09.06.19 by Reflector Editor

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FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2019

135th YEAR ISSUE 3

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

Famous Maroon Band is largest in university history JOHN LEE

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Yashaswin Sridhar | The Reﬂector

Senior band member Jonathan Hall plays the drum during Tuesdayʼs marching band practice in preparation for the ﬁrst home game on Saturday.

University premieres film studies minor

EMMA DRAY BRASWELL STAFF WRITER

A minor in film studies has officially come to Mississippi State University’s campus this semester, with the help of the Department of English, the Department of Art and the Department of Communication. Andrea Spain, an associate professor in MSU’s Department of English, and the woman who spearheaded the introduction of the film minor, stated there was not access to a course of official study regarding film until this minor became an option. Melanie Loehwing, an associate professor of communication, said there was a large amount of students who were looking to learn more about film, and they are now being provided with the opportunity to do just that. “I’m thrilled our students have an opportunity to be able to study film in a systematic way, and after graduation to be able to show graduate school admissions committees or employers that they have pursued this very systematic study of film as part of their degree,” Loehwing said. Spain clarified the minor in film studies is not simply for people pursuing film as a career. MINOR, 2

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Mississippi State University’s Famous Maroon Band has always been huge, but this year the band is the largest it has ever been with a record-breaking 420 members. Elva Kaye Lance, the Director of Bands at MSU, is pleased with the high retention of members in the band. “It’s very good that there is still this much interest in the band,” Lance said. “We have 255 returning members, and enrollment in the university has kept us going at a good pace.” Lance, who joined the band faculty in 1992 and became an Assistant Director before becoming Director of Bands in 2002, said she is content with the band’s current size. “It’s certainly a team effort here, and it makes work a lot of fun,” Lance said. “As for the size of the band, I think we’re comfortable with the current size it is now, and we don’t think it needs to

get any bigger. We have a budget for uniforms, resources, and space.” Not only is the band full of many talented musicians, it also houses a great deal of academic talent, as the average GPA of a player is 3.4 or higher, along with an average ACT score of 27 or higher, Lance said. “A lot of our members here are strong leaders, and veteran players with amazing musical talent,” Lance said. “We have 16 valedictorians on the team along with 10 salutatorians as well.” Gwyen Sutphin, a senior band member studying business information systems, said band members and directors work very hard on preparing upcoming performances, especially football game halftime shows. “We are very efﬁcient with what we are doing during rehearsal, and our directors are very good with making sure we accomplish everything we need to do each day,” Sutphin said. “We do several halftime shows, and it takes a while to learn each one. So, my hat is off

to them for their patience and encouragement while helping us look and perform our best.” Sutphin has known since seventh grade that she wanted to be part of the Famous Maroon Band, and now that she is graduating soon, she wants to make the absolute most out of this final year of performing. “Being part of the band is a dream come true,” Sutphin said. “Graduation is fast approaching, but I will have so many wonderful memories from the time I spent here, and I’ve enjoyed the experience to the fullest. To the freshmen, enjoy your time marching on the field, the trips and the special treats as much as you can! You will make so many great memories and friends for life. Don’t blink, the time will fly by.” Maggie Robinson, a senior band member studying elementary education, has thoroughly enjoyed her time in the Famous Maroon Band, and highly encourages any incoming freshman to give the band a shot. BAND, 2

Housing plans for demolition of Rice Hall HANNAH BLANKENSHIP

Dei Allard, executive director of Housing and Residence life, said while demolition is by no means definite, it is definitely the decision Housing and Residence Life is pursuing. “It is not very certain. It’s certain in my point of view. In Housing, that’s definitely the direction we want to go, and that’s why we put in the work order to start the demolition process,” Allard said. Both Allard and Mock would like to see the demolition of Rice occur over the coming summer. “The hope is to do the whole demo this summer, so around May or June is the plan, but we’ve got to talk to the campus community to talk about some of their needs too,” Allard said. Housing and Residence Life has endeavored to take Rice offline for years.

