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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2019
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134th YEAR ISSUE 33
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
Starkville announces camera project expansion KATIE POE
NEWS EDITOR
The City of Starkville purchased 10 new cameras to place at major intersections of the city to deter crime and help investigations. Lovelady said the city is expanding its already existing camera program. Some cameras age back almost 10 years. “What we’re doing is, we’re expanding a project that the police department has already been doing for years now... It’s something we’ve always been open
about,” Lovelady said. “Sometimes, folks don’t like to talk about putting cameras up, but it’s really helped with both misdemeanor and felony cases.” Sergeant Brandon Lovelady, who is the police department’s public information officer, said these cameras will not be used to give speeding tickets, but rather to provide evidence or leads for other crimes. The expansion includes the new cameras, but it also involves another city department, Information Technology. Technology
Director Joel Clements said his department played a large role in the project. “The IT department has been working closely with the police department on this project,” Clements said. “The IT department gathered requirements, worked with vendors, evaluated the available technologies and then determined the best way forward. The IT Department will then acquire the equipment and facilitate its deployment.” Clements said the city plans to acquire more cameras as time moves on. “We are planning to
have 40 cameras active through town within five years,” he said. Pulling up the live video feed on his computer, Lovelady explained the current PTZ cameras are still functional, but they have some limitations. The PTZ cameras only record whatever is in frame, meaning if an officer zooms in on the live feed, that is all it will record. “PTZ are great cameras, but the box that you’re pointing at is all it’s recording,” Lovelady said. “If you’re 10 feet on the side of the camera, you don’t have it.” CAMERAS, 2
Katie Poe | The Reflector
The new HD camera set up by the city of Starkville sits on a pole outside of City Hall.
Cowbell Yell rings in baseball season
Mental Health Diagnosis 36% 22%
Student financial aid to host FAFSA Days this month GRACIE BYRNE STAFF WRITER
2017
2007
Mississippi State University’s Department of Student Financial Aid will hold an event called FAFSA Days. The event will be on Feb. 26 and 27, and March 4 and 5. “It’s a win-win for everyone, especially students,” Director Paul McKinney said. An event of this kind is new for MSU, but McKinney said this type of event has worked well at previous colleges he worked at. The purpose of the event is to reach out to the student population and help them complete their FAFSA sooner so they will not have to worry about the status of their financial aid in the fall. There is no registration, and students can come to any day of the event. It is open to all MSU students. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day, and will be in the first floor of the Colvard Student Union in the Dawghouse. Staff members will be outside the Union to direct students to the event. “We are very excited to have our first FAFSA completion day,” McKinney said. “We’re hoping to have a large turnout so that students can have their FAFSA completed before the summer break.” At the event, staff from the Financial Aid Department will be available for questions. Computers will be set up if students would like to complete their FAFSA onsite. Drinks and refreshments will be available as well.
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has found a national increase in mental health diagnoses among college students from 22 percent in 2007 to 36 percent in 2017
Task force will create a standard for mental health resources in Mississippi universities KATIE POE
NEWS EDITOR
The Mississippi Student Body Presidents’ Council has taken a huge stride in holding universities accountable for providing mental health resources. Last semester, the council approached the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) to lobby on behalf of students to address some concerns regarding mental health resources on campuses. Mississippi State University Student Association President Mayah Emerson said the council provided joint resolutions asking the IHL board create a task force setting standards for mental health resource across all of the institutions in the state. Emerson, who is also the president of this council, said while MSU has mental health resources readily available, some other institutes may not. “While there is always
room from improvement, Mississippi State actually does well in regards to the mental health resources that we offer,” Emerson said. “However, some of the other students in the state of Mississippi do not have access to the kind of support that Mississippi State students do.” On Jan. 24, the council met with Board of Trustees President Shane Hooper and IHL Commissioner Alfred Rankins in order to formally make the request for a task force. As a result of the meeting and legislation, the task force was assembled and will investigate ways to provide more mental health resources to students. “This task force will examine the services that each of our universities offer, and create a benchmark, or standard of what mental health resources should be available on our campuses,” Emerson said. Emerson said this standard will be used to help keep Mississippi universities accountable for offering resources.
