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TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2015
Student arrested for auto related burglaries
129 th YEAR | ISSUE 27
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
ArenaCross brings dirt bike racing to Starkville by Taylor Bowden Staff Writer
On Jan. 24, the Starkville Horse Park was filled with the revving of two-stroke engines, and the air inside the arena was a haze of exhaust from the gasoline and oil mixtures. It was round eight of the Axtour ArenaCross 2015 series, and the Horse Park arena had been converted into a dirt bike race track for pros and amateurs alike to gather and test their skill for pride and money. Axtour, which is presented by Artrax, is a 10 round series of races that takes place in the Southeast region.
by Lacretia Wimbley News Editor
On Jan. 21, Mississippi State University freshman Chandler Mize was arrested near Rocky Road in Starkville, Mississippi, and charged with 12 counts of auto burglary. According to Sergeant John Davis of the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department, the department received a report from a resident in Aspen Heights that evening stating their vehicle had been broken into. “Once the call was made, deputies were in close enough vicinity to catch Mize out on the road carrying stolen property,” Davis said. “He was arrested on sight, around the vicinity of Rocky Road.” Sid Salter, MSU chief communications officer, said at the time of Mize’s arrest, he was still a student of MSU. BURGLARY, 3
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CLASH
Taylor Bowden | The Reflector
Axtour races in Starkville: On Jan. 24, the Axtour ArenaCross 2015 dirt bike competition took place in Starkville
at the Horse Park arena. During round eight of the series, the Horse Park arena had been converted into a dirt bike race track for professionals and amateurs to gather and compete for prizes and awards. Axtour, which is presented by Artrax, is a ten round series of races that takes place in the Swoutheast region. Zach Bishop-Burnett (No. 54) is pictured mid-air during the ʻClash for Cashʼ pro race.
for
CASH
1 Johnny Moore 2 Bishop Burnett 3 Tyler Medaglia 4 Heath Harrison A u s t i n G r o v e| T h e R e f l e c t o r
Zacharias MSU faculty provides instrumental concert SEC Football Playoff conference to Board of Managers promote welcomes Keenum leadership the best of my by Nia Wilson ability,” skills, goals Keenum Staff Writer
by Eshan Newaz Staff Writer
Mississippi State University will hold the 15th annual Dr. Donald Zacharias Leadership Conference Feb. 6-8, 2015. Natalie Jones, codirector of the conference, said the conference will highlight personal leadership skills, promote organizational skills and raise communal global awareness among high school students. “We want to take high school seniors and juniors and help them be critical thinking leaders,” Jones said. Jones said each year the conference progressively adds more dimensions. In the past, the conference was held in a single building but individuals said they wished they moved around more. “We will be holding the sessions in different locations including Lee Hall, McCool and Sanderson,” Jones said. According to Jones, Sen. Sally Doty, Kristi Edmonds (communication professor), Taylor King (SA committe), Stan Buckley (Pastor of Colonial Heights) and John Cohen (MSU Baseball coach) will all be featured speakers at the conference.
Noah Siano | The Reflector
St. Joseph Catholic Church: Jackie Edwards-Henry (left) and Jessica Banks(right), two of MSUʼs faculty,
performed Saturday at St. Joseph Catholic Church located on University Drive. At 7:30 p.m., the free recital featured four classical pieces by university lecturer Jessica Banks and professor Jackie Edwards-Henry. The performances featured the flute, harpsichord and piano.
MSU offers health options, student insurance benefits by D.J. Wormley Staff Writer
Mississippi State University has created an insurance plan for students called the MSU Student Health Insurance Plan. Robert Cadenhead, director of the student health center at MSU, said the MSU Student Health Insurance Plan began as a plan for international students, but has slowly grown
into a plan American students can use as well. “The student insurance plan here at MSU actually is a plan available to MSU students and their families,” Cadenhead said. “It began as a matter of providing appropriate healthcare coverage for the international students who actually have a requirement on their Visa to have insurance while they’re students here.” According to Cadenhead, many domestic students have found the plan to be substantially beneficial.
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Cadenhead said all MSU students are eligible for the health insurance plan. “If you are enrolled as a student, part time or full time, you are eligible for it. If you are a distance student only, that is the only category of students that are not eligible,” Cadenhead said. Cadenhead said the student health insurance plan agrees with the Affordable Care Act of 2010, and it covers a variety of the medical benefits that an employment plan would cover.
Mississippi State University President Mark E. Keenum has been appointed to the College Football Playoffs Board of Managers. The CFP Board of Managers is the entity that oversees the CFP Administration, LLC., the company that manages the administrative operations of the College Football Playoff. The board governs the actions of the 10 Football Bowl Subdivision conferences: American Athletic, Atlantic Coast, Big Ten, Big 12, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-12, Southeastern and Sun Belt, as well as the University of Notre Dame. Keenum said he is honored to represent not only the Southeastern Conference, but also MSU. “I am very honored to have been appointed for this position. My first thought was ‘how much time will it take?’ If I am going to commit to something, I have to make sure that I can fully commit. I take this role very seriously. The SEC is the premiere athletic conference, and I want to represent us well. I am particularly proud of Mississippi State because we strive for quality and excellence on the field and in the classrooms. I promise to represent the SEC and this great university to
said. Keenum will replace former
Keenum University of Florida President Bernie Machen as the SEC’s representative on the board. Jasmine Bogard, junior communication major, said she believes Keenum is the perfect man for this position. “I have the utmost respect for President Keenum. He has a passion for this university that I admire and appreciate. He’s a man with a plan, and I know he will excel on the board,” Bogard said. “I’m sure President Keenum has the full support of every MSU student and faculty member. The SEC has a rich history and President Keenum will make it so that it continues to flourish.” The board handles the company’s annual budgets, policies and operating guidelines. Other duties include appointing and removing company officers and monitoring all company operations. Bill Broyles, MSU interim vice president, said Keenum’s many experiences have more than prepared him for this position. “President Keenum will bring a lot of wisdom and skill to the board.