NEWS EDITOR

Mississippi State University’s Rice Hall, a traditional, all girls’ residence hall constructed in 1968, is tentatively scheduled for demolition over the coming summer. According to Fred Mock, Housing and Residence Life’s associate director for Maintenance and Facilities, Housing and Residence Life is actively planning for the demolition of Rice, but other options for renovation and ongoing use of the building are still being discussed. “There are many options being considered for the future of Rice, one of which is demolition. But, that’s by no means written in stone yet,” Mock said. “In housing, we had always planned eventually to take

Brianna Laverty | The Reﬂector

MSUʼs Department of Housing and Residence life is hoping to demolish Rice Hall, built 51 years ago, over the upcoming summer.

it ofﬂine, and you know there’s other university considerations, so whether

it’s really going to be demolished or not, I can’t tell you. We are planning for

that, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to necessarily happen.”

RICE, 2

New program notifies students of free food GRACIE BYRNE STAFF WRITER

Yashaswin Sridhar | The Reﬂector

Cadet Zachary Carson and Andrew Hsu rejoice at the availability of free food at their ﬁngertips.

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Mississippi State University’s Division of Student Affairs has introduced a new program to battle food insecurity on campus. As of this semester, the new Maroon Meals program, designed to alert students of available food sources on campus, the food’s location and how long it will be obtainable, is available to all students on MSU’s Starkville campus. Vice President of Student Affairs Regina

FORECAST: Weather conditions over the next few days will stay consistent. Temperatures are in the mid-90s, but will feel closer to 100 degrees most days. There is no rain in the forecast, as sunny skies stick around through the weekend. For gameday, expect a hot, humid and sunny day.

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Hyatt said Student Affairs does a lot on campus to ensure student success through food security. “There are lots of things related to food security we do on campus,” Hyatt said. “This is another way we can support student success.” Hyatt said she hopes the program can take pressure off of students to ﬁnd their next meal and allow them to focus on life and school. “We’re just trying to alleviate barriers for students,” Hyatt said. “I hope they see this as a resource to manage life and alleviate concerns about

where they’re gonna get their next meal.” The program started off as a conversation within Student Affairs late last year. Hyatt had spoken with Marketing and Communications Coordinator Katie Corban about other universities using similar programs to alert students to food sources, and thought it would be beneﬁcial to the students of Mississippi State. Corban then contacted other universities and talked to their coordinators about how they implemented their programs. FOOD, 2

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FOOD

She met with ITS to discuss whether a notification system could be added to the myState application. ITS was able to add the function to the myState application, as they already had the necessary technology in place. ITS also added a portal on Banner in order for Student Affairs staff to send out the information for the notifications. Once Corban gave ITS all of the information needed in order to put the program together, Student Affairs began to promote the program. “Maroon Meals kinda just kicked that off,” Corban said. Students can sign up for a notification from Maroon Meals by downloading the myState app on their smart phone and logging in with their netID and password. After logging in, students can look under the student, faculty and

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staff section and select the notification sign up, turn the Maroon Meals slider on and select save. Once saved, students should make sure notifications are enabled for the myState application on their smart phones. After that, the process is complete

“Even if it helps

with one meal, it’s successful in its own right,” Katie Corban Marketing and Communications Coordinatior and notifications from Maroon Meals will come through on the student’s smart phone. Corban said the program would be worth it even it only alleviates one student’s hunger for one meal. “Even if it helps with

one meal, it’s successful in its own right,” Corban said. Corban is excited for the program and hopes it will effectively serve the students of Mississippi State. “I hope that students are aware of it and know how to sign up,” Corban said. “I hope they utilize it.” Katie Ray, a junior interdisciplinary studies major, said she has already heard about the new program on campus and is excited for the possibility of free food. “Whenever there’s extra food on campus, me and my friends wanna know, because it may be something that’s not from the Perry or Fresh,” Ray said. Ray is also hopeful about the role Maroon Meals will play in the community. “I’m hoping that whatever is left goes to food shelters,” Ray said. For more information, call the Division of Student Affairs at 662-325-8171.

BAND “The most memorable experience I’ve had with the Famous Maroon Band was the first time I stepped onto the field at Davis Wade Stadium. I participated in the Famous Maroon Band Marching Honor Band all four years of high school, so when I became a member myself, it was such a surreal experience,” Robinson said. “The first SEC game of my freshman year was the loudest game I’ve ever heard. They are not kidding when they tell you to use your earplugs! Since I’ve been in marching bands going on eight years now, you get used to the noise and excitement of the game, it’s all just so much fun.” This is Robinson’s last year in the band, and she said will never forget the time she has spent performing. “I will forever cherish the memories and friendships I have made these past few years,” Robinson said. “We get the opportunity to interact with Dr. Keenum,

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Yashaswin Sridhar | The Reflector

Freshman Jim Meals plays the trumpet at Tuesday’s pregame and halftime show practice.

