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TUESDAY OCTOBER 29, 2019

135th YEAR ISSUE 16

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

Starkville High deemed the BEST at annual robotics competition BRANDON GRISHAM ONLINE EDITOR

Mississippi State University’s Bagley College of Engineering hosted its regional BEST Robotics Competition on Saturday at the Humphrey Coliseum.

The day-long event lasted from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and hosted over 500 students, who were a part of 17 teams from Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama.

The competition combined the excitement of an intense basketball game with the engineering challenges of a technical science fair. A slew of family members and students cheered as the teams rotated their matches.

BEST, which stands for Boosting Engineering Science & Technology, helps to interest students in STEM fields through

participation in a sportslike technology contest. The contest challenged them to build a remote-controlled robot that could accomplish defined tasks in a competitive setting. This year’s theme was “Off the Grid”, asking the students to create and submit a prototype to repair an electric grid after a disaster.

The simulated tasks included clearing debris, re-attaching power lines and installing transformers. Students had six weeks to create a robot that could outperform the competition using only the materials provided.

School coaches and mentors guided student teams through the engineering process, including design and testing. During the engineering phase, the student teams had to experience the obstacles that come with taking a product to market.

ROBOTICS, 2

Bethany Crane | The Reflector

Students from high schools across the Southeast participated in the Bagley College of Engineeringʼs BEST Robotics Competition on Saturday in the Humphrey Coliseum.

Trick-or-Treat on the Row Kids from the Starkville area were invited to Sorority and Fraternity Row on Thursday to get into the Halloween spirit by dressing up and going trick-or-treating.

Journalist Andrew Blum

discusses ʻInfrastructure of Weatherʼ BRANDON GRISHAM ONLINE EDITOR

Kat Beatty | The Reflector

Journalist and nonfiction author Andrew Blum visited Mississippi State University’s Fowlkes Auditorium on Oct. 24 to discuss “The Infrastructure of Weather.”

The event was supported

by MSU’s Department of Geosciences, with the support and co-sponsorship of the Department of Communication, Department of English and the College of Arts and Sciences. Blum’s previous 2012 novel, “Tubes: A Journey to the Center of the Internet,” was a New York Times Best Seller

and informed readers eager to understand how the Internet functions.

Following extensive research, Blum presented a lecture to help explain the history and role of meteorology in human society.

The lecture distilled segments from his latest book, “The Weather Machine: A Journey Inside the Forecast.” Published in June 2019, the book explores the infrastructure behind weather forecasts.

Through his lecture, Blum dove into the history of weather calculations, the people who built the methods and what it reveals about the planet’s climate.

WEATHER, 2

Students exercise leadership at the Sanderson LYDIA PALMER STAFF WRITER

Mississippi State University’s Joe Frank Sanderson Center offers between 50-60 exercise classes every week. The classes, covering a wide range of workout techniques, are not only attended by students but also taught by students.

MSU Recreation Fitness Coordinator Julie Kelly, who has worked in this position for over two years, said having students lead the fitness classes helps set a great example for other students.

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“The importance of the classes, really, is that students are going to see, I think, better routines and better grades and better sleep habits if they’re exercising regularly,” Kelly said. “I think group fitness classes provide a great outlet for that. I think that having students lead classes provides a good example.”

In order to attend classes, all you need is to be a student or have a membership at the Sanderson Center. To teach classes, however, you have to go through a certification process. Kelly said the process begins with

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an eight-week program for anyone who is interested.

Sophia Tempanaro, a junior food science and nutrition major, teaches a weekly Zumba class. Tempanaro said the training process and certification test were not overly challenging.

“It’s not too bad,” Tempanaro said.

“It’s kind of like studying for a professional test.”

Will Roberts, a junior majoring in supply chain management, teaches both cycling and TRX strength training.

EXERCISE, 2

Bethany Crane | The Reflector

MSU junior Sophia Tempanaro teaches a weekly Zumba class to her peers on Monday evenings at the Joe Frank Sanderson Center.

FORECAST: Mostly cloudy on Tuesday and a chance of showers and thunderstorms overnight. More showers and thunderstorms expected for Wednesday and Thursday as a front moves through the area. Cool air will move in behind the front for Friday, and the weekend will have highs in the 50s and lows in the 30s.

Courtesy of Peyton Garrison, Campus Connect Meteorologist

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WEATHER

The talk primarily centered around telegraph communication, satellite launches and labs where scientists work to create supercomputer models of the atmosphere. Blum also noted how the weather is a global partnership between nations sharing public data for the benefit of humanity.