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WHEELS
It exists as an effort by Artrax owner and professional rider Justin Thompson to provide a sort of stepping stone for amateurs and new professional riders between traditional, outdoor Motocross races and the relatively new, indoor Supercross events. The victor of Saturday’s final and most important race, the Clash for Cash, was twotime champ Johnny Moore, from Madison, Mississippi, whose bike bore the ‘#1’ he earned in 2014. Zach Bishop-Burnett (No. 54), from Arlington, Tennessee came in second place. Bishop-Burnett is 19 and has been riding since he was 10. He said he has spent several weeks living with another pro rider, Heath Harrison, and the two have been training together daily. Harrison (No. 224), from Silverhill, Alabama, crossed the finish line after BishopBurnett, but officially placed fourth after a collision he was in during the course of the race was ruled as too aggressive. Tyler Medaglia (#3), all the way from Brookfield, Nova Scotia, officially placed third. A mishap at the starting line saw Harrison initially left behind by the pack, but over the following 20 laps, he battled from last past the slew of other riders to finish third. Harrison has raced in every
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round in the series thus far and before Saturday was ranked first in the Clash for Cash races. The Clash for Cash name is not misleading. There is a lot of money tied up in professional motorbike racing. According to “Motocross Action Magazine,” Supercross Riders, the big-league of indoor series, can net hundreds of thousands of dollars if they are the best of the best. In its self-ascribed role as a launching pad for regional younger pros, Taylor Bowden | The Reflector the Axtour purses are not The Axtour ArenaCross 2015 dirt bike competition took place at the Starkville Horse Park Saturday. nearly that big. Moore said he made “That’s another thing because its pretty close, so about $1,700 Saturday night. Justin does is to make sure I actually get to go home While thats not exactly there is consistent payout,” during the week,” Harrison chump change, according Dressler said. “It keeps them said. “During Supercross and to Taylor Dressler, Artrax’s all coming back. It lets them outdoors, you have to stay media coordinator, what keep doing what they are on the road in a motorhome makes Axtour valuable to the doing.” and that puts a toll on you for riders is that the winnings are Dressler said Axtour runs sure.” not just based on how many from November to the first Harrison said the longest riders they have paying entry week of February, ending he has spent on the road has fees. two weeks before east coast been about three to four With most series, a race Supercross kicks off. Axtour months, although he did with 40 paying riders would also serves as a way for estab- mention sometimes the tours have a huge winnings purse, lished pros from all over to take him close enough to take while one with about 12 pro- train during the off-season a pit stop at home and sleep in fessional participants, similar between Motocross and his own bed for a week or two. to the one in Starkville, would Supercross, such is the case The tenth and final round have much less money to hand with Medaglia. of the Axtour series will be out to the winners. Axtour For the riders who plan on held in Tunica, Mississippi pays out the same, regardless competing, once Supercross on Feb. 7. Starkville’s Horse of how many racers show up, begins it is almost a whole Park will also host it’s annual and the riders, especially the different lifestyle. Rotary Classic PRCA Rodeo newer ones, depend on that. “These aren’t that bad on Feb. 13.
CONFERENCE “We have about five sessions that are going to be centered on empowering the students being practical leaders,” Jones said. Jones encouraged MSU students to inform their high school junior and senior acquaintances about the conference and student sponsorship opportunities. “If any businesses, students, alumni or parents want to assist in helping pay for the students’ education, contact us about donating to the conference,” Jones said. Holly Travis, co-director of the conference, said the focus of the program is in the state of Mississippi, but students from any region are welcome to attend the conference. “Right now we have about 50 students attending the conference, and we have a lot more working on the applications,” Travis said.
INSURANCE
Cadenhead said the student health insurance plan agrees with the Affordable Care Act of 2010, and it covers a variety of the medical benefits that an employment plan would cover. “It is fully compliant with the Affordable Care Act of 2010, has fully comprehensive benefits for pharmacy, clinic visits, lab, x-ray, mental health services, physical therapy as needed, hospital coverage; very similar to an employment plan that you would have at a work place, it has preventative health, wellness benefits and a certain regiment of lab work if you choose to do it,” Cadenhead said. Cadenhead said the health insurance plan has a feature that covers students
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Travis said there are 36 freshmen at MSU who are assisting in organizing the event and will be working as table leaders during the conference. “We have several different sessions, for instance sessions on communication skills and leadership skills,” Travis said. Travis said not only will students listen to lectures, but they will get an opportunity to mock the skills, work on their own projects, turn their ideas into realities and compete for a scholarship. “For the first time we created a scholarship opportunity for the students,” Travis said. Students attending the conference will submit an essay, and eight finalists will be selected for an interview. Out of the eight finalists, two students will receive a scholarship to attend Mississippi
State University, Travis said. “Our conference is not just about teaching, it’s not just a to-do list,” Travis said. “We teach these things and then immediately put them into the situation, having to apply the knowledge.” Stephen Hensley, senior aerospace engineering major, said high school alone is not good enough for education, since at school students can learn academics but lack the skills that they may require for the rest of their lives. “Having an opportunity to communicate and see people first hand with real world knowledge and skills is what will last longer than schooling,” Hensley said. According to the MSU Student Association website, the conference fee was $75 from Nov. 17 - Jan. 16, but late application has since been increased to $90. CONTINUED FROM 1
if they pass away or if an international student needs to go home for a medical emergency. “If you become deceased while you are here or if you need to go home for medical
reasons, this plan will cover that,” he said. Cadenhead said he has had personal experiences with this plan and he believes that the plan, is relatively cheaper than other plans that exist.
