Monday, November 6, 2017   
 
Military veterans to be focus of week's events at Mississippi State
Five Mississippi State programs this week will honor the service and sacrifice of former and current members of the U.S. military. Nov. 11 -- a Saturday -- is national Veterans Day and the university's related activities begin early in the week. The campus-based G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery Center for America's Veterans is coordinating the programs. "Our veterans and their families have sacrificed beyond anything the average American can even imagine to ensure the freedoms and liberties we enjoy every day," said Brian S. Locke, interim center director. "As Americans, we should honor these sacrifices and remember the true cost of freedom." Established 139 years ago with an academic curriculum and student regimen mirroring the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, MSU today is ranked among the nation's most veteran-friendly institutions of higher learning.
 
Mississippi State holds women's leadership panel
Four female leaders from the Starkville community took part in a panel on the Mississippi State University campus Wednesday evening. The Women's Leadership in the Rural South Panel Discussion was hosted by the MSU President's Commission on the Status of Women. Participants included Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill, Principal and Director at Cornerstone Government Affairs Camille Scales Young, Ordained United Methodist Elder and pastor of Beth-Eden Lutheran Church in Louisville Rev. Allison Stacey Parvin and MSU Provost and Executive Vice President Judy Bonner. Executive director of the MSU Center for Distance Education Susan Seal served as moderator. "One of my flaws is I am a workaholic," Bonner said. "If I had to give my younger self advice, it would be to enjoy the ride. Time does fly by, and enjoy the ride and have some fun along the way."
 
Campus briefs: Aspiring businesswomen at Mississippi State form new group
A group of young women at Mississippi State University are supporting and encouraging one another in their pursuit of corporate careers. Undergraduate Women in Business is a new campus organization modeled after highly successful chapters at universities across the country, including Harvard, where it was originally established. Ten MSU student members also are bringing back ideas from the recent Harvard-sponsored Intercollegiate Business Convention. Shelby Baldwin, an MSU junior business administration major with a focus on marketing, said the local student organization is designed to "hold each other accountable and push each other to be successful, so when we graduate, we can succeed in the career that we're all pursuing."
 
Student Association raises sexual assault awareness
The Mississippi State University Student Association spent the week of Oct. 31 to Nov. 4 bringing attention to the issue of sexual assault on college campuses with the "It's On Us" campaign. The association held several events throughout the week, including a self-defense class, a bystander awareness program and a quarter-mile walk in high-heels to raise awareness for the issue. Throughout the week students and others in the MSU community also had the opportunity to sign a pledge to prevent sexual assault. The signatures were displayed on a bulletin board at the It's on Us booth in the Colvard Student Union and on the Drill Field. MSU Chief of Police Vance Rice praised the campaign. "We are absolutely in support of everything they're doing as far as stopping sexual assault," Rice said.
 
Matchmaking for Rural Start-ups and Investors
The Rural Opportunity Initiative -- a program encouraging private investment in rural areas -- held its first matchmaking session between businesses and investors on Thursday in Des Moines. The program recently moved over to Georgetown University's Business School after getting its start at USDA and raising more than $12 billion in private investment. Matt McKenna, a former senior adviser to former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack who helped develop the program, headed up the event. Georgetown is collaborating with Iowa State, Mississippi State and Purdue University on the program.
 
Complaint filed with AG against Nothing but the Facts
A group advocating to keep OCH Regional Medical Center publicly owned is not taking recent advertising by its opposition lying down. At least one member of the Friends of OCH has filed a complaint with Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood's office against Ridgeland-based Nothing but the Facts, according to Libba Andrews, a spokesperson for the Friends. Nothing but the Facts, through its organizer Carol Stern, has spent thousands of dollars on advertising and campaign materials supporting the sale of the Oktibbeha County-owned hospital. But the group is neither registered as a political action group with the Oktibbeha County Circuit Clerk's office, nor has it reported its campaign donations or expenditures, as state law requires. "It's cloak and dagger," Andrews said of the Nothing but the Facts advertising campaign. "Play by the rules, or don't play."
 
Oktibbeha County voters mull hospital's future
Oktibbeha County voters will weigh in Tuesday about whether OCH Regional Medical Center should remain a county-owned hospital. Both those who would like to see the hospital become part of a larger system and those who would like to see it remain under local control contend they have the long-term interests of the community at heart. Board of Supervisors president Orlando Trainer and other advocates of a sale to a larger system said that will help the hospital weather the difficult health care reimbursement climate and grow beyond what county tax payers can support. "I've watched it grow," said Jimmy Lindley, former county supervisor and 35-year member of the hospital board of trustees. "It has never stopped growing." The election has been bruising, pitting friends against friends.
 
