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TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 22, 2020
136th YEAR ISSUE 4
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
Starkville businesses survive and support Starkville during COVID-19 KARIE PINNIX STAFF WRITER
COVID-19 has brought many changes to the city of Starkville, including the way in which local small businesses operate. Some businesses have flourished during the onset of COVID-19, while others have seen a decline in their operations and are now functioning on a limited capacity. Businesses such as Starkville restaurant Moe’s Original BBQ, which sells barbecue meals and appetizers in the Cotton District, have seen a decrease in their sales revenue. Whit Stuckey, the co-owner at Moe’s Original BBQ, said many people are scared to eat out in restaurants, which has created an increase in curbside pickup and takeout options. According to Stuckey, Moe’s has decided to
temporarily cancel late night bar business due to the governor’s mandate on bar hours and capacity. The bar was a strong revenue stream for Moe’s before COVID-19 changed their business practices. Although Stuckey commented on the struggle of decreased revenue in the spring, with the college population returning to campus, business is now at a 40% revenue level compared to last year. Stuckey also mentioned how curbside, carry-out and food delivery apps such as Door Dash and Lazy Guys have helped boost business and provide a variety of options for customers to order from Moe’s. Starkvegas Snowballs, a snow cone business with locations in the Cotton District and on Dr Martin Luther King Jr Drive, has also felt the effects of COVID-19. LOCAL, 2
Landon Scheel | The Reflector
Customers follow COVID-19 guidelines at Starkvegas Snowballs on Dr Martin Luther King Jr Drive. Many businesses that struggled in the spring have found recent success with the students returning.
Sanderson protects and promotes student health in challenging year LYDIA PALMER SPORTS EDITOR
Simon Powney | Courtesy Photo
A CGI rendering of the kayak launch park on the Africatown Connections Blueway. This plan was recently awarded the Project Excellence Award.
MSU faculty and students awarded for planning work with Africatown
DANIEL DYE NEWS EDITOR
Mississippi State University faculty and students of the department of landscape architecture were recently recognized for their continued work at Africatown, a community near Mobile, Alabama. Over the past few years, MSU has partnered with other organizations, such as the National Park Service, in order to help the
community of Africatown find solutions to the problems they face and rejuvenate the struggling town. MSU’s most recently completed endeavor in the community was a series of projects involving the Africatown Connection Blueway. The Blueway, according to Joe Womack of Bridge the Gulf, is a series of walking trails and water trails that connect Africatown to different areas of the community.
MSU added onto previous work with the addition of a kayak launch center as part of the Blueway. According to Bob Brzuszek, professor of landscape architecture and one of the instructors involved with the Africatown projects, the Blueway work was an effort to bring an appeal for tourism to Africatown by using the limited resources available, such as a natural waterway. AWARD, 2
Mississippi State University’s Joe Frank Sanderson Center reopened for the fall semester with adaptations to meet health and safety guidelines for COVID-19. These changes include online or in-app reservations for individual and group workouts as well as distancing in group classes and heavy
sanitation of classrooms and equipment. According to a release from the university’s website, face coverings are required inside the Sanderson Center as well as maintaining social distancing while inside and waiting to enter. “Patrons are expected to practice social distancing of six feet while in the facility and while waiting to enter the facility,” according
to the press release. “For the safety and wellbeing of the MSU community, face coverings — covering both nose and mouth — are required at all times except when doing cardiovascular exercise and swimming.” There is a requirement for students to be 12 feet apart during group fitness classes and for them to provide their own equipment. SANDERSON, 2
John Griffin | The Reflector
Senior Bettina Haden screens Paige LaPorteʼs temperature as she enters the Sanderson Center in order to follow safety guidelines for COVID-19.
Unlocked doors lead to car burglaries, police say MARY CAITLYN WRIGHT STAFF WRITER
Since the large influx of students with unlocked doors returning to Starkville began, the number of car burglaries has begun to rise again. On the morning of Sunday, Sept. 13, officers responded to reports of multiple people entering a vehicle on Hogan St. Starkville Police Department Officer James
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Smith responded and made contact with two individuals in the area. One of the individuals, a 14-year-old juvenile, was in possession of a concealed firearm. According to Sgt. Brandon Lovelady, SPD’s public information officer, car burglaries fluctuate throughout the year. “In the fall, you have to understand there are a lot of people that are coming from a place where they are used to parking their cars somewhere and not
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thinking about anything else,” Lovelady said. “Depending on where you are from, you think about things like locking your doors. My grandfather lived in Oxford, and he would pull up on the square of the city hall and drop his keys on the floorboard with the windows down and go into the city hall and drink coffee every morning. Times have changed.” There have been 40 reported cases of car burglaries in the city limits
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since Aug. 1. There were 73 reported burglaries in Aug. of 2019. Most car burglaries occur due to the fact that cars are left unlocked. The burglars are typically juvenile. There are some adults, but the overwhelming majority is juvenile. Drew Summers, a Mississippi State University graduate, moved back to Starkville in July of 2019 with his wife, Jennifer Summers. Summers had his truck broken into on
FORECAST: This week will be consistently cooler, with highs in the 70s and lows in the 60s. The chance of rain will be on the rise throughout the week so be prepared. Expect mostly cloudy days through the end of the week.
