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131st YEAR ISSUE 31
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
‘You are welcome here, you are valued here’:
Starkville stands together representing hope to the international community by Emmalyne Kwasny News Editor
A diverse group of approximately 250 people gathered at 6 p.m. Wednesday in The Junction on Mississippi State University’s campus. Those present were brought together by a common bond: the Presidential Executive Order on Immigration. The vigil was hosted by the Religious Diversity Organization and speakers presented to concerned members of the Starkville community surrounded by the warmth and comfort of candlelight. Students, faculty members, residents of the community and more held signs presenting hope in a myriad of ways reminding international students of their value. Anna Walker, a second year veterinary medicine student who initiated the gathering, explained why she decided to call the event a vigil. “One of the definitions of the word vigil is ‘a period of time keeping awake during the time usually spent asleep,’” Walker said. “So to anyone out there who has been affected, targeted or feels threatened by this ban, please look around and know that we are awake and we are
Sarah Dutton | The Reflector
Two participants at Wednesday nights’ vigil at The Junction on Mississippi State University’s campus help ignite each other’s candles to illuminate the surrounding crowd gathered in solidarity against President Donald Trump’s recent presidential executive order.
watching and we will stand up to insure that you are not only given the freedom to be here, but that you also receive the respect and opportunity that you deserve.” Walker said to those who support the presidential executive order, those opposed to it will fight against them every step of the way. Dr. Rani Sullivan, associate professor of Aerospace Engineering,
spoke representing the Muslim Student Association. Sullivan hoped that peace would be present among everyone present. She said to the crowd that “they had demonstrated they have a voice and that it must be used.” “Silence is the same thing as agreement,” Sullivan said. She asked the crowd to forgive the fear of the international students. Sullivan said the crowd
was displaying one of her Islamic religion’s key principles–to not idly watch as creation is abused or mistreated. She said Muslims are told to stand up firmly for justice, to be a witness for God. Sullivan said she and her family have lived in Starkville for 50 years, and despite cultural differences, the community welcomed her family. “This community has
Sarah Dutton | The Reflector
Families gathered at the vigil named “Beacon of Light: Vigil For Refugees, Immigrants and Muslims.” Candles were handed out as the community gathered to spread hope.
nurtured me and my family through all of these years,” Sullivan said. “I hear the same thing from people that
come today. Nobody wants to leave. It is because of the hospitality and generosity that is shown to us.” VIGIL, 2
SA candidates debate issues for Tuesday’s election by Samantha Neargarder Contributing Writer
The executive council candidates of Mississippi State University’s Student Association gathered to debate their opponents and deliver their personal platforms to students on Wednesday night. The debates started with the office of treasurer, secretary, and vice president and were followed by a speech from the president elect who is running unopposed. Every candidate came prepared to answer questions regarding their office, as well as questions from the audience. The current SA President Roxanne Raven gave a welcoming speech before the debates began describing the job tasks of being on executive council, and the responsibilities each position holds. Raven let the audience know of the fiscal responsibilities by giving examples of things the current SA has accomplished. “These positions deal with a $500,000 budget from student fees and
from the state. So make sure you elect somebody you can trust with your money,” Raven said. “Some examples the Student Association has done this past year are making campus smoke free, making $20,000 accessible for green projects every year, and improving recreational equipment at the Sanderson.” Johnny Douglas and Elizabeth Thomas were the first candidates to take the podium to debate for the office of treasurer. Each candidate discussed goals they wished to achieve given the opportunity to take office for the executive council. Douglas had the opportunity to voice his opinion first. “My goal is to have the budget help everyone on campus, even people who aren’t as active in student association,” Douglas said. Thomas, his opponent, had three main goals: to restore accountability, bring modern technology to the office, and initiate budget apps for cabinet members. With these ideas, Thomas said he believes there will not be as many miscommunications and mishaps as in the past.
