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Reflector The
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JANUARY 20, 2012
REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM 125TH YEAR | ISSUE 28
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THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
Reveille pre-orders begin in February BY LAUREN CLARK Staff Writer
Students at Mississippi State University will be able to order a new copy of the Reveille this spring for the first time in three years. MSU Student Association President Rhett Hobart said the new Reveille will be available this summer, but pre-orders will begin in February. “Because of the time restraints we are under to get the yearbook completed for this year, the 201112 edition will be mailed over the summer to each student who orders one,” Hobart said. Laura Touchstone, co-director of history and tra-
ditions, said several changes are being made to the Reveille to make it appealing to current students, including a move to high-quality printing and allcolor pages. “We are taking out the class photo section, this being the yearbook trend across a lot of colleges and universities,” she said. “We are hoping that by taking out this section, more organizations and clubs will want to have a page and put in their own photos of representation appealing to more students.” Clark Cutrer, co-director of history and traditions, said the summer release of the new edition also allows the Reveille staff to include events that
occur late in the semester, including baseball and graduation, which are not usually part of the Reveille. The new edition of the Reveille will also include a section that will highlight the events at MSU since the last issue three years ago, Touchstone said. “We feel that every year is important in MSU history, and the Reveille is the way to preserve that and without it being around for those three years those important happenings in our history as a University will be forgotten, otherwise,” she said. Jen Nguyen, Reveille co-editor, said she feels it is important to have a yearbook this year so all MSU students will have a yearbook to document their time on campus.
“By releasing an issue this year, there will be no graduating class at MSU that will go without a yearbook,” she said. “I wouldn’t want any graduating class to go without a yearbook because they are so important nowadays. Not only do they hold memories for us, but they are also a history reference.” Nguyen said she thinks tradition is also an important reason for the Reveille to return. “It is one of those traditions that I really love about State. There is so much tradition that lies in the Reveille, and letting it die would be a part of MSU that is missing,” she said.
SEE REVEILLE, 2
The Five22 introduces whatshappen.in Website offshoot strives to bring the 411 to Starkville, beyond BY MICAH GREEN News Editor
As I walk up to meet Miles Byrd in the Union on Wednesday, he is standing next to a table with a handful of fliers talking to Grant Beatty, front man of local band The Jar Heads, and discussing the possibility of booking the band for some upcoming dates. Of course he is. As the founder and CEO of The Five22, a self-proclaimed networking consulting, booking and promoting conglomerate here in Starkville, pretty much every person he meets is either a potential client or a potential partner. The man never leaves the house without his A-game. Since May 22 (or April 19, no one is sure which) of last year, networking, for Byrd, has become a lifestyle. It was on one of those days Byrd and some friends finally decided they were going to put
into action the plans he had been mulling over for months. “We had all these grand ideas and they were all back-end things,” Byrd said. “We were all, ‘Let’s create an app,’ ‘Let’s create a website,’ and when we launched it we wanted it to be as good as Facebook and blow everybody’s mind.” Byrd’s enthusiasm propelled him through long nights of spitball sessions, looking for something to stick, and there were definitely some breakthroughs. But production on both the app and the website began to slow and the innocent excitement followed. “That’s when I decided that I would just put up the website myself,” he said. One sleepless night and a Blogger account later, thefive22.com was live. “It at least gave me something to show the people who were helping me out, you know, that what they were working on was real.” SEE FIVE22, 7
SA SENATE BRIEF BY WILL HAGER Staff Writer
On Tuesday, the Mississippi State University Student Association Senate met. Here are some highlights from the meeting.
SA Budget Rhett Hobart, SA president, released the figures from the 20112012 SA budget. SA has been budgeted $125, 510. Of that number, $116,104.41 has been realized in total. This includes the $20,000 planned for the Old Main Music Festival.
Tobacco Cessation Task Force Joyce Yates and David McMillen of the tobacco cessation task force gave a presentation proposing strategies for implementing a new anti-tobacco policy across campus. Halston Hales, vice president of SA, said a new policy is coming along and should be enforced next fall. “They’re handling it themselves, but they want student input, and so they wanted to hear from the senate,” Hales said.
READERʼS GUIDE CAMPUS CALENDAR.................2 BAD DAWGS..............................3 OPINION ...............................4 CONTACT INFO......................4
POLICY C RO S S WO R D .................. 5 CLASSIFIEDS..........................5 LIFE.....................................6 SPORTS...................................8
MICAH GREEN | THE REFLECTOR
Miles Byrd, CEO and founder of The Five22, does some work at his office in the basement of an old photography studio on University Drive. Byrd, Keatzi Gunmoney, Blair Edwards and James Kastrantas run the entire company here.
Senate Redistricting The senate examined Bill 7, which proposed parameters for the redistribution of SA Senate seats for the 2012-2013 school year. Bill 7 asserts that students will be represented by their colleges and schools, rather than by residence halls. Each college or school’s number of seats will be determined by its amount of students. There will be a senator for every 650 students. Using statistics from the 2010-2011 school year, under the proposed plan, there would be 36 senators. Halston Hales, SA vice president, said he believes redistricting senate seats to the specific colleges and schools would add prestige to the senate. “It implicitly adds age to the senate to where you have upperclassmen that are in those positions, which leaves you with a more knowledgeable, more understanding set of representation who can actually pass things in your favor,” Hales said. Freshmen would still have access to senate seats, but the exact number is undetermined, he said. If passed in the senate, the constitutional referendum would be presented before the student body during the general election.
