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FRIDAY OCTOBER 26, 2018
134th YEAR ISSUE 15
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
Sanderson Center celebrates 20 years SARAH MORGAN JOHNSON STAFF WRITER
Courtney Carver | Courtesy Photo
After nearly three years of development, MSU’s Community Garden is open to the public.
MSU opens new Community Garden EMMA DRAY BRASWELL STAFF WRITER
The new Mississippi State University Community Garden, which has been in the making for about three years, opened on Oct. 15. This garden is a way for students, faculty and the Starkville community to get involved in going green, and works to better the community overall. Mayah Emerson, president of the Student Association, described the garden as being there “for the MSU community, as well as the Starkville community.”
The Community Garden is a large project across MSU and Starkville with many people involved. “Partners all across campus have joined together in this project, so from student groups to departments, it’s become one big project for everyone,” Emerson said. This, Emerson explained, is the part SA played in the project. They are one of the partners who have worked to officially get the garden to a running point. MSU President Mark Keenum specifically commended SA’s leadership and contributions to the “wonderful project.”
GARDEN, 2
Mississippi State University’s Sanderson Center celebrated its 20year anniversary, two weeks ago. Named after its major contributor, 1947 MSU graduate Joe Frank Sanderson, the center has become a vital part of student life over the past two decades. Regina Hyatt, vice president of student affairs, said she has observed the impact of the center on student life. “The Sanderson Center is, has been and continues to be a central component to the student experience at Mississippi State,” Hyatt said. “As we encourage our students to pursue healthy behaviors, the Sanderson Continue is a great place for students to improve their mental, physical and social wellbeing.” Patrik Nordin, the director of University Recreation, has been involved in working for the Sanderson for all but two of its 20 years. He worked his way up from a student fitness instructor, to a fitness graduate assistant, to a staff member, to his current position. He has a unique perspective on how
Noah Siano | The Reflector
MSU’s Sanderson Center observes its 20th anniversary this month. The recreational hub is named after MSU graduate Joe Frank Sanderson.
the center has grown and changed since it opened in 1998. “Since opening 20 years ago, the Sanderson Center has made students more active by providing a wide variety of activities and the space to do them,” Nordin said. “The staff of the facility have always tried to offer something for everyone, whether it’s battleship or ballroom dancing. Rooms and spaces
in the Sanderson Center have been reinvented– sometimes multiple times– to keep up with fitness trends and enrollment growth. It has also allowed new sport clubs and student organizations to form and thrive by providing space for practices and meetings.” Donald Moore, a graduate student studying food science, nutrition, and health promotion, echoed Nordin’s sentiments.
“I feel that the Sanderson is important because it offers students and patrons a place to escape everyday stress,” Moore said. “It is a welcoming environment that makes everyone feel at home, and it offers something for everyone.” Instead of attributing the center’s most valuable asset to its impact on student health, Nordin said it is the employees making the impact. SANDERSON, 2
Sinkhole emerges in Dogwood parking lot Research studies communication with board game HUNTER CLOUD SPORTS EDITOR
A sinkhole appeared in the parking lot of Dogwood Residence Hall at Mississippi State University after water flowed underneath the asphalt. Fred Mock, associate director for Maintenance and Facilities at MSU, said a water drainage line broke, which caused the ground to sink. “Originally, we thought there was a break in the line. So they ran a TV camera from a manhole to all the way up here. Somewhere in there, the line is broken,” Mock said while pointing at
the end of the water spout where the water pipe began. The water drainage from the roof goes down into the ground in a line, and then runs into a water drainage pipe, which is now broken. The cause of the break is still unknown. As a result, Mock said the water followed the line down to the parking lot. “So, it has just started following the outside of the pipe all the way down,” Mock said. “For whatever reason, that (the area where the parking lot started to sink) was the best place for it to start to sink down.” Currently, the drainage pipe is out of the ground and on the surface, going
then
into a water grate so it will not leak any more. However, Mock said they will still have to fix the water line underneath the ground, including digging up the edge of the entrance to Dogwood and the area where the water grate is. In regard to the sinkhole causing a threat to cars in the parking lot, Mock said it did not pose a threat because Maintenance and Facilities corrected the problem temporarily. He also said they found out about the sinkhole thanks to a student. “When we had all of that rain, one of the students in the building said, ‘I think it is getting worse,’ and it was,” Mock said. “As soon as we
came out here after that rain, we blocked the spaces off.” Colton Watson, a sophomore chemistry major from Brookhaven, lives in Dogwood and said he was never concerned about the sinkhole. “It does not concern me terribly,” Watson said. “I would be totally surprised if a sinkhole happened where it swallowed up vehicles and people. If another one happens, I think it will just be a four-foot drop.” MSU Chief Communications Officer Sid Salter said the university is aware of the situation and is working to fix it as quickly as possible. SINKHOLE, 2
now Emma Dray Braswell | The Reflector
Bri Laverty | The Reflector
A sinkhole (left), covered four park spaces in the Dogwood parking lot. MSU Maintenance and Facilities has temporarily solved the problem (right), but an underground water line still needs fixing.
