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TUESDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2018

132nd YEAR ISSUE 37

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

MSU receives ‘green light’ rating for free speech

“It was a chance for us to show the diversity and the unity that we have in Starkville.”

Lynn Spruill, Starkville Mayor

JORDAN DARENSBOURG

staff, community members, students, Tri Delts, Gamma Beta Phi members and family, and I think it was definitely a success.”

A highlight of the event was two guest speakers who shared their stories about St. Jude. One of the speakers was Brittany Clark, a 2012 and 2014 graduate of MSU, and a Collegiate Specialist for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

In her speech, Clark said she has been deeply touched

by St. Jude. Her lifelong friend battled cancer and eventually passed away from a brain tumor after a second relapse. Afterward, Clark said it was a hard story for her to tell.

“For me, telling the story of my best friend is very personal,” Clark said.

“But if it helps encourage people to support St. Jude or if it helps bring the mission to life a little bit more, it’s worth it.”

Clark, like McCabe, also said she liked how the event turned out.

“I thought it was clearly very well organized and very well branded,” Clark said. “I think the culture and the atmosphere was very positive and uplifting.”

STAFF WRITER

ADAM SABES

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Mississippi State University received a “green light” rating for campus free speech, an honor awarded to only 36 colleges and universities in 2018, according to the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education’s annual report on speech codes.

The green light rating by FIRE signifies MSU does not threaten a student’s right to speak freely on campus, a distinction MSU has maintained since 2012.

Every year, FIRE puts together a report highlighting the states of free speech on college campuses, surveying the speech codes of 461 colleges and universities. In the report, FIRE gives 461 schools a rating based on their free speech policies using a stoplight rating system.

A “red light” rating signifies the institution has policies which severely restricts students right’s to speak freely, a “yellow light” rating signifies the institution has policies that could be interpreted to limit speech, while a “green light” designation signifies no threat to the freedom of speech.

FIRE takes into consideration and carefully looks at 12 different categories when determining what rating an institution will receive.

FIRE Vice President of Policy Research Samantha Harris said FIRE awarded MSU a green light rating because its written policies do not interfere with one’s right to freedom of speech.

FIRE, 2

Gamma Beta Phi hosts St. Jude gala

Alayna Stevens | The Reflector

DeRego’s Bread of downtown Starkville is one of several stores that have made an intentional effort to stand beside members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Owner Troy DeRego placed these flags in his window after the Starkville Board of Alderman voted to deny Starkville’s first Pride Parade last Tuesday.

Starkville responds to the denial of Pride Parade

KATIE POE

STAFF WRITER

Following the Starkville Board of Aldermen’s denial of a request to host an LGBT parade in the city, the community responded.

Starkville Pride has filed for injunction as of Monday.

Local businesses expressed their support for the parade and the aldermen who voted in favor of denial have avoided all contact in regards to their reasoning for voting against the request.

Last week, the board voted 4-3 to deny the request, with Ben Carver of Ward 1, David Little of Ward 3, Vice Mayor Roy A. Perkins and Henry Vaughn of Ward 7 voting in favor of the denial.

Perkins called for the item to be pulled from its original place on the consent agenda.

Starkville Pride, an LGBT support group, planned to host the parade March 24, and Bailey McDaniel, the organization’s president, said she was saddened upon hearing the BOA’s vote.

“I was really shocked, and I was really upset,” McDaniel said. “I was obviously crying.

I was just so hurt.”

At a Starkville Pride meeting held on Wednesday, MSU law professor Whit Waide spoke to attendees, stating the BOA had no reason to deny the group’s application request. He said since the application was properly filed and the event would not risk the public’s safety, the denial was a violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi also released a statement outlining the constitutional violations, and called upon the city to “act swiftly” to reconsider and approve the request.

“The government cannot prevent a parade or event simply because it promotes LGBTQ pride or because its organizers and marchers are LGBTQ,” said ACLU of Mississippi Executive

Director Jennifer RileyCollins. “In addition, the government cannot treat people unequally because they are LGBTQ. This is exactly what the Board of Alderman did, and that is discrimination, plain and simple.”

The aldermen who voted to deny the request, as well as Starkville Attorney Chris Latimer, were unavailable for comment.

Also at the meeting Wednesday, McDaniel announced Starkville Pride’s plans to file for injunction against the city. She said a team of five lawyers are representing the organization for free, including attorney Roberta Kaplan, who argued against the Defense of Marriage Act. McDaniel expressed she regrets the group has to go against the whole board, despite the three aldermen who voted in favor of having the parade. They were Sandra Sistrunk of Ward 2, Jason Walker of Ward 4 and Patrick Miller of Ward 5.

PARADE, 2

Mississippi State University’s chapter of the Gamma Beta Phi National Honor Society hosted its first annual Night for St. Jude, a benefit gala which supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Saturday night.

The semi-formal event featured a silent auction, a performance by the Maroon Jazz Band, a trivia challenge, a photo booth, as well as a “hope wall,” where those in attendance wrote messages of hope to children at St. Jude who are currently battling cancer.

The silent auction had items ranging from an Insomnia Cookies movie packet to a collectible basketball signed by MSU men’s basketball head coach Ben Howland. All proceeds from the sales benefited St. Jude.

Emily McCabe, a junior biomedical engineering major from Nashville, Tennessee, and the vice president of Gamma Beta Phi, organized the event.

McCabe said the event went well.

“We had a super good turnout,” McCabe said.

“We saw lots of faculty,

ST. JUDE, 2

Isaiah Young | Every Good Thing Photography

Guests bid on local items at the silent auction, contributing to the fundraising total of $4,630.

College View Development brings housing to campus EMMA MOFFETT STAFF WRITER

After three years of planning, the College View Development is set to be built by August 2019.

