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125th YEAR | ISSUE 26 @REFLECTORONLINE /REFLECTORONLINE

NOVEMBER 26, 2013

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Brown wins Rhodes Scholarship

BY LACRETIA WIMBLEY Staff Writer

Mississippi State University’s Donald M. “Field” Brown became the second student since 1911 at MSU to be awarded the Cecil J. Rhodes Scholarship Nov. 23.

The Rhodes Scholarship is

one of the oldest and most celebrated prestigious fellowship awards in the world.

Established by the will of businessman and mining magnate Cecil J. Rhodes, the scholarship is an international award designed to educate future leaders and promote international understanding

in Oxford, England.

Brown, English and philosophy double major and Vicksburg, Miss., native, said he left for the University of St. Louis on Nov. 21 where he would participate in social events and an interview that would result with his becoming a Rhodes Scholar.

Time management benefits students

BY KIMBERLY MURRIEL Staff Writer

With the semester coming to an end, campus organizations are available to provide resources to help students handle the stress of the end-of the-semester crunch.

SEE RHODES, 2

Staff Writer

Week after week, True Maroon fans either cheer for their team adamantly in the stands or while crowded around TVs. While the Bulldogs have faced some impressive teams this season, many fans look forward to the battle with rival University of Mississippi. On Nov. 28, Mississippi State Bulldogs and Ole Miss Rebel Black Bears will battle it out in this year’s Egg Bowl. While the annual Egg Bowl fuels the fire for the rivalry, the rivalry itself started over a century ago.

Whit Waide, an MSU political science professor, said the rivalry stemmed from a difference of values between the two schools.

“Originally, there was only one school in Mississippi, and that was Ole Miss.

Some thought Ole Miss should maintain its elite and aristocratic status and didn’t want an education that promoted farming. Those who saw the importance of agriculture broke away. In 1862, Congress passed the Morill Land Grant Act and

dents deal with stress during finals,” Kavalsky said. “We have a counselor on duty Monday through Friday from 8 to 5 p.m. The counselor on duty doesn’t have any appointments for the day and is there to handle walk-ins and students who can’t wait a few days or week.”

SEE RESOURCES, 3

Egg Bowl fuels rivarly

BY NIA WILSON

Kim Kavalsky, coordinator of Health Outreach and University Health Services said Student Counseling Services has staff available to help students during this stressful time of the year.

“The counseling centers have counselors available to help stu-

Mississippi A&M was born. Under the act, we received a total of 30,000 acres federal land for each member of Congress the state had. The land was then used to establish an institution that valued academics and agriculture. ” Waide said that MSU’s awareness of its beginning is because being a Bulldog is about more than school spirit for sports teams. It is about helping to build a stronger Mississippi.

“It is important to know our origins and to have a deeply rooted knowledge about who we are here at MSU. State is engineered to help people. We are ‘The People’s University.’ Some may call us a cow college, but there is nothing better than being just that. We feed people and fuel the state. We have done more for the state of Mississippi than any other school, but we get very little credit,” he said.

Mark Keenum, president of MSU, said the rivalry is healthy for both teams because it makes being a Mississippian special.

“In any sport against Ole Miss, it’s a big occasion simply because it’s a rivalry game. You can ask any MSU fan, but they would probably say there is no bigger ball game than this one coming up. If we could only beat one team and win one game this season, it would have to be this one,” he said.

SEE RIVALRY, 2

MSU MEDIA RELATIONS | COURTESY PHOTO

MSU celebrated after its win in the Egg Bowl against Ole Miss in 1998. The last time MSU found victory in the Egg Bowl was in 2011.

Reveille yearbook returns

BY LACRETIA WIMBLEY Staff Writer

Mississippi State University’s official yearbook, “The Reveille,” continues its preservation of MSU memories with the 20132014 print edition that started selling Nov. 20.

“The Reveille” became MSU’s official yearbook in 1898. It was published from 1906 to 2008 but was temporarily renamed “Private 1913” in 1913. It was not produced in 1944 due to paper restrictions of war efforts during World War II. Ryan Semmes, interim coordinator of the congressional and political research center, said prior to 1898, MSU did not have yearbooks but instead had catalogs that served as yearbooks to students.

“The catalogs show who graduated and what awards were given but lacked photography,” Semmes said.

“We still find out info about students prior to 1898 thanks to the catalogs. They were a big help when we took ‘The Reveille’ digital last year.”

Semmes said the ELIZABETH LUCAS | COURTESY PHOTO yearbook’s name, Copies of “The Reveille,” MSU’s “The Reveille,” originated from a type of official yearbook, date back to music that was played, 1898. Its history continues as used to wake up mili- it returns to print this year. tary units at MSU. “MSU used to be a military and agricultural college,” he said.

“We have a lot of photos of old cadets that are unidentified. We are still working with the photos and uncovering them and will be putting them online in the near future.”

SEE REVEILLE, 3

Student Association plans to implement water stations

BY PRANAAV JADHAV Staff Writer

The Student Association Senate at Mississippi State University passed a resolution Oct. 29 to install water bottle filling stations at various locations across campus.

SA President Michael Hogan said this was an initiative brought to the SA’s attention by freshman senator, Haley Wheeler. She had noticed these filling stations on other campuses and wanted to see them used at MSU. “The water bottle filling station will function much like the one in the Sanderson Center that is right before you get to the rock-climbing wall. This will be an easily-accessed station to fill your water bottles completely without the worry of spreading germs,” Hogan said.

“Putting these in the main hubs of campus will be a great deal of

exposure. We will surely release through our personal media and would hope the buzz to extend from there.”

Wheeler, freshman senator and brain-child of this initiative, said her high school had a water bottle filling station, and it was convenient for her to carry a water bottle around because the bottle-filling station made it easier and faster to fill the water bottle.

“It’s neat to see how many water bottles my peers and I saved by using the fountain instead of buying disposable water bottles.

Second, when I was touring different college campuses, I noticed that they had the bottle-filling stations,” Wheeler said. “My aim for their installation was threefold: convenience, sustainability and staying competitive or upto-par with other universities.”

John Williams, Residence Hall Association president, said

the stations are a great initiative for the university to continue advancements in sustaninability.

He said it could be substantially beneficial for the students and the university.

“Things like this are what the SA Senate looks forward to bring to our university. The bottle-filling stations will hopefully influence students and faculty members to bring their own bottles into the union and other future bottle-filing station locations, which will promote healthier drinking alternatives and decrease the number of bottles and cups being disposed,” Williams said.

Meg Johnson, senior business management major, said a sustainable perk is that too many people use and throw away water bottles every day, but with these filling stations, students will be able to fill reusable water bottles efficiently.

EMMA KATHERINE HUTTO | THE REFLECTOR

Students demonstrate environmental consciousness when they use water bottle filling stations like this one in the Sanderson Center. These stations, which SA plans to install around campus, prevent overuse of plastic bottles and keep students hydrated.

This is the last issue of The Reflector for the fall semester. The Reflector will resume printing on Jan. 17.

