The Print Edition

WE BELIEVE 8-0

SPORTS|7

Marketing staff benefits from performance on the field SPORTS | B5

FRIDAY

OCTOBER 26, 2012

IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD. LET’S DANCE.

LIFE | 6

Reflector The

REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM 125TH YEAR | ISSUE 17

TWITTER.COM/REFLECTORONLINE FACEBOOK.COM/REFLECTORONLINE

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

Bicycle street, sidewalk etiquette vital

BY MARY KATE MCGOWAN Staff Writer

Some Mississippi State University students and staff members consider getting from a place on campus to another difficult if bikers are constantly obstructing the sidewalks and walkways.

MSU Chief of Police Georgia Lindley said people want to get from point A to point B too quickly.

This determined rush can spark potential transportation harms to people on campus.

Mike Harris, director of Parking Operations, said MSU does not have any more problems with campus transportation than other universities of the same size.

“We have a large number of pedestrians and bikes, and when they all come together there is going to be some issues,” Harris said.

In June, the MSU Police Department and Parking Operations were sanctioned to follow to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning of the State of Mississippi’s new traffic polices for MSU. The Policies for Traffic Rules and Regulations for the Campus and Streets of MSU include regulations for bicycles, parking, permits, registration and traffic and repealed previous regulations.

According to the policies, “no individual shall operate or park any motor vehicle or motorcycle on the campus in a manner as to cause injury to any individual, grounds, building or other facility or property of the university.”

The document also outlines correct bicycle use on campus, highlighting designated places to ride and not to ride.

The polices read, “only campus police officers on official duty are allowed to ride any bicycle on any sidewalk, walkway or other area of campus customarily used by pedestrians with the exception of using sidewalk to access bike racks.”

A bicycle is considered to be a non-motor vehicle with no more than two wheels that is driven by human power.

MSU Police has a group of officers on bicycle patrol that remind bicyclists to dismount and walk their bikes in high traffic areas such as crosswalks and the Drill Field.

“They are warning and asking people and putting out educational fliers,” Lindley said.

Both MSU Police and parking services caution riders and pedestrians.

“Safety should always be the number one thing when bringing these two together,” Harris said. “I would recommend that bicyclists dismount and walk their bikes across the crosswalks and in congested areas such as the plaza and the Drill Field. This would make for a much safer co-exists.”

SEE BIKES, 3 JAY JOHNSON | THE REFLECTOR

Chris Forrest, senior mechanical engineering major, biking on the sidewalk between the Colvard Student Union, Perry Cafeteria and the State Fountain Bakery.

Student arrested for malicious mischief

Monday debate last before election

BY JAMES TOBERMANN Staff Writer

BY HANNAH ROGERS Editor in Chief

The Starkville Police Department arrested and charged a Mississippi State Stephens University architecture student with multiple counts of malicious mischief.

According to a news release, Colton Jackson Stephens, residing at 308 Montgomery St. in Starkville, has confessed to numerous acts of vandalism that have occurred in Starkville in the form of graffiti. He is currently being held in the Oktibbeha County Jail pending a bond hearing.

For almost a year, the graffiti has appeared on dozens of public and private properties. The vandal was using the nickname “OwenS” to mark the sites, the news release said.

READER’S GUIDE

BAD DAWGS...............................3 OPINION....................................4 CONTACT INFO.......................4 BULLETIN BOARD.................... 5

COURTESY PHOTO | THE REFLECTOR

Eli Young Band set to headline Bulldog Bash

BY EMMA CRAWFORD News Editor

On Tuesday, the Mississippi State University Student Association announced Eli Young Band would be the headlining act for Bulldog Bash 2012.

Eli Young Band will replace Neon Trees, the original headlining band that canceled its fall tour last week, including its scheduled appearance at the Bulldog Bash concert.

According to the MSU Student Association website, Eli Young Band is a renowned country band from Texas with multiple awards nominations by the

CROSSWORD..................................5 CLASSIFIEDS...........................5 LIFE.....................................6 SPORTS....................................7

Country Music Association, including “Song of the Year” and “Vocal Group of the Year.”

According to a news release released on Oct. 18, Neon Trees attributed the cancelation of the Nov. 2 Bulldog Bash tour date to personal circumstances.

“Due to an unforeseen personal circumstance, we need to cancel our upcoming college tour in November,” a representative for the band said. “We look forward to working with everyone to try and reschedule these performances and to come back to each town as soon as possible. Many apologies, Neon Trees.”

POLICY

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

Monday night, President Barack Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney faced off in the third and final presidential debate of the 2012 election campaign.

The debate, sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates and hosted by Lynn University, focused on foreign policy.

Bob Schieffer of CBS News moderated the debate.

Schieffer said he composed all of the questions and did not share them with the candidates in advance.

On the topic of American policy in the Middle East, Obama said his administration had been successful in targeting the true perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.

“We ended the war in Iraq, refocused our attention on those who actually killed us on 9/11. And as a consequence, Al Qaeda’s core leadership has been decimated,” Obama said.

On the same subject, Romney said American policy in the Middle East should be directed toward persuading the Islamic world to reject violent radicalism.

“We can’t kill our way out of this mess,” Romney said. “We don’t want another Iraq, we don’t want another Afghanistan.”

Romney said he believes America should pursue terrorists, but, more importantly, help to change radical ideology.

“The right course for us is to make sure that we go after the people who are leaders of these various anti-American groups and these jihadists, but also help the Muslim world,” he said.

In response to war clouds looming in the Middle East and escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, Obama said Israel has the full support of the United States if it faces an attack from Iran.

ROMNEY

FRIDAY

OBAMA

SEE DEBATE, 3

76 48

SATURDAY

64 40

SUNDAY

61 39

MONDAY

58 38

2

|

FRIDAY , OCTOBER 26 , 2012

NEWS

Student run literary journal offers creative outlet Brown, junior English and philosophy major, said this journal is not intended only The Streetcar literary jour- for English majors to submit nal will be a creative arts jour- their work but for anyone in nal for Mississippi State Uni- any major.

“It’s really for anybody, so versity that will be completely run by students and will pub- we want anybody that likes to lish only student work as well draw or take pictures or anyas promote creativity among thing,” Brown said.

Humphrey said submisstudents of all majors.

Editor in chief and junior sions can be anything from English and Spanish major, artwork to poetry to short Hannah Humphrey, said stories or nonfiction.

“This is just for students, Streetcar will hopefully publish its first journal at the end so we’re looking for art work of next semester and steps are and poetry, short stories, nonfiction or already being any kind of made to put First, we wanted to creative work this first issue together. create and develop that students can submit,” According a community for Humphrey to Humphrey, the purpose creative thinkers on said. “If you think it’s of Streetcar is Mississippi State’s creative and three-fold, but campus.” new and rethe overall goal is promoting -Hannah Humphrey, freshing we’ll probably creativity.

Streetcar editor in think it is, “First, we chief too.” wanted to creStudents ate and develop a community for creative are also looking forward to thinkers on Mississippi State’s the publication of the new litcampus. The second point is erary journal.

Emerson Holliman, sophothat we want to encourage creativity across the disci- more Spanish major, said she plines of Mississippi State, is excited about Streetcar beso we want each individual cause it encourages students department and within each to get more involved on cammajor to develop creativity,” pus.

“I think the streetcar will be she said. “The third is, because a lot of us are English great for our school because it majors, just to increase the will give students an opporknowledge and availability of tunity to speak out and share their thoughts and ideas,” things literary.”

Co-editor in chief, Field Holiman said.

The name Streetcar was the idea of one of the staff members of the literary journal.

It was inspired by famous Mississippi writer Tennessee Williams’s play, “A Streetcar Named Desire.”

