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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2020
135th YEAR ISSUE 34
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
MSU health oďŹƒcials are closely Be an informed voter! monitoring Coronavirus PAYTON BROWN STAFF WRITER
Tyler Dickerson: Treasurer "As treasurer, I plan to reform the appropriations process so that we can more adequately allocate funds to student organizations and to be fiscally responsible to ensure that SA functions at its highest potential."
Anna Bales: Secretary
"As secretary, I plan to better the student experience by developing a comprehensive Mississippi State University mobile app, making printing on campus more cost efficient and increasing communication and transparency by creating set office hours for Senators."
Anne Elizabeth Harrington: Secretary
"I plan to get students involved in the community by allowing them to use service hours to pay for parking tickets, as well as increase accessibility and opportunities for students to voice their opinions to the Student Association.�
Garrett Smith: VP
“I plan to make the student association more accessible, make college costs more transparent and ensure that the projects we advocate for are the ones students really care about.�
Ryan Jarratt: VP
Over the past few months, the outbreak of the Coronavirus has affected businesses and individuals across the world. As the virus reaches the United States, local ofďŹ cials have made it a priority to prepare for potential threats which could surface in the Starkville community. Mississippi State University ofďŹ cials have developed a protocol and continue to monitor the chance that the virus will make an appearance on campus. Dr. Cliff Story, director of University Health Services, outlined careful procedures faculty and higher authorities have been developing to maintain the
source: cdc
EvERYBODY
“It would be the prerogative of my Senate to convey a unified front in terms of an increase of Student Activities Fee via resolution. Please visit robertwalker4vp.com to see our stance on parking and other things. #WalkWithWalker� “I plan to change our tuition to a fixed-rate (saving students up to $4000 unplanned expenses), ensure diversity in college advisors, incentivize teachers to use free textbook formats and update the SA Constitution for transparency.�
  �  � � �  �  �
Celebrate
"I plan to begin the process of enabling smartphones to function in place of MSU student IDs, extend the hours of P.O.D. Markets and on-campus restaurants and ensure that students have a voice in the parking zone assigning of new parking areas."
Robert Walker: VP
Joshua Hartley: President
safety of the faculty and students. “We’ve been monitoring what’s been going on since day one, since it ďŹ rst became news that things were happening. In the beginning, of course, we had no idea what it meant or what things would look like,â€? Story said. Story said the university is working closely with state health ofďŹ cials to be aware of the best preventative procedures. “Also, we’re trying to keep up with recommendations with the CVC and the Mississippi State Department of Health, so we’ve been in contact regularly with our state representatives from the Mississippi State Department of Health about recommendations and guidelines. VIRUS, 2
Health Promotion and Wellness hosted a “Celebrate Every Body Fashion Show and Tell� on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Old Main Auditorium. The event featured a fashion show and panel discussion.
Tyler Packer: President
"My platform is centered around the student experience. I hope to implement practical and efficient policy that betters the student body through academics, diversity and inclusion and community relations!"
MSU VISTAs work to fight poverty BAYLEE HILL STAFF WRITER
Landon Scheel | The Reector
Since 2012, AmeriCorps VISTA, a national bipartisan program dedicated to ďŹ ghting poverty in America, has had a program under the Maroon Volunteer Center at Mississippi State University which works to impact local communities by recruiting and coordinating volunteers. The service organization was founded nationally in 1993 after John F. Kennedy came up with the idea for VISTA, Volunteers in Service to America. According to VISTA supervisor Matt Monroe, the MVC’s program consists of 17 VISTAs and one VISTA leader. They work with over 65 organizations in Oktibbeha County to help residents who are currently living in poverty. According to Taylor Szasz, a VISTA for food
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Recovery Night provides discussion, community for students struggling with addiction science, nutrition and health promotion, VISTAs live in the community and help local, pre-existing programs by performing various tasks like coordinating volunteers and implementing marketing tactics. VISTAS at the MVC work with organizations like Starkville Habitat for Humanity, the Center for Community-Engaged Learning, MSU Food Security Network and MSU Extension Healthy Homes Initiative. Szasz said VISTAs impact the community both locally and on a state-wide level in several ways. She works
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with a coalition made up of community members, mayors, law enforcement, restaurant owners and faith communities in different counties across the state to help prevent obesity. Szasz also works with the MSU Department of Psychology to provide support for those affected by the oods in the Mississippi Delta last year. “It is a great opportunity to learn about yourself and what you want to do with your life,â€? Szasz said. “I am doing this during my gap year before going back to grad school.
