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125th YEAR | ISSUE 38 @REFLECTORONLINE f /REFLECTORONLINE
FEBRUARY 28, 2014
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Alumni Delegates invites students to participate in scholarship raffle BY EMMA CRAWFORD Copy Editor
Five dollars could mean a semester’s worth of tuition for an in-state freshman or sophomore Mississippi State University student as Alumni Delegates seeks to raffle off a scholarship for just that in its first-ever tuition raffle fundraiser. Alumni Delegates will send letters out to the parents of around 3,500 current in-state freshman and sophomore students. Each letter will include six raffle tickets for parents to purchase for $5 each. Parents can then mail back the money for the number of tickets they want to purchase along with the ticket stubs or can mail back $25 for all six tickets. The money raised through these ticket sales will be used to pay for the winner’s tuition, and a ticket will be drawn from
the pool mid-April. Jeff Davis, Alumni Association executive director, said he brought the tuition raffle idea to MSU after seeing its success at his previous school, Steven F. Austin State University. Davis said over a five-year period at Steven F. Austin, the tuition raffle raised over $120,000. With success not only at Steven F. Austin, but also at other schools across the nation such as the University of Michigan, Sam Houston State University and the University of New Hampshire, Davis said he feels confident the raffle will be successful at MSU as well. According to Davis, a tuition raffle, as opposed to raffling off a prize or selling T-shirts, involves both parents and students in a fundraiser that, no matter who wins the scholarship money, can only have a positive outcome. SEE SCHOLARSHIPS, 2
COURTESY PHOTO | CONNECT EVENTS
Chik-fil-A 5k and 10k contestants in Jacksonville, Fla., race alongside the food chain’s mascot to benefit charity. Chik-fil-A is bringing the race to Starkville in hopes of connecting with the community and raising funds for Palmer Home for Children.
Chik-fil-A sponsors fun run for charity BY REED GADDIS Staff Writer
Chick-fil-A Connect Race Series of Starkville will feature a 10K, 5K and one mile fun run to benefit Palmer Home for Children. The race will be Saturday. The 5K will begin at 8:00 a.m., and the Fun Run starting at 9:30. Both the start and finish of the race will be at The Starkville Daily News office
Jenna Whitmire, marketing director for the Starkville Chick-fil-A, said she wants this to be an experience where the whole community of Starkville comes together in a unifying event. “I want it to be something where we can all, regardless of our different backgrounds and our different opinions, get behind Palmer Home,” Whitmire said. “I want it to be something that we can stand
together and say, ‘This is what Starkville is about.’” Whitmire said the female and male winner of the 10K and 5K will win 52 No. 1 meals, and whichever sorority and fraternity registers the most runners or volunteers will receive coupons for free Chick-fil-A. “There will also be a spirit award, and the one chosen will also receive Chick-fil-A for a year,” Whitmire said. Whitmire said there will be
around 16 age brackets, and medals will be awarded in each as part of the event. She said a free family fun zone will also be part of the day’s activities. “We’ll have bounce houses, and all of our sponsors are setting up booths,” Whitmire said. “We want people to come and hang out. All the cows are going to be out, there’s going to be music, and it’s going to be a great time for the whole family.”
BRADEN BENSON | THE REFLECTOR
Alumni Delegates from left to right: Grant Krag, Amari Kimblie, Rob Hairston and President Charlie Stocks discuss a tuition raffle fundraiser that will provide scholarships for students. This is the first year the Alumni Association has given this opportunity to students.
SEE RACE, 3
University plans library expansion
Rick’s Cafe hosts memorial for Starkville icon BY PRANAAV JADHAV Staff Writer
At 8 p.m. on Saturday, Starkville residents plan to gather at Ricks Café on Highway 182 East to honor Garcia Gerald Berry, Jr., the city’s icon who passed away this past year on New years Eve. The memorial will begin with a silent auction of unique art and donated items. Jeffrey Rupp and Drew Dieckman will play at 8, Bill Cooke plays at 9, following will be the Dips and later the Flat Head Ford will play. There will be door prizes throughout the night. T-shirts will be for sale as well.
BY LACRETIA WIMBLEY Staff Writer
Chris Curry, Berry’s roommate who first him at Mississippi State University in 1970, said he got the idea of a memorial for Berry when he was in the cotton district. “I felt we wanted something that people could walk by and be reminded. We kind of worked around with all kind of ideas something to keep this memory engaged,” Curry said. Becky Ray, Starkville resident, said when Berry passed on New Year’s Eve, the day after her son was married, it was devastating. She said everyone thought Berry would be around forever.
BRADEN BENSON | THE REFLECTOR
Students walk to Mississippi State University’s Mitchell Memorial Library, which officials have decided to expand after being provided funds from the Mississippi State legislature. Plans for contruction on the library include adding a floor dedicated to an exhibit area.
SEE MEMORIAL, 2
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The Mississippi State legislature has provided $200,000 to fund a fourth floor expansion of the Mitchell Memorial Library. Stephen Cunetto, administrator of systems at Mitchell Memorial Library, said so far the plans of expansion include the addition of another floor on the back corner of the reading room just above the third floor. “Our plan is to have the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library exhibit area and the Congressional and Political Research exhibit area added to this floor,” Cunetto said. “This will take up the majority of that area because we want it to
be a museum exhibit area for the collection because having the presidential library here is a pretty big deal. We want to display those materials, and then also display those materials that are in the Congressional Political Research Center.” Cunetto said the funding money will be used for planning to contract with an architect in deciding details of design, functional areas and concluding technical requirements for the new room. Additional money will be requested for the actual building and construction. “It’s been on the university’s plan for a couple of years for this expansion to happen. It might take two to three years to get through with the project,” Cunetto said. SEE LIBRARY, 2
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2 | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014
THE REFLECTOR
Edelmann strives for passionate student devlopment BY PRANAAV JADHAV Staff Writer
In Sanskrit and Hinduism, “Guru Paramdevatam” means guru is the supreme divinity that exists. This concept, out of the many, could be very close to what assistant professor of religion at Mississippi State University Jonathan Edelmann teaches his students. A Hindu scholar, Edelmann grew up in Boston, Mass., and graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara in philosophy with honors. He later moved to the University of Oxford for his masters in Science and Religion, which ended in a Ph.D of religious studies and theology. Edelmann said his interests in Hinduism initially were very personal. “I wanted to understand it for myself. It meant something to me as a human being, and it still does, but I also wanted to be a scholar of it. To be a scholar of Hinduism means you learn the Sanskrit language at the very least, and you get into the complexities of the world with the inhabitants,” Edelmann said. Edelmann teaches classes in religion at MSU and for the Shackouls Honors College. Edelmann said he thinks Hinduism is a vast subject to research and study, but that does not lessen his desire to teach. “I would never not want
