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TUESDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2019
135th YEAR ISSUE 24
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
Mississippi reacts to a nationwide Christmas tree shortage DANIEL DYE STAFF WRITER
Daniel Dye | The Reflector
Mississippi farmers are growing more trees in response to a nationwide Christmas tree shortage. Pictured are trees from Childress Christmas Tree Farm in nearby Aberdeen, MS.
This holiday season, Mississippi Christmas tree farmers are thriving despite high demand following a nationwide tree shortage. In order to meet the demand, Mississippi farmers have taken matters into their own hands with local choose-and-cut farms instead of the typical shipment of Fraser Firs from North Carolina. In recent years, the supply of Fraser Firs grown and shipped out of North Carolina has drastically dropped. As a result of the economic recession in 2008, farmers had a small demand for trees and, in turn, planted less. The firs take about 10 years until they are ready for sale. As a result, the supply has not been able to meet today’s demand, Dalvin Brown of USA Today reported. Because of this, many Southern farmers have
started to plant locally suited alternatives to the Fraser Fir. According to John Kushla, Mississippi State University Extension and Research professor, there has been widespread success with using the Leyland cypress as a substitute because of its heat resistance. “We have a hotter climate so the species we grow around here are adapted to that hotter climate,” Kushla said. “One of the most popular species that is grown is the Leyland cypress and these trees have become much more widely planted in the South over the last five to 10 years on Christmas tree plantations.” The Leyland cypresses are not without their own challenges, as they often exhibit problems with diseases, Kushla said. “Although the tree has adapted to our warm climate, it is susceptible to fungal infections in the spring. TREES, 2
Sigma Alpha, United Way Custodian Marva Clark makes McKee Hall a home for the holidays give back this holiday season GRACIE BYRNE STAFF WRITER
KARIE PINNIX STAFF WRITER
Mississippi State University and the town of Starkville are giving back through various service projects this holiday season. Two examples of these initiatives include the United Way of North Central Mississippi’s United We Feed program and the MSU chapter of the Sigma Alpha Professional Agriculture Sorority’s Adopt a Troop December service event. United Way of North Central Mississippi holds its United We Feed project during the fall and winter months of each year. This past fall, participants have donated canned and boxed goods to various collection points within the community of Starkville, such as Kroger and Vowell’s Marketplace. According to Candy Crecink, executive director for United Way of North Central Mississippi, the campaign’s purpose is to restock various food pantries throughout Oktibbeha, Winston, Webster and Choctaw counties. The canned goods that are
collected by the community of Starkville and MSU will help families during the holidays and the winter months. Crecink said the United Way of North Central Mississippi has seen an increase this year in participation. “This year, we are seeing recognition of United We Feed. One of the things that had resulted from our prior years at United We Feed was that from one of our food pantries, 92% or more clientele were Mississippi State students and graduate students’ families. People on the Mississippi State campus heard about this and realized there was an issue to address,” Crecink said. Many organizations within MSU have contributed this year by creating food drives of their own for the United We Feed campaign. Examples of organizations on MSU’s campus that have done this include the Horticulture Club, the Baptist Student Union, MSU Thrive, the Social Work Program in the Department of Sociology and the Shackouls Honors College. GIVE, 2
Rosalind Hutton
TUESDAY HI: 68 LO: 57 SKY: Stormy POP: 60
WEDNESDAY HI: 65 LO: 41 SKY: Partly sunny POP: 40
The common room was full of residents, faculty and staff who were all socializing with one another. Workers served food such as fried chicken, green beans and macaroni while a game of Kahoot was going on during the meal. People were laughing and smiling, and Marva Clark, McKee Hall custodian, was in the middle of it all. Marva Clark hosts an annual dinner so students can still have the joy of a Thanksgiving meal if they cannot go home for the holidays. “I just do it because it’s in my heart,” Clark said. Clark has worked as a custodian for Mississippi
State University since 2007 and has worked in several dormitories across campus, including Critz, Griffis, Nunnelee and formerly Evans Hall. Clark said she always enjoyed giving back to others around her, even at her previous jobs. She credits this to watching her mom give back to others as a child. The event Clark now holds each year did not originally start as a meal. Originally, it began with her making cakes for the residents and hosting potluck meals. Eventually, the idea for the Thanksgiving meal was formed. The meal, which Clark has done for six or seven years now, always takes place on the Thursday before Thanksgiving.
CLARK, 2
Kat Beatty | The Reflector
Custodian Marva Clark makes a Thanksgiving meal for students who stay at school over break.