The multi-phase development will cost approximately $67 million and will be built on a 34acre section of campus. The location is at the former Akien Village site across from highway 12 and on the same side of the street as the Humphrey Coliseum.

Despite examples of the public-private partnership at other universities, the College View Development will be the first development

TUESDAY

of its kind in Mississippi.

“I appreciate the support of the Board of Trustees, as we have worked steadily over the past three years to bring this first-of-its-kind project to a Mississippi University campus,” MSU President Mark Keenum said in an issued statement.

David Shaw, vice president for the Office of Research and Economic Development, said there will be apartments, including a clubhouse, pool and exercise facility. So far, Shaw said he has heard optimistic responses from people across campus and in the community.

“We have had a great

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

HI: 67 LO: 58 SKY: Rainy

HI: 74 LO: 57 SKY: T-Storms

HI: 62 LO: 38 SKY: T-Storms

POP: 40%

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step forward in further developing the interface between campus and the community.”

The College View Development will include studio, one bedroom, two bedroom and four bedroom style apartments which will use electronic key fobs.

Regina Hyatt, vice president of student affairs, said she believes the facilities will attract students to live at the development and prices will also be fair.

“The pricing is anticipated to be very comparable to what the campus housing markets currently is, as well as off-campus housing,” Hyatt said.

HOUSING, 2

Courtesy Graphic | MSU Communication

The College View Development will be the first of its kind in the state. The new housing development will be near the Humphrey Coliseum.

deal of positive feedback from students, faculty and

particularly the community,” Shaw said. “This, coupled

FORECAST: It is going to be a wet string of days, Bulldogs. Starting Tuesday afternoon, there will be scattered storms until Thursday. Highs can be expected to remain in the mid 60s, with lows dipping into the 30s on Thursday.

Courtesy of Accuweather.com

with other developments, is going to be a major

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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2018

MSU education department ranks high in affordability SARAH MASSEY

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

According to Top Education Degrees, Mississippi State University is ranked 22nd in the nation for having the most affordable and quality elementary education degree online.

The Department of Education started in 1903 as a part of the Department of Industrial Education. Then, it became the School of Industrial Pedagogy in 1909.

The name changed two more times before the College of Education stuck in 1963.

The Department of Education has seven departments which houses the elementary education program.

Richard Blackbourn, the dean of the Department of Education, makes sure the students at MSU, receive the best quality of education at an affordable price.

“In this era of competitiveness and rising costs in higher education, it is rewarding for our programs to be recognized, not only for their excellence, but for their affordability,” Blackbourn said. “Clearly, we do not cut corners to provide a quality education at an affordable price. Mississippi State, as a whole, has been recognized in this manner numerous times.”

Randi-Kathryn Harmon, the recruiting coordinator for the Department of Education, helps students find their paths in the education field and shows students the quality of education the department offers.

“Recruiting for Mississippi State’s College of Education is rewarding because I get to see firsthand how fulfilling it is for our students to enter the teaching field and make a difference in so many children’s lives,” Harmon said.

“Our students participate in early field experiences before their student teaching internship semester, which well prepares them for real-life occurrences. Our professors are always engaging in research and utilizing best practices to ensure their students are receiving the best quality of education.”

The online distance program MSU offers coincides with the on-campus degree to make sure students are getting the education they need to succeed. This 123-credit hour program includes internships, courses taught by MSU faculty, but most importantly, an affordable education. The online education costs only $342 per credit hour, which estimates to $20,900 per year.

Audrey Weeks, an online elementary education major from Huntsville, Alabama, likes the flexibility her schedule allows.

“Earning my degree in Early Childhood Education online is easy with my busy schedule,” Weeks said. “The teachers present the material in a way that is both helpful and engaging, just like in a face-to-face classroom.”

The program is accredited

by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. All information for the early elementary online distance program can be found on the Distance Education website.

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FIRE “FIRE’s traffic-light ratings are based on the extent to which a school’s written policies restrict freedom of speech. In 2012, MSU eliminated all of its speech codes and earned a green light rating, which it has maintained ever since,” Harris said.

Additionally, Harris said MSU is frequently rated as a “green light” school because they are different from other schools in the country when it comes to free speech policies.

“Unlike so many other schools, MSU policies do not prohibit speech protected by the First Amendment,” Harris said.

Out of the 461 schools surveyed, 32.3 percent have “red light” speech code policies, 58.6 percent had “yellow light” policies and a mere 7.5 percent of the schools have “green light” policies.

Additionally,

CONTINUED FROM 1

63 institutions of those surveyed maintain “free speech zones,” which limit where and what someone can say on a college campus.

However, MSU has only held the “green light” distinction since 2012, and university policies prior to that year severely restricted speech, according to Mark Goodman, a communication professor at MSU. “Essentially, the university had a speech code that violated many aspects of the first amendment,” Goodman said.

More specifically, Goodman said there were “free speech zones” prior to 2012, located in front of the union in a very small area.

“Anybody who wanted to could stand up on that little podium there and say whatever they wanted,” Goodman said. “(The

free speech zone) totally violated the concept of free speech, because free speech exists everywhere, except in very small zones, and (MSU) wrote it backwards.”

Goodman added universities have two main interests in regards to free speech.

“Essentially, colleges have two primary interests in the regulation of free speech,” Goodman said.

“They must guarantee the safety of students, and secondly, they want to maintain the integrity of the education system.”

Goodman further explained a group cannot go into a classroom and hold a protest, adding this is not to hinder free speech, but because a professor would be unable to hold classes during a protest.

Carson Allen, a junior psychology major said freedom of speech and

HOUSING “I am thinking we will have a product that is very attractive to students depending on what their budget is.”

