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TUESDAY APRIL 16, 2019
134th YEAR ISSUE 46
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
Iconic Bully statue damage revealed to be accidental
HANNAH BLANKENSHIP
Controversy arises over local bar’s actions during recent tornado HANNAH BLANKENSHIP NEWS EDITOR
NEWS EDITOR
A little over a week ago, a large yellow stain was found on the base of Mississippi State University’s iconic Bully statue in the Junction. The Mississippi State University Police Department believes the damage was caused unintentionally during a photoshoot involving smoke effects. “They were just out there taking pictures, they were using it as an effect for the photos, their intent was never to cause damage, I think it happened, they assumed that it was nothing, the rain would wash it off, but it rained a lot and the rain did not wash it off,” MSU PD Chief Vance Rice said. MSU’s Chief Communications Officer Sid Salter, said Rice advised him of the damage the afternoon of April 5. Rice assured him the police were following leads and expected to be able to identify the people responsible. MSU PD, with the help of video footage from the incident, posted a picture of the damaged statue on social media and urged the person responsible to contact them, or they would post his or her photo online.
MSU PD| Courtesy Photo MSUPD believes damage to the Bully statue in the Junction was caused accidentally by smoke effects.
The person responsible, a graduating senior, did confess. Although it was an accident, Rice said the person still should have notified MSU PD or MSU facilities. “It’s just a matter of when you cause damage, take care of it, do the right thing, notify somebody, and offer to fix what you caused,” Rice said. Rice said he assumed the smoke bomb just fell over during the photoshoot, as it would not normally have caused that much damage. “I’m assuming what happened is the smoke bomb fell over or blew over so it was blowing right at the statue,” Rice said. “It was an accident, bad luck.” The statue is very important to students, and although it was accidental, the damage caused was not BULLY, 2 appreciated.
Young Americans for Freedom hosts guest speaker Tim Young on topic of free speech issues NICOLE RIGSBY STAFF WRITER
Mississippi State University’s Young Americans for Freedom campus chapter hosted speaker Tim Young, a political comedian, author and recently hired TV personality for Fox News, Thursday night in McCool Hall. Young talked about free speech on college campuses and having civil conversation with people of different political views. During the audience interactive event, Young suggested civility is a conversation rather than a presentation of a formal speech, which furthered his point to encourage opening dialogue with those of opposite political leanings. Young began the event, by discussing the picture of the black hole recently released by NASA. He then moved into discussing the importance of political civility. Young said, as citizens, it is our duty to speak in a civil manner and to work together in completing political agendas. He said Republicans and Democrats have more in common than most realize, such as climate change and individual prosperity. Young also discussed his opinion that
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Last Saturday night, Starkville was under a tornado warning, sustaining flooding and damage from the high winds and heavy rain. During the inclement weather, controversy arose from the actions taken by local bar and restaurant Bin 612, for their treatment of patrons during the tornado warning. Sara Beth Pritchard, a Mississippi State University junior studying communication, was at the Bin with her roommate when the tornado warning was issued. “When we all started getting word, there was actually a tornado on Blackjack, and it was moving toward campus. The bartender stood up on the bar and told everyone there was a ‘a big storm coming’ and to close their tabs because they were shutting down,”
Pritchard said. “People behind us started pushing and yelling because the bartenders were in the crowd yelling and screaming at everyone to get out.” Pritchard and her roommate left as the situation was escalating. “I was super scared, and we didn’t really know what to do but we didn’t have much of an option so when everyone kept yelling and pushing. We just got really scared and started running towards our car,” Pritchard said. Pritchard said her car was parked near campus. “We ran from the (Cotton) District to almost the bridge going onto campus to get back to our car, and this was when the tornado was hitting campus,” Pritchard said. MSU alumnus Richie Long, who was present during the incident at the Bin, said the situation escalated when patrons resisted leaving the establishment.
Devin Byrd | The Reflector
Local bar, Bin 612, faces backlash over actions taken during Saturdayʼs storm.
“Bouncers announced the Bin would be closing immediately, gave us about 4-5 minutes to get out,” Long said. “All the while it was pouring raining and a reported tornado had touched down in Starkville at the
same time. We were all calling Uber/Lyft to get a ride home and the bouncers formed a line to push everyone out into the storm. Everyone in the bar resisted standing in the storm/tornado warning and a BIN, 2 brawl occurred.”
MSU student artist Kendrell Daniels defies disability, nominated for Sports Emmy
DREW GARDNER
as Recreation & Express the Spirit within YourSelf) Yourself Art! program at the T.K. Martin Center is used primarily for students with cerebral palsy who cannot physically make art. However, with the use of trackers, they can express how they feel by utilizing someone else to bring their artistic vision to life. The term “tracker” was coined by Tim Lefens and refers to a someone helping achieve a disabled person’s true vision through various tracking techniques. “This art program is for individuals who are very physically trapped in a body,” said Judy Duncan, a tracker and case manager for EXPRESS Yourself Art!.
