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The sacrifices made by
African Americans
should
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Campus Ministries
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Soccer starts Page 6
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TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2018
134th YEAR ISSUE 4
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
Bully statue in the Junction vandalized over weekend
KATIE POE
NEWS EDITOR
Lindsay Pace | The Reflector
MSUʼs Bully statue, a treasured on-campus staple, was vandalized with red spray paint.
Red graffiti paint defaced Mississippi State University’s Bully statue in the Junction this weekend, and MSU Police Department is looking for the perpetrator(s). The vandalism allegedly took place late Friday night or early Saturday morning, according to MSUPD.
The date “11/17” and the phrase “Woo Pig” were painted on the white base of the statue by the culprit(s). MSU’s football team plays the University of Arkansas on Nov. 17, and “Woo Pig Sooie” is the Arkansas hog call, according to UA’s website. MSU Chief Communications Officer Sid Salter said portions of the Junction are under video surveillance, but he
did not specify if the statue is within the cameras’ views. Salter also said the vandalism is a weighty crime. “The incident remains under investigation,” Salter said. “The university does consider this type of intentional damage a serious crime. While this type of thing has happened in prior years, this is the first incident of vandalism in some time.”
Two years ago, perpetrators vandalized Davis Wade Stadium with Ole Miss graffiti. The statue affected this weekend, which is a bonze cast of former mascot TaTonka, was placed in the Junction by the university in 2008. The police department has asked for those with information regarding the vandalism to call or text 662-325-2121.
MSU introduces new bike-share program Engineering and Science Complex to begin construction EMMA KING
STAFF WRITER
KAT BOWMAN STAFF WRITER
Construction for a new Engineering and Science Complex will begin in November. The West Brothers Construction Company will build the complex on Hardy Road which is currently a gravel parking lot. According to Heyward Bell, senior architect for the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management, the construction is estimated to last 540 days and should be ready for use by January 2021. “It will take us another month to get contracts,” Bell said. “We should get a notice to proceed midOctober.” West Brothers Construction Company’s bid was $26 million, and the complex’s total project funding is $34 million. “We are way under our estimated construction
budget,” Bell said. The 70,160-square-foot complex will be the new home of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and will house classrooms, teaching and research labs, offices and study spaces. According to the Mississippi Bid Network, Eley Guild Hardy Architects, which is based out of Jackson, is the designer of the project. “The design reflects the style and architecture of Lee Hall,” Bell said. President Mark Keenum said he is planning an official groundbreaking ceremony in November. “Mississippi State is a national leader in engineering education and research, and the Bagley College of Engineering is recognized globally for its innovative programs and the exceptional quality of its graduates,” said Keenum. COMPLEX, 2
As Mississippi State University begins the fall semester with its largest freshman class yet, the Department of Parking and Transit Services introduced a new method of transportation for students. The Limebike initiative, now spread across campus, is a combination of new ideas and old. Currently, 250 Limebikes are located throughout MSU. Lime is a fairly new company, launched in June 2017, and centered in San Mateo, California. Lime’s mission is improving urban sustainability through offering city and campus residents an affordable, efficient and green alternative to standard transportation methods. It also aims to make everyday trips quicker, cheaper and healthier for Limebike riders with a fleet of smart bikes including GPS, wireless technology and self-activating locks. Lime is funded by Silicon Valley’s leading venture capital firm, Andreessen
Starkville and MSU host many scenic spots for photography These areas are picture-perfect Instagram hubs
Horowitz. Students can locate and access nearby Limebikes using the app, Lime. The cost to unlock a bike is 50 cents for students, a
discount from the $1 fee other riders pay. App users can simply type in their credit card information to unlock a bike. The bike is active for
30-minute durations. Instructions are available in the app for how to complete a ride, including parking instructions. BIKES, 2
Parks Department improves under new leadership EMMA MOFFETT
LIFE AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
MARY MADELINE LAMASTUS CONTRIBUTING WRITER
If students are looking to strengthen their Instagram game this year, they can look no further than Starkville’s city limits and the Mississippi State University campus. The area is full of charming spaces to bolster social media aesthetics. One historical place that has remained popular is the beloved Chapel of Memories, and according to onlyinyourstate.com, it is one of the most impressive churches in the whole state of Mississippi.
Emma Warr | The Reflector
Noah Galle, an MSU freshman, scans a Limebikeʼs QR code before preparing to ride. There are currently about 250 Limebikes around campus.
Mary Madeline LaMastus | The Reflector
MSU senior Becky Stewart checks her Instagram feed while sitting at 929 Coffee Bar.
