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The financial aid department’s
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SUCCESS
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2018
134th YEAR ISSUE 3
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
City’s only off-road biking trail closes Closure stems from MSU’s purchase of research park GRACE GILMAN Mary Madeline LaMastus | The Reflector
Kyle Schumpert, an MSU alum, takes advantage of one of Starkville’s new street pianos.
Pianos decorate downtown Starkville MARY MADELINE LAMASTUS CONTRIBUTING WRITER
In the past year, public art has erupted within the nooks and crannies of downtown Starkville. Some new and unique contributions to downtown’s art culture are the three pianos between the Starkville Community Theatre and 929 Coffee Bar, outside Pop Porium and on a breezeway off Main Street.
Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill prompted the first piano to hit the streets, located between the 929 Coffee Bar and the Starkville Community Theatre. The mayor said the idea sprouted from a YouTube video she saw of a homeless man playing a street piano. Spruill, being a dedicated advocate for public art, said she immediately initiated the idea for downtown Starkville. PIANOS, 2
SA recap: Senate discusses legislation DYLAN BUFKIN STAFF WRITER
The Mississippi State University Student Association Senate met for the second time this semester on Tuesday night to begin discussing new legislation for the year, as well as to confirm the Fall Elections Packet. The first meeting of the semester, which was Aug. 28, was an introductory affair, rather than one focused on legislation. Only two pieces of
legislation, a bill and a resolution, were presented to the Senate floor during Tuesday’s meeting. To recap, the SA Senate passes three different kinds of legislation: acts, resolutions and bills. While no acts were passed this session, an act appropriates SA funds to organizations and events around campus. Next, a resolution is a piece of legislation which expresses Senate support, and thereby student support, of an idea or proposal. SA, 2
STAFF WRITER
Mississippi State University recently purchased the trails around and behind the Thad Cochran Research Park from the Oktibbeha County Economic Development, making offroad biking trails in Starkville now non-existent. Landon Voller, the current president of the Starkville Cycling Club, said he thought extensively about this topic before and after the purchase of the Research Park. The Starkville Cycling Club was brought back around 2013, and leads beginner-friendly rides on Mondays and a social ride on the second and fourth Friday of the month. On Tuesdays, they have a faster road ride called the Lost Pizza Ride, and on Thursdays, they used to mountain bike at the Research Park. Unfortunately, the research park was the last area in Starkville to do mountain biking or any kind of offroad biking. Voller said bikers have used the Research Park for basic outdoor activities, and it has been slowly getting smaller throughout the years. “The Research Park trails have existed for 20 years or more, in one form or another, but have been slowly whittled away,” Voller said. “Starkville has benefited from this free resource during that time, and has thus not felt obligated to provide much in the way of outdoor recreational opportunities.” Furthermore, the trails in other cities are vast. Voller said every other SEC town has a trail within 10 miles of
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Rosalind Hutton
city limits, and Starkville does not. “Starkville and MSU should be leading the way for the state, setting an example,” Voller said. “Instead, we are lagging behind.” Voller said some could argue the Noxubee Wildlife Refuge provides trail riding, however, Voller, who spends a lot of time volunteering cleaning up the trails there, thinks the refuge is primarily suited for an outdoor conservation area and cannot provide much improvement on the trail-riding aspect. “The Noxubee Wildlife Refuge’s primary mission is wildlife management, and not outdoor recreation,” Voller said. “It is also 15 to 20 minutes away, and poorly suited for more than what it is now. Trails are very limited.” Starkville Alderman Jason Walker said the city had little to do with the purchase and resulting shutdown of the Research Park trails. “It’s unfortunate that they are no longer open. It’s more
If Starkville had trails which were conducive to the sport, that would be an attraction towards the city, according to Voller. “High school mountain biking is growing like crazy,” Voller said. “Four hundredplus kids are showing up to races in Alabama, and the league is only a few years old. We have two Mississippi Composite teams, one in Jackson and one on the coast. The goal is to have a Mississippi State league eventually.” Furthermore, Voller said safe and fun bike trails could to lead a healthier lifestyle in children. “Mississippi has an obesity problem, and increasing outdoor activity is a great way to combat this issue especially among young people,” Voller said. If these are not enough reasons to build more trails, the students of MSU are negatively affected by the closing of the trails as well.
about Oktibbeha Country Economic Development, not the city of Starkville, that sold that land for profit,” Walker said. Even so, Walker said the city is looking for ways to bring more outdoor activity areas to Starkville, and he is hopeful about them being completed in the future, but the timeline is undetermined. “Right now, we are looking at the Cornerstone Park area, and building a major sports tournament facility complex there,” Walker said. “There is a good chance for recreational trails. It is not an eminent issue, but we are still looking for other opportunities for bike trails in Starkville.” Voller said he believes there are various, positive reasons to create off-road trails in Starkville, which may appeal to the city to continue this important discussion and make faster strides toward building more off-road trails. One reason is the rise of high school mountain biking.
