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TUESDAY AUGUST 25, 2020
136th YEAR ISSUE 1
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
Officers respond to shooting at Aspen Heights, one injured DANIEL DYE NEWS EDITOR
At 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, the sound of gunshots rang through Aspen Heights. Emergency responders from the Oktibbeha County Sheriff ’s Office as well as medical personnel were dispatched to the apartment complex on Blackjack Road and found a man who was shot at the scene. According to a press release written by Lieutenant Jon Davis, an officer in the investigations unit of the Oktibbeha County Sheriff ’s Department, the wounded man was flown to North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, Mississippi. In the release, Davis stated the situation is still developing and asked for those with any information to call the sheriff ’s office. Jeremy Harris, a junior wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture major from Monee, Illinois, and resident of Aspen Heights, recounted the hectic nature of the event. “My house is right on
the road, so I could see the cop cars coming down the road. After I heard them all pull into the complex, I walked outside again to see what was going on,” Harris said. “They were all pulling up to the house where it happened. There were at least three different cop cars as well as an ambulance, so it was chaotic.” According to Harris, the police immediately began marking off the house and pulled the victim out of the house and into the ambulance. Harris spoke about the police questioning the growing crowd of neighbors outside of the house. “The police were in the house as well as outside asking for witnesses. There was a pretty large group of all the neighbors outside, and they were talking with the cops explaining what they heard and seen,” Harris said. “A couple of my friends heard gunshots, and I heard bits and pieces of the story from all the people ASPEN, 2 around.”
Adam Sullivan | The Reflector
Thursday around noon, a shooting occurred in a home at Aspen Heights, an apartment complex close to Mississippi Stateʼs campus. Oktibbeha County officers found one man wounded in the house.
Panhellenic recruitment adjusts to virtual methods MSU COVID-19 guidelines set
DANIEL DYE
NEWS EDITOR
Despite a less than normal start to the semester, Mississippi State University sororities found a way to push on. This August, the eight sororities on campus held an entirely virtual recruitment for the freshman class of 2020. Potential members still attended the same events and went through the same process, but due to COVID-19
risks and guidelines, all events were held over Zoom. According to Chloe McKelvaine, junior marketing major and Pi Beta Phi vice president of recruitment, Zoom was definitely the biggest challenge for coordinating recruitment. “The biggest challenge I faced was trying to figure out Zoom. That was the format we used for our virtual recruitment parties, and you have to have everybody paired
up in a breakout group prior to starting the meeting. So whenever breakout groups started it was kind of hard to figure that out. You have to make sure that everybody went to the correct group,” McKelvaine said. “Making sure everyone went into their correct pairing was tedious, and besides that, there were other problems with Wi-Fi and that kind of stuff.” RECRUITMENT, 2
to insure a safe welcome back BAYLEE HILL STAFF WRITER
As students return to classes, Mississippi State University has implemented changes on campus to keep students safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Hyatt said students are required to wear a face covering in every campus building and outside when they cannot social distance. “Students do not have to wear a face covering in their individual residence hall room if it is just themselves and their roommate,” Hyatt said. According to Hyatt, the transition time between classes will increase by 20 minutes, allowing students to social distance while going to their next class.
This change also gives students time to travel to unique classroom locations where students can spread out. Provost and Executive Vice President David Shaw said some classes will be in locations such as Humphrey Coliseum, the Sanderson Center, Colvard Student Union, Bost Extension Center, the Newell-Grissom Building, McCarthy Gym and several other nontraditional classrooms. Rylie Stephens, a senior marketing major from Ocean Springs, said she is looking forward to this semester, but it will take some time to adjust to the new way of classes. Stephens said the university is doing what they can to protect students but thinks that some of the solutions should not be a long-term decision.
“My experience with online classes last semester was less than ideal,” Stephens said. “I think online classes are a poor way to receive a college education, but I do believe the university is doing the best they can.” Stephens has one class that switched to a completely online method and four classes that will meet face-to-face. Executive VP Shaw said dining services will also look different this semester in order to accommodate safety precautions. “We have taken out the serve yourself option, so all food will be served by staff,” Shaw said. “We are greatly reducing seating to allow social distancing and adding more seating outdoors.” COVID-19, 2
Chi Omega Sorority | Courtesy Photo
Chi Omega members Maggie McGinnis and Lucy Chiniche prepare for recruitment via Zoom to follow COVID-19 safety precautions.
Dawg Days adapt to COVID-19 measures
KARIE PINNIX STAFF WRITER
This year’s Dawg Days have been different as Mississippi State University students and organizations continue to adapt to the university’s Cowbell Well rules. Dawg Days, otherwise known as MSU’s Welcome Week, is a collection of events and activities during the fall semester where students are able to participate in a variety of events hosted by student organizations and meet other students.