Located in the heart of MSU’s campus, the chapel is not only a great place to pause for a piano jam session, but also a good place to get
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
HI: 84 LO: 69 SKY: Cloudy with rain showers POP: 40
HI: 87 LO: 69 SKY: Cloudy with rain showers POP: 30
HI: 90 LO: 71 SKY: Cloudy with rain showers POP: 20
a photo by the courtyard fountain, in the arms of the angel statue or in front of the vibrant tile-like windows. PHOTOS, 2
Gerry Logan, previous interim director for Starkville’s Parks and Recreation Department, began as the official parks director in July and is continuing his efforts in making a positive impact in the community. Logan said his first six months flew by quickly before the interview process began in July. Now as director, Logan has the opportunity to continue inspiring his approximately 12 full-time staff, as well as part-time staff and contract workers, all while making a difference in the community. Over the summer, the parks department made major improvements in running the sports tournaments, the
FORECAST: After a cooler start to the week,
temperatures in Starkville will warm back up and make a return to the 90s by Thursday. A moist, tropical airmass will dominate the area. Expect moderate cloud coverage and continued chances for showers or pop-up thunderstorms going into the weekend. Nikki Pietrus, Campus Connect Meteorologist/Forecaster
Emma Moffett | The Reflector
A new sign hangs at Moncrief Park, courtesy of the Starkville Parks and Rec Department.
pool and summer programs, including partnering with the Summer Feeding program for the first time. The most noticed
Readerʼs Guide: Bulletin Board Opinion Contact Info Puzzles
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improvement at the pool was the installation of a bright blue windscreen with the department’s logo. PARKS, 2
Policy: Any person may pick up a single copy of The Classifieds 3 Reflector for free. Additional Life&Entertainment 5 copies may be obtained Sports 6 from the Henry Meyer Student Media Center for 25 cents per copy.
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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2018
COMPLEX “The new Richard A. Rula Engineering and Science Complex is an investment
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that represents our ongoing commitment to providing our students, faculty and staff with
the resources they need to be successful in an increasingly competitive world.”
Heyward Bell | Courtesy Photo
The Richard A. Rula Engineering and Science Complex should be completed by 2021. The design of the building will be similar to Lee Hall.
PHOTOS
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The chapel provides a great background, and the trees also provide protection from direct sunlight, so pictures have good lighting at practically any time of the day. Not far from the chapel is the Cotton District, which is another picturesque area according to local photographer Sara Beth Pritchard. Pritchard is a merchandise and model photographer for GeorgeMary’s in downtown Starkville. Pritchard said the District has a plethora of photo-worthy spots. “Anything around the restaurants, bars and alleyways is generally aesthetically pleasing and ‘instagramable,’” Pritchard said. “I think the little street in between Klaasroom and
Two Brothers is great for photos.” The bubbling fountain outside Gringos provides a fun vibe, or the shaded alleyway on Holtsinger Avenue has a quaint scenery. Nothing screams “Instagram” quite like coffee, and 929 Coffee Bar and Strange Brew Coffeehouse are no exception. With exposed brick and wooden everything, 929 offers everything needed for the perfect coffee picture. Presley Flowers, a Strange Brew barista and MSU senior, said she considers the “Keep Starkville Strange” mural outside the coffeehouse the most popular place in town to take a picture. She said on move-in weekend, the
painting was an especially popular place for many freshmen and their families. The Thad Cochran Research Park, also known as North Farm, provides a great outdoor atmosphere for pictures, as well. The top of the hill by the parking lot provides a wonderful background at sunset. By heading to the park around dusk and setting up a hammock in the pine trees at the top of the hill, those with social media can capture a great picture to post. Finally, if students want to show their Bulldog pride, they should take a photo with one of the various Bully statues on campus. The traditional Bully statue photo is a classic way to express excitement to be an MSU student.
BIKES It is recommended to park the bikes between sidewalks and street curbs, or in a bike rack. Jeremiah Dumas, the director of Parking and Transit Services, said the Limebikes are available for anyone looking to cross campus. “Limebike is in place for anyone looking for a faster option of getting from one place to the next,” Dumas said. “Whether it is students between classes, faculty between classes, anyone going to lunch, etcetera, the bikes are meant as a means to help assist anyone efficiently
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move around campus.” Dumas said Limebike was a profitable replacement to the department’s former bike share program, which once offered students free bikes to use for their transportation needs. The previous bikes were growing older and required more and more maintenance. Parking and Transit Services said they also enjoyed Limebike’s business model and the bikes themselves. Another benefit of the new bike-share program is its positive action toward a more environmentallyconscious campus.
Christine Lashley, MSU’s sustainability coordinator, said she is excited to present students with another way to travel, while decreasing environmental impact. “The new bikes will definitely help MSU to be more environmentally friendly by reducing our use of gasoline on campus,” Lashley said. “Burning one gallon of gasoline creates 20 pounds of carbon dioxide, so every ride on a bike makes a difference.” Another bonus the bikes offer is the ability to be parked all across campus. Riders no longer have to walk back to their cars—
instead, they can unlock the nearest Limebike and leave it in a location of choice. Michael Seymour, a professor and graduate coordinator at the Department of Landscape Architecture, is teaching a First-Year Experience (FYE) course this semester entitled “Bike to the Future.” He believes the new bike-share program is an excellent opportunity to promote more active transportation methods and prevent campus green space from being converted to parking lots and roadways. Utilizing Limebikes is
also another way to address climate change and reduce car use, which Seymour considers a step in the right direction. The professor hardly uses his car anymore because he finds biking so gratifying. “I hope that a lot of people will try out the program because I’ve found bike riding to be a really enjoyable and efficient way to get around campus and Starkville,” Seymour said. “Any investment in biking is an investment in the health of our students, faculty and staff.” Parking and Transit Services also acknowledges
the strain such a large number of students places on parking. Personal vehicles are becoming less of an option for students traveling across campus. Riding a bike instead of driving is another car off the road, as well as another available parking spot. Though the department said it does not want to entirely eliminate this form of transportation, it does want to improve every method to better benefit students. The Limebike program is the department’s first step toward an environmentallyfriendly and fast-traveled campus.
