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132nd YEAR ISSUE 5
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2017
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
Aldermen hear citizens’ comments on alcohol ordinance Katie poe
staff writer
Noah Siano | The Reflector
Dozens of Starkville residents gathered at the first public hearing discussing the proposed changes to the current alcohol ordinance.
Podcast investigates the 1990 murder of two Starkville residents
At its meeting Tuesday, the Starkville Board of Aldermen hosted a public hearing regarding changes to the city’s alcohol ordinance. Currently, Ordinance 2009-06 states alcohol cannot be sold within a 250-foot radius from a school, church or funeral home. The proposed amendment adapts the minimum Mississippi statutes, which allows alcohol to be sold within 100 feet. Also, the current alcohol content in beer would be raised from five to eight percent and the hours of sale for alcohol would be extended from 12 to 1 a.m.
Three people stood at the podium during the meeting to say they are against the amendment. The first to speak was Marnita Henderson. “I am just requesting that you respect the churches, the schools and the funeral homes by not decreasing the distance from where you can have alcohol sales,” Henderson said. Next, Jerry Jefferson of Ward 2 shared his concerns. He said he does not care about raising the percentage of the alcohol or changing the hours, but he wants to leave the church sacred. “Why do we have to interfere with the church? The churches are holy and it’s a place of worship,” Jefferson
said. “I think we should leave the ordinance. If we do anything, we should have the ordinance go further away from the house of God.” Michelle Jones of Ward 1 was the first to speak in favor of the amendment. She said when she moved to Starkville in 1998 there was virtually no nightlife. “You could drive crisscross across downtown after 5 o’clock because there wasn’t a nightlife,” she said. “It took a very brave man who was an ordained deacon in the Baptist church who said, ‘We’ve got to bring restaurants to our downtown and to do that they have to have a license to serve alcohol.”
ALCOHOL, 2
New south-side entry to MSU campus, Hail State Blvd., now open Katie poe
staff writer
Jason Jones | Courtesy Photo
Jason Jones kneels by his grandmother’s grave, who was murdered in Starkville in 1990.
Katie poe
staff writer
Two women who were viciously raped and murdered 27 years ago may finally have an opportunity for justice. “Knock Knock: The Unsolved Murders of Betty Jones and Kathryn Crigler” is a podcast created by Jason B. Jones that tells the personal and haunting story of the murder of two Starkville residents on Sept. 3, 1990. When Jones was 10 years old, his own grandmother, Betty Jones, was at her friend Kathryn Crigler’s house because Crigler had just undergone an amputation, and she did not want to be alone on Labor Day weekend while her family was out of town. Jones said the two were planning to watch TV when a knock came to the side door between 8 and 10 p.m. that night. “Back then in Starkville, it was safe to leave your doors unlocked,” Jones said. Betty Jones answered the door and was killed. Crigler survived long enough to give some details to the police, but died afterwards. Jones said the rape kit for Crigler provided DNA evidence for the police, but it still has not been matched to this day. This case, known as the “Labor Day Murders,” received national attention on America’s Most MURDER, 2 Wanted.
Last week university officials opened a new road at the south end of campus. The road is intended to ease traffic flow and provide a better route to the RecPlex and intramural fields. Hail State Boulevard is located at the intersection of Stone Boulevard and connects Poorhouse Road and Blackjack Road. A ribbon cutting for the 3.5-mile road was held Sept. 1, where many participated in the ceremonial first ride down the new street. One of the participants was Regina Hyatt, vice president for Student Affairs, who said the ride was scenic. “It was awesome,” Hyatt said. “It’s a beautiful view of the South Farm. We saw the horses from the horse park, and it was lovely.” Hyatt said the new road, which includes a paved sidewalk, will help students access the sporting facilities located on the south end of campus. “We have a paved bikeway and walkway that go all the way down to the RecPlex,” Hyatt said. “Students will be able to literally walk or ride their bikes all the way. Then, on game day if students live off campus, we think this
Lindsay Pace | The Reflector
The Hail State Blvd. project has been in the works for nearly 12 years. After a long wait, the university opened the new road on Sept. 1.
road will provide a lot of relief for people leaving campus after game day to get back to their homes.” According to MSU President Mark Keenum, the $18 million road project was in the works for about 12 years. The project began under the leadership of former MSU President Dr. Charles Lee. Keenum said he was serving as chief of staff to Senator Thad Cochran when he spoke with Lee about the vision to have a new southern entrance road. “It’s been a real complex
process to get to the road at this point, but I owe a real great debt of gratitude to Thad Cochran and Dr. Charles Lee for his vision, but also the county board of supervisors for Oktibbeha County,” Keenum said. “We wouldn’t be here today without the partnership between Mississippi State and our county board of supervisors.” Keenum said some funds for the project was provided by the state government, through commissioners Dick Hall and Mike Tagert of the Mississippi Department of Transportation.
“They did a lot of the work—a lot of the engineering and design work and supporting work,” Keenum said. Keenum said the new road takes pressure off of many surrounding streets, making it easier for teachers and students to come and go from campus. “This road will be a great thoroughfare that will not only benefit the university, but the entire community of Starkville and Oktibbeha County,” he said. “This is just a great asset for our community that we’ll be able to enjoy for many years to come.”
