10.25.19 by Reflector Editor

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FRIDAY OCTOBER 25, 2019

135th YEAR ISSUE 15

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

Car burglaries on decline, but vigilance still needed JOHN HAYNES STAFF WRITER

From late August to the middle of September, Starkville was plagued by a rash of car robberies. From Aug. 15 to Sept. 15, 67 burglaries were reported to the Starkville Police Department. Since then, the volume has declined, with only 40 reported from Sept. 15 until the present, but criminals are still active. Sergeant Brandon Lovelady, the Public Information Ofﬁcer for SPD, gave insight into this problem facing Oktibbeha County. “Most auto burglaries are something as simple as an unlocked door,” Lovelady said. “Almost every single

one that I’ve ever seen in my time here (since 2008) was an unsecured door. There are very few times – though they do happen – that we did have some smash and grabs … That is out of the ordinary to have a broken window or anything like that.” Recently, some burglars did break windows to access valuables inside cars, but Lovelady emphasized the unusual aspect of those crimes, noting those particular acts were attributed to individuals who did not permanently reside in Starkville. According to Lovelady, smash-and-grabs are less frequent because the thieves are less likely to escape due to the attention-grabbing sounds created by smashing windows. BURGLARIES, 2

Mia Rodriguez | Courtesy Photo

Reﬂector Editor-in-Chief Mia Rodriguezʼs car window was bashed in the night of Sept. 10. The car was parked in a local apartment complex and a change purse was stolen.

RICE Bowl encourages teamwork in rural healthcare

EMMA KING

STAFF WRITER

The sixth annual Rural Interdisciplinary Case Experience (RICE) Bowl is set to take place from 5:307:30 p.m. at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson on Oct. 29. Academic institutions participating in the event include Belhaven University, Jackson State University, Mississippi College, the University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi Medical Center. MSU’s graduate student representatives for the RICE Bowl come from the Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion. The participating students are from various academic disciplines throughout the department. The competition is comprised of teams designed for diversity, with students working together to present solutions for realworld rural health issues.

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Ning Tapanee, a PhD student in nutrition, participated in the RICE Bowl last year. The competition helped her realize the importance of stepping outside of a certain discipline to solve health issues. “To be a part of this competition, it made me understand how important interdisciplinary teams are for the health care system in order to provide the best quality of care,” Tapanee said. “This competition helped me to develop a network of other interdisciplinary grad students.” Competing students have the opportunity to tackle complex problems with peers in other disciplines and combine their knowledge in a unique, experiential learning environment. Arnita Norwood, an assistant professor in the Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion, said she believes the competition was created to mimic the growth of the health care industry.

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RICE, 2

Sidewalks to be added to Highway 12

KAYLEE RICCHETTI STAFF WRITER

At the beginning of October, the City of Starkville Board of Aldermen announced that the city is moving forward with a project to add sidewalks to sections of Highway 12. This project, which has been in the works since spring, ﬁnally had a bid approved, allowing for construction to begin. According to a report from the Board of Aldermen, the city has the goal of adding around 8,200 feet of sidewalk along Highway 12, prioritizing several sections that add up to about 4,000 feet. Construction of these prioritized sections is expected to begin between late October and early November. According to the Board of Aldermen release, a few of the primary, prioritized sections where the sidewalk is planned for construction are the Spring Street intersection with Highway 12, Avenue of Patriots to Taylor Street and near Lindbergh Boulevard, the longest section of which is the connection of Avenue of Patriots to Taylor Street, totaling 1,669 feet. This large section is intended to connect the area near the Westwood neighborhood to the shopping center containing Kroger.

Justin Truss | The Reﬂector

Starkvilleʼs Highway 12 will soon see the addition of sidewalks along several areas that see signiﬁcant foot trafﬁc thanks to a grant from MDOT.

The winning bid of $272,600 came from Simmons Erosion Control, Inc., the company that was responsible for the successful recent addition of sidewalks and bike lanes along Locksley Way, according to the Board of Aldermen’s agenda. The construction costs for this project will come from the remainder of a Mississippi Department of Transportation grant, which was also used for the addition of the medians on Highway 12. Edward Kemp, Starkville City Engineer, said the push for the sidewalk project

came from the city’s desire to improve connectivity between the university and the city and create safer environments for pedestrians. As pedestrians are already using the areas in which the sidewalk construction is planned, the city wants to provide safer infrastructure for them to use along the busy highway. Although the sidewalk addition is planned to ease trafﬁc and connectivity issues, students and community members have expressed concerns regarding the trafﬁc along Highway 12 that the construction will cause.

