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NHL accepts invitation to White House
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Observation night seeing stars pg 5
makes corrections for AUBURN
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132nd YEAR ISSUE 11
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
Gluten-free options more widespread in Starkville patient the girl became. Finally, the man tired of the girl telling him he is no longer able to eat his favorite foods anymore. “I don’t want your help anymore,” he said. “This really sucks.” She kindly responded by explaining if he did not want to be sick anymore, they needed to continue to shop. Reed Pearson, a senior public relations student at
Mississippi State University, retold the story of his firsttime shopping for gluten-free food with his roommate’s sister, who had been living gluten-free for seven years. Pearson was diagnosed as gluten intolerant nine months ago after a long period of illness. Since his diagnosis, Pearson has become accustomed to his new lifestyle. GLUTEN, 2
Did you know... about...
people
A young woman in her 20s walked up and down the aisles of Kroger, pointing at the labels on the back of food products. She kept shaking her head at the slender, darkhaired man beside her and putting the items back on the shelf. The young woman nodded her head empathetically at the words coming out of his mouth. The more frustrated the man became, the more
1 in 100
are affected by celiac disease?
Jenn McFadden, TR
According to celiac.org
911 Communications Center enhances safety on MSU campus KATIE POE
STAFF WRITER
The Mississippi State University Police Department celebrated its new and improved 911 Emergency Communications Center with a ribbon cutting on Wednesday. The center is located at 25 Walker Road in the Butler Williams Building. At the ribbon cutting, MSU President Mark Keenum said the safety and well being of the university family is the college’s first priority. “This is a wonderful addition to enhance safety and security in our campus family,” Keenum said. “This new equipment will make us more efficient and more effective, and it makes me very happy to see it.” Police Chief Vance Rice said this project, from conception to completion, took two years. He said although there were delays in the process, such as having to switch computer alarm systems, he is happy it is completed. The previous center was
Russ Houston | Mississippi State University Office of Public Affairs
MSU officials celebrate the opening of the MSU Police Department’s new and improved 911 emergency communications center with a ribbon cutting. Pictured, from left to right, are MSU Police Department Assistant Chief Kenneth Spencer, Chief of Police Vance Rice, MSU President Mark E. Keenum and MSU Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Hyatt.
also in the Butler Williams Building, but upgrades in equipment and remodeling
of some of the rooms were priorities for Rice. “It was in this same
building,” Rice said. “The small receptionist area where you first walk in was
the dispatch. There was a great big piece of glass with a cutout hole where
you could actually stick a gun through there. It wasn’t safe at all. One dispatcher worked there.” After knocking down a wall to make more room and turning an empty office into the new dispatchers’ workplace, the center is now equipped with computers, consoles and a new computer alarm system, which is based on two servers where multiple dispatchers can work at the same time. The equipment was also put in one location, so dispatchers do not have to walk between different machines. To prevent the health hazards associated with sitting at a desk for a whole shift, Rice said he is working with the Longest Student Health Center to get a walking treadmill to put in front of the dispatchers’ workstations. Dispatcher Hannah Griffin said she has worked at the police department since she was an undergraduate student at MSU. She graduated in 2015 with a degree in psychology.
MSU PD, 2
Clothesline Project raises awareness for sexual violence EMMA KING
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Lacey Coats | The Reflector
This shirt was displayed on the MSU Drill Field as part of the annual Clothesline Project.
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An army of different colored shirts hung on Mississippi State University’s Drill Field this week showing support to victims of unwarranted violence. The Clothesline Project is an annual event promoting public awareness and support for victims of sexual violence. Sponsored by MSU’s Department of Health and Wellness, the Clothesline Project is a national effort to support abuse survivors. MSU has hosted the event since the late 1990s. The Clothesline Project was started to bear witness to the survivors as well as the victims of sexual violence. The shirts educate, document and raise society’s awareness of abuse. It also shows the amount of support available, along with encouragement and information. The Clothesline Project is a nationwide symbol of healing. “It’s important to feel you can talk to people,” said Emily Davis, volunteer for MSU Clothesline Project. “Interaction helps you recover.” The Clothesline Project originated in Hyannis, Massachusetts in 1990 by the Women’s Defense Agenda of Cape Cod. The WDACC created the Clothesline Project to raise awareness
about the appalling violence against women. They uncovered the startling fact that 51,000 American women were killed by their significant others from 1955 to 1975. They compared that number to the 58,000 soldiers who died in the Vietnam War over the same duration. The project began with only 31 shirts.
“It’s important to feel you can talk to people. Interaction helps you recover.” -Emily Davis, volunteer for MSU Clothesline Project Shirts are available in a variety of colors, each with its own meaning. Yellow depicts men or women or have been assaulted. Red, pink and orange are representative of victims of rape or sexual assault. Blue and green depict men and women affected by incest or child sexual abuse. Purple is for those
who have been attacked because of their sexual identity, and black for those abused because of political reasons. Sexual assault is one of the most underreported crimes due to a stigma associated with it. By creating a supportive and welcoming environment, people who feel like they are in danger will be able to reach out for help. The Clothesline Project took place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 26 to 28 at MSU. Students and faculty had the opportunity to design a shirt reflecting personal experiences or honoring of a friend or family member affected by violence. One participant, Hasna Khandekar, said, “You don’t know what everyone is going through. This shows to never judge a book by its cover.” After the three-day display is over, the Department of Health and Wellness will store all the shirts. The designs return to the Drill Field every year. Every shirt is anonymous and no one can identify the shirt’s artist. “We are promoting a safe place for individuals who don’t have a voice to speak up and tell their story,” said Magnolia Allen, a coordinator of MSU’s Clothesline Project. “This project really shows that here at MSU, we are family.”