Starkville, MSU collaborate for annual ‘Town and Gown’ Christmas Parade BAYLEE HILL STAFF WRITER
The Starkville community will kick off this year’s Christmas festivities with its annual Christmas Parade in downtown Starkville at 6 p.m. on Dec. 2. The parade will start on Russell Street and go through Lampkin Steet, Montgomery Street, Main Street, Washington Street and then loop back to Lampkin Street. Paige Watson, Special Events and Project coordinator for the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, said chamber businesses, local organizations and marching bands will participate in the parade. PARADE, 2
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Paige Watson | Courtesy Photo
Mississippi State Universityʼs Famous Maroon Band marches through downtown Starkville in last yearʼs annual Christmas parade.
FORECAST: Clouds and rain will dominate Tuesday, but will clear up before noon on Wednesday and usher in sunlight for Wednesday afternoon. Thanksgiving day will bring clouds, but not rain, and temperatures in the 40s.
Courtesy of National Weather Service
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TREES
It takes a while for the disease to show, and Christmas tree growers are usually having to spray fungicides on a regular basis to prevent manifestation of that disease,” Kushla said. Farmers have found other ways around the disease by using a different variety of the tree and having additional irrigation during hotter seasons, Kushla said.
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“There is a different variety of the Leyland called the Murray cypress which shows a much greater disease resistance and because of this some growers have backed off doing as much spraying and haven’t seen as much disease,” Kushla said. “Farmers have also been doing drip irrigation on their plantations. During the hot and dry weather, they can
irrigate the Christmas tree crop, which reduces the stress level on the trees and lowers the disease incidence.” Despite a national shortage, Mississippi farmers have been able to find success growing their own trees. This is evident in many local farms, such as Worthey Tree Farm in Amory, Mississippi. Lowell Worthey, owner and operator of the farm, said
this year has been a great year for growing. “We have had a good year for growing the Leylands, but we did have some drought problems a couple months ago,” Worthey said. “You have to water these trees and take care of them and we definitely have to deal with disease, but we try our best to prevent it. The best defense is a good offense. We
spray early in the year, every 21 days with fungicides in order to prevent it. Because of this, we have had a real good year.” Michael May, owner and operator of Lazy Acres Farm in Chunky, Mississippi, said the value of buying locally, buying trees from chooseand-cut farms, offers more of a family experience than buying pre-cut trees.
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Some organizations and businesses will also create floats to drive during the parade. According to Watson, the theme for the parade is “A Town and Gown Christmas.” The theme refers to the two communities of a college town, students and locals. The parade celebrates the relationship between the City of Starkville and Mississippi State University. “It’s honoring the relationship we have with
the university and all of the different organizations within the university that create a downtown presence and help revitalize Main Street,” Watson said. The parade honors organizations like the Idea Shop and GLO, both starting from the MSU Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach. MSU President Mark Keenum and Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill will be this year’s Grand Marshalls. Spruill said
she is excited to share the Grand Marshall duties with President Keenum. According to Spruill, the parade has been around since she was a child. She said it is a great opportunity to be with friends while paving the way for the upcoming holiday season. Spruill said organizations like the Commercial Dispatch, WCBI and the Starkville Police Department had floats in previous parades. “The parade has always
been very successful and has grown over the years, and I’m excited for the parade to start all of the fun that comes with the month of December,” Spruill said. Maggie Robinson, a senior elementary education from Huntsville, Alabama, will participate in the parade as a member of the Famous Maroon Band. Robinson has marched in the parade for the past three years. Robinson said the parade has a great atmosphere,
and it is a fun time for the local Starkville community and MSU students to come together and celebrate Christmas before the fall semester ends. “I love seeing familiar faces and kids smiling at us as we march down the street. I think students and community members should see the parade at least once,” Robinson said. “It really gave me an appreciation for this sweet, small college town.” Special Events and
CLARK
Project Coordinator Watson encouraged everyone to come out to the parade. Watson said it will be a little cold outside, but it will be worth it to celebrate Christmas season with the community. “The parade is a great family event, and it is so much fun getting to see everyone and all of the floats,” Watson said. “It is a showcase of Starkville’s best, and I am excited to get everyone in the holiday spirit.” CONTINUED FROM 1
Clark originally made all of the food on her own, but she eventually started catering the event. Despite this, she still makes certain homemade foods. Before the meal is served, Clark says grace to bless the food. “I don’t give anyone anything I wouldn’t take, I give them the best,” Clark said. The event does not just feature a dinner. Speakers have also come in the past, including representatives from Starkville Police Department and Starkville Fire Department. Clark said she makes the meal because she wants the residents of McKee to have something special for the holidays if they cannot go home. “The most important thing to me is to make sure
these young men get a good Thanksgiving meal,” Clark said. “I just make sure they eat good and that they’re happy.” Clark said she does not do anything for recognition. Instead, she does good for her community. “When you do good, it comes back to you,” Clark said. As for the residents, she has a special relationship with them, knowing many of them by name. “I just love them,” Clark said. “They call me grandma. I treat them like my own children. They talk to me, and I talk to them.” Clark said, for the ones who can’t go home during Thanksgiving break, and her meal is all they have, she hopes they value it. “I pray to God that they
are grateful, and I believe they are,” Clark said. Clark hopes to expand the Thanksgiving meal into a bigger event one day, where she can involve not
The most important thing to me is to make sure these young men get a good Thanksgiving meal. I just make sure they eat good and that they’re happy.” Marva Clark McKee Hall Custodian
only the residents of McKee but Sessums Hall as well. Eventually, Clark sees the Thanksgiving meal turning into a campus-wide event. The value of Clark and
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computer engineering major, worked as a residential adviser in McKee Hall last year and has experienced the Thanksgiving event firsthand.