However, Kemp explained there are regulations and plans in place to ease the traffic and detours that may result from the construction. “There is a traffic control plan included in the plans with specific guidelines on how to manage the traffic in accordance to the manual for uniform traffic control devices,” Kemp said, “There will be advanced notice signage and we will try to do a good job of notifying the public through different communication methods to let them know when (construction) is going to occur.” SIDEWALKS, 2

The Department of Health Promotion and Wellness takes a stand against domestic violence

BAYLEE HILL

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Mississippi State University’s Department of Health Promotion and Wellness is asking students to “Take the Pledge” on campus this October for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. “Take the Pledge” is a month-long initiative hosted by the Department of Health Promotion and Wellness in partnership with the Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence. According to Santee Ezell, assistant director of Health Promotion and Wellness, by signing the pledge, students agree to stand against domestic violence, which is abuse within a romantic or platonic relationship. Ezell said silence is complying with abuse, and everyone has the responsibility to take action. Students can physically sign the pledge by writing their name on the Department of Health Promotion and Wellness’s pledge card. “Taking the pledge means students are actually standing up against domestic violence,” Ezell said. “They are

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Gracie Bell | The Reﬂector

MSUʼs Health Promotion and Wellness recognizes Domestic Violence Awareness Month with their “Take the Pledge” initiative.

understanding what domestic violence looks like. They are being a part of the bystander intervention and not allowing this to happen to family, friends or even students they do not know.” The department went to various locations on campus to encourage people to sign the pledge. According to Leah Pylate, director of Health Promotion and Wellness, they tabled at locations such as the Drill

FORECAST: This weekend is going to be soggy in Starkville. A Flash Flood Watch has been issued until Saturday afternoon. Three to five inches of rain is expected across the region. On Sunday, things will begin to dry out under mostly sunny skies. Get the rain jacket ready!

Courtesy of Alex Forbes, Campus Connect Meteorologist

Field, the Colvard Student Union and outside the Longest Student Health Center. “At these locations, we are offering educational information and the opportunity for people to sign the pledge card, showing that people are coming together in solidarity against violence,” Pylate said. Until the end of October, the department will continue to host “Take the Pledge” events around campus,

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giving more students the opportunity to stand up against domestic violence. Pylate said if a person is abused, it affects every area of their life. It impedes a person’s ability to go to school and have a successful life. Through learning to recognize the signs of domestic abuse, someone can change the life of an abuse victim for the better, allowing them to be successful and healthy. WELLNESS, 2

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BURGLARIES

Lovelady provided a video of the much more common case: silently trying car doors to find the unlocked ones. In the film, a young man is seen systematically testing every car in an apartment complex. “We’ve historically seen a lot in apartment complexes because (they are) densely populated with vehicles,” Lovelady said. Recently, an MSU student fell victim to this exact type of crime.

Morgan Carter, a sophomore majoring in finance, exited her residence at the Retreat on the morning of Oct. 18 and went to her car. At first, she was confused by what she found. “I looked in it, and my Ray-Bans were sitting on my passenger seat,” Carter said. Her debit card also was on the passenger seat, while her wallet sat in the driver’s seat. Overall, her car seemed messier than usual. It all came together when she

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opened her wallet. “I opened up my wallet, and all the cards and stuff were out of it,” Carter said. “I still had all of them, but they were all out. All the cash and the change was gone, but they left all the change in my console, all the jewelry, my Ray-Bans, all these other things they could have taken – just the cash and change in my wallet.” The culprit only made off with around $30 from Carter’s car, but she was not

the only one broken into over the night. “I had to file a police report, and while I was filing a police report, multiple other cars came by and were like, ‘Are you filing a police report?’” she said. “Apparently six other people filed police reports that day.” According to Carter, at least one person lost over $100. Carter said she regrets not locking her car that night. “My car key was messed

up. So, it would lock like 80% of the time, and I guess that night it didn’t. Because I live in a gated community, I thought it would be OK, and it was not … I was fortunate that I didn’t lose that much, but other people did,” Carter said. Carter has since gotten a new battery for her key and said she would be more diligent about locking her car in the future. One student who has not had any issues is Sam Rooks, a junior industrial

technology major. He locks his car every night and said it has never been broken into. Rooks said he does not worry about car robberies, and Lovelady confirmed that the statistics bear out his confidence. By just locking the car at night, drivers can sleep peacefully. Not every single robbery is stopped by a locked door, but the vast majority can be. Anyone with a car would be well advised to keep it locked every night.

WELLNESS Domestic violence is a growing concern that affects many college students. According to Cierra McCaleb, a graduate assistant with Health Promotion and Wellness, domestic violence rates are increasing, and many cases are never reported. She believes it is important for people to know the signs of abuse and to seek it out. The department wants

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their initiative to be genderneutral because domestic violence affects both men and women. McCaleb said men who are abused oftentimes feel like they cannot tell anyone about it. Women typically become embarrassed, shameful and become accustomed to a cycle of mistreatment. “People do not understand that it is hard to break that cycle. When you

go through a relationship, abuse may happen and someone says they can fix it and change. It may not happen for a while and then it happens again,” McCaleb said. “Most people think they would just leave if they were being domestically abused, but it is not that simple.” The department is working to help students recognize the signs of abuse

in other’s relationships and their own relationships. Ezell presented a classroom presentation entitled “Your Boo Shouldn’t Scare You” to students. Ezell said this presentation informed students about the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships. Many college students are involved in serious relationships for the first

time. It is important to know that if a partner is threatening and belittling, that is a sign of domestic violence. The Department of Health Promotion and Wellness wants students to know that they are a resource. Ezell said its purpose goes beyond this initiative, and students are welcome in the office whenever they need help. The department

works with MSU Student Counseling Services, the Dean of Students and the MSU Police Department. “We do not want students to ever feel like they have to go through a violent situation. We want them to know we are a resource,” Ezell said. “We are able to provide presentations and programs about domestic abuse and how to seek help.”