Community hospitals are on life support; Starkville voters could pull the plug
When people talk about independent, community-owned hospitals in Mississippi, OCH Regional Medical Center often is held up as an example of how the system can work. "It's a very well thought of health care system," said Ryan Kelly, executive director of the Mississippi Rural Health Association. But if the leadership of Oktibbeha County has its way, OCH will not be locally owned much longer. On Nov. 7, residents will vote to either deny or allow the board of supervisors to sell the hospital. Hospital supporters argue the sale is a cash grab for Oktibbeha County, while those in favor of the sale argue the hospital is losing millions and selling is the best way to keep it safe in today's unstable health care landscape.
 
Absentee votes 'steady' ahead of special elections Tuesday
Oktibbeha County has seen steady absentee voting ahead of a Tuesday special election that will see voters decide on four races and a ballot referendum. According to circuit clerk's office, 574 voters had cast absentee ballots as of Saturday's noon deadline for in-person voting. The office will accept ballots received by mail until 5 p.m. Monday. There are roughly 27,000 registered voters in Oktibbeha County. Oktibbeha County Interim Circuit Clerk Angie McGinnis said absentee turnout has been "decent," especially for a special election. "For a special election, it's been a good turnout," McGinnis said. "It's been steady."
 
ERDC researcher leading team modeling post-wildfire floods
Now that the recent wildfires in California and Oregon that burned through more than a million acres have been extinguished, the work is just beginning for Ian Floyd and his team of researchers at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center in Vicksburg. Floyd is a Research Physical Scientist with a background in Geology. He and his team are working to improve the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' model for predicting post-wildfire floods. They have been working to develop the model since 2011 following a wildfire in New Mexico that posed a major threat to the reservoir that serves as the main supply of drinking water for Albuquerque. "In these post wildfire environments all the vegetation is gone and you make the soil hydrophobic so it doesn't like water, it repels it," Floyd said.
 
State revenue slowdown unusual
Mississippi's general fund revenue, used by the Legislature to pay for education, public safety, health care, parks and other state government essentials, is not growing like it used to. Through a long swath of history, state general fund revenue has consistently increased year over year. In the 1990s, during the casino boon, the state experienced some years of double digit growth and did again as a result of the rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina in the mid 2000s. In normal years, the state has experienced growth of near 3 percent or better. Before the current prolonged period of sluggish revenue collections began, the state had collected less revenue than the previous fiscal year three times since 1970 -- once in the early 2000s and in back-to-back years during the Great Recession that began is 2008.
 
Analysis: There's no hiding Mississippi's economic weakness
Let's make this simple: Mississippi's economy is weak and shows few signs of growing stronger. This is a state where total economic output in 2016 still was lower than in 2008, before the recession. Not coincidentally, it's a state where employers had fewer workers on their payrolls in September 2017 than in February 2008. And that 2008 peak came after jobs tumbled during a three-year recession in the early 2000s. Mississippi hasn't seen truly strong growth since the 1990s, when the casino boom pushed the state's growth rate ahead of the national economy in some years. And after a decade when the Magnolia State economy -- at best --- has treaded water, it shouldn't be surprising that people are bailing out.
 
Legislation not likely to stop DOR online collections effort
It does not appear likely that legislation will pass during the 2018 session to prevent the Department of Revenue from trying to force online retailers to collect the 7-percent tax on items sold to Mississippians. The Department of Revenue, led by Commissioner Herb Frierson, has filed an order saying internet and mail order retail companies that sell more than $250,000 annually to Mississippi customers must begin collecting the tax Dec. 1. It is not certain the order is enforceable. Department of Revenue officials concede the order is in conflict with the 1992 Quill vs. North Dakota decision where the U.S. Supreme Court said companies did not have to collect the sales tax in any state where they do not have a brick-and-mortar presence. A study by the Institutions of Higher Learning University Research Center estimates the state is losing between $105.6 million and $122.7 million annually on remote sales where the 7 percent tax is not collected.
 
State purchase reforms raise local concerns
A sea change in how Mississippi governments make purchases is set to take effect in January, aimed at saving taxpayers millions and reducing cronyism and corruption in government contracting and spending. But many county and city leaders say they still have unanswered questions and concerns about the new regulations. In particular they're questioning a requirement that cities and counties for purchases of more than $50,000 worth of commodities or equipment use a "reverse auction" method of bidding. This method -- typically done online -- allows vendors to make initial bids, see where they stand, then continue for a period to lower their prices and try to undercut competitors. Mississippi on Jan. 1 will become the first state to mandate reverse auction bidding for all state agencies and many local governments. Some local government leaders question whether the method will create bureaucratic headaches, cut out local vendors or cost local taxpayers more money. But supporters say the move will save taxpayers millions.
 
