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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2020
135th YEAR ISSUE 32
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
State of Black Dance Marathon raises over $71,000 for the kids Civil War cannon clamors to campus Men Symposium CHRIS LOWE Rangel, assistant to the executive director of the breaks barriers, Ulysses S. Grant Association, the unveiling went well and accepts Feb. 3 marked the signals the culmination of an unveiling of a historically effort by MDAH Board of significant Model 1841 Trustees member and MSU challenges cannon outside the Ulysses S. President Mark Keenum to STAFF WRITER
EMMA KING
Grant Presidential Library on Mississippi State University’s campus. On loan from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the cannon came complete with a carriage donated by Shiloh National Military Park and restored by East Mississippi Community College students. The artifact carries almost two centuries of American history, as stated in an MSU press release. According to Eddie
STAFF WRITER
On Tuesday, Feb. 18, Mississippi State University’s Holmes Cultural Diversity Center and Men of Excellence Chapter will host the third annual State of Black Men Symposium in the Colvard Student Union Foster Ballrooms. This year’s theme is “Breaking Barriers but Accepting Challenges.” The State of Black Men Symposium is a daylong program offered biannually. The purpose of the symposium is to help participants understand the challenges that impact the success of black men. Participants will engage in a series of workshops designed to address systematic and social structures while also gaining the tools necessary to nurture an inclusive environment. Timothy Hopkins, associate director of the HCDC, said he believes the symposium can be the push students need to complete their degrees. “Students will have the opportunity to engage in purposeful dialogues that will validate their lived experiences, while being motivated and inspired toward educational achievement and degree attainment,” Hopkins said. This year’s workshop lineup features talks from familiar faces at MSU to business owners and professors from other universities. Angel Brutus, the director of Counseling and Sports Psychology for MSU Athletics, will present a talk entitled “Stereotype Threat and the Black Male: Increased Awareness Begets Increased Responsibility” at the symposium. SYMPOSIUM, 2
bolster the library’s historical theme. “I think the cannon adds one more interesting piece to our museum and to the Presidential Library, being that it is an 1841 Model ‘6-pounder’, and it saw action in both the MexicanAmerican War and the Civil War, (with) those two wars being prominent engagements during which Ulysses S. Grant fought,” Rangel said. CANNON, 2
MSU’s fifth annual Dance Marathon, held Saturday at the Sanderson Center, raised over $71,000 for Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. Top: MSU students Rodney Self, Braden Lewis and Jacey Eldridge pose for a picture during Saturdayʼs Dance Marathon. Right: Flower petals spell out “FTK” on the front lawn of the Sanderson Center. Kaylee Ricchetti | The Reflector
Adam Sullivan | The Reflector
Rosalind Hutton
The newly unveiled six-pounder cannon sits outside the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential library.
Charge for Charge, Stem Cosmetics and Misobuds: ECAB recap PAYTON BROWN STAFF WRITER
Three student-led startup ideas were pitched in front of Mississippi State University’s Entrepreneurship Center Advisory Board last Friday to receive up to $2,000 to fund their business propositions. VentureCatalyst is the program for both MSU staff and students that allows them to develop business ideas and pitch them in front of a select group of business-related individuals who will choose to provide start-up funding for the projects.
Parker Gleason, a junior biomedical engineering major, and Noah Winstead, a senior mathematics major, were the first to present in the “Shark Tank” type process. Gleason spoke of an ongoing issue in coffee shops which involved the waste of electricity and lack of purchases. After researching and realizing many shops spent almost up to $3,300 on electricity a year, he sought to renovate the apparent issue and teamed up with Winstead to create the “Charge for Charge” proposal. “Owners of coffee
shops will spend anywhere from $2,000 to $3,300 on electricity throughout the year,” Gleason said. “This problem ends up choking businesses and affecting their ability to grow and will sometimes even put them out of business,” Winstead said. Charge for Charge is an idea that seeks to prevent businesses from wasting power and losing revenue. The process works through a cover placed on an electrical outlet that requires customers to buy a product, pay to access or watch an advertisement to use the store’s power for a certain
amount of time. “This problem creates a massive opportunity for us,” Gleason said. The presentation outlined the waste of customers by refusing to buy a product but still using a large amount of power in areas such as coffee shops. Almost 23% of customers drain electricity in a business without giving compensation. The duo set a goal to reach out to local coffee businesses if granted the $2,000, which they requested to begin perfecting and producing mass amounts of the product. ECAB,2
SA takes trip to Jackson, meets with state government officials BAILEY TULLOS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Mississippi State University’s Student Association traveled to Jackson, Mississippi Feb. 4 to participate in Cowbells to the Capitol, an event held once a year for MSU’s SA and MSU students who are interested in government. Twenty-four MSU students were in attendance where they were able to speak with Mississippi government officials, most of which were MSU and MSU SA alumni themselves. Will Baugh, a junior agricultural leadership major, senator for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Environmental and
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Sustainability chairman, said Cowbells to the Capitol is an opportunity for students to express their concerns about things pertaining to MSU. Baugh also said they were able to hear from legislators about what the state is doing to try to better universities in Mississippi. Baugh said there were discussions about “brain drain” in Mississippi and about the state raising outof-state tuition. “We have this thing called the ‘brain drain’ here in Mississippi where people will come in-state and out-of-state to Mississippi schools, and then leave the state all together because there are better jobs, better industries, better opportunities for students
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somewhere else,” Baugh said. Katie Kronk, a junior marketing major and Executive Council director of marketing, said she found this topic to be interesting as well since she is an out-of-state student from Tennessee. Kronk said they asked legislators what they could offer students to make them more willing to stay in the state of Mississippi. “They said if students come and get involved in government, that could definitely change things around here (Mississippi), and if we continue doing what we’re doing now and use a voice for someone who doesn’t have one then we can make positive changes in Mississippi,” Kronk said. JACKSON, 2
Will Baugh | Courtesy Photo
Twenty-four MSU students traveled to Jackson to meet with state government officials and discuss legislation affecting the university.