STAFF WRITER
Mississippi State University is known for its diverse fine arts program, but one artist is taking a completely new approach to painting. Through MSU’s T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability and its EXPRESS Yourself Art! program, Kendrell Daniels has been given an opportunity to express himself like never before. Daniels is a 19-year-old MSU freshman and was born without arms. Throughout the years, Daniels has grown to adapt to his situation by learning to use his feet in innovative ways. He uses his feet for almost everything:
Judy Duncan | Courtesy Photo
MSU student Kendrell Daniels talks with former MSU quarterback Dak Prescott.
using his phone, playing video games, brushing his teeth and eating. Daniels has never let his disability hinder him in any way and during his sophomore
year of high school, he tried something completely new. According to their website, The EXPRESS (EXperiencing Painting
given out by the American Institute of Architects, is credited with creating what is called the “Ozark” style of architecture. The Crosby Arboretum, part of the MSU extension program, is a large plot of
land designed for the study of plants and ecosystems. Although the original designs for multiple buildings at the arboretum were never finished, the series of buildings clearly had a purpose.
ARTIST, 2
Architecture exhibit displays models of famous architect’s incomplete work
all Americans are nationalists, and defined nationalism as believing one’s own country should prosper before giving foreign aid. Young, a conservative himself, explained the foundation of conservatism. “I think classical conservatism, which I believe in, is smaller government, taking less money from people and having less of a hand in people’s lives,” Young said. Young believes the Republican party has been associated with hating social issues and not caring about the Earth. Young gave an example of Americans being more concerned about finding their next meal than the issues for which the LGBTQ community is fighting.
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YAF, 2
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EMMA DRAY BRASWELL STAFF WRITER
Mississippi State University is now housing a gallery exhibit inside Giles Hall that showcases physical models and 3D virtual reality renderings of architect Fay Jones’s unfinished work. The exhibit opened March 29 and will remain open until the School of Architecture’s studio classes begin final reviews. “This exhibit is a documentation and display of Fay Jones’s vision for the Crosby Arboretum,” Jane Kent, an exhibit coordinator, said. Jones, an apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright and recipient of the AIA Gold Medal, the highest award
“His work was very beautiful, and this one project is an example of a whole series he’s built for one place. That place he built for, the Crosby Arboretum, he thought was a gift for future generations to respect nature,” Nada Abdel-Aziz, a second year architecture major at MSU, said. Abdel-Aziz’s part in the project was not only to build a map of the entire arboretum, but to also help in assembling the displays. While mostly focusing on the unbuilt structures, students who view the exhibit can also learn information about the Crosby Arboretum that is currently in place, as well as its landscape architect, Edward Blake.
Brianna Laverty | The Reflector
The “Unbuilt Arboretum” exhibit in Giles Hall features Fay Jonesʼs unrealized designs for the Crosby Auditorium. The exhibit will be open until final exams.
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EXHIBIT, 2
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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2019
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Check out next Tuesday’s issue! YAF According to Young, conservatives are not against LGBTQ rights, they are just more concerned with other issues. “If you ask a conservative what they think of gay rights, they will respond with ‘I don’t care,’” Young said. Young also poked fun at people who believe President Donald Trump is a bad guy. He gave an example of the Women’s March, asking the audience what rights Trump has taken away from women. Young also spoke about the Bill of Rights and the first two amendments, emphasizing the necessity of free speech. He said the Second Amendment was meant to give citizens fire power to defend themselves from a governmental takeover. Taylor Welch, a Junior Psychology major, attended and enjoyed the event. “I thought it was funny and what he said was reasonable about not being unnecessarily vicious to people,” Welch said. The president of Young Americans for Freedom, Jesse Watkins, a junior studying aerospace engineering, spoke
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about the results of the “build the wall” banner the group displayed on campus several weeks ago, which stirred up controversy among students and professors. Watkins said the speaker’s message emphasized the group’s banner was an example was civil political discourse. “I think this is the perfect prompt to have someone talk about free speech. I think he promoted the message that we would like to send is civility,” Watkins said. Watkins also explained the reason for their display of the “build the wall” banner. “We try to avoid talking about crime statistics and the money it would cost to support illegal immigration. People who are jumping the border, using Obama’s words, are cutting the line,” Watkins said. “If you are able to hinder or at least stop illegal immigration, you would be able to talk about reforming a system that works better for everybody. We want a fair system for everybody across the world. We are very proimmigration, so we think the wall is a good step in the right direction to stopping illegal immigration.”
