| Wednesday, September 22, 2021 |
| Employees should review coverage in preparation for Benefits Open Enrollment in October | |
 | MSU faculty and staff should review their existing coverage in preparation for Benefits Open Enrollment during the month of October. You may review your current coverage and deductions in your MyState account. The HRM website provides an overview of benefits. You may access our website at: https://www.hrm.msstate.edu/benefits. Open enrollment is for the election of new coverage and changing or dropping existing coverage. The appropriate form(s) must be completed and submitted to your Benefits Specialist no later than Friday, October 29, 2021. If you do not want to add additional coverage or make changes to your existing coverage, no further action is required for your benefits to continue in 2022. Please see following link for new rates and allowances for vision coverage effective January 1, 2022: https://www.hrm.msstate.edu/benefits/whats-new. The Benefits Office, Room 150 McArthur Hall, is available for meetings, face-to-face or virtually, with employees who need assistance during Open Enrollment. Appointments are recommended and may be scheduled by calling (662) 325-3713. |
| Suspect arrested minutes after bank robbery | |
 | An Oktibbeha County man was in custody just minutes after he tried to rob a downtown Starkville bank Tuesday afternoon. A man walked into the Renasant Bank on East Lampkin Street around 3:30 p.m. Sept. 21. After spending a brief time inside the bank, the suspect demanded money. He then ran from the bank with a bag. Starkville police spokesman Sgt. Brandon Lovelady said officers converged on the area quickly and began setting up a perimeter. Police found a man matching the suspect's description about three blocks away, near the intersection of Gillespie and Spring Streets. After a brief investigation, Laquavis Collier, 31 of Starkville, was charged with robbery and later transported to the Oktibbeha County Jail. "Today marked one of the first bank robberies within the city in a very long time," said Starkville Police Chief Mark Ballard. "A credit to the bank employees who trained, took their training seriously, and followed their training as well as the first responding officers and their supervisors. This high level of communication between all parties were critical in the apprehension of the suspect." |
| Legislative hearing held to discuss telehealth delivery in the state | |
 | Telemedicine can be a game changer for patients who are unable to get to a doctor's office, whether because of their medical issues or transportation. And it started being put to use more amid the pandemic. The purpose of Tuesday's joint House and Senate Insurance Committee hearing wasn't a debate on whether telehealth is needed in the Magnolia State, but rather how far its impacts can extend. Telemedicine is already allowed within state law but lawmakers are looking closely at that law. "We are looking at tweaking it to add services in that specific code section and we are looking at tweaking it not just in the services we offer," described Rep. Hank Zuber, House Insurance Committee Chairman. The legislators also heard testimony regarding the delivery methods, audio only, audio/visual. And doctors have specific reasons for their positions. "The Academy of Family Physicians does not think it is appropriate to establish a medical relationship over a telemedicine visit," said Dr. Luke Lampton, past president of the Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians. "It should be utilized within a relationship, an established relationship." The bottom line to all of this conversation: "At the end of the day, what's very important about this is our patients," said University of Mississippi Medical Center Associate Vice Chancellor for Clinical Affairs Dr. Alan Jones. "We need our patients to have increased access to care. Mississippi has the lowest number of physicians per capita than any other state in the country." |
| Lawmakers working to ensure post-pandemic access to telemedicine | |
| Throughout the pandemic, access to telemedicine has been expanded in Mississippi under the governor's 'state of emergency order' and a bulletin issued by the Mississippi Insurance Department. State lawmakers, including Senator Nicole Akins-Boyd, are working to ensure continued access in the future. The Insurance Department's bulletin, which essentially directs insurance companies to cover telemedicine, will remain in effect until the governor's order expires, currently set for October 15th. With the order's expiration date looming, the House and Senate Insurance Committees are holding joint hearings with the intent of introducing legislation during the 2022 session to codify the language of the bulletin. Both chambers passed their own version of such a bill during the previous session, but conferees failed to strike a deal and the measures died. Boyd joined MidDays on SuperTalk Mississippi today to discuss how the emergence of telemedicine has been a silver lining throughout the pandemic. "I think it's important, particularly for this state, when we have so many needs when it comes to healthcare access that we use all the tools in the toolbox," she said. The University of Mississippi Medical Center is one of just two Centers of Excellence in Telehealth in the country. |
| Is The Worst Over? Modelers Predict A Steady Decline In COVID Cases Through March | |
 | Americans may be able to breathe a tentative sigh of relief soon, according to researchers studying the trajectory of the pandemic. The delta surge appears to be peaking nationally, and cases and deaths will likely decline steadily now through the spring without a significant winter surge, according to a new analysis shared with NPR by a consortium of researchers advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For its latest update, which it will release Wednesday, the COVID-19 Scenario Modeling Hub combined nine different mathematical models from different research groups to get an outlook for the pandemic for the next six months. "Any of us who have been following this closely, given what happened with delta, are going to be really cautious about too much optimism," says Justin Lessler at the University of North Carolina, who helps run the hub. "But I do think that the trajectory is towards improvement for most of the country," he says. The modelers developed four potential scenarios, taking into account whether or not childhood vaccinations take off and whether a more infectious new variant should emerge. The most likely scenario, says Lessler, is that children do get vaccinated and no super-spreading variant emerges. In that case, the combo model forecasts that new infections would slowly, but fairly continuously, drop from about 140,000 today now to about 9,000 a day by March. And this scenario projects that there will be no winter surge, though Lessler cautions that there is uncertainty in the models and a "moderate" surge is still theoretically possible. There's wide range of uncertainty in the models, he notes, and it's plausible, though very unlikely, that cases could continue to rise to as many as 232,000 per day before starting to decline. |
| Breakthrough COVID-19 cases expected to become more common in coming months | |
