4.5.23

MSU returns to Israel for the first time since 2017

Mississippi State University’s Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures is returning to an excavation site in Israel for the first time since 2017.

The five-week project is a field school to train students and will also survey 100 square kilometers of southern Israel for significant archaeological sites this summer.

Dr. James Hardin, archaeologist and director of the Cobb Institute of Archaeology, said the region is important to

the institute’s study of the Middle East.

“We found a little over 800 sites, 7,000

isolated finds, so it’s an archaeologically rich area that goes from 1.8 million years ago, maybe

1.6, to 1947,” Hardin said. “We have everything in the area.” Hardin said from

1100 B.C. to 1250

B.C., a widespread societal collapse known as the Late Bronze Age Collapse caused many civilizations to disappear from the archaeological record, forming an abrupt break

in history. About 200 years later, kingdoms mentioned in biblical texts — Israel, Judah, Moab and Edom to name a few — began to form.

Hardin said the relationship between biblical texts and the archaeological record has been hotly debated for decades. The project hopes to shed light on the development of tribal cultures into ancient biblical kingdoms.

“What do the processes look like from an archaeological perspective?' That's one of the things that we've been trying to address,” Hardin said. “How early does Israel arise?”

Reflector shows excellence at MPA, SEJC

Dontae Ball wins Best

This spring, The Reflector obtained 41 awards at two student journalism competitions. In February, staff members attended the Southeastern Journalism Competition at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. The Reflector gathered 16 awards from the Best of the South and on-site competitions. In the Best of the South portion of the contest, former editor-in-chief of the Reflector Heather Harrison was awarded fifth place in College Journalist of the Year, Best News Writer and Best Special Event Re -

porter/Editor.

“I’ve loved being able to learn the skill of journalism, and having these awards as tangible proof of what I’ve been able to accomplish means a lot to me,” Harrison said.

Former graphics editor Dontae Ball placed first

staff reflect on their experience

for Best Artist/Illustrator. “I’m proud of myself for getting the award and I’m happy I was with The Reflector,” Ball said. Former advertising manager Sydni Vandevender won second place for Best Advertising Staff Member.

“It always feels nice to get recognized for my designs because it’s a nice little affirmation,” Vandevender said.

Staff writer Hannah Rae Kennedy won second place for Best Public Service Journalism.

Former news editor

Payton Brown placed in third for Best Newspaper Page Layout Designer.

For on-site competitions, Harrison and Vandevender placed first in public relations. Additionally, Harrison placed second in news writing.

Former sports editor Dylan Flippo was awarded first in sports writing.

“The conference was such an amazing time, and I am so thankful I was able to participate in the competition,” Flippo said.

Teachers adapt postCOVID

Out in Oktibbeha County, just south of Starkville, sits NorthStar Industrial Park, a development site that is getting ready to house new occupants.

Golden Triangle Development LINK has been working to establish NorthStar and attract companies to fill in the empty acres. The development agency recently received $3.4 million from the governor and the Appalachian Regional Commission to clear trees.

The funds also pay for roadwork outside the park’s western area. Oktibbeha County and the City of Starkville worked with LINK to develop the industrial park by supplying a $14 million investment in 2017. This week, the county approved a bid with LINK to clear the site for building construction.

“Any project that we

get, [LINK] have been instrumental in making happen,” Mayor Lynn Spruill said.

After cleaning the site, LINK will work with Agracel, an industrial development company, to construct a building. Agracel completed another move-inready building that is 50,000 square feet and is expandable to 100,000 square feet. The industrial developers are helping LINK find a tenant to fill both speculative buildings.

LINK Chief Operating Officer Meryl Fisackerly said most companies would occupy a 20-acre to 50-acre space, and the industrial park has additional room on the back side for a 150-acre building if needed. She estimated that ten tenants could fill the park's eastern side, and one company could occupy the larger portion of the site. “It is not a massive industrial park,” Fisackerly said. “It was

really not designed for someone to come in and take all the acreage for one user.”

Fisackerly said LINK equally appreciated all investors because each can impact the community.

“Their footprint might be smaller, but that doesn’t mean their investment or job creation is necessarily smaller,” Fisackerly said.

Garan Manufacturing

has been the sole NorthStar resident since 2020. Fisackerly said a buyer had expressed interest in moving to NorthStar, but the building has since remained empty.

“We are very hopeful to have a tenant soon,” Fisackerly said.

