BEST WORSTof 2013
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125th YEAR | ISSUE 27 @REFLECTORONLINE f /REFLECTORONLINE
JANUARY 17, 2014
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REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM
MSU police chief resigns after DUI charges BY PRANAAV JADHAV Staff Writer
A Mississippi State University news release on Dec. 20 reported campus police chief Georgia Lindley was placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of an investigation
into charges against her in the city of Starkville. Lindley was placed on administrative leave effective Dec. 21 after a DUI arrest by the Starkville Police Department. SPD Captain Frank Nichols said Lindley was driving on Louisville Street when she was stopped by an officer
and registered positive for alcohol. Lindley was transported to the police station where she was booked and posted bail. Lindley’s resignation came into effect Dec. 31. Lindley had a blood alcohol level of 0.13 when she was arrested on the DUI
charge in Starkville just after 5 p.m. according to a police report obtained by the Associated Press through a public records request. The legal limit for driving in Mississippi is 0.08. According to a 2006 report on MSU’s website, Lindley was the assistant chief of
MSU police since 2000 and has been the police chief since 2005. Bill Kibler, vice president for Student Lindley Affairs, said in a news release on Dec.
20 MSU’s primary focus is on maintaining a culture of safety, security and proactive community policing for its students, faculty, staff and campus visitors. “We have great confidence in the men and women who comprise our MSU Police Department,” Kibler said. SEE CHIEF, 3
Sigma Phi Water damage displaces dorm residents Epsilon shut down after hazing violations BY NIA WILSON Staff Writer
BY JAKE JONES Staff Writer
Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity also known as “Sig Ep,” has been shut down and withdrawn from Mississippi State University due to a decision by the National Office of Sigma Phi Epsilon and the Dean of Students office. On Dec. 17, former Sigma Phi Epsilon President Paul Cianciolo received an email from the Dean of Students, Thomas Bourgeois. In the email, Bourgeois said a decision was made by the Sigma Phi Epsilon National Board of Directors to withdraw the Mississippi Beta Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon. This decision closed and dissolved the chapter immediately. Cianciolo denied to comment on this issue.
The decision to withdraw the chapter was made in response to actions committed by the chapter that included hazing, deception of university officials and the National Headquarters and violation of probationary sanctions, according to a letter from Bourgeois. As a result of this decision, the chapter must give up its house along with other privileges. Pete Smith, Sigma Phi Epsilon faculty adviser, said the chapter will no longer be recognized as a student organization. “The guys are not supposed to organize in any way,” Smith said. “They are not supposed to wear their letters or be affiliated with the chapter in any way. Unfortunately for current members, this means they are not recognized by the national SEE SHUTDOWN, 3
MEGAN BEAN | COURTESY PHOTO
Mississippi State University staff members and environmental response workers worked to restore Oak and Magnolia residence halls after freezing temperatures resulted in water damage from frozen pipes. While MSU assisted about 120 students whose rooms sustained major damage in finding alternative housing, most were able to return to their rooms.
Three Mississippi State University dorms sustained considerable water damage on Jan. 7 at noon due to fire suppression systems bursting under the freezing weather conditions. Oak Hall and Magnolia Hall experienced minor water damage. However, Ruby Hall received detrimental damage when the dorm’s sprinkler system flooded the entire B wing of Ruby, a boys’ wing that housed many student-athletes. Sid Salter, MSU chief communications officer, said officials estimate the dorm would not be fixed until after this semester. University officials speculate only the premium dorms were affected because of their more modern sprinkler systems. Originally, around 450 students were supposedly displaced, but the university has confirmed that only about 120 students have been affected. Salter said the pipes were flushed less than a day before freezing weather — the coldest temperature the new dorms had been exposed to — resulted in damage. Salter said housing employees discovered the damage and addressed the issue swiftly. “The university is currently making assessments on what happened. When they are sure, it will all be revealed to the public,” Salter said. “As to my knowledge, all students’ needs have been met to the best of our abilities.” Salter said the university responded initially by retrieving student possessions. Salter said that mold was also an immediate concern, and there is nothing to worry about. SEE FLOODING, 3
SMART shuttle connects students off campus BY PRANAAV JADHAV Staff Writer
EMMA KATHERINE HUTTO
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With the receipt of the Rural General Public Transportation Program grant through the Mississippi Department of Transportation, Mississippi State University, in partnership with the city of Starkville, began using the Starkville-MSU Area Rapid Transit (SMART) system shuttles across the city Jan. 6.
THE REFLECTOR
Logan Luke, former Sigma Phi Epsilon member, used tape to cross out the fraternity letters on his license plate. Luke, passenger Chris Ricketts and their fraternity brothers are banned from affiliating with their fraternity after the decision by the Sigma Phi Epsilon National Board of Directors to shut down the chapter at Mississippi State University.
