The Reflector by Reflector Editor

TUESDAY

JANUARY 24, 2012

OPINION | 5

WARNING THIS ISSUE CONTAINS MATERIAL that may be DEEMED QUESTIONABLE BY THE Authors of The SOPA AND PIPA ACTS.

Reflector The

REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM 125TH YEAR | ISSUE 29

TWITTER.COM/REFLECTORONLINE FACEBOOK.COM/REFLECTORONLINE

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

Fall Break, Thursday game rescheduled

GUNS ON CAMPUS

Tennessee game moved to Saturday BY MEGAN MCKEOWN News Editor

BY CANDACE BARNETTE | Staff Writer

Due to changes in the football schedule, the 2012 fall break has been moved to a two-day break on Oct. 4 and 5, just before the midpoint of the semester. Class meetings on Oct. 11, Nov. 21 and Nov. 22 have been restored. Jerry Gilbert, provost and executive vice president, said the Tennessee game that was originally scheduled for Oct. 11 was moved to Saturday of the same week. “We have a calendar committee that sets the schedule,” he said. “The (football) schedule was changed with the addition of the new teams into the conference.” Gilbert said Mississippi State University officials would not normally change the academic calendar this late in the year, but the calendar committee, which has student representatives from various campus organizations, felt the circumstances warranted a few accommodations. “As soon as the announcement was made that we no longer had a Thursday night game, Rhett Hobart requested that we consider a different day for fall break,” he said. “His suggestion was that it should back up against a weekend when there was not a home football game, so we went to a Thursday and a Friday that was prior to an away game.” Rhett Hobart, Student Association president, said multiple student groups and individuals expressed an interest in changing the date of fall break. “After weighing everything, I felt from the opinions I was getting that it was more important to have students be able to succeed in their course work and not get overloaded throughout the whole October and November months,” he said. “We felt the timing of the (new) fall break dates coincided great with our fall schedule … it gives students a true break at the midway point in the fall semester.” Gilbert said the change was made to better serve the student body. “We wanted to respond to the desires of the students,” Gilbert said. “This appeared to be a good way to accommodate a fall break in the mid-part of the semester, which is probably better in actually providing some time off mid-semester rather than waiting until Thanksgiving. Typically, we’ll use an October fall break.”

niversities across the state are re-evaluating their weapons policies after the recently-passed Mississippi concealed weapon law. House Bill 506 went into effect July 1, 2011, four months after Haley Barbour’s official signature. The law allows for an individual with a special training endorsement on their permit to carry concealed firearms in places outlawed under the former regulations. Locations such as police departments, courtrooms and colleges that were previously off-limits are now legal places to carry concealed weapons with the proper permit. An official opinion from Attorney General Jim Hood’s office states that while they do not necessarily agree with the result, the wording of the bill does allow for a person meeting qualifications to carry a pistol on a college campus. “We believe that this exception is limited to those persons listed in 97-37-7 having official duties inherent in their position and does not apply to ‘enhanced permit holders,’” Hood wrote. “Nevertheless, the language of 97-37-7 itself creates the exception for enhanced permit holders.” SEE

GUNS, 2 JAY JOHNSON | THE REFLECTOR

New honors college dean helps broaden programs Synder works toward connections with Oxford University, more rigorous curriculum, Griffis Hall parking, senior thesis BY RACHEL MUSTAIN Staff Writer

JAY JOHNSON | THE REFLECTOR

Shackouls Honors College Dean Christopher Synder works at his office in Griffis Hall.

READERʼS GUIDE CAMPUS CALENDAR..................2 BAD DAWGS..............................3 OPINION...............................5 CONTACT INFO......................5

CROSSWORD.............................6 CLASSIFIEDS..........................6 LIFE.....................................7 SPORTS................................10

POLICY

Shackouls Honors College Dean Christopher Synder has extensive plans to continue to grow the institution through multiple avenues. One of Synder’s goals was to implement an honors study abroad program at Oxford University. He said he led a similar program for five years at his previous post at Marymount University with great success. His goal is twofold: to promote study abroad to increase students’ global awareness and to give honors students the opportunity to study at a prestigious university. “My philosophy is to promote study abroad in general to all students but in particular to make it an honors experience,” Synder said. “We should

ANY PERSON MAY PICK UP A SINGLE COPY OF THE REFLECTOR FOR FREE. ADDITIONAL COPIES MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE MEYER STUDENT MEDIA CENTER FOR 25 CENTS PER COPY.

be establishing relationships with elite research universities, with historically academically excellent universities like Oxford to give students research and teaching experiences that are out of the norm that are just for an honors-caliber student.” The Oxford study abroad program will be led by Synder this summer from May 21 through June 29 and will take around 10 students to Oxford, England, which this year will give the opportunity to study the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. The applications are now open. Becky Gardner, assistant dean of the honors college, said this program is unlike any other study abroad experience Shackouls Honors College has offered before. “We have (dabbled) in study abroad, but nothing of this level,” she said. “This

TUESDAY Sunny

is far and above anything we have ever done. We are really excited.” Synder also came to MSU with ideas for changes in the honors curriculum to make it more rigorous and distinctive. He said the changes are still in the planning stages but his goal is to have an optional senior thesis available for honors students as soon as possible. Synder comes from a university with a required senior honors thesis. He said Ole Miss and the University of Southern Mississippi have the same requirement, but he has encountered some debate from opponents of the idea. Snyder said the honors college will likely take a different approach than these universities. It will promote a significant capstone project for all honors students and offer the option to do a traditional written thesis and defense.

SEE DEAN, 3

THURSDAY

WEDNESDAY HIGH

64 46 LOW

Rainy

HIGH

65 57 LOW

Stormy

HIGH

65 48 LOW

NEWS

Calendar 2

TUESDAY , JANUARY 24, 2012

ampus

Study A broad F air Date

Time: 1 : Jan. 25 Locatio 0 a.m. to 3 p .m n: Colv ard Stu . d ent Unio Contac t: Kath n arin 325-82 e Frantes 51

Women ’s Bas vs. Ark ketball ansas Date:

Ja Time: 7 n. 26 t o 9 p.m Locatio . n: Hum Coliseu phrey m Contac t: Chad T 325-98 homas 47

Academ i

c Integ r Semina ity/XF r

Date: J a Time: 2 n. 24 to 4 p.m Locatio . n: M IMC Pr itchell Memo rial es Contac entation Roo m t: Beth 325-38 Downey 34

all asketb B s ’ n e M vs. LSU 5

an. 2 Date: J . to 9 p.m Time: 7 Humphrey n: Locatio liseum Co mas ad Tho h C : t c a Cont 47 325-98

nd Whi a n o o r a Miss M ageant P 7

an. 2 Date: J .m. p Time: 7 e Hall L n: e m Locatio uditoriu A h t r o w rk Betters ct: Avent Cla a t n o C 30 325-29

a eating r C : 1 l Exce Budget 4

an. 2 Date: J . to 2 p.m Time: 1 ell Memorial h n: Mitc om Locatio Giles Classro ew y g r A a r ie n Lib tephan S : t c a t 67 Con 325-88

MSU groups may send information for campus calendar to news@reflector.msstate. edu. Additional campus events can be found online at msstate.edu/web/news.

Want to advertise with us?

CALL 325-7907 Come try our 99 cent Steak Biscuit at...

