10.27.2020 by Reflector Editor

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TUESDAY OCTOBER 27, 2020

136th YEAR ISSUE 9

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

Student charged with DUI MSU students and faculty reflect on the candidates for driving scooter stolen for upcoming House of Representatives election from disabled veteran MAGGIE PHILLIPS

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

HANNAH BLANKENSHIP MANAGING EDITOR

Yet another hopedashing loss of Mississippi State University’s football team was not the only tragedy to occur in Davis Wade Stadium this Saturday. A student stole a Hoverbound Mobility Scooter from a disabled American veteran attending the game. The student then rode it out of the stadium towards the Cotton District. Another student was found driving the scooter and was charged with a DUI, although he was discovered not to have been responsible for the initial theft of the scooter. The identity of the student who stole the scooter was unknown for a period of time, and the MSU Police Department and Starkville Police Department shared surveillance camera footage on their social media

platforms requesting help in locating the culprit. William Fryery, the owner of the scooter, said he did not press charges against the student arrested for DUI but planned to press charges against the student responsible for stealing his scooter. “When it was located three hours later by the Starkville Police Department, this young man was in possession of it, but he just happened to be there when someone dropped it off. He was not the culprit that stole it, so I’m not pressing any charges against him because I would love to know who the hell got my damn scooter,” Fryery said. Fryery, a Vietnam War veteran and 1963 MSU graduate who has not missed a home football game in years, said he parked his scooter at the bottom of the ramp where he normally does. SCOOTER, 2

On Nov. 3, voters in Mississippi’s 3rd Congressional District will decide between two

candidates for the House of Representatives. Republican candidate Michael Guest will be running again after originally being elected in November of 2018.

According to Guest’s campaign website, his focuses have been on foreign affairs and policies, promoting and protecting constitutional freedoms and rights and maintaining public safety by

ﬁghting for border security. Dorothy “Dot” Benford, the Democratic candidate running against Guest, is promoting liberal views and promising change to a longtime conservative state. According to her campaign, Benford is focusing on reducing gun violence through increased gun regulation, acknowledging and working against climate change as a national emergency, defending Roe v. Wade and ﬁghting systemic racism. Dallas Breen is the executive director of the John C. Stennis Institute, a public service and research organization located on Mississippi State University’s campus. Breen is actively involved in helping train and provide opportunities to students interested in political science through the Stennis Institute, one of the most notable being a trip to Washington D.C for 25 to 30 active students in the institute, where students have had opportunities to meet with Representative Guest in HOUSE, 2 the past.

Starkville mayor carves the competition Back the badge or the police? at MSU’s second annual Talladegourd race defund Comedian, panel bring civil discourse JOSHUA STEWART

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

On Oct. 20, the University of Mississippi’s Everybody Loves Lincoln club hosted an event over Zoom discussing the “Defund the Police” movement versus the “Back the Blue” movement. The event was attended virtually, with viewers capped at 40 people. The event included a monologue from comedian Tehran Von Ghasri and a forum that included panelists such as David May, a sociology professor and data scientist from Mississippi State University; Sykina Butts, a senior English major from Delta State University and member of the Social Justice club on campus there; Jeff McCutchen, chief of the Oxford Police

Department and Lauren Moses, a senior political science and economics major from Ole Miss and member of the Young Americans for Freedom club. The event began with the aforementioned comedic monologue from Von Ghasri, who riffed on various topics and current events. He took aim at Democrats and Republicans alike, as well as the state of American discourse. He spoke about the partisan nature of America and the need for unity. “Left wing, right wing, it’s all the same bird! If one side sinks, we both sink,” Von Ghasri said. Von Ghasri also commented on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the need for masks. POLICE, 2

Mary Georgia Hamilton | The Reﬂector

From left to right, Ethan Welford, Landon Casey and Clayton Spaulding send their pumpkins down the ramp. With the help of the Idea Shop, the pumpkins were equipped with wheels and a chassis.

MARY CAITLYN WRIGHT STAFF WRITER

On Oct. 22, Starkville businesses, citizens and students gathered downtown for the second annual Talladegourd 500, hosted by the Mississippi State University Idea Shop in conjunction with the Greater Starkville Development Partnership. Jeffrey Rupp, the director of outreach for the college of business and the MSU Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach (E-Center), worked with the E-center

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Idea Shop to put this event together. “We did this event last year for the ﬁrst time, and the Idea Shop was relatively new then,” Rupp said. “It’s a public maker space where folks can come in and make things. We wanted folks to get to know us, and we wanted to bring them into the Idea Shop. So we thought we’d have a pumpkin race where people would pay money and come into the Idea Shop where they would paint the pumpkin, put wheels and axles onto the pumpkin. So, they

WEDNESDAY HI: 75 LO: 61 SKY: Showers POP: 80

THURSDAY HI: 69 LO: 49 SKY: Cloudy POP: 20

would use the Idea Shop to make their pumpkin, and then we raced them down Main Street during Pumpkinpalooza last year. After the race, the money was then given to charity.” Funds were collected from this year’s Talladegourd 500 as well and were given to two different charities. There were two divisions this year, the ﬁrst division being the business division which helped raise money for the Oktibbeha County Humane Society. The second division was the family division which helped raise money for

projects for children at the Idea Shop who are not able to afford it ,like the Boys & Girls Club of the Golden Triangle-Starkville Unit. Last year, wheels and axles were put on each pumpkin, but this year, chassis were used. The chassis were built out of wood with wheels and a big spike, so each pumpkin had a uniformed look. “The pumpkins this year have been reengineered, and they are going to sail down the street,” Rupp said. “I am anticipating massive pumpkin carnage.”

FORECAST: Expect a rainy week going into Halloween! A beautiful sunny day on Tuesday is followed by high chances of rain on Wednesday and possibly Thursday. Temperatures will be going down throughout the week, with highs in the 70s and lows in the 40s by the weekend.

