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SEPTEMBER 10, 2013

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Alcohol laws cause confusion

BY ANNA WOLFE News Editor

“You know this is illegal,” an Oktibbeha County Sheriff said as he held up a case of Bud Light during a raid of a party in Campus Trails.

Zachary Miller, senior kinesiology major, who recalls the event last spring, said he was surprised when police confiscated beer from an apartment of his 21-year-old friend but left bottles of liquor.

“As they were leaving, me and a couple friends asked them, ‘Why didn’t you take the liquor, too?’ Because they obviously knew it was there, and they were like, ‘We don’t

have to take that,’ and we all just started laughing,” he said.

Chief Deputy of the Oktibbeha County Sherriff ’s Office, Chadd Garnett, said the Oktibbeha County’s alcohol laws stem from prohibition. While liquor is legal in Oktibbeha County, it is illegal to possess beer in any area that does not fall within Starkville city limits.

“There is an ordinance that you can’t have beer in the county. So if you get caught, you can be charged with possession of beer in a dry county,” he said.

While Miller said he knew Campus Trails was not inside Starkville city limits, he was

not aware possessing beer was illegal.

“It is odd,” he said. “It doesn’t make sense to me because it’s a slower way to get drunk.”

Garnett said police often catch people in possession of beer during routine stops.

“It doesn’t have to be open. So, if we have somebody that comes through on a roadblock, and they have a six pack of beer sitting in the back seat, they could be issued a citation for possession of beer in a dry county,” he said.

Garnett said beer

cannot be sold in convenient stores in dry parts of Oktibbeha County or in liquor stores in towns like Sturgis.

While Garnett said he believes the law has been around long enough for people to know what is le-

gal to possess and where, he said he acknowledges some liquor laws are not as well known. Oktibbeha County, for example, does not have any open container laws.

“If you’re a passenger in a vehicle and you’re over 21, you can have an open bottle of liquor anywhere and drink it,” he said.

Garnett also said drinking

and driving is lawful if the driver remains under the blood alcohol content limit of .08. However, it can create suspicion.

“If you’re the driver, that is a probable cause to stop you to check you to see if you’re over the limit,” he said.

Garnett said police try to focus on education about alcohol possession and use discretion when enforcing the laws.

SEE ALCOHOL, 2

MISSISSIPPI STATE’S UNSUNG HEROES

Ms. Annie creates welcoming atmosphere on shuttles

BY ESHAN NEWAZ Staff Writer

Any passenger who takes the blue shuttle at Mississippi State University will tell you happiness is contagious when you have someone like Effie Ann Hopkins driving the bus.

Known as “Ms. Annie,” students see Hopkins as a motherly figure who brightens their day.

Hopkins shuttle takes students from the Union to Research Park, where engineering research is done.

Katerine Saleme, a computational engineering graduate and exchange student, said Hopkins is the kindest person she knows and always puts a smile on everyone’s face.

“I was stressed because of the has been like a second mother language barrier, but Ms. Annie to me and made me feel good helped me a lot to speak in En- every morning when I used to take the shuttle glish and always with her.” asked me how I She is Raj Prabhu, was. She is like a someone biomedical enmom,” Saleme gineering prosaid. who can fessor at MSU, Faridul Alam, relate said Hopkins is aerospace engisomeone who neering grad- to you and help has been well uate student, you see life seasoned in life said Hopkins is from a different and has a spunky someone who perspective. She personality. is always caring, “She is somecomforting and can tell you, ‘Hey one who can remakes students I’ve been through late to you and feel better no this, you can go help you see life matter how low through this too KAITLIN MULLINS | THE REFLECTOR from a different Ms. Annie considers her student commuters family. they are feeling.

He said even and come out fine.’” p e r s p e c t i v e , ” Prabhu said. though he has -Raj Prabhu “She can tell you, homesick students and tries to family here for you. You have a a car now, he biomedical ‘Hey, I’ve been make them feel like they are granny, aunt, sister or whatever still gets on the engineering you want to call me.” through this, you part of the MSU family. shuttle once Fazle Ahad, a mechanical encan go through in a while just professor “I want you to know somethis, too, and body on campus loves you, want gineering graduate student, said to have a good come out fine.’ “ you to know Mississippi State Hopkins is like a family memtime talking to With enthu- loves you. You can feel relaxed ber to him at MSU. Hopkins.

“My wife and I invited her “When international stu- siastic spirit, Hopkins said she and feel like you belong here,” dents come to the USA, we are tries to make everyone feel more Hopkins said. “I want you to for dinner many times, and we lonely, helpless and homesick,” comfortable and loved. She said know that I love you enough always have a great time talking Alam said. “But Ms. Annie she understands the needs of to make you understand there’s to her,” he said.

Student housing exotic animals arrested

BY MARY KATE MCGOWAN Staff Writer

Huyanh Ralph Tran, a Mississippi State University senior veterinary student, was arrested Thursday by the Starkville Police Department as a suspect in connection with the discovery of an exotic animal breeding facility in a residential area in Starkville.

Tran was arrested under the charges of operating a commercial business in a residential area, as well as violation of Starkville’s public nuisance and safety ordinance.

Detective Stephanie Perkins from the Starkville Police Department said Tran dealt the exotic birds without the proper dealing license.

Tran was charged when he

Volunteers host 9/11 commemoration

BY KYLIE DENNIS

we are together than we are as individuals,” she said. “I think we should always strive to help Volunteer Starkville and the people in need when we can, Maroon Volunteer Center, in even if we do not know them.”

The major events will incombination with local sponsors, will host a series of service clude the “Serving Those Who Serve Us” event events around on Tuesday from Starkville in I think we 3-5:30 p.m. tribute to 9/11 should during which this week. volunteers are Jamey Bachalways invited to assist man, director strive to in the upkeep of Volunteer Starkville, said help people in need of buildings and equipment at in an email when we can.” local fire and pothat while the - Jamey Bachman, lice departments events are cer- Director of and the “Retainly a tribute to the memory Volunteer Starkville membering 9/11 … Story Time of both the victims and heroes who lost their with Local Heroes” reading on lives over a decade ago, the focus Wednesday from 3:30-5 p.m. on volunteer work and educa- at the Starkville Public Library tion in Starkville’s National Day during which children are invitof Service events also aims to ed to listen to stories read by first promote community awareness responders and participate in a and appreciation of the selfless coloring activity.

The National Day of Service service of first responders in Okand Remembrance ceremony tibbeha County.

“I believe that it is important will be on Wednesday from for our community to continue 5:30-6 p.m. featuring a presento remember and memorial- tation of the flags by Starkville ize 9/11 because it reminds us high school’s JROTC and a of how quickly things can go speech by Mayor Parker Wisewrong and how much stronger man.

Staff Writer

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turned himself in after being issued two misdemeanor arrest warrants.

Perkins said the charges were issued Tran based on Tran’s confession.

He was released after posting a $1,000 bond.

Perkins said Tran has cooperated with local authorities and has moved the animals from his Park Avenue residence.

