08/27/2019 by Reflector Editor

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TUESDAY AUGUST 27, 2019

135th YEAR ISSUE 1

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

MSU’s Orion named fourth fastest supercomputer in U.S. academia EMMA KING

STAFF WRITER

Grace Goodman | The Reﬂector

Located in the Thad Cochran Research Center, Orion is the worldʼs 62nd fastest supercomputer.

Mississippi State University recently became home to Orion, a supercomputer currently ranking as the fourth fastest supercomputer housed in a U.S. university. Orion also holds the place of 62nd fastest in the world, according to Top500.org, a website which scores the world’s strongest non-distributed computer systems. Trey Breckenridge, the director of MSU’s High Performance Computing Collaboratory (HPC²),

believes Orion has already begun to benefit MSU. “The benefits to MSU are numerous,” Breckenridge said. “We’ve already received a tremendous amount of positive attention and international exposure for the university and our research capabilities as a result of the system.” A supercomputer is, as defined by Breckenridge, one of the fastest, most powerful computers in the world at any given time. Orion, located in the Thad Cochran Research Center, was primarily funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to support NOAA’s

research and development activities in environmental, weather and climate modeling, as well as autonomous vehicle design and operation, Breckenridge said. “MSU and NOAA researchers, as well as academic collaborators from around the nation, will use Orion to conduct and advance their research and scientiﬁc activities,” Breckenridge said. “As an example, Orion will be used to enhance weather forecasting models, ultimately providing for more accurate projection of hurricane tracks.” According to Breckenridge, MSU has a

longstanding and extremely successful research relationship with NOAA. MSU leads NOAA’s Cooperative Institute, the Northern Gulf Institute, which is a partnership of six academic institutions focused on addressing national strategic research and education goals within the northern Gulf of Mexico region. The university also closely partners with several NOAA units which are co-located in the MSU Science and Technology Center at the NASA John C. Stennis Space Center, Breckenridge said. COMPUTER, 2

MSU alumna wins journalism award

HANNAH BLANKENSHIP

NEWS EDITOR

1998 Mississippi State University graduate Evelyn Palmer is a shining example of the future success MSU promises its graduates, and Palmer said she is proud to give her alma mater the credit. A recent recipient of the Society of Professional Journalists’ prestigious Sigma Delta Chi award for her work covering the Thousand Oaks mass shooting in California, Phillips, now known in her career field as Germany Kent, is a television and print journalist, radio personality, non-fiction author, humanitarian, producer and social media influencer. According to the Society of Professional Journalists’ website, the Sigma Delta Chi Award is an annual award that recognizes excellence in various journalistic categories including print, radio, television, graphics,

online reporting and research. On winning the award, Kent said although it was a huge honor to receive recognition from her fellow journalists, it is a tragedy stories such as these are a current reality in the world. “It’s bittersweet. It’s a testament to hard work and a story that is real and raw, but it’s also devastating in that we have to cover stories like that,” Kent said. According to a press release from Kent’s media team, Kent was the first African American woman to receive the Sigma Delta Chi award in this category, a first that is actually not a first for Kent. While at Northwest Mississippi Community College, which she attended prior to her time at MSU, Kent was elected as the first African-American student government president, and while at MSU, Kent was the first African American woman elected to the MSU Student Association, where she served as attorney general.

Yashaswin Sridhar | The Reﬂector

Ofﬁcer Hickey of the MSU police department drives one of the two electric, fume-free ʻZeroʼ motorcycles that were recently purchased by the police department and the Ofﬁce of Student Affairs.

MSU Police Department acquires new electric motorcycles DREW GARDNER STAFF WRITER

Over the summer months, Mississippi State University’s Police Department purchased two brand new motorcycles for the patrol ofﬁcers on campus. According to Chief Vance Rice of the MSU PD, these motorcycles are easier

to maintain than patrol cars, cheaper to equip and to top it all off, they are electric and completely fume-free. The idea for electric motorcycles came from Rice about seven years ago. He noticed the University of Florida adopted electric motorcycles to replace their own Harley Davidsons, which had a myriad of problems and maintenance

issues. Rice’s research showed that these new cycles are better for the environment and much easier to maintain than Harleys. According to Rice, along with being environmentally friendly and extremely mobile, cycles do not cost near as much to equip with the necessary utilities. The new cycles will cost around the amount a typical

patrol car would, but while a car’s equipment costs around $10,000, these new motorcycles will cost about $8,000 less. The particular brand of motorcycle MSU PD chose is called Zero Motorcycles, which is a relatively new company based in Santa Cruz, California that started in 2006. MOTORCYCLES, 2

Student-led conference S.P.A.R.K.s future ambitions for high schoolers

TORI BOATNER STAFF WRITER

Germany Kent | Courtesy Photo

1998 MSU graduate Germany Kent receives the Sigma Delta Chi Award for excellence in independent online deadline reporting at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. AWARD, 2

TUESDAY HI: 87 LO: 72 SKY: Cloudy POP: 60

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With the goal of exposing rising high school seniors to career and college opportunities beyond secondary education, a group of Mississippi State University student leaders gathered during July 11-14 to host 350 students from across the Southeast at MSU’s annual S.P.A.R.K. leadership conference.

