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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

129 th YEAR | ISSUE 30

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

MDES releases Mississippi employment report by Abby Adcock

MISSISSIPPI

8.4%

Q&A

Staff Writer

UNITED STATES

7.4%

Kelly Ward UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

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Sports editor at The Crimson White

Aldermen schedule public meeting, fire chief announces retirement by Taylor Bowden Staff Writer

The Starkville Board of Aldermen met last Tuesday night in the City Hall Courtroom for its regularly scheduled meeting at 5:30 p.m. Ward 5 Alderman Scott Maynard began the meeting by scheduling a recess meeting for Feb. 12 to be held at the Renassaince Bank. Maynard said the singular purpose of the meeting, would be to discuss capital improvements. Vice Mayor and Ward 6 Alderman Roy Perkins questioned the necessity of the meeting, but ultimately did not object to it. After Maynard’s motion passed, Ward 2 Alderman Lisa Wynn added two items: to change the city’s health insurance provider agent and to the disbursement of the animal ordinance. The additions passed with no discussion or objection, which is notable as in the past few months the Board has opposed late additions to the agenda. Ward 3 Alderman David Little wanted to move the budget committee reformation item to the consent portion of the agenda. As of now, the budget committee

has comprised only of three out of the seven Aldermen. The reformation would see it expanded to all seven members of the Board. After the alterations to the agenda were finalized, Mayor Parker Wiseman introduced three new police officers and two new firemen. The Starkville Fire Department’s Chief Roger Mann officially announced he will retire Feb. 22 after 32 years of service. He spoke about the changes he has seen in Starkville during his career and stated when he began, five active fire cases in a week was considered common. Now, Mann said there are only five active fire cases in a year. During the citizen comment phase, a Ward 4 resident stated that as residential development down South Montgomery street continues, so too should road improvements increase to balance out the rise in traffic. The Starkville Area Arts Council made a public appearance to ask for assistance in getting a downtown arts center. The SAAC, the group of people behind events such as the annual Cotton District Arts Festival, currently works out of a single office located in the Greater Starkville Development Partnership building.

Last week, the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) reported the monthly unemployment rates for the end of 2014. According the Mississippi Labor Market Data report, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rates a year ago were six-tenths of a percent lower than the 7.8 percent reported for December 2013. The report states that in December 2014, there was a positive 900-job increase than in November 2014, and 200 more than in December 2013, according to seasonally adjusted results from a survey of Mississippi employers. All of the data reported by MDES is seasonally adjusted and unadjusted. When seasonally adjusted, data has removed the effects of events that cause an irregular pattern in the labor force that have to do with weather, holidays, and other recurring seasonal events. MDES reports the

seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December 2014 was 7.2 percent. This means over the month of December, there was a one-tenth of a percentage decrease from November. Mississippi’s unadjusted unemployment rate for December 2014 was 7.1 percent, with an increased seven-tenths of a percentage point from the previous month’s rate of 6.4 percent. Compared to December 2013, the unemployment rate has decreased. The industry sectors that registered the largest unemployment data monthly were Leisure & Hospitality,and Government. In December 2014, Mississippi had twenty-six counties to post unemployment rates less than or equal to the state’s rate of 7.1 percent. The county with the lowest unemployment rate was DeSoto, while Tunica County had the highest unemployment rate, followed by Clay County. Oktibbeha County fell to number twenty-four on the scale for unemployment, DeSoto County being number one. EMPLOYMENT, 2

Austin Grove | The Reflector

Jenny and Tyler perform worship concert

Noah Siano | The Reflector

Musical duo: Tuesday night, music duo Jenny and Tyler performed worship music at the Wesley Foundation in Starkville, Mississippi. Jenny and Tyler are an acoustic folk-pop group (and married couple) currently on tour traveling through the southern region. Their next performance will take place at Grove City College in Grove, Pennsylvannia. Some of their popular songs include ‘Faint Not,’ ‘When darkness falls’ and ‘O That the Light.’

Genome research receives national recognition by Nia Wilson Staff Writer

Mississippi State University scientists are being nationally recognized by “Science,” a weekly report by the American Association for the Advancement of Science that is considered the

world’s leading journal of original research, global news and commentary. “Science’s” December issue showcased three articles written by MSU scientists. The articles focused on the evolution of birds, crocodilians and the relationship between those two animals and dinosaurs. Daniel G. Peterson, director of MSU’s Institute for

Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology (IGBB), said he is honored to be recognized, but is more excited for the work than anything else. “It feels good to be recognized. We’ve been working a long time to build a national reputation in this area,” Peterson said. “This is the cutting edge of biological research. Until about 12 years

ago, Mississippi State had no capabilities in this aspect. After a strategic hire of myself and about four other faculty members, it led to a lot of collaboration and building of research.” Often thought of as the blueprints of an organism, the genome is the genetic materical that makes up an organism.

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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Graduate student to host program, provide FAFSA tips by D.J. Wormley Staff Writer

Mississippi State University will host a graduate student program discussing fi nancial aid Monday in the Fowlkes Auditorium in the Colvard Student Union. Jonathan Turner, graduate student and host of the event, said the program was created to help students learn more about fi nancial aid. “The program is to help students fi ll out their FAFSA and learn about different scholarships and grants available and help them pay for school,” Turner said. Turner said he believes this event will assist many students who are in dire need of fi nancial aid because of the tuition increase. “It is important because tuition is huge, and this

program is designed to help a lot of people in need,” Turner said. Turner said his goal for this program is to educate students about different fi nancial options of which they may not have been aware. “I really hope students come and fi nd out information and pass it on, which makes it easier to learn information about all the fi nancial aid available to students. You came here to get an education, you might as well learn how to pay for it,” Turner said. Joshua Thompson, fi nancial literacy outreach coordinator and speaker at the event, said he and Jonathan designed the event to assist students and discuss how essential it is to be aware of all fi nancial aid options available. “The program is geared toward helping students and share the importance of being fi nancially literate,” Thompson said.

