4.26.23

Starkville invests $15 million in park projects, city expects strong return

The Starkville Board of Aldermen recently issued $15 million to park projects.

The new park projects are set to include the complete reconstruction of one existing park and the expansion of others in Starkville. These upgrades will provide new opportunities for outdoor activities.

Mayor Lynn Spruill expects the park projects to expand the use of local parks and recreation.

“Starkville residents can expect vastly improved park facilities that will serve them in previously underserved ways, as well as provide new, improved aspects of parks that will be added to existing features,” Spruill said.

Mayor Spruill said Starkville parks are growing

in popularity and require an increase in budget. “We are increasing the footprint of the parks and are providing additional programming, and costs for basic operations have

escalated dramatically over the past two years, from personnel costs to gas and equipment purchase, maintenance and repairs,” Spruill said.

Alderman Jeffrey Rupp

Starkville airport receives $4.5 million to expand facilities

Starkville’s George M. Bryan Airport is set to receive $4.5 million in federal funding that will go toward building a new, larger terminal that will provide an updated environment for pilots and their passengers.

February 27, the Federal Aviation Administration announced its selections for its 2023 Airport Terminal Program. The George M. Bryan Airport was chosen for the program and is planning to use the funding to build a larger terminal and extend its runway.

Mayor Lynn Spruill said that the new terminal will give airport travelers a better impression when visiting the city.

“It’s just a much more user-friendly, customer-

MSU

from new play areas for children to pickleball courts.”

According to Rupp, the park expansions will bring in an influx of new visitors to Starkville and a return on the investment in recreation.

friendly environment,” Spruill said. “It puts a much better foot forward for our city. It’s part of that first-impression image that we want to convey to our alumni, to our business partners and to our prospective business owners.”

Airport director Rodney Lincoln said that the current airport terminal is about 1,100 square feet. The new terminal will have two floors and extend over 11,000 square feet.

AIRPORT, 2

emphasized the planning of a variety of new Starkville ballparks.

“I am part of Starkville's booming tennis/pickleball community and have been very involved in what the

future of those sports looks like in Starkville. I'm even overseeing a team of graduate students doing specific research on pickleball facilities for the city,” Rupp said. “The projects range

“The biggest windfall will be from Cornerstone Park when it's completed in a couple of months. The ball fields will literally bring hundreds of visitors to the city generating quite a bit of economic churn through hotel bookings, restaurants, etc. I believe you'll also see improvements in the quality of life for residents of all ages with the improved facilities,” Rupp said. Rupp said that past developments in biking and walking trails have been successful and that park upgrades are a good use of public funds.

24 students recognized with Spirit of State Awards

Mississippi State University presented 24 students with the Spirit of State Award at a recognition program Friday. The Spirit of State Award recognizes students who have made strong impacts on the MSU campus and surrounding community.

Ann Olivia Radicioni, a previous recipient of the award, began the ceremony with a speech about how she believes this year’s recipients achieved the award.

“You are here because your love gives peace to those who are weary, attention to those that are forgotten, and it releases a weight off of the shoulders of the world. What better good could we do as Mississippi State students, what greater joy could there be than to know for this tiny

moment we’ve lessened the burden and cleared the jagged path for someone else,” Radicioni said. “The paramount of who we are is how we love people. You all have loved well.”

During the ceremony, MSU President Mark Keenum said that the recipients personify the spirit

of the entire student body.

“All that you have done here, we want you to continue to go out into the world and continue down this wonderful path of serving and helping others, making a difference in this world, that’s what we’re counting on,” Keenum said.

Fashion Board closes active year with sucessful fashion show, magazine

The Mississippi State University Fashion Board held a fashion show Wednesday, April 19, and will be releasing the tenth issue of their magazine, Être, on May 2.

The MSU Fashion Board is a way for students interested in fashion, merchandising, modeling and the arts to get involved in a community of fellow creatives.

It provides many opportunities for students interested in pursuing fashion to work together to produce shows, create content and put together a print publication.

Katie Garcia, an active member, said that the Fashion Board has been busy this year.

“This past year, we have had four shows. We had one around Halloween, our annual fashion show with recycled designs, and a show around Valentine’s Day, and one that concluded the year in a

festival-like fashion.”

Their most recent show, “Rumours,” was based off the eleventh studio album of the band Fleetwood Mac. This was their first show to feature live music, as local Starkville band Make It to May played a diverse set of cover songs.

“The show itself was very much an ode to bohemian chic elements found in the seventies,” Boot said. “It was one of the best turnouts we’ve

had yet. It was held in the District, so we got tons of foot traffic.”

Garcia said the show was a success.

“We felt great about it! It was the last show of the year, so all of us really devoted our energy towards it," Garcia said.

"We were so proud of it, and it ran so smoothly!”

Aside from “Rumours,” the Fashion Board has also been busy preparing to print their magazine.

A student screws a skateboarding ramp back together at Moncrief Park. The new funding will improve existing park features and e xpand park maintenance.

Ivy Rose Ball | The Reflector

A special recognition program allowed recipients to give acceptance speeches. Tanner Marlow | The Reflector

FASHION, 2

ANNE LOUISE PHILLIPS STAFF WRITER

The show was designed to resemble a 70s music studio. Tapestries decorated the runway.

Jacob Mitchell | The Reflector

CALEB BOWMAN STAFF WRITER

“Rumours” was inspired by the Fleetwood Mac album of the same name. About 70 models exhibited 70s-revival fashion. Jacob Mitchell | The Reflector

While the city government approves of the issuance of these funds, one student pushed back against the idea of putting $15 million towards parks alone. Callie Kimbrell, a sophomore sociology major, said there are other concerns besides the expansion of parks.

