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125th YEAR | ISSUE 40 @REFLECTORONLINE f /REFLECTORONLINE
MARCH 7, 2014
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MSU students gathered at the steps of Mississippi’s Capitol to voice concerns over Senate Bill 2681.
ANNA WOLFE | THE REFLECTOR
Ale Torres, senior social work major, holds a sign at the student-coordinated protest against a senate bill in Jackson Tuesday morning. Critics of the bill, SB2681, say it contains language that makes religiously-motivated discrimination legal. The House committee amended the bill to address these concerns and approved it Tuesday morning.
MSU students voice concerns, protest at capitol BY ANNA WOLFE
to those recently struck down by legislative bodies in Kansas and Arizona. The bill is designed to protect the free exercise of religion. Justin Dornbusch, history graduate student and secretary of the A crowd of people including Mississippi State University stu- campus activist group LGBTQ Union, organized the protest on Facebook so that MSU students could dents and concerned citizens hudvoice their concerns regarding the dled together on the steps of MisThe language in Senate Bill bill. sissippi’s Capitol building at 8 a.m. 2681 basically could’ve al“The language in Senate Bill 2681 Tuesday morning while an older lowed discrimination against basically could’ve allowed discrimblonde woman gave hand warmers ination against any group, and the to those without gloves. any group, and the LGBTQ LGBTQ community is especially vul“For the gloveless,” she said as community is especially vulnerable.” nerable,” Dornbusch said. she handed them to the protestors, The Mississippi Senate unanimousmost who were holding signs that -Justin Dornbusch, ly approved Senate Bill 2681 on Jan. said, “Segregation didn’t work the MSU history graduate student 31. The original bill said it was an act first time,” “They are precious in “to provide that state action or an action by any person based his sight” and “Let God be the qualifier.” People were there to protest Senate Bill 2681, the Mississippi on state action shall not burden a person’s right to the exercise Religious Freedom Restoration Act — a bill crtics say is similar of religion and for related purposes.” News Editor
ANNA WOLFE | THE REFLECTOR
Students and members of the community participate in a protest against Senate Bill 2681 organized by MSU activist group LGBTQ Union. Many in the community fear the bill will allow for discrimination under religious freedom.
SEE PROTEST, 2
Maroon Edition book chosen Library provides mobile writing centers BY MAKYLA SPENCER Staff Writer
Mississippi State University has chosen “The Invisible Girls: A Memoir” by Sarah Thebarge as the 2014 Maroon Edition book selection. Author and speaker Sarah Thebarge was born and raised in Lancaster, Pa. She grew up in a house with four siblings. Thebarge
said she was raised in a very loving and conservative home. Thebarge said this book is based on her experience with battling breast cancer and meeting a refugee family of four that ultimately changed her life for the better. “While I was battling breast cancer, I met a mother and her five daughters, all under the age of nine, on a train in
Portland. This family was a family of refugees from one of the most dangerous regions of Somalia which was the capital Mogadishu. I immediately connected with them because I felt like I knew what it was like to be a refugee, to almost lose your life and then end up thousands of miles away from the only home that you knew,” Thebarge said.
BY PRANAAV JADHAV Staff Writer
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New cafeteria begins construction BY LACRETIA WIMBLEY Staff Writer
During a pre-construction meeting on Feb. 28, Mississippi State University’s facilities management committee received the green light to proceed with the construction of a new Aramark Fresh Food Company dining facility on
the south side of campus. Aramark is a team of chefs and registered dieticians who create innovative menu items that reflect how students eat on various campuses. It is one of America’s largest employers of dietitians and is currently the only professional services company to become an Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Partner.
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The new dining facility is set to be located on Bully Boulevard, in place of the current tennis courts in the area. According to Bill Broyles, vice president of student affairs at MSU, a construction fence was set to be built this week that will go down Bully Boulevard and up to the McCarthy gym. SEE CAFETERIA, 3
POLICY
EMILY BAKER | THE REFLECTOR
MSU’s English department has implemented mobile writing centers in the Mitchell Memorial Library where students can meet with tutors.The Colvard Student Union hosts a writing center as well.
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The Mississippi State University Department of English writing center, which helps MSU students develop as writers, has created several mobile writing centers in the union and the Mitchell Memorial Library allowing students to meet with tutors without prior notice or appointments. The first mobile writing center branch began in the union in spring 2011. Sarah Dillon Sneed, director of the MSU writing center, said the mobile writing centers aim to increase accessibility and visibility to students, both graduate and undergraduate. “Two of our mobile centers, the union and the library, operate on a drop-in basis,” she said. SEE WRITING, 3
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NEWS
2 | FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2014
THE REFLECTOR
Senate bill causes confusion, concern for Mississippi BY PRANAAV JADHAV Staff Writer
Senate Bill 2681, which drew nation-wide attention and says state and local government cannot put a substantial burden on religious practices, passed the Mississippi House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. Section 2 of the SB 2681 bill states that it would add the motto “In God We Trust” to the state of Mississippi seal and if signed as a law by Gov. Bryant, this complete act will take effect and be enforced after July 1, 2014 in the state of Mississippi. Judiciary B Committee Chairman Andy Gipson, Republican-Braxton, who is also a Baptist minister, told the Associated Press that by limiting the Mississippi bill to government action and excluding private action, it is different from the Arizona bill. “I don’t think it was Arizona before, and I know that with the House version it’s not the Arizona bill,” Gipson said. “It
was arguable whether it was doing what people said it did in the Senate version. Just to eliminate that argument, we took it to a clear state action only.” SB 2681 states that the act will be called and may be cited as the Mississippi Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The bill says “burden” means any action that directly or indirectly constrains, inhibits, curtails or denies the exercise of religion by any person or compels any action contrary to a person’s exercise of religion. “Burden” includes, but is not limited to, withholding benefits, assessing criminal, civil or administrative penalties or exclusion from governmental programs or access to governmental facilities. Ravi Perry, assistant professor of political science, said he believes the bill is fundamentally flawed and there is a difference between alleged intentions and outcomes. “It is quite clear that the impact, should this bill pass and be signed into law by Gover-
nor Bryant, would be a devas- does not see any clear benefit tating blow for a nation that from the passing of the SB espouses values of basic hu- 2681. man dignity and fairness, and “Specifically, I am conthat has written cerned over into federal law the general a litany of constereotyping I hope the stitutional rights that would Mississippi that would be occur when legislature trampled on by religious acwill this action,” Pertors are trying ry said. to determine reconsider any SB 2681 states language that if a person “exercise of refalls within ligion” means says that any the confines the practice or Mississippian of their ‘sinobservance of re- is deserving of cerely-held ligion. “Exercise disparate treatment religious beof religion” inliefs,’” Bruner cludes, but is not by its citizen said. “ How limited to, the businesses.” can we prove ability to act or -Lynn Spruill, who truly fits the refusal to act in with our in a manner that Starkville resident beliefs and is substantialwho does ly motivated by not? Due to one’s sincerely-held religious our not-so-distant history of belief, whether or not the ex- government-backed discrimiercise is compulsory or central nation, it is my sincerely-held to a larger system of religious belief that bills of this nature belief. have no place in our commuMarisa Bruner, junior po- nity.” litical science major, said she The bill further states a per-
son whose exercise of religion has been burdened or is likely to be burdened in violation of this section may assert that violation or impending violation as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding, regardless of whether the state or a political subdivision of the state is a party to the proceeding. Leslie Baker, MSU political science instructor, said she believes the bill will cost the taxpayers of Mississippi a lot of money in legal fees from resulting lawsuits. “Could a Muslim professor refuse to teach Christian students at a public university because he thinks it’s against his religion to do that? Public universities are government agencies. Does he get fired if he doesn’t teach? What if your religion requires you to make human sacrifices? Can the government not try that person for murder then?” Baker said. “A strict reading of the bill implies that you can do what you want as long as you can show that it is within your religion.”
