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135th YEAR ISSUE 21
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
Attempted kidnapping report Man exposes himself at Moe’s, flees from police proven fraudulent HANNAH BLANKENSHIP NEWS EDITOR
HANNAH BLANKENSHIP NEWS EDITOR
A tweet was posted on the evening of Nov. 6 describing an attempted kidnapping of a female student earlier that day and warning Mississippi State University students to be careful on campus. However, the attempted kidnapping detailed in the social media post has since been proved completely fraudulent. According to the MSU Police Department Chief of Police Vance Rice, around 3:15 p.m. on Nov. 6, a female student called in to report a suspicious older male who approached her and asked her if she wanted to see “the oldest book in the world.” The student told police she thought the man might be
selling Bibles but that he still seemed out of place. She said she would like for it to be checked out but that it was not an emergency. After about an hour, according to MSU Chief Communications Officer, Sid Salter, the university received a call from a parent concerned that a Maroon Alert had not been issued about the attempted kidnapping on campus. Later that evening, a male student posted a tweet that said, “Y’all be extremely safe on MSU campus. There was an attempted kidnapping in broad daylight by steak n shake. White van with a Missouri tag. Three men tried to grab a girl. Ladies be extremely careful and men try to walk with them. RT and spread REPORT, 2 awareness.”
Last week, customers at the Moe’s Southwest Grill on Mississippi State University’s campus got a little more than they bargained for when a man exposed himself in line. According to the MSU Police Department Chief of Police Vance Rice, the individual “pulled it out” in Moe’s and fled the scene when Moe’s employees were on the phone reporting the incident. Mya Harvey, the cashier on duty that witnessed the event, said she ran to the back of the store and told her manager who then called the police. When Harvey and her manager returned to the front of the store, the man had already fled. “I was scared to come back to the front because I didn’t want him to remember
Mary Georgia Hamilton| The Reflector
A man, later identified as a convicted rapist, fled from MSU police after indecently exposing himself in the Moeʼs Southwest Grill on campus.
my face,” Harvey said. Unfortunately for the perpetrator, the MSU Police Department is located directly across the street from Moe’s, which allowed officers to immediately engage in foot pursuit of the suspect. After a foot chase that took the man around the police station where he attempted to enter the
station’s back door, the man managed to make it to his vehicle. One of the MSU PD officers attempted to bust the suspect’s car window with his baton, but the window did not break. The man pulled out and drove away. “It was wild there for a few minutes,” Rice said. “He got back to his car which was parked down here and he
had backed it in so he was able to pull right out. As he’s getting into the car, one of my officers pulled his baton and tried to bust his window but the window didn’t break and so he was still able to get in and take off,” Rice said. Sid Salter, MSU’s Chief Communications Officer, confirmed the story. MOEʼS, 2
When in Rome: Keenum, FAO fight global food insecurity EMMA KING
STAFF WRITER
A tweet detailing the attempted abduction of a female student circulated social media last week until being proved fraudulent. The student responsible for the false report was arrested.
Sociologist Ted Thornhill presents on racism in college admissions BEN MACKIN STAFF WRITER
Tuesday afternoon in the Griffis Hall Forum Room, Ted Thornhill, a sociologist from Florida Gulf Coast University, presented a talk titled “We Want Black Students, Just Not You: How White Admissions Counselors Screen Black Prospective Students” as a part of the Mississippi State University Race in America lecture series. Thornhill, an associate professor at FGCU, presented the findings of his 2016 research with the same title. In his research, Thornhill found that white college admissions counselors were less likely to respond to the emails of black prospective students who were committed to antiracism than black students who were racially apolitical. Thornhill’s research and teaching have been covered widely by the media on outlets such as The
Washington Post, CNN and Forbes. Thornhill said he believed his presentation would give students a better understanding of contemporary racism. “I think students will be able to develop a more sophisticated understanding of race and racism, particularly contemporary forms of racism as opposed to simply understanding racism as racial prejudice and conflating racism with racial prejudice,” Thornhill said. Thornhill’s study involved sending over 1,000 fake letters from high school students with names that, in the minds of the counselors, were associated with their race. The letters expressed different levels of racial salience, or the level in which race figures into the identity of oneself. The non-racially salient student expressed an interest in environmental activism, while the racially salient student expressed an interest in anti-racist activism. RACISM, 2
Hemant Ganti | The Reflector
Ted Thornhill presented his research on racism in college admissions Tuesday in Griffis Hall.
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Mississippi State University President Mark E. Keenum delivered a speech at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization headquarters in Rome last week. Keenum described the strides research institutions like MSU have made to address global challenges such as hunger and poverty. “American universities, and particularly landgrant institutions such as Mississippi State University, are well equipped to help governments, international organizations like FAO, the private business sector and NGOs (non-governmental organizations) in addressing these pervasive problems,” Keenum said. “Landgrant universities have knowledge, infrastructure and experience pertinent to every aspect of the food chain, from the laboratory
to the farm to the market to the table. Our challenge is to bring our resources to bear on critical global issues.” Keenum’s professional past boasts of a strong background in food security, including his past service as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services for the United States Department of Agriculture. This passion for agricultural development is also highlighted in Keenum’s current career as a chairman for both the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research and the Board of International Food and Agriculture Development. Keenum said he believes agriculture is one solution to the many challenges of the 21st century. “We know that agriculture is a key to transforming developing nations and reducing poverty,” Keenum said.
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Allison Matthews | Courtesy Photo
MSU President Mark Keenum met with FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu last week in Rome.
