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Mississippi, use
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FRIDAY AUGUST 31, 2018
134th YEAR ISSUE 2
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
New year brings new parking policy E-Center provides
makerspace for all
Vehicles can no longer back into spaces on MSU campus
STAFF WRITER
Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture gave a $100,000 grant to Mississippi State University’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach to provide a new makerspace for the Starkville community. This makerspace is being built for everyone from students, faculty, to Starkville community members. The U.S. Department of Agriculture “provided the grant as part of their Rural Development programs,” said Eric Hill, CEO to the
JOHN HAYNES STAFF WRITER
The Department of Parking and Transit Services has not only made several improvements to the Mississippi State University campus over the summer, but it also has significant plans for future projects. MSU President Mark Keenum signed off on the new parking policy July 11. One item in particular marks a notable change in the way cars are required to be parked. Official Policy 95.501.C.3.v. states, “No individual . . . shall park any motor vehicle or motorcycle on campus by parking in a manner that hides your license plate from being visible from the primary drive lane.” Jeremiah Dumas, the director of Parking and Transit Services, explained the rationale behind the decision. MSU plans to update its technology to more efficiently track who is on campus, he said. One project will install cameras near entrances to campus, which will read the license plate of each vehicle making its way into MSU. The upcoming technology, which
STAFF WRITER
Torrin Brown, a business information systems major, plans on living in Mississippi State University’s residence hall for his entire undergraduate career. “It’s kind of like a home away from home,” Brown said. “It gives you freedom, too. If you want to stay out until 2 a.m., you can.” Brown, a sophomore from Bryans Road, Maryland, also enjoys working as an information assistant in Hurst Hall at MSU. “I get to see so many different faces and different viewpoints of how people are,” Brown said. “I get into conversations with people about their lives, and it gives me viewpoints of different types of people.” Dei Allard, the executive director for MSU’s Department of Housing and Residence Life, said these different viewpoints are a component of life in a residence hall. “They can get to know others beyond themselves,” Allard said.
FRIDAY
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MAKERSPACE, 2
Erin Parker | The Reflector
A new parking space counter located in a Commuter West lot across from Fresh Food Company is a beta tester for a planned parking system.
necessitates the new parking policy, will be one in which parking and transit employees will drive through parking lots. As they patrol, they will monitor each license plate. Because many vehicles are not furnished with plates on their fronts, the system will be unable to decipher backed-in cars. However, there is no need to be concerned about hefty ticket fees from this new regulation. Dumas made it clear the university is still in an “educational phase.” No one
MSU residence halls are a home away from home KAT BOWMAN
Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach. “They (U.S. Department of Agriculture) care about developing rural America and assisting current and future business owners,” Hill said. “The grant gives us some operational runway to get the project off the ground.” Hill continued to describe the first space at MSU. “Besides the grant and fundraising efforts, the E-Center has been in the middle of the maker movement on campus since day one,” Hill said.
EMMA DRAY BRASWELL
“I would like to see them [students] as happy as they can be living on campus, whatever that means for them,” Allard said. “Usually that means having a good roommate they can—they don’t have to have the same values or ideals, but they have enough respect to live and work with each other.” According to Allard, a resident at MSU needs opportunities when they will feel connected with where they are living, and resident advisors are vital to this connection. “The biggest thing starts with the RA’s on the floor just making sure that we are letting students know that we are a welcoming environment,” Allard said. “They’re not just putting a head in bed. They allow them to enjoy life, to explore their identities and independence and to help the student find their path.” Cathy Sims, a resident advisor in Hathorn Hall, works hard to include her residents. “We just try to make sure they’re involved,” Sims said. “When you’re involved on campus, you’re more likely to stay.” HOME, 2
SATURDAY
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SUNDAY
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will be fined for backing into a space in the near future. One of the most visible changes in the parking lots of MSU is the parking counter near Fresh Food Company on the south side of campus. Dumas expressed this device is “beta testing” for another planned parking system. Specially designed speed bumps count vehicles as they enter and exit the lot. An electronic sign displays a count of empty spaces available. For now, the Commuter West lot across from Fresh
Food Company is the only area overseen by this system. “You need controlled ingress and egress,” explained Dumas. With only one entrance and exit, this lot provides a simpler setup than other locations. Another reason this Commuter West lot was selected according to Dumas is because students frequently have to spend a significant amount of time looking for a parking space in this lot, despite there not being any available. PARKING, 2
Megan Bean | Courtesy photo
Nico Ramirez, left, and Michael Lane use woodworking tools at the new makerspace.