Special legislative elections set for Tuesday
Two legislative special elections will be held in Northeast Mississippi counties Tuesday. They are in Senate District 10, which consists of most of Marshall County and all of Panola County, and House District 38, which consists of most of eastern Oktibbeha County and small portions of Clay and Lowndes counties. The candidates in House District 38 are vying to replace long-term legislator Tyrone Ellis of Starkville, who opted to retire. The candidates in the House race are Narissa Bradford, Cheikh Taylor and Lisa Wynn. All three candidates live in Oktibbeha County and all say they are Democrats and will run as Democrats in the 2019 regular election if they win the special election. A candidate must garner a majority to avoid a runoff in three weeks.
 
Secretary Delbert Hosemann visits Brookhaven High School to 'Promote the Vote'
Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann visited Brookhaven High School Friday to talk to Brittany Paschall's history and government class about this year's "Promote the Vote" art and essay contests. The theme is Mississippi's Bicentennial Birthday and Hosemann showed students a slideshow of highlights from "A Bicentennial History of Mississippi."
 
Jeramey Anderson, youngest state legislator, announces bid for Congress
State Rep. Jeramey Anderson, D-Moss Point, announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday. The youngest active member of the Mississippi Legislature at age 25, Anderson will bid for the Fourth Congressional District, a seat currently held by Rep. Steven Palazzo. Palazzo, a staunch Republican, faces at least one Republican challenger in 2018, Brian Rose of Ocean Springs. Anderson is the first Democrat to announce intentions to run for the seat. Since he took office in 2014, Anderson has filed 35 bills -- none of which have become law. The Moss Point legislator sits on several committees and is co-chairman of the Mississippi Future Caucus, a bipartisan group of legislators under the age of 40.
 
About that Roy Moore Fundraiser
A day after Sen. Roger Wicker attended a fundraiser for former Alabama Supreme Court Judge Roy Moore (also attended by former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, among others) the Mississippi senator released a statement explaining his attendance: "I attended a fundraiser in Washington, DC, for Judge Roy Moore. He is our Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Alabama, and I'm glad to support him, contribute to his campaign, and help to see that he is elected. I did the same countless times last cycle as NRSC Chairman. I've worked too hard to preserve our Republican majority in the Senate to let Democrats try to divide and defeat us. Republicans have better candidates, better policy ideas, and a better vision for our country's future. If we're united we'll win this race, and both Alabama and the country will be better off for it."
 
Tax bill raises red flags for Senate GOP
The House GOP tax-reform package has put Senate Republicans in a tough spot, much like the House-passed ObamaCare repeal bill did earlier this year. The legislation is expected to pass the House, starting a tougher battle in the Senate, where Republicans control 52 seats and can't pass a bill if they suffer more than two defections and Democrats remain unified. At least a half-dozen Senate Republicans have already raised concerns about various proposals in the tax measure, setting the stage for arduous negotiations in the upper chamber. Senate GOP leaders have assured their colleagues that the Senate Finance Committee will write its own bill and urged them to withhold judgment on the House measure.
 
Investigators hunt for motive in Texas church shooting as the grieving spans generations
Investigators continued Monday to scour the background of the lone gunman who opened fire on the pews of the First Baptist Church here a day earlier, while the names and stories of those massacred while attending services began to emerge. There were 26 people killed in the rampage, the latest eruption of violence in a seemingly safe public space. The dead included eight relatives spanning three generations in a single family. Authorities initially said the victims ranged in age from 5 to 72, but one family said a 1-year-old girl was also killed, part of the eight family members slain when a gunman opened fire with a Ruger assault-style rifle. The gunman -- described as a former member of the Air Force -- then came under fire from a local man and fled in car chase before running off the roadway, where he apparently took his own life.
 
UM Center for Inclusion and Cross Cultural Engagement launches Brother2Brother retreat
For two years, the Sister2Sister Leadership Retreat has addressed issues faced by African-American women on the University of Mississippi campus and in the Oxford community. When African-American men expressed their desire for a similar event, the Center for Inclusion and Cross Cultural Engagement (CICCE) launched a brotherly equivalent. Sponsored by the CICCE, the Career Center, the National Pan-Hellenic Council and the Office of Student Conflict Resolution and Student Conduct, the inaugural Brother2Brother Leadership Retreat for men of color was held Friday in Bryant Hall. During the retreat, Ryan Upshaw, assistant dean of student services, and junior Kenric Wright hosted a session titled "Seat at the Table: Campus Involvement." Different committee members discussed hypermasculinity in black men, mental health, domestic violence and sex.
 
USM to cut budget by $8 million, eliminate 20 staff positions
The University of Southern Mississippi says it must permanently cut its budget by about $8 million and eliminate 20 staff positions. WDAM-TV reports university President Rodney Bennett made the announcement Thursday in an email sent to all faculty and staff. Bennett said the move is a result of decreases in state funding, particularly over the past 18 months, and a recent board policy adopted by the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees that outlines financial expectations of institutions. In July, the university laid off three employees and eliminated 33 vacant jobs because of state budget cuts.
 