FRIDAY HI: 58 LO: 52 SKY: Partly Sunny POP: 20
SATURDAY HI: 66 LO: 47 SKY: Partly Sunny POP: 0
SUNDAY HI: 74 LO: 45 SKY: Sunny POP: 0
FORECAST: Rain chances linger Friday morning, but the afternoon will be cloudy and mostly rain-free. It will be dry on game day, making for a partly sunny day with temperatures in the mid 60s, but there will be chillier temperatures by kickoff, so bring extra layers. We’ll end the weekend with warmer weather and sunnier skies on Sunday with a high of 74.
Jessica Moore, Campus Connect Meteorologist
C. NICOLE RIGSBY
help the community work together. There were two groups in the study: a yellow group, which was the experiment group, and the blue group, which was the control group. Both groups’ participants were MSU students. To win the game, a group has to complete the objective of building five structures and completing two temporary objectives. Each round, the temporary objectives change. One person cannot win the game on their own; it is won as a group. The game has four sections to build certain structures. The sections were economic stability, sustainability, culture and diversity, and quality of life. One could have a positive or negative rating of points depending on the structures built. These structures could be restaurants, a community college, an art gallery, a strip club, bars, a farmers’ market or many other options. Each structure had a specific type of function. There are generic, tourism, commercial, beautification and entertainment structures. RESEARCH, 2
STAFF WRITER
The Mississippi State University Civic Life Laboratory conducted a research project to find ways to improve how communities talk to each other. To conduct the study, participants played a board game called Rebuilding Main Street. Associate Professor of Communication Melanie Loehwing, along with former communication department chair Skye Cooley and several others, started the game-making process with the help of some employees at Down To Game. Loehwing studies and researches rhetorical democracy. “I am interested in how people use communication in order to participate, create and maintain democracy,” Loehwing said. The purpose of this board game experiment was to produce different civil conversations. It looks at why everyone is in agreement or how they talk through their differences. The game’s goal is to use democratic deliberation to
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RESEARCH In the real world, it takes many resources to build structures, and so does the board game. There are different resources an individual could use to build structures. Every person has their own character and role, such as civilian, importer, investor, job recruiter, farmer, educator, philanthropist, conservationist and city manager. The investor and philanthropist have the capital resource to contribute, the importer and farmer have the materials and goods
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resource, the city manager and conservationist have the public utilities resource, and the educator and job recruiter have the labor resource. The civilians do not receive any resources. These resources were small, color-coded cubes. For the first three game plays, each person receives seven cubes of their certain resource, and the last game play, the participants receive eight cubes. Every structure costs a certain number of resources needed to build the structure. Every structure card effects the rating of each quadrant on the board.