Geosciences professor retires after 28 years EMMA KING
“Darrel Schmitz is an expert on Mississippi and Gulf Coast geology, and he is an excellent field geologist,” Rodgers said. “He will truly be missed.” With more than 28 years of memories to choose from, Schmitz was understandably unable to pick a favorite. “There are many fond memories, too many to try to pick one,” he said. “They range from teaching and research related to professional affiliations and of course sports.” Schmitz describes his time at MSU as overall enjoyable. He worked with great colleagues, including faculty, staff and students— both undergraduate and graduate. Schmitz was also recognized as a Fellow of the Geology Society of America. He has also received the prestigious Charles R. Sherman award from the National Association of State Boards of Geology, for which he served as president. Over his many years in the field, Schmitz was also awarded several Presidential Awards from the Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists, another group for which he acted as president.
STAFF WRITER
Darrel Schmitz, a professor in Mississippi State University’s Department of Geosciences, is retiring after 28 years at the university. A reception for his retirement was held in the John Grisham Room of Mitchell Memorial Library Aug. 24. Schmitz is an alumnus of MSU; he graduated in 1980 with a bachelors of science in geology. In 1985, he attended the University of Mississippi to receive his masters in engineering science, specifically geology. Finally, six years later in 1991, Schmitz earned his PhD in geology from Texas A&M University. Schmitz’s dedication to geology shows in more places than his degrees. He credits his high school guidance counselor, Brother Paul Weddle, for encouraging him to pursue studies in the geosciences. Schmitz said geology caught his attention due to his general interest in assuming the “detective” role and his interest in science as a child. “What continued to keep my interest in geology
Kayleigh Phillips | The Reflector
John Rodgers presents Darrel Schmitz with an award for his work in the department.
was the curriculum I had here at MSU as an undergraduate, and being able to co-op with U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) while here,” Schmitz said. Schmitz began his MSU career as an assistant professor up until until 1995, when Schmitz became an associate professor until 2000. For the last 18 years, Schmitz acted as a full professor and said he enjoyed his responsibilities in teaching, research and service in the
FORECAST: The heat, humidity and evening
storms will stick with us throughout the weekend, as high pressure keeps our winds out of the southeast. Unsettled weather along the Gulf Coast Saturday and Sunday may help generate additional storms.
Andrew McCormick, Campus Connect Meteorologist/Forecaster
areas of engineering geology, hydrogeology, environmental geology and Mississippi and Gulf Coast geology. Schmitz also served as the head of the Department of Geosciences for eight years. During his time as a professor, Schmitz taught 18 different courses, from chemical hydrogeology to summer geology field camp. The current department head, John Rodgers, said he will miss Schmitz’s regional expertise.
PROFESSOR, 2
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According to Allard, RA’s assist students in various aspects of life, not just residence-related things. “We have resident advisors and other staff members to help if they’re in any type of distress, personal or just struggling with classes,” Allard said. Sims, a marketing and finance management major, creates a safe community for her residents. “I’m a mama bear, if you’re in my residence hall, you’re my little baby cub,” Sims explains. “I’m going to protect you and make sure you’re doing good.” Because Brown lives in a residence hall at MSU, he experiences this community.
“Living in the dorms has the essentials of having a bed, but it’s also like a community or family,” Brown said. “Having an RA is like having an older brother or sister.” In addition to having a hard-working staff, MSU’s Department of Housing and Residence Life constantly improves its operations. Allard said this past year was the first time the department allowed firsttime freshmen to select their own rooms. “We learned a lot through this process,” Allard said. “Come September, we’ll look at that process again and see how we can make it better.”
The department is also working to improve the facilities themselves. For example, the department will give new luxury vinyl wood-like floors to Critz Hall and Ruby Hall. “Each room will also get a fresh coat of paint,” Allard said. “It brings a different life to those buildings.” Overall, Allard said the department is doing a lot to reexamine their programming model. “We have new professional staff that will be more available to students. That is a great addition for our team this year,” Allard said. “We are always striving for improvements and efficiencies in our system.”