Tyler Bell | The Reflector
Ethan Small, a pitcher, addresses the crowd at Cowbell Yell and encourages people to come out and see the team play at the completely renovated Dudy Noble Field for their first game at 4 p.m. Friday.
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CAMERAS
Lovelady said each new camera will include four HD lenses which will allow for a 360 degree angle view. They will be run on fiber optics, which will give better resolution compared to the previous cameras’ bandwidth limitations. “New program going forward will use fiber optics to get us past some of those data issues we had in the past, and just provide a better solution going forward,” Lovelady said. “I really think it’s a good thing.” In addition, the new cameras will be more overt. “The newest ones are way more overt... We’ve never been trying to hide anything,” Lovelady said. “The new ones, you’ll see the arms connected directly to the box, and the box has red and blue flashing lights. You can see those things as far as your line of sight is.” The six current cameras in place were made possible by a Justice Assistance Grant which paid for other police department areas, like overtime during football games or DUI detail. “That same grant is what, in the past, has funded these cameras,” Lovelady said. The 10 new cameras, however, will be paid from the Information Technology’s Equipment and Machinery account. The Board of Aldermen voted Feb. 5 to enter a lease purchasing agreement with
Active Solutions, LLC to acquire the “10 surveillance cameras with all-weather equipment enclosures.” The total amount of the lease is $59,237.42 that the city will pay $1,153 each month for 60 months.
“On the police department’s side, we hope that it deters crime, and if you had an incident at or near your residence, you would wish that there was as much evidence as possible. Just feeling safe.” - Brandon Lovelady, public information off icer Clements said the cameras should be fully deployed within the next six weeks. “This will be a powerful tool to continue to provide the high level of safety and security the people of Starkville, as well as our visitors, expect and deserve,” Clements said. “It will serve as a force-
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multiplier for the police department.” Mayor Lynn Spruill said the new cameras will allow the city to be on the forefront of safety. “This project is an opportunity for the city to be proactive in its approach to safety,” Spruill said. “Our desire is to continue to grow our events and as such, we have a responsibility to keep our community safe for all our visitors and residents.“ Lovelady said the cameras will be placed in high-traffic areas. “We’re saturating to include the parks, Fire Station Park, J.L. King Park and the Sportsplex. There’s a large portion in this area, but that’s where we include all of our events,” Lovelady said. “That’s just where we are starting. Eventually, we will have them covering all of town at major intersections. They’re not on neighborhood streets.” Lovelady said the new cameras will provide many benefits to not only the city and police department, but also to the people of the community who may be the victim of a crime. “Everybody has their opinions but it’s a positive thing,” Lovelady said. “On the police department’s side, we hope that it deters crime, and if you had an incident at or near your residence, you would wish that there was as much evidence as possible. Just feeling safe.”
Rosalind Hutton
FAFSA “I think this event is a great opportunity for students to seek guidance on filing for financial aid,” junior special education major Macy Cooper said. “Filing for financial aid was always a burden for me, so I wish I had this opportunity coming through.” The FAFSA to be filled out at the event will be the form for the 2019-2020 school year. To complete this year’s form, students will need tax information from 2017. General knowledge
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handouts and contact information will be available for students to have on file. One component of the event will be learning about a tool within the FAFSA form, which is the data retrieval tool. This tool retrieves a student’s tax information directly from the IRS. “We want to make ourselves as available as possible,” Financial Aid Counselor Sarah Grace Broom said. “And we want to make sure the students have their aid as quick as
“We want to make ourselves as available as possible. And we want to make sure the students have their aid as quick as they can get it.” - Sarah Grace Broom, Financial Aid Counselor they can get it.” The FAFSA becomes available on Oct. 1 each
year. If students complete the FAFSA by April 1, their financial aid for the next
school year will be more likely set up. The purpose of the Department of Student Financial Aid is to assist students with completing the FAFSA, which is Title IV financial aid. By completing the FAFSA, determinations can be made and financial aid may be awarded. FAFSA, which stands for ‘free application for federal student aid,’ is the federal form students fill out to determine eligibility in receiving financial aid
for higher education. The FAFSA is completed each academic year. The financial aid received from the FAFSA is categorized as a grant, so the money students receive is not required to be paid back. The amount of money a student receives is based on financial need and household income. “I want students to have as much knowledge as they can,” Broom said. “We’ll have great outcome from it and we hope this is helpful.”