Joe Moorhead, the football team and John Cohen, as well as travel to every bowl game. We also get the privilege of traveling to an SEC game with the pep band every year. It’s pretty neat knowing that

RICE

CONTINUED FROM 1

They built Oak, Magnolia, Deavenport and Dogwood with the intention of vacating Rice, but rapid student population growth necessitated the continued use of Rice, Mock said. With the addition of the College View Apartments, demand has finally plateaued and Housing and Residence Life was able to take Rice offline this year. Morgan Bishop, a junior psychology major, lived in Rice Hall her freshman year. While it was livable, it was not ideal, she said. “I didn’t really like much about it. The hallways were always noisy because the doors had this weird cutout vent in it. So, light always

came through it and it was so loud, even the janitors doing their morning routines, we could hear everything. The bathrooms weren’t that bad; they always kept it really clean, but, of course, no one likes the community bathroom. Also, everything was tile, like on the floor, so that made it really dirty It was just not an enjoyable time,” Bishop said. If absolutely necessary, it would be fine to house students there again, Bishop said, but the building could definitely use some work. “It was definitely livable I feel like. So, if we really needed housing I would say ‘yea no it’s no problem keep it up,’ but honestly no one

wanted to be there. It needed some tender loving care for sure,” Bishop said. According to Mock, there were no health concerns with Rice Hall. While several asbestos removal projects were completed throughout the years, the wiring was safe and the building had a full sprinkler system. However, if Rice was to continue being a residence hall, it would need extensive renovations. “The building can definitely be renovated, that just becomes a cost decision for Housing. Is the amount of money we would spend renovating this building worth it, or is it better that we just use that money to build a

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completely new building? It needs to be completely gutted, just like Hathorn and Cresswell were. It needs to be rewired, air conditioning replaced, windows replaced, the bathrooms redone, just the whole shebang,” Mock said. While Rice was one of the lowest cost housing options, Allard said taking that option away has, so far, not been a problem. “I have not gotten requests from students or family members that are looking for more low-income options. We have looked at modifying some of our other options. So, McKee and Sessums hall,for example, we

didn’t raise it as we’ve done with the other areas of a 3.5% increase this year, and so we made a conscious effort over the next couple of years to get that into an area where we still accommodate for students that are looking for that low cost option, but acceptable accommodations as well,” Allard said. Allard and Mock both hope a final decision on the fate of Rice can be reached by either January or February, so demolition can take place over the summer. Allard, who personally hopes to see a multipurpose office and residence building built in Rice’s place, said it is not certain a new residence

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I am, and was, in the largest band in university history; it’s so comforting walking around campus and seeing so many familiar faces, as we’re the largest student group in the university.”

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Though it can be that, the minor is also there for people simply interested in the idea of digging deeper into the world of film. “What’s really great about this minor is that it enables students to show future employers or graduate schools that they have interests outside their major, and they have a sustained way to pursue them,” Spain said. Walker Harris, a sophomore majoring in Industrial Technology, is

hall will be built on the site, as many other campus needs are to be considered. According to Allard and Mock, some spacing adjustments have been made for the vacancy of Rice, including placing temporary roommates with an RA until a permanent living space is vacated. “We ended up looking at different occupancy accommodations, so we have a couple of triple spaces here in Dogwood Hall for some of our first-year students. We had more temporary spaces that we should be clearing out this week, but that’s usual. That happens every year,” Allard said.

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currently working toward minors in theatre, music and film. Though he said he had some knowledge in filmmaking, he wanted to learn more about the technicalities of the process. “I’ve got the hands-on experience side of working on films, but I also want to learn more about the actual history and what goes on inside the film industry and the critique side versus the hands-on working side,” Harris said.