‘God’s Not Dead’ author speaks at alma mater JOHN LEE
STAFF WRITER
The hotly contested statement “God’s not dead,” was discussed in detail on Monday night in Mississippi State University’s Bettersworth Auditorium. The discussion was led by Rice Broocks, the author of the book and inspiration behind the movie series with the same name called “God’s Not Dead,” and Michael Guillen, Emmy-Awardwinning journalist and former science editor of ABC News for 14 years. Guillen and Broocks spent the evening talking to students and faculty members about the evidence for how God exists and how he is not dead. The debate on whether or not God exists has always been prominent. AUTHOR, 2
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Gracie Bell | The Reflector
Rice Broocks and Michael Guillen presented evidence based off of the book ʻGodʼs Not Deadʼ in Bettersworth Auditorium Monday.
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He said MSU PD officers nearly caught the man before he made it to his car. “They came within steps of apprehending him on the west end of the Junction but he got into a running car and was able to escape,” Salter said. From there, the man drove his car down the pathway in front of the Marketplace at Perry and almost ran into two students. He then turned right down Creelman Street and crashed through the gate arms that block the road during business hours. “There were two (students) that stepped out and one just happened to be looking that way, had headphones on, took two steps back and he went right in front of him,” Rice said. While the perpetrator managed to evade the police, there is a warrant out for his arrest for felony fleeing along with a misdemeanor charge for indecent exposure, Rice said. Police were able to track down the identity of the suspect through the tags on his car, and, according to Rice, the suspect had been previously convicted of statutory rape. Rice stressed the importance of the public partnering with the police to keep their community safe. “Even if we don’t find them, thank you for reporting it so we can (have a chance),” Rice said. “If you don’t report it there’s no chance that we can ever do anything.”
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RACISM
Thornhill found that counselors were much more likely to respond to nonracially or moderately racially salient students than racially salient students. For example, white male counselors responded to black female students interested in environmental activism twice as much as they responded to black female students interested in anti-racism. A question and answer session followed Thornhill’s discussion with both students and faculty members asking questions. These questions ranged from his methodology to his views on contemporary
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racism. Margaret Hagerman, an assistant professor of sociology and the organizer of the Race in America lecture series, said she thought Thornhill would have a lot to share with MSU students. “Thornhill is a nationally renowned scholar of racism,” Hagerman said. “His work has been recently published in a top sociology journal, and his work has crossed over to the public. He’s appeared in all kinds of media outlets. I think his research is innovative in its methodological approach, and I think the findings are particularly important
for institutions of higher education.” Thornhill was the second guest speaker in the Race in America lecture series. Earlier this semester, MSU alumnus Daedric T. Williams, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, shared his research on family structure and racial inequity. Hagerman said the series is an opportunity for MSU students and faculty members to learn about scholars who study race and their research. Genesis Ferris, a sophomore criminology major from Philadelphia,
Mississippi, said Thornhill’s presentation made her aware of aspects she did not know about college admissions. “Originally, my admissions experience was kind of easy,” Ferris said. “They accepted it right away, but I feel like that has something to do with my race. I am Native American as well. I know most people don’t know this, but when federally funded schools let Native Americans in, they get more federal money. So, the bigger the Native American population at that school, the more money they get. I was kind of interested in the race side of admissions that he was talking about rather than all
AUTHOR According to Guillen and Broocks, this debate is between people of faith and people of science. During the presentation, Broocks talked about his past and how he was not always very religious. “It was on this campus that I had that moment of what I’d call ‘a lightning strike of spirituality,’ because before I was definitely not that guy,” Broocks said. “I grew up being forced to go to church, my older brother became an atheist and went on to get a master’s degree in psychology, and he made it his hobby to harass Christians, and try his best to get you un-baptized. So, when people ask me where the ‘God’s Not Dead’ books and movies came
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from, I’ll tell them that it all came down to an encounter I had at Mississippi State with a Christian at the Baptist Student Union.” The Christian that led Broocks to this spiritual awakening, Greg Anthony, was also in the auditorium during the talk. “My life changed after that night,” Broocks said. “The challenge after that was getting through to my family about my new Christian faith. My brother came home from law school to study the Bible and pick out all the mistakes. He eventually got baptized.” Broocks started working on campuses and eventually went on to write “God’s Not Dead.” Guillen made sure to
say this presentation was not a seminar on the Bible. Instead, it was a cumulative case on whether or not God exists. He used the phrase “if everything came from nothing” frequently during his discussion. He said a lot of scientists use the same argument that the universe just appeared from nothing. “It’s been proven that the universe, specifically earth itself, was expertly designed and perfectly balanced to be able to hold life,” Guillen said. “There’s so much evidence that it all was crafted by an intelligent being, something of a much higher power.” Guillen and Broocks went on to show the audience several different videos that broke down the evidence for
God. The videos included information such as the existence of Jesus as a real person, the historical fact of his crucifixion, his followers claiming they saw Jesus alive after he rose from the dead and his empty tomb found by his female followers early on Easter morning. They concluded the presentation by holding a question and answer panel for audience members that still had questions. Homs Callen, an MSU student attending the presentation, said he was happy he took the time to listen to Broocks and Guillen. “I really enjoyed this presentation,” Callen said. “I’m Christian anyway, and
REPORT MSU PD had no reports at this time of an attempted kidnapping and responded on their twitter saying, “No, none, zero, attempted kidnappings have been reported to @msstatepd. We would advise if one was.” MSU PD tracked down the source of the information in the student’s tweet, and around 1 a.m. the next morning, the female who called in earlier gave the police a different story. The alleged victim said a man grabbed her when two other
I believe in the theology of a lot of this stuff, and the scientific evidence that Dr. Broocks and Dr. Guillen provided was a little more reassuring of my faith, and how just one change, a tiny little shift in the balance, can make a difference in what’s happening right now.” Callen said he hopes that people will give this presentation a chance in the future, even if they don’t believe in God or a higher power. “I would absolutely recommend this event to others,” Callen said. “If you’re an atheist, a deist, and whatever you believe in or don’t believe in, and have just two hours, it’s definitely worth it.” CONTINUED FROM 1
men came up and attempted to put her in a van that had pulled up. She said she fought, screamed and eventually got loose while several workers ran over to help her. However, investigators reviewed security camera footage and determined the story to be false. Camera footage shows the female walking out of the parking lot and crossing the street near the Roberts Building. There is no sign of any of the events she described. The alleged victim,
Karli Stringer, a senior communication major, was arrested the following day for falsely reporting a crime and released shortly after on a signature bond. The Reflector reached out to Stringer for a comment but did not receive a reply. Rice stressed the importance of only posting information on social media if you were a witness or victim of the altercation since secondhand information can be easily misunderstood and misconstrued.