However, Fisackerly said other companies had contacted LINK about moving into the park.

The number of experienced teachers in the Starkville-Oktibbeha County School District has decreased by 7.3% since the 2018-2019 school year.

According to the Mississippi Succeeds Report Card for this school district, in the 2018-2019 school year, 71.8% of teachers had at least 4 years of experience. This percentage of experienced teachers has gradually fallen to 64.5% for the 20212022 school year.

Even though this might be the case, the number of teachers working for the SOCSD has steadily increased since the 20182019 school year.

Although many new teachers have begun working in place of their experienced counterparts, there are those that have remained teaching through the COVID-19 pandemic. Teachers were forced to adapt to online teaching, and have learned

how to teach students post-lockdown.

According to a survey done by the Brookings Institute, “In March 2021, 42% of teachers declared they have considered leaving or retiring from their current position during the last year. Of these, slightly more than half say it was because of COVID19.”

Three teachers from the SOCSD shared their experiences teaching before, during and after the lockdown in 2020.

saMUEL hUGhEs nEws EDitor

The Egyptian king Shishak attacked Jerusalem around 900 B.C. The event occurred nearby the site MSU has excavated. Courtesy Photo | Rijksmuseum

PaYton Brown staff writEr

Garan Manufacturing is the first and only resident of NorthStar Industrial Park.

Heather Harrison | The Reflector

hannah raE KEnnEDY staff writEr

Industrial park is preparing for new occupants, possible foreign investment

The Reflector staff took home 25 awards at the Mississippi Press Association Better Student Newspaper Contest March 30.

Landon Scheel | The Reflector

Cobb Institute Director James Hardin. Courtesy Photo | MSU

The Reflector Graphics Illustator Dontae Ball was the only first-place winner at SEJC. Courtesy Photo | Dontae Ball

Illustrator;

First grade teacher Isabel McLemore. Courtesy Photo | Isabel McLemore

hEathEr harrison staff writEr

Students will excavate a site called Khirbet Summeily, a promising site that could prove instrumental in understanding how – and perhaps when – these biblical kingdoms formed.

Khirbet Summeily is dated from 1000 to 700 BC, a time of interest to MSU’s research. The site is located between the wet, coastal plain of the Mediterranean and the mountain foothills where early Israel formed.

According to Hardin, Khirbet Summeily lies on the border of the ancient kingdoms of Judah and Philistia — and happens to be one of the best sources of water in the Negev Desert — making it a highly traveled area in ancient times and an archaeological hotspot.

“We didn't find any houses; we found this big administrative building. We find animal bones where these animals are living their early lives somewhere else and being brought there to be processed as food,” Hardin said. “So, it shows provision in the economy, which shows the integration of the site into a larger regional network.”

During the most recent excavation of Khirbet Summeily in 2017, the field team unearthed “bullae” — items sealed in clay. Hardin said these bullae are significant because they

AWARDS

For sports photography, former photography editor Landon Scheel placed third.

“Before taking on this role, I didn’t know how to use professional editing software like Adobe Lightroom or how to manage my photos well from an organization standpoint, but I learned quickly and tried my best to make a name for myself as a photographer,” Scheel said.

Former managing editor Tanner Marlar placed second on the Media History quiz; staff writer Katie Rainwater placed third for the Media Law quiz.

On March 30, The Reflector attended the Mississippi Press Association O.C. McDavid Journalism Summit at the

INDUSTRY

“We’ve had a lot of interest in NorthStar and in the speculative building,” Fisackerly said. Electrical engineering companies, automobile and electric vehicle industries and two German manufacturers have expressed ideas for

TEACHERS

Isabel McLemore is currently a teacher for the gifted program at Henderson Ward Stewart Elementary School. McLemore taught first grade at Sudduth Elementary School prior to this year. McLemore shared her reaction to the closing of in-person classes in spring 2020 at Sudduth Elementary.

“It was an anxious time because I wanted everyone to be safe but also wanted to be with my students,” McLemore said.

She said that while online school was not the ideal practice for first grade students, it was necessary at the time.

Marcelle Smith, a teacher at Starkville High School, faced difficulties while teaching online. When the classroom was split between inperson students and

display an exchange of commodities, which could suggest the political integration of people earlier than previously believed.

“There's administrative activity that I think you associate with increasing political integration and interaction," Hardin said.