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College View apartments Eckie’s Pond receives upgrade continue development HUNTER CLOUD SPORTS EDITOR
TORI BOATNER STAFF WRITER
With over 600 student housing complexes, retail components and state of the art amenities, the development of College View is underway. Located in the area formally known as Aiken Village, on the North side of the university, College View is looking to attract upper-class undergraduate students at MSU. “We don’t have any apartment-style housing in our current inventory, so having the opportunity to still be in university housing with its close proximity to classes and athletic venues should be really attractive to our upper division students,” said Regina
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Hyatt, vice president for Student Affairs. College View will offer a large grassy area with a pavilion and amphitheater in between the complexes and retail. These added elements will help attract concerts, festivals and tailgating. “I’m looking forward to living in the newlyconstructed apartments and enjoying all of the amenities they offer,” MSU sophomore Malikah Hasan said. As a result of College View’s affiliation with MSU, campus police will provide services on site, in addition to other safety and security measures, such as electronic access control and cameras. Staff from MSU will also be on site at all times.
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Understanding the diversity of freshman and upper-class undergraduate students, David Shaw, vice president for Research and Economic Development, believes College View will benefit older students who are interested in the convenience of living on campus and access to apartment style residences. “We wanted to take a different approach that was more of an apartment style rather than the style of residence halls,” Shaw said. College View is the first project of its kind in Mississippi. “We did a lot of homework and looked at other universities nationally to develop something that was the most economical and made sense,” Shaw said. APARTMENTS, 2
Tucked away on the southeast side of campus is a quiet, placid pond filled with bass, bluegill, carp and turtles. The pond is called Eckie’s Pond, and is located near the Longest Student Health Center. For Hunter Ballard, a sophomore marketing major from Kosciusko, the pond is a place he visits almost every day. “It is a relaxing place. College is a little bit stressful, so it is fun to go and look at the turtles and the fish,” Ballard said. “It is very relaxing and a very pretty place around sunset. It is a very quiet place on campus.” Eckie’s pond Ballard and other students enjoy today has been on this university for over 100 years. According to Tim Muzzi,
FORECAST: As Gordon’s remnants march toward
Arkansas and Oklahoma this weekend, Starkville should expect a chance of showers and storms during the afternoon and evening. A cold front will move through early to mid-week, increasing our rain and thunderstorm chances, bringing drier air, and also lowering temperatures. Jessica Moore, Campus Connect Meteorologist/Forecaster
Courtney Carver | The Reflector
Eckie’s Pond, located on the southeast side of campus, received improvements this summer.
the director for planning, design and construction, it is the oldest pond on campus. “The pond is one of the oldest structures on campus; this includes the concrete silo on the southwest corner of the pond,” Muzzi said.
“Eckie’s Pond dates back to 1893 and was constructed to impound runoff water to irrigate gardens for growing vegetables for home use. This was the first known research project of its kind under taken on a Land Grant University.” POND, 2
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER, 7, 2018
PIANOS After a piano was donated, she tweeted about needing someone to paint the piano, and Elizabeth “Isa” Stratton-Beaulidu jumped at the opportunity. This was not the local artist’s first time painting an instrument; however, Beaulidu noted it was her first instrumental project on such a large scale. Beaulidu said she feels it is important to offer public spaces for artistic expression because art, to her, “is everything, even down to the tiniest detail.” Spruill later added, not having public art “would be a crime.” Gabe Smith, chief administrative officer of the Starkville Community Theatre (SCT), observed putting the piano outside SCT promotes a lively atmosphere downtown by bringing community members together in a unique way. He said unsuspecting pianists, such as construction workers,
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often stun passersby with their musical ability. Smith estimated about 30 people will interact with the piano hourly, ranging from small performances, practicing piano lessons or simply photographing the piano. The piano outside Pop Porium has a different genesis. Rosa Dalomba, owner of the popcorn store, said Starkville resident Patti Drapala contacted her about donating the piano. Dalomba was enthusiastic about the idea, and picked up the piano soon after their phone call. Since then, the piano, affectionally named “Bettye Jo” after Drapala’s late mother, has received much attention as well. Dalomba said when the piano was first put on the streets, an opera singer and pianist once performed, and a small audience promptly gathered. She also mentioned a man who routinely plays the piano every time he finishes a run, and a piano dual
CLOSURE Will Spencer, a junior marketing major, said he is upset about the closing of the trails because he used the outdoor area to relax after stressful days of school. “As for me, I’m really upset. One, because of the fact that I worked on those trails, but also for the fact that that is where I went after school often to just unwind and enjoy the outdoors,” Spencer said. “It wasn’t much, but it’s better than fields and gravel to just go out, set up an Eno, and listen to the wind blow through the trees.” Another MSU student, Yoseph Alabdulwahab, a junior computer science major, said the lack of
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once erupted between the pianists on Bettye Jo verus the piano outside the SCT. Dalomba not only has a piano outside the store, but also has a cello inside Pop Porium. Dalomba said she is dedicated to offering a public place for musical expression. “The one thing we can all fall in love with and find common ground in is music,” Dalomba said. Downtown Starkville’s third and, for now, final piano was donated by Jeremiah Dumas. The piano is currently undergoing repairs, but is expected to be completely restored and painted by October. The piano can be found in the breezeway between Swanky Boutique and Main Street Living. No matter musical background and talent, Starkville’s street pianos are bringing a new sense of community and joy to the pianists, singers and listeners throughout the entire community.