Hyatt said this will encourage more students to live on campus since this style is unique. Unlike dorms, these apartments will have a 12-month lease, allowing students the opportunity to stay on campus during breaks when the dormitories are closed.

In the coming months,

ST. JUDE The event also showed videos featuring stories about children battling at St. Jude, as well as Gamma Beta Phi members sharing their experiences visiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.

Taylor White, a senior

the First Amendment is needed in this country and on campuses, and said he could not imagine a society without it.

“I believe that most good ideas and inventions would not exist without at least some degree of free speech,” Allen said. “If people are not allowed to express opposing views then progress would be halted.”

Allen said he is pleased with the way MSU’s President Mark Keenum promotes freedom of expression.

“Mark Keenum has always addressed peaceful protests on campus with support and given them a voice,” Allen said. “It seems like the administration has made their priority to make our diverse student population feel safe to speak their mind while encouraging involvement.”

CONTINUED FROM 1

Hyatt said there will be opportunities for design charrettes, allowing students to come look at and review potential interior designs and furniture for the residential portion of housing.

However, Hyatt said this development will appeal to more than just students living on campus. This space will attract students, members of the community and local visitors.

A green space between

CONTINUED FROM 1

communication major from Quitman and the president of Gamma Beta Phi, was among the many in attendance. White said the event could not have been more successful.

“We had a really great time, we raised a lot of money for St. Jude,” White said. “We pulled a big crowd, and our silent auction was way better than I could’ve expected.”

In total, Gamma Beta Phi raised over $4,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. As for plans for the remainder of the academic year regarding St. Jude, McCabe said this donation will be made, along with a few other plans.

“We’re going to see if we can start doing a fundraiser to put on the event next year, which would be really awesome,” McCabe said.

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the two main buildings will be a space to hold markets on campus and allow people to socialize or play with their pets. This space includes an amphitheater/stage to hold concerts or events.

Along with the housing and outdoor area, there will be approximately 50,000 square feet of retail space available on the first floors of the two main apartment buildings.

Hyatt said they are unsure which businesses will

PARADE “I hated that what we were going to have to do was go against the entire Board of Aldermen, but I also knew that this was a chance to make a big difference,” McDaniel said.

Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill, ever since the beginning of the issue, has voiced her disappointment of the vote’s outcome, using Twitter as a tool to state her position.

After the BOA meeting, Spruill tweeted, “This was not our finest hour and I am sorry that the message sent was the diminishment of the value of a large group of our most vulnerable and gentle citizenry. It was a parade, not a protest march, but that too could change.”

Spruill said parades are opportunities for groups to show solidarity with one another. Spruill said she participated in a variety of parades and has viewed Pride parades in the past.

“That was one of the things that I chose to run on as a part of what I wanted to do during my elected time here in the city—to have events and parades and things that are special, and that are highlighting a positive feel for the community and engagement in the community,” Spruill said.

Spruill said denying the Pride parade request was a missed opportunity for the city to portray itself as

be housed there, but they are looking for full-service restaurants and the kinds of shopping students would be excited about. Hyatt said she hopes to have updates as the development progresses.

“I expect that students who don’t live in College View will also be absolutely engaged in this area,” Hyatt said. “I can imagine us having outdoor festivals, a markets or a concert out in the grass area and common space.”

CONTINUED FROM 1

inclusive.

“That’s the reason I’m disappointed,” Spruill said.

“I think it was a chance for us to show the diversity and the unity that we have in Starkville, and that it was an unfortunate decision that I wish we could have decided to rescind or that I wish had never been voted on in quite that way.”

The city’s businesses, however, decided they will show the city’s acceptance of the LGBT community.

So far, the Greater Starkville Development Partnership released a statement of support, the Starkville Community Theatre decorated its front windows with rainbow colors and Eat Local Starkville restaurants put up stickers stating, “This business serves everyone.”

Pop Porium owner Rosa Dalomba said she would host a Pride celebration inside her establishment if the organization cannot have a parade.

Spruill said the support shown from the community is encouraging.

“I’m delighted that the businesses are supportive,” Spruill said. “I have long had a ‘We Don’t Discriminate’ sticker in my office, and I’m pleased that there are other businesses around town that have joined in supporting all of our residents in their inclusiveness, and their right to be in our community.”

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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2018 @REFLECTORONLINE

BULLETIN BOARD

An In-Class Distraction

3

BAD DAWGS Friday, Feb. 23, 2018 1:10 a.m. Student reported a damaged lightbulb from the University bridge found in his yard off campus.

3:56 p.m. Student reported via telephone his Yeti cooler was stolen off his truck while parked in lot E9.

8:23 p.m. Student was arrested at MSU Horse Park for public drunkenness and disorderly conduct.

9:27 p.m. Student was having an asthma attack on MSU Horse Park.

Subject transported to OCH by ambulance.

9:59 p.m. Subject was called to his vehicle due to damages found at the MSU Horse Park. Subject reported the damages were previously there.

22:06 p.m. Student reported someone tried to pick the lock to his dorm’s door in McKee Hall.

22:09 p.m. Student was transported to OCH from McKee Hall for chest pains.

Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018 9:39 p.m. Student was arrested in Nunnelee Hall for grand larceny.

Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018 6:38 p.m. Student was having an allergic reaction in Nunnelee Hall.

Subject was transported to OCH by ambulance.

10:29 p.m. Student was issued an arrest citation and referral for possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia in Sessums Hall parking lot.

Notable traffic violations: Justice Court citation issued for expired driver’s license on Hail State Blvd.

Justice Court citation issued for no insurance on Hail State Blvd.

Three Justice Court citations were issued for speeding.

MSU citation issued for disregarding traffic device on Bailey Howell.

Three MSU citations issued for speeding.

MSU citation issued for driving the wrong way on Hurst Lane.

