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TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2020
136th YEAR ISSUE 3
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
Oktibbeha County officials implement new curfew, city does not DANIEL DYE NEWS EDITOR
On Monday, Sept. 7, the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors voted to impose a curfew on the county to cut down on gatherings of citizens amidst COVID-19. According to Rob Roberson, the Board of Supervisors’ attorney, the curfew is in place from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. every day with a maximum fine of $500 for those who break curfew. Roberson assures there will be certain exceptions, such as those commuting to and from work, parents picking up children from sports events or the like and any type of emergency situation. District 2 Supervisor Orlando Trainer believes the curfew is justified with
recent gatherings putting stress on the county and its law enforcement. “The rulings of the curfew are very simple. We are trying to make sure that we are preventing large gatherings late at night. Recent gatherings are causing a lot of stress on residents and on the sheriff ’s department trying to maintain these events,” Trainer said. Trainer thinks the curfew is important at this time both as a measure to slow the spread of COVID-19, as well as a method of maintaining public safety. “These gatherings are causing stress on our public safety department, and then with COVID-19, we are concerned about the spread. CURFEW, 2
Daniel Dye | The Reflector
Many large housing and apartment complexes, such as the pictured Highlands Plantation, are under the jurisdiction of the county and are therefore subject to the new curfew.
Anonymous student-run account Mississippi flag calls for abolition of Greek life committee votes
HANNAH BLANKENSHIP MANAGING EDITOR
An Instagram account calling for the abolition of Greek life at Mississippi State University has caused a stir among the MSU student body, Greek and non-Greek students alike. The account, featuring anonymous testimonials that detail negative experiences students have had with Greek life at MSU, has attracted hundreds of followers and been the subject of conversation in various student circles. The account’s first post, entitled “why abolish,” outlined their mission and the reasons behind their call for abolition. These reasons included rape culture, racism, Hannah Blankenship | The Reflector homophobia, nepotism and An anonymous MSU student recently started a public Instagram account in order to draw attention to issues present in MSU Greek life. power imbalance. ABOLISH, 2
on Magnolia flag BAYLEE HILL STAFF WRITER
Mississippi history was made on Sept. 2 when a committee tasked with deciding the finalist for Mississippi’s new flag selected the “New Magnolia Flag” with an 8-1 vote. In June, Mississippi lawmakers voted to retire the previous state flag which featured the Confederate emblem. In November, Mississippi voters will decide to restart the process or adopt the New Magnolia Flag, now branded by the commission as the “In God We Trust” flag. The flag features a
white magnolia circled by 20 white stars and a single gold star against a dark blue and red background. Oxford graphic designer Kara Giles was asked by a commissioner to help design the flag. Giles said the Magnolia blossom is a symbol that represents the state of Mississippi and the hospitality of its citizens. “The New Magnolia also represents Mississippi’s sense of hope and rebirth, as the Magnolia often blooms more than once and has a long blooming season,” Giles said. “The New Magnolia is sleek and updated to represent the forward progression of Mississippi.” FLAG, 2
Bicycle business pedals through ups and downs of COVID-19 MAGGIE ROBERTS STAFF WRITER
Grace Bell | The Reflector
Junior J.T. Walter rides his bicycle this past Wednesday afternoon in front of the Chapel of Memories. Walter is one of the growing number of MSU students who ride their bikes on campus.
TUESDAY HI: 85 LO: 72 SKY: Rain likely POP: 60
WEDNESDAY HI: 77 LO: 69 SKY: Rain likely POP: 70
THURSDAY HI: 78 LO: 66 SKY: Rain likely POP: 60
FORECAST: Make sure to keep your rainjackets and umbrellas handy this week. Expect a high chance of rain everyday. This rain will bring in cooler temperatures with highs in the high 70’s and lows in the high 60’s.
