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Student Association Executive Council Elections are today. Inside: candidate platforms and information | News 2
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2013
Reflector The
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THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
Bats found inside campus buildings BY JAMES TOBERMANN, KAITLYN BYRNE Staff Writer, Managing Editor
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION | KAITLIN MULLINS | THE REFLECTOR
As local bats continue to make campus buildings at Mississippi State University their home, university officials attempt to eliminate the problem. Since January, the MSU Department of Housing and Residence Life has been working to eradicate a bat infestation in Hathorn Hall. Ann Bailey, director of Housing and Residence life, said in a letter her department is cooperating with a number of experts to remove the bats from the dormitory. “We are working closely with a wildlife biologist bat expert, the MSU Longest Student Health Center director and the Mississippi Department of Health,” she said in a letter mailed to parents of Hathorn Hall residents. Bailey said housing staff have filled in crevices with expandable foam and fitted Hathorn Hall with mechanisms that block bats’ re-entry into the building. “We have installed devices where
bats are entering and exiting the building,” she said in the letter. “These devices allow bats to exit, but not reenter the building.” Sid Salter, director of University Relations, said estimating how many bats are in the residence hall is difficult, but that MSU considers even one bat to be too many. Salter said the Department of Housing and Residence Life offered to place Hathorn Hall residents in different campus housing locations if the residents felt uncomfortable. There have been requests to be relocated, Salter said. “Parents and students have been advised that the university is doing everything possible under the restraints of federal law to get the problem under control,” Salter said. “Any time our students are uncomfortable or frightened is serious business to the university. That’s why Student Affairs, (the Department of Housing and Residence Life) and basically every university asset has been thrown in at dealing with this problem.” SEE BATS, 3
SA PRESIDENTIAL SHOWDOWN
Editor’s note: Students can vote in the SA executive elections today from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. via their myState account.
Hayden Nix
Michael Hogan
BY HANNAH ROGERS Editor-in-Chief
Hayden Nix said if elected Student Association president, he wants to bridge the gap between the SA and the general student body by showing students the SA is not just a organization that works behind the scenes but is there to work directly with students. “One of the things I’d like to see better improved upon is the connection between the Student Association and the students. I feel that right now, that there’s really not a good relationship and to build upon that, to make it better. I want to be out there with every one of the students,” he said. Nix, a junior broadcast meteorology major, has worked with the SA for the past two years as assistant director and director of Environmental Affairs on cabinet. Through his experience running programs such as Dawg House Deals and working on other SA programs, he said he believes he knows how to improve the student experience. “With being in the Student Association for two years, I have been under two different executive-style leaderships. From that viewpoint, I can see what has and has not worked and maybe work from there to try to do something better,” he said. “I have had a lot of knowledge with behind the scenes, especially with Bulldog Bash and Cowbell Yell and other different events.”
If elected, Nix said he hopes to work with the Mississippi State University administration to see adding a full-week Thanksgiving break and a Mardi Gras holiday to the academic calendar is a possibility. “I have heard a lot of people argue back and forth about which holiday they want more — a fall break or a full week off for Thanksgiving,” he said. “More than likely, the administration will not give us both because of the number of days we are required to have per semester. The best way I feel that we need to do is put it to a vote to clarify to the students who wants a fall break and a Thanksgiving break.” He said he would work with Information Technology Services to create a question that would be asked of students during the registration process to see what students would be most interested in. Mardi Gras holidays, if added to the academic calendar, would give students a break between Martin Luther King, Jr., Day and spring break to help alleviate the burnout students face during that period. The role Nix has played in SA’s environmental affairs division has influenced his campaign. He said he hopes to establish a recycling program for sorority and fraternity and revamping the current on-campus recycling system. Nix said he would work with Jeremiah Dumas, assistant research professor who is involved with the Physical Plant Administration, to initiate the Greek recycling program. SEE NIX, 3
BY HANNAH ROGERS Editor-in-Chief
As an out-of-state student from Memphis, Student Association presidential candidate Michael Hogan said he understands the financial problems nonstate residents face paying for summer tuition. Although he has out-of-state tuition waived for him during the normal school year, he was unable to afford taking classes in the summer of 2012 while working at Mississippi State University for the SA and as an orientation leader. If elected SA president, Hogan said he hopes to begin working toward getting students with a fall and spring out-of-state tuition waiver a summer waiver, as well. He said, at the moment, 11 percent of students in summer school are out-ofstate and pay full tuition. “I heard word that policy was getting pushed through just to see if it would be even possible, or if it would be even financially OK for the administration to sign-off on allowing that spring and fall (scholarship) to be checked on in the summer,” Hogan said. He said the administration is looking for someone to prove that financially the administration would be able to afford giving those students the waiver. “They’re looking for someone to prove that point, spearhead that, survey those experiments to bring that percentage to about 20,” he said. “And that should even the playing field of what should financially stabilize for tuition.”