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2 | TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2013

THE REFLECTOR

5K raises money, awareness for Native American reservation ministry

By Mary Kate McGowan Assistant News Editor

Linn Sekkenes, Mississippi State University senior graphic design major, made her first trek to the Yakama Indian Reservation in Washington in 2012. She returned to the reservation, located southeast of Seattle, the next spring break.

She said the memory of her experience at the reservation never left her mind.

“You go out there, and you don’t really expect it. There’s no way to prepare for it,” Sekkenes said. “They tell us that they’re poor, but you get out there and it’s completely different from whatever you could ever imagine.”

During both trips, Sekkenes was a member of the MSU Reformed University Fellowship team.

Sekkenes said she came up

with the idea of a fundraiser for the reservation this summer.

The product of her musing is RUF’s Trail of Hope 5K and Wolf Cove concert.

The event is planned to raise support and promote awareness for Sacred Road Ministries, a church-planting ministry associated with the Presbyterian Church in America on the Yakama Reservation.

The Trail of Hope will start with registration at 5 p.m. Dec. 5 at the amphitheater on campus. The race will be at 6 p.m., and Wolf Cove, an MSU student band, will play after the race’s conclusion.

Race registration is $20 in advance and $25 on race day. A shirt is included in the registration packet.

Anna Ballard, senior graphic design major, said she thinks it will be a fun event and atmosphere.

“Even for people who don’t know what Sacred Road is, I think we will still have participants because it’s a fun, Christmas-y run,” Ballard said. “The fact that it is benefiting Sacred Road is a bonus.”

Lauren Sensing, senior special education major, said she participates and helps to organize the race because it supports Sacred Road Ministries.

She said she has had a longtime connection with Sacred Road and has worked with the ministry for about nine years.

“I hopped on board with her just because I’m all about raising awareness for Sacred Road,” Sensing said. “I want more people to come and see what Sacred Road is and what it is about and how the church is growing out there.”

Sensing said the event’s proceeds will go to Sacred Road’s mercy-ministry fund.

RHODES After a two-hour cocktail party on Friday that evaluated the finalists’ social skills and a 25-minute interview on Saturday, Brown said he and 13 other finalists sat in a waiting room at the University of St. Louis, awaiting the results of their scholarly fate.

“The six people who formed the interview committee walked in and told us how proud they were, but that they could only choose two,” Brown said.

“When they called my name I put my hands on my head in disbelief because I could not believe it.”

Brown said the scholarship requires him to spend two years at the University of Oxford, where he will travel in early October 2014.

“During my two years there I will obtain a degree in English literature and a degree in American literature,” he said. “I hope to become affiliated with a few

continued from 1 subsets of the Rhodes Foundation at the university. They include the Christian Rhodes Foundation, and the Black Rhodes Foundation. I also hope to get involved in playing tennis at the University of Oxford. I’ve been playing all my life.”

Tommy Anderson, professor of English and Brown’s mentor, said he has known Brown since he was a freshman at MSU and was struck by how calm, confident and reflective Brown was before the interview.

“As it is that I went with him for support and to further help him prepare before the interview, I knew he was ready and that he had matured to a level I had never seen before in an undergraduate,” Anderson said. “I wasn’t sure if he would become a scholar, but I knew he would give the best representation.”

Anderson said Brown’s new merit is transformative in that it will assist in making him an academic leader and help him make connections between academia and the real world that has raised and nurtured him.

“This will do nothing less than allow him to make an impact on his hometown, Vicksburg, and here at MSU,” he said.

Andrea Spain, professor of English and Brown’s senior thesis adviser, said Brown’s tremendous honor demonstrates that

MSU students can compete with the best students anywhere and that faculty will do their best to support the ambition of students.

“Field carved out his unique interdisciplinary scholarly trajectory and worked with incredible dedication with faculty in the honors college, department of philosophy, African American Studies and the department of English, all of whom were thrilled to support him,” she said. “This dedication, together with Field’s unsurpassed integrity, humility and his tremendous warmth, earned Field this incredible honor.”

Spain said Field’s extraordinary performance this past weekend, after weeks of his tireless preparation, has opened up entirely new worlds for him.

Brown said he felt confident and relaxed throughout the interview process.

“I gave them my best and showed them who I am,” he said. “For anyone that wants to accomplish a goal, I would tell them to make sure you have a mentor, someone you can share your ideas with and can help you grow. Be sure to follow your dreams.”

For more information about the scholarship, visit rhodesscholar.org. To view the 2013 winners, visit rhodesscholar.org/ winners.

“It will help people who are in need of the money. It’s not going to our team. It’s going directly to the ministry,” Sensing said.

Sekkenes said she thinks Sacred Road Ministries helps the people on the Yakama reservation tremendously.

“To see the people out there in all their brokenness and to see how Sacred Road can contribute so much to their lives is what I thought was so awesome about it,” Sekkenes said. “It’s really such a broken place, but when the kids come to kid’s club and church and everything, it seems like their lives are perfect even though they are not.”

Other MSU students have traveled to the Yakama reservation to help Sacred Road Ministries and have seen the ministry’s impact.

Ballard said she went to the

RIVALRY The rivalry began in the 1800s, but the Egg Bowl competition began almost 90 years ago in 1927. In 1926, when MSU was still Mississippi A&M College, Ole Miss won a particular game after a continuous losing streak. The Ole Miss fans were so excited they stormed the Mississippi A&M field and attempted to tear the goalposts down. Fans from both sides were injured.

To prevent such events in the future, students of the two schools created the “Golden Egg,” a large eggshaped trophy given to the winning team. From that point on, the battle between the Bulldogs and the Rebels was referred to as the Egg Bowl.

James Giesen, assistant professor in the MSU history department, said he has watched the Egg Bowl on television since he was a child. Even as a kid from Michigan, said he knew he should root for MSU. “It’s good to have students engaged in true spirit for the school. Hatred can have a very unifying effect on an otherwise diverse student body,” Giesen said. “However, if this was an actual competition for eggs, we would surely destroy them.

1500

continued from 1

msu media relations | courtesy photo

After Ole Miss fans tore down the goal posts in 1926, MSU and Ole Miss students created the “golden egg” trophy. The trophy goes to the game’s winner.

Our school has done more for egg production than they have in any production.”

Michael Hogan, Student Association president, said while he did not grow up a Bulldog, he has certainly become one over the years. He said he loves his university and aims to steer MSU to becoming better.

“MSU comparing ourselves to Ole Miss is fine, but I’m making sure that we focus on us. It’s all for fun, but at the end of the day, we beat the Rebels regardless of the score,” he said.

Fans agree that school spirit is essential to every game, but especially a game as heated as this one.

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sacred road ministries | courtesy photo

Kids play during Kid’s Club, a Sacred Road Ministries outreach, on the Yakama Indian Reservation. The RUF’s Trail of Hope 5k is raising money for a part of the ministry. reservation her freshman year The Trail of Hope 5K race during spring break and plans registration is open to the pubto return. lic. To register, visit msstate.

