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Vigil honors Pittsburgh shooting victims. Page 2

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2018

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THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

134th YEAR ISSUE 17

COURTNEY CARVER

GRACE GILMAN STAFF WRITER

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ccording to those close to him, 2018 Homecoming King Barrett Schock truly embodies everything it means to be “true maroon.” Schock is from Chattanooga, Tennessee, and he is a senior biochemistry major with a pre-med concentration. Schock’s initial decision to come to Mississippi State University was unique. “It was really random,” Schock said. “My grandmother told me and my parents to go visit because I had a cousin to come here. I have never heard of Mississippi State, and so I came and visited. I knew right away I knew that this was the place I was meant to go. It has such a family feel. Everyone’s so nice; I love the campus. We also have a great science department. I knew it was a good place for me.” Throughout his time at MSU, Schock has been involved with many organizations. He has been a member of Sigma Chi since his freshman year. He is also a chair for Student Conduct Board and Honor Code Council, as well as an Alumni Delegates member. In addition, he is a member of Alpha Epsilon Delta and Order of Omega honor societies.

mily Turner, who was recently voted Mississippi State University’s 2018 Homecoming Queen, credited a large portion of her winning the crown to biggest supporters: her friends. “I have a friend who is a graphic designer that made the graphics, a friend that made the video, another friend took the professional photos because she has a photography business and my sister helped me with social media posts and captions,” Turner said. “I could not be more grateful for their help. I believe all that support helped me stand out as a candidate.” Turner is involved in a large repertoire of clubs and organizations, so she had the support of a diverse group of people all over MSU. She is a member of the Kappa Delta sorority, Maroon VIP and Foundation Ambassadors. Previously, she was also an orientation leader. She held a few leadership positions in KD, as well. During her sophomore year, Turner was a KD new member educator and was a leadership chair, through which she helped members get more involved on and off campus. She said she met some of her lifelong friends in these clubs and organizations. QUEEN, 2

KING, 5

EMMA KING

EMMA WARR STAFF WRITER

enior biochemistry and microbiology major Parker Taylor said shocked cannot even begin to describe his reaction to hearing his name announced as Mississippi State University’s latest Mr. MSU. Among many deserving applicants, the Olive Branch, Mississippi-native said he was humbled to be chosen by the selection committee on Oct. 9. All of his efforts from the last four years involved on not only MSU’s campus, but also the Starkville community had finally come to fruition. Taylor’s presence is a strong one in the city and campus. He is a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, American Medical Student Association and he works as a Board-Certified Pharmacy Technician at the local Kroger, where Taylor spends most of his time. During his college career, Taylor has also served as a Maroon VIP tour guide, Rho Chi leader and research assistant in the Department of Biological Sciences. Mary Reese, Taylor’s advisor in the biology department, said she could think of no one more deserving of the title. MR., 3

uring halftime at this Saturday’s football game, the homecoming court will be presented to the student body. This year, Miss MSU will be represented by Shelby Baldwin. Baldwin is a senior from Ridgeland, Mississippi, who is majoring in marketing. Baldwin said she is excited to have this title. “I’m extremely honored to represent the student body in this way because I feel like Miss MSU is a position that really does have to be a representative and relatable to all the student body, and ever since I found out I got the position, I’ve felt humbled the entire time just thinking of how awesome it is for me to do that,” Baldwin said. MISS, 5

FRIDAY HI: 58 LO: 47 SKY: Partly Cloudy POP: 20

SATURDAY HI: 65 LO: 42 SKY: Sunny POP: 0

SUNDAY

HI: 67 LO: 46 SKY: Partly Cloudy POP: 20

STAFF WRITER

FORECAST: Cloudy conditions will stick around Friday with much cooler temperatures, and the afternoon will only reach the upper 50s. Saturday will be the dry day for the weekend, with mostly sunny skies and warmer temperatures. Isolated showers return for your Sunday forecast. Most of us will stay dry though, and mild temperatures will continue. Chelsea Brown, Campus Connect Meteorologist/Forecaster

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Hillel hosts campus vigil in memory of Pittsburg shooting victims MARY MADELINE LAMASTUS STAFF WRITER

