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TUESDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2016

Reflector

130 th YEAR ISSUE 34

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

Innovative students: Williams creates IOS ‘Bully Walk’

by Lacretia Wimbley Editor-in-chief

Being new to the Mississippi State University Bulldog community can present its directional challenges—especially in light of the growing campus and possible unfamiliarity of the specific locations of buildings. However, one

Electrical Engineering student has created an IOS app that he hopes will ease directional woes on campus, and provide campus transit and athletic schedule convenience.

Four months ago, Oakland, Mississippi native and MSU Senior Terence Williams began working on a campus GPS app called “Bully Walk,” seeking to provide an easier way to

navigate campus.

After becoming an IOS developer for Apple in 2013, Williams said a class he took his freshman year called “iProgram” is what boosted his developmental skills.

“I took a class my freshman year called ‘iProgram,’ taught by Rodney Pearson.

We learned the basics like how to make a button work on an iPhone,” Williams said.

BULLYWALK, 3

MSU PR | Courtesy Photo Electrical Engineering student Terence Williams released his eighth application for Apple IOS. He published his first app in 2013.

MSU Debate team has successful first year

by Emmalyne Kwasny Staff Writer

Mississippi State University Speech and Debate Council has had a successful in its fi rst year.

The team has been to three tournaments this year with a one in the near future.

The team is composed of students who compete with other schools in the south east that are apart of the International Public Debate Association including Louisiana State University, the University of Tennessee, the University of Alabama, and many others.

MSU’s team competes in speech and debate tournaments. that are competitions is made up

of many different events in which the contestant presents speeches they had previously prepared, poetry, or short form literature.

There are acting proponents in these speeches and they are performed in front of many different judges. In the debate competition, the contestants are given a random topic with 30 minutes to prepare, and are paired with an opponent, The one with the best stance wins. People are slowly eliminated through the rounds.

Athena Kavanagh, junior economic major and president of MSU Speech and Debate, said she encourages students to join the team because it develops tools to help

someone for the rest of their lives.

“Joining the team and being part of its growth has been such a good experience for me,” Kavanagh said.

“I’ve learned so many skills, speaking and leadership skills, problem solving skills, skills that I feel like are really going to benefit me after college and in my career.”

MSU had a team decades ago and the team was started again because of interest from students and faculty.

The Speech and Debate team also carries out many service projects. They are currently teaming up with the African American Studies department to hold the 3rd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Oratorical Contest.

MoX holds talent showcase

by Reed Gaddis Staff Writer

Van Cotton| Courtesy Photo MSUʼs Speech and Debate team had a successful start, bringing home armfuls of awards during their first year.

The fifth annual Talented 100 competition took place last Friday in Lee Hall’s Bettersworth Auditorium.

The event is a result of the collaborative effort between the I.D.E.A.L Woman program, Men of Excellence and the Residence Hall Association.

The event’s name was inspired by W.E.B Dubois’ Talented 100 essay. In his essay, Dubois argues that only 10 percent of the minority population is exceptional.

The competition aims to recognize the talents of all students on campus.

DEBATE, 2

TALENT, 3

MSU’s 2016 Student Association Senate larger than ever

by Taylor Bowden News Editor

Mississippi State University Student Association’s newly elected Senators for the 2016 term met and mixed with the 2015 Senate for the fi rst time this Tuesday, the fi rst of two meetings where the

new senate and executive counsel will shadow the current administration before being officially sworn on Feb. 26 during the SA banquet.

2016 SA Vice President Hunt Walne said he was excited about the new group, and looks forward to advancing the SA’s agenda with them.

“It went really well,” Walne said. “The new

Senate is a little different because of the at-large seats and the lowered studentcount per seat.”

Incoming SA President Roxanne Raven said she is looking forward to her term. While the transition process is particularly involved for her as she has to not only adjust to the Presidential role, she said she also has to help ease Walne into the VP role she

is simultaneously leaving.

Raven said she has begun meeting members of MSU’s administration in an official capacity, and said they seem eager looking forward to working with SA and Raven’s administration.

“Now is one of the best times to be SA President,” Raven said.

“The administration seems to be greeting the next SA terms

with open arms.”

Before the election, the Senate passed a motion increasing the number of senators-per-student by lowering the representation per-capita from 650 students for every Senate seat to 550 students for every seat. This increase, in addition to the new at-large seats, brings the senate count up from 31 senators last year to 49.

“There are a whole lot of new people now,” Walne said. “I think that will be great. More voices, more debate. I’m really excited about mixing it all up.”

Layton Little, a sophomore who represented the Freshman class last term and is now fi lling an at-large seat, said the expanded Senate will do a lot to increase their ability to represent students.

SENATE, 2

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NEWS

THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

DEBATE

CONTINUED FROM 1

Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2016 10:43 p.m. An employee was arrested in Starkville for driving under the influence and careless driving.

Thursday, Jan. 11, 2016 11:53 a.m. A student was arrested for felony sale of marijuana and contempt of court.

11:59 a.m. A student reported the mirror on her vehicle missing while parked behind Herbert Hall.

2:52 p.m. A student reported losing her wallet in the gravel parking lot on Hardy Road.

3:26 p.m. A resident reported her vehicle was scratched while parked in the Magnolia Hall parking lot.

Van Cotton| Courtesy Photo

Saturday, Jan. 13, 2016 6:15 p.m. A student reported his wallet stolen from the Colvard Student Union.

