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FEBRUARY 15, 2013

Reflector The

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KAITLIN MULLINS | THE REFLECTOR

Now that he has been elected SA president, Shelby Balius will work with Michael Hogan to train and transition him into his new role as president. He will be officially sworn in at the end of March.

PASSING THE TORCH Balius prepares to leave office, Hogan steps up

BY ZACK ORSBORN Life Editor

In the office of outgoing Student Association president Shelby Balius, official agendas line her desk while seven crates of past presidents’ ideas and policies rest underneath. A poster hangs above with the words: “You have nothing to lose and everything, everything, everything to gain.

Just do it.”

With a hectic schedule and no two days alike, Balius has done everything from evolving the concept of online teacher evaluations, preparing for Bulldog Bash, structuring the idea of an online syllabus bank and handling the needs of transfer students more efficiently.

She said her main expectation about becoming SA president was to be able to truly see what SA does to make a difference in students’ lives.

“To an extent, I have seen that expectation realized. One of the things that we worked on from the get-go was trying to continue on teacher evaluations with the process of getting them online,” she said.

After working with the concept of uploading teacher evaluations online for three years, Balius said an online pilot program will be implemented to see what effects the program would have on response rates.

“The first kind of obstacle we went through was the Teacher Evaluations Committee and then there was sub-committee off the Associate Dean’s Council that considered the teacher evaluations academic operating policy,” she said. “From that, and with discussions from that sub committee,

and with further recommendations to associate deans, we were able to make revisions of the policy to make sure that in the future, starting hopefully in fall 2013, all of them would be online.”

Balius said she worked to create a better dialogue with students through Twitter and a new cabinet position she opened to communicate more efficiently. Previously, SA dealt with multiple Twitter accounts, which she said proved to be difficult to up-keep. However, Balius said the new cabinet position has allowed a more streamlined experience.

Balius also said she increased transparency by continuing Rhett Hobart’s use of Twitter to discuss problems with the student body.

“By creating this dialogue, we can utilize the media that we have at our disposal that we already use in daily life and capitalize on that and be able to use it in communicating with students in what we need to do to prioritize what we’re doing,” she said.

By opening a new cabinet position dealing with transfer students, Balius said the success has been phenomenal. The new position allows transfer students to be heard and provides information on how a transfer student can be more involved on campus.

“The two members of cabinet that were chosen to be Transfer Students Affairs directors ended up deciding saying that ‘This was a great concept, but we’re going to run with it.’ And they did. Now, we have a new student organization on campus called the Transfer Student Association, and they had their launch meeting on Jan. 24,” Balius said.

SEE BALIUS, 2

BY HILLARY LAPLATNEY Staff Writer

Student Association president-elect Michael Hogan said he hopes to bring Mississippi State University students a sense of comfort and reliability during his year in office.

Hogan said he is excited about the upcoming year, and one of his main goals once he takes office is to keep students informed and involved with the SA. “I’m looking forward to keeping traditions and initiatives, but also bringing my new ideas to the table,” Hogan said. “I feel like the aura I give off is very relaxed. I’m a student and I’m here to hang out, but I also get the work done.”

Hogan will be sworn in as SA president at the end of March. He said current president Shelby Balius has already shown him the busy schedule the incoming SA executive board will face over the next month.

“Shelby (Balius) kind of pulled out this filing cabinet of what we’re learning over the next month and there’s just tons of information,” Hogan said. “I’ve got to get to know all these different people. It’ll be fun, but it’s a time crunch. Once the end of March hits, it’s really up to me and the rest of the executive board to get everything together.”

Hogan was formerly chief programming officer for the SA, a position directly appointed by the SA President. He said he believes his role as chief programming officer prepared him for his upcoming presidency.

“I’m a very program-oriented person,” Ho-

gan said. “I love seeing people come out, not have to pay anything and just enjoy an activity on campus without having to think about class for a little bit.”

Hogan said he is looking forward to working with the rest of the elected executive board officials. When asked about the future officers, he described a personal connection he shared with each.

“My campaign manager and I had friendships and relationships with everyone who was running, including my opponent,” Hogan said. “We were comfortable with whoever was going to get each position. After seeing how hard everyone worked on their campaigns, I’m excited to work with those who were elected.”

Although Hogan said he was happy to hear his name called as the new SA president-elect, he admitted having his family present for the announcement made the moment even more exciting.

“I’m from Memphis, and I came to MSU with some really, really good friends from home,” Hogan said. “When I walked into the Union on Tuesday, I saw my Memphis friends all together. One of my friends made a motion and out came my parents and my brother.”

Once he heard his name called as the future SA president, Hogan said he felt relief.

“We were confident throughout the campaign,” Hogan said. “If we had not been confident, we would be setting up for failure. I’ve been working for this position for quite some time, and the feeling of having it all come together is pretty indescribable.”

Results of SA Executive Council election revealed Tuesday

BY KYLIE DENNIS Contributing Writer

KAITLIN MULLINS | THE REFLECTOR

Students gather in front of the Union as they await election results.

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

CROSSWORD .................. ..... 5 CLASSIFIEDS...........................5 LIFE ..................................6 SPORTS...................................8

On Tuesday evening, Mississippi State University’s Student Association announced the newly elected members of their 2013 administration following university-wide voting earlier that day.

Michael Hogan, junior business management major who championed more affordable summer tuition for outof-state residents, renewed interest in school spirit activities and closer relations between the SA and the student body, was elected president.

Hogan said this honor was the result of years of work, determination and a demanding campaign backed by his friends, family and

numerous student organizations.

“We really worked hard, and I think for the first time it feels surreal. It just feels like for the last two months, for the last year, we’ve earned it, and we’ve had a good time doing it,” he said.

Hogan said, despite the hard work ahead, he is grateful to the students of MSU and hopes to assist them in any way possible in the coming year.

“It’s a lot of preparation.

It’s a lot of knowledge to be gained in a month, but I’m excited about that,” said Hogan. “Thank you. I really do appreciate it. I’m excited to serve, and I hope that if anything comes to mind from the students that they’ll never hes-

itate to come to me because it is something that I’m really looking forward to, making sure it happens.”

Junior political science major and vice president elect, Shelby Sims said she was thrilled by the results and preparations are already being made to welcome in the new administration.

“I am so excited. I am amazed. I’m really looking forward to this year, and I cannot believe this is happening,” she said. “I have some different preparations to make because I am the secretary now. I’ll be transitioning the new secretary while learning exactly what I’ll need to do as vice president.

Really, I’m just going to try to learn as much as I can in this next month before my term.”

Sims said she hopes the student body will take full advantage of her role in the SA. “If there is anything I can do to help, I am here to serve. It’s my job now to serve the students.

I’m so excited about this year.

Hail State!”

Kaeley Gemmill, junior political science major, was elected SA secretary.

Gemmill said the tremendous support she received during her campaign played a crucial role in her appointment as secretary.

“My sorority backed me a lot, and I had a few good friends that really worked for me, just standing out in the rain until five o’clock at night asking people if they had voted yet. They knew how much I wanted it,” she said.

SEE RESULTS, 2

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FRIDAY , FEBRUARY 15 , 2013

NEWS

THE REFLECTOR

KAITLIN MULLINS | THE REFLECTOR

A crowd gathers in front of the Colvard Student Union in anticipation of the election results.

RESULTS Gemmill said she will continue to work diligently in the coming weeks as the newly elected officials transition into the 2013 SA administration. “I want to do it to the best of my ability and work as hard as I can to do a really good job at it,” she said. “I want to be prepared for the things to come.”