“I think there are so many things this city could spend $15 million on, and I don’t know if parks should be the top priority. $15 million could help the livelihood of many community members, plus our roads are not great. There are potholes, missing sidewalks and a lack of city development,” Kimbrell said.

Kimbrell argued that there are other ways to bring in money and visitors to the city while providing for the community.

“We could be bringing in more businesses to stimulate the economy; I don’t think ballparks are going to help the people in this community that

AIRPORT

It will also have more office space for airport staff and more waiting room for travelers, which will be especially useful in the event of inclement weather.

Airport operations manager Rusty Bouchillon said that FAA pilots are required to rest for a period of time between flights. The current terminal has a room for pilots to rest, but it only seats two pilots at a time. The new terminal will have more space for pilots to rest and prepare for their upcoming flights.

Many of MSU's athletic teams fly through George M. Bryan Airport. Bouchillon said that the new terminal will make it easier for charter companies to screen athletes before boarding the plane.

“With a new terminal, it’s gonna come in through the front door, on the street side and then go straight through,” Bouchillon said. “They’ll be checked out as they’re walking out the back door on the runway side and go get on the plane.”

Currently, observers must look through a chain link

Heidi Boot, a senior fashion design and merchandising major and the Content Editor for Être, said she joined Fashion Board with the goal of working on the magazine. She said she has enjoyed her time with the team behind Être and her time on the Fashion Board.

“This group is much more than just a club,” Boot said. “It not only gave me a creative outlet, but

AWARDS

Keenum said that the purpose of the award is to recognize the recipients’ commitment to community service and their impact on the surrounding community.

"You made a difference on this campus, this university, and in this community. It is better you having been here, you being part of this university community, it is better because of you.”

Keenum said that the recipients represent what MSU hopes for every student.

“This is what we aspire for all of our students, to come here, get a great education, to learn about the importance of service and helping others, and improving upon things that are doing well and making them better,” Keenum said.

Regina Hyatt, Vice President of Student Affairs, said the “spirit of State” has always existed in the MSU community, and that the Spirit of State Award is the top student leadership award.

“You have been taking

are in poverty,” Kimbrell said.

Kimbrell said recent years have seen issues for Starkville residents in low-income neighborhoods, such as the mass evictions in north Starkville in August of last year.

“Not long ago, there were mass evictions in a low-income neighborhood in Starkville. These people need help, they need jobs, they need the support of the community and most of those people are not the ones you are going to see playing frisbee golf in the park,” Kimbrell said.

Kimbrell said Starkville is developing quickly but may not be developing in a way to support citizens in need.

“Honestly, there is nothing wrong with a nice park or two, but $15 million could be going towards the health of humanity and developing our broken infrastructure,” Kimbrell said.

“We already have so many local ballparks as it is, let’s prioritize those in need.”

fence to view what happens on the runway. The airport will build an observation area on the second floor that will be available for the public to watch aircraft.

Director Lincoln said that the $4.5 million in federal funding will cover over half the cost of the new terminal. The airport plans to apply for additional funding next year.

In addition to the new terminal, the airport will add 1,000 feet of runway space to the southern end of the existing runway, giving pilots more space to land their aircraft.

Lincoln said that the airport currently has a “displaced threshold” on the north side due to buildings near the runway. This has decreased the amount of runway space available to pilots. With the extension, the airport will be able to accommodate larger planes.

Lincoln said that the airport will also be constructing a hangar for local Starkville businesses to store their aircraft. The new hangar will give the businesses a private location

also an emotional one. We’ve established a community that consists of varying personalities and perspectives, and it’s filled with love, excitement, and thought-provoking conversations.”

“This whole year, we have focused on getting enough content to fill our printed publication,” Garcia said, referring to Être.

Corinne Ellington said

to store their aircraft besides the airport’s community hangar.

George M. Bryan Airport is frequently used by businesses, charter companies and pilots of private single-engine planes. MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory and the Circle S Aviation flight school both use the airport's runway.

Lincoln said that the airport renovations will likely increase the number of travelers coming into the airport.

“Once all these corporate pilots find out about this and see it and our charter services and what have you, they will want to come back,” Lincoln said.

Funding for the FAA Airport Terminal Program comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, which Congress passed in 2021. The legislation provides federal funding to improve public transportation, improve infrastructure and make infrastructure more environmentally friendly and resilient in the face of climate change.

being a member of the Fashion Board has given her many opportunities.

“I was the Creative Director and photographer for my first magazine photoshoot,” Ellington said. “Être is my favorite part of Fashion Board. I love the collaborative effort between everybody. We all work really hard to get our jobs done. It’s a community where we all take on different roles and

understand the importance of everyone involved.”

Carson Miller, editorin-chief of the magazine, said Être is a great student opportunity that “aims to push boundaries and ideas by expression of style, art, and writing.”

Sadie Ogletree, the president of Fashion Board, recommends students join the Fashion Board and get involved with Être.

“We hold tryouts and auditions in the fall of each school year, usually around September. Announcements regarding our recruitment will be made over the summer and at the beginning of the school year via our social media, so students looking to get involved should stay in touch through that,” Ogletree said. At this time, only members of Fashion Board

can join the Être team. After being accepted to Fashion Board, students will have the opportunity to apply to work on Être. For more information about joining Fashion Board or about getting a copy of Être, students can check out Fashion Board’s Instagram or find them on Cowbell Connect. Students can attend any of Fashion Board’s shows, which are free and open to the public.

care of what matters here at State, and we know you will do the same at whatever the next thing is for you,” Hyatt said. One recipient, Mia Robertson, a senior in political science and philosophy from Starkville, recognized the character of her fellow recipients.