“Never post anything on social media that you don’t have first-hand information of,” Rice said. Rice said disseminators of false information can be held criminally and civically liable if damages resulting from the false information can be proved. Rice did not deny that incidents like the one reported happen, but he stressed the importance of immediately reporting such incidents. “I’ve seen it happen
and I’ve seen it happen on university campuses, where a young lady does get abducted during the day. It can happen, but it didn’t happen here and it didn’t happen now but it can and if it does we need to know right away to try and locate these people and get them out of here as soon as possible,” Rice said. Rice said the university received several calls from parents saying their daughters were afraid to leave their rooms because of the, now known to be false, attempted
ROME “We also know that for the United States, investing in international agriculture aid pays dividends domestically.” According to their website, the FAO is an organization dedicated to achieving a future without world hunger, poverty or malnutrition. It seeks to obtain this with the help of partner organizations like MSU in a sustainable manner. During his time in Rome, Keenum also signed agreements expanding MSU’s partnership with the FAO. Three new programs that offer international internships and partnerships for students, alumni and faculty members will be created from the agreements. MSU Provost and Executive Vice President David Shaw, who was in
the other stuff.” Thornhill’s presentation was the final lecture in the Race in America lecture series for 2019. The series is sponsored by the MSU Department of Sociology, MSU College of Arts & Sciences and the Loftin Fund. Hagerman said the goal of the lecture series was to provide an opportunity for people to learn. “Regardless of your major, this lecture series is an opportunity to listen to some of the cutting-edge research about the topic of race in America, which is a very controversial and important topic,” Hagerman said.
kidnapping. Salter said false reports of crime become a serious problem when they take up university resources and have the potential to incite panic. “It’s just not a good idea for people to get creative with things that they report to police or post on social media that would have the effect of creating fear and panic among our student body, among our faculty and staff and among our adjacent townspeople here in Starkville,” Salter said. CONTINUED FROM 1
attendance with Keenum during the FAO meetings, said he sees enormous opportunity for the current and future MSU students in the expanded partnership. “We see immense opportunities for our students to gain experience that they simply couldn’t get through other mechanisms, helping them better understand both the issues and be part of solutions that are developed,” Shaw said. “We see lifechanging opportunities through these internships.” According to Shaw, the world population is set to reach 10 billion people by 2050. Shaw said he believes every discipline on MSU’s campus is capable of meeting any upcoming challenges. “Every college on our
campus has capability relevant to addressing the many challenges of a growing world,” Shaw said. “I’m very proud of the way our faculty and students are recognizing the responsibility we have and applying their expertise to develop solutions.” Shaw said MSU’s dedication to finding global solutions to hunger and poverty comes directly from Keenum’s firsthand experience with the reality of both, and that his passion has allowed the university to become more engaged and collaborative with its partners. Director of the International Institute and Interim Vice President for Research and Economic Development Julie Jordan also joined Keenum and Shaw
in Rome. Jordan said the three MSU representatives met with existing university partners, including the University of Rome Tor Vergata and the University of Arkansas Rome Center, throughout the fourday trip. In the days following the FAO meeting, Keenum, Shaw and Jordan attended meetings with Jennifer Harhigh, deputy chief of Mission to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations Agencies in Rome, and David Beasley, executive director of the UN World Food Program. Back at home, MSU is contributing to research and development for new solutions to centuries-old issues. Jordan said, as a top10 agricultural research
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institution, MSU is home to the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Fish, a project by the U.S. Agency for International Development that’s focused on improving aquacultures and fisheries in a group of target counties in Africa and Southeast Asia. According to Jordan, this is only one in a list of research endeavors MSU is currently undertaking. “We have researchers developing SMART farms in Ghana through the Soybean Innovation Lab enhancing small farmer livelihoods. Our veterinarians are helping address transboundary animal health issues and working with the FAO to establish best practices for animal health during natural disasters and other crises,” Jordan said. “These international programs have a direct, positive impact on agriculture and food security in developing nations.” Provost Shaw also acknowledged the efforts
MSU is making for food security on campus and within the community. “In addition to national and international initiatives, I’m proud of the steps we are taking to address food insecurity and hunger on our campus and in our community,” Shaw said. “Programs like Block by Block and Maroon Meals are helping our students connect with the food resources they may need.” Shaw said the expanded partnerships with the FAO could be the first step toward many more future collaborations. “I see many more opportunities for our students and faculty in Rome in our future, and I’m excited about the momentum we have with study abroad, student and faculty exchanges and other international engagement activities,” Shaw said. “These programs enrich us as individuals and as an institution.”
THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2019 @REFLECTORONLINE
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tor 11/15/19 Crossword
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SUDOKU
An In-Class Distraction
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15 16 14 Fancy marbles Many miles away 17 19 18 Watering can part 20 21 Certain hockey shot 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Curse Clear, as a disk 31 32 30 Dominant 34 35 33 Cast a ballot River to Donegal 36 37 38 Bay Meditative sect 39 40 41 42 Dates 44 45 43 Vocalizers Departs 48 46 47 Possesses Bottom line 49 50 Farm units 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 Sweeping Gallows reprieve 59 60 61 Washday problem Tonic’s partner 63 64 62 Ran, as colors Copyright ©2019 PuzzleJunction.com Young bears Chills and fever 64 Margin 12 Finish, with “up” 40 Top-notch Altercation 13 Rocker Nugent 42 Born Tumult Down 18 Most basic 44 Give-and-take, Sonic follower 21 Brass component orally Catapult 22 High note 1 Sugar amt. 45 Tiny village United States 2 Fla. neighbor 23 Shut off 47 Coffee shop order mathematician 3 Card game for 24 Reindeer 48 Raccoon relative Opaque gem two 25 Pizza places 50 Neighbor of Indivisible 4 Hot springs 26 Boar Sudan Unwakable state 27 Accord 5 Cancels 51 And so forth Make into law 6 Roman deities 28 ___ available 52 Zero Take exception 29 Sow’s pen 7 Diarist Frank 53 Gobbled up Church offering 31 Codeine source 8 Abbr. after a 54 Chinese tea Can’t stomach name 34 Incite 55 Before, of yore Sheepskin leather 35 Aspersions 9 Good craps rolls 56 The land of ___ Transparent 10 Antler point 38 Savage 57 Joke Mine entrance 11 Feedbag morsel 39 Soup container 58 Compass pt.
November 12 Puzzle Solutions
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2019 @REFLECTORONLINE
OPINION
Conservatism is distinct from the alt-right
MORNING
MAZE
mainstream conservatism for not advocating on behalf of white supremacy, the intellectual honesty of those on the left who accuse conservatives of being members of the alt-right should be called into question. In addition to the alt-right denouncing conservatism as philosophy, important members of the conservative movement have been directly attacked by the alt-right. One of the leading alt-right websites has called political pundit Ben Shapiro, “an enemy Jew who wants to eradicate the white race.” Charlie Kirk, president of Turning Point USA, has been referred to by the same leading alt-right website that denounced Shapiro as an “evil Hebrew operative” after he defended the state of Israel. If the alt-right supposedly agrees with conservatives like Shapiro and Kirk, why would the alt-right attack them? The answer stems from the fact the alt-right does not really agree with mainstream conservatism. Alt-right is not a political philosophy. Instead, it is an identity of racism. Shapiro and Kirk support Jewish interests, and the altright does not; therefore, Shapiro and Kirk are viewed as enemies. Politics take a back
seat to race and identities, separating the alt-right from mainstream conservatism. Equating the two is a recipe for political division which results in unproductive namecalling. According to Joseph A. Wulfsohn from Fox News, The Economist published an interview with Ben Shapiro that was titled “Inside the Mind of Ben Shapiro, the altright sage without the rage.” The same year, Shapiro was the number one critic of the alt-right from mainstream conservatives and the number one target for anti-Semitic attacks among journalists. Either the Economist did not properly conduct their research or, worse, aimed to maliciously label Ben Shapiro as a white supremacist. Eventually, this headline was retracted by The Economist, but the damage had already been done. Using the term altright as a weapon to smear opposition diminishes the actions of the true racist and white-supremacist actions of the alt-right. The left should end the equivocation of conservatism to the alt-right. Instead, the left should work with conservatives to combat the racism and hate espoused by the alt-right.
“When I make a film, I am hoping to reinvent the genre a little bit. I just do it my way. I make my own little Quentin versions of them... I consider myself a student of cinema. It’s almost like I am going for my professorship in cinema, and the day I die is the day I graduate. It is a lifelong study.”
Trivia Time! 1. An Astronomical Unit is the mean distance between the center of what two objects? 2. What igneous rock has a density less than water? 3. Which U.S. President made the first telephone call to the moon? 4. The nation of Brunei is located on the north coast of which island? 5. What French sculptor created the Statue of Liberty?
Answer: 1. The Sun and the Earth 2. Pumice 3.
A
Quentin Tarantino
Former Presidetn Richard Nixon 4. Borneo 5.
