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TUESDAY JANUARY 29, 2013

Reflector The

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THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

Story taking over as executive director Engineering of University Health Services in May dean leaving for Iowa State University

BY HILLARY LAPLATNEY Staff Writer

Dr. Clifton Story, who has been a physician at Mississippi State University since 2008, will take over as executive director of University Health Services in May. As executive health di- Story rector, Story will be over the Student Health Center, the Counseling Center and Health Education and Wellness.

Story, a MSU alum, said he loves the opportunity he has been given to work at the university. He said he has dreamed of working at MSU since his graduation in 1991.

“I love working in a college town,” Story said. “I love the energy the students have, and I enjoy the opportunity to help make a difference (and) have a positive influence.

I’ve come to find that some of the best people in the world are right here in Starkville.”

Story graduated from State with a degree in General Science before earning his MD from the University Medical Center in Jackson. He has since worked in the medical field in Mississippi, Tennessee and overseas in Costa Rica and Colombia as a missionary.

In keeping with his dedication to health, Story decided to make a change to his personal life in 2010.

After going through back surgery during the summer, Story gradually gained weight until he reached 227 pounds.

“On New Year’s Eve 2010, I decided I had to do something drastic,” Story said. “I told my wife I was going to do the Heart of Dixie Triathlon in July 2011. I made the commitment to do whatever it took, if my body held up, to do that triathlon.”

Story went on to not only complete the Heart of Dixie Triathlon, but also multiple triathlons and running events since. He has lost a significant amount of weight, and he said he lists finishing his first event as a

“top ten life experience.” “(After my first triathlon), I did five more triathlons as well as several running events,” Story said. “I finished up with a half-ironman triathlon in Georgia. During that time I lost about 67 pounds.”

Story said he takes the health and wellness of himself and MSU students very seriously.

Story will be officially taking over as health director upon the retirement of current director Dr. Robert Collins, said he hopes to see the Health Center continue to grow and serve the students at MSU. “Dr. Collins has done a great job here supporting and promoting prevention, health education and wellness,” Story said.

“We will continue to promote and encourage healthy lifestyles and prevention, as I believe those have the biggest impact on one’s health. We will be evaluating what we’ve done previously and what we’re doing currently and look for ways to have a bigger positive impact on the students and staff of MSU.”

MSU lecture series welcomes NASA engineers

COURTESY PHOTO | MSU UNIVERSITY RELATIONS

CURIOSITY ROVER | Bobak “Mohawk” Ferdowsi (above) and Adam “Elvis” Steltzner will share how the Curiosity rover project, which landed on the surface of Mars last August, does more than satisfy curiosity today in a presentation at 6 p.m. in the Colvard Student Union. It is free and open to the public.

Search for new dean underway, committee headed

by Gilbert, Zant

BY MARY KATE MCGOWAN Staff Writer

Sarah Rajala, dean of the Bagley College of Engineering, will further her professional career as the dean of engineering at Iowa State University on April 1.

A search committee in charge of recruiting the next dean was formed by Provost Jerry Gilbert and is chaired by Don Zant, Budget and Planning vice president.

Donna Reese, Computer Science and Engineering Department head, said a search committee is usually created when a dean leaves Mississippi State University, and another dean chairs the committee.

“Dr. Gilbert knows engineering is very valuable,” Reese said.

Half-elected and half-approved representatives make up the committee, including several department heads, faculty members and at least one student representative.

“They are trying to satisfy diversity between ranks, departments and faculty and administrations,” Reese said.

The new dean of engineering could be from inside the College of Engineering or from outside MSU. “We are trying to attract the best people we can,” Reese said.

An external search firm assists the Provost to aid the search for the next dean. This will give the search committee a bigger pond of candidates to choose from to find the most suitable candidate.

“That company can stir up candidates we didn’t know about, and it’s a good opportunity for people who did not think about taking the job,” Reese said.

In case a suitable candidate is not found before Rajala leaves in April, the provost will serve as the interim dean of the College of Engineering.

“The search should not affect academics,” Reese said. “It’s mainly at the department level.”

Rajala has served as the dean of engineering since June 2008. She was the electrical computer engineering department head before being promoted to dean.

“She has been a great dean,” Reese said.

In a male-dominated major and profession, Rajala was the first female dean of the College of Engineering at MSU. “She has focused on undergraduate education, especially underrepresented groups,” Reese said.

One of the most prominent underrepresented groups of students in the college is women.

Devin Hedglin, senior industrial engineering major, said there are more male engineering majors than female, but she has never been the only girl in class.

“It’s only around 15 to 20 percent girls,” Hedglin said.

Some concentrations and emphases have higher female students than others.

SEE DEAN, 2

SA organizes glow run benefiting Blair E. Baston Hospital

BY ALIE DALEE Staff Writer

Mississippi State University’s Student Association will host its first “On Your Mark, Get Set, GLOW” 5k run on Feb. 7 in sponsorship of the Blair E. Batson’s Children’s Hospital in Jackson.

Brett Harris, SA co-director Balius of Late Night Events, said the main focus of the run is giving back.

“We are also remembering the students and faculty that have passed away while at State over the past few years,” he said.

