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WEDNESDAY JANUARY 27, 2021

136th YEAR ISSUE 13

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

What’s going on with Chadwick Lake? a look behind the scenes the lake began to notice large amounts of green algae with trash littered through it that covered the top of the lake, mostly near the boardwalk. Along with the eyesore of the algae came a putrid smell. After a while, the university put up a sign that read “MSU is aware of the algal bloom in this area and is currently working with experts to implement a long-term solution.” Then, beginning in early December, half of the lake went missing. “Those are our footsteps out there,” said Brett Brasher, an engineer with Neel-Schaffer construction management ﬁrm, as he pointed to the exposed mud of the lake bed. Sporting muddy kneehigh rubber boots and standing on the side of the lake with surveying equipment, Brasher said Chadwick had been purposely lowered for them to be able to perform a topographic survey of the lake. LAKE, 2

HANNAH BLANKENSHIP MANAGING EDITOR

Hannah Blankenship | The Reﬂector

The mysterious disappearance of water from Chadwick Lake on MSUʼs campus is due to an algal bloom. MSU is hard at work to ﬁx the issue and restore the lake to its former glory.

Mississippi State University students returning to campus this spring may have noticed a surprising lack of lake at their favorite scenic running spot. The Chadwick Lake walking trail, located behind the Joe Frank Sanderson Center on the north end of campus, provides a glimpse of nature in the midst of MSU’s campus and the town of Starkville. However, last semester, the lake’s picturesque beauty was tainted with a large buildup of smelly algae. “I can remember two speciﬁc spots around the lake where it smelled just horrible. I would literally hold my breath when I would walk past those parts,” said junior educational psychology major Hannah Massey, a frequent visitor of the lake’s exercise trail. Those running or walking on the path around

MSU veterinary imaging research aims to help both man and his best friend BAYLEE HILL

Dr. Andy Shores, clinical professor and CVM chief of neurosurgery and neurology, said this research is profound because brain tumors affect humans and animals in very similar ways, leading to advancement for the treatment of both groups. Shores said the National Institute of Health has provided funding for MSU’s researchers to look at novel ways to treat brain tumors, speciﬁcally glioblastoma, in both humans and animals. “The dog is the model for the human disease because there are so many similarities with the type of tumor and the way it affects them,” Shores said. VET TECH, 2

STAFF WRITER

Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine is working to advance early disease detection in animals through their ground-breaking research in imaging technologies. According to Dr. Alison Lee, doctor of veterinary medicine and assistant professor at MSU, the Department of Veterinary Medicine is using imaging technology such as CT and MRI machines to detect issues like brain tumors and inﬂammatory and infectious diseases in an animal’s brain. Lee said this research is conducted at an imaging center on Stark Road. Researchers are primarily

using the MRI machine to focus on a brain tumor study.

“The MRI allows us to see central nervous tissue — the brain and the spinal

cord — much better than any other imaging technologies let us see it.

It can tell us when there is anything abnormal in the brain,” Lee said.

New anechoic chamber lets MSU drone research fly under the radar

JOSHUA STEWART STAFF WRITER

Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Lab II is making use of a quiet room for their research, and it is not the library. The lab specializes in research on unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and has been focused on research related to drones, both commercial and military, and how to reduce propeller noise while maintaining efﬁciency and performance. Raspet has been accomplishing this via use of a new acoustic anechoic chamber, a room covered in foam and as quiet as 16.5 dBA, barely louder than a human whisper. The lab has been contracted by the United States Department of Defense for this project, and engineers at Raspet are optimistic about their progress.

Hunter Vesa, research engineer at Raspet, has been heading the work with air acoustics in order to decrease the sounds produced by drones with new technologies across a range of platforms. Vesa and other engineers have been using the research gathered in the chamber to ﬁgure out ways to reduce aerodynamic noise of aircraft without reducing performance of those drones. The use of this research and technology will be twofold according to Vesa, who believes both military and commercial situations will beneﬁt. “Whether it’s a military situation, monitoring areas of interest or in the agricultural world where loud drones can affect the civilian population or wildlife, that research will be useful,” Vesa said. DRONE, 2

WEDNESDAY

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HI: 55 LO: 30 SKY: Cloudy POP: 20

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Megan Bean | Courtesy Photo

Raspet Flight Lab IIʼs new anechoic chamber is covered with special foam wedges in order to dull any sound produced, allowing research on quieter drones to be conducted. FORECAST: Expect a slight chance of rain on Wednesday leading into sunny days for the remainder of the week. Temperatures will drop going into Thursday with highs in the 40s and lows in the 20s. The weekend will be slightly warmer.

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BAD DAWGS Thursday, January 14, 2021

Monday, January 18, 2021

Extortion under $500 reported at Oak Hall.

