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MSU starts new

Finding a balance of

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SPEECH AND DEBATE TEAM

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WEEKEND SERIES

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TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015

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129 th YEAR | ISSUE 42

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

‘Bulldogs on the Move’

Texting while driving banned, students discuss

Special needs students engage in athletic experience

by Taylor Bowden Staff Writer

by Savannah Taggart Staff Writer

Mississippians have about three months to get used to ignoring texts, tweets and emails while they’re driving, or they could face some fines.

Mississippi became the 45th state to ban texting and driving for all drivers when Governor Phil Bryant signed House Bill 389 into law on March 13.

The law prohibits writing, sending or reading text messages, as well as accessing, reading or posting to a social networking site. Beginning July 1, law enforcement will be handing out $25 fines to offenders of the texting and driving ban. This fine will quadruple to $100 on July 1, 2016.

Many say the ban is long overdue.

Studies have shown that texting while driving is the equivalent of having a 1.0 BAC, which would warrant a DUI in most states.

Taylor Bowden |The Reflector

Special Education students from the Starkville School District toss a ball back and forth during the ʻBulldogs on the Moveʼ day, an event hosted by Pi Kappa Phi members and the Maroon Volunteer Center. Pi Kappa Phi aimed to provide the students with physical activities as well as opportunities for important social interactions between various age groups. The event took place last Friday afternoon at Mississippi State Universityʼs Sanderson Center, and the next ʻBulldogs on the Moveʼ day is scheduled for April 17. MSU students can sign up to volunteer for this and other events through the Maroon Volunteer Center at https://orgsync.com/587/community/calendar.

A yellow school bus unloaded into Mississippi State University’s Sanderson Center gym Friday afternoon, carrying elementary students from the Starkville School District’s (SSD) special education program.

For an hour the students ran, threw balls, rode scooters, hoola-hooped and any combination thereof with MSU student volunteers.

Friday marked March’s “Bulldogs on the Move” a joint effort between Pi Kappa Phi, SSD and the Maroon Volunteer Center to provide an recurring event where every elementary special education student in the city can meet one another and not only stretch his or her legs, but also build valuable and lasting connections with classmates and members of the MSU student body.

“This is really important to her,” Event organizer Jacob Boyer said while gesturing to a young girl in a red wheelchair. “She is normally very sedentary, but here we get her to play catch, and she loves hanging out with the other girls.”

Boyer, along with co-chair Ben Thomas, orchestrates the Bulldogs on the Move program. He said that the focus of the program is not to simply provide the elementary kids with physical fitness and a place to play, but also to enable MSU students to become involved with lives and build bonds they would not otherwise have an opportunity to build.

BULLDOGS, 2

TEXTING, 2

Competition showcases talent

MSU’s ‘Students for life’ supports pregnant students

by D.J. Wormley Staff Writer

Emma Katherine Hutto |The Reflector

Indian Student Association:

MSUʼs Indian Student Association hosted ʻMaroon Vibesʼ Sunday evening in Lee Hallʼs Bettersworth Auditorium. The event featured a competition that judged dance, singing and the playing of instruments. Children are pictured dancing during the event.

The Students for Life organization at Mississippi State University will host a student-parent baby shower on April 16 for enrolled MSU students who are pregnant.

Students for Life is an organization at MSU that provides services for students who are pregnant.

Anja Scheib, director of Students for Life, said the organization provides services for students who have or have not planned to have children.

“Usually someone comes to us as an undergraduate with an unplanned

pregnancy, but it’s also set up for students who are married and are pregnant who are really stressed out about being able to fi nish school, so we created a resource guide that has referral to the pregnancy center in town, and you can go there and everything is free. The fi rst thing we offer is referral to the center where they can get a lab-quality pregnancy test,” Scheib said.

Scheib said the organization provides many resources for parents on and off campus.

“We have referral for insurance for your child, places where you can go for WIC, the OB/GYNs here, then there are other options such as a breastfeeding support group, the hospital and the Emerson Family Center,” Scheib said.

PREGNANT, 2

UBS to host multiple blood drives before Bulldog weekend

by Nia Wilson Staff Writer

United Blood Services (UBS) and WMSV 91.1 will host multiple

blood drive events leading into Super Bulldog Weekend. The drives will last from April 12-17 and will be located all throughout Mississippi State University campus.

Each donor can expect a free T-shirt, a raffle entry for that day’s prize and a free cover to Rick’s Café

on April 25. Finally, donors will receive a raffle ticket for the grand prize of a semester of free books.

The winner will be announced on April 17.

Caroline Pugh, UBS donor recruitment representative, said giving blood means so much but

requires so little.

“United Blood Services makes a commitment to hospitals to provide them with blood. We are so dependent on donors so that we can fulfi ll that promise. I know students want to help. Giving blood is such a wonderful gift that

doesn’t cost money, only a little time,” Pugh said.

Pugh said UBS set a high goal, but she fully believes the student body will and can achieve it.

“Our goal is 250 pints. It’s always better to aim high rather than aim low, right?” she said.

