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131st YEAR ISSUE 17
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
Intersection crosswalk has students cross-eyed by Kristina Norman Staff Writer
A recent petition started on change.org by a Mississippi State University student wants the university to address the need for awareness and safety for students living in nearby, offcampus housing. The petition on change. org titled: “Put in a crosswalk at the Hardy/Blackjack intersection by HELiX Apartments” seeks to address improvements to make the intersection more pedestrian friendly. Luke Allen, a senior in kinesiology, who thought of the idea for the petition, said the idea came from him witnessing a young woman attempting to cross the intersection and imagining how she might feel. As a kinesiology major, Allen said he and other students are taught “exercise is medicine.” Benefits to walking to class are immense, ranging from decreasing stress, blood pressure and encouraging healthy behaviors. Students need to have the option of walking to class, Allen said, because many do not have time to go to the gym. Walking gives students the opportunity to get their daily-recommended 30 minutes of exercise. Safety often gets in the way. “When there’s not a crosswalk,” Allen said, “it scares people and discourages them from walking or biking to class. If you have the pleasure of living so close to campus,
you should want to walk to class.” Allen notes the many apartment complexes near campus and students’ decisions to drive because of the road’s safety issues. Presently, the only option for students crossing the road remains walking across the middle of the roadway. This puts students at risk and also drivers who cannot always see students coming over a hill. Besides safety, Allen said he would like to see more educational awareness on campus about the rules of the road for students. One of the things that Allen said bothers him, is the need and emphasis by the university for students to walk or bicycle to class yet the lack of bicycling and walking paths for them. With the increase in the student population, Allen said, the university should give students alternative ways of getting to campus. Janelle Gagle, the HELiX community manager, said they have worked tirelessly on change.org and want students to feel safe crossing the road. One of the petitioners, Sonja Byars, said on the change.org petition page that she has two sons who live at HELiX one of whom must use a wheelchair. “There is no way way he could cross Blackjack Road,” Byars said. Allen said the university should take into consideration the moral and ethical responsibilities it has to make the university accessible to all students.
Staff Writer
Kristina Norman | The Reflector
Crossing the intersection of Hardy and Blackjack Road poses many dangers for students who have no choice but to walk to class daily.
The reason why Allen sought help from Starkville in Motion he said is their advocacy for safety as well as their dedication to helping people live healthier lifestyles. Kelcy Gooch, a senior in computer software and vice president of Starkville in Motion, said he wants to get more students involved on campus. Gooch said Allen coming to them was what alerted him and the Starkville in Motion president about the need and interest among students. At the moment, Gooch said he and Allen are the only two students on campus involved with Starkville in Motion. However, Gooch wants to change that because the more students they can get involved on campus, the more they can achieve in helping improve safety in and around campus. Crossing the Hardy and Blackjack Road intersection
near the HELiX apartment complex where many MSU students live, Gooch said, comes with many dangers for students who cross at busy times of the day or night. A lot of talk has gone on about a crosswalk Gooch said but nothing has come from all that talk. “The fact that there is fear of walking campus or walking across crosswalks,” Gooch said, “that is something that needs to be resolved or at least mended.” If the university will not put in a crosswalk, Gooch recommends they put up signs as a good alternative. Many signs on campus do not have information on them about crosswalks. Signs at crosswalks saying state law with arrows pointing to motorist to yield to pedestrians here or “share the road” for motorists and bicyclists would be beneficial. Gooch said his ultimate
goal would be getting an organization on campus like Starkville in Motion to promote awareness for bicycling and walking on campus. Because Gooch does not have an organization to represent those goals at present, it limits his reach. Jaycee Yott, a junior in electrical engineering who lives at HELiX apartments, said the reason she has not gotten hit yet is because she waits until the light turns green for the turning lane. She said other students do not watch the lights as closely and run right across forcing oncoming drivers to slam on their brakes. It came as a surprise, Yott said, for her to learn that HELiX had proposed a crosswalk, and the university did nothing about the problem even though they knew that many of the students who would live at HELiX would attend the university. CROSSWALK, 2
Unified Egg Bowl
Taylor Bowden | The Reflector
A mix of Special Olympics Mississippi Athletes and MSU Partner Athletes run passing drills.