Harassment by means of non-personal communication was Possession of marijuana was reported. reported in the B wing of Magnolia Hall. Tuesday, January 19, 2021 Friday, January 15, 2021 A disturbance was reported at the Ballew Animal A case of rape was Science building. reported in Cresswell Hall. Lost, found or shortage of Malicious mischief was property was reported on reported in the McKee Hall East Lee Boulevard. parking lot on East Lee Boulevard. An arrest was made for the charge of possession Saturday, January 16, of marijuana in the B13 2021 parking lot on Walker Road. A student was arrested on the corner of Creelman Property damage was Street and Tracy Drive for reported at Harvey’s driving under the influence. restaurant on Hwy 12. Sunday, January 17, 2021

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Possession of paraphernalia Extortion under $500 was was reported on Fraternity reported in Deavenport Row. Hall.

Hannah Blankenship | The Reflector

After students began noticing a nasty smell and appearance, Chadwick Lake was drained in an effort to amend the issues.

The neurosurgery neurology group that is focusing on imaging technologies is not merely performing research but instead applying it to real-life diagnosis and treatments. “A lot of what we do is not really research but clinical activity,” Shores said. “We incorporate what we are able to do with the patients and further the advancement of treatment for certain diseases.” According to Shores, he takes dogs who have brain tumors and uses the MRI to diagnose and plan for a surgical removal of the brain tumor. The dogs receive an injection of a modified virus designed to attack only tumor cells. Shores then performs follow-up routine exams and imaging to check on the dog. Additionally, he puts them on another drug which helps to uncover the tumor and attack it. Lee helps Shores assess the MRI images and decide which tumor is likely. She said they can use ultrasound imaging technology to help further localize the tumor during a surgery. Imaging technology is helpful to use not only during surgery but also during follow-up treatment. Additionally, Lee helps Shores use cross-sectional imaging during the post-operative stage. Lee is passionate about imaging technologies because brain tumors are devastating in both

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species. She said they cause behavioral issues and affect everything from an animal’s ability to eat and drink to their ability to urinate. “The brain is a difficult area to treat because we do not have a great understanding of exactly how it works and it is also covered by the skull, so it is a difficult area to operate on,” Lee said. “All of what we are doing research-wise is going to help us better treat these animals and lead to longer survival times for both people and animals.” “Animals have evolved from being a pet around the house to being actual companions, family members and emotional support. Being able to look at those kinds of diseases and further treatment is a benefit to the animal and the human population because of their emotional attachment to their animals.” Andy Shores MSU Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Bailey Haller, a senior biological sciences major from Gulfport, said MSU’s research is extremely important for not just the veterinary medical field but the medical field as a whole. “Mississippi State is finding ways to help animals that previously would not have been possible,” Haller said.

LAKE According to Saunders Ramsey, MSU’s director of Campus Services, the lake was drained by opening an overflow valve under the levee on the north side of the lake and will refill naturally by rain water. Unfortunately, it is too early in the process to know the real cause of the unbecoming symptoms the lake is experiencing. “We’re just now gathering how deep the water is, potential areas of pollution and things like that. So it’s really in an investigative stage right now,” Ramsey said. Campus Services has already installed a berm on the west side of the lake that will use plant material to act as a natural filter for any pollutants attempting to enter the lake, but Ramsey said he is hopeful a more holistic solution will be developed this spring and implemented in the next 6-18 months. “We really want to have a plan for the entire area before we start looking at specific solutions for specific areas of the lake,”

CONTINUED FROM 1

Ramsey said. As for pollutants entering the lake, Ramsey said that could be something as simple as a fertilizer being out of balance with the chemicals in the water. “We’re just trying to identify the sources and potential solutions to either treat it before it gets there or eliminate it completely,” Ramsey said. However, students weren’t the only beings that frequented Chadwick Lake. Every now and then, runners would be lucky enough to get a glimpse of a fish tail, a turtle head or a flitting heron. So, when the lake was drained, what happened to the wildlife that called Chadwick home? Ramsey said because the lake was only lowered and not drained completely, there was sufficient water remaining to maintain most of the wildlife. “There was still water left in the lake, so we did not see a significant wildlife kill or anything like that. We only lowered

DRONE “Ultimately, it will greatly benefit the men and women fighting overseas.” Vesa is not the only engineer involved in the project. Another major figure is Caden Teer, chief engineer at Raspet Flight Lab II. Teer described the quieter drone initiative as being a success thus far and expanded on how exactly these developments would affect drones. “The military can make quieter drones to fly lower and use sensors at a better altitude and everyday use in national airspace, allowing them to fly quieter while not disturbing residents.” Teer also touched on what the new anechoic chamber could be used for after the completion of the current work with UAS. “There are so many uses: aerodynamic testing, aircraft purposes. And it’s mainly designed to be

