Ashley WilbournManaging Editor

The 2006-07 school year began with the smallest freshman class size in recent memory as only 235 first year students arrived on Aug. 27 for move-in day.

Millsaps administrators, recognizing the issues low numbers could cause for the college, are developing new ways to recruit future students.

Over the past five years, the incoming freshman class size has varied.

After recruiting one of the largest Millsaps classes ever in 2001, the freshman class of 2002 was made up of only 251 students. This number grew to 260 in 2003 and to 279 in 2004. In 2005, however, only 258 first year students arrived at Millsaps, and now, in 2006, that number dropped to 235.

Matthew Cox, the dean of admissions, offers an explanation for the lack of students coming to Jackson.

“There was certainly a Katrina impact,” Cox concedes. “We know that for south Mississippi, we’re down 15 freshman students.”

Cox, however, is quick to note that based on early predictions following the hurricane, the Millsaps Department of Admissions is

doing better than expected. Cox explains, “We’re 10

percent above some of our earlier projections given the Katrina issues. Late spring, we had numbers saying we’d be in the low 200s…We’ve enrolled 100 freshmen since May 1.”

Ace MadjlesiCopy editor

With the new school year comes a slew of personnel changes in the administration.

Administrators say the job changes are a direct response to some of the student frustrations expressed in recent years.

“Students have registered dissatisfaction with the perceived disconnection between Student Life and Campus Safety,” says Vice President and Dean of Students Dr. Brit Katz.

In an effort to simplify communication among students, administration and security, Campus Safety will return as a division of Student Life.

Additionally, John Conway, former director of alumni relations, will join the Student Life team as the director of campus life. In this newly created position

Conway will supervise the departments of campus safety and Greek life.

“I really hope to encourage an honest dialogue between the students and the officers, and will ask them to treat each other with respect,” says Conway.

Among Conway’s new duties is Greek recruitment which will begin in September. Although he has no experience in that area, he is confident in his ability to handle the task.

“I have a lot of support with Greek life. The Greek students do a great job of keeping this stuff going year to year and many of my colleagues have years of experience in this area. It’s easy to ‘direct’ it with such great staffs and students. I’m a little busy. But I have outstanding support,” says Conway.

August 31, 2006, Volume 72, No. 1

In this Issue:Sports

Soccer players gear up for a new season

Page 8

The Life

Deuce and Lu-cas take a ride

Pages 6-7

Features

Summer of activism strikes Jackson

Pages 4-5

Opinions

Dr. Bowley opens books, minds

Page 2

Campus enjoys Saints’ NFL overhaul

Ben CainSports Editor

Despite rumors that the New Orleans Saints might not return to Millsaps next summer, administrators and Saints officials alike maintain that the team’s stay in Jackson ended on favorable terms for everyone involved.

The Clarion Ledger has reported that new Saints head coach Sean Payton advocated moving the team’s preseason training camp out of the New Orleans area in order to escape potential distractions.

According to a campus-wide e-mail sent on Aug. 23 from Vice President and Dean of Students Dr. Brit Katz, the Saints contacted the Jackson Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, which

placed them in contact with Millsaps.

After negotiations Millsaps and the Saints settled on a four-year contract through 2009. Each party reserves the privilege to cancel the contract if expectations have been left unmet at the close of any particular year.

Katz adamantly disputes the rumor that a monetary bid was used to lure the Saints to campus.

“The college did not pay any advance fee for their patronage,” he asserts. “The $200,000 rumor did not occur.”

Tangible benefits for the Millsaps campus that have come from the Saints’ stay include improvements to the campus communications network; the expansion of the college’s inventory of items related to hosting conferences and

camps such as blankets, linens and buffet tables and renovations to the Ranager Field House and athletic practice fields.

“The Saints paid for the renovations made there.,” Wise informs. “They carpeted approximately two-thirds of the interior

and purchased 40 more lockers which match the style of our existing lockers.”

The scooters are gone, but lockers are here to stay

Administration positions play musical chairs

Millsaps students caught in Mideast crossfire

Freshman class smallest in school’s recent history

Photo courtesy of Stan MageeVolunteers have fewer loads to carry on freshman move-in day thanks to sinking enrollment.

Sophia HalkiasStaff Writer

When fighting between Hezbollah and Israel broke out at the height of the summer, Millsaps students who were vacationing there or who have family living in the region were as impacted by the conflict as if it had occurred on U.S. soil.

Sophomore Mohamed Hajj was visiting family in Beirut when Israel launched attacks on Lebanon in response to the murder and kidnapping of Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah. He, his mother and siblings quickly evacuated to their home in the mountains, but returned when Hajj’s father arranged for an early departure through the US State Department.

For five days before

boarding a cruise ship to Cyprus, Hajj volunteered at the hospital where his uncle

works as a surgeon. No one roamed the streets, but the hospital teemed with injured civilians. A 10-year-old girl

was brought in dead, her lower torso missing.

Hajj immediately thought

of his sister, who is around the same age.

“Brown hair and blood all over her face,” he recalls.

“That could have been my sister.”

On the opposite side of the border, senior Becky Lasoski had stood on the thin strip of land that divides the two countries just a week before the raids began.

Lasoski had been in Israel for 10 days as part of Birthright Israel, a program that sends young adults of Jewish descent on a tour of the major cities in the country. At the Israel-Lebanon border, her tour guide pointed out that relations between Israel and Lebanon had been peaceful for the last few years.

But shortly after her return to the US, Lasoski learned that a Hezbollah bomb had exploded near a hospital she had visited. She remembered the faces of the

doctors and nurses there. She worried that several soldiers in her tour group had been kidnapped or deployed to fight on the Lebonese front. Furthermore, she knew her tour guide lived near Haifa, where several Hezbollah bombs were droping daily.

“It ’s hard for me to imagine al l the wonderful people I met in that area l iving with the real fear that at any second a bomb could drop on their house, school or workplace,” she says.

Hajj and Lasoski returned to her home unharmed, but even in a country displaced from the bloodshed, quest ions and tensions from the dispute carry over.

Photo courtesy of Frank EzelleThe Saints were subjected to rigorous practice during their Millsaps stay, drawing crowds to the otherwise deserted campus.

Photo courtesy of Becky LasoskiIsraeli soldiers patrol the Wailing Wall shortly before fighting broke out with Hezbollah.

Saints continues - page 3

Conflict continues - page 3

Changes continues - page 3 Freshmen continues - page 3

OpinionsPage 4

August 31, 2006 • The Purple & White

Contact Miriam Gray grayme@millsaps.edu

The Purple

& White

Editor-in-Chief...Becky Lasoski

Managing Editor...Ashley Wilbourn

Layout Manager...Brent McCarty

Photo Manager...Anna Smith

Business Manager..Philip Cortese

Copy Editor...Ace Madjlesi

News Editor...Kyle Doherty

Opinions Editor...Miriam Gray

Features Editor...Catherine Schmidt

The Life Editor...Jacob C. White

Sports Editor...Ben Cain

Advisor...Woody Woodrick

Columnists...Dr. James Bowley

Greg HigginbothamDr. Michael Reinhard

Staff Writers...Tyler O’HaraLuke Darby

Sophia HalkiasMegan Malone

Columnists...Russell Turley

E-mail corrections to Editor-in-Chief Becky Lasoski, lasosrc@mill-saps.edu.

The Purple & White is published weekly by The Purple & White staff.

