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125th YEAR | ISSUE 39 @REFLECTORONLINE f /REFLECTORONLINE

MARCH 4, 2014

TUESDAY

REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM

MSU ranks third nationally for cyber security program

BY LACRETIA WIMBLEY

surance and education and information assurance research.

“At Mississippi State, we A report released by the Michigan Ponemon Institute have three cyber security reon Feb. 24 listed Mississippi search centers. The center for State University at No. 3 with computer security research, having the nation’s top cyber the national forensics trainsecurity programs as well as ing center and the critical infrastructure probeing named tection center,” a “best value” Our nation Keenum said. school within is under “Our Mississipthe Southern constant pi State center United States computer region by the attack from for security research notable best other countries. It is dedicated to value schools is imperative that the scientific website. exploration of According we have a strong computer vulto a Hew- security system nerabilities with lett Pack- in place, and I’m the objective of ard-sponimproving prosored survey just so proud that tectant prevenfrom the the work we’re Ponemon In- doing at Mississippi tion techniques through our stitue, MSU’s State in this area is core research cyber security areas. We at courses and recognized at the MSU promote degree pro- highest levels.” computer secugrams have -Mark Keenum, rity education earned this research, and high ranking MSU president we are nationalwithin the ly acclaimed in nation, and the university’s high return these areas.”

Keenum said these fields on investments acquired a position at No. 11 as a best are of increasing importance value school of the South. to the government at all levMSU is the only school with- els and in the business and in Mississippi that made the industry private sectors.

“Our nation is under con“best value” list.

Mark Keenum, president stant attack from other counof MSU, said the National tries,” Keenum said. “It is imSecurity Agency and the U.S. perative that we have a strong Cyber Command have des- security system in place, and ignated MSU as a center of I’m just so proud that the academic excellence in three work we’re doing at MSU in primary disciplines — cyber this area is recognized at the operations, information as- highest levels.”

Staff Writer

SYDNEY ARMER | THE REFLECTOR

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MSU

| Savana Heidelberg, senior Alumni Delegate, serves cake on campus in honor of

Mississippi State University’s 136th anniversary. The Alumni Association threw the birthday party for MSU on Feb. 28 to celebrate its history. The celebration was from 11 a.m to 3 p.m. at the Bull Ring near the Colvard Student Union where students, faculty, staff and alumni members gathered to share cake, ice cream and hot chocolate. MSU was established in 1878 with the goal of educating in agriculture, horticulture and mechanical arts.

SEE CYBER, 3

Honors college sponsors WeLead conference to promote women empowerment, leadership

BY PRANAAV JADHAV Staff Writer

Mississippi State University’s Shackouls Honors College in partnership with MSU student coordinators have built the Women Empowered Leadership Conference for high school girls across the state to encourage them to pursue higher education, community involvement and leadership positions.

Jamie Aron, sophomore political science major and brainchild of the WeLead conference, said there are statistics that show the existence of a glass ceiling that needs improvement.

“I came to MSU as an undeclared major, and I really wantPRANAAV JADHAV | THE REFLECTOR ed young girls to have wide breadth of knowledge about the Women of Mississippi State University’s Shackouls Honors College help young women things they could do. The sta- across the state see their potential through programs like the WeLead conference. They will tistics are really daunting, and host the Women Empowerment Leadership Conference for high school girls this summer. so I asked myself how I could make an impact,” Aron said. the Shackouls Honors College provide learning in communi- while also exploring roles of The WeLead conference will and Griffis Residence Hall July cation skills, networking prac- leadership that the participants be held on MSU’s campus in 14-18. The conference aims to tices and team building tactics, can pursue in their futures.

SEE WELEAD, 3

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MSU awards first African-Americans to hold official positions

BY LACRETIA WIMBELY Staff Writer

In honor of Ernest Green and eight individuals who were the first African-Americans to hold their positions throughout Mississippi, a reception ceremony was held at 11 a.m. on Feb. 28 in the Foster Ballroom of the Colvard Student Union.

Following Green’s lecture, “Lessons from Little Rock,” presented on Feb. 27, the ceremony served to honor not only Green, but also Flonzie Brown, elections commissioner of Madison County, Miss.; Mamie Chinn, Madison County Justice Court judge of District 2; Willie Johnson, State of Mississippi Fire Department chief; Frank Nichols, City of Starkville

Police Department chief; John Outlaw, former City of Starkville Police Department interim chief; Johnny Haynes, Louisville Fire Department chief; Constance Harvey, University of Mississippi School of Law and juris doctor; Gloria Turnipseed, Winston County District 4 supervisor and James Young, mayor of Philadelphia, Miss.

The ceremonial reception featured Aundrea Self, WCBI TV anchor, as the master of ceremony and musical entertainment by Iika McCarter from the Mississippi University for Women.

The university gave Green and the nine individuals honored for being the first African-Americans in their positions during the ceremony prestigious accolades.

SEE CEREMONY, 3

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NEWS

2 | TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014

THE REFLECTOR

Animal sanctuary provides more opportunities for vet students on the exotic animals for training purposes.

“We would love to have Mississippi State University’s a partnership in a sense that College of Veterinary Medi- this veterinary college has got cine and the Cedarhill Animal a sanctuary which is so close Sanctuary in Caledonia, Miss., and how many people going to recently signed a memorandum veterinary school get a chance of understanding which will to work with lions, tigers and give MSU students a chance to cougars and things like that. work on exotic animals at the So if there is a way that we can sanctuary once every six to 10 benefit MSU’s students by having a more complete training weeks. or getting some Karen Temtraining that pleton, direcWe would they wouldn’t tor of outreach be making otherwise have at the College had, certainly of Veterinary a lot of we would love Medicine, said money if to do that,” the partnership worked we were to open to G s c h we n d t n e r said. out well be- the public, but the Templeton said cause students thing is, most of the students are get a chance to the animals on this involved in a lot work with exotic animals, property have been of clinical rotations and have to which they severely abused go work at differdo not get in or neglected or ent places. the veterinary abandoned by “The Caledohospital.

“A small people, and most of nia sanctuary is number of these animals don’t pretty close, so we can fit that students will even like people into their schedbe taken out ule, but traveling one to two because of the out of state would times every six traumas they have be more difficult, to 10 weeks, faced.” and the veterinarand we won’t -Nancy ians, our faculty be providing who are overseefree medica- Gschwendter, ing that, will have tions. We ar- Cedarhill Animal to be licensed en’t providing Sanctuary in those states,” e q u i p m e n t administrative Templeton said. or any sort of The animal c o m m o d i t y, assistant sanctuary houses but the stuover 300 animals dents get to including birds, observe the animals. They get to learn more wolves, tigers, horses, cougars about animal husbandry, han- and house cats. Most animals dling the animals. They could in the sanctuary have been also help trim the nails and abused or neglected.

The Cedarhill Animal Sancthings like that. This is the only agreement we have with the tuary came into existence in 1987 when Kay McElroyxsanctuary,” Templeton said.

Nancy Gschwendtner, ad- ecutive, director and founder ministrative assistant at the of the sanctuary, said she saw sanctuary, said the only thing a classified ad in a newspaper that has been negotiated be- saying, “Six-month-old cougar tween MSU and Cedarhill is cub for sale, $1,000.”