SA will host Emma Welch, daughter of former MSU football player Casey Welch, as a

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Blair E. Batson Hospital sponsor on race day.

In an email supplied by Brett Harris, the Welch family said their daughter’s health is improving thanks to the care she received from Batson Children’s Hospital.

“Without the dedication to their specific fields and the care Emma received from the doctors and medical staff at Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital Emma would not be doing as well as she is and possibly might not even be with us today,” the email from Brett Harris said.

The 5k and fun run provide students a unique opportunity to light up the night. The race will start at 7 p.m., and each participant will be provided a personal glow stick.

Participants are encouraged to dress in glow attire.

SA President Shelby Balius said she expects

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POLICY

the race to become an annual MSU event.

“We are looking forward to continuing this event as a tradition for many years to come,” Balius said.

Haley Shook, Late Night Events committee member, said so far the run has been a success and that it is a tradition she felt had staying power.

Shook also said having the run at night gave it a different feel from other fundraisers.

“I think the coolest part is that it’s at night and everyone will be wearing bright neon shirts,” Shook said.

The race begins and ends at the Amphitheater, making a loop around campus.

Runners can choose to participate in a 5k run, 5k walk or a one-mile fun run.

Race day registration begins at 5:45 p.m. and

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continues until 6:30 p.m.

The top three male and female participants in each category will receive a medal.

In addition, the participant wearing the best neon costume receives a prize.

Registration for the run is currently underway at $20 per person until Feb. 1, and then the price increases to $25.

Participants are guaranteed a T-shirt, glow stick and a special gift if registered prior to Feb. 1.

After the race, SA will host a glow party featuring DJ Glotron for all registered participants.

Harris said an additional disc jockey is scheduled to play on the course.

Students can register for the run at sa.msstate.edu or by stopping by the SA office in the Union suite 314.

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tuesday , january 29 , 2013

THE REFLECTOR

BAD

SA TREASURE CANDIDATES Q&A ANDREW SPRECHER: ALEX EZELLE: Q: What has the treasurer a continuous knowledge and Q: What has the treasurer continue to grow.”

done in the past that you’d like to expand, continue or improve on?

A: “One of the main things is Bulldog Bash, that is a big thing for the students. In the past, I think the treasurer has tried to put most of the money in the budget toward that — which I completely agree with — but I think there’s ways to bring bigger people to campus. There’s multiple ways to do that, one of them is working with the chief programming officer to get better sponsorships, more sponsorships, that brings in a lot of money for that. That’s a really big thing that I’m looking at.”

Q: If elected, what are your main goals you would like to accomplish?

A: “Like I said, Bulldog Bash is a big thing, there is always room to make it better. Also I’d like to make the financial records available to students so they know where the money is going, it’s not a secret, it can go online and be published. Another thing is the Big Event, in their budget this year there was only $100, and I think its really hard to run something that big with just $100, and like I said, there are other committees that you could take small funds from to put toward that, and I’d like to do that and help that event

Q: What aspects of the role of treasurer do you think need reform?

A: “I’m not bashing on any of the past treasurers at all, I think they’ve all done a wonderful job, but I think the treasurer can play a more active role with the actual members of the cabinet. There’s different ways to stay involved, like passing out an updated budget every month to cabinet or sitting down individually with cabinet members and committee members and making sure they know what’s going and just being available to help out with different things whether it’s money or not.”

Q: How do you hope to improve the experience of the average student?

A: “As an exec member and being part of SA in general, I feel like helping with events for all the different committees will help each student have a better experience, whether that’s the Big Event or Bulldog Bash or an athletic event like Maroon Madness, there’s always room for improvement on those and being able to help with each of those things I feel like as an exec member I would be able to make a difference and keep expanding SA and growing the events that SA puts on to improve student life.”

done in the past that you’d like to expand, continue or improve on?

A: “Well the biggest thing is just to keep us in the positive, I think there’s been in the past where we’ve probably spent more money than we should and to be more aggressive in getting the individual committees more money because the smaller committees are starting to make really big events. We’ve got to continue to help these smaller committees and get good appropriations for them and continue this stream of having good financial accountability within all of the committees.”

Q: If elected, what are your main goals you would like to accomplish?

A: “The biggest thing is making sure that our budget is bigger than it is now and having transparency with the rest of the student body because the constitution talks about how the student body is supposed to see all of the financial records that the SA has and that is how it is, but its just not very user-friendly. I also really want to continue to bridge the gap between cabinet and senate.

Another big thing is having

awareness of where we are financially and hold everyone accountable from top to bottom in the SA.” Q: What aspects of the role of treasurer do you think need reform?

A: “I think the two biggest things are increasing the adviser role to the senate, just being more actively involved, and I think they’ve done a good job of that in the past but you can always improve.

Then the other thing is making sure that cabinet directors are being more detailed in their financial planning.”

Q: How do you hope to improve the experience of the average student?