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According to a letter sent to the board of trustees by the Student Body Presidents’ Council, Mississippi falls far behind in making resources available to its residents. The letter cites Mental Health America, stating Mississippi ranks sixth overall in prevalence of mental illness and 51st in access to care. Additionally, the letter states the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has found a national increase in mental health diagnoses among college students from 22 percent in 2007 to 36 percent in 2017. The APA has also identified an increase in treatment of students for mental health diagnoses from 19 percent to 34 percent. “In contrast to this data,
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many public institutions in the state lack adequate
“This student-led initiative has made our governing body aware of issues concerning students, and I could not be more proud of the work that was done in order to make that happen” - Mayah Emerson, MSU Student Association President mental health services and staff while suffering from budget reductions,” the letter states. “As a voice for the students of the state
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all students who are in need and to demonstrate our commitment to mental health and how it affects all students.” Emerson said this initiative is extremely beneficial to students all across the state. “This task force is an absolute win for students
at Mississippi State and for college students across the state of Mississippi,” Emerson said. “This student-led initiative has made our governing body aware of issues concerning students, and I could not be more proud of the work that was done in order to make that happen.” Emerson said the task force would not be possible without help from the MSU administration, public officials and the student advocacy of the Student Body Presidents’ Council. The council is made up of student body from nine universities in Mississippi: MSU, University of Southern Mississippi, Jackson State University, Delta State University, Alcorn State University, Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi Valley State University, University of Mississippi and University of Mississippi Medical Center.
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BAD DAWGS Missing Bad Dawgs today No worries, your favorite troublemakers will be back! Be sure to pick up a copy of Tuesday’s paper to see who’s been in the doghouse.
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY...
An In-Class Distraction
Feb. 12 puzzle solutions
... in 1950, Walt Disney’s animated “Cinderella” opens in theaters across the U.S.. “Cinderella,” based on a Brothers Grimm fairy tale, was chosen due to its similarities to the Snow White story, which Disney premiered in 1937’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” The immediate source for “Cinderella” was from Charles Perrault’s French version. The film took six years to make, and was one of the highest-grossing features on 1950. The film’s track “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo” was nominated for an Oscar. history.com
So, you think you know it all? staff ads are listed at $3 per issue, pre-paid. Lost and found items: Found items can be listed for free; lost items are listed at standard ad cost. CLUB INFO The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday. The deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. MSU student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info. Information
to managing@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
1. What’s the longest movie? 2. What Pixar movie first received a rating higher than G? 3. What is the smallest book in the Welsh National Library? 4. Every episode of “Seinfeld” contains an image or reference to which superhero? 5. What invention was patented first? usefultrivia
1. “The Cure for Insomnia” 85 hours, 2. “The Incredibles,” 3. “Old King Cole,” measuring 1 mm by 1 mm, and the pages can only be turned with a needle, 4. Superman, 5. The rubber band.
CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE: Starkville Habitat for Humanity ReStore thrift store open Saturday, Feb. 16, from 8-11 a.m. Located at 1632 Rockhill Road in Starkville. Bargains on furniture, appliances, building materials and more. The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday. The deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. Classifieds are listed at
... in 1903, Morris Michtom, an inventor and the owner of a toy store, placed two stuffed bears in his shop’s window. Prior to the teddy bear’s debut, Michtom asked permission from former President Theodore Roosevelt to use his nickname, Teddy. Roosevelt consented, and other toy manufacturers were quickly producing the stuffed bears. Soon, the teddy bear would become a national childhood institution. One of Roosevelt’s hunting expeditions provided the inspiration for the iconic stuffed animal. While he was an avid conservationist, Roosevelt was ironically an extreme hunter. While some of his extremes trips occurred, the story behind the teddy bear derived from one of his more compassionate hunting trips. Reports differ, but it is believed this hunting trip occurred in Mississippi in 1902. He stumbled upon an old, injured black bear his guides had tied to a tree. It is believed Roosevelt released the bear. Political cartoonists later portrayed the freed bear to be a cub. This image implied that under his tough, rugged, masculine, Roosevelt had a softer, more sensitive interior.
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OPINION
Sexism in STEM should not be tolerated DEVIN BYRD
is a junior majoring in chemical engineering. Contact her at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.