Sophomore accounting major and treasurer elect, Andrew Sprecher, said the results of the SA election were a welcome surprise. “I’m still kind of soaking it all in. I didn’t know what to expect coming into the night. It could have gone either way,” he said. “It’s been a great experience. I’ve put a lot of work into it.

I’m looking forward to getting started and being able to try to make a difference the best way I can.”

Sprecher said his first act as SA treasurer will include drafting an outline for the SA’s finances in the upcoming year. “As soon as we get transitioned, I’m going to start working on the budget and getting that planned for senate approval this Spring.”

Eddie Mac Huddleson, sophomore biochemistry major, was elected attorney general.

Huddleson said he is grateful for the opportunity to serve on the SA and for the support he received throughout his campaign. “I am absolutely blessed and excited to be given this stamp of approval by the students of Mississippi State and just really excited to serve the students on a higher level,” he said. “My support system has been incredible. I’ve told people I

continued from 1 haven’t had a campaign team or a campaign manager, but I’ve had a campaign family. I owe everything to them.”

Huddleson said he will be collaborating with the current SA administration to ensure he is aware of the full responsibilities of his role and capable of assisting the student body in whatever means necessary.“I’m definitely going to make sure to study the SA Constitution even more thoroughly than I already have and meet with current attorney general Donny Banerjee to make sure that I’m ready to fulfill my position.”

Shelby Balius, senior finance and management major and current SA president, said she is confident in the capabilities of the newly elected executives, crediting their previous personal experiences and achievements as former SA representatives. “I have absolute faith in all of our members,” she said. “The amount of institutional knowledge that we are going to be gaining from one year to the next is going to really help in the transition which is sometimes the most important part of bringing one administration into the next.”

“Thank you for the voter turnout,” Balius said.

“We hope that this will be another successful administration within the Student Association.”

The newly elected officials will transition into the start of their terms the evening of March 27.

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ZACK ORSBORN | THE REFLECTOR

BALIUS

continued from 1

With over 150 people in It was a blessing in disguise,” attendance, Balius said the Balius said.

Some of Balius’s other platoutcome influenced her to see many people wanting to get to forms, including a 5-day dead know other transfer students week and an online syllabus because it showed the work of bank, have the appearance of the executive council in action. being stalled, but still exist as Also showing the action and ideas discussed in meetings. hard work of the SA executive Balius said one of the most council, Bulldog Bash proved common misconceptions, and to be a success but was met with unfortunately most disheartening parts several obstaof being exec cles.

Balius It was definitely a council is havsaid the counlearning experience, ing ideas, but cil learned the getting them concept of but we can laugh action can adapting. about it. It ended up into take three to six “Bulldog being even better years.

Bash,” she “A lot of this said. “It’s a with the Eli Young funny thing. year has been Band. It was a researching It’s our premiere event, blessing in disguise.” other institutions, seeing and we have Shelby Balius, how the culture so much fun SA President was before they and develop so implemented much experience in planning that one event the dead week and after and because it’s just astronomical,” seeing how those implications would affect the culture she said.

She said the first problem on MSU’s campus and quite occurred when the event’s ti- frankly, sure it might be a great tle sponsor pulled out, leaving idea, but will it really work in them without 30 percent of the long run,” she said.

In regard to the online syllathe budget. Along with losing financial stability, the headliner, bus bank, Balius said the conNeon Trees, canceled 17 days cept is still being researched and a lot of questions still need before the event.

“It was definitely a learning to be answered, but the council experience, but we can laugh has been encouraged by disabout it. It ended up being even cussion with the faculty senate better with the Eli Young Band. president, Meghan Millea.

“

“One of the issues that other campuses have seen is actually getting faculty to post their syllabi,” she said. “We would be putting the cart before the horse if we built it now because we would first have to develop a policy on how the syllabi get up there, when they would need to be submitted and by whom they need to be submitted.”

Balius offered a piece of advice to the next SA president with a smile.

“Don’t be afraid to admit that you are wrong. And quickly ask for help because one way or another, you have to move forward. You can see that in the way that Bulldog Bash went,” she said. “It doesn’t have to be something that necessarily went bad. It’s making sure that you have heard all the different opinions so that you can make an informed decision.”

Looking back, Balius said every minute of her day was carved out, and that balancing life as a student with exams and papers proved to be difficult.

She said she has learned to adapt to quick change and listen to every opinion expressed.

“I have had an incredible experience and time being able to serve my fellow students in this capacity. I could not be more grateful and thankful for their support. I can’t wait to see what’s next for the Student Association.”

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FRIDAY , FEBRUARY 15 , 2013

McComas Hall enforces building regulations, fire code occur in U.S. workplaces. Annually, those fires kill 200 workers, injure 5,000 more and cost American businesses Many faculty and students are getting well over $2 billion,” Musselwhite said fired up about the newly-enforced build- in the email. “Unfortunately, there are dozens of ways for workplace fires to ing regulations in McComas Hall.

John Forde, head of the communi- start: chemicals, electricity, flammable liquids, combustible cation department, said materials, compressed Mississippi State UniverSometimes we have gases, smoking, even sity’s safety officer advised poor housekeeping. We all fire doors be shut at all to get a classroom to protect against times during a building moved before class- need all these potential fire walk-through on March 4. es start; we get it hazards all the time “We had a safety inspection, and we were encourworked out with the to prevent the loss of property and life.” aged to keep all the fire registrar to move the Some feel, though, doors closed as much as class to a place that’s keeping the fire doors possible. One of the highest priorities is to keep evmore accessible. You closed could lead to further dangers. erybody safe because we want to be proactive, Mark Goodman, have to do all we can at professor in the Dethe university to take care but there’s only so partment of Commuof everybody on campus,” much money to do nication, said he is conForde said. “Any time you things sometime. cerned students might make any change, there’s always a little adjustment With an old building get injured by someone opening the door due period, but overall, we’re like that (McComas to the difficulty to see just trying to follow what’s Hall), unless some- through the window to recommended by the unithe other side. versity.” thing’s needed or “The daily problem According to Fire Marsomebody’s asked, is the fact that most shall Mark McCurdy, the of the doors have very purpose of a fire door is you usually wait.” small windows, so when to contain a fire and allow Micah White, they’re open, you often people to exit the building Assistant director cannot see who’s on the before a fire would have time to spread. for Disability Support other side. Considering that students come to “The doors that lead Services classes in McComas into individual hallways by the thousands on a and in stairwells, those are fire doors. A fire door is designed to daily basis means there’s a high probabilseparate what’s called fire areas, and they ity that somebody’s going to get injured are designed to be closed all the time, when they get hit with the door,” Goodbut it’s a very common fire code viola- man said. “At the top of the stairway to tion,” McCurdy said. “People want to the second floor, it’s already dangerous prop open their fire doors. Under nor- because the entrance to the doorway can mal circumstances you don’t think of it only hold one person, which means the as a big deal, but if there ever was a fire, people coming up the stairs and the peothose doors could create some serious ple going down the stairs are constantly colliding with each other. Now there is problems.”

In an email interview, Alicia Mussel- a closed door that pushes out into the white, the safety officer who called the staircase, so if the door was opened with fire door violations to attention, said the enough force, it would seem quite possirequirement by the 2012 International ble to knock another student all the way Fire Code is not a new regulation, and down the stairs.”

Kelli Conrad, senior communication the Office of Regulatory Compliance and Safety could prevent both a financial major, said she has already been injured cost, as well as a cost of lives by keeping in the week the fire doors have been closed. them closed.

