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Faulty statistics cloud importance of
‘GOSPEL EXPLOSIONS’
RAPE REPORTING
HOME FINALE
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FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015
MSU softball wins
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129 th YEAR | ISSUE 48
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
E-cig use triples in one year
High rate of incoming freshmen to displace upper-class students
by Jennifer Flinn Staff Writer
A survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control shows the use of e-cigarettes by teenagers has tripled from 2013 to 2014. According to a press release from the CDC, the National Youth Tobacco Survey from 2014 found that e-cigarette use of at least one per day in the past 30 days among high school students increased from 4.5 percent in 2013 to 13.4 percent in 2014. The press release
by Van Cotton Staff Writer
Mississippi State University’s Housing department is cutting back to accommodate the incoming freshman class for the 2015-16 school year. Due to the significant increase of incoming freshman, housing had to cut a tight rope when it came to allowing upperclassman to live on campus; 480 upper-class students are without housing. Under university rules, the Department of Housing and Residence Life has to accommodate all incoming freshmen. Fred Mock, Interim Director of Housing, said freshmen are fi rst priority. “One of the reasons we require freshman to live on campus is they tend to do better in school their fi rst year, they tend to continue school and their GPA is a little higher,” Mock said. There are currently 15 residence halls. The housing department is now building two new residence halls that will house 752 beds and will be complete next summer. Upperclassmen who want to stay on campus next school year have to complete the online process designated for upperclassmen called R.S.V.P.
read, “This is the first time since the survey started collecting data on e-cigarettes in 2011 that current e-cigarette has surpassed current use of every other tobacco product overall, including conventional cigarettes.” Tom Frieden, CDC director, said in the press release, nicotine is dangerous for children at any age, regardless of the method in which it is administered. “Adolescence is a critical time for brain development. Nicotine exposure at a young age may cause
lasting harm to brain development, promote addiction, and lead to sustained tobacco use,” Frieden said. Dr. Robert McMillen, associate director of the Tobacco Control Unit in the Social Science Research Center at MSU, said e-cigarettes are appealing across the board and are targeted toward teenagers because of the flavors companies put into them. “Developing brains, when exposed to nicotine, are more likely to have an even stronger addiction than an adult would,” McMillen said.
The CDC press release also read that the increases in e-cigarette and hookah use offset the declines of traditional products, but there was no decline in overall tobacco use between 2011 and 2014. “Overall rates of any tobacco product use were 24.6 percent for high school students and 7.7 percent for middle school students in 2014,” the CDC press release read. McMillen said the chemicals that make cigarettes dangerous are also in e-cigarettes but at lower levels. “We are just now beginning to understand how harmful these drugs are. It will be years before we know what e-cigarettes do to human lungs,” McMillen said. Dr. Joyce Yates, the director of the Health Education and Wellness department at MSU, said, in an email interview, her department monitors
updated press releases about e-cigarettes from the Centers for Disease control. “One of the claims of e-cigarette users is that these devices are harmless and that they do not contain chemicals that make traditional cigarettes harmful. This is not true,” Yates said. McMillen said the common misconception about e-cigarette usage, produced by the companies that sell them, is that it is a harmless vapor. “Their message is it is safer than cigarettes. The health community has not done a good job educating the public about the e-cigarettes,” McMillen said. “A person exposed to secondhand smoke from an e-cigarette is exposed to the same amount of chemicals as regular cigarettes.” McMillen said the Social Science Research Center is currently conducting a survey of MSU students to gauge their level of use of e-cigarettes. The study will conclude at the end of the 2015 spring semester. Yates said the level of nicotine dosage within an e-cigarette can be controlled by the user to deliver either a heavy dose of nicotine to none at all. She also said FDA studies have shown advertisements about nicotine levels in e-cigarettes are not always accurate. “Nicotine is an addictive drug and it is highly poisonous. E-cigarettes are not regulated by the FDA so there is really no 100 percent way to know what is in them,” Yates said.
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Share a Coke:
Students and faculty at Mississippi State University stand in line waiting to receive a Coca-Cola can personalized by name. The highly consumed soft-drink business made its presence on campus this week, offering free cokes to those who desired them.
