WWW.REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM
@REFLECTORONLINE
TUESDAY OCTOBER 20, 2020
136th YEAR ISSUE 8
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
Mississippi voters look to the In God We Trust Flag this November EMMA KING
STAFF WRITER
On the Nov. 3 ballot, Mississippi voters will have the option to vote not only for their next political leaders but also for a new state flag. The state has been without an official flag since the legislature voted to remove the 1894 flag, which featured the Confederate Battle Flag, in June. Shortly thereafter, the Commission to Redesign the Mississippi State Flag was formed under House Bill 1796. The commission is comprised of nine members, appointed by Governor Tate Reeves, Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann and House Speaker Philip Gunn. After viewing over 3,000 design submissions, the commission continued to narrow down its choices until five remained on Aug. 18. These five were placed
in a public poll available online for voting. The Mississippi Department of Archives
and History (MDAH) was able to assist throughout the flag selection process by arranging a gallery of
all design submissions and creating polls for public input. All designs were required
to include the words “In God We Trust” and could not contain the battle flag. The commission also took
into account the principles of vexillology, the study of flags, with guidelines like “keep it simple” and “be distinctive.” Michael Morris, the public relations director at MDAH, said the commission welcomed all design ideas, even some that did not meet the set stipulations by the Aug. 1 deadline. “MDAH served a clerical function in the process of redesigning the Mississippi state flag,” Morris said. “By Friday, July 31, we had received over 1,800 designs that met the criteria, plus some that did not.” On Sept. 2, the winning design, now named the In God We Trust Flag, was selected by the commission. This is the flag that will appear on the November ballot. In order to become the new official state flag, the In God We Trust Flag must receive 50% of the votes plus one. FLAG, 2
City of Starkville and Rotary Club plan inclusive playground for the community PAYTON BROWN STAFF WRITER
The Rotary Club and the City of Starkville are working together to begin plans of building an inclusive playground to provide opportunity and grow the town recreationally. The Rotary Club is an inclusive service organization which works internationally within over 35,000 clubs to improve the nature and goodwill of cities, according to the Rotary Club website. Grant Arinder, president of Starkville’s Rotary Club, said he decided an inclusive playground would be a fantastic way to expand Starkville’s accessibility options and the perfect direction for the Rotary Club’s next service project. “As you travel, you see all of these things that the
Rotary Club does. They just support all types of programs. You might see a walking trail or there is a spiral on the top of a cathedral in Milan that one of the local Rotary Clubs is responsible for. In Wyoming, there are these arches that are made out of elk horn which the Rotarians are responsible for. You visit these places, and you go, ‘Oh look! Rotary did that.’ One of the things that Rotary started doing was building nice, big, ADA compliant playgrounds, and that is what I really want to do with our club,” Arinder explained. Arinder includes information of the current options for the park’s possible location as well as the funding opportunities provided as they begin planning for the project. “The city has a bunch
of plans to upgrade the city parks,” Arrinder said. “The city has agreed to partner with us, and they will commit a dollar for every dollar we raise up to $200,000. If we can raise $200,000, then we can build a $400,000 playground, which is really what you need to build something that is truly a centerpiece of the community.” According to Arinder, possible locations for the park include renovating Cornerstone Park or completely overhauling McKee Park in order to have enough space to house the project. Arinder believes the park would be beneficial for groups of all ages and could entertain not only children but also the many university students who reside in the town. ROTARY, 2
MSU emphasizes flu season during COVID-19 MSUʼs community and
state efforts recognized by national organization
MAGGIE PHILLIPS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
As Mississippi State University persists in the battle against COVID-19, preparations for the annual outbreak of the influenza virus are emerging on campus. From spontaneous outdoor setups to appointments in the Longest Student Health Center, MSU is offering flu vaccinations to all students and faculty. By creatively manufacturing ways to prepare students for flu season while still safely following COVID-19 guidelines, MSU is aiming to significantly cut down on the number of flu cases in the community this season. Nancy Ball, the nurse manager at the Longest Student Health Center, is one of the faculty members giving shots to students across campus.
TUESDAY HI: 83 LO: 68 SKY: Sunny POP: 0
MAGGIE ROBERTS STAFF WRITER
Student Affairs | Courtesy Photo
Flu shot clinics like those listed above are just one of the efforts taken by the university this year amidst flu season and COVID-19.
“We have set up flu clinics around campus and in our clinic to try to get everybody vaccinated who wants to be vaccinated,” Ball said. “We are trying to encourage people to be vaccinated this year especially because of the COVID virus.”
WEDNESDAY HI: 84 LO: 64 SKY: Sunny POP: 0
Ball emphasized the importance of getting a vaccine this year because testing for the flu will be much more complicated than before this season. “One of the things we’re concerned about with flu is, if anyone gets the flu, we have to discern if
THURSDAY HI: 83 LO: 65 SKY: Mostly sunny POP: 20
it’s the flu or if it’s COVID because the symptoms are so similar,” Ball said. “It means you’d have to do a flu test, and you’d have to do a COVID test.” Ball encouraged students to diligently continue following COVID-19 guidelines. FLU, 2
FORECAST: We have a nice week ahead, with sunny days for the majority of the week. Expect high temperatures in the low 80s and lows in the 60s. Near the end of the week, the chance for rain will begin to pick up, so keep an eye out for that!
Courtesy of National Weather Service
In Sept. 2020, The Association of Public Land Grant Universities (APLU) announced Mississippi State University’s status as a national finalist in the 2020 APLU Innovation and Economic Prosperity University Awards in the “Place” category. MSU’s mission to improve economics and quality of life for the Starkville community is the heart of this accomplishment. According to Julie Jordan, interim vice president of research and economic development at MSU, day-today work played a major role in receiving this nomination. “Our job is to guide the
Readerʼs Guide: Bulletin Board Puzzles Bad Dawgs Opinion
3 3 3 4
university’s activities toward economic development, research, outreach and community engagement. Daily, I have a lot of meetings. It is a broad job, but we have a lot of people working who do a really great job,” Jordan said. Jim Martin, associate vice president for economic development and corporate engagement at MSU, works closely with Jordan and expanded on the details of their day-to-day duties. “We support all the research centers. Our research departments have 272 acres, over 1,700 employees, and the fifth fastest computer in academia. So, we stay pretty busy on a daily basis,” Martin said. COMMUNITY, 2
Policy: Any person may pick up a single copy of The Contact Info 4 Reflector for free. Additional Life&Entertainment 5 copies may be obtained Sports 6 from the Henry Meyer Student Media Center for 25 cents per copy.