Disclaimer: Views ex-pressed in articles, let-ters to the Editor and cartoons printed in the Purple & White do not necessarily reflect those of the editors, Publica-tions Board, Millsaps College, The United Methodist Church or the student body. Com-plaints should be ad-dressed to the Millsaps College Publications Board. Contact Stan Magee.

Advertising rates avail-able upon request. Call (601) 974-1211 or E-mail Philip Cortese at cor-tepm@millsaps.edu.This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part with-out written permission of the Editor-in-Chief.

Letters to the Editor

Submit letters to the editor to the Purple and White at Box 150847 or e-mail Becky Lasoski at lasosrc@millsaps.edu. Letters should be turned in before 12 p.m. on Sunday prior to the Thursday publication. Anonymous letters will not be accepted.

Dr. James BowleyColumnist

A million things could and should be said about this latest conflict, but let me try just one angle.

Right now, and from the very beginning of the war with Lebanon, Israeli citizens have been criticizing their government for the war. The criticisms come from all directions: accusations of unnecessary killing of civilians, incompetence of commanders, failings of civilian evacuation plans, etc.

Israel is a thriving democratic cacophony. This

noise will continue for as long as Israel exists. I feel confident that anyone who has spoken to me at length about Israel knows that I have many criticisms too.

But we hear no such internal criticism from the enemy Hezbollah. I see red flags like a Cub’s fan playing the Cardinals, whenever I see a political or military entity calling it “The Party of God.” That is what Hezbollah means, “Party of God.”

For Hezbollah, there is no irony or winking to be found in this name. They are God’s Party and they know that it is God’s will to destroy Israel. Not even for political posturing for Western cameras and sound bites are their leaders willing to say, “Israel has the right to exist.”

These self-proclaimed knowers of God’s will continue to call for the

elimination of Israel, led by their secretary-general Sheikh Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who is notorious for anti-Semitic remarks that would make even a drunken Mel Gibson blush.

Formed in the mid 1980s, this God’s Party attempted to force Lebanon’s multi-religious government to become an Iranian style strict Shia-Islamic state. While unable to produce their desired effects, this Party of God now works within the Lebanese political system and has elected several of its members to Lebanon’s parliament.

However, this party that associates itself with God also has its own military branch, with weapons supplied by Iran and Syria.

Would it be a healthy situation if political parties of the United States maintained their own armies? Would you trust

them to act peacefully for their political goals?

I have many reservations about the way the Israelis conducted their side of the war during the month long conflict, and I deplore what seemed to me to be attacks that resulted in the unnecessary deaths of Lebanese civilians. (The same criticisms should be made, by the way, many times over, about the U.S. prosecution of its war in Iraq.) These matters also deserve a great deal of scrutiny and criticism. But I will certainly want to resist the idea that there is some kind of ideological parity between Hezbollah and Israel.

All wars have unintended and unanticipated results, and in this case one of those results is that the God’s Party appears in Lebanon to have scored a major public relations coup, at least in

Lebanon, with Israel made to appear the destroyer of worlds, and Hezbollah made to appear the bringer of relief.

I’ll admit that I’m not certain about this—I’m not in Lebanon, so I don’t have a feel for deep public attitudes. Furthermore, I do not know how long such attitudes will remain. Fortunately, many Lebanese people are wary and thoughtful; they want to distinguish their country from the ideologies of Iran and Syria, and they are not supporters of the self-proclaimed God Party.

But any gain by those who so confidently speak for God, by Hezbollah, is a cause for concern in my mind, not only for the future of Israel but also for the future of liberty and pluralism in Lebanon. Certainty in one’s God seems to harm other people much more often than doubt.

A democratic cacphony vs ‘God’s Party’

Greg HigginbothamColumnist

Despite their almost unparalleled ability to lose games, the New Orleans Saints and their training camp on our campus was easily the most important event of the summer.

It generated a lot of publicity for Millsaps College, and it attracted many people to our campus. However, a great

opportunity to enhance our school was missed.

Millsaps had the chance to showcase what it has to offer to students, but we missed the proverbial boat.

Millsaps College is by no means an athletic powerhouse. Therefore, it makes sense to focus on the excellent academic reputation the school has built over the last 110 plus years. I attended every Saints practice; which were open to the public except for two. Interning for the New Orleans Saints operations department dictated my attendance to every one barring serious incident.

Not once in any way did Millsaps publicize the positive aspects of a Millsaps education. Instead, Millsaps

posted signs which said “Think Scholar-Athlete.” Hooray for Millsaps! Arguably the best academic institution in the state has a chance to attract new people who may not have even heard of the school; yet, all the school chose to do is post advertisements on campus which were at best vague about the quality of the education.

Other entities missed the boat, namely security. As a Saints employee with a valid student ID, a Saints all-access credential and a valid residence on campus, it still took me over an hour to convince security to let me on campus. Granted, security is an issue in our society, but it is still no excuse for being unresponsive and belligerent.

This is in no way an indictment of security during the academic year. During the academic year, Millsaps security does an excellent job of keeping the peace. However, the Saints general manager’s assistant remarked, “We drive the same cars through the gate day in and day out, yet somehow, the security guards still can’t figure out who we are and question us on a daily basis.”

I think it indicates a slight degree of discontent with security on campus. Being cautious is one thing, but being cautious despite common sense is a terrible idea. It is not asking too much to be able to drive through the gate for the fifth time in one day without

being questioned every time.

The New Orleans Saints training camp was a good thing for Millsaps. We gained some national publicity and brought thousands of people who had potentially never heard of Millsaps to the campus. The comments I heard towards the campus and its facilities always expressed pleasant surprise. Almost everyone was impressed with the way the campus looked.

I cannot help but wonder how much more impressed people would have been if they really knew how prestigious the school is and how more laid back security is during the academic year.

The Saints: An opportunity gained, an opportunity lost

Dr. Michael ReinhardColumnist

Once again President Bush’s tactless tongue has offended world opinion, this time by describing terrorists who happen to be of the Muslim faith as “Islamic fascists.”

Many leaders of that community have demanded he apologize and I agree. President Bush owes an immediate and heartfelt apology to Fascists everywhere.

Sadly, since the Fascists are not here to speak for themselves (a less enlightened generation of Americans, not understanding the futility of trying to solve a political problem by military means, failed to leave enough fascists alive to keep up their end of the public dialogue), I will do my best to explain

why such comparisons are so insensitive.

Part of the reason that fascists are held in such low public regard, you will recall, is the way they treated civilians. The pictures of little Jewish children; baring their arms to display the tattoos the Nazi’s had given them at the death camps have been a particularly difficult image to live down. But, say what you will about how the Fascists treated other people’s children, they were reluctant to hide behind their own.

Can you recall any stories about Germans placing their missile launchers near their own schools? Loading up the van that transports missiles with kids before heading off to the front?

…And uniforms. If ever there were a people that loved uniforms it was the Fascists. Even when the Germans used their own children as soldiers during the final fight for Berlin, they were careful to put them in uniforms. So it must be particularly galling to Fascists everywhere to be compared to the one group of people that seems positively allergic to uniforms. For

if there is one thing that defines the present conflict in Lebanon (and Iraq) it is that the Islamic side refuses to wear uniforms.

Now admittedly, that is not entirely fair. The Islamists have nothing against uniforms.

Per se, they just don’t like to wear them when there is shooting going on. Anyone who has seen their interminable parades of tanks and even guys dressed up for suicide would have to admit that they love uniforms and have even made contributions to the art of uniform design—who before the Islamists could have come up a uniform for a suicide bomber? And who can forget those adorable little suicide bomber uniforms that toddlers were wearing in the family portraits that were found adorning the walls of so many Palestinian homes?