Some cards help the rating, while some cards have a negative effect. Each round, every person, besides the civilian, is dealt structure cards. The group has to decide together on which structure to build and on which quadrant. After choosing which structure to build, each person pays the resources needed. Mostly, the individuals split the costs with the person who had the same resource. A player also has to draw an event card. The event could strike down the structure, give the participants a chance in
gaining a resource, or have no effect at all. For the experiment group, players would participate in a mindfulness exercise after they built the first two structures. These meditations are supposed to encourage the players to focus on their senses and stay in the present. Both of the groups lost once. Brian Shoup, who is an associate professor of political science and public administration and a researcher with the Civic Life Lab, explained why these losses were actually positive. “There has to be that
element that says that no matter your best intentions or how strategically you work to put these things together, there are things that can happen,” Shoup said. “The fact of the matter is, it’s pretty accurate in terms of reflecting political values.” The researchers involved with the project said they are pleased with students’ participation. Senior political science major Krishna Desai, who is an undergraduate assistant with the Civic Life Lab, said she was initially worried to conduct this community research
GARDEN Emerson said the garden originally started all because of one student. “A student thought we should become greener, so he advocated for more resources,” Emerson said. “He was awarded money and started a proposal process. Students were able to come up with initiative ideas, submit a proposal and then a winner was chosen... The first year this started, the Community Garden was chosen. The Student Association partly funded the garden, and then it took off from there.” Since the proposal, the garden has included many partners, farm-bots and
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classwork. A few classes on campus now meet and do work to move the garden forward. Another partner and promoter involved is the Maroon Volunteer Center, which Meggan Franks oversees. “We help recruit volunteers and groups, and communicate to students about their volunteer commitment,” Franks said. Franks explained they do things for the garden in terms of students volunteering, such as scheduling shifts and keeping up with how many volunteers are in the garden at once. “Volunteers from all over
helped to actually create the garden,” Emerson said.
“Volunteers from all over helped to actually create the garden.” - Mayah Emerson, Student Association president The garden is located behind the Department of
Landscape Architecture, just south of the NewellGrissom Volleyball Arena. “This will hopefully start more conversations to be greener on our campus, which we’re excited about,” Emerson said. Because the culture of going green is increasing on campus, students are provided with more opportunities to further themselves and their knowledge in this subject. Not only is this garden educating students on being environmentally friendly, but there are also many other motives for creating it. These include things like research and
reducing hunger. “Mississippi State is committed now and in the future to solving the problem of hunger wherever it exists,” Keenum said. “It is one of our central research priorities, and an area where we have unmatched expertise and capabilities.” Due to these missions of ending hunger and going green, the newly opened Community Garden is important for progress in Mississippi. “It illustrates how small steps can have profound impacts when we work together,” Keenum said. “It gives us an important
SINKHOLE “Campus Services is aware of this situation and is regularly monitoring the lot,” Salter said. “A contractor has been procured to implement a permanent repair in the next few days. At this point, the university does not
platform to educate students, develop additional research on smaller-scale food production and share that knowledge with the local community and well beyond.” After several years of preparation, the new Community Garden allows MSU to look toward a future of bettering the college’s environmental impact, as well as pushing for education and research in related fields. For people who would like to sign up to volunteer at the community garden, they can go to OrgSync or email Eloisa DeLeon at emd203@msstate.edu.
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believe that this represents any danger to anyone, but will monitor it until repairs are complete.” After they blocked off the parking spaces, it took about seven to 10 days for the contractor from the company
who built Dogwood to come and figure out what happened. They also repaved the parking spaces affected by the sinkhole. As for the cost of repairs, it will not be undertaken by the university. Instead, the
contractor will incur the costs of the repairs. Mock said the sinkhole cause came with the building when it was constructed. “The contractor who built these buildings will bear the price of that costs,”
Mock said. “That goes with the warranty of the building and workmanship, so the university will not be paying for it.” Mock said the sinkhole will probably not happen again if the line is constructed
SANDERSON “The people of the Sanderson Center are its most valuable asset,” Nordin
experiment on students. “I am interested in getting people interested in community problems,” Desai said. “It seems, especially in my age group, there is an ignorance and apathy about community problems.” Now, the researchers are breaking down the information they gathered from the experiment to see how it can be used in the real world. They plan on conducting the study a few more times to get a better understanding on how to help the public with democratic deliberation to help the economy and community.
properly and if the soil tests are done right, and then packed around the line correctly. There are still some repairs they will have to do, but for now, it is temporarily fixed until they can make those repairs, Mock said.
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said. “The facility has employed over 3,500 student employees since opening
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its doors in 1998. We’ve had graduate assistants and professional staff members from all over the country who have left their mark on the program through the years. They’ve brought new and innovative ideas and made the Sanderson experience better.” A dedication to serve MSU students and members is the heartbeat of the Sanderson Center, said Julie Kelly, who has worked as a fitness instructor at the
Sanderson for nearly a year and a half. “I believe our students and members value the Sanderson Center because of our dedication to ensure everyone who steps foot in our building has a positive experience,” Kelly said. “We are constantly seeking ways to improve our facility, programming and students, and strive to continue to provide exceptional customer service.” Kelly said she enjoys
interacting with students and members everyday, along with the dedicated staff. Her favorite part of working at the Sanderson is the every-day interactions with students and members. “Whether it’s teaching a group exercise class and helping participants reach their fitness goals, or supervising and training my student employees, my job constantly keeps me busy,” Kelly said. “I love coming to work every day to spread
my passion of health and wellness, and I am constantly motivated by our dedicated students.” This people-oriented foundation of service is the reason the Sanderson Center has become what it is today. While the center has changed and adapted as the years have passed, the core purpose of the Sanderson has remained the same — to serve and improve the lives of those who walk through its doors.