Humphrey and Brown both said they encourage students to submit their work for Streetcar to Humphrey at hh226@msstate.edu.

THE REFLECTOR

COURTESY OF DR. TIMOTHY CHAMBLEE (DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH AND EFFECTIVENESS)

BY JAMIE ALLEN

ZACK ORSBORN | THE REFLECTOR

Staff Writer

“

MSU student retention remains steady

BY SASHA STEINBERG Staff Writer

For the past six years, freshmen retention rates at Mississippi State University have remained stable in the 82 to 84 percent range, but MSU officials are always looking for ways to improve.

David McMillen, director of the Pathfinders freshman retention program at MSU, said while retention could be looked at from a semester-to-semester standpoint, the main national metric which MSU calculates and reports is how many of the university’s full-time freshmen in one year return for their sophomore year.

Phil Bonfanti, executive director of enrollment, said a student’s transition from high school to college life can be difficult for academic and social reasons.

“Academically, this is obviously going to be more challenging because universities are designed to push you further, but then you also have the social challenges, which is the freedom of being away from home and being away from your support network of friends, family and the community in which you’ve grown up,” he said.

When it comes to monitoring retention, MSU’s biggest challenge is trying to identify at-risk students, a task which Bonfanti said is not easy.

“If they’re having academic difficulty and we wait solely for grades, our first indication of that won’t be until midterm,” he said. “Even then, we don’t always get reported midterm grades. If they’re

having difficulty with the lack of a support network or managing their greater freedom, that’s even harder to spot sometimes.”

Bonfanti said the freshman on-campus housing requirement that was implemented in 2008 was a university effort aimed at improving retention.

“If we have a student on campus, we can keep an eye on them better and more quickly find out if they’re in trouble,” he said. “The other reason we ask them to live on campus is because they tend to more quickly create a new support network because we put them in a larger community setting with people who are creating community activities.”

As for the Pathfinders program, McMillen said its overall purpose is to remind freshman students that regular class attendance is the key to academic success in college.

“What triggers Pathfinders is an instructor will go on Banner and update their class attendance roll,” he said.

“When somebody gets a second absence in a class, their name automatically comes to us.”

After a student’s name is sent to Pathfinders, trained resident assistants, who are employed by the Office of Student Affairs, will visit the student at his or her residence hall room where they will briefly discuss the importance of attending class in a non-confrontational manner.

“There’s not any in-depth counseling; it’s just kind of a wake-up call,” McMillen said. “The intervention is

usually one or two minutes who did not had an average unless the student shows a first-year GPA of 2.8, McMildesire to ask questions. We len said.

While MSU does not have just want to show that somebody’s interested in them and a designated officer on camwants them to do well, and pus, Bonfanti said retention if they’re having a hard time, is something the administrathey should see who they can tion monitors closely and always wants to improve. talk to that can help them.”

“We want the best students McMillen said while the intervention done by Path- to come here and we want finders since its inception in them to succeed, and the fall 1998 has helped improve most immediate measure of retention and graduation that success is retention,” he rates, the act of faculty taking said. “We have a high retention rate and attendance is what a respectable tends to graduation rate We want the best make stufor a public instudents to come dents look stitution, so for here, and we want at a class us, it’s not that differently. we feel we have them to succeed, “ O u r a problem; it’s and the most retention just we can do immediate measure rate before better.” we started Jerry Gilbert, of that success is this interprovost and retention. We have vention executive vice program a high retention rate president, said was around MSU wants to and a respectable 75 or 76 make sure stugraduation rate for percent, dents are getbut now ting proper acaa public institution it’s up to advising so for us, it’s not that demic around 82 and feel a sense we feel we have a to 83 perof comfort cent,” he and well-being problem; it’s just we said. “Our during their can do better.” graduatime at MSU. tion rate “If they feel -Phil Bonfanti, went from executive director of c o m f o r t a b l e around 50 and connected enrollment percent to to the universiover 60 ty, they are not percent, which is a huge in- as inclined to drop out,” he crease.” said. “We want to raise our Last year, freshmen who retention and six-year graduhad four or more absences in ation rates to a higher level, one or more classes by mid- and we’ve set our retention term of the fall semester had goal at 88 percent and our an average first-year GPA of graduation rate at 65 per1.3, while those freshmen cent.”

“

WANTED Triangle Federal Credit Union is GIVING AWAY $250 at each home game to a student who shows his or her outstanding Bulldog spirit. Will you be next?

Kalsie Williams Jackson State September 1

Jordan Holly Auburn September 8

Justin Brickler

Middle Tennessee October 20

Since 1959

Chris Bagley

South Alabama September 22

Texas A&M November 3

Tyler Ross Kaleb Ross Tennessee October 13

Arkansas November 17

www.trianglefcu.com

1101 HIGHWAY 182 E STARKVILLE, MS 39759 • �662� 338�9131

TRIANGLE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION • WHERE BULLDOGS DO BUSINESS

NEWS

REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM

friday , october 26 , 2012

MITT ROMNEY 48 PERCENT

DAWGS

UNDECIDED

PUBLIC POLICY POLLING

3

BAD

BARACK OBAMA 49 PERCENT

NATIONAL '12 PRESIDENT GENERAL ELECTION

|

3 PERCENT

zack orsborn | the reflector

DEBATE

continued from 1

“I will stand with Israel if they are attacked,” Obama said.

Obama also said Israel is “a true friend and our greatest ally in the region.”

Romney also vowed support for Israel and said the United States should stand with Israel “not just diplomatically, not just culturally, but militarily. That’s number one.”

When Schieffer asked what each candidate considered the greatest foreign threat to the United States, Obama said he believed non-government entities such as Al Qaeda posed the

greatest threat.

“I think it will continue to be the terrorist networks,” he said. “We have to remain vigilant.”

On the other hand, Romney asserted that a nuclear-armed Iran is the foremost threat to American national security and Iran must be prevented from obtaining nuclear weapons.

“A nuclear-capable Iran is unacceptable to America,” he said.

Symphonie Eddins, sophomore kinesiology major, said the debate did little to change her opinions due to its emphasis on foreign pol-

icy rather than domestic issues.

“I wouldn’t say it affected me all that much,” Eddins said.

Darius Flagg, freshman biology major, said he noticed a difference in the speaking style of the two candidates during the debate.

“I think Obama was more aggressive,” he said. “Romney kind of played it safe this time.”

According to The Washington Post, the final presidential debate was the least watched of the three, as expected based on historical data as well as major sporting events airing at the same time.

Ashley Jackson, junior biochemistry major, said she did not watch the debate because of her schedule Monday evening.

“I didn’t watch it because I had homework,” Jackson said.

Nakesha Grayson, sophomore social work major, said she chose not to watch the debate because she had little interest in it.

“My friends have been telling me about the campaign, but I’ve never really been into politics,” Grayson said.

Grayson added that she did not plan to vote.

“I think whoever wins, wins,” she said.

BIKES

continued from 1

Monday, October 22 • 12:55 p.m. A student was standing near Colvard Student Union with a boa constrictor snake. The subject was told to leave the area.

• 5:57 p.m. A student reported his vehicle was burglarized while parked behind the Chapel of Memories.

Tuesday, October 23 • 1:51 a.m. A student was arrested on Highway 25 for driving under the influence.

• 9:41 a.m. A non-resident/visitor was arrested on campus for wanted person by MDOC. • 10:31 a.m. A student reported receiving a threatening message via Twitter.

• 12:02 p.m. A student reported her vehicle was burglarized while parked near Evans Hall.

• 4:02 p.m. A student overdosed on his medication and was transported to OCH. • 5:38 p.m. A student reported she was rear-ended while trying to turn onto Hardy Road.

• 6:32 p.m. A student reported her vehicle was damaged on Oct. 19 outside Magnolia Hall.

