| Tuesday, April 2, 2024 |
| Mississippi State works on ways to improve campus | |
 | Mississippi State University has a new strategic plan for the future. Plans are expected to be completed in the next four years. Goals include facility improvements, more job opportunities for students, and providing a supportive environment for students. Mississippi State Vice Provost Brent Fountain said faculty and staff are working every day on improvements for campus and planning for the future. "Last year, we started transforming Mississippi State, which is a transformation plan that we have for the university that looks at five different areas," said Fountain. The five areas the university is looking at are serving students, strengthening bonds, igniting innovation, elevating the community, and telling the story of the school. Fountain said the proposals are designed to create more opportunities for students. Even though the university is doing well, Fountain said there are opportunities to improve. "We are looking at how do we help those individuals that may be looking for a career pivot, or maybe a second career in the second stage of their life. How can they take advantage of those opportunities? Also, when we think about the students, how do we really demonstrate the value that higher ed brings to our community and to our state? So, we want to know coming how do we really value and give students the tools they need to be successful," said Fountain. Fountain spoke to the Starkville Rotary Club. |
| 2024 solar eclipse: Here's what makes this one so special | |
 | The internet is abuzz as many people throughout North America prepare to see the 2024 total eclipse of the sun and the excitement comes with good reason. Not only are total eclipses unusual events, but each is unique and this one will have plenty of things that make it special as well. "What's going to make this one different from the 2017 eclipse is especially for folks that are going to witness totality," said Donna Pierce, associate professor of astrophysics at Mississippi State University. "That's because the moon is going to be closer to Earth than in 2017. "When the moon is closer, the shadow it casts onto Earth will be larger. Because the moon will appear bigger in the sky because it's closer, it will cover the sun longer." According to NASA, the longest the 2017 eclipse lasted was 2 minutes, 42 seconds in Illinois. The upcoming April 8 eclipse will last for more than four minutes from Mexico as far north as Economy, Indiana. It will also create a wider path of totality, allowing for a greater area of viewing. Something else that makes the 2024 eclipse unusual is the timing. The sun is on an 11-year cycle and at the solar minimum solar flares and other eruptions are least active, but during the April eclipse it will be near the peak, or solar maximum. That gives viewers a better chance of seeing streamers extending from the corona or possibly an eruption of solar material. Pierce said those watching the total eclipse should note what's happening around them. She said birds will become quiet and begin roosting because they think night is coming. She said the temperature will also be affected and drop as much as 10 degrees. |
| Eclipse 2024: Where to watch in Mississippi | |
 | With just days left until the April 8 solar eclipse, organizations and groups are preparing to host viewing events in Mississippi. As the moon blocks the sun's light during the eclipse, locations experiencing totality will be plunged into darkness. Stars will become visible, street lights could turn on, and the temperature will drop. Mississippi will see a partial eclipse during the event. Experts say to wear eclipse glasses to avoid damaging your eyes, but if you're in the path of totality, you'll only need to do that before and after the eclipse. Mississippi State University (MSU) will host a solar eclipse viewing event on April 8. The event is free and open to the public on the MSU Drill Field. Proper eyewear will be available at no cost on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at noon. Maximum eclipse, which in Starkville will be approximately 90% coverage, occurs at 1:56 p.m., though the eclipse will be visible between 12:37 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. |
| Education: Statewide Point of Pride: Inaugural conference highlights Mississippi excellence in high performance computing | |
 | Mississippi is known for southern hospitality, agriculture, and a rich history in music and sports. Mississippi is also making a mark as a national leader in the field of high performance computing. Mississippi State University and Jackson State University co-hosted the inaugural Mississippi High Performance Computing Conference March 26-27 in Jackson, for the first time bringing together Mississippi's vast HPC community. Mississippi boasts at least 18 high performance computing clusters among government and university systems, including seven systems ranked among the top 500 most powerful in the world. Christine Cuicchi, director of the Navy Department of Defense Supercomputing Resource Center located at Stennis Space Center on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, noted in her keynote speech that those 18 systems combine for 95 petaflops of computing power. A single petaflop of computing power can run one quadrillion calculations per second. "Mississippians are making a broad impact to our state and world in this field," said Cuicchi, a two-time MSU graduate. |
| Education: MSU students win top honors at Southeast Journalism Conference | |
| Mississippi State University student-journalists won 38 awards at the 2024 Southeast Journalism Conference at Troy University this spring. MSU received more awards than any other university. Nearly two dozen MSU students walked away with top honors -- including first place overall in the Onsite and Best of the South competitions -- for their work in broadcast, print and online journalism. Anthony Jenkins, of Columbus, won third place in the TV Feature Reporting category. Lizzie Tomlin, of Starkville, won fourth place in the Best News Writer category. MSU competed against students from the University of Kentucky, University of Alabama, University of Tennessee, University of Mississippi and approximately 20 other universities from across the Southeast. MSU will host the 2025 Southeast Journalism Conference next spring. Founded in 1986, the Southeast Journalism Conference exists for the advancement of journalism education and is open to any university or four-year college in the region with courses in journalism or mass communication. |
| How Nashville and the Pentagon fell into harmony | |
 | Ted Cruz became a country fan on Sept. 11, 2001 -- at least that's what he told CBS in 2015. The Texas senator was running for president, and when an interviewer asked about his favorite music, Cruz recalled how Nashville's stars embraced America and its military after the Twin Towers fell: "I had an emotional reaction that said, 'These are my people.'" The relationship between country music, conservatism, and the military feels like the most natural thing in the world: organic, authentic, and easy to exploit if you happen to be eyeing the Republican nomination. But a new book shows that this relationship has a much stranger history than fans might realize. In "Cold War Country," Joseph Thompson tells the fascinating and forgotten story of how the Pentagon and Music Row encouraged and reinforced each other. Beginning in the 1950s, the country music industry celebrated the military and boosted its recruiting, while the military helped country stars reach a reliable audience. Over time, this mutual admiration evolved into the broader idea that country music represented "real America." Thompson, a professor at Mississippi State University, reveals why this happened. Today, at a time when so many fans seem either angry or enthralled to find politics in their pop culture, "Cold War Country" is a reminder that these ideological associations often stick not because of something inherent in the art but because of more quiet and powerful forces, forces like money, luck, and, in this case, the explosive growth of the military-industrial complex. |
| Starkville native Jennifer Jeffries advances to 'American Idol' Top 24 | |
| Jennifer Jeffries is the latest Mississippian to crack the Top 24 of American Idol. After delivering a powerful original during Hollywood Week, the 17-year-old from Starkville performed "Northern Attitude" by Noah Kahan during Monday night's showstoppers round and the judges were instantly impressed. "I have chill bumps," Luke Bryan said during Jeffries performance with Katy Perry adding, "That is a star in the making." Even with the solid showing from Jeffries, the judges still had a decision to make as this year's competition is uber-talented. When asked during the final judgement how she thought her showstopper performance went, Jeffries admitted that she "blacked out" during most of it with Bryan and Perry along with Lionel Richie sharing a laugh. The celebrity trio then agreed that Jeffries may still be a "diamond in the rough," but she and her Indie rock voice are worth moving forward in the competition. Jeffries joins a long list of Mississippians to advance this far in the competition in recent years. Other names include Colin Stough, Zachariah Smith, Deshawn Goncalves, and Hannah Everhart. |