“They are also developing equipment and research that will be further explored for human use.” Haller decided to be pre-vet because she loves helping animals and learning how they function. She said she is honored to be a part of the program and hopes to work on research like this in the future. Chief of Neurosurgery and Neurology Shores believes research like this is important because most people view their animals as companions, and that has made it increasingly important to make sure animals can maintain their health. “Animals have evolved from being a pet around the house to being actual companions, family members and emotional support,” Shores said. “Being able to look at those kinds of diseases and further treatment is a benefit to the animal and the human population because of their emotional attachment to their animals.” Lee hopes people are aware MSU has this technology and that this type of technology is not everywhere. She said if anyone has concerns about their pet, MSU’s Animal Health Center is a wonderful place to visit. “We can certainly help them get diagnoses and figure out the next best step for treatment,” Lee said. “We are very lucky here to be able to offer this type of technology to clients.”

it low enough to do what we needed to do. The herons will migrate to another location in the short term and then back when it’s filled up,” Ramsey said. Ramsey also put another long-rumored question to rest: there are no alligators in Chadwick Lake. To illustrate the complexity of the problem, Ramsey likened the lake to a living organism. Many factors can affect its health. “It’s just a combination of different situations depending on the wind and the rain and the heat because, for a while, it went away then it came back. The lake is a living organism, so if it gets out of balance, it reacts. But we’re looking to balance that out so it doesn’t happen again.” So for students currently running around a half-empty and stillslightly-smelly lake, rest assured: the university is hard at work to restore Chadwick to its previous untainted splendor.

CONTINUED FROM 1

completely configurable for a variety of testing. Anything that can fit in there, we can do testing on.” According to Teer, the research done in the anechoic chamber has been taken to the field as well in an effort to bring their work closer to fruition. “We’ve done testing in the field, where we’ve taken entire microphone arrays at airports where we can compare what we’ve seen in the lab to what’s out in the real world,” Teer said. Tom Brooks, the interim director of Raspet and former engineer, shared his thoughts on the chamber and the research done inside. “The project is going well. We’ve evaluated a number of configurations within that chamber to decide optimal flight

tests for the air vehicles, and we’re landing on the optimal conditions for our upcoming flight test later this year,” Brooks said. Brooks also spoke on the significance of Raspet’s work. “The importance of a quieter drone is really interesting when you start looking at it,” Brooks said. “Airplane noise is a problem for any application of unmanned. What’s driving this project is being able to fly at lower altitudes and quieter noise levels to avoid detection. It does a number of great things.” Brooks also spoke about how vital engineers, such as Hunter Vesa, are to this project. “I can’t stress enough how important the work that he led has been for Raspet and for Mississippi State,” Brooks said.

Megan Bean | Courtesy Photo

Research engineer Hunter Vesa and graduate student Todd Mabry are pictured in front of the new anechoic research chamber.

“With his hard work, we’ve made Mississippi State a recognized name in aeroacoustics for

unmanned systems. Ole Miss has enjoyed that recognition for a very long time, and I think Mississippi

State is becoming a rival. We’re very proud of what he and the team have accomplished.

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MSU Men’s Basketball vs. Iowa State Humphrey Coliseum 5:00 p.m.

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OPINION

Purchase a 3D printer for personal and professional perks

GRIFFIN ADCOCK

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

REFLECTIONS Steward Brand “Once a new technology rolls over you, if you’re not part of the steamroller, you’re part of the road.”

out on a resume and could even be useful in different classes. From personal experience, in every interview I have had with a potential employer, they always ask the question, “So what is a hobby of yours?” or some slight variation. It will be a lot more impressive and memorable to talk about your experience with additive manufacturing and 3D modeling than it would be to brag about your kill/ death ratio on Call of Duty on the PS5. Even for those who are not engineering majors, a 3D printer is still a fun, viable purchase. Making your own toys or knickknacks based off the latest popular media is now an easy possibility. It can also be a functional tool which can create do-it-

yourself parts and tools to complete your latest home improvement project. Whether you need a new vase, a new phone case or even a miniature replica of the Eiffel Tower for some reason, the possibilities of things to create are effectively infinite. Even if you do not want to spend the time making your own models, websites like thingiverse.com contain millions of files of premade prints to choose from. While 3D printing might not be the flashiest gift everyone is going crazy over, it can be a very useful and entertaining present. The endless possibilities it offers and the marketable skills you will develop at a relatively cheap price make purchasing a 3D printer a great idea.

Trivia Time! 1. Which Elton John song did former President Donald Trump use to nickname North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un? 2. Ozeki and yokozuna are the top

what?