• 9:02 p.m. A student reported items missing from her room in Sessums Hall.

• 11:50 p.m. A student was arrested for driving under the influence.

Wednesday, October 24

Parking Services is also lending a hand to help traffic decrease. With seven transit routes, shuttles move people to different desired locations.

“Our goal is to have more folks ride into campus on shuttles and not drive,” Harris said. “This would benefit everyone.”

More transit routes will be introduced soon.

No matter how little time one has to make it to a class or appointment, regulations exist for campus transportation including proper use of crosswalks and road signs.

“Be respectful of others and be careful for your safety,” Lindley said.

The Policies for Traffic Rules and Regulations for the Campus and Streets of MSU can be found online through the university website.

jay johnson | the reflector

• 8:25 a.m. A student passed out in Harned Hall. Subject refused transport to OCH. • 10:34 p.m. A non-resident/visitor was arrested for telephone harassment.

• 1:51 p.m. An officer found possible stolen bikes behind Herbert Hall.

• 7:30 p.m. A student was arrested in Starkville for malicious mischief.

• 10:53 p.m. A student was arrested on Hardy Road for speeding and minor in possession of beer.

Thursday, October 25

FOLLOW @REFLECTOPINION ON TWITTER

• 12:02 a.m. A student was arrested on Main Street for possession of drug paraphernalia.

• 12:55 a.m. A student was arrested on Nash Street for open container.

Citations:

FOLLOW THE LIFE SECTION ON TWITTER

• 13 citations were issued for speeding.

@LifeRe�lector

*tickets not included

ACR Coach MSU vs. LSU

jay johnson | the reflector

Round-trip per person Return same day Call 662-244-5773 for more information

www.remingtonshuntclub.biz

Beat Alabama Guys Free Cover Before 10

Free Drinks Saturday

Huge Dance Party In All 3 Rooms

Ladies Free Cover Before 10pm All 3 Rooms Will Be Open

Come Party with 1000’s

Not 1 but 2 Insane Dance Parties

Club VIP

Ll

Check out our Brand New Website and Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

www.remingtonshuntclub.biz

Papa John’s Pizza Mobile Coupons. 2 to 4 msgs per month. Message and Data Rates May Apply. To opt-out “Text STOP to 90210” for help “Text HELP to 90210” www.izigg.com/ privacypolicy. For all terms and conditions or additional assistance email myinfo@izigg.com

4

|

FRIDAY , OCTOBER 26, 2012

OPINION

THE REFLECTOR

the voice of MSU students

WHO SPEAKS FOR EARTH? | CAMERON CLARKE

LETTER TO THE EDITOR | LYNDSAY SIMPSON

Aliens could mean philosophical implications Gender stereotypes are offensive

L

ast week, I wrote an matter if there is life somearticle concerning the where else, it is merely interpossibility and proba- esting.

Now what I want to talk bility of advanced alien civilizations in the Milky Way about are the implications from dualism, the idea which, Galaxy.

After considering the ratios according to Robert Soloof factors which contribute to mon’s “Introducing Philosothe development of intelligent phy Tenth Edition” textbook, civilizations, I showed how says there are two fundamenthere could easily be upwards tal essences in the world.

In dualism there is the of 450 or so in the Milky Way. Now, the method I used is physical realm, ruled by physcalled the Drake Equation, ics and dealing with objects but it is not meant to be tak- which can be fully understood en as a definitive statement ideally by empirical methodabout the exact number; it is ology, and there is the realm of really just useful to get into the soul or of the mind which the ballpark and help us un- is independent to some degree derstand the signals we do or from the physical world.

There are varying degrees do not receive from within of dualism, some of which our galaxy.

Simply by manipulating the will not be too interested in ratios of life forming, intelli- whether or not aliens have gence development and sus- souls.

One variety of dualism tained existence over millions of years, one could arrive at states the realm of the mind numbers like one civilization (what we might call conscious perception or in every thoueven the soul) sand galaxies or Philosophically, is a product even fewer.

Regardless there is not too much of the two aspects of every of the rarity of at stake by saying object in the advanced comaliens could be equal universe, the municating civilizations, if to us humans from a physical and the mental. even one besoul perspective.”

This dual sides us were to aspect theory exist anywhere could either in the entire universe there would be sev- claim the whole universe is eral immediate philosophical composed of both a physical and a mental part which both and religious implications.

These implications will be- interact causally somehow, or gin to matter depending on ei- it could say the mental world ther the previously mentioned is subordinated to the physiconviction that we are not cal and is not able to act as inalone, due to an assumption dependently as we would like of the natural development of to imagine but is the product life everywhere, or because of of physical interactions and any future, conclusive, phys- brain chemistry.

In either case there would ical evidence of independent be some conflict over exlife somewhere else.

Trying to approach the sub- traterrestrial intelligence or ject of extraterrestrial intel- non-human mental behavior, ligence from a philosophical but only to the degree which human souls themselves are perspective makes sense.

I do not claim expertise on not fully understood.

There is also the idea of what I am about to say here, so if I am wrong feel free to mental phenomenon being a correct me, but I have thought result of complexity in a physabout these ideas a good deal, ical system.

Isaac Asimov in “Founand I am getting the majority of what I will say from the In- dation’s Edge” proposes the tro to Philosophy course I am theory of all physical objects having some amount of mencurrently taking.

If you hold purely to any tal experience governed by the theory of materialism or phys- laws of physics, laws we do icalism then it will not really not know yet.

Asimov’s mentalic world is determined by the complexity of a system, where doors and walls are capable of the most minute thoughts of linearity and sturdiness, while adept humans and robots are capable of monumental feats of telepathy and mind control.

The type of dualism which is probably most touchy on this subject is the variety ascribed to by the majority of Christians, which approximates a theory called causal-interactive dualism.

Causal-interactive dualism is similar to the last few I mentioned, but it is even more polar, saying the mental/spiritual and physical worlds are very different, not even two aspects of the same substance necessarily, but yet they are able to interact so the soul is in control of the body and so in the case of religion, any sinful action performed by the soul-body system is attributed to its soul.

Finally, I hope I have shown how philosophically, there is not too much at stake by saying aliens could be equal to us humans from a soul perspective; ideally any issues we would have with their having souls are just the same issues we have not figured out about our own having souls or non-physical minds.

Religion is another important factor, as the details move past philosophy and into the realm of faith, sin and redemptive divine intervention on our planet.

Christians make up many of the people around Mississippi State, and are largely causal-interactive dualists; therefore, I will primarily address Christianity’s say on aliens in my next article.

DO YOU SUPPORT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT?

- YES - NO - I’M NOT SURE

“

The

Reflector Editor in Chief Hannah Rogers

Managing Editor Kaitlyn Byrne

Life Editor Zack Orsborn

Multimedia Editor Eric Evans Sports Editor Kristen Spink

Campus News Editor John Galatas

Photography Editor Jay Johnson

Copy Editor Candace Barnette

News Editor Emma Crawford

Opinion Editor Mary Chase Breedlove Copy Editor Rachel Burke

CONTACT INFORMATION

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Editor in Chief/Hannah Rogers

Letters to the editor should be sent to the Meyer Student Media Center or mailed to The Reflector, PO Box 5407, Mississippi State, MS. Letters may also be emailed to editor@reflector.msstate.edu.

Letters must include name and telephone number for verification purposes. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.

325-7905 editor@reflector.msstate.edu Managing Editor/Kaitlyn Byrne 325-8991 managing@reflector.msstate.edu News Editor/Emma Crawford 325-8819 news@reflector.msstate.edu News tips/John Galatas 325-7906 news@reflector.msstate.edu Opinion Editor/Mary Chase Breedlove opinion@reflector.msstate.edu Sports Editor/Kristen Spink 325-5118 sports@reflector.msstate.edu Life Editor/Zack Orsborn 325-8883 life@reflector.msstate.edu Photography Editor/Jay Johnson 325-1584 photo@reflector.msstate.edu Advertising sales/Julia Pendley 325-7907 advertise@reflector.msstate.edu

CORRECTIONS

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.