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The grant has provided more than $800,000 for transit operations and approximately $1.5 million for the purchase of 10 new shuttles. Mike Harris, MSU director of Parking Services, said the first week of operation for the SMART shuttles was successful. “Last week, we ran one bus per route and almost carried 1,000 folks on the seven shuttles we ran,” Harris said. “Now, we have all the 16 buses run-
ning that began operations on Monday the 13th.” Ward 5 Alderman Scott Maynard said the city of Starkville is excited to partner with MSU on the SMART shuttle service. He said he believes the improved transportation will make a difference in the lives of the citizens of Starkville as well as the students who live in the city. “With parking on campus becoming more restrictive and
roads closing for construction, it is going to be in the students’ best interest to utilize the new public transit system. The convenient pick-up locations and the consistent schedule are great reasons to ride,” Maynard said. “As students become familiar with the new routes and word spreads about the SMART Transit System, I believe the number of people using the system will just continue to increase.” SEE SMART, 2
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Elyssa Derka, senior biological sciences major, said she owns an SUV but because it is a horrendous gas-guzzler for rides off campus, the SMART shuttle will provide her with a better option. “I have to spend so much just to get food once a week or even just to get to the animal shelter every day is expensive. I think that these buses are an amazing idea and are going to make commuting around Starkville so much easier for students. I can’t wait to try them for myself,” Derka said. Harris said the grant states transportation should be of-
fered and available to everyone. “The Starkville MSU Area Rapid Transit shuttle system will have stops at OCH Regional Medical Center, WalMart Supercenter and Kroger in addition to other stops at residential areas,” he said. In the fall of 2013, MSU Student Association President Michael Hogan said he received requests every week to extend the hours of the shuttle service from students who do not have a car or international students for whom it may be difficult to afford a car. Karin Lee, manager at MSU International Institute
said the SMART shuttle service will make an impact on international student recruitment and adds to the quality of life for international students, allowing more independence. “Finally, they do not have to rely on other students with cars or also rely on us. They can do whatever they want and whenever they want to. They are not forced to rent cars, which will help them,” Lee said. For more information on the SMART shuttle routes and to track the buses live, students can log on to smart. msstate.edu.
DAVID LEWIS | THE REFLECTOR
MSU students exit and wait to board a new SMART shuttle outside Montgomery Hall. The Starkville-MSU Area Rapid Transit, SMART, system was launched Jan. 6.
Holiday burglaries in student houses create fear BY EMMA CRAWFORD Copy Editor
While home during the holidays, student houses in Starkville are often left empty through the month of December and into early January, which left some students susceptible to burglary to this year. Although there have been reports of house burglaries among students, Lieutenant John Outlaw, interim police chief at the Starkville Police Department, said automobile burglaries are more common. However, Outlaw said because the police are aware of the potential for theft from students’ homes, they do take precautions to attempt to minimize incidents of burglary. “What we usually have, and what we’ve had in the past, is we get a rash of burglaries, residential on student apartments,” he said. “Over the past few years, we have saturated
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the area with officers checking those areas regularly, and that number has gone down.” Tim Grider, junior anthropology major, said he returned to Starkville Dec. 30 for the day, and although he found no broken windows, picked locks or other signs of a forced entry, Grider did find a set of Bose speakers, an amplifier, a Playstation 3 and cash missing. Grider said he and his three roommates were aware that some student homes had been broken into over the break, but didn’t expect their own to be burglarized. A police report was filed with the Starkville Police Department, and Grider said an officer explained there had been a group of potentially-related burglaries across Starkville. “They told us that there had been a string of break-ins over the break, all connected to the same guy, about 10 houses,” he said. “They said he’s pretty
good and goes for electronics Ballard said she was shaken and doesn’t leave any prints.” up at first by the incident, but Nearby on Greensboro after her roommates returned, Street, Anna Ballard, senior she felt more secure. art major, returned to her “I did (feel scared) at first,house to find a because it was broken window. just me. But it Ballard said I think they was ok timing she came back because I left were just to Starkville for Christmas watching to work and the next day,” religiously when she got to she said. “But her house late and only breaking now that I’m at night, she in when they knew back and the opened the door window is to find broken people were gone.” fixed and my glass scattered -Anna Ballard, roommates are across the floor senior art major back I’m ok.” and a brick that Ballard also she assumes was said she bethrown through the window lieves the person behind the in an effort to gain entry to thefts knows which homes beher house. long to students. Ballard said nothing was “I think they were just taken, but she called the po- watching really religiously lice and several policemen ar- and only breaking in when rived promptly to look around they knew people were gone,” the house. She said initially she said. the police were helpful and Amelia Treptow, MSU asfiled the report as a case of sistant director for Student malicious mischief. Activities, said when she
ONE-OF-A-KIND. SO
returned to Starkville after Christmas break, her house had been broken into and was left in a state of disarray with items stolen ranging from a TV and DVD player to laundry detergent. Treptow, who lives alone with her dog in what she said she considers a safe part of Starkville, said the police came to assess the situation and told her the incident was most likely the result of opportunity. “They were very kind with coming and taking the report and everything; unfortunately, it’s just something that happens this time of year, and I live in a safe neighborhood. They think that it was just opportunity,” she said. “They had seen that I was gone and watched my house and realized I wasn’t there.” Like Ballard, Treptow said the break-in did initially shake her sense of security. “Initially, I didn’t really process what had happened, and I
went and stayed with friends that night so it wasn’t a big deal,” she said. “But the next day when I went back and really kind of let it all sink in, I got a little upset but I was able to go in and clean up everything and wash up and make it look like my house, and that helped.” Outlaw described these thefts as crimes of opportunity in which he said he suspects people check doors on cars and sometimes homes and seize that opportunity to steal items. Due to the fact that pinpointing the exact time and date these incidents take place is difficult, Outlaw said often there is not much the police can do about them. “There’s usually not much we can do, if anything, at that point because the burglary could’ve happened two weeks prior,” he said. “Usually what we do is be on the lookout for pawn slips for electronics.”