Courtesy of National Weather Service
Aug. 10. “I had walked outside to get something out of my truck,” Summers said. “When I opened the driver’s side door, I could see my empty holster for my pistol. I looked into the driver’s seat, and there was stuff pulled out of my center console.” According to Summers, this robbery on Aug. 10 was not his first experience with automotive robbery in Starkville. “I had actually one
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incident back in either March or April,” Summers said. “It was right after the curfew was put in place, and I was sitting in my truck, before daylight, in my driveway. I was waiting for the curfew to end, so I could leave when I saw a couple of police cars drive by. The next thing I know is that I had a flashlight shining in my window. It was an officer telling me that they had someone breaking into vehicles.” BURGLARIES, 2
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AWARD The recent canoe launch center was awarded with a Project Excellence Award by the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals, an organization which deals with parks, sports and other recreational environments. Africatown was founded in the 1800s when the last known slave ship to cross the Trans-Atlantic slave route, the Clotilda, landed there. The slaves that arrived were isolated from other settlements and began to hunt, gather and farm the land around them. The independence they found attracted a larger population until the settlement reached a peak of 12,000 citizens. In the 1950s, however, significant industrial development and the construction of an interstate isolated the community further, cutting off easy access to reliable food sources and other amenities and causing the population to dwindle. The work in Africatown is far from over. Brzuszek, faculty collaborators and the undergraduate and graduate design students are currently working on the plans for a community
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Simon Powney | Courtesy Photo
This plan for the park entrance commemorates the slaves brought to the U.S. on the Clotilda.
garden in Africatown. Simon Powney, a lecturer in the department of landscape architecture and one of the main designers involved with two of the Blueway sites, is working with Brzuszek on the Africatown eco-garden. Powney’s goal for the eco-garden is to strengthen historical and cultural ties in the community by providing an opportunity for residents to not only have a reliable food source, but to also allow them to return to their roots. “We are putting together
a community garden in hopes of getting the local residents back to their roots of gardening, producing and being more selfsustaining. Since the original settlers arrived on a slave ship, the community back in the late 1800s was very selfcontained and reliant on hunting and gathering in the marshes. The community was very isolated, so the garden is a play on that. We are trying to help reinstate a feeling of sustainability,” Powney said. “We want this garden to serve as not only a good source of food but
also as an educational and cultural garden.” Powney reiterated the importance of the garden due to the location of Africatown in a “food desert.” There are no grocery stores or gas stations within the community, so the gardens will serve as a part of the solution. According to Powney, one of the most important driving factors behind these planning projects are the students involved. “There are young students working on this project. They aren’t encumbered by the realities of trying to get a project moving, so they have lots of ideas and energy. They come up with things that you might not think of as solutions. They can see issues in a new light and clearly create,” Powney said. Powney believes the collaboration between these young students and the long-time residents of Africatown allows the project to provide an image for the future of the community. For Brzuszek, the drive of the community makes the project worthwhile.
“This project is significant because the community is significant. Everything is communitydriven, and they are interested in making sure that they have reliable supplies and access to fresh food, clean water and clean air. They are trying their best for their children and descendants to make sure that they are maintaining a good quality environment like they were provided with,” Brzuszek said. “To me, it is very refreshing to work with people that are so concerned with the long-term success of their community and to be able to assist them on this.” Chuo Li, an associate professor in the department of landscape architecture and collaborator with the Africatown projects, believes the work MSU students and Africatown residents have done together has established a reliable future for the community. “This project is a service-learning project for the students. This is a great educational opportunity where they can be involved with a real project with real issues. These students are
BURGLARIES “He could tell that I wasn’t that person and told me to have a good morning. I didn’t think anything else about it because I try to make sure that my vehicle is always locked every night, and sometimes we forget.” Starkville resident Nathaniel Schurter and his wife have had two experiences with car burglaries. The first time was on Aug. 14, and the second time it happened was Aug. 29. “I’ve got cameras set up outside,” Schurter said. “And it has actually happened twice now. The first time actually happened at 4 a.m. I didn’t wake up, even though
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it notifies my phone when it senses motion. I didn’t wake up till half an hour after it had happened, at which point the person had come and gone, so I just waited until later that morning to call the police and file the report. The cameras did record him coming and going. I forgot to lock my car door, so he just went and took a bag of change.” During the second occurrence at Schurter’s home, quick thoughts and actions were able to keep the problem under control. “The second time that it happened I woke up right away,” Schurter said. “And the police were there within
10 minutes. That gives me some degree of comfort knowing that the police can be there very quickly.” Public Information Officer Lovelady has been working for Starkville PD for almost 12 years and has only seen broken windows during auto burglaries a few times. “The main thing is to lock your doors, period,” Lovelady said. “Nearly all of our auto burglaries are on unsecured vehicles. You can prevent an auto burglary by locking your doors and securing your valuables. Every once in a while, we will have a broken window, and that is still very rare.”
