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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2020

135th YEAR ISSUE 33

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

Twelve years after the housing crisis: a look at the local real estate market Student project spreads awareness about self-harm

Starkville real estate sales spike after hiring of new football coach, experts say

JOHN HAYNES

DANIEL DYE

Twelve years after the housing bubble burst in the U.S. which set off a chain reaction of financial failure, local real estate experts reported Starkville’s housing market is stable, strong and likely to remain so. According to various experts in the area, Mississippi State University is one of the primary sources of this stability.

Cindy Palmer, senior vice president of the Mortgage Lending Division at Cadence Bank and long-time resident of Starkville, said Starkville has a remarkably stable housing market.

“From my 25 to 26 years of background here and having lived and grown up in Starkville my whole life, I would say that we have had a consistent housing market,” Palmer said. “I see people from all over the country, if not all over the world, and they tend to say the same thing. They’re used to seeing

During March, SelfHarm Awareness Month, a Mississippi State University student aims to bring the conversation about the oftenoverlooked mental health issue to campus. “Stronger than Our Scars” is a program created by Ashlynn McCain, a senior psychology and communication major and a participant in the Montgomery Leadership Program.

“Stronger than Our Scars” asks students who have experience in self-harming to submit their stories or words of inspiration anonymously through text or pictures which will be displayed at a public event that will be held on March 2 from 2-4 p.m. in the Colvard Student Union Dawg House.

Aside from student submissions, the event will feature representatives from both Health Promotion

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

Daniel Dye | The Reflector

This Starkville home, located on King Richard Road, is listed for sale by Coldwell Banker. Local real estate experts say the market is stable.

such highs and lows in the markets they’re moving from. Some of them have even said, ‘I was scared to buy a home before because I was scared I would owe more than what it would be worth by the time I would sell it.’

I have yet to ever see that

happen with anybody I’ve dealt with personally.”

Palmer, an MSU alumna, sees the university as an important part of the market’s stability and strength.

“For me, MSU is definitely the main source of

new business, 100%, and it has been for years,” Palmer said.

Allen Morgan, the Oktibbeha County tax assessor and collector, also thinks MSU plays a significant role in the housing market.

HOUSING, 2

and Wellness and Student Counseling Services to provide an educational aspect to the project. The two departments have worked closely as partners with McCain throughout the development of “Stronger than Our Scars.”

According to McCain, the main goal of the program is to foster a sense of security for those who have selfharmed or are self-harming while simultaneously educating the public to reduce the stigma currently surrounding the subject.

“We really just want to give people a space to share their stories because there is such a stigma surrounding self-harm which makes people feel the need to hide it. No matter their motivation behind it, we want to provide a safe space for them to share completely anonymously,” McCain said. “You can share as much as you want, there’s no word count or limit to be met, but we want to promote a message of recovery.”

PROJECT, 2

Parks and Recreation brings paws-itive Student media rings in awards at SEJC THE REFLECTOR changes to Starkville Dog Park STAFF REPORT

Carter Griffin | The Reflector

Dogs and owners spend time at the Starkville Dog Park located at 405 Lynn Lane. Parks and Recreation is in the process of renovating the park.

MAGGIE ROBERTS

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

During the rainy season, Mississippi State University students are not the only ones affected by the dreary weather. The Starkville dog park located behind Jackson Street becomes nearly unusable with constant rain; however, the Starkville Parks and Recreation team is currently working on making improvements to the park.

Gerry Logan, Starkville Parks and Recreation executive director, said the rain is causing the dog park to be too muddy, which is a pertinent issue for dog owners.

“There is one area where we are having some draining issues that we are trying to help and alleviate,” Logan said. “We are also possibly looking into some fence repairs, additional equipment purchase and adding a dog wash for folks to rinse their dog off when they leave.”

Other parks in Starkville

FRIDAY HI:46 LO: 27 SKY: Sunny POP:0

still need renovations, so some things are still being planned, but every park is getting attention. Logan said it is all about getting the projects done as efficiently as possible.

“There are new athletic complexes in the planning phase,” Logan said. “Every park is getting touched pretty regularly. We just got approval to advertise at restrooms at Patriot’s Park and J.L. King Park.

There’s also, currently being designed, a new pavilion and restroom at Moncrief Park.”

While Logan is dealing with the behind-the-scenes of the parks, Anna Grace Scrimager, a freshman animal and dairy sciences major, sees the park for what it is. Although Scrimager has only been to the park a few times, she described it as a simple but useful asset to the Starkville community.

“There’s an open space for the dogs to run, a fence surrounding and benches for the owners to sit on and a couple of trees,” Scrimager said.

SATURDAY HI: 53 LO: 39 SKY: Sunny POP: 20

SUNDAY HI: 54 LO: 46 SKY: Cloudy POP: 60

Scrimager said she likes the dog park because it allows her dog to burn off extra energy that a walk down the street cannot accomplish.

“I like taking my dog to the dog park because she can run around and enjoy herself while meeting dogs.

