| Monday, August 16, 2021 |
| Mississippi State students move in dorms while staying safe | |
 | It's move in day for students at Mississippi State University. The college is urging students to remain cautious while getting settled in. Thomas Mortillaro is an incoming freshman at Mississippi State University. He said he feels a little safer from the virus now that he is rooming with his childhood best friend. "We basically spend every day together so it's going to be normal to live together," he said. The campus has a total of 16 dorms for students. Students do not have to get vaccinated, but administrators are encouraging it. Christian Johnson is also an incoming freshman and she said she is open to all safety guidelines put in place. "I plan on staying inside because that's what I love doing -- going to classes, wearing a mask whenever it's needed -- just following the COVID restrictions that they've put in place." Students have to wear a mask inside and workers will sanitize dorms on a daily basis. Executive Director for Housing and Residence Life Dei Allard said they are thrilled to have students back. |
| Mississippi planted soybeans looking good; some flood delays | |
 | Most of Mississippi's soybean crop is looking good, and so are prices -- but some areas are still replanting acres that were flooded in June, Mississippi State University Extension Service experts say. Soybean specialist Trent Irby said 82% of the crop appears in good or excellent shape. Most of the state's soybean crop was planted at normal times ranging from as early as late March through June after wheat harvest, he said. But, he said, soybeans were still being planted in mid-July, and even late that month, leaving total acreage a big question. "Several areas around the state received big rain events during June that resulted in substantial flooding," Irby said. "There were also areas impacted days later as rivers and creeks got out and flooded fields." Agricultural economist Will Maples says prices are good, largely driven by a strong export market. Maples said international demand for U.S. soybeans is expected to remain strong. "At this time of year, the soybean market is trading on the weather. Any weather disruptions on yield could have a price effect," he said. |
| Rice approaches harvest with increased prices | |
 | A crisis exemption that allowed Mississippi rice farmers to control fall armyworms helped them keep this year's crop in good condition as harvest approaches. In late June and early July, farmers across the state growing multiple row crops, including rice, could not reach acceptable levels of control for fall armyworms with pyrethroids. This problem led Extension crop specialists to ask the Mississippi Bureau of Plant Industry to request a Section 18 crisis exemption from the Environmental Protection Agency for the insecticide Intrepid 2F. On July 28, it was granted. "Fall armyworms have been much worse this year than we have ever seen in rice, pastures, lawns and other crops, at least in my career," said Jeff Gore, Mississippi State University Extension entomologist and researcher, who is stationed at the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville. "From a rice standpoint, we typically spray a small percentage -- less than 10% -- of the acres every year in Mississippi. This year we have probably already sprayed much more than 50% of rice acreage." Other farmers faced flooding. "We are in relatively good shape outside the area impacted by flooding, despite the problems we had with armyworms" said Jason Bond, weed scientist with the MSU Extension Service and researcher with the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville. "Our Extension specialists were able to get a pesticide exemption to help get them under control." |
| Annual Rice Festival set for Sept. 16 in Merigold | |
| People can enjoy the annual rice tasting event held in Bolivar County in a different format this year. The Rice Festival will be held Sept. 16 from 4 to 7 p.m. in the streets of downtown Merigold. "This year will mark 31 years of celebrating rice during the third week of September in Bolivar County," said Mississippi State University Extension Service coordinator and agent Laura Giaccaglia, who works with the Delta Rice Promotions Board to organize the event. Attendees can taste rice dishes from local restaurants, shop with vendors, see exhibits, and enjoy music and children's activities. A rice queen also will be announced. The event is open to the public. Admission is free and does not require a ticket. Mississippi ranks sixth among states that produce the most rice. The crop is one of the state's top agricultural exports. In 2020, the state's 221 rice farms produced more than 12.5 million hundredweight of rice valued at $138 million. |
| New Master's Degrees and Pediatric Lab at MSU, USM Grant Funding | |
| Two departments in Mississippi State University's College of Forest Resources are adding new online master's degrees, making online degree options available in all three of the college's departments. The new master's degrees are for sustainable bioproducts or wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture conservation education. The MSU Center for Distance Education also offers a master's degree in forestry, which covers forest management, natural resource policy and law and forest economics. MSU's master's degree in sustainable bioproducts is a 30-hour, non-thesis program covering forest products and other bio-based building materials. The courses promote the responsible use of renewable resources through the development, innovation and improvement of wood products, materials and energy, a release from MSU says. The master's degree in conservation education is a 30-hour, non-thesis program that covers conservation, environmental literacy and stewardship, with a focus on educational program development, evaluation and leadership. Mississippi State University's Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Foundations recently established a new laboratory to research pediatric feeding disorders, with the goal of learning best practices to help children and adolescents ages 2 to 18 who do not eat enough. The lab's researchers are focused on developing intervention techniques rooted in applied behavior analysis to produce lasting improvement in feeding behavior, a release from MSU says. |
| Residence hall fire displaces 30 MSU students | |
 | A malfunctioning air conditioner caught fire Sunday on the fifth floor of Cresswell Hall on Mississippi State University's campus, displacing roughly 30 students. MSU Chief Communications Officer Sid Salter said an air conditioning unit in a restroom at the residence hall began smoking, but it was not sufficient enough to engage the fire suppression system. The university has temporarily relocated the displaced students to a local hotel. Salter said he believes the repairs should be finished in about a week, and students can return to the residence hall. While firetrucks appeared on campus after the incident occurred, Salter said the event was far smaller than it appeared. MSU had no prior knowledge this air conditioning would be problematic and no reason to believe it would malfunction, he said. "Because the fire suppression system didn't engage, and we don't have water damage to deal with, now we just have to clean up the smoke and get the air quality where it needs to be and generally make sure everything is up to standard," Salter said. |
| With Census data in hand, Mississippi politicians now prepare to draw political boundaries | |