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“President Keenum will bring a lot of wisdom and skill to the board. He is well respected throughout the country, and many people want his expertise,” Broyles
Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015 7:28 a.m. A visitor was arrested on Lee Blvd. for obstructing traffic, driving with suspended driver’s license and possession of marijuana in motor vehicle. 11:23 p.m. A student I.D. and lanyard belonging to a student were found at the Sanderson Center parking lot. Friday, Jan. 23, 2015 12:37 a.m. MSU K9 united assisted Starkville Police Department with robbery in Starkville. 12:56 a.m. A student was arrested on Walker Road for obstructing roadway and driving with a suspended driver’s license. 8:59 a.m. An officer responded to a welfare concern at Ruby Hall regarding a student. An on-call counselor was called. 10:45 a.m. An employee reported finding 2 computers that were reported lost in 2011 in Allen Hall. 3:52 p.m. An employee reported receiving unwanted phone calls from a former employee. 4:46 p.m. A student reported her fitness band stolen from the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority house. 11:44 p.m. A student was arrested in Starkville for open container. Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015 3:22 a.m. A student was arrested in Starkville for driving without insurance and without under the influence. 11:57 p.m. A student was arrested on Barr Avenue for public drunkenness. Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015 12:30 a.m. A student was arrested in Starkville for careless driving and driving under the influence. 12:41 a.m. A student was issued a student referral for alcohol violation in North Hall. 2:40 a.m. A student was arrested in Starkville for driving under the influence, running a red light and no tag. 10:49 a.m. A visitor was injured at the MSU Horse Park. The subject was transported to OCH by a family member. CONTINUED 10:44 p.m. A student was issued a Justice Court citation andFROM a 1 student driving without possession of “We referral do notfordiscuss stu- headlights “When andthe university marijuana. dent discipline,” Salter said. suspends someone, they
BURGLARIES
“We don’t discuss whether or not there is a suspension either. The university will not confirm nor deny Mize’s current student status.” Brad Massey, MSU Police Department detective, said it is unclear whether school suspension for Mize will take place.
give you an opportunity to appeal the suspension,” Massey said. “These matters are usually handled by the university.” Reportedly, Mize is still being held in custody, with a bond of $120,000. The bond amounts are $10,000 per count. CONTINUED FROM 1
said. “President Keenum is a part of many organizations including the Board of Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. There is no doubt that he’s a busy
man, but he is an exceptional manger of time. His being nominated means people are coming to understand what a dynamic leader MSU has.”
THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2015
Story of ‘American Sniper’ polarizes audiences by Drew Carter Contributing Writer
Clint Eastwood’s “American Sniper” is based on the real story of Chris Kyle, the deadliest sniper in U.S. history. Many say it is nothing more than the glorification of a murderer. They claim he is not the American hero that the fi lm would have you believe, but that he was a bloodthirsty soldier, only killing for sport. The fi lm has also been attacked by critics saying they found it disturbing the Iraqis in the fi lm were only portrayed as evil men and women with a bloodlust for Americans, earning their place between Kyle’s crosshairs. Most critics seem to agree this movie is well made and does a good job showing the things Kyle had to endure while fighting for his country overseas and how it affected him while he was with his family back home. Critic Peter Canavese from Groucho Reviews said the movie “gets mired in military hero worship.” Damien Straker from Impulse Gamer calls it “a deceitful eulogy of a far more complicated man.” It also hasn’t helped the movie’s case that in Kyle’s autobiography, a source used for the screenplay, he referred to the Iraqis as “savages” and made questionable statements. “My only regret is that I didn’t
kill more,” Kyle wrote in his autobiography. A lot of celebrities have come out to share how they feel about the movie as well. Director Michael Moore, who grew up with a veteran dad, tweeted “We were taught that snipers were cowards. Will shoot you in the back. Snipers aren’t heroes. And invaders are worse.” Seth Rogen claimed the movie reminded him of a scene from “Inglourious Basterds” in which a movie about a famous sniper was used as Nazi propaganda. Sarah Palin defended the movie, stating “Hollywood Leftists: while caressing shiny plastic trophies you exchange among one another while spitting on the graves of freedom fighters who allow you to do what you do, just realize the rest of America knows you’re not fit to shine Chris Kyle’s boots.” Rogen and Moore were attacked on Twitter, some users calling them both ungrateful for the sacrifices Kyle and other American troops have made for them. Rogen and Moore tweeted back, apologizing and saying they both liked the movie and it was a misunderstanding. The most important praise came from Kyle’s family, who, after his death, are taking the movie very personally, saying Cooper embodied Kyle’s look and mannerism to the point they “had to do a double
take” because they were so similar. Whatever political views a person has going into this movie will affect how he or she feels about it. A conservative will likely defend what Chris Kyle did for his country and state his actions were justified. Liberals might find it hard to support his motives and may claim his praise isn’t as well earned as some would have them believe. This fi lm is very polarizing: one either loves the movie and Chris Kyle, or hates it and despises him. I found myself in the middle. A man like Chris Kyle deserves for his story to be told. He saved a lot of American soldiers’ lives and ultimately gave his own by being over there, and that should earn him the title of an American hero. The fi lm shows how his career as a sniper affects his life, hurts his relationship with his wife and kids and makes him slowly draw into himself and away from the people he loves. No matter what he does, his life will never be the same because of his actions. But I can also see where many people find it hard to get behind this movie. Chris Kyle was a controversial man, so it only makes sense this would be a controversial movie. He was a man who loved his country deeply and felt the need to defend it — at whatever cost. One of the main problems with the movie
is, even though he suffered from PTSD, it seemed as if it was only because he couldn’t save more of his men. Even though he has to kill a small child in the beginning of the fi lm, he never seemed to show a lot of remorse for all the deaths he caused. The movie did a poor job painting the Iraqis as little more than bloodthirsty killers, making it seem like he had no other choice but to kill them. In his real life, he most likely had to view them in that way in order to do his job. The real problem with the movie lies with the director. Clint Eastwood has never had a problem stating what he believes in and what he stands for, and it shows in this movie. He very much believes that whatever Kyle did in Iraq was the right thing to do and that he was a hero. It’s great for a director to believe this strongly in his subject and have a firm stance on what his movie should be. But in his movie there is never a sense of doubt that Kyle wonders if what he is doing is the right thing. Eastwood shows a coldness toward Kyle’s targets. Many viewers find it disturbing as Kyle picks them off one by one, never acting like he regrets much of it. Eastwood tailor-made the movie for people that believe in the subject as strongly as he does, leaving little room for those that might disagree with him.