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outdoor trails and safe bike lanes in Starkville is not only upsetting, but inconvenient. “For those of us who don’t have cars, it is that much more upsetting,” Alabdulwahab said. “I used to ride both road and mountain bikes, and each would fill a different part of my overall school-life balance. However, now I literally cannot mountain bike without asking for favors, which doesn’t help if I have to go out alone.” Fortunately, both Voller and Walker agree Starkville is at least making some strides toward safer bike lanes. “The city is making great strides in improving bike lanes across town, but
all this takes time,” Walker said. “The Starkville Parks and Recreation Department is looking for opportunities to build in public parks, and this will create more opportunities for bike paths.” Voller said the university has achieved some success with bike safety, but it needs to continue. “I think MSU has done some good things the last two years, with Hail State Boulevard and all the new sharrows [bike arrows] on campus,” Voller said. “The bike paths are very poorly designed, but are also 15 years old. Starkville has done some good things, but really should keep pushing forward with incremental improvements.”
APARTMENTS As the first in the state to establish a project like College View, MSU has worked closely with EdR, a private collegiate housing developer out of Memphis. “We’re excited about doing this first,” Shaw said. To establish a greater understanding of students’ wants and needs, Shaw said the university “did a lot of listening.” College View developers and MSU officials conducted interviews and surveys to better understand the expectations. A clubhouse was created with students’ needs in mind, and will include a computer lab, a workout facility, a gaming area and a pool. There is also recruiting of retail stores and restaurants taking place. “College View’s location and space for entertainment was created to provide a thoughtful and seamless transition to Starkville and the university,” Shaw said. Julie Bartholomew, MSU alumna and owner of InterLogic Design, LLC, out of Memphis, contracted with EdR as the interior designer for College View.
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Smith Lyon | The Reflector
The College View leasing center is currently housed on campus. The housing complex is under construction on College View Drive, where Aiken Village was formerly located.
“Things are progressing, and I’m incredibly honored to do work at my alma matter,” Bartholomew said. With a modern, but homey design in mind, Bartholomew said the apartments are “high-end” and will incorporate granite counter tops, state-of-theart appliances and TempurPedic mattresses. She also mentioned the apartments will be pet-friendly and
POND The oldest pond on campus was threatened at one point as the levee leaked water, and in an effort to preserve the natural and historical landmark, MSU had a civil engineer take a look. “It was observed that the existing levee was leaking water. Upon immediate investigation by a local civil engineer, it was determined that the root structure of the existing trees, on the levee, had undermined the existing levee,” Muzzi said. “It should be noted here that the problem was discovered in plenty of time and at no time was there a concerned about an immediate failure of the levee. The project cost less than our budgeted cost of $350,000.” The project reinforced
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the levee and a concrete band was added. The construction finished this summer, and according to Muzzi, did not suffer any major setbacks aside from the typical construction issues of working on something outdoors. The pond did have to go through a process called “seining” to relocate the fish which inhabited it. According to lineandsight.com, the process of seining is where people take a big net and herd the fish in an effort to remove them in a quicker time frame. The fish were relocated and put back in the pond after construction. “There are many ponds on campus, but access is limited due to them being
SA They only require a voice vote to pass, which is a vote arbitrated by volume of “yays” and “nays.” Sometimes, resolutions are done to show the student body’s receptivity to something outside of the Senate’s direct control, and other times, they are used to encourage MSU’s administration to act on an issue. For instance, Resolution 3, which passed Tuesday night, requests all professors list their required textbooks’ prices on the front page of their syllabi. Specifically, the prices would preferably be from local bookstores and a reliable online source. This is in response to rising textbook costs, because according to Ben Popken with NBC, the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows
have their own closet and bathroom. “I am actually considering College View as a possible residence,” Hasan said. “I’ve had the chance to look at the floor plans and amenities, and I think it would be a great place to live.” College View developers said they are looking forward to its opening in the fall of 2019.
in research areas,” Muzzi said. “I think Mississippi State not being in an urban environment has many natural places on campus for one to find and explore.” The pond was listed in the annual master plans for campus development, Muzzi said the master plan was a living document that changes each year. Currently there are a few more projects which will begin soon. “Our master plan is constantly updated, in that it is a living, breathing document. The master plan includes design guidelines for campus,” Muzzi said. “These guidelines preserve our historical character and assures unity in the architectural language of the campus.”
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textbooks have increased in price over 1,000 percent in four decades. Lastly, bills change the SA Constitution in some way. Like acts, bills require a roll-call vote, which consists of each senator being called individually to vote on the issue. In most cases, the Senate will vote to suspend the roll call vote to a voice vote, simplifying the process. Tuesday, the Senate passed Bill 3, which requires all SA members to attend general body meetings. The general body meeting is a newly implemented idea from the SA Executive Council in hopes to bridge the gaps between the different factions within the SA. Therefore, the SA Senate, the SA Cabinet, the SA
Judicial Council and the SA Executive Council are now required to meet monthly to discuss plans and goals for the SA as a whole. The bill also indicates that general body meetings will follow the same attendance policy as Senate meetings, meaning absences can lead to impeachment. Finally, the Senate passed the new Elections Packet. The Elections Packet is the guideline for student elections at MSU, and this year’s edition was mostly unaltered from previous years, barring cosmetic changes. The official date for fall elections is now set for Sept. 18. Following this last piece of business, the Senate adjourned and went to participate in the first ever SA general body meeting.