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BAD DAWGS Friday, Oct. 19, 2018 Employee recovered an abandoned bicycle from the Bryan Building. Student reported his vehicle burglarized while parked in C1 parking lot. Employee reported his vehicle keyed while parked on Buckner Lane. Student reported his vehicle burglarized while parked in C1 parking lot. Student reported his headphones stolen from McCool Hall. Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018 Student’s vehicle was burglarized while parked in E9 parking lot. Student reported his vehicle was burglarized on Oct. 20, in E9 parking lot. Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018 Officer to a non-criminal fire at Oak Hall. Monday, Oct. 22, 2018
CLASSIFIEDS The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday. The deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. Classifieds are listed at $5 per issue. Student and staff ads are listed at $3 per issue, prepaid. Lost and found items: Found items can be listed for free; lost items are listed at
Student arrested on a warrant at McKee Hall for felony burglary of a residence. Employee reported damages to her property due to her room in Griffis Hall being flooded. Employee reported being harassed by an ex-boyfriend. Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018 Employee reported missing radios at the Sanderson Center during an annual inventory audit. Non-resident/visitor arrested on Hail State Boulevard for speeding 65/45, expired driver’s license and DUI. Employee reported a golf cart stolen outside the Student Union that was stolen from Davis Wade Stadium. Notable Traffic Citations: Eleven MSU citations issued, the worst of this is 43/20 in Research Park. Justice Court citation issued for no insurance on Hardy Road.
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OPINION
Foreign language education should start earlier in American schools with Scientific American reported studies have shown the optimal age range for secondary language education is to begin by age 10, which is four years before my high school first required a foreign language course. In Europe, Pew Research found over 30 countries have compulsory secondary language study, and 20 countries require the study of a third language. The most common age range in these countries for starting the secondary language study is around 6-9 years old, with Belgium’s being 3 years old and the UK’s being 11 years old. France, as a totally nonbiased example, begins their third language education at age 13, but Luxembourg commences their third language education at age 7, a year after the students begin learning their first foreign language. America, however, has no national standard of foreign language education. Foreign language education happens in America, certainly, and The Atlantic’s Amelia Friedman reports 93 percent of American high schools offer foreign language courses. However, only one percent of adult Americans say they are fluent in the language they studied in high school, and only around seven percent of college students in America are enrolled in a foreign language course.
DYLAN BUFKIN
is a sophomore majoring in English. Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
I love learning French. Now, I do not exactly enjoy the homework associated with the sometimes leviathan-looking task of learning an entirely different language, but I love comparing French to English and speaking an entirely different tongue. The thought of millions using the language I see as foreign and quaint in everyday life is eye-opening, though, and I still cannot begin to effectively think in French, which native speakers do every second. In fact, the concept of others’ thoughts possibly being in a language different from English felt entirely alien to me, until I studied French. All the difficulty I have faced with learning a foreign language brought me to a simple wish: I wish my primary school had the forethought to teach every student a secondary language, then and there. Many of us have heard the analogizing of a child to a sponge in relation to language, and there is definite truth to the saying. Dana G. Smith
Why should it matter, though? English is the current language of trade, and with most other countries teaching English nationally, it leads one to believe foreign language education in America is a novelty, if not unnecessary. The obvious counter argument is English, eventually, will not be the singular language of international trade, and when this day comes,
It is time female athletes receive equal pay
Americans will be woefully unprepared. Beyond that, secondary language acquisition procures a host of benefits for those willing to put in the work. Gaia Vince with BBC reported bilingualism can postpone the onset of dementia by an average of five years, allow faster stroke recovery, increase general cognitive function and allows one to experience greater empathy.
