Monday, December 11, 2017   
 
Neurosurgeons encourage MSU grads to commit to 'unending quest for knowledge'
Mississippi State fall graduates heard from two fellow Bulldogs who returned to their alma mater Friday to encourage the university's newest alumni to pursue an "unending quest for knowledge" and uphold the freedoms that make America unique. Dr. Allen K. Sills Jr. delivered the morning commencement address, and Dr. John D. Davis IV addressed graduates during the afternoon ceremony. More than 1,400 students were candidates for December degrees. Sills and Davis both are MSU summa cum laude biological engineering graduates who went on to earn professional degrees at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
 
Analysis: Twin focus on making and keeping college grads
It's not a new pitch, but Higher Education Commissioner Glenn Boyce is making it again: Mississippi needs to get more educated in a hurry. Speaking last week to the Capitol press corps and Mississippi State University's Stennis Institute of Government, the overseer of Mississippi's eight public universities said the state needs a more highly educated workforce, but also needs to find businesses that will keep those graduates from leaving. "If we as a state, if we don't improve postsecondary attainment quick, fast and hard, we will not be able to compete for the future," Boyce said. "And I would suggest to you, from what I've observed over the last few years since the recession, I'm not sure we're going to be able compete in the present." Boyce is not the only one sounding the alarm over college-educated workers leaving Mississippi.
 
MSU-Meridian confers 74 degrees during fall 2017 graduation exercises
Seventy-four degrees were conferred during fall 2017 graduation exercises at Mississippi State University-Meridian. Eddie Kelly, area division manager of Mississippi Power Co., delivered the commencement address for the mid-morning ceremony, which was held Dec. 7 in the Kahlmus Auditorium on the College Park Campus.
 
Voice symposium, institute at Mississippi State to feature Met Opera soprano
The voice and choral areas of Mississippi State University's nationally accredited Department of Music are welcoming high school and college students and educators Jan. 19-20 for the third annual Mississippi Voice Symposium and Institute. Metropolitan Opera singer Lisette Oropesa is among guests visiting the Starkville campus for the Friday and Saturday event that connects youth and adult musicians with respected instructors in vocal science, pedagogy, literature and performance from the U.S. and abroad. For more information, contact Jeanette Fontaine, MSU assistant professor of voice and Opera Workshop instructor, at 662-325-3490 or jmf501@msstate.edu.
 
Gladys Knight coming to MSU Riley Center
Gladys Knight, the Empress of Soul, will bring her legendary voice and her impressive catalog of beloved songs to the MSU Riley Center on Jan. 16, 2018, at 7:30 p.m. Listing her among the 100 greatest singers of all time, Rolling Stone magazine said she combines "precise classic-pop elegance with pure soul power." She has won seven Grammy Awards and in 1996 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In the 1960s and '70s, Knight and the Pips, her now-retired trio of backing singers and dancers, created a long string of electrifying hits. They included "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)," "You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me," and her signature song, "Midnight Train to Georgia."
 
Festival of Lights: 'Reluctant mystic' offers insight on Hanukkah
Most people don't know all that much about Hanukkah. If you've reached a certain age, you may remember Phoebe from the cast of "Friends" strumming a guitar and crooning an off-key "Happy Hanukkah, Monica" to her fellow castmate, or you might have stumbled upon a YouTube clip of former "Saturday Night Live" star Adam Sandler singing, "Hanukkah is the Festival Of Lights/Instead of one day of presents, we have eight crazy nights." Beyond such pop-culture references, the average person is in the dark when it comes to the eight-day-long "Festival Of Lights," as Hanukkah is also known. Rabbi Seth Oppenheimer of Temple B'Nai Israel in Columbus is happy to clear away the cultural fog surrounding Hanukkah. He reminds his congregants, and anyone who's interested, of Hanukkah's history and significance. In addition to being a rabbi, Dr. Oppenheimer is a professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Mississippi State University in Starkville, specializing in partial differential equations and applied mathematical modeling. He's also the director of undergraduate research in the Shackouls Honors College.
 
Bethany Allen blazes a trail with Starkville Fire Department
It is easy to pick out Starkville's newest firefighter -- she's the petite blond with a big heart. The last time the Starkville Fire Department had a female firefighter (1995), 20-year-old Bethany Allen was not even born. All that changed in early November when the Mississippi State University sophomore was hired and began working a full-time shift at Station 1 on East Lampkin Street in downtown Starkville. "When I was a kid, I wanted to be a detective or a fireman," Allen said. "I had a lot of local hero jobs in mind, but I really liked the physical fitness side of firefighting. Growing up, we lived next door to a fire station and I saw them all the time. I knew I wanted to do something in fire safety. I wanted to be able to be there for people, to help them." The plan is for Allen to attend the seven-week basic firefighter course in the spring of 2018 at the state fire academy in Pearl. That will be followed by EMT training at East Mississippi Community College.
 