PARKS This added extensive curb appeal to Moncrieff Park and frequently drew the attention of visitors. Brennen Bell, a Mississippi State University
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junior majoring in mechanical engineering, regularly visits the parks and said he was impressed by the significant changes since Logan’s hiring as interim director.
“Everything is cleaner, safer and all-around better,” Bell said. “I used to avoid Moncrieff park like the plague, but now, it is one of my favorite places to go.”
This year, Logan noted they expanded the number of vendors for the tournaments and change the layout of the vendors, which helped the functioning of events and appeal. The department also continued to renovate athletic turf areas and make as many repairs as possible at the sports complex, as well as changing the cutting and chemical schedule for each field to increase efficiency. Logan said he is proud of the many improvements and has received positive feedback from tournament hosts and guests on the quality of the fields and efficiency of the events. While it is not a visible change, Logan also installed a user agreement before even starting his position as interim director. Previously there was no user agreement in place regarding payment schedule, liability and insurance policies. His installation of this policy has helped in planning and safety, and it will make a huge longterm impact. Logan accredits much of the department’s success to the support they receive from upper-level government officials. “Mayor Spruill and the Board of Aldermen have seen and believe in the impact parks have on the community,” Logan said. “Parks do a lot of positive
things, and it has been shown that investments in parks help generate economic impact.” There is a significant budget increase proposed for the parks department Logan believes would make a huge impact regarding the projects and improvements they will be able to make.
“Everything is cleaner, safer and all-around better.” - Brennen Bell, MSU engineer student. “The city has been behind, and part of the reason for the proposed budget increase is because things have been neglected for a little bit,” Logan said. “That is no one person’s fault, but we now want to catch up our neglected parks for the betterment of everyone in Starkville.” If the budget is approved, Logan has a long list of potential projects he hopes to accomplish, including changing the drainage on the soccer field, resurfacing for basketball courts and sidewalks, adding sidewalks, beginning a playground project and purchasing picnic tables, benches and garbage cans.
The Parks and Recreation Department is currently looking at buying colorful garbage cans, according to Logan. These trash cans look like wood, but are made from recycled plastic instead. These cans were inspired from the recycling cans Keep Starkville Beautiful purchased from a grant. The parks department has partnered with Keep Starkville Beautiful since its existence, and most recently worked together on the park cleanup at George Evans Park on Aug. 18. Amy Countermen, director of Keep Starkville Beautiful, has worked with Logan since January, and said she has had a positive experience with the department. “Gerry (Logan) is one of the first ones that shows up for work on a Saturday or a Sunday, and the last one to leave,” Countermen said. “He has been a good influence and positive impact on the community.” Despite all the positive work Logan has enacted thus far, he and the department have no plans to slow down any time soon. “We are seeing the trend of people noticing what we are doing, but it doesn’t end there,” Logan said. “We are by no means done. We want to continue and have people see and believe in what we are trying to accomplish.”
CLARIFICATION
for “City’s only off-road biking trail closes” in the Sept. 7 issue The article about MSU purchasing the trails surrounding the Thad Cochran Research Park, resulting in the closure of a biking loop, did not clarify what the land would be used for in the future. The university stated in a press release the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems (CAVS) will use the newly aquired area to develop autonomous driving and advanced driving-assist technologies. CAVS Executive Director Clay Walden said the university’s purchase of the property is beneficial to the program. “We are so excited about acquiring the property and what it means for our autonomous vehicle research program,” Walden said. “This really sets up tremendous opportunities for us to grow our research in a way that’s safe and effective for our students and researchers.”
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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2018 @REFLECTORONLINE
BULLETIN BOARD
An In-Class Distraction
SUDOKU
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY...
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history.com
Aug. 31 puzzle solutions
... In 2001, at 8:45 a.m., an American Airline Boeing 767, loaded with 20,000 gallons of jet fuel crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. This impact left a gaping, burning hole near the 80th floor. The Twin Towers had 110 stories. Eighteen minutes later, a second Boeing 767, United Airlines Flight 175, crashed into the South Tower near the 60th floor. This collision caused a massive explosion, and debris clouded the air and the surrounding buildings. With this second crash, it was made clear America was being attacked. Fifteen minutes after the South Tower was hit, it collapsed into dust and smoke. At 10:30 a.m., the North Tower collapsed. In the World Trade Center attacks, nearly 3,000 people, 343 firefighters and paramedics, 23 NYCPD officers and 37 Port Authority police officers died. 10,000 people were treated for injuries, many of which were severe. After the towers collapsed, only six survivors were rescued. American Airlines Flight 77 slammed into the west side of the Pentagon military headquarters at 9:45 a.m. Jet fuel from the Boeing 757 caused a massive fire which led to a structural collapse in part of the building. 125 military personnel and civilians were killed in the Pentagon, along with all 64 passengers on the plane. On a California-bound United Flight 93, having discovered their plane had been hijacked, passengers fought the four hijackers, the plane flipped over and sped toward the ground going about 500 mph. The plane in a rural field in western Pennsylvania at 10:10 a.m. All 45 passengers were killed. The target is still unknown. The attackers were Islamic terrorists from Saudi Arabia and several other Arab nations. The terrorists were allegedly financed by Saudi-fugitive Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda terrorist organization.