“I was running late for class in a hurry “On an average day, over 200 fires

BY CANDACE BARNETTE Copy Editor

“

in the stairwell that’s near the vending machines, and you can’t see who’s on the other side (of the door) unless you’re right in front of the door,” Conrad said.

“There was a guy coming, and I couldn’t see him. He opened the door into me; it was startling and painful.”

Goodman also pointed out the building is made entirely of concrete, a substance which does not burn. He said it disintegrates at temperatures reaching over 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit.

“In effect, we’ve created a daily risk in return for some rather nebulous benefits should the concrete block ever catch fire. I’m guessing each student has to go through at least two fire doors to get to a classroom, which means four times a day going to class, they have a chance to get hit by the door,” he said. “We have about 60 to 70 percent female students, most of which can’t see out the window, and most of them could get knocked down the stairs if somebody just pushed the door open without looking.”

Goodman said he was also concerned with how the closed doors could infringe on how those students with a disability, such as a wheelchair or crutches, get to classes.

Micah White, assistant director for Disability Support Services, said his department usually deals with individual cases as they arrive for students who have difficulty accessing a classroom due to disability.

“Sometimes we have to get a classroom moved before classes start; we get it worked out with the registrar to move the class to a place that’s more accessible. You want to be proactive, but there’s only so much money to do things sometimes,” White said. “With an old building like that (McComas Hall), unless something’s needed or somebody’s asked, you usually wait.”

White said closing the fire doors could be troublesome to anyone in McComas Hall, but as a whole, MSU works hard to provide for those with disabilities.

“I mean, it’s an inconvenience for everybody. Students with disabilities will be inconvenienced just like students without disabilities. It’s a little harder for them, but that’s something they’re used to,” he said. “They (students with disabilities) don’t want to leave when they get here because it’s so accessible; there’s a few places still struggling, but 95 percent of this campus is great.”

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BAD DAWGS

Tuesday, February 12 • 1:17 a.m. A non-resident/visitor was arrested behind Sessums Hall for possession of paraphernalia.

• 1:17 a.m. A student was arrested behind Sessums Hall for minor in possession of alcohol.

• 1:17 a.m. A student was arrested behind Sessums Hall for possession of marijuana.

• 11:50 a.m. A student was complaining of dizziness in Hilbun Hall. The subject was transported to OCH. • 8:17 p.m. A student backed into a light pole in Magnolia Hall parking lot.

• 11:09 p.m. A student was arrested at North Hall for possession of marijuana and paraphernalia. A student referral was issued.

Wednesday, February 13 • 12:07 a.m. A student was arrested for minor in possession of alcohol in Hathorn Hall. A student referral was issued.

Citations: • 3 citations were issued for speeding.

• 1 citation was issued for an expired tag.

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FRIDAY , FEBRUARY 15, 2013

OPINION

THE REFLECTOR

the voice of MSU students

Should everyone get a flu shot?

FACE-OFF: THE GOLDEN THREAD | WENDY MORELL

Flu shot not effective, superfluous

A

llow me to first offer a bit seasonal influenza A (H1N1) of anecdotal evidence: I virus and one influenza B vihave never had a flu vac- rus. Only sometimes are those cine, and I have never had the strains the ones that are actually flu. My sister, 26, has never had being circulated. We also must a flu vaccine. She, also, has never remember the “flu” is short for “influenza,” and during flu seahad the flu.

It’s not that I’m a love-child son, a lot of people automaticalwho thinks vaccines cause au- ly attribute flu-like symptoms to having the tism or will “flu.” turn you into a I think injecting Even if you witch or someanything into yourself go to the docthing. I received the chickenpox without need is just tor, and the doctor guesses vaccination as unnecessary.” what is wrong, a baby, and I there is no way have never had the chickenpox. I understand of knowing unless tests are takthis may or may not be linked en to confirm as much. Many to me having received the vac- times, these symptoms can cination; I may have never got- blame other bacteria or virusten the chickenpox anyway, or es for their days of fun in your I may suffer it in my later years body. The media will up-play the vaccination saying it’s 60 (profusely knocks on wood).

What most people don’t re- percent effective; if a vaccine is alize is the way the media ma- over 50 percent effective, it is nipulates the public into feel- considered a success.

But what does 60 percent acing secure about getting the flu vaccine. This, of course, tually mean? It means that, angives the health care industry a nually, only 2.7 percent of adults boost, since most people, if not get the flu.

Studies show the flu vaccine all, have to pay for the vaccine.

(Even if it’s free, someone is pay- will make this number drop to ing for that vaccine. So thank 1.2 percent, about a 60 percent drop. But, guys, your chance your boss.)

A study in the Lancet Infec- was only 2.7 percent in the first tious Diseases found the flu vac- place.

So instead of the media saycine actually only prevents 1.5 out of 100 adults from suffering ing, “The flu vaccine drops the flu. First understanding how chances of getting flu by 1.5 the flu vaccine actually works percent!” they’ll tell you, “The is important. Each year, medi- flu vaccine is 60 percent effeccal professionals predict which tive!” I’m not saying you should strains of the flu will be the most get the vaccine, but if you are a student reading this paper widespread.

So, then, the whole vaccine (aka a relatively healthy adult), contains a few strains of three then you really don’t need to different strains of influenza: one worry about it. Children over influenza A (H3N2) virus, one 6 months, elderly people, and

“

WENDY MORELL Wendy Morell is a senior majoring in communication.

She can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu. pregnant women should give it more consideration because the flu could be more serious for those people and the percent risk rises.

So many people just listen to their doctors’ suggestions to get flu shots or the media’s encouragement to receive a flu shot without questioning the need.

Maybe I am old-fashioned, but I think injecting anything into yourself without need is just unnecessary.

Don’t even get me started on diet soda. To see people downing chemicals like water but then getting vaccinated because they are concerned about maybe contracting the flu is absolutely sickening.

The most important thing to remember is to do your research about the actual relative effectiveness of the flu vaccine.

Make your own decision about your health, but remember that maintaining a healthy lifestyle in general will definitely reduce your chances of getting the flu. It will boost your immune system and make you stronger against all of those pesky viruses and bacteria, not just the flu.

DARK ANGEL | KIMBERLY MURRIEL

Flu vaccine needed to stay healthy

O

ver the past few years, before the vaccine had a reasonthere has been much able amount of time to work. controversy over the On a side note, the flu vaccine flu shot. Some people claim the will not protect against other flu vaccine does not work, some respiratory infections such as claim the vaccine actually gave the cold, sinus infection, hay them the flu and others oppose fever, etc.

Another common myth is flu vaccines and all other types of vaccines for religious or per- the vaccine is ineffective. No vaccine is 100 percent effecsonal beliefs.

Contrary to popular belief, tive. Second, according to the the flu vaccine is generally safe Center for Disease Control and for individuals over six months Prevention, individuals who of age. The only exception is receive the flu vaccine reduce for people who are allergic to their chances of contracting the eggs, people who have certain flu by at least 60 percent.

Furthermore, if a person gets medical conditions that may become worse with the vac- the vaccine and ends up with cine or people who have had the flu, his or her case is usually severe, life-threatening allergic milder and the duration time of the disease reactions to past is shorter. The vaccinations.

The benefits (of a vaccine offers One of the side effects of the flu getting a flu shot) far p r o t e c t i o n vaccine is recipoutweigh the risks.” against the most comients experiencing cold-like symptoms after mon strains of the flu virus prevaccination similar to those of dicted by the CDC. The vacthe flu but is not actually the cine isn’t perfect, but it’s better than no protection at all. flu.