Starkville moves ahead with bollard installation plan
The city of Starkville will soon start reviewing plans to install bollard locations in a swath that stretches from downtown to the Cotton District. Aldermen approved the project, which aims to provide the city more effective traffic control options for festivals and other events, at Tuesday's meeting. Bollards are metal posts that can be inserted into the ground to prevent or direct traffic flow. The bollard posts themselves are portable and are not permanent structures. "One of the things this does is free up more of our police officers," Mayor Lynn Spruill told The Dispatch. "If you've been to our events, you'll notice that we have cars parked to do the blocking. If we have bollards, those become unnecessary and we can have a wider spread and less use of those kinds of personnel and vehicle assets because we can use the bollards to close off the streets."
 
SA's Vicky Warren recognized as MAIS teacher of the year
In her years of teaching at Starkville Academy, Vicky Warren has touched the lives of multiple generations of students, directed countless plays and watched the school grow exponentially. Now, she is receiving one of the biggest recognitions of her career. Warren has been named the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Secondary Teacher of the Year. During her 44 years at SA, Warren has taught English, speech and drama. In 1975, she founded the school's drama program, with the senior class building a stage for the first production. "I'd applied for it years ago, and I was not selected," Warren said. "I thought 'well, they probably don't think English, drama and speech are very important,' but I guess over the years I've built up a lot of different work and activities, directing musicals, one-acts and speech tournaments." "Mrs. Warren stands out as that one teacher you remember having a tremendous impact on your life," said Clark Beverage Group President Robert Clark. "It's amazing to think she was at Starkville Academy when I entered first grade and God willing, will be teaching my third child next year."
 
Toyota Mississippi celebrating 1 millionth Corolla milestone next week
Aaron Foster remembers the day he started working for Toyota Mississippi: Nov. 27, 2007. And he's had many more memories in the past decade he's been at the plant. In 2011, he saw the first Corolla roll off the line, and in 2015, he saw the 500,000th car produced. On Tuesday, he'll be celebrating with 1,500 other Toyota team members as they mark another significant milestone: the 1 millionth Corolla produced at the plant. "It really does make you stop and think of the time that I've been here," he said. "It has been an awesome transition and an awesome place to work for. But specifically, you always hear Toyota talking about 'respect of people' and continuous improvement ... it's real. They're not just words and phrases. It's in the culture and fabric of this plant." That perhaps explains why the plant has been able to reach those milestones. Toyota Mississippi was the fastest plant to reach its 500,000 cars. It's still not clear if it was the fastest to reach 1 million. "I promise you, I'm checking the numbers to see if that's the case," said Sean Suggs, the vice president of manufacturing at Toyota Mississippi.
 
Mississippi House Education chairman leaving Legislature
The leader of one of the most important committees in the Mississippi House of Representatives is retiring. House Education Chairman John Moore, a Brandon Republican, announced Friday that he will step down effective Sunday. Moore says he decided to retire following heart bypass surgery that caused him to miss part of the 2017 legislative session. Gov. Phil Bryant will set a special election to replace Moore, which means his Rankin County district could go unrepresented for a significant fraction of the upcoming legislative session, beginning Jan. 2. It also opens the question of whom House Speaker Philip Gunn will appoint to lead the Education Committee, which has been a forum for major legislation since Republicans took control of the Legislature in 2011.
 
Rep. John Moore resigns from Mississippi House, cites health concerns
A top legislative committee chairman resigned abruptly Friday. "Earlier this year I had a major health issue that caused me to rethink my ability to continue serving the people of Mississippi in this important position," Rep. John Moore, R-Pearl, said in a letter of resignation dated Friday to Speaker Philip Gunn. Moore underwent bypass surgery March 7 in the middle of the legislative session. He was back at the Capitol two weeks later. The House Information Officer, a nonpartisan office, announced the resignation just before 5 p.m. Friday. The speaker's office could not be reached for comment. The announcement strikingly did not include any comments from Gunn or other House leaders about Moore. Moore, chairman of the House Education Committee, spent 22 years in the Legislature.
 
State's good, bad touted during opening of two museums
Myrlie Evers' voiced rang out with strength and grace as she confessed to a one-time hatred of her native Mississippi that she was now celebrating on a brisk and cloudless Saturday at the opening of the state's history and civil rights museums. Evers, the widow of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers, also confessed that she initially was concerned when hearing of the concept of two museums, conjuring images of segregated schools and businesses, but on Saturday she proclaimed, "Go tell it on the mountain. Mississippi has two museums linked in love, in hope and in justice." Evers, whose husband was assassinated outside of his Jackson home in 1963, was one of the few non-elected officials who spoke Saturday at the ceremonial opening of the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum.
 