Blum said we have entered a golden age of meteorology. He noted our current modeling tools allow us to predict weather more accurately than ever. He also tied the recent “Sharpie Gate” fiasco with Hurricane Dorian and how we have learned to trust these modeling tools.

His main concern was how to guarantee the fragile international alliances that allow our modern weather services to exist. The concept of privatization of weather

CONTINUED FROM 1

data was a major topic over which he expressed concern.

“The recognition is that there are only 8-10 weather services around the world that are going to pay for datathat leaves out 181 similar states that do not have that capability. Public data has been a basic foundation of something meteorologists do for the global good for the length of modern meteorology,” Blum said.

When discussing the limitations of funding, Blum considered the impact that private weather data could have on humanity.

“The hope or goal is that if you have private observations there is some cost savings. You could have private observations done more efficiently than public observations, but that is a pretty stark turn from 150

years of meteorological tradition. It also doesn’t acknowledge the success of the global system as it exists today,” Blum said.

Savannah Munn, an MSU sophomore majoring in political science and public relations, shared her thoughts on the event.

“I really enjoyed how he bridged science and communications.

He translated it into a way that people could understand and increase their learning,” Munn said.

Munn also said she appreciated how his lecture illuminated the history of the field and how it changed over time.

“I like that he was aware of how sometimes science is twisted against what its original purpose is, which is to inform,” Munn said.

Philip Poe is an assistant professor and the Journalism Coordinator for the Department of Communication at MSU. Poe said he considered the lecture to be enlightening and stressed the importance of Blum’s journalistic approach to his material.

“The skills that we are trying to teach are the same thing that he is doing in his professional work,” Poe said.

Poe said having an understanding of weather systems is beneficial for everyone.

“Blum explained extraordinarily technical practices in human terms,” Poe said. “Even if you’re not interested in meteorology, everyone is a follower of weather. The conditions shape how we treat each day.”

Gracie Byrne| The Reflector

Journalist Andrew Blum spoke Thursday in Fowlkes Auditorium about the research behind his new non-fiction book, “The Weather Machine: A Journey Inside the Forecast.”

EXERCISE

CONTINUED FROM 1

“The professional staff at the Sanderson is very good at making sure you know all your information, so it wasn’t that difficult.

They’re good at guiding you through the steps and making sure you’re comfortable before you even begin teaching. They don’t just throw you in there. It’s very much a step-by-step encouraging process,” Roberts said.

Roberts teaches both early morning and evening classes and said the consistency of coming to

classes and seeing the same faces weekly can also be a way to make friends on campus.

“People’s plans are always changing in the evening, but usually if it’s in the early mornings, you get the same people over and over,” Roberts said.

Emily Beyea, a senior communication major, has attended the Sanderson fitness classes for as long as she has been a student at MSU. Beyea, whose favorite class is Zumba, said consistency in attending the

classes was key in getting the most out of the experience.

“The more you go, the more you’re comfortable with it,” Beyea said.

Roberts, Tempanaro and Kelly all said they recommend teaching.

“Talk to someone about it and make sure it’s right for you,” Roberts said. “If you love interacting with people and being energetic and motivating people, definitely consider it.”

“Definitely try it,” Tempanaro said. “I danced for 14 years, so this was a

good way for me to keep being active and still like doing what I love.”

“It’s just a rewarding job.

You get to help people reach their goals and help them create healthier lifestyles and reach milestones for themselves,” Kelly said.

Although the teachers are students, they are trained and certified and can be trusted to give you a good workout, Tempanaro said.

Attending classes can cause a lot of anxiety about working out in a group setting, but both Tempanaro

and Roberts said that they only scan the room to make sure everyone is using the correct form.

“It’s intimidating, but speaking as someone who has also taken classes, no one is watching you. They’re all watching the instructor,” Roberts said. “Just come on in and go at your own pace.

No one is paying attention to you.”

Beyea said the group classes offered at the Sanderson have been very beneficial to her over her years of taking them.

ROBOTICS

CONTINUED FROM 1

The challenges of team dynamics, material constraints and the pressure of time led to unique solutions that separated each team. The weeks of technological effort culminated into this year’s BEST competition.

Christopher Hawkins, MSU’s assistant director for the Center for Student Activities, hosted the event.

He led the announcements, setup and countdown for each match. Along with the commentary, Hawkins engaged with the crowd,

THANKS

mascots and the DJ of the event.

“This event was full of energy,” Hawkins said.

“Everything was pretty well-organized and the crowd is extremely active and enthusiastic. I like the comradery because it’s great

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“I don’t really like working out a whole lot, but the classes help me to actually go. It just becomes more of a routine,” Beyea said.

Both taking and teaching classes at the Sanderson can be beneficial to students in many ways, Kelly said.