LOCAL Doug Cater, the co-owner of the snow cone business, has attested to how the pandemic affected his business. For health precautions, Starkvegas Snowballs was closed from March 16 through April 22, a time of the year which is usually their peak season, Cater said. When the Starkvegas Snowballs location on Dr Martin Luther King Jr Drive was open, only a to-go window was used for business. Contactless interaction was used, and the business resorted to using only cards instead of cash. Starkvegas Snowballs’s employees were also negatively impacted as they were not able to work during the time the business was closed. “We wanted to be health conscious more than anything about not only the public but also our employees, making
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sure that they were safe and in a safe environment to do business,” Cater said. According to co-owners Doug and Cori Cater, as the university opened up and students began to return, catering orders have increased. Various departments at the university have requested catering from Starkvegas Snowballs, which in turn has boosted sales. The Pop Porium, a local Starkville business that sells a variety of gourmet popcorn in the Cotton District, initially observed a decline in customers after COVID-19 cases grew in Starkville. Since the return of university students and the lessening of restrictions, their sales have started to increase. Rosa Dalomba, the owner of The Pop Porium, credits the start of the business’s revenue decline to when
Mississippi State University baseball games were canceled as a result of the university closing during the onset of COVID-19. “We wanted to be health conscious more than anything about not only the public but also our employees, making sure that they were safe and in a safe environment to do business.” - Doug Cater, co-owner of Starkvegas Snowballs
MSU baseball games, according to Dalomba, are a major factor in getting MSU fans to buy popcorn from the business’s vendors. “The fact that we weren’t
SANDERSON Logan Reynolds, graduate assistant for group fitness at University Recreation, said the attendance for group classes has varied greatly, but the limitations for group class participants is also smaller than it has been in the past in order to help keep people separated and safe. University Recreation has released an app called “MSState HealthyState”. This app is used to sign up for a time slot for both individual workouts and group fitness classes, as well as other links featured in the app. Use of the app is encouraged, but signup for classes and individual workouts can also be completed online at the university recreation website. Reynolds spoke highly of the sanitation
able to really work with the community and really contribute their knowledge to improve the quality of life for the people there. For the community, this project has brought in this new perspective for what this community could be,” Li said. “I think before we were involved, they probably were not able to imagine that there could be lots of opportunities for the community such as developing a community garden, or promoting tourism or to reconnect the people with nature and their cultural history.” Li believes the historical and cultural significance of the community drives MSU’s efforts and contributes to the weight of the success they have had. “We are trying to help rebuild and reconnect the community,” Li said. “Africatown has a unique and significant history that makes the site itself very meaningful. We want to preserve the history, the culture, the social fabric and the environmental integrity, and that all makes this project a significant experience.”
able to vendor at that game and they were not having fans, that definitely affected us. Also, the stay-at-home order affected us because folks were not able to come out,” Dalomba said. As a result, The Pop Porium introduced innovative business ideas since the uptick of COVID-19 cases in March, such as creating and shipping Easter baskets with The Pop Porium’s products inside, revamping their online orders to make online purchases easier, putting chairs and tables outside as a seating area, adding a walk-up door service and selling milkshakes to customers. With the help of the Starkville community, The Pop Porium was able to continue with its business and even make a difference in the community. During the pandemic, a
customer sent Dalomba an envelope with $350 inside, with the message, “We hope you make it through this, and we hope to see you on the other side.” Dalomba called the customer and asked if they had ordered a product she had missed. According to Dalomba, the Pop Porium was giving donations at the time to the police and fire department for COVID-19 relief. Dalomba and the individual on the phone came to the agreement to use the money gifted to her to buy gourmet popcorn for the hospital. Throughout the layoffs and loss of sales The Pop Porium experienced, Dalomba said she credits the Starkville community for lending a hand during a difficult time. Moe’s Original BBQ also gave back to the Starkville community through their
Feed-a-First-Responder Deal during April and May. For every 20 plates purchased, employees at Moe’s would drop off meals for the local hospital, fire department or police department. According to Stuckey, Moe’s also offered a $5 meal during the month of March to anyone recently unemployed due to the pandemic. Stuckey believes many small businesses can be helped simply by residents making a choice to go to their local restaurant. “We definitely try to be there and help out with the community. Now it’s a tough time for small businesses, restaurants in particular,” Stuckey said. “Instead of going to a big chain and jumping in line there, if you walk a block down the street to get to us, you’re definitely helping out somebody.”
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being done to protect students who attend the group fitness classes and understands some students are apprehensive to attend. “I want everybody to know that we are taking every precaution that we can to ensure the safety of the participants,” Reynolds said. “We have gaps in between the classes so that we can clean the equipment. After each use, everything is completely wiped down by participants and then followed up with cleaning by our staff.” Although a lot of things look different due to COVID-19 and there are many downsides to how working out in the midst of the pandemic looks, one student mentioned it is easier to get around the gym with it being less crowded. Oakley Camille, a
sophomore accounting major from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, said the gym is easier to navigate this fall. “It’s a lot less crowded this year, for sure,” Camille said. “Because you have to register for a time to go, there’s less people at once, so you don’t have to wait as long to use machines.” Summer Seage, the university’s recreation facilities coordinator, agreed with Reynolds about how cautious the staff of the Sanderson Center are being with the proper sanitation and enforcement of guidelines to keep students safe during their time at the gym. “In a time like this, having a safe and healthy outlet to destress is super crucial,” Seage said. “I think the Sanderson provides opportunities for those activities.”