MSU partners with Sudduth Elementary to build new playground eMMa BrasweLL
CoNtriBUtiNG writer
Sudduth Elementary School and Mississippi State University’s Landscape and Architecture Department recently partnered to design a new and more efficient playground. After introducing different ideas, Peter Summerlin, an assistant professor in the Landscape Architecture Department, said a new playground
FRIDAY
would not be possible without the support from the community. “Through a Health Task Team in the community that has really put a focus on this playground in particular, as well as support from the school and community, the idea of a new playground has been constructed into something more,” Summerlin said. Because of the support from not only teachers and students at the elementary
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school, but the community as a whole, this project has the potential to create many unique and useful opportunities. Another unique factor about this project, Summerlin said, is the children at Sudduth Elementary are giving ideas for the park as well. That way, it can be tailored to fit exactly what the students want, as well as being SUDDUTH, 2 realistic. FORECAST: A beautiful weekend awaits in NE Mississippi
Jenn McFadden, The Reflector
Reader’s Guide:
Policy: Any person may
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2017
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ALCOHOL
BAD DAWGS Thursday, August 31, 2017 10:54 a.m. Student reported he was assaulted in Magnolia Hall by his roommate. Friday, September 1, 2017 11:44 a.m. Student was issued a referral for smoking marijuana in Critz Hall. 10:04 p.m. Students were issued referrals for possession of alcohol in their room in Oak Hall. Saturday, September 2, 2017 12:16 a.m. Student was issued a Justic Court citation on Fraternity Row for possession of a fake ID. 2:30 p.m. Three golf carts were towed from Davis Wade Stadium by Bulldog Towing. 6:34 p.m. Student reported an unknown male exposing himself to a student in McCool Hall. Monday, September 4, 2017 1:34 p.m. Student reported his vehicle was burglarized while parked in Magnolia Hall parking lot.
SUDDUTH
Though the playground is being built on the grounds of Sudduth, it will have multiple uses. The hope is it will eventually be used by both the students at Sudduth, and other kids in the surrounding neighborhoods. Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill said she wants the city to join with the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District for a jointuse agreement for their playground areas and possibly other indoor spaces. This way, the equipment still can be used, even when the school year is not in session. “It’s an efficiency of your assets,” Spruill said. “The goal is that once the playground is built and in use, children will be able to play on it during weekends, afternoons or even summers, so that it isn’t wasted.” Another significant benefit this project could provide to students is the incentive to be more active,
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specifically during school hours. Kenny Langley, a member of the Health Task Team, said science has proven children who are more active have increased skills in other areas; if kids spend more energy on the playground, he said he hopes they will listen better and be more productive during school hours. “Absences have been going down. Referral rates have gone down,” Langley said. “It is what all the research says: if they’re more active, they’re happier and they’re usually well rounded.” Elizabeth Mosley, principal at Sudduth Elementary, said she is excited about the partnership with MSU. “We are partnering with the university because they have such great ideas,” Mosley said. “That’s a resource that we can tap into, and we all benefit.”
“And, to do that we’ve got to figure out how to work with our houses of worship to make these things coexist.’ Because of what he did years ago, and what members of the board did, we have a vibrant downtown, we have a tourism that is based on culinary because we have great restaurants,” Jones said. Jones said the houses of worship should not control the redevelopment of the city. Following Jones, Jay Yates spoke on behalf of the Golden Triangle Restaurant Association to support the changes. He said the organization’s decision is based on the economic factor and the fact that it would create more jobs. Rosa Dalomba, owner and manager of downtown business Pop Porium, claimed she has lost $20,000 worth of business due to her shop being unable to
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book parties that include the sale of alcohol. “I don’t know much about Starkville 20 years ago, five years ago or maybe even three years ago,” Dalomba said. “All I know is where Starkville is now and the potential it has
As soon as people ask us about these events, as soon as I tell them we can’t sell any alcohol, beer or wine, they don’t want to book.” Dalomba described the current alcohol law as “outdated.” Then, she shared a personal story of
“I don’t know much about Starkville 20 years ago, five years ago, or maybe even three years ago. All I know is where Starkville is now and the potential it has to grow. “ -Rosa Dalomba, Poporium owner to grow. At least with my business, we are looking to grow … People are looking to book venues. We’ve hosted birthday parties and graduations, but as much as we’ve hosted, we’ve lost even more by not hosting.
how she was hit by a car with a drunk driver 13 years ago. “That’s something I had to think about when I asked myself, ‘Well, am I for this law or am I against it?’ she said.
Dalomba said Starkville’s variety of late-night transportation services like Uber and other buses made her decision to agree with the amendment easier. After the citizens and business owners spoke at the public hearing, Alderman David Little said the revision of the ordinance would be for the “common good” of the people. However, Vice Mayor Roy Perkins did not agree. Although he is holding his comments for the Sept. 19 Board of Aldermen meeting, when a second public hearing will be held, Perkins said the community is not defined by its alcohol sales. “I’m not going to get tempted into this miniature discussion tonight and we’ll just wait until [the next meeting],” Perkins said. “It’s more than beer and whiskey in this community. We’ll finish this conversation at our next meeting.”