But the Islamists seem to lose all their enthusiasm for uniforms during the actual war. Those uniforms we see during the Hezbollah day parade are for display to adoring crowds; when it comes time to actually fight, the uniform becomes

an impediment. And this is why it is so

unfair to tar the Fascists with the Islamic brush. The uniform is not just a fashion statement. It is a tool to make oneself a target in order to protect the non-combatants on your own side. Thus, wearing a uniform represents a double loss. It makes the ‘soldier’ more vulnerable to getting killed and makes the civilian less so. Given that generating civilian casualties is among their chief war aims, actually wearing a uniform to the fighting represents lose-lose for the Islamists.

To be fair there are some points on which the Islamists have bragging rights. They are, for instance, rather more straightforward about their intentions. Hitler, as one may recall, did not demand that Europe bow down and submit to Nazi rule. His negotiating position was that he just wanted justice for the Germans of Czechoslovakia.

True, a new local grievance was found as soon as the last “final demand” was met (protection from Polish aggression being

my favorite), but Neville Chamberlain still had the problem of figuring out which Fascist statement to believe.

Hezbollah and their backers, in contrast, have been admirably forthright. President Ahmadinejad of Iran has relieved the rest of the world of the burden of deciding whether any ceasefire agreed to by the Islamists would be genuine. “Although the main solution is for the elimination of the Zionist regime, at this stage an immediate cease-fire must be implemented”.

If only the Fascists had been so direct. Imagine all the divisive floor speeches from Churchill we might have been spared had Hitler had the decency to just say, “Oh, by the way, that peace agreement we just signed? I was just kidding.”

Then again, Hitler couldn’t afford to be so careless with the truth. After all, his adversaries had a certain amount of intelligence and integrity. Comparing the current leaders of the West to Neville Chamberlain would be an insult—to Neville Chamberlain.

‘Islamic fascists’ comparison insensitive

Check the P&W online at www.millsaps.edu/p&w/

NewsPage 3

August 31, 2006 • The Purple & White

Contact Kyle Doherty, doherkt@millsaps.edu

Millsaps will retain these lockers free of charge, nearly doubling the number of lockers available to athletes from the previous total of 50.

The field house also received new laundry facilities as well as a whirlpool area, which Wise says, can also be converted for use as a meeting room.

Improvements are also visible on both the upper and lower practice fields on the north side of campus. The upper field, which was previously oriented parallel to West Street, has now

been converted to two fields oriented at a right angle to West Street.

Wise points out the benefit this will have for the Majors’ athletic department. “Now that we have twice as much practice space there, our men’s and women’s soccer teams will enjoy more space for their practices without interfering with each other,” he says.

Other benefits of the Saints’ camp are less tangible, but Katz and Wise agree that the widespread media exposure the college has enjoyed over the

summer is sure to produce positive benefits.

“The media coverage can only help,” explains Katz. “Name or brand recognition for any institution is hugely important.”

The camp also drew many visitors to campus, and Wise says it provided the college with an opportunity to host many local residents who might not have ever seen the campus before.

“We did a good job of having a quality product to present while prospective students were here,” Wise assures.

Katz says that Saints personnel were pleasantly impressed by the hospitality they enjoyed while at Millsaps, and says that as of Aug. 24, “all impressions of the Saints have been uniformly positive.”

Junior Ryan Zagone, who worked in conjunction with Vice President of Finance Lou Burney on accounting for the camp, as well as managing the concession stand and parking.

Zagone says that his summer experience is already paying divedends, explaining, “The job gave

me a lot of professional experience working with the team and area businesses. That has helped me extend some of our existing contracts with companies like Coca-Cola for events such as the Backyard Brawl.”

Both the Millsaps administration and the Saints management will be meeting in the coming weeks to reflect on the summer and begin dialogue as to how the experience can be improved in the coming years.

The conflict is especially tricky because Hezbollah, the initial instigators of the conflict, are financially supported by Iran and Syria, not Lebanon. But Hezbollah is allowed to operate out of southern Lebanon because of its promise to return Lebanese land that is currently occupied by Israel.

With no govenment to hold accountable for the kidnappings, Israel responded by hitting the geographic region where

the group is located. But many believe that Israel overstepped the line by targeting civilian areas and not just Hezbollah military bases.

“Israel is usually pretty good at military strategy and taking out transportation would be pretty key in shutting down a country. I don’t agree with that,” says junior David Smolkin, referring to Israel’s attack on the Beirut airport.

However, as a Jewish-

American, he understands Israel’s reaction. He adds, “They had two soldiers kidnapped, but it was much more than that. It was the security of Israel.”

Hajj says he has never had a problem with Israel’s existence but now understands what the Palestinians endure. He also believes that attempts by the Lebanese government to eliminate Hezbollah will cease now that the organization is seen as the

protector of Lebanon and has pledged to provide housing for displaced civilians. While Hajj was in Beirut, members of Hezbollah passed out $100 bills on the street.

From televised coverage of Hezbollah’s humanitarian support of Lebanese citizens, Lasoski worries that the group’s presence will be strengthened in Lebanon, but doesn’t think that Israel overreacted.

“South Israel is constantly

being bombed on the Gaza Strip. Now Lebanon is attacking from another angle. If Israel didn’t respond, the situation was just going to escalate,” she opines.

A ceasefire has been called, but only time will tell if tensions actually die down.

Smolkin provides the best case scenario: “It would be wonderful if they could actually get along.”

Conflict continued - page 1

Saints continued - page 1

July 16 – Alcohol ViolationAt approximately 11:05 p.m., a patrol officer observed a group of people entering a fraternity house. He noticed several were consuming alcohol, and he did not recognize some of them. It was later determined some of the people were incoming freshmen on campus for pre-registration. The officer told everyone to go back to their rooms.

July 17 – Grand LarcenyAt approximately 2:00 p.m., a student reported that a composite picture had been taken from his fraternity house.

July 18 – TheftAt approximately 3:30 p.m., a mother of a child attending baseball camp reported that her purse had been stolen from her vehicle. She further stated, “I don’t know if it occurred on campus or at a [local bowling alley].” A lieutenant told her he would review the video tapes to see if it occurred on campus. After reviewing the tape, he did not see anyone entering her vehicle which had been parked in the HAC parking lot.

July 19 – Identity TheftAt approximately 6:10 p.m., a 2005 alumnus reported an identity theft that may

have begun when he was a student at Millsaps. He stated when he returned home from a 2 ½ month trip out of the country, he found mail regarding a credit card that he did not own. He contacted the creditor and discovered that someone had fraudulently opened an account using his name and social security number. The creditor connected him with a credit bureau. It was also discovered that there were six fraudulent accounts listed: three other credit cards and two vehicles purchased in Meridian. All of these accounts were opened in May, 2002.

July 20 – Alcohol ViolationAt approximately 11:52 p.m., two patrol officers responded to a call from dispatch that two individuals were on the top of the College Center. Investigation revealed that access was gained to the roof through the Presidential Dining Suite. They were asked to write statements except for a fifth suspect, a male, who ran around New South Hall and disappeared before entering the building. Observers stated that a bottle had been thrown from the roof of the College Center and broken glass and three full cans of beer were found on the grounds in front of the College Center

August 19 – TheftAt approximately 9:00 p.m., a freshman came to the North Gate and reported that his wallet had been stolen. The North Gate officer sent him to the Security Office at New South Hall where his report was taken.

