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HAILSTATE HOROSCOPESp6
Introducing:
The
FRIDAY APRIL 15, 2016
Reflector
131th YEAR ISSUE 47
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
MSU SA tables resolution concerning HB 1523 by Taylor Bowden Online Editor
After Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signed House Bill 1523, also known as the ‘religious liberties act,’ into law, the state of Mississippi was on the receiving end of nationwide criticism similar to other states that passed relatable laws. Soon after the signing, Mississippi State University President Mark Keenum released a statement edging around the bill that said ‘recent legislation’ would not affect the policy of inclusion at Sarah Dutton The Reflector MSU. Students marching to participate in a sit-in at Lee Hall on Wednesday, April 13, 2016. The sit-in lasted over three hours requesting the removal of the Mississippi State flag from campus. During one of the MSU Student Association’s business meetings Tuesday, Senator Drew Baker presented Resolution 10 written by himself and Senator Logan Reeves which closely resembled rally at the flagpole on the the flagpole. debates,” said Ward. Sullivan, an observer of the by Brad Robertson Keenum’s statement and Drill Field, a march to Lee Ward said symbols are As the group sat on the protest and opponent of said the legislation passed Hall and a sit-in on the steps, powerful, and the flag as steps of Lee Hall a walker- removing the flag, said. “It’s Managing Editor by the state would not alter directly below President a symbol invites scorn by yelled out across the drill our state flag.” the SA’s established drive Another opponent of Mark Keenum’s office. whenever the discussion of field. towards diversity. Jason Ward, a history bringing it down comes up. “We want the flag,” he removing the flag, James Mississippi State professor at Mississippi He applauded the students said before leaving the Drill Oliver, a student studying “It echoes many things students staged a sit-in today that Keenum stated,” mechanical engineering State University, addressed who were protesting and Field. Baker said. “Nothing in calling for the removal of the the crowd of protesters at encouraged them to continue Several of the onlookers at MSU, argued that the the resolution goes against state flag from all campus the flagpole before they making their voices heard. were opponents of removing feelings of the majority what Keenum said. It’s all locations. A group of marched. “There’s never a good the flag and watched the should be considered. very similar, it hits on all the students calling themselves “There is a problem. You are time for a protest people protest happen with stern “This is a democracy,” same main points, it’s just the Lucky 7 organized the not the problem,” Ward said don’t want to happen. looks. Oliver said. “Have a campus phrased a little differently.” event, which consisted of a to the group surrounding Real problems require real “There is no debate,” Mike vote.”
MSU students stage a sit-in calling for removal of the Mississippi state flag from campus
SIT-IN, 3
SA, 4
Students protesting recent Mississippi law by Sarah Dutton Photography Editor
Margaret-Ann Horton and numerous followers congregated throughout the day this past Tuesday on the drill field to peacefully protest HB1523 on April 12th . HB1523 is a bill that was recently signed by Governor Phil Bryant to protect religious freedoms within the state of Mississippi. Since, there has been an enormous amount of feedback regarding the new
act cited as the “Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act.” Individuals both within and whom support the LGBTQ community are upset with the bill since it is strictly against same sex marriage, sexual relations before marriage, and specifically believes an individual’s sex is determined and concrete from birth. The coordinator of the event had feelings synonymous with others when she explained how
this act had affected her. “I choose to look at people’s hearts and intentions before I chose to judge them. So, when I heard about what our leaders of this state had done against a group that I have many close and dear friends in, I could not sit silent. I cried and grieved for a day or two after the bill was passed, and then I became angry. This is my home. Mississippi has come way too far from its days of discrimination to allow this absurd law to hold place in our government,” said Horton. PROTEST, 2
by Kelsey Horn Staff Writer Sarah Dutton The Reflector
On Tuesday, April 12, Margaret Ann Horton, the organizer of the protest, carries signs along with Emily Dallas and Kaili Morgan, on the Drill Field to support their belief in regards to HB1523.
Tree project to replenish Mississippi coast by Reed Gaddis Staff Writer
Bek Yake, The Reflector
In an effort to help replenish trees destroyed on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Mississippi State University’s Coastal Research and Extension Center has grown saplings in a development called the Perseverance Oak Project. Three saplings were planted last week in Long
Giving Days making impact on MSU
Beach and three more were planted in Gulfport. Wayne Porter, who has served as the Regional Extension Coordinator for the Coastal Region of Mississippi State Extension Service, explained how the project began. He said John Hairston, CEO of Hancock Bank, approached Patricia Knight, former head of the Coastal R&E Center, to see about growing oak trees from seeds from live oaks that are currently on the Mississippi
Gulf Coast. “One of the trees is the Friendship Oak that’s located on the Long Beach campus of Southern Mississippi. John Hairston’s thinking was we collect the acorns, we grow the oak trees and then promote them as being something that represented the perseverance of the people of the state of Mississippi. Of how these live oaks have persevered for so many centuries along the coast,” Porter said.
Mississippi State University’s third annual Hail State Giving Days will take place on April 18 and 19. The philanthropy event has a goal of receiving 1,000 gifts in the short time span of 48 hours. Jana Berkery, director of MSU Annual Fund, coordinates the giving days. Berkery said the event has a really big impact on the university. She also said a gift of any size or amount is allowed. “The smaller gifts build up. We receive around 400,000 dollars from gifts of one hundred dollars or less,” she said.
TREES, 4
Weather
Reflections
Cristle Jose, Campus Connect Forecast (Department of Geosciences)
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
HI: 65 LO: 54 SKY: Rain
HI: 70 LO: 53 SKY: Cloudy
HI: 75 LO: 51 SKY: Cloudy
POP:40%
POP: 0%
POP: 0%
FORECAST: Friday showers clear by Saturday morning to make way for warm & dry conditions for the rest of Super Bulldog Weekend.
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Puzzles 8 Classifieds 8 Life&Entertainment 9 Sports 11
GIVING DAYS, 3 Policy: Any person may pick up a single copy of The Reflector for free. Additional copies may be obtained from the Henry Meyer Student Media Center for 25 cents per copy.
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NEWS
THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016
Super Bulldog Weekend Schedule - Friday, April 15
8:00 a.m.: Pig Cooking Begins (parking lot north of Howell Building) 4:00 p.m.: Pig Cooking - Mississippi Pork Producers Sampling of the Grill (parking lot north of Howell Building) 5:00 p.m.: Men's Tennis vs. Vanderbilt (A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre) 5:30 p.m.: Softball vs. LSU (Nusz Park) 6:30 p.m.: Baseball vs. Texas A&M (Dudy Noble Field/ Polk-DeMent Stadium) 7:00 p.m.: Soccer Scrimmage (MSU Soccer Field)
- Saturday, April 16
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Cotton District Arts Festival 9:00 a.m. - Noon: Pig Cooking Judging (parking lot north of Howell Building) 11:00 a.m.: Pig Cooking - Mississippi Pork Producers Sampling of the Grill (parking lot north of Howell Building) 11:00 a.m.: Maroon/White Spring Football Game (Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field) 2:00 p.m.: Baseball vs. Texas A&M (Dudy Noble Field/ Polk-DeMent Stadium) 7:00 p.m.: Softball vs. LSU (Nusz Park)
- Sunday, April 17
1:30 p.m.: Baseball vs. Texas A&M (Dudy Noble Field/ Polk-DeMent Stadium) 3:30 p.m.: Softball vs. LSU (Nusz Park) Source: HailState.com
Bek Yake, The Reflector
PROTEST
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Monday, April 11, 2016 10:33 p.m. A student was arrested on highway 12 in Starkville for careless driving and DUI. Tuesday, April 12, 2016 12:36 a.m. A student was arrested at 21 Apartments in Starkville for possession of marijuana. 1:36 p.m. An Aramark employee reported hitting a gate on the south west side of Davis Wade Stadium with golf cart causing light damage. 5:58 p.m. A resident advisor reported finding marijuana at the back door of McKee Hall. 7:27 p.m. A student reported her vehicle was hit in the Sanderson Center parking lot. 9:21 p.m. A non-resident/visitor was arrested on Magruder Street for having no tag, improper equipment, no driver’s license, and possessing marijuana. Justice Court citations were issued. Wednesday, April 13, 2016 4:46 a.m. A non-resident/visitor was sleeping inside the Chapel of Memories. The visitor was asked to leave. 10:04 a.m. A non-resident/visitor reported Cobra Security possibly embezzled money from MSU Police Department during the 2015 football season. 10:36 a.m. A non-resident/visitor reported his vehicle was hit by a person on a bicycle on East Lee Boulevard. 11:26 a.m. An employee reported a broken window on one of the MSU buses located on Buckner Lane. 7:05 p.m. A student was arrested on B.S. Hood for having a suspended driver’s license. Justice Court citations were issued. 9:59 p.m. A student reported being harassed on campus by an unknown male.