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Sarah Story | The Reflector
‘Maroon Goes Blue’ raises child abuse awareness by Katrina Smith Staff Writer
The Emerson Family Resource Center in Oktibbeha County is raising awareness about Child Abuse and Neglect Month with “Maroon Goes Blue.” Maroon Goes Blue is an initiative that began this year where students are asked to show their support of Child Abuse and Neglect Month by wearing blue on Fridays instead of maroon. Throughout April, the Starkville community has participated in the event by hanging blue ribbons on poles, in parks, in front of stores and outside of restaurants around town. Students in the local Starkville school district
participated by choosing different themes to help bring awareness. The Henderson school won first place with a Butterf ly theme representing “stopping the cycle,” Ward Stewart won 2nd place, and Starkville High won 3rd place with a clothes line full of statistics and facts along with real clothes. The blue ribbon originated from the Blue Campaign started by Bonnie Finney as a testimonial to her three-yearold grandson, who was murdered at the hands of her daughter’s boyfriend. Finney also noticed blue bruises on her granddaughter, and ended up in the hospital a few weeks later. Finney put a blue ribbon on her van, to represent the blue bruises, to bring awareness and to get the community involved. BLUE, 2
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EcoCAR team preps for fi rst-year competition by Kayla McNair Staff Writer
Taylor Bowden |The Reflector
Signs and accompanying clotheslines were placed outside the Starkville High school by students and teachers at the beginning of April. Churches, grocery stores and other community locations also put out ribbons and displays to participate in ʻMaroon Goes Blue.ʼ Monday
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Mississippi State University’s EcoCAR3 team is gearing up to go to competition in Seattle, Washington, on May 28 through June 5 to compete against 15 other colleges and universities in the first year of the EcoCAR3 competition. EcoCAR3 is a four-year collegiate competition sponsored by General Motors and the United States’ Department of Energy. It challenges 16 North American universities to re-engineer a 2016 Chevrolet Camaro to a hybrid vehicle. ECOCAR, 3
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Life Sports Bad Dawgs Crosswords
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015
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Poison center calls
involving e-cigarettes
The CDC press release reads, “The FDA currently has control over the regulation of cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, roll-your-own tobacco and smokeless tobacco. The FDA is finalizing rules to bring e-cigarettes, hookahs and other alternative tobacco products under the same authority as traditional products. The press release also read, “Several states have passed laws establishing a minimum age for purchase of e-cigarettes or extending smoke-free laws to include e-cigarettes, both of which could help further prevent youth use and initiation.” Mitch Zeller, director of FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, said the increase in youth’s use of novel products, like the e-cigarette, forces the FDA to confront the fact that much of the progress made toward reducing youth cigarette smoking rates is threatened by the e-cigarette. “These staggering increases in such a short time underscore why FDA intends to regulate these additional products to protect public health,” Zeller said in the CDC press release. Yates said many toxins are found in different brands. One e-cigarette tested by the FDA showed positive traces of diethylene glycol, a toxic chemical commonly found in antifreeze. “Since e-cigarettes come in a large range of flavors
that are attractive to users, there is growing concern about the popularity of the e-cigarette in users,” Yates said. “The FDA has banned traditional cigarettes from using flavors, due to attractiveness of flavor, to only menthol because of the popularity of flavors influencing use in young people.” Yates said students should be cautious when dealing with e-cigarettes and their use because they can also generate an addiction to conventional cigarettes. She said there are many other alternative methods to help quit smoking that work much better than e-cigarette smoking. “Do not start smoking e-cigarettes because you think they are harmless. E-cigarettes may create a craving for the traditional cigarettes, and you can become addicted to nicotine just like in traditional cigarettes,” Yates said. “The contents of e-cigarettes are not regulated by the FDA so the user is not sure of what he or she is vaping.” Yates said, “The Department of Health Education and Wellness will continue to monitor new research about e-cigarettes and present it to the MSU students.”
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Premier Ford 2120 Highway 45 North Columbus MS. 39705 662.327.3673
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February 2014 Graphic | Bek Yake Information courtesy of CDC
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In 2014, Oktibbeha County confirmed 88 cases of child abuse, an increase from its 58 cases in 2013. The Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention committee asks participants to wear the ribbon until it is tattered and frayed to show support to families who have dealt or dealing with this matter. Wilburn Smith, junior secondary education major, has been chosen to represent MSU’s student body on the committee. “The participation exceeded my expectations
and we had a tremendous turnout. It was amazing to see people wearing blue shirts to promote the cause” Smith said. Elmarie Brooks, Coordinator for the Emerson Family Resource Center, said he is excited to see the turnout and support from the community. “The support has been overwhelming, with the community standing up saying we are not going to take this anymore.” Brooks said. The Committee will be hosting another opportunity to get involved by wearing
Blue shirts April 30. They will also host a volunteer luncheon to show appreciation the hard work of the volunteers and people who have lent their voices to the cause. Other programs offered to single mothers include the “A Rest Program,” where Emerson Family school watches a child for four hours free of charge to provide the mother a break to handle personal business or relax. They will also have pre-parenting classes that are offered from 11-2 on specific days.