Parse and Parcel
Google poised to compete with wireless carriers
Michael Lamb is the opinion editor at The Reflector. He can be contacted at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.
No one likes paying cell phone bills. Spending $100 for a wireless plan to fuel a smartphone is so commonplace that it has become a necessary evil. Who do Americans have to thank for these outrageous prices? Look no further than the near-monopolized companies, Verizon and AT&T, which dominate 75 percent of the market for cell service. Sprint and T-Mobile are the next big names, but few consider them real competition
Managing Editor Catie Marie Martin
for the other two giants. AT&T has a tight grip on American wireless consumption, despite the company’s widespread disdain amongst consumers. In 2013, AT&T imposed a new administrative fee on every wireless subscriber: 61 cents. At the time, the company faced public backlash over the new charge. Consumers simply wanted to know why. Joe Hoffman at ABI Research commented the fee is an indicator of the company’s awareness of its market. “But why 61 cents, why not $1 or $5 or $10? Because AT&T understands price elasticity of demand,” Hoffman said. And by imposing this fee, AT&T added $500-600 million to its bottom line without adding or improving any services. What a smart company. The idea of price elasticity of demand means AT&T can afford to add new arbitrary fees, potentially lose customers and yet still profit from the change. What
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Letters to the editor should be sent to the Meyer Student Media Center or mailed to The Reflector, PO Box 5407, Mississippi State, MS. Letters may also be emailed to editor@reflector.msstate.edu. Letters must include name and telephone number for verification purposes. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.
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Brooklyn Tucker is a senior majoring in kinesiology. She can be contacted at opinion@reflector. msstate.edu.
On Jan. 4, many sports fans and colleagues said goodbye to long time ESPN anchor, Stuart Scott. Scott was famous for his allaround talent and devotion to the world of sports and his family. ESPN was greatly affected by his death, as Scott changed the careers of sportscasters across the world forever. He is famous for coining several catchphrases used by ESPN, most notably “Boo-Yah!” and “As cool as the other side of the pillow.” In an interview with ESPN, SportsCenter anchor Jay Harris said, “Well, that’s who Stuart is. He is ‘the other side of pillow,’ the man who made sportscasting cool.” Scott is noted for not changing his style when he became an anchor for ESPN. By staying true to himself, he became the first AfricanAmerican to change the world of sportscasting in a way that appealed to younger audiences as well as older audiences. Spokesmen for ESPN stated they did not realize how much a change in style could increase the rates of those who were watching; Scott was the
founder of ESPN’s modern style. Scott served as a role model for many cancer patients and their families all over the world with his long fight against cancer. He was diagnosed in 2007, but never stopped working. ESPN personalities said Scott remained “upbeat and defiant no matter how bad it got.” Stuart himself kept his grace when making comments about his condition. A few months before his death, Scott accepted the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance on July 16, 2014 at the ESPYS. Many people were encouraged by his way of looking at the struggles patients face against cancer every day. “When you die, it does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live,” Scott said as he accepted the award. On Jan. 4 Scott passed away at the age of 49. He left behind many colleagues, along with his two daughters about whom he spoke so highly of during his time as a sports anchor. Scott’s impact on the world of sports was so memorable that Kolber and ESPN colleagues put together a well-deserved list of Top 10 roles Scott played for them. Scott is remembered as a competitor of sports, a friend to many, a memorable celebrity, an influential African American, a hard worker, a poet with words, a devoted father, a charmer to many, a warrior against illness and an all-around champion. Scott will forever be in the memories of many as a role model and will undoubtedly be missed.
“In the fight for net neutrality and fair market usage... no company has been as vigilant...” If service is intermittent or unreliable, it is not Sprint or T-Mobile that will be blamed, and Google knows this. In the fight for net neutrality and fair market usage, though, no company has been as vigilant in protecting freedom for the Internet as Google. The company spoke out against AT&T and Verizon when
the companies implemented data caps; Google also criticized T-Mobile for offering supposedly unlimited data plans but throttling users’ data speeds once they reached a certain limit. The road ahead will be difficult for Google, but it could be very beneficial to wireless subscribers in the future by providing more flexible options.
Romney faces uphill battle for presidential bid Romney’s possible 2016 bid shows a great deal of persistence on his part, but does it show sensibility? Romney will have to battle with many of the same issues this time around that he did in 2012 and even in 2008. Fellow GOP hopeful Rick Santorum recently
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Google is reportedly in talks with Sprint and T-Mobile to use their existing wireless networks. Since Sprint and T-Mobile are seemingly cognizant of the strength of their opposition, the smaller companies are vying for Google to partner with them. Almost every tech savvy person knows the fierce competition between Google and Apple, and it would only be a matter of time before Apple answers Google’s call. There are a number of risks involved with investing in a wireless service provider. Not least of these are the Big Four companies: AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile. Yes, even if Google strikes a deal with Sprint or T-Mobile, the providers will certainly do whatever they can to prevent cell phone service from becoming a common commodity.
