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131st YEAR ISSUE 21
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
Man hits student with car, is charged with DUI by Devin Edgar Managing Editor
Emily Case, Mississippi State University freshman, was airlifted to Jackson after being hit by a vehicle on Blackjack Road near the Hardy Road intersection on Saturday night. The Oktibbeha County Sheriff ’s Department said deputies reported to the scene at approximately 9 p.m. Shortly after, Case was transported to the Oktibbeha County Hospital (OCH) where she was then airlifted to Jackson. Deputies arrested Starkville resident Jaleen Jenkins, 22, on scene with charges of aggravated DUI, driving with a suspended license and no insurance. Jenkins is not believed to be a student at MSU. Since the Saturday night accident, Jenkins has been held in the Oktibbeha County Jail and made his initial court appearance in Oktibbeha County Justice court Monday. DUI, 2
Joseph Tillman killed in Cotton District by Emmalyne Kwasny, Kaitlin O’Dougherty, and Taylor Bowden News Editor, Editor-in-Chief, Online Editor
A Mississippi State University student was killed Sunday morning at approximately 1:50 a.m. in the Cotton District. Joseph Tillman, a senior marketing major, was confirmed dead by Michael Hunt, Oktibbeha County coroner who said his body was sent to Jackson for an autopsy. Four arrests were made in the shooting death of Joseph Tillman which was related to an attempted robbery. As stated in the press release from the Starkville Police Department, Jaylen M. Barker, 20, has been charged with murder with a $1 million bond. Jamario Pippins, 22, Tyler Harris, 16, and Brandon Sherrod,19, were charged with Murder, as an accessory, with a $500,000 bond each. All were from Columbus/Lowndes County and transported to the Oktibbeha County Jail. At a press conference regarding the shooting of Tillman, SPD Chief R. Frank Nichols said the suspects were apprehended in their vehicle after it
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dies of unknown cause
Staff Writer
Mississippi State University (4-5, 2-3) was firing on all cylinders when they upset, then No. 4 ranked, Texas A&M (72, 4-2) with a 35-28 win. Head coach Dan Mullen was elated at the press conference after the huge upset win. “There is going to be a big celebration at the Mullen house tonight,” Mullen said. “It means a lot to me for these kids.” Senior linebacker Richie Brown talked about the excitement in the locker room after the game. “This is up there with beating Auburn at No. 2 and Texas A&M the year we went number one,” Brown said. “Honestly this is better because this team is so hungry for a win that we’re not taking it for granted. I think the guys are more excited about this than when we were ranked at No. 1.” MSU put up 35 points and more importantly their defense held A&M to 28. On offense, the rushing attack was near unstoppable. MSU rushed
by Kaitlin O’Dougherty Editor-in-Chief
Noah Siano | The Reflector
MSU football players celebrate their 35-28 win over No. 4 Texas A&M on Saturday.
for 365 yards on the day with two players both Nick Fitzgerald and Aeris Williams going over the century mark.
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after Barker’s charges were read a woman’s cries could be heard from outside the courtroom. After the three appeared before the court most of the room filed out and several people openly wept on the steps leading into the courthouse. Harris, as a juvenile, was legally released after his arrest and will appear in youth court. District Attorney Scott Colom said Harris has the potential to be brought to circuit
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additional minutes before the shot was fired. Based on evidence, at least one shot was fired and the suspect ran towards Stagger In.” Barker, Pippins and Sherrod made their initial Municipal Court appearance last night. They are set to appear before court again on Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. The courtroom was filled to capacity during their appearance. As the charges were leveled, many people were teary-eyed and
Bulldogs celebrate Texas A&M upset Student
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matched the description sent out by the police department. Nichols said Tillman interacted with the suspects before he was shot. “From evidence we know Mr. Tillman chased one of the suspects towards Stagger In,” Nichols said. “After several yards, Mr. Tillman returned back to the location where the four suspects were still standing. We know based on evidence, that Mr. Tillman interacted for at least four
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Taylor Bowden | The Reflector
Students mourn the loss of Joseph Tillman at a memorial site near the location he was killed. The cross has notes to commemorate Tillman.
depending on the evidence brought against him. In the SPD press release, they said they are actively investigating the shooting of Tillman, who was from Schlater, Mississippi. The press release said the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation crime scene unit was called in to process the scene and the U.S. Marshal Task Force, the Oktibbeha County Sheriff ’s Office and the Mississippi State Police Department are assisting with the investigation. At the press conference, Colom said the SPD and their partners are continuing the investigation of Tillman’s murder. “We can’t bring charges based on speculation,” Colom said. “We can’t bring charges based on rumors. We have to bring charges based on evidence and the evidence at this time supports these charges and we look forward to working with the Starkville Police Department to see how the evidence develops. We are confident that they will do a thorough job.” Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman offered encouragement to the community and said the community should take pride in the work done by law enforcement agencies.