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Since students with varying film-related interests are welcome, the minor’s course options are flexible. It requires Introduction to Film and 15 credit hours of film electives. Because of this flexibility, students can build their minor with classes that pique their interests. “I want the students to have a tailored experience based on their interests and their personal and professional goals,” Loehwing said. Caroline Matheny, a sophomore foreign languages major, who wants to be a documentarian, said she enjoyed meeting new people and forming a community of people who are passionate about film. “Who doesn’t love seeing a movie? There’s something in it for everyone,” Matheny said. Matheny said one of the things she enjoys about film, in particular, is telling stories while also expressing and evoking emotions. Spain said students with this minor will be more equipped to answer the bigger-picture questions about how film affects the world around them. “How is it that one series of images can transform the way we see something or how we feel about something? How is it that a moving image can change a historical moment,” Spain said. “Film minors are able to take on those kinds of big questions.” Harris affirmed the importance of studying film, citing it as a medium for diffusion of thought and ideas with a worldwide scope. “Film helps you share ideas and dreams with everybody else in the world,” Harris said.

3LIFE -BB 3&-Life ENTERTAINMENT 3 THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2019 @REFLECTORONLINE

Students share favorite music playlists

DREW GRADNER

STAFF WRITER

In recent years, streaming has overtaken radio, and even iTunes downloads, as the public’s preferred method of listening to music. Ever since the rise of Spotify and Apple Music, any song a person could ever think of is ready to be streamed at a moment’s notice. According to Business Insider, a whopping 75 percent of all music consumption is streamed now, which is the highest this statistic has ever been. With so much music available, it would be easy to believe there are endless options. However, sometimes just any song or album is not what the music-listener wants. Specific artists are great, but sometimes variety is necessary. This is where playlists come in. Playlists are a huge

motivator when it comes to streaming and for good reason. A playlist can either consist of the same genre of music or range from one extreme to the other— the theme is completely up to the playlist creator. Since the 1980s, playlists, once commonly known as mixtapes, have exploded in popularity. With this explosion, these streaming services offer preset playlists where listeners can shuffle through a collection of songs linked by a common “mood.” Mississippi State University students regularly take advantage of this innovative feature on Spotify, and many students were willing to share their favorite pretset playlists and personal playlists with the public. John Edwards, Spotify user and mechanical engineering fifth-year, says he usually gravitates towards the “Undercurrents” preset playlist on Spotify, which

Rosalind Hutton

consists of both up-andcoming indie rock bands, and well-known artists with a similar style. Some artists on the playlist include Car Seat Headrest and Soccer Mommy. The playlist has approximately 150,000 listeners, and Edwards

discovered it by searching for artists similar to what he usually listens to. “I listen to Undercurrents because I saw that it had artists like Stephen Malkmus and Purple Mountains, and it’s been the best way for me to continue finding music

The Reflector 9/6/19 Sudoku

similar to them,” Edwards said. While pre-customized music is more readily available than ever before, Spotify and Apple Music have both come to the realization that their users still enjoy creating their own playlists, along with listening to preset playlists. Bobbye Jackson, a senior art major, created her playlist called “Panera Bread” during her freshman year, and has continued updating it since then. She says the playlist consists of a lot of mid2000s pop and modern indie folk, which would typically be played in a restaurant similar to Panera Bread. Artists featured on the playlist include the Beatles, Hozier and the Avett Brothers. “I was eating at a Panera Bread and decided that their playlist slapped, so I tried to recreate the energy of it with songs that I like,” Jackson said.

Bennett Mills, a senior marketing major, is also fond of making his own personal playlists. He created his playlist named “Dark Necessities,” which consists of about 30 hours’ worth of alternative rock, and Mills is still adding songs to the playlist on a consistent basis. “My playlist is mainly comprised of ‘90s rock with a lot of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, Incubus and Rage Against the Machine. There’s grunge, funk, acoustic and plenty of other sub-genres on there so I can listen to it regardless of what mood I’m in,” Mills said. There is no doubt playlists have become a formative part of the way people listen to music today. The progression of music media has changed the art of making a playlist so much over the course of almost 40 years, and it is now easier than ever to create one.

BULLETIN BOARD

An In-Class Distraction

eflector 9/6/19 Crossword

Across

1 Wood sorrels 5 Supermarket section 10 Kind of song 14 Eyesore 15 Uncredited actor 16 Fabled racer 17 Do as directed 18 Renaissance fiddle 19 Singer Coolidge 20 Poke fun at 21 Impressive display 22 External 23 Deficiency 25 Dwindle 26 Ore suffix 27 Biblical high priest 28 The buck stops here 31 Interchange 36 Showroom model 37 Gathered leaves 38 Dinghy propeller 39 Out of bed 40 “Rubáiyát” poet 41 Canvas covers 43 Rue, in Paris 44 Disencumber 45 Neighbor of Mo. 46 Med school grad 47 Stroked 52 Did a blacksmith’s job 55 Bake, as eggs 56 “La-la” lead-in 57 Sword handle 58 Tibet’s capital 59 Spout off 60 Sheltered, nautically