Editor’s Note: This is in response to the arti“Once Upon a Time” are not shows relevant cle entitled “Face-off: Girls Shows vs. Guys to my interests.

Shows” published Oct. 17 in The Reflector.

I completely acknowledge that for many, s I was flipping through Friday’s Re- these shows are the best thing on television. flector, I was surprised and dismayed But such is not the case for every girl on the to find what I assume is a weekly col- planet. I am not the minority here, either. umn, “Girl Shows vs. Guy Shows.”

A good 90 percent of my female friends can Let me break this down. First of all, I re- attest to the same thing. “The Walking Dead” sent my interests being stereotyped and cat- and “How I Met Your Mother,” however, are egorized based on two shows I quite enjoy. gender.

In fact, I honestly canWhile I do appreciate the idea All my life I have not fathom what led the of reviewing the latest episodes been told, “Pink is writer to conclude that for girls. Blue is for “How I Met Your Mothof these popular shows, please boys. Barbies are perhaps consider doing it in a way er” is a show for “guys.” for females; comIt is equally engaging to that doesn’t ostracize or otherwise both sexes and incredibly ic books are for males.” passively reject the other half of he entertaining to boot.

Blue is my favorSeparating these shows human race.” ite color, I had quite by gender? You might as an array of superhero comics as a child (and well call something like “Glee” a show strictly now), and I play “Call of Duty” on a regular for homosexuals. basis. This by no means makes me any less Obviously, this is not the case. While I do of a girl. appreciate the idea of reviewing the latest epNow, as I skimmed the column, my heart isodes of these popular shows, please perhaps sank. Out of the three shows listed for “girls”? consider doing it in a way that doesn’t ostraNot one of them had I seen a single episode cize or otherwise passively reject the other of. “Gossip Girl,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and half of the human race.

A

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

“

EARTH TO AMERICA | JAMES ARENA

Popular vote will determine president, close race

O

ne of my perceived signed into law in 2007. fundamental flaws The goal of the bill is to with the American give the states’ electoral votes voting system, specifical- to the winner of the nationly for the president of the al-popular vote rather than United States, is the elec- the state-popular vote. toral college and the way it The bill would not end makes certain states more the Electoral College but it important than others. would help in leveling the An example of this would playing field in terms of imbe how President Barack portance of all of the states.

Obama and candidate Mitt To win the presidency, Romney spend way more candidates would have to time and money in a state win the popular vote, which like Ohio some presiover a state dents have To win the presidency like Missisnot had sippi. when they candidates would have B o t h won to win the popular vote, have Obama and the elecwhich some presidents tion in the Romney know Mishave not had when they past. sissippi will The key won the election in the go the way to this bill of the Reactually past.” publicans, working barring hell freezing over, so on a national scale would they do not exert much ef- be having enough states and fort in Mississippi. their electoral votes to get to I think this system is 270, the magic number to flawed and outdated and win the White House and should be done away with agreeing to actually follow because it is not reflective of this plan.

As it stands right now, sevwhat most Americans want.

There is a plan among en states have agreed to this states right now called The policy and they are CaliforNational Popular Vote Bill nia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryand this could be the begin- land, Massachusetts, New ning of the end of the elec- Jersey, Vermont, Washington D.C. and Washington, toral college.

The bill was first authored totaling 132 electoral votes. in the state of Maryland and These states have agreed

“

JAMES ARENA James Arena is a senior majoring in political science.

He can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate. edu. to and passed their own National Popular Vote laws, and I hope more will follow.

I think this is the first step toward a popular vote for the position of president of the U.S. If someone can become a senator or congressman based on a popular vote, why not the highest office in the country?

We only have to look back to the 2000 elections to see the huge flaws in the system.

Bush won with the electoral votes, but not in the popular vote.

If the presidential elections are as close this year and get contested somehow because of voting fraud, broken voting machines, etc., I think we will see a major call for election reform and possibly more states moving towards a system like the National Popular Vote Bill calls for.

THE CONSTANT | MARY CHASE BREEDLOVE

Ann Coulterʼs tweet was unacceptable

T

witter is a beast. A dangerous, thrilling beast. To me, Twitter is the ultimate expression of freedom of speech.

Think about it: it’s a social media platform designed for you to say whatever you want, whenever you want. It’s the most narcissistic invention of the 21st century, and I am shamelessly a part of the fad.

I was crushed to read a tweet from Ann Coulter in which she refers to President Obama as, in her words, a “retard.” Her tweet said, “I highly approve of Romney’s decision to be kind and gentle to the retard.”

Coulter has as much of a right to the First Amendment as I do. She’s free to support the political party and candidate of her choice.

Ann Coulter is in the eye of the media. Her staunchly conservative values and disdain for democrats and liberals is no surprise to us.

But politics and law aside, I believe Coulter should be painfully ashamed of herself.

I don’t know if it was out of seething hatred or pure ignorance (or both), but I can’t for the life of me figure out why

she’d say something like that. cial Olympics Blog. In my Maybe she wants people to opinion, he said some of the react to it. Maybe she is that wisest words I’ve heard in a starved for attention. Maybe long time: she has no concern for the “After I saw your tweet, people she hurt.

I realized you just wanted Regardless of your personal to belittle the president by opinion, using words like “re- linking him to people like tard” in a derogatory way is me. You assumed that people offensive and hurtful, even if would understand and accept it doesn’t seem like a big deal that being linked to someone to you. Bottom line, it is a big like me is an insult and you deal. assumed you could get away You may scoff at people with it and still appear on TV. who get their knickers in a I have to wonder if you contwist over who are offended sidered other hateful words by words such as “retard,” but but recoiled from the backthe fact remains you are hurt- lash. Well, Ms. Coulter, you, ing people who have done and society, need to learn that absolutely nothing to deserve being compared to people like being hurt by your words. me should be considered a She may badge of honhave thought or. No one Politics aside, I her message overcomes believe Coulter was about polmore than we should be painfully do and still itics, but bashing President ashamed of herself.” loves life so Obama by usmuch. ing an insulting term to disCome join us someday at abled people showed an all- Special Olympics. See if you time low for me as far as social can walk away with your heart media in the election goes. unchanged.”

Her message sparked I hope she takes his ad30-year-old John Franklin vice. I’ve worked at basketball Stephens, a gentleman with tournaments for the Special Down syndrome, to post and Olympics as well as a special open letter to her on the Spe- needs summer camp, and I

“

MARY CHASE BREEDLOVE Mary Chase Breedlove is the opinion editor at The Reflector. She can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate. edu. believe wholeheartedly people with physical handicaps like Down syndrome are some of the kindest, most honest people I’ve ever known. I have tremendous amounts of admiration and respect for them.

And I think Stephens showed more wisdom and class than someone as “smart” as Coulter.

If I were Gov. Romney, I’d be upset. Coulter affiliating with Romney could affect some of his voters’ opinions.

Let the damage control begin.

Words can change the world. There is power in the written word. Don’t take the power of your influence on others for granted. And Ann Coulter, grow up.

FRIDAY , OCTOBER 26, 2012

REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM

AN IN-CLASS DISTRACTION ...

10-26-12

5

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.

HELP WANTED Bartending. Up to $300 / day. No experience necessary. Training available.

Call 800.965.6520 ext. 213.

Personal assistant needed to organize and help. Basic computer skills needed, good with organization. We are ready to pay $870 per week. Interested person should email resume for consideration: markthompson147@aol.com.