As president, Hogan wants to be the point man on this project and personally survey students. He said once he receives numbers from students, he would hope to build relationships with the administration and lobby for this issue. In addition to working toward summer tuition waivers, Hogan wants to provide a 24-hour library wing. He said he would hope to have trial runs in a small section of the library to test if students would put it to use. “I just think it’s important to put those academics first, and if that helps in the least I would love to push for it,” he said. This year, Hogan served as chief programming officer in the SA, which gave him programming experience after Campus Activities Board was absorbed into SA, and he oversaw that part of the cabinet. He said in some aspects, his previous experience in SA and on campus, has influenced his platform points to revive the use of Amphitheater. In conjunction with athletics, Hogan said he wants to revamp the pep rallies during football season. “There’s no involvement from the football team, there’s no band. They have the cheerleaders, they have the pom squad, which was great. They have a special guest speaker, which is always a good thing but the locations would switch around,” he said.
SEE HOGAN, 3
Student Association combats misperceptions, apathy BY HANNAH ROGERS Editor-in-Chief
Twenty thousand students. Five elected Student Association Executive Council members represent the expanding and increasingly diverse Mississippi State University student body for one year. These student leaders, along with four other members of executive council, 40 cabinet members and 37 senators make decisions that affect their peers on a day-to-day basis. Over the past few years, SA has overseen reforms, including proposing the student email switch to BullyMail, forming the Dawg Pound, discussing possible tuition increases, reforming student election codes, resurrecting The Reveil-
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le, working to move teacher evaluations online and choosing Bulldog Bash headliners. Despite the large role the SA plays in event programming and administrative advocacy, less than a quarter of the student body votes to elect its representatives. In 2011, only 22.1 percent and 22.4 percent of students voted in the senate and executive council elections respectively, and last year, those numbers fell with only 16.5 percent of the student body voting to elect its senators and 20.1 percent voting in the executive election. Eddie Keith, associate dean of students, said on every campus he is aware of, student government faces similar challenges. Student governments face misperceptions and low
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participation in elections across the country. “I think on every campus there’s that challenge of getting people to feel like this is my government,” he said. “Of course, we look at America and the percentages of people who vote across the country; of course student governments are not the only governments that have that challenge.” Ben Davidson, senior political science major, said he thinks SA elections tend to be a popularity contest, and that candidates may need the backing of a large organization to win, which is not necessarily bad. “I usually vote because sometimes something on a candidate’s platform will catch my eye,” he
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said. “They (the SA) do make a difference. The biggest thing (I’ve seen them do) is reform the emails — it’s the best thing I’ve seen them do.” Coleman Kimbrough, senior political science and philosophy double major, said he only votes for people who are in his fraternity and the only time he learns about candidates is when they visit his chapter meetings. “It is absolutely a popularity contest … who can get their name in the subconscious of the most people,” he said. “I don’t know how much power (the members of SA) have, in terms of what they actually can do … It would be nice to publicize what they do and how much power they have.”
ELECTION RESPONSE RATE
20.1 percent
SA Exec ‘12
29.5 percent
Homecoming ‘12
16.5 percent
SA Senate ‘12
22.4 percent
SA Exec ‘11
32.5 percent
Homecoming ‘11
22.1 percent
SA Senate ‘11
SEE SA, 2
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TUESDAY , FEBRUARY 12 , 2013
THE REFLECTOR
ZACK ORSBORN | THE REFLECTOR
SA
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Shelby Balius, current SA president, said students on SA committees or general students may see SA do very little work, even though that is not the case. “But once you get into the trenches of being on cabinet or exec, you see the Student Association not only does programming for students’ entertainment but does an incredible amount of advocacy for students,” she said. Rhett Hobart, former SA president, said social media has allowed students at Mississippi State University to feel more connected to the SA and what’s going on and to feel they can have more of an input in decisions. “I feel like there definitely is an apathy towards the Student Association,” he said. “A lot of people have the idea that SA doesn’t do anything to help their concerns when in reality … people really underestimate the involvement of the SA in every decision that takes place on campus.” Field Brown, philosophy and English double major, said he thinks the SA carries a Greek stereotype and, giving tours as a Roadrunner, receives questions from potential students about the importance of being Greek. “Do you have to be Greek? … That’s what most families ask me — do you miss out on getting involved?” he said. Morgan McDowell, SA senator for the College of Business and Balius’s opponent in last year’s presidential election, said leadership and experience should be the deciding factor in how students choose to vote. “Shelby and I, we both had to run a campaign, we both had a certain amount of money we had to spend … Shelby spent less money than I did and she won,” he said. “Shelby’s non-Greek. She put in her time, she put in her effort, she gave all she had and she beat me fair and square, absolutely nothing to it. So a Greek stereotype? No, no. There is the idea of a Greek stereotype, but I don’t think it’s existent.” Hank Flick, professor in the Department of Communication, worked with the SA since the ‘70s and acts as the parliamentarian at senate meetings. Since the senators dress in business-attire, Greek letters do not appear as the senate conducts business. “I don’t have numbers because we don’t take count (of the number of Greeks and non-Greeks in senate).