Courtesy of National Weather Service

RACE, 2

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PUMPKIN

CONTINUED FROM 1

Mary Georgia Hamilton | The Reflector

Madison Grant and Rowan Lammert provide a demonstration of how to use the ramp as Lammert slides a toy car down before the race.

Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill speaks at the second annual Talladegourd held downtown. Spruill later participated in the race and won.

Even though the event is the same, Rupp acknowledged the differences this year with no Pumpkinpalooza and a pandemic, however, he said he hoped the light-hearted nature of the event persists. “Last year, it was absolutely packed,” Rupp said. “I was surprised to see how many folks came out and part of that was because

who have been engaged and doing events like this.” Landon Casey, a 24-yearold MSU graduate with a degree in computer engineering, became involved with the Idea Shop after he was previously involved with the E-Center. This was Casey’s first time at the Talladegourd 500 and he believes the Idea Shop is a great opportunity for those

of Pumpkinpalooza, as well as the fact there was no pandemic. To see adults and kids just laughing when the goofy pumpkins went sailing down the ramp and then crashing into each other, it’s just fun to be involved in the community like that.” Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill was also in attendance at this year’s event. She gave insight into what makes

events like these so special. “If you look and see all who is here, it is all young folks,” Spruill said. “I think that is part of what’s fun. One of my goals is to bring the kids, and by kids, I mean university and high school kids, together and downtown to do things. This is a creative kind of thing, so I am really excited that we have the younger group

in the community. “With the Idea Shop, I love the ability of really anybody to be able to walk in and make whatever they have in their heads,” Casey said. “That is probably the cool thing about the Idea Shop and just the fact that we can give people access to tools and technology that they otherwise might not have access to.”

HOUSE Breen spoke particularly of Guest’s willingness to host the students and meet with them, speaking with the students for hours at a time. Breen emphasized Guest’s devotion to MSU students. “Congressman Guest has been good to the students here at Mississippi State,” Guest said. “He takes time to sit down, answer questions and take students through a tour of the capitol.” On Guest’s opponent Benford, Breen had less to say due to her lack of presence in the media. “Unfortunately, I can’t really speak to her platforms or her vision for what she would do if she were successful,” Breen said. “There hasn’t been a lot of advertising or marketing on her behalf, at least in this area.”

CONTINUED FROM 1

Despite the apparent silence from the Democratic party, Breen still stressed the importance of political involvement and voting, even in this race. “Even at the state level or the local level, those are actually people impacting change on a daily basis,” Breen said. “Every individual election is incredibly important. If you’re not informed about the issues and about the candidates themselves, you lose that connection to impacting and influencing change.” Georgie Swan, a senior political science and psychology major, is part of the Stennis Montgomery Association and is the president of the MSU College Democrats. Mississippi has been known as a Republican state for many years,

but Swan said she wants to create a haven—a group of inclusion for any student desiring a similar community— for Democratic students. Although Benford’s campaign is small, Swan said the College Democrats stand in support of her. Without major representation, Benford’s chances are small, but Swan stated she and the College Democrats share Benford’s visions and will continue to support her. “Michael Guest, running as incumbent, has that advantage,” Swan said. “Even if your candidate loses, just having the Democrats show up and having the percentage of the vote that Guest wins by be decreased is important.” Swan emphasized the importance of college students becoming

active, educated voters by considering and learning about topics, such as climate change, protection for minorities, increasing education funding and decreasing police funding. She said it is important for everyone, including students, to register and have a plan to vote. Flannery Egner, a junior political science and natural resource and environmental conservation major and SMA colleague of Swan, spoke on the matter of the House race as well, with particular focus on Guest. “I have met with Michael Guest a few times,” Egner said. “He truly has a passion for Mississippi, and I really see that.” Egner said she saw Guest’s experience with foreign relations as a strong suit. “Michael Guest’s

knowledge and efforts for foreign policy, I really appreciate. I do think that foreign relations are important right now, especially with everything that has happened in the past four years — with NATO and the UN and now with the World Health Organization and the global responses to COVID,” Egner said. “I do think having him in office furthers that agenda in making sure that, along with our response to COVID, we are recognizing what other countries are doing.” Although Egner found the size of Benford’s campaign to be lacking, she spoke about views of which she knew Benford to support. “Dorothy Benford is a veteran of the Civil Rights movement, and I think

SCOOTER When he came back after the game, it was gone. Fryery contacted campus security, and they filed a report with MSU PD for the stolen property. “Right after the report came, we were told the direction of travel was they left the stadium and turned left on Barr, so we immediately started checking the stadium cameras, and around the amphitheater and the wood bridge and all, looking to see if we could track this guy and see where he might be headed and apprehend him as quickly as possible,” said Chief Vance Rice of the MSU PD. Fryery had to be carried back to his car by game security. He said he then

that’s really cool, especially in the times we are in with the Black Lives Matter and the obvious social injustice that is happening in the country.” Egner encouraged students to become educated and active on the matters of the ballot, no matter their resident district or state. She said matters of minorities, such as protection and justice for women, LGBTQ+ communities and people of color, matters of climate change and earth conservation, foreign relations and health care were all vital to be considered as the elections approach. “I think it’s important that we are recognizing that there is an issue in this country, and we are going to be the face of that change,” Egner said. CONTINUED FROM 1

searched around campus and Starkville for his scooter for several hours before heading back to his home town of Louisville. As he was on his way out of town, Starkville PD called him and let him know they had recovered the scooter. However, the scooter had suffered damage that rendered it unusable. “The extensive damage totaled it out,” Fryery said. Brandon Lovelady, Starkville PD’s public information officer, confirmed there was damage noted in the report of the officers who found the scooter. Sam McDevitt, an MSU graduate student studying electrical and computer engineering, reported seeing

a scooter in the bushes next to the pedestrian bridge on University Drive when he and his friends were walking back from the game. The scooter was then found by Starkville PD officers at the corner of University Drive and Maxwell Street in the Cotton District being ridden by an intoxicated student. The student was not the same student who initially stole the vehicle. “We already knew that that scooter was being looked for, and the people working down in the Cotton District noticed something that looked like a scooter in the bike lane driving erratically from the direction of campus,” Lovelady said.