BLOOD, 2

Tuesday

HI 73 LO 56

Wednesday

HI 76 LO 60

Thursday

HI 79 LO 63

Friday

HI 77 LO 48

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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015

TEXTING Despite this fatal finding, before the March 13 signing, only drivers under 18 and school bus drivers were prohibited from texting behind the wheel.

In a December study, the Mississippi Center for Health Policy estimated a texting ban could have saved 95 lives between 2008 and 2012.

This statistic is staggering, but it should not come as a surprise that in a society driven by technology, texting and driving is a common occurrence.

WAMC Action News 5 reported in just 15 minutes, their cameras caught four drivers consumed by their cell phones, hardly paying attention to the road.

In an interview with Mississippi Public Broadcasting, Colonel Donnell Berry, director of the Mississippi Highway Patrol, said this type of behavior leads to accidents.

“When you travel up and down the road and you see the traffic is backing up, you see somebody texting,” Berry said. “You go out and work an accident and for no apparent reason somebody had run off the road and 9 times out of 10 it’s due to texting or reading a text on a phone, not paying attention to what you are doing or where your surroundings are while you are driving.”

Society’s fascination with technology makes one question how effective this type of ban on texting and driving will be, and

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MSU students seem to have mixed opinions about the issue.

Madie Dean, sophomore finance major, said she doubts law enforcement’s ability to figure out if a person is really texting and driving, or if he or she is simply making a phone call

moving, and decide that they were indeed texting,” Calhoun said. “I’ve had people tell me that they will just text at a red light. If you’re sitting at a red light operating a vehicle on a road and you’re texting; then you’re still violating the law.”

Allen Tucker, senior busi-

“If a person is just driving down the street, they could easily tell an officer that they weren’t using their phone if they got pulled over.”

-Madie Dean, Sophomore finance major or using his or her phone’s GPS, which Dean said are both legal under the new law.

“If a person is just driving down the street, they could easily tell an officer that they weren’t using their phone if they got pulled over,” Dean said.

Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Ward Calhoun told The Meridian Star he recognizes this issue, and like all new laws, it will take time to work out the kinks.

“It will be difficult to some degree, because basically you’re going to have to be behind them and be able to see a screen with a finger

ness administration major, thinks accident rates overall may go down as a result of the ban, but there will not be much change in individual behavior.

“People will think the ban is effective because the only evidence they had of how many people texted and drove before the ban was from accidents,” Tucker said. “Ultimately, I don’t think it will have an effect on stopping people from texting and driving, sadly.”

However, prior studies contradict Tucker’s predictions.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

conducted a study in 2010 that looked at collision claims frequency in states that enacted texting bans compared with states that didn’t. The IIHS has continually monitored claims data for changes. It is still the same, according to Russ Rader, senior vice president of communications at the IIHS. “There’s no question that texting while driving is distracting and dangerous,” Rader said.

“Unfortunately, we have no evidence that these laws reduce crashes.”

Rader blames these results in part on the fact that cellphones are only a small fraction of what distracts drivers.

“Distracted driving is as old as driving,” Rader said.

“And whether it’s putting on lipstick, or reading the newspaper, or reaching into the backseat for the MP3 player, all those things are distracting. So focusing on phone use will have limited effect on reducing crashes.”

The question of the effectiveness of this texting and driving ban is still up in the air, and it will take months after the law goes into effect for state officials to decide whether or not it can be seen as a success, but many peoples minds are already made up, like sophomore biomedical engineering major Morgan Eguia.

“I think the law is beneficial,” Eguia said. “But I’ll do it (text) anyway.”

BULLDOG “It’s not just recess,” said Jan Houston, who teaches special needs children at Henderson Elementary. “A student will reach specifically out to one of our students, and they get that one on one connection.”

Several of the volunteers that day have come back to help with the activity days multiple times. Boyer said he sees the volunteers that return often spend time with students they played with in the past.

“I feel like it is fun to get out and get to know all of the kids,” Chloe Wilks said, a freshman biological chemistry major, who started going to ‘Bulldogs on the Move’ days last fall.

Wilks said she participated in a similar program at her high school.

Boyer said Pi Kappa Phi funds the events, provides the money to rent the gym, as well as pays for and rents the equipment the kids use.

In addition to paying for the space and equipment, Boyer, who is a Special Education major, said one of his goals for the program is to have an additional, separate, ‘‘sensory center’’ for the kids who are less inclined to join in on a half

CONTINUED FROM 1

court basketball game and would rather sit calmly.

Boyer said objects with interesting textures and properties, such as kinetic sand, are very alluring to some of the more reclusive students who would rather play quietly and chat softly.

Contrary to the introverted children who collect themselves around the sides of the room, there are plenty such as Teontae Stafford, who at one point ran up to Boyer proudly wearing

Boyer’s own hat.

“Some like to do their own thing but hang out in the center of the room because its a little more inclusive,” Boyer said.