Reserved Trump praises 'true American heroes' at Miss. Civil Rights Museum
President Donald Trump looked somber as Reuben Anderson, Mississippi's first African-American Supreme Court justice, gave him and a handful of dignitaries a private tour of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. "I didn't have the courage to do what they did," former Justice Anderson told the president about the Tougaloo Nine, college students who held a sit-in at the whites-only Jackson Public Library in 1961. "They took their lives in their hands." Trump slowly nodded his head and said little as he walked through an exhibit room dedicated to the Freedom Riders, the walls lined with police mugshots of those who were arrested and beaten (three were later murdered) for pushing for voting rights for African-Americans in Mississippi in the 1960s. Trump was uncharacteristically reserved during his brief visit to Jackson on Saturday -- a visit arranged by Gov. Phil Bryant for the state's bicentennial celebration and opening of two long-planned state landmarks, the civil rights and Mississippi history museums.
 
Two Mississippi museums: 'One is not complete without the other'
Myrlie Evers, whose husband Medgar Evers was assassinated in the driveway of their home in 1963, received a standing ovation at the opening ceremony for the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and Museum of Mississippi History on Saturday in Jackson. Medgar Evers was state field secretary of the NAACP, and Myrlie Evers continued the fight for civil rights after he was gunned down. At the podium on Saturday, she reminisced about her first impression of the two museums, which she described as "separate but equal." But her attitude has changed since she toured the museums. "I understand now ...one is not complete without the other," she said. Saturday, with temperatures near the freezing mark, thousands arrived to dedicate the new museums in downtown Jackson -- civil rights activists who never thought they would see such a day, elected officials, everyday citizens and the president of the United States.
 
Trump ignores backlash, visits Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and praises civil rights leaders
Amid backlash and boycotts, President Trump addressed an invitation-only gathering Saturday at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson -- instead of attending the public opening ceremony. The change in plans came after Trump's plans to attend the opening of the museum, which honors civil rights martyrs, drew criticism from some who marched in the movement. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), who marched with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and was scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the opening, announced Thursday that he would boycott the stage at the public event if Trump were on it. On Friday, museum officials scrambled to accommodate both sides.
 
Trump hails civil rights heroes despite, others protest him
President Donald Trump has honored figures of the civil rights movement, some famous, some not, at a ceremony that exposed stark divisions among Americans about his commitment to that legacy. Trump on Saturday toured the new Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the adjacent Museum of Mississippi, both in Jackson. Outside, demonstrators protested his presence, some holding signs that said "Make America Civil Again" and "Lock Him Up" and others shouting "No Trump, no hate, no KKK in the USA." During the opening ceremony, about 25 people stood silently with Confederate battle flag stickers covering their mouths. Trump spent about 30 minutes at the museums, gave a 10-minute speech to select guests inside and flew back to his Florida estate, skipping the dedication ceremony held outside on a chilly day.
 
Trump, Rejecting Calls to Stay Away, Speaks at Civil Rights Museum
President Trump's presence jolted the opening of a civil rights museum in Jackson, Miss., on Saturday, generating boycotts from some leaders in the movement and small protests by activists as the state's attempt to confront its racially violent past clashed with more recent divisions wrought by Mr. Trump's presidency. As the country's first state-sponsored museum on the South's civil rights struggle opened its doors, Mr. Trump gave brief remarks, largely sticking to his prepared script as he hailed the icons of the civil rights movement and rejected the racism and hatred on display in the new museum. "The civil rights museum records oppression, cruelty and injustice inflicted on the African-American community," Mr. Trump, who had ignored calls to back out of the event by some civil rights veterans, said after a brief tour of the museum.
 
Restaurant tax: Rep. Gary Chism open to removing tax floor
District 37 Rep. Gary Chism offered mixed reviews to The Dispatch Thursday on suggestions that came out of a joint meeting of Columbus and Lowndes County leaders at Trotter Convention Center to discuss renewing the 2-percent restaurant tax. Chism, a Republican from Lowndes County, sits on the Mississippi House Local and Private Legislation Committee that deals with sales tax bills. The current 10-year term for the county's restaurant tax expires in June 2018, and without a city-county joint resolution on renewal terms, the Legislature is unlikely to take up the matter, Chism has repeatedly said. During Thursday's joint meeting, supervisors and city councilmen agreed the "floor" on the tax -- the requirement the additional sales tax should only be collected at establishments where annual prepared food and beverage revenues are at least $325,000 -- should be removed. By requiring all restaurants, regardless of revenue, to collect the tax from customers, local leaders believe it will generate more revenue and be easier to track compliance. Chism told The Dispatch Thursday he would support removing the floor, although he cautioned it would only generate roughly $62,000 more in annual tax revenue.
 
U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper named to chairmanship
U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper has been named chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. "I'm glad to have Rep. Harper bring his principled leadership to the (subcommittee)," House Energy Chairman Greg Walden, R-Oregon, said in a statement. "Gregg is a good man of deep character and will do excellent work as the subcommittee continues its mission to provide transparency and accountability for hardworking taxpayers all across the country." The subcommittee conducts investigations and provides oversight on telecommunications, consumer protection, food and drug safety, public health and research, energy policy, interstate and foreign policy and any other matters under the jurisdiction of the full committee.
 
