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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

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129 th YEAR | ISSUE 36

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

BOA vote to replace insurance agent, Mayor vetoes decision motioned by Alderman Lisa Wynn to replace Tim Cox with Debbie Jaudon as the city’s insurance agent.

Cox has had Starkville as a client for 18 years and drafted the city’s insurance policy for 2015. Regardless of who the agent is, the policy Cox drafted will remain in place until a

by Taylor Bowden Staff Writer

Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman vetoed a 4-2 Board of Aldermen decision

new one is written for 2016.

Wiseman said since the matter was initially brought up, he was clear he does not support changing insurance agents mid-year.

“Mr. Cox is not a salaried employee of the city. Nor was he paid hourly for the work he did to create the city’s

insurance plan,” Wiseman said in his veto. “Rather, Mr. Cox worked on the good faith principle that if the city accepted the plan he created, he would receive a monthly commission as the city’s insurance agent for the entire year.”

If the board motions to

override the veto and is successful, Jaudan will receive payment for the seven months remaining in the year.

The vote was split.

Alderman Scott Maynard recused himself from the vote once Wynn made the motion. Aldermen Jason

Walker and David Little opposed the motion, while Aldermen Wynn, Ben Carver, Roy Perkins and Henry Vaughn supported it.

Wynn said Cox had concealed information concerning the contents of the controversial plus-one insurance policy from the board.

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FREEZE FRAME

Activity fee to be charged to students in fall 2016

by Nia Wilson Staff Writer

In the upcoming 2015-16 academic year, Mississippi State University students can expect to pay $5 each semester that will go toward a Student Activity Fee. Students were initially polled and asked whether they would approve of an activity fee. Over 50 percent of the student body voted for the implementation of the fee.

Former MSU Student Association President Rhett Hobart initially proposed the Student Activity Fee four years ago. Since then, SA has been working to complete Hobart’s vision.

The funds will go toward fi nancing three primary goals: student organization funding, late night events and educational speakers.

SA President Brett Harris said the fee is a great asset to benefiting the entire student body.

“This is a very minimal fee. Originally, we talked about $15 dollars a semester, but we eventually lowered it to $5,” Harris said. “Five dollars?

That’s just one drink from Starbucks. Expect cheaper concerts, more events to go to around campus and those involved in student organizations can possibly get more money. We truly believe that the impact of the fee will outweigh the very minimal cost.”

Harris said he looks forward to seeing how much this fee can assist smaller organizations on campus.

“I am really excited about

Emma Katherine Hutto | The Reflector

Mississippi State University students got a break from class on Wednesday and Thursday due to heavy snowfall. Late Wednesday afternoon, students had snowball fights, went sledding and built snowmen on campus as the snow continued to fall. Snow accumulations were up to four inches in Starkville.

A word from your newly elected SA President:

“The opportunity to campaign and share my vision for the Mississippi State Student Association with students for the past few weeks has been incredible. That thousands of students came alongside me and bought into that vision is humbling. It’s time now to start the real work and honor the commitments I’ve made to the MSU student body during the campaign. Particularly, moving the Student Association forward to a place where all students, regardless of their gender, religion, race or Greek-status, know their voices and efforts are welcome in the SA. I could not be more excited and optimistic for what lies ahead.”

— JoJo Dodd

2015-2016 SA Executive Council Election Winners:

Vice President Roxie Raven

FEE, 3

Secretary Logan Reeves

Attorney General Cole Wood

Treasurer Malissa Arrington

Petroleum Engineering degree opportunity to be offered in fall

by Eshan Newaz Staff Writer

Mississippi State University will offer the state’s fi rst degree in petroleum engineering under the Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering.

Jason M. Keith, interim dean and professor, said it will be a four-year degree, and the university expects to enroll twenty-five students per year, resulting in a total of 100 students in the program.

“There has been a steady growth in the number of students studying engineering, and in particular,

petroleum engineering has been the fastest growing engineering major for the last couple of years,” Keith said. “Because of that, we may have a larger overall enrollment.”

In 2013 members of the upper administration expressed interest to reintroducing the PTE degree to the Dave C. Swalm School

of Chemical Engineering, Keith said. The growing opportunities in the oil and gas industry within the state increased demand for the program.

“The department undergraduate affairs committee and I worked with a handful of CHE and PTE alumni to develop the curriculum,” Keith said.

“We ended up with 12 new courses and the degree program proposal.”