Coop Parker, one of Boyer’s Pi Kappa Phi brothers who chairs the fraternity’s national Philanthropy, said their national philanthropy, The Ability Experience, involves many programs such as ‘‘Bulldogs on the Move’’, and because of that, a portion of the

money its raise for The Ability Experience each year actually comes back to the fraternity to fund the program.

“It’s not every day that a fraternity can promote their philanthropy once a week.

It’s really beneficial to us,” Parker said.

While Boyer and Thomas do most of the organizing for the event, Boyer said they rely on the Maroon Volunteer Center to fi ll the ranks.

Emma Katherine Hutto | The Reflector

Special needs students and volunteers play inside MSUʼs Sanderson Center during ʻBulldogs on the Moveʼ Friday afternoon.

Get Focused.

to give if we are able to. In just 15 minutes, you can provide a donation to save three lives,” junior chemical engineering major and a long time blood donor Greg Abadie, said UBS encourages

on Lynn Lane with shuttle service to campus

University Towers

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Colony Apartments

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www.eyeandlaser.net • 662.320.6555 100 Walker Way • Starkville, MS

Sunday, March 29, 2015 PREGNANT 2:26 a.m. A student was arrested on Lee Blvd. for speeding 39/20 and

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driving underhave the influence.

A justice court citation student referral “They parenting about a lotandand they have were issued. classes, support groups if federal rights,” Scheib said. you’re an abusive rela-at HurstScheib said drunkenness. she believes 3:05 a.m.inA student was arrested Hall for public the group benefits MSU and tionship, breastfeeding, A student referral was issued. parenting, safety, and tothe 7:11 a.m. A student wasetc. transported OCHcommunity for Rice Hall forbecause medical it itassistance. is all free,” Scheib said. educates pregnant students “You can also get free on the resources available counselors, and if you take and gives them the confithe parenting classes you dence and knowledge they get supplies like diapers, need to fi nish school.

“It is shown that parents diaper bags, clothes, etc.

On campus there are also who have a degree usually lactation rooms, and we end up being able to proalso recently got an award vide more for their child that included a money prize early in life, and that means to buy the school more that child can go further.

That does not mean that a changing tables.”

Scheib also said the orga- child with parents who do nization provides referrals not have a degree cannot for students worried about succeed, but it certainly general college life while helps the odds,” Scheib said. being pregnant.

Shaquita Woodson, art “We have references for housing, parenting schol- major at MSU, said she arships. There are a lot would use the resources of rights that people are that Students for Life offers not aware they have, even because it helps pregnant people who worry about students get the help they losing participation points need with college.

“If I were pregnant, yes because they had an ultrasound,” Scheib said. “It I would use the resources,” is against federal law for Woodson said. “I feel if I’m them to do that because it in need of help with colis a medical condition that lege duties, like housing or you can’t help. (Professors) fi nancial aid, the Students have to be able to give you for Life is an organization makeup work, and there is that will help me. I think it also references for adop- is very important for MSU tion and post-abortive to have these resourcresources. You also have es available for pregnant excused absences for coun- women.”

Alexis Jones, cognitive seling to help go through science major at MSU, said the aftermath of that.”

Scheib said she believes she believes organizations the group is important such as Students for Life is because it is essential for beneficial to MSU because students who are expect- it helps retain students.

“Programs such as this ing to be aware of their would help female stuoptions.

“All across the coun- dents and employees who try, but especially in are pregnant or just had Mississippi, we have high children stay at the univerunexpected pregnancy sity which is beneficial,” rates, and people typically Jones said. “Helping studo not know all the resourc- dents succeed in school es that are here and people means that the university want to drop out, and a lot will have more successful of times people drop for alumni which will pay off things that could have been for them in the long run.”

The baby shower is for taken care of, had they known their rights. We parents of children up to really need people to know 2 years old from 3:30 p.m. their rights. Pregnancy stu- to 6:30 p.m. in the Colvard dents are a minority group, Student Union Dawg and they are not talked House on MSU’s campus.

CONTINUED FROM 1

Now Leasing for this Fall Greentree Apartments

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Saturday, March 28, 2015 1:32 a.m. A student was arrested on CQ Sheely Drive for improper equipement and driving under the influence.

10:18 a.m. A student was transported to OCH from the Wise Center for medical assistance.

1:15 p.m. A visitor reported a shotgun stolen from his truck while parked in the Sanderson Center parking lot.

BLOOD Greg Abadie, junior chemical engineering major and longtime blood donor, said giving blood should be seen as a vital obligation.

“I fi rst gave blood on my 16th birthday. I feel like it is our personal responsibility

Eye Exams • Eye & Disease Care • Surgery Name Brand Frames & Sunglasses • Contacts

Friday, March 27, 2015 12:27 a.m. A student was arrested in Starkville for running a stop sign and driving under the influence.

9:34 a.m. An employee reported an employee lost an iPad belonging to MSU while traveling on a Delta Airlines flight.

9:42 a.m. A student was arrested on a warrant at Hurst Hall for possession of a controlled substance. A justice court citation and a student referral were issued.

10:16 a.m. An employee reported the gate arm at Lee Hall damaged.