Inside Trump's Hour-by-Hour Battle for Self-Preservation
Around 5:30 each morning, President Trump wakes and tunes into the television in the White House's master bedroom. He flips to CNN for news, moves to "Fox & Friends" for comfort and messaging ideas, and sometimes watches MSNBC's "Morning Joe" because, friends suspect, it fires him up for the day. Energized, infuriated -- often a gumbo of both -- Mr. Trump grabs his iPhone. Sometimes he tweets while propped on his pillow, according to aides. Other times he tweets from the den next door, watching another television. Less frequently, he makes his way up the hall to the ornate Treaty Room, sometimes dressed for the day, sometimes still in night clothes, where he begins his official and unofficial calls. As he ends his first year in office, Mr. Trump is redefining what it means to be president.
 
Tech's new D.C. partner: Charles Koch
The tech industry has found a surprising new ally in its effort to shape public policy in Washington: the 82-year-old libertarian billionaire Charles Koch. Two organizations founded by Koch, one an education-focused institute and the other a grant-making foundation, have spent the past year ramping up their efforts to shape public debate on tech policy topics like self-driving cars and the rights of online publishers. And despite their ideological distance on issues like the Paris climate accord, the Koch groups and left-leaning Silicon Valley are working together to advance the argument that innovation is most likely to flourish when legislators and regulators leave it alone. For an industry in need of new friends in D.C., amid threats of antitrust scrutiny and criticism of its role in enabling Russian election interference, the Kochs' deep ties to conservative circles may prove useful.
 
Recycling Chaos In U.S. As China Bans 'Foreign Waste'
The U.S. exports about one-third of its recycling, and nearly half goes to China. For decades, China has used recyclables from around the world to supply its manufacturing boom. But this summer it declared that this "foreign waste" includes too many other nonrecyclable materials that are "dirty," even "hazardous." In a filing with the World Trade Organization the country listed 24 kinds of solid wastes it would ban "to protect China's environmental interests and people's health." The complete ban takes effect Jan. 1, but already some Chinese importers have not had their licenses renewed. That is leaving U.S. recycling companies scrambling to adapt.
 
MTA, The W to host annual statewide Theatre Festival in January
Over 500 high school students and community theater enthusiasts will travel to Columbus to participate in the annual statewide MTA Theatre Festival and Convention being held at Mississippi University for Women Jan. 11-14, 2018. This unique festival brings theaters from around the state to perform their one-act productions, learn more about theater and how to improve theater arts. High schools throughout the state have been rehearsing plays since September in hopes of placing in regional competitions and then advancing to the State Festival. High schools awarded a Distinguished Play Award at the North and South regional festivals held in December advanced to the State Festival. MTA is sponsored in part by grants from the Mississippi Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.
 
USM hosts fall commencement during historic snowfall
Friday's historic snowstorm in the Pine Belt pushed back the start of fall commencement at the University of Southern Mississippi. The morning ceremony was delayed by 90 minutes but it went off without a hitch, with hundreds of students braving the snow to get their degrees. Many said the winter storm made their last day on campus especially memorable. "It's very beautiful though, because of the snow, because we don't hardly get the snow, so, it's a different experience," said Kimberly Sims, a graduate from Moss Point, Miss.
 
U. of Southern Mississippi psychology class helps new students
Southern Miss freshman Veronica Foerg is glad she took a class offered for the first time this fall in the psychology department. "Orientation to the Psychology Major" was only for freshmen and transfer students interested in majoring in psychology. Foerg took the class as one of many freshmen in the 600-student department. "I was a first-generation college student," she said. "I needed to get involved, and that class helped me get more involved with the psychology department." The one-hour course meets once a week and focuses on helping students become familiar with the university, engage with the department and faculty members, establish connections with fellow students, improve study habits, identify areas of interest, learn about careers and acquire information about graduate school.
 
U. of Alabama will study improving tornado warnings for deaf, blind
Two University of Alabama faculty members have been awarded a $251,850 federal grant to study how to improve tornado warnings for members of the deaf, blind and deaf-blind communities. Associate geography professor Jason C. Senkbeil and assistant professor of communication studies Darrin Griffin will use the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration grant to build and test a split-screen system whereby deaf people can view a local weather broadcast showing a meteorologist on one side and an American Sign Language interpreter on the other. The project is a collaboration between the departments at UA and faculty at Mississippi State University and the National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision.
 
New rules for Louisiana students earning college credit in high school?
After a timeout in August, the Louisiana Board of Regents is set Monday to consider tightening the rules on how high school students can earn college credit, without unduly curbing access to the popular classes. The board delayed action on the initial proposal at the request of Gov. John Bel Edwards' office and amid concerns by Jim Henderson, president of the University of Louisiana System. Henderson said the revised draft is far better than the proposed changes unveiled in August, which he said would have overly restricted access to the courses. Higher Education Commissioner Joseph Rallo said the latest draft follows months of input from a wide range of groups with the aim of enacting guidelines that are neither too strict nor too lenient. The classes are so popular that enrollment has more than doubled in the past seven years to 20,036 public school students last year, compared with 9,651 in 2009.
 