Dawg Days usually takes place as students are moving into their residence hall or apartment to the end of the first week of classes. This year, Dawg Days has been extended to last 15 days, from August 15 through the 30. According to Amelia Rogers via email, the associate director for student activities at MSU, this allows students extra time to participate in the various events and activities held in August. In the past, Dawg Days has consisted of large outdoor events with a close proximity to other students. This year however, due to
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the COVID-19 pandemic, several events have been held virtually via WebEx. Chris Hawkins, the assistant director for student activities at MSU, mentioned how this year’s Dawg Days have adapted to meet the needs of students. According to Hawkins, one of the ways the MSU Center for Student Activities welcomed freshmen moving into their residence halls was by giving them a Dawg Days Welcome Box Kit, providing the students with information about available resources and programs happening during Dawg Days. DAWG, 2
John Griffin | The Reflector
Caleb Bailey, a junior majoring in aerospace engineering, walks near the Union in a mask to comply with Cowbell Well guidelines.
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COVID-19
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John Griffin | The Reflector
Mississippi State University students Gracie Bertelsen, Riley Angell and Kacy Burroughs follow COVID-19 guidelines by wearing masks while talking on a bench in front of the Marketplace at Perry.
DAWG Rogers said throughout the months it took to plan these events and activities for Dawg Days there have been several sudden changes where the Center for Student Activities team had to be flexible.
In preparing for this year’s Dawg Days, Hawkins said MSU’s closure in March has allowed them to become equipped to organize the event. “We’re just trying to get creative and add things that went along with some of the program that we were doing. It’s definitely been an adjustment,” Hawkins
said. “I think we have a wide spread of different events and programs that should be fun for students, whether they’re in person or virtual. Some of the events for Dawg Days have been in person, such as the Theatre MSU Meet and Greet on Aug. 16 from 4 to 6 p.m. Kat Moore, a theatre major who attended and aided with the event, was surprised at how successful the Meet and Greet was. “The event actually went much better than I thought it would. Even amid the craziness of the pandemic and getting back to school, the first official MSU Theatre event went wonderfully. We had a great turnout. Everyone followed the Cowbell Well rules, and we all had a really great time,” Moore said. Most events and activities that are usually held in-person have become
virtual. This year’s 10th annual Shades of Starkville event, an organization and business fair that is usually held on the Drill Field where students can learn about organizations on campus and businesses in the Starkville area, was one such virtual shift. During Shades of Starkville, on Aug. 18 from 5 to 7 p.m., students were able to interact with different organizations through various WebEx links on Cowbell Connect as opposed to the normal booths. For Starkville businesses, from Aug.17 through 21, information for each business was posted on the Center for Student Activities’ website so that students could click on the link and learn more about each particular business. Information about the businesses involved has been posted on the Center for Student Activities’ social media and on digital display boards across campus. Rogers said that one of the benefits of having Shades of Starkville as a virtual event is more people are able to join in without having to leave the comfort
The university also has a plan in place for students that test positive for COVID-19. Hyatt said the Longest Student Health Center will provide detailed instructions about managing symptoms and quarantine procedures for a student that tests positive. According to Hyatt, if a student tests positive they just do not go to class in-person during their quarantine period. If an on-campus student tests positive, they will isolate in one of the university’s quarantine facilities where students will be kept safe and attended to properly. Hyatt said it is extremely important to follow procedures in order to keep everyone safe. “Please follow our Cowbell Well guidelines,” Hyatt said. “Wear a face covering; wash your hands often; observe physical distancing, especially if you are not wearing a mask; stay home if you feel sick; sanitize surfaces you touch frequently; practice selfcare and complete the daily self-screening through the Everbridge app.”
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MSU Student Association| Courtesy Photo
Four MSU students explore campus during the Class Finder Dawg Days event on the Drill Field.
of their residence. “I think offering more events virtually allows for even more students to participate. They don’t have to physically get from one booth to the next. They are able to engage at the level they are comfortable with, and it’s a safe way to have interaction for everyone,” Rogers said.
RECRUITMENT
You have to make sure that everybody went to the correct group,” McKelvaine said. “Making sure everyone went into their correct pairing was tedious, and besides that, there were other problems with Wi-Fi and that kind of stuff.” McKelvaine said the challenges presented were overcome but not without much practice. “We practiced a lot,” McKelvaine said. “We have a spirit week before the week of recruitment, and we used that to practice a lot. It was tough with the first couple of parties, but after that, it went very smoothly.” Lauren Wright, a sophomore majoring in biochemistry and member of Zeta Tau Alpha, also admitted the challenges behind Zoom but insists the experience was not lessened. “Usually, we would make videos and other things for the girls to make them feel comfortable and make things as fun as we could. We gave virtual house tours. We still did the normal things we would do to assure they had the same experience and feel as welcome as possible,” Wright said. “I think the girls still had the great experience, even though it wasn’t in person. We still
VP for Student Affairs Hyatt said there will be tents outside of the Union and Fresh Food Company to provide additional seating and all campus dining locations will have to-go options. According to Hyatt, inside seating is reduced to 50% capacity. There will be no seating available inside Subway or Einstein’s Bagel Company and very limited seating in Steak-n-Shake and Moe’s. “All dining operations will be cashless,” Hyatt said. “If you have cash, you can go to the Dining Services office between Subway and Moe’s and exchange it for a card that can be used.” Line queuing markers will be in all facilities marking off the physical distancing requirements. Executive VP Shaw said there is no mandatory testing, but the university asks students to check their own temperature every day. Shaw said there is a screening program on the Everbridge app where students can report any symptoms they may experience, and follow-up testing is available at the Longest Student Health Center.