Justice Court citation issued for improper passing on Hail State Blvd.

MSU citation issued for disregard of traffic device on Bailey Howell.

MSU citation issued for disregard of traffic device on Creelman St. MSU citation issued for disregard of traffic device on Herbert St. MSU citation issued for disregard of traffic device on Bailey Howell.

Justice Court citation issued for obstructing traffic on Magruder St. MSU citation issued for disregard of traffic device on Bailey Howell.

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ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY...

... in 1922, in Washington D.C., the Nineteenth Amendment was added to the U.S. Constitution. This amendment providing for female suffrage was unanimously declared constitutional by the eight members of the U.S. Supreme Court. This amendment was the product of over seven decades of meetings, petitions and protests by women suffragists and their supporters. ... in 1827, a group of masked and costumed students danced throughout the streets of New Orleans. This would mark the beginning of the city’s famous Mardi Gras celebrations.

These students were inspired by their experiences while studying abroad in Paris, where Mardi Gras celebrations originated. They then brought this idea back to America.

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Clothes, shoes, jewelry and more. Get warm, gooey cinnamon rolls and hot dogs at concessions.

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OPINION

Americans can benefit from universal basic income STEVEN WEIRICH

is a senior majoring in economics. Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.

Whenever people debate the efficacy of a welfare program, thorny questions about work requirements inevitably arise. How much should people work to receive welfare, or will this program incentivize people to stay out of the labor force? However, recently, there has been steam gathering for a public policy idea which could bypass some of these hurdles.

The policy is called a universal basic income (UBI), and the way it works is pretty straightforward. The government pays out a fixed amount of money to every citizen, without considering their income level or their employment situation. The idea has actually attracted fans from both sides of the political aisle.

As Noah Smith notes for Bloomberg View, groups as ideologically contradictory

as socialists and libertarians have found themselves in agreement on the potential benefits of a UBI. He also discusses how the unconditional nature of the program means working people do not have to worry about subsidizing those not in the labor force, or those searching for work.

This policy also finds itself squarely in the middle of a larger debate about inequality and technological change in America. With plenty of concerns across the political spectrum about displacement of workers due to technological change, a basic income could serve as a way to soften the blow of these transitions. Helping people maintain their standard of living, despite those inevitable changes, should be a goal of all policymakers. A UBI could potentially go a long way to help this become a reality.

Of course, any program like this can sound good in theory, but how does it work in application?

In a recent paper, economists Damon Jones and Ioanna Marinescu studied the effects a version of a basic income had in Alaska, this is called the Alaska Permanent Fund. It was implemented in 1982, and it paid out the basic income by using the revenues

from the large natural resource reserves in the state.

The average payout each year has been around $2,000 per person.

Their research focused on figuring out if the payments caused a decrease Alaska’s employment, but found there was no significant effect on employment across the state. Jones noted if there were any negative effects on employment from the initial payments, they were offset by the increase in consumption from the basic income dividends.

Interestingly though, they did find there to be an increase in the number of part-time hours worked. So, the results seemed to be positive across the board. The authors, of course, made it clear more research should be done to substantiate these findings.

More data from programs similar to the Alaska Permanent Fund are necessary if there is any chance for the UBI to be taken to the national stage. While the findings from the Jones and Marinescu paper seem to indicate a potentially valuable model for a nationwide basic income program, it is important to find other examples of city or state-led programs to analyze.

Recently, the mayor of Stockton, California, Michael

Jennifer McFadden, The Reflector

Tubbs, announced the city would implement a universal basic income experiment.

According to an article by Adam Brinklow in Curbed, the city will provide $500 a month to a selected group of low-income residents. It would not be as expansive as the Alaska Permanent Fund, nor will it be quite as similar to the standard definition of a basic income program.

However, it will definitely provide another opportunity for researchers to evaluate the effectiveness of a variety

of a UBI. Going forward, it will continue to be imperative for researchers to carefully examine any UBI program they can, so the general public can have a clearer idea of the effects.

Personally, I think there is a lot of potential for a UBI to be a more efficient and politically salient way to help all people maintain a certain standard of living.

However, we are a long way from implementing a program like this on a

national scale. There are many out there who think the idea is foolish, and I imagine many who hold public office have this opinion.

Nevertheless, it is my view we should continue to encourage experiments like the one being conducted in Stockton or the permanent fund in Alaska. With sustained hard work and a little luck, we may one day be able to try and implement a UBI at the national level.

It is time for long term gun control Trump promoting only his friends

CHRIS LOWE

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

In the wake of yet another mass shooting, the topic of gun control has become a hot debate again. I for one have always been in favor of a liberal interpretation of the second amendment, as I subscribed to the idea this particular freedom has set us apart from other countries and made us truly capable of defending ourselves from oppression.

However, this decade has started a trend—a fad even—of mass shootings on a scale unheard of in a first world country like the U.S.. To me, the concept of owning certain weapons is trumped by the need to protect our countrymen’s lives and establish a sense of order. This has begun to change my mind on gun control, and while I do not support a general gun ban, I do believe assault weapons have run out their welcome in this country, and gun control in general needs to be tightened.

Aric Jenkins of Time puts it into perspective, “Six of the 10 deadliest mass shootings in the U.S. over the past decade have used an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle.”

This includes the recent Parkland shooting, as well as Las Vegas, Orlando and Sandy Hook. Sure, a person can be easily killed with any kind of firearm, but weapons with the potential to kill dozens in seconds and require next

to no skill to use are just too dangerous to have in circulation with the general populace.

Would enacting a ban on assault weapons stop mass shootings? Of course not.

Like opponents of gun control love to say, there will always be a way for those determined enough to gain possession of one, and even if this is not the case, they might opt for other types of guns instead.