McElroy said out of curithat MSU students will work

BY PRANAAV JADHAV Staff Writer

CECI LAND | COURTESY PHOTO

The Cedarhill Animal Sanctuary, located in Caledonia, Miss., houses more than 300 exotic animals that have been abused or neglected. Some MSU veterinary students will have the rare opportunity to work with these animals. osity she went to see the cub and what she found broke her heart. The cougar cub was in a small dog pen and very thin with badly infected paws from a botched declaw job.

“Although he was so despondent, he already had proved to be too much for his owners to handle. I had just moved to Mississippi, and I didn’t have a job yet nor much money. I told the guy that I had a 1947 Farmall D tractor that I would trade for the cub, but he said no, he wants the money. I told him that if he should change his mind, I lived about a mile down the road,” McElroy said in a news release. “Two weeks

later he arrived with a trailer for the tractor and the cougar chained in the front seat of the guy’s truck. After days of phone calls trying to find Zack, the cougar, a home at a zoo, I came to the realization that I either had to build an enclosure for him or have him euthanized.

Zack was the beginning of Cedarhill Sanctuary, which has since become my life’s work and greatest challenge.”

Gschwendtner said the monthly operating budget for taking care of the animals at Cedarhill ranges from $45,000 to $50,000. The sanctuary is not open to the public.

“We would be making a lot

more money if we were to open to the public, but the thing is, most of the animals on this property have been severely abused or neglected or abandoned by people, and most of these animals don’t even like people because of the traumas they have faced, Gschwendtner said. “So, we want the animals to live up their lives to be happy and to be as content as they can be without the stress of people poking and stuff like that.”

Gschwendtner said Cedarhill Animal Sanctuary does not have any state or government source of funding and manages the expenses only through donations.

Ceci Land, Starkville resident who visited the sanctuary on a weekend recently, said the sanctuary was much larger than she expected.

“I was also amazed that they basically were full. That meant that lots of people and places had tried (and failed) to house and care for these animals properly,” Land said. “Despite having so many animals in their care, I was impressed that they knew all of their names and interacted with each of them in a unique way because they knew their personalities.”

For more information on the Cedarhill Animal Sanctuary, visit cedarhillanimalsanctuary.

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TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014 | 3

NEWS

REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM

WeLEAD

continued from 1

“The one thing that I wanted is a diverse group of girls — different colors, different religious backgrounds, wealthiest and poor socio-economic backgrounds — I want every kind of girl to come together because it is not just learning, it is also how to deal with people who are different than you. That’s a big part about life. You are ever going to find someone who is just like you,” Aron said.

Thomas Anderson, associate professor of English, said the one way to recruit young women into leadership positions across various sectors of our society is to introduce them to women already PRANAAV JADHAV | THE REFLECTOR making impacts in MSU students have coordinated the Women Empowered Leadership Conference. The their professions. conference is geared toward girls across the state and to help fight the glass ceiling.

“We hope that “We aim to instill confidence cation, medicine, engineering, them for the real world. bringing young “In this era, and other leadership attriwomen who are already lead- history, politics there is a need butes in these young women ers in their high schools to- and business.

We aim for young lead- who will go to become leadNandita gether for a week to engage to instill ers in all fields — ers of tomorrow.” accomplished women in Gupta, junior Aron said she realizes the leadership positions in our electrical engiconfidence politics, STEM challenges this conference and research, community will reinforce in neering major and humanities and holds for organizers like her, the WeLead participants their and coordinaarts, business but she is confident of the potential to be change agents,” tor of the We- other leadership and so on. This message it will send.

Anderson said. “I think that if Lead confer- attributes in these “The one thing I would conference will the WeLead participants can ence, said she young women be extremely like the girls to know is they enter college already aware strongly supwho will go to beneficial to stu- can do whatever they set their of the possibilities for leader- ports the cause dents, and we all mind to. The sky is the limit. women become leaders of ship and excellence and have of hope that it will No matter what your gender developed an expectation for empowerment tomorrow.” help high school is, no matter what your race excellence in part because of and leadership, -Nandita Gupta, realize or ethnic group or religion the WeLead conference, then and this conWeLead coordinator students their true poten- is, you can do whatever you ference will be it will be a success.” tial and guide want to do,” Aron said.

The WeLead conference will an opportunity and MSU student For more information on them towards feature accomplished profes- to hone leadselecting their the conference visit weleadmsional women speakers from ership skills in various fields including edu- high school girls and prepare respective fields,” Gupta said. su.wordpress.com.

Friday, Feb. 28 • 8:52 p.m. An employee was arrested in Starkville for driving under the influence and careless driving.

• 10:44 p.m. Bully Patrol reported broken glass at the bus stop in front of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority house.

Saturday, March 1 • 1:48 a.m. A student was arrested in Starkville for driving under the influence.

• 2:58 a.m. An officer reported broken glass at the bus stop behind the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity house.

• 10:27 a.m. An employee reported a six-year-old girl was hurt riding a horse at the MSU Horse Park. EMS was not needed.

• 12:55 p.m. A student injured his neck at the intramural field near the Rex Plex. The subject was transported to OCH. • 5:29 p.m. A resident adviser reported the smell of marijuana in Rice Hall. Nothing was found.

• 10:48 p.m. A resident adviser reported the smell of marijuana in Moseley Hall.

Sunday, March 2 • 12:04 a.m. A student was issued a student referral for possession of marijuana in Moseley Hall.

• 3:41 p.m. A student reported her vehicle was damaged while parked at the Griffis Hall parking lot.

• 10:34 p.m. A student reported being harrassed by several girls in Sessums Hall.

Citations:

• 13 citations were issued for speeding.

• 1 citation was issued for driving the wrong way on a one-way street.

CEREMONY

continued from 1

DAVID LEWIS | THE REFLECTOR

Ernest Green gave his “Lessons from Little Rock” lecture Friday. Nine individuals were honored after the speech for being the first African-Americans in their job positions.

Stephen Middleton, director of the African American Studies program at MSU, said the planning committee proposed honoring the indi-

viduals who were the first in their employee positions or institutes of higher learning as part of Green’s visit, and it provides a way for the com-

munity to show appreciation for these individuals During the ceremony, Julia Hodges, associate vice president for Academic Affairs,

said the contribution made

by Green and his fellow classmates 57 years ago deserved the reflection given during the reception.

“Imagine, being an African-American teenager in 1957. Imagine that you and your family have made the decision to make the commitment that you would be one of the first nine African-American students to attend Central High School in Little Rock, Ark.,” Hodges said. “Imagine that it was only through actions taken

by Dwight Eisenhower that you and the other eight students were allowed to enroll.

In celebration of black history month, Green is that student that I have described and that we have all imagined ourselves to be.”

Parker Wiseman, Starkville mayor, said hearing Green’s story, which was one he learned in history class, was a special treat.

“There’s no substitute for hearing Green tell his own story, and to describe to us what it was actually like as a teenager sitting in that car, seeing all of that play out in front of him. That’s as powerful as it gets,” Wiseman said.

“This was an enrichment of the previous education that

I had of Green’s experience.” mark 60 years since the SuGreen, member of the Lit- preme Court handed down tle Rock Nine, said he gets the Brown decision, somea number of requests to do thing he hopes will be obblack history reflections, and served publicly and privately. this reflection has provided “It was a world that we him, as well as those who thought was ready to accept listened to his lecture, with a change. The Supreme Court learning experience. decision that this made will “This is an be recognized institution that in lots of placThere’s no seems poised es,” Green said. to see this as “Growing up substitute more than for hearing in Little Rock, just an isolatArk., for many Green tell ed activity of people in my black history his own story, and generation, month. Clear- to describe to us you could feel ly this and the what it was actually the change was Civil Rights in the wind.