According to Rogers, no matter what the outcome of the event is, Dawg Days will be a success regardless of most events being virtual. “Students have been eager for experience where they can engage with their peers and make connections on campus, and Dawg Days is a great way to do that,” Rogers said.
According to Harris, one of the tenants of the house was questioned at the scene. “There was actually a girl in the house who didn’t really know her roommate. She was in her bedroom when it happened, and she jumped out of her bedroom window when she heard the shots and was able to explain to the cops what happened when they arrived,” Harris said. Harris said Aspen Heights addressed the situation multiple times as the story developed. “When all the cops were there in full force, Aspen sent out an email that there were shots fired and that the situation was still being investigated.They sent out another email confirming that there were shots fired, and they told us to try and avoid that area for the day,” Harris said. “They sent out a third email with all the details and explained that somebody was shot as a final cover-all email.” The Oktibbeha County Sheriff ’s Office encourages anyone with information about the incident to contact them at (662)323-2421 or (662)324-8484.
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maintained an intimate atmosphere and still made those connections and talked to each other as much as we could.” McKelvaine said she and her sorority worked as hard as possible to preserve the genuine and welcoming
environment for the recruits. “Recruitment can be kind of a shallow process at times, but we wanted to keep things genuine. That was one thing I continued to tell my girls. ‘I know things look different this year, but we need to continue to be the chapter to have these real genuine conversations,’” McKelvaine said. “That definitely stayed the same despite the changes.”
Lindsey Jenkins, a senior in biological sciences and director of recruitment for MSU’s Panhellenic Council, said via email the numbers going into recruitment were just as high as any given year and that made it all the more important to
create a similar experience. “We have done the best we can with the circumstances, and our chapters took on this great challenge we faced this year,” Jenkins said. “Our numbers are as strong as they were last year, so we have been confident that we can work towards creating an experience for our students that may look different but not less impactful.”
Jenkins believes that the enthusiasm of both the current sorority members as well as the recruits outweighs the differences in the process. “Although this experience may seem different, students are just excited about connecting with other students no matter the platform, and we are looking forward to connecting them together to form a support group in college,” Jenkins said. Wright is proud of the collaborative effort of all involved to put this on despite unprecedented circumstances. “I am proud of all of Panhellenic and the work that every sorority put into it this year. I appreciate the work that all the recruitment chairs put in. Everything was handled very well, and I just wanted to thank them for that,” Wright said. McKelvaine echoed this sentiment, expressing her gratitude for the work put into recruitment this year. “I was really worried at first that this wasn’t going to run smoothly, but I thought Panhellenic and Student Affairs did an awesome job with recruitment despite all the challenges,” McKelvaine said. “I just feel like they need to be shouted out.”
Chi Omega Sorority | Courtesy Photo
Gracie Hand and Brook Thomas of Chi Omega participate in virtual recruitment week on Zoom.
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BAD DAWGS Thursday, August 6, 2020 Property damage reported at the Cobb Institute of Archeology. Tuesday, August 4, 2020 Bicycle theft reported at the Hilbun Hall bicycle rack. Monday, August 3, 2020 Officer reported false pretenses at McArthur Hall. Saturday, August 1, 2020 Student arrested for possession of marijuana in Chapel of Memories parking lot. Property damage reported on Blackjack Road. Friday, July 31, 2020 Petit larceny less than $1000 reported in the Bryan Athletic Administration football locker room. Tuesday, July 28, 2020 Lost, found, or shortage of property reported in the Stafford Hall Art Lab.
