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TUESDAY OCTOBER 13, 2020

136th YEAR ISSUE 7

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

Student Association holds Sit Down to bring attention to racial injustice PRECIOUS COWART CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Jordan Smith | The Reflector

The Black Voices of MSU choir performs at the SA Sit Down at Bettersworth Auditorium in Lee Hall. The choir performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing” as part of the event.

Outraged by the injustices surrounding Black lives, Mississippi State University sophomore Aspen Humes decided to organize The Sit Down. The event was initially planned to be held at the MSU Amphitheater, but it was relocated to Bettersworth Auditorium in Lee Hall due to inclement weather.

On Oct. 10, students of all races and backgrounds gathered to witness “a peaceful demonstration against police brutality and social injustices.” Humes opened the ceremony with a passionate word as the audience stood to acknowledge the individuals whose lives have been taken at the hands of the police. George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Sandra

Bland and Breonna Taylor were among the names listed.

Humes expressed her belief that the threats facing African Americans are on the rise.

“The plight of being African American grows increasingly everyday,” Humes said.

MSU President Mark Keenum served as a guest speaker and did not shy away from the controversial topic. Keenum expressed the need for more events and conversations like the movement Starkville Stand Up held during the month of June. He spoke on the evil nature of racism and prioritized coming together to face the problem.

“We have to do all we can to emphasize the good that we have and overcome the evil. Racism is an evil.

Racism is a sin,” Keenum said.

SIT DOWN, 2

Multiple Mississippi medical marijuana MSU begins work on measures make it to the election ballot new Bulldog Way with DANIEL DYE NEWS EDITOR

This Nov. 3, Mississippi voters will be provided with the option of legalizing medical marijuana on the ballot, but the vote will have multiple options.

Voters will be able to vote in support of a medical marijuana program through the options of initiative measure no. 65 or alternative measure no.

65A, or vote against the legalization.

According to Jamie Grantham, communications director for the Medical Marijuana 2020 Campaign for Initiative 65, Initiative 65 was a collaborative effort by Mississippians to provide the option of a vote. Grantham said the state Legislature has never passed a medical marijuana program and has shut down more than 20 proposed

bills in the past. Initiative 65 is the result of more than 228,000 Mississippians petitioning for the option to be placed on the ballot.

Grantham described the appearance of Alternative 65A on the ballot as an effort of the legislature to once again block a medical marijuana program once Initiative 65 qualified.

“The legislature placed Alternative 65A on the ballot after 65 qualified. After every i had been dotted and t had been crossed and all the requirements were met, voters should have been able to have a simple yes or no, a fair up or down vote on the ballot,” Grantham said. “The legislature has had more than 20 years to put a program in place. if they truly wanted to have a program, they would have done it. 65A is not a genuine effort.”

MARIJUANA, 2

planned finish in 2022 DANIEL DYE NEWS EDITOR

On Oct. 6, Mississippi State University broke ground on Bulldog Way, a road construction project intended to alleviate traffic on heavily used roads such as Blackjack Road, Hardy Road and Stone Boulevard.

The two-mile Bulldog Way will connect to the intersection located near the Baptist Student Union on Lee Boulevard and run alongside the Campus Trails apartment complex and connect to Blackjack Road. There will also be a connection to the road behind the Industrial Education Building as well as sidewalks, bike lanes and improvements to the existing

traffic lights.

The contractor for the project is Burns Dirt Construction, a Columbusbased company with a history of working with MSU and Oktibbeha County, and the engineering firm in charge is Pickering Firm Inc. out of Flowood, Mississippi.

According to Nic Parish, Burns’ vice president of operations and contracting for Burns Dirt Construction, the plan will be completed in phases since active roads will be replaced with most of the work being done in the summer while students are away.

“We will go through and clear and install erosion control in the coming weeks.”

BULLDOG, 2

Spring break is canceled, but Greek sees fewer restrictions Students respond to renewed off-campus restrictions but fewer for Greek events

JOSHUA STEWART

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Mississippi State University recently instituted amendments to the official COVID-19 rules and regulations such as the cancellation of spring break, random testing of students and faculty and a change to the number of people allowed at an outdoor event, including Greek life parties and swaps. The events were allowed to start back under a trial period or “pilot program.”

The pilot program of events took place over two weekends, and MSU Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Hyatt said she was happy with the results and is halting the

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pilot program to analyze.

“By all accounts, we had good compliance at those events. Those students were required to participate in our asymptomatic testing, and we are pausing that pilot program to assess our positivity over the course of those events and any impact these events had on our student community,” Hyatt said.

Hyatt described the random testing as a way of monitoring events and residence halls on campus.

“We have begun random asymptomatic testing, and we have done that by identifying residence halls, student life groups and student life events as the places where we’ll conduct random testing. And we have

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randomly selected students out of those subpopulations, contacted those students to let them know they have been selected and are conducting that through Longest Health Center,” Hyatt said.

Hyatt explained the decision to cancel spring break as a measure to limit traveling and exposure to COVID-19, similar to the decision to end the fall semester before Thanksgiving break.