KARIE PINNIX STAFF WRITER
Mississippi State University’s Collegiate Recovery Community is fostering discussion about alcohol and drug addiction with bi-monthly Recovery Night events. Hosted by the CRC, Recovery Night at MSU is an event that encourages all students, regardless of the addiction they are currently struggling with, by allowing them to hear from speakers around the MSU and the Starkville community who VISTAS, 2 have also battled drug, alcohol
FORECAST: We have a fairly nice next few days ahead of us with sun and temperatures in the high 50s and low 60s during the day. Enjoy it while you can, rain will move back in at the beginning of next week.
Courtesy of National Weather Service
or behavioral addictions. Libby Fields, a Health Promotion and Wellness graduate assistant specializing in alcohol and drug prevention at MSU, said this event encourages discussion about addiction. “It’s just a chance for them to listen to someone who’s going through recovery, who has been in the early stages, or in the middle stages, late stages, things like that. It’s really big with our Collegiate Recovery Community, so sometimes our students will speak at it, but we’ll also have community members speak at it as well,� Fields said.
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According to the Collegiate Recovery Community Program Coordinator Blake Schneider, the speakers discuss various topics, such as their background on addiction, recovery and steps they are taking to ensure their recovery lasts for the future. “We try to get speakers from on campus and off campus just to share their story, what it was like growing up, what their use was like, what happened that made them want to make a change, and what their (alcohol and drug) use was like,� Schneider said. RECOVERY, 2
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VISTAS
Serving has really helped me narrow down my focus on what I want to do.” Szasz said a person can become a VISTA by applying to a specific area where he or she will work with a specific mission. A term is a paid, fulltime commitment that lasts a year; however, there are summer terms that are good for students to build life skills while also giving back to the community. Participants can benefit from a living allowance, three hour tuition credit and access to an AmeriCorps alumni network. Szasz said VISTAs can receive endof-service benefits such as preference in selection for federal jobs, educational awards and stipends. VISTA supervisor Monroe said living stipends are modest in order to give VISTA members the
chance to relate to lowincome Americans, but the tradeoff is good benefits. This stipend allows some people who have never had to live with a low income to experience it first-hand. Monroe believes this opportunity enables people to learn more about the area in which they live. The program is flexible to allow VISTAs to build the skills that they want to develop. Angela Reives, MSU Student Leadership Marketing & Public Relations VISTA, specifically works with Public Relations & Integrated Student Media, a studentrun communication agency at MSU. She oversees the students who are performing a communication campaign for the Center for Community-Engaged
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Learning. Reives also runs social media accounts for several departments in the Office of Student Leadership and Community Engagement and designs graphics to raise awareness for the various office programs. “I think participating in national service programs like AmeriCorps helps connect communities and transform society,” Reives said. “Our goal is to alleviate poverty, and it is important for people to be exposed to poverty and give back to those in need.” Reives said people can keep up with the program by connecting with the Maroon Volunteer Center’s AmeriCorps VISTA on Facebook and Instagram. Interested parties can apply to be a VISTA by emailing the project contact at vista@saffairs.msstate.edu.
Landon Scheel | The Reflector
Fashion Board models and university students and faculty discuss body positivity at the Celebrate Every Body Fashion Show on Tuesday.
Landon Scheel | The Reflector
Matthew Cockrell | Courtesy Photo
Kauthar Gaber models as a part of Health Promotion and Wellness’ Celebrate Every Body Fashion Show and Tell event on Tuesday.
VISTAs from Starkville and Clarksdale, MS pose for a picture together. AmeriCorps VISTAs strive to alleviate poverty through service projects.
RECOVERY Ever since it started, Recovery Night at MSU has grown from small groups to groups of around 50-70 students learning about the process of recovery. This year, students who have seen the flyers around campus and digital media advertising Recovery Night have come, allowing the event to grow even further and for more students to take the first step in the recovery process. “As a result of (Recovery Night), we’ve had a few people who’ve made the beginning steps towards recovery, so I would say it has been pretty beneficial and vital in helping people maintain and sustain their recovery,” Schneider said. Lisa Ziegler, a graduate assistant who works in the
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area of alcohol and drug prevention with Health Promotion and Wellness at MSU, said she believes students in recovery would benefit from attending this event. “It feels good for somebody who is just starting recovery to hear from somebody else that’s already a little bit further in the process. So, that’s the main purpose for somebody who’s just starting out their recovery process or are thinking about it, to hear those stories and how they went from struggling to living a fulfilled life without addiction,” Ziegler said. The event is not only focused on students struggling with addiction and substance abuse. Students who are not in
recovery are also invited to attend. Schneider hopes students can become more aware of how many of their peers are actively
danger or worry of having an addiction problem, I think it’s a really cool educational opportunity for them to learn more about
“
That’s the main purpose for somebody who’s just starting out their recovery process or are thinking about it, to hear those stories and how they went from struggling to living a fulfilled life without addiction.
