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134th YEAR ISSUE 40
FRIDAY MARCH 22, 2019
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
Bill proposes one percent sales tax increase on Starkville hotels, restaurants KATIE POE
NEWS EDITOR
A bipartisan bill increasing the sales tax of hotels and restaurants in Starkville by one percent passed in the Mississippi House of Representatives with a vote of 100-4. The bill, which would raise funds for a new Starkville sports
complex, awaits a Senate vote; if it passes the Senate, it will head to the governor’s office. House Bill 1565 would authorize the city to levy an additional one percent on the gross sales of room rentals in hotels and motels. This increase would also apply to the gross proceeds of restaurant sales, which includes the sale of food and
drinks, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic. If the Bill passes, it would not only provide funds for a new tournament sports complex on the west side of Starkville, but it would also allow current sporting facilities to be updated. The Bill is “for the purpose of providing funds to acquire real property and constructing, equipping,
owning, operating, leasing, furnishing, maintaining and marketing new and existing sports tournament and recreational facilities.” Gerry Logan, the executive director of the Starkville Parks and Recreation Department, said he is excited about the possibility of creating more recreational opportunities for residents. TAX, 2
Justin Truss | The Reflector
Hotels like Hotel Chester, located in downtown Starkville, could see a one percent tax increase.
Student voices heard on the Drill Field Mississippi filmmaker Gracie Byrne | The Reflector
The Young Americans for Freedom chapter at Mississippi State University set up a table and sign Wednesday on the Drill Field. The campus organization, which promotes conservative values, put up a sign stating “Build the Wall.” The group encouraged passersby to open dialogues about immigration. Katie Poe | The Reflector
Ada Ginger, a senior psychology major at Mississippi State University, holds a sign that states, “Immigrants are welcome here Fascists are not.” Ginger stood on the Drill Field Wednesday afternoon and said she decided to hold the sign in protest to the “Build the Wall“ message shown by the Young Americans for Freedom.
College Republicans to host Mississippi GOP governor debate STAFF REPORT
The College Republicans at Mississippi State University will host a Republican primary debate in conjunction with the MSU Department of Political Science and Public Administration. The debate will take place at 6:30 p.m. April 2 in Lee Hall’s Bettersworth Auditorium on MSU’s campus. Governor candidates Bill Waller Jr., former Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court, and State Representative Robert Foster have agreed to
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participate in the debate. Lt. Governor Tate Reeves declined to participate due to a scheduling conflict. Adam Sabes, chairman of the College Republicans at MSU, said he and the others planning the debate reached out to Reeves’ , but were unable to agree on a date. “We understand that Lt. Governor Reeves has a very busy schedule,” Sabes said. “We have done everything in our power to schedule an event that he would be able to attend.” Jonathan Bailey, chairman of the debate committee, described the organization’s purpose in hosting the debate.
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DEBATE, 2
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receives grant to film in West Point
HANNAH BLANKENSHIP
grants from the Mississippi Arts Commission represent some of the most gifted individuals in their respective fields,” White said. “These outstanding artists carry on Mississippi’s legacy of artistic excellence, and MAC is proud to support those who enliven and enrich their communities with the creative spirit.” T h e M A C , f u n d e d by the Mississippi Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as several other organizations, seeks to promote the arts in Mississippi through various private grants and educational programs. According to Williams, the freedom MAC gives the artists in determining how to use the grant is immensely helpful.
STAFF WRITER
While one may think of Los Angeles, Hollywood or New York in association with the moviemaking industry, local filmmaker Michael Williams looks no further than his hometown of West Point, Mississippi, to pursue the cinematic arts. Williams recently received a $5,000 grant from the Mississippi A r t s Commission to help fund his newest feature film, “Rosemary,” which he intends to shoot primarily in West Point. Receiving the fellowship is a high honor, said MAC executive director Malcom White in a press release about the grant. “Artists who receive
FILM, 2
25 years of WMSV: Community station evolves over time
ELLIE BURSON
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
91.1 WMSV, Mississippi State University’s radio station, celebrated a significant anniversary on March 21. WMSV is 25 years old, and to celebrate those cherished years of broadcasting, the station has planned something big for the fall of 2019: a festival and concert. In the meantime, WMSV will sell shirts in the Colvard Student Union, holding live streams and covering the Old Main Music Fest this semester. RADIO, 2
Gracie Byrne | The Reflector
Computer science senior and on-air radio personality Michael Garlotte broadcasts to local listeners from the 91.1 WMSV radio station.
FORECAST: Friday and Saturday will get the weekend off to a good start with sunny skies and temperatures in the high 60s. However, rain showers will start to move in Sunday morning.
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2019
special speaker
Mary Madeline LaMastus | The Reflector
Tony Hoffman, who is a former BMX Elite Pro Athlete and Olympic Games coach, speaks about drug addiction and recovery during an event Wednesday at MSU. Hoffman shared his personal story of addiction, redemption, recovery and success.