The changes have not been without controversy, with one student going as far as to write an open letter to Hyatt. Brady Kruse, a senior in computer science, voiced his concerns to Hyatt, saying in the open letter, penned on Oct. 1, that he “seriously questioned the merit” of

hosting these larger events.

Hyatt said in her response to Kruse that “we had good compliance with the guidance” for the events held recently. Kruse was satisfied with this response, but said he “certainly disagreed with some things.”

Kruse was skeptical from the get-go of the pilot program and the nature of the events being held.

“While case numbers are down, a great way to stop case numbers going down is to host these large events. I think for our first attempt at social gatherings and letting students congregate, it should be something with a bit more tangible benefit to it than just having a good time and partying,” COVID-19, 2 Kruse said.

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SIT DOWN

“Unfortunately, this world that we live in will always have sin and evil, but when we see evil, we have to address it swiftly and with justice.”

MSU’s Black Voices choir took the stage and sung their rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

MSU Student Association President Tyler Packer followed by defining racism as a problem within someone’s heart.

“It’s all about the heart,” Packer said.

“Racism at its root is a heart issue, an identity crisis, miscommunication and misinformation. It’s a lie.

Find your heart issue, and challenge yourself to fix it.”

National Panhellenic Executive Council President Skylar Shields shared his first experience with racism and discrimination as an 11-yearold boy. While traveling home

back to Starkville, his family stopped at a gas station and asked for directions for the fastest route. Shields, whose mother is white and father is Black, witnessed the station attendee tell his mother she would gladly give her instructions if her son left.

“In that moment, I thought I did something wrong,” Shields said.

Shields encouraged everyone to seek unity and educate themselves on different cultures and backgrounds.

“Be open to the conversation,” Shields said.

“Be willing to learn about things you don’t know about, and educate your friends.”

MSU student, musician, poet and Battle of the Bands-winner Wesley Thomas, known by the stage name Millennial, presented a spoken word portion to the audience.

CONTINUED FROM 1

Student-athlete Sidney Cooks, a native of Kenosha, Wisconsin, then delivered a message. Living only three blocks from the site where Jacob Blake was killed, she said she refuses to remain silent about the inequality and systemic racism Black men and women face every day.

“Dying at the hands of those chosen to protect us shouldn’t be normal,” Cooks said.

Cooks encouraged all students to vote and realize change happens with us, the students and the future.

“Let’s stand together and continue to fight for a change,” Cooks said.

Humes closed the event with a moment of silence for the lives that have been lost. She vowed to continue the conversations and encouraged others to do the same.

Jordan Smith| The Reflector

Aspen Humes, MSU sophomore and organizer of the SA Sit Down, addresses the audience of the event at Bettersworth Auditorium.

MARIJUANA Grantham noted some of the key features of Initiative 65 are a clear start date, organized framework, a self-funded program and a comprehensive list of 22 included medical conditions qualified for treatment; including cancer; ALS and chronic pain, but Alternative 65A lacks this amount of definition.

“Alternative 65A doesn’t have any of that. It would only be for terminally ill patients and there is no list of debilitating medical conditions, so it leaves it up to politicians to decide who would qualify,” Grantham said. “65A does not have a program start date, so there is not even a guarantee that they would ever put a program in place. There is nothing in 65A that requires them to ever start a program. On top of that, there is also no framework, so voters have no idea what they are voting for.

Alternative 65A would also be on taxpayer’s shoulders to

CONTINUED FROM 1

fund the program.”

Paul Armentano, deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), said he believes criminalization of marijuana to be a “century-long failed policy” which hinders the criminal justice system, wastes taxpayer dollars and creates a distrust for law enforcement and marijuana users alike.

Armentano cited the success of present recreational and medicinal systems present in the U.S. as reason for Mississippi to move towards medical legalization.

“With respect to the ballot in Mississippi, we are at a point now where over 30 states have legalized the production and dispensing of medical marijuana for patients. We know that some of these state-sponsored programs have been in place now for more than two and a half decades, providing

us with ample real-world evidence as to the safety and effectiveness of these programs. Over time, the majority of states that have legalized medical marijuana have expanded those laws and policies so that a greater number of patients can benefit from those laws,” Armentano said. “I think that speaks to the reality that these policies are effective, seldom abused and both lawmakers and the public that reside in these jurisdictions with these legal medical marijuana policies clearly prefer those policies over criminalization.”

Starkville resident and SAGE Coffee & Books Owner Lara Hammond is a strong supporter of legalization. She has a personal connection to marijuana due to her mother’s sickness when she was younger.

“When I came home to Mississippi, my mom had Alzheimer’s, and it was a real shame she couldn’t

get any medicine. So I have been an activist for many years,” Hammond said.

“Who is to say? My mom might have lived another 10 years if I had access to cannabis, reliable and good cannabis. I definitely believe in legalization, 100%.”

Hammond will vote for it, despite her belief it should not be a political issue.

“I believe in voting for it, even though it is a very convoluted issue. It is a political football, and it really shouldn’t be because it is people’s lives. It is a right to life and happiness issue, as well as a constitutional issue,” Hammond said.

Hammond insisted legalization would be a resounding positive for Mississippi.

“It is a win-win for the state, for humanity, for farmers. It needs to happen.