“They (Sacred Road) pour ruf.org. For more informatheir hearts into it, and you can tion about the Yakama Indian really tell it is making a differ- Reservation and Sacred Road ence in the lives of the people Ministries, visit sacredroadminthere,” Ballard said. istries.com.

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REVEILLE Elizabeth Lucas, editor-in-chief of this year’s “Reveille,” said the Student Association and publications committee decided to bring the yearbook back in print this year.

“If we didn’t bring it back this year, it probably wouldn’t make a comeback,” Lucas said.

“Since the yearbook was not published last year, we will be featuring a supplement from last year’s activities and major

continued events into this one.”

Lucas said the theme of this year’s “Reveille” will be the “Marine Standard,” as it was the last year it was published.

“The yearbook will feature sections that will contain elements of important events and guest speakers like Condoleezza Rice,” she said. “It will also feature major student activities like Bulldog Bash.”

Lucas said MSU’s “Reveille” is a an important tradition.

“I think it’s neat that I can look back at my mother’s MSU days when she was homecoming queen. Memories are a major part of what makes the MSU tradition special,” she said.

David Nolen, assistant editor and reference librarian at the Ulysses Grant Presidential Library and Congressional and Political Research Center, said people are always interested in

STATIONS

university history.

“Bringing back the yearbook is a great thing because it includes sharing people’s experiences and history. This will be something future alumni will appreciate,” Nolen said.

The “Reveille” costs $50 per book. Students can purchase a book by logging into MyState, and clicking “Order Reveille” in the top right hand corner.

continued from 1

“I think this is a great thing bottles that were thrown in the that will positivetrash can — ly affect our camit makes me I think pus in many ways. cringe,” Johnthis is a Buying water botson said. tles daily can add The initiagreat thing up and is not only tive still has that will an unnecessary not received personal cost, but positively affect our f u n d i n g , an unnecessary campus in many Wheeler and e n v i ro n m e n t a l ways.”

SA Senator cost as well. I -Meg Johnson, John Williams can’t tell you how are in the promany times I’ve senior business cess of securwanted to reach management major ing money for into the trash can the installawhile leaving my tion. classroom to grab the five water SA Vice President Shelby

Sims said since the idea came to surface, SA has gained the support of many administrators and student groups.

“We are planning to place the first filling station in the Colvard Student Union. We have not yet secured funding for the first filling station, but we feel confident in our partnerships with green organizations such as Students for a Sustainable Campus. They have been a great ally of the Student Association on this initiative,” Sims said.

Some of the research Wheeler did included looking at dif-

RESOURCES Kavalsky said she often sees students come into the counseling center on reading days in crisis concerned about their academic standing “A popular thing during exams or right before exams on readings days is that we have students in crisis who are concerned about their academics,” Kavalsky said. “They may be in danger of failing, and they really benefit from talking with a therapist about what they can do and what resources we have.”

Kavalsky said counselors teach students various skills on how to handle stress and positive coping skills. She said meditation and exercise are good activities to help students manage their stress levels

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2013 | 3

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“I think of stress as a physical thing,” Kavalsky said. “What I mean by that is some people who are under a lot stress have upset stomachs, sweat a lot, have a lot of tension in neck and back or headaches. A good way to treat that is with some physical exercise and breathing techniques with mindfulness and mediation.”

Active Minds, a mental health awareness organization, will hosts its Stress Free Zone event Dec. 8, from 7--10 p.m.

Atlanta McCoy, president of Active Minds, said a table will be set up on the second floor of Mitchell Memorial Library and baked goods, coffee, hot cocoa and parfaits will be served.

“The Stress Free Zone table is

ferent models of the stations, installation cost and general reasons for installation at the University of Mississippi and Auburn University.

“I looked up contact information for Ole Miss and Auburn University’s facilities management faculty and sent them emails asking how they like their stations. They then provided me with general information on cost, receptivity, numbers of bottles saved, etc. Both Ole Miss and Auburn said that the stations were well-received on their campuses,” Wheeler said. continued from 1

a place where you can just cancel everything else out and relax,” McCoy said. “It’s just a moment, a few minutes or however long you want to stay just to take your mind off of finals and you know, just give students some relaxation time. And it’s all free.”

McCoy said she finds stress balls to be a highly successful way for students to relieve stress.

“We use balloons (to make the stress balls) and we have filters where you can fill them with sand, tie them up and squeeze them to let out some frustration,” McCoy said.

Candace Weed, an instructor who teaches College Success 1, freshman seminar and college reading and study skills and coordinator of Promise Student Sup-

port Group, said The eLearning Center also provides resources to assist students during finals. “The first thing to do is not stress out over finals,” Weed said. “There is no way that you will be able to focus or maintain concentration if you lose yourself to stress.”

Weed said she typically advises her students to create a five-day study plan to help them study efficiently for exams.

“You shouldn’t wait until the reading days to prepare for your finals. We break the plan down into a series of preparation by looking back over and re-reading your notes and books, working with flash cards, concept map, study tools and quizzing yourself. Each of those days covers no more than two hours of study

Thursday, Nov. 21 • 10:50 a.m. A student reported damage to his or her vehicle while parked at the Sigma Chi fraternity house parking lot.

• 11:03 a.m. A student reported damage to his or her vehicle while parked at the Sigma Chi fraternity house parking lot.

• 11:04 a.m. A student reported damage to his or her vehicle while parked at the Sigma Chi fraternity house parking lot.

• 11:04 a.m. A student reported damage to his or her vehicle while parked at the Sigma Chi fraternity house parking lot.

Friday, Nov. 22 • 1:00 p.m. A visitor reported his or her shoes stolen while in Rice Hall on Nov. 21.

• 2:47 p.m. An employee reported a Homelite blower missing from inventory. The blower did not work and was used for parts.

• 4:10 p.m. A student reported vandalism to the back fence of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house during the night on Nov. 21.

Saturday, Nov. 23 • 12:30 a.m. A student was reported acting emotionally upset walking into the Starkville city limits by a friend. The student was transported by SPD and EMS to OCH and was later transported to Willow Brook in Columbus.

• 1:32 a.m. A student was arrested for public intoxication when found sleeping in his or her vehincle in the parking lot of Moseley Hall.

Sunday, Nov. 24 • 4:15 a.m. MSU officers responded to a fire alarm in Rice Hall.

SFD discovered an AC unit belt was shredded and caused smoke in the second floor mechanical room. per content area,” Weed said.

“That way you’re not pushing yourself too much, and it’s easier to remember the information.”

Kavalsky said students also should not neglect sleep and healthy eating during finals.

“I see students trying to cram eight hours straight, wired on caffeine and other drugs such as Adderall, and that’s the worst thing they could do,” Kavalsky said. “By the time they take the exam, they will have forgotten about half of what they studied when they crash.”

Kavalsky said the key to surviving exams is for students not to slip into destructive patterns during exam times.

“It’s very tempting for student to fall into bad habits during exam,” Kavalsky said. “Don’t do it because it’s not worth your health and grades.”

Mississippi State University 2013 Fall Commencement Ceremony December 14, 2013, 10:00 A.M.