2-News 2
THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20
@REFLECTORONLINE
COMMUNITY
Jordan has worked hard, on her part, for the school to get recognized. There were many steps to go through in order to get this recognition. “We have had to jump through several steps to get to the point where we could even get recognized. First, we had to be recognized a number of years ago as a university that has innovation and economic prosperity — this is one level of criteria. Once you have done this, you can apply for an even higher level of distinction in several categories,” Jordan said. MSU applied for the category of “Place” after obtaining the first steps to be able to apply. “The category ‘Place’ has to do with how as an institution, we support our local community, how we partner with community and how we develop our community outside of the campus,” Jordan said. Many aspects on MSU’s
campus are important to be considered in this category. However, there are a few which stand out. “There are many key factors that we highlighted, one was the research park which we own and operate. There are public and private offices as well as MSU offices in it. One facet that we focused on is the number of people who work there to improve economic development. Another part we highlighted was our partnership school. As a way we have had significant engagement with our community to try to improve the entire region for the citizens,” Jordan said. Specifically, with these things that are highlighted, the root comes from a drive toward diversity and outreach. Those underlining factors are what creates a strong standing for MSU’s nomination. “We want to highlight our diversity and our outreach. We do a lot of things for the
CONTINUED FROM 1
local area, but also multiple fronts. For example, the Carl Small Town Center gave us the opportunity to say that MSU’s outreach program is in all 82 counties in the state. We are not only trying to make a difference in our local community but across the entire state,” Martin said. Abigail Robbins, innovation and economic prosperity and governmental affairs associate of APLU, gave her side of the nomination process. “Once the university sends in their application, it will come to me. Then, I have a database of reviewers so people within the IEP community, whether that’s expertise in community development, economic engagement and community extension to review the applications. They have a certain amount of time to give their ratings. It makes it back to me where I tally them all up,” Robbins said. MSU is a finalist among
several schools in the “Place” category. The university should be proud to have this honor, Robbins said.
“It is a huge honor to already be a finalist because, in order to be one, you really have to exemplify good things
ROTARY “Obviously, we are building a children’s playground, but I think there is also going to be college students in this park because there is going to be a dog park, or a walking trail or a splash pad. It is just going to be a place for people to picnic or hang out or play, and so, it might very well be a place where students go and take their Eno’s and visit in the park,” Arinder said. Arinder believes the park could also provide educational opportunities to MSU students, such as those in the kinesiology department. “I think there also might be an opportunity for the kinesiology department to get some hands-on training
CONTINUED FROM 1
and learning for children in our community who have low motor skills or are in wheelchairs and provide them with real practical applications that would be there,” Arinder said. Erin Flanagan, a sophomore biology major at MSU, feels positive about the addition of a new park and thinks it will benefit university students. “The addition of a new park would highlight the city of Starkville and provide places for not only local children to have fun but college students as well. It would bring more opportunities into Starkville and give the town a place where everyone could unite in harmony,” Flanagan said.
Flanagan said parks were where some of her best memories were formed and thinks the addition of a park following the global pandemic would be healthy for local children. “As a child, parks for me were places where I could explore my imagination and find myself through the creativity I was developing and the equipment provided to me. I think especially after the experience many children have had with COVID-19, this park would provide them with a new light and help them find a new joy in the world around them,” Flanagan said. Flanagan also said she believes other MSU students might be interested in giving
back to the community, especially when it would bring personal enjoyment. “I would love to give back to the community and help donate what I can afford to help the city of Starkville flourish. I would imagine any student would be willing to donate to a cause that would personally bring them enjoyment while also expanding the city they reside in,” Flanagan said. John Forde, presidentelect of Starkville’s Rotary Club, agrees the recreational project would be beneficial, and the objective is similar to many of the Rotary Club’s prior creations. “When Grant mentioned the idea to me, I thought it was great to support a
playground. Our Rotary Clubs have decades of experience with helping local groups from Boy Scouts, sports organizations, Habitat for Humanity and all kinds of different organizations. Grant had seen some playgrounds that had been built in other parts of the country and thought it be a great idea to partner with the city to come up with a playground that would also be inclusive where almost any child would enjoy playing on it,” Forde said. Forde expanded upon what the park strives to reach with the term ‘inclusive’ and how the Rotary Club plans to add accessible features to the park. “The playground we are
FLAG If it fails to do so, the commission will reconvene to select another flag. Sherri Carr Bevis, a Mississippi State University alumna and current MSU National Alumni president, was appointed by the lieutenant governor to serve on the flag commission. Bevis explained that, if the In God We Trust Flag does not receive the necessary number of votes, the commission’s work will begin again. “If it does not get 50% plus one, the commission will go back to the drawing board, I guess you could say,” Carr Bevis said, “and we will start the process
looking to build would follow all the ADA guidelines, and it would be inclusive for most everybody. Some of the examples Grant has showed us have wheelchair accessibility and other types of equipment that normally those with disabilities would not be able to play on,” Forde said. Many of the project’s ideas have not been finalized and a followup will be recorded once more information is further decided. “Once we get more details laid out, we’ll begin working with the city and the designers on specifics and what we decide we want within the playground,” Forde said. CONTINUED FROM 1
over again.” The removal of the 1894 flag follows a long history of public outcries for change. Mississippi is the last state to fly a flag containing the battle emblem after Georgia removed the symbol from its flag in 2001. In April of that same year, Mississippi voters had the opportunity to vote between the 1894 flag and its potential replacement. The 1894 flag, along with its contested battle emblem, won the vote nearly 2:1. Anne Marshall, an associate history professor at MSU, believes the killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor
helped precipitate the flag’s successful removal. “Their killings created a moment of keen awareness of the racial injustice in this country,” Marshall said. “People who have opposed the flag for years were able to call attention, as they have for years, to the connection between white supremacy and Confederate symbols — a connection that has been very clear in recent years.” Marshall explains many Black Mississippians were unable to vote for the 1894 flag because of restrictions like poll taxes and literacy tests. The public input that propelled the In God We
Trust Flag to the top of the ballot is a promising sign toward its future. Carr Bevis also pointed out it was designed by a group of people, instead of one individual. “We had so many wonderful submissions from people across the state, and the one that was selected was not designed by one person but a team,” Carr Bevis said. “We were able to make different changes along the way, so there was true collaboration involved.” This project was produced with support from a grant from the American Press Institute.