August 19 – Attempted Auto BurglaryAt approximately 12:20 p.m., the senior lieutenant was dispatched to the AC parking lot about a vehicle being broken into. He met a witness who observed a black male exiting a vehicle, leaving the passenger door open. The owner was located, and he determined

nothing was missing. He stated that he did not lock his vehicle when he went to take the MCAT.

August 20 – VandalismAt approximately 1:20 p.m., a junior called to report some vandalism at his fraternity house. Upon arriving to the back of the house, the officer noticed that four light fixtures on the brick columns of the patio were damaged. Also, the big black iron bell, attached to plywood on a cart, had been knocked over and from the weight of the bell, the bolts had come loose from the bell being tilted over.

September 2 The Backyard BrawlWatch as the Millsaps Majors and the Mississippi College Choctaws renew their age-old football rivalry at Harper Davis Field.

September 8-9 Menotti’s “The Old Maid and the Thief”See Jacqueline Coale, Henry Waters, Darrington Lancaster and Brenna Spell perform America’s only radio-broadcasted opera comedy in this one-act play at 7:30 p.m. in the AC Recital Hall. General admission is $10 and student admission is $5.

September 15 Sorority Bid DayCome and see females completing this year’s structured Women’s Greek Recruitment run to their chosen Greek organization at the bell tower.

Ed Prybylski 601-939-0954 edwardprybylski.mymedicalquotes.com)

Kyle DohertyNews Editor

New modern language faculty member Sarah Wamester has taken the reigns of the renovated and expanded language lab.

“I’m thrilled to be here,” says an enthusiastic Wamester. “I studied at Swarthmore [College] in Pennsylvania, so I’m excited to be in contact with undergraduates at a small college again.”

Fellow faculty are equally excited to have her, citing her ambitious plans for the language lab.

“She has lots of ideas on how to improve the lab and the college itself,” attests Dr. Ramon Figueroa of the modern language department. “Of the three candidates for the job, she was the one who could fill the dual role of teacher and lab coordinator.”

Wamester’s ideas for the new lab include adding resources for classical language study as well as modern languages that were previously unrepresented.

“My goal is to make the language lab a center for internationalism on campus,” Wamester shares. “I’m putting references for several different languages

from all of Millsaps’ programs, both in-house and abroad.”

In addition to this expansion of the breadth of the lab’s resources, it is also receiving a substantial upgrade. Macintosh

computers will replace the old Windows-based machines, wireless Internet access will be provided by two hubs on the ceiling and the 20 work stations

will have new wooden furnishings and comfortable chairs.

The renovations were not without their hiccups, however. Due to a delay in shipping the necessary furniture, the new computers

could not be set up until only a few days before classes were scheduled to begin.

Spanish major and language lab employee

Mary Elizabeth Pritchard, a senior, looks forward to working with Wamester and the new lab. Pritchard was able to get a firsthand look at the new professor’s teaching abilities when she came to teach her Spanish

class as a guest lecturer in the spring semester of the last academic year.

“She was very easy to talk to,” says Pritchard. “I watched her teach and she was very good. I think she’ll bring about some necessary changes, like more classes for majors.”

“We were very lucky to get her,” Figueroa tells. “Spanish is very competitive - it’s a buyer’s market. Her job is to teach as well as to manage the language lab, and a lot of bigger schools with more resources need people to fill that position.”

However, it seems that a bigger school is not what Wamester was looking for, but rather the kind of tight-knit community which Millsaps provides.

“Along with the great experience of teaching a class [Advanced Grammar] and interacting with the students, meeting my future colleagues was a big part of why I wanted to come here,” Wamester reveals. “Millsaps was my first choice.”

New hire takes over new, improved language lab

Photo courtesy of Kyle DohertyThe renovated language lab features wooden furnishings and new chairs, but work remains to be done even with classes now in session.

FeaturesPage 4

August 31, 2006 • The Purple & White

Contact Catherine Schmidt schmica@millsaps.edu

Miriam GrayOpinions Editor

To some members of the Millsaps community, Whit Waide will be most remembered for his in-your-face opinion “Let’s restore Millsaps to its former glory.”

Months after the controversial overturning of garbage cans, student complaints and faculty discussions, Whit Waide sets the record straight as to what he means a “student revolution” should be.

P&W: What message did you aim to convey when writing your opinion? Waide: In previous generations there has been interest and excitement. People used to protest to voice their concerns. In the 60s we had Vietnam, and today we have Iraq, but nobody’s protesting. I was

trying to wake some people up because students and professors were telling me Saps (Millsaps) was boring. However, I did not want anybody to knock over garbage cans.

P&W: How do you think Millsaps students can “lead the revolution”?Waide: I want your generation and my generation to be more passionate and to take care of the world around them, to stop just emailing and talking on the cell phone so much.

P&W: After the publication of your opinion, several administrative emails began to surface in explanation as to how the garbage cans along with other campus improvements were financially covered. It wasn’t long until some readers of the “P&W” began

to question the stability of your opinion. What is your response to that? Waide: I do not know or care about what the facts are behind the purchase of those garbage cans. What I care about is the symbolic representation of their purchase, which is a symbol of the discontent between students and the administration. If things are so bad financially around here, purchasing garbage cans will not make it better.

P&W: Why do you think symbolism is essential?Waide: I am a big follower of Carl Jung’s belief that there is symbolical meaning to everything, and it seems to me that nothing means anything anymore.

P&W: Is there anything you wish you had or had not written?Waide: I absolutely have

zero regrets about my opinion. I stopped counting the emails I received in support of my opinion at 762.

I was also asked to speak to an older group of Millsaps alumni in Atlanta. There is a general sentiment, and we want someone to sit down and tell us what is going on. We will be here for homecoming, and we hope Millsaps will be better financially and spiritually.

P&W: Would you like to add anything to your definition of a student revolution? Waide: The opinion spoke for itself. My opinion was a reaction to the collective voices I heard. I hope there is no discontent between students, professors, and the administration. I hope things are not bad financially. I hope my opinion is proven wrong. However, I fear that I am right.

Whit Waide speaks of hopes and a small fear

Catherine SchmidtFeatures Editor

Jackson resembled a protest scene from Berkeley or Haight-Ashbury as protesters brandishing signs saying, “Never again” and “My body, my choice” marched around the Governor’s mansion in July.

Buses drove in from across the country with images of aborted fetuses plastered on the side. Bibles lay open in the trembling hands of impassioned individuals.

Even Millsaps students who did not attend the rallies became involved in the protests as out-of-town pro-life protesters targeted the “26 gates of hell” in Jackson, one of them being Millsaps.

“I got a call from an insider the night before [the protest at Millsaps],” says Cat Edwards, senior and leader of the MIllsaps pro-choice organization, NOWCAN.

“They told me that the pro-life protesters were rallying at Millsaps because it was a ‘queer center.’”

About five protesters gathered outside the gates on the front lawn on State Street. They held a 6-foot-sign with a photo of an aborted fetus on the front and “Jesus Saves” written on the back.

Several students challenged the protesters, asking them if they had a permit, calling JPD and engaging in debate with them.

When confronted by senior Milan Winnard,

protestors said Millsaps “trained baby killing doctors” and was a “haven for homosexuals.”

“I basically came up to them as a Millsaps student trying to appear neutral and asked them what their claim was against Millsaps,” Winnard says.