PARKING
One major project Dumas mentioned is a 500-car parking garage scheduled to be built on the north side of campus. It would be built into the hill between Deavenport Hall and Howell Hall. Alex Heath, a junior with a major in business
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information systems, said he was glad about the planned parking garage. “We need more parking, so that’s something that would be appreciated,” Heath said. “They just need to get more parking in general.” Heath said he knew of
many individuals who were ticketed for parking on the grass, an action he said was their only option with the lack of sufficient parking on campus. More information on the parking policy at MSU can be found at www. policies/msstate.edu.
PROFESSOR
On two separate occasions, Schmitz served as president of the Mississippi State Board of Registered Geologists, where he was
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MAKERSPACE This original space was created by Bryan Patton and is called the Factory, a student organization with over 100 students, and is supported by the E-Center financially. The new facility will now be a space people can utilize for different projects, and the hope is to use this space to better the community, Hill said. Michael Lane, a student involved in creating the equipment and materials for the makerspace, said the spae will provide many things to students and the community. “(The makerspace) will provide prototyping assistance to student and community entrepreneurs, as well as access to equipment that might not be readily available for whatever projects the community might want to work on,” Lane said. It will enable students to have access to 3D printers, woodworking equipment and electronic prototyping tools, materials put in place to make sure people have the best opportunities provided to them as possible. “Students can utilize the new space to work on any projects they need,” Lane
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said. “These can be school projects, personal projects and entrepreneurial projects. The space allows students much more freedom when working on these projects.” Hill said this space will provide an easy-access opportunity for not just the community of MSU, but also Starkville, as the facility will allow people to use the space connecting the entrepreneurship program to downtown Starkville. MSU President Mark Keenum said the new space will help students prosper. “This will allow entrepreneurs to increase their chances of success,” Keenum said. Hill said how much emphasis he puts on the importance of projects like this space. “I think entrepreneurship is the future of Mississippi,” said Hill. Hill said the makerspace introduces many opportunities to the community, promoting success. “Entrepreneurship creates new and different jobs,” Hill said. “Success breeds success and encourages others around
that they can do it, too.” The College of Business Dean Sharon Oswald spoke on the importance of entrepreneurship. “We take entrepreneurship very seriously in our college,” Oswald said. Hill said one of the main reasons this project is hoped to be groundbreaking and important for innovators at MSU is because it is a chance to show the talent in the area. “We want to tap the talent pool here to help bring more of these ideas to fruition,” Hill said. This makerspace will enable people to work on an assortment of different projects to grow the community around Starkville by expanding our reach through networking. For anyone interested in utilizing this new space for upcoming projects, whether they entail projects for school, personal projects or any other, it will be open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, as well as being accessed by specifically trained people after hours. It is located on 114 E. Main Street in Starkville, and is between Aspen Bay and Moe’s Original BBQ.
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personally appointed by the governor of Mississippi. Despite his numerous accomplishments, Schmitz’s largest source of pride continues to be his students. Throughout his 28-year academic career, Schmitz advised over 300 undergraduate geoscience majors. He also graduated 44 MSU on-campus thesis students, three on-campus non-thesis students and many off-campus non-thesis students. After his official retirement, Schmitz will graduate two more students after his defense of their theses. Schmitz also had the opportunity to graduate two doctoral students after the inception of MSU’s
PhD program in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.
“I can certainly say I would not be where I am or who I am if it weren’t for him.” - Cale Sellers, former student. Twenty of his 44 MSU students were independently funded and hired before or at the time of their graduations. The remaining 24 were also quickly accounted for, whether they went on to a doctoral program, employed by the federal (or international,
in one case) government, state agencies or consulting firms. One of his past students, Cale Sellers, now works at Southern Company, an energy-producing company. “I can certainly say I would not be where I am or who I am if it weren’t for him,” Sellers said. “He was the main person who talked me into coming back to Mississippi State to get my graduate degree. He will be truly missed at Mississippi State, but his legacy will remain for quite some time.” Schmitz has no current plans for his retirement, aside from staying in Starkville and remaining active as a geologist. However, he said he has several things to catch up on around the house.
THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018 @REFLECTORONLINE
BULLETIN BOARD SUDOKU
BAD DAWGS Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018 Employee arrested in Starkville for requirement to use lights and first DUI. Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018 Student arrested in Starkville for minor in possession of alcohol. Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018 Disturbing the peace. Student reported being harassed by her ex-roommate. Friday, Aug. 17, 2018 Resident of city/county arrested on Sorority Row for trespassing on campus. Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018 Student reported losing her keys in Colvard Student Union; the keys were later found. Student referral issued for possession of marijuana in Ruby Hall. Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018 Officer found a pair of headphones in Lee Hall. Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 Student arrested on Creelman Street for public drunkenness. Referral issued. Resident of city/county arrested on Blackjack Road for improper equipment. Justice court citation issued. Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 Officer conducted a welfare check on a student in Ruby Hall. Student refused counseling. Student referrals were issued to two students for an altercation on Lee Boulevard. Employee reported her wallet stolen
from Moore Hall. Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018 Vehicle was towed from Lakeview Drive for obstructing traffic. Aramark employee reported her work keys missing form the Perry Cafeteria. Student had a seizure in Allen Hall. Subject was transported to OCH by ambulance. Student reported his wallet missing, claiming it was last seen in Lee Hall. Officer reported the arm gate to the Allen Hall lot broken. Traffic citations: Fifteen MSU citations were issued for speeding, the most notable of which was 52/20. One Justice Court citation issued for speeding 47/30. MSU citation issued for improper passing on Blackjack Road. Justice Court citation issued for suspended driver’s license on Blackjack Road. MSU citation issued for disregard of traffic device on Barr Avenue. Justice Court citation issued for expired tag on Stone Boulevard. Justice Court citation issued for expired driver’s license on Blackjack boulevard. MSU citation issued for disregard of traffic device on Stone Boulevard. Justice Court citation issued for expired tag on B.S. Hood. MSU citation issued for disregard of traffic device on Bailey Howell. Justice Court citation issued for disregard of traffic device on Bailey Howell. Justice Court citations issued for speeding 38/20 and for a suspended driver’s license on College View Street.
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OPINION
Mississippi, use familial DNA to solve your crimes S
OT
E
KATIE POE is a senior majoring in English. Contact her
E
at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
S
S CRO
M CRI
One of the most baffling NOT questions I have thought of O while listening to a podcast ED N about the Starkville Labor E SC Day murders is this: Why E has Mississippi failed to RIM utilize familial DNA when C investigating crimes? Other states do, and it has helped capture notorious serial killers According to Sarah like the Golden State Killer Warnock of The Clarion and Grim Sleeper. Familial DNA searching Ledger, one flimsy answer law is a way of testing evidence enforcement officials have across a state’s database to find given for why this procedure genetically-related profiles, apparently cannot be used is such as parents or siblings. “there is no definitive protocol It is a bit different from your in place.” Yet another question typical DNA search, as stated by the Forensic Technology is raised: Why have we not Center of Excellence’s created protocol? It has to “Familial DNA Searching: start somewhere, right? While Mississippi Current Approaches.”
N SCE
N DO
S O R C
Rosalind Hutton
Attorney General Jim Hood stated he “supports any tool that helps law enforcement do their job,” those words have yet to spark action. The podcast which first got me interested in familial DNA is “Knock Knock: The Unsolved Murders of Betty Jones and Kathryn Crigler.” These women were murdered 28 years ago in Starkville, and police have yet
to find their killer. Although strides were made using the suspect’s semen to form a fairly detailed description, the question still remains: Who did it? Who knows if utilizing familial DNA searching will lead to the apprehension of this murderer, but it would not hurt to try. In Episode Six, Jason B. Jones, the creator of the podcast and Betty Jones’ grandson, put it perfectly. “The only barrier to using this tool is a piece of software that already exists,” Jason Jones said. “Just imagine if your loved one was killed, whether recently, or, in our case, 20 years ago, and you found out that there was another tool that could be used to find answers and justice. Wouldn’t you want to at least see if it could help?” According to James Rainey of NBC News, only 12 states currently utilize familial DNA: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin and
Wyoming. Mississippi is not on this list. About a year ago, Justin Christian was the first criminal in Ohio to be identified using this method. Because Christian was not a convicted criminal, there was no match for him in the state DNA database, according to The Clarion Ledger’s Sarah Warnock. However, using the DNA of relatives on file, police found Christian, who is serving 35 years for the rape of a 6-year-old. Another famous example is the Golden State Killer, who raped at least 50 and killed 12 in California between 1974 and 1986. This year, using familial DNA, police found Joseph James DeAngelo, Jr., and he was subsequently arrested, as stated by Aja Romano of Vox. Romano also spoke with Sacramento District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert and she stressed the importance of DNA as evidence. “The answer was and always was going to be in the DNA,” Schubert stated plainly.
