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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2019
135th YEAR ISSUE 17
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
Challenger astronaut challenges students City debates Airbnb regulations BAYLEE HILL
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Starkville citizens are in the midst of a discussion about regulating Airbnbs and other short-term rentals in the Starkville area. Citizens voiced strong opinions on both sides of the issue at public input sessions, the most recent of which occurred on Oct. 22. Lynn Spruill, the mayor of Starkville, said shortterm rental regulations were proposed because of complaints about shortterm rentals in residential neighborhoods. The regulations would go into effect around December. Two public input sessions
took place regarding this issue and several more will occur before a final decision is made. According to Spruill, the regulation is a compromise. It states that a person cannot own more than two shortterm rentals, but they can rent the property out for as many days as they want. Additionally, Spruill said short-term rental owners must register and get a $25 permit in order to rent out their properties. The people who live in the surrounding areas must be notified when a property is being rented out. There will also be a 1% sales tax on short-term rentals that goes toward the city of Starkville. AIRBNB, 2 Rosalind Hutton
Hemant Ganti | The Reflector
Astronaut Frederick D. Gregory spoke Tuesday in the Honors College at a ceremony honoring MSUʼs 2019 Astronaut Scholars, Mary Catherine Beard and Jacob Easley. PAYTON BROWN STAFF WRITER
Mississippi State University’s Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College held an out-of-this-world presentation Tuesday in Griffis Hall honoring two Astronaut Scholarship recipients and featuring
astronaut Fred Gregory as the keynote speaker. Gregory, born in Washington D.C., has piloted three space-shuttle missions (Challenger, Discovery and Atlantis) during his NASA career while also serving as NASA’s Deputy Administrator between 2002 and 2005. “You get a sense of your
age when you fly something brand-new and it is now in a museum,” Gregory said. Within his discourse, Gregory discussed his longlived career in aerodynamics and offered insight into the life of engineering and school for many participating students. “What I’m going to do is tell you how I got here
today, and I’m going to tell it to you in the sense that everything I have done up to this point has been like a journey or a vacation ... you think you know what you’re going to know what the outcome will be, but as you will find out, many things you thought were the truth are not the truth at all,” Gregory said. ASTRONAUT, 2
Community Trick or Trots for T.K. Martin Center Fun Run go towards Project Impact, the Center’s preschool program that focuses on early-intervention education and development of children with special needs.
best served at their school district or because of their medical complexities need a really small location, and Mississippi State we have specialized training University’s T.K. Martin where they meet with special Center for education Technology & teachers and Disability is hosting we also provide their annual Fun T.K. Martin has changed occupational, Run at 6 p.m. Friday. physical and This year’s theme our lives because the dreams and speech therapy is “Trick or Trot” within those and participants the hopes and the aspirations c l a s s r o o m s are encouraged I had for (my child)–they’re too,” StrattonGadke said. to embrace the Last year, Halloween spirit by making them a reality. the Fun Run coming in costume. T.K. Martin Laura Watley raised $25,000, Center Director T.K. Martin Center Parent and StrattonGadke said she Kasee StrattonGadke said the Fun Run is the “We have about 45 is hopeful the center will Center’s largest fundraiser. students in that program meet this year’s RUN, 2 Proceeds from the run will who are not otherwise goal of $30,000. HANNAH BLANKENSHIP NEWS EDITOR
“
Carter Griffin| The Reflector
Victo Ngai, a Los-Angeles-based artist who grew up in Hong Kong, spoke Monday to students about overcoming obstacles in an art career.
Artist for New York Times, Pixar inspires Art Department students TORI BOATNER STAFF WRITER
Award-winning artist Victo Ngai shared her personal art journey with students, faculty and guests at Monday evening’s “Artist Talk” sponsored by Mississippi State University’s Department of Art. During the lecture, Ngai showcased work she has done for brands like
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Apple, American Express and The New Yorker. Her lecture began with details from her childhood in Hong Kong. As she described her childhood, she shared early drawings from her childhood and shared how they correlated with her environment and her experiences. Ngai described her immigration from China to Hong Kong, due to British colonization in this era. She said growing up in
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Rosalind Hutton
an unfamiliar place as the only child brought about a great deal of loneliness. As a child, drawing became a way for Ngai to create a community and wish upon imaginary ideas. “I was able to wish for anything in the world in my illustrations,” Ngai said. As she grew older, Ngai realized she needed to consider what she would do for the rest of her life. ARTIST, 2 FORECAST: Much cooler air will move in after the cold front, calling for a chilly Maroon Friday and weekend. Highs for the next couple days will be in the 50s with lows in the 30s. Friday through the weekend will have lots of sunshine throughout the day and clear conditions at night.
Courtesy of Peyton Garrison, Campus Connect Meteorologist
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Policy: Any person may pick up a single copy of The Opinion 4 Reflector for free. Additional Life&Entertainment 5 copies may be obtained Sports 6 from the Henry Meyer Student Media Center for 25 cents per copy.