"We know there are kingdoms in the ninth and eighth centuries. We have contemporary records that talk about them. The question is, when did it start and what did that look like?”

Hardin estimates the project will cost the Cobb Institute between $150 million and $250 million. In addition to the field school, students will go on weekend excursions to sites significant to archaeology in the Middle East, including a visit to Qumran, the site of the famous Dead Sea Scrolls.

“One of the cool things about this field school is that the students will be digging the materials, they'll be processing the materials, they'll be recording the materials in the field. So, they're going to learn their archaeological field processes and methodologies from stem to stern until we get to laboratory analysis,” Hardin said.

When Bailey Stephenson toured MSU, he was uncertain of his career path. Once he

Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum in Jackson. Staff members took home 25 awards in the Student Division of the Better Newspaper Contest. Ten were first-place awards.

Before the awards ceremony, participants watched a local Mississippi artist display her work, listened to a presentation about media law and heard from leaders in the Mississippi journalism industry.

At the beginning of the ceremony, staff writer Lizzie Tomlin won first place for Best General News Story. Rainwater placed first in Best Feature Story for her article on the displacement of a Ukrainian family who moved to Starkville.

opening facilities at NorthStar, Fisackerly said. LINK recently submitted information for a German, familyowned pipe manufacturer that could make a $40 million investment and bring 238 jobs to the county if the company moved to the park.

online students, many of those who were attending virtually fell behind their in-person counterparts.

“Many overslept in classes that required a Zoom, and some didn't have internet access at home to complete the work. There were also a few who did nothing because they expected to be passed along like they were at the end of the previous year,” Smith said.

Claretha Hill, a seventh grade social studies teacher at Partnership Middle School, described the difficulties of teaching online classes.

“In-person learning allows teachers to quickly access students' learning and adjust the lesson as needed at that moment. Online learning was a little more challenging and became a distraction,

learned of the upcoming Khirbet Summeily excavation, he decided to pursue archeology at the Cobb Institute. Now a junior anthropology major, Stephenson said he expects the field school to help him identify the focus of his own research.

“You get a lot of dopamine from finding stuff in the ground. At least I do, personally,” Stephenson said.

Over 35 students and faculty members from MSU, the University of Michigan, the University of Wisconsin and the University of Minnesota will lodge in Kibbutz Ruhama, a community farming village of stuccoed cinderblock. According to Hardin, MSU’s presence over the years has fostered great relationships with locals and Israeli archaeologists.

“The Cobb Institute might be better known in some parts of Israel than in Mississippi,” Hardin said.

To obtain a license to excavate sites, the Cobb Institute of Archaeology must display it can probably care for excavated artifacts. Hardin said the Cobb Institute houses over 5,600 feet of collection space, making it one of the few institutes in the nation that has the infrastructure to excavate and research artifacts without outside collaboration.

MSU alumnus Michael McCoy attended an

Harrison won first place for Best General News Photo, and Scheel won first for Best Feature Photo. Current photography editor Ivy Rose Ball placed third for Best Feature Photo.

“It feels good knowing how far I’ve come and how hard I’ve had to work and to have that recognized, not just by my friends or coworkers or even peers on campus, but by something bigger like MPA,” Scheel said.

Additionally, Harrison placed second for Best Series or Investigative Package and third for Best Use of Video and Best Use of Social Media.

“I’m really grateful to The Reflector for the best three years of my life,” Harrison said.

“We work a lot of foreign-direct investment … German projects are very intrigued by the industrial park,” Fisackerly said.

Fisackerly said one reason foreign buyers would be attracted to developing in NorthStar is its proximity to

especially for students who receive student support services,” Hill said.

After returning to the classroom, Hill had to not only teach students social studies but also how to adapt to the social differences in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“... Socially, we had to help students readjust to building positive relationships with peers. In-person classes are longer than online, so we had to help students rebuild their stamina, Hill explained. Smith faced another challenge when returning to the classroom.

“The biggest issue I have in classroom management is keeping kids off of their phones. During COVID, they had their phones 24/7 and many students are used to

excavation of Khirbet Summeily in 2014. McCoy said that the trip bolstered his professional confidence and left him with unforgettable experiences. On one weekend excursion,

his group visited the Old City of Jerusalem.

“I don't know if you went to Sunday school when you were a kid or whatnot, but to hear all the stories and then to see all

the places that are related to that, regardless of whether biblical archaeology is your thing, it’s cool to tie those physical places to something you're actively looking at,” McCoy said.