According to the “Familial DNA Searching: Current Approaches” article published in 2015, there were no known cases at that point where a false association was made using this process. Meaning, the wrong brother or parent has never been convicted instead of the actual criminal. In Episode 6 of “Knock Knock,” Jason B. Jones asks yet another important question. “After the dozens of people that I’ve spoken to or interviewed and emailed, no one has a specific answer as to why this can’t be done in Mississippi, and specifically for Betty and Kathryn’s case. So the real question is, who can actually get this done?” In the same episode, retired prosecutor and familial DNA expert Rockne Harmon said the state’s attorney general is the decision maker, but first, the state’s lab has to want this method. So, Mississippi, I am calling you out. These questions demand answering, and using familial DNA could expedite the process.
Magnet schools are key to academic prosperity PHIL EVANS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
If we were to walk through the halls of our high schools, we could remember precisely what classes we did not like and the classes in which we excelled. Maybe you were an athlete, which was really only there for the one hour weightlifting class and the two- to three-hour practices after school. Maybe you were a science kid who knew all the blood types and took all the AP classes for science and math. Maybe you were the “woke” kid who had five news apps on their phone and were ready to vote since fifth grade. Nevertheless, we all had a place in school where we excelled. The sentiment is the same for kids all around the world, and this is why I propose we create specialty schools for each field, rather than a onesize-fits-all approach. We have already seen great success with this on a smaller scale. Fine arts schools all around the country are producing great talent. Sports academies like the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, and the Evert Tennis Academy in Palm Beach, Florida, are grooming athletic talent while giving them the education they need in the classroom. Lest we forget, the shining stars, New York’s specialized schools, who are struggling to keep their diversity as their schools reach national acclaim. The goal is to create a system where people with the same mindset about school can push themselves to the next level. It is understood when successful kids are accompanied by great teachers, they push themselves to better understand the course material and the goals teachers set. Such situations allow students to have role models they trust who push them to excel. Allowing for this specialized school selection also allows for public schools to create more diverse student bodies. A 2014 Propublica piece
by Nikole Hannah-Jones dug into the segregation which has crept back into our school systems, or in some cases, never left. Most schools draw their districts from certain areas, and because of redlining and the discrepancy of income between the races, minorities are prevented from attending certain schools. This led to the creation of a lasting effect, as more and more kids are attending apartheid schools, which consist of 90 percent or more of a minority. As a result, schools see less funding, less-qualified teachers and a continual downfall. According to John Oliver of LastWeek Tonight, as the problem becomes worse because of isolation and white closed-mindedness, the local governments are trying to find solutions. This is because diversity positively affects and prepares students for a future guaranteed to have interactions with people of all ages, races, religions, etc. Mimi Kirk of CityLab writes, “The benefits of an integrated student body are very clear for kids of color: Test scores and graduation rates increase, and as adults they earn more and enjoy better health.” This fact does not overshadow the fear of some white families, who believe minority students will ruin their schools. However, a system of magnet schools could create enough incentive to make even the non-minority parent see they should switch to a different way of choosing a school. Another incentive is the ability for teachers to pick who they would like to teach. Is your goal in life to help athletes excel, or maybe to help the next college professor realize her abilities? The teacher can decide for themselves. The one downfall in my eyes to this magnet school system is transportation. However, I think if parents see the value, they will make many sacrifices for their children when they realize magnet schools are the best option for their children.
Rosalind Hutton
Have a little faith in the Catholic Church GRACE GILMAN
is a senior majoring in English. Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu
There have been numerous occasions during which I stood up and defended my Catholic faith. One occasion that automatically comes to mind was when I went to a public school and my fourth-grade teacher told me to get the “dirt” off of my forehead in front of the class. It was Ash Wednesday, a pretty well-known Catholic holy day marking the beginning of Lent. After some contemplation of whether or not to wipe the “dirt” off of my forehead to avoid further embarrassment, or tell my teacher it was a Catholic tradition, I chose to defend my religion, and she apologized. It was an event which proved to be monumental for me as a young Catholic, which tested my devotion and led to me standing up for what I believed in.