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If they are selected to honors college, band par- they don’t know what buildsign up for housing they ticipating in living learning ing yet,” Mock said. are informed via email and community we set a numNot all of the upperclassgiven a certain day and time ber of beds aside for those men who were approved to choose the residence hall privileges.” for housing will accept their of their choice. This process Upperclassmen have first contracts. usually takes place in the pick for residence halls, how“We have to calculate what spring. ever, that is not guarantee we think the size of the freshThere are men class will two differbe in August, ent applicaIt’s hard to do, tion processes “(Freshmen) are all guaranteed a because we both entering room, then what is left is available don’t know freshman and how many, upperclassuntil everyone for upper-class housing.” men must go is here,” Mock through to said “We look apply for a at the admis-Fred Mock, Interim Director of dorm. sion’s data and In an intertry to figure view, Lari Housing out how many Wright, the freshmen we associate need to house. director of They are all administrative guaranteed operations, a room, then explained how the process that they will get a room. what is left is available for goes. The Dean of Students’ upper-class housing.” “For first time freshmen, office maintains an off camDante Hill, associate when they apply for hous- pus housing referral system. director of residence life, ing, it is primarily based on Housing can not endorse wishes there was more room the day they submit their a particular apartment off for everyone to stay on application into Mississippi campus, but they can provide campus. State University,” Wright information about apart“I would love for there to said. “We will take that date ment complexes throughout be a mixture of freshman, and time stamp and push town. sophomores, juniors, and that over into our system “The upperclassmen have seniors to balance out everyand carry throughout all the already been informed if they thing,” Hill said. “So they application process. There are getting a room or not for could all help each other are other factors involved the upcoming school year. and learn from each other, such as if they are a member The freshman right now instead of it being a hall full of the Day One community, know they have a room, but of freshman.”
ECOCAR The 16 teams competing are chosen by the EcoCAR3 competition organizers. Casey McGee, the Communications Manager for MSU’s EcoCAR3 team said a lot of universities around twhe country apply but only 16 teams are chosen. “This kind of competition is called an advanced vehicle technology competition, and Mississippi State has been involved with these for 11 years,” McGee said. Since 2007, MSU has won four overall first place awards in such competitions. The EcoCAR3 fouryear overall competition is divided up into four 1-year sub-competitions. “Throughout year one of the competition, we’ve been doing a lot of planning and running online simulations, deciding what kind of architecture we’re going to apply and predicting what is actually going to happen when we get the car,” McGee said. MSU’s team is made up of about 100 members in 17 different academic
Wednesday, April 22, 2015 4:31 p.m. A student was having a seizure in the Colvard Student Union. The student was transported to Oktibbeha Country Hospital. 10:27 p.m A visitor was arrested on College View Street for disregard for traffice device and a suspended driver’s license. CONTINUED FROM 1
programs divided up into six different sub-teams. “It’s a really broad group, which brings a lot of different perspectives and ideas to the team,” McGee said. The goal of the EcoCAR3 competition is to create a sports car that can run on hybrid technology, lowering emissions that harm the environment, without losing any performance value. The current Camaro reaches about 17 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. Achieving this goal would be a challenge to any professional automotive engineer, but these 16 universities are making huge strides in doing just that. Tommy Sloan, a member of both the mechanical and innovation teams, said the innovation team is working on reducing the weight in the car to raise its efficiency. “Wiring in modern cars is actually the third heaviest component behind the engine and chassis,” Sloan said. “We’re working on implementing an internal
network between the electronics in the car over fiber optic cables in order to save weight and improve the overall security of the network.” The wiring the team is trying to implement is 360 percent lighter than the current wiring used. Lucca Timmerman is a member of the Electrical team and also works with project management. “I’m working within a sub-team to design the electrical schematics for the high-voltage systems within the hybrid Camaro,”Timmerman said. These high voltage systems will affect the motor, generators, battery and charger, and the air conditioning systems. Each team works closely with a representative from GM, who guides and advises his or her team as much as possible. Working with these representatives in a competition such as this opens doors for students who are looking for jobs in the automotive industry.
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Tuesday, April 21, 2015 1:59 a.m. A student was issued a Justice Court citation and a student referral for possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle in Herbert Hall parking lot. 9:41 a.m. An employee reported that another student smoking marijuana in the Visual Arts Center. 9:43 a.m. An employee reported being harassed via telephone from a former landlord. 7: 44 p.m. A student was issued a Justice Court citation and a student referral for possession of marijuanna in a motor vehicle on Walker Road.
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The Reflector staff would like to thank our dedicated readers and advertisers for supporting us throughout this semester! Grab the last issue of the semester Tuesday! We’ll be back August 21st! Have a great Summer! Don’t forget to look for the Orientation issue if you are here this summer!
Courtesy Photo | Ecocar 3
EcoCAR3 team leaders (left to right) Casey McGee, Wesley Haney, Joseph Tyson, Ryan Nazaretian, Jeremy Walker, Stephen Hayes, Dr. Randolph Follett, and Dalton Childers.
THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015
Frank, Frankly
Understanding of immigration necessary tackled before it worsens to thousands of people risking their lives to escape to new land. These are men, women and children who are losing their lives at an alarming rate. These are human beings, who are just like us. It is sad to know some lives seem to be worth more or less than others because of where they originate or what they do in life. The particular ship that capsized over the weekend involved elements of human trafficking, but fortunately, resulted in the ship’s captain and a crew member
Frank Bradford is a graduate student majoring in political science. He can be contacted at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.
