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FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2019
135th YEAR ISSUE 9
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
Starkville antebellum home sees new life as bed and breakfast
“This house was really put together from the middle of May until our first guest arrived August 17,” Berch said. “A lot of hard work went into the house in a very short amount of time.” Jennifer Carson said the house just needed a few renovations for the comfort of patrons. “The house had great bones, and all we had to do was update it to accommodate more people. We took out the staircase to build a new one, added bathrooms, and upgraded hot water heaters to accommodate more people,” Jennifer Carson said. The house has four bedrooms available for booking, and each room sleeps four people. The Montgomery features several spacious parlors and a ballroom area perfect for hosting showers or dinners. The home rests on ten acres of land and is perfect for a wedding venue. The Montgomery will host its first wedding HOME, 2 Oct. 26.
SARAH MORGAN JOHNSON STAFF WRITER
Starkville couple Lee and Jennifer Carson invite guests to step into history by staying in their recently opened bed and breakfast, The Montgomery. Located at 607 Old West Point Rd., the beautiful antebellum home has been in Starkville since 1837. The Carsons are both graduates from Mississippi State University’s Department of Architecture and have had their eye on the house since it first went on sale over 20 years ago. Jennifer Carson said the bed and breakfast’s antebellum setting promotes the appreciation of historic architecture in Starkville. “We’ve always loved the history of the house and the location,” Jennifer Carson said. “Being graduates of MSU architecture, we love anything historic we can get our hands on. There’s not much around, and we want to help preserve any
Jordan Smith | The Reflector
Located at 607 Old West Point Road, The Montgomery, owned by MSU alumni Lee and Jennifer Carson, offers patrons a homey, welcoming stay in a historic Starkville home.
historic architecture here. When people stay at the bed and breakfast, they can experience the house and it can be part of their
world too. Rather than just driving by and seeing it, they can now enjoy it.” When the house went back on the market, the
Carsons knew it was time to call it their own. They bought the house in April and began working on it in late May.
Lynn Berch, The Montgomery’s house manager and hostess, described the restoration process.
Suicide survivor Erika Kendrick presents “Who Moved My Happy?” EMMA KING
STAFF WRITER
This past Tuesday, acclaimed author, public speaker and former Chicago Bulls cheerleader Erika J. Kendrick presented “Who Moved My Happy?” in the Colvard Student Union’s Foster Ballroom in recognition of National Suicide Prevention Month.
According to Kendrick, the goal of her talk was to save lives by normalizing mental health and by featuring topics such as suicide prevention and ending the stigma surrounding mental illness, with a focus on informed, inspired and life-affirming strategies. When Kendrick was 18, she was diagnosed with severe acute depression. KENDRICK, 2
Jordan Smith | The Reflector
Kappa Delta won Lambda Chi Alphaʼs annual Watermelon Fest, a week-long philanthropy event that raises support for non-profit Feeding America through donations of money and canned goods.
Watermelon Fest plants seeds of philanthropy, unity PAYTON BROWN
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Yashaswin Sridhar | The Reflector
Erika Kendrick presented Tuesday in recognition of National Suicide Prevention Month.
FRIDAY HI: 94 LO: 67 SKY: Mostly sunny POP: 10
SATURDAY HI: 94 LO: 68 SKY: Mostly sunny POP: 10
SUNDAY HI: 95 LO: 69 SKY: Sunny POP: 0
Last week, Mississippi State University fraternity Lambda Chi Alpha hosted their annual Watermelon Fest, a week-long philanthropic event that raises support and donations for Feeding America by allowing MSU’s on-campus sororities to compete in various activities for the winning title. Ryan Edwards, an MSU junior and external vice president for Lambda Chi Alpha, said the Watermelon Queen competition,
volleyball game, weeklong social media race and Sunday’s final Watermelonthemed games are several of the activities that take place throughout the week. “On Wednesday night, we
Queen is announced. This queen also speaks about the philanthropy of our games on Sunday,” Edwards said. While each sorority had a member represent them in this category, Pi Beta
Queen candidate and MSU junior, Jessie Besanson described the importance behind being named Watermelon Queen and the excitement behind being elected to represent within this category. “Being able to go into an interview and talk to a panel of judges was something that I was really excited about and the chance to do it while representing Phi Mu was something that I was extremely passionate about as well. Feeding America is important to me because who wouldn’t want to support feeding our nation?
For a Watermelon Fest blast from the past, check out page 3! had a Queen Dinner where each sorority nominates a philanthropy-based, goodhearted person to be our queen. They are judged by a few of our coaches’ wives and afterwards, a Watermelon
FORECAST: The weekend will continue with unseasonably warm temperatures with highs generally in the low to mid 90s, and lows in the mid to upper 60s. Little to no rain is in the forecast with plentiful sunshine and a few patches of clouds, all due to a constant ridge that is in the area.
