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FRIDAY JANUARY 17, 2020
135th YEAR ISSUE 26
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
MSU Engineers Without Borders wins award for work in Ecuadorian village JOHN HAYNES STAFF WRITER
Bethany Crane | The Reflector
Strange Brew Coffeehouseʼs newest addition is located in Midtown on Starkvilleʼs Main Street.
Popular coffeehouse opens new Midtown location PAYTON BROWN STAFF WRITER
Strange Brew Coffeehouse publicly expanded its franchise and unveiled a third location in downtown Starkville Dec. 30. The new building sits between other Starkville favorites in Midtown while also being only blocks away from Starkville’s thriving hub, the Cotton District. From 5:30 a.m. to
midnight, the new Strange Brew accommodates the needs of both local Starkville residents and current Mississippi State University students while also providing plenty of space for the usual crowds which typically populate the coffeehouse. The Mississippi-based coffeehouse added a new location to its current two establishments located in Tupelo and Starkville. COFFEE, 2
For the second year in a row, the Mississippi State University student chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB) has won MSU’s Community-Engaged Service award. This award is just one of the different categories of MSU’s Community Engagement Awards and is determined by several university offices. EWB will also receive a $3,000 cash prize to go towards their service project. This year’s first-place service award project is a multiyear effort to rebuild and revamp a decrepit water supply system in the tiny Ecuadorian village of Santa Teresita that is hidden away in the Andes mountains. In May 2019, EWB took its first trip to assess the lay of the land, conduct water purity tests and engage with the villagers. The two project coleaders are Laura DeCuir, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, and Craig Schexnaydre, a sophomore civil engineering major.
Craig Schexnaydre | Courtesy Photo
MSUʼs Engineering Without Borders chapter won first place in the Community-Engaged Service category of MSUʼs annual Community Engagement Awards. They received $3,000 to go towards their water supply infrastructure project in Santa Teresita, Ecuador.
Schexnaydre made it clear this undertaking was no trivial matter, but rather an extensive reworking of the entire setup in Santa Teresita. “We’ll look at expanding the system—finding new sources to bring more water into the system to further
increase the quality of life for the community, (to) provide 150% of what they need, so they can continue to grow, continue to thrive, and on top of all that we’re trying to teach them to sustain it, to maintain it so that, in 30, 35 years, the issue doesn’t come back,”
Schexnaydre said. According to Schexnaydre, part of the problem in Santa Teresita is the population’s use of the water for agricultural purposes despite the system’s original design being only meant to sustain everyday human needs. EWB, 2
MSU architecture alumni transform Music City JACKSON KEEL
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Upon graduation, most students wish to see their work have a tangible impact on the world around them. For the Mississippi State University graduates working at the Manuel Zeitlin Architects firm in Nashville, Tennessee, they have the privilege to see their work shape the Music City skyline. Chris Riley and Lesley Beeman are two MSU alumni and co-owners of MZA. Both Mississippi natives, Beeman, 54, is from Meridian and graduated in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in architecture a week before his 30th birthday. Riley, 39, is from Columbus and graduated in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in architecture. Although they attended
MSU during very different times, both Riley and Beeman relate their current creative environment to their time in MSU studios.
the world as filled-out as possible,” Riley said. Beeman echoed Riley’s sentiment. “I think what I enjoyed
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I think what I enjoyed most (at MSU) and something that I sought out in my professional career is that studio environment and the camaraderie with the students, and collaborative nature of the work.
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Lesley Beeman 1995 MSU architecture graduate Co-owner, Manuel Zeitlin Architects
“It’s keeping that studio environment and that work ethic. It’s a creative field, and what you put out there are your ideas, and you want to get them out into
most (at MSU) and something that I sought out in my professional career is that studio environment, and the camaraderie with the students, and
collaborative nature of the work,” Beeman said. Since its founding by architect Manuel Zeitlin in 1981, MZA has taken on a variety of projects, such as restaurants and hotels, which have become landmarks in the city. “We do a very broad variety of work here. I’ll do a 700 square-foot outbuilding behind somebody’s house, right next to a 26 story hotel. We do such a broad variety of work, from housing to medical to restaurant to office space to condos. Just such a broad range of types and sizes,” Beeman said. According to Beeman, he has seen firsthand the change Manuel Zeitlin has brought to Nashville. The Gulch area in Nashville, recently popularized by Taylor Swift, was designed by MZA, Beeman said.
Libby Callaway | Courtesy Photos
Top: Employees at MZA work in an open, collaborative environment. Bottom: MZAʼs headquarters at 516 Hagan St. in Nashvilleʼs South Side.
ARCHITECTS, 2
MSU partners with Right Track to provide additional mental health resources KARIE PINNIX STAFF WRITER
Bethany Crane | The Reflector
Right Track Medical Group will now be partnering with MSUʼs Longest Student Health Center.