SIDEWALKS On the other hand, some students expressed strong support and excitement for the addition of the sidewalks. Eleanor Jenkins, a sophomore educational psychology major, commented, as a student without a car, on how

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beneficial the new sidewalks will be to students who generally rely on bikes or the SMART buses for noncampus connecting routes. “I don’t even go to the grocery store regularly, it depends on when I can get rides. But, to be

on a schedule to know I can access (the grocery store) on my own, that’s independence,” Jenkins said. “Oftentimes the buses are unreliable, and getting rides with friends is great, but schedules don’t always match up. So, it’s just a little

bit more independence.” Although the sidewalk project has been approved by the city and construction is scheduled to start within the month, there will continue to be public hearings at City Hall as the project develops. In the meantime, as

construction begins, Taylor Wright, a senior animal and dairy sciences major, believes it is important to focus on the future benefits that will come from the new sidewalks. “I think it is important for us to look forward to

the future of how we want to see Starkville develop,” Wright said. “At the time that they are building the sidewalks, it will seem like a big deal, but in two or five or ten years, it will just be a nice and safe addition to Highway 12.”

RICE “The RICE Bowl began as a result of the evolution of our health care system,” Norwood said. “Traditional systems of education inadequately prepare students for the reality of collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to quality patient care.” The goal of the RICE Bowl is to better prepare future leaders in the rural health field to work in interdisciplinary teams and provide improved, quality care to individuals and entire populations. According to MSU Nutrition instructor Mandy Conrad, who served as a RICE Bowl judge and case study creator in last year’s event, the competition is divided into three teams of students from 13 academic disciplines. The same complex case study is provided to all three teams, allowing students to collaborate with each other and utilize the knowledge

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each member brings to the team. Conrad said the case is provided to the teams in waves, with additional information about the scenario being revealed as the event proceeds. After the participants finish reviewing their case, the team is called to the stage to answer questions as a panel. “The event is a great way for students to think outside of their own discipline and consider a variety of barriers to health care that individuals may face,” Conrad said. According to Norwood, the competition is divided into three rounds that are approximately 30 minutes long with one to three questions asked per round. Norwood said every team has seven minutes to respond to a round of questions, and each question is worth a maximum of eight points per faculty judge for a per-round maximum of

96 points and a competition maximum of 288. The team with the most points wins. The RICE Bowl is sponsored by UMMC’s Myrlie Evers-Williams Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities. According to its website, the institute is dedicated to the reduction, and ultimate elimination, of health disparities through community engagement. The Evers-Williams Institute was established in 2014 to address salient issues in Mississippi, such as food insecurity, education and child safety. MSU formed an official partnership with the institute in 2016 to broaden the institute’s geographic presence and future collaborations toward health equity, the website stated. According to a page on the MSU website dedicated to the Evers-Williams Institute, MSU’s partnership with the UMMC institution aims to eliminate health

Rosalind Hutton

BU MC

disparities for MS residents through family-centered research and activities. The RICE Bowl is one of many activities the Evers-Williams Institute holds each year. Megumi Hashida, a

MSU UMMC

JSU

graduate student in the Department of Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion, plans to participate in this year’s RICE Bowl because an internship taught her the significance of interdisciplinary teamwork. “During a dietetic internship, I felt multidisciplinary teamwork is essential to share patients’ conditions and provide adequate treatment,” Hashida said. “As a dietitian, we can suggest any ideas related to food and nutrition. However, I was not familiar with other professionals’ functions and how we can collaborate.” Hashida said she

believes the competition is also a successful way to establish rapport, reduce misconceptions and enhance communication skills. According to Conrad, the event achieves its purpose by bringing students from different backgrounds onto the same team. “This event is important because it brings together students from a variety of disciplines to work together, learn from each other and address complex issues,” Conrad said. “Individual health is multi-faceted, and it takes awareness and collaboration of many professionals to ensure quality health care for every human being.”

Reflector 10/25/19 Sudoku

THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2019 @REFLECTORONLINE

BULLETIN BOARD

To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and PuzzleJunction.com box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

SUDOKU

An In-Class Distraction

ector 10/25/19 Crossword

Across 1 Healing sign 5 Ant, in dialect 10 Cops and robbers, e.g. 14 River to Donegal Bay 15 France’s longest river 16 Western blue flag, e.g. 17 “___ that in mind ...” 18 Big picture 19 Caesar’s farewell 20 Bird feature 22 Flea market deal 24 Blood vessels 26 Swelled head 30 Plywood layer 33 Bowling target 34 Born 35 Reply to a captain 36 Ruminative 39 ___ amis 40 Journey segment 41 Believer’s suffix 42 Money dispenser 43 High note 44 Bat additive 48 Genteel affair 49 Lunar New Year 50 Santa ___, Calif. 51 Regulate 53 Has the wheel 55 Push 57 Underweight 59 Cupid, to the Greeks 62 Paddles 65 Top competitors, often

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1 9

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Bygone blade Kind of collar Pipsqueak Greek letters Like some sums Digress Work with mail

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CLUB INFO Studentorganizationsmay placefreeannouncements in Club Info. Information maybesubmittedbyemail to managing@reflector. msstate.edu with the subject heading “CLUB INFO.” ThedeadlineforTuesday’s paper is by 3 p.m. on Thursday. The deadline for Friday’s paper is by 3 p.m. on Tuesday. MSU studentorganizationsmay placefreeannouncements in Club Info.