Richard Spencer, president of the National Policy Institute, recently came under fire for spewing racist comments and white supremacist remarks on a leaked audio tape. This revelation should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with Spencer and his political ideology. Richard Spencer is one of the most prominent figures in the political fringe-group known as the alternative right, a radical facet to the mainstream American right. The alt-right advocates for openly racist policies, white supremacy and is responsible for the 2017 rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The alt-right is a minority extremist group that wants to reestablish white, European culture and heritage within the United States. According to the altright, the United States was created by white Europeans, for white Europeans, and as a result, the destiny of the nation is reserved for white Europeans. As disgusting as their overt racism is, America’s more liberal counterpart, the left, has a tendency to equate mainstream conservatism to these radical viewpoints. People like Donald Trump and Ben Shapiro have been labeled as alt-right by political opponents. Despite this, Trump and Shapiro not only been targeted by the alt-right, but they have also denounced the beliefs of the alt-right. It is easy to label a political opponent as alt-right. In doing so, all of the negative stereotypes are now attached
REFLECTIONS
Rosalind Hutton
Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi
MICHAEL BOURGEOIS
is a sophomore majoring in English. Contact him at opinion@reflector. msstate.edu.
to that person. An easy way to win any debate against an opponent is to attack the opponent themselves. The traditional conservative right does not ascribe to the same political belief system of the alt-right because the altright does not have a political philosophy. Racist views alone are not a political platform, and this is all that the alt-right offers in terms of political opinions. The fascination on identity politics by most altright thinkers is the major difference between their group and the traditional conservative right. How the alt-right and conservatives see the issue of race is one of the divides in political ideologies. For the alt-right, race is the only issue that matters. Ramon Lopez of National Affairs writes, “According to the alt-right, multicultural or multiracial democracies — indeed, all pluralistic societies — are recipes for conflict and disaster.” This is contrary to the conservative way of thinking. Conservatives typically place no value on the issue of race. In their minds, America without multiculturalism is fundamentally un-American. Identity politics place the unimportant issue of skin color or ethnicity at the forefront. As a result, the true meaning within political discussion gets lost. The alt-right recognizes this and attacks the conservative right for not agreeing with their extremist views. According to the AntiDefamation League, “People who identify with the Alt Right regard mainstream or traditional conservatives as weak and impotent, largely because they do not sufficiently support racism and anti-Semitism.” When an overtly racist institution that follows altright ideology criticizes
Source: trivia.fyi
The Saints are the best team in the NFL
DANIEL DYE
is a sophomore majoring in biological sciences. Contact him at opinion@reflector. msstate.edu.
Source: mazegenerator.net
Every week, people from all over the world tune in to watch the National Football League as the teams compete to make playoffs and be crowned national champions. The athleticism from every player and the high stakes of each game make each season as entertaining as the last. Down in New Orleans, however, the fans have more reasons to be excited because the Saints have the best fan base and community in the league. The Saints find their identity in New Orleans. The franchise was founded in 1966, and they have played in the Superdome since 1975. For the first 39 seasons, the Saints have only made the playoffs five times, and they have only won once. Despite the lack of success, New Orleans has stuck with the team. This loyalty could most fervently be seen throughout 2005 and 2006. According to Kennedi Landry from SB Nation, the management
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of the Saints considered a relocation in April 2005, but they were met with heavy criticism from their fan base. Making things even worse, Hurricane Katrina ravaged the New Orleans area in 2005 just before the beginning of the season. During the storm, New Orleans locals took shelter in the Superdome, putting the venue out of commission. Now without a home in New Orleans, the Saints were forced to split their 2005 season between San Antonio and Baton Rouge, during which they performed considerably worse. According to ESPN, the Saints finished with 9-7, 8-8 and 8-8 records during 2002, 2003 and 2004. During 2005, the Saints finished the season 3-13. This proves New Orleans is the only home for the Saints. Right before the 2006 season, it was announced that the Saints hired new head coach, Sean Payton, and the newly renovated Superdome opened once again. The team was now led by former San
Diego Chargers quarterback, Drew Brees, a player who was marred with a potential career-ending injury during the previous season. Following all these changes, it was clear that the fans were still there as season tickets sold-out for the first time in franchise history. Back at home and with the New Orleans community, the game resulted in a “rebirth”; the Saints beat their undefeated rivals, the Atlanta Falcons. Following the triumphant return to the Dome, the momentum for the Saints only grew as they went into their 2009 season. They started 13-0 and went on to win the Superbowl for the first time in franchise history. The years following 2009 have had some questionable moments. Bountygate, a teamwide scandal involving dirty hits that resulted in the season-long suspension of Sean Payton, set the team back in 2010. Despite the scandal, fans remained loyal, ticket sales kept up and the Saints kept marching. For the
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Life Editor/Mary Madeline LaMastus
Opinion Editor/Dylan Bufkin Sports Editor/Hunter Cloud
Rosalind Hutton
last nine seasons, they have made the playoffs five times. Ups and downs have been a part of the franchise. Since the comeback of the team, there have been many, many ups and many, many downs, but that is part of being a Saints fan. One player, in particular, has served as a symbol for the Saints’ comeback. As previously mentioned, Drew Brees was picked up before the 2006 season. He was injured and potentially lost his career. As the years went on, Brees seemed to only get better. Drew Brees has broken the completion percentage record twice, has beaten every team in the league and, most notably, has become the NFL’s all-time passing leader. Off the field, Drew Brees has done just as much for the community, founding the Brees Dream Foundation which helped rebuild homes the New Orleans community after Hurricane Katrina. The Saints are an example of the type of comeback story that everybody loves: a losing franchise and recovering city led by a quarterback recovering from a potentially careerending injury went on to win the Superbowl. As a Saints fan, I may be biased, but the environment in New Orleans is unbeatable. Regardless of how the game turns out, the fans never really lose, and I am proud to be one.
Circulation/Sierra Pruitt circulation@reflector.msstate.edu
Letters to the editor should be sent to the Meyer Student Media Center or mailed to The Reflector, PO Box 5407, Mississippi State, MS. Letters may also be emailed to editor@reflector. msstate.edu. Letters must include name and telephone number for verification purposes. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.