Movement in like as a teenager I’ve always the state of sitting in that car, said one of the Mississippi in- seeing all of that great lessons tertwines to- play out in front of of life early is gether because that if it’s a big so much of it him.” crowd standing occurred here -Parker Wiseman, around you on and around Starkville mayor a decision, it’s policies that not difficult. existed,” Green The moment said. “I’ve said of truth comes when you’re many times, thought that I was simply standing there alone and you going to school. We didn’t begin to ask, ‘What’s wrong start out to make history. with this picture?’”

Green said Middleton and We had some idea that this was changing things, and others have shown him such we couldn’t avoid it as Afri- hospitality that he will be back to MSU for another can-American teenagers.”

Green said May 17 will visit.

CYBER “In fact, this distinction shows that MSU remains on the cutting edge of this revolving technology,” Keenum said.

John Hamilton, vice president of research at MSU, said today’s technology has created a broad spectrum for good and bad possibilities of what is leaked and put out on the Internet, something good cyber security programs are designed to facilitate at MSU. “We have a critical mass of faculty that are interested in cyber security. Trying to hire cyber security faculty is really hard. The industry offers are amazing, but we’ve got three on campus who work full time in our cyber security,” Hamilton said. “What happens when you have a fully-funded

continued from 1 cyber security research program is it attracts students, and MSU has done a very good job at attracting high caliber cyber security students, and they’ve been spectacular hires.”

Bill Broyles, vice president of student affairs, said MSU’s “best value” merit reassures parents and students the value of education received at MSU will achieve a great return.

“It tells the world of what we already knew, which is that we have world-class faculty and the absolutely best students in the country right here,” Broyles said. “While money certainly isn’t everything, the value of the education at MSU is unmatched. I’m very proud to be on the team here.”

Broyles said cyber secu-

rity is very important, and MSU produces great students who will help keep the Internet safe.

“We have a long history of great cyber security programs here, and we’ve had countless grant opportunities with the department of defense, training, experts of cyber security and law enforcement and FBI,” Broyles said. “So, we are on the cutting edge of making sure that the Internet and things related are secure.”

In light of the two prestigious accolades, Keenum said MSU’s “best value” declaration helps back up his notion to potential students and their families on how an MSU degree is both a bargain and a ticket to changing the lives of graduates.

“MSU graduates earn

more money on average only school in Mississipthan graduates of other pi to make this impressive Mississippi universities. list.”

That is an impactful statisAccording to Keenum, tic — one that MSU is not I take enoronly highIt tells the mous pride ly ranked in,” Keenum among pubworld of said. “For the lic schools, what we second time but has also already in a year, Misbeen specifsissippi State knew, which is that ically recogranked among we have worldnized for the the top United class faculty and high level States public of its engiuniversities for the absolutely best neering and return on in- students in the veterinary vestments. We country right here.” m e d i c i n e made the bestprograms.

-Bill Broyles, valueschools.

“Missiscom, we were vice president of sippi State the Southern student affairs has been recUnited States ognized as best value one of the school coming nation’s best in at No. 11 and, in fact, buys by ‘Forbes’ magazine Mississippi State was the and ‘Kiplinger,’” Keenum

said. “I was very pleased that last spring an analysis by the ‘Wall Street Journal’ on college costs gave Mississippi State a return on investments to students of nearly eight percent, which was by far the highest return of any investment in any school in Mississippi.”

Keenum said the same magazine listed MSU graduates as obtaining the state’s highest average starting salaries than any other school in Miss.

“Our average starting salary is $41,000, and when you compare that with the average Mississippian at Mississippi State with a bachelor’s degree, the average salary in the state is $40,000,” he said. “That’s impressive, and that shows the value of a degree from Mississippi State.”

OPINION

4 | TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014

OPINION EDITOR: ALIE DALEE | opinion@reflector.msstate.edu CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ow on earth have we gotten this far? I am not being an alarmist when Walton Chaney is a junior I say that what is happening in majoring in history. He can be North Korea at this very moment contacted at opinion@reflector. is the closest thing to a modern msstate.edu. day Holocaust that our generation has seen. Prison camps are tively seeks more advanced nuclebeing filled. Religious and po- ar capability. If the head of state litical oppression runs rampant. of a major nation has the nerve to State mandated starvation is oppress, torture and kill his uncle ongoing. The rejection of basic and innocents, how can the globhuman rights is an integral and al community allow that nation primary feature of the totalitarian to be a nuclear state?

How long can the world conregime in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). tinue to ignore the North KoreA report of the independent an problem? Its leader is, at best, United Nations Commission of unstable and unpredictable and, Inquiry on human rights in the at worst, dangerous and threatDPRK was released on Feb. 17. ening. The citizens of the DPRK The findings are chilling, shock- are being slaughtered. The global ing and utterly abhorrent. For community must act. The U.N. years, the discussions of the bru- must follow through with action talities and barbarism that occur on its report. In a Feb. 18 news in North Korea have experienced release, Navi Pillay, U.N. high the normal ebb and flow of typi- commissioner for human rights, cal news cycles. These conditions said, “its findings need to be are atypical. Eighty public testi- treated with the greatest urgency, monies and 240 interviews in the as they suggest that crimes against report attest to the harsh reality humanity of an unimaginable scale continue to be committed of life in North in the DPRK.” Korea.

On the prison These state The independent Commission camps, the report sponsored of Inquiry will states, “inmate crimes present its report population has against to the 47 membeen gradualber states of the ly eliminated humanity have no Human Rights through delib- place in our world.”

Council in Geerate starvation, neva on March forced labor, 17. executions, torThese state sponsored crimes ture, rape and the denial of reproductive rights enforced through against humanity have no place punishment, forced abortion and in our world. Those who carinfanticide.” It goes on to men- ry out these crimes against hution deliberate starvation is used manity need to answer for their to control and punish the popu- actions. As the leader of the free lations in the detention facilities. world, can the United States conThese incidents are but a drop in tinue to ignore the evil that perthe bucket compared to the over- meates throughout even the most rudimentary of human rights? If all context of what happens.

As one would expect, the North the U.N. fails to act, where does Korean regime chose not to co- that leave us?

Edmund Burke, a political operate with the investigation, which itself implies guilt. When theorist an member of Britain’s the study was commissioned, the House of Commons, once said, regime released a statement say- “The only thing necessary for the ing they “totally and categorically triumph of evil is that good men reject the commission inquiry.” should do nothing.” If the U.N. The audacity of the regime to is incapable of invoking change, “totally reject and disregard” the I believe the U.S. has a moral U.N. resolution, which autho- obligation to do so. When dealrized the report, lends itself to ing with a situation of this magjust how fundamentally wick- nitude, all options should be on ed and appalling the leaders of the table. The U.N. should conthis nation are. Kim Jong-un, sider a multilateral humanitarian, the 31-year-old supreme leader diplomatic, covert and military with a boyish face and a widely approach that demands answers. recognized pathetic political per- Ramping up the pressure on ception, said he considered the China to reign in its Southeast execution of his uncle a success Asian counterpart should also be because “party and revolutionary encouraged. If you are unconranks were further consolidated vinced, consider the consequencand our single-hearted unity was es 50 years from now if we do solidified.” To compound the nothing. Are we turning a blind world’s problem, the DPRK ac- eye to a modern-day Auschwitz?