Led by Tabora Cook, coordinator of recruitment activities in the Ofﬁce of Admissions and Scholarships at MSU, S.P.A.R.K. (Students Paving a Road to Knowledge) hosted their second annual conference this summer. Cook said he and his colleagues began discussing a conference such as this in early 2017. He expressed a need for MSU to be a resource for underrepresented high

FORECAST: Expect more rain this afternoon with another muggy day. Highs will reach into the mid to upper 80s with scattered showers and thunderstorms. Tomorrow rain will become more isolated as a front pushes out of the area. Sunshine returns to the forecast Thursday!

Courtesy of the MSU Meteorology Department

school students seeking career and academic guidance beyond high school. “I felt like that demographic needed more guidance and mentorship on what to do when they left high school,” Cook said. The conference hosted several keynote speakers including Mark Keenum, president of MSU; ShirDonna Lawrence, assistant director of

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Fraternity and Sorority Life; Brandi Kirkland, leasing and marketing manager for the Social Block and motivational speaker Samuel Jones. Cook said the goal of the conference is to provide underrepresented students with the tools they need to be successful, as well as expose them to people who will aid them on their journey to success. “Our goal is to develop our students,” Cook said. CONFERENCE, 2

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AWARD

Kent hopes her coverage of the Thousand Oaks shooting, which occurred at a bar near her home, will bring awareness to the growing problem of gun violence and its effects on victims’ families and communities. “I hope in some kind of way that my story helps to shine a light on gun awareness, for all the victims from mass murders across the world, shining a light on what it shouldn’t be,” Kent said. Kent’s career success, as evidenced by her many accolades and honors, with the Sigma Delta Chi award being only the most recent,

is due largely to MSU and its programs, Kent said. “I think that really made the difference in terms of looking back and in terms of where I am now. I know, without a shadow of a doubt, if I had not been involved in all of those different things, there’s no way I would be where I am. I know it,” Kent said. According to Kent and her media team, while at MSU, Kent served as managing editor for The Reflector, a Roadrunner, an Orientation Leader, an Alumni Delegate, a Housing Ambassador, attorney general of the SA and a Bulldog Hostess.

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Jimmy Abraham, who served as advisor for the Roadrunner program and worked closely with Kent in her time at the university, said it was evident she had all the raw qualities of being extremely successful in whatever endeavor she attempted. “She was an outstanding young lady. I knew when I selected her that she was going to be very successful not only in those organizations, but in other things she was involved in at our university and then beyond that when she graduated, and certainly she has done that,” Abraham said. “When I first met her,

she had all the intangibles. The only thing that I think Evelyn was missing was confidence in herself, and I think she would tell you that she gained that confidence at Mississippi State University.” When asked what she would tell current MSU students, Kent said the key to making the most of your education and career is passion. “Whatever you’re studying- if you’re not passionate about it- move on. Pursue something different. It should educate, inform and evoke information in you and if it doesn’t, you’re in the wrong

field. Who you are should blend with what you do so it doesn’t seem like work,” Kent said. For Kent, her passion for journalism is more than just a career— it is her service to humanity. “Every day I wake up so happy to be a journalist and think ‘What can I do today to make a difference in the world? How can I use my talents and my skills to make somebody else’s life better?’” Kent said. “Being a journalist is your service to humanity, and you have to understand that it’s a service position and I love it.” Kent, whose career

accomplishments are already impressive and too numerous to list, including being published in many prominent publications such as Forbes, Bloomberg and being an award-winning author and humanitarian, is nowhere near finished, has multiple projects in the works. Abraham said he was immensely proud of Kent and looks forward to seeing her continue to excel. “I’m extremely proud of her and couldn’t be happier for all the success she has had and will continue for her,” Abraham said. “We’ll follow her future with so much pride.”

COMPUTER

MSU’s HPC² department is a coalition of MSU research institutes and centers that share a common need for utilizing supercomputing technologies to conduct their research, education and service activities, Breckenridge said. “HPC² was started in 1990 as a National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center focused on computational field simulations, but it has evolved over the years into a unit with broad activities including the areas of manned and autonomous vehicular design and operation, advanced manufacturing, cyber security, environmental modeling, biocomputing and molecular modeling,” Breckenridge said. Orion’s functionality

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extends outside HPC²’s offices to other departments across campus. Jamie Dyer, a professor in MSU’s Department of Geosciences, has also enjoyed working with the supercomputer. Dyer’s research, also NOAA funded, is focused on the generation, testing and application of numerical weather prediction (NWP) model frameworks, with additional attention on the use of Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) models in hydrologic applications. “The newest supercomputer gives me unprecedented abilities to not only set up and test model components quickly, but it allows me to run multiple simulations in less time than I have ever been able to before,”

Dyer said. “Through this work the new supercomputer directly contributes to NOAA’s mission of saving lives and property.” According to Dyer, Orion’s rapid data collection and analysis directly translates into stronger and more reliable results, as well as ultimately improved predictions of critical meteorological processes. Orion is not MSU’s first supercomputer. In fact, the university has had a supercomputer place in 27 of the last 48 lists of the 500 fastest supercomputers in the world, dating back to 1996. MSU’s history of high performance computing began in the late 1980’s. Many of the core technologies and architectural designs in

today’s supercomputers were pioneered and developed at MSU, according to Breckenridge. “For example, the software utilized by most supercomputing applications today to enable the use of very large numbers of processors in parallel was co-developed at the MSU Engineering Research Center,” Breckenridge said. “Over that same time frame, the university has built and operated a number of supercomputers.” Hossein Lofti, a secondyear PhD student in meteorology, is currently the only student working with Orion, supervised by Dyer. He uses the supercomputer to observe real-time satellite images in weather prediction