 | Mild cases of COVID-19 among vaccinated individuals are becoming increasingly common as the highly contagious delta variant barrels through communities, but physicians and public health experts say that shouldn't be a cause for significant concern. A breakthrough case of COVID-19 occurs when a person contracts COVID-19 at least two full weeks after the final dose of the vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracks only breakthrough cases that result in hospitalization or death, as these incidences are both serious and very rare. COVID-19 cases are up to five times more common in unvaccinated individuals compared with the vaccinated, according to the CDC. But state-level data shows that milder breakthrough cases that do not result in hospitalization are on the rise among the fully vaccinated as virus transmission increases and vaccine efficacy decreases. And they're expected to keep increasing. "It's likely that everybody will probably get infected with COVID-19 [at some point] because it's an endemic respiratory virus. The goal is to make sure that at that time, that infection occurs after you've been vaccinated so it's mild," said Amesh Adalja, a doctor and infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. Levels of community spread play a key role in how common and how severe breakthrough infections are. |
| US appeals court to hear Mississippi voting rights case | |
 | A federal appeals court is set to hear arguments Wednesday in a lawsuit that seeks to overturn Mississippi's ban on voting rights for people convicted of some felonies -- a case that could affect thousands of people. The original list of disenfranchising crimes was put into the Mississippi Constitution in 1890 because people writing the constitution believed those crimes "were disproportionately committed by African Americans," according to written arguments by attorneys challenging the ban. The attorneys also argue that the disenfranchisement continues to disproportionately hurt Black people. Attorneys representing the state say Mississippi dropped burglary from the list of disenfranchising crimes in 1950 and added murder and rape to the list in 1968. They say in written arguments that those changes "cured any discriminatory taint on the original provision." To regain voting rights in Mississippi now, a person convicted of a disenfranchising crime must receive a governor's pardon or must win permission from two-thirds of the state House and Senate. Legislators in recent years have passed a small number of bills to restore voting rights. Bills to restore suffrage to 28 people were filed this year. Two of those passed, and Republican Gov. Tate Reeves let both become law without his signature. |
| 5th Circuit to hear arguments on state's felony voting ban | |
| The full U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments Wednesday morning from its federal courthouse in New Orleans on whether Mississippi's lifetime ban on voting for people convicted of certain felonies is constitutional. A ruling by the federal panel overturning the Jim Crow-era provisions of the state Constitution could restore the voting rights to tens of thousands of Mississippians "who've been locked out of the democratic process for life even after completing their criminal sentences and returning to their communities," said Kevin Pallasch of the Southern Poverty Law Center. Both the SPLC and the Mississippi Center for Justice filed separate lawsuits challenging Mississippi's felony voting restrictions, which were placed in the state's 1890s' Constitution to try to disenfranchise African Americans, writers of the Constitution said at the time. Earlier this year a three judge panel of the 5th Circuit rejected the arguments of the consolidated lawsuits against the state. But the case was revived when the full panel agreed to hear it. It is not clear when the full panel will rule after the oral arguments. |
| Wind pool could lose funding mechanism without legislative action | |
| A critical funding mechanism for the so-called wind pool will expire in July unless lawmakers extend it. The House and Senate Insurance committees conducted a two-day series of hearings Tuesday and Wednesday and took up on Tuesday the wind pool's finances and ability to cover claims in the event of a catastrophic hurricane like Ida that struck southeast Louisiana earlier this month. One of the largest funding sources for the wind pool is a 3 percent fee assessed on policies provided by surplus lines insurance companies, which provide policies for clients with a financial risk too high for normal insurers. This fee has a repealer on it, which means it is set to expire unless lawmakers specifically reauthorize it. According to lawmakers, revenue from the fee adds up to about $18 million to $19 million annually. The Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association, better known as the wind pool, is a non-profit corporation that is the insurer of last resort for those needing wind and hail policies in the six coastal counties (Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River, Stone and George). It has issued 13,300 policies for a $2.35 billion total insured value, down from a post-Katrina high of 46,406 policies worth $7.24 billion in 2011. |
| Congress considers Medicaid expansion workaround to provide health care to poor Mississippians | |
| Democrats in the U.S. Congress are considering a way to offer health care insurance for low income Mississippians who have been denied coverage because of the refusal of the state's political leadership to expand Medicaid. The proposal would provide health care coverage to people who are below the federal poverty level (an individual making $12,880 per year or less) in the 12 primarily Southern states -- including Mississippi -- that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Two million Americans could access health care coverage through the plan, with the bulk of those being in Texas, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina, according to an analysis by Judith Solomon, a health policy analyst with the Washington-based Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. In Mississippi, studies have estimated that between 200,000 and 300,000 primarily working Mississippians could qualify for coverage if the state would expand Medicaid. The congressional proposal is being considered as part of the budget reconciliation bill that Congress is currently negotiating. The initial budget plan was $3.5 trillion, which was met with intense pushback by Republicans and moderate Democrats. |
| The Federal Reserve is meeting and all eyes are on its bond purchase plans. | |
 | The Federal Reserve is finishing up its two-day policy meeting on Wednesday, and officials are expected to signal that they will soon slow their large bond-buying program -- the central bank's first step in weaning the economy off the support it has offered since shortly after the pandemic began. This Fed meeting is shaping up to be among the most closely watched of the year. Central bank officials are in the process of teeing up their plans to slow large-scale purchases of government-backed debt, which they have been using to keep longer-term interest rates low and many types of borrowing cheap. The Fed has been carefully broadcasting its progress toward the so-called taper, in hopes that it can avoid surprising and roiling markets. Officials could provide further details on the expected timing and pace. The Fed -- which will release its policy statement at 2 p.m. -- will also provide fresh economic projections. Those will include policymakers' predictions of when they might lift their main interest rate from near-zero, a move that officials have signaled is still months or even years away. "The Fed has been very clear on their intentions," said Michelle Meyer, chief U.S. economist at Bank of America, noting that officials want to get moving on the bond program so that they can separate it from the path ahead for the federal funds rate. "That's one of the reasons they want to get the taper underway -- they just want it on the back burner." Most economists expect the Fed to formally announce the tapering plan at its November meeting, and few expect officials to signal a precise timeline this week. Instead, they will probably say that they hope to slow bond purchases before the end of the year, and may offer hints about how quickly the purchases will draw to a close. |