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“The university caught this early. I don’t think there is an issue with mold because we worked very closely with environmental mitigation firms and made sure to dry the buildings out quickly,” Salter said. Gene McDonald, freshman and former Ruby resident, said the university was accommodating throughout his transition. “My first thought was ‘Where am I going to live?’ I had just moved to Ruby before last semester ended, and then this happens. MSU was really helpful though. They told me I had two options: live in an apartment or in another dorm. Even though I chose to live in an apartment, they still called and checked on me. They told me that my dorm wouldn’t be back open until at least next semester,” McDonald said. “Trust me, I don’t mind.” Roger Mann, the Starkville Fire Department’s fire chief, said it is too early to determine whether the damage was a result of human error or a rare accident. “Several things could’ve gone wrong, but assuming fire systems were put up to code,
BAD D WGS
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Tuesday, Jan. 7 • 12:32 p.m. An officer reported water damages caused by busted pipes in Ruby Hall. • 2:33 p.m. An officer reported water damages caused by busted pipes in Oak Hall. • 3:30 p.m. An officer reported water damages caused by busted pipes in Magnolia Hall.
Wednesday, Jan. 8 • 2:56 p.m. An officer responded to the Pi Beta Phi sorority house for water damages.
Tuesday, Jan. 14 • 12:00 a.m. A student was arrested in Starkville for careless driving and no insurance. • 2:15 a.m. A student was issued a Justice Court citation and student referral for possession of marijuana in Evans Hall. The MEGAN BEAN | COURTESY PHOTO student was issued a referral for smoking marijuana in Evans (Left to-right) Thomas Bourgeois, MSU dean of students; Rockey Felker, MSU Hall. coordinator of football recruiting; Bill Kibler, MSU vice president for Student Affairs • 2:59 a.m. An officer responded to Evans Hall for smell of and Ann Bailey, MSU director of Housing and Residence Life, prepare to greet marijuana. students at the university’s claims assistance desk in Ruby Hall on Jan. 9. Some • 10:13 a.m. A student’s vehicle was parked behind the Pi Beta rooms on campus received water damage after pipes burst during an arctic storm. Phi sorority house with tire damages. the damage could have been posed. It’s still just too early to be educated on proper proce- • 1:05 p.m. A student reported his vehicle was damaged while caused by maintenance work- decide,” Mann said. “In an ef- dure and become more aware parked in the Evans Hall parking lot while at the Liberty Bowl. ers accidently moving the in- fort to keep this from happen- of the possible repercussions of sulation and leaving pipes ex- ing again, all involved need to their actions.” • 18 citations were issued for speeding. • 5 citations were issued for disregard of a traffic device. continued from 1 continued from 1
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SHUTDOWN Sigma Phi Epsilon supported charities such as Habitat for Humanity and the Boys and Girls Club. The fraternity held several fundraisers for these charities such as the baseball classic, a baseball game where fraternities compete to raise money. It also hosted an alumni golf tournament. Alumni of the Mississippi Beta Chapter are still a recognized group and are already working to bring Sigma Phi Epsilon back to MSU. No schedule for its return has set. When Sigma Phi Epsilon returns, members will move into their existing house.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2014 | 3
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REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM
For now, the house will be leased to another organization, or organizations, who will remain in the house until Sigma Phi Epsilon returns. Smith said Sigma Phi Epsilon’s withdrawal is unfortunate for the campus and the Greek system. “It does look bad,” Smith said. “A chapter closing down feeds into the negative perception of Greek life. As a former Greek, I can tell you the Greek life is more valuable than the stereotype suggests. I hope that when Mississippi Beta Chapter returns, we can be a source of pride rather than scandal.”
CHIEF
Interim Chief Kenneth Spencer, goal overall,” Spencer said. who has been the assistant chief He said he does not believe the since 2006 and a member of the MSU police force has been de-mordepartment since 1992, is leading alized by the DUI arrest of its forthe MSU Police mer Police chief. Department “We have a very We have currently. professional staff, a duty to Spencer said probably one of the his immediate leading law enforceperform, responsibilities ment agencies I beand we include ensuring lieve within the state, the safety and hold that above any and our officers know security of the other things that we when we come in we entire university do.” have a job to do. We population. have a duty to per-Kenneth Spencer, “Our main form, and we hold goal is to pro- MSU Police Chief that above any other tect and serve, things that we do, be very customand so I don’t think er-service oriented and do the things that would have an effect on the ofthat the police department needs to ficers morale because we know our do to help the university promote its task,” he said.
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S.M.A.R.T. Bus Routes Redesigned routes provide better service. New routes integrate Starkville and the MSU campus.
For a map of routes and hours of operation visit: www.smart.msstate.edu 662.325.5204
OPINION
4 | FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2014
OPINION EDITOR: ALIE DALEE | opinion@reflector.msstate.edu WHO SPEAKS FOR EARTH?