models to enhance forecasts in an agricultural area throughout the annual growing season. This research can be applied to the entire nation, but Lofti is especially interested in the lower Mississippi River alluvial valley, also known as LMRAV. The amount of computing his research requires would not be possible without Orion. “Undoubtedly, processing such a huge data needs high performance computing systems,” said Lofti. “Interestingly, in the near future, we will run a new released weather forecasting model on the NOAA supercomputer in the global scale.” While Orion is already

helping researchers throughout MSU, Breckenridge said he believes it will also help draw in new students, both undergraduate and graduate, and faculty, as well as enable more research collaborations with universities and organizations around the world. In fact, MSU has started several new research projects as a result of the successful partnership with NOAA to fund Orion, according to Breckenridge. “The most important benefit of Orion is the scientific discoveries that it will enable, discoveries that will help our local communities and make life better for the citizens of our state, nation and the world,” Breckenridge said.

CONFERENCE Although all students may not attend college, Cook said the conference acts as a means to guide them toward other options. Trade schools, the military and community colleges are all avenues that can provide bright futures for graduating high school students. “At the conference, we put all of those options in front of them,” Cook said. Cook said the student crew leaders are the lifeblood of the conference. He said many students who are a part of S.P.A.R.K. are looking to be of service to underrepresented high school students because they have an understanding of the difficulties those students face. Although the S.P.A.R.K. conference is geared toward underrepresented students, Cook said this includes a

CONTINUED FROM 1

diverse range of students. Conference-goers range from students who attend underfunded high schools, to students who live in rural areas or to those who are not exposed to proper resources for success. Cook said the conference teaches life skills such as a financial literacy to help students become better equipped for life beyond their high school walls. “Everyone doesn’t have the same access to opportunities, and everyone doesn’t come from the same background, but everyone deserves a chance and those opportunities,” Cook said. S.P.A.R.K. Conference Director Ashley McLemore, a junior finance major, said her experience during this year’s conference was fulfilling, as she appreciated witnessing many of the

Ashley McLemore | Courtesy Photo

Over the summer, secondary school students from all over the Southeast attended MSU’s annual S.P.A.R.K. conference to gain understanding of post-high school academic options.

students’ growth firsthand. “It’s rewarding because I get to see students come into

the conference confused, and we help develop them in a short amount of time,”

McLemore said. During the conference, students had the opportunity to interact with current students and graduates of MSU at a panel discussion, learn how to navigate a college website and prepare for filling out the FASFA. “A lot of what we discuss here at S.P.A.R.K. is to make sure that the right individuals know that they have access to these types of resources,” McLemore said. McLemore said the growth at this year’s conference was steady, and many students developed a greater understanding of career and academic options beyond high school. “A lot of them can see their end goal after they leave high school more clearly, and I know that we helped with that,”

McLemore said. S.P.A.R.K. Crew Leader Myla Young, a junior kinesiology major, said this conference also allowed her to grow as a person, as she helped lead and develop young high school students. Young said many students have reached out to her after the conference, expressing their gratitude and future plans. “I made an impact and didn’t even realize it,” Young said. Young said she enjoys being of service to others, and the S.P.A.R.K conference offered her another opportunity to do that. “Overall my experience was great; I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” Young said. For more information about S.P.A.R.K., visit their Instagram @spark_msstate.

MOTORCYCLES The name comes from the zero emissions of these modern, lightweight cycles. The MSU PD currently has two Zero cycles in their possession, one purchased by the police department and the other paid for by the Office of Student Affairs and the Dean of Students’ Office.

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“I’ve wanted them since I first got here, but just this last year I feel like I had the budget to be able to do it,” Rice said. According to Rice, patrol cars usually cost about $50 a day in gas prices and emit all the fumes a normal vehicle would, but the motorcycles cost $5 for a daily charge and

emit no fumes whatsoever. The cycles are also much quicker and more mobile than the average patrol car, and Vance said he thinks the cycles will be a big help, especially on game days. Corporal Willie Bailey, one of the D-shift patrol drivers for MSU PD, also said he thinks these

motorcycles will be very beneficial. Bailey said the motorcycles are very quiet machines that will be great for parking patrol, cutting through the campus bollards and during hectic traffic. “Overall, the motorcycles are another positive tool that will be

used to better the safety for everyone at MSU. They will help make my job easier in pretty much every patrol aspect,” Bailey said. Before being able to ride the new Zeros, officers must first undergo motorcycle training. Officer Michael Dover and several others have already completed their training and said they are ready to ride for the fall semester. Dover has been with the department since April 2017 and is a patrol officer. “Because our department only runs so many vehicles during shift, the motorcycle offers another officer the ability to respond to calls. Instead of being on bicycle patrol or foot patrol, I can ride the

motorcycle and assist the shift with calls for service,” Dover said. Vance said he hopes these motorcycles can patrol the tight traffic at the Roberts Building more efficiently as well. He says cars passing buses is a big issue in that small section of road and with the cycles, he hopes it will deter potential passers. Vance said the motorcycles are expected to be out on patrol by the time of the first game day, as well as on regular patrol along with two patrol cars. With four to five officers on shift and at least three vehicles out at all times, the MSU Police Department is well equipped for the upcoming fall semester.