9:48 p.m. An employee reported a disturbance in Fresh Food.

During a competition in Shreveport (pictured) Athena Kavanagh placed Top Novice for informative speech and Doug Bedsaul won 3rd place speaker award in professional debate and MS state champion speaker.

The team is also hoping professional life, the debate persuasion skills, delivery to get involved with peer aspect really requires you skills, and emotional tutoring for the Starkville to think on your feet, aspects giving you a way high debate in the near that your able to critically to express something in future. analyze information and a way that you may not The Speech and Debate sometimes have to argue have the opportunity to in team also is looking for something you don’t traditional theater because forward to there are only growing in limited roles. the future Anyone can according to be the lead if Brett Harvey, they’re doing “Over the spring, we’re going to the debate their own be making some efforts to get new coach. i nter pret ive “Over the piece.” members for next year and we’re spring we’re The team has going to be many interest really excited about having funding making some meetings efforts to get coming up. to travel.” new members They have a for next year general body and we’re meeting Feb. really excited 29 at 7:15 about having room 231 of -Brett Harvey, MSU Debate Team f u nd i n g the Union to travel a and the Coach good bit next debate meets year and Tu e s d a y ’s extending at 6 p.m. in our team,” room 230 Harvey said. of the union Cheryl and Thursday Chambers, head coach necessarily believe in at 6 p.m. in room 231. of the team, said she which means you’re having Any students interested encourages students to join to analyze even more than in joining can contact for their own benefit and to you would before and not Cheryl Chambers or expand their knowledge. base things on your own Athena Kavanagh for more “I really feel that these assumptions,” Chambers information. events both have a lot of said. “The prepared speech Many MSU students benefits for college students is about writing skills. These have placed in the as far as for the rest of their events are going to develop competitions attended. college career into their public speaking skills, Parker Krag received the

SENATE Having just spent a term as a Freshman representative, Little was particularly keen on the plans to add seats to the Freshman Senate, which has had four seats for the last few terms.

Van Cotton| Courtesy Photo

The Debate team spent time celebrating their immediate success with cheers and fresh air (pictured).

1st place Speaker Award in the Novice Division, Athen Kavanagh received Top Novice Award in Informative Speaking, and

William Bonduris received 2nd place Speaker Award in Junior Varsity Division.

Many other students were awarded various other

awards.

13 of the 25 students who belong to the MSU Speech and Debate Council, participated in these tournaments.

CONTINUED FROM 1

Raven said the immediate plan is to add an additional seat.

“That number has been stagnant for a while, so we want to make sure we grow (Freshman Senate) along with the rest of SA,” Raven

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said.

While the Committees in SA programs.

Walne said he has plans to are chaired by SA senators The Cabinet’s job is to introduce a new committee who are appointed by the actually make SA programs to be fi lled by Freshman Executive Council and and events happen.

Senators called the are more centered around Similar to how Senate and Research and Executive Development c ou n s e l Committee. has been M a r y restructured Elizabeth this year, “ The schedule right now is pretty Stringer, W a l n e returning said the packed, which is good and bad at senator for com m it tees the same time. Overall everything the college have also of education been altered. is going really well though.” and 2015 SA For this next committee term, there chairman, will be six com m it tees said the -Roxanne Raven, incoming MSU Research and in total, Development ranging from SA President Committee the Rules would be and Internal tasked with A f f a i r s taking the comm ittee general ideas that works and rough with SA plans of the internal Executive Council and maintaining and making policy, to the Student other Committees, and policy, balancing budgets, Affairs Committee that spend the term researching and representing the student presided over things such other school’s SA’s similar body’s voice through as community engagement, policies and programs. dealings with the MSU diversity, and student life.

“This will do a lot to help administration, SA Cabinet “The schedule right now the Freshman Senators get a is open to any student at is pretty packed,” Raven handle on things as well as MSU to participate in. said. “Which is both good take a load off of the other Stringer said the Cabinet is and bad at the same time. committees’ shoulders,” a way for students who are Overall everything is going Stringer said. not on Senate to participate really well though.”

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News TALENT

Drumminʼ Up Diversity FEBRUARY 16TH, GRIFFIS HALL

“Come hit stuff in a fancy manner.”

Tonight at 7 p.m., Mississippi State University Housing Residence Advisers Jon Lee and Garrett Gibson will host a drum circle on the third floor lobby of Griffis Hall.

The aim of the event is to provide students with a fun and constructive method of stress release and is open to all regardless of experience levels. Instruments will be provided by Housing and Residence Life, and pizza and drinks will also be available.

“If you can tap, you can drum. Come drum with us.

Letʼs make some music together.”

BULLYWALK “Then, we were told as well as updating the app if we wanted to take this to make sure it includes all seriously, we could sign up buildings on campus.” for the Apple Development The new campus GPS Program,” Williams said. app is not Williams’ fi rst, “So, we could sign up as he has been an IOS and pay $100 a year and app developer since 2013. submit apps to the Apple Williams said he has already store. Once you pay $100 created seven IOS apps. every year, you become “This was my eighth app, a developer. You have to and I started this idea (for have the knowledge too, ‘Bully Walk’) about four but that’s all it took.” months ago, because I had “Bully Walk,” now just released an app called available on the Apple Milo, which basically let’s app store, provides a GPS you send someone your navigation to various current location and they buildings on MSU’s can type a link and it will campus. go straight to them. I said “Bully Walk is the to myself, ‘well, we need campus app,” Williams this for campus because said. “It has locations to people get lost around every building on campus campus all the time.’ So I such as academics, eateries, started making it (Bully residence halls and athletic Walk), and I said ‘OK, this facilities. When you open is really possible.’ I started the app up, you will see testing myself and I knew all of this. It also has the that this would really work. athletic schedule of every I kept working for about sport at MSU and real-time four months on it and I transit routes.” made it, and now it’s on the By selecting a desired app store.” location within the app, Williams’ previously Williams said a route to created IOS apps include that destination would “Timster Beats,” “Color simply load, as well as Swerve,” “TO Trivia,” instructions.

