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129 th YEAR | ISSUE 37
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
Mullen’s Scottish aristocrat brings Speculative Society to MSU contract increased, extended until 2018 by Savannah Taggart Contributing Writer
“I know my wife and I, it’s the best place we’ve ever lived, in Starkville,” Mississippi State University Head Football Coach Dan Mullen said last December in a Clarion Ledger article. Now, with Mullen’s $4.275 million contract extension, it seems Mullen, his wife and their two children will be staying in ‘Mississippi’s College Town’ for a while longer. Mississippi State’s athletic director, Scott Stricklin, announced Mullen’s contract extension and pay increase at the Central Mississippi Alumni Chapter’s “Evening in Maroon,” Thursday. “Dan has done a phenomenal job in leading our football team the past six years, and we’re happy to be in a position to reward his efforts while making sure he’ll be able to continue building a championship program for Mississippi State,” Stricklin said during the event. Under his previous contract, Mullen made $3 million a year. Mullen’s new contract includes a financial package that will average $4.275 million over the next four years. This salary surpasses that of coaches like Gus Malzahn and Bret Bielema, making Mullen the fifth highest paid coach in the SEC. MULLEN, 2
Maxwell MacLeod | Courtesy Photo
Scottish aristocrat Sir Maxwell MacLeod (pictured) visits Mississippi State University this month as the Shackouls Honors College’s writer-in-residence. MacLeod will stage a reproduction of Scotland’s famous debating society, Speculative Society, tonight at 7 p.m. in Griffis Hall. MacLeod has been the senior president of the society and will stage a one-off debate from a position questioning women’s rights and gun control. MacLeod’s arguments during the debate will not reflect his actual opinions, but are for the purpose of an engaging experience.
Q&A : Sir Maxwell MacLeod
Q: What, specifically, is the ‘Speculative Society?’
A: Started in 1864 in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Speculative Society is a kind of debating society in which lecturers make short speeches and the audience can then make a short speech in response. The purpose of the exercise is to give all those who might have the need to practice speech making a weekly opportunity.
Q: What is the purpose of the debating society? A: Most of the purpose of the society is to teach young lawyers and politicians how to speak in public and given that Scotland now has a woman first minister, and some of our finest lawyers are women, it would seem to be madness to stand in the sway of progress. However, that we men have evolved a system of uniquely masculine debate over the last 250 years. It is both interesting historically and quite fun that we should be allowed to have one meeting a year.
Political science professor receives 2015 ‘Hero Citizen’ honor by Claire Winesett Contributing Writer
Ravi Perry, an assistant professor in political science at Mississippi State University, was recognized as a 2015 Hero Citizen by The Andrew Goodman Foundation in January.
Perry teaches Introduction to American Government and Black Political Thought at MSU. He calls himself an activist scholar, and he was one of 50 to be named a Hero Citizen. He said he was excited and honored to be chosen. “I was surprised by it – to be in the company of the other Hero Citizens that they named. It is cool to be
among the list of the individuals that range from college students to civil rights legends,” Perry said. The Andrew Goodman Foundation is an organization created in honor of Andrew Goodman and his friends who were murdered during the Freedom Summer 1964. These men were committed to helping attain equality for all people.
The 2015 Hero Citizens list recognizes individuals that make an extreme effort to promote social justice for all people. As someone who has always been interested in social activism, Perry said he uses his profession as a professor to encourage his students to realize the potential they have to be an impact of change. “One of the privileges
of being a professor is that you have opportunities to utilize the power you have in the classroom to impact the community you are in,” Perry said. Perry also serves on the Millennial Advisory Committee, which The Andrew Goodman Foundation created to deepen relationships with the millennial generation. HONOR, 2
IREX links Pakistan, U.S. students through global program MSU food by Jennifer Flinn Staff Writer
Kiran Qureshi, a native of Pakistan, is the sixth international student to study at Mississippi State University through the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) within the United States Department of State. IREX is a function of the department and facilitates the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program in Pakistan (Global UGRADPakistan), which sends Pakistani students to the U.S. to study. Qureshi, senior computer science major, is from Hyderabad, a metropolitan city in Pakistan. Before the spring semester began, Qureshi met in Washington, D.C. with
other students in the Global UGRAD-Pakistan program. There, Qureshi and her fellow international students went through several seminars and conferences put on by IREX to acclimate them to life in the U.S. Also in Washington, D.C. students are assigned mentors, advisers and host families to help them transition into their assigned American universities. After the conclusion of the semester, the international students will meet again in Washington, D.C. to talk and learn from one another about their experiences abroad. Qureshi said IREX promotes a good relationship between Pakistan and the U.S. She said the alumni of Global UGRAD-Pakistan implement programs in Pakistan for the long-term improvement of their comKiran Qureshi |Courtesy Photo munities and country. Pakistan native, Kiran Qureshi (pictured), reflects on beneficial sentiments of IREX, a program that sends IREX, 2
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Pakistani students to the United States to study. According to Qureshi, the program allows for the improvement of Pakistani communities. Friday
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Policy: any person may pick up Reader’s Guide a single copy of the reflector for free. additional copies may be obtained from the meyer student media center for 25 cents per copy.