Patch up Plagiarize Advance amount Do as told Furniture wood Bewail Sticks in the mud Baseball stats

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9 Israeli financial center 10 Inclined 11 Bird genus 12 “Cool” amount 13 Compass pt. 21 Hoard 23 Rural route 25 Outrage 27 Con 28 Show instability 29 Sycophant 30 Hotel employees 31 Shoe part 32 Nullify 33 Big East team 37 Semitic deity 38 Compass dir.

WesleyFoundationWorship Night / Insight -- Tuesdays 7:30 to 8:30pm. Worship music & Bible study. Next to Campus Book Mart. @ MSStateWesley/StateWesley. org Community Night -Thursdays 6:30 to 8:30pm. Coffee bar 6:30pm. Community groups 7pm. Worship 8pm. Next to Campus Book Mart. @ MSStateWesley/StateWesley. org. Got questions? Try Alpha. Alpha explores the

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Village green Maintains Give it ___ Gad about Poetry Piece in Harper’s Look of disdain Greek monster with nine heads Colorful salamander Aware of Scorch Poetic adverb ___ Baba Bloodshot Stratego piece “C’___ la vie!”

basics of Christianity with conversationandvideos.An open, honest space to ask, talk, & think together about faith,life,andGod.Thursdays 6:30-8:00 at Wesley. Next to Campus Book Mart. Text 662.435.3393 for more info.

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October 22 Puzzle Solutions

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BAD DAWGS Sudoku Solution Monday, 2 October 6 4 121, 72019 8

3 5 9 5 6missing 7 4from8the Wise 1 reported 3 9 a2projector Employee Center. 8 5 7 4 9 3 2 1 6 1 8 322, 22019 7 6 9 4 5 October Tuesday, 3 9 2 8 6 4 1 7 5 Employee reported video equipment stolen from the 8 3 2 4 6 Memorial 9 1 5Library. 2nd floor7of Mitchell 6 7 3 5 4 2 9 8 1 Student reported losing her card holder in Fresh Foods. 9 8 5 6 3 1 4 2 7 4 2 1 7 8 9 5 6 3 Student injured her head on a car door. Subject refused transport to OCH via ambulance. Wednesday, October 23, 2019 Officer conducted a welfare check on a student in Deavenport Hall. Subject was seen at the Student Counseling Center. Employee reported breaking the lid and saddle box on motorcycle No. 2. Traffic Citations Report MSU citation issued on Stone Boulevard for speeding 40/20. MSU citation issued on Bailey Howell Drive for speeding 41/20. MSU citation issued on Stone Boulevard for speeding 35/20. MSU citation issued on Stone Boulevard for no insurance. MSU citation issued on Stone Boulevard for speeding 35/20.

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OPINION

Letter to the Editor: Trump’s next choice

Political groupthink gives America hives

TIMOTHY BLEDSOE

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Dear Editor, I believe no one can truly be an American without having very strong feelings and opinions about President Donald Trump’s administration. As we all know, he is currently in the process of being impeached by the House of Representatives. We also know, with the Republican majority Senate, Trump will not be removed from office. I have seen the polling results about impeachment and removal. All of these poll results tell of a definite want of impeachment. Once again, I voted for the candidate, Trump, who I believed would make better changes for all Americans. I, and so many others, voted for a very deceptive man. So many of his campaign promises have either fallen short or are complete lies. No one can predict what will happen as a result of Trump’s many falsehoods told to all Americans and to other countries. As true Americans, we wanted Former President Richard Nixon removed from office. As a result of overwhelming pressure, Nixon did the right thing by removing himself from office. Trump must take this lesson from Nixon: fight or flight. Nixon was, at least, American enough to make the right choice in order to save America from further embarrassment. Will Trump take this page from Nixon, or will the global negativism continue toward the U.S.?

MICHAEL BOURGEOIS

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

The 2020 election has been hijacked by the Democrats and the Republicans, as each vies to influence and appeal to the most wide-reaching base as possible. Of course, this is the nature of political discourse. The parties fairly competing for power, as should be the case for the representative nature of the American governmental system, but the motivations of the parties have shifted from the productive debates of the past. In the past, the Democrat and the Republican Parties had political ideologies that governed the policymaking of each voting representative of the party, a mentality that no longer exists in the divisive landscape of today’s political climate. The parties themselves have become the political ideology; the political doctrine that is demanded to be adhered to by all its members as opposed to its members shaping the ideology of the party. The parties become the institutions of political thought, creating a tribalistic divide between the Democrats and the Republicans, the us versus them mindset, two entities, victims of groupthink battling for supremacy to

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widen their own authority. By dispelling the culture of misinformation, political apathy and the strict adherence to the policy of party leadership, groupthink can be diminished in modern society to instill the importance of individual contribution and political views. The most damaging reason as to why Americans are so prone to political groupthink is the way in which the other side portrays the opposing party. According to Susan Milligan of US News, “Nearly half the country (48%) thinks the Republican Party has been taken over by racists, a view held by 80% of Democrats.” This works in the inverse direction as well, with Milligan saying, “And the Democratic Party … Nationally, 44% think it’s been taken over by socialists – and 82% of Republicans share that opinion.” The issue lies within the perceptions of the other side. If people believe in the destructive nature of the opposition, then, of course, the alternative seems to be the rational choice. United in hate for the other side, the members of a particular political party, in an effort to beat the opposition, shift the goal of political debate in an unproductive direction. No longer do elected officials see the purpose of their offices as bettering the nation as a whole. Rather, their inclination is to foster feelings of fear that the other party will make the nation worse. When forming a voting bloc in the form of a political party is the only

Trivia Time!