Courtesy of Andre Brooks, Campus Connect Meteorologist
Phi’s Alie Baquerizo was nominated as this year’s Watermelon Queen, while Kappa Delta’s Ellis Ann Jackson was named runnerup. Phi Mu’s Watermelon
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FEST
The idea of representing Britton Webb, Kappa that organization for Delta president and MSU Lambda Chi really pushed senior, described the event as me to run for the position,” both beneficial for Lambda Besanson said. Chi and the sororities While all the events participating due to the are important, Edwards interactions the girls have said Sunday throughout is the most the week beneficial and the event for connections Lambda Chi m a d e due to their throughout participant the Greek requirement community. of either five “ A s canned goods, a Greek or dollars, per community, event entry. we want to After donating work hard to Feeding to make sure America, we support sororities each other participated in because we water melonwould want themed games to see our in order to entire MSU determine community ” the week’s suppor t Wa t e r m e l o n us in our Britton Webb Champion. philanthropy Kappa Delta President This year, events. So, we Lambda Chi have to show Alpha was able to raise that same support,” Webb 16,600 pounds of food and said. “We love being able to $60,000 from the activities support them truly because throughout the week. of their great cause. It is fun The overall winner to go out and compete and for the Watermelon Fest win, but when you are doing competition proved to be it for a deeper purpose, it Kappa Delta, while Phi Mu makes it all the more sweeter took second place. and worth it.”
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“It
is fun to go out and compete and win, but when you are doing it for a deeper purpose, it makes it all the more sweeter and worth it.
Jordan Smith | The Reflector
Phi Mu won second place in this year’s Watermelon Fest. The event raised 16,600 pounds of food and $60,000 in monetary donations for Lambda Chi Alpha’s philanthropy- Feeding America.
HOME The majority of the furniture and decor for the house was purchased at Steven’s Auction Company in Aberdeen. Jennifer Carson elaborated on the method behind decorating the house. “We wanted to find the same furniture as the house so that you would feel like you are walking into a time capsule for the house,” Jennifer Carson said. Berch and the Carsons have been friends for years, as they attended Starkville First United Methodist where Berch worked as an administrator. Since then, Berch lived in Cozumel where she worked in the tourism industry. When she decided to come back to the United States, she messaged Jennifer Carson to begin the job search process. The timing fell into place beautifully, as the Carsons were looking for someone to manage the house. “All of us get tears in our
CONTINUED FROM 1
eyes when we talk about it, because the timing was just so perfect,” Berch said. “It all happened for the good of me, for the good of them and for the good of the house.” Berch said she has greatly enjoyed working with the Carsons and being around the guests. She especially appreciates the family feel The Montgomery has. “This is so different from a hotel. It’s a different environment. I try to spend a lot of time with my guests— they want to visit and so do I. You don’t get that at a hotel. People want the comfort of a home environment,” Berch said. Jennifer Carson also emphasized the family feel the bed and breakfast has. She desires for The Montgomery to be a welcoming and homey environment. “I hope it attracts anyone and everyone. We aren’t catering to any type of person. Staying at the bed
and breakfast will be like staying at your grandmother’s house. It isn’t like a hotel room where you check in and don’t see anyone—it is like staying with family,” Jennifer Carson said. Mayor Lynn Spruill said she is grateful to the Carsons that the home is open for the public to enjoy and appreciate. “The Montgomery B&B is a wonderful adaptation of a lovely older home that is part of Starkville’s history. I am very pleased that it was able to receive the attention and loving care that it deserved from the Carson family. This allows the home to continue to be a viable part of our architectural landscape and be available for us to enjoy it as a bed and breakfast,” Spruill said. Guests may book a room at The Montgomery by calling them at 662-6178068 or visiting their website. The house is also listed on Airbnb.
Jordan Smith | The Reflector
Reservations for one of the four rooms in The Montgomery can be made by calling them, visiting their website or booking through Airbnb.
KENDRICK A few years after her graduation from Stanford University, Kendrick was also diagnosed with bipolar disorder with psychosis and panic attack disorder, she said. Kendrick said it took her a long time to speak out about her experiences with mental illness due to the pervasive stigma persisting around mental health issues today. Kendrick is now touring the country, presenting “Who Moved My Happy?” to provide a blueprint to assist attendees with living a happy, healthy and empowered life.