“I obviously do not know everybody in this

class of recipients, but for the ones I do know, and for the ones I do not know, they have had such a selfless commitment to public service from literally every pore,” Robertson said.

Robertson said that faculty mentors in the Shackouls Honors College were invaluable in achieving her goals.

Another recipient,

Alex Gibbs, a biochemistry senior from Flowood, Mississippi, talked about his time as a Roadrunner and how potential students and families saw the spirit of State while on tours.

“But when they see, even though it’s a bigger school, we are still a family and we have a very welcoming atmosphere around campus, it means a lot to them, and I’ve had

families remark on that for sure,” Gibbs said. Gibbs said MSU has connected him with friends he will have for a lifetime.

“I can say without a doubt that I have several friends that will be my friends for the rest of my life. They will be at my wedding and will bury me one day. It’s been a very welcoming place to me and

a place, I know, I can go back to for the rest of my life as a second home,” Gibbs said.

Keenum spoke more about the spirit of State after the ceremony.

“You can’t be transactional in life. You can’t say what’s in it for me. That’s what service is about. Making things better around you for others,” Keenum said.

Skateboarders have turned an old basketball court at Moncrief Park into a makeshift skate park. City officals believe that the investment in recreation will bring more visitors to Starkville.

Ivy Rose Ball | The Reflector

The runway currently faces a restriction of runway space. The runway extension will allow larger planes to land at the airport. Caleb Bowman | The Reflector

The MSU Raspet Flight Research Laboratory and Circle S Aviation flight school make frequent use of the airport’s runway. Caleb Bowman | The Reflector

BULLETIN BOARD 3

An In-Class Distraction

Wednesday, April 19

Student referral issued for possession of delta-8 and delta-9 THC products.

Thurday, April 20

Student tax return was filed using a fraudulent social security number.

Student reported he was hit by a car near Davis Wade Stadium.

Student reported an individual threatening her.

Friday, April 21

Student arrested on Bost Drive for disregarding a traffic device.

Starkville resident transported to OCH for medical assistance.

Saturday, April 22

Student was actively seizing in Barnes and Noble.

Student was transported to OCH.

Chadwick Lake provides sweet escape MSU meal plans need an update

mountain and the to-do list gets harder to tackle.

In fact, 80% of all college students can admit to being overwhelmed, with 40% stating that it affected their ability to function, according to the National College Health Assessment.

This brings us back to the neighborhood laps, which my mom eventually dubbed “sanity laps.” The appeal of the laps during quarantine was that it allowed an escape from the world around me.

The world is usually always on fire in some way or another, but this was especially true in 2020.

stress by making the situation appear more controllable and predictable."

Chadwick Lake boasts a one-mile walking track around the water’s edge. This concrete path has seen the bottoms of thousands of shoes belonging to both students and Starkville residents. Every tenth of a mile, a convenient brick marker alerts the pedestrians to the mileage covered.

When entering Mississippi State University’s campus from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Drive, one landmark in particular stands out. To the right, just before the major buildings on campus begin to pop up, sits Chadwick Lake.

This staple of campus has been responsible for the upholding of my sanity throughout my first year of college, but maybe the best place to start is at the beginning.

The pandemic that rocked the world in March 2020 impacted people on a million different fronts, but for most people, the most memorable part of lockdown is the feeling of confinement.

My family was obviously no exception. I found myself picking fights with my sister as a form of entertainment once I felt Netflix had nothing to offer. It was then that my mother suggested I take a couple laps around the neighborhood in the sleek new Ford Escape that they had just bought for my first car.

I was fifteen and only held a learner’s permit; I jumped at the idea of side-stepping the law, even if it was just for a 15minute drive around the subdivision.

Fast forward two and a half years later as I began my freshman year at Mississippi State. College itself is an experience marked by the

exposure to new ideas, responsibilities and stressors. While it may not resemble the pandemic in any obvious way, there are a few similarities I found between it and an ordinary freshman year of college. College is a marathon. Even though there is an end date set, there are a great number of moments where it feels like graduation may never come. The pandemic might not have had a tentative graduation date, but it did drag on and on with no end in sight. This leads to the oh-sofamiliar feeling of dread that plagues every college student. That feeling builds like no other while the assignments rack up in Canvas. With every ding of a notification, the molehill slowly grows into a

Not that I would compare my freshman year of college to the dumpster fire that was 2020, but it was a period of great change that left me with reeling with feelings of overwhelming responsibilities and expectations.

A couple months into this first year of college, I decided to bring back the laps in a different way. I walked the 15 minutes to Chadwick Lake and decided to walk around the track until life felt conquerable again. After a couple of turns around the lake, I returned to the dorm and tackled my to-do list with a new fervor.

This strategy is rooted in science. Primary care physician Dr. Indumathi Bendi claims that “carrying out routine activities reduces

The walking track around the lake was first built in 2013. A press release for the new track hoped that the track would “help promote a healthier culture for the community and provide a convenient, beautiful setting for people to enjoy exercise.”

This has been the setting of numerous sanity laps over the course of the past year. I have witnessed fishing, games of frisbee, kayaking and picnics all take place. As one enters this sanctuary, all the stress, deadlines and assignments fall away.

When life seems to be hurling some new set of challenges every minute, it is essential to take comfort in the smaller things. A simple walk around the lake could end up being the final push of motivation needed to triumph over these perils of early adulthood.

Also, the walking track promotes some killer calf muscles.

Animal House Tattoo leaves an impression

The opinion can just be aid up front. I recommend Animal House tattoo, and it is my opinion that Meat, my attoo artist, gave me a good attoo that is healing nicely.

Once we get that out of he way, the obvious question s why his name is “Meat.”