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Since forming a partnership with Right Track Medical Group, Mississippi State University is striving for better mental health care for its students. The new partnership will help bridge the gap between students who are struggling with mental illnesses and getting the necessary help they need. Dr. Clifton Story, executive director of MSU’s University Health Services, said the partnership between outpatient clinic Right Track Medical Group and MSU’s
John C. Longest Student Health Center will create a more accessible outlet for students to receive proper psychiatric care, especially in the forms of mental health counseling and medication treatment. “Psychiatric care is something that’s really been on all of our minds here, something that we felt a lot of the last five or six years,” Story said. Although all of the Student Health Center providers will care and provide for a variety of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and ADHD, Story said some issues may require more
FORECAST: Rain moves back into the forecast later Thursday with a few showers and thunderstorms expected into tomorrow afternoon. This is due to a cold front sweeping through Mississippi bringing much cooler temperatures in behind it on Sunday. Sunshine returns to start your next work week.
Courtesy of Danielle Davis, Campus Connect Meteorologist
intensive care. “Mental health is more complicated, more complex for us as providers to deal with, to discuss or medicate,” Story said. “So, having a professional that’s trained in psychiatry is helpful.” Since the recent arrival of the Right Track Medical Group clinic in Starkville, MSU medical professionals thought an agreement with the outpatient clinic would be a helpful resource for students to receive treatment for otherwise undetected mental health issues. This partnership is especially significant considering Mississippi is a state traditionally known
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for having poor access to adequate mental health services. “It’s very hard in Mississippi in general to get good psychiatric care. There’s just not a lot of providers, not a lot of opportunities. So, there’s the question of how we improve that here, and it just so happens that they (Right Track) were opening a clinic,” Story said. MSU medical officials discussed the formation of a potential partnership with Right Track Medical Group and agreed to work with professionals from the Right Track Medical group daily. MEDICAL, 2
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COFFEE According to Katelyn Reed, a co-owner of Strange Brew, the expansion remains similar to the wellknown Highway 12 location and Tupelo addition but differs in the number of options available on the menu. “We just opened our second location in Starkville last week,” Reed said. “It’s still the same coffee menu that we have at the 605 location, but we’re also offering small plates and a more extended pastry menu and a couple of surprises that we haven’t announced yet.” Students are finding the new Strange Brew to be a relief from the crowded location across town. They also appreciate the new atmosphere they believe will invite different crowds. Elizabeth Sanford, a sophomore at MSU majoring in chemical
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engineering, explained how the atmosphere of the new location is surprisingly different from the old location. “The environment is completely different, but I think that’s how they wanted it to be. Compared to the other location, the theme is simply Gatsby, and it’s a lot brighter and sleeker. It’s cleaner and more modern,” Sanford said. Sanford explained why she appreciates the study areas in Strange Brew and is grateful for another location. “I like going to Strange Brew, in general, because I like the atmosphere for studying,” Sanford said. “When I go to the library to study, I don’t feel comforted and enthusiastic about my work like I do here at Strange Brew. The staff are super nice and always have a smile on their faces.
I feel like I can come as I am here.” Sanford also sees the location as especially appealing to its Starkville audience and feels as though it will bring in additional revenue for the beloved chain. “The new Strange Brew could bring in a larger audience because the one across town seems to get a lot busier and this one has qualities which will bring in people who just want to hang out and for the families in Starkville. This extends beyond the student realm that Strange Brew usually attracts,” Sanford said. Walker Hardin, a sophomore at MSU majoring in Kinesiology, maintains the popular collegiate opinion that Strange Brew is an essential study spot for students and has an impact on college
culture. “I would say that my freshman year was spent studying late at Strange Brew because of my need to get out of studying in my dorm,” Hardin said. “It just grew to where I enjoyed coming here because I got in the habit and routine of coming here with friends to come study, relax or do what I need to do.” Additionally, Hardin agrees that the new location will accommodate both younger and older audiences across the city. “I like the atmosphere and the open spacing and bright lighting,” Hardin said. “I think that the different environment and location will bring in a larger audience, especially since a lot of people walk down these streets and they’ll be easily interested in coming in and trying this new Strange Brew.”
Bethany Crane | The Reflector
Strange Brew’s new location features an open indoor seating area as well as an outdoor patio.
EWB Further exacerbating the water shortage was the unbalanced distribution of water with some people wasting it while others surviving on a more meager supply. Dennis Truax, the department head of MSU Civil and Environmental Engineering and the advisor to MSU’s EWB chapter, has worked on several water projects during his career but admits Santa Teresita presents obstacles with which even he is unfamiliar. “A unique feature that we’re having to deal with is the combination of altitude and the vertical differential between where we’re delivering the water and where we’re getting the water from,” Truax said. Truax said he has not worked with inclines in the past, so the height differentials pose a unique problem for engineers.
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“Dealing with 3,000foot differentials and the kind of horizontal differences we’re dealing with, plus the instabilities of the soils, having to work on basically the face of a mountain … These are all things I’ve never had to deal with personally. Truax also emphasized the challenges which come with the project being located in a tropical jungle environment. “The other piece is we’re dealing with in the jungle … a large part of what we have to do, had to do and continue to do is go through bambooladen jungles that grow back quickly, traversing very narrow paths, sometimes no paths at all,” Truax said. Truax said the motley infrastructure, which has been added to maintain the water systems, has also prevented a problem.