I believe what many people search for in life is happiness and the ability to live without constant worry of survival. Here in the United States, as well as other developed countries around the world, immigration has become a growing issue that often proves to be difficult. I believe we have to try and discover workable solutions to help save lives and move on to better long-term strategies. According to The Guardian, as many as 700 people are believed to have drowned aboard a boat, which capsized in Libyan waters heading for Italy. When the boat was fi rst discovered, only 27 survivors were rescued with a number of lifeless bodies left floating in the sea. According to the United Nations, an estimated 31,500 migrants made the journey across the Mediterranean Sea to Greece and Italy since the beginning of the year. We are witnessing a growing epidemic that must be
“My heart feels for those who embark on a journey not knowing what lies ahead.” being arrested. It is hard to fathom there are so many bad people in the world who willfully take advantage of those searching for new hope. I am writing this article to shine a light on this epidemic and hopefully change the way we handle immigration. Immigrants traveling from developing countries are often seen as less. More governments should learn to work together more effectively to help bring more stability
and safety in developing countries. According to ABC News, Italian Premier Matteo Renzi pushed for Europe prevent boats from entering countries like Libya, which accounts for nearly 90 percent of the migration into the country. European countries such as Spain, Greece and Italy, which many migrants travel to, are facing their own economic problems. These countries have their own difficulties inside their countries to effectively handle what happens at their borders. There are many factors that should be considered. I remember walking around different cities in Spain, noticing the large number of immigrants. While there, a friend from Spain encouraged me to keep a copy of my passport on my person at all times because I might have been stopped and questioned by police (for not appearing like the rest of the population). This was shocking at fi rst, but I realized it could be beneficial if I listened to his advice. My heart goes out to those who embark on a journey not knowing what lies ahead, occasionally resulting in even more danger or death. Many of us live our lives comfortably without worries, while others around the world are destroyed daily and families are being torn apart. We each live different lives from the people next to us and compassion can break language barriers to better understand problems we do not have to face everyday.
"Surely Jak will wrap it in his paw prints."
Jack and his ʻGolden Princeʼ Justin Mayfield
Political Buzz
Repeal of estate tax causes insignificant amount of change
Joseph Kerstiens is a freshman majoring in business administration and political science. He can be contacted at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.
The Estate Tax, something surely no college student has ever personally had
to worry about, has recently come under fire by House Republicans. In what can be considered a display of congressional control, the House voted 240-179 to repeal the infamous “Death Tax”—a tax placed on inheritances that can reach up to 40 percent on larger estates. Throughout early U.S. history, it was typically levied during times of war, and it was not until the early 20th century that the tax was kept as a permanent form of taxation along with the income tax. Throughout the
past 100 years, the US has seen rates rose as high as 77 percent on some inheritances, a ridiculously high rate for families to pay. The distaste for this form of taxing comes from the way in which it is levied on individuals. When someone passes away, all of their assets left behind (including land, insurance policies and other property) are appraised for best value. Once this is done, those inheriting the fortune must pay, at the current rate, 40 percent of that value to the federal government.
While there is a $5 million tax credit to shield most of the middle and lower class, it often ignores people with other forms of wealth, (namely farmers and small business owners.) Almost anyone with a significant chunk of land has to essentially re-purchase 40 percent of it when they inherit it from their family. Many conservatives also point out this wealth has already been taxed when it was earned via income taxes and other property taxes, making the estate tax a second round
of plucking for the federal government. In addition, these taxes make up less than nine percent of total US revenue. This upfront vote to repeal by House Republicans ismostly for show, and will not bring about any serious reforms to the Estate Tax. Instead of chipping away at the tax by raising the tax credit or pushing around the tax brackets—reasonable reforms that would help provide relief to middle-class businesses
and farmers—the house decided to flex its muscles. While many are applauding this effort and want to see the estate tax gone for good, they must come to accept small change over revolutionary ones. Even with control of Congress, Republicans are still going to have to compromise with the left in order to bring about progress and repeal the harmful facets of the “Death Tax,” because despite their efforts Thursday, we are still at step one.