“I think that recreation and fitness overall is just a really important part of a college career,” Kelly said. “I think that having students lead our classes provides a good example of that.”

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to see young people build these robots and compete in competition. The Bagley department has continued to host this event for so many years and it’s a great opportunity to work with K-12 students. I would love to continue to be a part of it in the future.”

At the end of the placement round of 26 matches, Hawkins and a group of volunteers judged a mascot dance competition.

A series of four songs led to the Warriors of Corinth City Schools taking the top prize,

with Eagle Homeschool taking second place.

Following the placement phase was a wildcard match that had to be redone due to an error in score collection. Eight teams then moved to the semi-finals, all culminating in a three-round final for the highest-scoring teams. The final four schools included Starkville High School, Starkville Christian Home Educators, Corinth City Schools and McNairy Central High School.

The event then moved into the awards ceremony, in

which Starkville schools took home numerous placement awards. Starkville Christian School took home second in Best Web Page Design and the Founders Design award.

Starkville High School won the Most Robust award, first place in Best Robot Performance and the first place BEST Award.

Ty Adair, a Starkville High School teacher and the Robotics Team assistant coach, shared his enthusiasm for BEST. “This is a life-changing program,” Adair said. “I’ve been a teacher for 24 years and it’s a privilege to watch kids learn to love engineering and STEM fields. It just brings out so much, whether they take home a trophy or not. They learn the design process, how to overcome adversity and it can lead to scholarships.”

Adair went on to discuss the growing diversity that can be found in this type of program.

“We really push for girls.

The group can seem like an intimidating boys club and we fight that,” Adair said.

However, Adair said students have to earn their place on the team.

“Our A-team consists of an 11th grader and sixth grader. They worked on the robot, they’re calm and they were in the finals. It isn’t just about inclusivity. It’s about winning competitions,” Adair said.

Vemitra White is the director for K-12 Educational Outreach in the Bagley College of Engineering at MSU. With her team of volunteers, she worked to set up the event and the competition floor.

“We are proud to be inspiring the leaders of tomorrow and preparing them for STEM fields,” White said. “We had a great turnout. Coaches prepared with six weeks of long hours and hard work.”

This event served as White’s final time working at MSU’s BEST competition, and after 4 ½ years of work at the Bagley College of Engineering, she is taking an assistant professor position for Texas State University and will be stationed at NASA in Huntsville. Her farewell address was an emotional affair that was met with a standing ovation and supportive remarks from her

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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019 @REFLECTORONLINE

LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT

‘Taj Express’ gives Starkville a taste of Indian culture full of dance and lights,” Hawkins said.

The performance began with a plea for audience members to interact with the cast—including cheering for the heroes, booing the villains and clapping to the beat— and quickly transitioned into a mesmerizing dance number to a song from the soundtrack of the awardwinning film “Slumdog Millionaire.”

“Taj Express,” tells the story of a young composer, Shankar, and his efforts to compose music for his first Bollywood film. The plot of Shankar’s Bollywood movie, interwoven into the plot of the musical, follows the unfolding love between a famous actress and a humanitarian hero who must journey aboard the Taj Express to rediscover the meaning of dance and life.

The Lyceum Series’ performances are chosen by the Performing Arts

HANNAH BLAKENSHIP NEWS EDITOR

In a flash of swirling colors and lights, “Taj Express: A Bollywood Musical Revue” burst onto the Bettersworth Auditorium stage Sunday night as a part of Mississippi State University’s Lyceum Series.

Christopher Hawkins is MSU’s assistant director for Student Activities and the director of the Lyceum Series, a program dedicated to enriching the MSU experience with a variety of cultural and academic performances. He described the vibrant flair of “Taj Express.”

“It’s a great production with a lot of animation and a lot of energy, kind of combines the Indian culture with pop music, Bollywood culture and the deep traditions of Indian culture

Mary Georgia Hamilton | The Reflector

A dancer struts for the Bollywood performance “Taj Express” which was a part of this year’s Lyceum Series.

Committee, which is a board of students, faculty and staff that represents a diverse range of academic concentrations and interests.

Cailin Sims, a junior majoring in mathematics and philosophy who attended the performance, said she was able to connect a book she read in a class taught by Eric Vivier, a member of the

Performing Arts Committee, to the culture displayed in “Taj Express.”

“It was just something different and they talked about the culture a little bit, and I took Quest I with Dr. Vivier my freshman year, and we read Bhagavad Gita, so I made connections with that,” Sims said.

The performance’s

explosive dance routines were interspersed with engaging dialogue and humorous quips, such as “I’ll give you a fight sequence more vicious than Mississippi State vs. Ole Miss” and “This is more stressful than the press secretary waking up and wondering what the hell Donald Trump tweeted all night.”