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hard-working American wants a company with so much power it can add arbitrary charges to all its customers and be satisfied? Enter Google. The world’s favorite search engine has been adding services to connect people for years. Google launched SMS messaging and VoIP calling in their Hangouts app available for every device. Consumers can receive a Google phone number at no cost through Google Voice and use their computers to make cheap international calls. Google’s Android mobile operating system is now the most widely used smartphone OS. The one thing Google lacks to put all the puzzle pieces together is a wireless subscription package. If Google enters the market as a wireless carrier, the impact could be tremendous for the consumer.
Ponder This
Tucker Fleming is a senior majoring in sociology. He can be contacted at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.
Now that the midterm elections are over, we as the American populace and Washington as the center of all things political can begin to vet candidates for the granddaddy of them all, the 2016 presidential election. The Democrats are teeter-tottering between Hillary Clinton and Sen. Elizabeth Warren. But on the GOP side the field seems to grow larger by the day, and it may now include arguably the biggest conservative political personality. When Mitt Romney recently let slip the prospect of another presidential bid in 2016, he drew shouts of satisfaction from some corners of the conservative establishment, while drawing murmurs of dissatisfaction from others.
Romney to even make it out of his party’s primary into the general election. It will likely be difficult for Romney to shake the two loss moniker following him, and there are other candidates within his own party who present a great challenge. Jeb Bush, despite his last name, could
“The GOP establishment will have to decide if Romney is still a viable option as a candidate...” jabbed Romney at the South Carolina Tea Party Coalition Convention for being out of touch with America’s working people. Unfortunately for the GOP, the perception of an out-of-touch Mitt Romney is the prevailing sentiment for the party as a whole. Sean Sullivan of The Washington Post notes former candidate and current Congressman David Perdue of Georgia was opened up to “Romney vintage attacks.” Sullivan notes Perdue, who said he spent most of his career outsourcing, is just one of the Republican establishment who fits into this “out of touch” narrative of the GOP, the face of which seems to be Romney. It also seems to prove more and more difficult for
be the centrist whom the GOP needs to capture a general election win, and only the second victory in the popular vote since 1992. Sen. Marco Rubio also poses a populist threat to Romney. According to Stephanie Condon of CBSNews, Rubio argues, “he’s more focused on the structural problems that have led to economic inequality in the U.S.” As a first-generation Cuban-American, Rubio possesses the human capital to appeal to the Hispanic demographic, a bloc which has long favored the Democrats. Many have and will likely try to parlay Romney’s time at Bain Capital into credentials which support his ability to maintain and grow a
national economy. However, let us not forget the many members of Congress who are businessmen and women. According to Senate.gov, business is the third most common occupation of senators and is the most common of house representatives, and these two groups of people make up a Congress which owns an approval rating of just 16 percent according to a December 2014 Gallup Poll. Correlation certainly does not equal causation, but perhaps this should make us wary, or at least cautious, of another businessman in a position of political power. Mitt Romney possesses a great deal of expertise. His record with the Winter Olympics and Bain Capital cannot be argued against in a business sense. He has political experience as a governor, which means he has experience as an executive. This political experience is undoubtedly necessary to occupy an office like President of the United States. The chief issue, however, is whether or not the Republican party may have better options for the nation at this point in its history. The GOP establishment will have to decide if Romney is still a viable option as a candidate, or if there is simply too much downside.
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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2015
Jack White at the Hump: MMP presents eight-time Grammy award winning artist by Jessi Cole Staff Writer
The headliner of this year’s Coachella music festival, Jack White, is arguably the biggest name to ever perform in our Mississippi college town. Formerly a part of the band The White Stripes, White began a solo career in 2012 with his album, “Blunderbuss.” The singer has won eight Grammy awards, and both of his solo albums reached No. 1 on the Billboard Charts. “Rolling Stone” magazine named him No. 70 of 100 of the best guitarists of all time. Thomas Fitzner, student director of Music Maker Productions, said due to MMP’s repertoire, big-name musicians have fi nally started to see Starkville as a worthwhile stop on tours. “Through Music Maker’s success, we have built a strong reputation within the music industry. As a result, artists like Jack White are now looking to Starkville as viable options when
routing tours,” he said. “However, we rely on the students and community to support these shows and buy tickets in order to prove to the industry
she is thrilled a musician of White’s caliber is coming to Mississippi State University. “I’m excited for him to perform here
“However, we rely on the students and community to support these shows and buy tickets in order to prove to the industry that Starkville is capable of handling concerts of this size, and the ticket sales have to prove the capability to agents.” – Thomas Fitzner, MMP Student Director
that Starkville is capable of handling concerts of this size, and the ticket sales have to prove the capability to agents.” Excitement stirs around Starkville as White’s performance draws near. Nadia Elalighe, sophomore communication major on the MMP team, said
AND THE WINNER IS...
because it’s not very often that an eight-time Grammy award winning artist comes through Starkville,” she said. “This concert is going to be talked about 20 or 30 years from now, no doubt.” Fitzner also said White appeals to all Starkville residents.
“In addition to rock being one of the strongest genres in Starkville, White’s diverse track record within the industry helps him appeal to many people,” he said. Some of White’s most popular and recognizable songs include several over the course of his career with The White Stripes, The Raconteurs and his solo career. “Seven Nation Army” is the anthem for many sporting events and a song football fans will recognize. More of his successful songs include “Fell in Love with a Girl,” “Blue Orchid,” “Icky Thump,” “Love Interruption,” “Lazaretto,” “Love is Blindness,” “Sixteen Saltines,” “Freedom at 21” and “Steady as She Goes.” The last and only time White performed in Mississippi was in 2007 in his band The White Stripes. The performance in Southaven incidentally became the legendary band’s last show ever. After seven years, White returns tonight to put on one of his iconic shows
Courtesy Photograph|MMP
Grammy award winning musician Jack White takes the Humphrey Coliseum stage tonight. Doors open at 7 p.m., and tickets will be available at the door.
at Starkville‘s very own Humphrey Coliseum. Doors open at 7 p.m. and White will start around
9 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door, and student discounts are still available.