Mauri Wilson, an MSU senior studying communication, said she was at a bar in the Cotton District when she and her friends saw a student whiz by on a scooter. “I literally saw him just go straight by heading towards the Vista,” Wilson said. Wilson said the sight was initially very funny but later learned the full story. “I feel so bad because me and my friends were like, ‘Oh my God — that was that dude — wait, that’s so sad that he took that from him,’” Wilson said. On Wednesday, several days after the initial incident, MSU PD tweeted the “case of the stolen scooter has been solved.” MSU PD

MSU Police Department | Courtesy Photo

The student pictured is responsible for the theft of the scooter from the stadium on Saturday. Another student was later found driving the scooter in the Cotton District and was given a DUI.

Chief Rice confirmed that the student responsible for

POLICE “Wear the stupid mask,” Von Ghasri said. “I love the mask, the mask works for me! Because I’m not goodlooking like y’all are!” After Von Ghasri’s opening monologue, one of the organizers Jackie Koppell introduced the panel. They

Even though many people were not able to attend due to the pandemic, those who were in attendance added to the racing experience. Many businesses and families entered this year’s event with their pumpkins, but there was only one winner. Out of all of the pumpkins, Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill’s pumpkin won overall.

stealing the vehicle had been found.

CONTINUED FROM 1

were posited questions in turn, sometimes the same question, and each given the chance to answer them in full. Moses and Butts were asked what exactly their positions mean to them, i.e backing the blue vs. Rooms for Rent!

defunding the police. Moses spoke on her support for law enforcement, citing their role in protecting citizens in highcrime communities. “We support law enforcement officers. We support them being in communities that are high crime, to help protect and bring sanity and safety back to those areas,” Moses said. “It really means that what they’re doing is the best they can be doing. Of course, there will always be changes that need to be made in law enforcement, but generally, we think that they’re doing a good job.” Butts was not as convinced. When asked what “defunding the police”

meant, she spoke on the prioritization of funding in struggling communities and how it should be going to alternative departments as opposed to the police. “Defund the police to me is when you have an impoverished community and your first thing to help that community is to invest in the police system. Then I need to look at your officials,” Butt said. “If your community is lacking the resources it needs for children, they don’t have recreational activities, and the people there are barely making a living and your immediate reaction is to get more police officers and get them military equipment,

then I don’t think that money should go towards that.” McCutchen was then asked what his gut reaction to the phrase “defund the police” was. As the chief of the police department in Oxford, McCutchen was frustrated since he sees firsthand what the department does for the community. “I see on a daily basis what police officers are doing and how we are investing back into our communities. Those that have mental health concerns or are homeless, I see that on a daily basis,” McCutchen said. “It is tough to say from a police perspective, ‘Hey, defund us.’ I think we need more funding, better training

and better hiring tactics. We need more accountability.” The event went on for another hour, with questions being asked and answered in a respectful manner. Afterwards, the organizers praised the civility, despite everyone having different perspectives on policing. Jackie Koppell, an organizer and the main question moderator, spoke on the future of the conversation. “I’m really excited about what this means as a beginning of a conversation and a way of communicating that this can be respectful, and we can have plenty of places where we agree to disagree but that we understand a bit more deeply,” Koppell said.

The Reflector 10/27/20 Sudoku

THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2020 @REFLECTORONLINE

BULLETIN BOARD

Reflector 10/27/20 Crossword

PuzzleJunction.com

An In-Class Distraction

Across 1 6 10 14

15 Religious scroll 14 Bistro 18 17 Eagerly excited 21 22 23 24 20 Loan shark’s interest rate 27 25 26 M.P.’s quarry Country bumpkin 28 29 30 Puts on cargo 38 39 40 35 36 37 Dolly ___ of “Hello, Dolly!” 42 43 41 Jack-o’-lantern feature 47 45 46 One of the 51 52 49 50 Clantons Bottom line 53 54 55 Champion Lovebird 63 59 60 61 62 Where Pearl City 66 67 68 65 is Kind of nerve 71 72 70 Andes animal “Hold on!” 74 75 73 Flightless flock Copyright ©2020 PuzzleJunction.com Sat for a picture Alternative to 70 Corozo, for one 10 Jason’s ship nude 11 Mentor 71 Nobelist Pavlov Designer Lauren 72 Understood 12 Japanese sashes Diamond 13 Heredity carrier 73 ___ bean complement 74 Egghead 22 Absolute Leafage 75 Pleasing to the ear 24 Juice ingredient, Bog down at times Some pets Down 26 Plump Sore 27 Eye doctor Slender woman 29 Muslim leader 1 Garden bulb Special occasion 31 Cloak 2 Honshu city Ease up 32 Part of SEATO 3 Less polite Follower 4 “___ you nuts?” 33 Small change Larva 34 Thirst quenchers 5 European mint Genteel affair 6 Storm preceder 35 Weaving yarn Subcompact 7 Amazement 36 Part of a plot Acreage 8 Retina part 37 It’s pumped in a Not together gym 9 Inventor Otis

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

SUDOKU

PuzzleJunction.com

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20 21 23 25 27 28 30 35 38 40 41 42 44

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Student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info. Information may be submitted by email to managing@reflector.msstate.edu with the subject heading “CLUB INFO.” The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is by 3 p.m. on Thursday. Interested in a new sport? Bulldog Judo meets in Sanderson Studio B each Thursday at 5:45. Email BulldogJudoMSU@gmail.com for more information.