Thompson said he program because he knows complete a FASFA form for believes fi nancial aid is a the struggle college stu- fi nancial aid,” Wilder said. key factor in a student’s col- dents go through when Wilder said she believes lege career. figuring out how to pay for the event could really help “Financial aid is a crucial college. students become more part of campus life. If it were “Jonathan decided to put knowledgeable about the not for fi nancial aid, most on this program because he aid possibilities available to students would them. not be here,” “In my Thompson said. personal Thompson “Financial aid is a crucial part o p i n i o n , said he wants this event of campus life. If it were not for students to learn could aid about fi nancial students financial aid, most students would aid so they can ( g raduate reach their acaand undernot be here.” demic goals. g r a d u a t e) “We really in becomwant to help stuing more -Joshua Thompson, dents complete aware of their goals to get the aid and Financial literacy outreach coordinator an education, opportunilet them know ties that are about the proout there cess and get them to assist thinking and create aware- is familiar with the struggle them in paying for colness about fi nancial aid,” that many college students lege, whether it is through Thompson said. undergo in looking for loans, grants, scholarships Carmen Wilder, assis- ways to pay for college. He or a combination of all,” tant director of student envisioned having a pro- Wilder said. “Often the leadership and commu- gram where students could paperwork needed to apply nity engagement at MSU, learn about grants, scholar- for fi nancial aid may seem said Turner created this ships and how to correctly daunting to a student, but

our fi nancial aid office is there to help walk students through the process and be available for questions.” Wilder said she believes both students and schools benefit from students getting a better education. Students not being able to get fi nancial aid could result in colleges losing great students. “Schools and students both benefit from students becoming better educated about fi nancial aid. If a student leaves MSU as a result of him or her not being able to pay tuition, we all lose. MSU loses a student and all he or she had to offer, not simply in revenue from lost tuition and fees, but in the way that each student who is passionate about furthering their education adds something unique to our campus and to our community,” Wilder said. “What is most critical to the mission of MSU, the student also loses the opportunity to further their education.”

EMPLOYMENT Its average was 7.0, which is roughly off by .1 to .2 percent of the state’s average. While MDES’s Labor Force Data Estimates chart reads the 2013 annual average of civilian labor force in Mississippi was 1,286,400, the newly released preliminary results for civilian labor force in December 2014 was 1,247,100. This signiﬁcant decrease is incomparable to the adjusted rate of unemployment for December 2014. Overall, MDES reported (preliminary) the total number of unemployed individuals in Mississippi is 88,100, and the total number employed (preliminary) is 1,159,000.

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For calculation of unemployment rates, MDES reports the statistics on the employment status of the population and related data are compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics using data from the current population survey (CPS). This survey features the monthly survey of households held by the U.S. Census Bureau. Reportedly, 60,000 households are eligible for interview nationally. The households within the survey are rotated to ensure that 75 percent of households are consistent from month to month. Other statistics are generated by MDES’s Labor Market Information Department.

MDES Preliminary December 2014 Employment Rates

Mississippi Labor Force Data

Civilian Labor Force: Preliminary December 2014 (1,247,100) Unemployed: Preliminary December 2014 (88,100) Unemployment Rate (Adjusted): Preliminary December 2014 (7.2) Unemployment Rate (Unadjusted): Preliminary 2014 (7.1) Employed: Preliminary December 2014 (1,159,000)

United States Labor Force Data Unemployed: Preliminary December 2014 (8,331,000) Employed: Preliminary December 2014 (147,190,000) MDES Labor Market Data

ALDERMEN The next item on the agenda was the BOA takeover of the Starkville Parks and Recreation department. The parks department has been in the red

CONTINUED FROM 1

ﬁnancially, so the BOA plans on taking over their operations and making the Parks board an advisory board to the BOA as opposed to a completely autonomous unit.

After several alterations to the wording of the takeover were made, Perkins suggested tabling the parks issue so the language of the motion could be reﬁ ned. The Board went into recess while City Attorney Chris Latimer could do some quick research, and after it reconvened the matter was postponed until Feb. 12. The Greater Starkville Development Partnership asked for control over the Fire Station Park on with the intent on moving the

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community market to that location. The motion passed unanimously. According to a Starkville Dispatch article by Carl Smith, there was a potential change in insurance agents, as called for by Wynn. Wiseman said handling it in this way was inappropriate as the agent has been an employee for 18 years and said he should at least be given an interview. Latimer suggested taking the matter into executive session but the Board

decided against this. Wynn motioned to postpone the discussion for now and suggested the agent in question be invited to attend. The Board unanimously approved the Starkville Library receiving a “Read” sculpture installation. Smith also reported in his article that during the executive session, the Board disciplined several ﬁ reﬁghters and public works members and also agreed to dispense backpay to police dispatchers.

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REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Saturday, Jan. 21, 2015 12:35 a.m. A student reported a verbal altercation with her boyfriend on Fraternity Row. 12:36 a.m. A student was issued a Justice Court citation and a student referral for possession of marijuana and paraphernalia in Cresswell Hall. 1:10 a.m. A student was arrested at Hurst Hall parking lot for careless driving and driving under the influence. 6:29 p.m. Students reported a suspicious black male following them on campus. 10:23 p.m. A visitor was arrested on Stone Blvd. for speeding 40/20 without a driver’s license. Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015 12:57 a.m. A visitor was arrested on Hardy Road for speeding 37/20 without a driver’s license. Monday, Feb. 2, 2015 12:50 a.m. A student was issued a student referral for disturbing others in North Hall. Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015 12:39 p.m. A student reported his Bully Bike missing from last semester. 1:17 p.m. A student reported his bike missing from bike rach outside McKee Hall. 2:17 p.m. A student was arrested in Starkville for warrants for no insurance and speeding. 6:36 p.m. An employee reported sprinkler damaged at the Palmiero Center. Starkville Fire Department was called. 7:27 p.m. A student reported his dog kennel and cover stolen from the back of his truck while parked at the post office. 10:43 p.m. A student was arrested on Stone Blvd. for speeding 36/20 and suspended driver’s license.

Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015 9:39 p.m. A visitor was arrested on Stone Blvd. for speeding 37/20 and suspended driver’s license.

Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. | Courtesy Photos

ʻLove thyselfʼ: Monday evening in McCool Hall, the Nu Beta chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. hosted ʻIʼm Feeling Myself,ʼ an open

program that allowed indivuals to create art and express visual aspects of loving oneʼs self. During the program, participants discussed the meaning of love, relationships and having self-esteem.