| Downtown Meridian gears up for a busy weekend | |
 | From a former "American Idol" winner performing at the MSU Riley Center to the kick off of this year's Earth's Bounty season to an evening of fine Southern cuisine, this week looks to be a busy one in the Meridian area. Commencing the weekend early, Taylor Hicks will take the stage of the MSU Riley Center at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4, for a one-night only performance. Hicks is best known for winning the blockbuster fifth season of the TV Show "American Idol" in May 2006, a successful season for the show ratings-wise and with 17 contestants getting record deals. Among Hicks' fellow competitors that season were musicians Chris Daughtry, Kellie Pickler and Katharine McPhee. With a sound that is a blend of blues, soul, country and rock-n-roll, the Birmingham, Alabama, native has performed at concert venues around the nation and even landed a prestigious Las Vegas residency. Tickets for the Taylor Hicks concert range from $15 to $40 and are available on the Riley Center website. |
| House committee chairman kills early voting bill without a vote | |
| Mississippi will remain one of only three states that does not have in-person early voting after a House committee chairman killed legislation last week. House Elections Chairman Noah Sanford said in a committee meeting on Thursday that he will not bring up Senate Bill 2580. The bill would have allowed 15 days of no-excuse early voting before election day. Sanford said he received concerns over the plan from some county circuit clerks, the local officials who administer elections. "Some circuit clerks around the state had concerns that they might have to hire an additional deputy clerk to administer early voting," Sanford said. Instead, Sanford, a Republican from Collins, said he would like to conduct some hearings in the summer or fall to examine the issue further and allow circuit clerks and others to present information. He said that after the hearings he would be more open to passing early voting legislation. Senate Elections Chairman Jeremy England, the author of the bill, said he was disappointed the measure did not advance in the House, given it overwhelmingly passed the Senate along bipartisan lines. "We'll see it again, though," said England, a Republican from Vancleave. "This is something I'm definitely interested in and something voters across the political spectrum are interested in." |
| Pending bills would remove insurance barriers to certain cancer screenings and treatment | |
| No one wants to delay cancer treatments. However, insurance and costs stand in the way of quick treatment in some cases. Lawmakers have the chance to cut some of the red tape. Many of your families know the journey that starts with that all-familiar scan. "The mammogram was the start point," said breast cancer survivor Jasmine Samuel. An estimated 12% of patients are asked to go back for follow-up imaging after an abnormal mammogram. It doesn't necessarily signal cancer, but that next scan is needed to rule it out or confirm it. "We went from mammogram to they also did an ultrasound, from an ultrasound and led to a biopsy,' explained Samuel. "And then from the biopsy is what led to the diagnosis. So that's why it is so important for patients to be able to follow that process fluidly." We also spoke with survivor Tracy Gallagher. "If I had not gotten additional testing, I wouldn't be here today," described Gallagher. While both women had insurance covering those follow-up scans, that's not always the case, even with insurance coverage. House Bill 1144 would require insurance companies to cover the diagnostic and supplemental imaging. It's a move 20 other states have already taken. Rep. Sam Creekmore is the bill sponsor. "Many of the healthcare issues in the state of Mississippi are preventable," said Creekmore. "HB 1144 is a major step in preventing serious illness for Mississippians." |
| Mississippi Republicans to choose opponent for longtime Democratic congressman | |
 | A runoff election Tuesday in Mississippi's 2nd Congressional District will determine the Republican nominee to face longtime Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson in the Nov. 5 general election. Republicans Ron Eller and Andrew Scott Smith advanced to the runoff after a three-person primary three weeks ago. They're competing in a majority-Black district that Thompson has represented since winning a special election in 1993 and where President Joe Biden won by 27 percentage points in 2020. Thompson, the ranking Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, was unopposed in the primary. He said he wants to decrease prescription drug costs, invest in historically Black colleges and universities, reduce student loan debt and build the middle class "by making sure the wealthy pay their fair share." Eller is a military veteran and physician assistant who ran unsuccessfully for the 2nd District Republican nomination in 2022. He said he supports construction of a U.S.-Mexico border wall and expansion of domestic energy production. Smith has worked in pumpkin farming and commercial real estate. He said he wants to rejuvenate agriculture, rebuild infrastructure, reinforce the southern border and require more transparency in government. |
| Rep. Guest speaks on House leadership | |
 | In October, the United States House of Representatives ousted former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, and the current Speaker, Mike Johnson, is facing the same scrutiny. Congressman Michael Guest spoke with News 11 about the issues ousting another speaker could bring. Last week, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene filed a motion to oust Speaker Mike Johnson because of the spending bill Johnson brought to the floor. When McCarthy was ousted, it took house republicans three weeks to elect a new chamber leader. Guest believes with the situation they are facing Johnson has done a good job, especially since the majority is so slim. "People believe that Mike Johnson is a good man, an honorable man who has inherited a very difficult situation after Ken Bucks' retirement this past Friday; Republicans only have a two-seat majority in the House when Mike Gallagher steps down in the middle of April; we will have only a 1, seat majority. And so, with those very narrow numbers. In a body as big as the House of Representatives, I think that most people believe, including myself, that Speaker Johnson has done a good job under those circumstances," said Guest. |
| McConnell: I'll stay in the Senate and fight the GOP 'isolationist movement' | |
 | Mitch McConnell plans to keep fighting his party's "isolationist movement" -- even after he steps down as GOP leader. The Kentucky Republican, who is leading the hawkish wing's drive to fund Ukraine, said in an interview with WHAS's Terry Meiners that continuing to push for a brawny national security approach will be a major priority over the rest of his time in the Senate. McConnell's term ends at the end of 2026, two years after he plans to give up his leadership post, and he said he'll serve it out in full. "I'm particularly involved in actually fighting back against the isolationist movement in my own party. And some in the other as well. And the symbol of that lately is: Are we going to help Ukraine or not?" McConnell said. "I've got this sort of on my mind for the next couple years as something I'm going to focus on." Asked about his divergent view with fellow Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, who opposes foreign aid and sending more money to Ukraine to fend off Russia, McConnell said they've never agreed on foreign policy and that Paul "would be the first one to say that he's an isolationist." The bigger problem, McConnell added, is that more of his conference is agreeing with Paul's view; roughly half the Senate Republicans voted for the foreign aid bill and its $60 billion in Ukraine funding. That means many of his own members are now opting against sending Ukraine money. |
| Donald Trump Obtains $175 Million Bond in Civil Fraud Case | |
 | Donald Trump secured a $175 million bond to guarantee his civil fraud judgment during his appeal, likely saving him from having to pay a final penalty in the case until after the presidential election. The former president obtained the bond through Knight Specialty Insurance Company, according to a filing Monday night. He now has gotten nearly $267 million in bonds for his appeals of two civil cases, including a $92 million bond to guarantee a judgment in a civil defamation case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll. The appeals court hearing the civil fraud case is unlikely to rule until later this fall, meaning any financial penalties faced by Trump, who has clinched the Republican presidential nomination, are likely to come due after November. In February, after a monthslong trial, New York Justice Arthur Engoron ordered Trump to pay a $355 million judgment plus interest after finding the former president falsely valued parts of his real-estate empire for his own financial gain, including to obtain low-interest loans. The judgment now stands at $454 million, with interest continuing to accrue. Trump has denied inflating his wealth and said the attorney general's case was politically motivated. Separately, the judge presiding over one of the four criminal cases pending against Trump expanded a gag order Monday evening to include family members of the court and district attorney. In recent days, Trump has attacked the judge's daughter, who works for a digital agency with Democratic clients, on social media. |