“I feel like it’s her way of giving back to the community,” Cichocki said. As for Clark herself, Cichocki only had positive things to say. “Mrs. Faye (Marva) is a big part of the community in McKee,” Cichocki said. “She just encourages residents to be their best self. I know she did that for me.” Cichocki said if a resident living in McKee Hall approached him about not being able to go home, he would recommend attending this event. “I think they would definitely appreciate it a lot,” Cichocki said. For Grant Sullivan, freshman agricultural business major, Clark’s event really felt like Thanksgiving.As a member
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what she does for others stays with some even after they no longer live or work in the building. For David Cichocki, this rings true. Cichocki, a junior
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“The great thing about being a choose-and-cut farm is that we can offer a unique experience of atmosphere and activities,” May said. “We offer many different things besides just getting a tree, like a Christmas light show or meeting Santa. There is a lot more you’ll find as far as a family experience when you go to a choose-and-cut farm.”
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Volunteer groups within Starkville also contribute to United Way of NCM’s United We Feed drive. Starkville organizations such as Pafford EMS of Starkville, the Mayor’s Youth Council and other MSU organizations such as the Christian sorority Sigma Phi Lambda and the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center have volunteered at Vowell’s Marketplace and other grocery stores to encourage shoppers to donate canned goods to the United Way of NCM. MSU’s Freshman Edge has also contributed to the United Way of NCM’s campaign by volunteering at a food pantry in Starkville. Crecink described the enthusiasm of these students as they came to volunteer. “I looked up one day for the shelving, and I was praying that I was going to have four volunteers. We would usually shelve for two hours, and we had a good three hours’ worth of work in front of us. Suddenly, these college freshmen were coming and yelling, ‘We’re here, we’re here,’ In less than 25
of the building’s Council of Residential Experience, Sullivan helped set up for the Thanksgiving event and believes the event is important for those who cannot go home for the holiday. “She knows some of them can’t go home for Thanksgiving,” Sullivan said. “She also knows it’s their first Thanksgiving away from home.” While Sullivan has only lived in McKee Hall since August, he only had kind words to say about Clark. “She’s just really a joy to be around,“ Sullivan said. “Basically, she’s a saint.” Clark is looking for sponsorships and would like to get student organizations involved. For more information, call 601-5498039. CONTINUED FROM 1
minutes we had over 400 bags shelved. They were so excited about being a part of this,” Crecink said. Although most of the individual food drives are now being collected, there is still a chance for students and individuals from Starkville to donate to the United We Feed campaign. United Way of NCM’s new campaign partner, Barnes and Noble of MSU, has helped United Way’s initiative by hosting food drives during MSU home football games. Two large boxes for item collection will be located inside the Barnes and Noble on MSU’s campus on Nov. 28 during the Egg Bowl. Not only is the community of Starkville preparing to give back for Christmas, but Sigma Alpha Professional Agricultural Sorority of MSU is also giving back in a unique way this Christmas. For their December service event, members of the sorority are packing two large boxes to send overseas to two troops for Christmas. Sigma Alpha President Kaitlyn Barber, a junior
biochemistry major, said the project has a personal connection for several of the sorority’s members. “The way that we chose our troops is that my brother is in the Air Force right now. And then one of our other members, her fiancé is deployed for the Navy. So, it’s two different branches. They’re from different places, and they’re both going to be there for a while,” Barber said. Each pledge class of the sorority will bring two basic items that soldiers in the two troops will need for everyday care, such as feminine products, shampoos, conditioner and soaps. Other items that can be gifted include card games, sweets, used video games and snacks. The sorority encourages handmade gifts, such as small trinkets and personal, handmade cards. Members of the sorority also plan to write letters of encouragement and thank you notes to the two troops to show support for their service. Vice President of Sigma Alpha Samantha Jones, a senior agriculture engineering technology and business major, said she hopes this year’s service project will provide a taste of home for soldiers serving over the holidays. “We know that they are unfortunately going to have to be away from their families, so I think having us give them these supplies will just mean so much because we hate for them to be alone on Christmas,” Jones said. Jones said Sigma Alpha is proud to give back to those who give up so much for our country. “We want nothing but to thank them for their service,” Jones said. “We think that they will be thankful for us doing this for them, and we couldn’t be prouder to be able to help them out.”