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SYMPOSIUM
Brutus defines “stereotype threat” as a situational threat in which being negatively stigmatized results in an emotional response which interferes with the ability to perform due to the fear of being reduced to the assigned stereotype. “It is a complex phenomenon related to a number of factors driven by the perceptual, social, historical and institutional influences that threaten one’s identity and ability to achieve optimal performance,” Brutus said. Her talk will include prevention for underperformance in
students. Brutus said underperformance can be caused by a student overexerting his or her efforts into the very task in which he or she is trying to excel in. When this is combined with the threat of social categorization, the desire to enhance esteem in comparison to others becomes so overwhelming that performance can falter. “Individuals have engaged with protective factors such as paying attention to the meanings placed on interactions or disparate treatment,” Brutus said. “Creation of selfnarratives further protect
against threats by way of reinforcing a strong sense of self to mediate conflicting social, environmental and social cues.” Every speaker at the symposium was able to select his or her own topic. Other talks will include “Dress for Success: The Dapper Look” which is facilitated by Executive Men’s Suits owner, Robert Ford; “We Real Cool, But Are We Well?” by MSU assistant professor Qiana Cutts; keynote speaker Samuel Jones; and more. Hopkins said HCDC’s hopes all students will attend the State of Black Men Symposium. “The symposium isn’t
limited to just male students. Our hope is that our entire Mississippi State student family will attend the symposium,” Hopkins said. “Our sessions are sure to provide students with the opportunity for growth and development.” Ra’Sheda Boddie-Forbes, director of the HCDC, said the symposium is not solely for black male students, but rather, for anyone invested in the success of students. “This symposium particularly addresses the issues of black men because there are various aspects of social structures and constructs that impede on the success of black
men,” Boddie-Forbes said. “This symposium will help contextualize the challenges and provide tools to nurture an inclusive environment.” The State of Black Men Symposium is meant to close the achievement gap for African-American men and enhance the experience of men of color through involvement and engagement, Boddie-Forbes said. The theme, “Breaking Barriers but Accepting Challenges,” was chosen by the Men of Excellence student group, an organization that strives to promote the personal, professional and social
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growth of underrepresented males. “I believe that the student groups recognize that there are various factors that impede on the retention and success of men of color, but they are willing to rewrite the narrative as a means to be successful within the institution,” Boddie-Forbes said. Advanced registration for the State of Black Men Symposium is encouraged for any non-university affiliates, but MSU students, faculty and staff are not required to register. A registration form can be found on the Colvard Student Union’s website.
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Rangel noted the cannon is one of many artifacts displayed within the Ulysses S. Grant Library space. A copy, or in many cases an original, of every letter former President Ulysses S. Grant ever wrote or received, as well as photographs, weapons and life-size statues representing Grant at various stages of his life can be found there. In addition, a small section dedicated to former
President Abraham Lincoln is available as well. David Nolen, the associate editor for the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, said he believes the cannon is the attention-grabber needed to bring students who might be interested in the Civil War inside the library itself to view other artifacts displayed. “I think that it was just such a great opportunity as
a partnership to work with the Department of Archives and History and the students at East Mississippi and the folks at Shiloh … all of those different entities coming together to make that happen was a great way to allow visitors to see something special. You read about cannons and you read about artillery and things like that in the Civil War, but to see an actual artillery piece live and in-person
to get the scale of it really helps you get into the shoes of and see things from the perspective of people from that time,” Nolen said. By connecting the cannon to Grant himself, Nolan said Grant likely crossed paths with it during the Mexican-American War. Since Nov. 2017, MSU’s Mitchell Memorial Library has housed the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library on the fourth floor in
response to the Ulysses S. Grant Association becoming affiliated with the university in 2009. The cannon unveiling consisted of a small ceremony in which Keenum spoke on the significance of the event. Keenum was also presented with a small replica of a cannon from Dean of Libraries Frances Coleman in commemoration of his involvement in the Model
ECAB
1841’s acquisition. “This cannon is history coming to life, which we get to share with the many visitors that come to see the Grant Library and the Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana,” Keenum stated in a press release. “I am very proud of the fact that Mississippi State is a destination for scholars and historians to come and study this time in our national history.”