BAD DAWGS

Sudoku Solution

2 8 7 4 6 3 5 9 1 6 4 3 9 5 1 7 2 8 5 1 9 8 2 7 6 3 4 Thursday, October 15, Sunday, October 18, 4 1 8 5 3 7 6 2 9 2020 2020 4 reported 2 8 at 7 Pi 1 Property 5 9 damage 6 3 reported Simple assault Kappa Alpha. on Blackjack Road near 6 Heights. 4 7 2 1 9 5 3 8 Aspen Friday, October 16, 2 8 arrest 4 reported 9 7 5 1 6 3 Resisting 2020 at Kappa Alpha on the 100 9 6 2 5 4 8 3 1 7 Lost, found or shortage of block of Clyde Q Sheely property reported 9 2 5 6 8 3 at4the1 7 Circle. Shira Field House equipment room.

Property damage reported in the Hand Lab parking lot.

Sudoku Solution

2 6 5 3 4 1 7 9 8

8 4 1 7 2 9 5 6 3

7 3 9 6 8 5 1 2 4

4 9 8 2 7 3 6 5 1

6 5 2 9 1 8 3 4 7

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Saturday, October 17, 2020

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Simple assault reported on Fraternity Row. Possession of fake/fictitious identification card reported on Fraternity Row.

Possession of paraphernalia reported at Oak Hall on Magruder Street. Monday, October 19, 2020 Petit larceny less than $1000 reported at the Moseley Hall bicycle rack. Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Extortion under $500 reported in the men’s wing of Magnolia Hall.

Lost, found or shortage of property reported at Butler Williams Alumni Police Station.

Trespassing reported on Scott Field.

Other disturbance reported at Garner Hall.

Lost, found or shortage of property reported in East Commuter parking.

Thursday, October 22, 2020

Lost, found or shortage of property reported in Davis Wade security room.

Simple assault, fear of bodily harm reported on the third floor of Cresswell Hall on Magruder Street.

THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2020 @REFLECTORONLINE

OPINION

Do not second-guess a vote for Michael Guest

MICHAEL BOURGEOIS

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

The Mississippi 3rd Congressional District race provided new opportunities for the people living in this region of Mississippi. Dorothy “Dot” Benford, a community activist from Jackson, is the Democratic challenger for Republican Michael Guest’s congressional seat. Guest has represented Mississippi’s 3rd District for two years since the retirement of Gregg Harper in 2019. Mississippi’s 3rd District has maintained the reputation of being a solidly red district, as a Democrat has not been in office since 1997 with Sonny Montgomery as the representative. With a conservative leaning predicated in traditionalism as well as a transparent political record, Michael Guest should be sent back to Washington to represent the people of Mississippi’s 3rd District. Michael Guest possesses obvious political experience which will indicate to voters how he views political issues. Guest’s campaign website

gives us an insight into what he was able to accomplish in his two years in office. In Washington, Guest served on the “House Committee of Homeland Security, including serving on the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations.” He won the respect of his fellow congressmen and shares President Trump’s views on immigration and border security. A cooperative member of Congress, he was awarded an appointment to the House Committee on Ethics, which focused on guaranteeing the integrity of the actions of the House of Representatives. He was appointed to the committee by the House Republican leader, Kevin McCarthy, demonstrating he has won respect from the Republican Party leadership as well as the House of Representatives as a whole. Legislatively, Congressman Guest has authored several bills and was the first Republican freshman member of Congress in history to write a piece of legislation which was passed by the entire U.S. House of Representatives. Prior to when Guest was elected in 2018, Guest served in the position of District Attorney of Madison and Rankin counties for 11 years. In addition to holding

a membership with the Mississippi Bar Association and the Rankin County Bar Association, Guest also helps decide who gets to become a lawyer within the community he represents. Benford, however, is woefully under-qualified to represent Mississippi’s 3rd District. Firstly, Benford has never held elected office, even after several campaign attempts. According to the Associated Press, Benford has run unsuccessfully for Congress in 1988, 1990, 1992, 2006 and 2008. In addition, Benford organized failed campaigns for the Hinds County tax assessor in 2003, Jackson’s mayoral campaign in 2009, the transportation commissioner campaign in 2011 and a campaign for the Jackson City Council in 2017. Clearly, the voter finds Benford’s political platform distasteful time, time and time again, and she has not won a single election outside of her

one position as Democratic committeewoman in over 30 years of political campaigns. Her political record is essentially non-existent, and her campaign website provides spurious qualifications, as opposed to the verifiable political experience which her opponent possesses. She lists herself as a “long-time community activist in the Capital City of Jackson,” and she is also “a veteran of the Civil Rights Movement.” Outside of these two vague ideas of what Benford stands for, the only leadership qualification she lists is the fact she “served as a Democratic Committeewoman covering Wards 1 thru 7 in Jackson since 2017.” This singular reference is hardly evidence of a good representative, and being in this singular position of leadership gives the inclination Benford is going to be loyal to the Democratic Party as opposed to the people of the 3rd District. In addition to being

more politically qualified than Benford, Representative Guest’s political stances are far more in line with the people of the 3rd District than Benford. On his campaign website, Congressman Guest says he wants to stimulate the economy of Mississippi by supporting free market economic policies. Guest wants to lower taxes for everyone, enforce fewer regulations for businesses to stimulate growth within the state and promote Constitutional freedom and liberties for individuals and business. Benford’s economic platform is nearly silent on her campaign website, other than her mentioning she wants to expand Social Security. Michael Guest is a defender of the 2nd Amendment, and he is also pro-life. Guest supports strong border security to stop illegal immigration and drugs. Guest is also a strong supporter of national defense

and law enforcement. Meanwhile, Benford is “ready to implement common-sense proposals to reduce gun violence,” and she is “ready to defend Roe v. Wade” and “ready to support the end of systemic racism.” Clearly, Benford is demonstrating she is not willing to discuss practical implementation of her policies and is instead opting for vague pie-in-the-sky ideas about policy. But pie-in-thesky goals do not make a good representative. Michael Guest provides concrete measurable goals which would work to help people in Mississippi. This is untrue for Benford, who has goals which are not easily implemented in legislation. Come Nov. 3rd, I urge Mississippi voters to align themselves on the side of practicality. Michael Guest has delivered on his promises to Mississippi and given voters concrete legislation worthy of his position in office. Guest has certainly proved himself deserving of another two years, so when faced with the alternative, Guest is the obvious choice come election day. This project was produced with support from a grant from the American Press Institute.