to teach. I do enjoy my summer to go very deeply in a new research topic or to revisit old projects. I do try to make my research as relevant to my teaching as possible and my teaching as relevant to my research as I can, but I would never not want to be in a classroom setting,” Edelmann said. Melissa Altsman, MSU alumna said she took Edelmann’s classes including Hinduism, Sanskrit, Indian philosophy, World Religions and Buddhism and he displayed an enthusiasm in every class that affected all of the students. “His main goal was to make the students not simply retain the information, but to critically think about the subject matter and even attempt to argue against its foundations,” Altsman said. “Dr. ALLISON BERLER | THE REFLECTOR Edelmann continuously went Jonathan Edelmann said his teachers transformed him as a student because they were involved in his personal above and beyond the duty of a professor in order to bet- development. Edelmann has published a book and has also developed a department-faculty working paper group. ter the students who had the wealth of knowledge of oth- sponsibility to be a teacher. I ed a department-faculty component of India, but he privilege to learn from him.” Jamie Aron, sophomore er cultures. He is an exciting know how much my teachers working paper group, where doesn’t think of becoming a political science major, said asset to our university, and I transformed me as a student, people can present research Hindu Yogi anymore. “I think when I was a she never had Edelmann as am constantly learning from and I know how important projects and papers ranging they were to me in my own from the germ of a new idea young man, part of me a professor but first met him him,” Aron said. Edelmann said the compli- development, so every time to papers ready to be submit- wanted to be a yogi, but not through the dean of Shackments he gets are humbling, I step into the class, I try to ted to professional journals,” anymore,” Edelmann said. ouls Honors College. “I know a little Hindi, but “Now, it is very common and he does want to impact be cognizant of that and take Bickle said. Edelmann also published a I would like to learn more that responsibility,” Edelfor us to meet together to students in a positive way. book called “Hindu Theology including Bengali, deepen “I do think using the hu- mann said. discuss religion, politics and John Bickle, philosophy and Biology: Bhagavata Pura- my knowledge of the Sanideologies. He is profoundly man mind to think about open, deep and an excellent philosophical and religious and religion department na and Contemporary The- skrit language, especially the professor to talk with. Our issues is of huge benefit to head at MSU, said Edelmann ory” and has won the 2011 high grammatical tradition coffee shop discussions are their personal life and their kick-started MSU’s under- John Templeton Award for of ‘panini,’ and become more steeped in a particular Hinalways intellectually vibrant. intellectual development and graduate Philosophy and Re- Theological Promise. Edelmann said he loves du tradition called the gaudia I genuinely appreciate his also their professional devel- ligion Club. “He single-handedly start- the religious and intellectual vaishnavism.” open-minded nature and his opment, so I feel it is a big re-
MEMORIAL “Chris and I talked of all the people that would never have their picture made with or by Gerald. We wanted to keep his memory alive by honoring his life and all the people he met, influenced, encouraged, etc. Chris is a musician and plays with several bands,” Ray said. “Gerald always promoted local musicians, so all of them knew him. We decided to host a memorial for Gerald to raise awareness of homelessness and raise money to build a memorial to Gerald.” Berry was born Garcia Gerald Berry Jr. in Lyon, Miss., in 1947. Ray said Gerald promoted music and the love of life for students, faculty and the people of Mississippi for 40 years. “He touched so many lives attending MSU. At first it was just to be a memorial or a fundraiser. It grew into the website and much more. This has been a major undertaking for us. Neither had any website experience and little experience in organizing such as this. We have had enormous support and assistance from everyone and are very grateful for all,” Ray said. In honor of Berry, residents created friendsofgerry.com to remember the Starkville icon. Berry’s friends said they remember him saying, “When I die I don’t want people to be sad. I want all my friends to get together and have a big party, celebrate and be happy.”
continued from 1
BECKY RAY | COURTESY PHOTO
Gerald Berry’s friends are hosting a memorial celebration for the late Starkville icon at Rick’s Cafe. The celebration will include several musical acts to honor Berry’s life.
LIBRARY At this point, the expansion is an extra floor, but there are some possibilities of other areas of expansion. Within discussions upon meeting with architects, other ideas of putting it in the green space between the library and the Hand Lab have come about, but our original thought has always been to add to the fourth floor. We have to make sure the floors beneath it can withstand the fourth floor above it, so that’s still a part of the structural planning as well,” Cunetto said. Frances Coleman, dean of MSU Libraries, said the bureau buildings in Jackson, Miss., are in charge of the structural expansion of the library. “The president has certainly supported the library programs and university administration and the provost, and this is an opportunity for the library to expand in support of collections. We are also really trying to make more space for students to study,” Coleman said. According to Coleman, the new addition to the fourth floor will feature the Grant, Political and Congressional Research collections, all of which will be placed under climate-controlled conditions. “When you have materials such as those of the Grant collection, temperature con-
SCHOLARSHIPS “You know, it’s cool because a student’s getting free tuition, but it’s a way for parents really to participate because the mailing goes out to parents of current students,” he said. “So, there’s the excitement factor of, you know, maybe my student will win, but at the end of the day, it’s going to raise scholarship dollars for other deserving students as well, so it’s kind of a win-win.” Casey McGee, Alumni Delegates Scholarship Committee chair, said Davis was a driving force behind the Delegates’ decision to do a tuition raffle. “He’s kind of helped us out, and that’s what’s really pushed us to do it is that they’ve had such a great turnout, so we’re hoping it’ll be the same for us, too,” she said. McGee heads up the scholarship committee, which was created specifically for the fundraiser, and said the committee’s role will be to mail letters, keep track of each
ticket sold and students entered in the raffle and keep track of the money raised. Charlie Stocks, Alumni Delegates president, said he hopes any money raised beyond the cost of tuition can be donated in the form of individual scholarships through the Office of Admissions and Scholarships or put toward an endowed scholarship. “We would turn that over to the Office of Admissions and Scholarships, and that would go in the pool of all of the scholarships that get awarded through the scholarship resume,” he said. “It would be up to the Office of Admissions and Scholarships to award those, but it would have our name on it.” McGee said the committee does not work with MSU’s Office of Admissions and Scholarships at this point. “This is really just the Alumni Delegates doing our own thing, and of course, Alumni Delegates is through the Alumni Association, so as
continued from 1 trol is very important. You can’t just put materials in a place. You have to have the consistent heating and cooling necessary for the collections’ sustainability,” Coleman said. Coleman said the $200,000 funding is in the state’s possession through bond bills and progress is strictly in the planning stages at the moment. “When this project finally takes off and is completed, students will be allowed to come and sit only if they are using the materials within the new addition,” Coleman said. “We are hoping to expand the use of these research materials as well.” John Marszalek, executive director of the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, said this pre-planning phase is preparation ground for architects and staff to follow correct protocol and make sure plans are precise and ready before actual construction begins. “This expansion is a great idea that President Keenum has been talking about for a number of years,” Marszalek said. “So far, everyone we’ve discussed this with wants the expansion to happen. There’s no say right now as to when this project will be complete and actually get started, but it’s definitely going to happen.”