Super Bulldog Weekend 2016 is the 31st year of the event. This weekend features three days packed with different events. There are many different sporting events including tennis, baseball, softball, soccer and football. The Cotton District Arts Festival is happening from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. This is a festival presented by the Starkville Area Arts Council. There will be music, food and art available. CONTINUED FROM 1
Other states and cities within the continental United States have decided to ban travel to Mississippi, including Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington and bigger cities like Seattle and New York City. “Our country is looking at us in disgust right now because of this law,” said Horton. Other protesters felt that although they weren’t necessarily part of the LGBTQ community themselves, it was still an important cause to support. “I just feel like it’s the right thing to do,” said protester Loggan Malone who is also a Biology major at MSU as she signed the petition that was present at the protest. Horton reported that there were roughly 350 signatures on the petition once the protest concluded.
On Wednesday April 6, Horton created an event for the protest on Facebook, titled MS AntiLGBT Law Protest. “I had to take action. I began a Facebook group starting the rally, and it has spread like wildfi re ever since,” Horton explained. Although the initial scheduled date of the protest on April 11 got rained out, people still came out the next day. It seems as if the majority of feelings were in support of the LGBTQ community, but also to help convince the public that Mississippi isn’t entirely full of people who support this bill. “There are so many young leaders here determined to lead us in the right direction,” Horton said. “Together we will put this act of hatred and ignorance to shame and show that Mississippi accepts and loves people for who they are!”
Sarah Dutton | The Reflector
Supporters signing a petition to remove Governor Phil Bryant from office. Around 350 people signed the petition. T h e a t r e M S U & t h e D e p a r t men t o f C o mmu n i c a t i on present
RODGERS and HAMMERSTEIN’S
OKLAHOMA! Music by
Book and Lyricsby
RICHARD RODGERS
OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II
Original T h e a t r e M S U & t h e D e p a r t men t of C o mmu n i c a t i on present
Dances by
AGNES DE MILLE Based on the play
“GREEN GROW THE LILACS” by LYNN RIGGS
April 21st - 23rd at 7:30 p.m. April 24th at 2:00 p.m. McComas Theatre General Admission: $10.00
FOR ADVANCE TICKETS, VISIT www.COMM.MSSTATE.edu/THEATRE/
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3
News
THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016
SIT-IN
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While there has not been an official student body wide vote on the subject of removing the flag from MSU’s campus, the university’s Student Association has passed two resolutions on the issue. The first was passed in September and stated the SA, as the elected voice of the student body, believes the majority of the students at MSU wish for the state legislature to change the flag. The second one, Resolution 25, was passed in February and was part of a joint effort between the student governments of several other state universities, including the University of Mississippi. It stated the majority of students in the state wish for the appearance of the flag to be changed. The Student Association also released a statement Wednesday addressing the issue of diversity and inclusion on campus. In the statement, the SA said they believe concrete actions need to take place. In response to the flag, they said they would like to change the flag through the proper channels. “We want to see change in the state flag,” the statement said. “We do not want students to feel unwelcome. Everyone should realize that Mississippi State University is not only an educational institution but also a home. Taking down a flag could resolve many issues; however, the greatness of changing the flag is a powerful goal, and our ability to lobby the state government for its change is crucial.” A desire to similarly respect the representative process was echoed by Keenum in CONTINUED a pressFROMconference held 1 during the protest. He said
Sarah Dutton | The Reflector
Students sit on the steps of Lee Hall demanding that the Mississippi state flag be removed from MSUʼs campus. The sit-in accured after a rally at the flagpole and a march to Lee Hall.
he personally wants to see the flag removed but in the right manner rather than just taking it down, an act which he described as “arbitrary.” “We’re working through this process in a respectful process, as I mentioned,” Keenum said. “We’re respecting the flag. We’re respecting the process. And will continue to do so. That’s what we’re going to do.” Keenum released a statement in July following the shooting spree in Charleston, South Carolina, advocating for changing of the flag. In October, the University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi removed the flag from their campuses. While the flag still waves at five locations around MSU, at the Wise Center, the Perry cafeteria, North Farm, the VA Center and the Hunter Henry Center,
MSU’s Student Association put forth Resolution 9 in September, which aimed to remove the state flag. However, the flag still stands. Outrage over the flag reached a boiling point for the members of the Lucky 7. Their sit-in to remove the flag on Wednesday attracted a large crowd, many of which held signs that displayed their anger, one of which read, Keenum doesn’t love us. Wilburn Smith, a member of the Lucky 7 and president of the campus chapter of NAACP, said he does not agree with Keenum’s process. “We’ve met with the president several times on several occasions, and his whole thing is respect the process, respect the process but, as I told him, as an African-American, as a
be funded for our state,” Roberts said. Roberts said the best
Berkery said a gift can be given to any of the projects, but if a donator wishes to give to an area of the u n iversit y that is not included in the featured projects, the donator can call the annual giving office at the MSU Foundation. Roberts said the event will i m p a c t f u t u r e decisions a b o u t different events and changes for the university, which might not happen without donations from the Bulldog community. There will be a station set up in the student union for donations during Hail State Giving Days. She said donations can also be made by calling 662-325-1834 or online at hailstategiving.com.
GIVING DAYS Berkery said the best part of Hail State Giving Days is how the Bulldog family comes together to give back to what gave them so much. Students also weighed in on the event. Olivia Sanguinetti, president of the Foundation Ambassadors and senior communication major, said the Hail State Giving Days had one of the biggest impacts on the university and the people involved. Sanguinetti said the event is a way for students, alumni and friends all over to connect for a common purpose. She said as president of Foundation Ambassadors, she will utilize the ambassador team to spread the word about giving days. The ambassador team will be set up in Colvard Student Union on both days of the event. She said she will push the Foundation Ambassadors to help make the event a success. “We hope to grow the giving days,” Sanguinetti said. Sanguinetti said one of the best parts of the Hail State Giving Days is the coming together of different groups, such as students, alumni and friends for one reason and purpose. Alivia Roberts, sophomore communication major, said the giving days give students and alumni an opportunity to invest in Mississippi State’s future. “Education is such a crucial thing that needs to
“We hope to grow the giving days.”
-Olivia Sanguinetti, president of the Foundation Ambassadors part of Hail State Giving Days is when a donator realizes their contributions no matter the size will make a lasting impact for Mississippi State University. The funds produced in the giving days will go to featured projects all over MSU’s campus, which are listed on hailstategiving.com.
Rooms For Rent! Rooms For
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minority, years and years and years ago our ancestors were told ‘respect the process, wait, be patient, just join with us,’” Smith said. “Nothing got done. That’s why we had to go and actually start marches, organize events to put pressure on the people in the government and legislature to let them know our voices need to be heard. We want equal rights. We want equality as well.” The Lucky 7 tried to communicate to the university their intentions by e-mail on Monday through their own account, lucky.7737@yahoo.com. “We e-mailed the president of the university along with other administrators here on campus—department heads, vice president of student affairs and other administration on campus,”
Smith said. “We went back to log into our account, and our account had been reported and banned.” When questioned about the e-mail being shut down, Sid Salter, chief communications officer and director of the Office of Public Affairs at MSU, answered. “The email that the demand letter was communicated through was lucky.7737@ yahoo.com,” Salter said. “Mississippi State does not have dominion over yahoo. com. We don’t have ability to do that if we wanted to. And we don’t want to; we don’t operate that way.” In the email, the Lucky 7 outlined their demands of the university, which include the removal of the state flag as their top priority and issues such as equalized funding and support for black
student organizations, better minority representation in faculty, diversity and sensitivity training for all faculty along with institutionalized diversity and sensitivity training for freshmen and others. They laid out a time line for the demands to be met, with the latest date being Aug. 1, 2020. However, the demand to remove the flag is slated by the Lucky 7 to be met by May 1. In response to these demands, Salter described the process the university has been going through to meet the students’ concerns. “The list of demands that we received Monday, Dr. Keenum assigned that entire list to vice presidents, deans and directors with the instructions: vet these concerns, tell us what we are doing, crunch the data, and if you determine that we need to proactively respond in some way, make that recommendation back to him,” Salter said. “And that’s in the process right now.” For more information on the Lucky 7 and the issues they oppose, go to their website takeastandmsu.weebly. com. For Keenum’s statement on the flag, go to http:// www.msstate.edu/newsroom/ article/2015/07/media-advisorystatement-dr-mark-e-keenum/.