The exotic animals found at the residence include African cats, rare birds and exotic snakes. Tran used the home as a breeding facility.

University officials did not release a statement on the incident.

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NEWS

HOPKINS The story of how Hopkins fell in love with students of MSU and has been a shuttle driver since 2003 starts with her daughter, who decided to leave Chicago to attend MSU in 1992.

“I was a stay-home mother in Chicago. I couldn’t bear to be apart from my daughter,”

THE REFLECTOR

continued from 1 Hopkins said. “It’s a hard thing for a mother to give up her child, so I decided to find a job in Mississippi.”

Hopkins said after her daughter graduated in 1997, she wanted a job at MSU to do something to help other students. She realized how hard life is for many students

who are sometimes thousands of miles away from their families, and she felt the need to do something for them.

“We are family on the blue route,” Hopkins said. “I’m the family here you miss at home, to talk to you and keep you from getting into trouble.”

KAITLIN MULLINS | THE REFLECTOR

Students enjoy daily commutes on Ms. Annie’s routes. She drives the blue route.

ALCOHOL

continued from 1

“It’s not like everybody we see with a beer we write them a ticket. It’s more of an education thing, unless they need to be charged,” he said.

Garnett said the penalties for disobeying the county’s ordinance are established in justice court.

Officer Charlie Jones of the Starkville Police Department said both liquor and beer are legal inside Starkville city limits.

“The only thing that I can tell you right off hand that is definitely illegal, is untaxed liquor, which would be your moonshine that somebody made and then sold,” he said.

The Starkville Police Department has a conjoining jurisdiction with the MSU Police Department from University Drive to the Henry Hunter Center, as well as Fraternity and Sorority Row. Jones said Starkville police often allow campus police to deal with law enforcement in those areas.

“Most of the time, we just go ahead and let MSU take those calls for us, because we have enough to worry about when

it comes to Cotton District,” whereas beer is only legal in the he said. areas of campus that fall within Jones also said Cowbells, which Starkville city limits. falls outside of Starkville city limTabor Mullen, assistant dean its, was once a of students, resort, enabling said in an People make the establishemail the mistakes and ment to obtain c o n s e the liquor liquences of the key is cense they still to learn from those possessing have today. alcohol de“You have mistakes so that all pend on the places like our students become situation.

Cowbells that responsible citizens.”

Outcomes are in the counfor students ty that are al- -Tabor Mullen, found violowed to serve Assistant Dean of lating the alcohol, and Students Code of that is because Student they had a reConduct sort status,” he said. include educational courses, proMSU’s campus police follow bation and up to suspension from state laws for regulating alcohol the university. possession. Kenneth Rogers, camMullen said the Code of Stupus police Lieutenant, said deter- dent Conduct benefits students mining which parts of campus are by teaching life-long lessons.

“People make mistakes and the in Starkville — where beer is legal key is to learn from those mistakes — is complex.

“It’s a little tricky. Not all of so that all our students become Fraternity Row is in city limits, responsible citizens. Our interactions with students who are exonly portions of it,” he said.

Rogers said that as long as a perimenting with alcohol for the person is 21-years-old, posses- first time is all about education sion of liquor is legal on campus, and responsibility,” he said.

MSU earns position in magazine’s national university ranking

BY LACRETIA WIMBLEY Contributing Writer

Washington D.C.’s “Washington Monthly” released a report ranking Mississippi State University No. 71 among the top 100 National Universities on Aug. 26.

This is not the first time

MSU has been placed among the top 100 in the “Washington Monthly.” In 2005, MSU was No. 95 on the list.

The magazine explained the national schools were ranked based on three broad and important categories, including social mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students), research (producing cutting-edge scholarship and PhDs) and service (encouraging students to give something back to their country).

Michael Hogan, Student Association President and senior business management major said MSU’s place in the top 100 gives MSU the recognition it needs on a national level.

“Within the last five years, MSU has grown incredibly.

In the past, each department

worked for their own success. universities. It was also ranked Now, every entity of campus, in the top 10 for agricultural-rewhile still using individual lated research. tactics to achieve goals, works Rankings from the Science together toward enhancing Foundation are products of MSU,” Hogan the Higher said.

Education MSU is Hogan said Research and doing a MSU creates highDevelopment er expectations for great job in (HERD) Sursouthern schools. vey for the fisthe South, “MSU is doing cal year 2011. a great job in the and it is a really Gregory South, and it is a good thing that Bohach, vice really good thing the bar is being president of that the bar is be- extended.” the Division ing extended,” he of Agriculture, -Michael Hogan, said.

Forestry and The National Student Association Ve t e r i n a r y Science Founda- president Medicine at tion ranked MSU MSU, said No. 91 among this ranking is public and private institutions as dedicated to a $7.5 billion revone of the nation’s top research enue for research in the division

of agriculture.

“Faculty and staff write a lot of research proposals to private and state commodities in order to inherit research opportunities. This division is always trying to improve and stay among leading revenues,” Bohach said.

Bohach said these rankings make MSU visible, as well as being one of the only two landgrant universities in Mississippi, the other being Alcorn State University.

The National Science Foundation ranked MSU No. 29 in social sciences, No. 37 in computer science, No. 45 in engineering, No. 49 in humanities and No. 75 in environmental sciences. MSU was ranked sixth in the top 10 for agricultural-related research.

MSU was also named to the

WASHINGTON

MONTHLY UNIVERSITY

RANKINGS

1. University of California - San Diego 2. University of California - Riverside 3. Texas A&M 4. Case Western Reserve University 5. University of Calfornia - Berkeley 6. Stanford University 7. University of Texas - El Paso 8. Harvard University 9. Georgia Institute of Technology 10. University of California - Los Angeles

2012 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction last year, according to MSU’s Relations News Bureau.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013 | 3

NEWS

REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM

Student Association election outcome announced

BY HILLARY LAPLATNEY Staff Writer

Saturday, Sept. 7 • 1:51 a.m. A student’s vehicle was towed for obstructing traffic on Fraternity Row. • 2:10 a.m. A student was arrested in Starkville for driving under the influence, careless driving and possession of marijuana.

• 1:29 p.m. A visitor passed out in Davis Wade Stadium.

• 1:50 p.m. A student passed out in Davis Wade Stadium from heat exhaustion.

• 4:28 p.m. A resident of the city reported someone urinated on his vehicle while parked on College View Street.

• 6:31 p.m. A student reported she was assaulted at McCool Hall.

• 9:01 p.m. A student was issued a student referral in Moseley Hall for possession of beer in a dry county.

Sunday, Sept. 8 • 12:04 a.m. A student was transported to OCH from Fraternity Row for medical assistance.

• 2:24 a.m. A visitor reported her iPhone stolen from her tailgating tent across from the Kappa Alpha house.