Humphrey Coliseum

The University Registrar announces detailed graduation information regarding regalia, invitations, photographs, DVDs, and marching instructions. This information is available at the University Registrar’s web page address, www.registrar.msstate.edu, under announcements/notes for you to view and/or print.

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OPINION

4 | TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2013

OPINION EDITOR: ALIE DALEE | opinion@reflector.msstate.edu A LITTLE BIRDIE TOLD ME

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Stop and smell the pumpkins, relish the holidays while they are here W ith the holiday season fast upon us, it is easy to pass golden-hued afternoons listlessly filling up online shopping carts with cashmere and sparkles and spend what remains of our October paychecks on various autumn beverages, wishing away the final 70 degree afternoons before winter chills set in.

We neglect days where neither the heat nor the air conditioner run and prematurely gulp down apple cider half-expecting to see Santa Claus slide down our chimneys a month and a half early — not to mention the lack of attention we give to the most caloric holiday of them all, Thanksgiving. I’ve recently heard many a Facebook friend refer to November as “Thanksgiving Awareness Month.” So few people engage in the masterpiece of the Macy’s

Thanksgiving Day Parade, which holiday perfection come Dec. 25.

I find to be the holiday’s most in- And the second the ball drops credible component, and though on Jan. 1, we will drag out the I have already Christmas had countless tree and break Happiness is a an ornament conversations fleeting thing, or two in about my favorite Christthe process a completely mas beverage, circumstantial and begin to I can’t rememdesperately ber the last sentiment. If we equate search for a time anyone happiness with a holiday s i g n i f i c a n t asked my cup at Starbucks or in other before opinion on Feb. 14. It the Christmas wreaths gravy vs. cranis an endon Main Street, it is berry sauce. less pursuit As a gener- certain to abandon us of holiday ation, we are come January.” perfection, all too eager which always to stuff our focuses on stockings bethe next holifore we stuff our turkey, assum- day too early to enjoy the current ing that if we begin our Christ- one. mas-planning while the leaves However, this dissatisfaction is are still falling, we will achieve not strictly seasonal. My AP En-

LET’S PLAY THIS BY EAR

Thanksgiving or not, there is no bad day for an Egg Bowl

T

his Thursday evening will by the Egg Bowl (and the lively provide Mississippi State reactions and cheers of family University students with members) at past Thanksgivings. excitement, competitive rivalry However, I have also thoroughand the joy of partaking in a tra- ly enjoyed the Egg Bowls of my dition dating all the way back to freshman, sophomore and junior 1927. For decades, MSU and Ole years of college. Whether I have Miss fans have gathered together traveled to Oxford or cheered on to participate in the fanfare sur- the Bulldogs from our own Davis rounding this staple of Mississip- Wade Stadium, each competipi athletics. Throughout my own tion has resulted in a high-energy childhood, the Egg Bowl was en- game experience, with the addjoyed at my Nana’s house along ed bonus of being able to spend with turkey, homemade pies and Thanksgiving Day at home with my family. copious amounts of Diet Coke.

In the argument over which The Battle for the Golden Egg always, in my mind, marked the scheduling situation is more peak of the Thanksgiving season, favorable, perhaps there is no and I relished in the overlap of definite winner. So much of the college football Thanksgiving gameday expeDay and this exThere is no rience depends citing sporting wrong day on which stage event. However, to enjoy a of life you pass upon coming to through. As college, my Egg cold drink, a child, your Bowl routine a hearty meal and a personal schedwas slightly altered. This year’s rivalry among friends. ule is synced with that of Egg Bowl will your parents, be the first since so you have 2003 that has occurred on Thanksgiving Day, so little to no opinion of where you until now, every Egg Bowl I have should be on which day. For the experienced during my collegiate most part, if you are kept warm career has taken place either just and fed well, you will be content before or shortly after the actual with either day. So, in the making of this decision, you hold litholiday.

This season’s change in sched- tle weight. As a college student, uling has left me with a feeling several other factors are thrown of confliction. On the one hand, into the decision-making process.

I am an eternal sucker for a nice You must properly weigh the tradition. I have so much respect pros and cons of when to travel for both institutions for keeping home while considering traffic, this event so deeply engrained in gas money, an inevitable food Mississippi history alive for so coma and studying for the final many years. Because of this pres- exams that so ominously loom in ervation, I have countless warm the back of your mind. Placing memories of being entertained a sporting event directly in the

glish teacher in high school had an anonymous anecdote pinned on her bulletin board that has stayed with me these three years since graduation: “As a rule, a man’s a fool. When it’s hot, he wants it cool. When it’s cool, he wants it hot, always wanting what is not.” Our obsession with forward-thinking concerning the holidays stems from a general discontent with our circumstances.

We continually think, “When I get a job, I will be satisfied,” or, “If I can just get my GPA up a point or two, I will be the perfect student,” or my personal favorite, “If I could just get a boyfriend, I will be happy.”

Our fixation with holiday cheer is a thinly-veiled attempt to gain temporary happiness, the magic of which will fade away as soon as the snow melts — or as is the case for us Mississippians, when

the artificial snow is vacuumed from the carpet. The heat will inevitably set in, and our winter sparkle will give way to allergy season and summer sweat once more. And as the season’s transition, we will neglect March’s chilly wetness in our eagerness for April’s flowers and May’s glorious warmth in our fervor for June’s sun-soaked lethargy, just as we neglect November right now.

Our disregard for these in-between months is a symptom of a greater problem. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “We are always getting ready to live but never living.” If we would only seize each day, regardless of the month, I believe we would find life much more fulfilling as well as, dare I say it, happier. Happiness is a fleeting thing, a completely circumstantial sentiment.

CATIE MARIE MARTIN Catie Marie Martin is a junior majoring in English. She can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.

If we equate happiness with a holiday cup at Starbucks or in the Christmas wreaths on Main Street, it is certain to abandon us come January. But if we choose to see the beauty in every day, all throughout the year, the joy so often associated with Christmas never has to fade.

RED HERRINGS

Thanksgiving avoids commercialization doom

T

SHEALY MOLPUS Shealy Molpus is a senior majoring in communication. She can be contacted at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.

middle of this break causes this algorithm to become even more difficult. Due to this obligation within the Thanksgiving break, I personally find this scheduling less favorable for college students.

For alumni, however, the story is different. Few adults receive the benefit of a multiple-day Thanksgiving break, but (depending on your career) most are relieved of the duties of work on the actual date of Thanksgiving. In this case, for any alumni wishing to make the trek to Starkville or Oxford, the Thanksgiving day scheduling is far more convenient.

Bottom line, there may be no perfect day to schedule the Egg Bowl. Appeasing the differing schedules of more than 60,000 fans is a difficult task; however, I believe we can all agree that there is no wrong day to enjoy a cold drink, a hearty meal and a rivalry among friends. Despite any inconveniences that accompany this change in scheduling, I support the resurfacing of the old Thanksgiving Day tradition, and I eagerly await the festivities to come.

is the season to be jolly as the occasional fast food promothe adage goes. And yet, tion or grocery store turkey sale, what are we off carousing but for the most part, there is an around and being jolly about? almost laughable lack of an atDo I spy Thanksgiving goodies tempt to sell you Thanksgiving. and turkey-themed beverages of- Why bother marketing cranberry fered up by our campus eateries sauce milkshakes or pictures with or stores adorned with lively fall Squanto when Christmas is just colors, stocked up on pilgrim hats around the corner? No one even and Indian moccasins? No, I dare- bothers.