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Faculty Senate discusses budget cuts, tuition increases Keenum addresses $500 million funding shortfall BY LACI KYLES Staff Writer
The Robert Holland Faculty Senate of Mississippi State University discussed potential budget cuts and tuition increases as well as future campus construction projects during their meeting on Friday, Jan. 13. President Mark Keenum said he spoke with new leaders in Jackson and the state budget is at the top of the agenda. Currently, the state is experiencing a $500 million shortfall from funds not available this session that were available last session, and there is less money received from the state today per student than 10 years ago. “We’re doing a whole lot more with a whole lot less,” Keenum said. “It’s quite evident.” For fiscal year 2013, a 3.4 percent cut was proposed for the Mississippi Institution of Higher Learning (IHL), and a 2.6 percent cut was submitted by Gov. Haley Barbour, even though IHL has taken budget cuts for the past three years in a row, Keenum said. MSU’s total appropriations are one-third higher than what the university actually received during a shortfall over a five-year period, and enrollment experienced a 46 percent increase over that time period. SEE SENATE, 3
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FRIDAY , JANUARY 20, 2012
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MSU S oftb Practiacll Open e Date:
Time: 2 Jan. 20 and 2 Locatio p.m. and 10 1 n: M a.m Contac SU Softball F . ield t: Kyle 325-09 Niblett 72
an Date: J p.m. Time: 6 Cool 215 n: Mc y Locatio : Shaughness t Contac Harper m ahoo.co y @ p x d nuelle_
ou tion Gr a t i d e M 3 Guided : Jan. 2
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Date p.m. Time: 3 ll 115C o rn H a n c e h t a H : e n Locatio e, lef t of resid t a r (sepa hall) eros Ari Oliv : t c a t n Co 91 325-20
ate: Ja Time: 2 n. 22 Locatio to 4 p.m. n: Hum Coliseu phrey m Contac t: Chad T 325-98 homas 47
Retain & t i u r c Re Faculty e s r e v i D 4 : Jan. 2
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lars Date: J a Time: 3 n. 23 to 4 p.m Locatio . n: Mitc hell Me Library morial G Contac iles Classroo m t: Debo 325-08 rah Lee 10
Date .m. 2 to 2 p Time: 1 vard Student n: Col Locatio n room 324 p isho Unio atoya B L : t c a t Con 93 325-24
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Dietary needs met at MSU BY KAITLYN BYRNE Copy Editor
Mississippi State University Dining Services strives to provide quality food options for all students — including students with special dietary needs. Dana Clemmons, sous chef at the Marketplace at Perry, said students should utilize the information available at the counters in Marketplace at Perry to make informed dietary decisions. “We have signs that warn of the most serious food allergens, such as nuts and seafood. We strive to have accurate nutritional signs placed for all food items that include a list of ingredients — taken directly from our recipes — so that all customers know exactly what they are eating,” she said. For gluten-free students, Clemmons said MSU Dining Services has developed a working model program that she hopes to be able to expand to include others customers with special diets, such as a vegan diet. “We have some gluten-free dry goods, such as bread, cereal and muffins available every day, as well as a range of vacuum-sealed meals that we prepare,” she said. “The meals are vacuum sealed to prevent any cross-contamination and then frozen so that we can provide a wider range of availability for our customers without sacrificing the quality of the food.” Kathy Ashworth, MSU Dining Services C-Store manager, said the P.O.D in the Union also carries a variety of gluten-free products. Clemmons said students with concerns should always ask questions about the food. “The best tip I can give to anyone with a special dietary need who wants to eat anywhere outside their own home is to ask as many questions as they need to in order to feel comfortable about the food,” she said. “At the Marketplace at Perry, we strive to make sure that all of our servers know what is in the food, but we also have a sous chef on site at all times that can answer any questions the customers have about any of the food. We realize that for some of our special-needs customers, avoiding some foods is a life or death situation, and we take our responsibility very seriously.” Amy Stevenson, nutrition analyst and sustainability leader, said the number of students with
REVEILLE The emphasis of tradition at MSU is important to many of the Reveille staff members, including Touchstone, who said her grandfather still shows her his copies of the Reveille from more than 50 years ago. She said bringing the Reveille back will increase school spirit and pride in MSU, especially after graduation. “The Reveille is one of the oldest and greatest traditions we have on campus before it was stopped due to funding,”
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special dietary needs has grown. “In the past three years, we have grown from helping one gluten-free student to helping 15 students. The amount of students with an allergy or diet restriction is on the rise, and we have made it possible for these students to (eat) meals on a daily basis,” she said. Stevenson said students can use nutrition resources at Longest Student Health Center. “(Students can use) resources on campus such as Mandy Conrad, our dietician on campus at Longest (Student) Health Center,” she said. “She helps with allergies by making sure they are getting proper nutrition. Our staff is always willing to support those with special dietary needs. We are here to help.” Jennifer Barnette, MSU Dining Services marketing manager, said Templeton Dining offers healthy food options and exercise incentives for students. “Templeton Dining is taking on healthy initiatives by adding a smoothie station with fresh-made smoothies, along with grab-and-go salads, wraps and energy drinks,” she said. “These grab-and-go items can be purchased with flex dollars or other forms of payment and are great options on the go. In partnership with the Sanderson Center, we are offering half-off entrée coupons to those who work with a trainer there.” Clemmons said MSU Dining Services is continuously striving to improve options for students with special dietary needs. “We’ve been gathering feedback from the students so that we can tailor future menu items to the desires of our customers,” she said.
continued from 1
RHETT HOBART | COURTESY PHOTO
Information on ordering a copy of the Reveille will be ready in February.
Touchstone said. Hobart said he feels the Reveille is a way to bond alumni and students at MSU in a way that carries on many long-standing traditions. “It is great to be able to look in the offices and homes of alumni and be able to look through their Reveilles,” he said.
Try Our Value Chicken or Beef for $1! I’m thinking Arby’s
Cutrer said he also thinks the Reveille is important for documenting a student’s time at MSU. “It gives us an opportunity to cherish the memories that we’ve made here at MSU in a way that social media cannot. Also, it means the return of one of our oldest and greatest traditions, which is so important here at MSU where tradition runs so deep,” he said. Touchstone said pre-sales and information about purchasing a spread for student organizations and clubs will be available in February. Hobart said the price of each yearbook will be around $44, including tax and shipping and can be charged to a student account or credit card.
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REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM
FRIDAY , JANUARY 20, 2012
Apply early for optimum aid award BY LINDSAY MCMURTRAY Staff Writer
Students seeking financial aid for the 2012-2013 school year should begin the application process for student financial aid in February in order to receive the maximum funds available to them. Paul McKinney, director of financial aid at Mississippi State University, said the earlier students begin to apply for financial aid, the better results they will receive. The first step in receiving financial aid is completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid available online from the U.S. Department of Education. The FAFSA will determine how much need-based aid is available for a student, McKinney said. According to the department of education, American citizens enrolled in a degree program as a regular student who show financial need for aid are eligible to receive federal aid. McKinney said in addition to Pell grants, subsidized student loans and college workstudy opportunities, there is also the Student Equal Opportunity Grant that is available on a first-come, first-serve basis for qualifying students. “If you qualify for SEOG and your FAFSA is complete, you get the money,” he said. “So those that complete their FAFSAs the soonest are more likely to get more aid.” The Department of Education and the Office of Financial Aid are working to make the process of applying for federal aid as
Aid Awarded to Enrolled Undergraduates at MSU 2010-2011
“Our university is one of the best investments for the state.”
(Exclude non-needbased aid used to meet need.)
Scholarships/ Scholarships/Grants grants Federal
$29,182,165 N/A
State
$3,620,189
$2,962,809
Institutional
$8,469,269
$8,945,486
Scholarships/ grants from external sources
$6,450,098
$1,873,045
$47,721,721 $13,781,340 Total Scholarships/ Grants Information taken from Mississippi State University Common Data Set 2011-2012 PIPER REAVES | THE REFLECTOR
cial aid website to complete necessary forms. “I am able to do everything I need to do online, and the financial aid office is very good about sending information and notifications through email,” he said. “My financial aid experience at MSU has thus far been simple and stress-free.”