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GENOME

CONTINUED FROM 1

Peterson started the crocodilian genome initiative in 2007 with David Ray, a former MSU assistant professor of biochemistry, molecular biology, plant pathology and entomology, who currently works as an associate professor of biological sciences at Texas Tech University. “My interest in this project is that it was cool. It started with a grant with a man named Dr. Ray. Originally, we were just looking to do a little bit of sequencing of these three different crocodilian genomes: the Australian saltwater crocodile, American alligator and Indian gharial,” Peterson said. “I’m primarily a plant biologist. From a personal standpoint, it is just cool to work on something that could bite you. Plant and cotton don’t capture the attention of people as much as when you talk about crocodiles and alligators. Suddenly, people start listening.” Ray also collaborated with Federico Hoffmann, assistant professor of biochemistry at MSU, on two

of the three articles. One article focused on the evolution of birds through comparative genomics. Hoffmann said his passion for science and curiosity for knowledge fueled his motivation to complete the avian genome research. “I love science. I have always wanted to be a part of the genome project ever since I came to the U.S. I have always wanted to be some type of explorer, much like Indiana Jones. My work allows me to explore things that no one has seen before. We get to see the genomes of animals, and it is fascinating,” Hoffmann said. “I am a curious human being by nature. I do this because I like to learn. I would bet that for many scientists, curiosity is what drives us.” Hoffmann said the genome is so valuable because there is always so much to learn. “The genome carries the instruction for all of us. We can know the instructions, but we can’t know how those instructions become a particular person. The genome carries millions

and millions of single letters, one after another,” Hoffmann said. “One principle we try to use is comparing different creatures. We assume that the traits that have survived for all these years serve as some sort of functional importance.” Mike Vandewege, MSU computational biology graduate student, said he is happy to work with Hoffman. “When I started my bachelor’s degree, I didn’t think I’d ever see my name on a ‘Science’ paper, let alone while I’m still a graduate student. That in itself is pretty exciting,” Vandewege said. “I’m grateful that I get to go to work everyday and do exactly what I want to do, but very few people care about the work that we do, so it’s nice when it actually gets recognized.” Vandewege said research is invaluable and he is proud of the work he has done and will continue to do. “Scientific research has put mankind on

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the moon, controlled the spread of diseases and perfected global communication among many other things. We’re

always doing something,” he said. “The crocodilian project only made up a fraction of the projects we’re working on, and all

of our projects are vastly different from that work. Nothing would be possible without research and development.”

THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

A Worthy Cause

Scott Walker should be 2016 GOP candidate Walton Chaney is a senior majoring in history and political science. He can be contacted at opinion@reﬂector.msstate.edu.

“We measure success by how many people are no longer dependent on the government. Not because we push them out into the cold, but because we understand that true freedom and prosperity do not come from the mighty hand of the government. It comes from empowering people to live their own lives and control their own destiny through the dignity that comes from work.” This is an excerpt from Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin’s victory speech after winning reelection last November. He should be the 2016 Republican presidential nominee.

Simply put, Walker is a proven leader with executive experience who has won time and time again with a conservative agenda in a blue state. Not only does Walker have a proven record to be competitive when compared to the current GOP field, but also contrasts superbly against the expected Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton. One of the most essential qualifications in Walker’s court is the undeniable fact he is a winner. He hasn’t lost an election since he first ran for the Wisconsin State Assembly at age 22. At his current age of 47, this makes him 12 for 13 in his electoral career. He has won three gubernatorial elections in four years. He first won the Wisconsin governorship in 2010. Immediately after getting to work as governor, Walker fought and won a battle against powerful public employee unions whose deals were saddling state and local budgets throughout Wisconsin (before the Walker reforms, Milwaukee Public Schools spent 39

percent of wages on health insurance compared to a private sector average of 11 percent) . The public employee unions responded by challenging the constitutionality of his reforms and by orchestrating protests that garnered enough support to institute a recall election. Not only did Walker’s reforms remain, but he also won the recall election, which was the first time a governor had won a recall in United States history. To top off his fourth year in office, he won reelection in 2014. This all occurred in a state that hasn’t voted for a Republican president since Ronald Reagan ran for reelection in 1984. In terms of offering a clear contrast to Hillary Clinton, Walker triumphs. He is the antithesis of Clinton and the big government Washington approach. Walker can run against Washington, and in elections, contrast matters. An integral part of Walker’s philosophy is a fierce defense of the American Dream — the idea that regardless of a person’s

hometown or socioeconomic class, hard work and determination offer a person the opportunity to determine his or her own outcome.

Fraud and Abuse to identify and eliminate $300 million in waste. Walker kept his promise and Wisconsin was better for it. The results

“An integral part of Walker’s philosophy is. . .

the idea that regardless of a person’s hometown or socioeconomic class, hard work and determination offer a person the opportunity to determine his or her own outcome.” His message of ﬁscal responsibility is supported by his record of decreasing government spending and for the termination of antiquated, unnecessary and burdensome regulation. This allows for tax relief on small business, which opens up more opportunity to hire workers. Cutting government waste is another tenet of this adherence to ﬁscal principle. One of Walker’s campaign promises was to establish the Commission on Government Waste,

match the rhetoric. The 67-year-old Hillary Clinton is the quintessential Washington candidate. She has lived and worked inside the Beltway for over two decades. She hasn’t driven a car since 1996. To say that Clinton could be considered out of touch with the typical American voter could be an overwhelming understatement. Whether one considers Clinton’s $200,000 fees garnered from speeches to Wall Street banks like Goldman Sachs, while at the same time

castigating income inequality or asserting in an interview with ABC’s Diane Sawyer that she and Bill Clinton left the White House “not only dead broke, but in debt” — it is apparent the chasm which separates Clinton from normality is not easily bridged. In the same interview, Clinton went on to say she and President Clinton “struggled to piece together resources for mortgages for houses.” Note that in Clinton’s case, ‘houses’ is plural. If these are Clinton’s deﬁnitions of “struggling” and “broke,” I would be interested to hear more on other ways she identiﬁes with typical Americans. Walker can exploit the distance between Clinton and mainstream American life. If voters were given the opportunity to decide between Walker and Clinton, the difference would be clear. If Republicans want a ticket that takes a clear stance against the policies of the last eight years, Scott Walker should be at the top of the ticket.

Who Speaks for Earth?

Saying ‘no’ positively affects ever yday life Cameron Clarke is a senior majoring in physics. He can be contacted at opinion@reﬂector. msstate.edu.