Spotify makes listening to albums in their entirety easy
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any different ways exist to listen to music, be it listening to the radio, CDs, vinyl albums, Pandora stations, listening to an assortment of your favorite singles on shuffle on your iPod, sitting down to listen to an artist’s entire discography or going to see live performances. Lately, with the development of Spotify, listening to albums all the way through on digital devices be- Cameron Clarke is a junior came much easier and far cheaper, majoring in physics and mathpossibly providing resurgence for ematics. He can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate. albums in popular culture. Most albums are works of art, edu. created by artists, and so it follows from start to finish. that we should try to view the Many rap and pop albums with works of those artists in their in- well-known big hit singles are great tended format. Now that Spotify apart from those hits, and listening exists nobody has any excuse not to the hits in context even helps deto give a musician a chance to dis- velop a greater appreciation by putplay his or her music since it is now ting them in context of the artist’s inexspensive and easy to listen to a larger work. Take a chance, if you whole album. have not already, to listen to KenIn the age of the $0.99 iTunes drick Lamar’s certified platinum song, most people can afford to record “good kid, m.A.A.d city” all stock up on the way through. their favorite hit The egotism that singles from the may have originalListening Internet, and ly stuck out in the to albums people settle for single “Backseat in their just listening to Freestyle” takes on entirety singles. This rea different light moves listening enhances when seen in the to a whole album the listening context of Lamar’s from common tale of growing up, experience and experience. Most insecure on the eventually works albums are works streets of his hometo degrade the of art, created by town in Compton, music industry Calif. artists, and so it and the experiMartin Antoon, ence of listening follows that we graduate of Loyola to a musician’s should try to view University in music craft. industries studies the works of those Jose Cadena and avid musician artists in their of California and producer, said State Polytechnic intended format.” in an email interUniversity in Poview the music inmona said in an dustry has changed article for The Poly Post that the recently. Antoon noticed and modern music industry developed warned the big shift is toward the focused around the notion of the now-prevalent focus on individual album. songs and away from albums. “The way that the music industry “The big difference now is that has been set up for years revolves online music retailers (which now around an artist or band’s album outnumber physical sales), such as as the focal point of their work. An iTunes, market songs as individual album is expected to spawn singles, commodities rather than albums,” tours and social commentary that Antoon said. “You wouldn’t watch carve a musician’s artistry in the one scene in a movie and switch to long-run,” Cadena said. another movie. You wouldn’t read Consequently, with the ease of one chapter in a book and pick up accessing popular hit singles, be it another. Why listen to one song on YouTube, Rdio or a number and switch completely to another? of the other legal online sources, Listening to an album in its entirealbum sales suffer and the artistry ty can be an incredibly immersive of the album diminishes in the tur- experience. Why limit ourselves to moil of today’s instant-gratification missing out on it?” culture. Personally, I enjoy listening With the accessibility of music to an album from top to bottom, we have today there is no reason but I acknowledge it is often easy not to take the time to get to know to lose interest, especially if the mu- an artist’s music, from his or her sic changes to a slow pace or if it startup years to his or her most drones on without any change at recent albums, and listen to more all. Some of my favorite albums than just what is popular. Give are Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the music a chance to grow on you in Moon,” Haken’s “Visions” and its intended form, and you may Boston’s “Third Stage,” mainly be- find listening to be a much more cause these all keep my attention enjoyable experience than before.
CAMERON CLARKE
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
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Copy Editor Emma Crawford
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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.
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QUESTION TIME
What can we learn from 2013?
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hether due to the burden of fallibility all must 24-hour news cycle bear. We’re all just imperfect or perhaps even the people who try to make our potent combination of apathy way in the world, but when we and caffeine that plagues most hold others to impossible stancollege students, you’ve proba- dards, we set ourselves —and bly already forgotten much of the people we idolize — up for what happened last year. But failure. even if you don’t remember Held up as a role model for much, you still learned a lot. young girls and an example of We learned that if you wear a how to deal with the pressures horse mask and of stardom, fake a seizure Miley Cyrus it’s called the took a literWe act Harlem Shake. al wrecking surprised We learned ball to the when that having a facade that people make healthy social was her girllife requires a mistakes, and whether n e x t - d o o r , f r o n t - f a c i n g it’s some sort of “aw shucks” camera. Robin image. While Thicke taught morbid desire to relish her actions all of us who the failures of others were hardwear glasses or a priggish instinct ly the most outrageous in that blurred in our culture, it is pop culture, lines are OK. they were in And just when undoubtedly unfair conflict with that Netflix and unproductive.” the expectaguilt was betions of her ginning to set audience. in, Vine taught us a new way to waste our lives Our society has made it the norm to be personally offendaway six seconds at a time. Be all that as it may, there is ed by those in popular culat least one important lesson ture who betray the image or that it would do all of us well characteristics we project upon them. to learn. Everyone is human. But Miley wasn’t alone in Our culture likes to make people larger than life. But in 2013. Lance Armstrong, the reality, no one is beyond the cancer defeating, seven con-
secutive Tour de France winning juggernaut, admitted that performing seemingly super-human feats required some super-human measures — namely performance enhancing drugs. Paula Deen, the affable and seemingly downto-earth television personality revealed that beyond a personality and a love for butter, she also has a past — one that includes some rather questionable incidents relating to race. The list goes on: Manti Te’o had a fake girlfriend, Reese Witherspoon was arrested and Amanda Bynes took a dive off the deep end, etc. We act surprised that people make mistakes, and whether it’s some sort of morbid desire to relish the failures of others or a priggish instinct in our culture, it is undoubtedly unfair and unproductive. Further, government and political failures should be no more surprising. Because someone holds an office of high distinction does not necessarily make him or her a person of high distinction. Congressman Anthony Weiner sexted, Mayor Rob Ford and Congressman Trey Radel had drug scandals and Mayor Bob Filner was convicted of felony false imprisonment. The IRS targeted conservative
JOJO DODD JoJo Dodd is a sophomore majoring in economics. He can be contacted at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.
