11.20.18 by Reflector Editor

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Fantastic Beasts

Say what you mean and

newest installment

mean what you say

fails

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Bulldogs ride to

victory

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TUESDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2018

134th YEAR ISSUE 22

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

CAVS explores new frontiers

Starkville Catholic priest lies about cancer to raise money Student church-goer shocked, upset COURTNEY CARVER STAFF WRITER

Katie Poe | The Reflector

Graduate student Chad Leachman is in his first year studying mechanical engineering. He is the mechanical lead of the Halo Car Project, which employs six students.

Center studies robots, 3-D printing, autonomous cars KATIE POE

NEWS EDITOR

Katie Poe | The Reflector

One of the cutting-edge technologies CAVS works with is 3-D printing metals.

Nestled in an outwardly quiet boulevard off the main campus, Mississippi State University’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems (CAVS) is bustling with sound. With research projects on human-robot interaction, self-driving off-road cars and metal 3-D printing, something new and exciting is always going on at the center. A research center now with $20 million a year, CAVS employs 200 students. The center, which opened in 2003, spends half its time on materials, such as light-weight products for vehicles. Its Human Factors group focuses on virtual reality, emotion-capturing and driving simulators, as well as robots. One student is currently working on programming a robot named Pepper, which will eventually greet people in the CAVS lobby. It can detect smiling with a mood detector. CAVS, 2

Walk program is dedicated to student safety MARY MADELINE LAMASTUS STAFF WRITER

Walking back to a residence hall or the parking lot after a late-night study session or hang-out can be a fretful venture. Though most campus sidewalks are well-lit, it is always better to have someone alongside when trekking through the darkness of campus late at night. Sometimes, students find themselves in predicaments where walking alone seems to be the only option; however, the Mississippi State University Police Department has ensured students they never have to walk alone at night by installing the Safe Walk program. Through Safe Walk, students may call 662-3252121 at anytime of night and be escorted to their destination. Developed to ensure all-around safety, the program operates seven nights each week at all hours of the night, and workers will take students anywhere on campus. Before 2 a.m., the nearest SafeLine studentworker will be an escort. After 2 a.m., an officer will escort the student. According to the

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Noah Siano | The Reflector

Junior educational psychology major Troynesha Lewis (right) walks student and Meridian-native Grace Goodman across campus.

MSUPD’s website, the police force always encourages students to take precautions on campus at night. The website notes students should walk and act with confidence, avoid dark or unpopulated areas, and practice alertness. Nicholas Coe, an

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MSU sergeant officer, said students should walk in groups, be aware of their surroundings, report any suspicious activity and do not hesitate to call the police station if there is any sign of danger. Although there are many methods of personal protection during the night

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hours, he attested walking with someone else is the best safeguard. Coe, who has been part of the department for seven years, also highlighted a communication feature he wants to be well-known: students are able to text the dispatch office. WALK, 2

FORECAST: The remainder of our week looks dry. We will remain right around average for this time of year, with highs in the upper 50’s and lower 60’s, and overnight lows in the upper 30’s to lower 40’s. As we head into the weekend, it looks likes our rain chances will begin to increase once again.

Jacob Riley, Campus Connect Meteorologist

Federal agents have been investigating a Starkville priest after he fraudulently collected donations from the community by falsely claiming he had cancer. A Department of Homeland Security special agent wrote an affidavit which requested warrants toward the Catholic Diocese of Jackson. According to the affidavit written by Special Agent William G. Childers, Father Lenin VargasGutierrez, who is a priest at St. Joseph Catholic Church, is accused of falsely claiming he was diagnosed with cancer in 2014, and has since collected monetary donations from the community.

Medical Fund.” According to the site, $9,210 was donated by 57 people. While claiming to use the collected money to help cover his medical costs, Vargas informed the church he would be going to Canada for his “cancer” treatments in April 2015. According to one of the informants, Vargas never went to Canada for specialized cancer treatment; however, he went to Southdown Institute of Toronto, which is a facility for priests with addictions and mental health issues. More specifically, agents confirmed Vargas stated the facility was for those with a sexual addiction. Furthermore, Vargas allegedly raised funds to help an orphanage and a chapel in Mexico; however, he used the money raised for personal expenses.

“Pending the resolution of the investigation, Father Lenin Vargas will not engage in any public ministry, and has been removed from all pastoral and f inancial administration.” - Father Jeffrey Waldrep, the Diocese of Jackson judicial vicar/vice chancellor According to subpoenaed medical records, Vargas was actually diagnosed with HIV in 2014, not cancer. He was admitted into Oktibbeha County Hospital on Sept. 22, 2014, with pneumonia due to difficulty breathing; however, his doctor ordered an HIV test to be done on Sept. 26 because his condition had remained stationary. Since his diagnosis with HIV, Vargas claimed to be fighting Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, which is a rare form of cancer. According to the affidavit, Vargas previously travelled to Canada for treatment he could not receive in the U.S. While he was traveling back and forth to Canada, a love offering was given to Vargas from Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Macon, Mississippi, of $2,300, according to the affidavit. Along with this offering, between March and April 2015, Vargas deposited over $20,000 of donations into his Regions account. From November to December 2015, he had deposited over $33,000. Along with these donations, a GoFundMe page was created, “Lenin’s