As the sun set on the Mississippi State University RecPlex softball fields last Wednesday a small group of MSU athletes gathered in a loose circle stretching, waiting for the team’s star players to arrive to practice. Before long, a van driven by Special Olympics Mississippi Director of Public Relations Jim Beaugez pulled up and a few of those key players stepped out. Soon, the whole flag football team had assembled comprised of local Special Olympic athletes and MSU student athletes and they began to run passing drills in preparation for this year’s Unified Egg Bowl. The Unified Egg Bowl is one of the annual events for Special Olympics Mississippi and bring MSU and University of Mississippi’s teams and fans together to compete to raise money, awareness and support to Mississippi’s Special Olympics programs. The Unified Egg Bowl itself will be held
on Nov. 14 at the Intramural fields located on Stone Boulevard at MSU, and will more closely resemble the full-fledged Egg Bowl than a pick-up game of flag football. Beaugez said during the Unified Egg Bowl the MSU Famous Maroon Band will share the sidelines with the MSU Spirit Squad and a pregame tailgate sponsored by Camgian Microsystems. “It’s basically going to be the whole set up, just on a smaller scale,” Beaugez said. There is also a fan fundraising challenge online where Bulldog fans and Ole Miss fans compete in a donation drive to see which team can raise the most money. Beaugez said last year the combined donations exceeded $15,000. To make donations in MSU’s name and for more information on the event and the Special Olympics Mississippi’s program, visit http://www.specialolympicsms.org/sports/ unified-sports/unified-rivalry-series/.
Taylor Bowden | The Reflector
Daniel Tripp, Campus Connect Forecast (Department of Geosciences)
Originally founded in 1991 at Indiana University, Dance Marathon was made to honor fellow student, Ryan White, who passed away from complications with HIV/AIDS. Since partnering with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Dance Marathon has made its way to over 300 colleges and universities and has raised funds and awareness for more than 170 pediatric hospitals. Seven years after its original founding at Indiana University, Dance Marathon made its debut at Mississippi State University in 1998. However, the organization did not continue to be a part of our campus. Nearly two decades later, the organization was founded again by an ambitious group of students hoping to unite the MSU campus in the fight against childhood cancer. In January 2015, the organization took the name of StateDM. Similar to the first Dance Marathon hosted by MSU students, all proceeds raised prior to the event and during the Dance Marathon itself, go to the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital that StateDM supports: LeBonheur Children’s Hospital, located in Memphis, Tennessee. Alex White, StateDM’s vice president of finance, said their main goal for this year’s event is growth since they are only a second-year club after being brought back. “I would love to see more people register for Dance Marathon and start spreading the word about what we are doing and why we are dancing,” White said. This year, Dance Marathon will be held in the Colvard Student Union for the first time instead of the previous year’s event at Newell-Grissom, meaning more space for new games, ceremonies and entertainment.
Taylor Bowden, Online Editor
MSUʼs Unified Egg Bowl Team Coach Kris Upchurch explains a play to the team.
Reflections
Dancing helps fund charitable causes by Devin Edgar
Special Olympics Mississippi’s
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FORECAST: Temps back in the 80s this week with overnight lows dropping into the low 50s. A slight chance of rain on Wednesday but mostly clear conditions for the next few days.
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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY OCTOBER 25, 2016
CROSS WALK “You know everybody that lives at HELiX is going to Mississippi State,” Yott said. Yott said she walks to class and does not mind it. The part she does not like about walking though is trying not to get hit while walking across the street. Some drivers will stop and let students cross even when the drivers have the right of way. Other drivers will not stop for students and zoom through. “I would not stop pushing for a crosswalk.” Yott said. “A majority of people at HELiX walk to class.” David Harned, president of Starkville in Motion, said Allen told him HELiX sent a proposal for a crosswalk to the university along with data and research they had gathered but the university denied them. Another reason the university likely rejected HELiX’s crosswalk proposal, a source told Harned, is because the university plans on repaving Blackjack Road in the future. How far in the future Harned does not know.