Joe Harrison, a graduate student studying public policy and administration and the graduate assistant of the Center for Student Activities, said “Taj Express,” along with the other Lyceum events, provides students with activities they would not normally experience.

“I think events specifically like this one, and sort of all our Lyceum events, is it’s just a nice opportunity to attain some sort of cultural enrichment.

I’m assuming that most students on campus here probably aren’t very familiar

with Bollywood,” Harrison said.

Hawkins said the Lyceum Series provides high-quality performances that attendees would normally only be able to see in bigger venues.

“Throughout the year we bring different acts from Bollywood to orchestras to plays to ballets to Patti La Belle. We had Patti LaBelle come last year, so the range of acts that we bring is great just to allow students and people in Starkville and area to see acts that come to New York or other large cities right here in Starkville,” Hawkins said.

This year, in addition to “Taj Express,” the Lyceum Series hosted the musicual group, the Akropolis Reed Quintet, and the ensamble called Hot Club of San Francisco.

The series’ upcoming events include Voctave, Artrageous and Aquila Theatre: “The Odyssey.”

Students are trick-or-treating themselves this Halloween RILEY STEPHENS

and Reynolds, a graduate but we loved the idea so much student under the University for students that we did,” Recreation Department, co- Talley said. created Trick or Treat Yo Talley added the event will Self. She detailed the early provide emotional benefits beginnings of the event’s for students at MSU. formation.

“The idea behind it is to “At the beginning of provide students that little the semester, all of the bit of an outlet to come graduate assistants under and release some stress and Student Affairs got together. anxiety that they’re having In particular, we met at from school and just have the Sanderson Center some fun,” Talley said. with University Recreation Talley also listed a wide graduate assistants as well variety of the Halloween as Health Promotion and activities offered.

Wellness graduate assistants.

“We’re going to have a We got together, and part of little bit of exercise, we have our bonding was to create an a spooky Zumba class at 12, event that both departments we have free popcorn, we’re could partner together on, so going to have pumpkins for Logan and I literally had five students to paint, we’re going minutes to come up with an to have other games out there, event. [Trick or Treat Yo Self] so it’s just going to be a really cameReflector up, and it wasn’t like we fun little event Sudoku for students to 10/29/19 had to implement the event, have on Halloween since we’re

STAFF WRITER

Halloween 2019 calls for fewer tricks and more treats as Mississippi State University will host a brand-new event called Trick or Treat Yo Self. The event is filled with activities that are themed in the spirit of Halloween.

Trick or Treat Yo Self will be held on the Drill Field on Oct. 31 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Trick or Treat Yo Self was created by two students, Kameron Jade Talley and Logan Reynolds, and it is sponsored by the Health Promotion and Wellness Department and the University Recreation Department.

Talley, a graduate student studying mental health counseling, said she

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fun way to socialize but an informational takeaway for participants.

“Even though it is Halloween, and we’re all still having to take tests, turn in papers and go to class, my hope is that this provides students with that brief outlet for them to stop by even if it’s for five minutes to grab some popcorn and socialize or play a game real fast. Or if they have more time, to be able to paint a pumpkin and to take that pumpkin home just as a stress reliever. We’re going to have resources out there about stress management, resources for student counseling services, things that Health Promotion and Wellness provide. The hope is that students can leave with a little bit less stress than when they first began,” Talley said.

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

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Flower holder Cold one Certain colonist “Be-Bop-___” (Gene Vincent hit) Rajah’s mate Lummox Plateaus “Do ___ others...”

Farm female Scatter seeds Third wife of Henry VIII Leave slackjawed Scout group Hazy Underclassman Plugs Music genre Welcome site Court game Go up and down Nettle B&B June honoree Soft thin cloth woven from raw silk Bionic man Antenna Great time Variety of chalcedony Idea Make tracks?

Romania cash Eye layer Listens in Sound of laughter Completely botch

have fun, but some people don’t have enough money.

Since it’s free, everybody can come out and have a great time,” Madkins said.

Omari Johnson, a sophomore majoring in veterinary medicine is particularly interested in the pumpkin painting.

“I’m definitely looking into painting your own pumpkin because I’ve never painted a pumpkin before,” Johnson said.

Talley emphasizes the dual-nature of the event as both entertaining and useful.

“It’s going to be a way to socialize and meet new people and interact with different departments and students. It’s also going to allow you to get resources,” Talley said.

She holds high hopes for the event as not only a

BULLETIN BOARD

ctor 10/29/19 Crossword

Across

all still in school,” Talley said.