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The next presentation was introduced by Devin Byrd, a senior chemical engineering major, who pitched a line of beauty products named Stem Cosmetics. Stem Cosmetics is an opportunity for a plasticfree, biodegradable and organic makeup line. The presentation outlined the eco-friendly ingredients
and containers produced behind the scenes that excel in comparison to any other organic-branded product on the market. The products Byrd outlined help stop the problem of parabens, harmful chemicals and animal testing in makeup production while also combating the harmful effects on the environment
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from wasteful packaging. The plastic containers that held the lipstick and samples, were molded by a co-founder, Conner Hollis, through the use of ecofriendly production and a specific biodegradable plastic that is produced through Green Dot Plastic. The Stem Cosmetics team asked the board for a grant of $2,000 in order
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to refine their products in a nut-free fashion and continue to make a large number of prototypes that could be used in showcasing or distribution of the product. The final presenter, Timothy Wunrow, a sophomore industrial engineering major, introduced the issue of Misophonia to the panel and described a lack of treatment for individuals with this condition. Misophonia is a condition that causes a person to become triggered by certain noises which will cause an extremely irritable reaction or a sense of panic. Wunrow began his
presentation by asking the panel a question. “What if I told you that there was a multi-million person customer base that was looking for a product that no one was making?” Wunrow said. To combat this issue in Misophonia patients, Wunrow introduced his product, Misobuds. Misobuds are engineered to combat the specific noises from which Misophones seek to withdraw. Wunrow plans to develop his idea through the usage of artificial intelligence and selective voice-canceling technology. “They will completely take out all the noises that
JACKSON Tyler Dickerson, sophomore international business major and Senate chairman of the Sub-Committee on Appropriations, said they had the opportunity to discuss scholarships with Mississippi Representative Mac Huddleston. Until recently, in-state Mississippi students could receive multiple grants from the state. For instance, if a student was eligible for the Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant and Imminent Scholar, he or she could receive both; however, a law was passed recently which stated a student can receive only one grant. Dickerson said they discussed the possibility of students who are in need of the ability to stack grants. They suggested
a person hears that would bother them, but none of the other noises, like normal noise-canceling headphones would do. They’ll be comfortable and people will be able to wear them when they’re sleeping, and they’ll be a lot more socially acceptable to wear than earplugs during a dinner party,” Wunrow said. Wunrow asked the board for a grant of $2,000 to develop the AI technology which would allow him to develop his first prototype. After the meeting, the ECAB members decided to fully fund all of the startups presented to give them a chance to further develop their product.
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letting students stack the two smaller grants which would be worth more money combined instead of making them take the one larger grant. Kronk said all of the officials emphasized the importance of voting and familiarizing oneself with the candidates. They discussed the issues of influenced by things in the media or things friends and family say. “Something we all take to heart is actually doing your research, and it was cool to see that a lot of those people were encouraging us to do that too and not just vote for a certain party,” Kronk said. Kronk said it was fun to envision their SA members one day being able to work for the state’s government.
“It was cool to meet people that did our job go and further this to Mississippi-actual-state,” Kronk said. The students also talked about how much it meant to them that these government officials took the time to sit down and talk to them. They found it refreshing to see government officials concerned with everything the students had to say to them. “A lot of times, we view government officials or legislators or congressmen or senators as these people way-off that don’t really care. They get voted in and disappear, but these people did really care, and I took that to heart,” Dickerson said. All of the SA members expressed their excitement for continuing to lead the students of MSU after experiencing Cowbells to the Capitol. “We were all pretty fired up and inspired to keep leading and advocating for the student body,” Kronk said. Baugh said he learned what a huge role MSU plays in the state of Mississippi after talking to several of the government officials. “It was really Rooms Foreye-opening Rent! to see howStudents Mississippi For MSU State plays big$425 role in our $375 aand state with research, out-ofa Month! state students, experiment Only 7 minutes from campus, Space stations all2 full over state for 4 tenants, baths, the Beautiful hardwood Priand justand ceramic abouttile floors, anything vacy fence, Locked garage carport, else,” Baugh said.and“It was Large living room with fireplace, Sunnice to understand that we room and Laundry room, Smart Bus areAccess, pretty the and much Pet friendly (forgem a fee) of Mississippi when it comes For more information call to Mississippi State.” (662)312-5630
THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020 @REFLECTORONLINE
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February 7 Puzzle Solutions
CLUB INFO Student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info. Information may be submitted by email to managing@reflector. msstate.edu with the subject heading “CLUB INFO.” The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is by 3 p.m. on Thursday. The deadline for Friday’s paper is by 3 p.m. on Tuesday. MSU student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info. Wesley Foundation Worship Night / Insight -- Tuesdays 7:30 to 8:30pm. Worship
music & Bible study. Next to Campus Book Mart. @ MSStateWesley/ StateWesley. org Community Night -Thursdays 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Coffee bar 6:30 p.m. Community groups 7 p.m. Worship 8pm. Next to Campus Book Mart. @ MSStateWesley / StateWesley. org. Got questions? Try Alpha. Alpha explores the basics of Christianity with conversation and videos. An open, honest space to ask, talk, & think together about faith, life and God. Thursdays 6:308:00 p.m. at Wesley. Next to Campus Book Mart. Text
662.435.3393 for more info. Starkville Area Habitat ReStore thrift shop is open extended hours for the holiday season. Come shop with us Thursday 1-6, Friday 9-6, and Saturday 9-4. Low prices on furniture, decorative items, kitchen and household items, appliances and more. Tons of Christmas decorations!