I wondered the same, but I figure he is tired of getting asked. Had he been serving me as an oncologist, I would have asked first thing. Sometimes though, things make enough sense without an explanation. A man named Meat working out of a two bed one bath converted into a attoo parlor called “Animal House” was one of those hings.

A man named Meat was giving me a tattoo, and that made sense to me.

Meat is well over six feet all and is wearing compression sleeves beneath a Superman t-shirt. In the nking room, assorted Justice League memorabilia and comic books are taped above his desk. I ask if he reads comics and he says not really, but that his daughter likes hem. I take him at his word until he tells me exactly how many copies of Action Comics #1 still exist, where he most recently discovered copy had been found and how much it sold for. I ask him his

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thoughts on Marvel movies and try my best to listen critically as he pummels my ribcage with a seven-needle cartridge.

I met him earlier that day, when I called to ask if he could take any walk-ins that weekend. I told him I was trying to get my first three tattoos within two days at the three different tattoo shops in Starkville. He later referred to that plan as “taking the bullet for journalism.” He also told me it would be challenging to get spots at all three tattoo parlors on such short notice, and he was right, which is why now I only have one tattoo.

I got tattooed for my job by a man named Meat, and this felt like a reasonable professional choice.

At the strategy meeting beforehand, Meat tells me the tattoo I want is too complicated to be the size I want. My tattoo is a line drawing of hot-air balloons from an architecture firm called Archigram, which never designed things to be built, so much as talked about.

Meat graciously opts not to ask if it had meaning, which is ideal because it does not.

I ask Meat if he has a personal style of tattoo that he works best in. Meat tells me his personal style is whatever the style of the requested tattoo is, which is a safe, business-oriented answer.

After a moment, he tells me

roses are his favorite.

Meat tells me most tattoo artists tattoo themselves before anyone else, because one should know what the pain feels like before they inflict it on someone else. I have heard this is the same rule cops have to follow with their tasers.

“I couldn’t tattoo myself, because my psoriasis is in most of the places I would be able to access.”

So Meat’s mentor told him he would have to find a loved one or family member, one prone to forgiveness if things go south, and for months Meat waited for the opportunity. One day, an old friend came in to have an old tattoo covered on her inner wrist, and Meat’s mentor made him do it. He drew her a red rose.

“Ever since, I have made it my mission to make each rose better than the last. If you go through my work over the years, you can see how drastic the differences are.”

Meat shows me the photo in his portfolio. I start going through the photos to see how drastic the difference is but am soon distracted by a photo of a man who has “HUMBLE BEAST” tattooed across his chest in Gutenberg Bible page head script. I laugh at this and ask if he remembers that man as particularly humble.

I ask if he ever tells people their tattoo ideas are bad. He

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tells me he used to, but stopped after years of fighting with stubborn people. He tells me the last time he did, a freshman had come in on move in day and asked for a tattoo of “Smurfette, from the Smurfs, sitting on a mushroom, holding a fat blunt,” on the inside of her forearm. Meat tells me the freshman said she was going to be a paralegal when she grew up, and when he pushed back about what that tattoo might say to employers, she told him the tattoo does not confirm that she smokes weed. He said he let it go.

Meat tells me there are at least two body doubles of President Joe Biden that show up in public and shows me photos of Biden’s earlobes as proof. Meat tells he is a single father. Meat tells me someone once referred to one of his loved ones as a slur outside of the China Garden, and I cannot tell if he is speaking colloquially when he says the interaction got violent.

Meat tells me he is not political because it drives people apart. Meat tells me I need to stop flinching. I listen. Meat tells me Henry Cavill was a good Superman. Meat tells me why his name is Meat, and I lay still with my eyes closed, not flinching. I am a little disappointed by the story, so I ask him his thoughts on the new Batman and let it be.

Meal plans here at MSU have a few interesting quirks. Sure, you can swap 2 block meals a day for fast food from 4 p.m. - 12 a.m. Sure, the dining halls of Fresh and Perry are allyou-can-eat. On a deep level, however, the meal plans provided here at MSU are flawed.

When you look at the Meal Plan 101 page on the Dining Services website, the nuggets of information above are accompanied by several lessthan-ideal aspects, especially about the meal plan exchanges. You get two a day— one from 49 p.m. and one from 9 p.m. - 12 a.m.

There are few places on campus that are even open until the end of that first block and much less for the later one. The Steak N’ Shake that was shoved so ignominiously in where there once stood Burger King is only open until 11 p.m., and it qualifies as an outlier! It is the last restaurant open every night. Even later than the few Provision on Demand convenience stores, which are open until 10 p.m. Steak N' Shake is only outmatched by the recent addition of the Maroon Market, whose payment methods have been very hit-or-miss in my experience so far.

However, it could be so much worse, right? At least something other than a pickedover Honors College snack shop is open that late, right? Spend your $6.58 well because that is all you get. Each block meal exchange is only worth six and a half dollars.

Have you ever tallied how much food $6.58 will get you in most places? It normally is not very much, especially once you include tax on the order. You can get a single entree container at the Panda Express in Colvard Student Union. You can get a chicken sandwich and maybe a small side of fries at Chick-Fil-A. You get absolutely nothing at the Union Starbucks because exchanges are not accepted there.

There is a much better way to arrange for plans like this to be carried because at the core, it is a good idea. Allowing people to swap from one meal plan currency to the other is something that cannot be

allowed to go away entirely, the idea just needs to be worked on. An example of a university meal plan being better than this is the meal plan system at Western Kentucky University, which looks very similar at first glance to those here at State. Each plan has a number of meal tickets redeemable at their cafeterias and a complementary supply of what we would recognize as flex dollars.