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NEWS
THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016
SA However, Senator Kaitie Brian drew issue with the resolution, and the minutes from the meeting reflect that she motioned for it to be tabled and reviewed by a committee for re-drafting. Baker said the motion to table his resolution passed with a small majority. “I didn’t feel like passing it would help MSU in any way,” Brian said. “Either way you feel about the house bill you can’t speak for the e n t i r e campus. I feel like it would have been entirely pointless. People would have been unhappy about it either way. It’s a done deal.” Baker said the resolution also urges the state legislature to pass laws in the future that benefit all citizens. Reeves said the purpose of Resolution 10 was not to condone HB 1523, and he wants to make it known that this resolution does not make a stance on HB 1523. “It seems to me a certain degree of politicality has been inserted into the passing of this resolution and I believe that is unfortunate. There is no
affirmation or defamation of that legislation that was signed by Governor Bryant,” Reeves said. “It merely stated that Mississippi has been receiving some negative press in the wake of the signing of the bill and that as SA at MSU remain we
resolution did not pass unanimously when it was brought to the table. “I support what (Baker) was doing and his reasoning behind the bill itself and I liked the language a lot,” Raven said. “I’m really proud of it and I encourage (the Senate) to pass the resolution. I really hope I get to sign it.” Brian said she believes passing the resolut ion would be disrespectful to the state leg islat u re, and would cause a ‘ s t i n k ’ between people. “Personally, I would like to scratch the whole idea,” Brain said. Both Baker and Reeves said they plan on pushing the resolution through the committee process during the committee meeting next Tuesday, and each said they want to bring it back to the table during the next business meeting the following Tuesday. “I really think that students should rally behind this resolution because that’s something that we at MSU pride ourselves on doing is being a welcoming and open campus,” Reeves said. “That is how I want my university to be portrayed in the national spotlight.”
SENATORS BAKER & REEVES 55th Senate 1st Session
RESOLUTION _
“I’m really proud of it and I encourage (the Senate) to pass the resolution. I really hope I get to sign it.”
A RESOLUTION TO MAKE CLEAR THE MISSISSIPPI STATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION’S GOALS FOR INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY WITHIN THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY IN LIGHT OF RECENT EVENTS AND TO MAKE CLEAR THE STANCE OF THE MISSISSIPPI STATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION REGARDING THESE SUBJECTS.
-Roxanne Raven, MSU SA President
WHEREAS, House Bill 1523 raises significant concerns about the culture of inclusion and diversity in the state of Mississippi, AND
unwavering in our mission to foster that diversity and inclusive atmosphere at our campus.” While Baker and Reeves said the focus of the resolution is not on the house bill but rather on the actions of MSU SA, Brian said the draft of Resolution 10 submitted to the Senate mentions HB 1523 specifically, and the fi le name for the resolution document is ‘HB 1523 Resolution.’ MSU SA President Roxanne Raven said she plans on releasing a statement concerning Resolution 10 soon. She said she was shocked the
WHEREAS, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signed House Bill 1523 into law on April 5, 2016, AND
WHEREAS, Mississippi State University is committed to the creation and maintenance of a campus community that is inclusive and accepting of all people, regardless of differences, AND WHEREAS, progress toward a campus that fully welcomes and respects differences and embraces the concept of inclusion is contingent on each individual’s commitment, AND WHEREAS, the state of Mississippi has gained negative national attention, which may also harm the image of Mississippi State University; therefore BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Mississippi State Student Association’s goals, mission, and values are not changed by House Bill 1523. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Mississippi State Student Association will continue to work to make the state of Mississippi the most hospitable, welcoming, and inclusive state in the country. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Mississippi State Student Association urges the legislature of the state of Mississippi to legislate in a manner that benefits the citizens of the state and promotes inclusion and diversity for all people. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT a copy of this legislation be sent to Mississippi State University President Mark Keenum, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant, Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves, and Mississippi Speaker of the House Philip Gunn.
TREES
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Porter said MSU is using its expertise in growing trees to help with the project, and it has been designed to be a long term forest live oak regeneration project. Porter also conf irmed the project is an action to plant trees in replacing t h o s e that were destroyed as a result of Hu rr icane Katrina. Specific groups, such as 4H club members and the Boy Scouts, will collect acorns from live oak trees along the coast. MSU will then take them to grow seedlings,
which will later be large enough to plant along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Porter said the seedlings will represent a historic tree, such as the Fellowship Live Oak Tree, which is
professor at MSU, had a role in the past to select the seedlings that were for specific live oaks and other species, these include water oaks, that could have grown due to a mix up of acorns. Hughes, who would then make sure the live oaks w e r e planted, said they did not sustain n e a r l y as much damage as many other trees du r i n g Hurricane Katrina. This is the reason there has been an interest to grow live oaks along the coast. “This is not going to be our last hurricane, we know that,” Hughes said. “This may not even be our last Katrina, and there’s no telling when the next really big one could be.” “Live oaks in particular have shown themselves to be very resilient to these hurricane force winds,” Hughes said. “Most of the live oaks on the coast did withstand Katrina.” Hughes said branches were broken off but many other trees, such as other oaks or pines, snapped or blew over and that type of wholesale destruction was not the case for live oaks. This is an ongoing community development project and will continue each year with the number of trees planted varying depending on the availability. For more information regarding the Perseverance Live Oak Project, contact Wayne Porter at 662-7699937.
“Live oaks in particular have shown themselves to be very resilient to these hurricane force winds.”
-Glenn Hughes, Extension Forestry professor located at Long Beach. Glenn Hughes, Extension Forestry
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OPINION
THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016
International Ink
Media polarization creates animosity in American politics
Pranaav Jadhav is a graduate student majoring in political science. He can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
Anytime you pick up a newspaper or switch on the television today, you get the feeling that the situation in American society—not just American politics— is very grim. The polarization that exists today may not have been seen on mainland U.S. since the Civil War or Civil Rights era. We currently have two large cable networks pledging their support to political parties, and they have many opinioncentered shows where anchors torture us with their views. If you don’t believe me, just watch the opening remarks of any of these shows on any night. Anchors fervently incite their audience with hate and repugnance for one other. A local example of polarization exists around the recent religious freedom bill passed in Mississippi. Most people are either extremely for the bill or extremely against it.
I’ve found very few people, like me, who want to take both sides into account— I acknowledge the injustice the bill does to the LGBT community, as well as the rights the bill provides for the religious. There is criticism I want to make on the House Bill 1523’s ambiguous wording, but I am also willing to listen to people who support this law. Currently, I fear there is no place for me in American politics. I do not want to run naked in Manhattan, but I also do not want to terrorize Muslims in my community by holding guns outside their place of worship. As an objective journalist, I aim neither to fly the Gay Pride flag nor the Confederate flag. Will America still give me a chance to fly the flag that flew high on Fort McHenry in September of 1812— the Star-Spangled Banner? The problem of polarization also comes into play with journalists who sometimes become quickly impassioned about their stories. After Governor Bryant signed House Bill 1523 into law, the editors of major newspapers across the state and the country openly spoke out against the law. In my mind, this morphs news platforms that should be unbiased spaces for debate. If those that
are supposed to be neutral begin tweeting personal opinions about legislation, it kills incentive for a person with opposing views to engage with certain news sources. Since when is it acceptable for the media— the so-called “fourth pillar
perpetuating it. A Pew research study conducted in 2014 showed that Americans have grown even more polarized in recent years. In 1994, 49 percent of Americans said they had mixed feelings about both primary
Bek Yake, The Reflector
of democracy”— to be so openly romanced by different parties in the Capitol? Ultimately, polarization is not just an issue in Mississippi. It is nationwide. Many articles have been written on the evils of polarization— but depending on what publication you read, they still declare either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton more guilty for
political parties. Now, that number has dropped below 39 percent. This means that both red and blue parties have become more powerful and thus further apart. These days, there are very few people in the middle. The Pew research also found that a majority of people on both sides feel that the other party is a threat to the country. More than 40 percent of people
in both parties have a deep feeling of dislike for individuals that don’t share their political views. Are Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton simply the products of this vengeance? We saw bi-partisan deadlock in Washington, D.C. a few years ago when the federal government shut down. We have also witnessed extreme dislike for our current president, Barack Obama. People are bitter to the extent that they are willing to make statements intended to humiliate the man holding the highest office in our country. Republicans accepted and perpetuated lies about the Obama’s religious views and birthplace in a way that made their agenda seem hate-fueled. While I do not agree with everything that President Obama does, I do not harbor any personal hate for him. Is this political yet deeply personal bitterness a result of average U.S. citizens feeling powerless without ties to a political party? A Princeton University survey of the American political system asserted that America is no longer a democracy; they stated that our nation is becoming an oligarchy, which means only wealthy elites— like those often at the top of both Democratic and Republican
parties— brandish a majority of the nation’s power. However, the recent intensification of polarization could also be the result of a two-party system that has existed for too long, and basically confines Americans to two very limited political ideologies. What if a person is fiscally conservative but socially liberal? Will he be able to make a choice he finds acceptable between either hard-right Donald Trump or hard-left Bernie Sanders? I find these questions immensely troubling in this 2016 election season. Political rhetoric is a great pastime, but it should not lead individuals to create displeasure for others who don’t hold similar views or support the same candidates. It is okay to differ; the Constitution gives you a right to dissent along with the right to free speech. You don’t always have to agree, but you can willfully keep it classy when discussing politics with your opposition. A party that advocates one religion and one culture to create one unified nation is bogus. The Gay Pride flag, and the Confederate flag may both deserve to fly in different peoples’ eyes, but what must always fly higher is the flag with the stars and the stripes.