MICHAEL BOURGEOIS

majority of Americans voted, not out of any particular affinity for the most milquetoast candidate of the last four decades but rather a unifying disdain for Trump and a basic understanding of history. Republicans tend to underperform in elections with high voter turnout, and if the Democrats can mobilize enough new voters, they will be at a natural advantage. And that is exactly what they did this past election year. According to BBC News, 62% of young voters ages 18-29, 87% of black voters, 66% of Hispanics and 56% of women all voted in favor of Biden. These are the coalitions which win and which Republicans seem to ignore. In addition to demographics, the Democrats using grassroots mobilization efforts flipped five key states from 2016, easily shooting Biden over the 270 electoral votes necessary for victory. Only after the election does Team Trump attempt

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ballots.” And in Michigan, based on a pile of Ethernet cables found at his polling place, a radio host argued Trump was cheated out of another presidential term. Absurdist claims such as these cast a major asterisk over the intentions of the Republican Party and also give reason as to why freshmen Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff were able to roll over Republican resistance and take both Georgia’s two Senate seats and the U.S. Senate majority. Republican voters were not energized to vote due to the way Georgia turned out in the presidential race. Georgia voters, according to Matt Haines of Voice of America News, have “very little confidence in Georgia’s capacity to conduct a fair and accurate election in January.” Across the state, 70% of Georgia Republicans believed the elections conducted on Nov. 3 were not free or fair. Guided by paranoia their votes do not matter and the

disorganized campaigns of incumbent senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, Georgia Republicans giftwrapped the Senate for the Democrats. Following the results of the runoff, right-wing frustrations were fully realized in a terrifying display at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 when rioters broke into the building. Trump did not immediately denounce the rioters. According to Nick Niedzwiadek of Politico, Trump said, “I know how you feel, but go home and go home in peace,” and “We love you. You’re very special.” Such rhetoric makes even the most ardent of supporters question the intentions of his claims. In addition, the actions committed on Jan. 6 shatter the idea of the Republicans as the party of civility and allow Democrats to accurately paint Trump supporters as insurrectionists and rioters — the same accusations Republicans accused militant Black Lives Matter rioters of doing last summer. Armed with a new sense of moral authority, Democrats lobby another impeachment charge against Trump, thus putting another ugly scar on his otherwise effective presidency from a policy perspective. So now, Republicans will face the consequences of their inaction — a united Democratic government hellbent on vengeance. May God save our republic.

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Life Editor/Sarah Morgan Johnson

Managing Editor/Hannah Blankenship

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to mobilize their base with a circus of lawsuits which history will remember as “The Kraken.” Subjecting the country to electoral challenges and an uncertain future which undermines our democratic processes made Republicans look like fools in the eyes of the American people and the Democratic opposition. The three months of convincing the country the election was stolen or Biden was illegitimate destroyed Republican credibility. Trump has every right to investigate and prove his case to a court, but it should go without saying evidence is a necessity. All unsubstantiated claims do is give the Democrats ammunition to use against Republicans, such as this piece from the Washington Post in which Dan Zak describes Trump’s court evidence as in Georgia where “citizens gave chase to trucks and staked out loading docks looking for suspicious boxes that surely contained fraudulent absentee

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Letters to the editor should be sent to the Meyer Student Media Center or mailed to The Reflector, PO Box 5407, Mississippi State, MS. Letters may also be emailed to editor@reflector. msstate.edu. Letters must include name and telephone number for verification purposes. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.

f e r f g b h in s f t h c in w m

Ouroboros depicts a serpent eating

is a senior majoring in English. Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.

So what happened? How did our great defenders of the republic falter to this extent? The answer is simple: the Democrats dominated the game of politics in the 2020 elections because the Republicans refused to play. 2020 represents the first instance of an incumbent president losing a reelection bid since George Bush Sr. in 1992, but when analyzing the election results and the state of our nation, President Joe Biden’s victory was inevitable. Biden did not defeat former President Donald Trump. The Democratic Party defeated Trump. N a t i o n w i d e mobilization efforts to get people to vote, the pandemic, the murder of George Floyd and the move to mail-in balloting inspired the highest voter turnout in any election in American history. All of these factors in conjunction with the fact the political right offered no counter-movement assured Biden the presidency. The

m e a N o p in N c f M

Republican inaction led to Democratic domination in the 2020 elections

The Republican Party, the great bastion of conservatism in America which I ashamedly count myself a member of, walks away from the 2020 elections discovering new ways to lose in spectacular fashion unrivaled in the world of politics since the Jimmy Carter administration. 2020 involved Democrats exploiting the crises of the past year and mobilizing their voter base against the most polarizing figure in American politics. This past year was the Democratic perfect storm which Republicans could not weather, and as a result, we face two years of united government under the most left-wing agenda in American history. The next few years entail a fundamental reshaping of the country, an instantaneous scaleback on the Donald Trump presidency and his four years of progress and the restructuring of institutions which make getting Republicans elected more challenging. Meanwhile, all we, the opposition, can do is sit on our hands and watch the events unfold as they happen.