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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2019 @REFLECTORONLINE
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Reflector 11/26/19 Crossword
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CLUB INFO Student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info. Information may be submitted by email to managing@reflector. msstate.edu with the subject heading “CLUB INFO.” The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is by 3 p.m. on Thursday. The deadline for Friday’s paper is by 3 p.m. on Tuesday. MSU student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info. Wesley Foundation Worship Night / Insight -- Tuesdays 7:30 to 8:30pm. Worship music & Bible study. Next
to Campus Book Mart. @ MSStateWesley/ StateWesley. org Community Night -Thursdays 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Coffee bar 6:30 p.m. Community groups 7 p.m. Worship 8pm. Next to Campus Book Mart. @ MSStateWesley / StateWesley. org. Got questions? Try Alpha. Alpha explores the basics of Christianity with conversation and videos. An open, honest space to ask, talk, & think together about faith, life and God. Thursdays 6:308:00 p.m. at Wesley. Next to Campus Book Mart. Text 662.435.3393 for more info.
Starkville Area Habitat ReStore thrift shop is open extended hours for the holiday season. Come shop with us Thursday 1-6, Friday 9-6, and Saturday 9-4. Low prices on furniture, decorative items, kitchen and household items, appliances and more. Tons of Christmas decorations!
Publicize your club! Email managing@reflector.msstate. edu
November 22 Puzzle Solutions BAD DAWGS Missing Bad Dawgs today? No worries, your favorite troublemakers will be back! Be sure to pick up a copy of the paper next semester to see who has been in the doghouse. Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals.
Stay in the know! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @reflectoronline
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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2019 @REFLECTORONLINE
OPINION
The Cold War on Christmas is commercialism Rosalind Hutton
BEN MACKIN
is a senior majoring in sociology. Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
The United States has often found itself locked in wars where there is no easy or apparent way out. As the world’s police force, we have flown B-12 bombers into Vietnam and invaded countries in the Middle East in the name of protecting America’s ideals of freedom. These are rightly called wars unlike a certain domestic disagreement, which has been blown out of proportion and mislabeled. As December approaches, I am here to tell you there is no such thing as a “War on Christmas.” The “War on Christmas” is a narrative peddled by conservative commentators in the media. They believe Christmas is under attack from businesses and local governments that embrace a more secular approach to Dec. 25. Offensives in this “war”
Grinch, CEO
are as minor as advertisements that say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas,” cities referring to “holiday trees” instead of “Christmas trees” and red cups instead of cups with the Nativity on them, who knows. The logic behind the “War on Christmas” is best put by one of its most vocal mouthpieces, ex-Fox News commentator Bill O’Reilly. According to Time magazine, O’Reilly said, “I think it’s all part of the secular progressive agenda … to get Christianity and spirituality out of the public sphere.” Christianity in America is
not going anywhere anytime soon. According to the Pew Research Center, 70.6% of Americans identify as Christian. Worried about the remaining Americans? According to a study from Pew Research cited by JP Sottile with The Guardian, 80% of non-Christians celebrate Christmas. The Americans that O’Reilly is most concerned with already overwhelmingly celebrate the holiday. In recent years, you have probably heard the discourse about the design of the Starbucks Christmas themed cups. In November 2015,
Books are the best gifts to give for the holidays
KATELYN WYATT
is a junior majoring in English. Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
When making Christmas shopping lists, it can be difficult to figure out what a perfect gift is for someone. You might be making your list and checking it twice to make sure you get the best deals. You may have even seen the 2019 Best Gifts for Women list made by Samantha Matt of USA Today. Her list included kindle reading materials and cookbooks. They were the least basic ideas on the list, and they were the best ones. Whether you like to read or not, books make great and personal holiday gifts. Books are more personal than gift cards and I know they are easy to pick out, but gift exchanges would be more interesting if we moved away from gift cards as our go-to gifts. According to Jordan G. Teicher of NPR, “In the United States, popular holiday gifts come and go from year to year. But in Iceland, the best Christmas gift is a book — and it has been that way for decades.” I love America and its flaws, but I think we should be more like Iceland in our gift giving habits. There are several reasons why I think we should turn to literature for gifts. One reason books are the best gifts is because of the unlimited options we have. Not only is it a more personal gift, but the beautiful covers are also nice to look at or use as decoration. There are plenty of varieties of books, so there is a book out there for everyone. Although I think everyone should like to read, especially because of my inner English major inclinations, I understand that not everyone does. Due to this, I also know