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The Mississippi State University Food Network will partner with the Student Association’s “Block by Block” meal program to give meals to MSU students in need. Conner Ladner, co-director of the health and environmental affairs committee, said the program began when the Student Association President Brett Harris chose giving meals to students in need as a major focus. FOOD, 3
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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015
MULLEN Justin Senior, a sophomore offensive lineman for the Bulldogs, said he and his teammates share Stricklin’s vision of building a championship program. “We’re more focused on off season training and the upcoming spring practices, and the goal never changes no matter who the head is. We want championships.” Senior said. Mullen’s new contract adds a fourth year to his current agreement, the maximum length of time allowed under state law. “It’s a privilege to represent our university, our program and our fans here at Mississippi State. I appreciate Scott Stricklin and our administration who have given us the tools and resources to be successful and develop Bulldog football into a national brand over the last six years,” Mullen said. Mullen was named
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2014 Maxwell National Collegiate Coach of the Year, as well as 2014 SEC Coach of the Year. No coach in the history
“We’re more focused on off-season training and the upcoming spring practices, and the goal never changes no matter who the head is.” -Justin Senior, sophomore offensive lineman
of college football has led a team from being unranked to becoming No. 1 in the nation faster than Mullen did during the 2014 season. Mullen’s Bulldogs were the
HONOR Perry said he understands the influence the people of this generation (usually people born from 1982 to the early 2000s) have on society. “Young people always have been leaders of social change in the U.S. and the world,” Perry said. Gregory Dunaway, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at MSU, said he believes Perry deserves to be called a Hero Citizen. “Dr. Perry is obviously a very good teacher, but what makes him a little bit different is that he really is committed to help changing the world,” Dunaway said. Perry’s commitment
fi rst team to achieve a No. 1 ranking in the program’s 144-year history and the fi rst team ever to become No. 1 in the College Football
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is evident, according to Dunaway. “He’s been very active in terms of community engagement issues, which really try to help individuals and groups of individuals who have been historically discriminated against and marginalized,” Dunaway said. Dunaway also acknowledges Perry uses his knowledge and profession in practical ways. “He does very, very good and important work in terms of taking what he knows in terms of the knowledge of his field and applying it to the human condition,” Dunaway said.
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Playoff rankings. Along with these accolades, the Bulldogs made an appearance in the Orange Bowl for the fi rst time in school history and shattered dozens of
individual and team single season records. Mullen has achieved a lot of fi rsts since his introduction as MSU’s 32nd head coach in 2008. Mullen became the fi rst coach at MSU to lead the Bulldogs to four consecutive bowl games, winning three of them. Fans recognize the success Mullen has brought to MSU and have shown major support for him and the team. He has coached in front of 19 of the school’s top-20 crowds during his time as coach. The success of Mullen’s team does not stop on the football field. The Bulldogs have improved their NCAA Academic Progress Rate every year since Mullen has been head coach. The team’s 2.76 grade point average is the highest in the program’s history, and 110 players have made it onto the SEC Academic Honor Roll since 2009.
Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015 - A student reported his window pane broken from a snowball at Herbert Hall. - Students were issued student referrals for throwing snowballs at Herbert Hall. - A student reported he was assaulted near McCool Hall. Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015 - A student reported she was bitten by a dog on President’s Circle. - A student reported seeing a suspicious male walking near Kappa Delta sorority house. A student referral was issued. - A student was arrested on Hardy Road for disregard of traffic device, suspended driver’s license and no insurance. Justice Court citations were issued. Friday, Feb. 27, 2015 - A visitor’s wallet was found on Stone Blvd. - A student reported he hadn’t seen his friend in over 24 hours. His friend was later found at his residence. Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015 - A student was transported to OCH from Rice Hall for medical assistance. - A student reported his Galaxy Tab Pro stolen from Carpenter Hall. - A student reported somebody vandalized the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house. - A visitor was arrested on College View Street for running a red light, failure to yield and reckless driving. Justice Court citation was issued. Sunday, March 1, 2015 - A resident of the city was transported to OCH from the Sanderson Center for medical assistance.