PROTEST At 9:40 a.m., halfway through the protest, the House Committee discussed the bill briefly, changing the language to include “substantially” before “burden.” The bill also changes the state seal to include, “In God We Trust.” “I think the most stunning part of this whole process is the fact that nobody in the legislature thought twice about the LGBTQ community initially when they passed this bill or when they were debating this bill,” Dornbusch said. “That may not be the case towards the end of it now, but at least initially that never crossed their minds. So, I think that needs to change.” Justin Glover, who graduated from MSU in 2012, said he believes the bill is an attempt to use religion to promote discriminatory law. “To me, as a gay Christian, one of the most important things to let people know about this law is that it’s purportedly saving religious rights — and, let’s admit, in Mississippi, largely they’re talking about Christians — and encoding animus, encoding hate, enshrining it in the law is antithetical to the message of Jesus,” Glover said. Glover referenced the Bible verse Luke 6:29, which reads, “If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also.” Glover said he does not believe the religious freedom bill reflects this passage.
According to SB 2681, “State action or an action by any person based on state action shall not burden a person’s right to exercise of religion, even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability.” Lynn Spruill, former city administrator, said Arizona was on the precipice of making this same mistake and the governor vetoed the measure. She said she hopes the state of Mississippi will turn away from such a statement the bill would make about who the state is and focus more on inclusion. “There is a reason that corporate America believes enough in inclusion to have threatened Arizona were it to continue to support this same type of legislation. Large corporations understand the benefits to including diversity in their ranks,” Spruill said. “I hope the Mississippi legislature will reconsider any language that says that any Mississippian is deserving of disparate treatment by its citizen businesses.” continued from 1
“His (Jesus’) message was one of giving and one of love and not one of hate or even preserving oneself,” Glover said. Mary Woodward, vice chancellor at Catholic Diocese of Jackson who speaks for the Mississippi State University Catholic Student Association, said freedom of religion needs to be preserved and it can sometimes fall under attack by the government. “The forefathers thought it was important enough to put it in the First Amendment and it should be continually respected. Certain nuances that are passed in legislation need to be watched,” Woodward said. “I think our biggest concern that we’ve been dealing with is the health care provisions that would force us to provide things opposed to our teaching in our health care policies for employees for the church.” Woodward said, however, that the church does not tolerate discrimination and she doesn’t know if the bill is necessary since freedom of religion is already protected under federal law. She said that she hopes Christians would not use their freedom of religion to discriminate against anyone. “We would be concerned if it had language that was discriminatory against anyone, but we don’t want the government interfering with our right to practice our religion,” Woodward said.
Christopher Little, Span- ly started her transition into ish graduate student, grew a woman, said she attended up in Mississippi and has the protest to bring visibililived in Mississippi most ty to the transgender comof his life, which is why he munity. She said she feels said he was not surprised people like her are especially by the use of religion in the vulnerable to laws like these. “Unlike a lot of members bill. He said he believes the language is hypocritical and of the LGBTQ community, that Christians should focus we (transgendered people) on helping everyone as op- are easier to spot,” Collins posed to creating a divide said. Collins said she believes between the LGBTQ comdiscriminamunity. tion does not “It’s a cheap Mississippi correlate with thing to hide has made the Christian behind,” Little really great values she was said at the proraised with. test. strides She said she Little, whose within was taught mother is a lesthat Jesus bian, said he the past several loved unconis very aware decades to ditionally and of how diffi- overcome the that Chriscult just exist- stereotype of tians should ing can be for strive to be those in the being a state that Christ-like. LGBTQ com- discriminates. That “Maybe munity, espe- passage of this law cially consid- would be a big step they’ll see that we’re normal ering the lack people just of protection back for the state.” like them just they receive in -Michael Waldrop, trying to live the law. MSU student our lives,” “This just Collins said feels like it’s redundant, and it’s kind of while holding a sign that rubbing salt in the wound read, “LGBTQ civil rights in a weird way. I feel like now! No to HB2681.” Hugh Griffith, Wesley if it were to pass, then the problems that we already Foundation reverend at have, especially in places MSU, said in an email he that aren’t as progressive as believes legislation couldn’t Starkville, would get that solve the issues that religious communities face. much worse,” Little said. “Some people support Jacqui Collins, who graduated from MSU with a de- the bill on the basis of faith gree in communication in and freedom, and some opDecember 2013 and recent- pose the bill on the basis of
faith and freedom. The perceived needs and opinions that motivate people to support this bill or to oppose it point to a much deeper need we humans share — to be free from our brokenness. And you can’t pass a law to accomplish that. I believe the driving force behind this legislative debate is our longing for a new reality when all things are set right and made new. That new reality is what we refer to as the Kingdom of God, and that’s what Jesus brings and invites us to follow him into. There’s a place for laws and legislation, but we’d surely come to a better place if only we would seek and strive for the Kingdom of God as energetically as we strive for or strive against legislation,” Griffith said. Michael Waldrop, junior political science major, said the initial bill reinforced attitudes Mississippi has worked hard to change. “Mississippi has made really great strides within the past several decades to overcome the stereotype of being a state that discriminates,” Waldrop said. “The passage of this law would be a big step back for the state.” Waldrop recalled a time he was discriminated against when he was asked to leave an organization’s meeting because of his sexual orientation. “I never want to have that feeling again, and I would not wish that upon anybody because you’re being asked
to leave for being who you are,” Waldrop said. Dornbusch said LGBTQ people in Mississippi communities already lack basic protection and are provided limited rights, listing marriage rights, hospital visitation and adoption rights as examples. Judy Spencer, MSU chief human resources officer, said MSU does not tolerate discrimination of any kind. MSU’s discrimination policy states, “Mississippi State University is committed to assuring that the University and its programs are free from discrimination and harassment based upon race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran or any other status protected by state or federal law.” “We are not going to discriminate. We have policies and procedures — those are communicated to all new employees at orientation, and then from time to time we do training so that everyone is aware,” Spencer said. Spencer said the discrimination policy is applied to all university-related groups and divisions. The policy is enforced through complaints, which can be made to Human Resources or the Dean of Students. Discrimination complaints can also be made online by clicking on “Ethics Line” at the bottom of MSU’s home page.