Researchers looking at growing tiny crustaceans as fish larva food
Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant is getting nearly $1 million to figure out how to raise tiny crustaceans called copepods for large-scale use in hatcheries for saltwater fish. Red snapper, tuna, many groupers and many ornamental tropical fish are among those that are hard to raise in aquaculture because, when they're still tiny larvae, they eat copepod larvae, said Reginald Blaylock, assistant director of the University of Southern Mississippi's Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center. USM researchers will be working with colleagues at Virginia Tech, the University of Florida, and Reed Mariculture Inc. of Campbell, California, on the two-year project to figure out just what's needed at each stage.
 
Sculpture at U. of Alabama will honor late war veteran Mark Forester
Thad Forester found it surreal to watch the profile of his younger brother, Mark, take shape in clay, a prelude to his immortalization in bronze. "It is really emotional for me. It was really emotional to work on," Thad Forester said. The family has photos of Mark, but the bronze is a portrait they can circle and see features like the slight crookedness of his nose. Mark Forester, the youngest son of a family of six from Haleyville, felt called to serve after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The 29-year-old University of Alabama alumnus was assigned to the Air Force's 21st Special Tactics Squadron as a combat controller. He was killed in action on Sept. 29, 2010, while trying to aid Army special-forces medic 1st Sgt. Calvin Harrison, a teammate who also died during the mission in Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan. A bronze bust of Mark Forester in a beret and an Air Force dress uniform is scheduled to be unveiled at 2 p.m. Wednesday at UA's Office of Veteran and Military Affairs at Houser Hall, where it will be displayed.
 
Georgia college student critical after shooting during drug sale near The Strip in Tuscaloosa
A Georgia college student is in critical condition after shooting early Sunday near The Strip in Tuscaloosa. Tuscaloosa and University of Alabama police responded about 2:15 a.m. to a parking lot in the 1400 block of Sixth Street near The Strip on a shooting call, said Tuscaloosa County Metro Homicide Unit Capt. Gary Hood. Once on the scene, they found the 19-year-old male victim with two gunshot wounds to his face. Hood said witnesses told investigators the victim was shot wile selling drugs to three unknown black males. He is a student at the University of West Georgia and was in town with friends for the Alabama vs. LSU football game.
 
Auburn University's self-defense course provides safety lessons for female students
Over the course of six classes per week, approximately 180 women gather in the Student ACT on Auburn's campus to learn how to enhance their safety and utilize self-defense techniques to get away from a potential assailant. They're enrolled in the Auburn University Department of Campus Safety and Security's Rape Aggression Defense, or R.A.D., program. "R.A.D. is a comprehensive women-only course that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and avoidance," said Keith Walton, campus safety officer and certified instructor for the national R.A.D. program. "After those, they progress onto the basics of hands-on defense training." Madison Atwater, a senior in human development and family studies, said her mother has been urging her to take the class since she was a freshman. She said the class has helped her become more aware of the people and situations around her.
 
U. of Tennessee board of trustees criticize Knoxville decision to not outsource facilities jobs
The University of Tennessee board of trustees on Friday slammed a decision by Knoxville Chancellor Beverly Davenport to not participate in facilities outsourcing, even as Davenport argued the university wouldn't save as much by outsourcing as promised. In a presentation to the board, Davenport said UT Knoxville would only save $906,654 in the first year of outsourcing with private company Jones Lang LaSalle, compared to the $5.2 million the company estimated. The university is already making its own improvements in efficiency; an outside company would not be able to handle the complexity of work associated with facilities management in research departments and the change could be harmful to the local economy, Davenport listed as additional reasons for her decision.
 
Tennessee Promise applications rise in fourth year of program
Almost 85 percent of all graduating Tennessee high school students this year signed up for Tennessee Promise. The scholarship program provides two years tuition-free at state community or technical colleges, and the deadline for applications closed Wednesday night. The number of students applying in the program's 4th year -- 62,860 of the state's more than 74,000 graduating seniors in public and private schools -- eclipses all expectations for those that administer the scholarship. Overall, the number of students that applied is up about 4 percentage points over last year. '"I think we always believed it was going to be transformative," said Mike Krause, Tennessee Higher Education Commission executive director. "We didn't believe it would become so central so quickly."
 