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
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MSU PD
BAD DAWGS Thursday, September 21 8:40 a.m. Offi cer hosted a prescription take-back on the Drill Field. Offi cer transported prescription drugs back to MSU Police Department for disposal. Monday, September 25 8:46 a.m. Public service employee reported a wheel lock stolen from a studentʼs vehicle on Sept. 22 while parked at Eckies Pond parking lot. 9:11 a.m. Student arrested in Starkville for simple assault.
Griffin said she is excited about the improved communications center but thinks it will take time for her to switch gears and get used to the new equipment. “I kind of liked where we were,” Griffin said. “This is great, but I just kind of got attached to the way it was before. There are obviously things I’m going to have to figure out and adjust to, but I feel like we can do it because that’s part of being a dispatcher is working through a lot of issues.” Some of Griffin’s responsibilities as a dispatcher include answering phones, gathering information, talking on the radio and keeping up with radio traffic. She said technologically proficiency is also very necessary for the job.
CONTINUED FROM 1
Russ Houston | Mississippi STate University Office of Public Affairs
The MSU Police Department Chief, Vance Rice, shows President Mark Keenum one of the new dispatch stations in the police headquarters.
Griffin said the majority of the calls she gets involve traffic accidents and lost
and found incidences. If you have a nonemergency issue and
need to contact the communications center, call or text 662-325-2121.
GLUTEN
9:32 a.m. Resident of city/county was arrested at Herzer Dairy Science for fl eeing law enforcement. Tuesday, September 26 9:11 a.m. Student was arrested in Starkville for simple assault. 11:45 a.m. Employee reported his vehicle was hit on Sept. 18 in Bost parking lot. 6:43 p.m. Student was bitten on the lip by a puppy at the Delta Chi fraternity house. Subject was taken to OCH by personal vehicle. Wednesday, September 27 9:56 a.m. Offi cer removed three bikes from the handicap ramp at Colvard Student Union.
The availability of gluten-free options, for those who have celiac disease or a gluten intolerance, has drastically increased over the past few years, as has the awareness of the need for those options. Diane Tidwell, a registered dietitian and professor at MSU, specializes in gluten-free diets. Tidwell, who has a gluten intolerance herself, said she believes living with this diet in Starkville was once much harder than it is now because of the availability and low cost of many products. She said one of the hardest things people struggle with when cutting gluten out of their diets is the higher cost of what used to be staple foods, like
Friday, September 23rd 7:00 pm Bettersworth Aud, Lee Hall
Tickets Available from the Center For Student Activites and Scholarship Pageant online at www.events.msstate.edu
Jona Barron
Chelsea Bolton
Callie Brown
Kaci Bryant
Hannah Daugherty
Christiana Landress
Victoria Matthews
Samantha Neargarder
Hannah Oliver
Mikayla Poindexter
Alivia Roberts
Rachel Shumaker
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pasta. “Being gluten-free doesn’t have to be expensive. Some of the most nutritious and wholesome foods are naturally gluten-free,” Tidwell said. “My glutenfree must-haves are rice and beans. Quinoa, because it is so full of nutrients. Fruits and vegetables, naturally, and white meats, tend to be less processed.” Apart from teaching classes in the nutrition department at MSU, Tidwell also helps families in Starkville and the Golden Triangle area find affordable gluten-free products. She works with about 10 families in Starkville who have, or live with someone who has, celiac disease or gluten intolerance. Tidwell said there used to be a gluten-free club on campus, but because of lack of interest, it dissolved. As more people are diagnosed with gluten intolerance and celiac disease, more products become available in chain grocery stores like Kroger and Wal-Mart. Kroger especially has taken on the challenge of providing a wide variety of choices for the gluten-free customer. The company has an official statement about the importance of being able to serve customers who have this dietary restriction. Kroger labels the products that specifically say gluten-free on the barcode on the shelves and has a wide variety of glutenfree food in the health food section by the bakery. “So, our gluten-free line helps our customers because we want to make sure we’re taking care of or considering all of our customer’s needs,” said Andrew, a customer service representative from Kroger on a phone interview. “We have seen a big influx of customers just wanting to be gluten-free, but we mainly
made the line for our celiac disease customers who have the autoimmune disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with the absorption of nutrients.” Kroger’s policies required that his last name not be published. John Forde, professor and head of the communication department, has been on a gluten-free diet for 10 years, and has seen the progression of glutenfree friendly options arise throughout Starkville. He has noticed a significant change in the number of places aware of what gluten is, especially in the past 5-to-6 years, and believes this is because of an update to federal labeling laws. In August 2013, the Food and Drug Administration issued a statement defining the term “gluten-free” for voluntary use when labeling a product as gluten-free, meaning it is up to individual companies to decide whether to label a food as gluten-free. Many companies looked favorably on this new FDA statement and changed labels to make it easier for those who eat gluten-free to find more options in what they purchase. “I try not to make a huge deal out of it, you know?” Forde hesitantly said. “If someone puts cheese toast on my salad, my wife a lot of times will do more than I will about it. I would just eat around that piece of lettuce.” Forde said many of the restaurants in Starkville have gluten-free menus they provide for those who have celiac disease or just choose not to eat gluten. Local restaurants like Bulldog Burger and Thai Siam provide information on what products contain gluten on the regular menu. However, according to Forde, restaurants like