Publicize your club! Email managing@ reflector.msstate.edu
BAD DAWGS Friday, January 31, 2020 Student arrested for Malicious Mischief at the C1 Parking Lot by Zacharias Village. Lost, found or shortage of property at Butler Williams Alumni Police Station. Lost, found or shortage of property at D10East Commuter Gravel Parking Lot behind the Industrial Education Building. Monday, February 3, 2020 Five students arrested for credit card fraud, first offense, at Garner Hall.
Student arrested for Petit Larceny Less than $1,000 at Humphrey Coliseum. Property damage reported on the corner of Blackjack Road and Buckner Lane. Lost, found or shortage of property at Steak ‘n Shake. Tuesday, February 4, 2020 Four students arrested for credit card fraud, first offense, at Garner Hall. Wednesday, February 5, 2020 Student arrested for larceny, bicycle theft, at McCool Hall.
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020 @REFLECTORONLINE
OPINION
REFLECTIONS
Vaping flavor bans are nonsensical and harmful
René Descartes
“The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries.”
Trivia Time! 1. When referring to phone calls made over the internet, what does the acronym VoIP stand for? 2. The Ford Mustang was introduced to the public at the New York World’s Fair in what year? 3. Awarded posthumously in 2001, who is the only U.S. President to have received the Medal of Honor? 4. Pupusas, handmade thick stuffed corn tortillas, are a traditional dish from what country? Fromer President Theodore Roosevelt 4. El Salvador Answer: 1. Voice over Internet Protocol 2. 1964 3.
Source: trivia.fyi
CHRIS LOWE
is a senior majoring in business information systems. Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
Last month, President Donald Trump announced a ban on all flavored vape pods. To clarify what exactly this means and what specifically is off-limits, Jamie Ducharme for TIME states, “The new plan applies to the cartridgebased e-cigarette products made by companies like Juul Labs, which are particularly popular among teenagers. Under the policy, companies will be prohibited from selling e-liquids in fruit, dessert and mint flavors, leaving only menthol and tobacco products on the market. Larger, tank-style e-cigarettes—which users can manually fill with e-liquids of their choice and are primarily sold in age-restricted vape shops—would be exempt.” This policy has recently gone into effect and with it, nicotine addicts everywhere are being punished and having important resources taken away from them. This flavor ban, touted as necessary and for children, is simply a result of misinformation campaigns. For years now, the media has slandered the vaping industry every chance it got. When people die from contaminated, black-market THC cartridges, vaping as a whole is blamed, as if the industry is responsible for corner-cutting drug dealers. When someone’s vape explodes because of improper maintenance or because they leave bare batteries to slosh around in their pocket all day, it is somehow the industry’s fault. Winning the award for the most ridiculous example, any and all flavors beyond
Rosalind Hutton
ones mimicking cigarettes are condemned as being vehicles to market vape products to children, conveniently ignoring children are not the only human beings who like things that taste good. After more than half a decade of sensationalist articles attacking vaping, public perception, especially among non-smokers, has become muddled. As such, there is now a slew of people who take a hardline stance against its very existence. With burgeoning public support, I would bet this ban is only the second of its kind, with the first being the ban on in-store taste testing and maintenance, in a long line of major strikes against the vaping market. The Food and Drug Administration and its lobbying allies will continually attempt to slowly regulate the industry into oblivion with the death of brick and mortar vape shops or tank and RDAbased juice flavors probably being next. Anti-vape propaganda like the tries-too-hard-to-becool TRUTH ads and the aforementioned, taken-out-ofcontext articles will continue to pepper the internet as well. If history is not convincing enough, take it from the ones
Access to clean water is a human right The 28th Amendment
All humans maintain the right to water
TAYLAR ANDERSON
is a sophomore majoring in English. Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
Water is a renewable resource, and our bodies need it to survive. Although the Earth is roughly 71% of water, not every human being has access to clean water. This is unacceptable considering the human body can only survive a week without water and nearly 60% of the human adult body is made of water. I believe water should be regarded as a basic human right, and we should be doing more to protect the water we have. According to Water. org, nearly 785 million people worldwide, or 11% of the world’s population, do not have access to an improved water source. This lack of water affects the quality of life in more ways than you may think. For example, the lack of water negatively impacts our bodies’ health and hygiene because our bodies require water to survive. It also perpetuates poverty among people by causing them, mostly women and