MS secretary of state website
Mississippians will have the chance to vote on the In God We Trust Flag this November.
FLU Washing hands, wearing a mask and social distancing are just as important now as flu season approaches, if not more so, than at the beginning of the semester. Tanner Jones, a freshman biomedical engineering
that are happening on your campus. You really need to be fertile to even be in this competition,” Robbins said.
CONTINUED FROM 1
major from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, has been getting his flu shot every year and encourages other students to do the same. “I get it because I don’t want to get the flu, and I don’t want to spread it at all.
That’s the big reason,” Jones said. “Even though I haven’t had it, I’ve heard it’s terrible, so I’m not taking any risks.” Although he said he had planned on finding a location off campus, Jones said he discovered the free temporary flu clinics on campus from a message in a group chat, and he got his flu shot at one of the clinics on the MSU Drill Field. He remarked on the simplicity CREATIVE INVESTMENT PROPERTIES
The Nu Beta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated would like to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month on Saturday October 17th, 2020. NOW HIRING
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT PERFECT PART-TIME JOB FOR STUDENTS! ($8.50/hour) Clerical Duties Personal Assistant Strong Computer Skills Knowledge of Apple Products
If interested, call 662-312-5630
of the process. “It was really easy,” Jones said. “We just had to fill out a form, give our basic information and then we sat down, were wiped down with an alcohol wipe, and it was done really quickly.” Dr. Clifton Story is the executive director of health services for MSU, and he has been overseeing many of MSU’s COVID-19 and flu virus preparations. “I have been really encouraged with how the students are doing, overall,” Story said. “Obviously not everyone wears masks, but I really feel like the whole university at large — faculty, staff and students — really do what we ask them to.” Story emphasized the importance of MSU working together and taking preventative measures to stay safe during the
crossover season of the flu and COVID-19. Story supported Ball’s concern about the approach of the flu bringing even more challenges to student health and to the department overseeing it, regarding testing, quarantining and the spread of each virus. Story believes that, although COVID-19 is a major focus of the MSU community, turning some attention to measures meant to inhibit the spread of the flu is in the best interest of the community. “People may forget about the flu, but once people start getting the flu and having symptoms of the flu, I think people are going to shift their mindset,” Story said. The safety of student health is a major concern for the university. Story said the university has ordered five times as many flu vaccinations as ordered the previous year, and the health department highly encourages students to get their shots. “We’ve tried to ramp up the numbers of shots that we have available and locations where people can get those flu shots,” Story said. “There’s a cloudy
picture between flu and COVID, who has what. So the more people we can get vaccinated for the flu, hopefully the fewer people who will get the flu, and there will be less confusion of the flu and COVID.” Story reminded students to be aware of their surroundings and to watch for symptoms of COVID-19 and the flu. These symptoms, he said, can include headache, body ache, cough, fever, sneeze, runny nose and nasal congestion. “Look out for exposure to people. Look out for your own symptoms, potentially the flu, and be aware of what’s really going on,” Story said. For students who have yet to get flu vaccinations, the Division of Student Affairs and University Health Services are continuing to offer locations for flu vaccines. Students may set up an appointment at the Longest Student Health Center on Oct. 21, 22, 26 or 28, and free temporary clinics will be set up on Oct. 20 and 22 at the MSU Amphitheatre, Oct. 21 in Herbert Hall, Oct. 26 in Moseley Hall and Oct. 27 in Zacharias Village.
The Reflector 10/20/20 Sudoku
3-BBBULLETIN BOARD THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020 @REFLECTORONLINE
e Reflector 10/20/20 Crossword
PuzzleJunction.com
An In-Class Distraction
Across
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.
5 2 ve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and 1 5 10 14 15
15 16 14 Fashion lines Joke 18 19 17 Make fun of 22 23 20 21 Ear-related Third rock from 24 25 26 the sun Coffee choice 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Continental coin 36 37 38 39 35 Top dog Bound 41 42 43 40 Break up Benevolent 46 47 44 45 Links prop 50 51 52 49 Photog’s request 48 Lock of hair 53 54 55 Bathroom installation 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 Bodily fluid 64 65 66 67 63 Years on end Carve 69 70 68 “Your majesty” Banned pesticide 71 72 73 Shades Copyright ©2020 PuzzleJunction.com Faint Feat 13 Small whirlpool 70 ___ of Man 42 Catches flies? Kiss 21 Varnish 71 Shed 45 Work on breaking Econ. indicator ingredient 72 Roast host a code Past times 73 J.F.K. postings 23 “___ say!” 49 Go a-courting? Deposit 25 Careless driver’s 52 Turf accountant Supports, in a problem Down 54 Cacophony way 26 Team player? 55 Chill-inducing Biblical measure 1 Worked the soil 27 Woman’s 56 Unwanted e-mail Psychoanalysis undergarment 2 Handbag 57 Guesstimate subject 28 Cowboy show 3 Type of missile words Reddish brown 29 Keypad key 4 Vamooses 58 Bona fide Clear up 5 Tranquility 30 Seafood dish 59 Cover-up Quarry 32 Gnatlike insect 6 Rattle 60 Shopper’s aid Garden spot 7 Pioneering Dadaist 33 Computer 61 Universal veil Capital on the 8 Advanced degree? command 62 Times in Dnieper 34 Plant fibers 9 Uniform shade classifieds “Immediately!” 37 Greek letters 10 Trackless trolleys 65 Battering device Browning’s Ben 11 Battery fluid 38 Common Market 66 “Monty Python” Ezra, e.g. inits. 12 Drink garnish airer
must 16 contain the numbers 1 to 9. 17 18 19 20 22 24 25 27 30 31 35 36 39 40 41 43 44 46 47 48 50 51
4 9
6
6 4 2 5 3 9 2 8 9 3 6 4 October 13 Puzzle Solutions8 6 5 7
. .