Harveys and The Grill have gone above and beyond for providing him service. After Forde’s being a frequent customer at Harveys for a long time, the staff was trained to know when someone said they could not eat gluten, this meant they had the same dietary restrictions as Forde. Upon hearing this, Forde went to the general manager of the Grill, Terry Long, who had once worked at Harveys, to tell him he needed to step up his game and make a John Forde menu. That is exactly what Long did. Before meeting Forde 12 years ago, Long knew little about what it meant to be gluten-free, but now said it is probably the most common food allergy seen at The Grill. As the frequency in which they see the allergy has increased, it is now part of the staff training at The Grill to know what it means to have celiac disease or a gluten intolerance. “We even have a system so that if a server takes an order and they say ‘I have an allergy,’ that server informs the manager,” Long said. “When they ring it in there’s a button that says ‘allergy’ and there is an option for different allergies and they ring it that way so the kitchen knows. So, they know, okay, that’s a gluten allergy. I’ve handled this before. I need to change my gloves.” As the need to provide for this dietary restriction in Starkville increases, businesses are starting to stock more options for those who are unable to tolerate gluten. “Although I miss all of my favorite foods—you know, good college student food like Pop-Tarts,” Pearson said. “I have since learned that potatoes are my life, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
FIRST MONTH FREE STUDIO CLASSES FOR ALL NEW MEMBERS! Sydney Slocum
Emily Tingle
Rontier Whitfield
Good Luck To Our Miss MSU Contestants!
• Tanning included • Separate cardio, circuit, & plate • Ladies only workout studio loaded areas for added privacy not • Steam room and sauna found elsewhere • Complimentary personal trainer • 24 hour access consultation and program set up
100 Eckford Dr Starkville, MS 39759 662-268-4042 www.gymstarkville.com
Locally owned and operated since 1975
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 29, 2017 @REFLECTORONLINE
BULLETIN BOARD
CLASSIFIEDS The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday. The deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. Classifieds are listed at $5 per issue. Student and staff ads are listed at $3 per issue, pre-paid. Lost and found items: Found items can be listed for free; lost items are listed at standard ad cost.
CLUB INFO The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday;. The deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. MSU student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info. Information may be submitted by email to club_info@ reflector.msstate.edu with the subject heading
“CLUB INFO,” or a form may be completed at The Reflector office in the Student Media Center. A contact name, phone number and requested run dates must be included for club info to appear in The Reflector . All submissions are subject to exemption according to space availability.
An In-Class Distraction
SUDOKU
September 26 puzzle solutions
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY... ...in 1982, Cyanide-laced Tylenol killed six people. Flight attendant Paula Prince bought a bottle of cyanide-laced Tylenol. Prince was found dead on Oct. 1, becoming the final victim of a mysterious ailment in Chicago, Illinois. Over the previous 24 hours,six other people had suddenly died of unknown causes in northwest Chicago. After Princeʼs death, Richard Keyworth and Philip Cappitelli, firefighters in the Windy City, realized that all seven victims had ingested Extra-Strength Tylenol prior to becoming ill. Further investigation revealed that several bottles of the Tylenol capsules had been poisoned with cyanide. history.com
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Trivia Time! 1. What is the largest species of terrestrial crab in the world? 2. The United States Constitution replaced what other document in March of 1789? 3. What is the largest internal organ in the human body? trivia.fyi
1. The coconut crab 2. The Articles of the Confederation 3. The liver
Starkville Weekend Preview: Theatre, music and Miss Mississippi State
When: 2 p.m. Saturday on McComas Hall main stage.
WILL WELLS ENTERTAINMENT AND LIFE EDITOR
Student Recital What: A student recital featuring senior music education major Mitchell Crawford will take place on Saturday. It will also feature Karen Murphy on piano. When: 7:30–9 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church in Starkville.
A variety of events, many of which are student-led, will take place on and off campus this weekend. Music fans can attend a student recital at First Baptist church, enjoy karaoke night at Rosey Baby, or go see former”Bachelorette” contestant Luke Pell on his country music tour at Rick’s Cafe. Those hoping to see a show can watch Theatre MSU’s adaptation of “The Little Mermaid” or laugh along at a Lab Rats improv comedy show. In addition, the Miss MSU 2018 pageant will take place on Friday night. Miss Mississippi State University Pageant What: Fifteen women will compete for the title of Miss MSU 2018. The winner will compete in the Miss Mississippi pageant in Vicksburg next summer. General Admission tickets
Karaoke What: Students looking for free entertainment can visit Rosey Baby on Saturday night and watch others participate in karaoke or take part themselves. When: 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Saturday at Rosey Baby.
will cost $15, while students with identification can purchase tickets for $10. When: 7 p.m. Friday in the Bettersworth Auditorium in Lee Hall. Lab Rats Improv Comedy
What: MSU’s improv comedy troupe will return to Moseley Hall for the first time this semester for a pair of short-form comedy shows. When: 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Friday in Moseley Hall.
