Baptist Church. He is 34 years old and from Cleveland, MS. He busies himself with ministry throughout the Oxford/Lafayette community and still finds time to act as the proud father of Adam and Caleb and husband of Beth. Fish travels all over the world to evangelize and just recently returned from a trip to Peru over Ole Miss' spring break.

Feature Profile

For my feature profile story, I am considering Vera Chapman. She is a graduate student here at the University, but with a not so traditional story. Her looks don't jump out as a minority or in any way different, but she is originally from South Africa. She came to America to simply study abroad, ended up meeting the right guy, got married and has been here since. International students have stories about how they came to be here from all over the world, but how does it feel to study abroad and claim a new home forever? A unique experience most people will never truly know.

Feature Profile

I plan on doing my feature profile on Lenox Baker, a senior at Ole Miss. Lenox seems like a regular student, but six years ago her older sister turned into a professional tennis player and was the youngest player to win the USTA circuit event. Lenox was surrounded by celebrities like Elton John, Mandy Moore, Andy Roddick, and various other tennis celebrities. I think her teenage years are filled with interesting stories that have molded her into the person she is today. I also want to interview her mother and friend.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Story Budget

For my feature profile, I plan to interview a Japanese student who has been affected by the disaster in that country. I chose this interview subject because the disaster is still very much in the news and I would like to know how Japanese students at Ole Miss are coping with it. I also plan to interview two other Japanese students.

Profile Story Idea

Pat Lamar is not just your average Ole Miss Alumni. While at The University of Mississippi she was homecoming queen, a cheerleader and Miss Mississippi. She has served as the Oxford Mayor for four years. She is a woman of integrity, drive and ambition. She serves as president of numerous organizations in the area.

I chose her because I have heard so many amazing things this lady has accomplished. I would really enjoy interviewing her and getting to know her. She has accomplished so much in her life and I want to show other people they can do the same.
She even has the local park named after her which is a local favorite and one of my favorites.

My sources would be people who know her. Sue Hodge, who is a friend of Pat Lamar’s, would be one of my sources and I would choose another source when I research her more extensively.
Haley Huerta

Story Budget

Seth Klein

For my profile I would like to feature University of Mississippi senior John Croce. Although he seems like your average college senior, you would never guess that he is a certified professional skydiver with nearly 1000 jumps. I feel that due to the nature of his profession it will be an interesting learning experience for the reader.

Story Idea

Profile: Stephen Wright

Stephen Wright is the worship leader for the Ole Miss Baptist Student Union. Before birth doctors told his parents that he would be a miscarriage and in the unlikely event he was born he'd be severely mentally challenged. He was born completely healthy but discovered at a young age he is deaf in one ear. Since then he learned to play guitar and is leading worship across the southeast. After graduating he plans to make a career of leading worship.

Story Budget

Jennifer Gardner
I plan to feature Jay Patrick Marlar for my article. I chose Jay because he spends his days as a student but his nights as a musician gaining more popularity in the Oxford area every time his band plays. His band, Bancher, is the product of playing music with many different types of musicians and finally finding the right fit. A secured weekly spot at the mic for Taylor Grocery on Sunday nights as well as numerous upcoming dates proves that starting at the bottom and working up is worth while. Writing about Jay and the launch of his band at this point in time will allow me to have excess information because of his experience as well as numerous options for human sources.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Oxford to rework access routes and disability parking over time

By Amelia Camurati


Adam Brown can’t go to The Blind Pig after 5 p.m.

“The Thompson Building is technically accessible, but you’ve got a situation where you can go for lunch but not the bar at night,” Brown said.

While there is an elevator in The Thompson Building on the ground floor, the entrance is locked at the end of the workday, therefore cutting off all access to The Blind Pig other than the stairs.

Brown was diagnosed with cerebral palsy soon after he was born and has used a walker since he was 1-year-old. As the president and one of the founding members of the Advocates of Student Disabilities Association (ASDA), Brown is well-versed in what needs to happen and what it will take to make it happen.