WALTON CHANEY

Gene Taylor for Congress? Again?

I

n 2010, at the height of the Tea Party movement, Democratic Congressman Gene Taylor — representing South Mississippi — was ousted by Steven Palazzo after serving 21 years in the House of Representatives. On the same day, Republicans gained 62 other seats in the House.

The 2010 election was not a referendum on Taylor, but a referendum on the government spending, healthcare and taxation policies of the national Democratic Party. Palazzo — quite literally — ran against then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. His campaign slogan was “Fire Pelosi.” And to his — and the 62 other Republican gains’ — credit, he did just that.

Now, Taylor is back to run for his old seat. The difference?

He’s a Republican now. But is it a change of heart or of strategy?

Switching parties is a funny business. But it is certainly not without precedent. Ronald Regan once said, “I didn’t leave the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party left me.” In 1962 Regan, or “The Gipper,” decided

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

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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.

to change his registration from Democrat to Republican. He, of course, would not be hindered much by this and would go on to become the 40th president of the United States.

But what’s happening in Mississippi’s fourth District is a little different.

It’s no secret Washington has seen better days. The gridlock and jockeying for power make getting even simple things done a difficult task. And Taylor has hit the ground running and pitching why people should vote for him — in a word, bipartisanship.

If you find yourself looking for something to do one evening — and were born on/before this date in 1993 — flip on Fox News or MSNBC and play a drinking game. Take a swig when you hear the word “bipartisanship” or “compromise,” and don’t expect to do anything productive the next day. These terms are fine examples of words co-opted by the pundit class to represent nothing more than hollow talking points.

Bipartisanship and compromise are not ends in themselves.

They are merely a means to an end. It’s foolish to say compromise or bipartisanship is “good” and to neglect entirely what the resulting compromise might be. Taylor does have a history of bipartisanship and a proven inclination to compromise, but at face value that is not going to earn my vote.

Palazzo and Taylor both have some work to do if they want to win the primary in June. Palazzo will have to address many with buyer’s remorse who opted for him over Taylor four years ago.

And Taylor is going to have to clearly articulate why his move from Democratic to Republican is anything less than a self-serving strategy. It’s a rare opportunity to get to redo an election — albeit nearly completely inverted. But it’s one we should not take lightly.

We need specifics. Both Palazzo and Taylor should be specific about what they can offer the constituents of the fourth District. Offering “compromise,” “bipartisanship” or even “conservatism” is not enough. Will the sound-bite political culture

JOJO DODD JoJo Dodd is a junior majoring in economics. He can be contacted at opinion@reflector. msstate.edu.

our country has become allow for a departure from the talking points and a move to substance?

The next 90 days will tell.

Taylor used to be a Democrat, but that in itself is not enough reason to vote against him. My vote is still up for grabs, and if you’re in Mississippi’s fourth District, yours should be too. Let them earn it.

(Editor’s Note: JoJo served as Director of Broadcast Advertising for Joe Tegerdine, Steven Palazzo’s Republican primary opponent, in 2010.)

THE CURIOUS TASK

Consumers win as Starkville’s coffee monopoly ends

M

any Starkville residents lament the impending arrival of an additional Starbucks.

They fear Starbucks poses a threat to the future of their favorite locally owned coffee shops. Shane Reed, Strange Brew Coffeehouse owner, and Havilah Couvillion, co-owner of Nine-twentynine Coffee Bar, share their viewpoints about the new shop coming to town.

Let us put on our economic lens and examine what happens when new competition enters the market and why Starkville coffee lovers should be excited about the new Starbucks, whether they like Starbucks’ coffee or not.

F.A. Hayek, Nobel Prize winning Austrian economist, describes competition as the set of activities which businesses engage in as part of the discovery process — discovery of knowledge, to be precise. The process of competition reveals information about prices, consumer preferences, innovation and value. Hayek explains this competitive process benefits society as a whole. Compe-

tition benefits consumers in The result is good for both the multiple ways. It drives down consumers and the businesses. prices, improves quality and The effect is that it encourages improves service. All of these other coffee producers, such as points should make coffee-lov- Strange Brew and Nine-twening Starkvillians happy. tynine, to innovate, improve In past articles we explained quality and service and difconsumer choice reveals infor- ferentiate themselves. With mation about the new arrival what they of Starbucks, Competition Strange Brew value. Therefore, if conmay find a way benefits sumers choose to improve its consumers to go to the drive-thru serin multiple new Starbucks vice to compete rather than ways. It drives with Starbucks’ Strange Brew down prices, speedy service. or Nine-twen- improves qualities An additional tynine, the possibility is choice reveals and improves the emergence that consum- service. All of these of new drinks ers prefer Star- points should or food added bucks’ products make coffee-loving to the menu to and services. capitalize on The choice also Starkvillians happy.” customer prefreveals consumerences. Cusers are willing tomers may to purchase these goods at find baristas more friendly or the price which Starbucks of- helpful in providing excellent fers them. When competing service. coffee shops see this revealed Before Starkville residents information about consum- voice their disapproval of the er preferences, they improve new Starbucks, they need to their business so they may stay take time to consider all of the competitive in the market. intended and unintended con-

BRIAN GRECO AND KIM PETTIT Brian Greco and Kim Pettit are a graduate students in business administration. They can be contacted at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.

sequences that arise when new competition enters the market.

The arrival of new competition may lead to an overall better experience for consumers. It may strengthen the desire for local coffeehouses. Competition also forces the businesses to improve. Whether or not someone likes Starbucks, he or she should welcome the competition and the improvements that come with it. When it comes down to it, an economist would never consider more competition a bad thing.

PONDER THIS

“Frozen” whitewash controversy: Disney and racism

D

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isney’s “Frozen” has received more public attention than the company could have ever imagined. It quickly earned over $1 billion in the box office worldwide and was named Disney Animation Studios’ best animated musical since the studio’s striking renaissance era.

“Frozen’s” whitewashing controversy is an on-going online debate in regards to the lack of people of color in the film. The debate has inspired a series of online art that re-imagines some of Disney’s most well-known characters as people of color. The discussion has become a hot topic on many other websites since then. Recently, however, it has come to include accusations against Disney to insist Disney has been disrespectful of the Sámi culture. Online debaters insist the characters in the film should have been portrayed as the people of modern Scandinavia, who they claim are mainly people of color.

This debate, however, is only one of the many controversies accusing Disney of racism. Such accusations go way back, and the company has found it impossible to please all audiences.

But pleasing all audiences can indeed prove to be impossible.

Let’s look at Disney Animation Studios. The last few Disney female heroines aside from Rapunzel of “Tangled,” have come from various racial and cultural backgrounds. Jasmine of “Aladdin,” Tiana of “Princess and the Frog”

and Mulan of “Mulan” are all brilliant portrayals of their cultural backgrounds. Even then, Disney Animation Studios was accused of racism or disregarding the culture it tried to portray. People continue to insist that Disney has not abandoned the pattern of its early foundation, which some people still go back to when they accuse modern Disney of racism.

As people of modern society who have seen and learned from countless acts of discrimination against people of various racial backgrounds, we tend to be more sensitive to such topics. We are quick to point out comments or events that are based on any kind of discrimination and do not hesitate to defend ourselves and others. This includes calling attention to various possibilities, such as the artwork that explores how the characters of “Frozen” would look if they were of a different racial background. This is a good thing.

