The Print Edition 3-30-2012 by Reflector Editor

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LIFE | 7

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SPORTS | 9

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Gaining Ground moves Starkville toward sustainability

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Three suspects arrested, charged with capital murder BY HANNAH ROGERS Editor in Chief

Three suspects have been arrested and charged with capital murder in connection with the campus shooting that led to a Mississippi State University student’s death on Saturday. Trent Deundra Crump, 21, of Flowood was located and taken into custody Tuesday on a capital murder warrant in Gainseville, Fla., and was held at the Alachua County Sheriff’s Department. MSU Police Chief Georgia Lindley said

on Wednesday afternoon MSU Police Department detectives had been dispatched to pick Crump up and bring him back to Oktibbeha county. Duntae Harvey, 21, Harvey turned himself in to the U.S. Marshals service at an apartment complex in Jackson at his family’s encouragement, Lindley said. She said Wednesday afternoon that Harvey is currently in the Clay County Jail.

Mason Perry Jones, 21, of Jackson, was arrested on Sunday night by the U.S. Marshals service in Memphis on a February warrant from the Jackson Police Department for armed Crump robbery. He was arrested in DeSoto County on Monday for capital murder. Lindley said Wednesday afternoon that Jones is in the Oktibbeha County Jail. Lindley said the investigation is on-

going and the MSU Police Department is determining if a gun found near Chadwick Lake is involved in the homicide. “We encourage anybody that has Jones seen anything or (believes they have) information of value to call us,” she said. She said the next step is to set a court appearance for the three suspects and for the police department to continue

to work with the district attorney on the case. As of Wednesday afternoon, she said there is no court date set. Oktibbeha County coroner Michael Hunt ruled the death of John Sanderson, 21, of Madison, a homicide. The autopsy results showed Sanderson was shot twice — once in the chest and once in the arm, which went through into his abdomen. Hunt said it looks like the gun involved in the shooting was a .32 caliber. Hunt said he expects the toxicology results in three weeks.

Parking expands, costs follow BY WILL HAGER Staff Writer

ississippi State University will add extensions to four parking areas on campus next fall to accompany the completion of the South Zone residence halls: Oak Hall and Magnolia Hall. There will be 746 new parking spaces, costing a total of $2,522,800. Mike Harris, director of parking operations, said construction has begun and will be finished by

the first week in August. Each paved space costs $3,800 for lighting, landscaping, curbs and gutters. Gravel spaces cost $1,200 each. South Zone parking will see the majority of the parking additions. The South Zone parking lot behind Creswell and Hathorn residence halls will expand by 201 spaces, stretching from the end of the current lot to the intramural fields. The currently in construction Arbor Acres student housing will host 275 paved spaces, with the bulk clustered in the northeast corner of the lot. SEE PARKING, 3

ZACH ORSBORN | THE REFLECTOR

Sanderson remembered as energetic, forgiving BY LACI KYLES Staff Writer

John Sanderson was the type of person who was full of life, always ready for the next venture. The Mississippi State University student who was fatally shot on campus Saturday was remembered by friends and family as lively and kind. Jessica Tree, sophomore wildlife and fisheries major, met Sanderson when she was in the ninth grade and he was a junior in high school. For the two years she knew him and the three months she dated him, she said he was always caring. “I would say he was always energetic,” she said. “He was never tired and always excited to see his friends.” Tree said she was initially attracted to him because he was considered to be the “bad boy” type, yet he treated her incredibly well. “He was really sweet … he would write me

READERʼS GUIDE BAD DAWGS..............................3 OPINION...............................5 CONTACT INFO......................5 CROSSWORD.............................6

notes every day that said I inspired him to be a better person,” she said. “He was not a bad person.” Tree said their high school was designed so that ninth grade was held in a different location than tenth, eleventh and twelfth grades. Sanderson would ride the bus to her location every day instead of riding home with friends, just so he could ride home with her. She said he was so much fun Sanderson to be around and remembered him as having a great sense of humor. However, she said he was the type of person you would have to know pretty well to realize how kind he truly was. “It was one of those situations where once you got to know him, he was really sweet,” she said. “He would still take care of you.” Tree said she lost contact with Sanderson after he graduated high school and had not spoken to him since that time.

CLASSIFIEDS..........................6 LIFE.....................................7 SPORTS..................................9

SEE SANDERSON, 4

POLICY

A C C E S S

cademics ampus Life ommunity Involvement mployment Opportunities ocialization elf-Awareness

The MSU ACCESS program promotes the transition of students with intellectual disabilities into higher education. These students have a desire to continue academic, career and technical, and independent living instruction in order prepare them for gainful empl employment. Source: sss.msstate.edu/access/ ZACH ORSBORN | THE REFLECTOR

Program one of a kind in Miss. BY ALEX HOLLOWAY Contributing Writer

For the last two years, Mississippi State University’s ACCESS program has offered a pathway for students with mental handicaps to be able to experience the college environment. The ACCESS program at MSU allows mentally handicapped students to experience living and learning at college and provides options for education after high school. Rhett Hobart, former Student Association pres-

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ident, said he is excited MSU offers such a program. “We are the only school in the state that offers the program,” he said. “I think it’s a great benefit to our university, as we are the People’s University, and to our state in that we provide this great service to our residents.” Three students are currently enrolled in the ACCESS program. Julie Capella, assistant dean and director of Student Support Services, said two more students are expected to join the program in the fall. SEE ACCESS, 4

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Staff Writer

Joan Mylroie swears by her special ingredient like any other proud owner of a good recipe. Although her additive cannot be measured in cups or tablespoons, it plays a part in any outdoor event: sunshine. Mylroie is the vice president of the World Neighbor’s Association, host of International Fiesta Day. The event, in its 22nd year, celebrates cultural diversity at Mississippi State University and in the Starkville community. Mylroie said good weather is the biggest variable in the fiesta’s success. “The participants always do a wonderful job,” she said. “The people that cook the food do a wonderful job. The flags look beautiful when the sun is out and the sky is blue. Sunshine is what makes the event.” To Mylroie, sunshine helps illuminate the many different colors, faces and cultures present in the day’s festivities. Over 50 countries will be represented at this year’s International Fiesta Day, which will take place on the Drill Field on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event includes a variety of activities such as the parade of flags, the crowning of Mr. and Ms. International Fiesta and 16 performances by a slew of student organizations and local community groups. Booths and exhibits will also be set up to preview different cultures and taste native food for a small fee. Ali Reardon, public relations major and intern for IFD, took a long pause before she could decide what her favorite portion of the day was. She ultimately landed on the variety of performances. “I think a lot of the entertainment will impress people,” she said. “In the past, it has been full on: colorful outfits, authentic

dress and authentic dances. It’s not generalized in any way. It is very authentic to the culture.” The performances range from a youth praise band to a martial arts demonstration and everything in between. There are also activities for children such as face painting, a piñata and other games like ring toss and pabitin. Five game tickets cost $1. Reardon said getting all ages involved is imperative to the event’s success. “I think children are important because they’re so easy to adapt. They learn the new cultures, they’re impressed by the new cultures, and it’s enriching for them to get that kind of experience at such a young age,” she said. Simone Cottrell is one of those who attended IFD as a child. She went to her first IFD in fourth grade. Her mother is Cambodian and her father is half Hungarian. Cottrell said going to IFD was one of the ways their family integrated into campus after moving to Starkville. “I think having a tradition that celebrates diversity, that connects the campus and the community of Starkville, is something we look forward to every year,” she said. Cottrell is an office associate for MSU in the College of Arts & Sciences. She began getting involved with IFD two years ago when she started overseeing the Mr. and Ms. International pageant. The pageant has two divisions, children and adults, and this year’s took place on March 22. A panel of local judges picked between 14 contestants and six different countries. The winners of the adult division were Matthew Harriman representing the United States and Gita Ramakrishnan representing India. The Little Mr. and Ms. International Fiesta are Furkan Coban, representing Turkey, and Shanautica Owens, representing

PARKING

continued from 1

Additional spaces will wrap around the halls and run parallel to Blackjack Road. Magruder Street and Hardy Road will be accessible from the new lot. The current gravel lot on the east side of Hardy Road will be redistricted to the South Zone. The music buildings and the Center for Educational Partnerships will receive 120 gravel spaces for Commuter East parking. The two new rows of spaces will be located south of Music Building A. Commuter West parking will add 150 spots next to the Newell-Grissom building. The new parking lot will be where

SOUTH ZONE 1: 201 SPACES - 3,800 PER SPACE SOUTH ZONE 2: 275 SPACES - 3,800 PER SPACE COMMUTER EAST 120 SPACES - 1,200 PER SPACE COMMUTER WEST 150 SPACES - 3,800 PER SPACE ZACK ORSBORN | THE REFLECTOR

Friday, March 23

Saturday, March 24

• 1:02 a.m. Student was arrested for possession of marijuana, no insurance and driving with suspended license on Miss. Highway 182. • 1:02 a.m. Student was arrested for public drunkenness at Cowbells.