If anything, November is usualsay I don’t, because as of yet no one has found a way to ruin the ly used as a transition month from fall to winbest holiday in ter and from existence.

Halloween to Now before all Now before Christmas. of you Christall of you The biggest day mas die-hards Christmas of the Thanksstart to sharpgiving holien your candy die-hards day isn’t even canes, allow me start to sharpen Thanksgiving to continue. anymore. It’s Thanksgiving is your candy canes, the rare holiday allow me to continue. Black Friday, and what is that seems to Thanksgiving is the Black Friday all — for the most rare holiday that about? Trying part — have esto snag those caped the insane seems to ... have insane deals for commercializa- escaped the insane all of your loved tion that engulfs commercialization ones for ChristChristmas, Hal- that engulfs mas. Christloween, New mas, despite Year’s and Valen- Christmas.”

Scrooges and tine’s Day faster rampant comthan the pilgrims swallowed turkey. This is not to mercialization, remains king.

It helps that Santa Claus, elves say there isn’t shameless marketing aimed at hawking off Thanks- and decorated trees do seem a bit giving cheer, but it’s really more more glamorous than say, your like no one has figured out how Uncle Ed shoveling down forkful to do it yet. This is evidenced by after forkful of stuffing. Still, it’s the shift from Halloween-themed curious that no one has found a items (costumes, candy, jack-o- truly exceptional way to make a lanterns and the like) to Christ- ton of money off the Thanksgivmas-themed items (gingerbread, ing holidays. One would think trees, colored lights and the like) that some savvy businessman with nary a Thanksgiving promo- would have come up with a slew tion in between. Oh sure, there’s of Thanksgiving carols, pilgrim

CLAIRE MOSLEY Claire Mosley is a junior majoring in accounting. She can be contacted at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.

costumes, turkey-themed candies and other delights. And yet, aside from football, family and food, Thanksgiving doesn’t quite enjoy that commercial appeal that skeletons, Santa Claus, Baby New Year and Cupid all seem to have.

This isn’t a bad thing. After all, the bombardment of holiday cheer (that is essentially just an attempt to get consumers to purchase something) can be a bit tiring. Actually, strike that — it can be extraordinarily tiring. Thanksgiving might not be as glamorous as its other holiday brethren (though it beats Arbor Day by a long shot), but this lack of successful commercialization really is something to be celebrated. Without being constantly reminded that there is, in fact, a holiday around the corner, people are given a chance to breathe and actually appreciate Thanksgiving for what it is. Sure, it might not have wrapped presents, heart-shaped candies, ghoulish scares or explosive fireworks, but it does have the quaint charm of family, which is something to be thankful for in and of itself.

INTERNATIONAL INK

Is historic United Nations deal a wise decision?

Managing Editor

Editor in Chief

News Editor

Kristen Spink

Kaitlyn Byrne

Anna Wolfe

Multimedia Editor

Life Editor

Opinion Editor

Zack Orsborn

Daniel Hart

Alie Dalee

Sports Editor John Galatas

Photography Editor Kaitlin Mullins

Copy Editor Emma Crawford

CONTACT INFORMATION

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Editor in Chief/Kaitlyn Byrne

Letters to the editor should be sent to the Meyer Student Media Center or mailed to The Reflector, PO Box 5407, Mississippi State, MS. Letters may also be emailed to editor@reflector.msstate.edu.

Letters must include name and telephone number for verification purposes. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.

325-7905 editor@reflector.msstate.edu Managing Editor/Kristen Spink 325-8991 managing@reflector.msstate.edu News Editor/Anna Wolfe 325-8819 news@reflector.msstate.edu Opinion Editor/Alie Dalee opinion@reflector.msstate.edu Sports Editor/John Galatas 325-5118 reflectorsports@gmail.com Life Editor/Daniel Hart 325-8883 life@reflector.msstate.edu Photography Editor/Kaitlin Mullins 325-1584 photo@reflector.msstate.edu Multimedia Editor/Zack Orsborn multimedia_editor@reflector.msstate.edu Advertising Sales/Julia Pendley 325-7907 advertise@reflector.msstate.edu

CORRECTIONS

EDITORIAL POLICY The Reflector is the official student newspaper of Mississippi State University. Content is determined solely by the student editorial staff.

The contents of The Reflector have not been approved by Mississippi State University.

The Reflector staff strives to maintain the integrity of this paper through accurate and honest reporting. If we publish an error we will correct it. To report an error, call 325-7905.

S

ix major world powers led by the United States managed to pull out a historic deal in Geneva, Switzerland Saturday to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Aimed to ease the long-standing complications, the interim nuclear pact between Iran and the U.S., France, Germany, Britain, China and Russia won the critical endorsement of Iranian clerical Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany agreed to ease out on the choked international sanctions on Iran’s economy if Iran would halt its nuclear ambitions. There will be a six-month preliminary watch period which will decide if this deal is successful or not.

President Barack Obama called the interim deal between the six world powers and Iran on the country’s nuclear program an important first step toward a larger agreement on Saturday.

“For the first time in nearly a decade, we have halted the progress of the Iranian nuclear program, and key parts of the program will be rolled back,” Obama said. “Iran has been committed to halting certain levels of enrichment and neutralizing part of its stockpile.”

Ben Smith, columnist at buzz-

feed.com in an article titled “Obama’s very personal deal with Iran” wrote, Obama has burned many allies in his presidency, and his decision to roll back the threat of strikes by taking the issue has emboldened the regime of Bashar al-Assad and one of its main backers, Russia, who now see him as deeply weak. Friendlier relations with Iran could remake the context of that conflict as well, if doors to cooperation are opened beyond the nuclear issue.

“Obama has spent his presidency marching towards these doors burning many allies in his wake, from Israel to Saudi Arabia. Other former strategic U.S. interests have been all but ignored, Egypt as it descends into military dictatorship, Ukraine and Georgia as they fall back into Russia’s orbit,” Smith said.

House Speaker John Boehner said on Sunday, “The interim deal has been and will continue to be met with healthy skepticism and hard questions, not just of the Iranians, but of ourselves and our allies involved in the negotiations.”

“These are substantial limitations which will help prevent Iran from building a nuclear weapon,” Obama said. “Simply put, they cut off Iran’s most likely paths to a bomb.”

Meanwhile, the U.S.’s major ally

Israel called this interim nuclear deal a historic mistake and stated it will only make the world more dangerous.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “What was achieved last night in Geneva is not a historic agreement, but a historic mistake. Today, the world has become a much more dangerous place because the most dangerous regime in the world has taken a significant step toward attaining the most dangerous weapon in the world,” he said.