Turkey holds the truth about Jamal Khashoggi’s death
BREANA NORTON
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Picture earning $6.8 million right after your freshman year of college by playing the sport you love. This is the reality for DeAndre Ayton, the number one overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. He signed with the Phoenix Suns and will earn over $6.8 million in his first season. Also, LeBron James just signed a four-year $153.3 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. However, the number one WNBA Draft pick, A’ja Wilson, will earn only $55,052 her first year playing for the Las Vegas Aces. These two salaries are not even close. Wilson tweeted her frustrations about LeBron’s deal and the unequal pay gap between male and female athletes saying, “154 Mill… must be nice. We over here looking for a M.” According to Kurt Badenhausen of Forbes, the average salary for a professional men’s basketball player is $6.2 million, in comparison to $71,635 for a woman. The most a WNBA player can earn is $115,000, but the minimum for NBA is $838,464. Some credit this problem to be association’s revenues. The NBA brings in much more than the WNBA considering their average attendance in 2018 was 17,987 fans, and the WBNA had an average of 6,721 fans per game. That is a huge gap. 10,000 more fans buying seats, concessions and merchandise is definitely a reason the NBA and their teams have more money than their female counterparts.
DAVID SIDES
is a senior majoring in finance and German. Contact him at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.
However, is this a reason for a multi-million dollar pay gap? According to economics professor Dave Berri, “WNBA player salaries constitute 22 percent of league revenue, while NBA player salaries amount to roughly 50 percent of league revenues,” as reported by Nancy Lough of The Conversation. He went further saying, “the fact that NBA players get a much larger piece of the revenue pie does seem to say something about how each respective league values its players.” The problem lies within how much NBA players are getting paid. $6 million is a little much for Ayton’s first year in the league. He will also end up making more than that because of ads and endorsements. Tom Huddlesston Jr. of CNBCestimates he “could be paid as much as $8 million” his rookie season. The Suns have no idea of the impact he will have in the professional sports industry; they are just going off of his collegiate performance. While I believe the NBA could pay their players less, there is no excuse for the NBA minimum and WNBA maximum to be a whopping $723,464. These ballplayers are playing the same sport, have
the same caliber of play within in their leagues, and are very impressive. Their difference is their sex. I understand the NBA’s revenue is much higher than the WNBA, which makes sense. Ultimately, are professional sports punishing women for being women? Unequal pay is not just the case for basketball, either. As for the United States’ National Soccer Team, the women are more successful than the men but still experience a serious gap. According to the Karen Yourish of the New York Times, “the women’s team earned $2 million for winning the World Cup while the men made $9 million without advancing beyond the round of 16 in 2014.” The women brought home a World Cup win, and there is still a huge pay difference. The solution is not definite. The question remains, should men be paid less or women be paid higher? Regardless of which question you prefer, this gap is still a huge problem and a disgrace to female athletes. All these players value the sport they play and have the skill set to play at this level, which is a tremendous honor. This honor should not be dulled by the amount, or lack of, their salaries.
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Over the past three weeks, Turkey has beaten the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at every turn. It is no secret there is no love lost between the two countries, but Turkey could never hope to take on the KSA, the regional power, without international support. According to Alex Ward of Vox, the alleged murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi is exactly what Turkey was looking for. Let us not beat around the bush, I think the Saudis murdered Khashoggi due to his critiques of the Saudi royal family and his relatively progressive desires for the country. I believe if the order to kill Khashoggi did not come directly from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, then he definitely knew about it. The Saudis are as guilty as it gets, and they are handling the situation horribly. I honestly believe they just did not think there would be this type of international pushback for murdering a journalist. I mean, to be fair, Russia has made the political opposition disappear for years without consequences. But we are not going to focus on how poorly the KSA has handled this situation, but rather how well Turkey has. First off, no one knows
exactly what information Turkey has. Khashoggi was a green-card holding resident of the U.S., so we have a vested interest in seeing this case resolved, but we still do not know all the facts yet.