Starkville, MSU boasts yoga options
MISS UNIVERSE
MISS COLOMBIA
22-year-old Paulina Vega was crowned Miss Universe 2015 Sunday night. FIRST RUNNER UP
MISS USA
Las Vegas native, 24-year-old Nia Sanchez
SECOND RUNNER UP
MISS UKRAINE
Reflector|Emma Katherine Hutto
Firefly Yoga Studio (left) and MSUʼs Sanderson Center (right) offer a wide range of options for those interested in yoga. Firefly Yoga, located at 221 E. Main Street, is a great option for first-timers, as they offer a per-class fee. The Sanderson offers several different yoga classes throughout the week, and more information can be found on recsports.msstate.edu.
20-year-old Diana Harkusha
by Kaitlin O’Dougherty Austin Grove | The Reflector
Staff Writer
According to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, “A mind free from all disturbance is Yoga.” Everyone needs to unwind at some point, and yoga is a physical outlet that allows students to unwind while also strengthening their minds and bodies. It focuses on meditation and core strength exercises. Fortunately for Mississippi State University students, there are options available
to them if they wish to begin this beneficial practice. Perhaps the most economically practical way to begin yoga is to take a class at the Sanderson Center. The Sanderson offers a variety of classes throughout the week including several different forms of yoga. The Sanderson offers a form of either yoga or pilates at 6 a.m. Monday through Thursday. Yoga is also offered Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12:40 p.m. and 6 p.m. In addition, there is a Monday class at 5:00 p.m. and a “Slow Flow” class on Sundays at 4:00 p.m. Kevin Ward, senior biochemistry major, said this is a great way to connect with other MSU students who are entering the world of yoga and enjoys starting his day off with these classes. “It allows me to relieve any stress I might have before the day begins,” Ward said. There is also a club
fellow yogis can join at the Sanderson. Yoga Moves Club meets on Thursdays from 5:30-7 p.m. This club is great for beginners because it also provides mats and instruction on popular yoga moves. Students can also go to Firefly Yoga studio, located at 221 E. Main Street. This is the studio’s new location, and it offers class options for all levels. The class currently has an introductory offer of $30 for 30 days of unlimited classes. However, if you are trying yoga for the fi rst time, there is also a $12 one-class fee. This is a great way to try a class without committing long term. They offer classes such as Restorative, Glow Flow, Friday Flow, Kid’s Yoga, Yoga Basics and Zen Flow. Yoga is not only fun, but it is also great for the spirit and body. Yoga greatly helps increase flexibility, which is good for joints and body movements, according to WebMD.com. Yoga also
tones one’s body through endurance. One can also acquire better posture and breathing benefits from partaking in yoga. Lastly, yoga is good for the heart as well as overall stress levels. This is important for college students due to their demanding schedules and their amount of daily stress. Decreased stress levels lead to a better mood as well as a better mental state. It allows one to clear the mind for a moment and not get bogged down by any current pressures. A few key words to know before beginning a yoga class are ‘Namaste’ and ‘Vinyasa.’ According to Firefly Yoga’s website, Namaste means “The light in me honors the light in you.” The website also says that Vinyasa means “To place together in a certain way.” These words promote the major themes of yoga. Yoga emphasizes the unity of souls and harmony among all. Mike Latham’s
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Sports
7 THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2015
Beyond the Arc
Ghosts from past haunt Bulldog program today
If you began school at minutes against San Diego. Mississippi State University However, that evening Sidin the fall of 2012 or later, ney would be a part of one you probably think men’s of the most embarrassing basketball is not a prominent moments in MSU sports tradition at our university. history. During a basketball It could easily be perceived game between Utah and Hafootball and baseball have waii, ESPN cameras spotted always been the most suc- Sidney in a fistfight with his Kevin Simmons cessful and important sports teammate and roommate Kevin Simmons is a senior maon campus. This perception Elgin Bailey in the stands. joring in communication. He can is due to the recent lack of Both Sidney and Bailey were be contacted at reflectorsports@ attendance at the games suspended indefinitely after gmail.com and the abundance of poor the fight. Replays of the fight performances on the court. aired over and over again However, the men’s basket- on multiple media outlets, last nine games and missed ball team was very successful and the university received the NCAA tournament for not too long ago. The Hum- mainstream attention during the fourth straight year. The phrey Coliseum was actually the Christmas holidays Bulldogs lost to the Universold out at times. From 2006 for all the wrong reasons. sity of Massachusetts in the to 2009, the men’s basketball Many critics thought this first round of the NIT. In team had three very suc- would be the end of Sidney that game, Sidney scored cessful seasons under then in Starkville before he even three points in only 16 minHead Coach Rick Stansbury. played one home game. utes on the court. Later that These seasons included one However, it was only the evening, Sidney addressed SEC Tournament Champi- end for Elgin Bailey. Bailey his future at MSU via Twitonship, one NIT Final Four, requested to transfer after ter. two NCAA tournament ap- the incident and was grant“I’m out,” Sidney tweeted. pearances and one NCAA ed a release from the team. The former McDonald’s tournament game win. At Sidney’s punishment was an high school All-American the end of those seasons, fans unsatisfying two game sus- declared for the NBA draft were still disappointed the pension. but was not drafted or picked basketball team did not win Sidney was reinstated on up by any team. Arnett more games. During most Jan. 8 against Alabama. Sid- Moultrie left for the NBA of this time, the football and ney played well for the re- draft and was selected 27th baseball teams floundered. mainder of the season and overall by the Philadelphia The football team had a 14- stayed out of trouble, aver- 76ers. Dee Bost graduated 22 record in those three sea- aging 14.2 points and 7.6 re- after starting at point guard sons under previous Head bounds per game. However, in four straight