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Harned said the issue he has with the problem simply is waiting. Recently Harned brought the issue of Blackjack Road up at a town hall meeting he attended that had State Representative Rob Roberson in attendance Roberson represents District 43 which includes a portion of Oktibbeha County. At the meeting, Harned said, one of the county supervisors acknowledged the gratitude they have for people wanting to build; however, they did not forecast the growth and development of the area, which has exploded, as well as they would have liked. Harned said the county does not have the money and would need to raise taxes for them to get anything accomplished with Blackjack Road. One of the things Harned has advocated for is a partnership among the city of Starkville, Oktibbeha County and the university. He said all three should look at the partnership as an investment for the future. Students go to the university, and those same students in turn benefit the city financially. Before the university made the decision to install a roundabout in 2002 at the intersection of Blackjack Road and Oktoc Road, Harned said traffic equated to a “nightmare.”
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What the Blackjack Road and areas surrounding it need, Harned said, is to have someone basically draw up new plans for making the area more pedestrian friendly. “There needs to be a complete redesign of the area to handle all the traffic,” Harned said. However, Harned admits nothing will change overnight and to think so would be plainly irrational. In the meantime, Harned is focusing his sights primarily on Starkville in Motion and its upcoming plans for 2017. Among those plans he said include adding an outreach officer and advocacy officer. Harned said his organization originally began from people living in the city who wanted to bring about changes to improve and make Starkville more pedestrian friendly. Now, many of the issues for the university have surpassed that of the city. Another alternative for the university, Harned agrees, would be creating a school zone from the roundabout on Oktoc and Blackjack Roads to the intersection of Hardy and Blackjack Roads. “It’s practical and should be relatively low cost to implement,” Harned said. Until any change happens, Harned urges students to go sign the petition to help bring the issue to the forefront, so university officials will take notice.
STATEDM CONTINUED FROM 1
In comparison to last year’s Dance Marathon, Abbey Huguley, vice president of logistics, said she plans for this year to surpass all expectations. “I believe the most effective way to do this is to make sure everyone on campus and in the Starkville area knows how they can contribute,” Huguley said. According to Alex White, junior finance major, getting involved in Dance Marathon is something every student can do. “Whether it’s being a committee member, being a dancer, donating, attending fundraising events, or just spreading the word, every little thing helps,” White said. “It really impacts all of the kids at the hospital.” Exceeding the original $25,000 goal by more than $10,000, Huguley said StateDM hopes to reach the fundraising goal of $50,000 for the upcoming Dance Marathon. Fundraising events leading up to the day of the event include Kones for Kids, Jammin’ in Jammies, a benefit night at McAlister’s and another benefit night coming to Dave’s Dark Horse Tavern on Nov. 8. Other fundraising
Friday October 21, 2016 9:24 a.m. Officer retrieved two bikes chained to handicap ramp at Colvard Student Union. 6:08 p.m. A student reported his vehicle was damaged while parked in Deavenport Hall parking lot. Saturday October 22, 2016 10:45 a.m. Officer responded to Rice Hall for a welfare check on a student. 6:22 p.m. Student reported receiving harassing text messages from unknown people. Sunday October 23, 2016 4:38 a.m. A student reported he broke his arm from an earlier incident near the YMCA building. Subject was transported to OCH via personal vehicle. 6:53 a.m. Officer received a call for welfare concern for a student. Outside agencies were called since he is not listed as an on-campus student. 5:07 p.m. Non-resident/visitor was arrested outside McKee Hall for trespassing. 22:26 p.m. Non-resident/visitor was arrested on Blackjack Road for suspended drivers license. Justice Court citation was issued. Monday October 24, 2016 3:34 a.m. A student was issued Justice Court citations for speeding and possession of paraphernalia on Stone Blvd.
events will be planned each month until the Dance Marathon on Feb. 3. For more information about specific events or what is next for StateDM, follow @state_dm on Twitter and Instagram.
If interested in participating, registration is still open on the StateDM website (stated. weebly.com). Acost of $20 covers an invaluable night entirely devoted to the kids of Le Bonheur’s Children Hospital.