| Three presidents and not a necktie in sight. Are ties out of fashion? | |
 | Last week, Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton -- three Democratic presidents -- were all in one place to help Biden raise money for his reelection campaign. This is not a campaign finance story, though. This is a look at fashion, because not one of these current or former commanders in chief was wearing what's typically a standard part of presidential outfits: a necktie. This prompted several men's fashion watchers on the internet to declare the death (or at least the beginning of the end) of the tie. Because if presidents are not wearing them at fancy events in Midtown Manhattan, then who is? "Looking at those pictures, I was really fascinated by the different gradations of formality that we saw, particularly in the pictures of the presidents with the celebrity podcasters or some of the younger guests, because you still have a hierarchy there. There's the collared shirt versus the uncollared shirt. There's the matching jacket and pants versus the mismatched jacket and pants. There were dress shoes and tennis shoes. So there was still a generational divide there, and there was still sort of a formal hierarchy," said fashion historian Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell. |
| Florida Supreme Court upends abortion landscape in the South | |
 | n dueling rulings that will likely make Florida an epicenter of the abortion debate this fall, the Florida Supreme Court on Monday upheld the state's 15-week abortion ban, paving the way for a much stricter 6-week ban to take effect. But it also permitted an abortion rights ballot measure to go before voters in November that could enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution. The two decisions set up a dichotomy: In one case, judges say the state's constitution does not protect abortion rights. In the other, justices say that question can be left to voters. The first ruling examined the constitutionality of the state's existing 15-week abortion law, which was passed in 2022. The six-week ban -- one of the strictest in the nation, signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in April 2023 -- was written to take effect if the state Supreme Court let the 15-week ban go forward. That decision would effectively eliminate abortion access in the southeast United States. Before the bans, Florida was a frequent destination for women seeking abortions from neighboring states with strict abortion bans. The new law includes exceptions for rape, incest, fetal abnormalities and medical emergencies. In the case, Planned Parenthood v. State of Florida et al., abortion providers argued that Florida's privacy clause protected the right to an abortion. The court disagreed, saying that there is "no clear right to abortion embodied within the Privacy Clause." But the abortion ballot initiative, which the court also greenlighted Monday, could upend the first decision. |
| Israeli strike kills 7 World Central Kitchen workers, group halts aid | |
 | World Central Kitchen said Tuesday that it was immediately halting its operations in Gaza after seven of its workers were killed in an Israeli strike, which Israel's leader said was "unintentional." The strike killed a U.S.-Canadian dual national, at least one Palestinian worker and individuals from Australia, Poland and the United Kingdom, according to the group, and has been widely condemned internationally. "Unfortunately, there was a tragic incident in which our forces unintentionally hit innocent people in the Gaza Strip," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday. "As it happens in war, we are investigating the matter fully, we are in contact with the governments, and we will do everything possible to prevent this from happening again." World Central Kitchen CEO Erin Gore described the strike on the convoy as a "targeted attack" by the Israel Defense Forces and "unforgivable." The food aid nonprofit has been prominently involved in Gaza relief efforts and had coordinated its efforts with Israeli authorities. The team was traveling in a "deconflicted zone" in vehicles that included two armored cars branded with the World Central Kitchen logo. "Despite coordinating movements with the [Israel Defense Forces], the convoy was hit as it was leaving the Deir al-Balah warehouse, where the team had unloaded more than 100 tons of humanitarian food aid brought to Gaza on the maritime route," the group said. |
| First human case of avian flu in Texas raises alarm | |
| A Texas dairy worker has tested positive for the avian flu, marking the first identified human case of an illness in the U.S. that has sickened cattle across several states over the past few weeks. The infection, only the second human case of H5N1 ever recorded in the country, is worrying public health experts who for decades have cautioned that avian flu could pose a serious threat. The case is the only one state and federal officials have identified, and there is no evidence that it is being spread among humans. The illness is mild and the worker is expected to recover, said two people familiar with the matter, who were granted anonymity because the information has not yet been made public. The new human case follows recent cow infections in Texas, Idaho, Michigan and New Mexico that have raised alarm among public health experts who worry the virus' spread to mammals could make it easier for the virus to infect humans. The CDC, FDA and U.S. Department of Agriculture said the virus was found in a Michigan dairy herd that had recently received cows from herds in Texas. The USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories said the Michigan strain is very similar to the cow infections in Texas and Kansas, which appear to have come from wild birds. Still, senior White House officials are closely monitoring the evolving situation, with the Office of Pandemic Preparedness receiving regular updates from HHS and USDA. |
| Autonomous tractors plow path to the future at Caterpillar's secluded Peoria Proving Ground | |
| Grounded in central Illinois throughout its century-long history, heavy equipment manufacturer Caterpillar has seemingly been smitten by corporate wanderlust of late, moving its headquarters from Peoria to Deerfield to Irving, Texas, over the past seven years. But Caterpillar remains deeply rooted in the Peoria area with 12,000 employees, a major manufacturing operation and something few visitors have ever seen: a secluded 2,500-acre site where the company is carving a path to the future. For more than 75 years, the Peoria Proving Ground has been the secret place where giant yellow earthmoving machines are tested, refined and readied to do the heavy lifting. Set back amid steep ravines, dense woods and winding roads in the nearby town of Washington, it is the company's muddy nexus of innovation, with a legacy of groundbreaking product development. "We're really proud of our history and the things that we've contributed to this company over the years," said Charlie Menke, director of machine development for Peoria Proving Ground. "The high drive track-type tractor was developed at this facility. The first electric drive track-type tractor was developed at this facility. We're currently working on additional electric drive machines." Caterpillar, which began experimenting with autonomous construction equipment nearly a decade ago, is one of several major companies developing it, along with Doosan in South Korea and Volvo Autonomous Solutions, which unveiled its new Swedish testing site in November. The potentially transformative technology is still in the early stages of commercialization. |
| This Bag of Cells Could Grow New Livers Inside of People | |
 | For the first time, scientists are attempting to grow a new, miniature liver inside of a person. It sounds like science fiction; in fact, the idea was the plot of a Grey's Anatomy episode that aired in 2018. Now, biotech company LyGenesis is trying to turn the concept into reality. Today, LyGenesis announced that an initial volunteer has received an injection of donor cells to turn one of their lymph nodes into a second liver. The procedure was carried out in Houston on March 25 as part of a clinical trial that will test the experimental treatment in 12 adults with end-stage liver disease. These patients usually require a liver transplant, but donor organs are in short supply. LyGenesis is hoping to spur the growth of enough healthy liver tissue that patients don't need a transplant. "We're using the lymph node as a living bioreactor," says Michael Hufford, cofounder and CEO of Pittsburgh-based LyGenesis. He says just 10 to 30 percent in additional liver mass could have meaningful effects for patients with end-stage liver disease. About 10,000 people in the United States are on the transplant list for a liver, and many will wait months or years to get one. That number doesn't include those who need a new liver but don't qualify for a transplant because of other health problems. One of the big questions is how many cells it will require for humans to grow a liver big enough to take over certain vital functions, such as filtering blood and producing bile. |