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ASTRONAUT
Gregory told the audience of his life struggles and the qualities within himself it took to acquire the positions that he has held over his lifetime. He spoke of both the confidence and dedication required to reach one’s goals. “I was still fascinated with airplanes, and I saw this Air Force demonstration team known as the Thunderbirds. They were fast and they flew close together and they maneuvered, and they were loud. I loved it. All I did was walk up to one of these pilots and I asked, ‘How can I be a Thunderbird?’ and
he thought for a moment and told me of a university in Pikes Peak, Colorado. So from there on, I set my sight on going to this school,” Gregory said. Many students attended the event in hopes of obtaining advice that will help them reach the rank Gregory has achieved. Gray Anding, an aerospace engineering major and MSU freshman, explained the wide range of opportunities provided within this session for engineering majors and the privilege MSU students have when given the option to
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listen to such accomplished individuals. “There are wonderful scholarship opportunities for people in the burgeoning field of aerospace engineering and seeing how someone with a career in aerospace graduated from flying planes and being involved in that, to doing very important missions on the cutting edge of science is a very big breakthrough moment,” Anding said. The Honors College event also took time to applaud two winners from MSU of the prestigious Astronaut Scholarship,
Jacob Easley and Mary Catherine Beard. Gregory was invited to recognize these scholars and commend their accomplishments. Easley, a mechanical engineering major and senior at MSU, explained the importance and his appreciation behind being a scholar for the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF). “Going to D.C. was a great opportunity and especially meeting with our donors who are very supportive of us and want to help us succeed in our future. Being in the presence of
these great national heroes is a great feeling, and I know it’s a limited experience which I’m excited to have to be able to help the world,” Easley said. He also spoke of the many relationships and bonds he made with other recipients of the Astronaut Scholarship and why it was important to come into contact with them. “The Astronaut Scholarship is great with connecting us to similar students which want to change the world and have ideas. Being able to meet with them and hear these
ideas to collaborate while also creating life-long friendships that we all love is rewarding,” Easley said. Mary Catherine Beard, a biomedical engineering major and senior at MSU, also described her appreciation for both the Honors College and the ASF. “I would like to thank the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation and everyone involved who helped fund me and the next generation of recipients or scientists and allow us to become a part in this really special program,” Beard said.
RUN
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The run is sponsored by various businesses and organizations in the community, with Cadence Bank being one of this year’s largest sponsors. “Cadence bank is our primary sponsor this year and they’ve really helped us out in more ways than one in making sure this event can happen and have been a top contributor to that $30,000 goal,” Stratton-Gadke said. Along the course of the Fun Run, which will begin in front of the T.K. Martin Center, various organizations and groups will set up at cheer stations to encourage the children and families as they pass. One of these organizations, the T.K.
Martin Ambassadors, an MSU student group dedicated to raising awareness and support for the T.K. Martin Center, will man a cheer station. Molly Guillory, a senior psychology major and the president of the T.K. Martin Ambassadors, described the role of volunteers in the run. “We have sections blocked off for each organization to just cheer on the kids and the families as they do the run, and so it’s really cool. The kids all wear name tags so you can call out their name and just encourage them and it means a lot to them and they get really excited—so just kind of be there and cheer them
on as they do this because it’s not something that’s easy for a lot of them,” Guillory said. Laura Watley, a parent of a child that attends the T.K. Martin Center and one of the principal organizers of the Fun Run, said the event’s emphasis is less on athleticism and more on socializing and having a great time with family and friends. “I always say that it’s a fun run and the fun part about it is that you don’t really run,” Watley said. Stratton-Gadke said Project Impact can help children achieve what was never thought possible and funding received from the Fun Run helps make these
services possible. “In speaking on this program, we have parents who knock on our door every year hoping their child can get into a program like this and begging us to never let them leave because they’re so thrilled with what the services are,” StrattonGadke said. Watley said, while her family moved to Starkville so her daughter could attend the T.K Martin Center, they had no idea the impact the Center would have on their child. “T.K. Martin has changed our lives because the dreams and the hopes and the aspirations I had for (my child)–they’re making them a reality. Having a child
with special needs, that is the greatest gift that anyone could give our family,” Watley said. Stratton-Gadke said early-intervention is very important in a child’s development, and there is nothing more rewarding than seeing those who used to be in the program achieve the long-term goals toward which they were striving. “Our mission is to make sure that individuals are able to participate in their academic, employment life, social life in general to the fullest extent that they want to. That’s our mission in a nutshell, and so being able to provide early intervention services that set you on the path for success is super
important to us,” StrattonGadke said. In addition to the T.K. Martin Ambassadors, student groups such as athletic teams, METP and the Day One Leadership Community will volunteer at the run. The event will feature Bully, the Chick-fil-A cow, Jimmy John’s, popcorn and face-painting. Stratton-Gadke said the Fun Run would not be possible without all the support from the university and the community. “We’re just so appreciative to everybody who’s involved in making this be such a fun event but also one that has really significant impact,” StrattonGadke said.