“The combination of rockslides, mudslides, earthquakes, lack of resources has us looking at a system that is heavily patched with a wide variety of materials,” Truax said.
piping really isn’t piping. It’s more tubing. Some of the connections are basically tape holding systems together.” Although this complex task may seem impossible
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The students are doing everything. This is not me dragging a bunch of students down to watch it go in. This is them designing it and me dragging a bunch of them down to see if their design gets put in place.
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Dennis Truax Department Head MSU Department of CEE MSU EWB Advisor
“We’ve got galvanized pipe interfacing with three different types of plastic pipe, and some of the
for anyone but seasoned professionals, Truax emphasized that it is the students who plan and
implement the water network. “The students are doing everything,” Truax said. “This is not me dragging a bunch of students down to watch it go in. This is them designing it and me dragging a bunch of them down to see if their design gets put in place.” Last year, EWB won the same award for the construction of several wells in southern Zambia. Truax also noted the club was considering taking on a new project in Tanzania. While it might seem as if EWB’s sole focus is on international projects only engineers can be involved with, this would be a mischaracterization, Maiers said. “We’re called Engineers Without Borders, but we let any major join,” said Angelica Maiers, president of MSU’s EWB chapter
ARCHITECTS “When I first started, I came here in 2005,” Beeman said. “We were wrapping up the Gulch master plan work and starting one of the second buildings built in the Nashville Gulch, and if you’re not familiar with the Gulch, it is a miraculous transformation from what was once a very dead and frightening space into one of the most vibrant centers of the city. Manuel himself was key to making that happen. So, one of the most new and bright
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spaces in the city is directly attributed to Manuel, in the early 2000s.” MZA’s innovations in the city start with creative ideas in the workplace. MZA prides itself on having a unique creative environment. The 14 person firm works in an open, collaborative space that encourages communication and teamwork between members. Employees will often be pulled into projects as they go, with architects being able to build off each
other’s ideas. For Riley and Beeman, this has set MZA apart from other firms they have worked at. “Just being able to walk up to someone’s desk and share ideas, as well as a lack of perceived hierarchy really makes it special. In other open offices that are supposedly a collaborative environment, there’s always someone telling someone else what to do. We don’t have that here, and it’s been great,” Riley said. Not only has the
office implemented an innovative strategy for communication, but it also tries to reflect the team’s drive to reveal the symbiotic nature of art and architecture. “Not only are we an architecture firm, but we are a fully functioning commercial art gallery that shows lots of local and international artwork,” Beeman said. “It’s an amazing creative environment.” MZA, partnered with
Zeitgeist Art Gallery, works in tandem with Zeitgeist to highlight the creative atmosphere that infuses Nashville. In honor of their Music City home, MZA’s creativity has even expanded beyond architecture to music. Recently, the firm released an album that a lot of people in the office contributed to, Beeman said. “It is Nashville,” Beeman said. “They give you a guitar when you move here.”
MEDICAL
“As a whole, we like to provide the best wellrounded overall health care for every patient on campus, especially our student population, to help them achieve their goals at Mississippi State,” Story said. “We make sure that we have the most up-to-date mental health therapies and collaborations with other specialists.” According to Story, Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Ella Williamson and Psychiatrist and Chief Medical Officer Stephen Pannel will be at the Student Health Center to provide specialized mental health care for students. Williamson will be at the center Monday through Thursday, and Pannel will see patients as an MSU employee every Friday. John C. Longest Student Health Center Physician Dr. Robert Looney said this partnership would allow MSU students to become more aware of their general mental health and encourage them to seek help when needed. “When people have several other things going on, they have high
and chemical engineering major. “We get a variety of students. What’s really cool is that if you want, if you’re interested in the local community or campus, we do volunteer work. We have social events. We’re just a regular club, but (you can be) as involved as you want to be. We also do largescale fundraising, grant applications and we go on international trips where we actually do engineering work … A regular part of my week is international work, instead of just a segmented couple months (on a study abroad trip).” Fundraising for multiple international trips makes every year its own battle, Maiers said. The club relies on local fundraising and support, as well as donations from EWB alumni and other interested engineers to pay for the cost of the excursions.