A final myth is the flu vacVaccine recipients may experience sneezing, coughing, fe- cine causes autism. There is no ver, body ache, congestion and scientific evidence suggesting other symptoms that mirror the the flu vaccine causes autism or increases the chances of develcold or flu.

In addition, the vaccine is oping autism.

This myth began when a an inactive or “dead” version of the virus that your immune small study published in 1998 system uses to build anti-bodies in The Lancet by Andrew against the live virus you may Wakefield and colleagues at encounter at some point. Your Royal Free Hospital and School body cannot be infected by a of Medicine in London suggestdead virus. ed childhood vaccines might If a person does contract the cause some cases of autism. flu after receiving the flu shot, The study only involved 12 the person most likely had al- children, but the debate about ready been exposed to the flu the safety of childhood vacvirus prior to vaccination or cines has continued ever since. came in contact with the virus The study has been retracted,

“

KIMBERLY MURRIEL Kimberly Murriel is a senior majoring in communication.

She can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu. but the myth persists, mostly among those strongly opposed to all vaccines.

After years of research and studies, scientists have found no evidence or link between autism and the flu vaccine and its former ingredient thimerosal (which, before 2001, was a common ingredient in flu vaccines but is no longer used in today’s vaccines).

The same holds true for the myth the flu shot causes Alzheimer’s. In fact, a study published in The Canadian Medical Journal in 2001 suggests the flu vaccine may lower the risk of Alzheimer’s in older adults.

Aside from the medical exceptions mentioned in the beginning of the article, the benefits far outweigh the risks. If you are still skeptical about the flu shot, follow the universal medical principle.

When in doubt, ask your doctor. Need a little more convincing? Here’s some great news: The year’s flu-shot not only protects you from the influenza virus, but it also protects you from the H1N1 virus (swine flu) so you get double protection.

CONTRIBUTING WRITER | ANNA WOLFE

Integrity among college students lacking, even at Harvard

I

often consider how the convenience of today’s technological advances in student life must astonish older generations.

Most of our courses appear in online classrooms where we can find notes, homework, quizzes and sometimes tests.

Online homework makes grading an ease for teachers. The ability to access notes is especially helpful if a student misses something (almost giving an incentive to skip class). And as far as exams … I know I’m not the only one who takes a sigh of relief when I find out one of mine is online. I wonder, though, how our integrity is affected in testing situations outside of the classroom. Hanging in each Mississippi State University study is the well-known

honor code: As a Mississippi State students turned in suspiciously University student, I will conduct similar take-home exams which myself with honor and integrity were open-note, open-book and, at all times. I will s u r p r i s i n g l y, not lie, cheat or open-Internet.

We can be sure steal, nor will I acThe skeptical evolving technology G o v e r n m e n t cept the actions of in the landscape those who do.

1310: “InHow many troduction to of education has of us have these Congress” procreated situations fessor expressed words written on the walls of our today’s professors concerns to the bedrooms? If lecnever had to deal administrative ture halls require board, which with when they TAs to walk up led to the bigand down the gest cheating were students.” aisles to monitor scandal in Harcheating, why are we trusted to vard’s recent history. About 70 act with similar honor when away of these students were punished from the eye of faculty? with temporary withdrawal from During spring final exams last the university after the investigayear, an alleged 125 Harvard tion ended this past fall. Half of

“

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

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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.

the remaining students received probation while the rest were left unpunished.

Cheating on a test with unlimited open sources seems pretty difficult to me. The “Intro to Congress” students violated codes, crossing the fine line of “take-home exam morality,” when they shared answers, essentially turning in each other’s work. Harvard officials did not care if that work consisted of simply browsing the net. My main concern is the possibility the students in this circumstance did not understand the expectations of them for the exam. Instructions including “open-note, open-book and open-Internet” give such an informal impression and show the professor’s lenience.

Collaborating in such a nonchalant setting seems reasonable, even resourceful. Plagiarism is never okay, and I am not justifying turning in someone else’s work as your own. What I am questioning is the wisdom of presenting the temptation of working with classmates alongside permission to use the Internet to students. Using the Internet itself, I realize, will always result in the use of others’ work.

This being the case, professors must be clear on their expectations of students to use citations.

The lack of specific instruction is the cause of messy plagiarism and cheating accusations like these.

The truth is: teachers know students will work together outside of class, even if they shouldn’t.

This knowledge does not make the behavior permissible, but it does introduce a responsibility of the school to teach students how to live up to the academic honesty standard in such a new environment.

We can be sure evolving technology in the landscape of education has created situations today’s professors never had to deal with when they were students. When teachers give assignments outside of the classroom, they should at least expect the student will produce different work than if they were inside. Engaging outside of the typical test-taking setting comes with additional distractions and resources that should be taken into consideration by teachers before scandals ensue.

THE CONSTANT | MARY CHASE BREEDLOVE

Painful history should not be erased

T

he state of our union now Memphis Park, Mississippi looked significantly dif- River Park and Health Sciences ferent around this time Park. The city council rushed 150 years ago. to make this change before the No living American remem- state legislature could pass the bers what our country was like Tennessee Heritage Protection in 1863. Those 150 years might Act of 2013, preventing historas well be an eternity away from ical landmarks, plaques, parks our technologiand other monucally-advanced, ments on public Memories of the comfortable property from Civil War should lives. None of being renamed be a reminder of us know what or changed. owning a slave City council our past: where we feels like. Most members seem came from, what we to have varying of us don’t know what being a opinions on the learned and how slave feels like. we can prevent our matter of changNone of us ing the park’s nation from tearing name. Some find know what goes through your the Confederate apart.” mind when you landmarks ofpull the trigger and blast a ball of fensive, others do not. Various lead into the chest of a man — groups have protested to change once a fellow American — now the parks’ names over the years, deemed a “damned Yankee.” We but until now, there was no acdon’t know what living during tion upon the requests. Changthe bloodiest war on American ing the names of the parks will soil was like. The American Civil not rid the city of racial tension.

War was a dark time in our na- Re-writing history will not fix the tion’s history. problem. We cannot simply pick Last week, the Memphis City and choose which areas of history Council changed the names of we care to remember. The Civil three parks in the city original- War happened, whether we like ly bearing Confederate-themed it or not. names. Confederate Park, JefferShould the South glorify the son Davis Park and Nathan Bed- ideals of the Confederacy? Abford Forrest Park — complete solutely not. Southern Ameriwith a statue of the general — are cans who hold fast to the idea

“

of the South rising again clearly do not understand the implications of such a statement. During the Civil War, many Americans thought owning another soul was permissible. This ignorance and hatred fosters the feud surrounding this entire situation and others like it.

The South’s heritage of the Confederacy should not be erased from history books. My ancestors fought and died in the Civil War, on behalf of the Confederacy. Memories of the Civil War should be a reminder of our past: of where we came from, what we learned and how we can prevent our nation from tearing apart.

Renaming the parks has only fueled the anger and wrath of radical groups like the Ku Klux Klan. Forrest was one of the founding members of the original KKK, a group of six well-educated, angry Confederate soldiers that spiraled into something terrible.

Since the parks’ renaming, the KKK has threatened to visit the parks and protest. And it will continue to threat and protest, like it always have and will, because ... it’s the KKK. But this time, they’re clinging to the name of Nathan Bedford Forrest. They don’t need to have a “reason” to protest.

MARY CHASE BREEDLOVE

Mary Chase Breedlove is the opinion editor at The Reflector.

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

Having Nathan Bedford Forrest Park, Confederate Park and Jefferson Davis Park in the city of Memphis should serve as reminders of our past, our history, our heritage and our mistakes.