53 55 56 59 63 64 67 68 69
Copyright ©2020 PuzzleJunction.com
U
h n.
SUDOKU
PuzzleJunction.com
4 9 6
5 2 9 1 6 8 7 3 4
7 3 6 5 4 9 8 2 1
8 1 4 2 3 7 5 6 9
4 8 2 7 9 6 3 1 5
9 5 3 8 2 1 6 4 7
1 6 7 3 5 4 2 9 8
3 9 1 6 8 5 4 7 2
Copyright ©2020 PuzzleJunction.com CLUB INFO Would you like to join the Student organizations may place free announcements Reflector staff as our online in Club Info. Information may be submitted by email editor? to managing@reflector. msstate.edu with the subject heading “CLUB Duties include: INFO.” Operating the website The deadline for Tuesday’s Overseeing web layout paper is by 3 p.m. on Thursday. Managing online statistics Interested in a new sport? Bulldog Judo meets in Email Sanderson Studio B each managing@reflector.msstate.edu to Thursday at 5:45. Email Bulldog JudoMSU@gmail. apply! com for more information.
Sudoku Solution
5 7 8 4 9 1 3 2 6 2 3 1 8 5 6 9 4 7 9 6 4DAWG 2 3 7 S1 5 8 1 5 2 7 8 3 6 9 4 Monday, October 6 4 12,32020 9 2 Tuesday, 5 8 October 7 113, 2020 Burglary — attempted on 4 5passing 3 reported 2 8 9 forcible 7 6 1 Improper Oak Drive. entry reported at the Visual Arts Center. 2 4damage 1 reported 9 7 8 5 3 6 Property in the Lost, found or shortage of Hand Lab parking lot. 3 2at the6Colvard 1 4 9 7 8 5 property reported Student Union. Wednesday, October 14, 8 2 6 3 4 1 9 5 7 2020
BAD
Simple assault reported at the Palmeiro Center. Extortion under $500 reported in Critz Hall.
2 4 5 9 7 3 1 8 6
6 7 8 4 1 2 9 5 3
6 7
6 4 2 5 3 4 6 9 2 8 8 79 3 6 4 3 8 4 6 5 7
Malicious mischief reported in College View Apartments parking.
Sudoku Solution
3
Property damage reported in the D3 parking lot behind McKee Hall. Lost, found or shortage of property reported in the Critz Hall laundry room.
4
THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020 @REFLECTORONLINE
OPINION
The In God We Trust Flag is good for Mississippi and great for design “ LUKE COPLEY
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
In January of 1861, Mississippi was already flying a magnolia flag. Whitney Smith with Britannica notes that since the establishment of the state of Mississippi, and for some time before that, the state used a flag design known as the Bonnie Blue design, a holdover from when part of Mississippi was still a part of the West Florida Republic. The Bonnie Blue was a simple five-pointed star mounted on a blue 3-by-5 flag, and when Mississippi adopted its new magnolia design in 1861, it incorporated this star held in blue into the top-left corner. Added in the middle of a field of white was a simple magnolia tree, which would not become the state tree until 1938. Decades after the Civil War, in 1894, Mississippi would contentiously adopt the state flag it has flown since this year, with only one design change in 1996 to add a white border around the Confederate Battle Flag included in the top left corner. The flag was an adjusted form of the second Confederate flag, known as the Stainless Banner, with only an added red and blue border at the top and bottom.
In her TED Talk on inclusivity in design, writer and activist Sinéad Burke said, “Design is a way in which we can feel included in the world, but it is also a way we can uphold a person’s dignity and their human rights.” Design should be inclusive, and the Confederate addition to the flag was not. Beyond the obvious racial issues presented by the old flag, it also flies in the face of the oft-celebrated hospitality Mississippi advertises. On the other hand, the New Magnolia Flag, or the In God We Trust Flag as it is now called, is wonderful. Depicting a white magnolia blossom in the center of 21 stars, helmed by one gold star at the top, the flag not only represents Mississippi’s hospitality but also its history. According to the
Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the lead designer of the proposed flag Rocky Vaughan said the 20 stars represent Mississippi’s place as the 20th state to join the Union, while the solitary gold star at the top recognizes Mississippi’s indigenous people, the first inhabitants of the state. Beyond that, the flower itself is both an homage to the 1861 Magnolia flag and a symbolic recognition of “Mississippi’s sense of hope and rebirth, as the Magnolia often blooms more than once and has a long blooming season.” Mississippi’s new, tentative flag is also a great design. Vexillology is the study of flag design, and though it is niche, the community which does care for it is impassioned and well-studied. The North American Vexillological
Association published a small book called “Good Flag, Bad Flag” on the subject of good flag design, compiled by Ted Kaye, which outlines five guidelines to achieve the best flag design. Of Kaye’s flag design how-to, rule one is simplicity, stating a flag should be “so simple that a child should be able to draw it from memory.” Rule two requires the use of meaningful symbolism. Rule three suggests keeping colors few and basic, limiting the colors to options within the standard ROYGBIV spectrum. Rule four advises no words, and rule five recommends the flag be distinctive. Though listed as rules in the book itself, NAVA insists these five design “rules” are simply guidelines. The In God We Trust Flag follows most, if not all, of
we should be conscious of different cultures. You might be wondering what this entails. Well, for example, have you ever seen costumes labeled as a group of people, such as Native Americans? Unfortunately, I bet you have. You most likely saw these costumes your whole life and never thought twice. We were raised in a school system which told us dressing up as Native Americans was fine for Thanksgiving, but we hardly learned about their history and culture. I hope you see the issues with this system. This way of thinking has melted into Halloween costumes, and it has been there for a long time. In the past few years, I have noticed campaigns to raise awareness for why dressing up as Native Americans for Halloween is wrong. This act is called cultural appropriation. It is disrespectful to take on a
different culture which is not your own as a costume. That is someone’s heritage and traditions you are mocking, whether you mean to or not. According to Andrea Lee-Greenberg with ABC News, “year after year North Americans are reminded not to be total jerks when choosing costumes. Year after year, somehow, we fail.” LeeGreenberg also includes a question to ask yourself when picking a costume: “Does your costume totally denigrate a vulnerable population?” If yes, do not wear it. LeeGreenberg developed this question based off of a Canadian school that sent home a checklist to parents to make sure their child’s costume was not offensive. It is fantastic to see rules against these types of costumes, and I think it is very important for college students to learn this as well. Even
if there are no Halloween parties this year, there will be in the future. So, we need to be mindful of others. According to Marian Liu with The Washington Post, “despite a long-running debate about racism and cultural appropriation, often prompted by backlash against celebrities and politicians for donning offensive costumes, people continue to wear such costumes.” Cultural appropriation and racism are wrong. There is no debate necessary. So, I believe not only are people just ignorant to cultural appropriation, but also some people do not care. Some say people are too sensitive, but it is not their culture, family and heritage being dragged through the mud every year. Native American peoples have beautiful cultures and history which are too often ignored. Their traditional