continued from 1 of right now, at least until we We will use it in some form see how this turns out, we’re or fashion to help students,” not working with admissions he said. “We didn’t want to or anything overcomplilike that,” she things. As proud as cate said. That would we are to For this parget pretty difbe starting ficult with sayticular fundraiser, especialing you know, this, if it ly in its first ‘If your child encourages other year, Stocks is an out-ofsaid extend- organizations to try state student ing the raffle and do the same but they’re to out-of-state thing, then that’s paying in-state students or all tuition. I don’t students who great because know, it just pay in-state that’s creating more seemed like tuition, even if scholarships for that would get they are from students.” kind of comout-of-state, plicated for might have -Casey McGee, the first year.” proven too Alumni Delegate After evalcomplicated. uating this Scholarship “ O u t - o f - Committee chair year’s raffle state would be and its success, kind of tough Stocks said just because there is always out-of-state potential to tuition is a good bit more, expand the fundraiser. but whatever we raise above “Next year, depending the cost of tuition, it’s kind on how it goes this year, we of just up to us to decide definitely want to look into what we want to do with it. expanding who we send the
letters out to because that can only mean raising more,” he said. One of the reasons Stocks said he was attracted to the idea of a tuition raffle is its low-risk nature. He said if the raffle does not raise enough money to cover the cost of a semester of tuition, the Alumni Association will cover the difference. Davis, who is in his first year as executive director of the Alumni Association, said in bringing the idea for the raffle to MSU, he hopes to build on the success the Alumni Association and Alumni Delegates had under former executive director Jimmy Abraham. “Well, I’m just trying to bring new ideas to the table, but also I think that there’s a lot of great things that we’ve done for a long time here at Mississippi State. So, there’s no need to necessarily change the good things that we’re doing It’s just how can we add things to make the Alumni Association more
relevant? Not only to our alums, but to our students, who are alums, they just haven’t graduated yet,” he said. McGee said although coming up with an original fundraising idea is exciting, she would love to see other organizations take a cue from the Delegates. “As proud as we are to be starting this, if it encourages other organizations to try and do the same thing, then that’s great because that’s creating more scholarships for students,” she said. Davis said he hopes to see the tuition raffle expand in years to come as parents and students spread the word about it and the university’s study body continues to grow. “Hopefully, maybe 10-20 years down the road, maybe in addition to the drawing that we’re doing, maybe we’ll have an endowment that’s helping 10 or 20 kids a year,” he said. “That would be fantastic, and I think it’s all about Bulldogs helping
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 | 3
NEWS
REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM
‘Vagina Monologues’ raises money, awareness BY MAKYLA SPENCER Staff Writer
To raise awareness on violence against women and raise money for local agencies that support these women, “The Vagina Monologues” will show at Mississippi State University. Program assistant and instructor Ashley Baker said the show is one of many events promoted by V-Day. V-Day is an activist movement that seeks to end violence against women and girls. According to Baker, the performance of the “Vagina Monologues” brings attention to violence against women and ASHLEY BAKER | COURTESY PHOTO celebrates women’s strength and sexuality. “This will be MSU students and alumni perform the “Vagina Monologues” during a previous the seventh production of the year. The play raises awareness on violence against women and is a part of V-Day. “Vagina Monologues” here at after a limited run at HERE on include rape, incest, battery, credit assignment for my soMSU. Last year at MSU, the show Arts Center, both of which are female genital mutilation and ciology class, but after the raised over $800 to donate to in New York City, in 1996. human trafficking. show I was very glad that I “Students will hear both went. The show portrayed the Safe Haven, Inc., a domestic Since then, the play has been violence shelter in Columbus, staged internationally. In 1998, terrifying and hilarious stories horrors of rape and abuse in Miss., and to the V-day spot- Ensler and others, including about women’s sexuality and a way that essentially put the light campaign, One Billion Willa Shalit, a producer of strength. They will learn about audience in a woman’s shoes. Rising. One Billion Rising is the Westside Theatre produc- different issues facing women It wasn’t all sad, though. There meant to bring awareness to tion, launched V-Day, a glob- and girls around the world. were comedic skits, too, which the community that one out al non-profit movement that The hope is that the “Vagina were pretty funny but still inof three women will experi- has raised over $75 million for Monologues” will empower the formative. Overall, this show ence violence in their lifetime, women’s anti-violence groups MSU community to stand up makes people think about the meaning that over one billion through benefits from “The Va- and demand an end to violence things in a way that they noragainst women and girls,” Bak- mally wouldn’t,” Mouring said. women will be impacted by gina Monologues.” Baker said the event is spon- er said. violence,” Baker said. Senior student Quita MackMany students have seen lin said she gained a lot from The “Vagina Monologues” is sored by MSU Gender Studies an episodic play written by Eve Program, Delta Omega Lamb- the show in the previous years. working backstage on set of Ensler. Baker said Ensler in- da and Spectrum. It will be Andre Mouring, senior com- the “Vagina Monologues.” terviewed over 200 women to held in McCool Hall Rogers munication major, said the per“I absolutely loved the show. compile the monologues shared Auditorium on Sunday, March formance is insightful to many It was so enlightening in the in this show. The actors in this 2 at 7 p.m. Donations are re- different groups of people. He way that it gives perspective to show include undergraduate quested. All proceeds will be said he thinks anyone who sees not only the audience, but also students, graduate students and donated to Safe Haven and the show could take something the cast and crew. Working on from it. One Billion Rising. MSU alumni. this show was a great experi“I saw the ‘Vagina Mono- ence, and I encourage anyone Baker said some of the issues The original “Vagina Monologues” show ran at the Off that V-day and the “Vagina logues’ about three years ago. who has not seen it to do so,” Broadway Westside Theatre Monologues” seek to shed light Originally, I went as an extra Quita said.
Monday, Feb. 24 • 2:25 p.m. A student was arrested in Starkville for having a suspended driver’s license. • 4:25 p.m. A student was arrested in Starkville for speeding and not wearing a seatbelt.
Tuesday, Feb. 25 • 9:47 a.m. An employee reported a Dell laptop computer missing from the Mechanical Engineering Department. • 2:13 p.m. A student reported her vehicle was damaged while parked at Oak Hall. • 4:13 p.m. An officer responded to a verbal altercation in Rice Hall between two students. Student referrals were issued. • 8:02 p.m. Student referrals were issued to students for causing a disturbance in Mitchell Memorial Library.
Wednesday, Feb. 26 • 4:57 p.m. A student was transported to OCH from the Longest Student Health Center for medical assistance.
Thursday, Feb. 27 • 12:55 a.m. A non-resident was arrested on Stone Boulevard for speeding and driving without a driver’s license.
Citations:
• 5 citations were issued for speeding. • 3 citations were issued for driving the wrong way on a oneway street.
RACE
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Katharine Hewlett, mar- donors have been donating keting and public relations for a long time. Community manager of support for the Palmer Home, organization It’s really said Palmer is what helps important Home apprecikeep us gothe ates Chick-fil-A ing,” she said. community “We like to taking initiative to public- gets behind Palmer focus on the ly support the four key areas Home. A lot of our ministry. of the child, Hewlett, who donors have been which are Eduhas worked for donating for a long cational, physPalmer Home time.” ical, emotional for nearly two spiritual -Katherine Hewlett, and years, said needs. The life Palmer Home’s Palmer Home changing expegoals are to marketing and rience for the provide supe- public relations children is the rior residenreason we are tial care and manager so passionate to show God’s about what we love to the childo.” dren. Palmer Home wants to Amanda Butts, host deserve as many children as it can through a variety of services. “It’s really important that the community gets behind Palmer Home. A lot of our
velopment representative at Connect Ministries, said the Chick-fil-A races are held in local communities all over the country for the restaurant to make connections with the community and provide a fitness aspect to the restaurant. “We have a relationship with Jon Munger, the
Starkville Chick-fil-A operator, and contacted him about the opportunity,” Butts said. “As a whole, we are here as an actual ministry, called Connect Ministries, as the event management company
behind the race. Our goal is to connect the church to the community. For this race specifically, First Baptist Church, Crosspoint Church and the Baptist Student Union have partnered with
us for the ministry aspect of the race to be volunteers on event day. To register as a runner or volunteer, visit CFAraceseries. com or contact Jenna Whitmire at 324-4460.
