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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
128 th YEAR | ISSUE 15
“I believed [we could win it all] when I got here. …An overachiever to me is someone who accomplishes more than anybody else in the world thought you could accomplish. I always viewed myself as being an overachiever. So when I came here I thought we could do this, no matter who doubted us.” — Dan Mullen From CBS Sports
THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014
Front page design by Austin Grove
Research facility dedicated to Portera through ceremony by Pranaav Jadhav Staff Writer
Public Affairs | Courtesy Photo
On Friday, Mississippi State University dedicated the High Performance Computing Center, located on Research Boulevard, to former MSU president Malcolm A. Portera.
‘GameDay’ visits Starkville
From the Junction:
Emma Katherine Hutto| The Reflector
Saturday morning, ESPNʼs ʻCollege GameDayʼ broadcasted live in the Junction on Mississippi State Universityʼs campus. The GameDay crew spent time with MSUʼs mascots. The Bulldogs defeated the Auburn Tigers Saturday with a final score of 38-23.
On Friday, Mississippi State University dedicated the Malcolm A. Portera High Performance Computing Center in honor of the institution’s 16th president who served from 1998-2001. Portera put special emphasis on computer research during his time at MSU. According to an Oct. 10 MSU press release, throughout the West Point native’s tenure from 1998 through 2001, Portera continually advocated for the National Science Foundation’s Engineering Research Center for Computational Field Simulation on campus. “Eventually, that facility evolved to become the High Performance Computing Collaboratory named for the veteran administrator at the dedication in the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park,” the release said. MSU President Mark Keenum said it is appropriate for Mississippi State University to name a building in the University’s Thad Cochran Research Park in honor of Malcolm Portera, whose career at MSU was punctuated by so many innovative research-related success stories.
“Dr. Portera served our university with great distinction and continues to work with us in seeking research opportunities for MSU in the private sector,” Keenum said. MSU Vice President for Research and Economic Development, David Shaw, said he was very pleased to see MSU recognize the contributions Portera made to the university and state by naming such an important research facility to honor him. “There could not be a more appropriate building to name in his honor than the High Performance Computing Center. Dr. Portera used it to have a major impact on economic development in the state, and in turn he helped make it the tremendous success story it is today,” Shaw said. According to the MSU press release, Portera, who was present at the ceremony on Friday, said the celebration was composed of a fi ne group of people in and outside of the MSU family. “They simply want their school to be the best that it can be. Olivia and I just came at the right time to be part of that.” In his professional career, Portera has been the chancellor of the University of Alabama system, president at MSU and interim president at the University of Alabama, Huntsville and Birmingham.
Public Affairs | Courtesy Photo
Malcom A. Portera (pictured) spoke during the ceremony in which the High Performance Computing Center was dedicated in his name Friday.
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REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014
2014 ‘Pumpkinpalooza’
Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014 12:00 a.m. A student was arrested in Starkville for disturbance and disorderly conduct. 1:06 p.m. A student’s car window was broken while parked at Thompson Hall. 1:16 p.m. An unknown subject called about the welfare of a child. The child was left in a vehicle behind the TK Martin Center. 6:15 p.m. An employee reported his staff parking decal stolen in front of the Chapel of Memories. Friday, Oct. 10, 2014 12:20 a.m. A student was passed out Magnolia Hall. The subject was transported to OCH. A student referral was issued. 2:02 a.m. Students were issued referrals for having males in Hurst Hall after hours. 4:06 p.m. A visitor was questioned by an investigator for possible sale of MSU concession stand wrist bands on social media.
Sarah Story | The Reflector
On Friday, the Greater Starkville Development Partnership hosted its annual ʻPumpkinpaloozaʼ on Main Street in Downtown Starkville. Kids of all ages enjoyed trickor-treating to Main Street merchants. Main Street retailers had live models from MSUʼs Fashion Board in boutique windows with spooked-out styling. Individuals also participated in late-night shopping and dining with Main Street shops and restaurants.
MSU Ebola expert discusses safety precautions, awareness com, 48 other Americans are being kept for close watch of symptoms of the disease. Mississippi State University has some expertise on the disease. Henry Wan, associate professor of systems biology, in the department of Basic Sciences and the College of Veterinary Medicine, said he
March and has taken the lives of 4,033 people. Wan said the Ebola epiStaff Writer demic’s origination was not Ebola fever is a disthat of the U.S. ease that touched down “The current Ebola epion American soil Sept. demic outbreaks originated 19 through Thomas Eric from West Africa,” Wan Duncan. said. According to a CNN Wan also said Ebola is an report, Duncan emerging virus transmitted came to the United to humans from States to visit family wild animals. and friends, depart- “Good hygiene is the best way The timeline of ing Liberia. The events began in report said Liberian to protect against Ebola infec- 1976 when the authorities confirst cases of firmed Duncan was tions. Thorough and frequent Ebola were disscreened for Ebola covered in the before flying, but hand-washing or use of an al- D e m o c r a t i c according to mulRepublic of tiple sources, it is cohol-based hand sanitizer is Congo. Since unclear how Duncan then, the worst contracted the dis- critical.” Ebola breakout ease. Duncan’s life - Henry Wan, in history has fell to the disease been marked. 10 days after he was Professor of systems biology According to admitted to a hospithe World Health tal in Dallas, Texas. Organ i zat ion, The first individan individual ual to contract the disease has a window of on American soil was Nina knows a significant amount about 2 to 21 days between Pham, a Texas healthcare about the Ebola disease. infection and the onset of worker who treated Duncan “Ebola is a haemorrhagic symptoms. during his illness. According fever disease caused by the Symptoms of the disease to CNN, health officials are Ebola virus,” Wan said. are the first sign a person still trying to figure out how According to an ABC is contagious. The unsetshe contracted the disease. news report, the virus has tling symptoms include According to abcnews. sickened 8,399 people since fever fatigue, muscle pain, by Myra Rice
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vomiting and sore throat. The harsher symptoms result in impaired kidney and liver function and, in some severe cases, internal and external bleeding. Although there is no known proven cure yet available, there are ways to treat and protect against the disease. “Good hygiene is the best way to protect against Ebola infections. Thorough and frequent hand washing or use of an alcohol-based
Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014 12:50 a.m. A student was arrested at 21 Apartments for possession of beer in a dry county. 2:36 a.m. A student was arrested on University Drive in Starkville for driving under the influence, disregard of traffic device and false information. 12:00 p.m. A visitor was involved in an accident with a golf cart hitting another vehicle on Coliseum Boulevard. 2:47 p.m. A student was arrested at Davis Wade Stadium for minor in possession of alcohol. Justice Court citation and student referral were issued. 2:54 p.m. A juvenile was intoxicated at Davis Wade Stadium. The subject was released to mother. 3:00 p.m. A visitor was arrested on campus for counterfeiting. 6:11 p.m. A student was issued a referral for throwing cups of water in Davis Wade Stadium. 10:58 p.m. A visitor passed out due to heat and dehydration at the ESPN tent. The subject was not transported to OCH. 11:01 p.m. EOG worker reported an unknown male pulled a hand gun on him while working traffic on Sorority Row. Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014 6:25 p.m. A visitor was hit in the head with a cowbell at Davis Wade Stadium. The subject was treated on the scene. 8:47 p.m. Bully Patrol reported finding a bike leaning against a tree at Rice Hall.