The Little Mermaid What: Theatre MSU presents its adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid.” This is Theatre MSU’s annual children’s theatre
production and the cast has performed the show for elementary students throughout the week. Tickets are available for $10. Season tickets, which cover four shows, are also available for $30.
Luke Pell What: The “Bachelorette” contestant turned country singer will perform original songs including his first single “Pretty Close” Saturday night at a stop on his cross-country tour. Tickets are $15. When: 10 p.m. at Rick’s Cafe. Doors open at 8 p.m.
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
OPINION
Kim Jung-un is calculated, but he definitely is not crazy DYLAN BUFKIN
It is dangerous to underestimate an enemy, and I fear this may be happening as Trump fumbles with North Korea. According to Miranda Green for CNN, Trump calls Kim Jong-un, the dictator of a nuclear capable country, a madman or “Rocket Man” in tweets. Arguably the scariest part of Kim is he is perfectly sane. Sure, he may have a cult of personality-based authoritarian regime, and sure, he may order hacks on the U.S. when James Franco and Seth Rogen make a dumb movie about killing him. However, he is most certainly aware of his situation with the U.S.. Kim is always smart when it comes to maintaining control. Coming to power when his father and predecessor died, many thought he would simply be a puppet for his uncle, a supervisor to Kim’s father. They were wrong. According to Justin McCurry for The Guardian, Kim commenced a government-wide purge of anyone he deemed disloyal to the new regime, including his own uncle. More recently, Kim even killed his halfbrother, Kim Jong-nam, as a show of power in 2017. Kim remains uninterested in being viewed as a puppet of his military, his family or
is a senior majoring in communications and philosophy. Contact her at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.
Jennifer McFadden, The Reflector
anyone else. With recent nuclear threats, we as Americans discuss North Korea more than ever before. After claiming the capability to hit American soil, tensions between the U.S. and North Korea have escalated at an alarming rate, and rhetoric between the two heads of state is not helping. This is the closest America has gotten to a Cold War scenario since the fall of the USSR in 1992, and the Trump administration is not happy about it. They are so unhappy, in fact, Trump’s tweets insult Kim’s sanity almost daily. Is it truly insane for Kim to escalate his nuclear capability, despite U.S. warnings? I would say dangerous, but not illogical.
Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi both deescalated their nuclear programs when asked by the U.S., and both of those men are now dead by U.S. intervention. The Kim regime sees this and rightfully questions whether it will survive if they comply with U.S. demands. China continued to develop their nuclear capabilities in the ’80s, to the dismay of the U.S. Now, China is the second most powerful country in the world, respected in the global community. North Korea needs this respect. If they can achieve what China was able to, they might be able to lower sanctions, increase trade and finally be viewed as a true player on the global stage.
This is a thought, at least. Nuclear proliferation is something the global community has tried to avoid for years now, and if North Korea is allowed nuclear weapons, Japan and South Korea will be quick in line. Not to mention, the U.S. is not prone to let nations who openly threaten it. Behind the rhetoric, Kim is probably just as worried about his own survival. Open war ends with his nation and his regime burning to the ground, and deescalating most likely ends with his clandestine elimination. Ultimately, his best policy may be to keep the status quo. One thing is certain: Kim is not crazy and that may be more terrifying than if he were.
Penguins accept White House invitation
JESSICA LINDSEY
is a senior majoring in communications. Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate. edu.