these. The flag is composed of classical banners, stars and a flower, all with distinct and listed meaning. It uses three primary colors and a neutral (blue, red, yellow and white), all of which besides white have articulated reasoning behind them. However, the new flag does include the words “In God We Trust” below the stars and blossom, thus breaking the advisory against the usage of words on the flag. Even though in his TED Talk design enthusiast Roman Mars said the symbolism in a design should be strong enough so what the flag represents does not have to be written, I will note that, in all the examples of “bad” text additions in “Good Flag, Bad Flag,” the flag indicates the place it represents. “In God We Trust” exists as more of a design element than some egregious descriptor. Lastly, and the most important for me, is the flag’s magnolia carries meaning at many levels. It recognizes Mississippi’s strong and complex history in its respectful borrowing from the 1861 design, its 20 white stars and its central homage to the Choctaw people. It recognizes the state’s everpresent hospitality and serenity. Most importantly
though, it ceremoniously opens Mississippi for future change, for re-blossoming, something our state has done time and time again. It is a good design aesthetically, but it is a great design because of how hard it knocks NAVA’s fifth rule out of the park. It is distinctly Mississippian. Mississippi has made many mistakes. Every state has. But despite that, there is a palpable and stubborn beauty here. Mississippi is standing on the precipice of great change, leaning forward and ready to take flight. Every small battle won leans us ever closer to that goal. The old flag was rooted in the past, insistent we acknowledge the history of the state. But is the Confederate Battle Flag the history we want to celebrate? Or should we instead rally for the future around a flag built on the foundation of the past but not stuck in it? In the words of Ted Kaye during his feature in Mars’ TED Talk, a great flag design is “a banner for people to rally under to face those more important things.” We may have a long way to go, but the In God We Trust Flag is the banner which can lead us there. This project was produced with support from a grant from the American Press Institute.
H
C
M o a t fl W o f a r
U m v n
p M b a f s I t s u
s t v o c t u a h s
F Quit appropriating cultures with your Halloween costumes M i KATELYN WYATT
is a senior majoring in English. Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
Before the Christmas décor is completely thrown at us, we briefly get to enjoy spooky season. It may look a little different this year, but costumes are still an integral part of this holiday. Even though this year has not been absolutely the best, we can still make this Halloween better than last year by being conscious of the costumes we choose. I do not mean trying to find the best costume, but on that note, a Carole Baskin costume is not it. I mean
M
C
wardrobes have special meanings, and for someone outside their group to wear a culturally appropriated outfit for the sake of a Halloween costume is racist and degrades the respective culture. Liu mentions cultural appropriation is found in a variety of costumes, such as how “Asian-inspired” costumes are generally sexualized. Why is it we still find offensive costumes in 2020? We need to educate ourselves.
M O F s Caleb Parke with Fox p News mentions how a Catholic university cracked down o on cultural appropriation B on their campus and with fi their students. Moreover, they took this issue seriously O around several holidays, such t as Halloween and Cinco de t Mayo. p From Parke and Liu, we t see colleges are combatting t this issue of costumes, and we should too. So, instead of t being a jerk this Halloween, w just be a unicorn. d s p
Dorman Hall is an unintentional Brutalist masterpiece SAMUEL COTHRON
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Mississippi State University’s Dorman Hall is not the shiniest or nicest of buildings on campus. In fact, one could not really be faulted for labeling it as slightly dilapidated. The current home of plant and soil sciences, biochemistry, molecular biology, entomology and plant pathology is overwhelmingly beige, perhaps from decades of dust accumulation. The building is baffling with its bizarre restroom antechambers sealed with uncomfortably powerful door hinges and is awash in the most generic of linoleum tiling. Is it time to relegate this edifice to the dustbin of campus architecture, where outmoded buildings are condemned to languish in their twilight years until a hefty donation with promises of a glistening new structure palatable to current
tastes arrives? No, I contend emphatically: Dorman Hall is an architectural window into its own time. If you are waiting for cavalier hipster-irony which conforms to the trope of “it is bad and old which makes it cool,” you might not necessarily be disappointed. Dorman Hall, which was built with a solidly modernist and forward-looking design, is today a monument to the late International Style, forwardlooking only insofar as it is retro-futuristic. But most interestingly, it fails at its aims
as a modernist building in today’s context. Construction of Dorman Hall began in 1964, with the former location of Dudy Noble Field being cleared away for the new building, according to MSU’s Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology’s webpage on departmental facilities. Public buildings of this period very often have a distinct set of stylistic signatures: vertical sweeps of concrete, sharp angles, cantilevered slabs and regimented rows
CONTACT INFORMATION Editor-in-Chief/Dylan Bufkin 325-7905 editor@reflector.msstate.edu
life@reflector.msstate.edu Photography Editor/Mary Georgia Hamilton
managing@reflector.msstate.edu
Online Editor/Brandon Grisham
News Editor/Daniel Dye
multimedia_editor@reflector.msstate.edu
news@reflector.msstate.edu
Advertising Sales/Natalie Brock
Opinion Editor/Riley Stephens
325-2374 advertise@reflector.msstate.edu
opinion@reflector.msstate.edu
Graphics Editor/Savannah Bonds
sports@reflector.msstate.edu
buildings “cathedrals,” since they serve as an embodiment of contemporary social values. Does Dorman Hall, then, inspire confidence in academia or encourage its occupants to devote themselves to learning? If it succeeds in its function as a “contemporary cathedral,” then the answer would be yes, but there is something too off-putting about the building to unequivocally assess it as something of a modernist temple. In fact, one could call the building “brutal” in aesthetic, especially today
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Life Editor/Sarah Morgan Johnson
Managing Editor/Hannah Blankenship
Sports Editor/Lydia Palmer
of windows define the later period of the International Style in its transition to what might be termed Postmodern architecture. The modernist outlook of these buildings is apparent in their monumental, extruded-rectangle shapes, which profess the stability of the institutions housed therein and a firm confidence in the empiricism upon which they are founded. Robert W. Collier, in his 1975 book “Contemporary Cathedrals: Large-Scale Development in Canadian cities,” names these public