WKU’s big difference is in the way a student shifts between the two. Whereas State has a dollar value for their exchanges, WKU decided that locations participating in their exchanges should have a specific set of items known as their Value Menu. One of the cafeteria block meals can be exchanged solely for already-laid-out options on that portion of the menu. This idea would be a great addition to adopt here at State, but WKU’s improvements over us do not stop there. Meal plans for WKU students come with what they call “guest meals,” allowing an extremely limited number of visitors to campus to eat without counting against the student’s meal plan. While State has something similar for its Ultimate meal plan, WKU offers them for most of the common plans.

Additionally, students at WKU can use the Value Menu up to four times a day, double what State allows and without the time constraint. These are clear improvements over what we have. Not to mention that every single option of the Value Menu is, as the name of the exchange itself implies, a meal.

Beyond just being convenient for students to use their block meals like this, changing the meal plans here to include our own Value Menu equivalent would be a way to promote healthier eating structures, something that many students struggle with. National statistics state that 30% of all U.S. college students will suffer from some form of food insecurity while enrolled at their university. With the Block by Block program already up and running, allowing students to transfer block meals, the Value Menu-style exchanges could contribute to more stable eating structures both for those who need it most and those who simply are not used to fitting food in around their classes.

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Lucy haLLmaRk opInIon edItoR

Chadwick Lake’s walking trail is located on the North end of the Sanderson Center. Ivy Rose Ball | The Reflector

Ivy Rose Ball | The Reflector The trail was opened in

Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundat ion.

Saint Motel "Sweet Talks" crowd at Old Main Music Festival

The annual Old Main Music Festival returned April 20 at the Mississippi State University Amphitheater. The festival was run by MSU's Music Maker Productions organization.

Two different stages were set up as the “Local Stage” and the “Main Stage”. The Local Stage hosted sets from Highway Hounds, Bored to Tears, Pink Sheets and Miss Blume, all of which are acts based in Mississippi.

The Main Stage housed performances from soul rock group Seratones, folk duo Shovels & Rope and indie pop band Saint Motel. Saint Motel is known for their single “My Type,” which peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Adult Alternative Songs chart in 2015.

Local Stage acts were live from 12:30 - 4:30 p.m., accompanied by a selection of activities including giant hamster balls and an art market hosting artists from the Starkville area. Main Stage acts were on stage from 6:30 - 10 p.m.

Local food trucks Brown Bag Provisions and 44 Takeout were set up throughout the festival. A merchandise booth that held posters for the festival, as well as merchandise for the Main Stage bands was set up shortly before the acts began, giving fans the option to purchase t-shirts and physical releases of music from the artists.

The festivities attracted students for a variety of reasons.

Among the students in attendance were junior biological sciences major Logan Whitehead and senior secondary education major Airy Valencia.

Whitehead attended the festival during the Main Stage acts to see Saint Motel, while Valencia attended the Local Stage to see a friend perform in one of the bands.

Both Whitehead and Valencia stated that events such as these are opportunities for at-

tendees to expand their music tastes and find previously unheard-of artists to listen to.

“The vibe is definitely different,” Valencia said.

Music Maker Productions student director Allyson Crocker emphasized the importance of the organization

bringing a variety of artists to the area for the festival every year. Every summer, MMP begins by putting together a rough timeline, choosing what genres are wanted for the event and finding a fitting venue on the Starkville campus. After a list of possible artists is gathered by a booking agent that works with MMP, research is done by the members to determine who would be most fitting in a lineup for the festival.

In their research, the group considers who is touring, streaming statistics of the artists and who is gaining popularity through observing metrics, such as social media trends.

“We really adore catching people off guard,” Crocker said in reference to students' reaction to Saint Motel headlining this year’s event.

Both Crocker and upcoming

MMP student director Sally Stafford shared how important it was for them to hold this event, effectively creating a space for the Starkville community to enjoy live music.

“I think it’s just really beautiful to see that sense of community build,” Stafford said.

“We genuinely believe that there is nothing more important than music,” Crocker added.

Stafford and Crocker also both shared their thoughts on the passion the group has for the community and how they can add to it with their events, expressing adoration for the love Starkville has for live music.

“[Music Maker Productions] has changed so much over the years, but our mission of bringing music to the Starkville community hasn’t changed,” Stafford said.

The Inaugural Starkville Derby: Dachshund Dash is coming to Starkville

The inaugural Starkville Derby: Dachshund Derby will be held 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. May 6. Dachshund Dash is a wiener dog race around the Cotton District that supports the Oktibbeha County Humane Society. With over 150 dogs currently signed up to participate, the race could put NASCAR to shame.

Alden Thornhill, a 2015 Mississippi State University alumnus and former sports writer for The Reflector, is the event’s founder. Thornhill said that Starkville could use a unique event in the springtime and saw comedic value in dachshunds.

The idea came to him while eating at Two Brothers Smoked Meats one afternoon.

“I looked out on University

Drive and I said, ‘You know what would be really funny? If we shut down University Drive and had a giant wiener dog race,’” Thornhill said.

Thornhill has a dachshund of his own named Memphis, who serves as “King of the Race.” Memphis will sport a crown and a glitter bow tie on race day. Since bringing Memphis home two years ago, Thornhill has grown quite fond of the breed as a whole.

“They’re really funny,”

Thornhill said. “They’re long and they’ve got short legs and long ears. [Memphis] is looking at me as I’m talking about it. It’s funny to see them run, especially in a race against each other.”

After he got the opinions of friends, family and random Starkville residents, Thornhill knew the idea was something special.

Once he got the go-ahead from the city, he got to work.

Thornhill and the team are excited to put on the Starkville Derby to raise money for the Oktibbeha County Humane Society.