A Worthy Cause
Faulty statistics clouds importance of reporting Last week, The Reflector published the often repeated statistic that 1-in-5 women are raped in college. The statistic was located in a graphic that cited the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. This statistic is shocking, and has been touted by sources ranging from
Managing Editor Nia Wilson
The Refl ector to the President of the United States. That this graphic failed to cite is where this statistic originates, and I feel the need to correct the record. The infamous 1-in-5 statistic comes from a 2007 Campus Sexual Assault study conducted by the
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National Institute of Justice. Writers for TIME magazine, Christopher Krebs and Christine Lindquist, directors of the 2007 survey wrote, “It’s likely you’ve heard some variation of the claim that 1 in 5 women on college campuses in the United States has been sexually assaulted or raped. Or you may have heard the even more incorrect abbreviated version, that 1 in 5 women on campus has been raped.” The Refl ector ran the latter “even more incorrect abbreviated version.” The important distinction here is this survey’s wording includes “forced kissing and rubbing up against you in a sexual way, even if it is over your clothes.” These actions could be constituted as sexual battery, but do not equate to rape. Of course, this remains an unacceptable behavior, but it is also irresponsible to categorize this as rape. And this is not semantics. In discussions as sensitive as sexual violence, language and word choice matters. Krebs and Lindquist go on to say, “First and foremost, the 1-in-5 statistic is not a nationally representative estimate of the prevalence of sexual assault.” This is because the web-survey had a low response rate and was only conducted at two universities. Each of the 5,446 participants received a $10 Amazon gift card. In summary, we have the directors of the survey that The Refl ector cited directly refuting what the graphic claimed. At any rate, this statistic is regurgitated primarily by those who attempt to drive
the narrative that we live in a rape culture whose society preys on young female college students with no regard for any sense of morality. Fortunately, for those interested in the truth and for the modern female college student, there has been a far more representative study completed. In December 2014, the Department of Justice entitled Rape and Sexual Assault Victimization Among College-Age Females (1995-2013),states, “The rate of rape for students is 6.1 per 1,000.” This becomes 0.03 in 5, not 1 in 5. It is unsettling that this
are comfortable with blatant acts of stupidity, but this just shows just how submerged we as the human race are in a rape culture.” I agree that wearing this shirt is stupid, but I’m not ready to cede this as evidence that we are steeped in a culture of rape acceptance because a single moronic, attention depraved loser decided to wear a shirt to a concert where all he wanted was attention created from the backlash. It is a step down the slippery slope to blame a collective group for an individual act. Even in this scenario, the article concludes the backlash against such a
“The conversation needs to shift away from bogus statistics and move toward the importance of reporting these heinous crimes to police and prosecutors.” number is anything higher than zero, but the pursuit for justice should not be underwritten by wildly misleading and inaccurate statistics and certainly does not merit the society in which we live to be labeled as a “rape culture.” The Refl ector also referenced an incident at the Coachella music festival in which a man wore a t-shirt with the phrase “Eat, Sleep, Rape, Repeat” printed from top to bottom. The article read, “Don’t get me wrong, the massive disgust shown for this man’s attire gives me hope that not all people
moronic shirt was far greater than the non-existent support. The article continues, “We need to say no to victim blaming and the loose use of the word rape.” Here I agree wholeheartedly. This is why I totally object to the notion that “1-in-5 women are raped in college.” It recklessly drives a false narrative that contributes to the national mass hysteria on college campuses where due process is becoming a luxury and not an absolute right. This hysteria leads to chaos, confusion and mob
Walton Channey is a senior majoring in history and political science. He can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
justice. For example, google “University of Virginia and Rolling Stone.” The conversation needs to shift away from bogus statistics and move towards the importance of reporting heinous crimes to police and prosecutors. The same study conducted by the Department of Justice concluded, “Rape and sexual assault victimizations of students (80 percent) were more likely than non-student victimizations (67 percent) to go unreported to police.” It is important to note the distinction between unreported cases and cases that are unreported to the police. There is a difference between a report to a campus official and one to a policeman and prosecutor. Victims of sexual violence deserve the full range of law enforcement capabilities on their side when facing their assailant, and it is monumentally difficult for the perpetrators of these horrific crimes to be prosecuted when there is no corroborating police report. The victims of sexual violence deserve to have a targeted, refocused conversation.
REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015
An In-Class Distraction
CLASSIFIEDS POLICY
The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday; the deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. Classifieds are $5 per issue. Student and staff ads are $3 per issue, pre-paid. Lost and found: found items can be listed for free; lost items are listed for standard ad cost. FOR RENT House for rent! Two bedroom, one bathroom. House located in Montpelier, M.S. $500 per month plus deposit. Great location for students looking to enjoy quiet, country living. If interested, please call 662-295-7362. Unique Faculty (student or alumni) Apartments! “Lodge at the Lake.” Fantastic view, 340’ waterfront, dock, boat and fishing. Eleven miles west of campus. One bedroom apartment available in August. $550 (Or buy all five units $343,000!) Call 662-418-2790. MEDICAL HELP WANTED OCH Regional Medical Center is looking for a part-time certified pharmacy technician. Experience with working in a hospital or retail pharmacy is prefered. Call Patsy Prisock, Human Resources, at 662-615-2990 for more information. CLUB INFO
The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday; deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. MSU student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info. Information may be submitted by email to club_info@ reflector.msstate.edu with the subject heading “CLUB INFO,” or a form may be completed The Reflector at office in the Student Media Center. A contact name, phone number and requested run dates must be included for club info to appear in The Reflector. All submissions are subject to exemption according to space availability. YOGA MOVES CLUB
School or work stressing you out? Get moving into Yoga Moves. Try our moves to get into shape and our relaxation techniques to handle the stress. Yoga Moves meets at the Sanderson Center in Studio C, Thursday evenings from 5:30-7 p.m. Like Yoga Moves Club - MSU on Facebook. STUDENTS FOR A SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS
Care about the environment? Love activism? Come join SSC on Thursdays at 6p.m. in McCool 111 to make a difference.