SENATE “We are at 70 percent of the executive vice president, spoke of tuition of our peers (in the SEC). the status of campus construction We’re a very good bargain for projects, including the recent deour students and their parents,” lay in the Aiken Village remodelKeenum said. “Students don’t ing project, as well as the construccome here to get a cheap edu- tion plans for the new classroom cation; they come here to get a building on campus. quality Mississippi State educaThe Aiken Village project has tion.” been delayed until Keenum said fall 2014 as develMSU could be opers decide what forced to raise mix of apartments tuition if MSU are needed to serve does not receive international, additional funds merit and graduate from legislature. students on camHowever, the pus, he said. tuition will be MARK KEENUM, “We had a plan conditioned on that was tentative, MSU PRESIDENT legislative support and we decided and, if the state not to implement helps, there will be that plan because no increase. Keenum maintained we were not comfortable with it,” that a high-quality program can- Gilbert said, adding that he and not exist with diminishing state Keenum believed it best to take support. time and get the project right in“Our university is one of the stead of rushing through and not best investments for the state,” he meeting the needs of the students. said. “One of my highest priorities An underlying cause of the defor this campus is that we don’t let lay is the sudden price jump of the quality of this institution de- the demolition project, he said. teriorate.” Keenum was optimistic despite the grim financial outlook. “We’ve got a lot of ground to cover, can we sustain it?” he said. “We’ve got big gaps to fill.” Jerry Gilbert, MSU provost and
DAWGS
Need-based Non-need$ based $ (lnclude non-needbased aid used to meet need.)
continued from 1 Originally, it was slated to cost approximately $14 million, but due to further asbestos testing, the actual project is now valued at approximately $26 million. Gilbert said questions surrounding the construction of the new building include how the space is going to be allocated and how large the classrooms will be in relation to current classroom sizes. Up-to-date, state-of-the-art technology and classroom essentials like seating will be a part of the planning process, but MSU officials want to be frugal while getting the best materials, he said. “We want the biggest bang for our buck out of it,” Gilbert said. Julia Hodges, associate vice president for administrative services and member of the planning committee, said changes have been made and submitted to the campus architect so that visualizations could be made regarding the layout of the building, which will then be
discussed by the planning committee. More classrooms and study space for students have been suggested, as opposed to a mixture that includes student support offices. “The classroom building is moving much more toward being a classroom-only building,” she said.
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Financial aid applications to begin Feb. 1 easy as possible, McKinney said. “When students are completing the FAFSA, it will ask them if they would like to retrieve their tax information from the IRS,” he said. “We hope this will make it easier to fill out the FAFSA.” One issue he said students need to know about with this new system is that students chosen for verification by the department of education will no longer be able to bring their tax returns to the Office of Financial Aid. “Students chosen for verification can do one of two things: they can go to the IRS office and get a copy of their tax transcripts, or they can log back in and do that data match,” he said. “They cannot bring their tax returns to me anymore.” McKinney said with the change in the tax information procedure, students should allow two weeks after they file their taxes before completing the FAFSA to give the IRS time to update its database. The ideal date to complete the FAFSA is soon after Feb. 1. Jon McLeod, junior history major, said he applies for financial aid early and has not experienced issues receiving aid. “I filled out everything for receiving aid as early as possible and was pleased with the Pell grant I received. Information on the loans was readily available and applying for them was very easy,” he said. Students can access their financial aid information throughout the process on their myState account, McKinney said. If the student is subject to verification, he or she can check the status through the financial aid tab on the myState banner. “The best things students can do, especially during the fall, is to check their myState account,” he said. “Any form that students need is on the Office of Financial Aid website.” McLeod said he uses myState and the finan-
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Saturday, January 14
• 1:48 a.m. A student was arrested for disorderly conduct and public drunkenness at Cowbells.
Sunday, January 15
• 12:58 a.m. A student was arrested for driving under the influence on Miss. Highway 182. • 3:02 a.m. A student was arrested for DUI and driving with a suspended license on Miss. Highway 182.
Tuesday, January 17
• 8:18 a.m. A student passed out at the Herzer Building. Subject refused transport to OCH Regional Medical Center. • 9:07 a.m. A student reported his or her wallet missing, last seen at Perry Cafeteria. • 12:52 p.m. A student had a seizure in Hand Lab. Subject was transported to OCH.
Wednesday, January 18
• 12:33 p.m. An employee reported five Dell computers missing from dining services. • 6:42 p.m. An RA reported drugs in Hull Hall. • 9:28 p.m. A student was arrested for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute at Hull Hall. • 10:57 p.m. A student smelled something burning in the hallway of Rice Hall. Starkville Fire Department was called.
Citations:
• 12 citations were issued for speeding. • 3 citations were issued for expired tag. • 4 citations were issued for no seatbelt. CORRECTION: In Friday’s edition of The Reflector, in the article “MSU Ice Hockey wraps up home season,” R.C. Martin was misidentified as R.C. Morgan. The Reflector regrets this error.
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THE REFLECTOR
OPINION |
the real read | mIcah greeN
2012 predictions: resurrection, floods
NathaN backes
H
Micah Green is the news editor for The Reflector. He can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
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always seem like the “most fun” idea, but we all know it’s true. I would like to counter the opinion that one night stands and the like are wonderful because you are “risking your reputation, throwing caution to the wind and liberating yourself from the repression of cultural norms.” This is misguided. I could say those three things about murder if I wanted. Does that make murder a good idea? Sex outside of marriage is like eating Ramen noodles every night. Sure, in the beginning it seems great – it’s cheap, easily accessible and there are several flavor choices. But after awhile, you really can’t tell the difference between the chicken or the shrimp, you risk getting a disease from the lack
“Anything in life worth having is worth waiting for. That doesn’t always seem like the ‘most fun’ idea, but we all know it’s true.”
of nutrition, and your friends notice you’ve suddenly gotten fat. You might try to add some more exciting ingredients, but the fact is you’re still eating some cruddy stuff. Instead, you can prepare for some real slowcooked meals that really fill you up and keep you pleased. They’re more expensive and take some patience, but like I said, it’s worth it. Roast or Ramen? If you’re one of the roasters, you’re in for the meal of your life. I’m proof life before marriage is perfectly bearable without sex; you’re not the only virgin on this campus. There is no law against such things as self-control, patience and faithfulness. Ladies, don’t you want to be desired solely? Gentlemen, don’t you want to be the only one who can satisfy your lady? Deny it all you want, but you know that’s what you long for. One relationship. One commitment. One flesh. I cannot think of anything sexier than that.
gettINg Off the recOrd | rachel PerkINs
Social networking changes game of love
H
ow have our social networks impacted our ability to form deep and meaningful relationships? Has Facebook changed the way we meet, date and hookup? In 2012, can we truly commit ourselves to another person, or are we too jaded as a generation raised in cyberspace? Rihanna may have found it in a hopeless place, but can we find love on the Internet? With the majority of students using it, Facebook is the collegiate equivalent of hanging out by the lockers. Scrolling through the newsfeed, we can filter through updates from our closest several hundred friends. Without making eye contact or a phone call, we can discover who’s single, who’s taken, who’s stressed out about tests, who’s pregnant, who’s eating at Chili’s tonight, who’s wearing their favorite shirt, who’s so sick of fake people and even more. As the line between the Internet and the interpersonal becomes increasingly blurred, our needs from our social networks have matured. But when each of us becomes split between the self and the online persona, what’s at stake?