Plus, she is always tired when we get home. I usually only take her two or three times a week, usually on the weekends,” Scrimager said.

Laurel Peckham, a sophomore undeclared major, goes to the dog park nearly every day. Peckham said she likes the dog park because it feels like there is a community for her dog.

“It’s really fun because a lot of people use it, so there are always dogs for her to play with. It’s also better than me having to run around, or just watch her run around by herself,” Peckham said.

Peckham said that there are things that can be improved. It is mostly just dirt right now, which creates a problem for PARK, 2 her and her dog.

Students from Mississippi State University’s Department of Communication, The Reflector student newspaper and Take 30 News were encouraged to find their vision by giving a voice to others’ stories at the annual Southeast Journalism Conference held last Thursday through Saturday at the University of Southern Mississippi.

MSU took home 16 awards, making this year the best in over a decade.

“It made me really happy when some of our top students walked up to collect their awards,” said Josh Foreman, an instructor in the Department of Communication and the Reflector faculty advisor.

Foreman said he was especially proud of Georgia Hamilton and Rosalind Hutton, who both took

FORECAST: We have a fairly nice set up for the weekend, as the rain begins to move out

by Thursday evening, leaving us with sunny skies and cooler temperatures for Friday and Saturday. It will be short-lived as rain begins to push back in on Sunday into the beginning of next week.

Courtesy of Arin Carpenter, Campus Connect Meteorologist

Terry Likes | Courtesy Photo

MSU students won a total of 16 awards at this yearʼs Southeast Journalism Conference.

home first place awards in the conference’s Best of the South awards category.

Twenty-seven schools from states including Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Alabama attended the conference and submitted pieces in the competition categories.

“Georgia Hamilton, when she won one of the most competitive portions of the contest, that was a

highlight … and the same for Rose Hutton,” Foreman said.

Foreman also mentioned that he appreciated the cowbell one of the students brought and rung every time MSU won an award.

Foreman said the university’s success in the awards portion of the conference is great validation for the hard work the students put in throughout the year.

SEJC, 2

Baseball begins!

MSU baseball knocked opening weekend out of the park with a series win over Wright State University.

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“It’s affirmation for our student journalists,” Foreman said. “I hope it will get everyone fired up for next year. Success begets success.”

Additionally, the conference provided students with various opportunities to hear from experts in the journalism field. Pulitzerprize winning photojournalist Ted Jackson spoke at Friday night’s awards ceremony, encouraging students to not let their talents go to waste and providing a glimpse into the life behind a professional story-teller. Cathy Straight, the

PARK Peckham said there are things that can be improved. It is mostly just dirt right now, which creates a problem for her and her dog.

“If it rains, it gets super muddy to where I will wait for at least two to three days after it rains before I take her back because it gets so gross, but they are trying to fix that,” Peckham said.

Peckham said her dog is fine when they are not able to use the dog park, but she does not get nearly as much exercise.

“It is definitely better if we can get there because I do not have a fenced-in backyard, so the dog park is the only time that she gets to run around really,” Peckham said.

Peckham said she is very excited about the cleaning

executive editor of national news for CNN digital, gave students conversational writing tips and insight into what executives look for when hiring for journalism positions.

The conference’s third portion, on-site competitions, allowed students to participate in a variety of different contests, including news writing, arts and entertainment writing, page layout and design, photography, TV news reporting, copy editing and public relations, among others.

CONTINUED FROM 1

upgrade for when it rains and the park becomes muddy.

“They are fixing their washing station, so that will be better for when they do get dirty,” Peckham said.

“Before they started making changes, basically they had a hose that sat in a giant mud pit. So, when you cleaned your dog you are cleaning them in the mud.”

Logan said the goal of the renovations to the dog park is to create a better space for the community.

“We are just trying to continue to improve our facilities the best we can,” Logan said. “The dog park gets a lot of use, and we are trying to be as efficient as possible while still maintaining the park, just making it as nice as possible.”

Carter Griffin | The Reflector

Starkville is working on renovating the local dog park to reduce mud after heavy rainfall.

CONTINUED FROM 1

Marisa Laudadio, a senior political science and public relations double major, won first place, along with her teammates Amelia Henson and Parker Lee, for the onsite public relations campaign competition.

Laudadio said they took a different approach compared to several of the other teams, and it paid off.

“It sounded like some of the other teams were doing a re-marketing branding campaign instead of a crisis communication campaign, so it seemed like, from what

we overheard, that we kind of took ours in a different direction, which seemed to be an effective strategy,” Laudadio said.

Laudadio said that, while the conference was geared towards journalism, it is important for those in the public relations field to be able to understand journalism, as the two fields often overlap. Laudadio also said the opportunity to win an award for her work was very encouraging.

“It was extremely validating,” Laudadio said.