At sunset on Wednesday, a diverse, solemn crowd filled the Chapel of Memories. Overflowing from the pews, approximately 200 people gathered with candles in hand, facing 12 white roses arranged at the front of the chapel. Eleven roses represented each life lost in the attack at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; the 12th represented all Jewish lives lost in anti-Semitic attacks. The Jewish community is no stranger to tragedy, and the oppression of the minority group continued on Oct. 27 when a gunman, suspected to be Rob Bowers, opened fire at the Tree of Life Synagogue, killing 11 congregation members and injuring six. The attack has been named the deadliest anti-Semitic crime in American history. Hillel, the Jewish student organization at Mississippi State University, partnered with the Student Association to hold a vigil in honor of the lives lost. Young and old, male and female, families and individuals, Starkville citizens and MSU community, religious and non-religious,

all gathered to support the Jewish community in commemorating the lost lives. At the beginning of the event, Jewish students shared their difficult experiences with stereotypes and discrimination because of their religious affiliation. Jacob Craig, a former president of Hillel, said being one of the few Jewish people in his community often caused him to feel alienated. Craig, who is a senior mechanical engineering student, professed the strong Jewish fellowship was one of the main reasons he chose to attend MSU. He spoke of his fury with the injustice in Pittsburg. “I am a Jew, and yes, I am angry. But I will love the best I can,” Craig said. Joseph Metz, the grandson of a Holocaust survivor, also spoke about the cruel aversion he has often faced as a religious minority, including religious slurs and even being rejected for dates simply because he was Jewish. Metz, who is a history major, contended while some attribute Bower’s actions to mental illness, there is no such excuse for this crime. “This is not a gun

Lindsay Pace | The Reflector

Community members light candles at a vigil Wednesday honoring the Pittsburgh victims.

problem. This is not a mental health problem. This is a people problem. This is a hate problem,” Metz said. Mayah Emerson, president of the MSU Student Association, expressed being at a loss for words. However, Emerson offered what she could: her presence. “When I was asked to speak tonight, I had no idea what I was going to say,” Emerson said to the attendants. “I still do not have words, but I am here. That is what I can say.” She encouraged students

MSU hosts annual State Debates

DYLAN BUFKIN STAFF WRITER

Mississippi State University’s Speech and Debate Club hosted State Debates Tuesday in Lee Hall’s Bettersworth

Auditorium. The debate centered on pressing topics in the upcoming midterm elections. The College Republicans, College Democrats and the Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) were all present to argue

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their points and solutions to contemporary issues. Before the debate began, Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill gave a short introductory speech urging attendants to vote in the upcoming elections, letting their voices be heard. Additionally, Spruill emphasized the importance of political dialogue in the current climate of misinformation. After Spruill’s speech, the debate’s moderator Jeffery Rupp, the former mayor of Columbus and current director of outreach for MSU’s College of Business, took the stage and outlined the four points the debate would cover and the procedure of the debate. The first topic was trade policy, specifically whether a trade war with China is beneficial. Read more at reflector-online.com

that even though they might not have the words to comfort their Jewish friends, they can offer their presence. Though grief and frustration were expressed by many, others spoke a message of hope. MSU President Mark Keenum offered sympathy to the Jewish community, making a point to introduce himself as a “brother” above all other titles. He preached the agenda of an inclusive atmosphere, especially during tragic times. “Everyone is a child of God,” Keenum declared.

QUEEN

“Being an orientation leader has been one of my favorite memories,” Turner said. “I loved staying over the summer in the dorms. There was a sense of community, and that helped me meet a lot of amazing people that I’m still friends with today.” In addition to her extracurriculars, Turner also works 20 hours a week at an oral surgeon clinic and has volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club. Grady Miller, a senior civil engineering major, has known Turner throughout college, but he said he got to know her well through Orientation Leaders. “Emily is such a kind person, and she is someone I always want to be around,” Miller said. “Not only is Emily incredibly smart, but she will beat you in basketball as well–I know this from experience. Emily portrays the values and

“We will stand as one against violence, hatred, bigotry and intolerance.” Other religious affiliations were also represented at the event. Pastor Bert Montgomery of University Baptist Church offered a prayer of healing and love. Rani Sullivan, advisor of the Muslim Student Association, also spoke to the power of interfaith fellowship and “the importance of knowing one another.” Sullivan noted the experience of the Jewish people is not dissociated from other minority groups. “The things that the young Jewish men were talking about, that’s the same thing that Muslims have experienced, and I’m sure it’s the same thing other minorities have experienced,” Sullivan said. After the names of the victims were read, a moment of silence was observed. The room was heavy with communal grief, yet the evening concluded with a message of unified hope as the crowd held candles and voices sang “Oseh Shalom,” a Jewish Prayer for Peace, filled the chapel. The ceremony was healing, according to Tyler Daniel, current president

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character of the perfect MSU student, and has given so much to MSU. I rarely meet anyone that doesn’t know Emily Turner. She loves MSU more than anyone I know, and she is the perfect person to represent our great university.” Turner said she is grateful for everything she has in life, from becoming homecoming queen to her parents shaping her into a Bulldog early on. “I’m grateful that my parents would bring us to MSU for those game day weekends so early on in my life,” Turner said. “I would bring my friends, and we would all just have a good time.” Decked out in the MSU cheerleader uniform, Turner and her family made a tradition out of attending games. “My parents went to MSU, so we would come down game day weekends, and I would wear the cheerleader