2:36 p.m. An employee reported the printer from the Science Department at Lloyd Ricks missing.

Come Try Us Out!

Phone: 662-323-2430 662-418-9113

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interested participants to make an appointment ahead of time. Future donors can visit bloodhero.com or call Pugh at 601-321-9988 to reserve a time.

Steve Ellis, WMSV general manager, said he loves helping his community and is a proud supporter of this project.

“This drive is a great way to end the semester,”

Steve Ellis said. “We at WMSV like to do what we can to support the community. I know blood supply is always low, and I am proud to do whatever I can to help with that problem.

MSU students are some of the most giving students in the world, so I have no doubt that we will achieve our goal.”

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REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015

March 27 solutions:

An In-Class Distraction

CLASSIFIEDS POLICY

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.

Uniquie Faculty (student or alumni) Apartments!

“Lodge at the Lake.”

Fantastic view, 340’ waterfront, dock, boat, fishing. Eleven miles west of campus. One bedroom apartment avilable August. $550 (Or buy all five units $343,000!) Call 662-418-2790.

FOR SALE Great investment! Faculty, alumni, parents, fraternity or sorority “extra”

1003 HWY 182 E.

housing. “Lodge at the Lake”: Five one bedroom apartments, common room, 340’ waterfront and dock on Oktibehha Count Lake, eleven miles west of campus. $343,000. Call 662-418-2790.

CLUB INFO

The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday; deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. MSU student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info. Information may be submitted by email club_info@reflector. to 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.

MSU HILLEL

Jews wanted! If you’re Jewish, let us know!

Like us on Facebook at Hillel @ Mississippi State University. Join us for meetings. For more questions, contact Joseph

Metz at 601-813-7720.

STATE RUGBY

Think you’re tough???

Think again… Join State Rugby. 2014 SEC Division Champions!

Practices T, W, R @ 5:30 at Rec Plex. For more info: rugby.org.msstate. edu or rugby-info@org. msstate.edu.

BALLROOM DANCE CLUB

The Ballroom Dance Club is having its 10th Annual Moonlight Ball. It will be $20 for students and $25 for non-students and includes a catered dinner.

It will be held April 11 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanderson Center.

SOCIOLOGICAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION

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

WESLEY FOUNDATION

Join us for Insight, a night of worship and Bible study at the Wesley Foundation, Tuesday nights at 8:00.

THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015

Modern marriage in U.S. suffers from frivolity

by Elliott Terrell Contributing Writer

Marriage is a word that holds significance for many people, while for others it is simply a word.

Most people aspire to find the partner of his or her dreams and someday commit to marriage. Between the constant debates on who should be able to marry and the alarming rate of divorce, the United States is not exactly a poster child for marriage.

I feel in today’s society there is not as much emphasis on the institution of marriage. The rate of matrimony has decreased to historic lows.

In 2013, the national average of marriages per 1,000 single women was 31.1 percent, in comparison to 92.3 percent in 1920. Since the

1920s, the drastic decline in marriages is due to notable changes in our nation such as women’s rights, civil rights and shifts in moral values.

Social stigmas associated with divorce, having children out of wedlock and premarital sex are becoming things of the past. With these stigmas decaying, there is less urgency and pressure to marry. In addition to moral changes, today’s society is shifting from a family mentality to self-mentality. For example, a man or woman will focus on his or her career and what her or she can accomplish. In past generations, creating a family was more important than self-ambition.

Fifty percent of marriages in America end in divorce. This startling statistic raises the question:

why do marriages fail?

There are numerous reasons, but I will focus on three. First, people marry

end of the semester gives no class credit, would you still attend the class?

Second, some people are

“Divorce rates could be cut marginally if couples truly got to know each other, communicated their expectations and identified indivdual faults before marriage.” for the wrong reasons.

Marrying for money, looks or social status will rarely keep a marriage together.

When the money is gone, the looks fade or the spouse is no longer a public figure, there is little motivation to stay in the relationship.

For example, if a professor takes no attendance, does not count grades and at the

not willing to commit and work out problems within the marriage. No relationship is perfect. Longlasting relationships need work, love, compromise and sacrifice. When reconcilable problems arise, heading to court should be the last option — not “plan B.” Reasons for divorce range from justified to

ridiculous. Snoring too loud, being too nice or not liking the way someone chews his or her food are not valid reasons to end something intended to be a lifelong commitment. Divorce rates could be cut marginally if couples truly got to know each other, communicated their expectations and identified individual faults before marriage.

Third, there are individuals that do not fully understand what marriage is due to their environment, upbringing or past experiences. For instance, growing up in a single parent household may limit one’s perspective on how a married couple interacts with each other.

Occasionally, limited perspective translates to not knowing how to be good spouse.

Unfortunately,

this creates a vicious cycle of people growing up without knowing how to have a successful marriage. These individuals have children who inevitably fall into the same category.

Marriage is not a fairy tale. It requires dedication, compromise, sacrifice and love. Many married couples attest to hard times within the span of their relationship. The true test of marriage is how two individuals can overcome trials and still support each other. I feel our society has lost focus of what marriage is and how to make it last.