 | The release last week of detailed population data from the U.S. Census Bureau means that the process to reshape Mississippi's political geography can now begin in earnest. Every decade, Mississippi lawmakers must redrawing the state's 174 legislative districts and the current four U.S. congressional districts to reflect shifts in population. This redistricting cycle must reflect a stark reality: the state is losing population and that pressure is falling hard on the vast rural stretches of Mississippi. From 2010 to 2020, only six counties showed a population increase of 10% or greater: DeSoto, Harrison, Lafayette, Lamar, Madison and Rankin. Because the 2nd Congressional District lost population, it will have to gain more population to balance the scales. This also means the congressional districts in Northeast Mississippi, central Mississippi and the Mississippi Gulf Coast will have to lose some population. This will be the first time that state leaders will not have to seek advance approval from the federal government for its new maps. Without preclearance, a lawsuit would be required to enforce any violations of federal election law. "That district is historic," said state Rep. Cheikh Taylor, D-Starkville, about the 2nd District. "It has been drawn to make sure that African American or minorities have representation." Taylor, who also sits on the reapportionment committee, said that he has seen proposals from advocacy groups that place Oktibbeha County into the 2nd Congressional District, which he supports. "You have to get it right because it only occurs every 10 years," Taylor said. |
| Mississippi will seek new economic development director | |
| Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves will start searching for someone new to lead the state's economic development agency. The governor's office announced Friday that John Rounsaville of Madison will step down as Mississippi Development Authority director on Aug. 31. Reeves, a Republican, named Rounsaville interim director of MDA in May 2020, then nominated him as director in January of this year. The state Senate confirmed Rounsaville for the $180,000-a-year job. The governor's news release said MDA has administered $160 million in COVID-19 recovery money to assist businesses, renters, healthcare providers, schools and childcare centers. It also said that with Rounsaville as director, the agency increased the average annual capital investment into the state in 2020 to $1.8 billion, which is double the previous 10-year annual average. Rounsaville is an attorney, and he worked for several Republicans before taking the job at MDA. He was on the staff of then-U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering from 1998 to 2003, then became a policy adviser for then-Gov. Haley Barbour from 2004 to 2006. Rounsaville was state director for USDA rural development from 2006 to 2008. He was vice president of strategic services for an engineering firm from 2008 to 2017, and then again became state director for USDA rural development. |
| Waste Management adding 330 remote jobs | |
| Waste Management is adding 330 remote jobs in Mississippi, investing about $660,000 in the project, or $2,000 per job, for equipment and workstations enabling employees to work from a remote location. The workers will be connected to the company's customer experience operations in Tupelo for training and management. The company is currently hiring for the new positions and plans to fill all 330 over the next two years. In Tupelo, Waste Management employs more than 130 workers. WM recently acquired another company, and to meet its growing business demands, has decided to expand the Tupelo operations. Last year, WM began offering work-from-home opportunities to support the Tupelo operations. Waste Management also offers employees and eligible dependents the opportunity to participate in the company's Your Tomorrow program. In connection with Guild Education, Your Tomorrow provides a full range of educational opportunities, including college degrees available from a network of more than 100 colleges, at no cost to WM employees. The Mississippi Development Authority is providing assistance for workforce training. |
| Once skeptics, these Coast GOP senators are now vaccinated. 'It's scary out there.' | |
 | OK, young "whippersnappers," it's time to get vaccinated, says Republican Sen. Jeremy England, who received his first dose of the Moderna vaccine and is publicizing the need for younger people to get vaccinated in Mississippi. "It's our time, whippersnappers," England, 38, wrote on Facebook. "Let's take our own advice and get vaccinated. Historically, we know it is the right thing to do." England joins Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann in urging fellow Mississippians to get vaccinated as the highly contagious delta variant fells increasingly younger Mississippians and leads to a record number of new cases. Sen. Joel Carter, who also had been on the fence about vaccines, finally talked to his doctor and got vaccinated, too. But he is taking Gov. Tate Reeves' approach in saying only that it was the right decision for him and Mississippians should consult their doctors about vaccines. "The infection numbers among the unvaccinated made me pull the trigger," said Carter, 43 who had a "brutal" case of COVID for 19 days a year ago and does not want to go through the illness again, or infect others. Both senators think vaccines have become too politicized, especially on social media. |
| Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann urges Mississippians to get vaccine, floats idea of COVID-related special session | |
| Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann said he was moved to post on social media urging Mississippians to get vaccinated for COVID-19 after talking with hospital administrators throughout the state and hearing of their "heroic" efforts battling the coronavirus. Hosemann recalled traveling to one hospital and hearing about a pregnant woman with COVID-19 on a ventilator. He said the infant was delivered, and doctors are optimistic that both mother and child would be OK. Then at another hospital he heard a similar story, but with the potential for a different outcome -- the death of the mother without ever getting to hold the newborn. "We are the most Christian state, the most giving state money-wise, most welcoming state ... yet we are the least vaccinated state" even though with the vaccination "we could protect our families and our citizens," he told Mississippi Today in an interview on Friday. Thursday's social media post wasn't the first time Hosemann publicly advocated for vaccination. Hosemann, who had the coronavirus in the summer of 2020 and got vaccinated soon after he was eligible, paid for a radio ad that ran in May to honor the work of the Mississippi Guard in responding to the pandemic. In that ad he urged people to get vaccinated as a way to honor the National Guard's efforts. |
| After big county fair, virus hits hard in rural Mississippi | |
| A rural Mississippi community is overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases, two weeks after hosting the Neshoba County Fair that drew thousands who lived in cabins, attended shoulder-to-shoulder outdoor concerts and listened to stump speeches -- including one by the Republican governor, who decried federal masking guidance as "foolish." Frustrated by rising COVID-19 infections, the chief executive officer of the 25-bed Neshoba General Hospital posted a message on social media this week challenging Gov. Tate Reeves to step up and show leadership. "@tatereeves hospitals and healthcare workers need you to help us. Where are you?" Lee McCall wrote Tuesday on Twitter. "We are overwhelmed with the surge of Covid and understaffed to safely care for our patients. Our incredible staff are holding it together but we are all at our breaking point." Reeves posted Wednesday on Twitter: "In spite of the angry rhetoric coming from so many, our emergency management team is doing what it does -- we are calmly dealing with an ever-changing environment to meet the needs of Mississippi." It wasn't clear whether the governor was responding to McCall or the many other critics who have said Reeves has done too little amid the surge in virus cases. |
| Mississippi, rocked by virus, seeks out-of-state medical aid | |