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61 Garlicky mayonnaise 62 Keystone State port 63 Kind of prize 64 Stationed 65 Just manages, with “out” Down 1 2 3 4 5 6

Bouquets Three-dimensional Tiny organism Snoop More jocund Wield, as influence 7 Cornered 8 Four’s inferior

CLASSIFIEDS The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday. The deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. Classifieds are listed at $5 per issue. Student and staff ads are listed at $3 per issue, prepaid. Lost and found items: Found items can be listed for free; lost items are listed at standard ad cost. HELP WANTED for Creative Investment Properties. Perfect job for a student! ($8.50/hour) Part-time, (as needed basis) Administrative Assistant, Clerical Duties, Personal Assitant. Must have strong computer skills and VERY knowledgeable of Apple products. If interested, call 662-312-5630.

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SUDOKU

To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

9 Baglike structure 10 Small woody plant 11 Hang around 12 Museo holdings 13 Imminent 21 Took steps 22 It’s a wrap 24 Snake, e.g. 25 Little toymaker 27 O.K. Corral lawman 28 He loved Lucy 29 Black cat, to some 30 Geologic periods 31 Boast 32 Dalai ___ 33 Approve 34 Mutual fund fee

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Canal locale Pickle types Sovereign Twitch Type of shelter Reel’s partner Dissuade Pandemonium Seating request Austere “Sesame Street” Muppet Takes out Cousin of a herring Hawaiian port Bread spread LaBeouf of film Big pooch Sandpiper

Wesley Foundation Worship Night / Insight -- Tuesdays 7:30 to 8:30pm. Worship music & Bible study. Next to Campus Book Mart. @ MSStateWesley/ StateWesley. org Community Night -Thursdays 6:30 to 8:30pm. Coffee bar 6:30pm. Community groups 7pm. Worship 8pm. Next to Campus Book Mart. @ MSStateWesley/StateWesley. org. Got questions? Try Alpha. Alpha explores the basics of Christianity with conversation and videos. An open, honest space to ask, talk, & think together about faith, life, and God. Thursdays 6:30-8:00 at Wesley. Next to Campus Book Mart. Text 662.435.3393 for more info.

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Sudoku Solution

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OPINION

Minority student groups are enriching

REFLECTIONS Matthew McConaughey TYLER DANIEL

is a graduate student studying political science. Contact him at opinion@reflector. msstate.edu.

“You want to be a writer? Start writing. You want to be a filmmaker? Start shooting stuff on your phone right now.”

Trivia Time! 1. The Petronas Twin Towers, the tallest twin towers in the world, are located in what capital city? 2. The malleus, incus and stapes are found in what part of the human body? 3. “London Calling” was the third studio album released by which English rock band? 4. Pago Pago is the capitol of what U.S. territory? 5. At the time of his assassination, what play was former President Abraham Lincoln watching? American Samoa 5. “Our American Cousin” Answer: 1. Kuala Lumpur 2. The ear 3. The Clash 4.

Source: trivia.fyi

When I recently heard one of my colleagues at The Reflector was wanting to write a piece against the premise of minority student organizations, I knew it was my duty to deviate from the typical international politics columns I write to serve as a voice of opposition to such an idea. In full disclosure, I serve as the president of Hillel, the Jewish Student Association; a member president on the International Student Advisory Board and a mentor in Linking Internationals in the Community. I have spoken about diversity and inclusion to minority student organizations such as the Muslim Student Association, LGBTQ+ Union, MSU Spectrum, Starkville Pride, the Moroccan Student Association and more. I have also provided constitutional advice to the Black Fashion Society. I am a proud member of the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center and was the 2019 student recipient of President Keenum’s Commission on the Status of Minorities’ Diversity Award. So, to say I am passionately involved with these types of organizations would be an understatement and may, admittedly, influence my belief that these organizations are paramount to our university’s identity, and our state and nation’s ideals. Hillel and the Muslim Student Association (MSA) are two examples of minority student organizations that focus on religion and service the vast majority of the