| Joe Biden's job approval plunges after Afghanistan exit, COVID surge | |
 | Fewer than one third of Iowans approve of the job Joe Biden is doing as president, a steep drop from earlier this year. Thirty-one percent of Iowans approve of how Biden is handling his job, while 62% disapprove and 7% are not sure, according to the latest Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll. That's a 12 percentage point drop in approval from June, the last time the question was asked. Biden's disapproval numbers jumped by 10 points during the same period. In June, 43% approved and 52% disapproved. Biden's job approval has not been in net positive territory in Iowa since March, when 47% of Iowans approved of his performance and 44% disapproved. "This is a bad poll for Joe Biden, and it's playing out in everything that he touches right now," said pollster J. Ann Selzer. Biden's job approval rating is lower than former President Donald Trump's worst showing in the Iowa Poll. The former Republican president's worst job approval was 35% in December 2017. Other recent presidents' worst Iowa Poll results: Barack Obama, 36%, in February 2014, and George W. Bush, 25%, in September 2008. The poll of 805 Iowa adults was conducted Sept. 12-15 by Selzer & Co. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. |
| Biden slips into political quicksand amid Haitian migrant buildup | |
 | The mass of thousands of Haitians at the U.S. southern border has put the Biden administration in the exact place it's tried to avoid: knee deep in immigration politics. In the past 24 hours, the White House has responded to images and videos of aggressive tactics used by Border Patrol agents to corral those migrants by supporting an internal investigation into the matter. What it hasn't done, yet, is figure out a solution to the crowding and sanitary issues arising in what's become a makeshift encampment -- or stop its policy of deporting migrants upon arrival. That's left the president and his team with few supporters and allies. A coalition of more than 38 civil rights and immigrant advocacy leaders sent the White House a letter Tuesday evening calling on Biden to immediately stop expulsions of Haitians, some of whom arrived at the border community of Del Rio, Texas, after fleeing violence and natural disaster in their home county. Members of the president's own party -- from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on down -- echoed the call to end the expulsions. Increasingly, they did so while directing their ire at the White House for its handling of the situation. In sharply visceral terms, the national Border Patrol union blasted the White House on Tuesday, characterizing it as inept for failing to have a plan in place to deal with the influx of some 15,000 migrants that left agents overwhelmed. |
| Biden Urges Global Cooperation on Covid-19, Climate Change | |
 | President Biden outlined a U.S. foreign-policy vision rooted in global alliances during his first address to the United Nations as commander-in-chief, emphasizing the importance of diplomacy at a moment when relations with some U.S. allies are strained. Mr. Biden called for a shift away from armed conflict after two decades of war in Afghanistan and the Middle East. "As we close this period of relentless war, we're opening a new era of relentless diplomacy," he said, standing in the U.N. assembly hall in front of the iconic serpentinite stone backdrop. The U.S. president made the case that the biggest issues facing the world -- from the coronavirus pandemic to climate change -- can only be solved with cooperation among countries with varying national interests. The world, he said, is facing a major inflection point in its history. He encouraged competition among rising powers, but stressed that he is "not seeking a new Cold War or a world divided into rigid blocks." "All the major powers of the world have a duty, in my view, to carefully manage their relationships so they do not tip from responsible competition to conflict," the president said. Congressional Republicans said Mr. Biden's address fell short after the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal, which they said emboldened American adversaries and undercut allies. "Tough talk is useless if it's followed by weak actions," said Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. |
| Extreme Heat Protections Added To Federal Worker Protections Under Biden's OSHA | |
| The Biden administration is pushing for new worker protections after record-setting temperatures across the country left dozens of workers injured and dead this summer. The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced Monday that it will prioritize inspections on hot days, target high-risk industries nationally, and, as reported earlier this summer, begin developing a federal rule to protect workers from heat-related illnesses, a move long sought by worker advocates. President Biden released a joint statement with OSHA, calling the initiative an "all-of-government effort to protect workers, children, seniors, and at-risk communities from extreme heat." An investigation last month by NPR and Columbia Journalism Investigations found a dramatic rise in preventable worker deaths from high temperatures, and that 384 workers died from environmental heat exposure in the U.S. over the last decade. The fatalities included workers performing essential services across the country. Workers of color have borne the brunt: Since 2010, for example, Hispanics have accounted for a third of all heat fatalities, yet they represent a fraction -- 17% -- of the U.S. workforce, NPR and CJI found. Health and safety experts attribute this unequal toll to Hispanics' overrepresentation in industries vulnerable to dangerous heat, such as construction and agriculture. |
| FBI Director Christopher Wray: Afghanistan unrest could inspire extremism inside US | |
| The possibility of a 9/11-type attack has diminished over the last 20 years, but the Taliban victory in Afghanistan could embolden U.S.-based extremists at the same time that the FBI is confronting increasing threats from individuals motivated by racial and political grievances, top national security officials warned Tuesday. Christine Abizaid, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, testified before the Senate Homeland Security Committee that the terrorism threat to the country is less "acute" than it was two decades ago, and that the danger posed in Afghanistan by groups like al-Qaida and the Islamic State is at the moment primarily a regional threat. FBI Director Christopher Wray said that though extremist groups have never stopped plotting attacks against the U.S., the FBI is better positioned to stop them. Even so, the officials said, the collapse of the Afghanistan government and the potential ascendancy of foreign terror groups there could inspire Westerners to commit acts of violence. That's on top of a domestic terrorism caseload that Wray said has "exploded" since the spring of 2020 from about 1,000 investigations to around 2,700. "We are concerned that, with developments in Afghanistan -- among other things -- that there will be more inspiration to the first bucket," Wray said of the international terrorism threat. "So I think we anticipate, unfortunately, growth in both categories as we look ahead over the next couple of years." |
| Young voters turned out in force for Democrats in 2020. Will they stick around? | |