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MAROON
“We were both trying to figure out how to start over again. I think the reason they really resinated with me is because they were almost invisible to the people around them and I had felt invisible too,” Thebarge said. After meeting this family, Thebarge said she realized that it was not just her story and it was not just their story, but it was how their stories entwined to bring them both redemption. “They loved me unconditionally and accepted me into their family. In return, I was able to help them get established in America and start new lives,” Thebarge said. “Meeting them really helped me bring the world outside of myself back into focus. Because I was sick I was so focused on myself and my problems, but meeting them helped me realize that other people are suffering too, not just me. It made me realize that the world is bigger than just me, and the point of us being here is not so other people can meet our needs, but so we can love and
take care of one another.” Thebarge said she feels very honored that her book was chosen for this year’s Maroon Edition. She hopes that readers can learn a lot about life, the world and compassion through reading her book. “Almost exactly a year ago, February 2013, right before my book came out I flew to Orlando, Fla., to speak at the First Year Experience Conference. Universities from all over the country send representatives to this conference to learn about books that are coming out. They hear the authors talk and gather ideas for first-year experience topics. The representatives from MSU received a copy of my book at the conference and took it back for review. After being read by several committees, along with a few other books, my book was chosen for the Maroon Edition,” she said. “I was so happy that chose my book because I feel like it could help encourage and enlighten so many students. It is truly an honor for me.”
Thebarge said she will use the profits from her book to start a college fund for the five little girls. “ After writing this book, I was trying to figure out how I could further help these girls. Immediately I thought what better gift could I give them than the gift of a quality education. I decided to use the money from my book to start a college fund for the girls. One day these beautiful little girls will grow into strong women, and I want help them get there,” Thebarge said. MSU President Mark Keenum said the Maroon Edition book selection aims to spark creativity and idea from students who read it. “The goal of the Maroon Edition program is to encourage a group reading project that causes students to explore new ideas and gain new insights from intellectual material that they might not otherwise encounter in their studies,” Keenum said. “I think our track record is excellent in choosing titles that challenge
WRITING “We take drop-ins at President’s Circle and Templeton as the schedule permits. Appointments at those two locations are encouraged,” Sneed said. “Our tutors are graduate students in the English department, lecturers or instructors who have training in tutoring techniques and teaching writing pedagogy.” Chelsea Henshaw, assistant director of the MSU writing center said the idea for mobile branches came about because several students indicated that they would like additional hours and locations. The mobile branch was a way to reach out to these students and also provide a more visible outreach to students.
FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2014 | 3
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continued from 1 and enlighten our students. I’m very proud to have witnessed the evolution of this program on our campus and think it’s one of the best things we do.” Keenum believes each reader can take away something valuable from “The Invisible Girls.” He said it is a great story about how life’s challenges help us learn and grow. “ Challenges, setbacks, even tragedies are an unfortunate fact of life. Bad things do happen to very good people. As human beings, we are all susceptible to these setbacks. But we are measured in life by how we cope with these challenges, how we rise from adversities and how we help others cope with the problems that confront them,” Keenum said. “This book shows us that even in the depths of real despair and real fear, we may well be someone else’s lifeline, someone else’s guardian angel. I think the great takeaway is that difficulties should never define who we are, but rather who we might become.” continued from 1
“Setting up in the union Sneed said the writing center seemed like a natural choice also offers online tutoring sesbecause it’s a sions on Sunday high-traffic area from 3-9 p.m. Everyone for students. and Monday has Now, we’re through Thursproud to offer day from 6-9 something the library mop.m. to say; bile branch as Henshaw said well. The library getting it down on the writing cenis another great paper is the hard ter works with location choice part.” students to facilbecause students -Chelsea Henshaw, itate the writing are already utilizprocess. ing the resources MSU writing center “We underthey provide. assistant director stand that writThis branch is a ing is difficult, natural collaboand we try to ration between two campus re- help the process be as painless as sources,” Henshaw said. possible, while also encouraging
CAFETERIA
Brooks said he looks forward “It’s about a 16-month con- will lose some parking for a litstruction period, and so it’s an- tle while during the construction to the completion of the new facility. ticipated that it will be complet- period.” Raymond Brooks, assistant “I think the faculty, staff and ed by the end of June in 2015,” Muzzi said. “So for the fall dean of students, said he has vis- students are in for a real treat,” semester of 2015 we will have ited several Aramark Fresh Food he said. Senior English major, Sarah a brand new dining facility on Company venues located on campus, the Fresh Food Com- other college campuses and was Sones, said she feels overall the i m p r e s s e d addition of a new cafeteria is a pany.” with their se- great idea, but has a few probBroyles said peIf the new lections. lems. destrian traffic locatcafeteria “I feel “I think it’s great that you ed on Bully Bouleis offering that anytime can use block meals in the Perry vard at the light will you are able throughout the day because in be detoured to cross the use of to provide the union you have to wait until at the light at Stone block meals as the more vari- 4 p.m. or 9 p.m.,” Sones said. Boulevard. ety, healthier “If the new cafeteria is offering “If you’re walking Perry does, then from the forestry that would be even choices and the use of block meals as the better con- Perry does then that would be building or Thomp- better.” venience in even better.” son Hall, Fraternity -Sarah Sones, one package, Sones said she likes the idea or Sorority Row, it’s a no-lose of the new dining facility but you will have to MSU student s i t u a t i o n ,” bus routes play a factor in her cross Bully BouleBrooks said. opinion as well. vard right there at “If there is another bus route Stone and the red light, and then “The new location should hit all walk up the side walk and get to of those out of the park. Not to that will stop at the new facility, the green houses and go up that mention relieving some of the it irritates me because the busses way,” Broyles said. “What we traffic from the other dining are already slow,” Sones said. Taleah Brown, freshman Endon’t want are students getting options on campus. Hopefully into Bully Boulevard and walk- MSU Dining will continue to glish major, said she feels there grow at a rate proportional to are more important things that ing down the street.” Broyles said a small amount of our enrollment, which in turn MSU should focus on repairing parking will be lost as well due to should make the overall dining or building. experience better in all loca“In my opinion, building a the new construction. new dining facility is just anoth“Some will have to go into tions.” the commuter parking lot at the corner between the tennis courts and Stone. Some of that parking lot will be in the construction zone and the parking lot at the very top behind Cresswell will be in the construction zone,” Broyles said. “So the students who live in Cresswell will probably have to park in the new parking lot behing Hathorn. The students who normally park in the commuter zone will have to ollege ark hoPPing enter find another parking spot. We
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the student to feel comfortable with his or her own voice as a writer. Everyone has something to say; getting it down on paper is the hard part,” Henshaw said. Last semester, Henshaw said the mobile writing center had over 150 sessions in the student union and 1,500 sessions total in all locations. “While it might seem like the mobile branch is only a small part of the service, several of these students at the mobile branch had not previously been to any writing center location, so this proves that the mobile branches are important outreach efforts for students,” Henshaw said.
Monday, March 3 • 1:12 p.m. A student reported damages to his or her car that occurred on Jan. 23, 2014, while parked near the Sigma Chi fraternity house. • 1:56 p.m. A student required medical assistance while having a seizure in Hand Lab. The subject was transported by EMS to OCH. • 7:43 p.m. A student reported a disturbance caused by a student while in Griffis Hall. The victim signed a non-prosecution form for assault, and the individual was issued a student referral.
Tuesday, March 4 • 4:55 p.m. The sprinkler system broke inside the practice field near the Palmeiro Center. The Starkville Fire Department and on-call electrician were called. • 7:31 p.m. An officer stopped a vehicle on Stone Boulevard traveling at a high rate of speed. • 7:31 p.m. A visitor was arrested on Stone Boulevard for speeding, driving with a suspended driver’s license and possession of marijuana. Justice Court citations were issued.