A few miles down the road sits the National Civil Rights Museum and Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated. Memphis has always been a city of diversity and rich history; what better way to represent the actions of our past than by having memorial landmarks of both the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement?

The Confederate-themed parks represent a time of division, war and loss. The Lorraine Motel represents how a nation was able to heal — through pain, violence, sadness and peace — and bring an entire generation of oppression into freedom.

FRIDAY , FEBRUARY 15 , 2013

REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM

AN IN-CLASS DISTRACTION ...

2-15-13

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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.

FOR SALE 1.5-carat past, present and future engagement ring. Paid $500, will take $300, firm. Call 617.0111 and ask for Angela.

FOR RENT Apartments for rent close to campus.

One bedroom, one bathroom. Appliances include microwave, refridgerator, stove, washer and dryer. No pets. Call 648.9519, 323.5186 or 341.5186.

Two bedroom apartment for sublease through August. $300 per person. By Campus Bookmart. All appliances included, private bathrooms, walk-in closets, patio. Pet deposit paid. Call 640.8132. Functioning wood-burning fireplace. Move in ASAP. February rent already paid.

Two bedroom, one bathroom mobile home, private lot. Two miles from Walmart. $400 deposit, $400 per month rent. References required. Ready in March. Call 769.7407 or 312.6238.

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Legacy Hospice of the South is seeking volunteers. Hospice volunteers provide invaluable services for our patients as well as our staff. If you would like to become a volunteer or want more information about Hospice volunteer presentations in your community, contact Sierra Amos, volunteer coordinator at 338.0007 or email sierra. amos@legacyhospice.net.

CLUB INFO The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday; deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday.

MSU student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info.

Information may be submitted by email to club_info@reflector.msstate. edu with the subject heading “CLUB INFO,” or a form may be completed at The Reflector office in the Student Media Center. A contact name, phone number and requested run dates must be included for club info to appear in The Reflector. All submissions are subject to exemption according to space availability.

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 Drive. All are welcome to $2 Tuesday night dinner at 6 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/msstatecsa THE WESLEY FOUNDATION Insight Bible study and worship Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Wesley Foundation Worship

Center, East Lee Boulevard, next to Campus Bookmart.

MSU STUDENT CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MICROBIOLOGY Contact msuasm@yahoo.com or like us on Facebook, “MSU ASM,” for membership 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.

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.

MANIFESTING GLORY Manifesting Glory is currently looking for musicians on a temporary or permanent basis. All who are interested, please call 518.1456.

PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION CLUB Are you interested in talking about the deeper questions of life? If so, come and join us on Thursdays at 5 p.m. in Union Room 227. Email msu. philosophyandreligion.club@gmail.com.

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5

6 | TUESDAY , FEBRUARY 15, 2013

THE REFLECTOR

Life & Entertainment Paul Thorn performs at Rick’s

BY DANIEL HART Staff Writer

Paul Thorn, a Tupelo native and rock and roll musician, said his show in Starkville at Rick’s Café on Saturday will be a little hard to define.

“I’ve had the same band members for 20 years. It’s a tight band. We do a rock and roll show, I talk to the fans when I’m onstage and have a good time. It’s difficult to describe,” he said.

Thorn’s stop in Starkville is one of 175 dates he undertakes, on average, each year. Although reluctant to give any labels to his music or show, Thorn’s daughter, Kit Thorn, said she was willing to give it a shot.

“I’d say his music is kind of a mixture of everything. It’s a little country, rock, blues. It’s pretty loud and upbeat,” she said.

Thorn said he strives to perform to standards of a heyday past, interacting with the audience even outside of the songs he performs.

“I consider myself an entertainer in the old-school fashion.

Dean Martin was a great entertainer and singer. He would sing songs but also talk to the fans between songs, tell jokes. He made everybody in the crowd feel like they were hanging out,” he said. “That’s what I shoot for.”

This inclusive informality extends even to family, as Thorn’s daughter, Kit Thorn, said she may join her father’s performance.

“When he does shows, I usually get up and sing a song or two with him,” she said.

The Starkville, university student clientele differs from Thorn’s usual crowd, which he said is middle-age and married people.

“My audience is for the most part married folks, middle-aged folks with mortgages and house payments, but when young people come I always like it. I certainly hope they will come out and enjoy the show,” he said.

Like his shows, Thorn, himself, is a bit hard to define; he said he was a boxer for a time in his life, going so far as to fight some world famous contenders.

“I got to fight Roberto Duran in 1988, and anybody who knows boxing knows he was probably in the top 10 greatest fighters who ever lived. I hung with him for six rounds,” he said. “There’s no shame in getting beat by a better man.”

Although Thorn boxed before beginning music as a profession, he said growing up with a pastor father resulted in his immersion in music from a young age.

“My dad is a Pentecostal preacher, so music was there before boxing. I was a fairly good boxer, but I didn’t have that extra something it took. But in music, I’m probably more where I belong,” he said.

The influence of Thorn’s father shows up on his most recent album of original material, Pimps and Preachers.

The album’s title draws on two major forces in Thorn’s life as he matured, both his preacher father and pimp uncle.

According to Paste Magazine, the album exists in a place juxtaposed between these two concepts, two ways of living and how they shaped Thorn.

Thorn’s show is Saturday, Feb. 16 at Rick’s Café, with special guest Bill Cook. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 9. Tickets are $20. Information about the show can be found at rickscafe.net.

COURTESY PHOTO | BLIND AMBITION MANAGEMENT

OUTSTANDING HUMAN BEING:

Whitten Sabbatini

BY CATIE MARIE MARTIN Staff Writer

COURTESY PHOTO | BALLROOM DANCE CLUB

Mississippi State University’s Ballroom Dance Club features dances from merengue to salsa.

Ballroom Dance Club encourages membership

BY ERIC IRBY Contributing Writer

From merengue, salsa, foxtrot and other great dances, Mississippi State University’s Ballroom Dance Club has it all.

Current vice president Elizabeth Rugel, senior Spanish major, said the organization aims to provide, promote and educate the ballroom dance club.

“We’re a student-led organization. The students teach it, organize it, schedule and do publicity. We meet once a week to teach students who show up for free if they have an account with the Sanderson,” she said.

Current president Amanda Washington, senior biological science major, said she encourages everyone to join the club.

“Dancing is fun. It gives you structure in a lot of different aspects of your life. It teaches you how to be a leader and a follower. It teaches you how to deal with people and different personalities definitely,” she said. “I’ve met 9-year-olds all the way to 80-year-olds. It definitely teaches you to be a people person.”

Rugel ventured into ballroom

dancing after seeing a performance by the organization.

“I started my sophomore year. I went to Salsa in the Streets, one of the big events we have and I always loved the ‘Dirty Dancing’ movies and ‘Dancing with the Stars,’” Rugel said with a grin, “so I kind of encouraged it even more. But most importantly the friendships and relationships you make; I met my boyfriend in Ballroom Club.”

The organization stresses the leniency of membership and how involved each member of the organization can choose to be.

Rugel said she thinks everyone will appreciate that factor from the group.

“You make your own decision on how involved you want to get,” Rugel said. “You can come a few Sundays and learn a little bit or you can do extra things we do like take trips and go out of town with the club.”

The next event coming up for the Ballroom Dance Club is the Valentine’s Day dance today.

Rugel said the event will be a great opportunity for the international students to meet people at the school as well as learn a few dance moves.

“After Valentine’s Day, we’re hav-

ing our Valentine’s dance, and we’re working with the ESL department to get all of their international students to come,” she said. “They can meet some American students and learn how to dance. We’ll be doing all different kinds of dances and giving mini lessons.”

