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FRIDAY JANUARY 31, 2020
135th YEAR ISSUE 29
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
A Peace
of My Mind
Hannah Blankenship | The Reflector
John Noltner, the creator of “A Peace of My Mind,” stands next to a display featuring Joanne Bland, a woman who marched from Selma with Martin Luther King Jr. when she was 11. The “A Peace of My Mind” exhibit, on display in the Colvard Student Union Wednesday through Friday, features stories of people across the country answering the question “What does peace mean to you?”
Health Promotion and Wellness hosts ʻDoʼs and Donuts of Stalkingʼ DANIEL DYE STAFF WRITER
Santee Ezell-Johnson | Courtesy Photo
Santee Ezell-Johnson, assistant director of Health Promotion and Wellness, poses with donuts.
In recognition of Stalking Awareness Month, Mississippi State University Health Promotion and Wellness worked hard to bring awareness to stalking on campus with the help of donuts. Every Wednesday of Jan. from 9-11 a.m., Health Promotion and Wellness ran tabling sessions in the Colvard Student Union as a part of their “Do’s and Donuts of Stalking” program. The different sessions have covered a variety of topics concerning stalking such as “Social Media & Stalking” and “Is Stalking A Crime?” among others.
Health Promotion and Wellness members sought to inform students about stalking through statistics, scenarios and personal experiences. As an added bonus to the information provided at the sessions, students were offered complimentary donuts. There is, however, more to the name “Do’s and Donuts” than just a catchy phrase and free donuts. Santee Ezell-Johnson, assistant director of Health Promotion and Wellness, an overseer for Sexual Assault Services and coordinator for the program, said that while the name is catchy, students need to pay attention to the literal do’s and do not’s to prepare for the worst-case scenario. STALKING, 2
Safe Haven for Pets program shelters animals affected by domestic violence EMMA KING
STAFF WRITER
The Bully’s Human Animal Bond Club hosted representatives from the Safe Haven for Pets program and Care Lodge Domestic Violence Shelter to inform audiences about the effects of domestic violence on both people and pets on Tuesday evening. The presentation was located in the Wise Center, the home of Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Featured guests were Dr. Sharon Grace, the founder of Safe Haven for Pets and Abby Miller, executive director of Care Lodge Domestic Violence Shelter in Meridian, Mississippi. Dr. Sharon Grace, a licensed veterinarian and clinical professor at MSUCVM, launched the Safe Haven for Pets program in 2008. Dr. Kent Hoblet, the dean of MSU-CVM, introduced Grace and described how pleased the veterinary college was to offer her a position after earning her DVM.
“Since childhood, she has had an affection for pets that continues to shape her life,” Hoblet said. “We were happy to welcome Dr. Grace back to MSU.” The initial goals of Safe Haven for Pets were to develop an academic model for sheltering pets of families impacted by violence, demonstrate the power of community service and assist other groups in launching their own programs. Safe Haven for Pets provides pets of domestic violence victims temporary boarding at MSU’s veterinary college campus, along with any medical and surgical care the animals might require. According to Grace, approximately 75% of families affected by domestic violence report their pet has been threatened, injured or killed, and up to 50% of victims delay escape from their abusers out of concern for their pets. Most domestic violence shelters are simply not equipped to handle pets for many reasons, including concerns about finances, disease transmission and spatial limitations. PETS, 2
Rosalind Hutton
‘Art of Hope’ exhibit features works from artists across the country JOHN LEE
STAFF WRITER
Mississippi State University’s Department of Art is welcoming the new year with an art exhibition titled the “Art of Hope.” This art display, which is meant to invoke the feeling of hope despite difficulties and loss, has been on display at the Cullis Wade Depot Art Gallery since Jan. 21. It will remain on display for students, staff and the Starkville community to observe until Feb. 28. Lori Neuenfeldt, MSU art instructor and galleries director, said she is pleased with the exhibition and hopes people will come and observe the many pieces of art that were submitted by artists from across the country. “We’re happy to have this exhibition because there are artists from 20 different states represented,” Neuenfeldt
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said. “From that, we can get a wide variety and range of different types of materials artists are working with, and artists of different and diverse backgrounds, along with different subject matters in their work.” Neuenfeldt said the different pieces of artwork can strike a chord with observers over shared experiences of despair and hope. “The idea of hope can be very broad and some artists interpret it as a call to action,” Neuenfeldt said. “These works can inspire observers, since they’re connected to reallife issues such as stereotypes, racism and gender bias, along with other things such as the environment and even personal struggles like loss and illness. These art pieces are meant to really inspire and bring hope to someone struggling with stuff like this.”
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Courtney Carver | The Reflector
MSUʼs Department of Art is hosting the “Art of Hope” exhibition from Jan. 21 to Feb. 28. in the Cullis Wade Depot Art Gallery. The exhibit features work from artists representing 20 different states.