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BIN
The police were called about the disturbance and soon arrived on the scene. “At 10:30 p.m., the Starkville Police Department received the report of a disturbance in progress at Bin 612 who was attempting to close their business and ‘approximately one hundred people were trying to fight security from leaving the building and trying to stay inside at this time,’” a media release from Starkville PD stated. Social media blew up about the incident, reporting police using pepper spray to subdue patrons. According to the Starkville PD media release, pepper spray was used on one patron involved in a physical altercation and the man was released shortly after. “The Starkville Police Department did not initiate an evacuation of Bin 612,
ARTIST However, Daniels is an exception to T.K. Martin’s usual demographic. Daniels, using exclusively his feet, paints extraordinary art with the help of his tracker Judy Duncan. He paints abstract art, Mississippi State themed paintings and Dallas Cowboys logos. Daniels has been painting for several years now and has only gotten better with time. His painting eventually got the attention of one Mississippi State alumnus in particular, Dak Prescott. Prescott was so taken with Daniels’s painting that he flew Daniels and his tracker to Dallas to meet Prescott and the Cowboys at the AT&T Stadium. Prescott also hung Daniels’s art to the right of his door at his home in Dallas. “It inspires me to be better each and every day and one of my biggest deals is mind over matter and turning my adversities into strengths and he’s the prime example of that,” said Prescott of Daniels. Through their meeting, Daniels was introduced to the Cowboys during a huddle and presented Prescott with his
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612 University Drive or any other business during the time,” the media release stated. Ty Thames, owner of Bin 612, released a statement Sunday about the incident. Thames said the building was inadequately equipped to shelter the number of patrons present at the time from the inclement weather. “There is no adequate indoor shelter space for what was in excess of 250 people. All indoor spaces in the restaurant face the exterior wall to wall glass windows. There is an underground storage cellar that was utilized and able to provide shelter for approximately 15 people,” Thames said. Thames said the decision to evacuate the establishment in efforts of giving patrons time to find a safer place was also made at four other Cotton District restaurants.
Many of the complaints about the restaurant’s handling of the situation were regarding the aggressive language and behavior of the Bin’s employees telling the customers to leave. Several videos circulating social media confirm the inappropriate language used by employees. “We certainly do not condone the language or aggressive behavior of any of the security company’s personnel or our staff. We know that the intent of the security personnel and our staff was to prevent serious injuries from occurring inside of glass enclosed rooms. The intent was for people to leave with time to get to a safe space, including the underground parking garage directly across the street,” Thames said. Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill said she knows the
Bin’s intent was for safety for their patrons, but the incident can be a learning experience for everyone. “I thought that their concern was legitimate. They are community members and I know that they wanted their patrons to be safe so I think it’s a matter of us all learning how we can do better as it relates to this kind of event,” Spruill said. Spruill said she spoke with Oktibbeha County Emergency Management Agency Director Kristen Campanella, and the city will be initiating research into the best safe spaces around the county. “I think the takeaway from this is how to respond better and how to make (storm safety) information available,” Spruill said. Spruill said the city is still investigating police actions during the incident.
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Cowboys themed painting. Since their first meeting, the two have become close and Daniels has flown out three different times to present Prescott with even more artwork. Through Prescott, the reach of Daniels’s art expanded beyond Mississippi and all the way to ESPN. A short documentary was filmed to document Daniels’s artwork and his refusal to be hindered by his disability. The documentary reached an even wider audience and was nominated for a Sports Emmy Award this week. “I’m quiet, I’m smart, I’m confident and creative and I’m not going to let my disability stop me from what I want to do,” Daniels says in the video. The ESPN documentary is called “The Art of Inspiration” and can be found on their website at h t t p : / / w w w. e s p n . c o m / video/clip?id=24770373. Daniels still paints twice a month at the T.K. Martin Center and wants to eventually become a graphic designer and design business logos.
Judy Duncan | Courtesy Photo
MSU student and artist Kendrell Daniels uses his feet to paint “4 Dak” on a banner.
BULLY
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“I guess it was just an accident but it’s still sad,” said Jewel Jolly, a freshman mathematics major. Perhaps due to sensitivity over last semester’s Bully statue vandalism by University of Arkansas students, the public’s reaction was very negative. “Of course the public was very harsh…,” Rice said. “That’s not what this is about, we just want to know who did this, the
threat of ‘We’ll put your picture on Facebook,’ it got them to come in and that’s all we wanted.” Rice said the person responsible ultimately did the right thing. “I wish they would have just came in and told facilities or told us in the first place and done the right thing. I’m still not going to prosecute them because it took a little more effort to get them to do the right thing,” Rice said.