Mary Kate Newman, a freshman majoring in biological sciences, expressed her excitement to participate in the Halloween-themed event.

“It sounds really cool to actually celebrate Halloween in college with a bunch of new friends. These events help people create new friends and keep connecting with them,” Newman said.

Senior psychology major Anastasia Madkins shared the same sentiments about the social aspect of the event as Newman.

“I will invite my friends out to have a good time,” Madkins said.

Madkins also sees value in these types of events MSU hosts for students.

“Students always want to

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Copyright ©2019 PuzzleJunction.com

Copyright ©2019 PuzzleJunction.com

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Driving need Groceries holder Oatmeal “Idylls of the King” lady

39 Sewing materials dealers 40 Mountain tops 42 Words to a jittery person 43 It’s found in banks 44 Green light 47 Trophy 48 Walkie-talkie word 49 Half-moon tide 50 Stretched tight 52 Kind of wolf 53 “Paradise Lost,” e.g.

54 Bring into play 57 Compete 58 Roman title

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BAD DAWGS Check 3 7 out our 5 6 next8 1 2 4 issue 1 to 5 see who 7 9 4 3 has been 9 8 in the 6 2 Dawg House!

Sudoku Solution

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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019 @REFLECTORONLINE

OPINION

Christians should not be spooked by Halloween celebrations

JOHN HAYNES

is a junior majoring in history and classics.

Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate. edu.

Growing up, I always looked forward to dressing up for Halloween and extorting candy from my neighbors. I am sure many readers will fondly recall trick-or-treating throughout their neighborhoods.

Although my fellow revelers are in the majority, I have met a few people since I came to Mississippi State University who shun Halloween altogether.

According to this group, Halloween is not just a time for candy. Rather, it is a Satanic holiday that Christians should not celebrate.

On one hand, this argument does hold some water. If you had to pick

any holiday to label Satanic, Halloween does certainly stand out. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the holiday has its origins in the ancient Celtic holiday Samhain, when ancient Irishmen would disguise themselves to fool ghosts who had wandered into the mortal world. In Wicca, witches view Halloween as a sacred time.

According to Wicca Living, the “veil between the spirit world and the mundane world is at its thinnest” on Oct. 31, and magic and prophecy will get a boost in efficacy.

Films such as “Halloween III: Season of the Witch” and “Flatliners” associate supernatural happenings with Halloween.

In place of Halloween, some Christians instead celebrate Reformation Day (Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the Wittenberg Cathedral on Oct. 31, 1517) or do not celebrate anything. Although I would disagree with this approach, I do respect those who

Consider adopting some black cats this Halloween

Rosalind Hutton

follow it. It is rarely easy to stick to your convictions, especially when everyone else is doing the opposite.

On the other hand, just because Halloween is not explicitly Christian in nature should not be enough of a reason to not engage in it.

There is nothing inherently sinful about eating too

much candy. Are there people who view Halloween as a time of witchcraft and Ouija boards? Of course, but as long as you do not participate with that mindset, you should not fear any demonic influences.

Christians are called to be involved in the world. Staying inside on

Halloween or mingling exclusively with a Christian community is not a healthy outlook and is a good way to get your house rolled.

Instead, interact with the wider neighborhood and be engaged with others. Dress up, watch scary movies and buy the good candy, not the cruddy kind.

In fact, Halloween has a strong argument as the best holiday. Christmas and Easter are religious in nature, but the pews are filled with people who do not care about God, only about fitting in with Southern culture.

Halloween is unambiguously secular; no one worries about going to church on Oct. 31.

Anyone who dresses up on Halloween does so because they enjoy it.

Christmas and Easter have been perverted from their original design.

Commercialism has seeped into these dates, overwhelming the Nativity and the Passion. Thinking of Christmas inevitably brings to mind decorated

An old-fashioned life is a healthy one HALLIE GREEN

Rosalind Hutton

STAFF WRITER

KATELYN WYATT

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

Behold, the best time of the year: spooky season. It is the time when playing dressup is not weird and people eat disgusting candy corn out of an obligation to tradition.

During this time, stores are packed with festive décor, such as bones, pumpkins and all things wicked. Black cats are often the subject of wicked and spooky décor and costumes, but in a way, this demonizes them. Black cats are not evil, and they are not unlucky. If anything, it is lucky if a cat loves you because cats are selective with their love, unlike dogs. There are a lot of myths about black cats that cause negative images, but this is not always the case.

According to Alaa Elassar with CNN, “In the United States, many people believe black cats bring bad luck or are altogether evil. But it’s not a belief shared across all cultures. In Britain, Japan and Ireland, a black cat crossing your path is considered a sign of good luck.”