On this day in Reflector history: Bad Dawgs Edition August 25, 2017
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OPINION
Keep campus safe with Cowbell Well screenings MICHAEL BOURGEOIS
is a junior majoring in English. Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
Maintaining an effective educational environment that accommodates for seeing students in person every day of the week in the middle of a global pandemic is a tall order for any institution to meet, but this is exactly the situation we find ourselves in this current semester. Mississippi State University’s Cowbell Well initiative to help limit the spread of COVID-19 within our community is reliant on a host of factors including a mask mandate inside of all MSU buildings, room for social distancing of seats inside of classrooms and the establishment of designated quarantine locations across Starkville. The reason for the precautions is obvious—
face-to-face learning is more effective and preferred by the student body and faculty. According to David Deming of the New York Times, “The personal services provided by educators include tutoring, individualized feedback and mentoring, and numerous studies, as well as countless individual experiences, show that such services are essential for learning.” These personal services are simply irreplaceable in an online learning environment when compared to a traditional classroom setting. However, access to this higher quality education comes with an essential caveat of conducting the learning process safely for students and educators, and keeping everyone safe is everyone’s job. The primary way we can ensure we are being as cautious as possible is to monitor personal health by following MSU’s Cowbell Well guidelines and completing daily health screenings. Conducting a daily health screening on yourself is a
simple process which can help protect the health of the MSU community at large. According to MSU’s website, “students will be required to complete a temperature screening every 24 hours along with the self-reported health questionnaire.” The intention behind implementing this daily health screening is to create an additional line of defense between potential carriers of COVID-19 and the MSU population as a whole. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms of the COVID-19 virus are fever, dry cough, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle aches, sore throat and several other symptoms common to viruses. These are the visual symptoms which MSU’s daily health screenings seek to catch prior to students coming to campus. Since the COVID-19 virus does not possess any unique symptoms to differentiate it from other common viruses like the flu, it is best to err on the side of caution and
only encourage students to come to campus if they are asymptomatic in all regards. Reporting these daily screenings helps the university keep track of who in the community needs to be tested for COVID-19 and more accurately assess what buildings and rooms need to be cleaned because of potential exposure. Without these records, the university is essentially blind in maintaining cleanliness standards inside its buildings and keeping the community healthy as a whole. Finally, the daily health screenings provide a starting point for the university to begin a contact trace and discover who a potentially infected person may have come into contact with in order to slow the spread. Daily health screenings not only help the university monitor the development of COVID-19 inside the community but also can prove beneficial to students as well. If a student reports a negative health screening and stays home from class, the university can reach out to that
student’s professor on their behalf and explain to them the situation. That way, distance learning accommodations and assignment extensions can be issued seamlessly and in advance, minimizing the stress on quarantined students so they may focus on recovery. However, in order for these accommodations to be made, the university must be aware of the situation. When it comes to collective health issues in a community like the university, keeping useful information away from people accomplishes nothing, but with a daily screening, essential personnel can proactively respond to a situation as quickly as possible. The ultimate goal for everyone in the MSU community is public safety; the tricky balance becomes apparent when we negotiate the need for keeping people safe with the desire to maintain the college experience of being on campus. There is a way to achieve both of these desired outcomes, but everyone doing their part to make sure campus is as safe
Jordan Smith | The Reflector
Sam Bradford, a freshman majoring in mechanical engineering, checks his temperature in the Colvard Student Union with the Cowbell Well temperature kiosk.
a place as possible is essential. To prevent a situation where administrators declare a totally virtual semester, we need to do our part to limit the spread. So wear a mask, maintain social distance and complete your daily screening. Everyone is counting on you to keep our campus safe.
Stay positive upon Minimize global chaos by making local changes your return to MSU BRANDON GRISHAM
KATELYN WYATT
is a senior majoring in business information systems. Contact him at opinion@reflector. msstate.edu.
Finally, we get to return to our beloved Mississippi State University soil for classes. After the sudden shift to online instruction in March, I think it is fairly universal to assume we were all confused, scared and barely learning. Basically, 2020 has become a synonym for chaos, but it is not over. We can use the tools we learned over quarantine, such as social distancing, using Zoom, hand washing and mask wearing, to not only stay safe in the apocalypse but to make this semester a better learning experience. We should do our best to make our new normal and the transition back to campus graceful. There are health risks involved with going back to school during a pandemic, but the plan to have classes divided between in-person and online is still better than complete social isolation. However, it is essential we exercise the habits we picked up during quarantine and use these new practices to be responsible in our new situation. To enjoy the benefits of in-person classes, we have to be willing to sacrifice some comforts for the greater good of our education. As for our new normal, it will take the participation of everyone to make this a safe and functioning environment. People can complain all day about wearing masks or having more online classes than expected, but we should approach this new normal with optimism because it is healthier for everyone. According to Kristin Wong with The New York Times, “Optimism doesn’t require you to sweep those anxious, negative feelings under the rug. It’s not about smiling when you don’t feel like it. Optimism is simply being hopeful about the
This year has been insane. The global COVID-19 pandemic has been the main facilitator of this year’s absurdity. It highlighted the supply faults, general ignorance and failing infrastructure within the U.S. Since January, we have been struck with a horrific recession, massive unemployment, shelterin-place and sanitation mandates and a radically unnerved cultural identity. The death of George Floyd, the impeachment trial of President Trump and endless political feuds of this election year have caused further unease. Hong Kong’s democratic protests were simply a precursor to U.S.-centered objections for racial injustice, antilockdown sentiments and police brutality. We are living among a powderkeg of irritation with very few methods of stopping oncoming sparks. Our economy has been hurtling past the cliff, ravine and sharp spikes waiting at the bottom for months now. The Federal Reserve has pumped so many trillions into reducing the impending disaster it makes the 2008 bailout look like an overpriced dinner. Long-term impacts of our decimated class structure, mass unemployment and supply-chain disruptions are yet to be seen. Anyone who claims the stock market is the only major indicator of our economy is not paying attention to the changes made in the last year. The Federal Reserve dropped the reserve requirements of the banking sector to 0%. Jack Kelly in Forbes has noted this pandemic has made the richest Americans billions
is a senior majoring in English. Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
future, even when the present feels wholly negative.” While we acknowledge and work through the stress of this year and the future, we must also be optimistic in order to make this coming semester more bearable and worthwhile. Therefore, we need to keep positive attitudes during this crisis. One way to do this is to find hobbies to pass the time between studying and to distract from stress. Whether it be old or new, hobbies during this confusing time will help us with stress, normalcy and distraction. There is no denying this is a difficult time in our lives. People have lost jobs and loved ones, and distance learning has not been easy for students or parents. A creative outlet will help with stress through expression and the bliss of busy distraction. USA Today even compiled a list of activities to help people fight solitude, boredom and stress. Since we do not know what this semester will hold, it would not hurt to have hobbies which can mitigate any potential changes, disruptions or cancelations caused by the pandemic. Following health guidelines, maintaining a positive attitude and adopting hobbies are simple things which will make this new normal and school year work smoothly. It is the small things in daily life that make our days memorable, so why would we not try to make the most of this chaotic time?