MURDER Artist renderings of the suspect have been made and updated, DNA tests have been run and rerun, but still, the killer has never been found. Throughout the podcast, Jones will dig into the details of this crime, make strikes toward uncovering answers and seek justice for the lives of the victims. Jones, who is the Creative Director at Integrity Music based in Nashville, Tennessee, said he had always been interested in podcasts like “Serial” and “Up and Vanished,” and while listening to them he began to think about his grandmother’s case. “Growing up, it was a taboo topic that we didn’t talk about because of the pain and the questions that came along with it,” he said. “As I became an adult I grew more curious about my past, who I was and how this traumatic event affected my childhood. I quickly realized there weren’t many answers.” Since he was only 10 years old when she died, Jones said
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he thinks he will get to know his grandmother through the stories of people who knew
will hear interviews with the current lead investigator, Sgt. Bill Lott, who took over the
Jason Jones | Courtsey Photo
Knock-Knock will air every other week, with a Q&A session between each scheduled podcast.
her. “I get to know her a little bit more through listening to them tell me about her… I’m learning not just how she died, but, more importantly, how she lived,” he said. The podcast aptly launched Sept. 3, which is the 27 year anniversary of the women’s deaths. Listeners
case around the early 2000s and has not given up on finding answers. Jones will also talk to family members, journalists and friends. He will even sit down and talk with the current owner of the house she was murdered in. Jones said an episode will air about every two weeks with a Q&A in between each podcast. If you have a question for Jones, you can call 1-888-57BETTY. He said there should be around six episodes, depending on
what Jones discovers. “I just want to go where the story takes us,” Jones said. Jones said he hopes more information will be uncovered as the series goes on, and he encourages anyone to call if they have any information or stories about his grandmother. Maggie Thomas, an MSU junior, said she saw the video trailer for the podcast on Facebook in June, and she was “enthralled” by the story. Since she has experience in radio production, Thomas decided to reach out to Jones and offer her help. Now she is the associate producer for the series. “What happened to Betty and Kathryn should never happen to anyone,” Thomas said. “Through the podcast, you get to know these women and the beautiful lives they lived. Getting to know their stories on a more personal level made me want to help solve this crime even more.” Thomas said she is excited for the podcast and said Jones has poured his heart into telling the story in a way that respects and honors Betty and Kathryn. “Once you start listening, you won’t want to stop,” Thomas said.
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An In-Class Distraction
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, prepaid. Lost and found items: Found items can be listed for free; lost items are listed at standard ad cost. FOR RENT House for Rent, very
nice 3 bedroom, 1 bath. 1 mile from MSU. Washer and dryer, large living area, kitchen and carport. $825.00 For more information call 662-418-2087 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.
FIRST MONTH FREE STUDIO CLASSES FOR ALL NEW MEMBERS! • 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
@starkvilleathleticclub
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OPINION
Mississippi needs to reform licensing laws steven WeiricH staFF Writer
Back in the early 2000s, Melony Armstrong, from Tupelo, Mississippi, decided she wanted to pursue a career in African hair braiding by opening up a salon in her hometown. However, she ran into serious trouble in the pursuit of her dream career. Armstrong found out in order to become an African hair braider in Mississippi, she would have to comply with a long list of qualifications and requirements set in place by the State Board of Cosmetology. According to an article in Real Clear Policy, Armstrong was faced with the prospect of spending around $10,000 and a number of years in cosmetology school in order to qualify for her license from the state board. Since this was a skill she crafted in her spare time for years, it seemed unnecessary to spend so much time and money to open up her own salon. In fact, the first license she obtained was in wigology, not hair braiding, a process entailing 300 hours of coursework. In 2004, Armstrong, along with a legal team from the Institute of Justice, filed a lawsuit in a U.S. District Court to dispute the harsh licensing requirements. The lawsuit was successful for Armstrong, and in 2005, the Mississippi Legislature ended up excusing hair braiders from the burdensome process.
“There are tremendous societal costs with little improvement to service, quality, health, and safety.” - Morris Kleiner said in his report for the Brookngs Institution’ While this was certainly a success story for one entrepreneur, it opened many people’s eyes to the fact Mississippi had constructed an extensive occupational licensing system that was likely holding back others from the success Armstrong was finally able to enjoy. Occupational licensing laws were originally created
in order to guard consumers against fraudulent professionals, particularly fraudulent doctors, lawyers and nurses. The problem is many states in the U.S. started requiring other professionals start passing training courses or requirements in order to be allowed to work legally. A report from the
Brookings Institution said during the 1950s, only around five percent of workers needed these licenses to work. While today, nearly a quarter of workers must pass such certifications. Such an increase may not seem nefarious at first, but a growing amount of academic research indicated there is reason to worry. Morris Kleiner, an economist at the University of Minnesota, has spent years researching occupational licensing laws. In his report for the Brookings Institution, he stated because licenses are required for so many professionals, prices have to be raised and it is harder for workers to enter their professions.
Trivia Time!
