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life | 6 125th YEAR | ISSUE 35 @REFLECTORONLINE f /REFLECTORONLINE

FEBRUARY 18, 2014

TUESDAY

REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM

Seasoned chemistry professor dies Wednesday

BY KRISTEN SPINK Managing Editor

William “Bill” Henry, Mississippi State University associate professor of chemistry for 26 years, passed away Wednesday after being diagnosed with cancer in the fall.

Greg Dunaway, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said Henry was friendly and per-

sonable and loved MSU sports.

“He was a great person. He was extremely supportive of his students. He was an excellent classroom teacher and worked closely with the honors program,” Dunaway said.

“The students really liked him.

I was at his service this past weekend, and it was filled with students — both graduate and undergraduate students, as well

as numerous international students. He was a really special professor, and we are going to miss him a lot.”

Henry completed his doctoral work at the University of Nebraska and his post-doctoral research at Dartmouth College and Wayne State University.

His wife, Jacqueline “Jackie” Edwards-Henry, also works at MSU as a music professor.

Memorial donations for Henry can be made to the MSU Chemistry Department, St. Joseph Cath- Henry olic Church of Starkville or Hannah and Friends nonprofit organization.

MSU dean’s office provides financial help for students through relief fund

BY PRANAAV JADHAV

fairs, Dean of Students’ Office, MSU Foundation, the Athletic Department and the The dean’s office at Missis- SA. “I absolutely support the sippi State University administers a student relief fund MSU Student Relief Fund. for students in crisis to help First off, I am a firm believer in a strong them achieve partnership. their educational It shows uniand career goals We hope ty across our when they need that campus,” it most.

Camp said.

Thomas Bourstudent “Thankfully, geois, MSU dean groups we don’t have of students, said to tap into MSU is such a looking for this fund very special place, fundraising often. Howand this fund is opportunities ever, it is great another way the on campus will knowing that university and its we have this supporters step remember the in place for up to help stu- student relief when and if a dents in times of fund. There is no disaster hapcrisis. overhead. Onepens. When “We hope a local apartthat student hundred percent ment comgroups looking of money donated plex caught for fundraising goes directly to fire a few opportunities on students.” years back, campus will remember the stu- -Thomas Bourgeois, this fund was made availdent relief fund. MSU dean of able to those There is no over- students student vichead. One-huntims. I know dred percent of it would serve money donated goes directly to students,” as a sign of relief if I personally found myself in such a Bourgeois said.

Tyler Camp, chief admin- predicament.”

Bourgeois said these funds istrative officer of the MSU Student Association, said this are held by the MSU Foundafund allows for a collaboration tion and administered by the of the Division of Student Af- dean’s office.

Staff Writer

PRANAAV JADHAV | THE REFLECTOR

MSU Dining Services announced Perry Cafeteria was closed due to hot water outages at 10:30 a.m. Monday. The cafeteria reopened at 12:30 p.m. Dining Services encouraged students who eat at Perry Cafeteria daily to use their meal plans elsewhere.

Perry Cafeteria closing inconveniences students

BY PRANAAV JADHAV Staff Writer

At 10:30 a.m. Monday, Mississippi State University announced that Perry Cafeteria was closed due to a water

heater malfunction that lasted two hours. Students were encouraged to use other dining options on campus.

Pulkit Vigg, MSU Dining Services director of operations, said the water heater at

the basement of Perry Cafeteria is essential to the running of the cafeteria.

“The reason it is closed is that there is no hot water for hand-washing and no hot water for dish washing, and we

want to serve safe food,” Vigg said.

Sid Salter, MSU chief communications officer, said officials addressed the issue quickly so the cafeteria could be opened.

SEE CAFETERIA, 3

Assistant News Editor

Dan Rather, CBS Evening News anchor from 19812005, will move his nightly news desk to Mississippi State University Tuesday.

Rather will present his “Leadership Principles from the World’s Most Powerful Leaders” speech at 7 p.m. in the Colvard Student Union Foster Ballroom as part of the Student Association’s Global Lecture series.

According to a Mississippi State University news release, he will talk for 45 minutes,

and then he will take questions from the audience.

Annaleigh Coleman, Student Association assistant director of speakers and sophomore biomedical engineering major, said she thinks he will mainly talk about his new book “Rather Outspoken: My Life in the News.”

“I thought it was interesting because he has covered everything from the Kennedy assassination to 9/11. I feel like he has insight into every major event, whether it is a milestone in the United States, because he has been there and reported on it first-hand at the scene,” Coleman said.

ANNALEIGH COLEMAN | COURTESY PHOTO

CBS Evening News anchor Dan Rather presents his lecture Tuesday as part of MSU’s Global Lecture series. The renowned journalist, who has had a global impact on the world of news, will speak about his book, “Rather Outspoken: My Life in the News.”

SEE RATHER, 2

READER’S GUIDE BAD DAWGS OPINION CONTACT INFO BULLETIN BOARD

3 4 4 5

CROSSWORD CLASSIFIEDS LIFE SPORTS

Biochemistry Club hosts Lab Olympics

BY LACRETIA WIMBLEY Staff Writer

Dan Rather to speak Tuesday in Global Lecture series

BY MARY KATE MCGOWAN

SEE RELIEF, 3

5 5 6 8

POLICY

ANY PERSON MAY PICK UP A SINGLE COPY OF THE REFLECTOR FOR FREE. ADDITIONAL COPIES MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE MEYER STUDENT MEDIA CENTER FOR 25 CENTS PER COPY.

With their lab coats on and goggles in place, members of Mississippi State University’s Biochemistry Club sponsor their first Lab Olympics at 6 p.m. Tuesday in room 221 of Dorman Hall.

Amber Kay, president of the Biochemistry Club, said the Lab Olympics strive to push new members to become engaged and to promote science as a discipline.

“We would like to teach every participant something new about science with our trivia questions that will be at all four stations of the event. We are also using Lab Olympics as a way to get our club name spread throughout campus,” Kay said.

According to Kay, the Lab Olympics will consist of four stations that include lab safety, general biology, microbiology and biochemistry. Each station will allow the teams of three to perform an assigned

task, such as filling pipette boxes and answering trivia questions.

“The key to it all is that it is a race, and each team will be timed. The team with the fastest time will receive a certificate and a free T-shirt,” Kay said. “We hope to reach any student in any science discipline, and we just want people to come out and have an awesome time with free pizza and refreshments.”

Emily Ousterhout, vice president of the Biochemistry Club, said biochemistry explains the chemical processes within a cell along with the merging of chemical and biological processes.

“The Lab Olympics will put to practice the themes of biochemistry,” Ousterhout said. “We are very excited and have been planning this since August.”

Kay said the science, biology, microbiology and biochemistry departments at MSU have assisted in helping prepare for the Lab Olympics.