The goal here is not to eliminate shootings entirely though. This would be impossible. Instead, we should focus on reducing them as much as we can, and ban weapons providing no practical use a shotgun, revolver, or normal rifle could not provide is the most obvious first choice to make.

In fact, there is already precedent for this. In 1994, Congress passed a 10-year ban on assault weapons; the Federal Assault Weapons Ban made it unlawful for the manufacture and purchase of certain guns and largecapacity magazines.

Christopher Ingraham from the Washington Post cites the book Rampage Nation by Louis Klarevas in his article when he said, “Compared with the 10year period before the ban, the number of gun massacres during the ban period fell by 37 percent, and the number of people dying from gun massacres fell by 43 percent. But after the ban lapsed in 2004, the numbers shot up again — an astonishing 183 percent increase in massacres and a 239 percent increase in massacre deaths.”

This does not mean the ban is the only reason for the decrease, but it would be hard to argue it did not play a significant role.

For those acting as if a similar ban would have no

effect on mass shootings, I would simply point to the numbers. They do not lie.

To further prevent people from going on killing sprees, there should be a much more involved and regulated process in place when it comes to purchasing guns in general.

While we do have some measures in place such as background checks, they do not adequately assess an individual.

Kate Taylor and Mary Hanbury for Business Insider use the Vegas shooter as an example of this. “All of Paddock’s purchases were completely legal. With no criminal record, Paddock would pass any background check.

Nevada, where Paddock lived, does not impose any waiting period on gun purchases. The state allows anyone who is at least 18 years old to own a firearm and does not limit the number of guns a person can purchase in a single sale,” stated in their article.

Background checks are fine and dandy for keeping Felon Frank out of the gun store, but not everyone who wants to kill others does so with priors. The U.S. needs mental health screenings, waiting periods and rigorous licensing courses if it will ever minimize gun violence within its borders.

Some might feel we are giving away our rights or submitting to some draconian police state by enforcing such laws, and while I understand the reluctance to give up an already won liberty, I would counter by saying the second amendment was not written into the Bill of Rights with AR-15s and mass shootings in mind.

Things need to change, and only by willingly sacrificing for the greater good will ensure that this change comes.

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KRISTINA DOMITROVICH

is a junior majoring in communication.

Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu

It is no secret the Trump Administration is closeknit, and mostly run by President Donald Trump’s friends and family. Trump’s promotional nepotism has hit the headlines once more, as he is pushing for his personal pilot to become the head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

According to the FAA’s website, this administration is responsible for regulating all civil aircraft, developing aircraft control systems for both civil and military aircraft, as well as regulating all the U.S. commercial flights. The FAA has a $16.4 billion dollar budget and handles over 50,000 flights daily.

This is only a brief overview of what the FAA does, but it essentially has its hands in every flight system and the regulation of all types of aircraft. Now, the FAA is also broadening its scope to include drones.

So which under-qualified friend is Trump trying to promote now? John Dunkin, Trump’s longtime personal pilot. Once again, the White House is pushing a message on how qualified Trump’s choice is.

CNN quotes an unknown White House official who told Axios, “John Dunkin isn’t just a pilot.

He’s managed airline and corporate flight departments, certified airlines from start-

up under FAA regulations, and oversaw the Trump presidential campaign’s air fleet, which included managing all aviation transportation for travel to 203 cities in 43 states over the course of 21 months.”

First of all, making sure airlines are certified under FAA regulations and creating better regulations for all airlines are completely different responsibilities.

Additionally, pilots fly planes.

Why does the Administration feel it is important enough to state this on his “resume?”

Saying a pilot flies is not something which should be pointed out.

“So which underqualified friend is Trump trying to promote now? John Dunkin, Trump’s longtime personal pilot.”

We have all heard this Administration back up Trump’s buddies before, so this is nothing new. He originally did this with George Papadopoulos, and we all saw the disastrous trash pile that turned into. Trump and his Administration have a habit of defending their candidates and people, no matter their background or qualifications.

Whether Dunkin proves a worthy candidate or not is a moot point by now, as America has a hard time trusting Trump’s candidates for just this reason. The habit of this Administration pushing Trump’s top picks runs deeper than just his friends, as he has his family

with him in the White House.

Some people may debate whether Trump’s nepotism and playing favorites is a problem, as some barely see this as a problem. The list of why this is wrong is nearly infinite, but Trump’s favorite appointees can essentially show too much allegiance to Trump, who already has too many blind followers from the Republican Party.

The best example of this is his daughter, Ivanka Trump. She was asked in an NBC interview how she feels about Trump’s accusers, and she said, “I think it’s a pretty inappropriate question to ask a daughter if she believes the accusers of her father when he’s affirmatively stated there’s no truth to it.”

If a top White House official cannot weigh in on issues regarding the President’s accusations of sexual misconduct because it is her father and she has too much allegiance to him, she should step down, as she is not serving her position or the people to the best of her ability.

With how seemingly frustrated America is with the president, you would think the Administration would push for a neutral pathway to appease the angry citizens. Instead, Trump keeps shoving his friends and family down the public’s throat, expecting a different, better outcome each time (this is the definition of insanity, by the way).

If Trump and his aids ever want to make a positive difference in America, or at least get their approval rating out of the abysmal percentages it has been, they need to start pushing more middle-of-the-line candidates who are not connected to Trump in any way.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Life Editor/Will Wells

Managing Editor/Kristina Domitrovich News Editor/Josh Beck

to powerful positions is a problem

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LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT

5

Review: A$AP Ferg knows his crowd LINDSAY PACE

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

A$AP Ferg, part of well-known hip-hop ensemble A$AP Mob, performed at Mississippi State University’s Horse Park Friday evening.

The show, hosted by Music Makers Productions, had over 2,300 in attendance, and Ferg managed to mesmerize every one of them.