| Mississippi is seeking out-of-state medical professionals and equipment as it breaks its own records for new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Republican Gov. Tate Reeves said Friday that the state requested 65 physicians, 920 nurses, 41 certified registered nurse anesthetists, 59 advance-practice nurses, 34 physician assistants, 239 respiratory technicians and 20 emergency medical technician paramedics. Reeves said if this staffing level can be attained, it would open up 771 hospital beds and 235 intensive care unit beds not currently staffed in the state. He said workers could be in Mississippi within a week. Mississippi Emergency Management Agency received responses Friday from 19 contractors to provide the medical workers, and the federal government will pay the cost, director Stephen McCraney said. Reeves said Mississippi requested 150 ventilators from the national stockpile. He also said the federal government rejected Mississippi's request for a medical ship from the military. Reeves said the main reason for requesting the ship was to get additional medical workers into the state. |
| MEMA calls on feds and private companies for desperately needed medical staff | |
| The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is evaluating 19 bids from private contractors to provide the state with desperately needed medical staff. During a press conference on Friday, Gov. Tate Reeves said the state hopes to put staff on the ground within the next week from one or more of the companies who submitted bids. The federal government will reimburse 100% of the cost for these services. More than 2,000 medical professionals have left the field in Mississippi over the past year, and hospitals across the state are at a breaking point. MEMA Executive Director Stephen McCraney said these workers will be able to help these hospitals utilize units and beds they cannot currently. "We don't need to necessarily build a hospital in certain times, we need to fill the beds that we have," McCraney said. MEMA received requests for 1,378 additional healthcare workers from 73 different hospitals across the state. It's unclear how many of these will be supplied through those private contracts. The requested staff includes: 65 physicians, 920 nurses, 41 certified registered nurse anesthetists, 59 nurse practitioners, 34 physician assistants, 239 respiratory technicians, and 20 emergency medical technician paramedics. If this staffing level can be provided, 771 med-surge beds and 235 ICU beds would be opened up, according to Reeves. |
| NIH director sees 'no signs' of a Delta peak | |
 | National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins warned on Sunday the continuing rise of Covid-19 cases propelled by the Delta variant could return the nation to the worst days of the pandemic. "This is going very steeply upward with no signs of having peaked out," Collins said on "Fox News Sunday." Covid-19 cases have been rising again due to the Delta variant's highly contagious nature. The nation is seeing more than 129,000 new cases a day, which is up more than 700 percent from the beginning of July. Those numbers could leap up to over 200,000 new cases a day, which were levels unheard of since the deadliest months of January and February, Collins said. "Here we are with [the] Delta variant, which is so contagious, and this heartbreaking situation where 90 million people are still unvaccinated, who are sitting ducks for this virus, and that's the mess we are in," Collins said. "We are in a world of hurt," he said, "and it's a critical juncture to try to do everything we can to turn that around." Meanwhile, Collins said health officials are still monitoring data to determine whether the general population will need a booster shot, due to concerns over the dropping effectiveness of the coronavirus vaccine over time. That decision, however, has not been made yet, and Collins assured that current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows that those who are vaccinated are protected from serious illness and hospitalization. |
| Second field hospital staged in UMMC garage as COVID-19 continues surge across Mississippi | |
 | A second field hospital for treating COVID-19-infected patients has been staged in a University of Mississippi Medical Center garage as a last-ditch effort to bolster Mississippi's beleaguered health care systems. Samaritan's Purse, a non-denominational evangelical Christian organization deployed the additional field hospital on Sunday in collaboration with UMMC, the governor's office, the Mississippi State Department of Health and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. The mobile unit is in UMMC's garage C near the Children's of Mississippi Hospital's Sanderson Tower. Samaritan's Purse officials said the unit includes 32 beds, five with ICU capacity and will be staffed by medical workers with the nonprofit. "Our team continues to work alongside UMMC and government officials to monitor the positive case growth and assess the greatest needs. We are prepared to be here to aid Mississippi families as long as we are needed," said Alyssa Benson, a spokesperson for Samaritan's Purse. The field hospital is expected to open as early as Wednesday. |
| In court filings, Mississippi signals intent to appeal metal health ruling | |
| Both attorneys representing Mississippi and the Department of Justice are asking a federal judge to name the current court-appointed special master to oversee improvements to the state's mental health system, but it could be a charade. U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves asked both parties in the ongoing suit against the state's mental health system to submit up to two names of people who could serve as external monitors and define what role the monitor should have. In response to the request, lawyers for the Mississippi Attorney General's Office filed documents this week reiterating that it opposes a monitor to help improve the state's mental health care system and that they only filed court papers to obey the judge's order. "Actions to comply with a court order do not constitute a waiver of the right to challenge the order on appeal," the filing reads. The filing could signal that the state is laying the groundwork for an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit to ask them to overturn a final order Reeves will issue in the litigation that has spanned half a decade. Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch has publicly said that an appeal to a higher court is a possibility. |
| Analysis: Mississippi senators split on infrastructure bill | |
| Mississippi's two Republican U.S. senators agree on many issues, but they split on a proposal for the federal government to spend $1 trillion on highways, water systems, broadband expansion and other infrastructure projects. Sen. Roger Wicker was involved in bipartisan discussions that crafted the bill. He voted for the measure when it passed the Senate last week, saying the federal spending would help Mississippi. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith voted against the bill, saying the price tag is too large. The proposal awaits consideration in the House. Wicker said in a statement Thursday that the bill has provisions that will ensure "Mississippi gets a fair shake in competitive transportation grant programs" worth more than $20 billion. He said Mississippi would receive $3.3 billion for roads and highways and $225 million for bridges, and the state could compete for money from $12.5 billion in bridge grants. "Mississippi residents know these investments are badly needed," Wicker said. Mississippi has almost 6,000 miles (9,657 kilometers) of highway in rated in poor condition, and more than 1,000 bridges also in poor condition, Wicker said. "The investments in roads and bridges in this legislation mean Mississippians will have an easier time dropping off their children at school and shorter commutes to work," Wicker said. "First responders will also be able to reach those in need more quickly, potentially saving lives." |
| Biden administration makes record increase to food stamp benefits | |