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“We will be live streaming a few different contests, selling new merch, just having fun conversations and commentating, as well as interviewing some people about their experiences with WMSV,” said Rob Butler, the station’s head of social media and marketing. Butler said he has worked with WMSV for a year and a half. He also hosts a country music hour at 11 a.m. every Saturday. WMSV is a noncommercial, community station that programs a Triple A Music format, meaning it plays artists like Dave Matthews, The Lumineers, Imagine Dragons, Mumford & Sons and The Killers. Its audience ranges from people ages 18 to 50. WSMV began in the early 1990s when students at MSU petitioned the university to build and operate a radio station on campus. “The university agreed to build a new station and tasked MSU staff member Steve Ellis to create the station,” said Anthony Craven, the current WMSV general manager. “WMSV, 91.1 FM went on the air March 21,
Amanda Henry | Courtesy Photo
Last week, singers from New Zion Methodist Church serenaded volunteers from Oakton Community College (OCC) in Des Plaines, Illinois, during a break at the Starkville worksite. The students were participating in the Habitat Collegiate Challenge alternative spring break program. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that builds homes for people in need. CONTINUED FROM 1
“The focus would be on baseball fields and potentially some softball, but a major point is that the funds would also allow us to renovate our current facilities, like the Starkville Sportsplex,” Logan said. “Ultimately the whole parks system is going the benefit ... A potential new complex is a game-changer for Starkville.” Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill said she is happy with the Bill because it will directly benefit the city through hosting more sporting tournaments.
She said Starkville is a hub for these kinds of tournaments, but its parks system could benefit from an upgrade. Additionally, a facility on the west side of the city would be a great addition, Spruill said. “We’ve got JL King Park to the north, the horse park to the south and, of course, Mississippi State to the east,” Spruill said. “I think putting a complex to the west will make us a more well-rounded city.” If the Bill passes the Senate and if Governor
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“Our chapter and the other chapters of College Republicans represent the future of this state,” Bailey said. “We desire to encourage discussion and civil debate among our leaders.” All statewide primary elections will take place on Aug. 5. The College Republicans want to begin primary season by asking candidates to discuss the issues.
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Emma Salter, a WMSV listener and MSU junior interior design major, said the station’s variety of music is what she likes most about it. “It’s important that we as students appreciate the culture our campus has to offer. I’m looking forward to see WMSV become more interactive with the campus,” Salter said. “The radio station has such a great variety of music for everyone, not just what’s popular by Migos or Halsey. Hopefully this will bring more listeners to the station–they really do deserve the appreciation.” If listeners are interested in becoming involved in other ways, Craven said there are plenty of opportunities for students through employment. “Students can get involved with WMSV by simply coming by the station and talking to our staff about job, internship and volunteer opportunities,” Craven said. “All of our daily on-air DJ positions, as well as many other positions here at WMSV, are held by current Mississippi State University students.” CONTINUED FROM 1
going to be hopefully more successful and accessible to everyone,” Williams said. According to Williams, “Rosemary” is “a psychological drama about an elderly woman who’s driven insane by an abyss that appears in her basement.” Because of the complex nature of the main character,
Burgess said. “That’s the biggest challenge for any indie filmmaker that’s not making studio films.” Burgess also emphasized the value of pursuing the cinematic arts in a southern state like Mississippi, as Williams is doing with “Rosemary.” “It’s about telling stories
“It’s about telling stories from a region where we tell our stories to each other. They’re all passed down; they’re all treasured stories in the South.” - Jeremey Burgess, co-producer one of the most exciting and challenging aspects of the film will be the casting of Rosemary herself. “We want to try to find a name for the lead actress in the film, because that will help us not just with fundraising but distribution in the long run; and it’s a very intense role that’s going to need an established actress, but we’d also love to find someone who’s also passionate about the project,” Williams said. In addition, funding will also be challenging, as it is for nearly every indie filmmaker, pointed out co-producer Jeremey Burgess, who will handle the more logistical side of the filming process. “The biggest challenge, to be candid, is funding,”
DEBATE
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Phil Bryant signs it, then Starkville residents will get the chance to vote on the increase in a special election. Logan said there will also be occasions in the future for input from the public on this purposed Bill. “We want everyone to be informed about this whole process,” Logan said. “There will be a lot of opportunity coming up for public input, so everyone should keep a watch on chances to provide feedback.”
“The biggest thing is that this grant gives artists freedom on how they want to use it. You can either use it to directly support a new project or just to support the artist as they’re making progress on new work, so that’s what I’m doing,” Williams said. “It gives me the ability to free up my time so I can take time away from paying work to pay the bills, to be able to actually make progress on the creative side of this project.” Williams said the grant enables him to dedicate a much greater amount of his time to the project. “If it wasn’t for that (grant), I would be spending a lot less concentrated time working on it, it would take a lot longer to get the project off the ground, it wouldn’t be as focused and I wouldn’t make as much progress,” Williams said. “So, now I’m able to make that progress and have the time to do it.” Williams, who is the president of Starkville’s Magnolia Independent Film Festival and a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, has directed numerous short films as well as two previous feature films, “OzLand” and “The Atoning.” He plans to use his filmmaking experience to make “Rosemary” even more successful than his last films. “I can use all that I’ve learned to really take the next step with this next film and make something that’s
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“We are in the process of revamping activities and community involvement, and trying to make it more inclusive physically and connected in greater ways starting next semester,” Butler said. As for the big event coming next fall, many of the details are yet to be confirmed, but the station’s employees are excited all the same. WMSV’s 25th anniversary and welcome back concert/festival will be held the first Friday of the fall semester, which is Aug. 23. “It will be a great way for freshmen to have something cool to experience, and will really connect the community of Starkville with the MSU Campus,” Butler said. “It will be held in the Amphitheater and will have a lot of different artists ranging from local acts to larger, national touring artists. There will be food, music and special little surprises throughout the night to highlight and honor WMSV’s 25 years on the air.” In order to help WMSV celebrate, check them out in the Union and listen to station 91.1 FM.