Sports have always been political. In the 1930’s, politics in sports really increased due to more media exposure. The relationship between the two began with sending Jesse Owens, a black man, to Germany for the Olympics in 1936, when Hitler was imposing a system of aryan supremacy. The relationship was heightened when baseball players like Joe DiMaggio and Babe Ruth joined World War II. Politics in sports gained even more traction in the ’40s, after the war, as Jackie Robinson integrated baseball. Sports were also involved in politics in the ’80s, at the height of the Cold War, when the United States hockey team beat the Soviet Union in what is now dubbed “The Miracle on Ice.” Who are we to say sports should not be political? Teams are made up of athletes, who, unlike the majority of us, are in the spotlight, but athletes are also private citizens with their own systems of beliefs
and values. Those who say sports are an escape from the world of politics really do not pay attention to sports or athletes at all. When a team in one of the main four leagues (NBA, NHL, NFL, and MLB) wins their respective championship, that team is usually invited to meet with the leader of their country—whether it is President Donald Trump or Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Since the Golden State Warriors won the NBA Finals mid-June, it has been questioned whether or not the Warriors would accept the invitation from Trump to visit the White House. On Sept. 23, Trump rescinded the invitation to the Warriors, specifically calling their star player Stephen Curry out because Curry previously said he did not want to attend. According to Dan Gartland of Sports Illustrated, the Warriors were scheduled to meet later in the day on Sept. 23, before Trump tweeted they were not welcome, to discuss their decision as a team. However, Trump decided for them. On Sept. 24, the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, who are the reigning Stanley Cup champions, announced they would accept Trump’s invitation to go to the White House. However, they added
it would ultimately be up to individual players to decide if they wanted to attend—much like the New England Patriots after winning Super Bowl LI. In the wake of all that has happened with Trump, the Golden State Warriors and the NFL in just this past weekend, this announcement from the NHL team could not have come at a more inconvenient time. Trump believes NFL players who take the knee during the National Anthem should be fired, something many argue violates the First Amendment. It is an incendiary moment for sports and politics. Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said in a statement to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “We respect the office of the White House.” To many people, this looks like they are standing with Trump and his statements directly violating every American’s First Amendment right. There has been backlash against the Penguins’ announcement and timing, especially from journalists of color. To put it in perspective, the NHL is comprised of 93 percent white athletes and the NBA is comprised of 74.4 percent African American athletes. The Penguin’s decision to visit the White House comes
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as no surprise to avid sports fans who know the leagues’ demographics. It is also tasteless for Russian Machine Never Breaks (a Washington Capitals-based blog) writer Peter Hassett to point out “[T] he Penguins just invited the press to ask every one of their players about their personal politics.” However, this does not just extend to the Penguins. Invasive political questions are now Invasive political questions are now asked across the leagues—especially to the few minority players. All teams and athletes in the NBA, NFL and even WNBA are trying to take a stand for what they believe in, which is a stand against the Oval Office. Then, the Penguins basically shake hands with Trump while all others are shaking their heads. ESPN’s Max Kellerman posed an interesting thought on the subject. “Should we hold people to some kind of decency standard or moral standard?” Kellerman said. “I think there is a line over which you cross, and I’m saying that this line has been crossed.” Max Kellerman is right. A line has been crossed in this announcement and it makes the NHL look whiter and more insensitive to social issues than ever.
Trojan recently released a new brand of condoms, called “XOXO” targeting women. They boast discreet purple and black packaging, aloe-infused lubricant and thinner latex. The commercials for XOXO condoms are not the standard condom ads— there is no use of words like “sensation” or “pleasure,” and there is no implication of actual sex, as in Trojan commercials targeted at men. Overall, I hate genderbased branding, but Trojan’s advertisements, and the difference between their masculine ads and their feminine ads, are ridiculous. In recent Trojan “Bareskin” commercials, rapper Lil’ Dicky is having a hot and heavy hook-up with a girl. She says she wants to have sex on a table “right here, right now.” Lil’ Dicky takes a moment to say something along the lines of, “Wait girl, lemme get a condom for our mutual sexual health,” after which the couple proceeds to continue making out. Dustin Nelson calls this kind of Trojan advertisement “tonguein-cheek,” and it is, both literally and figuratively. The ads for the “XOXO” condoms, meanwhile, lack this sly irony. The first commercial I saw for the “XOXO” condoms show a bunch of women with pretty hair gazing at sunsets, wearing kooky outfits on the subway, and dancing in their living rooms for no apparent reason. It is reminiscent of a tampon commercial (which never seem linked to tampons), and starts with a voiceover, “It’s 2017. We’re in the moment where everybody should look at themselves in the mirror and say, ‘I have the confidence to be who I wanna be. Why should only men be able to buy condoms?” There are no laws against non-men buying condoms. To be fair, in a New York Times interview, Bruce Weiss, Trojan’s vicepresident of marketing, admitted they have a harder time reaching female audiences. “We consistently hear from people as they shop for condoms, especially from women, that they feel the weight of everyone’s eyes on them when they purchase condoms,” Weiss said. As a woman, I purchase them periodically myself,
and usually do not even get a sideways glance. While I can see embarrassment as an issue for some women, this condom-branding ignores a simple fact: this should not be. Women should be able to feel comfortable while being responsible, healthconscious sexual beings purchasing their own condoms if they so choose.
“We consistently hear from people as they shop for condoms, especially from women, that they feel the weight of everyone’s eyes on them when they purchase condoms.” - Bruce Weiss, Trojan’s VP of Marketing
The recent “XOXO” commercials make it seem as though reasonable women are afraid to make a purchase implying they are sexually active. Obviously, condom branding is not the problem here. The problem is society making women feel ashamed for doing the deed. This “women should seem like they don’t actually have sex” implication is present all over the “XOXO” advertising campaign, “#trustyourself,” despite its phony message of female empowerment. It is also present in the name of the condom itself. Trojan has a line of condoms aimed at men, “Bareskin.” The name conveys something about the sensation aspect of the condom and works as a double entendre for people in the nude. “XOXO,” however, traditionally means hugs and kisses. Newsflash, Trojan: Condoms are not for hugging and kissing. They are used for sex. Women already know this. Reviews of the condoms themselves can be found on the amusing Trojan website, where they avoid saying women have sex. If that is not evidence of the Trojan advertisers working around women’s shame rather than confronting it, nothing is. I am not saying it is Trojan’s sole duty to make our society a place where it is okay for women to have sex. I am just saying if that is what they are working towards with the “XOXO” condom, they are going about it all wrong. Women should not have to be discrete when they are purchasing condoms.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Life Editor/Will Wells
325-7905 editor@reflector.msstate.edu
Sports Editor/Taylor Rayburn
Trojan condoms and society are shamimg female buyers
SAM GIBSON
is a freshman majoring in communications. Contact him at opinion@reflector. msstate.edu.