REFLECTIONS Jose Ortega y Gasset
“Life is a series of collisions with the future; it is not the sum of what we have been, but what we yearn to be.”
Records in athletics reflect more than just stats by Brad Robertson
Managing Editor at the Reflector
This week, we saw a monumental basketball record broken when the Golden State Warriors won their 73rd regular season NBA game, passing the previous best set by the ‘9596 Chicago Bulls, who had 72 wins. While many will argue that Golden State will need to win a championship ring this year to truly cement themselves in history, I think that’s a little unnecessary. Golden State is a historical team, there’s no denying that. They beat an admittedly wounded Cleveland team last year, despite LeBron James’ impressive efforts to stop them. The Warriors then went on to win 24 games in a row, which is the third longest winning streak of all time. Their star player and reigning MVP, Stephen Curry, also dropped 400 three-pointers this season. To give some perspective, nobody else in league history has ever surpassed 300 three-pointers. History is made every time the Warriors get on the court, and this dominance got me thinking about the value of idols and records in sports in general. Where would Tiger be if we weren’t chasing Jack Nicklaus? Kobe if he wasn’t chasing Michael
Jordan? These athletes have laid down such legacies that they inspired an entirely new wave of competitors to chase the throne they built. Records are always a controversial topic because they can sometimes be arbitrary. Take James Harden, star of the Houston Rockets, for example. He consistently holds one of the top spots for turnovers, yet Houston has still made NBA playoffs every year since 2013, Harden’s first year on the team. Similarly, Peyton Manning had a historically bad year as the 2015 quarterback for the Denver Broncos, while Cam Newton broke records and danced his way to NFL MVP. One of these players won the Super Bowl. The other is the MVP. The record books are fine to look at from time to time, and in baseball in particular, they can be extremely telling. However, there’s more to the games we love than just crunching numbers. These are real people, real human beings achieving athletic feats most wouldn’t dream possible. Records aside, when turnover-king James Harden comes into the paint, you have to foul him because he’s a threat. When Peyton Manning takes the snap, he can still pick defenses apart, even in a rough season. These athletes have that “What If” factor, that
ability to make something happen out of nothing that their opponents must have to respect. It’s this trait that makes even the best pitcher think twice when Mike Trout or Bryce Harper steps up to bat. It’s the same reason “Revis Island” exists. If you throw the football to Jets’ player Darrelle Revis, he’s going to make you pay. Fans know when there’s something special about a player, even before they become a superstar. We knew LeBron would be great. We knew Cam would be a star. We knew Bryce Harper would terrify pitchers. These athletes have an air surrounding them that just seems to exude greatness. Ultimately though, all of these stars came up from somewhere. They were all watching players like Michael Jordan, Brett Favre and Ken Griffey Jr. as they grew up, just as those guys watched the record holders and legends that played when they were kids. I believe that’s why we hold on to records, why they seem to matter so much. It’s a numerical testament to what a player has done, and represents the people they’ve inspired and the crowds they’ve made watch in awe. Records are made to be broken, achievements made to be outdone, but they aren’t made to be forgotten. Kobe
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Bryant might be leaving the NBA, but those who watched him put up 81 points in 2009 won’t easily forget that game. The Patriots may not have made it to 18-0 back in the ‘07-‘08 season, but fans won’t forget the rush of their team winning 17 games in a row, nonetheless. On the flip side of the coin, Giants’ fans certainly won’t forget the feeling of handing the Pats their one loss of the year in the 2008 Superbowl. These feelings are what keep us fans invested in records. I wasn’t able to see the ‘95-96 Bulls rampage through the NBA, but as I watched Golden State win 73 games on the edge of my seat, I knew it was history in the making. When my Dallas Mavericks beat the Miami Heat in 2011 to win their first championship, I was electrified with joy. Those are why the records, the achievements, and the big games really matter. Not for the paycheck the stars take home or the revenue the owners pocket. Monetary wins like that can’t compare to the overwhelming feelings big wins inspire in a team’s fans. So long live the records, and death to the records. Fans are what keep the lights on in the stadiums of the NBA, NFL, MLB and every other league around the world. It’s love of the game that keeps our games going.
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OPINION
THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016
Getting Real
Discrimination is at heart of Gender Pay Gap
Sarah Brister is a junior majoring in public relations. She can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
Throughout history, the need to battle against discrimination has been on-going; whether it is because of race, gender, religious beliefs, appearance or anything else that makes one person different from another, discrimination happens everywhere. One of the most talked about forms of discrimination happens in the workplace. Women, who are just as equally trained, educated and experienced as men in modern America are still
not getting paid equally. According to CNBC the average white woman makes 79 cents to every white man’s dollar. This alone is frustrating, but it becomes even more of an issue when you realize that women of color make even less compared to their male counterparts, with some women making as little as 43 cents to a man’s dollar. This form of workplace discrimination can most likely be traced back to anitquated ideas that women are physically lesser than men, and that men are the rightful providers for their wives and children. Both of these supposed facts are often used as reasons that men deserve to be paid more, even though they are outdated. Famous actor and TV host Jimmy Kimmel recently came out with a segment on his show called “Pedestrian Question” where someone from his
show stops people on the street to ask them a series of questions. In a recent episode, this segment tackled the issue of the wage gap. It was titled “Kids Explain Why Women Are Paid Less
because they would rather shop online instead of work. Others stated that men naturally work harder. Thankfully, there were a few children who stood up and said that they think women and men are
“I believe that two people who are trained to have the same skill set should be paid equally, regardless of their sex.”
Than Men”and consisted of several cute but also saddening interviews with children, in which they explained why the gender pay gap still exists. Some of the children provided stereotypical masculine and feminine ideals as reasons women are paid less. One stated that women make less money
equal and should be paid accordingly. These kids had telling but sweet reactions on an issue many adults are also still raising their eyebrows about: why are women paid less than men? According to a recent Cosmopolitan article, it takes 15 months for a woman to earn what a man makes in
Aries (March 21- April 19)
12 months. This injustice is undeniable, and has led both men and women to argue for pay equality. Multiple celebrities have spoken out on the issue including Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Meryl Streep, Amy Schumer and Ryan Gosling. Political candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are also advocates for the equal pay movement, while candidates like Ted Cruz voted against the Paycheck Fairness Act three times. Other conservative politicians believe pay should be based on experience, and pose the ridiculous argument that women lose skills while on maternity leave and thus deserve to at least become paid less than male counterparts after pregnancy. April 12 is Equal Pay Day— it represents the three extra months it takes women to earn the salary
a man makes throughout one year. The gap not only affects a woman’s pay check, but studies have shown that it makes women far more worried about the prices of housing, insurance and retirement plans. They fear that they won’t have enough money to afford them independently. The wage gap also takes a toll on families with financial concerns. However, the wage gap is ultimately a symptom of a larger problem. The larger issue is the male gender having been longtime convinced that they deserve more than women across the board. I believe that two people who are trained to have the same skill set should be paid equally, regardless of their sex. For me, the movement for equal pay isn’t only about money—it’s about ridding our society of blatant sexism towards women in the workplace.
Libra (Sept. 23- Oct. 22)
Super Bulldog Weekend promises to be a sensual time for you, Aries. Expect to lock eyes with an alluring and cultured hottie in the Cotton District this weekend. They will recognize that you are looking svelte and luminous this Aries Season, and offer to buy you food on a stick.
This could be turning point for you, Libra. All of the political action on campus has inspired you to take action in your personal life. Now is the time to take stock of your relationships, and protest the people doing you wrong. The world is your Drill Field.