CONTINUED FROM 1
“On the life-changing tour, I share my story of mental fitness and suicide survival,” Kendrick said. “Through transparency, I empower those challenged with mental health issues, while educating those loving and living with someone who is.” Kendrick’s talk was primarily sponsored by Mississippi State University’s Department of Health Promotion and Wellness, but the event was co-sponsored by several other on-campus organizations, including Student Counseling
Services, National Panhellenic Counsel, the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center, the Department of Athletics, Housing and Residence Life, the Department of Psychology and the Department of Sociology. The Department of Health Promotion and Wellness’s Outreach Coordinator Kim Kavalsky said she believes, as a woman of color, Kendrick has a unique voice regarding mental health. “I thought her perspective as a woman of color openly speaking about her experience with mental illness was important in creating a conversation and reducing stigma,” Kavalsky said. “Unfortunately, we don’t hear enough voices of people of color when we talk about mental health issues. Representation matters.” In her lecture, Kendrick discussed her survival of a suicide attempt and other challenges she has faced. Kavalsky believes her lecture is important because there is power in a personal story, and perhaps hearing Kendrick will inspire others to seek help if needed. “I hope those struggling with mental health issues recognize that they are not alone and help is out there,” Kavalsky said. “For other students, this presentation
can provide them with a greater understanding of mental illness so that they can be more compassionate and empathetic to others.” The lecture began with introductions from Kavalsky and Regina Hyatt, vice president of Student Affairs. Hyatt shared her experience with mental health, inviting the audience to wonder why they were present Tuesday night, as she detailed a familiar story—how overwhelming college life can be. Hyatt briefly described the on-campus resources for mental health, including individual therapy, group therapy, workshops and walk-in sessions at Student Counseling Services. Students are encouraged to take advantage of these resources, especially because they are already paying for them, she said. “I’m not going to say they’re free, because you paid for them in your tuition,” Hyatt said, “but they’re available at no additional charge.” When Kendrick took the stage, she began with a warning to easy criers— tears would be shed. She also lightheartedly joked about catching any falling eyelashes, because they took twenty minutes to apply. Kendrick then took a temperature-check of the room, asking for anyone
who has ever experienced an issue in their mental health to raise their hand; this included anything from a break-up to a failed test to a more serious event. All the raised hands meant no one was alone, she said. “I remember being in a room—a room not nearly as nice as this one with small, gray walls,” Kendrick said. “I was being placed on suicide watch. I dreamed about driving my red Toyota Corolla over the side of a cliff, and one day, I tried it.” Following her suicide attempt, Kendrick was admitted to a psychiatric hospital and placed on suicide watch. She was 19 years old. Kendrick said she was an over-achiever throughout her academic career, always aiming for a straight A’s, if not an A+. When her doctor asked her if she had a suicide plan, Kendrick replied she had two. “On paper, and even in real life, I was a successful kid. But behind closed doors, I was empty and hopeless,” Kendrick said. When a counselor asked Kendrick to remember things that made her happy, Kendrick immediately thought of dancing. Instead of following her counselor’s advice—to take a dance class at the local YMCA— Kendrick set out to become an NBA cheerleader.
Even after the onset of her successful career as a cheerleader, Kendrick was still battling with the voices in her head. She recounted the story of a time the voices in her head, once only out to hurt herself, told her to run over a group of fellow cheerleaders. Kendrick walked the audience through her mental fitness plan, “The Incredible 10,” following a question-and-answer session. Attendees had the opportunity to analyze their own lives and find ways to implement better mental health practices within them. Kameron Jade Talley, a graduate assistant for the Department of Health Promotion and Wellness, said Kendrick’s courage in sharing her story is very appreciated. “She was a voice of hope to so many students last night who came to hear her speak. Erika was able to speak on the issue of suicide as person who is a survivor of it, and that holds power. She was able to share her story, give students resources to take home with them and answer questions about her life and mental illness. We are so grateful for Erika, and we appreciate her bravery to come share her story with us here at Mississippi State,” Talley said.
THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 @REFLECTORONLINE
BULLETIN BOARD
An In-Class Distraction
SUDOKU
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BAD DAWGS CLUB INFO Student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info. Information may be submitted by email to managing@reflector. msstate.edu with the subject heading “CLUB INFO.” The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is by 3 p.m. on Thursday. The deadline for Friday’s paper is by 3 p.m. on Tuesday. MSU student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info.
Wesley Foundation Worship Night / Insight -- Tuesdays 7:30 to 8:30pm. Worship music & Bible study. Next to Campus Book Mart. @ MSStateWesley/ StateWesley. org Community Night -Thursdays 6:30 to 8:30pm. Coffee bar 6:30pm. Community groups 7pm. Worship 8pm. Next to Campus Book Mart. @ MSStateWesley / StateWesley. org. Got questions? Try Alpha. Alpha explores the
basics of Christianity with conversation and videos. An open, honest space to ask, talk, & think together about faith, life, and God. Thursdays 6:30-8:00 at Wesley. Next to Campus Book Mart. Text 662.435.3393 for more info.
Publicize your club! Email managing@ reflector.msstate.edu
Tuesday, September 17, 2019 Student issued post arrest citation and referral for possession of marijuana in motor vehicle in D-5 parking lot. Friday, September 20, 2019 Student reported injuring her ankle and went to seek treatment the next day. Student reported her vehicle was damaged at an unknown location. Student reported her iPad missing, last seen at Carpenter Hall. Saturday, September 21, 2019 Student arrested on Barr Avenue for public drunk. Referral issued. Officer assisted OCSO on a welfare check off campus of a possible suicidal student. Subject was transported to OCH via ambulance. Two students arrested in the Junction for disturbing the peace.
ON THIS DAY IN REFLECTOR HISTORY... ...In 1994, the Bulldogs defeated the University of Tennessee Volunteers in the last 36 seconds of the game. The Bulldogs were trailing 21-17, but MSU quarterback Derrick Taite was able to complete a pass to tight end Kendell Watkins in the end zone, winning the game 24-21. Also, a student was severely injured during a sky diving collision, leaving the student in a coma. Doctors believed she had brain-stem damage and a broken femur, along with respiration and blood pressure complications.
Concession stand worker reported $1,900 stolen from concession in Davis Wade Stadium. Two non-resident/visitors arrested in the Junction for fighting. Student reported her bicycle stolen from bike rack at Critz Hall. Student reported his generator and tent stolen from the Junction. Sunday, September 22, 2019 Student reported his grill stolen from the Junction. Non-resident/visitor issued a post arrest citation in C-13 parking lot for leaving the scene of an accident. Student transported to OCH from a fraternity house for medical assistance. Student complained of back pain. Subject transported to OCH via ambulance. Traffic Citations Report Justice Court citation issued on Stone Boulevard for disregard traffic device. MSU citation issued on Bully Boulevard for wrong way on a one way. MSU citation issued on College View Street for speeding 43/20.