groups, the NSA spies on us all, the Department of Justice tapped phones of journalists and a much-hyped healthcare website crashed. Shocking? No. Par for the course. These institutions are made up of people just like us. When those in pop culture make mistakes, it affects only them or a limited number of people close to them. We should not waste our time persecuting them. But when those in politics or government make mistakes, it affects all of those they were entrusted to serve. We should hold them accountable, but we shouldn’t be shocked they are human. This lesson, of course, isn’t isolated to 2013. People have always been human. The sooner we learn that, the better off we’ll be.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
The hidden danger in unpaid internships
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few short months ago, I was in the same shoes as many of you. I was an ambitious student, coffee and newspaper in hand, on the cusp of graduation with a looming anxiety of finding a job. For four years I was told how hard finding a job in “the industry” can be. I refined my resume daily. I created accounts on various websites to assist in my job search. I was actively involved in extracurricular activities, and I worked hard to earn honors that would help me stand out to recruiters. But I didn’t find my dream job a week after graduation. In fact, the majority of the applications I spent hours perfecting were rejected. I was a newlywed in a new city with no leads for employment. I had a hard time sitting still, and I struggled with feeling incompetent. Four months of no luck in the job hunt, I came across an opportunity for an internship with a video production company in the Atlanta area — an unpaid internship. I thought the experience would be strictly educational. I did an unpaid internship in college (although it wasn’t really unpaid — I received college credit) and had a wonderful experience. I pictured a flexible schedule with plenty of time and opportunity to still seek a “real” job and learn new skills. I was wrong. I did meet a lot of kind people and did learn a few new things, but once my skill set was under-
such as Fox Searchlight Pictures stood, I went to work for free. After a few weeks, I tried dis- are undergoing lawsuits and apcussing why my unpaid intern- peals from unpaid interns. The work I did as an unpaid inship looked more like a full-time job with my supervisor and was tern was directly to the benefit of informed I simply had the wrong the company. I worked on projattitude about the internship — ects for clients — in fact, one of the supervisor told me I should my first-round draft videos went be grateful for the opportunity to directly to a client for review. I transcribed interwork in the inviews. I cleaned dustry instead of dirty cables. I being concerned But I’d like assisted on vidabout working to make eo shoots. I was for free. So after even assigned as a month, I quit one thing the “lead editor” to seek full-time, clear to on a project. And paid employany of you who though I did ment. gain some expeI realize the are considering an rience outside video produc- unpaid internship: of school, the tion industry is do not settle for internship wasn’t tough, but I’d for my direct like to make one anything less benefit — I was thing clear to than you deserve. told to come in any of you who A lot of time, on a weekend if are considering money, sacrifice I wanted to learn an unpaid innew software ternship: do not and investments because I had settle for any- from many people thing less than happened to get you so much “real work” that needyou deserve. where you are. ” ed to be done for A lot of time, clients. money, sacrifice Here’s the part and investments from many people happened to where some of the older people get where you are right now. Don’t reading this might say, “Oh, you waste your talents. silly little millennial. You just exIf your internship fails to meet pect everything to be handed to the requirements held by the U.S. you on a silver platter. You don’t Department of Labor, the com- know how to work hard. Why, pany could be in hot water for a back in my day…” I’d like to think if my great-grand lawsuit. In fact, several companies
Mary Chase Mize is a graduate of Mississippi State University and a former opinion editor of The Reflector.
father, a Watkins salesman during the Great Depression, heard his great-granddaughter was working hard for absolutely nothing, he’d be furious. We all have to start from the bottom. I get that. We have to work our way up. No one will be a vice president of communication for Turner Broadcasting six months after graduating from college. Dream jobs often don’t come along as quickly as we want them. So what do we do in the meantime? We learn new skills. We meet more people. We search for jobs outside our industry that could benefit our futures. Even if you have a degree in mechanical engineering but have a job at a coffee shop, refine your skills and learn from the experience. Practice and perfect the things that will make you a well-rounded individual in any industry. Perhaps the most important thing we can do is have patience. For me, that meant listening to my parents. They told me over and over not to stress myself out if I don’t find the perfect job immediately out of college. And seven months after graduating with a degree in communication, I am now a marketing specialist in video production for a non-profit — and I absolutely love my job.
LIVING BY MY WITS
The deceptive irony in news satire
F
rom Kim Jong Un being these websites look like legitinamed the sexiest man mate news sources. However, if alive, to Canada’s legal- you scroll to the bottom of The ization of medicinal cocaine, sa- Daily Currant’s website and click tirical news sources such as The the About link, you’ll quickly Onion and The Daily Currant find a statement which declares provide America with dry hu- that it is, in fact, a satirical newsmor and endless paper. laughs. The OnNo matter Unfortunateion, on the the content ly, that satirical other hand, style isn’t always provides no or topic of a evident. In fact, statement story, we as these “news of its satirsources” have a readers are obligated ical nature. tendency to fool to check the facts The extreme changes in journalists them- before sharing the the weathselves. link. er and the In 2012, a coloutrageous umnist for The Washington Post headlines are used The Daily Currant as her the only ways a reader can desource for a story about Sarah duce that the site is not a reliable Palin becoming a contributor for source. Al Jezeera. When The Onion deWhile there is no malice in the clared Kim Jong Un the “sexiest content of The Onion, The Daiman alive,” the North Korean ly Currant and the like produce, government ran the story as fact. the convincing style in which How exactly do these sites fool their articles are written can objournalists and governments? To viously perplex anyone. the untrained newsreader’s eye, If governments, journalists and
columnists can be fooled by these publications, it comes as no surprise that citizens post and share stories from the sites as factual. Such confusion could be avoided if satirical news websites were required to state on their front pages that they are, in fact, satirical. The Onion even advertises itself in a mocking way. “America’s Finest News Source” provides stories in sports, politics, business and entertainment. It does not, however, provide an About page or any information in regard to the contributors of the site. Though the most obvious way to keep false stories from being reported as true is for journalists and citizens to do their research, the easier solution is for these sites to provide a statement, whether at the top or bottom of the front page, that declares their stories are fictional. No matter the content or topic of a story, we as readers are obligated to check the facts before we share the link. If an article seems to be of national importance, but
CLAIRE WILSON Claire Wilson is a junior majoring in communication. She can be contacted at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.