Rosalind Hutton
children, to spend more time working to get water when they could otherwise be in school or working to earn more money. The lack of access to water also causes many unnecessary deaths, especially among those with underdeveloped immune systems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, unsafe drinking water, inadequate availability of water for hygiene and lack of access to sanitation contribute to about 88% of deaths from diarrheal diseases. An estimated 801,000 children younger than five years of age perish from diarrhea each year, mostly in developing countries. If countries began to truly work to provide safe and clean water for all of
their citizens, we could greatly decrease these deaths and help provide a better life for its people. The World Health Organization recently predicted better access to safe drinking water and improvements in sanitation and hygiene could prevent 9.1% of diseases worldwide, which is would equate to preventing 6.3% of all deaths. According to NRDC. org, the United Nations General Assembly voted in 2010 to recognize the right to safe and clean drinking water as a human right; however, countries must only try to provide water, and it is not considered a human rights violation that 785 million people do not have access to safe, clean water. In fact, the United States and 40 other
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A
Sheila Kaplan of The New York Times outlines this is already happening. As a result, the children will move onto options like disposable e-cigarettes which are inferior and probably not as healthy as a JUUL. So, if kids will simply move to different options, where does the banning stop? How many products will the powers-that-be have to kill before they are satisfied in their righteous battle for America’s future? The answer is probably not pleasant, and as someone who started his nicotine addiction at a fairly young age, it is terrifying. Vaping, in my personal experience, is the most effective and appealing option to help quit cigarettes. Overall, the attack on the vaping industry is going to deprive thousands, potentially millions, of Americans from getting their lives back. The FDA will continue to treat America like a land of babies who do not deserve to make their own decisions regarding what they partake in. This should worry us all, and a push back needs to start. Awareness needs to be spread. Succinctly put, vaping is officially endangered, and we all need to take a look at the facts before it is extinct.
MORNING
countries abstained from the UN vote to recognize access to water as a human right. With issues like climate change and industrial pollution increasing, the possibility of a water crisis or clean water shortage increases every day, and any nation, whether underdeveloped or wealthy, can be affected by it. This can cause diseases to arise from contaminated water, especially once it has spread between humans and wild animals. Although our government makes many efforts to conserve nonrenewable resources such as fuel and coal, water should also be valued just as much, especially considering how necessary it is for human survival. It is imperative we work hard to keep our waters clean and make sure every human has access to clean, safe water for the sake of our planet and our health. Since water is in everything we eat and place in our bodies, we should be more cautious about how we contaminate it, as well as neglectfully allow humans to drink unsanitary water. Our governments should be held accountable for making sure water is and remains safe to drink while also making sure it is accessible to everyone.
MAZE
Source: mazegenerator.net
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Life Editor/Mary Madeline LaMastus
news@reflector.msstate.edu
Sports Editor/Hunter Cloud
responsible for this flavor ban. According to Alex Azar, the United States Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, “We will not stand idly by as this crisis among America’s youth grows and evolves, and we will continue monitoring the situation and take further actions as necessary.” FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn mirrored these sentiments as well. People at the top are being extremely transparent about the crusade against vaping being underway. I am more than confident they will take further “necessary” actions. Now that the shady nature of this debacle has been revealed, is it an effective plan at least? No, it is not. As most college students can clearly remember, children will always be determined to do anything they are not allowed to do. Alcohol, drugs and tobacco products are supposed to be out of their reach, yet they are commonly possessed by underage people everywhere. This ban will only drive these kids into more dangerous, underground channels and will push the ones already addicted to nicotine to move towards the now more readily available cigarettes.