hand sanitizer is critical,” Wan said. Although these precautions are necessary, there have not been any known reports of Ebola cases in Starkville, Mississippi. Wan said those who see the Ebola disease as a problem for those in Africa now have to see it as an American problem as well. “The people at the most risk are those with close contact with Ebola patients, such as healthcare providers,
the family and friends of the patients, who may be more likely to be in contact with the blood or body fluids of sick patients,” Wan said. According to Wan, the average fatality rate is about 50 percent. Wan said the disease can be transmitted through bats and nonhuman primates or their blood and bodily fluids. According to Wan, one should avoid touching or eating raw meat from either of these animals.
THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014
My Two Cents
Millenials and college students too distracted to find time for leisure reading Social media is a great tool for keeping up with the daily news and friends across the country. However, Americans today lose a significant piece of our culture due in part to all of the distractions vying for our attention. Reading for pleasure has been an American way of life since its rise in the 1700s. Even one of the founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, became a wildly popular author as a result of his witty publication, “Poor Richard’s Almanac.” However, many have seen a trend in recent years when it comes to reading. Not including online articles and blogs, people read for pleasure less today than
they did in the past. Every day at school I hear — and sometimes participate in — extensive conversations about TV shows. Is this all that we as college students have come to? Perhaps we need to only binge-watch a couple times a year (it’s more special and fun that way) and invest our time back into the lost art of reading regularly. Librarians have witnessed this phenomenon. “I think that social media is causing people, especially kids, to read less,” Lindsey Beck, the librarian of youth services at ColumbusLowndes county library said. “And parents are not stopping them from using the devices.” On the other hand, she
Letter to the Editor
encourage you to read it. What is alarming to me by Jonathan Edelmann is the similarity between the racist arguments of the Given the wide-spread Southern white evangelicals reverence for Martin Luther then to the bigoted arguKing Jr. and the univer- ments of Southern white sal shame about slavery evangelicals today. I have expressed in literature, films, heard from many Southern etc., it is clear most Americans white evangelicals that agree the opposition to the “homosexuals need to know Civil Rights Movement and their place in society,” or the opposition to the abo- “homosexuals aren’t equal lition of slavery were mor- to us so they shouldn’t have ally wrong. Many would the same rights as us,” or say those who enslaved and “homosexuals haven’t had those who fought civil rights our rights in the past, so they were on the wrong side of shouldn’t have them now,” or history. The same could be “homosexuals are immoral said for the genocide, sup- and against the Bible and so pression and segregation of they shouldn’t have political Native Americans. equality,” or “treating homoI think the sexuals as Christians who equals violates oppose gay my religious rights today “I think religious belief,” etc. hold the same If you replace religious ideals belief can be a “ h o m o s e x that inspired uals” with the Christians force for growth “blacks” you to oppose the and a force for have many of Civil Rights the same arguM o v e m e n t , degradation.” ments made abolition, by Southern freedoms white evangelfor Native icals in the 19th Americans, etc. Just as and 20th centuries. Christians were wrong to As a person who studoppose abolition in the ies and teaches religion as 1800s, just as Christians a fundamental component were wrong to oppose civil of the human experience rights in the 1950s and ’60s, throughout history, I think Christians are wrong to religious belief can be a oppose gay rights today. force for growth and a force A book called “Mississippi for degradation. Too often Praying: Southern White Southern white evangeliEvangelicals and the Civil cals are a destructive influRights Movement, 1945- ence on society as a whole, 1975” by Carolyn Dupont but it doesn’t follow that all shows how white Christian religion is degenerative. A churches in the South, espe- step forward might be for cially in Mississippi, were Southerners to explore thehubs for racist, discriminato- ologies and philosophies ry and, to use Christian termi- that embrace all aspects of nology, evil and murderous humanity in ways that prodesigns. The book is held in mote compassion, freedom Mississippi State University’s and wisdom rather than fear, Mitchell Memorial Library; I control and ignorance.