| USM to host annual public health symposium on Wednesday | |
 | The School of Health Professions at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) is hosting its annual Public Health Symposium this Wednesday in conjunction with National Public Health Week. The event will be hosted at the Thad Cochran Center on USM's Hattiesburg campus from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. It will include three concurrent sessions with presentations geared toward students, faculty, staff, public health practitioners and the Hattiesburg community. It is free and open to the general public. The theme for the symposium is 'Protecting, Connecting and Thriving: We are Public Health,' according to Dr. Vickie Reed, instructor at USM. "This is a great event whereby present and future practitioners can convene together to strengthen our public health discipline and profession," said Reed. This year's symposium will feature Dr. Justin Turner, chief medical officer for the Mississippi State Department of Health. "The significance of his professional insight will inform our university and Pine Belt community on the importance of a strong public health workforce," Reed said. In 2023, Turner was awarded Most Influential African American of Mississippi by Our Mississippi. |
| Medical Cannabis Research Facility Could Come to Mississippi | |
| Mississippi could soon have a medical cannabis research program at the University of Mississippi's National Center for Cannabis Research and Education under a bill that earned approval in both chambers of the Legislature last month. Senate Bill 2888 would create the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Research Program and allow the use of state, federal and private funds to pay for the research "related to the efficacy and potential health effects of various cannabis delivery methods, including vaporizing, ingesting, topical application and combustion," the bill says. Through various methods, scientists would study how medical cannabis can treat the medical conditions of patients who volunteer to participate in the program. UM's current center tests cannabis on both humans and animals, but S.B. 2888 does not call for animal testing in its program. "This sets up a research facility that'll actually be able to take up cohorts of patients with similar disease structures, try to identify what therapies they've been on, the effectiveness of those, so that eventually down the road we can set parameters for recommendations of cannabis for patients with certain illnesses," Sen. Kevin Blackwell said on the Senate floor on March 14 when introducing the bill. |
| His final blueprint: UM architect retires after 2 decades | |
 | Hailing from the smallest county in England, Ian Banner's start in architecture had less to do with his career aspirations than it did with an ultimatum from his mother. "At 18, my mum told me it was time to leave the house," Banner said. "She cut out some job postings in the paper -- one of which was for the National Bus Co. architect's office in Peterborough. I went after it and got a junior technician's position there." Little did he know, this first job printing blueprints and holding the "dumb end" of the tape would be the beginning of a long and distinguished career. Banner retired recently from the University of Mississippi, bookending a nearly two-decade chapter of serving as the institution's master planner and chief architect. "I'm thrilled to congratulate Ian on his well-deserved retirement, but there is no doubt his immeasurable vision and impact will be missed, as his contributions have been central to the preservation of the integrity and beauty of our campus," Chancellor Glenn Boyce said. "His passion for his profession and his respect for his team were always on full display. "We will certainly miss his wonderful way with words and ability to bring his light-hearted humor to any moment." From virtually every vantage point on campus, Banner's architectural influence can be found. He has played a primary role in construction projects such as the Robert C. Khayat Law Center, The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss and South Campus Recreation Center, as well as the renovation of residence halls and restoration of historic buildings including Garland, Hedleston and Mayes halls. |
| Is Greek life worth your money? | |
 | It is no secret that the University of Mississippi has a large Greek life presence. UM Fraternity and Sorority Life reported that more than 7,900 students are members of Greek organizations, and this number grows every year as each freshman class breaks the record for the largest at UM. According to statistics provided by Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life Jess Turuc, as of spring 2024, 53.9% of full-time, undergraduate women are affiliated with either a College Panhellenic or National Panhellenic Council sorority, and 40.7% of full-time, undergraduate men are affiliated with either a Interfraternity Council or NPHC fraternity. For most people, the social aspect of Greek life is the first thing that comes to mind. And at a cost of $2,000 to $4,000 a semester, each student is paying a pretty penny to be involved. However, some argue that Greek life can open more opportunities for students than just friends and parties. IMC Connect, sponsored by the School of Journalism and New Media, held a panel discussion on Monday, March 25, entitled, "Greek Life Beyond Campus: The Return on Investment on Greek Involvement and Strategies to Maximize Your Greek Experience." The goal was to give students information about how to draw more from their experience than just listing "Greek member" on their resume. The panel was led by Instructional Associate Professor of Integrated Marketing Communication Chris Sparks. Speaking on the panel were various professionals -- some are in the marketing world, others are professors at universities -- who were associated with Greek life at their schools. |
| Ole Miss students say 'Thank you' to the LOU Community during The Big Event | |
| More than 1,000 University of Mississippi students will head out into Oxford and Lafayette County next weekend to volunteer their time to say "Thank you" to the community that has welcomed them with open arms. The annual Big Event happens on April 6. Students will spend about four hours cleaning, pruning, weeding, painting, picking up trash, and a variety of other activities at dozens of community service projects. Project sites include schools, churches, nonprofits, community centers and even private homes. Throughout the school year, students have the opportunity to apply for any five areas of The Big Event by serving as an assistant director, a chair, or a committee member, according to Meredith Whited, director of Internal Operations for The Big Event. "If students didn't get a chance to register with us, walk-ins are welcome," she said. Having such a large-scale service day can really open the eyes of everyone participating, as it helps develop team bonding, patience, and labor skills, said Landon Wong, director of Community Outreach for The Big Event. "It is a really good way to introduce students to the community outside of the university," he said. Our student volunteers are here to leave a positive impact on the community that has done so much for us." |
| Mississippi colleges offering scholarships to Birmingham-Southern students | |
| In the wake of Birmingham-Southern College announcing its closure after 168 years in business, some Mississippi institutions are looking to land students from the Alabama private school. Per a release from Mississippi College, the Christian university in Clinton is offering Birmingham-Southern students a $13,500 scholarship for each eligible year of study. Additional scholarship and financial aid opportunities would also be offered to transfer students. "Similar institutions whose primary purpose is to serve students feel the weight of your circumstances, and we want to help," Mississippi College President Blake Thompson penned to Birmingham-Southern students. "On behalf of the Mississippi College family, I invite you to consider MC, and I encourage you to visit our campus in Clinton." Both Millsaps and the Mississippi University for Women confirmed that they have created special initiatives that include scholarship and extracurricular opportunities for BSC students. "The Office of Admissions at The W is ready to assist and meet the needs of all Birmingham-Southern College students," Dr. David Brooking, executive director of enrollment management, said. "We understand that this is a difficult time, and we are committed to making the transition as easy as possible so that the students can continue to pursue their dreams in higher education." |
| Senate Education Committee is warning Texas universities to comply with anti-DEI law | |