CONTINUED FROM 1

Vandevender won second for Best Use of Social Media and first for Best Advertisement.

“I really like graphic design. It was one of the things that attracted me to this position even though I knew it was one of the things I’d be doing less of,” Vandevender said.

Marlar won first place for Best Sports Column and second for Best Sports Feature Story; sports writer and junior communications major Elizabeth Keen won second place for Best Sports Column. Staff photographer Kat Beatty won third place for Best Sports Photo. “MPA and The Reflector have always been a great kickoff to awards season for us, and I’m so

Mississippi State University.

Spruill said the city leaders wanted to encourage people to move their families and businesses to Starkville.

“We’re trying to make ourselves as businessfriendly as possible,” Spruill said.

Spruill and Board of

being on social media all day long,” Smith said.

Additionally, she said the students’ motivation to pass state-required tests has decreased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic began, since those tests were waived during the height of the pandemic.

While returning to the classroom has had its own set of challenges, teachers said they have learned more about themselves and their profession as a result of the lockdown.

For Hill, she said she has learned to extend more kindness and grace, as the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in immense loss for her coworkers and students.

McLemore has become more tech-savvy and has learned to adapt to new technology as a result of classes getting moved to online

thankful to have went out on top with the best paper and group of people imaginable,” Marlar said.

Flippo won second for Best Sports News Story.

For the Best General Interest Column, former opinion editor Luke Copley won first place, staff writer John Baladi was awarded second and former life and entertainment editor Trey Barrett placed third.

“It was a lovely bit of punctuation on a really important part of my college experience, and I’m really appreciative of the recognition for the work that we do,” Copley said.

The Reflector was awarded first for Best Front Page, which was designed and edited by Brown, second in Best Design and

Supervisors Vice President Orlando

Trainer praised the LINK team for its work in the city and county. Trainer said LINK “moves the county forward.”

Trainer explained how the county and NorthStar could be attracting new residents.

“I think that

third in Best Editorials. Managed by current editorin-chief Joshua Britt, The Reflector was also awarded first in Best Website.

“Through and through, we’re keeping up with design trends and readability. We’re improving our website constantly to make sure our users can use it efficiently and get to what they’re looking for,” Britt said.

To end the MPA conference, The Reflector was awarded first place in Overall Excellence for the third year in a row. “We have something special here at The Reflector, and if any reader is considering joining, here’s your sign to do so. This place is amazing,” Marlar said.

CONTINUED FROM 1

Oktibbeha County has been somewhat of a … opportunity because they didn’t have all of the other things like some of the other counties have,” Trainer said. “We didn’t have the infrastructure in place, we didn’t have nothing to market, we didn’t have anything to put out there.”

CONTINUED FROM 1

instruction.

While each of these teachers endured hardships in adapting their teaching methods, each of them are hopeful for the future.

“I think we are finally back to what I remember the classroom being like before 2020,” McLemore said.

Likewise, when Smith

thought that she would retire in 2020, she pressed on.

“After seeing students, including my youngest child, struggle to get their footing back, I decided to stay. I am about to complete my 28th year in the classroom, and I have no plans to retire anytime soon,” Smith said.

The Qumran Caves are the original site of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the earliest known version of the Ten Commandments.

Courtesy Photo | Creative Commons

Jerusalem is ancient - scholars believe the first human settlements in Jerusalem took place somewhere around 3500 B.C.

Courtesy Photo | Creative Commons

Marcelle Smith, a teacher at Starkville High School, decided to continue her career.

Courtesy Photo | Marcelle Smith

An In-Class Distraction

Phone (662) 320-4000

Fax (662) 324-5290

Cotton Crossing • Russell Street Starkville

Friday, March 31

Student arrested in YMCA building for felony assault on a school official.

Student reported being harassed by another at TriDelta Sorority House.

Saturday, April 1

Student arrested in the back yard of Kappa Sigma Fraternity House for possession of controlled substance.

Student transported to OCH from Griffis Hall for medical assistance due to intoxication.

Sunday, April 2

Non-Resident arrested in Old main Academic Center for public drunkeness and possession of a fake ID.

Student arrested on Blackjack Road for careless driving, no tag and DUI 1st.

Monday, April 3

Non-Resident arrested on Blackjack Road for disregard traffic device, speeding, possession of marijuana and failure to yield.

“15 upvotes and I’ll steal this parking services vehicle that’s unattended and running.”