Though the Valentine’s Day dance is one of their upcoming events, Washington said one of their next big events coming up is the All Star Dance Weekend on Feb. 23 in Tupelo.

“It’s a workshop which is definitely pretty big for instructors,” Washington said. “The club is paying for the instructors to take an entire weekend of lessons under professionals.”

She said how far students want to go into ballroom dance is what they put in it.

“Basically, you make ballroom.

You decide how far you’re willing to go with it. You make whatever you want out of it. We’ll give you the opportunity, and if you want to go there we’ll help you as much as we can.”

Rugel and Washington instruct ballroom classes on Sunday in the Sanderson Center in Dance Studio A at 5:30 p.m.

In the summer of 2008, Whitten Sabbatini made plans with a friend to attend Lollapalooza music festival. He had the money. He had the ride. He had the pentup excitement. And then a week before the show, Whitten spent his savings on a camera.

“I kind of make decisions like that, but I’d never been into art before. I don’t know.

I just stumbled into it,” Sabbatini said.

Now, four and a half years later, Whitten is preparing to graduate with a Masters of Fine Arts in photography and several international photography awards beneath his belt.

Sabbatini’s work was recently chosen for display in the Portraits 2013 series at The Center For Fine Art Photography in Fort Collins, Colo. Two of his digital images, “Tim’s House” and “Jeffrey and Jr. Skinning a Deer” were selected by juror Charles Guice for his gallery in New York City.

Professor Marita Gootee confirmed the significance of such an achievement in an interview with the Mississippi State University Department of Art News. “Two images into an international exhibition is fantastic. To be selected by a juror such as Charles Guice is extremely impressive and could really open doors for Whitten.”

Sabbatini’s success this year does not stop there. His photo “October 12, 2012” was also selected from 1,000 entries to be displayed in the fall 2012 New York Center for Photographic Art International Call for Entry.

When asked what his vision for these

photographs was, Sabbatini said he was shooting portraits with a lot of detail.

“You can get a sense of location. (I) am focused on themes like people of place or spirit of place, and that’s why I shoot portraits of people right now of the South.

Spirit of place.”

Sabbatini says his interest in photography began with a genuine interest in seeing a shallow depth of field, like a blurry background against a sharp image.

In a world where Instagrammers consider themselves photographers, Tweeters think themselves comedians and now Vine-ers believe themselves filmmakers, artists like Sabbatini are often pushed aside.

“It gets idealized. Like, oh, it’s cool, you’re creative, la de da, I don’t know. I’m just passionate. Life is weird,” Sabbatini said, shaking his head and smiling.

While Sabbatini’s humility is refreshing, one can truly get an idea of his talent by talking to those who have watched him grow as an artist.

“It is a privilege to work with a student so talented and excited about the medium of photography and the work he is making.

I have no doubt that he is going place,” assistant professor Dominic Lippillo told the Department of Art News in an interview.

When asked for advice for aspiring photographers, Sabbatini’s words of wisdom are simple: be passionate.

“It’s necessary to learn from what’s come before you, to allow yourself to be influenced by everything,” he said. “If it’s just photography, don’t be intimidated by buying a camera. Crave knowledge and ask questions.”

COURTESY PHOTO | WHITTEN SABBATINI

MSU student Whitten Sabbatini begins successful photography career.

CULTURED DE-BATES | CALEB BATES

‘House of Cards’ shakes up traditional television models, premieres on streaming service Netflix

T

his month, Netflix released its first original series called “House of Cards,” a thrilling political drama series starring Kevin Spacey. While the series itself has generated positive reviews, the format of the show has competitors chatting.

The burden of scheduled airing has an enormous impact on the storytelling of a television show. Writers often insert false cliffhangers for commercials and endings, which can cause the story to feel convoluted or fabricated.

Limited blocks of time can force writers to cut material that could be beneficial to the development of the show,

or conversely, they may have to add elements that are not necessary.

What has really set “House of Cards” apart from the rest is its freedom from a traditional scheduling. The episodes are written in a way that flows smoothly without commercial interruptions, and vary in length so that each story can be told in as little or as much time as needed. In addition, the entire season is released at once, which caters to the tendency of most of Netflix viewers to binge-view episodes. Writers do not have to recap viewers on what happened a week ago in the previous episode

because they know that most will watch multiple episodes in a sitting.

“House of Cards” is also shaking up the works in the media critique department. Far too often a series won’t even make it through the first season because of criticism. TV critics usually have to make evaluations based on only fragments.

With “House of Cards,” that model is challenged. Critics can write a review of the show based on the entirety of the season.

Although this new format has a slew of advantages, it also presents some challenges. For one, there’s no money

being made on advertising, but the show is intended to attract subscriptions in exchange for exclusive content.

The simultaneous release of every episode in the season may also create hurdles.

Shows like “The Walking Dead” and “Mad Men” have enormous social media followings based on the anticipation between airings. Fans are less likely to discuss a single episode, and no longer create a buzz from speculation about what might happen next week. Social chatter is further dampened by the fact that not all viewers have finished the series.

Spoilers are hard to avoid

the $100 million spent on “House of Cards” was money well spent. Netflix content chief Ted Sarandos told CNET that relative to other expenditures, “House of Cards” is doing more than its fair share to bring in subscriptions.

CALEB BATES “We can control the content cost that ultimately Caleb Bates is a junior controls pricing. We try to majoring in English and make it more and more accommunication. He can be cessible to more and more contacted at zorsborn@ people,” Sarandos said. reflector.msstate.edu.

Netflix took a gamble on the shaky structure of when every viewer watches “House of Cards,” but it doesn’t look like it’ll come at a different pace.

Despite drawbacks, Net- tumbling down any time flix studios seems confident soon.

SPORTS

REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM

friday , february 15, 2013

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7

Football adds Gonzales as wide receivers coach

By Forrest BucK Staff Writer

After bringing in a successful recruiting class, head football coach Dan Mullen has made some tweaks to his offensive coaching staff.

Mullen brought in Billy Gonzales to be his new wide receivers coach.

Mullen said Mississippi State was lucky to be able to bring Gonzales in and praised his track record with coaching receivers.

“I think Billy is one of the premiere receiver coaches in the nation,” Mullen said. “He’s had

like seven All-SEC receivers in his time in this conference and developed receivers at Utah as he had two 1,000-yard receivers in one season. Just about everywhere he’s gone, his receivers have broken records.”

Mullen and Gonzales have a history as the two have coached together at Bowling Green, Utah and Florida.

Gonzales spent last season as co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Illinois. In 2010 and 2011, he was LSU’s passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach and helped LSU advance to the 2012 BCS National Champi-

onship Game. He also helped the Gators win two national titles in 2006 and 2008.

Mullen said he and Gonzales have remained in contact with each other over the years.

“Billy and I talk all the time, and it is something that we discussed,” Mullen said. “It wasn’t that we were trying to change things up; the opportunity was just there. When I talked to Billy, he said he’d be really interested, and it was a pretty easy decision to fit him in on our staff.”

Gonzales credited Mullen’s character as one of the main reasons he decided to come coach at MSU.

“When you start picking a place to have the opportunity to go coach, you want to surround yourself with great people, and I know what kind of guy he (Mullen) is,” Gonzales said. “I know he’s a great father, and I know he’s a great leader.

It’s neat to preach family in the recruiting process because that’s what you need to do, but it’s good to be here with a guy that can talk about family and mean it.”

Last season Tim Brewster coached the wide receivers for State. Next fall, Brewster will coach tight ends, which is his specialty. He will also be the

team’s assistant head coach.