College students’ votes count too Prevent politics from impacting your personal relationships

EMILY BUTLER

GEORGE HUFF

In this day and age, it is so easy to want to completely avoid the topic of politics. With what we have been hearing from both sides of political debates, a lot of the time it feels so toxic to read about and stay informed when it comes to politics. Often, college students feel like they do not hold a place in politics. When looking at our most notable political leaders, it is hard to identify with candidates who do not seem to fit our demographic or hold our same perspectives. In general, this disconnect can prevent college students from feeling as engaged or interested in the political scene. Though these feelings of disconnection are stronger than ever, politics are now becoming more and more of a polarizing and dire issue. Many of the issues which are currently on the public stage are ones which could alter our futures. As the youngest voting demographic, we will live to see the long-term effects of political decisions currently being debated among our older voting counterparts. According to Jordan Misra with the United States Census Bureau, the 2018 midterms had a youth (18-29) voter turnout of 35.6%. Every other age demographic listed all had considerably higher percentages, with the next age group (30-44) having a voter turnout of 48.8%. Though this is normal in our country, it should not be. As the youngest group of people voting, we are sure to see the future implications of what happens in politics today. This should mean we need to focus even more on making our voices and opinions heard through the voting process. The impact of the election would be massive if college students vote this November. Campus Vote

As the 2020 U.S. presidential election swiftly approaches, politics are coming into the spotlight more and more every day. One can find a political agenda around every corner and at every moment. This charged atmosphere has only furthered opposition between opposing parties. As politics attempt to pull the U.S. in two pieces, one thing they should not tear apart are our friendships and relationships. While opposing political views are often a source of strife among peers, making an effort to respect and value each other is essential to maintaining peace and unity during this time. Separating someone from their politics is admittedly a hard thing to do. It is easy to place all the values and beliefs of a generalized political party upon an individual, but this is where a major mistake is made. A person is not their political affiliation. Viewing and treating them as such may lead to the loss of a friendship. According to F. Diane Barth of Psychology Today, respectful and open-minded conversation with friends of opposing beliefs can be beneficial and eye-opening for both individuals. Acknowledging first and foremost the shared values between friends helps to mediate political discourse and make it more productive than harmful. An environment which prioritizes understanding and mutual respect of persons helps maintain friendships and alleviate much of the stress that accompanies political banter. Being in a conversation fueled by disagreement or held with peers who are opposite in their opinions is undoubtedly uncomfortable. It is natural to want to distance ourselves from environments

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Project, a campaign striving toward increasing votes from college students, states millennials and Generation Z will be the biggest group of eligible voters in 2020, but because of their low-turnout, they probably will not be the largest group to actually vote. According to the Pew Research Center, topics such as economy, healthcare and Supreme Court nominations are the top three most important issues for this 2020 election. Oftentimes these issues can feel like distant problems which will not directly affect us regardless of who is in office. But even if these issues do not appear to impact us right at first, they certainly will in the future. When you are voting in current elections, you are voting for the future and the life you want to have in the U.S. Because we have a right to vote, we should use it. As students, it is one of the most valuable tools we have to change the future and make an impact. Not only that but setting an example for our peers to be involved, leading the standard of being interested in politics and knowing the effects it can have on our lives is supremely important for the state of our nation. My advice is to educate yourself about what is at stake. Read what the issues are and focus on those rather than the candidates. At the end of the day, what legislation was passed will be much more important than who was in office. You have a right to vote, and as educated citizens, we should. We owe it to our country now and to the future of our country.

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like this. This is why most people report having few to no friends with different political views. As reported by Ryan Struyk from CNN, only 14% of Republicans and 9% of Democrats claim to have many friends who do not share their political views. Our comfort zone tends to keep us surrounded by like-minded people, but only associating with individuals like ourselves leaves little opportunity for growth and limits perspective. Harsh divides, like we find in today’s political climate, are what cultivate an environment of hostility. Sometimes, stepping out of comfort zones and taking the perspective of others makes us remember everyone has value, regardless of their political affiliation. The setting our political environment has created for discussion is not a peaceful

one. All around, there is constant arguing and turmoil between and even among party members. For friends with opposing viewpoints, this makes politics a difficult topic to approach. This is why Stephen Antczak of Forbes reports many individuals with opposing beliefs maintain their friendship by simply not approaching the subject of politics. While this option may work, it appears to be a way of avoiding the problem rather than finding a solution. Though seemingly forgotten today, people with different opinions can address and discuss their differences without coming to blows. Everyone in some shape or form has different beliefs and convictions from the next person, no matter how similar they may be. The ability to get along with others is already essential to making it in life; politics

o t a should be no exception. In this time of uncertainty a and unrest, there is little which t can truly be counted on. As much as we would love for f our own political party to s solve all our issues, at the end of the day, the people and relationships surrounding us are the ones who will really have our backs. As the country is divided, uniting with one another has become more important than ever, regardless of political beliefs. Learning from, growing with and seeking to understand others is more meaningful than a vote on a slip of paper. Politics are important and relevant to every citizen, but ultimately, they are not your friend. The people we share our lives with are the ones who were with us before the election and the ones who will remain with us afterwards. A true friend is worth keeping, regardless of politics.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Life Editor/Sarah Morgan Johnson Photography Editor/Mary Georgia Hamilton

Letters to the editor should be sent to the Meyer Student Media Center or mailed to The Reflector, PO Box 5407, Mississippi State, MS. Letters may also be emailed to editor@reflector. msstate.edu. Letters must include name and telephone number for verification purposes. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.