Courtesy of National Weather Service
During the unprecedented time of COVID-19, bicycle shops, like Boardtown Bikes of Starkville, are facing many unforeseen challenges. The local business has dealt with a massive demand since schools and businesses shut down earlier this year and has been unable to keep a steady inventory of bikes and bike parts since. Matthew Nunes, the owner of Boardtown Bikes, said there are many ways COVID-19 has affected the workplace, one being the implementation of procedures based on the CDC and state regulations. “We have been sanitizing surfaces and all the bikes that have come in. One factor was all the protocols, but with the employees we offered paid sick leave to try to encourage them to come forward if they
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were feeling ill,” Nunes said. Nunes also commented on the immediate increase in demand following the shutdown of schools and some businesses. “When things started closing, we pretty much saw an immediate uptick in the number of customers coming in. When that happened, we had inventory, but we quickly sold out of what we had. By mid-April, we didn’t have any more bikes to sell, and there was no way to resupply them. We had lots of hoops to jump through while becoming two or three times as busy.” All bike shops were suffering when inventory ran out. China, where most bike supplies come from, shut down exports because of the pandemic. This caused a greater imbalance between supply and demand. “Everything exists in a closed system,” Nunes said. BIKES, 2
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CURFEW
With this curfew, we are trying to see if we can slow the spread. We want to see if we can have a positive impact on the recent rise in infections that the county has had,” Trainer said. “We are trying to do what we can to make sure the virus does not spread, and we are trying to maintain law and order in our community.” Roberson echoed this sentiment, citing the recent large gatherings as a threat due to COVID-19 spreading and subsequent
increased traffic on county roads. “There are a lot of people that are congregating. And frankly, it is not congregations of 20 to 30 people, but congregations of upwards of 100 people. It is dangerous considering a lot of the issues we are dealing with, both because of COVID-19 but also because of some of the roads that are being used. In the county, there are very small roads, and these
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people congregating in fields and such are traveling these roads and blocking them,” Roberson said. “It is best to keep these areas a little bit more patrolled with the increased traffic.” Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill respects the county’s decision to enact a curfew but maintains the city is not enforcing a curfew nor does it currently plan to do so in the future. “The county’s actions actually have very little
to do with the city due to the distinction between the county and the city when it comes to things of this nature. The city has not adopted a curfew. We certainly respect the fact that the county did and their reasons for doing so, but we are not inclined to do so at this point in time,” Spruill said. “Unless something further happens that causes us to feel differently, the city has no inclination to enforcing or enacting a curfew at
this point.” According to Roberson, the curfew does not have a set end date as the board will likely decide on whether or not to extend the ruling on a weekly basis. “The length of the curfew really depends on how long the sheriff and the board feels like it needs to be implemented,” Roberson said. “We have another board meeting on Monday, and I expect the curfew to be extended for
FLAG
at least another two or three weeks. I think we are trying to do it from board meeting to board meeting.” Roberson wants the residents of Oktibbeha County to stay safe and feels a curfew is the best way to do this. “Frankly it is just a matter of putting these measures in to keep people safe,” Roberson said. “Anybody out and about needs to be safe. A little common sense will go a long way to be safe.” CONTINUED FROM 1
According to Giles, the 20 white stars around the flower symbolize Mississippi being the 20th state to be added to the U.S. The golden five-pointed star represents the indigenous Native American tribes who were the first to inhabit the land that is Mississippi. Jim Giesen, an associate history professor specializing in AfricanAmerican history and the U.S. South, supports the new flag and believes a change was overdue. According to Giesen, the previous flag was a product of white supremacy in Mississippi. He said it did not reflect Mississippi then and certainly does not reflect Mississippi now. “The old flag was a product of the Lost Cause of the Confederacy, and that was a movement of white southerners in the 1890s into the 20th century that were attempting to
rewrite the history of the Civil War and the history of slavery,” Giesen said. “The whole purpose of the Lost Cause was to prop up white supremacy.” Anne Marshall, associate professor of history specializing in the U.S. South and 19th and 20th century U.S., said the Mississippi Legislature adopted the previous flag in 1894, just four years after the state changed its constitution to include Jim Crow laws which required segregated schools, poll taxes and literary tests in order to vote. Therefore, Marshall said very few black Mississippians were eligible to vote on the old state flag that served as a symbol of white supremacy and represented how white Mississippians historically refused to let go of political, social and economic power. According to Marshall,
Mississippi has the highest percentage of black Americans in the U.S., and a new flag is necessary to accurately represent all citizens of the state. “The flag represents racial oppression that Mississippi has had a long history of,” Marshall said. “It’s important to show these are not the primary values of Mississippi, and many Mississippians, both African-American and white, have felt for a very long time that flag does not represent them.” Additionally, Marshall hopes many people will vote in favor of the new flag since Mississippi citizens played a large role in choosing this flag as a finalist. She is also hopeful for a positive outcome since many young voters were not around when the first vote to change the flag was denied in 2001. Professor Giesen
supports a new design, but he is not worried about the state not having a flag at the moment. In front of his house, he currently flies the Hospitality Flag, a popular flag alternative that was designed six years ago. “Voters should know that, if they restart the process, there will still never be Confederate iconography on the flag again,” Giesen said. “I’m just glad that we do not have the stars and bars on our flag anymore.” Graphic designer Giles hopes voters remember the meaning and effort that went into this flag when the time comes to vote on the ballot in November. “So much effort and thought has gone into this particular flag so that it would represent all Mississippians,” Giles said. “I’m just hopeful that they embrace it and pass this flag in November.”