IREX “It is basically concerned with the cultural exchange between the two countries,” Qureshi said. IREX had a total of 120 international students in the group studying in this year’s spring semester. These students were distributed individually to different universities throughout the U.S. “I think when you are alone you learn a lot. Alone makes you stronger,” Qureshi said. Karin Lee, director of international relations at MSU, is Qureshi’s assigned adviser. Lee said she helps monitor Qureshi’s progress with the
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Global UGRAD-Pakistan program. “What I really like about this program is it exposes our students here to a variety of students from Pakistan,” Lee said. Lee said MSU has an advantage over other universities because of the warmer climate, the safety of the city and a competitive cost compared to other universities. Qureshi must also complete a cultural passport to America as part of the Global UGRAD-Pakistan program. The cultural passport includes six categories that must be achieved in
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order to be obtained. Several categories include community service, creating a blog, uploading pictures and attending musical concerts. Qureshi said the cultural passport focuses on exploration of the United States’ culture and emphasizes mingling with people from the U.S. “Pakistan is really quite similar to America,” Qureshi said. Lee said the cultural passport challenges the stereotypes the Pakistani students might have coming into the U.S. Qureshi said she plans to hold a cultural presentation in early April. She said she will incorporate traditional style of dress and jewelry and may also cook traditional Pakistani food for the audience to taste. She said she wants to debunk any negative myths Americans may have about Pakistan. Muhammad Nadeem, Qureshi’s mentor, is a Ph.D. student at MSU in computer science and is also a Pakistani native. Nadeem has served as a mentor to students through the Global UGRAD-Pakistan program for almost three years. Nadeem, studying under a similar exchange program called the Fulbright program, will give guidance to Qureshi on what to share during her cultural presentation. He said mentors use a guideline provided by the U.S. Department of State to teach students how to
use technology such as MyCourses to submit homework or other coursework, writing for an American audience and time management when testing. Nadeem said the goal of this program is to reduce the gap between the U.S. and Pakistan. “When we go back, we try to change the things around us in a positive way,” Nadeem said. Nadeem said Qureshi will be a leading member in organizing an event on campus called Basant. Basant is a kite festival welcoming the spring by flying many different colored kites and is also referred to as the Festival of Colors. Nadeem said Qureshi was also given the honor of being invited into the Empirical Software Engineering Group. He said this is a research group of mainly master’s and Ph.D. students with very few undergraduate students. To help bridge the gap between America and Pakistan, Qureshi said she wants Americans to know there are more beautiful places in Pakistan than those shown on TV. “We are a growing nation. I cannot say that we are the best and that we have everything, but we are in a growing process,” Qureshi said. She said she also wants to address the media’s representation of women in Pakistan. “I am studying abroad, so I am an example that we do not neglect the importance of girls in our country like the media shows,” she said. “I cannot deny that there are some parts of Pakistan where girls are not allowed to go to school, but they are working on getting out and helping them to learn.” She said her family places a high value and emphasis on the importance of education. Qureshi said education is the foundation on which a good life can be built.
REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015
FOOD
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“It started with our SA president Brett Harris. It was one of his big platform points that he ran on. Our committee was in charge of starting that and getting it done,” Ladner said. “Our chief administrative officer met with Aramark to speak with them about the program, and Aramark agreed to match the meals that we got donated by students. Our research and development committee researched the program just to see what we could do, and we set it up to where students could sign their name and Net ID and donate a block meal.” Ladner said he believes it is important to participate in this program because it helps show others students at MSU are truly a family. “I think one of the big selling points for MSU is the family atmosphere, and that defi nitely adds to it,” Ladner said. Ladner said the goal of the program is to take care of the students who may be going hungry because they cannot afford food and help students stay energetic. “We hope to do it every year, and we hope it gets bigger and bigger, and hopefully the end goal will be not to have any hungry students, and if they are eating and getting their
energy then they make better grades, and in the end it can defi nitely stimulate the economy, but it’s about taking care of our own,” Ladner said. Austin Fortenberry, co-director of the health and environmental affairs committee, said a significant number of students have donated a block meal. “1,000 students were willing to donate one block meal, which may not seem like much, but they were willing to take time out of their day and sign their name because they cared about those people that needed it that maybe they don’t even know,” Fortenberry said. Fortenberry said he believes this program is important because students have so many expenses to worry about, and they sometimes do not realize how expensive it is to buy food. Fortenberry added SA strives to help students from all different backgrounds. “We are a part of the Student Association and we represent the students, and there are probably people who can barely afford to be here or have to pay their own way and have tons of loans. You don’t think about how much it costs to buy meal plans, and if you’re paying your
own way that can be something that easily falls by the wayside,” Fortenberry said. Fortenberry said he believes the program shows SA and MSU really care about the health and well-being of their students, no matter their fi nancial situation. “I think this program is so good because it shows that the student associa-
“Schools and students both benefit from students becoming better educated about financial aid.” -Carmen Wilder, assistant director of student leadership and community engagement. tion and MSU as a whole cares about those people, and they recognize that not everyone may come from a super wealthy background,” Fortenberry said. Antwon Powell, sophomore mechanical engineering major, said he would donate a block meal because he believes if he is able to help someone in need he should, and eating should not be a primary worry for students. “I would donate a block
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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. 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! CLUB INFO
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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 to club_info@reflector. msstate.edu with the 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. WESLEY FOUNDATION
Join us for a night of worship with Jenny and Tyler February 3 at 8 PM at the Wesley Foundation. 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. WESLEY FOUNDATION
Join us for Insight, a night of worship and Bible study at the Wesley Foundation, Tuesday nights at 8:00. ANTHROPOLOGY CLUB
meal with the reason being that since I have it to give, why not give it to people who need it? I obviously can afford however many block meals I want, but others have to constantly scrape by,” he said. Powell also said the program is ethically compelling. “Whether or not they’ll get to eat on certain days shouldn’t be something any college student should
The Anthropology Club will be having a meeting on MArch 17th at 5:00 p.m. in Cobb 100. There will be free food provided.