“I will be graduating in a little over two months and having the opportunity to get external validation from unbiased judges from a different university saying ‘yes, you know how to handle a crisis situation and create a high-quality communication campaign’ was extremely encouraging, and made me feel a lot more confident in the skills and training I’ve been getting at MSU and letting me know that I am prepared to deal with crisis and communication needs in the real world,” Laudadio said.

PROJECT McCain’s creation of the program serves as a part of her participation in the Montgomery Leadership Program. In the third semester of the program, students are required to complete a capstone project. McCain’s passion for mental health led her to create a project that spreads awareness for the seldom-covered issue of selfharm.

“For me, I wanted to do something concerning mental health, but I did not want to do something that has been done 20 times before. Other topics have been tackled more frequently. Suicide, violence, depression and anxiety are covered a lot, and I really feel like self-harm specifically is not. So, I thought about something that was applicable to me, and I realized that selfharm is what I wanted to cover,” McCain said. “Mostly, I just wanted to do something that I could put my heart and soul into and I truly, genuinely have.”

Throughout the planning process, McCain has worked closely with her partners to ensure the project will be as effective and beneficial as possible. Kim Kavalsky, the coordinator for mental health outreach for Health Promotion and Wellness, said she sees the project as a way to humanize the issue and make students aware of the resources available to them if they ever need help.

“I want students to have that personal connection by seeing the images of students that have struggled and see that this is something that happens on our campus. This

CONTINUED FROM 1

is not something you have to will create awareness on would start a conversation both for those who are not struggle with in isolation,” campus.

“Ashlynn is stepping out necessarily familiar with any Kavalsky said. “This project is a way to reach students and and covering this sensitive type of self-harm as well as make them aware of what topic because it is an issue those who have overcome it. help exists for them if they that college students face. I want students to be able to are not already connected. I think it is a topic that we speak to it in a positive light.

Maybe those who are I believe it will help not as familiar with it take away the mystery can see some signs in behind counseling I really hope that this would start people that they may and allow students to benefit from that.” a conversation both for those who are be close to and assist them in getting help.”

Serena McCovery, Whether students the assistant director not necessarily familiar with any type of Student Leadership of self-harm as well as those who have attend the event or not, McCain said she and Community overcome it. believes they should Engagement within the Montgomery Serena McCovery be able to take away Leadership Program, Montgomery Leadership Program the positive lessons has worked with the Assistant Director of the program.

“No matter logistics and budget what you are going planning of “Stronger McCain said, than Our Scars” alongside oftentimes overlook, so I through,” McCain. McCovery said am really glad that she is “whether it be self-harm she is proud of McCain’s bringing it to the forefront or something completely representation of the topic with her project,” McCovery different, you are stronger than and hopeful that the program said. “I really hope that this that and you will overcome it.”

“

”

HOUSING “The university always plays a pretty big part,” Morgan said. “A lot of times these parents will buy a house or a condo for their kids for four years.”

Besides the general boost provided by the university, Palmer identified another factor as key in driving real estate purchases: new football coaches.

“When we get a new coaching staff, that seems to put … optimism of what will happen with the upcoming football season,” Palmer said. “We’re already hearing that the excitement over the upcoming new

Reflector Editor-in-Chief Mia Rodriguez, who placed fourth in the College Journalist of the Year category, said she was glad her staff ’s diligence was recognized and is very optimistic about the future of the paper.

“I was very proud of my staff,” Rodriguez said. “It’s been such a great year serving as editor-in-chief and seeing all of our hard work pay off. It fills me with a lot of pride, and it gives me hope for the future of the Reflector—that it will only continue to flourish from here on out.”

CONTINUED FROM 1

coaches and the new football season, believe it or not, can really elevate the housing market. Not only do the coaches come in and purchase new homes … people get excited about buying a second home here again. In the past, during winning football seasons, we tend to see an elevation of property sales and values.”

Pat Lane, a realtor with Coldwell Banker who has been working in Starkville real estate for decades, chuckled when asked if she had seen an uptick in the market since Mike Leach’s hiring.

“Oh, yes,” Lane said.

“I have. I know you don’t believe it, but I have. We can see it.”

Palmer noted that since Starkville is a college town with high rental rates, purchasing residences is an appealing alternative to renting.

“If you’re already paying $1200, $1500 per month for a house,” Palmer said, “you might as well purchase the house instead because chances are you can get a nice home and still end up paying about the same as you would in rent. As long as you plan on being here a

few years, it makes sense to buy versus rent.”

One advantage noted by both Lane and Palmer is the relatively stable real estate market here, in large part courtesy of the resident SEC school.

“We have a major university here,” Lane said.

“I don’t know that I could tell that (the 2007-2009 recession) really affected the market. Maybe we had to work a little bit harder …

I didn’t see a really big effect from that.”

Even when interest rates soared to as high as 19% in the early 1980s, Lane said

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she recalls a healthy housing market.

“People were selling their homes, (and) they were having a hard time selling their houses other places when they moved here,” Lane said. “But our market didn’t crash then. We were still selling houses, but we were having to be a bit more creative.”