”
Lisa Ziegler Graduate Assistant Health Promotion and Wellness
going through the recovery process. “For a student who isn’t in recovery or isn’t in
this population on campus because, statistically, one in 10 people are actively in recovery or could benefit
from being in recovery,” Schneider said. According to Fields, anyone who would like to begin the process of recovery can come to this event and take the first step towards finding an outlet to discuss their addiction with other students struggling through the same issues. “The stigma around it can isolate them, or isolate anyone that’s in recovery, not necessarily students, but anyone in general, who’s going through it … I think we also need to open up this conversation as well and make that space for them to recognize that there are people that are going through this, and you want to be there to support them,” Fields said. The event is open to all
VIRUS Up to now, there’s not really been any recommendations or any things for us to do,” Story said. Students should remain cautious and practice hygienic procedures to remain safe but should continue to live at ease because of the lack of
students and members of the Starkville community, not just those in recovery or members of the CRC. Recovery Night meets every second and fourth Thursday at 7 p.m. in McCool Hall in room 128. Anyone is encouraged to attend the event to learn more about the personal side of addiction, the different types of addiction and how many students and members of the Starkville community today have overcome their initial struggles with addiction. For more information about Recovery Night, visit the Collegiate Recovery Community’s website at recovery.msstate. edu, or follow them on social media @msstate_crc for more information on future events.
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contamination within the state of Mississippi, Story said. “There are no cases in Mississippi, and no one is under investigation in Mississippi for the Coronavirus. Over the last two weeks, especially as things have emerged, we developed a web page that
FREE FOR MSU STUDENTS
people could go to that points to more information about Coronavirus and what you can do. As things have now progressed in the last week or so, only time will tell how this virus is going to spread or if it’s going to spread across the globe,” Story said. Sid Salter, chief communications officer of MSU’s Office of Public Affairs, continued to emphasize the alert stance of MSU and the time which many administrators have put into maintaining
preparedness as the outbreak continues to threaten our society. “Last week and then continuing this week, there have been a series of meetings involving the Division of Student Affairs, the University Health Services, the Student Health Center, our crisis management group, Dr. Cliff Story, General Council, the University Attorney, Academic Affairs, Public Affairs and others who have been meeting to discuss what the
possible impacts would be and what the needs would be if we were to have an outbreak,” Salter said. Salter, however, spoke of the effects which the virus may have on international travel and the staff or students participating in current travel abroad programs. “What we do have because of the large number of people who are traveling internationally, we would have a reason to plan or evaluate what might happen if that did transpire in the future. We’re looking at everything that you could imagine,” Salter said. “We then look at travel, what is already contemplated in terms of student and faculty travel and how that might impact things as the Coronavirus evolves. We are monitoring the CDC and the Mississippi Department of Health to follow the guidelines that they’re putting out for travel and medical guidelines.” Wes Foreman, an MSU alumnus currently living in South Korea, provided insight into the changes that occur when the possibility of Coronavirus contamination becomes a reality. “I work in an academy. It’s like a small school that’s a private business, and
when there was a very low number of 30 patients in Korea last week, there was an outbreak and it jumped up to about 800 in a matter of days. When it jumped like that, all the schools closed, so I haven’t been to work since last Friday,” Foreman said. Foreman described the abandoned feel which hovers about South Korea and how quickly it has affected life. “Socially, there’s nobody outside,” Foreman said. “There are very few people outside walking around. On a regular day, there might be hundreds of people within a minute outside my window, but the weather has been really cooperative the last few days, but if you look outside, there’s only a couple people at a time, so it’s completely changed the culture here.” While Salter emphasized that the university is keeping a close watch on the developing Coronavirus threat, he said there is currently no need for concern at MSU. “What’s important to focus on now is that there is no reported case of Coronavirus at Mississippi State University and no reported case of the Coronavirus in the state of Mississippi,” Salter said.