 | Kip Lund was a detached spectator of politics in early 2020, more focused on his bioengineering job in San Diego than on presidential campaign hubbub. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Lund, like millions, had to work from home. With more time to reflect on civic affairs, he was swept up in the national reaction to George Floyd's murder by Minneapolis police and joined his first big political demonstration. He voted for Joe Biden for president even though the Democratic nominee did not excite him. He became a volunteer with the Sunrise Movement, a youth-led climate change and social justice group. "It was like a powder keg spark," Lund, 27, said of his rapid journey from the sidelines to the front lines of political activism. "Being a part of those protests and feeling part of that energy and commitment in the streets in those numbers inspired me to pursue activism." Lund is part of a rising generation of young people who helped elect Biden in 2020 even though many were lukewarm about his candidacy, and who will be key to the Democratic Party's ability to keep control of Congress in 2022. Many young people were spurred to vote by anger toward former President Trump, but much more is driving them. These young Democratic voters have produced a new wave of grass-roots activism, inspired less by candidates than by their passion for issues that their generation thrust to the fore such as racial justice, gun safety and climate change. A big question for Democrats as they head into the midterm campaign is whether progressive young people will lose interest in politics in the post-Trump era, or become disillusioned with Democrats if they do not deliver on the issues they care about. Without them, it will be hard for Democrats to win their uphill fight to keep control of Congress. |
| Could Texas anti-abortion law hamper tech recruitment? | |
| More than 50 companies, including Lyft, Yelp and Bumble have signed a letter opposing the strict new Texas anti-abortion law. The law bans abortions as early as six weeks and allows citizens to sue abortion providers and anyone who "aids and abets" a woman who gets the procedure. Companies argue the policy is bad for business and will hurt efforts to build diverse and inclusive workforces. Texas is transitioning from an oil economy to a high tech economy, said Richard Alm at Southern Methodist University. "This is social policy but it also has a labor market component," Alm said. Big tech companies like Apple and Google have moved in. "You need enough labor and the right kind of labor," he said. So, if highly skilled workers don't see Texas as a cultural fit, Alm said it could hamper that growth. |
| Board: Public universities cannot require COVID-19 vaccine | |
| The board that governs Mississippi's public universities has voted to prohibit schools from requiring COVID-19 vaccines for students and staff. The Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning took the vote on Friday, said Caron Blanton, communications director for the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning. At an earlier meeting on Aug. 27, the board voted not to require public university students to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Board members decided to vote again because there was confusion about whether officials at individual schools could choose to mandate the shots if they wished to, Blanton said. "Except for clinical settings within institutions, centers, departments, and programs, institutions are directed to refrain from mandating the COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of enrollment or employment," the new motion passed Friday reads. The clinical exception means that the policy adopted by the University of Mississippi Medical Center, which already announced that it will require students and staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Nov. 1, will stay in place. |
| UMMC hires first female police chief, how she plans to connect with community | |
| A new top cop is in charge at University Mississippi Medical Center. Her name is Mary Eileen Paradis (pronounced "para-dee"), and she's a fourth-generation "cop" from Chicago, Illinois. "When I worked patrol in the South Side, there were some tough neighborhoods," Eileen said. "People really wanted to see the police there -- they embraced the police. It was new to them that a female would be responding to their call(s). They often used the term 'lady police' to describe me." Now, she's the first female Chief of Police and Executive Director of Public Safety for UMMC's police department. "I have been doing this type of work for 35 years, and I have never received a warmer welcome than I have from the UMMC community," Paradis said. "You do not get that in all places. Her biggest priorities are getting accreditation for UMMC police and bringing diversity into the department to mirror the community. "I am all about our commitment to the UMMC community," Paradis said. "My reputation is built on transparency, trust, and integrity." |
| JSU, Tougaloo and Alcorn State rank among top 25 HBCUs in the country | |
| Some local Historically Black Colleges and Universities received national recognition for their culture, pride and educational success. Jackson State, Tougaloo and Alcorn State rank among the top 25 HBCU's in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report. "Everyone thinks that Mississippi is last on the list, but Mississippi has some of the best higher-ed institutions in the world, and we are just happy to be the best in our area," said Tougaloo President Dr. Carmen Walters. "What you're seeing is us finally getting our due, and people recognize the value of a HBCU," said JSU President Dr. Thomas Hudson. "We are making a difference. In fact, 40% or more percent of the African-American doctors in state of Mississippi graduated from Tougaloo," said Walters. "Whether it's being the leading producers of African-American PHD's, African-American graduates in STEM. It's really just providing that diversity that companies look for and want. HBCU's remain part of the culture and part of the fabric of this nation," said Hudson. These Mississippi HBCU's are committed to continue striving for excellence. |
| Suspect arrested for drive-by shooting at Southwest MS Community College | |
| On Tuesday, September 14th, the Southwest Mississippi Community College (SMCC) Police Department and Pike County Sheriff's Office, executed a search warrant at a residence in Magnolia. A firearm was located in 18-year-old Bryan "BJ' Cameron's room at the residence and is believed to be one of the firearms used in a drive-by shooting on the SMCC campus on September 9th. Officers also discovered forty-four (44) grams of marijuana. Cameron was arrested and booked for Drive-By Shooting, Conspiracy to Commit Drive-By Shooting, Shooting into a Motor Vehicle (x2), Possession of Weapon on School Campus by SMCCPD and Possession of Marijuana With the Intent to Distribute enhanced by Possession of a Firearm by the Pike County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Division. |
| U. of Alabama System names to successor to John England Jr. on board of trustees | |
 | The University of Alabama System has chosen a former Jefferson County circuit judge to succeed John England Jr. of Tuscaloosa on the board of trustees. The appointment of Ken Simon, a graduate of UA's School of Law whose hometown is Mobile, is subject to approval by the Alabama Senate. "Ken Simon's great character, vast knowledge, and meaningful experience make him an exceptional fit to serve on the University of Alabama System board of trustees," said Karen Brooks, a member of the board of trustees who served as chair of the nominating committee. "I was honored to nominate him to represent the Seventh Congressional District and look forward to working with him," Brooks said. Simon has more than 40-plus years of experience as a judge, litigator and mediator. He has been involved in community service throughout his career, including chairing boards for several nonprofit organizations and inner-city schools. During its Sept. 17 meeting, the UA trustees also elected Stan Starnes to a second one-year term as the board's president pro tempore. Trustees Brooks and Harris Morrissette were also elected to new six-year terms. Those elections are also subject to Senate approval. In other action at the meeting, the board passed a unanimous resolution naming England as a trustee emeritus. He will continue to chair a group tasked with reviewing the names of buildings, structures, and spaces on all UA System campuses relative to the UA System's shared values. |