BIKE
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“While we were very busy in the beginning of this, now there is nothing to sell. We did about three months of business in one month, but now we are all out. So it balances it out.” Mycah Sanders, a sophomore majoring in kinesiology from Belden, Mississippi, has noticed
more people biking since the pandemic hit. “My family went on more walks and bike rides. In our neighborhood, we saw a ton of more people riding around,” Sanders said. Sanders said she also has noticed a difference in the number of people
biking in Starkville. “In Starkville I’ve seen a lot more people biking, but it might be because I live in a neighborhood,” Sanders said. Another avid biker is Eliot Jones, a sophomore majoring in forestry and member of the cycling club, who rides his bike often
both on campus and for mountain biking. During his free time, he planned on fixing up some of his bikes but was met with a shortage of parts everywhere. “I live not even a quarter mile away from a bike shop, and I was talking to the worker about getting some new bike parts. He said that they are all sold out everywhere; every bike shop is selling out. Every part that I needed would take months to come in, whether it was a headset or a wheel. Wheels were super hard to
get and probably still are,” Jones said. Jones said biking was the best way to travel on campus and frequently rides his bike to school. “As long as it is not raining, I will ride my bike to class,” Jones said. “Even when I lived on campus last year, I rode my bike everywhere. You can ride on sidewalks which is the shortest way to buildings, but you are also moving faster than walking. I could get from the Humphrey Coliseum to Fresh Foods
ABOLISH
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The Reflector spoke with the creator of the account, a current student with personal experience in the MSU Greek system. “What I like about the page and what I’m trying to do is bring awareness to the fact that something has to change,” the anonymous source said. “We can’t just sit here and keep saying we’re trying to do this – ‘we see you’ and ‘we hear you’ – it’s bullshit. No one’s doing anything and nothing’s changing, so I like that it brings the voices of people who aren’t able to speak out because Greek life is so powerful.” Visitors to the account are able to submit their anonymous testimonial through a Google form in the account’s bio. As of Sunday, the account has posted seven testimonials, dealing with topics ranging from tokenism to assault to exclusivity. According to the creator of the account, there have been almost 60 submissions, although some of these are just people expressing their dislike for the account through colorful language. One of the hallmark elements that makes the account possible – anonymity – is also one of its biggest criticisms. Jackie Mullen, the director of fraternity/sorority life at MSU, said part of the problem with the account is that it is difficult to make real change from anonymous claims, as it is a challenge for the university to investigate these stories. “If there’s not a name associated with it
in about five to seven minutes.” Jones said there was a clear difference of how many people were getting outside. It makes sense that more people have time to do things they normally wouldn’t, he said. “When I went biking, I would always see people outside, and that has not always been the case. I even picked up fishing because I wanted to do more outside. I would go to Walmart and they would also be sold out of fishing supplies.” CONTINUED FROM 1
or informant for us to investigate it’s hard to investigate something off of anonymous or one general statement. So not to say that we haven’t, that’s just a difficult investigation to lead,” Mullen said. Mullen said the university has the authority to sanction any chapter or individual within the chapter for breaking the university’s code of conduct. One of the visitors to the account who submitted an anonymous testimonial, a current MSU student who was formerly in Greek life, said they were very excited for the account’s existence but did not agree with the call for abolition. “I don’t think that abolish is the answer. I think that it’s a really, really cool account, and I think that the testimonies being shared are so important. And I think that it’s really good that it’s on Instagram,” the source said. Katey Koon, president of MSU’s Panhellenic Executive Council that oversees the MSU Greek sororities said she is glad the account is giving people a place to speak up about their experiences but disagrees the system is hopeless. Koon said in her two years serving as Panhellenic president she had never had someone come to her with one of the issues mentioned on the account. If they had, she said, she would be the first to bring down severe discipline on anyone involved. “Of course I know my
organization isn’t perfect, and I’ll be the first to tell you there are flaws in the system and we’ve got a lot of work to do,” Koon said. “That’s the reason I’m here,” Interestingly, while the name of the account calls for the complete dismantling of the Greek life system, the creator of the account seems to agree that abolition may not be the answer. The name “abolish ms state greek life” serves to tie the account to the hundreds of other accounts that call for the abolition of Greek life at colleges across the country, including Vanderbilt, Duke and Washington University. “I’m not naïve,” the account owner said. “I don’t think it’s going to be abolished. I don’t know if I think it should, but it will not happen anytime soon.’ When asked what the best thing Greek life could do to remedy its criticisms, the creator said even they were unsure – and that was the crux of the issue. “Personally, I don’t know, and that’s the problem with it,” the creator said. “That’s why so many people say abolish because so many people have tried to reform it, but what do you even do? How do you change it?” The creator said their plans for the account moving forward included posting more testimonials as well as diversifying the account’s content with statistics and research. Readers can view the account on Instagram @abolishmsstategreeklife.
3-BBBULLETIN BOARD The Reflector 9/15/20 Sudoku
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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 @REFLECTORONLINE
An In-Class Distraction
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14 13 1 Hindu wrap 5 “The ___ have 16 17 it!” 20 21 19 9 Latitude 13 Philosopher 22 23 24 25 William of ___ 14 Church section 26 27 28 29 15 Justice’s garb 30 31 16 Bluebottle 18 Nile wader 36 37 35 19 Low card 20 Deeply affected 40 41 42 39 or influenced 43 44 22 Husky 25 Get checkmated 45 46 47 26 Feasible 28 It may be raised 48 49 50 51 at a party 56 57 55 30 Put away, in a way 60 61 59 31 Polly, to Tom Sawyer 63 64 62 32 Get in a pool Copyright ©2020 PuzzleJunction.com 35 Kind of chop 36 Mike holder 62 River of Hades 10 Sites for studs 37 38 Greek cheese 11 Put up with 63 Vice president 39 Mandela’s org. under Jefferson 12 “Absolutely!” 38 40 Blackthorn fruit 64 Locomotive 13 Halloween mo. 40 41 After root or wine followers 17 Safety harness 42 43 Cobblestone 21 Buttonhole 43 44 Least sweet Down 23 Deep black 45 Fencing sword 24 Shade tree 45 47 Main artery 1 Garbage barge 26 Constellation 46 48 Commence, 2 Like tumblers between Carina 47 quickly 3 Amscrayed and Pyxis 49 52 Long-snouted 4 UN agency 27 ___ a good thing 50 fish 5 Personal state of 28 Stage signal 51 55 Termite, e.g. 29 Short story isolation 53 56 Pen name 6 Complain 31 One in a suit 54 59 Distress signal 32 Assail 7 ___ and anon 55 60 Assortment 8 Like the Sahara 33 Greek letters 57 61 Some execs 34 Fruity pastry 9 Clink 58
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A case of cyberstalking was reported at Cresswell Hall. A student was arrested on Blackjack Road between Buckner Lane and Stone Boulevard for driving under the influence. Sunday, August 23, 2020 Armed robbery reported at Aspen Heights. Wednesday, August 26, 2020 Forgery over $1000 reported in McArthur Hall. Friday, August 28, 2020 Property damage reported in the Oak Hall B wing. Property damage reported in the Barnes & Noble parking lot.