Events Calendar Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday September 11th September 12th September 13th September 14th September 15th September 16th September 17th Maroon Edition Trivia Tuesday Dawg House
5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Dallas String Quartet Bettersworth Auditorium 7 p.m.
Maroon Editoin Movie Night Drill Field 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.
National Suicide Breakfast with Downtown Art MSU vs Ragin Prevention the Bulldogs Walk Cajuns Week: Mental Starkville Cafe Starkville Main Davis Wade 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Health Street Stadium 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Screening Art in Public Dawg House Places Abstract Meet and Greet Maroon Goes 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Show with the Famous Green: Cowbell Starkville Cleanup Maroon Band Partnership Junction Famous Maroon 3:30 p.m. Lobby Band Practice 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Field (adjacent to Two Parts Sugar the band hall) Dave’s Dark 4 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Horse Tavern
Memorial Service for MSU Softball’s Alex Wilcox Chapel of Memories
Ring Days Hunter Henry Center 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
10 a.m.
10 p.m.
Want to have your event included? Contact us at advertise@reflector.msstate.edu
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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2018 @REFLECTORONLINE
OPINION
The sacrifices made by African Americans should not be ignored “Man, exhibiting ignorance of racial inequality has never felt so good.”
LINDSAY PACE
is a senior majoring in English. Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
Last Monday, Nike revealed an ad campaign featuring former National Football League quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The ad, which states, “Believe in something. Even it means sacrificing everything,” is a striking nod to Kaepernick’s 2016 public statement against racism and social injustice, in which he kneeled during the national anthem. Kaepernick understands racism is far from being dismantled in America. Our country reeks of it, its infrastructure is embedded with it still. Consider underfunded school systems in primarilyblack neighborhoods, the “war on drugs” and the pot-bellied kids in the Mississippi Delta without access to food. We cannot deny these issues are bigger than coincidence, chance or circumstance. They are microcosms of injustice, scars left by white supremacy. And this is why Nike’s decision is necessary: an international, multi-billion dollar organization with vast media influence is publicly acknowledging the present culture and the toxic history of our country which inspired
Rosalind Hutton
Kaepernick’s resistance. This decision is not without controversy. John Rich of country duo Big & Rich expressed his disdain for Nike’s new endorsement deal almost immediately. Rich tweeted, “Our soundman just cut the Nike swoosh off his socks. Former marine. Get ready @Nike multiply that by the millions.” Others have burned or tossed Nike apparel. According to Blair Kerkhoff of The Kansas City Star, College of the
Ozarks even terminated a contract with Nike. Valorie Coleman, public relations director of College of the Ozarks, laid out their reasons for dissatisfaction with Nike. College of the Ozarks President Jerry Davis stated Nike’s ad promotes “division and disrespect.” Expanding on his statement, vice-president Marci Linson said the college is “honor-bound” to respect “those who truly served and sacrificed.” Of course President Donald Trump weighed
in, tweeting “The issue of kneeling has nothing to do about race. It is respect for our Country, Flag, and National Anthem! NFL must respect this!” We could discuss how most people enraged by Nike are white and how this may indicate something problematic. We could ask ourselves if a protest for something as crucial and relevant as race is really disrespecting soldiers and veterans. We could even note the immense privilege which comes with owning name-brand apparel, or
how blatantly cruel and privileged it is for the president of the United States, a white man behind a screen, to tell a black man his protests have nothing to do with blackness. With something like this, we must look deeply at the root. This is an issue of erasure. Erasure is a literal removing, an invalidating of someone’s, or a group of people’s, history, beliefs, needs and ideas. It is saying, “you do not matter to me.” It is empathy stripped. And African Americans have
faced erasure since their time in America began. We see this history in enslaved women who recounted tales of rape against them, which were not recognized because they were black. Instances such as Fanny Lou Hamer having her organs removed, or when the University of Southern Mississippi denied Clyde Kennard denied education. We have even seen white people question former President Barack Obama’s citizenship, and an innocent Trayvon Martin murdered while his killer walk free. This erasure is exactly what is at play here with Kaepernick. Every charred shoe is a representation of black voices being drowned out and burned, of history being ignored. Rich, Davis and Trump are representations of the privileged who are unwilling to listen, of white people wound in racist ideologies. This is about race and the need for constant social reform, for a critical lens to be at work for the good of all people. The work for equality is not done yet. Look at your communities, look at the poor and look at statistics. Kaepernick is not saying soldiers do not matter; saying he is ungrateful or any other rhetoric from those who over-simplify his stance is simply untrue. Kaepernick is fighting for the history of black people to be rewritten, and written soundly, into our socio-political sphere. For how can he have love and devotion for his country if an entire demographic is oppressed?