Laura Secor, columnist at the New Yorker, wrote in an article titled “Talking or Walking” that the Iranian president Rouhani is a pragmatist who came to power in part on the strength of disaffection, both popular and élite, with the confrontational foreign policy of his predecessor.

“His first priority is relief from the international sanctions, tied to the nuclear issue, on financial transactions and oil exports, which have caused hardship for the Iranian people. But it’s not difficult to imagine that, with Sunni extremism rising, particularly in Iraq and Syria, Rouhani and his team are also making long-term calculations about Iran’s strategic interests,” Secor said.

These six months will remain critical for Obama’s own image as

PRANAAV JADHAV Pranaav Jadhav is a junior majoring in communication. He can be contacted at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.

an anti-war activist and for Iran.

The international inspectors will be expected to visit centrifuge assembly and storage facilities, uranium mills and the Arak reactor. If the centrifuges continue to flourish, realists will argue for a stricter measure against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

However, there are two major takeaways from this deal: Iran is now accessible to billions of dollars after major powers have agreed to provide temporary relief to Iran, and the shrewd win of diplomacy for the U.S. and the Obama Administration.

Finally, all’s well that ends well.

The month of May 2014 will answer the majority of questions posed by skeptics. As of now, this is good news for diplomats around the world.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2013 | 5

REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM

AN IN-CLASS DISTRACTION ...

11-26-13

BULLETIN BOARD CLASSIFIEDS POLICY

The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday; the deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. Classifieds are $5 per issue. Student and staff ads are $3 per issue, pre-paid.

Lost and found: found items can be listed for free; lost items are listed for standard ad cost.

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The person in this position will assist and support the purchasing department with the planning, ordering and scheduling of all materials for the manufacturing process and the other support departments as required to ensure a smooth flow

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CLUB INFO

The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday; deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. MSU student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info. Information may be submitted by email to club_info@reflector.msstate. edu with the subject heading “CLUB INFO,” or a form may be completed at The Reflector office in the Student Media Center. A contact name, phone number and requested

run dates must be included for club info to appear in The Reflector. All submissions are subject to exemption according to space availability.

WESLEY FOUNDATION

Insight Bible study and worship Tuesdays at 8 p.m. at 286 East Lee Blvd. next to Campus Book Mart. Follow on Twitter @MSStateWesley or on Facebook.

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Care about the environment?

Love activism? Come join SSC on Thursdays at 6 p.m. in McCool 111 to make a difference. Follow on Twitter @MSU_SSC. YOGA MOVES CLUB

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THE REFLECTOR

6 | TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2013

LIFE EDITOR: DANIEL HART | life@reflector.msstate.edu

LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT

Christmas parade brings Whoville to Starkville

BY DAVID LEWIS

Contributing Writer

Christmas lights — check.

Christmas music on 93.3 — check. Christmas sweaters from the Palmer Home — check. All the warm festive drinks from Nine-twentynine and Strangebrew — check.

Classes coming to an end (or might have already ended in our minds) — check.

November 2013 seems to shape up for a wonderful holiday season in Starkville, and the Greater Starkville Development Partnership heads up the annual Christmas parade to ensure Christmas cheer is spread to the people of Starkville.

Jennifer Prather, GSDP special events and projects coordinator, said the long-running parade brings a variety of businesses, community groups and organizations together for one large celebration.

“The parade is a celebration of Starkville,” she said.

Each year, groups in Starkville can sign up to build floats to show in the parade.

To add a competitive twist and encourage the groups to bring their best efforts, a panel of judges, set up in front of First United Methodist Church, will determine the awards for “Best Use of Theme,” “Best Use of Lights” and “Best Overall.”

Prather organizes the parade and said the parade takes a lot of preparation.

“The signup deadlines are in October,” she said. “We set that so that we can get the lineup ready in advance and notify the groups.”

Each year, the GSDP picks a different theme for the parade and keeps a record of themes in order to avoid repeating themes. Prather said the themes provide a direction for those designing floats and helps spark design ideas.

“We want to pick a theme each year that casts a clear, vivid image for the organizations to decorate for,” Prather said.

This year’s parade theme, “Christmas in Whoville,” allows organizations and businesses to tap into their inner Dr. Seuss and bring Whoville to life for the parade. Attendees can expect to see much of the Grinch.

Mary Kathryn Kight heads up the OCH Regional Medical Center team and said the hospital plans a float with an amalgamation of medical and retail Whoville services.

WHAT IS THE REFLECTOR STAFF THANKFUL FOR THIS YEAR? Kaitlyn Byrne

Editor-in-Chief

I’m thankful it’s almost 2014 so I can use my new teacup pig calendar. And I’m also thankful for a wonderful Reflector staff.

Kristen Spink

Managing Editor

My friends — I have the greatest friends ever — Christ-centered teaching at RUF and my intramural sports teams, especially ping pong.

DAVID LEWIS | THE REFLECTOR

Claire Kight, Mary Kathryn Kight, Jamie Allen and Georgia Grace Thurlow paint plywood panels for OCH Regional Medical Center’s Christmas Parade float. Kight said OCH has won awards for its floats, and this float includes a “Whospital.”

Anna Wolfe

News Editor

Zachary and the First Amendment.

Mary Kate McGowan Assistant News Editor

Leggings because real pants suck and are restrictive and cranberry sauce out of the can with ridges.

Alie Dalee

Opinion Editor

The beauty of friendship, grace, lovely words and espresso.

DAVID LEWIS | THE REFLECTOR

Daniel Hart

Stores on Main Street already deck their windows for Christmas shoppers, window shoppers and passersby alike.

The Starkville Christmas Parade will travel along Main Street and attendees can watch from the sidewalks flanking the route.

“We will have a Whospital, as well as a lot of shopping and stores,” she said. Kight said the OCH team won multiple awards in past parades, so it will pull out all the bells and whistles this year.

“I am very excited for this year’s theme,” she said. “It is not only my favorite Christmas movie, but my daughter loves it as well.”

For OCH, building a float for the parade brings about a sense of camaraderie among the employees. Meetings be-

MSU STUDENT HEALTH CENTER Serving you in more wayS than juSt one your on campuS Source for both pharmacy and phySical therapy ServiceS

gan a month ago, and construction began last week, so the OCH team is all hands on deck working on the float.

According to GSDP’s website, the parade will take place Monday at 6 p.m. Along with the parade, the GSDP focuses on an open house, “Black Friday Bonanza,” and a holiday bazaar this time of year to provide “something for every Who!” The Bazaar will take place on Dec. 4 and 5 at the Starkville Sportsplex and will feature over 90 vendor booths.

For the parade, attendees can line up along Main Street.

But for those who want to see the parade floats show off their best, the spot to choose is in front of First United Methodist Church where the judges’ table will be located. The parade will also be televised on Channel 5 WOBV. One thing about Starkville’s Christmas parade is certain: the parade will warm hearts and just might cause them to grow three times too big.

Life Editor

Coffee, RUF, a final fall in Starkville and a beautiful girl back in Oxford.

John Galatas

Sports Editor

Boston Bruins hockey, Spotify and Johnny Manziel.