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has seen a rise in the number of e-books released through the new program for Kindles, Nooks and other e-readers. College students understandably have a lot of other reading responsibilities upon them if they want to keep a high GPA. Personal reading cannot always fit into the schedule. However, some will admit they end up scrolling news feeds or fl ipping on Netfl ix during free time. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Individuals age 75 and over averaged one hour of reading per weekend day and 20 minutes playing games or using a computer for leisure. Conversely, individuals ages
15 to 19 read for an average of four minutes per weekend day and spent 52 minutes playing games or using a computer for leisure.” This contrast is striking and merits careful attention. However, social media does not just receive blame for all this. The constancy of the Internet actually helps authors get the word out about their books. One of my friends is about to self-publish her second novel. Social media has become a terrific avenue for her to spread the word. GoodReads, an app dedicated to opinions on books, is one example. Each user can rate books on a fivestar scale, as well as write reviews, suggest books to
others, create lists of books to read next and see what their friends are currently reading. I use this app to read peoples’ takes on famous books I’ve never read or to see what people think about a book I’ve just finished. It helps me sort out my own thoughts about a novel’s style, characters and overall quality. GoodReads also gives tailored recommendations, making it easy for me to find books that pique my interest. To conclude, reading for pleasure is an essential part of personal development and a great way to de-stress without electric screens. While I love social media, television and movies as much
Mamie Carlstrom is a junior majoring in communication. She can be contacted at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.
as anyone — they’re one of the main reasons I chose to major in communication, and it is my dream write for a TV show — I think everyone needs to apply self-discipline and make time to kick back with a good old fashioned book.
Graduates leave college deficient in life experiences by Tucker Fleming Contributing Writer
I am 21 years old and will graduate college in May of 2015. Right now, I am in the middle of the standard uncertain phase which comes alongside having to make substantive, consequential choices about the rest of my life. For almost my entire life, going to college was non-negotiable. My life was pretty well planned out up to this point. However, now is the time for me to make choices which lay the groundwork for what I will do for the rest of my life. I learned a great deal over the past three and a half years, a great deal about structural functionalism and how strain theory explains criminal activity. I learned how to read Marx and Weber and how to critically write about them and apply their theories to everyday phenomena. What I did not learn as well was how to think for myself and how to make fulfilling and gratifying choices regarding life after college. To be sure, college is a great experience. Many people whose college years are in the rearview say their four years in college were some of the best moments of their lives, usually second only to weddings and births of children. For the most part, I agree with this statement. During my years at Mississippi State University, I built some of the relationships I cherish most in this
world. While my experiences here during the twilight of college education is to gain have been spectacular, I am my degree, is in step with the knowledge and to cultivate not so sure my experience has concern of Deresiewicz – the educational appetite. been complete. On the door- our college years were spent Pinker’s assertion is certainly step of choices about wheth- preparing simply for the next correct; it seems implausible er to go to graduate school or step, the next school, the next to quantify the development go to work, whether to enter job in our lives and not invest- of self during college, or even at any other time. However, to Peace Corps or take a year ing in our life experience. off, I realize just how ill-preTo contrast Deresiewicz, perhaps the ideal college pared I am to make these Harvard psychologist Steven experience is more than cogdecisions. Pinker asserts knowledge nitive, quantifiable knowlCollege, for many, is just and a general education are edge. Maybe it includes the another step in achieving the products of a college edu- knowledge Deresiewicz refwhite-collar ambitions, cation, which should be the erences – knowledge of the soul and knowledge argues William of the self and knowlDeresiewicz, foredge as David Brooks mer Yale professor. Deresiewicz notices “Our college years were spent of The New York Times says. this problem run“Elite universities ning rampant even preparing simply for the next in America’s Ivy step, the next school, the next job are strong at delivering their commercial League institutions. In a recent essay for in our lives, and not investing mission. They are pretty strong in devel“The New Republic,” oping their cognitive Deresiewicz says, in our life experience.” mission. But when it “Like so many kids comes to the sort of today, I went off to growth Deresiewicz is college like a sleepwalker. You chose the most chief concern of students. talking about, everyone is on prestigious place that let you According to Pinker’s recent their own,” Brooks said. But perhaps this is part in; up ahead were vaguely piece in “The New Republic,” understood objectives: sta- refining one’s soul and one’s of obtaining the life expetus, wealth — ‘success.’ What self “isn’t taught in graduate rience and practical knowlit meant to actually get an school, and in the hundreds edge related to life in general. education and why you might of faculty appointments and Maybe part of this learning want one — all of this was off promotions I have partici- process, in the absence of the table.” pated in, we’ve never evalu- a formal one, is of the triMost students who set foot ated a candidate on how well al-and-error type. Maybe we, on a college campus their he or she could accomplish as young adults, learn more freshman year have metic- it. I submit that if ‘building a about proverbial real-life ulously planned dreams of self’ is the goal of a universi- experiences through sucpost-graduate education; ty education, you’re going to ceeding at some things and I myself have had plans of be reading anguished articles failing at others. As Brooks graduate school since even about how the universities notes, when it comes to a forbefore I started undergrad- are failing at it for a long, long mal process of learning about our own selves and souls, uate study. These ambitions time.” are not inherently bad by any It is certainly hard to argue we may be on our own. But means at all. My concern, as with Pinker. Throughout maybe, just maybe, this is a I contemplate my experience college, the point of one’s good thing.