In doing so, the Bulldogs finally found their running back in Williams, who ran the ball 24 times for 140 yards. FOOTBALL WIN, 2
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FORECAST: Temperatures are cooling down with a chance of rain today. Mississippi State will be seeing cooler weather this week, finally having a taste of fall. Hail state!
Mississippi State University student Leona Viola Prisock was found dead in her home Sunday afternoon. Oktibbeha County Coroner Michael Hunt said the body was found at 2:30 p.m. and a cause of death could not be determined. MSU Chief Communications Officer Sid Salter said Prisock was found unresponsive at 105 Hemlock Rd. Salter confirmed she was a 21-year-old geosciences major and said the university’s thoughts go out to her family and friends. “Until the report is done with the coroner, I don’t have any more information,” Salter said. More information may be revealed after the completion of the autopsy in Jackson.
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NEWS
THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2016
Cohen named MSU’s athletic director by Taylor Rayburn Staff Writer
Mississippi State University officially announced John Cohen as their 17th athletic director in a press conference on Friday. Cohen, who was formerly the head baseball coach at MSU, is the fourth AD in a row MSU has hired from within the university. MSU President Mark Keenum opened up the press conference Friday and introduced Cohen. “We went through a long and exhaustive process,” Keenum said. “We talked to some really outstanding people, some really outstanding people, but we kept coming back to John Cohen.” MSU was looking for a new AD after former AD Scott Stricklin left MSU for the same job at the University of Florida. Stricklin and Cohen had a good friendship, something Cohen said could be a bad thing while working together. “They say it is really bad business when one of your best friends is your boss. That was not the case,” Cohen said. “I’m going to miss Scott.” Cohen is from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and played baseball at MSU from 1987-1990. While playing at MSU, he helped the Bulldogs win a 1989 SEC Championship and helped them earn a 1990 College World Series appearance. He graduated from MSU in 1990 with a degree in English. He then went to graduate school at Missouri where he got a masters in sport management.
Cohen leaves the baseball program after a run of success. As a coach, Cohen led the Bulldogs to the post-season in five of the last six years, including a College World Series runners-up finish in 2013. “I love our baseball program, but more importantly I love Mississippi State University,” Cohen said. “I am looking forward to engaging all of our student athletes, obviously not just baseball.” Cohen said he knew he wanted to be an athletic director early on. While playing baseball at MSU, he told a story of a conversation he had with a young freshman that may have a familiar name. “We had this little sports information guy that couldn’t have weighed 120 pounds by the name of Scott Stricklin,” Cohen said. “We had a rain delay and Scott came up and asked what was next for me. I said that I would love to make it to the big leagues on day, but I would love to be an athletic director.” Cohen was hired with a four year, $775,000 per year, contract. The role of AD is not limited to just the university where the AD is employed. In a conference like the SEC, Cohen will work with the rest of the schools in the conference. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said he worked with Cohen before and expects success from him. “John is a proven leader, an innovative thinker and relationshipbuilder with unique skills and experiences that will make him a successful athletics director.” Sankey said. “His abilities in
Grief Counseling Available to Students:
We all have varied reactions to the death of a peer. Any reaction is normal in the grief process and can range from withdrawal; to crying and anger.
Student Counseling Services will be offering drop-in grief couseling services to be available in the Colvard Student Union in Room 321 from 11:00 am through 2pm starting Tuesday 11/8/16 for the next two weeks. If you think you need additional counseling support, please do not hesitate to contact Student Counseling Services 662-325-2091. This phone line is staffed 24 hours a day.
TILLMAN “This is a lot for our community to cope with right now,” Wiseman said. “We are not a community that is accustomed to dealing with such acts of violence nor do we plan on becoming such a community.” Sid Salter, chief communication officer at MSU, released the following statement concerning the death of Tillman Sunday morning. “The MSU family is shocked and grieving over the loss of our fine student senior marketing major Joseph Tillman of Schlater. We are grateful to local law enforcement for their swift action in this case and are fully cooperating with their investigation. Counseling services are available for MSU students who need that service. We have no other relevant information to share at this time.” Salter said the university’s main focus is
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on the Tillman family, the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, and the MSU family as a whole. “The university is preparing to arrange for additional counselors because a number of students have expressed need for that,” Salter said. The MSU Student Association released this statement shortly after Salter on Sunday. “The student body is grieving over the loss of one of our own students, senior marketing major Joseph Tillman.” Students are encouraged to make use of counseling services provided by MSU. For those interested, a visitation for Tillman will be held Wednesday, Nov. 9 5-7 p.m. at the Wilson & Knight Funeral Home in Greenwood, Mississippi, and a funeral service will be held Thursday, Nov. 10 at First Baptist Church in Greenwood, Mississippi.