THE REFLECTOR MICAH GREEN | THE REFLECTOR

GUNS

continued from 1

Thomas Bourgeois, Mississippi State University dean of students, said it is the school’s job to abide by the law while keeping students safe. “We respect our legislature,” Bourgeois said. “Our job is to enforce the laws and make sure we’re not infringing on people’s rights and maintaining safety.” Although it is now legal to have concealed weapons on a university campus, Bourgeois said the law will not affect campus policy. “It’s no longer a criminal offense, but our student code of conduct still prohibits students from carrying a weapon,” Bourgeois said. “If you’re caught in violation of that, the penalty can range from probation to suspension.” Other colleges in the state are handling the law differently. Scott Wallace, the assistant dean of students at the University of Mississippi, said Ole Miss has altered its weapons policy in conjunction with the new law. “The previous policy said ‘The University of Mississippi prohibits the possession of weapons on campus and at any University-sponsored events,’” Wallace said. “We updated it this summer after the law was passed.” The revised policy at Ole Miss reads, “The University of Mississippi prohibits the possession of weapons on campus and at any Universitysponsored events unless such possession is authorized by law.” Unlike MSU, the additional “unless such possession is authorized by law” portion allows for permit carriers to h a v e weapons on campus not only legally but also authorized by university policy. Jennifer Miles, vice president of student affairs at Mississippi University for Women, said the investigation of how their school will be influenced by the legislation is still in the works. “We’re currently assessing the effect of the law on our policies,” she said. Aside f r o m university policies, legally carrying a weapon has a significant number of requirements. To carry a weapon on any Mississippi school or university campus, an ordinary gun permit will not suffice. The regular gun permit only qualifies someone to carry a weapon in the places mentioned under the old law. To legally be able to carry a concealed weapon in the locations mentioned under the new law, the

carrier has to follow certain steps. According to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, the potential gun carrier must fill out certain paperwork, have fingerprints taken, pay a fee of $132 and submit to a background investigation. Once everything is cleared and he or she is not found to have a felony on record or has been declared mentally incompetent, the next step is a firearms safety course approved by the Board of Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training. Daniel Hayenga, a certified instructor of the NRA basic pistol course, teaches at the Starkville Gun Club. Hayenga said it is a one-day course, and it lasts eight hours. “The first half is a class discussion where we talk about understanding your responsibility, a little bit of the law and how to safely operate and clean the gun,” he said. “The second half is application, where we practice shooting targets at the ranges typical for self-defense.” Once someone has successfully mastered the course, he or she can bring the certificate to the highway patrol office. They will put a sticker on the back of his or her concealed carry permit, meaning the carrier is then certified to legally carry a concealed weapon on a college campus, as well as the other places mentioned in the updated law. Hayenga said he tells his students to be careful with this new privilege. “You’ve been given the capability to protect yourself, but that’s not the same as being a police officer,” he said. “However, you do have the right to protect yourself and others in danger.”

GUN LAWS For more information on firearms permits, courses and legislation, visit dps.state.ms.us/dps/dps.nsf.

ON TWITTER

@twitter.com/sportsreflector

& FACEBOOK

@facebook.com/sportsreflector

VISIT THE REFLECTOR ONLINE @

reﬂector-online.com

It’s Bo-Time! Go Bulldogs! 662-320-2080 Located on Highway 12.

Try Our Value Chicken or Beef for $1! I’m thinking Arby’s

Men’s Cuts $15

324-0014

Walk Ins Welcome

CLEARANCE SALE! FALL AND WINTER 1/2 OFF! MERCHANDISE SPECIAL RACK OF SPORTCOATS ( Value up to $325)

Ask about our student special with a 12 months lease•FREE WiFi•New Dog Park COMING SOON: FITNESS CENTER!

$99.

College Park • 100 Russell St. • 323-2326

NEWS

REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM

TUESDAY , JANUARY 24, 2012

Healthy Starkville Committee offers grants $25,000 available for healthconscious individuals, groups BY JAY BALLARD Staff Writer

The Healthy Starkville Committee will be offering $25,000 in grants to individuals, businesses and organizations that join in the committee’s push for healthier lifestyles in the city. In 2011, Starkville was named Mississippi’s healthiest hometown by Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation. Ron Williams, committee member and assistant professor in the Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion, said half of the award money will be distributed as grants. Chris Gottbrath, incoming president of the Healthy Starkville Committee, said the grants can be used toward healthier food choices, better exercising opportunities and to increase awareness of the healthcare and wellness resources available to the public. “The goal is to do things within the community that will help citizens of Starkville to be healthier,” Gottbrath said. The committee’s award money will be split into 20 mini-grants that will be worth between $500 and $1,000 and one larger grant

COURTESY GRAPHIC | HEALTHYSTARKVILLE.COM

that will be worth up to $5,000. The mini-grants will not require any kind of matching funds, but the $5,000 grant will require some reciprocation. Williams said the grants could impact both the city and the university.

“The grants offer individuals and organizations funds to help improve the community both on the Mississippi State campus and in Starkville,” he said. Williams said the Healthy Starkville Committee is interested in and determined to help any project that might have a positive effect on the Starkville community. Some of the committee’s goals include increasing awareness of available parks and recreation facilities, promoting community activities that encourage a healthy lifestyle and recognizing individuals and groups who are promoting such lifestyles. The grants will work to make these and other goals become reality. Ronald Cossman, committee member and associate research professor in the Social Science Research Center, said the grants are available to anyone willing to put in the work. “We would be really interested in seeing proposals from student organizations or individuals with a good idea,” he said. “We’re not hung up on who the proposals are coming from.” He said projects submitted in grant applications must address a clear, health-related issue in the community, they must be likely to have a broad impact on the community, they must have outcomes or impacts that can be measured and they must show a possibility for sustainability of the initiative. Cossman said the commit-

DEAN

tee is able to fund two graduate students in the Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion to assist with the recipients of the grants. Each recipient will be assigned two graduate students and two faculty members to help ensure the projects reach their full potential. Cossman said he believes the expertise of the graduate students and faculty members, along with the ideas and strategies of the grant recipients, will make it possible to initiate and sustain the projects. Gottbrath said if these grants establish successful projects, it would definitely be a goal of the committee to continue offering them in the future. “Hopefully, we’ll have a bunch of people apply, and we can get some good programs going,” he said. The application is available on the committee’s website, and interested individuals are encouraged to apply. Frequently asked questions about both types of grants can also be found on the website.

HEALTHY STARKVILLE For more information about application, visit healthystarkville.com. The deadline for applications is Jan. 31.

continued from 1

Another change Synder has be one model that is going to fit been working to implement everyone. We want to give stuis a tutorial program modeled dents the option to participate on the design of Oxford and as much as they want in honCambridge. The ors education,” “Oxbridge” tutoSynder said. rial defines underGracy Hewes, graduate educachair of Unition at these two versity Honors universities and is Council, said a student-directed she is very exresearch project. cited about the “It is a very exchanges to the citing approach honors curricuto undergraduate lum, and said education because she believes the it is student-cenoption of tutotered. The student rials will be a comes up with the SHACKOULS valuable asset to topic, the disci- HONORS COLLEGE students. pline he wants to DEAN CHRISTOPHER “I think the do it in, and often degree is going SYNDER he approaches the to be worth a professor about it. lot more than it Really it is about an academic has in the past,” Hewes said. conversation,” Synder said. “It Synder said he has also is really exciting the student worked on building a longergets to shape that much of his lasting community in Griffis (or her) education.” Hall. The tutorials, like the written “One of my goals is to keep thesis, would not be required of people here (in Griffis) — to all honors students but would keep you here and get you to be offered as an alternative to come back and take courses in contract courses and would the building, to come to our count as a three-hour credit. new book club discussions, af“We have such a large honors ternoon teas and different leccollege that there is not going to ture series we have started …

“One of my goals is to keep people here (in Grifﬁs) ... to get you to come back and take courses in the building.”

The Reﬂector online

@reﬂector-online.com

for exclusive news.

in order to build a community, an intellectual community, a vibrant community,” he said. To aid community development Synder has addressed concerns about the lack of available parking for non-residents of Griffis Hall who wish to attend events at the honors college. He has collaborated with the honors council to draft a proposal to Parking Services requesting parking for honors students and faculty. Synder said his move to MSU has been a positive experience,

HONORS COLLEGE For more information about the Shackouls Honors College, visit honors.msstate.edu.