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2020 @REFLECTORONLINE
BULLETIN BOARD
ctor 2/18/20 Crossword
An In-Class Distraction
Across
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1 Boar’s mate 4 “Bolero” composer 9 Make a scene? 12 Clearasil target 13 La Scala offering 14 Shaving stuff 16 Audition 17 Building addition 18 Not fooled by 19 Like a Möbius strip 21 Motion sickness 23 Porky’s love 24 Fruit-flavored dessert 25 Old White House nickname 26 Enumerate 27 ___ de guerre 30 Polish’s partner 33 Hot sauce 34 Broke bread 35 Trunks 37 Hall of Famer Mel 38 Hindu princesses 40 Calendar abbr. 41 Short erect tails 43 Hankering 44 Force unit 45 Like some losers 46 Scratch 48 Kelts 50 Photographers 54 Talisman 56 Singing voice 57 Hang loose 58 Furious 60 Went by car 61 Scottish hillside
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CLUB INFO on Tuesday. MSU with fire place, sunroom Copyrightp.m. ©2020 PuzzleJunction.com Student organizations may student organizations may and laundry room, Smart place free announcements place free announcements Bus access. Pet friendly (for free). CALL 662.312.5630 in Club Info. Information in Club Info. may be submitted by email Rooms for Rent for MSU to managing@reflector. Students. $375-$425 a Publicize msstate.edu with the month per room. Only 7 minutes from campus. subject heading “CLUB your club! Space for 4 tenants. INFO.” The deadline for Tuesday’s Beautiful hardwood and Email managing paper is by 3 p.m. on ceramic tile floors. Privacy fence, locked garage and @reflector.msstate.edu Thursday. The deadline for Friday’s paper is by 3 carport, large living room
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4
THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2020 @REFLECTORONLINE
OPINION
Celebrity opinions are not more valuable
REFLECTIONS
Rosalind Hutton
Alexander Hamilton
“In politics, as in religion, it is equally absurd to aim at making proselytes by fire and sword. Heresies in either can rarely be cured by persecution.
Trivia Time! 1. Girl with a Pearl Earring is an oil painting by which Dutch Golden Age painter? 2. When used in the kitchen, sodium bicarbonate is more commonly known as what? 3. Rob Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan were better known as what 1980s musical group? 4. CERN launched the very first website in what year? 5. On September 24, 1906, Former President Theodore Roosevelt established the first US national monument. What was it? Vanilli 4. 1990 5. Devils Tower in Wyoming Answer: 1. Johannes Vermeer 2. Baking soda 3. Milli
Source: trivia.fyi
“Save the environment!”
MICHAEL BOURGEOIS
is a sophomore majoring in English. Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
At the 2020 Golden Globe Awards, Ricky Gervais spent his opening monologue criticizing the worst Hollywood had to offer and poking fun at the loss of integrity of the modern film industry. The message of Gervais’ speech is encapsulated in his final words when he said, “So if you do win an award tonight, don’t use it as a platform to make a political speech. You’re in no position to lecture the public about anything. You know nothing about the real world.” Years of living in the spotlight and deified by the American public has transformed the modernday celebrity into an out-oftouch elitist who believes his or her opinions are validated by his or her money and power. Celebrities believe their luxurious Hollywood mansions, their enormous audiences and their reach gives them a license to lecture the American people on how to live their lives in accordance with the Hollywood elites’ political worldview. Gervais’ biting words attempted to humble these celebrities and explain how their opinions are no more valid than ordinary Americans, and the Hollywood elite have no right to force their agenda down the country’s throat. Gervais’ exposure of celebrity hypocrisy and his desire to humble those in Hollywood teaches the American people the invaluable lesson that citizens have no obligation to
consider a celebrity’s political beliefs as being more valid. The hypocrisy of those in Hollywood is put on display when they lecture the American public. This hypocrisy can most clearly be seen in environmental issues, as many celebrities believe limiting the carbon footprint of the United States is an ecological necessity. Leonardo DiCaprio is a devout environmentalist, who uses his massive audience to preach about why the American people must work immediately towards mitigating the effects of climate change. At the 2016 Oscars, DiCaprio was credited with saying “Climate change is real. It is happening right now, it is the most urgent threat facing our entire species.” Following the Oscars, he was offered an award for his service, as reported by Rachael Revesz of the Independent. These efforts were rightly criticized when DiCaprio, according to Revesz, went to accept this award by taking an 8,000mile flight from France to New York in a private jet. Social elites, like DiCaprio, believe they are allowed to subject themselves to different rules when compared to other American citizens because of their
The coronavirus’s racialization must stop
RILEY STEPHENS
is a sophomore majoring in English. Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