U C h s b s o C

3. The ancient Egyptian symbol

ranks in which sport?

Answer: 1. “Rocket Man” 2. Sumo wrestling

purchase by any means, it is nearly half the price of the latest standard PlayStation 5 which starts at $499. Why purchase a 3D printer over a brand new gaming console? For starters, a 3D printer is still a fun, albeit different, enjoyable pastime, but it also can be an investment for your future. Particularly for engineering majors, owning a 3D printer can help develop many skills which could be useful in the workplace. According to Michael Dwamena of 3D Printerly, making the digital files to print specific objects must be done in a Computer Aided Model (CAD) software. Learning to create your own 3D model in various programs like SolidWorks or AutoCAD is a useful skill which stands

3. Its own tail

It is a little early to be thinking about your next Christmas list, but when the gift-giving season draws closer, a great present to ask for is a 3D printer. A 3D printer is not a typical gift most people might think to ask for or even know about, so in case you are unfamiliar with what it is, here is a quick summary. According to 3DPrinting, a 3D printer is a form of additive manufacturing which makes three dimensional objects by layering thin, successive sheets of material, usually a type of plastic, until the object is created. Before I cover the reasons you should have a 3D printer, you might be concerned about how large of a hole it will put in your bank account. Luckily for you, 3D printing has become more commonplace within the last decade. The printers have gone through the same process as the initial computers from the 20th century. What were once only expensive and solely commerciallyviable products have now developed into affordable personal devices. According to Matthew Mensley with All 3DP, an entry-level printer such as the Creality Ender 3 V2 only costs $269 on the official store website. The Creality Ender 3 V2 was the highest ranked for the lower price point, but there are still printers even cheaper which are available. While $269 is not a cheap

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LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT 5 THE REFLECTOR WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2021 @REFLECTORONLINE

New Maroon Camp fundraiser “dodges” COVID while curating community

MAGGIE PHILLIPS

STAFF WRITER

Mississippi State University’s New Maroon Camp staff continued its history of providing lots of safe fun for MSU students by hosting a COVID-19safe dodgeball tournament on Jan. 23 in the Sanderson Center. Braden Lewis, a junior majoring in chemical engineering, is the external affairs coordinator for New Maroon Camp. Lewis oversees fundraisers that provide scholarships for incoming students to attend New Maroon Camp while creating fun opportunities for current students and MSU community members. “I am in charge of fundraising, and that entails helping staff reach their own personal fundraising goals, as well as going around to different businesses in the area in hopes that they will aid us in funding camp,” Lewis said. “A big goal for our fundraisers — in addition to raising money — is to help form a community on campus and to get students involved in a fun activity while simultaneously raising money for a good cause.”

As the External Affairs Coordinator, Lewis has been the backbone for the execution of the tournament and has carefully orchestrated the event to be safe and fun, despite the risks of COVID-19. Lewis shared some of the safety measures in place prior to the event. “We’ve worked very closely with the Sanderson Center over Christmas break. So you will have to have your temperature taken when you enter the Sanderson Center and provide your name and NetID, so we can do contact-tracing if anyone does test positive,” Lewis said. “We will be requiring a mask at the event, and we will be following the Sanderson’s cleaning block schedule.” Due to the precautions the Sanderson Center has in place, the tournament was limited to 100 players at one time. Following these guidelines, the New Maroon Camp staff created a schedule allowing up to 18 teams of five students each to sign up to play. Anna Grace Hand, a sophomore agricultural communications major, is the multimedia coordinator

on the executive staff of New Maroon Camp. Along with spreading the word about various New Maroon Camp activities via advertisements and graphics, Hand develops safe forms of communication. “I make all the graphics and am in charge of photos, videos, postcards or anything that has a visual aspect,” Hand said. “Because of COVID-19, we are not allowed to hand anything out, so everything has been concentrated on social media this year.” Having participated in an in-person camp, Hand said they hope to host the coming camp in-person, as the experience is completely different when taking place on campus. This hope is represented in the lengths the staff has gone to in order to make this dodgeball tournament a tangible, physical experience. “We are so excited to be doing something inperson,” Hand said. “It will be good to see everyone in one room again.” Vy Yadav, a freshman working on an international business major, is a member of the programming staff and planned to play in the tournament with her friends.