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OPINION
4 | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014
OPINION EDITOR: ALIE DALEE | opinion@reflector.msstate.edu
THE REFLECTOR
EXPRESS YOUR VOICE AT REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM
PAY FOR PLAY
THE CURIOUS TASK
AN ECONOMIC VIEW
P
W
e mentioned previous- Division I public schools generly that an economist ated enough money on their own does not take a po- to cover their expenses in 2012. sition. Economists evaluate the Of that group, 16 also received seen and unseen consequences of some type of subsidy.” The priactions and choices. In this arti- mary sports generating revenue cle, we evaluate instituting pay for are men’s basketball and football play for college athletes. It is im- — all others operate at a loss. So, possible to comprehensively dis- what happens when athletes decuss all aspects of the topic in such mand pay for play? The first hidden cost of lea small space. Implementation of pay for play is incredibly vast in its galizing pay for play is the adimplications. Entire issues of The aptation of student-athlete into Reflector could be devoted to the student-athlete-employee. Student-athletes topic. Instead, we would be deemed break down only employees, and one element: emStudentall of the employployed athletes. athletes ee benefits, such It is well-known would be as health insurand documented deemed ance and 401K that the NCAA options, would acts as a cartel. employees, and all be realized. Also, Many of the of the employee student-athletes grievances of adwould be eligible vocators and ath- benefits, such as to claim worker’s letes are products health insurance compensation of the activities and 401K options, for injuries susof the NCAA. It tained that leave restricts students’ would be realized.” damaging results ability to transfer post-graduation. schools and conAn additional unintended tinue to play sports. It prevents students from receiving outside consequence of such policy is compensation for their athlet- the decrease of international stuic ability. Coaches are paid vast dent-athletes. Identifying stuamounts, and NCAA executives dent-athletes as employees means make nearly $1 million per year. these employees now have to The circumstances have led some obtain work visas and file I-20s, athletes to threaten unionization further increasing the barriers to student-athletes and demand pay for their play. international This raises the question: does pay wishing to play in the United for play provide the solution or States. One other glaring point to be made is the regulation of only create new problems? Less known about college ath- discrimination among male and letics is that the majority of ath- female athletes. According to Tiletic programs do not profit. USA tle VII of the Civil Rights Act, Today reported, “Just 23 of 228 no employer can discriminate athletics departments at NCAA pay among individuals perform-
BRIAN GRECO AND KIM PETTIT Brian Greco and Kim Pettit are business administration graduate students. They can be contacted at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.
ing the same task on the basis of gender. Two effects are possible: If universities are responsible for paying the salaries of athletes, the programs that run a deficit would see the deficit increase by requiring all students to receive equal pay (even those in non-revenue generating sports), and the universities would need to compensate for the increase in cost by raising ticket, concession and merchandise prices which would ultimately affect the fans of the sports. Do athletes add value to universities? Yes. Should they be paid for their pay? That is not for us to say. The effects of implementing such policy carry innumerable unintended consequences. This examination of the student-employee is only the tip of the iceberg. As we said last week, and no one says it better than Friedrich August von Hayek, the Nobel-Prize winning Austrian economist, “The curious task of economics is to demonstrate to men how little they really know about what they imagine they can design.”
eople will always debate the pay for play argument. Cases can be made for both sides, but the bottom line upon which debaters agree is that no one can come up with a system to pay student-athletes that is fair for every school and every sport — such a system simply does not exist. In “The Sport Journal,” current NCAA President Mark Emmert said athletes cannot receive remuneration for their athletic services because they are amateurs. “No, it will not happen — not while I’m president of the NCAA,” Emmert said. While student-athletes do play as amateurs, the NCAA and universities exploit these athletes by making money off of their performances and not giving any of that money to the performers. For example, Mississippi State University quarterback Dak Prescott does not make even a penny when consumers buy his jersey, but he puts in the work every single day, and he is the one who performs on the field every Saturday during the fall to bring in money for the university. But, like I said, a system to allow the NCAA or universities to pay student-athletes besides scholarships seems to be a circular thought with no solution. Steps are being made, however, to end the possible exploitation of student-athletes. Steve Berkowitz of USA Today and Stewart Mandel of “Sports Illustrated” reported Friday that there will be a trial for former UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon’s lawsuit that he filed four-and-
SPINK ON SPORTS
AN ATHLETIC VIEW a-half years ago to end the rule restricting student-athletes from making money on their name, likeness and image. The trial will take place June 9. Michael Hausfeld, the attorney representing the student-athletes, said the NCAA and college sports will never be looked at the same as it was before this case. “We’re not asking for any money to be paid,” Hausfeld said. “We are asking for the restraints to be removed … and then the market will determine how it plays out.” This trial will mark the first time the NCAA amateurism principles are the subject of a trial. Hausfeld and O’Bannon will seek to provide student-athletes licensing of their own name, likeness and image from broadcasters, the NCAA and universities — similar to the task of unions in professional sports. Earlier this year, ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” reported a group of student-athletes from Northwestern University were attempting to create a union that would represent college athletes and potentially turn them into employees. Players from schools such as Northwestern, Georgia and Georgia Tech started wearing #APU on their uniforms for the “All Players United” movement. Northwestern quarterback Kain Colter led the movement and said the union would seek to be a part of the decision making process in college athletics. “A lot of people will think this is all about money; it’s not,” Colter said to the Chicago Tribune. “We’re asking for a seat at the table to get our voice heard.”
KRISTEN SPINK Kristen Spink is the managing editor of The Reflector. She can be contacted at managing@ reflector.msstate.edu.
Members of the National Labor Relations Board still investigate and debate this request and had a hearing as recently as Tuesday. Between O’Bannon’s lawsuit and Northwestern players’ attempt to create a union, the potential to force the NCAA and universities to somehow pay student-athletes more than just scholarships is present. Allowing players to license their own name and likeness may be the best solution for this problem. This solution, however, seems to work only for football players, but those are the student-athletes who tend to argue the most for pay for play. But even so, would this be a fair solution? Whether student-athletes licensing their own name would be a solution or not, the NCAA should think ahead and take strides to implement some sort of plan before more lawsuits arise. If not, unions may have the potential to take over college sports and student-athletes will turn into NCAA employees — exploited employees.
LIVING BY MY WITS
Comcast/Netflix merger fails to neutralize net neutrality
A
fter 20 years, the Internet is no longer a free market. Comcast and Netflix have signed a deal that has advocates of network neutrality in a panic. According to “Forbes,” with 33 million United States customers, Netflix generates about 30 percent of all Internet traffic. Because of this, Netflix relies on Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) to get your shows and movies to you as instantly as possible without any “traffic jams.” The problem with Netflix and its use of CDNs comes with the principle of peering. Internet Service Providers (ISPs), like Comcast, often make deals with larger companies when the Internet traffic gets to be too much. In this case, each company sends traffic to the
other, making the two “peers.” Typically, no money changes hand in these situations. When the Federal Communications Commission imposed net neutrality rules, it ignored peering completely. That’s because net neutrality was designed by the FCC to regulate ISPs in making sure all Internet traffic reaching you (the consumer) is done fairly. So basically, your ISP can’t charge you a fee to use Pandora but allows you to use Spotify freely. Essentially, Netflix pays Comcast millions of dollars to bypass any third party CDNs or distributors and connect directly to Netflix’s data centers and servers. They do not garner any special treatment. That being said, Comcast is most concerned with making sure its customers get what they’re pay-
ing for. They won’t be charging making powerful ISPs such as their users more or anything Comcast even more powerful. like that. The current net neutrality However, Netflix users could regulations require all ISPs resee an increase in price. That’s ceive their Internet traffic from because Comcast can now tell one big source. Some advocates Netflix that they’re going to of net neutrality want to prehave to pay vent ISPs more money from dividUltimately, this to keep using this big new contract ing their sersource into is ideal for the vices. fast and Netflix’s slow lanes consumers — idea of cut- for the time being. centered on ting out the matters of middleman business. is an attempt This idea to make the Internet more ef- gets sticky for the FCC because ficient. However, it also makes each Internet service provider the Internet less competitive. will have its own pool. For two decades, the FCC has With each ISP having its been proud to call the Internet own source pool, regulating an open and competitive mar- the content quality of each ket. Bigger companies will like- would be nearly impossible. ly take over the smaller ones, But as long as ISPs aren’t block-
ing certain content from their users, I don’t see the harm in the Netflix-Comcast contract. Besides, the FCC can’t regulate this type of deal based on net neutrality since Comcast isn’t prioritizing Netflix or discriminating against other video streaming companies. However, at some point, more and more companies are going to sign contracts with ISPs to ensure their content is streamed at the fastest speed possible. So yes, eventually, we will live in a world of people with “high class” Internet providers, but that time is far into the future. Ultimately, this new contract is ideal for the consumers — for the time being. Netflix customers who use Comcast will be thrilled the quality of their videos is good. Comcast will
CLAIRE WILSON Claire Wilson is a junior majoring in communication. She can be contacted at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.