EXHIBIT The study of Jones’s unfinished work, which was led by Hans Herrmann, associate professor in the School of Architecture, lasted for two semesters before completion. According to Kent, the study began with six people and grew from there. “My focus was on the information side of it. I
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researched and wrote pretty much everything that’s in the exhibit, panels and timeline, with a couple places where Spurgeon Sanders, another exhibit coordinator, filled in the blanks,” Kent said. Herrmann provided insight into the inspiration behind the exhibit. “The person in charge of the Arboretum happened to show me these drawings they had rolled up in the corner and I recognized the importance of the drawings,” Herrmann said. Jones’s plans for the arboretum were not only aesthetically pleasing, but also designed to fit ecological needs. “We wanted it to have interesting geometric patterns, or some kind of
outside influence with regard to what it should look like. Jones believed very strongly, and he worked with a big, interesting team of people to develop an idea for the arboretum where what is on display is natural ecological systems,” Herrmann said. This is one of the reasons Herrmann got involved with the project. The exhibit is meant to not only impart knowledge, but also to show off the eco-friendly manner in which the structures were built. To enable the creative process of the exhibit, Herrmann wrote a grant. “The grant basically proposed to develop a digital archive of the materials and drawings so we could share that with others and create this exhibition,” Herrmann said. Those behind the unbuilt arboretum wanted to share their work with as many people as possible, and since the exhibit’s opening, it
has reached far past MSU’s “It was an opportunity student body and even the to really celebrate something state of Mississippi. that was one of the best “It’s looking like examples of architectural nationally this kind of production we have here unrealized, but really in Mississippi,” Herrmann important, piece of cultural said. and architectural history here While the team that put at MSU is being noticed,” together the exhibit has Herrmann said. worked hard to bring it to Kent explained the where it is today, their work is significance of Fay’s designs not yet finished. They hope and the importance of the to continue to showcase the exhibit. exhibit and the architectural “It deals with so many work in other places around different aspects of our world the U.S, a goal already being and was so groundbreaking proven possible. when it was conceptualized. “We’re sending the It’s important that we exhibit to the University of pursue things like this. It’s a Arkansas for sure,” Kent cross between many things: said. environmental protection, The exhibit is also ecology, conscious design, scheduled to be displayed sustainability, community in Washington D.C. and be outreach, and history. It’s a part of the Architecture absolutely beautiful,” Kent Foundation and the said. American Institute of Herrmann said this Architects. exhibit also provides a way Kent, Herrmann and to improve Mississippi’s the others responsible architectural and cultural for staging the unbuilt prowess. arboretum also have the >ƵĐŬLJ Ϯ dž ϯ ;ĂƉƉƌdž ϯ͘ϱϮ dž ϯͿ goal, farther down the road, to raise enough money to allow the unfinished project to be completed. “We’re showing that these buildings do in fact
fit in the landscape and the program. Then comes funding, which is the initial reason all of these structures weren’t built,” Kent said. Completing this set of architecturally and ecologically significant buildings would not only benefit architecture in Mississippi, but it would also bring something special to MSU. “As an architectural educator, that would be an amazing thing to be a part of,” Herrmann said. The exhibit currently displayed in Giles Hall was generously supported by the Criss Trust Award Program, the Office of Research and Economic Development’s Undergraduate Research Support Program, Crown Hardware and the MSU School of Architecture. Through the support of these organizations and the hard work of the faculty and students behind the exhibit, the unbuilt arboretum has been very successful and even has the potential to promote support for funding that would allow Jones’s unfinished designs to become a reality.
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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2019 @REFLECTORONLINE
OPINION
Political generalizations are unhelpful and reductive Socialist! Lazy!
DYLAN BUFKIN
is a sophomore majoring in English. Contact him at opinion@reflector. msstate.edu.
There is a lot of nuance to politics. Surely, it is due to the fact politics are comprised of people, which are themselves nuanced, but just as rhetoric tends to do with people, rhetoric tends to generalize politics. What I mean is words have meaning, and the English language has nuance to describe shades of colors, as it does to describe shades of politics. Much of modern political rhetoric consists of people throwing out the terms “the Left” and “the Right.” People talk about leftists or conservatives in broad strokes, and it does nothing to help political discussion when half of the dialogue is clarification. For instance, I can say, “the Right believes we should create a white ethnostate and also believes in lower taxes.” Now, that statement might be inflammatory to some, which is its purpose, but bear with me. Young Americans for Freedom was recently on Mississippi State University’s campus, and their signs said something to the gist of, “conservatives are not Fascists.” We could have the argument there is a disturbing historical precedent and present occurrence of a political coalition of fascists
Greedy!
Fascist!
Jerk. Meany pants.
Rosalind Hutton
and conservatives, but I would agree they are not one and the same. True political conservatives are socially and economically, who would have guessed, conservative. YAF, as defined by Steven Inring of the Encyclopedia Britannica, was founded in 1960 upon the “new conservatism” of its founder, William F. Buckley Jr. “Young Americans for Freedom (YAF), American youth organization based on conservative principles, notably limited government, traditional social values, and free enterprise,” Inring explains. What is fascism, then? Fascism is a somewhat nebulous term to pin down, but for a start, Robert Soucy of Encyclopedia Britannica
describes the aspects of fascism as “extreme militaristic nationalism, contempt for electoral democracy and political and cultural liberalism, a belief in natural social hierarchy and the rule of elites” and the want for a populous subservient to the needs of the state, rather than the individual. I have already let the cat out the bag and said my peace about the possibility for fascists and conservatives to be bedfellows. If you do not remember, the Charlottesville, Virginia white nationalist rally in August 2017 was labelled “Unite the Right.” If you do not think fascists are on the Right, they certainly think so themselves, and members of white nationalist groups are intent
An In-Class Distraction
on legitimizing their views by association. For an example of such legitimization, current Republican Rep. Steve King, as reported by Cleve R. Wootson Jr. of The Washington Post, has lamented the fact “white supremacist” has become derogatory, tweeted “our civilization” cannot be restored with “someone else’s babies” and claimed black mothers could afford abortions if they stopped buying iPhones. King is a racist, disgusting and monstrous man who does not deserve the office he holds, but as Tony Leys with the Des Moines Register writes, he plans to run again on the GOP ticket in 2020, claiming he has nothing to apologize for.