“Christlike,” “Milo,” and “It will tell you how far “Parallel Dots 1 and 2.” you are, and it will also “My fi rst app was called give you step-by-step ‘Timster Beats,’ which was directions. It does this basically an MP3 player of for almost every place on the beats I used to make,” campus,” he said. he said. “The second was Williams said “Bully a video game called ‘Color Walk” will continue to swerve.’ The next one be updated, and future after that was made for a versions will include guy who contacted me on parking zones on campus, Instagram from Germany as well as updated maps. (‘TO Trivia’) and the “People could get here next one was ‘Christlike,’ and may not know where which is actually my top North Zone parking is,” app. That one is basically Williams said. “When this Christian encouragement is updated, a click in the and devotionals. It also app will show you how to has a Spotify playlist with get there. Because the app Christian artists on it.” currently uses Apple maps, Williams went on to it does not update as fast explain his other app a Google maps. Google creations. maps would account for “After the Christ like campus construction. I’m app, I made two gaming working on this right now, series called ‘Parallel Dots.’

CONTINUED FROM 1

It is very simple, basically, ping pong back and forth,” he said. “Then I made ‘Milo.’ That idea actually came from my wife because she’s a photographer. One day we were on campus in this big field, and we had no idea how to tell people where we were. There were no buildings and no roads, so I was unsure how we would tell them where we were. I got tired of meeting people places, so I decided to make that app (‘Milo’) that would tell you your current location.”

Williams’ apps have a total of around 7,000 downloads so far, and have been in over 50 different countries. He said “Bully Walk” will continue to be updated and improved.

“This will continue to be a process because State is always adding something different,” he said. “Android is a different language than IOS, but I will work on learning that this summer. Right now, all of my apps are for iPhone, but I know not everyone has an IPhone.”

After expressing his strong love for MSU and MSU’s Engineering Program, Williams said he might soon have an opportunity to turn his app-making skills into a business.

“I’ve been working in the Entrepreneurship office and it has been great,” he said. “They are giving me an office, so I might turn this into a business. I may actually have a development office, but there’s a process you have to go through to get registered in the state.

No matter how many apps I make, it’s not about me. It’s all to glorify God. I’m not doing this for attention, but it’s all for a greater purpose.

This has been an amazing experience, but I’m staying humble through it all.”

Adonis McCullum, junior psychology major who has worked closely with the event’s coordinator, said this year’s competition has several changes to keep it interesting for the audience.

“For the fifth annual, we changed some things up,” McCullum said. “Tradition is great, but it’s also good to be innovative. This year we had judges, and they picked the top five and then the audience picked the winner.

We incorporated judges to make it different and have something new for this year’s event.”

Several students attended the competition and said they appreciated the diversity of talents.

Diana Gordon, junior biomedical engineering major who serves as the programming and activities director for RHA, said this was her first year to attend the event and it was better than she expected.

Gordon said she attended all of the auditions and the performers did really well in the show.

“With all of the auditions I served as a judge to represent our organization,” Gordon said. “I made sure with someone from another organization to make sure that the show ran smoothly, made sure everyone knew what to do and were at their respective places.”

Spencer Thompson, event coordinator for Men of Excellence, said the event was a success that drew in at least 500 students.

Thompson said a highlight from the evening was seeing all the talent that may usually go unnoticed.

“Just to showcase students’ talents that aren’t athletes is

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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016 CONTINUED FROM 1

a good thing,” Thompson said. “There are so many talents on campus that go unnoticed. Having an event like this allows students to showcase their talents off the field, off the court or off the diamond.”

Thompson said more diversity within the event, even though this event is put on by minorities and the HCDC office, will advance next year’s show by reaching out to everybody and making it more inclusive.

In the competition, the first place winner was awarded $500, second place $300 and third place $200.

Avery Daniels, sophomore music education major, placed 3rd and played the piano while singing “I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Tank.

Marvin Blackmon, junior criminology major, placed 2nd and sang “Love” by Musiq Soulchild.

Lanecha Turner, senior communication major, from New Orleans, Louisiana won the competition and sang He Loves Me by Jill Scott.

Turner said preparing for the competition brought an opportunity to get to know her musician Daniels better.

“He plays for the choir that I sing in but I’ve never performed with him one on one,” Turner said. “It was like he knew where to take the piano when I was singing.

Most of my performance was free style, even though we practiced all of the time, I was comfortable with going up there knowing that he could follow me anywhere I wanted to take my performance.”

Daniels said through the performance, he learned

to accept himself and appreciate what makes him different.

“I recently learned that my voice is kind of different from a lot of people and I learned that it’s okay to be different,” Daniels said.

“Friday night was like a stamp that it’s okay to be yourself.”