Faculties' outcries slow U. of Arkansas System's tenure-policy redo
Faculty members at five University of Arkansas System campuses are waiting for a seat at the table. In September, the system sent word to its campuses about proposed changes to its tenure policy, which lays out what faculty members have to do to earn the status, what their annual review entails and how they can be dismissed. System administrators initially gave until Oct. 20 for teachers to provide feedback with an aim of getting the proposal to trustees for a Nov. 9 vote. But after an outcry -- concerns over job protection, academic freedom and the way the system developed the proposal -- the vote turned into an update item. And now, after the system has set up an email account for feedback and a frequently asked questions page -- and received comments from several faculty senate groups -- the professors are still waiting to be invited for a discussion.
 
'Fall of the Wall' celebrates U. of Florida Innovation Hub's new wing
University of Florida Innovation Hub entrepreneurs came together Friday to commemorate the "Fall of The Wall," a symbolic ceremony that celebrated the upcoming demolition of a wall that separates its current facility and the hub's new wing. The new wing, which will open Jan. 2, will double the size of the hub, bringing its total footprint to around 100,000 square feet, said Mark Long, director of incubation services for UF. Long said the new wing will include around 90 new office spaces, 12 labs, 10 light manufacturing spaces and some "collision spaces," which are work areas where people can get together to brainstorm and collaborate in a relaxed setting. The additional wing brings the incubator's total office spaces to around 140, Long said, with 24 labs and workspaces.
 
New floor opens in U. of Kentucky's $1-billion hospital: When will the building be finished?
Another floor of the University of Kentucky's Chandler Hospital Pavilion A will open this weekend, but that does not mean work is finished at UK HealthCare. The grand opening of the 11th floor will provide new, state of the art cancer care, an expansion for the Markey Cancer Center from one wing of the hospital to the next. The 63 private rooms are centered around Markey's bone marrow transplant department, along with surgical oncology. "We've tried to make it very patient-centered," said Nina Barnes, Markey's nursing coordinator. That means larger rooms for more complex equipment and many more accommodations for the family members who often have to stay with loved ones as they go through cancer treatment, such as a new family kitchen and a laundry area. There's also a general room for people who need to get work done as they stay with family. Families can stay in a separate bedroom, or stay with their patient in a new room that's more like a hotel suite."
 
Texas A&M teams among winners in short-film contest held by bullet train developer
Future advertisements for Texas Central's potential high-speed rail project could have an Aggie influence after students from the Texas A&M University Department of Visualization earned two of the three top awards in a recent short film competition held by the company behind the forthcoming Texas bullet train. The two Texas A&M teams were "No Train No Gain" -- comprised of seniors Julia Walter and Brooke Cypers and junior Jacob Whitley -- and "Texplorers" -- made up of senior Miranda Mabrey and juniors Erin Brown and Stetson Carlile. The teams received the awards of live action excellence and creative film, respectively. The animation excellence prize was awarded to Casey Moore of the University of Texas at Arlington team "Me, Myself, The Guy." Both of the Aggie teams' members are students in a graphic design studio in the Department of Visualization.
 
Consultant identifies up to $70 million in savings at U. of Missouri
The University of Missouri has 107 employees at the system level and on the Columbia campus with primary duties for human resources support. If that was all, consultants from PricewaterhouseCoopers told the Board of Curators, it would be a world-class model of efficiency. But because there are 477 other people who are "hobbyists" in the topic, handling issues in their department or division, with 450 variations on the basic processes used, it is a tangle of inefficiency that could provide $3 million in savings with streamlining. That was one example provided in the report that will become the basis for major changes in the role of the system and campus administrations intended to free up to $70 million for academic needs. The first steps are already underway, but the bulk of the report's recommendations will be put in the hands of a transformation office that will put in new structures for information technology, purchasing, human resources and other administrative tasks.
 
Interdisciplinary studies a concern at U. of Missouri task force forum
A task force looking at the status and success of University of Missouri academic programs took final questions Friday from faculty. The Academic Programs Task Force will turn in a report Jan. 15 to Provost Garnett Stokes recommending which programs could receive more funding or be consolidated or terminated. The task force has been evaluating programs based on discussions with deans, graduation and enrollment rates, how much grant money the programs get, how much the programs cost to run and other factors. About 25 faculty members turned out at the Memorial Student Union to question the task force members. Several expressed concern about the status of interdisciplinary studies, which lack full administrative and other support. The fear is that such studies would be deemed unnecessary or that they wouldn't be evaluated comprehensively. If certain programs were to be eliminated, it could impact several interdisciplinary students.
 
House GOP higher education overhaul would cap graduate lending and end loan-forgiveness benefit
The GOP's proposed update to the law governing higher education would force a U-turn for long-standing federal policies on graduate student lending. Students who pursue graduate degrees have been allowed to take out an unlimited amount in federal student loans since Congress authorized the Grad PLUS program in 2005. But the legislation proposed last week by Representative Virginia Foxx, the North Carolina Republican who chairs the House education committee, would cap annual borrowing amounts for grad students at $28,500 annually. The bill also would change benefits for borrowers by altering income-driven repayment options and eliminating Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Republicans said the proposed changes would put pressure on institutions to keep costs down and fits with their broader vision to simplify the federal student aid system.
 