Term limits steal voting power from the American people DYLAN BUFKIN
is a sophomore majoring in English. Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
Congressional term limits are one of those proposals which sound good on its face. According to Gallup polls, Congress is now at a 17 percent approval rating, and Rasmussen Reports found 74 percent of America wants term limits for Congress to help solve the frustration. I get it. Congress is an endless gridlock of greasy palms and broken promises, and it is certainly frustrating to see the same politicians in office every year doing the same bad job. From the quick pitch, congressional term limits seem like a perfect fix. Congresspeople would get a certain amount of time to do their job, and this way, they would be less concerned with reelection and more concerned with policy-making. The old politicians who are getting fat off of lobbyist funds would be kicked out after their service is over, and new, young faces would fill the House and Senate with a youthful vigor and modernity. Unfortunately, things are never quite so simple. Term limits, just like any other proposal in
Washington, can lead to even more problems down the road. The executive branch, both at the state and federal level, is what is most closely associated with term limits. Mississippi, for instance, has a two-term lifetime limit on governorship, and the same goes for the U.S. president, following the ratification of the 22nd Amendment. Why, then, should the president have term limits and not Congress? Well, the presidential term limit was entirely traditional for the majority of U.S. history. Former President George Washington set an impressive precedent deciding to only serve two terms, and presidents succeeding him, for the most part, did not venture from this precedent. Theodore Roosevelt tried for a third term in 1912 but lost to Woodrow Wilson, yet Teddy’s relative, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, succeeded in winning two extra terms during the stresses of World War II. It was not until 1951, following FDR’s passing, it was codified a U.S. president could serve a maximum of two full terms. For the most part, this is simply a holdover from good old Washington’s example, and presidential term limits are incredibly popular, as reported by Kathleen Weldon with The Huffington Post. Congressional term limits, on the other hand, have no precedent in D.C.,
Rosalind Hutton
and the U.S. Supreme Court has already deemed it unconstitutional for states to impose term limits in U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton. Therefore, a new constitutional amendment would need to be ratified for congressional term limits to be instated, and I have already shown how popular a prospect term limits are. However, term limits are, by their very nature, undemocratic and destabilizing, which would not solve our current woes. Congress is a job. Congresspeople put on their work clothes-suits and ties or skirts and heels-and go to work, just like other Americans. This is not to try and portray Congress as some normal office job,
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lobbyists, to replace that expertise.” Lobbyists, unless also changed by law, are not limited to any amount of time in Washington, and they can spend years honing their expertise and influence over Congress. A novice legislator might be tempted to seek counsel from lobbying groups, hoping to sway Congress to their position, which is exactly what term limits are trying to avoid. The idea of a career politician getting rich off lobbying money is not the most pleasing, but the idea of a novice politician doing the same is not any better. Furthermore, a congressperson who cannot run again can just go join lobbying firms earlier than planned, only
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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but rather, what I mean to say is Congress is a workplace, preferably with the American electorate as the boss. Like any workplace, new workers are not as efficient as older, more experienced employees, and this carries over to Congress. Molly Reynolds, a congressional expert with The Brookings Institution, told Amber Phillips of The Washington Post, “If members are restricted to only serving a few terms, the logic goes, they have neither the time nor the incentive to develop the relevant expertise they need to be good at their jobs.” If members don’t have that expertise themselves, they’re more likely to rely on outsiders, including
increasing the possibility of corruption. Alternatively, depending on how well a politician is doing, a voting body might want to keep the politician in power, but the ability is robbed with the addition of term limits. If a genuinely good civil servant comes around with fresh ideas and a mind on policy, the grind of Washington may prevent this civil servant from achieving those goals in a timely manner, and then the politician is forcibly tossed aside for another novice to start the process over once more.The gridlock in Washington will not be solved by tossing endlessly novel faces at Capitol Hill until something is hurriedly and improperly done. Regardless of political orientation, a bill rendered by a politician with six years’ experience will be less solid than one crafted by a long-standing senior legislator. Ultimately, term limits rob the American people of the power of their votes. If you do not like the politics of a politician, vote them out. If your civil servant is not serving, vote them out. If you are tired of their lying, their lobbyists or their legislation, vote them out. The term limit placed on Congress is the patience and vigilance of the American people, which is rendered obsolete with codified term limits. A politician owes you nothing, if you are not responsible for their continued employment.
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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 a letter.
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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2018 @REFLECTORONLINE
LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT
5
MSU campus ministires unite to share their faith
ROB BUTLER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
As a part Nights of Worship hosted by the Baptist Student Union, Catholic Campus Ministries, Cru Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Reformed University Fellowship and Young Life, pastor Louie Giglio and the Christian-band, Passion, held a free worship event Sept. 6 at the Humphrey Coliseum. Despite the denominational differences between each ministry on campus, the organizations set asides their differences in order to successfully serve the greater good to host this event. The coliseum was packed with over 5,000 Mississippi State University students, faculty and Starkville residents ready to worship in unison and celebrate their Christian faith. Bobby D’Alessandro, director of communications at First Baptist Church of Starkville, said he was excited for influential leaders in the
Christian community to come share their faith with the campus and community. “It is not everyday we get to experience this type of worship or influential of speakers, and hopefully, we will see a break out of the status quo,” D’Alessandro said. “That this would not be a temporary union of the campus ministries, but it would spur people to discipleship and worship.” The lights dimmed, the crowd quieted, fog filled the room and Passion took the stage. With a roar, the night started as Kristian Stanfill, leader singer for Passion, lead the audience in worship. The singing continued for approximately an hour before Giglio began to speak. When Giglio took the stage, he captivated the audience with his biblical teaching, as he professed the divinity of Christ and the importance of His role in individual’s lives. Giglio spoke to spread love, not of judgment or shame. After his sermon was over, Giglio said he was touched by
Lindsay Pace| The Reflector
MSU students and Starkville community participate in night of worship event Sept. 6 featuring pastor Louie Giglio and the band Passion in the Humphrey Coliseum.