Monday, March 26

• 12:54 p.m. A student reported his vehicle damaged while parked in Rice Hall parking lot. • 1:33 p.m. Employee reported a Canon Power Digital camera missing from the CAVS Building. • 3:38 p.m. A student reported his bicycle was stolen from the bike rack at Allen Hall. • 4:23 p.m. A student reported damages to his vehicle while trying to avoid a cement truck and struck a trailer near the area of Dudy Noble Field. • 4:39 p.m. A student reported the BMW logo had been popped off her vehicle while parked in Rice Hall parking lot. • 6:00 p.m. A student was arrested for contempt of court at his residence in Starkville. • 9:57 p.m. A student fell and broke his wrist on Hardy Road. EMTs arrived, but subject refused transport to OCH Regional Medical Center. • 10:05 p.m. A student reported her bicycle was stolen from the bike rack at the Sanderson Center. COURTESY PHOTOS | JOAN MYLROIE

International Fiesta will be held Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event includes a parade of flags, cultural booths for food tasting, the crowning of Mr. and Ms. International Fiesta and special performances.

the U.S. All of the winners will be crowned during the Fiesta’s opening ceremonies. Mylroie said she thinks IFD is a unique experience in the confines of MSU. “Everyone has smiles on their faces,” she said. “It’s just a pleasant day that everybody enjoys. You can travel around the world and that’s expensive, or you could

come to Fiesta and essentially go around the world for free.” In case of bad weather, all of the festivities will be moved to the Sanderson Center auxiliary gym, although Mylroie and the rest of those behind the production of IFD hope that is not the case. “All we need is sunshine,” Mylroie said.

The Lioifne Sect ector

@liferefl

Tuesday, March 27

• 12:16 p.m. A student reported another student was screaming for help behind Campus Bookmart. Subject was transported to OCH for medical assistance. • 2:53 p.m. Employee reported finding a bullet casing at the waste station on Stone Boulevard. • 3:56 p.m. Student was issued a student referral for swimming in Chadwick Lake to retrieve a gold flying disc. • 5:16 p.m. Employee reported concerns for one of his graduate students at USDA building. • 10:50 p.m. Non resident/visitor was arrested for possession of marijuana in a vehicle behind Cresswell Hall.

Tuesday, March 27

• 1:28 a.m. Student was issued a referral for being inside a vehicle where marijuana and a firearm were found.

Citations:

• 1 citation was issued for destructing traffic. • 9 citations were issued for speeding.

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Venyah preaches gospel, travels the country to share By Lindsay McMurtray Staff Writer

Each spring, students at Mississippi State University crowd around a controversial visitor who sparks a variety of reactions from his audience. Michael Venyah, 44, is an evangelist who travels with his wife Tamika Venyah and their four children to college campuses nationally and internationally to share his unique perspective on religion. Tamika Venyah, who founded the evangelistic organization Soulwinners in 2004, said they travel around the country to share their beliefs about Jesus, God and Christianity. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our message is the Gospel of Jesus Christ: repent, believe and be saved so that your sins can be blotted out and you can have a personal relationship with God through His Son,â&#x20AC;? she said. Students are drawn to watching and debating with Michael Venyah because of his unique ways of encouraging repentance. It is common for students to hear Venyah pinpointing ways their lives need to change if they do not want to go to hell. He openly condemns many of the same actions as other religious organizations, such as substance abuse, premarital sex and homosexuality. Many students said he has told them that to truly follow God, they must remove themselves from worldly conventions, like higher education and mass media. Tamika Venyah said the idea of leaving university education stems from what they consider false teaching causing students to change their beliefs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so much secular humanism, false science and teaching of evolution that can make those who came start to doubt, and then as their faith is decreased, they turn away,â&#x20AC;? she said. Michael Venyah said he does not expect people to understand his preaching immediately and he has had violent reactions from some audiences. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While preaching the Gospel, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been stoned in Germany, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been choked twice,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had knives pulled on me for preaching. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had my life threatened many times.â&#x20AC;? The Venyahs, who have approximately 20 members in their home fellowship in East Lansing, Mich., often travel with colleagues Chris LeMieux, Doris Metz and Dave Metz, but chose to divide the preaching this year to reach more people. Even though they consider East Lansing home, Michael Venyah said the family does not own a home, after leaving it to travel year round. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Years ago, when I was pastoring a church, I gave up my salary. We live by faith and trust that the Lord will provide for us and our four children. We gave up our house in 2005 to live solely by faith,â&#x20AC;? he said. Tamika Venyah said living by faith has led their family to preach on college campuses to students

who are exposed to new secular ideas and beliefs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want to encourage those who profess to be believers, to continue in the path of truth and righteousness in Jesus Christ, not to give way to the devil and his lies and the world system,â&#x20AC;? she said. Tamika Venyah said they will continue to preach as long as they can because God guarantees their work is not in vain, even if they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see immediate results.

THE REFLECTOR

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The ACCESS program school, the ACCESS program offers flexibility and works helps to teach them life skills. to meet each of the studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Some of the specialized classes needs. The students take class- offered by the program teach es taught by Brecken Rush. employment skills and skills They are given the option to for independent living. Capella said the program is audit standard MSU classes or to take them for credit. also a good way for students â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a person-centered cur- who might not have a chance riculum,â&#x20AC;? Rush said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Each otherwise to have an opportustudentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s curnity to expericulum is rience the college envibased on what ronment. would best suit them and â&#x20AC;&#x153;We offer a lot of intetheir needs gration into and what would help all things them reach college,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Many their goals. Each curricuof them are lum is indihere for the college envividualized.â&#x20AC;? Students in ronment, julie capella, asst. the ACCESS and, so far, dean and director theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re realprogram have of student support the option of ly taking serVices completing advantage of the program that. One of for a certifiour students cate, or they can choose to is in a sorority. They all go to get a degree. Carlene Pylate, ball games. One of them is a Student Support Services assis- manager for the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s baskettant, said students that opt for ball team.â&#x20AC;? a degree go through the same Through the ACCESS procore classes and receive one gram, students are given the just like one any other MSU chance to form friendships with student would get. fellow MSU students. Students Beyond allowing students in the special education degree academic options after high program sometimes work with

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Many of them are here for the college environment, and, so far, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re really taking advantage of that.â&#x20AC;?

SANDERSON

lindsay mcmurtray | the reflector

Michael Venya preaches to students on the Drill Field. He visits MSU during the spring each year.