Follow on Twitter @ MSU_SSC. STATE RUGBY
Think you’re tough??? Think again… Join State Rugby. 2014 SEC Division Champions! Practices T, W, R @ 5:30 at Rec Plex. For more info: rugby.org. msstate.edu or rugbyinfo@org.msstate.edu. BALLROOM DANCE CLUB
The Ballroom Dance Club is having its 10th Annual Moonlight Ball. It will be $20 for students and $25 for non-students and includes a catered dinner. It will be held April 11 at 7p.m. in the Sanderson Center. SOCIOLOGICAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION
The Sociological Student Association will meet the last Thursday of every month at 5 p.m. in Bowen Hall room 250. All majors are welcome. For more information, contact Dr. Lane at lane@soc. msstate.edu. ANTHROPOLOGY CLUB
The Anthropogy Club will be having a cook-off May 30 from 5-7p.m. Contestants may enter all/any categories for $30. Undergraduate teams only pay $10. Those interested in judging can pay $5 at the door. Email Kayleigh Sandhu at ksl141@msstate.edu
April 21 solutions:
THIS DAY IN HISTORY 1. April 24, 1800: The Library of Congress is officially established. John Quincy Adams approved legislation to appropriate $5,000 to buy books for Congress. By April 1802, the library housed 964 volumes and 2 maps. 2. April 24, 1863: The Union army issues a conduct code for soldiers. The Union issued General Orders No. 100, which is a document that gave strict guidelines about how Federal soldiers and officers should behave when dealing with Confederate prisoners and civilians. 3. April 24, 1908: A tornado produces enough damage to leave 143 Louisiana and Mississippi residents dead. Amite, Louisiana and Purvis, Mississippi, were two towns that sustained the most damage in the area. 4. April 24, 1922: Australia first uses forensic evidence to ensure a conviction. Collin Ross was publicly hanged for the rape and murder of 13-year-old Alma Tirtschke. Ross was among the first criminals in Australia to be found guilty based on forensic evidence. 5. April 24, 1982: Jane Fonda released her first workout video. Fonda was an excercise guru, fashion model and award winning actress whose popularity steadily grew during the late 1970s. Her first home workout video was Workout.
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Interested students can pick up a application in the Henry Meyer Student Media Center next to the University Florist.
‘Sleeping Beauty’ graces MSU
THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015
Old Main Music Festival Saturday Noon-11p.m. at MSU Amphitheater
Band Lineup: ASTR Ghost Beach Black Pistol Fire Rock Eupora Chasing Edom Daniel Neely Phoxy Phonic Family Funk Company The Tombigbees
Megan Bean| Public Affairs
MSUʼs Lyceum Series concluded Wednesday evening with The Russian National Ballet Theatreʼs adaptation of French choreographer Marius Petipaʼs ʻSleeping Beauty.ʼ The elegant ballet was held in Lee Hallʼs Bettersworth Auditorium.
Black Voices to present concert by Samantha Jones Staff Writer
The Black Voices Gospel Choir of Mississippi State University will showcase its annual spring concert, “Gospel Explosions,” 4 p.m. Saturday in Lee Hall’s Bettersworth Auditorium. The nationally recognized and award-winning gospel choir will feature selections such as “Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho” and “Search Me Lord.” Special guests to perform include Jamero Carter from Coahoma Community College and Kingdomology Praise Team from Alcorn State University. Justin Johnson, president of Black Voices, said he
believes the choir is a source of uplift, and he encourages everyone to attend. “If you are looking for a worship experience sure to leave a heavy impact on your life, come to this celebration of gospel this Saturday,” Johnson said. Bianca Thomas, freshman chemical engineering major, said she expects Black Voices to encourage students with praise and worship. “I have heard them sing several times before, and they have always given a great performance,” Thomas said. “I expect the show to be really uplifting in a religious sense.” Known for empowering the community with praise and worship, Black Voices of MSU began a celebration of black history month in 1972 and has sustained for 43 years. The choir’s motto is “To
praise and not to perform, to exalt and not to entertain, for service and not for show, this is why we sing, to the glory of His name.” The group consists of more than a choir, and also has a quartet and praise dancers. Jenika Buckhalter, senior child studies major, said she appreciates Black Voices’ role on campus. “The Black Voices are a group of talented singers who help college kids get involved with a church away from home,” Buckhalter said. “They never disappoint me so I expect to get an awesome praise experience during their spring concert.” Tickets to the show are $5 and can be purchased at the door or from any Black Voices member.
Mississippi State University 2015 Spring Commencement Ceremony May 8th, 2015, 7:00 P.M. (Doors open at 5:30 P.M.)
May 9th, 2015, 10:00 A.M. (Doors open at 8:30 A.M.)