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1994 at 6 a.m. with Steve Ellis as GM and with a team of student volunteers serving as the on-air personalities. Steve served as GM of WMSV until he retired in 2015.” In order to stay relevant, WMSV has evolved with the times in many ways throughout its 25 years. “Local radio broadcasters like WMSV 91.1 must continually develop and invest in new technologies that allow us to provide the news, entertainment and emergency information listeners rely on every day,” Craven said. “We make our broadcast easily available online through our website, wmsv.msstate.edu, and via apps like TuneIn, RadioFX and MSU’s MyState mobile app. By doing this we can be heard anywhere at anytime on essentially every platform— including smart speakers like Alexa. Through innovation, local broadcasters such as WMSV are keeping communities safe, informed and entertained. That is how radio stays relevant.” Listeners will likely see and hear more from the station in the upcoming year according to Butler.
from a region where we tell our stories to each other. They’re all passed down; they’re all treasured stories in the South,” Burgess said. “We want to put southern stories more on the map, especially one that Michael’s got here with ‘Rosemary.’” Williams, who hopes to start filming his new project in nine months to a year, expressed his excitement to begin work on “Rosemary.” “I feel like these characters, these stories are very important, way more complex and more worthwhile than my previous films, so I’m just really excited about the stories, the characters,” Williams said. “I feel like it’s a really good project that shows a lot of growth.” CONTINUED FROM 1
“We want to thank Justice Waller and Representative Foster, as well as their campaigns, for working with us to bring a well-needed discussion of issues and policy to our state,” Sabes said. “We hope that all of the candidates, including Lt. Governor Reeves, will seek to find opportunities to have serious conversations about improving our great state.” The College Republicans
at MSU are a chapter of the Mississippi Federation of College Republicans, and they are dedicated to building the Republican Party by recruiting, training and mobilizing young adults statewide. For more information about the College Republicans at MSU or about the debate, contact the chapter executive board at msstatecr@gmail.com.
3-BBBULLETIN BOARD THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2019 @REFLECTORONLINE
An In-Class Distraction
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY...
3
… in 2014, a mudslide in Washington killed 43 people. About 55 miles northeast of Seattle, a hill suddenly collapsed and buried a neighborhood in the small community of Oso, Washington—earning the title of one of the deadliest mudslides in U.S. history. The Oso area had been known for mudslide hazards for years, some of which dated back thousands of years ago. In 2006, a notable mudslide occurred at the same site, though efforts were later made to reinforce the area. After weeks of rain, one day at about 10:30 a.m., a fast-moving wall of mud and debris crashed down the hillside, destroying 49 homes, killing entire families. One recovery worker noted cars had been smashed down to roughly the size of a refrigerator. The debris field covered a square mile, and was roughly 80-feet deep in some places. Roughly 25 people die from landslides each year in the U.S., though thousands more die every year throughout the globe. history.com
SUDOKU
BAD DAWGS Wednesday, March 20, 2019 • Student passed out in an academic building. Subject transported to OCH by ambulance. • Student arrested on East Lee Boulevard for an expired tag, lack of insurance and a suspended driver’s license. • Student reported her room in Deavenport Hall was damaged by her roommate.
Notable Traffic Citations: • Five MSU citations were issued, the most notable of which occurred on Stone Boulevard for speeding 42/20 as well as 85/45 on Hail State Boulevard. Sunday, March 17, • Justice Court citation 2019 issued on Blackjack Road • Officer reported a for an expired tag. flooding in Carpenter • Justice Court citation Hall. On-call plumber issued on Lee Boulevard was called. for an expired tag. • Student reported losing • Two MSU citations his wallet at an unknown were issued on Clyde location. Q Sheely Circle for • Monday, March 18, disregarding traffic 2019 devices. • Student transported • Justice Court citation to OCH from Hand issued on College View Chemical Lab for Street for expired tag. medical assistance. • MSU citation issued on • Officer responded to a Stone Boulevard for disturbance call behind disregarding a traffic the Perry Cafeteria. device.
So, you think you know it all?
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1. What is the gestation period of a hippopotamus? 2. Where are taste buds located? 3. What year was the first modern comic book printed? 4. What artist first achieved notoriety through graffiti epigrams? 5. Which characters from “Gilligan’s Island” were origianally referred to “and the rest” in the theme song?
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1. Eight months, 2. Tongue, esophagus, soft palate, upper esophagus, cheek and epiglottis, 3. 1933, 4. Jean-Michel Basquiat, 5. The Professor and Mary Ann.
Friday, March 15, 2019 • Student arrested on Blackjack Road for felony in possession of schedule 1 drugs, possession of paraphernalia, expired tag, driving with a suspended driver’s license, no insurance and for disorderly conduct. Justice Court citations and referrals were issued. • Student reported being extorted by a former friend. • Officer reported a flooding in Carpenter Hall. On-call plumber was called. • Student reported her TV in Deavenport Hall was damaged while she was gone on Spring Break.