Wednesday, March 5 • 10:20 a.m. A student reported his bicycle stolen from the bike rack beside the band hall. • 3:22 p.m. An officer assisted in escorting an employee from McCool Hall who was being terminated. • 5:42 p.m. An officer received a phone call about riding bicycles on sidewalks and crosswalks. • 10:55 p.m. A student reported his laptop stolen from Perry Cafeteria. • 11:49 p.m. A student passed out in the shower of Herbert Hall. EMT was called. The subject refused transportation.
Citations:
• 4 citations were issued for speeding. • 2 citations were issued for driving the wrong way on a oneway street. • 1 citation was issued for driving on a sidewalk. • 2 citations were issued for disregard of a traffic device.
continued from 1 er tourist attraction and way to make money,” Brown said. For more information regarding Aramark Fresh Food Dining facilities, visit www.aramarkhighered.com.
In the March 4 edition of The Reflector, the editorial board misused the term “monopoly” in the headline “Consumers win as Starkville’s coffee monopoly ends.” The Reflector regrets this error.
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OPINION
4 | FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2014
OPINION EDITOR: ALIE DALEE | opinion@reflector.msstate.edu A WORTHY CAUSE
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QUESTION TIME
Is it time for America to Can Mississippi survive without Thad Cochran? I intervene in Ukraine? T
he situation in Ukraine nears a boiling point. On March 1, Russian military assets were ordered into the Ukraine’s Crimea region. “We perceive Russia’s actions as a direct aggression towards the sovereignty of Ukraine,” said acting President Oleskandr Turchynov. This kind of talk and action between leaders of two nations, which have a combined population of 189 million, gives more than enough reason to be concerned. This provocation by Moscow is a product of a situation that has grown colder every day over the last several months. Ukraine sits in a symbolic location. It rests between four North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries (Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland) and the rest of pro-Western Europe and Vladimir Putin’s Russia. This location sheds light on one of the foundational issues that caused the Ukrainian situation to spin out of control last November. On Nov. 21, former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych opted to make a deal with President Putin and Russia instead of the European Union. The citizens of Ukraine opted to protest in Kiev, Ukraine’s capital. After weeks of escalating protest, Yanukovych ordered government forces to oust the opposition, which included snipers taking aim at protesting citizens in the public square. According to Ukraine’s Health Ministry, 95 people were killed in the anti-Yanukovych protests from Nov. 30 to March 3. On Feb. 22, Yanukovych was removed from power when the Ukrainian parliament opted for new elections. All of these events lead to the central crisis in Ukraine. On March 1, an estimated 6,000 Russian troops entered in Crimea, a sovereign Ukrainian territory with a large makeup of ethnic Russians. Since then, the Ukrainian envoy to the United Nations claim that number of troops has risen to 16,000. Russia’s military incursion into the Crimean peninsula must be met with a firm response from the Obama administration. Idle talk and feeble action will encourage and embolden President Putin to continue down this path that threatens the stability of all of Eastern Europe. This is an excellent opportunity for the Obama administration to exert this much needed and recently absent leadership in global affairs. President Putin has taken President Obama to school in geopolitical matters in the past
WALTON CHANEY Walton Chaney is a junior majoring in history. He can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
few years. This is clear in the Syrian civil war, where Moscow has been a step ahead of Washington since the first shots rang out nearly three years ago. In a March 1 piece for the Washington Post, David Kramer, former deputy assistant secretary of state for Russia and Ukraine, laid out several actionable movements for the Obama administration to consider. His options include “imposing sanctions against Russian state-owned banks, terminating all negotiations with Russia on possible trade agreements and pushing for a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Russia’s aggression against its neighbor.” Russia would certainly veto any action taken at the U.N., and this would expose the hypocrisy of Putin. The current condition of Ukraine has all of the trappings of a power vacuum where Putin would enjoy nothing more than to pour raw Russian influence and expand the Kremlin’s arm of influence further west to strengthen its buffer zone, which would distance itself from those neighboring NATO member states. Russian troops have effectively taken control of the entire Crimean peninsula without firing a shot. A weak response now will further damage the perception of United States power abroad and allow Russia to slowly bring surrounding nations under its control, much like it did in Georgia in 2008. The international community cannot stand for Putin’s preference of ethnicity over sovereign international borders. The situation is truly dynamic and reports from the field will continue to shape perceptions of the events. History suggests the best way to predict Putin’s actions is to view the options available through the most pessimistic lenses you can find. I encourage you to take notice of what is going on in Ukraine and the Crimean peninsula. The implications of this Russian action are serious and should be met with a serious response.
n case you’ve missed it, the senate race is underway in Mississippi. Senator Thad Cochran — a 35-year incumbent — is challenged by State Senator Chris McDaniel. This is shaping up to be Cochran’s biggest fight since he won the seat in 1978. McDaniel enjoys wide support from Tea Party groups, and Cochran has a strong hold on support from the establishment. It is a microcosm of the fighting within the Republican Party at large. Cochran announced in December that he intended to run for re-election, and among the positive feedback, Mississippi’s Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann responded by saying, “Obviously, if you look from the Thad Cochran Medical Center here to the Natchez Trace to the University of Mississippi to the Delta for agriculture, you see Thad Cochran’s work here … He’s served the state very well.” According to a 2008 report from the Tennessee Commercial Appeal, there wasn’t a single university in America to receive more federal earmarks than Mississippi State University or the University of Mississippi (Because everything is a competition, MSU received more than
TSUN.) Our state’s universities Our state will not cease to funcowe most of this money to the tion if Cochran is not re-elected. work of Cochran. To the contrary, we will be just The report went on to say Co- fine. The real question we need chran has delivered more money to ask is can our country afford to his state than any other con- to have senators that have made gressman or senator in the na- a career of spending money the tion. Additionally, he has more way Thad Cochran does. Cogovernment buildings and pro- chran might help to keep our grams named afstate flush in ter him than any the short-term, The real current member but our federquestion we al government’s of Congress. need to be Cochran has out-of-control clearly made a asking is can spending will career of sending our country afford haunt our nation copious amounts long term. Our of federal money to have senators country cannot back home to the that have made a continue down state. And we’ve career of spending the fiscal path come to rely on money the way on which it has the money. To been. put into perspec- Thad Cochran When Cochran tive Mississippi’s does.” first went to reliance on fedWashington, the eral dollars, about 49 percent of national debt was $420 billion. Mississippi’s state budget is com- Today, America’s national debt prised of federal funds — the currently sits at $17.5 trillion. highest percentage in the nation. The spending habits of Cochran So the question is: can we make and his peers have caused us to be it without Cochran? If you ask a saddled with this massive debt. Cochran supporter, he or she will Many Mississippi Republicans begin to list off all of his financial might say, “We need to cut fedaccomplishments for our state eral spending, but just don’t cut and conclude the answer is no. it here in Mississippi.” It’s that But the truth is a resounding yes. type of hypocrisy that keeps our
JOJO DODD
JoJo Dodd is a junior majoring in economics. He can be contacted at opinion@reflector. msstate.edu.
debt crises as predictably cyclical as they have become. All told, Cochran has been a good senator for Mississippi. He’s a good statesman, and according to those around him, he’s an even better person. But Mississippi does not exist in a bubble. Every dollar of federal money we get adds to the federal debt and will have to be paid back in future taxes. This cycle of spending is no longer sustainable. Our nation has to make changes. And here in Mississippi, it should either be our senator’s spending habits or our senator.