Facebook has radically altered traditional “dating” practices. Thanks to Facebook, the “first date” is obsolete. Traditionally, first dates are a test run. Two people would embark on such a challenge as dinner. During this time, they would engage in a series of questions, in hopes of garnering a response similar to the one he or she would have made. Typical first date banter would include talk of hometowns, likes and dislikes. Facebook has made first date conversation irrelevant as scrolling through a potential partner’s page can fulfill all inquisitions. Facebook has streamlined the dating process. If Facebook can eliminate the first date, what else can it take from us? In eliminating our need for social interaction, social networks have weakened our capability for it. Navigating our personal lives through the realm of social networking has mandated we adopt new etiquette. We must ask questions our parents never did. For instance, if I meet someone I like, how long must I wait before adding them as a friend? Is it the male or the
“How can I tell if a girl is actually a lesbian or if her ‘domestic partnership’ with that other girl is some sort of strange joke?”
7%
Rachel Perkins is a senior majoring in English. She can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu. female who should initiate said friend request? At what point in a relationship do we become “Facebook official” and what does that title imply? What does “It’s Complicated” mean? How can I tell if a girl is actually a lesbian, or if her “domestic partnership” with that other girl is some sort of strange joke? Why is my self worth so directly related to how many “likes” I get? We must be careful to use social networks to our romantic advantage. If you like someone, consider posting a link to a music video they might like on their wall. Well-crafted wall posts are appreciated, but go easy on the Facebook chat. Making a Facebook page for your pet is only a little creepy. Making a page for your baby is pretty creepy. Making a second page for yourself so you can be “In a Relationship” with yourself is really creepy, and really hilarious. Don’t be a jerk. Be careful on Craigslist. Don’t invite me to Farmville. Wading the web’s waters has
provided our generation with a series of obstacles never dealt with by older generations. The pressure is on us to determine the consequences of our hyperspace happenings. I say it’s about balance. I’m a fan of social networks. They’re convenient and entertaining. As we create our online personas, we must type and tag with caution. While social networks have certainly switched up the game, I see no reason to believe they’ve harmed us. Dating rituals are subject to change. Two hundred years ago, a man would be required to court a woman. Sixty years ago, a girl hoped to get “pinned.” Twenty years ago, women waited by the phone for a man’s call. Today, we chat, message, @ reply, poke, text and sext. Our generation’s courting rituals may seem less intimate, but they’re undeniably more instant. If Facebook takes away our possibility for romance, we have no one but ourselves to blame. We’re a generation who grew up alongside the Internet. As it evolved and matured, so did we. From Yahoo to Google, from AOL to Chrome, from Xanga to Twitter, we’ve survived. We’re not Generation X or Y. I don’t know what we are. Maybe we’re Generation @. We still maintain the facilities for romance. I believe in us. In a world full of “likes,” we can still find love.
Do you think there are enough options for students with special dietary needs in Perry Cafeteria?
14%
47%
please
Yes
No
I’ve never noticed.
.
d
Total number of votes: 74
y ver
ple ase d
How do you feel about Dan Mullen’,s 2012 Recruiting Class
inted
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.
I
spend my money on little dinky carnivals with creepy employees and sketchy rides. I could ride those same rides over and over, and have loads of fun, but it would only last while the carnival was in town. I’d know I was missing out on something better. I’d rather save that money and have a season pass to Disney every year, where Mickey is my best friend and I can trust and enjoy all the park has to offer. I’m not saying Disney or sex within marriage is perfect. Nothing earthly is perfect. But there are always better choices than others. Why would anyone choose the counterfeit over the real deal? Only one is actually worth something. Anything in life worth having is worth waiting for. That doesn’t
po ed disap nt oi pp sa di
CORRECTIONS
EDITORIAL POLICY
Editor’s Note: This letter was written in response to the recent addition of a sex and relationship column to the opinion section of The Reflector. ’ve never had sex, and I’ve never regretted it — 20 years of no more than kissing. I can testify it is awesome, and I am proud of it. I will never have to worry about STDs, unexpected children or “emotional baggage.” To top those, I can go to bed on the night of my honeymoon (God willing I have one) and be able to honestly say I’ve never given myself away to anyone. I’m all his. I will have no one to compare my husband to in this arena. Therefore, he will always be the best. No competition. He wins. I will award the prize to no one else. I know that choosing to maintain sexual purity outside the covenant of marriage is one of the best decisions I will ever make. The decision for purity is like choosing a legitimate theme park over pathetic fairs. I could
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Editor in Chief Hannah Rogers
Choice for purity still allows fun times
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risen from their slumber, Yongnam’s plan will be put into motion immediately. He will send one general, backed by a dance-happy group of Koreans, to each continent. They will captivate and decapitate every man, woman and child with their violently beautiful and oddly synchronized dance moves. With leaders like Jackson and Lopez, the world will never stand a chance. Even with the advances in weapon technology, no poor soul will be able to look away long enough to pull a trigger or press a button that could, at the least, stall the fleets. It will take months for the be-bopping brigades, moving on foot, to cover each continent but, being so enthralled by the detailed coverage of the damaging dancers, most people won’t be able to look away from their televisions/ iPhones/tablets/computers until it is just too late. Yong-nam will require certain people, mainly celebrities, be spared so he can have some friends after he wipes out 99 percent of Earth’s population (he loathed the Occupy Wall Street protests). On Dec. 20, after aquiring all the nuclear weapons on the face of the planet and doing a little over three ounces of cocaine, Yong-nam will mistake the moon for an enormous meteor streaking toward earth and take aim. Since no one dare question him, the strikes will be carried out and the moon will explode incredibly and ferociously, not unlike the Death Star in Star Wars. The ramifications will be immediate. The tides will be thrown out of sync, causing massive flooding across the globe. The recently resurrected Aaliyah “Left Eye” Lopez, will take advantage of the chaos, hastily boarding one of Yong-nam’s yachts. Along with a captive Kobain (for reproduction reasons), two crabeating Macaques, three lions, the first season of “Community” on blu-ray, an earthworm and two baby elephants, Lopez will set sail. Godspeed, Left Eye. Godspeed. May the wind be at your back.