big-name news companies such as “CNN,” “Fox,” USA Today or even Associated Press haven’t reported it, you can probably bet that it’s fake. And no, “BuzzFeed” is not a reliable news entity. Fact-check your story before you share it and you eradicate the risk of enduring that dreadful moment when someone corrects you. In doing that, you eliminate the chance of other people sharing the same inaccurate story. Fact checking saves everyone from embarrassment.
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THE REFLECTOR
6 | FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2014
LIFE EDITOR: DANIEL HART | life@reflector.msstate.edu
LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT
BEST & WORST OF 2013 NOOR MUJAHID
WORST PASSING
The year was filled with everything from royal babies to bad dance moves. World leaders passed away while typhoons struck and the government took a few days off. Here are some of the best and worst of 2013.
EMMA CRAWFORD
NELSON MANDELA
BEST MOVIE
Disney’s latest animated venture’s popularity continues to snowball nearly two months after its release date, which is one reason among many it ranks as one of 2013’s best. Inspired by Hans Christian Anderson’s story, “The Snow Queen,” the movie follows royal sisters Elsa and Anna, voiced by Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell, in their relationship with each other and as they each learn lessons about life and love. Elsa struggles to control and hide her magical power to create snow and ice, until on the day of her coronation she slips up and exposes her secret as well as casts a frigid winter over the kingdom of Arendelle. Elsa runs away to the top of a mountain and vows never to return to Arendelle. So, good sister that she is, Anna goes after Elsa in hopes of bringing her home and WALT DISNEY PICTURES | COURTESY PHOTO restoring summer to the kingdom. Along the way Anna joins forces with Kristoff and Olaf, a friendly snowman. Refreshingly, the movie’s plot focuses more on the sisters’ relationship than the romantic relationships between Anna and Hans and later, Anna and Kristoff. Disney finally shows its princesses find themselves as Elsa embraces who she is and Anna learns that love at first sight isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. And, of course, everyone out there with a sister sheds a tear when Elsa saves Anna, proving sisterly “true love” conquers all.
Freedom fighter, prisoner, president and constant hero: 2013 concluded with the death of a leader beloved by millions. On Dec. 5, mourning blanketed the world upon hearing news of leader Nelson Mandela’s passing at age 95. Despite spending roughly three decades of his life imprisoned for his efforts against segregation in South Africa, Mandela persistently battled apartheid, the legal means by which the South African government enforced racial discrimination. In 1994, he became South Africa’s first black president as well as the face of justice and hope for the country. He brought attention to apartheid throughout the world, and it was his determination to one day see racial equality that eradicated apartheid in South Africa. Mandela once said he would always fight for racial equality. “I hate race discrimination most intensely and in all its manifestations. I have fought it all during my life; I fight it now and will do so until the end of my days,” he said. He stayed true to this mantra until the very end of his life. Although 2013 was marked with the tragedy of his death, he will remain an inspiration in the hearts and souls of millions.
ALIE DALEE
BEST CROONER PHOSPHORESCENT I fail to remember the last time a songwriter so eloquently penned verses on the harrowed condition of a mangled heart. Phosphorescent, a moniker used by singer/songwriter Matthew Houck, slid under the radar onto the American folk scene with lyrics that establish him as the poetic patron saint of the broken-hearted. His songs reflect a psychedelic country rarely seen, while his melodies effortlessly carry his lyrical emotions without overburdening his audience. In “Song for Zula,” Houck tells the allegorical story of a shattered relationship as he croons, “See, honey, I saw love / You see it came to me / It puts its face up to my face so I could see / Yeah then I saw love disfigure me / Into something I am not recognizing.” The emotional intensity Houck lends to his music can only be described as a blissful agony for listeners. Phosphorescent’s album, “Muchacho,” has topped DEAD OCEANS | COURTESY PHOTO best of 2013 lists in publications from “Time” to “NPR.” Houck’s success can be attributed to his ability to rub your heart raw. Instead of pushing its audience away, “Muchacho” provides a cathartic experience that allows its audience to purge the laments of their own heart’s catastrophes.