According to the affidavit, members of the clergy addressed Bishop Joseph Kopacz and Vicar General Kevin Slattery of the Diocese of Jackson with concerns in regards to St. Joseph’s financial and spiritual wellbeing. Therefore, the Slattery and Kopacz were allegedly informed of Vargas raising money to go toward charitable causes like the orphanage and chapel, along with his medical costs. They were also allegedly told of missing money from St. Joseph’s parish collections and how Vargas was making frequent trips to Mexico; however, Slattery and Kopacz did not further investigate the issue after the meeting. The Diocese released a statement following the investigation stating the Starkville Parish and its cooperation with the investigation. “Pending the resolution of the investigation, Father Lenin Vargas will not engage in any public ministry, and has been removed from all pastoral and financial administration,” Father Jeffrey Waldrep said.

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CAVS

BAD DAWGS Friday, Nov. 16, 2018 Student reported being extorted for money from an unknown person via social media. Officer responded to Dogwood Wall for a disturbance. Student reported his vehicle burglarized while parked in Zacharias Village. Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018 Student referral issued for the smell of marijuana in Sessums Hall. Student arrested in Davis Wade Stadium for public drunkenness and minor in possession of alcohol. Student arrested in Davis Wade Stadium for public drunkenness. Student arrested in F11 parking lot for minor in possession of alcohol, public drunkenness, littering and providing false information.

Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018 Student was unresponsive behind Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house. Subject was transported to OCH. Student reported a statement made by another student in Swalm building. Notable Traffic Citations: Justice Court citation issued for speeding 62/35 on East Lee Lane. Justice Court citation issued for expired tag on Hail State Boulevard. MSU citation issued for careless driving on MaGruder Street. Justice Court citation issued for expired tag on Bully Boulevard. MSU citation issued for expired tag on President’s Circle. Three MSU citations issued for speeding, the most notable of which was 41/20 on Stone Boulevard. MSU citation issued for driving the wrong way on Hurst Lane.

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Amanda Meeler, CAVS marketing and communications coordinator, said it is exciting to see this interaction. “It’s so interesting the first time it recognizes you as a human,” Meeler said. “Human-robot interaction is actually here.” CAVS has also teamed with SWAT teams to learn how to integrate robots into missions. CAVS Executive Director Clay Walden said one new frontier in the Materials group includes the ability to cast steel, which takes a 50-pound ingot and flattening it into long sections. In addition, the group has a blast furnace being used on a NASA project exploring ways to get to Mars, and once we get there, how to use the resources available. “We can’t haul steel up there, but you can use that blast furnace to process stuff that’s already there,” Walden said. “Then you can capture some of the results of that, which we would think of as pollution, like carbon monoxide, and we can separate it out the oxygen and create water.” CAVS can also now 3D print in a new way. Instead of using polymers, the printer uses metal. Walden said they can print metals from titanium to stainless steel. There is an active research program focused on making 3D metal printing a commercially viable option. Walden said CAVS is working with the Army as well as MSU’s vet school to create implants. In an attempt to enter the cutting-edge research of autonomous technology in a unique way, Walden said CAVS recently unveiled its

Halo Car Project. This Subaru Forester has been converted into an all-electric vehicle. With huge companies like Google, Apple and Uber already in the autonomous tech game, Walden said CAVS brainstormed for a way to make this research project distinct from others. The answer was in off-road. “We focused on this area of off-road because all the efforts are going to on-road,” Walden said. “Off-road creates new challenges. You don’t have the infrastructure, you don’t have the stoplights, you don’t have lanes, you don’t have pavement–you have trees and paths and logs and leaves.” Graduate student Chad Leachman, started working on Halo Car Project as an undergraduate a year and a half ago, is now the mechanical lead of the project.

sometimes frustrating when working on this project because it is the forefront of off-road innovation, and there is not much to go off. However, he said it is validating when people commend the project and realize its importance. “What sets us apart from inner-city projects is the GPS. When you’re off-road, there’s nothing to go off of,” Leachman said. “We are working with algorithms that can identify the difference between oak and pine trees.” Leachman said six students are working on the Halo Car Project. It is a mix of graduates and undergraduates who are learning the newest technology. “It’s taught me a lot of good lessons, and I’m a pretty good machinist now,” Leachman said. “I’m learning new stuff that nobody else can learn.”