Circulation/Sierra Pruitt circulation@reflector.msstate.edu
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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5LIFE -Life& ENTERTAINMENT 5 THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020 @REFLECTORONLINE
Make Valentine’s affordable with these unique ideas KATIE RAINWATER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
As Valentine’s Day approaches, college students everywhere scramble to plan a romantic day for their significant other. They look for something that is a little out-of-the-box but still encompasses the spirit of the holiday; however, there appears to be an increasing struggle between planning a charming Valentine’s Day celebration while also not breaking the bank. Luckily for Mississippi State University students, Starkville, Mississippi has many different options for an inexpensive and unique Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day dinner is a very expensive tradition. Dinner is usually more expensive and more crowded than breakfast. For those looking to avoid the dinner rush and the extra costs, head to Starkville Cafe, Nine-Twentynine Coffee Bar or The Biscuit Shop to enjoy a quieter breakfast or brunch. Chick-Fil-A in Starkville is hosting their
Sweetheart Days from Feb. 11-14 where couples can order heart-shaped chicken biscuits for $2.59 each. Mississippi State University students shared their ideas on how to enjoy the holiday while on a budget. This Feb. 14, Maggie Meeks, freshman international business major, will attend her sorority semiformal with her boyfriend but still has an idea for other couples. “Cook a meal together. It saves money, is more intimate and avoids crowds,” Meeks said. Emily Koch, freshman animal and dairy sciences major, vouched for a very simple but intimate date night. “I would honestly say spending quality time is the best thing to do for cheap. The possibilities are limitless, such as cuddling up together with a cheesy romantic-comedy or enjoying a moonlit picnic,” Koch said. Making your own bouquet is a great option for those who want to surprise
someone with flowers but cannot afford buying from a florist. Some inexpensive flowers to use include carnations, chrysanthemums and daisies. Amanda Ullman from Save-on-crafts.com gives detailed instructions on how to properly make a bouquet. She begins by loosely wrapping floral wire around the stems. Next, she cuts the stems across the bottom before wrapping them in floral tape. Finally, she hot-glues ribbon around the bottom atop the wire. Floral wire can be purchased for $2.99 at Walmart. MSU also offers a floral design class as a first-year experience course which many students have taken over the past few semesters. Ciera Garrett, sophomore mechanical engineering major, took the class during the fall 2019 academic semester and said the skills she learned in this class come in handy around this time of year. “Taking Floral Design was definitely an experience, but I would say that if the opportunity presented itself,
I would know how to make a bouquet for someone,” Garrett said. Another creative idea is to recreate your first date but add a special twist. For example, if you two started the date with dinner at an Italian restaurant, crack open the pantry and cook pasta together. If you saw a movie after eating at the restaurant, watch the same movie at home without sound and narrate the movie yourselves. Dress up and wear what you wore on that date or opt for comfort in t-shirts and sweatpants. Websites such as Pinterest also has different ideas for cheaper Valentine’s Day dates. The website is well-known for providing recipes for do-it-yourself sweet treats. Making your own chocolate-covered strawberries saves a lot of money compared to ordering them from a bakery or online store. For example, Edible Arrangements offers a 12-count box of chocolate-covered strawberries for $29.99. One
recipe originally posted on kidfriendlythingstodo.com makes over 30 strawberries for around $9.00, saving nearly $20 and making over double what Edible Arrangements gives you. The recipe requires only chocolate almond bark and strawberries. At Walmart, chocolate almond bark can be purchased for $2.77 per 24 ounce package and strawberries can be purchased for $5.69 per pound. After buying the ingredients, melt the almond bark in the microwave. While the almond bark is still melted, dip the strawberries and then place them on a sheet of wax paper to harden. To add a bit of flair, buy white almond bark to melt and drizzle on top. Valentine’s Day has proven over the years to have broken from the traditional mold. The holiday does not necessarily have to be celebrated with an overpriced dinner and a $50 bouquet of roses. It is possible to save money and have a romantic evening at the same time, and college
Rosalind Hutton
students specifically do not have to stress about giving their significant what they deserve and blowing their bank account at the same time.
Reflections from Abroad: Meilun Zhou BRITTANY RUSSELL CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Mississippi State University offers students many opportunities to expand horizons and generate new experiences. Studying abroad represents one such opportunity, allowing students to enjoy another culture and observe other perspectives. Meilun Zhou, a senior majoring in computer engineering, has completed two study abroad experiences during his time at MSU, one in China and one in France. Both trips were semester exchanges that involved a mandatory language course to help students adjust. Zhou discovered the advertisements for his firstsemester exchange in Allen Hall. He said a rough semester at MSU made the study abroad posters and brochures seem more appealing. Since he was born in China and raised by parents who spoke Mandarin at home, he leaned towards China for his first semester abroad. “For me, picking China (Beijing Institute of Technology) was pretty easy because I was like, if I travel somewhere for the semester, it would be nice if I could speak the language,” Zhou said. Zhou described his experiences in China and discussed the industry and air quality. He then mentioned his favorite parts of the trip. “Seeing all of the monuments (was) really cool. It’s a huge city, and you could spend, like, a long time there for all of the individual historical things. The public transport is pretty nice. Also, their version of Uber was really popular and was kind of cheap,” Zhou said. On the topic of food, Zhou said the cafeteria at the Beijing University reminded him of MSU due to the multiple food stations; however, the food differed from dishes at MSU. Despite this, they were still familiar to Zhou. “With the food, it was really easy for me not to feel homesick because that’s what I would eat at home,” Zhou said. The differences due to censorship and regulation in regards to website access and banking were noticeable, such as a lack of access to Google and Facebook, yet Zhou noted there were still some positives, such as the convenience of only using one economic or banking system. “One nice thing of all of it being integrated was the money transfer was really easy,” Zhou said.”So (there
Meilun Zhou| Courtsey Photo
Meilun Zhou, a senior majoring in computer engineering, participated in two semester-long study abroad programs. Zhou gained unique experiences, such as hiking through the sandstone columns of Zhangjiajie, China.
were) some benefits to the regulation, and then some drawbacks.” Zhou did some exploratory traveling while in China. He traveled not only to visit family but also to experience some of the natural wonders. “It was probably the farthest I went in China, south. It was a city called Zhangjiajie,” Zhou said, showing an image of the scenery on his cell phone. “It’s where ‘Avatar,’ the movie with the blue people, it’s where that movie had the scene with the floating mountains. It’s where that inspiration came from.” Zhou made many connections while meeting new people in China, and this is the reason he decided to study in France with the French American Exchange (FAME) program for his second semester studying abroad. “The reason for choosing France, the second time, was because I met a group of French people at the Chinese university. They were studying abroad at that university. I became really good friends with them, and we talked a lot about Europe and just being able to travel in general. So, they convinced me to go,” Zhou said. Zhou spoke of his favorite parts of France which included some food traditions. “Bakeries were really prevalent, and that’s something I really miss here. These kind of mom-and-pop bakeries.