“There are tremendous societal costs with little improvement to service, quality, health and safety,” Kleiner said in his report. With this knowledge established, we turn our eyes back to the Magnolia State. It is no secret that Mississippi has struggled with economic growth and business startups in recent decades. It is no surprise in 2016, Thumbtack’s Small Business Friendliness Survey gave Mississippi a “C” for business friendliness, which means it is usually difficult to start a small business in the state. Luckily, Mississippi lawmakers did not stop after 2005 with their reforms to the occupational licensing laws. In March of this year,
the Mississippi Legislature passed H.B. 1425, which introduced reforms to the states licensing laws. According to Reason Magazine, the bill was an attempt to change the way the state licensing boards were constructed, so it would be more difficult for incumbent professionals to block entrants into the profession. Essentially, it would make the licensing requirements more dependent on consumercreated or third party rating organizations (such as Yelp) to make determinations on proper certifications. If these turn out to be ineffective steps, the state would still be capable of imposing inspections or targeting fraudulent agents through the state attorney general. This legislation may lead to more entrepreneurs being willing to start businesses of their own in Mississippi because there are fewer hurdles to overcome. Knowing how occupational licensing laws can drive prospective workers from certain industries and raise costs for consumers, people in Mississippi should wholeheartedly support persistent efforts by the legislature to address these labor market issues. Mississippi is in dire need of innovators to help grow its economy and increase prosperity for all its citizens. Continuing to confront burdensome occupational licensing laws is a great way to move us down this pathway.
REFLECTIONS
1. In the Disney movie “Beauty and the Beast,”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhoood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.”
what is the name of Gaston’s bumbling sidekick? 2. What is the most popular breed of dog in the U.S.? 3. How many planets in our solar system have moons? Source: triviaq.fyi
Answer: 1. LeFou, 2. Labrador Retriever, 3. Six
DACA was never a permanent cure HeatH Fisackerly staFF Writer
The decision President Donald Trump made to rescind Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was met with both celebration and disappointment around the country. DACA is a program allowing undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children to remain in the country. On Tuesday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the Obamaera program would be coming to a close. Though his declaration seemed definite, Congress has six months to come up with a plan to possibly save the policy. According to Amber
Athey, a reporter for The Daily Caller, DACA was only meant to be a temporary fix, and former President Barack Obama said this in 2012, when he announced the beginning of the program. “This is a temporary stop-gap measure that lets us focus our resources wisely, while giving a degree of relief and hope to talented, driven and patriotic young people,” Obama said. So why are people around the country so disgruntled about this entire situation? Well, to be quite honest, a lot of it is political. Democrats are using the rescindment of the DACA program to blame Trump for being a hate-monger of immigrant children, when
that is far from the truth. Trump loves children, which is why he gave Congress a six-month deadline to pass new immigration legislation. This legislation would include some type of amnesty for the 800,000 people currently enrolled in the DACA program. Had he cancelled it right away, all of those children would be in the process of deportation at this moment. The truth is the program, the way Obama structured it, is unconstitutional. Congress refused to pass DACA as it was originally written in 2012. According to Adam Edelman, an NBC News reporter, this led to an executive order from the Obama Administration. Obama used his power
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to issue an order of amnesty for undocumented children and sidestepped the federal laws already on the books. Obama failed to enforce those and other previous laws. According to Jonathan Turley for The Hill, some criticized the action as a circumvention of the legislative branch and as an undermining of the
system of the Separation of Powers. However, because Democrats were happy with Obama’s actions, they yielded their institutional power to the White House—helping to create what so many people worry about—an unchecked presidency. It is sad and discomforting that for
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“This is a temporary stop-gap measure that lets us focus our resources wisely while giving a degree of relief and hope to talented, driven and patriotic young people.” - Barack Obama on Deffered Action for Childhood Arrivals
many of these people, this land has been their only home. Nonetheless, they are here illegally, and we are a nation of laws. Yes, our founders immigrated to this country, but they did so over 200 years ago. Times have changed, and we have laws on the books that should be enforced in order to protect those of us who are citizens in this country. At the end of the day, the president of this country has one job: to protect the citizens of this country—to “faithfully execute the office of president of the United States, and will to best of [his/her] ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” So help him, God.
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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.
EDITORIAL POLICY
The Reflector is the official student newspaper of Mississippi State University. Content is determined solely by the student editorial staff. The contents of The
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LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT
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Clubs provide fun ways to become more involved EMMA DRAY BRASWELL CONTRIBUTING WRITER
For many students, involvement with campus organizations is an important part of the college experience. Regardless of students’ interest, the large variety of clubs on campus should provide any student with a perfect opportunity to become more involved. For students who would like to give back to the community, there are many organizations on campus which work to improve the lives of others. One such organization is the Red Cross Club, which works to donate blood or items and raise money for donations. Students may see flyers for the Red Cross Club around campus. They also promote the club through social media. The club is open to anyone interested. The Red Cross Club will host three more blood drives this year, on Nov. 6, Feb. 8 and April 12, all from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cheyenne Turner, the president of Red Cross Club, said that as the only
collegiate level American Red Cross organization in the state, the group can provide students with opportunities many college students do not receive. Turner said although managing time between the club and classes can be difficult at times, she is well supported within the organization. “I have a fantastic executive board who helps take the load off my shoulders,” Turner said. Another volunteer organization on campus, Student for a Sustainable Campus is an environmentalist organization that works to give back to the community through their own efforts as well as by working to increase awareness. The club began a food safety program to donate to the community and focuses on hosting different competitions to save energy and make campus more green. The organization attempts to offer a solution for those with busy schedules by allowing students to choose when to be involved.