Because of the local housing market’s strong record, Lane noted if a wise buyer chose a house in a preferable location, that person could expect appreciation in value. She cautioned against any illinformed purchases, but she did advocate action for a certain segment of the population.

“If someone’s (going to) be here two years, … it’s hard for me to understand

why you wouldn’t just go ahead and buy a house,” Lane said.

Statistics provided by Lane back up her confidence: from 2017 to 2019, the number of residential sales in Oktibbeha County has increased by 11%, and from 2018 to 2019, the residential sales volume went up by 7%.

MSU is not the only reason for the area’s strength and stability. While Tax Assessor Allen Morgan cited the university’s impact, he also pointed out Starkville’s status as a retirement center.

“It’s been amazing to watch the prices go up (and) people come in,” Morgan said. “Starkville’s growing.

Oktibbeha County’s growing … It’s a good place to live.”

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ctor 2/21/20 Crossword

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9 2 4 1 8 5 3 6 7 7 1 6 3 2 4 9 8 5 DAWGS 5 3 8 7 9 6 1 2 4 4 6 2 8 7 1 5 9 3 8 7 3 5 4 9 2 1 6 Monday, February Friday, February 7 4 8 1 5 9 2 617,3 2020 14, 2020 6 4 7 9 3 2 8 5 1 Student arrested for Student arrested 2 8 of 5 6 1Malicious 7 4 3Mischief 9 for possession at one ounce 6 7Plant.

2 3 or 9 less 1 4 5the8 Steam

BAD

of marijuana at Hull Hall.

Student arrested for possession of paraphernalia on Saturday, February 15, 2020 East Lee Boulevard.

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Student arrested for possession of paraphernalia at the D3 parking lot, located behind McKee Hall.

Sunday, February 16, 2020 Student arrested for being a minor in possession of an alcoholic beverage

by Dorman Hall.

Lost, found or shortage of property at the Butler Williams Alumni Police Station.

Wednesday, February 19, 2020 Lost, found or shortage of property at McComas Hall.

Stay tuned for next week’s Bad Dawgs.

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OPINION

Prospective police should receive more evalutation CHRIS LOWE

is a senior majoring in business information systems. Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.

In recent years, one question has stood out to me in a huge way: Why are police officers, staples of any community and armed with the authority to ruin someone’s life or even end it, allowed to wear the uniform without extensive mental health evaluations? Sure, there is the academy, but when looking at what exactly the police academy entails, it becomes clear police simply do not receive enough mental health-oriented training and screening to be considered safe for their communities.

In a country rife with abuse of power and outright criminal behavior from police, I think now is the most important time in our country’s history to open a dialogue about what is wrong with the current system of police vetting and what it

could, and should, look like.

In the Board on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training (BLEOST) Professional Certification Policy and Procedures Manual for Mississippi, which is a comprehensive view of the requirements and standard procedures for police training, there is barely any mention of mental health training or vetting, and what little there is remains extremely unclear.

Where the firearms training has clear-cut guidelines with concrete requirements, the psychological evaluation, which does exist, is simply thrown in with the basic health examination and is allowed to be performed by the same doctor who performs the physical checkup.

While I cannot confirm the same for Mississippi specifically, police in other states who do complete a psychological evaluation can make it into the force on a “marginal” level of psychological compatibility, as determined by the examiner. In a 2004 study titled “Identifying Psychological Predictors

Rosalind Hutton

of Police Officer Integrity Problems,” Gary Fischler, who has a doctorate in psychology, explores this issue and many others within the Minneapolis Police Department.

In it, Fischler states, “Since the overall psychologist rating is a consistently significant predictor of integrity problems, candidates rated as marginal should be considered more carefully before being hired. Results also suggest that psychologist

ratings should be increasingly guided by heightened scrutiny of a history of alcohol misuse/abuse, evidence of a ‘party’ lifestyle, rule-violating behavior or antisocial attitudes, a history of judgment errors related to illogical thinking or misperception of situations, and evidence of distrust or cynicism related to others.”

What does not make sense is why people are allowed to become officers of the law if they are only “marginally” compatible

with the position.

Psychological health and world-views are essential to an acceptable performance of police duties. If a surgeon or a lawyer were only marginally fit for their jobs, nobody would ever want them employed. The same should go for police officers.

Sadly, it does not end there. Even the training for dealing with mentally ill individuals is laughably poor.

The same BLEOST manual I referred to earlier has fulltime Mississippi trainees spending 56 hours on “Patrol Operations.” This consists of 11 subtopics and includes many more applicable to daily police activities, such as “Stop and Approach” and “Use of Force and Incident Reporting and Documentation.”

While such focus on patrol activities is fine, I, for one, would like police to be extremely adept at handling the mentally ill, as they are often abused and misunderstood by law enforcement. The BLEOSTrecommended 5.1 hours is not going to cut it.