U. of Memphis police investigate sexual assault on campus
The University of Memphis Police Department is investigating an overnight sexual assault in South Hall. According to the alert sent out to students, the complainant knew the male who allegedly assaulted her. U of M officials sent out an email to faculty, students and staff. "There's definitely times when I'm scared but for the most part I feel pretty safe," said UofM freshman Rebecca McNutt. "They do their best to have campus police services around. I know where I could go if I ever felt unsafe." This comes after students protested on campus in October after two students claimed they were raped. The university also held a town hall meeting to address the cases.
 
Do you hear what I hear?
Angela Farmer, an assistant professor of educational leadership at Mississippi State, writes: "In giving directions or guidance, many times educators struggle with learners who appear resistant to following. While occasionally, there are individuals who earnestly aspire not to comply, the reality is that most students intend to try to please or at least appease their teachers. Often times, the disconnect for these students manifests due to a difference in translation. Many, well intentioned educators tend to give directions or share requirements as if they were negotiating rather than ordering. When the time comes for students to put away their things and begin participating in the classroom discussion, for example, many teachers ask rather than tell what needs to be done."
 
Will Republicans fumble the ball to Chuck and Nancy?
Syndicated columnist Bill Crawford of Meridian writes: "Despite Republican leaders' wayward fall from debt frugality into tax cut frivolity, shifting teams now to Chuck and Nancy would be a fiscal calamity. 'Chuck and Nancy' is a Trump euphemism for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. Republicans deserve criticism for abandoning their long held top priority to reduce deficits and debt in order to pass deficit-busting tax cuts. But Chuck and Nancy have never made deficit and debt reduction a priority. Certainly, Democrats think Republican tax gifts to big corporations and the wealthy will sweep them into power next year. But with Chuck and Nancy at the helm, that's unlikely. Democrats' pathway to victory requires a convincing appeal to the centrist Americans that Republicans have abandoned, i.e., a surge toward moderation. That's not the political position New York and California Democrats like Chuck and Nancy espouse."
 
Universities contribute 60K jobs to Mississippi employment
Glenn Boyce, Mississippi's Commissioner of Higher Education, writes: "In 2015, Mississippi Public Universities' contribution to Mississippi employment was 59,258, or approximately 3.74 percent, jobs in Mississippi. The university system contributed $3.78 billion, or approximately 3.5 percent, to total personal income in Mississippi. On the Mississippi Business Journal's Book of Lists 2017, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, with 9,000 employees, is listed as No. 3, behind Huntington Ingalls Industries and Keesler Air Force Base, with 11,000 employees each. Other universities on the list include: No. 9 Mississippi State University: 4,740 employees, including extension service employees serving the citizens in every county of the state. No. 11 University of Mississippi: 4,200 employees. No. 27 The University of Southern Mississippi: 2,212 employees. In addition to the professors who support the university's core mission of teaching and learning, many other employees are essential for student success."


SPORTS
 
Mississippi State's Joe Moorhead announces hiring of Bob Shoop, Marcus Johnson
New Mississippi State head football coach Joe Moorhead continues to assemble his staff with the official announcement of two hires on Sunday: Bob Shoop, a veteran defensive signal caller with 29 years of college coaching experience, will serve as defensive coordinator and coach safeties. Marcus Johnson, a Coffeeville, Miss., native and the former offensive line coach at Duke, will coach the Bulldog offensive line. "Bob is a terrific defensive mind," Moorhead said. "He will put our players in position to succeed both on and off the field. We are excited to have him in Starkville." "We would like to welcome Marcus back to his home state," Moorhead said. "Our players are going to enjoy playing for him. He was an All-SEC lineman and played in the NFL. He knows what it takes to be tough, physical and successful in this league."
 
Greg Knox leads Mississippi State back to practice
For the first time in his career, Greg Knox had to take what he called his "horse blinders" off. In his 30-year coaching career, Knox never has had this much responsibility. He always has been a position coach -- wide receivers or running backs -- and sometimes has had the added titles of recruiting coordinator or special teams coordinator. As the Mississippi State football team's interim head coach, he's feeling the grander calling of the job. "I got the whole team now," Knox said. "I'm covering academics for the whole team. I'm making sure everyone is at tutoring. I'm making sure the whole team is at study hall. I had to take the horse blinders off. (Friday) was actually good to be out there running around with the defense and the offense. I haven't done that before. That was exciting for me." Friday was MSU's first practice for the TaxSlayer Bowl.
 