FROZEN
CATIE MARIE MARTIN
WORST FOOT-IN-MOUTH
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH
Today, marginalization is as trendy as Zooey Deschanel’s bangs, as Americans thrive on the categorization of others and putting a person’s belief system, sexuality or appearance in a box and labeled it “cool” or “uncool.” Though cruel and at times degrading, this ostracism is typically subversive and manipulative rather than deliberate. No one wants to admit he or she is a bigot — no one except the CEO of Abercrombie and Fitch, Mike Jeffries. In May 2013, Jeffries said what we have all been thinking since junior high (when Abercrombie was actually a relevant brand). “We hire good-looking people in our stores. Because good-looking people attract other good-looking people, and we want to market to cool, good-looking people. We don’t market to anyone other than that,” he said. Much of America was shocked and repulsed by the blatant malice of this statement. In so many words, Jeffries said there are people who do not belong in his stores. “In every school there are the cool and popular kids and then there are the not-so-cool kids. Candidly, we go after the cool kids,” he said. “We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don’t belong, and they can’t belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely.” Exclusion did not do the franchise much good in 2013. Its sales declined by 12 percent, and Jeffries’s narrow-mindedness incited a rapid flow of angry blog posts and Facebook statuses. Considering Abercrombie reported a net loss of $15.6 million this past November, it would appear the cliché is, in fact, not true. Not all publicity is good publicity.
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WORST TECH
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Samsung’s attempt to overcome Apple plummeted to mere desperation in 2013. The company tried to move society from smart phones to smart watches, the first of which was known as the Samsung Galaxy Gear. The Samsung Galaxy Gear proposed features already offered through smart phone applications. However, the Galaxy Gear is much less useful than a smart phone. The functions of Samsung’s “technological breakthrough” are limited. One feature that Samsung’s news releases raved about was the ability to see incoming calls easily through the screen literally worn on the edge of one’s sleeve. What could be easier than looking at a phone with the option of talking on speakerphone? The Galaxy Gear only gives the option of making the user look foolish when talking to his or her wrist. The smart watch is a nonessential accessory that clutters the world with more useless technology. Why pay $300 to have two devices that carry out the same functions as one?
SPORTS
REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM
SPORTS EDITOR: JOHN GALATAS | reflectorsports@gmail.com
Statistical Comparison
MSU {
11-5 1-2 70.1 45.1 29.1 65.6 34.1 12.6 13.9 9.2 2.8
Record Conf. Record Scoring FG Percentage 3-Point FG Percentage Free Throw Percentage Rebounding Avg. Assists Turnovers Steals Blocks
12-4 3-0 69.1 45.2 32.6 65.7 35.8 13.4 12.2 6.8 5.4
TEXAS } A&M
FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2014 | 7
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Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at the Humphrey Coliseum
zack orsborn | the reflector
Bulldogs seek consistency in SEC play By Forrest Buck Staff Writer
Under first-year head coach Rick Ray, the Mississippi State Bulldogs finished with a 10-22 record last season. With their 76-72 victory over Ole Miss Saturday, the Dogs picked up their 11th win of the season, topping their total from a year ago in less than half the amount of games played. However, the win against the in-state rival did not carry over to Wednesday night’s game against Alabama. The Bulldogs were beaten handedly 80-61 on the road, and the Bulldogs seek to rebound at home against Texas A&M Saturday at 12:30 p.m. With the loss to the Tide, MSU fell to 11-5 on the season overall and 1-2 in conferemma katherine hutto | the reflector ence play. The Bulldogs scored Gavin Ware attempts a hook shot against Mississippi Valley the game’s opening basket but would never see the lead again State University earlier this season. The sophomore forward as they fell into trouble early, ranks second on the team with 10.9 points per game. down 38-26 at halftime. Head coach Rick Ray was has success. It doesn’t under- freshmen or sophomores. critical of his team’s lack of stand that this is a new game, One of the bright spots in focus after the game and said and you can’t get caught up in the loss to the Tide was forhis team showed signs of poor the success.” ward Gavin Ware’s perforperformance early. Games such as Wednesday mance. Ware led the team “I was really disappointed night’s can happen with an with 18 points and only in how we played,” Ray said. inexperienced team like this missed one shot from the field. “You could tell in the shoot year’s Bulldogs. Despite his terrific play, he did around that we were not reThe Dogs are still a young not have enough help from his ally locked in. Sometimes this team with most of the key con- teammates. team gets caught up when it tributors in the rotation being The team as a whole shot
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only 44 percent from the field, and after shooting 42 free throw attempts against Ole Miss, the Dogs only had 18 against the Tide. Ware said the team did not respond well when things did not go its way against Alabama. “We didn’t do a real good job of handling adversity,” Ware said. “It’s like Coach told us, we have to play together as a team and learn how to handle adversity. When some things went wrong in this game, we didn’t really respond.” The Bulldogs seemed to be at a disadvantage throughout the game, and it started early. Freshman guard I.J. Ready was lost for the rest of the game after only playing six minutes. Ready did not return after taking a charge and suffered from headaches. MSU allowed Bama to shoot 52 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range. MSU had no answer for Alabama forward Trevor Releford who scored 28 points on 10-for-13 shooting. Sophomore guard Craig Sword said the team was not focused defensively as it was in previous games. “We weren’t locked in on the defensive end,” Sword said. “We didn’t play with the focus you have to have to really control a great player.”