Stacey Reycraft, director of Student Disability Services and chairman of the Mayor’s Committee on Disability Issues, works both with the campus and the city officials to help students and Oxonians with physical and mental disabilities.

Last year, the committee developed a plan for how to improve the accessibility in Oxford, and one of the main points on the plan was the Square.

“That’s kind of the heart of the city, and it’s unfortunate that so many people can’t access the heart of the city,” Reycraft said.

Around the same time as the introduction of this plan, the ADA Amendments Act was passed and refocused the federal government’s commitment to disability access. The Mississippi Department of Transportation became involved and deadlines were set by the state.

“Oxford was a little ahead of the game because we already had an ADA coordinator and this plan in place,” Reycraft said.

Now, Al Hope, Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator for Oxford, and other officials are in the midst of a self-evaluation of the city and county to determine where things need to be added, replaced or renovated in order to better adhere to the rules and regulations of the ADA.

The self-evaluation covers everything from disability parking to the availability of Braille and TTY technology. Hope is equipped with hearing devices and other gadgets to assist people with hearing and speech disabilities.

“We may never get a call, but we have these kinds of things just in case,” Hope said.

Thanks to Google Maps and satellite technology, Hope said he has been through every street, sidewalk and curb in town from the comfort of his office, and when he finds something that needs a second look, he can get there physically as well.

“If I’m not satisfied with that, that’s what I have the bicycle for,” Hope said.

By May, Hope will have finished the self-evaluation and is set to finish the transition plan time-line by November.

Many buildings in Oxford, including City Hall, are on the historic registry and do not have the foundation to handle some renovations, such as chair-lifts and elevators, but Hope and the committee are finding ways around that.

New access routes and ramps will be added to the rear of City Hall, along with disability parking spots, to keep the antique building’s original look while still making it easily accessible for everyone.

“You don’t have to ruin the look to fix the building,” Reycraft said.

The price for these renovations is unknown as of yet, but Hope said he plans to gather the numbers within the year and phase it into the budget year after year.

“You get a cost on it, you know what it’s going to cost,” Hope said. “You phase it in year after year in your transition plan. But first, we gotta find out what areas we need to do.”

The ADA requires that there be one disability parking spot for every eight spots, and Hope expects there to be at least one on each side of the Square by the time the transition plan is finished.

“The parking space is more than just the blue lines,” Hope said “That’s not very special. But if we have to do curb cuts, that’s going to be different.”

As of right now, there are a few spots across the Square, but many of them need different dimensions and curb cuts for better accessibility. A disability parking spot at the Abner’s on University was recently redone because a shrub bush was blocking accessibility on the right side.

Hope and the committee are focused on the Square right now, but they are working their way out across the city after that.

More details will be available after the self-evaluation is finished in May, and Hope has hope that it will be finished even earlier.

“We try to be as high speed and no drag as we can, but you have to be motivated to do this kind of stuff,” Hope said.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Fine Dining is Business with this Family


Does your mouth immediately begin to water when someone mentions a ground beef tenderloin burger with sautéed mushrooms and onions? What about a Carolina crab cake, topped with lemon buerre blanc and accompanied with Delta grind cheese grits? Or perhaps famous shrimp and crab wontons with ginger lime dipping sauce?

Where can you go to find these entree selections? Look no further than directly off the Oxford square. As one passes by, he or she cannot help but notice the blue façade and the neon-lit sign of 208 South Lamar. Oxford residents and college students set their sights and taste buds on the fine cuisine that is served there.

To impress a certain someone, celebrate a birthday, or to grab a 'Hotty Toddy' before or after a Rebel game, 208 South Lamar provides a friendly, comfortable environment in which to gather. This Oxford landmark (restaurant) provides appetizing culinary cuisine for the town of Oxford.

208 South Lamar's menu focuses on traditional southern food, but not exactly like mom use to make. The chefs add creativity and flair by fusing Cajun, Southwest and Asian influences with old and new dishes. Several appetizers and entrees spotlight the freshest produce, seafood, meats and cheeses. In addition to the fabulous food, the wine and bar selection is endless.