ONE LITTLE SPARK
Are under and over-achieving a matter of stereotypes?
F
rom the time I knew what it meant to win at something, I have been a classic overachiever — the student council president, straight A’s, awful kind that people hate. I live my life trying to smash the top off of whatever it is I’m doing. It has been pointed out to me many times that this could become a problem in my chosen profession. Since beginning my student teaching internship at the beginning of this semester, I have encountered more types of underachievers than I thought possible. There’s the pretend-to-care underachiever who listens to instructions and makes the teacher think he’s on the right track, only to “forget” to turn in his work. The I-don’t-getthe-simple-direction-you-justsaid-three-times underachiever who has learned to use the phrase “I don’t know” to her advantage. The underachiever who asks for a pencil and paper every single day. And the one who hurts the most: the underachiever who just plain doesn’t care because everyone has given up on him.
As the person now respon- far more complicated than a sible for getting these students simple lack of motivation. Steto care about language arts, I’ve reotype threat is a documented been thinking a lot about what phenomenon in which students makes a person underachieve, who are expected to perform and for that matter why some- poorly live up, or down as the one would choose to push case may be, to those expectathemselves in the first place. In tions. The studies have shown a 2007 research study by An- that women who are told that gela Duckworth, females do she suggests the worse in math The best best predictor of do worse on academic success tests. predictor of math is self-discipline, The same is academic not intelligence. true for Afsuccess is Students may rican-Amerhave high IQs but self-discipline, not icans who be unable to mo- intelligence.” are told that tivate themselves the odds are to succeed for varagainst their ious reasons, and success. For vice versa, students with low students who are told by sociIQs often overachieve in the ety at large, as well as by the right circumstances. So then, school and their families, they if IQ is often far less predic- aren’t smart enough to succeed, tive of academic performance “hard work” is not an easy than work ethic, what makes a choice to make. student choose to overachieve? So, it turns out it’s not that According to Duckworth, un- hard for an underachiever to derachievers might find it dif- relate to an overachiever as ficult to choose long-term ben- people may think. As someone efits over short-term fun. who likes to win, I certainly However, studies about the get the urge to give up when realities of stereotype threat it looks like I’m going to lose. suggest that the issue may be Furthermore, like most people,
WHITNEY KNIGHT Whitney Knight is a senior majoring in English education. She can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
I often frame my life by figuring out what the bare minimum is so I can get the grade or reach the goal I want to accomplish. Though I often go beyond that minimum if possible, I am highly attuned to the practice of getting by. It just so happens that the standard I try to reach is an A, whereas many of my students just want to know what they have to do to pass. Underachievers and overachievers both just try to do what they can to make their lives better, whether for the short term or the long term. And that’s something we can all understand.
WHO SPEAKS FOR EARTH?
Science fiction stimulates forward-thinking and introspection
Managing Editor
Editor in Chief
News Editor
Kristen Spink
Kaitlyn Byrne
Anna Wolfe
Multimedia Editor
Life Editor
Opinion Editor
Zack Orsborn
Daniel Hart
Alie Dalee
Sports Editor John Galatas
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.
A
rt has the ability to … by the 70s, the genre of scishape and mold soci- ence-based ideas had grown; ety. We often look back it wasn’t just concerned with at ancient cultures and only science, but with consequenchave their garbage middens es. It asked ‘what if?’ What if and whatever art survived the a world existed in which this passing of time as evidence for or that were true? Pamela Sartheir grandeur. Not only do we gent dubbed it the literature judge the past by its art, but we of ideas,” Gilks, Fleming and also judge ourselves. Allen said. Books, movies, music and And so we see science fiction the other forms serves as the of art all have genre of art that Books, the potential to intentionally force us to look tries to provoke movies, inward and try the introspecmusic and to understand, tive response the other justify or fix elthat art in genements within forms of art all eral achieves. our lives. The have the potential Science fiction’s subgenre of art to force us to look power comes that makes up from breaking science fiction inward and try to past the limits is particularly understand, justify of what is true effective in this or fix elements or possible and regard. outwithin our lives. The jumping Marg Gilks, side the borPaula Fleming subgenre of art that ders of reality, and Moira Al- makes up science forcing us to len describe the fiction is particularly face controverscience fiction sial aspects of genre on their effective in this morality, social website writ- regard.” structure, reing-world.com ligion and so and detail the much more that evolution of the we would othergenre from just stories about wise happily leave uninspected. scientific ideas to what they call In last Friday’s Reflector a “literature of ideas.” talking about this year’s Acade“Science fiction has come a my Awards, opinion editor Alie long way since its early days Dalee commended the recent
science fiction film “Her” as a deserving nominee. “‘Her’ deserves the Oscar because it is a call-to-action for a generation too buried in its idealism, eyes bored into iPhones, to look up and engage in a reality so raw and chaotic, and yet so grounded in a beauty too refined to display on a retina screen and manages to capture the idealistic struggle in all of its pragmatic glory,” Dalee said. This cry for a removal of distraction and return to a more natural human existence exemplifies just one of many extremely culturally relevant problems science fiction can confront. The Disney-Pixar film “WALL-E” discusses the same social conundrum as “Her.” In “WALL-E” all of the humans have lost sight of their planet’s beauty and irreversibly trashed it to the point where everyone must take refuge in spacefaring colony ships. The story follows one of the last remaining trash-cleanup robots, Wall-e, who over the course of nearly 700 years developed what we would recognize as a sense of beauty and the whole range of human emotions. Pixar juxtaposes the little robot with the citizens of the colony ship who are all inextricably attached to their floating social media
CAMERON CLARKE Cameron Clarke is a junior majoring in physics and mathematics. He can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
chairs and almost incapable of the same emotions wall-e so slowly developed. Pixar achieves a striking juxtaposition of Wall-e’s struggle for life, love and a subtle appreciation of beauty against the peaceful and harmonious lives of the hoverchair-ridden people who hardly live what we would call happy or well-examined lives. This juxtaposition serves as a check against the same kind of loss in society that “Her” more subtly tries to convey. In all, we should not write off science fiction as just a nerdy obsession or a frivolous, unproductive waste of time, but we should embrace it as one of the more forward-thinking and intentionally introspective instances of the arts.
TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2014 | 5
REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM
AN IN-CLASS DISTRACTION ...
3-7-14
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. FOR RENT
Canterbury townhouses are under new management. Two bedrooms for $550, three bedrooms for $750 per apartment, not per person. Two minutes to campus. One month free rent and application fee waived. Call 662-323-9216. Country living off the beaten path yet so close to it all. 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 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
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
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(Valid until 18 March 2014) *This gift certificate is nontransferable and not redeemable for cash*
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The #1 Source For Off Campus Housing Call For FREE Starkville/Columbus Apartment Guide
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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. 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. WESLEY FOUNDATION
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. 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.