Privatization is not beneficial PHIL EVANS
is a senior majoring in political science. Contact him at opinion@reflector. msstate.edu
Privatization, or the removal of government organizations in favor of private companies, is a privileged view of what is or is not a public good. When schools were solely private, about 60% of white males in New England could read. However, according to Jack Lynch of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, by the turn of the 19th century, that number was close to 100%. Often, privatization offers efficiency, but sacrifices accessibility. The government is there to help and protect its people, and the removal of the government’s safeguard can create negative consequences, as there are no immediate repercussions for private industries to neglect a large portion of the population. Let us take a simple example— roads. I still remember sitting in a debate during my freshman year and hearing the Libertarian spokesperson say he believed corporations should build their own roads. This theory works, if we believe a company would
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His position in Congress gives credence to both the ideas that the GOP is a place for such ideas and that those ideas are politically acceptable enough in America to have political power. Since King was reelected in 2018, after many of these remarks had been made, it is an unsettling idea to consider. So, let us discuss political generalization in the article about political generalizations. In light of all this talk of fascism and conservatism, why is it bad to generalize? Well, many conservatives would take issue with my assertion, “the Right wants to create a whiteethnostate,” and they would be right to. Most people on the large, vague political construct we call the Right do not feel like
creating a white ethnostate, and most, emphasis on most, are not bad people. I would personally say they are wrong about many things, but I would not say they are all white nationalists, which is an important distinction. Similarly, it is frustrating to hear rhetoric painting the entirety of the Democratic Party as socialists because of the media prominence of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. There is a distinct difference between democratic socialists and liberals, and the assumption Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer or Joe Biden are suddenly radically new politicians because more socialists than Bernie Sanders are now openly in the Democratic Party is asinine. To be clear, I am not drawing similarities between socialists and fascists in an ideological way. I am drawing similarities between how the media, politicians and others paint politics with broad brushes because of a select few in power. All Democrats are not socialists, and all Republicans are not fascists. There are socialists in the Democratic Party, and there are fascists in the Republican Party. It helps no one to say leftists, when talking about liberal Democrats, believe in socialism, and it helps no one to say conservatives, when talking about crypto-fascists, believe in white supremacy. General statements are good for many things, but politics, that which governs our very existence, is no time for generalities. Call fascists fascist. Call socialists socialist. Do not, for the love of God, call Nancy Pelosi a socialist.
want to get to every single customer. However, if there is anything I remember from microeconomics, it is companies decide by marginal cost. This means if someone does not fit their cost-benefit analysis, they will not be included in the range of roads. So, now you are stuck in the middle of Mississippi with no way to get to the hospital, surrounded by forests and too far away for a company to care. Another example I have heard brought up is the United States Postal Service. I have heard before we should get rid of the USPS because we already have UPS and FedEx. Yes, this is true. However, even in this day and age, FedEx and UPS do not have the range of every house in the country. This is where governmental institutions step in. How do you expect a normal person, maybe in the mountains of Montana, to receive all the mail they are obligated to receive? I do understand Amazon is working on this problem and are looking to hire more local contractors to deliver to more isolated places, but such an efficient and inexpensive organization often cannot be created, especially for something which could cost so much without governmental assistance. This is not just a problem in America. South Africa is one of the most unequal countries in the world. Although they have
the second highest gross domestic product in Africa, they still experience 57 murders a day, as reported by the Reality Check team with BBC News. Why would I tell you this? Because privatization has not worked in this country. As reported by Ezra Claymore with The South African, private citizens, at least those who are rich enough, have spent more on personal security, 45 billion rand, than South Africa’s police force has in their entire budget, 30 billion rand. This has created a situation where only those who can afford to be safe are truly safe. The country has about half the needed police officers, but they cannot afford to pay any more. In this situation, privatization has been a cost-saving measure, but it is costing them social instability and human lives, leading to more violence. Countries low on funds must rely on either non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or private organizations to perform the tasks which are usually the job of the state, but a country with the funds to continue to support all of its citizens should not rely on private institutions. Private institutions care more about money than the people they are supposed to help. Just because you may not need the government’s help does not mean many others do not rely on the government’s assistance.
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Khalid’s new album ‘Free Spirit’ disappoints
TALLY DUKE
STAFF WRITER
Khalid, who is known for his unique R&B sound, released his new album “Free Spirit” April 5. This is Khalid’s third album release and has scored the highest for him on Billboard 200, but fans have a different story. Songs such as “Location,” “Young Dumb and Broke” and “American Teen” changed the R&B genre for the better, which earned Khalid quite the reputation. His latest album release does not live up to his hype. “Free Spirit” consists of 17 songs that really all sound the same. This album has some musical strengths, but you can tell Khalid played it safe compared to his earlier debuts. Khalid released a few singles prior to the full release to get fans
excited, but ended up letting fans down due to the early releases being the only good songs on the album. “Talk,” a single released in Feb. 2019, is by far the strongest track on the album. In collaboration with, a star producer and artist, Khalid made sure to bring his A-game with this track. In this modern dating world, people tend to take things too fast and not live in the moment. Khalid’s message in “Talk” is to try to slow down, take dating one step at a time and talk with each other instead of caving to societal dating pressures. This track has become very popular since its release, and as of April 6, the single has earned the number 40 spot on the Hot 100. Though I am not a Khalid fan, I still enjoy this track due to its unique sound and lyrical message.