Wednesday November 2, 2016 8:59 p.m. Student reported his Yeti cooler was stolen from his truck while at Moseley Hall. Thursday November 3, 2016 5:07 p.m. A student reported being harassed via social media by another student. Saturday November 5, 2016 3:57 a.m. A student was arrested outside of Critz Hall for public intoxication.
Sarah Dutton | The Reflector
John Cohen smiled as he was formally announced as the new athletic director last Friday.
leading young people will serve him well in creating a positive environment for student-athletes at Mississippi State.” Cohen’s promotion comes after receiving the associate AD title last summer. Keenum said a big part of the reason he received that title was how involved Cohen was in athletics outside of baseball. Keenum said Cohen was a part of conversations with former ADs Scott Stricklin and Greg Byrne to prepare for presentations Keenum had to make to the SEC or NCAA. “When I would sit down on numerous occasions with Greg, like I have done over the past six years with Scott,” Keenum said. “Most of the time he was in the room and it had nothing to do with baseball, but it was about policies we needed to be focused on as a university.” With Cohen moving up, MSU was left without a head baseball coach as they finish out fall practices. However, it
ended up being a quick hire as MSU named Andy Cannizaro the next head baseball coach at MSU on Saturday. Cannizaro spent the last two seasons as recruiting coordinator and hitting coach for LSU. Before that he was a scout for the New York Yankees for five years. “We are thrilled to welcome Andy to the Mississippi State baseball family,” Cohen said. “When you look at all of the characteristics we need in a baseball coach at Mississippi State, Andy is the perfect fit.” At the Friday press conference, Cohen continued to say that MSU had to keep going in the direction it is. He finished out his opening statement with a conversation he had with an old veteran. “He looked me dead in the eyes and said ‘I just can’t believe how far Mississippi State was come’,” Cohen said. All of our people recognize that and we have to keep going in that direction, athletically and in every part of this university.”
FOOTBALL WIN “It was just a flood of emotions,” Fitzgerald said. “I think it was kind of like a finally, we finally put it all together and we finally played how we can play against a great team and came out on top. It is definitely overwhelming.” As far as play is concerned, the biggest surprise was how well MSU’s defense played. After an abysmal performance last week against Samford, they came back and held Texas A&M’s explosive offense to 382 total yards. Where they struggled getting off the field last week on third down, they had no trouble this week. A&M ended 4-15 on third down conversions. In comparison, MSU went 11-18. Richie Brown, a senior from Long Beach, Mississippi, had a spectacular day at linebacker. Flying all over the field, he seemed to always be where the ball was as he ended the day with eight tackles. Mark McLaurin was the surprise standout on defense. McLaurin, a sophomore from Collins, Mississippi, made big plays in key moments. In a third-and-one situation, Texas A&M had the ball at the goal line in the second half, and it was McLaurin who stepped up and made a huge sack to force the Aggies into a field goal try, which they missed. Then on the final play of defense, with MSU
2:31 p.m. A student was arrested on Barr Avenue for trespassing, public intoxication, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct. A Justice Court citation and student referral were both issued. 3:59 p.m. An employee reported that his vehicle was burglarized while parked on Barr Avenue. 5:13 p.m. A Non-Resident/Visitor reported the passenger side rear-view mirror on her vehicle was damaged while parked at Critz Hall. 4:56 p.m. A student reported his bicycle was stolen from a bike rack outside of Nunnelee Hall. 5:34 p.m. A student reported that her tires were slashed while parked at Sessums Hall. 6:43 p.m. A student reported his bicycle was stolen from a bike rack outside of Magnolia Hall. Sunday November 6, 2016 6:06 p.m. A student reported his bicycle was stolen from a bike rack outside of Magnolia Hall. 11:15 p.m. A student reported finding a piece of paper on the ground with KKK written on it near Oak Hall.
Correction: We apologize on behalf of The Reflector for an error in the Oct. 25 edition in the story titled ‘Intersection crosswalk has students cross-eyed.’ HELiX’s owner, Homestead U, and developer, Homestead Development, had a conversation with the county and were informed that the crosswalk is already part of the county’s Tax Increment Financing improvements. They do not know the timing of the work, but understand it is already going to be done as those plans are put in motion. The Reflector Staff
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Noah Siano | The Reflector
MSU quarterback Nick Fitzgerald runs the ball in for a 74-yard touchdown on the first play offensive play of the game. The Bulldogs upset No.4 Texas A&M 35-28.
up seven points and 30 seconds left in the game, McLaurin caught a tipped pass to seal the upset for MSU. “Like my old coach in high school would always tell me,” McLaurin said, “‘Big time players make big time plays at the right time.’ It so happened that I happened to be there and make the play for my team to get us off the field.” Not to be left out, MSU also saw supurb offensive line play compared to previous weeks. MSU gave up no sacks and created gaps for Fitzgerald and Williams to run up the field. Even with lineman
seeing limited play due to injuries, the patchwork offensive line got the job done. MSU will not have much time to revel in this win as they travel to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, next Saturday to take on the No. 1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. It will be an 11 a.m. kickoff and will be televised on ESPN. Williams talked about what they need to do again next week. “We just have to go and prepare like we did last week,” Williams said. “Then just go out there and play like we did today.”