Alayna Stevens | The Reflector
Tyler McMurray, unopposed runner for SA president, smiles as she addresses those present with a speech explaining her platform.
The secretary position has five candidates running, however only two of those running could make it to the event: Stephanie Durr and Karlie Hughes. As stated by the mediator, the secretary position is the main source of communication between the SA and the student body. Both candidates
spoke on how they would add more transparency to the position of secretary if elected. “I would like to incorporate organizations and other student groups in what we are doing, so when our cabinet is putting on events or trying to ask policies,” Hughes said. “I would like to reach out
to the organizations and student groups that it is affecting.” Durr said she had a different viewpoint, wanting to let more voices be heard throughout the student body, which to her seemed to be a reoccurring issue among students. Durr said she wants to implement biweekly newsletters to be
emailed out to students so they are up to date on what the cabinet is doing, as well as legislations going to the senate floor. Vice president candidates, Ann Sowell and William (Layton) Little looked eager to share their platforms as they reached the podium. A question proposed by the audience about their campaign desires seemed to summarize the two candidate’s main concerns. “The most crucial part of my platform is definitely the communication point,” Sowell said. “I want to increase and better the communication between you students, and the SA [executive council].”. Differing from Sowell, Little said the most crucial piece to his platform was student health, specifically mental health. “One of the things I want to do is put the suicide hotline number, counseling services number and police number on the back of your ID card, or front wherever they are allowed,” Little said. “That way if students are struggling in that moment they will always have their ID card on them.” DEBATE, 2
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2017
DEBATE
Monday January 30, 2017 6:58 a.m. An Aramark employee reported being stalked by an unknown person. 10:29 a.m. An employee hit a bollard with one of MSU’s vehicles on Buckner Lane. 1:33 p.m. A student reported unauthorized charges on his debit card. 2:06 p.m. A student reported his bicycle stolen from a bike rack at McKee Hall. 7:01 p.m. A student reported his vehicle stolen from the gravel parking lot near McComas Hall. 9:02 p.m. A non-resident/visitor was arrested on Stone Blvd. for speeding 38/20 with a suspended Driver’s License. Justice Court citations were issued. Tuesday January 31, 2017 12:39 p.m. A Residence Director reported a suspicious smell in Griffis Hall. 1:13 p.m. An employee reported recieving a suspicious call about a MSU women’s basketball player being held hostage at an unknown location. All players were then accounted for. 4:51 p.m. A student reported a ring missing from her room in Hathorn Hall.
He went as far as asking the audience if they currently had their student ID on them, and said he felt his point was proven when majority raised their hand. Sowell said she was more qualified for the office of vice president than her opponent because she had a fresh new face, along with new ideas. Even though she has personally not been a senator for the student association, she can implement great leadership to the senate. Little, being a twoterm senator for the SA, believed differently. He said the senate follows
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“Robert rules” and it is crucial that these rules are followed and implemented. “I know how to write legislation, I know how to write a resolution, and I know how to write a bill,” Little said. “ I can help senators that ya’ll heard earlier write these resolutions, and bills faster than waiting a whole semester to get a firm grasp on it.” Tyler McMurray, although running unopposed for the office of SA president still gave a speech on her platform and answered questions. Her speech started off with three words summarizing
student association. McMurray’s closing remark to the audience was, “hit me up,” followed by laughter from the audience and her reiterating her statement. “No seriously,” McMurray said. “There are so many things that I know you face every single day, that you may not think is significant but it is, hundreds of other students could feel the same way.” Raven closed the debate from all candidates by encouraging students to vote on Tuesday, and said she is looking forward to see how all candidates will carry out their campaigns.