| How Social Media Is Fueling Protests Against Campus Sexual Assault | |
 | Over the course of a week in early September, Jordan Musantry and her fellow students at Auburn University received three emails from the administration about sexual assaults reported on campus. The last one, sent last Tuesday, detailed a rape reported to have occurred at a fraternity house, but it didn't name which one, to many students' frustration. In a campus-safety chat on the GroupMe app, Musantry, a sophomore, organized a protest for that evening at Toomer's Corner, a landmark in the Alabama city and popular meeting spot. Musantry said she expected 10 people to show up. Instead, 500 did, she estimates. The activism at Auburn unfolded in what's now a familiar pattern on four flagship campuses: An assault is reported or rumored to have happened at a fraternity house. Word spreads on social media, where activist accounts pop up to rally students, call out the fraternity, and draw attention to the college's alleged mishandling of sexual-assault cases. An online petition calls for the fraternity to be suspended or banned. At night, students gather by the hundreds, carrying signs with slogans such as "I Believe Women," "No Means No," and "Don't Rape." Eventually, the protesters go home, but vow to show up again the next day. Though campus protests of sexual assault are nothing new, the shape they've taken in recent weeks reflects the growing influence of digital activism and shrinking patience for the pace of change -- by college administrators and policy makers alike. |
| State spending outlook for Louisiana's colleges, universities bright thanks to federal aid, leaders say | |
 | The 2022 financial outlook for colleges and universities is "pretty good" amid a massive influx of federal aid, Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne told the Louisiana Board of Regents Tuesday. "We think we are going to be performing pretty well," Dardenne said during the first day of budget hearings for spending that will be mapped out next year. State aid for colleges and universities rose by about $175 million earlier this year, a rarity after 13 years of budget cuts or standstill budgets. Dardenne, who is Gov. John Bel Edwards' chief financial lieutenant, said colleges can expect the governor will recommend money for mandated costs next year and "hopefully" a hike in state aid for operations. He said it is too soon to tell whether pay raises for faculty will be part of Edwards 2022 budget recommendations. Dardenne also said Edwards will continue to advocate for using onetime surplus dollars on deferred maintenance at college campuses. The hearings Tuesday were the start of a process in which the Board of Regents reviews funding requests from LSU, Southern University, the University of Louisiana and others. Dardenne and Greg Albrecht, the Legislature's chief economist, credited the massive amounts of federal aid to combat the coronavirus pandemic with keeping higher education and other services on solid footing. |
| DeSantis announces new UF professor as Florida's next surgeon general | |
 | Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday afternoon Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo as his pick for Florida's next surgeon general and secretary of the Florida Department of Health. Ladapo is also a new hire at the University of Florida College of Medicine. His expertise is in cardiovascular health and preventive medicine but, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, he has been a vocal critic of extended lockdowns and mask mandates. He has raised doubts about the safety of vaccines now fully approved by federal regulators. "We feel that Joe is just the right guy for the job," DeSantis said Tuesday in a press conference. Ladapo was made a professor of medicine with UF effective Monday with a salary of $262,000, according to UF Health spokesman Ken Garcia. Florida's former surgeon general, Dr. Scott Rivkees, also is employed with the university. In an emailed news release from the Governor's Press Office, Ladapo said he was honored to be chosen for the state leadership role. "From California, I have observed the different approaches taken by governors across the country, and I have been impressed by Governor DeSantis' leadership and determination to ensure that Floridians are afforded all opportunities to maintain their health and wellness, while preserving their freedoms as Americans," his statement said. "It is a privilege to join his team and serve the people of Florida." |
| Inside one woman's fight to integrate higher education in the South | |
 | The rock shot through the window in her dorm room, spraying shards of glass over her open, unpacked suitcase on the floor. Oh my God, all over my clothes, Charlayne Hunter-Gault thought -- OK, this is ugly. The white mob gathered outside Myers Hall at the University of Georgia wanted her gone. They numbered 2,000 strong, a mix of KKK members, fellow students, community members and bystanders. They threw rocks at the dormitory. They set off firecrackers that ignited small fires. They chanted, "Two! Four! Six! Eight! We ain't going to integrate!" She was 19. A journalism major and a former homecoming queen. For this, her first day of class, she had chosen a tasteful blue and green tweed skirt with a matching sweater. But the mob saw only her Black skin. Dean of students Joe Williams was at Hunter-Gault's door. He told her she was suspended and must immediately leave the campus. "For your own safety," he said. On Jan. 11, 1961, Hunter-Gault and Hamilton Holmes became the first Black students at the University of Georgia, a flagship university of the South and one of the largest to resist integration seven years after the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education ruling banned segregation in education. They were part of a generation of Americans who rose up in 1961 to organize against the violence and dehumanization of racial segregation and white supremacy. Other Black students had sought entrance at UGA starting in 1952, but the university had stalled, claiming the dorms were full or the application was incomplete. When Hunter-Gault and Holmes managed to break through, there were flashes of opposition -- students yelling racial slurs, Confederate flags hung through campus, lawmakers refusing to accept the tides of change. It was only after the ugliness of the riot outside Myers Hall that the community rose up, albeit halfheartedly, to denounce racism and embrace integration. |
| Some sequoias saved, but U. of Missouri professor advocates for long-term solution to California wildfires | |
 | Some of the ancient sequoias threatened by raging wildfires in California have been saved. The General Sherman, one of the world's largest trees, has been preserved, the Los Angeles Times reports. The Four Guardsmen, four trees at the entrance of Sequoia National Park, also have been kept safe, according to The Associated Press. Helicopters were used to drench the trees with water, and firefighters cleared the areas around the forests of fuel. Michael Stambaugh, an associate research professor of forest ecology in the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, has been watching the conditions with a professional interest. The effort to save the sequoias was the best option in an emergency, Stambaugh said. "That is the best that can be done at this point," Stambaugh said. "It's an emergency measure. Across thousands of acres, I believe that is the right course of action." Long term, Stambaugh is an advocate of prescribed, or controlled, fires. "The ecology of these forests is strongly linked to fires," Stambaugh said. "That has been forgotten as a management option." It won't be easy, but people must relearn how to get comfortable with fire, he said. |