Business as usual for the Bulldogs
Mississippi State held its first practice Friday in preparation for the TaxSlayer Bowl later this month. However, things have certainly changed from a coaching standpoint since the Bulldogs last practiced 15 days ago. MSU was missing several members of its staff due to Dan Mullen, John Hevesy, Billy Gonzales and Todd Grantham's all departing for the University of Florida. Despite those staff changes, it was business as usual for the Bulldogs. "It was different, but it's still the same practice schedule and the same things," said MSU defensive end/linebacker Montez Sweat. "We're not going to change too many things around here."
 
Mississippi State men improve to 8-0
Mississippi State men's basketball coach Ben Howland feels like it is opening day all over again. Howland's team will be at full force Tuesday when the Bulldogs play on the road for the first time in a nationally televised game at No. 17 Cincinnati (6 p.m., ESPN2). A final tuneup for the season's first road trip took place Saturday when MSU routed North Georgia 95-62 in the Humphrey Coliseum. The Bulldogs won all eight games on their season-opening homestand to start 8-0 for the first time since the 2003-04 season. "I really feel like we are ready go on the road," MSU junior guard Quinndary Weatherspoon said. "As long as our defense travels with us, we will be okay. It's time to play on the road against a great opponent. We need to learn. We need to keep getting better. I think this is a great chance for us."
 
Bulldogs ease past North Georgia for eighth win
For the past two seasons, Mississippi State has struggled in its first game after final exams. In hopes of eradicating that possibility this year, Bulldogs' coach Ben Howland scheduled a Division II opponent for the team's return from its break. Howland got the result he was hoping for as MSU cruised to a 95-62 victory over North Georgia on Saturday. "I was just pleased to get through this game here now that we're out of finals," Howland said. "Our last final was on Thursday afternoon so as we move forward until January 8th it's all basketball for us. I love this time of year." The Bulldogs (8-0) shot 50 percent from the field for the fourth time this season and were 13 of 30 from 3-point range on Saturday.
 
Mississippi St. downs D-II N. Georgia 95-62, still unbeaten
Quinndary Weatherspoon had a season-high 22 points and Mississippi State remained undefeated with a 95-62 victory Saturday over Division II North Georgia at Humphrey Coliseum. Weatherspoon was 8 of 11 from the field and made all four of his 3 point attempts. Mississippi State (8-0) now is just one of seven undefeated teams in the Division I ranks. "I've been confident all year," Weatherspoon said. "They've just been going in and out. Tonight they finally fell and I hope that boosts me for the rest of the year. My teammates did a good job setting me up in a good position."
 
Mississippi State still undefeated, but real test comes Tuesday
Here are a couple of the common questions posed to Ben Howland over the last few games and as recently as Saturday: Does Mississippi State's undefeated start surprise you? Have your expectations been surpassed? Howland has been consistent with his replies. The answer to both questions is a firm, "No." Really, no one should be answering "yes" to either inquiry. Mississippi State's 8-0 start was just as predictable heading into the season as it is aesthetically pleasing now. Quinndary Weatherspoon making two buzzer-beaters is a rarity, but the Bulldogs were favored in both those games -- and all of their others, too. The most likely outcome was realized Saturday at Humphrey Coliseum when Mississippi State beat Division II foe North Georgia, 95-62. For the most part, though, Mississippi State looks as ready as it could be for its toughest non-conference opponent of the season, No. 17 Cincinnati (7-1) because it has stayed on track.
 
No. 6 Mississippi State overpowers Little Rock
Morgan William scored a season-high 16 points and No. 6 Mississippi State overpowered Little Rock 86-48 on Sunday to improve to 9-0. Teaira McCowan added 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Victoria Vivians had 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Bulldogs have won 31 straight regular-season nonconference games and 30 nonconference home games in a row. Monique Townson and Kyra Collier each had 11 points for Little Rock (3-6), and Teal Battle added 10. Mississippi State outscored Little Rock 25-2 in the third quarter, holding the Trojans without a field goal for the final 9 minutes.
 
Jordan Danberry makes debut and is a piece Mississippi State needed
Like a defensive back perfectly reading a play, Jordan Danberry jumped in front of the Little Rock player and intercepted the inbound pass for a steal. That was the first time the junior impressed on defense as a Mississippi State guard. It didn't take long to catch the next occurrence. A couple of possessions later, Danberry pressured Raeyana DeGrat so well that the guard had little room to dribble or make a pass for several seconds while on the perimeter. The Bulldogs needed to wait the first eight games of the season, but Mississippi State now has a lockdown defender on the wing. Danberry, who transferred from Arkansas last year and was eligible to play for the first time Sunday, made her debut in No. 3 Mississippi State's 86-48 win against Little Rock at Humphrey Coliseum. The former five-star prospect represents a piece Mississippi State needed.
 
Dak's Cowboys get the best of Eli's Giants
The Dallas Cowboys needed a big win to stay in the playoff hunt and they got it on Sunday. The 30-10 win spoiled Steve Spagnuolo's debut as New York interim coach and the return of quarterback Eli Manning to the Giants' starting lineup. Dak Prescott threw two of his three touchdowns, including a go-ahead 20-yarder to Giants' nemesis Jason Witten, and linebacker Sean Lee set up a touchdown run by Rod Smith as the Cowboys scored three times in a 4:41 span late in the fourth. "To me, the biggest part of this game was the finish," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. "That's always a huge emphasis for us, finishing plays, finishing drives and ultimately finishing the game." The Cowboys (7-6) kept their slim playoff hopes alive.
 