Ponder This
Traffic regulations disrupt off-campus busses In a Southern state like Mississippi, it is difficult to comprehend the thought of not having a car at our convenience. Almost everyone drives. As many college students at Mississippi State University have already found out, however, driving directly to your destination is not always an option. Some students either walk from their dorms or, if they commute, park in assigned lots and walk the rest of the way. It is important to address that, for some people, driving has never been an option. Dorm life is typically very accommodating for this group of people. Some apartment complexes, such as Aspen Heights and The Pointe-MSU, acknowledge these situations by providing a shuttle that transports their residents to campus every day. This opens the door for people unable to commute or to have a safe way to get to class without living on campus. Parking is not as readily available as it was before new construction projects began on campus. Students now have to park farther away from their classes, leading many to consider other means of transportation. Currently, campus has specific stops and routes for the university shuttles. Other off-campus shuttles tried to steer clear of the university shuttles by letting residents off at other specific areas, crosswalks or
stop signs. Recently, however, the MSU police issued citations to these off-campus shuttles for “obscuring traffic.” The Department of Parking and Transit Operations has decided to crack down on the shuttles and any other vessel that blocks the flow of traffic on campus. Apparently, even stopping at a crosswalk to let a friend out of a car is now considered traffic blockage by the MSU police. The MSU police address this by issuing traffic citations and warnings. In the case of the shuttles, these apartment complexes received so many citations the closest drop off location for a student that has
“It is important to address that, for other people, driving has never been an option.” a class on the Drill Field is the Coliseum stop or the Scales Park and Ride stop. For someone living at The Pointe-MSU, this means a student that cannot drive due to either a disability or an injury is being put even further out of the way than if they walked the typical 15-20 minute trail. For a student in the same situation living at Aspen
Heights, this student might very well have to get up an hour or so earlier than necessary to make it to an 8 a.m. class on the Drill Field, given they now have to catch two shuttles or walk from these newly assigned locations. This does not take into account problems associated with bad weather or shuttles running late. Of course the Department of Parking and Transit Operations has rules and regulations to uphold, and the MSU police do their best to enforce them in order to ensure the safety of the students. However, all transportation options on and off campus are meant for the benefit of students. The shuttle fees for the residents of these complexes may be included in their rent rates. This new rule has caused some students to question the fairness and logic behind the regulation. A main topic of interest is whether or not a compromise can be made to get students who use off-campus shuttles closer to the Drill Field. Technically, the off-campus shuttles only stop at crosswalks for the same amount of time the university shuttles do. Therefore, if stops were restricted, traffic jams might be reduced to keep helping these students. This keeps off-campus shuttles from stopping near every crosswalk and still benefits students. It is possible that, if a consensus can be found, all
Brooklyn Tucker is a senior majoring in kinesiology. He can be contacted at opinion@reflector. msstate.edu.
shuttles could run to their full potential. If not, students will have to adapt to the new standards deemed to be the safest by the university. As of now, the main focus is on the efficiency of the SMART Shuttles. Jeremiah Dumas, the Director of Parking, Transit and Sustainability, emphasized how essential it is to maintain timeliness of shuttles, and he explained the reasoning behind the new regulations. “The efficiency of our on-campus system is the primary focus of MSU Shuttle Operations. With daily traffic and with the numbers of shuttles we have on each route, it is imperative that we keep all other campus stops open for our own shuttles so that they can maneuver in traffic and efficiently transport our passengers. MSU shuttles only stop at designated and advertised stops,” he said. Each student must now decide how to work around the new route changes.
REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014
An In-Class Distraction
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The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday; the deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. Classifieds are $5 per issue. Student and staff ads are $3 per issue, pre-paid. Lost and found: found items can be listed for free; lost items are listed for standard ad cost. FOR SALE 2008 Puma travel trailer with slide and den. Model 26, sleeps 6. $8,000. Call Jim at 662-694-0656.
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HELP WANTED COBRA SECURITY
Part-time work openings. Contact Lisa at 662-8320646. Must be 18 years old to apply. Backgrounds completed on applicants. 201 S. Lafayette St. upstairs. FOR RENT
Fully furnished, 1 bedroom apartment. 5 minute drive from campus. Large yard and all utilities included. Available January 1, 2015. Will accept small dogs. $550 deposit, $550 per month. Call Lakiesha at 662-648-9457.
MSU BALLROOM DANCE CLUB
Want to dance but don’t know how? Come join the Ballroom Dance Club at the Sanderson on Sunday and Tuesday nights. MADDAWGS RUGBY
MADDAWGS Rugby is open to all students of MSU and of all skill levels. The Club practices on Tue, Wed and Thurs from 5:30 to 7:30. For more information go to rugby.
org.msstate.edu or e-mail us at rugby-info@org. msstate.edu. MSU HILLEL
Jews wanted! If you’re Jewish, let us know! Like us on Facebook at Hillel @ Mississippi State University. Join us for meetings. For more information, contact Josph Metz at 601-813-7720. YOGA MOVES CLUB
School or work stressing you out? Get moving into Yoga Moves. Try our moves to get into shape and our relaxation techniques to handle the stress. Yoga Moves meets at the Sanderson Center in Studio C, Thursday evenings from 5:30-7 p.m. Like Yoga Moves Club on Facebook. THE STREETCAR CREATIVE ARTS JOURNAL
The Streetcar is Mississippi State University’s creative arts journal open to student submissions. Submit your art, poetry, shortstories, nonfiction and more before November 25 online at thestreetcarmsu.com.