The Reflector 9/22/20 Sudoku
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Reflector 9/22/20 Crossword
BULLETIN BOARD PuzzleJunction.com
An In-Class Distraction
Across
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To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.
SUDOKU
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10 11 12 1 Doctor’s order 6 Cuba libre 13 14 15 ingredient 17 18 19 16 10 Caviar source 11 Bewail 21 22 20 13 Scarf 14 Perception 24 25 23 16 Places in the 26 27 28 heart 17 Face part 29 30 19 Be behind 20 Statistics 31 32 33 34 35 36 calculation 37 38 39 40 21 Supporters of the American 42 43 41 Revolution 22 Ruckus 45 46 44 23 “Wheel of 49 50 47 48 Fortune” buy 24 Critical 51 52 25 Roar 26 Trap 53 54 28 Anne, Charlotte Copyright ©2020 PuzzleJunction.com or Emily, e.g. 29 Light bulb unit 51 Arrowroot 9 Lobito native 31 Measures 30 Farm sounds 52 ___ the dice 10 Rubber-making 32 Valentine items 31 Scabbard 53 Card game for hydrocarbon 33 Dates 34 Enlists three 11 Feudal lord 34 Delhi dress 37 Lab work 54 Alpine call 12 Foil 35 Come apart 38 Frenzied 13 Cry from a crib 36 Kind of 39 Henpeck Down 15 Home of the expression 41 Per person brave 38 Gift of the Magi 42 High nest: Var. 18 Queen’s residence 40 Sticky substances 1 Desist 43 Crosby, Stills and 21 Anger 2 Mischievous 42 Upright Nash, e.g. 22 Dentist’s advice 3 Kind of skirt 43 Gown fabric 44 Country club 24 Midges 4 Bio bit 45 Gumbo figure 25 Mustang 5 Histogram ingredient 45 Gold braid 27 Lawn mower’s 6 Walking sticks 46 Neuter 46 Fertilizer path 7 Trans-Siberian 48 Symbol of 47 Golf ball whacker 28 Evil spirit Railroad city strength 49 Boxcars 30 Priesthood 8 Luau souvenir 50 Go a-courting
lve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and must contain the numbers 1 to 9.
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8 6 5 1 3 1 4 9 2 7 9 8 7 8 1 3 4 9 6 2 5 2 3 7 1 5 2 4 6 3 7 5 9 4 8 6 Monday, September 7,
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Malicious mischief reported at the psychology building on Morgan Ave.
Friday, September 11, 2020
BAD DAWGS
2020
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Embezzlement reported at Barnes & Noble on campus. Possession of marijuana 1 ounce or less reported in the Swamp Lot Parking on Herbert Street. Wednesday, September 9, 2020 Credit card fraud reported at the Office of Student Affairs. Cyberstalking reported in Moseley Hall.
reported. No location given.
Possession of marijauna 1 ounce or less reported in Cresswell Hall. Saturday, September 12, 2020 Other disturbance reported at the Riley Center on 5th street. Lost, found or shortage of property reported at Allen Hall. Thursday, September 17, 2020
Thursday, September 10, 2020
Student arrested for public intoxication in the lower parking lot of Cresswell Hall.
Possession of marijuana 1 ounce or less reported in Sessums Hall.
A case of stalking was reported on sorority row near the Pi Beta Phi house.