Personal assistant is urgently needed with a good salary. He or she must have good qualities to work. Interested applicants should contact: ronaldjuan1212@gmail. com.

FOR SALE Classic comics and albums. The largest collection of comic books and albums in the area. Also movie posters, sports memorabilia, DVDs, CDs and beer signs.

Located in Ziggy’s Buy & Sell, 434 Highway 12. Details on Facebook.

New and used vehicles. First time and college student purchase programs.

Contact Anthony Lowe at 327.3673 or 418.9107. Premier Ford-Lincoln, Inc. 2120 Highway 45 North, Columbus. idontlietoyou.com.

FOR RENT 100 King Richard Road, 3B, 2B brick house near campus. Two-car garage, fireplace, fenced yard. $1250.00. Call 228.324.2289 after 4 p.m. Available December 15.

CLUB INFO

Solutions for 10-23-12

|

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 on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. at the Wesley Foundation Worship Center on East Lee. Boulevard next to Campus Book Mart.

MSU CATHOLIC STUDENT ASSOCIATION The MSU Catholic Student Association invites you to join us for Sunday mass at 5:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 607 University Dr. All are welcome to $2 Tuesday night dinner at 6 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/msstatecsa MSU STUDENT CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MICROBIOLOGY Contact msuasm@yahoo.com or like us on Facebook, “MSU ASM,” for membership information.

SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY, INC. PaRHOnormal Activity costume contest: Oct. 31 at 12 p.m. on the Drill Field. First place prizes for winners in categories of funniest, scariest and school spirit. For more information, email djk84@msstate. edu.

SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY, INC. Join us as we educate youth on Halloween safety at the Boys and Girls

ADVERTISE (WITH)

THE REFLECTOR

CALL 325-7907

Club on Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. Contact djk84@ msstate.edu for more information.

YOGA MOVES CLUB School or work stressing you out? Get moving into Yoga Moves! Try our moves to get into shape and our relaxation techniques to handle the stress. Yoga Moves meets at the Sanderson Center in Studio C, Thursday evenings 5 to 6:30.

Like Yoga Moves Club-MSU on Facebook.

STARLIGHT DANCERS HIP HOP TEAM Starlight Dancers will be hosting their first event, called The Knockout: Pink Edition, on Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. in the Colvard Student Union Ballroom. It is a breast cancer awareness program. Other MSU organizations will be performing.

Donations are accepted.

SOCIOLOGICAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION The Sociological Student Association is based in the Department of Sociology.

Undergraduates of all ages are welcome.

Meetings are held the last Thursday of every month in Bowen Hall room 250 at 5 p.m.

BULLY’S 5K Bully’s 5K for United Way Run and Walk.

Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 6:30 p.m. Race day registration begins at 5:30 p.m. in the back parking lot of McArthur Hall, 245 Barr Avenue, on the MSU campus. For additional information, please facebook. com/MSUUnitedWay5K. STUDENTS FOR A SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS SSC meets every Thursday at 6 p.m. in McCool room 212. Come and meet really cool people who all share interests in saving the environment. Don’t forget to opt-in for the Green Fund.

6

|

friday , october 2 6 , 2012

THE REFLECTOR

LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT Mayan-themed party to be held in Columbus

By Daniel hart Staff Writer

Saturday night at the Princess Theater in Columbus, expect tidal waves, tornadoes, earthquakes, firestorms and an alien invasion, starting at 9 p.m. The Princess Theater’s fifth annual Halloween event is 2012-anxiety personified: it is the Mayan Last Chance Doomsday Dance, and one and all are invited in their most apocalyptic attire (not required for entry) to let loose for one last Halloween.

Will Howard, owner of GTR Productions and coordinator of the lights and sound of the event, said the night’s main focus is not the DJs, lights or music but the attendees.

“First of all, it’s a Halloween party. We focus on the audience in costume. We’d love for them to come dressed up as apocalypse survivors, or people that rescue, like doctors or nurses, or come as part of the apocalypse, as a zombie or an alien or a tidal wave or a fireball,” he said.

“The second emphasis is the art, and we kind of bring it all together with the music.”

The sounds of the Doomsday Dance will be created by four DJs, each allotted an hour of the event: PJ Ladner, Blaine Garrard as Geronimo, Philip Vanderleest as GLOtron and Trey Burke, a graduate student in public administration, as Baby Statesman. Burke said his set will riff on the end-ofthe-world theme through an orchestral, operatic lense.

“A lot of my songs are going to have orchestras and symphonies, getting the whole ‘end of the world movie’ feel to it,” he said. “Armageddon just happened, and there’s this huge orchestra playing over it.”

The event will feature all hand-painted sets, five eightby-eight foot murals depicting the natural (and extraterrestrial) disasters of the doomsday, along with a six-and-a-half foot diameter reinterpretation of the Mayan calendar. According to Howard, the Doomsday Dance

KENDRICK LAMAR “GOOD KID MAAD CITY”

a review

will hold the most artwork GTR has ever had on stage.

Jeff Bourque, senior clinical exercise physiology major, has handled video effects at many GTR Productions as video deejay, InDIVID. Bourque said the videos washing over the set will often coincide with the elements presented in the artwork.

“A mainstay of a GTR production is our hand-painted sets, and my projector will hit the sets and bring a certain part of the visuals to life; I’ll video the set with a tidal wave to make it look like a tidal wave,” he said.

Along with the Doomsday sets, sounds and videos, Howard said there will be a bit of an obstacle for guests to grapple with upon entering.

“We’ll have an inflatable obstacle course there to represent the jungles leading up to the Mayan temples,” he said.

The Doomsday is the latest in a series of Halloween events at the Princess Theater, following last year’s Haunted Ninten-

TAYLOR SWIFT’S “RED” Staff Writer

Staff Writer

A certain amount of hype comes with being proclaimed as Dr. Dre’s protégé. Kendrick Lamar’s debut album, “good kid, m.A.A.d city,” released Monday, lives up to the high bar set for him. Lamar’s first album plays out like the tale of a kid from Compton, Los Angeles, aiming for a better life.

The 25-year-old Lamar writes about the violence and degeneration of his hometown, but the album is packed with dense and smart lyrics which breaks the mold of other albums with a similar story.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Lamar said he wanted to produce an album that focused more on his journey than those who went before him.

“I wanted to construct an actual album that makes sense, with a full story and a dialogue about what kids are going through and what my generation is reacting to,” Lamar said.

“What I want is for someone, when they think about this album, is to say, ‘I know who that person is,’ not ‘That song went to the Top 40.’”

While some artists struggle with their addictions to drugs, alcohol or other vices, the main antagonist of “good kid, m.A.A.d. city” is Lamar versus his hometown, Compton. Two tracks on the album, “good kid” and “m.A.A.d city” directly juxtapose Lamar’s desire to escape his hometown and how the wrong role models and circumstances keep others from leaving.

Other tracks like “Swimming Pools (Drank)” and “Poetic Justice,” featuring Drake, are already Internet and party hits.

A whole album focusing on Lamar’s upbringing would have grown tiresome, so the few tracks which allow the artist to have fun feel warranted.

Lamar feels more like a storyteller than anything else. Clever writing and thoughtful presentation makes Lamar’s album different and more enjoyable than other rap releases this year.

10

PE1323 History and Appreciation of Dance

PE 1051 Beginning Karate PE 1021 Volleyball

Taylor Swift’s common category of song topics often gets her depicted as that annoying friend who over-shares relationship details on Facebook and ambiguously complains about former boyfriends on Twitter.

Whether you love her or hate her, the overwhelming success and popularity of the country-pop queen is difficult to ignore. On Monday, Swift released her fourth album titled “Red.” Already popular with five songs pre-released on iTunes, the album is expected to sell over one million copies in its first week.