The program required approval from the Chemical Engineering department, from the college and university curriculum committees, levels of the MSU administration and the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, Keith

said. This was formally approved by IHL on Nov. 20.

Keith said the addition of petroleum engineering will give MSU students more options for their future.

“Petroleum engineers study topics such as geology, drilling, reservoir engineering and enhanced oil recovery,” Keith said.

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“Mr. Cox, in my opinion, cannot be trusted in his business relationship with this city,” Wynn said in the Feb. 17 meeting.

Wiseman said Cox had only been doing his job and drafted the insurance policy in accordance to Wiseman’s requests.

“I attended two (Board of Aldermen) meetings while the policy was being drafted, and no members of the board addressed me then,” Cox said.

Cox said he will be at the next Board of Aldermen meeting if the Mayor should request it, but declined to comment on the issue of the veto.

“I’m going to follow the old coaches rule,” Cox said.

“You don’t throw the second punch, because if you do you’ll always be the one they call the foul on.”

During Cox’s relationship with the city, Starkville has never issued a request for competing insurance agents to bid for the role of the city’s insurance agent.

If an override is successful, Jaudon will take up the mantle also without an

agents when the city has to rewrite its insurance policy for the next year. He said

“I agree with the Mayor that if we do this we should do it as part of the budgeting process. We should open it up and have a request for proposals and see who wants to apply so we are truly getting the best deal for our employees that we can possibly get.”

-Jason Walker, Alderman of Ward 4 open bid request.

Wiseman said he is not against the idea of finding a new insurance agent, just against replacing Cox midyear and effectively halving the amount of compensation Cox was expecting for his work.

Wiseman said he hoped the board will take proposals from several insurance

that was the fair way to do it and it would be a good way to be sure that the city of Starkville receives the best benefits for its employees.

“I agree with the Mayor that if we do this we should do it as part of the budgeting process,” Alderman Walker said during last week’s meeting.

“We should open it up and have

a request for proposals and see who wants to apply so we are truly getting the best deal for our employees that we can possibly get.”

Maynard recused himself from the vote because his brother sits on the same board as Cox. However, when the motion passed Cox was effectively removed from that board, which would allow Maynard to choose to vote during an override attempt without a conflict of interest.

The Starkville Dispatch reported Maynard has not stated how he will vote should a motion for an override occur.

For an override, the board will have to vote at least 5-2. If the board members vote along the same lines as the first vote, Maynard will cast the swing vote. Little said his mind on the matter has not changed since the last meeting.

Tuesday, Wynn could not be reached for comment.

Emma Katherine Hutto | The Reflector

Starkville snow day: Campus was alive with students and

Starvillians enjoying Wednesday afternoon’s snow storm.

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SAVE $270 WITH ZERO DOWN APPLY TODAY FOR FALL 2015 @ TRAILSMS.COM Official Student Housing Partner of MSU Athletics ® Fees & prize subject to change. Limited time only. See office for details.

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Emma Katherine Hutto | The Reflector

Lab Olympics:

The Biochemistry Club at Mississippi State University hosted its second-annual ʻLab Olympicsʼ Tuesday evening in Dorman Hall. Teams of three were allowed to register and compete in four stations, which consisted of biochemistry, chemistry, forensics and logic mysteries. One trivia question was also included at each station in addition to an experiment and activity. This yearʼs theme was ʻmurder mystery.ʼ Teams worked against the clock to solve mysteries using their lab experience.

PETROLEUM “Petroleum engineers study topics such as geology, drilling, reservoir engineering and enhanced oil recovery and therefore, have more of an emphasis on upstream operations, that is finding oil and gas deposits underground, determining how

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much is there and estimating the costs for extracting it,” Keith said.

According to Keith, engineering graduates, in particular those with mechanical or chemical engineering degrees, end up with jobs in the oil and gas industry that

FEE “I am really excited about the possibility of small student organizations being able to get more money and having a bigger role on this campus,” he said. “Student Association has good bit of money to do events through the year, but I would love to see this money distributed to smaller organizations so they can do multiple events as well.”

A majority of other universities in the region have a Student Activity Fee in place as well. MSU’s required fee is considerably less than others in the area.

Taylor Simmons, sophomore criminology major,

focus primarily on downstream operations.

“Downstream operations concern refining and processing of the oil into various products, which could be used as fuel for transportation applications or as feedstock for other products,” CONTINUED FROM 1

said she voted against the fee but has since changed her mind.