The
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Courtney Harris, senator for the College of Arts and Sciences, said it is incredibly easy for anyone to become involved on campus, especially through SA committees, which can give students a taste of SA involvement. She said she believes the apathy students show toward the SA comes from more the fact that they do not know about the issues. “Saying student government, it scares people off, but there’s some people out there who will try ... who want to make a difference,” Harris said. “I think that’s what the Student Association is — a group of students who want to impact the student body, and they want to make a difference and they want to leave this school better than it was when they came in. And I think a lot of Student Association members have done that.” When looking at potential representatives for SA executive positions, Hobart said students should look to see if candidates have experience in the SA, especially since many of SA’s projects are completed by successors to positions. He also said students should look at platforms to see if they have new ideas and if those ideas are possible. “I think you have to really take a hard look at that and oftentimes if it looks too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true. But so many of the things on the platform can be accomplished in normal years,” Hobart said. Balius said because SA has now absorbed Campus Activities Board, voters need to understand the SA is now in charge of governance, student advocacy and entertainment programming. She also said voters need to see if platform points are important enough to all 20,000 for the SA to spend time on because of SA’s time shortage. The importance of having a plan to accomplish platform points, a candidate’s transparency to the student body and the ability to represent students’ concerns at all levels of the university should affect voters, Hobart said. Hobart said he does not think winning a major SA position without having a diverse group of voters backing a candidate is possible. “I think that’s a great thing because it speaks to our candidates, it says they are endorsed by a large part of campus, by all parts of campus,” he said. “If a student thinks that their vote doesn’t matter, that’s not true. Every vote in these elections count. I’ve seen elections in past … where one person won by 12 votes. A lot of times, these votes are close … so every single vote matters.”
It’s a demographic we’re not concerned with,” he said. executive council and as SA president. Sixteen percent of MSU undergraduates belong to “I was in a fraternity, and it’s very, very important that leadership is part of that training. Leadership in the fraternities or sororities, which have about 250 memhouse, leadership here, in different organizations on bers each, he said. He said 250 out of 20,000 students campus. They take it very, very serious. It’s empha- is a fairly small number – and even if chapters join together that is only several thousand potential votes sized.” Becoming involved in other areas on campus, such and not all members are guaranteed to vote the same as Greek organizations, can provide students with ex- way. Non-Greek affiliated students should be able to perience that translates into the decisions made in the run and campaign more easily through advances in SA, Flick said. Over the years, a more serious and di- social media and email because it does not require as much manpower. verse group has run for office. “I’ve talked to some of my colleagues at other uni“We’ve had such quality people here not get elected president that they don’t take it personal, they go in versities that are more Greek than we are — that is with high self-esteem and channel themselves off in to say they have a larger percentage of their undergraduates that are fraternity and other directions,” he said. “It’s never sorority members. They talk about been any concern (that Balius isn’t We’ve had such the distinction of Mississippi State Greek) because she acts so skillfully with any group. ... The person with quality people here …. you don’t have to be a fraternity or sorority member to participate the best ideas, with the most heart, not get elected in governance and activities on this soles on the shoe to get the work president that they campus,” he said. “I think maybe done should get elected.” Balius said she is one of two presdon’t take it personal, other people realize it more than we do, people at other universities, idents in the 14 SEC schools who is they go in with high neighboring universities.” non-Greek, which surprises advisNon-Greeks serve on SA, Balius ers, presidents and other executive self-esteem and members in the SEC. channel themselves said, but the turnout of people applying for positions or running for “They can’t believe we have a nonoff in other elections in the non-Greek commuGreek president, much less an exec nity is few and far between. member. But then to look at a nondirections.” “I hate to see (the lack of nonGreek female in that position makes Hank Flick, Greeks participating) because I hapthem not believe who I am … and Communication pen to be one of those in the nonthat’s so depressing to me because I Greek community who said, well, I don’t think it should be about the professor mean I’m going to give it a shot,” organization you represent going into an exec election,” she said. “It should be about the she said. “ Did I think I was going to win? … When person who can best serve the students whether it be Morgan and I were running, it was an every day ocfrom the knowledge they have, from the passion they currence that I would look at my campaign manager have for the position, but also the ideas that they have and go, the system is going to take over, there’s no way to better the experience. It’s so disappointing to me I’m going to win. But I still wanted to give it a shot.” McDowell said, although he didn’t win, running that that’s the only thing people can look at or think that is the only thing people look at because it is so for president last year was one of the best experiences much more important to look at the person and not of his life thus far because of the friendships he gained and experiences he had. what they have on their resume.” “What I think every student needs to understand is Keith said in the past, MSU has had women, African-Americans and non-Greek members serve on the if they want to run for any type of office they need to do so and not worry about the funds, the funds will come. … If they want to do it, they need to do it,” McDowell said. “If you have the appropriate leadership experience and you’re passionate about this university, you need to run for office and you need to give it your all. That speaks volumes for your character.”