Rosalind Hutton religious minorities they respectively represent to the university. Both organizations provide an outlet for two of the smallest religions represented in our state and at our university—two religions with followers which find themselves embroiled in conflict in other regions of the world, as reported by Lisa Lerer and Elizabeth Dias with The New York Times. MSA’s membership is comprised of many Muslims from these regions, and Hillel partners with MSA to help them enhance their understanding of both Judaism and the Jewish people, highlighting the vast similarities between the two minority groups. Hillel and MSA host friendship dinners where members from each organization cook their traditional religious or cultural dishes to share over conversation and deepen their respect, understanding and admiration for one another. This is exemplified by the large presence of MSA members at Hillel’s vigil of remembrance for victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting in 2018 and the large presence of Hillel members at MSA’s vigil for the Christchurch mosque shooting in 2019. The Trevor Project reports LGB college students are three times as likely to engage in self-harm, including suicide, than their heterosexual peers. Minority student

The death penalty is immoral and unconstitutional

TAYLAR ANDERSON

is a sophomore majoring in English. Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, between 1976 to 2015, 1,392 prisoners have been executed within the United States as a form of punishment, and 995 of them took place in the South. But what good comes from this punishment, and how can justice be served by finding comfort in someone’s death? While I understand heinous crimes deserve harsh punishment, I believe capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is unconstitutional under the ban of cruel and unusual punishment, and it should no longer be offered as punishment within our justice system for several reasons. First, sentencing someone to death is immoral mostly because it allows the state to choose who deserves to die and lawfully kill in the name of justice. Death sentences are usually given in response to murder. However, this enables the

“eye for an eye” ideology, and it allows for murder to be acceptable in certain circumstances when it should not be acceptable at all. Also, if the idea is to truly impose a harsh punishment that will equal the amount of suffering the criminal inflicted, then allowing them to live a life in solitude with no hope of freedom would amount to much more than a quick death. Death is also too permanent of a punishment, considering how easy it is for an innocent person to be convicted of a crime. In fact, around 160 people that were initially on death row have been found not guilty and have been exonerated since the 1970s, according to the National Coalition Against the Death Penalty. In addition, the death penalty is also unconstitutional because it violates the Equal Protection Clause as stated in the 14th Amendment. The Equal Protection Clause states no state shall deny any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. This ensures no one is treated any differently than someone else in the same legal situation. However, the death penalty is given almost randomly, and often disproportionately, among people of color, especially when the victim is white.

According to the Death Penalty Information Center, in 82% of the studies they reviewed, race of the victim was found to influence the likelihood of receiving a capital murder charge or receiving the death penalty, such as those who murdered whites were found more likely to be sentenced to death than those who murdered blacks. As reported by Michelle Kaminsky with Forbes, Curtis Flowers, a now 49-year-old black male from Winona, MS, has been on trial since 1996 for allegedly killing four people, three of them white. District Attorney Doug Evans has tried Curtis Flowers six times since 1996, and four of the six trials convicted Flowers of capital murder and all sentenced him to death, with the other two trials resulting in mistrials due to a hung jury. However, due to prosecutorial misconduct, prejudicial evidence and racially biased jury selection and tampering, all 4 convictions have been overturned by the Mississippi Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court for violating the constitution, as well as Flowers’ rights granted to him in the 14th Amendment. Curtis Flowers’ case, along with many others, is a prime example of why the death

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

organizations like MSU Spectrum and LGBTQ+ Union, which have recently merged into F.L.A.R.E., aim to provide on-campus resources to help quell that statistic. F.L.A.R.E., an acronym for “Fostering LGBTQ+ Advocacy, Resources, and Environments,” is paramount to ensuring our nonheterosexual and transgender students have an atmosphere in which they can comfortably discuss and disclose to peers the troubles they face in a state with little to no protections for LGBTQ+ people. The International Student Advisory Board (ISAB) seeks to combine opponents of minority student organizations’ goal of assimilation, while maintaining supporters of minority student organizations’ goal of celebrating diversity. This is made possible by helping international students adjust to the foreign climate of Mississippi State and providing an outlet where they can connect with peers in a similar position. ISAB is joined in this goal by Linking Internationals in the Community (LINC), which pairs international students with U.S. student mentors and host families in order to achieve more intimate results within the university community. ISAB and LINC have successfully taught countless members how to appropriately and successfully achieve