In college, far too many people overwork themselves and stress about things that shouldn’t give them so much trouble. I should know, because I am too often one of them. It is easy to commit your time to many different tasks and forget what really matters to you, or even to focus too much time on what does matter to you so that you fail to have time to appreciate it. However,

there is a difference between being busy and being productive, and what really brings happiness is not constant progress and achievement, but rather meaningful work. One big problem a lot of people have is getting stressed. Stress is a major factor in college drop-out rates; according to a federal report called “Pathways to Success,” it is known that “stress from college requirements or the external environment, on the other hand, may negatively affect persistence.” Additionally, stress manifests itself physically with symptoms of chronic stress ranging from having an upset stomach and trouble sleeping to heart disease and depression, according to WebMD. One of the main causes WebMD lists as a contributing factor

is “having a heavy workload or too much responsibility.” In college, it is already hard enough to keep up with courses and manage your life on your own, so the easiest way to relieve stress head on is to try and reduce one’s workload and responsibili-

commitments and taking control of one’s surroundings as a ﬁrst-order approach to stress relief really does work, but we must not lose sight of the balance between the two unhealthy extremes of inactivity and of overloading. Once we pick the activi-

ty. This may sound like the opposite thing of what most people think about spending time well in college, but I am not saying our work should be reduced to nothing; rather, we should all be more intentional about it. According to mayoclinic.org, saying no to

ties we really want to participate in (even if it requires a period of over-commitment at ﬁrst), then we are able to spend real effort to master them and invest in those things, rather than being distracted and stressed out by an excess of small things vying for our attention.

Saying “yes” to things is important, especially when searching for a calling or community, but far too often in modern society we simply load up on commitments and little duties that prevent us from making the most of the opportunities that matter the most to us. College is a great time to explore, but eventually we each choose a specialty and cannot remain as free with our time and efforts as we would like. Instead of letting our commitments own us and run us into the ground with stress, we should take control of our time. Marjorie Billock said in a Hirram College health blog that taking conscious control of our time will help overcome stress. “By realizing and making known something doesn’t ﬁt your priorities and turning it down, you’re putting

March for Life. This short but powerful walk started at the National Mall, where participants listened to many moving testimonies and public ﬁgures, including congressional Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Daniel Lipinski (D-IL). It then progressed to the steps of the Supreme Court building. Amidst the songs, prayers and tears, it was hard not to get caught up in the power of the demonstration. Emma Fierro, a 25-yearold alumnus of Mississippi State University and participant in this year’s protest, described the movement. “Witnessing thousands of people of all ages standing

up for something they believe in was inspiring. It made me realize that being pro-life, while focusing on saving unborn [lives] in that moment, also encompasses the desire to protect and cherish all stages of life, from the beginning to the end,” she said. The crowd was mostly made up of a younger generation of high school and college students — something that may catch some by surprise. Many of these students traveled from out of state for the event. Millennials made their presence known with their countless “#whywemarch” and “I am the Pro-Life generation” signs that speckled

the crowd. The March for Life has managed to grow to huge proportions within the past 20 years largely because of this youth turnout. And this seems to be a trend. In a recent Gallup poll, people ages 18-29 were found to be the second least likely age group to support abortion (with only 24 percent that said it should be legal in all circumstances) behind ages 65+. Now the question comes down to whether or not politicians will begin running on a stronger pro-life platform to get the youth’s vote in the upcoming elections. Congress seemed to hear their cries; on the same day, Congress voted to pass a

bill brought forth by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), another speaker at the March for Life events that would effectively prohibit federal taxpayer money from going to fund abortions. While this bill probably won’t make it past the President’s desk, it shows the impact hundreds of thousands of marchers can have on their government. And though the pro-life movement has a long way to go, the mostly grassroots movement has made huge advances largely with the added power of this energized youth. If trends keep this way, America could be looking at a pro-life constitutional amendment within the next few decades.

get to see very often. Social media also brings hours of entertainment that can enhance the otherwise boring spots in one’s day. The other side of the argument states social media is very harmful to our culture. People pour most of their time into their phones and don’t really pay attention to the world around them. It’s been said social media hurts us in the long run in the way we interact with each other and how we view what is really important to us. Alexis Jones, a Ph.D psychology student, discussed how controlling social media can be a difficult balance to fi nd. “I know that I’m definitely addicted to it. I spend a lot of my time on sites like Twitter and Instagram and Yik Yak, etc. I think social

media is a useful tool for society, and for me, since I work so much, it’s helpful to interact with people through it. But unfortunately, I see a lot of undergraduates stop socializing with the people around them and only socialize through social media,” Jones said. I agree social media can be a useful tool for us, but when it takes up all of your time and focus, it becomes a major problem. For example, before the Jack White concert on Tuesday night the announcer came out and asked everybody to please put their phones away for the concert and to just enjoy the show. He said students have started to rely on their phones so much that they miss out on the things that truly matter right in front of them.

I know he said this mainly so people in the audience would buy the professional photos of the concert later on, but I thought he made a really good point. I’m guilty of it as well. Even when my friends and I are together, there are some points where all of us are on our phones and don’t talk to each other for long periods of time, and it shouldn’t be that way. However one looks at it, it’s clear the constant presence of social media needs to be addressed. Unfortunately, it is only getting worse. With many kids being raised watching everybody staring at their phones and computers all day, it’s only natural to assume the next generation will continue to rely on social media for constant entertainment.

“Instead of letting our commitments own us and run us into the ground with stress, we should take control of our time.”

yourself in a position of power,” Billock says. It should come as no surprise that even as I write I am worrying about the next homework assignments and the several extra-curricular activities I need to worry about later (including writing this article), but I can vouch for the effectiveness of letting some things go as an effective stress reliever. Take a second to evaluate your everyday routine. If you feel overworked and under-accomplished, try to focus on what you feel fits your priorities. You may find it vastly relieving to see real progress, even you feel less busy than is socially acceptable. Although some of your business may be truly superfluous and deserve the cut, it is this standard of business pervading college life that really needs re-evaluating.

March for Life garners response from Congress by Joseph Kerstiens Contributing Writer

Though the mainstream media remained, for the most part, silent on the issue, one of the largest annual peaceful protests in Washington, D.C. took

Managing Editor Catie Marie Martin

place on Jan. 22. The march was planned for the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, which established abortion as a constitutional right. Over half a million pro-life protestors descended on Washington to stand for the unborn in the 42nd annual

Editor in Chief

Emma Crawford

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

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

Social media addiction harmful by Drew Carter Contributing Writer

Through the years, it has become apparent many of us have become addicted to social media. With sites like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest and Reddit, it’s very hard not to have your head buried in your phone most of the time. It can be argued this might not be a bad thing. Social media has a lot to offer. It brings people together by allowing them to share their thoughts, photos and relationship statuses, and they are able to get the satisfaction of having others like or comment on whatever they post. It allows one to keep up with people with whom one may have lost touch and don’t

REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

An In-Class Distraction

CLASSIFIEDS POLICY

CLUB INFO

The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday; the deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. Classifieds are $5 per issue. Student and staff ads are $3 per issue, pre-paid. Lost and found: found items can be listed for free; lost items are listed for standard ad cost. FOR RENT House for rent! Two bedroom, one bathroom. House located in Montpelier, MS. $500.00 per month plus deposit. Great location for students looking to enjoy quiet, country living. If interested, please call 662-295-7362. Canterbury Townhouses offers country living two minutes from campus! 2 bedrooms for $600, 3 bedroom 3 full baths $720. Water, sewage and trash included. Rent an apartment, not just a bedroom! Free TV with a 12 month lease. 662-323-9216. HELP WANTED ARE YOU READY FOR A CAREER? Waste Connections, Inc. is looking for a Landfill Gas Technician for our Walnut, MS location. This is a learning, hands-on position designed to get you ready for a career in Landfill Management. Recent graduates are encouraged to apply. Please call 865-312-9519 for more information or apply online today at www. wasteconnections.com!