Taurus (April 20- May 20)
Scorpio (Oct. 23- Nov. 21)
Be careful in coming days, Taurus. Your sign’s moment is just around the corner, but until then you should act cautiously. Avoid the crosswalks during rush hour, and definitely do not walk in front of visiting cars. Also, do not get too close to campus cats.
Gemini (May 21- June 20)
You are feeling wild this weekend, Gemini! Instead of ending up on “Bad Dawgs,” you should channel this uninhibited energy into social planning. You will intuitively know where the party’s at on Saturday, and are destined to be your friend group’s most hype personality.
Cancer (June 21- July 22)
Hate to break it to you, Cancer, but odds are you will only be having an “Alright, I guess…” sort of Bulldog Weekend. Like the lake by the Sanderson, you are drained. The semester has been getting to you, and you really need some time to yourself. There is no shame in choosing the couch over the Cotton District.
Leo (Jul. 23- Aug. 22)
You are going to make great personal strides this weekend, Leo. A spike in confidence will inspire you to make some bold moves this weekend, both in life and on all available dance floors. If you are considering a risky new hairstyle, relationship, or career move, the time is now. Like a pre-DUI Dak, you can do no wrong.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Oh, sweet, overwhelmed Virgo… Lately, your social calendar has been as full as the Perry on fried chicken day. Try to clear your schedule this weekend, and go where the wind takes you. It is supposed to be stormy in coming days, though, so try not to be blown into any trees or cars.
Easy now, Scorpio. You have a lot of options right now, in both your social sphere and the local babe-pool. Tempting as it may be to jump at the first exciting opportunity you’re presented with, you can afford to be choosy this weekend. Do not real-life swipe right for a six, when you can hold out for a ten.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22- Dec. 21)
Although many will be at Dudy Noble this weekend, Sagittarius, you will be drawn to commune with nature. Take your cowbell to the Horse Park or deep woods, and ring out your anger towards your roommates. It is stupid to watch Family Guy with a subwoofer. You are right and your roommate is ridiculous.
Capricorn (Dec. 22- Jan.19)
Oh, fickle Capricorn… it is not that hard to pick a shirt for Maroon Friday. There are only so many shades to choose from, and any of them will get you discounts at local restaurants. However, your monetary situation is disheartening lately, so you should probably only eat block meals in order to afford weekend debauchery.
Aquarius (Jan. 20- Feb. 18)
You are having a spiritual week, Aquarius. This has been reflected in your fashion choices, which have included too much of your fake Birkenstocks and too little True Maroon. This weekend will bring you back to earth, literally. You are destined to fall head first into a random apartment complex pool.
Pisces (Feb. 19- Mar. 20)
As a large-pored water sign, it is imperative that you remember to shower in Starkville’s humid spring climate. Sure, you’re busy with school and socializing, but if you smell like an actual bulldog, socializing will soon be out of the equation. Cleanliness is next to Dawgliness.
O n t h i s d a y ... In 1947, Jackie Robinson, age 28, became the first African-American player in Major League Baseball when he stepped onto Ebbets Field in Brooklyn to compete for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson broke the color barrier in a sport that had been segregated for more than 50 years. Exactly 50 years later, on April 15, 1997, Robinson’s groundbreaking career was honored and his uniform number, 42, was retired from Major League Baseball by Commissioner Bud Selig in a ceremony attended by over 50,000 fans at New York City’s Shea Stadium. Robinson’s was the first-ever number retired by all teams in the league.
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CLASSIFIEDS POLICY The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday; the deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. Classifieds are $5 per issue. Student and staff ads are $3 per issue, prepaid. Lost and found: found items can be listed for free; lost items are listed for standard ad cost. FOR RENT Apartment room for rent. $489 per month, which includes all utilities, cable and internet. Private room and bath. Shard living room and kitchen. Next to campus. Call 479-936-9989 for more information. CLUB INFO
BULLETIN BOARD The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday; deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. MSU student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info. Information may be submitted by email to club_info@ reflector.msstate.edu with the subject heading “CLUB INFO,” or a form may be completed The Reflector at office in the Student Media Center. A contact name, phone number and requested run dates must be included for club info to appear in The Reflector. All submissions are subject to exemption according to space availability. YOGA MOVES Yoga Moves
i n c o r p o r a t e s meditation and The Reflector 4/15/16 Crossword relaxation into a free class where everyone is welcome. We meet Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. Across 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 at the Sanderson in Studio C. They hope to 15 14 1 Upside-down see you there! sleepers 18 17 5 Sachet scent MSU VIDEO GAME 21 22 23 20 10 Rush job CLUB notation 24 25 26 The MSU Video Game 14 Environs 15 Prefix with Club is having a week 31 32 33 34 29 30 phobia of video game events 35 36 37 38 16 Something to during the week of spin 40 41 42 43 April 22. On Monday, 17 Money drawer there will be Video 18 Hypnotized 45 46 47 Game Trivia Night with 19 Shag rugs 48 49 50 51 52 53 20 Golf aim the Student Association. 21 Future fish On Thursday, the 59 60 57 58 22 Mixed bag Video Game Club will 24 Compass pt. 62 63 hold a general meeting. 25 Deface The week’s events 67 68 65 66 26 Powerboat will culminate with a 29 Tennis starter 71 70 31 Psychic power 24 hour lock-in with 34 City on the 74 73 food and games from Missouri 9 p.m. Friday to 9p.m. Copyright ©2016 PuzzleJunction.com 35 It fits in a lock Saturday.. 37 Tourist’s aid 70 Eastern nurse 11 Parting word
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FRIDAY REFLECTIONS NBA legend Kobe Bryant put up 60 points on Wednesday in his last game before retiring. No one has ever put up that many points in their final game. The Golden State Warriors also broke NBA records Wednesday night by finishing the regular season 739, beating the ‘95-96 Bulls’ previous best of 72-10.
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‘Take Back the Night Glow Run’ brings sexual assault awareness to students by Shelby Poindexter Staff Witer
Mississippi State University students, faculty and staff, along with members of the surrounding community, came together to raise awareness for sexual assault and healthy relationships at the ‘Take Back the Night Glow Run’ Tuesday night. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and the Department of Health Promotion and Wellness sponsored this fun run to show support for the cause. The MSU website gave details to the public about the event prior to Tuesday night, along with a list of other event sponsors. Those sponsors include the Student Association, Housing and Residence Life and Recreational Sports departments, Office of Compliance and Integrity, Holmes Cultural Diversity Center, Student Counseling Services and Phi Mu and Pi Beta Phi sororities. Greek organizations were a major supporter of the event, and many sororities came out to participate in the run. Sara Hughes, a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, expressed Greek support
for such an event. “All of the sororities are coming out tonight,” Hughes said. “Our sorority likes to go out and show support for different organizations all over campus.” The Glow Run began at 8 p.m. and was held at Chadwick Lake Walking Track at the Joe Frank Sanderson Center. Those who registered for the fun run received free glow gear to wear while walking the track. Educational information was provided prior to the race. Stations were set up around the Sanderson Center parking lot where those participating in the run could check in, get their face painted and grab some water. Participants heard live music while waiting for the event to begin. Runners also heard from two students who shared their stories of sexual assault and how they coped afterwards. Signs were place all around the track with information about the statistics of sexual assault, the hash tags runners could use when posting pictures of the event and the phone numbers a person can call if they have been sexually assaulted. Allison Crow, member of one of the sponsoring sororities, Pi Beta Phi, said
even if her sorority was not sponsoring the event, she believes she still would have attended. “It is good to try to get in shape anyway,” Crow said, “but when you are doing it for a cause that just makes it worth it.” Crow said she thought hosting such an event on a college campus was important, and she was glad MSU was able to contribute. “Rape and sexual assault really is a problem on college campuses,” Crow said, “so I think the fact that we are having this at a college campus with people that are actually affected by it is what is really good about it.”
Sarah Dutton | The Reflector
MSU students participate in the ʻTake Back the Night Glow Runʼ to raise awareness of sexual assault.
Sarah Dutton | The Reflector
Blair Pearson, Callie Whitfield, Vikky Lagrone, Maddie Mallette and Ashley Byrd joined together to support sexual assault awareness at the Glow Run.