For anyone considering jumping the broom in the future, know marriage is a lifelong commitment.

The vows at the ceremony mean something; challenge yourself to uphold these vows and be true to your spouse.

Who Speaks for Earth?

Undergraduate research complements education When I was a sophomore I once sat in my astronomy class and listened to my teacher describe detection methods for finding exoplanets when I had a question. This was not unusual, as I always have questions. But this one led to more discussion after class and an offer to help engage in research.

This casual event has since led me to operate a research telescope in Chile, present preliminary results at an American Astronomical Society meeting and now write a senior thesis on the subject. That is not the only way to enter undergraduate research, but it worked for me and has been influential in my progress as a student and in getting internships and graduate school acceptances.

But how important is undergraduate research really? I interviewed Seth Oppenheimer, a professor of mathematics at Mississippi State University and the Director of Undergraduate

Research for the Shackouls Honors College, and he said although it is not required, it is a very important aspect of an undergraduate education to participate in some form of research — be it in your own department and major or elsewhere.

“I think (undergraduate research) is not necessary to education, but it is an extremely important part of education if you engage in it.

It allows a student to delve deeply into a subject they are interested in, number one, but beyond that it forces the student to understand their subject in a way that going to classes just can’t possibly do.

They have to really engage with the ideas ... One can often get through a course with knowing the basics and being able to handle a few more difficult things, but to do research requires a much more thorough and deep understanding of what is going on,” Oppenheimer said.

Oppenheimer went on to describe how undergraduate research provides valuable critical thinking skills and independence that helps, even outside of graduate school research settings.

Besides the long term benefits of research with a mentor, it can also be fun and immediately rewarding. Understanding an advanced subject and being able to make progress on a problem and eventually

“I encourage everyone to see the value and

importance of participating in some form of collaboration with professionals in your intended field...”

“( Undergraduate research) allows not just for intellectual growth and understanding within the field, but if one is going to move on, whether in graduate school or in the working world, doing undergraduate research prepares one to work creatively and independently in a way that just taking courses simply will not,” Oppenheimer said.

present it before others is rewarding, and I would be lying if I said using the scientific equipment and getting to travel weren’t fun, too. I have used undergraduate research as an hourly paid position, as an internship for the summer at a national accelerator facility and most recently as course credit for my senior thesis.

Now, it may not be obvious

how to get involved, but according to Oppenheimer, the Provost’s office has taken an interest in this subject and has launched a new website to help pair willing students with mentors for undergraduate research. According to the MSU Office of Public Affairs release, the website is “designed to highlight all types of undergraduate research opportunities and symposiums.” The website is available at urcd.msstate. edu for those interested in seeing what is available.

Additionally, it is possible to present research that has already been conducted at the research symposia that are hosted by the Honors College. Every spring and summer there are symposia for students engaged in research at MSU and in the National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates hosted at MSU during the summers

Cameron Clarke is a senior majoring in physics. He can be contacted at opinion@reflector. msstate.edu.

to have a chance to present their work as either a poster or a short talk. This year’s spring symposium is April 23 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and it is still accepting submissions. All of this is a great opportunity I have taken full advantage of during my time at MSU, and I encourage everyone to see the value and importance of participating in some form of collaboration with professionals in your intended field before graduating from the university.

Burn After Reiding

Balance of arts, sciences critical for college students Developing as an individual is one of the biggest things a person does as he or she goes through life.

Arguably, this is perhaps the most important aspect of life as it dictates who we

Managing Editor Catie Marie Martin

are and why we make the decisions we do. However, due to the fast-paced and hectic state of the modern world, many people tend to get swept away or flounder under the current, and they

Editor in Chief

Emma Crawford

News Editor Lacretia Wimbley

Multimedia Editor

Opinion Editor

Kelsee McKim

Michael Lamb

Life Editor

Photography Editor

Noor Mujahid

Emma Katherine Hutto

Copy Editor John Galatas

Graphic Designer

Sports Editor

Austin Grove

Blake Morgan

CONTACT INFORMATION

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Editor in Chief/Emma Crawford

Letters to the editor should be sent to the Meyer Student Media Center or mailed to The Reflector, PO Box 5407, Mississippi State, MS. Letters may also be emailed to editor@reflector.msstate.edu.

Letters must include name and telephone number for verification purposes. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.

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CORRECTIONS

EDITORIAL POLICY

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.

fi nd themselves feeling a sense of powerlessness in their own development.

It would seem predefi ned tracks have begun to appear, as if we are no longer making our own path but rather following a rail track. Now and then we reach a point where we can branch and switch tracks, but at the end of the day we are still just riding toward a set destination with no real control.

This seems to be a growing problem as media continues to become such a dominant part of day-to-day life, making it much easier to disconnect from reality and detach yourself emotionally from the world. Society seems to be losing more and more genuine thought through this process at an alarming rate.

The things that encompass our lives — Internet, fi lms, games, etc. — can be both a tool and a weapon.