The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday; deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. MSU student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info. Information may be submitted by email club_info@reflector. to with the msstate.edu subject heading “CLUB INFO,” or a form may be completed at The Reflector office in the Student Media Center. A contact name, phone number and requested run dates must be included for club info to appear in The Reflector. All submissions are subject to exemption according to space availability. MSU HILLEL

Jews wanted! If you’re Jewish, let us know! Like us on Facebook at Hillel @ Mississippi State University. Join us for meetings. For more questions, contact Joseph Metz at 601-813-7720. YOGA MOVES CLUB

School or work stressing you out? Get moving into Yoga Moves. Try our moves to get into shape and our relaxation techniques to handle the stress. Yoga Moves meets at the Sanderson Center in Studio C, Thursday evenings from 5:30-7 p.m. Like Yoga Moves Club MSU on Facebook. STUDENTS FOR A SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS

Care about the environment? Love activism? Come join SSC

on Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. in McCool 111 to make a difference. Follow on Twitter @MSU_SSC. WESLEY FOUNDATION

Join us for a night of worship with Jenny and Tyler February 3 at 8 PM at the Wesley Foundation. STATE RUGBY

“Think you’re tough??? Think again… Join State Rugby. 2014 SEC Division Champions! Practices T, W, R @ 5:30 at Rec Plex. For more info: rugby.org. msstate.edu or rugbyinfo@org.msstate.edu” BALLROOM DANCE CLUB

The Ballroom Dance Club is having its 10th Annual Moonlight Ball. It will be $20 for students and $25 for non-students and includes a catered dinner. It will be held April 11 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanderson Center. ASSOCIATION FOR COMPUTING MACHINERY (ACM)

Join us to welcome ACM Distinguished Lecturer Nancy Amato from Texas A&M on Tuesday, February 10, at 6:00 in Butler 100. Free food for members. SOCIOLOGICAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION

The Sociological Student Association will meet the last Thursday of every month at 5 p.m. in Bowen Hall room 250. All majors are welcome. For more information, contact Dr. Lane at lane@soc.msstate. edu.

Feb. 3 solutions:

5 THINGS TO KNOW FOR YOUR FRIDAY 1. Women tricked by sleep study. Women ranging from their teens to their 40s who responded to a classified ad in Japan seeking participates for a sleep study were horrified this week to discover they were not recorded for an experiment, but that during the study they were actually drugged, raped and videoed to be used as porn footage. Police arrested perpetrator Hideyuki Noguchi this week. 2. Plane crash in Taiwan. A TransAsia Airways flight crashed into a river shortly after takeoff Wednesday, killing 23 passengers and leaving 20 missing. A passing car happened to record shocking footage of the plane clipping a concrete bridge before falling into the Keelung river. 3. Sony Pictures co-chair steps down. Executive Amy Pascal stepped down from her post Thursday after a November hacking scandal publicized private emails from executives. Pascal worked on films “The Social Network” and “American Hustle” while on staff at Sony. 4. Continued drone strikes. A recent U.S. drone strike in Yemen killed four people, one of which was Al-Qaeda senior cleric Sheik Harith al-Nadhari. 5. Snakes at a school. A four-foot Brazilian boa constrictor has been reported missing from the biology lab on the campus of Castleton State college in Vermont. The snake is reportedly harmless and has been The Reflector is now trained to eat only dead, frozen mice.

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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Oppenheimer inspires students through math by Gordon Lee Staff Writer

In a cold world of data, variables, models and calculated absolutes, Seth Oppenheimer finds beauty in solving mathematical problems as well as in the human experience. Teaching mathematics at Mississippi State University is a way for Oppenheimer to make a living, but he is always sure to remember what makes life worth living. By today’s standards, man might bestow upon Oppenheimer the title “polymath,” but the humble teacher is quick to recommend the adjective “mediocre” is juxtaposed. A professor of mathematics and the director of undergraduate research for Shackouls Honor College, Oppenheimer is also a part time seminarian with a congregation at Temple B’nai Israel in Columbus, Mississippi. When he is not fulfilling his duties as a professor, a student rabbi, a husband or a father he enjoys watching an intellectually stimulating movie or reading. “I read all sorts of things,” Oppenheimer said. He noted authors Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy and Tolkien. He also enjoys reading history, philosophy and theology (naturally). If reading is metaphorically akin to inhaling, then writing completes the respiratory process of the human mind, and Oppenheimer writes in a variety of mediums as well. In addition to the academic writing required by his career, he recently had a short story published in a

Seth Oppenheimer is a professor of mathematics and the director of undergraduate research for Shackouls Honor College.

collection of new Jewish folk tales. He is a seasoned poet as well. Not to be confined strictly to the mental and spiritual realms of discipline, Oppenheimer is also active in the Boardtown Runners and recently finished his 12th marathon. The professor laughed as he recalled the not-so-glamorous scene at the finish. “It was very slow, and I took a wrong turn somewhere. They were already taking down the finish line when I crossed it,” he said. Still, finish he did, and Oppenheimer agrees the human individual is composed of body, mind and spirit, and the separation among the parts is an illusion.