A: “I think SA as a whole, not so much specifically what I would be doing, but just improving the SA is making people aware of all the opportunities there are with the SA as far as what we actually do and if people realize that then they will be more likely to get involved and if more members of the student body get involved, we’ll be more connected to what they want, and if we know what they want, it’s just going to improve the Mississippi State student experience.” zack orsborn | the reflector

DEAN

continued from 1

Mandy Cote, senior mechanical engineering major, said she started as a chemical engineering major before switching to mechanical.

“There were more girls in chemical than mechanical, but I wasn’t going to let that influence my decision,” Cote said.

During her time as dean, Rajala created and used a diversity council to support, attract and retain engineering minority group students.

Ashlyn Mendrop, sophomore biological engineering major, said sometimes she feels strange being one of the only girls but she believes being an engineering minority will help her find a job after her graduation.

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Thursday, January 24 • 7:02 a.m. An employee reported a missing work truck at the MSU Horse Park.

• 8:37 a.m. An employee reported missing property from the Center for Educational Training and Technology.

• 8:41 a.m. An employee reported missing property from the Center for Educational Training and Technology.

• 4:31 p.m. A student was transported to OCH from the Drill Field for medical assistance.

• 6:57 p.m. A student was arrested for driving with a suspended license, no tag and no insurance on Magruder Street.

Friday, January 25 • 12:08 a.m. A student was arrested for false information and minor in possession of alcohol.

• 1:24 p.m. A student reported her vehicle was damaged while backing out of Commuter West parking lot.

Saturday, January 26 • 1:41 a.m. A student was arrested on Spring Street for driving under the influence and speeding.

Sunday, January 27 • 1:27 a.m. A student was issued a student referral for being drunk in South Hall.

• 2:25 a.m. A student reported someone broke into the Tri Delta house. The subject was arrested.

• 3:29 a.m. A backpack belonging to a student was found laying in the road on Magruder Street.

• 4:05 a.m. A student was arrested at the Tri Delta house for public drunkenness and malicious mischief.

• 10:51 p.m. A student reported his bicycle stolen from Magnolia Hall.

Monday, January 28 • 12:00 a.m. A student was arrested for no seatbelt.

• 12:08 a.m. A student was arrested for disregard of a traffic device and driving under the influence.

Citations:

• 28 citations were issued for speeding.

• 5 citations were issued for disregard of a traffic device.

• 1 citation was issued for driving the wrong way on a one-way street.

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OPINION

TUESDAY , JANUARY 29, 2013

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the voice of MSU students

THE CAT’S MEOW | CANDACE BARNETTE

CONTRIBUTING WRITER | PRANAAV JADHAV

Journalists keep public informed in all situations

Rape culture must change

f it bleeds, it leads. man with a gun shooting 20 Any journalist is familiar kids in an elementary school, with the phrase. I can tell and you want to know: how you because did this hapI am one. pen? Is a lack It’s our job to keep the The violence school public informed. It’s my of is what sells. security to duty as a journalist. If a blame? What If you’ve got a story man brutally murders 20 about gun on a good Is children, that’s something control?

Samaritan the governthe public wants to know. ment at fault who spends his weekfor not havThat’s something the ends in a ing better public needs to know.” help for the soup kitchen and a deadmentally unly house fire that killed three, stable? What about the media? there’s no question what your So now the media gets tossed top story will be tonight. in. Pushing some agenda, no So the news thrives on bad doubt. And here’s the thing. stuff. But in light of the re- Yes, the news is supposed to be cent tragedies at Aurora, San- unbiased. No, that’s not always dy Hook and now Lone Star the case.

College, I’ve heard this notion Any distortion of the news is several times: “If the media wrong. As a journalist, I plan wouldn’t glorify these crazies to always report the news obso much, we wouldn’t have this jectively, no matter the story or problem.” platform. But to all those who Whoa. blame the media for the people I mean, yeah, it’s a natural who commit terrible crimes, response. You hear about a wild take a step back. It’s our job

23-year-old medical student who was brutally gang-raped by six men in New Delhi lost her battle for life on Dec. 29, 2012 due to severe internal injuries caused mainly to her intestines by an iron rod.

Similarly, the rape in Steubenville, Ohio, involved two high school football players who allegedly sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl. Reports suggested she was raped anally and urinated on by the men. When I read about the two stories above I was in a state of complete dismay. “What is wrong with people?” my heart questioned.

What has entered the fabric of our modern human society?

Is it a brazen mindset or a weird masculinity in which women are perceived as nothing but mere sex objects? I was intrigued when groups of politicians blamed the victim for the assault in both the incidents.

The victim in New Delhi was returning home after watching “Life of Pi” with her male friend.

After failing to find any transport, they decided to board a bus which had six men in it, including a juvenile who later raped the woman, assaulted both of them with an iron rod and then threw them out of the moving vehicle.

What did she do wrong? Go out for an evening show at a movie theater or board the bus with only men in it? As ironic as it may sound, her will to fight at a Singaporean hospital in her last few days after the gruesome attack was an after effect of this inspirational film she had watched on that ill-fated night of Dec. 16, 2012, which depicted the character’s quest to live and reach the coast post a ship-wreck.

According to statistics published in the Wall Street Journal on Jan. 4 2013, 14,263 cases of rape were reported in India in 2010 out of which the conviction rate was only 26.6 percent.