Soda Reviews: Dr. Pepper is a dessert and Fanta sucks

I doubt very many people can say they had a beer before their first cola, but admittedly, I experienced a buzz before a sugar-high.

Sodas were simply never kept in my house growing up, unless it was Canada Dry to soothe stomach aches or CocaCola to accompany my dad’s Jack Daniels.

I do not blame my parents, and I never had a curiosity about trying fizzy drinks until this year. As a complete disclaimer, the sodas I have had before this year were: Canada Dry, Sprite, Sierra Mist (which was the bane of my existence; I actually cheered when I heard it was discontinued) and Coca-Cola as of November 2022.

I have spent 21 years of my life ignoring all the options at soda fountains and holding down that awkward ‘water’ button to carefully avoid any fizzy contamination. No more. I have resolved to break out of my usual water order and begin trying as many soft drinks as I can.

After consulting experienced soda drinkers,

I went to Kroger and stared at the endless drink options, using my notes to grab recommended colas, citrus drinks and a fruit-flavored soda to cover my bases.

I judged five drinks on a scale of one to five. One means the drink was repulsive to all senses, and I strongly questioned its continued production. A five means I wished the drink was in my life sooner, and I would choose it over water next time. I dimmed the lights, played some Elton John and set out a whiskey glass for optional sensory evaluation.

Let the soda tasting begin.

Mountain Dew: 3/5

My initial reaction was surprise as I poured the soda into my glass. “This looks like pee,” was the first thing out of my mouth.

After pushing aside any conflicting feelings I had about drinking Mountain Dew, I took a sip and was taken aback. Besides sight, all my senses told me this drink was Sprite. The refreshing citrus smell and taste was great, until I felt a coating on my tongue. This was where the deductions began. It

was not as light as Sprite, and the aftertaste made me want to brush my teeth. I did not find this drink particularly terrible, but I was waiting for it to be great— especially for the hype it receives. However, I would definitely consider selecting Mountain Dew in my fast-food meal and drink combo.

Conclusion: Mountain Dew is pee-colored Sprite with a heavy aftertaste, but I am not mad about it.

Dr. Pepper: 4/5

What a thrill. The vanilla scent, the taste and the smooth texture were very pleasant. Because of the sweetness, I would never order this drink with a meal. Instead, I would like to think of it as a dessert drink, which makes it unique, and the possibility of a Dr. Pepper ice cream float excites me. I would even go as far to argue that it is the liqueur of the soda

world. Overall, Dr. Pepper impressed me.

Conclusion: Dr. Pepper possesses great power as a dessert drink to be mixed with ice cream or as a liqueur, but it should never wash down a Big Mac.

Fanta: 1/5

Allow me to systematically rip Fanta apart, beginning with aesthetic. The florescent orange was a massive turn-off, and I had hopes it was simply the color of the bottle. If you told me Fanta was radioactive, I may have believed you. The smell was immediately repulsive, as it smelled like a combination of SunnyD, sugar tablets and citrus cleaning product. Lastly, the taste left me wondering if the creator of Fanta knew what an orange was. I think they just knew the color orange existed and were tasked to make a drink that tastes the way orange looks. After trying

Fanta, I have since been recommended Crush, but I have doubts that product is any better.

Conclusion: Who filled my SunnyD with orangeflavored Smarties?

Coca-Cola vs. Pepsi: 5/5, 5/5

After taking a taste of each, I asked myself, “Are these supposed to be different?” I have likely enraged my audience, and I do admit there are very subtle differences in the flavor, texture and total sugar and caffeine content.

Coke is a bit smoother and has a vague vanilla aftertaste, while Pepsi is ever so slightly more acidic and packs a somewhat larger punch. I admit that perhaps having an entire can or bottle, rather than a modest tasting, will make a greater impact on taste. However, they are practically the same product.

After examining the nutrition facts, I have re -

solved to reach for a Coca-Cola when I crave soda for slightly less sugar and caffeine. Nonetheless, both of these drinks are absolutely excellent. I now understand why they are staples in American culture, and I plan on trying more of the flavor variants.

Conclusion: I have failed the American people for not having a clear stance on the Coke vs. Pepsi debate, but I can confidently say that I am jealous of the supermarket babies who were given these so early on. My parents failed me, and I will make up for lost time with a few 6-packs of colas. This soda tasting was a rite of passage. The sugar high I got afterwards was unprecedented, and I truly did not know how to counteract it. Instead, I held my shaking hands, looked at the empty cans and tried to understand what I just got myself into.