These are things that can teach or provoke thought; they can pique our interest, inspire us or even evoke a wide range of emotions on topics we may have never known about. At the same time, these things can desensitize us and influence us to think only within a limited scope. To the uninformed, they can provide

false or misleading information. Media is a double-edged sword that comes with a risk in every one of its forms. One of the things most often confused in our interpretation of media is the idea the ultimate responsibility of the created product lies in the hands of the creator; however, it is just the opposite in the fact the viewer is wholly in control of what he or she takes away from it. A creator may have intended a certain message in his original piece, but an observer can derive a wildly different point of view. Unfortunately, this has become a narrower and narrower margin over the years, as emphasis was put more on the desired message by the creator and less on the ability of the viewer to interpret something.

An alarming dichotomy between what we see as art and science may be emerging due to these influences. While each has a distinct difference, it is hard to say neither affects the other. Impressionism and Futurism, among other movements, are living proof the art world is not isolated from science.

The amount of influence the genre of science fiction has had on real science is no

coincidence either. These two fields, different in their own rights, are not necessarily separate and function very similarly to a balance scale: one side cannot add or subtract something that will not move the other side. However, many treat these things with distinction and tend to avoid one and overload the other, and I argue that is not a healthy practice. College provides an excellent representation of this. While many schools attempt to reinforce the idea of a balanced education, all too often a student becomes polarized in his or her studies and inevitably neglects a side of the scale, becoming unbalanced.

Now, this development is understandable. As students become more engrossed in their major of choice, they begin to take more specialized courses and become overloaded with the amount of new information they are expected to know. It becomes quite a lot to handle, and it will be discouraging at times, but it is important to continue to stretch one’s self by maintaining a balance in both art and science. This is where the problem with modern media begins to arise. In small doses, it does well to

Josh Reid is a freshman majoring in electrical engineering. He can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.

keep that scale level, but it can lead to an overwhelming sense of complacency and false satisfaction if used too often. At times, it is like following a picture book or paint-by-number, rather than digesting a piece of prose or being moved by an intricate painting. We seem to be moving in a direction that fears ambiguity and involves us losing the ability to come to a unique conclusion based on solely our thoughts and experiences.

Otherwise, the train track will only get even more uniform as the message of becoming a well-balanced person will continue to be blurred more and more amidst a world of streamlined thought and induced apathy.

RE F L E C T I O N S Mark Twain

“Whenever you f ind yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”

THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015

Miss Maroon & White

MSU graduate releases best-seller

by Mary Rumore Contributing Writer

Emma Katherine Hutto | The Reflector

Fifty-three women competed in Thursdayʼs Miss Maroon and White pagaent held in Lee Hallʼs Bettersworth Auditorium. Miss Maroon and White 2015 Callie Danielle Brown (left), freshman biological engineering major from Lucedale, Mississippi, stands next to last yearʼs winner Lacy Trelles. Beauties included India Byrd, Kelbey Reynolds, Mamie Coleman Rybolt and Annel Yanez.

Campus welcomes new speech and debate team

by Georgeann Kenney Contributing Writer

A speech and debate team is on the horizon at Mississippi State University. Approximately 25 students were present at the interest meeting held Thursday in McComas Hall.

Cheryl Chambers, instructor of communication at MSU, is working with Director of Title IX and EEO Programs Brett Harvey and his wife, Sonya, to get the speech and debate team up and running.

Chambers and Harvey hosted the meeting Thursday. Both were on the speech and debate team at their own high schools. Chambers was very excited to introduce the possibility of a team at MSU. “We had a debate team back in the 70s, but we’ve never had a speech team,” Chambers said. “So this is a fi rst for Mississippi State University.”

Harvey and his wife previously coached the Madison Central High School speech and debate team. Harvey was also happy with the turnout at the meeting and said he encouraged the students to be enthusiastic and aspire to grow.

“As far as what this program can be, I would tell you to dream big,” Harvey said to the students

attending the meeting, “but realize that it has to start with baby steps.”

The team hopes to aid the students in whatever path they choose. Chambers has more experience in speech, and Harvey and Sonya are more practiced on the debate side. Most of the tournaments they expect the teams to attend will be held during the fall semester.

Chambers and Harvey concluded at the meeting that the fi rst order of business would be to get more people involved and to start practicing.

Chambers said she wanted the students to know everyone is welcome.

“The main thing we want to say at this point is that we are growing and we’re open to different directions,” Chambers said. “It’s not limited to communication.

It’s not limited to having any speech experience.”

While there were some students with no prior experience present at the meeting, many of the students present were on their high schools’ speech and debate teams.

Jeronn Parker, senior biological sciences major, said he was on a team in high school that went to state three times, and he was very eager to learn about this rising team.

“I’m really excited that this is happening. I did speech and debate all

throughout high school and for it to fi nally come to campus here at Mississippi State is going to be great,” Parker said. “I can’t wait to show the world what we are made of.”

Chambers and Harvey are planning to hold their next meeting on April 9.

The time and place will be announced closer to the meeting date.