| The Biden administration on Monday plans to unveil a major permanent increase to the food stamp benefits that help 42 million Americans buy groceries --- a record bump up for one of the country's largest safety net programs. The average monthly benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will be roughly 27 percent higher than they were before the pandemic, starting Oct. 1, according to an administration official. That comes out to an increase of about 40 cents per meal. The change comes right as millions of households were set to face a benefits cliff, as the current 15 percent pandemic plus-up that Congress authorized at the end of last year is set to expire Sept. 30. The Biden administration is increasing the benefits by updating what's known as the Thrifty Food Plan, the Agriculture Department's calculation for what it costs to buy a nutritious diet with minimal resources. The plan is used to set the maximum benefit level for SNAP. In the last farm bill, Congress asked USDA to update the plan by 2022, and then every five years after that to keep it current. The administration expedited the process to get ahead of the benefits cliff next month. On Monday, USDA will outline exactly how it concluded that benefits should increase. One important change: The formula will take into account convenience foods like chopped frozen vegetables, bagged salads and canned beans, which are much more common now than when the plan was last updated in 2006. |
| With the Taliban in control, uncertainty and fear grip Afghanistan | |
 | The day after the Taliban installed themselves in the presidential palace in Kabul, seizing control over Afghanistan two decades after being toppled from power by the U.S. military, fears intensified on Monday about a return to the Taliban's brutal rule and the threat of reprisal killings. Kabul's international airport was under the protection of foreign forces, including thousands of U.S. soldiers sent to the country to assist in a hasty evacuation. The Pentagon said on Monday evening in Kabul that all flights had been suspended, military or civilian, into Hamid Karzai International Airport. It was a scene of desperation, sadness and panic. Thousands of Afghans flooded the tarmac on Monday morning, at one point swarming around a departing U.S. military plane as it taxied down the runway. U.S. Marines worked to secure the civilian side of the airport, with the help of Turkish troops, after security was breached there on Monday, John F. Kirby, the chief Pentagon spokesman, said. Images of people clinging to the hulking aircraft even as it left the ground quickly circulated around the world. It seemed to capture the moment more vividly than words: a symbol of America's military might, flying out of the country even as Afghans hung on against all hope. President Biden will speak about the situation at 3:45 p.m. in Washington, after cutting short a stay at Camp David to return to the White House. |
| Medical debt is hitting hardest for people in the South | |
| Last year, Jennifer McCrobie went to the emergency room with a stomach ache that had her doubled over in pain. She had to have surgery to remove her gallbladder. Then, the bills starting piling up. "They were relentless," she said of the collectors. Stories like McCrobie's are far more common in the South, where most states are led by Republicans who've turned down federal money to expand Medicaid. McCrobie is currently being sued by the hospital where she lives in Clarksville, Tennessee. "They can't bleed this turnip much further than it's being bled," she said. Residents of Southern states, like McCrobie, owe doctors and hospitals far more than the rest of the country -- roughly three times as much as those who live in the Northeast, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association that ties the stark contrast to Southern states rejecting Medicaid expansion. A dozen states, mostly in the South, are still holding out. McCrobie has a barebones health plan and said she was left with $15,000 to pay -- a debt on top of other debts she was already struggling with. If she lived a few miles away, across the state line in Kentucky, her income working in a factory and supporting five kids would likely qualify her for Medicaid, which was expanded in Kentucky. In Tennessee, which didn't expand, it's nearly impossible to have a job and still qualify for Medicaid. The hospital that is suing McCrobie, owned by for-profit Community Health Systems, has partly blamed the lack of expansion for its aggressive collections tactics across the South. And they're not the only hospitals suing. |
| MUWAA Board names new board members for 2021 | |
| The Mississippi University for Women Alumni Association Board of Directors recently announced five new members. They are: Ashley Dean of Lebanon, Tennessee, a 2006 graduate; Bridget Smith Ellis of Arlington, Tennessee, a 2004 graduate; Michelle Featherston of Diamondhead, a 2007 graduate; Kym Golden Gore of Madison, a 1997 graduate; and Nicolas T. Wright of Baltimore, Maryland, a 2014 graduate. The board is headed by Katherine Shell Benson of Southaven, who graduated from The W in 2003. Symone Bounds, also of Southaven, a 2012 graduate, is president-elect, and Rebecca Rogers of Memphis, Tennessee, class of 2000, is immediate past president of the alumni board. The board also includes Robbie Foxx of Columbus, class of 1973; Monique Jenkins of Marietta, Georgia, 2008; Jermarra Jones-Price of Southaven, 2008; Kacey Keeton of Montgomery, Alabama, 1997; Christie Jones Lawrence of Starkville; Troy Lewis of Grovetown, Georgia, 1991; LuAnne Farrar McGuirk of Potts Camp, 2003; Lydia Coffey Pierce of Petal, 2009; Barbara Black Travis of Flowood, 1970; and Jane Izard Turner of Flora, 1980. |
| USM hosts 'Golden Eagle Welcome Week' for new students and freshmen moving onto campus | |
 | Golden Eagle Week is underway at the University of Southern Mississippi. Freshman students at the university took to the campus Saturday and Sunday to move in. "Kind of nervous, kind of excited," USM freshman Will Alsobrook said, sharing his thoughts on the fresh start. "But I'm hoping to meet some new people at more of the welcome week stuff," Some new students got to meet some upperclassmen, who were on campus to help with the moving and unloading. Two of those helping with the move-in process were Jamal Jones and Marquan Lewis, both brothers in USM fraternities. "It's always great to help the community, especially our local community, " Jamal Jones said. Said Lewis: "Pour into the people so they can pour back out to the community. Just make it a ripple effect. So that's what we want the people to do here at USM." |
| Alabama Bid Day 2021: More than 2,300 women rush to sororities | |
 | More than 2,300 women received bids during the culmination of the University of Alabama's sorority recruitment week -- which went viral on TikTok -- as this year's Bid Day saw a large crowd on a scorching-hot Sunday at the Capstone in contrast to the low-key affair in 2020 due to COVID-19. Of the 2,501 women who attended the first round of Open House events for Fall 2021 Primary Recruitment at the University of Alabama, 92 percent (2,307 women) received bids from the 17 Panhellenic sororities that participated in recruitment. Of the total number of women who accepted bids, 236 self-identified as racial or ethnic minorities, a ratio that is consistent with 2020 Primary Recruitment. |
| Return of Auburn students and the prospect of football season bring hope for economic stability | |
 | While downtown Auburn saw a definite increase in traffic as Auburn students began coming back to the university this past week for move-in, the return of students to campus is a sign of hope for some businesses after the losses they've suffered from the coronavirus pandemic. Kim Wirth, co-owner of the Collegiate Hotel, said business at her boutique hotel has been "night and day" when compared to the same time last year. "We felt the economic impact of students not being here, but in general, people were wary about travelling and staying in a hotel room," Wirth said. "Hopefully we've turned a corner." Auburn Mayor Ron Anders said the heart of a college town like Auburn is the thousands of young people that come through the university and help provide economic health to local businesses. "A number of our businesses are really centered around student participation in those businesses," Anders said. "A number of places to live are based upon students renting those cottages, homes, duplexes and apartments." While Anders said the city of Auburn fared better economically than other cities over the course of the pandemic, he recognizes that many local businesses have struggled as a result of it and hopes the students' return will help provide them with financial stability again. |