It keeps society open-minded about cultural diversity and how it can enhance the way we think.

In the last few decades, however, it seems society sometimes can be overly sensitive to racism and related issues of discrimination.

This brings us to our main question: Is Disney racist? Did it insult the Sámi in its newest feature film?

The best way to answer this question is to look at the reaction of the Sámi. According to the 2014 New Year’s speech of Aili Keskitalo, the president of the Norwegian Sámi, they are proud of Disney’s portrayal of their cul-

ture in their feature film and feel that it is a good way for the Sámi culture to spread to new audiences worldwide. There has been no controversy among the Sámi in regard to the characters’ physical appearances. “Frozen” has received such a warm welcome that it will later be featured at Skábmagovat, a Sámi film festival in Finland.

The Sámi were particularly excited about the musical scores in the movie, which whitewashing controversy debate supporters claim insults their culture because it contains Sámi traditional yoik, or chanting. This is the very reason why the Sámi are so at peace with the film. Disney actually consulted a professional Sámi musician, Frode Fjellheim, to write the opening score. For people to attack the music within the opening score is to insult the Sámi musician who wrote the music, who the Sámi praised for his compositions.

Why are the Sámi not upset that Disney chose to portray the characters as white? Well, most people of original Sámi descent are light-skinned because, about 100 years ago, there were no people of color in Scandinavia. This is also when Disney claims the film takes place. It wasn’t until fairly recently that the Sámi became a culturally diverse people of various Arctic, Asian and African descent.

Disney said it meant no harm in its portrayal of the Sámi. As a matter of fact, the idea for “Frozen” has been in the Disney archives since the early 1940s. The project

BROOKLYN TUCKER Brooklyn Tucker is a junior majoring in kinesiology. She can be contacted at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.

was shelved due to feelings that it would not relate to audiences of the time. It has been pulled off of the shelf and re-shelved countless times due to various dilemmas.

Given this inside look at the Sámi and the origins of Disney’s “Frozen,” not everything revolves around discrimination. It is fairly safe to say most companies do not target a specific group to discriminate against when they make a new product. While it is good to defend one’s various backgrounds, it is not good to be critical of everything around the corner. The best way to look at it is the simple fact that not everything is done to hurt others. Looking at it this way can help us decide when discrimination is actually present and what we can do about it. If people would think before they throw out such accusations, others are more likely to listen. It defeats the purpose of our cause if we accuse others of discrimination just because it suits us.

TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014 | 5

REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM

AN IN-CLASS DISTRACTION ...

3-4-14

BULLETIN BOARD CLASSIFIEDS POLICY

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

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

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.

club_info@reflector.msstate. edu with the subject heading “CLUB INFO,” or a form may be completed at The Reflector office in the Student Media Center. A contact name, phone number and requested run dates must be included for club info to appear in The Reflector. All submissions are subject to exemption according to space availability.

STUDENTS FOR A SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS

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. SCUBA DAWGS

MISCELLANEOUS

Lost dog: female Boston terrier, around 10 pounds, copper and white, wears a red collar. Her name is Penny.

Her home is in the area of University Estates. If found, contact 662-418-0284.

CLUB INFO

The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday; deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. MSU student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info. Information may be submitted by email to

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.

DCP ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

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

AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNIONMSU CHAPTER

The MSU chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union will meet the last Wednesday of every month at 5 p.m. in Bowen Hall room 250. All majors are welcome. For more information, contact Dr. Lane at lane@soc.msstate.edu.

SOCIOLOGICAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION

The Sociological Student Association will meet the last Thursday of every month at 5 p.m. in Bowen Hall room 250.

All majors are welcome. For more information, contact Dr. Lane at lane@soc.msstate. edu.

ROSE PRUNING 101

Come join us Saturday, March 1, from 9 a.m. to noon at the MSU Veterans Memorial Rose Garden to learn the best pruning techniques for hybrid tea roses and garden shrub roses from experts in the field.

RSVP by Feb. 28 by emailing gcdenny@pss.msstate.edu or calling 662-325-1682.

IRANIAN STUDENT ASSOCIATION

We will hold an Iranian new year celebration March 21 in the Union Ballroom from 7-10 p.m. with folk music, dance and refreshments. Contact Pedram Gharghabi at pg377@ msstate.edu with questions.

Solutions for 2-28-14

Read their stories. See their portraits.

Hear their voices.

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The Eye & Laser Center of Starkville offers a wide selection of name brands of eyewear to our patients. Our office is conveniently located at the corner of Walker Way and Hospital Road.

The Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library

BONGO Costa Del Mar ELLE GUESS Lacoste Liz Claiborne Maui Jim Nautica Nicole Miller Oakley Ray-Ban Rx

Located in the Mitchell Memorial Library on the campus of Mississippi State University The Grisham Room

Eye&Laser Center

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Eye & Disease Care

Optical Center

www.eyeandlaser.net 662.320.6555 • 100 Walker Way • Starkville, MS 39759

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THE REFLECTOR

6 | TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014

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

LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT

Columbus-based band Hartle Road travels uphill

BY DAVID LEWIS Staff Writer

Although they have played together for many years, the Hartleroad brothers and their cousin, Miles Jordan, formed their Columbus-based band Hartle Road a year and a half ago.

Toby Hartleroad, lead singer and guitarist, Max Hartleroad, drummer, and Miles Jordan, bassist, form the band, along with added guitarist and keyboardist Tyler Carter, who the band members met at a show in Tuscaloosa, Ala. With musical influences like The Monkeys, The Beach Boys and early Pink Floyd, Hartle Road’s sound expresses classic rock’s honesty.

Secret Stages, Birmingham’s music discovery festival, aptly described the band’s sound and noted the group displays an amalgamation of musical styles.

“If (bands like) Interpol and Razorlight had an affair with (bands like) the Animals and the Zombies, Hartle Road would be their genre-jumping, time machine lovechild and Brian Wilson would be their baptismal godfather. Serious ear candy,” the site stated.

Every aspect of Hartle Road’s music derives from the principles of being a family band.

Toby Hartleroad said creating music is a team effort for the band.

“Everything is pretty much co-written,” he said. “If someone comes up with a good guitar riff, we will run with it.”

Other inspirations also stir the band. Toby Hartleroad recently became the father of a baby boy, who he said has changed his outlook on life. Toby Hartleroad said the changes his son wrought directly inspire the music he creates.

“My son has shown me ev-

HARTLE ROAD | COURTESY PHOTO

Brothers Toby Hartleroad, lead singer and guitarist, and Max Hartleroad, drummer, form Hartle Road, along with Miles Jordan, bassist, and Tyler Carter, keyboardist. The Columbus-based band has persisted through a lack of hometown support to recently release its deput EP online and sign with Big Legal Mess/Fat Possum Records. erything that is good in the world. He has opened my eyes to that pure innocence,” he said.

Toby Hartleroad said the band’s biggest inspiration comes from something unorthodox for musicians: film.

“We are influenced by a lot of movies, foreign films and such,” he said. “We have been getting heavy into films like ‘8 ½,’ which is a direct inspiration for our song ‘8 ¾,’ the last song on the EP.” The band even used a direct quote from the film in the song’s chorus.

Max Hartleroad said visual artists and movies influence the band more than music.