1. “Dazzle” is a term used for a group of what type of animal? 2. Which famous American musician was fatally shot by his father on April 1, 1984? 3. The famous actress Winona Ryder had what last name at birth? 4. In what year was the US Constitution written? 5. Located in Northwestern Turkey, which strait separates Europe and Asia? Bosphorus Straits Answer: 1. Zebra 2. Marvin Gaye 3. Horowitz 4. 1787 5.

Source: trivia.fyi

BRANDON GRISHAM

is a junior majoring in business information systems. Contact him at opinion@reflector. msstate.edu.

The fantasy of loving a job is one too many people hold. The reality is, most are depressing voids of time and energy. A small, privileged few will disagree, but that fantasy goes out of the window at a certain point. It is usually the point where their family, life, security and shelter depend on that job. The employment situation has been changing since the Great Recession. The old days of remaining at a company for a lifetime are over, causing a slew of issues. Regrettably, most people are hesitant to share the specifics of the working world. Companies and employers would prefer that you remain unaware of your options as an employee. Go figure. The first thing to note is not all jobs are equal. The perfect job that suits experience level is not possible for a lot of people. After school, most scramble to take whatever job they can before their ‘grace period’ is over. They are often underpaid and over-qualified, but bills make them rush. Once workers find their feet and better prospects appear, they move on. This is the new norm, so companies had to adjust. Leaving positions after

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ones who tend to vote on the basis of a singular issue. Take abortion, for example. According to Lydia Saad of Gallup, “Approximately one in six registered voters (17%) say they will vote only for candidates for major office who share their views on abortion.” This paints a frightening picture for the entire country by recognizing 17% of eligible voters will decide on all political issues simply on the basis of abortion. In general, pro-choice people will vote Democrat and pro-life people will vote Republican without learning about the candidates and where they stand on any other issue. Single-issue voters give the power to the parties to fill out their agenda, imposing the political stance of the party through their candidates.

When considering how the political parties, specifically the leadership manipulates the political platform through the representatives in government, a tremendous amount of power is given to the parties. Americans relinquish their constitutionally mandated authority when voting on a single issue. As such, the influence the party exercises beyond that single issue may not align with the individual’s other political preferences. Political groupthink at the expense of an individual’s values is corrosive to our political process. Our government must find a new way of doing things and a reversion to the original intent of our political parties, as a clearing house of ideas and a source of new and better ways of governance.

a short period of time used to hold a large stigma. Sometimes it still does, because older employees are the ones reviewing resumes. The general rule is to stick it out for at least six months if you can. Bolstering your resumé is apparently more important than the cost of your sanity. I do not like to tie it towards money, but that is what we work for. Keep in mind the U.S. has grown six times more productive since the 1970s, but only 5% of Americans have over one million dollars. Capitalism focuses on growth. That leaves employers always demanding higher profits. That also means more work for the same pay. If they could get away with paying less, they would do it in a heartbeat. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the minimum wage has been stagnant for 10 years. An important tidbit is 2/3 of all Americans do not have a bachelor’s degree, locking them into lower wages. I am sure your feelings toward minimum payment are valid, but please consider this math. It would take over 135 hours of minimum wage work per month to earn $1000, equating to 35 hours a week. According to the U.S. Federal Poverty Guidelines, it would take over 1,700 hours of minimum wage work to hit the 2019 poverty line of $12,490. The Bureau of Labor Statistics listed over 144 million jobs in 2018, but the median wage was $18.58. Basically, over half of all U.S. workers are making under

Rosalind Hutton

Better luck next time!

$20 an hour. After a certain breaking point of ridiculous growth demands, people started moving on. Now, employers are struggling to curtail turnover. All of those shifting positions cause delays, training and less profit. Employers had to start investing their time and money into every employee. To save on money, they shifted towards keeping employees happy and interested in their jobs. Those perks, like occasional pizza, beer, games and employee bonding programs, are tiny

bribes. They are intentional methods to avoid raising salaries but keep you there. Overall, I know my outlook on current jobs is bleak. Billionaires and millionaires are like dragons hoarding gold and the other 95% of people are peasants. It really makes those “perks” seem a lot less valuable when compared to a simple raise. Jobs have been getting weirder for a while, but now jumping ship every few years is the only option to regularly grow your salary. Say goodbye to long-term career plans.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Life Editor/Mary Madeline LaMastus

Opinion Editor/Dylan Bufkin Sports Editor/Hunter Cloud

manner of ensuring this goal, groupthink comes as a natural consequence within the political echo chamber. In addition to the vilification of the other side, the back and forth and constant bickering between the two parties has left many Americans feeling disaffected by today’s politics, breeding a generation of apathetic citizens exhausted with the state of the nation’s political system. According to the United States Census Bureau, only about 61% of American citizens voted in the 2016 presidential election. Americans are being deprived of a candidate with whom they can identify. Instead, many Americans do not vote for a candidate for their ideological views but rather the party they represent. In addition, apathetic voters also are lazy

Long-term careers are now long gone

Winona Ryder

“When you finally accept that it’s okay not to have answers and it’s okay not to be perfect, you realize that feeling confused is a normal part of what it is to be a human being.”