Kappa Delta members celebrate Lambda Chi Alpha’s annual Watermelon Fest in 1994.
MSU citation issued on East Lee Boulevard for speeding 54/30. Justice Court citation issued on Poorhouse Road for speeding 62/45. MSU citation issued on East Lee Boulevard for speeding 53/20. MSU citation issued on East Lee Boulevard for speeding 55/20. MSU citation issued on East Lee Boulevard for speeding 51/20. MSU citation issued on East Lee Boulevard for speeding 52/20. MSU citation issued on East Lee Boulevard for speeding 52/20. MSU citation issued on East Lee Boulevard for speeding 49/20.
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 @REFLECTORONLINE
OPINION
FACE-OFF: Which sitcom sits on the comedy throne?
‘Parks and Rec.’ wrecks ‘The Office’ ‘The Office’ files ‘Parks and Rec.’ away PAYTON BROWN
compare to this unique, eclectic affair with the more mundane love story of Jim and Pam. Jim and Pam epitomize the most boring of couples and never surprise the viewer, despite their attempts at portraying a rocky relationship, with any of their choices or actions. Grant Dearmitt with ScreenRant cannot help but agree. “Yes, there were still some ups and downs, but ultimately, the relationships in ‘Parks and Rec.’ were a lot more straightforward.” Along with softer elements, humor is a show’s greatest strength when executed in the proper way. “Parks and Recreation” perfectly finds this witty balance, and this balance allows the audience to see a smile on their face and comfort in their hearts. There is always a factor within each episode that makes a viewer seem at home and as though they are intimately related to the characters. While the show continuously tries, “The Office” will never compare to this dynamic, due to the ongoing dry, excessive humor the show produces and the lack of familiarity it instills. Only surface level humor is introduced into the plot, and there is never any feeling of catharsis in the events which occur. The rivalry between the supreme hyper-masculine figure is an easily answerable question. Ron Swanson is a man of many manly talents and is wiser and more humble than that of the arrogant Dwight Schrute. Ron Swanson holds many amusing quirks, such
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The battle between the two most iconic American sitcoms has been extremely drawn out and reintroduced both time and time again. Netflix aficionados continuously rave over which cringe-inducing program is overall more well-rounded and contains the most comical storyline. However, this war can forever be laid to rest. “Parks and Recreation” enthusiasts can be consoled in the fact the show they cherish so dearly contains a more humorous plot with characters that outshine any potential competitor. The Amy Poehler centered show revolves around the town Pawnee and incorporates the irrational citizens of the town, while also allowing audiences to feel familiar with this Indianian gem. Pawnee allows the show to smoothly develop Leslie Knope’s political agenda and can amuse a crowd with its many unattractive quirks. Pawnee is more personal to a viewer compared to Scranton, Pennsylvania. Scranton is home to “The Office,” but it remains shrouded in mystery as the show progresses. No one can identify a distinct town identity nor can one identify any distinct geographic characteristics of the setting. “The Office” is simply less personable in this manner, and it keeps an audience from feeling invested in the ongoing story. Both shows contain strong, charismatic main characters with ambitious goals for their workplace. Michael Scott, however, remains cocky and selfish, whereas Knope presents herself as career-oriented and thoughtful. Her many hand-crafted holidays and gifts show her kind nature, which outshines Michael’s annoying persona. Even statistics prove Knope’s superior position, for Poehler is paid $25,000 more than Steve Carrell for her role as the Parks Department director, according to Leigh Weingus with Huffington Post and Yorgos Askalidis with Medium. Romance is an important part in a plot, and “Parks and Recreation” outdoes any possible kindling that its opponent has to offer. Between the Andy-April dynamic and the Leslie-Ben duo, the show exemplifies the most exciting and interesting aspects of love with its decision in couples. Andy and April consistently keep audiences on their feet, as they participate in overthe-top antics and profess their strange love for one another in odd ways. “The Office” cannot
as his love for breakfast and wood, while Dwight only entertains readers with his weird family connection to beets. Dwight’s personality detracts from his likability because of his know-it-all persona and his careless attitude towards others. Dwight seems to only do things if they benefit him, while Ron constantly makes sacrifices for his loved ones. Each character’s love interests also help determine the better character. Swanson entertains audiences with his ongoing affairs with the three Tammys, while Dwight continuously bores audiences with his ongoing, wishy-washy relationship with Angela. Romances in sitcoms are created to provide further entertainment in the ongoing plot and not to develop a dramatic, boring side story which distracts viewers from the main plot. Ron Swanson, by himself, makes “Parks and Recreation” 10 times better just from his endless wisdom and hilarious conflicts. As written by Margaret Lyons with Slate, “While ‘The Office’ held much stronger ratings and a longer run, ‘Parks’ will close its seven seasons as the more successful show.” Both shows will always provide a source of entertainment for my generation for many years to come, and they have made a significant impact on the very concept of humor for all of us. Even as both shows hold many honorable attributes and qualities, “Parks and Recreation” will always rank higher due to its well-rounded plot and warm, heartfelt quality.