VIGIL Sullivan said she was unable to express the gratitude the Muslim community feels towards the larger community of Starkville. “Your words and the images that you are projecting are lifelines for the refugees and those people that are afraid, the ones that are uncertain and they are separated from their families,” Sullivan said. International students are suffering from homesickness and are now uncertain about their plans to visit their home countries. Sullivan said there is a petition signed
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by academics located at notoimmigrationban. comaddressing three key points against the executive order: discrimination, detrimental to the national interests of the U.S., and imposes burdens on the community; she said the executive order is a Muslim ban. She also spoke on behalf of the community. “My dear neighbors, your bravery, your compassion, your generosity, has touched us deeply,” Sullivan said. “We are so very grateful and we ask God’s blessings on you and yours.” She said peace-loving Muslims who actually practice Islam, completely condemn all aggression on human life, freedom and dignity everywhere. Following Dr. Sullivan, chief administrative officer at the Starkville Community Theater, Gabe Smith, spoke about the Ghostlight Project. The Ghostlight Project is a national organization that began on the eve of the presidential election. Hundreds of theaters around the country joined to share commitment to greater inclusion and compassion in theaters and the communities.
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the focus of her platform: enrich, engage and empower. McMurrary said enrichment is about making sure students’ needs are met. She continued to speak about the second point of her platform. “My second point is engagement. I am so tired of the diversity and inclusion talks that we keep having, I think all of those words fall flat until we have something that truly backs it up with action,” McMurray said. McMurray said with empowerment, she wants to make sure students truly understand and utilize the
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Smith said the Starkville Ghostlight Project invited people to bring their own light sources downtown to the local theater where the attendees all turned on their lights simultaneously. He said the light they created was to represent their commitment to guard their values as artists and to be a safe haven to anyone targeted for any reason. “The light symbolized hope and a belief that through our actions, change together is possible,” Smith said. Meagan O’Nan, founder of Mississippi Institute of Peace and co-founder of Thrive Health, Inc., a health and inspirational center, followed Smith. O’Nan said the word “sanctuary” kept coming to her mind in regards to the vigil. “Sanctuary is something we all need right now,” O’Nan said. “A place of community, a place to feel welcome, not only welcomed, but valued.” O’Nan said she values the lives of those effected by the executive orders. She said although the government may have the ability to affect people’s lives, it will not effect her
spirits or how she treats others. “As our government continues to attempt to divide us, the best of us are rising up,” O’Nan said. “Community is more powerful than government. Communities are meant to be sanctuaries. And that is what we want to be for you. You are welcome here, you are valued here.” Dr. Sol Pelaez, professor of Spanish and Hispanic American Literature and Culture at MSU, read an open letter from the MSU faculty addressed to President Mark Keenum next. At the vigil, Pelaez said the letter had about 60 signatures. Laura Herring, student director of No Lost Generation, an organization that advocates for children impacted by the Syrian refugee crisis, spoke next. She said she offered support for everyone affected by the order. “I implore us all to remember that we must defend this most vulnerable population who are on the verge of being lost to war, violence and worst of all, political apathy,” Herring said. FOR FULL STORY, GO TO
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2017
The Super Bowl is coming: tips for a successful party by Emily Wright Staff Writer
At 5:30 p.m on Feb. 5, millions of Americans will get together to watch the Atlanta Falcons take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI with their closest friends and family. This will be the Patriots’ ninth appearance in the Super Bowl. With four Super Bowl wins already recorded, many students at Mississippi State University are choosing to root for their opponent: The Falcons, who are making their second appearance in the super bowl and, if fate allows, their first win. Fifteen out of 20 students asked said they support the Atlanta Falcons; only two of those 15 students expressed annual loyalty to the team. The other 13 want to see the Falcons win the Super Bowl for the first time in history. Although the game is the
main focus of the night, there are other games to be played and snacks to be made in order for a Super Bowl party to be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of the outcome of the game. Sometimes hosting a Super Bowl party can be more stress than it’s worth, so here are a few tips to make hosting the party more relaxing, carefree and fun for everyone. First and foremost, make sure there are a wide variety of snacks for everyone and they are not going to stain furniture and rugs. Buffalo wings are always a crowd favorite but tend to be very messy, and there is always one person who gets a little too excited; therefore, pizza and/or sliders are always a great alternative to avoid cleaning a stained couch later. Chips and dip, nachos, pigs in a blanket, veggie plates and cookies are always dependable and easy additions to make a party complete. Drinks are an essential part of the party; however,