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The victim, Case, is still in Jackson where she is in stable condition. Sid Salter, MSU’s Chief Communications Officer, said Case did suffer substantial injuries, most of which were orthopedic in nature. “We are not concerned that she is fighting for her life, but we are still concerned about her injuries,” Salter said. MSU’s Panhellenic Council released the following statement regarding Case and the accident. “The Panhellenic community continues to lift up Emily Case, Pi Beta Phi of Mississippi State, her family and friends.” The Traffic Policy Committee at MSU is aware of the controversy surrounding the intersection where the accident occurred, and although the need for a crosswalk at the intersection near the Blackjack and Hardy road intersection has been discussed, the crosswalk would have to be put in by the county. Salter said he wanted to assure others that the University and its Board supervisors have been working for several months to start a project on Blackjack road that would include additional sidewalks and crosswalks, and widening of the road at the Hardy intersection. “The topic is high on the list of priorities,” Salter said. “Improvements to Blackjack road and the intersection are something that we’ve been working on for several months, and won’t stop until those go to provisions.”
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BULLETIN BOARD All submissions are subject to exemption according to space availability. MSU ART DEPARTMENT GALLERIES
Join us for Starkville’s first Art Crawl & Parent’s Night Out! Evening begins at 6 p.m. on November 4th at 808 University Drive in Starkville. RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY ORGANIZATION Celebrate being #BetterTogether with open-minded students having education discussions on various religious and cultural
current events. Meetings will be held in Union 330..
MENS CLUB SOCCER Celebrate being #BetterTogether with open-minded students having educational discussion on various religious and cultural events in the Union, room 330, on Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. FREETHINEKRS, ATHEISTS AND AGNOSTICS OF MSU
FAAMSU invites all free thinkers to come join our weekly discussions on life without religion. Meetings will be held every Thursday at 6 p.m. in Union room 330.
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Nishiki tubular 7-speed bicycle for sale. Call 662-323-3095. CLUB INFO The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday; deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. MSU student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info. Information may be submitted by email club_info@reflector. to msstate.edu with the subject heading “CLUB INFO,” or a form may be completed at The Reflector office in the Student Media Center. A contact name, phone number and requested run dates must be included for club info to appear in The Reflector.
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CLASSIFIEDS POLICY 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 RENT 3 bedroom/1 bath house in Crawford available for $500 a month. Located 20 minutes from MSU campus. Call 662-386-3086 for more information. FOR SALE LIKE NEW women’s
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OPINION
THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2016
ELECTION DAY IS UPON US
Change occurs from action—not anger by Natalie Bullock Staff Writer
Today is Election Day. By tonight, we will know who will be the next President of the United States. There will be shouts of victory and cries of anger all over the nation. We will be more divided than we have been in years, and we risk losing ourselves to this election. No matter if Clinton wins or Trump wins, there will be many, many angry Americans. We have often asked ourselves how we ended up here. How did it come down to these two candidates? How did we let this happen? Yet, we continue to pick those sides we do not really agree with. We continue to put ourselves at war with each other. We continue to call each other names and spew hatred. We continue in blindness towards a scary, uncertain future.
According to a New York Post article by Linda Chavez, “Hillary Clinton plays to her constituencies among minority voters and women, stirring fears that the Republican Party would turn back the clock to the Jim Crow era and deny equal pay for women. Donald Trump stokes resentment among whites that Mexicans and others are stealing their jobs and infesting their neighborhoods with crime.” Then, the rest of us follow their lead in denouncing the other party with vitriole. I am not innocent in this. I have my own side in this election and I wholeheartedly believe that my side is the lesser of evils. I have called the opposing side names and expressed hatred towards it– never understanding how any decent human being could stand to vote for that presidential nominee. However, as the weeks have inched closer and
people have gotten more rowdy, outspoken, and unsettled, I have found myself pulling back. I have been pulling back from the political propaganda and from the craziness of this election to attempt to see it from a different perspective. I think we are losing
friendship this year over the presidential race. In addition, a recent NBC News poll states that 40 percent of Americans have experienced tension in a variety of relationships based on their choice for president. This harsh divisiveness only prevents cooperation in
“We continue to put ourselves at war with
each other. We continue to call each other names and spew hatred. We continue in
blindness towards a scary, uncertain future.” ourselves in it. We are losing ourselves in the fight of what we believe will better our country. If we continue to be so divided and so full of hatred towards each other, what will we actually achieve? According to a Monmouth University study 7 percent of people have lost or ended a
our day-to-day lives. If all we continue to do is slander one another and turn our backs on anyone’s opinion that is different than ours, what are we really achieving as a nation? Tonight we WILL have a new president, and as powerful as he or she may be, we are still the people of this country. We still
have our freedom and our voices. We have the power to make a difference. So I ask you all– Democrats, Republicans, and Third-Party voters, to step back and think about what you really want for our country. Forget about the president for a second. Think about what you want our nation to be. What do you want to instill in future generations? What do we need to work on? What are we doing right? I want you to step out of your political parties and really think about what you want– not what you think we should do. Now, remember that you have the power to make a change. Remember that you can work towards what you want this country to be. You do not have to be a politician in Washington to start making a difference. It is fairly easy to join a grassroots political movement. According to Renew America, “The grassroots is the very essence of
politics. It is dumping tea in a harbor, or standing up and testifying at a local city council meeting, or taking a political candidate aside after a rally and giving him or her some advice, or handing out leaf lets at a mall.” So get involved in an advocacy group on campus. Take the time to learn how to get involved in your state. These little changes can impact more than you think – and maybe you are paving the way for someone else to take those changes farther up the ladder. Do not put all your hope and trust into our president– put it in yourselves. Do not continue to slander one another over this election. Do not continue to place your political party ahead of your values. We are the people of the United States. No matter who our president is, we are capable of enacting the change we wish to see in our country.