6 | FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2014
THE REFLECTOR
LIFE EDITOR: DANIEL HART | life@reflector.msstate.edu
LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT
Pristine “One Night Only” exhibition series fosters innovative process: work, pulls back curtain on student artistic process BY DANIEL HART
visitors of all disciplines to the shows, Callander said the gallery’s existence within the Visitors to the Mississippi metal shop makes the space State University Department comfortable for art students to of Art’s “One Night Only” show their work. This familexhibition series experience iarity, Callander said, in turn innovative student artwork in opens the exhibitions up to an unexpected context: with innovation rather than strict one foot in a pristine wood- formality. floored, white-walled gallery “This is more of a lab, a space and one foot in a con- space to experiment and take crete-floored, grimy, industrial a chance. You perform differmetal shop. ently for your cohorts someAdrienne Callander, inter- times than you do for the pubim sculpture coordinator and lic,” she said. “Even though initiator of the “One Night the public is invited, I like to Only” series, said the exhibi- think that the in-house feeling tions began in the fall 2013 inspires some risk-taking in when she decided the clean the space.” space — built by Patrick TraCallander said the fleetnum, shop technician, and ing nature of the exhibitions, Critz Campbell, sculpture em- which often run for only two phasis coordinator — could hours, also gives students liserve as an exhibition space cense to make rapid creative outside of formal in-class cri- decisions. tiques. “It’s up, and it’s down,” Thus, the “One Night she said. “There can be quick Only” series was born, which decisions made that are interis a set of shows Callander said esting that weren’t thought of calls for rapid installation and before.” removal of artwork. Callander said part of the “For one night, one show, gallery’s openness to experiDAVID LEWIS | THE REFLECTOR one event, that audience mentation stems from its locomes in and looks at it,” she cation within the metal shop, Students and visitors attend the third installment of the spring 2014 “One Night Only” exhibition series in the Howell said. which calls attention to the Hall metal shop. The gallery space consists of three pristine white walls and a wooden floor juxtaposed against the Callander said the series ma- process and craft of the work industrial metal shop, and this unexpected combination allows for a focus on the craft and process of student work. terialized to provide students on display, a concept somewith a platform for interact- times erased from final pieces galleries — outdoor, online, fessional visual artist,” she said. wrote in our syllabus.” ries represents an extensive pop-up galleries in warehousCallander said displayNichols said the “One joint effort. Students collaboing with their peers’ work in of work. a clean gallery setting rather “The craft, which often es, in businesses and hospitals ing work in the “One Night Night Only” gallery teach- rate with professors, students than in a workshop. The series in the commercial gallery, is and even underwater,” she Only” series gives students a es she, Boerner and students collaborate with students and also allows interdisciplinary masked for the sense of the said. “I love the idea you can chance to discover the most who display their work how students collaborate with the collaboration, which Calland- magical, perfect, final prod- have a gallery anywhere — it effective way to display their to collaborate to find the best Department of Art to get the organization for each exhibi- word out about the shows. er said can get lost among the uct, is on display here,” she changes the artwork, and the work through trial and error. “This is an opportunity tion. various concentrations. said. “It’s the history. The artwork changes the space. The space allows for multiple “Usually, in a formal gallery, intersections, from the com“One important feature history of the making of the You make revelations about a for students who maybe have is that students who exhibit object is a little closer in this piece depending on where it is never exhibited their work be- the artist doesn’t actually get bination of multiple mediums fore to do so, to tweak the ex- to hang their own work. You in a space to the juxtaposition together do so across disci- space than it would be in a shown.” Jamie Mixon, interim de- perience, to understand how basically just go drop your of finished artwork next to plinary lines,” she said. “There commercial setting or even in partment head of the Depart- they might do it differently work off,” she said. “In this process and clean white walls has been a push for 2D and a formal gallery setting.” situation we’re teaching them next to soot-caked concrete. 3D — in whatever capacity — Lori Neuenfeldt, Visual ment of Art, said the exhibi- next time,” she said. Students not only support (students) how you would orto exhibit together.” Arts Center Gallery coordina- tions give students a taste of The exhibition series allows Callander said installations tor, said pop-up galleries like the process of presenting their each other and fill the space ganize it. It’s teaching me too, for artists to support each othin the series so far have rep- the “One Night Only” series work, which is crucial to an with their own work, Calland- as the curator, because I’ve er and for the public to super said, but they also manage never done this before.” resented a wide range of me- often come in nontraditional artist seeking an audience. port artists, and Nichols said Nichols said she and Bo- this community of artists, at “Students learn the impor- every facet of the gallery, from diums from concentrations spaces and noted one importwithin the Department of Art, ant feature of these spaces: tance of presentation of their the work on the walls to pro- erner only use Fridays — the its most basic level, becomes a including photography, sculp- their ability to alter the way work and promotion of that motional materials and recep- day of the shows — to set up driving inspiration for an artand uninstall the exhibitions ist’s work. ture, ceramics and painting. an artists’ work interacts with presentation, both of which tion food. “Hal Boerner and Shelby because of the space’s dual nawill play a big part of their Though the Department its surroundings. “You get excited about beof Art invites students and “There are all kinds of journey through life as a pro- Nichols are advanced sculp- ture as a critique space, which ing an artist,” she said. “But ture students who are taking is often used on Thursday you get really excited about gallery management credit nights. being an artist when you’re hours managing the space,” The “One Night Only” se- with other artists.” she said. “So even in that capacity it’s student-to-student. We have students managing the space, putting up their own work and students collaborating.” Boerner, senior art major, said he and Nichols, senior art major, collaborated with Callander and drafted an agreement of their responsibilities, which include all foreseen — and unforeseen — aspects of gallery management, from perfecting lighting to finding extension cords. “We have to run it like it was any other gallery,” he ADRIENNE CALLANDER | COURTESY PHOTO ADRIENNE CALLANDER | COURTESY PHOTO said. “We have to manage Hal Boerner (left) and Shelby Nichols (right) display their work in the first “One Night Students interact with an installation on Tuesday that Only” exhibit of 2014 on Feb. 7, which included Boerner’s wooden sculpture (forefront) the walls, we have to upkeep included filling the gallery space with sand. The space’s it and we have to organize and Nichols’s scanography prints (background). The two senior art majors manage the five ‘One Night Only’ events existence in a metal shop allows students to display “One Night Only” exhibition space to complete gallery management credit hours. innovative, risk-taking work for other students to see. this semester. That’s what we Life Editor
The Old Memphis Kings kicks off spring break with the blues BY HALEY HARDMAN Staff Writer
A blues-rock storm hits Starkville’s Dave’s Dark Horse Tavern Friday as The Old Memphis Kings takes to the stage with its distinctive twist on the blues. The Old Memphis Kings lists many important influences that allow the band’s members to pour their hearts into their music. According to the band’s Facebook page, the band came together after a friend and mentor to two of the band members passed away. “The Old Memphis Kings was formed by the chance meeting of Drew Blackwell, Caleb Childs and a blues legend named Willie King. King opened his mind and his heart to the two boys, teaching them about life, love and the blues. After the tragic loss of Willie
King in 2009, the Old Memphis Kings took it upon themselves not to let the memory of Willie King or his music be lost forever. So, using the tools that he gave them, they set out on their own, spreading King’s message of peace and love to all who would hear it,” the page stated. Over time, The Old Memphis Kings added new members to the band to help build its sound and broadcast King’s message. Keatzi Gunmoney, bassist, and Beth Fulgham, drummer, brought a new edge to flesh out the band’s sound and form a full-bodied live experience. The new amalgamation of musicians morphed their style into a combination of American favorites — rock and blues. Leah Hickman, freshman elementary education major, said the band’s sound combines two well-known genres
with a fresh angle. “I think they are really interesting in their style,” she said. “It is a bluesy twist on rock ‘n’ roll.” The Old Memphis Kings pays close attention to both the sound of its music and the message its songs convey. Drew Blackwell, The Old Memphis Kings’s guitarist and vocalist, said he writes narrative lyrics that leave interpretation open to listeners. “I am a fan of mystical lyrics that tell a story,” Blackwell said. “I want a song to mean different things to different people once they read in-between the lines.” With its soulful connection to music, The Old Memphis Kings puts on a show that combines technical proficiency and love for its audience. The band performs with a glowing energy that makes it seem as though the band’s pri-
mary objective is to make sure the audience has a good time. Hickman said she noticed the band’s passionate perfor-
mances and is impressed with the correspondence between the band members and the audience.