seasons at Coach Sylvester Croom, and Sidney was only playing an MSU, and freshman star after a 2007 appearance in average of 25 minutes per Rodney Hood transferred the College World Series, game. College basketball an- to Duke University, where Ron Polk never took the alysts often complained Sid- he would eventually become Diamond the 23rd overall to another pick in the “In 2009, three major figures NCAA tour2014 NBA nament. In draft. When arrived on campus that changed 2009, three a team has major figures this much the landscape of Mississippi State arrived on talent and campus that does this University forever: Dan Mullen, changed the poorly, a landscape of change has John Cohen and Renardo Sidney.” M ississippi to be made. State athletOn March ics forever: 15, 2012, Dan Mullen, John Cohen ney was out of shape due to Rick Stansand Renardo Sidney. his 45-game suspension. He bury stepped down as head Renardo Sidney was a was often seen being the last coach after 14 years and the 6’10”, 250-pound five-star man returning to either side most wins in school history. recruit out of from Jackson, of the court after a change Rick Ray was hired on April Mississippi. Sidney played of possession. Many claimed 1 and the rest is history. Ray for his high school basket- this hurt the Bulldogs’ de- won his first two SEC games ball team in Los Angeles, fensive performances. Sid- as head coach at MSU, but California and was the most ney’s weight, work ethic and the fun ended there. The anticipated basketball recruit attitude were all questioned team went on a 13-game in MSU basketball history. in his first two years at MSU. losing streak following the However, the highly-tout- Nevertheless, fans expected first two wins. In Ray’s twoed power forward did not a big junior year from Sid- plus years at MSU, he has step on the court during the ney. an overall record of 33-51 2009-10 basketball season. The Bulldogs started the and 9-33 in SEC games. To Sidney was suspended for 2011-12 season with a 13-2 make things worse, the SEC his entire freshman season record and were ranked as has been a subpar basketball and the first nine games of high as No. 15 in the country. conference since Ray’s arrivthe 2010-11 campaign for Amazingly, Sidney actually al in 2012. The performancreceiving improper benefits regressed in the 2011-12 sea- es by the Bulldog basketball that violated NCAA rules. son. The basketball team’s team at the Hump have been To make matters worse, Sid- success was accredited to poor, but the performance ney violated ethics rules by senior Dee Bost and trans- on the road has been absoproviding false or misleading fer junior Arnett Moultrie, lutely dreadful. Ray won his statements. In other words, who both were named to first road SEC game against he allegedly received money, the All-SEC team that year. Georgia in January 2013 free housing for his fami- Sidney looked even more out but was the last lost in 22 ly and other benefits based of shape, played fewer min- straight road games until last on his basketball potential utes and scored fewer points. Wednesday when MSU upand then lied to the NCAA The team played horrible de- set Auburn. That’s right, Ray about receiving these bene- fense and had no chemistry has an overall record of 2-26 fits. Sidney missed 45 games toward the end of the sea- on the road. in all due to his suspension. son. MSU lost seven of its GHOSTS, 8 Sidney played his first official game as a Bulldog on The Dec. 15, 2010 in his hometown of Jackson against the Belhaven Blazers. Sidney scored 10 points but only played 15 minutes in the game. On Dec. 21, after playing just two games for MSU, Sidney was suspended again for one game after an alleged outburst in practice during a Christmas break basketball tournament in Hawaii. Following the suspension on Dec. 23, Sidney played his best game to date scoring 20 points and grabbing six rebounds in only 20
Bulldogs fall to hot shooting UGA, turn focus to Ole Miss by Anthony McDougle Staff Writer
The loss snapped Mississippi State University’s (9-10) two-game winning streak and puts it at 2-4 in SEC play. Georgia (13-5, 4-2) was paced by J.J. Frazier with a career-high 37 points. Frazier, who averaged only nine points per game entering the matchup, earned the most points scored by an SEC player thus far in the season and was named the SEC’s Player of the Week with his performance. Mississippi State jumped out to an early 7-2 lead and extended that advantage to 14-7 after a basket by Roquez Johnson. At this point Frazier began to heat up, hitting a 3-pointer to even the score at 17. The home Bulldogs managed to retake the lead and extended their lead to 29-24 on a Craig Sword 3-pointer. However, MSU only got one field goal the rest of the way as a 12-2 run by Georgia pushed it lead to 36-31 at the half. Georgia and Frazier’s hot shooting continued as they stretched the lead to 48-36 early in the second half. The season-high home crowd of 7,549 raised the volume in the Hump in efforts to revitalize the Bulldogs. Johnson, who led the way with 25 points and 12 rebounds said the crowd made a huge difference. “They helped us out a lot,” Johnson said. “We were down and the crowd brought us back into it. We have to learn from our mistakes and move on. Everybody competed.” Mississippi State manged
Noah Siano | The Reflector
Craig Sword flies through the air. Sword had a season high in points Saturday.
to trim the lead to 48-43, but the continued stellar shooting of Frazier aided Georgia in pushing the lead back to eight, a 59-51 advantage. Not to be denied, Fred Thomas responded with consecutive three-pointers and I.J Ready knocked down one of his own to put the score at 65-64 with 2:27 remaining. However the Bulldogs could not regain the lead. The Bulldogs were victims of an inefficient night from the field, shooting only 34 percent as opposed to 49 percent by UGA. Despite a poor shooting performance, MSU dominated the boards with a 42-32 advantage. “We knew Georgia was a
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physical team,” Johnson said. “We just tried to bring it in the paint because we thought that would help our team have success.” MSU Head Coach Rick Ray remained optimistic after the loss and cited the gutsy performance of his team as a plus. “Anyone that has seen this team play from the beginning of the season to now should be able to see that we are playing our best basketball,” Ray said. “We made strides today and you can’t lose track of that despite a loss.” Craig Sword finished with 13 points and Ready added 12 for the Bulldogs. MSU returns to action Wednesday at Ole Miss at 8 p.m.