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MENS CLUB SOCCER Celebrate being #BetterTogether with open-minded students having educational discussion on various religious and cultural events in the Union, room 330, on Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. FREETHINEKRS, ATHEISTS AND AGNOSTICS OF MSU
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The Reflector 10/25/16 Crossword
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OPINION
THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY OCTOBER 25, 2016
Assisted T h isuicide rd should remain pa rint ythe illegal United States
Anger of activists harms social movements by Chris Lowe Staff Writer
My generation has a knack for standing up for what they believe in. We are one of the first generations to have been born after the civil rights era of the 60s and also have constant access to the internet. Thus, it is no surprise our knowledge of the atrocities our own country has perpetuated combined with the unlimited potential of the internet often inspires us to be very open with our opinions. However, for all the good this does, there are quite a few people, college-aged in particular, who use this power to spread the wrong message. These “social justice warriors” take extreme stances on most social issues, shunning everyone who does not agree with them and even those that do not agree with them to as extreme of a degree. This has fostered an atmosphere of intolerance and abuse within American society, when most of the offenders would claim to be making a stand against this very idea. Medium phrases it better than I can: “…In attempting to solve pressing and important social issues, Millennial social
by Bouteina Driouche Staff Writer
“Assisted suicide” is suicide accomplished with the aid of another person or a physician. It is sometimes used interchangeably with “euthanasia,” which is the act of ending the life of an individual suffering from a terminal illness, as by lethal injection or the suspension of extraordinary medical treatment, according to the American Heritage Medical Dictionary. Assisted suicide is generally thought of as an assisted death rather than the allowance of a person to die. Numerous countries differ on their legal stances towards assisted suicide. According to Death with Dignity, there are currently only four places that legally authorize assisted suicide: Oregon since 1997, Switzerland since 1941, Belgium since 2002 and the Netherlands since 2002. There are another handful of countries—like Russia, Hungary, Ireland and England—that categorize assisted suicide as a criminal offence, subject to harsh penalties. There are also countries like Germany, Denmark and Finland where there is no legislation proclaiming assisted suicide as legal or illegal. Because the central principle of medical ethics is to do no harm, I believe a physician should not be muddled in deliberately harming their patient. Without the “do no harm” principle, the medical community would lose a large amount of trust. Allowing the killing of patients as an acceptable part of a doctor’s role likely increases the danger of involuntary euthanasia, rather than reducing it. According to the National Right to Life Committee, legalizing assisted suicide also places an unreasonable burden on doctors. The daily decisions made in order to preserve life can be difficult enough; to require doctors to also carry the immense moral responsibility of deciding who can and cannot die, and the further responsibility of actually killing the patients, is unacceptable. This is why the vast majority of medical professionals oppose the legalization of assisted suicide—ending the life of a patient goes against all they stand for. I strongly believe that life is sacred, and no one has the right to take a life, including their own life. As a result, I feel assisted suicide is deeply wrong. Religions across the globe—such as Hindu, Christianity and Islam— strongly forbid any form of suicide. Some people who do not agree with voluntary euthanasia argue that if it was legalized, it would damage the moral and social foundation of society by removing the traditional principle that man should not kill. I agree that this, in turn, would reduce respect for human life. That is truly unacceptable.
justice advocates are vio- are true in many cases, is not just an inconvelently sabotaging genuine the prejudice on the other nience to those who do not opportunities for progress side is almost equally bad, label themselves a pure libby infecting a liberal polit- especially amongst college eral or a pure conservative. ical narrative with, ironi- students. It is almost as if a It is not even a problem for cally, hate.” moderate stance on some- those of us who do consider Admittedly, I am an thing is a sin. themselves conservatives. opinion writer, obviously When I share my opinThese social justice waralso very prone to express- ion on social media, I make riors are hurting their own ing my opinions, and I sure to include a disclaim- cause, because their outdo not just do so via The er that my words are not right intolerance of oppoReflector. I often take to intended to be intolerant sition causes the issues and social media to display in nature, and this is not organizations they fight more informal versions because I am saying any- for to take a hit. of what I write here, and thing that could be considFeminism is an excellent when I do, example of I notice an ideoloquite a gy that suf“Millennials have to wake up and see the few othfers because ers taking of the harm their well-intended actions are causthe same close-mindliberty. edness of ing, especially if they ever intend to create I do not those who think there often fight real social reform.” is anything for it. I agree wrong with that empowa person erment for simply expressing an opin- ered intolerant. women is a very relevant ion, even if it is an opinion This is simply because and noble cause. However, I utterly disagree with. my lack of a pure left-wing I also acknowledge there However, I find it irritating stance is considered big- are enough angry extremthat people post informa- otry, racism or stupidity ists within feminist ranks tion that could influence by many. The Huffington that have caused the otherothers with little to no Post describes the phe- wise noble term “feminist” research on a topic and a nomenon by stating, “The to seem almost derogatory. closed-minded attitude to main problem is that anyFeminism is not the opposing opinions. one who doesn’t agree with only cause in which supMississippi is a hotbed strict rules on language is porters’ extremism harms for hypocrisy on the latter, often labeled as a rabid the cause itself. I routineas an often-touted opinion right-winger, even if they ly hear about Black Lives is that Mississippians are are actually moderate pro- Matter supporters physiclose-minded about racial gressives.” This hits home cally assaulting and verbalequality, homosexuality, for me, as a “moderate ly abusing those who disgender-fluidity and many progressive” concerning agree with their methods. other “liberal” topics. social policy in America. Many Bernie Sanders While these allegations However, this problem supporters make a habit
On this day in history...