“We watch more movies

than we (listen to) music,” he said.

Film’s influence brought a peculiar addition to the cassette release of their EP. Toby Hartleroad said the tape’s entire Side Two consists of a series of sci-fi episodic radio shows.

“The best I can relate it to is ‘Blade Runner’ meets a really terrible high school play.

Our acting was so bad. It gave us a chance to add some mysticism behind the songs,” he said.

Max Hartleroad said The Who’s work also informed the alien-related public service announcements “It is like when The Who recorded radio jingles on

their album, ‘The Who Sells Out,’” he said.

Overall, Toby Hartleroad said the Side Two opportunity caters to the band’s deep desire to expand outside the realm of music.

“Musicians seem so intent to sticking to that medium,” he said. “I don’t like musicians being boxed into simply being a musician.”

The band members like to question why artists take themselves and their music too seriously.

Max Hartleroad said a band’s validity often ties to its self-image.

“A lot of songwriters take themselves so seriously, and a lot of people think they have

more validity because of it.

But why is doing other stuff like (using a ‘Tuck Everlasting’ quote) less valid?” he said.

Toby Hartleroad said the band’s informal view of music also informs their outlook on life.

“Life is not so serious all the time,” he said. “It’s just not so black and white.”

Unlike Dent May and The Weeks, Columbus-based Hartle Road had little hometown support, which caused it to travel to play music.

The band’s music reaches deep into isolation that Max Hartleroad said stems from growing up as musicians in a Mississippi town with little

local interest in their music.

“On that tape, you kind of feel in outer space,” he said.

“That feeling of isolation comes from living in Mississippi. Sometimes you just feel alone. Being alone allows us to be ourselves.”

Max Hartleroad said this isolation-driven sound can also comfort young listeners with the same plight.

“There may be some kid, and if he hears it, it may make him feel better,” he said. “‘Oh man, someone else feels like this. I feel like I have someone with me through music.’”

The band’s recording history began when it recorded at Dial Back Sound in Water Valley, Miss. After the band finished up, studio owner Bruce Watson asked if he could put out the band’s record, which began a process Toby Hartleroad said was fluid and organic. Watson, also a part of Big Legal Mess/Fat Possum Records, has worked with artists like R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough and Water Liars.

Hartle Road released its EP on BandCamp Tuesday, Feb. 25, with a CD release show last Saturday at Ajax Diner in Oxford, Miss. The band plays in Jackson, Hattiesburg and Baton Rouge in the upcoming weeks and has recorded a full-length album that will be released in the near future.

In the meantime, Toby Hartleroad said the band hopes to stay on the road continually.

“We plan to keep touring.

There are no guarantees in the music business,” he said.

“You can only hope to go on the road and make money.”

With a well-respected label like Fat Possum/Big Legal Mess on its side, a genre-bending classic rock sound and diverse inspirations, Hartle Road looks to run uphill.

Shedding Celebrity drug overdoses, deaths new light: draw attention to substance abuse

BY NUR-UL-HUDA MUJAHID

Hoffman’s system.

Glenn (Pete) Smith Jr., associate professor in the MisThe deaths of celebrities sissippi State University Delike Philip Seymour Hoffman, partment of Communication, Cory Monteith, Michael Jack- said the media carefully covson and Whitney Houston ered all aspects of Hoffman’s bring the vices of drug addic- life and reputable news sourction to the forefront of society, es refrained from sensationbut an innumerable amount alizing reports dealing with of people die each day due to addiction.

“Some sources are very drasubstance abuse.

According to the Center matic, but I feel that Hofffor Disease Control, “Every man’s death was covered quite day in the United States, 105 accurately from credible news people die as a result of drug sources,” he said. “In this one overdose, and another 6,748 instance, they did a nice job understanding are treated and covering in emerHoffman’s back gency dePeople need story.” partments to understand Keenyn R. (ED) for that addiction Wald, MSU’s the misuse or is a brain disor- Student Counseling Services abuse of der, and peocounselor, said drugs.” ple lose the power of he had a difMost choice in a sense. They ferent outlook r e c e n t l y, the tragic have a hard time living on the way the death of life not high. The world media portrays drug addiction.

Hoffman sees them as morally “The media on Feb. wrong, but it truly is can put a par2 caused ticular spin on uproar in a brain disorder, and things — Britthe media. they need help. ney shaving her Hoffman - Keenyn R. Wald, head, Lindsay was found an MSU Student falling over with a sydrunk. That’s ringe in Counseling Services not fun,” he his left counselor said. “We only arm, and see parts of the cause these celebriof death ties’ lives. In eswas acute mixed drug intoxication. Ac- sence, normal people that die cording to the New York med- every day have talents as well, ical examiner’s office, heroin, but we don’t hear about them. cocaine, benzodiazepines and That’s part of the insidiousamphetamine were found in ness of addiction.”

Staff Writer

Celebrities who have died from substance abuse:

Philip Seymour Hoffman Cory Monteith Michael Jackson Whitney Houston

But, while celebrity deaths bring addiction into the limelight, the fact is, people die from drug abuse every day:

Every day in the United States,

105

people die as a result of drug overdose,

and another

6,748

are treated in emergency departments for the misuse or abuse of drugs.

source: Center for Disease Control ZACK ORSBORN | THE REFLECTOR

Kim Kavalasky, Coordinator of Mental Health Outreach in the Department of Health Education and Wellness, spoke on the merits of Student Counseling Services and said the service provides support for those struggling with various disorders.

“This is an organization on campus for students who are in recovery from substance use disorders and eating disorders,” she said. “When one speaks about the tragedy of addiction, I think it is always important to emphasize that recovery is possible.”

Smith said he believes the media does not sway one’s decision to succumb to drug addiction.

“I don’t feel like the media influences people to do drugs because there are just so many factors related to cause and effect,” he said.

“Why someone becomes addicted to drugs depends on a number of factors, including socialization. There is little evidence to support mediated behavior.”

Wald said society views addiction as choice-driven and as a moral issue when addiction is a serious brain disorder that requires medical treatment.

“We don’t treat drug addiction as the public issue that it really is. Instead, we treat it as a moral issue. People need to understand that addiction is

a brain disorder, and people lose the power of choice in a sense,” he said. “They have a hard time living life not high.

The world sees them as morally wrong, but it truly is a brain disorder, and they need help.”

Smith said the deaths of actors and singers in the limelight cause chatter over serious issues like drug addiction, but because the media places a great deal of emphasis on relevance, the conversation never reaches the point where change can ensue.

“These celebrity deaths create great discussion about drug addiction for a short period of time and why it happens, but the problem is

that it is only for that short amount of time,” he said.

“The system is broken because we blame the victim so much.”

True understanding of addiction, Smith said, comes when individuals realize that addiction is the same whether the individual is an Oscar-winning actor or a neighbor two blocks away.

“I wish that, as a society, we realize these celebrities are no different from that drug-addicted person in any small town,” he said. “I feel that we have a responsibility to create a dialogue that will lead to change, but that will require us talking about these instances in a different light.”

8 vanderbilt game 3 noon 9 georgia 12 missouri Game 1 6 p.m.

13 mississippi state

2014 SEC WOMEN’S

game 7 noon 1 south carolina

game 4 2:30 p.m.

5 florida

game 11 - ESPNU Noon

BASKETBALL TOURnament

game 8 2:30 p.m.

