The Secret Sisterhood Keeps Going

Troubling Gas Prices Force Students to Search for Other Options

The pain of rising gas prices continues to affect many college students’ tight budgets. Prices as high as $3.70 for regular grade gas can cost a small fortune for some to fill up a single tank of gas. Many students, as well as everyone else find themselves searching for an alternative to driving on a daily basis. Students who live too far away from campus to ride a bike or walk have a more difficult time finding a way to save money.

On any average day you will see quite a few bikers wheeling to class through campus. Those who do bike to class have found this alternative to be time saving. “What used to be a seven minute walk from the Pike House to the union has turned into a two minute bike ride,” says junior Business Administration major, Jacob Crowl. Most buildings on campus have a rack outside where students can chain their bikes to while they sit in class.

Oxford offers a public transit system that will take you throughout the city. You have probably seen the white busses labeled ‘Get on O.U.T.’ but you are like me, you have never actually been inside the bus. The benefits of these busses are the cheap fares offered. Ole Miss faculty and students get to ride the bus for free, while adults must pay $1 for transit fare. “I typically ride the bus once or twice a week, it’s free and it keeps me from having to pay for gas or park,” states sophomore Craig Joseph.

Some students have been affected by the high gas prices more than others because they do not have the option of riding the bus or biking to campus. Being on a limited budget has forced these students to cut back on spending in other areas. “I haven’t been able to eat out as much as I used to since gas has gone up. I typically use my gas card to fill up but lately that card has been maxed out before the month ends, so I end up having to use my debit card,” explains Ole Miss freshman Craig Hamilton.

Out of state students have been affected differently than those who live close to Oxford. Many students have not had the opportunity to make the trip home as often as they would like to. The cost of gas for the round trip, many times is just too much unless an emergency arises. “I went home to Nashville last weekend and spent over $200 just on gas to get there and back”, Ole Miss student Max Jarrel complains. “I would like to be able to go home once more before exams but I don’t think I’ll be able to afford it, it’s just ridiculous.”

The problem with rising gas prices has many people wondering exactly how expensive gas will get. At this rate it seems that gas may eventually be unaffordable altogether. We certainly have yet to see the worse, but many have already begun considering other alternatives to driving.

Sigma Chi Derby Day

The annual Sigma Chi Derby Day event will be held this Saturday, April 9, including every sorority, who will be involved in all events. Sigma Chi Derby Day events are held to assist a number of charitable causes, giving a percentage of the proceeds to a local philanthropy and part to the Children's Miracle Network. Each sorority works throughout the week to gain points. They compete in races, dances, raising money, and scavenger hunt. Each sorority competes in who can give the most blood. They get points by giving their own or having someone else give for them. “I can’t give blood, but I got one of my guy friends to and it worked just as well,” Phi Mu Courtney Beville-Matina said. At the end of the week a dance competition is held where every sorority has a theme and a Derby Day Queen. They practice on the dance the entire week, making costumes and props. “We practice every evening and it gets pretty intense, but its really fun,” Pi Phi Alyssa Fassero said. “Making the crazy costumes is the best part.” There are money drop jars held in the Student Union for the sororities to raise as much money as possible. Any student can donate in jar. “I try and go by every day to put my extra change in the Pi Phi jar,” Fassero said. On Saturday, the last day of Derby week, the Derby games begin. The games include all kinds of competition helping each sorority get their last few points. “I think I’m in two events and I’ve made a special outfit for the whole day,” Beville-Matina said. The awards are given after the events.

Holloway to Return to Rebels from USC

COLUMBIA- Murphy Holloway left the Ole Miss Rebel Basketball team after the 2010 season to return to home state to attend the University of South Carolina. The 6'7 junior left the Rebels with intentions to take care of family issues. Holloway led the Rebels in several stats and got voted second team all-SEC in his sophomore season with the Rebels.

Gamecock coach Darrin Horn had nothing but great things to say about Holloway as he supported his decision fully to do what was right for his life. "I'm disappointed to see Murphy go," said Horn. "I've seen great growth in him as a person and a basketball player since he arrived at South Carolina. We wish him the best moving forward."

Holloway is a dominating force as he averaged just over 13 points and 11 rebounds a game. Averaging a double double in the rigid defensive SEC is a a monumental accomplishment for the young sophomore. Missing a year of playing may slow him down a little but Rebel coach Andy Kennedy thinks Holloway will be right back on track really quick as he knows the offensive style.