Cotton District Arts Festival brings creative touch to Super Bulldog Weekend by Mary Rumore Staff Witer
Starkville Area Arts Council presents the 2016 Cotton District Arts Festival tomorrow as part of Super Bulldog Weekend. The Old Cotton Mill 5k and Family Fun Run, Pet Parade, Artisans Village, Children’s Village, musical performances on three stages and more will all take place Saturday. A new opportunity at this year’s Cotton District Arts Festival is the Pet Trick Competition, which will take place following the Pet Parade. The Pet Parade will begin at 9 a.m. on University Drive and end on the South Stage where the Pet Trick Competition and awards ceremony will take place. Contestants can win prizes for best pet trick, best pet/ owner look-alike costume, best Mississippi State spirit costume, most original costume and judge’s choice. The trick performances will begin at 9:30 a.m., and the awards ceremony will begin at 9:45 a.m. The Artisans Village will take place all day. Over 125 booths will be set up with original and handmade artwork for sale. Faith Spann, a senior communication major and art history minor, will set up a booth at the Artisans Village from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. to sell her artwork. “I mainly do watercolors, and I will also have digital prints of the watercolors for sale,” Spann said. Spann said this is the second year she has set up a booth at the Artisan’s Village. “It has been a dream of mine to set up a booth at the arts festival for years, Spann said. I set up a booth for the first time last year and had a lot of fun. I’m going to do this every year from now on.” An award ceremony will
take place at noon. Awards include Best in Show; Best of Category in painting, sculpture, photography and graphics, clay, jewelry and traditional crafts, and the Spirit Award. The Juried Art Competition will take place from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the MSU Visual Arts Gallery at 808 University Drive. The exhibition showcases pieces of art from artists all over the South. Selections were made
The Children’s Village, which is orchestrated by Starkville’s Junior Auxiliary, offers activities, art projects and musical entertainment for children and parents. The theme of this year’s Children’s Village is “Arts in Action.” Adults, students and young writers can sign up for the Writer’s Village between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the village tents. Winners will win a gift card to Campus Bookmart and Café. The Writer’s Village will also host a Writer’s “I play like old-time, Americana Block Instagram Contest and Style that stems from the band I Six Word Story Contest used to be in called the Tombigbees.” throughout the -Brent Varner, Third place winner day. Over 16 musical perforof the Singer/Songwriter Competimances will take tion place on three different stages throughout the day during the for the Juried Art Exhibition Arts Festival. Bill Cooke, by James Davis. Karly Clayton and Brent The theme for this Varner, the three winners year’s International Village of the Singer/Songwriter is “World Jam”. The Competition at Dave’s Dark International Village will Horse Tavern will perform at display cultural presentations noon on the main stage. and performances representBrent Varner, third ing Philippines, India, Iran, place winner of the Singer/ Pakistan, China, Korea, the Songwriter Competition and United States and many more disabilities services coordinain the STAGgerIN parking tor at MSU, said his first perlot. A live disc jockey will also formance of the day will be a be in attendance. solo performance.
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CDAfestival.com | Courtesy Photograph
MSU students and Starkville residents enjoyed local arts and craft booths at last yearʼs Cotton District Arts Festival.
“I play like old-time, Americana style that stems from the band I used to be in called The Tombigbees,” Varner said. He is performing bass guitar and vocals again at 1 p.m. with a new band called The Peddlers alongside vocalist and guitarist Tanner Grey, drummer Zach Corder, and Chris Crutcher on keys.
Taste of Starkville puts culinary arts on display and allows festival-goers with an array of eating opportunities. Taste of Starkville judges will also give out multiple awards at the festival. For more information about the 2016 Starkville District Art Festival, visit CDAFestival.com and starkvillearts.org.
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Earth Week: to help promote
sustainability on MSU’s campus According to the Office of Sustainability, 20 percent of the fund goes to student internships, 30 percent goes to renewable energy procurement, and the remaining 50 percent
to join instructor Cheryl Chambers as she leads a by Devin Edgar yoga class on the Drill Field next Monday night. Staff Writer More Earth Week events include the community picnic and movie night. With Earth Day SSC and the soon arriving, Mississippi State “...In the long run MSU needs to rec- MSU Wildlife Society are University’s encouraging Wildlife ognize sustainability as an issue that everyone to Society, Student bring their Association and students and faculty care about...” family, friends Students for and blankets a Sustainable for a fun time Campus (SSC)are Anna Claire Rogers, President of The as “Disney planning a weekNature’s long spread of Earth” is events starting on Students for a Sustainable Campus screened in April 17 to make The Junction. up this year’s Earth Although Week. Earth Week Since MSU is one of the few higher education insti- goes to all of the campus brings a lot of fun activities, with recycling being one of tutes that does not place a sustainability projects. Anna Claire Rogers, the most popular sustainsustainability fee as part of students’ tuition, many president of SSC, said there ability issues talked about of this year’s Earth Week is a lack of information on campus, the Recycling events will be hosted by among the student body Audit gives more students SSC to bring a new light regarding issues like ener- the opportunity to get to the university’s Green gy consumption and waste involved in actual sustainproduction. ability projects. Fund. “We would like to get As part of Earth Week, The Green Fund, which began in the fall of 2010 more donations to the SSC will gather volunteers after campaigning, is an Green Fund,” Rogers said, to collect trash from the opt-in sustainability fund “but in the long run MSU exterior campus trash cans. that MSU students, facul- needs to recognize sustain- Volunteers will not only be ty and staff can contribute ability as an issue that stu- collecting trash but also to directly as a way to take dents and faculty care about sorting it into two catepart in sustainability proj- to open up the door to an gories: garbage and recycling. The trash recovered ects and renewable energy integrated fee.” To kick off Earth Week, will then be presented at development and producall students are invited the Earth Fair on April 22 tion here on campus.
from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The purpose of the audit is to prove just how much trash is produced, and how much of it that could actually be recycled. Rogers suggested that volunteers wear something they do not mind getting dirty, although they will
be provided T-shirts and gloves. The SSC will not be the only ones hosting events during Earth Week. MSU’s student chapter of The Wildlife Society will host a 5K/10K/fun run as an inaugural Earth Day Celebration. All proceeds will go towards
helping the chapter fund the 2017 Wildlife Conclave they are planned to host, which is an annual competition between over 20 schools. For more information on Earth Day efforts, students can attend the Earth Day fair or contact The Office of Sustainability.
Bek Yake, The Reflector
Old Main Music Festival brings new music to Starkville by DJ Jennings Staff Writer
Music Makers Production will hold its annual Old Main Music
Festival at Mississippi State University’s amphitheater on Friday, April 22. Acts this year include Givers, The Humble and Jamie Davis & Soul Gravy. Local acts include The Peddlers, Railroad Radio, Seth Power, Fides and Damien & Gerald. Givers are a five-piece indie pop group from Lafayette, Louisiana. First breaking on to the scene in 2011 with their debut album “In Lights,” Givers have gained a passionate following of fans. They have preformed at Coachella, Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits. Their most recognizable song, “Up, Up, Up,” has
Jennifer St. Clair | Courtesy Photograph
Music Makers Production hosts Old Main Music Festival on Friday, April 22 at the MSU amphitheater. Many people enjoyed watching live bands perform outside last year.
appeared in the television show “Glee” as well as EA Sports’ video game, FIFA 12. Their most recent release, “New Kingdom,” was released in November 2015. The Humble (formally known as Mo Lowda and the Humble) are a threepiece alternative rock band out of Philadelphia. Their
debut, “Curse The Weather,” found them very popular
in the Philadelphia music scene. Their influences include My Morning Jacket, Led Zeppelin, Neil Young, Jaco Pastorius, Pink Floyd and Victor Wooten, among others. Their most recent EP, “Act Accordingly,” was released in March. Jamie Davis & Soul Gravy have played at many venues around Starkville. Davis played shows in local bars with bandmate Dan Isbell to pay for living expenses while they attended MSU. The five-piece band from Tennessee and
Mississippi play what they call “soul-tinged country.” Jamie Davis & Soul Gravy have toured with Dierks Bentley, Hank Williams Jr., Jason Michael Carroll, Night Ranger, One Republic and the Gin Blossoms. While junior psychology major Brianna Schiff said she is excited about every band on the card, she is particularly excited about Jamie Davis & Soul Gravy. “I’ve seen them a few times when they’ve played at Rick’s in town and they are always a really great
time,” Schiff said. Though Old Main is a music festival, Music Maker Productions made sure that there would be plenty of activities outside of the music, including food vendors, art vendors and plenty of games. The food vendors attending Old Main will be Two Brother’s Smoked Meats, Dawghouse Sports Grill and Starkvegas Snowballs. There will also be a corn hole tournament, trash pong as well as a giant game of Jenga. All games are free to attendees other than the corn hole tournament. The entry fee for the tournament will be $5, with all proceeds going to Relay for Life. Old Main Music Festival Director Chris Neal expressed excitement over this year’s festival. “We went through a huge list of bands and the bands we chose this time are just really fun bands that people can dance to and have a good time,” Neal said. While the music is obviously important, Neal said he hopes that attendees will enjoy the full experience of the festival and not just the music. Old Main Music Festival will kick off at 1 p.m. at the MSU amphitheater. Entrance is free to all in attendance.