“Off-road creates new challenges. You don’t have the infrastructure, you don’t have the stoplights, you don’t have lanes, you don’t have pavement–you have trees and paths and logs and leaves.” - Clay Walden, CAVS executive director On Friday, when Leachman was taking apart the car to finish cooling its motors, he was right in his comfort zone. He said the MSU team designed most of the facets of the vehicle, like its battery packs, 12-gauge steel bumpers, baseplates and casing. Leachman admitted it is

The Halo Car also has computer modeling like other autonomous cars, Walden said. “So, you look at what’s happening with autonomous vehicles and it’s massive, just massive,” Walden said. “Some of the key technologies for autonomous vehicles are

WALK

coming out of the gaming industry.” Walden said experimenting with this technology and studying how it works are synergetic. “If you did everything by physical testing, it would take forever,” Walden said. “Especially in this case, you can’t even fathom, it’s almost an infinite number of things that have to be accounted for and things are changing, so you have to have a modeling and simulation computing approach that is coupled with the testing approach.” This approach, called modeling and simulation, should be paired with physical testing. In order to facilitate this new concept of off-road selfdriving vehicles, Walden said CAVS needed a place to test it. So, the university purchased about 50 acres of land around CAVS and the Thad Cochran Research Park. Walden said it took about a year to acquire. This year, new research contracts are coming to develop a machine called a Warthog which will go into the property and collect data. Part of the appeal to this area of land was its terrain. “It is an incredibly diverse ecosystem, land and terrain,” Walden said. “We did this little topographical evaluation of the property, so there’s flat spots and really deep ravines. Some of those ravines have like a 50 to 60 percent include. That’s crazy. This is Mississippi, we’re not used to that kind of stuff.” Walden said for the safety of others, the property will be restricted to CAVS access. He said CAVS is not testing there yet, but security protocols and access points are being CONTINUED FROM 1

This feature is designed to help students who might be in a situation where they cannot make a phone call. Coe said he encourages students to save the dispatch number, 662-3252121, in their phones. Lastly, Coe reminded students the MSUPD is always available. “All nights of the week, we are here 24/7,” Coe said. Beyond the program, Safe Walk students are a valuable tool for the police force on campus in general, according to Coe. “Safe Walk is a great thing. We only have so

many officers, and Safe Walk students are our eyes and ears where we cannot be all the time,” Coe said. “They have a direct line to call and report to us. That is a huge part of their job—to call and report suspicious activity.” Quinton Bradley, senior animal and dairy science major, is a Safe Walk security student-worker. Bradley, who has been a part of Safe Walk since August, said he enjoys working for the program. He said although most of his work involves reporting suspicious

evening activity and dealing with vehicle issues on campus, he enjoys escorting students. Bradley offered encouragement for any students to let go of any hesitations they may have about calling for an escort. “Escorting is beneficial to the university because Safe Walk is here to help others and protect them,” Bradley said. “We are there to watch out for students, and if they need anything, we are there. If someone is scared at night, and they don’t feel comfortable, they need to call us. We will be

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there. There is nothing wrong with asking for help.” Bradley concluded by reassuring students their requests are not a bother. “We will escort them as far as they need,” Bradley said. “I’ve escorted from Davenport to Hull, and that is a pretty good distance… All they have to do is come here or just call the police, and they will send someone. If someone needs an escort from the library, from anywhere on campus, there is likely security nearby, and if there is not someone near, we will send someone.”

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Mississippi State University senior Angela Provenzano, who is an educational psychology major, said she has attended St. Joseph’s for the past two years. Since the affidavit was released, Provenzano stated the parish was told of the investigation before details were made aware to the public; therefore, she believes the outcome was

completely unexpected to church members. “There are definitely feelings of honesty for the people who are still there, but a lot of people are shocked and very hurt, especially the people who have been there through the whole fundraising thing,” Provenzano said. Although Provenzano was not at the church when this situation first started,

she is quite angry and upset. “I am shocked and angry,” Provenzano said. “I feel violated in a way, even though I was not directly involved in the money part. I’ve been a Catholic my whole life, and you hear about all the scandals going on and how bad they are, but I don’t think you realize that violation of trust until its someone you know. I

give people a benefit of a doubt, but I thought he was as genuine as they come. When I found out what actually happened, I was shocked and very disappointed. It makes you realize that church corruption is everywhere, as sad as that sounds.” Although the situation brings much negativity toward the parish, Provenzano said she CHECK OUT OUR

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believes the students and members of St. Joseph’s are coping very well for the situation at hand. “Even though what he did is obviously really bad and disgraceful, everyone else in the church is handling as best as they can, and they are doing their best to be honest about it and not cover it up,” Provenzano said. “The students are really coming together. We have a really good Catholic student group to kind of navigate the way through it without brushing it under the rug. I think we are confronting it well as

a church. One priest who had his downfalls doesn’t make the whole Church bad. I think the students are doing really good about being positive, and the rest of the priests and deacons are being really transparent about it, which is as pretty good as an atmosphere in this situation. I don’t think it reflects St. Joseph at all. I think he was struggling personally, and it’s sad that it affected so many people in the church.” No charges have been made to Vargas at this time. GoFundMe will refund those who donated to Vargas’ account.

THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2018 @REFLECTORONLINE

LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT

Katie Ware wins MSU’s Fashion Board presents graphic designer contest annual Trashion Show BRAD ROBERTSON STAFF WRITER

Bacon lollipops. Warm tomato soup. A college student franticly eating sweet potato pie. Sights like these were aplenty in the basement of 929 Coffee Bar. Mississippi State University junior graphic design students gathered last Thursday night to unveil the results of their semesterlong projects, which required them to build a brand based on a typeface and create a display to be judged, as well as cook a dish in the style of the assigned font. The result was an alphabet buffet of dishes ranging from Frenchinspired vanilla desserts, beer and sausages, all the way up to stylized pound cake. In the end, Katie Ware took home first place with a plate of variety flavored chocolates. Ware beamed as she accepted her prize of two graphic design books. Ware said the project had been a long process, and everyone gave a sigh of relief which filled the basement when the event ended. “During the second week of class, we were assigned our typeface,” Ware said. “We came to class with 100 logos.”

Since August, these students developed their ideas week by week, guided by professors along the way. Ware said throughout the process, the artists often had to reconfigure their ideas. “Sometimes, our ideas were just shot down,” Ware said. Cassie Hester, the students’ professor for this project, said the judging process involved both food critiques and faculty members. “We have critiques where we eat their food, and we talk about how the food does to the type,” Hester said. “Does it seem sophisticated enough?” It was clearly a draining process, but the turnout was indicative. The chilly November night was an alien concept to the 50 plus people moving shoulder-toshoulder through the rows, trying to sample everything. The scene was like something straight off of Food Network, and anyone familiar with those shows will know there is usually a disaster at some point, such as a cake falling to pieces. “That’s happened before,” Hester said. “He pulled off the mold, it held for a second, and nobody even moved, but it collapsed.” However, this student did not fail. Hester stressed

this was not a baking competition, but rather a contest of concept. “It’s about the overall approach,” Hester said. “The kerning, to the color palettes, the material choices. You know, did you think about the overall presentation?” One taste tester in attendance was a former competitor, Katie Erickson, who watched the newcomers with nostalgia. Erickson won when she competed two years ago. As she prepares for graduation and possibly moving to New York City, she said her dish, a stew, brought back special memories. “I haven’t made that dish since then,” Erickson said, laughing. Experience proved key as Erickson warned the few permitted downstairs ahead of the general crowd. “If you want anything, grab it and eat it,” Erickson said. While the students look to wrap up their semester and put the project behind them, memories of its tribulations will linger. This is especially true for Ware, who made little chocolate P’s more times this semester than most will ever make in their lives. Ware said she is in no rush to reach for any sort of chocolate. “Not for a while,” Ware said.

Harry Potter installment falls flat TALLY DUKE STAFF WRITER

The second movie in the Fantastic Beast series in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World will not satisfy your Harry Potter fix. “Fantastic Beasts” was not fantastic, but merely mediocre at best. This installment in the prequel of the beloved wizarding series will do nothing but leave you at the edge of the cliff right as the story finally begins to unfold. The movie begins with an intense jail scene in New York set in the early 1900’s. An unknown silent character named Grindelwald, played by Johnny Depp, sits there until he is broken out. This whole part was unclear, and the character was not defined until much later, which was confusing at first. This quickly escalates to a short fight scene in the air. I honestly do not even know what happened because it was overstimulating. The movie leveled out once the beloved repeat character, Newt

Scamander, took the screen. Unfortunately, the best characters in the entire movie did not even have speaking parts. The little creatures stole the show for me with their quirky and cute personalities. Everyone is a sucker for a cute animal, fictional or real. The gang heads to Hogwarts, which caused an uproar of happiness in the audience. Little Harry Potter references are sprinkled throughout the movie, which really is the only reason I kept paying attention. We are introduced to young Albus Dumbledore, played by Jude Law. Without even trying, Dumbledore became the lead role. His cunning and wit put him in front of the main characters, and I am not mad about it. The overall graphics and animation were impressive. I am not a snob in this department, but you can always tell a well-budgeted movie when you see one, and this movie fits in this category. The movie time, however, was a little much. A two-hour run time is a

stretch for any movie, but for a subpar second installment, this was not the correct choice. I got distracted during the movie because it just kept dragging on. There were multiple unnecessary parts, and several characters could have been cut. Rotten Tomatoes scored this movie with a 46 percent. I feel like the rating may be a little harsh, but not far from the truth. Spoiler alert: it ends with a cliff hanger, so if you do not like movies leaving you hanging, then save your money and skip seeing this one. If you are bored, or have loads of time to blow on an overpriced movie ticket, then I recommend seeing this in the theater. If you are a normal human being, just wait until it comes out on Redbox and watch it in the comfort of your own home. Overall, the movie was not necessarily bad, but it was not a cinematic hit. I would compare it to lukewarm coffee—not great, but it will get the job done.