SEE LAB, 2

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

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NEWS

2 | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014

THE REFLECTOR

“Othello” brings interaction to Lyceum Series

continued from 1

LABOLYMPICS Tuesday, February 18th 6pm | Dorman 221

Team of 3: $5

(pay at the event)

Register by February 10th

For registration email us: bchclubmsstate@gmail.com

d s B e In

Sponsored by

MSU Biochemistry Club

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(Please include your team name and team members with their Net ID’s)

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cause it is an exciting opportunity to learn.

“You learn a lot from other people’s experiences.

Obviously, most of us aren’t going to be able to travel and see as much as he has reporting news,” Turner said.

“So rather than just reading something in a book or a professor telling you something, that’s someone you’ve seen around the world that you can live your experiences through his stories. I think it makes it very interesting. I hope other students will enjoy that too.”

Both Turner and Coleman said their goal for the Global Lecture Series was to find a well-known speaker who has a global impact. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke during last year’s Global Lecture Series.

They believe Raher has this global impact.

“Having a former evening anchor from one of the ‘big three’ networks speak on our campus is a unique opportunity for students and others,” Forde said. “He was also a correspondent throughout the world for many years and has seen so many pivotal points in history. I would strongly recommend anyone interested in broadcasting or history to attend.”

Admission is free but tickets are required to attend.

Tickets can be picked up in the SA Office in Suite 314 in the Colvard Student Union.

thinks the play can help stduents. She said the play is full of wonderful characters but one of her favorites is Evil Iago.

In addition to the American Shakespeare Center’s performance of “Othello,” the Lyceum Series will provide workshops earlier that day, one of which will include a combat workshop so students can learn how to stage fight. The following week after “Othello,” the Lyceum Series brings in the Koresh Dance Company, which will also perform in Bettersworth Auditorium.

For more information regarding the workshops those interested can contact Treptow at 325-2930 or at565@ msstate.edu. All Lyceum Series events for MSU students are free of charge and all are encouraged to attend.

LAB

Ma

Coleman said she thinks our students and others to Rather is a good example of learn directly from a leader someone who has succeeded in his field,” Forde said in an email. in his field.

Nash Turn“I just feel er, SA direclike he is like a I would tor of speakers figurehead for like to see and junior poanybody who a kind litical science wants to be a major, said he news anchor or of more hopes people anything like personal connect with that,” she said.

Rather and the C o l e m a n perspective from said the event him so he can reach news.

“I would has received to students. We like to see a support from watch the news, kind of more several depersonal perpartments on and especially him spective from campus in- as a global news him so he cluding the anchor, it is a very can reach to D e p a r t m e n t broad spectrum. students. We of Communiwatch the cation and the Here, we are in news, and esDepartment of our own town, so pecially him Political Sci- I would like him to as a global ence and Pub- reach to students news anchor, lic Administraand show them that it is a very tion. broad specJohn Forde, everything they do trum,” Turner Department of is affected by what said. “Here, C o m m u n i c a - is going on around we are in our tion head and own town, so associate pro- the world and how I would like fessor, said he they also affect it.” him to reach hopes Rather -Nash Turner, to students will tell many SA director of and show interesting stothem that evries about the speakers erything they history he has do is affected covered in the by what is going on around news.

“I think having such a the world and how they also well-known journalist and affect it. It’s more personal news anchor as Dan Rath- than they think it is.”

Turner also said he hopes er appear on campus will be a great opportunity for people attend the lecture be-

continued from 1

what we value.”

Donna Clevinger, communication professor and theater director and a previous director and actor in “Othello,” said college students can learn many important lessons from Shakespeare’s play.

“It has all kinds of lessons about relationships, honesty, jealousy and how to treat your fellow man,” Clevinger said.

Clevinger said Shakespeare’s tragedies, comedies and historical plays are incredible and provide a plethora of information.

“Shakespeare is a timeless writer — that is why we still do Shakespeare today on stage and have classes that teach Shakespeare,” she said.

Clevinger said she encourages students to attend “Othello” because she

o d s B e In Y

ur

RATHER

sure and new experiences to mixed among the crowd, Starkville. and they invite people up Tr e p t o w on stage.” said seeing The interacothers’ reaction provides The great tions to the thing that I the audience productions with an inlove about has been her teractive and the acting favorite part different expeof working company is that rience. with the se- they present it in “The main ries, which goal of the she has been an Elizabethan Lyceum Series affiliated with style. They interact is to keep the for the last with and are mixed arts alive, imtwo and a half among the crowd, portant and years. relevant in “The great and they invite people’s lives,” thing that I people up to the Treptow said. love about the stage.”

“Everything is acting com- -Amelia Treptow, so accessible pany is that these days with they present Lyceum Series music and othit in an Eliza- director er things, so bethan style,” keeping people she said. in touch with “They interact with and are the performing arts aspect is

Fa v or

Mississippi State University’s Lyceum Series will host Shakespeare’s “Othello” Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

The production will take place in Bettersworth Auditorium located in Lee Hall.

Each year the Lyceum Series Committee chooses what shows will be performed and reviews works from a variety of performers and groups. Many of the groups send CDs and video excerpts, which help in decision-making. Student representation is also an important component for deciding.

Stephen Cunetto, member of the Lyceum Series Committee, said the MSU campus is fortunate to have the series.

“One of the unique things about the program is bringing quality entertainment and cultural events to the campus that faculty and students can experience,” Cunetto said. “The series offers a wide variety of music, such as jazz and brass, and also gives the students exposure to theatrical production and dance.”

Cunetto said the library tries to make sure each of these art forms are covered in each year’s series. Cunetto said his strong theater background and current involvement in theater influences his membership with the Lyceum Series.

Ameila Treptow, Lyceum Series director, said the series brings in touring groups from all over the country and some international groups, which brings expo-

ur

BY REED GADDIS Contributing Writer

AMBER KAY | COURTESY GRAPHIC

The Biochemistry Club is hosting the Lab Olympics to increase the club’s visibility.

The event will focus on lab safety, general biology, microbiology and biochemistry.

“We have primarily been working with the biochemistry department, but the microbiology department has donated us microscopes, lab coats, lab safety gear and blood cell smears,” Kay said.

Perceus Mody, medical technology senior and secretary of the BiochemistryClub, said this year’s Lab Olympics originated from the desire to produce something fun and lab-work oriented.

“You typically see labs

centered around serious lab people who are strictly focused on their work, but this is a way to get students to work together or either don’t work in labs to come together and have fun,” Mody said.

Mody said the event also promotes graduate and undergraduate research on campus, because MSU is a highly-merited research university.

“So far we have seven teams that have signed up,

which means 21 people,” Mody said. “I expected more, and we were hoping for about 15 to 20 teams to sign up, but this is our first time sponsoring this event, so we didn’t really know what to expect.”

Mody said the club plans to make the Lab Olympics an annual event to be produced every spring.

Individuals still have a chance to register for the Olympics up to the time of the event.

ZACK ORSBORN | THE REFLECTOR

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014 | 3

NEWS

REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM

Friday, Feb. 14 • 7:14 a.m. A duffle bag belonging to the rugby team was found on Stone Boulevard. The bag was taken to the Sanderson Center.