REMEMBERING

The awareness fair direct- Starkville who have also conly following the ceremony on tributed funds that go toward Wednesday will include various events such as the September 11 children’s activities and oppor- National Day of Service and Retunities to meet with Oktibbe- membrance include Woodmen ha County’s service men and of the World, Trinity Presbytewomen. rian Church, Copy Cow, UniLacy Jaudon, graduate stu- versity ScreenPrint, the City of dent and assistant coordinator Starkville, United Way of North of MVC said preparations for Central Mississippi and the the upcoming events began Greater Starkville Development in late June, with the bulk of Partnership,” she said. planning In an email incomplete beterview, Darius When it fore the end Mangum, senior comes to of July. accounting major the first Bachman and MVC sersaid finding responders, vice leader, said the funds to memorial events most of the cover this like those succeed year’s vol- volunteers dont in expanding the unteer and mind coming out reach of communim e m o r i a l to lend a helping ty involvement and events, which cultivate a stronger include ex- hand.” relationship bepenses such -Darius Mangum, tween the service as transpor- Senior accounting men and women of tation, chil- major Starkville and those dren’s art supthey protect. plies, posters, “When it comes cleaning to the first respondequipment and ceremonial ers, most of the volunteers don’t costs, was a collaborative effort mind coming out to lend a helpon the community’s part.

Many local organizations and Open year round! departments are partnering with Volunteer Starkville to host the 9/11 Day of Service projects and events, including Starkville Fire Department, Oktibbeha County Fire Department, Starkville Police Department, OCH Regional Medical Center, Starkville, Oktibbeha County Public Library, Modern Woodmen and Ward COSTUMES • VINTAGE • THEATRICAL Stewart Elementary.

100 Russell Street Suite 9 662.323.9771 “Local sponsors of Volunteer

Costume PARTY

Results of the Student Association Senate elections were announced Sept. 3, and the newly-elected officers will serve to represent students in their colleges for the 2013-2014 school year.

The Student Association Senate, similar to the United States Congress, holds the right to pass legislation and make amendments to the SA Constitution.

Shelby Sims, Student Association vice president, said SA Senate is beneficial to the Mississippi State University student body.

“Senate can bring changes to student life by passing legislation to be considered by other entities such as faculty senate, faculty or administrators,” Sims said. “Many times when faculty or staff groups need a focus group to pitch ideas to students and gain feedback, they will come talk to the Student Association Senate because it is representative of the student population on campus.”

One of Sims’s main jobs as vice president is to serve as chairman of SA Senate.

“It is my job to work with we encourage everyone to run the senators and teach them and to vote.” how to write legislation and MaryBeth Cox, junior hupractice proper parliamentary man sciences major, was reprocedure,” Sims said. “I pre- cently elected as senator for the side over the College of meetings and Agriculture make sure that and Life There are the senators Science. always are conducting Cox said improvements she decided business in a professional to run for that can be way.” senate partmade. Sometimes Clint Pride, ly because elections com- we don’t know the she wantmissioner, is right people to handle ed to meet in charge of the situation. I see people in creating, facil- this position helping her major itating, monand in her itoring and students have a voice in college. policing the their experience as MSU “I want elections held students.” to get to on MSU’s -MaryBeth Cox, know them campus. and see Pride said College of Agriculture what probhe believes it is and Life Science senator lems they “always fun” to have or see new people what suggetting involved with senate. gestions they have so we can “Every year, the Senate passes help make Mississippi State bills and resolutions that direct- even better than it already is,” ly affect MSU college students, Cox said. such as updates to the Academic Cox said she ran for senate Forgiveness Policy,” Pride said. with hopes to serve other stu“These newly-elected senators dents and to better the MSU are important, and that is why campus.

“There are always improvements that can be made,” Cox said. “Sometimes we don’t know the right people to tell or the right ways to handle the situation. I see this position helping students have a voice in their experience as MSU students.”

Margaret Virden, senior business management major, was just re-elected as representative for the College of Business.

Virden said she really enjoys being behind the scenes as well as representing her peers.

“I was really excited to hear my name announced this year,” Virden said. “I was honored that the students in the College of Business re-elected me, allowing me to represent them another year.”

Virden also gave insight to her plans for this year.

“We revamped the election code last term, so I’m interested to see how that works this year and to see if we can further improve that area of the constitution,” Virden said. “I want to continue to represent the student body’s interests and ideas and pursue altering the Constitution to better student life here.” continued from 1

ing hand or just to see them.

Most of the time, we have individuals who come out just to say thanks,” he said. “After the program is over and everyone is socializing, the best feeling is when you see a smile on everyone’s face ,from the first responders to the volunteers.”

Bachman said though last year marked the beginning of service opportunities like “Serving Those Who Serve Us” and the “I WILL” tribute booth, the combined efforts of the MVC and Volunteer Starkville proved a tremendous success, collecting approximately 200 hours of service among community members.

“Overall (last year), Volunteer Starkville and the Maroon Volunteer Center engaged 190 volunteers in service projects and events that engaged and/or serviced 348 community participants,” she said. “This year we have added some new events and new features to the repeated events with hope that we will see a larger turn out and have a greater community impact.”

To help achieve this goal, this year’s events will include a great-

9/11 COMMEMORATIVE

EVENTS

SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE US

Tuesday at 3:00 - 5:30 p.m.

REMEMBERING 9/11...

STORY TIME WITH LOCAL HEROES Wednesday at 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.

NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE AND REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY Wednesday at 5:30 - 6:00 p.m.

ZACK ORSBORN | THE REFLECTOR

er variety of service opportunities aimed at Starkville’s younger population.

Jaudon said while the organizations behind this national day of service remain respectful of parents’ wishes to discuss the subject matter of 9/11 privately with

their families, the MVC strives to coordinate events that help children understand the value of service men and women in their own community.

“I think it’s important for them to just understand giving back and respecting local heroes. That’s really what this day is all about — those who lost their lives and those who sacrificed their lives to go help other people, making sure (children) respect these authority figures and maybe end up wanting to be them one day,” she said.

Ultimately, Jaudon said preparations are already underway for future 9/11 service and memorial events, and university and community organizations will continue to honor the nation’s past adversities, if only to fuel a brighter future for the heroes closer to home.

“If we are going to market something that is tragic, let’s try to turn it in to something positive,” she said.

For more information on event details and volunteer sign up opportunities, visit volunteerstarkville.org or mvc.msstate.edu.

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OPINION

4 | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013

OPINION EDITOR: ALIE DALEE | opinion@reflector.msstate.edu WHO SPEAKS FOR EARTH?

THE REFLECTOR

EXPRESS YOUR VOICE AT REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM

The four horsemen of the apocolypse need to get their act together

E

ver since the beginning of human civilization we have worried. The looming question is this: what naturally follows a beginning? And the scary answer to that question seems to be: the end, be it “happily ever after” or otherwise. And so, after years of complacent civilization we have begun to ask the question: how does it all end?

This apocalyptic attitude shows itself in the movies, books and political musings of our times.