CLASSIFIEDS POLICY The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday; the deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. Classifieds are $5 per issue. Student and staff ads are $3 per issue, pre-paid. Lost and found: found items can be listed for free; lost items are listed for standard ad cost. HELP WANTED JOB OPPORTUNITY: Administrative Assistant, clerical and domestic duties, computer skills required. $8.50 per hour. Work is as needed. Call 662-312-5630 FOR RENT Sublease 3 BR 1 bath brick house with large back yard. 513 Overstreet Drive, Starkville. $975.00. MISCELLANEOUS
ice is easily forgotten in the mix of planning and cooking. Be sure to remember to pick up a few bags of ice and plenty of drinks to keep the party going. Two-liter sodas are always the cheapest option when hosting large amounts of guests. When grocery shopping, adding paper plates and bowls, plastic silverware and cups and napkins to the list will help with the post-party clean up. Instead of washing several dishes, just pull out the disposable cups and plates and throw them away when everyone has left. Although the game is the primary focus, the commercials played throughout the game can serve as great entertainment for guests. Commercial bingo is an easy way to entertain guests and keep them actively involved with the event. Bingo cards are easily accessible to print online and are filled with different phrases and subjects that are mentioned every year.
It’s Party Time!
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Last but not least, prepare for more guests than expected. Nothing is more of a party foul than running out of seating or food
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CLUB INFO The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday; deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. MSU student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info. Information may be submitted by email to club_info@reflector.msstate. edu with the subject heading “CLUB INFO,” or a form may be completed at The Reflector office in the Student Media Center. A contact name, phone number and requested run dates must be included for club info to appear in The Reflector.
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Food Network provides a list of the 50 most popular Super Bowl snacks. Find their recipes at www. foodnetwork.com.
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OPINION
THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2016
The sky is blue every where: an international student’s perspective on the immigration executive order
Roy Jafari is a graduate student majoring in industrial engineering. He can be contacted at opinion@reflector.
Ever since President Trump took office, he has signed many executive orders and is drastically influencing many of our lives. These influences may have been direct or indirect, for better or for worse, but they are affecting all of us. One of these orders has directly impacted many international students on c a m p u s — s p e c i f i c a l l y, students from the countries listed in the Presidential Executive Order on Immigration. In the past couple of days, I have heard many stories of how people’s future are being affected, how many families are being separated and how many students are
distracted in the face of all of these developments. While I agree the suddenness of all these changes has brought about many distresses and uncertainties, I cannot condone the negativity all of us are bringing upon ourselves. To all of my fellow international students and friends who think they are
offering to the world has been throwing many of us off. As a consequence, we have forgotten that he has not been doing anything unlawful. He was elected as the president of the U.S. and signing executive orders the way he sees fitting is a part of his job. Quite frankly, having any negative feeling towards
“President Trump has the power to make me pack up and leave the country tomorrow, however, he will not have the power to stop me from feeling good about my life.” being treated unlawfully or unjustly I need to remind you of one thing: When we were granted visa to enter the U.S. we were not promised a permanent stay, nor were we promised a prospect of job after our education. I think the fast-paced change the president is
any of his orders is a sign that the concept of democracy and the law of the U.S. we agreed upon our entrance to this country has not been fully appreciated and understood. We all need to accept that President Trump is the acting president of the United States and is
running the country. Even though he has gained so much power after winning the election, by reacting irrationally and becoming distressed and upset, we are giving him more power than he deserves to have as the president. President Trump has the power to make me pack up and leave the country tomorrow, however, he will not have the power to stop me from feeling good about my life and my ability to smile and love. Only I have that power, and I refuse to let go of that power by thinking as if staying in America is all my life is about. I believe refusing to feel negative about any situation will allow you to think clearly and make the best decision. The way, I think, we all need to look at the whole situation is to acknowledge that fi nding a future in the U.S. might have become harder than before. I would love to fi nish this article with my dad’s favorite Persian saying: “The sky is blue everywhere.”