Established in 2002, 208 South Lamar has seen many owners; however, it remains a constant landmark in the Oxford and restaurant community.

208 South Lamar was purchased a year and a half ago by the Jordan family. The family continues to uphold a friendly, upscale dining setting where great food and impeccable service is consistently presented at its best.

The family desired to continue the theme of the Asian Southern fusion cuisine and the original name of the restaurant.

“We kept the name of the restaurant because it’s a familiar name to the Oxford area. Also, because it’s the address and obviously easy to find,” chuckles Josh Jordan, co-owner and manager of 208 South Lamar.

“We are a family business, we treat our customers like family. Also, we want to be known for our customer service and community orientation.”

Even though 208 South Lamar has seen several owners, regulars still show their patronage toward the restaurant. Some vary showing patronage by dining monthly, weekly, or daily.

It's 5:30 p.m. on a Tuesday, and Hume Bryant walks in through the front door. After taking off his coat, placing it on the coat rack and talking to acquaintances, he makes his way to his barstool.

“Here’s your spritzer,” bartender Chris Pepper says as he places Bryant’s drink of choice in front of him. Pepper has been 208 South Lamar’s bartender since the restaurants opening in 2002.

“This is what makes us stand out compared to other restaurants on the square,” says hostess, Anne Roane Hennessey. “We treat you on a higher level. You’re considered more than just a customer. Chris never fails, he has your drink prepared and ready before you even take your seat at the bar.”

“I am a regular. This is actually what I consider my den,” says Hume Bryant, retiree and co-chairman of the Oxford Tree Board. “I’ve always liked the atmosphere of the place. It’s open, the bar is comfortable, and the people here are family.”

Bryant did not forget to mention that 208 South Lamar has the best hamburger in town.

“He’s my number one sales man and PR [public relations] guy,” says Jordan. "He comes in everyday, unless the Tree Board meetings go longer than expected.”

“When our customers leave we want them to tell their friends about their dining experience,” says Jordan.

“We are still a young restaurant. We uphold dinning on the same level of City Grocery and Waltz, but were not concentrating on winning a James Beard Award."

"We’re concentrating on presenting high quality food to our customers with a non- stuffy atmosphere,” says Jordon.

“The Jordan family has many visions for their restaurant,” says Hennessey. “Visions for new menus and a new creative drink menu as well.”

The drink menu will consist of variations of freshly squeezed juices. According to Jordan, no other restaurant on the square provides drinks like these.

Along with the newly renovated façade, 208 South Lamar has plans to create Oxford’s first rooftop bar. This bar will offer a lounge atmosphere above the restaurant-under the stars. According to Jordan there will also be a martini bar and premium scotch labels available.

Josh Jordan, Chris Pepper and chef Burton Neal of 208 South Lamar understand the important connection between their customers and the food. Their commitment to providing great food in an upbeat setting and to exceeding each guest’s expectation every time they visit is taken very seriously.

208 South Lamar offers a lively, relaxing, up scale atmosphere for its customers. If you have not had the wonderful experience of dining in a family restaurant known for savory, consistent cuisine, be sure to stop by 208 South Lamar. After all, it’s all in the family, and who would not want to be a member of this one?

Anne Roane Hennessy 4042342520

Josh Jordan 6628166116

Hume Bryant bryah1207@yahoo.com

A Caffeinated Tour of Oxford

(OXFORD, MS)— Coffee. It’s the first thought each morning in the minds of many and is a staple in the culture of the city of Oxford. From Lafayette County farmers to Ole Miss business majors the Oxford coffee scene is a growing convention. But what IS the best cup of coffee in Oxford? Several factors come into play, but the answer is: There isn’t one. Different people need a different experience. Here, we break down which coffee shops are suited for the different ingredients in the melting pot that is Oxford, Miss. (in no particular order).

