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131st YEAR ISSUE 32
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
Bettering the University: Tyler McMurray by Samantha Neargarder Contributing Writer
Kip Evans | Courtesy Photo
Robert Ballard, professor of oceanography, discovered the sunken RMS Titanic in 1985.
Robert Ballard: conquering uncharted territory by John Lee Staff Writer
On the night of April 12, 1912, the Titanic set sail on its first and only voyage. It was deemed “unsinkable.” It was thought nothing could stop the ship, until it met an iceberg. After hitting the iceberg, the mighty ship sank into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, taking 1,500 of its 2,200 passengers with it. The Titanic was seemingly lost forever- for 73 years, that is. The wreck was discovered by one man: Dr. Robert Ballard who is speaking at Mississippi State University tonight at 7 p.m. in Bettersworth Auditorium in Lee Hall. Ballard is a renowned oceanographer and retired United States Navy officer. He discovered the remains of the Titanic in 1985, gaining attention from around the world. In summer 1985, Ballard was aboard the French research ship Le Suroît, which was using the side scan sonar SAR to search for the Titanic’s wreck. It was a secret expedition. Ballard’s life dream was to find the most famous shipwreck in the world, but if not for the Cold War and two missing submarines, the Titanic might never have been found. In the early-morning hours of Sept. 1, the image of a boiler in the sand 12,000 feet beneath the surface signaled the discovery of the Titanic. Dr. Ballard had done it. Jay Curtis, junior marketing major and SA cabinet member, said Ballard will speak about exploring the last uncharted territory on Earth: the ocean. BALLARD, 2
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Tyler McMurray, a junior animal and dairy science major, will take the office of Student Association president after today’s election, as she is running unopposed. From Flowood, Mississippi, McMurray is a 20-year-old junior ready to take the seat of president with her campaign focusing on enrichment, engagement and empowerment. McMurray chose to run for president for many reasons, one being her experience at the Southeastern Conference exchange last year, an event where the student governments of all SEC schools come together. She saw and heard what other schools do for students and wanted to bring those ideas to Mississippi State University. When she ran for secretary last year, McMurray described a different mindset she had and felt she should run for president because her motives were different. “When I ran for secretary it was like I need to do graphics, I need to do a campaign, I have to get this done, get these people on my team…but when I decided to run
Alayna Stevens | The Reflector
Tyler McMurray ran unopposed taking Roxanne Raven’s place as Mississippi State University’s Student Association’s new president.
for president it was like what can I do to better the university,” McMurray said. Her experience through many different organizations has led her
to believe she is qualified for this position. Just in SA alone McMurray has been in freshman council and held the positions of co-director of student association late nights
and secretary. She had leadership positions outside of SA as an orientation leader, she is involved in the preveterinarian club, and is an MSU roadrunner.
Being involved in all of these things, McMurray feels has molded her into the person she is today, and that is why she is running for president. Running for president takes a lot of time and effort. According to McMurray, she started preparing about a month before Christmas break, getting a team together, and developing a platform. The cost of campaigning can be steep also, given the budget is $1750. However, compared to many other SEC schools, that is a very low number. McMurray plans to give out phone wallets, and many other campaign materials, all of which can quickly add up. When McMurray was told she would not be running against another person, she said she had a huge weight lifted off her shoulders. As the position of president presides over all other cabinet members, McMurray said she wants to start strong. “Come out guns blazing, and then back off later. I want to have weekly reports where every single officer tells what occurred last week, and then what will happen in the next week,” McMurray said. “One of the things apart of my campaign, empower, is something I want to show and empower them to lead.” MCMURRAY, 2
MLK inspires students to speak up by Sean Mccarthy Staff Writer
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Oratorical Contest celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. King, and seeks to inform the university community of the value in public presentation. Applications for this annual public speaking contest are due for those interested by 5 p.m. Feb. 8. Sponsored by the African American Studies Department and the Mississippi State University Speech and Debate Council, the event is open to all majors and classifications. The MLK Oratorical Contest was established four years ago, in order to foster an annual forum for students to improve upon public speaking skills. Participation requires no prior public speaking experience and all interested students are encouraged to apply. Cheryl Chambers, communication instructor and coach within the Speech and Debate Council, said
she wishes to see students delve into the legacy of Dr. King. “We have sometimes seen more of a focus on biographical information, and I believe the legacy and the impact he left is really what is relevant to students today, especially in the political climate that we currently have,” Chambers said. Chambers said this is the Speech and Debate Council’s second year cosponsoring the competition. The team assists applicants in outlining, writing and presenting their speeches. “The speech team serves the purpose of helping students present themselves in a professional way, so their advice to applicants is invaluable,” Chambers said. Dr. Stephen Middleton, professor within the African American Studies Department, explained the goals and mission of the MLK Oratorical Contest. “We were moved by two considerations in doing so; we want more people of this generation to be aware of Dr. King as a leader,
Dick DeMarsico | Courtesy Photo
Martin Luther King Jr., 1929-1968, was a prominent leader during the Civil Rights Movement. He lead the movement nonviolently.