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2019 @REFLECTORONLINE
OPINION
Time is money and technological devices are costing us greatly
BRANDON GRISHAM
is a sophomore majoring in business information systems. Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
At what age did you receive your first smartphone? I am not talking about a brick that played snake or called your family members, but the one with online access. The instant nature of the internet is addicting and beneficial, so we use our digital sources to keep up to date. If you look around campus, you will notice the bulk of your peers using their phones, even while walking. Commuting dangers aside, technological comfort is so valuable that life without a charged phone seems boring and washed out. There is nothing wrong with the cybernetic relationships of digital devices, but they have
permanently altered our behavior, morals and personal taste. Even with that knowledge, some would rather roll over broken glass naked than go a day without their phone. Reliance on these devices in everyone’s pocket has changed how we exist, both in human behavior and modern society. Your fellow classmates use their phones constantly. Every day, they need to check emails, online news sources, text messages and even answer the occasional phone call. Each brief update adds to a ludicrous level of screen time that does not include computer use. We were never built to be stimulated so consistently, leaving current generations flooded with addictive dopamine. Anderson Cooper of CBS ran a segment on 60 Minutes last December tackling the impact screen time has on brain development. The full report is fascinating, but Tristan Harris, a former Google manager, gave crucial input. “Your telephone in the
“Up 203 percent? Oooops.”
Rosalind Hutton
1970s didn’t have a thousand engineers on the other side who were redesigning it to work with other telephones and then updating the way your telephone worked every day to be more and more persuasive,” Harris explained. Knowing the masses find trending media valuable can be confusing. Taste is shaped by exposure and personal belief, yet a diet of crap leads to horrifying results. Professional reviewers, radio stations and curated lists have devolved into
The terms ‘Democratic Socialist’ and ‘Social Democrat’ are not synonymous
ELLA SCHALSKI
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The word ‘socialism’ is a bit taboo in America, where capitalism reigns supreme. We want our businesses and economic markets to be freer than a bald eagle flying through the sky eating a big mac. During the past few years, many well-known people have attempted to lift the stigma of socialism, such as Senator Bernie Sanders and his initial run for presidency in 2016 or his most recent 2020 presidential run. Even fresh-faces and newly elected Senator Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Rashida Tlaib have tried to lift the stigma by being the first two members elected to Congress who are also part of the group “Democratic Socialists of America.” But, what is the problem? Why do American people still express fear over the word “socialism” in “Democratic socialism?” It could be one of two reasons: Americans are terrified of Democratic socialism because of their misunderstandings of it; or Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez and Tlaib are social Democrats, not Democratic Socialists. But then, what is the difference between social democracy and Democratic Socialism? Well, a huge one, but I will get to that later. First, I want to discuss the common misunderstanding, or misconception, of Democratic Socialism in America. To put it simply, John Haltiwanger of Business Insider said, “’Socialist’ remains a dirty, and often misunderstood, term in the realm of U.S. politics. The Cold War, in which animosity and paranoia toward the Soviet Union was pervasive in the U.S., is largely to thank for that.” Socialism can be defined as the shared and
public ownership of the means of production, and Democratic Socialism is, in principle, Socialism. However, according to the Democratic Socialists of America, their definition is really, really broad to say the least. Honestly, it does not cover the scope of socialism, but rather social democracy. This is where some of the confusion begins. The biggest and most important difference between true Democratic Socialism and social democracy is that a social democracy has a capitalist economy. There is a private sector and private ownership of business. For lack of better words, social democracy is a progressive form of capitalism where it socializes certain areas of the economy. Some of the most widely discussed areas are healthcare and education. So, just to reiterate, the key difference is: Democratic Socialism usually calls for the abolition of capitalism as an economic system; whereas, social democracy wants to fix the problems of capitalism and create a strong social safety net. Hopefully, by now, you are thinking to yourself, “Hold up, wait. I have not heard Senator OcasioCortez say she wants to take all and every business from private hands and make them publicly owned. Shoot, I have not even heard ole’ Bernie say that either.” I mean, you are right. I also have not heard them say that. I do not think anyone has heard them say anything like that. Marian Tupy of The Atlantic gave compelling reasons why Bernie is not a socialist. I think it is safe to say others who have followed Sanders to proclaim themselves as Democratic Socialists, or are branded as Democratic Socialists, are really just
social Democrats. I do not think socialism is the way forward, and it is something which can be argued. Private ownership of business and the possibilities of entrepreneurship, those are the catalysts of creativity, innovation and development that a lot of people, including myself, do not want to lose.
“The biggest and most important
difference between true Democratic
Socialism and social democracy is that a
social democracy has
a capitalist economy.” Despite this, it is a reality some people will not ever be hugely successful under our current system. We cannot ignore the strife and the struggle of our fellow Americans. I believe we need to ensure everyone is taken care of, and social democracy is aligned with that of equal opportunity. Over the long term, we, as the American people, are hurt by the confusion. Like I said at the beginning, the socialism in Democratic Socialism has neither lost its taboo, nor its stigma, despite some very influential names and people being associated with it. We as independents, the Democratic party or whatever other party, need to align with what seems to be our current goal of moderating Democratic Socialism, or we need to politically rebrand ourselves as social democrats to have influence on a wider demographic and truly make progressive change in this nation.
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Digital chat rooms like message boards, social media and video services expose behaviors rarely performed in public. An entirely different life emanates from one’s online presence, and most utilize it far more than they know. Anyone would feel far less comfortable around judgmental peers than being shielded by a screen and a pseudonym. Regardless of care, this behavior still seeps into public interaction and future social cues. Anyone can sugarcoat how dramatically our lives have changed due to rampant technology. We distract ourselves with Netflix, YouTube and oodles of other media services. Attention and time are worth money, yet we waste an endless number of hours with our devices. We alone determine which content to view, so perhaps auto play is not the best option. Limiting our exposure to dopamine saves our happiness for more varied use than endlessly scrolling through grandiose feeds.