BULLETIN BOARD 3 Brain-teaser gaming central THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2018 @REFLECTORONLINE
An In-Class Distraction
BAD DAWGS Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018 Student issued a Justice Court citation and referral for leaving the scene of an accident on Sorority Row F23 lot. Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018 Student reported being stalked by her ex-boyfriend. Student reported someone busted the back window out of his truck while parking in CI lot. Friday, Aug. 31, 2018 Student was having a seizure in Hull Hall. Subject transported to OCH. Student was having a seizure outside Bost Extension Building. Subject transported to OCH. Student reported her vehicle was damaged due to Campus Landscape cutting grass on Lee Boulevard. Employee reported an unidentified male trespassing at Hunter Henry Center on Aug. 30. Resident of City/Council arrested on Blackjack Road for careless driving, DUI and other substance. Student issued arrest citation in Starkville for minor in possession of alcohol and marijuana in vehicle. Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018 MSU Dispatch reported harassing phone calls coming into the police department from an unknown subject. Two students reported being sexually harassed on campus by an unknown male subject. The male subject was banned from the campus for the day. Student fell of the sidewalk of the Junction, causing injuries. Subject was transported to OCH. Student was arrested at Davis Wade Stadium for public drunkenness, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Student injured her ankle in Davis Wade Stadium. Subject was transported to OCH. Non-Resident/Visitor arrested for trespassing on MSU campus. Non-Resident/Visitor arrested in Davis Wade Stadium for minor in possession of alcohol and for providing false information. Officer assisted Starkville Police Department with domestic violence that occurred off campus between two students. Student arrested in Starkville for DUI. Student arrested in Starkville for failure to use required lights and for a DUI.
SUDOKU
Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018 Non-Resident/Visitor reported his vehicle was vandalized between
Aug. 31 and Sept. 2 while parked on Fraternity Row. Non-Resident/Visitor reported some of their tailgating items were stolen from the west side of Stone Boulevard. Monday, Sept. 3, 2018 Officer injured his thumb while clearing debris out of the road way on Hardy and Blackjack Road. Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018 RA in Herbert Hall reported a student sniffing pills. Starkville Fire Department and paramedics were called. Subject was not transported to OCH. Student reported losing his wallet in Giles Hall. Student was having a panic attack in Cobb institute. Subject was transported to OCH. Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018 Student reported receiving harassing phone calls from an unknown subject. Notable Traffic Citations: Nine MSU citations were issued for speeding, the most notable of which was 46/20. MSU citation issued for disregard of traffic device on Barr Avenue. Justice Court citations issued for speeding 42/20, reckless driving and lack of insurance on Stone Boulevard. MSU citation issued for driving the wrong way on West Lee Boulevard. MSU citation issued for littering on Stone Boulevard. Justice Court citations issued for speeding 43/20 and no driver’s license on College View Street. MSU citation issued for disregard of traffic device on Bailey Howell. Justice Court citation issued for not wearing crash helmet on Bailey Howell. MSU citation issued for disregard of traffic device on East Lee Boulevard. MSU citation issued for disregard of traffic device on Barr Avenue. MSU citation issued for obstructing traffic on Robert Louis Jones Circle. Justice Court citation issued for no insurance on Lee Boulevard. MSU citation issued for disregard traffic device on Stone Boulevard. Justice Court citations issued for improper equipment and suspended driver’s license on Barr Avenue. MSU citation issued for littering on Sorority Row. Justice Court citation issued for disregard of traffic device on Stone Boulevard.
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY...
...In 1813, the U.S. gets its nickname, Uncle Sam. The name is linked to Samuel Wilson, a meat packer from Troy, New York. During the War of 1812, Wilson provided barrels of beef to the U.S. Army, stamping the barrels with a “U.S.” Wilson intended it to be for United States, but soldiers soon referred to their food supply
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as “Uncle Sam’s.” A local newspaper picked up on the story, and Uncle Sam gained acceptance as the U.S. federal government’s nickname.
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2018 @REFLECTORONLINE
OPINION
Democrats should tread lightly to avoid another Trump in office Tea Party was constructed in anger toward big government, former President Barack Obama and Democrats, a large group of the nation, and shared thanks to a “groundswell of populist anger over government bailouts of failing banks, insurers, and auto companies.” The Tea Party was vehemently anti-Obama, and while they claimed repeatedly their hatred was based entirely on issues and policy, racism’s fingerprints covered the party and their supporters alike. As Angie Maxwell of Vox explains in her article, “anti-Obama sentiment among whites has brought old-fashioned racism back in the public area, and the Tea Party... gave it a home.” The dangerously racist and hateful rhetoric used by the Tea Party was clear and present, but Establishment Republicans refused to denounce the bigotry. Instead, they stoked the flames in order to gain political victories. The flames the republicans failed to squash back in 2009 eventually birthed now President Donald Trump. Nearly a decade later, the roles are completely reversed. The environment of the Republican Party in 2009 is eerily similar to the one Democrats occupy in 2018. Thanks to the power of hindsight, though, we now know the end result this environment can create: Trump. While it may be hard to believe Democrats could
ZACHERY ABUNEMEH
is a senior majoring in political science. Contact him at opinion@reflector. msstate.edu.