philosopher and a thinker,” Middleton said. Middleton understands the importance of Dr. King’s work in seeking to resolve the racial volatility
of the 1960s. He said he believes students can benefit from researching more on his history, and what his legacy means for students in today’s political
environment. Middleton said he also supports the use of oratory in empowering individuals and motivating them to be agents of change. ORATORICAL CONTEST, 2
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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2017
‘Passengers’: out of this world or crash and burn? by Abby Ready Staff Writer
A few weeks ago I saw the movie “Passengers,” and with Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence playing the leading roles in the film, I was sure it would be unforgettable. I feel this movie is primarily a love story, although it has some exciting science fiction, and action-type moments in it. “Passengers” is the story of two passengers that take part in a journey that will last over 100 years. They signed up to take this journey to another planet, and were set to hibernate for 90 years, but their hibernation pods had another plan. Jim (Pratt) wakes up first and realizes he is alone and will be for 90 years. He eventually decides to wake up another passenger to keep from going insane. This lucky passenger was the young and beautiful, Aurora (Lawrence).
I talked with a young woman that attended this movie and I asked for her thoughts. Sixteen-year old-Heidi Johnson said she attended this movie because of her love for aviation and Lawrence. “I could not believe he woke her up; she was a stranger to him, why would he pick her?” Johnson said. “I also cannot imagine being alone for 90 years; he had a really hard decision to make.” Johnson and I discussed the genre of the movie and both agreed it was not all action. “I thought this movie would be more of a sci-fi type but it ended up being a romance and I loved that,” Johnson said. “I’ve never been disappointed when I see a movie with Jennifer Lawrence as a leading actor. I wouldn’t change a thing about this movie, and I can’t wait to own it on DVD.” I agree completely with Johnson on this. Lawrence’s work in this movie, like all of her
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
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others, was phenomenal. She is able to play so many different roles and be so versatile in her acting and that is such an amazing trait for an actor/actress to have. In the movie, the ship malfunctions and Jim and Aurora’s love is put to the ultimate test when they have to unravel the enigma associated with the ship’s malfunction. This is the moment in the movie where Pratt truly begins to shine as a leading character. I could see so much heart and concern in him and it made me feel like he was actually on a ship fighting for his life and the lives of every other passenger. Before this film, I was indifferent towards him as an actor but after this movie I became a fan. Pratt plays a role that is constantly changing throughout the movie and he plays it fabulously. I was able to follow him through an amazing journey and watch his character develop. Benjamin Rushing, a
junior biological engineering major from Monticello, Mississippi, had eagerly awaited this movie for many months. “The science and technology associated with this movie is truly amazing and allows the viewer to imagine a different world,” Rushing said. “I had hoped however, that it would be more of a science fiction film than a romance. As a huge fan of the movie ‘Interstellar,’ I had high hopes it would be something similar, but honestly nothing could beat that. However, the leading actors Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence work so well together and I think they were a perfect fit for this movie.” I personally feel this film is a good length; it keeps your attention all the way to the very end, which is of utmost importance, especially in a film of this nature. The technology and detail in the props used is stunning and gave the viewer much to think about in a futuristic
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sense. The space views shown in the movie are breathtaking and allow the viewers to feel as if they are right there in space with Pratt and Lawrence. The believability of the movie truly made the film for me. It allowed me to travel to another planet without ever leaving my theater seat.