Jan Jackson, executive committee and board member for OCHS, expressed her gratitude for events like the Derby.

“As a shelter, we are always in need of funding. Even though the City and County supports us financially, it's not enough to cover our yearly expenses,” Jackson said. “As a board, we are always looking for ways to raise money, and here we have a member of our community holding this fun event while raising money for our shelter.”

Jackson said she felt the open arms of the community.

“The only reason that we are

such a great shelter is because the members of our community believe in us, support us, love us,” Jackson said. “People like Alden keep us motivated and pushing forward. We are a great team and OCHS will continue to do great things.” There will be five different races on Derby day: seniors, puppies, adults, special needs and pretenders.

The Pretender’s Race is open to every breed of canine with one unique restriction: the dog must fit in a hot dog costume. “For some reason, someone donated a bunch of hotdog outfits to the humane shelter last year," Thornhill said. “So if people want to race a pretender, they just have to be fixed and they get to run. We have yorkies, great danes, golden retrievers… as long as they aren't mean, they

are welcome at the Derby.”

Barstool Sports personality Brandon Walker has been asked to serve as Grand Marshal.

Sponsors are coming in from Starkville and beyond. Local bars, restaurants and stores have pledged their support, as well as national brands such as Chewy and BarkBox. Businesses far and wide have heard about this exciting event.

“I think we’ve even got ESPN coming to shoot b-roll,” Thornhill said.

The event will be streamed online via Facebook for anyone who cannot make it to the Dachshund Dash.

Admission to the Dachshund Dash is free to the public and will feature live music, food and drinks from local businesses available for purchase. There will be QR codes around the race

area for those who wish to donate to the OCHS.

“Come on out…I mean, who doesn’t like giving money to dogs,” Thornhill said. “Even if you aren’t a dog person, that money’s going to cats too.”

Nine-Twentynine Coffee Bar draws in local artists and musicians

Coffee shops, historically, have been home for individuals to come together in the name of new thought and expression. Nestled in the heart of downtown Starkville lies Nine-Twentynine Coffee Bar - one of the town’s local coffee shops.

Through over 10 years of business, Nine-Twentynine has become a staple in the art and music community on MSU's campus and in the greater Starkville area.

As a venue, Nine-Twentynine began by holding events such as bridal showers, wedding receptions and baby showers, offering their own catering as well as their coffee.

Now, the coffee shop is more varied in the types of events hosted, while still sticking to its roots.

From jazz musicians performing over a mid-morning brunch to local artists setting up their own booths and vending their wares, Nine-Twentynine makes space under their roof for everyone in the art scene. A wide variety of MSU student organizations have also found a place at Nine-Twentynine. Fraternities and sororities have even held date parties and formals in the coffee shop.

Taggert King has been working at Nine-Twentynine for five years, with four of those years as the general manager.

King said one of his favorite parts about Nine-Twentynine is watching local artists develop routines with Nine-Twentynine

playing a crucial role - setting aside a specific day of the week to come in, grab a drink and work on creating.

“I come to work every day seeing an environment where all these artists thrive,” King said.

For the past seven years, NineTwentynine has hosted a winter market known as Mississippi Made - a call for artists to sign up and sell their work in the central cafe area of Nine-Twentynine. It is completely free for artists to join, and the vendors are allowed to keep 100% of all profits they earn.

Taggert King said he believes this is the event that first and truly opened Nine-Twentynine up to the local art community of Starkville. Many of the artists who first engage with Mississippi Made frequently return to Nine-Twentynine throughout the year to fill the roster for more markets and pop-ups. One of these local artists is Dorrie Wu, a resident of Starkville for the past eight years. Wu’s

mediums of choice are primarily watercolor and ink paintings, with the occasional acrylic work.

Wu has been drawing, painting and engaging with art her entire life - stemming from both her mother and grandfather being artists themselves. Art became a creative and emotional outlet for Wu.

Wu’s first experience selling her work was last year at Starkville's first Midnight Bizarre arts market in 2022. Since then, Wu has been a consistent vendor at several Starkville markets.

The success of that first booth experience was a massive encouragement and caused Wu to define her style and cement her name in the local art community.

At Nine-Twentynine, Wu showcased her work and has been a part of several events including Mississippi Made, the Black Sheep Arts Market and the Figures and Feelings exhibition. Her favorite part of vending, Wu found, is the ability to witness her art make someone’s day

a bit better.

“My work - something I’ve been told a lot by people - is that it’s a ‘representation of joy’ and that’s what I’m aiming for. I’ve tried to have my booth radiate positive energy and it seems to be going pretty well,” Wu said.

Wu said she sees Nine-Twentynine as a place of openness, willing and accepting of everybody, and that artists feel drawn to it for this feeling.

The idea of seeking love of expression and real representation is where Rosemary Jones’ fashion business, Pink Plaid Collective, originates from.

Rosemary Jones is a Starkville native and local artist. Jones has been running Pink Plaid Collective for four years.

Clothes have always been a major part of Jones’ passions in life. Jones said she can still remember the “treasure hunts” she and her mother would venture out upon in clothing stores. As she grew and matured, that fun passion became centered to-

wards celebration and love for the body.

Once Jones learned how to sew over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, she said she felt that “everything just kind of opened up” to her.

Since then, she has been doing pop-ups at Nine-Twentynine, including three fashion shows and even a fashion art gallery.

In Jones’ eyes, Nine-Twentynine serves as a blank canvas in a way that other venues and businesses in Starkville do not.

“It’s beautiful the way they turn it around and say, ‘It’s yours to create with.’ That can’t be said for all businesses,” Jones said.

However, Nine-Twentynine does not only offer its services to artists; the coffee shop also creates a stage for musicians.