Rosalind Hutton

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.

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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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Rice Hall will become ‘Haunted’ this Halloween KERRIGAN CLARK

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

October marks the end of summer and the beginning of fall festivities which, in turn, brings about corn mazes, hot apple cider and most importantly, haunted houses. Mississippi State University’s Residence Hall Association along with other organizations on campus including the Panhellenic Council, Barnes and Noble, Black Student Association and Latino Student Association will sponsor and volunteer in the construction of a haunted house in Rice Hall. The house, named “Haunted,” will take place in Rice Hall Oct. 29 through Oct. 31 from 7-11 p.m. Rice Hall will transform into a Halloween wonderland, with a kids-only area that will be open from 7-8 p.m. and an all-dark time exclusively for students from 9-11 p.m. Tickets are $5 each and will be sold at the door.

The event, which has taken place for the past eight years, was previously held at the Horse Park in Starkville. It has since moved to campus to make it more accessible for students, so they can have Halloween festivities within reach. It was also brought to campus so the Starkville community could have an inside view of the different organizations on campus. RHA President Deb Eseyin has high hopes for the event. “I hope that the Starkville community sees RHA’s haunted house as a chance to get in tune with the campus. We try to put on events, not for our benefit, but to get the community to rally and get them, and the students, involved on campus,” Eseyin said. “I think the haunted house is important because it represents a big population of students, and the community getting to meet the organizations on campus who are helping to put it on,”

Eseyin said. Although this is Eseyin’s first year volunteering with the haunted house, she is enthusiastic all the same. Her job is to make sure that the event runs smoothly, and she is in charge of the volunteers for the event. The MSU Panhellenic Council is also sponsoring the event, and they are planning to provide snacks and pizza for everyone who comes out to the haunted house. Rachel Dumke, president of the Panhellenic Council, is ecstatic about the event. “Students and other members of the community should check out this event because it is the perfect way to get in the Halloween spirit, and it will be what everyone is talking about on campus. The Panhellenic Council is sponsoring this event because we were excited to see something this big being put on right here on campus,” Dumke said. RHA Program Director Cheyenne Simmons is in charge of supervising the

program and is also in charge of the themes of each floor. This is not her first year volunteering for “Haunted.” However, since Simmons began, she said the expectations for the event have changed. “I want to reach everyone as much as possible, students and the general public. I just hope to have a successful event and to donate as much as possible to the Boys and Girls Club of Starkville. I also want to get the students to have a relaxing, yet scareful time, and just to make sure everyone has a good time,” Simmons said. According to Eseyin and Simmons, the haunted house is still taking volunteers. Volunteers will be given the option of different teams, such as actors, makeup artists, costume team or set up/tear down crew. For more information on volunteering, those interested can email either Eseyin or Simmons at deseyin@saffairs.msstate.edu or ces874@msstate.edu.

Rosalind Hutton

Sunday Funday festivities wave goodbye for the year GRACIE BYRNE STAFF WRITER

Brianna Laverty| The Reflector

SMART buses are one of the ways student can commute to campus. The buses are free to use for students and the entire Starkville community.

Commuters have many transportation options EMMA KING

STAFF WRITER

Whether students enjoy a daily drive down Highway 12 or simply exit their residence halls to stroll to class, commuting is a part of every college student’s morning and Mississippi State University offers several ways to go from home to campus and back again. Walking is an easy solution for those fortunate enough to live on campus or within a reasonable distance from campus. Although North and South Zone residents with cars still have to pay for a parking decal, all traffic can be avoided if one leaves their car parked for the day. Biking is another popular method of transportation. While considerably faster than walking, bikers must take extra care in weaving around pedestrians and hopping off for crosswalks. Shanika Musser, a junior civil engineering major, said she believes biking is by far the superior way to commute and offers many benefits. “When all the cars are backed up at a light or stop sign, I can zip past them all on the side,” Musser said. “I can park right next to my destination and don’t have to worry about finding a parking spot, and I don’t have to pay for a parking pass.” Longboarding and skateboarding are other options for pedestrians. Beyond the wide turn radius, both types of boards are smaller and easier to maneuver through crowds than a bike. Longboarding and skateboarding also have the added benefit of a leg workout in considering the

off the ground. Commuting by car is undoubtedly one of the more popular modes of transportation at MSU, judging by the state of every parking lot bright and early each morning. The fight for commuter parking spots is infamous across campus and is only worsened when one does not have morning classes. Claire Cross, a junior biomedical engineering major, drives to campus every day despite the controversy. She even believes Highway 12 is not as bad as it seems. “I always just go down Highway 12. People say to avoid it, but it’s not bad in the mornings,” Cross said. “If I time it just right and leave around 7:20 a.m., I hit the sweet spot and get all the green lights.” Mopeds and motorcycles provide another method of commuting. The small size of the motorcycle allows for it to fit in places more easily. Almost every driver on campus knows the disappointment of spotting what appears to be an empty space, only to come face-to-face with a motorcycle. Motorcyclists should keep in mind that motorcycles parked on campus are required to display the proper decal for the commuter lot of choice. Carpooling is an energysaving and affordable way to get to classes each day if a student has friends with similar schedules or collaborative roommates. A schedule could be devised to save the same person from driving every day, or gas money can be offered for extra incentive. Company can also make the traffic more bearable if the carpool group is trying to leave during heavily