ARTIST
CONTINUED FROM 1
Then, drawing was only a hobby, and she knew drawing and illustrating would not be a pleasing career in the Asian culture. “Art was a trainwrecking future, according to the Asian culture,” Ngai said. As a result, Ngai said she moved to the U.S. to begin her college and professional career. As she began to develop her skills at Yale University and beyond, Ngai said she learned to pursue her passion. She encouraged young
artists in the audience to do the same. “Make sure you still love it in 10-20 years,” Ngai said. Ngai also described her concepts of illustrations and how she arranges them throughout the illustration process. Her expertise and professional experience were met with applause from the audience. While at MSU, Ngai will also critique various works by fine arts and graphic design students in the Art Department. Ronni Brashear, a senior art major, said she
appreciated Ngai’s advice on brand-building and
sometimes and many feel as if they cannot make a
“
Having a contemporary, emerging artist who is well established come speak is definitely reassuring and inspiring.” Ronni Brashear Senior Art Major
perseverance. Brashear said the idea of a “starving artist” can be discouraging
decent living from creating. Brashear said all of these ideas were debunked by
Ngai’s lecture and she is now hopeful for the future. “Having a contemporary, emerging artist who is well established come speak is definitely reassuring and inspiring,” Brashear said. Ming Hong, a member of the Art Department’s exhibition committee, said Ngai’s presence was a highlight sought out by committee members. As a professor of foundations in designs in the Art Department, Hong said Ngai’s critiques and lecture grant the students exposure to influential artists. Hong
said these criticisms will allow students to receive a new perspective on their work. “Ngai’s advice will reiterate what the instructor says about the work and will offer students new ways of thinking and working,” Hong said. Hong said Ngai’s lecture and critiques are sure to enhance learning opportunities for students in the Art Department. “We really think she’s a fantastic role model for students the Art Department,” Ngai said.
AIRBNB
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“We are trying to figure out what compromise works the best for everyone involved,” Spruill said. Those in support of the regulations state current Airbnbs do not belong in a residential neighborhood and need to follow a certain procedure. Bert Montgomery, a Starkville
resident who is in support of the regulations, said short-term rentals are businesses and should follow the same procedure as other businesses. According to Montgomery, people are concerned about protecting the residential zoning of a neighborhood. He said if a
AN 80,000 WORD THESIS WOULD TAKE
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person wants to open up a business, they should be rezoned since outside clients and traffic will come into the area. “When we bought a house, we expected to be living next to people who bought a house to live there,” Montgomery said. “I have lived in apartments and a rental house. When you buy a house for your family in a residential neighborhood, there is a different expectation about the kind of neighbors you will have and noise you will have.” Montgomery said people are concerned because houses are being rented out to college students and different
people are coming and going every semester. Houses are typically not taken care of because students only live there for a short amount of time. Montgomery said people noticed the walkways are blocked and a large amount of traffic comes into the neighborhood from renters. He said he knows of people who complain of the noise and renter’s lack of concern for the area. Those in opposition say the regulations will hinder Starkville’s development and the types of people that use Airbnbs. Dorothy Watson, a Starkville real estate agent who owns both long-term and short-
term rentals, said Airbnbs impact Starkville in a positive way. A variety of people use short-term rentals such as families with infants, alumni, families moving in between homes, those who need quiet environments and many other people. Watson said these regulations target shortterm rental owners because long-term rental owners would not have to go through the same procedure. According to Watson, people think these houses are not taken care of, but they are actually held to a higher standard. Shortterm renters may not care for rental houses, but rental owners do because they have to be in good condition for them to be rented out. Watson said when visitors stay in Airbnbs for football games or
campus visits, they get to experience a different part of Starkville that is unique from a hotel. They are in the middle of beautiful areas of town, and this allows them to have a positive impression of the city and want to come back. “The regulations will affect the tourism in Starkville, the businesses that benefit from tourism such as taxis, Uber, restaurants and retail stores. It affects the homeowners that make ends meet by renting their homes,” Watson said. “We are a tourism-based town, so it will also affect Mississippi State and ticket purchases.” This discussion is ongoing, and people can still voice their stance. Spruill said speaking at public hearings and writing emails and letters are opportunities for Starkville residents to make their opinion heard.
GRADUATE STUDENT COMPETITION
Preliminary Rounds
Final Round Grand Champion Competition
November 14, 2019 Fowlkes Auditorium The Union Session one - 9:00 am - noon Session two - 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm
November 15, 2019 Fowlkes Auditorium The Union 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Awards will be presented to: MS/EdS and Doctoral categories for each of the following:
Winners will be provided cash prizes including:
· Arts and Humanities · Life and Biomedical Sciences and Engineering · Physics, Mathematics, Computations Sciences and Engineering · Social and Behavioral Sciences
· Grand Champion: $1,000 · Grand Champion Runner Up: $750 · People’s Choice Award: $750 · Each of the Eight Category Winners : $250
Sponsored by the Office of the Graduate School and the Office of Research and Economic Development For more details and registration information contact: http://www.grad.msstate.edu/ The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is an academic competition developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia for research students.