| College professors worry about returning to class with students who may have covid | |
 | As students have poured back into classrooms, dorms and football stadiums across the country amid the pandemic, some faculty members have felt a mounting sense of alarm. Spring was marked by optimism: With vaccinations widespread and cases decreasing, many people were eager for a return to normal campus life. Then the delta variant came roaring in. And despite increased precautions at many campuses in the summer before students returned, the reality on the ground has hit some faculty members hard as they face crowded rooms full of unmasked students, or see the numbers of cases spiking. Faculty members have signed petitions, passed resolutions, written open letters calling for more precautions and more options. Not everyone is worried. Some professors have pushed back against mask and vaccine requirements, arguing that individuals should be free to decide. Some faculty members are satisfied with their school's coronavirus protocols, or dismissive of the risks. Many are enjoying seeing students back on campus. But for others those scenes are fraught. |
| Pressure builds on Democratic leadership over HBCU funding | |
 | Pressure is building on Democratic leadership to ensure the party's $3.5 trillion social spending package includes more grant funding for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) members and advocacy groups are seeking changes to legislative language that they say would force HBCUs to unnecessarily compete against other minority serving institutions for grant funding. Rep. Alma Adams (D-Ga.) was the first to threaten to withhold support for the overall spending bill if the text is not amended. Since then, CBC members such as Reps. Federica Wilson (D-Fla.) and Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) have voiced similar concerns with the measure. The pressure comes as House Democrats, who have a razor-thin majority in the chamber, are already facing potential defections from moderates on issues such as drug pricing. Democrats can afford to lose only three caucus members if they hope to pass the $3.5 trillion package that includes much of President Biden's economic agenda. In an interview with The Hill this week, Wilson said she is "prepared to vote against" the package if the text surrounding the grants program isn't changed. In recent days, tensions have hit a fever pitch in Congress as leadership tries to find middle ground between warring demands from different factions over issues ranging from proposed tax hikes on wealthy corporations and individuals to negotiations for lower drug prices. |
| HBCUs get less than they say is needed in Build Back Better Act | |
 | President Biden's ambitious higher education agenda has had its disappointments as Congress turns it into legislation, with a strict budget forcing lower-than-anticipated funding levels for some of its provisions. While the bill includes funding for historically Black colleges and universities, advocates say it is well below what's needed. In the current version of the budget reconciliation bill serving as the vehicle for Biden's Build Back Better Act, HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions are slated to receive $27 billion in tuition subsidies, $1.45 billion for institutional aid and $2 billion to improve research and development infrastructure. Meanwhile, Biden proposed a total of $55 billion for HBCUs and other MSIs to upgrade research infrastructure and create research incubators for improving STEM education. "The number is just significantly lower than what we had hoped for," said Paul Jones, president of Fort Valley State University and vice chair of the Council of 1890 Presidents. "Along with the minority-serving institutions and the Hispanic-serving institutions, it's really sort of lumping us all into this one sector when we all have tremendous needs." The presidents and chancellors of the 1890 Universities -- the HBCUs designated as land-grant institutions by Congress -- sent a letter to House Education and Labor Committee chair Bobby Scott, a Democrat from Virginia, and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions chair Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington, asking them to consider including additional infrastructure funding for HBCUs in the package, given that the institutions have historically been underfunded. |
| Legislative redistricting remains an intensely political, intensely partisan exercise | |
 | Syndicated columnist Sid Salter writes: With Census data compiled, state legislatures across the country are engaged in the intensely political, intensely partisan exercise of legislative redistricting for both congressional districts and state legislative districts. There are few exercises in state government more important and more impactful than the redistricting process. It can have partisan impacts that last for a decade. Parties in power see their clear opportunity to perpetuate their majorities while powers out of power see their opportunities to challenge. The sad commentary is that far too many Mississippians can't tell you which congressional district they live in or the same information on state legislative districts. And Mississippi is far from an outlier on those facts -- if anything rural states have greater basic political engagement. |
SPORTS
| Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers: Dive into the numbers | |
| Mike Leach's proclamation of Mississippi State being a good statistical team is a fair assessment, particularly as it pertains to quarterback Will Rogers. Rogers is on pace for more than 4,300 passing yards in the regular season, which would handily surpass Dak Prescott's single-season MSU record (3,793). He has completed nearly 75 percent of his passes and has eight touchdowns to match his one interception. "A lot of quarterbacks would like to have the day that he had statistically," Leach said Monday after Rogers threw for 419 yards in a loss at Memphis. Some of the advanced numbers support Rogers' play as well. He's ranked No. 21 among FBS quarters back in offensive grade, according to Pro Football Focus. Among SEC quarterbacks, he's graded only behind Ole Miss' Matt Corral. His offensive and passing grades are up about 20 points from last season. He has taken the step MSU hoped for from his freshman to sophomore season. As Leach pointed out Monday, Rogers has only made nine starts. His 12th start to round out what would be one full season's amount in his career will be against Alabama on Oct. 16. But there's an aspect to Rogers' game that's difficult to measure. "I just think sometimes we get conservative on the underneath stuff," Leach said. "I think that there are times you've got to challenge the defense a little more." |
| Growing On The Job: As SEC play begins this weekend, Bulldog offense once again being led by youth. | |