In the future, both Beeman and Riley are looking forward to having a hand in the development of the city, especially with projects in the neighborhood of their own office. As for MZA, they are committed to bringing a holistic architectural view into the development of the city, using the innovations they have made in their office environment to bring magnificent architecture to the Music City. CONTINUED FROM 1
blood pressure, they have will benefit from the students, and so if we diabetes, but they’re also improvement of this mental have better treatment then battling depression or health treatment regardless hopefully students are they’re battling anxiety, of the stigma associated more likely to seek services you have to get everything with mental health. so that they can get full connected, everything “The mental health care,” Talley said. treated as one,” Looney stigma is still there, but Any student can make a said. with the outreach that we free appointment to see one Looney said part of (Department of Health of the center’s physicians the necessary or nurse treatment for practitioners; some cases could however, if I think that this can help with just involve meeting a referral with a certified is made for providing better treatment for students, psychiatrist, specialized something care, students and so if we have better treatment then Longest does will have to not currently hopefully students are more likely to seek pay a small provide on its fee to see the own. psychiatrist services so that they can get full care. “ T h a t or nurse includes not only p r a c t i t i o ner Kameron Talley just medication, for a mental Graduate Assistant h e a l t h which can be Department of Health Promotion and Wellness e v a l u a t i o n the cornerstone of medicine, and additional but some of it can include Promotion and Wellness) treatment. nonmedicinal things, and do and the outreach that If a student needs to that includes counseling the student counseling see a psychiatrist, they need … but that also includes does, the more we can get to do one of two things; maybe sitting down and students and let them know they must be referred by a talking to a board-certified about the resources that doctor or nurse practitioner psychiatrist that can make are on campus that can be in the clinic, or a counselor this a multidisciplinary beneficial,” Talley said. at the counseling center can therapy and treatment Talley said opportunities also refer a student to the plan,” Looney said. for better treatment will Student Health Center to Kameron Talley, a lead more students to reach see the psychiatrist. Students graduate assistant for the out for help. cannot call or arrive at the Department of Health “I think that this can clinic without a referral to Promotion and Wellness, help with just providing access the psychiatrist. said MSU students better treatment for Overall, the goal of
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the Student Health Center is to provide the best medical care for students, including top-notch mental healthcare. Looney said the Student Health Center will help students in need no matter what type of illness they might have. “At any time, it doesn’t matter, just like if a student felt like they had a cold or had strep throat, no student would probably
even hesitate to run in here and try to see a doctor or a nurse practitioner … We would want them to know that even though all the other doctors and nurse practitioners here aren’t necessarily psychiatrists, we’ve had training in that and we will always try to help you with whatever that may be, whether that’s depression, anxiety or PTSD,” Looney said.
THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, 17 JANUARY, 2020 @REFLECTORONLINE
BULLETIN BOARD
ctor 1/17/20 Crossword
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An In-Class Distraction
Across 1 Get ready, for short 5 Mimicking 10 Village green 14 Alleviate 15 Ham’s need 16 African flower 17 Off yonder 18 Visually impaired person 19 Disturb 20 Building material 22 Belly 24 Acoustic 27 Tree trunk 28 Bit of Gothic architecture 31 Respect 35 Mitch Miller’s instrument 36 Furry pinnipeds 37 Toni Morrison’s “___ Baby” 38 Call to Bo-peep 39 Before now 41 Stars and Stripes land 42 Bibliophile’s suffix 43 It’s the law 44 Type of poem 46 Order in the court 47 Pretend 49 Statement 50 Labor 51 Survey choice 53 Rubicund 56 Unrefined 60 Canal of song 61 Sound 64 Opposed 65 Educator Horace 66 Civil rights org. 67 Defeat decisively
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68 “Hey there!” 69 Peruvian peaks 70 Concludes Down 1 Stew ingredients 2 Huck Finn’s conveyance 3 Brother of Jacob 4 Losely woven cotton fabric 5 Knight’s protection 6 Wages 7 Chapel vow 8 Australasian palm 9 German propaganda minister of WWII 10 Jailbird’s wish
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Wholesome Stage part Razor-sharp Pool tool Fins, collectively Gather on the surface, chemically “Malcolm X” director Spoil Primitive calculators Bo’suns, in full Spigot ___ Major (southern constellation) Muse with a lyre Argus-eyed
40 Sports meeting in India 45 Worldwide workers’ grp. 46 Military action 48 English Channel strait 49 Mermaid’s home 52 Basketball game 53 Rope fiber 54 Baseball stats 55 Chinese dollar 57 Knowing, as a secret 58 Formal accessory 59 Strikes 62 Little League coach, often 63 Rocks, to a bartender
January 14 Puzzle Solutions
CLUB INFO Student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info. Information may be submitted by email to managing@reflector. msstate.edu with the subject heading “CLUB INFO.” The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is by 3 p.m. on Thursday. The deadline for Friday’s paper is by 3 p.m. on Tuesday. MSU student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info. Wesley Foundation Worship Night / Insight -- Tuesdays 7:30 to 8:30pm. Worship
music & Bible study. Next to Campus Book Mart. @ MSStateWesley/ StateWesley. org Community Night -Thursdays 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Coffee bar 6:30 p.m. Community groups 7 p.m. Worship 8pm. Next to Campus Book Mart. @ MSStateWesley / StateWesley. org. Got questions? Try Alpha. Alpha explores the basics of Christianity with conversation and videos. An open, honest space to ask, talk, & think together about faith, life and God. Thursdays 6:308:00 p.m. at Wesley. Next to Campus Book Mart. Text
662.435.3393 for more info. Starkville Area Habitat ReStore thrift shop is open extended hours for the holiday season. Come shop with us Thursday 1-6, Friday 9-6, and Saturday 9-4. Low prices on furniture, decorative items, kitchen and household items, appliances and more. Tons of Christmas decorations!