There is rarely a bookshelf without a story about the end of civilization or the universe in general — subjects for which humorist authors such as Kurt Vonnegut, Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett are renowned. On TV we have apocalypses, including like a zombie outbreak in “The Walking Dead,” History Channel’s interpretation of an empty Earth in “Life After People” and the electrical apocalypse in the NBC TV show “Revolution.” Additionally, new apocalyptic movies come out every year, one way to go after the

other, most recently “World War Z,” “Pacific Rim,” “Elysium” and the comedies “This is the End” and “World’s End.” There is a great deal of apocalyptic media out there, but it even shows up in the news regularly as we are warned perpetually of different political disasters by conservative discontents. You all will remember how just less than nine months ago the world was for the umpteenth time prophesied to come to an end. Dec. 21, 2012 was supposed to be the end of the world, but if you ask me, the afterlife seems pretty normal.

I kind of like our new post-apocalyptic world.

Astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson describes in his popular science book “Death by Black Hole” the potential hazards of living on our planet adrift in the vast and disorderly universe. He warns of the eventual danger of the heat death of the universe, when after hundreds of billions of years everything freezes and gets expanded beyond usefulness; this

fate is impending and unavoidable. According to Tyson, “The long-term fate of the cosmos cannot be postponed or avoided. No matter where you hide, you will be part of a universe that inexorably marches toward a peculiar oblivion … the collective gravity of everything in the universe is insufficient to halt and reverse the cosmic expansion.”

But is there really all that much to fear on an actual human scale?

According to Michael Grunwald of “Time Magazine,” America’s apocalyptic fears are over hyped in popular culture and politics.

Grunwald says that although it may have been close, the apocalypse is now at a safe distance from us, “We are now in the fourth year of a slow but steady recovery. The economy is adding about 200,000 jobs a month and has added 6.8 million private-sector jobs since the end of the Great Recession. The stock market is at an all-time high and has almost doubled since Obama took office. The housing market

is rebounding. It’s true that 7.5 percent unemployment is way too high, but it’s better than the double-digit unemployment we had in the wake of the financial meltdown, when the apocalypse really was nigh. The government has even turned a profit on the reviled Wall Street bailouts that ended the meltdown.”

There really is not that much to fear. We may be able to kill ourselves off with nuclear weapons, but as the Cold War turned out alright in the end, we should hold a little more faith in our human ability to refrain from total annihilation. What we should be more worried about is accidentally tipping our ecosphere beyond its equilibrium point or introducing some disastrous disease that accomplishes what the bubonic plague could not.

In regards to mankind-driven global climate change, we should act fast, not because we have already caused irreversible damage, but because if we keep at our current pace, we will eventually un-

balance the ecosphere. Richard A. Muller describes in his book “Physics for Future Presidents” the problem facing our planet at this time as a booming developing world catching up and dwarfing the already developed nations in their climate impact.” Muller says, “Ultimately, the real issue is the developing world. Freezing carbon dioxide emissions in the United States — even cutting back below 1990 levels — delays the effects of carbon dioxide by only a few years. The booming economies of China and India will quickly fill in for the United States.”

We should certainly be careful with our planet and our species’ life. There are so many ways for the apocalypse to come that it almost seems foolish to have a plan to try to avoid it, but at least we can look on the bright side and see that there is a silver lining to this cultural phenomenon: we are all just over-exaggerating our dissatisfaction with the present. We have grown up in such a time of

CAMERON CLARKE Cameron Clarke is a junior majoring in physics and mathematics. He can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.

marvelous technological advancement and scientific progress that we expected more. We expected to be well beyond our current state and into a realm of artificially long life, safely tucked away from danger. And so the harsh realization that we are still vulnerable to the whims of nature and of men prevails. We respond with apocalyptic fears across the board of human experience, whether the response is rational or not.

WISDOM FROM A FOOL

AMONG THE WILDFLOWERS

The importance of being lonely The economy is our battle: Syria must wait

A

s I packed my final bag and became a self-declared Starkville expat bound for Nashville, Tenn., I had beautiful ideals in my head as to where the metropolis summer would lead. Most of these ideals were associated with bright lights and the big city, and by bright lights I allude to stimulating conversation with perfectly pedigreed literature buffs at quaint coffee shops.

Instead, mid-June found me haphazardly teetering in heels waiting for my peppermint latte at a local coffee joint (no, it’s never too late or too early to indulge in peppermint treats, nice try, Jack Frost) as I aimlessly listened to Dazed and Confused’s prodigy inform me that what the world needs now is more color, while holding his triple-shot almond milk. For the record, I snarkily thought to myself, “Actually I prefer pastels,” but, alas, the Southern charm imprinted deep in my bones prevailed, and I politely nodded and gave my best doe-eyed stare.

Is color really what the world needs?

Maybe I’m alone in this opinion, but I feel as if my senses are bombarded daily with color — in the noise from the television beyond the book I’m reading, in the stoplights as they change from red to green on my route to work and in the incessant need to constantly surround myself with others.

As I sat that night in an old renovated theatre in Nashville, and watched a black and white adaptation of “Much A Do About Nothing,” I couldn’t help but be at peace that my mind wasn’t overloaded with color. I need not focus on the breathtakingly blue hue of the lead actor’s eyes, or

the saturated pigment of the starlet’s gown. I only focus on the dialogue and meandering looks between characters. The movie hinted of the simplicity a life lived sans-color provides, a simplicity so often overlooked.

As an expat I had dreams of adventures in one of the fastest growing culture capitals in the United States. I wanted not just association with the glittering things, I wanted the glittering things themselves. My mind was alive with the grand adventures to be had — the whole city alive with the color of neon signs and infinite flannel patterns.

But as the summer wore on, many of my days were met with loneliness, characterized by a life filled daily with people and color and a forgotten respect for the black and white simplicity of solitude.

There were numerous nights filled with symphonies and concerts in intricately designed auditoriums, free shows in the park and the alluring smell of food trucks.

Yet in between these moments, the extrovert within me failed to cope with the newfound downtime and felt drowned in the ever-daunting sea of strangers.

It’s then I realized there is an understated beauty in learning to enjoy one’s own company. It’s a beauty that must be learned singularly.

I am by no means advocating you go start a colony of hermits and throw John Donne’s mantra to the wind. I merely believe the world may need lives characterized by pastels, a swirling interlay of black and white moments infused with color. Lives characterized by the nights you’ll never forget, shining on a neon sign in your catalog of memories.

I

ALIE DALEE Alie Dalee is the opinion editor of The Reflector. She can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.

These moments are then intricately woven with the black and white snapshots of a life, memories easily forgetable, yet quietly laying the foundation of who you are.

Somewhere between the symphonies and Bob Dylan, I found contentment. The thought of staying in alone on a Friday night would once have plagued anxiety on my adolescent mind. Yet, somehow I slowly found contentment in curling up with Netflix and “Manhattan,” and letting Woody Allen’s neurosis ease my insecurities away. The simplicity of spending a night curled up absorbed in a novel no longer seemed a sentence of social exile; and spending a night cooking for one no longer led to dejection, as long as there was Tom Petty humming along.