While he does not claim to be famously adept in any of these realms, he understands the importance to maintain all three. Having taught a wide range of courses from basic geometry to graduate level applied mathematics, Oppenheimer has taught students who share his passion for mathematics alongside students who are simply fulfilling a requisite course. He said one of the great joys of teaching is inspiring young students who were previously unfamiliar with the subtle joys of mathematics. “One thing I miss about teaching freshmen is I can’t bring them over to the dark side of mathematics,”

Oppenheimer jested. “It’s fun. No matter what else is going on, if you’ve gotten some students to understand something, you’ve had one good thing happen.” According to Oppenheimer, the value of a basic education in mathematics and statistics reaches far outside the classroom. “People get lied to so easily by quantitative data and graphs, and understanding some basic quantitative reasoning and statistics helps them be better citizens. We should all be worried about being competent citizens in a free republic. A certain level of basic mathematics and statistics is necessary,” he said. “Beyond that, the deeper you

Austin Grove| The Reflector

get into mathematics, it helps you understand things in a systematic way. It helps you put together disparate parts in such a way that you see it as a whole problem instead of just separate little things. The deeper you go, the more your understanding of the world improves.” According to Oppenheimer, trying to convince others of the value of mathematics is natural, but the effort is not always received with enthusiasm. Still, Oppenheimer said what can be even more difficult is convincing fellow mathematicians of the value in subjects such as literature, history or philosophy. “I think it’s like going to someone who can’t see

colors and saying, ‘Look, we can make sure your children have the full spectrum of vision,’ and if they are used to seeing just black and white, they don’t necessarily recognize the power and beauty in that,” he said. “In our lives we are just focusing on going out and getting the food and the shelter. What about what makes it worth staying alive? The music, and the art, and enjoyment and a depth of education?” Oppenheimer said broader education provides more tools for finding deeper meaning in existence beyond merely surviving. “In the end we are going to die. At some point in your life, in my life, in all our lives, we are going to suddenly realize death is real. The abyss and meaninglessness is real. And how do you deal with that?” he said. “A good education doesn’t inoculate you against that, but it gives you a sense of how other people dealt with that, and it gives you different tools.” If there is one thing Oppenheimer thinks students must do above all else in college, it is to learn what their assumptions are. “In mathematics we make this very clear. We start by identifying our undefined parameters and state what axioms we assume are true for now so we can reason forward,” Oppenheimer explained. “But if we have different understandings of what the undefined parameters are, we can have some common ground, but our different assumptions will ultimately lead to fundamental differences. It doesn’t mean the other person is either evil or a fool. It just means you are working with different axioms.”

Darwin Week kicks off by Nicole Perry Contributing Writer

This weekend marks the beginning of Darwin Week, a week-long event designed by the Mississippi State University biological sciences department and Biology Graduate Student Association to raise awareness of Charles Darwin’s scientific contributions and to celebrate his birthday. The first thought that comes to a person’s mind regarding dodgeball would not normally be natural selection, but the biology department thins otherwise. The week of events will be kicked off with the “Survival of the Fittest dodgeball tournament” on Saturday. The tournament will be held at the Sanderson Center racquetball courts at 2 p.m., and each team will consist of a minimum of five players and a maximum of eight. Teams will have to pay a $20 registration fee that

will go toward prizes to the top three teams and support other events throughout Darwin Week. Players must also abide by the intramural rules for dodgeball with only a few minor adjustments to the time of the rounds. People who wish to attend the tournament may pick up registration forms in Harned Hall and submit them by 5 p.m. today. The $20 registration fee is also due at this time. Diana Outlaw, professor in the biological sciences department, said the event excites students and gets the campus and community active. “You don’t even have to play. People can come and watch others compete,” Outlaw said. Darwin Week itself has been around for three years, and the tournament is also relatively new, as this is the second one. Guiliano Cholisimo, BGSA vice president, and Tyler Schartel, Biology GSA president, helped create the tournament. Both play roles as officers and are responsible for organizing the event this year. “Dodgeball is just the perfect analogy for natural selection,” Shartel said. “It’s one of those sports that anyone can play.” The event itself, despite being new, has received plenty of publicity from people outside of the university. Last year’s Darwin

Week featured a guest appearance by rapper Baba Brinkman, whose songs focus on science. His appearance also brought with it an HBO film crew filming his tour throughout the South. This provided valuable exposure for the biology department and MSU. The biology GSA expects a bigger crowd this year then last, as the tournament becomes more well-known. Cholosimo said he hopes there will be more tournaments and events for Darwin Week in the future to continue their goals of raising awareness for the scientist’s contributions. “We are trying to grow the event and expand our reach further out into the community and get people involved in science,” Cholosimo said. Darwin Week carries on after the dodgeball tournament with a variety of other educational events that may interest students who are majoring within the department, or even students outside of the department who simply have a desire to learn more about Darwin. Information on these events can be found on the MSU website event calendar or on flyers posted around campus. Students can also contact Diana Outlaw at doutlaw@biology.msstate.edu with any additional questions.

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Sports

7 THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

by Blake Morgan Sports Editor

Jamal Peter, 6’3,” 200 pounds, **** Safety Peters could potentially be a starter in the secondary next season for Mississippi State University. He is already physically ready for the transition to the college game and will likely be an anchor in the secondary for years to come. “Obviously, he’s a special talent back there in the secondary, but also a huge need for us at that position with guys graduating and Kendrick Market coming off a severe injury,” Head Coach Dan Mullen said. “If he showed up on campus today, without stepping on the ﬁeld, he might be on the two-deep rotation right now. He has a chance to make an immediate impact.” Leo Lewis, 6’1,” 230 pounds, **** Inside Linebacker Lewis was the biggest unknown coming into signing day. He had previously been committed to Alabama and Ole Miss before ultimately deciding to sign with the Bulldogs. “The one great thing, even through all of this, was that he was always really humble,” Mullen said. “I would always ask, but it was hard for me to ﬁ nd anyone who had a bad thing to say about him. He came out to our camps and worked his tail off while he was out there.” Lewis is either the best or second-best inside linebacker in the country, depending on who is asked, he’ll also be an instant impact guy for the Bulldog defense. “He’s going to get a lot better,” Mullen said. “He’s

already got great size, great athleticism, great instincts and explosiveness, but because of his work ethic and the attitude that he has, you know that he’s a guy whose ceiling is much higher than where he is right now today. I expect him to have a tremendous career here with us.” Donald Gray, 5’10,” 180 pounds, ****Wide Receiver The junior college product is a quick wide out that has an explosive burst. Gray could be a factor in the return game. Gray may also be looked to as a replacement for Jameon Lewis. Martinas Rankin, 6’5,” 300 pounds, **** Offensive Tackle Rankin is the top-ranked junior college offensive tackle. Rankin has the ability and size to come into the team next season and compete for a starting spot. Rankin could fi ll the void left by Blaine Clausell. Malik Dear, 5’9,” 217 pounds, **** Athlete The question with Dear is not whether or not he has the ability; its where he will play on the field. Dear is not very tall, but has tremendous size that may make being a regular wide receiver tough, so he may be best suited for the running back position. Fletcher Adams, 6’1,” 225 pounds, **** Defensive Tackle Adams fits the mold of the typical MSU defensive lineman. Adams physically has the tools to have a lot of potential. “You’re always looking at what’s going to be out there,” Mullen said. “You also have to look at the development of where those guys are going to be. You take Fletcher Adams. He’s a really explosive player and multi-sport athlete in