You would have one, like every two blocks. Probably as often as we have McDonald’s, they would have a dessert bakery or baguette bakery,” Zhou said. Zhou said some adjustment was necessary for his time in France; however, that adjustment is what allowed him to truly slow down and enjoy his experience. “I think going to Europe and being able to see the lifestyle is really great because it really gets you to slow down and think about the world as a whole. I would like to retire in Europe. The people there, it’s a lot slower. The pace of life is so much slower,” Zhou remarked. Professor Carine Sabouraud-Muller is the academic coordinator of the program at École Nationale Supérieure de l’Électronique et de ses Applications, the university where Zhou studied while in France. SabouraudMuller spoke about Zhou’s dedication to his coursework and readiness to travel. “Some courses were challenging, but he worked seriously and passed. He has been able to adapt to the French education system and work in a new environment. He has gained self-confidence, and as many other FAME students, Meilun has also seized the opportunity to travel in France and in Europe during the semester,” Sabouraud-Muller said. Both Sabouraud-Muller and Zhou mentioned the
differences in the vacation breaks in France versus in the United States. After every six weeks of class, students receive two full weeks of break. “I went to, I think, 11 different countries while in France because of the twoweek breaks. It was fantastic. I was also really lucky because my roommates in China were from Hungary, Germany and Italy,” Zhou said. During his travels in Europe, Zhou reunited with those same friends who he met while studying in Beijing in their respective countries. Each gave him a well-rounded tour of their own countries. Experiences ranged from normal tourist attractions in the capital cities to invitations from Zhou’s colleagues to visit their hometown for a traditional, homemade meal. He made additional meaningful connections with students he met while in France. “It was a really good mix of people from the US, and that was the first time I had interacted, like, so closely with all of these American people since there were no Americans during my semester in China. All of us, we would struggle together,” Zhou said. “For spring break, I think I’m going to Toronto with them to meet up with the people from Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Detroit.” Spending time abroad has impacted how Zhou views his future.
“I think going out and being able to like have an education in a different country, see how they educate people and also being able to even see career fields there (helps). So, I got to go to, like, a career-expo in both countries, and it helped me get perspective about what I want to do,” Zhou said. Zhou passed on some advice he got from a friend about traveling and getting
away from what is comfortable. “The hardest step is actually the first step out your own door,” Zhou said. Zhou also expressed his gratitude for the opportunities. “I think (MSU does) a good job of pushing the study abroad programs, and I’m pretty grateful that they’ve had these two-semester exchanges that I could go on. I definitely want to thank Mississippi State for giving me these opportunities,” Zhou said. For those desiring a program for a shorter term, a variety of options are offered from MSU. Annie Carr, Study Abroad Coordinator at MSU, encouraged students to look into different study abroad opportunities while they are at MSU. “It gives students the ability to come back to Starkville with an open mind and better understanding about cultures around the world. College is the perfect time for students to go abroad because it is affordable, looks great on a resume and it makes you stand out in job interviews. Students may not have another chance to spend several weeks or months abroad once they graduate and are in the workforce,” Carr said. MSU’s Office of Study Abroad offers over 1,000 programs in more than 80 different countries around the globe. Programs exist for all majors and classifications. Any interested parties can attend one of the bi-weekly interest sessions held at 8:15 a.m. Tuesdays and 3:30 p.m. on Thursdays in the Colvard Student Union, suite 220.
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020 @SPORTSREFLECTOR
SPORTS
“When he (JT Ginn) talks,
guys listen. They are tuned into what he’s saying and understand what he’s gone through already to prepare themselves.”
Chris Lemonis Head Baseball Coach
Mary Georgia Hamilton|The Reflector
Ginn, Koestel leading the Diamond Dawg bullpen into opening day
HUNTER CLOUD SPORTS EDITOR
Moving from a 2,500 capacity baseball stadium at Southeastern Louisiana University to Dudy Noble Field, which holds close to 15,000 spectators, Carlisle Koestler will take the mound as the oldest player on the Mississippi State University roster. “It’s like you are a freshman again, kind of, but you are also the oldest guy in the nation,” Koestler said. “It’s fun—meeting all of these guys, experiencing something different. It was more about finding the best fit for me athletically and academically.”