Humphrey Coliseum
Theatre MSU concludes season with parody play
Noah Siano| The Reflector
The cast of ʻThe Caucasian Chalk Circleʼ (pictured) is hosting the play in McComas Hall at 7:30 p.m. through Saturday. by Samantha Jones Staff Writer
The 51st Theatre MSU season is closing the semester with “The Caucasian Chalk Circle” in McComas Hall at 7:30 p.m. through Saturday. “The Caucasian Chalk Circle,” written by Bertolt Brecht, depicts two Soviet Union groups in dispute over land left abandoned after World War II. The play disguises this land dispute as two women fighting for a child (one of the women being the child’s biological mother) that is abandoned by its biological mother and is nurtured and raised by the other. In the end, the mother who demonstrated more love for the child won custody. Directed by John Moving to Jackson? PARKWOOD APARTMENTS
The University Registrar announces detailed graduation information regarding regalia, invitations, photographs, and marching instructions. This information is available at the University Registrar’s web page address, www.registrar.msstate.edu, under announcements/notes for you to view and/or print.
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Nara, the play’s political undertone makes for an exciting play from Theatre MSU. Emily Holland, freshman English secondary major, said she is interested in seeing how the performance is going to play out being a portion of the audience will have the pleasure of being onstage with the cast. “I really like the concept of the audience encircling the plot while also being a part of the plot,” Holland said. “The play’s concept of motherhood not having to be biological is also interesting.” Brittany Govan, senior aerospace engineering major, said she appreciates the story’s political undertone, and offered options for ways the play can reach a larger audience to push the political cause. “It’s amazing that the play incorporates members of the audience into the story, but it would
take the message so much further if the members of the audience were randomly chosen,” Govan said. “A spontaneous performance on the Drill field of The Caucasian Chalk Circle would be a sight to see.” Efrem Egede, junior petroleum engineering major, said he can relate The Caucasian Chalk Circle to a biblical story. “When I heard about the play, the fi rst thing that came to mind was ‘The Judgment of Solomon,’” Egede said. “The Judgment of Solomon” takes place in the book of Solomon in the bible. In this story, you have two mothers fighting for a child that was stolen from the biological mother and custody was awarded by King Solomon. Tickets for The Caucasian Chalk Circle can be purchased online at www.comm.msstate.edu/ theatre/ for $10.
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Sports
7 THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, APRIL 24,2015
Is Scott Brooks’ termination justified? by Blake Morgan , the recent struggles have not been fully on his shoulders. The team faced a slew of injuries that could have never been predicted, and it is certainly not his fault the ownership got too cheap to shell out the money for Harden. The players also responded well under Brooks. Last season when the national media and fans started to attack Brooks’ coaching, the players came to his defense. Westbrook even condemned his own brother when he questioned Brooks on Twitter. Durant Instagrammed a message shortly after the firing thanking his former coach for everything he had learned. Brooks had his players’ support and won at a high
watch because there is not much offense at all. It was a whole lot of letting Durant and Westbrook doing their own things and just being plain better than the other team. Coaching in the playoffs Blake Morgan is a junior majoring in is all about making communication. He can be contacted adjustments to win series. at reflectorsports@gmail.com Brooks never made any adjustments. He stuck with the horrific basketball duo The Oklahoma City of Thabo Sefolosha and Thunder fi red seven-year Kendrick Perkins in the head coach Scott Brooks starting lineup. Wednesday, and the Perkins can not even get Thunder’s future has not on the floor for more than a looked as bright in years. few minutes per game for his Brooks led the Thunder to current team now. Sefolosha five playoff performances, has created a nice role with four division titles and a trip the Atlanta Hawks, but is not to the 2011-12 NBA Finals. playing near the minutes or This was probably the last starting like he was in OKC. time the Thunder’s future Brooks was never going to was as bright. The Thunder get better, but he was a great boasted an emerging young coach to keep superstars core of Kevin happy. He mostly did Durant, Russell a great job of winning Westbrook and the regular season “Just because it needs in James Harden. with two of the top five None of those to be restated, Brooks players in the league, but players had even in the playoffs, teams begun to stretch need a coach who can coaches two of the best five their NBA out smart the guy on the potential and were players in the world in the other side of the floor. competing with Brooks was never going Lebron James in sport of basketball and to be that guy. the Finals. The because it needs could not piece together to Just question was not be restated, Brooks if championships two of the best a championship or even coaches would come, but five players in the world how many. in the sport of basketball another Finals run.” Fast forward and could not piece three seasons and together a championship there are more or another Finals run. empty promises level expectation when his With Brooks, the than Macaulay Culkin’s team faced major injuries. Thunder organization knew acting career. Harden was So why is it the right move what it was getting, a coach traded away to save money. for the Thunder to move on that could possibly win a Westbrook sustained his from the former Coach of championship on the backs fi rst injury of his career and the Year? of transcendent players, but missed a playoff run. Because he was not probably not. Durant missed most that great of a coach! His Now, there is hope again of this season with a foot defenses benefited from in OKC. Hope that a coach injury. The Thunder has not having one of the best rim can walk up and down made it back to the Finals protectors in the NBA the sidelines and lead the and missed the playoffs this guarding the paint in Serge Thunder to a championship season. Ibaka. The Thunder offense before this unbelievably With this in consideraion has been near impossible to talented core is broken up.