the communal efforts of the different denominations, and loved watching the Christian church work together for God’s purpose. “I am encouraged by the power of the Church collectively putting trust in Him,” Giglio said. “Starkville united tonight for Jesus.”
Giglio said he hopes this sense of community will continue throughout the year, and he foresees a widespread revival on campus if people will focus on the common goal of spreading God’s message. “Each ministry has a role for encouraging others
and coming together, is so powerful together, that Mississippi State University could have revival here because of this event, if there is follow up,” Giglio said. Many MSU students
volunteered for the event and worked diligently to see everything ran smoothly. Tyler Hall, MSU student, had the opportunity to assist with the event and was excited to share his compassion and faith with others. Hall said he was thrilled to see the different denominations of campus ministries collaborate for one event. Not only did MSU students volunteer, but there was active participation from MSU staff and Starkville community members. Lori Ball, MSU director of scholarships and admissions, said she was glad to give her time to such an important cause and to show the love of God to everyone she came in contact with. “It is our duty as Christians to spread the Gospel and give our time with a servant heart,” Ball said. “By holding the door, greeting people with a warm smile on our faces, goes a really long way to welcome to an event like this.”
Starkville expands music scene LEAH WORLEY STAFF WRITER
While Mississippi State University provides an array of opportunities for students to become involved on campus through Greek life, campus ministries, intramural sports or other various clubs, one major part of the MSU community unlikely to be found at a table on the Drill Field is the local Starkville music scene. Starkville offers a unique assortment of musical experiences for both its locals and its fluctuating student population. Many of the city’s performing bands are formed locally by MSU alumni, who then replant the seeds of musical appreciation in the next generation of students in a regenerative cycle. A popular restaurant providing a dive-bar atmosphere is Dave’s Dark Horse Tavern. It is most assuredly not a fine-dining bar in Starkville. Perhaps it is the pizza or the crack dip cheese sauce, but the dimly lit booths and marred table tops create a sense of community as various musical artists play to their hearts’ content on Dave’s cubby-hole stage. Jesse Cossitt, a frequenter of Dave’s, said he prefers the relaxed, comfortable atmosphere of Dave’s over other Starkville bars sporting a high-energy auora. “It’s a place where you
find less highbrowed people and more down to earth characters,” Cossitt said. On Monday’s, Dave’s has singer-songwriter nights where anyone can come in, put their name on the list and play a few songs. Also, every Friday and Saturday, Dave’s brings in an artist to play live music for the night just to set the atmosphere. If you want a place to mellow out to music with some good food and good people, Dave’s is the most pleasantly consistent and fiscally doable. Rick’s Café, on the other hand, provides the bright lights and hype many college students crave. Rick’s stage is concert-esque with colored lights, booming speakers and a swaying crowd that really throws the audience into the night life. Rick’s consistently has bigger-named bands, as well as a much larger audience turnout. Rick’s often hosts popular artists from both local and distant networks. Jon Langston, a country music artist, had a concert last spring at Rick’s with a notably large turnout. Tickets for such concerts can be purchased online. In terms of just walking in for the nonticketed live performances throughout the week, the surcharge will be a little pricier than Dave’s, but still relatively inexpensive. 929 Coffee is another venue which showcases local
musicians, and is organized by MSU’s Music Makers. Though they do not host concerts or acoustic live performances very often, the quality of the music is in no way hindered by the seeming lack of functional space. I have only had the opportunity to attend one performance at 929 to write a review on the band “Jake Slinkard and Company.” Having been to the quaint coffee shop on multiple occasions, I had no idea how they would fit an entire band in the basement area, let alone a crowd of people. To my astonishment, they pulled it off. I was pleasantly surprised by the peculiar, but still endearing, improvised light setup of eclectic house lamps which allowed the group to adjust for the lack of suitable stage equipment. I originally assumed the absence of a proper stage would prevent the formation of what I thought was a necessary musician-audience separation. Once the band started playing with unmistakable charisma and a surprise fog machine, I was happily proven wrong. Though 929 may not be built for it, the ingenuity with which they transformed an outwardly dysfunctional area for a performance, into a music lover’s aesthetic is more than commendable. There are many more music venues in Starkville,
Russ reveals his truth in ‘Zoo’ ALYSSA AVILA
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The up-and-coming hiphop artist Russell Vitale, known as Russ, dropped his album “Zoo” on Sept. 7. The project by the Georgia native follows his debut album “There’s Really a Wolf,” which went platinum early this year. Russ tweeted a thank you to his fans before the album was released explaining the album title. “New life is a zoo. It feels like constant contained chaos. Whether internal battles, family issues, industry bullshit, etc. And dealing with everything while everyone is watching is beyond stressful. This album feels like me not caring about keeping it together anymore. Music is my only hope to not go completely insane,” Russ said. It is clear from the lyrical content why Russ relies heavily on music to ensure his sanity. Throughout the album, tracks like “Parkstone Drive,” he shares intimate struggles with his family, detailing his parents’ divorce and how his newfound fame changed their family structure. The artist shares with fans