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She said she did not know he was at MSU until the weekendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s events unfolded. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wish I wouldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had the chance to reconnect with him when he got here,â&#x20AC;? she said. Rusty Sanderson, Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father, said there are no words to describe his grief at the sudden and unexpected loss of his son. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was my favorite person in the world,â&#x20AC;? he said. Sanderson said his son was exactly where he wanted to be at MSU. He told his father of his sudden decision to attend the university, did all of the work required to enroll at MSU by himself and was happy in Starkville, he said, adding that he was making good grades this semester. He said his son was always ready for the next task or project that lay before him. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I live in a house that he helped build,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was at my house every other weekend â&#x20AC;Ś He was my favorite person to be with. He was the most beautiful thing in the world.â&#x20AC;? Sanderson said if there was one aspect of his sonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s character he would want people to remember, it would be Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s forgiveness. He had written a poem about forgiveness that his friend, Anthony Terranova, knew about but that his father had never read. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was trying to get past the grudge-holding phase,â&#x20AC;? he said. Rev. Bill Barksdale, Madison United Methodist Church youth pastor, said in an email that he has worked with numerous young people who spent eight months or

ACCESS students. Capella said they have formed strong friendships. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They have developed relationships outside what their regular duties are,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve developed into almost a kind of family. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get together and eat lunch with each other almost every day. Most Sunday nights, they get together and go out to have dinner somewhere.â&#x20AC;? Kyle Jordan, SA senator, lives with one of the students in the ACCESS program. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really pretty cool,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He brings a different aspect to dorm life that you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t normally see. He treats the RD in the hall the same way he treats the custodian, and he really is a role model for other students on how to treat people.â&#x20AC;? Jordan said he and his roommate do many things together, from eating lunch to going to sporting events. He said he is proud of MSU for implementing the ACCESS program. â&#x20AC;&#x153;From living with someone in the program, I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really cool for Mississippi State to be leading the way in this area,â&#x20AC;? Jordan said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Anywhere we go on campus, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the stars. People love them. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s University.â&#x20AC;?

continued from 1

jessica tree | courtesy photo

John Sanderson smiles for a photo in Perry Cafeteria at MSU. Friends and family remember John as compassionate and caring.

more in Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility where Sanderson was serving time after being sentenced on two counts of simple assault. Throughout his experience mentoring these young people, most of those he counseled were unable to finish school or maintain employment after their release. However, John was different. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our correctional system fails to prepare any of their inmates for re-entry into a community â&#x20AC;Ś(John) had been the exception to my experience,â&#x20AC;? he said, adding that Sanderson graduated from Holmes Community College within one year of his release, a notable feat, and immediately

enrolled at MSU, where he was doing well in school. Barksdale said John kept in close touch with his family and friends back home while in Starkville and was considered loyal by his friends as he stuck with them throughout the years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I had talked with John about one of the other high school youth in my group who had gotten in trouble with the law, and John really wanted to sit down and talk with him,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;(He wanted to) help him understand the potential consequences of his actions.â&#x20AC;? Barksdale said Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s character traits of being compassionate and caring only added to other qualities family and friends loved about him.

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OPINION GETTING OFF THE RECORD | RACHEL PERKINS

NATHAN BACKES

Sexting: Dos and Don’ts

MG. Let’s talk about sexting. Now, I have a confession. I’ve never sexted. I know, I know. Some people seem to think, due to these articles, I’m a sex-crazed animal-woman hybrid, whose nights are a never-ending concatenation of steamy Caligulan sex romps, which is mostly true. In contrast to our Limbaugh-topian society which would seek to shame me for any and all sexual exploits I might partake in, I find my conservative scruples an embarrassing point of contention amidst my otherwise open minded personality. So what’s the deal with sexting? What is sexting? Indubitably my favorite portmanteau, sexting can take many different forms. Fundamentally, sexting is having sex via text messages. These texts can consist of anything from your garden variety textual smut to the type of photography that would make the French blush. Sexting is a devolution of the phone sex of our older, cool cousins’ generation. In the days of land lines and dial tones, people would memorize each other’s phone numbers (that’s what REAL love must be like) and call each other up to exchange dirty words and the pleasure of each other’s vocal company. These were simpler times, when the Internet was a strange and foreign new world and people still read newspapers. I like to imagine phone sex usually went down like this: The scene opens on a beautiful and scantily-clad woman, alone upon her king-size and silk-sheeted bed. The phone rings, and in a split screen, we see the call is coming from a rugged yet well-dressed man, loosening his neck tie and taking a sip of bourbon at a hotel room desk. “I miss you so much, darling,” the man croons into the receiver and a Lionel Richie song begins to play as we witness the two, individually, bring each other to respective climaxes. In 2012, phone sex has gone the way of the “Macarena.” Sure, some people are still doing it, but the only time someone under the age of 35 is doing it is ironically. We’ve moved on as a culture. Instead of the “Macarena” we have “The Wobble” and instead of phone sex, we have sexting. (Who’s excited for the future?! Anyone??) Really though, it only makes sense that we’ve moved beyond phone conversations. Nobody even talks on the phone anymore. We’re a generation that’s almost incapable of forming words into sentences and speaking them into a cellular phone in exchange for receiving similarly formed sentences in return. (FYI, that’s called a “conversation” and it’s something people had to do in olden days before emoticons were invented to sum up our every feeling.) Everybody’s texting, all of the time. It was only a matter of time

Rachel Perkins is a senior majoring in English. She can be contacted at opinion@reflector. msstate.edu. before our sex lives became textualized as well. Sexting does have a time and a place. Much like the steamy tale of the man in the hotel room I told you earlier, long distance relations might require some more creativity when it comes to keeping the relationship alive. When partners are separated for any amount of time, sometimes a few spicy texts can help keep things from becoming too disparate. If your lover is away, sending a couple of words about the things you wish you were doing to him or her will help remind both of you how much you care. Also, while your lover’s away, you might need to take care of yourself. Sending something smutty might help get you in the mood. But like I said, I’ve never sexted. I’m afraid I’ll accidentally send an X-Rated text to the wrong person. (I believe my phone is an evil little robot that is determined to ruin my life.) I’m also very wary of sending any sort of naked picture. Just the number of naked pictures I’ve seen of other people on other people’s phones is proof enough for me that those things don’t stay private. Also, what if my dreams really do come true and I become a world-famous pop sensation and someone leaks one of my nudes to TMZ and then I lose my job as the official spokesperson for Diet Coke? If you want to sext, though, I say go for it, but be careful. Like I said, nothing is really very private. Once you send a naked picture of yourself to someone, you can never be positive who they may show it to (unless you are imaginary and only the person you sent it to can see you, in which case, tell that person to go to therapy because having an imaginary sex friend is all kinds of crazy.) Like your actual sex life, keep your text life interesting and safe. Always use protection! (Spellcheck, please.) Be careful with autocorrect, or you risk making some strange requests about puppies. Get creative with your photos and word choices. Hopefully one day I’ll be brave enough to embark upon my own sexting journey, but until then I wish everyone a bounty of naked Instagram photos and neverending cell phone service. And remember, always sext responsibly.

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Editor in Chief/Hannah Rogers

Letters to the editor should be sent to the Meyer Student Media Center or mailed to The Reflector, PO Box 5407, Mississippi State, MS. Letters may also be emailed to editor@reflector.msstate.edu. Letters must include name and telephone number for verification purposes. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.

325-7905 editor@reflector.msstate.edu Managing Editor/Julia Pendley 325-8991 managing@reflector.msstate.edu News Editor/Micah Green 325-8819 news@reflector.msstate.edu News tips/Megan McKeown 325-7906 news@reflector.msstate.edu Opinion Editor/Wendy Morell opinion@reflector.msstate.edu Sports Editor/James Carskadon 325-5118 sports@reflector.msstate.edu Life Editor/Kaitlin Mullins 325-8883 kmullins@reflector.msstate.edu Photography Editor/Jay Johnson 325-1584 photo@reflector.msstate.edu Advertising sales/Emily Moak 325-7907 advertise@reflector.msstate.edu

CORRECTIONS

LETTER TO THE EDITOR | CHARLES VAUGHAN

ʻTeachersʼ passionʼ article hits home Editor’s Note: This letter was written in regard to H.C. Manning’s article published in Tuesday’s issue of The Reflector on passionate teachers. he opinion article in today’s Reflector by H. C. Manning was spoton. As a grad student who has run through the gauntlet of coursework, I have to admit that I have seen many professors who care deeply about their subject areas, but I’ve also encountered a

handful who only care about their publication output. I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in physics. My ideal career after this point is a professorship position at a college or university. My work experience is much more geared

“It would be phenomenal if all the professors here have the same level of passion as their own previous teachers”

FEATURED POET | MOLLIE C. REEVES

#207

Walk with me, gone.