U.S. agriculture chief Sonny Perdue gets warm welcome at UGA
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue got a friendly welcome as he answered questions from students and faculty in an open session Friday at the University of Georgia's College of Veterinary Medicine. Perdue, former Georgia governor and a graduate of UGA and the veterinary college, spoke to a crowd of about 200 gathered in an auditorium in the school's main building on D.W. Brooks Drive. Perdue has aroused some controversy in his brief stint as President Donald Trump's agriculture secretary. He's been criticized for delaying implementation of new health requirements for school lunches enacted during the Obama administration and eliminating a USDA rule designed to help independent growers compete against the big companies that dominate America's meat-production industries. But Perdue is credited with helping persuade Trump, at least temporarily, not to end the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA. Analysts say withdrawing could hurt the U.S. economy, including agriculture.
 
UGA horticulturist Marc van Iersel granted Dooley Professorship
University of Georgia Professor Marc van Iersel and storied former University of Georgia football coach Vince Dooley are teaming up to improve the state of horticulture in Georgia. Van Iersel, a horticulturist who researches smart greenhouse production systems, was recently granted the Vincent J. Dooley Professorship in Horticulture. The UGA Athletic Association endowed the professorship in ornamental horticulture in 2004. The endowment, which provides extra funding to a faculty member working to improve the science of ornamental horticulture, was created to honor Dooley's love of gardening. While he may be best known for his years serving as coach and athletic director at UGA, gardeners across the Southeast know Dooley more for his experience tending hedges than for the years he spent between them.
 
Zika researchers congregate at U. of Florida
From across the world, leaders in Zika research came to the University of Florida for a two-day meeting about the virus. The ZIKAction Consortium Meeting, funded by the European Commission, was held at the Emerging Pathogens Institute on Thursday and Friday. There, researchers discussed their progress in learning more about the virus, which had an outbreak in 2015 and 2016 in South and North America. "It's an opportunity to come together and talk about where the science is and chart a course to move forward," said Glenn Morris, EPI director and a professor of medicine. About 70 scientists from 18 countries came to the meeting, which was held at UF because of the university's leading Zika research, Morris said.
 
Texas A&M leaders say School of Innovation will help Aggies solve world problems
Texas A&M President Michael K. Young said the university is putting its students at the center of its commercialization efforts with the creation of its new School of Innovation. Officially debuted during Young's State of the University address late last month, the School of Innovation -- or I-School -- is designed to serve as an environment where students from across a variety of disciplines have the opportunity to work together as they lead problem-solving initiatives. The I-School will be led by Andrew Morriss -- who previously served as dean of the Texas A&M School of Law -- in the role of dean and vice president for economic development. Morriss said with such a "unique opportunity" in the I-School, he is excited to be a part of the upcoming multi-disciplinary, student-led work.
 
U. of Missouri cuts housing, meal rates for 2018
The University of Missouri is cutting the cost of living and eating on campus as it tries to lure freshmen away from off-campus housing and convince more returning students to stay in dorms for a second year. The cost of the most popular residence and meal plans will be reduced by an average of 3.5 percent for the 2018-19 academic year, which begins in August, with new options for meals that can reduce the cost further, Chancellor Alexander Cartwright said Friday. The lowest-cost option for housing will be cut from $6,770 to $6,430 and the cheapest meal plan will be reduced from $2,840 for 175 meals to $2,550 for 150 meals. The reduction in the number of meals in the two most affordable plans is based on surveys to determine how many meals students are actually eating in the dining halls. At an announcement on campus, Cartwright said the move is part of continuing efforts to make MU more affordable.
 
Critical report on Greek system ignored U. of Missouri's data on freshmen academic performance
In a report critical of Greek life last week, the Florida-based consulting firm Dyad Strategies recommended that freshmen no longer live in fraternity houses. This was based partly on the claim that they perform worse academically than non-Greeks. The University of Missouri's own data suggests otherwise. Since at least 2013, the latest year available, the average GPAs of fraternities' new member classes -- which are mostly freshmen -- were higher than the average GPA of all male freshmen on campus, according to MU data. "(Greek) GPA is consistently and significantly above the all male average," said John Dean, chair of the academic achievement committee for the Missouri Fraternity Alumni Consortium. This past spring, the average MU freshman male GPA was 2.761. Of the 25 fraternities surveyed, 72 percent of the new member classes had GPAs higher than that, according to the Office of Greek Life.
 
Excise taxes on colleges spark criticism but may signal a tough future for higher ed
Colleges and higher ed lobbyists are refining their attacks against House Republicans' proposed tax overhaul, taking aim at provisions that would significantly affect institutional operations as the tax plan goes under the microscope. Several proposals to raise taxes on wealthy colleges and universities came under fire, including a 1.4 percent excise tax on private university endowments valued at $100,000 or more per full-time student and a 20 percent excise tax on employee compensation above $1 million at all nonprofit entities. So did another proposal that would raise the cost of construction for private colleges, rich and poor, by eliminating tax-exempt private-activity bonds. As a whole, the tax plan is notable for the numerous ways it targets higher education in order to pay for Republicans' political priorities, like cutting corporate taxes and simplifying the individual tax code.
 