Losing power can drive some people mad and cause them to do crazy things to regain their seat on the throne. In 2008, the Republican Party lost their power and was in shambles. They had lost control of the House, Senate and Presidency. They had lost the previous presidential election due, in large part, to controversial decisions surrounding their nominees, and the previous administration was so despised it fueled a complete party overhaul in the national government. Luckily for the Republican Party, the thencurrent administration was so hated by their base it sparked a wave of anger, fear and frustration. The Republican Party rode this wave to retake the House, the Senate and even the White House. Establishment Republicans used the momentum of the wave to regain their lost power, but they clearly underestimated the damage it could do. The wave the Republican Party rode was founded largely in the Tea Party Movement. According to Katie Connolly of BBC, the
The most striking similarity between the Tea Party and progressives is the complete hatred of either presidents. Whether Obama or Trump, the resistance movements against them run on hate instead of policy. Because of this, each candidate tries to push more hatred into the mainstream instead of bringing new ideas and policies to the table. For proof, look at Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York. Cuomo faces Cynthia Nixon in the democratic primary. Nixon has owned the progressive platform to a surprise surge in popularity, despite having no political experience and earning her fame as an actress. Sound familiar? Nixon is so popular, Cuomo has gone further and further left to prevent a major upset. From legalizing marijuana to a tax on plastic bags, Cuomo flipped on several key issues and continues to sway left. His appeasement to the far left reached an apex when, according to CNN’s Maegan Vasquez, Cuomo said “America was never that great.” The comment drew major criticism, but it shows the level a veteran politician like Cuomo must go to win a democratic primary in 2018. In order to prove he hates Trump, he attacked America itself. All the hatred the left has for Trump allows them to turn a blind eye to candidates with some major red flags, just like the Tea Party. For another example, let us stay in New York and look at an experienced
Rosalind Hutton
elect a Trump-like figure, one must remember how impossible it seemed for Trump to win at every political level just three years ago. No one predicted a Trump administration, but now that we know it is possible, we must prevent a repeat of history. Unfortunately, it seems the democrats are taking similar steps as Republicans circa 2009. While the Republicans had the Tea Party, Democrats have the progressives.
Figure headed by leaders like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, the Progressive Movement has used the “blue wave” predicted to occur during the 2018 midterms to bring Democratic Socialism to the mainstream. Progressives have plenty of momentum to shake up Washington, just like the Tea Party, but in order to do so, they have already taken several steps which ring eerily similar to the mistakes of the Tea Party.
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progressive candidate. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez is the current progressive darling and has won the democratic nomination for her district in a major upset. She took the nation by storm with her Democratic Socialist platform and passion, but her inexperience and vagueness have brought some controversy to her campaign. As she embarks on her “listening tours” around the country, she already barred the media from attending two town hall meetings last month, according to Sarah Mervosh of The New York Times. The move was heavily denounced, but she is still expected “to have little difficulty defeating [her opponent]... in November.” Cortez’s move mirrors authoritarianism, and sounds very similar to Trump’s dangerous rhetoric, yet she is still predicted to win. If the left is willing to allow acts like this to slide with little to no repercussions, it opens the door for another Trump. Democrats are in an odd predicament thanks to the Trump administration. Their hatred for Trump and their thirst for change could possibly bring about some tremendous good, but as we have all witnessed with the 2016 election, anything is possible. The Republicans showed us what happens when you sell morals and decency for power and politics. The Democrats need to avoid repeating history, or we may see another Trump in the White House.
REFLECTIONS
1. In publishing, what does POD mean? 2. How many crocus flowers does it take to make a pound of saffron? 3. Where would you find the Sea of Tranquility? 4. Which kind of bulbs were once exchanged as a form of currency?
Dalai Lama
“To conquer oneself is a greater victory than to conquer thousands in a battle.”
Source: hobbylark.com
Answer:1. Print on demand 2. 75,000 flowers 3. The Moon 4. Tulips
The financial aid department’s errors are costly for students
CHRIS LOWE
is a senior majoring in business information systems. Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
For most students, financial aid is one of the most critical, and therefore stressful, aspects of their education. In fact, to ensure understanding of the extent to how important financial aid is to a modern-age student, the National Center for Education Statistics measured 85 percent of all students at 4-year universities received financial aid in some form as of the 2015-16 school year. With this being acknowledged, one would hope any university worth its salt would make its financial aid department a top priority every year. Yet, for all its years of accreditation, success and growth, Mississippi State
University has consistently sported a sub-par financial aid department, and this is not a new issue. In the seemingly archaic era of 2009, a student journalist of our very own “The Reflector,” Rachael Smith, penned an article outlining the hoops students had to jump through in regards to, and more importantly, the inefficiency associated with the financial aid department. She also interviewed several students about their experiences with the department, including Sean Daves, a junior experiencing delays with his Pell grant and student loans at the time. “They told me just to wait. They keep telling me it’ll be about a week, but that was a month ago. They won’t tell me why. They won’t tell me anything,” Daves explained. The sad thing is, one could take this quote from almost 10 years ago and apply it to a litany of MSU students today. I can personally attest to this exact scenario happening to me on multiple occasions since I started here 3 years ago, and I have interacted
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with more people than I can count who can say the same. Whether you submit your FAFSA a month late, your account gets pulled for extra verification forms, or someone just makes a simple mistake along the way, you could potentially be visiting Garner Hall on a daily basis for weeks to ensure the process moves at an acceptable speed. With this said, visiting Garner Hall will be your only way to keep up with the situation and push for it to be resolved. Calling them will result in the phone ringing off the hook or a non-informative answer
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it should not be too much to ask for an easier time with financial aid. Some students, myself included, rely on financial aid to pay their rent and help buy groceries, in addition to the obvious reliance for tuition and associated fees. For out-of-state students, it would not be a stretch to assume a good number of them may even need their aid in order to have the funds needed for transportation back to Starkville for the school year. It just needs to be faster and more efficient, plain and simple.