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016
MSU quarterbacks prove their worth on the field by Taylor Rayburn Staff Writer
The 2016 Mississippi State Bulldogs Football team will debut tomorrow in the spring game. The main event of Super Bulldog Weekend and spring football season, this will be the fi rst time this team puts on the maroon and white uniforms in front of the public eye. After a nine win campaign in 2015, MSU will look to continue their success but will do so without arguably the greatest player in MSU history. MSU will be without star QB Dak Prescott, who graduated and is entered in the NFL draft. Not only did MSU lose a star player, but they lose his leadership. With Dak gone, there have been a lot of eyes on the young QBs that backed him up. MSU is in a good position to pick between multiple QBs. Whether it be experience in Damian Williams, or young talent in Elijah Staley, Nick
Fitzgerald and Brown, cornerbacks Nick Tiano. Will Redmond and Williams, Taveze Calhoun, a junior who along with redshirted linebacker Beniquez last season, Brown. That is a lot will always be of leadership and remembered for talent for MSU to saving MSU in replace. However, overtime against there are players Arkansas in 2013 ready to replace with a 25-yard them. touchdown run. On the defensive Williams is 37 line, senior AJ for 60 on passes Jefferson will carry in his career, the torch after a good with 434 passing year last season. yards and three Jefferson had 47 touchdowns. tackles last season, Both Staley 13.5 of which were and Fitzgerald for loss and five saw time last sacks. He talked after season as backup, practice Tuesday with Fitzgerald about what he needs completing 11 of to do to build off of 14 passes for 235 last season. yards and three “To just show that touchdowns last I can be more of a Anthony McDougle | The Reflector season. vocal leader and be Sophomore Nick Fitzgerald prepares for the snap. The Bulldogs play their annual spring game tomorrow at 11 a.m. Staley ended more consistent,” up three for Jefferson said. “Just and 16 touchdowns his we are all just helping each five passing last season senior year of high school. other out and making need to stay humble, keep with 51 yards and a single Fitzgerald gave his everyone the best they can your head down and keep passing touchdown. Tiano thoughts on the QB battle be for Mississippi State.” working.” redshirted last season, but so far. In the secondary, young On defense, MSU lost came out of high school “I think we are all their entire defensive staff, safeties Jamal Peters and as a three star recruit who four competing well,” defensive lineman Chris Brandon Bryant are leaving threw 2,096 passing yards Fitzgerald said. “I think Jones, linebacker Beniquez their mark. Both bring a
combination of skill and athleticism that a defensive coordinator looks for. Bryant changed his number from 20 to 1. He said it was because he wanted to be the No. 1 player on the field. He has already stepped in to that leadership role. He said he has been teaching the younger Peters. “Every time you see No. 1 out on the field, you think he is one of the best players on the field,” Bryant said. “It is just a lot of motivation for me.” The end of spring means the answer to a lot of questions for MSU’s coaching staff but also means some more questions popping up. The public will be able to see some of the position battles going on all over the field. Whether it be quarterback, linebacker, running back or offensive line, there will be a lot of new faces for MSU this year and the spring game is the perfect chance for them to display their skills. The spring game will be tomorrow and will start at 11 a.m. in Davis Wade Stadium.
Super Bulldog Weekend Events Football Maroon vs White Saturday, April 16 11 a.m.
Baseball vs Texas A&M Friday, April 15 6:30 p.m.
Mangum earns SEC award off, Mangum tallied up three hits in each of the first two games and had a .429 batting average over the weekend. He was second on the team with batting average over the weekend and extended his career-high with 10 straight games reaching base safely. Teammate Nathaniel Lowe likes what Mangum has added to the lineup. “Its awesome,” Lowe said. “We don’t know how he does it, but he does it for us. Whatever he does, it’s
native has been a real spark for this team in the batter’s box by Dalton Middleton and on-base. Since Robson Sports Editor got injured, he has stepped up and taken his game to a whole new level. Look to him to keep leading this team in the Freshman outfielder home stretch of the season. Jake Mangum earned Head coach John Cohen tremendous praise from the has noticed how he has been SEC after stepping in for the playing and has a lot of praise injured Jacob Robson and for the young superstar. helping lead his team to a “Mangum has been great,” series victory over then No. Cohen said. “He is very 1 Florida Gators. advanced for a freshman, Mangum was playing as and he is hitting balls hard a substitute almost every before time he gets moving to up there. “He just doesn’t swing and miss. he a fourth You can’t say outfielder, enough about puts so much pressure on the defense. but then he him. He just really made - Head coach John Cohen doesn’t swing a presence and miss. He when the puts so much team traveled pressure on to Vanderbilt and won the working for us, and we are the defense.” series. He was an offensive happy for him.” The Bulldogs are sitting spark for the team that With his performance at 24-9-1 overall and 8-4 in weekend, tallying up five against the two squads, conference play. They are hits and a clutch two-RBI to Mangum received his first currently ranked in the top help the Bulldogs capture the SEC award of his career. 10 in every national poll series. He was named the SEC out. They host the visiting After that, Mangum Freshman of the Week and Texas A&M Aggies for certainly impressed against currently leads the SEC in Super Bulldog Weekend. Ole Miss, hitting his first batting average with a .427 The games start at 6:30 p.m. home-run and gunning a batting average. tonight, 2 p.m. tomorrow runner out at third to keep a The Pearl, Mississippi and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. tie game in the first game of the series. After Robson got injured, Mangum took over centerfield and has flourished ever since. Outfielder Cody Brown is impressed with the way he has been playing as a freshman. “Hes been awesome,” Brown said. “He’s been lights out. To come in as a freshman and play in the SEC as he has, that’s really special. Nobody works as hard as he does, and we have a lot of hard working guys on the team. He has really came in and made a name for himself.” In a mid-week game against UT-Martin, Mangum went 4-4 with 2 RBI and 2 runs. His four hits set his career high in hits at Mississippi State. After that, he led his team down to Gainesville to take on the Gators. Picking up where he left
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016
Softball: The Mississippi State University softball team, 22-
18 (2-10), will host Louisiana State University this weekend for Super Bulldog Weekend. The Bulldogs currently sit in 12th place in the SEC standings. LSU is sitting at ninth place with a 30-12 record overall and 5-10 in SEC play. The games will be tonight at 5:30 p.m., tomorrow at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 3:30 p.m. There is free admission for anyone who plans to attend at Nusz Park.
Men’s Tennis: The No. 23 Mississippi State University men’s
tennis team will host No. 45 Vanderbilt this weekend for the last regular season game for the Bulldogs. They currently have a 15-6 overall record and they are 7-4 in SEC play. MSU is sitting at fifth place in the SEC going into the regular season finale. The game will be at 5 p.m. tonight at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Courts. The Bulldogs are giving away free pizza to students while supplies last.
Lebron or Kobe? Lebron James
Kobe Bryant by Anthony McDougle
by Taylor Rayburn The LeBron James versus Kobe Bryant is one of the many arguments likely to come up when people are just sitting around killing time. There are many sides to both, but the right answer is obvious. LeBron James is undisputedly a better player than Kobe Bryant, we should be having a James versus Jordan argument not a Bryant versus James. There are many reasons why James is the all-around superior player. He is the better scorer, over the course of James’ career he has averaged 27.2 points a game, to compare Bryant has averaged 25.44 points per game, and this average is excluding the last three years in which Bryant has played injured. So even with help Bryant has averaged almost two less points a game in his career. Beyond scoring, James dominates Bryant in every category. James has shot 49.7 percent over the course of his career, compared to Bryant’s 44.8 percent. James averages 6.9 assists a game, compared to Bryant’s 4.7. James averages
7.2 rebounds to Bryant’s 5.3. The most common counter point Bryant’s fans like to bring up is that Bryant has won more rings. Bryant has five NBA championships, which compared to James’ two, puts James to shame. But since when did team awards determine the skill of an individual. For three of Bryant’s championships he wasn’t even the best player on his team, which would be Shaquille O’Neal, who won the finals MVP all three years the Lakers won the championship. Bryant only has two finals MVPs to his name, which is impressive. The only issue is that James also has two finals MVP trophies to his name. As far as an effect on a team, James makes teams significantly better when he joins them. In James’ last season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, before going to Miami, they went 61-21 which was the best record in the NBA. The next season without James they went a league’s worst 19-63 that season. That is the biggest drop in
NBA history. The season before James returned to Cleveland, the Cavaliers went 33-49. In James’ fi rst year back in Cleveland they went 53-29 and advanced to the NBA fi nals. His effect on a team can’t be understated. The second counter point brought up is that Bryant is a better clutch performer than James. However, this also is a stereotype and can be refuted with stats. James is 8-19 on go-ahead or game tying shots in the playoffs. To compare, Bryant is 7-28. So late in games during the playoffs, when the pressure is the highest, James has disproven the stereotype that he is not clutch. Bryant is about as far behind James as James is behind Jordan. When you take out bias and nostalgia all you have left is numbers and facts. The numbers prove James is the better player and everyone knows how the saying goes- numbers never lie.