Isaac Lias, Jr., junior educational psychology major and the president of Men of Excellence, said the Talented 100 competition goal was to represent the inclusivity that MSU strives for and also how the show involved Black History Month.

“The picture is painted of different people from different backgrounds coming together on stage expressing their talents.

At that point, nobody is focusing on if they are an African-American male or a Caucasian female performing, they’re more so paying attention to something that we would like to have, which is that cultural aspect.

“That’s what this month is about, bringing in that cultural aspect of Black History Month and also finding ways that relates and differentiates amongst other people,” Lias said.

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OPINION

THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

Everything Matters

Learning to ‘love yourself’ important for MSU students Sarah Dutton is a junior majoring in communication. She can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.

Valentine’s Day is a day that is celebrated on Feb. 14 by numerous countries in an affectionate and romantic way to say the least. People await the day to show their significant other how much they love each other traditionally through gestures, commonly including exchanging cards, delivering flowers, receiving chocolates, or going out on a date.Althoughtheholidayhas an unclear background, not knowing where it officially derives from does not seem to affect the romantic impact it has on modern day culture.

However, the holiday seems to heavily emphasize spending time with and investing in a partner. But, what if you do not have a partner, or your partner does not care about Valentine’s Day? Where does this leave others and how do they approach this in a healthy manner?

History.com explains

the holiday has multiple originations, but the most common is Saint Valentine in the third century who secretly performed marriages for young lovers after Emperor Claudis decided to outlaw marriage for young men. Then, Pope Gelasius declared the 14th day of February an honorary day for the saint by the end of the 5th century. However, it was not until the 1300’s that the holiday started being associated with love. Since then, as Valentine’s Day approaches each year, the pressure it elicits is substantial to every relationship, especially in recent decades. www.statisitcsbrain.com claims that the average American typically spends around $116.21 on Valentine’s Day and Americans altogether spend over $13 million, making Valentine’s Day a major consumer holiday. In my opinion, that’s a lot of money to spend on someone else whom you probably love just as much every other day of the year.

Mississippi State student Tiffani Allen said, “I feel as if it is always excessive and overdone, and people often expect something on Valentine’s Day.” 53 percent of women feel inclined to end their relationship if they don’t get something for Valentine’s Day according to www. statisticsbrain.com.

People

Sarah Dutton | The Reflector

who don’t get something on Valentine’s Day may feel as if the materialistic object they didn’t receive is synonymous with their self-worth, which is not the case in my opinion.

In fact, that may be a direct connection to their own insecurities or loneliness.

After reviewing a multitude of research, the Washington Post was able to conclude that, “the pain of loneliness is like the pain of hunger – it’s a biological signal that something is wrong.”

Loneliness has recently been approached as a significant health hazard, since it has a direct link to having a greater risk to health complications, such as heart attacks, Alzheimer’s and other illnesses. However, it is important to point out there is a difference between being lonely and being alone. Some people can be alone and not feel lonely, just as much as others can be

surrounded by people and feel lonely. It is important that people not only find the difference between the two but learn to love themselves, by themselves, to eradicate such a risk and unhealthy mentality.

Teresa Gawrych, MSU communication instructor, said, “I think it makes you healthier when you love yourself, because if you love yourself, then you don’t need someone to complete you.”

When you learn to love yourself, you complete yourself without any external factor. You do not have to rely on something else to validate that void within yourself.

But, how can someone get to this point?

Criminology Major Nikki Cummins, had a similar approach to how others should love themselves, by suggesting others start their day with complimenting themselves, even if it is only one thing. The more you do

so, the more inclined you will be to actually love and appreciate yourself naturally.

Devan Martinez, fitness graduate assistant at the Joe Frank Sanderson Center who has helped multiple students overcome both physical and mental hurdles through group exercises, emphasized that people should, “focus on doing the most for themselves, push themselves, while still doing something they enjoy.”

MSU Take 30 News political reporter, Pranaav Jadhav, said, “Loving yourself for me is not about loving my body, loving how I look, or taking care of how I look, but it is just loving my work.” He even went as far to say, “Love yourself and what you do, and you will find success.”

Tadarius Jolly, MSU student, suggested one of the ways he has learned to love himself recently alongside his girlfriend was by, “getting

closer to God.” Now, of course learning to love yourself does not happen overnight, and no one should beat themselves up for not appreciating themselves more than they should have this past Valentine’s Day. Why? Learning to fully appreciate and love yourself is a journey that takes everyone a different amount of time. The end goal may be important, but it is important to focus on the present choices one takes to get there.

I think Rachel Ross, MSU’s Program Coordinator in the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center, put it best when she said, “It’s about the process.”

As long as someone learns from their mistakes, is aware of their present choices and remains optimistic about the end goal, I personally have confidence that anyone could be on their way to a lifestyle of truly loving themselves for many Valentine’s Days to come.

No Bull Bulldawg

U.S. ‘Race problem’ lies with prejudice, not racism Kyle Waltman is a junior majoring in communication. He can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.

When I was about 15 years old, I drove my mother to Walmart with my new learner’s permit and agreed to wait in the car while she shopped for groceries. I only took my eyes off my phone screen when I noticed an old car pulling up next to mine.

Out stepped a young black man covered in tattoos with pants sagging to his knees.

Immediately, I put down my phone, reached over and locked the doors.