THE OLD MEMPHIS KINGS | COURTESY PHOTO
The Old Memphis Kings (above) brings its energetic performances to Dave’s Dark Horse Tavern Friday. Two band members’ relationship with former blues legend Willie King inspires the band’s blues and rock sounds.
“They seem really good at hyping up the crowd and getting them interested in what was going on,” Hickman said. “They definitely perform for the audience rather than themselves, if that makes sense. The band plays really well together, and they do a great job of playing off each other’s solos and riffs.” The atmosphere is raucous and fun, as the band encompasses Mississippi’s southern energy. Blackwell described The Old Memphis Kings’s shows in numerous ways, but he said it best when he said the band’s performance “sounds like a Mississippi Saturday night.” MSU students and Starkvillians have the opportunity to feel the electric music and sway to the sound of The Old Memphis Kings Friday — a surefire way to kick spring break off with a bang.
FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2014 | 7
SPORTS
REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM
Bulldog baseball shuts out Jaguars for seventh-straight win, ready for road trip By John Galatas Sports Editor
Entering its final midweek contest before the first road test of the season at Arizona, the Mississippi State University baseball team claimed its seventh-consecutive win in a 3-0 victory against South Alabama Wednesday night at Dudy Noble Field. Three runs on five hits in the first three innings of play was all the Bulldogs needed to post their second-straight shutout. In a cold night at the park, the MSU pitching remained hot as three MSU hurlers completed the eight-hit shutout. Sophomore Preston Brown started on the mound and threw four innings while surrendering five hits and five strikeouts and has not allowed an earned run in his last 12.2 innings pitched. Brown said he becomes more comfortable with each start and has confidence in any player on the mound. “Definitely played with fire a little bit tonight. I went out there and tried to throw it in the zone, and they kept getting guys on to start innings, but I just kept trusting my stuff and got out of it,” he said. “Ross (Mitchell) dealt and (Jacob) Lindgren finished it off, so pretty good stuff today.” Brown showed signs of struggle as he allowed eight runners on base through the first four innings but said direction from pitching coach Butch Thompson allowed him to keep runs off the board. “Coach Thompson talks about our patterns, pattern
ALWAL Alwal’s journey to where she is now was partly a rough one. She first officially started playing basketball in the eighth grade. She claimed she did not like playing the sport at first and even shied away from it because she did not want to let anyone down. Basketball was not even her first love. Before basketball, Alwal had a passion for volleyball, and she also competed in track and field. It was not until she realized she was actually talented and could play at the next level that she started to enjoy basketball. Alwal attended Worthington High School in Worthington, Minn., where she was a standout in both volleyball and basketball. According to HoopGirlz.com, Alwal was tabbed as the No. 16 center in the nation coming out of high school. That ranking is what drew then-MSU head coach Sharon Fanning-Otis up north to check out the 6’4” center. Being one of the nation’s top players, Alwal had many college coaches buzzing to get her into their program — including Fanning-Otis. She said Coach Fanning-Otis’s persistence made the difference in her recruiting process. “Coach Sharon saw me play in Florida and Chicago, and she was one of the only coaches that stuck with me through everything, and I could tell that she really cared for me as a person, more than just a basketball player,” Alwal said. When Alwal first arrived at MSU, she was a bit of a role player in her freshman season. Despite being a role player, through hard work and good play, she still managed to be named to the All-SEC Freshman Team. In her second season, she saw her former coach leave and new head coach Vic Schaefer step into the spotlight. She averaged 12 points and 9.7 rebounds per game as a sophomore and earned Second Team All-SEC honors. This season, she has taken her game to an even higher level, averaging 15.3 points per game and with an impressive 50.3
emma katherine hutto | the reflector
Bulldog senior Alex Detz (left) rounds third base after hitting his first home run of the year, and MSU sophomore Preston Brown (right) works from the stretch on the mound in the 3-0 win against South Alabama Wednesday night at Dudy Noble Field. The Bulldogs take on Arizona and UC-Santa Barbara in a four-game series this weekend. one and pattern two. So when no one is on to start the inning, you just try to shove it in there, try to get some early contact and get out of the inning as quick as you can,” he said. “But if they have guys in scoring position, you have to pitch around them a little bit more — more swing-andmiss stuff.” Mitchell followed suit with 3.1 innings before Lindgren closed the door with his first save of the season. Head Coach John Cohen said pitching and defense set the tone for the game and
continue to become a concrete identity of his team. “I thought we really pitched well tonight. All three guys who pitched this ball game did a really great job for us. I think the story of this ball game is how we attacked the strike zone with our arms and played the whole field pretty well tonight,” he said. For Brown, Cohen said he has seen the right-hander progress with each start and can pose a threat from both sides of the plate. “He can sink it, he can get the ground ball, and we’re see-
ing now he has a swing-andmiss pitch with his change-up to left handers and slider to right handers. He has come a long way, and he keeps getting better every time,” Cohen said. “He’s given up some early hits and then runners get in scoring position, but he has that ability to really focus in and make big pitches when it matters the most.” Offensively, the Bulldogs struck for a pair of runs against the Jaguars in the first inning and took advantage of two USA errors. Senior Alex Detz extended the lead
and set the final score when he blasted his second-career home run to right field to lead off the third inning. Detz said hitting a home run always feels good and boosts his confidence to keep a rhythm at the plate. “Any home run feels good. It doesn’t happen for me that often, so any time that happens it’s a good feeling,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been out of rhythm. This past week was the first time I really felt I was in rhythm, and hopefully I can carry that on.” The Bulldogs are now 10-0
this season when plating the first run. Detz said scoring the first run is important to set the tone of the game, especially when the Dogs take advantage of opponents’ errors. “Any time you score first it’s a better atmosphere in the dugout. You get that run early, and hits feed off each other,” he said. “When a team is making some errors you always want to pressure them a little bit more, and I think we did a good job of that tonight.” The Bulldogs seek to carry the momentum to Tucson, Ariz., to face the University of Arizona and the University of California at Santa Barbara in the Hi Corbett Classic. Cohen said the experience of playing a top-ranked schedule has prepared his team for its first road games. “I think we’ve played some really good teams so far. This South Alabama team is going to do really well in their league and has a really good club,” he said. “Arizona won the national championship two years ago. Santa Barbara is off to an incredible start. They do so many things well. It will be a battle for us. We’re looking forward to it. I think it’s one of those neat trips — a lot of our kids have never been to that area, so hopefully we’ll go up there and play well.” MSU starts the weekend with a double header against UC-Santa Barbara at 3 p.m. followed by a night cap against Arizona at 8 p.m. The Dogs will face the Gauchos Saturday at 3 p.m. before finishing the weekend against the host Wildcats Sunday at 7 p.m.