Alex Ladewig, a gallery assistant with the MSU art galleries and a senior art major, said she loves the variety of perspectives and compositions in the exhibit and is excited for the works of art to be shown to the public. “I really think that ‘Art of Hope’ is so amazing because
of the diversity of the show. It’s really bringing in all these different ideas of what hope is and gives perspective to what people are going through and thinking about in their daily lives,” Ladewig said. “It has many styles and mediums of artwork and each one is different in concept, even with them all having the same
FORECAST: The skies will continue to be overcast for the next several days with highs in the mid 50s. Heading into Sunday, the sun will begin to peak out, with a rise in temperatures to the high 60s during the day and 40s overnight.
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prompt. This gives it a very unique visual when walking through the gallery.” Ladewig encouraged people to come and see the exhibition because of the presentation of ideas from diverse backgrounds that present an inclusive and diverse commentary on the power of hope.
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“People should see this show because of how it brings together so many different ideas from artists all over the country showing what hope is to each of them,” Ladewig said. “It’s truly inspiring that all of the pieces can work so well together and bring new perspective to the viewers.” EXHIBIT, 2 Policy: Any person may pick up a single copy of The 4 Reflector for free. Additional 4 copies may be obtained 5 from the Henry Meyer Student Media Center for 25 cents per copy.
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Jacob Crook, the exhibition coordinator for the Department of Art, said he sees the ‘Art of Hope’ show as an important display for MSU since it is the first national juried exhibition. “The works on display present a wide variety of interpretations of the theme and produced a very eclectic show of creative efforts from across the country,” Crook said. “Some address hope from a very personal and intimate perspective and others address issues related to hope from a regional or even global point of view. It’s an excellent arrangement of work that will offer viewers a glimpse into a broad range of creative explorations from artists working as nearby as Columbus, Mississippi, and as far away as Alaska.” Crook said coming to see the pieces of artwork in person is integral to the full appreciation of the artist’s and gallery staff ’s efforts. “Viewing the work in person is crucial to the experience of the show as a curated effort between
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CONTINUED FROM 1
BAD DAWGS Wednesday, January 15, 2020 Student arrested for possession of one ounce or less of Marijuana. Courtney Carver | The Reflector
The “Art of Hope” exhibit features a variety of art styles from artists across the United States.
artists, juror and gallery staff as a whole,” Crook said. “There are audience participatory works, sculptural installations that respond to viewers’ motions and textural sensations, both visual and tactile, that while beautifully represented in photographs, cannot fully communicate the intent and of the individuals that created them unless viewed up close.” Neuenfeldt said the
exhibition is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Feb. 28. There will be a reception open to the public at 5 p.m. on Jan. 31 with John Sabraw, the juror of the exhibition, as the keynote speaker. “Come out to the ‘Art of Hope’ exhibition to see all these inspiring works of art,” Neuenfeldt said. “We’re happy to have you and you’re free to stick around for as long as you like.”
Student arrested for stalking at College View Apartments. Thursday, January 16, 2020 Student arrested for Petit Larceny less than $1,000 at Cresswell Hall. Lost, found or shortage of property at George Perry Street, by Old Main Academic Center.
Friday, January 17, 2020 Student arrested for driving under the influence, first offense, on Stone Boulevard, in front of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house. Saturday, January 18, 2020 Student arrested for Malicious Mischief at the Kappa Sigma fraternity house. Sunday, January 20, 2020 Student arrested for Petit Larceny less than $1,000 at Nunnelee Hall.
STALKING
CONTINUED FROM 1
“We called it the ‘Do’s know what stalking is and Maricus Walker, a assistant for and Donuts of Stalking’ also let them know that graduate which seemed to be a there may come a time Health Promotion and pretty catchy name among when they need to judge Wellness, works with Sexual and Violence students, but we want a situation and know that Assault students to know that if it could be potentially Prevention programming they are being stalked, they harmful. I mean, 18 to 24 and helped coordinate should collect evidence, is the most common age this month’s program. they should develop a range of people that are According to Walker, the safety plan and they should stalked, and that is our biggest problem is lack make sure their dorm college students,” Ezell- of awareness, as stalking is something that room, house or often is taken apartment is safe,” lightly or ignored. Ezell-Johnson said. I thought I knew a good deal “I feel like “I want students stalking is a problem to know the facts about stalking, but I never really that is not taken about stalking and at least know what considered that I could be stalked and I seriously,” Walker to watch out for.” just assumed I never would be, so I didn’t said. “Stalking is a crime in all 50 Ezell-Johnson think about resources or a plan in case states, but a lot of not only wants this program to offer that did happen. I think the program is people don’t know information to really good as it addresses this important that. The majority of students that I students who have topic. talk to say stalking been or are being stalked, but also to Andrew Lund is not a big deal or those who may not Junior Chemical Engineering Major that the stalker will not do anything, know much about but it can lead up to the subject. EzellJohnson said she wants Johnson said. “We want that. I try to reiterate that students to see both the these students to know that in the programming.” Walker said he has reality and seriousness of there are resources available working the stalking as well as inform to them. It is important enjoyed them about the resources to utilize not only Health tabling sessions and has available to them on Promotion and Wellness seen the success of the but all of the resources we programming firsthand campus. “We want students to have on campus.” through his conversations
“
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Santee Ezell-Johnson | Courtesy Photo
Health Promotion and Wellness set up a table in the Union every Wednesday of January to raise awareness for the dangers of stalking.