| The Texas Legislature last year banned Diversity, Equity and Inclusion offices and initiatives at public universities and colleges; now the Senate Committee on Education is calling to the carpet the administrators of the institutions of higher education to prove how the schools are complying with Senate Bill 17. Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, who wrote the anti-DEI law, warned university system chancellors and regents in a March 26 letter that lawmakers can take legal action and even freeze state funding if they do not comply with the law. "While I am encouraged with the progress I have seen from many institutions of higher education in implementing SB 17, I am deeply concerned with the possibility that many institutions may choose to merely rename their offices or employee titles," he wrote. "This letter should serve as notice that this practice is unacceptable." The Senate Education Committee is holding a hearing in May for university system chancellors and general counsels to lay out how their institutions are ensuring that there are no DEI offices or training, no diversity statements in hiring and only merit-based employment offers with no considerations for race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Creighton's letter was sent to the University of North Texas System, Texas Woman's University System, Texas A&M University System, University of Texas System, University of Houston System, Texas Tech University System and Texas State University System. |
| U. of Missouri's Robert Greene lands 2 films on IndieWire list of best 21st-century documentaries | |
 | The greater film community keeps affirming what Columbia feels fortunate to know: Robert Greene is among the most important artists of our age. A True/False Film Fest mainstay before becoming faculty at the University of Missouri, two of Greene's films landed on IndieWire's recently revised list of the best documentaries of the 21st century so far. Greene's films inventively, compassionately blend nonfiction and fiction techniques to examine how life and performance are collaborators, intruding upon -- and often becoming inseparable from -- one another. 2016's "Kate Plays Christine" made the list at Number 27; the film follows indie actor Kate Lyn Sheil as she prepares for a movie role (which may or may not exist) as Christine Chubbuck, a Florida news reporter who killed herself on air in 1974. Greene's 2021 offering "Procession" sits at Number 31. Set around Kansas City, the film finds the director collaborating with now-grown survivors of clergy sex abuse to tell their story in scenes that offer promises of reclamation and some tenuous peace. "Greene isn't afraid to leave in questions about the ethics of his doc in the final edit, and the film doesn't try to swing for uplift or claim that the men are completely healed, but you get the sense they come out of the experience better than they started," IndieWire's Wilson Chapman noted. |
| A Public University Wants to Prevent 'Disruptive Activities.' That's Complicated. | |
 | The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor has proposed a new "disruptive activity policy" prohibiting people from interrupting campus events, activities, and other university operations. Once finalized, it'll be one of the first policy updates at a public college in response to protests over the Israel-Hamas war. Administrators announced the draft policy last week after pro-Palestinian student protesters interrupted a speech by Santa J. Ono, the university president, at an honors convocation ceremony on March 24. The proposal reflects that Michigan leaders are taking a more stringent approach to handling a recent uptick in campus activism, a trend that's played out nationwide. On Thursday, pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of Maryland at College Park disrupted a lecture about democracy by U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, Democrat of Maryland -- accusing Raskin of being "complicit in genocide." Darryll J. Pines, the university's president, ended the event early. "What you saw play out," Pines told Capital News Service, "actually was democracy and free speech and academic freedom." Earlier this semester, Michigan's Board of Regents adopted a set of speech guidelines that focused on the rights of speakers and artists who come to campus. The new policy will focus on regulating protesters at university-sponsored events and activities. During the ceremony, some students who were being honored for academic achievements held up signs that read "no honor in genocide" and refused to shake Ono's hand when they were called to the stage, said Simrun Bose, a senior and a director of the United Asian American Organizations, one of the groups in the coalition. |
| Project Kitty Hawk, UNC's ambitious foray into online education, struggles to take off | |
| Project Kitty Hawk, named for the town near the Outer Banks site of the Wright Brothers' historic first flight, has nothing to do with aviation. It's the brainchild of University of North Carolina system leaders, a new education-technology nonprofit designed to help UNC campuses run online-degree programs for the state's working adults. Still, the name fits its soaring ambitions. The UNC system's president, Peter Hans, has hailed the project as a game changer -- one initially predicted to have 30,800 students by 2028, the equivalent of adding another campus to the state system. "I can't emphasize how big a deal this is," Randy Ramsey, chairman of the system's Board of Governors, told the board in November 2021, after N.C. legislators allocated $97 million in pandemic-recovery funds for the nonprofit venture. Ramsey promised Kitty Hawk would be "really groundbreaking for many, many years to come." The project would draw students at a critical time. The growth of North Carolina's 18- to 24-year-old population is flattening, fewer high-school graduates are choosing college, and some campuses are seeing enrollment declines. UNC Greensboro's enrollment has dropped 12 percent since 2019; UNC Asheville's, nearly 19 percent. But now, more than two years into its work, Kitty Hawk has hit difficulties. It has dropped its original business model and slashed enrollment projections. It also faces a deadline that complicates its task: It must spend its one-time $97-million appropriation by the end of 2026. |
| Rating States' Work on Post-College Outcomes | |
 | Colleges and universities across the country have prioritized broadening student access and boosting credential completion, with the assumption that doing so will lead to strong post-graduate outcomes. But mounting levels of student debt and high rates of underemployment are starting to show that's not enough to ensure success. The Strada Education Foundation released a data-heavy report today that aims to quantify and rate states' performance in each of five areas: postsecondary affordability, quality career coaching, work-based learning experiences, alignment with employer interests, and transparency of outcome data. By aggregating state data and conducting national surveys of recent college graduates, the State Opportunity Index report handcrafts and analyzes a set of metrics for each area. It then designates a rating for each, ranging from "foundational" to "leading," with "developing" and "advanced" in between. The comprehensive report finds that although many states are succeeding at clearly measuring their post-graduation outcomes and on improving affordability, collectively they are struggling to provide quality coaching, work-based learning, and alignment with employers. Not a single state was ranked as "leading" in any of the latter categories. "While there's a lot of good work happening across the country and every state has at least a few examples of progress to be proud of, every state also has substantial room for improvement," said Strada's CEO, Stephen Moret. |
| College Applications Are Up Significantly For Next Fall | |
| The number of college applicants through March 1, 2024, has increased by 6% over the same time last year, according to the latest update from the Common Application. The data cover applications for fall 2024 admissions to four-year institutions. Through March 1, 1,313,763 distinct first-year applicants had applied to 834 institutions using the Common App, an increase of more than 70,000 applicants compared to the prior year. The total number of applications through March 1 rose 7% from 7,041,256 last year to 7,541,148 this year. Applicants were applying to slightly more members in the 2023-24 cycle than in 2022-23 (up 1% from 5.66 to 5.74 applications per applicant). This year's increase also sustains the upward trend in applications compared to the 2019-20 cycle, the last admissions year not affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Compared to 2019-20, the number of applicants to four-year colleges this year has increased by more than 285,000, a 28% gain. This is the first admission cycle since the U.S. Supreme Court decision banning race-conscious admissions so there is particular interest in any demographic trends in applicant behavior. Underrepresented minority applicants (defined by the Common App as Black or African American, Latinx, American Indian or Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander) increased by 10%, five times the rate of non-URM applicants. Although all regions in the U.S. saw an increase in applicants, the growth rate in Southwestern (+17%) states was far larger than that of other regions over the same timeframe. The New England states saw the smallest increase, year over year, at 1%. |