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LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT
5
Bob Swanson: instructor and ‘Singing Weatherman’
MARY MADELINE LAMASTUS
“I wouldn’t be
LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Mississippi State University students enrolled in a physical science course take their seats for their 10 a.m. class. After discussing the previous material and homework, the instructor moves behind the desk, grabbing a guitar and a blazer that is decorated with felt clouds and glittery lightning bolts. He straps the guitar around his body and tunes it. The college students quietly giggle, but no eyebrows are raised. They know what awaits them with this instructor’s style of lecturing. Within minutes, on a regular Wednesday morning in a physical science lecture, the instructor and students are singing lyrics together such as “How hot is it? It’s so hot!” The instructor is Bob Swanson, also known as “Singing Weatherman,” “Stormin’ Swanson,” “Singing Swanson” or, simply, Mr. Swanson. Swanson’s lectures are anything but average, and the genesis of his teaching style can be traced back to his two generally culturally opposed careers: scientist and artist. Swanson’s resume is evidence of his varied interests and knowledge. The Pennsylvania-native earned his bachelor’s degree in physics and philosophy with a minor in mathematics from the University of Scranton. He then went on to earn his master’s degree in meteorology from Pennsylvania State University. After completing his master’s, he taught high school students science in Maryland, worked as a weatherman in Pennsylvania, Arkansas and Tennessee and worked for USA Today in Washington, D.C. After a lot of migrating, Swanson eventually found himself back in Mississippi to be closer to family. That is when he started working as a college instructor. His venture into his musical weather education began during his time as a television meteorologist. Elementary teachers would call the television station to ask for a meteorologist to talk to the students, and one day, he was assigned to a classroom of preschoolers. “I’d never really dealt with three and four-yearolds, and it was a disaster,” Swanson said while laughing.
surprised if in 10 or 20 years we don’t see someone on a space shuttle, giving a thank you speech, and Bob Swanson is the first name off their lips.” Loraine Walker, SPL Children’s Librarian
Mary Madeline LaMastus | The Reflector
MSU instructor and ‘Singing Weatherman’ Bob Swanson plays his guitar and sings his original song ‘Waitin’ for Better Weather Blues.’
“I thought, ‘If I’m going to survive doing this, I need to spice up my act.’” “Spice up” is exactly what Swanson did. “I went back to my apartment and tried to write a weather song. I wrote a couple, a song called ‘The Weather Riddle Song’ and ‘The Weather Wiggle’ and I was nervous about them. I sheepishly played them at my next classroom talk, and pretty soon the teachers and librarians were calling in the station asking for ‘the guy with the guitar,’” Swanson said. Eventually, Swanson was performing anywhere from 80-100 weather shows a year, doing them mostly in his own time because of his new-found love of live performance. “You find actors who
really don’t like television; they prefer stage performance. I’m the same way. I’m not crazy about film, because I like the immediate feedback and the interaction of a live audience. On television, you might be going into thousands of homes, but you have no idea how they’re receiving the information. You can’t tell their response when you’re staring into a camera,” Swanson said. Swanson started as a vocalist with a guitar, but now he has progressed his musical abilities to mandolin, harmonica, banjo and accordion. “I find it physically rewarding. I enjoy the feel of playing,” Swanson said. Bob Swanson might have different names, but no matter his title, his mission as a performer and a scientist is
the same: to teach people how to think. “I try to communicate to my students that the scientific method is not restricted to those who work in laboratories. It’s all too often packaged as that, but it’s really just the critical thinking skills we employ every day of our lives,” Swanson said. “No matter what career you are in, the more you can understand your prejudices and biases— we can’t eliminate them—but the more you can be aware of them and account for them, that will make you, in my mind, a better person. Certainly, a better student.” This belief is tangibly reflected on Swanson’s guitar. The front of his instrument reads, “THIS MACHINE SURROUNDS CERTAINTY AND FORCES IT TO THINK
AGAIN.” Swanson explained the quote is an allusion to past musicians, such as Woody Guthrie’s guitar that bore the inscription, “This machine kills fascists.” He hopes the quote will cause his audience to examine their own certainties. “The things we are most certain about, how did we arrive at that? That’s one thing I try to communicate to my students, by giving them tools to drill down. That will make us better scientists, better students, better human beings,” Swanson said. “This applies to our politics and all the things that cause strife. If more people had the tools to step back and assess their own beliefs, they might realize their reasons for believing ‘X’ might not be so wellfounded.” Swanson even has an entire lecture dedicated to this topic called “I Can’t Believe I Believed That: Facts and Fallacies in Physics and Astronomy.” “These are things that I once taught to my students as fact because I thought they were true, only to realize later on that I had either taught them incorrectly or incompletely. Having the humility and ability to take that in has made me a much better teacher, and I hope my students can pick up on the sincerity and the honesty in that,” Swanson said. According to Loraine Walker, the children’s librarian for the Starkville Public Library, his fame might one day reach that of past musicians’ but for a much
different reason. “He is the next Bill Nye or the next Neil deGrasse Tyson, who is spreading the word about science in a fun way. I wouldn’t be surprised if in 10 or 20 years we don’t see someone on a space shuttle, giving a thank you speech, and Bob Swanson is the first name off their lips,” Walker said. Andrea Berryhill, a freshman education major and one of Swanson’s students, also recognizes the unique nature of Swanson’s methods. “I’ll always remember his singing because he loves to sing. But I’ll mostly remember how he tells us to go out into the world and think of things in a scientific way. He says, ‘Ask yourself questions about why things happen,’” Berryhill said. Berryhill has also caught on to the humility Swanson encourages. “The first day of class he said, ‘This is a class that’s going to change your perspective on things, so are you going to be willing to change your perspective?’ He wants us to keep an open mind about science and our beliefs,” Berryhill said. Berryhill plans to be an elementary school teacher and noted Swanson has shown support and given advice for her in their similar career path. Those interested in contacting Bob Swanson for a performance, hearing his music or purchasing a CD can visit his website, www. storminswanson.com.