Monday, August 31, 2020 A “crime against computer users” was reported in an offcampus location. Possession of a weapon was reported at Hurst Hall. Possession of marijuana 1 ounce or less was reported on the B wing of Moseley Hall. Tuesday, September 1, 2020 Lost, found or shortage of property was reported at Allen Hall. Student was arrested in the Hathorn lower parking lot for driving under the influence. Thursday, September 3, 2020 Petit larceny under $1000 reported in Sessums Hall room 210.
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Police reported a stolen car at Magnolia Hall.
Sunday, September 6, 2020
Lost, found or shortage of property reported at Allen Hall.
Possession of controlled substances reported off-campus at Aspen Heights.
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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 @REFLECTORONLINE
OPINION
College football during COVID is not worth the fallout S RILEY STEPHENS
is a senior majoring in English. Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
With the spread of COVID-19 still rampant, Mississippi State University made the decision to resume normal campus procedures all within the boundaries of certain health and safety guidelines. Where the campus was essentially a ghost town from March to July of this strange and confusing year, campus landmarks like the Colvard Student Union and Drill Field now thrive once more as students have returned for classes in August. The decision to reopen the university is controversial in itself, but the idea of holding a football season during a pandemic is ill-advised. Having a football season in the middle of a pandemic before a vaccine is produced is not worth the rush. Though MSU has sent out game-day health
procedures similar to the on-campus guidelines to protect its attendees, the university’s financial motives play a role in the decision to schedule a football season. According to Nick Suss with the Clarion Ledger, Mississippi State University ranked nationally in the top profitable athletics departments with its revenue from Division 1 sports in 2019 pulling in $112,273,809. Football is the main source of revenue for local economies, especially college towns where game days generate revenue through a variety of ways: attendance, concessions and visitation to restaurants and shops. With MSU’s game day capacity being reduced to 25%, the revenue from football will significantly drop compared to preCOVID sports seasons. MSU’s Game Day Guidelines indicate a stricter set of personnel and precautions going into this football season. Taking into account the money appropriated on larger game day staff for a smaller attendance, the safety equipment to prevent COVID, advertising, potential football injuries
and unnecessary exposure, a football season this year is not worth the financial trouble or health risks. Safety precautions including face mask mandates, temperature kiosk implementation across a variety of buildings on campus, the Cowbell Well screening app, staggered class times and more reflect the university’s efforts to ensure a safe and healthy environment for its students, yet the virus spreads on. The numbers posted on the COVID-19 campus resources page indicate the increase as well. As of the Friday before
the Labor Day holiday, MSU’s COVID-19 resources page reports 1,087 students who are in isolation either because they are COVID positive or came in contact with someone who was positive for the disease. This number only includes those students whose health status has been properly monitored and recorded by the Longest Student Health Center. Considering those students who are unknowingly asymptomatic and those students who fail to report the true nature of their health, this number of cases could potentially be even higher, especially when
students travel home and then return to campus after the holiday weekend. According to a previous Reflector article on college COVID cases, six Greek houses at MSU have already sent their residents elsewhere to quarantine just two weeks into the fall semester, and yet with all these numbers rising higher and higher, the university still plans to resume a football season with scarce financial benefits and risky exposure. Then considering all the out-of-town spectators intermingling with campus students, the situation grows even more complex. MSU needs to prioritize its students’ health, and hosting a college football game, despite its reduced attendance allowance, is not worth endangering more people, even if the university feels it is the only way to keep one facet of MSU’s financial resources afloat. Though finance factors into the university’s decision to have football this year, tradition also plays a role in the resolution. After all, what is college without football? However, nothing quite captures the Bulldog game
day experience as a fully packed arena with cowbells ringing from all sides of Davis Wade Stadium. There is no need to rush into a football season which could potentially prolong the fullness of the Mississippi State University football experience. With an altered football season this fall, the experience will certainly be lacking with all the safety precautions in place. Instead of scheduling football in the midst of the pandemic to keep a relative sense of normalcy, the season should be put off until there is some form of health security like a vaccine, and we can return to complete normalcy. I understand the strangeness and stressful unpredictability of the pandemic prompts a need to return to normalcy for a variety of reasons, but the safety and health of the public should be a higher priority than the small revenue stream and altered football experience this 2020 football season prompts. Neither the sentiment of fall football nor the small revenue outweigh keeping Bulldog students and fans safe and healthy.