Holloway is the fourth men's basketball player to make news since the season ended. Ramon Galloway and Stephen Spinella have left the team and Bruce Ellington decided to play football in the fall, but may remain on the basketball team.

Holloway loved South Carolina, but he felt he had built such a noticeable presence here at Ole Miss, and was frustrated as the Gamecocks finished with a losing record and last in the SEC East. "I came back because of my daughter and my family situation and I feel like that situation is a lot better than it was, and I want to take the opportunity to go back to Ole Miss," Holloway said.

The fans are ecstatic in the news of the returning forward and have many great things to say about the junior. Freshman student, Lawrence Martin states, "Murphy is a stiff competitor that never backs down, and I feel as if that is the key we are missing in being a contender in the SEC and on the national stage."

Sources:
http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=14321354
http://www.olemisssports.com/sports/m-baskbl/ole-m-baskbl-body.html

The Secret Sisterhood is Still Strong

The Secret Sisterhood is Still Strong

Resident assistant Catherine McCoy became concerned when she noticed the residence on her floor becoming inclusive with their certain group of friends. McCoy wanted to invent a way where everyone body on her floor knew everyone. McCoy came up with a program called going grey.

Going grey is a program where everyone on the floor will be given a secret sister. The objective is for the residence to get to know their secret sister, without giving themselves away. Each residence will have to give an encouraging note,clues to who you are, and a gift no more than fifteen dollars.

Going grey is the resulting color is a mix of all the racial colors. McCoy has noticed that the residence certain group of friends were all the same race, but some residence would talk to a different race. McCoy combined all the races into one to make one program for everybody. Red is native american and hispanics,white is caucasian, black is african american,brown is Indian from the asian-indian subcontinent and,yellow is asian, mixed together is grey.

“It has been eleven weeks and things are still going great,” McCoy said. The Going Grey program is still active and is making friendships. With a week it seems the residence of the third floor of Hefley are more active with their secret sister.

“Unlike last week I have got clues on who my secret sister is,” freshmen Laiken Russel said. On the third floor more people are finally getting more involved within the program. More presents, notes, clues, and lasting friendships are being made.

“I have only received a note but I am looking forward on what is to come, ” freshmen Jessica Nanney said. Even though not all residence have only received one thing or nothing at all the residence are still looking forward on uncovering their secret.

MM#2 Joseph Cole

Yarn Bomb Hits Oxford

by: J.B. Cole

Three light poles that line South 13th Street experienced a yarn storm that add colorful cheer to the Square this spring. The once black bases of three light posts across the street from Knit 1 Oxford are now a scramble of yarn shining in the spring sun. As passing cars and dog walkers stumbled upon the street art many were dumb-founded and instantly curious.

This is not the first yarn bomb to go off in Oxford. Knit 1 Oxford bombed a bike in the fall that sits outside of the store on the corner of Jackson Ave. and 13th St. everyday. “I started to see the movement pop up and I thought it was a great way to use leftover yarn to make art everyone can enjoy,” said Patsy Englehard, owner of Knit 1 Oxford. Englehard and several other local knitters have started a movement that startles and shocks most pedestrians and drivers going about their day.

Yarn bombing is a form of street art that is not permanent and can be easily removed. Participants stitch together or crochet designs onto buses, park benches, fences, and an array of other public areas. The following links will show yarn bombings across the world: http://sketch42blog.com/2010/02/yarn-bombing/. The craft was started in Texas as a thrifty and creative way to use leftover yarn and knitting materials.

The next yarn bombing will take place at the Boys and Girls Club of Oxford on April 11th. AspectOriginal Advertising and Design is directing the yarn storm for over 100 kids and has more projects in the works. Volunteers and kids will be decorating fences, trees, and poles around the property throughout the day that will remind everyone of their handiwork and create an enjoyable environment.

AspectO is behind another yarn bombing slated for April 28th in the Student Union Plaza. The Elements of Oxford Mini Fest will showcase musicians and artists that are raising awareness for yarn bombing. There will be vendors with displays, drinks, and art, including Main Squeeze, Gone Fishing, Knit 1 Oxford, and Oxford Ballet School. More details on the Mini Fest will be posted as times and bookings are intact.