| New Auburn dining hall opens with eight food stations | |
| On Aug. 9, Auburn's newest dining option opened to students. The Edge at Central Dining, located near the Stadium Parking Deck and Parker Hall, is Campus Dining's newest facility. The 48,000-square foot space can hold up to 800 people depending on social distancing requirements, and it is able to serve 3,000 people each day during lunch hours. Over 1,000 students ate at the Edge each day during the first two days it was open. Glenn Loughridge, director of Campus Dining, said things went smoothly after the launch. "So far operationally, we have heard great feedback from students about both the facility and the food," Loughridge said. The four stations on the first floor are Market, which serves sandwiches, wraps, salads and soups; Traditions, offering comfort food and desserts; Ignite Grill, which serves grilled meats and vegetables; and Urban Kitchen, which serves a variety of different dishes, including Asian cuisine. On the second floor are Street Works, a nacho and taco bar, where students can customize their meals; True Balance, a non-allergenic dining station which does not use ingredients containing nine major allergens; Pizza on the Plains; and Twirl, where students can order their own pasta or pick up pre-made pasta dishes. There is also a cereal station, ice cream station, waffle makers and several drink stations with coffee. |
| How will LSU enforce its COVID rules? Some students, faculty are skeptical | |
 | Thousands of students are set to return to LSU's campus even as the state's hospitals buckle under the weight of record-setting COVID cases, and some faculty and students are questioning how the university will enforce its pandemic rules. LSU hasn't mandated COVID vaccines, but it is requiring students to submit proof to an online entry verification portal of a vaccination, a negative test result in the last five days or a positive test within the last 90 days. As of Thursday, 6,203 students submitted their COVID information to the university. By Aug. 22 -- the day before classes start -- the remaining 24,000 students are supposed to submit theirs. Protocol says students have to present emails acknowledging their information has been received to enter campus. But how is LSU going to enforce that plan? LSU spokesman Ernie Ballard said the university does not expect to check each person's entry confirmation. He said security personnel will be scattered throughout campus to confirm that students are authorized to be there. "We wouldn't logistically be able to check each student each and every day to verify that they've done the symptom checker or have provided their status," he said. But Ballard said students should follow the protocol because "on any given day, they could be checked to make sure they are in compliance." |
| U. of Florida dorm residents who get COVID-19 must isolate off-campus; parents worried about new policy | |
 | Parents of University of Florida dormitory students are raising concerns about the university's new policy for the fall semester requiring that students who test positive for COVID leave campus for a couple weeks to isolate and quarantine. During the spring semester, the university set aside isolation space for dorm students who tested positive for COVID-19 and those who came in close contact with them. But that space is no longer being offered for the coming fall semester, said UF spokesman Steve Orlando. "We were using on-campus housing, the residence halls for quarantine and isolation space back in the spring," Orlando said. "But the residence halls are all full, so we don't have any space to quarantine, isolate." UF's new policy -- which has alarmed some parents -- was outlined in a letter sent to students on Wednesday. It strongly urged students to get vaccinated to reduce their chances of getting COVID-19 and being asked to leave their dorms. "We will no longer provide on-campus quarantine or isolation space for students," the letter signed by UF administrators says. "Quarantined or isolated students will miss classes, and we are unable to offer an online version of every class." The letter adds that "vaccinations not only help prevent you from becoming seriously ill or hospitalized with COVID-19, the more people who are vaccinated, the more it also protects those around us as well -- our friends, families, colleagues and others." "It's really a matter of personal responsibility, and that's something that each individual student and their family members will have to decide," Orlando said. "We really, really hope as few people as possible find themselves in that spot." |
| Mary Parker is UF's new vice president for enrollment management and associate provost | |
| UF's new vice president for enrollment management and associate provost is Mary Parker, a former vice president of enrollment management at Kent State University. With over two decades of experience in enrollment services and higher education, Parker said she is ready to start at UF in her new position by building relationships with the university's community. "I love to get to know people," she said. "When you have that trust, you can really work together to do things differently." Parker worked as the vice president of enrollment management at Kent State University in Ohio since 2019 before beginning at UF Aug. 2, according to a UF press release. Before working in Ohio, she also worked as associate vice president of enrollment management at the University of Utah, according to the release. Parker received a doctorate of education from the University of Pennsylvania and has experience meeting student needs in higher education, according to the release. Through her experience in previous positions, Parker said she has worked on increasing enrollment and retention rates. Now, at UF, she said she strives to solve problems through data and bring people together. |
| No masks, no class. Clemson professors plan walkout over lack of COVID precautions | |
 | Some Clemson University professors are planning to walk out of their classrooms Wednesday to protest the school administration's decision to not require masks in classrooms. Kimberly Paul, an associate professor of genetics and chemistry, announced the protest on Facebook. "The lack of a mask mandate is endangering the health and lives of all of us. University leadership is not listening to us. It's time to take action," she wrote. Wednesday is the first day of classes. The protest was scheduled to last for eight hours on Bowman Field, a large field near the center of campus. Among the nearby buildings is Sikes Hall, where the university president's office is located. It's where ESPN sets up when College GameDay comes to town. Pickens County, one of two counties in which Clemson is located, has a high incidence of COVID-19 cases, like all counties in South Carolina, and local schools went to virtual learning beginning this week. Clemson announced it would return to full-time face-to-face classes without a mask mandate. Clemson officials said, however, they encourage mask wearing. Andrew Pyle, associate professor of communication at Clemson, tweeted, "Struck by this right now -- if @ClemsonUniv is unwilling to burn some political capital over a major public health issue, is there anything we'll burn political capital for? I mean, what's the point of having a huge amount of clout in the state if we won't use it... to save lives?" |
| Through a pandemic and reckoning with racism, U. of Maryland president is still optimistic | |