Albert Einstein
influential artists of the 20th century, was born in
“When you are courting a nice girl an hour seems like a second. When you sit on a red-hot cinder a second seems like an hour. That’s relativity.”
Malaga, Spain. He had his first exhibit at age 13, and continued to produce art until his death in 1973 at the age of 91. history.com
Participation in homecoming election is hurt by insincerity by Roy Jafari Staff Writer
You do not need to follow any social media or watch for news updates to know when the homecoming election is taking place on the Mississippi State University campus. You know it is the day of the homecoming election when sticker-wearing students across campus are all suddenly interested in giving you free cookies or are keen to know how your day is going. Last Tuesday was the third time in my life that I was a part of such tradition as an MSU student. Similar to many other new events for me as an international student, I have not been able to stop thinking about the purpose—as well as the upsides, and downsides— of this interesting event. I believe the most valuable aspect of the homecoming election is the fact that students are given a voice to select their own student representatives. The whole process can
Editor in Chief/Kaitlin O’Dougherty
be seen as good practice votes make it impossible someone’s credibility the for being citizens voting for many students, myself next time they are nice. in a democracy. included, to accept them Another concern I have While I was not able with sincerity. with the election is the to find any reports from Unfortunately, this candidates themselves. I MSU about the rate of stu- practice is not just bur- am certain everyone has dents’ participation in the densome for the target at least once heard that election, I have observed students, it is even more homecoming court electhat not every student is potentially harmful for tion is a popularity coninterested in having any the students campaigning. test, which can be harmrole in the homecoming People may judge them as ful to a candidate’s self election process—many individuals based on their esteem and may also cause do not even vote. Even overly friendly behavior them to be disingenuine. among those I know who on election day. It is indeed hard to deny a did actually huge part of vote, many democratstated they ic elections “One reason many of my friends were against in general would not have voted is making voting was the change in the behavior of so many efforts to if they were not friends play to the students on the day of the election.” with one of gallery. the a candiAt the end dates. They of the day, only voted the voters in order to support their While I will always are going to vote for the real friends. applaud people who can candidate they have perOne reason many of treat everyone like their ceived as having the better my friends were against friends and enjoy even qualities for the position, voting was the change in simple human interac- whether they actually do the behavior of so many tions, the importance of or not. students on the day of the intention behind good Looking at the regulaelection. I totally agree deeds should not be tions in place for the homethat it is very easy to label forgotten. coming elections, one easthe sudden surge of niceI argue that an act of ily can see that I am not ness on campus as fake kindness with less than the first person who has and insincere. The blatan- proper intention behind raised these concerns. For cy of these efforts to score it can indeed degrade example, there is a process
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of calling everyone else delusional. There are many under these social umbrellas who fight for their beliefs in ways that do not discount everyone else or cause emotional and physical harm. The people who are damaging to others in supporting their cause, however, give their opponents all the ammunition in the world to blast them. This causes the legitimacy of their movements to fall into question. If they are not concerned with being level-headed in terms of their cause, one would think these individuals would at the very least be concerned with their own reputations. As a sophomore in college, it boggles my mind to see others my age participating in this, pun intended, sophomoric behavior. As a supporter of many of the causes I mentioned above, it hurts to see a lot of the older generations discounting these causes and, by association, our generation as a whole. Millennials have to wake up and see the harm their well-intended actions are causing, especially if they ever intend to create real social reform. If they do not, our generation will become the very thing we fear most: ineffective in causing change.