MSU students can

Adam Sullivan| The Reflector

Payne Sleeper, a sophomore majoring in accounting, attended New Maroon Camp’s dodgeball fundraiser in the Sanderson Center Gym.

“We are really there to have fun and support New Maroon Camp because it’s a big deal for us as staff to promote it,” Yadav said. “Right now, we are helping with fundraising, which is basically what the dodgeball tournament is, to raise money for incoming students who might not be able to afford it — for students to have the opportunity to come, regardless of their financial situation.”

Originally from India, Yadav moved to Mississippi only two years ago. Thus, the idea of New Maroon Camp is particularly compelling to her, having experienced the transition into unfamiliarity in a way the majority of people have never known. “If you’re moving from your parents’ house to a new state or a new city or you’re living in a dorm with someone you may not know, moving in and having

classes the very next day can be overwhelming for so many people,” Yadav said. “New Maroon Camp gives them a feel for Mississippi State and the campus, and it unites the students.” With a little luck and lots of planning, the safety and community aspect which defined Saturday’s dodgeball tournament will define New Maroon Camp this coming August.

MSU students gather to “Remember the Main”

KERRIGAN CLARK

STAFF WRITER

fundraising goals, as well as going around to different businesses in the area in hopes that they will aid us in funding camp,” Lewis said. “A big goal for our fundraisers — in addition to raising money — is to help form a community on campus and to get students involved in a fun activity while simultaneously raising money for a good cause.” As the External Affairs Coordinator, Lewis has been the backbone for the execution of the tournament and has carefully orchestrated the event to be safe and fun, despite the risks of COVID-19. Lewis shared some of the safety measures in place prior to the event. “We’ve worked very closely with the Sanderson Center over Christmas break. So you will have

to have your temperature taken when you enter the Sanderson Center and provide your name and NetID, so we can do contact-tracing if anyone does test positive,” Lewis said. “We will be requiring a mask at the event, and we will be following the Sanderson’s cleaning block schedule.” Due to the precautions the Sanderson Center has in place, the tournament was limited to 100 players at one time. Following these guidelines, the New Maroon Camp staff created a schedule allowing up to 18 teams of five students each to sign up to play. Anna Grace Hand, a sophomore agricultural communications major, is the multimedia coordinator on the executive staff of New Maroon Camp.

Along with spreading the word about various New Maroon Camp activities via advertisements and graphics, Hand develops safe forms of communication. “I make all the graphics and am in charge of photos, videos, postcards or anything that has a visual aspect,” Hand said. “Because of COVID-19, we are not allowed to hand anything out, so everything has been concentrated on social media this year.” Having participated in an in-person camp, Hand said they hope to host the coming camp in-person, as the experience is completely different when taking place on campus. This hope is represented in the lengths the staff has gone to in order to make this dodgeball tournament a tangible, physical experience.

“We are so excited to be doing something inperson,” Hand said. “It will be good to see everyone in one room again.” Vy Yadav, a freshman working on an international business major, is a member of the programming staff and planned to play in the tournament with her friends. “We are really there to have fun and support New Maroon Camp because it’s a big deal for us as staff to promote it,” Yadav said. “Right now, we are helping with fundraising, which is basically what the dodgeball tournament is, to raise money for incoming students who might not be able to afford it — for students to have the opportunity to come, regardless of their financial situation.” Originally from India,

Yadav moved to Mississippi only two years ago. Thus, the idea of New Maroon Camp is particularly compelling to her, having experienced the transition into unfamiliarity in a way the majority of people have never known. “If you’re moving from your parents’ house to a new state or a new city or you’re living in a dorm with someone you may not know, moving in and having classes the very next day can be overwhelming for so many people,” Yadav said. “New Maroon Camp gives them a feel for Mississippi State and the campus, and it unites the students.” With a little luck and lots of planning, the safety and community aspect which defined Saturday’s dodgeball tournament will define New Maroon Camp this coming August.

Pageant Perfect: Miss Maroon and White represents a holistic beauty

HEATHER HARRISON

STAFF WRITER

When one thinks of a beauty pageant, ballgowns, perfectly styled hair and makeup probably come to mind. While that is an aspect of Mississippi State University’s Miss Maroon and White Pageant, the event has transformed to showcase contestants with exceptional character and pride for MSU. In the late 1960s, Miss Reveille Beauty, now known as the Miss Maroon and White Pageant, started as a section of MSU’s yearbook The Reveille. The ideas of what represented Miss Reveille were more focused on traditional styles of beauty, like elegant dresses, glamorous hair and makeup and high heels. The contestants were women who were no stranger to beauty pageants. In the earliest records of Miss Reveille Beauty, winners were often participants in the Miss