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abuse allegations against then-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick in 2013, but did nothing about it. More recently, according to NBC 10’s Danielle Abreu, the Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said his office has proof the Pope would have needed to document the allegations about Cardinal Donald Wuerl according to Cardinal Law. “Shapiro told NBC’s Today show during an interview Tuesday that the grand jury unearthed handwritten notes detailing the abuse stored in secret archives. He said clergymen were compelled by Cardinal Law to document ‘all of it,’ calling the policy ‘inexplicable,” Abreu explained. More and more people are finding the strength to come forward about abuse, decades later and despite their traumas, which has been a positive trend over the past couple years thanks to movements such as #MeToo. This new test to my faith is difficult to stand behind. While I do not believe the wrongdoings of the priests should make people question the core principles of the religion as a whole, I do think this is a time
when the Catholic church should take a step back and reevaluate some policies. The church is known to have old, outdated traditions—it has only been a recent change that women can be altar servers, and women still cannot be priests. Maybe it is time to ask why priests are doing this in the first place. What is leading them to corrupt young children? Are the rules and regulations of being a priest too restrictive to the normal sexual development of a human being? There must be a bigger reason as to why thousands of priests across numerous decades felt as if they hold the power which justifies the abuse of children. This is not the time to point fingers about who knew what in the past, nor is it time to abandon the faith altogether. It is time to get to the root of the problem and rebuild the Catholic Church, giving it a new reputation— a reputation not involving abuse or cover-ups. I still stand behind my faith, difficult as it may be at this time, in the hopes times such as these will unite members of the Catholic Church to conduct a real and a lasting change.
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An entirely new test is coming to fruition. A Netflix documentary called “The Keepers” was recently released. The summary of the documentary on Netflix says the film, “examines the decade-old murder of Sister Catherine Cesnick,” and the child abuse scandal which was uncovered during the investigation. Essentially, Sister Cathy confronted a priest about his child abuse scandal, and then she was found murdered, suggesting a cover-up of the abuse. This documentary has reignited a conversation about Catholic priests, child abuse and cover-ups which have been around for many decades. This week, Pope Francis gave a press conference in Ireland where he met with eight victims of child abuse from a Catholic priest. The CNN video shows Pope Francis saying, “[…] the eight people who suffered sex abuse by figures in the Catholic Church left a ‘profound mark’ on me.” He then explained the correct measures being put in place to ensure such abuse cannot happen again. Additionally, new information recently surfaced how Pope Francis knew about the
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LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT
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The All-American Rejects headline 2018 Bulldog Bash TALLY DUKE
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Mississippi State Student Association will host its annual Bulldog Bash Sept. 28 with local stage performances beginning at 3 p.m. and headliner The All-American Rejects taking the stage at 7 p.m. The largest free outdoor concert in Mississippi, Bulldog Bash will bring thousands to Starkville. It will be held the night before the MSU vs. Florida game at Davis Wade Stadium. Students, faculty, residents of Starkville and out-of-towners will all gather together to watch various entertainment acts. Other events will occur throughout the day, including Maroon Market and other happenings put on by various vendors. Madi LaManna, a MSU
sophomore, said she is excited for The All-American Rejects because the opportunity it provides to see a live performance for free, and for the convenience of it being in Starkville. “When they announced the band, I got so excited because they used to be my favorite band in middle school,” LaManna said. Maroon Market, which consists of local food vendors, store vendors and music artists will begin at 3 p.m. In the past, the festival also hosted various familyfriendly activities, such as cooking competitions and pep rallies. The winner of the Battle of the Bands will also take the stage at Bulldog Bash. David Cuevas, the director for Bulldog Bash, said the MSU Student Association works diligently to provide the best and most enjoyable experience for all students
Emma Moffett | The Reflector
MSU students and faculty watch SA announce the Bulldog Bash headlining artist, The All-American Rejects, at the newly redone MSU YMCA building.
and visitors. “Based on people that were available and within our price range, we believe they (The All-American Rejects) will put on the best wshow,” Cuevas said. The committee chose this band due to its popularity and
throwback jams everyone will be pumped for, along with availability of the artist. Cuevas also said picking the artist takes a lot of time and effort, including everyone sending in ideas, researching availability of the bands, meeting deadlines and staying
in the price range for the event. Rachel Foreman, the artist relations coordinator, expressed her excitement about the event, and is positive about the response to come from students. “We are super excited for
this feel-good lineup that will bring an upbeat and lively show,” Foreman said. Foreman also said because this is a very significant game weekend for the Bulldogs, she is excited to bring artists everyone is guaranteed to know. Some of The AllAmerican Rejects’ main hits include, “Gives you Hell” and “Dirty Little Secret.” The Student Association and Bulldog Bash personnel are also excited and honored to host The Mowgli’s and Ric Wilson, who will also perform Friday night at the bash. “We are also super excited to host The Mowgli’s because everyone is guaranteed to know and love a couple of their hits,” Foreman said. This free, all-day event will be sure to entertain, excite, and hype up not only the faithful fans of MSU, but also the fans of food, music, and of course, The All-American Rejects.