Throughout the 16-track album, Taylor Swift dabbles in a range of music genres previously featured in her song catalog. Swift recently spoke with Rolling Stone about the variety of songs on “Red.” “I really wanted to experiment with my sound and the amount of colors I can paint with,” Swift said. “Each song is so different from any other song, it’s a really exciting experience to listen to the album from top to bottom,” she said.

Swift steps further away from her country roots with the poprock and dubstep-inspired “I Knew You Were Trouble.” About being cautious yet exhilarated by a new romance, “Treacherous” may be her most provocative song yet with lyrics stating, “I’ll do anything if you say it with your hands.” Two duets are featured: the hauntingly beautiful “The Last Time” with Snow Patrol lead singer Gary Lightbody and harmony-filled “Everything Has Changed” with British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran.

Swift’s songwriting abilities improved with this album making significantly fewer references to scenarios of meeting, fighting, dancing and kissing in the rain. Unlike previous albums, only one of the tracks briefly mentions Swift’s favorite kind of precipitation.

Swift presents a new self-confidence on “Red” that has lacked on her previous albums. The majority of the songs are based on empowering oneself and being hopeful about new life experiences. While it is getting harder to feel sorry for Taylor’s failed relationships, her fans hope her knack for creating catchy melodies will never ever fail. Like… ever.

electives AT MISSISSIPPI STATE

CO 1503 Intro to Theatre CO 3423 Photographic Communication MU 1113 History and Appreciation of Music

PE 1061 Fitness Walking/Jog PSS 2343 Floral Design ART 1113 Art Appreciation

a review

By Stephanie Sharp

By alex Monié

TOP

do party, put on through efforts from GTR Productions, local DJs, artists and students.

Burke said the parties have become increasingly reliable celebrations, and, in turn, an increasingly safe place for extravagance.

“A lot of Halloween parties, there’s this problem of is it going to be a good time, because house parties are really hit or miss. People take it to that nth degree here because they have that sense of security that they know their time spent getting dressed up is worth it,” he said.

For those concerned with missing part of the Mississippi State vs. Alabama game, having the game projected during the event is in the works.

Tickets are $8 for presale and $10 at the door. Presale tickets allow lines at the door to be avoided the night of the event and can be purchased at the Princess Theater any night before Saturday or through those posted on the Facebook event page.

PSS 1113 The Gardening Experience zack orsborn | the reflector

courtesy photo

Members of Passion Pit include Michael Angelakos, Ian Hultquist, Xander Singh, Jeff Apruzzese and Nathan Donmoyer.

Passion Pit to perform at the Lyric in Oxford

By ShelBy peranich Staff Writer

Passion Pit, a band known for its entrancing electro-pop style of music, is scheduled to play at The Lyric in Oxford, Miss., tonight. The band has previously performed at big name music festivals such as Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and the Governors’ Ball Music Festival.

Tim Burkhead, production manager for The Lyric, said a band as talented as Passion Pit naturally sells tickets to its shows with little advertisement needed.

“Really, I don’t think we have done as much advertising as we would do for a smaller show. We have done a few newspaper ads, but since the tickets are selling so well, there is not a lot of advertising required for the event. We’ve sold about 1,000 tickets, and that’s about capacity for the venue,” Burkhead said.

Burkhead said he booked Passion Pit because he has heard the band will be straightforward in its performance.

“The show is just about the music, so it should be a pretty solid show. We just want people to know we can bring big bands they recognize to The Lyric,” Burkhead said.

Aspiring musician, Chase Caffey, freshman undeclared major, said he believes people should attend the Passion Pit show because the band’s style sets them apart from those it could be compared to.

“The style is totally different than all the mainstream music. In this day and age to be successful in music, it’s all about being different and catching the audience’s eye. As an artist myself, it’s definitely opened up my ideas to how different music can be. Even though it isn’t my style, I still appreciate it,” Caffey said.

Caffey said he respects the band’s originality because it is something which is hard to find these days.

“They aren’t trying to be anything that they aren’t. They are true to their style, and they are playing on stage to play the music they love, not to try and copy anybody,” Caffey said.

Anna Regan Owens, junior interdisciplinary studies major, said she has been a fan of Passion Pit for three years now and has connected with its songs.

“Their lyrics actually have meaning behind them. The lyrics to the songs in the album ‘Manners’ are so good, it’s insane,” said Owens.

Though Owens has never been to a Passion Pit show before, she said she hopes to go to one next time the band is in the surrounding area.

“I have friends that have seen them before, and they said their shows are just amazing. The way they present themselves on stage is just different,” Owens said.

The doors to the show open at 8 p.m. and the show begins at 9 p.m. with performers: Youngblood and Hallerado, followed by Passion Pit. For more information on this event and upcoming events at The Lyric, visit thelyricoxford.com.

HEY. YOU SHOULD FOLLOW @LIFEREFLECTOR ON TWITTER. YOU WON’T REGRET IT. SERIOUSLY.

Electives offer fun By chriStine BowMan Staff Writer

Every student at Mississippi State University must take electives, but the trouble lies in picking the right class. Most people sign up for an “easy A” class, hoping there will not be too much work involved, but unfortunately, this is not the case. Teachers take these classes seriously and want students to as well.

One of the most popular electives on campus is floral design. Carly Beth Williamson, sophomore communication major, is enrolled in this class, and said she has enjoyed it, but also has learned a lot. Her advice for people who sign up for the class hoping that it will by easy is most students do not understand what all goes into making a good arrangement.

“Some people thought it would be just throwing flowers together, but you have to learn how to cut the flower, care for them and know which sizes to use,” Williamson said.

Skipping class has always

been discouraged. Williamson said going to lecture is important in making a good grade because that is when instructions are given.

“The class meets twice a week, and this is where we learn the steps for how to do the arrangements. Then we have to follow those instructions in the lab. So if you miss, your arrangement will probably be catastrophic,” she said.

Williamson said she has worked with a variety of plants and has learned different aspects of planning an event from a florist’s perspective. She said the flowers arranged to wear, including boutonnières, corsages and headbands, were the hardest for her. The lab instructors grade their arrangements, and the students get to take them home when they are finished.

“It makes me want to have fresh flowers around my home all the time,” Williamson said.

Sarah Douglas McCall, sophomore kinesiology major, took dance appreciation last spring.

“In addition to lectures and videos in class, a few times during the semester, we went to the Sanderson and actually danced. We had hands-on experience with Native American and Medieval styles of movements,” she said.

McCall said learning about the history of dance in class was interesting because she is a dancer.

“The tests covered a lot of information, but it wasn’t too bad,” McCall said.

Intro to theatre is a commonly taken elective among MSU students. Kaleigh Davis, sophomore elementary education major, said she enjoyed taking the class from Melanie Harris.

“The class required a good bit of note taking, but Lab Rats comedy group came and performed for the class one day. I would recommend this class to a friend,” Davis said.

There is no such thing as an “easy elective,” but electives can perk up a student’s fully loaded schedule of intense curriculum classes.

SPORTS

REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM

FRIDAY , OCTOBER 26, 2012

|

7

Respect is always Undefeated Dogs, Tide battle earned, not given for respect, first place in West R SPINK ON SPORTS | KRISTEN SPINK

anked No. 11 in the BCS, the Mississippi State University Bulldogs still receive no respect from the media.

Just take a look at the spread for Saturday’s battle for first in the SEC West at Alabama: 23.5 in favor of the Tide.

If this doesn’t make you the least bit upset, take a look at that number again.

We are undefeated and tied for first in the West, yet picked to lose by more than 23 points to Bama. Something is not right with that logic.