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BATS “Please do not attempt to handle, capture or disturb the bat. Leaving it alone and undisturbed makes it much easier for our staff to catch it,” she said via email. “If one enters your bedroom, please leave the room, turning off the lights and closing the door as you leave.” Paul Hogue, sophomore microbiology major and Hathorn Hall resident, said he finds the MSU’s response to the plague of bats problematic. “It’s a major issue that a major university would have a bat infestation and not do something about it quickly,” he said. “It’s not fair to the students.” Hogue said he is undisturbed by the bats and has no plans to move out of Hathorn Hall. “It doesn’t bother me, but some people it does bother,” he said. According to Melanie Harris, instructor in the Department of Communication, McComas Hall has long housed a small population of bats. “There have always been a couple of bats in the very top part of McComas,” she said. Harris said the bats in McComas Hall have never presented a problem. “They’re not worth worrying about,” she said. Ann Bailey, Director of Housing and Residence Life, said a trained animal control professional is leading the effort to rid campus buildings of bat infestations. “We are working with a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services bat expert,” she said via email.
HOGAN
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He said he would like to have the pep rallies at the Amphitheater not only to provide consistency but also to utilize a beautiful but underused part of campus. In addition to pep rallies, Hogan said he wants to give student talent a chance to use the Amphitheater as a venue and an opportunity to play before large crowds. Hogan, a junior business management major, said he wants to market the Business Bin in McCool, which has professional clothing from Joseph A. Banks and Belk for students to borrow for free for a day’s use. The Health Center, which Hogan said is underused but a wonderful part of campus, could combine initiatives with the SA in health-related programs. He also hopes to restructure The Big Event, a student-run community service project, in
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Bailey said her department is following national protocol in resolving the bat issue. “USDA Animal Damage Control Bat Management Guidelines are focusing our efforts,” she said via email. Harris said the bat expert inspected McComas Hall to ensure the building is not housing the bats leaving Hathorn Hall. “I spent two hours with an expert making sure that while they’re cleaning up the mess at Hathorn, they’re not creating one at McComas,” she said. Harris said the expert found that McComas Hall is not bat-ridden. “McComas is not infested,” she said. “Hathorn is infested.” According to an email notice from Brenda Grebner, administrative assistant to the dean of the Bagley College of Engineering, bats have also been found in McCain Hall. “We are currently experiencing a problem with bats inside McCain Hall,” the email said. “If you should find a bat in the building, please do not pick it up.” The email instructed recipients to notify the MSU Police Department, MSU Biosafety Officer, Patricia Cox or Facilities Management. Editors Note: The Reflector News Editor, Emma Crawford, lives in Hathorn Hall, and Campus News Editor, John Galatas, works for the Department of Housing and Residence Life.
order to add on campus projects. In order to promote away football game travel, Hogan wants to work with a company to see if shuttle services could be provided to offer students travel options. Hogan also said he hopes to implement an open-door policy where SA officials would provide students advice on implementing programs. He would also request senators, cabinet members and executives to have office hours weekly and post those, along with a biography of themselves on the SA website. He said he wants to create a freshmen mentoring program, in which freshmen can contact members of the SA to ask for advice on how to become involved on campus and in the SA. In addition to revamping
and creating new programs, Hogan said he hopes to have cellphone charging areas available on campus for students in high-traffic buildings whose doors are open late. “Different SEC schools do this. It’s an emergency situation initiative as well as a convenience for dead batteries,” he said. He said he is looking for sponsorships through Samsung, and if those do not work out, he would be interested in starting a program to see if MSU’s engineering programs would be interested in constructing something. Hogan, who said he is a student first, looks forward to serving his peers if elected. “I work hard to serve and to lead other students, and that’s been a blessing in my life to be able to serve in so many different entities,” he said.
NIX “I feel that there are 3,000-plus students who live over there and that is just not utilized to its fullest potential,” Nix said. “That’s a lot of recycling that could happen, but it’s just not being used right now.” He said he also plans on working with Dumas to spread awareness of the current recycling program. “I’m adamant about recycling programs and I feel this university has a great initiative started, but I feel like there’s always room for improvement. I have seen a lot of problems with the current recycling program as far as public knowledge,” he said. In addition to his work with recycling, Nix hopes to work with Aramark to extend dining services that cater to students who require gluten-free items and special diabetic meals. He said a dining committee has been recently set up and, as
DAWGS
Friday, February 8 • 4:35 a.m. A student reported her shirt was stolen from her room in Rice Hall. • 12:21 p.m. A student was found coming out from under a house on Morgan Avenue. • 12:47 p.m. A non-resident/visitor fell going down the steps at the Templeton Athletic Complex. The subject was transported to OCH. • 4:09 p.m. A student reported her vehicle was hit while parked on Coliseum Drive.
Saturday, February 9 • 1:30 p.m. A student dislocated his shoulder while playing soccer at the Rex-Plex Soccer Field. The subject was transported to OCH. • 11:03 p.m. A non-resident/visitor was arrested on Hardy Road for speeding and driving with a suspended driver’s license.