| College will cost up to $95,000 this fall. Schools say it's OK, financial aid can numb sticker shock | |
| As more than 2 million graduating high school students from across the United States finalize their decisions on what college to attend this fall, many are facing jaw-dropping costs -- in some cases, as much as $95,000. A number of private colleges -- some considered elite and others middle-of-the-pack -- have exceeded the $90,000 threshold for the first time this year as they set their annual costs for tuition, board, meals and other expenses. That means a wealthy family with three children could expect to shell out more than $1 million by the time their youngest child completes a four-year degree. But the sticker price tells only part of the story. Many colleges with large endowments have become more focused in recent years on making college affordable for students who aren't wealthy. Lower-income families may be required to pay just 10% of the advertised rate and, for some, attending a selective private college can turn out to be cheaper than a state institution. "Ninety thousand dollars clearly is a lot of money, and it catches people's attention, for sure," said Phillip Levine, a professor of economics at Wellesley College near Boston. "But for most people, that is not how much they're going to pay. The existence of a very generous financial aid system lowers that cost substantially." |
| Black Scholars Face Anonymous Accusations in Anti-DEI Crusade | |
| his year began with a seismic event in higher education: Claudine Gay resigned as Harvard University's first Black president after Christopher Rufo, a senior fellow at the conservative Manhattan Institute and leading crusader against diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, publicized plagiarism allegations against her. At the time, Gay was already being nationally excoriated after a House hearing in December where she said it depends on the context when asked whether calling for the genocide of Jews would violate Harvard's speech rules. Her resignation was followed by high-profile allegations against a former Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor who's married to one of Gay's most prominent critics, which fueled concerns over a coming "plagiarism war" with the right and left lobbing accusations at scholars on the other team. The war, so far, looks like a one-sided affair. Rufo and conservative media outlets have published multiple accusations of plagiarism and research misconduct, several of which appear serious and have made splashes in major mainstream media outlets. They've all been backed by anonymous complaints, and they're all against officials or scholars at prestigious institutions who either work in DEI or have studied race and equity. Six of the seven are Black. |
| Gainful employment reporting delayed amid political pressure | |
| Institutions will have more time to comply with reporting requirements under the gainful employment and financial value transparency regulations finalized last year, the U.S. Department of Education said Friday. Colleges now have until Oct. 1 to provide required information on student financial outcomes. Previously, that deadline was set for July 31. The extension comes after the department faced political pressure to delay the reporting requirements amid the troubled release of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid form. The gainful employment regulations largely target the for-profit college sector. They focus on debt-to-earnings outcomes and how much graduates make compared to those with only a high school diploma in the same state. Colleges that repeatedly fail to meet the benchmarks risk losing access to federal financial aid. The financial value transparency regulations, meanwhile, will create a website disclosing information such as the cost and loan burdens associated with certain programs across all types of colleges, including nonprofit institutions. The reporting requirements for both sets of rules include detailed information at both the program and student level. For-profits have pushed back on the regulations and the timeline, and their main industry group is asking for even more time beyond the extension. |
| Universities Oppose Federal Plan to Bolster Research Misconduct Oversight | |
| The federal Office of Research Integrity (ORI) is proposing changes that would give the government more oversight of investigations of research misconduct at colleges and universities. But scores of university and research hospital leaders and the organizations representing them are opposed and say the proposed rules would be burdensome to institutions and could potentially deter people from reporting alleged research misconduct, among other perceived negative consequences. "The proposed regulations inappropriately fail to recognize that ORI and institutions conduct separate research misconduct review processes that are necessarily subject to different Standards," reads a letter the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR), which represents research institutions, wrote to ORI, which is under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The council's letter is among nearly 200 public comments submitted to ORI after the agency published the proposal in October. Other organizations that expressed concerns about the proposal include the Mayo Clinic, the Association of American Universities (AAU) and the Association of Public Land Grant Universities (APLU). "The proposed regulations' more mandated and highly structured approach will lead to some meritless inquiries that risk harming the respondent's reputation and the reputations of their collaborators," a letter from the APLU said. "It will also dramatically increase the cost to the research enterprise to conduct a meritless inquiry." |
| Conservatives hope for major education changes if Trump wins | |
 | Conservatives are hoping for major education reforms from President Trump should he return to the White House. The presumptive Republican nominee has touted his record with school choice and his goal to reverse President Biden's Title IX reforms, as well as regularly decrying efforts at student loan forgiveness. Education has never been a top issue for Trump, who devotes far more energy to immigration and the economy, but that doesn't bother conservatives, who would rather see the issue returned to state and local governments regardless. "At the end of the day, education is a quintessentially state and local issue, right? So there's not a whole lot that the federal executive branch can or should do," said Lindsey Burke, director for the Center for Education Policy at the Heritage Foundation. "Now, that's not to say they should not do anything ... or he should totally step away from it. But I think advancing any sort of large-scale federal program --- you know, we really want to see this at the state and local level." One of the most pressing issues in education for the current administration has been student loans: Biden has forgiven more than $160 billion for multiple groups of borrowers. Like most Republicans, Trump has balked at Biden's efforts. After the Supreme Court decision to strike down Biden's universal student debt relief last summer, Trump said such forgiveness is "very, very unfair to the millions and millions of people who have paid their debt through hard work." |
| Mississippi could lose out on billions if it expands Medicaid | |
| Magnolia Tribune's Russ Latino writes: Advocates for Medicaid expansion argue Mississippi is missing out on hundreds of millions in federal funds by refusing to expand. This argument ignores both the high cost of expansion to the state, as well as the billions in federal funds Mississippi would lose if it expands. Full Medicaid expansion, like the plan passed by the Mississippi House of Representatives, would allow a new category of recipients -- able bodied, working aged adults -- to gain access to Medicaid if they earn 138 percent or less of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Proponents contend that signing these individuals up for Medicaid would result in more federal money flowing to hospitals and medical providers (more on this topic in future installments). Expansion, though, would negate federal spending on other healthcare programs. Only one side of the ledger has been reported. In addition to allowing for Medicaid expansion, the Affordable Care Act (commonly referred to as "Obamacare") set up a federally subsidized healthcare exchange with private health insurance plans that could be accessed by individuals. To aid lower income individuals, the ACA exchange provides a premium tax credit that covers the full premium cost of a plan if the person earns between 100 and 150 of the FPL. However, in states that fully expand Medicaid, individuals earning between 100 and 138 of FPL lose access to to the premium tax credit and are shifted off of an ACA exchange private health insurance plan and onto Medicaid. |
SPORTS
| Dawgs Back Home to Host Central Arkansas | |