be able to sell more broadband connections by advertising that Netflix will be streaming faster and in a higher quality than with other ISPs (let’s be honest, there are many 20-somethings who do without cable and rely solely on Netflix to watch television shows or movies).
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Letters to the editor should be sent to the Meyer Student Media Center or mailed to The Reflector, PO Box 5407, Mississippi State, MS. Letters may also be emailed to editor@reflector.msstate.edu. Letters must include name and telephone number for verification purposes. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.
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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.
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.
R
ecently, after listening to the same playlist for what seemed like the 745th time, I made a decision to take a break from CDs and Spotify and switch to a new form of auditory entertainment: podcasts. For those of you who have listened to podcasts for eons, this isn’t for you. This is for those heathens out there who have not yet discovered the magic of listening to strangers chat for an hour every week about inane topics. This is for the unenlightened. But enough. Podcasts are nothing new — “audioblogging” has roots going back to the 1980s and caught hold with the masses back in 2004 — but most people seem to rely on music as their primary form of listening entertainment. All one needs to know about podcasts is that they are basically chats that can cover any number of topics and take any sort of tone. Anyone can do one, and I tend to think of them as a new form of radio, albeit one with far greater control. Unlike the radio, there are no
limits to what can be said in a thinking and debate. Not to podcast. Food, religion, death, mention they are a good venue politics, sports, humor, obscure for people attempting to explain jokes about Pixar movies — their viewpoints or ideas. Unlike there is a smorgasbord of topics radio, podcasts are portable and up for consideration. Two pod- can be paused — allowing for casts I really love are “The Bu- rewinds and second listens — gle” (with John Oliver, of “The and I believe they are a good way Daily Show”) and the “Cracked” to communicate with groups podcast. The former deals with and share ideas. In many ways, politics (hilariI believe listenously), and the ing to someone Unlike the latter covers evis a better way erything from radio, there to process and pop culture to are no limits form opinions presidents (also about differto what hilariously). I’m ent viewpoints sure others have can be said in a without forming their own prefer- podcast.” biases (obviously ences, but I tend there are excepto like things tions) since as that make me laugh. a listener, one can’t make snap So podcasts are great. But why judgments based on someone’s should anyone supplement their appearance. Not only that, but incredible Selena Gomez mu- since podcasts are portable, one sic collection with a podcast or can listen while driving respontwo? Simply put, I believe pod- sibly, since obviously one can’t casts are gearing up to be radio’s watch videos or read articles successor and will eventually while speeding down the highfind their way onto everyone’s way. And if you happen to beiPhone. lieve one can watch videos or Podcasts encourage dialogue, read articles while operating any
CLAIRE MOSLEY Claire Mosley is a junior majoring in accounting. She can be contacted at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.
vehicle of any kind, remind me to never accept a ride from you. Easily accessible, full of information and transportable — podcasts are the future. Perhaps not everyone will convert immediately. Perhaps people won’t even convert in the next five to 10 years, but eventually they’ll take over. Every home will have a plethora of podcasts to choose from, popular podcasts will pop up in society and people will have thousands of priceless podcasts to pick up.
“I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.” -Markus Zusak “ The Book Thief”
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 | 5
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AN IN-CLASS DISTRACTION ...
2-28-14
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 SALE
Classic rock albums for sale in Starkville. Beatles, Eagles, AC/DC, Boston and more. Over 5,000 comic books, mostly 1970s and 1980s, bagged and boarded. Over 20,000 baseball cards in 800 and 3,200 count boxes. Call 662-312-2402. FOR RENT
Canterbury Townhouses are under new management. Two-bedroom is $550 and three-bedroom is $750. This is per person, not per apartment. Two minutes to campus. Call 662-323-9216. Country living off the the beaten path, yet so close to it all. MISCELLANEOUS
Lost dog: female Boston terrier, around 10 pounds, copper and white, wears a red collar. Her name is Penny. Her home is in the area of University Estates. If found, contact 662-418-0284. 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. WESLEY FOUNDATION
Insight Bible study and worship Tuesdays at 8 p.m. at 286 East Lee Blvd. next to Campus Book Mart. Follow on Twitter @MSStateWesley or on Facebook. STUDENTS FOR A SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS
Care about the environment? Love activism? Come join SSC on Thursdays at 6 p.m. in McCool 111 to make a difference. Follow on Twitter @MSU_SSC. SCUBA DAWGS
Ever wanted to try scuba diving? Now you can. Come out for Discover Scuba on Feb. 11 and 12 at 5:30 p.m. in the Sanderson Center pool for just $5. All gear will be provided. Follow @MSUSCUBADawgs on Twitter or like us on Facebook. MSU RUGBY TEAM
Want to play a real sport?
Join the MSU Rugby Football Club. Practices are MondayThursday from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Recplex fields located near the end of Stone Boulevard. For more information email josephpongetti@gmail.com. DCP ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Paid internship at the happiest place on earth. Apply now through March 28 at disneycollegeprogram.com. AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNIONMSU CHAPTER
The MSU chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union will meet the last Wednesday of every month at 5 p.m. in Bowen Hall room 250. All majors are welcome. For more information, contact Dr. Lane at lane@soc.msstate.edu. SOCIOLOGICAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION
The Sociological Student Association will meet the last Thursday of every month at 5 p.m. in Bowen Hall room 250. All majors are welcome. For more information, contact Dr. Lane at lane@soc.msstate. edu. ROSE PRUNING 101
Come join us Saturday, March 1, from 9 a.m. to noon at the MSU Veterans Memorial Rose Garden to learn the best pruning techniques for hybrid tea roses and garden shrub roses from experts in the field. RSVP by Feb. 28 by emailing gcdenny@pss.msstate.edu or calling 662-325-1682.
Solutions for 2-25-14
FOLLOW THE LIFE SECTION ON TWITTER @LifeRe�lector
Unhappy with your living situation? Start fresh with us for Fall! Greentree Apartments
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on University Drive in the Cotton District
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Come Try Us Out! Phone: Webpage: 662-323-2430 starkvilleapts.com 662-418-9113
Looking for a new apartment or townhouse? CK Realty, LLC has what you need!