Volunteer opportunites are abundant in Starkville
EMMA BRASWELL STAFF WRITER
Volunteerism is alive and well at Mississippi State University as several departments and organizations on campus call for student involvement. The Cowbell Cleanup, hosted through MSU’s department of sustainability, is a program accepting volunteers throughout the semester. Student volunteers will provide trash bags and sharing information on Maroon Goes Green to football game tailgaters. The Cowbell Cleanup takes place before every home game and prospective volunteers will meet three hours before each kickoff
in the Junction at the white tent reading, “Maroon Goes Green.” Volunteers will get a t-shirt and water bottle for participating. Christine Lashley, sustainability coordinator for MSU, started this program to promote a greener campus, especially since there is an influx of litter during football games. “We want our volunteers to walk around the Junction and talk to guests on campus, educating them about recycling on campus and encouraging them not to litter and to bag up their trash,” Lashley said. While participating in the Cowbell Cleanup does not require prior registration, opportunities
in the MSU Community Garden Service or the Health Service Volunteer program have sign up sheets and/or application deadlines. Meggan Franks, assistant director of Student Leadership and Community Engagement at MSU, said Garden Service, located behind MSU’s landscape architecture building, recruits students at the beginning of each semester and accepts signup forms online. The construction for the garden began in the fall of 2017 and is scheduled to be completed October of this year. Volunteering with the garden is an ideal opportunity for anyone
who cannot easily travel off-campus, and currently, a shift is available Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m. “Volunteering for the garden can help students learn about their local community and become more civic-minded individuals that will one day lead the communities of tomorrow,” Franks said. The Health Service Volunteer organization has an application process with the deadline of Sept. 5 to apply. Students must have a 2.5 GPA or higher to be accepted into this program, as it is considered to be a Health Service Volunteer Internship opportunity. Roughly 50-70 students are accepted every semester,
and the service hours range weekly and monthly, depending on how much each individual would like to take on. However, the minimum number of hours students can work is 20 per semester. Christina Gladney, advisor for the Health Service Volunteer organization, said there are different ways to earn hours, including assisting at larger events on-campus. “We go out on the Drill Field to do health education Monday through Thursday on normal school days, so volunteers get an opportunity to earn hours by going out and educating their fellow peers about different health topics,”
Gladney said. During these Drill Field days, the topics change based on nationallyrecognized days, weeks or months specific to health issues. “We just stay consistent with those dates that have already been set aside to raise awareness for whatever the health topic may be,” Gladney said. These opportunities are only a small glimpse at the volunteer options available during the year, many of which can be accessed on OrgSync. “If it is something you’re passionate about, you’ll get the satisfaction that you’ve helped to do your part,” Lashley said.
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018 @SPORTSREFLECTOR
SPORTS
Column: A warm welcome and introduction to football season Get back here, thatʼs mine!!
HUNTER CLOUD
is a sophomore majoring in communication. Contact him at sports@ reflector.msstate.edu.
Noah Siano | The Reflector
Keith Mixon, a junior wide receiver from Birmingham, Alabama, returns a kick in a home game against LSU last season. Mixon spent spring camp sidelined with an injury and will start this Saturday in the season opener against Stephen F Austin University.