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ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY... … in 1979, British Lord Louis Mountbatten was killed by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) by a 50-pound bomb they placed on Mountbatten’s boat. This was the first strike against the British royal family by the IRA, as Mountbatten was the second cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. The IRA claimed responsibility immediately for this terrorist attack. They also claimed responsibility for another attack on this day against the British, and this attack claimed 18 British troop members’ lives. … in 1952, the “Red Scare” was dominating American politics as the concern for communism was widespread throughout the media, military and civilians. One article featured in the New York Times suggested that the Radio Writers Guild was influenced by a few communists. According to the Republican-dominated Senate Internal Security Subcommittee’s report on this, the communist involvement with the Guild was only one small leap of a plan to control the media. ... in 1967, Brian Epstein, the Beatles manager, died at age 32. He accidentally overdosed on drugs at his home in Sussex, England. Epstein turned the Beatles from a cover band to a headliner. He was hired on to manage on January 24, 1962. history.com

Missing Bad Dawgs today? No worries, your favorite troublemakers will be back! Be sure to pick up a copy of Friday’s paper to see who’s been in the doghouse.

CLUB INFO Student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info. Information may be submitted by email to managing@reflector. msstate.edu with the subject heading “CLUB INFO.” The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is by 3 p.m. on Thursday. The deadline for Friday’s paper is by 3 p.m. on Tuesday. MSU student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info.

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So, you think you know it all?

usefultrivia.com

1. What was the first city to reach a population of one million? 2. What pop singer is known as “The Material Girl?” 3. An earthquake that measures eight on the Richter Scale would be how many times stronger than an earthquake that measures four on the same scale? 4. How many paintings did Vincent van Gogh sell during his lifetime? 5. What golfer coined the term “caddy?” 6. How long is a “Jiffy?” 7. What was the most money ever paid for a cow at auction? 8. Charlie Brown’s father was a _____. 1. Rome 2. Madonna 3. 10,000 times stronger 4. One 5. Mary Queen of Scots 6. One trillionth of a second 7. $1.3 Million 8. Barber

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OPINION

Air hand dryers are breeding grounds for germs KATELYN WYATT

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

There are a few things in life that are unavoidable. To name a few, death, taxes and public restrooms are the most prominent. Whether you are at a gas station or even on campus, public restrooms are present for your convenience. These places can vary on upkeep, soap smells and hand drying materials. My main concern treads along these lines, but some of my grumbles are towards its many guests. I like to imagine everyone washes their hands with soap and water like they should, but obviously this is not guaranteed. As gross as it sounds to not wash your hands, there is another disturbing issue surrounding the cleanliness of hands which people may not consider. Imagine washing your hands just to have even more germs swoop in and invade when drying your hands. This, unfortunately, occurs when one uses a fancy hand dryer in a bathroom. You might have never thought of this, but I think about it every time I see one. I know I might be a germaphobe, but hand dryers are a good reason to be freaked out. If you put in the effort to wash your hands, you do not want them to become dirty right away. The reasons for how bacteria get into the hand dryers are gross, but fairly simple. Josh Hafner of USA Today explains, “fecal bacteria shoots into the

Rosalind Hutton air when a lidless toilet flushes —  a  phenomenon  known, grossly, as a ‘toilet plume.’” I do not know about you,  but  I  find  this  really  disgusting. It puzzles me as to why we use them. You might think this problem is not as bad as you think, and if that is the case, I will probably refrain from shaking your hand. On a campus with as many people as ours, it can be easy to get sick, especially if you think about what could be on your hands after using one of these. Additionally, hand dryers have been tested for their sanitation before, with disgusting results.

According to Dr. John Ross of Chicago Health, “petri dishes exposed to hot air from a bathroom hand dryer for 30 seconds grew up to 254 colonies of bacteria (though most had from 18 to 60 colonies of bacteria).” Ross explains these germs come from the air in the bathroom, which is blown through the hand dryer. They may dry our hands, but these machines also make washing our hands in the bathroom ineffectual. To put it another way, it is not only your germs being blown back at you. Many people prefer this method of hand drying because it saves paper and

trees. I keep hearing this as the main reason for installing and using air dryers. This is the only positive with which I agree. However, I do not think this completely outweighs the numerous negatives. I like the idea of saving trees, but I cannot shake the thought of bathroom germs rocketing towards my squeaky clean hands. Ross even advocates for paper towels over air hand dryers, and claims they are “the most hygienic way to dry your hands.” In addition, paper towels are more useful in keeping people’s hands dry and clean. A bathroom without paper towels can cause problems,

especially if you are trying to avoid the germ rocket. If you are trying to dry your hands and stay clean, then you have to resort to using your clothing to wipe off your hands. Also, if you try to use toilet paper to dry your hands in these desperate situations, the toilet paper will stick to your hands like a low-budget mummy movie. Life happens, but paper towels should also be readily available to clean up spills and messes. What else would you use to clean up the coffee you might have spilled on your favorite Mississippi State University t-shirt? Most of the negatives,

besides the germ infestation issue, can fall under the category of annoyances. According to Alexandra Petri of the Washington Post, “Everything about them is terrible. Hot air dryers dry your hand with all the force of six gnomes gently whispering at you…Your hand emerges uncomfortably hot and just as wet as it was before.” It is annoying when you put faith in these machines, but they fail. When this happens, you may feel betrayed that your hands are still wet. Sure, these contraptions are presented as useful, especially in the deodorant commercial where a lady is trying to speedily dry her sweaty armpits. However, in reality, they are not as useful. Besides being germ habitats, they are also loud. As if the uncleanliness associated with them is not enough, they sound like a vacuum cleaner eating a rug. However, this is just a minor grievance of mine in addition to the germ rocket factor. Some love these air dryers, and some love paper towels. Since this topic is divided between the fans of each, I would like to propose a compromise. It is obvious paper towels are the more sanitary route, but trees are a concern for many. We  should  figure  out  a  way to make these two live in harmony. Options to make air hand dryers cleaner or paper towels more ecofriendly should be explored. Until then, I am going to try and avoid getting germcovered and sick.