If it gets on the books and we realize it is not the best bill, we can fix it. At least it is the people standing up for

MS Secretary of State website

For the 2020 ballot, voters can choose between three different medical marijuana options.

The first question asks the voter whether or not they approve of the legislation. The second question is for the approval of either Initative Measure 65 or Alternative Measure 65A.

what they want,” Hammond said. “If you don’t like it, just stay away from it. That is the beauty of a free country. We are in the land of the free and

COVID-19 “Something that benefits all students and something we can point to as a reason we’re allowing this to happen.”

Kruse also spoke of his personal experience as an editor for The Streetcar, a creative journal on campus, as a source of his skepticism.

“We struggle to have 15 people in a room for our meetings. We have to WebEx people in, and it’s a mess,” Kruse said. “That reflects

CONTINUED FROM 1

poorly on the university for our first attempt at this to be something that is dedicated to partying and social engagement, rather than something that provides a benefit to all students equally and is inclusive in and of itself.”

Kruse did not want to seem only disparaging and said he respects the university and its administration. He added he approves of almost

every measure the university has taken to stop the spread of the virus.

Tyler Melvin, a junior history major, was also skeptical but mostly supportive of what the university has done up to this point.

“I have more in-person classes than most students, and those also offer online options,” Melvin said. “I think people need to take it more

seriously, so we can get to all in-person.”

Melvin also did not entirely approve of Greek life being allowed to host events under the pilot program but said he understands it, since Greek life is very influential on campus.

Melvin said he wishes some regulations would be enforced more.

“I like that they offer inperson and online; I wish

they’d enforce mask wearing more heavily. Keep regulations in place that we have now, and enforce other policies more heavily. Not enough enforcement. Mississippi is still a hot COVID-19 area,” Melvin said.

While some have been skeptical, Hyatt is still hopeful for the future of MSU’s efforts to address the pandemic.

“I just want to communicate how proud I am

BULLDOG We will install the north half of the road from working from Campus Trails north towards campus and then build that out. During summer break next year we will start the south half and get that built and the west half,” Parish said. “It is not going to be complete until the fall of 2022 because we

home of the brave.”

This project was produced with support from a grant from the American Press Institute.

of our students, their resilience in this very uncertain time, and so appreciative of their commitment to wearing their masks and being responsible with their personal behavior,” Hyatt said. “We understand that this online experience can be very isolating, and we’re certainly trying to ensure the mental well-being of our students. I think we have tried to strike the right balance there.”

CONTINUED FROM 1

will have to complete so much while students are gone from campus, since we are replacing active roadways.”

Parish said he wants students and residents of the nearby apartment complexes to be wary of the construction process.

“We want to stress to students that if they are

walking from Campus Trails to the campus, be alert. They will be crossing an active job site. We will have signs to direct traffic and caution signs, but there will be guys working there every day,” Parish said.

MSU President Mark Keenum stated in a press release his belief in the

importance of the new road as an effort to curb the traffic on campus and in allowing the university to continue to grow.

“This project is crucial not only to alleviating current traffic issues but for the future growth and development of our Starkville campus,” Keenum said.

MSU Chief Communications Office Sid Salter echoed this sentiment and said he believes the installation of the road will be useful for alleviating traffic on high-traffic roads for commuters, game days and other highly populated events.

“The Bulldog Way project will do a great deal to alleviate traffic at the center of campus and to assist a great deal with people commuting to and leaving from the university to go to Columbus, Macon and basically any route east. It will of course make game day and other mass traffic jam situations a lot easier,” Salter said.

Salter also mentioned the convenience of the road for apartment residents and locals of Starkville and Oktibbeha County, noting the new road as an alternative commute for work and school.

According to Salter, the $7 million project will

Google Maps

This outline shows the layout of the upcoming Bulldog Way, a road intended to alleviate traffic.

be funded using a federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant, or TIGER grant. The grant stems from 2017, and the project is a result from collaborative

planning between MSU, a congressional delegation from the late U.S. Senator Thad Cochran and the Mississippi Department of Transportation located in Jackson, Mississippi.

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OPINION

Legalizing medical marijuana will lead to a rise in illicit use M GRIFFIN ADCOCK

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Medical marijuana is becoming a common ballot item across many states, and the option to legalize it will be presented to Mississippians this November in not one but two different initiatives.

The two initiatives are strikingly different, which is most likely due to the source of each initiative’s conception.

According to Ballotpedia, Initiative 65 was added to the ballot because the Medical Marijuana 2020 campaign received over 214,000 signatures, but Alternative 65A will appear on the ballot because, as its name suggests, it was an alternative proposed by the Mississippi State Legislature.

Both initiatives limit the use of medical marijuana to each initiative’s respective qualifying patients, but ironically, the legalization of medical marijuana will lead to a higher illegal use amongst non-qualifying people. The vast majority of people currently illegally using marijuana in Mississippi are not doing so because of a medical condition, so they will not qualify for its legal

medicinal use. While perhaps a percentage of the illicit use will decrease, it will most likely rise due to the increased availability and the tight restrictions on qualification.

The rise in its illicit use will also be notable in kids and young adults, which are age groups scientists worry will have their brain development damaged by drug use.