Have you followed us yet? For daily news tweets, links and articles follow @reflectoronline on Twitter.
by Anthony McDougle
Anthony McDougle is the sports editor at the Reflector. He can be contacted at reflectorsports@gmail.com
Scott Brooks had a .620 winning percentage in the regular season, good enough for the best all-time among coaches to never win a championship. This season marks the fi rst time he led a team that failed to make the playoffs. Brooks’ team made the Western Conference fi nals three of the past four seasons and appeared in the NBA Finals in 2011. He groomed and developed an MVP and two perennial MVP contenders. Brooks did all of this, and for some odd reason he is now out of a job. The Oklahoma City Thunder announced it’s decision to part ways with it’s head coach after seven seasons and I have yet to make complete sense of why this move was made. After Brooks’ fi ring, general manager Sam Presti stated the decision was the best move for the team. “This decision is not a reflection of this past season but rather an assessment of
what we feel is necessary at this point in time in order to continually evolve, progress, and sustain,” Presti said. Tell us then, Presti which season is it a reflection of? 2011, when Brooks led the Thunder to the Finals? Maybe it is a result of 2010 or 2013, years in which the Thunder made the conference fi nals before
the fact that Presti himself was cited as saying the Thunder were not directly consulted and the theory that the team played a factor in this decision is immediately eliminated. The move could be an attempt to woo University of Connecticut head coach Kevin Ollie or Florida’s Billy Donovan. Ollie is known to be good friends
“ The Oklahoma City Thunder announced its decision to part ways with its head coach after seven seasons and I have yet to make complete sense of why .” being bested by the eventual NBA champions? Certainly not 2012, when the squad saw its star point guard sidelined after a slight tear in his right meniscus in game two of the fi rst round. Scott Brooks was also known to be well liked by his team, most notably by MVP Kevin Durant. “He led us, man,” the MVP said of his former coach. “He made sure everybody was emotionally stable because we had a lot of guys in and out of the lineup and he kept everybody together.” Tie Durant’s words into
with Durant but has already said he is committed to UConn. As far as Donovan, let’s hope if a deal is made he does not back out like he did eight years ago with the Orlando Magic and the Thunder reeling. Whatever the front office’s logic may be, Thunder fans can only hope it is well-calculated. With 2016 free agency looming and Durant being one of the big names on the market that summer, the wrong hire could leave the Thunder without an MVP or a coach who did nothing but win.
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015
Bulldogs clobber Memphis in home finale Softball Season Highlights MSUʼs win over Memphis was its last game in the old stadium Amanda Ivy led Stateʼs offense going 2-2 with four RBIʼs MSU is 17-0 when scoring first
Outfielder Ashley Phillips (pictured) rounds third base as a teammate cheers her on. The Bulldogs defeated Memphis 11-3 in their final home game of the season.
by Shelby Anderton Staff Writer
Mississippi State Softball closed out their 2015 home season with a dominant victory over the University of Memphis. The game marked the team’s last outing on their home field before receiving a $6 million renovation for the 2016 season. MSU defeated the Tigers 11-3 in five innings, ending their five game losing streak. The Bulldogs improved their record to 32-16 on the
season and 23-4 in non- the third inning, putting the The Bulldogs came back on conference play. bulldogs up 3-0. fire in the home half of the Sophomore Amanda The Tigers put themselves fourth. The Bulldogs had a Ivy set the five run inning, pace for the advancing the Bul ldogs. game to a large “It means a lot to have won that 8-2 lead. The She hit a single which came last game that will be played in this Tigers resulted in back in the fifth two runs to a single, stadium. It was really cool to have with put MSU but it was not ahead 2-0 in been able to play a role in that game.” enough. the second Ivy delivered inning. “We another twoCassidy Knudsen, Pitcher went into the run hit in the game with a fifth, making it plan that we a now 10-3 lead. stuck with,” Ivy said. Fellow on the scoreboard in the Then, freshman Calyn sophomore Mackenzie fourth with a two-run home- Adams delivered a big hit Taylor added to the lead in run, making the score 3-2. to bring Ivy home, taking
Jacob Follin | The Reflector
the victory of 11-3. Freshman Cassady Knudsen claimed the start and the win for the Bulldogs in her first career-complete game. She allowed three runs on six hits. “It means a lot to have won that last game that will be played in this stadium,” Knudsen said. “It was really cool to have been able to play a role in that game.” The Bulldogs will travel to play another out-of -conference series against Georgia Southern. Game one is set for Saturday at 3 p.m. and game two is Sunday at noon.
Sophomore pitcher Cassady Knudsen earned her first complete game victory Wednesday The Bulldogs snapped a five game losing streak with their win over Memphis MSU is 30-8 when scoring three or more runs
Bully’s Ballers (Several MSU athletes garnered All-SEC honors in their respective sports) Jasmine Lee, Tennis, First Team All-SEC
Florian Lakat, Tennis, First Team All-SEC Rishab Agarwal, Tennis, Second Team All-SEC
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