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OPINION
FACE-OFF: Does TikTok take the trophy for best social media app? M TikTok tops all other social media apps TikTok tanks in terms of entertainment
There has been a lot of uncertainty swirling around the fate of the popular social media app TikTok. Is Walmart buying it? Is Microsoft buying it? Is Trump banning it? Who even is Oracle? But there is one thing you need to be certain of: TikTok is worth saving. According to Bobby Allyn with NPR, TikTok was set to be banned on Sunday, but the ban was cancelled last-minute by President Trump’s “tentative approval” of a WalmartOracle deal. Under the new arrangement, Oracle will take care of all of the app’s U.S. user data in order to assuage the White House’s security concerns over the app’s Chinese ownership. As reported by Mansoor Iqbal with Business of Apps, TikTok, the videobased social networking app where users create and watch short videos soundtracked to music, has quickly risen to be one of the world’s most popular social media platforms since its inception in 2016. With at least 500 million monthly active users, the app features a variety of videos, from various challenges to lip sync dances to storytelling to relatable point-of-views. But what makes TikTok so special? First of all, it is uniquely hilarious. No other social media platform provides the same caliber or type of content. I am embarrassed to think back on the amount of times I have laughed out loud alone in my room while watching guys with towels on their head make fools of themselves or cats getting slapped across the room by ceiling fans. Memes on Instagram are funny, but TikTok videos just hit different. The TikTok community is an intricate web of video templates, songs and trends. Then, there are spinoffs of trends, and the humor just builds. I contend the amount of laughter this app elicits is its strongest asset, as laughter is beneficial for many reasons beyond inherent pleasure. According to Mayo Clinic, laughter has innumerable health benefits and is a scientificallyproven stress reliever. In the short term, laughter stimulates the production of endorphins in your brain, increases your intake of oxygen and
of whether they allow their young children to use the app, inappropriate content can be found with one click on the internet and is present on other social media as well. TikTok also inspires creativity. There are thousands of video templates, witty jokes, choreographed dances and relatable moments which TikTok users are regularly making and modifying. Sometimes I sit back and marvel at how someone can be so funny or so creative. I mean, who would have thought it would be hilarious to put together a montage of your old Webkinz’s names to the tune of screeching horns? The app also brings people together. From friends sending videos to each other, creating videos together, brainstorming, laughing at all the retakes they have to do and then laughing at their finished product, the app promotes community. Young adults across the U.S. are able to relate over shared experience, certain trends and viral videos, sharing them with each other and discussing their favorites. If you still do not believe me that TikTok is a great app, it is because you haven’t tried it. I was a huge skeptic of TikTok before a friend convinced me to download the app. It did not take long for me to do a complete 180 and turn into one of TikTok’s millions of regular users and adoring fans.
TAYLAR ANDERSON
is a senior majoring in English. Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
Since its launch in 2016, TikTok has become an increasingly popular social media outlet especially among younger adults, tweens and even celebrities. In fact, according to Nick Wolny at Entrepreneur, TikTok is the mostdownloaded free social media app, ranking second among all app downloads only to Zoom as of May 2020. Though it can be the source of many funny videos and cool dance trends, TikTok’s format allows for more spreading of dangerous and false information, and it is simply not as interesting, effective or engaging as other competing social media apps. TikTok currently only allows the sharing of videos unlike its other social media competitors which have multiple usage features. Instagram and Snapchat contain both photo and video sharing while Twitter and Facebook include photos, videos and status updates. Though TikTok is designed mostly for video sharing, the videos are still limited because they can only be up to 60
seconds long, according to Emily Waite at WIRED. This very easily enables different people to share unchecked, misguided information and ideals to a very impressionable young audience, especially considering how heavy a role social media plays in the spreading of information and important national news. With this brief, videoonly structure, it is also very easy for social trends to form and turn into a popularity contest. Depending on the nature of the trend, this could produce negative consequences, especially if the trend involves pranking or risking bodily harm. These TikTok trends can be a bad influence on the app’s target audience as they often encourage users to seek social validation in the form of likes, comments and views which very heavily impacts self-esteem and confidence. In addition, TikTok simply does not share the same quality material its competing counterparts do. As a social media outlet, it would be practically useless for effectively keeping up and staying in close contact with family members and friends with its video-only format and limitations. Though it has a direct messaging option, it simply does not compare to apps like Facebook and Snapchat which allow you to send messages, make phone calls and even do video calls. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat
even have subscription features to various miniseries offered by their platforms which could be considered as a form of free television for many of its users. Also, social media today has become a major source of information and greatly shapes people’s beliefs on current news and politics. With limited time frames and the lack of authorized informants using the app, TikTok proves very ineffective in sharing factual, accurate news. As stated by Nicole Martin of Forbes, over 2.4 billion internet users utilize social media as their main source of news. Of this number, roughly 64.5% acquire breaking news from social media outlets rather than traditional news media formats. Although most users use TikTok for its humorous postings and editing abilities, I find TikTok is more popular for its trends and editing capabilities rather than its amusing content. Even then, its funniest or most interesting videos usually tend to find their way to its competing social media apps like Instagram just as fast. Lastly, the Trump administration considers TikTok, along with many other apps originating from China, to be a national security threat due to the increasing concerns of security breaches and hacking by the Chinese Communist Party. In more recent news, according to Bobby Allyn of NPR, the Trump administration’s executive order to restrict access to TikTok was averted on Sunday, but some technology privacy experts are still concerned about the security of the app. With Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat all being U.S.-based apps, TikTok continues to rank inferior when users have to question their safety and consider politics and government regulations just to use the app, and doing so strips away all the fun. While the creators of TikTok have gained quite the crowd, I am afraid it will soon be just another social media app which gets a few good years of hype and then dwindles until it eventually dies. In a way, it was a nice attempt to revamp the notorious era of Vine, but unfortunately, it just misses the mark with its unamusing attempts at comedy and mediocre dance moves. However, if it encourages any kind of fun during these stressful times, why not let others enjoy it while it lasts especially if its usage in the U.S. is bound to be limited?
Trivia Time!
REFLECTIONS
1. Established in 1872, what became the world’s first national park?
Jim Carrey
2. Snickers is a brand name chocolate bar made by which American
“When things are really bad, the only thing to do is laugh.”
company? 3. Released in 1941, what is the only Disney animated feature film with a title character who never speaks?