This situation is grim throughout the world, as well. According to statistics from the United States Department of Justice, a woman is raped every two minutes in the U.S. In 2000, there were 261,000 victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault.

Of these 261,000, 114,000 were victims of sexual assault; 55,000

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to keep the public informed.

It’s my duty as a journalist. If a man brutally murders 20 children, that’s something the public wants to know. That’s something the public needs to know.

Maybe ignorance is bliss, but in the words of Sir Francis Bacon: “Knowledge is power.”

(The guy’s name is Bacon, so you know he’s someone worth listening to.) Through knowledge and circulation, real change happens.

When the media presents the disasters of the world, the distribution of that information paves the way for the humanitarians of the world.

When Hurricane Katrina hit, the media showed those images to the world.

And when the world witnessed that devastation, they gave back.

People want to help. Just as when the world saw the tragedy at Sandy Hook, the outpouring of love was unbelievable.

Cards. Letters. Money. Prayers.

CANDACE BARNETTE Candace Barnette is a copy editor at The Reflector. She can be contacted at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.

That’s the kind of compassion that warms my heart, but it’s a level of compassion that can’t be achieved without a transmission of knowledge.

The amount of coverage on a story like that on major networks may seem extreme, but it’s there because you watch.

America still watches.

Inherently, we want to know more. Because we know through a deeper comprehension of the world around us, we become stronger, more capable beings.

And only then can we make a true impact on this world.

THE VENT | SARAH ULMER

Tragedy brings forth conspiracy theories

W

eeks have passed since the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut, but, for many, the reality of the massacre is all too present.

The students and faculty recently resumed classes at a new school building in the former Chalk Hill School in Monroe. CBS News reported while parents are approaching the situation hesitantly, many feel reassured after visiting the new site.

As these individuals have started to move on with their lives, the nation has been buzzing about the tragedy.

Due to the nature of the crime committed at Sandy Hook, our national government has taken action by doing what it feels is best to ensure the safety of all people. Whether you agree with the recent desire for more gun control or not, it has sparked quite a stir among information-seeking Americans.

We live in a culture that is vastly advanced in technology. I’ve written several articles concerning the access that we now have to each other on such a constant basis and how that affects our interpersonal lives. Now we turn our attention to how the media is influencing our thoughts as a whole.

As many of you have probably heard by now, there are some conspiracy theories circulating about the shooting at Sandy Hook. I even had the opportu-

nity to find a video online made exact. The video shows footage of by someone who pieced together the police chasing a man into the information to support a claim of woods after what is said to be the a conspiracy by the government. shooting.

Conspiracy theories have been They claim all the victims were around for years. Think back to shot with an automatic weapon the assassination of J.F.K. or even but after the school is searched, the death of Elvis, if he really is all they can find are four handdead. More recently is the devas- guns. tating day of 9/11 and how many The automatic weapon was thought the govbelieved to have ernment was beAre these people been found in the hind that tragic shooter’s car. This seeking attention, is all in the edited event. Even the own validity of money or do they conspiracy theory our current presvideo. Probably actually believe ident’s birthplace one of the most in what they are has been under shocking parts of scrutiny. Regardthe theory aims suggesting? less of the truth straight at the behind any of these theories, victims’ families and those who there is always someone with an gave assistance to fleeing chiloddball opinion to be shared. dren.

Let’s look at the areas of inThe most recognizable name terest in the conspiracy theory here would be Gene Rosen, the surrounding the shooting at San- older man who claims to have asdy Hook Elementary. Viewing sisted several students and a bus Wave3.com, the online site to a driver after they ran out of the Kentucky news station, several of school. these theories are examined.

Rosen has been labeled as Because the shooting there a paid actor along with Robcaused such an uproar with the bie Parker, a man who said his issue of gun control, these ideas 6-year-old-daughter was killed in have run rampant through the the shooting. Both of these men Internet over the last few weeks. appear in the edited footage of One theory suggests the gov- the viral video. There are several ernment set up the shooting more issues raised, but these were in order to allow a platform for the most key components.

President Obama to push for Why does a conspiracy theory stricter gun laws. even come about? Are these peoIn the video that has gone viral, ple seeking attention, money, or there are claims there was more do they actually believe in what than one gunman — three to be they are suggesting?

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SARAH ULMER Sarah Ulmer is a senior majoring in communication.

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

I know this is an opinion article, therefore you’re probably waiting on my opinion, but I really don’t know that I have one.

It sickens me to think about what happened at that school either way.

If our government set up some elaborate hoax in order to push something as unregulatable as gun control by killing innocent people, I’m not sure I would want to be a citizen anymore.

I guess like most of you out there I have to trust the news I know has been the most accurate throughout the years, and let the new “truthers” have their own thoughts.

Maybe it’s my ignorance that wants me to believe this was just an incredibly unfortunate event, or perhaps my slight hope in humanity that leads discredit the theories.

Whatever it may be, I urge you to seek truth and hold faith that those delivering the “facts” are truly delivering the facts.