how his parents’ separation was discussed, but was only able to come to fruition now because of his financial success. The artist boasts of his close relationship with his mom, for whom he recently bought a house, but shares how he never thought it would be under such circumstances. While Russ celebrates his newfound fame and wealth on several tracks, he makes it clear that not everyone is his fan. The subject for ridicule on the internet, Russ addresses this hate several times in tracks like “The Flute Song” and “Outlaw.” As an artist who prides himself on producing, mixing and engineering the music he releases, Russ has expressed his unhappiness with the current state of the music industry and media outlets, which have not been supportive of his work. On the track “Kill Them All,” not only is his discontent made clear, but he also expresses his dedication to topping the charts and competitive attitude toward other rappers. However, this focus on his obstacles detracts from the
positive persona often seen through his interviews and social media messages. There are several uplifting songs to back the positive message he sends. In “Parkstone Drive,” Russ spreads an encouraging message. “It rains sometimes even when it shines / Don’t give up,” Russ said. “Zoo” keeps with Russ’s style of mixing smooth R&B beats with modern hip-hop trends. Leading up to the album, the artist released several singles, none of which were significantly successful. This lack of success could be due to Russ’ do-it-himself attitude and lack of features or artist collaborations, giving way to the critique that his work lacks dimension. The 14-track album has only two songs with features by Mahalia, Rick Ross and Snoop Dogg. Russ’ sophomore album made it through the weekend without significant appearances on the top charts, but will hopefully gain popularity with greater exposure. Overall, the album is fun to listen to, has a good balance of mellow and upbeat tracks, and allows for an intimate peek into the rapper’s life.
including Cowbell’s Sports Grill, which often has a DJ for the weekend partiers. The newer Matty’s Starkvegas Café is popular among Greek life for their “Thirsty Thursdays,” and Moe’s BBQ, which is perfect for people who want to listen to music and watch a variation of sports simultaneously with good barbecue. All in all, there is a musical place for everyone in Starkville. When trying to find your music scene, make sure to watch for various social media announcements from Starkville’s local venues.
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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2018 @SPORTSREFLECTOR
SPORTS
7-0 is MSU’s best starting soccer season since 2012 Scored 23 goals Only given up 2 goals Streak of 360 scoreless minutes for their opponents Only third time they’ve beaten all non-conference opponents Goalkeeper Rhylee DeCrane has had six shutouts which puts her at second for single season shutouts in school history
Rosalind Hutton
Bulldogs win seven games to start SEC play undefeated Column: Hill stood tall for season, go into a senior from Huntsville, told them to do. Kelly Donoho | MSU Communications
Kylin Hill dives over a defender as he scores a touchdown, MSU won 31-10 over KSU. Kylin Hill scored three touchdowns in the game.
MSU in victory over K-State HUNTER CLOUD
is a sophomore majoring communication. Contact him sports@reflector.msstate.edu
in at
People say Kansas is flatter than a pancake, and if that is true Kylin Hill stood as tall as a mountain for Mississippi State University in Manhattan, Kansas, following their 31-10 victory over Kansas State University. MSU rushed for 384 yards, and Hill, a sophomore running back from Columbus, accounted for 211 of those yards. He scored two rushing touchdowns, a 28-yarder and a 16-yarder respectively, on 17 carries. Hill also caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Nick Fitzgerald, and scored 21 of the 31 points for the Bulldogs. Hill made history with his performance as he rushed for 200 yards, something a running back at MSU has not accomplished since 2009, when Anthony Dixon rushed for 252 yards against Kentucky. It should be noted how Aeris Williams, a senior running back from West Point, Mississippi, did not see the field against Kansas State, and only had two carries for 15 yards against Stephen F Austin. While Williams rushed for 1,107 yards last season, it was unknown until at Moorhead’s press conference on Monday, why
his lack of carries occurred. I thought it was because of head coach Joe Moorhead’s offensive philosophy that if someone has hot hands, get the ball in their hands. So far for both games, Hill has had the hot hands. That is exactly the case for Williams as Moorhead said he just had not been performing in practice, but each week is a new week for the players to prove their worth and get the starting job. I cannot describe the phenomenon MSU is witnessing with Hill, but according to MSU athletic
“Hill certainly runs with his tremendous physicality.” -Head coach Joe Moorhead department’s press release of the post-game press conference, Moorhead said Hill has both speed and power. “Hill certainly runs with his tremendous physicality,” said Moorhead. “He runs behind his pads, and also has that second gear to take it the distance.” Hill was crucial to the success of MSU’s offense against KSU, because his physical and distance abilities presented quite the challenge to the opposing defense. Much attention was on Fitzgerald as he went into the his first game since his ankle injury, and his suspension for the Stephen F. Austin University game. From what I saw,
Fitzgerald ran the ball well as he picked up 158 yards on the ground, which was the most for him in a game since the Egg Bowl in 2016. While he did try to avoid contact when it was unnecessary by either sliding or stepping out of bounds, he still used his physicality to pick up crucial yards for first downs. It was not a perfect game for Fitzgerald by any means, as he only completed 11 out of 27 passes for 154 yards, however I feel, just like with Keytaon Thompson, a sophomore quarterback from New Orleans, there may be some time for Fitzgerald to adjust and get in sync with his receivers. Because of this, Saturday’s game will be interesting to see if he improves when MSU (2-0) plays the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (1-0). Speaking of imperfections, MSU had 11 penalties for 84 yards, an abysmal stat-line I’m sure Moorhead will clean up in practices this week. However, MSU’s defense only gave up 10 points and 213 yards of total offense to Kansas State. Despite the penalties and poor completion percentage by Fitzgerald, the Bulldogs won the game against KSU (1-1) through their success on the ground. The 384 rushing yards paved the road to their first away victory against a nonconference opponent since 1995 when they beat Baylor. A huge part of this success is due in part to Hill, who stood the tallest for MSU.