“Each time the Saudis release a new statement, the Turkish government has them cornered.” Turkey is keeping a tight rein on their intel. According to one Turkish official interviewed by David Gauthier-Villars and Summer Said of The Wall Street Journal, they have “turned on the dripdrip.” Each time the Saudis release a new statement, the Turkish government has them cornered. Since Turkey has kept their information so tightly controlled, the KSA cannot hope to outmaneuver them. Additionally, Villars and Said explained it is clear Turkey has some sort of hard evidence of the killing, whether it is an audio or video recording. Each time the government of the KSA changes their story, whether they actually knew about the killing or not, they continue to dig themselves into a hole. Every time they have changed their story so far (I think a total of 4 times now), Turkey releases a new piece of information
directly countering their claims. The Saudis are continually shooting themselves in the foot by not getting out ahead of the story. Everyone knows the royal family’s track record with human rights abuses (even though the KSA is ironically also the head of a UN commission on human rights), as one of the few countries who still crucifies people, but they are generally protected from sanctions by their strong relationship with the U.S. By not owning up to the murder, at least in some official government capacity, they allow Turkey to continually damage their international reputation. Truly, the KSA’s best bet for controlling this situation would have been to go with the “rogue killing” story first. Because Khashoggi was a Saudi citizen, and killed within the confines of a Saudi consulate, the KSA is answerable to no one but themselves. If other countries wanted to intervene, the worst thing which could happen would be the imposition of sanctions, or maybe an international denunciation from the UN. Really, as long as the KSA firmly placed the blame on someone else within the government (implying Salman was ignorant of the hit), they would have gotten away with it. Instead, the Saudi’s handed Erdogan a proverbial silver bullet. Over the next couple of weeks, I predict we will finally get the truth one way or another, whether the KSA owns up to it or not.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Life Editor/Emma Moffett
Managing Editor/Kristina Domitrovich News Editor/Katie Poe
Learning a second language forces your brain to rewire itself and juggle conflicting information, and with time, your brain adapts to these new challenges to become more resilient and effective. Secondary language acquisition is not just an economic benefit, but it is a potent way to hone your brain. Secondary language education does not have to cost an arm and a leg,
either. Vince also reported schools in Utah trying “immersion schooling.” Immersion schooling is the practice of teaching entirely in a foreign language, which forces students to quickly obtain fluency. Utah’s schools utilize a half-day model, with the school day split between classes in a foreign language and classes in English, and the first language used for classes rotates to accommodate students who do better at different times of the day. The method requires bilingual teachers, but removes the need for separate language courses, and no extra textbooks would be required, as the school would only need to buy textbooks in the foreign language. Foreign language education is one of the biggest areas of needed improvement I see in American schools. America needs to stop assuming its continued linguistic dominance, and realize the world is leaving them in the dust. The benefits of learning a foreign language are numerous and compelling, and I know, firsthand, the effect it has had on how I see the world. Though it might be harder as the years go by, a person of any age can learn any language if one puts their mind to it, and it can only make you better to do so.
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Letters to the editor should be sent to the Meyer Student Media Center or mailed to The Reflector, PO Box 5407, Mississippi State, MS. Letters may also be emailed to editor@reflector. msstate.edu. Letters must include name and telephone number for verification purposes. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.
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LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT
Country Pumpkins: fall fun for everyone HANNAH BLANKENSHIP STAFF WRITER
Located in beautiful Caledonia, Mississippi, a mere 39 minutes from Starkville, Country Pumpkins farm and pumpkin patch offers a plethora of fun, fallcentered activities. Country Pumpkins, open until Nov. 4, grows and sells pumpkins, squash, gourds and other fall decorative items, such as hay bales and corn stalks. The pumpkins vary in price and size, ranging from the smallest pumpkins at 50 cents to pumpkins weighing as much as 150 lbs for $25. Guests also have the option of picking and cutting their own pumpkins from the pumpkin fields. The farm, however, is much more than just a gourd retailer; it is the full fall experience. From hay rides and corn mazes to funnel cakes and picturesque antique tractors, Country Pumpkins has it all. Starting at its inauspicious beginnings in 2000 as a roadside pumpkin tent, Country Pumpkins has grown beyond the expectations of Jean Colson and her husband, the owners of Country Pumpkins. “We never envisioned when we put the little tent out there with the honor box that we would be doing this,” Jean said. “It just kind of exploded because people are looking for a place to go in the fall, and it was an opportunity for my husband and me to open up the farm and share the harvest with everybody.” Jean said the farm is truly a blessing, and she and her husband love sharing the
beauty with others. “It’s just been a blessing,” Jean said. “The agritourist business just took off on its own and we’ve been trying to hang on.” Country Pumpkins is a great option for college students looking to enjoy the beauty of the autumn season. Joy Cariño, Mississippi State University student, said she loves going to Country Pumpkins because it allows her to spend time with