Try Our Value Chicken or Beef for $1! I’m thinking Arby’s

and he has high hopes for what can be achieved here. “This is a very beautiful campus with a very positive future,” he said. “I see it in enrollment trends; the talent among the faculty and students gives me every reason to believe we are going to be doing bigger, better and greater things.”

BAD DAWGS

Wednesday, January 18

• 9:46 p.m. A student reported clothing items missing from Rice Hall. • 10:55 p.m. A student was arrested for speeding, driving under the influence and possession of controlled substance on Russell Street.

Thursday, January 19

• 9:45 a.m. A student was arrested for expired tag and no insurance on Collegeview Drive. • 9:45 a.m. A student reported his backpack missing at Perry Cafeteria. • 2:52 p.m. A student was arrested for driving with a suspended driver’s license on Coliseum Boulevard. • 7:22 p.m. A student reported his iPhone 4S and wallet being stolent while at Sanderson Center. • 8:57 p.m. A student reported the strong smell of marijuana from room 129 at McKee Hall. • 9:33 p.m. A student was arrested for possession of paraphernalia at Lincoln Green. • 10:08 p.m. A student reported that alcohol was present in room 111 at Hull Hall. • 10:11 p.m. A student was arrested for possession of paraphernalia at McKee Hall. • 10:15 p.m. A student was arrested for possession of marijuana at McKee Hall. • 10:37 p.m. A student was arrested for minor in possession and issued a student referral to see the Dean of Students at Hull Hall. • 10:39 p.m. A student was arrested for minor in possession and issued a student referral to see the Dean of Students at Hull Hall. • 10:40 p.m. A student was arrested for minor in possession and issued a student referral to see the Dean of Students at Hull Hall.

Friday, January 20

• 12:35 a.m. A student was arrested for public drunkenness and disorderly conduct at Hull Hall. • 1:23 a.m. A student was arrested for public drunkenness and disorderly conduct at Hull Hall. • 3:55 a.m. A student jumped out of the third-floor window on the boys side of Hull Hall. EMS arrived and transportation was refused. During booking they noticed his left elbow was swelling. The jail staff was advised to get an ice pack. CORRECTION: In Friday’s edition of The Reflector, the article “Faculty Senate discusses budget cuts, tuition increases,” said Aiken Village was for merit students when it should have said the housing is available for married students. The Reflector regrets this error.

REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM

tuesday , january 24, 2012

OPINION

tuesday , april 5, 2011

THE REFLECTOR

Tuesday, January 31 & st Wednesday, February 1 st

tuesday , january 24, 2012

OPINION REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM

edItOrIal

SOPA, PIPA affect American liberties

tj vaught

he Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA) were postponed Jan. 20. If you didn’t know about them before, you probably discovered their existence last week when many websites, such as Wikipedia and Reddit, went down for a day to protest the passing of the acts. Online piracy of music and other forms of entertainment is bad; we get it. But just because a proposed solution to a problem is developed, it doesn’t mean it is the right solution. SOPA and PIPA focus on enforcing copyright infringement laws against host websites instead of the people downloading and using the pirated material. This would give the government license to shut down websites at its discretion. The acts do this by proposing the governement receive the power to stop U.S. companies from funding, advertising or linking to these sites. Court orders could also block U.S. web users from being able to read the site. YouTube, for example, could be shut down almost immediately. On YouTube, users publish videos that may have copyright infringements. It is unreasonable to think YouTube could police the millions of videos hosted on its site. The trouble with the proposed acts is they focus too much on penalizing the hosting sites even though there is no way these host sites can monitor all the content published. Furthermore, the acts would not prevent people from downloading illegal content. It would just kind of add an extra step to the process. On the Internet, there are ways of getting around virtually anything. The government should not have control over what the public has access to on the Internet. Even though the acts don’t necessarily promote censorship, they would undoubtedly cause it. This could interfere with freedom of speech by blocking sites that involve user-developed content, such as Twitter, Facebook and Wikipedia. We do not live in a communist country where the government controls where we can travel on the Internet, and it is rather foolish of it to believe it can halt illegal downloads. These acts target host websites without cause because the piracy wouldn’t stop. Studios and music labels should find ways to make piracy work for them instead of trying to eliminate it. For example, networks could host television shows on their websites with a small number of advertisements, which could provide a legal alternative to illegal downloads. This way, money could be made from the advertisements presented during streaming. Many networks already do this with some shows. What is so impressive is that these acts were stalled, at least partly, by the public’s reaction. The stalling of the voting exemplified the power of the American people and the voice we have in the government. On Jan. 18, an alternative act was proposed: Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade Act (OPEN). This act was published to the web so the public could respond. The postponement should reinforce to the public that we do have a say in the rules by which we must abide. We create America; it cannot stand alone without us. ***

The Reflector editorial board is made up of opinion editor Wendy Morell, news editor Micah Green, news editor Megan McKeown, sports editor James Carskadon, life editor Kaitlin Mullins, photo editor Jay Johnson, copy editors Kaitlyn Byrne and Mollie C. Reeves, multimedia editor Eric Evans, managing editor Julia Pendley and Editor in Chief Hannah Rogers.

Reflector Multimedia Editor Eric Evans News Editor Megan McKeown

Sports Editor James Carskadon

Life Editor Kaitlin Mullins

Opinion Editor Wendy Morell

Copy Editor Kaitlyn Byrne

Photography Editor Jay Johnson

Copy Editor Mollie C. Reeves

CONTACT INFORMATION

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Editor in Chief/Hannah Rogers

Letters to the editor should be sent to the Meyer Student Media Center or mailed to The Reflector, PO Box 5407, Mississippi State, MS. Letters may also be emailed to editor@reflector.msstate.edu. Letters must include name and telephone number for verification purposes. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.

325-7905 editor@reflector.msstate.edu Managing Editor/Julia Pendley 325-8991 managing@reflector.msstate.edu News Editor/Micah Green 325-8819 news@reflector.msstate.edu News tips/Megan McKeown 325-7906 news@reflector.msstate.edu Opinion Editor/Wendy Morell opinion@reflector.msstate.edu Sports Editor/James Carskadon 325-5118 sports@reflector.msstate.edu Life Editor/Kaitlin Mullins 325-8883 kmullins@reflector.msstate.edu Photography Editor/Jay Johnson 325-1584 photo@reflector.msstate.edu Advertising sales/Emily Moak 325-7907 advertise@reflector.msstate.edu

elevision and film are great. We are surrounded by a sea of video that streams right into our homes and into our hearts. How many people, when they have an hour to kill, sit down and veg out to an episode of “Parks and Recreation” or watch “Inception” for the ten thousandth time? However, just because there is an overwhelming plethora of TV shows and movies to watch, it doesn’t mean we should neglect a much older form of entertainment, namely, books. I realize that today, more people are probably reading than ever. But what exactly are they reading? For the most part, it’s either magazines or newspapers, articles on the Internet and the like. And, for a large majority of the population, most of its time spent with noses in a book is usually in something like a Grisham thriller or a Nicholas Sparks romance. There is nothing wrong with enjoying certain genres of literature, and I’m not here to scoff at the Twilight fanatics or those obsessed with

Jodi Picoult. All I’m here to do is to perhaps shed light on some books some of you may not have considered and which really do deserve a glance. These are not difficult books. This doesn’t lessen the quality of the story or the contents of the narrative and, in fact, should actually heighten the enjoyment, because there won’t be any need to whip out a thesaurus every time the word “tyro” shows up. Also, there won’t be any need to have to translate entire paragraphs of Latin (*cough* Umberto Eco *cough*). Point being, these books shouldn’t be too hard for anyone to grasp. I know for most people, the only time they ever came in contact with the so-called “classics” of literature was during a high school English class. This is a serious problem. Just because something is old doesn’t mean it isn’t good. Sure, some of the customs, mannerisms and speech patterns may be a wee bit different (“Pride & Prejudice” by

“Remember, books are meant to inform, enlighten and, above all, entertain.”