Publicize your club! Email managing@ reflector.msstate.edu
BAD DAWGS Saturday, January 11, 2020
Monday, January 13, 2020
Student arrested for being a minor in possession of an alcoholic beverage at Oak Hall.
Auto burglary reported in the G3 North Holliman Parking Lot.
Student arrested for public intoxication at Cresswell Hall.
Student arrested for Petit Larceny Less than $1,000 at Old Main Academic Center.
Student issued citation Tuesday, January for being in possession 14, 2020 of a fake identification card at Magnolia Hall. Lost, found or shortage of property at Facilities Sunday, January 12, 2020 Management Shop. Lost, found or shortage of property at Deavenport Hall.
Lost, found or shortage of property at Hand Chemical Lab.
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OPINION
Humanities majors prove just as useful as STEM
REFLECTIONS
Trivia Time! 1. The Treaty of Ghent was the peace treaty that ended which war? 2. In the 1983 movie “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” what fictional amusement park were the Griswold family trying to go to? 3. America’s first multimillionaire, John Jacob Astor, died in what tragic accident? 4. According to Forbes magazine in 2004, who was the first person to become a billionaire by writing books? 5. Which Apollo 11 crew member did not walk on the moon? 5. Michael Collins sinking of the RMS Titatntic 4. J.K. Rowling Answer: 1. The War of 1812 2. Walley World 3. The
Source: trivia.fyi
As an English major, there is one question I hate the most when someone finds out my career path: “So, what are you going to do with that? Teach?” I hate this question because it is normally paired up with a horrified look and a nasty attitude. Teaching is a noble, difficult profession, and it hardly gets either enough respect or enough pay. It bothers me when those in STEM believe teaching is our only option within humanities as it shows they do not respect the usefulness of our degrees. Just because our career options are not as clear as those of engineering majors, it does not mean there is only one or none. Speaking as an English major, we can do more than teach. The problem is there are too many career options, and often, the extent of our options is not considered by those in STEM. Some of the more common options include law, journalism and publishing; however, there is also editing, copywriting, technical writing, research, marketing, business, management and many more. According to Amanda Ruggeri with BBC, “One recent study of 1,700 people from 30 countries ... found that the majority of those in leadership positions had either a social sciences or humanities degree.” As it turns out, I am not wasting my time pursuing a degree in a humanities field. One concern people have regarding the humanities is pay and job availability. According to Heather Long
HALLIE GREEN
is a junior majoring in philosophy and religion. Contact her at opinion@reflector. msstate.edu.
Recently, the Australian wildfires have been all over the media, from the news to celebrity posts. While many celebrities told the world just how much money they donated, some, on top of that, also gave their audiences information of organizations that were helping with the fires so they could donate as well. While there were celebrities who spoke out, some wasted their platform to say vague things about the fires which also caused them to receive major backlash. In their defense, they said they wanted to donate privately, and donating privately is just as good as donating publicly. If anything, it is a little more virtuous; however, wasting your platform on empty words is a waste of good which could be done. Some people may be interested but need to hear how much a celebrity donated to justify donating themselves. Silent donors who give information about
“woke” is currently an ideal asset. Due to this, there is generally a call for celebrities to be more actively involved with and publicly advocating for the causes of their choice. Ashley Fern from Elite Daily explains by saying, “Ethics are supposed to shape your ways of moral living, and to do that, you must have logical rationalizations. This means, there cannot be contradictions present in any regard. Your values must align with your words, and your words must align with your actions. The problem many people have in life is that they do not apply the same moral standards across a variety of situations.” Nowadays, due to the transparency needed to be a celebrity, the public has a general knowledge of or the capability to see celebrities being consistent with their platforms. This also allows the general public to be more critical of celebrity giving. One big criticism of celebrity giving is seen when those in need are used for personal gain, primarily financially. This critique of giving not only applies to the celebrities themselves but their businesses as well. Many who are very passionate about causes celebrities are publicly supporting might see an issue with philanthropy and giving as simple, cheap advertisement. One of the
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with the Washington Post, “The perception is that STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) is the path to employment… Contrary to popular belief, English majors ages 25 to 29, had a lower unemployment rate in 2017 than math and computer science majors.” It might be hard for some STEM majors to believe an English or history major can find a job outside of a coffee shop, but it is true. Businesses across the world have seen the value of our skills. Long also argues, “In management and leadership positions, communication is key as leading economists and central bankers have been quick to point out at this critical juncture for the world economy.” Humanities teach students critical thinking, clear writing, communication and awareness of the world. This is not to say people do not learn valuable skills in STEM. STEM jobs are important, but too many people overlook or underestimate an education in humanities because engineering is thought of as superior. Without our
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communication skills, there would be chaos and disaster. Engineers might learn how to build machines, but we are the ones who write the manuals they follow. Both are important, but only one side is deemed useful. Another misconception I have heard is majoring in English is easy. Alison Griswold with Business Insider explains the value of English majors and what we do. Griswold writes, “English majors routinely take on large projects that require them to manage their time efficiently, meet self-imposed deadlines and work under time pressure to complete long- and short-term projects. Those skills are valuable in any workplace.” I understand other majors besides STEM or humanities have projects and hard assignments too, but there are reasons why English majors are known for living in the library. Our reading and writing workloads are not for the faint of heart. People might assume an English degree is all spelling and grammar, and therefore, is easy; however, it is not.