Suddenly, a wave of guilt and shame came washing over me. “Am I racist?” At the time, I did not know the answer to that question, but I did know that my ignorant judgment of that young man made me question my character. I have come to realize that the answer to the question regarding the conflict involving

what I thought was my “I don’t see color” character and what I know was my “You look like a dangerous black man” reaction can be found in answering a more fundamental question, a question that fuels the fiery controversy that inspired violent riots in Ferguson and Baltimore, multiple efforts to rid the south of Confederate flags and Beyoncé’s Super Bowl half-time performance: are Americans racist?

In a national poll taken

by CNN, 49 percent of Americans reported they feel as though racism is still a “big issue,” with 66 percent of black people polling in favor of this stance and 43 percent of white people agreeing with them.

One who is also in agreementisPresidentBarack Obama. In an interview he conducted with podcaster Marc Maron, President Obama stated racism is “… part of our DNA that’s passed on.” While President Obama is on to something, he is not exactly right either.

Consider the implication behind what the concept of racism being biological really means, just as Larry Elder, black author and talk-show host, did when he stated in a video on behalf of Perdu University, “If racism is in our

DNA, doesn’t that mean it’s immutable? Unchangeable?

But America has changed, and dramatically so.” He goes on to point out that President Obama was elected twice in a nation whose population is 77.4 percent white when, in 1960, 60 percent of Americans said they would never vote for a black president. Either the racist-DNA that President Obama referred to somehow mutated before 2008, or racism has been wholly rejected by the vast majority of modern Americans as a delusional ideology of hatred and superiority.

If Americans as a majority reject racism, why do we find ourselves in the midst of a Black Lives Matter movement? While Americans as a whole are not racists, we are very capable of showing prejudice with varying degrees of personalawareness. The MerriamWebster dictionary defines racism as “a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.”

Contrastingly, the word ‘prejudice’ is defined as “a preconceived judgment or opinion” or “an adverse opinion or

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leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge.” The former describes superiority and hatred; the latter describes subjectivity and a bias that affects members from all races.

Will Smith did an excellent job of highlighting the stark differences between these two in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter’s Actor Roundtable when he said, “Everybody is prejudiced…

Everybody has their life experiences that make them prefer one thing over another -- it makes them prefer blond hair over a brunette; if you see somebody with dark skin walking down the street, you have a different reaction than you have [with] someone who is 5-foot-1 and white… I have to say, I live with constant prejudice, but racism is actually rare -someone who thinks their race is superior.”

Why do we share this level of prejudice, or bias, towards racial groups that are not similar to our own?

First and foremost, statistical data reinforces the prejudices Americans form from the media and popular culture about today’s generation of black Americans. For example, even though black people only make up 13.2

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percent of our nation’s population, they committed almost 50 percent of all homicides in 2013, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is important to note that some of these prejudices are formed in part by the way the media portrays these numbers, by only acknowledging a small portion of the young black community that is drawn to an unorthodox lifestyle associated with obtaining money and local power at the expense of violence and drug solicitation. Secondly, the psychological principal of similarity describes the human tendency to trust and identify with people who resemble us. While this makes sense and is not inherently discriminatory in and of itself, this clearly opens the door for unfair prejudice everywhere, from the work place to our personal lives. I am not saying that all of this makes actual racism a myth.

According to the Huffington Post, the Public Policy Polling firm “revealed that 29 percent of likely GOP voters surveyed in Mississippi believe that interracial marriage should be illegal.”

This statistic paints an accurate picture of clear, conscious racism. That being said, this sort of racist bigotry

is rarely found throughout the United States, especially more so when one explores our nation outside of a region that worships Robert E. Lee like a confederate god.

Prejudice is a part of our DNA, not racism. It is one of the unpleasant qualities of the human race. The human race also has a quality that nullifies any excuse to not claim responsibility for the way we view and treat members of a race different than our own: choice. We can choose to acknowledge our tendency to show prejudice. We can choose to combat these prejudices by maintaining a state of self-awareness. We can choose to recognize the dual importance of both understanding the cause and prevalence of formed racial stereotypes in relation to their perceived legitimacy, and not allowing those same stereotypes to pull a veil of racial bias over our eyes.

The “race problem” in America is not a problem between white people and black people. In fact, it is not even a problem between racist ideas of superiority or hatred. The race problem in America is the shadow of our internal-conflict regarding what we must work hard to change versus what comes to us naturally.

Reflector

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Content is determined solely by the student editorial staff. The contents of The Reflector have not been approved by Mississippi State University.

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The Reflector staff strives to maintain the integrity of this paper through accurate and honest reporting. If we publish an error we will correct it. To report an error, call 325-7905.

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Classifieds are $5 per issue. Student and staff ads are $3 per issue, prepaid. Lost and found: found items can be listed for free; lost items are listed for standard ad cost.

FOR RENT Roomates needed!

Four bedroom house, need two additional male roommates, $250 monthly, no lease, two miles from campus.

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YOGA MOVES The Reflector 2/16/16 Crossword Yoga Moves i n c o r p o r a t e s meditation and Across 1 2 relaxation into a free 14 1 Banquet class where everyone 5 Tablelands 17 is welcome. We meet 10 Perlman of Thursdays at 5:30 p.m.