when the exposed materials have weathered significantly. The hallways are tunnel-like, with no external windows; fluorescent light bounces off of the white wall tiles and linoleum. The uniform orange-brown of the brick and the use of wood paneling on the first floor might seem to inject some warmth into the corridors, but this attempt feels cold and synthetic. Dorman Hall is not Brutalist in any formal sense, but as Reyner Banham’s 1955 article in The Architectural Review explains, “Brutalist architecture tends to drive one to hard judgments,” and makes its harsh impact through the “ineloquence, but absolute consistency” of its components. Its interior is more apt to elicit anxiety than a hope in the scientific establishment. Dark? Dingy? Dated? Yes to all three — that is the brutal charm of Dorman Hall.
Circulation/Sierra Pruitt circulation@reflector.msstate.edu
Letters to the editor should be sent to the Meyer Student Media Center or mailed to The Reflector, PO Box 5407, Mississippi State, MS. Letters may also be emailed to editor@reflector. msstate.edu. Letters must include name and telephone number for verification purposes. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.
EDITORIAL POLICY
The Reflector is the official student newspaper of Mississippi State University. Content is determined solely by the student editorial staff. The contents of The Reflector have not been approved by Mississippi State University.
CORRECTIONS
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.
p
c a d o k t a i m h l
“ t e t g u G L T t a
K “ f L s l w v t a p
b h p
w t i
a e
THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020 @REFLECTORONLINE
LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT
5
“In God We Trust”: Mississippians reflect on the proposed flag design
HEATHER HARRISON
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
This November, Mississippians have the option to vote in approval of a new state flag for the first time since 2001. The new flag, now called the In God We Trust Flag, has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from Mississippians, and the change has inspired residents. Mississippi State University students of all majors and backgrounds have voiced their support for the new flag. Will Stanard, a junior political science major from Madison, Mississippi, has been particularly passionate about changing the state flag for the past few years. Stanard said he is pleased to see the In God We Trust Flag on the ballot this November and said it is proof that nothing is unchangeable. “We are privileged to see a change into something that stands for us and our values in the modern day of Mississippi. I think it could signal that ‘OK, some things that we think are unchangeable aren’t.’ We’re able to change, no matter how fixed some systems may seem,” Stanard said.
Many Mississippi natives and legislators were instrumental in the movement to change the flag; Starkville and MSU are two prominent representatives who have loudly voiced their advocacy for the change.
“ We’re able to change, no matter how fixed some systems may seem.” Will Stanard junior political science Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill said she is happy the time has finally come for a new flag, and she is proud of this movement. “I’m pleased we had so many folks step up and say that ‘you know, it’s time. It’s
time.’ I wish that it happened 20 years ago or longer, but now that it has happened, I’m delighted that we have decided that this is the direction we want to go,” Spruill said. “I think that the legislators who stepped aside understood we didn’t need to continue down this path and voted that way.” If the In God We Trust Flag receives the majority of votes on Nov. 3, Spruill said Starkville will be flying it outside of many public buildings. The city of Starkville has not flown the 1894 flag on its publicly owned businesses since 2015. MSU has not flown it since 2016. Many people say the new flag will be a symbol of hope for Mississippians, and it shows the reformations the state has undergone in the past few decades. Stanard said, by removing the 1894 flag, Mississippi shows it is ready to acknowledge mistakes it has made in the past and is able to create a lasting impact for the state’s future. Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum Chairman Ray Slaughter said he likes the In God We Trust Flag design, and he said he hopes it will create unity in the state instead of promoting division
From “Hamilton” to Italian opera: MSU’s opera production class introduces their “CaberOpera”
MARY BLAKE BRASHIER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The sun shone brightly on Mississippi State University’s Old Main Amphitheater Friday, spotlighting 11 talented students from MSU’s opera production class. The show consisted of a riveting mix of opera, Broadway and pop. It was fittingly titled “CaperOpera”. Originally scheduled for Oct. 9, the rain momentarily threatened to overshadow the students’ hard work and planning, but they were able to reschedule the production to a week later. There is no better way to describe the show than with the words of the music director, Jeanette Fontaine, Bethany Crane| The Reflector stated at the opening of the MSU opera productions students performed their show titled “CaberOpera” on Oct. 16. performance. “This is an eclectic got a taste of many different crowd favorites. program,” Fontaine said. forms of music. Another crowd favorite, Each piece performed Every cast member “Anything You Can Do I came from a different musical, seemed to feel very connected Can Do Better” from “Annie artist or opera. By bringing to their pieces. Lauren Boozer, Get Your Gun” was sung by different musical worlds into a soprano cast member, said Eleanor Gerard, soprano, and one show, the performance this was because the cast Will Couch, baritone. The two kept the audience on their members were very involved were a hilarious combination. toes. Every row at the in the process of picking the There was laughter all around, amphitheater had people in setlist. and boredom was no where it, and even those who were “This show was great to be found. Loud cheers rose merely passing by could not because, a lot of times, you from the audience throughout help turning their heads to don’t get a say in what you the piece. listen. perform,” Boozer said. Roza Tulyaganova, the The show opened with Boozer and Smith artistic director, said the “Summer Nights” from performed a beautiful biggest motivation to perform the musical “Grease.” The rendition of “All I Ask of was to support people in hard entire cast was included in You” from “The Phantom times, considering there is no this song, with a hilarious of the Opera” together. live music anymore. gossiping ensemble to back After introducing themselves, “Because of the up the gorgeous duet. Eleanor Boozer and Smith completely pandemic, the full opera that Garrard sang soprano and Ty immersed themselves into was planned was no longer Lofton sang tenor in this piece. their characters, and one possible, so this program The two perfectly portrayed could feel the love laced in allows the students to spread the iconic characters Sandy every word of the song. With out and sing without masks and Danny. their swoon-worthy vocals, and support the