Cost of U. of Tennessee coach search likely will be millions
When the University of Tennessee announced the hiring of a new head football coach Thursday, a collective sigh of relief could be heard throughout Knoxville. The hire of Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt marks the end of a chaotic two weeks -- but the turmoil of the coaching search, involving back and forth with several candidates and the suspension of the athletics director, will have lingering effects, including millions of dollars in potential buyout and legal costs. That includes an original estimate of nearly $13.7 million in buyouts for former coach Butch Jones and his staff, even though that figure likely will be reduced, and a potential $5.5 million buyout for Athletics Director John Currie if he is fired without cause.
 
Missouri, coach Barry Odom agree to two-year contract extension
Missouri affirmed its belief in Barry Odom on Saturday afternoon, with athletic director Jim Sterk announcing he had agreed to a two-year contract extension with Odom to keep him on as the Tigers' coach through 2023. The financial details of Odom's contract will not change. He will still make $2.35 million in base salary, with the potential to make up to $1.525 million additionally in incentives. "We are pleased that we were able to reward Coach Odom for his performance this season with a two-year contract extension," Sterk said in a press release. "Coach Odom and his staff are building a strong foundation for Mizzou Football that will ensure continued academic and athletic success for our student-athletes." The Tigers finished the 2017 regular season on a six-game winning streak.
 
Meet dietitian Kristin Coggin: She's in charge of fueling the Gamecocks
It's come a long way from orange slices and Gatorade. Rashad Fenton competes in making milkshakes as much as he does shaking down opposing receivers. Javon Kinlaw's sweet tooth can only be satisfied with the strawberry jelly he spreads on the PB&Js that are the rewards for him plowing under another quarterback. Jamarcus King? Well, let's just say they're going to be real careful about doing Cajun Night again, after he carted three to-go boxes back to his room. "I tell everyone I have 110 kids," beamed Kristin Coggin, South Carolina's Director of Football Nutrition. "They're all their own person. I'm with the players four times a day, breakfast, practice, lunch ...I just made one a sandwich before I walked over here." Hired in May, Coggin served at Alabama under Amy Bragg, a pioneer in sports nutrition.
 
Police: Texas A&M football player threatened to kill residents at apartment complex
Texas A&M starting defensive tackle Zaycoven Henderson was arrested on multiple felony charges early Sunday morning after police said he pointed a gun at residents of a College Station apartment complex and threatened to kill them, according to court records. Henderson was arrested and charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, one count of tampering with evidence and possession of less than two ounces of marijuana. An athletic department official said Henderson is suspended indefinitely per department policy. Police say that at about 2:30 a.m. they received the deadly conduct call from the Campus Village Apartments, and stopped Henderson, 23, and Terry Lechler Florez Jr., 24, as they were leaving the complex off F.M. 2818. Henderson is accused of pointing a rifle at one person and threatening to kill two others, the documents state.
 
College football players would like more leeway to celebrate
With the NFL relaxing its rules for player celebrations, college football players would like to show some enthusiasm without risking a penalty too. "Most definitely ease up on us," said Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who won the Outland Trophy. "It's all fun and games. It's football. Celebration, I mean come on now, you shouldn't get a 15-yarder because you looked at the dude after you tackled him. Come on man." A sampling from some of the best players in college football, who were finalists for individual awards at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta this week, was largely supportive of allowing players to celebrate more after touchdowns and big plays. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said the he and other college sports officials have "not had any such conversation, and I don't contemplate one at this time" regarding a change to player celebrations or permitting of players to support charitable causes similar to the NFL's My Cause, My Cleats program.
 
Not much revenue expected from alcohol sales at U. of Arizona basketball
Beer and wine are coming to Arizona basketball games. Tucson City Council voted Tuesday in favor of the University of Arizona selling beer and wine at college basketball games. At first glance, it seems like this is just another way for the university to make a bunch of cash. But experts say that there is actually not as much money to be made in alcohol sales as one might think. Adding alcohol to college sporting events has been a trend in recent years, mainly with college football games, but recently some basketball schools have started doing it as well, Philadelphia Inquirer sports reporter Frank Fitzpatrick told ASN. "There was no NCAA regulation banning it. It was just a de facto prohibition," said Fitzpatrick, who has written about the issue often for the Philadelphia Inquirer. The University of Minnesota reported making 22 percent of the revenue from alcohol sales in their stadium and the rest went to the vendor. The university had to hire additional security guards and pay other fees that are involved with retaining permission to sell alcohol. Their share of the revenue was $185,025 after taxes. But the university spent $200,000 on alcohol related expenses that year, netting them nearly a $15,000 loss.



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