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Reflector 11/1/19 Sudoku
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2019 @REFLECTORONLINE
BULLETIN BOARD
An In-Class Distraction
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13 14 15 12 1 Automobile sticker fig. 17 18 16 4 Farm area 21 22 19 20 7 Cattle members 12 “___ on my bed 25 26 24 my limbs I lay”: Coleridge 28 29 30 13 Flying formations 37 38 34 35 36 15 Gully 16 Slip into 40 41 39 17 “What ___ can I say?” 45 43 44 18 1996 Gibson, 48 49 47 Russo thriller 19 Sign up 50 51 52 21 Peacock network 23 Compass pt. 59 60 56 57 58 24 Ten-percenter 64 65 61 62 63 25 Rubicon crosser 28 Official emissary 67 68 30 Dapper 34 Grayish 71 70 37 Bio bit Copyright ©2019 PuzzleJunction.com 38 Extent 39 ___ few rounds 67 Gladiatorial sites 10 City on the Rhone 40 Wing it? 68 Kind of analysis 11 A portion 41 Drops on blades 69 Abbr. in car ads 14 Legislative body 42 Danger to divers 70 Astronaut John 15 Pendulum paths 43 Covers 71 D.D.E.’s 20 Kind of child 45 Neighbor of Ger. command 22 Wax producer 46 Rope fiber 72 Cambodian coin 25 Shrewd 47 Summer TV 26 From scratch offering 27 Sleazy paper Down 48 Spookily 29 Misses 50 Lean 31 Arborist’s 1 Princess of 52 Vacuous concern Colchis 56 Bishop’s 32 Abound 2 Projecting part jurisdiction 33 Puppy’s cry 3 Category 59 Furrow 34 Gelatin substitute 4 Sylphlike 60 Organic fertilizer 35 Seafood selection 5 Show’s partner 61 Yellowstone sight 36 It’ll grow on you 6 Cry of success 64 Clothes presser 38 Pastrami 7 Lingerie item 66 Extinct flightless purveyor 8 Ashes holder bird 40 Informer 9 Shake off
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Publicize your club! Email managing@reflector.msstate.edu
October 29 Puzzle Solutions
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Small boat Clear the tables ___ ulcer Song of praise Down Under bird Simple shelter Camera diaphragm Cougars Figure of speech Pine for Ill-gotten gains Viscount’s superior Fencing sword Lion’s share Roadhouse Crayola color Fish eggs
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BAD DAWGS Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Sudoku Solution Student arrested in F17 parking lot for suspended driver’s license, expired tag, no insurance, false ID and disorderly conduct. Friday, October 4 7 25,62019 5
8 3 9 1 2 Student arrested possession and 5 3of marijuana 8 1 9in Creswell 2 6Hall7for 4 possession of controlled substance. 8 5 3 1 2 9 6 7 4 Student issued a Justice Court citation and referral for improper 6 9 citation 8 1 for5possession 4 2 of 7 3 post-arrest equipment and marijuana on Blackjack Road. 2 1 8 4 6 7 3 9 5 Saturday, 5 October 4 726, 320199 2 1 8 6 Officer responded 4 9 Hall 3 for8a welfare 7 5check. 1 No 6 2 to Sessums medical assistance needed. 9 8 5 7 4 1 2 6 3 Officer found a hat on the ground under Davis Wade Stadium. 7 3 1 2 5 6 8 4 9 Officer reported getting stuck in a ditch in vehicle No. 9 while making a U-turn on Morrill Road. Sunday, October 27, 2019 Student was transported to OCH from Dogwood Hall for medical assistance. Referral issued for public drunkenness. Student arrested on Bully Boulevard for disregarding traffic device, DUI, no insurance and possession of fake ID. Justice Court citation and referral issued. Monday, October 28, 2019 Student transported to OCH from Hathorn Hall for medical assistance. Tuesday, October 29, 2019 Student reported her windshield was shattered while parked in the B1 parking lot. Wednesday, October 30, 2019 Officer assisted SPD on a warrant on a Facilities Management employee that was involved in a traffic incident in the C4 parking lot. Subject was issued a Justice Court Citation for driving with a suspended license. Student reported losing his keys at an unknown location on campus.
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2019 @REFLECTORONLINE
OPINION
When cocaine gum was legal: Social media is the modern drug
DYLAN BUFKIN
is a junior majoring in English. Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
As a point of disclosure, I did not have any social media beyond Snapchat until I joined The Reflector staff, where I got a Twitter and Facebook in 2018. My parents never let me set up social media accounts in middle school, and they heavily pressured me to still abstain from it in high school, once they trusted me to decide for myself. I did continue to abstain from it, but it was always more from laziness and as a source of some strange pride from being able to say I did not have an online presence. With a little over a year past from my venture into social media, I understand why my parents were so adamant about preventing me from joining my peers online. Now, I do not want this to come off as some oldsoul, “get off my lawn” complaining from some guy who thinks kids do not understand the concept of a book anymore, but rather, I want this to come off as a serious examination of what social media does to us and to the generations that will
follow us. Plain and simple, I think social media is a mostly negative innovation of the digital age that has led to psychological and societal damage, and the unfortunate part is, there is no easy fix to the problem. First and foremost, social media harms mental health by constructing bars by which to compare one’s self to. As reported by Kayleigh Lewis of The Independent, a study by the Pitt’s Centre for Research on Media, Technology and Health found young adults, ages 19 to 32, who used social media most frequently were also 2.7 times more likely to experience depression. The head of the project Dr. Brian Primack warns, being a cross-sectional study, the results could point to either social media causing depression or depressed people using more social media, but ultimately, the point still stands. Social media allows us to view curated versions of other people’s lives, and sometimes our brains cannot separate façade from fact. These self-image issues are incredibly harmful to teenagers, even more so than to young adults. According to Leah Shafer with the Harvard Graduate School of Education, one study found 48% of teens who spend five hours a day or more on an electronic device have at least one suicide risk factor, as well as 33% of teens who spend