have to stress about,” he said. “It’s important for me to do it due to moral reasons. Again, if I have it to give, then it’s given.” Thompson said he believes fi nancial aid is a key factor in college life. “Financial aid is a crucial part of campus life, if it were not for fi nancial aid, most students would not be here,” Thompson said. Thompson said he really wants students to learn about fi nancial aid so they
can reach their academic goals. “We really want to help students complete their goals to get an education, let them know about the process and get them thinking and create awareness about fi nancial aid,” Thompson said. Carmen Wilder, assistant director of student leadership and community engagement at MSU, said Jonathan created this program because he knows the struggle college students go through when fi guring out how to pay for college. “Jonathan decided to put on this program because he is familiar with the struggle that many college students undergo in looking for ways to pay for college. He envisioned having a program where students could learn about grants, scholarships and how to correctly complete a FASFA form for fi nancial aid,” Wilder said. Wilder said she believes the program could really help students become more knowledgeable in the possibilities that are out there for them to use. “In my personal opinion, this event could aid students (graduate and undergraduate) in becoming more aware of the aid and opportunities that are out there to assist them in
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paying for college, whether it is through loans, grants, scholarships or a combination of all. Often the paperwork needed to apply for fi nancial aid may seem 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. Wilder said she believes both students and schools both gain from students getting a better education and 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 be able to pay tuition, we all lose. MSU loses a student and all he or she had to offer, not simpl 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. What is most critical to the mission of MSU, the student also loses the opportunity to further their education,” Wilder said.
THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015
Letter to the Editor Minority enrollment in public schools shows need for positive educators by Braxton Stowe
This February, students across the country celebrated Black History Month. They read books by black authors, wrote research papers on civil rights activists, memorized Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech and watched videos about the Underground Railroad. And as they learned about the struggle of the past, they began to recognize it in their own present – when a cashier squints suspiciously when they walk into a store, when they turn on the news and see another person who looks like them lose his life to senseless violence. These lessons are anything but history.
My students know this well. They are bright and talented, but many of them never considered college or trade school a viable option after high school. They just didn’t know many people that had gone to college, and it wasn’t part of the narrative they had heard from society about what was possible for people that looked like them. In the face of this reality, we have no time to waste. This school year marked the first in which the majority of public school students are minorities. Our generation has a responsibility to work to ensure each and every one of them is moving through a system that affirms their identities, shows them they’re valued and allows them access to
the opportunities they have been denied for far too long. While the “whites only” signs of the 1960s have come down, the reality of separate and unequal endures. Alongside glaring gaps in educational, employment
“We have a long way to go as a country before we truly achieve justice for all.” and economic opportunity, people of color in this nation face a variety of subtler, no less damaging assumptions. A successful black lawyer hears whispers of affirmative
action. A young black boy on a corner is seen as lurking, while his white peers hang out. A black college student is asked to give the black perspective to a seminar full of white students who are never asked to speak on behalf of their entire race. In spite of these injustices, my kids have the potential to do incredible things. That’s why I push them so hard to reach our classroom’s high expectations. They tell me they want to go to college, so I hound them about staying on track to apply. Every day, I wake up in the morning determined to do everything I can to make sure my students have opportunities to do what they want to do. I want their futures to be
shaped by choices they make, not circumstances or chance. I joined Teach For America because serving on student government at Mississippi State University opened my eyes to all that was possible for me. It was truly a life-changing experience, and I wanted to give other kids like me growing up in Mississippi access to the same type of rewarding, fulfilling experiences. Every child — no matter the color of his skin or the number on her parents’ paycheck — deserves this. We have a long way to go as a country before we truly achieve justice for all. To fix the systematic oppression that has created the gross inequality of the present will take the hard, dedicated
work of countless leaders and change-makers — many that have experienced it firsthand, others who bear witness to it from further away. We must work toward these long-term changes as well as the immediate, urgent opportunities to change the way our students view themselves and their futures. As educators, we can play a central role in this. Every day we can remind our kids that their thoughts, ideas, identities and opinions are important. We can share our own stories so that when our kids look to the front of the room, they see a little bit of themselves reflected back. We can remind them they matter. They always have and they always will.