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of Hillel. “The Jewish Student Association could not be more proud and more happy with the attendance we received from university community, ranging from the highest administration, to community members, to faculty, to student organizations, to students themselves,” Daniel said. “The support was outpouring, and for that, we are extremely grateful.” Daniel also noted the way the event impacted students. “Several students came up to me after the service in tears, expressing how much it meant to them to have such a diverse group of people come together to express common solidarity with them,” Daniel said. Sierra Laltrello, former secretary of Hillel and convert to Judaism, commented on the importance of the event. “We are one, and not just as Jewish people. We are all Americans,” Laltrello said. “This event is important because Jewish communities across the globe, especially in places where they do not have large Jewish communities, need to know that they have a support system. We want people in Pittsburg to know we are supporting them as well.”

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uniform,” she said. “We made a tradition out of it with car ride games to try and keep us awake on the drive back.” Even though Turner is a senior accounting major, she also studies pre-medicine with the goal of becoming a doctor. The process of turning in her applications for medical school this fall was taxing, she said. Normally, Turner said she would go outside and take a walk during these stressful times, but her friends insisted she run for homecoming queen instead. “My friends really wanted me to do it, but I said, ‘No.’ Eventually I agreed, and KD nominated me,” said Turner. “The process was fun overall, but stressful because of all the planning we had to do. My favorite part was campaigning on the Drill Field, and talking to people on campus and getting their stories.” When Turner was announced as Homecoming Queen, she said she dropped to the ground and started crying tears of joy. She was surrounded by her friends and said it was one of the happiest moments of her life. Turner said she never sent a text to one person asking for a vote on the day of the election, her friends did all of that for her. “I’m very thankful for everything they did during this process. Again, it is all very surreal,” Turner said. One of Turner’s longtime friends and supporters, senior psychology major Katie Carter, said Turner has positively impacted her life as a best friend and role model, and could not think of anyone more deserving of the crown. “I met Emily Turner the summer before freshmen year and honestly thought she was way too cool to ever want to be my friend. Four years later, she has become one of the most important people in my life and my best friend,” Carter said. “Without Emily, I would lack in confidence, in kindness, in friendships, in laughter, in joy and most importantly, in my relationship with Jesus. “Emily loves people in a way that is contagious and telling of who she lives for. I have never met someone who encourages others as much as she does,” Carter said. “She is always hard-working, always optimistic and always the friend you want to be around on good and bad days alike. I think there could truly be no better representation of this blessed university than Emily Turner.” With an infectious smile and a humble attitude, Turner impacts lives and makes a positive impression on everyone she meets. People close to her say it is no wonder she is MSU’s 2018 Homecoming Queen.

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BULLETIN BOARD

MR. “Mr. MSU must be someone who represents the best of MSU. As a leader, role model and advocate for other students, Parker is that representative,” Reese said. “He is also one of the hardest working students I have ever advised. I am so proud of him.” Taylor described the role of Mr. MSU as more than a title, as it is an honor to him. With such great recognition comes great responsibility, and this year’s Mr. MSU said he is ready to uphold the honor and value the title represents. During his first year in college, a personal tragedy almost caused Taylor to move back home. “When I lost my dad freshman year, I really did consider moving home and going to the local community college so that I would be closer to home,” Taylor said. “What I soon realized was that I was home.” Starkville and its community offered Taylor a home away from home, and he said he feels forever in its debt. Throughout his four years at MSU, Taylor said he has learned a variety of lessons. Most importantly, there is nothing hard work, good friends and family cannot conquer. Sometimes it was difficult for Taylor to picture himself graduating on time due to difficult classes and a busy

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work schedule. However, the family and friends he found in Starkville never stopped pushing him toward his end goal. In the heart of his senior year, Taylor is trying to reach the same goal: medical school. He is currently in the application process, and hopes for the best. Biological Sciences Instructor Brandy Roberts has had the opportunity to teach Taylor in several microbiology courses, and said he is an outstanding student who aims far beyond what most students try to accomplish. Because of this, it did not surprise her to see Taylor’s name in the nominations. “I know of his success in the classroom, his contribution to the school and efforts to give back to our community—so I was not surprised by this nomination,” Roberts said. “I am proud of Parker, and know he will be successful at whatever he sets his mind to do. Parker Taylor represents MSU well.” Mr. MSU said his biggest influence on campus is undoubtedly basketball coach Vic Schaefer, though he has never met the coach in person. Taylor and his roommate can be found at every basketball game eating barbecue nachos and watching the Dawgs. In Taylor’s eyes, the MSU women’s basketball team has an unmatched influence on