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On that note, people should work on their grammar, but I digress. English majors can take a complicated piece of literature and explain it clearly while also analyzing it and making meaningful connections through critiques. This process is harder than one might think. We can use our abilities with any job at any time. Sure, we do not have to do as much math or science, but as a former STEM major, I can easily say with confidence that both have their challenges; however, I did not receive as much backlash and criticism when I was a STEM major as I do now as an English major. It is also about preferences. While many of us do not like math, many STEM majors do not like reading or writing. It does not mean either side is stupid or useless. When thinking about what it takes to major in either STEM or humanities, we must keep in mind there is value in the different strengths. With that being said, if you are a STEM major but not good at math, come to the dark side. We have endless reading lists and tea waiting for you.
MORNING
most recent examples of this was with Jeff Bezos and Amazon donating relatively little money to relieving the Australian wildfires. According to Kelsey Piper from Vox, “Anger is justified when climate-driven disasters endanger billions of animals and thousands of homes, and when corporations that contributed considerably to the climate crisis make only token efforts to reduce its effects. But it’s important to think about what sort of behavior the anger incentivizes. Getting upset about token donations, but being supportive of real and substantive donations hopefully creates pretty good incentives for corporate would-be philanthropists, rather than making them feel they’re stuck in a no-win situation.” Criticism of public-giving is important. This is especially important so celebrities or others do not take advantage of those in need. Regardless, the donations towards the Australian wildfires and other tragedies are still needed. To be sure you are donating to a credible source, do more than go to a website a celebrity endorses. Do some research of your own, and be sure to look at how the money is being distributed. Not all charitable organizations are run the same way.
Circulation/Sierra Pruitt
Source: mazegenerator.net
circulation@reflector.msstate.edu
EDITORIAL POLICY
The Reflector is the official student newspaper of Mississippi State University. Content is determined solely by the student editorial staff. The contents of The Reflector have not been approved by Mississippi State University.
CORRECTIONS
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Life Editor/Mary Madeline LaMastus
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Rosalind Hutton
Celebrities should not waste their platforms organizations that make positive differences allow their audience to donate time, money or other resources where they feel compelled. The wildfires in Australia are just one of the most recent examples, but this need for celebrities to set an example and to give information is needed for every cause. Yes, charity is something learned at home and in the immediate community; however, people are far more likely to do something if a celebrity does it. We can clearly see this through celebrity advertisements where we are more likely to buy something if our favorite celebrity is endorsing the product. This applies to advocation too. According to Steve Olenski from Forbes, “The brand value added by celebrities is immediate and palpable. When a celebrity signs an endorsement deal with a product, an element of legitimacy is suddenly present in the company, simply because of the power of the name backing it up.” Celebrity endorsement can lead others to give to a cause because it is fashionable. Giving as a form of fashion is not a good way to approach giving; however, it is a start, and it can eventually lead to authentically giving. The concept of a celebrity being
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is a junior majoring in English. Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
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Ansel Adams
“There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.”
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LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT 5 Lab Rats Comedy kicks off the ‘Year of the Rat’ THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020 @REFLECTORONLINE
ERRIGAN CLARK
ONTRIBUTING WRITER
Mississippi State University’s Lab Rats Comedy had their first how of the semester Jan. 0 called “The Magic of Comedy.” Shortly after, the tudent-led improv group, which began in 2003, held uditions for the spring emester on Jan. 13 and 4 and were excited about welcoming new members. The typical shows sually last around an hour nd their end-of-the-year hows last two hours. At most of the shows, the roup tries to include the udience. In one of the ames, the performers get word from the audience, nd they have to act out a cene based on the word the udience gave. A couple of things ave changed since their ast show. The troupe ncorporated even more udience participation, they affled off a t-shirt and ince this year is the Chinese Year of the Rat, they have esolutions to add in two more shows and two new ames throughout the year. At this particular show, hey played a game called Story Story Die” where multiple people line up on he stage and the comedians ave to act out a scene using whatever line the person efore them left off with. They also played a game alled “Lounge Singer” where they were given an nlikely place they would nd a lounge singer and hen perform like they were t the given place. Cameron Ladner, an
MSU junior, is the group’s director of long form, meaning the scene has added structures that tie multiple scenes together. Ladner said the group was welcoming when he joined back in 2018. “I joined my freshman year. I was really nervous at first and I went to the theatre meet and greet, and after I started talking to people I realized how nice and sweet people were and going to that helped me to get over the nervousness,” Ladner said. Ladner explained Lab Rats may not be for everyone but if students give it a chance they will surely feel welcomed. “I don’t think Lab rats is everyone’s cup of tea and it’s very personal, but it’s probably one of the friendliest groups on campus,” Ladner said. “A lot of people come to shows consistently and there’s a great community of people around Lab Rats. Plus, they’re one of the more diverse student organizations.” Thomas McBride, a junior communication major, is the group’s director. In the previous semester he was just a performing member, but this semester he has taken on a bigger role. McBride said he is looking for lots of energy and most importantly efficiency. “I just want to add a lot of efficiency to the group. We’re doing fine and we want people to get practice time in. We also want to stay on critiques a little longer just to make sure that everyone is learning,”