Triangle Townhouses 2 bedroom, One and a half bath townhouses for rent. Free Cable with a swimming pool onsite and Pet Friendly! Parkside Apartments 1 & 2 bedroom apartments available for rent. Free water and a laundromat on site. Deerfield Apartments 1 bedroom apartments available for rent. Laundromat on site. Please call 662-323-9074 to hear about our move in specials!
6 | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014
THE REFLECTOR
LIFE EDITOR: DANIEL HART | life@reflector.msstate.edu
LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT
2014 Oscars, 86th ceremony, year of firsts for directors BY DAVID LEWIS Staff Writer
The Olympics for filmmakers film fans has arrived. The Academy Awards air Sunday on ABC, as the Academy of Motion Picture and Film will announce the winners of the highest honors in the film industry and hand out the famous gold statuettes. Oscar movies do not always stay in theaters long, and they may be out of theatres once the nominees are announced. For uninformed movie fans, here is a crash course on the Oscars and the nominated films. The Oscar race for Best Picture is tight this year. Nine films were nominated: “12
CATIE MARIE MARTIN
BEST PICTURE
Years a Slave,” “American er’s Guild Awards, which typHustle,” “Captain Phillips,” ically predicts the Best Picture “Dallas Buyers Club,” “Grav- winner. “American Hustle” ity,” “Her,” took home the “Nebraska,” most Golden (DiCaprio) has Globes. “Philomena” been acting in and “The Alfonso Wolf of Wall Cuarón, direccriticallyStreet.” But, tor of “Gravacclaimed “12 Years ity,” is picked films for 20 a Slave,” to win Best “A m e r i c a n years now ... when will Director. The Hustle” and it be Leo’s turn?” acclaim he al“ G r a v i t y ” - Megan Gibson, ready received comprise at other awards the three- “Time” magazine writer shows plachorse race es him in the for the title front seat to this year. Each film has taken a win the title of Best Director. share of other top film awards, Peter Sobezynski, a writer for and “12 Years a Slave” and Roger Ebert’s website, raved “Gravity” unexpectedly tied about the work of Cuarón. for Best Picture at the Produc“With ‘Gravity,’ Alfon-
“GRAVITY”
DAVID LEWIS
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WARNER BROTHERS PICTURES | COURTESY PHOTO
In the same way movies like “Star Wars” and “Apollo 13” have in the past, “Gravity” opens the door for imaginations to run wild considering the uncharted nature of space. The movie’s expansive visual imagery evokes a desperation in the viewer as well as a longing to understand the unexplored depths of outer space. With special effects that con-
MARY KATE McGOWAN
BEST ACTRESS The queen is back for more. Already the winner of three Oscars, Meryl Streep returns to the nomination list for Best Actress in a Leading Role as Violet Weston in “August: Osage County.” Streep delivers as a familial matriarch after a family tragedy, but she does not grant comfort. She “truth tells.” Streep becomes Violet Weston and creates a powerful, emotionally-charged and dynamic character who represents pervasive familial troubles. Embodying the role of a strong, powerful, crazy and controlling woman, Streep portrays the chemically attached and emotionally unstable matriarch in a believable way that draws both hatred and sympathy for the tragic character. Streep’s performance is stellar in that she portrays a woman in distress whose life is
ALIE DALEE
BEST PICTURE Technological opulence juxtaposes the beauty of human interdependency in Spike Jonze’s film “Her.” Joaquin Phoenix portrays a man caught in a quixotic relationship with his operating system. The film draws a fine line between harrowing and poignant. Jonze forces his audience to watch a man spiral into deprecating loneliness, and, while many films would shy from the self-actualization of loneliness, Jonze forces his audience to face solidarity in all its pathetically-honest emotion. “Her” stands out on a ballot of historical pieces and screenwriters lost in time machines who focus on magnifying the past yet are mindless to the calamitous possibilities technology holds for future generations’ interconnectivity. In a bijou apartment in futuristic America, Phoenix
vey the reality, yet intangibility, of space, “Gravity” allows audiences to catch a glimpse into the lives of astronauts, a profession most can only dream about. Not only is the movie visually inspirational, but the characters also display a beautiful juxtaposition of insecurity and strength vital to the film’s space exploration. Sandra Bullock
so Cuarón accomplishes any number of things in spectacular fashion but its most astonishing achievement may be the way that it restored sense of genuine excitement and wonder to the moviegoing experience,” he said. Best Director is Cuaron’s race to lose. Although the Academy Awards will celebrate its 86th ceremony, this year is a big year of firsts and potential firsts. This year’s Oscars features a slew of first-time performers. Idina Menzel, from the movie “Frozen,” will be perform the juggernaut hit, “Let it Go.” Other first-time performers include Pink, Pharrell Williams, U2 and Tony and Oscar
and George Clooney display contrasting emotional depths through subtle physical manifestations of vulnerability and fear, like when Bullock finds a solitary moment after finding refuge in a spacecraft. The film’s performances and compelling characters, combined with excellent writing and special effects, create a film worthy of an Oscar.
MERYL STREEP
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the stoic Northup and has received his first Best Actor nomination for the role. Fresh on the scene, Lupita Nyong’o flawlessly portrays the slavewoman, Patsey. Nyong’o’s acting chops shine through
“Did you ever have to find a way to survive and you knew your choices were bad, but you had to survive?” Christian Bale, also known as his alter-ego Irving Rosenfeld in “American Hustle,” said these words that so seamlessly sum up the Oscar-nominated film. The film is the ultimate dramatic romantic comedy with the director of “Silver Linings
Playbook,” David O. Russell, seeking Oscar gold once again. Russell maintains his use of provocative characters while transforming Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence — A-list actor Mecca — into the ultimate group of hustlers at some level or another. The movie opens with the ingenious disclaimer that “Some of this actually
to a scorching Oklahoma summer, but Streep makes the heat worth it. Streep delivers in “August: Osage County.” Of course, she does. She’s Meryl Streep.
“HER” reveals the necessity of relationships. Jonze poses idealism against reality and asks society to take an in-depth look at where civilization is headed, one megabyte at a time. “Her” deserves the Oscar because it is not merely a film. It is not a strict historical document with groundbreaking film techniques and an actor who portrays chronology in
SONY PICTURES | COURTESY PHOTO
GENY KATE GURLEY technicolor brilliance. No, “Her” deserves the Oscar because it is a call-to-action for a generation too buried in its idealism, eyes bored into iPhones, to look up and engage in a reality so raw and chaotic, and yet so grounded in a beauty too refined to display on a retina screen and manages to capture the idealistic struggle in all of its pragmatic glory.
WARNER BROTHERS PICTURES | COURTESY PHOTO
her emotional, strong performance, proving Nyong’o clearly deserves to win Best Supporting Actress. “12 Years a Slave” should sweep the ceremony with nine wins in its nine nominated categories.
“AMERICAN HUSTLE”
WEINSTEIN COMPANY | COURTESY PHOTO
crumbling around her. Streep’s performance is enhanced — not overshadowed — by costars Julia Roberts, Chris Cooper and Ewan McGregor. The ensemble transports viewers
has a lock on the Best Actor Award,” she said. Gibson said the Academy is known to give this award to performers based on whether they deserved it in the past rather than an individual performance. Some would argue this is why McConaughey will win, but Gibson also said DiCaprio’s longevity can give him an advantage. “(DiCaprio) has been acting in critically-acclaimed films for 20 years now … when will it be Leo’s turn?” she said. Will Leo finally win? Will we all “Let It Go” one last time? Will the category of Best Director make groundbreaking strides? Tune in at 6 p.m. Sunday to watch Ellen DeGeneres host film’s biggest night.