MSU Clubs Every year, Student for a Sustainable Campus focuses on multiple projects throughout the school year to raise awareness and help to improve the environment. The group meets weekly to work towards their goals. Payton Billingsley, a
member of Student for a Sustainable Campus, said one of the group’s major platforms is recycling on campus. It also strives to benefit the environment in other ways. If students are interested in learning how to “go green,” this club is
Jennifer mcfadden, TR
the perfect solution. Intramural sports can be an outlet for athletic abilities. While intramural sports are less flexible than some other organizations on campus, they can be an ideal opportunity for those who are looking for a fun
way to fit exercise into their schedule. Intramural Sports are easy to start playing. Those who are interested must only sign up to be on the teams, and the organizations generally communicate through emails and meetings. Tom Zhang, the president of the Table Tennis Club, said whether students want to compete or simply to learn, they are welcome to join the group. The club offers members both casual and competitive play. “If time is tight between class and club, I would just lean more towards the casual style than the competitive style,” Zhang said. The group practices consistently at the university gym every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Perspective new member of this club can get involved by simply walking into the practices or joining through different events.. Regardless of a student’s interests, the perfect organization for each student can be found on campus simply by looking around.
‘It’ must scare to succeed EMMA MOFFETT STAFF WRITER
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: LEXUS GILES Lexus Giles is a senior majoring in fine arts from Brandon, Mississippi. When she is not busy studying for a class, Giles said you can find her on the Drill Field spending time with her Lord and reading the Bible. -Olivia Zeringue, Photography Editor
In recent years Hollywood has recreated many classic films, so it is no surprise that “It” has received the same treatment. The newest film adaptation of Stephen King’s novel “It” is in theaters now. Director Tommy Lee Wallace was the first to take on the challenge of bringing “It” to life in the form of a two-part television miniseries in 1990. Turning King’s 1,138page book into a film was a challenge, and unfortunately, Wallace and co-screenwriter Lawrence D. Cohen left many viewers wanting more. The book “It” is about a group of children who band together to fight off a demonic force threatening their home town of Derry. It follows these children into adulthood as they try to protect themselves and their
home once and for all. Ian Clarke, a freshman majoring in international business at Mississippi State University, said he was not impressed by the 1990 version of “It.” “The movie, by today’s standards, isn’t scary nor does it take control of your imagination,” Clarke said. Ray Sweeney, a selfdescribed horror movie connoisseur and junior majoring in chemical engineering, said he views “It” in a positive light primarily due to its historical significance. “Despite its faults, ‘It’ is a classic horror movie rather than what you might see today, and because of that I view it differently than most modern films,” Sweeney said. The two-part “It” miniseries did mostly stay true to the book, only leaving out sub-plot narratives and details most people would have considered
inconsequential. While those details might not be necessary to understand the premise of the story, it does leave many unanswered questions about the characters and their motives. The 1990 version of “It” tried to meld both the childhoods and adulthoods of the characters using flashbacks. This method left the film at approximately three hours and lessened the effect of “It.” “I think the last film was so long that it made it less scary,” Sweeney said. “The slow pace of the movie made me lose interest quickly.” The new version of the film is just over two hours long and is expected to focus on the characters’ time as children. Depending on the film’s box-office success, a second film will follow the children into adulthood. ‘It’, 6
Cellophane Flowers invites listeners on a trip down Abbey Road LINDSEY DOWNS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Mississippi State University’s Center for Student Activities will host the Cellophane Flowers as part of the 2017-2018 Lyceum Series on Tuesday. The Lyceum Series is a performing arts series exposing MSU students, as well as people in the surrounding Starkville area, to national and international performers they may not otherwise have a chance to see. Cellophane Flowers’ lead singer Jeff Lubin is joined on stage by a string quartet, and together they perform the iconic songs of The Beatles in an entirely new way. The group’s performance at MSU will be their first visit to Mississippi and one of their first performances on a college campus. Assistant Director for Student Activities Brad Hill said he hopes new performers at MSU will introduce students to new cultures and new experiences. “There is more to
Hill said he wants students to see what it is like for someone to put their passion on stage to share with the world. Other performance groups visiting MSU as part of the Lyceum Series this year will include Derik Nelson, the lead guitarist from the television show “Glee”, and his family band, Ailey II, a modern dance group and Tao Drum Heart, a Japanese drum and martial arts choreography group who performed at the Vancouver Olympics in 2010. Brad Hill said he and the rest of the Center for Student Activities hope students will come see these different performing arts groups. “These cultural arts could be life changing if we let them,” Hill said. Each of these performances in the Lyceum Series will take place in Bettersworth Auditorium in Lee Hall at 7 p.m. Tickets are free to students with their student ID. General admission for non-students is $25 and is
Tuesday, September 12, 2017 | 7:00PM Bettersworth Auditorium
Cellophane Flowers A Beatles Tribute
Friday, November 3, 2017 | 7:00PM Bettersworth Auditorium
Ailey II Tuesday, October 3, 2017 | 7:00PM Bettersworth Auditorium
Derik Nelson & Family
LYCEUM SERIES SCHEDULE
Monday, February 12, 2018 | 7:00PM Bettersworth Auditorium
National Players' production of Othello
Wednesday, March 7, 2018 | 7:00PM Bettersworth Auditorium
TAO: Drum Heart
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2017
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Starkville will host concerts, a 5K and more this weekend WILL WELLS
Whiskey Myers concert
LIFE AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Although the Mississippi State University football team will be on the road this weekend, there will still be quite a bit going on both on campus and in Starkville. Fans of live music have the opportunity to hear a popular country band or the Starkville–MSU Symphony perform. Those interested in literature can attend a discussion about “Paradise Lost” on Friday, while those interested in fitness or charity can get involved with the Living For Tomorrow 5k for mental health on Sunday. A discussion of “Paradise Lost” What: Lara Dodds, a professor in the Department of English at Mississippi State University, will lead a discussion about “Paradise Lost.” This discussion will be part of the Tea and Text Discussion Series. Tea, coffee and other refreshments will be served. When: 12:30-1:30 p.m. Friday in Shackouls Honors College Conference Room on the second floor of Griffis Hall. The event is free.