two hours or more a day. As clinical psychologist Lindsey Giller puts it, teens are “getting actual data on how much people like them and their appearance,” based off likes and follows. Social media literally systematizes your existence and plainly tells you how much interest people have in you. One might ask what is wrong with their picture or tweet when they see others getting mounds of positive feedback, yet they are left adrift in a void of people only seeing and not interacting, with no answer as to why. Speaking of systematized, let us talk about news on social media. As I am sure you have heard, 64.5% of the 2.4 billion social media users worldwide receive their breaking news from social media, as reported by Nicole Martin of Forbes. The unfortunate reality about social media’s personalization is one’s news becomes personalized, as well. If you do not want to hear about conflicting opinions, you can decide to only follow people or news sites that agree with you, creating a selfinflating bubble of tailored information which colors your reality. These “news” sources gain success by feeding people’s desire to feel in the know, to feel like they understand the world better than everyone else, and when you only know the facts which confirm
Rosalind Hutton
your position, the feeling of understanding the world seems certain, despite claims by others to the contrary. These phenomenon leads to concentrated, insulated groups of people who believe they are undeniably correct, whether or not they are, and our news consumption becomes a Swiss cheese of missing facts with many never wanting or trying to seek the whole picture. Hence, we see radicalized political groups unwilling to discuss points with the other side, and we are left with two galvanized ends of the political spectrum, talking past each other in a vacuum of self-affirming information. To bring this altogether, let us talk about cocaine. Cocaine was seen a miracle drug when it was first popularized, so
much so that it was in the original recipe for Coca-Cola. There was cocaine gum, cocaine wine, intravenous cocaine and old-fashioned powdered cocaine, but if you look around today, these things either do not exist or are simply illegal. Why is that? It is because we recognized cocaine was, outside of some infrequent medical uses, extremely harmful. Social media is the cocaine gum of our day, and the analogy is more apt than you think. According to Simon Parkin with The Guardian, founding President of Facebook Sean Parker admitted that facebook exploited a “vulnerability in human psychology,” and Silicon Valley has not been shy in trying to use dopamine to get social media users hooked.
Not to say social media is only harmful, I am saying social media is in a laissez-faire state right now in our culture, and this needs to change. We cannot regulate people’s usage of social media, just like we cannot outlaw alcohol, but we can have campaigns to spread awareness of the negative side effects which accompany social media. Hopefully, we will regulate social media companies into addressing its continued inaction on rampant false information presented as fact on their platforms, but ultimately, we cannot put this genie back into the bottle. It is up to our generation to push for awareness of how damaging social media can be, and just like anything in this world, moderation is the best course of action.
Source: mazegenerator.net
REFLECTIONS
Laundry costs should be included in residential plans
Marcus Aurelius “When you arise in the
morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.”
Trivia Time!
1. Stag Party was the name originally chosen for what popular men’s magazine? 2. What is the name for a compound literary or narrative work that is divided into five parts? 3. Alexander the Great was taught by which Greek philosopher? 4. What is a baby swan called? 4. A cygnet Answer: 1. Playboy 2. Pentalogy 3. Aristotle
Source: trivia.fyi
RILEY STEPHENS
is a sophomore majoring in English. Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
Each year, Mississippi State University cashes out for new renovations such as new educational buildings, new filtered water fountains, new parking lots and more. However, some things that remain outdated year to year are the washing machines and dryers in residential halls. Incoming freshmen are required to live on campus in the residential halls which come with their own public washers and dryers. While these old, creaky machines do accept both coins and debit/credit cards, the hassle of paying out of pocket for washing your clothes—an essential standard of cleanliness—is quite unnecessary, especially when students are already forced to pay to live in the dormitories. Depriving students the ease of swiping their student IDs for laundry seems wrong when nearly every other transaction on campus requires only a simple swipe. Students swipe their ID cards for food, class attendance and even access
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Overall, paying with coins, debit or credit cards in order to access the functions of the residential washers and dryers is a nuisance, especially when students have no choice but to pay to live in the dorm, only to add an extra expense just to wash their clothes. MSU should certainly look into creating a “laundry plan” and updating the washing machines and dryers of residence halls. In the system, each machine could accept flex dollars or a similar currency that falls under the “laundry plan.” After acquiring these machines, the university should, at the least, consider expanding the residential housing fees to include laundry costs as well. Students should not have to worry about budgeting around their weekend wash when there are more significant financial problems to consider like student loans. According to Near Say, Bendix Home Appliances invented the first coinoperated washing machine in 1949, but modern machines have more updated features that tailor to the customers’ needs. While MSU residence washers and dryers do have the option to accept credit cards, I do not think these machines should be relying on payment techniques from 70 years ago.