EDITORIAL POLICY

The Reflector is the official student newspaper of Mississippi State University. Content is determined solely by the student editorial staff. The contents of The Reflector have not been approved by Mississippi State University.

CORRECTIONS

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

THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2020 @REFLECTORONLINE

LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT

Music Maker’s Fright Night brings spooky sounds to campus

SARAH MORGAN JOHNSON

LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Mississippi State University’s Music Maker Productions (MMP) hosted their Halloween concert, “Fright Night” on Oct. 24. The spooky show featured the bands Bedon and Flight Attendant and took place in Bettersworth Auditorium in Lee Hall. To go along with the theme, students were encouraged to dress up, and members of MMP put careful thought and effort into transforming the venue into a fall-themed Halloween town. Clad in costumes, students walked in through doors decorated with cobwebs and fake spiders. Once they checked in with their netID, they were given glow sticks and entered an auditorium lit up with orange lights and blaring classic Halloween music. As the lights went down and the first act took the stage, students stood up in their socially-distanced seats. As the first band to perform, Bedon was incredibly interactive and succeeded in getting the

crowd warmed up. The band’s enthusiasm and energy filled the room as the members bounced around the stage. The lead singer, Bedon Lancaster, said part of their zeal was due to the fact that they had not played live since Feb. 22. “Live music is my favorite thing in the world,” Lancaster said. “As an artist, it is the best way to keep the fuel in yourself. You receive affirmation and know, ‘Ok, I’m doing something right.’” He explained live music is a vital part of his journey and development. “Making records, writing songs and recording is fun in some ways, but it’s hard. It’s challenging and is the area you have to push yourself the most in as an artist. Playing live is the play off, it’s what makes that entire process worth it,” Lancaster said. From their opening song to their last, Bedon’s passion and gratitude for live music took center stage. Lancaster provided insight into what it is like to experience a COVID-19 concert as a performer. “It feels like you have to work more for intimacy.

The last song was so special. It was just the guitar at the beginning, and it was so quiet, which sounded so cool to me. It was very intimate. It’s cool to have that during COVID, to have it feel intimate and not be all at the same time,” Lancaster said. After Bedon performed, the winners for the costume contest were announced. The winner was dressed as Sriracha hot sauce, with a trio of ghosts taking second place, and a student dressed as Mike Wazowski coming in third. Following the announcement of the winners, Flight Attendant took the stage. Madeline Emery, a senior majoring in kinesiology, is the director of MMP. Emery expressed her appreciation for Bedon and Flight Attendant as local artists. “Now is a unique time to bring local artists, and that is something we really want to focus on. Local doesn’t just mean Starkville. Bedon is local, and he is from Oxford. And Flight Attendant is a local band from Nashville,” Emery said. Emery said she was particularly excited about Flight Attendant.

“One thing I am really excited about is that Flight Attendant is a group with a female lead. Many times local artists tend to be all male groups, so this is really awesome,” Emery said. The band featured a psych rock sound and shared in Bedon’s enthusiasm to play live music once more. They strutted around the stage in their Halloween costumes as they played originals and covers such as Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams.” Gabriel Bowman, a junior majoring in communication, is the public relations chair for MMP. Bowman was thrilled with the opportunity to once again bring live music to the Bettersworth Auditorium via MMP. “With us being in the middle of a pandemic, of course providing students and faculty with something else to do is always great,” Bowman said. “I am super excited that MMP is able to put on something in the midst of the coronavirus. I’m happy to be part of the organization, and I’m just so happy that we have the opportunity to provide this outlet during this time.”

Adam Sullivan| The Reflector

The lead singer of Flight Attendant performs in Bettersworth Auditorium in Lee Hall at Music Maker Productions’ “Fright Night.”

Shackouls Honors College presents first-ever radio drama

MAGGIE PHILLIPS

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

One of the unfortunate changes for Mississippi State University in a COVID-19 world has been the regulation and limiting of the arts programs. From major productions by Theatre MSU to casual performances from small student groups, COVID-19 challenges have made influential alterations in the exhibitions of all forms of MSU art. Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, Shackouls Honors College students and faculty discovered a new, innovative way to continue their annual theatre performance safely for anyone to enjoy by way of radio drama. This radio drama, entitled “A Halloween Feast with Seneca’s ‘Oedipus,’” is a first-of-its-kind project. It was released on the Honors College website on Oct. 26, and is being broadcast on MSU’s radio station, 91.1 FM and 92.7 FM, where it will play throughout the week. The drama is based on Seneca’s “Oedipus,” a tragedy with horror, gore and elements of mystery and surprise throughout the story. Lindsay Culpepper, a freshman Honors College student majoring in wildlife

fisheries and aquaculture, played the role of Jocasta, who is Oedipus’s wife and mother. Culpepper said despite the restrictions this year has brought, she has hoped to be involved on campus. She found the Honors College radio drama to be the perfect way to do just that. “I’ve always been passionate about theater, and I wanted to get involved in college,” Culpepper said. “Getting to meet people from all over campus was really neat, and I feel like we all clicked really well.” The new and unusual production came with several challenges for the cast and crew. Having been an active member in theater in her high

school years, Culpepper shared her thoughts of the challenges and rewards of the experience of the radio drama. “Just acting with my voice was weird,” Culpepper said, “but I think it made me a better actor.” Culpepper spoke of several aspects of the show that still carry relevance in the current year, despite the play having been written centuries ago and produced in a manner that was popular in the mid20th century. “The fact that it was a radio drama, just the way we did it, was interesting, and the setting of the play itself,” Culpepper said. “Thebes was in complete chaos. There was a lot

of death and confusion, similar to America’s current state in a lot of ways.” Asher Etheridge, a sophomore biochemistry major, acted as the stage manager for the production and did lots of work for the sound effects, despite having no previous theatre experience. Etheridge emphasized the importance of experiencing and producing art, regardless of the circumstance. “Whether it’s painting or movies or television or writing, it’s all important, even in troubling times, because it’s always been a reflection on a society,” Etheridge said. “It helps us understand the emotions and thoughts of people in a certain time and era.”