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being given, with some cases resulting in outright rudeness. On top of this, refund dates are seemingly pushed back every year, communication on policy changes is generally poor and paying or receiving money is made more difficult than it needs to be. Overall, it is a massive headache to deal with financial aid here at MSU, and while it might not be atypical amongst universities, it does not indicate acceptability. For the amount of debt some students have to sink themselves into to receive a near-essential piece of paper,
I may not have the background or enough information on the logistics to complete a comprehensive plan for changes, but me and every other student I have ever spoken to on the subject know enough to say it is one of the biggest issues in attending this school. If the financial aid workers are too burdened, hire more people for the department. If regulations are stifling the system from working efficiently, find ways to loosen them. I simply refuse to believe there nothing can be done about this. MSU students are the lifeblood of the university, the reason its exists at all, policies should always be created and amended with these students in mind. Considering this particular problem has persisted for at least a decade, it seems as though the university has forgotten its purpose is to help the students along their educational journey. As someone who is proud to attend MSU, I hold it to a higher standard, and I believe it should do the same with itself.
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LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT
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Mitchell Memorial Library hosts ‘Famous Types’ exhibit HANNAH BLANKENSHIP CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The Mitchell Memorial Library is the host site for the Southern Literary Trail’s “Famous Types” exhibit, open now through Sept. 24. The exhibit composed of nine pieces from the Soboroff Typewriter Collection, features the personal typewriters of a variety of renowned literary and cultural magnates. The original owners of the typewriters featured in the exhibit include
“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” - Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway, Maya Angelou, Ray Bradbury, Truman Capote, George Bernard Shaw, Tennessee Williams, Gore Vidal, John
Lennon and Tom Hanks. Steve Soboroff, the owner of the collection, is a Los Angeles-based civic leader with an impressive resume of accomplishments. He was named Harvard Business School’s Business Statesman of the Year. Soboroff ’s fascination with typewriters began at a Soethby’s auction in 2005, where he purchased a typewriter previously owned by Jim Murray, one of the foremost American sports journalists of the 20th century. His future purchases of typewriters belonged to icons such as Joe DiMaggio, Marilyn Monroe and Barbra Streisand. His collection now includes over 30 typewriters previously owned by renowned literary and cultural figures. Sarah McCullough, the coordinator of Cultural Heritage Projects at the Mitchell Memorial Library, said because “Famous Types” is a private collection, its its display at the MSU library a rare opportunity. Generally, the collection is exhibited on the West Coast or in larger metropolitan areas. Other Southern Literary Trail exhibit sites will include Georgia College and the University of Alabama. “It’s an incredible experience to see these instruments that belonged
Emma War| The Reflector
MSU student Danny Gallo views Tennessee Williams’ typewriter featured in the “Famous Types” exhibit hosted by the Mitchell Memorial Library.
to people who created some of the greatest works of the 20th century,” McCullough said. Bonnie O’Neill, graduate professor of English at MSU with a specialization in research on literary celebrities, said this display provides a special access to these literary celebrities by seeing the tools they used to create their works. McCullough said writers of the past were attached to their typewriters in a way modern computers cannot
replicate. As such, the display provides a unique glimpse into the spirit of creation behind the famous works which came from the typewriters. McCullough said typewriters also had a certain rhythm to them which is absent in modern computers, and even longhand writing. Hemingway, widely regarded as a master of dialogue, said the sound of the typewriter allowed him to “capture the natural rhythms of speech.” The
importance of typewriters to these authors, and especially to Hemingway, is summed up in his famous quote. “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed,” Hemingway said. The very typewriter upon which Hemingway bled is sitting in the John Grisham room at MSU’s library. To McCullough, Tennessee Williams’ typewriter stood out the most because of MSU’s
proximity to his hometown of Columbus. Williams often spoke fondly of Mississippi during his life, making the display of this collection in Mississippi even more fitting. “Home is where you hang your childhood, and Mississippi, to wme, is the beauty spot of creation,” Williams said. To think Williams could have written those words on the 1936 Corona Junior typewriter on display in the exhibit, is extraordinary. Next to each typewriter is a placard with information on the previous owner and the significance of the typewriter. For instance, the Imperial Good Companion Model T typewriter on display was used by John Lennon in high school to write song lyrics for the band Quarrymen, the precursor to the Beatles. Both McCullough and O’Neill agree students should not miss such a rare and incredible opportunity to connect with such a remarkable group of writers and cultural icons. Soboroff, perfectly sums up the value and intrigue of the exhibit in a quote displayed in the exhibit. “The idea that geniuses sat there and accomplished what they accomplished on these typewriters... it gives me chills,” Soboroff said.