Overall, in my opinion, this is a wonderful movie. The movie is full of love, action, and science fiction, with a fantastic way of capturing the vastness and awe-inspiring space. Although this movie may not have perfect reviews online, it definitely passed my test and I would love to see it again.
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OPINION
THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2017
Pause: We need television-binging etiquette by Hannibal Brooks Contributing Writer
I felt an icy gulf emerge between my mother and I during a phone call last week, when she began to discuss “How to Get Away with Murder.” My heart sank as I realized she was a season, if not two, ahead of me. None of us are strangers to this feeling by now; “Stranger Things” was humanity’s greatest gift to unified viewing in recent memory, but even then the fragmentation of the media landscape was tangible. Forget the 2016 election. The true division in this country was sewn when Hulu, Netfl ix, HBO and Amazon Prime agreed to create stunning original content of their own. Computer time was transformed into a Darwinian struggle for our eyeballs as a consequence. Battle lines were drawn. Some choose to re-watch “Friends” for the nth time. Others behold captivating antiheroes vying for power on the plains of Westeros, in the White House, or a chaotic kitchen with seconds to spare. More Americans than ever are binge watching shows— I count myself
among those fortunate few. A number of recent surveys have revealed information that was a surprise to no one: We binge-watch a lot of TV.
After all, binging has many advantages. In an entertainment era hailed as “peak TV,” dedicated fans can keep pace with breakneck production and com-
TV land. An endless buffet demands an endless appetite, and not everyone has the stomach for it. Our weekends are one casualty of this trend. 37
that twists in your back when a colleague spoils a current show you are behind on is an unbearable betrayal—but you would do the same in a heartbeat. BFFs
Jenn McFadden, The Reflector
Consulting firm Deloitte found that 70 percent of viewers binge-watch, with an average of five episodes per sitting. This number spikes to 86 percent among millennials. Data generated by Netfl ix found 73 percent of survey respondents view binge watching positively, so there is no need to fear being stigmatized.
pletely immerse themselves in the worlds they feel passionately about. It is a source of connection to those that surround us in the real world too. According to Media Shift, 79 percent of audiences believe that binge-watching makes the actual show better. However, not all is well in
percent of people admit to spending an entire weekend binging a show. What I did with Netfl ix series “Sense8” this past weekend is not the topic at hand. Some 32 percent of us— who can only be described as “cine-masochists”— delay watching a show in order to binge its entirety. The conversational knife
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or significant others leaving you episodes behind can feel like infidelity. Even with an innocent recommendation, you are not just asking someone to sample a food, but consume an entire Thanksgiving feast, and identify regurgitated dishes on command. Sleep deprivation and human contact aside, the
real injustice of binge watching is it has become nearly impossible to discuss a favorite show without having seen the entirety of it. So, here are my three suggestedrulesforbinge-watching recommendations: 1) Have a quick, spoiler-free description of a show ready, but stick to that elevator pitch. If they say no, they really will not care who the killer is in episode 11,001. 2) Anthology recommendations are an excellent jumping off point for newcomers, since they do not require a series long commitment. The self-contained episodes can be discussed in isolation. “Black Mirror” on Netfl ix is a smart pick. 3) It is a give and take. Be willing to give new things a fair trial. Three episodes is about right. Before moving on. If tastes diverge, it is okay for folks to do their own things. Variety is the spice of life. Be polite. The streaming-American community is counting on you. I did be remiss if I did not close with a few recommendations of my own. “Master of None,” “This is Us,” “Attack on Titan,” “Daredevil,” “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”—I better get back to the computer
RE F L E C T I O N S
...in 1812, the most violent of a series of earthquakes near Missouri causes
Abraham Lincoln
a so-called fluvial tsunami in the Mississippi River, actually making the
“We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.”