“We’re starting with a great initial group from scratch,” Harvey said. “I’m really impressed by the talent I saw here tonight, and I think we have a chance to build a really great college speech and debate program in a really short time.”

For more information about the club or the next meeting, contact Cheryl Chambers at cherylchambers83@gmail. com.

Anitra Shelton-Quinn, a Mississippi State University alumni, recently released her inspiring new book “Becoming Incredibly Irresistible: A Guide to Living an Abundant Life.”

Quinn was born and raised in nearby West Point, Mississippi. She received a Ph.D. from MSU in school psychology, a master’s degree in school psychology from MSU and a master’s degree in gerontology from Northeast Louisiana University.

Quinn said she was involved in everything she could think of while a student at MSU. She was a member of pom squad, a Roadrunner, peer counselor ambassador, an RA and a writer for The Reflector.

“Mississippi State is a staple of who I am, to me.

There are just so many memories and so many great people,” Quinn said.

Over the past 20 years, Quinn has worked as a school psychologist,

Anitra Shelton-Quinn | Courtesy Photograph

MSU graduate Anitra Shelton-Quinn recently released an Amazon bestseller, ʻBecoming Incredibly Irresistible: A Guide to Living an Abundant Life.ʼ

book ‘Becoming Incredibly Irresistible: A Guide to Living the Abundant Life,’ in which I actually took the strategies and all of the different psychological techniques that I would give to a client in a session and

“If I had to say the overall message of this book in one statement, it’s you can be and have anything that your heart desires, as long as you put your mind to it...” -Anitra Shelton-Quinn mental health center supervisor, mental health center manager/director and director of school psychology. She is also a motivational speaker, minister, mentor and married mother of two.

She recently released her Amazon best-seller, “Becoming Incredibly Irresistible: A Guide to Living the Abundant Life,” a motivational book based on her work experience.

“I now have this new

infused them in this book, as it relates to dealing with everyday life issues, and I couple that with Christian principles because I believe that success comes from having that strong Christian foundation,” Quinn said.

Along with the book, Quinn is doing a speaking tour and giving faith based and non-faith based training.

“If I had to say the overall message of this book in

one statement, it’s you can be and have anything that your heart desires as long as you put your mind to it and you know who you are,” Quinn said. “You are successful no matter what.”

According to Quinn, being able to help other people has been the most fulfi lling part of her career so far.

“For me, being able to take ministry and take psychology and bridge the two together and really leave people feeling better and wanting more and living better is truly the highlight of my career,” Quinn said. “Whether it’s in schools or nursing homes or the myriad of places I’ve been able to work and volunteer, at the end of the day, there’s one common denominator, someone was helped and made better.”

For more information about “Becoming Incredibly Irresistible” or Anitra Shelton-Quinn visit her website drsheltonquinn.com.

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Sports THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015

Bulldogs lose weekend series to Auburn Tigers

by Devin Roberts Staff Writer

For the third straight weekend, the Mississippi State University Bulldogs lost another SEC series, which ended on a positive note on Sunday with a win against Auburn.

The Bulldogs struggled offensively the first two games of the series. The Bulldogs were only able to collect five hits on Friday and were shutout for the second game in a row. Saturday their struggles continued, as the Bulldogs were shutout once again and only managed to collect a total of four hits.

“We are doing good things defensively and on the mound, just not matching those good things offensively with the bats,” Cohen said.

Preston Brown started game one of the series and managed to pitch a complete game. He recorded seven strikeouts and only walked two batters.

Auburn’s offense started off in the second inning with a hit and run by Melvin Gray.

He moved the first runner in scoring position, and he later scored from an RBI single by Cody Nulph. Nulph was hitting .077 in SEC play when he recorded the RBI hit on Brown.

Sophomore Vance Tatum throws a pitch against the Auburn Tigers. Tatum gave up three hits, which resulted in only one earned run on Sunday.

“I thought Preston put us in a great position to win the ballgame, and we didn’t support him offensively or defensively,” Cohen said.

The Bulldogs had two errors in game one, both of them recorded by junior infielder Matt Spruill resulting in one extra run.

On Saturday the Bulldogs were also shutout once again for the third game in the row.

“Nobody in America is working harder than our

Bulldogs fall on senior day

by Zach Wagner Staff Writer

On senior day, the Mississippi State University women’s tennis team jumped out to an early lead, but was unable to close the deal, losing 4-2 to SEC foe LSU. The Bulldogs were able to pick up the doubles point for the first time in weeks. However, this accomplishment was not completed with any ease, starting on court three where the Bulldog tandem of Timea Guibe and Naomi Tran were ousted 8-5 by the opposing Tiger team of Skylar Holloway and Amanda Atanasson.

The Bulldogs would tie things up shortly when the Bulldogs’ top duo of Georgiana Patrasc and Martina Frantova were able to pull out the narrow victory 8-6 over Noel Scott and Joana Vale Costa of LSU. The Bulldogs’ remaining duo of Jasmine Lee and Louise Ronaldson faced a 5-7 deficit against Skylar Kuykendall and Abbey Owens. The pair of Bulldogs fought from behind to tie the match 7-7, forcing a tie-breaker to claim the coveted doubles point. Taking the first four points of the tiebreaker, the Bulldogs played their way to a 7-1 victory, giving them the match.