Taylor Swift creates a big reputation on 2018 tour MARY MADELINE LAMASTUS CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Shake off any hesitation to buy last-minute tickets for Taylor Swift’s “Reputation” Tour. One thing is for sure: the old Taylor might be gone, but the new Taylor is not only producing great concerts, but creating a big reputation. After the positive reviews from her fan base and knowing Swift’s concert history, I assumed the performance was going to be worth the fivehour drive from Starkville to Nashville as the pop star made her way back to her stomping grounds. Fortunately, Swift never fails to surprise her audience— even a long-term follower like me. I never expected it to be as extravagant or as fun as it was. When we walked into the venue, each person was given a light-up bracelet synced up to the beat of the songs. This practically made the whole night by inducing a
sense of community in the whole stadium I have never experienced in such a big venue before. Attendees also contributed to the theatrical atmosphere. Nearly a quarter of the audience was dressed in full-costumes representing themes of her old and newer albums. The openers included Camila Cabella and CharliE OX. Both performances were entertaining, but I preferred Cabella’s unique dancing and musical style, which featured many Latin influences. After about two hours of openers, I eagerly awaited Swift’s arrival. Her performance began with a bang as the single, “Are You Ready for It?” electrified the audience. The “Blank Space” singer has never been known for fabulous vocals, but still shattered all expectations I had about the night. The singer also proved herself a stellar prop producer. Unexpectedly during the bridge of the second song,
fireworks and flames erupted from above the stage, a special effect repeated throughout the show. The whole stadium was both literally and figuratively lit. By the third song, everyone in sight was dancing and singing, even the middle-aged men. It was a giant dance party that continued until the end of the show, with a break for more touching songs, such as “Long Live” and “New Year’s Day.” Rolling Stone reviewed the tour and had no ill words for the show, calling it “her finest yet.” Rob Sheffield, writer for Rolling Stone, was amazed by her ability to create a new experience with each tour she has. “No pop star goes to such absurd extremes to avoid repeating herself, even when repeating herself would be more than good enough,” Sheffield said. Mabry Shook, a Mississippi State University student, is one
Eminem’s ‘Kamakaze’ bombs SARAH ALLEN BOWMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Rapper Eminem left fans and spectators stunned last Friday upon the surprise release of his new album “Kamikaze.” “Kamikaze” sparked a heated debate among rap fans and music experts as to whether or not the album should be deemed successful, and continues to perpetuate the controversial legacy of Eminem. Most social media posts and news coverage of the album deem “Kamikaze” a flop. Music experts declare the album cannot compete in today’s heavily rap-saturated market with popular artists Cardi B, Migos, Drake and Tyga taking over the rap charts. Music fans have also criticized “Kamikaze’s” sound and lyrics. I agree with the popular belief that half of the album’s sound is stuck in Eminem’s glory days while not meeting the caliber of his previous lyrics. While the more progressive songs, in terms of sound, are too annoying to listen to more than once. It is no surprise Eminem heavily criticizes the music industry, using
lewd language and calling out young rappers to release angst. He has always pushed the limits in terms of vulgarity, and frankly, I was disappointed with this album’s verses. It appeared as if he was grappling for originality and creativity. Maybe he just missed the mark. On the other side of the spectrum, many fans are raving about “Kamikaze.” LeBron James tweeted his praise for the album the morning of its release. The numbers also speak high praise of “Kamikaze.” The album is predicted to have record sales in its first week. However, why is everybody buying it if no one seems to like it? The answer is all in the way the album was released. The release of “Kamikaze” took the industry by surprise, which was incredibly tactful of Eminem’s marketing team. Since there was not any publicity, there was no time for fans to dis it and write it off. Eminem is aware of his age and how he is older than many artists dominating today’s rap game. Instead of running a heavy and expensive advertising campaign, he joined the trend and re-
leased the album without any foreshadowing. From there, curiosity took over. No one knew what to expect from “Kamikaze,” so everyone took to listening to it. While this tactic was clever, it relies on the weight of the album. If the album is bad, rumor spreads and no one wants to listen to it. If the album is good or controversial, everyone wants to hear it. Eminem has the album’s surprise release to thank for a good percentage of its success. Whether or not the album should be deemed successful is still unknown. While “Kamikaze” dominates the charts on Spotify, iTunes and other music sharing cites, most of the internet still collectively hates it. While Eminem is trying to remain relevant, I am over him. Like many kids of the late 90’s, I went through an Eminem phase in middle school and am not trying relive it. Needless to say, if you are loving Eminem’s latest tracks, do not let me discourage you from listening. I will spend my time jamming to the best rap of the season, and I am sorry, but “Kamikaze” is not it.
of many fans very fond of the new Swift. “I love the old Taylor, but also have so much respect for the new Taylor for coming back bigger and better than ever,” Shook said While watching Swift’s many evolution, Shook notes one quality remaining the
same: Swift’s heart for her fans, a quality which led to Swift creating the best headlining concert Shook ever experienced. “Swift puts so much work and detail into these shows to make them so intimate for the fans, even in a stadium,” Shook said.