@REFLECTORONLINE
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Letters to the editor should be sent to the Meyer Student Media Center or mailed to The Reflector, PO Box 5407, Mississippi State, MS. Letters may also be emailed to editor@reflector.msstate.edu. Letters must include name and telephone number for verification purposes. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017 @REFLECTORONLINE
LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT
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Chew on This: Pumpkin Spice Muffins COURTNEY O’BRIEN STAFF WRITER
Friends, have I got a special treat for you! Just call me the muffin wo-man— this recipe is so good I’m considering buying property on Drury Lane! (Yes, I just mixed Monopoly and nursery rhyme references. Get the eye rolls out of the way now.) Today’s recipe is pumpkin spice muffins. They are great for using up milk and other pantry staples, which is awesome for me because my old roommates left a lot of flour and sugar in our apartment when they moved out. No joke, they left enough ingredients for me to make five different batches of these muffins in one day—and now I can share the results with you. I baked each of the batches for a different amount of time. Batch A was in the oven 10 minutes. Batch B was in the oven 12 minutes. Batch C cooked for 13.5 minutes. Batch D baked for 15 minutes. Finally, Batch E baked for 17 minutes. All of these batches went well. Basically, I cooked them
for different lengths of time to prove that even if you are incapable of following directions or lose track of time—your muffins can still turn out fine with this recipe. This recipe is also great because you can change the muffins in any way you want. I used pumpkin spice because I am obsessed, but you could alternatively use ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg for a
fresh or canned in water. While I am partial to using butter for most recipes, I would suggest using oil if you are planning to serve these muffins after around 24 hours of baking them. Oil will keep them moist. Depending on when you plan to serve them, use more oil—however, do not exceed 8 tablespoons. In fact, I would only use 8 tablespoons if you are not
“Th is recipe is great because it works as a dessert, snack or breakfast.” -Courtney O’Brien, staff writer gingerbread flavor. For the pumpkin spice muffins, I even mixed a little pumpkin spice creamer in with my milk. After all, I said I was obsessed. If you are too, just make sure your milk and creamer add up to the required milk measurement. You could also use chopped blueberries or strawberries. If you plan to use fruit, go with chopped frozen or dried, because they are easier to work with than
planning on serving the muffins for 48 hours. For my favorite batch of this recipe, I used 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and 4 tablespoons of cream cheese frosting in the batter— this gave the muffins a creamy texture and you could taste the cream cheese. They were extra delicious but did not keep as well as the traditional recipe. I also like to add vanilla chips, which are like chocolate chips with a vanilla taste. I
added an entire bag of both semi-sweet and vanilla. You could also combine dark chocolate and cranberries, peppermint white chocolate bark and raspberries, or caramel chips and 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt—depending on your preference of flavor. Obviously, this recipe is really easy to alter and manipulate. That being said, if you love something with this recipe or hate something with this recipe, please let me know because I would love to keep playing with it. Another great thing about these muffins is, including prep time, this recipe takes less than 30 minutes. You can make them for tailgating, a last-minute party or for a cram session you will have with everyone in your major before a huge test. This recipe is great because it works as a dessert, snack or breakfast. I am sure a lot of you will find this recipe especially great as a snack for long car rides home. No matter what you decide to do with this versitile recipe and the many ways you may adjust it, have fun and happy cooking.