Rosalind Hutton
McBride said. McBride also discussesdthe importance of learning not just by doing but also by seeing other like-minded people in action. “As a group, we plan on taking field trips to other improve troops in the area. On Feb. 29, we plan on going to the Birmingham Improv Theatre for their one-year anniversary. I definitely believe that if you want to be a writer, you have to write and if you want to be good at improv then, you have to study and learn improv,” McBride said. Ashlynn Lutz, performing member and junior social work major, has enjoyed being in the group and has high hopes for the upcoming semester with the recruits. “Being in the group I think has completely controlled my college experience. They’re my friend group and I think improv as itself has showed me not taking myself seriously and how easy it is to work with others,” Lutz said. “I also just want to see everyone getting their energy up and also having a lot more audience participation. I also want more raffles and more social media presence.” The last show of the semester will be on April 22 and proceeds from this show will be donated to St. Jude. Until then, those interested can catch the comedy group’s next performance Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. in Moseley Hall on the fourth floor.
MSU community shares unique New Year’s resolutions SARAH MORGAN JOHNSON STAFF WRITER
“We all are part of the
environment in higher education that never stops, and with that comes tragedy, sorrow and hardships that don’t follow traditional work hours and can happen at any moment. But there has to be a balance, so I am trying to focus on being less selfish when family priorities arise and not letting ever-present work demands steal time I can never get back.” Thomas Bourgeois Dean of Students
It is officially midJanuary, which, for most of us, means we have already started to stray from the lofty New Year’s resolutions we set for ourselves at the beginning of the month. Life kicks in, and we begin feeling distant from the overly ambitious person who committed to eating healthier, exercising more and studying harder. According to Joseph Luciani of US News, 80% of people give up on their resolutions by February. He puts a name to the reason why we become overly zealous every January, calling it “holiday remorse.” “It’s the guilt drivenresponse you have holiday excess that becomes the catalyst for those New Year’s resolutions and intentions,” said Luciani. This is why during the first weeks of January the gym is crowded, the produce aisle is sparse and your roommates stop leaving their dishes in the sink. While eating healthier and exercising regularly are the first things that come to mind when someone brings up their New Year’s resolutions, people also create rather unique goals
for themselves. According to Howard Bennet of The Washington Post, “The tradition of making New Year’s resolutions began during the reign of Caesar. At the time, New Year’s resolutions were of a moral nature, such as being kind to others.” Today, Americans continue to reflect and set goals at the end of every year. At Mississippi State University, this is no different. Dean of Students Thomas Bourgeois has sorted out his resolutions for 2020 into a work and family category. He says for his family resolution, he wants to be fully present and not dwelling on work when he is around family. “We all are part of the environment in higher education that never stops, and with that comes tragedy, sorrow and hardships that don’t follow traditional work hours and can happen at any moment. But there has to be a balance, so I am trying to focus on being less selfish when family priorities arise and not letting ever-present work demands steal time I can never get back,” Bourgeois said. In regards to his work, he is seeking to be more
comfortable with change and embrace new ideas. “My work resolution is to seek more patience and understanding and let things play out. Patience to pause more and allow newcomers in the room to foster new ideas and also allow room for decision making,” Bourgeois said. Bourgeois has a very positive opinion of New Year’s resolutions. “Resolutions are typically grounded in a self-awareness and coming to grips that we need to improve things about ourselves and ultimately be less selfish,” Bourgeois said. William Hunter Jarrell, or “Billy,” is a senior majoring in biological engineering at MSU. Instead of making resolutions for the entire year, he makes resolutions for the month of January. “When I make a New Year’s resolution now, I usually end up making one for the month of January. I think I am capable of having a resolution and sticking to it for a month. So my goal is to make it to the end of the month and then maybe make a new one,” Jarrell said. Jarrell revealed his resolutions. “For this year, I want
to do 200 push-ups a day, regardless of any other exercising. I also want to be able to do the splits— that would be crazy cool. There’s a weird handstand thing I’d like to be able to do,” Jarrell said. Jarrell also intends to read his Bible more this decade than he did the last. Corinne Kennedy, the humanities librarian at the Mitchell Memorial Library, prefers to make her resolutions more specific and goal-oriented. “They usually have something to do with a project I need to get done and not necessarily an urge to turn over a new leaf. I think resolutions are good when you have a goal you know you can achieve,” Kennedy said. This year is no different, as Kennedy revealed her project for 2020. “I want to get a scholarly article published. I have been working on it since before I left for England back in the fall. It is on visual literacy and communication and the publication patterns since 1969,” Kennedy said. Whether your goals are specific or general, for the entire year or for the month of January, rest easy knowing you are in good company at MSU.