Local band, Bored to Tears, has played live in the basement of Nine-Twentynine several times.

Wallace St. Paul, lead singer and guitarist for Bored to Tears, said that Nine-Twentynine is far more accessible and welcoming of new acts than many other venues in the Starkville area.

“Other venues, a lot of them, it’s just hard to get a show there because they’re always booked for months in advance. But, at Nine-Twentynine, it’s easy to get a show," St. Paul said. "It’s really fun to play a show and people love going there."

St. Paul said the two-floor layout of Nine-Twentynine is what sets it apart as one of his favorite venues to perform at.

“It’s always a really great time. I feel like it’s a lot more intimate than other venues because we’re

not on a stage or anything; we’re all just in the basement together,” St. Paul said.

Rabia Siddiqui is another local artist and is also a senior art major. Siddiqui is an interesting case in that they have been the one showcasing their work at events as well as the one behind the scenes planning the events.

A deep-rooted desire to create more exhibition and tabling opportunities for local artists in Starkville is what spurred Siddiqui to seek this combination role.

“I could curate an entire space for people. So, as an event planner, that is a big key feature for me, but as a vendor, I get to enjoy people. I can interact and create a community through that,” Siddiqui said.

For Siddiqui, playing both roles in these events allows them to become acquainted with people and understand them in a professional capacity.

Siddiqui has been involved in Mississippi Made, Midnight Bizarre and many pop-up events at Nine-Twentynine, alongside Rosemary Jones of Pink Plaid Collective.

As for why Nine-Twentynine attracts local artists and musicians, Taggert King said that at the core, it is the atmosphere and people of Nine-Twentynine that seal the deal.

“We want to have the people working behind the bar that have the kindest hearts and are the most loving sort of people that we have,” King said. “I think that, by having that sort of criteria into hiring people, we have created an environment that anybody can feel comfortable with.”

Indie pop band Saint Motel was the closing act of the day long festival.

Ivy Rose Ball | The Reflector

Ivy Rose Ball | The Reflector

The Local Stage at the Old Main Music Festival was set up on the outskirts of the MSU Amphitheater and was where various Mississippi artists, including Highway Hounds, Bored to Tears, Pink Sheets and Miss Blume, performed before the main acts.

Memphis will serve as “King of the Race.”

Courtesy Photo | Alden Thornhill

Nine-Twentynine’s basement is a common working area for students and staff when there are no special events taking place.

Ivy Rose Ball | The Reflector

MSU Equestrian Team saddles up for the big stage

Wranglers, Tony Llamas and boot shining parties. These three words can tell a lot about the Mississippi State University equestrian team, but by no means can they tell everything.

One can find a group of students practicing relentlessly into the late afternoon at MSU’s south farm off of Hail State Boulevard. In their own equestrian facility, complete with an arena filled with enough red dirt to make any rodeo fan blush, MSU's equestrian team practices Western and European competition riding, the two styles that the team competes in.

On any given day, a team member will be given one of about 25 competition horses to ride and practice on. These animals are either donated or leased to the university through the Animal and Dairy Sciences department and are looked after by the hundreds of ADS students and professors. Every need is met, and in the words of team head coach Ashley

Glenn, the horses get as much enjoyment out of the practices as the girls themselves.

Glen takes care of the horses, the girls and travels with the team to their numerous competitions around the country.

This year, though, there is a lot more at stake. Several members of the team are slated to compete at nationals in just a few short weeks, and the practice schedule has ramped up to reflect that.

Hannah Blalock, an ADS major from Olive Branch, Mississippi, is one of such members. Blalock, along with her teammates, is grateful for such a fortuitous season. The team is patiently waiting with bated breath for the next competition.

“[The practices] are kind of exhausting, but it’s super rewarding because I feel like even just from semi’s, I’ve improved so much already.

So I can see the pay off, and I’m grateful for that,” Blalock said.

The focus of the team’s practices differ day to day, with some days focusing on riding posture and others focusing on things like horse

control and endurance.

Aside from the daily practices, the team must work out in the Sanderson Center twice a week and hold a single team run or vice versa. Make no mistake of it, these are collegiate athletes. Just ask Alyssa Davis, a biology pre-vet major from Murrieta, California.

“I don’t think people fully understand it. When you tell them you’re on the equestrian team they’re like ‘oh, that’s so cool. You get to ride horses’, but they don’t actually see how much time and effort goes into being a team and everything,” Davis said.

This was also the first season for the team that was held under normal operations after COVID19. The squad was happy to be back to normal, and junior ADS major Emily Curran shared the difference it made to her and the rest of the team.

“I know personally that I was really disappointed when we came back from COVID and we didn’t get to have a show season and travel with the team,” Curran said. “It kind of gave us less opportunities to be around each other, and I’m thankful that we’re back to normal and get to all hang out together.”

As it just so happens, hanging out is every member of the team’s favorite part of the entire operation. Whether that means team runs, passenger van karaoke or, you heard it right the first time, boot shining parties.

All team members are required to wear a uniform during competitions. As part of this uniform, they all wear sleek, well shined, kneehigh boots that have to be pristinely taken care of.

Medina, Tennessee,

MSU makes big appearance at SEC Men’s Golf Championship

No. 18 Mississippi State University men's golf was welcomed to the SEC Championship at St. Simons Island, Georgia, this past week to begin postseason play.

The conference championship started Wednesday and lasted until Sunday. The Bulldogs advanced past stroke play but saw their run cut short after falling in the first round of match play 3-2 to the tournament's top-seed, No. 13 Tennessee.

Seven other SEC teams entered the tournament ranked in the top 25, including Tennessee, top-ranked Vanderbilt, No. 8 Auburn, No. 9 Florida, No. 15 Texas A&M, No. 17 Alabama and No. 21 Ole Miss.