An art I for so long deemed loneliness seems to be a moniker mislabeled for a lesson in contentment. A lesson that proves the grayscale moments of life carry a simplicity that harmoniously prepares and teaches an appreciation for the vibrant days ahead.

f the saying, “when it rains it pours” holds true, then the United States economy is staring into a potential monsoon. Currently in Washington D.C., Syria is the most talked about issue; however, the most dangerous enemy is hovering in the distance like a black cloud. Instead of focusing on what to do in the Middle East, Congress needs to direct all of its attention to saving the economy because the time is dire. With poor job growth and the approaching debt ceiling, Syria needs to be the least of the country’s worries, as our own sovereignty is in jeopardy.

While the economy is showing some recovery, the numbers are not matching the needs of the American people. According to the U.S. Labor Department 169,000 jobs were added last month and unemployment dipped by 0.1 percent, with it taking into account those who quit job searching. This is barely keeping pace with our population demands. Why should money be spent entering into a situation in which many argue we should have no place?

Instead of pumping funds into another armed conflict, money should be spent creating new employment opportunities for jobseekers. Even though the job market is large, it is microscopic compared to the approaching debt ceiling.

On Oct. 31, the United States will once again reach

its borrowing limit within the debt ceiling. George Washington once described dissent among political parties as leading to, “formal and permanent despotism,” which he believed would destroy the country.

During last year’s debt ceiling, Washington’s words almost came true when politicians disagreed until hours before deadline. If our government cannot reach a consensus to raise this upcoming ceiling or reduce spending, it may be forced to shut down or face default. Judging by how well each party has “agreed” with finances over the past year, I think there won’t be enough time to reach a consensus when the deadline arrives, unless our attention is shifted.

Politicians need to focus completely on the issue at home, not putting things off because of international pressure.

Using weapons of mass destruction against unarmed civilians is an unpardonable act, but does the U.S. really have any business in the Syria conflict? I understand that as a nation it is within our best international interests to maintain stability and promote global freedom, but it shouldn’t be our responsibility to be in charge of another country’s fate, especially when our own economy is struggling. During his presidency, Franklin D. Roosevelt stated, “True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence.”

T.J. Legler T.J. Legler is a senior majoring in cultural anthropology.

He can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate. edu.

One of the United States’ goals is to be a symbol of liberty, but if Roosevelt’s words hold true, we are neither secure, nor independent. How is it that the American people should be expected to be called upon to promote the ideals of freedom and choice, when their own country’s finances hinder these principles?

I believe with the right shift in focus, this country will be able to avoid financial catastrophe. Instead of focusing on the Syrian conflict, our officials need to convene in order to create new jobs and avoid procrastinating with the upcoming debt ceiling. It is time to take more than steps toward fiscal recovery; the present demands we now leap forward.

Syria is a gloomy situation, and while I am all for being a humanitarian, this government cannot ignore the critical action our economy needs. It demands all of its attention.

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Kids today: Do parental disciplinary practices correlate with the health field?

Managing Editor

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Kristen Spink

Kaitlyn Byrne

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Alie Dalee

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T

he issue of discipline re- their children for fear of upsetting mains a touchy subject them.” Later the article states that among parents, medical more than one in three parents professionals and students. The fear lack of discipline will lead to practice of discipline continues their children getting into trouble to spiral downhill because paren- in the future. Though this issue is tal punishment of children is still controversial and difficult, there considered next to inappropriate. is a growing need for attention to We, therefore, tend to look at dis- the matter. ciplinary practice from a negative There is no doubt the numerical point of view rather than trying to value of behavioral issues among understand the positive, charac- children and adolescents is on the rise. While it is true there are ter-building intentions behind it.

Only a few years back, it was many things that factor into that, left to the parent’s discretion on such as the unveiling of behavioral how they would discipline their disorders by modern technology, children. Most of the time, disci- is that really all there is to it? Many pline was meant as a good inten- scientists have devoted their studtion to teach a child values and life ies to this issue because, as insiglessons. Unfortunately, there were nificant as it may seem, it’s starting several extreme cases in which to venture from the home to make child protection agencies had to its mark in the public.

We’ve all seen step in and create limits for One in four children throw fits in the middle parents. Now, parents there are so of the store, but won’t many laws that have we thought discipline a parent could about the impact easily be arrested that lack of discitheir children...” if they so much pline in children as strike their might have in child. While these laws work well our careers? Some careers, such as to our advantage, the result is that pediatric health professionals and most parents have just stopped therapists, constantly deal with the disciplining their children alto- study of children. For example, it gether — no matter how badly may be the occupational therathey behave. pist’s job to help a little girl with A study featured in the online fibromyalgia learn to cope with “Daily Mail Reporter” said, “One her pain in a way that will help her in four parents won’t discipline function in a classroom setting.

If all the girl does during therapy is lie in the floor and throw a fit due to lack of discipline, however, there is nothing the therapist can do due to laws that prevent medical professionals from disciplining patients. All in all, neither she nor the therapist received anything from the session. Some places may even turn the girl away because, until she was made to participate in a session, all that comes out of the deal is a waste of insurance on the parents’ part.

Well, we know one thing. From a parental point of view, it cannot start with medical professionals, teachers or their students. Technically, it is not the therapist’s job to discipline the child, and there are plenty of laws to support this claim. So, where does it start?

A good place to start is in the home with the parents or the guardians. The laws of society have played a huge part in changing the way we think about how to discipline children. But we have slowly begun to see the effect that lack of discipline has started to have on the children within our society.

So, how do we find a balance? The answer is the same as it was years ago. It’s up to the parents. If timeouts don’t work, for example, try something else and make sure the child knows what they did wrong.

Is this idea right? Well, is there any room for it not to be? Is disciplining a child to teach them a

BROOKLYN TUCKER Brooklyn Tucker is a junior majoring in kinesiology. She can be contacted at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.

life lesson any different than a coach making a team run laps as a punishment? No. Does this mean parents have the right to abuse their rights? No, it doesn’t. Studies actually reveal that if a parent is overly strict or abusive, some children might get into more trouble.

Sometimes it could come back to bite the parents later.

I felt led to write this article as something for the students of MSU to think about — not as a harsh opinion on parental methods, not as a dislike for children, but as a challenge. What career are you going into? If you will be dealing with kids in the future (whether it be working with or having them), do you think discipline would be helpful? How would you feel as a doctor if your company encouraged you to turn away children with behavioral issues because of the insurance problem?

Take a good look around next time you’re out and see what you notice. Is one disciplinary practice that could instill a life lesson worth it, even though it may seem harsh at the time? The thing is, it’s up to you.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013 | 5

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Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Miss., is looking to hire servers and bartenders who are hard-working, dedicated and available nights and weekends. If you are interested, please send resume to bre@ oldwaverly.com.

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The deadline for Tuesday’s Insight Bible study and paper is 3 p.m. Thursday; worship Tuesdays at 8 p.m. deadline for Friday’s paper at 286 East Lee Blvd. next to is 3 p.m. Tuesday. MSU Campus Book Mart. Follow student organizations may us on Twitter and Facebook place free announcements at MSStateWesley.

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.