“After they told me, I said ‘I am somewhat sympathetic to the pro-life cause, but as a concerned student, you are losing people by mixing messages.’ I was trying to be civil, but it was hard.”

Senior Bryan Sexton also talked to the protestors and called JPD.

“I asked them if they had a permit, and they said that they didn’t need a permit because they were working for the Lord,” Sexton says.

“When I approached them, they told the women to avert their eyes, kneel down and start reading the scripture louder.”

Operation Save America, a national pro-life group based in Dallas, came to Jackson for the week of July 15 to protest against “the last abortion mill in Mississippi.”

More than 25 people from Tennesse, Texas, Arkansas and California from both the pro-life and pro-choice side joined Mississippians in the debate.

“I was never really worried [about the clinic shutting down]” says Edwards.

“They were all really non-violent protesters, but we all get nervous that one of them will do something radical.”

Despite the avowed non-violence of the groups

present, the rallies did not ensue quietly and without complications.

A suitcase was found in a trash can in Smith Park, and, under a bomb threat, the Jackson Police Department evacuated protesters from the scene. Later protesters found that the suitcase did not contain a bomb but was filled with pills, and the origins of the suitcase never surfaced.

Approximately 15 Millsaps students and professors from the pro-choice side participated in the rallies.

Several professors even housed out-of-town pro-choice protesters who did not feel comfortable spending the night at the Unitarian Universalist Church on State Street after pro-life protesters gathered outside with signs.

All Millsaps students who attended the rallies had a story to tell.

“There was one pro-life guy standing with his pregnant wife and his five kids, and he was shouting ‘Get right with God, you feminist nazis!’” says Edwards.

“It was kind of sad at points because it seemed like it all boiled down to who could yell the loudest and whose poster was standing in front of another person’s.”

“I was shocked at the way some people on both sides acted,” adds junior Megan Flowers. “I talked to a lot of interesting people on both sides because every one wanted to talk and debate. Some pro-life people called me a harlot because I was

wearing bike shorts.” None of the Millsaps

students who were at the rallies recall seeing any Millsaps students from the pro-life side involved in the protests. Millsaps pro-life club leader Amber Amore says that since the pro-life side also protested non-Christians and homosexuals, students would probably not want to be associated with the protests.

“Pagans and homosexuals have nothing to do with the pro-life message,” says Amore. “Those are completely different issues. That is not what we advocate, and we wouldn’t attend anything that controversial or with mixed messages.”

Students participate in rallies over summer

Photos courtesy Ace MadjlesiMillsaps students rallied downtown in July when pro-life protesters from across the nation came to Jackson to shut down its “26 gates of hell.”

Political science teacher Whit Waide revisits his opin-ion piece that inspired students to post fliers reminis-cent of Che Guevara. Waide has no regrets.

FeaturesPage 5

August 31, 2006 • The Purple & White

Contact Catherine Schmidt schmica@millsaps.edu

Sophia HalkiasStaff Writer

At the beginning of his freshman year, sophomore Larry Denman showed up at the meetings of several on-campus clubs that appealed to his interests.

He was looking for a way to be active but found that few others were.

Low-turnout characterized many of the groups. One organization disbanded after two months.

“People weren’t putting in enough interest, time and commitment,” Denman says. “It was too much effort.”

Denman’s experience of campus activity is not isolated. More than 80 organizations are on

campus, but Student Body Association Secretary Chelsi West says that “half need members.”

West concedes that such a large number of interest groups for a small student body could actually be contributing to the problem. If students concentrated their efforts behind one or two issues, clubs and interest groups may find more success.

Still, West has first-hand experience that Millsaps students are not concerned with the decisions that affect their college experience. Fewer than half the student body voted in the last SBA election.

West says: “You can’t even get 500 to vote, but 800 complain. I’m not sure

if students are waiting on others to do it for them or what.”

The problem of the lack of student activism came to the forefront last year when Whit Waide, an adjunct professor of political science and former student at Millsaps, wrote an opinion for the P&W criticizing students for failing to respond to administrative decisions, such as a ban on Thursday night parties.

A brief “revolution” occurred when students posted Waide’s picture around campus and overturned garbage bins recently bought by the administration. The only result of the opinion piece and fliers was the college’s permission to reinstate

Thursday night parties. West is among many

students who believe that the revolutionary spirit was misdirected and fledgling and would best be concentrated into other problems that plague the campus.

Aside from volunteer programs and other philanthropy organizations that send students into the city, the school is visibly segregated from the community that surrounds it.

An alliance among Millsaps, Jackson State University and Tougaloo College once allowed students to cross-register between schools. Such an alliance was a positive example for a city and state

that has a racist past. The alliance was also

indicative of Millsaps’ status as a progressive school, but it has since dissolved. Visits to each campus of the former consortium suggest little awareness of the others.

Austin Tooley, a sophomore who works at Aladdin’s Mediterranean Grill, says that it is “a culture shock to go from work to campus.” He thinks that the city is much more interactive across racial and ethnic lines.

West agrees that the campus is segregated but points out that Millsaps sponsors several events with JSU, such as last year’s Martin Luther King Day. This year, the two will co-sponsor a sexual awareness

week. West also believes that

segregation occurs mostly along lines of common interest. She characterizes the campus as “cliquish.”

Her solution? West believes that the answer to a more interactive and involved study body circles back to involvement in school organizations. She knows that Millsaps is not the only campus that suffers from student apathy but could benefit from revived interest.

“I just want to see new faces at organizations,” West says. “Otherwise, it just proves that not every student is being served.”

Student complacency plagues campus

“I’m seeking a very liberal major, and it is in itself a very large opinion. I’m very much exposed to opinionated professors, and it’s never offensive or in your face. I find it very interesting [to hear their opinions] because it sort of humanizes them. You get to know them on a more personal level, and you get to hear the personal opinion of someone who has more knowledge than you do. A difference between high school and college is that professors treat you more like an adult; they respect you enough to give you their opinion. There have been instances when a professor has used a class to only talk about his theory about an issue, and it was almost as if he didn’t give you other options. And I didn’t feel like I learned anything.”

Mattie Baber, junior

“ I think anybody is entitled to their opinion. They have a right to their opinion, and the only problem I would have with it is if they offended somebody. If it coincides with the lesson you’re learning, it’s OK. But if the professor is just up there talking about whatever is in his or her head, then it might interfere [with the learning process].”

Mia Hunt, sophomore

“Millsaps professors are highly opinionated, but my experience has been that they have not shoved the opinion down your throat. They have just said, ‘This is my opinion; it’s just another way of looking at it. It’s open to controversy.’ Millsaps is a liberal arts school, and obviously we have class discussions.”

Christie Kokel, sophomore

Do you like when your professors voice their opinions in class?

Some students like when professors voice their opinions on politics, campus concerns and national issues because it offers insight on a topic. Other stu-dents think that they are in a class to learn about a particular subject matter or work of literature, not the professor’s particular opinions on an issue. These students were asked if they like hearing professors’ opinions in class. If so, when can a professor’s sharing his or her opinion in class be excessive?

The LifePage 6

August 31, 2006 • The Purple & White

Contact Jacob C. White whitejc@millsaps.edu

MILLSAPSCOLLEGE

SBAWEEKLYREPORT

WEEK OF August 31st

 Student Senate

The  Senate  is  not  in  Session.  Elections to the Student Senate will be  held  on  Sept.  21  and  22.  Any student  can  run  for  one  of  the  35 seats  that  comprise  the  legislative branch of  the student government.  The Senators and Executive Board will  then  retreat  to  an  off  campus location for the annual SBA retreat on  October  1.    The  Senate  will convene Monday, Oct. 2.  