“At fi rst, I guess I didn’t really weigh the pros and cons. I just knew I didn’t want to pay any extra money,” Simmons said. “All I know is that they better use my $5 for good and not evil.

I expect only the best from MSU.” The fee will be regulated and distributed by a board created with Student Affairs administrators and Student Association members. The funds are to be used solely to enhance the student college experience.

Sunny Patel, director of

research and development for SA, said research for this project was thorough, and the fee will be very advantageous to everyone.

“I was the main research person. I looked at how student fees at other universities benefited them,” Patel said. “Then, I researched the best way to bring that here, bring that to our state. I can’t think of any consequences.

We saw that SA needed a concrete supply of money, and we decided how to get it. I am very happy that it passed. No matter how this money is spent, it can only better the experience for our students.”

Keith said.

According to the Chemical Engineering website the PTE program will be effective fall 2015. Students, that are already in engineering programs, especially chemical and mechanical, will have the option to

transfer their credits toward the PTE degree.

The University of Texas at Austin Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering website, one of the top schools for PTE program, describes PTE as use of advanced computers to

analyze and simulate reservoir and automate oilfield production and drilling operations.

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the annual median wage for Petroleum Engineers is $132, 320.

THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2014

Unretouched Beyoncé photos cause fan uproar

by Elliott Terrell Contributing Writer

Celebrities are always under the public microscope. Beyoncé — known as “The Queen Bey” by her more devout fans — is no exception. Unretouched photos from her 2013 ad campaign with L’Oreal were released last week, and reactions ranged from beautiful to hideous. The large legion of loyal Beyoncé fans, commonly known as the “Beyhive,” petitioned one of Beyoncé’s fan sites to remove the unflattering photos, and the photos

were subsequently taken down to prevent confl ict between fans.

What is the issue here?

The answer is a good mix of unhealthy celebrity worship and unrealistic beauty standards. Magazines, commercials, TV shows and movies make celebrities look almost faultless. Every blemish or imperfection is airbrushed away or shrouded in make-up. When a fan or an average person sees a photo of a superstar as big as Beyoncé that confl icts with her perfect persona, it can be quite a shock.

The disparities between what is displayed and what

is real can be so stark. Some people insist the photos are faked. This disbelief primarily comes from her

often put queens and royalty on high pedestals.

Beyoncé’s fans are not entirely to blame for the

“It is essential not to pressure celebrities — female celebrities in particular — into absurd standards of beauty.” avid fans. They do not want their pinnacle of perfection — Beyoncé, “The Queen Bey” — to be any different.

History has shown people

way they perceive her. She has released several songs claiming to be untouchable.

A good example would be the song “Flawless” from

her most recent album, entitled “BEYONCÉ.” In the chorus of this song, she claims to wake up flawless.

In reality, waking up looking absolutely perfect is obviously untrue.

Beyoncé is not a deity; she is a human. Everyone has his or her own individual flaws, regardless of kept up appearances or social status. As citizens, it is important to remember universal similarities to reduce the odds of entrapment in celebrity worship. There is nothing wrong with having a role model or being inspired by someone famous, but when

admiration turns into obsession, it is unhealthy.

It is essential not to pressure celebrities — female celebrities in particular — into absurd standards of beauty. To reach those standards, millions of dollars and countless hours are spent to maintain a pure, untarnished image.

Beyoncé may spend three hours getting ready for a photo shoot or concert, but an average person usually takes 10-30 minutes to get ready in the morning. Not all flaws are bad, not all blemishes are ugly.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Where the Wild Thoughts Are

FCC regulations proposed for net neutrality

Net neutrality is one of those phrases many of us have never heard, and many of us have no idea what it means. However, we must.

Net neutrality is important, and its implications may be far-reaching. It is likely it will affect the 2016 presidential election. If you are still unconvinced, consider the fact it may influence your ability to spend hours on YouTube or stream Netfl ix on a rainy day, among other things like freedom of speech for Americans.

Let’s start with some background. Net neutrality — a concept President Barack Obama is for — is an idea that includes Internet providers treating all internet traffic equally.

As the President’s website puts it, “an entrepreneur’s fledgling company should have the same chance to succeed as established corporations, and that access to a high school student’s blog shouldn’t be unfairly

slowed down to make way for advertisers with more money.”

There are big implications for the Internet in the midst of the conversation on net neutrality. It has national political implications in that Big Technology has a great deal of money to give to its candidates. They were some of President Obama’s biggest funders in 2008.