Claire Mosley is a sophomore majoring in pre-accounting. She can be contacted at opinion@reflector. msstate.edu. Jane Austen and “The Beautiful and the Damned” by F. Scott Fitzgerald) but isn’t that what books are for? How else could we experience times and places long past, such as the Spanish Civil War (“Homage to Catalonia” by George Orwell) or ancient Rome (“I, Claudius” by Robert Graves) The ideas contained in books is no less valuable or meaningful just because it’s all dressed up in Southern belle dresses and Confederate uniforms. And if you’re looking for that, then you could do a lot worse than “Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell. It’s not Shakespeare, but 10 bucks says you can’t put it down after 50 pages. No one is asking you to read

Dostoevsky here. Really, it’s just the same fare one would find in an ordinary English class, minus all of the questions, analyzing and essay writing that seems to make reading such a drag for most people. Remember, books are meant to inform, enlighten and, above all, entertain. Reading is fun! Now let’s ditch that party and go read some Hemingway. I’m joking. Though seriously, books are great, especially the classics. Among these books are authors who have managed to actually capture lightning in a bottle, so to speak. There are themes and motifs that resonate from generation to generation. “A Tale of Two Cities,” or anything by Dickens, is one of my favorites. Even though you may miss some of the easy familiarity of your old books at first, remember riding a bike when you first started. The same goes for picking up Milton, Dante or Shakespeare. I’m not going to lie, it’s going to be some tough sledding at first. But much like cracking open a particularly obnoxious nut, the payoff is only more delicious because you had to work harder to get to it.

aN ugly fact Of lIfe | tIm mcgrath

Editor in Chief Hannah Rogers

News Editor Micah Green

Book classics oftentimes overlooked

Acquiring knowledge holds key to success

The

Managing Editor Julia Pendley

red herrINgs | claIre mOsley

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 Reflector have not been approved by Mississippi State University.

ne of my favorite debates recently became article fodder whilst sitting in the front row of my American government course. It’s a question that I’ve contemplated for a while, which academic philosophy is better: a liberal arts approach or a trade school approach? How well-rounded should our college education make us? I’m an engineer; why do I need to know who that guy who wrote “Hamlet” is? It certainly won’t make my paycheck any larger. Likewise, why do philosophy majors need to understand mathematics? Why do I need to understand Muslim motivations for 9/11? In case you haven’t heard of Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, I will swiftly retell it to you in exactly 80 words (omitting the extraneous parts): Plato describes people chained to a wall at the bottom of the cave. They grow up seeing nothing but darkness and knowing nothing but the wall opposite to the one they’re chained to. Then, one is released to view the world.

He sees its justice, government, society and beauty. He goes back to the cave to enlighten his fellow prisoners of the beauty of the outside world, and perhaps even release them. However, they call him foolish and ignore him. Anyway, I tell you that story because I have come to this opinion: universities have an obligation to pull us from our caves. Some may say the most important thing you get for your money here is a skill, as if Mississippi State University is a trade school. I say the most important thing anyone can ever acquire is knowledge. Skills are wonderful, but a paycheck will never create true happiness. Then again, happiness won’t pay the bills. Which is more important to you? O b v i o u s l y, MSU is a landgrant institution, providing both skills and knowledge. However, it seems that if you interviewed most students here, you would not get that impression. I can only speak from the perspective of engineering, but

“Skills are wonderful, but a paycheck will never create true happiness. Then again, happiness won’t pay the bills.”

Tim McGrath is a freshman majoring in aerospace engineering. He can be contacted at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu. it seems engineering students do not like philosophy. They don’t like learning about literature, history, religion or art outside of their comfort zone. As long as the walls of our cave are coated with calculus problems, we’re happy. But when the philosophy teacher comes from the outside world, speaking of beautiful knowledge, trying to free us from our bondage, we reply, “You’re foolish, philosophy teacher. Engineering is all that is important.” Someone is willing to save us from our ignorance, but we deny his or her help. To me, this is the most saddening phenomenon in the modern university. It happens at all types of universities, all over the country, to completely different students. However, all of this has led to my second point on the topic: no one can save you from the

cave. You must save yourself. Professors can show you the way but can’t carry you there. We must free ourselves from ignorance, and we have an obligation as citizens of the world to do so. If we never stop to consider contradictory ideas to what the media, our parents and preachers say, we never fully grow into informed, model citizens. However, that isn’t an excuse for being a hipster. Which leads me to my third and final point: just because you have seen the outside world doesn’t mean the caves are worthless. Inside the caves are still extremely intelligent people who can teach us much. Furthermore, those who have left the cave should not be selfrighteous. They are no more fundamentally better than those in darkness. In fact, they have an obligation to free others from the cave and should enjoy doing so. Lastly, the bright side to this darkness is that the liberation of the mind can start here, at our university. We will get our practical skills and make our inflated paychecks, but will we gain the wisdom to make the right decisions or truly understand other people? An even bigger question: is that even something college can teach you?

CORRECTIONS

The Reflector staff strives to maintain the integrity of this paper through accurate and honest reporting. If we publish an error we will correct it. To report an error, call 325-7905. allison keller | the reflector

allison keller | the reflector

6 | tuesday , january 24 , 2012

THE REFLECTOR

AN IN-CLASS DISTRACTION ...

Across 1 Kid’s summer spot 5 Ain’t it the truth 9 Melville’s Billy 13 Craft seen at many a 1-Across 14 Banned apple treatment 15 Current about 16 “Family Matters” nerd 17 __ dry eye in the house 18 Hindu music style 19 Outdo other guests seeking a party drink? 22 Hotel annex? 23 Carson’s late-night predecessor 24 Thurmond who was a senator for 47 years 26 Fancy neckwear 29 Bay Area airport letters 31 Lux. locale 32 Pitcher of milk? 34 Size up 36 Order one so-so ice cream drink? 39 Throw in the direction of 40 __ one’s game: performing below par 41 Bribe 42 Slice of history 44 Hardly silk purse material, in an idiom 48 Building brick 50 Bearing 52 Unnamed degree 53 Activate a dispenser for a fruit drink? 57 Civil rights icon Parks 58 “You bet, señora!” 59 Rye fungus 60 A very long time 61 Lobe adornment 62 Slasher’s title hangout, in film: Abbr. 63 Schools of whales 64 Pops the question 65 H.S. junior’s exam Down 1 Job, and then some 2 Asian capital on a

peninsula 3 Champagne brand 4 Assail (with), as snowballs 5 Classic film with dancing hippos 6 Hawaiian hi or bye 7 Works a wedding 8 Catch 9 Too well-done 10 Where not to be paddleless? 11 Whence a front yard growl 12 It may be used to ID a perp 13 Like dice, shapewise 20 Chooses 21 G.I. entertainment 25 Robinson of song 27 November honorees 28 Support group for kids of substance abusers 30 Scam that’s “pulled” 33 Hamburger’s article 35 Without 36 All set 37 Championed, as a

1-24-12 Solutions for 1-20-12

cause 38 Fruit used as a vitamin C supplement 39 Airport safety org. 43 Prenatal tests, for short 45 Baffling problem 46 Not marked up

47 Classic role for Clark 49 Military bigwigs 51 “Everything’s fine” 54 Worker protection agcy. 55 Cherokee maker 56 www addresses 57 50 Cent’s genre