 | When Darryll J. Pines was named president of Maryland's largest university, he outlined a vision for a campus that should be more accessible to students. It was an idea shaped by his own experiences, growing up in a blue-collar neighborhood in Oakland and attending California's flagship university in Berkeley -- an impossibility without a scholarship, he said. Now, a little more than a year after Pines took the helm, the University of Maryland in College Park is preparing to welcome its largest freshman class in history. In the wake of the pandemic, the university has waived its standardized testing requirement and joined the Common Application, a platform hundreds of colleges use to help students apply. Pines's first year in office has been marked by a series of victories. He has started to reckon with racism on the campus, outlined new sustainability goals and pledged $40 million over the next five years to hire and support faculty from underrepresented groups. His administration is bolstering research, with plans to establish the university and surrounding city of College Park as the quantum science capital of the country, Pines said. But challenges remain. After years of distrust, the relationship between the administration and many students remains fragile. |
| Delta variant raises questions for colleges about reopening plans | |
 | The start of the academic year is normally a time for convocations to welcome new students to college, and to welcome faculty back. This year is starting with more uncertainty even than last year. The arrival of the Delta variant has changed plans for some colleges, and prompted many to impose mask requirements or vaccine requirements. But because the Delta variant can be spread even to those who have been vaccinated, there are no guarantees of a COVID-19-free semester for anyone. Some faculty members are pushing for the right to teach online. And a few Texas institutions are going entirely online -- for the first weeks of the semester. In Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, has imposed limits on the ability of colleges to require vaccinations, the University of Florida appeared (briefly) to be preparing to announce that it was switching many classes online for the first three weeks of the semester. D'Andra Mull, vice president for student life, sent an email to students Friday evening that said in part: "[T]he mode of delivery for your courses may be changed to a virtual environment for the first three weeks of class." The email prompted news coverage saying the university was switching to online instruction for the first three weeks. Then Saturday morning, the university released this statement: "In efforts to manage the pandemic's effects on university life, there have been discussions about moving some courses online for the first three weeks of the semester. The decision was made today that UF will not pursue that option, nor will any other university in the State University System. UF will offer courses as indicated in the published Fall Schedule of Classes, with the majority of classes being offered in-person. Some face-to-face courses will be supplemented with additional HyFlex online sections so that students who are not able to attend the class in person may attend online." Faculty leaders have been pushing the university to do more about COVID-19. |
| Penn State Faculty Members Call for a Vaccine Requirement. The President Says It's Too Polarizing. | |
 | A crowd of around 200 faculty, students, and staff gathered in front of Pennsylvania State University's Old Main building on Friday. The sun was unrelenting as they stood in over 90-degree heat to rally in opposition of the institution's Covid-19 policies, less than 10 days before the semester begins. The group taped an open letter to the front door of the administrative building. The letter was signed by more than 1,200 faculty members and over 1,500 students, parents, and other members of the campus community, asking for a vaccine mandate ahead of the fall semester. The protest came alongside a Faculty Senate vote of no confidence in the university's public-health plan, and less than a day after the university president defended the decision not to mandate vaccines in an open letter to the community. In the letter, Eric J. Barron cited the political controversy around vaccine mandates. He said the university's funding "relies on strong bipartisan support." "Our actions at Penn State are designed to achieve the desired outcome, with as little polarization as possible," Barron said. But hundreds of faculty members disagree with that approach. Gary King, a professor of biobehavioral health, said he was disappointed in Barron's statement. King is a member of the Coalition for a Just University, a faculty organization dedicated to promoting equity at Penn State that organized Friday's protest. "The president seems to be digging in his heels to support a policy that is simply not viable or tenable," King said. |
| Washington State U. to End Personal, Philosophical Exemptions to Covid-19 Vaccine Requirement | |
| Students at Washington State University will no longer be allowed to obtain personal or philosophical exemptions from its Covid-19 vaccination requirement, the university announced on Thursday, citing the threat of the Delta variant. The new policy will go into effect once the U.S. Food and Drug Administration grants approval to any of the three vaccines now under emergency-use authorization. Under the current policy, all students, faculty, and staff members must begin the vaccination process by September 10, moved up from November 1. "If you do not complete these steps, it may impact your ability to participate in campus events, and you will need to wear a mask while on campus," an email to students says. "You will not be able to register for spring classes, and a hold will be placed on your student account." Once the personal exemption is discontinued, students will have up to 45 days to receive at least their first dose of a vaccine or request a new medical or religious exemption. Classes start on August 23. According to the university's announcement, discussions about changes in the vaccination policy for the faculty and staff are in progress. |
| 'Be Paranoid': Professors Who Teach About Race Approach the Fall With Anxiety | |
| Conservative lawmakers across the country are saying that teachers and professors are discussing racism and sexism in ways that are anti-American, and blaming contemporary students for past events. While just a few states have passed laws that restrict college teaching, legislators in about two dozen states have introduced bills attempting to ban the teaching of "divisive" concepts or taken other actions that restrict teaching, and several have passed laws affecting public-school teachers. Even in states where such legislation would stand little chance, professors say they increasingly feel under surveillance. To be sure, many professors argue that these bills are simply political theater, designed to score points with voters and difficult to enforce if passed. And they point out that the concepts described in many of them are nothing any competent professor would teach. Even so, many faculty members across the country are concerned that in this politically polarized environment, some students or outside groups could come looking for trouble. The threat of students recording classroom conversations and posting snippets online out of context is not new, after all. But faculty members are also aware that if critics truly believe lessons that make students feel uncomfortable are "divisive," that leaves their teaching open to criticism. Challenging students' pre-existing ideas is, after all, a fundamental part of a college education. |
| A win for academic freedom in Nebraska | |