Even tough “Talk” is such a strong and popular track, it does not make up for the lukewarm remainder of the album. Khalid has earned his popularity due to his strong voice and unique sound, but this was not shown off in any way in his new album. Every song sounds the same, and sometimes he even sounds like he is whining, which is not normal for Khalid. Including a strong track from a previous album is what saved Khalid from the album’s doom. “Better” is the lead single from Khalid’s album “Suncity.” This track showcases Khalid’s famous unique sound and upbeat tempos. This track is number four on the album, so it can give listeners a break from the heavy themes and whiney lyrics the rest of the album has to offer. Later in the album, a
Rosalind Hutton
familiar and famous voice saves the end of the album. The track “Outta My Head” is by Khalid and John Mayer, who is another powerhouse in the music industry. This collaboration was not planned but proved magical. This track features the two singer-songwriters speaking their thoughts about a girl who is stuck in their minds. This is the collaboration we did not know we needed, but cannot live without. Ultimately, “Free Spirit” has some strong points and some weak points. Overall, this album is not my favorite, and it is disappointing because it does not feature the Khalid sound and vibe we all know and love. There are a couple of strong tracks in the album, but two out of 17 tracks is not enough to save this album from being a flop.
Theatre MSU blew audience away with ‘The Tempest’
BRANDON GRISHAM
ONLINE EDITOR
With the dimming of the lights, the magnificence of the stage and a bombastic introduction, the audience of McComas Hall fell eerily silent. They remained still throughout the entire production, reacting solely with outbursts of awe and gales of laughter. If you missed this powerful event, great sorrow should befall you. Those fortunate enough to experience this Theatre MSU performance need no validation. Instead, I implore you to pay close attention toward future productions from this powerhouse of
theatrical talent. Theatre MSU’s “The Tempest” displayed deft grace and charm that rocked the audience to their core. A stylistic approach, combined with outstanding visuals and engrossing performances thrusted those in attendance into a fantastic escape. Words fail to capture the magnificence of this play’s atmosphere. Tim Matheny, assistant professor of Theatre Performance, directed this production to glory worthy of Shakespearean praise. Written in the early 17th century, “The Tempest” is a play that honors many genres. Offering segments of comedy, drama and romance, there is no set way to encapsulate this tale.
Marooned on an island for 12 years, the deposed duchess of Milan named Prospera lives with her daughter Miranda. A ship carrying Alonso, the king of Naples, and various nobles, wreck in a storm created under the magical art of Prospera. As the men become acquainted with the island, Prospera weighs the choice between power and compassion. Running on the McComas main-stage from April 11 to April 13, this weekend gave a startling look at one of William Shakespeare’s final plays. Adapted, but not retooled, legitimate commendation must be awarded toward this difficult performance. It was no easy feat, as the
audience and the cast had to overcome linguistically demanding early English. Maintaining the elaborate wordplay and comedic styling, it was impressive how enthralled the audience became within the first few minutes. Upon intermission, the audience buzzed in an excited murmur. So many questions bubbled between them, demanding their full attention. The re-introduction delighted the patrons, leaving them captivated for the rest of the performance. The final scene was a breathtaking display, leaving a powerfully
raw impact that disseminated across the audience. This cast knocked it out of the park. Even with difficult pronunciation, each cast member exuded passion and captivating emotion. Minor characters got moments to shine, not disappearing behind the shadows of the leads. Facial expressions, character defining gestures and natural delivery came from every performer. No scene trudged along, as the enthusiastic pacing offered brilliance few ever bear witness to. The entire crew deserves praise, as each department
shone through with delicate care and adept skill. The flexible sound design and lighting balanced carefully between explosive enchantments and powerful monologues. Costumes of gorgeous intricacies suited each distinct and vibrant personality. The stage itself breathed along with musical swells, appearing like a vivid dream from which few would want to wake. An experience such as this rarely ever graces the stage, so this masterful production deserves every ounce of admiration and applause.
Mississippi State University 2019 Spring Commencement Ceremonies May 2, 2019 3:30 p.m. Ceremony (Business/Education)
Processional begins at 3:00 p.m. Doors open at 2:00 p.m. May 3, 2019 9:30 a.m. Ceremony
(Arts & Sciences/Architecture, Art, & Design/Veterinary Medicine)
Processional begins at 9:00 a.m. Doors open at 8:00 a.m. 3:30 p.m. Ceremony
(Engineering/Forestry/Agriculture & Life Sciences/University Studies)
Processional begins at 3:00 p.m. Doors open at 2:00 p.m.