Oct. 10 solutions:
5 THINGS TO KNOW FOR YOUR TUESDAY 1. Actress hospitalized. Actress Amanda Bynes was admitted to a mental facility in California Friday after accusing her father of abusing her as a child via Twitter. She later retracted her accusations and stated a microchip implanted in her brain made her tweet the falsities. 2. Vatican alterations spark controversy. A new Vatican report states homosexuals have “unique gifts and qualities to offer the Christian community,” a revolutionary statement within the Christian community. 3. ISIS terror spreads. ISIS has taken hold of a military base in Iraq’s Anbar province. Sunday and Monday, U.S. military partners launched four air strikes south of Kobani, three northeast of the city and one northwest of Raqqa. 4. New Halloween traditions. The Teal Pumpkin Project implores families to place teal pumpkins outside their homes on Halloween in order to invite trick-ortreaters allergic to chocolate or milk to enjoy toys or stickers in lieu of candy. 5. Vietnam veteran’s prosthetic leg stolen. An intoxicated Philadelphia Eagles fan stole the prosthetic leg of a Vietnam war veteran at a game on Saturday. The Philadelphia police are currently pursuing suspects for the bizarre crime.
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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014
Jacob Follin| The Reflector
Friday’s Miss MSU Scholarship Pageant resulted in crowning Randi-Kathryn Harmon, senior communications major, as the new Miss Mississippi State University. She takes the crown from reigning Miss Mississippi State University 2014 Laura Lee Lewis.
She’s beauty & she’s grace: Randi-Kathryn Harmon by ShaCamree Gowdy Staff Writer
Mississippi State University hosted its annual Miss MSU Scholarship Pageant Oct. 10, and crowned Randi-Kathryn Harmon as the new face of MSU, and she plans to represent the university well. She said from preparing for the pageant to actually winning the title, the experience was unforgettable. “First, I am honored to be a representation of this college. Once I won, I felt like a dream of mine had finally come true. The overwhelming amount of support from the Bulldog family is indescribable,” she said. “Secondly, my favorite part of preparing for any pageant is working out, because, to me, working out is both physically and mentally helpful. I am so excited about serving Mississippi State University and look forward to all the upcoming opportunities. Go Dawgs.” Amelia Treptow,
director of the Miss MSU Scholarship Pageant, said this year the pageant wanted to showcase last year’s winner’s story as well as educate viewers about the pageant itself. “The actual pageant that occurred on Friday is just a small portion of my responsibilities with the Miss MSU Program. I love planning the pageant because of my experiences with theatre and production, and it is fun to put on a show like this. This year we really wanted to focus on educating people about what the crown represents and telling the story of Miss MSU 2014 Laura Lee Lewis’s journey this past year,” she said. Treptow said the pageant provides an opportunity for a student to reap the utmost benefits from MSU. “The Miss MSU Program is a way for a student to have the ultimate experience at State. Not only does she win scholarship dollars, she is able to represent the University in a way that is so special. Randi-Kathryn will have the opportunity to form and develop so
many relationships over this year with faculty, staff, administrators, the community and her fellow peers,” she said. Treptow said she is very confident in what Harmon will bring to the students, faculty and community during her reign as Miss MSU. She also said working with the previous Miss MSU was such an honor for her, and she is happy to be doing what she loves again. “Your Miss MSU is a young lady who is academically successful, a great role model and spokesperson and someone who passionately works to further the platform of her choosing. Who wouldn’t want to be represented by someone with these qualities and who can speak to the experience of being an MSU student? It is a great time for our university right now, and we couldn’t be represented by a better person. We are excited to have RandiKathryn as our Miss MSU 2015 and look forward to the journey and the year we will share with her,” she said.
MSU hosts first ‘Minority and Women Vendor Fair’ by Samantha Jones Staff Writer
Mississippi State University is an institution that embodies diversity not only in the student body but also in the faculty, staff and with businesses in the state of Mississippi. For the first time MSU is hosting the “Minority and Women Vendor Fair” today until 3 p.m. at the Hunter Henry Center. This fair is an opportunity for minority and women vendors to develop a relationship with MSU and allows MSU to broaden its horizon in regards to different types of services provided and the different vendors that provide them. Don Buffum, MSU’s Director of Procurement and Contracts, said the goal of the university is to introduce more diverse suppliers to the departments so they can take advantage of more and better solutions while, at the same time, saving money whenever possible. “Doing business with
MSU can be a very positive experience. It isn’t difficult. We are looking for suppliers that can offer products, services and solutions and will work with us to maximize the value to MSU, its students, faculty and staff,” Buffum said. Many departments look forward to interacting with the minority and women vendors. Angela Verdell, director of Diversity Programs and Student Development, said she is very excited about MSU taking full advantage of opportunities to expand its business possibilities and believes it is important to develop diverse ties within the state of Mississippi. “I expect to walk away more aware of the products and services provided by minority and women vendors in the state of Mississippi,” Verdell said. The Minority and Women Vendor Fair is coordinated by the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion under the leadership of Tommy Stevenson. Along with the Office of Institutional Diversity
and Inclusion, Buffum said his staff strives to work with the departments and the supplier community to maximize the value to MSU. Katherine Campbell, office assistant in the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, believes this vendor fair is not only an opportunity to network but also gives some insight to suppliers on the needs of the consumer. “Vendors to connecting with an established institution such as Mississippi State University will hopefully give them perspective on both sides of the process which would allow them to better serve current and perspective clients,” Campbell said. Students are encouraged to come out and witness these interactions. Vendors as well as MSU departments are looking forward to experiencing what the “Minority and Women Vendor Fair” has to offer and hope MSU will continue to reach out and attempt to diversify their endeavors.