BULLETIN BOARD CLASSIFIEDS POLICY The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday; the deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. Classifieds are $5 per issue. Student and staff ads are $3 per issue, pre-paid. Lost and found: found items can be listed for free; lost items are listed for standard ad cost. for rent 1 bedroom condo, stove, refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, washer/dryer. Walking distance to campus. No pets, lease required. $385 per month. 323-5186. HeLP WAnteD Bartending. Up to $300 / day. No experience necessary. Training available. Call 800965-6520 ext. 213. misceLLAneous FOUND: Textbook - email: msstate.edu7@yahoo.com to identify. FOUND: phone in Harned Hall. Please identify in 117 Harned. CLUB INFO The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday; deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. MSU student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info. Information may be submitted by email to club_info@reflector.msstate. edu with the subject heading “CLUB INFO,” or a form may be completed 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. BAPtist stuDent union The BSU at Mississippi State invites all students to our weekly worship service, PRIORITY, on Tuesday nights at 6:15 p.m. You are also invited to a $5 home-cooked meal, called NOONDAY, on Wednesdays at noon. The

BSU Center is located directly across the street from Campus Book Mart. All students are welcome. Visit msubsu.com for more information. cAmPus BiBLe stuDents Intensive Bible study Mondays from 7 to 8 p.m. in room 324 of the Union. All are welcome. Email tns54@pss.msstate.edu for more information. cAtHoLic stuDent AssociAtion The CSA invites you to join us each week at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Student mass is on Sundays at 5:30 p.m. Good food and fun fellowship can be had at $2 dinners on Tuesday at 6 p.m., followed by weekly / Bible study at 7 p.m. Come to one of these events and learn more ways to get involved! For more information, simply “like” our Facebook page: “Mississippi State Catholic Student Association.” fAAmsu Come join us for lively discussions. Believers welcome! Every Thursday, starting Sept. 8, in the Union room 226 from 6 to 9 p.m. Twitter: @SAUCEFORALL. We are the Freethinkers, Agnostics and Atheists of MSU. femALe GrADuAte stuDents New group for female graduate students in science, engineering and mathematics: Please email msu.gwise@gmail.com HoLmes cuLturAL Diversity center Come join the internationally acclaimed African’s Children’s Choir in concert on Feb. 3, 7 p.m. in Bettersworth Auditorium, Lee Hall. The choir’s joyful music is a blend of song and dance throughout the continent of Africa, featuring more than 10 languages and cultural dancing. Free and open to the Public. LiGHt BeArers Yeah! We Bear The Light! Come join us for fellowship, dynamic worship and inspirational

devotions every Thursday at 7 p.m. Union 3rd floor, room 329. msu AmericAn society for microBioLoGy stuDent cHAPter Interested in microbiology? Come to our meeting on Jan. 25 at 5 p.m. in Harned 102. For more information email us at msuasm@yahoo.com or be our friend on Facebook, MSU ASM. msu cAnterBury ePiscoPAL feLLoWsHiP “Spiritual but not religious?” Spirituality and home-cooking at the Episcopal Church (“Canterbury”). Free dinner, activities each Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. Canterbury Lodge, 105 N. Montgomery St., Starkville. For more information, contact Chaplain Carol Mead at 6941178. Sponsored by Canterbury Episcopal Fellowship. msu sHootinG sPorts cLuB Looking for all kinds of competitive shooters. Rifle, shotgun, pistol and multigun competitors needed. Contact Tyler Tharp at 601-618-5137 or Mike Brown at mike.brown@ msstate.edu. triAtHLon cLuB Learn more about MSU’s new Triathlon Club by visiting MSUTC.com or on Facebook @ Mississippi State Triathlon! ruf Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) is a campus ministry that has been on State’s campus since 1976. Our large group Bible study meets Thursdays from 7 to 8 p.m. in Dorman Auditorium. For further information and for upcoming events, visit msstate.ruf.org . All are welcome to come. yoGA moves Stressed out? Try hatha yoga to soothe the body and the mind. Yoga Moves meets every Tuesday from 5 to 6:10 p.m. in Studio C at the Sanderson Center.

OCTOPUzzLE Due to space, Octopuzzle will not be in this issue of The Reflector. The puzzle and solution from Tuesday will reappear as space allows.

Solutions for 1-20-11

LIFE

REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM

tuesday , january 24, 2012

MSU Theatre prepares have an for next performance interest in pinterest?

wat up with that? | ashlyn watkins

By Emma HawEs Staff Writer

Ashlyn Watkins is a senior majoring in communication. She can be contacted at life@reflector. msstate.edu.

was shopping with my friend, Alyssa, when everywhere we went she repeatedly exclaimed, “That looks like something I saw on Pinterest.” This phrase has recently become all too familiar among those involved in the latest craze of Pinterest. Pinterest is a website where members can create their own visual boards and “pin” pictures of interest that direct you to a linked website. Categories range from architecture and travel to recipes and DIY, and everything in between. Pinterest was created in 2010 but just recently became popular. Millions of users have caught on to the latest Internet craze, forming its own realm of social networking. The site has become a resource of sorts for its users by providing an endless supply of self-created visual galleries stocked with ideas and inspiration. Users create themed boards pertaining to their personal interests and, from there pin media from other users’ boards as well as from any website with the click of a button.

It seems like just yesterday Pinterest was a fleeting thought until this addicting fad came to be. Like many other social networks, Pinterest was originally an exclusive, invite-only site. Now anyone in need of a new excuse to procrastinate can join. A seemingly harmful visit to the site can turn into hours of creating and sharing ideas and pinning anything and everything that catches the eye. Many view Pinterest as a so-called man-haters site since women make up the majority of the “pinner” population. Men have gradually come to catch on, as they begin to find that there are masculine “pins of interest” as well. One male user has found Pinterest as a particularly useful site where he can find inspiration for home improvement. “Pinterest interests me because there are a lot of cool, crafty ideas of projects you can do around the house. I once made my mom a special shelf to hold her cookbooks as a surprise.” Pinterest is a growing site with the potential to be the next best thing in social networking. Pinterest has even recently created an iPhone app that users can download for further convenience. Before you know it ,the “board” will be the new “wall,” and the “pin” will be the new “tweet.” As a word of caution: Pinterest may cause an unhealthy addiction to an intangible fantasy. You can’t say I didn’t warn you.

Mississippi State Theatre Department held auditions Jan. 17 through 19 in the McComas Lab Theatre for the next production of Liz Duffy Adam’s post-apocalyptic comedy “Dog Act.” “Dog Act” focuses on three tribes who are trying to survive and adjust to their new lives after the apocalypse. The characters will invent a world that does not exist because there are no rules and no establishment. The three different tribes are the scavengers, the vaudevillians and a tribe of knowledge. The purpose of the vaudeville tribe is to show there will always be storytellers. “Dog Act” has been performed less than 20 times since it was first performed in 2004. Jo Durst, the director, found the script when she attended the Southeastern Theatre Conference two years ago. “The play is a farce that deals with dark comedy,” Durst said. “It is different from what someone would expect from theatre.” “Dog Act” will feature a few songs even though it is not considered a musical. The instruments will be hand made. Melanie Harris, costume designer, asked Mandy Hackman, a senior majoring in English and theatre, what she would use to make a drum. “Most of the songs go at an excellent pace, and they are not Broadway quality,” Harris said. Rebekah McFerran, a sophomore secondary education major, said she believes “Dog Act” is coming out at the perfect time. “The apocalypse has recently been a popular topic since it is 2012. A lot of things in pop culture have focused on the

file photo | msu theatre department

In 2008, Mississippi State Theatre Department performed Cinderella. This year, the department will perform "Dog Act" Feb. 23 through 25. The cost will be $5 for students and $10 general admission.