MARY MAD LAMASTUS STAFF WRITER

Models strut across the runway, each striking their best pose for the camera. The crowd claps and beams at every outfit. The audience is enamored by the clothing—except the models are actually not wearing traditional clothing at all. They are wearing trash. Mississippi’s State University Fashion Board is preparing for their annual “Trashion Show” on 7 p.m. Nov. 28 at the George M. Bryan airport. With approximately four annual fashion shows, this admission-free event has proven to be a crowdfavorite. A collaboration between Fashion Board and students from the fashion design and merchandise department, the upcoming show is an explosion of live creative talent. Student designers choose a model they would like to wear their work, and tailor an outfit specifically for the model’s body. Kristina Zouboukos, a junior kinesiology major and vice president of models, said this was her favorite part about the show. “That is the coolest part about the outfits,” Zouboukos said. “Each one is so unique, there is no other outfit exactly like it, and it is made specifically for the model.” There are 16 designers this year, and nothing is off-limits when it comes to the materials for the outfit. Sonic peppermint wrappers, playing cards, coil wire and magazines have found their way to the runway in recent years. One very memorable dress was even made of glass. EK Armond, the president of Fashion Board and junior design and fashion

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merchandise major, said she loves seeing the creative outfits students design. Some of her favorite creations include a dress made of old vinyls and an ombré tissue paper dress. Creativity is not limited to the clothes, though. Set design plays an important role in the experience, and this year, the Trashion show will be hosted at a local George M. Bryan airport hanger. Zouboukos said she is excited for the venue, and said the setting will be conducive. “It is going to be awesome, because (it’s) really big and open,” Zouboukos said. “It will allow more people to come to the show, because we know it is a favorite.”

Zouboukos said the backstage chaos and collaboration is her favorite part about Fashion Board. “I love seeing all the different people come together,” Zouboukos said. “We all have different gifts and parts to play, and it’s really amazing to see it all come together.” Having served the campus for 68 years, Fashion Board is one of MSU’s oldest studentrun organizations. With approximately 300 members, the diverse organization is not restricted to only fashion shows, the members can be found modeling in downtown boutiques, modeling for local photographers and collaborating for sets and outfits their magazine, “Etré.”

“That is the coolest part about the outfits. Each one is so unique, there is no other outfit exactly like it, and it is made specifically for the model.” - Kristina Zouboukos, Fashion Board’s vice president of models Armond said the venue will provide the atmosphere the show is aiming to induce. “We were looking for somewhere modern and that showed the aspect of making clothing out of recycled pieces, and we think the hanger will do that really well,” Armond said. The show requires a lot of collaboration, as models, backstage management, fashion designers, graphic designers, set designers, hair and makeup teams and photographers come together to make the show come to life.

Though the organization usually puts out an issue each semester, this year, one large issue of the magazine will be published at the end of the year and given out at the last fashion show. Zouboukos and Armond encourage everyone in the community to come out to the Trashion show. “The show is free, and the vibes are so much fun. It’s honestly just really fun just to see so much creativity in one place,” Armond said. “We all get really creative ideas when we are together, and you can really see that in our shows.”

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OPINION

Universities care more about making money than educating

CHRIS LOWE

is a senior majoring in business information systems. Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.

Universities have lost what makes them havens for the intellectual. They have become businesses led by administrations caring more about maximizing profits than educating young minds and preparing them for the real world. As with almost everything else in this country, greed has slowly seeped into our higher education system and has completely watered down the experience college students receive, while simultaneously “nickel and diming” us at every turn along the way.

If you are an avid reader of The Reflector, you might have noticed I seem to come back to university-related issues a lot this year, and with everything I feel needs to be fixed, it all revolves around this main point. I, for one, am sick and tired of being unable to escape powerful people ruining everything they touch for more money. What I will say to those people is this— your bottom line is completely irrelevant. What matters is a solid education with an accommodating experience reflecting the price tag, and does not financially cripple its “customers” for no rhyme or reason. Adam Davidson for the New York Times, explains how education is different than other commodities better than I ever could. “(T) he product of this particular industry is not just an end in itself. Education can have enormous personal benefits

for those who acquire it, but it also has external benefits to the rest of society,” Davidson explains. This sentiment is exactly why education is one of the last things in the world that should be corrupted by money-grubbing antics. Schools raising tuition, creating asinine fees, charging through the nose for parking, creating substandard expectations for class rigor so more people can stay in college, and charging students to set up payment plans are only some of the multitude of ways colleges across the country penny-pinch their students. This would almost be excusable if universities were strapped for cash. However, they are incredibly profitable institutions in a lot of cases, especially for D1 football schools. This is made evident by the exorbitant salaries for many high-ranking officials, both on the academic and

That’ll be $100,000 for the first semester. We are so glad to have you here! Rosalind Hutton

athletic sides. Many top football coaches make multi-millions every year, and even university presidents, can make as high as 1.5 million a year, according to Darian Somers of U.S. News. If universities were truly prioritizing education over everything, as they absolutely

should, why would they be shelling out so much money for other matters? Having a good coach means having a winning program, yes. Having a winning program would theoretically mean more revenue to use toward benefitting students as well, but you do not see this happening in a lot of cases.