river run backward for several hours. The tremors were the most powerful in the history of the United States. history.com
Healthcare should be seen as a service, not a right by Jonathan Bain Staff Writer
In the last decade, there has been a lot of political discussion regarding healthcare. The main talking points center around the idea of whether or not healthcare is a right to be provided to the citizens of a nation state. The purpose of this article is not to delve deeply into the medical industry or to stress over complicated medical jargon, but rather to focus on the question of whether healthcare is a right and the repercussions of the stance that it is such. I will also discuss a free market approach to healthcare as an alternative to state sponsored healthcare. In previous articles I have focused on the concept of Natural Rights, but the reason I do so is because many complex questions of the day can be solved when viewing the issues through the lens of these rights. Natural Rights are considered to be so because these are rights you have simply because of the fact that you are human. These rights are life, liberty, and property. These
are rights to action, not rights to rewards from other individuals. Generally speaking, philosophers have determined that there are two types of rights: negative and positive. Negative rights are the freedom from coercion when doing something. Positive rights are claims to what others have. Now that we have established what rights are, let’s look at healthcare. Healthcare is the improvement of mental or physical condition via medical services. So healthcare involves consumers seeking services from medical professionals. When you compare medical services to any other type of good or service provided, the foundation is the same. Sure, there is a difference in going to the drive thru line at McDonald’s and going to the hospital for surgery on a broken arm, but in both cases someone is either providing you with a good or doing a service for you. So while the cases mentioned are apples and oranges, the foundation that they are both fruit is the same. The question that must
follow is “why do people believe they have a fundamental right to healthcare?” Typically, the answer is somewhere along the lines of “We as people need healthcare to survive, therefore it is a right.” However noble you might think this argument is, it is a false one. As humans, we have lots of things we need to survive.
“Individuals do not have the right to the fruits of another person’s labor, and that is exactly what is happening when we assume that healthcare should be a right.” Clothing, food, shelter and water are some examples of that. There are also things we do not necessarily need to survive, but there are plenty of things we need to have any sort of life besides living in a shack in the wilderness. You need an automobile, electricity, internet, cell phone and the list could go on. What is the difference between these items listed and healthcare?
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I do not see any of these free healthcare advocates advocating for free food and water provided by the government. I do not see anyone holding a sign that reads, “Government should provide cars for all.” The motivation behind demanding free healthcare is the fact that costs associated with healthcare can be par-
ticularly high. There is plenty of blame to be dealt out, but a government takeover of healthcare is not the answer; the free market approach is the answer. When the government holds a monopoly on a service, such as building roads, they have no incentive to produce a better product or take into consideration the opinions of consumers. Why is that? Well, it is quite simple.
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.
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Tax dollars are never going to stop coming in, and the machines printing money are never going to cease printing. According to economists Friedrich Hayek and Murray Rothbard, in the marketplace, firms who produce goods have an incentive to make the best goods and sell them at the lowest possible price because the success of the firm hinges on whether consumers are pleased. The free market is literally designed to enhance the lives of producers while enhancing the lives of consumers. Apply this approach to healthcare. According to the Mises Institute, there is not a free market for healthcare in the U.S. right now. Arbitrary state lines determine how many firms can compete and government intervention only further complicates the situation. When one firm can hold dominance over a territory, then consumers suffer because there is no competition. However, when you introduce competition, these firms must provide better policies for better prices or suffer losing customers. To wrap things up, I would
just like to reiterate that healthcare is not a right. It is a service provided by medical professionals. Individuals do not have the right to the fruits of another person’s labor, and that is exactly what is happening when we assume that healthcare should be a right. We are assuming that I have the right to what someone can do for me. If that is the case, then where does the buck stop? Free internet? Free electricity? Free auto repair? In assuming that those who provide services must oblige the whims of those who assert it is their right to have the service for free, we are enslaving the producers to the passions of the consumers. When the government gets involved and decides funding must go to what people deem as their right, then plunder on a mass scale ensues. You do not have the right to use the force of the government to steal from everyone in order to pay for the services of a minority that cannot pay for themselves. Voluntary cooperation and charity go much farther than government mandates and force.