What: A country band from Texas, Whiskey Myers has had a lot of success in the past few years. The band’s third album, “Early Morning Shakes,” hit #1 on the iTunes country chart, and the group has been able to share the stage with country music icons such as Hank Williams Jr. and Jamey Johnson. When: Doors open at 8 p.m. Friday at Rick’s Cafe. Tickets are $15-$20. Those attending must be at least 18 years old. The Starkville–Mississippi State University Symphony Orchestra performance What: The Starkville-MSU Symphony Orchestra opening concert will be the first show of its 2017-2018 season. It is the orchestra’s 49th season. When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Lee Hall. The event is free.
Jennifer McFadden, The Reflector
When: 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Saturday at Rosey Baby. The event is free
Karaoke
The Out of the Darkness 5K
What: Individuals who prefer to take part in their own entertainment can participate in karaoke.
What: Living for Tomorrow will be holding a 5K through campus on Sunday to raise awareness of mental health issues
and suicide prevention. Registration took place from Wednesday to Friday of this week.
When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday starting at Barnes & Noble.
Chew on This: a gingerbread loaf for coffee lovers If you have not been living under a rock recently, you know that Starbucks has gotten seriously into some weird stuff: unicorns, mermaid, and spinoff frappes—oh my! Is it because coffee shops are renowned for having the creative bookworms infest their tables? Could this new mythological fad have anything to do with the fact that Starbucks is named after a character from Moby Dick? Is it because their insignia is a mermaid? We may never know, but we can collect all the flavors anyway. So, I ventured to the Starbucks in the Barnes & Noble on Mississippi State University’s campus. I recommend a visit here because after 10 drinks you get one free. So, I have tried all the crazy concoctions that hit the internet by storm. Most of the famous ones are not as good as coffees as they are as internet sensations—they taste like sour Skittles or worse. However, the baristas within this Starbucks can
whip up something special for you if your ideal drink is not actually on the menu. My personal favorite drink involves raspberry and vanilla bean syrup, to create something that tastes like liquid cotton candy. Regardless of your tastes in drinks, with this bread recipe, you can splurge on coffee since you will not have to buy a piece of fancy bread that cost $3 a pop. These ingredients can either be found at the Dollar Tree or Walmart. If you bake as often as I do, you probably have most of them, except for about three ingredients. In addition, you can skip the glaze if you do not feel like the extra work or extra ingredients. I also like it, because I can break it out for little parties, or whenever I have a craving for Christmas. This recipe also tastes great with peppermint hot chocolate. If you feel like having your own Christmas in July—or September— you could make your own hot chocolate. Just take chocolate bars, milk, peppermint extract, and stir on a stove until you like the taste.
STARBUCKS GINGERBREAD LOAF 1½ cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground cloves 2¼ teaspoons ginger
FROSTING
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
CAKE
COURTNEY O’BRIEN
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ½ teaspoon orange extract 2½ cups confectioner’s sugar
1 teaspoon salt ½ cup butter, softened 1 cup white sugar 1 teaspoon orange extract (optional)
•Beat cream cheese until fluffy •Beat in vanilla and orange extract. •Slowly beat in confectioner’s sugar. •Once the cake has cooled, spread the icing on top.