As for the president situation, the 1.5 million a year peak for salaries is held by Arizona State University president Michael Crow. ASU’s tuition is around $11,000 a year, so his salary could send nearly 150 students to school tuition free. Of course, he should be paid well for his job, as it is important, but the point is, he is vastly overpaid for a position in an institution meant to be about enlightening young minds and doing good for the world. It is another example of why universities are essentially running themselves like a corporation. With all of this mind, I am disappointed in the direction higher education is headed, and I feel sorry for future generations. Prices will only continue to increase while revenues do so at an even higher rate. Before long, college could be yet another thing reserved only for the rich.

Say what you mean and mean what you say, Cindy Hyde-Smith Don’t worry, once we get you a spray tan and some volumizing spray, you’ll be perfect.

LINDSAY PACE

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

My mother taught me to say what I mean and mean what I say. She emphasized the strength and livelihood of words, reminding me of the way they could hurt others if used thoughtlessly. To a child, this made sense. But now that I am older, I understand we must consider everything we say, because words and expressions are figures charged with energy, history and endless connotation. Words are what make people jump off the proverbial bridge. They are visceral and profound and an impetus for change. So, say what you mean and mean what you say. This advice proves incredibly important in light of our political figures, or

Rosalind Hutton

the people in theory, who represent the heart of our beliefs. So, when we consider public policy in America, which unquestionably involves racial politics, we must look at their rhetoric. Who is speaking for us, about us and to us? If you are raising your eyebrows about racial politics, I beg you to consider recent histories like redlining and Norplant. In

Mississippi, unfortunately, Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith speaks for us. She made a particularly disturbing comment on Nov. 2, in which she praised a cattle farmer, stating, “If he invited me to a public hanging, I’d be on the front row.” Hyde-Smith stands by her statement, dismissing it as a joke, as if joking about the public execution of a

human being is ever in good taste. But it is not simply the idea of death on display that is disheartening here. It is the truth that in Mississippi, lynching has absolutely everything to do with race. In fact, Mississippi holds one of the highest percentages of lynchings against black bodies between 1882 and 1968, according to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Born in 1959, Hyde-Smith spent the first 10 years of her life in the era of this statistic. Violence against black people built the socio-political framework of her childhood. So surely, she was not deaf to the echoes of black lives lost. Surely, she was not unaware of her privilege. Surely, she knew she held the upper hand in racial politics. Perhaps it seems a bit harsh to speak of her this way. After all, everyone says something inconsiderate from time to time, right? But it is not harsh. She had the privilege to reprimand her statement and acknowledge

its impact for black bodies. No one called her to martyrdom or demanded she call herself racist. People simply asked for an apology, a nod toward healing historical wounds. And she failed this minor task. She called people ridiculous for interpreting it as racist. Worse, even Senator Phil Bryant supports her refusal to apologize. We cannot consider HydeSmith without considering one of her allies and higherups, President Donald Trump. It would be impossible to list off all of the racist, thoughtless and base things he has uttered. For example, according to Elise Viebeck of The Washington Post, he recently said a journalist asked a ‘racist’ question, even though the inquiry was about the reality of white supremacy in America. In other words, Trump commits a classic case of victim blaming. Furthermore, let us not forget that earlier in the year he called an African country a “shithole” country, as stated by Brian Naylor and Domenico Montanaro of NPR. These,

too, are not accidents or misinterpretations. They are imbued with racial meaning. These images of Trump are critical because they represent racial politics. This man, a policy maker and a game changer, will not acknowledge the impact or severity of his words. And in doing this, he denies history its breathing room. Trump and Hyde-Smith have abundant opportunities to speak with grace, consideration and empathy. They have had plenty of press conferences and interviews in which they could have apologized for their boorishness. Their refusal to do so is a clear portrait of their values and of the people their policies will support, policies that will add to the well-being of certain bodies and the detriment of others. So, say what you mean and mean what you say. Say you are sorry when you do not, and know that your words, however thoughtless or thoughtful, will inevitably hold incredible meaning.

Letter to the Editor: The Body Positivity Movement is not problematic AMANDA BLACK

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

I have let Mia Rodriguez’s opinion piece, “The body positivity movement is one-sided and defends obesity,” sit with me over the past week, and I feel someone needs to stand up for the Body Positivity Movement. While she calls the movement one-sided, it is unfair to let the argument run in this paper as one-sided because I guarantee others in the student-body do not agree. Mia quotes the Body Positivity Movement’s mission statement, which she called “problematic,” and I will quote the same mission statement here: The Body Positivity’s mission is “to end the harmful consequences of negative body image: eating disorders, depression, anxiety, cutting, suicide, substance abuse, and relationship violence.” What Mia feels is

problematic about this statement is its lack of mentioning “promoting or providing resources for maintaining a healthy weight.” Here is the thing though. This is not the goal of the Body Positivity Movement, and they do not have to change just because you feel that way. Hear me out for a minute. I am not nor do I think the Body Positivity Movement, is advocating everyone should gain a bunch of weight because it is the ideal mark of beauty or that it is the healthiest or the happiest way of being. Quite frankly, it is not. But, it is not the job of the Body Positivity Movement to talk about how to lose weight or the necessity to lose weight because those messages are all over our social media, news media and medical advertisements, not to mention the ugly messages random people send to