More plant-based food options should be present at MSU HALLIE GREEN
Well, looks like itʼs lettuce again.
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
MENU:
Attending a well-known agricultural school in the South famous for its dairy, the following may seem controversial. However, we should take a critical look at what we consume and how it, and other products, are produced. I believe all life has value and is important based on my religious and ethical views. Due to this, I have always had problems with the meat industry. Within the last year, I have realized the dairy, egg and any animal product industry are equally to blame for cruelty and death as well. Not only are these industries horrible to animals, but they also play a major role in many environmental problems we are facing. Since Mississippi State University is one of the top schools when it comes to agriculture, it would only make sense that we should strive to be a leader when it comes to food sustainability. This would allow students to have foods that are not genetically modified and are less processed. This could even eventually allow the university to spend less money on food. It would also be better for the environment by having less distance to travel. In doing this, we should be encouraging students to eat less animal products and have more plant-based foods. Students’ health should be one of the top priorities of the school. Meat and dairy are often seen as healthy things to eat, however, it is not all it is advertised to be. We all know hotdogs are bad for you; however, bacon, red meat and other processed meats also raise your risks of getting cancer. According to Allison Aubrey from NPR, “A group of 22 scientists reviewed the evidence linking red meat and processed meat consumption to cancer and concluded eating processed meats regularly increases the risk of colorectal cancer ... The conclusion puts
Hotdog
Hamburger
Chili Dog Lettuce Leaf
Rosalind Hutton
processed meats in the same category of cancer risk as tobacco smoking and asbestos.” Obviously, Aubrey refers to the long-term effect, or else it would not be seen as safe to eat meat. Dairy has its own health risks and is super easy to avoid and replace, although, there is not much selection for these alternatives here. Many people are lactose intolerant, which is an extremely common problem to have involving dairy. Many people have lactose intolerance because we simply are not made to drink cow milk. It is meant for baby cows, not humans. According to Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, dairy is also linked to heart disease. “Milk and other dairy products are the top sources of arteryclogging saturated fat in the American diet. Milk products also contain cholesterol. Diets high in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol increase the risk of heart disease, which remains America’s top killer,” Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine explained. This is important because we should care about our short-term health as well as our long-term health. Another reason we should care about this research is because health is not guaranteed, and we should do everything in our power to stay as healthy as possible. A current global focus in helping the environment is reducing and potentially eliminating single-use plastics. However, the meat industry also causes many problems for the environment. One major effect on the environment is deforestation. With the number of trees getting cut down, we are not putting anything in its place which
comes with many other consequences. According to Damian Carrington of The Guardian, “The new research shows that without meat and dairy consumption, global farmland use could be reduced by more than 75 (percent) - an area equivalent to the U.S., China, European Union and Australia combined – and still feed the world. Loss of wild areas to agriculture is the leading cause of the current mass extinction of wildlife.” As a school, we tend to focus on recycling and plastics. However, we should also do what we can to deal with issues like deforestation and animal extinction. This school has done many things in an effort to be more sustainable and eco-friendly. This is great, however, at the rate we are destroying the planet, our university and others should do as much as possible to face these problems head on. Due to all this, MSU should advertise its plantbased options instead of putting them in hard-tofind locations. Another way the school could encourage students to try plant-based options is giving more variety than curry, salads and some foods from the allergy-free section. Even though I really like curry, I tend to avoid the vegan section due to the monotony of it. The vegan selection at The Perry Cafeteria is limited, and people with this diet are essentially restricted to eating the same thing every day in the cafeterias. We could also try encouraging students to try meatless Mondays. Reducing your meat and dairy intake will help not only help your health and the environment, but you would also save an animal’s life. So, save an animal, eat some plants.
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everyone thinking their uneducated opinion matters. Everyone has the right to voice their opinion, but they should not all have megaphones. Memes and cynicism can be humorous, yet some take online interaction seriously and wind up emotionally distraught. There is a fine line between stating belief and being an anonymous asshat. Roughly half of the global human population is an active internet user. According to the CIA’s World
Factbook, over 90 percent of the U.S. population is online. Browsing websites like InternetLiveStats can be horrifyingly profound, instantly displaying how the internet used each second. Those daily statistics can make one feel insignificant in ways rivaled only by enormous crowds or the vastness of space. This calls into question how our lives depend on internet functionality, leaving us mentally dependent and less self-reliant. Our demeanor is becoming molded by digital screens instead of physical interaction. While we are communicating far more often, we can rarely hold direct eye contact without feeling awkward or insecure. Most cannot imagine life without a phone, but every generation before ours managed just fine. Ironically, you can barely get anything done without online access. Those applying for jobs need to do so online. Typing speed is a must and coding proficiency is needed more than ever.
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5LIFE -Life& ENTERTAINMENT 5 THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2019 @REFLECTORONLINE
Captain Marvel soars at box office but crashes with critics BRANDON GRISHAM STAFF WRITER
Marvel’s latest film, “Captain Marvel,” provides surges of disappointed expectations. The 21st entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has entertaining moments, but ultimately offers a mediocre experience. This bland and forgettable entry absolutely baffled me, reminding me of ‘Phase One’ films from which Marvel should have learned by now. The story follows Carol Danvers, a super-powered hero who crash-lands in Los Angeles in 1995. Attracting the attention of S.H.I.E.L.D, she informs humanity how Earth is caught in a galactic war between two alien races. Teaming up with a young Nick Fury, the duo work to thwart the incoming invasion and uncover the secrets of Captain Marvel’s past. Serving as a build up to “Avengers: Endgame,” which premiers next month, “Captain Marvel” introduces Marvel Studios’ first femaleled superhero film. Its feminine themes instantly sparked backlash toward this film, resulting in review-bombing and a swath of bitter internet men.