By legalizing medical marijuana, the initiatives will increase the availability of marijuana to the public as intended, but it will also increase the usage amongst underage and unqualified people. Both initiatives place restrictions on who will be able to use it, but if laws like that were completely upheld by the public, there would not currently be any illicit use of marijuana in Mississippi.

However, according to Turning Point, over 170,000

people in Mississippi have used marijuana in the past year despite it being illegal.

A comparable increase in underage users’ illicit use of substances can already be seen in the case of cigarettes and alcohol. Tobacco and alcohol are illegal for anyone under the age of 21 in Mississippi, but that does not prevent resourceful young adults and kids from getting their hands on it.

Underage people have been finding ways to circumvent the laws most likely since the inception of those laws. Fake identifications are everpresent in high school and college, or people have their older, qualifying friends purchase the substances for them.

Despite all the laws intending to prevent minors from having these illegal

products, the American Lung Association reported tobacco usage by high schoolers increased to 31.2% in 2019.

While marijuana usage would not be as presumably widespread as tobacco usage in minors since marijuana would not be sold in every gas station like cigarettes, there would still be an expected rise in its use. Although it might not be as common as a gas station on each corner, dispensaries allowed by Initiative 65 or state licensed healthcare providers allowed

by Initiative 65A will increase the presence of marijuana in Mississippi, making it that much more available for illicit users to get a hold of.

The reason the rise in availability and illicit use of marijuana in children and young adults is such a concern is because of the continuing

brain development at those ages. While proponents of medical marijuana are hopeful in its promise to treat different ailments such as cancer, seizures and many others, marijuana’s usage has been shown to impact a developing brain.

According to the American Psychological Association, continuous use of marijuana caused a decline in neuropsychological functioning which was equal to a decrease in six IQ points, an effect similar to the effect from lead exposure.

Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to those effects since the brain is still developing into a person’s 20s, especially the frontal cortex which is responsible for judgment and decision making and is the last area to complete development.

Other studies reported on by the American Psychological Association have tried to counter by claiming those studies were flawed because they did not consider factors such as alcohol consumption or gender, or later trials failed to show the same results.

While the debate on marijuana’s effect on the brain is continuing in a back-

and-forth battle between different scientific studies, it is a well-documented and proven fact that brain development continues into a person’s 20s. So, the effect of marijuana on the developing brain may be up for debate, but until it is proven one way or the other, it is better to go by the old saying “better safe than sorry” and limit the availability of marijuana to adolescents.

No matter one’s opinion on medical marijuana, legalizing it in any form will lead to the wider use of it in Mississippi, legally or not.

Children and young adults are the most susceptible to the potential dangerous effects of marijuana usage, and its increased availability will only provide more opportunities for those who do not need it, to find it. No initiative or law will prevent the illegal use of marijuana, otherwise there would not be any crime, but it is important whichever initiative or laws are enacted should work to prevent the exposure of marijuana at developmental ages.

This project was produced with support from a grant from the American Press Institute.

Continue to follow the mask mandate in Starkville Starkville ranks subpar when it

comes to college town attractions

EMMA DOTSON

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

PAYTON BROWN

is a sophomore majoring in philosophy.

Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate. edu.

On Sept. 30, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves became the first governor in the nation to end a statewide mask mandate after COVID-19 case numbers dropped across the state of Mississippi. Regardless of Reeves’ decision, the city of Starkville’s mandate remains set in place for indoor, public areas.

Many residents of Oktibbeha County are questioning why the release of the mandate has not extended into their own city limits. The decision to continue abiding by a mask mandate was a safe and smart option on Mayor Lynn Spruill’s part, and the decision will allow Starkville COVID-19 numbers to remain low.

Masks can be irritating and are an inconvenience to wear; however, the concern to be raised should be directed toward whether the masks are protecting the population from potential COVID-19 exposure.

According to the Mayo Clinic Staff, the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have deemed face masks a recommended inhibitor for the spread of COVID-19. The CDC also emphasized the virus’s ability to spread mainly among people who are in close contact with one another, so the use of masks is particularly important in settings where people are close to each other.

COVID-19 is spread through droplet form.

Therefore, when masks are involved, this keeps germs from being spread from one party to another. Masks are our shields and protect us not only from COVID-19 but

also other potential illnesses we could be exposed to.

The recommendation from our national and international health organizations to use a mask during the national pandemic should be persuasive enough to make citizens want to wear a mask, but many do not see the need if they feel the population’s outbreak numbers have lowered.

As of 6 p.m. on Oct. 9, 957 positive COVID-19 test results have been reported to the Mississippi State Department of Health. There are 957 people in Mississippi who still have the virus and hold the potential to spread it to different parties.

While those numbers are not all necessarily located in Starkville, the potential to catch the virus still is. It just takes exposure of any of those individuals for the virus to spread and eventually make its way back to Starkville.

What if you have already had COVID-19? How does this still affect you? Kai Kupferschmidt of Science Magazine says there is a

possibility an individual can obtain the virus more than once after a 33-yearold citizen of Hong Kong proved this to be true. The chances of catching the virus more than once is unlikely, but the possibility should alarm anyone for whom the virus did not bode well the first time around.