Big Bad Breakfast – John Currence has been a staple in the Oxford culinary scene for years now, and doesn’t disappoint with his latest venture. BBB offers great-tasting, sophisticated food with a laid back atmosphere. The coffee is reasonably priced and they keep late hours (7 a.m.-1:30 p.m.), considering they only serve breakfast food. A little off the beaten path, BBB is perfect for those visiting for sporting or social events or for locals wishing to treat themselves by upgrading from the usual stale Pop-Tarts and cereal. Be sure to get there with plenty of time, though, because hundreds throughout the town share my affection for this particular cup of coffee.

Bottletree Bakery – When you think “Oxford coffee shop,” you think “Bottletree Bakery.” Located just off of the Oxford Town Square, Bottletree is the epitome of Oxford culture and thus its coffee scene. The coffee is imported each month from Oregon and the walls are adorned by the eclectic art of local artists or the infamous Dr. Bob of New Orleans. If there’s a price on it, then it’s for sale. The food matches the artwork and Bottletree offers lunch food as well as breakfast: a definite plus. An added convenience is a coffee pot located near the front door where a quick cup is the cost of an honors system donation. This is a great added convenience for those who are grabbing their morning fix on the run. Overall, the Bottletree experience is a great way to start off the day on the Square- the same place you ended the night.

Beacon – A bit different from our previous two choices, but still an Oxford staple. As its name suggests, Beacon is a gathering place for its faithful who usually fit the mold of the Lafayette county farmer or everyone’s favorite grandfather. Want to know what’s really happening in Oxford? This is the place to be for breakfast or an afternoon cup of coffee. The food is what is expected from the country-esque restaurant with scrambled eggs, grits, bacon, toast and everything else we grew up eating south of the Mason-Dixon line. Friendly service and a down-home atmosphere make Beacon a great dining experience as a taste of home when it’s the end of football season and you haven’t been home since you moved to Oxford in August. A review I read best sums it up: “I worked [at Beacon] in college. I learned more about life and people working there than I probably have anywhere else.”

So, there you have the top three coffee experiences in Oxford. The greatest thing about our coffee scene is that there are also various franchises throughout town such as Starbucks in the Student Union, two Uptown Coffee locations, fast food such as McDonald’s and the newest edition: IHOP, which will open on Jackson Avenue in April 2011. The coffee is great, but taste is merely a contributing factor that goes along with convenience, utility an overall atmosphere. Coffee shops are a staple in our culture, and their increase in number and variety only suggests greater diversity we strive for and pride ourselves on throughout the Oxford/Lafayette/University community.

Seen and Herd: Young Buffalo Takes Music On The Road

Young Buffalo
By: Maggie Coakley

The town of Oxford, MS may be small but that won’t stop it from causing a scene and making a lot of noise in London.

The local boys of Young Buffalo started playing together in the summer of 2009 and only two weeks later Alex Von Hardberger, Jim Barrett, and Ben Yarbrough were playing their first gig at The Lyric on the 4th of July.

“There was video footage of that first show and when I saw it… it just sounded terrible,” said Barrett. But others didn’t agree. The following week the band was asked to play three different shows, including one outside of Mississippi. Since then the band has signed with two record labels, toured across the states and recently returned from a weeklong tour in London.

“We don’t do the whole gloom and doom thing,” said Barrett. The guys describe their music as upbeat, loud and danceable. The guys focus on making positive sounding music. Testament to this is seen on the band’s Myspace page which reads “Goal 1: make good music.”

All three of them have their own music interests, which Yarbrough says, allows them to be united in their differences. This applies when the band writes new music; one member presents a completed idea and as whole, the trio edits and adjusts the lyrics and music until they are satisfied with the outcome. Apart from the norm, their most recently released single, “Catapilah” was written and composed together.

“If we did every song like that it would take a month every time we want to come up with something new,” said Barrett.

The boys each have a history in playing music. Yarbrough and Barrett started a band called Night Lights when they were 13-years-old. The instrumental project was short-lived.