1 cup applesauce 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Preheat your oven to 350˚ F • Grease and flour a loaf pan (9×5”) • Mix together flour, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and salt. • In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy • Add orange extract • Mix baking soda into applesauce and stir into butter mixture • Add flour mixture • Mix until smooth • Pour batter into pan • Bake at 350˚F for 40-50 minutes JENN MCFADDEN, THE REFLECTOR
IT By focusing on their childhood and the horrors they endured at that time, many fans hope to develop a stronger connection to the characters and the story. Over the years, the “It” film of the 90s has received praise and criticism from viewers and movie critics alike. However, with the evolution of the horror genre, it will be interesting to see what new elements the 2017 “It” will include. Today, shocking and genuinely scaring an audience takes more than a disturbing clown and random explosions of blood. After seeing the trailer, Sweeney has high hopes about the direction of the film regarding the graphics and overall tone. “I’m excited to see how scary the new Pennywise will be based on the development of graphics in the movie industry,” Sweeney said. “Pennywise seems to have gone from a traditional clown to a clown from peoples’ nightmares.”
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Jenn McFadden, TR up and transformed into something terrifying. Clarke said he has different expectations about the direction of the new “It,” and he hopes to see a cast representing the diversity of today’s world. “It only makes sense to have a diverse cast
men.” Hopefully, Andy Muschietti, director of the new “It,” will able to meet fans’ expectations and adapt the movie to today’s culture and perception of horror. While it is a cliché to say the book is often better
By meeting those expectations first, Muschietti should have no reason not to expect a sequel in the future. Despite hating horror films, Clarke said this film will have to scare him to death in order to be
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2017 @SPORTSREFLECTOR
SPORTS
Dreams come true as freshmen see field for the first time Josh Beck
staff writer
To most Sept. 2 marked the start of Mississippi State University’s football season, however for four freshman it meant something more. In the Bulldogs’ blowout of Charleston Southern University, four true freshmen made their SEC football debut: linebacker Willie Gay Jr., running back Kylin Hill, quarterback Keytaon Thompson and kicker/punter Tucker Day. On game day, these students are no longer just another freshman sitting in your intro class, they are watched, analyzed and criticized by fellow students and fans alike. However, for the brief period in between whistles, all the pressure melts away and they are just playing the sport they love. Willie Gay Jr., a Starkville native, is no stranger to the maroon and white. Reminiscing his experiences as a little boy, Gay, smiled as he unashamedly admits playing for MSU is a dream come true. “I remember when I used to sit up there in the nose bleed seats as a little boy and think about this moment and now that it’s here, it is unreal,” Gay said. Gay, a four-star recruit coming out of high school, is an explosive addition to the MSU defense but is still very green in terms of
Noah Siano| The Reflector
Kylin Hill, freshman from Columbus, hits the hole for a moderate gain. He ran the ball nine times for a gain of 64 yards on Saturday.
college football experience. Upon arrival at training camp, Gay was immediately apprehensive as he struggled to learn defensive coordinator Todd Grantham’s highpressure defense. Gay admitted to feeling overwhelmed with information and worrying he would not play his first year due to the learning curve associated with football at the college level. Ultimately, looking up to sophomore linebacker Leo Lewis and senior linebacker Dezmond Harris made the difference. Both veterans were highly sought-after high
school recruits as well and understood the challenge Gay faced and took him under their wing. “I watch them every day in practice and you know I was a four-star athlete and all that, but as I come up I love to watch them and learn from them, and get better,” Gay said. Gay concluded his first game with two tackles, one of which was a tackle for a three-yard loss. While Gay and his teammates dismantled the CSU offense, fellow true freshman Kylin Hill and the MSU offense ran away with
What we learned from game one taylor rayBurn sports editor
The first weekend of football is an exhilarating time: it is the culmination of excitement, hype, fear, worry and many other emotions. Fans witnessed the debut of this year’s edition of MSU football. While a lot was learned this weekend about MSU’s football team, they still played an FCS team in Charleston Southern University, albeit a good one. However, it is not the opponent MSU played that spoke so loudly but the way MSU played them. Last season when MSU played Samford University, another FCS team, they won 56-41, a very unimpressive score. So there is clear improvement, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Granted it is just one game but the way the defense looked during it was impressive. They dominated the way they should have, not allowing CSU past the 50yard line and only giving up 33 yards. The front seven completely outclassed CSU and was the primary reason they had so much trouble. Between the linebackers and the defensive line, MSU has a very deep and talented front seven, which showed on Saturday as MSU scored two safeties. However, we really did not learn anything about MSU’s secondary. CSU runs an option offense and only threw the ball eight times, so the secondary was never tested. While the front seven looked great, the verdict is still out on the defense as a whole because the secondary is the part of the defense that looked weakest going into the season anyway. The game confirmed what we knew, the front seven would dominate, but we consequently learned very little about the secondary. That will change after this weekend as MSU faces Louisiana Tech, a team that had a QB throw for about 4,600 yards last season. Going into the game there were three major questions
taylor rayBurn
is a junior majoring in communication and economics. contact him at sports@ reflector.msstate.edu.