student employed by Country Pumpkins, said she loves how her job involves working with so many kind people, including her coworkers and those who visit the farm. “I love how kind everyone is,” Erwin said. “I consider my coworkers to be great friends, and the people who visit the patch are always so excited and grateful.” Country Pumpkins is open Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.,
Spookvegas is here MARY MADELINE LAMASTUS STAFF WRITER
friends and feel like a kid again. “I love country pumpkins because it’s such a fun thing to do with friends, even if you’re a college student,” Cariño said. “You can feel like a kid again with no shame.” Even without picking a pumpkin, the fall atmosphere and many activities make it a great experience. “There’s a cool tire swing, a hay ride, one of those rolling bins you can roll in. It’s a wonderful atmosphere, especially when the weather is crisp,” Cariño said. “Even if you don’t buy a pumpkin, the hay rides and fun time with friends is worth it.” Emily Erwin, an MSU
and Sundays 12 to 6 p.m. There is no admission fee, but several of the individual activities cost money. Hayrides and barrel train rides are $2 per person, the corn maze is $5 per person and the you-pick pumpkin patch is $6 per person. Owner Jean Colson said college students really enjoy spending time together in the peace and quiet of the rural setting at Country Pumpkins. “It’s a time to get together out in the country; it’s peaceful out here and quiet,” Jean said. “I think it gives them a time to bond together and is a little different experience that you don’t get to do everyday.”
With Halloween just around the corner, there are plenty of local events inviting students and the Starkville community to kindle the Halloween spirit. A Halloween comic fest will take place this Saturday from 12 to 8 p.m at The Last Page, a comic and book store downtown. The store’s owner, Skyland Thompson, said this is the store’s first time to host an holiday event. The event will include free Halloween-themed comic books, featuring major comic stars such as Ms. Marvel and Thor. There will also be a costume contest. Participants can come dressed in their costumes, and at the end of the day, the winner will be awarded in-store credit. For the fourth year in a row, the Kappa Sigma fraternity will host its annual haunted night in the Kappa Sigma fraternity house. The event will benefit the Reclaim Project, a Starkville-based nonprofit
caring for widows and orphaned children in Lesotho, Africa. Trevor Faulkner, an MSU student and the chairman for the event, said he believes the event is a creative fundraiser. “It is a unique way to raise money that people don’t normally do,” Faulkner said. “It is also just really fun. I get a big kick out of people being scared while enjoying it at the same time.” The haunted house has accounted for approximately one-third of the charity’s annual funds since 2014. Alongside the general charity donations, the proceeds will fund a spring break mission team to the ministry’s site in Lesotho. Last year, the fraternity had 12 participants go on the mission trip, and this year they hope to send 30 members in the spring. The haunted house will run Oct. 28 and 29, from 7 to 11 p.m. Admission is $5, and parents are encouraged to bring their children, as the event is kid-friendly. Halloween
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costumes are encouraged, although not required. Finally, the Residence Hall Association will host “Movies ‘Till Midnight,” a Halloween-themed movie night starting at 8:30 p.m. on Halloween night on the Drill Field. The films of choice are “Halloweentown” and “The Purge.” Though the event is targeted toward students, Grey Garris, president of RHA, said the entire community is invited to watch the films. “Our events are open to anyone and everyone,” Garris said. “We want to make sure everyone feels welcome and connected to the MSU Department of Housing and Residence Life.” Halloween snacks, such as s’mores, hot chocolate and popcorn will be provided, and moviewatchers are encouraged to dress warm and bring blankets. Whether for students or families, Starkville is teeming with opportunities for everyone to have a spooky, fun-filled Halloween.
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Newcomers, returning Lady Bulldogs shine bright in Maroon and White Scrimmage BRIANNA WALKER STAFF WRITER
After finishing the 2017-2018 season 34-5 and making yet another final four appearance, the MSU women’s basketball team took to the court Oct. 24 to display their talent in their annual Maroon-White Scrimmage game. Although the Bulldogs graduated four of their powerhouse players last season, the talent and high expectations are two things remaining in this program. Head coach Vic Schaefer said they will try to compete for an SEC and NCAA championship. “My expectations are always competing for championships,” said Schaefer. “We’re going to try and compete for another SEC Championship, and when it gets to be March, we want to be playing our very best to compete for a National Championship. Our expectations here don’t change from year to year.” Newcomer Andra Espinoza-Hunter, a sophomore from Ossining, New York, and transfer from the University of Connecticut, gave less reasons to worry about the future of MSU women’s basketball after her performance Tuesday night. Espinoza-Hunter, who led the Bulldogs in scoring, made 10 out of 17 shots to finish the night with 29 points. Xaria Wiggins, a freshman from Virginia Beach, Virginia, also ensured a safe future for the Bulldogs after finishing with 17 points and 3 rebounds. Schaefer said he was pleased with what he saw from his young players. “I was really pleased to see our young kids,” said Schaefer. “Jessika (Carter), Xaria, and Andra really has some stretches where they did some nice things.”