that sometimes the choices can be overwhelming, so my recommendation is to read a good Agatha Christie mystery novel by the fireplace. Instead of getting someone more kitchen gadgets and gizmos they do not need, you should consider a cookbook. If the gift goes over well, you might get to taste one of the recipes from that book. Another great gift would be a subscription to a magazine, as it is the gift that keeps on giving. Similarly, coloring books are a fantastic idea for Christmas. They are portable, cheap and can keep children occupied. They are also great stocking-stuffers. According to Liesl Schillinger of The New York Times, the books she recommends as holiday gifts can be “conversation sparkers and thought-provoking gifts.” Schillinger also mentions how holiday-themed books or classics can make great stocking stuffers as well. Of course, some other reasons books are the best is because they are easy to re-gift. If you do not want to spend a lot of money, the sales are also amazing. Books can make affordable holiday gifts because many chain book stores have coupons, memberships and buy-twoget-one-free types of deals around the holidays. Also, if you stick to a book theme for holiday shopping, you could potentially do all your shopping in one place. That reason alone should be a game-changer. Another game-changing idea is textbooks as gifts. It might sound lame and nerdy to get school books for a holiday gift, but to be honest, I do not think anyone would be disappointed to not have to pay for at least one textbook the following semester. If none of this convinced you books are easy, personal and affordable gifts, consider this: every home on HGTV has books in the bathroom or living room to serve as decorations.
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Starbucks introduced cups that were solid red and lacked the Christmas symbols, such as reindeer or snowflakes, of years previous. The design of the cops spread over social media like wildfire. In 2015, Donald Trump suggested a boycott of Starbucks. According to Jenna Johnson with the Washington Post, Trump was hosting a Starbucks in Trump Tower at the same time, funnily enough. I believe the Starbucks cups, instead of an attack in the “War on Christmas,” better represent the wider commercialization of Christmas. While Americans
may not be able to decide on whether to say “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas,” this is one thing they can agree on. According to the same study cited earlier in The Guardian, “Americans least favorite part of Christmas is commercialism and materialism.” Corporations capitalize on the gift-giving guilt of consumers during the holiday season, as if the average American has ever woken up to a new car with a red bow in their driveway on Christmas morning. Black Friday has become a feeding frenzy of online deal windows and viral videos of brawls in an otherwise empty department store. Starbucks has not gone into hiding since the cup controversy either. I recently saw an advertisement which put their new “Merry Coffee” cups front and center. It seems as if Starbucks has taken a page from Trump himself. Controversy can be good business. To be fair, Starbucks, like many companies, is trying to be inclusive to all religions during the months of November and December. The “War on Christmas” strays far away from the holiday spirit. The
holiday spirit is what allows us to forget about work to spend time with family. It is what allows us to give even when we have little ourselves, and it is what makes the holidays such a special time of the year. Regardless of religious affiliation, Americans should be able to come together during the holidays and love one another. “Happy Holidays” is an open invitation to a part of the holiday spirit. Businesses and communities may feel like they need a “Happy Holidays” approach to this time of the year. Despite this, talking heads on Fox News will continue to forge the narrative that Christmas is dying in America. I think you should say whatever makes you comfortable, whether it is “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Hanukkah,” “Happy Kwanzaa” or “Happy Holidays.” When someone says a holiday greeting I do not hear often, I feel like I am sharing a few of their holiday traditions with them. It is a gentle reminder of America as a melting pot. It is also an embrace of multiculturalism, being the ceasefire “War on Christmas” needs.