Balancing act: MSU students slackline on campus by Kaitlin O’Dougherty Staff Writer
As college students, there is a sort of balancing act that takes place in our lives. One must balance schoolwork, social pressures and many other sources of stress. However, several Mississippi State University students have turned this balancing act into a form of enjoyment. These students set up a slackline in front of Allen Hall almost every Wednesday from 2-6 p.m. Slacklining is when one sets up a nylon or polyester rope between two points and attempts to walk across it. The art of slacklining is similar to tightrope walking. The activity began when two rock climbers set up a similar contraption in Washington. Other rock climbers began to take up the challenge, and it caught on in the West. The students in front of Allen Hall are mostly members of the Starkville Adventurers Autonomist club. They choose not to be affiliated with MSU and serve as a meet-up group for those wanting to explore the outdoors. Their group includes slackliners, jugglers, musicians and much more. The group began meeting about two years ago. When it first started, it had hula
hoops and music playing for in extremely high-wind first competition was held in Morgan Orich, ROTC The Starkville Adventurers people to enjoy. areas. Many of these forms of Friedrichshafen, Germany member, said the group Autonomousclub attempts Ben Elam, senior slacklining involve grueling in 2008. There is now a was very welcoming when to go on other trips such mathematics major, said he amounts of practice before Slacklining World Cup and she first approached them as camping and climbing discovered slacklining in they are achieved. multiple competitions held outside of Allen Hall. excursions. The group is not 2008 and has worked since Slacklining involves in the U.S. “I was just walking by one limited to slacklining, but then to bring it to MSU’s a large focus on balance GoPro and Gibbon day and saw the slackliners does spend a large portion of campus. and skill. There are sponsor many of these out here and wanted to give time working on the sport. “We want to offer a competitions held around events. it a try,” she said. The group gladly supportive environment the world for this sport. For the less experienced Elam explained the welcomes those who are where people can learn These competitions include slackliner, the group in slacklining system they set interested in slacklining and something new,” Elam said. judgments on tricks and flips front of Allen Hall offers the up on campus is primitive, are there to offer a helping Elam mentioned the done on the slackline. The perfect place to practice. but still works just as well. hand; in this case, literally. group works hard to protect the trees as well as the people trying slacklining for the first time. There are different types of slackline you can purchase, but Elam prefers the tubular webbing for his slacklines. There are multiple types of slacklining done across the world. Among these are urbanlining, waterlining, slackline yoga and windlining. Urbanlining involves the skills shown in urban areas. Waterlining is any slacklining that takes place over water. Slackline yoga was adopted when people realized how similar the two were. They both involve balance and coordination and are very good sources of meditation. Chance Rodriguez, senior mathematics major, said his interest in yoga encouraged his passion for slackline. “I am interested in yoga and liked slacklining because it involves balance and is a great way to meet Kaitlin O’Dougherty | Courtesy Photograph people,” he said. Chance Rodriguez, senior mathematics major, slacklines outside of Allen Hall. Slacklining is when one sets up a nylon or polyester rope between two points and Lastly, windlining is the attempts to walk across it. Students set up a slackline in front of Allen Hall almost every Wednesday from 2-6 p.m., and all students are encouraged to join. intense sport of slacklining
Sports
7 THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014
From Outside
MSU deserves top ranking
The Notre Dame Fight- among the nation’s elite. But no. So, as is normally the ing Irish did not have to for Dan Mullen and his team case for most teams going deal with starting the season riddled with two and three- into Death Valley at night, unranked. Alabama, given star recruits, being over- the Bulldogs entered the all its past dominance could looked is nothing out of the game as underdogs. In domnever fathom a preseason ordinary. In fact, you could inating fashion, they left the poll placing it outside of the even say they welcomed it. fabled stadium as the victors top 25. LSU, South Carolina So the confident, seasoned of a 34-29 contest that was and Wisconsin are all names Bulldogs opened the sea- not nearly as close as the that have become constants son eager to prove they be- score suggests. The ques- Anthony McDougle in the Associated Press poll, longed, eager to silence all tion asked for so long had is a senior majoring in comand with the powerhouses the naysayers and doubters. finally been answered. With Anthony munication. He can be contacted at that have been established Their hunger was evident the answer came State’s first reflectorsports@gmail.com. at these schools, one can see from the onset of the sea- entrance into the AP poll at why. The Mississippi State son opener against Southern No. 14 and a prime opportu- last season’s national runfootball team did not get Miss in a game that ended nity for a team on the rise to ner-up. such respect from voters to in a 49-0 drubbing. They prove itself again against yet For whatever reason, the begin the 2014 football sea- showed in the next game, another top-10 opponent- doubters remained, and yet son. which was closer than many Kenny Hill and the vaunted again had the Bulldogs as A lot of hype surround- would have preferred. Fans Texas A&M offense. the underdogs against Aued the Bulldogs in the pre- saw it again in the Maroon Apparently someone for- burn. When the final buzzseason. Mississipgot to pack the re- er sounded, the cowbells of pi State faithfuls spect this Bulldog Maroon Nation rang louder felt they had a “Our Heisman candidate will team so rightfully than ever as its team emerged lot to be excited deserved with ev- triumphant in impressive about. The team keep wowing you, our defense erything else. Even fashion. With the victory returned nearly all will continue to dominate the though they had definitely came the spoils, as of its starters on just manhandled the Bulldogs earned a No. both sides of the line of scrimmage.” the mighty LSU 1 ranking. In doing so, they ball, not to menTigers, many were became the first team ever to tion quarterback still unimpressed. go from unranked to No. 1 Dak Prescott, who was and White’s absolute annihi- That LSU team was young in five weeks. mentioned in many college lation of South Alabama in a and inexperienced, they said. So to all the doubters, football circles as a Heisman trap game where some even They couldn’t possibly beat skeptics and disbelievers, darkhorse. The fans knew it went so far as to predict the two top-10 teams in con- we of the Maroon and and the player surely knew Bulldogs faltering. secutive weeks, could they? White Nation say this: keep it: there is something speOf course, the Bulldogs Well, why not? doubting our team they will cial about this team. It is our expected to win all these In dominating fashion, the keep winning. Keep labeltime. games, as they were essen- Bulldogs won another huge ing them as underdogs, and With so many good things tially “gimmes.” The voters’ game. Prescott was master- they will go out each week being said about the Maroon acknowledged the success, ful in making his case for and prove you wrong. Our and White, it was expected giving the Dogs votes in the Heisman contention, the Heisman candidate will they would crack the top 25. polls, but not allowing them defense gave Kenny Hill keep wowing you, and our Some experts had the Bull- a spot in the top 25. The na- fits, and eyes finally began defense will continue to dogs just outside the top tion’s college football pun- to open. Mississippi State dominate the line of scrim25, with the AP poll voters dits shared these sentiments jumped in the polls yet again, mage. Or, you could give placing us around 36, but positing something for and, with key losses by top- credit where it is due. Beone would have found it thought as well: can they do 10 teams, entered week 7 as cause like it or not, this is challenging to find a poll it against the country’s best? the No. 3 team in the nation OUR time and this is OUR with Mississippi State ranked Many felt the answer was preparing to host Auburn, state. Hail State.