pumpkin spice muffins! INGREDIENTS: 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin spice 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1 8-ounce pack vanilla chips 1 8-ounce pack semi-sweet chips 1 teaspoon vanilla 4-8 tablespoons melted butter or vegetable oil 2 large eggs 2/3 cup sugar or packed brown sugar 1 cup milk or cream 1 Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 2 Whisk together ingredients one through six in a bowl. 3 Whisk together ingredients seven through eleven in a separate bowl. 4 Once each ingredient is mixed in its respective bowl, combine bowls. 5 Whip everything, just until it is combined. Do not over whip. 6 Vanilla and/or chocolate chips can be added to either bowl 7 Separate into 12 standard muffin tins. 8 Bake 12-15 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. JM, TR
Students can see the stars at free observation night MIA RODRIGUEZ
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
. Space and its glorious celestial objects have fascinated humans for centuries. With the aid of the Mississippi State University Astronomy Club and the departments of physics and astronomy, anyone with an interest in space has the opportunity to view the night sky at an observation night at the Howell Observatory. The free public observation night is tonight, from 8 to 10 p.m. The subjects of the observation will be Saturn, the Andromeda galaxy and the Ring Nebula. The building’s namesake, late physics department head Everette Howell, supported the construction of the observatory’s telescope
in 1976. The observatory is located at H.H. Leveck Animal Research Center, also known as South Farm. It is an optimal spot for telescope viewing due to the low level of light pollution in the area. Angelle Tanner, an associate professor in the departments of both physics and astronomy, will lead the observation. She said she is excited to see clear skies projected for tonight and to lead the public in viewing the celestial bodies. “Saturn is nice and bright which makes it a great planet to observe,” she said. She also described Saturn as a definite “showstopper” even for those who have attended previous public nights, because of its impressive rings. Tanner said MSU’s
observatory is fortunate to be far from the influence of man-made light sources. “Compared to other observatories, it is a pretty average sized telescope for a university,” Tanner said. “What is nice about it is that it is located away from the actual campus as opposed to some observatory telescopes which are on the rooftops of buildings.” However, she said she fears the quality observations may be at risk due to the new, lighted road running near the area. She said she hopes the images will not be obstructed due to the development. The Astronomy Club, led by president Randy Niffenegger, is also involved in the organization of these public nights. “The mission of the Astronomy Club is community outreach, which we do by having public
Jennifer McFadden, The Reflector
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nights, but it is also to give undergrads and some grad students the opportunity to use equipment that they wouldn’t have access to otherwise,” Niffenegger said. “It’s to share the objects in the night sky with people that otherwise wouldn’t be able to see it, whether it be students, faculty or the community.” Niffenegger said the Astronomy Club aims to host at least one of these events per month, weather
permitting, during the academic year. He said November is the most favorable month due to pleasant weather conditions and the presence of students. Many students, especially those in the astronomy class taught by Tanner, will attend at tonight’s event. Grace Beerman, an MSU student, said she is excited to attend her first public observation night.
“I’ve been to the Pink Palace (a museum in Memphis) and have watched planetarium videos, but this will be my first time looking at the night sky through a big telescope,” Beerman said. “I’m also excited about the fact that it’s going to be a clear night and hopefully it will be a lot brighter, and I’m also very excited about the opportunity to see Saturn since I’ve never seen it before.”
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 29, 2017 @SPORTSREFLECTOR
SPORTS
Howland preps basketball for third season FORREST BUCK STAFF WRITER
The Mississippi State University men’s basketball team will officially prepare for the upcoming season this afternoon at 2:45 p.m. with the team’s first practice of the season. As practice begins coach Ben Howland, who is in his third season at MSU, talked about the state of his starting five in a press conference on Wednesday. “Right now, everything is open,” Howland said. “That’s all going to be decided based on practice. Our players are going to have to compete and earn playing time.” Competition is a key component of the first practices, with many returning players and all spots up for grabs. Howland said the competition will be most fierce at the backcourt positions, the group he believes is the strength of the team. “What I am going to have to do is scheme the way we play to utilize those six guys in the best way possible to get quality minutes,” Howland said. “Which means we’re going to be playing small ball at times with four guards.” Several players playing multiple positions will be a major storyline of the
upcoming season. “We have a lot of guys who are going to have to play multiple positions,” Howland said. Nick Weatherspoon, a true freshman guard, will be a major contributor coming into the season and the dynamic of him playing with his older brother and guard Quinndary Weatherspoon, a junior, is something to watch going forward. Quinndary talked about his brother’s improvement since he last played with him. “He’s improved his jump shot, the way he defends, just everything,” Quinndary said. “I’m excited to see what he’s ready to do on the college level.” There is an overwhelming feeling of confidence among the players as practice is set to begin as noted by junior forward Aric Holman. “We believe in each other, that’s the biggest thing,” Aric Holman said. “People will be ready to compete in a month for our games.” Injuries have plagued a few of the Bulldogs throughout their careers but the team appears to be healthier than ever, which the players believe that will translate into a magical season. Xavian Stapleton, a junior guard, is
among those, as he did not start playing with MSU until mid-season after tearing his ACL in the offseason. “I haven’t been able to start a basketball season healthy in three years,” Xavian Stapleton said. “This summer I just had the chance to work on my game, get back in shape and do all the things I used to do. I’m really excited for this season; I feel great.” As the season approaches, the college basketball world was hit with some heavy news on Tuesday evening. It was reported that multiple assistant coaches, advisors, agents and major shoe company Adidas were involved in illegal recruiting practices and are under FBI investigation. The result of which led to head basketball coach Rick Pitino being fired at the University of Louisville, a school that uses Adidas gear. Because MSU is also a school that uses Adidas gear, Howland was asked about the issue. “Right now, with what happened yesterday [Tuesday] there is an ongoing investigation by the FBI with 10 indictments given out,” Howland said. “I’m going to make no comment because of the ongoing investigation by the [FBI].”
Noah Siano | The Reflector
MSUʼs defense gave up 81 yards and two TDs to star UGA running back Nick Chubb. They face another great SEC running back in Kamryn Pettway.