As for returning talent, Preseason SEC Player of the year, Teaira McCowan, a senior from Brenham, Texas, competed in regular fashion, finishing the night with a doubledouble scoring 19 points and 18 rebounds. Not too far behind was Jazzmun Holmes, a senior from Gulfport, who scored 13 points and 10 assists that would be the building blocks for McCowan. “It was a positive experience,” Schaefer said. “I had some combinations on the floor that I haven’t had on the floor yet this year. It was good to see some of those combinations play together.” As for Anriel Howard, a graduate student from Atlanta, Georgia, who transferred from Texas A&M, Schaefer said he was also impressed with how hard the veteran player goes on the court, and how she is handling the transfer to MSU. “Anriel is still trying to get comfortable, but she always plays hard and rebounds hard,” Schaefer said. “She’s only been with us for a short time, so she’s trying to find her way and she will. I’m very happy with how hard she plays, and I love the smile on her face and how eager she is to go out and compete.” Gearing up for another hopeful season, the expectations are high for Schaefer’s squad, but so is the team’s talent from both newcomers and returning players. Catch the Bulldogs in action at Maroon Madness at 7:20 p.m. this Friday at The Hump. The Harlem Globetrotters will be there as well as MSU’s men’s team. MSU will also host NCAA Division II National Champion Central Missouri in a exhibition at 6 p.m. on Nov. 2. The Lady Bulldogs officially open the 2018-19 campaign in The Hump on Nov. 6 against Southeast Missouri State.
Offense looks to correct mistakes on Saturday MEGAN TERRY STAFF WRITER
Mississippi State University has been on a roller coaster ride of wins and losses this season. The wins are celebrated and worshiped, while their losses have drug questions and uncertainties from fan to fan. These uncertainties only grew after the loss to LSU. MSU Offensive Coordinator Luke Getsy detailed the basics of what needs to be seen from the team’s wide receivers for plays to end with positive results. “It’s just making sure they’re detailed in what they do, they need to be where they’re supposed to be,” Getsy said. “When they’re supposed to be there, that’s the most important thing.” Coach Getsy continued by explaining the importance of everyone working together on the offense, in order to produce the best results possible. “If something seems off to a guy who’s maybe not spending that day as good
as maybe he can, then that messes it up even more,” Getsy said. “And so tight ends, running backs, wide receivers, everyone has to make sure that they’re doing their assignment right.” Going even deeper into the importance of offensive teamwork, Getsy discussed the impact the players have on one another. “If they’re doing their assignment right, they’re in the right place at the right time, then that makes takes a lot more off of the quarterback,” Getsy said. Nick Fitzgerald went over what he saw after watching the film from the LSU game and covered the overall issue he saw regarding his role within the last game. “I just didn’t put the ball where it needed to be,” Fitzgerald said. “I made a few wrong reads, and that lead to a few catastrophic turnovers that we can’t have.” The MSU quarterback shared how he is always the most critical of himself, and expressed a desire to perform better. “It comes down to,
honestly, just overthinking things you know,” Fitzgerald said. “Just kind of relaxing and play my game, and throwing the ball is something that I’m going to keep working on everyday with my receivers and go from there.” Fitzgerald said his solution to overthinking is taking a deep breath and trusting in the training from the week. This includes trusting in the work he has put into being the best that he can be. The team shows a hunger for success and improvement on the field. As always, the team is putting in hard work and countless hours to make adjustments and to prepare for the upcoming game against Texas A&M—a team with the #2 defense in the SEC. The Bulldogs will need to harness all of the effort they have put in thus far in order to get past the Aggies’ defensive line to score. The MSU Bulldogs will face the Texas A&M Aggies at 6 p.m. Saturday, and ESPN will broadcast the game.