Executive Board

The  SBA  gave  its  annual  gift  to the  freshmen  at  last  Wednesday’s Fourth  Night  ceremony.  The “M  Pin”  is  a  token  given  to  the freshmen for assurance and support by the entire community.The  Board  is  in  talks  with  Dean Smith,  senior  vice  president and  dean  of  the  college,  and communications  to  update  and redesign the undergraduate diploma.  The SBA feels that by sticking with 

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the original theme and colors of the current document, Communications could add little additions, including the material and size of  the paper, that could boost the appearance and appeal of the diploma.The SBA just released its first bi-annual  newsletter,  for  a  copy  of “Whats  Cooking  in  the  Bowl”, contact Secretary Chelsi West.Rib-O-Rama is this Saturday, before the Backyard Brawl.  It will be held in the bowl.  Ribs, Chicken and drinks will all be provided by the  SBA.  Come  out  and  Support the Majors!   The annual Activities Fair will take place on Tuesday in the Bowl.  This is  an  excellent  time  for  the  entire student  body  to  view,  discuss  and sign up for  the different clubs and organizations on campus.  The Drinks at 8 party will be held Sept.  8  at  the Weems  House.   All 21 and over students are invited to attend and socialize.

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Judicial Council

The 2006-2007 Judicial Council is  preparing  for  the  school  year by  training  and  electing  their leadership.    The  new  16  member Council  was  nominated  by  the Executive Board.  As normal, each nominee’s  name  went  before  the Senate for a vote of approval. John Conway, director of campus life, is the  new  advisor  to  the  legislative branch.     

Miscellaneous Items

All of the purple light pole banners that are appearing on campus will be hung by Oct. 1;  the South side and  most  of  the  North  side  still needs to be completed.  Contact  any  member  of  the  SBA with your  comments or  questions, a  list of members can be  found at www.millsaps.edu/sba 

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Tyler O’HaraStaff Writer

The New Orleans Saints arrived at Millsaps College in July with the specific goal of becoming a better football team.

While the jury is still out on the Saints, the athletes of Millsaps College can already see the improvements made to their locker room areas and sports fields.

“I kept hearing about this stuff, and it was cool to see,” remarks freshman kicker William Lawrimore. “It will be interesting to see how this affects us.”

The arrival of the Saints brought a great deal of buzz and optimism to Millsaps. However, now that the team has finished training at the school, the focus is turned towards what was left behind by the team. Improvements were made to the athletic field house and two new practice fields were added.

Such improvements should provide a boost to Millsaps athletics.

“The practice fields are going to make a big difference,” says junior Nathan Booth.

Junior Cedric Lawrence, a defensive lineman for the Majors agrees. “The improvements should definitely help.

“As far as being organized, we’ll be better,” says Lawrence. “We’ll be more organized in the day-to-day stuff.”

Lawrence praised the new and improved Ranager Field House. Some of the improvements made to the field house include new

carpeting, a new laundry facility and new lockers.

“The fact that we won’t have to share lockers is going to make things smoother,” says Lawrence. “The new washer and dryer are going to be less time consuming too.”

The two new practice fields near the observatory should make practices much more convenient for teams of all sports. Scheduling for intramural sports should also run much smoother with the addition of the two new fields.

Of course the fact that a professional football team

was practicing at Millsaps did not escape the Majors football players.

“It was a good experience, definitely interesting,” says sophomore linebacker Fred Wiley.

Lawrence agrees. “We got to watch the pros playing the positions that we play and that had an impact on us.”

“It was cool because we got to see how the pros do it versus how we do it,” explains Wiley.

Several Millsaps students stayed in Jackson during Saints training camp so that they could work at the camp

practices. “It wasn’t always fun,

but it was a good experience and it was good for me,” said Nathan Booth, a junior who worked at the camp practices. “It really made me appreciate the hard work outdoors, which is mostly what it was.”

“There are people who do manual labor outdoors for a living and it is really tough,” he adds. “But I got to work with some interesting people and have some interesting stories.”

Saints’ stay offers improvements to Millsaps athletics facilities

Photo Courtesy of Millsaps Sports Information DepartmentPresident Lucas accompanies Deuce McCallister to the press conference announc-ing arrival of the Saints to Millsaps Campus.

IA

Wishes everyone a great

semester!

Fall 2006

Want to share your views with the Millsaps community?

Write for The Purple & White

Meetings Monday, 4pm (Third floor of the Student Center)

The LifePage 7

August 31, 2006 • The Purple & White

Contact Jacob C. White, whitejc@millsaps.edu

Vice President and Dean of Students Brit Katz looks past Katrina in explaining the low class size for the class of 2010. “The primary factor regarding our admissions numbers is the nationwide increased competitive nature of liberal arts colleges to locate scholars and to get them to enroll,” he explains. “Many public universities have opened honors colleges – Ole Miss, the University of Southern Mississippi, and now Mississippi State, bring in new levels of competition.”

Katz also reports that admissions for Millsaps has primarily been influenced by two other things as well - the high tuition that goes hand in hand with a private institution and the

fact that the populations of Mississippi and Louisiana, the two central recruiting areas for Millsaps, are not growing as quickly as the populations of other southern states.

These concerns, Katz believes, are the main factors that contributed to the low class size of the incoming students. Although he notes that Katrina and the departure of admissions counselors throughout the past school year were also aspects which affected the class of 2010, he states that these were “secondary issues.”

With these issues in mind, the Millsaps administrators and admissions counselors are working to help Millsaps become more effective in their approaches to

recruiting students. Cox comments, “What we’re focused on is more proactive ways to communicate with prospective students. Admissions is multifaceted. We’re ramping up our efforts with Millsaps publications and personalized communication with students.”

In order to combat prospective students’ concerns regarding the high price of tuition, Cox believes it is important to attract students who value a Millsaps education. One way he plans to do this is through showcasing the faculty of the college. Cox has formed a faculty recruitment committee who often meet with prospective students, demonstrating the close relationships

which often exist between professors and students. “The cost is what it is,” Cox says. “Our job is to put students in contact with the folks that matter.”

For many students, however, money remains a sticking point. “Tuition goes up because bills have to be paid. Without students, without admissions reaching their goal, it’s going to hurt the pockets of parents,” says junior Lorenzo Bailey.

Cox also notes that there is not much consistency in the admissions numbers over the last five years, but he clarifies, “We will get to a point where we enroll 300 great students here. We will not sacrifice the academic integrity of this institution to do it.”

Freshmen continued - page 1

In his seventh year at Millsaps, Todd Rose will assume the role of vice president for campus programs and alumni. For the past three years Rose has served as Millsaps’ vice president for campus services and will continue to supervise supporting units of the college.

Rose clarifies that his role in the physical plant will now be confined to providing them insight on “budgeting, strategy and direction.” The day to day operations will be handled by David Wilkinson, who has been promoted to director of the physical plant, and the new assistant director of the physical plant, Danny Neely.

He is excited about the opportunity to work with the alumni community, which he calls the “single most permanent community of the college.”

Rose, who was at one

time the dean of students for Millsaps, adds, “I see this as a chance to work with students again – they’re just a little older.”

The department of alumni relations has previously been a division of the department of institutional advancement. These will now be separate departments working together. Rose will join Dr. Charles Lewis, vice president for institutional advancement, in working on the new Capital Campaign.