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SPORTS
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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2017
Senior class reaches 100 career victories by Amber Dodd Staff Writer
The Mississippi State women’s basketball team had a star-studded performance accompanied by important milestones in the 70-53 win against the Missouri Tigers Sunday afternoon. The Bulldogs began the game with a suffocating defense for the Tigers. However, Missouri did not let the defense take control of them as the offense set its own pace. Guard Sophie Cunningham led her team to a great start with eight points as Victoria Vivians led the Bulldogs with seven points. Head coach Vic Schaefer said the defensive haul from the team separated them from Missouri early. “I thought defensively we came out of the locker room locked in,” Schaefer said. “I thought that was the difference.” The Tigers quickly shut down the Bulldogs’ centers Chinwe Okorie and Teaira McCowan, leaving the guards to lead the team to its victory. During the second quarter, early fouls began to hinder the Bulldogs’ rhythm. They took a step back to figure out how they were going to score in a smoother fashion. Both teams’ guards Cunningham and Vivians had three fouls at the half. It did not take long to find an answer as the depth of the roster, Coach Schaefer praises, was exemplified in Dominique Dillingham, who executed a perfect
display of performance on both sides of the ball with her matchup against Cunningham. Cunningham said Dillingham is a tough contender who forced her to have more control than usual. “She’s scrappy. You have to have a lot of body control and poise against her,” Cunningham said. “Even though I had the advantage on size, I had to focus more since she’s good with offensive fouls.” In the first half, the Bulldogs defensive stride was unmatched, accompanied by the Tiger’s discombobulation. With those working against Missouri, they totaled 13 turnovers compared to the Bulldogs’ eight. The Bulldogs capitalized successfully and scored 22 points off turnovers in the first half. Dillingham ended the first half with an astounding 16 points. Morgan William’s six assists helped the team out with spreading the ball across the court. Dillingham and the Bulldogs took charge with a nine point lead at 36-27. The Bulldogs charged into the second half with an overbearing performance for the Tigers. Meanwhile, Missouri came out flat as Breanna Richardson came into the game ready to execute the game plans. Richardson also completed her personal milestone of 1,000 career points as a Bulldog, with a jumper in the third quarter. Schaefer discussed Richardson’s accomplishment and what he thinks it means for her for the remainder of the season.
“She’s got 1,000 points and 650 rebounds so far,” Schaefer said. “You talk about making an impact while she’s here and now she has more motivation to make it 700 before she’s done. She impacts her team so much.” Richardson said she does not get guarded as much but she understands the importance of capitalizing from it to help the team succeed. “I’ve been in the gym and knocking down shots,” Richardson said. “People are going to start guarding me and Dom at the same time. Until they get the memo I’ll just keep knocking down shots.” Richardson did just that as she scored 11 of the 16 points of the third quarter. Missouri reclaimed their presence into the game with a three pointer from Amber Smith with 3:13 remaining in the third quarter. Down 47-27, Missouri began to take a stand in the fourth quarter, but the Bulldogs had a strong tempo running that would not allow the Tigers cut into it. With Richardson, Dillingham and Vivians back in, the team was at it’s biggest potential. With the 70-53 win over Mizzou, the four seniors of the roster accomplished it’s 100th win. Overall, this is the winningest class in Mississippi State history, even with the remaining six games before the SEC tournament March 1. Three Bulldogs finished the game in double figures in the win. Accompanied by Richardson’s 13 and Vivians’ 15 points, Dominique Dillingham scored 24 points for the Bulldogs. She also had
Olivia Zeringue | The Reflector
Breanna Richardson surpassed 1,000 points in her career. The senior class is the first class to ever reach 100 career victories.