On campus carry policies may prevent assaults by Elyssa Lambert Contributing Writer
On Feb. 13, legislation in Nevada introduced Assembly Bill 148, which would allow authorized students to carry concealed firearms on campus. The bill is nicknamed “Amanda’s Law,” after former University of Nevada at Reno (UNR) student Amanda Collins, who was raped near the police station on campus in 2007. The attacker carried a gun, but Collins was unarmed, despite having a license to carry a concealed weapon, because of UNR’s gunfree policy. Collins testified numerous times that if she were allowed to carry her gun, her attack could
have been prevented. She helped found Women for Concealed Carry, a group that advocates for concealed carry as a victims’ rights issue. Women for Concealed Carry and similar groups push for the legalization of firearms on college campuses. Such advocation led to the introduction of campus carry bills in 10 states, including Nevada. Law or university policy currently bans the carrying of concealed firearms on campus in 41 states; in the remaining nine states, guns are allowed on campus with occasional off-limits areas, such as classrooms and dormitories. Supporters of campus carry claim the rate of sexual assault would decrease if women held the
RE F L E C T I O N S Julia Ward Howe
right to carry a concealed weapon. In contrast, opponents of campus carry claim oftentimes college women are attacked by men they
women to carry guns, first of all puts the burden on the woman to prevent this and secondly, it’s not a solution.” A woman walking alone at
“Universities, law enforcement and society in general must do more to lower the occurrence of sexual assault. Harsher punishments for assailants. . . create a sense of safety and security.” know and would not feel the temptation to use their guns. Opponents also argue it would take responsibility away from the university and police, as Annie Clark, co-founder of End Rape on Campus stated, “Telling
night needs protection from potential attackers, and a firearm would make the best defense, considering the attacker is likely armed or at the least of greater strength. Campus carry opponents argue allowing guns on
campus would endanger students more than it would protect. However, as seen in Amanda’s Law, students need written permission from the university to carry a concealed weapon and must meet certain rules to receive the permit. Individuals who intend to commit a crime, such as Collins’ assailant, will carry a gun regardless of a campus carry law. In such cases, it is unfair a law-abiding citizen remains defenseless against a criminal. In spite of the benefit of concealed carry, given that in 80 to 90 percent of rape cases the victim knows the attacker, a gun may not come of use. The inability to use the gun is increasingly true in cases where the victim is date raped, drugged or intoxicated. Universities,
law enforcement and society in general must do more to lower the occurrence of sexual assault. Harsher punishments for assailants, for example, create a greater sense of safety and security. Fewer than five percent of college women report attempted or completed rape, likely due to the lack of security provided. The statistics do not even cover the men who are assaulted, as they are even less likely to report an assault because of the stigmas society places on the subject. Ideally, the community should talk seriously about sexual assault and discontinue the glorification of it in the media. Children should learn not to tolerate assault and to act as advocates for the victims rather than the assailants.
“When I see the elaborate study and ingenuity displayed by women in the pursuit of trifles, I feel no doubt of their capacity for the most herculean undertakings.”
Political Buzz
Environment a non-issue in Keystone debate To build or not to build, that is the question. Many people across the U.S. have voiced their opinion about the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. The President vetoed legislation (H.R.3) designed to cut
Managing Editor Catie Marie Martin
through bureaucratic red tape last Tuesday, so this issue will surface again in Congress. But what exactly is all the hype about a single pipe? According to the official reports issued by the State
Editor in Chief
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News Editor Lacretia Wimbley
Multimedia Editor
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Kelsee McKim
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Life Editor
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Noor Mujahid
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Austin Grove
Blake Morgan
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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.
325-7905 editor@reflector.msstate.edu Managing Editor/Catie Marie Martin 325-8991 managing@reflector.msstate.edu News Editor/Lacretia Wimbley 325-8819 news@reflector.msstate.edu Opinion Editor/Michael Lamb opinion@reflector.msstate.edu Sports Editor/Blake Morgan 325-5118 reflectorsports@gmail.com Life Editor/Noor Mujahid 325-8883 life@reflector.msstate.edu Photography Editor/Emma Hutto 325-1584 photo@reflector.msstate.edu Multimedia Editor/Kelsee McKim multimedia_editor@reflector.msstate.edu Advertising Sales/Alex Anthony 325-7907 advertise@reflector.msstate.edu
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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.