the university, city and entire country. Schaefer’s signature statement, “Fight like a Dawg,” has taught Taylor he can get where he wants to be in life, despite certain circumstances. To any future Mr. MSU hopefuls, Taylor advises them to turn Starkville into home. Taylor has worked throughout his undergraduate career, which kept him tied to the community. He said he was occasionally discouraged to be stuck at school on weekends while his friends went home, but he happily looks back on the experience. “I wouldn’t trade that,” Taylor reminisced. “Because being here on those days when you can make it down Highway 12 in 10 minutes or when the line to Zaxby’s isn’t backed up to Walmart allowed me to grow a closer connection to this city and its people.” In his senior year of high school, Taylor said his father told him he would find some special connections in Starkville, where people would show him more love than he could imagine. Taylor said he is thankful to the faculty, staff, students, administration and community for showing him nothing but love and hospitality since he stepped foot on MSU’s campus. No matter how far he goes, the 2018 Mr. MSU will carry this place with him.

Oct. 30 puzzle solutions

CLASSIFIEDS The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday. The deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. Classifieds are listed at $5 per issue. Student and staff ads are listed at $3 per issue, pre-paid. Lost and found items: Found items can be listed for free; lost items are listed at standard ad cost. Come and Shop at the COCO Flea Market,

Nov. 3 at COCO Center, located at 13608 MS Highway 182, Starkville, MS - 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. Booths are available call 662-312-2484. CLUB INFO The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday. The 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

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BAD DAWGS Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018 Juvenile arrested on Lee Boulevard for disorderly conduct and simple assault. The mother of the child was called for pickup. Resident of city/county arrested on Bully Boulevard for public drunkenness. Monday, Oct. 29, 2018 Non-resident/visitor reported via telephone two tents were stolen from the Junction on Friday, Oct. 26. MSU landscape reported shattering a glass door when weed eating at Hand Chemical Lab. Student had a bike wreck at the intersection of Buckner Land and Blackjack Road. Subject transported to OCH. Student reported losing his wallet at an unknown location

on campus. Student injured his ankle at Sanderson Center. Subject transported to OCH. Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018 Student reported another student made a bomb threat comment in Swalm Chemical Engineering Building. Student reported his vehicle was burglarized while parking in C1 parking lot. Student reported his bike stolen from bike rack at Student Union. Officer reported damages to patrol vehicle 5. Traffic Citations Report Three MSU citations were issued for speeding, the worst 79/45 on Hail State Boulevard. MSU citation issued for driving on a sidewalk on Tracy Drive.

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OPINION

Should the U.S. take in the Honduran caravan as refugees? We should take in the Honduran caravan We should aid, but not take in refugees

GRACE GILMAN

is a senior majoring in English. Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu

A caravan to the U.S., a modern-day procession to the “Promised Land,” has taken place since Oct. 16. Starting from Honduras, the caravan has gained traction, people and media attention in each country along the way. Reasons for keeping immigrants out of America come from the construction of false narratives, economic motivations and legal claims. However, most of these reasons are myths and a distraction from the corruption happening within our country. The narrative prominent political leaders are constructing is how these caravans are filled with criminals and they are “infiltrating” our country. This is simply untrue. According to William Cunningham of USA Today, Carlos Cortez, a farmer from Honduras, said he is making the journey because he makes about $5 a day, which is not enough to support his family. He hopes to make a better living in America. According to The World Bank, 66 percent of Hondurans live in poverty. Most of these people crossing the border want a better life for their families and will do anything necessary. Since these migrants are running from immense turmoil in their home countries, they can be considered refugees through asylum. According to Kennji Kizuka of human rights first, asylum can be administered through interviews at the border, where border control personnel determine if a migrant is in enough detriment in their own country to gain access into the U.S. Another myth fueled by Trump is asylum cannot be granted in the U.S. if the migrants do not request asylum from Mexico first. Kizuka also explains how the U.S. grants asylum to migrants, even if they do not get asylum from countries they are passing through. “United States law generally does not require asylum seekers to request protection in the countries they passed through while fleeing to the United States. Asylum seekers cannot be expected to request protection in a country that does not offer refugees legal recognition, lacks a functioning asylum system, places severe restrictions on refugees, or where that country is not itself safe,” said Kizuka. Concerning the economic facet, a common myth claims refugees take jobs from hard-working Americans. In fact, refugees