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in the last few months. Compare that to the many Americans facing either eviction, unemployment or life-threatening financial hardship due to this situation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, our unemployment rate has shot from 3.5% to over 10%. Now is a terrible time to be graduating college, as the job market has become substantially harder to enter. As a student, even the idyllic goal of furthering one’s education has become rife with unique challenges. This is the most dangerous time to attend classes in modern history. Each day is accompanied by fear, exasperation and shifting attitudes toward our current situation. We have been dealing with sanitation and health concerns for over half a year. Thanks to the impatience and relaxing standards of some citizens,
our country has become one of the leading hotbeds of new infections and deaths. COVID-19 has left students more anxious and terrified of the future than they already were. This semester, Mississippi State University students have to be ready to swap to onlineonly classes at a moment’s notice. Needless to say, now is a strange and perilous time to be attending school. Regardless of what happens to our school term, we will still be stuck dealing with a heavily-politicized election year. Starkville is home to endless levels of outspoken ideologies which will only grow more rabid as November draws closer. Factor in the sabotage of the U.S. Postal Service and safety requirements necessary for polling, and we wind up stuck with an idiotic mess. Whatever your chosen political affiliation may be, polling alongside a pandemic is certainly going
to offer a new standard of nightmarish proportions. I wish you the best of luck with your ensuing arguments, either with prattling family members or reprehensible peers. Ultimately, there is no telling if the next few months will be hopeful or horrifying. This pandemic has already destroyed lives, businesses and general expectations for Americans. Lying and saying everything is going to work out fine got us into this mess. Better days only arrive when we recognize our problems. Globalization has given everyone the caustic mindset things are bleak everywhere, yet the case is far from that. This global crisis can only be minimized by acting locally, doing everything one can to improve the situation around them. If we remain aware, hygienic and mindful of our challenges, Starkville and MSU will get through this ordeal.
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LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT 5
THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2020 @REFLECTORONLINE
MSU students listen and learn through anti-racist media SARAH MORGAN JOHNSON LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Following the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, conversations about racial injustice in the United States have dominated politics, education, social media and the homes of American citizens. These conversations have bled over into media of all types, including books, podcasts, documentaries and movies. Streaming services such as Netflix, Disney Plus and Hulu have promoted entertainment that details the Black experience. Here in Starkville, Mississippi State University students have also sought out media in pursuit of education on racial injustice. Safaa Siddiqui is a senior at MSU pursuing a degree in anthropology. Siddiqui explained her background in anthropology, specifically biological anthropology, burdens her to pursue education and conversation in a way which is specific to her field. “My background in epidemiology and biological anthropology gives me a perspective where I can more easily explain to people why Black people are treated differently in the medical system. So it’s really important to me that I listen to Black scholars and Black writers, not just putting my own two cents in because I’ve studied it for four years,” Siddiqui said. Siddiqui has recently been reading “Medical Apartheid” by Harriet A. Washington, which details the history of medical experimentation Black Americans have been subjected to. Siddiqui has also recently read “The Warmth of Other Suns” by Isabel Wilkerson which is about The Great Migration. Siddiqui said she has found social media, particularly Twitter threads, to be incredibly useful and appreciates them for their
accessibility. She spoke about the importance of accessibility when it comes to education. “If we are to get anywhere as a population, as a nation, as Americans, then we need to figure out a way to disseminate information so that everyone has access to it,” Siddiqui said. Sarah Rendon, a sophomore majoring in communication, spoke about the importance of listening right now. “I think listening is one of the biggest things we have to do. All you can do is listen and amplify the people’s voices. We all have implicit biases, and we all need to face that within ourselves. No matter how good I think I’m doing, I always have something more to learn because I can never understand someone else’s story,” Rendon said. Rendon has been reading
“Roots: The Saga of an American Family” by Alex Haley. “It chronicles the story of a man growing up in Africa and later being sold into slavery as a young man,” Rendon said. Rendon said she has appreciated the rich detail of the boy’s life prior to his capture and the way it has lent itself to painting the character more holistically. “It’s been emotional in the way that it’s just a boy learning to grow up, which is really cool because in that way it is giving humanity back to people,” Rendon said. Breanna Walker, a senior majoring in communication, reiterated the magnitude of listening. “I think listening is the most important thing. Martin Luther King has this quote where he says the worst condition of the