Buying Greenland is snowy stupidity for not much gain JOHN HAYNES

is a junior majoring in history and classics. Contact him at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.

“Location, location, location” is the familiar refrain of those in the real estate realm. Buyers, sellers, leasers, renters and squatters all know that above all else, a spot’s site is its draw. President Donald Trump has been drawn recently by the allure of the massive island, Greenland. The potential purchase of Greenland and the rental of my house have little in common, but they do both occupy an exceptional location. The reason I live where I do is that my house is near both my friends and the campus. Greenland’s prime position relates both to its place on a map and its underground treasures. With about 80 percent of the country above the

Arctic Circle, Greenland has long served as a home for an outpost of the U.S. Military. According to the Army’s JoAnne Castagna, Thule Air Base at Qaanaaq served as a mere refueling station as far back as the 1950s, but it began to focus on “missile warning and space surveillance” both during and after the Cold War. About 200 American military personnel are currently stationed there, and the base is constantly being upgraded. Due to its relatively close proximity to the western, developed portion of America’s onagain, off-again arch-rival Russia, it is safe to say Thule Air Base will continue to be of strategic importance to the U.S. Military. Even though Greenland does not currently produce much in the way of minerals and oil, it certainly has the capability to do so one day. According to Tim Boersma and Kevin Foley of the Brookings Institute, both coasts have “promising potential for offshore oil,” and there are notable deposits of “iron ore, copper, zinc, gold,

uranium and light and heavy rare earth elements.” The rare earth elements are of particular interest to the United States. China, with whom the U.S. is in a trade war, produces 70% of the world’s supply of rare metals, which are used to create a wide spectrum of items, from batteries to glass. The main problem is not the mining—as rare earth can be  found worldwide—but in the  production, which produces radioactive waste. According to Stephanie Yang of the Wall Street Journal, America’s only rare earth mine has to send all its production to China to be refined. While Greenland does  not have a processing facility at this time, its population lives almost entirely on the coast. Much of the country has yet to even be explored. Because so much of it is desolate, storing radioactive waste would not be an issue. Greenland clearly has immense value, which will only increase in the coming decades. However, one question remains. Why should America spend an exorbitant

amount of money on this massive island? You cannot argue that the U.S. could pursue a greater military presence there, for as matters stand now, it essentially has free reign in the region. Furthermore, it is not as if Greenland’s rare metals would be more accessible under the American flag.  The  only  hindrance  to  increased production is a lack of economic incentive for mining companies. This has not impeded Washington’s attempts to acquire Greenland. Besides Trump’s recent ambitions, Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas made an appeal in 2018, and as far back as 1946, our government has made separate efforts to obtain it. Why this persistence? Ultimately, it comes down to the global chess game between America and its foes. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal’s Rebecca Balhaus, Sen. Cotton said as much, noting China had tried to “gain a military foothold” in Greenland before the U.S. intervened. Because Greenland is

Rosalind Hutton

“Welcome, Greenland!” conveniently placed near both the East and the West, should a hostile power ever set up shop there, the consequences for the U.S. could be dire. Even though it would be simpler for America to just make out a check to Denmark and forever eradicate the chances of its foes, it should reject this approach. The initial cost would be exorbitant, and it will be quite some time before Greenland will  become  profitable.

Instead, the President and his advisors should seek to build up our relationship with Denmark, so we can remain on amicable terms. America has enough debt without buying the world’s largest island. If our politicians are concerned about China, they should focus on strengthening our bonds with Denmark in order to preemptively limit China’s options. Prevention through alliance is the best option.

Trivia Time! 1. Which planet’s moons are nearly all named after Shakespeare characters?

REFLECTIONS Dolly Parton

2. Key and Kaffir are two types of what fruit? 3. What Canadian province separates Alaska from the continental

“Find out who you are and do it on purpose.”

United States? Answer: 1. Uranus 2. Lime 3. British Columbia

CONTACT INFORMATION Editor in Chief/Mia Rodriguez 325-7905 editor@reflector.msstate.edu Managing Editor/Courtney Carver managing@reflector.msstate.edu News Editor/Hannah Blankenship news@reflector.msstate.edu

Source: trivia.fyi

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Life Editor/Mary Madeline LaMastus life@reflector.msstate.edu Photography Editor/Mary Georgia Hamilton Online Editor/Brandon Grisham multimedia_editor@reflector.msstate.edu Advertising Sales/Devin Byrd

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Letters to the editor should be sent to the Meyer Student Media Center or mailed to The Reflector, PO Box 5407, Mississippi State, MS. Letters may also be emailed to editor@reflector. msstate.edu. Letters must include name and telephone number for verification purposes. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish

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CORRECTIONS

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Avoiding the August rush this fall semester