• 2:16 p.m. An employee reported finding a chemical that is no longer being used anymore in the Bedenbaugh Animal Lab. • 8:45 p.m. An employee reported losing his wedding ring. It was last seen in the Sanderson Center.

Saturday, Feb. 15 • 8:56 a.m. A visitor reported a male subject urinating in public on Miss. Highway 12 off of the ramp. A student referral was issued.

• 5:27 p.m. A student reported his iPhone stolen from Cresswell Hall. The phone was later found. A student referral was issued.

Sunday, Feb. 16 EMMA KATHERINE HUTTO | THE REFLECTOR

VOTE ANYTHING 2014

| Students gathered outside the Colvard Student Union Thursday to hear outgo-

ing SA President Michael Hogan announce the 2014-2015 SA executive council. (Pictured from left to right) Lauren Sledge, secretary; Brett Harris, president; Haley Grantham, vice president; Chance Dye, treasurer and Matt DeBerry, attorney general. The new exec will take effect on March 18.

CAFETERIA

“State health codes require the availability of hot water in the safe operation of a cafeteria, so the facility was closed by the university until a replacement water heater could be procured from another campus location.

We’re hopeful that Perry will be reopened within the hour,” Salter said.

The Perry Cafeteria resumed operations at 12:30 p.m. on Monday.

Courtney Bryant, Aramark Marketing Manager at MSU said the dining services along

with MSU Facilities Maintenance conduct preventative maintenance on all equipment to ensure smooth operations.

“The hot water heater has been replaced and is now working well, the primary responsibility of maintaining HVAC equipment lies with Facilities Management. In the case of a breakdown, our protocol is to contact Facilities Management to rectify the situation in a timely manner. The first measure taken was the decision to shut down Perry so that no

RELIEF “This student relief fund was top in their priorities. created by generous donors after “If a student is ever in need of Hurricane Katrina assistance due to help students in to a tragedy or I am so crisis,” Bourgeois disaster, they are glad that said. always welcome Bill Broyles, assisto contact our ofwe have tant vice president this needy fice. We are confor student affairs at stantly on standMSU, said he is es- student fund. The by ready to help,” pecially thankful to funds that have Camp said. the donors who have been donated Broyles said provided these funds to the MSU this is just an exto help students in ample of what their times of need. Foundation to help makes MSU such “I am so glad needy students give a special place. that we have this us a way to help our Lauren Sledge, needy student fund. students achieve SA secretary-elect The funds that have ,said duing her been donated to their educational time at State the MSU Founda- and career goals she has become tion to help needy when they need it keenly aware that students give us a many of the stumost.” way to help our students do not even dents achieve their -Bill Broyles, know the Stueducational and assistant VP for dent Relief Fund career goals when student affairs exists, much less they need it most,” how to apply for Broyles said. aid.

Camp said this year’s SA ad“As the new secretary, I want ministration worked diligently to to raise awareness for the Student make sure the students’ needs were Relief Fund by having a Student

continued from 1 unsafe food was served to our customers. The customer is our first focus, and we felt that this was the most responsible call in this situation,” Bryant said.

“We then proceeded into our communication plan, which involved informing the campus community via email, the MSU homepage, the MSU Dining homepage and social media.”

Bryant said there were team members at the front doors of Perry to explain the issues to the students and field any questions about other dining options that

they may have.

“Our team is prepared for any happening that may occur and moves forward in any situation, always keeping the customer’s safety at the forefront of our decision-making process,” Bryant said.

Brand Hanson, civil engineering major who said he eats at the Perry Cafeteria every day, said the closing was inconvenient for him, even considering the option of going to the union.

• 12:53 a.m. A resident of the city was arrested on Hardy Road for driving under the influence.

• 9:35 a.m. A student reported her back passenger window had been broken while parked in the Rice Hall parking lot.

• 7:59 p.m. A student was arrested on President’s Circle for disregarding a traffic device and possession of marijuana in the vehicle.

Citations:

• 29 citations were issued for speeding.

• 16 citations were issued for disregard of a traffic device.

• 1 citation was issued for not having a tag.

“I’ll go to the union if I have to, but I would rather eat a buffet and be able to sit down because I don’t have a class until 1,” Hanson said.

Tyler Mefford, freshman physics major who said he eats at the Perry Cafeteria daily as well, said he prefers the Perry to a crowded area like the union and believes a Maroon Alert should have been sent to notify

students of the closing.

“I just feel like if they were going to close they should have sent a Maroon Alert or some kind of a message, so I wouldn’t have to walk half a mile to come eat,” Mefford said.

MSU Dining Services gave an option of using the block meals at Templeton and McArthur Café during the time of the closure of Perry Cafeteria.

continued from 1 Relief Fund Awareness Day to educate students and community members on what the relief fund does. I also want to educate people on how to donate to the fund and how to apply for aid if needed,” Sledge said.

Broyles said this fund shows the spirt of state.

“The generous donations from many, many members of the MSU family are a testament to how much we all care for each other,” Broyles said.

For more information on the student relief fund, those interested can call 325-3611 or visit the dean’s office.

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OPINION

4 | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014

OPINION EDITOR: ALIE DALEE | opinion@reflector.msstate.edu YOU CAN CALL ME AL

THE REFLECTOR

EXPRESS YOUR VOICE AT REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM

LIVING BY MY WITS

Deconstructing racial binary: Public opinion remains chilly toward Sochi Olympics Re-thinking Black History Month T

F

ebruary is ripe with holidays that provide opportunities for sarcasm (Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day), yet another commemorative holiday often draws critical commentary as the groundhog peeks its head out: Black History Month.

To begin, the time to think of America as a nation existing squarely amidst the black/white binary is over. An “us v. them” mentality has never been constructive Daniel Hart is the life editor and oversimplifies the complexities of The Reflector. He can be of race and race relations. contacted at life@reflector.

The reason Black History Month msstate.edu. exists is not to incite some sort of race war or to dredge up feelings U.S. and that race truly holds no of guilt for any particular party weight. Yet, the system of Ameri(remember, the black/white bina- can government, politics, society ry need not apply in the present and economics does not exclude unless we choose to see the world race’s importance. The institutions and structures that create America through that false lens).

Instead, Black History Month in 2014 do not intrinsically give retells again and again a story that all U.S. citizens the same opportureveals some of the deepest disgusts nities. Statistics on the current raand explosive triumphs of human cial wage gap, racially-determined spirit. Black History Month cele- real estate value and the location brates the blood, sweat, tears and of nearly all municipal garbage lives that many Americans of all dumps in minority neighborhoods races and ethnicities gave to fight run rampant, just to name a few.