Importance of local elections is on par with presidential race
Holly Travis
is a senior majoring in political science and criminology. She can be contacted at opinion@reflector.
The day we have all been waiting for has finally arrived: Election Day. I think it is safe to say that this year’s presidential election has consumed our thoughts and worries as much as it has consumed social media and the national news. This is a day when many college students will vote for the first time. A day when citizens can voice their opinion on a national political stage. A day many of us think of as the final nail in the coffin of an extremely memorable 2016 election season. A day which, to many people’s surprise, will determine a host of legislation and political offices that extend far beyond the White House. Unfortunately, it is far too common for individuals to show up to vote on election day completely unaware of additional offices or referendums on the line. I have seen many students on campus struggle over which presidential candidate to support, but hardly ever do I hear discussion concerning individuals running for the open House of Representative seats or Supreme Court Justice vacancies in Mississippi.
Although the office of the president is a position that should not be chosen lightly and will have serious implications on society in the coming years, I would argue that the implications of local and state elections are just as impactful on the daily lives of citizens, if not more so. So if I can catch you before you cast your ballot, I urge you to take a moment to inform yourself on the various offices that will lie below the presidential candidate options on the ballot today. All four seats in the U.S. House of Representatives
justices to fulfill an eight year term on the bench. Even though Mississippi judicial elections are nonpartisan, according to Mississippi Today, the Central district has experienced a highly politicized campaign between the two Supreme Court candidates. Many of these candidates represent different stances on how the law should be interpreted. So not only should you be concerned about appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court, you should carefully consider who you want interpreting law at the state level for the next eight years.
“Being an informed voter requires more
consideration than just pondering which presidential candidate to support every four years.”
are up for re-election. Depending on what party will gain the majority of seats in the House this year could have lingering implications on the policies supported by the president elect. Ensuring your opinion is voiced regarding the direction of our nation demands not only consideration of presidential qualifications and policy standpoints, but a review of your state’s congressmen as well. Also on the ballot in Mississippi are four State Supreme Court seats up for election. Although one spot is uncontested, these districts will have the opportunity to elect four
Many states are not only electing officials today, but voting on referendums concerning a range of issues. According to National Public Radio four states will vote on whether marijuana will be permitted for medical treatment in the state and another five states will decide if it can be used recreationally. Four states will vote on the issue of minimum wage with NPR pointing out that two of these will also be deciding whether to require employers to provide paid sick leave. California is voting on whether to reform their current death penalty rules to speed up the process or
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get rid of it altogether. Two other states are also determining whether to reinstate or reform their death penalty sanctions. Even if you do not live in a state where these issues are being decided, it is important to watch the results because they could set a precedent for surrounding states. Being an informed voter requires more consideration than just pondering which presidential candidate to support every four years. State officials and referendums can directly impact the daily lives of individuals within the state and community. Not only is it important to vote in this election, but it is crucial to continue to exercise your right to vote in both upcoming local and mid-term elections. FairVote.org places the average voter turnout rate at 60 percent among the eligible voting-aged population. However, this number drops significantly during midterm elections. In 2014, Mississippi was ranked second to last in voter turnout with only 28.9 percent of the eligible population voting. I urge you, even though this election season may have you eager to leave political discussions far behind, do not take for granted your right to vote in elections other than just the presidential race. The implications of those elected in other offices are far reaching and a 28.9 percent voter turnout simply does not accurately depict the majority’s stances on important issues.