with students. “We have some students very intrigued by it, some that even have been stalked,” Walker said. “If they share that with me, I ask them what they did about it or whether or not they went to authorities and these students give me feedback. I love doing this and helping these students,
and we have reached over 100 students this month so far, so I feel we are doing a pretty good job.” Among the students reached by the program was Andrew Lund, a junior chemical engineering major. According to Lund, the programming brought awareness to a topic he had thought very little about
PETS Domestic violence victims experience several challenges when planning to leave their abusers, such as financial, transportation and career stress. Grace said she is proud her program can alleviate at least one of these stressors. “We try to remove one of the challenges by taking care of their pets,” Grace said. The process begins
beforehand. “I thought I knew a good deal about stalking, but I never really considered that I could be stalked and I just assumed I never would be, so I didn’t think about resources or a plan in case that did happen,” Lund said. “I think the program is really good as it addresses this important topic.” CONTINUED FROM 1
when Care Lodge, located in Meridian, Mississippi, contacts Safe Haven about a pet in need. Safe Haven meets with the family before relocating the animal to the MSU-CVM clinic where it receives a physical exam and vaccinations. Some animals board at the college without any concerns while others need individualized care. Safe Haven for Pets provides the
animals with anything they need. “Whatever is needed to improve the status of their health while they’re here, we do that,” Grace said. All of these services cost the Care Lodge and its families absolutely nothing. Safe Haven for Pets is selfsustained through donations alone. The organization was born in honor of a kitten named Cleopatra. Grace owned a veterinary practice in Franklin, Tennessee where she received a call in Jan. 1996 about a grievously injured kitten who was deliberately harmed by a
group of young adults at a party. The kitten, named Cleopatra, was brought to the clinic, and Grace desperately tried to save her life for five months. Finally, when it came time to end Cleopatra’s suffering, the kitten made the front headlines of hometown newspapers and local news broadcasts. Grace entered Cleopatra in the Tennessee Animal Hall of Fame, an annual program that honors domestic animals who exemplify the strength and value of the human-animal bond. The award’s board called Grace
to apologize as it was unable to give the cat the award posthumously. A few days later, they called back, and Grace was presented the President’s Award of Courage for Cleopatra in 1997. Safe Haven for Pets has housed 74 animals over the last 10 years with an average stay of around 35 days each, totaling 2,600 days of around-the-clock care. These pets are treated by third-year veterinary students, and additional support comes from donation drives held by the students. When pets leave MSU, they receive a year of flea, tick and heartworm prevention medication, several bags of food, necessary medications and more. Only two animals have ever been abandoned throughout the history of the program, but they were quickly adopted and taken to a new home by vet students. Now that the program has been in place for over a decade, Safe Haven for Pets is setting new goals for its future. These goals include expanding current services, sharing expertise with interested groups and introducing two new program models—pairing veterinary clinics and animal shelters with local domestic violence centers. In a presentation about the effects of domestic violence, Miller described the dangers of having a pet
“The most dangerous time for a victim of abuse is when they are ready to leave,” Miller said. “Having pets is another factor that must be taken into account when planning an escape.” Affected families are extremely comforted when they hear about the Safe Haven for Pets program, Miller said. “The Safe Haven program provides such a sense of relief to victims when we’re talking to them,” Miller said. “Being able to say, ‘Yes, we have a safe place for your pets to go’ is amazing.” Ashley Carpenter, a junior majoring in broadcasting and journalism, hopes more people become aware of the Safe Haven program after the presentation because of how it could have helped her. “Growing up, I went through a similar situation as a kid when my parents were in an abusive relationship,” Carpenter said. “When they got divorced, I had to give my two cats away. It makes me very hopeful that this program is in place, knowing that animals can still be taken care of.” Safe Haven for Pets was recently gifted $500,000 from MSU alumnus Jim Rouse and his wife Julia in 2019. This generous donation will fund the program’s future expansion and continuing services for victims of
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2020 @REFLECTORONLINE
BULLETIN BOARD
ctor 1/31/20 Crossword
PuzzleJunction.com
An In-Class Distraction
Across 1 Honeydew, e.g. 6 World Service provider 9 Wood sorrel 12 Hogan dweller 13 Salad topper 14 Root beer brand 16 Russian pancakes 17 Blood letters 18 Party pooper 19 V.I.P. 20 City-like 22 Kind of patch 23 Potter’s tool 25 Soft silver-white ductile metallic element 27 Blatant deception 31 Quick on the uptake 32 Wife of Zeus 33 “Drat!” 36 Oven emanation 40 Writer Jong 42 Bishop’s jurisdiction 43 Bounded along 44 Physically weak 45 Cry of pain 47 Org. with a mission 48 Pen point 50 Plaid fabric 52 Park structure 55 Dome 56 Wise one 57 Acquired relative 59 Mine passages 64 Roswell sightings 66 Cup handle 67 Nativity scene 68 Ballet wear
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Eccentric Wrist joints French farewell Peacock network Junk E-mail On pins and needles Sherpa’s home Append Undiluted White hat wearer German mister La Scala highlight “Phèdre” playwright “The Matrix” role Trifle Moonfish