Americans — who live in one for the most basic kernel of human life: human equality. All people de- of the most affluent countries on serve equal rights, and 50 years ago Earth — should not put their foot down over the bold, courageous supposed fairness Americans fought or unfairness of a a peace-seeking Black month celebrating war against perHistory and commemovasive, devastatMonth rating the history ing injustice. celebrates of intelligent, inAfrican-Amerfluential and deepicans gained the blood, sweat, complete legal, tears and lives that ly sacrificial men and women like social and ecoRosa Parks, Marnomic equality many Americans tin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s after of all races and and W.E.B. Duhundreds of years ethnicities gave to Bouis. Nor should (approximately fight for the most Americans bare 200 years in the their teeth over a U.S. alone) of basic kernel of month celebrating prejudice, racism human life.” a particular racial and psychologigroup, no matter cally, emotionally and physically destructive enslave- one’s own race.

What matters is that we love ment. Any U.S. citizen who questions Black History Month should those who served our nation in the first consider that the March on past and present. What matters is Washington for Jobs and Freedom that we shut down focuses on difcelebrated its 50th anniversary in ferences. What matters is that we August 2013. Fifty years of legal look our heritage in the face and equality stands minutely next to tell it that, yes, we understand 200 years of racism in America where we’ve been — the places (not to speak of hundreds and both disgusting and proud — and hundreds of years of slavery under we look to where we go in the Europeans before America’s for- future. We look with clear-eyed, full-hearted clarity on the present mation in the 18th century.)

Black History Month also draws state of race relations in the U.S. attention to the current plight of We have a responsibility to look at racial minority groups in the U.S. both Black History Month and the — specifically African-Americans current state of America without — and not only the past strug- unfair, inaccurate preconceptions.

Here’s to compassion before gles these groups experienced. To believe American society exists in anger. Here’s to selflessness before a post-racial, colorblind world is selfishness. Here’s to apology beto look at the world with blind- fore guilt and grace before guilt. ers on. Colorblindness assumes And here’s to love for our fellow that all races and ethnicities begin humans before all else, regardless at the same starting line in the of race, history or the month.

DANIEL HART

he 2014 Winter Olympics is the first Olympic Games to be held in Russia since the breakup of the USSR in 1991. That being said, one would think that — as with any Olympic host country — Russia would want to make a good impression on the world. In 2007 the International Olympic Committee announced Sochi as the host city, giving Russia over six years to organize the games.

It is no secret the 2014 Winter Olympics haven’t quite gone as planned. From the very beginning, Sochi has disappointed the masses.

As reporters from all countries arrived in Sochi, they checked into hotel rooms that were not complete. Some reporters went without beds. All were advised not to use the water to wash their faces. Again, I emphasize that Russia has had over six years to prepare for the games.

That is more than enough time to build sufficient hotels. As if that weren’t horrifying enough, Bob Costas sported a double eye infection to cover the primetime Olympic events for two days before being replaced by Matt

Managing Editor

Editor in Chief

News Editor

Kaitlyn Byrne

Anna Wolfe

Multimedia Editor

Life Editor

Opinion Editor

Zack Orsborn

Daniel Hart

Alie Dalee

Sports Editor John Galatas

Photography Editor Emma Katherine Hutto

Copy Editor Emma Crawford

CONTACT INFORMATION

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Editor in Chief/Kaitlyn Byrne

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

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

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

CORRECTIONS

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

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

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

CLAIRE WILSON Claire Wilson is a junior majoring in communications. She can be contacted at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.

ic of controversy has been Putin’s anti-gay mentality. Though the country’s government is quite clearly against homosexuality, many of the Olympic competitors are, in fact, gay.

Ultimately, the Sochi Winter Olympics have been a bit of a failure. From reporters without living spaces to competitors hiding their sexuality, the games have angered and outraged many. But ultimately, as is human nature, we keep watching and rooting for our favorite athletes.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Mississippi needs LGBTQ news

M

ichael Sams, defensive lineman at Mizzou, recently came out as gay before the NFL draft.

The news story generated the expected mixed responses on the Internet — both supportive and reprehensible.

Here in Mississippi, the balance of comments dismiss this story as “not newsworthy” because no one cares if Sams is gay. The readers protest too much. The outraged cry, “Let us have no more gay stories” is just as disingenuous as declarations of a post-racial world where racism and discrimination do not exist. People care so much that they want to change the subject.

In Mississippi, LGBTQ people lack workplace protection to prevent them from being fired for their sexual orientation. Same-sex families living in Mississippi do not have access to marriage, full adoption rights or hospital visitation. More seriously, gay people are treated like they don’t belong here. The message in Mississippi

is clear: We don’t want gay stories because we don’t want to do right by gay people.

The Sams story intersects with the Mississippi sacred: college football. Mississippi State University tight end Rufus Warren tweeted that he “looks down on gay football players” because football is a “MAN sport.” Warren and Mississippi fans have trouble imagining gays playing football or living among them. Warren has already played with and against many talented and closeted gay players. Mississippi residents have gay neighbors, sons, daughters, teachers and co-workers, whether they choose to acknowledge them or not. We need LGBTQ news stories. LGBTQ people, like me, need to be open about who we are if we are ever going to renovate the culture that erases and excludes LGBTQ people.

LGBTQ people need to become visible. The negative reaction to the Sams story only makes this more clear. From my corner of the state, as an MSU

employee and student, I know the environment here is probably better than anywhere else in Mississippi. The people and departments I work with could not be more open and welcoming. The university should be a beacon for LGBTQ people in this state. I do not think this is always the case.

If Warren can’t see other gay players, I know other students have a hard time seeing gay classmates.

Hateful language and slurs are circulated, fraternities fail to address homophobia, classes sometimes cover LGBTQ issues in a way that ignores LGBTQ people that might be in the room or people stare at you during lunch with your boyfriend/girlfriend.

LGBTQ people receive one persistent message in our culture: be invisible. Keep to yourself. We do not care about you. We do not want to hear LGBTQ news stories.

As a busy graduate student, I don’t often feel I have the time to confront issues like this. I read a few news stories, shake my head

Justin Dornbusch is a graduate teaching assistant and coordinator of the graduate mentor program of Shackouls Honor College at Mississippi State Univerisity.

and get back to work. The comments this week were discouraging, but nothing I haven’t seen before. Then, a friend pointed out a comment to me on a Facebook football fan page that filled me with disgust and anger. In response to Sams’s story, somebody posted a picture of a noose with the caption: “I bought a necktie for you, please put it on.” The combination of racial hatred and anti-gay bigotry stayed with me all week. What astounded me most was that the comment was never removed or denounced in the comment thread. Sexual orientation will always be relevant while gay people are marginalized and LGBTQ teens commit suicide at high rates. LGBTQ people must remain visible because we must not be erased or silenced.

I MEAN THINK ABOUT IT

Amidst deprave news coverage, human kindness prevails in world

E Kristen Spink

Lauer who was then replaced by runner, which broke both of his Meredith Viera. legs. A Canadian slopestyle skier In addition to the living con- broke her jaw when she landed ditions for reporters, the newest short on a jump. Some comOlympic event, slopestyle snow- petitors haven’t even made it to boarding, has left many compet- their event due to being injured itors injured. In fact, two-time during training.