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6 | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013

LIFE EDITOR: DANIEL HART | life@reflector.msstate.edu

LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT

CREATING FROM CHAOS

the purpose of the works, noting the art in the exhibit provides no easy answers but instead exists in places of jux-

taposition between warring factions.

“In temporal, physical, linguistic, formal, cultural or po-

litical terms, the imagery and objects presented here articulate the tension between opposing forces,” she said. “The forces might be as epic (or as simple) as the past and the future, as concrete as stretcher bars, as ephemeral as history.”

This varied range of culturally conscious subject matter corresponds directly to the broad spectrum of mediums used to express and explore the exhibit’s overarching theme — the idea of loss of structure. The exhibit’s works also requires various ways of interacting with the art, from paintings and photography to cinematography.

“Collapse” is both challenging and intriguing. The exhibit encourages students to discover the thread in the works for themselves. “Collapse” not only delves into the ways a “loss of structure” functions as a work of art, but also digs up unexpected and beautiful new realities that can arise from such chaos.

Salt Lake City, blocks 69 and 70. Reeves said the competition called for entries without stringent requirements or restrictions, which resulted in varied, diverse designs and proposals.

“They didn’t give any program or anything, it was up to them (the designers). They could either build an object on the block, or they could conceptually develop different methods of transportation, different circulation paths,” he said. “The teams that won, I don’t think they built any new stuff.”

Reeves said the winning entries focused on alleyways and unused areas, turning undesirable pockets into inviting spaces. One group, Reeves said, focused on utilizing unused spaces by climbing above ground level.

“There was one team, for example, they didn’t do too much to the ground plane, but they transformed the roofs of every building into public spaces, bars and restaurants,” he said.

“So, the street life was now up on the roof tops and the roof tops were connected together, so it’s like another ground plane had been created, but it was on the roofs of these existing buildings.”

The heart of all the entries and the competition, Reeves said, focused on how urban design can be thoughtful and careful in the 21st century.

“Since it was a kind of con-

ceptual competition, it provokes a lot of thought about how urban planning and urban designing should be addressed,” he said.

Because each team designed its own boards, the exhibit focuses on graphic design as well as architectural ideas.

Rusty McKinnis, senior architecture major and TSD member who helped install the exhibit, said the graphic layouts of the competition boards may shine as brightly as the proposed designs.

“The layouts are pretty help-

multifarious architectural proposals and design layouts displayed in the exhibit.

“I thought it was interesting how it was students, architects and artists from all over the world,” he said. “It’s really complicated because they’re given such a small palate to present on. I thought it was interesting to read all the different types of proposals for one project.”

The varied projects and representations in “Sixty-Nine Seventy: International Ideas Competition,” along with the

ful. I’ve stolen quite a few ideas from them,” he said. “How the graphics are done, some of the imagery, it’s really beautiful.”

West Pierce, junior architecture major, said the competition’s largely unrestricted nature allowed non-architects to enter, which is seen in the

various ways one can view the proposals, whether suspended from the rafters or projected onto a wall, provides a roadmap on the bold new trajectories of architecture in the twenty-first century.

“Sixty-Nine Seventy” hangs until Friday.

MSU alumna writes first book following success of Southern culture-filled blog

to practice writing. She said she started blogging on a whim.

“I mainly wanted to do a better job of documenting our family’s life,” Hudson said.

“What I realized pretty quickly, though, was I had really missed writing on a regular basis. I’m still blogging almost eight years later, and no one is more surprised by that than I am.”

Hudson said her blogging escalated three years ago when she started to think about publishing a book. Initially, the idea of writing a book proposal sent her into a fiery panic. One afternoon, though, a phrase her grandfather used to use kept coming to mind: “I think I need a little salty to cut the

working even when writing became stressful. Not only is her book filled with stories of her family, but Hudson said her family rallied around and supported the project.

“After I finished the first draft of the book, I gave each family member a copy of the chapters that were about them.

I told them they could make any changes they wanted, but they didn’t change a thing,” she said. “That blows my mind a little bit and makes me tearyeyed, to tell you the truth.

They were just incredibly gracious and enthusiastic about the whole thing. I’ll never get over that.”

Hudson attributes much of her book to her family. She said her sister helped her remember facts and dates, her grandfather provided inspiration and everyone else provided material for Hudson’s stories that keeps readers laughing as they read.

Shannon said it is remarkable to see those comprising Hudson’s readership, which is more than just middle-aged moms and Southern women. Hudson’s ability to make people laugh, coupled with her insight and heart, results in widely accessible writing.

Hudson draws her readers in and makes them feel at home.

She describes the people who fill the community she came from to show who she is. Her book is a well-told collection of stories that can appeal to any reader. But to a small town Southerner, the book has extra appeal, and it may be the fact that one of the book’s central characters is fried chicken.

Hudson will sign “A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet” at the Book Mart & Cafe in downtown Starkville in December.

She still blogs consistently at BooMama.net.

Artists pool talents, mediums to explore loss of structure Ronna Lebo and Carin Rodenborn have pooled their talents to create a thought-provoking event discussing the nature of art and stability.

The exhibit’s curator, Adrienne Callander, lecturer in the Department of Art, said she sought to feature artists that are also teachers due to their investment in not just their own work but art as a whole.

“They care as much about the conversation of art as they do about their own personal practice,” she said.

The artists comprising “Collapse” either teach currently or have taught in schools in Texas, Pennsylvania, New Jersey or New York. Students can catch a glimpse of the artists’

academic backgrounds during the artists’ talk on Wednesday, at 4:30 p.m. in the Giles Auditorium.

The discussion will provide students with insight from the artists on their work and process. Callander said while the artists will discuss work related to “Collapse,” both the talk and exhibit will comment on the state of art as a whole.

“I hope that students take from the exhibition an understanding of the philosophical backbone that supports contemporary art practice and the range of media that working artists engage,” Callander said.

In her gallery guide for the exhibit, Callander described

URBAN EXPLORATIONS

plays the project boards of 15 entries in the competition, seven of which won awards, including jury awards and people’s choice awards. Reeves said he also found a way to represent all 200 entries even though only 15 could hang in the exhibit.

“Another part of the exhibit set up was to develop a way to represent all 200 entries.

We couldn’t hang them all — there were too many — so I compiled a sort of digital animation of all the 200 entries as well as the 15 finalists,” he said.

“This video animation is what is shown on the slide projectors in front of the gallery as well as the projector that projects into the hallway.”

The monitors greeting visitors through the glass walls of the gallery and the digital projection shown on the wall across from the gallery juxtapose with the boards dangling elegantly from the ceiling, providing multiple viewing experiences for attendees.

The competition centered around two blocks in urban

BY CATIE MARIE MARTIN Staff Writer

Mississippi State University currently boasts the works of seven nationally achieved artists in its Visual Arts Center Gallery. According to a news release from MSU’s Department of Art, the works displayed in the gallery challenge the viewer to consider “not only a loss of structure, but potential new realities that such loss can generate.”

The exhibit will be on display through Oct. 19, and there will be a reception on Thursday to honor the work.