Binge-drinking should not be the norm by Mustafa Sen Contributing Writer
In a simplistic way, an alcoholic drink is any beverage that contains more than a minimal amount of ethanol or ethyl alcohol. Beer, wine and spirits are each produced by a process called fermentation, which is the natural outcome of yeast digesting the sugars found in ingredients like fruit, cereal grains, or other starches. As a result of fermentation, two substances emerge: ethanol and carbon dioxide. Ethanol is the alcohol people drink, but there are other forms of alcohol that may be damaging or even lethal to consume. Additionally, ethanol can be found in the gasoline, but I strongly advise not to drink that. My aim in this piece is to inform the readers about alcohol in college life and raise awareness to fight binge drinking. Consuming alcoholic beverages during college is a ritual students often see as an integral part of their college experience. Many students arrive at their universities with established drinking habits, and the college atmosphere can aggravate these problems. What are common causes for college drinking? Researchers show that individuals are motivated to act in ways that will project socially popular images of themselves. According to the Californian Journal of Health Promotion, anxieties about peer acceptance, social
approval and being “one of the crowd” may be the leading causes of alcohol consumption among college students. Surveys indicate freshman students often consume alcohol to project ideas of themselves as being “cool and laid back” and “fun and social.” Almost 75 percent of freshmen college students report performing at least one unsafe behavior—the most common of which is alcohol use—during their first semester in order to “fit in.” The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
students experience the effects of “college drinking” whether they drink or not. Binge drinking in college students is a national concern. According to social scientist Sharma Kanekar, it is a problematic issue both at an individual level and a societal level. He asserts that no single theory can describe binge drinking, and a preventative effort from only one discipline cannot solve the binge drinking problem. Collaborative efforts are required both at societal and
“Almost 75 percent of freshmen college students report performing at least one unsafe behavior—the most common of which is alcohol use—during their first semester in order to ‘ fit in.’” Alcoholism defines binge drinking as “a pattern of drinking that brings a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 grams percent or above.” This typically occurs when men consume five or more drinks, and when women consume four or more drinks, in about two hours. Studies reveal that more than 80 percent of college students drink alcohol, and nearly half of them report binge drinking in the past two weeks. Almost all college
an individual levels. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, “One standard American drink contains roughly 14 grams of pure alcohol, which is found in: 12 ounces of regular beer, which is usually about five percent alcohol; five ounces of wine, which is typically about 12 percent alcohol; and one and a half ounces of distilled spirits, which is about 40 percent alcohol.” It is vital a person know this because the average body can process one
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standard drink per hour. This information can help you to monitor your alcohol consumption and prevent you from drinking more than you intended. If you are a student at Mississippi State University, there are plenty of valuable resources any student can use to cope with binge drinking. One is ScreenU, which is a web-based substance abuse combative method that administers screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment to college students. It aids students who are abusing alcohol, marijuana, or prescription drugs and offers feedback and strategies to reduce their risk for experiencing negative results from their use. A second available source is the Global Appraisal of Individual Needs (G.A.I.N.) program. It is a free program for MSU students. It is confidential and non-judgmental. It consists of two thirty minute interviews, and provides personalized feedback about many topics including alcohols effects on the body and blood alcohol content, how a student’s alcohol choices compare to drinking norms of other MSU students, alcohols impact on financial spending, caloric intake of alcohol and things students can do to protect themselves from becoming alcohol dependent. MSU students can schedule an appointment by sending an email to “GAIN@ saffairs.msstate.edu.”
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 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.