Gold medalist Shaun White Vladimir Putin and the IOC dropped out of the event in fear invested $50 billion dollars into of injuring himself and not being the games, with intent to showable to compete in the halfpipe case Russia’s power. Instead, the event. Since this money has highevent is new to lighted the flaws From the Olympic of the country. games, special From shabby reporters care should have hotels to powwithout been taken in deer outages, the living signing the ramp money invested and course — spaces to in these games “should” being competitors hiding does not show. the key word.

Snow had to be their sexuality, These games brought in to have also been the games have build the coursriddled with angered and es, as Sochi is more crashes outraged many.” located in the and injuries than southernmost most. From bropart of Russia. ken collarbones It is also ruand jaws on both the slopestyle mored that much of the money skiing and snowboarding cours- spent has been in bribes, kickes to a worker with two broken backs and shakedowns. After legs, Sochi has been nothing all, the most powerful Russian short of gruesome. A bobsleigh crime bosses are from the area track worker was hit by a fore- surrounding Sochi. Another top-

nglish philosopher John Locke believed that humanity was inherently good-natured, while philosopher Thomas Hobbes believed that people were inherently evil. However, neither of these beliefs has been proven over time. So what is today’s state of nature? Are people naturally good or evil?

The Dunn trial has many people questioning the good of humanity. Under the “Stand Your Ground” law of Florida, Michael Dunn opened fire on a car of three teenagers after complaining that their music was too loud. Dunn said the teenagers threatened him and he thought he saw a gun in their vehicle. He shot 10 times, three of which hit and killed Jordan Davis. After police searched the car they found no weapons.

Dunn was found guilty of second-degree murder.

Many people argue the police officer’s actions were just pure evil. They do not believe that he felt threatened or that he saw a gun in the car. He simply acted out of evilness and opened fire on three innocent teens. With Reflections:

the birthday of Trayvon Mar- for others with nothing in retin, another teenager who was turn. Well, there are that many killed by an older man, passing people and more whose stories in the same week as the Dunn have probably never been told. trial, people are beginning to So which one do you believe wonder what is happening to in? I asked myself this same the world today. question, and I started to reDespite all of the turmoil go- flect back on little incidents. ing on around the world, there I am sitting in class waiting are still people who believe in for it to start with about five the good of other people. I humanity.

A have to go to the What are website called bathroom, so I you more givesmehope. get up and walk com is comwithout tempted to out pletely dedicattaking my backdo? Are you ed to showing pack that holds its viewers there tempted to be evil my cellphone is still hope or do nice things? and wallet with for humanity. ... You would be me. Why didn’t The website is surprised at how I take these full of stories things? I just about people, many people think assumed that no many complete the same way you one would steal strangers, who do.” my things, and were selfless and if anyone tried helped others in to take them, I whatever situation those indi- expect the others to say somevuals were going through out of thing to stop them. I believe in the kindness of their hearts. the good in humanity.

There are so many stories I am not saying there is no that a person may think there evil in humanity. I would not cannot be that many people walk alone late at night or leave willing to do something good $100 on a table while I go to

SEQUOIA RICHARDSON Sequoia Richardson is a senior majoring in political science.

She can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.

the bathroom. I just believe that people are tempted to do good rather than evil because of the higher consequences that come along with doing bad.

It is entirely up to you to believe what you want. Just think of it this way: what are you more tempted to do? Are you tempted to be evil or do nice things? Do you hold the door open for others? Are you tempted to snatch someone’s backpack when you see them step away from it? You would be surprised at how many people think the same way you do.

“Caring too much for objects can destroy you. Only — if you care for a thing enough, it takes on a life of its own, doesn’t it? And isn’t the whole point of things — beautiful things — that they connect you to some larger beauty?”

- Donna Tartt “The Goldfinch”

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014 | 5

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AN IN-CLASS DISTRACTION ...

2-18-14

BULLETIN BOARD more information and wages.

CLASSIFIEDS POLICY

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

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

FOR SALE

Classic rock albums for sale in Starkville. Beatles, Eagles, AC/DC, Boston and more.

Over 5,000 comic books, mostly 1970s and 1980s, bagged and boarded. Over 20,000 baseball cards in 800 and 3,200 count boxes. Call 662-312-2402.

FOR RENT

Canterbury Townhouses are under new management.

Two-bedroom is $550 and three-bedroom is $750. This is per person, not per apartment.

Two minutes to campus. Call 662-323-9216. Country living off the the beaten path, yet so close to it all.

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Interested persons should please contact danielrichie72@live.com for

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

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Care about the environment?

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

Solutions for 2-14-14

YOGA MOVES CLUB

School or work stressing you out? Get moving into Yoga Moves. Try our moves to get into shape and our relaxation techniques to handle the stress. Yoga Moves meets at the Sanderson Center in Studio C, Thursday evenings from 5:30-7 p.m. Like Yoga Moves Club-MSU on Facebook.

SCUBA DAWGS

Ever wanted to try scuba diving? Now you can. Come out for Discover Scuba on Feb. 11 and 12 at 5:30 p.m. in the Sanderson Center pool for just $5. All gear will be provided. Follow @MSUSCUBADawgs on Twitter or like us on Facebook.

MSU RUGBY TEAM

Want to play a real sport?

Join the MSU Rugby Football Club. Practices are MondayThursday from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Recplex fields located near the end of Stone Boulevard.

For more information email josephpongetti@gmail.com.

DCP ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Paid internship at the happiest place on earth. Apply now through March 28 at disneycollegeprogram.com.

6 | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014

THE REFLECTOR

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

LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT

Program sets Robert Frost, E.E. Cummings poetry to music

BY NUR-UL-HUDA MUJAHID

“This is something that I started seven years ago. This year Dr. Hargrove is the huThe names E.E. Cum- manities’ scholar, and she will mings and Robert Frost bring talk about the lives’ of the poto mind some of the most ets as well as offer commenmoving, influential poetry tary on the poems,” she said. bestowed upon American “You can let your imagination literature. But Mississippi go and fall in love with the State University’s music de- poetry and the music. I always partment and William L. hope that students enjoy.”

Giles Distinguished ProfesNancy Hargrove, this year’s sor Emerita of English col- guest speaker and MSU laborate English Tuesday to You can let your p r o f e s s o r showcase emerita, imagination go the poems will speak and fall in love of Cumabout the mings and poets and with the poetry Frost in a and music.” offer comnew, musimentary - Karen Murphy, cal light. on the On Tues- music department songs that day at 7:30 instructor accompap.m., the ny each poetry will poem. spring to life through the use Hargrove said this year is of both word and song as the the first time the concert will MSU Chamber Choir and commemorate two different soloists put on their annual poets, though she believes music concert in the Giles they found two men of letters Architecture Building’s Har- whose works pair well. rison Auditorium.

“Some of the poets we’ve Karen Murphy, music de- presented in the past have partment instructor and ac- been Emily Dickinson, T.S. companist, said she found- Elliot and Langston Hughes. ed the poetry-in-song event This is the first time that nearly a decade ago, and she we’re going to showcase two hopes the concert’s marriage poets,” she said. “We wanted of the two mediums will illu- to find poets that were simiminate both word and song lar, yet different, and I believe for students. we have accomplished that Staff Writer

with Frost and Cummings.”