In honor of National Women in STEM Day, I would like to address an issue that goes ignored and cannot be solved with the institution of a “day.” As an Engineering major, I have come across many problems in the world of STEM. None, however, have been as prevalent as the blatant sexism and sexual harassment behind the closed doors. From a young age, girls are taught to belittle themselves and to hold men to a higher standard. In a study conducted by Lin Bian in 2017, both girls and boys at age five had no gender preferences when deciphering who is “really, really smart.” However, by age six, girls tended to group more boys than girls into the “really, really smart” category, and also removed themselves from games they thought required you to be “really, really smart,” as reported by Harvard University. So, from age six, we women are taught to think less of ourselves
when it comes to general intelligence, but the sexism does not stop there. Not even close. In my experience in the STEM workforce, I was always perceived in a daughterly way. I was the only girl in an office of over 25 men, besides the office assistant. Every meeting we had to discuss projects and upcoming tasks, my opinions were not valued as highly as other men of my same stature. I was always titled “sweetie” and “honey,” and was made fun of for having nice nails. A supervisor told me, “You would make a great secretary!” Often, I was given the aid of a male counterpart for dirty or heavy-lifting jobs. I was deemed incapable of doing these things alone because I am a woman. As women, we are at a constant disadvantage in the workplace for many reasons, but one of the most common reasons is because we are seen as incapable or unintelligent. According to Harvard University, in a recent study by Daniel Z. Grunspan, men who are enrolled in undergraduate biology classes at the University of Washington ranked their women classmates less knowledgeable about the course content, even if those women outperformed the men with higher scores.
I don’t understand.
I don’t understand.
Research Center, “About half (48 percent) of women in STEM jobs who work with mostly men say their gender has made it harder for them to succeed in their job, compared with just 14 (percent) of other women in STEM.” The following quote from one of the women in this study, who remains anonymous, explaining these findings is a perfect example of STEM workplace sexism. “People automatically assume I am the secretary, or in a less technical role because I am female. This makes it difficult for me to build a technical network to get my work done. People will call on my male co-workers, but not call on me.” As often as we try to pretend there is not, there is definitely still a genderbiased wage gap. A survey was recorded for faculty in the physics field. According to Susan White, the data analyst for the Statistical Research Center at the American Institute of Physics, “The model says that if we have two people who are identical in every way, the woman will make, on average, 6 (percent) less than the man,” as reported by Harvard University. These numbers speak for themselves. Another roadblock in the way of gender equality in the STEM field is the
Here, let me explain.
Well, it’s more difficult for girls.
Rosalind Hutton
The men in the class ranked their fellow male classmates at 0.57 GPA points higher on a four-point scale than women. This is like saying a man with a “B” in a class is just as knowledgeable about course content as a woman with an “A.” This mindset
is what makes it increasingly difficult for women to present in board meetings or to speak up in projectplanning meetings, because we know our opinions are viewed as less valuable than a man’s opinion. According to Cary Funk and Kim Parker of Pew
ignorance and unawareness of the men we work with to the problem of sexism. Men constantly choose to believe what makes them feel better about themselves, as opposed to owning up to the truth and making a conscious effort to fix the problem. Men also completely overlook the issue because it does not affect them, so why would they help? Additionally, a study, reported by Harvard University, by Ian M. Handley shows male scientists are more likely to discredit real, credited studies showing gender inequality while accepting the information in a fake, completely made up study showing there is no gender inequality in the STEM field. In conclusion, sexism in the STEM field is just as much a concern today as it was 20 years ago. Women are taught we are less than men starting at age six, and this permeates throughout our lives. We can be far more than secretaries and office assistants, and we should be treated just as capable as men. The only way this issue is resolved is for both men and women to work together to be aware and proactive to stop sexism in technical fields. We are women. We are capable. We need to be treated as such.
Trivia Time!
1. What is the only country that displays the Bible on its national flag?
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2. Oliver Twist was the second novel published by which English
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
author?
“No struggle can ever succeed without women participating side by side with men.”