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Sports REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2015
William shows continued success on court
William is beginning to make a name for herself within Coach Schaefer’s system. Her quickness, as well as her floor recognition, make the prospects of her still having three more years as a Mississippi State University Bulldog exiting. The freshman point guard currently leads the team in assists and averages 10.1 points a game, the second
highest on the team. She has shown an uncanny ability to get to the free throw line, as she has attempted 127 free throws in 22 games this season, an average of almost six a game. What makes this even more important is the fact she has made 107 of those 127 free throws, making her an 84 percent shooter from the line, the best on the team of anyone who has
attempted at least 20 free throws for the season. When Schaefer told the media before the season he thought his group of freshman was going to come in and produce early, even he could not have expected to see his two leading scorers be players he just recruited last spring. He’s got his squad playing the best of any women’s basketball team at
MSU in over a decade, and his specialty on the defensive end is starting to take hold with this year’s team. After Thursday night’s win, he did not waste anytime in pointing out his unit’s stellar defensive effort in the second half that ultimately helped the Bulldogs close the deal. “In the second half, we held them to 26 percent
shooting from the field and that was the difference in the game,” Schaefer said in a news release. “I have a lot of confidence in this team because we have some really good players. Tonight, those players made enough plays to win a critical game on the road in the toughest conference in the nation.” Although the offensive numbers are still not where Schaefer would like them to be, the team continues to do just enough on offense to get them over the hump. Sophomore Breanna Richardson led all scorers on the day with 16 points, tying her SEC-high for her career. Richardson said Schaefer motivated the team to finish strong down the stretch. “Coach told us the first five minutes (of the second half) were going to be really huge,” Richardson said in a news release. “We knew we could either punch them in the mouth or they could punch us first. I really like how we came in the second half and got things started.” MSU will return to action at home on Thursday against Vanderbilt. The game begins at 7 p.m.
programs have improved drastically since Mullen and Cohen arrived. The baseball team made it to the College World Series championship game in 2013, and the football team was ranked No. 1 in the country for the first time in school history this fall. But even in the darkest of times, I never feared for the football or baseball program the way I fear for the basketball program right now. Fans still came to watch the football and baseball teams in down years. Basketball attendance has been terrible. In Stansbury’s
time, SEC tickets were hard to come by. The student section was hard to get into even hours before tipoff. The Bulldogs looked better in their last four games in a four-point road loss to Texas A&M and home win against Vanderbilt. Then came the upset at Auburn and a close loss against Georgia, but some detractors are still calling for the firing of Rick Ray. If he does not improve his SEC win totals this season, he may be gone. As bad as Ray has been at MSU, who could have done better? Besides, it
is highly unlikely any coach with name value could be lured to Starkville. Still, with a road winning percentage of less than four percent, a strong case could be made for parting ways with Ray. No matter what happens, there may be no light at the end of this tunnel. It seems Sidney coming to Starkville is the direct correlation for the state of the MSU basketball program. The Sidney story should be a lesson to schools like Florida State when they are dealing with talent like Jameis
Winston. Sometimes all the talent in the world is not worth dealing with appalling character. However, football teams are not as vulnerable to players with egos due to the fact teams are made up of nearly 100 players. There are only about 13 players on a college basketball team, which means one player can easily destroy the team chemistry. Sidney is a perfect example of how one player can be a cancer to a program. Many people make mistakes that put the MSU basketball program where it is
today, but Sidney is the main culprit. I like to think that if Sidney had never stepped on our campus, our basketball program would look much different. Stansbury would still be our coach, and no one in Mississippi would know about Rick Ray. We probably would not be competing for national championships, but we would definitely be winning more than five SEC games per year. There is still time for Ray to turn the program around, but he has quite the hill to climb, and he is running out of time to do it.
by Zach Wagner Staff Writer
While this year has seen so many contributions come from younger players within Head Coach Vic Schaefer’s squad, it should come as no surprise that one of the team’s youngest players provided the moment of magic that led the Bulldogs to their 20th win of the season. Freshman guard Morgan William was able to knock down a jumper with three seconds remaining in the ballgame to seal the 64-62 victory at Tad Smith Coliseum, snapping the Bulldogs’ three-game losing streak at the venue. After the game, the night’s hero referenced the awareness she had in realizing her advantage in being able to get to the basket. “My dad has always said big-time players step up and make big time plays,” William said in a news release. “I knew I couldn’t drive because I had been driving all night and not getting fouled. So I had to create some space and get a shot off. Fortunately, I made it.”
GHOSTS
It would be unfair to blame this all on Coach Ray. The talent on the court is just not there. Many fans have suggested none of Ray’s players would have played sufficient minutes on any of Stansbury’s teams. Stansbury’s teams had draft picks and All-SEC players. In the future, it will be incredibly difficult to lure talent to Starkville. What high school kids wants to play for a team that rarely wins conference games, can not win road games and has a stadium that is rarely half-full of fans? The football and baseball
Emma Katherine Hutto | The Reflector
Morgan William pulls up for a shot against the Alabama Crimson Tide. William was rated as only a three-star prospect by espn.com as a senior in high school.
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