high school. How big is he going to get? I don’t know. His brother’s pretty big and athletic for us. He could start at end or play inside. He has that flexibility.” Traver Jung, 6’3,” 220 pounds, **** Outside Linebacker Jung is a junior college transfer that is a tall linebacker with very long arms. Once Jung gets into the MSU training program, he should put on some weight and could fi ll a Matthew Wells hole this upcoming fall. T.D. Moton, 6’3,” 313 pounds, **** Defensive Tackle Moton is another Alabama decommit to sign with the Bulldogs. Moton is a massive defender that will stop opponents’ runs up the middle. Darryl Williams, 6’4,” 312 pounds, **** Offensive Lineman Williams is listed as a guard, but may actually have a future as a center for the Bulldogs. With the loss of Dillon Day at the center position there is an opening as the future snapper for the Bulldogs. Timothy Washington, 6’4,” 210 pounds, **** Outside Linebacker Washington is another long, rangy defender for the Bulldogs. Washington is listed as a linebacker right now, but depending on his development he could fi nd a future on the defensive line instead. Nick Gibson, 5’11,” 191 pounds, **** Running Back Gibson does not have one specific skill in which he excels, but he does everything well. The future of the back field is crowded for the Bulldogs, but once Gibson redshirts and puts on more weight he can be a contributing factor down the road.

Johnathan Calvin, 6’3,” 265 pounds, *** Defensive End Calvin is another junior college product with upside. He has the size to be a pass rusher, but not every down. Alec Murphy, 6’1,” 212 pounds, *** Running Back Murphy has the size to develop into a power back. Like Gibson, the back ﬁeld is very crowded, and he will more than likely need to redshirt and work his way up the depth chart. Kendell Jones, 6’4,” 248 pounds, *** Defensive End Jones comes into MSU without much polish, but with physical gifts. He can certainly develop into an every down defender one day. Deddrick Thomas, 5’9,” 170 pounds, *** Athlete Thomas has big play ability because of his explosive speed. Thomas can play either wide receiver or in the secondary, he has the ability to transition to any position the Bulldogs need. Dontea Jones, 6’4,” 210 pounds, *** Wide Receiver Jones needs to add more polish to his route running, but he does have the height to make up for some mistakes. “Look at how we utilize a guy like De’Runnya Wilson who has the ball skills and the length,” Mullen said. “He’s hard to guard. So one of those things when you’re looking at wide receivers is where are they creating mismatches. Is it the quickness and the speed or is it the size? Where are we going to create mismatch problems for defenses? He’s a guy that does bring a tremendous mismatch. He’s just a big man. He gets on the scale, and he’s big. It’s not fat. It’s

not anything. He’s just a big guy. So he’ll create some mismatches for people.” Keith Joseph, 6’3,” 220 pounds, *** Defensive End Joseph has the athleticism to move into a different role on the defense. He may need a season to sit out and redshirt to add some strength, but he has the potential to make plays one day for MSU. Harrison Moon, 6’5,” 265 pounds, *** Athlete Moon has the ability to fit into any spot on the offensive line the Bulldogs need. He has the height and size to fi ll MSU’s hole on the line. Maurice Smitherman 5’9,” pounds, *** Cornerback According to espn.com he is a small prospect that plays with a huge chip on his shoulder. The same could be said for current Bulldog Taveze Calhoun. Jonnas Spivey, 6’1,” 180 pounds, *** Athlete Spivey was a high school quarterback, but will likely never take a snap there for MSU. Spivey is ultra-athletic and can develop at multiple positions. He will likely redshirt next season and see where he fits best. Justin Johnson, 6’3,” 199 pounds, *** Wide Receiver If Johnson was a tad faster he would have been a bit more recruited. He has the height to be a red zone threat. Nick Tiano, 6’4”, 215 pounds, *** Quarterback Tiano has a very big arm and could develop into a top-tier player. Tiano made plays with his feet in high school, but he will need to learn to rely on his passing ability more in college. “He has a very naturally strong arm,” Mullen said. “The ball jumps out of his hand. He’s very intelligent

SIGNING, 8 All rankings and assessments are from espn.com

Beyond the Arc

Men’s basketball begins to hit stride after slow start If you are anything like me, you had probably given up on the Bulldog men’s basketball team. At the beginning of the year, it was so sporadic fans didn’t know what team was going to show up. It could be the team that throttled last year’s NCAA tournament team St. Louis 75-50 at a neutral site game, or the team that came out ﬂat and lost to Arkansas State by 14 points at home. The team seemed to be missing conﬁdence. The offense looked forced and awkward with shooters hesitating to let a shot go along with constant turnovers. The off-beat play was making this season look like last year’s, and many fans were beginning to call for Head Coach Rick Ray’s job. They were ready to clean house and rebuild once more.

with great leadership skill. These are all things we’re looking for at the quarterback position. He comes in with a lot of the things that we look for. He can come in and contribute. If you lined up all of my quarterbacks, they would be different shapes and sizes, but the most important intangible that they have is that they’re winners. That’s the biggest thing that Nick probably brings to the table. He’s a winner.” Chris Stamps, 6’0,” 170 pounds, *** Corner Back Stamps has very good height for a corner back and has decent instincts. He also unafraid to step up is and stop the run. He could fi nd a home as a nickel corner for the Bulldogs. Farrod Green, 6’3,” 215 pounds, *** Wide Receiver Green does not have speed that will blow away opposing defenses. He compensates the lack of speed with his height. Mark McLaurin, 6’3,” 205 pounds, *** Athlete McLaurin can play as either a running back or a defensive back. He will probably redshirt next season and fi nd where he sticks on the roster. Keith Mixon, 5’8,” 172 pounds, *** Running Back Mixon will try to always fight for the extra yards. A tough player that fights for every yard can have a chance to fi nd his place on the Bulldog roster. Anfernee Mullins, 6’4,” 233 pounds, *** Defensive End Mullins is another player with nice size and potential to develop into a strong defensive player down the line. He was productive off the edge in high school.