3. What element did Joseph Priestley discover in 1774? 4. Which is the only Disney Princess that has a child? Answer: 1. The Dominican Republic 2. Charles Dickens 3. Oxygen 4. Ariel
Source: trivia.fyi
It is time to let the ‘ugly shoe trend’ die What are THOSE? SARAH MORGAN JOHNSON
is a sophomore majoring in English. Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu
The Crocs catastrophe has swept the nation since their reboot in 2017, and the tragic effects of this regeneration can be seen on the feet of students here at Mississippi State University. The comeback of Crocs is a continuation of the “ugly shoe trend,” popular in high fashion for several years now, and has trickled down into more affordable options. To understand why all your friends now think it is cool and acceptable to wear Crocs, I think you first have to understand the overarching progression of which they are sadly a part. Before anything can be done to put a halt to this movement, we have to recognize it for what it is. Christine Van Deemter
Rosalind Hutton
of Vogue attributes the trend to fashion’s new tilt toward comfort. “Perhaps it started with Birkenstocks, the treasured hippie sandal now ubiquitous in every influencer’s wardrobe. That trend morphed into the plastic pool slide, which is now a perennial bestseller, despite conjuring up horrifying visions of gym showers. Clogs and slipons followed in our quest
for ever-more comfortable feet,” Deemter explains. What may be seen as a brilliant and inspiring business comeback for the company is a calamity for innocent feet everywhere. According to Nathaniel Meyersohn of CNN, the company’s newfound success can be attributed to its new director, Andrew Rees. Meyersohn claims Rees
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days and think of them fondly. However, seeing my fourth-grade shoe of choice on the feet of my collegeaged friends is unnerving. It is like everyone decided to pick up macaroni art again just for the heck of it. I recognize if you live at the beach or if you work around water, Crocs may be a sensible shoe for you. However, if these two conditions do not apply to you and you find yourself wearing crocs, yank the rubber atrocities off your feet. Crocs do not match your outfit. Crocs are not adaptable to weather conditions, even if you are wearing socks with them. I also recognize everyone has the right to buy whatever shoes they please, but personally, I will not be purchasing Crocs. If you love crocs and find their chunky, clumsy appearance endearing, by all means, wear them to your heart’s content. But if you are merely trying to half-heartedly fit into a trend, I beg of you, please do not spend $40 on a pair of shoes you do not even like for the sake of seeming ironic.
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“has emphasized cutting underperforming lines, lightening Crocs’ inventory levels, and investing in core clogs, sandals and flip flops with different colors and graphics. Rees’ strategic shift has worked, and Crocs has been able to stay relevant with shoppers and adapt to retail upheaval.” Crocs’ stock more than doubled in 2018. The clunky, rubber, ventilated
boat shoes have also squirmed their way onto high fashion runways, and people are quickly following behind. Crocs have been revamped by brands such as Balenciaga and Christopher Kane. In 2017, Balenciaga released their Croc remakes during Paris Fashion Week. Claudia Croft of Vogue described the shoes as “a cartoonish 10cm platform version of the famously ugly shoe encrusted with Balenciaga gibbits and what looked like the kind of plastic fridge magnets sold in airports.” If you have seen the shoe they are writing about, I think you would agree with this description. The harrowing shoes sold for $850, and according to Amanda Krause of Business Insider they sold out and secured the number 10 spot on Lyst’s Hottest Women’s Products for 2018. I will admit, I owned a pair of bright pink Crocs in the fourth grade. All my friends had them, and I adored the little charms with which I could decorate them. Up until recently, I could look back on my pink-Crocs-wearing
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Ongoing toiletry drive will donate to Mississippi homeless shelters TALLY DUKE STAFF WRITER
Mississippi State University, in partnership with the Montgomery Leadership Capstone Project, is putting on its first annual toiletry drive. Students, faculty and community members can donate items to the toiletry drive to help the homeless around Mississippi. Certain items can earn donors a certain amount of community service hours. Toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant and wipes can
earn the donor one service hour, and shampoo and conditioner are worth two service hours. Donors can earn up to five community service hours. Drop off locations are located on the third floor of the Colvard Student Union in the Greek Life office, the second floor at the Holmes Cultural Diversity center, or any participating elementary, middle and high school in Starkville. Keiaireyona Brown, an MSU junior, and Bethany Jones, an MSU senior, are co-directors for the toiletry