For the past two years, the Campaign has been in its “silent mode,” and will enter its public phase after its announcement at the annual donor gala on Nov. 9. “As we are in our second year of a six-year Capital Campaign, alumni participation in that Campaign is essential,” says Lucas.

Rose’s new job will also include a lot of travel, which he considers “an opportunity to be an ambassador

for Millsaps.” He hopes to alleviate any alumni discontent by providing them with comprehensive information and better lines of communication.

Conway and Rose will each bring unique perspectives and talents to their respective roles.

Dean Katz assures students that Conway “has a genuine interest in student life and student development. His interpersonal skills are polished and winning from many years of seasoned application in alumni relations.”

In December, Conway will receive his master’s degree in community counseling, an achievement he feels will aide him in his new job.

“Judicial affairs isn’t just about handing out punishments. An issue on the docket may occur because a student is in a crisis situation and we want

to help where we can,” says Conway.

Dr. Lucas describes Rose as being “ultra-organized, forward thinking, plan oriented and electronically savvy.” Lucas predicts that “the future of alumni relations will be largely dependent on electronic and web-assisted connectivity.”

Both Conway and Rose have several years’ experience at Millsaps and have committed to staying around for many years to come.

“I look forward to a long tenure here as director of campus life. I’m committed to the ideals of the college and I’m committed to the departments I serve,” says Conway.

“Todd loves Millsaps and Jackson, and will be a wonderful anchor for that office,” says Lucas.

Changes continued - page 1

New students do you want to...

Give campus tours?House perspective

students overnight?Help with admission

visit programs?

Then contact Winfrey Nor-ton (nortwor@millsaps.edu)

or Anna Allred (allreak@millsaps.edu) or look for them at the activities fair

on Sept. 5 in the bowl.

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Welcome Back

Millsaps!

-SBA

Luke Darby Staff Writer

The plot of “Snakes on a Plane” is completely tired without the titular hook. A young man witnesses a mob-related murder and a no-nonsense cop has to keep him safe from assassination attempts until he can testify.

This is all irrelevant though. The real point of the movie is that there is a crate’s worth of venomous snakes, driven mad by controlled pheromones, loose on a trans-Pacific flight.

Apparently it is becoming increasingly difficult for studios to get ideas to make interesting movies. At such an impasse, the solution is almost laughably obvious: make a bad movie. I do not mean try to make a decent movie and instead produce what is so often labeled “so bad it’s good.” Make a legitimately bad movie using a premise that is just ridiculous. New Line Cinema has put out a movie that is utter nonsense, and yet retains immense entertainment value because it’s idiotic without trying to be anything more.

A comedy with a weak plot would do well to not waste valuable time on explication when it could instead be serving its purpose, which

is to be funny. “Snakes on a Plane” does not make this mistake. Even in its moments of explication

everything is so far-fetched, inconceivable and cliche to the point of parody that it feels like nothing more than a hyperviolent comedy.

“Snakes on a Plane” equates to a very entertaining trip to the movies, and at no point does boredom set in, which is the goal of such a movie.

Many rumors abound about the movie’s creation. A group of producers

came up with the title in a bar while trying to see who could pitch the worst movie idea. Samuel L.

Jackson signed on without ever reading the script and threatened to walk if the title were changed.

Jackson’s line “I’m sick of these motherf*cking snakes on this motherf*cking plane!” was added after initial shooting and originated from a plethora of Internet parodies of the film idea. This is indicative of the monumental word of mouth attached to this

movie, made all the more impressive considering its mediocre advertising campaign.

On top of that, on its opening weekend “Snakes on a Plane” made over $15 million, while it cost only $33 million to make. What does all this add up to? Assuming Snakes on a Plane performs well enough at the box office, a slough of intentionally poorly made movies could possibly flood theaters hoping to mimic the run of truly bizarre fluke that sprang up out of a possible bar game and Internet jokes.

Historically, bad movies have existed since cinema’s initial beginnings, but aside from a few camp attempts and wannabe cult hits no film makers seem to have actively tired to establish a market for deliberately bad movies, especially ones that expect the audience to be in on the joke.

Depending on its total gross (which will almost certainly increase exponentially with DVD sales) “Snakes on a Plane” may be a one-shot prank of a movie, or it could possibly kick off a trend of movies as horrible as they are funny.

Trendsetter or no, it makes for a disturbing and awkwardly good time.

Welcome Back!NOW HIRING!!!Management & Crewmembers!

For our JACKSON AREA Locations!

Crewmembers Apply in Person @

Raising Cane’s930 E. County Line Road

Ridgeland, MS 39157

Raising Cane’s202 E. Layfair Dr.

Flowood, MS 39232

Raising Cane’s offers:Rewards for working hardRapid Company Growth

Flexible Scheduling Casual Uniforms

Holidays OffGreat Pay &

A Fun Place to Work!

Managers Email resumes to: greatjobs@raisingcanes.com or fax to: 225-383-7404 or mail to:

What are ya…Chicken!!!Raising Cane’s appreciates &

values individuality. EOE.

Welcome Back!NOW HIRING!!!Management & Crewmembers!

For our JACKSON AREA Locations!

Crewmembers Apply in Person @

Raising Cane’s930 E. County Line Road

Ridgeland, MS 39157

Raising Cane’s202 E. Layfair Dr.

Flowood, MS 39232

Raising Cane’s offers:Rewards for working hardRapid Company Growth

Flexible Scheduling Casual Uniforms

Holidays OffGreat Pay &

A Fun Place to Work!

Managers Email resumes to: greatjobs@raisingcanes.com or fax to: 225-383-7404 or mail to:

What are ya…Chicken!!!Raising Cane’s appreciates &

values individuality. EOE.

Photo Courtesy of James Dittiger © 2005/ New Line Productions

Samuel L. Jackson stars as “Neville Flynn” in New Line Cinema’s intense action feature “Snakes on a Plane”

‘Snakes on a Plane’...I smell an awesome sequel

Solutions for Millsaps football apathy

SportsPage 8

August 31, 2006 • The Purple & White

Contact Ben Cain, cainbg@millsaps.edu

College football in the Southeast carries with it traditions such as pre-game festivities at The Grove in Oxford, capacity crowds of unruly Cajuns in Louisiana State University’s Death Valley and racks of ribs from Dreamland Barbeque in Tuscaloosa.

Admittedly, Millsaps College lacks any venue close to the same level as a means to generate excitement for football games. So why would anyone attend?

Actually, as it stands after my first three years as a Millsaps student, very few students do attend. However, I feel that this may be the year that the area behind the end zone and the bleachers alike could see more action than ever.

Before that dream materializes, however, the question must be answered: Why would anyone choose to enter the gates of Harper Davis Field on Saturday when LSU is playing Florida on CBS? A few things come to mind.

For starters, admission for students (ID in hand) is free, complimentary, zippo. What else can you do for three hours on a Saturday that will not cut into your beer money for the weekend?

In addition, every single week all of our lovely sorority women (and most fraternity men for that matter) set up tents complete with finger foods, grilled meats and assorted beverages. And yes, once again, it’s all free.

Another wonderful attribute of Millsaps football games benefits those of us who are 21 and older. Because all tailgating is carried on in the fenced-off area directly behind the end zone, alcoholic beverages are permitted to those with a valid driver’s license. On top of all this, there is also the main attraction, the game itself.