HANNAH BLANKENSHIP CONTRIBUTING WRITER
After a rain delay lasting nearly an hour and a half, Mississippi State University and Louisiana Tech University took to the soggy field to begin play. Despite the weather delays, the undefeated Mississippi State Bulldogs soccer team (7-0-0) triumphed over the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (7-1-0) in a 3-0 win. MSU had nine shots in the first half, but no goals. Several shots were near misses, including one that glanced off the crossbar. However, the defense showed up strong and held LA Tech to one shot and zero goals, resulting in a 0-0 tie at halftime. Head coach Tom Anagnost said the team started flat in the first half. “It was tough because they let us have the ball and we had to break them down,” Anagnost said. “Every game there’s a new challenge, and that tested us tactically and technically.” During the second half, the intensity picked up and at the 61-minute mark in the game when Brooke McKee,
Alabama, scored off a corner kick from freshman Miranda Carrasco, from Cypress, Texas. This goal allowed the team to relax and settle into playing. “Scoring the first goal let us calm down and not be so frantic,” McKee said. Just five minutes later, Courtney Robicheaux, a senior from Mandeville, Louisiana, scored her first goal of the season. Then, almost exactly a minute later, Niah Johnson, a freshman from Rowlett, Texas, scored, putting MSU up by three at the 67-minute mark in the game. This ended the scoring in the game, with a 3-0 win for the Bulldogs. Anagnost said the change in the second half was a testament to the team’s winning character. “We kept at it, we kept at it,” Anagost said. Once we got one, another one came and another came.” McKee said the improvement in finishing in the second half came from everyone doing their roles more, and she was proud of the team for being disciplined, anticipating balls, and doing what the coach
Robicheaux agreed the team was a little off in the first half, but played with heart and character in the second half, which showed in the score. Although he recognizes the team has a lot upon which to improve, Anagnost said he was happy with his players. “I’m proud of our kids,” Anagnost said. “It’s always great to shut the opponent out, it’s always great to score more than one goal, so I’m really pleased.” MSU has its first conference game this Friday in an away game against Auburn. MSU goes into conference play with a 7-0 record—the best start for their program since 2012. “It’s going to be extraordinarily challenging, and we’re just going to have to take it one practice at a time, one day at a time to prepare for each opponent,” Anagnost said. Robicheaux said she is excited for conference play to begin and cannot wait to see how the team will do. “I’m just excited,” Robicheaux said. “I’m ready to get going. I’m confident in my team.”
Moorhead brings his tradition to MSU HUNTER CLOUD SPORTS EDITOR
Head coach Joe Moorhead started a tradition at Fordham University and kept it with him when he took over the Mississippi State University’s football team. If you watched the game on Saturday, you may have noticed the players had little bulldog stickers on the back of their helmets. Moorhead said the bulldog can represent a handful of things. “There is a defined set of criteria for offense, defense, and special teams,” Moorhead said. “From a simplistic standpoint, you have one for a home win and two for a road win. Then there are ones for numerical or statistical benchmarks.” Those stats and other qualifications are tracked by the coaches. The process is very complex, so Moorhead could only explain it a little bit. “Our coaches all have the sheet when they grade the film, they go through
Kelly Donoho| MSU Communications
Keytaon Thompson shows off his helmet stickers, which can be earned whenever MSU wins.
and hand it to our director of football operations,” Moorhead said. “He then hands it to the equipment guy. It would take a while to go through all of the ways to get one.” Moorhead previously coached at Fordham and Penn State before coming to MSU, and while the practice of using helmet stickers to reward players for performance is not new, it is a new idea at MSU. “I did it at Fordham, I did it there before I came
here,” Moorhead said. “I did it just to create some sort of tradition and get the kids excited about their performance.” The stickers add motivation for MSU remaining undefeated. “They only get them in wins as well, you cannot get them in a loss,” Moorhead said. Look for the new stickers on MSU’s helmets when they take the field at 6 p.m. Saturday against the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Students can pick up their free ticket at Suite 314 of the Union or at the door of the event. Sponsored by:
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