10 LSU game 5 6 p.m.

14 ole miss

7 alabama

championship game ESPN 3:50 p.m. game 9 6 p.m.

2 tennessee

game 6 8:30 p.m.

6 Auburn

GAME 12 - ESPNU 2:30 p.m.

game 10 8:30 P.m.

march 5-9 at the arena at gwinnet center in duluth, ga.

3 Texas A&M zack orsborn | the reflector

Lady Bulldogs drop final two games, prep for SEC Tourney

By Quentin Smith Staff Writer

Up by one with 1.2 seconds left in the game, the Mississippi State University women’s basketball team had the No. 12 Kentucky Wildcats on the ropes, but couldn’t quite deliver the knockout punch. The Lady Bulldogs made a crucial foul within that 1.2 seconds to send the Wildcats to the free-throw line with a chance to win the game. The Wildcats missed their first freethrow, but then made their second one, which sent MSU into its third-consecutive overtime game.

In overtime, State scored the first three points of the period but eventually ran out of gas. MSU went on to drop the game 81-74.

MSU had to quickly erase the loss as it got ready to prepare for its final game of the season against the University of Georgia. MSU beat Georgia earlier in the season by 13 points and hoped for the same results again this time around, but unfortunately, things did not go as planned. The Lady Bulldogs were ousted by 29 points and lost 77-48.

MSU finished the regular season with a record of 18-12 and 5-11 in conference play. Although it dropped the final two games of the season, head coach Vic Schaefer said he loves the passion and competitiveness his team displayed.

“Our kids are doing all they can do,” Schaefer said. “Our freshmen are playing great. At times they make freshman mistakes, but they’re really doing some good things.”

Despite losing their final two games of the season, the Lady Dogs have to keep moving forward as they get ready for a tougher challenge, the SEC Tournament. The team will use its same hard-nosed, gritty style of play just as it has all season long but will need to take things up a notch in

Dogs sweep Diamond Classic

By Anthony mcDougle Staff Writer

4 kentucky

11 arkansas game 2 8:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014 | 7

SPORTS

REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM

The Mississippi State University baseball team provided plenty of thrill for fans this past weekend.

The Diamond Dogs welcomed Michigan State and Eastern Illinois to Dudy Noble Field for the Diamond Classic. The Bulldogs won all four of their contests over the weekend, extending their winning streak to six games and sending both visiting teams home on sour notes.

Although a rain delay slowed the start of MSU’s first game of the weekend, fans still got their money’s worth as the Bulldogs put on a thrilling eighth inning rally to edge out a 4-2 win over Michigan State.

Head Coach John Cohen said despite the weather, he was pleased with the production from his team.

“We had a good night of work,” Cohen said. “It was good to see some quality at-bats on a difficult night. We have done a good job in two-out situations. Hopefully, that trend continues.”

The Maroon and White jumped out to an early 1-0 lead behind consecutive singles from seniors Brett Pirtle and C.T. Bradford and walks to Cody Brown and Cody Walker. The walk to Walker would drive in a run with two outs.

Michigan State responded quickly with a pair of scores in the third to regain a 2-1 lead after Blaise Slater connected on a two-run double. Bulldog SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week Ross

Mitchell entered in relief of starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff and allowed two hits and no runs.

It was not until the eighth inning that MSU managed to rally and retake the lead. Wes Rea reached after being hit by a pitch to start the inning. Pirtle and Bradford would follow with back-to-back bunt singles, and the game-tying run came on an overthrow on a bunt. Pinch-hitter Daniel Garner hit a two-out single to break the tie, and Walker followed suit with an RBI single to end MSU’s scoring in the frame.

The Bulldogs swept day two of the Diamond Classic beginning with a 4-3 walk off victory against Eastern Illinois.

Junior Trevor Fitts pitched another solid performance giving up one run in 6.2 innings of work while striking out eight and surrendering only one walk. Lefty Jacob Lindgren earned his first win of the season after striking out three Panthers in 1.2 scoreless stanzas.

The Diamond Dogs quickly took a 1-0 lead in the first after Jake Vickerson stole third and reached home on an error by the EIU third baseman. The junior outfielder drove in another run in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI-double, and Alex Detz sent Vickerson home after belting a pitch back up the middle.

The Panthers responded in the eighth with a two-run home run to tie up the game and pave the way for a suspenseful ninth inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, freshman infielder Reid Humphreys sent a shot to the

emma katherine hutto | the reflector

Kendra Grant dribbles around the Vanderbilt defense in a win earlier this season. Grant and the Lady Bulldogs open the SEC tournament against Missouri Wednesday. order to make a deep run in the tournament.

Just like in many of the games it has played this year, MSU is the underdog heading into postseason play. The team drew the No. 13 seed and will face No. 12 University of Missouri on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

In their matchup against Mizzou earlier this season, the Lady Bulldogs defeated the Tigers by 13 points and will look to duplicate that same success again in the tournament.

Junior guard Kendra Grant said she and her teammates are used to being the underdog.

“This year, a lot of people had already counted us out in games before they even started, and we still competed and have been close in those games,” Grant said.

Schaefer said he considers the SEC to be the biggest and baddest conference in the nation. MSU has gone toe-to-toe with everyone in the league and even pulled

a few upsets along the way. The Lady Dogs gained respect and notoriety from everyone throughout the conference.

Freshman Breanna Richardson said the simple fact of knowing they can compete with the best teams gives the Lady Bulldogs a confidence booster going into the SEC Tournament.

“It just shows that we actually are really good,” Richardson said.

“Sometimes, I think we underestimate ourselves, and when we come out and play against teams like (Kentucky), it shows we actually can compete and we have a chance to win.”

The SEC Tournament will be held in Duluth, Ga., March 5-9.

Schaefer said he is confident in his team to continue success at the SEC Tournament.

“We’ve been playing with our young kids all year, we’ve been playing with veterans all year and these kids deserve to reap the benefits of winning,” he said.

leon carrubba | the reflector

Dakota Hudson tosses a pitch in a game earlier this year.

Hudson earned his first win on the mound Sunday.

shortstop for a single, driving in Gavin Collins for the game-winning run.

True freshman pitcher Austin Sexton shined in the second game of the day, pitching six shutout innings and allowing only three hits as the Bulldogs coasted to a 7-1 victory over Michigan State in the final game of the day.

MSU ended the Diamond Classic with a 9-0 triumph over Eastern Illinois Sunday.

The game was closely contested until the Bulldogs exploded for a seven-run seventh inning to help ensure their win streak remained intact.

Freshmen hurler Dakota Hudson earned his first win as Bulldog.

Hudson scattered seven hits over 5.2 innings of work. He encountered his most trouble of the game early in contest, but he said junior catcher Walker was a pivotal part in helping him work out of a tough spot.

“Being able to pitch out of that trouble was good for me, and it helped me get a feel for the game,” Hudson said. “It was good to have Cody back there. He came out to the mound a couple of times to help me calm my nerves, and he had me mixing up my pitches a little bit.”

With a 2-0 lead, Vickerson began what would be a huge inning for the Bulldogs with a leadoff single. Pirtle connected for an RBI-single after a strikeout and a Rea walk. Armstrong registered his second hit of the night via a two-run single. Jacob Robson would steal home afterward followed by RBI hits by Seth Heck, Walker and Vickerson.

Armstrong had a solid performance in the winning effort, with two hits and two RBIs for the first time this season. He said the win gave him a boost of confidence.