Humphrey Coliseum ALLOW ADDITIONAL TIME FOR SECURITY SCREENING ALL BAGS ARE SUBJECT TO SEARCH The information regarding regalia, invitations, photographs, and marching instructions may be found at www.registrar.msstate.edu, under students/graduation for you to view and/or print.
Congratulations to all of Our Graduates! GRADUATES AND THEIR GUESTS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN THEIR SEATS UNTIL THE CONCLUSION OF THE CEREMONY.
66-Sports SPORTS
THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2019 @SPORTSREFLECTOR
Super Diamond Dawgs pitch, defend their way to victory HUNTER CLOUD SPORTS EDITOR
A roar erupted from the fans as the final out was recorded, completing the series sweep for Mississippi State University as they defeated the University of Alabama 13-3. The third win was routine, just like the pitching and defending this series. MSU only gave up four runs as a pitching staff all weekend, including a shutout in the first game of the series. MSU Head Coach Chris Lemonis said both pitching and defense did a great job limiting Alabama’s batters this weekend. “I thought we pitched great all the way around, and I also thought we
played good defense,” Lemonis said. “I think that is a side that oftentimes gets overlooked. We made some really good plays defensively. Our Starters and relievers did a good job pounding the (strike) zone.” The defense playing well is something that has changed since the series against Lousiana State University, where MSU committed seven errors in three games. Since then, they have only committed four errors in six conference games. Lemonis made some changes to the lineup defensively, as he moved Justin Foscue from third base to second base and Gunner Halter from second base to third base. He said the change and the effect
it has had on the team defensively was a bit of a shock. “I am surprised. Justin Foscue has surprised me because he has played a really good second base over the last couple of weeks, and even Marshall Gilbert made some nice plays today,” Lemonis said. In the midst of weather altered scheduling and Super Bulldog Weekend, the bullpen and starters found ways to not only stay focused in order to win the two games, but really strangled the Alabama Crimson Tide offense. In the first game, Ethan Small, a junior pitcher from Lexington, Tennessee, took command on the mound and found a way to not only send Alabama batters
back to the pine benches of the dugout, but also blow three strikes by 15 of the 18 batters he retired in six innings of work. Small said he knew how important the weekend was, but just how big his performance was had yet to sink in on Friday night. “(It is) pretty surreal. It hasn’t really sunk in yet that that’s what happened,” Small said. “Really special though. This weekend has meant a lot to us for a long time and we appreciate the support for sure.” Small has an arsenal that includes the ability to alter his timing on pitches. From the stretch to the release of the ball, Small’s pitches mess up the hitter’s timing and render hitters unable to make contact with the
ball, as he struck out seven straight batters at one point. Another part of Small’s game that gives him an advantage on the mound is his high fastball. Lemonis said it is the high fastball that has given Small an edge all season, and its movement is what makes it so hard to make contact. “Well, it’s deceptive. So, hitters think it’s a little lower in the zone,” Lemonis said. “I’m sure when you go into a weekend, everybody says, ‘Don’t swing here,’ and there’s just a deceptive piece to Ethan, and he really knows how to pitch off of it. He’ll go down [in the strike zone] and then come up.”
Spring game gives new, old Bulldogs chance to improve GARRETT SMITH STAFF WRITER
Saturday was the first opportunity for fans to see the young QB in action, as he went 3-9 for 30 yards, splitting ownership of the white team’s quarterback position with Jalen Mayden, a freshman from Sasche, Texas. Schrader is a name Bulldog fans may recognize from his closely watched recruitment. “Being here in the spring just confirms the decision we made throughout the recruitment process. You know I’m glad to be here, I made the right choice,” Schrader said. “Just being able to learn the office before the summer is a huge advantage
has at the plate this year, but MacNamee said that is also the same for the whole team as hitting coach Jake Gautreau has worked diligently with them. “He gives us the right approach and the right mentality to go out there and understand that we are the best,” MacNamee said. “When you have a whole club of guys with the same mentality, it is dangerous. I know people who are like ‘oh they are hot right now’ but we have worked way too hard to be hot for one little period of time.” After a weekend that saw 40 hits and 28 runs, MSU’s offense proved they can produce big numbers in order to win games. This is something they struggled to do against LSU just two weeks prior. After the Tennessee and Alabama series wins the past two weekends, Lemonis said the LSU series was not a good series for MSU at all. Since then, however, the offense has found its rhythm in getting men on base and across the plate just like they did before the LSU series. “We have been pretty consistent. We had two down games against LSU that we were not too happy with, but for the most part our offense has come and produced.” Lemonis said.