Let us not forget about the individuals who have yet to catch COVID-19. If Starkville was to discontinue the mask mandate, those citizens would be completely exposed and could easily catch COVID-19 if another outbreak were to occur.

There are so many people who outwitted the virus the first go-around, and to disregard the safety of these individuals when the virus is still present almost seems careless and disrespectful.

With that being said, thank you, city of Starkville, for once again looking out for your students and citizens and for helping the town slowly build itself back up in the face of the dreadful COVID-19.

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Miniature Golf Courses Incorporated, a company which has been involved in the golf-course design and construction industry for over 30 years, minigolf is the safest bet for investment because of its minimal need for excessive staff and equipment costs, its low liability and its high profitability.

With just a minuscule investment, Starkville can become more family-oriented and welcoming with options besides the usual nightlife.

However, these investments do not have to be catered to one type of crowd. Arcades, for instance, have been a staple in American culture for decades now and can be altered to appeal more to certain crowds at different times.

Arcades do not have to be designated as an exclusively games-only realm, even though those generate a decent amount of revenue by themselves. For example, Spinner’s of Florence has bowling, roller skating, arcade games and virtual reality all under one roof.

This establishment caters not only to children but to adults and everything in between.

Obviously, something that large may be too far-fetched for new entrepreneurs, so a simple arcade is a safe and good investment with room to grow. As previously mentioned, classic arcade games produce a decent amount of revenue.

Solomon O’Chucks with ProfitableVenture claims if

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CORRECTIONS

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i N S r H M e a facility is large enough, one y machine can produce at least $200 dollars per week.

However, money is not the only positive influence these additions can push into effect; these attractions H also help with mental health C and social well-being. With new places to meet people and the space to allow old f friendships to flourish, it is will be a hub for millions S of memories and life-long a connections. h According to Esteban d Ortiz-Ospina of Our World h in Data, a study conducted at Harvard University begun b in 1938 tracked the lives of lo 724 young men in order to S observe the evolution of F the participants’ health and o well-being over the course of h their lifetimes.

Robert Waldinger, a the director of the e Harvard Study of Adult S Development, concluded e “social connections are H one of the most important s factors for people’s happiness n and health” and discovered t those who maintained strong s relationships were happier f and lived longer while those o who were lonelier died t sooner. a If this study proved being A around others and having s close friwendships for that H many people are important to humans’ longevity, then e should there not be spaces a to help facilitate these I connections? College is ‘a meant to be the place where a we meet those who become p our found family, so let us I build a place to find them. p B

Life Editor/Sarah Morgan Johnson

325-7905 editor@reflector.msstate.edu

Sports Editor/Lydia Palmer

It is a typical weekend, and Mississippi State University students sit on the couch with their friends debating the typical question many Starkville inhabitants have: “What do you want to do?”

Whether it is date night, a night on the town or a family outing, the extent of entertainment attractions is slim. There are about four options for amusement: go skating at Skate Odyssey, see a movie at United Entertainment Corporation Theatre 11, go out to eat or drive 30 minutes to go bowling.

Surely, one would think, a college town would have more to do. After all, other neighboring universities such as the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of Mississippi have made some investments into these opportunities.

Southern Miss has a zoo, Alley Cats Axe Throwing Company, UpDown Trampoline Park, Extreme Skate Zone and Hub Bowling Lanes. Ole Miss has the Oxford Film Festival drive-in movie, Premier Lanes bowling, America’s Escape Game, double decker bus tours and Lyric Theatre.

This is not to say Starkville needs all of these things, but it would be worth it to pick and choose a few of these entertaining ventures to incorporate into the student social life.

It should also start locally with resident entrepreneurs, not with the outsourcing of chain companies. Dave and Buster’s is a great time, but it would be more special and profitable to Starkville’s economy to look nearby.

The profit in these types of businesses is surprisingly high, and depending on which organization is implemented, it can have little expense.

According to Harris

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The Reflector staff strives to maintain the integrity of this paper through accurate and honest reporting. If we publish an error we will correct it. To report an error, call 325-7905.

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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2020 @REFLECTORONLINE

LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT 5-Life

5

Mississippi Today: MS fights for racial justice

KERRIGAN CLARK

STAFF WRITER

From a very early age, Americans have been taught about the racial injustices committed against Black Americans since their country was formed. In weak attempts at equality, Americans have read small sections in history books and passively celebrated Black History month at schools, only for the same efforts to be swept under the rug in March.

Although Mississippi has seen big changes in the past 155 years, the state still has a ways to go. With 37.8% of Mississippi consisting of African Americans, their struggles are ubiquitous in the state.

Between the battle for equal education, proportional employment and prison reform, everyday life can feel like a battle for many Black Mississippians.

Although there is still a long way to go, Black Mississippians have been fighting for centuries to make Mississippi a more equal place for the next generation. But with the recent removal of the state flag and protests over the killings of unarmed Black men, Mississippi is moving in a new direction.

A large responsibility of obtaining social justice rests on the shoulders of Mississippi youth. High school and college students have stepped up to the plate and taken the reins from the generation before them to lead the fight.