DO YOU THINK MSU HANDLED GETTING INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL SHOOTING OUT IN A TIMELY MANNER? Total number of votes: 86

EDITORIAL POLICY The Reflector is the official student newspaper of Mississippi State University. Content is determined solely by the student editorial staff. The contents of The Reflector have not been approved by Mississippi State University.

The Reflector staff strives to maintain the integrity of this paper through accurate and honest reporting. If we publish an error we will correct it. To report an error, call 325-7905.

ZACK ORSBORN | THE REFLECTOR

WOULD YOU ENCOURAGE A MORE EXPENSIVE PARKING PERMIT IN ORDER TO PAY FOR MORE PARKING SPACES?

LETTER TO THE EDITOR | RYAN CAREY

Editor’s Note: This letter was written in regards to Rachel Perkin’s article published in last Friday’s issue of The Reflector on sex-related double standards. want to first state that I understand everyone is entitled to their opinion and their freedom of speech. Howe ve r, I found what Rachel Perkins wrote to not only be inappropriate but just down right u n n e c e s s a r y. No, I am not some male chauvinistic pig that thinks women should do all the work while men sit back and enjoy. I understand people shy away from talking about sex and men sometimes do not consider women’s feelings more underneath the sheets, but look what you are allowing. It would be one thing for this article to be published in the New York Times or another major city’s paper, but this paper represents Mississippi State. It is clearly written on the first page: “Th e St u d e n t Ne w s p a p e r of Mississippi State

So farewell, Leicester Square. but my heart’s right there. Never less, crushed feet under a mountain of lies. We con front. Splatter. Desecrate. All—involuntary humanity. It’s all the same, Lupe & Lill. The clichés wound so tight. Birds of pray flock upon us, at night. For a table and a brandy, a smoke, shop. a car, plow. a breath, gone.

Yes, I was well-informed.

teachers have versus college professors. MSU has done a very good job of hiring plenty of professors who care about their students and the impact they receive, but we still have a few who just aren’t there. It would be phenomenal if all the professors here have the same level of passion as their own previous teachers who, ironically, are responsible for getting these professors to the point where they are now.

Reader finds sex column too much

It’s a doggie world out there. loud sounds. nails that scratch. words that bind. To be stuck in the middle: a curse; a relief. For you see, life is for living. But the dead come, at night. With their voices soft as thunder. Bitter remembrances. Does a single count? As much as a tree, house. Inarticulate little claws scream: Violence! Violence! Caucus rational four wingéd streets. The rain, baptismal. It all started with a look. that kills. that stains. that taints, and jades. But we’re the unhappy ones: the dollar in between dreams. where are the dads?

No, I did not receive any information.

toward teaching rather than research, and I have vowed to avoid making the same apathetic mistakes that some of my previous professors have made. There’s often a clear distinction between the passion that grade school

Yes, we need more spaces. No, they are already too expensive. I don’t park on campus. Vote online at reflector-online.com ZACK ORSBORN | THE REFLECTOR

University Since 1884” Thus, when people read the article outside of Starkville, online or through the paper, do you really want that article to be the one they pay attention to? I realize most of the readers are college-age students and sex is a common thing on a university campus, but open discussion of “penises, vaginas and sex” within a paper that represents the student body as a whole irks me. Like I said, freedom of speech is a constitutional right, and Rachel is a talented writer. She succeeded in her goal of people talking about sex, but I do not want people to believe this is what MSU stands for or what the student body stands for. Whether I like it or not, I know it is an opinion section, but it is still in a paper that represents this great university. So, consider what this paper represents next time before my fellow students and I have to hear of a student’s sex life or experiences.

“She succeeded in her goal of people talking about sex, but I do not want people to believe this is for what MSU stands or for what the student body stands.”

LETTER TO THE EDITOR | BEN ELAM

Sex column appreciated by out-of-state reader Editor’s Note: This letter was written in regards to Rachel Perkin’s article published in last Friday’s issue of The Reflector on sex-related double standards. recently moved to Starkville from Oakland, Calif., and the lack of communication (primarily around sex and/or

whether persons equally value exclusivity in the relationship) that seems to upset the relationships of a lot of my friends here has been grinding on me a bit. I was excited to see someone encouraging people to put things on the table in a very public way. Thanks for doing what you do.

6 | FRIDAY , MARCH 30 , 2012

THE REFLECTOR

BULLETIN BOARD

AN IN-CLASS DISTRACTION ...

Across 1 Outlying expanse 4 Fay Wray in “King Kong,” to movie buffs 15 The Giants retired his #4 16 The Bucharest Buffoon of ‘70s-’80s tennis 17 Unit whose symbol is an omega 18 Military communications branch 19 Site of Cretan ruins 21 Shine, in ads 22 Blofeld’s constant companion, in Bond films 23 Goes unhurriedly 24 Joel Chandler Harris’s brother? 25 Tennis score word 26 Take __ at 27 Dock bloc, briefly 28 Ford from Tennessee 30 Big party bottles 33 River through Hesse 34 Calls the game 37 Some saints 39 Mates 40 Doesn’t come through 42 Glide 44 Proof abbr. 45 El __: Peruvian volcano 49 Ahem relative 50 Curt turndown 52 “You’ve done enough” 53 Bar order, initally 54 Cologne “never” 55 Took a vacation 56 Colonialism 59 Manual transmissions?: Abbr. 60 Garb for Columbo and Clouseau 61 Coalesce 62 It’s highly classified 63 Sounds omitted in transcription Down 1 Showing-off expression 2 Cultural group 3 Tops

4 Bike passenger’s support, facetiously 5 Campaign rewards 6 Fixes 7 Gloaming, in verse 8 Made 60-Across for technocrats? 9 “Atlantic City” director 10 Familiarity/appeal measurement used in marketing 11 __-Aztecan languages 12 Sweet pop music 13 Trellis for training fruit trees 14 Sleeping kittens, e.g. 20 Marine layer 24 __-ray Discs 27 Ordered 29 Wine flavored by pine resin-sealed barrels 31 North Sea country: Abbr. 32 Give a little 34 Goes from second to third, say 35 Arrive after a long

3-30-12 Solutions for 3-27-12

sail 36 Tot lot 38 Most aloof 41 Bk. after Ezra 43 Joseph Kennedy’s middle daughter 46 Underground waste 47 News opening, often

48 Rustic poems 51 Weather forecast components 52 “Tropic Thunder” actor 55 __ gum: food thickener 57 Tolkien creature 58 Bird in a fable ife The L Section

tor

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CLASSIFIEDS POLICY The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday; the deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. Classifieds are $5 per issue. Student and staff ads are $3 per issue, pre-paid. Lost and found: found items can be listed for free; lost items are listed for standard ad cost. FOR SALE Ziggy’s Buy & Sell. Don’t throw it away! Get cash for your used furniture and other items. We sell everything from furniture to antiques to music. 434 Miss. Highway 12 West, look for the orange sign with Ziggy’s picture, or call 312-8895. Faculty investment opportunity. Enjoy benefits of retirement now, as you teach. Live in your five-plex on Oktibbeha County Lake, and let rentals pay your mortgage. 340’ waterfront, five-plex, dock, skiboat. $342,000 firm. 418-2790. FOR RENT Canterbury Townhouses. 990 Old Mayhew Road. 2012 lease special (12th month free with 12-month lease). One, two and three bedroom newly-remodeled townhouses. Call 323-9216 for details. “Lodge at the Lake.” Great one bedroom, waterfront, dock, appliances, washer/dryer, free cable and fast-access Internet. See now. Available May 1 for 15 months. $525/month. Pet friendly. 418-2790. AVALON Large two and three bedroom apartments from $729 per month. Reserve your apartment today for fall. live atavalonapts.com. Rates include cable Internet and all appliances; unfurnished. One bed, one bath apartment for sublease at Parkside Apartments. $400 per month. Spacious bedroom, walk-in closet, energy efficient. Some furniture, appliances included. Available now. 648-8595, call or text. One bedroom mobile home for rent. One mile from campus. Hunting and fishing privileges. Pet friendly for additional fee. $350 per month. Lease and deposit required. Call 418-8555. Pasture boarding also available. Maben, two well-preserved older homes with ammenities. Spacious. Yard care provided. $500 per month and $600 per month. 2638394. On a lake, furnished, one-bedroom apartment. Available June 1 for 14month lease at $525 per month. TV cable, water, sewer, high speed wireless Internet provided.