overweight individuals calling them ugly, telling them to lose weight, telling them they are disgusting and telling them they are lazy. While Mia and other critics discuss the importance of your physical health and how it should be a priority, I feel they do not read into the mission statement closely enough. It specifically mentions trying to undo the harm our societal pressures have thrust upon people who do not fit the perfect ideal of beauty, health or size. They specifically mention eating disorders, suicide and self-harm. Do you think vulnerable people who are already hating and hurting themselves really need someone to step into a space where they are not verbally assaulted or pressured just for existing, and be told that space is inherently flawed and they need more pressure to fit

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encourage self-loathing. Not to mention the fact that you act as if obesity is merely the product of selfinduced overeating. What about the people who were fed less than ideal food as children because it was all their parents could afford? What about the people who were never taught better eating habits? What about the people with genetic and epigenetic pre-dispositions to being overweight? What about the people with undiagnosed hormone imbalances that make it difficult to maintain a healthy weight? Or the people on necessary medication that causes weight gain? Many people’s bodies fluctuate due to their health. Sometimes obesity is a sign of another health problem and not the health problem itself. Those people (and all people) do not need to be discouraged for loving

their bodies during a time when the world says to hate themselves. They need loving messages to help them through the times when no clothing stores have clothes for them, despite being the median dress size in America. They need support when their doctors will not listen to their symptoms of underlying problems because “oh, lose weight first, then we will talk.” They need support when they have been exercising and eating well, and still have not lost weight. I understand critics are only saying these things out of concern for people’s health and ultimate happiness. But, let us be honest about the goal of the body positivity movement: undoing trauma, reversing negative thinking, erasing self-loathing and stopping self-harm. Those things are vital to good health. It is not problematic.

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weight standards? Mia, you were absolutely right when you said, “It is possible to have self-love and the desire to better yourself,” but I think you miss that some people need to find a healthy sense of self mentally first and foremost. They have to learn to love the body they have, and then from that sense of self-love, can they work on being physically healthier. The Body Positivity Movement does encourage both of the things you desire when they said, “Practicing true body positivity […] allows you to find what you need to live with as much self-love and balanced self-care as possible.” You said, Mia, your critique of the Body Positivity Movement, “has nothing to do with selfloathing but everything to do with your quality of life,” yet judging this validating and motivating movement can and does

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SPORTS

Bulldogs Equestrian team rides their way to victory HANNAH BLANKENSHIP STAFF WRITER

Mississippi State University’s equestrian team rode their way to victory last weekend at Auburn to round out a successful fall season. Composed of a Western and English team, MSU’s equestrian team is part of the Inter-Collegiate Horse Show Association, or IHSA, and competes against teams from nearby schools such as Alabama, Auburn and Georgia. This past weekend, they attended a competition at Auburn where the Western team placed first, earning the distinction of high point champions. Head coach Ashley Glenn said one of the most unique challenges about the sport is the riders do not compete on the horses they practice with; at shows, horses are paired with riders by literally pulling names out of a hat. “They’re just getting on an unfamiliar horse and going in and performing to the best of their ability and the best of their horse’s ability with the knowledge that they have just from watching these horses school and be warmed up by other people,” Glenn said. Senior Alyson Addy, the captain of the English team, said riding new horses every show is intimidating at first, but eventually becomes less so. “It’s really nervewracking the first couple of times you do it, but this is my second year on the team here and I’ve gotten pretty used to it,” Addy said. Addy, who has an exracehorse named Chester at home, grew up riding and said she was the quintessential “horse girl.” “I was that little girl who loved horses,” Addy said. “Some people grew out of it, I never did.” Riding horses is a great way to relax and clear your mind, Addy said. “I’ve always been drawn to horses. It’s a great stress reliever,” Addy said. “Everybody comes out there and we’re not thinking about our busy schedules, we just get to take time and ride.” Junior Madison Eckloff, the captain of the Western team, also grew up riding horses and loving the sport for its intangibles. One of Eckloff ’s favorite things about riding, especially on MSU’s team, is how it is individually competitive, but there is still such great team support. “We’re all competitive, but we’re still a family,” Eckloff said. Glenn agrees there is just something special about

Rosalind Hutton

Alyson Addy | Courtesy photo

Ashley Ackerman rides in the Western team reigning division. MSU won first place in the competition.