There are many discrepancies in policies for police training amongst the states and even amongst an

individual state’s counties, so I do not mean to paint a picture that these problems are uniform everywhere or attempt to cherry-pick statistics from all over.

There are many examples from almost every state that would simply take too much space for an opinion article.

Even taking that away, there is an issue somewhere along the process of vetting potential officers, as seen by the overwhelmingly unacceptable level of police brutality in America.

It not only affects citizens and distances them from trusting the police, it even affects police officers themselves. In a 2018 article by Martin Kaste of NPR describing America’s police shortage, the growing concern over their policies and blatant law-breaking is named as a key contributor.

The issue of inadequate mental health screening and training can and will continue to hamper America’s police force and their relationship with communities until it is addressed. More and more people who are not mentally fit to enforce the law will be handed a gun and sent out into the streets for all of us to answer to.

Consider a pig for your next pet Extend add and drop deadlines Rosalind Hutton

lass ec r h t e te hop ts bet ge

HALLIE GREEN

JOHN HAYNES

is a junior majoring in philosophy and religion. Contact her at opinion@reflector. msstate.edu.

Like many college students, I want a pet. No, I do not want a cat nor a dog. My dream pet is a pig. This pig would not be slaughtered for meat. As someone who does not eat meat, I feel I am not missing out by not slaughtering an animal. I want to get a pig from a rescue and let it live a long life where it is loved, and their intrinsic value is acknowledged and deeply considered in any decision, medical or otherwise. Since they are very social, I hope to, at some point, be able to afford to have multiple pigs.

That is the starting place I use to support wanting to care for these animals.

With the rise of the popularity of the “mini pig,” many misconceptions about pigs have been spread. Mini pig is the first type of pig that needs to be defined.

This is defined by the Central Texas Pig Rescue: “A mini pig is a classification of domestic pig (typically a potbellied pig) that is less than 400lbs. They are considered ‘mini’ because they are smaller than a typical farm hog, which can weigh 500-1000+ lbs. Pigs live up to 20 years and are a long-term commitment as a pet.”

Additionally, there is no way to keep them piglet size other than by starving them. Other misconceptions come from many negative associations with them.

Pigs are viewed negatively because they are used in the meat industry. I mean, where is the line of animals people eat versus the ones who are protected and kept as pets?

This line of pet and food typically varies regionally.

is a junior majoring in history and classics.

Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate. edu.

One example of pigs being viewed in a negative light is the belief that pigs are dirty and gross. Actually, they are quite clean. One Kind Planet reports, “Pigs are very clean, keeping their toilet area far away from where they lie down and eat.

Even newborn piglets will leave the nest to go to the toilet within hours of birth.”

Pigs are also super smart and are in tune with their emotions. This allows them to not only be super curious, but they can also have relationships.

According to the Pig Placement Network, “A pig is not going to jump up and lick you in the face. Their affections are expressed more subtlety. Pigs love to be scratched, rubbed and massaged. Most pigs don’t like to be picked up but will gladly lie with you and enjoy a long cuddle. Pigs appreciate and seek out human company.”

Due to the misrepresentation of these amazing animals over time, the general public has a horribly skewed opinion of pigs.

On a superficial level, having a pet pig can result in you having a pet which is different than that of friends and family; however, like other animals, there is a need for pigs to be adopted with rescues due to many people getting them with the expectation their pig will

not grow. As a result, people will often abandon them or leave them on the side of interstates and highways.

Pigs deserve a chance to live a peaceful life and be cared for their entire lives.

Unfortunately, due to their use in the meat industry, people are not willing to let them live full lives like other pets. As long as you live in an area that allows you to have pigs and you have the means to take care of one, there are several rescues to choose from. Three of my personal favorites are Pigsburgh Squealers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Kansas City Pig Rescue in Kansas City, Missouri and Oinking Acres Farm in Brownsburg, Indiana. There are several resources on taking care of pigs not only from rescues but also from other pig owners.

Hopefully, there will be a growing interest in nontraditional pets like livestock.

There is a need for people to be willing to take care of animals who are neglected or in need, whether it is a cat, dog, pig or cow. Expanding the categories of animals we care for and acknowledging their intrinsic value could help us learn more about them and be more willing to de-commercialize cruelty in the industries which use them. Even if you disagree, I will be saving up for a pig to love and care for and allow it to have a beautiful long life.

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The time period Mississippi State University students have to make a judgment on which classes to drop out or add on is ludicrous. According to the MSU Office of the Registrar’s website, there is a five day window between when classes start and when students can drop them without any penalty. That period should be extended.

When you walk into a classroom on day one, what you see may not be what you get throughout the rest of the semester. It can sometimes be a challenge to gauge the difficulty of a class from just a syllabus and two or three classes worth of brief introductions.

Suppose a teacher’s guidelines for projects and major assignments are so vague as to be a detriment to the student. Suppose an instructor can bluff their way through the first week, but soon it becomes clear this person cannot convey the material effectively.