human heart is focusing on monologue instead of dialogue. I think when we sit and only think about our own personal experiences, we are missing a lot,” Walker said. Walker explained that as a Black woman, her eyes have always been opened to racial injustice. “It’s not something I just woke up one day and started caring about. These issues have affected my family and my life for all my life... I had done a decent amount of reading and listening, because it pertains to my identity as a Black person,” Walker said. Walker took African American History last semester and reached out to her professor over the summer in hopes of attaining further resources. He recommended the documentary “I Am Not Your Negro,” which Walker
said she found incredibly helpful. “History shapes people’s perspectives. When you read about this stuff and you learn it in school, as a Black person it’s almost like, ‘I’m always going to be living, maybe not in slavery, maybe not in segregation, but living as a subset of society as a whole.’ “I Am Not Your Negro” was about breaking that thought process and that cycle of generational mental oppression,” Walker said. Walker has also been listening to “1619”, a podcast by The New York Times which is a branch of their 1619 project. Walker spoke further on the importance of dialogue, whether it be through media or conversation with people around her, explaining conversation is the bridge between us. “Dialogue can change
everything. Sometimes you can’t realize the effects of your posture until you have a conversation with someone else. All you have to do is listen to someone else to understand things a little more holistically. There is so much value in human conversation that I think is lost in the shuffle, especially in college,” Walker said. Jacquez Hardy is a former MSU student who plans to finish his degree this upcoming year. Hardy found his classes at MSU to be incredibly educational as they pertain to racial inequality in the criminal justice system. Hardy has also watched the documentary “Thirteenth” and recommends it to anyone looking to learn more about the effects of mass incarceration on the Black community in America. Like Walker, Hardy encourages people to engage in conversations with one another. “That is where you learn someone’s perspective,” Hardy said. Hardy attended the Starkville Strong march in June and was uplifted by the unity he felt there. He encourages people to celebrate the progress which has been made, both in Starkville and in our country as a whole. “You can’t just focus on the negative. There has been a lot of progress made. It isn’t all bad, and things are slowly getting better,” Hardy said. These four students are representative of a larger population of students, both at MSU and around the U.S., who have taken advantage of various forms of media as a means of education and a passage to conversation. The actions these individuals have taken and are taking both contribute to and are a reflection of the momentum this conversation has on a more sizable scale in America.
Bulldog summer recap: COVID-19 edition KATIE RAINWATER STAFF WRITER
In a typical year, Mississippi State University students can be caught looking forward to summers spent at camp or gaining job experience through an internship by January or
February. Unfortunately, the majority of these plans were changed or cancelled once COVID-19 hit the U.S. Many MSU students were forced to make other arrangements at the last minute. One of the most popular ways college
students spend their summer is by working at a summer camp; however, the pandemic closed many of these camps. Gracie Bell, junior wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture major, had to be flexible with how she spent her summer vacation. “My original plans were
Eryn Sanders | Courtesy Photo
Eryn Sanders, a senior kinesiology major, is pictured with her sister, Sarah Sanders, at the flower farm she worked at over the summer.
to work at a kid’s summer camp, but COVID-19 cancelled every camp that I applied for,” Bell said. Parents rely on these camps to provide childcare, and with the majority of camps revoking operations, many hired college students to keep an eye on their kids. Many would-be camp counselors turned to babysitting or nannying to earn extra cash. After Bell’s camp dreams were crushed by the virus, she, too, resorted to babysitting as an alternative. Some students had a different semester in mind, leaving MSU in January to participate in the Disney College Program at Walt Disney World. This highlycompetitive program allows students to continue in their academics while working in various roles around the Disney Parks. The program was supposed to last through July, but the pandemic ended the program early when Disney closed in mid-March. A large number of students who do not take up residency in Starkville were forced to move back home for the summer. Eryn Sanders, senior kinesiology major, had summer plans similar to Bell’s. Like Bell’s hers also ending up falling through due to COVID-19. “I had originally planned to be a counselor at a camp in Wisconsin, called Forest Springs. I’ve worked there the past two summers, once in the kitchen and once as a counselor. They had to readjust their schedule for the summer due to COVID-19, but are still planning on having
family camps and day camps. Because of this change, they had to cut their summer staff down,” Sanders said. She and several of her siblings were told they no longer had jobs. Although she was disappointed by this news, Sanders began to look forward to spending time with her family. “Although I was very sad and upset to not be at camp, I was looking forward to continue my time at home with my family. I started to look for work, and eventually found two part-time jobs,” Sanders said.