Rosalind Hutton
1. What was the first country to use printed paper currency? 2. What are the only two letters of the alphabet that do not appear
CONTACT INFORMATION 325-7905 editor@reflector.msstate.edu Managing Editor/Courtney Carver managing@reflector.msstate.edu News Editor/Hannah Blankenship
on the Periodic Table? 3. Foie gras is a french delicacy made from the liver of what animal? Answer: 1. China 2. J and Q 3. Duck or Goose
“True confidence leaves no room for jealously. When you know you are great, you have no need to hate.” Editor in Chief/Mia Rodriguez
episodes,” NBC chairman Robert Greenblatt told Josef Adalian of New York magazine. Although “Parks and Recreation” has the same common American workplace setting as “The Office,” it is simply not as relatable as “The Office” because the employees on “Parks and Recreation” tend to serve the sole purpose of adding more comedy to their shows, rather than being both relatable and comical as the employees of “The Office.” With that being said, “The Office” is also more popular because of its well-rounded, funnier and more likable characters. For example, Michael Scott, the childish manager you pray you never have, is funnier than most of the characters in “Parks and Recreation,” considering how he does actually no work and only strives to do no more than get his employees to love and laugh at him. Compared to the manager in “Parks and Recreation” Leslie Knope, who actually loves her job and wants to succeed, Michael Scott is definitely funnier and more likable as he is unfiltered, mildly inappropriate and has a new strategy to have fun each episode in “The Office.” Last but not least, the love stories of “The Office”— more accurately scandals— are both more entertaining and more tear-jerking than “Parks and Recreation.” Pam and Jim’s nine season long romantic journey is one of the greatest components of “The Office” because it adds a hint of seriousness to the show, which is welcomed, but manages to not be overwhelming, either. In addition to Pam and Jim, Dwight and Angela’s “situationship” definitely offers the audience a more comedic relationship that is both hilarious and thrilling. These relationships satisfy us romantic comedy lovers while also helping increase the relatability of “The Office,” unlike the love stories of “Parks and Recreation” which are mildly entertaining but do little for the show. Honestly, there would not be a “Parks and Recreation” without “The Office,” considering how it paved the way for mockumentarytype American workplace TV shows. However, I will admit “Parks and Recreation” is quite funny and definitely binge-worthy. Yet, “The Office” is simply funnier than “Parks and Recreation” as it has better characters, scenes, plot development and all-around good laughs. Therefore, if you are looking for a good laugh or if you need further proof, I personally recommend episode 14 of season five. I can guarantee you cannot watch it without laughing.
Trivia Time!
Nicki Minaj
Source: trivia.fyi
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NBC TV Network has surely produced two notoriously funny American sitcoms in the last decade. “The Office,” premiering in 2005, is a hilarious and quality comedy show featuring the lives of a diverse and comical group of employees at a paper company. “Parks and Recreation,” premiering in 2009, is a mildly funny and slightly mediocre “comedy” show centered around the Indiana Parks and Recreation Department’s entertaining, but not quite so funny, employees and community inhabitants. Though both shows are undoubtedly funny in their own ways, “The Office” is simply better than “Parks and Recreation.” It mixes pure comedy, dark humor and a compelling storyline in a way that will make you laugh every single episode.One way “The Office” strongly differs from “Parks & Recreation” is the dynamic complexity of each of the show’s characters. From the mysteriously entertaining lifestyles of characters such as Dwight and Creed, to the scandalous but comical acts like Oscar’s affair with Angela’s husband, “The Office” keeps the audience hysterically laughing and interested in the show, episode after episode. While “Parks and
V.S. REFLECTIONS
Sports Editor/Hunter Cloud
TAYLAR ANDERSON
is a sophomore majoring in English. Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
Recreation” does have its funny characters, moments and few love stories, it lacks the ability to keep you interested in every single character, and it also lacks an enjoyable storyline. Although these shows are meant to be mostly funny and succeed for the most part, the plot has to add into the humorous journey of the show considering their settings, a dying paper company and a boring subcommittee, do little to create room for laughable content. This certainly shows in their public opinion votes and ratings, which found viewers typically find “The Office” to be the better show. On a weighted scale of 1-10, 313,118 people have voted “The Office” as an 8.8/10, which makes it the #50 TV show of all-time. “Parks and Recreation,” on the other hand, has a still high 8.6/10 on 182,821 votes. This leaves “Parks and Recreation” the 117th-best TV show in history, according to imdb. com voters. “The Office” is more popular than “Parks and Recreation” because it is more relatable, which makes it more likable as well. Considering it is placed in the common office workplace, it feels familiar, and the fact the employees hate their job, along with them having a childish and mildly inappropriate boss, contributes to that factor even more. This is also likely why their viewings are so high because people love shows which are relatable and are not much different from their everyday life. “I believe it’s the No. 1 most-popular acquired show on Netflix … there are millions of streams of those
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 @REFLECTORONLINE
LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT
5
Freshman songwriter Lauren Sink releases first EP After she began leading worship, Sink knew she wanted to do it for the rest of Lauren Sink, a freshman her life. Her love for music and majoring in communication songwriting were encouraged at Mississippi State University, by her church, and she was releases an extended play grateful for the ability to serve (EP) titled “Shadow of Your as a worship leader. Some difficult experiences Wings” today. This is Sink’s first ever EP and features a in early high school led Sink collection of songs inspired to the Bible, where she finds by the story of the beginning most of the inspiration for of her spiritual journey. She her songwriting. She explained that she chose some of the songs for opened up to the EP from old the Bible verse journals from in Psalm 63:7 early high school, feeling that I know which says “I will sing in the they reflected the impact one thing. I love shadow of your This that her faith, songwriting and wings.” verse inspired Christianity, has had on her life. I know that will many of the songs that were Sink’s music career began always be part of released on the EP. In fact, this in a somewhat my life,” is the reason that unusual way. she named the Growing up, she Lauren Sink EP “Shadow of was busy playing Your Wings.” sports and music “No matter what was not really a part of her life. That all season I’m in, I can sing,” said changed in the seventh grade Sink, saying she finds joy and when she began to learn to strength from worship music. When asked about what play the guitar. Soon after, she fell in love with the process musical artists she looks up of songwriting and playing to, Sink cited women such worship music. In the eighth as Kari Jobe and Lauren grade, Sink began to lead Daigle, both worship artists who are breaking the typical worship at her church. “All of our hearts were songwriting mold in their created to worship, so leading genre. Sink is impressed by their writing style and the it felt right,” Sink said.