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 Kaitlin Mullins

Copy Editor Candace Barnette

News Editor Emma Crawford

Opinion Editor Mary Chase Breedlove Copy Editor Rachel Burke

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EDITORIAL POLICY The Reflector is the official student newspaper of Mississippi State University. Content is determined solely by the student editorial staff.

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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.

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were victims of attempted rape, and 92,000 were victims of completed rape.

The methodology of the National Crime Victimization Survey is such that these figures do not include victims who are of the age of 12 or younger. While there are no reliable annual surveys of sexual assaults on children, the justice department estimated one of six victims is under the age of 12.

The figures above are grieving.

We need retrospection on what societal values we trudge upon, what lies in our future and what footprints we leave for the next generation to follow. Why is it that a woman is always on the receiving end? Why is the law blunt when it comes to dealing with sexual assault? Few have suggested measures such as to make death penalty or chemical castration the maximum punishment for rape throughout the world. But will it help in changing the mindset or will it instill fear to prevent such crimes?

There are serious questions that need to be answered and moreover a self-analysis by each individual. Are we really serious about crimes against women?

Do we really care? Do women in our society possess equal right with men? Are we quick to jump the gun and blame the victim for a rape?

What should spearhead in improving things is our attitude toward women; it is very easy to blame the victim for a crime against her. She shouldn’t have worn what she did, she shouldn’t have traveled alone, she shouldn’t have had alcohol are some common examples I have heard.

The outrage is as much against rape as against this disastrous claim that women’s clothes and behavior invite rape. As ambiguous as it may sound, this is our reality. The sooner we face and bring measures to improve it, the better it will be for women.

Otherwise, we will expect women to live in an era where they are as fast-paced and mobile as men but continuously covered with a veil of precariousness wherever they go. So let us pledge in unison to create a much safer, better and respectable environment for women in this world.

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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.

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

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

IRANIAN STUDENT ASSOCIATION Iranian Student Association is arranging movie night about Iran’s history and culture. “Genius of Khayyam” and “Taste of Iran.” BBC documentaries. McCool Room 100, Jan. 31, 6 to 8 p.m.

LADIES SOCIAL CIRCLE Ladies Social Circle spring 2013 recruitment Feb. 4, 5 and 6 in McCool room 202 at 7 p.m. Join us for fun, food and friends. lsc.org.msstate.edu.

REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM

life & entertainment

TUESDAY , JANUARY 29, 2013

Drag�ed out

BY ZACK ORSBORN Life Editor

Donning a wig, a painted face and high heels takes a lot of courage, especially for males. Leaving an identity in order to impersonate the opposite sex: sheer bravery.

As LGBT culture becomes integrated into popular culture, reality shows like “Rupaul’s Drag Race,” where several drag queens compete for a crown, signify the rise of drag queens. Drag legend Rupaul even graced the pages of Entertainment Weekly, giving an insight of his dayto-day life as a drag superstar.

Drag queens are the pioneers of the LGBT kingdom, sitting upon thrones of campiness, comedy and beauty. For Andy Villa, otherwise known as Asphyxia LaTrash, being a drag queen is all about entertainment.

“I don’t think I represent a woman. Because, yeah, it’s a drag — I’m not trying to be a woman. I’m not trying to pass off as a woman. It’s like a uniform — it’s for money. It’s for tips,” he said.

Villa, who began painting his face at the young age of 13, currently resides in the heart and heat of Texas, where prejudices against the LGBT community run rampant. He said drag was an escape from the rough times he experienced in high school.

“See, I didn’t wake up one morning and want to put on fake boobs and make up. It’s a process,” he said.

“It all started when I would watch movies like ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ and ‘Too Wong Foo.’ It’s weird how you can change your face with make up.

I just got bored one day, and I just started painting my face. To me, it’s an art form. My body is a canvas.”

In his first experience in drag, Villa said he looked “busted,” which in the drag dictionary means “not put together well.”

“I went to a party, and I didn’t want to dress up in normal clothes.

I just went with boobs stuffed with socks and Party City hair,” he said.

“

A DRAG QUEEN’S ACCOUNT

WE AREN’T FREAKS. WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS THAT LIKE TO ENTERTAIN.” -ANDY VILLA

“It was a big step for me. The feedback wasn’t that great, though.”

Drag culture, known for its ruthlessness that can often translate into hilarity, exists as its own separate culture, ranging from “fishy” girls, “trashy” girls to “pageant” girls.

As shown in the documentary about drag culture in New York during the early 1990s, “Paris in Burning,” drag queens pick at one another’s flaws in the form of what queens like to call “reading.”

Villa said most of the criticism he receives for being a drag queen comes from other queens.

“If someone is doing something right, they are going to pick at it — because they want you to feel lower than themselves,” he said. “If they see a shoe untied, they’ll point you out on it. If they see you painted your face too much, they’ll say it looks like you put your face in a cake.”

Eventually, with enough experience, Villa began performing at amateur nights because he said he still considers himself an amateur.

Lip-syncing to songs by Marina and the Diamonds and Lady Gaga, Villa said he likes to add his own twists to his performances.

Even though she has died, Selena remains one of Villa’s inspirations.

“She had a presence to her. She was very graceful. When I was just a little drag queen, I had videos of me singing her songs,” he said.