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of interview by a selection committee before a candidate can accept a nomination for Mr. or Miss MSU. This is clearly an effort to prevent a winner from being chosen that does not qualify to represent MSU. To be clear, in no way am I suggesting that the tradition of homecoming court is not of significant value. On the contrary, I believe long lasting traditions like homecoming court are too valuable not to be critiqued, updated and reformed based on our new understandings of the world. This way, these traditions can last. For instance, it was very heart-warming to see that minority groups in this year’s election have been successful. This shows unity on our campus, despite the nation’s ongoing struggles. Shawanda Brooks was the first black woman to be named MSU’s Homecoming Queen in 15 years. In addition, Feifei Zeng, an international student, managed to be among the representative students as a Senior Maid.
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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY OCTOBER 25,2016
Pumpkinpalooza offers seasonal family fun festival. Pumpkinpalooza will kick off at 6 p.m. with a MSU pep rally located in front of the Greater Starkville Development Partnership office at 200 East Main St. downtown. The pep rally is in anticipation of the MSU football team’s Saturday Homecoming game against Samford. New South Weekends has been considered very successful this year by the Partnership. Jennifer L. Prather, the special events & projects coordinator for
Prather said. Pumpkinpalooza will Staff Writer include events for all ages. A pumpkin patch will be located near the same intersection as the MSU pep rally. Attendees can Students still looking purchase a locally grown for a fun way to kick pumpkin from Lancaster off their Halloween Farms or take photos in weekend should check out the patch. Those who Pumpkinpalooza, a New choose to purchase a South Weekend event. pumpkin can move on Every year the Greater to the pumpkin painting Starkville Development station being put on by Partnership puts on events the Starkville Area Arts as a part of Mississippi State Council. University football team’s Music will be provided homecoming weekend throughout the event known as New South by Thurlow’s Weekends. “ Feedback has been as strong as ever with Party to Go. New South In addition Weekend many partners reporting sales growth beto the pumpkin events this year patch, face have included tween 15 percent and 20 percent and record painting and unWine attendance for several events this year.” inflatable Downtown jumpers will and Bulldog - Jennifer L . Prather, special events be available Bash. Goals for children. of New South and projects coordinator for the Greater Children Weekends and Starkville Development Partnership can also the Greater come in their Starkville Halloween Development costumes Partnership include generating the Greater Starkville and take part in Trickbusiness for Starkville’s Development Partnership or-Treating by visiting downtown businesses and said sales grew during participating Main Street merchants. making Starkville into some of the events. “Feedback has been Attendees of a destination town for as strong as ever with Pumpkinpalooza can those across the region. New South Weekends many partners reporting take part in the Starkville returns to Main sales growth between 15 Community Market where Street on Friday with percent and 20 percent vendors will be selling and record attendance for their products including Pumpkinpalooza, Starkville’s annual harvest several events this year,” produce and baked goods. by Will Wells
October 28 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Starts in front of Greater Starkville Development Partnership 200 East Main Street Events for all ages!
Bek Yake, The Reflector Those who stay late can also participate in late night shopping and dining at Main Street member shops and restaurants. While visiting the Main Street member shops, visitors can view each shop’s entry into a window display contest. The MSU Fashion Board will be providing live
Haunted Horse Park provides scares for all ages by Courtney O’Brien Contributing Writer
The fifth Annual Haunted Horse Park will take place at the Mississippi Horse Park on Oct. 28, 29 and 30. The Haunted Horse Park is a haunted house geared towards all ages. Doors open at 7 p.m., with a kid’s hour. Activities will continue until midnight each night with their ‘lights out’ section. There is a $5 entry fee for those over the age of three. Most of the proceeds will go to charitable organizations in Starkville and the rest of Mississippi. This year, Diana Gordon, program and activities director for the Residence Hall Association, will be heading the event. “The main purpose of the night is just to have a safe, fun night during the Halloween season. It gets the community
and people on campus involved,” Gordon said. Preparations for the project began in September, but Gordon has been working the Haunted Horse Park, since last year. This year, the project will raise money for organizations like, The Boys & Girls Club of Starkville and the Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital in Jackson. Gordon is aided by her team of volunteers and executives such as Nicholas Harris. “Our goal is to raise more money than we did last year, to have more fun than we did last year. It’s really a blast,” Harris said. As the president of the executive board for RHA, Harris’ job is to help the program come to life. Last year, the Haunted Horse Park raised $16,000 to gift to local charities and organizations. Each year, the project has continued to raise more funds with this year poised to be the biggest year yet. Bricklee Miller, the
modeling in Main Street shop windows. Most of the activities occurring as part of Pumpkinpalooza will end at 8 p.m. The Greater Starkville Development Partnership is anticipating Pumpkinpalooza to continue this year’s trend of New South Weekend events breaking previous
attendance records, so those wishing to attend Pumpkinpalooza should make plans accordingly. Streets that run into East Main Street between Jackson Street and Washington Street will be closed. Those who wish to fi nd parking downtown should look in the outer areas of downtown.