help boost the economy and fill employment positions most Americans do not want. Challenging the myth, Laurel Dalstead of Rescue. org explains migrants actually contribute a significant amount to America’s economy. “Over the past decade, refugees have contributed $63 billion more than they cost, according to a recent report commissioned by Trump’s own administration,” Dalstead says. Additionally, according to Peter Andreas of The Center of Comparative Immigration Studies, completely closing off the borders can lead to economic downfalls in towns across the border. For example, “Retail sales in U.S. border cities immediately plummeted as Mexican shoppers stayed south of the border. The city of San Diego declared a state of economic emergency due to the business downturn after September 11. […] Cross-border trade, which had been running at about $670 million, fell by an average of 15 percent in the weeks following the attacks. Most severely affected were electronics, textiles, chemicals, and Mexican factories supplying justin-time parts to U.S. auto companies,” explained Andreas. Not only that, capitalism, the economic system our country so strongly and ignorantly holds on to, breeds this tolerance of greed and an intolerance of morality and virtue. It has recently become the norm to turn people away, which may affect this system. However, if we

welcome these migrants, they may actually help our economy. The economic debunking of the caravan crisis is important to note, but the ethical issue is just as significant. The fact ] this caravan of people thinks the idea of trekking thousands of miles with little food, water and shelter is more appealing than staying in their home countries, illustrates the poverty and uninhabitable situations from which these people are running. Reverend Jim Martin of Jesuit Magazine explains many Christian conservatives say immigrants crossing the border is legally wrong, and therefore, is ethically wrong. I would love to point out that just because something is a law, does not mean it is morally or ethically right. History tells us the segregation and marginalization of minorities thrived, and continue to thrive in this country because they were justified under laws. Let us not be deceived, America. Our nation has many other real problems we should focus on in this upcoming Midterm Election. The refugees from these Central American countries are families who simply want better for their children and grandchildren. They are not the problem. The only problem is the false narratives and economic arguments keeping them out of the U.S. This problem stems from the nurturing of greed from our leaders and media which sprouts the bigotry of others crossing our borders.

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There can be no doubt immigration is a complicated and arduous process. The population is now larger so the world now seems smaller, and as a result, we have to be stricter about who can and cannot come into the country. None of this is to say those in the caravan are not suffering in their home countries or on the road. I am not blind. I have seen the photos. The conditions in which they travel look appalling, and I can scarcely imagine how awful their situation must have been to force them to continue onward. The tenacity and bravery of these people to walk literally thousands of miles for a better life is nothing short of awe-inspiring, and I desperately hope we find a way to help them, a solution within the system. However, from a logistical standpoint alone, allowing them to enter the country with no due process, no vetting and no documentation is idealistic at best, and irresponsible at worst. Foreign aid would be the easiest solution to helping these people live better lives. The U.S. gives the most amount of foreign aid by sheer dollars of any country, but it is severely lacking when comparing the percentage of the budget that goes toward foreign aid. According to the 2019 Congressional Budget Justification, Congress allotted $37.8 billion to the State Department and other international agencies. One of those agencies is the United States Agency for International Development. USAID is responsible for most of the foreign aid given to developing countries around the world. USAID was allotted $27.1 billion To compare, the Department of Defense was given $686 billion. The next closest agency was the Department of Veteran’s Affairs with $83.1 billion. Logistics aside, this story really comes down to one thing for most people: whether or not they agree with the president. Refugees are nothing new, yet suddenly people care. Those people only care because the president decided not to care, and for them, if the president says, ‘Jump,’ they will lie down instead. Where is the concern for refugees in Yemen, displaced by a civil war being fought with American weapons? Who will provide for the Rohingya being massacred in Myanmar? Why are we not opening doors for the roughly, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 40 million impoverished Americans? The simple answer is because people do not care about those issues. They are not sexy enough. In a few months, they will not care about the migrant caravan either. It should not be a choice between opening our borders or sending people away. Instead, we should ask how we can help all people in need. The system is not the problem. We are.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Life Editor/Emma Moffett

Managing Editor/Kristina Domitrovich News Editor/Katie Poe

According to Maria Rubi of The United Nations Refugee Agency, between 3,000 and 7,000 migrants are moving north through Mexico toward the U.S. border. These numbers tend to vary depending which way you lean on the political spectrum. This caravan’s members are fleeing violence and poverty rooted in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. Media outlets picked up the coverage earlier this month, and fiery rhetoric spewed forth from the frothy fingers of President Donald Trump in a tweet, as he warned of an “invasion.” Let me be clear. The president has consistently and shamelessly used this type of fearful and racist rhetoric since he first announced his intention to run for the office he now holds. I cannot condone his words, nor do I agree with his tone, but he has a point. Our border should not inherently bend to the will of those who gather outside of it. There is a system for people to enter this country legally, and while it is far from perfect, it must be utilized. According to the American Immigration Council, the U.S. immigration procedure is guided by four main principles: reuniting families, admitting people with skills valuable to the economy, promoting diversity

No, there is no room.