Before starting the singles matches, a ten-minute ceremony was held in honor of the seniors involved with the women’s tennis team. Those honored included team manager Andy Lockard, volunteer assistant coach Petra Ferancova and senior Naomi Tran. Tran, over her career at MSU, accumulated 83 doubles as well as singles victories and was named an ITA Scholar-Athlete three times.

On court one, Jasmine Lee struggled early to match the play of her opponent Vale Costa, who came out ready to go. Costa would glide to a very quick 6-1 victory in the first set and an even faster 6-1 victory in the second set to get the first point for the Tigers on the day. The loss is only the third of the year for Lee in singles play.

Not long after, Patrasc would fall in straight sets 6-1, 6-3 to Kuykendall on court two. This gave the Tigers their first lead of the day, and from there they never really looked back, as they would continue to ramp up the pressure on the Bulldogs.

Ronaldson found herself in a tight affair on court three, but was unable to make the breakthrough in the first set, losing 7-5 to her adversary Owens. The second set would take a turn for the worse, as Ronaldson would eventually drop the match and the point to Owens, with a 6-1 loss of

Bedroom, Bedroom, Bedroom, Bedroom,

Prescott leads MSU on field in practice Staff Writer

Sophomore Timea Guibe returns the ball against LSU.

the second set. LSU now with the 3-2 advantage, would only need one point to claim victory.

The day’s contest would end up being decided by a very controversial call on court five, where Jennifer Brown and Ella Taylor were competing for their respected teams.

Taylor had taken the first set 6-1 and held the 6-5 advantage in the second set, when in frustration Brown was penalized for slamming her racket on the court, which resulted in the end of the match, as the

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kids, and I think it’s biting us in the foot,” Cohen said Cohen stressed his frustration with his struggling Bulldogs on the second loss

by Devin Roberts

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incident occurred before the match point and gave Taylor the point she needed to win the match. The final scoreline read 6-1, 7-5 in favor of Taylor.

With the 4-2 victory over MSU, LSU improved to 15-7 on the season.

Following the match, the players and coaching staff were not available for comment.

The Bulldogs will face the Auburn Tigers at the A.J Pitts Tennis Centre on Wednesday at 2 p.m.

this weekend. Austin Sexton was on the mound, and the only offense by the Bulldogs came from Jake Vickerson and John Holland, who both recorded doubles in the game.

The Bulldogs finished the weekend series with a win on Sunday, stopping their three game losing streak and ending the weekend on a high note.

Holland had a tremendous game, recording three hits, an RBI and hitting a home run.

Wes Rea also had a good game going 2-for-4 with his first career triple.

“Thank goodness John played the way he played today. He is beginning to show us what we know he can do and coming out to be a great all-around player,” Cohen said.

Vance Tatum was able to pick up the win for the Bulldogs going 4.2 innings and allowing one run with two strikeouts.

The Bulldogs finished the weekend series with an overall record of 19-11 and a 3-6 record in SEC play The Bulldogs host the South Carolina Gamecocks this weekend. Game one is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. The Gamecocks are 19-9 this season with five wins in the SEC. South Carolina has one one game on the road this season.

The Mississippi State University Bulldogs look to continue their success on the gridiron as spring practice continues this weekend.

Senior quarterback Dak Prescott has been improving on and off the field since last year. Prescott was a Heisman favorite most of the season last year and carried the Bulldogs to their fifth consecutive bowl game.

“I’m just trying to make sure I lead the guys on and off the field and teach them every aspect of the game that I know,” Prescott said.

The team looks up to Prescott, and he has noticed the new players trying to make a name for themselves in practice.

“It’s been a great spring with young guys stepping up all over the field,” Prescott said.

De’Runnya Wilson was the team-leading receiver last year. He had a total of nine touchdowns on top of 680 receiving yards, and Wilson became one of Prescott’s favorite targets over the year.

He is recovering from offseason surgery and the team plans to have him back soon.

“Our offense looks good even without Bear [Wilson].

We have guys stepping up like Fred Ross and Fred Brown, and even some of our younger guys,” Prescott said.

The Bulldogs lost a lot of talent on the defensive and offensive side of the ball.

Recruiting was key this offseason, as Head Coach Dan Mullen managed to bring in top talent once again this year for the Bulldogs.

“Guys are having to lead,” said Mullen. “By Kendrick Market not being out there, it’s forcing people into some mental strain, not just in learning the system but in making all of the calls and checks.”

The Bulldogs spent the weekend practice going over everything the team had done in the spring. MSU will begin to implement new plays and schemes as the team begins its round of intra-squad scrimmages this week.

“Today was really a review of the first four days and you saw some separation with the older and younger guys.

The attitude, the scheme, everyone is doing a good job with it all,” Mullen said.

MSU will have its first scrimmage of the spring this Friday at 9:45 a.m.