“12 YEARS A SLAVE”
“12 Years a Slave” features a beautifully-crafted narrative, star-studded cast and brilliant director, each of which deserves to win in their respective categories. The film’s apolitical lens creates the clear story of a man’s perseverance in the face of racial discrimination. Along with a nomination for Best Picture, McQueen landed his first nomination for Best Director. Critics have praised his meticulous attention to historical accuracy and detail, and his careful work paid off. The film immediately transports its audiences into the late 1800s as it follows Solomon Northup through his 12-year journey through slavery. Chiwetol Ejiofor portrays
NOOR MUJAHID
winner, Bette Midler. For the first time, Best Director could go to non-white directors. Steve McQueen, a black director, is nominated for “12 Years A Slave.” Cuarón, a Latino director, is nominated for “Gravity.” Both men join the minute number of non-white nominees. Leonardo DiCaprio might finally win his first Oscar for his performance in the “The Wolf of Wall Street.” But once awards started going out, Matthew McConaughey raced into the lead for his performance in “Dallas Buyers Club.” “Time” magazine’s Megan Gibson predicted the race to fall to McConaughey. “Matthew McConaughey
happened.” Russell took an authentic story and factual characters and modified them exorbitantly to a point where viewers are fully immersed into the lives and actions of each distinctive character. Bale deserves an Oscar solely based on the physical transformation he enderwent for the film. With his gut poking out and his hair combed over to the point of embarrassment, Rosenfeld is the epitome of a brilliant con man, and his mistress (Adams) is equally, if not exceedingly, just as sly. Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence add to the hilariousness of the film with one-liners that are sure to make viewers fall over with laughter. With its allstar cast (especially Bale and his comedic comb-over) and ingeniously effortless plot, “American Hustle” will be added to the laundry list of phenomenal films that were robbed if it does not snag the Oscar for Best Picture.
WORST SNUBS
BOOK ADAPTATIONS
There should be an Oscar award for best film adaptation of a book. “Ender’s Game,” “Catching Fire” and “The Book Thief ” all excellently represent the books they are based on with beautiful direction and skilled acting. “The Book Thief ” and “Ender’s Game” both have child protagonists, and these young actors play their complex roles accurately and artfully. Asa Butterfield, who plays Ender Wiggin in “Ender’s Game” portrays a young, exceptionally gifted military commander with ease and remains sympathetic. Sophie Nélisse plays Leisel Meminger in “The Book Thief ” shows her audience how she begins to love and trust her new family, how she admires and respects
Jews and how she naively, but war in outer space. Special effearfully, perceives the Nazis. fects can overpower at times, The cast of “Catching Fire” especially when characters are steps up their game as well. As in zero gravity, but the film reKatniss, Jennifer Lawrence has alistically constructs every necmore emotional scenes than in essary scene while focusing on “Hunger the main charG a m e s” acter. The films’ and ex“Catching performances Fire” accuratecellently really set these ly portrays the portrays Katniss’s movies apart, but the districts and strength sets and special effects arena from the and fear. book without T h e add beauty to these being overdone f i l m s ’ well-written movies.” or losing focus perforon the characmances ters. really set these movies apart, “The Book Thief,” “Ender’s but the sets and special effects Game” and “Catching Fire” add beauty to these well-writ- were excellent movies, and as ten movies. adaptations, they stayed true “Ender’s Game,” based on a to the books. They really got sci-fi classic, revolves around a snubbed by the Oscars.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 | 7
SPORTS
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Bulldog baseball sweeps Mountaineers, builds confidence for weekend series By Blake Morgan Staff Writer
Mississippi State University’s baseball team swept Mount St. Mary’s in a midweek series with scores of 13-1 on Tuesday and 10-1 on Wednesday, bouncing back to a season record of 6-4. On Tuesday night, timely hitting finally came through for the Bulldogs, but he team relied on pitching and defense to carry them to victory. Senior Ben Bracewell won his second game of the young season and threw his second-straight quality start. MSU head coach John Cohen said Bracewell provided leadership and experience on the mound Tuesday. “Ben pitched like a senior should,” Cohen said. “(Zach) Randolph did a nice job behind the plate. Our pitching and catching was great. We also defended the field well.” Bracewell allowed six hits and only one earned run in a career-high seven innings pitched. He came away with a career-high eight strikeouts as well. Bracewell said simplifying his pitching approach allowed him to throw deep into the game. “My whole focus is just trying to not do too much,” Bracewell said. “I get in trou-
leon carrubba | the reflector
MSU senior pitcher Ben Bracewell (left) tosses a ball from the wind up and junior Jake Vickerson (right) rounds third base after a hit in the 13-1 victory against Mount St. Mary’s Tuesday night. The Bulldogs plated 23 runs on 25 hits while the pitching staff allowed two runs in the two-game midweek series against the Mountaineers. ble when I try to overthrow and just over power guys. That’s when I start walking people and pulling off my pitches, so its just staying under control and letting the baseball do its work.” Freshman Seth Heck re-
ceived his first start at shortstop of the season. Cohen said he had been waiting for the right game and matchup to start Heck and thought Tuesday night would be the right time. Heck finished 1-3 with a
run, RBI and a walk. He was solid on defense though, which was exactly what Cohen was hoping he would accomplish. Heck scored his run as part of a string of six-straight RBI singles in the fourth inning
and said the team was seeing the ball well at the plate. “Hitting is contagious, and that proves it,” Heck said. “All weekend we were struggling to get that hit with runners in scoring position, and then all of a sud-
BASKETBALL When a team is in the midst of a 10-game losing streak, a lot of things are going wrong for that team. However, there were some bright spots on what has become a very dim period for the Bulldogs. After being benched against Arkansas, sophomore Fred Thomas responded in this game with his best outing of the season. Thomas had 18 points, three assists and six rebounds, putting together a consistent all-around game. Thomas also provided some tough perimeter defense. Thomas said not getting to play in the Arkansas game had a huge impact on how he played against Tennessee. “I feel like I had a chip on my shoulder, and I had to come out and play hard for my team because I let them down when I didn’t play against Arkansas,” Thomas said. “I was just trying to be very aggressive and help my team win.” Junior Roquez Johnson also stepped up for the Dogs against the Volunteers. He led the team with 19 points and hit some key buckets to keep the game close.
2014 Super Bulldog Weekend schedule
den, boom, six in a row.” On Wednesday, the MSU offense continued to dominate Mount St. Mary’s. With a 4-1 lead, the Bulldogs scored six insurance runs in the eighth inning to put the game out of reach. Senior Demarcus Henderson, junior Wes Rea and senior Brett Pirtle each collected two RBls apiece for the Bulldogs. Cohen said the offensive outburst in the pair of midweek wins boosted his team’s confidence and will hopefully carry over to this week’s fourgame series with Michigan State and Eastern Illinois. “Our kids just kept competing and hitting the barrel when we needed it,” Cohen said. “We needed some offensive production. Since it was early in the year, just to get some confidence, so I think it was a pretty productive two days for us.” MSU returns to the diamond Friday against Michigan State at 6:30 p.m. at Dudy Noble Field for the first game in the Diamond Classic. The Bulldogs take on Eastern Illinois and Michigan State Saturday at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. respectively before finishing the weekend slate at 3 p.m. with their second game against Eastern Illinois.