In a drag-filled day, Villa said transforming into a drag queen takes a little time to achieve a womanly persona.

“It takes longer than 30 minutes

to look this cute. It takes me around an hour and a half to two hours for full face, hair, boobs and shoes. The works,” he said.

Not only does Villa alter himself physically, but he also said his personality happens to split when he takes on the name and identity of Asphyxia.

“I can do things as Asphyxia that I wouldn’t be able to do with Andy.

To me, every drag queen has an item that changes them. Once my eyelashes are on, it’s a new world,” he said. “I have different opinions. It feels like a personality disorder. When I’m a boy, I feel boring. Asphyxia doesn’t care.

If you look at me ugly, I’m going to look right back at you ugly. As Andy, I’m really shy.”

But Villa’s decision to portray a female persona did not find much support from his family.

As of now, he is no longer in contact with most of his family because of the lack of acceptance.

However, he said he keeps on doing what he loves with self-acceptance and the amount of positive feedback he receives.

“At the end of the day, I’m comfortable being me. I am me — I can’t change. If they can’t accept me for who I am, it’s their problem. At the end of the day, I am happy,” he said.

Villa, a fan of “Rupaul’s Drag Race,” said he believes the reality show is opening the eyes of close-minded Americans.

“If I could meet Rupaul, I would thank him. It’s really changing popular culture and the arts. Someone I never expected to watch the show mentioned it to me,” he said. “It really puts a spotlight on something that isn’t usually accepted.”

Villa said because of the reality show, drag queens are no longer considered freaks.

“We aren’t freaks. We are human beings that like to entertain,” he said. “I feel like Oprah right now saying all of this.”

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COURTESY PHOTO | ANDY VILLA

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TUESDAY , JANUARY 29 , 2013

THE REFLECTOR

FACT OF THE DAY:

THE MSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM HAS BEATEN OLE MISS IN SIX CONSECUTIVE GAMES.

WEDNESDAY HOOPS: TEXAS A&M AT MSU 8 P.M. CSS

Schaefer wins first SEC game Lady Dogs much

better than expected

BY ALDEN THORNHILL Contributing Writer

Smiles filled Humphrey Coliseum on Sunday as first-year Mississippi State women’s coach Vic Schaefer’s squad got its first SEC victory against rival Ole Miss 7257.

The Lady Bulldogs improved to 9-11(1-6). Sophomore Martha Alwal had a solid performance against the visiting Rebels, shooting 10 for 13 for 23 points and racking up 12 rebounds. Schaefer praised the play of Alwal and fellow post player Carnecia Williams and said the two blocked and altered many shots.

“She (Alwal) had five blocks, and there’s no telling how many she altered. Carnecia (Williams) had some really big rebounds in the second half. Our inside game — when they go 14 for 20 — we aren’t going to be in here unhappy very many times,” Schaefer said.

“I felt like we decided for a change we were going to be the aggressor and take the fight to them.”

The Lady Bulldogs’ joy was turned to concentration soon after the celebration was over as they looked ahead to a tough battle against No. 7 Tennessee, which is ranked No. 1 in the SEC (16-3, 7-0). First-year head coach Holly Warlick leads the Vols in place of renowned coach Pat Summitt.

Junior guard Katia May, who finished with 15 points and six assists against Ole Miss, complimented the Vols and said she has high hopes for the rest of the season.

“I think we’re going to build from what happened today (Sunday). The intensity we brought

V

EMMA KATHERINE HUTTO | THE REFLECTOR

Katia May handled the pressure from the Rebels late in the game, finishing with 15 points and six assists for the Bulldogs. and the mindset we had helped us,” May said. “We need to be a go-getting team.”

The post players for the Dogs have proven to be the catalysts on this team, in particular Alwal who has recorded an SEC-best 10 double-doubles on the season. But other post players such as Williams, who averages five boards per game to go along with 8.3 points, have also made their presence felt inside.

Sophomore Kendra Grant has quietly put together another highlight year. She leads the team, averaging 12.6 points per game and as she showed against Ole Miss, is almost unstoppable when she gets into a rhythm.

For the Bulldogs to record their first-ever victory in Thompson-Boling Arena and first-ever

victory against Tennessee, for that matter, they must stop Bashaara Graves and Meighan Simmons.

Graves is arguably the top newcomer in the SEC, garnering four Freshman of the Week honors already. Simmons is scoring 17.6 points per game, third best among active players, and the team’s leading offensive performer.

The Lady Bulldogs have taken their lumps against conference competition (going 1-6 this month against SEC opponents), but Schaefer praised the team’s determination. If the Bulldogs play with the intensity and determination they’ve showed against the “monster five” (Kentucky, Texas A&M, Florida, LSU and South Carolina) as Schaeffer coined it, then Thursday could be an upset waiting to happen.

ic Schaefer is the real deal. The first-year women’s basketball coach picked up his first SEC win Sunday over Ole Miss in impressive fashion.

After losing its first six conference games, the team beat the Rebels by 15 in the most exciting women’s basketball game I have witnessed at the Hump.