The program will feature a total of 16 songs set to Cummings’s and Frost’s poetry, beginning with 10 songs set to Cummings’s work.

Hargrove said the diversity of the show makes the event an experience that can engage attendees of all interests and disciplines.

“People that come to the show love it because you don’t have to be a musician to enjoy the poetry,” she said. “I’m married to a musician, and, coming from a background in English, I think it’s a wonderful collaboration between music and literature.”

Jordan Dobbins, senior music education major, performed pieces in last year’s concert with the MSU choir, and she will sing in the choir and perform a solo piece this year.

Dobbins said the event not only shows students interdisciplinary collaboration, but reveals the way the poets and composers intersected, as the poets’ works often inspired the compositions of musicians.

“This concert is a beautiful collaboration between the English and music department,” she said. “As a music major, I truly enjoy hearing about the life and accomplishments of the poets that were such an

inspiration to so many composers that they felt led to incorporate this poetry into their music. For students, it builds a bridge between what they hear and what the poet and composer intended them to hear.”

Amy Arinder, sophomore music education major, is in the MSU chamber choir, which will present “I Carry Your Heart With Me,” po-

etry by E.E. Cummings and “Choose Something like a Star,” poetry by Robert Frost.

Arinder said the concert illustrates the poetry’s meaning even as it sets the works to song, as the concert’s primary purpose is to display the beauty of Cummings’s and Frost’s words.

“This concert will be beneficial to all in attendance because the focus of the concert

is on the meaning of the text,” she said. “Many times, we overlook the meaning of the words we sing. We focus on how pretty the song sounds, but when we understand the text, the song takes on a deeper meaning.”

“The Poetry of E.E. Cummings and Robert Frost in Song” concert will be followed by a reception in the Harrison Auditorium’s lobby.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS | COURTESY PHOTO

The works of E.E. Cummings (left) and Robert Frost (right), two famous American poets, will be put to music at “The Poetry of E.E. Cumings and Robert Frost in Song” concert. Multiple departments and groups, including the MSU music department, English department and the MSU Chamber Choir, sponsor the event.

Suds and Sushi: Champ’s expands bar options in Cotton District

BY ADAM SULLIVAN Staff Writer

Bar-goers and weekend warriors will see a new option in the Cotton District, as the bar Champ’s celebrated its grand opening about four weeks ago and is located by the fountain in the Cotton District. The establishment replaces Sushi Martini and is the brainchild of business partners Amanda Pyron and Rick Welch (owner of Rick’s Café).

Pyron said when she heard Sushi Martini was closing, she presented the idea of Champ’s to Welch.

In order to find a niche in the saturated Cotton District bar scene, Pyron said Champ’s decided to differentiate itself by offering a sushi menu.

“The sushi sets us apart,” Pyron said. “We were also doing a late-night menu. The Bin does a late-night menu, but we had a completely different menu. Now we have

and bar instead of just a bar,” Pyron said.

Pyron highly recommends patrons try the cheese wontons. Champ’s also serves multiple varieties of pizza, Surf-and-Turf is recommended. For sushi aficionados, Pyron recommends The Champ, a fried sushi dish.

“It’s all good,” Pyron said.

“Customers need to come back more than once and try everything.”

Champ’s has all new bartenders, who Pyron trains.

She said she invites customers to come with challenging drink orders for the bartenders to try to make.

“I’d like to have people come and throw out things for them to try, things for them to learn,” Pyron said.

DAVID LEWIS | THE REFLECTOR The bar works on offering Students and Starkvillians congregate outside Champs, which is located near the daily specials on drinks in Cotton District fountain and replaces Sushi Martini. Champs also offers sushi, addition to its food options, including Whoop Juice, a which differentiates the establishment from other bars in the Cotton District. house special that consists of Champ’s attempts to offer serving a variety of foods. three clear liquors, lime juice, combined our menus so we “We really wanted to push sprite and cranberry juice, do sushi, pizza and wings all bar-goers a sports bar environment that also focuses on our food and be a restaurant which Pyron said has been day.”

popular with the bar thus far.

“It’s pretty stout, but it’s good. People like it,” she said.

When the weather warms, Champ’s plans on having live music outside by the fountain.

Andrew Banker, senior kinesiology major, said he enjoyed his first experience at Champ’s.

“I went to their grand opening and had a great time.

It’s new, and I liked the atmosphere. I can’t wait to go back,” he said.

Pyron said weekends have been extremely busy for Champ’s, and she looks forward to watching the bar’s progression.

“I’m excited about it. It’s going well, and I hope it continues to grow,” Pyron said.

Alex White, sophomore kinesiology major, said the buzz surrounding Champ’s has put the bar on his radar and list of places to visit soon.

“I hear they have really good food, and I’m super excited to try it,” White said.

Dawgs du Jour spotlighting MSU’s most fashionable

BY ERIC IRBY Staff Writer

It was another quiet weekend in Starkville, but in true college town fashion, there were small house parties and kick-backs livening up the night. As expected, many girls wore mini body-clinging dresses with stilettos, while other girls wore snap-backs, jerseys and Jordans and represented the polar extremems of femininity and masculinity.

Amidst the dark haze of one apartment stood a girl who merged the two styles effortlessly. Meet junior art major, Amy Stubbs: Q: What are you wearing?

A: I can’t remember where I found this beanie — it’s so old — but the jacket is thrifted, the dress is from Wet Seal and my shoes are Timberlands.

Q: This is probably my favorite outfit I’ve seen tonight. What inspired this outfit?

A: Aw, thanks. To be honest, it was something I saw on Tumblr. It wasn’t the exact thing, but you can say I was inspired by a picture. Plus

it was just last minute. Don’t you just hate when you can’t find anything to wear, and you find it last minute and you’re unsure of it but at the same time you’re like “whatever, I’m going to wear it.”

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: That’s hard. That’s always been a hard question. I guess you could call it tom-boy chic. I like to wear pieces guys would wear and accessories girls would wear.

Q: Style must-have?

A: A statement necklace piece.

It’s essential. Anything bold, honestly.

Q: What’s your favorite clothing line? High-end or low-end?

A: That’s another hard one. I honestly don’t know because I thrift a lot. So I don’t really have a brand I like because I like a little bit of everything.

Q: What’s your favorite trend at the moment?

A: Joggers. I’m all about being comfortable and stylish.

Q: What’s your least favorite trend at the moment?

A: I’m tired of seeing comic book print tights. You know the ones that have like “pow!,” “boom!” It’s like I don’t want to wear the next issue of Batman on body.

Q: But what if they like comic books?

A: Everyone that wears those do not like comic books. Some of them never have picked up a comic book a day in their life. People wear anything that’s in style. They just need to stop.

Q: What do you think style should say about you?

A: It should say you’re comfortable and not afraid to try anything new.

Q: That sounds like your personality. Should your style reflect who you are?