Brewster coached tight ends at North Carolina and Texas before moving to the NFL and coaching the position with the San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos.

Brewster said the decision to bring in Gonzales to coach receivers and for him to coach tight ends again was natural.

“I’m in a great place in my career where I can help where needed,” Brewster said. “I’ve coached tight ends for a long time, and I’ve been a head coach, so I know about the things that go with that.”

Brewster speculated that

he possibly turned down other offers to stay at MSU. “I’ve had opportunities come up, but where I’m at Gonzales in my career, the grass isn’t always greener,” Brewster said. “I have been absolutely thrilled with Mississippi State and living in Starkville.

My family is comfortable here, and we’re really excited about being a part of Dan Mullen’s program, and I think we’re on the cusp of doing something special.”

Former walk-on Foster seeks to honor Christ through basketball

By Kristen spinK Sports Editor

On Monday, April 30, 2012, Candace Foster was preparing for her first exam when she received that dreaded phone call. Her sister called to say her mom had died of cancer.

But during a time most people would consider filled with sorrow, Foster had a different perspective characterized by peace and joy.

“I thank God that I know who God is, and I know my momma’s a firm believer and a Christian. I knew it doesn’t take anything away from who God is, and he carried me through that situation,” Foster said. “Knowing that helped me through that time of grieving. It wasn’t a time of grieving actually; it was a time of rejoicing knowing she’s with the Father.”

Foster’s biggest fan passed away four months after hearing the news that the former walk-on was given a full scholarship to play women’s basketball at Mississippi State. Having dreamed of playing basketball at a Division 1 SEC school, Foster said she thought there was no better place to go than MSU. “We had been in faith together about earning a full scholarship, and lo and behold, God did that for us,” Foster said. “I think about my mom all the time, but when I’m out there on the court, I play for the glory of the Lord. My work ethic just has to do with bringing glory to the Lord, and that’s something my mom taught me to do.”

When she is on the court,

emma katherine hutto | the reflector

Candace Foster came to MSU as a walk-on but earned a full basketball scholarship last Christmas.

Foster energizes the team and brings a tough, defensive mentality to the floor. The “Energizer Bunny” as her teammates call her, only averaged 2.7 minutes and took just five shots her first two seasons at MSU, but this year, Foster’s role has increased.

She averages 13 minutes and has recorded 21 rebounds, 20 assists and 17 points.

Head coach Vic Schaefer said Foster plays with passion, aggression and toughness, and when she missed

practice one day, the whole practice was terrible because she brings a level of intensity and energy the team desperately needs.

“She’ll tell you and I’ll tell you she plays with God in her heart. She’s just a good Christian kid. She’s just appreciative, she loves being a Bulldog and she embraces Mississippi State,” Schaefer said. “She’s everything I want in a basketball player. I wish she had a little bit better jump shot, but I play her because of

those other things I just told you, and at the end of the day, that’s more important than her skills set right now, and that’s what she brings to my team, and I gotta have that person. I’m glad I have her, and I love her intensity.

I love everything about that kid.”

Foster said her first two years at State were a struggle with the team losing a lot and not being productive, but when Schaefer, who is known for his defensive

schemes, came to MSU, he meeting her that she loved saw her love for defense and the Lord and she was differhas granted her the opportu- ent, and you could just tell nity to do what she does best. she was set apart through Foster takes pride in her things she talked about and defense and loves to do the just her demeanor. She gave dirty work. Although most off light,” Easley said. “Some players enjoy the glory that people play hard because comes on the offensive end, that’s what they do, but from Foster enjoys doing the un- talks with Candace, I know noticed aspects, like getting a she plays hard because she steal or making a hustle play, wants to glorify the Lord.”

Foster defies the stereotypthat let other people shine.

Foster’s teammates said ical D-1 athlete. She loves they appreciate the mentali- defense and understands her ty and passion she brings to role as an “undercover man.” the team. Sophomore Kendra The once walk-on trusts in Grant said she loves being on her Lord through the good the court with Foster because and the bad and seeks to gloher personality and her char- rify Him with her actions.

Foster said she has a heart acter in general transfer over for each of her teammates, to the court.

“If you know the type of each member of the coaching person Candace is, you can staff and whomever else she see it on the court, like her may come across. Her purattitude about everything; pose here is not basketball; she lays it on the line wheth- it is about faith, eternity and er it’s in practice or in games. reaching lives for the KingHowever many minutes she’s dom.

“I really want to be an inin, it doesn’t matter whatever it is, she’s gonna go hard,” fluence for them to turn to Grant said. “I feel like that’s Christ and let them know just something that’s been life in Christ is not boring.

It’s not ‘I can’t placed in her do this now, I

by God.” She’ll tell you and can’t do that Alliesha I’ll tell you she plays now.’ There Easley, the FCA womfreedom with God in her heart is en’s chaplain, in Christ to ... I love everything leads Bible know that about that kid.” studies before there is somehome games. one who loves Vic Schaefer, Before Easus so much head coach ley came to despite our MSU, Foster led the Bible faults,” Foster said. “I am studies for her team. not perfect, but I know God Easley said Foster carries loves me; God is forgiving. I the mindset found in Colos- just try to live out loud for sians 3:23 of working for the him and let them know they Lord and not for men when can do it, too, and God loves she plays basketball. them just as much, and He “When I first got here, wants to see them prosper in there was no doubt in just Him.”

“

Ultimate team hosts tournament Bulldogs travel to LSU

By Anson Keith Staff Writer

By Forrest BucK

Mississippi State University’s ultimate Frisbee team, “Dark Horse” is hosting the Cowbell Classic Tournament Feb. 23 and 24. There are currently 14 teams signed up for the two-day extravaganza, and with teams like LSU, Ole Miss and Southern Miss in the mix, the Dogs expect the tournament to be good practice for conference play. Two slots remain available, and the bids are $300 a team.

Dark Horse team members said they are already excited about and looking forward to the upcoming tournament. These tournaments allow players and teams a chance to get a glimpse of teams from all over the country instead of being confined to the Gulf Coast Conference. Robert Stroup, team president, said even though it is good and helpful to the sport to see teams from up north come down every now and again and play in their tournaments, the Dogs still have their eyes set on the bigger picture.

“We are looking to defend our home turf and win the tournament,” Stroup said. “Each tournament we play is practice for the Gulf Coast Conference Championship tournament. While it’s fun to play and win throughout the season, we’re always looking forward to April.”

The Cowbell Classic of 2012 was canceled due to lack of teams signing up for the tournament, but this time around, things are in top gear.

The tournament will start next Friday on the intramural fields.

Normal field food and water will be served throughout the tour-

Dan The Mississippi State men’s basketball team will go on the road to Baton Rouge for a rematch with the LSU Tigers Saturday after losing a thriller on a game-winning shot by LSU guard Anthony Hickey nearly two weeks ago.

The Bulldogs led the majority of the game, but let it slip away in the final seconds.

Head coach Rick Ray said he is more concerned with his team’s ability to stay in the game this time around rather than worrying about what his team has to do to make sure they do not blow a lead again.

“We have to be in the game first,” Ray said. “If we’re in the game, then we can worry about finishing it out.”

Ray’s concern was justified after his team suffered the worst loss at the Humphrey Coliseum in MSU history Wednesday night. Missouri won the game easily 78-36.

The loss extends MSU’s losing streak to nine games, which is the team’s longest losing streak since 1981 and tied for the fourth longest losing streak in school history. The 36 points scored by the Dogs was also the lowest point total of the season.

Freshman Gavin Ware said he was extremely disappointed after the loss.