ne
appy New Year, fellow pupils. The time has come once again. Time to reflect, appreciate, learn and grow. Time to buy that new calendar with even cuter puppies than the previous year’s edition. Time to pretend you decided on that New Year’s resolution months ago, rather than as soon as the clock struck midnight 20 days ago. Unlike any other year in history, 2011 took us on a remarkable and eventful trip around the sun, one that has moved us even closer to the end of times. At this point, it seems like less of a skeptical theory and more of a proven fact: the world will end Dec. 21. The real mystery lies in the days leading up to this ensuing apocalypse. Will these days be filled with anguish? Ecstasy? Heroism? Zombies? Probably, and hopefully, on all counts. In fact, I have had a vision I must share with you good, wholesome people. Michael Jackson will be brought back to life. His resurrection will be at the request of Kim Yong-nam, eldest son of the late Kim Jong-il, former supreme leader of North Korea. Yongnam, still scorned by his younger brother, Kim Jong-un, who was chosen as their father’s successor, will have commissioned a sect of ninjas to steal Jackson’s body from its resting place at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills. After successfully extracting the body from the United States it will be taken to a secret laboratory, not unlike the one in “Frankenstein,” on a secret island, not unlike the one in “Austin Powers,” off the coast of Antarctica where work will begin on bringing the King of Pop back from the dead. After many failed attempts and a near fatal moonwalking accident, Michael Jackson will pass back into this world in the predawn hours of Feb. 26. Only at this point will the rest of the world be alerted to Yong-nam’s plan. For years, he has been secretly collecting the bodies of dead stars like Kurt Kobain, Bernie Mac, Brittany Murphy, Amy Winehouse, Aaliyah “Left Eye” Lopez and, for some reason, Russell Brand (Koreans have weird taste in comedy) (Spoiler Alert!!! Brand dies in a tragic double-decker bus next week), and after resurrecting them, he will commence their training to be generals in his heavily-armed, dancing, flash-mob armies. Once all seven generals have
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friday , january 20 , 2012 | 5
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AN IN-CLASS DISTRACTION ...
Across 1 __ facto 5 Cut in stone 9 Carell of “The Office” 14 Tex-Mex snack 15 “That’s not enough!” 16 Reason for a skulland-crossbones warning 17 *Artsy-sounding microbrew 19 Spoke (up) 20 Sci-fi computer 21 Crumpled into a ball 23 Unhappy times 24 Newspaper big shot 26 “Fantastic!” 28 Honeybunch 29 *Brains, informally 34 High-pitched winds 36 “La __”: Puccini opera 37 Muslim pilgrim 40 Spot for a facial 42 Like pulp magazine details 43 It’s held underwater 45 __ salts 47 *Officially restricted yet widely known information 49 Gave the go-ahead 53 Sonnet feature 54 Basic chalet style 56 Cookie used in milkshakes 58 Security request, briefly 61 DVR button 62 Pitcher Martinez 64 *When night owls thrive, or where the last words of the starred answers can go 66 Humiliate 67 Sound from Simba 68 Play to __: draw 69 “See ya!” 70 Taxpayer IDs 71 Mix Down 1 Bugged, as a bug bite 2 Event with floats 3 Justice Antonin 4 Gut-punch response
5 Ban on trade 6 See 18-Down 7 Believability, to homeys 8 Joan of Arc’s crime 9 Sponsor at some NHRA events 10 *Many “South Park” jokes 11 Overseas trader 12 Hillside house asset 13 Finales 18 With 6-Down, kind of sloth 22 Not bright at all 25 *Classic Greek ruse 27 Renaissance painter Veronese 30 High-__ monitor 31 “__ your instructions ...” 32 Brit. record label 33 Lobster color 35 Itsy-__ 37 “The Wire” airer 38 Dadaist Jean 39 Derided 41 Orangutan or chimp 44 Prefix with sphere
1-20-12 Solutions for 1-13-11
46 Rubberneckers 48 Trees used for shingles 50 Discipline with kicks 51 “Kick it up a notch!” chef 52 Floored with a
haymaker 55 Depression era pres. 56 Down Under gem 57 McEntire sitcom 59 Corp. cash mgrs. 60 __ earlier time 63 Opposite of ‘neath 65 River blocker
OCTOPUzzLE Directions: Place the numbers 1 to 8 in each of the octagons such that the numbers are not repeated in any octagon, row, column, or diagonal. The sums of the minor diagonals (diagonals that contain either four or six numbers) are provided at the beginning and end of each minor diagonal. The sum of the four numbers that border a diamond are provided in that diamond. The numbers that border diamonds do not have to be unique.
1-20-12
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 800-965-6520 ext. 213. OCH Regional Medical Center has a part-time pharmacy technician position available. Previous hospital or retail pharmacy experience preferred. Strong math and science skills reguired. Nights and weekends required. Benefits eligible. OCH Regional Medical Center, 400 Hospital Road, Starkville, Miss. Visit our website och.org. Apply online at careers.och.org. Equal Opportunity Employer. misceLLAneous FOUND: Textbook - email: msstate.edu7@yahoo.com to identify. 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.
Solutions for 1-13-11
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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 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.
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friday , january 20, 2012
LIFE
Life
THE REFLECTOR
brawl stars seek new members for emerging sport
courtesy photos | the brawl stars
The Mississippi Brawl Stars roller derby team based in Columbus is holding tryouts Jan. 22 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Skate Zone.
By Mary Kate McGowan Staff Writer
Epic tales of heroes and warriors and their triumphs have existed even before a written alphabet was established. The stories of Odysseus and Hercules have been retold to enchanted audiences for centuries, well more like millennia. However, presently, most people do not believe in the presence of modern day epic heroes. These people have not met the Mississippi Brawl Star Roller Derby team. These ladies demonstrate super strength as well as leadership, teamwork and compassion even while precariously skating. The Mississippi Brawl Stars’ mission is to attract attention to and encourage the sport of women’s flat track roller derby in the Golden Triangle area, and the power, beauty and awesomeness of women in general. Juna’uh Allgood (referred to in the roller derby world as Sadie Word), blocker and recruitment chair for the team, said she fell in love with the sport as soon as she strapped on a pair of skates. “The uniqueness of a sport that promoted women so thoroughly, a team that was so accepting of women from all walks of life and the sport itself drew me in completely,” Allgood said.