community As for opera, Megan every note was angelic. with the music,” Tulyaganova Kundel, soprano, performed Every song had its own said. “Lo Son L’umile Ancella,” unique flavor, and each A couple of weeks prior from the Italian Adriana cast member brought their to the show, the opera class Lecouvreur. From the moment unique personalities into their brought a preview of their she took the first breath to the performance. production to Montgomery last note, it was clear Kundel Ty Lofton, a tenor, Gardens Senior Living. They was born to perform. Her performed “I am Aldolpho” sang to the elderly, who had voice was so lovely and loud; from “The Drowsy been cooped up for months. the microphone was almost Chaperone.” He put a little bit During the closing song, an insult to her gorgeous of sass into every movement, “Imagine” by John Lennon, performance. and there was rarely a moment the families attending each Blaine Rossell Smith, a where the audience was not held a string connected to baritone cast member, shared laughing. He put his all into their elderly family member. his thoughts on the show his performance, with a full Similarly, in the prior to the performance. and joyful voice. performance last weekend “I feel like it will be a good The student the cast invited the audience way to show young people performers even threw in to sing along as they sang that an opera is actually really “Dear Theodosia” from “Imagine.” The entire cast interesting,” Smith said. “Hamilton,” with Lofton stood in a line, shoulder to Their performance was and Smith cast as Burr and shoulder, as they connected as educational as it was Hamilton respectively. It was with the audience for a final entertaining, and the audience obvious this was one of the time through song.
like the 1894 flag. “I think it was time to change flags, you know. The old flag was too divisive, and it’s causing a lot of problems. So it’s time to settle on a flag that everyone can get behind and support and can be reflective of what we want everyone to think of when they think of Mississippi,” Slaughter said. Slaughter continued to say while people may not like the idea of a new flag now, over time they will become more accustomed to it, and it will be beneficial for the state. Young Mississippians have felt inspired by the widespread support of changing the flag and are using their voices to transform Mississippi into a better place. Spruill said she is proud of Mississippi universities for encouraging their students to know the positive effects they can generate by using their voices. She said she hopes young people will continue to realize they can ignite activism in their communities, and it sets the tone for the future. While a big way to enact change is to vote, Stanard said people can also make a difference in their own lives by self-reflecting and improving their corners of the world.
“I believe that you can do however much campaigning, and you know, you can post however much you want on Instagram about any kind of issue you can think of. But if you do not live your life in a way that affects change through your behaviors and if you yourself do not live in a tolerant and loving way, then
you do no good,” Stanard said. “And I think how we behave in the world around us is the most effective thing that we can do, over any kind of lofty ambitions that we may have.”w This project was produced with support from a grant from the American Press Institute.
MSU students safely cheer on the Bulldogs EMILY BUTLER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
COVID-19 has taken its toll on all activities, but according to Mississippi State University students, the spirit of game day lives on amidst the new rules and regulations. Students all over campus are still finding ways to cheer on the Bulldogs in a socially distant, safe manner. Early on, the question of whether or not football was going to continue for the fall season was a huge concern of MSU students and fans. Thankfully, it was announced football season would continue with a later start time but not without many social distancing and sanitizing regulations. According to the MSU website, the university is in compliance with the CDC for regulations which would make game day safer for every student and staff member. These safety measures include mandatory mask wearing, lowered stadium capacity, enhanced cleaning and sanitation, increased physical distancing and more. Many students were
crushed at the idea of giving up tailgating and having their normal game days completely dismantled. However, these same students are now making the most of this bizarre version of fall football. Students are trying to stay positive throughout the chaos, knowing they are doing their part to keep others safe from further spreading the virus. Freshman wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture major Madison Eisenhuth has been making the best of her experience here at MSU. Instead of traditional tailgating, a few of her friends participated in what they call dorm tailgating, which included watching the game in their room but with traditional food for normal tailgating. With cowbells and snacks, she and a few friends from down the hall sat on the beds and floor to watch MSU’s shocking victory over Louisiana State University. Though Eisenhuth wishes she could experience actual game days and tailgating, she is grateful she gets to experience football season at all.
Mary Georgia Hamilton | The Reflector
An MSU cheerleader reminds the crowd to wear their mask in efforts to keep Bulldog fans safe.
“Football isn’t as big a deal back home, so it doesn’t really matter as much to me. I’m just glad I get to be with my friends and sort of experience football season,” Eisenhuth said. “Nothing really bothers me very much,” Eisenhuth continued. “I hope that we’ll get to go to a football game eventually. I would probably be more upset if I was a senior, but as a freshman, I have more opportunity to go in the upcoming years.” Instead of hanging out in a dorm, junior communication major Haleigh Duke went to a friend’s off-campus house for the LSU game. “My friend cooked chili and brought some other snacks, so we got to eat and have a watch party,” Duke said. In order to be socially distant, the group stayed outside to celebrate the game. “We’re just taking what we can, and I’m thankful we can watch it together still, as long as everything is safe and socially distant,” Duke said. Similarly to Duke, freshman landscape architecture major Charles Suter has been trying to enjoy the new season as much as he can within the constraints of COVID. “For the first game, I went to the Pike house, so we could spread out and be socially distant. And for the others, I watched the others at my friend’s house who lives off campus,” Suter said. According to Suter, the atmosphere is not the same as normal, even though it is better than nothing. With several years left of his college education, he is hopeful for normality in coming athletic seasons, possibly even baseball season this coming spring. With all the challenges COVID-19 brings to MSU football fans, students have continued to find new ways to enjoy football games by social distancing and respecting the standards of the university. No matter what happens in the future, MSU students will always love football and find ways to support the Dawgs amidst whatever challenges or changes come.