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! U.S. House of Representatives Third Congressional District Joel L. Gill, Democrat Gregg Harper, Republican Tracella L.O. Hill, Reform
Chancery Court Judge 14th Chancery District Place 1 Kenneth M. Burns Place 3 Dorothy W. Colom
Circuit Court Judge 16th Circuit District Place 1 James T. “Jim” Kitchens William Starks Place 2 Lee J. Howard Place 3 Lee S. Coleman Bob Marshall Nebra Porter Jenn McFadden, The Reflector
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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2016
‘Salvaged Splendor’ gives old objects new chance at life by Alexandra Hendon Staff Writer
A walk through Mississippi State University’s Visual Arts Center Gallery provides an overwhelming sense of simplicity, with whitewashed walls and meditative music but the artwork tells a different story. Portraits line the walls in earthy colors, the warm greens and deep browns depict a woman sitting on a porch, her skin etched to match that of a worn tree trunk, a man with a cane looks out from a rural Mississippi setting, their lives seem wistful in today’s fast-paced world. The paintings are dated back from the 1970s and a realization can be made— the lives of those depicted in the artwork are being relived in a new way, each time someone looks at the piece, even 40 years later. In an era where waste runs rampant and reuse seems inconvenient, three organizations in Starkville are coming together to help give old objects a new chance at life. The Mississippi State University Center for
Student activities and sitting, dust-laden, in the MSU Department the back of a storage of Art are pairing up shed, or under a bed, with Starkville Habitat while giving back to for Humanity to host Habitat for Humanity the second annual, in a new facet. ‘Salvaged Splendor.’ Lori Neuenfeldt, Salvaged Splendor is gallery director for an exhibition created MSU’s Department of to help the residents of Art galleries, discussed Starkville and students the idea of a second at MSU come together birth for items that have as one and give back to witnessed so much of the community. history. The event includes “To see the changes using old materials in time, especially if that participants have it’s coming from a at home or picking up building in Starkville, useable material the what a witness to Starkville Habitat for things it could have Humanity Resale store seen,” Neuenfeldt said will provide and turning speaking of the objects. them into works of art. “You imagine this The artwork created object being part of a will be transformed into home that could be 60 an exhibit and displayed old and placing it during in the Colvard Student a pivotal moment of Union Art Gallery in Mississippi history, February. it gets discarded but A silent auction then someone picks it will take place for the up and turns it into a created works and all painting of something funds raised will be beautiful.” donated to the Habitat Neuenfeldt said for Humanity Maroon she believes the event Edition House. Lori Nuenfeldt| Courtesy Photo will be a good way to MSU, which has A piece of artwork submitted last year was exhibited in the unionʼs art gallery. bridge the Starkville a long-standing community and the relationship with students at MSU Starkville family. Student provides a way for those Habitat for Humanity, is and faculty volunteers who cannot participate while giving people an in the process of building build the home from the in the physical building inventive outlet. its eighth Maroon Edition ground up in roughly a of the home to create a Brad Hill, the assistant House, which provides four-month period. new life and purpose for director for the Center for a home for a local ‘Salvaged Splendor’ objects that have been Student Activity at MSU
said they are trying to get many people engaged in the event in hopes of garnering support for Habitat for Humanity and for art in general. “Art can be made out of anything,” Hill said. “It goes with that old saying ‘One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.’” Those interested in receiving material for the event through the Starkville area Habitat for Humanity can pick items up from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. on Nov. 8 in the Dawg House located in the Colvard Student Union on MSU’s campus The deadline for entry is Dec. 2 and forms can be sent by mail to PO Box 5368, Mississipp State, Mississippi 39762 or to Brad Hill at bhill@ saffairs.msstate.edu. Neuenfeldt said she wants everyone to fee they can participate; al that is needed are old items lying around the house. “This is the day to finally look at that item you’ve been hoarding for a while and say ‘Okay, I can turn this into a work of art that will actually have a really good life to it,’” Neuenfeldt said “because it gives back to Habitat for Humanity.”
A day from Hell: Black Friday exposes the dark side of retail by Shelby Poindexter Staff Writer
It is one of the busiest days of the year for department stores. People rush out to buy items for low prices and get a head start on their Christmas shopping; they wait in long lines and department stores become a zoo. Sometimes it brings out the worst in people. Sometimes it is simply a rush of excitement. It is Black Friday. The Friday after Thanksgiving, otherwise known as Black Friday, is the day of mayhem for most department stores. Many stores open at the crack of dawn for dedicated shoppers who want to find great deals or gifts for their friends and family. Some stores, such as Walmart, begin Thanksgiving night with deals on movies, video games, electronics, children’s toys, clothes, linens and more. Crowds seem to be more physical when it comes to grabbing the best deals on movies, video games and electronics. Black Friday shopping can become dangerous. While reaching for different items, things begin to be thrown
around–people can even get hurt. Nikki Cummins, junior criminology major, said she has experienced the pressure of trying to grab a popular item in a sea of people. “One year, a girl pushed me and my best friend out of the way when the Bluray players went on sale at a certain time,” Cummins said. “She pushed through us two minutes before she was supposed to and took one.” Wanda Hunt, former Walmart employee, said people use to line up outside the building waiting for the doors to open. “This was before we were open all night,” Hunt said. “Once you unlocked the door, you immediately moved out of the way.” Hunt recalled moments when people would go to the extreme to get the items they wanted. “Popular items that were in high demand were kept in the back and locked up,” Hunt said. “People would have to ask for these particular items, and someone from management would have to go and get them one. We had to do this because people would steal items out of other people’s buggies. Some would even get in fist fights over high-ticket items.”