positive assimilation into our campus’ climate without sacrificing their individuality and native culture whilst also teaching their U.S. peers about their home culture and furthering their understanding and respect for said culture. The main argument against minority student organizations is they inhibit assimilation, but I believe they encourage the opposite. How can one better assimilate into the cultural melting pot that is the United States than by getting to better know the many types of people and cultures it takes to make us the beacon of hope, cultural richness and equality we are today? I do not believe homogeneity is a value, rather, I view it as contradictory to the purpose of the college experience—immersion and learning about the world outside of one’s hometown. Frankly, I find homogeneity terribly boring as well. I invite anyone who questions the purpose of minority student organizations to attend some of these organizations’ events to begin to understand just how important they are to enhancing our university’s vast cultural diversity. These organizations benefit both members, and anyone who attends their functions, as they will leave with newfound respect and understanding for the purposes these groups serve.

MORNING

penalty should be outlawed, as his life is being threatened and targeted by people with racially motivated agendas. Lastly, capital punishment is a big financial drain due to costs of trials, appeals and the injection itself. According to research conducted by Torin McFarland of Susquehanna University, a prisoner on death row costs $1.12 million more than a general population prisoner. Considering prisoners on death row, on average, spend up to 20 years going through the process until they are actually executed, taxpayers are paying far more than they would for an inmate with a life sentence for expenses such as housing, paying public defenders, healthcare and more. Also, the lethal injection chemicals cost about $200 each, in addition to the other related expenses. Nevertheless, please understand I am in no way excusing murder, and I believe in harsh punishments for murder and other violent crimes. However, I do not, nor will I ever, support the idea that murder for murder is an acceptable punishment. It should not be allowed in our criminal justice system under any circumstances. I strongly believe each of our lives have value, and we all, at the very least, deserve an opportunity to change one’s life, rather than lose it.

MAZE

Source: mazegenerator.net

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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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The Reflector is the official student newspaper of Mississippi State University. Content is determined solely by the student editorial staff. The contents of The Reflector have not been approved by Mississippi State University.

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5-Sports SPORTS

THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2019 @SPORTSREFLECTOR

Bulldog made stronger in time spent at Co-Lin

HUNTER CLOUD

SPORTS EDITOR

Under the lights of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Jaquarius Landrews shone with eight tackles against the University of LouisianaLafayette, just a third of the total he had the year before. Now a veteran defender who adds a lot of depth to the MSU secondary, Landrews, a senior safety from Summit, said he was forged by the path he took to get to MSU. Like the 17 other players on the roster who attended a community college prior to MSU, Copiah-Lincoln Community College gave Landrews the chance to play football in the SEC after he suffered an injury his senior year of high school. “I came to a camp here at Mississippi State, and I showed Dan Mullen that I could play,” Landrews said. “He gave me an opportunity to play, and that’s how I earned my scholarship here.” Head coach Joe Moorhead said he did not have a lot of experience recruiting from community colleges before he came to MSU, but he has learned it is a key to their recruiting and building the program. “I think it’s an invaluable resource for us,” Moorhead said. “The most interesting thing to me are kids [in Mississippi] who have FCS or Group of 5 offers, bypass that to choose to go to junior college because they have hopes and aspirations of playing FBS or in the SEC.” Out of the 118 players on the MSU roster, 15 players went to a community college in Mississippi. Nearly 13% of the roster took a similar path to Landrews. MSU’s Defensive Coordinator Bob Shoop said the State of Mississippi

Courtney Carver | The Reflector

Jaquarius Landrews makes a tackle against Florida last season. MSU lost the game 13-6.

has a unique situation where players, who for whatever reason were not able to get a chance to play at a Division I school, can work their way to a scholarship offer at the many community colleges in the state. “It is certainly a unique and great tool,” Shoop said. “The junior college system allows you to bring in a player who is an even older player.” Shoop said he believes Landrews is a player who is prepared to emerge after a solid junior season last year. In the 2018 season, Landrews recorded 21 tackles in 10 games played, as he contributed to a strong MSU defense. Landrews said CoLin prepared him for the next level because in community college Landrews said he did not have any help, it was just football and school. “It humbled me a whole lot because I felt like I didn’t have another opportunity to play ball,” Landrews said. “After I received that opportunity, I took advantage of it. It just made me more alive and

made me stronger.” On the field, Shoop said Landrews is what he calls a “steady Eddie,” adding that Landrews is usually in the right spot and is consistent in his play. The consistent nature of Landrew, and his calmness of presence are characteristics which Shoop said balances out Shoop’s personality. “He is the yin to my yang, a little bit,” Shoop said. “Sometimes, I get on to him pretty good. He has done a great job through this camp.” Fall camp has now given way to football season. When Landrews runs out onto Scott Field at Davis Wade Stadium for one, last first home game against the University of Southern Mississippi this Saturday at 2:30 p.m., Landrews said fans can expect a lot out of him in his last guaranteed season of football. “Expect to see a big performance out of me,” Landrews said. “I’m going to give it my all. It is my last one, I have to take advantage of my opportunities.”