However, although the media does not give State much respect, opposing teams are beginning to recognize MSU as a contender in the SEC. Alabama head coach Nick Saban has said multiple times this week MSU will be Bama’s toughest matchup so far this season.

Granted, Bama has not faced the top teams in the SEC yet, but still, coming from Saban, I’ll take the compliment.

The theme of the year for the Dogs has been, “They haven’t played anyone yet.”

While it is true State has a brutal last five games of the season, Alabama should be placed in the same boat.

The Tide started off the season with a beat down of Michigan. (Who didn’t see that coming?) The Wolverines have not turned out to be as good as expected.

In the SEC, Bama demolished Arkansas, without starting quarterback Tyler Wilson, and Missouri, without starting quarterback James Franklin.

The Tide only beat Ole Miss by 19 in Tuscaloosa and rout-

BY RAY BUTLER Staff Writer

KRISTEN SPINK Kristen Spink is the sports editor of The Reflector. She can be contacted at reflectorsports@ gmail.com. ed Tennessee in Knoxville last weekend.

I’m not saying Alabama isn’t as good as people say. I completely agree the Tide is the top team in the country.

All I’m saying is MSU deserves more respect, and there’s not a better time for State to do just that than this weekend in Tuscaloosa.

The upset would take a near-perfect game from the Dogs and some turnovers by the Tide, but it is possible.

If LaDarius Perkins continues his steady play and racks up another 100-yard game and some touchdowns and Tyler Russell throws for another 200 to 300 yards, State could just come away with the win.

Obviously, Johnthan Banks will get a pick. After that, Tide quarterback A.J. McCarron will get nervous and throw another interception as Josh Boyd and Denico Autrey breath down his throat.

Will it be easy? Not at all. Do I think this Bulldog team is up to the challenge and capable of pulling off the upset? I do.

But the Dogs will need some help. State fans must quickly learn how to be loud without cowbells and come ready to support the Dogs. Hail State.

This Saturday night, for the third time in the past five seasons, the Mississippi State Bulldogs will play a late October conference game against an undefeated Alabama Crimson Tide.

Only this time, for the first time since MSU’s clash with the Tide in the 1999 season, the Bulldogs will come into this pivotal SEC game undefeated and highly ranked, as well.

The importance of Saturday night’s game in Bryant Denny Stadium cannot be overstated. MSU head coach Dan Mullen said Saturday’s contest of undefeated teams is exactly where he wants the Bulldogs to be at this point of every season. “(This is) obviously a big week, and a great opportunity for our guys,” Mullen said. “We look at this as a championship-caliber game for us.”

Mullen also said the importance of games like Saturday night’s is something he envisioned when he became State’s head coach.

“When we came here, we certainly wanted to be in this position,” Mullen said. “The winner of this game is in first place in the SEC West. We haven’t been in that position before, and that’s something we wanted to build on.”

Despite a perfect 7-0 record and a No. 11 ranking, according to the latest BCS poll, the Bulldogs, who are 3-0 against SEC teams, are huge underdogs against the Crimson Tide. After being listed by most online gambling websites as a 21.5-point favorite two weeks ago against the Missouri Tigers and a 20-point favorite against the Tennessee Volunteers

IAN PRESTOR | THE REFLECTOR

Sophomore Nick Griffin is part of a ground game that will be key for State’s success this weekend. last week, Alabama opened up as a 24-point favorite against MSU, a number that surprised many people and angered a large portion of State’s fan base.

Although MSU is receiving minimal respect from Las Vegas websites and the national media, Mullen said being a substantial underdog will not play a role in Saturday’s game.

“I don’t know what it affects, because I’ve never set any odds for any games,” Mullen said. “It really has no effect to me on the course

of the game.”

Even though large portions of the general public believe MSU is better than being a 24 point underdog to top-ranked Alabama, the Bulldogs will certainly be facing an uphill battle Saturday night.

Much like recent years under head coach Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide has arguably the best defense in college football. Alabama ranks first in total defense, rushing defense and passing efficiency defense.

On offense, Alabama features

one of the most balanced attacks it has had in recent years. Junior quarterback A.J McCarron has had a breakout season, passing for 1,476 yards with 16 touchdowns and no interceptions through seven games.

In the backfield, the Tide boasts one of the most dynamic running back tandems in the country. Junior Eddie Lacy and true freshman T.J. Yeldon have combined to rush for 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns, and each receives an equal amount of carries over the course of every game.

For underclassmen at MSU, such as sophomore center Dillon Day and freshman linebacker Benardrick McKinney, Saturday night will be their first trip to Bryant Denny Stadium, where the Tide have lost just twice since the 2007 season.

While playing in a big game at one of the most hostile environments college football offers, Day said it is important for underclassmen to look to juniors and seniors for guidance and advice.

“It’s my first trip there; it’s Justin (Malone)’s first time there. It’s a lot of our first trips,” Day said.

“But Tobias (Smith) will be with us and Gabe (Jackson) will be with us, and they’ve all played there, so they’ll help us over there and get us used to it.”

McKinney said the only thing he will be focused on is making plays to help MSU’s defense.

“We just have to go out there and do our assignments,” McKinney said. “The coaches are putting us in the right position to make big plays. We just have to execute our plays.”

Saturday night’s showdown in Tuscaloosa is slated to kick off at 7:30. The game will be televised nationally by ESPN.

Immediate move-ins available! Call now to get September rent FREE!

APARTMENT HOMES

24 hour fitness center 24 hour study room with free wireless access Well lit tennis and basketball courts Sand volleyball court Large L-shaped swimming pool Deluxe cable with HBO and high-speed internet included in rent Short term leases available!

662-323-3353 • Fax: 662-323-3354 103 Eudora Welty Road • Starkville, MS 39759 avalon@heritageproperties.com Check us out at www.liveatavalonapts.com

2 BR, 2 BA 1,185 Square Feet $749

3 BR, 2 BA 1,335 Square Feet $899

Come In Today to Check Us Out!

Try our new Turkey Roasters!

10% Off with MSU I.D.

SPORTS 8

|

FRIDAY , OCTOBER 26 , 2012

INTENTIONAL GROUNDING |JOHN GALATAS

MSU, Bama have similar approaches J ust in case anybody forgot or wasn’t aware, the 7-0 Mississippi State Bulldogs face their toughest test, not only for this season, but for this century Saturday as they travel to Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama.

The head coaches from both schools have commented on the teams’ similarities, most coming from the receiver vs. secondary matchups.

The MSU defense has played well this year, anchored by one of the best secondary units in the country. As a team, the Dogs have 12 interceptions (10 coming from the defensive backs) and lead the nation with a plus16 turnover margin.

MSU cornerback Johnthan Banks has his name littered on every award watchlist you can imagine and with good reason.

The senior tied the all-time school record with 16 career interceptions last weekend and leads the nation among active players in career pick offs. Banks has four picks this year, which is quite a remarkable stat considering how opposing quarterbacks do not throw to his coverage very often.

Darius Slay, Nickoe Whitley and Corey Broomfield round out the skilled secondary, all with some interceptions of their own, and Whitley leads the DBs in tackles with 45. Among the defensive backs, they share a total of 139 games of experience.

Going against the defense, Alabama boasts a deep wide receiver roster with eight players consistently seeing playing time.

Freshman Armani Cooper leads the Tide in receptions (28) and yards (425) and has five touchdown catches this season. Behind Cooper, Mississippi native Kevin Norwood has 247 yards

JOHN GALATAS John Galatas is the campus news editor of The Reflector.

He can be contacted at news@ reflector.edu. receiving and leads the team averaging 17.6 yards per catch.

Alabama also utilizes its running backs Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon in screen situations and spreads out the defense to create explosive plays.

On the opposite side of the ball, the Tide’s secondary possesses remarkable similarities to that of State’s. Alabama has 13 interceptions this year and seven forced fumbles.