Sunday, February 10 • 12:06 a.m. A student was arrested at Rice Hall for public drunkenness. • 2:15 a.m. A resident of the city/county was arrested on Hardy Road for driving under the influence and improper equipment. continued from 1 • 4:32 p.m. An employee found illegal drugs on the south west sidepresident, of Perry he Cafeteria. SA can address those a vital role in executive positions. issues the committee doingLane this for because I feel • 7:07inp.m. A studentand waswork arrested “I’m on Hurst driving with Aramark. he wantsstreet that and this having is what aissuspended best as far as the wrong wayNix onsaid a one-way driver’s license. how many stu- being able to make an impact to see statistically
dents would have special dietary needs so he can show these are students who need representation. Parking in commuter east, according to Nix, needs its limited parking issues resolved. He said he wants to work with Mike Harris, director of Parking Services, to rezone the gravel lot that was moved to the south parking zone this year back to commuter east within the next semester. He also said, in order to promote pedestrian safety, he would like to work with the administration to see if crosswalks could be placed in high-foot traffic areas behind Burger King and the Health Center lots in commuter east. Nix said if elected, he hopes to balance between policy and programming because they both play
here at the university,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to be a part of something great, and I always take everything that I do whole-heartedly. I’m not doing this just for a title. I’m doing this for the students at the university … to make a difference.”
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Some species of bats are protected under federal law as part of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, Salter said, so MSU must follow specific protocols while trying to remove the bats. “We can’t go in and use chemicals or things of that nature,” he said. “Primarily what has to be done is figure out points of entrance where bats are going in the building and fitting the entries with devices that allow bats to leave and not reenter.” Dante Hill, area coordinator for Residence Life, declined to comment. Nicole Blackmon, sophomore psychology major and Hathorn Hall resident adviser, said the housing staff has been instructed not to share any information about the bat problem with the media. Sarah Caitlin Wheat, sophomore special education major, said she came face to face with a bat in her hallway in Hathorn Hall. “It spread its wings and took off down the hall,” she said. Wheat also said she was alarmed by the compact size of the bats, which allows them to enter and exit the building through tiny openings. “Once I saw how little it was and that it could get under a door, I started freaking out,” she said. Abigail Hartman, sophomore biological sciences major, said an acquaintance of hers killed one of the bats in Hathorn Hall. In an email to Hathorn Hall residents, Bailey advised residents not to personally interfere with any of the bats.
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TUESDAY , FEBRUARY 12, 2013
OPINION
THE REFLECTOR
the voice of MSU students
LETTER TO THE EDITOR | BAILEY HANSEN
EDITORIAL
Candidate platforms should reflect long-term goals SA campaign strategies
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new Student Association member of the former presipresident comes and goes dent’s administration, there are every year. Often, the inevitably ideas that fall by the grand ideas of his or her plat- wayside, occasionally ideas that form seems the former presphased out ident was pasThe SA president’s just as fresionate about. passion for his or her quently. So what can If a quarter goals, while important a presidential of the bullet hopeful do to to initial success, is points postleave a legacy less important to the ed outside with longevity? the Union’s For a policy continued success of back door to last a mere what he or she leaves four years, sturight now are recognizable dents who havbehind. For an SA on campus en’t even begun policy to last, it must in five years to think about fulfill a need that will where they’re time, I would be shocked. going to colbe around for a long I don’t lege, and some time.” think this has who can’t even anything to do with the com- drive, will have to be involved. petence or the drive of the SA, This leads me to believe the which attracts some of the best SA president’s passion for his or students on campus to its exec- her goals, while important to utive positions, but things just initial success, is less important don’t seem to work out some- to the continued success of what times. Even when the incoming he or she leaves behind. SA president is a well-placed For an SA policy to last, it
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must fulfill a need that will be around for a long time. Last year, the SA made a massive push to re-brand the student section as the Dawg Pound at home basketball games. The amount of work that some very driven, intelligent people put into it is frankly unimaginable. If you’re a freshman, and reading this, the odds are you have no idea whatsoever as to what I’m even talking about. What was seen as a need last year wasn’t seen as necessary by the student body this year. And the result is the Dawg Pound has vanished completely. Conversely, a few years ago, a SA presidential candidate proposed a GPS system to track the shuttle system on campus, providing a map that updates in real time and projected arrival times of shuttles at each stop. The candidate who proposed this actually lost the election, but that system was still implemented and exists today. Quite
simply, the idea is too useful to die. Current projects of the SA, such as the push for online teacher reviews, fall into this category as well. The need for convenient student services that keep pace with current technology is unlikely to be a temporary matter. So, my advice to the current SA candidates is this: don’t think about what you’re going to do next year. Think about how what you’re going to do next year will be doing when you’ve stepped down or graduated. Think about how the Bulldogs who came after you are going to carry the torch that you lit or took from your predecessor. Think about how students in five years will remember what your administration has done, even if none of them know your name. If you can do these things, I think you’ll be successful.