These are extreme hypothetical situations. I should also clarify I have no vendetta against any professor; however, even if a professor is perfect, other mitigating factors can come up after the initial fiveday period. For example, a student could get hired at a job they only applied to as a long shot, or another class might have someone drop, opening up a slot a student was not expecting.

Besides extending the period for drop dates, it should be easier for students to gain more details about a class and teacher than by going to RateMyProfessor or trusting random gossip. The

Rosalind Hutton

University of Michigan has a system that would be ideal for this purpose.

The Atlas AI aggregates student evaluations of classes and organizes them in an easily searchable database any student can access. It does not detail every little aspect, but rather, it focuses on key categories such as workload, clarity and expectations.

MSU already has switched to online teacher evaluations.

If the school could set up an Atlas-esque system, students would find it much easier to determine their courses every semester. For example, seniors during their final semester needing only a few more electives could search courses by easiest, allowing them to spend less time on classwork and more time finding a great job right off the bat. Is it not in the interest of the university to set its upcoming graduates up for success as much as possible?

Students are responsible for carrying out their due diligence on their schedule when they sign up. Figuring out which classes you need to graduate is something that should be performed

well in advance of actually setting foot in the classroom.

On the other hand, life is unpredictable, and no one can say what the next day will bring.

I am not pleading for teachers to make their classes easier or for the university to extend the drop date an absurdly late date like March, yet is it too much to ask for more clarity and grace in the process of signing up for classes? I would be thrilled if teachers would post the syllabus for the class on Banner, but only a handful do so when class registration opens.

The University of Alabama’s deadline is seven days, just two more than ours, but their students had the advantage of the weekend to mull everything over, while ours had to figure it out while juggling classes and everything else.

If we had two weeks to decide when to drop or a system that displayed basic characteristics about a class, there would be a lot less stress over class schedules for students. The administration should work to at least extend the deadline for Fall 2020.

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5LIFE -Life& ENTERTAINMENT 5 THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2020 @REFLECTORONLINE

They can dance, they can jive: Theatre MSU presents ‘Mamma Mia!’ BRANDON GRISHAM ONLINE EDITOR

Excited murmurs swept the crowd of Theatre MSU’s “Mamma Mia!” on opening night. The musical provided heightened anticipation, especially since it featured the popular works of ABBA, the Swedish pop supergroup. This rendition merged musical storytelling with comedic antics and provided an entertaining evening that was equal parts emotional resonance and catchy music.

Tim Matheny, an assistant professor of theatre performance, directed this electrifying production.

Clever theatrical elements were incorporated into the cast’s performances, including subtle choreography and delightful surprises. This production serves as Matheny’s final project before leaving to serve as an associate dean at William Carey University. As his final mark on Theatre MSU, Matheny gave everything to this charming adaptation.

“Mamma Mia!” centers around a young woman who invites three men to her upcoming wedding, each one possibly being her biological father.

The story was not difficult to follow when interwoven with the music, as each song mirrored the feelings of the characters.

The first act set the stakes, while the second act had fun, subverting expectations which made the show a blast. This production was a jukebox musical, featuring 22 renditions of ABBA songs. It was familyfriendly, apart from some

suggestive dialogue and a singular curse word. The themes were sweet and silly, featuring a range of entertaining components.

While the performances were solid, the set design immersed the audience and transported them to a beautiful island in Greece.

Everything was vibrant, with calming pastels and a beautiful blue-andwhite color scheme. The performers’ costumes had a tropical theme, which was entertaining and gave the show a sense of relaxation.

It all fit together beautifully, specifically when the choreography was thrown into the mix. The lighting and sound operators raised the show by giving character spotlights, adjusting lights in time with the music and offering background tracks for the performers.

Musicals are incredibly difficult, but the entire cast showed exceptional effort with this production.

Their acting skills were obvious, but a few castmembers were difficult to hear, even from the second row. Perhaps it was nerves that led to the whispered singing, but their ability to sing still sounded better than cast members of the film production. While the main leads were great, the minor roles and ensemble cast were brilliant. They all brought hysterical quirks and mannerisms that left them memorable. This cast gave their all, bringing the story to life and captivating the audience with the first few songs.

Rylee Burchfield played Sophie, the brideto-be. Burchfield shared her thoughts on her first performance.

Bethany Crane | The Reflector

Preslie Anne Cowley as Ali, Rylee Burchfield a s Sophie and Mary Caitlyn Wright as Lisa take center stage in McComas Theatre during Theatre MSU’s dress rehearsal of ‘Mamma Mia!’

“I think it went pretty well for opening night. I’m going to be better tomorrow though. I’m going to make my voice rest more than I did today and hopefully, it won’t be as pitchy as tonight,” Burchfield said.

Burchfield went on to compare this role to her previous performances.

“This is the largest role that I’ve had. It’s really scary, but I kept trying to look at it as exciting. I’m doing my best to not let anyone down and be the best I can be,”

Burchfield said.

Jacob Vogelsang played Harry, a London banker and potential father to Sophie.