BRANDON GRISHAM

ONLINE EDITOR

Welcome to another year of college. Some students are new, and others know Starkville better than their hometown. Unfortunately, many find college completely overwhelming at the beginning of the semester. Figuring out class locations, navigating campus and working out the best path can be difficult. Add several thousand walking peers, and it turns into a chaotic mess. The beginning of the semester hustle can cause anxiety and the irrational fear of being trampled by one’s peers. Everyone eventually grows into this lifestyle, but some face needless obstacles while finding their college “groove.” Fortunately, there are ways to bypass these common issues. The college environment holds traps and pitfalls many fall victim to. Your job is to recognize

Rosalind Hutton

them and make them less of an ordeal. Here are the best tips to put the chaotic college days behind you, and how to you can make the most efficient and effective choices in your daily life on campus. Avoid the hourly rush like the plague. Classes end all over campus in intervals, but you can save time by being smarter. Trying to go to The Perry after class or The Fresh at 7 p.m. is asking for long lines and colder food. Your best bet is to eat breakfast before 8 a.m., grab lunch between 10:30 a.m. and noon and go to Fresh at 5 p.m. when they open for dinner. The food will be better, the lines will be shorter and you can sit wherever you want. For those who exchange their block meals at campus fast food places, try to not

go exactly at 4:30 p.m. or 9 p.m. Waiting an extra half hour avoids the line, and the food is hotter because of the previous rush. Like all animals, we also tend to relieve ourselves after eating. If you live off-campus, your personal bathroom will be far less stressful. Finding a bathroom on campus is not difficult, but finding a less trafficked one is. The simple solution will always be stairs. A bulk of your peers never change their level, so less crowded bathrooms are on different floors. Timing is also key because waves occur that follow class schedules. Trekking up stairs when you “gotta go” is not ideal, but extra privacy is usually worth the effort. Consistency is key when it comes to classwork. You

want to develop a habitual pattern from the get-go, so I recommend getting a planner by the first week of classes. Checking off daily tasks and activities in a notebook can be helpful. It also tends to work better than going by the hour. Life does not follow design, so try not to schedule everything down to the minute. It can only take one rainy day to throw you off. Jashawn Baxter, a senior mechanical engineering major, emphasized focusing right from the start. “Don’t fall behind the first few weeks,” Baxter said. “Some classes are easy, but don’t get lazy and slack off. Everything becomes real after week three.” Getting back into the habit of studying also tends to suck. College is a job, not

a vacation from your parents. There is no way of avoiding how mind-numbingly dull the act of staying sharp can be. Most students ride the curve, doing the bare minimum to pass their classes. This approach tends to leave them irritated because they forgot career basics. Treat each day like a mandatory shift and your results will go through the roof. Yeah, working on the weekend is miserable, but you will not mind when you have an A in every class. Katelyn Mathis, a junior psychology major, gave crucial advice for all students. “College really depends on the amount of effort you are willing to give. You have to work if you want to get anything out of your time,” Mathis said. Her stance focused on

persistence, as opposed to the advice given by Kieron Mays, a sophomore majoring in electrical engineering. “Take breaks. Learn how to manage your time and when to get everything done,” Mays said. Enjoy your time navigating campus as an MSU student. College is an excellent slice of your life, but remember you are living in a bubble. Be mindful of some events that offer free food, get off campus every now and then and try not to party too hard. With intentional scheduling and navigation, this campus is both a resource and a playground. These years will shape you into your future self, so use them wisely and take advantage of every opportunity.

in town to get books. They sell textbooks and a limited inventory of supplies and merchandise. This bookstore is one of the only two in town who price match. If a student finds a cheaper option online or anywhere else, Campus Bookstore will match the price. They have an excellent, friendly staff who assists in the purchasing process. If a student has their schedule ready, the staff will find all the books for every student to relieve the stress and time of searching for each textbook in their large inventory. Also, Campus Bookstore has an option to buy now and pay later. While waiting on financial aid, there is an option to defer payment for a couple of weeks. Campus Book Mart also has this option to defer payments. This studentfocused store has a large inventory of any supplies students may need, ranging from binders to art supplies. In the lower level, they have MSU decorations, clothing and everything else one could think to put an MSU logo on.

Kelly Rucker, a junior accounting major, prefers Campus Book Mart due to a great first experience. “The only place I’ve gotten my books from is the Campus Book Mart. It was the first place I went my freshman year, and I liked them so much I kept going back.” Barnes and Noble has the largest inventory of MSU merchandise as well as a large variety of books, all while being conveniently located on campus. Barnes and Noble also price matches. They carry leisure books, all types of MSU merchandise, textbooks, school supplies and dorm room essentials. Inside their store is a Starbucks for students to enjoy coffee before, during or after their shopping experience. If a student needs another option, there are plenty of online stores. Amazon, Chegg, Cengage, Facebook groups and many others have textbooks options. Chegg has a special subscription program which allows students to to rent books at a lower cost and

offers assistance with solving math equations. Cengage has a subscription for access codes. For engineering and math majors, this is a great resource. For the price of two access codes, students can have access codes to all classes for a year. Also, Cengage partners with Chegg to give students a trial of the Chegg subscription. Goo Brown, a senior computer science major, mostly uses Chegg due to the low prices and quick shipping. “I usually get my textbooks from Chegg because I can rent them. It’s easy, its free shipping and usually cheaper,” Brown said. There are also some

people who try to sell books on Facebook Marketplace. It is possible to land a better deal by bargaining with a student rather than a company. Additionally, Amazon has free Prime membership for students up to six months, then the price is half of a regular membership. Students can opt to rent or buy and receive the book within two business days. Thomas McBride, a sophomore accounting major and a theatre minor, compares the prices in town and online to find the best price. “I get all my books online. I window-shop to see prices around town, but after that, I usually find a nice price on

a used Amazon textbook,” McBride said. The best way to see where to get the best prices for textbooks is compare the prices of each store. For example, buying a used textbook for Management Information Systems would cost $88 at Campus Book Mart, $75 at Campus Bookstore, $129 at Barnes and Noble and $87 to buy a kindle edition on Amazon. Each store has a unique feature, making all of them a great option for different needs. By analyzing one’s individual needs, there are many resources to get all school essentials for a great price and experience.