MSU Baseball Swings First SEC Win Against USC

Mississippi State baseball took a big swing at the South Carolina Gamecocks with a 13-3 victory in seven innings on Friday night at Dudy Noble Field.

Although the Diamond Dawgs did not claim the series, their first SEC victory of the season came in dominant fashion. The team

strung together 18 effortless hits, and nearly every player in the batting order crossed home plate at least once.

Sophomore third baseman Slate Alford stole the show, going a perfect 4-for-4 from the plate and firing two home runs out of the park. He drove in three runs and added two of his own in the contest. Following the game, Alford shared how he felt being able to give some momentum to his

team completely with his first home run.

“It was great, any time you can lead off an inning with a homer, you know, it always helps and, you know, gets you on a roll for the whole inning, so it was awesome,” Alford said.

To say that Alford’s fifthinning homer got the team on a roll would be an understatement. MSU scored three additional runs in the

inning with the help of a few errors on the Gamecocks' defense. The team added three more runs in the sixth inning that started with another leadoff home run by Alford.

Although Alford might have had the most home runs of the evening, rookie left fielder Dakota Jordan had arguably the loudest. Jordan continued his week of dominance with a soaring home run that traveled 487 feet and rocketed off of one of the windows at Dudy Noble Field’s Left Field Lofts. Much like his teammate Alford, Jordan had a perfect night at the plate, going 3-for-3 with 3 RBI and one run scored.

Jordan’s strength was put on full display in offseason practices, but it has become even more evident as he has settled into his role over the past few regular season games.

Head coach Chris Lemonis

said that he was impressed by his newcomer’s performance against some top SEC talent.

“I’ve never seen a ball hit that far,” Lemonis said. “I mean, off of a real dude in a big part of the game.” One Diamond Dawg had to get the home run derby started for Mississippi State, and that is exactly what Hunter Hines did. Hines, a sophomore, rocketed a moonshot down the right-field line to score both him and teammate Colton Ledbetter in the third inning, putting his team ahead by a score of 3-1. He now leads his teammates with 11 homers on the season and shows no sign of stopping any time soon.

Mississippi State has been a well-balanced team on offense, with quite a few runs coming off of walks accumulated through good atbats. Lemonis said that his squad had to take a different

approach when facing a Gamecocks pitching staff that was not afraid to throw fast strikes into the zone.

“One thing about South Carolina is they jam it in the zone, they just don’t walk many guys, so you have to walk into that box and be ready to hit,” Lemonis said.

The Diamond Dawgs still have some work to do to catch up in SEC standings, but the bats are coming alive at the right time. The program as a whole boasts a combined batting average of .306 and has scored a total of 232 runs through 29 games played, 46 of which have been home runs. Mississippi State will face off against a non-conference opponent on Tuesday when it hosts Grambling in a midweek contest. The Diamond Dawgs will then travel to Tuscaloosa to face the Alabama Crimson Tide ahead of the Easter holiday.

Outfielder Dakota Jordan has totaled a .333 batting percentage with 10 runs and 3 homeruns so far this season. Brooks Surber | The Reflector

Mississippi State baseball averaged .514 batting as they run-ruled the Gamecocks on day 2 of the South Carolina series.

Glasses provide new visions for color deficient students

In an academic setting, the use of color can serve as a crucial tool for teachers to communicate ideas and concepts to their students. For Amanda Mayo, a graduate geoscience master’s student, this method of communication became more difficult in 2012.

Mayo, then a high school student, suffered a traumatic brain injury that left her with an inability to process certain colors, similar to red-green colorblindness. Despite the potential for her vision to return one day, Mayo spent the next 11 years of her life adapting to her colorblindness and becoming more vocal about her situation.

Adam Skarke, an associate professor in the department of geosciences, was the first instructor to accommodate Mayo’s colorblindness, unprompted, in over 10 years.

“When [he] printed [that map] in grayscale for me, it was really thoughtful because he did it without any prompting. I didn't have to ask, he just did it and I felt like a regular student that day,” Mayo said.

Much like Skarke had for Mayo, many Mississippi State University faculty members

have partnered together to provide a beneficial experience for other color deficient students.

The Department of Geosciences and the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences have partnered with EnChroma, a Berkeley, California, based eyewear company, to provide color correcting glasses for individuals with color vision deficiencies.