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020 @SPORTSREFLECTOR
Willie Gay Jr. going to NFL Draft
Kylin Hill staying for senior season
Errol Thompson staying for senior season
Rosalind Hutton, Georgia Hamilton, Kaylee ricchetti, Daniel dye
Hill, Thompson stay for one more year, Gay declared for draft HUNTER CLOUD SPORTS EDITOR
Mississippi State University was able to keep two key football players, as Kylin Hill and Errol Thompson decided to come back for one more season instead of going to the draft. Both players announced their decisions in a Twitter post on Wednesday afternoon while there were rumors and questions surrounding their futures with the program. Hill, a senior running back from Columbus, rushed for 1,350 yards last
season. As the football sailed to the right of Hill, he collapsed to the ground in relief as MSU defeated Ole Miss in a wild end to the Egg Bowl. That moment could have been the last time Hill took the field in a maroon and white uniform, but he made the decision to stay at MSU. “Mississippi State University means so much to me,” Hill said. “When I stepped off the field after the final game of the season last month, I thought it was my last time in maroon and white. After careful consideration, I’ve decided to return to Mississippi
State for my senior season.” With Hill returning, newly hired head coach Mike Leach will have a weapon to use in the backfield, both in the run game and pass game. Hill said he wanted to play under Leach while also finishing his degree. “I’m thankful and blessed for these last three years, but I’m also excited for the opportunity to play my final season in the Coach Leach era of Mississippi State football,” Hill said. “There’s some unfinished business to take care of with my brothers. The work has already begun. Let’s ride.”
Leading tackler Thompson, a senior linebacker from Florence, Alabama, also announced his decision to stay one more year and finish his career at MSU. As the team captain who led the Bulldogs with 84 tackles, Thompson will remain an anchor in the middle of the defense. Thompson said MSU means a lot to him and his family. “Really and truly, I’m thankful and blessed for these last three years at Mississippi State University,” Thompson said. “But my story isn’t done being written. Our
story isn’t finished. There’s much more to accomplish both as a player, student and teammate.” During 2020, Thompson will add to the 217 total tackles as well as finish up his academic career at MSU. “After praying and talking with my parents, grandmother and others who are so close to me, I’ve decided I’ll be returning to Mississippi State for my senior year,” Thompson said. “I couldn’t be more eager to continue competing on the field, in the classroom and the community during my final season as a Bulldog. Time
to get down to business.” When MSU kicks off the next season and players run through smoke onto Scott Field at Davis Wade Stadium, the team will not have Willie Gay Jr., a linebacker from Starkville, with them since he declared for the draft shortly after the Music City Bowl. “To my teammates, our paths may lead to different destinations,” Gay Jr. said in an announcement on Twitter. “Our bonds will last a lifetime. To the fans and university, each day at Mississippi State as a student and an athlete was a gift.”
Tyson Carter Carter Tyson
Leads MSU to win on Birthday
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Rosalind Hutton, Jordan Smith
Carter passes Dad’s scoring record
LYDIA PALMER
STAFF WRITER
Tyson Carter led Mississippi State University to a 72-45 win over Missouri on his birthday Tuesday night. He totaled 15 points during the game with seven assists. This marked the first SEC win of the season for the Bulldogs. “This is a huge win for us,” Howland said in a press release from the MSU Athletic Department. Carter’s highlight of the night was moving past his father in the Mississippi State University record books for career points, as he is now 30th highest in career points. “I was really proud of Tyson,” said Howland. “It was a great 22nd birthday for him tonight.” Reggie Perry hit his highest SEC game score during the game against Missouri by hitting 23 of the team’s 72 for the night. This put him at the top of the list in scores for the night. The other double-digit scorer for the night, besides Perry and Carter, was Nick
he scored 11 points during the game and also showed a strong defensive presence. “I felt like Nick really ran the offense for us,” Howland said. “If he’s not the best defensive guard in our league, he’s definitely in the top two” Mizzou’s usual lead scorer, Dru Smith, seemed to have an off night with his lowest-scoring game of the season, only scoring
two points. Kobe Brown led the team while scoring 14 of the team’s 45 points. Heading into their next game against the University of Georgia this Saturday, MSU basketball is showing improvement. “I love good basketball,” Howland said. “When I’m watching us play that kind of defense, it just brings me an incredible amount of joy and pride in our guys.”
Bulldog Father and Son combos Al Perry 1975-78 Career 457 points, 510 assists Reggie Perry 2019-Current Career 586 points 57 assists Robert Woodard 1987-1990 Career 425 points 301 total rebounds Robert Woodard II 2019-Current Career 368 points 262 total rebounds Greg Carter 1988-1991 Career 1123 points 611 total rebounds
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