20 Cheers at the Sanderson in 14 Bunsen burner Studio C. They hope to 15 Fragrance see you there!

16 Stagecoach actor 29 Tim FREETHINKERS, 35 17 Phrase to a ATHEISTS, recent winner 38 AGNOSTICS OF MSU 19 Assortment 20 Escargot starter FAAMSU is hosting a 43 21 Family member table top/board game 48 23 Starchy tuber night to benefit camp 24 Dire fate quest. Come play with 27 Manicurist’s us Feb. 18 from 6:30 concern 54 55 p.m. to 10 p.m. in 29 Phrase to an 62 underling McCool 202

Feb. 12 SUDOKU Solutions

THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

An In-Class Distraction

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SUDOKU

Feb. 12 Crossword Solutions Hey Bulldogs!

Want your club or organization to be featured in the Club Info section?

Stop by The Reflector office and fill out a club information form for free!

Freaky Friday News For three hours, residents in Toldedo, Ohio were filling their gas tanks for pennies per gallon. A computer glitch at one gas station caused a bidding war that ultimately left the customers as the only victors. Many customers filled their tanks for less than 30 cents.

Courtesy of abcnews.com

is

now accepting

APPLICATIONS & LETTERS OF INTENT for

EDITOR IN CHIEF until March 4, 2016 at 5 p.m.

Applications may be picked up from The Reflector main office in the Henry F. Meyer Student Media Center.

Call 325-2374 for more information.

6 LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT

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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

ʻThe Hunting Groundʼ targets rape issues

by DJ Jennings Contributing Writer

Thursday night, in a packed Allen Hall classroom, the Gender Studies Department held a screening for the documentary, “The Hunting Ground.”

Released last year, “The Hunting Ground” tells the story of sexual assault victims on college campuses and how their school’s inaction affected the victims’ lives more than their assault.

The film’s opening paints the picture of hope with videos of prospective college students opening their acceptance letters, with tears of joy streaming down their face

at the idea of attending their dream college.

The film’s tone dramatically shifts in the following minutes, telling stories of victims and sharing statistics on campus sexual assault.

Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of the Gender Studies Program, Kimberly Kelly, said she thinks this documentary is important to show at Mississippi State because people have no idea this is happening.

“I think it’s a good warning for women and men,” Kelly said. “But of course that’s not gonna fix anything, it’s not enough to tell women and men don’t get raped, we need to tell men ‘Don’t rape.’ I mean occasionally a woman is a rapist ,but it’s actually pretty

rare.”

Following the film, Kelly was joined by three other panelists: Associate Professor of Sociology Nicole Rader, graduate student Sarah Rogers and Director of Title IX Brett Harvey.

The first to speak to the 200-plus attendees of the event was Nicole Rader.

Rader reiterated stats from the film of sexual assault on campus and also told the crowd different ways they could help stop sexual assault on campus.

“I think many of us have been in a situation where we saw something that we knew wasn’t quite right and we should’ve done something,” Rader said. “In that moment I think we can all be better bystanders.”

Rader described a scenario

out on their campuses.

Drew Lantonio, sophomore communication major, is the reason MSU has a LYM crew. He learned about the company while he was in high school and said when his mother told him about LYM’s cause, he fell in love with their story and did everything he could to get the word out at his school.

“I wanted to start a LYM campus crew here because I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives,” Lantonio said. “I’ve always been passionate about volunteer work so when I found out they offered ambassador positions for universities, I knew I had to be involved.”

LYM has been trying a couple different ways to sell the hats. Right now, the demand is greater than the supply. They have been doing releases every Monday at 6 p.m. and the beanies are selling very quickly. Buyers have to be quick and ready right at 6 p.m. to get a hat. LYM just implemented a pre-order system where students can register and be guaranteed a hat.

They also have the option to send a hat directly to a child if students know someone personally with cancer.

Mattingly Dramer, an

international business major at Mississippi State, is one of the Love Your Melon ambassadors. Dramer has been part of the crew for a couple weeks now, and said they are brand new here at MSU and are currently awaiting certification to become an official club.

“What’s cool about being a campus ambassador is that we get the opportunity to personally deliver these hats,” Dramer said. “That’s the whole purpose of having campus ambassadors and why we’re so adamant about people buying them because with each purchase of a hat from Mississippi State, we get to go to the hospital and hand one to a child.”

Lantonio said the delivery process is also his favorite part and LYM adds a touch of magic to it by sending costumes to the ambassadors.

They call themselves campus crew superheroes.

“If we find a child battling cancer,” Lantonio said, “LYM will send me super hero costumes to visit them in and that’s the most amazing part for me, seeing the child’s face light up seeing a superhero walk in to hangout with them.”

The beanies come in multiple colors and can be ordered

where this could happen.

“Maybe you see one of your girlfriends who’s really really drunk and she’s talking to someone you don’t feel right about. You can walk up to your friend and say ‘Hey, let’s go. It’s time to go home,” Rader said. “You can go up to the guy’s friend and talk to him. There are lots of ways to be a good bystander if you feel like something isn’t going well. Being a good bystander is something we can all do.”

Fraternities were also an important subject of not only the documentary but also of the panel. Kelly and Rogers spoke at length about fraternities and sororities and what they offer to Universities in the long run.

“Men who graduate from their alma maters who ran

fraternities donate on average about 100 million dollars a year to their alma mater, so this is a big business of fraternities and sororities pumping money back into their universities,” Rogers said.

Kelly and Rogers said they feel this “big business” that fraternities and sororities give schools is much less of an incentive to actively investigate sexual assault claims. “(Fraternities) are really a pipeline to Congress,” Rogers said.