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Arizona city Garden figure Cover story? English ___ Study Just about Joint problem Horrible Bubkes Fruit-peeling device Tahoe, e.g. Supermarket section It’s clicked on a computer Hoodlum Collector’s goal Take to court No-goodnik
January 28 Puzzle Solutions
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2020 @REFLECTORONLINE
OPINION
Food delivery robots are indicative of modern issues
RILEY STEPHENS
is a sophomore majoring in English. Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
From major feats like long-distance communication to smaller accomplishments such as editing a facial blemish from an Instagram photo, we live in an era where digital technology intersects with nearly every aspect of our lives. With each major stride in technological advancements, the world grows closer to relying solely on digital aids. While many innovations, like Wi-Fi or computers, are essential to achieving current standards for success in the world, some forms of technical inventions, like the University of Mississippi’s new food delivery robots, are unnecessary. As of late, the Ole Miss campus has run rampant with six-wheeled, self-driving robots that are about two feet in length and width. These robots transport food orders straight from the restaurant directly to someone’s doorstep. They enclose the food in an insulated interior which only opens with a specific code sent straight to a phone. At Ole Miss, the robot is limited to delivering
from select, on-campus dining locations. Though this technological feat is tremendous, its purpose is not fulfilling anything other than making people lazier and more reclusive. According to Liberty Classical Academy, technological reliance diminishes people’s faceto-face social interactions. People’s ability to actively listen, acknowledge social cues, sustain eye contact, keep a longer attention span and many other social skills taper off with the constant use of technology as a replacement to face-to-face communication. Most interactions occur via email, texts and direct messages and require some form of digitized medium. Now, with robots that deliver directly to your doorstep, customers do not need to worry about greeting the pizza delivery man or the Uber Eats driver. People can now order their food without sharing any sort of human interaction. Not only do these robots promote the reclusive lifestyle our society has embraced alongside technological innovations, but the Starship robots will also strip people of jobs. George Dvorsky of Gizmodo says by the year 2022, emerging technological inventions will put 75 million jobs out of commission. With the food delivery robots, the need for food delivery service jobs will be obsolete.
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Rosalind Hutton
I understand the convenience of a food delivery robot on days when you are running late and need to skip the line at Starbucks, but, again, this is a convenience rather than a necessity. As previously mentioned, the modern digital era we live in requires a standard of access to technology in order to attain certain levels of educational and financial success. If a person lacks access to high-speed internet or computers, it makes the task of submitting homework, conducting research or even keeping in contact with professors and co-workers extremely difficult, if not impossible. There is a digital divide in the United States
where people live in poverty because of their lack of access to technology which is fundamental for economic success. According to Pete Smith of the Jackson Free Press and communication professor at Mississippi State University, companies are not legally required to extend their broadband internet services to rural areas. Consequently, onethird of Mississippi residents fall short on technology. While the food delivery robots are not necessarily inhibiting economic success, they are a step closer toward stripping people of both jobs and sufficient social skills. Where we continue to progress in our seemingly
trivial coffee-delivering bots, there are still those who fall short on technological access. It is very important to keep up with the changing technological tides by inventing new waves of technology, but we should equally focus our attention on ensuring everyone has access to the same technology. Where one student in a rural town struggles to find internet access to submit a homework assignment, a college student at Ole Miss waits around for a robot to deliver his or her coffee. Bridging the gap of the digital divide is just as important as inventing new technologies. For the sake of briefly sounding like a self-important
“boomer,” I do believe there is validity in the cautiousness and wariness of technology, as it plays such a strong role in our lives. Our generation will control the future, and if we are unable to exercise even the slightest of interpersonal communication skills (i.e. receiving food orders in person rather than by robot), our social skills and anxieties will only continue to enhance as younger generations may grow up not understanding the concept of small social interactions. Where these robots may be useful for certain occasions, we should be wary of establishing them as the norm where they are not necessarily needed.
Trivia Time!
1. The Traveling Wilburys was an English–American supergroup
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consisting of Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty
Socrates
and what other singer?
“A system of morality which is based on relative emotional values is a mere illusion, a thoroughly vulgar conception which has nothing sound in it and nothing true.”
2. What U.S. state was the last to lift a ban on interracial marriage, not changing the law until 2000? 3. America’s first multimillionaire, John Jacob Astor, made his fortune in what trade?
Source: trivia.fyi
Answer: 1. Roy Orbison 2. Alabama 3. Fur trade
Not everything should be political, so keep some things neutral “You got politics in my soup!”