Amelia Fox, an assistant clinical plant and soil sciences professor, Renee Clary, a geology professor and director of the Dunn-Seiler Museum and Amy Moe-Hoffman, a geology instructor, worked together to bring the EnChroma glasses to MSU’s campus.

Moe-Hoffman, who spoke to her department head about potential funding for the EnChroma glasses beforehand, said the timing of the incentive from Fox was “perfect.”

“Just that week, I heard from Dr. Fox. In that end, she was saying she was working with the company to get a set of glasses. So, it was like, perfect timing,” Moe-Hoffman said.

Fox initiated the acquisition of the glasses, and the department of plant and soil sciences purchased eight glasses for color deficient students. The glasses were sent to Hilbun Hall where necessary students

could loan a pair out from MoeHoffman, who shared how the process works.

“All [students] would need to do is send me an email, and I would set up a time to meet with them. They would have to come and meet with me and try on the glasses to see which one it is they need. Then, they fill out a form and can borrow the glasses for up to 10 days at a time,” Moe-Hoffman said.

Many color deficient students, like Mayo, had prior knowledge of EnChroma glasses. Mayo tried on her first pair of EnChroma glasses while orienteering, a sport where individuals navigate in the woods through checkpoints on topographical maps. She said experiencing the “splash of color” while trying on the glasses again was an amazing experience.

“It was so bizarre when my professors, like last week, gave me the glasses to try on. She was trying to have a conversation with me about some research that I'm doing, and I was like putting the glasses on my face…and pulling them to my forehead while having a conversation with her,” Mayo said. “I was like, ‘oh my gosh, like I can see the color of my coffee cup. Like my coffee cup is pink.’”

Trayton Taft, a senior agricultural science major from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, also had an awareness of the EnChroma glasses. He said he knew people who have tried on the glasses and noticed a difference once they put them on.

“I noticed a difference, but what I’ve learned to think of certain colors [was different] when I put the glasses on and [saw] the true colors,” Taft said. “Since I’ve worn them for two or three weeks, it’s like I can tell the difference. It’s been sort of an overtime change, like

it wasn’t instant for me.”

Taft knew he was red-green colorblind from an early age, saying it was “probably around kindergarten” when he and his family first realized. He had difficulties learning colors and picking up the correct color whenever he was coloring something.

“Since I’ve (been colorblind) my whole life, I’ve gotten used to it. I’ve learned different ways of how to perceive stuff,” Taft said.

Similarly, Mayo has had to adapt to her color deficiency

over the years by utilizing grayscale images and apps like Color Blind Pal.

As a teaching assistant for some introductory geology courses at MSU, however, she said she hopes the implementation of these glasses provides useful opportunities for colorblind students.

“I know there's like a lot of careers where colorblindness can stop you. But now that the university has these glasses for students to check out, I think it's going to open a lot of doors for [students],” Mayo said.

Wade said.

After enduring a long and stressful election cycle, the achievement of victory and pride often outshines the looming threat of oncoming work.

Once Ellie Herndon, Jodee Crane, Zac Sibbitt and Carson McFatridge were elected to the Executive Council of the Student Association, that luxury was no longer an option. Immediately following their victory, their work began to create the remainder of an executive board that will affect every facet of campus in the upcoming year.

These positions run the Student Association in ways that have an impact on the entire student body. In years past, matters such as the changing of the student activity fee, the new ticket system for SA elections and many other campaigns and events are things that the SA executive council worked on.

There are five appointed positions in the executive coun-

cil, all dealing with different sides of the Student Association and its actions and changes on campus.

Fajr Hicks, a junior political science major, will serve as Executive Chief of Staff. As Chief of Staff, Hicks will ensure that all runs smoothly in SA and will be the second in command of SA’s cabinet, a branch of SA that deals with all things from programs to events on campus. Hicks is otherwise involved in New Maroon Camp, Involvement Ambassadors and the Pre-Law Society. Brannan Tisdale will serve as

Director of Policy. He is a sophomore geosciences major from Saraland, Alabama. As Director of Policy, he will serve as the primary liaison between students, faculty and administration in all matters regarding students and campus.

Tisdale also leads a pod of policy members on the Student Association Cabinet to research and create change on campus. Tisdale shared his thoughts on what the executive council could do this year.

“This exec’s unique backgrounds and understandings of what it means to be a Bull-

dog will help us create impactful, meaningful and relevant change on campus,” Tisdale said.

