Date of Award

Spring 2026

Degree Type

Honors College Thesis

Academic Program

Media and Entertainment Arts BA

Department

Mass Communication and Journalism

First Advisor

Mary Sheffer

Advisor Department

Mass Communication and Journalism

Abstract

Southern Miss: The Legacy of Resilience is a creative work composed of two components: a short expository styled documentary and a written component primarily focused on the methods and techniques used to film the documentary. On February 10th, 2013, an EF-4 tornado significantly impacted the University of Southern Mississippi’s campus in Hattiesburg. The campus obtained significant damages to eight buildings located near Hardy Street on the southeastern portion of campus. The impact of the tornado left the university with over $20 million worth of damages. At the time, the university was temporarily closed for Mardi Gras break. However, a recovery campaign was initiated by the student body, faculty, and surrounding community as early as the following morning after the storm. For the documentary, interviews were conducted with individuals who took part in the recovery effort. The interviews included personal accounts from Jerry Defatta Jr. (Assistant to the President for Advancement and Special Projects at the University of Southern Mississippi), Ned Nelson (Civil Litigation Lawyer at Ned Nelson Law, PLLC), Dr. Mike Lopinto (Assistant to the Dean for Arts Administration as well as the School of Music Public Relations Marking & Event Coordinator), and Dr. Joseph Paul (President of the University of Southern Mississippi). The purpose of the documentary was to investigate the history of the University of Southern Mississippi, particularly, concentrating on an unprecedented event that showcased the surrounding community’s ability to quickly adjust and rebuild. A key takeaway from the documentary is the indomitable spirit of the Southern Miss. The legacy of Southern Miss is one of resilience.

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