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It was not enough, though, as the Vols never let the Bulldogs back in the game after collecting an early lead. Johnson said the Dogs’ defense cost them in this game. “We needed to score, and get stops but we were just scoring and letting them score,” Johnson said. “It all boils down to defense.” Defense was an issue that prevented the Dogs from winning this contest, but an even bigger problem was rebounding. Rebounding, or lack thereof, has plagued the Bulldogs all season as they have gotten out-rebounded in the majority of games. The rebounding woes were no different on Wednesday as Tennessee won the battle on the boards 43-35 and got 17 offensive rebounds. MSU head coach Rick Ray said beating a team like Tennessee is difficult when a team allows that many second-chance opportunities. “From the beginning of the game, we weren’t prepared for Tennessee’s physicality,” Ray said. “They knocked us on our heels early. They had 17 offensive rebounds, and the main thing is when you allow that many offensive rebounds, it con-
tinuously takes 35 seconds off the shot clock. When you’re down you need those 35 seconds.” Last season, the Bulldogs faced similar adversity going through a losing streak that got as large as 13 before they won again. Only three games remain in the regular season, and if the Bulldogs cannot find a way to get a win before the season ends, they will head into the SEC tournament at risk of losing 13 straight again. Ray said he is not worried about his team being motivated despite the losing streak. “I would be worried if day-to-day in practice our guys weren’t playing hard and weren’t competing,” Ray said. “When you see guys continuing to give effort and trying to follow the game plan, you don’t have to be concerned about motivation. I’m frustrated, and our kids are frustrated because we want to win. They are giving us everything they can to help us win right now, but it just isn’t enough right now.” The Bulldogs’ next game is Saturday on the road against Missouri at 12:30 p.m.
APRIL 10: 7 p.m.: MSU soccer vs. Alabama (Exhibition)
APRIL 11: 5 p.m.: MSU softball vs. Alabama 6:30 p.m.: MSU baseball vs. Ole Miss
emma katherine hutto | the reflector
Tennessee’s Armani Moore dunks over the Bulldog defense in Wednesday night’s loss in the Humphrey Coliseum. Moore collected eight points in 19 minutes of play.
APRIL 12: 11 a.m.: MSU volleyball alumni match 12 p.m. Maroon/White spring football game 3 p.m.: MSU baseball vs. Ole Miss 6 p.m.: MSU softball vs. Alabama
APRIL 13: 1 p.m.: MSU softball vs. Alabama 1 p.m.: MSU men’s tennis vs. Texas A&M 1:30 p.m.: MSU baseball vs. Ole Miss zack orsborn | the reflector
8 | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014
SPORTS EDITOR: JOHN GALATAS | reflectorsports@gmail.com
SPORTS
THE REFLECTOR
STAT OF THE DAY:
THE MSU MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM HAS NOW LOST 16 STRAIGHT FEBRUARY GAMES AND 20 OUT OF THE LAST 21.
MSU Statistical Comparison
13-15 3-12 68.3 44.4 30.4 65.9 33.2 12.3 14.0 8.0 2.7
Record Conf. Record Scoring FG Percentage 3-Point FG Percentage Free Throw Percentage Rebounding Avg. Assists Turnovers Steals Blocks
Missouri 19-9 7-8 74.2 46.0 36.0 73.3 37.6 10.6 12.4 4.7 3.1
Mississippi State at Missouri, Saturday 12:30 p.m. ZACK ORSBORN | THE REFLECTOR
COACH’S CORNER
Bulldogs shine in NFL combine alongside nation’s best talent E
EMMA KATHERINE HUTTO | THE REFLECTOR
Tennessee’s Jarnell Stokes blocks Trivante Bloodman’s drive to the basket. The Vols knocked off the Bulldogs 75-68 and extended MSU’s losing skid to 10 games.
Dogs topped by Vols, extend losing streak BY FORREST BUCK Staff Writer
After opening the season strong with a 10-3 record heading into the new calendar year, conference play has taken a toll on the Mississippi State University men’s basketball team.
MSU took on the Tennessee Volunteers at home Wednesday night and fell 75-68. With that defeat, the Dogs are now on a 10-game losing streak, and there does not appear to be an end in sight. MSU is now 3-12 in SEC play and 13-15 overall. Similar to the previous game
against Arkansas, the team fought to the end, played hard and even outplayed its opponent down the stretch. But also like the game against Arkansas, MSU started too slowly and dug themselves in too deep of a hole early. SEE BASKETBALL, 7
xactly 332 college foot- son projected to be picked ball players were invited anywhere from the fifth to to this year’s NFL scout- seventh round, Perkins entered the combine projected to ing combine. Of those 300-plus, offensive be undrafted by a lot of draft guard Gabe Jackson and run- sites. However, Perkins did a ning back LaDarius Perkins lot to change his stock at the represented Mississippi State combine after a very impressive work out. University at the combine. Perkins ran a 4.46 in the After a stellar junior campaign, Jackson put himself in 40-yard dash which was the position to be drafted as one fifth-fastest time among the running back of the top guard prospects. prospects in was the 2013 draft. But his rare There some doubt However, Jackcombination and concerns son elected to of speed about Perkins’ forego the NFL speed after for one more sea- and strength he looked son and return combined with an slower during to MSU for his season. senior year — a impressive showing the However his decision that at the combine has 40 time conturned out to be Perkins back in the firmed that a good one. discussion to be he was simply Jackson was bothered by projected to go drafted.” injury. Perin the middle kins was also rounds last year, but after a great senior year he one of the strongest running has positioned himself to go back prospects at the combine, in the first or second round getting 23 reps on the bench this year. He is considered by press, which was tied for most to be one of the top three fourth-most by any running guard prospects in this year’s back prospect. There are still major conclass, and some even have him cerns about Perkins’s size and as the top guard prospect. Jackson did not disappoint durability. He only measured at the combine either. He mea- in at 5’7” and 195 pounds. sured in at 6’3” and a massive Despite his bulky stature, he 336 pounds. He has long arms still remains one of the smaller and big hands to go along with backs in the class. But his rare combination of that size that makes him ideal speed and strength combined for run blocking in the NFL. Perkins, on the other hand, with an impressive showing at was not so fortunate his senior the combine has Perkins back season. After a good junior in the discussion to be drafted. A few non-Bulldogs who year, Perkins was plagued by injuries throughout his senior also shined at the combine year that really limited his ef- were Jadaveon Clowney, Johnfectiveness and sent his draft ny Manziel, Justin Gilbert, stock plummetting in the Dri Archer and Aaron Donald. Clowney was the physical wrong direction. After coming into the sea- specimen we all thought he
FORREST BUCK Forrest Buck is a senior majoring in kinesiology. He can be contacted at reflectorsports@ gmail.com
would be as he came in at 6’5,” 266 pounds and ran a 4.53 40yard dash. He even ran in the 4.4 range unofficially. Men that size just should not run that fast. He clearly established himself as the best overall talent in this draft. Another big name everyone followed was Manziel. He did not show anything spectacular in his workouts but reportedly impressed in the interviews, which was supposedly the biggest concern about him coming into the event. Archer was the fastest man at the combine. The Kansas State running back ran a blazing 4.26. Gilbert did a lot to get a leg up as the top cornerback prospect in the draft and ran a 4.37 in the 40 yard dash while also being one of the strongest players at his position, getting 20 reps on the bench press. He has ideal size for the position at 6’0,” 202 pounds and the combination of strength, size and speed has him currently in the driver’s seat to be the first cornerback taken off the board. The 2014 NFL draft begins on May 8 on ESPN. The Houston Texans are on the clock, but who will they take?
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