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e, the editorial board of The Reflector, believe there are changes to be made to the campaign process of Student Association elections, and those changes are absolutely necessary for the progress and integrity of our democratic process. The SA serves students of this great university. Its job is to hear our voices and serve as a representative for each of us. The members of SA have a direct say in many matters that greatly impact the student body. Therefore, as the student body, our job and obligation is to vote for members of the executive council who we believe will serve us in the best possible way. In the weeks prior to elections, The Reflector publishes the platforms of each candidate for office and provides the student body with information regarding the debate. A responsible student should carefully read the platforms of each candidate, listen to the remarks in the debate and proceed to vote for the candidate he or she believes will represent the student body well. Students who do not cast a vote or who vote ignorantly abuse the process of elections. A responsible student does not vote for a candidate because he or she received a free T-shirt or a brownie on the Drill Field. The campaign process should be focused to inform students, not bribe them. Various students, including ourselves, believe SA elections shouldn’t be a popularity contest. We hear that statement said every year. However, the campaign process will continue to be a popularity contest if volunteers for candidates continue to treat the process like a popularity contest — focusing only on placing a candidate’s name in the minds of voters along with a free Coke or donut in their hands. The SA should host multiple debates and events to hear the candidate’s platforms straight from his or her mouth. Aside from allowing students to personally send questions to the debates, we think students should be allowed to directly ask candidates questions about their platforms and policies during the debates. A responsible student does not blindingly support and vote for a candidate simply because of the expectation of his or her campus organization. We do not think there is anything wrong with being an involved member of a campus organization, including Greek life. We recognize Greek organizations value leadership among its members. We also do not think there is anything wrong with supporting a fellow member of an organization, as long as you personally agree with his or her platform. We do, however, believe pressuring members of an organization to vote for a candidate violates the First Amendment rights of its members. Each student has the right to decide whom he or she will support and whom he or she will choose to vote. Students should never compromise that freedom by pressuring members of an organization to campaign for a candidate he or she may choose not to support. Members of an organization who choose to support candidates from a different organization should feel no shame or fear in doing so; rather, the organization should respect its members’ decision and right to vote for whomever they please. If the SA desires accountability and transparency among the members of executive council, it must be prepared to be called out and criticized by members of the student body. And if the SA listens, they will be able to change the process of elections into something that betters the entire university.
*** The Reflector editorial board is made up of opinion editor Mary Chase Breedlove, news editor Emma Crawford, campus news editor John Galatas, sports editor Kristen Sprink, entertainment editor Zack Orsborn, photo editor Kaitlin Mullins, copy editors Rachel Burke and Candace Barnette multimedia editor Eric Evans, managing editor Kaitlyn Byrne. Editor-in-chief Hannah Rogers did not participate in the writing, editing, reading or the discussion surrounding this editorial.
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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.
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EDITORIAL POLICY The Reflector is the official student newspaper of Mississippi State University. Content is determined solely by the student editorial staff. 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.
tuesday , february 12 , 2013
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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. MISCELLANEOUS Think you might be pregnant? Free pregnancy test and confidential counseling. Call Life Choices Pregnancy Care Center at 327.0500. mslifechoices. org. Call Oda! ABC Professional Tutoring. High school and college: Math, business, statistics, physics, chemistry, statistics, ACT, SAT, GRE, GMAT and more. Available seven days a week. Call 722.0020.
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 MSU STUDENT CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MICROBIOLOGY Contact msuasm@yahoo.com or like us on Facebook, “MSU ASM,” for membership information.
Solutions for 2-8-13
SDA meeting Tuesday, Feb. 12. Dinner at 5:45 p.m. and meeting starts at 6. Speaker is Lydia West from the Office of Child Nutrition, Mississippi Department of Education.
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.
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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.
The MSU Pre-Veterinary Club is having a general body meeting on Feb. 13 in the Wise Center room 2005. Food will be served at 6:30 p.m. All people interested in animals are invited to fellowship.
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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
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THE REFLECTOR
Life & Entertainment Symphony warms up for concert BY DANIEL HART Staff Writer
If nothing else, the Starkville-Mississippi State University Symphony Association sure knows how to design flyers for a fundraising gala. Posters around campus bearing an image of composer Johann Sebastian Bach wearing shades, backed by the event title, “A Bach to the Future Affair” (styled after the event’s namesake film’s logo) have cropped up. The Symphony Association contains the Symphony Chorus and Symphony Orchestra, with the former conducted and directed by Michael Brown, professor and head of the MSU Department of Music. Brown said the Feb. 16 event will be a social evening, informal and entertaining. “The State Messengers, a dance band, will be there; someone comes in and does some sort of humorous act. It’s not a concert at all,” he said. “Not formal at all, but a good time had by all.” Clifton Taylor, associate professor and associate director of bands will be leading The State Messengers in the absence of Brown at the event. He said the band, consisting of a rhythm section and a couple of horns, will be playing jazz standards, in swing, Latin, and ballad styles.