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You pay electricity. Call Bob at 418-2790. One, two, three and four bedroom apartments available for fall 2012. $400 to $1,600 per month. No pets. Call Barbara at 418-8603. HELP WANTED Bartending. Up to $300 / day. No experience necessary. Training available. Call 800-965-6520 ext. 213. Attention students: $15 starting pay. Flexible hours around class. Customer sales and service. No experience required. Call 2685097. Collegeincome.com. MISCELLANEOUS 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. BAPTIST STUDENT UNION The BSU at Mississippi State invites all students to our weekly worship service, PRIORITY, on Tuesday nights at 6:15. You are also invited to a $5 home-cooked meal, called NOONDAY, on Wednesdays at noon. The BSU Center is located directly across the street from Campus Book Mart. All students are welcome. Visit msubsu.com for more information. CAMPUS BIBLE STUDENTS Intensive Bible study Mondays from 7 to 8 p.m. in room 324 of the Union. All are welcome. Email tns54@pss.msstate.edu for more information. CATHOLIC STUDENT ASSOCIATION The CSA invites you to join us each week at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Student mass is on Sundays at 5:30 p.m. Good food and fun fellowship can be had at $2 dinners on Tuesday at 6 p.m., followed by weekly/Bible study at 7 p.m. Come to one of these events and learn more ways to get involved! For more information, simply “like” our Facebook page: “Mississippi State Catholic Student Association.”

FAAMSU Come join us for lively discussions. Believers welcome! Every Thursday, starting Sept. 8, in the Union room 226 from 6 to 9 p.m. Twitter: @SAUCEFORALL. We are the Freethinkers, Agnostics and Atheists of MSU. FEMALE GRADUATE STUDENTS New group for female graduate students in science, engineering and mathematics: Please email msu.gwise@gmail.com LIGHT BEARERS Yeah! We Bear The Light! Come join us for fellowship, dynamic worship and inspirational devotions every Thursday at 7 p.m. Union 3rd floor, room 329. MSU CANTERBURY EPISCOPAL FELLOWSHIP “Spiritual but not religious?” Spirituality and home-cooking at the Episcopal Church (“Canterbury”). Free dinner, activities each Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. Canterbury Lodge, 105 N. Montgomery St., Starkville. For more information, contact Chaplain Carol Mead at 6941178. Sponsored by Canterbury Episcopal Fellowship. PHILOSOPHY CLUB Tuesdays at 5 p.m. in Union 226. RUF Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) is a campus ministry that has been on State’s campus since 1976. Our large group Bible study meets Thursdays from 7 to 8 p.m. in Dorman Auditorium. For further information and for upcoming events, visit msstate.ruf.org. All are welcome to come. STUDENTS FOR A SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS Community garage sale on Saturday beginning at 7 a.m. Starkville Community Market. Earth Week fundraiser. TRIATHLON CLUB Learn more about MSU’s new Triathlon Club by visiting MSUTC.com or on Facebook @ Mississippi State Triathlon. WESLEY FOUNDATION Insight! Weekly worship, Bible study, and fellowship. Tuesdays at 8 p.m. at the Wesley Foundation located next to Campus Bookmart. For more information, visit statewesley.org YOGA MOVES Stressed out? Try hatha yoga to soothe the body and the mind. Yoga Moves meets every Tuesday from 5 to 6:10 p.m. in Studio C at the Sanderson Center.

OCTOPUZZLE Directions: Place the numbers 1 to 8 in each of the octagons such that the numbers are not repeated in any octagon, row, column, or diagonal. The sums of the minor diagonals (diagonals that contain either four or six numbers) are provided at the beginning and end of each minor diagonal. The sum of the four numbers that border a diamond are provided in that diamond. The numbers that border diamonds do not have to be unique.

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FRIDAY , MARCH 30, 2012

Green initiative company teaches living techniques BY CASEY SMITH Staff Writer

The Gaining Ground Sustainability Institute of Mississippi is a non-profit organization founded by Michael and Alison Buehler along with a group of sustainably minded individuals in early 2010 . Current executive director Daniel Doyle said the organization was established to promote sustainability throughout Mississippi by encouraging new projects and supporting existing businesses, organizations, communities and individuals already moving toward sustainable living. Gaining Ground travels to schools and events across the state teaching sustainable living techniques. The institute also offers internships to college students who are interested in the environment and want hands-on experience. Interns work four to five days a week learning the skills involved with running a non-profit organization and get hands on experience with projects tailored to their interests. Beginning this summer and fall, Gaining Ground will be offering an on-farm residential internship to students. Doyle said the developing farm and model for sustainable agriculture and living will be complete with a permaculture garden and solar power. Casey Odom, applied anthropology graduate student at Mississippi State University, has been interning with Gaining Ground since February. As a graduate intern, he has gardened and helped out with the irrigation system at the developing house. According to Odom, the process of becoming an intern was relatively easy. He contacted a Gaining Ground board member and after completing a couple of interviews his application was approved by the Gaining Ground board. Freshman chemical engineering major Bobby Glenn became involved with Gaining Ground and its internship program after building a mobile “Farm on Wheels” with friends the summer after his senior year at the

Mississippi School for Math and Science. Glenn said he and his friends were initially just planning on taking a cross-country senior road trip, but, after analyzing the costs of food, hotels and gas, they decided on an alternative. “We decided to buy a school bus and convert it to run off of waste and vegetable oil,” he said. “We would sleep and cook in the bus to save money.” When Glenn returned from the trip, Gaining Ground hired him as its educational outreach intern. His responsibilities include helping with the daily tasks of running a non-profit organization as well as taking the bus to local schools and events to teach about organic agriculture and renewable and clean energy technologies. In addition to providing an internship program for college students, Gaining Ground has worked closely for over a year with two MSU organizations also dedicated to raising sustainability awareness. Odom, who is a co-founder of Mississippi Alumni and Students for Sustainability (MASS) and Students for a Sustainable Campus (SSC), said the groups initially received monetary help from Gaining Ground while planning their annual leadership summit, but they now work more closely with the organization. Both organizations share a similar purpose of raising awareness on sustainability and promoting clean energy initiatives. The SSC plans events and presentations to inform the campus about ways to be environmentally conscious in addition to working on the Green Fund. Saturday the SSC is having a Community Garage Sale at the Starkville Community Market beginning at 7 a.m. The group is accepting donations from anyone in the community this afternoon from 5 until 7 at the Boardtown Garden Center. The money from this fundraiser will go to Earth Week, which will be held April 18 through April 20. Activities during the week will include a sustainable bike tour, an Earth Day fair on Old Main Plaza and much more.

STARKVILLE MUSIC

COURTESY PHOTO | STUDENTS FOR A SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS

Daniel Eisler, Tyler Crutcher, Sterling Harper, Bobby Glenn, David Liang and Ryan Chapman pose with the "Farm on Wheels" bus that has been converted to run on waste and vegetable oil. The bus travels to teach about organic agriculture and renewable and clean energy sources.