This superstition against black cats in the United States causes more harm than people might realize. Since people may not see them as the sweet, furry creatures they are, they get overlooked at animal shelters.

Elassar also adds, “many animal shelters struggle to find good homes for black cats.”

This is horrible, and these cats deserve better. Just because they are not colorful does not mean they are any less cute. While we decorate our dorms and apartments with skulls and scary black cat window stickers, we need to think of something else very important, which is that Halloween can be scarier for black cats. Though shelters want them to be adopted, they have to be careful around Halloween time.

Rosalind Hutton

Mike Pearl of Vice claims, “persistent rumors about cults and crazy people seeking to sacrifice black cats on the spooky holiday have been enough to make many animal shelters put a hold on adopting out these kittens,” as reported by Danny Lewis of the Smithsonian.

In a way, black cats are the rabbits of Halloween.

However, it is more common to hear of shelters banning rabbit adoptions during Easter than black cats during Halloween. I guess a rabbit’s foot is luckier in having a leg up in awareness. Lewis also says the misfortunes and myths of these poor cats might have derived from witchcraft as far back as the middle ages. It is way past time to be kinder to black cats. I do not think they were created just for people to either hurt them or be afraid of them, just because of their looks. Now, I have heard many negative comments on the spooky appearance of black cats, but the worst comment I have heard of is of their bad photo potential.

BBC News reported, “The founder of a cat rescue shelter has said black cats are being shunned by potential owners because they do not ‘show well’ in selfies.”

I guess this is the modern way of hating on black cats, and it is ridiculous. From my personal experience as the guardian of a black cat, sometimes they can be hard to photograph but only when it is dark and the cat is on a dark surface. Black cat pictures can turn out elegant if you try, and their beautiful eyes can really pop if the light is right.

Next time you are wanting to give a loving cat a new home, remember to consider a black cat. ‘Tis the season to be spooky and love a black cat.

Nowadays, technology is such a huge part of our lives and our culture that we never really can catch a break. Despite our efforts to keep the balance of technology and reality, these lines do not exist anymore.

While many technological advances are great, there are negative consequences to them as well.

One huge consequence is our well-being. The places people look to regain this have one thing in common, bringing the focus back to a more simplistic life resulting in more intimate relationships with nature, one’s self, family and friends.

By reducing technology consumption, an oldfashioned lifestyle allows one to bring the focus back to a more simplified life.

Reducing the use of technological devices have been found to improve everything from physical health to one’s communication skills. This suggestion can be found everywhere from a doctor’s visit to gossip magazines.

The actual science behind reducing technology falls into a few camps: addiction, blue light affecting one’s eyes, technology use prior to sleep and how it can harm sleep quality and the link between mental health and technology.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, “The blue light emitted by screens on cell phones, computers, tablets and televisions restrain the production of melatonin, the hormone that controls your sleep/wake cycle or circadian rhythm. Reducing melatonin makes it harder to fall and stay asleep.”

This lack of sleep over a period of time affects one’s day-to-day life. The inability to put down our devices also affects our social life, not only with friends but also with family. There are countless articles on how to reduce technological use and why we should reduce the use of

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our devices, further proving many of us know it is bad for us and have a goal of reducing technological consumption, yet we seem to have a struggle to do so.

As simple as it may seem for us to reduce the use of technology, it is way harder than many of us are willing to admit. Due to this difficulty, implementing other simplistic activities may help one to reduce their technology use over time.

Activities such as reading and gardening provide many benefits to those who pursue them.

Reading not only provides entertainment and the ability to explore one’s imagination, but it also is a good way for parents to bond with their kids.

According to Brendan Brown with Business Insider, “When we read, not only are we improving memory and empathy, but research has shown that it makes us feel better and more positive too. Science has shown that reading has some amazing health benefits, including helping with depression, cutting

stress, and reducing the chances of developing Alzheimer’s later in life.”

Reading, no matter the genre, not only brings people together, but it radically improves your life.

Another alternative to technology is gardening.

Whether you live in a city or the country, gardening is becoming more widely accessible, including in community gardens or in your own backyard.

Gardening brings one closer to nature and gives a greater understanding and appreciation of our food, as well as the environment.

Gardening can even be a form of exercise.

According to Anne Harding of CNN, “But digging, planting, weeding, and other repetitive tasks that require strength or stretching are excellent forms of low-impact exercise, especially for people who find more vigorous exercise a challenge, such as those who are older, have disabilities, or suffer from chronic pain.”

The benefits of gardening do not end there,

for it also helps with long term mental health.