American universities and colleges warned to heed European data-protection rules -- or face fines
U.S. colleges and universities under the impression that new European data-protection laws won't affect them have been urged to think again. Speaking at a session on the soon-to-be-enforced European Union General Data Protection Regulation, William Hoye, executive vice president and chief operating officer at nonprofit study abroad organization IES Abroad, warned that the new E.U. rules have "very sharp teeth" and would almost certainly apply to all U.S. higher education institutions. Failure to comply with the E.U. rules could lead to fines of up to 20 million euros, said Hoye. "That's around $23,634,000. Do I have your attention yet?" Hoye asked.
 
The Disappearing American Grad Student
In the fall of 2015, about 55 percent of all graduate students in mathematics, computer sciences and engineering were from abroad, according to a survey by the Council of Graduate Schools and the Graduate Record Examinations Board. In arts and humanities, the figure was about 16 percent; in business, a little more than 18 percent. The dearth of Americans is even more pronounced in hot STEM fields like computer science. Many factors contribute to the gap, but a major one is the booming job market in technology. For the most part, Americans don't see the need for an advanced degree when there are so many professional opportunities waiting for them. Universities and employers are eager to tap the pool of international talent that helps them stay competitive globally, and graduate programs have a financial incentive in attracting them: Demand from abroad is so high, administrators don't see a need to offer as much tuition assistance. There's concern, though, that the current climate around immigration could jeopardize that flow of talent. I
 
2 Flagship Universities Surveyed the Campus Climate
The results of surveys released by two major universities this week show signs that several groups of students there are not satisfied with the campus climate. While both surveys -- at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and at the University of Wisconsin at Madison -- reported that a majority of students surveyed felt welcome on the campus, significant discrepancies were found across racial, sexuality, and other demographic lines. Both universities released statements in which they committed to act on the findings. "This is crucial feedback from the people who experience life on this campus on a very personal, emotional level every day," said Wisconsin's chief diversity officer, Patrick Sims. At Michigan, "the results show that certain populations of the UM community report feeling less welcomed and having less positive experiences on campus than what we strive for as an institution," said Robert Sellers, vice provost for equity and inclusion.
 
Beginning with the end in mind
Angela Farmer, an assistant professor of educational leadership at Mississippi State, writes: "The pace of teens today is almost unparalleled with scheduled activities. Even before the first bell rings at many schools, students participating in certain activities have already logged a few hours of practice. In addition to a day full of mandatory as well as elective classes, many students next transition to a few hours of after-school practice, lessons and/or work before focusing on homework and falling asleep. In this harried schedule, it is not surprising that many, in keeping pace with all they manage, rarely find themselves completing a full night of eight or more hours of sleep before once again embracing a new day. In keeping with all the facets of a busy teen's life, sometimes the focus on the next big thing is foregone until it's almost too late to give it a quality effort."
 
Put the spotlight on big business to grow U.S. jobs
Syndicated columnist Bill Crawford of Meridian writes: "President Trump and Republican leaders in Congress should add one small thing to the tax reform bill to truly help make American great again. In case you haven't noticed, corporate earnings are driving the stock market to record highs. Across the board, earnings are up; earnings are strong. When the corporate tax cut House Republican leaders revealed last week hits and knocks rates from 35% to 20% or so, earnings will go up even more. (Many think the market is up in anticipation of this earnings bump.) Of course, one of the ways big business has maximized earnings, and thereby stock valuations, has been through employee layoffs and offshoring jobs to foreign countries. ...Disappearing jobs, layoffs, and offshoring will not make America great again. More and better jobs will."
 
Mississippi lottery's time has come 'round at last
The Clarion-Ledger's Geoff Pender writes: "Creation of a Mississippi lottery appears inevitable, if not during the Legislature's 2018 or 2019 sessions, then by those elected or reelected to take office in 2020. If lawmakers don't pass one soon, I predict it will become an irresistible populist issue for the 2019 elections. To hear some potential candidates speaking lately, it already is. The final meeting of a special lottery study committee created by House Speaker Philip Gunn (a lottery opponent) is scheduled for Nov. 16. He formed the committee after numerous House attempts to create a lottery. The committee is supposed to present the pros and cons and research about state lotteries to the Legislature, not make a recommendation one way or another. But one finding the committee has already made, that similarly situated Arkansas netted $71.9 million in fiscal 2015 and $85.4 million in fiscal 2016, is likely to overshadow other data."