Schaefer, who has one national championship under his belt, had the perfect game plan Sunday: get the ball to the post. He didn’t try to do anything fancy; he just did what was working, and it kept working.

Fans often criticize women’s games for being too boring, slow and uneventful. I’m not trying to say I was watching the Heat vs. the Thunder on Sunday or rant and say here are the reasons you should go to all the women’s games; however, I was impressed with our team and its execution Sunday and think these girls have a bright future.

Hardly ever do you see any team bring the ball down the court, work it around the perimeter then make a nice entry pass to the post for an easy bucket, but the Lady Dogs did this over and over again. This is a lost art in any basketball league, men’s and women’s.

Although this year looked to be a rebuilding season as Schaefer implemented his coaching style, the team has all the parts it needs to be a con-

tender in the SEC. Starting in the post, sophomores Martha Alwal and Carnecia Williams possess the ability to dominate the paint every game. At 6’4” and 6’3”, opponents feel the duo’s presence anytime they get near the paint.

Offensively, Alwal is tough to handle and will continue to get tougher and improve her post moves. Williams, on the other hand, is one of the most skilled post players I’ve seen.

Her athleticism shows in her ability to get past girls her size and score right over smaller players.

Two more years of coaching for those girls, along with the addition of 6’1” freshman Sherise Williams, and State’s post game could be one of the best in the league.

But the post players can’t score if they can’t get the ball.

The Lady Bulldog guards impressed me with their ability to make post entry passes at the right time. Rarely did they force a pass inside; rather, they were patient and let the game come to them.

Junior point guard Katia May took over Sunday’s game, controlling the offense and breaking the Rebel press at ease the majority of the time.

And if State needed a big play, she either found the open player or stepped up and hit a jumper herself. She showed leadership and relentless effort throughout the game, two key qualities for a point guard.

KRISTEN SPINK Kristen Spink is the sports editor of The Reflector. She can be contacted at reflectorsports@ gmail.com.

Sophomore shooting guard Kendra Grant can do just that: shoot. She is shooting .362 percent from the field and .412 percent from beyond the arc this year. She can create her own shot off the dribble or pull up for a jumper outside.

Most importantly, Grant possesses that killer instinct to really put teams away at the end of games.

Among Darriel Gaynor, Candace Foster and Jerica James, State has three talented utility guards who can do whatever the team needs.

Whether it’s lockdown defense, a big three or handling the ball, these three can make big plays and step up when needed.

Out of all these players, Gaynor is the lone senior, so Schaefer will be returning the majority of his team. I credit the solid play of the Dogs to Schaefer. He has them playing a simple style of basketball but one that is rarely seen these days and usually works.

If the team has improved this much in less than a year with Schaefer, I can’t wait to see the strides the girls will have made by next year. I know I’m going out on a limb, but the MSU women’s basketball team could be scary good next year.

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SPORTS

REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM

tuesday , january 29, 2013

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Men’s tennis sweeps tournament at home

By John Galatas Campus News Editor

The No. 11 Mississippi State men’s tennis team won the ITA Kick-Off Weekend and earned a spot in the ITA Men’s National Team Indoor Championship, its first appearance in the championship round since 1999. MSU (4-0) will join 15 other teams

who advanced last weekend in Seattle, Wash., Feb. 15-18.

The Dogs cruised past the No. 25 LSU Tigers 7-0 Saturday to open the weekend. After taking the doubles point and the first two singles points, freshman Stefan Vinti clinched the overall match with his singles win.

More singles wins from James Chaudry and freshman Pedro

Dumont gave the Dogs the shutout victory.

Dumont, who claimed his third win in the number six spot after the weekend, said all the freshmen have played well to earn wins.

“It’s hard because we have a lot of pressure to play as freshmen, but it’s fine,” Dumont said. “I think we’re doing pretty well. We

NO. 11 MSU: 7, NO. 25 LSU: 0

Doubles 1. No. 28 Angus/Stropp def.

No. 33 Simpson/Szacinski, 8-0 2. White/Wilkinson def.

Anderson/Trinh, 8-5 3. Bogaerts/Dumont def.

Arias/Borsos, 7-4 (susp.)

Arias/Bo

Singles

1. No. 25 Romain Bogaerts def.

Borsos 6-1, 6-2 2. No. 81 Stropp def. Simpson 6-3, 6-4 3. Chaudry def. Szacinski 6-1, 6-3 4. Angus def. Trinh 6-0, 6-3 Vi def. Bowtell 6-0, 6-3 5. Vinti 6. Dumont def. Anderson 7-6(4), 1-6, 1-0(4) zack orsborn | the reflector

have our number one, Romain (Bogaerts), is a freshman and he’s doing an excellent job, and I’m playing good now so I’m feeling so good, and I hope we can keep winning the matches.”

Sunday provided more compelling action as the Dogs bested the No. 21 Auburn Tigers 4-3.

With the match knotted at 3-3, No. 25 Romain Bogaerts defeated Auburn’s No. 74 Andreas Mies 7-5, 7-6(6). Bogaerts fell behind in the second set 5-3 and forced a tiebreaker at 6-6 before claiming the match point.