Gaining Ground will be working with the SSC during this week to host a three-day environmental film festival. The SSC will also be remembering the Deepwater Horizon oil spill during Earth Week. A “blackout” will be taking place on campus and around Starkville. The SSC will ask students to wear black and “blackout” their social media with a logo provided. This hits home to Glenn who discovered his passion for the environment at a very young age by tagging along on fishing, hunting and camping trips with his father in Moss Point, Miss. Fast forward many years later, and he was working with Pascagoula River Audubon Center at the time of the oil spill. After his work with the PRAC, he was awarded a grant to travel to the Prince Williams Sound Science Center in Alaska to do a case study on the Exxon-Valdez

CAROLYN HAILEY

Oil Spill. Upon his return he gave a lecture series titled “Oil Spills and their Effect on the Environment.” These experiences have greatly expanded his love and knowledge for environmentalism and eventually led to his work with Gaining Ground, the SSC and MASS. When asked about the current status of the Green Fund, Odom said they are currently meeting with MSU President Mark Keenum to decide on the logistics of the fund. “Just working on hammering out the details on the monetary, on how much (the fund) will get, who will be on the board and how the money can be spent,” he said. He also said one thing he believes will be really cool about the

fund is it will hopefully be formatted in a grant-proposal style. “Seniors who have to do a proposal can work their proposal around the fund and request money to build a solar panel, bus, etc. that a student as an undergrad can see the process of their idea becoming something on campus,” he said. “It would be valuable for the students and beneficial to MSU.” As for the future of the SSC, Odom said he hopes the organization will continue to grow and work with the Green Fund to address issues of sustainability on campus. He wants MASS to eventually spread to the nine institutes of higher learning in Mississippi and be a presence across the state. Doyle, Odom and Glenn all agreed supporting local business-

es and just being more conscious of day-to-day activities is very important when trying to live sustainably. Doyle said what is better for the environment is better for us too and doing simple things such as turning off the faucet while you brush your teeth and the lights when you are not in a room makes a great difference. He said he also encourages people to be mindful of where their food is coming from. “You vote with your wallet, so purchase products that are produced responsibly and support something you believe in,” he said. “Life is about more than convenience.” To learn more about Gaining Ground, email them at info@ ggsim.org or visit them online at ggsim.org.

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FRIDAY , MARCH 30, 2012

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Recent Review: Diet drinks void of nutrition, 'Game of Thrones' pose health risks for dieters M GUEST COLUMNIST | JOHN HOUSTON

BY TYLER RUSSELL Staff Writer

This Sunday, kicks off the start of the hotly anticipated second season of the HBO show “Game of Thrones.” The show’s first season sent even the most conventional TV viewers into what can only be described as a nerd-gasm. The HBO show, an adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s book series A Song of Ice and Fire is something like a Machiavellian Lord of the Rings with a healthy helping of sex and violence. The show’s first season prominently featured “Boromir” from the Lord of the Rings actor Sean Bean, playing the protagonist Ned Stark here. The series draws on English royal history, like the War of the Roses, and follows the conflicts between royal families competing for the throne of Westeros. “Game of Thrones” also delves into the sordid histories of ancient monarchies — think incest, betrayal and illegitimate children. Naturally, this probably is not a show you’d like to watch with Granny, but for most of the TV-viewing public, this show — despite its often graphic content

— will have you hooked. Unlike Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and other popular fantasy adaptations, “Game of Thrones” has only really hinted at its characters’ magic powers and the various elements of the supernatural in the world of Westeros. There are the dire wolves (pets that can telepathically communicate with their owners), the insistent warnings of the “wildlings” north of the wall and the frequent allusions to dragons, but notwithstanding, the supernatural in “Game of Thrones” is something more whispered about than actually encountered. For the uninitiated, it is probably best to try and catch up on the first season, read the books or have a friend catch you up on the first season before venturing on to the second season. The show’s earnest depiction of medieval fantasy can verge on the comedic if the viewer comes in without a reference point, and the show really rewards those that keep up with the various plot twists from the beginning. The span of the show’s houses, families and histories is something to marvel. The book se-

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ries that the TV show is based on comes with a detailed geographical map of the locations of towns and an intricate family tree for the series’s central families. What makes this especially impressive is that the show’s creators have made compelling TV out of the methodical structure of Martin’s world and the cast of thousands that inhabit Westeros. From my understanding, the author has a penchant for creating a detailed history for a character, inserting the character into a scene and then never mentioning the character again. Although I suppose the aforementioned fate is better than introducting a character, making it a prominent part of the story and then promptly killing said character off — which Martin also has a knack for. From what I hear, the new season of “Game of Thrones” looks to hold much more military battles, more political backstabbings (if that is possible) and hopefully more elements of the supernatural. Either way, I’ll be on the edge of my chair come Sunday. As the characters often ominously say, “Winter is coming.”

The Reflector is currently seeking applicants for circulation manager, chief designer, circulation staff, and advertising representatives positions.

ost of you probably won't like what I have to say about this, but here it goes: when we hear the word “diet,” we automatically assume it must be good for us. Zero calories equals zero problems, right? Well, no. There are multiple reasons you shouldn't drink diet beverages: 1. Zero calories means zero nutritional value. The typical ingredient list on a diet soda reads something like this: carbonated water, aspartame, potassium benzoate, phosphoric acid, citric acid, caffeine, caramel color and natural flavors. Is there anything there with any nutritional value? No. Not only that, artificial sweeteners, like aspartame, have been linked to cancer (in some studies).

2. Drinking only diet sodas doesn't mean you will lose weight. This seems like a contradiction, but bear with me. When you drink a diet soda, your blood glucose levels rise because of the artificial sweeteners. However, since diet soda has no real nutrients, or calories, there is nothing to satisfy that spike in blood sugar. This leads your body to look for nutrients (specifically sugar) in other foods. In other words, when you drink a diet soda you are much more likely to reach for the ice cream you've been saving in the freezer than if you just had plain coffee, for example. Another common reaction to drinking a diet soda is purely psychological. People think: "I just had a DIET soda; I did good. I guess I deserve a hamburger and a large order of fries." Wrong. Translation: "I just

it has no positive effects on the body to counter the fact that it is a diuretic. Since you might not be getting enough water already, you don't need to make your body work harder by drinking soda.

John Houston is a sophomore international business major. His fitness blog is at houstonjohn. blogspot.com. He can be contacted at kmullins@reflector.msstate. edu. pumped my body full of artificial sweeteners and other damaging chemicals. Now I deserve some trans fat and a large amount of sodium." Diet soda will do that to you. Stay away from the stuff.

4. Carbonation isn't good for your body. I'll be honest: I have no studies to back this up. But give me a chance. Here is my logic: when you're running, you are taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide. We know carbon dioxide is toxic for our bodies. So why would you want to drink something that has carbonated water? It just seems counterproductive.

“When you drink a diet soda your blood glucose levels rise because of the artiﬁcial sweeteners. However, since diet soda has no real nutrients, or calories, there is nothing to satisfy that spike in blood sugar.”

3. Diet soda is a diuretic. You may be thinking: "Wait, coffee is too, and you said it was good for you!" Absolutely. If you drink coffee, you need to drink a lot of water. But coffee has antioxidants; It is natural, and it will boost your metabolism, not cause a sugar crash. When you drink a diet soda your body will immediately start losing water and calcium, which you must replenish. Contrary to coffee,

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So what do I suggest? Well to begin with, drop sodas completely, pick up a healthier habit like coffee, tea or, even better, water. If you absolutely must have a soda, I would go so far as to suggest you should just go ahead and drink a regular one. This way you will avoid some of the empty calories and satisfy your body somewhat, so as to not eat other unhealthy food later. Additionally, I'm not criticizing those who do drink diet soda. I'm just suggesting you stop.