three steals and two blocks. The trio combined for 52 of the 70 points of the game. The Mississippi State Bulldogs improved to 23-1 overall in 9-1 in the SEC conference. The Bulldogs are back in the Hump Thursday night against the Vanderbilt Commodores at 8 p.m. before a road trip against rival Ole Miss in Oxford Feb. 12.
Brady is the G.O.A.T by Taylor Rayburn Contributing Writer
After winning his fifth Super Bowl last night, there is no doubt anymore- Tom Brady is the greatest player in the history of the NFL. He is the greatest of all time (GOAT). There are a lot of people who will disagree with this and they are free to disagree. The greatest in any sport is something people disagree on. The primary argument against Brady will always be two things. The first is that he lost two Super Bowls, but he has won five. The second is the amount of cheating scandals that have plagued him and the Patriots over the last decade or so. However, losing two Super Bowls should be a positive not a negative, and are the cheating scandals really as big a deal as everyone makes them out to be? The Deflategate scandal should be thrown out the window because it happened the week before New England’s game against Seattle in the Super Bowl. There was a lot of attention on the PSI of the balls going into the Super Bowl, so they were properly inflated and that did not seem to affect Brady’s game at all. Brady threw for 328 yards and completed 37 of his 50 passes on his way to four touchdown passes in that Super Bowl. So I don’t think the inflation of the ball had anything to do with how well he plays. Then there is Spygate, which is probably the most overblown scandal ever.
Spygate happened when the Patriots were caught filming signals of the New York Jets from an illegal location. It is not illegal to film other coachs’ signals, however, you can only do it from certain locations. The Patriots were doing it from what was considered an illegal location. It, in the simplest sense, was a misunderstanding of the way the rules were written. Let’s say Spygate is as bad as people say it was. Did it really change how good the Patriots were? The year Spygate was revealed, the New England Patriots went 16-0 in the regular season, which kills the argument that the Patriots could not win games postSpygate. I could go on for a while about why Spygate is ridiculous and people need to let it go, but that isn’t what this column is about. Brady’s competition for G.O.A.T has always been Joe Montana. Brady has now surpassed Montana in terms of Super Bowl wins, with Montana having four and Brady now having five. The main argument brought up for Montana is that he never lost a Super Bowl and Brady lost two. People make the same argument with LeBron James and bring it up as a negative for him as well. It might be the most frustrating thing to hear. What you are saying when you say it is a negative to make a championship game and lose, is that you would rather have someone who goes out in the first round of the playoffs than someone who makes it all the to the championship but comes in second. You
are not only saying “If you’re not first, you’re last,” you are saying that being in second is actually worse than being last. It just does not make sense. Now that that argument is out of the way, why don’t we take a look at some stats, because Montana’s and Brady’s are not even comparable. Brady has 61,582 passing yards in his career, which is not over. He also has 456 touchdowns and 152 interceptions. Montana does have less interceptions with 139, however, he threw just 5,391 pass attempts in his career compared to Brady’s 8,224. Montana also only has 40,551 passing yards to go with 273 passing touchdowns. There really is no comparison. There are other players you could bring up besides Montana, but at the end of the day, the G.O.A.T in football will always be a quarterback. The reason being that no other position affects his team more than a QB does in the game of football. Jerry Rice is someone who will get brought up in this discussion but he only has three Super Bowl rings. Peyton Manning is probably the person you have been saying is the G.O.A.T in your head while reading this column, but he only has two rings as well and has been awful in the postseason in his career. Manning really should not be in the discussion, he is great in the regular season, but usually folds in the postseason. There really is not a debate anymore. Tom Brady is the greatest football to player to ever live.
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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2017