Emma Crawford Copy Editor

New friends, old friends, Nine-twentynine’s Duke of Earl, Starkville and Christmas music.

Emma Katherine Hutto

Photography Editor

Coffee, summer hits of the 2000s Pandora, meetings at the round table and my sorority sisters.

Zack Orsborn

Multimedia Editor

Beyoncé, Jeremy, my grandma, my mom, Chelsea, Anna, Erica, Kaitlyn, Chris, good eyebrows and the movie “White Chicks.”

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SPORTS

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STUDENTS Wetherbee said that by halftime, a student on average has already spent four hours in the stands, twice the time of the average season ticket holder.

“Maybe if there’s something we can do differently, whether it’s reserved seating or blocking seats.

We’re having those discussions, and we want student involvement

in it, so that’s why we’re going to be cautious and take our time,” he said.

Wetherbee explained the athletic affairs committee is currently talking to sponsors to consider different incentives and giveaways to encourage students to stay for the entire duration of games.

“We’re looking at possibly

continued from 8 also going to an app or a mobile website that would create memories or experiences. You’d have the opportunity to maybe come on down to the field or have the opportunity to reach out to those we know are in the stands,” Wetherbee said. “They (students) help make it so our paying ticket holders and general fans want

COACH’S CORNER

Dogs increase talent with 2014 class

T

his year’s football season Green, a linebacker from Greenmight not have gone the ville, Miss.; Aeris Williams, a runway Mississippi State Uni- ning back from West Point, Miss.; versity fans would have hoped, Jamoral Graham, an athlete from but the future is bright for the Decatur, Miss., and Elijah Staley, Bulldogs. a quarterback from Marietta, Ga. Recruiting is a huge part of colGraham might be the best of lege football — maybe the most the bunch. He is a guy that can important part. No matter how play defensive back and receivgood coaches are, at the end of the er and is being projected to be a day, you cannot win without the corner back at the college level. talent.

Though he projects as a defensive Well, thanks to the Bulldogs’ back, he does have playmaking last two recruiting classes and this ability on the offensive side of year’s potential class, the talent in the ball, and the MSU coaching the MSU football staff might be program will get This season able to find use better. for that as well.

MSU fans According to Scouts praise his would have ball skills and scout.com, the team finished with just been happy speed, both of top-25 recruiting with six wins. Do which the MSU classes the last two secondary could seasons — fin- not expect that to desperately use. ishing No. 18 in be the case next Green is an 2012 and No. 25 season.” athletic linein 2013. The 2012 backer and has class was highlighta good base for ed by some highly-sought-after size at 6’4 and 220 pounds. He defensive players such as Quay should be able to put on a little Evans, Denico Autry, Nick James, more weight and get stronger once Beniquez Brown and Will Red- he gets into the program. mond.

One of Green’s best attributes is The 2013 class brought in his speed. Green reportedly runs a more talent for the offensive side 4.37. For a linebacker, he is about of the ball with players like Ash- as fast as it gets. He can rush the ton Shumpert, Fred Ross and Jake passer, drop back into coverage Thomas and, of course, the addi- and fly around and make plays. tion of defensive star Chris Jones.

Staley is a very interesting prosMSU’s 2014 class currently pect for the Bulldog class. He is ranks No. 34 on scout.com, and listed as 6’7, 205 pounds and is players could still be added to a lefty, dual-threat option for the move it up with signing day still quarterback position which plays a couple of months away. As of into what Dan Mullen wants for now, the Bulldogs have 19 com- his offense. Staley has great size and good arm strength and could mitments.

The class is headlined by Gerri allow coaches to open up the play-

to be a part of that (atmosphere) because they create that. We’re hoping we can continue to work on the experience, and that they want to stick around,” Wetherbee said.

Next year marks the 100th year of MSU’s football program in Davis Wade Stadium and the completion of the stadium en-

FORREST BUCK

book and attack vertically on offense.

Williams, an all-around back that possesses really good size for his age, is listed at 6’0, 208 pounds, and he is still just in high school. He is a downhill, between-the-tackle runner with good vision and cut back ability, and he can be effective catching the ball out of the backfield.

This year’s Bulldog team does not have a ton of seniors, which means a lot of the players on the team will be back next season with more experience and perhaps improved abilities.

Throw another talented freshman class in the mix, and MSU should be on its way to getting better. This season, MSU fans would have just been happy with six wins. Do not expect that to be the case next season.

I am not saying it is time to start thinking about a national title, but it should not be a struggle to get to six wins in any of the next few seasons based on the young talent on the roster and the new talent that prepares to come in.

“Just like if the fans didn’t show up one game, we’d still expect the players to do their part, and if the players have a bad day, the fans understand we still have to do our part, and we still have to support and make sure we’re creating an atmosphere that gives us the best chance to be successful,” Stricklin said.

Sports app launches update

BY QUENTIN SMITH

make sure we built a really good app with really good experience,” he said. “We focused 100 percent A new sports-crazed app called on the iPhone, and next year we’ll Fancred has hit the social media offer to other phones as well.”

One key feature that separates platform, and Mississippi State University was the first college Fancred from other social media in the country selected to have a outlets is the fact it is strictly sportsbased. Once a member joins, profile.

Fancred is a sports social net- the app will point them to other MSU work where sports fans fans (or can share, discover and any other talk about their favorThe ite sports teams and community s e l e c t e d team choathletes. The Fancred we have sen) with company was started high Fanlast September in Bos- built in these eight cred scores. ton by MSU alumnus months is by far Fa n c re d and CEO of Fancred, better than any users earn Hossein Kash Razzaghi. a “Fancred Razzaghi said the community you’ll Score,” a whole idea of Fancred ever have on any 1-to-100 stemmed from his de- social media.” point syssire to stay connected to -Kyle McDougall, tem that his MSU fans. measures “I grew up in Fancred intern their overStarkville, and I’m really all engagepassionate about Mississippi State, and when I moved ment and activity on the app.

Shaw Adcock, junior commuto Boston about eight years ago for work, I felt disconnected from nication major, currently interns the fan base community of MSU. for the company and said the I wanted a better way to stay in Fancred community is a tightknit group opposed to other sotouch with them,” he said.

The company focuses on cial media sites.

“People are so willing to inter64 universities throughout the country that are a part of the act. When you post something, Bowl Championship Series, and the level of interaction with other this past March the company fans you have is far better than launched its first iPhone app for anything you can have on Faceusers to download. The app is book or Twitter,” Adcock said.

This past week, the company free to download, and currently, the app is only for iPhone users. released an updated version of Razzaghi said the company is Fancred called Fancred 2. Razworking to expand it for Android zaghi said the biggest difference in the update is it encompasses a users as well.

“We’re a small company with redesigned app and includes the only 10 people, and we wanted to website Fancred.com.

Staff Writer

Forrest Buck is a senior majoring in kinesiology. He can be contacted at reflectorsports@ gmail.com.

closure. Wetherbee explained the new addition will allow all 11,000 student seats to be in the lower deck, which he said he hopes will encourage students to stay. Stricklin said the student section not only affects the atmosphere around Davis Wade, but also the players and coaches on the field.