Holly Beats, a DJ duo from Jackson, preceded Ferg’s performance with a 45-minute set which included a range of catchy, upbeat tunes from the likes of Drake, Kendrick Lamar and Kodak Black.

The duo kept the crowd fully engaged by swiftly transitioning between songs as each melody hit its peak, filling the crowd with energy before Ferg graced the stage.

When he did face his crowd, Ferg did so unannouncedly. Without a warning, he calmly entered center stage while performing “Trap and a Dream,” the first track on his most recent album, “Still Striving.” With lyrics to detail gratitude for his

Lindsay Pace | The Reflector

A$AP Ferg, a member of the hip-hop ensemble A$AP Mob, performed for a crowd of 2,300 at the Mississippi Horse Park Friday evening.

roots, a thematic of his entire performance, “Trap and a Dream” proved the most personal anthem of the night.

After the first song ended, Ferg let the last bass drop resound into silence.

Wordless, he walked to the edge of the stage, observed the people before him and inhaled. From the media pit, I saw a slight smile break

loose and spread gingerly across his face. It was as if he was breathing in the aura of his experience and reserving it for his own self-reflection later.

While he noticed the crowd, the crowd noticed him. There he stood in fullness, a simple man dressed in nothing more than a baby blue windbreaker, a t-shirt and

white sneakers. His t-shirt featured a spray-painted design of A$AP Yams riding a Pegasus, and from his right wrist hung a thin bracelet of tiny silver stars.

He looked as normal as anyone else in attendance, perhaps even more casual than some, and yet he projected a certain glory reserved only for the toptier.

Once he finished thanking the crowd, he delved into “Aww Yeah,” sans Little Yachty who is originally featured on the track. The song features a melody undercurrent which is slowed and softened as if it were placed underwater, making the perfect room for an encore from the crowd. After each line of the chorus, listeners called back ‘aw, yeah’ in confirmation of the “Trap Lord” A$AP Ferg, as he refers to himself in the song.

This confidence and crowd control, however, extended into an expectation of respect.

When the crowd lacked enthusiasm, he challenged them: “Oh, so you are tired, right?” And when the spotlight was not literally on him, he gestured to the tech booth and demanded his deserved recognition.

A$AP knew his crowd, but he also knew his value.

During the last quarter of his show, he performed “Choppers on Deck,” one of the first tracks A$AP released. With a slow, rhythmic sound, he channeled the vibe of R&B artists like Nelly, and it was here he paid respect

to supports that knew him pre-Nicki-Minaj-remixes and Fader articles.

“If you know this song,” A$AP Ferg said, “then you know me.”

This gratitude for his day-one followers, for his career, for his crowd flowed through every transition, empty space or pause. He connected with the audience by making it his joy to see them and his pleasure to stand before them, not vice versa. By humbling himself to their level, he deftly garnered their enthusiasm and trust, and this shared human experience sets him above so many other artists of his genre. He holds onto to his humanness while fully acknowledging he is one of this generation’s most valued trap artists.

So, in the fashion of gratefulness, he gave one more sincere thank you to Mississippi State University. Before riling up the crowd with “Plain Jane,” the most anticipated song of the night, he said, “I love each and every one of y’all. You showed up to my art show, and I love you for that. You’re my family.

Until next time -- peace, love and A$AP.”

The Magnolia Independent Film Festival returns this weekend

SHELBY POINDEXTER

STAFF WRITER

Hollywood Premier Cinemas will host the 21st annual Magnolia Independent Film Festival from 7 to 10 p.m. March 1 through 3 with a Saturday matinee from 1 to 4 p.m.

Student tickets are available for $5 for each screening, or for $15 for an all-festival pass. General admission tickets are $10 per screening, $30 for an all-festival pass or $40 for a VIP pass.

The MAG was the first independent film festival in Mississippi and the oldest in the state of its kind. It was started in 1997 by Ron Tibbett and is the only film festival in the Golden Triangle Area.

Angella Baker, director of the film festival, said this year is the biggest MAG she has directed.

“We have a record number of filmmakers

coming in,” Baker said.

“Our submissions increased from 117 to 170.

We are gaining state and national attention. People know who we are, and it is great.”

Work on this year’s film festival began in June of last year. There will be 29 films screened this year, 20 of which made by filmmakers who will attend, including one Canadian filmmaker.

Seven of the filmmakers attending had films at the festival in previous years.

Charlotte Magnussen, board and founding member of the MAG, said she is excited about the number of entries and quality of the films this year.

“I always look forward to meeting new and old filmmakers, and take pleasure in helping to bring independent film to this area,” Magnussen said.

Magnussen said she has participated in the MAG since its begining in 1997

when her husband, Ron Tibbett, started the festival.

She took over running the festival in 2005, when Tibbett passed away. After three years, she turned the festival over to the Starkville Arts Council.

Michael Williams, executive board member, said this year, the board has worked hard to make the festival better for both filmmakers and audiences, while keeping the spirit and personality of the festival true to its legacy.

“I’ve attended the festival as a filmmaker from 2007 to 2017 having at least one film in each of those years,” Williams said. “Each year retains the qualities festival alumni love, while continuing to make the festival a memorable and inspiring experience. This year, I am very excited to see the films and spend time with their creators. The MAG always has a wide variety of films, and the festival gives you a

Magnolia Independent FILM FESTIVAL Jennifer McFadden, The Reflector

prime opportunity to get to know the people behind them.”

There are various activities people can participate in beyond seeing the films. There

will be social functions to attend, where people can interact with the visiting filmmakers, and redcarpet events on Friday and Saturday night. People can also attend a panel on

filmmaking by an awardwinning filmmaker, and a Q&A after each screening session where members of the audience can ask the attending filmmakers questions about their films.