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BRAD ROBERTSON

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

and protecting refugees. Since reports the caravan is fleeing violence, I will assume these individuals are to be classified as refugees seeking protection. Refugee admission to the country is set by the president for every fiscal year. Fiscal year 2019 began Oct. 1, and will last until Sept. 30, 2019. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced in September the refugee ceiling would be 30,000 for this fiscal year, as reported by the U.S. Department of State. Quotas are also placed on asylum seekers. Asylum is similar to seeking immigration status due to being a refugee, but it is more often assumed to be temporary. Asylum seekers usually face persecution in their home countries for their political, cultural or religious affiliations. Add to the 30,000, a 280,000 ceiling on asylum seekers, and there are over 300,000 tickets to escape harsh conditions and stay in the U.S. This is a big enough number, right? So we could take in all these refugees and more, right? Wrong. The global refugee crisis is much bigger. The UN Refugee Agency estimates there are 25.4 million refugees worldwide, and 3.1 million asylum seekers. Deciding which refugee gets prioritized over others is completely arbitrary, though there are checks to help this process. Our ceilings on immigrant and asylum seekers are further divided into regions. Central America has been granted 3,000 immigrants for the fiscal year. These quotas exist to help prevent bureaucratic delays and maxing out on one just month after the beginning of the fiscal year is unwise.

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LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT

Patti LaBelle brings soul to Starkville MARY MADELINE LAMASTUS STAFF WRITER

Award-winning soul singer Patti LaBelle will perform at 7 p.m. Nov. 15 in Bettersworth Auditorium as part of the Lyceum Series. LaBelle is most known for her contributions to soul throughout the music industry. This “Godmother of Soul” has been involved in the industry for over 50 years, in which time she has been awarded a Grammy for the “Best Female R&B Vocal Performance,” named in the “Top 100 Singers of All Time” by Rolling Stone, inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, included in the Hollywood Walk of Fame and sold over 50 million records. Among her most famous hits are “If You Only Knew,” “Lady Marmalade” and “Somebody Loves You Baby.” The artist also contributed to a variety of genres beyond R&Bm including pop and disco. Outside of singing, LaBelle also acted in the film “A Soldier’s Story” and the popular television show, “American Horror Story: Freak Show.” Claiming yet another title, she hosted two of her own TV shows, “Out All Night” and “Living It Up with Patti LaBelle.” Lastly, she is known by many for her famous Sweet Potato Pie and “Patti LaBelle Fancy Cakes.” The famous singer’s performance is part of MSU’s Lyceum series, which provides the MSU campus with opportunities to experience a variety of the performing arts. Bradley Hill, assistant

director of the Center for Student Activities and Lyceum committee member, said he is thrilled the series is offering students an experience to see the highly acclaimed singer. “We are excited to bring her to campus and expose students and the Starkville community to her great, legendary music,” Hill said. “Legendary singers are not around much anymore, so this is a great opportunity to enjoy a traditional soul performance.” Hill said, as a result of LaBelle’s spontaneous performance style, no set list has been concretely determined. “She usually does that off-the-cuff, based on how she feels, but there will be a full performance with no openers, so she will be spending a good 60 to 90 minutes on the stage singing and conversing with the crowd,” Hill said. At 74 years old, LaBelle is “still in great health” according to Hill. Ben Wolfe, Twin Citys Arts Reader reviewer, noted in a recent concert review that LaBelle “still has it” and “uses energy, warmth, and some great moves… to build her performance.” Wolfe said LaBelle’s performance quality has not dwindled over the years as she continues to shine. “LaBelle has been on the music scene for more than half a century, but she is still a commanding, captivating singer with an impressive vocal range,” Wolfe said. Read more at reflector-online.com

KING “Freshman year, I came in with the mindset that I didn’t want to have any regrets by the time I graduated from MSU, and a big part of that was getting involved, giving back to the university and not letting any opportunities pass me by,” Schock said. Sigma Chi President Layton Little got to know Schock their freshman year through being in the same pledge class. Little and Schock have become brothers through Sigma Chi over the last four years. According to Little, Schock is always reliable and humble. “Barrett is an all-smiles person all the time,” Little said. “He is someone in the chapter who is a leader without a formal leadership title, and I think that’s the best way to explain it because you don’t necessarily need a title to be a leader. That’s exactly what Barrett is within the chapter. He’s someone that I can always rely on, and he’s always there to help out and volunteer to do stuff without hesitation. I really appreciate that more than anything.” Attesting to Schock’s humbleness, Little said he was unaware Schock was running for homecoming king. “It really does boil back to how humble he is about everything,” Little said. “I didn’t even know he was running for homecoming king until he texted me about it the day of.” Assistant Director of Student Conduct Nick Gordon has had the opportunity to get to know Schock through the Student Conduct Board.