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Department stores also participate in the Black Friday craze. Some of them include Belk, Kohls, Sears, JC Penney, and more. Most of these stores advertise early-bird sales and people wait in line for hours to be let into the store to rush and grab the best deals. Some people even camp out overnight to make sure that they are the first in line. But there is something not everyone remembers when it comes to Black Friday shopping; most stores do begin their sales in the earliest hours of the morning, but those sales usually last all day, or until
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all items are sold. The secret to Black Friday is to remember that in some cases it is important to get to stores right when the sales start, especially if it is known that the items on sale are in high demand. However, if it is items that not everyone is rushing out to buy, they will probably still be there no matter what time of the day it is. This year, Black Friday is on Nov. 25. For those who are interested in shopping ads can be found online with the items that will be on sale, what time they go on sale, and what stores are participating.
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SPORTS
THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2016
Cannizaro introduced as baseball coach by Dalton Middleton Sports Editor
Mississippi State baseball is under new reign after John Cohen was named director of athletics last week. Following Cohen’s promotion, Andy Cannizaro was hired to lead the defending SEC regular season champions with a four-year $533,333 contract. He is the 17th head baseball coach for MSU. Cannizaro is a former major league baseball player and has been a stellar college coach in his career. He said he was humbled about being able to coach at Mississippi State. “First and foremost, I just want to talk about how honored and how privileged I am to become the new head baseball coach at Mississippi State,” Cannizaro said. “We are talking about one of the most prideful and one of the most tradition based baseball programs in all of America.”
Prior to coaching, Cannizaro was a 4-year starter at Tulane (1998-2001) and had his best year in 2001 where he hit .395 with 118 hits and 52 stolen bases. He led the Green Wave to the first College World Series in school history. Getting drafted in the seventh round to the New York Yankees in 2001, he played in the organization for seven years and reached the major league for a quick two-month stint. He retired from the game in 2009. After retiring, he served as a scout for the Yankees from 2009-2014. Moving back to the collegiate level, he served as the hitting and recruiting coach at LSU and excelled. In 2015, LSU ranked No. 1 in hits in the nation and was in the top of the SEC last season. Not only a great hitting coach, he led the LSU Tigers to 225 stolen bases in his two years there, highest in the SEC. Former coach and now athletic director Cohen could not be more pleased with his
choice in head baseball coach, and is excited for the future of MSU baseball. “We are thrilled to welcome Andy to the Mississippi State baseball family,” Cohen said. “When you look at all of the characteristics we need in a baseball coach at Mississippi State, Andy is the perfect fit.
in his career. “We are all excited,” Mangum said. “The first meeting the other night was just really exciting. All the guys were ready to go. He just asked us really simply that if you play hard enough and give me all your effort, we are going to get along great and everyone will
“We are going to be in Omaha, we are going to be dogpiling on the mound and we are going to win a national championship.” - Andy Cannizaro
He has an outstanding resume as a recruiter and scout in evaluating and developing talent.” After a year when MSU crushed the ball game after game, Cannizaro looks to build on that as a whole. SEC Freshman of the year and SEC batting crown Jake Mangum said he is extremely pleased and excited to work with Cannizaro moving forward
love each other.” Mangum went on to talk about how well the team was adjusting from Cohen to Cannizaro and stated that the team really bought into what Cannizaro brought to the team and to the first practice. “We are all really excited about the change,” Mangum said. “Coach Cohen was a spectacular coach. He will be
in charge of all the athletics now and he is going to do a great job. Coach Andy is just a perfect fit for us and I really mean that. He is going to do a special, special, special job here.” Brent Rooker, who led the team in home runs last year and is a returning draftee, is excited for Cannizaro to be here, not only for his coaching ability but also his past work as a MLB scout and player. “It is awesome, it is a really exciting opportunity for all of us,” Rooker said. “I had the opportunity to get drafted last year, I came back. I’m excited for the opportunity to work with him, who has played in the big leagues, which is my ultimate goal as a baseball player. He has been on the scouting side, so he knows what guys are looking for and he knows how to approach his meetings. I think it will be really beneficial to both me and the rest of the players.” Cannizaro expressed his praise for the 2016 SEC
championship team, and told the players how fun they were and that they are going to build on that and be better than they were. “I just want you guys to know that competing against you guys last year in the SEC was a lot of fun because you guys played hard,” Cannizaro said. “There was an intensity, there was a serious swagger with you guys every single day and I am so fired up to be a part of what you guys have built here. We are going to do it and do it big. There is a really big scoreboard, massive scoreboard going up in right field. I told our guys everytime we turn that scoreboard on we are going to light it up.” Cannizaro then made a statement and a promise to fans that led to a huge round of applause from the bulldog faithful. “We are going to be in Omaha, we are going to be dogpiling on the mound and we are going to win a national championship,” Cannizaro said to the fans.