Maisie Brown, an incoming freshman at North Carolina A&T State University and recent graduate of Murrah High School in Jackson, Mississippi, is a prime example of Mississippi’s youth fighting for justice.

Brown was the main

organizer and youngest speaker for the Black Lives Matter protest in Jackson, Mississippi this past June.

She received her start in middle school with an assignment to design a new state flag.

“At the time I did not know there was an issue with the current state flag that we had. So once I figured out that there was an issue with that flag, it led me to write an opinion piece that got published in the Jackson Free Press,” Brown said. “It was entitled ‘The Cloth on the Stick Represents Hatred Toward Me,’ and once that piece took up steam, it led to me being involved in a lot of different rallies, lots of events and speaking at the United States Capitol.”

A big goal Brown has for the Mississippi

Legislature is addressing the lack of equitable education in Mississippi.

“Even though the state flag is down — that’s a great first step — but I don’t think that it should stop there. One of my main concerns ... is the lack of equitable funding here in Mississippi. I’ve seen a lot of people ignore or see the differences in school, in districts that are majority white or majority Black and brown, but they kind of choose to ignore why those differences exist and why it is such a stark difference with school districts just within 10 miles of each other,” Brown said.

The lack of equitable education in Mississippi has been a problem since the early 1990s, with “wealthier districts’’ getting

more support and more funding for their school.

These wealthier districts depend on property taxes to determine how much money their schools will receive. By cutting themselves off from their needy neighbors, they can keep their property taxes at a consistent level and keep all of the resources for their own children’s schools.

The EdBuild’s Second Annual Report on Student Poverty details the percentage of children in school districts in the U.S. who fall below the poverty level.

Percentages in Mississippi range from 12% to 54%, exposing the wealth gap between districts.

Donald Shaffer, the director of African American studies at Mississippi State University,

attests to the positive changes Mississippi has made in recent years.

“I think race relations in the state have certainly changed for the better, and I think that is evidenced by the recent retiring of our old state flag and the really consolidated effort around putting a flag in place that is an appropriate symbol for all Mississippians ... I think Mississippians are communicating with each other and speaking out about these issues, and I think that is demonstrated by some of the peaceful demonstrations that we saw here in Starkville and other places in the state,” Shaffer said.

Leading the way can be burdensome, especially for Black and brown students who have to experience

these injustices on a dayto-day basis. However, despite the challenges, it is important to continue to work and get involved in fighting for social justice.

“I think the best advice I can give is where there are no opportunities available, to create one. The most empowering thing you can give an individual to do is to decide that he or she wants to bring about some sort of positive change and then they do that ... There are always opportunities for you to create an opportunity,” Shaffer said.

Black Lives Matter Mississippi, an organization whose mission is to educate the people of Mississippi on topics such as financial literacy and voting education, is all about the empowerment of Black and brown communities.

Donald Bethley, the vice president of Black Lives Matter Mississippi, emphasized the importance of the younger generation in fighting social justice.

“It is very important for the younger generation to be active in social justice and the political field. I believe here in Mississippi, one of the things that is lacking in our Black and brown communities is that we are not entirely engaged in the political process or even the financial process. We are not fully educated on those things. I believe that the younger generation, for lack of a better term— they are woke,” Bethley said.

Although so much is riding on the younger generation in regards to handling the responsibility of fighting for social justice, it appears they have been equipped with great tools to succeed in the near future.

Even though Mississippi has come a long way, Mississippians know the journey is not over.

NutriGroove brings Hawaiian flavors to Starkville

HEATHER HARRISON

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A new Hawaiian-inspired food trailer is bringing the island spirit of aloha to Starkville. At NutriGroove, acai, smoothies, bagels and herbal teas are served up daily in hopes of spreading happiness and health.

The new health food business is conveniently located on East Lampkin Street at the Little Dooey Fellowship Place with plenty of space for people to sit and have a picnic.

Hannah Baird, the owner and chef at NutriGroove, explains why she thought Starkville needed to experience the flavors of Hawaii like she did one summer. Baird said she had never tried acai before her trip to Hawaii in 2019, but once she tried it, she was instantly a fan of the food. The business owner expressed how good the acai bowl made her feel and relished the fresh flavors.

After her first bowl, she knew she had to find a way to bring Hawaii to Starkville.

“I just really wanted everyone in Starkville to be able to enjoy it the way I did.

In Hawaii, everyone says aloha’ when you’re coming and going, and it’s just a really peaceful, happy energy there.

I just wanted to bring a little piece of that to Starkville,” Baird said.

NutriGroove first opened on Sept. 14, 2020, with a menu boasting several different types of acai bowls, ‘groovy smoothies,’ beauty smoothies, savory and sweet bagels and herbal teas. A notable part of the new business is its unique name, and Baird said she chose it because she could feature a variety of healthy foods without restricting to acai only. The owner said wants her customers to know the food, while pretty, is also

Sarah Morgan Johnson | The Reflector

NutriGroove, Starkville’s newest food truck, offers Hawaiian-inspired smoothie bowls, health drinks and bagels from the gravel lot at the Little Dooey Fellowship Place on East Lampkin Street.

very nutritious.