My favorite holiday movie is “Love Actually.” The movie is not an Oscar winner by any means, but it is a really cute and festive romantic comedy that my family ends up watching every year.” - Mia Rodriguez, Editor-in-Chief My favorite Christmas movie is “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” I have enjoyed watching this movie with my family ever since I was a kid. - Georgia Hamilton, Photography Editor My favorite Christmas film is “Jingle All the Way.” This film is so stupid but perfect. Where else can you find a Christmas film starring the Terminator, the teacher from Good Burger and a young Anakin Skywalker? It remains an endlessly quotable film with hilarious slapstick, reindeer punching and Arnold Schwarzenegger yelling, “Put that cookie down. Now!” - Brandon Grisham, Online Editor “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” makes me laugh every time. To me, I understand why Clark Griswold finds everything so frustrating, but in the end, he finds comfort in family. It is just an iconic movie. - Hunter Cloud, Sports Editor My favorite Christmas movie by far is “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” It can be quoted year-round, and I feel like the Grinch himself is the most relatable character to every college student. Also, that character development is just, “wow.” - Rosalind Hutton, Editorial Illustrator The best Christmas movie of all time is hands down “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Some may debate the validity of this Christmas story, but it shows how someone even as grim as Jack Skellington can be softened by the spirit of giving and being surrounded by people you love. - Devin Byrd, Advertising Manager During the holiday season, quotes and references from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” are a large part of my family’s vocabulary. Iconic, relatable and laugh-out-loud funny, Christmas Vacation never disappoints, no matter how many times we watch it. - Hannah Blankenship, News Editor "Elf" is my favorite Christmas movie because I feel like I can honestly relate with Buddy's enthusiasm. Part of me wants to be a human-elf who goes off to New York City to discover who I really am. - Mary Madeline LaMastus, Life & Entertainment Editor I was eight when "Home Alone” came out in 1990. I remember watching it in the theater witha huge box of Sweet Tarts and a bunch of other kids. It was so fun to watch Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci beaten and battered in so many creative ways. "Keep the change, you filthy animal!" - Josh Foreman, The Reflector Advisor My favorite Christmas movie is “A Christmas Story.” Every Christmas Eve, my family's tradition is to watch the 24-hour marathon of “A Christmas Story” on TBS. When I think backto those Christmas Eve nights, all I feel is nostalgia, and as I get older, I know I will keep thetradition, as well. - Ella Schalski, Managing Editor My favorite Christmas movie has to be “A Christmas Story.” My family has watched “A Christmas Story” at seven o’clock at night every Christmas Eve for as long as I can remember. It really embodies the season for me, and I love the tradition of it. Plus, it is just good, innocent fun. - Dylan Bufkin, Opinion Editor Rosalind Hutton
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5LIFE -Life& ENTERTAINMENT 5 THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2019 @REFLECTORONLINE
‘Frozen 2’ is entertainment for all ages
DREW GARDNER
STAFF WRITER
“Frozen 2” is the sequel to 2013’s inescapable smash hit that captivated the world. The original “Frozen” grossed a total of $1.2 billion at the box office and introduced the world to Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf, played by Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad. “Frozen 2” has caused plenty of buzz. With glowing first impressions from audiences and expectations for a massive opening weekend at the box office, the question arises whether “Frozen 2” will captivate audiences as much as the original or should Disney “let it go”? The original movie’s impact on pop culture cannot be understated. It was a huge hit for Disney and is considered one of their best films in recent years. Both movies in the “Frozen” franchise are directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck. Buck has experience co-directing other Disney movies such as “Tarzan” while Lee is one of the head writers for the Disney movie, “WreckIt Ralph.” The duo worked with Tony award-winning couple, Robert and KristenAnderson Lopez, to create the songs for both films. “Frozen 2” still follows
the four main characters and their adventures in Arendelle, but the sequel attempts to change things up a bit. “Frozen 2” picks up three years after the end of the first movie, placing the characters in a much more vibrant time of the year. Being placed during fall allows for a much richer, autumnal color palette as opposed to the stark whites and blues of the original film. The film also feels a lot more like a classic fantasy movie as opposed to the fairy-tale and princess aesthetic of the original. The new fantasy and adventure feeling is a plus in my book. The movie begins with Anna and Elsa’s father reading them a story. This gets some exposition out of the way. The story tells the girls about the spirits that were awoken in Northuldra, the fight between Northuldra and Arendelle, and the four spirits who were accidentally released. Those spirits trapped the soldiers from both cities in a dome. During the present day, Elsa hears a voice calling her and accidentally awakens the spirits from Northuldra. That is when the four heroes begin their journey to the Enchanted Forest. Audiences and critics seem to really enjoy “Frozen 2.” Annie Price, a senior
“Am I seeing double?”