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emma katherine hutto | the reflector
Savannah Carter and Alwal hug after the win against Ole Miss. Alwal tied a career-high with 23 points in the victory. bilt this season have been her top field-goal shooting percentage. She currently holds the school moments in her college career. record for the most blocked shots With one more year remaining with 238 with still one more sea- as a Lady Bulldog, Alwal said son left. She is also the SEC’s her ultimate goal is to make the active leader in double-doubles NCAA tournament with her teammates and hopefully be able with 29. Schaefer said whenever Alwal to play at the next level. Her 21st birthday quickly apis on the floor, she makes her proaches on March 20, and Alwpresence known. “She impacts the game on al said playing in the post-season both ends,” he said. “She’s obvi- would not be a bad birthday ously our first option a lot offen- present. “That would be awesome,” sively, and defensively she does so much to help her teammates. she said. “That would be the She’s such a tremendous player best present that my teammates have given me.” defensively.” So whether she shatters Besides shattering records and gaining national attention, Al- records, makes game winwal, being goofy and outgoing, ning-shots to knock off ranked likes to laugh and have a good opponents or just goofs off and time. Now in her junior year, Al- laughs, Alwal’s legacy will have wal is one of the veterans on the an impact at MSU. Schaefer said Alwal’s honors team, and although the freshmen come to her for advice, she she has gained this week speak said she still looks to the younger volumes to the person she really is but that she may not be finplayers for advice as well. “I think it goes both ways. I ished receiving awards. think they (freshmen) learn from “I’m proud of her,” he said. us (upperclassmen) as much as “I’m just proud of her overall we learn from them, and we all development both physically as feed off of each other and make well as mentally, and still, she’s not close to her top end. Her each other better,” she said. Alwal said beating Georgia up stride is still, in my opinlast year and upsetting Vander- ion, a long way away.”
emma katherine hutto, allison berler | the reflector
CONFERENCE READY |
A Bulldog runner crosses home plate (top), freshman Caroline Seitz (bottom, left) makes contact in her 3-RBI performance and senior pitcher Alison Owen (bottom, right) tosses a pitch in the loss to UAB Tuesday night. Despite the loss, MSU is off to its best 21-game start in program history with a 19-2 record. The Bulldogs will host the No. 8 Kentucky Wildcats in the first weekend of conference play beginning Friday at 6 p.m. The Dogs will play the Cats Saturday at 3 p.m. before the series finale Sunday at 1 p.m.
8 | FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2014
SPORTS EDITOR: JOHN GALATAS | reflectorsports@gmail.com
SPORTS
Alwal makes impact on both ends of court
THE REFLECTOR
STAT OF THE DAY:
AFTER COMMITTING 10 ERRORS THROUGH THE FIRST 10 GAMES OF THE YEAR, THE MSU BASEBALL TEAM HAS NOT COMMITTED AN ERROR IN THE LAST FIVE GAMES.
This Week in Bulldog
History
March 8, 1976: First-year MSU baseball head coach Ron Polk won his first game as the Bulldog skipper, 4-0 over Louisiana Tech. ZACK ORSBORN | THE REFLECTOR
BEYOND THE ARC
National Football League makes cultural strides with potential rule T
BY QUENTIN SMITH Staff Writer
On Tuesday afternoon, Mississippi State University women’s basketball standout Martha Alwal was tabbed First Team All-SEC and Co-Defensive Player of the Year. As if that’s not enough, the junior scored 16 points on Wednesday in State’s SEC
tournament opening win against Missouri to eclipse the 1,000-point total for her career. The feat makes her the 20th member to join such an illustrious group at MSU. But in the midst of all of these accomplishments, Alwal said she simply feels honored. “I was really overwhelmed. We play in one of the top conferences in the country,
and we’re going against the best players in the nation night in and night out, and just to be recognized in that group is just crazy and amazing all at the same time,” Alwal said. While the accolades continue to pile up for the Minnesota native, success for her came early, but it did not come overnight. SEE ALWAL, 7 EMMA KATHERINE HUTTO | THE REFLECTOR
Bulldog junior Martha Alwal goes up for a shot in a win earlier this season against Ole Miss. Alwal was given a pair of SEC honors this week for her performance this season.
he National Football fore the game? Even then, one League made head- must realize football is a very lines recently with its fast-paced game. Would such a attempt to implement a rule rule not be a bit of a hindrance disallowing the use of any to the overall flow of this great discriminatory language on game? the field, most notably the Also, those who attempt N-word. to enact this legislation must Use of such language would understand the culture of not result in a 15-yard penalty only football, but of today’s against the team of the player mainstream society. who uses the language. Take, for example, the inA second violation of the stances when the N-word is new rule would result in an exchanged between two Afriejection of any player. can-American NFL players. John Wooten, former NFL In certain contexts, the word offensive lineman could often and Fritz Pollard be used beAlliance Chairman, This penalty tween Afrisaid he would be can-Ameris about taken aback if the icans not much as a means league did not enact the new rule sug- more than just a of degradagested by his orga- word — it is about tion but as nization. a method of “We want this attempting to approval beword to be policed change a culture tween playfrom the parking lot that seems to have ers. This is to the equipment been accepted in thanks in room to the locker part to the room,” Wooten our society.” hip-hop said. “Secretaries, culture that public relations has overtakpeople, whoever — we want en the sports world. it eliminated completely Will the referees take into and policed everywhere.” consideration the context Since word broke of the such cultural confines when potential new rule, everyone flagging players for use of the from seasoned veterans to N-word? Furthermore, such a journalists to die-hard foot- rule is bound to stir up plenty ball fans has voiced his or of questions about other types her opinion about the rule. of slurs that transcend racial Of all the concerns that barriers. have been voiced, one of the American Indians have remost gleaming concerns is cently argued the NFL team the method that would be name “Redskins” is offensive used in making sure it is to their people and have desuccessfully implemented manded the franchise change on the field. its name. In response, WashHow will referees monitor ington team owner Dan Snywhat all 22 players on the der told USA Today he would field say? Will each player “never change the name.” But, receive a microphone be- after such a drastic legislation
ANTHONY MCDOUGLE Anthony McDougle is a junior majoring in communication. He can be contacted at reflectorsports@gmail.com.
has been proposed, it may not be long before he has to eat those words. Furthermore, with the upcoming draft in May, the NFL could see its first openly-gay player in history in defensive end Michael Sam. With his arrival also comes the possibility of opposing players using homosexual slurs against him on the field. Is there a possibility of an addition of penalties against anti-gay slurs in the future as well? Regardless of how anyone feels about the probable enactment of this rule, we all should applaud the efforts being made by the NFL. This penalty is about much more than just a word — it is about attempting to change a culture that seems to have become accepted in our society. No matter what context or from what mouth these words come, they are hurtful, wrong and unacceptable. It is clear the intentions of the league are good. Only time will tell if the players of the NFL will take initiative and not give the referees a reason to assess this newly enacted penalty through the entirety of the upcoming season.
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