Beauty care costs should match in quality There is little incentive
to stay in Honors College
KATELYN WYATT
is a senior majoring in English. Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
The beauty industry is everywhere. It is thrown at us from Instagram to our grandmas setting their hair in rollers. It is the inescapable daily routine which makes us look alive in the mornings. I enjoy having the option to paint my nails or to put on makeup if I want, but I still have problems with it. However, I will explain my issues specifically with the marketing and product side of the beauty industry. First, one of my obsessions is painting my nails. I have tried everything from the cheapest nail polish at a dollar store to name-brand polishes. They all chip away too fast. The bottles are filled with lies. These companies promise long-lasting wear, but they do not deliver. I have seen reviews where some people say the purchase was worth it, and the product was amazing. Of course, it helps if you have perfectly shaped, strong nails, never wash your hands and just never use your hands in general. If the nail polish works best under these conditions and with a base coat, topcoat and some casual soul-selling, then companies should not market them as being the best quality polish in the world. Naturally, I understand this is how you sell a product, and I am one of the thousands of women who has fallen for this gimmick. I am just desperate for a nail polish which can withstand the tests of time and last the two weeks of color promised on the overpriced packaging because I am too cheap to go to a salon on a monthly basis just to have pretty fingers. According to Susanna Kim with ABC News, studies were done to prove whether price mattered in the durability of different brands of nail
polish, and though one would expect Chanel would have the better nail polish, Kim reports the drug store nail polish won. As for prices in the beauty industry, products are priced like a car. When you look at cars, you expect the most expensive car must be the nicest, fastest and overall best of the best. Yet, that is not always the case, maybe even most of the time. The higher prices on makeup does not mean the brand is the best. I am a firm believer in drug store makeup brands. You can pay a fraction of the price for basically the same product. These companies should not jack up the prices and claim their products as the best. Tynan Sinks with The New York Times makes the argument for drug store brands and includes a detailed inventory of the best products for the cheapest. Sinks also believes the prices of makeup and beauty products can be too out-of-reach, especially when one is on a budget, so one solution is turning to drug store brands whose quality surprises many. Of course, Sinks adds, “Let’s begin with a disclaimer. Saying any beauty product is the best, foundations especially, is asking for trouble. Everyone has a different skin type and preference for what is wanted out of a foundation.” Like any makeup product, you have to find what works best for your skin, and if this means paying high dollars, I am truly sorry. If our world expects women to be held to a Barbie standard of beauty, then makeup should be easier to match and easier on the pocketbook. All I ask is products from nail polish to makeup will do what we are told they will do and the companies behind
these schemes realize they are over-charging. It is all for the label and packaging, and these things pull us in to trying product after product for results. It is a spiral down a rabbit hole. Can these companies make the marketing more truthful? Do not promise your foundation will make a person look ten years younger when all the product will do is sink into the wrinkles. It is also our fault for always connecting money with quality, but we should question why we do not question the beauty companies which sell to us. How do we know a product is “dermatologist approved” or any of the “facts” on the label? According to Amy Kraft with CBS News, “The Food and Drug Administration only regulates cosmetics for their physical safety, not the truth or exaggeration of their advertising claims. The researchers say that deception undermines credibility of advertising as a whole by making consumers defensive and distrustful of such claims.” The beauty industry has a mixed group of consumers. There are those who trust the labels on the products, and there are those who do not. Of course, it makes sense not to trust them if women spend forever and a fortune trying to chase after lost hopes of mislabeled products. This claim might be a stretch, but I am a frustrated woman when it comes to nail polish and makeup. It may be superficial. It might be unnecessary. Nevertheless, if I am to be programmed to use these products on a regular basis, then make them work. Make them affordable, and make the lies stop.
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It can be tempting for new Mississippi State University students to look at the Shackouls Honors College and see only the benefits. The MSU Office of Admissions and Scholarships website says honors students enjoy priority registration, honors housing, research and study abroad opportunities, small classes, a special honors distinction on their transcript and individualized mentoring for prestigious scholarships. While all of this is true, a closer look at the benefits reveals they can lose their luster for most students. First, the priority registration for honors students only has significance for incoming freshmen who get to attend the Scholars Orientation, which takes place before the regular orientation sessions. Once you are at MSU, it just means you can register a few hours earlier than non-honors students in your same class. Frankly, once you get a little bit into your major and no longer have to worry about getting a spot in the intro classes, this perk has diminishing returns. Honors housing is definitely worth it for freshman year. As the Shackouls Honors College website states, each room in the honors halls have their own bathrooms — a significant upgrade from some of the older dorms which have communal restrooms. Since freshmen are forced to live on-campus, new students might as well stay in nice dorms. Again though, as soon as students can move off-campus, which
Circulation/Sierra Pruitt circulation@reflector.msstate.edu
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John Griffin | The Reflector
Griffis Hall is the main residential dormitory for students in the Shackouls Honors College.