| The Board of Regents for the University of Nebraska system on Friday voted down an anti-critical race theory proposal from one of its members. Unlike many states' legislative bans on mandatory critical race theory training, the Nebraska proposal explicitly opposed the "imposition" of critical race theory via the curriculum. "America is the best country in the world and anyone can achieve the American Dream here," says the resolution, written by regent Jim Pillen. "Critical race theory seeks to silence opposing views and disparage important American ideals" and the Nebraska regents "oppose critical race theory being imposed in curriculum, training and programming." The 3-5 vote against the proposal followed hours of discussion. Students, faculty members, deans, the board and its four non-voting student members, plus Ted Carter, system president all weighed in. All but a handful of their comments were against the resolution, echoing sentiments of numerous student and faculty groups who opposed it prior to the vote. "It might be critical race theory today, but tomorrow it's another topic that is deemed un-American," Caleb Hendrickson, an undergraduate at Nebraska's Kearney campus, told the board during the public comment period. "I stand before you all as a student of UNK. But deeper than that, I am a kid from rural Nebraska, one of thousands in our great state, who has been able to learn freely through our public education system since I was 5 years old. I hope that you all can see the importance of maintaining the integrity of our education as history tells us, rather than our government dictating what we can and cannot hear." |
| Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona offers next steps on improving student loan administration | |
| The Department of Education is planning to continue addressing reforms to the administration of the student loan program -- based partly on the input of two Democratic senators, according to a letter sent by Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona earlier this month. Cardona told Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, and Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, that in the upcoming months, the department will be working to improve targeted debt relief, address student loan servicing and debt collection and strengthen oversight and enforcement of both institutions and accrediting agencies. "I look forward to continuing to engage with you and your staff on these issues as we pursue these items," Cardona wrote. "The actions we take in the coming months will be an important down payment on assisting the roughly 45 million Americans who have a federal student loan. But the department cannot go it alone to solve all these issues." Both Schumer and Warren have been vocal about issues related to student debt throughout the first year of the Biden administration. Both have been calling for the president to unilaterally cancel $50,000 in student loan debt per person, while Warren has been particularly focused on the need for improvements to the administration of the student loan program. |
| Mississippians get mixed pandemic messages from experts, governor | |
| Geoff Pender writes for Mississippi Today: Mississippi has record COVID-19 hospitalizations, could soon "see a failure of the hospital system," and the specter looms of sick Mississippians dying in makeshift parking-garage hospitals. Please, please get vaccinated, wear a mask, and kids and teachers should wear masks in school. Or... We're not seeing record hospitalizations, things are under control "in spite of the angry rhetoric coming from so many," and everyone needs to "remain calm" and "ignore all the irrational folks." Get vaccinated, if you want, but it's understandable if you don't because of vaccination "risks." Masks are minimally effective and "foolish." Mississippians are receiving mixed messages as the pandemic infects record numbers. The first message is from state medical and education leaders. The latter is from Gov. Tate Reeves. Mississippians are faced with a choice: Listen to experts with M.D. and other degrees behind their names, or listen to the state's chief executive, a career politician who mostly practices finger-in-the-wind politics with his policy decisions and proclamations. They're out of tune and do not appear to be communicating well despite this dark hour, as under-vaccinated Mississippi bears the brunt of the fourth wave of the pandemic. |
| Gov. Tate Reeves' uneven COVID-19 presser opens door to anti-vaxxer efforts | |
| Sam R. Hall writes for the Daily Journal: Gov. Tate Reeves held his first press conference on COVID-19 since the delta variant started causing a huge spike in cases in Mississippi. On Friday Reeves told the press that the recent narrative of his being absent from the COVID-19 discussion and not being engaged in trying to get people vaccinated was a figment of our imagination. It isn't. Reeves has left the fight against the pandemic to state medical leaders like Mississippi Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs and State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers. ... On Friday, however, it appeared Reeves realized he had stayed silent too long, that he miscalculated the severity of this surge. He started the press conference strong and clear in his message. He said the surge was a crisis largely among the unvaccinated. He reiterated he was vaccinated and rattled off family members who also were. He said he believed the vaccine was safe and effective. The message was clear: to get past this pandemic, we need more Mississippians to get vaccinated. ... But things changed when it was time for Reeves to take questions. He went from being strong and clear to taking a combative stance and equivocating with answers. |
| Could Medicaid expansion increase Mississippi's work force participation rate? Veteran doc thinks so. Hosemann might, too. | |
| Bobby Harrison writes for Mississippi Today: Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann has been the sole member of the state's political triumvirate, which also includes Gov. Tate Reeves and Speaker Philip Gunn, to not categorically reject expanding Medicaid. Hosemann has said multiple times that all options should be on the table in terms of expanding health care access for Mississippians. That sentiment has given hope to health care providers and others who support expanding Medicaid. At last month's Neshoba County Fair political speakings, the Republican again gave Medicaid expansion supporters reason for hope. ... In the same fair speech, Hosemann reiterated one of his top priorities: increasing Mississippi's dismal workforce participation rate. ... Perhaps Hosemann could help achieve his goal of increasing the state's workforce participation rate by expanding Medicaid. Tim Alford of Kosciusko was a family medicine doctor for about 30 years before the grandfather of 10 made what some might see as the questionable decision to lighten his workload as the COVID-19 pandemic hit: He became a full-time emergency room doctor in his hometown. At any rate, Alford has for years been talking about people who work jobs -- often multiple jobs -- without health care until they get ill with a chronic condition and can no longer work. If the condition had been treated earlier through preventive medicine, that person most likely could have managed his or her illness and continued to work. ... Hosemann talks about increasing the workforce participation rate and improving access to health care. Maybe the next step is determining whether Medicaid expansion can help with both goals. Perhaps deep down, Hosemann already knows the answer to that. |
SPORTS
| Observations from Mississippi State football scrimmage at Davis Wade Stadium | |
| Mike Leach didn't hear pads popping as much as he would have liked during Mississippi State's Maroon and White spring football game on April 17. But Saturday afternoon, when the Bulldogs took the field at Davis Wade Stadium for a preseason intrasquad scrimmage, Leach got what he wanted. "I thought it was productive; I thought it was aggressive; I thought it was competitive the whole time," the second-year MSU coach said. Sure, there were low points. An uneven day from likely starting quarterback Will Rogers, questionable offensive line play and an injury to defensive end Jordan Davis marred the day for the Bulldogs. But a strong day from freshman quarterback Sawyer Robertson, an effective pass rush and some nice catches by wide receivers were bright spots with 20 days to go until the Sept. 4 season opener. "I'm glad we've got three weeks or whatever it adds up to," Leach said. "I don't think we're ready yet." |