The competition looked to be tricky as the Bulldogs made their way to the peach state. Nonetheless, head coach Dusty Smith was excited for his team to have made it this far.

"This is what you work the entire year for—for opportunities like this,” Smith said. “What matters to us is that we put ourselves in the arena with confidence and trust in one another. We are prepared for this moment."

Coach Smith's squad showed their confidence in the first round of stroke play, collecting a total of 22 birdies with three Bulldogs carding rounds in the 60s – Hunter

Logan (67), Ford Clegg (68) and Garrett Endicott (69).

MSU shot five under 275 as a team to land them in a tie for fourth place as day two of the competition rolled around.

"We need to do a better job at doing the simple things. I thought we lost some shots on the front nine by trying to do a little too much," Coach Smith said. "We did a very good job of hanging tough and being better at the end of our round."

Mississippi State continued to fight with two Bulldogs, Logan and Endicott, carding a bogey-free back nine.

Individually, Logan led the way after the first round for the Bulldogs, tied with six others for 5th. Following a stroke behind was Clegg in a 12-way tie for 11th place. Austin Vukovitz led all golfers in birdies, shooting seven in the first round and ending the day in an 11-way tie for 39th.

"I really thought we played steady golf, for the most part, today,” Coach Smith said following the second round. “It always felt like we had all five guys in it, which is important on days like today."

On day two, MSU shot an even 280, but the team fell to sixth place. Two more rounds were carded in the 60s for the Bulldogs on day two – Clegg, who added his second, and Ruan Pretorius – bringing the tournament total to five.

"Ford and Ruan did a great job keeping golf simple today," Smith said.

Pretorius jumped 14 places to 39th following his day two performance, but Clegg would lead the way for Mississippi State, finishing the second round tied for seventh. Vukovitz would carry the lead for most birdies into day three, carding four more to total eleven after 36 holes.

On the third and final day of stroke play, MSU shot 286, totaling one over (841), beating out Georgia by one shot to claim the last quarterfinal spot.

"[I'm] proud of how we handled the day," Smith said about day three. "It wasn't our best, but the guys came up big when they needed to. We are prepared and ready for a great match against a great opponent in Tennessee."

Two Bulldogs would end stroke-play in the top 20, with Logan (-2) in 13th and Endicott (E) in 19th. Clegg, named the 2023 SEC Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year, ended stroke play in a tie for 38th. Pretorius tied for 47th with five other golfers, and Vukovits ended in a tie for 53rd with LSU's Conner Gaunt and Auburn's Carson Bacha.

In claiming the final quarterfinal spot, the Bulldogs faced top-seeded Tennessee in the first round of match play. The Volunteers edged out MSU 3-2.

Clegg won his matchup 21 against Tennessee's Bryce Lewis. Lewis held a one-hole advantage over Clegg through seven holes before the Bulldogs evened the score on hole eight. After seven holes of a tied match, Clegg won the 15th and clinched his matchup on hole 17.

Looking forward, MSU will wait for the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Selection Show May 3 to learn where it will head for the NCAA Regionals. The selection show will be broadcast on

CT.

native Hannah Brasher is an ADS major, as well as a national competitor. Brasher stated that these parties are her favorite perk of being a member of the team.

“We have these boot cleaning parties every once in a while, just before shows to get everybody’s morale up, get everybody pumped up for the show season,” Brasher said. “I enjoy them, because you just get to kind of mesh with everybody and connect, and we have some pretty good laughs and stuff during that time, if you can imagine that.”

As great as the team’s success has been this season, it does not come easy for the coaching staff, either. Complete with a lot of volunteer work and generosity from the Animal and Dairy Science program, Glenn said that there is still lots of work to do to get the program where she wants it.

The main issue the team faces is that they are not registered as a National Collegiate Athletic Association team. This should be an accomplishable goal, as the Southeastern Conference does sponsor

equestrian as a registered sport.

Currently, only four schools (Auburn University, the University of Georgia, the University of South Carolina and Texas A&M University) have equestrian teams sponsored by the SEC, which makes them eligible to compete at the NCAA level.

Being registered as an NCAA team would open the door to more funding, more competition and more opportunity for the members of the team that already commit so much to being a member. For some, like junior ADS major and Canadian native Abby Fox, it would mean everything.

“What I think about is our funding, specifically,” Fox said. “… the way that I view it, if we were an NCAA team, I can’t even imagine what we would do with all of that help.”

Tylertown, Mississippi, native Cameron Johnson, another ADS major, echoed Fox’s sentiments, and said that the funding would go a long way not just for the team, but also for the academics of the members.

“It’s kind of frustrating

when you’re putting in a lot of work and not getting any scholarship benefits off of that work out here and having to get everything for yourself,” Johnson said.

The bottom line is if MSU announced that they were sponsoring a new sport tomorrow, the MSU equestrian team would have their pitch ready to go. There is an established program already in place. Nothing would have to be built from the ground up, and coach Glenn made sure to highlight one of the biggest factors of importance when it comes to being student athletes.

“We tend to draw really good students, too,” Glenn said. “I think if you looked at the overall GPA of the equestrian team riders, they tend to have some of the higher GPA’s, and so that’s a positive for the athletic department.”

For more information on the MSU equestrian team, the coaching staff encourages students to visit their website to learn more about their operations at www.ads.msstate.edu/ete am.

(From left) Mary Williams, Hannah Brasher, Kate Rushton, Hannah Blalock.

Courtesy | MSU Equestrian

Senior Alex Gordon is currently serving as the Mississippi State Equestrian Team’s hunt seat captain.

Courtesy| MSU Equestrian