Tickets to the gala, held at the Starkville Country Club, are $60; the proceeds will help keep alive the reputation Brown said the orchestra holds of stemming successfully from a very small community. “(Starkville) is supposedly the smallest town in the country to have a professional symphony orchestra. I don’t know if it’s still true, but one of the founding members got mentioned on the Johnny Carson show as the leader of the orchestra in the smallest town in the United States,” he said. The support the orchestra receives allows for events like the Symphony Orchestra’s upcoming full performance March 2 at First Baptist Church Starkville. Brown said “The Best of Beethoven III,” while free to the public, takes work and donation behind the scenes. “It’s very unusual to have a professional orchestra that gives free shows; the shows are free to the public but cost us a lot of money to put on,” he said. With Lee Hall currently under renovation, Brown said the concerts have relocated from Lee Auditorium to First Baptist Church. “The audience ranges from 900 to 1,000 people. There is not another place on campus that would seat 1,000 people, so we used to fill up Lee Hall and now we fill up First Baptist,” he said. Brown said the Symphony Orchestra is composed of mostly professional players from various neighboring states, which keeps practices confined to the weekend
before a performance. “If we have a Saturday concert, we’ll have a Friday afternoon rehearsal, a Friday night rehearsal and a Saturday morning rehearsal,” he said. Doug Browning, composer and director of the Symphony Chorus, said the workings of the chorus are different from those of a professional orchestra. “Choral music is the ultimate amateur sport. There are professional choruses in the world, but the vast majority are amateur,” he said. “The majority of people are in the public sector. People do it because they just absolutely love it, and they find a way to do it.” As well as practicing more often due to the nature of amateur groups, Browning said there are opportunities for MSU students to get involved with the Symphony Chorus. “There are opportunities for what we would call a scholarship or internship within the chorus,” he said. “We really are interested in MSU students interested in using their voice.” Information about student opportunities in the Symphony Chorus can be found through Browning at 601-826-9952. Information about the Starkville-MSU Symphony Association can be found at starkvillemsusymphony. org.
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SPORTS
tuesday , february 12, 2013
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Softball run-rules two teams in opening weekend By Brittany young Staff Writer
The Mississippi State softball team opened its 21st season by hosting five teams for the 14th annual Bulldog Kickoff Classic last weekend. The teams included MSU, South Alabama, Troy, Georgia State, Tennessee State and SIU-Edwardsville. The Bulldogs were a combined 16-2 all-time against the teams in the tournament, including a 10-1 record at home. The Bulldogs debuted transfers Alison Owen (right-handed pitcher), Julia Echols (third baseman) and Logan Foulks (infielder/center). Owens has pitched in the Women’s College World Series while at the University of Georgia, and Echols also has SEC experience playing with Owens at Georgia. Foulks finished second in the Atlantic Coast Conference last year in slugging percentage at North Carolina. The home opener for the Bulldogs featured a battle of 2012 NCAA Tournament courtesy photo | msu media relations teams as MSU fell to the Heidi Shape was named to the Bulldog Classic All-Tournament USA Jaguars by a slim margin of 3-2. Owen broke the team along with Jessica Offutt and Ashley Phillips for MSU. school record for strikeouts first win of the 2013 season mental toughness.” Freshman shortstop Kayla in a season opener with nine as they defeated Troy 5-2. and walked none, marking a MSU stole eight bases for Winkfield tailed her first hit the first time in 11 years, fin- of her college tenure and had complete debut. Junior Sam Lenahan put ishing two shy of the school three put outs. Winkfield said after falling the Bulldogs on the board record. Phillips nabbed three of the eight short in the season opener, with a twoherself, Stuedeman told the team to run home run It’s great to get that steals becoming the play MSU softball and the in the first first win under our seventh player team would defeat Troy. inning, but “The game against USA it would not belt. To bounce back all-time to accomplish the was a battle of two excellent be enough as after a tough loss teams, and unfortunately we feat. Farish Beard Thursday showed our Head coach fell short,” Winkfield said. picked up the win for the competitive, mental Vann Stuede- “But coach told us to just man said in an come out, play our game, do Jags with two toughness.” interview with what we know we can do and earned runs Hailstate radio we would win.” given up in Vann Stuedeman, In a doubleheader on it felt good to four innings. head coach get the first Saturday, the Bulldogs outSenior Jessica scored opponents Georgia Cooley, junior Heidi Shape victory of the season. “It’s great to get that first State and Tennessee State in and sophomore Ashley Phillips also collected hits for win under our belt,” Stuede- a 17-1 sweep. The Bulldogs man said. “To bounce back beat TSU 8-0 in six innings MSU. The Bulldogs bounced after a tough loss Thursday and followed up with a 9-1 back Friday night with their showed our competitive, five-inning win against GSU.