“We could never get any gigs because we were 13 and they wouldn’t let us play at bars. We would play at a friend’s brother’s birthday party,” said Barrett.

After Night Lights ended Barrett began playing recreationally with Von Hardberger. It was when Barrett realized he was sick of not playing gigs or in public that he introduced Von Harberger and Yarbrough. The band signed with Fat Possum in May of 2010 and with UK label, The Young and Lost Club in early November.

Friends of the band and The Lyric Theatre employees, Capel Howorth and Tim Burkhead provide their house to the Young Buffalo boys as a place for them to practice as well as a facility to store their equipment. Howorth and Burkhead are two of the many local followers and supporters of the band.

“Those guys deserve everything they receive. They work hard to do what they love but also seemingly what they need to do,” said Howorth.

From local house parties to New York’s Bowery Ballroom, Young Buffalo have started to take their music on the road.

“[My favorite show was] our last show in London. We played with a couple other cool bands and it was a later show so the crowd was ready to party. It was jam-packed,” said Yarbrough. The tour in London was Yarbrough’s first time out of the country and he said it was a whirlwind, “but in a good way.” During the tour the band played a live session for Huey Morgan on his BBC 6 Music show. Besides the four shows played during the tour, the band was also interviewed on multiple radio stations and for multiple internet sites.

Young Buffalo has big plans for their future including upcoming shows in Georgia, Texas and Tennessee.

“I’m ready for SXSW. As soon as I found out we were playing I haven’t been able to focus or care about school,” said Yarbrough. The band is booked to play five shows at the festival from March 16th to March 19th.

The band also expects to release a new EP with Fat Possum this May. Local fans can see the boys of Young Buffalo this Friday, March 11 at Proud Larry’s.


Oxford's Habitat for Humanity Chapter Reaches Out

By: Jennifer Gardner

A non-profit business, offering customers new and gently used household goods at highly discounted prices may not seem like a ideal business endeavor, that is, until people experience the many benefits that come with it. This one-of-a-kind business is known as a Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

Starting this June, people in the Oxford community will have a chance to help out a neighboring Habitat for Humanity chapter, located in Memphis, as they launch the reopening of their ReStore which has been closed for two years. As the reopening date approaches, people in and around Oxford can help the Memphis chapter by beginning to gather old household goods to donate to the cause.

Any profit received by the ReStore in selling donated goods will go directly to the daily operating funds needed by the organization. In gaining these excess funds, more donations will be allocated towards the actual homebuilding and volunteer recruitment process. “We hope to assist the Memphis area ReStore in the future by passing on surplus donations and/or items we will not use,” said Macel Juergens, Member of the Board of Directors for Oxford-Lafayette Habitat for Humanity Chapter.

The board members of the Oxford-Lafayette chapter are hopeful that a ReStore can eventually be launched for this area in the future as well. “Oxford might be able to support a ReStore if we had space-we need a grant. It could be open maybe 3 or 4 days a week…utilities are just ridiculous, and especially rent,” said Caitlin Clarke, board member of the Oxford-Lafayette Habitat chapter.

The Oxford-Lafayette chapter is willing and excited to work with the Memphis ReStore for numerous reasons. This partnership will help distribute some of the extra building supplies and donations that will not fit in the allotted storage spaces in the Oxford area.

The Habitat chapters all understand the importance of working together to ensure that Habitat for Humanity remains a successful and self-sustaining organization as a whole. “The ReStore will not only provide a green, budget-friendly shopping experience for Memphians, but it will also support Habitat’s work here in Memphis by helping us fund our daily operations and building projects,” said Dwayne Spencer, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis.

“We hope our community will shop, donate and volunteer at the ReStore in order to help impact the lives of their neighbors in need,” said Spencer. The buzz surrounding the June reopening not only helps to get people involved and excited, but it also lets the Memphis chapter feel support for the future success of their ReStore.