Department, the Keystone pipeline was first proposed in 2008 by the TransCanada Corporation, a major supplier of crude oil in North America. This proposed route was almost a straight connection between where the pipeline crossed into the U.S. into Steele City, Nebraska, where another new portion of pipeline would carry it to refineries. Immediately, complaints came in from several environmental organizations that pointed out the pipeline would cross through the Sand Hill region of Nebraska. This environmental uncertainty, combined with a 60-day deadline to approve the application in 2011, led to the denial of the first application. Since then, another application has been filed with a slightly different route. The new 2013 application sought to resolve these issues, mostly by having the proposed line go around nature reserves including the Sand Hills, in addition to stopping the line at Steele City and simply connecting it to existing pipelines. Despite this, the current proposition still gets much scrutiny. Opponents cite increased greenhouse gases, the danger of possible leakage and the destruction of American burying beetle habitat as reasons to deny the construction. Factually, these arguments are on some shaky ground. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) issued by the State Department
shows the process by which the pipeline will be built, which includes an often overlooked restoration phase. The building process is much like building interstate highways in that a long strip of land is cleared for construction. Unlike highways, though, once the construction is complete and the line is in the ground, all of the above ground land will be restored, meaning in the long run little habitat will be destroyed. And all of this will be paid for by the Keystone builders.
underground, using technology that can detect minute differences in pressure to identify leaks, ensuring proper government oversight and even training and preparing response teams in the event of a rupture. According to the EIS, a rupture is unlikely given the lack of seismic activity in the area. Many opponents are also unaware the oil from Canada’s tar sands is still coming into the U.S. whether or not the Keystone pipeline is built. It makes its
“Hopefully, Americans won’t have to wait too long to see this more efficient, environmentally safe and reliable method of shipping oil come to fruition.” Because of this and other measures, the EIS emphasized the beetle’s existence will not be jeopardized by the project. On the subject of greenhouse gases, the only extra gases emitted from the pipeline will be from the construction vehicles during the building phase and pump stations along the line that provide pressure for the crude to flow; their contribution is minimal. The only real environmental concern is possible leakage. To address this, Keystone has provided many measures to ensure a leak could be prevented and combated, including giving water sources wide berth
way via our inefficient railroad system. This current method of transporting the oil is far more dangerous as attested to by the many explosive crashes seen on the news. Train transport more directly puts human lives in danger and poses the same spill threats pipelines pose. This fact is often overlooked as Republicans — the main proponents of the pipeline — entrench themselves in the idea that its construction is primarily a jobs issue. While construction will create roughly 42,100 jobs, these are mostly temporary. Supporters of the line also argue the economic benefits would be
Joseph Kerstiens is a freshman majoring in biochemistry. He can be contacted at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.
astounding. While in principle “flooding the markets” will definitely drive prices down, the long-term effect of the pipeline, economically, is hard to pinpoint largely because of the unstable long-term trends in the oil industry. The Keystone XL pipeline debate is simply one on how to safely transport crude oil from Canada to Texas refineries, and now that the veto has been brought down on the Keystone’s immediate approval, the pipeline has few methods of ever fully being authorized. It can either go through the long bureaucratic approval process in an administration hostile to it — which could take several years — or Congress can whip the vote and override the veto. Hopefully, Americans won’t have to wait too long to see this more efficient, environmentally safe and reliable method of shipping oil come to fruition.
THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015
Happy 137th Birthday, MSU
DRESS PHENOMENON EXPLAINED
WHITE/GOLD
BLUE/BLACK
THE INTERNET BLEW UP THURSDAY DUE TO A DRESS THAT SPARKED A DEBATE ALL OVER TWITTER AND OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITES. IS THE DRESS BLUE AND BLACK OR GOLD AND WHITE?
THE DRESS Mississippi State University celebrated its 137th birthday Friday. President Mark Keenum cut the cake, and students were served ice cream and drinks.
MSU presents Mozart performance by Michael Lamb Opinion Editor
Diverse entertainment can inspire, increase imagination and create community across all boundaries. Last Saturday, the Starkville-MSU Symphony Orchestra presented a magical night performing the greatest works of Austrian composer genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The orchestra was joined by concert choirs from Mississippi State University and the Mississippi University for Women. The entertainers performed Symphony No. 41, titled “The Jupiter,” and “Requiem in D minor.”
Though “Requiem” was unfinished at the time of Mozart’s death, it was completed by his student Franz Xaver Süssmayr using notes
writing the piece for his own funeral. The drama behind the composition was not lost in the symphony orchestra’s
“ ...the orchestra filled the space with the resplendent melodies of the pieces.” left behind by Mozart. The piece was anonymously commissioned by Austrian Count Franz von Walsegg as a memorial for the anniversary of his wife’s passing, but was first performed for the funeral mass for Mozart himself. Before his passing, Mozart confessed to his wife he believed he was
performance. Combined with the ambience of Bettersworth Auditorium in Lee Hall, the orchestra fi lled the space with the resplendent melodies of the pieces. When the choirs joined, the music became a sacrosanct memory shared between every member of the audience.