“It is kind of embarrassing for us to come out and not compete,” Ware said. “We are in a slump, but through it all we will come back. It’s like one of our coaches said,

Staff Writer

courtesy photo | msu club sports

Graduate student Cody Smith lays out in a defensive effort. nament, and pizza will be served Saturday after the last round.

MSU finished No. 13 in Southeast rankings last year, and with a win in this tournament, its stock would continue to grow.

Dark Horse made it to regionals the past five years, and this year when the team plays next weekend, it will sit at an unblemished 15-0.

Last weekend, the team placed third at the Mardi Gras Tournament, winning five more games.

Dark Horse practices year round, so even in the off season, the guys are preparing while most other teams enjoy breaks.

Along with having a slight edge on the competition with its non-stop preparation, Dark Horse also made some additions during the off season. Erik Allen said the addition of the newcomers was key for the team.

“We picked up a solid group of young guys,” Allen said.

“They traveled and played with

us during the Mardi Gras Tournament, and they all played really well.”

Longevity is needed in sports such as ultimate, especially when playing multiple games on multiple days, and Max Mosely said the extra bodies will be beneficial for Dark Horse.

“We have a deep bench we can rely on to give our starters a break throughout the day, so we can be firing on all cylinders on Sunday afternoon,” Mosely said.

In addition to the men’s team, there is a women’s team that goes by the name “Night Mare.” The Mardi Gras Tournament was the first tournament in which the team competed, winning one game.

Night Mare currently consists of 10 players and is looking for more ladies to get involved. Anyone interested in playing can contact captain Katy Fuqua at knf57@msstate.edu or visit msuultimate.com.

we still have seven games left whether we like it or not, so we just have to keep playing.”

Ray shared Gavin’s sense of shame in the team’s performance.

“To be quite frank, this is an embarrassing loss,” Ray said. “You would hope that our guys would have some pride about themselves and about Mississippi State basketball and want to go out and rectify that. And if that’s not enough to motivate them, then we got problems.”

Obviously, when a team is on a nine-game losing streak and has an overall record of 7-15, things are not going well to say the least.

But injuries have had a huge impact on this team.

Right now, State has three scholarship players (Wendell Lewis, Jacoby Davis and Andre Applewhite) out with injuries, and they are going to be out for the rest of the season.

It also does not help matters that disciplinary issues have seemed to plague this team all year as junior guard and supposed “team leader” Jalen Steele is currently suspended indefinitely.

Ray expressed his disappointment in Steele in a press release earlier in the week. “It was a selfish act,” Ray said.

“The thing that’s disappointing for me as far as our disciplinary issues is our freshmen need somebody to look up to and, right now to be honest with you, we just don’t have that.”

Colin Borchert was also

suspended earlier in the year, and before the year even started, players were dismissed from the Bloodman team for disciplinary reasons.

When a team has major injuries and an abundance of youth, those factors mixed with multiple disciplinary issues really set a team back.

In the loss to Missouri, the Bulldogs only had eight active players, and just six of those were scholarship players.

Trivante Bloodman, who led the Dogs with 13 points against Missouri, said he would not blame the team’s struggles on injuries and players being out.

“Yeah, we have a lot of injuries, but you can’t really blame that. Look at Kentucky last year. They only played six or seven guys, and they won games,” Bloodman said.

“That just means you have to step up and work twice as hard, and we didn’t.”

In Saturday’s game at LSU, the Dogs will be short-handed again, making rotations even shorter. Guys will have to play more minutes and at a higher level to compensate for the loss of talent on the floor.

The Tigers stand at 13-8 (4-6), led by Johnny O’Bryant III and Hickey, who both average 12.3 points per game.

Tip off for Saturday’s game against the Tigers is set for 4 p.m.

SPORTS 8

|

FRIDAY , FEBRUARY 15 , 2013

THE REFLECTOR

FACT OF THE DAY:

THE DIAMOND DOGS OPEN THEIR SEASON THIS WEEKEND WHEN THEY HOST PORTLAND TODAY AT 4 P.M. , TOMORROW AT 2 P.M. AND A DOUBLE-HEADER SUNDAY AT 1 P.M.

COLLEGE HOOPS: MSU AT LSU SATURDAY, 4 P.M. ESPNU

Q&A

BY KRISTEN SPINK Sports Editor

Jarvis Varnado played basketball at MSU from 20062010. He holds the SEC record for blocks in a season with 170 and career blocks with 413, passing Shaquille O’Neal. He was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year three consecutive seasons.

Varnado was drafted by the Miami Heat in the 2010 NBA draft but went to play basketball overseas in the Italian league and the Israeli Basketball Super League.

After a stint in the NBA D-League, he signed with the Boston Celtics for 10 days, and then Jan. 30 he signed with the Heat through the remainder of the season.

Varnado answered these questions for The Reflector via email.

Q: What was your thought process when you did not immediately make it in the NBA? Did you get frustrated or did it make you want to work that much harder to get there?

A: After I was drafted by the Miami Heat and sent overseas, I was very frustrated because I wanted to play in the NBA, but I took it as an opportunity to get better.

BARTON DINKINS | THE REFLECTOR

Jarvis Varnado was a three-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year in his time at MSU and recently signed with the Miami Heat.

Q: What was your experience like playing basketball overseas? Were there any major differences or was it pret-

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ty much the same as playing here?

A: It was very different.

The style of play varies in different countries, but certain calls like a travel may not get called, and the fouls there are not like they are here in college or the NBA. Q: During your 10-day contract with the Heat, what did you do to impress them and make them realize they needed to sign you for the whole season?

A: I had a lot of good practices and showed them that I belong in the NBA and can make a difference on this team, especially on the defensive end with my shot-blocking and rebound ability.

Q: Most people can only dream about playing for the NBA Champions, but this dream has become a reality for you. Is it intimidating, exciting or what are your thoughts about signing with such a great team as the Heat?

A: It is pretty exciting not just being on the Miami Heat but just being in the NBA. It’s a dream come true.

Q: How has it been playing with Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh so far?

A: Those guys are pretty talented, and I learn a lot from them every day on and off the floor.

Q: Any insight you can

give as to behind the scenes stuff with the Heat? Have you become good friends with any of the players in particular, is it a tight-knit team, did it meet your expectations, etc.?

A: I have become pretty cool with Udonis Haslem and Dexter Pittman, but I get along with everyone on the team. The guys are pretty cool.

Q: Do you feel like the Heat will win back-to-back NBA titles, and if so, what do you bring to the team to help in this endeavor?

A: There is tough competition for the championship this year, but I definitely feel as though we have a good chance to win it. I bring shot blocking and rebounding to the team. We have a lot of offensive weapons, but I can definitely also help out on both ends of the floor.

Q: What did you learn from your time at MSU that you have used thus far in the NBA? A: The value of hard work.

Q: What would be your advice to the current MSU basketball team as it struggles with youth and lack of depth and adjusting to a new coach?

A: They have to keep fighting to get better and take it game by game and focus on getting better on the areas

they are having the most problems. They also have to look at the SEC tournament as another season. Anything can happen there.

Q: What would be your advice to the MSU fans who may become impatient with the lack of wins this year?

A: You guys have to hang in there. You have no clue how hard it can be to rebuild, especially in such a tough conference as the SEC. You guys have to keep showing up and cheering your team on. Show that Maroon pride. Those guys feed off of the fans energy, so it’s important for the fans to show up cheering no matter if the team is winning or not. Let them know that you have their backs. It could help spark a comeback if they are down.

Q: Is there anything else you want to add?

A: Thanks so much to the Maroon nation for your continued support!