Make Your Own Christmas Cards! Three Christmas Card Design Workshops are being offered by Mitchel Memorial Library to teach students how to make their own cards using Adobe Photoshop. Cards made yourself and printed on cardstock can be mailed out for, on average, $30 per 50 cards, which is helpful for students on a tight budget. The workshops are free and held in Giles Electronic Classroom at Mitchel Memorial Library on October 28 at 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., November 18 at 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and December 1 at 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. There will only be 15 spots per session so students are encouraged to register online at the Mississippi State University Libraries website. All sessions will teach the same skills so attending more than one is not neccessary Students are encouraged to bring personal photos to use in their Christmas cards for a personal touch
MSU Housing| Contributing Photo
Last yearʼs park included a butcher scene with students dressed up in bloody garments.
facility director of the Mississippi Horse park will be hosting the event. “We’re excited to host the horse park again this year,” Miller said. “It’s a family-friendly event that has grown throughout the years that the community looks forward to every year. There’s nothing in the area quite like it.” Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer for the event can contact Diana Gordon at dmg265@saffairs. msstate.edu. Gordon
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is also looking for local businesses to sponsor the project. Volunteers will be needed for setup, manning the haunted house, ticket sales and tearing down the house. Those looking for more information can go to http://www.rhamsu. org/haunted-horse-park. The Mississippi Horse Park is another division of the Mississippi State University Extension Service and is located at 869 East Poor House Road in Starkville.
Bek Yake, The Reflector
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SPORTS
THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY OCTOBER 25, 2016
FACE OFF: Keep Dan Mullen as Head Football Coach... Taylor Rayburn
S
GO
!
Y!
TA
VS
@REFLECTORONLINE
Or say, “Ya Fired!” Dimerious Townsend
Jenn McFadden, The Reflector
It is no secret that the To put in perspective what Mullen? Les Miles? Why Mississippi State football team MSU football was before would he come here? If MSU is not very good this season. Mullen, MSU went to two just fires the best coach in their The team is 2-5 this season, bowls from 2000-2008. In history, why would Miles take and because of this, there are those eight years, MSU went the MSU job, which is argumany people, including stu- 37-69. That is the norm for ably the hardest job in the dents, who are calling for Dan MSU football. It is not opti- country. Mullen’s job. mistic, but it is realistic. Mullen Playing in the SEC West is That is the reason for this changed that. He is 57-40 over not easy especially when you column, to explain that MSU the last eight seasons, includ- play Alabama and LSU every cannot fire Mullen for a mul- ing this one. year. It is hard to win when you titude of reasons. When I talk Think about it this way, have an all-time win percentto other students on cam- Mullen changed the way peo- age of .490, which is lower than pus or see their tweets Vanderbilt’s. online, I get the impresyou com“Replacing the greatest player in So, sion that most students bine having have an unrealistic and your history is hard and quarterbacks one of the overly-optimistic view worst football of MSU sports. One of of Dak Presott’s caliber are hard to histories ever the reasons for this is along with come by.” - Taylor Rayburn because a lot of students playing in the did not follow MSU foothardest diviball before becoming a sion college student here. ple thought about Mississippi football has ever seen, and you This can cause the percep- State football and firing the get a very hard job to win foottion of MSU football to be that best coach in the history of ball games at. what has happened the last your school does nothing but Yet Mullen took a job as four years at MSU is the norm. make your school a place peo- hard as this one and brought 7-6, 10-3, and 9-4 are the ple do not want to coach at. them to the ranking of No. 1 records of MSU football the That brings up the next in the country for five straight last three years. However, that point. Not only was MSU weeks, and you want to fire the is not the norm here, those are absolutely awful before man who did that after one abnormities brought about by Mullen came here, but who bad year? Everyone knew this Mullen. does MSU hire if they fire team would not be good, not