The
Falcons poised to beat Patriots in Superbowl LI
Chris Lowe is a sophomore majoring in business information systems. He can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
With the Super Bowl upon us, many people are rushing to make their predictions before the big game kicks off on Sunday. Since we have the high-powered Atlanta Falcons taking on the historically-dominant New England Patriots, this is not an obvious win either way, and there are great points to be made for both teams potentially winning. However, as an Atlanta fan, I have to say that the Falcons are my pick to win it all and my reasoning behind that opinion is a little more complicated than just pure bias. The Falcons are a top 10 offense in the NFL’s history in terms of points scored, and they deserve to be taken more seriously than many media outlets have taken them. The most obvious reason the Falcons will topple the Patriots this Sunday has to be their offensive firepower. Their quarterback, Matt Ryan, was 56 yards shy of a 5,000 passing yard season, according to ESPN. He is probably the frontrunner for the NFL MVP this season, as he has broken the NFL all-time passing yards per attempt record for a 16-game season and absolutely shredded every defense he has played this year, including the likes of Seattle’s Legion of Boom. The Falcons have arguably the best wide receiver in the league as well, Julio Jones. Jones has played basically the entire season hurt and has not even played in every game, yet has almost 1,500 receiving yards. Unlike other teams with massive receiving threats though, Atlanta has two other deadly weapons in their receiving corps with Taylor Gabriel and Mohamed Sanu, who have both come up with clutch catches in the latter half of the season. The Falcons do not stop in their passing game. They have not one, but two amazing running backs. Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman are essentially interchangeable, and both can break away for a huge ground gain or even catch a screen pass for a much-needed first down if need be. With this in Atlanta’s arsenal, they are set apart from other teams in the league, as the Patriots
will have to account for both of their running styles and both of their hot streaks. All of these offensive weapons are anchored by a much-improved offensive line. Pro Football Focus ranks them as the No. 4 O-line in the league as of now, calling them “much better than anyone expected”. The offseason signing of Alex Mack at center plugged the one hole Atlanta had in the line last season, which was frankly the biggest issue they had as a team. This offense is far and away the most complete in the NFL this season, and for that matter one of the best of all time. They have proven that they can destroy any team, no matter what defense they face, and the Patriots will be no different. While the defense might be what most would call Atlanta’s weakness, it certainly is not something to sneeze at recently. While admittedly starting the season off poorly, the defense has recently picked up its game and is proving to be respectable. With the likes of Vic Beasley improving to the point of being in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year and rookie studs Keanu Neal and Deion Jones outplaying expectations, all it will take for the Patriots to fall behind is one turnover. This defense does not need to control the game to win; it simply needs to put pressure on Tom Brady. While that might be easier said than done, the Falcons’ defense is in a position to make plays, and I believe they will make more than just one. In a nutshell, the Falcons are an 11-5 regular season team with the toughest schedule in the league. They have only improved as the season progressed, they sport a historically great offense, and their defense has enough big names to make stops and force turnovers. Many sports journalists have cited their 33.8 points a game and state that the first team to make a turnover in the Super Bowl will be at a huge disadvantage, and I am inclined to agree. The Ringer even states “In the history of the league’s championship game, 88 percent of the teams that won the turnover battle also won it all.” It will be incredibly easy to fall behind the Falcons if every opportunity is not taken advantage of. Tom Brady is going to have to have a flawless game to stop the Falcons, and I just do not see that happening. Brady might be on the NFL’s mount rushmore of quarterbacks, but this Falcons team simply will not be denied. This is their year to fly high.