How to steer clear of textbook-related headaches

NICOLE RIGSBY

STAFF WRITER

Buying textbooks can feel awful, especially after looking at the receipt total. No one knows if the book is even going to be used enough to justify the small fortune paid in exchange for it. Luckily, there are a variety of options to know if the books are required and to get the best price in town and online. To find out if one needs a book for a class, there are many options. On the one hand, you can wait until the teacher says if a book is required. To get more information on if the book is necessary to be successful in the course, either ask an upperclassman or go online to read class reviews. A great resource for this is the website Rate My Professor. On this site, there will be information about if the book is needed, how much homework will be distributed and overall information of the class and professor. Campus Bookstore is one of the three options

New downtown bakery’s “Proof ” is in their product

MARY MADELINE LAMASTUS

LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

There is nothing quite like a freshly baked loaf of bread, though most people do not have the skills or patience to execute such a fantastical edible feat—or should I say feast? Starkville’s new edition, Proof, is filling all the gaps in Starkville residences’ stomachs and souls, and the proof is in the experience. When I heard downtown Starkville just landed a new bakery, I could not have been more ecstatic to try it out. Of course, I immediately hunted down the store’s Instagram account and was flabbergasted by the beautiful creations made from just a little flour, yeast and water. However, Instagram is hardly reality, and great looks do not always mean great taste. So, I had to test the pastries for myself. The bread and pastry store is nestled in the roundabout on Main Street, right across the way from the courthouse. The street view of the store is picturesque, and the inside is consistent with this theme. Wooden tables and countertops, a chalkboard menu and potted indoor plants contribute to natural and airy space. All of this centers around the place where the magic takes place—the kitchen,

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ONLINE CODE: PSLGTEN Mary Madeline LaMastus| The Reflector

Proof’s menu changes daily, and this strawberry-chocolate croissant and tea biscuit were available this past Thursday.

work, leaving no secrets in the intimate process of baking. They can be seen kneading dough, measuring ingredients and pulling newly-baked loaves out of the oven, which fills the entire room with the smell of toasted oats. At the counter, there were a variety of options ranging from finer pastries like pineapple-orange curd croissants to more simple options like plain bagels. All the items feature nontraditional ingredients such as cookies with coffee grounds and bagels with apple and gouda cheese. Additionally, regular baguettes and bread knots are also available for purchase. I decided to try the strawberr y-chocolate croissant for breakfast and grabbed a parmesan bagel for lunch.

with a rich dark chocolate filling. The absence of preservatives allowed the flavors to be tasted fully. Unlike many pastries, it was not loaded with sugar, but it was just sweet enough to pair perfectly with my morning coffee. The parmesan bagel was loaded with plenty of hearty cheese, and they even cut it for me when I purchased it. Bagels are cheap, and pastries prices are very fair, considering the labor and quality ingredients they contain. Umble coffee, a locally-roasted coffee brand, can also be purchased to pair with your baked goods. The menu at this local establishment is changing daily, but I have confidence that there will be very few disappointing purchases made, not to mention plenty

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66-Sports SPORTS

THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019 @SPORTSREFLECTOR

MSU soccer is hungry for more HANNAH BLANKENSHIP NEWS EDITOR

JT Ginn pitched six

scoreless innings

against Louisville.

MSU lost 4-3.

Mary Georgia Hamilton | The Reflector

Elijah MacNamee soaks in MSU’s 5-4 win over Auburn. It was MSU’s only win in the College World Series, as MSU was eliminated by Louisville 4-3.

Diamond Dawgs see summer end MARY GEORGIA HAMILTON PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

Mississippi State University’s baseball team arrived in Omaha, Nebraska with a fire lit under them, as it was the second year in a row for the Diamond Dawgs to reach the College World Series. The Diamond Dawgs could be considered the comeback team. According to the NCAA website, the Bulldogs had 28 comeback wins in 2019. When MSU was down 4-1 in the 9th inning against Auburn, Elijah MacNamee, a senior outfielder from Cypress, Texas, knew what was coming. In the post game conference, MacNamee said he could almost feel what was coming. “I was like, I have the weirdest feeling about this inning,” MacNamee said. “So when Jake went up there and hit that double, I said, ‘Well, here we go.’” The Bulldogs were able to pull out the victory with a 5-4 win, as a chopper hit by

Marshall Gilbert, a senior catcher from Kenosha, Wisconsin, bounced off of the Auburn Pitcher’s glove.