strength of their words. “Songs we listen to... the words are so empty,” she said. Sink wanted her generation to have beautiful music that “brought glory to God.” Sink noted her dream is for people to hear the name of Jesus in her music and is excited for her upcoming music projects. Sink’s EP releases on Spotify, Apple music and other music platforms today. Additionally, Sink worked on a few acoustic sessions with a filming crew. These will be released tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 28. Sink also has plans for a film piece on the stories behind some of her songs, which will be filmed by local photographer and fellow MSU student, Sara Beth Pritchard. “Working with her, especially lately, she has been intentional about the album not being about her,” Pritchard said. Pritchard praised Sink’s passion for her faith in every aspect of her album, noting that Sink even canceled a photo shoot, because she did not want to advertise the album with pictures of herself. “I admire that in her,” Pritchard said. Sink’s selflessness in her life and career is recognized by her friends too. Julia Symonds, a sophomore
Student Spotlight: Blake Adams
DREW GARDNER
SARAH ALLEN BOWMAN STAFF WRITER
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Yashaswin Sridhar | The Reflector
Blake Adams, senior agribusiness major, holds products from his company Salt and Chalk Co.
STAFF WRITER
Blake Adams, senior agribusiness major, has a knack for creating chalk bags and leather hiking products through his small business, Salt and Chalk Co., out of his apartment here in Starkville. Adams is a Huntsville, Ala. native who came to Mississippi State University because of its focus on agriculture. With his agribusiness degree, he said he hopes to keep creating exciting, innovative products while using his degree to promote the products. “Part of why I’m pursuing this is because it [the climbing market] has real growth and an opportunity to do something I like doing,” Adams said. Growing up with his dad’s woodshop close by, Adams began his venture into creative building when he was a kid. His father worked with wood and his mother sewed, which eventually manifested into Adams’ interests as well. Adams also has an older brother who works with
MSU s
Lauren Sink | Courtesy Photo
philosophy major, met Sink through a mutual friend and has now become friends with Sink also. Symonds said she applauds Sink’s humility and commends her confidence. “Lauren writes and produces music out of a response for what the Lord
is doing in her life,” Symonds said. “She does not do any of this for her own glory and fame. She does it to make known the name of Jesus.” Sink is not sure of the future of her music career, but she is considering a career in full time Christian ministry.
Though she is unsure of the specifics of what working in ministry will look like for her, she believes music will definitely be a part of her life forever. “I know one thing. I love songwriting and I know that will always be in my life.”
crafting metal. Blake created one of his first chalk bags out of leather from his dad’s old couch, fabric from a short-sleeve shirt and fleece material from sweatpants. When Adams is not making new products for his company, he said he loves running and hiking. He runs marathons, his most recent one being last December, and hikes as much as he can across the country. Adams’ cross-country hikes took him to a section hike, a method of hiking small parts of a long trial, in the Appalachian Mountains the summer after his freshman year. The trail was several hundred miles and Adams spent two weeks on this trail. He hiked from the start all the way to Clingmans Dome, which the highest point along the Appalachian Trail at an elevation of about 6,643 feet. His hiking has taken him all over the country, but Big Bend National Park in west Texas stands out to Adams. The trail spans from the Rio Grande up to the Chisos Mountains, with an elevation of 4,000 feet along
the trail. Adams hiked Big Bend during spring break with his friends Sam Akers, senior forestry major, and Jacob Herring, MSU alum, and spent four days “in the middle of nowhere.” Adams said he’s been a bit “out of commission” lately, stemming from problems with his sewing machine, but he says plans to be back at it again as soon as next week. “I’ve been out of commission because my sewing machine broke. It was just a little rinky-dink sewing machine that I ran four layers of leather through, and it was not meant to do what it was doing,” Adams said. Along with his outdoor interests, Adams loves podcasts and coffee, with Nine-Twentynine Coffee Bar being his favorite place in Starkville. Some of his favorite podcasts are “How I Built This” and “Freakanomics.” He said also enjoys folk artists such as Bon Iver and Pinegrove. As he is approaching graduation, Adams has become more serious about getting Salt and Chalk Co. off the ground. Adams
has been conducting lots of market research on the climbing industry and surveying different people at climbing places to make his vision fully realized. His friend Sam Akers believes in the quality of Adams’ products. “Blake is the most detailoriented person I know, completely obsessive about his work and won’t have anything less than perfection if he’s going to put his name on it,” Akers said. Adams said he finishes up at MSU in December and plans to complete the rest of his credit hours at a nearby community college. He hopes to move to Chattanooga, Tenn. with his wife, Sarah Adams, in the near future to take advantage of the thriving climbing scene and develop his craft even more. Sarah Adams said she believes her spouse’s business is headed for success. “I think Salt and Chalk Co. has the potential to fill a hole in the climbing market, and Blake is coming in at the perfect time to cater to that niche,” Sarah Adams said.