3. “Dumbo”
HANNAH BLANKENSHIP
is a junior majoring in journalism. Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
aids muscle relaxation. In the long-term, laughter can actually enhance your immune system as a whole, help you connect in relationships, help you cope with challenges and stimulate the production of natural painkillers. Unwinding from a stressful day by watching a few TikToks, getting the endorphins flowing and taking your mind off of your troubles is not uncommon. I even have a friend who says if TikTok was banned it would take a severe toll on her mental health. Thus, TikTok, in providing a platform for uniquely hilarious and laughter-inducing content, actually has a positive health benefit on users. Additionally, the app has something for everyone. Every user’s “for you page” is different and uniquely suited to them, thanks to TikTok’s famed algorithms. “Algorithms are the secret sauce of TikTok,” Brad Reagan said in a Wall Street Journal podcast. Some people see sappy love stories; some people see photography tips. Some people see rednecks skiing behind trucks; some people see the newest viral dance. And some people see just pure chaotic humor. As for the criticism of the app that it promotes inappropriate content, I contend this is a problem much greater than TikTok. While it is certainly a serious concern and parents should make their own decisions
Answer: 1. Yellowstone National Park 2. Mars, Incorporated
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5LIFE -Life& ENTERTAINMENT 5 THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 @REFLECTORONLINE
Metri Lyons makes Mississippi his NYC
KATIE RAINWATER
STAFF WRITER
Metri Lyons, a senior theatre major, is a friend to many at Mississippi State University. Known by students for his involvement in multiple on-campus organizations and impeccable fashion taste, Lyons attributes his success and growth in self-expression to MSU’s inclusive and diverse atmosphere. Lyons was born in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, near New Orleans, and he moved to Augusta, Georgia shortly after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast. He grew up a shy kid with a neutral high school experience. His transition from high school to college blossomed him into the Metri that MSU knows and loves. “It was cool to come to Mississippi State because I mark this place as my Hogwarts. I came here and there were no limits as far as expression. I think [in high school] I was 50 to 60% myself ... and now I am creating the life I want to live at 100%,” Lyons said. Lyons definitely stands out among his peers at MSU in how his self-expression does not reflect that of a stereotypical southern boy. Even during his interview with the Reflector, he was approached by friends and strangers alike complimenting his outfit. He praises MSU for the optimism and openness he has seen during his time as a Bulldog. “I keep this mindset: where I am is New York City ... which is why I have the confidence to wear a gown on campus with a McDonald’s
hoodie,” Lyons said. Lyons has gained popularity on campus due to his involvement in New Maroon Camp, State Dance Marathon, Brickfire Mentoring, French Club, Theatre MSU and Music Makers Productions. He also shows off his athleticism as Bully the bulldog at MSU football games. He speaks fondly of the two organizations that have meant the most to him. “Having the opportunity to bring live music [through Music Makers Productions] here and serve Starkville has been great. New Maroon Camp is the greatest organization in the world. There is something about planning and prepping for something for months and watching it come to life ... and to inspire young freshmen to want to do the same thing? There is nothing like it,” Lyons said. Many students would feel overwhelmed with this many organizations and commitments, but Lyons said he never feels like he has spread himself too thin. “I had a lot going on, but with free time, I did absolutely nothing. So it was good to put my time and energy towards things that made a difference or impact. With all I was doing, I gave 100%, too,” Lyons said. If he had a scheduling conflict, he would make up for it by doing extra work or going in early or late, as well as contacting faculty advisors or friends to help him catch up. Cameron Cleveland, a senior majoring in psychology and a close friend of Lyons, expressed why he believes Lyons is such an asset to all of
these organizations. “He’s unapologetically himself. His personality is like none other, and he’s extremely passionate about everything he does,” Cleveland said. Jordan Carter, a sophomore majoring in veterinary medical tech, recalled Lyons inspiring her to be authentically herself after meeting him at last year’s New Maroon Camp. “Metri is not trying to be anyone except himself, and I want to be the same way,” Carter said. His involvement in these organizations has grown his passions for theatre, music and language, which he feels all go hand-in-hand. Lyons said he encourages students desiring to get involved to be patient and persistent. Like many freshmen, he was denied membership from many of his current organizations. But his persistence paid off in the long run, and he allowed himself to grow from the experience. When asked about a role model who served as a trailblazer in his life, he attributed this role to Michael Jackson without a moment of hesitation. “I look to him as being at the greatest level of perfection for his specific thing he does. He broke so many boundaries as far as race and gender identity and fashion. His work spoke for himself; he did not have to say a word ... with his work, he was not only getting it out of him, but giving it to other people. As an artist, I want to do the same thing,” Lyons said. If he could speak to the student body, Lyons said he would stress the importance
Mary Georgia Hamilton | The Reflector
Metri Lyons, a senior majoring in theatre, displays his enthusiasm and self-expression as he poses in front of Davis Wade Stadium.
of being part of a group that is made up of strong individuals. “Create your own path,”
Lyons said. “Walk as an individual. People love when you are yourself ... when it gets down to the end of the
road, you are not as wellliked or respected if you are a carbon-copy of someone else.”