Football finds redemption in practice JOSH BECK
STAFF WRITER
No. 24 Mississippi State University (3-1, 1-1) returns to the practice field refocused and determined to prove their loss was not a trend but a momentary lapse in execution. The game against No. 7 University of Georgia (4-0, 1-0) was a rude awaking for MSU, who appeared to be in a dazed stupor following their convincing win against LSU. Head coach Dan Mullen said the Bulldogs’ uninspiring week of practice spilled over onto the field. “I don’t think we had as good of week of practice as the previous week,” Mullen said. “We got out of position a lot and did not execute.” After the game junior defensive lineman Braxton Hoyett said he and fellow lineman sophomore Jeffery Simmons knew they needed to step up and correct the mentality of the team. Hoyett commented on a players-only meeting held on Monday after practice, describing how the players need to be accountable for their performance on the Noah Siano | The Reflector field. Peyton Harris, a senior from Houston, Texas, dives for the ball during MSUʼs loss to Ole Miss. Harris had 16 digs against the Rebels. “We basically just said this is something we can’t do again we just got to step up and practice better and we did that today so I feel like we are headed in the right direction,” Hoyett said. Players say there are many MSU to the fi rst point again in in the third game,” McFatrich MORGAN GOEBEL CONTRIBUTING WRITER the second game, the Bulldogs said. “It’s the SEC—you can’t components that go into a successful practice leading did not give up easily. With the do that.” Mississippi State Bulldogs down 19-3, a block Although it took two up to a big SEC game on University volleyball (9-9, 0-3 by freshman Laura Rose Gray games for the Volley Dawgs SEC) fell to the University of was returned with an attack to start showing energy on Mississippi (11-5, 2-1 SEC) error by Ole Miss senior the court, the over 1,000 fans in three games (12-25, 13-25, Kate Gibson. This gave the in attendance were lively the 24-26) on Wednesday night Bulldogs their first point in 11 entire match. during the second home SEC possessions. “The crowd was game of the season. Two kills and one ace incredible,” McFatrich said. The loss is the first to followed for MSU, as well as “They stayed until the end the Rebels under head coach five Ole Miss errors, bringing even though their home team David McFatrich, who took the final score of the second was getting beat.” over the program three years game to 25-13. However, McFatrich ago. The Bulldogs came out said the crowd could have The Rebels earned the stronger in the third game, but negatively affected some of first point of the first game, not strong enough. The score his players. Forty percent of grabbing momentum early was tied five separate times the team had never played in and carrying it throughout the and neither team held a lead a nationally televised game match. Between the 12 kills, greater than three points. or a home game with that the Rebels scored during the After a game of hard- many fans due to being young. first game, MSU was only able fought rallies, a kill by MSU However, McFatrich said he to score consecutive points senior Jelena Vujcin tied does not want to use age as an twice. the score at 23 points. An excuse. Sara Maddox, a freshman attack error from each team “I don’t care how young from Leawood, Kansas, said immediately followed, tying you are, you have to have after the game she knew the score again at match point. more energy and effort than something was off from the A kill by Ole Miss sophomore that,” he said. “We have to do start. Nayo Warnell and an attack a better job of translating the “I just think we lacked error by Maddox gave the effort and energy they give in energy in the first two Rebels the two points they practice to the matches.” matches,” Maddox said. “We needed to win the game and The Volley Dawgs will came out expecting to play like complete the sweep. face No. 10 University of we usually do, but we didn’t “I like the way we Kentucky (11-2, 2-0 SEC), at and it showed on the court.” competed in the third game, home. First serve is set for 2 Although the Rebels beat but we can’t decide to show up p.m.
Volley Dawgs drop match to arch-rival Ole Miss despite huge home crowd
balance on offense through running the ball and having more variety in the passing game. “I don’t think we have to throw it deep by any means, but more down field shots will open up with more of a run game,” Fitzgerald said. The reinvigorated MSU defense will have another premier SEC running back to contend with. Kamryn Pettway looks ready to return to the field after suffering a left ankle injury, which kept him out of last week’s game against the University of Missouri. The last time the Bulldogs faced Pettway he ran for 169 yards on 39 carries and three touchdowns. The turnover battle is especially important in these SEC road games where an interception or fumble could be the deciding factor late in the game. Against UGA, Fitzgerald threw two interceptions, both leading to UGA scores. It should also be noted in last year’s game against Auburn MSU turned the ball over three times, two fumbles and an interception. MSU and Auburn will play at 5 p.m. on Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama. ESPN will televise the game. “Maybe we thought we were a little better than we were, maybe we were kind of lackadaisical at times and not mentally locked in, but that is all going to change this week at practice,” Fitzgerald said.
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the road. The coaches need to keep the tempo at a high rate and the scout teams must replicate the speed and playing style of the opponents. In addition, many times offenses will run plays with minimal vocal communication and rely on hand signals to prepare for a loud and hostile stadium. Senior linebacker Dez Harris already noticed a difference in practice. “Today was a lot better,” Harris said. “We flew to the ball all day and had 11 hats flying to the ball every time we ran a snap.” Bulldog fans are accustomed to MSU’s standout defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons making highlight plays, however, in the UGA game his name was eerily absent. Simmons said his technique against UGA was fundamentally unsound and the Georgia offensive line was able to significantly hinder his play making abilities. Simmons said he practiced the day after the game in order to keep his promise to his teammates “That was probably my worst game and I took it upon [myself] and it won’t happen again and I’ve been working on it so this week is going to be a new one,” Simmons said. Looking to No. 13 Auburn, the Bulldogs will face another talented and athletic SEC defense. Junior quarterback Nick Fitzgerald said MSU needs to regain their
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