| Due to the threat of inclement weather, Mississippi State baseball's midweek contest versus Central Arkansas has been moved up to an 11 a.m. first pitch on Tuesday, April 2 at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville. The midweek contest will be aired on SECN+ and will also be carried on the Bulldog Sports Network powered by LEARFIELD, along with a live audio stream via HailState.com/OnDemand. For the third straight week, the Diamond Dawgs find themselves in the national rankings. The Diamond Dawgs came in at No. 23 by D1 Baseball, No. 19 by Baseball America. Central Arkansas heads to Dudy Noble Field with a 12-15 record and a 4-5 Atlantic Sun Conference record. The Bears are 4-5 in away games this season. Central Arkansas has two players with a batting average over .300. Kade Seldomridge leads the Bears with a .356 batting average. Right behind Seldomridge is Drew Sturgeon with a .343 batting average, Sturgeon leads the team with 34 hits on the season. The pitching staff for UCA comes in with a 5.87 ERA and opponents are hitting .276 off them. They have tallied 238 strikeouts on the season. Mississippi State last met Central Arkansas in 2013. The Diamond Dawgs defeated the Bears 6-1. |
| Mississippi State baseball live score updates vs Central Arkansas: nonconference midweek game | |
| After a series loss at Florida, Mississippi State baseball returns to Dudy Noble Field to open an important week with a nonconference matchup against Central Arkansas on Tuesday. Mississippi State (19-10, 4-5 SEC) has won five of its past six midweek contests, highlighted by victories against Southern Miss and Samford. The game Tuesday sets up to continue that trend with Central Arkansas (12-15, 4-5 ASUN) struggling this season. The Bears are 0-3 against SEC opponents, though the games have been tight. In two games against LSU during the season's opening weekend, Central Arkansas was outscored only 6-3. Against Arkansas on March 5, the Bears lost 9-7. Mississippi State is looking to regain momentum heading into a three-game set at home against Georgia. UGA is coming off a series loss at Tennessee and is tied with MSU in the SEC standings. Georgia infielder Slate Alford will be making his first return to Starkville since transferring from Mississippi State in the offseason. |
| Mississippi State basketball star Josh Hubbard announces return for sophomore season | |
| Mississippi State basketball's All-SEC guard Josh Hubbard is returning to Starkville for his sophomore season, he announced via social media Monday. Hubbard led coach Chris Jans' Bulldogs with 17.1 points per game as a freshman this season. His highlights included a career-high 34-point outing in a Feb. 27 loss against Kentucky which came three days after he scored 32 points in a win at LSU. Hubbard closed the regular season with nine consecutive games scoring at least 15 points, including a six-game stretch of scoring at least 20 points. With his 598 points, Hubbard set the MSU freshman scoring record -- overtaking Rickey Brown's previous high of 520 points in the 1976-77 season. He ranked seventh in the SEC in scoring, fifth in 3-point percentage (35.5%) and first in 3-pointers made (108). He was selected as a second team All-SEC player. Hubbard is a native of Madison, Mississippi, who was a four-star prospect out of Madison-Ridgeland Academy, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. Breaking records at MSU was nothing new for the 5-foot-10 guard as he holds the Mississippi boys high school all-time scoring mark. |
| Cirotte Inducted Into Phi Beta Kappa Society | |
| Mississippi State women's tennis senior Chloé Cirotte was inducted into the Gamma of Mississippi Chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society during a ceremony in the Foster Ballroom on the university's campus Monday evening. Membership into The Phi Beta Kappa Society is an academic honor reserved for MSU's best and brightest undergraduate students majoring in arts and sciences. Cirotte boasts a 3.83 grade point average and is a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection as well as a 2023 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District recipient. The Orléans, France native has been on the President's List three times, the Dean's List three times and is set to graduate in May with a degree in psychology. On the court, Cirotte has racked up 86 career wins for the Bulldogs, was the 2021 ITA Southern Region Rookie of the Year and has been ranked as highly as 28th nationally in doubles. Phi Betta Kappa was founded at William and Mary in 1776 and a philosophical society that championed the arts and sciences. Cirotte is joining a select group that includes 17 U.S. Presidents, 43 U.S. Supreme Court Justices and over 150 Nobel Laureates. |
| Lopez Ramirez, Holder Look To Win Big at Augusta National Women's Amateur | |
| Julia Lopez Ramirez is no stranger to competing in some of golf's most prestigious events. The junior will add another chapter to her storied and successful career as she competes at the highly-respected Augusta National Women's Amateur golf tournament later this week against some of the top women's amateur golfers in the world. Lopez Ramirez will also have some Bulldog company. Also participating in this year's event will be her MSU teammate, Chiara Holder. The first two rounds of the four-day contest will take place at Champions Retreat Golf Club, with a practice day and the final round occurring at Augusta National Golf Club -- the home of The Masters. Working around two completely different but equally difficult golf courses is a challenge for anyone, but Lopez Ramirez is embracing it. Lopez Ramirez also expressed how she's looking forward to sharing this year's experience with Holder. "I think it's really exciting to have one of my teammates join me," Lopez Ramirez said. "Honestly, the only advice I would give her is to take it easy. We know it's a very big tournament for us and it's a very big deal, but if you make it a really big deal for you, then it makes it harder for you to do well on the golf course. "That's the best advice I could give. She knows how to play golf...We just need to go out there and enjoy it." |
| Wildlife commissioner being investigated for allegedly baiting turkeys in Holmes County | |
| Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Commissioner Leonard Bentz has once again found himself in the center of controversy, and this time, he's being accused of illegally baiting turkeys. On Monday, the MDWFP chose not to issue an official statement but instead confirmed to SuperTalk Mississippi News that an investigation is underway into three to four hunters for an incident that occurred on a piece of hunting land in Holmes County. This confirmation came after sources told us that Bentz and his two sons -- Leonard III and Hunter -- were among a group of hunters allegedly breaking a state law that says it's illegal to hunt or trap any wild animal or wild bird with the aid of bait. According to those sources, an anonymous tip led outdoor officials on Friday to a baited field at a location where suspicious hunting activity has allegedly occurred in the past. MDWFP law enforcement responded to the scene to work the case. In response to an inquiry about the incident, Bentz said he and his guests were hunting on his friend's property after being ensured that it had not been illegally baited. Bentz, who is one of five people on the state's wildlife commission, said a conservation officer approached his group around 7 a.m. and told them that the landowner and caretaker of the property had bought crickets several days ahead of the hunters' arrival and released them onto the 500-acre plot. |
| LSU settles sexual misconduct lawsuit with students who accused Derrius Guice, others of rape | |
 | LSU has reached a settlement with a group of 10 former students who sued the university in 2021 amid allegations of sexual misconduct and domestic violence by LSU football players that garnered national attention and thrust the university's leadership into turmoil. Settlement terms were not immediately disclosed in the court record, which said the parties "settled all of their claims and have agreed to amicably resolve this dispute." The case was dismissed without costs and without prejudice. Court records said it would be reopened if the settlement is not completed within a "reasonable time." The plaintiffs in the case included Abby Owens, Samantha Brennan, Calise Richardson and Ashlyn Robertson, each of whom alleged sexual misconduct by former LSU football star Derrius Guice. Jade Lewis, another plaintiff in the case and a star LSU tennis player, was in an abusive relationship for years with former LSU football player Drake Davis, and said LSU failed to properly respond to reports that she was being beaten. Other plaintiffs included Elisabeth Andries, Corinn Hovis, Sarah Beth Kitch and Kennan Johnson, each of whom said they experienced sexual misconduct or sex-based discrimination at LSU. Each said LSU officials failed to properly investigate their cases, despite federal Title IX laws requiring institutions to address sexual misconduct and domestic violence on campus. Many of their allegations first emerged in 2020, prompting LSU to hire the law firm Husch Blackwell to assess the university's handling of sexual misconduct complaints. The firm's report said LSU often flouted federal requirements for addressing such cases, and that LSU had never fully staffed or funded its Title IX office. LSU hired more Title IX investigators and gave the office more money in response. |