Noah Siano | The Reflector
(ABOVE) Safety Jay Hughes holds up a number one after Saturdayʼs game. MSU moved to no. 1 in the country in the AP Poll on Sunday. Hughes intercepted Auburnʼs first pass of the game.
Noah Siano| The Reflector
(Above) Dak Prescott and Dan Mullen embrace after the victory over Auburn. Mullen is currently in his sixth season coaching the Bulldogs.
1 Mississippi State (45) 6-0*
1 Mississippi State (26) 6-0
2 Florida State (12) 6-0
2 Florida State (31) 6-0
3 Ole Miss (3) 6-0
3 Ole Miss (5) 6-0
4 Baylor 6-0
4 Baylor 6-0
5 Notre Dame 6-0
5 Notre Dame 6-0
6 Auburn 5-1
6 Michigan State 5-1
7 Alabama 5-1
7 Alabama 5-1
8 Michigan State 5-1
8 Auburn 5-1
9 Oregon 5-1
9 Oregon 5-1
10 Georgia 5-1
10 Georgia 5-1
11 Oklahoma 5-1
11 Oklahoma 5-1
12 TCU 4-1
12 TCU 4-1
13 Ohio State 4-1
13 Ohio State 4-1
14 Kansas State 4-1
14 Kansas State 4-1
15 Oklahoma State 5-1
15 Oklahoma State 5-1
16 Arizona 5-1
16 East Carolina 5-1
17 Arizona State 4-1
17 Arizona 5-1
18 East Carolina 5-1
18 Arizona State 4-1
19 Nebraska 5-1
19 Nebraska 5-1
20 Utah 4-1
20 Stanford 4-2
21 Texas A&M 5-2
21 Texas A&M 5-2
22 USC 4-2
22 Clemson 4-2
23 Stanford 4-2
23 Utah 4-1
24 Clemson 4-2
24 Marshall 6-0
25 Marshall 6-0 25 USC 4-2 Polls taken from ESPN.com All bolded teams are SEC teams. * First time a team has gone from unranked to no. 1 in the country in only 5 weeks in the AP poll.
Emma Katherine Hutto | The Reflector
(ABOVE) Josh Robinson fends off an Auburn defender near the sideline. Robinson rushed for 97 yards and two touchdowns in Saturdayʼs win over the Auburn Tigers. Robinson is currently second in the SEC in rushing yards this season.
Emma Katherine Hutto | The Reflector
(ABOVE) A gang of MSU Bulldogs tackles Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall. The Bulldog defense held the Auburn offense to its lowest season point total this season.
Braden Benson | The Reflector
(BOTTOM RIGHT) Peng Zhao and Jindwan Shi hold up their winning GameDay sign at the Reflectorʼs sign making competition.
REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014
Prescott makes strong push for Heisman Trophy by Zach Wagner Staff Writer
With Saturday’s win over Auburn, Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott finds himself in the middle of the national spotlight with talks of him being the current frontrunner to take home the Heisman Trophy come December. In his first six games, Prescott has completed 96 of his 156 passes for a total of 1,478 yards, has a completion percentage of 61.5 percent and, to go along with that, he has a 14:4 touchdowns to interception ratio. On the ground, Prescott has rushed 106 times for 576 total yards and has crossed the goal line eight times on the season. The stats are very impressive as a whole through six games, but how does he line up compared to another noteworthy SEC Heisman-winning quarterback through six games? During Tim Tebow’s sophomore season at Florida, he went 97-148 for 1,455 yards through the air and 13 touchdowns to go with his 500 total rushing yards through his first six games of the 2007 Heisman winning campaign. Not only has Prescott thrown for more yards than Tebow did at this stage, but he has also out-gained him on the ground. While Tebow boasts the better completion percentage through the first six games of his season, Prescott ties Tebow in the total touchdown category, as they both accounted for 22 touchdown through six games. As the stats paint the picture of a serious Heisman contender, Prescott said he is honored to be in the discussion, but knows he has a lot more work to do if he is going to improve going forward,
and in the end, the team success is what really matters. “It doesn’t really mean all that much. Like I said tonight, I didn’t play that great of a game at all and people are going to talk like it was a great game,” he said. “To me, it was one of my worst games of the season, so all the talk doesn’t mean much. We just got to keep getting this team better and keep winning.” While Prescott focuses his energy on the rest of the SEC slate, several members of the media and even Vegas look at him as the front-runner at this very moment. Prescott’s betting odds of taking home the Heisman are currently set at 2/1, making him Vegas’s favorite through six games of the season. The nation as a whole has seemed to jump on Prescott’sHeismanbandwagon as well. After Saturday’s game, Prescott ranks first on both Bleacher Reports and ESPN’s Heisman favorite list, and college football fans all throughout the country are starting to take notice daily of the special player that currently resides in a Mississippi State uniform. Brandon Speck of FOX Sports analyzed Prescott’s Heisman chances by saying there’s a lot of opportunity left for him to stamp his case and take home the prize. “If he leads Mississippi State to the promised land of Atlanta for the (SEC) title game or maybe even, hold your breath, a spot in the playoff four, then his case is strong,” Speck said. “But the road is long and winding. And as good as Prescott has been through six games, he has six more to either finish the statement or give voters plenty of reasons to question his quest, by default or not.” Outside of Prescott, the list of Heisman hopefuls at this moment comes down to
Dak Prescott throws the football against Auburn. Prescott broke the record for most career touchdowns at MSU.