A: Yes, definitely. I dress in whatever moment I’m feeling at that moment. Dress for yourself, not for others.

Q: OK, last question. Who’s your style icon?

A: You’re going to laugh, but Zendaya Coleman. Her style is flawless, and she’s flawless.

ERIC IRBY | THE REFLECTOR

Amy Stubbs, junior art major, models a thrifted jacket, a dress from Wet Seal and Timberland shoes. She said her fashion choices are often an intersection of Tumblr searches and last minute decisions, and she always dresses in her own style regardless of others.

SPORTS

REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014 | 7

EMMA KATHERINE HUTTO | THE REFLECTOR

Junior center Martha Alwal (left) puts up the game-winning shot over a Vanderbilt defender to give her team a 64-62 victory. Junior guard Savannah Carter (right) cuts off Vanderbilt’s Kady Schrann from driving to the basket. The Lady Bulldogs clinched their fourth SEC win in the upset bid over the ‘Dores and travel to Alabama Thursday.

Lady Bulldogs upset No. 16 Commodores in lastsecond thriller, ready for road test against Tide

BY QUENTIN SMITH Staff Writer

After losing by 51 points to Vanderbilt University a year ago, the Mississippi State University Lady Bulldogs were out to seek revenge this time around when the Commodores came to Starkville Sunday afternoon.

With the game tied at 62 a piece and 10 seconds left on the clock, the Lady Bulldogs looked to their All-SEC candidate Martha Alwal to bring them through, and she did just that.

Point guard Katia May drove down the right side of the lane and dumped it off to Alwal, who went up for the shot. The ball bounced around on the rim a few precious moments, and after it finally went in, Humphrey Coliseum erupted. Alwal’s game-winning lay-in boosted MSU to its biggest win of the

season and upset the No. 16 Commodores 64-62.

Alwal said her game-winning shot ranks as one of her top moments in her MSU career.

“I went up there and tried to be tough. That’s all that was going through my mind,” she said. “When it went through, I was happy. I just wanted to take the ball in there and try to score.”

The contest was a backand-forth battle between the two teams all game long.

MSU’s defense had its highs and lows. It allowed Vanderbilt to shoot 62 percent from the field in the second half and 56 percent from the field overall.

But, despite giving up a high field-goal shooting percentage, the team still managed to force its opposition into 26 turnovers and came up with 15 steals.

On offense, the Lady Bull-

dogs came out to a slow start, only shooting 30 percent from the field in the first half, but that quickly changed once they came out of the locker room.

In the second half, the Lady Bulldogs shot 60 percent from the field and 90 percent from the free throw line.

MSU trailed the majority of the game. MSU grabbed a brief lead at the 7:17 mark but quickly lost it on the next possession.

The Lady Bulldogs then regained the advantage again at the 6:45 mark, and from then on, they never looked back.

MSU head coach Vic Schaefer said the team’s maturity was a big part of its success.

“At some point they get enough of (losing), too.

They’re going to go out there and getting things done.

They’re going to go out and

get the win,” Schaefer said. the elite teams in the conferPrior to Alwal’s game-win- ence, and perhaps the nation, ning shot, she scored 14 of but before Sunday, had always the team’s final ended up on 21 points. She the losing side finished the of things.

We know game with 23 Even though that points, tying they have come winning her SEC career up short in the these last couple of past, they alhigh.

Vanderbilt’s games will put us ways find a way head coach in position for post to persevere Melanie Balthrough the comb said she (season) play, and adversity. This was impressed that’s our goal.” team is batwith how far -Jerrica James, tle-tested and Alwal’s game it’s safe to say, it has progressed MSU Lady Bulldog has now figured throughout her point guard out how to win. career.

Junior point “She is one guard Jerica of the most improved players James said she credits leaderI’ve seen in this conference,” ship for the team’s desire to Balcomb said. “She’s gotten win. much more aggresive, she “In our court huddles, they handles physical play better mean something,” she said. and she’s just a tough player.” “We were actually telling peoThe Lady Bulldogs have ple where they need to be, fought toe-to-toe with all of how they need to do it and

BASEBALL The Catamounts drew first blood in the first inning, earning two runs off RBI-singles from Jacob Hoyle and Luke Gragg.

After allowing back-to-back walks to start the second inning, starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff was relieved by lefty Ross Mitchell.

Mitchell would remain on the mound for a career-best eight innings, fanning seven WCU hitters in the process.

The Catamounts would not score again until Cody Jones’s RBI single brought in Aaron Attaway in the seventh inning.

MSU made a run of its own in the ninth when senior Alex Detz drew a leadoff walk. Senior Brett Pirtle followed with a hit and junior slugger Wes Rea sent a two-run single up the middle.

After the Bulldogs’ second out, pinch hitter Cody Brown was able to reach base after drawing a walk, but the comeback bid ended with Jacob Robson’s fly-out to left field.

After the tough opening LEON CARRUBBA | THE REFLECTOR day loss, MSU earned its first Freshman pitcher Dakota Hudson (left) delivers a pitch and outfielder Demarcus Henderson (right) watches the ball win of the season with a 6-1 during an at bat in Sunday’s win against WCU. Henderson finished the weekend with a double and plated three runs. victory over WCU at Dudy was important for the team, off single by Pirtle, followed out in the eighth before retir- MSU, making him the first Noble on Saturday.

Right-hander Trevor Fitts and the junior set the tone for by an RBI-triple by Cody ing the side in order to close freshman to start on opening weekend since Chris Stratton Brown. Junior college transfer out the game. recorded the first win of the the day.

The Bulldogs earned the in 2010.

“We needed this because Jake Vickerson earned his first season after allowing seven Hudson would get a hits and one run with a ca- the kids were looking at each RBI of the year after a pair of series-clinching win Sunday with a 7-2 victory, marking no-decision in his first start other thinking ‘Are we ever walks with a two-run single. reer-high 11 strikeouts.

WCU trimmed the deficit Cohen’s 500th career victory after conceding one run on Closer Jonathan Holder going to score.’ The monkey four hits with two strikeouts was also able to earn the first is off our back there, and I to 3-1 in the fifth, but the Ma- as a head coach.

Several freshman pitchers and no walks. save of 2014, striking out two hope now our kids can relax roon and White extended the Hudson said he relied on of the four hitters he faced in a little bit and just go play,” lead in the eighth inning with made their collegiate debuts the experience of veteran three runs off five Catamount in Sunday’s win.

Cohen said. his efforts.

True freshman Dakota Bulldogs in Sunday’s win.

MSU started its scoring in relievers.

Cohen said Fitts’s work in Holder would get the final Hudson started the game for “It was a great experience the early stages of the game the fourth inning with a lead-

where they should do it, and it wasn’t just from one of us.

It was from all of us.”

The team continues to develop, and the younger players are starting to have a profound impact on the team.

The Lady Dogs now sit at 17-9 on the season and 4-8 in conference play.

MSU will hit the road to take on the University of Alabama Thursday before returning home Sunday to host bitter in-state rival Ole Miss, who they lost to earlier in the season.