Quarantine and Chill: the COVID-19 guide to dating
KERRIGAN CLARK
STAFF WRITER
Netflix and chill sessions have become a thing of the past since COVID-19 annihilated the dating scene back in March. Quarantine and chill has become the new normal, as couples had to choose between either not seeing each other for weeks at a time or being cooped up with each other 24/7. Although they inevitably look different, dates themselves do not have to cease altogether, as there are many new ways couples can get quality time together and still be safe. Creativity is the key factor to successful COVID-19 dating, and luckily there are endless options for singles who are starting to date or couples who just need something new to do together: — Have a movie night with the Netflix Party Extension. Netflix Party is a browser extension that synchronizes playback and adds a group chat so that couples can watch the same movie and discuss it together. If physically going together to the theater is off the table, then this is the next best thing. — Plan an outdoor drivein movie together. After a while, quarantine can start to feel like the walls are caving in. A great solution to this is to get out of the house for a drive-in movie. All that is needed for a successful drive-in is a computer, snacks and a car. — Cook a new meal together over FaceTime or with each other. Couples can try either cooking a new meal or a specific type of food, such as brunch food. Help each other through the process over FaceTime and share the results in the end. Sophia Garcia, a sophomore majoring in
kinesiology, discussed her experience cooking with her significant other. “Before COVID, we would go on more dates out in public, but now that COVID has hit we cook a lot more at home together. The first time we cooked chicken tacos, rice and salsa and then we cooked chicken, rice and broccoli. It was nice cooking with him, but sometimes it’s kind of frustrating because he’s a little hesitant in the kitchen. But we really enjoyed spending that quality time with each other,” Garcia said. — Make something together. During quarantine, boredom prompted many people to pick up crafting, which has endless possibilities. Amazon has many kits that could provide couples the chance to try knitting, crocheting, embroidery, tiedye, sewing, painting, pottery or even digital artwork. Creating something together can be a great opportunity for bonding and sharing something special.
— Have a picnic with each other. Having close, safe access to a park has never felt more important, and a picnic is one of the best ways to utilize this asset. Charcuterie boards have become extremely popular on TikTok, and they are perfect picnic food. Charcuterie boards consist of a variety of meats, cheeses, fruits and nuts arranged in various patterns. In a pinch, a backyard serves as a close second to a local park. Lillian Blough, a freshman majoring in agribusiness, detailed her experience with picnic dates during COVID-19. “With me and Chandler, I lived near the reservoir, and it had picnic tables. So one time we got pizza and coloring books and went out to the reservoir. Shockingly it was a lot of fun. We really didn’t talk that much, but it was just a lot of fun being able to sit there with the color books and pizza,” Blough said. - Take an online class
with each other. With everyone wanting to get into new activities, taking a class to learn new ideas and skills is a great way for couples to escape the rut of mental lethargy. YouTube offers a lot of tutorials on multiple topics and the best part is, it is all free. For couples wanting a more structured class environment, Skillshare offers a free trial, and then it is $19.00 a month or an annual membership for $99.00. — Attend a virtual workout class with your partner. There are so many online workout classes available that it is easy for everyone to find something suited for them. YouTube tutorials such as Chloe Ting workouts and Yoga with Kassandra have become very popular since the start of COVID-19. It can be fun to work out the built-up stress and anxiety that being quarantined has caused throughout the day. It is essential to take the time to either see each other — while still practicing
social distance guidelines — or take the time to call each other at the end of the day.
Caroline Clark, a freshman majoring in social work, discussed how she and her boyfriend are keeping their communication alive since having to quarantine from each other. “We figured out what helped a lot was phone calls and FaceTime. Every day, if we did not see each other in person, we would talk on the phone for an hour, or we would FaceTime for 30 minutes before bed.” “We’re a weird couple; we talk nonstop. I thought we were normal until I realized most people don’t talk to their significant other 24/7. One thing that helped with not seeing each other as often or communication differences was we would talk on the phone a little bit every day,” Clark said. Even though COVID-19 has put a lot of stress on relationships since March, all it takes is a little creativity and flexibility to keep the spark alive.
66-Sports SPORTS
THE REFLECTOR SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 @SPORTSREFLECTOR
Mary Georgia Hamilton | The Reflector
Ben Howland, head coach of Mississippi State University’s men’s basketball team, leads his Bulldogs by instructing them from the sidelines during a game in the 2019-2020 season between the Mississippi State University Bulldogs and the University of Arkansas Razorbacks.
Bulldog basketball prepares for shortened season LYDIA PALMER SPORTS EDITOR
The Mississippi State University men and women’s basketball season has been set to begin on Nov. 25, according to the NCAA’s announcement earlier this week. In the release, NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball Dan Gavitt spoke on the focus of player health and safety being the reasoning behind delaying the season from the originally planned Nov. 10 start date. “The new season start date near the Thanksgiving holiday provides the optimal opportunity to successfully
launch the basketball season,” Gavitt said. “It is a grand compromise of sorts and a unified approach that focuses on the health and safety of student-athletes competing towards the 2021 Division I basketball championships.” Hail State Productions released recordings from press conferences with both the women’s basketball head coach, Nikki McCrayPenson, and the men’s basketball head coach, Ben Howland. With the new season start date announced, they were both able to share what they had been working on during the off-season and their anticipations of the upcoming season.