This is a college campus with students on a tight budget, and in the meantime, we should be putting our money toward other necessities like gas or textbooks which are not covered under a meal or housing plan. Laundry should be included in the fees of residential housing. At Alfred State College of Technology in New York, laundry fees are included in housing bills. So, residents start off the year with 500 laundry points, which may be accessed by swiping the student ID through the machine. The website lists a simple step-by-step process on how to use the machines with a student ID, and the laundry process seems much more enjoyable and easily attainable than MSU’s use of credit card and coin-operated laundry machines. As reported by Todd Belveal, founder and CEO of Washlava, universities spend millions on state-of-the-art equipment to entice students to attend their college, yet these same universities neglect the impact of quality laundry machines. If the MSU can spend millions on all sorts of new renovations to aid student experience, then updating the washing machines and dryers to accept student IDs would be a campus expense worth investigating.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Life Editor/Mary Madeline LaMastus
Opinion Editor/Dylan Bufkin Sports Editor/Hunter Cloud
to enter sporting events or certain buildings like their own dorm rooms. The next logical solution is to have a washer and dryer system, capable of accepting student ID transaction. One cycle in the washing machine and dryer costs $1.50 each, so one load of laundry costs $3 total. $1.50 may not seem like much, but if you consider sheets, towels and other loads of dirty clothes in need of a good wash, one Sunday of laundry becomes a pretty penny. In my experience, the washer and/or dryer of the dormitories has eaten my change on countless occasions or has somehow charged my credit card twice. On top of that, the machines only accept quarters. If you do not have quarters, you are forced to pay with a debit or credit card. This should be enough to prove the dorms need new machines. Both physical cash and debit or credit cards have their benefits and drawbacks. Physical cash is more likely to be stolen, but specifically pertaining to the MSU washer/dryer machines, quarters are a pain to come by especially when all you seem to have in your piggy bank is useless, loose pennies and nickels. Laundry simply adds yet another expense for students to worry about in terms of their tight budget.
Circulation/Sierra Pruitt circulation@reflector.msstate.edu
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5LIFE -Life& ENTERTAINMENT 5 THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2019 @REFLECTORONLINE
Parker McCollum:
a new country musician with the same old sound
TALLY DUKE STAFF WRITER
Parker McCollum, an up-and-coming country music singer from Austin, Texas, performed on the Rick’s Café stage in Starkville Wednesday night. Every concert I have been to has always started slightly off-schedule due to the artist wanting to create buzz and make the crowd excited for the show, but having an artist come on 45 minutes later than expected is nothing but annoying. Once McCollum finally took the stage, the crowd lit up with excitement, but his opening song must not have been a major hit as not many people knew the words enough to sing along. I had not heard of McCollum before the show, so I was not familiar with the songs McCollum sang. However, in my opinion, they all sounded the same. Every song had the same instrumental sound, attitude and overall lyrical pattern. This did not bother me for the first three songs, but after a while, I got bored. “If this ain’t a Wednesday night, I don’t know what is, Starkville, Mississippi,” McCollum shouted into the crowd of loyal and intoxicated fans. The set, which consisted of all original songs written by Parker McCollum, became repetitive after a while. However, no matter how repetitive the setlist was, it is no secret that McCollum is talented. His passion he has for music and his songs seeped out of McCollum throughout the entire performance. Mason Ferrell, a senior
“
The Feminist Film Fest is a powerful way to bring the Mississippi State community together to collectively analyze films from a critical, feminist perspective and to think about the messages, taken-forgranted assumptions and ideas about inequality that films either reproduce or disrupt,” Margaret Hagerman Assistant Professor of Sociology
Mary Georgia Hamilton| The Reflector
Parker McCollum is a country music artist from Austin, Texas. McCollum played a show at Rick’s Cafe this past Wednesday, and the crowd was filled with those who were both familiar with and new to the up-and-coming country singer’s music.
industrial technology major and a long-time Parker McCollum fan, introduced his friends to the new, country artist. “Parker McCollum is the best up-and-coming country artist I know,” Ferrell said. When McCollum sang a hit song, it was obvious due to the uproar of proud fans in the crowd. “I guess I will get drunk in Starkville, Mississippi tonight,” said McCollum before singing another hit single. Having musical talent is not enough to put on a good show; having an
electric personality and being able to engage the crowd is just as important, and McCollum had an amazing stage presence. From speaking to the crowd during and in between songs, to little things such as stopping mid-song to take a drink with the audience, McCollum knew the importance of engaging his crowd and succeed at working the crowd. Towards the middle of the show, McCollum announced he met an amazing lady at dinner. “I was at dinner, and I met this amazing lady
whose birthday is tonight. So, everyone wish Mrs. Bush a Happy Birthday, y’all,” McCollum said. Small interactions like this are what make a good performer and creates a special bond with fans, which is positive in my opinion. McCollum decided that the crowd was warmed up enough to hear a new song, so he debuted his first new single of the night, which, to no surprise, sounded almost identical to the majority of his other singles. From telling jokes in between songs to relating
to the crowd by saying “I feel pretty good, I have been drinking all day,” it is no surprise McCollum has such a strong college student following. As a Texas native, McCollum connected with the audience even more as he shared his negative opinions on his home state’s professional baseball team and how he was glad to not be in Houston, creating a bond with other Texans in the crowd. More songs and more drinks later, the country artist debuted another new single. “I was in Nashville and
I couldn’t finish this song, so I asked my buddy Rhett Akins, I don’t know if y’all know him, and he said I have to sing this song in Starkville, Mississippi. So, here is my new song ‘To be Loved by You,’” McCollum said. All in all, McCollum’s passion and love for music is no secret, and it shines through his performance, but from an outsider’s perspective, the songs were just okay. There was no “wow” factor in my opinion, and the lyrics and sound were just like any other country song heard on the radio.