66-Sports SPORTS
THE REFLECTOR OCTOBER 20, 2020 @SPORTSREFLECTOR
Bulldogs fall to Razorbacks in volleyball LYDIA PALMER SPORTS EDITOR
The Mississippi State University women’s volleyball team started their season on their home court in Newell-Grissom on Saturday against the Razorbacks where the Bulldogs fought to five sets but were not able to pull out a win. In the first set of the match, the Bulldogs got the first point after a serve from Margaret Dean, a graduate student setter from Bedford, Texas, followed by a kill from junior middle blocker and right side hitter Gabby Waden. The 5’10” hitter spoke in a press conference after the match about how it felt to be back on the court for the start of the SEC volleyball season. “I thought it was very exciting,” Waden said. “Me coming back into my role of just being a point scorer and me being the first point of the season is really just exciting for me.” Waden and her teammates fought hard throughout their first set of the season, coming out with it in their pockets. They took the Razorbacks 2518 in the first set, followed by a loss in the second set of 25-15. In the third set, the game was back and forth until Arkansas’ Jillian Gillen took the last kill of the match to take that set from the Bulldogs with a close score of 25-23. For the fourth set, the Bulldogs pulled out a 25-23 win of their own, forcing a fifth set to break the 2-2 tie. During the fifth and final set of the night, the Razorbacks started out strong by taking the first three points with kills.
One of Arkansas’ players, Taylor Head, showed out in her first collegiate match with 16 kills. “I was nervous at first, but once I was out there with my teammates, it felt so natural,” Head said in a press release. “I’m so proud of everyone for continuing to push through the first five-setter of the season, and we are so excited for tomorrow and the rest of the fall!” The Razorbacks ended up winning the final set of the night with a final score of 15-11, thus winning the match for the night. The Bulldogs and Razorbacks matched up again on Sunday, where the Bulldogs lost another all-out battle of five sets . The next match for the MSU volleyball team will take place at Louisiana State University, where the Bulldogs will battle the Tigers on Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. and again the next day at the same time. This will continue their SEC play for their shortened season. Although the Bulldogs took a loss during this weekend’s games, Head Coach Julie Darty-Dennis spoke highly of her team and said how grateful she was for the opportunity to be back on the court for the SEC play they feared they would lose because of the pandemic. “This is the way we open our season with a five set all-out battle against Arkansas,” MSU volleyball head coach Darty-Dennis said after Saturday’s match. “I think that sets the tone for us this year that, you know, anything’s possible. We’re just going to have to fight and compete every single match.”
Jordan Smith | The Reflector
Lauren Myrick, sophomore outside and right side hitter from Louisville, Kentucky, goes up for a hit in Saturday’s match between the Bulldogs and Aggies where Myrick totaled 12 kills.
Battle of the maroon: Aggies take down Bulldogs HUNTER CLOUD STAFF WRITER
The eighth touchdown of the season for Mississippi State University came at a critical time in the game last Saturday, on a third-and-six play when A&M’s Kellen Mond threw a pass that was deflected into the air and soared 15 yards before being intercepted by Emmanuel Forbes. Forbes then avoided an offensive lineman and took off with a convoy of maroon and white blockers. Sprinting for 60 yards, Forbes was able to score the first touchdown of the game for MSU and brought life and energy back into a stadium where none had been found just moments before. Linebacker Aaron Brule, a sophomore from New Orleans, said the team is working together as one and trying to build off of plays like that one, which energize the team. “We just look to be an elevator for the offense,” Brule said. “We hope that when we make a big play it can spark their energy. They made a few nice plays today, and I’m hoping it will spark our energy.” This pick six gave MSU
a touchdown and life in the game, as they were only down 14-7 at that point. Erroll Thompson, a senior linebacker from Florence, Alabama, said the team did not do enough because they lost, although the interception was a bit of a positive point for the defense. “It’s always good to get a takeaway in an SEC game and score with it,” Thompson said. “It is kind of a big momentum swing. I feel like [creating turnovers] is something that we need to continue to harp on and get better at.” The offense, on the other hand, scored just seven points on a Will Rogers 32-yard touchdown pass to Malik Heath. Outside of that, the offense struggled to produce for the second game in a row. Austin Williams, a junior wide receiver from Ocean Springs, said that, day-byday, they have to be the best players that they can be, and in the off week, they will have to work to improve from the loss. “As a team, you have to get the fundamentals,” Williams said. “Every day you have to come in with a purpose and the mindset that you have to grow. Watch the
film, you have to be honest with yourself and how you can be better.” For a majority of the game, the offense struggled to execute and drive the football down the field. Only 217 total yards of offense were gained, making an average of 3.6 yards per play. Leach said the team looks really good in practice, but it just has not translated onto the field on game days. Williams addressed that point as he was asked about why that was the case. He said he liked what he saw from the offense in practices. “We just have to work to translate it on Saturdays,” Williams said. “Finding out what phase we aren’t replicating to our scheme on Saturdays. We have to have some honest conversations and look in the mirror. Each man could probably do better.” With a off week between now and the Alabama game in Tuscaloosa on Halloween night, Brule said the team needs to keep working and not get down after the loss. “I think we all have that real hunger,” Brule said. “A drive, just looking forward to the next games and the games after that.”
Mansel Guerry| Courtesy Photo
Mississippi State University’s sophomore safety Collin Duncan stops Texas A&M’s Isaiah Spiller in Saturday’s game where the Bulldogs lost 28-14.