“I felt good before this weekend, but it adds to the confidence — there’s no doubt about that,” he said. “I don’t feel any different at the plate but now I know that my role could come at any moment in a game, and so the key is to be ready at all times.”

MSU will take the field Wednesday to wrap up its 15game home stand against South Alabama at 6:30 p.m.

TENNIS The Bulldogs carried the momentum into Sunday’s match against Auburn.

MSU’s top duo of Jordan Angus and Stropp defeated AU’s Dan Cochrane and Oliver Plaskett 8-4 for their fourth-straight victory.

Bulldog tandem of Rishab Agarwal and White clinched the point with an 8-4 win against the Tigers’ Dante Saleh and Joseph Van Dooren.

In singles, MSU overcame three first-set tiebreakers and ral-

continued from 8 lied to win three of four matches for the victory.

Angus, Agarwal and Lakat each collected straight-set wins to clinch the match.

Head Coach Per Nisslon said the team gave a great performance, especially playing the tie-breaker sets that gave MSU the extra boost.

“We just got huge momentum swing by winning all three of those,” he said. “So if we lose all three of the (tie-breakers), then we’ve got to come back,

and that’s never easy,” he said.

Volunteer assistant coach James Chaudry said most of the doubt during the past week’s matchups stemmed from physical stress.

“Like Stropp, he’s naturally talented, but he was focused on his physical wellness, which is important, of course. After he started to feel better, so did the team, and the effort was reflected on the courts,” he said. “We worked on what we were worried about, and everyone has done well.”

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Congratulations to the 311 Greek women with 4.0 GPAs in the fall semester!

The Greek women’s average GPA was higher than the all women’s GPA.

8 | TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014

SPORTS EDITOR: JOHN GALATAS | reflectorsports@gmail.com

SPORTS

STAT OF THE DAY:

THE REFLECTOR

MSU’s softball pitching staff has yielded only 12 runs, the fewest through 20 games in program history.

Softball earns five wins on Gulf Coast

By John GAlAtAs Sports Editor

Dominant pitching and timely hitting proved to be the hallmark of Mississippi State University’s softball team as they picked up five wins in the first annual Gulf Coast Classic.

MSU improved to 19-1, which marks the best 20-game start in program history.

The Bulldog pitching staff owns a 0.46 ERA and has only allowed opponents a schoolbest 12 runs through 20 contests.

Head Coach Vann Stuedeman said the wins were important to build confidence heading into conference play next weekend.

“It’s huge to finish strong.

It’s huge to be ready to play your next game — it’s the most important game on the schedule,” she said. “We needed to leave here finishing strong.”

The Bulldogs opened the weekend with a 6-0 win against the University of Texas at San Antonio Friday afternoon.

Senior Logan Foulks blasted a two-run home run and classmate Heidi Shape drove in a pair of runs to seal the win.

In Friday’s nightcap, the Bulldogs suffered their first setback of the year as they fell to No. 12 Baylor 1-0 in an eight-inning contest.

MSU’s Alison Owen and Baylor’s Heather Stearns engaged in a pitching duel as both pitchers surrendered just 10 hits and combined for 21 strikeouts.

The Bears used a two-out RBI single in the eighth inning to push the game’s lone run across the plate.

The Bulldogs rebounded in day two with a pair of wins

john galatas | the reflector

Logan Foulks crushes a home run against UTSA Friday.

Foulks finished the tourney with five hits and six RBIs. against Memphis 3-2 and Nicholls State 7-0.

Junior Julia Echols led MSU in the opener against Memphis with a career-high three hits and an RBI. Foulks connected on her second home run of the weekend, and freshman Mackenzie Toler delivered the game-winning RBI double in the seventh inning to complete a three-run comeback.

After the Bulldogs plated solo runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to claim the lead, Owen tossed a perfect final frame to pick up her first save and claim the win for MSU. Owen said she felt comfortable in the pressure situation and has confidence in any pitcher on the mound.

“The beautiful thing about our pitching staff is we can have starters, we can have middle-relief and we can have closers. Any pitcher on our staff can come in and fill any of those positions,” she said. “I call it our arsenal since we had three pitchers in that game. I love our pitching staff.”

In the latter game of the double header against Nicholls State, sophomore Jacey Punches tossed a complete-game, onehit shutout to collect her sixth win on the mound this season.

The MSU offense used patient at-bats and timely hitting to score seven runs on six walks and four hit-by-pitches.

Shape did not record a plate appearance as she was walked and hit by three pitches, which

was the most by a single player since 2004, while plating a pair of runs.

Echols said the patient atbats allowed runners to get on base and put the team in position to win.

“That’s the approach we want every day, and it just paid off for us (Saturday).

The (coaches) are constantly reinforcing we need to get hit by pitches, and we need to get walks, and we need to lay bunts down,” she said. “Hitting is not about average — it’s about scoring and getting on base. We did a good job of that. We had five hits and seven runs — that’s Mississippi State softball.”

On the final day of the tournament, MSU posted 2-1 wins against Ohio and Texas State.

Owen continued to dominate on the mound as she nearly pitched a perfect game, allowing just one runner to reach base when Dakota Pyles hit a solo home run in the third inning.

Owen struck out 11 and brought her total to 86 on the year.

Offensively, the Dogs relied on the bats of freshman Caroline Seitz and Echols. Seitz put MSU on the board with a solo home run in the first inning, while Echols led off the fourth inning with a double and was later driven in on a sac fly by Foulks.

In the final game, SEC Freshman of the Week Alexis Silkwood tossed 6.2 innings while recording nine strikeouts in the Bulldog victory.

The Bulldogs return to action as they host UAB Tuesday at 5 p.m. before beginning conference play against No. 6 Kentucky this weekend.

mary liz herrington | the reflector

Florian Lakat returns a volley in a match earlier this year.

The Dogs began SEC play 2-0 for the third straight season.

Tennis picks up pair of conference wins

By AlexAndriA Wilson Contributing Writer

This weekend was a busy one for MSU men’s tennis, as it fended off both No. 37 Alabama (43) and No. 31 Auburn (4-1) to open the SEC play.

Clutch play in doubles and all-around team effort pulled through for the Bulldogs to help dominate both teams.

The SEC opener against Bama was originally scheduled for Friday but was suspended due to rain. MSU took the doubles point and had a lead of 1-0 before the game was postponed.

When singles play picked back up Saturday, MSU’s Rishab Agarwal picked up where he left off, defeating his opponent 6-0, 6-3 to earn MSU a 2-0 lead.

Bama answered with a victory on court one, as UA’s No. 17 Daniil Proskura came back to defeat MSU’s No. 71 Malte Stropp 3-6,

6-0, 6-1. Despite the first strike from Bama, the threat dwindled as MSU senior Zach White earned a crucial 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 victory against UA’s Stuart Kenyon to put MSU up 3-1.

On court two, MSU’s No. 63 Florian Lakat dominated most of his final set. After earning a late break, UA answered with a break to put things back on serve.

However, after holding to go up 6-5, Lakat earned a break in the final game to wrap the match in Maroon and White, winning 2-6, 6-2, 7-5.

Between Saturday’s and Sunday’s games, Stropp said the team responded well after a couple of setbacks last week.

“I don’t feel like we did very good last week, especially after we went 1-2 on the last two weekends. It was really good that we stepped up as a team this weekend,” he said. see TENNIS, 7