Though Baird graduated with a degree in accounting from Mississippi University for Women, she said she felt her calling was in the food industry. She explained one of her first jobs was at The Little Dooey in Starkville, and the owners are a big part of her new business’s success.

The Wood family, who own The Little Dooey, provided a spot for Baird to park her food trailer. Baird expressed gratitude toward the Woods and said NutriGroove would not exist without their help.

Baird uses social media platforms and her website to promote her business and has accumulated about 2,000 followers over the past two months across Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, with Instagram being her primary way of targeting customers.

NutriGroove’s social media and website feature brightly colored pictures of food, dogs and island graphics to attract interest.

Baird said one of her favorite things about owning NutriGroove is seeing the dogs people bring to the food trailer. She encourages her customers to bring their dogs and provides water and treats for them, too. “Groovy Pookies” is a logo Baird uses for her homemade dog treats, and she said her dog is the inspiration for the name.

From college students, to nurses, to firefighters, Starkville residents are turning out for a taste of Hawaii. Baird said she is very grateful for the overwhelming kindness she has received.

Bethany Sigmon, a freshman kinesiology major, is one of the college supporters Baird has appreciated. Sigmon said she likes the outdoor seating at NutriGroove.

“I like that it’s a food truck, and you can sit outside,” said Sigmon, while gesturing to the picnic table she was sitting at.

Customers enjoy

NutriGroove for several reasons, but one thing many people have in common is their love of health food.

Ali Wharton, a freshman finance and risk management major, said she loves the variety at NutriGroove, and it is hard for her to choose a favorite item.

“I got an acai bowl one time,” said Wharton, “and I got an everything bagel with avocado the next (time). I really loved them.”

Since fall is here and winter is approaching, Baird explained she will be keeping the same summer-y menu she has now, while adding a few seasonal specials for the cool weather.

At NutriGroove, there is truly something for everyone, and Hawaiian foods are now easily accessible for Starkville residents to enjoy without leaving the Golden Triangle.

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SPORTS

THE REFLECTOR OCTOBER 13, 2020 @SPORTSREFLECTOR

MSU soccer still undefeated after LSU game

Adam Sullivan | The Reflector

Redshirt freshman midfielder Macey Hodge from Douglasville, Georgia keeps the ball in possession despite being defended by Louisiana State University’s freshman forward Taylor Dobles during Sunday’s game where the Bulldogs pulled out a 2-1 victory against the Tigers.

JARED CONERLY

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A Southeastern Conference soccer brawl took place in the misty rain on Sunday in Starkville, Mississippi where the Bulldogs took on Louisiana State University, beating the Tigers 2-1.

The Bulldogs were 1-02 coming into Sunday’s game. They had just beaten the University of Mississippi in a Magnolia Cup victory the week prior, and the Bulldogs carried that momentum into Sunday’s game against LSU. Only 8:13 into the first half, sophomore Onyi Echegini from London, England scored the first goal for Mississippi State University off of an assist

from midfielder Birna Johannsdottir. The shot sailed off the hands of the LSU goalie, flew over her head and rolled into the net in a theatrical first score for the Bulldogs. Echegini said the first goal helped fire the team up and allowed them to get things going.

“I feel like from that moment onward we had the momentum going forward,” Echegini said.

“We fought until the last second.”

LSU was held to only two shot attempts in the first half, one of which looked to even the score out for the Tigers but was saved by MSU goalkeeper Maddy Anderson. The freshman from Seabrook, Texas worked hard for the Bulldogs with five saves,

two of which came in the last 12 minutes of the game. Head Coach James Armstrong gave high praise to Anderson for her efforts in Sunday’s game and said she is someone who has really stepped up for the team.

“Maddie is a freshman; it’s easy to forget that,” Armstrong said. “She plays with so much more seniority than what she has.

She’s a calming presence on the backline, and she came up big with saves. But what some people don’t realize is how good she is coming off her line and cleaning up balls in behind, grabbing crosses, punching crosses, distribution and game management. She’s phenomenal, and she’s had a great first four games so

far. It’s somebody that we are excited about in their career and is somebody that’s really stepped up.”

Like the Bulldogs did in the first half, LSU followed in the second, scoring within the first 10 minutes and tying the game up 1-1.

After five shot attempts and 32 minutes into the second half, the Bulldogs found the back of the net when Monigo Karnley scored off an assist from Hailey Farrington-Bentil.

That was Karnley’s second goal of the season, and she said she was just dedicated to fighting for her teammates.

“To be honest, I just wanted to go out and fight for these girls,” Karnley said. “It was a team effort, and I am very honored to be the one to put the ball

in the back of the net. But I felt like everyone did their part.

The Tigers tried to follow up the Bulldogs’ late score in the second half with one of their own. With 1:26 left in the game, LSU Tiger Meghan Johnson scored a goal, but an offside penalty was called on the Tigers. The goal was negated along with the Tigers’ hopes of prolonging the game.

Coach Armstrong said they trained for moments like that against LSU and was glad his team did a great job of executing when they needed it.

“We worked on that during the week, and once again the girls did a great job of executing when the moment mattered,”

Armstrong said. “It was a scenario we knew we could face. And thankfully, the linesman got it right, and the girls did their job.”