Before the exciting finish to claim the championship berth, the two squads battled nearly three-and-a-half hours in a classic top-25 match.

After splitting the first two doubles matches, the No. 28 pair of Jordan Angus and Malte Stropp fell to the No. 2 duo from Auburn and lost the doubles point. The Tigers went on

to build an early 2-0, but Angus and Stropp responded with singles match wins to tie the match.

Stropp said he felt the need to win his singles point and redeem the doubles point loss.

“We were up a break, 7-6, and actually serving for the doubles point. I started serving really bad and felt like it was my fault we lost the doubles point,” Stropp said. “At first I felt really sad about it, but there are still six singles points out there even if you lose the doubles point. I just wanted to win really bad because, like I said, I thought the doubles point was my fault.”

Dumont put MSU ahead with his match win before Vinti fell in three sets and the score was tied once again.

MSU head coach Per Nilsson praised his freshmen for their weekend performance, and said he recruited them to win close matches.

“I brought them here to be a part of matches like this, but I thought it was going to happen when the SEC schedule started.

We lost a couple of heartbreakers like this the last two years, and it was really fun to win one,” Nilsson said. “It’s a great experience for them, and for (Bogaerts) to actually pull it off against one of the best players in our conference is great.”

MSU will travel to Jackson to face No. 13 Ole Miss on Thursday in the River Hills Cup. “It’s one of those matches where I don’t have to do a lot of pep talking. The crowd is against us there, it’s supposed to be neutral but isn’t really, so it’s tough,” Nilsson said. “The last four years we’ve played have been really close. We probably should have won one of the ones we lost and then we won last year, so we’ll see if we can sneak one out this year.”

Dogs must regroup after loss to Gators as Aggies come to town ball, and we need to learn from that.”

When a team loses a game Saturday night the Mississip- by 35 points, bright spots are pi State men’s basketball team a rarity, but State pulled a few hosted the No. 8 Florida Gators. positives from the game that the Coming into the game, Florida guys can build on as they move led the all-time series 58-49, but forward. Freshmen Fred Thomin games played in Starkville, as and Gavin Ware both played well in the game and seem to be the Gators were only 20-34.

None of that would be rel- getting more comfortable playevant, however, as the Gators ing at the college level. Thomas had their way with the Bulldogs especially, who currently leads in an easy 82-47 victory. Flori- the team in scoring with 11.1 da came into the game ranked points per game, has come on third overall in scoring defense strong in conference play.

Thomas said he is starting and riding a seven-game winto find his role at this level and ning streak.

After the game, MSU head credits his early success to the hard work he coach Rick Ray put in this gave Florida I think Florida is by far has season. high praise and the best team in the “I’ve been said his team was staying in the just outmatched.

SEC, and I would vengym and get“I think Florture to say they are ting extra shots ida is by far the probably plaing better up, and it’s paybest team in the SEC, and I than any team in the ing off for me,” Thomas said. would venture nation right now.”

“I wasn’t going to say they are to give up on probably playRick Ray, my team. I just ing better than head coach wanted to stay any team in the nation right now,” Ray said. “I active and do all I can to keep told my team they had the most us in it.”

Rebounding was a major talented players in the SEC, but despite that, what makes them problem for MSU in the game so great is how they share the as the Gators out-rebounded

By Forrest Buck Sports Writer

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emma katherine hutto | the reflector

With center Wendell Lewis still out due to an injury, freshman Gavin Ware has carried the load inside for the Bulldogs. the Dogs 44-20. The leading re- night, but that is just how it goes bounders for the Bulldogs were sometimes,” Ware said. “I will Jalen Steele and Roquez John- use this as motivation for when son, both with only four a piece. I’m at practice doing reboundWare acknowledged he did not rebound particularly well (he only had three rebounds in 26 minutes) and said it was just one of those nights.

“I tried to give it my best to-

ing drills to work harder so that this does not happen again.”

The other major issue MSU had in the game was defending the three-point shot. Florida made 14 threes on 45 percent shooting from downtown.

Freshman Craig Sword praised the Florida perimeter players for their shooting ability.

“I really didn’t know they had so many guys that can shoot like that,” Sword said. “We weren’t rotating right, and that allowed them to get so many open looks, but sometimes we got a hand in their face, and they still made it, so there wasn’t really much we could do about it.”

The Bulldogs cannot dwell on this loss with the Aggies of Texas A&M visiting the Hump Wednesday at 8 p.m. MSU comes into the game with an

overall record of 7-11, and Texas A&M comes in with an overall record of 12-7. Both teams are 2-4 in SEC play.

Senior guard Elston Turner, Jr., who is the son of former NBA player and Ole Miss stand out guard Elston Turner, leads the Aggies. Turner, Jr., is currently averaging 15.7 points per game. The Dogs must limit his effectiveness offensively and rebound well to stay with A&M. The Bulldogs are currently rated slightly higher in rebounding than A&M, and Ware, at 270 pounds, has a size advantage over the lighter players on the A&M front line.

State will look for Ware in the post the majority of the game after the freshman has come off back-to-back good outings.

Tip-off for the game is set for 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Hump.

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tuesday , january 29, 2013

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