According to Heather Hausenblas of U.S. News, “A daily dose of gardening lowers the risk of dementia by 36 percent, even when a range of other health factors are taken into account, according to a study from the Medical Journal of Australia.”

Along with all these benefits of gardening, one gets tangible and sometimes edible results of their dedication.

Introducing one’s self to activities like reading and gardening one can bring focus to the simpler things in life.

Overall, it is much healthier to slow down and live more simplistically.

There are so many things we can try in order to get back in touch with the non-virtual world. For me, gardening and reading are the ways I find to best connect me to the surrounding world, but the possible things to do are endless and have the potential to interest anyone.

So, try ditching your devices for a weekend or an evening and explore the world.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Life Editor/Mary Madeline LaMastus

Opinion Editor/Dylan Bufkin Sports Editor/Hunter Cloud

pine trees, an array of presents and watching old festive films. Easter has more connotation with an oversized bunny and wicker baskets filled with Cadbury products. Is that wrong?

Of course not, but it gives Christians an actual issue to address.

According to the Pew Research Center, a declining amount of Americans opt for church on Christmas.

For Christians who want to take a stand on holiday matters, this is the area where they can have the biggest impact. Before abstaining from Halloween, first, focus on revitalizing Christmas and Easter.

Christians should seek out those who need Jesus and strike up a relationship with them, encouraging them to visit church on Christmas and Easter and not stigmatize a relatively harmless holiday. If you denigrate Halloween but are content to attend church with the same people every year, you need to rethink your priorities.

Circulation/Sierra Pruitt circulation@reflector.msstate.edu

Letters to the editor should be sent to the Meyer Student Media Center or mailed to The Reflector, PO Box 5407, Mississippi State, MS. Letters may also be emailed to editor@reflector. msstate.edu.

Letters must include name and telephone number for verification purposes. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.

EDITORIAL POLICY

The Reflector is the official student newspaper of Mississippi State University.

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

CORRECTIONS

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

5-Sports SPORTS

5

THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019 @REFLECTORONLINE

Volleyball Dawgs secure first conference win over Auburn Tigers LYDIA PALMER

It was a victorious Friday night as Mississippi State University Volleyball took Auburn University in the fourth set to get them out of a losing streak and put an SEC win beside their name.

All three sets were back and forth, as both teams showed strength offensively and defensively. MSU head coach Julie Darty said she emphasized passing the ball and first contacts throughout the game.

“The first set, I thought it was very obvious that our game plans were very similar,” said Darty.

This proved true throughout the remaining three sets as well. The first set was taken by Auburn 2519. MSU’s defense seemed lacking in this set but continued to pick up thought the game.

The second set was when

Coach Darty said the energy of the Dawgs began to change when Auburn was up 9-2, as she spoke to her team and let them figure out how to take control of the game.

“I called a time out and I literally just told them they needed to make a decision and figure it out,” said Darty, “I walked away and let them figure it out amongst themselves.”

The second set was a close win of 25-22 for MSU. The last point of the set was scored off of a tipped ball by MSU’s Amarrah Cooks, a senior transfer from Columbia, South Carolina, that Auburn’s block misplaced.

The third set was a repeat of the second: another close back and forth battle at the net. MSU’s front row scored consecutive kills towards the end of the set, ending the set with a bigger margin of victory than the second set 25-15.

In the fourth set, MSU’s defense stood strong against Auburn. MSU went on to win the final set 25-16 with a kill from Callie Minshew, a freshman outside hitter from Brandon.

“This was a total team win,” Darty said. “They made the choice that they were going to win tonight. They found that fight and just never stopped. It was a really cool thing to watch and be a part of. I’m just really proud of them.”

Paige Shaw, a sophomore outside hitter from Hoover, Alabama, seemed to be multifunctional around the court but said she felt stronger offensively.

“I think we started off a little show, but we picked it up, and we really leaned on each other to get energy,” Shaw said.

This was the team’s first SEC win of the season.

Gabby Wade, a sophomore middle blocker from

Columbia, South Carolina said it was an important moment in the season.

“We got that win and being a part of that is just so amazing and a blessed opportunity,” Wade said.

MSU has won three straight home matches against Auburn, and the victory was a welcomed relief for the team.

“It’s awesome because we had such a good nonconference season with 11 wins,” said Darty. “To actually get a real win next to our name, it’s one of those moments where you feel like you can finally take a breath.”

The team has around one month of play left, many of which are SEC games. The team’s performance against Auburn will set the tone for the remainder of their season.

“We just proved that we can hang with the best in the SEC,” Wade said. “So, the confidence is there. We just have to go in and play hard.”