| With age comes wisdom, they say. In college football vernacular, the old adage might best be adjusted to, with age comes increased expectations. A season ago, Mississippi State's offense relied heavily on the production of freshmen. The Bulldog youngsters shined then, and now a year later that same cast of characters is showing indications that experience was indeed the best teacher. Consider this. MSU has scored a dozen touchdowns so far in 2021. In all 12 of them, at least one of last year's freshmen that are now sophomores were involved. On four of those occasions, two took part with quarterback Will Rogers connecting with a classmate on a pass. Speaking of Rogers, the second-year signal caller continues to display signs of growth. That's not to say he's reached his peak. Neither he, nor head coach Mike Leach would claim that. Yet it's apparent Rogers is incredibly advanced given his limited track record. "We talk about Will like he's a veteran," Leach said earlier this week. "[Last Saturday's Memphis game] was his ninth start, and even that without the pedigree of numerous seasons before with redshirts and everything else." Rogers keeps producing though, even as he grows on the job. He currently stands as MSU's career leader in completion percentage, connecting on 70.4 percent of his career throws. He now holds two of the Top 10 passing yardage games in school history after throwing for 419 yards in Memphis. Three games into 2021, Rogers is on pace to shatter Dak Prescott's Mississippi State record for single season passing yardage. |
| Mississippi State football wants Lideatrick Griffin more involved | |
| In just about every coaching meeting Mike Leach and his staff have at Mississippi State, the same topic comes up. How can they get Lideatrick Griffin more involved on offense? The sophomore wide receiver has shown his kick returning abilities, acting as a spark plug for the Bulldogs' comeback win against Louisiana Tech before returning a 100-yard kickoff against NC State. But Griffin's involvement plummeted in the 31-29 loss to Memphis on Saturday, both in the return game -- with the Tigers mostly avoiding him -- and as a wideout. To Leach, that needs to change, beginning Saturday (11 a.m., ESPN) against LSU (2-1). Griffin has the ability to bring the vision and speed that makes him a strong returner to the Mississippi State passing game, giving quarterback Will Rogers a short-yardage target who can break off big gains. "We've talked about that some," Leach said. "Right now, what he does best is kick returns, but I do think he's a good receiver. He's really good on screens and all that stuff. I think we've got to get him more and more involved." Griffin was on the field for 35 offensive snaps against Louisiana Tech, hauling in two passes for 29 yards. He was featured on 26 plays against NC State, catching all three targets for 22 yards. But Griffin appeared on just seven snaps against Memphis, with five of those coming on pass plays, according to Pro Football Focus. Rogers targeted Griffin once, and the pair couldn't connect. |
| Polk Thriving In First Season At State | |
| When Mike Leach was still the head coach at Washington State, he tried to talk Makai Polk into playing for him in Pullman. Leach's recruiting pitch was informing Polk just how many passes would get thrown his way as a wide receiver in the Air Raid offense. Polk, however, chose to stay home to play for the University of California and even led the Golden Bears with 71 yards receiving and a touchdown against Leach's Cougars as a true freshman in 2019. But after nine starts in 16 career games at Cal, Polk entered the transfer portal and this time the roles were reversed. "We recruited him at Washington State, we just didn't get him," Leach said. "And then he recruited us at Mississippi State. It's kind of funny. We said, 'Well, you'll catch a lot more balls at Washington State.' And then we go to Mississippi State and he goes, 'Yeah, I want to catch a lot more balls.' So he came here, so it was a good deal." Through only three games as a Bulldog, Polk has hauled in 25 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown and currently leads the Southeastern Conference with 8.3 receptions per game. Polk arrived at Mississippi State in January with three years of eligibility remaining. Enrolling early allowed him to go through the spring and summer in Starkville helped him adapt to his new surroundings as well as a new culture. |
| LSU's defense remembers 'embarrassing' loss to Mississippi State. Can it stop the Air Raid now? | |
| Almost a year has passed, and BJ Ojulari still thinks about the loss. He was a freshman beginning to crack the rotation at the time, and in his first college game, LSU allowed 623 passing yards -- a Southeastern Conference record -- in its season opener against Mississippi State. The game exposed defensive flaws that lingered throughout the 2020 season. As opposing teams peppered them with crossing routes, the Tigers struggled to communicate, leading to missed assignments and coverage busts. They finished with the worst pass defense in the FBS. So as LSU prepares for Mississippi State again, Ojulari has pondered what went wrong a year ago and what his team must do to prevent a similar outcome this weekend. "I definitely think about it, think about last year," said Ojulari, now a sophomore defensive end who leads the country in sacks. "We're going to come out this week and focus on getting the win on Saturday." The timing of LSU's rematch with Mississippi State makes the game as much about whether or not the defense has improved as anything else. The Tigers struggled with similar concepts three weeks ago against UCLA, and though they played better against two overmatched opponents, they haven't proved the issues that plagued them last season have been fixed enough to compete in the SEC. The last time these teams played, Mississippi State debuted its Air Raid offense under new coach Mike Leach as LSU returned to a 4-3 defensive scheme under then-defensive coordinator Bo Pelini. The Bulldogs exploited a secondary playing without star cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. by using crossing routes and winning one-on-one match-ups. |
| Here's Mississippi State football's 2022 schedule, from opener to Egg Bowl | |
| Mississippi State football's 2022 SEC schedule is already here. The Bulldogs already knew their opponents, but the conference announced Tuesday the dates for each contest, filling out the full slate for next season with an Egg Bowl matchup on Thanksgiving again. The first two games of Mississippi State's schedule were already locked in place -- Memphis visits Davis Wade Stadium on Sept. 3 to begin the season, and then the Bulldogs will face Arizona on the road on Sept. 10, their first game against a Pac-12 opponent since 2003. Mississippi State then begins conference play on Sept. 17 at LSU, making it the third straight year coach Mike Leach's team will begin its SEC slate facing the Tigers. Then, the Bulldogs will face Bowling Green at home on Sept. 24, facing off for the second time ever -- and first time since 2013. Conference play returns, with Texas A&M and Arkansas coming to Starkville on Oct. 1 and Oct. 8, respectively. After a two-game homestand, Mississippi State travels to Kentucky on Oct. 15 and Alabama on Oct. 22. The Bulldogs enter a bye week on Oct. 29 before hosting three straight home games. Auburn comes to Davis Wade Stadium on Nov. 5. That precedes a matchup with Georgia in Starkville on Nov. 12 and an out-of-conference tilt with East Tennessee State on Nov. 19. Finally, Mississippi State will face Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl on Nov. 24. |
| Broska Reaches Main Draw Of Fayetteville 15K | |