The enactment of the third movement, beginning with the intense song “Dies Irae,” was simply enrapturing. Solo performances from Tara Warfield, Jeanette Fontaine, Ryan Landis and Peter Infanger added an irresistible spiritual element, which made the entire room feel small. The “Requiem” mass has been performed many times and in several places and is widely hailed as one of the most influential pieces of music. Attending the performance of such a piece of music by a group of immensely talented choirs was an honor and reflects the excellence of the musical programs at the university.
THE TRICK Our eyes have an ability known as color constancy, which enables us to attribute definite colors under various lighting conditions. Due to the yellow hues in the picture’s background, one may see the dress in shadow. Therefore, one’s brain disassociates the blue cast from the dress, and it appears as white and gold. Fox News explained the phenomenon of the dress, noting “that light enters the eye through the lens, with different wavelengths corresponding to different colors. The light hits the retina in the back of the eye where pigments fire up neural connections to the visual cortex.” It is here that the image hits a “perceptual boundary,” and our brains become confused about the dress’s illuminating and reflecting colors.
THE EYE
LENS Clear disk that helps focus light on the retina
RETINA Light-sensitive part inside the eye that turns light into signals the brain can understand.
CORNEA
OPTIC NERVE
Acts like a window
Delivers messages
at the front of the
from the retina to
eye
the brain
Austin Grove | The Reflector
Russ Houston| Courtesy Photograph
The dress is actually blue and black. Some see the dress as white and gold in a dark shadow. Some see the dress as blue and black washed out in bright light.
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2/4/15 6:12 AM
Sports
6 THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015
MSU locks up third seed by Zach Wagner
Mullen deserves raise Following one of the most successful seasons in school history, Head Coach Dan Mullen and Mississippi State University finally agreed upon his new extension Thursday. Under Mullen the Bulldogs won 10 games last season, which was the first time in school history the program was able to achieve that mark. Also, the team ranked No. 1 in the country for the first time in school history as well. The extension brings Mullen’s average yearly salary to $4.275 million, making him the ninth coach in the SEC to reach the $4 million per year amount.
Staff Writer
On an afternoon that saw four Bulldogs honored for senior day, the Mississippi State University women’s basketball team defeated the Ole Miss Rebels 55-47. The Bulldogs clinched third place in the SEC and will be the No. 3 seed once the SEC Tournament gets underway later in the week. Head Coach Vic Schaefer expressed his happiness for everyone involved in what turned out to be a special regular season. The Bulldogs sealed their 26th victory of the season Sunday in front of a crowd of 7,326, the largest attendance for a women’s basketball game in the history of the programs and in the state of Mississippi. “It’s just a tremendous day for us and women’s basketball. I’m so happy for my seniors, and I just can’t say enough about them and what they have meant to the program. To send them out today with a victory in front of the largest crowd in the history of the school, I think is an opportunity they deserved,” he said. “To win 26 games in a season is really incredible, in a regular season especially.” Along with setting the record for attendance at a single game on Sunday, another important attendance mark was set as well. With a total of 67,598 spectators for the year, MSU set the all-time record for total attendance for a single season, which demonstrates just how much respect this team has garnered from MSU fans. Senior Martha Alwal reminisced over playing in front of significantly fewer fans early on in her time at MSU. “We literally started from the bottom to the top. When I first got here there were 100 (fans) in the stands, and it was kind of hard. You have to get yourself going because
From the Corner
Jacob Follin | The Reflector
Senior Martha Alwal lays the ball up against the Ole Miss Rebels.
the crowd really wasn’t that loud, but as we started doing better throughout the seasons that I have been here, the crowd kept multiplying,” Alwal said. “They’re loud all the time now, and they cheer us on good or bad. They help us through tough times and they have played a huge part in (Sunday’s) win.” The senior center finished her last regular season game with a nine-point, 13 rebound stat line and was a physical presence in the paint all game long, playing 39 minutes. Along with Alwal, freshman Victoria Vivians chipped in with 17 points and six rebounds for the contest and stayed aggressive for the entirety of the game, attempting 10 free throws for the contest. The key stretch in the game for the Bulldogs occurred in the final 11 minutes of the first half. The Rebels jumped out to a 9-0 lead to start the game and seemed to be gaining confidence on the floor. However, coming
out of the media timeout at the 11:28 mark, the Bulldogs only allowed the Rebels to score seven more points in the entire half, locking down on the defensive end of the floor. For the game, MSU only shot 32 percent from the field, but held the Rebels to 35 percent shooting for the day. Its defense has been the prohibitive factor in achieving everything it has all season, and it has ramped it up at home especially as it finished 16-1 at Humphrey Coliseum for the year. Earning a double-round bye as the No. 3 seed, the Bulldogs return to action Friday at the SEC Tournament at approximately 8:30 p.m. in Little Rock, Arkansas, against the winner of the Thursday’s Game six. The tournament’s first 10 games, including the Bulldogs’ first matchup, will be televised on the SEC Network. Fans can watch the semifinals Saturday on ESPNU.