Over the past few weeks, people have garnered major frenzy over the recent outbreak of the infamous coronavirus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the coronavirus disease has been around for over 50 years, mostly found in animals like camels, cattle, cats and bats; however, the recent emergence of the new strand found in humans from China’s Wuhan City, Hubei Province has generated widespread media attention and paranoia because of a rapidly increasing death toll. Wuhan City houses a virology lab, so after putting two and two together, people inevitably resorted to the internet to express anti-Asian sentiment, which has been spreading just as rampantly as the virus itself. People have justified the origin of the coronavirus outbreak as an excuse for racist comments against any and all Asians, Chinese origins or not. All over
social media, I notice Asian people becoming the butt-end of a poor joke. Social media is flooded with “joking” comments warning people to stay away from Asians and to avoid anything related to Asia at all costs. Not all Asians are Chinese, so to assume a random Asian person carries the coronavirus is wrong in itself. The general anti-Asian sentiment instigated by the coronavirus makes no sense at all. Regardless of these technicalities, labeling these remarks as “jokes” masks the underlying racism they imply, and racializing a deadly illness like the coronavirus distracts from the grim reality of the virus at hand. According to Bryan Ke of Next Shark, a Canadian reporter was fired after tweeting a selfie with his barber, who happened to be Asian, with the caption reading, “Hopefully ALL I got today was a haircut.” On the surface, comments like these do not seem to hold malicious intent toward the people they are aimed at, but these mocking statements encourage numerous others to follow along with this same trope. People attach the harmless nature of a joke to excuse their racist remarks, making the comments
seem half-hearted and unintentional. These racist statements surrounding the coronavirus instill people with a false idea of how we should treat the Asian community as well as how we expect the Asian community to accept these comments with ease. Racist Asian jokes have always assumed a more non-serious tone, and this attitude has a broader negative impact on individuals, especially since the recent coronavirus epidemic. Alexandra Ma and Kelly McLaughlin with Business Insider claim most victims of the xenophobia prompted by the coronavirus outbreak include Asians not even associated with Mainland China. In their article, Ma and McLaughlin include personal accounts of coronavirus racism submitted by the site’s Asian subscribers. The brief narratives range from an eight-year-old being shooed away by a Costco worker just because he may have been from China, a college student’s friends cautiously looking at him any time he sneezes or coughs to various Asians noticing people physically moving away from them in public. The site lists numerous other instances where more Asian people have experienced these types of
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to the point we are willing to abandon our sense of self in the presence of it. Celebrity worship is not simply a social phenomenon, it is a psychological one. Donna Rockwell of Huffington Post writes, “Charismatic celebrities can make sycophants from even the most grounded of us, who will throw away all self-respect and exhibit ‘fawning’ behavior when in the presence of a famous person.” Celebrities are not seen as people, according to Rockwell, but carefully constructed images made by the American’s conscience for the sole purpose of being as marketable as possible. When one understands celebrity deification from a psychological perspective, it is no wonder why we value the opinions of celebrities to the degree we do. It is no wonder why we care about what they have to say, regardless of how rational or relevant their experiences actually are. American society must end the culture of celebrity worship and the overvaluing of celebrity opinion. Only then can we force Hollywood elites to compete in the same arena of ideas as every other American, in order to be considered valuable.
MORNING
racist over-generalizations. Considering all the untold stories from others with similar experiences, the racism instigated from the coronavirus is disheartening and needs to end. According to Alexandra Kelley of The Hill, there have been instances where Uber and Lyft drivers exemplify these racist sentiments surrounding the coronavirus. One driver admitted to refusing service to anyone with a last name that resembled Chinese origin. This blatant discrimination is completely unacceptable, especially in an era that esteems progression and equality. While many turn to sarcastic “wit” to single out and overgeneralize the Asian community, others display blatantly discriminatory actions that specifically target Asian individuals, regardless of their affiliations with Wuhan City. No matter what manner the act is presented in, if you truly believe avoiding Asians at all costs is the proper course of action to prevent coronavirus contraction, you are guilty of racializing the disease. Viruses spread regardless of race, so drop the racist running gags. Stop overgeneralizing all Asian people. Racism is not the cure for the coronavirus.