One of the greatest things about attending a Millsaps football game (or any Millsaps sporting event) is that you probably have a class, are in the same club or are good friends with almost everyone on the team. This makes the game (which may lack the flair of a SEC grudge match) more interesting because it is more personal, and cheering for friends is always more fun than just cheering a number or a color.

The 2006 season, with its seven home games, has the potential to be the beginning of a new era for Millsaps football. To my knowledge, for the first time in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference history, a squad will have a former Southeastern Conference coach of the year roaming the sidelines in the form of Mike Dubose.

Dubose became famous for his defensive schemes en route to a national championship as an assistant in 1992 and won an SEC championship as a head coach in 1999, both at the University of Alabama. Hopefully Dubose can work similar magic for the Majors.

With all this said, I hope I have done my part to rejuvenate the spirits of returning students regarding Millsaps football while sparking the interests of incoming freshman. With the help of an enthused student body, the 2006 Millsaps football season has a chance to be a good one on and off the playing field.

In the bleachers...

Russell TurleyColumnist

Ashley WilbournManaging Editor

The Millsaps Majors football team will begin their 2006 campaign on Sept. 2, as the Majors face off against the Choctaws of Mississippi College in the Backyard Brawl.

The Majors, who return 14 starters this season, including eight seniors, are looking to improve upon last season’s 2-7 record. To assist him in guiding the squad, first year head coach Mike Dubose has retained the services of coaches Jack Wright, David Johnson, Fred McNair and Marcus Woodson.

The Majors’ coaching staff also features several new additions this season.

Shannon Dawson, the former inside receiver coach at New Mexico State, has assumed the role of offensive coordinator, while Aaron Pelch, from New Mexico Highlands University, will serve as the defensive line and special teams coach. Lane Powell will bring knowledge gained through years of experience at every level of football to the linebacker corps, and class of 2006 Millsaps graduate Ross Rutledge will mentor the outside linebackers.

Junior defensive lineman Cedric Lawrence remarks, “We’re a lot more organized this year. Coaches are putting a lot of effort into showing

us the correct things to do with football, with school, with everything. On the field, time management is great. We’re constantly doing stuff and constantly getting better.”

Dubose shares Lawrence’s enthusiasm, saying, “We’re excited – players and coaches, stemming from a good offseason and spring practice.” Dubose says he believes that the Majors will be better in every area this season. “Offensively, we will be better…we have playmakers on that

side. The defense must be fundamentally sound. We can’t beat ourselves like we did last year. We must be a better fundamental team.”

Playmakers on the offensive side of the ball

include junior running back Tyson Roy, the leading rusher from last year’s squad, sophomore kicker DJ Mello, last year’s leading scorer and sophomore quarterback Juan Joseph, who assumed the signal calling duties late in the 2005 campaign.

Quarterbacks coach Fred McNair is optimistic regarding the 2006 season.

Last year three different players spent significant time under center, but this year the Majors are looking for more consistency and expect Joseph to lead the way for the offense.

“This is Juan’s offense. We expect him to make quick reads and throw to open guys. It’s a fun offense for a quarterback, but it’s up to him to make good decisions with the ball,” McNair comments.

McNair also notes that the 6-foot-2, 178-pound quarterback has “great mobility and arm strength…an ability to do a variety of things, whatever it takes.”

In the season opener, Dubose expects his team to be challenged by the Choctaws’ experienced quarterback, running back and wide receivers. “Mississippi College is going to spread the field, and their defense has the best front four that we’ll play,” he says.

The Choctaws return seven starters offensively, including three all- conference players. The defense returns 10 starters from 2005.

Lawrence and the rest of the Majors are undaunted, however. “I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people this year because a lot of people we’re playing aren’t going to expect what we’re going to throw at them,” Lawrence says.

Dubose and Majors set for Brawl

Photo by Ben CainCoach Marcus Woodson looks on as the field goal unit prepares for the Backyard Brawl.

Ben CainSports Editor

Armed with fresh players and yoga experience, both the men’s and women’s Millsaps soccer teams will travel to the campus of Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn., to open the 2006 season.

Each team will need strong contributions from young players this season. The women’s team has added five freshmen to the roster this season to supplement the 10 team members representing the sophomore class, while the men’s team boasts a contingent of 12 first-year members.

“A lot depends on our freshmen and also on how quickly we can come together as a team,” senior midfielder Lee Farr says.

Sophomore defender Ann Blumer expresses a similar sentimen. “Our freshmen are definitely going to add a lot to our team, which is especially exciting because

we haven’t lost anyone from last season.”

Since reporting to preseason camp on Aug. 18, both teams have made strides towards building

cohesion during a week-and-a-half period of two-a-day practices. Oppressive heat and the necessity of sharing facilities with the New Orleans Saints were obstacles, but both teams

took the difficulties in stride.

While Blumer notes that the Saints practices had some affect on the women’s practice schedule, her teammate Laura Rodriguez, a sophomore keeper, points out the benefits of the changes the Saints brought to the practice fields.

“The new layout of the practice field definitely helps in giving us a field of the correct width to practice on, and it will also be much easier when both teams need to practice at the same time,” Rodriguez says.

Farr feels that his team’s overall preseason experience was positive.

“Things went well, and even though it was really hot, the weather helped us get in shape quickly,” he explains.

Sophomore midfielder Kristen Massey adds, “The first few days were tough, but we added a yoga practice because everyone was so tight.”

Both teams are on the

road until Sept. 9, when they return home to face Louisiana College at Harper Davis Field. Their non-conference schedules continue until Sept. 22, when the Majors and Lady Majors travel to Georgetown, Texas, to open Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play against the Southwestern University Pirates.

The SCAC is traditionally one of the strongest soccer conferences in the nation for both men’s and women’s teams, but both teams have reason to be expect success this year.

While the women’s roster features 17 returning letter winners, the men’s team enjoys exceptional depth. Farr says that the strong freshman class gives his team many options.

“This year Coach [Lee] Johnson has said that we are legitimately two or three players deep at every position.”

At Millsaps, soccer and yoga coexist

Photo by Anna SmithFreshman Megan Sullivan practices her footwork during preseason drills.

Football9/20 Millsaps vs. Mississippi College Harper Davis Field 7 p.m.

Cross Country9/1 Mississippi College Invitational Clinton, Miss. 4:30 p.m.

Volleyball9/2-9/3 Oglethorpe Tournament Atlanta, Ga.

Women’s Soccer9/2 Millsaps vs. Univ. of Texas-Dallas Memphis, Tenn. 2 p.m.9/3 Millsaps vs. Luther College Memphis, Tenn. 10 a.m.

Men’s Soccer9/2 Millsaps vs. Univ. of Texas-Dallas Memphis, Tenn. 4 p.m.9/3 Millsaps vs. Luther College Memphis, Tenn. 12 p.m.

Major Calendar

Tyson Roy

Major Football AthleteHometown: Baton RougeMajor: Business/ Finance ConcentrationFuture Plans: To roam the earth nameless, in search of his long lost brother.Number: 2Position: Running BackNickname: Frosty TipsFavorite Musical Artist: Malicious MikeFavorite Pre- game Music: Mali Mike, or old school No Limit RecordsFavorite Food: EgyptianFavorite Caf food: Meat

Favorite Drink: Orange GatoradeFavorite Restaurant: anything that is not a corporate chainFavorite Professor: Dr. Amy ForbesFavorite Book: “The Three Musketeers” and “The Count of Monte Cristo”Favorite Movie: “Last of the Mohicans”Favorite TV Show: “Always Sunny in Philadelphia”Favorite Millsaps team to watch: Men’s Basketball