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Bulldog tennis seniors leave behind lasting legacy, friendship Mississippi State takes No. 10 ranking into Senior Day by kristen spink Staff Writer

The Mississippi State men’s tennis team has not been in the top 10 since 1999, but 2012 is now another year to highlight. After two wins over No. 40 South Carolina and No. 11 Florida last weekend, the Bulldogs moved to No. 10 in the country. While this is a memorable accomplishment for the team, 2012 will be remembered for another reason as well. It is the final season for renowned seniors Artem Ilyushin, Louis Cant and George Coupland. This trio of seniors came to State during a time when the team was barely on the map, having won only two SEC games the season before, but in their four years at MSU, they have led the Dogs to an SEC West title and now a top10 ranking. Coupland said the guys came in aspiring to be as good as they possibly could, and it has been a matter of hard work and time put in to accomplish that task. “The first two years we knew we could be that good, but we weren’t quite ready to be there yet. We needed time to build program and become better players ourselves,” Coupland said. “The experience has been magical, like growing from a boy to a man; it has been one of the best four years of my life, and I’ll

always remember it.” Coupland, who came to MSU from England and had to sit out a year due to eligibility issues, was named the 2010 Southern Region Rookie of the Year. Since then he has added a double’s berth to the NCAA Championship, as well as a Second-Team All-SEC appearance and a current ranking of 46th individually. Ilyushin, Coupland’s double’s partner at the NCAA Championship, made an immediate impact when he came to MSU and was ranked as high as 89th his freshman year. He was also named Second Team All-SEC and is currently ranked 15th in the country. Coming all the way from Belgium, Cant was a crucial piece to State’s SEC West title and won the first round of the singles NCAA Championship last season. Along with Coupland and Ilyushin, he was named to the Second Team All-SEC and has earned a 44th ranking currently. When the three teammates first came to MSU, they immediately became friends because of a common goal to make the men’s tennis team as good as it could be. With this as their foremost thought, they were able to spend a lot of time together and became best friends. Cant said the process of building the tennis program all started when the guys were younger and

ian prester | the reflector

From left to right, Louis Cant, George Coupland and Artem Ilyushin have helped build Miss. State’s tennis program into one of the best in the SEC West.

put hard work in at an early age because they now want to accomplish something and not stop playing the game. “In the beginning you could see how inexperienced we were, but over these four years, we’ve seen the team get better and better because we have been working hard every day,” Cant said. “We’re all so close to each other, so it’s really fun. We stay together the whole time, which makes it nice.” Besides the immediate on-thecourt results produced by these seniors, their impact will be seen long term in significant ways. Now that they have re-established MSU as a top school for men’s

tennis, more top-ranked players are looking to come here. Head coach Per Nilsson said Senior Day this Sunday will be very emotional because the seniors have meant so much to the program. “They were some of the first players we brought in, and they have helped us, fought hard and are great kids,” Nilsson said. “People see how hard we work and how much they’ve improved that now really good players are wanting to come, so as much as it hurts to lose three leaders like that, they’ve helped us so much, and other players see this is a good place to come.”

To retain this top-10 ranking, the guys will have to defeat LSU and Arkansas at home this weekend. Sunday’s match against the Razorbacks is Senior Day and will be a bittersweet time for this close group of friends. The seniors will be rewarded for all of their hard work by hosting the SEC Tournament, which is during Super Bulldog Weekend, and possibly hosting in the first two rounds of the NCAA championships. Although winning the SEC Championship is an attainable goal for the team, the guys are looking to go further than that, possibly all the way to a national championship.

The short term and long term success of Ilyushin, Coupland and Cant has been a memorable experience for all three guys, and Ilyushin said he has made his two best friends for life. “When new guys come in, one of their top schools is MSU, where in the past they wouldn’t have looked at our school, so it’s a great feeling as a senior to be a part of something special,” Ilyushin said. “It feels magical; these four years have been tough, but they’re worth every single day spent here. We are basically a family because we spend so much time together that it has definitely been fun.”

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F R I DAY , MARCH 30 , 2012

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Diamond Dawgs down Alcorn MSU VS. NO. 1 ALABAMA

BY JOHN GALATAS Staff Writer

The Mississippi State Bulldogs returned to the diamond Tuesday night as they defeated the Alcorn State Braves by a final of 6-2. The Bulldogs will now travel to the plains of Auburn as they prepare for their third straight series against a Western Division foe. The Dogs will rely on their pitching staff, which has carried them through many close games, and a defense Cox that tops the conference in putouts and double-play categories. The State pitching staff has combined for a league-best 244 strikeouts which also ranks second in the NCAA. Junior Chris Stratton leads the team and conference with 53 strikeouts. The Bulldog defense will also rely on the double-play ball to get out of jams as it has turned 33 on the year which leads the conference and ranks second in the country. That stout defense will be key as Auburn’s offensive attack is fueled by small ball. Auburn leads the SEC in stolen bases and sacrifice hits, and head coach John Cohen said he has confidence in his pitchers and catcher Mitch Slauter to defend the Tigers’ running game. “Most of our guys have done a great job controlling the running game, and that’s something coach (Butch) Thompson has done a remarkable job with our pitching staff,” Cohen said. “We’ve had a couple of days where Mitch has been inactive and been a little sore and getting his legs back underneath him is going to be important also.” Auburn’s offense also boasts

IAN PRESTER | THE REFLECTOR

Head coach Vann Stuedeman spent 11 years as an assistant at Alabama before coming to MSU last summer. Volunteer assistant Kelsi Dunne, a former all-American pitcher at Alabama, is still enrolled at Alabama as a graduate student.

Stuedeman faces former team BY RAY BUTLER MICAH GREEN | THE REFLECTOR

Senior closer Caleb Reed has seen more work than expected this season due to key injuries on the Bulldog pitching staff.

two of the top-four hitters in the conference in Ryan Tella and Creede Simpson, but first baseman Wes Rea is confident his team will be prepared. “We’re going to get ready for those guys and put this one behind us,” Rea said. “We’ll get more competitive and get ready for this weekend.” With the win on Tuesday night, the Dogs improved to 17-9 overall. MSU jumped out to an early 3-0 lead through the first three innings as Adam Frazier plated a couple of runs on Alcorn errors and Trey Porter drove in Braden Jones on a sacrifice fly. After a two-run Alcorn rally in the fourth, State extended its lead to 4-2 in the sixth on Sam Frost’s RBI double. In the eighth MSU added a pair of runs beginning with an RIB double by freshman Ty-

ler Fullerton who later scored on a wild pitch. Will Cox earned his second win for the Dogs as he threw three innings of shutout ball while striking out six of the nine batters he faced. Cox, who struggled in his last outing against Southeastern Louisiana, was balanced on the mound and found confidence in getting another win. “I was glad to get back out there and get back in the zone and get some ground balls,” Cox said. “It gave me a lot of confidence.” The series opener against Auburn will start on Friday at 6 p.m., with Saturday’s matchup beginning at 3 p.m. and the series will wrap up on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Bulldogs will return home Tuesday to take on Mississippi Valley State.

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This weekend at the MSU Softball Field, there will be much more than three softball games taking place. When the Mississippi State Bulldogs take the field for the first time against the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide under first-year head coach Vann Stuedeman, the spectrum of relevance spans wider than simply winning. As the budding rivalry between the Bulldogs and Tide continues to build, the anticipation within the MSU program of this weekend’s games is evident amongst both coaches and players. “We have to control our emotions. We can’t get too high, and we can’t get too low,” Stuedeman said, who was a long-time assistant for the Crimson Tide before accepting the MSU head coaching position. “This weekend will not be about me; it will be about 25 Mississippi State softball players.” During her tenure at Alabama, Stuedeman guided six Crimson Tide pitchers to 11 different AllAmerican honors. The pitching coach also played a part in the Tide’s three SEC championships and six Women’s College World Series appearances during her span as an assistant. Last June, however, Stuedeman’s tenure at Alabama came to a screeching halt when head coach Patrick Murphy was rehired by the Crimson Tide after accepting the LSU head coaching position just four days earlier. Upon returning to the program, Murphy elected to part ways with Stuedeman, officially ending her 11-season stint as an assistant at Alabama.