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SPORTS
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2017
Bulldogs pull in No. 24 recruiting class by Taylor Rayburn Staff Writer
Head football coach Dan Mullen brought in his ninth recruiting class at Mississippi State Univeristy on Wednesday as 11 high school students signed and faxed their National Letter of Intent to MSU. MSU signed 24 players total in this year’s class, however, only 11 of those players signed today because 13 of them enrolled at MSU in January. The class finished at 24th according to 247sports. com’s composite rating, which is a combination of all the major recruiting sites’ ratings. “We had a Top-25 recruiting class and hopefully they pan out that way too,” Mullen said. “Hopefully they end up being a Top-25 football team.” Coach Mullen’s top recruit was just a short drive down Highway 12 with Willie Gay, a 6-1, 223-pound linebacker from Starkville High School. Gay is a 4-star prospect and the highest rated recruit in MSU’s class, according to 247sports.com. The battle for Gay was not easy for MSU. Gay committed to Ole Miss last summer before decommitting in October. It then became a threeway battle between MSU, LSU and Michigan. Gay said after signing with MSU he was a silent commit to LSU for a week after his official visit on Jan. 20. He told LSU head coach Ed Orgeron via text Tuesday night he would be flipping to MSU. Gay said he made his decision on Sunday night. After
announcing his decision, he told the media how he made the choice. “I put LSU, Michigan and State all beside each other and I thought where I really wanted to be, where I would get the chance to play early and Mississippi State won,” Gay said. MSU also secured their running back-quarterback combo of the future in 4-stars Kylin Hill and Keytaon Thompson. Thompson, a 6-4, 220-pound dual-threat quarterback out of LandryWalker High School in New Orleans, Louisiana, is one of 13 players who enrolled in January. In his senior season of high school, Thompson threw the ball 329 times, completing 197 of those for 3,924 yards and 46 passing touchdowns. He ran the ball 148 times for 1,429 yards and 26 rushing touchdowns. Mullen raved about Thompson at his National Signing Day wrap-up press conference. “He came here because he knows that we know how to develop quarterbacks, even though early on he wasn’t as highly recruited as a lot of guys around the country,” Mullen said. “He ended up having a spectacular senior year which didn’t surprise me at all because I knew the type of player that he was when he committed to us a long time ago” Hill, a 5-11, 210-pound running back out of Columbus High School, is the No. 13 ranked running back in the nation by 247sports. com. Hill rushed the ball 176 time his senior year for 1,743 yards and 24 rushing touchdowns. Mullen called Hill a top priority. “I thought when we looked
at him that he was one of the best, if not the best, running back in the country,” Mullen said. “He brings the physical ability to run the ball between the tackles and has breakaway speed when he gets into the second level.” The most interesting thing about this class is that MSU had more players enroll in January than sign on national signing day, with 13 players enrolling in January, including nine players from junior college. Only four of the early enrollees are from the high school level. “It just played out that way,” Mullen said. “I think a lot of people will question was it a plan to have this? We don’t ever have a set number of junior college players or high school players.” Mullen once again emphasized the state of Mississippi. Of the 24 players Mullen signed, 12 are from the Mississippi. This continued a trend Mullen established when he first came to MSU. He has always emphasized getting players from Mississippi. “The first thing is, let’s look at home,” Mullen said. “Let’s look at great players in the state of Mississippi and there were a bunch of guys there.” Mullen and his staff brought in another solid recruiting class, something necessary to compete in the SEC. When Mullen first got to MSU, fans simply wanted a bowl, but now with rising expectations, Mullen has to recruit well. “Eight years ago when I came here, the talk was that I want to build a program that has really high expectations,” Mullen said. “We certainly have been able to do that.”
Dalton Middleton | The Reflector
Willie Gay picks Mississippi State over Ole Miss, LSU and Michigan. The 4-star linebacker is the best rated recruit in this class.