MISS Baldwin been very involved on campus in her time here; she was president of New Maroon Camp and is currently President of Undergrad Women in Business. She said she chose to apply for Miss MSU because she believes it represents every part of the student body. Ever since she was voted for by a panel of judges made up of MSU faculty and staff, Baldwin said she has been humbled and in awe of the honor. “It’s kind of a surreal feeling that when I am on the field Saturday, I’m going to be representing all the thousands of students that I have loved for the past four years and wished to better the environment around them, and that I get to represent them is just really awesome

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for me,” Baldwin said. “I would never have thought I would have been able to do that.” Baldwin has also been an ambassador for the MSU College of Business, and she said she is always looking for ways to productively volunteer her time. Her supervisor in the Office of Recruiting and Events for the College of

Business is Kelsey Waters. Waters said she has remained impressed with Baldwin’s work ethic and attitude for the entirety of their acquaintance. “She works hard, she’s creative and empowered, but at the same time, she is completely and totally humble,” Waters said. “I am so proud of her because I don’t think that anybody could have deserved it more.”

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you’re at on campus, you’re going to get a smile out of him and he’s going to put a smile on your face,” Martin said. “He’s such an intentional person; it’s honestly just a pleasure to be around him.” In August, the Alumni Delegates went on an annual retreat, where Martin got to know Schock better. “On our annual retreat is where I got to know Barrett very well this past August,” Martin said. “He is just one of those guys you can always count on. We have a lot of volunteer opportunities in Alumni Delegates, and Barrett is always going to have his hand up, and always getting involved and trying to make sure that not only is he present, but that he is intentional with everything. I really respect Barrett for who he is, not just as an Alumni Delegate, but as a student here at Mississippi State.” While Schock is steadily involved with the organizations on campus and lends a helping hand to anyone he meets, he can also be found playing intramural games. He spends a majority of his free time playing basketball, according to Little. “Barrett loves playing basketball,” Little said. “He absolutely loves playing it. I feel like he is always playing a game of basketball. Every time I see him, he is coming back from the Sanderson Center with a group of guys playing basketball.” According to Schock, he plays almost every intramural sport, and his goal is to become an

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orthopedic surgeon. “I’ve grown up around sports medicine, and I love athletics as well,” Schock said. “One of the main reasons I want to be a doctor is that I’ve always had this will to push others and help others become the best version of himself. After shadowing and seeing parts of the medical field, I definitely think medicine is my calling, and that is what I am meant to do. You can help people become their best in a healthy way with their medical needs and as people.” Gordon, Little and Martin all believe Schock is well-deserving of the title Homecoming King, and said he is a great representative of the student body. “For us to take the time to honor him on the field for one or two minutes is more than enough with how many hours he has given back to this university,” Little said. This weekend, when Schock is not playing basketball or serving one of the many organizations he is involved with, he will be celebrating Homecoming with his peers and family. Schock said he is honored to have been selected as the 2018 Homecoming King. “Going around meeting all of the different organizations around campus on Saturday will be a lot of fun,” Schock said. “I am very excited for the president’s dinner. I couldn’t think of a better way to end my time at MSU than as being selected by the student body to represent the university in such a special way.”

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“He was doing a service learning class and part of their requirements was to take part in an organization and learn from it,” Gordon said. “Students volunteer to help with hearings to help enforce the code of conduct.” According to Gordon, the students who are on the Student Conduct Board are expected to think critically, keep the community of MSU at the forefront of the decision-making process, express honesty and be punctual. Gordon said while Schock is a person whom he has relied on in the past, he was surprised Schock wanted to run for homecoming king. “I was somewhat shocked that he was up for homecoming king just because of how quiet and reserved he is when he is in the office,” Gordon said. “He is very respectful and says, ‘Yes ma’am, no ma’am, yes sir, no sir.’ He is a great representation of what at least the Dean of Students’ office looks for as far as a great representative of the student body.” Senior Andrew Martin, who is president of Alumni Delegates, met Schock in spring 2018 when he applied to the Alumni Delegates. “Barrett was one of the applicants that myself and my exec team saw as a worthy candidate,” Martin said. Like Gordon and Little, Martin said he believes Schock is a pleasant person. “In the short period of time that I’ve known Barrett, I’d say that Barrett is one of those guys where it doesn’t matter where

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Football looks to maintain consistency Homecoming Weekend Schedule: after their best performance of the year FRIDAY: Women’s basketball vs Missouri at 6 p.m.