For any information on the ReStore opening, donating, or volunteering, please visit www.memphishabitat.com. If you are interested in recycling any building materials, please call 662-816-5897 or visit www.olemiss.edu/orgs/habitat/.

Sources:

Dwayne Spencer, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis, dspencer@memphishabitat.com

Macel Juergens, Board Member of the Habitat for Humanity Oxford-Lafayette Chapter, macelj@bellsouth.net

Caitlin Clarke, Board Member of the Habitat for Humanity Oxford-Lafayette Chapter, olemissh4h@gmail.com

Rebel Runners Club


Rebel Runners Club

A new organization has been founded at Ole Miss: the Rebel Runners Club. Until now, there has not been an official running group for Ole Miss students. Muddy Buddy’s, an outdoor trail running club, was organized through Ole Miss Outdoors. However, Rebel Runners is the first road running club, meaning they only take routes along paved roads.

The Rebel Runners Club was established this winter, with the first run March 2nd. The founder of Rebel Runner’s Club, Emily Heer, believed it was time to get the students involved in an organization that keeps student’s active.

“With Mississippi being one of the most obese states in the country, I really wanted to make people aware about going out and getting fit and it doesn’t have to be about being the best, nothing else but just having fun and getting fit and basically that’s what I hope to get out of it,” said Heer.

There are currently 40 members in the Rebel Runners Club, ranging from beginners to marathon runners. Members of the club paid a $20 fee, which includes a one year membership, t-shirt and free entry into the city wide race that the running club will be sponsoring this year. Not only does Rebel Runners Club help student’s stay in shape, it also helps out the local community. Proceeds collected from membership dues will go to a different charitable organization in Oxford. The club is open to all Ole Miss undergraduate and graduate students.

“I joined the Rebel Running Club as a way to stay active while making new friends,” said Junior Stephanie Konkle. “Hopefully the club will continue to grow, the more runners in each distance group, the more fun.”

Rebel Runners Club meets every Sunday and Wednesday at 4 p.m. outside the Turner Center. All runners’ start together but then split off into their respective distance group: 5k, 10k and half-marathon.

“The Rebel Runners group is great motivation for working out. I’ve always been a distance runner, but since joining the running club, I feel my runs have become more beneficial and I’m getting more from my workouts than ever before,” said Junior Lori Dennis.

Starting the running club took a tremendous amount of work. Heer first met with the Coordinator of Intramural Sports and Sports Clubs, Traci Meredith. She was responsible for writing a constitution for the club, stating the advisors, meeting days and times, officers, cost of dues and persons permitted to join the club. Once the constitution was in order, Heer had to get approval from the Board of Directors of orgsync.com, a website that handles the organizations and clubs of various schools. The Rebel Runners Club is currently pending to become a certified sports club of the university, where they would receive funding from Ole Miss.

For more information, visit the blog at www.rebelrunnersclub.blogspot.com or e-mail them at rebelrunnersclub.com.

Classics Major Uses Skills in Unlikely Fields

By Lexi Combs

Students majoring in classics often aim for jobs as museum curators, ministers or college professors, but Josh Snyder has set his goals in a totally different direction.
Snyder, a University of Mississippi junior with a double major in classics and English, is using what he’s learned about Greek and Roman culture to help thwart modern criminal activity. He is pursuing a minor in intelligence and security studies and has interned at the Oxford Police Department, helping detectives obtain and analyze evidence.


“I was interested in classics and English because I did not want to be planted to one discipline but learn a variety of subjects,” said the native of Nashville, Tenn.


Snyder has been working under the guidance of Detective Jimmy Williams at the Oxford Police Department, where he recently helped examine evidence related to the infamous “Panty Bandit” case.
Williams describes Snyder as a “tremendous asset” to the police department, crediting his background in classics with helping him understand police work. The analytical skills gained by studying Greek and Latin have been a tremendous help, Snyder said.


“My critical thinking skills and attention to detail that I had learned in classics became a valuable asset to the Oxford Police Department,” he said. “I learned the first week working at the OPD that thinking outside the box was critical in this line of work.”