Bulldogs gain experience in exhibition games by Dimerious Townsend and Amber Dodd Staff Writers
The Mississippi State basketball teams held their exhibition games last week in the Humphrey Coliseum as the men’s team won 78-63 and the women’s team won 88-62. The men’s win was a dominating victory over Delta State with three players scoring in double digits and one player with a double-double. MSU has one of the youngest teams in the nation, let alone in the SEC. This was a time for many fans to come out and see how the Bulldogs are looking this season. With players like Quinndary Weatherspoon bringing a lot of hype to the team, the team did not disappoint their fans on exhibition night. Both Aric Holman and Mario Kegler had a tremendous game, scoring 33 points between the two of them. Kegler led the team with 18 points and fi nished the game with eight rebounds. Kegler stated after the game that he was just excited and having fun on the court. Ben Howland was very pleased with Kegler and was excited for how he will perform in the regular season. “Mario is a ‘match-up nightmare,” Howland said. “The reason for that is because he is a small
forward playing the power forward position.” Kegler helped the Bulldogs stretch out their court hitting 4-9 three pointers in the game. Aric Holman, after being sidelined due to injuries last season, came back strong with a double-double in points and rebounds. He fi nished the night with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and looked incredible with his four blocks. After the game he talked about his health and coming back this season. “I felt like I had my legs back under me,” Holman said. I.J. Ready played minimum minutes while still having symptoms of mono. The Bulldogs have their fi rst regular season game next week in Starkville vs Norfolk State on SEC Network at 7 p.m. This will be a highly anticipated season for the Bulldogs as this is Ben Howland’s second year as head coach and has already had success in recruiting this past season. For the women’s game, Mississippi State stayed in control of the game on both sides, as freshmen got their fi rst Bulldog experience. Senior Chinwe Okorie steered the ship, showing her veteran status. Okorie was responsible for the Bulldog’s fi rst points as fellow veteran Victoria Vivians had trouble shifting into game mode. Okorie totaled for 17 points, the most points scored during
the game. Defensive star Teaira McCowan fi nished with 15 rebounds. The Bulldogs seemed to frequently lose their rhythm on offensive strides. Redshirt junior Roshunda Johnson and redshirt freshman Zion Campbell both completed their fi rst games as Bulldogs. Johnson hit the ground running, opening up with two 3-pointers. Campbell was shaky in her start as she had big defensive shoes to fi ll. She fi nished with two points from her lone layup and three offensive rebounds. Throughout the game, Arkansas-Fort Smith would momentarily shift the momentum in the game. Lady Lion Sydney Franklin stepped up on offense, leading the team with 16 points and five offensive rebounds. She continuously showed her grit before sustaining a chin injury on defense. “We came in with the idea that we had nothing to lose,” Franklin said. “We came out knowing we would give it our all.” It was to no surprise that the Lions were a quality team, as they were led by former Mississippi State assistant coach Elena Lovato. This is her fi rst season as a women’s basketball head coach. Coach Ben Howland was impressed with how Lovato has handled her team already. “I think they played extremely well and they were not intimidated,”
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Freshman Tyson Carter goes up for a rebound against Delta State. Both men and womenʼs basketball won their exhibition games.
coach Schaefer said. “I thought they came in here and bothered us on defensive stand points. I’m happy for them and I think they’ll have a good year.” Schaefer was not pleased with the Bulldogs performance in the exhibition game. “Just looking at the tape and the stats, there’s way too many 0-3, 2-10, 1-5’s in our shooting,” Schaefer said. “We didn’t shoot well.” Overall, they fi nished
46 percent shooting, scoring only 53 of their 113 attempts. Usual go-to guard Vivians arrived flat in the game but warmed up in the second half, fi nishing with 10 points. Fellow shooting guard and junior Morgan William fi nished the game with 15 points, just two shy of Okorie. “I think we could’ve had a lot more of Morgan and in the second half we got her moving a bit more,” Coach Schaefer said.
William shared the disappointment Schaefer had about the game. “Like Coach said, we have to be ready,” William said. “It’s a privilege to come out and play a game, so when we step on the court, we have to be ready to play. We have to attack.” The women’s basketball team will begin their season on Friday, Nov. 11 in the Maine Tipoff Tournament against Villanova. They return home on Nov. 20 to face the Texas Longhorns.