in the receiving game? On Saturday, Fitzgerald did not show the improvements fans or coaches want to see out of him as a passer. Fitzgerald threw the ball 29 times and completed 16, or 55 percent, of those passes. Going into the game, quarterback’s coach Brett Elliott said he wanted to see him complete around 60 percent of his passes. Because CSU is an FCS team, MSU probably ran a basic play package so they did not show other teams much to watch on film, but Fitzgerald’s play was worrisome. He sailed multiple passes in Saturday’s game and struggled to quickly get through reads and check the ball down. Granted, that is not entirely his fault because of the struggles the offensive line had at times. Overall, Fitzgerald has improved from last season but not as much as MSU needs him to. The offensive line is improved but still struggled. When run blocking, the offensive line was dominate
“I still think this team wins nine game, I’m much more confident of it now than I was on Saturday.” across the board. In pass protection however, there were some struggles. After watching the game again, most of the struggles seemed to be scheme related not talent related. This is a new offensive line and they will
one-on-one. Talent-wise, this offensive line is better than the last two years, they just need some more time to gel. The one other negative was center Elgton Jenkins struggled to snap the ball. His snaps were constantly at Fitzgerald’s knees, which is a big deal when Fitzgerald loses at least a second every play he takes his eyes off the field to duck down and grab the ball. Look to see if that is corrected in practice because a loss of a second on every play is something MSU can not afford. The good news is MSU was able to spread the ball out and hit multiple receivers. MSU spread 20 receptions to 11 different players, with three receptions being the most caught by any one player. Six caught the ball multiple times. The worry going into the season was that Donald Gray would be the only reliable target but this was not the case, because Fitzgerald has a deep receiver and tight end core to find throughout the season. Speaking of tight ends, the coaches talked at the beginning of fall camp about how they were going to utilize tight ends and play them in the slot. They did this and it worked well. Look for MSU to continue to use the big bodies of Farrod Green, Jordan Thomas and Justin Johnson more in the passing game. On special teams, Tucker Day is the starting kicker, he went 1-3 on Saturday. MSU will just have to bear with sub-par play until Evan McPherson gets to campus. McPherson is rated as high as the No. 3 kicker in the country for the 2018 recruiting class and is an Under Armour All-American. So fans will have to wait out the struggles this year, until MSU has a recruited kicker in McPherson next year for the first time under Mullen. Punter Logan Cooke looked like an NFL player in his punts so there are no worries there. Everything should be taken with a grain of salt because this is just one
the lead. The explosive running back from Columbus, was brought into the game much earlier than expected but left nothing in question as he ran for 64 yards on nine attempts. However, in the helmet, Hill’s mind raced during his first college carry. “I am not going to lie, I was kind of nervous, I was thinking too much,” he said. “I should have scored, I know I should have scored.” While many thought Hill displayed great vision and toughness as he evaded CSU tacklers and pushed for the extra yards, Hill was quick to say he still has plenty of work ahead of him if he wants to be a complete running back for MSU. In his ninth year at MSU, running backs coach Greg Knox makes it a point to train his players to be proficient in all elements of the offense. Knox spoke highly of Hill’s eagerness to put in the time to learn his various assignments
as a running back. “He (Hill) is starting to learn to execute when he doesn’t have the ball in his hands and carry out his fake, do his blocking scheme,” Knox said. “He’s been good about it, he is learning.” Hill also learned a valuable lesson in his first outing for MSU; he’s not in high school anymore. He noted how he immediately recognized players were bigger, stronger, faster, even remarking on the fact he can’t simply outrun everyone like he did in high school. Hill was not the only freshman in the backfield in the second half, about midway through the third quarter, he was joined by backup QB Keytaon Thompson. Thompson is a prototypical Dan Mullen quarterback, at 6-4 222 pounds he showed speed, and completed four passes for 35 yards and one touchdown. The freshman QB from New Orleans, quickly brought Bulldog fans to their feet after streaking for 13 yards on his first career run. While his inexperience was obvious when compared to starting quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, Thompson steadily grew more comfortable with the plays being called and speed of the game. Mullen was pleased to let his second-string quarterback get his toes wet in their first game of the season. He recognized that injuries happen and the experience will be invaluable should anything happen to Fitzgerald. “He (Thompson) is a snap away from being the guy, being the starter. It’s great for him to get those reps and get that experience because it’s a long season you never know what’s going to happen and I want to see
him to continue to grow and develop,” Mullen said. While the CSU coaches and players were kicking themselves over missed opportunities and being out played, kicker/punter Tucker Day, was kicking five pointafter-attempts and a field goal from 40 yards. However, Day did miss the other two field goals he attempted at 32 and 47 yards. The freshman from Brentwood, Tennessee, was originally recruited as a punter, but quickly distinguished himself to Mullen and the rest of the coaching staff as the player to fill the void left by former kicker Westin Graves. Day’s performance over the summer and into fall camp has solidified his position as starting kicker in Mullen’s eyes despite his shaky debut. “One of the things that allowed him to win the starting job was his competitive edge and competitive attitude,” said Mullen, “I’ve seen him kick much much better than he did today so I want to see how he responds to this challenge but knowing him he’s going to respond to this challenge and not shy away from anything and come out and perform at a high level.” Day has the perfect chance to respond this coming weekend as the Bulldogs travel take on Louisiana Tech, a team who consistently plays and competes at a high level. The game will be another opportunity for the coaches and players to fine tune their techniques against a more offensively versatile team and a stouter defense. The game will be at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at Joe Aillet Stadium, in Ruston, Louisiana. CBS sports will televise the game.
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THE REFLECTOR Friday September 8, 2017
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