“To our fans: I know they’re crushed, but we’ll be back.” -Head Coach Chris Lemonis MSU’s luck started to run out as the Bulldogs lost to Vanderbilt in their second game. In their final game against Louisville, there was a promising future shown in the performance of JT Ginn, a freshman pitcher from Brandon, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers his senior year of high school. Ginn had 81 pitches and six shutout innings in the Louisville game. He had no runs against him and only

allowed for three hits in the innings he pitched that game. His performance and focus was impeccable, but he also said a thank you to his teammates on the field. “I just tried to go out there and compete and make pitches when I needed to,” Ginn said. “The defense played great behind me, and Dustin Skelton— he called a hell of a game tonight, and he made a bunch of big plays for me.” Now, we wait for February to roll around, when the Diamond Dawgs will, once again, lace up their cleats and try to make a run for Omaha. MSU head coach Chris Lemonis said he was proud of how his team played with a fighting spirit all season long. “Thanks to everybody, all our media,” Lemonis said. ”All our national media, but really our local media. You guys are awesome, and to our fans. I know they’re crushed, but we’ll be back.”

Column: MSU is better when Bad Dawgs are held accountable HUNTER CLOUD

is a junior majoring in communication. Contact him at reflectorsports@gmail.com

The opening day of high School football, Keytaon Thompson entering the Transfer Portal and Tommy Stevens being named starting quarterback all took a back seat as the news broke on Aug. 23 that academic violations had been committed at Mississippi State University. The news comes as a bit of a shock as there were not even whispers of an NCAA investigation. However, the case report by the NCAA from the negotiated resolutions meeting sets the timeline for the case having started back in January of this year. According to the case report, all 11 student athletes, ten football players and one men’s basketball player, received an F for an online general chemistry course along with other disciplinary actions as they were in violation of the MSU Honor Code. The tutor received payments upwards of $350 to complete exams and for some players nearly the entire course. The tutor violated the NCAA Ethical Conduct policy by not doing an interview with enforcement

from the former student. It is admirable that MSU cooperated with the NCAA in the investigation and turned themselves in for the violations. Integrity and honor are very important at MSU and when the athletic department and university can hold both student athletes and students to that standard then it is good. As MSU President Mark Keenum said in the press release sent out by the Athletic Department, sadly young people make dumb decisions such as pay cash to pass a chemistry course thus making them ineligible and hurting their respective programs. It is important to remember that while the tutor committed the actions of completing the course

work, the athletes involved are also culpable because they paid upwards of $350 for the help. All parties involved have been held accountable and is a good reminder for MSU students and staff to hold each other accountable too. How you act when you represent this university reflect on the university. Accountability is important and that is why the biggest part of this story wasn’t that the violations occurred. It is that MSU held itself accountable and to a high standard. For the future, Director of Athletics John Cohen said in the press release that MSU will be taking proactive measures moving forward in order to stay committed to a culture of compliance.

The Mississippi State University women’s soccer team, returning after their first NCAA tournament appearance in school history, is hungry for more. The Bulldogs will be entering fall play with a new head coach, James Armstrong, who comes to MSU with five NCAA tournament appearances under his belt at his previous coaching position at Auburn University. Armstrong said entering a program that is coming off of a tournament appearance provides a lot of momentum, which the team plans to capitalize on. “It’s a great situation to walk into. The best part of it was the intensity that the girls brought to training each and every single day and their commitment to hard work and improving every time we set foot on the field,” Armstrong said. Although the team made history last year, neither the coaching staff nor the players are content to settle there. “The other part of it was they were hungry to go even better this time around. Even though we may be in the NCAA tournament, we didn’t make the SEC tournament so really trying to go one better in terms of league play, but also in national play as well,” Armstrong said. MaKayla Waldner, a senior forward from Dexter, Missouri, agreed, saying the team and staff ’s collective goal was to make it as far, and then farther, than they did last year after they made the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history, only to lose in extra time in the first game to Lipscomb University. “We’re building off of the foundation we laid last year so

Rosalind Hutton

the people who did go to the NCAA tournament. We want to find ourselves back there again and then get farther than the first round,” Waldner said. “But the SEC—none of us have ever done that. That would not even be a big one on us, just a stamp on Mississippi State.” One of the challenges the team faces in the upcoming season is integrating the many fresh faces into the program, including 16 new players and an almost entirely new coaching staff. “Obviously we’re a lot of new faces. We’ve got 16 new players, 12 returning, so we have a lot of teaching to do, but the girls have worked really hard and are doing a fantastic job of applying all the things that we’re doing,” Armstrong said. “We’re getting better each and every single day, so the application, effort and intensity they’ve brought each and every single day has been fantastic.” With only four seniors on the team and 13 freshmen, Hailey Zerbel, a senior defender from West Covina, California, said it is important for the younger players to learn to be leaders. “I think teaching the younger girls what it takes to be a leader and leading by

example,” Zerbel said. “We have captains on our team, but everybody on our team plays a huge role, it’s not just specifically them.” Armstrong agreed, saying the sophomore class specifically will really have to step up in their transition from year one to year two. “The sophomores bring a lot of experience from last year. A lot of players that played significant minutes and a significant role in the success of that team, with it being a lot of freshmen, that sophomore class has really got to have a lot of leadership,” Armstrong said. On specific gameplay tactics, Armstrong said the team is going to focus on possession, pressure, counterattacks and execution. Armstrong is also excited about the goal scoring potential he sees in both the new and returning players. “We have a lot of really creative pieces and players that have scored goals historically,“ Armstrong said. “Whether it be the new players in their club career or players that have played collegiately and have done a really good job of getting on the scoreboard. So, we’re excited about different ways that we can score.”