Gender Studies Program will host film festival EMMA DRAY BRASWELL STAFF WRITER
Mississippi State University’s Gender Studies Program will host its sixth annual Feminist Film Festival at 6 p.m. from Nov. 4-7 in the Turner A. Wingo Auditorium in Old Main. Kimberly Kelly, a professor in the Gender Studies Program, said this event will show four commercial films, all thematically surrounding feminism. “The idea is to help students become more critical consumers of media they’ve already consumed,” Kelly said. Kelly said some issues which are prominent in the films are related to themes of gender, sexuality and
racial inequality. Melanie Walsh, a Gender Studies Program graduate assistant, said there is a theme including these issues set aside for each night. Every night through Nov. 4-7, the program will show one movie, with a panel and questions following it. These movies are specifically set to be thought-provoking in different ways. This year’s line up includes “Que Sea Ley”, “Bessie”, “Stonewall Uprising”, and “Booksmart”. Walsh states that “Que Sea Ley” was brought in to highlight international issues, “Bessie” highlights issues with people of color, the “Stonewall Uprising” sheds light on LGBTQ issues,
and Thursday’s blockbuster movie is “Booksmart”. “Our Thursday night film is usually a recent blockbuster or one that got a lot of awards and will draw a lot of students in,” Walsh said.Walsh noted the way the movies were chosen was through the gender studies faculty members. “We just threw them out on the table and started with a list of 15 and talked about the themes and what would be appropriate for what night,” Walsh said. Kelly noted an important role to make this film festival happen is to make sure panelists are booked. “The real contribution is that after the film I have two gender studies faculty affiliates for a 3-5 minute commentary on the film
based on their expertise,” Kelly said. After doing this, the panel opens the floor up to questions for the students at the event. Walsh said the panelists consist of gender studies scholars, who play an important role in engaging the students. Walsh agreed with Kelly regarding critical consumption as a goal of the event. “One of the biggest goals of the film festival is to have students engage in these products more critically and think about the underlying messages behind them that they might not think about when they mindlessly watch a piece of media,” said Walsh. Margaret Hagerman,
an assistant professor of sociology and a panelist for this year’s festival, said she believes this festival can bring the MSU community together in an impactful way. “I decided to participate because I think the Feminist Film Fest is a powerful way to bring the Mississippi State community together to collectively analyze films from a critical, feminist perspective and to think about the messages, takenfor-granted assumptions and ideas about inequality that films either reproduce or disrupt,” said Hagerman. The Gender Studies Program encourages anyone who is interested to come to watch the films and stay after the showings for the post-show panel discussion.
NOVEMBER 4-7TH • 6PM TURNER WINGO AUDITORIUM, OLD MAIN MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4 • QUE SEA LEY (LET IT BE LAW)
Que Sea Ley documents the determination of women fighting to secure the right to abortion, and bears witness to their massive mobilization in the streets of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5 • BESSIE
Queen Latifah stars as legendary blues singer Bessie Smith, “The Empress of the Blues,” who became one of the most successful recording artists of the 1920s and is an enduring icon today.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6 • STONEWALL UPRISING
Marking the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, this documentary highlights a police raid of a popular gay bar in New York City resulting in six days of violent protests. Stonewall Uprising chronicles the event that sparked the modern gay civil rights movement.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7 • BOOKSMART
On the eve of their high school graduation, two academic superstars and best friends realize they should have worked less and played more. Determined not to fall short of their peers, the girls try to cram four years of fun into one night.
66-Sports SPORTS
THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2019 @SPORTSREFLECTOR
Anderson Peters launches to World Champion HUNTER CLOUD SPORTS EDITOR
As the javelin first took flight, it fluttered through the air, piercing the ground at 86.69 meters as the crowd roared. The throw placed Anderson Peters in an early lead in the IAAF World Championship but he would improve upon that throw. In Peters’ fourth throw, he extended his lead to 86.89 meters which was enough to secure the gold medal. Peters was able to step up to the runway on his fifth and final attempt knowing no matter what he threw he would be World Champion. “Having the crowd cheering you on in that last throw knowing you are the World Champion is most humbling,” Peters said. Peters is a junior from St. Andrews, Grenada and his throw placed him in the history books for the island nation in the Caribbean. Previously in
World Championships, Grenada’s Kiriani James won a gold and bronze for the nation, but those were the only medals in the World Championships they had won. In his victorious moment, a dream had come true. It is a dream Peters said he had his whole life and the feeling was something indescribable. His accomplishment was a result of hard work and undeniable talent as Mississippi State University’s javelin coach April Thomas said in a press release from the MSU Athletic Department following the event in early October. “He has a true gift, and no one can deny it,” Thomas said. “It could not have happened to a better young man. I tip my hat to him. I’m truly blessed and honored to be his coach.” Prior to earning his gold medal at the IAAF, Grenada never had a javelin thrower place higher than 18th place. It was an
accomplishment for both Peters and his family but also his home country. “Right now, the world knows that Grenada can produce javelin throwers,” Peters said. Success is not just found at the international level for Peters but it is also found at the college level. The javelin throwers for MSU swept the SEC and nationals this past season. The throwers developed a hashtag (#JavU) and pushed each other to perform well. Peters said the reason he came to MSU was because they valued his education. In the early morning of September 2018, head coach Steve Dudley stepped down and Chris Woods became the interim coach. He was promoted to head coach at the end of the season by Athletic Director John Cohen. With the coaching change came a slight change to training but also the direction of the program. “The whole team is
moving towards a positive direction,” Peters said. “It is in a steady pace this time and everyone is focused on a championship mentality.” As an MSU alumnus, Woods was excited to take over the MSU track program and said he was going to get the team ready to compete for championships in July. Peters’ triumph was a testament to that goal in the program to compete for championships. With indoor track season approaching in January, the bar was set high for the team in July when Woods sat down for an interview after he was promoted. Woods said regardless of an indoor or outdoor season, the team has the same standard. “If there is a championship to be won, we are going to try and win it,” Woods said. “It is going to take us a couple of years to get to that point, but whenever there is a trophy to be won, we are trying to win it.”