And then, something began to click for the Bulldogs. After looking downright awful against SEC opener Tennessee and road opener Florida, the Bulldogs came out and competed against a talented Texas A&M team, only losing by four on the road. Fans found some hope, but nobody changed the way they thought of the team. Since then, the Bulldogs have gone 4-2 in SEC play, with the two losses coming after losing the lead late in each game. With a little more luck, this team could have won its last six games. So how does a team that looked to be dead and buried go to being one of the hottest teams in the SEC? The two big Cs… Conﬁdence and chemistry. In the victory over Vanderbilt, I saw something I

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hadn’t seen from the team all year fun. The entire demeanor of the squad changed, and it reflected in its play. The offense began to flow with ease, and the defense became a pesky trap for the Bulldogs’ opponents. It took a bit of time, but junior guard Craig Sword is also fi nally healthy, coming off a back surgery that made him miss out on the fi rst four games of the year. Fellow guard I.J. Ready is fully healthy. Since these two have gotten into game shape, Mississippi State looks like an entirely new team. They also bring out the best in their teammates, such as Fred Thomas. Thomas has been on a tear as of later, recording a then season-high 18 points in a tough win against LSU. He then came out

Tuesday and put up 20 points in the Bulldog’s second SEC road win of the season (they didn’t have a road win in 2014). Freshmen big men Oliver Black and Fallou Ndoye are ﬁ nally giving valuable minutes off the bench after replacing Gavin Ware and Roquez Johnson, and guards Trivante Bloodman and Demetrius Houston are beginning to show their talent in games and not just their potential. All these pieces of the puzzle have come together the past six games. The Bulldogs are putting them into place, and the results are showing. BASKETBALL, 8

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Sports REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Bulldogs host Texas A&M Aggies Sunday by Zach Wagner Staff Writer

After a tough road defeat at the hands of the Tennessee Volunteers Sunday, the Mississippi State University Bulldogs have had almost a week to prepare for their next match against the Texas A&M Aggies. The Bulldogs lost by eight points to the Volunteers. Victoria Vivians led all MSU players with 17 points. She missed five of her threes. This serves as the second game of a three game stretch for the Bulldogs that puts them up against the likes of a top 15 opponent. With the prospects of still having to face the Aggies, Kentucky Wildcats and No. 1 ranked South Carolina, Bulldog Head Coach Vic Schaefer will have his work cut out for him in the upcoming weeks as the Bulldogs continue to fight within SEC play. When the Bulldogs take the court Sunday afternoon, they will be going up against a team that is 17-5 and balanced with their approach to the game. The Aggies shoot roughly 44 percent from the field and hold their opponents to 34 percent shooting on average. Both numbers are above where the Bulldogs have produced for the campaign so far, and one factor that could really affect the outcome of the impending match up with the Aggies will be which Bulldog offense shows up to Humphrey Coliseum. The Bulldogs are at their best when their freshman small forward Victoria

BASKETBALL

The Humphrey Coliseum, which is usually one of the toughest places to play in the SEC, was beginning to become a desolate wasteland of maroon-colored seats, but the recent play has given it a pulse again. With inspired play, the Hump will once again become a nightmare for opposing teams. The talent brought in by Ray is finally paying dividends. The Bulldogs have

SIGNING

Anfernee Mullins is a long, athletic guy which is something that I really like. It’s hard to judge sometimes. These guys are 17 or 18 years old right now. Chris Jones on signing day was 250 pounds. His goal weight now is to be under 310. You don’t know how they’re going to grow and develop, but we’re really excited. To me, I love the athleticism that a lot of these guys are bringing to the table to us.”

Dominique Dillingham extends her arms on defense. Dillingham had five assists and two steals in the last game against Tennessee.

Vivians is knocking down shots from the perimeter and affecting the game on both ends of the floor. When the Bulldogs are able to get an active and engaged Vivians to go along with the post presence of senior Martha Alwal down low, MSU can hang with anyone

in the country. Her presence changes the game. Their major problem this season has been their tendency to rely on their defensive prowess a little too heavily while their offense has teetered on inconsistency all year long. They have only shot around 40 percent

won two straight against NCAA tournament quality teams, with the win against Tennessee coming in Knoxville. His team is finding ways to win, which is something we haven’t seen in three years since the departure of Stansbury. The Bulldogs will travel to Fayetteville to battle another NCAA tournament caliber team in Arkansas (17-5). If they can record

another road win, they will have beaten three straight quality teams and improve their conference record to .500 percent. For the first time in a long time, there is an excitement buzzing about this team, and the excitement isn’t false hope anymore. There are no longer short-lived, moral victories. The Bulldogs are finally playing basketball.

Michael Story, 6’4,” 290 pounds, *** Offensive Guard Story has a large frame that could turn into a mauler after a few years within the MSU system. After the dust setteled on signing day, the Bulldogs came away with their top rated class under Mullen. The Bulldogs also pulled in the top five out of six players in the state of Misssissippi. “Every signing day has

been a great day for us,” Mullen said. “We get to welcome a bunch of new guys into our family. I think that our coaches did a fabulous job out there on the road. Some of these guys have been recruiting for a couple of years now, and it’s good to finally have that official closure of getting the recruits here. The only sad part is that we have to wait until June until a lot of these guys enroll in school.”

in their 25 games, which will need to see a big jump if they plan to contend for the SEC Championship in March. One area in which Schaefer said he did not feel the Bulldogs performed up to their usual standards against Tennessee, which is usually one of the team’s

Emma Katherine Hutto | The Reflector

strengths. Following the loss he was very direct with his thinking on the subject. “We gave up a lot of uncontested shots,” Schaefer said in a news realase. “That’s really unusual for us. We didn’t quite have the ball pressure that we typically have.”

With the way the offense has fluctuated this season, the Bulldogs cannot afford to have a poor showing on the defensive end. It will see two players this weekend for the Aggies who have averaged close to 15 points a game. Junior Courtney Williams has continued to expand her game after earning the honor of most improved player on Texas A&M’s entire roster last season. Her ability to knock down shots from midrange as well as work the blocks on occasion make her one of the players that the Bulldogs must have an answer for. The Aggies’ other star junior Courtney Walker has turned out to be a mainstay for the Aggies. She currently leads the team in total minutes played and is instrumental for all the different ways she can affect the game. Whether rebounding, assisting, or defending in crunch time, Walker is a player that can swing a game. The Bulldogs continue to hold their position within the top 20 of the country, as they were placed at No. 19 in the latest polls. Schaefer said he believes his team is certainly one of the best 20 teams in women’s college basketball and said after the Tennessee game that most would agree with him. “I walk out of here thinking ‘Hey, we’re pretty good,” Schaefer said. “We probably are a top 20 basketball team, and I don’t think many people would disagree with that.” The game begins at 2 p.m. Sunday at Humphrey Coliseum and can also be seen on the SEC network.

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