four other players. Of these four, last week’s favorite Todd Gurley is not included as he currently is indefinitely suspended. If Gurley ends up being suspended for the rest of the season, that will certainly bolster Prescott’s chances, as Gurley was seen as the favorite coming into this season. Maybe the only player giving Prescott the most competition is Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty. Through his first half of the season he is 101 of 178 for 1,534 and 15 touchdown passes. He really had a coming party against top-10 opponent TCU on Saturday when he threw for 510 yards and six touchdowns to complete the comeback and remain unbeaten for the season. With tough games still left against Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Kansas State, he will have plenty of opportunities to show Heisman voters what he is
really made of. If Prescott slips up in the next couple of games, look for Petty to be there to grab the limelight. Another player worthy of national recognition is Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon, who has amassed 1,046 yards on the ground on 132 total carries to give him an average 7.9 yards per carry. He also has 14 total touchdowns, almost all of which have come on the ground. He makes his name on the ground game and doesn’t do much, if any, damage receiving the ball in the air as he only has six total receptions on the season for 27 yards. One thing that could hurt Gordon’s chances going forward is the fact Wisconsin might lose a couple more game this season, making the perception harder for voters to grasp his overall worth to the team. He does have six more games against Big Ten competition, and if he keeps
Noah Siano| The Reflector
on his current pace, he should expect to receive an invite to New York in the upcoming months. Last year’s winner Jameis Winston will face a battle in terms of repeating as the Heisman winner thanks to his off-the-field behavior earlier this season, and if reports over the weekend are true regarding university student conduct violations, he could have even more negative consequences to deal with in the weeks to come. Heisman voters take character to mean a lot in the overall equation on picking the Heisman winner. With that being the case, Winston might be at the bottom of the list of the five at this very moment. While his numbers are alright thus far this season, his candidacy will also suffer from the fact Florida State’s schedule outside of top-10 foe Notre Dame is one of the weakest in the country. If Winston
doesn’t perform on a high level next week at home to Notre Dame or his team loses that game, it might take Winston out of the equation. One other name to note is Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, who had a very nice showing on Saturday against UCLA, where he finished with 210 yards passing with two touchdowns. He also gashed the UCLA defense for 75 yards on the ground and added two rushing touchdowns. While Mariota’s chances took a hit early on with the loss against Arizona, he is having a spectacular season as a whole. He has thrown for 1,621 yards and 17 touchdowns to go along with no interceptions on the season. He adds 290 yards rushing for five touchdowns to his season statistic list, making him very much a dual threat for Oregon. If Petty and Prescott stumble at all and Mariota continues on his highly-efficient pace going forward, he could very well throw his name back into serious consideration if he can lead Oregon to wins in the rest of their Pac-12 games. With half of the season left to play, head coach Dan Mullen addressed his quarterback’s chances of winning the Heisman after Saturday’s game against Auburn and said he still thinks Prescott is in the thick of the chase. “He tried to get out of the mix today by throwing a couple of picks,” Mullen said. “He scored three touchdowns so he put himself back in it.” Prescott still has two top10 match ups left on the road against Alabama and Ole Miss and what could be a tough game against Arkansas in a couple of weeks as well. The opportunity is there for him have his Heisman moment.
MS Horse Park to Host National Event
Join Us Friday at 4:30 for Free Cake during our 15 Year Celebration!
OCTOBER HORSE POOR 16-19
BARREL RACE The MS Horse Park will host one of the 10 qualifiers for The American which is the world’s richest one-day rodeo. The American pays out $2 million to the day’s victor and awards over $500,000 in prizes.
Other qualifiers sanctioned by Better Barrel Racing will take place in Paso, WA, Springfield, OH; Loveland, CO; Verndale, MN; Lincoln, NE; Silesia, MT; Glen Rose, TX; Jacksonville, FL; and Buckeye, AZ.
Parts of the qualifier will be broadcast nationally on RFD-TV and live-streamed over the Internet.
Join us Friday at 4:30 pm for free cake at our 15 year celebration. Barrel racing action will begin at 5. Admission is free to join the fun.
“This event is the SEC Championship of Barrel Races” - Bricklee Miller, Facility Director
Horse Park Success - The MS Horse Park has hosted four sold out events in 2014. - Named 2013 Better Barrel Racing National Producer of the Year. - The 2014 MSU AQHA Show was named one of the country’s largest split combined shows. - Received the 2012 & 2013 Justin Best Footing Award presented by the ladies of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association.
SCHEDULE THURSDAY- OCT 16 Exhibitors Arrive
FRIDAY- OCT 17 4:30 pm FREE cake to celebrate the Horse Park’s 15th birthday 5:00 pm American Qualifier Event 7:30 pm Barrel Racing Continues SATURDAY- OCT 18 10:00 am Barrel Racing Begins BBR Southeastern Regional Finale Championship Awarded SUNDAY- OCT 19 8:30-9:30 am Cowboy Church 10:00 am Barrel Racing Begins
FREE ADMISSION TO WATCH