Two weeks after she officially parted ways with the Alabama softball program, Stuedeman was hired as MSU’s new head coach. Her first hire was hitting coach Alan Reach, who served as a student manager at Alabama during Stuedeman’s tenure. In January, Stuedeman reached out to Kelsi Dunne, a graduate student at the University of Alabama who was a four-time All-American and two-time SEC Pitcher of the Year. Dunne, who is set to get her master’s degree in May, is spending her last semester as an intern with the MSU softball team. While hiring assistants from former jobs is sometimes seen as a cliché in the coaching business, Stuedeman said both Reach and Dunne had certain qualities that made them right for State’s softball program. “Coach Reach had been a head coach for six years and he had also coached in the league, so I knew he was familiar with the caliber of play and the type of players that we will need to compete in this league and in the postseason,” Stuedeman said. “And Kelsi’s experience of competing in the best level of college softball is priceless.” Dunne, who is officially labeled as a volunteer assistant coach for MSU, said this weekend’s series against the Crimson Tide is certainly one she looks forward to. “Playing at Alabama for four years was a great experience, and I have some fond memories there,” said Dunne. “But at the same time, we’re just focusing on the process and our opponents being ourselves.” The many connections be-

tween the MSU and Alabama softball programs do not end there, though. Erin Nesbit, the starting shortstop for the Bulldogs, and teammate sister Megan, a freshman, are cousins with Crimson Tide centerfielder Jennifer Fenton. While emotions are sure to be high within the family, Erin, the elder of the two Nesbit sisters, said she is not preparing for this weekend’s series against Fenton and the Crimson Tide any differently than she normally would. “It’s going to be different, and my whole family is going to be there,” said Nesbit. “But I just prepare for it the same as I would for any other game.” On the field, the Bulldogs will have their work cut out for them against Alabama. The Crimson Tide is currently ranked first nationally and boast an SEC best 30-1 record. To beat a team that is widely considered as one of the best in the country, Nesbit said MSU has to continue pushing through adversity. “We have to fight,” Nesbit said. “This team is made up of fighters. If we come out here and play our game, there’s no stopping us.” Stuedeman, who has guided State to an 18-15 overall record midway through her first season at the helm, said her team must take what was learned from facing other top-tier opponents and apply it to this weekend’s matchup with the Crimson Tide. “We’ve faced four of the nation’s top-ten teams in the last month alone,” Stuedeman said. “The girls have taken it head on, like a bull in a china shop, and we are looking forward to another opportunity this weekend.”

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FRIDAY , MARCH 30, 2012

With Cox gone, burden falls on unproven players BY MATT TYLER Staff Writer

ERIC EVANS | THE REFLECTOR

Arnett Moultrie dunks in the season opener against Eastern Kentucky. The Memphis native averaged a double-double for the Bulldogs this season.

Moultrie declares for draft, coaching search continues BY JAMES CARSKADON Sports Editor

The man who goes by â&#x20AC;&#x153;MoneyBagzâ&#x20AC;? on Twitter has left Mississippi State in pursuit of a basketball dream, and, well, money. Forward Arnett Moultrie announced Wednesday he plans to enter the NBA draft and forego his senior season of eligibility but has not yet signed the official paperwork to do so. Because Moultrie declared for the draft in 2010 to test the waters, once he signs the paperwork to declare he cannot remove his name from consideration, per NCAA rules. Moultrie released a statement through an MSU spokesperson on Wednesday confirming the news. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After careful consideration and discussions with my family and coaches, I have decided to explore my options and enter the 2012 NBA draft,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have not signed with an agent, as of yet. However, I anticipate doing so. I have enjoyed my time at Mississippi State University, and I will never forget the people I met and got to know. Nor will I ever forget my coaches and teammates. Keep me in your prayers and I will keep Bulldog Nation in mine.â&#x20AC;? Moultrie averaged 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds per game during his one season at State and was named first team All-SEC by the coaches and media. Transferring from UTEP, Moultrieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s play was one of the main reasons MSU was able

to rise into the top 15 in national rankings before sliding down the stretch and missing the NCAA Tournament. Moultrie is projected as a first round draft pick in most mock drafts. He has until April 8 to officially make his decision, but he is widely expected to sign with an agent and enter the draft. Coaching search continues; Stricklin comments The search for MSUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next basketball coach is still going strong after Valparaiso head coach Bryce Drew, reported to be a candidate for the job, removed his name from consideration on Wednesday, according to the Northwest Indiana Times. Drew interviewed for the job in Atlanta on Monday, according to the report. Gary Parrish of cbssports.com reported Thursday that State is now targeting Vanderbilt assistant coach Dan Muller as Rick Stansburyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s replacement. Athletic Director Scott Stricklin released a statement via Twitter on Thursday asking for patience from MSU fans as the search continues. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Like Bulldog fans everywhere, I eagerly anticipate the hiring of Mississippi Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball coach. However, from the beginning of this process, no deadline has been imposed on the search. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important that we hire the right candidate to lead our program, a person of integrity who will instill discipline, character and accountability into the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball program at Mississippi State. Thank you for your patience. Hail State!â&#x20AC;?

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As Mississippi State coaches prepare for the upcoming football season, they continue to try to develop quality depth at every position on the team. With defensive tackle Fletcher Cox bypassing his senior season in order to enter the NFL draft, defensive end Sean Ferguson graduating and defensive end Trevor Stigers giving up football, MSU defensive line coach Chris Wilson has important positions to fill if the Bulldogsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; defense is going to perform up to the lofty expectations some have for it. Wilson said he thinks Cox can be replaced, but it is going to take more than one player to make up for his production. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is going to take more guys playing their roles,â&#x20AC;? Wilson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just replace Fletcher Cox with another guy; you are going to have to have five or six guys step up and play probably 2 percent better, and if we can get five guys doing that, we just got exponentially better. It is going to have to be a collective effort.â&#x20AC;? The departure of Cox, Ferguson and Stigers allows underclassmen such as Preston Smith, P.J. Jones, Curtis Virges or junior college transfer Denico Autry to earn starting roles. MSU head coach Dan Mullen said everyone will be given plenty of chances to earn a spot this spring. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some of the guys that have gotten fewer reps in the past are going to get a lot more reps in the spring, so they can get caught up, and we are ready to go when we come around to the season,â&#x20AC;? Mullen said. Of all the players expected to step up along the defensive line, Autry will be getting the most hype. A heralded defensive end signee out of East Mississippi Community College, Autry has the size and speed needed to make an immediate impact along a defensive line which often struggled rushing the passer last season. Mullen said he expects Autry to make an immediate impact next season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That is a guy we have to get

CHRIS ROLAND | THE REFLECTOR

The early departure of Fletcher Cox opens the door for inexperienced players to step up and fill the gap on the defensive line. Senior Josh Boyd is expected to anchor the line in his final season.

ready to play,â&#x20AC;? Mullen said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He is a really good athlete. Once he figures out you have to know the scheme, get down your fundamentals and not just play on raw athletic ability, he will have an opportunity to see significant improvement.â&#x20AC;? Autry said he is not afraid to admit he has a ways to go before he is playing up to his ability. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I know about one or two installments, but with the rest of it, I am just kind of lost. I feel as if I am a little behind, but I am working on it. I just try to study as much as I can,â&#x20AC;? Autry said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Josh Boyd and I talk a lot; he helps me a lot.â&#x20AC;? Along with Autry, Wilson also praises Boydâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leadership qualities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen Josh (Boyd) really step up as a leader. That is the biggest thing,â&#x20AC;? Wilson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He had the option, obviously, to make the same decision as

Fletcher did, and he wanted to come back because he knows he has more to prove in college. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m excited about him.â&#x20AC;? Boyd, who has been a stalwart along the defensive line since he arrived as a freshman in 2008, said this offseason has been somewhat of an adjustment for him. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m getting used to it. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never really been a vocal leader, so I have to step up and help these guys out,â&#x20AC;? Boyd said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was a pretty good player last year, you know me and Fletcher together, so now that he is gone, I have to step up and be a role model to these guys. I try my best to encourage them because the transition from high school to here can be rough. And some of the younger guys are still trying to get their feet in the ground.â&#x20AC;? Anchoring the middle of the defense along with Boyd will most likely be sophomore defen-

sive tackle Jones, of whom Wilson said he thinks highly. â&#x20AC;&#x153;P.J. (Jones) is really stepping up. He is a guy going into his second season, who I really expect big things from. He has all of the tools physically, and he is up to about 290 lbs. He knows our scheme, and he knows our fundamentals. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m really excited about him,â&#x20AC;? Wilson said. With many young and inexperienced players being counted on to replace the production of those departing from the unit, the defensive line will be a position to watch all spring and fall for the Bulldogs.

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friday , march 30, 2012

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