drive for their Montgomery Leadership Capstone Project. “We have reached out to the local schools, and I also plan on reaching out to some schools in Columbus to get as many as possible involved,”Jones said. The entire community is encouraged to get involved in this outreach, and Brown and Jones hope to continue the drive in the coming spring semester. The goal is to reach 500 complete toiletry bags, and so far the outcome has been positive. “This is close to my heart
‘Russian Doll’ is sweet, but just a little too short EMMA DRAY BRASWELL STAFF WRITER
I went into watching the new Netflix Original “Russian Doll” expecting it to be the kind of show I would have to force myself to complete. It was definitely like that for the first couple episodes because the plot of someone dying, waking back up earlier that day and being unable to break the loop is such a tired, overdone idea. Needless to say, once was more than enough. Still, somehow I found myself enjoying the show,
R u s s i a n Rosalind Hutton which meant instead of dreading watching it, I did not mind clicking the ‘next episode’ option. Pretty soon, I was basically bingewatching episodes. This being said, there are only eight episodes out right now. Honestly, it is a little shocking and disappointing. If someone is going to produce a show even halfway decent, everyone knows the show has to be long enough to even count
as binge-watching it. Not only are there just eight episodes, but it gets worse. Each episode is somewhere around 25 minutes, which is even more upsetting. This is about three and a half hours total. While those shows would have honestly gotten boring if they were longer than half an hour, a boost in episodes would have been nice because eight is just too short. The main character is the first interesting thing about the show. The first and second episodes are boring because they are full of her dying and figuring
D o l l out what was happening in the first place. Still, even then, Nadia’s character made me interested enough to keep watching. With an interesting backstory and a personality that somehow makes the audience like her, Nadia tries to get back to living her life the best she can, and because of her, the show is worth viewing. The end of the third episode is when it really
picks up because she finds a guy who not only believes her, but says the same thing happens to him. This makes the rest of the season infinitely more interesting because the audience gets to see how their lives are connected. It gives us something to figure out, rather than simply counting the times she has died. Not only is this show dramatic in a creepy and dark way, but it also has plenty of funny moments. The fact her entire quest of getting herself back to normal started with finding her cat is absolutely golden. Nadia’s entire attitude is brilliant, which is one of the reasons her personality was perfect for this role. In one of the episodes, as a response to her situation, she says, “the universe is trying to f*** with me and I refuse to engage.” Natasha Lyonne, the actress who plays Nadia, was without a doubt the best casting in all of the show. She portrays the perfect personality needed to make this show comedic. She was impressive, and I honestly cannot think of a better actor for the part. The show continues to be interesting because of several plot twists throughout it, but a big part of this interest can also be attributed to the character development built between Nadia and Alan as they learn how to correct crucial mistakes they made that day. Please do not misunderstand me. I am not saying “Russian Doll” is the best show I have ever seen by any means. The base of the idea is still too played out, at least this year, and it does make the show need an extra something to be interesting enough to watch. Still, this show has the extra personality it vitally needs. It is definitely worth trying out, at least through the third episode.
because I have a passion for giving back to people and communities,” Jones said. Due to the service hours offered for participation and community involvement, Jones and Brown are hopeful they will reach their goal. “The outcome so far has been well, and we have collected 42 items and have completed six toiletry bags,” said Brown. Both Brown and Jones will hand deliver the toiletry bags to each shelter as a way to give back to the communities of Mississippi. So far, shampoo,
conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste and tissues are the more popular items being donated, and are much appreciated. “We will split all the toiletry bags and will donate them to homeless shelters in Jackson, Meridian and Hattiesburg, Mississippi,” Jones said. “We will also be offering more volunteer opportunities to pack and sort the toiletry bags when we get closer to the delivery days.” Five hundred of each item are needed to reach the end goal of 500 complete
toiletry bags. Seven total homeless shelters will be reached with this outreach opportunity. Abbie Pruett, an MSU junior and local children’s church worker, said she loves the idea of the toiletry drive. “There are many people in not only our community, but also surrounding communities that are hurting, that we probably do not even know about,” Pruett said. “I love that students are being given the opportunity to give back to their community and help those in need.”
Student Spotlight: Ffion Price
Emma Moffett|The Reflector Ffion Price, an MSU PhD student in exercise physiology with a concentration on supplementation and performance, prepares for her day of work in the basement of the Longest Student Health Center.