Koenning leaves Bulldogs for Texas By Blake Morgan Staff Writer
Mississippi State University’s football offensive coordinator Les Koenning has officially been named the wide receiver’s coach at the University of Texas, Longhorns’ head coach Charlie Strong announced Wednesday. Koenning said in a news release he is honored to work on Strong’s staff. “I have known Charlie for a long time and am thoroughly, thoroughly impressed with the way he coaches football,” said Koenning. “I’m just happy to be a part of this because he is a very successful coach, and being able to help him at The University of Texas was really exciting for me.” Hookemreport.com first reported Koenning was leaving to go to Texas Tuesday. Koenning has served as the head of the offense at MSU for the past five seasons. He also served as the quarterback’s coach. Koenning, a native of Houston, Texas, played wide receiver at Texas from 197780. He served as a graduate assistant at Texas for two years after graduation. From there, he held various graduate assistant and position coaching jobs, including running backs coach at MSU from 1986-89. He landed his first offensive coordinator position at Duke in 1998 and went on to serve as offensive coordinator at five other schools includ-
ing Houston, Alabama and Texas A&M before returning to MSU in 2009. U n d e r Koenning Koenning, the MSU offense enjoyed its most success in school history. The Bulldogs’ offensive record book has been rewritten time and time again while Koenning was at MSU, including setting nine records in 2013. Koenning will complete Strong’s new staff at Texas. The most notable player Koenning will be in charge of is Jaxon Shipley, the younger brother of notable Longhorn receiver Jordan Shipley, who returns after 589 yards receiving and a touchdown last season. Shipley led the Longhorns last season with 56 receptions. Armanti Foreman is a four-star wide receiver recruit, according to ESPN, who will look to get a lot of playing time as a freshman this fall under Koenning’s direction. Losing Koenning will be one of only a few losses for the offense this season. The offense will lose Tyler Russell, LaDarius Perkins and Gabe Jackson among others to graduation. No names have emerged as early candidates for the job. Though, no matter whom the hire, Bulldog head coach Dan Mullen will continue to play a big role in the offense for the foreseeable future.
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COACH’S CORNER
AFC, NFC title matchups provide more ground offense
A
EMMA KATHERINE HUTTO | THE REFLECTOR
RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR
| Mississippi State University’s
football team capped its 2013 season with a 44-7 win over the Rice Owls in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn., on New Year’s Eve. Dak Prescott (top) rushes in for a score, finishing the season with 23 total touchdowns. First team AllSEC guard Gabe Jackson (bottom left) spoke with media, and Prescott (bottom right) met fans and signed autographs at St. Jude Memorial Children’s Hospital as part of pre-bowl game festivities. MSU opens the 2014 season Aug. 30 against Southern Miss.
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s the NFL season comes in this game will be the Seattle down to the wire, we are home-field advantage, which is down to the final four considered the best home field teams as conference champion- in the NFL. A lot of people are considering the 49ers out in ship weekend approaches. The Denver Broncos fin- this game mainly due to that ished the regular season 13-3 fact alone. The last two times and had the best record in the the 49ers played the Seahawks AFC. Their offense was perhaps in Seattle the 49ers were dethe greatest in NFL history as stroyed. This season, San Franthey broke multiple records, cisco lost 29-3 in Seattle, and including quarterback Peyton last year it lost 42-13. As a matter of fact, Seattle Manning breaking Tom Brady’s record for most passing touch- has lost only one game at home in the last two seasons. Windowns in a season. The New England Patriots ning a game in Seattle is diffiare 12-4 and are the No. 2 seed cult, but I do not believe the 49ers will get in the AFC. Deblown out this spite a plethora Forget the time around. of injuries and The stakes are losing one of regular too high. its best players season Ultimately, I due to crimibelieve Seattle nal charges, the stats — the playoff will win this Pats scratched stats do not lie. game, but I beand clawed their Brady is a better lieve it will be way to the AFC quarterback in the a tough, hardChampionship fought game. game. Among postseason than Offensively, all the adversity, Manning.” I think Wilson head coach Bill will outplay Belichick might have done his best work as a Kaepernick, and Marshawn Lynch will run the ball more coach in 2013. On the NFC side, the Seat- effectively than Frank Gore. tle Seahawks are the No. 1 seed Despite the 49ers having the posting a conference-best re- better group of receivers, the cord of 13-3 behind the terrific Seahawks have a much better play of their No. 1 ranked de- secondary defense. The AFC Championship fense and the efficiency of quargame will be in Denver, and it terback Russell Wilson. San Francisco finished 12-4 will be the fourth time Manand is also spearheaded by a ning and Brady have faced each stout defense, physical running other in the playoffs. So far the series is 2-1, advangame and dual-threat quartertage Brady, and I expect it to back Colin Kaepernick. The NFC Championship be advantage Brady again this game will be a matchup of di- weekend. Forget the regular season stats vision foes who will meet for a — the playoff stats do not lie. third time this season. The two teams are familiar Brady is a better quarterback in with each other and also simi- the postseason than Manning. But as much as everyone lar in the way each team is built wants to make this about the and what each does well. One of the biggest storylines two future hall-of-fame quarter-
FORREST BUCK Forrest Buck is a senior majoring in kinesiology. He can be contacted at reflectorsports@ gmail.com.
backs, I do not think this game will necessarily come down to their individual performances. I think the team with the better running game will win the AFC Championship. That is why I think the Patriots will win. As great as both quarterbacks are for these two teams, they both won last week in the divisional round by running the football and controlling the clock. Obviously, Brady and Manning will have to step up and make big throws in key moments in this game, but those two almost cancel each other out with their greatness. That is why I expect the team that runs it well and plays the better game on defense to have the advantage. I do not think the Broncos defense will be able to slow down Patriot running back LeGarrette Blount, who runs the ball as well as any running back in the NFL as of late. I expect the game to be close, and in close, critical games with so much on the line, I trust the track record of Brady and Belichick more than I trust Peyton and John Fox. I think we will see the Seattle Seahawks take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVIII.
10 | FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2014
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