major. Even easier majors have a class or two which will demand more of its students. Also, the utility of having “Collegium Honorum” on your degree is questionable. Engineers, accountants and other majors which have clear career paths will derive more value from high GPAs and impressive internships than from taking random interdisciplinary classes. The ability to think critically can always be acquired later, on the job. For liberal arts students who may not be aiming for a specific job, it is true an Honors College transcript could help you stand out from the other applicants. Consider this though. If you take easier electives, you can artificially boost your GPA, which recruiters are sure to pay attention to, and use the time you would have spent reading some inscrutable philosopher on improving your resume. My advice? For the vast majority of honors students, enjoy the perks for freshman year, but stop and think if the best use of your time is in honors classes. Of course, if you plan on applying for any prestigious scholarships, stay in the Honors College, and make friends with the people who will write your letters of recommendation.
EDITORIAL POLICY
The Reflector is the official student newspaper of Mississippi State University. Content is determined solely by the student editorial staff. The contents of The Reflector have not been approved by Mississippi State University.
CORRECTIONS
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Life Editor/Sarah Morgan Johnson
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JOHN HAYNES
is a senior majoring in history and classics. Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate. edu.
they often do after freshman year, the value of this benefit is reduced. Research and study abroad opportunities are available to any interested students, not just those in the Honors College. True, there are some scholarships and funds set aside for honors students, but there is plenty of money elsewhere if you are willing to look for it. Per the Honors College FAQs, you can even participate in the Research Symposium as a non-honors student. The small classes and distinctive transcript refer to some of the classes in the “Cursus Honorum,” the advanced curriculum the Honors College offers. I should make a distinction between the two kinds of honors classes: disciplinespecific classes and honorsspecific classes. In my experience, discipline-specific classes are just normal classes with the “honors” name slapped on. Sometimes they are a separate section from the regular class, and sometimes they are the same section. These classes typically have little distinction from the regular classes, besides some token assignment the honors students have to do, if that. Actual honors classes include the “Quest” classes and interdisciplinary courses. These tend to be seminar courses as opposed to the usual lecture-based classes, and they entail a thorough amount of reading. The Quest classes are aimed at freshmen while the more intensive interdisciplinary courses more often have upperclassmen. But is completing the Cursus Honorum even worth it? On one hand, there is intrinsic value in taking more difficult classes to improve your mind. Students who complete it can credibly claim to have developed their critical thinking skills. On the other hand, most students will take challenging courses as they complete their
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5LIFE -Life& ENTERTAINMENT 5 THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 @REFLECTORONLINE
SA President Tyler Packer pursues student safety
SARAH MORGAN JOHNSON
LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
When Mississippi State University Student Association executives were sworn into office this past March, no one could predict the unique challenges this year would bring. The current executive members of SA have had to adapt and lead in a way perhaps no MSU Student Association has before. In the midst of uncertainty, COVID-19 and heightened racial tensions, these student leaders have remained true to the heart behind their position - to serve MSU’s campus and its students above all else. Tyler Packer, a senior majoring in political science, serves as this year’s SA president. Packer explained the preparations for this present school year began early this past summer. Packer has been part of MSU’s COVID-19 board and has worked diligently alongside other members of his team and faculty members to ensure a safe return to campus for students. In light of all the work that went into ensuring a safe return for MSU students and faculty, Packer said the first day of school was an incredibly rewarding experience. “You work and you plan- we planned for five months to get to day one. I felt an overwhelming sense of pride. I saw students 100% compliant with everything we worked hard
to do,” Packer said. While students’ responses have been positive and effective thus far, SA executive members are well aware at any given moment things could take a turn for the worse. That being said, the future of this semester at MSU is largely up to its students. “We still have a long way to go, and the fight is not over yet. The task of keeping this going, of staying in school, is really in the students’ hands. There are ways to communicate this to students so that we can all be on the same page. This is something that we are doing daily, and we do this day-by-day, one step at a time,” Packer said. For MSU SA executive members, the pursuit of student safety this school year has been a doublefaceted endeavor. These student leaders have fought to protect MSU from the ravages of COVID-19 while also setting out to combat the infectious disease of racism in America. This past May, executive members met to discuss the ways SA would respond to racial inequalities and tragedies. During this meeting, Packer expressed to his team he believed a response was not only important but necessary. “I told my team that I felt like, as one of the governing organizations, we should say something. Deeper than that, I am a Black person. I told them that the way that I move
through this presidency will be different from my previous counterpart. That is not to take away from anyone’s presidency, but the simple fact that I am a Black male at a large Mississippi institution is a testament to the fact that what I do will be different,” Packer said. Packer’s convictions were not only well-received but mutually shared by the other members of his executive team. Sarah Helen Skelton, a senior majoring in communication, serves as SA’s chief of staff. Skelton explained the actions taken by SA have been a group effort and an opportunity for individual growth. “This exec has been so good about adapting to all the changes and not relying on precedent simply because there is no precedent... Each member is able to provide a unique perspective to all these issues, and I have found myself constantly learning from them throughout our term,” Skelton said. Following initial statements made by SA executive members and by Packer himself, the team has continued to pursue representation for all students of color. Packer has met with faculty members including the university president, the vice president of student affairs and the campus police chief to discuss these matters. Packer said although there has been so much progress made, as
Bulldogs we must continue to strive for growth. “We can say that we are the most diverse school in the SEC all day, but there is always room for improvement,” Packer said. Hope Lee, a junior majoring in broadcasting, serves SA as the deputy chief of staff. Lee gave insight into some of the future plans of SA. “We have some campaigns and projects in the works to shine a spotlight on the issues that our own Black and brown students face in their everyday lives. We hope to provide a space for these students to openly discuss the racial tensions in our country, as well as create ways to mend the gap here at Mississippi State,” Lee said. In the midst of much uncertainty, Packer’s vision for his own role as SA President and the roles of his team members has remained crystal clear. “We are working to make sure that as MSU students and as representatives of those students, we are doing our job; we are doing what we were elected for. I am a minority president, so I am going to make sure I support and uplift my minority community,” Packer said. Packer expressed that, although his time as SA President has been far from what he expected, he has continually fallen back on two guiding principles. “Two words have been
Tyler Packer| Courtesy Photo
Tyler Packer, a senior majoring in political science, is this year’s Student Association president.