Starkville-MSU Area Rapid Transit (also known as SMART) buses are also available for transportation to and from campus. Bus stops are scattered across campus, and bus routes can easily be tracked with the Double Map app or browser search. SMART buses are ADAaccessible and free to use. The buses also travel to areas of limited parking, like the Wise Center and Greek houses. Meredith Maynard, a sophomore culinology major, claims the SMART bus is the most convenient way to get to class from her apartment. “I like taking the SMART bus to campus because it’s a very convenient means of transportation to and from campus and my apartment,” Maynard said. “All the bus drivers are friendly and will wait a second if I’m rushing to catch it.” As a last resort, students can also call an Uber or Lyft. While calling a personal chauffeur may sound like a luxurious way to commute to class, it is wise to consider that this method is one of the more expensive ways to transport oneself. Uber or Lyft can be a saving grace to someone whose car has suddenly broken down or was kicked out of the carpool group. Most students might just take it as a sign that attending class is out of the question that day, though. Every MSU student has his or her own opinions about the best way to get to campus safely, quickly and punctually. No matter which mode of transportation reigns supreme, MSU President Mark E. Keenum would be proud of the efforts made every day to follow his famous advice:

Starkville’s Sunday Funday will close out the weekend and its 2019 season this Sunday. The local art and music event will be held from 1-7 p.m. on University Drive between the former City Bagel building and Scooter’s Records. Joe MacGown is the board chairman of the Sunday Funday event. “It’s a low-key, fun event for the public that’s good for all backgrounds,” MacGown said. Sunday Funday is held one Sunday each month from May to October, starting at 1 p.m. and ending at 7 p.m. The event features local and regional bands, art vendors, food vendors and booths for other events and businesses throughout Starkville. The event is free to the public, and people come from all over East Mississippi to attend the event. MacGown said the event initially started out small and has grown tremendously since its creation three years ago. “It’s really grown, we’ve had 7-10 vendors and now we have up to 40,” MacGown said. Sunday Funday is run by sponsorships, donations and grants. “One of the cool things about it is that it’s usually held on a private property owned by the Camps in the Cotton District, and they’ve been very helpful to us with having this event,” MacGown said. “It makes it a lot easier.” This event is unique to Starkville because it gives people a chance to immerse themselves in the arts, and it helps artists lead people to that. “Being an artist, there’s not a lot of venues to sell art here and people don’t have a lot of opportunity to see local art,” MacGown said. “It’s a regular event that showcases our local talent.” Sunday Funday not only gives local artists a venue to present their art to the community, but it gives the community a chance to respond to artists and purchase their art. “We’re teaching young people how to run their own businesses. They’re learning how to run cards and deal with customers.” MacGown said. “We’re creating a network of artists.” State sales tax is taken up during the event, benefitting both the artists and the community at large.

Sunday Funday features not only fine artists but musicians as well. The featured band for this month’s Sunday Funday is CBDB, a progressive rock band founded in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. While many people in the community simply attend the event, others choose to play a developmental role. Jessie McLaren and Brandon McLaren run an informational booth for the Magnolia Film Festival at Sunday Funday events. Jessie McLaren serves as social and community events coordinator for the festival while Brandon McLaren serves as director and programmer. The McLarens had attended Sunday Funday before setting up their booth. They said community atmosphere offers a way for artists to meet people. “Sunday Funday really is an arts festival for artists,” Brandon McLaren said. “Everyone’s more engaged with one another, you get a different vibe when you’re there.” The couple had first attended Sunday Funday in 2018. They heard about the event through Facebook and ended up taking their children several times throughout the season. “I like it because it’s supporting the local arts, and it’s a way for the community to come together,” Jessie McLaren said. “I also enjoy the food, especially because it’s all local.” Siena Turner, a senior broadcasting major, has been a student volunteer at Sunday Funday since May of this year, though she had not previously attended the monthly event.

“I heard about it initially in one of my classes,” Turner said. During her junior year, Turner interviewed the owner of Scooter’s Records for one of her classes, and the event was mentioned during the interview. “He brought it to my attention that he gets more clientele during Sunday Funday and that more people hear about his business,” Turner said. After getting involved with the Magnolia Film Festival, Turner began volunteering at their booth for Sunday Funday. As an outof-state student from Atlanta, Georgia, Sunday Funday gave her an opportunity to meet people outside of the Mississippi State University. “I like seeing how the locals come together and introduce their different businesses,” Turner said. “It’s a great way to bring the community together to socialize and have a great Sunday.” Turner said she enjoys meeting people while working at the event, whether it is other students, faculty or Starkville residents. She also enjoys seeing different perspectives while volunteering. One reason Turner said Sunday Funday is beneficial for students is because the event gets them involved in the community beyond their college-based groups. “It helps you get out of your dorm or apartment and make friends,” Turner said. Turner then explained how students often become so focused on getting to know their college campuses that they often forget about the area outside of the school. “It’s just a nice event, it’s very relaxed,” Turner said.