On Jan. 22, the Brawl Stars are giving any willing woman warrior a chance to fall in love with the sport during ‘‘Skate for the Stars,’’ a recruitment event from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Skate Zone in Columbus. The team is looking for more volunteers and referees as well as new skaters. Emily Griffin (Full Metal Fiona), event coordinator, said that the team wanted to hold the tryouts at the beginning of the year to help people succeed in their New Year’s resolutions of getting fit or meeting new people. “It is also before the season starts, so we can focus on teaching, and college aged skaters are less busy, more time to start something new,” Griffin said. In addition to being known for empowering women, the sport of roller derby and its players are famously renowned for having strong personalities. “We have had quiet girls play who come out of their shell and moms who use derby as an outlet,” Allgood said. The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association said the ‘‘do it yourself ’’ attitude drives roller derby leagues and players to create their own unique identities and adapt their structures to reflect their local communities. Thus, players don skating names such as ‘‘Sadie Word’’ and ‘‘Full Metal Fiona.’’
Founded Easter weekend of people of all ages and from all 2010 by team members Megan walks of life,” Allgood said. “You Dareing (Linchpin Luci), Dena learn a lot about yourself as a perRyan (Mabel son, and grow Scrape) and a lot, too.” Isa StrattonRoller derby Beaulieu (Babs as a whole emHavok), the powers womBrawl Stars en to accept wanted to themselves, bring someincluding thing new and ever-present exciting to the body image area and have a issues, and hobby Allgood to push the said. boundaries of Since then, their lives. the team has “The team grown in was so acnumber and cepting of evhas become eryone’s body a member of type that I Derby South, saw myself an indepenthrough that Juna'uh allgood, dent Southern perspective brawl star roller derby and the self recruitment chair organization. image issues The Brawl went away,” Stars brawl Allgood said. against teams from Alabama, The Mississippi Brawl Stars’ Louisiana and Tennessee, as mission statement states: We well as other teams from differ- come in all shapes, sizes, colors, ent states and other Mississippi backgrounds and abilities and we teams including the Magnolia are all strong, beautiful, smart, Roller Vixens and the Pearl River tough, sexy, tenacious and capaSwamp Dolls. ble in our own ways. “Besides the athletic side, there The Brawl Stars live by the are so many other benefits to play- phrase, “Moderation is for reguing roller derby. You meet new lar people.”
“I think Mexican cuisine is so universally popular, it was a good starting point to let Chef Ty put his spin on,” Kelley said. Of course, the spontaneous Mexican theme comes with food with influence from south of the border.
“The menu is going to be smaller than usual and all Mexican with lower prices ranging from $3-5,” Thames said. “People can order different things and not just one dish.” “We plan to make the pop up concept inside of Restaurant Tyler a consistent occurrence,”
“The uniqueness of a sport that promoted women so thoroughly, a team that was so accepting of women from all walks of life and the sport itself drew me in completely.”
POP UP RESTAURANT
On Wednesday, Restaurant Tyler and Zorba’s Greek Tavern created a new meaning to the word ‘‘pop.’’ Both restaurants were transformed into Mexican eateries for the night; thus, the pop up restaurant. Brian Kelley, owner of Restaurant Tyler, Zorba's Greek Tavern, Bin 612 and Rock Bottom Bar & Grill, said the pop up restaurant concept is something different and original for Starkville. “A pop up restaurant for us is just a temporary installation, a one night ‘food exhibit’ so to speak,” Kelley said. Ty Thames, the chef of Restaurant Tyler, said a lot of people like Mexican food for one day, and one day only and the concept is a way to be ‘playful’ with the menu.
courtesy photo | the reflector
Kelley said. “It will let people try cuisines from a lot of different regions that we are not normally able to offer at Restaurant Tyler.” “Every week on a different day, there will be a pop up theme for different meals like brunch,” Thames said.
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FIVE22
FRIDAY , JANUARY 20, 2012
is perfect for what the The
continued from 1 Five22 needs: everything you
MICAH GREEN | THE REFLECTOR
The Five 22 launches its new website to keep Starkville residents in the know about events and more. Those productive, sleepless nights have become staples in Byrd’s life for the past 10 months. To say they have paid off would be a severe understatement. In those 10 short months Byrd and his crew have pretty much swept Starkville, getting the nod from nearly every noteworthy restaurant and bar to post all specials and upcoming shows in one convenient place. And why would they stop him? It’s free advertising for them, and for The Five22, named for Byrd’s address on University Drive, it’s free content.
Old Venice, The Veranda, Rick’s Café, Zorba’s and Mugshots are just a few of the businesses backing Byrd’s project. Ty Thames, owner and operator of multiple successful restaurants in Starkville, said he is excited to see what The Five22 and Byrd will do for the city. “What he is doing is incredible for Starkville,” said Thames. “He is really working on bringing the local artists and the venues together, and I think it will pay off.” Though his success is an easy excuse for an enlarged ego, Byrd has a solid head on his
shoulders and is quick to thank his team. Blair Edwards, James Kastrantas and Keatzi Gunmoney keep Byrd from trying to do too much. Each plays a different role: Edwards is dubbed the company’s street team coordinator and promotion manager; Kastrantas serves as the inhouse software architect; and Gunmoney is the company’s studio and booking manager. “They are all willing to put forth the effort on the front end,” Byrd said. “They see the potential in what we are doing, and we really believe we can
BIN 612, Mugshots undergo renovation BY ASHLYN WATKINS Staff Writer
Starkville’s Bin 612 and Mugshots will be making renovations this semester. Both restaurants are in the process of updating their spaces to keep up with growing business. Bin 612 and Mugshots are making small and large changes to better serve their customers. Bin 612 plans to move and expand the kitchen next door where Desert Rose was located and add more seating on the other side where District Salon was previously located. In addition, Bin 612 is adding on to the front patio to allow for more outdoor seating. An upgraded bathroom is also in the works for the new space. New televisions will be hung and a gated back patio with a bar and tables will be added. Not only is the space expanding, but the menu as well. Bin 612 will eventually offer an even larger variety of menu items and will be open for lunch hours. Menu changes include a blue plate menu and Sunday brunch buffet. Paul Brasfield, general manager of Bin 612, said the restaurant has always had to
deal with having a small kitchen with limited room for space and seating. “These changes are things that we have wanted for a long time and somehow the stars aligned for the perfect time to expand and get the connecting suites,” Brasfield said, “Get ready for a bigger and better Bin 612.” Mugshots has already made several renovations to their restaurant, including adding family-oriented booths and a new bar top in the upstairs space, as well as upgrading the bathroom with new tile. Upcoming plans include adding several 22-inch and 32-inch televisions on both floors and a new front entrance. “Our customers can continue to expect great service and a
great place for people to come together and enjoy the best burger in town,” manager John Dean Swift said. Mugshots plans to finish the changes by the end of January, and Bin 612 plans to finish by the end of March.
make this thing work.” The group has moved from the living room of the house at 522 University Drive, right down the road to an empty photography studio. Byrd approached Dan Camp last semester and understood what they wanted to do. The layout
WINTER
need an office to be, none of the aesthetics. Byrd hopes to begin recording local bands at no cost in order to a preview couple tracks from each on the upcoming app. “I wanted people to be able to listen to the bands performing at the different venues around town before they go see them,” he continued. “I know I would use it.” That’s one thing that he always goes back to: would he use his own services? The answer has been an emphatic yes. Everytime. Until recently, when you visited The Five22 website, you would merely get posts on upcoming events in Starkville — simply put, a glorified blog. Tuesday that changed. Byrd launched whatshappen.in. The goal for the new site is to undertake the duties the original site handled. The original site, along with The Five22 name, will take on the role of ‘‘mother company’’ for all of Byrd’s other ventures. “The Five22 didn’t seem like a very marketable name to us, but we needed something to file paperwork. We stuck with The Five22 until something hit us.” The idea was that the Five22 would focus on the networking consulting and business side of things. Whatshappen. in became the “public service” website and will focus solely on events and specials.