BRANDON GRISHAM STAFF WRITER
Born in Llandrindod Wells, Wales, 24-year-old Ffion Price stands out among Mississippi State University students. Having received her undergraduate degree in sports biomedicine and nutrition at Cardiff Metropolitan and master’s degree in kinesiology from MSU in 2017, Price is currently in her fourth semester as a PhD in exercise physiology, with a concentration on supplementation and performance at MSU. Price is the daughter of Yvette and Derek Price, both of whom are Welsh citizens. Her siblings include Carwyn and Rhianwedd, the latter earned an MSU master’s degree in animal and dairy science. As an active member of MSU’s track and cross country department, Price’s athletic achievements are phenomenal. Her impressive placement and wins in multiple relays allowed her to run in several SEC championships. Price chose to attend MSU because of her twin sister, and the relationship
with her coaching staff. Following the track scholarship to gain her masters, advisers convinced her to stay for a PhD. Price also video chats her family, and occasionally feels homesick since it is a 24-hour flight back to her hometown. While America presented a learning curve, Price said she has adjusted to her life in Starkville fairly well. Driving on the opposite road took time to get accustomed to, as well as the food. While she is a fan of southern cuisine, she laments the sugar content in basic foods, including bread and snacks. Outside of her studies, Price also works as a graduate assistant within the department of health promotion and wellness. Juleigh Baker, the health and wellness educator for university health services, considers Price to be an incredibly charming person. “She is a really happy person,” Baker said. “It’s been great getting to know her and learning about her cultural differences from Wales. She’s become part of the family.” Price is currently doing research on menstrual effect toward athletic
performance. When questioned about the transition into her doctoral work, her response was enigmatic, but extremely energetic. “It was intense at first, but prioritizing helped me become far more organized,” said Price, smiling. Kim Kavalsky, MSU coordinator of mental health outreach, described Price as a genuine beacon of joy. “She is a delightful person to be around,” Kavalsky said. “She has a loosely relaxed personality, and her laughter is contagious.” Upon completing her PhD, she wishes to travel back to the United Kingdom and become a university lecturer, and work with athletes for further research. Her dream is to work with Welsh athletes to assess their physiology and help them develop their performance. She also plans on becoming a professional runner herself, which her exceptional MSU performance surely will help. Her favorite event is the pink dog walk, and she currently acts as an assistant coach to athletes.
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Say Her Name: the life and death of Sandra Bland
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66-Sports SPORTS
THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019 @SPORTSREFLECTOR
Schedule for Opening Weekend Game 1 Friday at 4p.m. Game 2 Saturday at 2p.m. Game 3 Sunday at 12p.m. Rosalind Hutton
Baseball stepping up to the plate HUNTER CLOUD SPORTS EDITOR
Opening day of baseball means the sights and sounds of America’s past time, and Mississippi State University’s pride and joy return, as the players put on their uniforms with the classic M over S. For Jake Mangum, a senior center fielder from Pearl, it will be his last opening day as a Bulldog. It will also be head coach Chris Lemonis’s first. “He gives me goosebumps when I see the way he talks and when he talks about the ‘M over S,’” Lemonis said. “That’s what I get from the players more than anything is how much it means to be a part of this program. You see that from Jake, and he has had an experience here and it’s been a lot. There’s nobody else that loves this program
more than that kid. I lean on him.” Mangum said the record for hits and other records within reach are not why he chose to stay for his senior year. “Time here is very valuable and like it or not, it’s my last year,” Mangum said. “That (records) wasn’t a factor about coming back, but we’ll give it one more crack at it and we’ll give it all we’ve got.” Mangum has had four different coaches in his career as a Bulldog, but he said this year will not be different. He said he hopes to take full advantage of another year in an MSU uniform because it is truly a privilege to play in it. “If I talked to Burke Masters right now, what would he say? He would love to be out there today,” Mangum said. “He would love to be out there in
a 20-degree game in the snow. He would love to go back out there and wear this (uniform) one more time.” MSU baseball legends Will Clark and Rafael Palmeiro, nicknamed Thunder and Lightning, will have their statues unveiled at 1:30 Friday before the game, offering a reminder of the great Bulldogs who have worn the spikes and played at Dudy Noble Field. As opening day hits, the biggest priority has not changed from last year. While MSU has gone to 12 College World Series, it has yet to do one thing— their number one priority this season according to Mangum. “It’s to win a National Championship,” Mangum said. “It’s still that one thing missing about our program. That is the ultimate goal.”