Nightmare looks to frighten opponents by Hunter Sciara Contributing Writer
Ultimate frisbee is an exhilarating game bringing passion and excitement to both those who play and observe the sport. It has become a wellknown game throughout college campuses, and the Mississippi State women’s team has a large percentage of similar excitement for their upcoming season. The women’s ultimate frisbee team is both young and talented, which makes for a perfect recipe to what looks to become a great season. Co-captain Grace Robinson said the youth on this team could very much impact the squad’s ability to succeed. “Last year we had several girls graduate, so we had to work a lot on recruiting this summer and fall, and we know have 11 new girls that joined the team this year,” Robinson said. That is a large amount of new players, considering there can only be seven players on the field for each team at a time. Robinson also said this is nearly half their team. However, she remains extremely upbeat about the situation. “They’re all very positive and willing to learn more about the game and get better, so I think
they’ll do an awesome job,” Robinson said. Since their youth does not seem to be a large obstacle in the path to success, expectations for co-captain Kennedy Moehrs are high for her team. “As always, my goal is to make it to regionals, but with that, I would love to win a tournament and get our new girls some great experience playing the game,” Moehrs said. The women’s team came close on multiple occasions last year to winning a tournament; however, they fell just shy of holding up a trophy. Moehrs said while she wants the team to have fun, everyone needs to come prepared to practice hard. “I think we need to keep coming to practice ready to work with a professional mentality,” Moehrs said. “That being said, we need to continue to communicate and work well together on and off the field.” Although communication is important, it is not the entirety of the game. Teams must have skill and ability in order to beat other opponents and win tournaments. Senior Emily Price said the strongest part of the team is their diversity and that it will be a huge component to winning games this year. “We have tall girls, short girls, fast girls, girls that can catch, girls that can cut, and just read the field,”
Price said. Therefore, the teams amount of skill across the board seems to be promising heading into the season, along with the important factor of communication. However, a team is only as strong as it’s weakest link. Both Price and Moehrs agreed that practice makes perfect, which will knock out their weaker aspects of play such as cohesiveness on the field, learning each other’s individual movements and understanding how their personal mistakes affect the game in it’s entirety. While game plans and practice contribute to the overall success of the season, nothing can beat true dedication and passion for the sport. The players on the team had trouble trying to name their singluar favorite part of the sport. Robinson said she does not have a favorite part of the game, but the unity it brings everyone who plays stands is what she cherishes the most about picking up the sport. “I love everything about this sport,” Robinson said. “Even though it’s a competitive sport, teams from all over can come together, because they share a love for their ultimate team. It’s an awesome thing to see.” As the girls ultimate frisbee season kicks off on Saturday in Alabama, the team would enjoy seeing fans there for their games.
IMAGINE A PLAYING FIELD WITHOUT CONCUSSIONS.
WE ARE.
At Mississippi State, we’re imagining a football helmet built on the principles of nature. One that like a ram’s horns removes the shock waves upon collision, ultimately making our playing fields safer. As one of the nation’s leading research universities, we’re driven to discover solutions to problems that challenge our world. And you can expect our continued pursuit of ideas that shape the future. M S S TAT E . E D U
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2017
Bully’s BULLET
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Events happening across campus!
UPCOMING EVENTS FEB 3RD - FEB 16TH
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
Mississippi State Dance Marathon benefiting the Children’s Miracle Network
Men’s Basketball Miss. State vs. Tennessee
Women’s Basketball #4 Miss. State vs. Missouri
National Frozen Yogurt Day!
Global Lecture Series Robert Ballard
PAWS Interest Meeting
Salvaged Splendor Art Gallery Reception
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
Softball Doubleheader MSU vs. Samford & MSU vs. Stephen F. Austin
Outdoor Adventures Craighead Caverns Trip
IFC Spring Fraternity Recruitment
Lamar Conerly Governance Lecture: Former MS Governor Haely Barbour
Valentine’s Day!
IFC Spring Recruitment Bid Day
TheatreMSU presents “Boeing, Boeing”
SA Executive and Senate Elections
FOR MORE EVENT INFORMATION VISIT: UNION.MSSTATE.EDU/CALENDAR
?
“Another One” Coming Monday!
WHO WILL Instagram: msu_mmp
www.msuconcerts.com
IT BE Twitter: @Music_Maker
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL:
662.325.2930