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SPORTS
Defensive line, MSU looks forward to road-test at Kansas State
HUNTER CLOUD
SPORTS EDITOR
Coming off of a 63-6 victory over Stephen F. Austin (0-1), Mississippi State University (1-0) heads on the road where the defense looks to prove itself against a talented offensive threat, Kansas State University (1-0). In head coach Joe Moorhead’s press conference Monday, according to the press release sent out by the athletic department, Moorhead recognized this was the first non-conference road game against a powerfive team since a loss to Georgia Tech in 2008. “We have the opportunity to compete against a coaching legend like coach (Bill) Snyder,” Moorhead said in the release. “If the stadium is named after you, then you know you’ve done a pretty good job, so we’re certainly excited for that opportunity.” K-State is coming off of a comeback victory over the University of South Dakota where K-State won 27-24. Moorhead said Kansas
State’s offense is one with some good talent and experience at the quarterback level, as they have Skyler Thompson and Alex Delton splitting playing time. “The offense is a fundamentally-sound unit,” Moorhead said. “They do what they do with a quarterback counter, quarterback power and zone red. They play with two experience dual-threat quarterbacks, and they force you to play with great eye discipline and gap integrity.” On top of this, Moorhead said the Kansas State’s offensive line had an average 22 starts for each player. With a strong offensive line, it will offer a challenge for a strong MSU defensive line like Montez Sweat, a senior from Stone Mountain, Georgia, who had two sacks against Stephen F. Austin. “Over a hundred starts across the offensive line, I know they do the little things right,” Sweat said. “They also have an all-American offensive linemen, so definitely a big stage in front
Noah Siano | The Reflector
Montez Sweat, a junior defensive lineman from Stone Mountain, Georgia, rushes the Stephen F. Austin QB. Sweat had two sacks in the game.
of us and we are just ready for the challenge.” Against Stephen F. Austin, the defense recorded 17 tackles for a loss, Sweat accounted for 3.5 of those. Sweat said there is some competition between the defensive line and linebackers. “There is definitely a competition there, but we have it for one another when someone makes a big play,” Sweat said. “We say before
the snap that you better beat me to the Q (quarterback) or running back, so it is definitely a competition.” Kansas State needs to have a good strong rushing game to succeed and win games as more than half of their total yards are picked up on the ground, and Sweat said the MSU defensive line plans every game is to shut down the run. “With any team we play,
the opposing defenses and use this to their advantage. “This offense gets the ball in space, this offense gets the ball into the hands of playmakers,” Huff said. “We’re not in the offense who is going to run the ball, who are going to pass the ball. This offense is going to take advantage of this defense’s deficiencies... It complements each other.” Game one brought a lot of insight to the team as well. Offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Luke Getsy believes the team played well, but said there is always room to improve, especially in the execution. “The execution wasn’t as good as we want it to be, but it was good to see the guys get under the lights and shine the way they did,” Getsy said.
Kansas State’s defense only allowed 73 rushing yards against the University of South Dakota, so the offensive line might have their work cut out for them going into the game, and Huff recognizes this. “They are a really good group, all the respect in the world for coach Snyder, they do a really good job, they play physical, they’re tough, they’re sound,” Huff said. “We’re going to do an unbelievable job on our O-line on creating space.” Both receivers and offensive linemen showed what they can do against Stephen F. Austin, and Getsy is hopeful they can keep it up as they go into Saturday’s game.
the first thing we do is stop the run,” Sweat said. “If you stop the run, it opens up more opportunities to get out there and make a pass rush. So it’s is definitely a big part, stopping the run.” This will be the first road game for MSU this season, and Sweat said it can be very hard to prepare for a road game, especially one against a power-five team. “It is definitely hard
preparing for a road game because you haven’t been on the road yet with this group,” Sweat said. “You just prepare mentally and you have the best experience by going through that road game.” Sweat said it can be much different preparing at home than it would be for a game on the road, because the mindset of the players is different. “For a home game, I’m not going to say that you are comfortable, but I am going to say that you have a better feeling about that week,” Sweat said. “When you go away, you are definitely on your toes, on edge. There is definitely more of a chip on your shoulder when you are preparing for an away game because it is a bigger challenge than playing at home.” As MSU has not won a power-five non-conference game on the road since 1995 in a win over Baylor, this weekend will be a challenge. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. Saturday in Manhattan, Kansas, and ESPN will televise the game.
MSU offense looks to build off success going into week two
HUNTER CLOUD SPORTS EDITOR
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After Mississippi State University’s season-opener victory at home where they won 63-6, MSU’s (1-0) football team began preparing for their next game against Kansas State University (1-0). The Bulldogs’ coaching staff has worked diligently in order to prepare the team for what lies ahead in Manhattan, Kansas, when they face the K-State Wildcats. Quarterback coach and passing game coordinator Andrew Breiner said Fitzgerald has prepared to play, even with the suspension last week. “Nick did a great job and prepared as if he was going to play in the game, he did that in order to help Keytaon. He’s (Fitzgerald) excited,”
Breiner said. At last Tuesday’s press conference, questions were raised asking if excitement from Fitzgerald is good for the quarterback. “It’s like what coach Moorhead talks about all the time, ‘Have emotions without being emotional, don’t let your emotions drive or change what you’re doing either physically or mentally,’” Breiner said. “I think QB or not QB, this is a game of football. You want guys who are passionate, you want guys who are excited to hit the field everyday for practice.” So far, the Bulldogs are praised for this season’s defense, and at times, this over-shadows their offense. Assistant head coach Charles Huff explained the offense tries to find the weakness of
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“Some guys made some really nice plays, some tough catches,” Getsy said. “I thought the offensive line started off the season well, showed that physicality that
we’re going to need then as we move forward, it was a good start.” Kick-off for this game begins at 11 a.m. Sept. 8, ESPN will broadcast it.