this MSU’s team. “I really like the energy of the riders we have. We really have a tremendous group of kids,” Glenn said. “They’re passionate about the sport, they’re passionate about the school, and that makes my job a whole lot easier when they’re willing to work hard. They really strive to make us coaches proud.” Glenn grew up riding, and went on to ride in college for Texas A&M’s equestrian team, which won two national championships while she was there. After college, she worked in the horse industry for a while, then transitioned to coaching, coming to MSU in 2015. Glenn’s goal ever since her arrival has been to increase the competitiveness and quality of MSU’s equestrian program. The team practices on their horses at South Farm several times a week, as well as working out at the Sanderson. They even have a weekly 6 a.m. team run. Addy can attest to the fact that Glenn’s arrival really turned the program around. “We’re becoming more known. Because before, I think it was just a few girls that would come out. But then when coach Glenn pulled the team, reorganized it and made it bigger, people know that we’re there. We stand out and we’re

winning. Everybody’s been placing in all the classes,” Addy said. “We used to go to shows and come home with 2 or 3 ribbons, whereas now, every rider has a ribbon, everybody’s making points and everybody’s contributing to how successful we are.” However, Glenn’s favorite part of coaching extends beyond just the technicalities of horsemanship. “I love being able to help everyone become better riders, but really I think the best part about it is having the opportunity to be a positive influence to all these young riders,” Glenn said. “I know that they’re going to leave here and they may not continue to ride, but they can take other things away from this to help better themselves in the future.” Looking forward, Glenn thinks there is a good chance of several MSU riders qualifying for post-season competitions, possibly even nationals. The team’s next competition is Feb. 2 at Berry College in Rome, Georgia. Eckloff said the team is currently focusing on the next season. “Having our eye on next season. Our next show isn’t for a while,” Eckloff said. “(So we’re focusing on) keeping that momentum going into the next semester and coming out on top again.”

Seniors see Scott Field one last time HUNTER CLOUD SPORTS EDITOR

Justin Johnson, a senior wide receiver from Birmingham, Alabama, walked out of the tunnel onto Scott Field at Davis Wade Stadium one last time as a Mississippi State University Bulldog for the military appreciation game. Johnson’s brother, who had just graduated from Air Force basic training, attended making Johnson’s senior day even better. “I had my shades on just in case I started crying,” Johnson said. “I didn’t cry. It was almost overwhelming, but you just had to take it like every time you went out the tunnel, it was special.” The C-17, named the “Spirit of Sonny Montgomery,” performed a low fly-by over the stadium as the national anthem finished, and then it made a second pass over the stadium before kickoff. Johnson was unable to see the plane fly over, but wore the uniforms inspired by the plane and man G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery. “I didn’t see it, I actually saw a snapchat of it. It was a big plane going over the stadium, and I have never seen anything like it before,” Johnson said. “We always like new uniforms, but the meaning behind them was even better, and who we were doing it for.” Another Bulldog who was impacted by their last home game was Nick Fitzgerald, senior quarterback from Richmond Hills, Georgia, who thanked the coaches for giving him the opportunity and shaping him into the man he is today. Thankful for his journey, he said he is going to miss his teammates the most. “I love everybody on the team,” Fitzgerald said. “I’ve been grinding with them for a long time. Definitely a chapter

of my life that when I’m older I will look back on, and be really happy about. I will enjoy tonight, spend time with my family.” Perhaps the biggest thing Fitzgerald will miss from game days in Davis Wade is “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey, which is played in between the third and fourth quarter. Fitzgerald said he just sat there and soaked it all in. “I definitely sat there and enjoyed the last ‘Don’t Stop Believing,’” Fitzgerald said. “It is pretty obvious that in games where we are winning big, or games that we are having a good time, they’re on the sideline belting it out having a good job.” Johnathan Abram, a senior safety from Columbia, Mississippi, who originally started his SEC career at University of Georgia, said the game meant something he never knew before he became an MSU Bulldog. When he was a Georgia Bulldog, games did not mean as much to him, which was a big part of why he chose to come back to Mississippi. “That was a major reason for why I came back and chose Mississippi State,” Abram said. “When I was at Georgia, when we played Georgia Tech,

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it did not mean that much to me. When I was at Auburn, it did not mean that much to me, because I was not from there. Coming out and playing with all my friends on senior day, it felt really good to play together.” Moorhead said Abram had taken on a captain and leadership role, despite not having a “C” on his chest. Abram said he thought a captain has to be there for four years, and while he is not technically a captain, he tries his best to be a role model for his other teammates.” “For me, part of being a captain, it requires being here for four years,” Abram said. “Nick (Fitzgerald) and Gerri (Green), they deserve that and I can not take that from them. I just utilize my role, because I know a lot of guys follow me and look up to me. So I just try to be the best role model to all of those guys–young and old.” Abram and the other seniors will also play in their last Egg Bowl for MSU this Thanksgiving, as the Bulldogs travel to Oxford to play the University of Mississippi. Abram said he has one mission on his mind, and it is to get the golden trophy with the “egg” on top.

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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2018

Mississippi has a Senate Runoﬀ Election! Tuesday, November 27, 2018

(Yes, that’s the Tuesday AFTER Thanksgiving Break)

Student voters can decide the outcome of this election. Get all the information you need: Vote.org/Mississippi Problems voting?

Call: Election Protection Hotline (866) 687-8683 Text: “ELECTIONPROTECTION” to 97779