SPORTS
 
No. 21 Mississippi State beats UMass 34-23
Mississippi State is one week away from challenging the king of the Southeastern Conference. The Bulldogs' performance against UMass on Saturday didn't inspire a whole lot of confidence. No. 21 Mississippi State rallied to beat UMass 34-23, bouncing back from a 20-13 halftime deficit to win its fourth straight game. The Bulldogs (7-2, CFP No. 16) were 31-point favorites coming into Saturday, but it wasn't until Deddrick Thomas returned a punt 83 yards for a touchdown with five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter that they could be confident in a positive confident. Mississippi State will likely have to be much, much better when it hosts defending SEC champion Alabama next Saturday. Mississippi State's Nick Fitzgerald was a big reason for the comeback.
 
Dan Mullen settles Bulldogs at halftime
Dan Mullen had the grounds to rip off one for the highlight reel at halftime. Mississippi State's football coach could have given his offense a halftime speech for the ages after watching it gain 4.2 yards per play, commit two turnovers, and convert 25 percent of its a third downs against Massachusetts in the first 30 minutes. Those woes were the primary reason for MSU's seven-point deficit to UMass. Mullen didn't see the need for that kind of speech. He saw MSU's problems differently. "In that situation, a lot of guys can start to press. You can hear, 'Hey give me the ball, I'm going to go make a play, call this play, we have to do this.' Everybody calm down," Mullen said. "We just need 11 guys to go out there and do their jobs. We did that much better in the second half." MSU did exactly that.
 
Mississippi State's Nick Fitzgerald continues rise in the record books
Nick Fitzgerald continues his ascent up the record books. The Mississippi State junior quarterback ran for 135 yards and two touchdowns Saturday against Massachusetts bringing his career total to 2,303 yards. Along the way, he surpassed Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel and fellow Bulldog John Bond for the fourth-highest rushing totals by a quarterback in SEC history. Fitzgerald needs 218 yards to tie MSU's Dak Prescott for No. 3 and 644 to match Florida's Tim Tebow for the most all-time. The 6-foot-5, 230-pounder from Richmond Hill, Georgia, also became just the fifth SEC signal caller in the last 20 yards to rush for 30 touchdowns and also throw for 30 touchdowns joining Tebow, Manziel, Prescott and Tennessee's Josh Dobbs. Fitzgerald is working his way towards setting some MSU benchmarks as well.
 
How healthy is Mississippi State heading into Alabama week?
Mississippi State sophomore receiver Deddrick Thomas hadn't returned a punt in a game since he was a senior in high school. "So the message I received," Thomas said, "was just, 'Catch the ball.' That's all I had in my head. Just catch the ball, and let nature take over." Thomas is MSU's fifth-string punt returner, Dan Mullen said after the No. 16 Bulldogs beat UMass 34-23. That didn't matter on Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium. Thomas returned a punt 83 yards for a touchdown with five minutes left to provide what would be the game's final margin and help MSU avoid an upset. The Bulldogs (7-2, 3-2 SEC) likely won't be at full strength when No. 2 Alabama visits Saturday. On a positive note for MSU's offense regarding injuries, standout left tackle Martinas Rankin returned to action and played the majority of the game after missing the last three games with a high ankle sprain.
 
State seniors showcase shooting in exhibition win Friday night
No. 7 Mississippi State lost some pieces from its national finalist team, but if Friday night was any indication, the Bulldogs will be just fine. Senior guards Blair Schaefer, Morgan William, Roshunda Johnson and Victoria Vivians combined for 56 points in MSU's 100-67 exhibition win over Arkansas-Fort Smith. The Bulldogs began the game on fire with five 3-pointers in the first quarter and finished the game 15 of 32 from behind the arc. "The first half we shot it really well," said MSU coach Vic Schaefer. "We had 56 points at halftime and had made some shots. We shot the ball from 3 real well all night long. I think that's going to be a strength of ours." The Bulldogs host Virginia Friday at 8 p.m.
 
Dak Prescott Shows Playful Side In New Pepsi Spot Featuring Rob Corddry, Deion Sanders
Pepsi has found its latest superstar endorser. Dak Prescott has been a star on the field since his time at Mississippi State University. The second year signal caller is coming off an amazing 2016 season in which his Dallas Cowboys made the playoffs with a 13-3 record. That year he took home the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year award, introducing him to one of the brands he now represents. "I'm excited to be shooting this commercial," says Prescott. "I'm going to be passionate, I'm going to be all into it. If I'm funny I'm funny and if not, oh well they'll have to live with it. Just [trying to] be myself, go out there and have fun." The 24-year-old quarterback has broad business interests, with endorsements ranging from Beats by Dre and Campbell's to New Era and AT&T.
 