He offered his stance on how this musical differs from regular theatrical productions.

“This is only my second year since I’m a transfer, but doing a musical is completely different.

Formatting-wise, a lot more rehearsal process goes into it for such a big name performance. It is a drastic difference, but it is a good

thing. The songs help propel the story forward because it’s all these little snippets.

They show how each character feels throughout the entirety of the show,” Vogelsang said.

Vogelsang explicitly wanted to convince nontheater attendees to give the show a shot.

“For people who may feel hesitant to come see it, give it a chance. Theatre is an amazing art form. The amount of laughter, smiles, and entertainment that

you’ll have when you come to this show is unbelievable and it is unlike anything that you’ve ever been to in your life,” Vogelsang said.

“Mamma Mia!” was the most entertaining Theatre MSU production of the term. It was condensed fun, featuring seventies hits and a party atmosphere that will certainly leave you singing along by the final numbers.

The production will run on the McComas main-stage until the last performance Feb. 23.

F.L.A.R.E. and ISAB to host ‘Starry Night’ semiformal 25% OFF

Rosalind Hutton

EMMA KING

STAFF WRITER

On Saturday, Feb. 22, Fostering LGBTQ+ Advocacy, Resources and Environments (F.L.A.R.E.) and the International Student Advisory Board (ISAB) will host a “Starry Night” semiformal in Colvard Student Union Ballroom U from 7:30-9:30 p.m.

The dance offers international and LGBTQ students at Mississippi State University the opportunity to attend prom. Any MSU students, faculty and staff were welcome to join in the fun too.

Prom is an American event and, therefore, not a universal experience.

International students often only encounter it in movies, but ISAB wanted them to have the experience.

Anirudh Aditya, ISAB vice president and a junior majoring in biochemistry, explained how prom is on many international students’ bucket lists.

“The concept of prom doesn’t exist in many other countries,” Aditya said.

“It’s a very American thing.

Prom is something many international students wish they could experience.”

The “Second Chance Prom” was originally a F.L.A.R.E. event held even before the group came to be known as F.L.A.R.E. This previous version of the prom was for LGBTQ students who did not attend

prom or did attend but not with whom they wanted.

Keke Wise, a sophomore undeclared major with a pre-veterinary concentration and F.L.A.R.E. event coordinator, said the event is about LGBTQ students embracing what makes them different in a way they might not have been able to in high school.

“They could be coming to college having a totally different lifestyle than they had in high school. This prom is for you to come and be gay and have fun.

It’s for you to be yourself and not worry about where you went to high school, your small town and being discriminated against,” Wise said.

The semiformal setting welcomed all attire, including casual shirts and slacks as well as cultural clothing.

Those in attendance are encouraged to suggest songs to an internationally-inspired playlist.

The vision behind the dance’s starry night theme is the magical world of Disney, as the organizations are hoping to instill a childlike wonder in prom-goers with twinkling lights lining the ballroom.

In the days leading up to the event, Wise has been reflecting on the effort both groups put into organizing the prom.

“It’s been a lot of work trying to put this together,” Wise said. “I’m really proud of it. Even if only five people show, I think this will

be a really cool event to have.

It sets a precedent.”

Inclusion is a top priority for both the ISAB and F.L.A.R.E. as the organizations plan the prom. Stephanie Nigrinis, ISAB secretary and senior international business major, said arriving solo is nothing to be ashamed of at the Starry Night semiformal.

“No one feels left out which is really important to us for this prom. It’s not about having a date or someone to dance with.

We can all enjoy the time together,” Nigrinis said.

Wise had similar sentiments, speaking on the behalf of the entire F.L.A.R.E. team.

“F.L.A.R.E. is inclusive to everybody,” Wise said. “While our focus is LGBTQ+ students and faculty members, we are accepting to anyone who will accept us back.”

The Starry Night prom is one of many upcoming events by F.L.A.R.E. with Pride Week taking place March 16-20. The group’s kickoff event for the week will be the Big Gay Field Day held March 16.

F.L.A.R.E. will be on the Drill Field from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with an array of activities reminiscent to an elementary school field day.

Anyone is welcome to attend the events.

“We’re focused on unity,” Wise said. “We’re not trying to exclude anyone—except, maybe, people who are rude.”

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66-Sports SPORTS

THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2020 @SPORTSREFLECTOR

Abdul Ado leads Bulldogs to two crucial victories The ball bounced off the rim but was pushed back by Abdul Ado. The ball fell at the sound of the buzzer, giving Mississippi State University the win over the University of Arkansas last Sunday, 78-77.

“That was one of the biggest moments of my life,” Ado said. ”Being able to say I was there for a tip in to help my team so our season could go on, that was really big-time for me.”

The tip in was important because MSU needed to win against Arkansas, as they are a bubble team for the NCAA tournament. Ado said his mindset during this game was that they would leave Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas with a win.

Three years ago, Ado sat in a press conference and

answered his first questions as an MSU basketball player.