“You got soup in my politics!”
MICHAEL BOURGEOIS
is a sophomore majoring in English. Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
In the era of President Donald Trump, the United States is entering a new stage in the country’s history where there is polarization on the political spectrum and a different culture we have yet to experience. We live in a time where encountering politics on a daily basis is an expected routine for most Americans. We live in a time where politics are entrenched in every aspect of American life. The politicization of everything makes the toxic world of politics inescapable for most Americans as political culture becomes popular culture. We have also become acclimated to this shift. Now, we expect celebrities to criticize our president at award ceremonies, football players to kneel during the national anthem and news agencies adding their spin to facts. The danger associated with this shift is actions once seen as unifying to Americans is now taking a political
Rosalind Hutton
stance. If you watch the NFL, you have to either reinforce or oppose those who kneel, or if you buy an artist’s music, you agree or disagree with their political message. If society continues to progress in this direction, we may reach a point where no action can be seen as apolitical as culture becomes further engrossed in the divisive world of American politics. Political ideology is currently made up of an individual’s identity that infects other, seemingly unrelated, areas of American life. This intrusion into American popular culture can be seen clearly in the political bias and politicization of the entertainment industry.
The American entertainment industry’s main goal of the past used to be just that, entertainment, but now the aim has shifted to propagating a political agenda. The Academy Awards have transformed from a celebration of excellence on screen to a platform that enflames political tensions. According to Ben Zauzmer of the New York Times, regarding last year’s Oscar nominees, “75 percent of…nominees feature political themes.” This political trend extends far beyond the movie industry and into the realm of late-night comedy. Latenight hosts once aimed to make the American people
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of ph “Democrats and Republicans In no longer stop at disagreeing th with each other’s ideas. Many in each party now deny the It other’s facts, disapprove of ab each other’s lifestyles, avoid pr each other’s neighborhoods, impugn each other’s motives, doubt each other’s patriotism, can’t stomach each other’s news sources, and bring different value systems to such core social institutions as religion, marriage and parenthood. It’s as if they belong not to rival parties but alien tribes.” Politics breed this toxic attitude toward one another where we do not see our political opponents as people of good intention but rather as immoral, ignorant or intolerant. The hostile attitudes birthed in Washington continue to corrupt all American perspectives of political opposition. This is the danger of politicizing culture. We are unable to empathize with those whom we disagree because politics has decided Democrats and Republicans are meant to argue, and this toxic mentality has been confirmed by the American culture. We must remove the parasite that is politics from our unique culture, so we may reach across the aisle to treat one another as Americans, a characteristic which unifies all of us.
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Life Editor/Mary Madeline LaMastus
news@reflector.msstate.edu
Sports Editor/Hunter Cloud
laugh by any way they can, but now late-night comedy serves as nothing more a leftwing, political platform that crucifies anyone who dares deviate from their doctrine. Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon is far more moderate than his counterparts, such as Stephen Colbert, Samantha Bee and Jimmy Kimmel, and this restraint, according to Karl Salzmann of National Review, sees Fallon “excoriated by the media for failing to attack Trump. The most popular television hosts broach politics every night for laugh-lines, from their own liberal point of view. The apolitical, the unifying, is turned political and divisive again.”
Jimmy Fallon is criticized by liberal news outlets for not going to extremes on political stances because he understands the American people do not enjoy when comedians shove their political agenda down their throats. But when Fallon attempts to distance himself from the nastiness of the political arena, people like Alexander Nazaryan of Newsweek write, “Fallon’s apolitical stance was becoming indefensible as election turned into transition, Obama handing the keys to American democracy to a driver you wouldn’t trust in an empty parking lot.” Left-wing news outlets and political think tanks have bought into the myth that entertainment and comedy cannot coexist apart from taking a political stance in their work. However, the ideological realm of political thought extends beyond the entertainment industry, however. Unbeknownst to the American people, their political philosophy influences several aspects of their lives. How Americans view each other and their value as people is thrown into question by where they stand politically. According to Paul Taylor and a study conducted by the Pew Research Center,
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Letters to the editor should be sent to the Meyer Student Media Center or mailed to The Reflector, PO Box 5407, Mississippi State, MS. Letters may also be emailed to editor@reflector. msstate.edu. Letters must include name and telephone number for verification purposes. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.