Rosalind Hutton
communication major, thought it was fantastic. “I saw it on Friday. I loved it. The humor was a little bit more mature, and the soundtrack was much less cutesy,” Price said. Mariah Stevens, a senior communication major, also enjoyed the movie and how different it was from the original. “It was really enjoyable, and I thought it was pretty funny. Olaf is my favorite Disney character and also was my favorite part about the movie,” Stevens said. While the numbers have not been published at this
Bulldogs share their holiday celebrations “We celebrate ‘Dong jig’ which is the longest night of the year. We eat red bean soup this night, because tradition
says that ghosts love the night, but they hate red. So, since it’s the longest night of the year, so it’s tradition to eat
red bean soup to ward them off. We also eat the amount of rice cakes that equals how old we are. In Korea, we
start out at one, so I’m 22 here in America, but I’m 23 in Bohyun Park
Korea. It’s kind of a joke, but if we don’t eat that amount of rice cakes, then you don’t turn a year older.”
time, the box office for “Frozen 2” is looking to be monumental. Box Office Mojo predicted a $350 million global debut for the film. Manager of Hollywood Premiere Cinema, Caleb Rhodes, said the theater has been packed all weekend. “Box office sales have been about what we expected, so just really busy. We’ve been selling out almost every showtime and that’s with showtimes running every hour. It’s mostly been families, but there’s been a lot of collegeage adults and young adults coming to see it too,”
Rhodes said. As much as audiences love the characters and setting of the “Frozen” franchise, the songs are what families will flock to the theater for. The song “Let It Go” from the original “Frozen” was such a cultural phenomenon that absolutely no one could escape the song for almost a year after it was released. “Frozen 2” also has plenty of catchy tracks, and I am sure we will all be sick of by the time next Christmas comes around. The big hit from the film seems to be “Into the Unknown.” It is sung by Elsa at a crucial point in the film where she follows a strange voice from earlier in the movie. The trailer of the film used “Into the Unknown” as their standout track. They also put a Panic at the Disco cover on their soundtrack and during the end credits. Personally, I love this franchise. It is a huge guilty pleasure of mine. In terms of movies, I like slowmoving, indie films, so a musical largely aimed at kids should not be on my radar. However, the “Frozen” movies are so much fun. They are not particularly unique, but they are both well-crafted adventures with fantastic animation, memorable characters and heartfelt songs.
The big issue I have with the movie is that it is largely a retread of the first movie, just with a change of scenery. Plus, I know it is probably blasphemy to say, but I have the same issue with this as the “Wreckit Ralph” sequel. I think “Frozen” really did not need a sequel. I would rather Disney just try new things. I know a lot of people really enjoyed Kristoff ’s ‘80s ballad, “Lost in the Woods,” but I think it is kind of cheesy and a pale imitation of an actual ‘80s ballad. It also does not add anything to the movie. I prefer the story and songs of the first movie. While I prefer the setting and tone of the second movie, overall I think the first is a better movie. In the end, the film leaves space open for another movie after the second one. There is also a short after-credits scene involving a certain character that I will not spoil, but I was left feeling sure we will get a “Frozen 3.” Hopefully, it does not take another six years to develop. I would recommend this movie if you are one of the few people that did not see it this weekend. If you are in the mood for a very well-done and beautifully animated movie with catchy songs and fun characters, “Frozen 2” is absolutely for you.
Happy Holidays from
Mississippi State University Fall 2019 Commencement Ceremonies December 13, 2019 9:30 a.m. Ceremony
“In my family, we gather in my grandfather’s kitchen to make candies and decorate with his worldwide gnome collection.
our traditional Wagner candies, a hand-me-down recipe that
Processional begins at 9:00 a.m. Doors open at 8:00 a.m.
we decorate the entire home with his over-60-years-old gnome
3:30 p.m. Ceremony
Before my grandfather passed, we would go to his house to make came over from Germany with my grandfather’s mom. Then, collection. My grandparents traveled all over the world, and
they always came back with a gnome special to the country. The
Hannah Wagner
(Arts & Sciences/Architecture, Art & Design/ Education/University Studies)
collection has over 400 gnomes. It’s made up of everything from Santa and little elf families, to business and wedding gnomes.”
“I’ve been celebrating Hanukkah my entire life. It means
the ‘ festival of lights,’ and it’s a throwback to the when the
Maccabees were persecuted, and they had to hide with no light.
(Engineering/Forest Resources/Agriculture & Life Sciences/ Veterinary Medicine/Business)
Processional begins at 3:00 p.m. Doors open at 2:00 p.m.
Humphrey Coliseum
God let a drop of oil burn for eight days, and so we celebrate
for eight days. It’s a thankful time, a time to really show love to your family and spend time together. It’s not unique to my family, but my mom just makes really good latkes, or potato Jason Stein
pancakes. We only make them this time of the year. They
aren’t the healthiest in the world, but they’re really good.” “We celebrate the Chinese New Year. We say ‘guò nián hao,’
which comes from a story about a monster that used to attack a village. We do fireworks, and there’s lots of red, because
ALLOW ADDITIONAL TIME FOR SECURITY SCREENING ALL BAGS ARE SUBJECT TO SEARCH The information regarding regalia, invitations, photographs, and marching instructions may be found at www.registrar.msstate.edu, under students/ graduation for you to view and/or print.