Coffee lovers will fall for these autumn drinks GRACIE BYRNE STAFF WRITER
Jordan Smith | The Reflector
“What’s the Fizz” is a seasonal drink at Nine-Twentynine Coffee Bar. The drink includes grapefruit-infused cold brew, club soda and fresh rosemary.
Autumn is here, and seasonal drinks are back in Starkville’s coffee shops. No matter what you like, there is a fall drink for you. In Starkville, finding fall drinks is not an issue as the area has several different coffee shops ready to brew on command. Starkville is home to Strange Brew Coffeehouse and Nine-Twentynine Coffee Bar. International coffee chain Starbucks can also be found in two locations, with one on Hwy. 12 and the other on Mississippi State University’s campus. Milo King, a coffee manager at Nine-Twentynine Coffee Bar, has worked as a barista for a year and a half. His favorite fall drink from Nine-Twentynine is The Cold Fashioned. “It’s really interesting because it’s different,” King said. “We made a hickory brown sugar syrup to go in it, and it’s kinda like an ice cappuccino style drink.” King said fall drinks, such as The Cold Fashioned, were curated by management before being released to the public. “It’s got the expresso, the hickory syrup, it’s got milk,
it’s served over a little bit of ice and some hot foam on top,” King said. “So, you’re getting a little bit of that cold, little bit of that warm and it’s perfect for the fall.” The drink is also spritzed with orange bitters and garnished with a spiced cherry. This drink would be good for someone who enjoys a pure coffee taste with a natural, fruity kick to it. It would also be good for someone who cannot decide between a hot and cold beverage because the drink is both hot and cold. Hannah Ellis, a junior psychology major, has worked as a barista at Strange Brew for more than two years. Her favorite fall drink from Strange Brew is the Maple Harvest. “I really like maple syrup in anything, so having that and caramel is also my favorite,” Ellis said. “It’s just a really good combination.” Ellis said she likes Strange Brew’s three flavor drinks because it gives them a little bit more flavor. The Maple Harvest contains espresso, steamed milk, caramel, maple and brown sugar cinnamon. Adding ice to the drink is optional. This drink is perfect
for someone who likes the simple flavor of maple syrup transfused into a warm beverage. It is also good for fans of cinnamon. Izaac Johnson is a resident of Starkville who has frequented Starbucks for three years now. He has been a customer since he was a student at MSU, and he goes now as a working adult. While Johnson is not one to stray away from his usual order of a vanilla latte, he said he likes the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew that his wife gets. “I’ve tried hers and it’s pretty good,” Johnson said. “It’s just different, it’s good to switch it up when it’s seasonal.” The Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew is made with iced coffee, vanilla syrup, topped with pumpkin cream cold foam and dusted with pumpkin spice topping. This is a drink for someone who may have always gone for the classic Pumpkin Spice Latte. It is not exactly a Pumpkin Spice Latte, but it contains similar components. It is a perfect twist to a classic. These autumn drinks are seasonal, so Starkville residents should seize the opportunity to enjoy them before they are gone until next year.
6-Sports SPORTS 6
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Schaefer honors his father, ‘The Colonel,’ veterans BRIANNA WALKER STAFF WRITER
Earlier this week, America paid homage to both living veterans and veterans who are no longer with us. On that day, Mississippi State University unveiled chairs that serve as immortalized tributes to prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action in Davis Wade Stadium, Dudy Noble Field and the Humphrey Coliseum. “It was really an honor to be in the building tonight,” head coach of MSU’s women’s basketball team, Vic Schaefer, said. During Monday night’s game against the University of Tennessee at Martin, Schaefer spoke about how
much of an honor it was to be a part of this moment. He also spoke about how great the gesture was. “I know my father, who’s now deceased, was a veteran who loved his country,” Schaefer said. “I grew up loving my country. We have so many veterans a part of this great university, and I know it was a great gesture on our part. It was an honor to be a part of the night, and I’m proud of our kids for the way they played.” Proudly sporting an American flag tie, Schaefer spoke about his father, “The Colonel,” who was a war veteran. He said his father served for 32 years, fighting in the European theatre of World War II.
Schaefer went on to speak about someone who is a dear friend to him, Gene Smith from West Point, who was a prisoner of war for six years. Schaefer said he admires Smith as he recalled the 83-year-old’s stories about combat. “To live like he had to live for six and a half years, it really gives you an unbelievable perspective on things,” Schaefer said. “It’s an honor and humbling to be around him, he is one of my dearest friends.” The five newly unveiled chairs represent the five branches of the military. The Chair of Honor will be unveiled Saturday during MSU’s Military Appreciation football game against the University
Aaron Cornia| MSU Athletics
This POW/MIA chair was unveiled by MSU on Monday night at the Humphrey Coliseum.