MEGAN TERRY STAFF WRITER

Consistency, both on and off the field, is a key point the Mississippi State University football team has focused on throughout the season. Challenges have arose and players have had to overcome adversity throughout this season, making the MSU win versus Texas A&M a ‘silver lining,’ wrapped in maroon and white. Nick Fitzgerald, a senior quarterback from Richmond Hill, Georgia, shared his view on moving forward each game and focusing on the present moment. “You can’t let one game beat you twice, and after a game, you watch the film, you try to learn as much as you can from it and you move on from it,” Fitzgerald said. “You don’t think about the past, you don’t think about anything that happened last game or what’s going to happen next game, you just focus on what you’re doing in the moment.” Offensive coordinator coach Luke Getsy saw improvements in Fitzgerald’s ability and performance. “Nick did a really nice job taking control of the game, both running the football and throwing the football,” Getsy said. “I thought he was seeing the field really well.” Fitzgerald felt the team’s performance and his own had improved drastically, and they are becoming more comfortable with the new offense head coach Joe Moorhead brought to MSU. “I think we had a really good plan,” said Fitzgerald. “And we just went out there

Sorry, but I’m the King Bulldog around here!

vs LA Tech at 6:30 p.m. SATURDAY:Football (students wear white)

SUNDAY: Mens basketball vs Georgia

Southwestern State at 2 p.m.

Men’s basketball season starts up HUNTER CLOUD SPORTS EDITOR

Rosalind Hutton

and executed it.” Getsy saw a good level of physicality from the wide receivers during last Saturday’s game, and he feels he team played their best game of the season. “I thought the receivers did a really nice job. I know their statistics said they played the best game, but overall, I thought they really did,” Getsy said. “I thought they were playing fast, I thought they were playing physical, and it was both the run game and the pass game. I thought they played their best game.” Tucker Day, a sophomore punter from Brentwood, Tennessee, discussed his performance and how he anticipates improvement with a punting style change he is currently working on. He also included how he has seen the team grow, and expressed optimism toward the upcoming game this season.

“I understand that I have not had the best rookiepunting season as I have wanted to have, but I kind of see this as the coaches are trusting in me to do what I can do,” Day said. “They are giving me the opportunity to just go out there and play my type of game.” Day said he is excited to show the improvements he is making to his punting, and he feels the support from the team and coaches. Day said the coaching staff is doing everything they can to get the team ready to produce the best results. “The coaches, they want whatever is best for the team,” Day said. “They know what they’re doing.” MSU will play Louisiana Tech University at 6:30 p.m. Saturday for MSU’s Homecoming Game. SEC Network will broadcast the game, and Bulldogs will become bowl-game eligible if they win.

As the leaves turn golden and fall off the trees, the Mississippi State University men’s basketball team is gearing up to take the hardwood this weekend. They will play an exhibition game on Sunday and a game against Austin Peay State University a week later. Head coach Ben Howland said he purposely made their non-conference schedule this season much tougher than it was last season. “It already has me nervous hearing how good they are from everybody,” Howland said.”Their best player is a friend of Aric Holman. Both are from Kentucky, and they played with each other during the summer. The guy is really a good player, and I’m thinking down the road to our first of the year. Our schedule, our non-conference schedule, has purposely been much tougher from where it was a year ago. It’s a much harder schedule, and we have no easy games on there.” Howland also gave an injury update on Nick Weatherspoon, a sophomore guard from Canton, who returns to the team after

averaging 10.8 points per game in his freshman season. Weatherspoon injured his ankle in preseason practice and has been out for 16 days with a sprained ankle. “Weatherspoon is due to be back in practice today,” Howland said. “We’re excited about having him back. It’s actually a little earlier than we anticipated from when he initially hurt it. We feel like we’ve been pretty conservative and patient in, hopefully, getting this thing right before we put him back out there.” MSU goes into the season ranked at No. 19 in the USA Today pre-season polls. Howland said while it is good to be ranked, the team has to remember they have to show they deserve it in practices and games. “I think rankings are always nice going into the season, but in reality, a week from Friday they mean absolutely zilch,” Howland said. “It’s good notoriety for the program, and I think it’s nice that people have high expectations for this team and this group. You still have to go out and prove it.” Abdul Ado, a sophomore forward from Lagos, Nigeria, agreed with Howland, and he said the team will have to

compete in practice in order to compete on the court, since a lot of teams they play are at the same skill level, if not better. “Regardless, you have to bring it day in and day out,” Ado said. “A lot of teams are probably just as good as we are, if not better. We have to compete every day. It always starts in practice.” Aric Holman, a senior forward from Owensboro, Kentucky, said the team will also have to stay focused and fight for their wins every single week. Holman returns for his senior year after averaging 10.9 points per game and 6.7 rebounds per game. “At the end of the day, we still have to go out and do what we have to do,” Holman said. “We can’t get locked in and focused on things like that. We’re still a program that has to go out and fight every night. We have to keep thinking like that and take it one day at time.” The team will certainly have a chance to prove themselves this Sunday in their exhibition game against Georgia Southwestern State University. This game starts at 2 p.m. The Bulldogs will play Austin Peay at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 9, in Humphrey Coliseum.