James said she hopes the team can ride this momentum wave as it heads down the final stretch of the season.

“We can’t focus too much on this game because we know we have several more games to go, “ she said. “We know that winning these last couple of games will put us in position for post (season) play, and that’s our goal.”

continued from 7 to be able to throw on this stage,” Hudson said. “The coaches and some of the older players helped me prepare for the moment a lot, so I wasn’t really nervous.”

Two other freshmen, righthanders Vance Tatum and Austin Sexton, also made their debuts Sunday, holding WCU scoreless through 2 1/3 innings.

Pirtle was quick to give the young group praise for their performance in the series clincher.

“They’re awesome. They pound the zone, and they give the team a chance to a win. They did really well, and I’m proud for them,” Pirtle said.

With the game still scoreless in the bottom of the third, Rea was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, giving MSU an early 1-0 lead.

Pirtle cleared the bases on the next at bat with a triple down the right field line. Senior C.T Bradford added the final run of the frame after driving in Pirtle on a squeeze bunt, putting the score at 5-0.

The squad’s last two runs came in the eighth via redshirt junior catcher Zach Randolph’s RBI single and a bases-loaded walk by Detz.

Senior Ben Bracewell picked up the win in the final game of the series after pitching 1.1 innings of relief.

The Bulldogs return to the diamond to host Memphis Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Dudy Noble Field.

8 | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014

SPORTS EDITOR: JOHN GALATAS | reflectorsports@gmail.com

SPORTS

THE REFLECTOR

STAT OF THE DAY: Through the first 10 games of the 2014 season, the MSU softball team has only surrendered six runs.

Bulldogs give Catamounts Fittz, freshmen shine in season opener

By Anthony McDougle Staff Writer

After a magical run that saw the Mississippi State University baseball team earn a trip to Omaha for the College World Series, the Diamond Dogs entered the 2014 opening weekend on Valentine’s Day with lofty expectations. Boasting rankings as high as No. 2 in some publications along with the second-ranked recruiting class, many fans undoubtedly look for the Bulldogs to make a return to the NCAA tournament.

Despite all the pressure on the team to perform and what head coach John Cohen called a “bad offensive weekend,” MSU was able to earn a series victory over Western Carolina University.

“We have a lot of new offensive pieces just trying to figure

leon carrubba | the reflector

BACK IN THE SWING | Bulldog soft-

things out,” Cohen said. “But we got the big hits when it mattered and did a nice job with the strike zone and creating walks and pressure.”

The Bulldogs opened the series on Valentine’s Day with a 3-2 loss, the first opening day loss since the 2003 season.

The Diamond Dogs made a comeback bid in the ninth inning sparked by a two-run rally but fell short. The starting pitcher for WCU was excellent for eight innings, allowing three hits and no runs.

The Bulldogs ended the night with 12 strikeouts total, an occurrence Cohen said must be avoided in order for the team to win.

“We really struggled against a good pitcher. We gave them a couple of opportunities, and they took advantage of them,” leon carrubba | the reflector Cohen said.

MSU junior Wes Rea slides safely into home plate in see BASEBALL, 7 Sunday’s victory. Rea collected five RBIs in the series.

Hear from Head Coach Rick Ray

ball pitcher Alison Owen (top) windups and infielder Heide Shape (bottom) appears at the plate against Jacksonville State earlier this season. MSU swept the Florida Atlantic Strike Out Cancer Tournament over

By John gAlAtAs Sports Editor the weekend with wins over Florida Atlantic (2-1 and 5-0), Long Island (5-1 and 1-0) and Maryland (3-1).

On the Auburn loss: We’re coming off a loss at MSU (10-0) boasts the best start since 2008 and return Auburn where I believe there home to face Central Arkansas Wednesday at 3 p.m. were 71 free throws shot be-

tween the two teams. We had four players sitting on the bench with two fouls apiece to end that first half, and that’s when Auburn increased their lead. In hindsight, I probably should have played one or two of those guys with two fouls. But in hindsight, too, you can look at if those guys would have fouled out, I would have been kicking myself for playing guys with two fouls in the first half.

We’re fouling too much. In the first half they had 26 points off our turnovers.

We had 16 turnovers, and I thought we would be able to fight ourselves back into it in the second half because we didn’t turn the basketball over as much. I think they had four points off turnovers in the second half, and we only had five turnovers.

Obviously, with our lack of depth, that’s the problem.

On foul calls: It wasn’t as frustrating because I thought it was both ways. If it was a situation where (calls) were made one way, then I think that becomes frustrating. It was just a lot of fouls called.

On Trivante Bloodman’s progress: It’s really a credit to him because I think he’s made as much an improvement on our team than anybody. I thought last year he had the ability to get into the lane at times, but his decision-making left a lot to be desired.

Right now, he’s getting into the lane and he’s jump stopping. He’s getting fouled and, he’s making good deci-

sions. I thought he played a really good game against Auburn. And when he got to the free throw line, he made his free throws. I believe he was 14-of-15 from the line.

On what sticks out against LSU: Just their size and length in general. They have a lot of guys with (Jordan) Mickey, Johnny O’Bryant and (Jarell) Martin that have a lot of length and size. They’re playing a lot of zone, which is surprising. I thought they would be more of a man-toman team. I think they’re playing big with Martin and Shavon Coleman. We have to do a good job of keeping the ball out of the post because I think once they get the ball in the post it becomes a problem because they have some guys that can shoot the ball too with (Andre) Stringer and (Anthony) Hickey. I think the most important thing for us is not letting them get the ball in the post, because once they get in the post we’re either going to foul them or they’re going to fan it out.

That’s going to be a problem with close outs or get killed on the offensive glass.

On DeRunnya Wilson and in-coming football recruit Elijah Staley playing basketball: From a football standpoint, I’d imagine it’s a lot different between Wilson and Elijah (Staley) simply because Elijah is going to be playing the quarterback position. That’s a whole different beast. I think at the quarterback position you better be worried about

how to read a blitz against Alabama and LSU, and it’s a little bit more involved than his actual development in what’s going on with the offense than what Wilson has to do.

On getting drafted out of high school: I think it’s pretty simple. I think it should be very similar to baseball. I think you should have the ability to come out if you don’t want to go to college and go straight to the NBA. I think once you make that decision to go to college you should have to be there for two years. I think three years is a bit of a stretch because there is a difference between the maturity factor and what you have to do physically between football and basketball. I think it would solve a lot of problems if you just allow guys that want to go to the NBA simply to let them go to the NBA, and guys that really want to go to college, let them go to college. I think what you’re seeing is a lot of guys who were projected to be lottery picks going into college, and once they go to college, they’re not lottery picks all of a sudden. I was listening to an interview with Shawn Marian a few weeks ago, and he said it’s really sad what they have to teach at the NBA level because these high school kids and college kids coming in simply haven’t been coached before. Now you’re teaching NBA-level elementary things, but to the high school and college kid it isn’t elementary anymore. They’re wasting a lot of time in practice trying to teach these guys some simple things.

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