Congratulations to all of our Graduates!
mosters are scared of loud sounds and the color red. My
favorite part of the holiday is the fireworks, and there’s a big firework show that the government puts on at the end of the
15 days. Also, there are red envelopes, and when we say ‘guò
Yujia Liu
nián hao’ to an elder, they give us an envelope with a saying called ‘ hong bao,’ which is a saying of hope for the year.”
GRADUATES AND THEIR GUESTS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN THEIR SEATS UNTIL THE CONCLUSION OF THE CEREMONY.
66-Sports SPORTS
THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2019 @SPORTSREFLECTOR
Bulldogs win Homecoming game, look forward to Egg Bowl HANNAH BLANKENSHIP NEWS EDITOR
The Mississippi State University Bulldogs won their 10th Homecoming game in a row on Saturday night against FCS foe, Abilene Christian University. Although the game was never in jeopardy and ended with the Bulldogs winning 45-7 over ACU, there is significant room for improvement going into next week’s rivalry game against the University of Mississippi. Head coach Joe Moorhead said the offense started slow, something that cannot happen in next week’s game. “I was seeing red because I was mad we weren’t executing at a high level,” Moorhead said. However, Moorhead said the offensive execution did improve in the later scoring drives compared to the first half of the game. “I think we ran the ball very effectively,” Moorhead said. “I think we protected, I think we threw it in proximity to the receiver and I think we caught the ball (in those later drives), so I think the difference was probably execution.” Of the six touchdowns MSU scored against ACU, the most notable was junior running back Kylin Hill’s 88-yard streak down the sideline into the end zone with multiple purple-clad players trailing hopelessly in his wake. “I saw the daylight and I said, ‘I gotta run,’” Hill said. “I was looking at the screen to see how far he was and I said ‘I gotta pick it up and keep going.’” State’s passing game was Mary Georgia Hamilton|The Reflector not noteworthy. ACU had Sherman Timbs, Thomas Cox and Jaden Crumedy run onto the field for MSU’s game against Abiliene Christian. MSU plays Ole Miss this Thursday. more completions and net
passing yards than MSU. Moorhead said, while the improvement of MSU’s passing game might be a slow process, he is hopeful it will improve more with smart recruiting and incremental development. “I see flashes of it,” Moorhead said. “I don’t think it’s for a lack of ability, I think it’s a lack of consistency.” As the 45-7 score reflects, State made up for their lack of passing yardage in another area: rushing. With 372 rushing yards to ACU’s 27, MSU significantly outran ACU. Stevens and Hill led the pack for rushing yards with 88 yards and 153 yards, respectively. There was also an impressive showing by freshman quarterback Garret Shrader considering the short amount of time he played. For Hill, this game signaled his 10th game with over 100 rushing yards, putting him ahead of former MSU football titan, Dak Prescott, who only had nine 100-yard rushing games. While a victory in this game was necessary for a bowl game, the name ACU was quickly forgotten after it finished. Instead, all eyes turned to next week’s rivalry game against Ole Miss. While the stakes are high at any rivalry game, the pressure is on for this year’s Egg Bowl. It determines if the Bulldogs make it to post-season play. Additionally, Ole Miss will be coming off a bye week, giving them more time to rest and prepare for the game. Moorhead said the Bulldogs are not going to waste any time preparing for Thursday’s Thanksgiving matchup. “We’re coming off of
a short week, so it is what it is. We’re not going to make excuses,” Moorhead said. “We’re going to go in tomorrow, watch this tape real early in the morning, grade it and then we’re going to move on and start our game plan.” Hill, who has played in two previous Egg Bowls, said he was prepared for the intensity of the rivalry game. “I’m ready. I’m locked in and focused,” Hill said. “I know what it means. I’ve been here long enough.” Hill said he has impressed upon Stevens, a transfer from Penn State University, the importance of Thursday’s game. “I’ve been telling him, I said, ‘You haven’t seen a rivalry game until you see the Egg Bowl,’ I told him it means a lot to these fans so you cannot go out there and lose the game,” Hill said. When asked if he would have preferred a bye week over having to play a game in such a short time before the Ole Miss game, Hill said he plans on getting the job done no matter what. “It doesn’t matter to me,” Hill said. “At the end of the day, you still gotta play the game.” Moorhead said the team is going to have to jump into the five-day turnaround, push through injuries and watch film on their own to expedite the preparation process for this year’s highly-anticipated rivalry game. “We’re going to have to hit the ground running on Monday, and I know I’m excited,” Moorhead said. “I know the staff ’s excited, I know the fans are excited and I know our players are excited, so take a little nap tonight, get up and get ready to roll.”