66-Sports SPORTS

THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2019 @SPORTSREFLECTOR

Soccer manager plays an imporant role on the team HUNTER CLOUD SPORTS EDITOR

Team manager Efram Egede runs around in the sheets of rain as they fall on a 62 degree morning, pushing goals to the touchlines by himself. His bright smile and energy contrast with his grey shirt, now soaked black and his black shorts drip water onto the pitch. Egede shows up to every practice, every game and helps first-year head coach James Armstrong run practice. In the past three years, Egede has been the only consistency for a program that has encountered three coaching changes. Armstrong said Egede is everyone’s best friend from the coaching staff to the players. “He is so passionate, he cares about the game so much,” Armstrong said. “He cares about the players so much. He is also someone we can make fun of every now and again.” Just five hours from his hometown of Atlanta, Egede said his transition from the busy city life to a slowpaced rural community like Starkville was different. “It is a much more tightknit family group here,” Egede said. The passion for the game of soccer started when Egede was just four years old, and from that point, it has been a journey. He played for Mississippi State University’s Club Soccer Team and applied for a position to become a team manager. Since Egede became manager, his journey has seen game-winners and spending time in the press box with Sports Information Director Brian Ogden. For Egede, every day is the chance to work with his passion.

“Coming to work, it isn’t even work to me. This is just me coming to do what I enjoy most,” Egede said. “Every day is just a blessed day honestly.” The next step in the journey for Egede is unknown as he will graduate this year with a degree in petroleum engineering. Egede said he has applied to jobs and could find himself in either Texas, Louisiana, California or Colorado.

“ Coming to work, it

isn’t even work to me. This is just me coming to do what I enjoy most,” Efram Egede Soccer manager Once he graduates, his love for soccer will not end. Once he gets a job in his field of study as Egede said, the plan is to get a coaching license wherever he ends up, so he can be a volunteer coach. If he could coach any team, Egede said, he would coach Real Madrid or Nigeria. Currently, he coaches his own team of sorts, as he has a fantasy team in the English Premier League. That has not gone quite to plan for Egede, but he has relished the challenge to make a winning premier league side. “It is a week by week grind, my team is not the best right now. We are struggling,” Egede said. “If it is NFL Fantasy Football, I’m probably the best. I think

it is just a different ball game. My team is the best team on paper, they are just not performing yet.” Armstrong and the team take great enjoyment in Egede’s struggles in his fantasy premier league. Egede’s ability to laugh off misfortunes came into play when he has to occasionally shag balls for away games. That work hasn’t always been pain-free for Egede as this season he suffered an injury in practice. Makayla Waldner, a senior forward from Dexter, Missouri, was the player who inflicted the injury. “One time it was caught in the goal and wasn’t ready for it (the shot),” Waldner said. “I felt so bad, he tried to block it but his hand wasn’t locked out. He came around with a limp wrist for about two weeks. Broken wrist and all, he will do whatever it takes.” It was all smiles from Egede as he told his side of the broken wrist story. He said it was his best moment in the time spent with the team. “She drove the ball, she has a rocket of a right foot,” Egede said. Egede plays a vital role on the team beyond helping out with practice. Waldner said that Egede is not only everyone’s best friend but also their biggest fan. Every time Waldner scores a goal, the two share a celebration where they will salute each other. Waldner also said Egede will support her no matter what. “If you are down he picks you up, if you are having a great game he encourages you,” Waldner said. “He is always a very consistent person and a genuine person. Hail State Soccer is incredibly lucky to have someone like Efram on our team.”

Daniel Dye, Rosalind Hutton

Aaron Cornia| MSU Athletics

Efram Egede smiles as he watches practice. Egede has been a manager with the team since 2016, working under three different coaches.

THANKS FOR MAKING US #

Jace Christmann Junior kicker houston, tx

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Dawgs, meet Jace Christmann

GARRETT SMITH STAFF WRITER

Suppose you are at a family reunion. What food are you most looking forward to eating? Poppy seed chicken. Momma makes the best poppy seed chicken. Who is the best singer? Stewart Reese.

What is your favorite pizza topping? Pepperoni. Who is the best Madden player on the MSU football team? Paul Blackwell. Thick or thin crust? Thick. The football team is having a 2v2 basketball tournament. Who is your first draft pick?

Soccer. I’d probably still be playing soccer.

Probably KT [Keytaon Thompson]. I think he had a pretty historic career in high school, so I’d have to go with him. Who is the best dancer? It’s not me. Probably Dedrick [Thomas]. I don’t know if it’s good dancing, but he’s always dancing a lot.

Who is the most interesting guy on this team? Kody Schexnayder, for sure.

What do you see yourself doing when you are 50? Hopefully I can be playing a lot of golf somewhere.

What is your favorite place in Starkville? Davis Wade Stadium. If you did not play football, what sport would you play?

When you play Madden, who is your go-to team? Texans. Always. I’m a Houston boy. What is your go-to pre-game song? “Hall of Fame” by the Script. Who was your hero in elementary school? Once I got into kicking, it kinda became Josh Scobee. Who, on this team, is going to have their own tv show when they are 50? I don’t know how good of a tv show it would be, but probably Tucker Day. He might be able to pull something off. If you had to room with a coach on a road trip, who would you want? Coach Scheier is a funny guy. I think it would be pretty entertaining.

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