MSU pageant and other beauty reviews. According to Jackie Mullen, Assistant Dean and Director of the Student Union and Center for Student Activities, there was no interview portion in the pageant’s early days. Winners were chosen based on who was the most beautiful and graceful woman on stage. In 2003, the pageant’s name was changed from Miss Reveille Beauty to Miss Maroon and White. The event’s sponsorship that year shifted from the Reveille Yearbook to the MSU Campus Activities Board in the Office of Student Life, according to an article in MSU’s Newsroom by Sammy McDavid. Today, Miss Maroon and White is a symbol for the university as a whole. She helps recruit prospective students to campus, attends various events and speaks in classes. The honor of being Miss Maroon and White does not expire in 24 hours, rather it is something

the winner carries with her everywhere she goes. The idea of having Miss Maroon and White be a well-rounded woman is something the pageant directors feel strongly about. Mullen said they want the winner to be someone who can confidently represent MSU to the best of her ability. “It’s been really important that when we judge and when we look at who we want to qualify, that it’s somebody we’re all proud of representing our student body, not just in regard to the look of them on the outside but also the look on the inside of them,” Mullen said. At the interest meeting for the pageant, Yasmine Davis, assistant director of the Miss Maroon and White Pageant, advised the contestants to be authentic and unique, support their fellow contestants and practice their interview skills. She said these qualities are what sets apart the winner

from the other contestants. Gracie Anello, Miss Maroon and White 2020, gave similar advice and said judges were looking for contestants who had a graceful stage presence and were confident in themselves. “Judges focus on the way you interact on stage,” Anello said. “Some of the feedback I got was about poise and grace and being refined and dignified on stage.” Along the way, the pageant has evolved into more of an event than a mere beauty contest by incorporating a theme. This year’s theme is a Midsummer Night’s Dream, which will bring in a whimsical element to the night. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the pageant is undergoing a few changes. The number of contestants allowed will either be 21 or 24 ladies due to socialdistancing guidelines. Contestants must wear masks at all times, even on

stage, and the interviews will be conducted separately via a videoconference. Lastly, there will not be an opening dance. Julia Pratt, director of the Miss Maroon and White Pageant, said while these changes may be inconvenient, a few good things have come from them. “One thing that I’ve heard a lot from the contestants about the interviews is that they kind of like the idea of the interviews being a more low-key introduction to the pageant,” Pratt said. Over the years, Miss Maroon and White has come to represent Mississippi State University distinctively. Miss Reveille represented a more traditional style of beauty, and Miss Maroon and White exemplifies a more unique and personal style of beauty. Thus, the recognition has come to mean more for winners each year, as they represent the university more holistically.

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Bulldogs are set to get back on the mound JARED CONERLY STAFF WRITER

The hiatus is over, and the Mississippi State University baseball team is set to take the mound for the first time since COVID-19 abruptly brought all of college sports to a screeching halt. The MSU baseball program had just beaten a nationally ranked No. 2 team in Texas Tech University before the 2020 season was canceled, and the Bulldogs, currently ranked No. 7 in the nation, look to carry the momentum over into the 2021 season. This marks the fourth straight season MSU has entered the preseason poll with a top 15 ranking. MSU is not the only SEC school ranked in the top 25. Nine other SEC schools dot the polls, which is the most out of any conference in college baseball. Florida is at the

top at No. 1; Vanderbilt is No. 4. Ole Miss is No. 6; Arkansas is No. 8. LSU is No. 12; South Carolina is No. 18. And rounding out the last SEC spots, Tennessee is No. 19, and Auburn is No. 22. The baseball seasons begins for the Bulldogs on February 19-21, in Arlington, Texas, at the home of the Texas Rangers. Head Coach Chris Lemonis said in a Zoom interview session that his team is excited to hit the field and play in the beautiful stadium. “We’re excited. It’s been a long year since we were last on the field. Getting the opportunity to jump out and play this level of competition, this early in the season, in a beautiful ballpark, the excitement is there for us,” Lemonis said. “We’re ready to play ball. We look forward to seeing a bunch of fans …

All the teams will have them there. But our fan base is fired up and ready to get to Arlington and have a chance to watch us play, everybody play. It’s a fun time of year, and we’re honored to be part of this tournament.” The first home games of the season will be on Feb. 23-24, against Jackson State University, followed up by home games hosting Tennessee Tech University, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Eastern Michigan University and Samford University ending the nine-game home stretch. SEC play will start on March 19-21, when the Bulldogs will travel to LSU for a three-game series. Following that series, MSU will host Arkansas (March 26-28) and Kentucky (April 1-3) in back-to-back home game series. After that, the team will then head to Auburn (April 9-11) for a

series then head back to Dudy Noble Field to host Ole Miss (April 16-18) for a three-game series. Vanderbilt will host the Dawgs for a series on April 23-25, and then the team will head back to Dudy Noble to host Texas A&M (April 30-May 2) before heading to South Carolina (May 7-9). The last home game of the season will be against Missouri (May 1416) as the Tigers travel to the Carnegie Hall of College Baseball. Conference play will end on an away game against the University of Alabama on May 20-22. The annual Governor’s Cup contest with Ole Miss will not be played this season. MSU and Ole Miss released a joint statement detailing the reasons for canceling the game. “Due to scheduling and logistical challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ole Miss and