Being the first female-led entry for the MCU, her gender is constantly mentioned. This does not serve as decent character development, as Agent Carter, Black Widow and Daisy Johnson have already proved to be strong female role-models. Studio interference was easily seen, leading to s this formulaic mess that felt derived from focus tests and comic book checklists. Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Mendelsohn take up a bulk of the screen time. Other supporting actors include Annette Bening, Jude Law and Lashana Lynch. All of the actors give a serviceable performance, with only Jackson and Mendelsohn going the extra mile. The de-aging of Nick Fury was extremely impressive, giving Jackson a fascinating chance to portray a younger role. When a 70-year-old man is running circles around the lead actress, it indicates a serious fault in character development. Girl-Power antics aside, Carol Danvers is simply bland and uninteresting. Captain Marvel is a fascinating superhero, but this film portrays her as a painfully blank-slate. Overpowered
and invulnerable, she barely struggles with anything except a mundane amnesia plot-line. There are flashes of legitimate joy in Brie Larson’s acting, but fun personality and genuine motivation are nowhere to be seen. Larson is a terrific actress, yet she was stuck with a script that left her with a weak character. Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck directed this film, but they did not have the experience needed to pull it off. I guarantee the Russo Brothers will offer a far better
version of Carol Danvers in “Avengers: Endgame.” At the start of the film, endless scenes of expositional dialogue dragged on like nails against a chalkboard. Painfully forced, it spouted context about the war between the Kree and Skrulls with the same impact as TV sci-fi. The pacing significantly improved with the first action scene, but the plot kept repeating itself to hold the audience’s hand. Fun moments were distracted by a melodramatic amnesia story, providing irritating tonal
inconsistency. The humor was a saving grace, but even some of the jokes were set up way too far in advance. Taking place in the 90’s was an interesting choice, before they beat it into the ground. Rubix cubes and Nirvana showed up, losing credibility by playing to nostalgia instead of legitimate story structure. The goofy inclusion of “Just A Girl” by No Doubt for a fight scene was the final straw, as it tried working off the tone of “Guardians of the Galaxy.” This film does
not hold a candle to the heart and effort placed into that series, appearing instead like a soulless husk of corporate schlock. Scathing criticisms aside, what this film accomplishes is fairly admirable. There are some great callbacks for Marvel fans, a beautiful tribute to Stan Lee, and decent change-ups to the story. It is never boring, but those aspects do not save the final product. Following “Avengers: Endgame,” I worry Disney will curtail the ambition that led to Marvel’s initial success. Hopefully the brutal treatment of Star-Wars is not a horrific indicator of what is to come to future Marvel films. Overall, I would recommend this film to Marvel fans, but they likely will not re-watch it. It holds similar importance as “Thor: The Dark World” or “Iron Man 2,” simply bridging the gap to the next event film. “Captain Marvel” is currently running in theaters, and will remain for the next few weeks. Captain Marvel and the Skrulls will certainly appear in future films, but hopefully they return with competent effort next time.
Robert L. Kelly discussed his book ‘The Fifth Beginning’ at MSU DAKOTA IVY STAFF WRITER
“We know that when things change overtime, especially when they change in large ways, that it is telling us there has been a significant shift in the way human society is organized,” Robert L. Kelly said. On Tuesday night in the McComas Hall Theater, Kelly explained how understanding the past can help predict the future. Kelly is an archaeologist and a professor of anthropology at the University of Wyoming. This event was free and open to the public. At this event, which was a part of the Distinguished Lecture Series promoted by Mississippi State’s Institute for the Humanities, Kelly
highlighted his book, “The Fifth Beginning: What Six Million Years of Human History Can Tell Us about Our Future.” His book, which was published by the University of California in 2016, won the 2018 Felicia A. Horton Book Award from the Archaeological Institute of America. “The Fifth Beginning” is not a boring history book. His lecture gave a brief overview of his book. It is an easy read about humanity’s origin. His personal experiences along with wit combine to make it engaging. Kelly opened his lecture with a quote from Winston Churchill stating, “The farther back you can look, the farther forward you are
likely to see.” Kelly’s lecture focused on the shift in organization— what Kelly calls beginnings. So far, there have been four: The Origin of Technology, The Origin of Culture, The Origin of Agriculture and The Origin of States. According to Kelly, we are at the tipping point of The Fifth Beginning. “We are at the beginning of the end of war,” Kelly said. “We are at the beginning of a post-capitalist economy, and it is the beginning of what I like to call global selfgovernance.” This is what will lead into the Fifth Beginning, said Kelly. This is not something that will happen rapidly, but it is what Kelly believes is the future. There is still time to change this path, though.