Column: Thank you to our veterans
Rosalind Hutton
HUNTER CLOUD
is a junior majoring in communication. Contact him at reflectorsports@gmail.com
Lest we forget
When the crisp cold of November settles on the crowds at sporting events across America this weekend, the public announcer will read off a message asking for veterans to stand and be recognized for their sacrifices. My grandfather will rise adorned in his University of Arkansas Razorback red at the basketball game against the University of Montana this Saturday. I used to look up to him and smile with pride as the
Moorhead, Stevens compete for family HUNTER CLOUD
whole arena or stadium applauded. Now that I am a student at Mississippi State University, I still feel that same sense of pride even if I cannot see him stand in the crowd. For the past three years, I have been almost 500 miles away, covering sports at Mississippi State University for The Reflector. Every military appreciation game reminds me of the men and women who sacrificed so much to protect our home. It also reminds me of going to sporting events with my grandfather. Without my grandfather, I probably would not write about sports. Thanks to him, I have been blessed to see so many Razorback games in my lifetime, and I have been blessed to experience so many great
moments. We would not be able to enjoy sports or share special moments with family and friends without veterans. I can still remember my grandfather jumping with joy as Arkansas beat LSU 17-0 on military appreciation night in 2014. Currently, 2,977 students, including dependents, make up the veteran community at MSU according to a press release from the MSU athletic department. We can never give veterans enough thanks for their sacrifices. Without their efforts, we would not be able to feel safe in our homes, we would not be able to produce a newspaper and we would not be able to enjoy sports. One military appreciation game per season is not enough to
THANKS
give thanks. When I rise to sing the national anthem at sporting events that I report on, I can feel the same pride in my Grandfather and the veterans like him in my heart. When the “Star Spangled Banner” ends and we all collectively take a seat as Americans to watch a sporting event, we are able to do so because of the brave. I am always in awe of how united stadiums are when the anthem is sung, or when the military aircraft fly over and everyone looks up, releasing a collective cheer. Moments of unity, of thanks, is what gives me special pride in America. Thank you, veterans, for working to keep this land free, and thank you, Grandpops, for taking me to games as a kid. Thank you for supporting me in my journalism career.
FOR MAKING US #
SPORTS EDITOR
The ball flew threw the air as Osirus Mitchell jumped up to catch it. Quarterback Tommy Stevens was back in good health and starting for Mississippi State University in a 54-24 win over the University of Arkansas. As a coach, Joe Moorhead is like a father to his players. Joe even said that he felt like Stevens, a graduate quarterback from Indianapolis, Indiana, was like a son to him. In the 54-24 win over Arkansas, Stevens walked out in front of his family who traveled to Fayetteville to see him play. Stevens said his family is who he plays the game for. “It takes a bigger picture out of it just being football when you think about who you do this for,” Stevens said. “They were here today which made it cooler.” The oldest of five children, Stevens has two sisters, Kayla and Livia, and two brothers, Cameron and Aycen. Stevens said that it was really great to play the game in front of his family. “They have sacrificed so much for me,” Stevens said. “I remember being real little, 10 or 11 years old, everyone in the back of the van piling up and come watch me play baseball. Or everyone coming to my basketball games.” Stevens said that the exercises Moorhead introduced to the team has helped players learn a lot more about each other. It also reminds the players that football is more than just a game. “I think it was really cool too, to hear other people’s whys,” Stevens said. “To possibly learn things about guys that aren’t necessarily easy to talk about when dealing with adversity. It was really cool to open up the big picture.” That big picture often encapsulates sacrifice
of Alabama. For future football games, all five chairs will be occupied by a veteran from each branch. Athletic Director John Cohen said MSU takes great pride in honoring current members of the military and veterans. “The courage and sacrifice of the brave men and women who serve and protect our country allow us the freedoms we have, including attending our Bulldog athletic events,” Cohen said. “These unoccupied Chairs of Honor at our venues will forever serve in remembrance of those who never returned home. There will always be a place in our venues awaiting their return.”
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Kaylee Ricchetti| The Reflector
Head Coach Joe Moorhead hugs a man after MSU’s 28-13 win over Kentucky on Sep. 21.
of time and energy. Fire and steel surrounded Joe Moorhead’s father when he worked for 35 years so that he could forge a better future for his family. Murph Moorhead not only worked in the steel mills of Pittsburgh in order to provide for his family, but he also worked as a janitor and a bartender. In a press release from when he was first hired as head coach, Joe said that the sacrifices his father made were so that he wouldn’t have to work extra jobs. “Ultimately our job as parents is to make sure our children’s’ lives are better than our own,” Joe Moorhead said. “I can’t be more appreciative of my father.” Now Joe is in his second year at MSU, and Murph is still supporting his son by attending several post game press conferences. Before the Arkansas game, the MSU football players wrote “why” letters, letters that talked about why they play the game of football. Joe said he dedicated the game to his mom and dad. “He gave up a lot of his life and things he wanted to do to make sure my brother,
sister and I were in a good position,” Joe Moorhead said. “He taught me when times were adverse lower your back and your neck and keep working. I’m proud to dedicate this game to my mom and dad.” The annual military appreciation game will be against the University Alabama this Saturday. A chair to honor prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action will be unveiled. There will also be five additional chairs located near the Bully statue at midfield. A veteran from each of the five service branches will be recognized and occupy the five new chairs during upcoming football games. Like Joe’s dad Murph, who is an army veteran, there will be many other veterans in Davis Wade Stadium who will have the opportunity to be honored. “I think you cannot be thankful enough for those kinds of selfless acts of people to be able to provide for the greater good,” Joe Moorhead said. “That is certainly something that myself, our staff, and our team are really going to show our appreciation for on Saturday.”
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