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20 years ago Kobe Bryant, the Black Mamba, an offensive minded young star from Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania decided to take his talents to the National Basketball Association. It was clear the youngster was talented. Everyone knew he would likely be a force to be reckoned with. However, no one could have ever fathomed just what he would mean to the game of basketball or its fans. Now almost two decades, five championships, and several individual accolades later Bryant has fi nally decided to call it quits. With him he takes a legacy that will live on for decades to come. With his NBA career now in the rearview, many NBA fans are sure to attempt to fi gure out where the Black Mamba will rank amongst the alltime greats. For those looking for a frame of reference as to where that might be, cite the comments of Laker great Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Moments before Bryant’s spirited 60-point farewell ensued, Johnson called Bryant the greatest Laker of all time. That is coming from a guy who has not only just as many championships as Bryant, but whom also had a statue erected outside of Staples Center in his honor. Even with the words of Johnson ringing fresh in their ears, there are
assuredly doubters who are not so easily convinced. Those in search for a more solid comparison to a man who was at one point the game’s best player will tend to look in the direction of the man who many view as one of the best in the world today: Lebron James. True enough, King James is certainly a worthy comparison to Bryant. According to foxsports.com he has averaged 27 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists per game over the course of his career, a mark slightly better that Bryant’s career averages of 25 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. James’ supporters will say he is a better team player, more efficient and simply an all around better player. But this is an argument that draws its depth in places other than numbers. First off, the inference that James is anywhere near the offensive stalwart that Bryant once was is simply incorrect. On his best nights Bryant was virtually unstoppable. Ask the Toronto Raptors, the team he dropped 81 points on, a mark that remains the closest anyone has ever come to eclipsing the 100-point mark set by Wilt Chamberlain. Ask the Dallas Mavericks, the team the Black Mamba torched for 62 points, in three quarters no less. He would shatter the 60-point mark five additional times in his illustrious career. Scoring outputs like these helped bolster Bryant to third-place on the all time scoring list. King
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James on the other hand, has yet to register 50 points in a game. Then there’s Bryant’s laundry list of accolades. That list includes a regular season MVP, 18 NBA AllStar selections, 15 All-NBA Team selections and three All-Star MVP awards. For years, he has epitomized what the best of the best should look like. Finally, the biggest thing that sets the two apart is killer instinct. In the fi nal seconds of the game, Kobe was at his best. Not only did he thrive in those moments, he embraced them. Whenever the Lakers needed a comeback, whenever they were in desperate need of points, whenever it was all on the line it was Bryant who they looked to. In fact, according to an article on foxsports.com James is 11 percent on game-winning shots, while Kobe is 27 percent on such shots. If anyone needs any further assurance that Bryant is the better of the two just check the hardware. The last time I checked five was a bigger number than two and that is the difference in championship rings. Hate it or love it Bryant is the better player. Just ask Larry Bird. “If you want to have fun play with Lebron,” the hall-of-famer said. “If you want to win and win and win, it’s Kobe.
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13
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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016
MSU inks two signees
2.8 steals and 3.6 blocks per game. MSU Head Coach Vic Sports Editor Shaefer is very pleased with being able to keep Williams at home in Mississippi as a Mississippi State Bulldog. basketball picked up two “We are excited to add standout high school Ameshya to our Mississippi signees on Wednesday State family. We are very when men’s and women’s happy for both Ameshya teams took advantage and her family because of the spring recruiting she has period. worked so After a hard for this team that “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to moment,” lacked size Schaefer this past be able to play for Missisippi State in said. “She season, the is the best MSU men’s one of the country’s top conferences.” senior player team picked in the state of up 3-star - MSU signee Ameshya Williams Mississippi. Elton “EJ” Our focus Datcher when we from Vincent High School his size and strength. He’s came here four years ago in Alabama. Datcher is got a lot of upside because was to keep the state’s best players at home, and we a 6-foot-9, 245-pound of his basketball IQ.” Datcher was named to are so excited to continue center. In his high school career, Datcher played in the 2A First Team All- that with the signing of 106 games while averaging State team and is ranked Ameshya.” When talking about 11.6 points, 1.3 assists, 7.7 the third-best player in the Mississippi State, Williams rebounds, 1 steal and 3 state of Alabama. MSU’s women’s team said she loved the feeling blocks per game. After tearing his stuck to an in-state recruit she got when she stepped meniscus his junior year in Ameshya Williams. on campus. “I am excited to be and missing the majority Williams was a Clarionof the season, he bounced Ledger Dandy Dozen going to play at Mississippi back strong for his senior player, named to the First State for Coach Schaefer,” year. Playing in all of his Team All-State team and Williams said. “It’s a once teams’ games, Datcher led played in the Mississippi/ in a lifetime opportunity to be able to play for his team to a 24-7 record Alabama All-Star game. At 6-foot-2, Williams Mississippi State in one while averaging 18 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocked led her team to a 25-3 of the country’s top record but lost in the conferences, the SEC. shots. MSU Head Coach Ben state championship game When I went on my Howland is very happy against Holmes County visit, I really liked the about Datcher joining the Central where she suffered environment. It felt like team next season after he an ankle injury in the fi rst family there. I also like that Sarah Story | The Reflector flew under the radar from half. During her senior I will be a Bulldog because Fifth-year senior wide receiver Fred Brown has been dismissed from Mississippi State University for an Honor Code violation. most teams because of his campaign, she averaged I am a bulldog when I’m on 24.6 points, 14.2 rebounds, the court.” knee injury. by Dalton Middleton
Fred Brown dismissed
Peters was not the only player switching positions as Brandon Holloway has Staff Writer been taking snaps at wide reciever this spring. Brown was showing promise last season as he Mississippi State grabbed 27 receptions by football wide receiver Fred the season end. He had Brown was dismissed from 412 receiving yards and the university for an Honor averaged 15.8 yards a catch Code violation, according and caught three receiving to a MSU spokesperson. touchdowns. Brown With missed MSU’s Brown’s scrimmage “Fred Brown has been dismissed form absence, last Saturday young with what the school and is no longer a student more receivers Dan Mullen like Jesse described as a or a member of the football team.” Jackson and family issue. Malik Dear Brown would -MSU spokesperson will have to have been take an even entering his bigger role fifth season going into with MSU sides. next season. football. “Once Donald Gray MSU will be back in An MSU spokesperson said, “Fred Brown has went down, Coach Mullen action tomorrow morning me and at 11 a.m. for the annual been dismissed form the approached school and is no longer a said they were short at spring game. Their 2016 student or a member of the receiver,” Peters said. “He season opener will be needed me to come in and versus South Alabama on football team.” September 3. For those that are work there.” unfamiliar, the MSU Honor Code says, “As a Mississippi State University student I will conduct myself with honor and integrity at all times. I will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor will I accept the actions of those who do.” This leaves MSU even thinner at receiver position going into MSU’s spring football game tomorrow. Fred Ross is out with a groin injury, and Donald Gray is out with a knee injury. Now with Brown’s dismissal, MSU will play their spring game tomorrow without their top four receivers. Both Ross and Gray are expected to be healthy by the seasons start however. Even before Brown’s dismissal, quarterback Nick Fitzgerald mentioned how missing receivers is affecting the team. “We have a lot of guys banged up,” Nick 662-324-1597 Fitzgerald said. “But the 408 Hwy. 12 East whole point of spring is to Next to Harvey’s • Starkville, MS get reps, and that just gives www.thelodgeonline.com by Taylor Rayburn
the younger guys more playing time.” Even before Brown’s dismissal, receiver depth has been such a big issue that safety Jamal Peters had to switch sides and play some offense for MSU to have enough receivers to practice. After practice, Peters talked about switching
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“We are very excited to have EJ joining the Bulldog family and basketball program,” Coach Howland said. “He is a great kid from a wonderful family. I think he has a very bright future as a player and person in our program. He has excellent size and has outstanding hands and feet for a kid of
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14 THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016