MAZE
Source: mazegenerator.net
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Life Editor/Mary Madeline LaMastus
news@reflector.msstate.edu
Sports Editor/Hunter Cloud
fame. This disconnect from ordinary Americans is a contributing factor to how they become out-of-touch with the issues of everyday people, and as a result, they do not feel an obligation to fully educate themselves on the subjects in which they preach. Celebrities are victims of their misinformation. They feel an obligation to publicly take a stance on a subject they often do not understand in order to virtue signal. Cas Mudde of The Guardian reports, “They see politics mainly in terms of winning elections, but often lack the knowledge and skills to implement the few concrete policies they have presented.” It would help in validating the opinions of celebrities if they were to make an effort to learn how the beliefs they espouse for all Americans to support actually affect those Americans. Of course, Hollywood celebrities bear the responsibility they have to the American people in proctoring their political beliefs on the stage, but those consuming the media have a commitment to forming their own opinions, regardless of what celebrities may say. We live in a culture that deifies fame and status
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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CORRECTIONS
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5LIFE -Life& ENTERTAINMENT 5 THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2020 @REFLECTORONLINE
MSU tunnels and the famous Dragon Room: SARAH MORGAN JOHNSON
A pathway to adventure or to expulsion?
STAFF WRITER
As students sit perched in Mitchell Memorial Library, staring intently at laptops and munching on Einstein Bros. Bagels, it is safe to say the secret “Dragon Room” underneath their feet is the farthest thing from their minds. The Dragon Room seems more like something J.K. Rowling would have scribbled onto the notebook on her bedside table rather than an actual site on campus. After all, this is Mississippi State University, not Hogwarts. For a select group of individuals, the Dragon Room and the tunnels surrounding it are more than mere fantasy. This is a unique demographic, composed of adventurous students, campus police, facility managers, campus workers and the dean of students. Students who were interviewed for this article preferred to remain anonymous and, therefore, are identified by a single initial. C., a student at MSU, is one of the brave few who has crawled through the tunnels and made it to the infamous dragon room. C. said when he went several years ago, it was much easier than it would be for anyone attempting now. “I will say, it was about
six years ago when this started and since then, police have basically shut off all entrances to the underground tunnel systems because people have been hurt going down there,” C. said. C.’s interest in the underground system was sparked, in part, by his brother who ventured down a few years earlier. The dragon mural is the artwork of C.’s brother’s friend, who also created a map of the tunnel system which became the guide for C. and his friends when they decided to see the room for themselves their freshmen year. He said it was a bit more work than some of them expected. “Once you get in, you have to climb down a very small shaft to get down to the bottom. Then, you have to crawl on your hands and knees for about a hundred feet. That was probably the hardest part, it was very snug. Once you get past that, you get into this huge, long tunnel system, and that’s where it gets easier,” C. said. University Architect Tim Muzzi explained some of these tunnels were originally part of a steam system, but they are now abandoned. “These tunnels ran under the streets and Drill Field to the old buildings and provided steam to the buildings for heating,”
Muzzi said. To C., conquering the tunnels was a freshmen year initiation of sorts and a way to get to know campus his first year. “For sophomores, seniors and juniors, the Dragon Room honestly is probably too much work, but for freshmen coming into college, wanting to make themselves known, wanting to find something that he or she connects to, this is for them. It was fascinating to go on that journey and find the massive dragon painting and find all these names on the wall of people who had come there before,” C. said. O., one of the students in C.’s group, had also heard about the underground legend before enrolling as a student. In fact, the knowledge of this MSU mystery is what led her to make a college decision. “I think it was my senior year of high school when I was doing a university tour. My roadrunner told me a bunch of stories about the things that she and her friends had done. I was a little unsure if I wanted to go to MSU or not, and then she started telling me about these secret tunnels. After that, I was completely sold,” O. said. O. and C. both said they were not fearful of being caught, although other members of their group