“
The pitching staff threw a one-hitter with 12 strikeouts, marking the 15th time in 21 seasons MSU struck out 12 or more batters, with four of those occasions under Stuedeman’s headship. In the triumph over the Panthers, Owen continued her hot pitching, clinching her first victory as a Bulldog with four shut-out frames of one-hit ball, striking out five and walking none. Senior left-handed pitcher Stephanie Becker, who had seven strikeouts in the win over Troy, sealed the win, fanning three Panther batters. Becker said Stuedeman called great pitches throughout the tournament, and she and her fellow pitching staff responded well. “The main goal while pitching is to make moving pitches that hit the location you want it to. Coach called some great pitches, and Logan Foulks did a great job catching behind the plate,” Becker said. “Also, A.O. (Owen) and Kylie (Vry, senior LHP) did really well pitching, and it was a great team effort overall.” Senior Jessica Cooley was a perfect 2-for-2 at bat with a grand slam, Foulks went yard with a two-run dinger and Phillips continued her hot-hitting with two hits and a pair of RBIs. The final three games of the Kickoff Classic scheduled for Sunday were canceled due to the impending storm and
- e MSU pitching staff had averaged 10.9 strikeouts per seven innings. - Junior Alison Owne recorded 14 strikeouts and zero walks, and opponents hit only .100 against her. - Ashley Phillips baaed .417 with four stolen bases, three RBIs , two runs, two doubles and two walks. - In just four games, the Dogs recorded two run-rule wins, compared to the eight they had through 57 games last season. - e team has stolen 16 bases in its first four games. It took 11 games for the Dogs to steal 16 bases last year. yea - With her grand slam Saturday, senior Jessica Cooley became the only player in MSU history to hit a grand slam in three different years. zack orsborn | the reflector
flood watch for Oktibbeha County. Phillips was named the 2013 Bulldog Kickoff Classic MVP. Phillips, Shape and junior outfielder Jessica Offut received All-Tournament Team honors for the
Bulldogs over the weekend. The 3-1 Bulldogs return to the diamond Wednesday at 6 p.m. when they travel to Lafayette, La., for a non-conference battle against No.12 Louisiana Lafayette.
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SPORTS 8
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tuesday , february 12 , 2013
THE REFLECTOR
Stat of the day:
Softball Senior jeSSica cooley hit a grand Slam Saturday and became the only mSu player to hit a grand Slam in three different SeaSonS.
College Hoops: Missouri at Msu Wednesday, 7 p.M. seC netWork
Short-handed Dogs seek to end eight-game losing skid without Steele By Alden Thornhill Staff Writer
After falling at No. 2 Florida Saturday, the Mississippi State men’s basketball team looks to end its eight-game losing streak Wednesday against Missouri. The 17-6 (6-4) Tigers visit the Hump in search of their first SEC road win of the year. This is the third meeting between the two teams with Mizzou leading the all time series 2-1. MSU head coach Rick Ray said some despite the recent struggles, his team has a good mentality.
“Our freshmen need someone to look up to. Right now, to be honest, we don’t have that.” I’ve got really good kids. I just don’t have enough of them.” MSU’s already-thin roster became even thinner last Saturday when State announced the suspension of junior guard Jalen Steele for violating team rules. The Dogs now have six scholarship players and just eight players total on their roster. Ray said Steele’s lack of discipline screwed the team and screwed his teammates. “We’re already in a situation with a short rotation. Anything
you do outside of the program like that — that’s bad,” Ray said. “It’s a selfish act now you’re taking away a chance for guys to go out, compete and win because you’ve now shortened the rotation.” Due to Steele’s suspension, walk-ons Baxter Price and Tyson Cunningham saw extended minutes against Florida. Ray said the walk-ons have stepped up and taken responsibility in the absence of Steele. “He (Cunningham) is our best communicator, and it’s contagious. Tyson is a smart kid,” Ray said. “I was really proud of Baxter Price, talking about a kid who
goes into No. 2 Florida and hasn’t played very much but does what he needs to do.” The Tigers come in with one of the nation’s hottest players in point guard Phil Pressey, who is averaging 6.9 assists per game, which is good enough for eighth in the nation. Ray said he has been planning for this matchup defensively. “The key for us defending against Pressey and the ball screen action — we need both guys, the guy on the ball and the guy on screen, got to get that stop,” Ray said. But Pressey is not the only threat in Mizzou’s arsenal. Laurence Bowers, who averages 14.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, and Jabari Brown, averaging 14.7 points per game, present the Tigers with multiple scoring opportunities. Bowers and former UConn Husky Alex Oriakhi lead a Tiger team that ranks third in the nation averaging 41.9 rebounds per game. MSU freshman guard Fred Thomas said he believes the Bulldogs’ struggles could perhaps end Wednesday night and praised the team’s hard work as of late.
barton dinkins | tHe refleCtor
Junior guard Jalen Steele was suspended last weekend for a violation of team rules, reducing the Bulldog roster to eight players. “We are still going to have to come back and play hard. Coming up, we should get this win. We’ve been working hard in practice and watching film. We
are gonna try to get this win,” Thomas said. “I wouldn’t say sad or mad — we can’t be that way. If we want to win games, we have to stay positive.”