Donna Clevinger, a professor at MSU and Senior Faculty Fellow, has been directing an Honors College theater production annually. Clevinger continued this year, undeterred by the challenges the year has dispatched. “With COVID-19, we could not do the play that was intended for the fall, but I felt like I needed to do something to offer our first semester freshman a theatrical activity that has been presented for the last several years here,” Clevinger said. Clevinger made note of some of the adaptations she implemented in the production of this semester’s show to make it safely possible for the

largely freshman cast to perform. From conducting Webex meetings to figuring out the dynamics of radio drama, the cast and Clevinger worked around many of the regulations of the year. “That’s why I chose this,” Clevinger said. “If we were totally shut down, the show could still go on.” The radio aspect of the drama was not the only pioneered aspect of the show. Clevinger took a classic show and converted it to a modern production. She used classic acting techniques to teach a new form of acting. “We’re taking a first century Roman tragedy and combining it into a 20th century radio drama through 21st century technology,” Clevinger said. “I would put them in the moment of the play, and that gave them a visual that they could work on to achieve their character.” Clevinger’s desire to produce art, even in uncertain circumstances, has become a passion for her throughout her life. “That’s what I do,” Clevinger said. “Any way, shape or form, that’s what I do. The arts have been a part of my life since I can remember, and I cannot think of a time where I would not make that an offer for my students as an activity.”

There is a spooky film for everyone this Halloween season HANNAH VANDERBERG CONTRIBUTING WRITER

With Halloween just around the corner, many people have incorporated scary movies into their media repertoire to get into the spooky spirit. Mississippi State University students are no different, so grab your apple cider and a blanket to hide behind as you choose your next seasonal film. A recent Instagram poll conducted by a Reflector staff member showed what top three movies college students seem to enjoy at Halloween gatherings. Of the students who participated in the poll, “The Shining” won with 26% of students, “Hocus Pocus” was in second with 17%, and the “Halloween” series came in last with 13%. Most students did not specify which Halloween movie they preferred in the poll. “The Shining” is a psychological thriller about Jack Torrance, who takes the job of taking care of a hotel through the winter. This is the movie responsible for creating the iconic meme,

“Here’s Johnny!” Even though he was warned about the previous caretaker murdering his wife and two daughters, Jack, his wife and his son move to the hotel. Jack believes it is a great way to help him write his book with the peace that this job offers him. However, the peace and quiet are too much for him, and it is this abundance of silence which drives him mad, just like the past caretaker. Walker Harris, a junior industrial technology major, enjoys “The Shining” and voted for the film in the poll. “It’s different. ‘The Shining’ did not follow the typical trend of thriller movies. It is a slow burn movie, meaning it takes a while for it to build up. It was revolutionary for its time,” Harris said. “Hocus Pocus” is a dark humor movie that is open for children to watch, as it was created by Disney. The film begins in 1693 in Salem with the hanging of three sisters. The three witches who are hung vow to return in 300 years on Halloween to take

their revenge. After 300 years have passed, a young man named Max explores the witches’ old house and lights the candle of black flame, against his sister and girlfriend’s caution. Upon lighting the candle, the witches appear and comedically cause chaos throughout the town to try and get their precious spell book back from the three kids who took off with it. “Hocus Pocus” is a favorite of Ryan Harfst’s, a senior in wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture. “I’m more of a fan of comedy than horror. And that movie is funny and fun to watch with friends, but it also has a good storyline to it,” Harfst said. The 2018 “Halloween” movie has little more backstory than meets the eye. It starts as two journalists try to unravel the story behind Michael Myers, a serial killer. They both carry around the mask that Michael Myers wears. When seeing him, one of the journalists holds up the mask behind Michael saying, “You can feel the mask,” as the other mental health patients

start to scream around them. This is the little backstory that is offered to the viewer. In the 1978 “Halloween” movie which is directed by John Carpenter, the back story is relatively close to most slasher films. Michael is a 6-year-old kid whose sister chooses to pay attention to her boyfriend rather than keeping an eye on him. Michael stalks them throughout the house while their parents are out and kills his teenage sister once her boyfriend leaves. The next time the viewer sees Michael is when he is escaping a mental institution. Starkville citizen Jordan Tribble is a personal fan of the 1978 “Halloween.” “I enjoyed them both, but I liked the original for its classic horror style. The 2018 one was alright. I felt like it was a bit too different from the original with how they portray Michael,” Tribble said. Whether you prefer a psychological thriller, a playful comedy or a true horror film, there is truly something for everyone who wants to get into the Halloween “spirit” this October.

66-Sports SPORTS

THE REFLECTOR OCTOBER 27, 2020 @SPORTSREFLECTOR

Brent Rooker talks time as a Bulldog before big leagues LYDIA PALMER SPORTS EDITOR