here,” Mullen said in a news release. “We have created a winning culture both on and off the field and built a program that has sustained success in the nation’s toughest conference. I’ve always said we are going to win a championship here, and I firmly believe that.” This deal makes sense for the university because it wants to show that it is willing to do what it takes to host to one of the best college football programs and coaches in the country year in and year out. By extending Mullen, the program rewards him for taking what used to be the doormat of the SEC West and turning
“I’ve always said we are going to win a championship here, and I firmly believe that.” -Dan Mullen His old deal brought him $3 million a year, so it is not surprising he would want to be paid like one of the elite coaches in the conference, as his team performed like one of the best units in the entire country last season. His new deal will run through the 2018 season and contains built-in raises that could earn him more money if his teams keep up the production the way it did last season. Mullen was happy to receive his extension, but didn’t waiver from the larger goal at hand in his mind – winning a championship. “We spent five weeks ranked No. 1 last season for the first time, but we have only scratched this surface on what we can accomplish
it into a contender. His personality has really begun to rub off on the community as a whole, as the phrase “moral victory” no longer has a place in Starkville. I’ll never forget being in the visitor’s media room in Oxford, following Mississippi State’s Egg Bowl loss to Ole Miss in the last regular season game of the year in November. The sheer look of disgust on Mullen’s face when he walked into the cramped space under Vaught-Hemingway Stadium was enough to make everyone assembled realize just how much the man hates losing. His fiery press conference that evening was a true depiction of a man who is willing to do whatever it takes to mold
Zach Wagner is a senior majoring in communication. He can be contacted at reflectorsports@gmail. com
MSU into the national power that he envisioned it being when he took the job. For those saying they want to see Mullen prove he can duplicate the likes of last year in back-toback seasons or longer, keep in mind it’s not just on the field that the Bulldogs have improved, but also off the field. This can be seen in the form of academic improvement in the classroom. Take, for example, the 2014 fall semester, where Mullen’s football squad posted its highest overall team GPA of 2.76 in the program’s history. Along with this, MSU has been able to improve its NCAA Academic Progress Rate each year since Mullen has taken over as coach. Between this extension and the fact Mullen just got done sealing a top-16 recruiting class, the MSU community should be excited to have the former Florida offensive coordinator don the headset for a minimum of four more seasons. Rest assured Bulldog fans; your future is in good hands with Mullen at the helm. That competitive Bulldog football will become a trend, rather than a once in a decade occurrence like in years past.
Baseball sweeps weekend by Shelby Anderton Contributing Writer
After their third-straight four-game series to open the season, the Bulldogs remain undefeated after a sweep over the University of Arizona and Samford University at Dudy Noble Field. The Diamond Dogs advance to a 13-0 record for the fourth time in school history. Out of the 301 Division I teams, Mississippi State University is one of the four remaining undefeated teams, along with conference opponent Texas A&M. On Friday, the Bulldogs defeated the Arizona Wildcats 4-2. MSU was behind 1-0 until the third inning when it came back with two runs. The Bulldogs then stretched the lead to 3-1 in the sixth inning; then made it 4-1 in the seventh.
Following the series opener, the Dogs turned around to play a double-header on Saturday. The Dogs held Arizona 6-2 in their second contest of the weekend. After the win, MSU came out on top once again defeating Samford 8-2. MSU scored five runs in the first inning, and there was no looking back. On Sunday, the Dogs took on Samford for the second time, completing their weekend sweep. Sophomore pitcher Vance “Moonlight” Tatum was outstanding and said he built confidence throughout the game. Tatum was named Co-SEC Pitcher of the Week. “I had a really good feeling at the beginning of the game,” said Tatum. Tatum allowed two hits in over eight innings of work. He had a career high of 12 strikeouts, the most of any MSU starter since 2013. Tatum struck out
nine of the first 10 batters he faced. The Bulldogs are now the first team in the country to win 13 games, but Head Coach John Cohen said the squad is focused on daily improvement. “We aren’t worried about the competition,” Cohen said. “We are worried about ourselves and getting better every day.” The Bulldogs will take on Arkansas Pine-Bluff Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Dudy Noble Field.
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