patience at the plate and their ability to hit the ball well up and down the order. Which means that any given night a player may have a bad night, but another is right there to step up and contribute. “Coming into the series now and the season, a lot of teams know what we are capable of hitting so they are trying to work around that,” MacNamee said. “We have to be patient and understand what might be coming from other pitchers, but just staying with our same approach and doing what we do.” MacNamee stuck with that approach and hit a two run home run to spark a five run inning in the bottom of the seventh in the second game against Alabama. That was a turning point in the ball game, as it split the game wide open and MSU was able to pour on the runs. Before MacNamee hit the home run, he walked up to the plate with a new pre-atbat ritual, writing something on the ground before batting. He said it may have helped his home run get over the wall. “I write GB, it’s for Grandpa Bruce. My grandfather passed away last week,” MacNamee said. “I know he is up there watching over me. I think that home run grew a few feet because of him. I go up
Tyler Bell, Rosalind Hutton
The weather in Starkville cleared up just long enough Saturday for Mississippi State University to get their spring football Maroon and White Game played in the midst of Super Bulldog Weekend. “I feel like I got an amateur degree in meteorology the past couple days,” head coach Joe Moorhead said in Saturday’s post game press conference. Despite the disjointed scrimmage format and less than ideal weather conditions leading up to and during the game, Moorhead said he felt the team accomplished its goal in the spring game. “We walked off the field better than we walked on,” Moorhead said. “The spring game is not about plays, its about players.” The game capped off a spring camp defined by its quarterback competition, with three players in position to potentially take the reins of the Bulldog offense next fall. Keytaon Thompson, a junior quarterback from New Orleans, Louisiana, went 9-18 for 106 yards and had three touchdowns in Saturday’s game. He is the only one of the three quarterbacks with college game experience, having seen game repetitions for two years in a row, including starts in the 2017
Gator Bowl and the 2018 season opener. Thompson said the previous year under Coach Moorhead has provided the groundwork for himself and the rest of the team to have a great 2019 season. “I feel like we had a really good spring, better than last year in all three phases,” Thompson said. “I feel like just getting that second year under Coach Moorhead, and being more comfortable with the system and things that he’s trying to do, improving upon the culture, and I feel like this spring was really good for us.” Thompson was also quick to note the growth in his fellow quarterbacks during spring camp, especially that of Garrett Schrader, a freshman from Charlotte, North Carolina, who is in his first semester at MSU. Thompson said Schrader jumped straight into practice with the Bulldogs. “They’re getting a lot better. Garrett (Schrader) especially. It’s his first year so there’s a lot more growth in him,” Thompson said. “From the first practice to the spring game, I feel like Garrett has done really really well. Jalen is continuing to work hard, he’s been developing since last year, and I feel like both of those guys are really good and capable quarterbacks for our team.”
Diamond Dawg offense produces in weekend sweep over Alabama
HUNTER CLOUD
SPORTS EDITOR
The white smoke bellowed out of the Mississippi State University baseball logo on the scoreboard, blending in with the grey clouds behind it. A train whistle then blew, signaling more offensive production for Mississippi State University. A home run by Marshall Gilbert, senior catcher from Kenosha, Wisconsin, was the reason for celebration. His homer marked the fifth home run of the series, as MSU completed its sweep of the University of Alabama on Sunday with a 13-3 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide. “I think that is one of our strengths, the depth of our lineup,” MSU head coach Chris Lemonis said. “Josh Hatcher has been big for us these last few weeks. We have had some guys really give us some good at bats down there. Rowdey and TA (Tanner Allen) are really coming along and that gives us a tough lineup.” Elijah MacNamee, a senior outfielder from Cypress, Texas, who last year sparked the wild journey to Omaha with a walk off home run against Florida State University and Vanderbilt University, is one player who has drawn a lot of walks to
for me.” As for Mayden, he went 3-4 for 14 yards in limited action Saturday, but remains confident the quarterback competition he fought in all of spring will remain contested, but positive. “We were battling everyday, we never knew who was going to take control of the offense. I just feel like it was really good and really competitive,” Mayden said. “I feel like we’re gonna pick up exactly where we left off in the fall with the quarterback competition.” While the quarterback position is often one of the team’s primary sources of leadership, and the position remains in question, MSU did announce two of its 2019 team captains following the game. Those captains are Darryl Williams, a senior offensive
lineman from Bessemer, Alabama, and Errol Thomas, a junior linebacker from Florence, Alabama. Both players were selected through a team vote, a decision in which Coach Moorhead felt confident. “I feel like the team did an excellent job in their selection process. I think they picked the right two guys.” Moorhead said. Thomas said he was surprised to learn of his selection as a captain, but knows his position requires him to be a leader both on and off of the field. “It’s really a tremendous honor. I really had no clue,” Thomas said. “I really appreciate them for trusting me to lead the way, and I gotta trust them as well. I believe that the Mike linebacker has got to be one of the most vocal leaders on the team.”
Thomas leads a unit that was a part of one of the most successful defenses in the nation last year, but he believes they are capable of just as much success in 2019, if not more. At the end of the day, the Maroon and White Game is just one of many steps the Bulldogs have to take leading up to their 2019 season. Brian Cole, a senior safety from Saginaw, Michigan, said the next step is clear. “Just work. Work. Fundamentals. Fundamentals is what’s gonna take us long way,” Cole said. “When it comes to those tight games, we can always just fall back to our fundamentals.” Cole and the rest of the Bulldogs will not take the field again until August 31st, competing against the University of LouisianaLafayette in New Orleans.
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