“We redesigned the app from ground up, and we have better navigation, better control. It’s faster, it’s lighter and it’s compatible with iOS7,” he said.

The Fancred Company also offers internship programs to the 64 universities with which it works. Anyone who interns must be a student at one of these universities. To apply, students must go to Fancred.com and fill out the intent form.

Kyle McDougall, junior history major and current Fancred intern, said he has enjoyed his experience interning, and he likes the direction Fancred is heading.

“The community we have built in these eight months with Fancred is by far better than any community you’ll ever have on any social media,” McDougall said.

The Fancred company continues to grow. It is a top-50 app, and MSU men’s basketball coach Rick Ray became the first coach of any NCAA sport to get a Fancred profile. The current MLB champions Boston Red Sox have joined. The Red Sox are the only professional team that has a Fancred profile, but Razzaghi said the company works to branch out to other teams in different leagues to try to get them to join as well.

Razzaghi said he hopes for Fancred to be around for as long as possible.

“It’s awesome for Mississippi State to take advantage of it and use it. We’re growing really fast,” he said. “We’re one of the fastest-growing social networks in the world, and I think ultimately, we want to be the place where sports fans go.”

8 | TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2013

SPORTS EDITOR: JOHN GALATAS | reflectorsports@gmail.com

SPORTS

THE REFLECTOR

STAT OF THE DAY:

WITH ITS WIN ON SATURDAY AT ARKANSAS, THE FOOTBALL TEAM SNAPPED A SIX-GAME ROAD LOSING STREAK.

Today in Bulldog

History 1988, MSU snapped a 10-game losing streak, second-longest in school history, with a 42-7 win against Vanderbilt.

ZACK ORSBORN | THE REFLECTOR

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Records hold no weight in Egg Bowl EMMA KATHERINE HUTTO | THE REFLECTOR

Students flooded the student section during the Alabama game Nov. 15. Getting students to remain at games has been an issue surrounding the athletic department.

Students vital to atmosphere

BY ALIE DALEE Opinion Editor

The Tuscaloosa News reported Oct. 26 that the Student Government Association at Mississippi State University’s SEC neighbor the, University of Alabama, had revoked blocked seats from a handful of student organizations due to low game attendance in portions of its student section. This season, MSU’s own student section has dealt with mediocre student attendance and frequent mass exoduses at halftime. This raises the question: could what happened at Alabama ever happen at MSU?

Scott Stricklin, MSU athletic director, said the Bulldog fans have done a good job of supporting the football team over the years.

“Our fans have endured some tough times and have gotten to enjoy some good ones, and obviously we want more good than bad. But that’s an important part of creating an atmosphere where our student-athletes and coaches can be successful, is getting the fans to buy in and to hang in there through good times and bad,” Stricklin said.

“We started the sellout streak in a year where we had a losing record, and I think that speaks a lot about what makes Mississippi State people special is their understanding of it takes everybody doing their part.”

Meredith Dickson, Student Association Athletic Affairs cochair, admitted there is a problem with MSU students leaving football games early.

“In the Student Association we’ve been thinking of ways to address the issue and to think of ways that we can stop people from leaving the game early,” Dickson said. “We’re trying to

address that because it hasn’t seemed like it’s been a problem in the past, but this year things have changed.”

Scott Wetherbee, senior associate athletic director, said students leaving games early seems to be a nationwide problem and one athletic affairs has acknowledged and is in works to remedy.

“We know it’s a challenge, and so we try to talk about how we can make some adjustments and maybe is there some incentives or some things we can do to keep our students here,” he said.

Wetherbee said while he can never say never, he believes it is unlikely MSU will ever revoke student seating. Instead, he explained athletic affairs has taken a proactive approach and begun the brainstorming process to garner incentives to encourage students to stay in the stands.

Both Wetherbee and Dickson said students having to arrive to home games on average two hours prior to kickoff could be a possible reason for low attendance.

SEE STUDENTS, 8

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mong the many cliché both teams. MSU will need to phrases surrounding the win in order to go to its fourth Mississippi State Uni- straight bowl game. Ole Miss versity 24-17 win over Arkan- needs a win to keep the Egg sas, “a win is a win” fits the bill. Bowl trophy for another year The Bulldogs had to send it into and improve its resume for a overtime to finally pull through, better postseason bowl game.

This year’s Egg Bowl will feathanks to a Damian Williams rushing touchdown and a Taveze ture many new faces from last Calhoun interception to seal the year’s matchup. A question that deal and keep their bowl hopes circles around the state of Misalive. This marks the first time sissippi will finally be answered: that MSU won a game in the Who is the better freshman defensive lineman, Chris Jones of state of Arkansas.

The unsung hero of the game MSU or Robert Nkemdiche of was redshirt sophomore running Ole Miss? These two players are back Josh Robinson. He rushed talented in everything they do and were both for 101 yards on highly recruit17 carries and This year’s ed by many also had a huge Egg Bowl top-ranked block on the overprograms. time touchdown game Key to the run by Williams. will be one of the game will be With the win Ole Miss’s reacover the Razor- biggest in series’ tion to a hostile backs, it is now history.” e n v i ro n m e n t time for the game due to the fact that has been marked on everyone’s calendar that its last road game was on since late August. Longtime ri- Oct. 5 when the Rebels lost to vals will meet on Thanksgiving Auburn. For the Bulldogs, it night for the 110th meeting will be their senior night, and between the Ole Miss Rebels nothing would be more importand MSU. Ole Miss leads the ant to that senior class if they overall series with a 61-42-6 re- won on Thursday. With a win, cord. However, the last time the this year’s senior class would Rebels won a game in Starkville leave the school as the only sewas in 2003 behind Rebel quar- nior class in MSU history to go to four straight bowl games. It terback Eli Manning.

In the last 10 matchups in would also have a nice 3-1 reStarkville, the Bulldogs have a cord over the Rebels, which commanding 7-3 record. Recent would be a great stat the players history has shown the Rebels can cherish for the rest of their have a hard time in Starkville, lives.

This is more than a game but this year is up for grabs for

KYLE CUPPLES Kyle Cupples is a sophomore majoring in kinesiology. He can be contacted at reflectorsports@gmail.com.

where one team will leave with a trophy. It has always been about something bigger than all of us. This game sets the tone for the offseason, which starts with national signing day in February.

The winner of this game usually catches the eyes of high school football players from the state of Mississippi and can actually be a factor in where they will be in college the following year. This game is about bragging rights for the next 364 days. It is good, old-fashioned hatred that brings out the best in both schools.

The records of both schools truly do not matter. All that matters in this game is which team wants it more and can play with heart through all four quarters.

This year’s Egg Bowl game will be one of the biggest in series’ history. This game will truly set up the future for one of these schools. The loser of this game will have to go back to the drawing board. Ole Miss and MSU both could have remarkable seasons in the 2014 campaign. The fans see this as the final game of the year, but I can tell you for both these football programs it is only the beginning.

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