The buzz about yarn bombing is starting to get louder. “We have created a fun and free way for anyone to enjoy the weather and make Oxford beautifully weird,” said James Hall, founder of AOAD and a current University senior. The following link will direct you to the AspectOriginal blog for updates on yarn bombings and other sightings: http://aspectoriginal.blogspot.com/. Yarn and supplies used for the yarn bomb were donated by Knit 1 Oxford.

Grad student begins aid fund for Japan

For $1, or 82.99 yen, a student, staff or faculty member can help bring some relief to Japan.
Rosie Nelson, a sociology graduate student, started Mississippi Origami Cranes of Hope after researching a way to help out the relief effort in Japan. “I went to DoSomething.org, and saw they were having a drive to collect photographs of 1,000 different cranes so they could show a lot of different people showing their support for the Japanese after the tsunami,” Nelson said. “When reading more about that, I thought, why don’t we try and do something like that here at Ole Miss, where we can show as a community that we are interested in helping Japan and showing our support by sponsoring 1,000 cranes of our own?”
An origami crane can be purchased for $1. Once a crane is sponsored, the next step is to write a special message of hope for the people of Japan. The group plans to send the cranes to Japan by way of the Japanese Consulate.
Naomi Yamakawa, who works with the Japanese Outreach Program, came up with the idea of sending money to Japan while talking to other members of the Japanese community the day after the earthquake.
“The day after the earthquake, I was teaching a class at the North Mississippi Japanese Supplementary School, and we were talking about how we could help Japan together with the parents and the kids,” said Yamakawa, who was born and raised right outside of Osaka. “And we came up with the idea of doing something together. When someone really close gets sick or injured, or when we wish something special, we make cranes.”
Yamakawa said the children in her program are concerned about Japan.
“The children here are also worried about Japan,” Yamakawa said. “They were raised here in the United States, but they were also heartbroken after watching that terrible scene in Japan. Even they felt like they wanted to do something to help.”
The group, which is sponsored by the Office of International Programs at Ole Miss, has raised over $500, with UM students sponsoring over 250 cranes.
Local Japanese school children have also contributed cranes of hope, and combined with Ole Miss students, the group already has over 1,000 cranes to send out.
The crane is a mystical creature in Japanese culture, and it is believed to live for 1,000 years.
The legend of origami cranes, known as senbazuru in Japanese culture, says that if someone makes 1,000 cranes, that person’s wish for long life will come true.
The 1,000 Cranes of Hope will be set up outside the Student Union for the rest of the week between 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and next week they will be set up at the Union from Tuesday through Friday at the same times.
For more information, contact Yamakawa at nyamakaw@olemiss.edu.
The death toll from the disaster is now more than 11,000, with more than 16,000 still missing, according to Japanese officials. In traditional Japanese culture, dead bodies are cremated, but the Miyagi and Iwate prefectures have begun to bury bodies due to crematoriums being overwhelmed.
The Miyagi prefecture has begun to post information on over 2,000 bodies so that friends and families can possibly identify their loved ones.
Greet Provoost, director of the Office of International Programs, issued a statement regarding the disaster in Japan.
“On March 11, all of us at the Office of International Programs woke up to the events in Japan with deep consternation and concern,” Provoost said in a statement.
“An immediate call-out to our Japanese students and scholars here on campus helped us to affirm that their families and friends were — considering the circumstances — safe, and to reinforce that the OIP is available to assist the international community on campus in all ways it can.”
Provoost said OIP is behind Mississippi Origami Cranes of Hope.
“OIP extends its deepest concern for all the Japanese people as they grapple with the crises posed by the earthquake, tsunami and the radioactive threat,” he said.
“We also uphold our deepest respect and awe for their collective power of patience and perseverance, orderliness and harmony, endurance and discipline.”
The Japanese government reported that the damages have so far totaled over $300 million, with the expected amount of total damages to reach upward of $275 billion.
Several nuclear plants were also damaged by the disaster, and recently Japanese officials at the International Atomic Energy Agency have discovered radioactive iodine–131 and cesium–137 in seawater samples taken less than 30 km from land.
In an attempt to cool some of the nuclear reactors, Japanese scientists used local seawater, and officials said some of that water may have been put back into the sea.
The IAEA also reported that three people working on the plant after the disaster had been exposed to elevated levels of radiation.
Two of the workers were actually taken to the hospital with severely contaminated feet.
Quake experts say that recent earthquakes have come along the Pacific Ring of Fire, the area in the Pacific with the most active earthquakes and volcanoes, and that next would likely be near San Francisco.