Review: the Vagina Monologues are modernized for 2018

EMMA MOFFETT

STAFF WRITER

Friday night, the Gender Studies Department at Mississippi State University hosted their annual rendition of the Vagina Monologues. Their efforts raised $407 in donations for the Starkville domestic violence shelter.

The MSU rendition of the Vagina Monologues featured Eve Ensler’s 2002 Vagina Monologues, in addition to pieces discussing current issues.

One new addition addressed violence against the transgender community, which created a more inclusive tone around the performance and made relevance to a work over a decade old.

The inclusion of a monologue on abuses related to the #metoo movement was also important, and connected past to present day issues.

Despite a few big changes being made to the performance, a controversial piece promoting a relationship between an underage girl and an adult woman was still included. The purpose of the piece is to positively

display relationships between women, but the age gap makes the monologue very problematic.

While many of the monologues focused on exposing the sexual abuse against women, this piece came across more as a predatory relationship, rather than something romantic.

Were the tables turned and a 16-year-old girl explored her body with an adult man, the relationship depicted would have been seen as manipulative and abusive.

In regards to the performances themselves, there were heart-wrenching and emotional monologues given throughout the night. Unfortunately, some of the most powerful monologues from the original performance fell flat and were delivered in a somewhat apathetic manner.

One monologue, in particular, lacked the emotion and passion which brought me to tears in the original. The performer blankly read off of a piece of paper as she described the desecration of her body and mutilation of her genitalia. The horrific experience of this woman was not given the justice it

deserved and was stripped of all empathy.

In contrast, one performer whose monologue detailed the anger of vaginas was overflowing with power and rage as she took the stage.

The performer put her self completely into the piece, and the words not only spoke for one woman but for all women.

The power projected from this monologue radiated throughout the auditorium and sent chills through the air.

Laughter spread throughout the audience, as another performer reenacted a variety of orgasms and her experiences with making women moan. By the end of her monologue, this performer had fallen to the ground in order to capture the character she was playing. Even the other performers on stage could not stop from laughing, having to compose themselves before the next piece.

It was performances like these that redeemed the rendition of the Vagina Monologues and created an empowering atmosphere.

Yet, the performances where the women did not

even bother to memorize their lines was insulting to the Enseler and the women who the monologues were based on. The stories told were personal, intimate and sacred, so watching them be butchered was beyond insulting.

These stories need

to continue to be shared with the world and become a part of normal conversation, but they also need to be told by people who can accurately express the importance and depth of these topics.

While it is amazing the university provides

a platform for the topics included in the Vagina Monologues, it is important for people who are performing and listening to these pieces to not become numb to the content and understand the gravity of these horrific circumstances.

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SPORTS

Introduced to golf by his father, Pichaikool excels at MSU HUNTER CLOUD STAFF WRITER

The game of golf has been around since its invention in Scotland in the 1400’s, and Peng Pichaikool, a sophomore golfer from Bangkok, Thailand, said he was introduced to the centuries-old game by his father, like many other golfers.

“My dad playing golf, he played professional golf before,” Pichaikool said. “When I was young, I would usually go along with him. Then he would have practice and I would go watch him. Every time I would have a chance to play golf with my dad, I would go.”

Pichaikool said he played with his dad two or three times a week. One memory stuck out when thinking about playing golf with his father.

“We would play a lot of tournaments with professionals and amateurs pairing up together,” Pichaikool said. “There is a tournament in Thailand, and we came in second as a team, me and my dad, it was just a fun moment.

It was one of my favorite memories.”

Growing up in Thailand is very similar on an academic level as the U.S.; Pichaikool went to elementary, middle and high school before attending

Courtesy Photo | MSU Communications

Peng Pichaikool, a sophomore from Bangkok, Thailand, was introduced to golf by his dad. He decided to come to America and play golf at MSU.

Bromsgrove International school in Thailand. The school was a challenge for Pichaikool, as the school taught in English, his second language.

“That school, it was one of the most academically in Thailand,” Pichaikool said. “I had a rough time there, I had to do a lot of school work. School was so tough compared to here.

Everything is in English, too, which is my second language.”

Pichaikool is also able to have a taste of home in Starkville, as his favorite restaurant is Thai Siam.

While choosing a favorite

restaurant in Starkville is a tough choice, he said it is very similar to the Thai food at home.

past, he said the southern states were kind of a culture shock at first, but once he got used to it, he was fine.

“He is very physically gifted, he hits it long and straight and he is able to control his golf ball.”

-Dusty Smith, MSU men’s golf head coach “I know the owner, so I just talked to her and she made a lot of Thai flavors and that was great for me,” Pichaikool said.

Although Pichaikool traveled to America in the

He said his friend who played golf at MSU played a big part in his choosing MSU as well as former head coach Clay Homan giving him the opportunity to play golf for MSU.

Men’s basketball holds to big overtime win MELISSA WEITZEL STAFF WRITER

In a must-win game to make the NCAA Tournament, Mississippi State University men’s basketball (21-8, 9-7 SEC) won a 72-68 overtime battle against the University of South Carolina Gamecocks (15-14, 6-10) Saturday afternoon.

The win gave MSU the season sweep over South Carolina and the Bulldogs’ first sweep of a team this season.

MSU scored first, but could not get anything going offensively for most of the first half. South Carolina went on an 11-point run over five minutes and even after MSU scored again, it took another four minutes to get another basket.

The Gamecocks had their largest lead of the game with six minutes left in the half, leading by 13, but the Bulldogs’ defense is what kept them in the game. Redshirt freshman forward Abdul Ado had two massive blocks and

Erin Parker | The Reflector

Nick Weatherspoon, from Canton, shoots a free throw in MSUʼs 72-68 win on Saturday.