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CORRECTIONS
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2020 @REFLECTORONLINE
LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT
ARY MADELINE LAMASTUS
Student Spotlight: Garrett Seal
“I just keep
FE & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Many have spotted the ainter standing on the corner f Main Street. He does not eturn their stares, though. nstead, he is completely ransfixed on his work, blivious to the honking orns of passing vehicles and hoppers’ pointing fingers. His brow is furrowed, and he s enveloped in the moving ght and every slight shift n the scenery, ignoring any nterference. He is painting owntown Starkville. Garrett Seal, a senior fine rts major at Mississippi State University, is the famous street ainter. Wiggins, Mississippi ative, Seal is known to many n Starkville as the “man who aints on the corner of the treet.” Seal confirmed this is much of what he does. “I do a new painting just bout every single day, every hance I can. I just love to aint,” Seal said. Seal’s passion for art egan when he was a child, ut he cannot pinpoint an xact moment in his life when began. For him, the desire to ecreate his surroundings has lways been a part of his story. “I don’t know … I’ve een painting and drawing tuff all my life, but I think got serious about it in the 0th grade in my first real high chool art class,” Seal said. Seal focuses mostly on andscapes and admits he oves to paint people and laces. Main Street has proven o be one of his favorite ubjects, though he cannot xplicitly explain why. “I just keep coming back o Main Street. I don’t really now why. I guess I just like he older buildings, especially with this here,” he said, ointing to the sketch of iant oak trees and the First Baptist’s Church steeple. “I ke the combination of the God-made and the man-made tructures.” Seal has not spent a lot f time contemplating the hilosophy of his work. nstead, he has always enjoyed he simplicity in painting. “In reality, I like to paint. t’s very simple when I think bout it. But I think my rofessors are trying to get me
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coming back to Main Street. I don’t really know why. I guess I just like the older buildings, especially with this here. I like the combination of the Godmade and the man-made structures.” Mary Madeline LaMastus| The Reflector
Garrett Seal
Garrett Seal, senior art major from Wiggins, Mississippi, paints a landscape of Lampkin Street in downtown Starkville. The student artist can often be found painting on Starkville street corners.
to think more and break out of that simple-mindedness about it now that I’m a senior. They want me to think more conceptually, things like ‘what do these things represent?’ and ‘why do I keep coming back to certain places?’ I think I’m slowly starting to understand that more, but for a long time, I just liked to paint,” Seal said. The artist’s focus is hardly breakable, as he noted a power company once took down a light pole behind him, and he did not notice for a long time. The process is pretty straight-forward for Seal, and the same shows in his work, preferring to keep his paintings small in size and impressionistic in style. His professors, such as Alex Bostic, are trying to break him out of this habit. Bostic is the painting coordinator for MSU’s Art Department and a member of Seal’s thesis committee. He has taught Seal for three courses so far and claims art professors have a very unique and personal relationship with their students. “It’s a whole ‘nother world, we have a different type of vibe. We spend more time with our students than
any other faculty on campus. We are in class for at least six hours a week, and we crack jokes. They get to know things that are going on in your life, and you get to know their lives,” Bostic said. Bostic noted the potential Seal has shown over the years, and he says that his job is to push his students’ limits instead of making them comfortable. “School is the time to take risks, this is where you make every mistake you can possibly make. If you want to come out of college the same way you came in, you should have never come to college. We are here to scare you. We aren’t there to make you happy, but our job is to push you,” Bostic said. Though Seal has not yet connected the dots on why he is drawn to Main Street and landscapes, Bostic suggested an artist’s style is reflective of their story, and there is no doubt Seal’s love of nature has found its way into his work. “Your style is based on what you wear, what you eat, who your friends are, where you live, what’s your environment, and where you grew up. Those things dictate your style because they will
show up in your painting. Garrett likes the environment, the outside, on-site and something in his psyche caused him to approach art that way,” Bostic said. He described Seal’s style with a smile, noting the ways he hopes to see Seal expand his horizons. “Garrett’s style is personal and quick. I’m trying to convince him to do bigger works. His are small. The reason is because he takes himself outside, and he challenges himself with the things he is confronted with. I’m trying to tell him to use that reference, and then come back and do bigger paints. We are working on it. He’s hesitant because he’s used to what he’s used it,” Bostic said. The art student has taken his professor’s advice to heart, and he is enjoying the process. “I used to only like small, but I’m slowly liking the freedom of a bigger canvas. I’m quick and more impressionistic than realistic, and in the smaller scenes, I can get in and out in about two hours and get what I want. With bigger pieces, I really have to slow down and think and process what I’m looking at,” Seal said.
Bostic believes, in ten years, Seal’s works will be in many galleries, and he will be a well-known artist. Holly Emery is a senior communication major is a friend of Seal’s and has even been featured in one of his portraits. Emery described Seal’s art in a similar way—not hurried, but quick. “It’s very realistic, with a blur. He has a really good job at capturing things in a single moment, the beauty in the single moment, whether it’s the Cotton District or Chadwick Lake. Anyone can go down to Chadwick Lake and just look at it, but he captures it in a way that says, ‘This was the day when everything was sad’ or ‘This is the day when everything was peaceful,’” Emery said. “He captures the emotions, even the landscapes.” Emery also described when she was the subject of one of his portraits. “I had to sit in the same position for three hours, but he always gave me breaks. He is an artist, so he can sit for hours, but I had to get up and stretch every 20 minutes,” Emery said. As a friend, Emery
described Seal as humble in regard to his work, but “sassy” in regard to his personality. “He’s this humble artist that’s hidden in the rough. He won’t tell you when he’s painted something new, so he’s really quiet about it … and you would think that he’s just a quiet guy that likes to paint, but he has a little bit of sass. You wouldn’t see that in his paintings,” Emery said. Seal believes he has painted approximately 200 paintings in his lifetime and said the practice is much more than just talent. “You really have to work for it. People like to say ‘you’re so talented’ and that kind of thing, and I can agree to an extent. I feel like God gives you passions for things, but it’s up to you to take that and run with it,” Seal said. Working diligently for his passion is familiar to Seal who is on the streets every chance he gets, no matter the hours. After hours pass, the shoppers walk by Seal again. This time, they are less focused on the painter. Instead, they are enthralled by the painting, a once stark-white pallete now covered in colorful life: Garrett Seal has painted and captured downtown Starkville.