ringing in my ear since the night I got elected, and they are positivity and productivity... I’ve seen that mirrored with our administration, as we have looked at and dealt with what is in front of us and we have handled it all with
grace, with kindness and compassion,” Packer said. As the semester continues to wear on, it is this same grace, kindness and compassion that will guide all members of the Bulldog family toward a brighter, stronger future.
Magnolia Soap and Bath Company opens store on Main Street
SARAH MORGAN JOHNSON
LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
For most people, buying hygiene products such as soap and lotion is as mundane and mindless as buying garbage bags or toilet paper. This banal process s a stark contrast to the bright, colorful transparency Starkville’s new Magnolia Soap and Bath Company offers customers. The store welcomed shoppers into their new location on Main Street last Monday for a soft opening. Patience Mcree is the general manager of the Starkville location and owns the store along with her parents and husband. Mcree explained that, while there are already many products available for sale, the store will continue to add products to its stock. “We had an abundance of people that wanted us to open pretty fast. Some of our products require a process that takes a little onger. For example, our aundry soap is about a week-long process. So we are definitely still in the process of putting
everything out, but the soft opening has been kind of like a sneak peak. We still have shipments coming in, but we are fully open,” Mcree said. Magnolia Soap and Bath Company is a franchise based out of New Albany, Mississippi. The company has stores across Mississippi, including Tupelo, Oxford, Jackson, South Haven and now Starkville. Although the first store opened in New Albany just five years ago, the company has plans to open three more stores in the next few months. Although Mcree and her family are now involved in the business side of the company, they first became interested as customers. “My family and I got really interested because we were firm believers in the company. We used all the products because it is good for all skin conditions,” Mcree said. Mcree explained she and her family have been overwhelmed by the response of the Starkville community. “It has been doing great. We have had an outpour
of support from locals and college kids. We have had so many people who are curious about their products and want to see a healthier version of themselves and of their families. We have
Company was started by Magen Bynum. Along with owning a nail boutique, Bynum was caring for her young daughter who had a skin condition. Frustrated by the failure of commercial
Sarah Morgan Johnson| The Reflector
Patience Mcree, part-owner and general manager of Magnolia Soap and Bath Company, pours soap.
something for everyonefrom zero to 110,” Mcree said. Magnolia Soap and Bath
products for her daughter’s skin, Bynum decided to start making products for her daughter that were
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free from chemicals and preservatives. Although the company has grown much from that day, the mission to deliver safe, effective skincare has remained foundational to each of the stores. “Nowadays, people want to know what is in their products because for years we have been lied to and told dangerous products were good for us. We are a company that wants to tell you what’s in our products. From opening to close we will make everything in front of you right here in the store. We want you to see us and see that we are not adding anything behind your back,” Mcree said. Summer Hill, a junior majoring in fashion design and merchandising, visited the store for the first time last week after their soft opening. Hill appreciated the transparency of the company in regards to what is in their products and how they are made. “I’m really excited because I try to be as sustainable as I can, so locally made, natural, plasticfree bath products are right
up my alley. Everything is priced really well and smells amazing,” Hill said. Katelyn Mathis, a senior psychology major, also visited the store last week. Mathis has been to other locations of Magnolia Soap and Bath Company but is looking forward to having a location here in Starkville. “I’ve shopped with them before in some of their other locations, and I absolutely loved their products. The staff there was super nice, super helpful. I think they’re gonna do great in Starkville,” Mathis said. In their effort to accommodate all customers, Mcree explained they are more than willing to personalize any of their products. They also host bath bomb parties, where participants learn how to make their own bath bombs which they take home with them as party favors. Between bath bombs, soaps, body butters, facial wash, laundry detergent and fifty unique scents, Magnolia Soap and Bath Company offer a wide range of products suitable for any and all Starkville citizens.