South Carolina turned the ball over eight times. MSU cut the lead to four with 2:30 left in the half, but within the last 2:30, South Carolina widened the lead again, and MSU went into the locker room trailing by seven.

When the second half began, it looked like more of the same for the Bulldogs.

They were unable to capitalize on the defensive stops they got early in the half, but with 10 minutes left in the game junior guard Quinndary Weatherspoon got a steal and cut South Carolina’s lead to three. Three minutes later, a South Carolina turnover allowed freshman guard Nick Weatherspoon to shoot a three and put MSU up 49-47.

South Carolina head coach Frank Martin acknowledged his team’s second-half

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offensive woes after the game.

“That’s been our downfall all year,” Martin said. “Our inability to be consistently good on offense,” After the Bulldogs secured the lead, they never trailed again. MSU took advantage of the momentum shift, but South Carolina battled back to tie the game 62-62 on a last second 3-point buzzer beater from South Carolina Guard Hassani Gravett at the end of regulation.

The Bulldogs did not let up in overtime and was able to maintain their lead, though several mistakes. Ultimately, MSU was able to come out with the win despite the close game at the end.

The physicality of this game was striking, South Carolina is known for their physical defense, and at times it got the better of the Bulldogs.

“South Carolina was the more physical team, hands down, anyone could see that,”

sophomore guard Lamar Peters said.

While Peters led the team in scoring and assists, with 19 points and five assists, it was sophomore guard Eli Wright’s eight points, one assist, and 14 minutes that made Howland call him the player of the game.

While Wright’s stats may not look impressive, Howland cited his impact on the game as the most important of any player.

This game was hugely important for MSU’s chances of going to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2009. While the Bulldog’s chances of getting in are currently slim, it is widely believed they will need to finish the rest of the season on a win streak and make a splash in the SEC tournament to have a chance.

However, Howland and his players disagreed on how much attention they paid to the stakes.

“For two weeks now, we’ve been focused on going to the tournament for two weeks straight,” Peters said.

Howland said he is focused on next Tuesday when MSU takes on Tennessee in Starkville, “everything is about Tuesday,” Howland said.

MSU next plays the University of Tennessee (21-7, 11-5 SEC), who sits in second place in the conference, at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Starkville.

The SEC Network will televise it and WatchESPN will stream it. Admission is free for students. It is a must win for MSU to get into the tournament.

“One of my friends played here, and he graduated in 2014 and referred me to coach. So I had the opportunity to talk to former coach Homan,” Pichaikool said. “He offered me a good scholarship, I saw the city, and I saw the school, it was just not a tough decision to make.”

Homan retired after Pichaikool’s first season at MSU. When athletic director John Cohen hired now head coach Dusty Smith, who took over in May 2017, Smith said he was lucky to get Pichaikool.

With Pichaikool being fifth in the Arnold Palmer Cup rankings from this fall, and having finished in 12th place in a pro tournament in Thailand this winter, it is easy to see why Smith feels lucky to have him.

“The most important thing is that he has a lot of self-belief in himself,” Smith said. “Golf is a lot about having confidence within yourself. That is probably his number one attribute is, he is very confident and he believes in himself in what he is doing.”

As the legend Arnold Palmer once said, golf is very dependent on the mental side of the game, success in the sport is dependent more on the strength of the mind than the strength of the body. It helps to be strong in both areas which Smith

said Pichaikool is.

“He is very physically gifted, he hits it long and straight and he is able to control his golf ball,” Smith said. “When he does get a bit off with his ball striking he has one of the best short games that I have ever seen.

So he is tough mentally but he also has the physical piece, and he has a lot of self-belief.”

As far as expectations go, Smith believes every player should be better today than they were yesterday, and Pichaikool is no exception.

“When he tees it up, he has played so many good rounds for us, I almost expect him to play well every time,” Smith said. “I’m a huge process-oriented coach, I know he has very high goals for himself.”

Pichaikool has placed in the top 10 three times and top five twice in the five tournaments the team has competed in this year.

Smith said Pichaikool has the ability to become the best golfer in the country, but this will only come with a certain mindset.

“The right mindset for us is doing our job every single day, and getting a little bit better each and every day,” Smith said. “Not worrying about external factors or getting too far ahead of ourselves. We just have to take one step at a time.”

Alyana Stevens | The Reflector

Seniors Victoria Vivians, Morgan William, Roshunda Johnson and Blair Schaefer hold their plaques they were given. They went on to beat Kentucky to go 30-0 on Sunday afternoon.

MSU honors their four seniors, completes perfect regular season TAYLOR RAYBURN SPORTS EDITOR

Mississippi State University’s women’s basketball honored four seniors before No. 2 MSU’s 82-61 win over Auburn University last Thursday and then led their team to a perfect 30-0 season after beating the University of Kentucky.

After playing in front of a large crowd gathered for senior night, head coach Vic Schaefer said his four seniors deserve every person who showed up this season. The seniors are Victoria Vivians, Morgan William, Roshunda Johnson and Blair Schaefer.

“That is purely a celebration for these four, they deserve it,” Schaefer said.

The crowd of 9,474 helped break MSU’s season total attendance record.

113,814 showed up to watch the Bulldogs this season.

Because of this, Schaefer said he would donate $10,000 to the Boys and Girls Club.

“I was glad to do it, twofold. One, I just wanted it for this team in particular, for these seniors I felt like they deserved four straight sellouts, four packed houses, and the easy thing was to support such a great organization,” Vic Schaefer said.

The seniors would go on to lead their team over the Kentucky on Sunday.

Their 85-63 victory gives them a perfect 30-0 regular season and a 16-0 record in conference play. They are the first perfect team in the SEC since the University of Tennessee accomplished it in the 1997-98 season.

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