“A pipeline to upper level politics. So if we are putting men in positions of power who live in a rape culture and see these things and normalize them, then how are we gonna end the rape epidemic that’s going on right now?”

The last person to speak to

the audience was Brett Harvey.

According to the United States Department of Justice, Title IX is a comprehensive federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity.

Harvey promised attendees his office was a complete open book and they have received nothing but the utmost support from MSU when it comes to investigating sexual assault allegations.

If students have experienced sexual assault or other sexual misconduct and need help, call the MSU Safeline at 662-325-3333.

Student Counseling Services provides confidential sexual assault advocacy. To reach them, call 662-325-2091.

Love Your Melon beanies fight cancer

by Georgeann Kenney Staff Writer

Beanies have become popular all over campus, but many are not aware that most people who wear beanies have also purchased one for a child with cancer. Love Your Melon (LYM) is an apparel brand that gives back.

Love Your Melon was started by two college students from Minnesota in 2012, and is now run by college students all over the U.S. Love Your Melon’s mission is to put a hat on the head of every child battling cancer. For every hat purchased, a hat is delivered to a child. LYM also partners with Pinky Swear, a group dedicated to helping cancer patients with medical bills and CureSearch, an organization centered on research for a cure. 50 percent of proceeds from the hats go to one of these organizations.

In 2014, LYM went on two nationwide tours to spread awareness and have since started a network of students called Love Your Melon Ambassadors to get the word

Mattingly Dramer| Courtesy Photograph

Love Your Melon sells beanies to students to provide hats for young children with cancer and to raise money to find a cure.

online at LoveYourMelon. com. For more information

about when to order and updates from the MSU crew,

follow their instagram: @ loveyourmelonmsu.

Romeo and Juliet to take the stage

by Devin Edgar Staff Writer

This

Thursday

and

Friday, the Shackouls Honor College will present “The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet,” based on the work of William Shakespeare in Griffis Hall at 7 p.m.

Performance Developer Eric Vivier and Performance Director, Donna L. Clevinger, began auditions in November.

Those who were cast were able to pick up their scripts in December before Christmas break and rehearsals began the first day students started the spring semester.

The play, which is free to all Mississippi State students, will begin on the 1st floor of Griffis Hall.

However, when the scene changes, so will the floor.

The cast will use all of the community spaces in Griffis, therefore, needing a mobile audience.

Sarah Childers, senior Shackouls honor college member, will star in the play as Lady Capulet.

“I’ve always been a part of comedies and since this is a tragedy, I feel like I’m in a whole different ball park,” Childers said.

Other cast members include Rebekah Comer, freshman secondary education major, Jacob Istre, undeclared freshman and Mark Ewing, senior electrical engineering major.

Comer will star as the Nurse, Istre as Benvolio

Donna Clevinger | Courtesy Photograph

The Shackhouls Honors College will present Romeo and Juliet this Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. in Griffis Hall with free admission for the public.

and Ewing as Fryer.

Ewing was also in a play presented by the Honors College his freshman year, but this will be his first performance with Clevinger as the director.

“It’s fun to see a group as goofy as we are participating in a tragedy, such as Romeo and Juliet,” Ewing said. “I’m excited to see how it turns out.”

Clevinger, a professor in the Department of Communication, had nothing but positive things to say about the cast and their progress.

“This is a wonderful, hardworking cast, with great chemistry,” she said.

“All students and even adults, should come to the performance to see their chemistry at work.”

@SPORTSREFLECTOR

SPORTS

7 THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

SOFTBALL GOES 4-0 IN KICKOFF

by Amber Dodd Staff Writer

On Feb. 11, the softball team took a historic step into Mississippi State sports history. At 5 p.m. MSU President Mark Keenum, Athletic Director Scott Stricklin, and Tommy and Terri Nusz opened Nusz Park to the public for the 2016 softball season.

Keenum congratulated Head coach Vann Stuedeman and players on how exciting it was to fi nally give the team their own stadium and an identity for their own sport. The opening game was against Georgia Southern.

To start the game, powerhouse pitcher Holly Ward struck out two batters.

MSU’s Cayln Adams and Kayla Winkfield were fi rst up to ring in the new season. Little was done, as Georgia Southern’s pitcher Kierra Camp kept the ball at a fast speed. Mississippi State got the ball rolling in the second inning as Morgan Bell was walked, freshman Sarai Niu went to second and Morgan Bell moved to third.

After a base hit by Loryn Nichols, Amanda Ivy hit the ball outfield and sent Bell and Nichols to home plate, scoring MSU’s first two runs of 2016. Another score by Niu closed Mississippi State’s second inning with the Bulldogs up 4-0 against the Georgia Southern Eagles.

Georgia Southern’s third inning came to a quick end as Holly Ward dominated the field. The Bulldogs began to pull away later in the inning with two runs scored by Niu and Winkfield.

After a Katie Anne Bailey single and wild pitch MSU’s lead extended to 6-0.

Holly Ward ended the match early as she closed with a career high eight strikeouts.

Courtesy Photo |MSU Media Relations

Junior infielder Caroline Seitz makes contact with the ball in one of the Bulldogʼs four games during the Bulldog Kickoff Classic. The Bulldogs went 4-0 this weekend.

Stuedeman said she was happy with how successful opening night was for the Bulldogs.