were more apprehensive. To get to the famous Dragon Room, one first has to crawl through drainage pipes. O. said this was the one part of the experience that made her uncomfortable. “The only time I got nervous was when I realized none of us had phone service at all. So, if something were to happen, that could have potentially been bad. I also felt a little claustrophobic when we had to army crawl through the drainage pipe to get to the tunnel,” O. said. O. also holds this memory as one of her favorites from her first year at MSU; however, she said it did not warrant a return. “I had imagined this really big room with a super impressive dragon painted on it, but when we got there it was very small. It was about 8 feet tall and 12 feet wide. There was a huge drainpipe on the wall, with water rushing down. It was very cool, and we all decided it was worth it, but we would never do it again,” O. said. For students and storytellers, these tunnels provide delight and adventure; however, according to MSU Chief of Police Vance Rice, they pose a real threat. He has been at MSU for five years and has known about the tunnels and the temptations they
“I was a little unsure if
I wanted to go to MSU or not, and then she started telling me about these secret tunnels. After that, I was completely sold.” O. offer students from the beginning. He explained the tunnels are storm drains and facility connections and can be extremely dangerous, especially for students who are unfamiliar with them. “I’ve heard numerous stories of highly expensive equipment being damaged unintentionally by people crawling around these tunnels. I’ve also heard of people dying because they get down there and get electrocuted, there is gas down there, there are varmints and there are also oxygen-deficient areas underground,” Rice explained. Rice said accessing the tunnels is a serious offense, and those caught will face legal punishment as well as a possible suspension or expulsion. “To go into those
tunnels, you’re having to remove something or tamper in some way. As far as we know, there is not just an open area to go in. As such, it is trespassing to go in any of those tunnels. Anyone caught will be arrested for trespassing,” Rice said. Whether the idea of underground tunnels prompts you to shudder or pull out your flashlight, it undoubtedly adds mystery to Mississippi State’s campus. Savannah Bonds
Music Makers Productions fosters a musical community for over 50 years JACKSON BELL
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
“I honestly can’t think of anything else I’d want to be doing during my college career… I don’t think there’s anything more rewarding than stepping back on the day of a show after long months of preparation and seeing the happiness it brings to those around you,” said Bailey Berry, Music Maker Productions’ artist relations chair. Music Maker Productions, or simply Music Makers, was established over 50 years ago. Music Markers is a non-profit, student-run organization at Mississippi State University which books, promotes and produces concerts, whether it be for small or big artists, in the MSU and Starkville area. The organization is well-respected in the music business. Its main goal is to add to the music scene of these areas and provide them with quality entertainment. “I love the fact that we provide the Starkville area with a very diverse music scene,” Tristan Peavy, a member of Music Makers Productions, said. Music Makers invites plenty of smaller artists to Starkville, helping them to further their musical reach; however, the organization does not limit itself to new-and-upcoming artists. They have invited more popular artists, such as Grace Potter and The Nocturnals, Bob Dylan, Jack White, Rae Sremmurd, Alabama Shakes and A$AP Ferg. The combination of different shows they put on crosses genres of music and generations of listeners.
Music Makers do not put on shows just for fun. They are focused on growing the musical community and culture of Starkville. Noah Slack, the organization’s student director, is empowered by this goal. “I think that everyone should always be striving to improve the environment they are in, no matter how that may be done,” Slack said. Though Music Makers has definite goals at the moment, many members are excited by the potential the organization has for the future. Members such as Slack believe there is a deeper meaning behind what they do as a non-profit organization. “My hope for the future is that the campus and community will embrace new, unique music and that Starkville becomes a hub for small-town concert-goers. I believe Music Makers is a service organization, and I hope to see growth in the influence and effect that MMP has on everyone’s daily life in Starkville,” Slack said. Bailey Berry shares Slack’s vision of music as a pathway to growing the Starkville community. “I hope that future members will maintain the bigger picture for our purpose, which is essentially to evolve Starkville’s music scene. Music has the ability to bring people together, and I think that’s something that is always necessary in a community. I just hope that we can continue to make those connections with both students and the city of Starkville,” Berry said. Some of Music Makers Productions’ upcoming
“The main
thing that keeps me motivated is the idea that live music has the power to make a community stronger.” Noah Slack Student Director shows include Mississippi’s own Kingfish with special guest Jimmy “Duck” Holmes March 19 in Lee Hall and 38 Special with special guest The Molly Ringwalds on April 22 at the MSU Amphitheater. Additionally, their annual Old Main Festival is on April 3, but the lineup is still to be determined. Music Maker Productions’ shows are free to the public. They love being able to provide this kind of service to the community they are a part of. Whether it be putting on shows for existing fans of an artist or introducing new music to future fans, Music Maker Productions is striving to add to the music culture of MSU and Starkville as a whole.