“It was not the summer I had planned, but it was the summer God had planned for me.” Eryn Sanders Senior Kinesiology Major Although it was not the summer she had planned, Sanders does not count it as a summer wasted by any means. “I learned so much from both of my bosses and am so thankful that
the many weeks of job searching brought such rewarding jobs. I was also overwhelmed by the kindness many extended to me as I searched for a job and their eagerness to help me. It was not the summer I had planned, but it was the summer God had planned for me” Sanders said. After MSU decreased summer tuition prices, many students were also encouraged to take advantage of their time at home to get ahead in their studies through online classes. Various MSU students originally planned to spend their summers immersed in new cultures. Since the pandemic severely limited international travel, MSU suspended all study abroad operations for summer 2020. Sophie Jones, sophomore biomedical engineering major, had hopes to explore Europe with MSU’s study abroad program. “I was supposed to leave for Toulouse, France, on May 26, which is where we were planning on doing most of our studying. The major cities we were planning to visit include Paris, London and Barcelona,” Jones said. With the start of each new school year, students come back to Starkville with new experiences and altered outlooks gained from summers spent away from campus. Although strange and unexpected, perhaps this summer stands out more than any other as a transformative experience in the lives of so many MSU students.
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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2020 @SPORTSREFLECTOR
SPORTS
Club sports deal with season cancellation LYDIA PALMER SPORTS EDITOR
Mary Georgia Hamilton| The Reflector
Fans fill Davis Wade during the 2019 football season. This year, the stadium will be operating at 25% capacity in accordance with state guidelines.
MSU Athletics publishes pandemic guidelines for fall LYDIA PALMER SPORTS EDITOR
On August 20, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves issued a statement that all of the football stadiums in the state of Mississippi would be operating at 25% capacity. The day after that announcement, Mississippi State University announced their guidelines in compliance with those issued by the governor. Although the temporary loss of tailgating and traditions such as the Dawg Walk is disappointing, there will be a new addition to the MSU football experience this fall: beer sales will be taking place in Davis Wade. The changes in traditions come at the
cost of protecting the Bulldog family. MSU will be enforcing masks for all fans and staff, as well as working to minimize crowding in entrances, exits and elevators. In their press release announcement, MSU also suggested at-home temperature and symptom checks prior to attending games. Transitions will be made for a more cashless exchange for purchasing items in concession stands in the stadium. In the university’s health and safety plan, they stated all of their campus services cleaning staff had been thoroughly trained with more in-depth sanitation processes. Their full guidelines and approach to
campus health and safety during COVID-19 can be viewed on MSU’s website. Season ticket holders, whether they opt to skip this season or not, will be able to get their original seat locations back for the 2021 football season. Those with season tickets who have opted to keep them this season will be contacted in the coming weeks about how the situation will work with the reduced capacity. “Although game days will look different this season because of many health and safety precautions being implemented,” the press release stated, “MSU Athletics remains committed to delivering a positive experience for all who attend.”
Mississippi State University has over 15 club sports. This semester, things will look a little different for the students involved in these clubs. Teams will not be able to travel or play games. However, starting on Aug. 24, the various teams will be able to start practicing. Teams will schedule times to practice to minimize the number of players on the fields at once. Both the men and women’s soccer teams are looking forward to starting practices soon and getting prepared for what they hope is a spring season. Ben Brock is a junior business administration major who serves as the president for the men’s club soccer team on campus. He shared some information about how the team is feeling both moving into this fall season of practice and looking ahead to a potential spring season. “I think we all knew we weren’t going to get to play any games this semester but are happy that we get to practice.” Brock said. “We are hoping to have our season in the spring.” Brock also said they are hoping to have tryouts soon and have been contacted by people interested in playing through Instagram, Facebook and email. The men’s club soccer team can be fouwnd on Instagram at @ msuclubsoccer or on Facebook at Mississippi State Men’s Club Soccer. Brock’s email address can be found on the Facebook page as well. Deme Courtney, a sophomore pre-vet major is
Mary Georgia Hamilton| The Reflector
Sophomore Deme Courtney warms up for a club soccer game at the University of Alabama.
the president of the women’s club soccer team and spoke similarly of fall practices and the hope of a spring season. They, like the men’s team, will be able to start practices this week in intervals in accordance with other teams. The women’s club soccer team will be hosting an interest meeting on Thursday, August 27 where they will discuss fees, a tryout date and practice schedules. “We’re looking for people who can be as competitive as we can be,” Courtney said, “but also, we’re a really fun group of girls who get along really well.” The women’s club soccer team can also be found on various social medias. They often make announcements, and you can get to see some of their past players on their Instagram at @ msstatewclubsoccer. The link for the WebEx interest meeting for Thursday night can also be found in their bio. The university is taking
COVID-19 health and safety very seriously. Although the club teams do not get to participate in travel or play this fall, their practices will be held in a safe, conscious manner. Since soccer is a contact sport, the participants in practices will be required to wear gloves in addition to the masks they are already mandated to wear on campus. MSU’s Health & Safety Return Plan emphasized personal responsibility in addition to any university requirements. “At this stage of the pandemic, we are all aware of the importance of taking personal responsibility for our own health AND understanding how our actions affect the health of our community,” the plan states. More information about these club sports teams and others can be found on MSU’s University Recreation website.