Ado is a redshirt junior forward from Lagos, Nigeria.

He has been a part of the inside game for the Bulldogs since his freshman year.

MSU’s head coach Ben Howland said in a press conference on Wednesday before MSU’s game against the University of South Carolina, he could not be happier for Ado. His tipin came with less than one second left on the game clock.

“The guy who was guarding Abdul (Ado) slipped on his own teammate’s foot so he went down,” Howland said. “So, Abdul’s right there, and there’s no one blocking him out. Thank the Lord that Abdul was right there because it was just a great tip to put it back in.”

In the last two games, Ado has scored 19 points

through his senior year, totaling five years playing with the same coach. MacLeod lettered during all five years of playing. Sharp mentioned MacLeod’s older brother played for him too, so he was familiar with that family for a long time.

Although he was not named team captain until his senior year of high school, his talent was recognized much earlier.

“At an early age, you could tell, on the mound, as a left-hander, he really had the chance to be a good player,” Sharp said. “As a sophomore, it was obvious that his mechanics and his command on the mound was just elite for a young kid.”

MacLeod was sick last year and had to sit his first year.

Coach Lemonis was asked about this in the post-game

interview Saturday and said he hates for that to happen, especially to redshirts like MacLeod.

Although he got a late start to his university career, the confidence shown by MacLeod was undeniable during his start on Saturday’s game.

“I’ve been waiting for a long time, just about my entire life,” MacLeod said. “Sitting out last year made everything today bittersweet. A really humbling experience out there today. I really enjoyed it.”

Both his current coach, Chris Lemonis, and his high school coach, David Sharp, mentioned the discipline MacLeod has and how that was represented in how he changed his body.

“Man, he works,” Lemonis said. “He changed his body and he’s here every day putting

HUNTER CLOUD SPORTS EDITOR

Jordan Smith| The Reflector

Abdul Ado dunks the ball against South Carolina. Ado had 14 points in the 79-76 win over USC.

and gathered 14 rebounds.

His efforts have helped propel MSU victories in close physical games. This happened for the game against USC, as MSU won 7976 on Wednesday night.

Before the South Carolina game, Ado said he loved playing them because of how physical the game is between MSU and USC which proved to be the case during Wednesday’s game, with 42 personal fouls in total between the two teams.

“We play as hard as we can every game,” Ado said.

“We give it our all. We play the same way we practice. We practice so hard that it makes the game a bit easier. We knew what we were coming into. We were prepared for it.”

The past two games were decided by just four points, as MSU enters the last stretch

of their season. Those four points being in MSU’s favor helps in their hopes of being qualified for an NCAA tournament.

Ado said it has been exciting because everyone on the team has to contribute in order for them to win. With just five games left for MSU to make their strongest case for a bid in the tournament come March, the next game is the most important one.

MSU will play Texas A&M University this Saturday at 2 p.m. in College Station Texas.

“As a group, even in practice, we try to stay positive. Adversity is going to hit,” Ado said. “Good times and bad times, we just try to keep our heads up and keep playing as hard as we can. Right now, we know that the next game is the most important game of the season for us.”

On MacLeod nine after missing previous season to sickness LYDIA PALMER STAFF WRITER

From the rubber, Christian MacLeod, a redshirt freshman pitcher from Huntsville, Alabama, controlled the game for the Mississippi State University baseball team on the Saturday game against Wright State University, where they won 6-2.

MacLeod was the starting pitcher who debuted on Saturday by pitching the first five innings. During those five innings, he totaled 11 strikeouts while only allowing one walk and one hit.

“He was awesome,” head coach Chris Lemonis said.

“I’m so happy to see him back out there. It’s been a long year since he hasn’t pitched. We knew he was pretty special, but now everyone else gets to see it on the main stage.”

Christian Ferguson MacLeod played baseball before and during all four years of high school and redshirted his freshman year at Mississippi State.

MacLeod performed Saturday with the same consistency his former high school head coach Davis Sharp spoke of him having for years.

“You could watch him pitch, and he was always super composed. He never got too high if he got a big strikeout and never let it affect his emotions if he thought an umpire missed calls,” Sharp said. “He just pitched at an even keel. As you watched him this past Saturday, it was the same way, he just got to the next pitch and the next and just did what he does.”

MacLeod played under Sharp from eighth grade

Gabby Zgunda|MSU Athletics

Christian MacLeod threw 11 strikeouts against Wright State University in his first start for MSU.

in the work, and you see it out there between the lines.”

Christian MacLeod has already received many distinctions among his peers.

Twice, he has been selected by the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper as an AllAmerican, which he earned as a high school junior and senior. His high school coach spoke highly of him both on

and off the field.

“I know there’s a cliché out there that says ‘If you think he’s a good player, he’s an even better person,’” Sharp said. “In this case, it is 100% the case. He is a big-time arm on the mound, but I can assure you that he is a better human being than a pitcher. He is the kind of young man that you want to have success.”