apocalypse for the past few years such as ‘The Hunger Games,’ ‘The Road’ and ‘The Walking Dead,’” McFerran said. Most of the participants followed the stage directions as they recited the script for the first time. However, they occasionally laughed while auditioning due to the script’s humor. Some of the auditioners were challenged with reciting a paragraph of tongue twisters. During the auditions, Harris sat behind a table sketching out her ideas for the costumes. Harris has a month to create the play’s wardrobe out of unusual materials. The characters adopted their names based upon the objects they found to make

Shelby Rayburn, Murren, Switzerland

their clothes. One of the sketches was a suit of armor made out of Coke cans. “The costumes are definitely a story of its own,” Harris said. “I am trying to use zip ties with clothes because the zip ties would survive since they are made out of plastic.” Durst and Harris have decided to use materials they think would survive the apocalypse such as plastics, leather, bamboo and metals. Recently, Harris bought tires to make some shoes that resemble the shoes her father made while serving in Vietnam. “‘Dog Act’ will be off the wall with costumes,” Hackman said. “However, the play looks at the-

atre through vaudeville, and it will be interesting to see.” The McComas Lab Theatre has 80 seats; however, Durst said she believes the play will benefit from the small environment. “The actors will be up close and personal with the audience, and I think it will add excitement to the performance,” she said. The production will run from Feb. 23 through 25 at 7:30 p.m. in the McComas Lab Theatre. Tickets can be purchased at the door on the nights of the performances and they can be purchased at the online box office at comm.msstate.edu/dept/ theatre/ for $5 for students and $10 for general admission.

LIFE

tuesday , january 24, 2012

THE REFLECTOR

CAMERON MCMASTER

WEEKEND WORKING

CAROLYN HAILEY

WINTER WEAR

Award show hosting humor gone too far? By Emma HolmEs Staff Writer

Is it his debonaire charm? Dashing looks? Straight smile? British accent? Or is it his loose-sleeve technique of slinging painstaking, brutally honest comments leaving none untarnished of their harsh yet hilarious nature that set Ricky Gervais aside from most other leading comics of this generation? Ricky Gervais has kept the attendees of the Golden Globes squirming in their seats in anticipation of public humiliation derived from his jokes and snide comments, leaving no star’s ‘‘personal life stone’’ unturned. Over the past three Globes Gervais has hosted, he has paid little to no attention to the previously appropriate line drawn in the sands of entertainment and hosting. No addiction, affair, religion or lack there of, weight gain, family problem, divorce, weakness or lifestyle has been safe from the scrutinizing comical eyes of this Brit, not even NBC or the Globes, themselves. In his explanation of the Golden Globes, Gervais gave a rather cruel but seemingly accurate comparison of the Globes and the Oscars, describing the Globes as the Kim Kardashian of award shows while deeming the Oscars as the always classy, Kate Middleton. His explanation of this comparison was that the Globes are “a bit louder, a bit trashier, a bit drunker and more easily bought... allegedly” than that of the Oscars’ sophisticated nature. “Tonight you get Britain's big-

gest comedian, hosting the world’s second biggest awards show on America's third biggest network (NBC). Sorry, is it fourth? It’s fourth,” Gervais said. The question at hand is not whether the man has jokes, clearly he is at no loss for jokes although they rest at the expense of the rich and famous. No, the question is whether his jokes are funny once the audience shakes off the initial shock, regains consciousness and takes into consideration the burn marks left from the sting on the targets backside. Trey Burke, a graduate assistant and graduate student at Mississippi State University, gave his opinion on Gervais and his hosting skills. “I think that his comedy relies on being ‘outrageous’ and offending people, but you have to make a distinction between someone’s act and their personality,” Burke said. Another aspect of Gervais’ scomedy that seems to stifle some members of the audience and reviews alike is his relentless and obnoxious outbursts of his own religious beliefs and atheism. He feels so adamantly about his religious views that he has refused to marry his girlfriend of 29 years. He said he feels it would be an unnecessary act to be joined together in the sight of a God that he does not believe exists. Parker Brumfield, a junior at MSU, gave his opinion of Ricky Gervais’s comedy. “I think that he is hilarious, but I could do without his obnoxious atheism,” Brumfield said.

It seems the more time that thing: vulgarity, awkwardness, passes, the more ‘‘outrageous’’ humor and disrespect; but with comedy acts have to become in an audience where four out of five order to register a peep of laughter nominees didn’t win, you need or even a giggle from the audience. someone who will go a step too The outrageous and over-the- far to keep everyone’s mood light hearted,” Dotop stomach gan said. “Not bug scene in to mention the recent hit how gorgeous ‘‘Bridesmaids,’’ his maroon not to mensuit looked.” tion the shockIs the atmoingly void, full sphere Gerfrontal view vais creates of Mr. Chow light-hearted in the box ofin nature, or fice hit, ‘‘The does he add H a n g o v e r, ’’ to the already both provoked anxious air mass bursts and stir in the of laughter to audience a the point of mood of fear streaming tears and apprebecause of the hension that shock value trey burke, they may be and over-thethe butt of his top nature of graduate assistant next joke? the comedy in It will be these scenes. interesting to Has comedy gone too far from the “good ol’ see if the Oscars promote a difdays” when Bob Hope and John- ferent type of comedic relief with ny Carson kept the banter within their host, Billy Crystal. Is this the bounds of common comedic hosting choice just proof backing morality? If this moral compass Gervais’ claim of the Oscars being for comedy has been alleviated the classy award show resorting from our generation, would that back to the old-fashioned, cleannecessarily be a bad thing? Is there cut, innocent comedy of the past? a sort of usefulness for this “crude” I guess we will have to wait to see if Crystal stays true to his lighthumor in society today? Ann Hamilton Dogan, a soph- hearted comedy, or if he morphs omore majoring in apparel, tex- into the comedy of tearing down tiles and merchandising, gave an and using others as a crutch to get a laugh. opinion on the matter. Editor's note: Trey Burke is a “I think he (Gervais) was great! Yes, he was too much of every- staff writer for The Reflector.

“I think that his comedy relies on being ‘outrageous’ and offending people, but you have to make a distinction between someone’s act and their personality.”

Cancer Care 1 in 3 people will be diagnosed with cancer in his or her lifetime. The other two will know someone who is.

Light Lunch Provided

Cancer affects everyone. This month Miss Ashley Rhodes will be sharing Her experience beating Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and being treated at St. Jude Hospital

Wednesday, 01/25/2012 12 Noon Longest Student Health Center 3rd Floor Classroom

For more information: 662-325-2306 or jsmith@saffairs.msstate.edu

We want to be a free resource of information and support to students, staff or faculty that have been touch by cancer as a survivor, care giver or a friend.

INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING? Call 325-7907

SPORTS

REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM

TUESDAY , JANUARY 24, 2012

Lady Dogs storm back to down Auburn BY KRISTEN SPINK Staff Writer

Diamber Johnson did it again for the Mississippi State Bulldogs as the team pulled off a comefrom-behind win over the Auburn Tigers in dramatic fashion Sunday afternoon. Johnson led the team with 27 points, 17 of which came in the second half as she willed the team to victory. It was 2005 last time the Mississippi State womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball team beat the Auburn Tigers at the Hump, and the first half of Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game seemed no different. After a fast start for the Dogs, the baskets were few and far between the rest of the half. State began the game 3-3 before going 1-14 during a long drought offensively. The only thing that went right for State in the first half was the fact that the Georgia women were beating Ole Miss 28-2 simultaneously. Meanwhile, the Tigers took advantage of MSU turnovers and out-rebounded the Dogs 26-15 in the first to take a 28-20 lead at the half. Eight Tigers scored in the first half, whereas only four Bulldogs touched the scoreboard. A three-pointer by Johnson as time expired in the half cut the lead to single digits and gave the Dogs the momentum heading into the locker rooms. Head coach Sharon FanningOtis said there were a few defensive stops which gave the team some momentum late in the half. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we talked at halftime, it was about energy and for the most part rebounding, blocking out and taking care of the basketball,â&#x20AC;? Fanning-Otis said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I challenged them to take it at people when they went zone. We had a couple of lulls where we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take it at them, but once we regrouped a couple of shots fell and that helped us gain momentum.â&#x20AC;? The second half was all MSU as hustle plays and key buckets kept State in the game. Johnson had a combination of three-pointers old-fashioned three point plays to cut the lead, and she made a big play every time the game was tied or the Dogs were in striking distance. However, Johnson did have some help throughout the game. Freshman Kendra Grant finished with a career-high 15 points, including a pair of three pointers. Also, freshman Martha Alwal recorded nine points, 10 rebounds and five blocks as she continued her solid play. Fanning-Otis said the freshmen are learning to play with the team, which is key to having several players contributing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It takes balance to win in this league. The freshmen have to be-

ALLISON KELLER | THE REFLECTOR

THE AGITATOR | MATT TYLER

Vandy win shifts dynamic of season

JAY JOHNSON | THE REFLECTOR

Senior guard Diamber Johnson poured in a career-high 27 points during SundayĘźs come-from-behind victory against Auburn.

come wiser as they play, and you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to repeat the same mistakes, but rather you have to have courage to step Fanning-Otis up and make a play,â&#x20AC;? Fanning-Otis said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m really proud of Kendra and Martha as they are growing, and you are going to see them continue to step up.â&#x20AC;? Grant said she realized the importance of helping Johnson as much as possible and tries to have fun while doing so. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I did have fun; if Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m too serious or have too much on my mind, the game is hard,â&#x20AC;? Grant said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But we knew we needed this win, and it just felt good. Normally teams know Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a three-point shooter, but I drove today and shocked myself.â&#x20AC;? A key play in the game came with 35 seconds left and the Dogs up three. The Tigers were in a full-court press, but Johnson hit Alwal on a length of the court pass to put MSU up by five. A steal by Porter in the closing seconds secured the 62-57 victory for the Dogs. The theme of the year stayed consistent for State as Johnson came through play after play to keep the Dogs in the game. Johnsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 27 points marked the ninth time this year and the third time in four games she has scored 20 or

more points. She also moved to 19th on MSUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all-time scoring list with her solid performance. Johnson said she knew the team could not afford any more losses at this point. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I always try to get my teammates involved, but it came a point and time that I could only get it to them by what I initiated, either shooting or passing it to them,â&#x20AC;? Johnson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The coaches have been telling me to take over games and not be scared of success, and they told me to take on that role and the team would follow.â&#x20AC;? With the win the Dogs moved to 2-3 in the SEC and recorded their 13th win of the season, tying last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total in just their 19th game. Johnson said the team understands the game more than it did last year and is doing more to fix its problems. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We kept our heads in it, and our mindset is to always fight the bigger battle in the game, and when we got there we kept pushing through,â&#x20AC;? Johnson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s usually more of what we do to ourselves, so when we focus on that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a tough team to beat. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s our whole mind-set that this is something we feel like we want, and we are doing the little things it takes to get there.â&#x20AC;? The Bulldogs will look to move to .500 in SEC play when they host the Arkansas Razorbacks this Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Hump.

nger. Jubilation. Heartbreak. Relief. As is often the case when it comes to Mississippi State basketball, MSU fans rode an emotional rollercoaster in the Bulldogs 78-77 victory over Vanderbilt on Saturday. This was a game the Bulldogs were supposed to lose. MSU had not defeated Vanderbilt in Memorial Gym since 2004. Vanderbilt had won seven consecutive games. MSU had been embarrassed by Arkansas and in-state rival Ole Miss in their first two SEC road games. When you put it all together, there was no way the Bulldogs would find a way to beat a streaking Vandy squad in their own gym, right? For the first half, the haters (everyone I spoke to before the game would fall into this category) were correct. MSU could Sidney not make a shot, and Vandy could not miss. The pitchforks were out, and many a State fan were calling for MSU head coach Rick Stansbury to be fired at halftime. As he has a habit of doing, Stansbury would pull a rabbit out of his (imaginary) hat in the second half. After a first half in which the Bulldogs played poorly enough to offend even this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Washington Wizards, something happened at halftime that bodes well for this MSU squad as the season progresses: they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quit, and they played smart. No one has ever doubted the talent on this team, but practically everyone has openly wondered if this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edition of the Bulldogs had the heart and desire to get back up off the mat when they had been beaten and bloodied. In years past, they have not. This year, they do. Let me say this before I go any further: It is practically impossible to go into Memorial Gym and

Matt Tyler is a senior majoring in communication. He can be contacted at reflectorsports@ gmail.com beat a quality Vandy team. This team did, and it did so after trailing by double-digits at halftime. For a Mississippi State team and program accused of lacking discipline and heart, this was a monumental victory. Not only did the Bulldogs earn a â&#x20AC;&#x153;qualityâ&#x20AC;? win, but they changed the course of their season in one night. Lose in Nashville and suddenly a once promising season would have been perceived as starting to unravel; a talented MSU team would once again go from contenders to pretenders. Instead, the Bulldogs silenced the critics and earned a win that will look extremely good on their resume come March. For a while in the second half, it seemed as if the Bulldogs were finally hitting on all cylinders. Junior forward Arnett Moultrie established himself inside. Enigmatic center Renardo Sidney was scoring on the block, forcing turnovers on defense and making deft passes not usually made by a 280-pound man. Senior point guard and co-captain Dee

â&#x20AC;&#x153;For a Mississippi State program accused of lacking discipline and heart, this was a huge victory. Not only did the Bulldogs earn a ĘťqualityĘź win, but they changed the course of their season in one night.â&#x20AC;?

Northstar Properties Cedar Cove Apartments 10.11 on Louisville Del Mar Townhouses

Open Hours: Monday-Saturday 11am-9pm Sunday 12pm-8pm Lunch Special $6.95 Monday-Friday 11am-3pm

Bost, after several sub par games, was controlling the tempo and making shots as MSU fans expect him to do. And sophomore guard Jalen Steele had a brief outof-body experience and started raining down threes upon a stout Commodore defense. Vandy, a great team in its own right, would not go away, though. It clawed and scratched its way back into it, forcing overtime after hitting two threes late in the game. This is where previous MSU teams would have folded. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s MSU squad never backed down. They appeared confident and supportive of each other on the sideline (at least they did on my television), and they clamped down and made defensive stops when they needed to be made. Most importantly, they won. And by winning, they shut up many of their critics. Any questions about this teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s toughness or tenacity should have been answered late in the second half against Vanderbilt. The Bulldogs refused to quit, and they did not roll over and play dead when Vanderbilt mounted a furious comeback. After having played 20 games this year, it is finally acceptable to say that this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s MSU team is different. The Bulldogs are not going to win every game left on the schedule, but they will try their best to do so. After the debacle that was last season, what more can you ask for? Maybe, just maybe, this will be the team to finally break through and take MSU and Stansbury to the promised land: the Sweet 16.

Dine In & Take Out 303 Martin Luther King Jr Drive East Starkville, MS 39759 662-320-7117

20% OFF YOUR BILL

PRESENT THIS COUPON WHEN PAYING Coupon expires on February 5, 2012

Middlecreek Townhouses Briarwood Townhouses (662)323-8610 northstarstarkville.com

Your Official MSU/NISSAN Employee

Purchase Plan Headquarters

! "

WWW.COLUMBUSNISSAN.COM

SPORTS 10

tuesday , january 24, 2012

THE REFLECTOR

On tHe tuBe: stat of the day : Lsu vs. 4 – the total number of points msu’s Msu last three basketball games with lsu have been decided by 7 p.M. wed. sec net.