The Bulldogs face Texas A&M on Friday in College Station, a match-up that Coach Armstrong thinks will be formidable.

“They are organized and well-coached. They are going to be a real test for us, but every game in the SEC is hard,” Armstrong said. “We will enjoy going to College Station and spending some time together, and we will be organized and ready to look at what threats they may pose. But more importantly, we will look at what we might be able to do to cause them some problems.”

Cloud: MSU Air Raid offense needs ground support

HUNTER CLOUD STAFF WRITER

As the ball flew through the air and over the University of Kentucky punter, it bounced mockingly towards the end zone before the punter put the laces through the ball and out the back of the end zone.

Those two points were the only points MSU scored in a 24-2 defeat in Lexington. A game where six interceptions were thrown by a stalling Air Raid offense, 157 yards were given up by a defense who consistently made stops to keep the Bulldogs in the football game. Head Coach Mike Leach said his offense just did not get the job done.

“We didn’t play together at all,” Leach said. “I think you can say in all things. We really have to find a way to clean that up. Our receivers could not consistently catch the ball; we turned the ball over.”

It seemed like the same Mississippi State University, same result but different coach for MSU. The last venture into Lexington, MSU scored a minuscule 7 points in a game similar to Saturday night’s, where the Bulldogs defense kept them in the game and gave the offense ample opportunities to win a football game.

MSU should not jump the gun and shoot this Air Raid idea down before it truly takes off. That being said, two points is not good enough to

win in the SEC. It is not good enough to win the Egg Bowl, and it is not good enough for a team that has Kylin Hill, KJ Costello and Osirus Mitchell at its disposal.

For Head Coach Mike Leach, the game is an anomaly. The fewest points a Mike Leach-led team had scored prior to Saturday night was three in 2017. It is abysmal when you gain 297 yards and have 0 points to show for it.

Leach said in the postgame press conference they had to start coaching better.

Accountability is often the first place to start when you are a football team and looking to improve on your weaknesses.

Wide receiver Austin Williams, a junior from Ocean Springs, said the defense really did give the offense chances to win the game, and as a result, they deserve praise for their performance.

“We always have the mindset of driving down and scoring, be on attack mode,” Williams said. “I would like to shout out the defense for having a good game; they definitely kept us in it.”

Wasted opportunities were the story of the game and so was a wasted defensive performance. When an Air Raid does not hit its assigned target, it is a failure. This Kentucky game was a failure; the Arkansas game was a failure.

Maybe attributing the word ‘failure’ to an MSU which has historically always been a run-heavy team, a team that has quarterbacks who are not afraid to run the football yet find themselves in an offense that is not that, is a bit harsh. If the offense can find its rhythm again, it would greatly alter the trajectory of

the season.

MSU had a limited spring and it is really showing as KJ Costello looks lost at times in the backfield, seemingly unaware of the line of scrimmage and the two more yards he needed to make a crucial first down. He was also blind to defenders, as evidenced by his four interceptions.

You would think a coach would be able to recognize the players they have and adjust an offensive scheme to help them or to utilize their talent in the area of attack.

Swinging the sword should not only mean MSU carves up a defense with a passheavy offense but also that it is not afraid to run the damn ball with Kylin Hill.

In a Texas A&M game in 2018, there was the meme of “always run, never pass.”

Right now it is “always pass, never run,” even if running would greatly open up the passing attack. In war, a country uses air superiority to control the battlefield, but that means nothing if you also do not establish a solid ground attack with tanks and infantrymen.

MSU would be better off taking the same approach.

Maybe run the ball every other play, and keep the defense honest. Run the play action pass to help out the wide receivers, and attack relentlessly, like Mike Leach has talked about doing since he got here.

In 2018, I ran a column about how more patience was needed with a sputtering Joe Moorhead offense. I still stand by those words. However, I think in this case, we should be holding MSU accountable to its shortcomings. Maybe we do expect too much out of an MSU team that beat

LSU. With that being said, MSU has the talent to win ball games; it has the defense to win ball games.

After three games, there is a disappointment, a feeling that the MSU offense has underperformed, or on the flip side, maybe the offense has really over-performed.

Maybe there is still time for the season to go well for MSU. Erroll Thompson Jr., a senior linebacker from Florence, Alabama, said the defense has not found its identity yet.

“I don’t think we have seen this coming, not that I think we have really accomplished anything,” Thompson said. “There is still a lot to accomplish. There is still a lot to work on, and we have to be better on the defensive side of the ball, of course.”

While the fighter jets on the defensive side of the ball have limited the attacking capabilities of opposing teams, they have room to improve, as they gave a more

than 50-yard quarterback scramble to Kentucky on 3rd down and 12.

Through these three games, it is clear this is an attacking team, that when all systems are go on both sides of the ball, it could be scary.

If the offense can find a way to mix up the run game into their Air Raid scheme, it may well create more chances for them to attack through the air, and the defense, well, the defense is doing more than fine already.

Mark Cornelison | Courtesy Photo

Mississippi State University’s Head Coach Mike Leach leads his Bulldogs during Saturday’s loss against the University of Kentucky.