DBs Vinnie Sunseri, Dee Milliner and Robert Lester have totaled 71 tackles and are only allowing 137 yards per game.

In fact, Alabama leads the SEC in scoring defense, rushing defense, passing defense and total defense.

The Tide’s secondary will have its hands full with the MSU receiving corps, however, as State ranks third in the SEC in pass offense, four spots ahead of the Tide.

Chad Bumphis leads the team with 479 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Chris Smith, who had a career day against Middle Tennessee with seven receptions and two touchdowns, has 293 yards receiving. Quarterback Tyler Russell has spread the ball among his targets, collecting 1,573 passing yards this year and finding 15 different receivers.

Overall, I’ll give a slight advantage to Bama’s secondary over State’s receivers. For the Dogs, I will take its defense to dominate Bama’s receivers.

The Bulldogs and Tide reflect a similar approach to the game, with the result of both teams being 7-0. Win or lose, this weekend’s matchup is the most highly anticipated of the season, and it will certainly be one for the ages.

THE REFLECTOR

STAT OF THE DAY:

ON THE TUBE:

MSU AT ALABAMA OR MORE THE BULLDOGS HAVE THIS SEASON. LAST YEAR, MSU HAD 46 TOTAL. SATURDAY, 7:30 P.M. ESPN

56- THE NUMBER OF PLAYS OF 20 YARDS

FORMER BULLDOGS oral history: WEIGH IN ON MSU-ALABAMA SERIES

BY KRISTEN SPINK Sports Editor

In 1996, the underrated Mississippi State University Bulldogs hosted the No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide. In a game televised on national TV, State upset the Tide 17-16.

On State’s final drive of the game, sophomore tight end Reggie Kelly caught a 69-yard pass to set up the game-winning field goal by Brian Hazelwood.

Kelly and Hazelwood went on to defeat Alabama the final two years of their careers.

Kelly: I remember that game as if it was yesterday. It was my sophomore year at Mississippi State, and we had had a mediocre year thus far until we played the Alabama Crimson Tide. They were ranked high nationally, and they were expected to come down to Starkville and pretty much run the table with us.

Nobody gave us a chance to win that game. It was a nationally-televised game, so we wanted to make sure we put our A-game out there on the field, and we did just that. Instead of them dominating the game, we did the opposite and defended our turf, defended our home and ended up beating them.

I can remember that key play when I caught that 69-yard pass.

Derrick Taite rolled and bootlegged out to the left, and I ran a drag route about 10 yards deep, and he threw a perfect spiral right to my hands. I can remember I wanted to really make a big play for my team. I did whatever it took to do that. Toward the end of the play, I ended up running out of gas, and the Crimson Tide player caught me from behind, but I think it was a big play, and it definitely got our fans back into the play and definitely set Brian Hazelwood up for the field goal.

It was a big night.

After the game, the fans and students bombarded the field and tore the

JUDGEMENT HOUSE @ Faith Baptist Church 1804 S Montgomery St. Starkville, MS

For more information or reservations, call 662.323.9333. A suggested donation of $3 per person will be taken at the door.

goalposts down. It’s a thing I will always remember.

Hazelwood: We had played them really close up to that point. Right before that Reggie Kelly had caught a really long pass.

Alabama was the place where I learned how to kick at their kicking camp, so I kind of liked Alabama out of high school because I had learned from them, and I thought I maybe had an opportunity to go play for them coming out of high school. But they got hit with sanctions, and the best thing that ever happened to me was being able to come to Mississippi State, so knowing going into that I could go back and beat a team that I did like growing up, Alabama, and feeling like I could win a game for the team.

Going out on the field, the team had put us in a really good situation, and so that was my opportunity to win it.

This weekend, the rivalry continues as MSU travels to Tuscaloosa to take on the No. 1 Crimson Tide.

Kelly and Hazelwood said they believe going in as the underdog puts a chip on the Bulldogs’ shoulder.

Kelly: It’s going to be a great game in a great atmosphere. It’s two teams undefeated and two SEC rival teams, so it doesn’t get much better than that. I think this is what SEC football is all about, the best of the best competing on a great stage in a great hostile environment.

Whenever you’re the underdog and going up against a team that’s heavily favored, those are pretty much what dreams are made of.

Those are the kinds of games you dreamed of when you were a kid, going up against the odds and shocking the world. We’ve seen it happen time and time again, and nothing could be more evident than that 1996 season when we shocked Alabama, so I know our guys can do it.

Whenever you’re an underdog, that puts a chip on your shoulder.

That’s what we had back

then, and that’s what the team has right now. A chip is on your shoulder where you feel like you’re not being respected and feel like you’re not getting the credit due, and Alabama is a great team and a dominant force in all of collegiate football, but yet as a Mississippi State Bulldog right now, you want to earn that respect and let the world know that you can compete, and not only compete, but beat a really high-caliber type of team like an Alabama Crimson Tide.

I think the guys are going to play with tremendous passion.

They’ll be playing for respect with a chip on their shoulder, and when teams have those three factors in the mix, they normally play extremely well.

Hazelwood: One of the big things in football or any sport is momentum and having a confidence in who you are as a team and how the game flows. In football especially, it’s a game of turnovers and field position, so the guys coming in this week being 7-0 and having the momentum with the whole season, I feel like having a chip on your shoulder never hurts.

I feel like these guys feel the same way we did. We always had a chip on our shoulder. We never really got the respect we deserved, and we were a lot better than what people always predicted us to be, and I think that’s just a part of being at Mississippi State in general for the most part.

Alabama is a great team.

There is no doubt. They have so many NFL players on their team right now, so just being able to play with those guys and be able to get a win would be one of the biggest in the history of Mississippi State because of the ramifications it would play on where we would stand in the

West and putting us at 8-0.

Even my senior year in ’98 when we beat Alabama and went to the SEC Championship that year, we had still lost three games, so being 8-0 at this point with the opportunity to move forward and advance would be huge for the program.

Kelly has been impressed with the play of the tight ends this year, and Hazelwood knows the atmosphere in Tuscaloosa will be one to remember.

Kelly: My young tight ends are really making a big impact for the Mississippi State offense. Those guys are playing extremely well.

For me being a tight end, I’ve always felt like the tight end has one of the more difficult positions on the football field. You have to block like an offensive lineman, but by the same token, you have to stretch the field like the wide receivers.

It’s a mulitpurpose position, and every team needs really good tight ends, and Mississippi State has some really good tight ends, probably some of the top tight ends in the nation. I’m so proud of how those guys are playing.

Hazelwood: Walking in to the program and the history they carry over there is kind of like going in and playing Kentucky in basketball. The atmosphere is going to be incredible with the night time game and primetime on ESPN. I don’t think it gets much bigger than that I would expect a very, very close game. I don’t feel like Alabama is that much more superior than we are on the football field. I feel like realistically it’s going to come down to who makes the mistakes at certain points in the game and field position.

I think if we can play a field position game and do well in special teams and offset some things there, we can win.

Waltmon Frame & Body Shop Open Monday thru Friday 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

• Automotive Refinishing •Collision Repair •Insurance Claims Welcomed 1105 Stark Road Starkville, MS 39759 Phone 662-323-0516•Fax 662-323-0539

Sunday, Oct. 28 from 3-8 pm Tuesday, Oct. 30 from 6-8 pm Wednesday, Oct. 31 from 6-8 pm

LIBERTYBELL BARBERSHOP ...great haircut, great price 100 N. Lafayette St. Starkville behind starkville cafe

Walk-ins welcome, but reservations recommended.

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER AGE 10 WWW.JUDGEMENTHOUSE.ORG

open 7 am daily 648-9271

Try our new Turkey Roasters!

10% Off with MSU I.D.