Wide recievers Mixon, Jackson head into season healthy and determined HUNTER CLOUD SPORTS EDITOR
When Keith Mixon, a junior wide receiver from Birmingham, Alabama, puts on his maroon and white jersey and runs out of the tunnel into Davis Wade Stadium, it will be the end of a long journey recovering from a foot injury. With the end of one journey, it will also be the start of a new journey running its course from September to potentially January. “This is going to be a year to remember for me, because I remember where I was with this injury,” Mixon said. “Just me getting back on the field, I might shed a couple tears because I knew how hard I had to work to get here.” Ranked No. 18 in the preseason AP Polls, Mississippi State University plays Stephen F Austin University at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. This will be head coach Joe Moorhead’s first game for MSU, and with the hype surrounding the team, Mixon said they need to stay focused in their season opener. “It is exciting, but we have to control our mindset,” Mixon said. “Because when you see the fans, you have got to be ready to play. The first game of the season, and everyone is hyping you up, you just gotta stay focused, and go out there and do your job.” Mixon spent much of the spring watching from the sidelines as he recovered from his injury sustained in the last half of the 2017 season. He
said he is feeling 95 percent healthy, but of course, this could change by the game Saturday. The competition at the wide receiver position is higher this year, and a part
“Just me getting back on the field, I might shed a couple tears because I knew how hard I had to work to get here.” -Keith Mixon, junior wide receiver of this is thanks to several newcomers. Jesse Jackson, a fith-year senior wide receiver from Petal, said the receiving corps compares to the 2014 season’s. “The competition is really high, about as high as it has ever been,” Jackson said. “The gameplay is definitely elevated, you got Osirus (Mitchel) who is six foot plus, you got (Jamal) Couch who is also six foot plus, you got guys like Mixon and (Stephen) Guidry. So there is a lot of down field threats and it makes the competition a lot tougher.” With fall camp coming to a close, Luke Getsy, the wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator, mentioned guys like Guidry, Mitchell and Jackson all had solid camps, and he was excited to see them play. Getsy is also looking forward to their opener against SFAU, as they will
discover new challenges against opponents. “I think it will be a really good test, I think the style of defense that we play here is a lot different,” Getsy said. “So it is going to be a really good test, especially mentally they are going to throw a lot of different things at us. So I’m excited to see how these guys can operate in a different environment, and a different defense coming at them.” The game will also provide an opportunity for Jackson, who has yet to catch a touchdown in his five years at MSU. “I have been waiting on that since I have left high school, it has been a while,” Jackson said. “If I do make it into the end zone, there will definitely be a celebration. It is going to be something.” Kickoff for the game is set for 6:30 p.m. at Davis Wade Stadium, and ESPNU will broadcast the game.
Dear students, I am Hunter Cloud and this year I will be the sports editor. I want to welcome you back on behalf of me and my sportswriters. We all look forward to providing students and fans with the best content possible. Everywhere you look on campus, there are signs of the storm that is coming: football season is upon us in Starkvegas. For some of the students here at MSU, this will be your first season in the student section, and my advice is to soak everything in like a sponge. I urge freshmen and transfer students to go to the Junction Friday afternoon to watch the fans race to claim a spot for tailgating. Go to the Junction on game day and just observe all the fun, food and the united MSU family a few hours before the game. This is also head coach Joe Moorhead’s first game of his first season. Since he was a coach at Pennsylvania State University, he has experienced one of the loudest and craziest atmospheres in the country, and his message to students was to make Davis Wade a crazy atmosphere, too. “Ring responsibly. I’m excited for my first time in the stadium,” Moorhead said. “I came from a place where I thought it was the best student section in the
Voted i Min Best e! g Stora
Rosalind Hutton
country, and I hear the same about Mississippi State. You hear writers and the media say this is the best atmosphere in the country, so I want them to arrive early, be as loud as they can and give us a real homefield advantage. I think the students, fans and alumni will be very proud of the product we put on the field.” This year’s team should be one of the best football teams MSU has fielded, and I think we need to give this team the respect they deserve. However, Moorhead is a firstyear coach and the team’s first year in his system, so we need to create fair and realistic expectations for a team whose record year is 10-2 in 2014. That is why I believe 10-2 or 11-1 would be the bestcase scenario for Moorhead’s team. It may be his first year at this program, but this team has the best defensive line in the nation, a strong secondary, a deep receiving corps with
many players who are much bigger, and talented running backs and quarterbacks. There is one thing I know for sure about this team: they will fight for the people of Mississippi State, they will play for the fans and they will put everything they have into making this a memorable year. All they need is for their fans to support them in their efforts. This team can reach for the stars, and that is why on Saturday night, when MSU takes the field and plays under the lights with all the hype, all the storylines from last year and this summer will be put to rest. A new narrative will begin and hopefully, come December, it will be resumed in Atlanta and carried on until the last college football game is played. Hail State. The Bulldogs will play the Stephen F Austin University Lumberjacks this Saturday at 6:30.
No D No C eposit. ontra ct.
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Noah Siano | The Reflector
Wide receiver Mixon celebrates the 45-yard touchdown he scored against LSU last season. Mixon had 275 yards receiving, with one touchdown, on 18 catches last year.
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