“Opening night was incredible,” Stuedeman said.

“From marketing, to those who gave speeches at the ceremony, it was everything you could dream of. It was even better that we won the game. I’m proud of what Mississippi State has done for this program.”

Continuing the Bulldog Kickoff Classic on Friday night, Mississippi State faced Houston. The lineup was switched as sophomore pitcher Cassady Knudsen earned her fifth career start.

In the bottom of the second, freshman Sarai Niu hit her first homerun giving State a 2-0 advantage. Winkfield and Adams extended the

lead to 4-0 via consecutive singles. In Houston’s fifth inning, De’Zha Scott scored the Cougars only run, making the score 8-1 in the Bulldog’s favor at the end of the fifth inning. Regan Green debuted as pitcher in Houston’s sixth inning and struck out Julana Shrum.

In the last inning for the Bulldogs, Sarai Niu scored to complete the game at a score of 9-1. Saturday, Mississippi State faced Tennessee Tech and Alabama A&M. State’s streak continued as the Bulldogs blew past Tennessee Tech 11-4.

The game began with Regan Green returning to pitch after a successful day against Houston. In the second inning, Niu and Adams had a couple of hits to put two Bulldogs on bases.

Nichols struck out swinging and Amanda Iby was walked, which ultimately led to Adams scoring.

Tennessee Tech scored their four runs in the fourth and fifth inning, credited to Alyssa Richards and Sabine Neeb in the fourth and Jessie Cowery and Gabby Perez in the fifth.

The Bulldogs sealed the game with Morgan Bell’s impressive grand slam, followed by five runs in the sixth inning. Game two was a closer game but the Bulldogs prevailed over Alabama A&M, winning 2-1. In Saturday’s double header, the team debuted many freshmen. Stuedeman said it was important to get the youngsters some playing time.

“We’re really trying to give

a lot of people opportunities.

We’ve got some good kids doing some good things.”

Coach Stuedeman said.

To end the Bulldog kickoff, the Bulldogs played Houston again winning this time 7-1.

Niu hit another homerun in the second inning after Houston took an early first inning lead. It was a fantastic day as freshmen Kay Moore and Heimberg scored three runs to give the Bulldogs a 4-1 advantage in the fourth inning.

The undefeated Bulldogs continue their season on Feb. 19 at South Alabama in the Mardi Gras Invitational.

They will return home March 4 to face Tennessee Chattanooga at in the Bulldog Slamboree.

Men’s tennis impressive in home stint

defeated Mandrell 6-2, 6-3 and Foshey dominated Samundio 6-3, 6-0. To fi nish Staff Writer the match, Borges defeated Ritchie Kruuenberg 6-3, 6-2 and Agarwal won his Mississippi State game in three rounds, 6-4, wrapped up their complete 5-7, 1-0(4). The Bulldogs domination during their completely obliterated home stand with two the Eagles, winning 7-0 more shutout wins. In the overall. doubleheader Saturday, With the home stand the Bulldogs took on the over, Head coach Matt Blazers of UAB and the Roberts was very pleased Eagles of with how his Morehead team has been State. After playing. a 4-0 win “These guys These guys are learning. We over UAB in are learning,” are seeing things each week and the morning Roberts said. showdown, “We are applying them.”

MSU came seeing things back in the each week -Head coach Matt Roberts second leg of and applying the afternoon them. We’ve and defeated grown a lot Morehead since our last State 7-0. time away In the fi rst match of the their recent hot streak. In from home and the ITA day, the Bulldogs opened doubles play, Agarwal and Kickoff Weekend.” up against UAB. In doubles, Cutura defeated Garrett Mississippi State went Nuno Borges and Niclas Mandrell and Enrique 7-0 over the course of their Braun defeated the duo of Samundio 6-0. Hunter two-week home stand. The Christian Coetzee and Luiz and Sucevic then beat 29th ranked Bulldogs are Pinto 6-0. Soon after that, Nick Mercer and Ognjen now 7-2 and will prepare to Mate Cutura and Trevor Sunjevaric 6-4 to secure travel to Tulane Feb 20 to Foshey took down Mitchell the doubles point for MSU. take on the Green Wave at Martell and Kenton Paron The lead was then 1-0 and 1 p.m.

7-5. Since they took two Borges and Braun’s match out of the three games was suspended. of doubles play, Vaughn With a 1-0 lead, they Hunter and Luka Sucevic’s then turned to singles play. game was suspended and To begin, Sucevic defeated the Bulldogs took the 1-0 Tyler Edlin 6-2, 6-0. Braun lead overall. then almost won with a shut Soon after, they began out, defeating Mercer 6-1, singles play. Borges was 6-0 to extend the Bulldog the fi rst to fi nish his singles lead to 3-0. match, defeating Coetzee Rakic and Foshey then 6-1, 6-3 to give MSU a 2-0 fi nished next, when Rakic

by Dalton Middleton

Courtesy Photo | MSU Media Relations

Freshman Niclas Braun (pictured) has been a catalyst for the Bulldogs so far this season.

lead. Strahinja Rakic was the next to fi nish, beating Pinto 6-1, 6-1 and extended the lead to 3-0.

Sucevic completed the game for MSU when he defeated Paron 6-2, 6-2.

Since the lead was up to 4-0, Rashab Agarwal, Braun, and Hunters’ matches were suspended.

In the afternoon match, Morehead State came to try and knock off MSU on

8

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