Katie Bee, a sophomore double majoring in marketing and supply chain, will serve as Director of Marketing.

As Director of Marketing, Bee will design, create and maintain all social media platforms and the image of the Student Association. Bee expressed her feelings about the upcoming year.

“I am so excited to remind students why Mississippi State is their home and show them

The Alpha Tau Omega Car Show

Alpha Tau Omega fraternity at Mississippi State University hosted the second-annual ATO Car Show April 2 at Rick’s Café.

The philanthropy event brought support to both national and local charities: the V Foundation, an organization created by well-known basketball coach Jim Valvano to raise support for cancer research, and the Oktibbeha County Humane Society in Starkville.

The brothers of ATO stood atop the flatbeds of their trucks along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive East welcoming spectators, waving signs and giving parking directions.

For a $25 fee, vintage car owners filled the lot at Rick’s and enjoyed the company of curious Starkville residents.

Sean Washburn, a fresh-

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man broadcast meteorology major from Lake Zurich, Illinois, is serving as ATO’s philanthropy chair. He said that the event was unique in its ability to bring together car lovers from various communities for a great Sunday in Starkville.

“We’ve got people from Jackson, people from Memphis and more,” Washburn said. “...they heard about us, and what better way to spend a Sunday than to just come and check out some cars.”

He also said the fraternity’s goal was $5,000 and was confident in their ability to reach the amount.

When it came to Washburn’s favorite car on display, he was seeing red.

“I am a sucker for the Red Corvette sitting over there,” said Washburn, pointing at a cherry-red Corvette Sting Ray convertible that nearly matched his hair color.

“It’s probably my favorite, and I happen to know the owner and her daughter.”

Local band Take Twelve supplied the tunes for the event, playing classic hits such as “Come Together” by The Beatles, “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)” by Big & Rich and “Life is a Highway” by Rascal Flatts, a car show must-play.

Popular brunch food truck Easy Street Brunch served up sweet and savory dishes for spectators to purchase.

Vehicles of all make and models made an appearance, including a red Chevrolet Colorado LT with a bumper sticker which read, “Eat Beef, The West Wasn’t Won on Salad.”

There are many factors that can grow a person's fascination with cars, but it seems as if tradition was the greatest reason for participants of the ATO Car Show.

John Michael Varadi

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brought his blue 1967 Chevrolet Camaro, once belonging to his late father, for spectators to see.

“My dad bought it from a shop five years ago,” Varadi said. “He passed away, so now I bring it to show [people].”

For Columbus native Greg Swartz, watching his father drag race introduced him to vintage cars at a young age. He and his wife Dawn drove in with their black 1933 Ford 3 Window Coupe, perhaps being the oldest car on display.

He described his favorite details of the car.

“The [red] interior’s cool, suicide doors are cool, and the air conditioning is really nice,” Mr. Swartz said.

Dawn Swartz summarized her favorite part of owning several vintage cars.

“I like being the passenger,” Mrs. Swartz said.

how loved they are on this campus,” Bee said.

Connie Wade is a sophomore majoring in biochemistry. She will serve as the Deputy Chief of Staff for this year.

In this position, Wade will work with Freshman Reach to gain experience in student government. Freshman Reach works on all things from policy to programming, and Wade will do a little bit of everything with them.

“My goal is to make all students know that they not only have a place on this campus but also in student government,"

The Director of Programming is Fisher Iseminger. She is a junior majoring in aerospace engineering with an industrial engineering minor. She is involved with New Maroon Camp, Roadrunners and Chi Omega Sorority.

As Director of Programming, Iseminger will work with a pod of SA Cabinet programming members to host events on campus that cultivate a sense of community by getting students to engage with each other.

The appointed members of the SA Executive Council will be behind the scenes for a lot of what happens on campus for the next year. Everything from getting tables and chairs outside of buildings, to big campaigns, to events where students are able to swing a bat into an out of commission car will all be organized by members of the council.

The transition ends this week, and the new executive council will take the reins of the next term of Student Association.

Student Trayton Taft uses colorblind glasses to help him identify the colors of the windows in the Chapel of Memories.

Treasurer Zac Sibbitt (left) and Secretary Carson McFatridge (right) were elected by the student body to the Student Associatio n Executive Council February 2023.

Landon Scheel | The Reflector

Landon Scheel | The Reflector