this bad, but not good nonetheless. Replacing the greatest player in your history is hard, and quarterbacks of Dak Prescott’s caliber are hard to come by. Finally, Georgia went through this exact situation last year. People were upset with Mark Richt and they fired him. Now Georgia is looking at a worse season this year than what Richt gave them, as they are 4-3, 2-2 in the SEC and lost to Vanderbilt two weekends ago. With Richt, they won 10 games in four of the last five years before firing Richt. They were saying the same things about Richt, but now he is elsewhere, leading Miami, and Georgia is struggling. On top of this is not an easy place to recruit to, yet Mullen still found a way to win games here. All-in-all, these are the golden years of MSU football, and you cannot fire the greatest coach in your history after one bad year. Furthermore, who do you hire? Finally, why take the risk of being another Georgia when Mullen has proven he can win games.
the Cowboys this season. Now that Prescott has left Mississippi State, Mullen is left with a young team, and it does not seem to be rebuilding quickly. So far, Mississippi State
because young players do not want to come to an unstable program that seems to be getting a new set of coaches every year. Stability and tradition wins many recruits, especially in the South. Mullen was not even hired by Mississippi State’s recently former Athletic Director Scott Stricklin. Stricklin went ahead and hired Ben Howland, head coach for Mississippi State’s men’s basketball team, which had the No. 2 recruiting class coming in this season. Mullen is not the worst coach in the SEC, but so far he has only come near the best. Mississippi State is Mullen’s first head coaching job, and he still has a lot to learn as he keeps moving forward in his coaching career. Mississippi State seems to be going through a lot of changes with the hiring of a new athletic director and the start to a highly anticipated basketball season. Mullen could be seeing his last days here in Starkville. With coaches like Miles and rumored Charlie Strong being free agents, the Bulldogs could find themselves in excellent position to hire themselves a new head coach leading the Bulldogs into the future.
Mississippi State football fans are some of the most loyal fans in the SEC. Home to the cowbell, many people take pride in the southern hospitality shown here in Starkville. Dan Mullen has been at Mississippi State going into his eighth season. Back in 2009, Mullen brought enthusiasm to an SEC team waiting to become champions. So far, Mullen has made remarkable strides in Starkville, taking the team to No. 1 in the nation for the first time in 80 years. He has put numerous student-athletes in positions to make it into the NFL. His best work is how Prescott has turned out for
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how the way things have turned out, Mullen will have tied his record with Hugh Freeze at Ole Miss. Their current record is 4-3 with Mullen slightly ahead. For Mississippi State
“Now that Presott has left Mississippi
State, Mullen is left with a really young team and it does not seem to be rebuilding quickly.”
- Dimerious Townsend
is ranked 20th nationally in recruiting, and ninth among the SEC. This brings in the question of whether Mullen should remain here at Mississippi State. After the departure of Les Miles from LSU, Mullen’s seat began to get warm. Mullen has only finished the season ranked higher than fourth in the SEC once. He has never finished the season ranked first here in Starkville. This would not be so bad if Mullen was not the 16th highest paid coach in the NCAA. Mullen gets paid a $4 million salary but is only 26-30 all-time in the SEC. When compared to other coaches, Mullen has never even beaten Alabama. From the looks of this season and
fans, they have not seen the Egg Bowl trophy since 2014. Ole Miss already leads the Egg Bowl record 63-43-6, and coach Mullen is not helping Mississippi State pull that gap together. Even when you look at the coaching staff, Mississippi State does not have an effective offensive coordinator. This is a big issue for Mullen to have in the SEC. Mullen seems to want to be the head coach as well as the “shot-caller” here in Starkville. Defensively, the Bulldogs have gone through three different coordinators in three years. This is another big problem because our young players cannot adjust to a system that keeps changing year after year. This also hurts our recruiting
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