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66-Sports SPORTS
THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2020 @SPORTSREFLECTOR
Logan Tanner becoming a strong presence behind the plate HUNTER CLOUD SPORTS EDITOR
With a swing of his bat in the game against Wright State University, Logan Tanner sent the baseball soaring through the air and over the fence for his first collegiate hit and home run. There were three dings of the bat for Tanner, a freshman catcher from Lucedale, Mississippi. Tanner said the home run felt good because of the work he had been doing with hitting coach Jake Gautreau. “It felt great. Coach Gautreau and I have been working hard,” Tanner said. “To see it all come together feels really good.” Tanner is one of the many young players who gets a chance to play for the Bulldogs.
According to Tanner, his ability to step up and into a starting role is an example of MSU being able to reload with players and not rebuild the program. “It’s really good. It shows that (Mississippi) State reloads, we don’t rebuild here,” Tanner said. “It’s great to get to play with some guys that I’ve been with for a long time; Kamren James, Davis Rokose, and Landon (Sims). It’s really fun.” In baseball, sometimes only one player can be the star of the weekend; however, Tanner was not the only player who had a great weekend. Justin Foscue had four hits and five RBIs in a series against Oregon State University. Foscue’s home run during Sunday’s game
against the Beavers was one of two offensive sparks for the Bulldogs. The second was a double that came off of his bat. Tanner Allen, a junior from Theodore, Alabama, said it was a big swing from Foscue, as the ball dropped behind the incoming right fielder for a double, allowing Allen to move from first base. “As soon as the ball went in the air, I said ‘Man, that has a chance to get down,’ so I was like might as well hop on the horse,” Allen said. “It tied their game, but we just couldn’t get the hit to break it up and get the crowd into it, but it’s baseball. The sun comes up tomorrow.” Foscue, a junior infielder from Huntsville, Alabama, said that Tanner is amazing behind the plate
as a freshman. “He receives the ball really well,” Foscue said. “It’s very impressive watching him catch. That is always what you want out of a catcher. He frames pitches, he blocks really well and handles the pitching staff really well. As a young player, that is really impressive.” Head coach Chris Lemonis said Tanner adds a presence behind the plate as a strong catcher, but he needs some improvement swinging the bat. Consistency is what Lemonis hopes Tanner and other younger players on the MSU baseball team learn as the season progresses. “It’s hard to catch as a freshman,” Lemonis said. “He is doing a really good job.”
LYDIA PALMER
minutes played in a game is 37. Danberry spoke in a press conference on Wednesday afternoon about how she was feeling looking towards her second and final senior night. She spoke about how appreciative she was to be granted another year of playing. “I just feel really blessed right now, just to be here,” Danberry said. “Going through these emotions again, I’m not as emotional this time because I’m just grateful.” When speaking about her senior night the day before, the senior guard said she had given some thought to the fact her final regular-season game at home will be against the team she started at, Arkansas.
Lany Wallace| The Reflector
Logan Tanner steps up to the plate against Wright State University. He has six hits this year.
Jordan Danberry reflects on her final home game STAFF WRITER
Kat Beatty| The Reflector
Jordan Danberry jumps up to attempt a shot. Danberry will play her final home game Thursday.
Graduate guard Jordan Danberry was honored at senior night on Thursday. After starting her college career at the University of Arkansas and playing six games there, she moved to Starkville and became a Bulldog. Danberry is a graduate student who was granted an additional year of eligibility by the NCAA. In December, Danberry earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Economics and is now pursuing her MBA. Commanding the court as a guard, Danberry’s final year playing the game has been one for the books. Her season highs are very impressive, with her record of 24 points scored in a game with her most
“You know, I have thought about it a little bit, but I’ve been at Mississippi State for three years now, and I’ve played them many times,” Danberry said. “So it’s just next up on the list, so we just gotta focus and get ready.” She also earned a spot on the SEC Community Service Team for the year, as she has made her face known as one of the best players on the court in the conference for the 2019-2020 season. This organization is similar to an “All-American” team which was formerly called the “Good Works” team. Jordan Danberry earned this achievement by participating in multiple community service opportunities during this basketball season, with many opportunities being focused on children with
special needs. Aside from her community service leadership, Danberry has also shown leadership on the court with her team. She leads the team in steals and ranks high in a defensive team which has forced a high percentage of turnovers per game this season. Danberry was nominated for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award this week and was named a semifinalist for the title. “Really proud of this senior, you know, coming back this year,” Schaefer said. “She’s meant so much to our program over the past several years, but probably none more than this year, being our only senior. She has really learned to embrace being a good defensive player for us.”