MARY CAITLYN WRIGHT
have added protein, collagen and biotin to help with hair, skin and nails. The benefits provided from the tea is up to the consumer since there is a wide variety to choose from. Common questions that arise when talking about the teas are: Are loaded teas worth it? Are they just a trend? There are differing local opinions on the teas. Laney McGuffee, a junior at Mississippi State University majoring in special education, did not have the best experience with loaded teas. “I tried one once, and I have yet to try one again,” McGuffee said. “To me, they are a little overpriced, and it tasted so strong that my face was scrunched up the whole time I drank it.” McGuffee said she did not notice anything regarding the benefits which are supposed to come from the drink. “I didn’t feel very energized. I didn’t see a point getting anymore loaded teas because it just felt pointless,” McGuffee said. On the other hand, Emily O’Rear, a senior communication major, regularly buys loaded teas because she enjoys them. O’Rear also agreed loaded teas are a trend. “When they first came out, there was one shop, and then there was 40 within 10 miles of the next one,” O’Rear said. “They were everywhere. Everyone had to have loaded tea, and they
would post them on their stories and tag these nutrition shops. Not that people don’t drink them now, but they don’t post about it as much, and I don’t think that they feel a need to have them anymore as much they did in the beginning.” Maley Moak, a freshman majoring in biological sciences, works at one of the nutrition shops in Starkville. Moak gave some insight into why loaded are good for you. “I’d say that the best thing about loaded teas is that they are energy drinks with 200 mg of caffeine, but they are sugar-free,” Moak said. “They have vitamins A, B, C and E in the drinks, so they are all healthy and good for you.” Consumers can purchase Herbalife Herbal Tea from select tea shops as well as online to try and make loaded teas at home. There are also multiple recipes online for homemade loaded teas. Personally, I enjoy loaded teas. I do think they are a trend, but I also think they are more than that. I get the Pretty-N-Pink, which is a beauty line drink. To me, it makes me feel a little more energized, fuller for longer and I believe the vitamins work to better my health. Overall, I think loaded teas taste good and do what they are supposed to do. Whether or not the price is worth it is up to the customer, but if you haven’t tried one before, now might be the time.
Loaded teas: Are they worth the hype? STAFF WRITER
Jordan Smith| The Reflector
eorgia Hamilton, sophomore accounting major, sips a loaded tea called “Captain America” from Starkville Nutrition, located off of Russell Street.
Loaded tea shops have found their way to Starkville in two locations: Starkville Nutrition, located on Russell Street near McCallister’s and 39759 Nutrition, located on Highway 12 near Moreland Storage. The point of a loaded tea is to drink something which not only tastes good but is also healthy. In my opinion, nutrition shops have accomplished the goal. A loaded tea is different than most teas. A loaded tea provides energy throughout the day and is made with antioxidants. The type of different teas used to make loaded teas are green, black and oolong tea. These teas help with energy and metabolism. Loaded teas are generally made with no sugar, only contain around 24 calories and have many different vitamins. The teas also have 175-200 mg of caffeine for energy. They contain ginseng and guarana for hunger control and mental focus. There is also aloe in the loaded teas for digestion and absorption. Each loaded tea has a base using Herbalife Herbal Tea Concentrate. This base stimulates the body’s metabolism and is available in a variety of flavors. This is the standard for most loaded teas, but each is a little different from one another. There are teas made specifically for beauty that
6-Sports SPORTS 6
THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2020 @SPORTSREFLECTOR
Baseball is on deck as opening day approaches HUNTER CLOUD SPORTS EDITOR
Mary Georgia Hamilton | The Reflector
Rowdey Jordan swings the bat in a game against Louisiana State Universty last season. Opening day is on Feb. 14 against Wright State University.