Standing guard: How two Mississippi Highway Patrol troopers protect, serve Ole Miss' football team
They stand on the sideline at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in their uniforms, waiting to walk onto the field. Once there, they could block or even make a tackle if they need to. But Anthony Granderson and Philip Mitchell would rather not because they're not football players. They're members of the Mississippi Highway Patrol that make up Ole Miss coach Matt Luke's security detail. They're the officers usually spotted by television cameras guarding Luke during halftime and postgame interviews, but that's just scratching the surface of what the duo's responsibilities entail. Granderson and Mitchell have a weekend-long routine they've maintained for years in the fall with an overriding objective: do everything in their power to ensure the safety of the Rebels' interim coach and his family. "That's our whole thing is to get them where we're going and get them home safely," Mitchell said.
 
Alabama prevails over LSU, but loses key players to injury
In a season where victories have usually come comfortably, No. 1 Alabama finally had to fight its way until the end. The Crimson Tide prevailed 24-10 over No. 19 LSU on Saturday night, but not without being pushed into the fourth quarter. LSU (6-3) outgained the Crimson Tide, 306 yards to 299, and while the Tigers never came within a single possession after two Crimson Tide touchdowns in the first 16 minutes of play, they did push Alabama into the fourth quarter and weren't finally extinguished until Alabama freshman Dylan Moses sacked LSU backup quarterback Myles Brennan on the last Tiger drive with 2:17 to play. The victory also came at a high cost to Alabama. Shaun Dion Hamilton and Mack Wilson, two stalwarts who had stepped up on an already-depleted linebacker corps, were injured. "A costly win," Saban said.
 
Jay Jacobs stepping down as Auburn's athletics director
Jay Jacobs is stepping down as Auburn's athletics director. Jacobs, who has been in that position since 2004, informed Auburn President Steven Leath of his decision this week. He will step down from his current role on June 1, 2018 "or sooner if my successor is in place." He made the an announcement Friday in a letter addressed to the Auburn Family, in which he detailed his rise from a 12-year-old in LaFayette watching the Tigers defeat Georgia at Jordan-Hare Stadium, to walk-on at Auburn for 1981, to longtime athletic department staffer and, later, the university's 14th athletics director. The decision comes on the heels of a tumultuous few months that have seen scandal after scandal affect the athletic department. Jacobs was earning a base salary of $600,000 per year annually under the contract he signed in 2011.
 
Texas A&M's latest November loss could signal the beginning of the end for Kevin Sumlin
Sometimes, the silent spaces in the middle of sentences speak volumes. In a room full of reporters with several unanswered questions hanging in the air, Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin reflected on previous bad performances in the moments after the Aggies' 42-27 loss to No. 14 Auburn at Kyle Field. "One game, at any position, doesn't make your season -- as a player," Sumlin said. In the time between the middle and the end of that sentence, it was almost as if Sumlin knew one game can make or break your season -- as a coach. What was left unspoken on Saturday is that with the loss to the Tigers (7-2, 5-1 SEC) is that A&M (5-4, 3-3) cannot win more than eight games in the regular season. And that might not be enough for Sumlin to see the end of a contract that expires at the end of 2019.
 
Why is South Carolina Athletics Director Ray Tanner concerned about a GOP tax plan?
The definition of a diehard fan isn't in the dictionary. Instead, head to Section 115 at Colonial Life Arena. When the champion Gamecock women are on the court, that section becomes Dawn's 115 Club and they have the t-shirts to prove it. "My wife and I have been coming to these games when there was less than a thousand people here, so now to see full house -- 18,000 strong -- it's great," David White, who has season tickets in that section said. To White, they're some of the hottest tickets in town. But soon his season tickets might cost him more in the long run because of a tax plan that was drawn up by congressional Republicans. Part of that plan would get rid of a tax deduction that's often used as a sales pitch to get people to buy those pricier seasons tickets at Colonial Life Arena, at Williams Brice Stadium, and at venues across the country across college sports. In order to buy season tickets at the University of South Carolina or elsewhere, a fan has to pay a membership fee, which can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. Right now, up to 80% of that membership donation is tax deductible, which helps offset the price of season tickets. With that gone, Athletics Director Ray Tanner would be in a jam.
 
Tax Bill Eyes End to Project Finance, Stadium Bonds Deductions
The House Republican tax bill unveiled Thursday would eliminate a tax break for a major financing tool for public-private partnerships, one of several bond provisions that would affect projects including professional sports stadiums. Under the bill, income from private activity bonds, a tool that state and local governments offer to help private entities raise money for projects that are deemed to have public benefit, would no longer be tax exempt. The provision would increase revenue by $38.9 billion over 10 years, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation. But the change would also force issuers to increase the interest rates on the bonds to make them more attractive to investors, whose income would decrease by the amount of the federal tax they'd have to pay. That, in turn, would lead to higher costs for private entities looking to partner with public bodies on new roads, bridges and other infrastructure -- a major element of President Donald Trump's outline for $1 trillion in new infrastructure spending.



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