Carter also made a very defensive play in the final seconds of the game to secure the victory. Carter said the plan to keep USA from scoring in those final moments was to keep Andre Fox, who went 5-9 from the three-point line, from scoring.

“He’s [Andre Fox] a pretty good player, so we knew we didn’t want him to get any breathing room,” Carter said. “We made sure we stuck to him and made sure he didn’t get a shot up.”

Accompanying Carter in a great performance was Iverson Molinar, a freshman guard from Panama City, Florida. Molinar finished with 15 points and went 6-12, including 3-4 from the freethrow line. Head coach Ben

Howland gave Molinar high praise after his performance.

“For a freshman, first game ever, he looked very comfortable,” Howland said. “He was just out there balling.”

Adding to the Bulldogs’ thrilling victory was Reggie Perry, a sophomore forward from Thomasville, Georgia, and KeyShawn Feazell, a junior forward from New Hebron. Both Bulldogs scored 12 points accompanied by nine rebounds that were evenly distributed between the offense and defense.

Although Perry got into foul trouble, he finished shooting 4-8 with four assists, while Feazell finished 5-10, including 2-2 from the free-throw line. While active,

both players made sure their presence was felt on both sides of the ball.

Since last season, Feazell has not only improved his game but his agility. Feazell dropped 25 pounds and bulked up over the summer to be ready for competition this season.

“I was 250 at the end of last season,” Feazell said. “Dropping that weight helped me move better and more agile, quick off the floor and quicker to spots.

Also contributing to the offensive and defensive runs put on by the Bulldogs was Robert Woodard II, a sophomore guard from Columbus, Woodard finished with nine rebounds, three were offensive while the remaining six were defensive,

and shot 3-8 for eight points.

After Sunday’s exhibition game, the Bulldogs are scheduled to host Florida International University for their first regular season game at 7:00 p.m. on Nov. 5 in the Humphrey Coliseum.

Entering the matchup, the Bulldogs carry a 22-game non-conference home winning streak into the season opener.

Feazell came into the game as the first man off of the bench. Being the number six was an opportunity that he seized.

“My first two years, I suffered injuries. I wasn’t playing as much,” Feazell said. “I feel like that prepared me for that moment. Now, it’s about stepping up and being ready.”

STAFF WRITER

Jordan Smith | The Reflector

Alleah Stamatis serves the ball against Auburn. Stamatis had two serve assists in Friday’s game.

Bulldogs win charity exhibition against South Alabama BRIANNA WALKER STAFF WRITER

For the first time since a disappointing exit from the first round in the NCAA Tournament, the Mississippi State University Men’s Basketball Team stepped on the court to face the University of South Alabama Jaguars in a charity exhibition game at the Humphrey Coliseum this past Sunday.

The game benefited the United Way of West Central Mississippi to aid those affected by the floodwaters in the South Delta. MSU defeated the Jaguars 78-75 in a thriller ending to secure the win. South Alabama’s head coach Richie Riley said MSU is a team destined for tournament play this season.

“We played a team that’s an NCAA Tournament team today,” Riley said. “They’ve got size, length and with (Tyson) Carter they’ll be able to make shots.”

With Sunday’s game as their final practice game until the first game of their 201920 campaign, the Bulldogs showcased what they have in store for the upcoming season against a favored Sun Belt Conference team.

Opening up play, the Jaguars struck first and held MSU scoreless for the first two minutes. Tyson Carter, a senior guard from Starkville, scored the Bulldogs’ first points on a three-pointer and would continue to go 6-8, including 3-5 from the freethrow line, to lead the squad in scoring with 19 points.

UPCOMING EVENTS OCTOBER TU 29 | 8-10A Coffee with Constituents in the Union 1st Floor 6P W 30 | 4-6P 7P TH 31 | 11-5

Freshman 15 @ Fresh Foods Pumpkin Painting Palooza on the Drill Field We’re All In This Together in the Dawg House Food Truck Thursday

NOVEMBER FR 1 | 8-11P Dawgs After Dark: Virtual Reality in the Dawg House TH 7 | 7 P

SA Fall Speaker: Sgt. Matt Eversmann in Union Ballrooms (SU)

Coming November 11-15 TRUE MAROON WEEK DANCE MARATHON RIVALRY WEEK November 17-23 HOMECOMING WEEK

6

THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019

NOVEMBER ELECTION ALERT

VOTE

for Governor and state representatives

Tuesday, November 5 7am—7pm

Look up your voting location and sample ballot: vote.org/ms2019

Young voters between the ages of 18-29 changed the outcome of the 2018 election. We’re expecting record high turnout in 2019 and you’ll want to be part of it.

vote.org/ms2019 Vote.org is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit and does not support or oppose any political candidate or party.