Mississippi State University’s Dudy Noble Field has been home to so many Bulldog fan favorites. Brent Rooker, an MSU alumni and former baseball Bulldog, is now advancing in his baseball career as a player for the Minnesota Twins, after getting called into the major leagues back in September of this year. During his time on the Bulldog baseball team, Rooker was coached by the current director of athletics, John Cohen. Cohen spoke very highly of Rooker as both an athlete and a person. “He’s a really creative, intelligent guy,” Cohen said. “In baseball, in order for you to be successful, you really have to be able to recreate the game in your mind, and he has that ability.” Cohen said Rooker was a leader on the field with his teammates. The word “camaraderie” kept coming up both when Cohen was asked about Rooker’s abilities as well as when Rooker himself was asked about his college baseball experience. “The camaraderie you have with your teammates in college still exists in pro ball for sure, it’s just not quite the same as it is in college.” Rooker said when asked about

changes he is going through as his career advances. One of Rooker’s former MSU teammates, Jacob Billingsley, also went on to play ball beyond the college level. He arrived at MSU with Rooker in 2013 and stayed with the Bulldogs for five years until he was drafted by the Astros in 2018, where he played until this spring when he was released due to COVID-19. “He could always hit a ball a mile,” Billingsley said about Rooker. “There was always that pro potential there for him, and I think everyone kind of noticed that.” Both Billingsley and Rooker redshirted their freshman year at MSU, meaning that their odds of getting to play were not very high. However, both guys made their names known on the team and were bettering their stats each season throughout their time as Bulldogs. Billingsley also spoke about the camaraderie he felt on the team. “It’s different in college,” Billingsley said. “One of the reasons is because it’s got to be. You care for one another, and you’re directly attempting to win. In pro ball, of course you want to win, but the focus is more on developing as a player. You’re all coming together for one thing.” Aside from Rooker’s

evident leadership skills and focus on community among his teammates, his career has also developed through his hard work and talent on the field. After leaving MSU and entering the minor league, he only got to play for a short time before getting injured. In one of his early games with the Minnesota Twins, Rooker broke his forearm and is still in the process of recovering from that injury before he reenters for spring training. In the same way that Cohen spoke highly of him, Rooker had a lot to say about his gratuity towards his former coach. He said he still carries a lot of things he learned about the sport during his time in Starkville with him into his professional baseball career. “Things that Coach Cohen taught me along the way, whether it be about practicing or preparation or in-game type stuff, have all been a huge part of my success,” Rooker said. Both his former teammate and coach, Billingsley and Cohen, said they looked forward to seeing where Rooker’s leadership and playing abilities would lead him after he recovers from his current injury. “He’s gonna have a really bright career in front of him,” Billingsley said. “Everyone knows that, that’s not a doubt in anyone’s mind now.”

Mississippi State Athletics | Courtesy Photo

Brent Rooker plays in a baseball game during his time at Mississippi State University before being drafted by the Minnesota Twins.

MSU soccer draws with Mizzou in overtime HUNTER CLOUD STAFF WRITER

The Mississippi State University Bulldogs faced the Missouri University Tigers on their home field in Starkville on Saturday. The Bulldogs tied with the Tigers 1-1 in a double overtime. A 3-4-3 formation set the Bulldogs up for a counter attacking game against the Tigers as they created four chances in the first half. However, a lack of quality in the final third led the Bulldogs to not having a goal to show for their positive play. James Armstrong, Mississippi State University head coach, said, tactically, he wanted his team to outnumber Missouri in the midfield, which the formation he used allowed. It paid off as the Bulldogs held the Tigers to a 1-1 draw after two periods of overtime. “How Mizzou had played so far and how they played tonight, we wanted to make sure we outnumbered them in the central midfield,” Armstrong said. “That’s where we thought we could get success. We felt that our wide players were going to have to do a lot of running,

and our backs would have to be very physical, strong and aggressive.” Starting goalkeeper Maddy Anderson, a freshman from Seabrook, Texas, stood tall in the goal making two key saves for the Bulldogs. Missouri would get on the scoreboard first as a dangerous ball was not cleared out of the Bulldogs’ defensive third. As a result, the Tigers whipped in another cross, and Macy Trujilo got on the end of it, heading it past a diving Anderson for the first goal. Blythe Beldner was awarded the assist for her cross that created the chance. The Tigers were able to put consistent pressure on the backline of MSU with their defensive strategy. Missouri’s goal was a result of the possession and skill that Missouri had in the first half. That lack of quality by the Bulldogs on the ball in the final third is what Armstrong said cost his team a win. “The game plan worked,” Armstrong said. “We just needed a little bit of final quality inside the box, or in and around the box in the final overtime period, and we might have nicked a goal

at the end.” Both teams created chances to score as Missouri would finish with 14 shots and MSU with 11. Both teams scored very similar goals on the same end of the field and by the same motion. A header is what put Missouri ahead and what got MSU back into the game. The Bulldogs got back on level terms as KK Pavatt played a beautiful arching cross into the box, and Onyi Echegini, a sophomore forward from London, England, steered it home with her head and past the keeper in the 58th minute. The buildup play and finishing was marked by the finesse that the Bulldogs

desperately needed in the first half. “It was a great cross honestly; it went straight to my head,” Echegini said. “It just bounced off my head, and it’s gone. It’s moments like this that have to be taken. From that moment upwards we just kept going, and we had the momentum. It’s unfortunate to not get the ‘W,’ but we fought for 110 minutes.” There was a severe collision during the game as Anderson came out of her goal to block a shot and collided with a Missouri player. Anderson said she could not remember if she hit the player first or if the player hit her first, but she

had to be helped off the field. Throughout the game though Anderson’s condition improved on the sidelines as she started to walk and put pressure on her leg after receiving medical treatment. Hannah Pimentel, a sophomore goalkeeper from Flowery Branch, Georgia, however, would come in and make key saves in goal. Anderson said the team has a next-playerup mentality. “She did really well when she stepped up,” Anderson said. “We always talk about the next player up and stepping up into that role. She definitely did that mentally and physically.”

In overtime, Missouri and MSU traded counter attacks that should have and could have resulted in goals, but the golden goal to win the match was not found. Armstrong said the team fought to the end, striving not for a tie but for a victory. “We felt like we had momentum going into overtime, so we were pushing for the win,” Armstrong said. “Obviously, we had another unbelievable crowd here tonight, and we wanted to give them the win. From that standpoint, we had in our mind to go out there and put our best foot forward to try and get the three points. Trying to get a tie was never in our minds.”

Kat Beatty| The Reflector

Kristen Malebranche, a senior biochemistry major on the pre-med track, plays her role as defender during Saturday’s game between the Bulldogs and the Tigers where the teams tied 1-1.