Simmons suffers major setback HUNTER CLOUD SPORTS EDITOR
Jeffery Simmons, a former MSU defensive lineman from Macon, was preparing for the NFL draft this April 25-27 when he suffered a major setback according to a statement released on his Twitter. “Unfortunately, I tore the ACL in my left knee when I was going through position drills this past weekend while training in Boca Raton, Florida,” Simmons said. Simmons said he will undergo surgery sometime next week, and will begin the rehab process sometime following the corrective procedure. He assured whichever team drafts him,
Kelly Donoho |MSU Athletics
Jeffery Simmons tore his ACL this weekend.
he will continue to work hard even during recovery. “I am going to come back stronger and more determined than ever,” Simmons said. “If it is God’s will, no matter which team drafts me this April, I will work extremely hard to become healthy and a leader in that organization.”
In his time at MSU, Simmons had seven sacks, two defensive touchdowns and was named the Conerly Trophy winner, an award given to the best player in Mississippi. Simmons said his work to help the team improve is what he did at MSU and hopes to continue to do the same at the next level. After he got a second chance at MSU, he has worked hard to become a better man and a better player. “I pride myself in my work ethic, commitment and leadership on and off of the field,” Simmons said. “I will do the same at the next level, becoming the best teammate I can be and helping my teammates get better while I prepare to take the field.”
Bouncing back to winning form BRIANNA WALKER STAFF WRITER
Coming off a twogame skid, Mississippi State University held off the University of Alabama in Tuesday night’s game. In efforts to rebound back from poor performances within the last few weeks, the Bulldogs bounced back with a 8162 victory something that pleased head coach Ben Howland. “For me, this is the best game we have played since I’ve been the coach at Mississippi State,” Howland said. Prior to Tuesday’s contest, the teams met two weeks ago in Tuscaloosa and the outcome was much different. When the teams first met in January, Alabama capitalized on the careless mistakes MSU made and defeated the Bulldogs with a score of 83-79. Despite the first matchup not being in the Bulldogs’ favor, the outcome did not halt them from playing with intensity all 40 minutes Tuesday night. Lamar Peters, a junior guard from New Orleans who led the team in scoring, had an SEC high night with 22 points, four steals and he was 5-5 from the free throw line. “If I can score, I’ll score the ball, but my main focus is trying to get the team going,” Peters said. “I’m like the quarterback out there, so I have to get these other guys going. When I see I can knock down shots and help us out, I’ll do that to.” Comparing January’s performance against Alabama to Tuesday night’s, it almost seems like night and day. In the first half of the competition, Alabama had nine turnovers, and the
Mary Georgia Hamilton| The Reflector
Robert Woodard II dunks in MSU’s 81-62 win over Alabama at the Hump on Tuesday night.
Bulldogs capitalized off eight of those turnovers to have a 16-2 advantage in points off turnovers and although the Bulldogs only shot for 48 percent, they still managed to hold the Tide to 30 points in the first half. This was Alabama’s second of three road games where they ended with 18 plus turnovers. Adding to the team’s stellar performance was Quinndary Weatherspoon who scored 20 points, six assists and three steals. This is Weatherspoon’s fourth time in the last six games where he has scored 20 plus points; when Weatherspoon scores 20 plus points, it usually results in a Bulldog victory. Following Tuesday’s contest, Weatherspoon has now surpassed 1,800 career points. “He’s (Weatherspoon)
really playing at a high level. What I liked tonight, he had four assists in the first half. I thought he was really good sharing and moving the ball,” Howland said. Another major contribution to the Bulldogs’ victory was Reggie Perry, a freshman forward from Thomasville, Georgia. Perry scored 14 points, forced two turnovers and dominated defensively by leading the team in blocks with 10. “We played a lot harder, we helped each other,” Perry said. “We knew they were a good team, but we wanted to be the aggressors coming into this game.” With expectations high after the outstanding victory Tuesday night, the Bulldogs will take on Arkansas in Fayetteville at 7:30 pm. Feb. 16. The SEC Network will televise the game.
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