“In the past Four Beginnings, nobody who lived through those knew that they were living through a radical change in human organization, but today, we know it,” Kelly said. Sarah Marlin, an anthropology major at Mississippi State University, enjoyed Kelly’s lecture. “It was cool to see him somehow manage to fit all of this information into one lecture that pretty much anyone could understand, even without a background in archaeology,” said Marlin. Anna Osterholtz, an assistant professor of Bioarcheology at MSU, said she was impressed by Kelly’s work and clear communication on complex topics. “Today’s lecture gave our
Dakota Ivy| The Reflector
Robert L. Kelly discussed his book’s research on entering the next anthropological stage at the McComas Hall Theater.
students and community members the chance to hear from a really engaging speaker and researcher,” Osterholtz said. “Dr. Kelly’s reputation for effectively communicating archaeological thought is
well deserved.” Overall, the lecture showed the importance of archaeology. It is beneficial to understand the past, since it can allow society to predict humanity’s future as Kelly claims.
Easy and cheap microwave meals for college students GRACIE BYRNE STAFF WRITER
College is a time of cheap eating, but that does not mean what you are eating cannot be delicious. Whether living on or off campus, many of students have access to a microwave. The great thing about having a microwave handy is there are so many things one can prepare in a small amount of time. Making something simple and good to eat does not have to be complicated. Besides, there are only so many times you can eat Ramen noodles before you get tired of them. With some basic ingredients, you can turn a snack into a meal. But what does this mean? Just by adding a few extra ingredients to something, or by mixing basic ingredients together, you can have something so much better than what you did before. So, here’s a list of recipes to help get you through the semester:
submerged. Place it in the microwave, and cook for 10 minutes. Let it cool, and enjoy.
Scrambled eggs Yield: 1 Prep time: 2 minutes Total time: 3.5 minutes Ingredients Eggs - however many you want Salt - optional, season to taste Pepper - optional, season to taste Cheese - optional, however much your cheesy heart desires Directions Crack egg(s) into microwave-safe bowl, and beat with a fork. Place the bowl in the microwave and cook for a minute and 30 seconds. Remove from microwave, and add optional ingredients. Enjoy.
Mac and Cheese
Yield: 1 Prep time: 2 minutes Total time: 12 minutes Ingredients Parboiled rice - 1 cup Butter - 2 tablespoons Water - 2 cups Salt - 1 teaspoon
Yield: 1 Prep time: 2 minutes Total time: 5 minutes Ingredients Elbow macaroni - 1/2 cup Water - 1/2 cup Milk - 3 tablespoons Salt - optional, season to taste Pepper - optional, season to taste Shredded Cheese - 1/4 cup Chives - optional garnish
Directions Pour the rice into a
Directions Mix the macaroni, water
Rice
milk, cheese, salt and pepper, and stir again. Microwave for another 30 seconds, stir and garnish with a sprinkle of chives. Enjoy!
Brownie in a Mug Yield: 1 Prep time: 2 minutes Total time: 4 minutes Ingredients Butter - 2 tablespoons Chocolate chips - 1/4 cup Milk - 1/4 cup Sugar - 3 tablespoons Cocoa powder 2 tablespoons Brown sugar - 1 tablespoon Vanilla extract - 1/2 teaspoon Self-rising flour 2 tablespoons Egg - 1 Directions In a small bowl, melt the butter in a microwave. Stir in chocolate chips until melted. Microwave mixture for 10 to 15 seconds if needed. Add the egg, milk, sugar, vanilla, brown sugar and cocoa powder. Whisk until smooth. Add in flour. Pour batter into mug, making sure to only fill halfway. Microwave for 60 to 90 seconds. Let cool, and enjoy.
Oatmeal Yield: 1 Prep time: 2 minutes Total time: 7 minutes Ingredients Rolled oats - 1 cup Milk - 1 cup Water - 1 cup Ground cinnamon - 1/2
fruit to taste Directions Combine oats, milk, water and cinnamon in a bowl. Microwave for 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool and thicken. Stir and enjoy.
Baked Potato Yield: 1 Prep time: 2 minutes Total time: 22 minutes Ingredients Russet potato - 1 Optional ingredients: butter,
salt, cheese or bacon bits to taste Directions Wash potato with cold water and pat dry. Poke a line of holes onto the top and bottom of the potato to avoid an explosion. Put the potato on plate and microwave for 10 minutes. Flip the potato to other side and microwave for 10 more minutes. Let cool slightly. Cut open and add any optional ingredients and dig in. Enjoy.
Quesadilla
Yield: 1 Prep time: 1 minute Total time: 3 minutes Ingredients Tortilla - one Shredded cheese - 1/2 cup Optional Ingredients: cooked meat, sour cream and salsa to taste
Directions Lay a tortilla flat on a plate. Add cheese and any other optional ingredients and fold over. Microwave for one to one and a half minutes. Let cool. Enjoy.
In honor of Women’s History Month,
GENDER STUDIES presents
SEX OBJECT: THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT OF MISOGYNY AND A FEMINIST RESPONSE
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
JESSICA VALENTI MARCH 27, 2019 • 4:00 P.M. KEYNOTE ADDRESS IN BETTERSWORTH AUDITORIUM AT LEE HALL RECEPTION TO FOLLOW IN OLD MAIN LOUNGE, 5:30-7:00 P.M.