Bulldogs split pair of Big Ten road matches

first sets, but we didn’t lose the faith, and we felt like we did a good job and fought through Fresh off their opening week- early troubles and won in the end sweep in Hawaii, the Mis- end.” On the final match of the evesissippi State men’s tennis team faced its toughest test this sea- ning, 32nd-ranked Coupland son against stiff Big Ten op- also dropped his first set but ponents in Michigan State and battled back to win the next set and served for the match, winOhio State over the weekend. The 16th-ranked Bulldogs ning 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 and gave the first took care of business at Bulldogs a 5-2 win on the day. Michigan State as they took a Head coach Per Nilsson praised thrilling, hard-fought 5-2 deci- his team for the victory. “Their courts are really fast and sion from the Spartans on Frimost teams aren’t used to that so day night. Bulldog duo George Coup- we knew it was going to be diffiland and Artem Ilyushin and cult, but once we got used to that 12th-ranked tandem Louis I feel that we did pretty well,” he Cant and Malte Stropp clinched said. “We fought hard and got their doubles matches to give out of there with a win, which is sometimes difthe Dogs a 1-0 ficult.” lead, overall. On Sunday “I felt really the Bulldogs good, and our suffered a tough team played setback at 3rdreally hard in ranked Ohio the match,” State with a 6-1 Cant said. loss. The Buck“We all pushed eyes struck fast each other on as they swept the court so it the doubles feels good as a point and the team to finish first two sinthe doubles.” gles matches The Sparto clinch an tans respondearly 3-0 lead. ed as they split Chaudry made the first four a valiant rally singles matchfor the Dogs es. Seventybut fell short ninth ranked in his match James Chaudry Per nilsson, to 8th-ranked dropped a head coach Blaz Rola 7-6, tough 6-2, 6-4 to make it 6-1 decision 4-0 overall and before 45thsolidified the ranked Cant and reigning SEC Freshman win for Ohio State. The Bulldogs will travel to of the Year Stropp took their matches 7-5, 6-1, and 3-6, 6-3, College Station, Texas next week6-0, respectively. Spartan Will end and open with Princeton in Davis battled out a 6-4, 7-5 the ITA Kickoff Weekend hosted victory over Bulldog newcomer by Texas A&M. “We have to fix a few things Ethan Wilkinson to trim the and everybody’s got to start feelMississippi State lead to 3-2. After dropping his first set ing good about their game so 3-6, senior Ilyushin rallied to that they can play out,” Nilsson win the next two sets 6-4, 6-3 said. “Hopefully, we can get past and clinched the overall match Princeton and play a secondround match to qualify for the for the Bulldogs. “Singles was tough. Their national indoors, which is our guys were playing great and we goal.” The first home match for had to fight through to get the points,” Ilyushin said. “George, MSU will be Feb. 3 against TCU Malte and I went down in the at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre. by John galatas

Contributing Writer

“We have to fix a few things and everybody’s got to start feeling good about their game so that they can play out. Hopefully, we can get past Princeton and play a second-round match.”

110 E Main St. Starkville MS, 39759 662-320-6872

cOurtesy pHOtO | HaiLstate.cOM

Favian Cowards, MSU’s top finisher at the Auburn Inivitational, is one of many MSU track and field athletes hoping to break records in 2012.

Track and field has high hopes for ‘12 by elliott rees Contributing Writer

Mississippi State’s indoor track and field season is off to a fast start and expectations are high after early record-setting performances. The Bulldogs, who currently sit at No. 19 in the nation on the men’s side along with five other Southeastern Conference teams ranked in the top 25. The Lady Bulldogs are currently unranked, but second year head coach Steve Dudley said he is certain this season will be an improvement. “We added a lot through recruiting and would be hugely disappointed if we did not finish better than we did last year,” he said. If the way the Bulldogs started this season is any implication of how the rest of the season will go, then the future is bright for this team. The Bulldogs got off the blocks quickly with recordsetting performances during www.oldvenice.com Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

For the best meal at the cheapest price, come check out our

ALL YOU CAN EAT Lunch Buffet $8.95 (excluding beverage) Monday-Friday 11am-2pm

SUNDAY BRUNCH with Breakfast and Lunch only $12.95 11am-2pm Ask about or late night menu!

Join us in the Burgundy Room- Starkville’s only downtown bar that still serves drinks the “Old Fashioned Way” Monday: $1 Bud, Bud Light & Miller Lite Draft and 2-4-1 Bellini’s $2 Tuesday’s: $2 draft and bottled beers and 2-4-1 Bellini’s. Wednesday’s: 3-4-1 Wells, 2-4-1 Bellini’s. Half off House Wine (4-until) & Half off Single topping pizzas from 4-7 2-4-1 Thursday’s: 2-4-1 wells, drafts, Bellini’s, & $1 Jager, Rumplemintz, Goldschlager shots Ladies Night Friday: Happy Hour all night & .99cent wells for the ladies 9-close and Happy Hour all night for the guys Saturday: Happy Hour all day and night & 1/2 OFF Champagne Sparklers Sunday: 1/2 off Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas Billboard Top Hits playing all night Friday and Saturday!

back-to-back meets in Birming- they don’t belong in the SEC or ham, Ala. State’s first meet at the on this team,” he said. UAB Invitational on Jan. 13 feaJunior Jody-Ann Muir in her tured senior Jessica Merriweath- first race of the season also had er’s first place 5’8” high jump, a standout performance in the which tied an MSU all-time re- Alabama Invite with a time of cord. On the very next day in the 54.74 which gave her a third Alabama Invitational sophomore place finish in the 400m dash Marcus Jackson and sophomore and the second fastest time in James Harris both MSU histosoared to set and ry. share the MSU “I exall-time record pected a fast in the high jump time, but it with heights of was faster 7’3” & ¾ each. than I had “To share a reexpected for cord with a teamthe first time mate is a big acaround,” she complishment, said. and every time we Mississipjump together is pi State also exciting,” Harris earned two sTeve dudley, said. first place head coach Although setfinishes in ting a new record the Auburn is a great achieveInvitational ment, Dudley said in Lexington, Jackson and Harris should not Ky., on Saturday, Jan. 21. Junior settle for those initial numbers. Daundre Barnaby recorded a “If you have athletes that are time of 47.36 in the 400m dash content with sharing the record, to secure the first of the two and shortly afterwards the 4x400m relay team of freshman Anthony Bynum, junior Tavaris Tate, junior Daundre Barnaby, and senior Emanuel Mayers sprinted for the second first place finish of the day with a time of 3:11.81. Although individual achievements are necessary ingredients to qualify for nationals, Dudley emphasized it also takes a team effort to be successful. “We try to create an environ-

“If you have athletes that are content with sharing the record, they don’t belong in the SEC or on this team.”

ment where it is team, team, team,” he said. Expectations for this team are certainly high after the opening weekends’ performances, but it comes to no surprise to JodyAnn Muir. “The team is very young, and we’ve been training really hard, and the results from the first three meets prove that,” she said. According to Dudley, the opening performances are only steps in the right direction, but the team has more to prove than just records and victories. “Not until we have won a national championship, I don’t believe any of us should be content,” he said. Sophomore James Harris said that he wants this team to be remembered for beginning a new era in MSU track and field. “We want to be a start of something and bring some hardware home,” he said. The Bulldogs have two more trips to Birmingham, Ala., on Jan. 25 and another on Feb. 10-11. Sandwiched in between are trips by two separate groups. One group will be headed to Kentucky for the Rod McCravy Invitational and the other to New York for the New Balance Invitational. The team then has one more meet in Seattle for the Washington Invite before ending the indoor season in Lexington for the SEC Championships, then followed by the ultimate goal of the NCAA Championships in Boise, Idaho.