‘The Goldfinch’: the golden flop with great cinematography
DREW GARDNER
STAFF WRITER
Donna Tartt’s 2013 Pulitzer Prize winning novel, “The Goldfinch,” finally made its way to the silver screen this weekend. The book received overwhelmingly positive acclaim upon its release for its endearing cast of characters and unique story about a catastrophic event that changes the life of protagonist Theo Decker (played by Ansel Elgort). Critics have slammed the film since its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival three weeks ago. According to Box Office Mojo, the film was a commercial bust, as it debuted with an opening weekend of less than $2.6 million on an estimated $40 million-dollar budget. Getting past the harsh reaction from the box office and critics—Is “The Goldfinch” really so bad or is it a diamond in the rough? The story follows a young boy named Theo Decker after his mother is killed in a bombing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He survives the bombing, takes a ring given
to him by a dying man and steals his mother’s favorite painting, “The Goldfinch,” from the rubble. He is put into the care of his friend’s family until his absent father returns (played by Luke Wilson) to cash in on his son’s potential inheritance, which brings him to Las Vegas. The film follows Theo’s 20-year journey and jumps back and forth from his childhood to his adult life, which is pretty evenly split between the first and second half of the film. The film begins in Amsterdam, with an older Theo reminiscing on what brought him abroad. From the first shot of the film, I was in awe of Roger Deakins’ gorgeous cinematography. With a runtime of 149 minutes, if the movie did not look so great, it would be much harder to stay invested. Deakins is a master cinematographer, as he shot films such as “Blade Runner 2049,” “Skyfall” and “No Country for Old Men”. Along with the cinematography, the performances were all pretty solid. Finn Wolfhard as the character Boris, Theo’s neighbor in Vegas
out the most. Wolfhard had a strange performance, and while I would hesitate to call it good, his backstory and relationship with Theo is tragically heartwarming. The accent is not great, but the character of Boris in the novel is supposed to be from several different countries, so it makes sense that the accent is all over the place. Boris’s adult portion of the story is not nearly as compelling, but it is nice to see the two reunite in the third act. Also, the soundtrack for the film is excellent with songs from New Order, Animal Collective and Radiohead. One of the standout scenes for me, personally, was the introduction of James Hobart, whose story ties in with the dead man’s ring from the museum. Hobart’s antique shop always felt warm and comforting, and the fatherson type of relationship between Theo and Hobart adds an emotional layer to
Another of my favorite scenes is when Boris and Theo’s friendship really begins to develop when they are kids. In one scene, they go for a swim soundtracked by the Radiohead song
“Codex.” It is a beautifully shot, surreal scene and one of the images is on the poster for the film. Though the film has a run time of about two and a half hours, my big nitpick was the editing and pacing. The film begins the same way the book does, with Theo’s monologue in Amsterdam, but then it assumes the viewer has
source material, then skips straight to Theo in custody of his friend Andy’s family. The movie is built upon flashbacks, which do not add anything since the book follows such a linear narrative. Flashbacks just serve to confuse the a v e r a g e viewer, and the film does not show the bombing itself. Instead, it shows snippets of it in scenes that do not structurally make sense. This was extremely annoying, and it made the film worse. All in all, I think “The Goldfinch” was a good film, and I did not regret seeing it. However, critics online have slammed the film for being pretentious “Oscarbait.” My favorite film critic at the moment, David Ehrlich from Indiewire, called the film “a gauzy, bloated slab of Oscar bait,” which I do not agree with in the slightest. The biggest issue it seems to have is that while the movie itself is long, one can only fit so
in one movie. The film looked to be an Oscar contender upon its release, and it still might have a chance for a Best Cinematography nomination, but after this weekend, I think the general public will have moved on. I was trying to think of a film to compare this to, and I kept coming back to “IT Chapter Two.” There are no clowns in “The Goldfinch,” but it is a lengthy film based on a long novel that did not quite live up to the novel’s acclaim. Not only were they released within a week of each other, they are also both guilty of having plots that deal with jumping back and forth between a traumatic event during childhood, and how it affects the rest of your life. Plus, Wolfhard is in both of them. All in all, I did really enjoy “The Goldfinch.” It is not the easiest movie to recommend because of its length and occasionally jarring story structure, but if you enjoyed the book or are looking for an interesting and well-acted drama with a great cast, “The Goldfinch” might be for you. Just be sure to check it out soon, because it probably will not
66-Sports SPORTS
THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 @SPORTSREFLECTOR
Bulldog golf is swinging for success HUNTER CLOUD SPORTS EDITOR