Former MSU player, Miss. native talks race issues
GARRETT SMITH STAFF WRITER
Last month, the state of Mississippi made national headlines when legislators voted to take down its Confederateemblazoned state flag, following a statewide push from a number of citizens, institutions and organizations. At the center of that push was athletics. Mississippi State University leadership encouraged the state legislature to take down the flag and so did the SEC and NCAA, both of whom threatened to preclude Mississippi universities from hosting post-season events if the change was not made. The first prominent Mississippi athlete to take a public stand was MSU running back Kylin Hill, a senior from Columbus, Mississippi. His tweet threatening to sit out the season without a change drew nationwide attention and put him at the center of a debate raging throughout Mississippi. Finally, on June 30, the flag came down. For former MSU and Philadelphia Eagles running back Michael Haddix, the change is a big step forward. “If you’re honoring these Confederate statues in all these cities and the flag, you’re not moving anywhere,” Haddix said. But for some, the voices of Hill and other college athletes were an unwelcome addition in the political arena. That seems to be a common thread whenever athletes attempt to use their platform for change, the result of a combination of stereotyping and envy, Haddix said. “Half of the people that judge athletes like that have always wanted to be an athlete. They are envious of this guy because he is an athlete,” Haddix said. “They don’t want to give him the credit that goes along with being an athlete … They just want you to be bulk and
brawn … It’s a stereotype that needs to go away.” For Haddix, that stereotype is not only dangerously inaccurate, it is one he has personally fought against. “I didn’t want to coach. I personally wanted to dispel the myth that all athletes can do is coach. Every athlete you see, first thing you ask is ‘You gonna be a coach?’ Is that all we can do? Be a sports guy or coach? So I said I wanted to go a totally different direction. I went to the University of WilmingtonDelaware, got my master’s degree in Administration and Human Service, and I worked in the juvenile justice system. I worked in several facilities counseling youth, dealing with kids, behavior modification and things like that.” While many athletes find careers away from sports, some find themselves impacting the world outside of sports while still in the midst of their athletic careers. Athletes like LeBron James, Maya Moore and Raheem Sterling have drawn significant media attention in recent years for their comments and stances, but perhaps the most polarizing figure has been Collin Kaepernick. The former San Francisco 49er’s quarterback has been out of a job for years since he first began a series of on-field protests against police brutality. In the wake of recent and more mainstream protests, many Americans, including Haddix, are reflecting on Kaepernick’s statements in 2016. “I give him credit for the impact that he did make because he stood by it, and he didn’t waver. We were the ignorant ones. Society were the ignorant ones,” Haddix said. “It took the league four years; it took everybody four years to see that this guy had it right.” Kaepernick’s claims regarding systemic racism
The Reveille Athletic Archives| Courtesy Photo
Michael Haddix wears his No. 26 jersey, during his time on the Mississippi State University football team, before he went on to play for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers.
were discounted by many at the time he first spoke out. While he still has plenty of opponents, some have found themselves agreeing more with the Super Bowlwinning quarterback. As the nation begins to address elements of systemic racism in a variety of ways, the state of Mississippi is left to grapple with its own past. Haddix said the state also needs to wake up to systemic racism in its present. “I love Mississippi,” Haddix said. “I was born and raised in Mississippi. But systemic racism, it comes in all forms, all forms: holding somebody
back from prospering and being everything that they can be, if you look at me a different way than you would look at somebody else because I’m a different color, if you hold back any kind of advancement for the minorities in this country or even in this city, doing anything to hinder the growth of your community. It comes in all forms. And everybody needs to wake up to that fact.” While some may be hindering the growth of communities around the state, Haddix is focused on improving the community around him, working
to implement his own programs for juveniles in Starkville, Mississippi. “It’s a behavior modification program. We deal with juveniles. We do workshops on behavior modification, parenting classes, ADHD, drug and alcohol awareness and education,” Haddix said of the programs he already has available. “A lot of these kids would work if they had a job. So what we’re trying to implement now is a workfarm so that we can take vegetables from farm to the table, and have these kids working on a day-to-
day basis and give them a stipend. Doing that would keep them off the streets, out of trouble and with money in their pocket,” Haddix said. While some will continue to focus time and effort on diminishing the voices of athletes, it has become clear sports figures can be an important part of social and political progress. Athletes can contribute in many ways, like advocating to take down a state flag, awakening Americans to the realities of systemic racism and implementing local programs to serve at-risk youth.