Snyder said he was attracted to the intelligence and security studies minor because of the academic challenges and opportunities the program offers.


“The average GPA for students selected into the cohort is a 3.6 and the interview process is quite extensive,” he said.

Carl Jensen, assistant professor of criminal justice and director of the Center for Intelligence and Security Studies, describes the interview process as intense. The program is very selective, requiring determined students with a superior work ethic, he said.
Jensen believes Snyder’s classics background has given him the ability to “look at information that is out there and try and make sense of it.” Being able to translate information to a variety of different sources in an understandable language is an important skill that students in the intelligence studies program must practice, he said.


“The courses refined the critical thinking and analytical reasoning that I had learned in the classics and showed me how to utilize them in the intelligence community,” Snyder said. “Learning how to think critically was the most important skill I have taken away from classics. Learning this concept enabled me to pay attention to the smallest detail and efficiently solve problems.”
Aileen Ajootian, chair and associate professor of classics and art, said she is not surprised by Snyder’s success.


“Classics students are incredibly determined,” she said. “From the time our students begin in the classics I can see them grow, including Josh."


The major provides a good foundation for a variety of career paths, she said.


“Students go in many directions: law school, medical school, library school, they teach Latin,” she said.
A graduate of Goodpasture High School in Nashville, Snyder is the son of Troy and Judy Snyder. He is a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity and Eta Sigma Phi classics honor society.


Snyder plans to graduate in spring 2012 and then move on either to law school at Duke University or the graduate program in intelligence studies at Georgetown University. His academic background at UM gives him plenty of options for the future, Snyder said.


“You might not pursue the field of classics when you graduate, but you will apply concepts that you learned, such as logical thinking and problem solving skills, to any career you do,” he said.

Tom Franklin Continues Literary Tradition at Ole Miss


By Ren Turner

It's an ideal afternoon to be sitting with the novelist Tom Franklin on the porch of Square Books, the venerable bookstore of Oxford, Mississippi that has acted as a type of home base to many literary masterminds of southern fiction including Larry Brown, Barry Hannah, John Grisham, and now Franklin. The combination of the Square, the walls of books on the other side of a swinging door and the remembrance of the greats before, construct a feeling that this is where a writer should be. It seems natural.

A middle aged woman sitting nearby is dabbling through a journal when she recognizes Franklin, and introduces herself. "I took one of your workshops," she says proudly. Franklin shoots her a genuine smile and listens carefully as she reminds him of her name.

"It's wonderful to see you again," he said, "best of luck."

After the publication of Poachers, Hell at the Breech, and Smonk, It would be easy to say that Franklin has had the "best of luck." But for eight years Franklin worked long nights at a factory that made sandblasting grit, and then cleaned up hazardous waste sites in order to fund his pursuit for an undergraduate degree from The University of South Alabama. "I don't know how in the hell I did it," Franklin said. "I could not do it now. I was young, I didn’t drink, and I didn’t have a girlfriend."

At Square Books, this is Franklin's last meeting of the afternoon. He has been meeting with students throughout the day, helping to guide their creative writing ventures, providing insight, stories, and laughs. He prefers this porch over his office. Perhaps it is the orange wall and blue floor contrasting well with the leafy green plants that engulf the vista, or the view of the immaculate courthouse, or the memories. Whatever it is, he prefers it.

Franklin's newest novel, Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, was released October 5th of 2010. The next day, he signed copies at Off Square Books in Oxford, and gave a reading before a capacity crowd of friends and fans. The week before, The Washington Post praised the work, calling it, "a smart, thoughtful novel that sinks deep into a Southern hamlet of the American psyche," and referred to Franklin as, "a master of subtle withholding."

Jack Fredericks is an English major at Ole Miss and one of Franklin's creative writing students. "We bring one of our stories to class, sit in a circle and the class workshops our writing," said Fredericks. "Tom does a great job of encouraging us, which is what we need as young writers. But he's also honest, and he tells us when things simply don’t work."