| Scrimmage provides Mississippi State fall camp checkpoint | |
| Saturday served as a chance for a bounty of college football coaches to gauge how their teams have progressed through a week of fall camp. Mississippi State was no exception, as the team shifted from its practice fields to Davis Wade Stadium for a glimpse of where the team stands heading into its second season with Mike Leach at the helm. MSU's quarterback battle, which Leach narrowed to incumbent Will Rogers and transfer Chance Lovertich, continued with Rogers taking the first-team snaps as he has throughout camp. In three drives, Rogers went 11 of 20 for 79 yards including an eight-yard floating touchdown pass to Jaden Walley in the corner of the north endzone. "A little up and down," Leach said of his assessment of Rogers. "I thought several times really good. Then we had some dropped balls or sacks that cost the whole unit. Collectively, I thought he did pretty good, but definitely there's a play or two he wants back." Lovertich went 19 of 30 in his three drives, throwing for 152 yards and a 3-yard touchdown to Austin Williams against the first-team defense. "He's had a good camp," Leach said of Lovertich. "He continues to improve. One thing is he'll pull the trigger. That helps him when he's got his eyes in the right place and making good choices." The focus for the offense following a full offseason of implementing Leach's Air Raid was continued reps leading to consistency. |
| Part of the family: MSU bullpen catcher Schmidt enjoys unforgettable experience | |
| Gavin Schmidt grew up an LSU fan on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. A Biloxi native, Schmidt rooted for the Tigers for as good a reason as any: His father went to school in Baton Rouge. But when he stayed with an older cousin at Mississippi State over a football weekend, Schmidt realized what he was missing out on. "I kind of like this," the Biloxi High catcher told himself. "Starkville's a cool place." In fall 2018, he enrolled at MSU and signed up to be a manager for the baseball team -- a choice Schmidt has never regretted. In three years and counting as a bullpen catcher for the Bulldogs, he's met who he expects to be lifelong friends, heard unbelievable stories and experienced heartbreak and frustration right alongside the players on the field. And this summer, Schmidt got to be part of an unforgettable experience as Mississippi State won its first national title in Omaha, Nebraska. "We showed up every day of the week and went to work with these guys," Schmidt said. "It's just awesome to see. It just makes you feel like a little small part of their success just going to work with them every day." Schmidt was starstruck as soon as he stepped onto campus in the fall of his freshman year. Everywhere he looked he saw Bulldogs legends in the making: Jake Mangum taking batting practice; Elijah MacNamee running down fly balls. For a newcomer, it was intimidating. But the adjustment didn't take long. Within a week, Schmidt was sitting on a shag bucket in right field when MacNamee came up to him. MacNamee introduced himself, which Schmidt still finds amusing. |
| NCAA extends investigation into LSU athletics; case involves 'at least' 13 men's basketball recruits, records show | |
| The NCAA was scheduled to complete its investigation of alleged violations within the LSU men's basketball and football programs by July 31, but that deadline has been extended, further stretching an investigation that has lasted roughly three years. Documents shared between LSU and the NCAA, which The Advocate obtained through a public records request, revealed the latest in a probe that lumped the football and men's basketball cases together by referring them last year to the Independent Accountability Review Process, a group designed to handle complex NCAA infractions. LSU had requested a separation of the football and basketball cases, which the NCAA denied. The IARP's complex case unit and LSU agreed upon a July 31 completion date for the investigation, but LSU spokesperson Ernie Ballard confirmed the completion date had been extended and that the investigation is still ongoing. LSU declined further comment. Once the investigation ends, the complex case unit will have 60 days to issue LSU a notice of allegations, documents showed, which could affect men's basketball coach Will Wade's future at the school. |
| NIL is no distraction for Texas A&M football team | |
 | It's been business as usual for the Texas A&M football team in fall camp with no problems arising from the NCAA allowing athletes to benefit from their name, image and likeness (NIL). The Aggies after donning pads for a few practices have the typical bumps and bruises, but the ones with bigger pocketbooks because of NIL deals haven't caused any commotion. "The thing about the NIL, it has not been a distraction," A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher said. "Some of the guys are really having great success with it, from what I understand, making a lot of money, I mean a lot of opportunities. That's what it's about, I'm very happy for them, but they haven't let it be a distraction to the team at all and they've kept everything separate as far as when it's time to work and do other things." Running back Isaiah Spiller, offensive tackle Kenyon Green and safety Demani Richardson each have received $10,000 to be interviewed by TexAgs.com. Spiller, a third-team preseason All-American by Phil Steele, also signed a deal with Raising Canes. Spiller, Green and Richardson are among the team's higher profile players, but NIL also benefited wide receiver Hezekiah Jones who recently filed for an LLC (limited liability company) to sell clothing. Jones, who ruptured his Achilles in fall camp two years ago, purchased a sewing machine and started making pants during his recovery. He was good at it and spent the summer getting his business ready, knowing the NIL went into effect on July 1. |
| Businesses are cautious about new deals with Vols players, but others jump at the chance | |
 | When Dan Wilson heard he could finally put college athletes on his T-shirts, he had two Tennessee Vols in mind. Less than a month after the NCAA opened the door for college athletes to profit off their name, image and likeness, Wilson, the founder and designer of DW Designs, unveiled the "Home Mays Tee." It's a partnership with Knoxville natives and Vols football offensive linemen Cooper Mays and Cade Mays. The shirt generated the most pre-order sales of any DW Designs product ever. "I can already tell with NIL the exposure's going to be huge," Wilson told Knox News. "The attention, the amount of people that are going to see our brand that maybe otherwise either haven't heard of us or haven't had a chance to come into our shop." Along with Tennessee basketball senior John Fulkerson's partnership with Pal's Sudden Service, it's one of the most high-profile NIL deals to come out of East Tennessee. Many businesses are taking a wait-and-see approach to partnering with college athletes for marketing opportunities. "When you're talking about college sports, you're talking about a lot of very conservative markets that are going to have a very careful approach to who they endorse," said Brian Rice, co-host of The Erik Ainge Show with Brian Rice on WNML. Game day apparel store Alumni Hall, which has 26 locations nationwide and is headquartered in Knoxville, seems like another natural fit for a player partnership. Alumni Hall President Jeff Goodfriend said he's exploring the possibility of brand ambassadors or spokespeople, but fought the temptation to rush into signing any deals. |
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