Artists Josh Azzarella, Belinda Blum, Tiffany Calvert, Julie Evanoff, Gabbe Grodin,

ZACH BOOZER | THE REFLECTOR

“Sixty-Nine Seventy” hangs from the Giles Gallery ceiling.

Student-curated Giles exhibit displays innovative architecture, graphic design

BY DANIEL HART Life Editor

The “Sixty-Nine Seventy: International Ideas Competition” exhibit in the Giles Gallery in Giles Hall takes the phrase “hanging artwork” literally: all the work in the gallery suspends from the ceiling.

The exhibit displays competition boards from the “Sixty-Nine Seventy, the Spaces Between: Urban Ideas competition,” an architectural competition sited in Salt Lake City, Utah, that, according to a University Relations news release,

included more than 200 entries from 48 countries.

Tau Sigma Delta architectural honor society sponsored, curated and installed the exhibit, which is the first of four exhibits it will offer this semester.

Alex Reeves, senior architecture major, curated the “Sixty-Nine Seventy” exhibit along with Jacob Gines, visiting assistant professor in the School of Architecture and one of TSD’s faculty advisers, who was proctor for the judging of the competition and one of the compeZACH BOOZER | THE REFLECTOR tition’s original organizers.

Reeves said the exhibit dis- A book of competition entries.

BLOGS, BOOKS, BACON:

BY GENY KATE GURLEY Contributing Writer

It has been eight years since she started her blog, and Mississippi State University alumna Sophie Hudson has now taken the next logical step: she has published a book.

“A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet” hit shelves earlier this summer. Hudson has had a lot of practice compiling family anecdotes through her “BooMama” blog, and now

humor, sweet and sometimes sad moments, a passion for all things MSU and a clear love for “Southern cookin’.”

Hudson said she has always loved to write, and she consistently journaled growing up. MSU proved to be a great environment to cultivate her skill.

“My English professors were incredible,” Hudson said. “Dr. Mary Ann Dazey took such a personal interest in her students, and her advanced com-

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her readers can find her wit, wisdom and passion for all things Southern in “A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet: Southern Stories of Faith, Family, and Fifteen Pounds of Bacon.”

This book reads like the best fried chicken tastes. There is not too much Southern spice where reading quickly gets old, but there is just enough flavor that you enjoy reading and feel at home. Hudson’s book is a compilation of stories about her family that intertwines

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COURTESY PHOTO | UNIVERSITY RELATIONS

Belinda Blum’s “Rule 7,” 2010, oil painting in “Collapse.”

position class is where I fell in love with writing personal essays.”

Hudson received more encouragement from not just her teachers, but peers as well.

Many of her close friends and sorority sisters said they always laughed at Hudson’s stories, and some could even tell she should become a writer.

Hudson’s close friend and fellow MSU alumna Daphne Shannon said Hudson’s writing blog and book came as no surprise to her.

“Sophie is a truly gifted storyteller,” Shannon said. “She is so, so funny, but she can easily get to the heart and soul of a topic at the same time.”

Ginny Elder, MSU alumna and Hudson’s sorority sister, said she can see Hudson’s energy and heart radiate through her book.

“She found humor in just about anything,” Elder said. “I loved seeing her spiritual depth and how she could take even a funny situation and see God in it and bring it all back down to what really matters.”

Hudson said she has had great support from family and friends throughout her life, not just time spent writing her book. She said they have been steady encouragers since her time at MSU. “My friends at State really inspired me,” Hudson said. “Like I said in my book, they’ve encouraged me to write since I was 19 and prone to things like impromptu perms and crispy bangs. They’re the best.”

Hudson said she always thought she would be a better English teacher than writer, but blogging gave her a chance

ZACH BOOZER | THE REFLECTOR

The exhibit features propsed architectural design proposals.

COURTESY PHOTO | SOPHIE HUDSON

sweet.” Almost instantly, she said the phrase began to develop into a book-sized idea.

“To me, the book felt like a puzzle, and I loved the challenge of trying to figure it out,” she said. “Yes, it was stressful, and yes, there were times when I was convinced that the whole thing was a horrible idea, but by and large, I got the biggest kick out of the process.”

Hudson said her faithful family and friends provided a support system that kept her

SPORTS

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013 | 7

Arrington learns, waits for Pay-for-play looms in football starting role for Bulldogs I A GOOD NO-CALL

BY JOHN GALATAS Sports Editor

When Dee Arrington arrived to the Mississippi State University football program in the fall of 2011, he was not quite sure what to expect. Now, as he enters his junior year, Arrington has learned his role as a team player in order to earn a starting position.

After an explosive senior season on offense and defense at Stone County High School earning All-American honors, Arrington landed at MSU after turning down offers from Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas Tech.

Once he arrived on campus, he was listed as a defensive back.

But when time came to step on the field in Maroon and White, he quickly learned he had a long way to go before he could start for the Bulldogs.

EMMA KATHERINE HUTTO | THE REFLECTOR “I knew I had to just come up MSU’s Dee Arrington tracks down an Alcorn State player here to learn from all the older during Saturday’s home opening win aginst the Braves. guys ahead of me,” Arrington recalled of his freshman year. “They were that much ahead of me, so teams. At first, I felt kind of bad depth chart. But throughout fall I always asked them questions sitting on the sideline, but I knew camp, coaches expected him to and tried to figure out what they that was my job — sitting over see more of him on the field dewere doing, how they read plays there on the sideline learning how fensively.

Arrington finally got his opor what they do in situations. I to play the game the right way. It’s portunity as he stepped on the tried to learn everything possible nothing now.” to step my game up that much In his sophomore season, Ar- field for a defensive series in the more.” rington saw action in all 13 games season opener against Oklahoma Arrington said the most diffi- and tallied 18 tackles. Through State. He recorded seven tackles cult transition was understanding two seasons he played 22 games, and a pass-breakup. After Whithe would play a smaller role on brought his total tackles to 27 ley was listed as doubtful followthe team. With defensive backs and was credited with a fumble ing the game, he earned his first such as Johnthan Banks, Dari- recovery. Safeties coach Tony career start for the Dogs against us Slay and Corey Broomfield Hughes said Arrington continues Alcorn State.

Arrington played most of the ahead of him, Arrington was able to develop intangible skills to play first half Saturday and tallied to watch and learn from veterans a secondary defensive position. and now shares his experience “He has a great deal more con- one tackle in the win against the with younger players. fidence now. Being in the system Braves. He gave way for younger “When I came in, they all had now for three years, he has devel- players to gain experience in the to teach me. It is now basical- oped,” Hughes said of the junior. second half, but coaches still exly communication on the back “He was one of those kids who pect him to see more of the field end,” he said. “As long as every- did a little bit of everything in before season’s end.