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Byrd plans on spreading to both Oxford and Hattiesburg as soon as later this semester. “The entertainment and venue contacts are both in places. It is just going to take manpower and funding,” he said. “Just information gathering that we can just turn around and put it straight into our app or website.” The Five22 app is currently being developed by Infinite Views Development of Tupelo and is headed up by Ti Simpson. Before he sent it off, though, Byrd and his team had already designed the majority of the app. Infinite Views is just polishing it off. “It’s basically ready,” Byrd said. “Definitely by the end of the semester. It could be pushed out, but we want as close to perfect as possible. Half our traffic comes from mobile phones, so we want to cater to that.” Whatshappen.in launched Tuesday and within 48 hours had amassed over 1,000 hits. To Byrd, this is a promising start, and with The Five22 already experiencing this relatively early success, he thinks users will recognize whatshappen.in for the tool that it is. “Our main goal is progress,” Byrd said as we walked down University on Wednesday nearing the end of our chat. “We welcome all those who see the potential in our goals and would like to get involved.’’ Say no more, Byrd. Sign me up. Sign us all up.
CAROLYN HAILEY
SPORTS 8
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FRIDAY , JANUARY 20, 2012
THE REFLECTOR
STAT OF THE DAY :
SATURDAY SPECIAL:
GAMES WHEN ARNETT MOULTRIE HAS A DOUBLE-DOUBLE
VS. VANDERBILT
9-1 – MISSISSIPPI STATE’S RECORD IN
MISSISSIPPI STATE
6 P.M. ESPN2
Tennis looks to build off of SEC West championship BY KRISTEN SPINK Staff Writer
Only one Mississippi State team won the SEC West last year, and the men’s tennis team is aiming to have back-to-back titles heading into this spring. After defeating Florida State in the first round of the NCAA Team Championship last season, State fell to Georgia Tech in round two. However, the Bulldogs racked up numerous honors at the end of the year. George Coupland, Artem Ilyushin and Louis Cant were named AllSEC their junior year while head coach Per Nilsson was the SEC Coach of the Year, and freshman Malte Stropp was named SEC Freshman of the Year. Since they had no seniors on the team last year, the Bulldogs are back with no losses looking to build on their surprising 2011 finish. Nilsson said the experience of this team puts them in position for another good year. “This is definitely the strongest team I have had since I have been here,” Nilsson said. “We’ve been doing a lot of hunting and trying to upset other teams, and now our ranking has improved quite a bit, so there’s a little bit of a difference; but our goal is still to be much higher than we are now, and we still feel like there are plenty of teams out there that we need to try to beat.” In the first road trip of the season, the No. 16 Bulldogs ousted UC-Santa Barbara 5-2 and the University of Hawaii 7-0. Although all the Dogs
FILE PHOTO | THE REFLECTOR
Senior Artem Ilyushin readies himself for a return during last seasonʼs win over Ole Miss. The Bulldogs return all key players from last seasonʼs SEC West champion team and are currently ranked No. 16 in the polls.
recorded strong performances, the doubles duo of Cant and Ilyushin defeated Hawaii’s top doubles team in a close battle, 8-7. These matches were a good
warm-up for MSU as the team travels north this weekend to take on No. 53 Michigan State and No. 3 Ohio State. Junior James Chaudry, the 79thranked player in the country,
said it will be fun playing at such a good program like Ohio State and is expecting a close match. “We don’t prepare any differently because we take every match the same way regardless of their ranking,” Chaudry said. “We feel like we have a really good chance if we can get off to a good start in the doubles, then we have some
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really good fire power in the singles.” Leading the way this weekend for the Dogs will be the trio of seniors who also led the team last year. Thirty-secondranked Coupland, 45th-ranked Cant, and Ilyushin, who along with Coupland, played in the NCAA Individual Championship last season, are looking to end their final season on another winning note. Coupland said there is a very positive attitude on the team this year, but everyone is always striving for better things. “We’re trying to stick together more as a team, support each other more and do the things the coaches are emphasizing,” Coupland said. “As seniors we are trying to emphasize that to the other players on the team, and I think that’s an important job for us leading them and guiding them to do what’s right. It doesn’t come easy, though; you always have to work to be a success in life.” While the target in the SEC is on the back of the tennis team, the team is only getting better and stronger as they move forward. Chaudry said a lot of hard work must be done in order to keep the crown, but they have the team to do it. “The whole team atmosphere is really good; the intensity every time we get on the court is really high as a team,” Chaudry said. “Every time we go other places around the country we see how other teams work, and our work ethic here has been a lot stronger than most of those schools, so I think we’re going to be a really strong team this year.” MSU’s first home match is Feb. 3 against TCU and home SEC play begins March 2 versus Alabama.
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This week in SEC basketball (all games on Saturday)
Alabama at 12 p.m. Ketucky
South 1:30 Carolina at p.m. Auburn Michigan at 2 p.m. Arkansas Connecticut 4 p.m. at Tennessee Ole Miss at 4 p.m. Georgia
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SEC Nework
CBS
SEC
Nework
LSU at Florida
6 p.m.
FSN
Mississippi St. at Vanderbilt
7 p.m.