| Mississippi State's Florian Broska is moving on to the main draw at the International Tennis Federation Fayetteville 15K. Unfortunately, Broska had to eliminate his MSU teammate Davide Tortora in order to advance on Tuesday. Broska defeated Tortora in straight sets 6-2, 6-4 and will take on Tyler Zink from the University of Georgia in the first round of the main draw on Wednesday morning. "Dade' (Tortora) and 'Flo' (Broska) both got better today and it was fun to see them compete against each other for a spot in the main draw," said MSU assistant coach Jake Jacoby. "Both guys were making adjustments during the match and thinking clearly despite the matchup against teammates. Both guys definitely got getter and pushed each other today." MSU's Namanja Malesevic also missed out on his opportunity at the main draw on Tuesday. Malesevic dropped his second round qualifying match against Blu Baker of Great Britain 6-4, 6-2. "Nemanja faced a tough opponent that played very disciplined and took advantage of his chances today," Jacoby said. "Some big points didn't go his way in the middle of the match and that shifted the momentum against him. But he competed well mentally the entire match and allows us to know exactly what to focus on for the coming weeks." |
| Championship: PGA golf tournament expected to draw crowd of 30,000 and more than 800 volunteers | |
| The Country Club of Jackson will step into the spotlight Sept. 27-Oct. 3 as the site of the Sanderson Farms Championship, the state's only PGA Tour event. The championship is expected to draw as many as 30,000 spectators, who come to see for themselves how the event that draws some of golf's biggest names unfolds. "Mississippi State University did an economic impact study in 2016 and it showed the economic impact is close to $30 million a year," said Steve Jent, executive director of the championship. "That includes hotels, restaurants, rental cars, miscellaneous jobs we have, things we rent and servers and waiters in restaurants that may staff up for the tournament. We think the economic impact is probably greater now than it was in 2016. It's probably time to do another study...maybe next year when we have COVID-19 behind us." Sergio Garcia, the 2020 champion, is returning to compete among the field of 144 players. Because of the way SEC football schedules have played out, this year's championship could draw a record number of spectators, Jent said. "We're not competing with any home SEC football games," he said. "We're excited that some folks who normally would choose to leave for the weekend will be here for the weekend. It just fell into place." |
| Commissioners to share feedback on CFP expansion proposal | |
| The College Football Playoff management committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday to discuss the feedback members have received from campuses since a 12-team expansion plan was unveiled in June. After the 10 major college football conference commissioners and Notre Dame's athletic director get together this week, they plan to reconvene early next week in Chicago with the university presidents who make up the CFP's board of managers. "As you know, we spent the summer talking to our constituents and anybody that had a dog in the fight, trying to take their temperature and determine the feasibility of moving forward with what has been recommended. And probably not only the feasibility but the desirability," Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said Monday. "I imagine a fair amount of the meeting on Wednesday will be reporting out on that and working on reconciling whatever differences there may be among the 11 members of the management committee." Wednesday's meeting is scheduled to be held in North Texas, though some of the participants may join remotely. Bowlsby was part of a four-person subcommittee that -- at the direction of the board of managers -- worked on expansion models for about two years. Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick, Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey and Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson were also on the expansion working group. |
| College Football Playoff Expansion Is in Peril: 'If This All Falls Apart, We're Going to Get Hammered Publicly' | |
| For two long years, the four men kept their mission a secret. Only a select group knew that conference commissioners Bob Bowlsby, Greg Sankey and Craig Thompson, as well as Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick, were tasked to explore proposals to expand the College Football Playoff. They examined well over 100 postseason formats, even kept specifics of the meetings hidden from their fellow commissioners and, after rigorous debate as well as data-driven analysis, agreed on a concept they thought was fair to each entity in college football: the Power 5, the Group of 5, the bowls and the fans. And then, all hell broke loose. The Pac-12 hired a new commissioner who is unafraid of publicly rattling the status quo. A wave of conference realignment, triggered by the impending SEC departures of Texas and Oklahoma, washed through the sport. And then, as if this wasn't enough, three power conferences, each with a relatively new commissioner, announced the formation of a pact, the Alliance, that seems to have further divided the executive branch of college sports. The shifting landscape, hurt feelings and public barbs have cast a shadow of doubt that leaders can agree both on a new playoff concept and the timing of expansion itself. On Wednesday in Dallas, the CFP management committee -- the 10 FBS commissioners plus Swarbrick -- is scheduled to further explore the expansion issue. |
| KICK COVID comes to Auburn | |
| Auburn University announced Friday it will participate in "KICK COVID" next Saturday, Sept. 25. KICK COVID is a result of a partnership between the Alabama Department of Public Health and Auburn University, among other schools nationwide. The two entities are teaming up to increase vaccination rates and lower the spread of COVID-19. "The objective of KICK COVID is to promote vaccinations and education regarding vaccine efficacy by leveraging the state's passion for college football," a statement on ADPH's website reads. A KICK COVID vaccine clinic will open on Auburn's campus Sept. 25 to offer vaccinations to students, faculty and fans alike during the gameday festivities. The clinic will be open on Cater Hall lawn from noon until one hour postgame. Citizens who receive their first or second vaccine dose through the clinic that day will be awarded a $75 Auburn University bookstore gift card. Additionally, individuals may get vaccinated between Sept. 11 and Oct. 2 to be eligible for the same gift. Other participating schools and dates include University of Alabama vs. University of Southern Mississippi, Sept. 25. |
| Move over pop singers & reality stars: Former Georgia football coach Vince Dooley is on Cameo | |
| Sitcom stars. Instagram influencers. Comedians. Pop singers. Pro athletes. And now college football players are on Cameo. That's where they record video birthday well wishes, a good luck message and congratulations to whatever special event may be coming in your loved ones life. For a fixed price, Georgia outside linebacker Nolan Smith and running back Zamir White are among players that can give a requested shout out on the platform. It's not just the guys making plays on Saturday getting in on the action. Former Georgia coach Vince Dooley, who just turned 89 earlier this month, is now on Cameo, too. "I didn't know what Cameo was," Dooley said. "I had to go look it up. There are about four definitions of cameo. ...It's been fun." Dooley decided to jump aboard after hearing about it on a phone call from Jim Donnan, the former Bulldogs football coach. "I just said, 'Coach, all of these people would love to hear from you,'" Donnan said. "'If you've got time, you could really make a lot of people happy.'" Donnan said some of his friends who work for ESPN suggested he go on Cameo as something else to do while he was caring for his wife Mary. She died in June after a long battle with cancer. Houston Nutt, the former Arkansas and Ole Miss coach, also filled Donnan in on Cameo. "I decided to do it," Donnan said. "Mary enjoyed listening to me when she was there. She thought it was good. She likes the fans, too." |
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