A pair of Mississippi State University golfers shone in the men and women’s tournaments early this week, as both teams competed in tournaments in Texas and Tennessee. According to a press release from the MSU Athletic Department, MSU women’s golfer Aubree Jones, a sophomore from Covington, Tennessee, shot a 69 in the final round of the Mason Rudolph Invitational hosted by Vanderbilt University on Sunday. A strong finish by Jones propelled her to a fifth place finish after she shot 72 and 73 in the first two rounds. Jones said her weekend showed her hard work. “It always feels great knowing that all of the work I put in is paying off,” Jones said. “Golf isn’t always a walk in the park. There are times when I struggle, but that only makes the feeling of coming out of that rut so much better.” A member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Jones said her faith inspires her to play the game of golf, and by trusting in God she knows everything will work out how it is supposed to. “I’m really just blessed that the Lord has brought has been with me through it all, the highs, the lows and every bit in between,” Jones said. “I just always put my focus on playing for Jesus and everything will work out how it’s supposed to.” In the men’s Trinity Forrest Invitational tournament in Dallas, the first round that Sunday was a bit of a struggle, as the team
Kelly Donoho | MSU Athletics
Jordan Smith, Rosalind Hutton
shot 296 placing 13th. Head Coach Dusty Smith chalked up the team’s rough start to strong wind and a lack of control. “The wind was up the majority of the day. We just did not do a good enough job of controlling our golf ball in the elements,” Smith said. “We had too many misses on the wrong side of perfect which ultimately cost us a number of shots.” At the end of the second round, MSU had sole possession of 13th place. Smith said the second round allowed for more scoring opportunities for the team which they capitalized on in the back nine holes, dropping their score by 17 shots. “We hit a lot of quality shots and had several opportunities out there. We need to continue the momentum we got from our back 9 into our final round,” Smith said. “The most important thing for us is to embrace the opportunity that is in front of us and to stay in the present moment. Everyone has a job to do and we need to have all of us in it for us to be successful.” Leading the whole team out of the first round rut was Cameron Clarke, a junior from Pittsboro, as he posted scores of 69 and 70. Clarke said the course was very demanding, and players had to pay attention to detail on the course. Clarke said he felt like he did a good job overall in the tournament. “I didn’t play bad at all the first day, the conditions were just really tough. I knew that I was hitting the ball good enough to post two solid rounds together,” Clarke said. “ I just told myself to ‘be patient around the golf
course and take advantage of your opportunities when you have them, and to hold back when you need to.’” At the conclusion of the third round of the Trinity Forrest Invitational, the men finished tied with two other schools for 11th place. The women’s team was able to swing their way to a 6th place finish in the Mason Rudolph Invitational. Reflecting back on the Lady Dawgs performance and looking forward to the Schooner Classic in Norman, Oklahoma this weekend, Brown-Lemm said she was impressed with how the team handled difficult weather conditions, as the wind speeds reached 10-15 miles per hour. Heading into the Schooner Classic, head coach Ginger Brown-Lemm said her team is improving to compete with Top 10 teams. “We were incredibly consistent with our process
and our plan for this final round. Seeing our squad continue to be committed to what we know works is a huge win for us,” BrownLemm said. “We are just getting started on building the confidence to be able to compete with Top 10 teams. We have great leadership, commitment to each other and a never quit attitude.” This season, the women’s golf team has shown that commitment towards success, as Jones said they come together to set daily and long term goals. Jones said because of this, she believes the team has the potential to go far. “We have to trust the process and keep putting in the work day in and day out,” Jones said. “As for the first two tournaments, we’ve played a lot of very good golf. We are just staying patient for it to all come together at the right time.”
Trevor Birchett| MSU Athletics
Aubree Jones tees off. Jones came in 5th place for MSU at the Mason Rudolph Invitational.
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What is the most must-see place in your hometown? The beach. I’m from South Florida, so I gotta say the beach. If you did not play football, what sport would you play? Baseball. Suppose you are at a family reunion. What food are you most looking forward to eating? Mac and Cheese. The football team is having a 2v2 basketball tournament. Who is your first draft pick? Tyre Phillips.
Goal line package. Coach wants one of the offensive linemen to go out for a route. Why should it be you? Cause I got hands for days. Lebron or MJ? Lebron is a better all around player, but I’m gonna have to go with MJ. I’m kind of an old school guy. Who has had the greatest impact on your life? I’d say my immediate family: my mom, my dad, some of my aunts and uncles. Who is the best dancer on the football team? Tommy Champion. Who was your hero in elementary School? My dad. What do you see yourself doing when you are 50? I’ll probably be a doctor.
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What is your favorite pizza topping? Sausage. When you play Madden, who is your go-to team? Me personally, I’m a (Atlanta) Falcons fan, so I pretty much just stick with the Falcons. Who is the best singer? Probably me. I’m sure everybody would say me. Thick or thin crust? Thick. Who, on this team, is going to have their own tv show when they are 50? Darryl Williams. Probably like a family game show. What is your favorite movie ever? “Terminator: Salvation.”
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