Mississippi State have agreed that the Governor’s Cup game in Pearl will not be played this year. While we are disappointed for our loyal fans in the Jackson area, we look forward to seeing our storied rivalry renewed during the scheduled three-game series April 16-18.” The SEC also announced the 2021 softball schedule, and MSU will begin conference play on the road against Ole Miss. Every SEC program will play one series on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, with the Monday game being aired on SEC Network. Softball head coach Samantha Ricketts said in a press release that her team is ready to compete and they look forward to beginning the season. “We are thrilled to be making strides towards getting back on the field after a long hiatus. The

leadership and collaboration from Commissioner Sankey, the SEC office and each institution has been tremendous in the collective effort to return to competition this year. We are looking forward to providing our student athletes the championship experience that comes along with competing in the Southeastern Conference and are ready to start the season.” The Bulldogs’ conference play will start in Oxford, Mississippi, on March 12-14, followed by hosting Florida (March 19-21) for the first home game series of the season. The Dawgs will go on the road and battle Arkansas (March 26-28), Missouri (April 16-18) and South Carolina (April 9-11). The remaining home games for the Bulldogs are against Texas A&M (April 23-25) and Georgia (May 7-9).

Men’s basketball falls to Ole Miss, Alabama LYDIA PALMER SPORTS EDITOR

This past week, the Mississippi State University men’s basketball team fell to both the University of Mississippi and the University of Alabama. This leaves the Bulldogs ranked eighth in the Southeastern Conference in men’s basketball, right above Ole Miss. Alabama is currently at the top of the rankings list. Last Tuesday, the University of Mississippi came to Humphrey Coliseum and ended up taking the Bulldogs with a 64-46 win. This was the biggest loss for the team so far this season, falling 18 points behind the rival team. Redshirt sophomore guard D.J. Stewart Jr. put 18 points on the board throughout the game, but Head Coach Ben Howland spoke on how Stewart Jr. put out more in the second half. “He had a few good looks in the first half that he just missed,”

Howland said. “I thought he started making the shots he normally makes in the second half. He did a good job in that respect for sure. We have to get more help. We have to be better than we were tonight offensively to be able to beat anybody in our conference.” Devontae Shuler, a guard for Ole Miss, has scored nearly 20 points at minimum for the past three games and continued with that trend during their matchup in Starkville. “Just being myself, being comfortable and taking advantage … ,” Shuler answered when asked how he has kept up his high-scoring streak game after game this season. “I’m just being more aggressive and just trying to come out with a win — whatever it takes to get a win.” Following their biggest loss of the season so far, the Bulldogs prepared for this weekend’s game against the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

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Following the Ole Miss game, Stewart Jr. discussed the mindset needed to face such a highly-ranked team after a loss. “(We) just have to have short-term memory loss,” the sophomore guard said. “In SEC play, it’s on to the next since they come back-to-back. So, we really can’t keep our heads down on this exact game.” It seemed like the Bulldogs fought harder on Saturday in Tuscaloosa, where they fell to the Crimson Tide 81-73, an eight point loss. The last point scored by MSU for the night was a layup by freshman guard and forward Cameron Matthews. Howland said he was proud of his team for coming back up from the loss against Ole Miss by scoring more against the higher-ranked Crimson Tide on Saturday. “We did a good job with our offense,” Howland said. “We were much more patient and played very unselfishly.” D.J. Stewart Jr. hit his SEC career-high of 27 points during the game. Coach Howland was impressed with the guard’s performance at Coleman Coliseum on Saturday. “I thought D.J. (Stewart Jr.) was absolutely phenomenal today at both ends of the floor,” Howland said post-game. “When you see when D.J. was in the game and I got him a little bit more rest, we were even with them. Bottom line is, when he’s in the game, that’s when we’re at our best.” Following this defeat by Alabama, the Bulldogs will be on the road for Tuesday’s game against Tennessee. The men’s basketball team will face the No. 5 SECranked Volunteers at the Thompson-Boling arena at 6 p.m. Central Time.

Mary Georgia Hamilton | The Reflector

Robert Woodard II, a former member of MSU’s team, scores during a game against the University of Alabama in the 2019 season.