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FRIDAY , JANUARY 20, 2012
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THE AGITATOR | MATT TYLER
Frustrating losses becoming the norm W
Johnson leaving a mark
JAY JOHNSON | THE REFLECTOR
Johnson has grown and developed as a player and leader. But more importantly, Johnson has had the For the Lady Dogs’ leading opportunity to become more than scorer senior point guard Diam- just a member of a team; she has ber Johnson, the final words of become a member of a family. “We are definitely a family, of her narrative are being written as she ends her career at Mississippi course every family goes through State. As the road to the NCAA stuff,� Johnson said. “And that’s tournament becomes shorter and one of the reasons why I chose shorter, Johnson takes time to re- Mississippi State to begin with flect on her own rare story, one because of the family atmosphere. For me, it was about more than with a tragic beginning. “How it all began really is the just basketball. The people here reason why this whole story will be really care about you.� All of her teammates recoggreat,� Johnson said. “Just coming from my whole background and nize Johnson as the unmistakable dealing with all I’ve dealt with, and leader of the squad, both on and off the court. being able to turn Senior forward it into someDanielle Rector thing positive. speaks highly of I guess you can Johnson’s leadsee it as, howership. ever you come “I don’t think up or whatever anyone would happens doesn’t dispute that mean you can’t this is her team. be who you want It’s pretty much to be or do what known that you want to do where Diamber with your life.� goes, the team Johnson said goes,� Rector when she was said. “She’s not young, her parDIAMBER JOHNSON, always necesents were both SENIOR POINT GUARD sarily a vocal arrested for leader, but she drug use, so she leads by the was taken from way she plays them and sent and by the way to live with her grandmother. It was at her grand- she conducts herself on and off mother’s home, under conditions the court. She’s definitely grown that Johnson fell in love with bas- a lot. When she came on her first visit, I remember thinking, ‘This ketball. “One day, I was outside playing girl is so tiny, what is she going to on my own, and I found a basket- be able to do in the SEC?’ And ball, and ever since then, I’ve been now, you can see how she does playing,� Johnson said. “It was lead us and how she plays. It has something I learned on my own, definitely been fun to watch her picked up on my own and I guess grow throughout the years.� Head coach Sharon Fanningit was always my getaway from everything.� Instead of dwelling on the hardships she faced, Johnson poured her time and energy into becoming the great basketball player she is today. Johnson averages 17.2 points per game and leads the team in points and assists this season. In MSU’s recent loss against Georgia, Johnson exceeded the 900-point mark, making her the 21st Lady Bulldog to reach this mark. During her four years at MSU, BY KELSEY HUGGINS Staff Writer
“However you come up or whatever happens doesnĘźt mean you canĘźt be who you want to be or do what you want to do with your life.â€?
Otis said Johnson not only has the ability to lead but has taken seriously this demand required of her. “I think that she’s beginning to shoulder the responsibility of leadership more and more. She’s starting to understand it, to understand the importance of it and to really appreciate it,� Fanning-Otis said. While there remains a lot of basketball to be played in the season, Fanning-Otis said she challenges Johnson to end her time as a Bulldog strongly. “As you start a career, there’s the date that you start and then there’s a dash. And it’s sort of, what are you going to do with the dash in your life?� Fanning-Otis said. “So right now, Diamber’s in the last few chapters of this book, and I hope that she wants to finish them with a really strong fairytale ending where this team is very successful.� For Johnson, success obviously includes making it to the NCAA tournament. With that, however, Johnson said she also hopes to make an impact on her teammates. “Go with the passion in your heart, no matter how hard things get,� Johnson said. “When things are tough, remember your purpose. Keep that in the back of your mind and always keep fighting.�
ikipedia was probably not the only thing blacked out on Wednesday night. After finally defeating their hated overlords, the Mississippi State Bulldogs, in a game of basketball, hundreds of bowtie-clad residents of Georgia and Texas probably descended upon the Square in Oxford for a night filled with Hotty Toddy chants and excited debates concerning whether their beloved Rebels would earn a two or three seed in this year’s NIT. Blackouts were sure to occur. In Starkville, the weeping and gnashing of teeth would continue long into the night after the Bulldogs lost yet another SEC road game to a supposedly inferior opponent. Lost amidst the juvenile smack talk that flowed from both sides after the game and threatened to make Twitter unbearable was the fact State once again lost a game it could not afford to lose against a team it generally does not lose to. For State fans, this has sadly become the norm. Inconsistency is the hallmark of the MSU basketball program, and it is losses like the Bulldog’s 75-68 setback to Ole Miss within the mordor-like confines of Tad Smith Coliseum that seem to keep MSU fans in a perpetual state of agitation. The Bulldogs have the talent to earn a relatively high seed in the NCAA Tournament. However, as in years past, bad losses may prevent this from happening. Whether it is Rider, Akron, Florida Atlantic, LSU, Auburn or now Ole Miss, it seems as if MSU manages to lose several games every year that do serious damage to the Bulldogs’ seeding in the NCAA Tournament. For a fanbase that seems to desperately crave a Sweet 16 birth in order to ward off the malaise that seems to have settled over the program in the last few years under MSU head basketball coach Rick Stansbury’s guidance, losses like the one to the Rebels are damaging on several fronts. For starters, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi had the Bulldogs projected as the seventh seed in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament entering Wednesday’s game against the Rebels. As any avid college hoops fan knows, it is not a seed teams want to be awarded. State’s 2007-2008 squad learned this lesson firsthand as it went 12-4 in conference play but was awarded an eight seed due to a poor showing in non-conference play. As a result of being an eight seed, a very good MSU team was forced to play the eventual national runners up, Memphis, in the second round. The 20082009 squad also had bad losses, this time in conference play, and
NOW HIRING Stop by The Reector ofďŹ ce and ďŹ ll out an application today.
Matt Tyler is a senior majoring in communication. He can be contacted at reflectorsports@ gmail.com squeaked into the NCAA Tournament as a 13 seed after winning the SEC Tournament. The 2009-2010 team was denied the opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament primarily due to losses to Rider and Auburn. In every aforementioned instance, MSU either missed the NCAA Tournament or did not survive past the first weekend. Not only do such losses harm a team’s RPI (there is a good chance both Arkansas and Ole Miss finish outside of the top 100 in RPI), but they aggravate the fans. Over the last few years there has been a lot of criticism directed at Stansbury by MSU fans and members of the national media for what is per-
ceived to be his team’s habit of underachieving every year. Well, such talk will not be going away. In an improved SEC featuring teams such as Alabama, Florida, Kentucky and Vanderbilt, it is imperative to beat the league’s weaker teams on the road when you have a chance to do so. MSU has had two such chances so far, and the Bulldogs have crashed and burned both times. There is a lot of basketball left to be played, but this may prove to be a loss that comes back to haunt the Bulldogs in March. With road games against Vanderbilt and Florida coming up, MSU is in the unenviable position of having to beat at least one of them on the road in order to keep from falling in a huge hole early in SEC play. It is mystifying losses such as the one Wednesday that make it difficult to become emotionally invested in MSU basketball and keep many fans wondering if the “Hump� will ever regain the raucous atmosphere that used to make it such a feared venue. After all, even the most diehard fans can only take so much disappointment.
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JAY JOHNSON | THE REFLECTOR
Freshman Rodney Hood scored 13 points in WednesdayĘźs loss to Ole Miss, the third game in a row MSU has lost on the road.
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