Head coach Chris Lemonis said Koestler will be a swing guy, someone who can pitch in relief and start for the Bulldogs. Lemonis said Koestler has the maturity of an older athlete. “It feels like he’s 30 years old even though I think he’s only 24,” Lemonis said. “He’s been through a lot of college baseball. He was the closer at Hinds Community College. He was the Friday night guy at Southeastern Louisiana.” This season, Koestler made the decision to go to MSU as a graduate student following a season-ending injury at Southeastern Louisiana his senior year. A
Vicksburg native, Koestler played baseball at Warren Central High School Koestler said his graduate school will focus on workforce educational leadership as he wants to teach and coach at a community college. He also wants to be a pilot. Another player returning from injury will be JT Ginn who had some arm issues last season. Lemonis said he believes Ginn can lead the Bulldogs as their ace against anybody in the country on Friday nights. “We feel like we can go Friday night with anyone in the country with JT,” Lemonis said.
Lemonis said Ginn, now a sophomore, has been working hard to stay healthy and mentally prepare for this season. “He looks like he is in the best shape he’s ever been,” Lemonis said. “He works, he loves this game and getting after it, and I think he’s more mentally prepared about what he has to do.” MSU’s expectation is set on winning the College World Series, an accomplishment the program has yet to do in its 11 trips to Omaha. “We know that the expectations are high, but we still have to work hard,” Koestler said. A key part of any College
World Series Champion is their pitching staff. MSU is now three years removed from a season where players like Jake Mangum have to pitch after so many pitchers had arm injuries. This season, the team has 22 new players this season. Lemonis said his challenge this season is building the bullpen, especially for midweek games. “I’m more concerned about building that bullpen right now,” Lemonis said. “Our bullpen was the reason we were very successful last year.” In contrast to Koestler’s age, Ginn is much younger, but Lemonis said his leadership is at a similar
level. “He’s really not that old, but he has taken a real leadership position on our pitching staff, especially with our younger guys,” Lemonis said. “When he talks, guys listen. They are tuned into what he’s saying and understand what he’s gone through already to prepare themselves.” Wearing maroon and white with the M over S logo is one of the ways Koestler will represent his home state. MSU will start its 2020 season against Wright State University. “It means a lot,” Koestler said. “It is awesome to get to represent the state where you are from. It is awesome.”
Myah Taylor is bringing energy to the Lady Bulldogs LYDIA PALMER STAFF WRITER
During Mississippi State University women’s basketball game on Sunday, Myah Taylor’s energy was contagious to her teammates and the crowd. When she started working the court by scoring and stealing against Texas A&M University, it pushed her teammates to do the same as MSU won the game 6957. Taylor still has five regular-season games left in her sophomore season to continue at her current rate. Taylor, the redshirt sophomore from Olive Branch, Mississippi, has made quite the impact during her first two seasons as a Bulldog. In her redshirt, freshman season, she showed her potential during the game against Southeast Missouri State University, where she scored her first record of seven points and six assists. By the end of that season, she had a record of six assists, 10 points in a game and three steals. Over the summer, the Bulldogs invested in their players by traveling to Italy to play in the World University Games. “The investment we made this summer, allowing us to go to Italy and play in the World University Games, probably did as much for this team as
anything we could have possibly done,” Schaefer said. “I just think that the value of that trip, really, is what you’re seeing now.” Myah also went to Italy with the team and ranked second on the team in assists and third in steals. She and the team helped the United States of America team win the silver medal while at the World University Games. In a press conference before the team’s practice on Tuesday afternoon, Coach Schaefer and Myah both spoke about her performance this season and her outstanding performance during the game against Texas A&M on Sunday. During this game, Taylor scored 16 points and captured three steals from A&M. She said she was happy with her performance, but she has to look forward to the other games. “I played really well in that game, but I can’t keep looking back at that game. That game’s over, it’s on to the next day, on to the next practice,” Taylor said. “I have to keep getting better and just continue to play hard for my team and do whatever they need me to do to win the game.” The team is on a byeweek after the game Sunday. Coach Vic Schaefer said how big of a deal this is because many players, including Myah, have been
relentless on the court. “For Myah, coming off of her game on Sunday, she played so hard on both ends of the floor and was so engaged with her team,” Schaefer said. “I was sitting at the house Sunday night feeling fried and didn’t play a minute. I thought to myself, ‘I wonder how Myah feels because she was just so engaged on both ends of the floor.’” Taylor’s biggest improvement has been in her aggression on the court. She has doubled her personal record in a game from last season. Her record now sits at 20 points. Taylor has also nearly doubled her steals, now sitting at top five in a game. Myah has been running as guard for this season. She is 5’7” which makes her one of the shortest on the team. As Coach Schaefer said, it is very important for the players like Taylor to get rest during this bye-week after their many minutes of playing. Taylor tops out her record with 40 minutes played in a game and cannot get much higher than that. “I’m always concerned about our young kids. You know, at some point they’re going to go, ‘Man, I’ve never played this long,” Schaefer said. “It’s a good way to help manage that, and it’s falling at the right time.”
Jordan Smith|The Reflector
Myah Taylor drives the lane with the ball. Taylor had 16 points against Texas A&M. Her energy sparked the team’s energy to win 69-57.