Aaron Cornia| MSU Athletics
Anderson Peters’ throw of 86.89 meters earned gold at the IAAF championships in Qatar.
Women’s golf finishes fall season on Paradise Island
HUNTER CLOUD SPORTS EDITOR
The Mississippi State University Women’s Golf Team had a challenging firstround in paradise as they wrapped up their fall season at the White Sands Invitational in the Bahamas. The team as a whole shot 6-over-par and did not let the difficult course affect them. Brown-Lemm said the course was visually challenging. “If you let all of that affect your chosen shot, then there will be penalties,” BrownLemm said. “The wind, which
always blows 10-20 mph is nothing we haven’t competed and practiced in. Factor that in with bunkers, ocean inlets and the grain of Bermuda green, you have a real test.” Sitting at eighth place after the first 18 holes, BrownLemm said the team worked on their mental process and fixing errant shots after the round. Freshman Ashley Gilliam was the only Bulldog to finish under par, shooting one stroke under par. MSU did not fair much better during the second round as the Bulldogs shot 5-over-par to remain in eighth
place on the leaderboard. There was growth, however, for Aubree Jones who catapulted 20 spots up the leaderboard with a 1-underpar round. Jones said it was a better round for her on the course as she had two birdies, a bogey and 15 pars. “I didn’t feel like I was grinding as hard,” Jones said. “I just tried to stay patient through the tough round yesterday and bounce back. Golf is a tough sport, and it will knock you off your feet really quick. It was a great feeling to bounce back like I did today.”
Leading MSU into the final round, Ashley Gilliam, a freshman from Nashville, Tennesee, continued to play excellent golf shooting 2-under-par. In the final round of the tournament, MSU was able to shoot 1-under-par as a team and come in 10th place at 10-over-par for the tournament. Again, Gilliam was able to post her 10th par or better round, tying Jessica Peng who was a freshman at MSU from 2013-2014, for the freshman record. With her second 2-under-par round, Gilliam finished tied for sixth
place at 5-under-par for the tournament. “Overall, our freshman Ashley Gilliam has had a stellar season,” said BrownLemm. “We need the four and five positions to pick up some shots, and we will be just where we need to be.” Gilliam was not the only Bulldog who had a strong finish. Jones climbed up the leaderboard, this time moving up 25 spots, finishing tied for 34th place with a 5-overpar score for the tournament after a two-under final round. Jones showed resilience in recovering from a first-round
THANKS
that had her at 8-over-par. The Bulldogs will not step on to a tee box for collegiate competition as a team until Feb. 23 when they play in the Westbrook Spring Invitational in Peoria, Arizona. BrownLemm said they will continue to build off of their strong finish to the fall season. “We finished up just a few shots out of a top-five finish in a top collegiate field,” Brown-Lemm said. “We definitely played better today as a team and certainly were able to see some areas we will address for improvement in the offseason.”
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Dawgs, meet Cameron Gardner $ If you had to room with a coach on a road trip, who would you want? I’d have to go with my wide receiver coach, coach [Michael] Johnson.
Who is the best singer? Stewart Reese. Lebron or MJ? I like Lebron. What is your favorite place to eat in Starkville? I’d say Zaxby’s for me.
What do you see yourself doing when you are 50? I should be retired by then, so I see myself sitting in a big ole house, looking out at a mountain or a sunset or something. Who is the best dancer? I can’t answer that question. It’s too close.
When you play Madden, who is your go-to team? I really don’t play Madden much, but when I do, I like the Texans. Who has had the greatest impact on your life? My family, my mom and dad especially. Who was your hero in elementary school? I’d say my parents. Who, on this team, is going to have their own tv show when they are 50? I feel like Fletcher Adams will. He might be the funniest guy on the team.
If you did not play football, what sport would you play? Probably baseball. I was really good at baseball.
Who is the most interesting guy on this team? I don’t know … I’ll say myself.
What is your favorite movie ever? I’d say “Transformers”. I like all the “Transformers” movies.
STAFF WRITER
What is your favorite pizza topping? Sausage. Suppose you are at a family reunion. What food are you most looking forward to eating? Boneless BBQ wings.
Thick or thin crust? Thick.
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