McCray-Penson, in her interview, shared how her team has been building relationships, setting goals for the season and what some of their strategy is for the season. “I feel like this team is really getting closer together and building a bond and a trust amongst each other which is translating on the court,” McCray-Penson said. She also shared the team wants to play a fast game this year, so as they work on playing faster on the court, they are also focusing on fundamentals to make sure they can handle the ball while moving quicker on the court. The head coach also harped on the subject of keeping
Esports goes virtual for 2020 Egg Bowl HUNTER CLOUD STAFF WRITER
The crowd noise grows with the intensity of the game as 200-300 fans watch Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi battle it out in esports on the massive scoreboard in Humphrey Coliseum. Brian Crumpton, a senior studying business information systems, is the MSU Esports secretary and team captain of the Rainbow Six Siege Team. He described the atmosphere as one where you could hardly hear your teammates because the headphones were not noisecanceling. “I feel like that’s when it forces you to be at your best,” Crumpton said. “With all the nerves going on, you can’t really think straight. There are 200-300 people watching you, and you aren’t really used to that because you are typically playing at home by yourself.” This moment will be a distant memory compared to what will happen this year as social distancing has forced the Esports Egg Bowl to be played online. The tournament, slated for Oct. 24, will take place on Ole Miss Esports Twitch. Crumpton said he got into playing Rainbow Six when he got it for Christmas the first year it came out, and he has spent almost every day since then playing it. The competitive side of the game offered him a challenge, and Crumpton has run with it. However, this year there is a new challenge. MSU Esports Vice President of External Affairs Devon Musto, a senior studying business administration, said the remote playing of the game can have differing impacts on the players. “People may be more
comfortable in their home setting; some people may not perform as well with a crowd in front of them,” Musto said. “On the flip side, you could have people who don’t have as nice of setups. Last year, we were very blessed to have IBuyPower sponsor the PC’s for us. That made the competition feel completely even. If you have somebody on either side who has a worse setup or poor internet connection, it can harm them too.” While the circumstances due to COVID-19 are challenging to clubs and athletic teams alike, the esports team may have an opportunity to take the stage front and center. Musto said, because of different conferences opting to not play sports this fall, it has opened up a possible window for esports to get publicity and grow their audience. “It gives esports an opportunity to capitalize on a market that is desperate for something right now,” Musto said. “The players would prefer it to be in person. There is a different feeling to it being in person. Us being able to go online, we will be able to perform our event. This is going to be huge, and
I think we will actually draw more numbers than we did the previous two years for it.” Esports at MSU has multiple teams that compete for MSU and represent different games. There are currently teams for League of Legends, Super Smash Brothers, Call of Duty, Rocket League, Rainbow Six Siege, Valorant, Madden, NBA 2K, Hearthstone, CS: GO, Overwatch, DOTA 2 and Smite. Josh Chumney, a senior studying software engineering, is the the president of the esports team at MSU. Chumney said that, in order for a game to join the organization, there has to be a league you can play in during the year, and there has to be people who are playing the game at MSU. As far as making the team, there are tryouts at the end of each semester. “We help you get set up; we help you with funding,” Chumney said. “That’s how most of our games have grown over the years. We have people who come in and find a league for a game and then find people are interested in playing, and that’s how the real competitiveness of a game begins.”
File Photo by Briana Laverty
Mississippi State University Esports team member participating in the 2019 Egg Bowl.
her team in shape to be able to accomplish the speed they are looking for on the court this season. “When you’re playing fast, you’ve got to be able to knock down shots, so really making sure that our kids understand that when we get off the bus, we’ve got to be a threat to score the basketball,” McCray-Penson said. In his meeting with the media, Head Coach Ben Howland talked about his anticipations for the season with the men’s basketball team as well as players he sees as key for the upcoming season. He said he agreed with the NCAA’s decision to push the season start date
back the extra 15 days. “I think it’s very prudent what they did,” Howland said. “I think it’s smart because 75% of all schools, the students — the normal students — will be gone, and it kind of forms a safer environment for your players moving forward.” Howland touched on how his lineup is adapting to the gaps left on the court. He was asked about his intentions to fill the wing position left by Robert Woodard II and responded by saying the team will be playing small and fast with some anticipated difficulty with matching size on the court. He said he would place D.J. Stewart Jr., Iverson
Molinar and Devion Smith around the perimeter if they were to start right now. “I think we also have a lot of advantages, that’s a very quick, explosive lineup with those three guys on the perimeter,” Howland said. Both of the Bulldog basketball teams will begin practice next month and will start their seasons on Nov. 25. Coach Howland shared his excitement for the upcoming season during the media meeting. “I’m just excited for basketball again,” Howland said. “It was just devastating and heartbreaking to finish our season the way it finished last year, without a real finish.”