Rosalind Hutton

Beat the heat, other gameday reminders HUNTER CLOUD SPORTS EDITOR

The first home game of the 2019 Bulldog football season will be a hot and sweltering one, as Mississippi State University is set to play the University of Southern Mississippi at 2:30 p.m. With temperatures expected to rise to the mid 90s on game day, MSU Athletics has several ways they are helping fans beat the heat, as well as tips for fans to deal with the weather this Saturday. Just one clear, colorless, full or empty water bottle per person is permitted in Davis Wade for all games and there will be free water refilling stations located near sections 4, 11,

22 and 308. The press release from the Athletic Department also said there will be air conditioned buses and rest stations set up outside of Gate B and Gate L. Some precautions the Athletic Department recommends to fans is to hydrate with water throughout the day in order to avoid heat exhaustion and to steer clear of excess consumption of alcohol and caffeine, as they can lead to dehydration. In the 2018 season, MSU was one of the first SEC schools to implement the metal detectors at each gate. Items that people will need to place in the bins are large metal objects such as cowbells, keys and phones.

However, people will not need to remove belts, wallets, watches or jewelry. The SEC’s clear bag policy is also in effect, so MSU Athletics said the following bags are allowed as follows: Bags which are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12” x 6” x 12”; One-gallon clear plastic freezer bags (Ziploc bag or similar); Small clutch bags, with or without a handle or strap, that do not exceed 4.5” x 6.5” (approximately the size of a hand). An exception will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection at Gates F and I. Also, an approved logo no larger than 4.5” x 3.4” may be displayed on one side of a permissible clear bag.

New softball coach steps up to the plate BRIANNA WALKER STAFF WRITER

Following the announcement that Vann Stuedeman would not be returning for the 2020 season, the search for a new head softball coach began mid-summer and ended in dubbing in-house talent Samantha Ricketts as head coach for the Mississippi State University softball team. Spending a total of four years combined in assistant and associate coaching positions, Ricketts was introduced as MSU’s head softball coach July 25th. The hire made Ricketts the sixth head softball coach at MSU. The former AllAmerican and San Jose, California native made an appearance at one Women’s College World Series in her career at Oklahoma, six NCAA Regional berths and two Super Regional appearances during her coaching career. During the press conference, Athletic Director John Cohen voiced his enthusiasm about the new hire and what led to the in-house decision. “We were looking for someone who had history of consistent excellence, both on and off the field,” Cohen said. “Everyone we talked to in our softball program, around our softball program and around the country talked about the consistent excellence of Samantha Ricketts.” The ability to lead by example is what Cohen said stood out the most about Rickets in conversations he had with players, coaches and softball experts across the country.

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into better players on the field, but also better women once they graduate from MSU. “I want to be a strong, female role model for these girls, a stable presence— someone they know they can come to, and that they have a consistent leader in,” Ricketts said. “I want to teach them how to be adults, how to grow up and how to be a strong, empowered women when they leave here. That’s a huge piece of why I am the way I am.” Reflecting on the support and the time spent at Oklahoma University, where Ricketts played softball and reached the College World Series, Ricketts said she hopes the players can find similar success at MSU and they will look fondly on their careers at MSU. “I want the girls to leave

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whatever they had left,” Ricketts said. “I want these girls to leave here saying that they loved Mississippi State, they loved the program and their teammates. That it’s something they can always look back on and remember as the greatest four years of their careers.” During their 2019 campaign, the Bulldogs finished 35-23 overall and received their 15th NCAA Tournament bid in school history. Although Ricketts has big shoes to fill in order to maintain the program and build a winning culture at MSU, she is looking forward to the season ahead. “I know I have a lot of really good people in my corner and in this university that are going to be willing to help,” Ricketts said. “They’ve already reached out and are helping me along the way. I’m ready

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