66-Sports SPORTS
THE REFLECTOR SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 @SPORTSREFLECTOR
From MSU to the NBA: Robert Woodard II LYDIA PALMER SPORTS EDITOR
After his sophomore season in Starkville, Mississippi, Robert Woodard II made the decision to leave Mississippi State University to join the NBA draft currently scheduled for Nov. 18. Before coming to play for MSU, Woodard played in high school in his hometown of Columbus, Mississippi. He won many titles during his high school career at Columbus High School, including being named Gatorade Player of the Year twice and gaining two 6A state titles before being picked up by MSU as a four-star recruit. During his time as a Bulldog, Woodard majored in business administration and was listed on the 201819 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll. He was one of only six players to participate in all 34 games of the 2018-19 season, which he did again in this past season of 31 games. The 6’7” guard had a career total of 539 points during his time at MSU, along with 53 steals, 49 blocks, 65 assists and 342 rebounds. Woodard is a second generation member of the MSU basketball team, following his father Robert Woodard Sr., who scored over 4,000 career points in high school according to an article by Robbie Faulk. Some of his earliest memories of playing basketball are with his father. “As far as I can go back, it’s just when I used to play at the YMCA in that league,” Woodard said. “My dad used to be the coach of the team. That was just where everything started, being in the gym with my dad and him being my coach.”
In an interview with Jalyn Johnson of Hail State Productions, Woodard II talked about how his father felt about his decision to join the draft. He said his father was never biased and was comfortable with whatever he decided. “We had a lot of conversations about it, obviously,” Woodard II said in the video interview. “He mainly just put it in my hands.” Besides family input, Woodard II said he did not feel pressured in either direction by his team and coaches at MSU. “I think they kept it pretty neutral,” Woodard II said. “I mean of course you get that feeling that they want me to come back, but they were also saying for me to make the decision that feels best. It was really no amount of pressure either way, you know.” Woodard II also said the pandemic played a part in convincing him the draft was the right decision for his future. The 2020 NBA draft is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 18. The new potential date for the draft, according to a release by the NBA, would allow for more predraft processes to take place, hopefully including a combine in some modified form. Woodard enjoyed his time at MSU and had very positive things to say about the university’s athletic department. “I feel like it’s a great program, just going from a basketball standpoint. I enjoyed it the whole time I was here,” Woodard II said. “I feel like it’s home for me and I feel like everyone enjoys their experience here in the athletic field.”
Adam Sullivan | The Reflector
Robert Woodard II goes up for a shot during a match between the Mississippi State University Bulldogs and the University of Georgia Bulldogs during the 2019-2020 basketball season.
Mississippi State University soccer announces team captains for the season LYDIA PALMER SPORTS EDITOR
On Sept. 8, the Mississippi State University women’s soccer team announced their team captains for the 2020 season via a twitter post: Alyssa D’Aloise, Andrea Tyrrell and Kristen Malebranche. Alyssa D’Aloise, a junior kinesiology major from Dallas, Texas, will be leading the team during her first season as a Bulldog. She previously played club soccer throughout high school where she was a team captain, according to the MSU athletics website. Before transferring to MSU, she played the midfielder position at Texas Tech for both her freshman and sophomore years. “Beyond thankful to be part of such a special program!!” D’Aloise shared in a tweet. “Honored to be a captain and can’t wait to take on the season with my girls.” Junior midfielder and forward Andrea Tyrrell will also be leading the team this season. She is a marketing major from Toronto, Ontario, who is starting her third year at MSU. Her club team in high school won the
Ontario Indoor Cup three consecutive years under the coaching of Mario Gagliardi, as stated in her bio. During her previous two years at MSU, she has totaled 2509 playing minutes. Tyrrell played in every game her freshman year and started in every
“Being a captain is a privilege
and honor I’m so grateful for!” -Andrea Tyrrell match her sophomore year. She shared how grateful she was in a tweet last week. “I love these girls and this program. Being a captain is a privilege and honor I’m so grateful for!” Tyrrell shared. Kristen Malebranche will be starting her senior season as a Bulldog. According to her player bio, she is a biochemistry major on the pre-med path. Before coming to MSU, the
defender played both high school and club soccer in her hometown of Hillsborough, New Jersey. She became valuable to the team early on by starting as a center back and playing 991 minutes her freshman year. Her sophomore and junior years went similarly as she started the majority of the games for both seasons. She will be starting this senior season leading the Bulldogs with 3243 minutes of playing at MSU under her belt. “Words cannot describe how thankful and excited I am to head into my senior season with this team!!” Malebranche shared on Twitter after being announced as a captain. “So grateful for this program!” The Bulldog soccer team has faced delays in their season this year along with the other teams on campus. According to a MSU Athletics release by Madelon Allen, the team received their new eight match, conference-only schedule last week. D’Aloise, Tyrrell and Malebranche will start their season as captains on Sept. 18 in Auburn, Alabama. The Bulldogs won their
match against Auburn in the 2019 season. Although they have faced delays in their season, Head Coach James Armstrong looks forward to an opportunity to play this year. “We’re so grateful once
again for the opportunity to play whilst also keeping the safety of our players at the forefront of our minds,” Armstrong said in the release about the new schedule. “Every game will provide a new challenge
with a tough, high-quality opposition. We can’t wait to finally get to play teams other than ourselves after such a long wait. Our team is ready, excited, and optimistic about having a successful season.”