| LSU coach Kim Mulkey holds grudges, battles everyone and keeps winning. But at what cost? | |
| In the two sisters' minds, the old house remains as it was: a one-story brick ranch a hundred yards off the road, white fence under two ancient oaks, tin roof long before it all caved in. Their father built on the farmland he had inherited. Dug a swimming pool, poured the concrete for a basketball court, carved two softball fields into pasture. His two girls, born less than a year apart, would grow up running and hiding and disappearing among the pines. "I just miss the memories," Tammy, the 60-year-old younger sister, says. They're in the backyard in her favorite, shooting baskets with Daddy by starlight. It feels so real, she says. So precious and warm. "I wish I could have it all back," she says. Fifty miles south and west, a massive crowd is here to watch the older sister, to wear sequins like her, to cheer on her team. Five decades have passed since Kim Mulkey's father first bounced a basketball to his daughters, explaining the keys to victory. Speed. Stamina. Grit. The game itself hasn't changed much, but everything else around Mulkey has. |
| Washington Post Story on Mulkey Unlikely to Spark Defamation Suit | |
| Michael McCann writes for Sportico: The much-anticipated Washington Post story on LSU head women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey dropped Saturday. It doesn't appear Mulkey's threats to sue for defamation are warranted. The story, authored by Kent Babb, is nearly 7,000 words and headlined, "The Kim Mulkey way. The LSU coach holds grudges, battles everyone -- and keeps winning. But at what cost?" The story is a deep dive into Mulkey's life in basketball. Babb traces the influence of Mulkey's father, Les Mulkey, on her development as a young player and examines the peaks and valleys of her impressive coaching career. Although Babb's story adds new details to a preexisting perception of Mulkey as insensitive toward LGBTQIA+ community members -- specifically her players -- and writes she is estranged from her father and sister, Tammy, much of the story draws from previous publications, including Mulkey's 2007 autobiography, "Won't Back Down," or from statements made on the record by interviewees. That approach largely insulates the Post from legitimate claims of defamation. It could empower the Post, should Mulkey sue, to invoke anti-SLAPP protections, which guard journalists from intimidation designed to suppress their First Amendment rights, to not only defeat her case but force her to pay legal fees and costs. There has been rampant speculation about what the story might include. Instead, the story covers familiar and well-traveled topics, albeit with new details and voices. |
| Kim Mulkey explains LSU missing National Anthem vs. Iowa: 'That's nothing intentionally done' | |
| Led by head coach Kim Mulkey, the LSU Tigers entered the Elite Eight against the Iowa Hawkeyes looking to advance to the Final Four and continue the defense of their national championship. Before the game, some people noticed that LSU didn't come out for the National Anthem. That was a situation that Mulkey explained after the game as not being done intentionally and coming down to the Tigers' pregame routine. "Honestly, I don't even know when the Anthem was played," Kim Mulkey said. "We kind of have a routine where we are on the floor and then they come off at the 12-minute mark. We just -- I don't know, we come in and we do our pregame stuff. I'm sorry -- listen, that's nothing intentionally done." The game itself was a competitive one throughout. It went into halftime tied after a back-and-forth first half. However, in the third quarter, Iowa was able to pull ahead and didn't let LSU catch up in the fourth quarter. A massive part of the win for Iowa was Caitlin Clark. She had 41 points, 12 assists, and seven rebounds in a dominant effort that Kim Mulkey could do nothing after the game but praise. With the win, Iowa advanced to the Final Four, where the Hawkeyes will play UConn. |
| Kellie Harper fired as Lady Vols basketball coach after five seasons at Tennessee | |
 | Kellie Harper's time to restore Lady Vols basketball to glory is up after five seasons. Athletic director Danny White announced Harper's firing Monday, one week after the Lady Vols lost 79-72 to NC State in the NCAA Tournament second round. "Decisions like these are never easy to make, especially with someone who has done so much for the Lady Vols as a three-time national champion student-athlete," White said in a school release. Tennessee was consistently one of the top teams in SEC under Harper, but it couldn't get over the hump to achieve the success of the past. Harper left Tennessee better than she found it -- a program in decline after legendary coach Pat Summitt's retirement and passing -- but she struggled to win against top competition and couldn't break through the Sweet 16. Harper's record at UT was 108-52 and 53-24 in conference play. Harper, 46, was under contract through April 14, 2028, and because she was fired without cause, she is owed $2,222,916. Harper's buyout dropped Monday. It went from 100% of her annual compensation through April 14, 2027 to 50% of her annual compensation through the end of her contract. Before Tennessee, Harper coached at Missouri State from 2013-19. She led the Bears to the Sweet 16 in 2019 before she was hired to coach the Lady Vols. |
| Gambling has made ends of games miserable for college basketball benchwarmers | |
| Carson Barrett tore his meniscus earlier this year. The injury required surgery, but this is the last run for the Purdue senior. Though he's never seen a whole lot of playing time in his career, he wanted to at least have a shot at getting on the court this season. So Barrett delayed the repair work, gladly taking the exchange of some pretty painful nights with a throbbing knee in favor of even a few minutes of hooping. This season he's played a grand total of 21 minutes and scored six points. Three of them came in the NCAA Tournament. With 37 seconds left in a game long decided, Barrett drained a baseline 3 against Grambling State, putting himself in the box score of Purdue's first-round victory. As the ball swished through the net, the bench erupted, Barrett's teammates knowing full well what he'd sacrificed and endured. His bucket would be the last for the Boilermakers as Purdue cruised to a 78-50 win. Back in the locker room, Barrett picked up his phone and scrolled through the congratulatory texts from friends and started to search through his DMs on social media. The Boilermakers were 27-point favorites against Grambling. Barrett's bucket meant they won by 28. "I had no idea what the line was," Barrett said. "I'm just out there, making memories with my friends." NCAA president Charlie Baker last week asked for a ban on prop bets involving college athletes, saying the national body wanted to protect both athletes and the integrity of the game. But prop bets -- or proposition bets, which typically are on an individual's performance like, for example, how many 3s one player makes -- are really only the tip of the iceberg. As more and more states legalize sports betting (38 plus the District of Columbia), the walls that long separated college athletics from gambling continue to tumble down. |
| How S.M.U., Once the Rogue of College Sports, Got Back to the Big Time | |
 | It wasn't just a gold Pontiac Trans Am with a painted bird on the hood. It was the car that Texas A&M gave to Eric Dickerson in 1979, when he was a top high school running back prospect, in the hope that he would become an Aggie. Instead, he drove from his hometown, Sealy, Texas, to Dallas and Southern Methodist University. At the time, Mr. Dickerson's cars (S.M.U. gave him one, too) were a symbol of the wretched excess of big-time college sports. It was a time when boosters in the Southwest Conference doled out "$100 handshakes" and the S.M.U. faithful winked as they talked about how they had the best football team money could buy. The S.M.U. Mustangs went 34-11-1 over Mr. Dickerson's four years -- the team's vaunted Pony Express era. It gave the oilmen and real estate developers and business titans across Texas who funneled cash to their alma mater bragging rights at the Petroleum Club of Houston and country clubs in Dallas. And it drove the National Collegiate Athletic Association, which governs college sports, nuts. The organization had rules to stop those kinds of pay-for-play shenanigans and investigators to chase down overeager boosters, who mostly eluded their grasp. The N.C.A.A. eventually caught up to S.M.U. Ever since, S.M.U. has wandered the college sports landscape looking for a home, and a way to share in the ever-increasing riches associated with top-level amateur athletics. It took nearly four decades, $354 million in major construction and facilities upgrades, and a U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized S.M.U.'s original sin -- allowing players to profit financially from their athletic skill -- but the university has found its way back. |
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