“He’s in his third year, and one is talking, we’re on the same high school. He was a quarterpage. We’re together.” back, running back and defensive he’s been an outstanding special Arrington spent his freshman back. So, now he’s learning how teams player,” Hughes said. “He’s year on special teams. He played to play one position and all of the been a great team player and now, ‘It’s my time to shine, I’m ready in nine games, made nine tackles ins-and-outs of that position.” and collected five solo tackles in Entering his third year at coach. Put me on the field. I’m the 2011 season. Although he MSU, Arrington was listed be- ready to go out there and make was highly recruited as a top Mis- hind Nickoe Whitley on the plays.’” sissippi prospect in high school, he said his first year observing Open year round! on the sidelines served as a valuable learning experience, and he settled in well with the defensive system.

“When I came up here it was going to be just defense for me. In high school, I played both sides. I always loved defense, so it wasn’t too bad,” he said. “Only thing COSTUMES • VINTAGE • THEATRICAL was, I wasn’t playing on defense.

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n today’s society, paying col- ready receiving scholarships. lege athletes to play is a huge They have the next four years of topic of discussion that never their lives set. gets old. This is a topic college Regular students, like myself, student athletes have been push- struggle to find grants and loans ing the NCAA to pass for a long to pay for tuition and to pay off time. our holds, while on the other The current NCAA rule states hand, athletes walk around camthat a college student athlete can- pus nearly carefree because they not be paid to play based on their know everything is paid for. They performance, and I fully agree receive tuition, room and board, with this rule. meal plans, books and everything Paying college student athletes else their scholarship may cover. to play can easily While athsway students’ perletes demand They are ception of college. to be paid student It will send a bad for their play, athletes — message to the athmost of them lete, and they would the student part do not realcome to college for comes first.” ize the school the wrong reason. does not have Recruiting would the money not even exist anyin its budget more. Instead of choosing the to pay them. These days, there best school that fits them academ- are many college athletes leaving ically, athletes would just choose early to turn pro, so why would to come to the school that would the schools want to invest large pay them the most. The smaller amounts of money in players who schools in smaller markets would are not even guaranteed to stay for not be able to compete with the all four years? Most of the school’s big universities, which would re- money is used toward them anysult in loss of programs for many way by giving them scholarships schools. The athletes would be and by building private facilities coming to college strictly to play strictly for athletes. their respective sport and not An additional concern, and try to pursue any type of degree. perhaps the biggest issue about They are student athletes — the paying college athletes, is how would you pay them? How student part comes first.

Most student athletes are al- would all of this work? If you

QUENTIN SMITH Quentin Smith is a senior majoring in communication. He can be contacted at reflectorsports@.gmail.com.

pay one athlete or sport, then you have to pay them all. This is a disaster waiting to happen.

How will the money be distributed? Who would determine the pay scale? Will division two or three schools, get paid as well? What about community colleges? There would be so much controversy and contract disputes it would do nothing but cause a big dilemma throughout collegiate athletics.

Many of the athletes are just motivated by greed and want extra benefits on the side by getting paid to play. There are many complications that would go into paying the players to play. I don’t know if college players will ever be paid, but I believe the rule should stay as is.

8 | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013

SPORTS EDITOR: JOHN GALATAS | reflectorsports@gmail.com

SPORTS

THE REFLECTOR

STAT OF THE DAY:

SATURDAY MARKED THE FIRST TIME SINCE SEPT. 11, 1976, THAT TEXAS, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA AND NOTRE DAME ALL LOST ON THE SAME DAY.

Dogs win at home, travel to Auburn for conference opener

BY FORREST BUCK Staff Writer

After falling in its season opener, the Mississippi State University Bulldogs bounced back Saturday, beating Alcorn State handedly 51-7.

The story surrounding Saturday’s game was sophomore quarterback Dak Prescott as he made his first start.

Prescott answered the bell and went 12-19 for 174 yards and two touchdowns, with a rushing touchdown as well.

Prescott only played the first half, but that was all it took.

He had the Bulldogs offense off and running. MSU accumulated 308 yards of total offense and only punted once during the first half with Prescott in the game.

Prescott credited his teammates with making his first start an easier experience.

“The line and the receivers were with me 100 percent, telling me from the start in each huddle ‘let’s go.’ Everything was good, and it EMMA KATHERINE HUTTO | THE REFLECTOR was just comfortable out Receivers Jameon Lewis (4) and Fred Brown (86), left, celebrate a touchdown against Alcorn State. Dak Prescott, there,” Prescott said. “Everybody did a good job, and it right, throws a pass in his first career start against Alcorn State. Prescott finished the day with 174 passing yards. was good to just get in that rhythm and get going as After back-to-back solid MSU has one of the most tal- Mullen said he was pleased moving forward, but a few an offense and score some outings, the Bulldogs’ de- ented defenses in the country. some of his younger players veterans that missed the points.”

“We got the potential to be were able to get in-game ac- game Saturday are expected fense looks to potentially be the strength of this year’s the best defense in the SEC tion. to be ready to go for Satur“A lot of young guys got day’s game against Auburn. team moving forward. For and in the nation,” McKina majority of the game, the ney said. “The coaches are reps and got opportunities on Quarterback Tyler Russell, defense did not allow Al- going to put us in great po- the field to show what they running back LaDarrius Percorn State to virtually get sitions. It’s just up to us, the could do,” Mullen said. “The kins and cornerback Jamergreat thing is that now the son Love were some of the anything positive going in players, to make the plays.”

Once MSU had the game younger players don’t just get starters that did not play and the first half. MSU held the Braves to only 30 yards of well in hand, the Bulldogs to watch practice film, they are expected back Saturday total offense on 30 plays by were able to play multiple get to watch actual game film against Auburn. halftime. MSU’s defense also players. Seventy players over- and see how they performed Overall, the Bulldogs have all played in Saturday’s game, out there on game day.” forced three turnovers. not fared well against the TiExperience can only be gers as Auburn claims a 60Linebacker Benardrick including 25 freshmen.

MSU head coach Dan beneficial to the young guys 24-2 all-time record in the McKinney said he thinks

series. MSU did beat Auburn last season 28-10 and seeks to reverse its fortune against this team. The Bulldogs look to surpass the Tigers not only in the standings, but also as an elite program in the SEC West. The matchup will be both teams’ first SEC game of the year, and with such a tough schedule this season, it will be critical for the Bulldogs to get off to a good start.

The Tigers have a lot of uncertainty about their team this season. Even after a 2-0 start, they are a team still trying to establish its identity on the field. Auburn’s quarterback Nick Marshall is a dual-threat junior college prospect who lit up the scoreboard last season at Garden City Community College.

He threw for over 3,000 yards passing and rushed for over 1,000 yards.

The Tigers also have one of the better running back duos in the nation in Tre Mason and Alabama transfer Corey Grant. Mason and Grant, along with Marshall’s ability to run, make the Tigers very dangerous on the ground, which could be a problem for MSU. Although the Bulldogs played well defensively in the opener against the Cowboys, MSU really struggled to stop them on the ground, especially when they went to the option — which is a staple of the Auburn offense. MSU gave up 286 yards on over seven yards per carry to Oklahoma State, and if they do not do a better job defending the run against Auburn it will be very difficult to beat the Tigers.