66-Sports SPORTS
THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2019 @SPORTSREFLECTOR
Hatcher snaps back into hitting ways as Bulldogs stay strong
MEGAN TERRY STAFF WRITER
“We talked about it in our dug out—we need someone out here to get hot,” Lemonis said. “I gave him (Hatcher) a lot of credit because you know he had a bad spring training and he wasn’t in the mix for the first couple of weeks. Kept his head up, worked extremely hard, started to see an MVP, and now you’re getting to to see him between the lines.” Hatcher said he has put himself in a better position following the series against Florida and the midweek game against ULAR. “I’m in a good spot right now,” Hatcher said. “I’ve been waiting to get my turn, I just want to give my team the best chance to win.” Hatcher knows balancing life as a student athlete takes a lot of work and dedication. He said this balance is
important, paired with focus. “You have to stay focused; you have to do all of the little things right, you’ve got to eat right, make sure you’re sleeping, you’ve got to get to class to get that work in,” Hatcher said. “And then just stay focused on and off the field.” Lemonis said Hatcher is really talented, but it comes down to how hard players work and the attitude players have. “It’s been nice because the game rewards someone who kept a good attitude,” Lemonis said. Hatcher said the biggest thing they can do as a team is stay focused on the task at hand, and that includes midweek games against ULAR and Samford. “We had a big weekend in Florida, but that’s behind
For baseball fans, when a player struggles or has a bad game after consistently crushing the competition it is a telling moment. On the flip side, other players who start off rocky, can break through with their talent shining for all to see. Head coach Chris Lemonis said he has seen improvement in Josh Hatcher, a sophomore from Albany, Georgia, who had five hits in the University of Florida series this past week and two hits against the University of Little Rock Arkansas. Lemonis said he focuses on the players’ improvement and the work they put into this team, not just the obvious talent of the players. etuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut
us,” Hatcher said. “We want to ride that momentum, preparing for a big week so today we just want to go out there, do what we do best.” Lemonis said he values the attitude Rowdy Jordan brings to the team, and he is confident Jordan will show improvement through this season. “He (Jordan) works hard and shows up,” Lemonis said. “Great teammate, great attitude.” Lemonis said he expects to see him get back into the zone, playing his best. All in all, the MSU Bulldogs have seen adversity. The players, coaching staff and fans expect big things from this team. The Diamond Dawgs are putting in the hours and the commitment to bring home more wins.
Lanny Wallace | The Reflector
Hatcher up to bat during the game against Little Rock. Hatcher hit a triple and had two RBIs.
MARCH MADNESS
Kirk Meche Athletics, Rosalind Hutton olutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerciMSU tation liquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in estie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait
etuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut olutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation liquip ex ea commodo consequat. etuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut olutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation liquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in estie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait
etuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut olutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation liquip ex ea commodo consequat. etuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut olutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation liquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in GARRETT SMITH get back into it, and start the capable of finishing better estie vel illum dolore euseason feugiat facilisisthan at vero STAFF consequat, WRITER outdoor offnulla on a good ever. eros et note,” Boss said. “Both on the men’s blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait
Bulldogs host track meet to start off new outdoor season
Mississippi State Marco Arop, a sophomore and women’s side, I think University track and field team middle distance runner from nationally, we can finish at a etuer adipiscing sed diam nonummy nibhiseuismod tincidunt ut we’ve ever will kick off its 2019elit, outdoor Edmonton, Alberta, more place higher than season this weekend with the excited for his teammates. finished before,” Woods said. Al Schmidt Bulldog Relays. It “I’m just super excited to “If we can put it all together will be a rare opportunity for watch my teammates compete at the end of the year when the Bulldogs to run in front at their home field,” Arop it counts the most, I think we of a home crowd at the Mike said. “It’s gonna be really fun can do something extremely Sanders Track Complex, an to support them in front of special.” opportunity the team is ready the home crowd.” With a team led by Boss for according to head coach The MSU men’s squad and sprinter Alon Lewis, Chris Woods. will start the year off ranked from Lake Worth, Florida, the “It’s gonna be a great 12th nationally after a strong women are on track to have atmosphere here. It gives indoor season they hope to an impressive season as well. our kids an opportunity continue to build. Lewis said her team can thrive to perform in front of a “The indoor season outdoors. hometown crowd,” Woods helped in the development “Outdoor (season), I think said. “I think this is the best of several of our athletes, that’s where we all perform at weekend to do it when we like Marco (Arop) and several our best,” Lewis said. have so many sports going other of the 800 (meter) The excitement about on. We’re excited to have as guys,” Woods said. the start of the season is much foot traffic as we plan Arop finished second something Curtis Thompson, on having here.” nationally in the outdoor a senior from Florence, New For senior Logan Boss, a 800m, but Woods made it Jersey, said the team will have high jumper from O’Brien, clear this race alone will not be to carry with them in order to Florida, it will be her last time enough to push the Bulldogs reach their goals. to their team goals. “To get to Top 5 to jump in Starkville. “To reach our goals nationally—that’s the goal, “I’m particularly excited for this weekend, just because nationally, we have to identify that’s the mindset we all have,” this is my last home meet a few more events that we Thompson said. “That’s how can score in, and I think as a we’re gonna start it off and here,” Boss said. Boss did compete in coaching staff we have done carry it to every meet.” Friday is the beginning the 2019 indoor season and that,” Arop said. With a strong javelin for both teams with high redshirted during the 2018 outdoor season, but she is program led by Curtis aspirations, as they will Thompson and Anderson be competing at North ready to get back into action. “It’s been a year since I’ve Peters joining the already Carolina State University indoor track and the University of Texas represented Mississippi State successful and jumped, so I’m excited to athletes, MSU appears to be next weekend.
Rosalind Hutton
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