Every January, the Mississippi State University baseball team comes together with the sound of aluminum bats pinging and the smacking of red seamed baseballs hitting leather gloves. Their goal is to make it to Omaha, but this year, they will have to do it without Jake Mangum, Elijah MacNamee and Ethan Small. Head Coach Chris Lemonis said if leaders step up, they will face different games and obstacles. “A team at this point hasn’t gone through much adversity,” Lemonis said. “Usually when you have adversity, you see those guys stand up.” For the first time in two years, there was not a change in leadership as Lemonis remained head coach. This brought consistency to the team which they had lacked before. Rowdey Jordan, a junior outfielder from Auburn, Alabama, said he was grateful for the steady leadership. “It feels amazing,” Jordan said. “It is the comfortability. You have people around you that you are comfortable with. It is going to be a huge plus this year to have the same coaching staff.” The team is young with just two seniors on the ball club. Because of the amount of underclassmen, the leadership of the team will be young as well. Jordan said games will develop the team. “Being the young team, the more we play the better
we get,” Jordan said. “I think we will have our struggles. The more we play the more the younger guys get under their belts. We just get better the more we play.” For the past two seasons, the Diamond Dawgs have ended up in Omaha despite three different head coaches. The focus of not only getting to Omaha but also winning the game is on the mind of Lemonis as they start the new season.
“ It isn’t just getting
to Omaha, it is winning Omaha. It is expected in this program.” Chris Lemonis Baseball Head Coach “It isn’t just getting to Omaha, it is winning Omaha,” Lemonis said. “It is expected in this program. When you come here and you look around and see these facilities. Much is given and much is expected.” The team is resilient which is shown with their results. Last year the team had 22 wins when the opponent scored first, and while this year’s team has yet to forge an identity, Lemonis hopes fans walk away from the game saying one thing.
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Casey Valentine| MSU Athletics
Peng Pichaikool takes a shot at Pebble Beach this fall. Pichaikool came in seventh individually in the Arizona Intercollegiate Tournament.
Pair of seniors lead Bulldogs to top five finish in men’s golf LYDIA PALMER STAFF WRITER
On Monday and Tuesday, Mississippi State University Men’s Golf Team started their first tournament of the spring season in Tucson, Arizona. Fourteen teams participated in a total of 54 holes over the course of the two-day tournament. MSU was able to finish in the top five. The Bulldogs’ starting lineup consisted of seniors Peng Pichaikool and Garrett Johnson, sophomores Ford Clegg and Austin Vukovits and freshman Hunter Logan. This team has a lot to uphold this semester after their fall season held the title of Steelwood Intercollegiate Champions. The University of Arizona hosted the tournament on a course named the best public golf course of 2016 in Golf Magazine. The Bulldogs have a history of playing well here and placed fifth of 14 in the tournament this week. Arizona came in first followed by Baylor University, St. Mary’s University, Washington State University
Kimberly, Alabama, got his first collegiate win here. He shot a 68, three under par, in the first round of the tournament followed by a 69 and 76. Johnson’s total for the tournament was 213, taking him to his second top 15 finish in a row, coming in 13th this week. “I thought the first tournament was a good start to our spring semester. We beat some really good teams and even though, as a whole, we didn’t have our best stuff, it was still good enough for a T5 finish,” Johnson said. “I’m proud of the way our younger guys stepped up and played great final rounds when I didn’t have my best day. I’m also proud of Peng and the way he played the final round and earned another top 10 showing.” The Bulldogs fought hard on day two of the tournament after being tied for seventh place, achieving their final place of fifth out of 14. Peng Pichaikool’s, a senior from Bangkok, Thailand, best round was the third and final, where he shot 68, leaving him with a total of 210, three above Johnson. He finished
Johnson said the younger players stepped up and helped out the team while he was not having his best game. This came with the help of freshman Hunter Logan who shot a total of 220, finishing only seven over par and being tied for 44th. Sophomore Ford Clegg was close in score, finishing with 221. The Mississippi State Men’s Golf Team head coach Dusty Smith said he was happy with the team’s performance. “Really pleased with the response we had today as a team,” Smith said. “We are really looking forward to a couple weeks of preparation before our next event in Florida.” The team has less than a month before they travel to Gainesville, Florida to compete in the Gator Invitational Feb. 15 and 16. “Ultimately, I’m most excited about this next event because it is our next opportunity to get better,” Johnson commented after this week’s tournament. “We have a little over two weeks to prepare for this event, and we are looking forward to
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“Hopefully someone can come to our games right now and say ‘man those guys play hard,’” Lemonis said. Hard work is a characteristic Jordan said will help younger players develop their skill. Jordan also said instilling confidence through compliments is another way to help young players grow. “The biggest thing when it comes to dealing with a young team is to get the younger guys on board and to believe they are good enough to play,” Jordan said. “I think we have the talent. It is just gonna be a matter of people stepping up and making plays.” With the season around the corner, Luke Hancock, a sophomore catcher from Houston, Mississippi, said he was excited to get back out behind the plate and play in front of fans at Dudy Noble Field. “It has been a while since we got to play in front of them,” Hancock said. “We are ready to get out there and play in front of the greatest fans in college baseball.” The season presents an opportunity for Jordan to improve from his sophomore year which he said was a down year. He said as a player you just learn more about yourself and more from your mistakes. “I think that is what I’m going to take into this year to help me become a better player and better polished,” Jordan said. “At the end of the day, I’m going to play hard, and I’m going to do what is best for the team.”
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