Money impacts elections. It impacts the flow of information (regardless of whether it is correct or incorrect) and has the power to place its respective propaganda from either side of the aisle in front of the American people. Note the similarities money in this capacity has with the Internet itself.

We need net neutrality because it will allow for open business competition. It will give startups the chance to effectively pull themselves up by their bootstraps and provide an arena for open and efficient

business competition.

Without net neutrality regulations in some shape, it is probable big companies who can afford faster band-

important American ideal of everyone having a fair chance and being able to get by on their own merit and hard work. This makes net

“Net neutrality keeps everyone on the same playing field and allows products to speak for themselves without any upperhandedness on the part of big companies.” width will drown out the small startup companies that cannot afford the same access.

Part of the debate at this standpoint is our capitalistic worldview that would state big companies can afford more traffic, so let them buy it. But this very thinking would annul the

neutrality a very grey topic.

Tim Wu, the Columbia University law professor who coined the term net neutrality, acknowledges the concept is fi nicky. How much regulation stifles the industry? How much stifles the proverbial little guy?

Within the past three weeks, the Federal

Communications Commission has proposed a net neutrality draft that attempts to answer this question. Tom Wheeler, the chairman of the FCC, has really staked his career on their answer to it. Wheeler and the FCC’s new regulations show America net neutrality is very important to them. Wheeler is chasing a full-bodied, strong net neutrality concept. In an interview with The Washington Post , Wu chimed in on the proposal, saying, “net neutrality has proven itself over the last 15 years to be pretty good for everyone involved.

Obviously, consumers have gotten a lot of new stuff, and it’s been good for the American economy and business growing on the Internet.”

It seems to me the case is strong for net neutrality legislation. It remains to be seen how well strict net neutrality regulations will work, but perhaps it is best

Tucker Fleming is a senior majoring in sociology. He can be contacted at opinion@reflector. msstate.edu.

to start out strong. Net neutrality keeps everyone on the same playing field and allows products to speak for themselves without any upper handedness on the part of big companies. It will be incredibly interesting to see if this proposal can gain momentum and, if so, if it will usher in an era of continued success for Internet business.

Ponder This

Vet school volunteers urged to practice caution Mississippi State University is well known for its outstanding animal care programs and interventions. Arguably one of the most credible vet school programs in the South, all students that graduate from the program are expected to display quality education when it comes to handling animals. There are many hands-on opportunities available for both undergraduates and graduates

Managing Editor Catie Marie Martin

to take advantage of many other schools are not able to offer their students.

One of the more recently established programs available to students in any major is the Horse Rescue Program in West Point, Mississippi, where students may volunteer to spend time with or help care for neglected and abused horses in order to gain vet school or community service hours.

This is a fantastic and

Editor in Chief

Emma Crawford

News Editor Lacretia Wimbley

Multimedia Editor

Opinion Editor

Kelsee McKim

Michael Lamb

Life Editor

Photography Editor

Copy Editor

Noor Mujahid

Emma Katherine Hutto

John Galatas

Graphic Designer

Sports Editor

Austin Grove

Blake Morgan

CONTACT INFORMATION

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Editor in Chief/Emma Crawford

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

Letters must include name and telephone number for verification purposes. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.

325-7905 editor@reflector.msstate.edu Managing Editor/Catie Marie Martin 325-8991 managing@reflector.msstate.edu News Editor/Lacretia Wimbley 325-8819 news@reflector.msstate.edu Opinion Editor/Michael Lamb opinion@reflector.msstate.edu Sports Editor/Blake Morgan 325-5118 reflectorsports@gmail.com Life Editor/Noor Mujahid 325-8883 life@reflector.msstate.edu Photography Editor/Emma Hutto 325-1584 photo@reflector.msstate.edu Multimedia Editor/Kelsee McKim multimedia_editor@reflector.msstate.edu Advertising Sales/Alex Anthony 325-7907 advertise@reflector.msstate.edu

CORRECTIONS

rewarding opportunity for anyone, including the horses. The vet and animal care associations on campus are still looking for new faces to volunteer. However, it has been advised students that have already or are considering venturing to the Horse Rescue Park in West Point should be more cautious when it comes to dealing with these animals.

Horses are herding animals that display mostly

under 1,000 pounds, while the average human body weight in North America is roughly 180 pounds. If a person only one-tenth of a horse’s weight upsets it in any way, it can result in fatal accidental injury to that person. It is essential anyone who volunteers for any animal care program realizes this and takes it upon themselves to act appropriately and cautiously in representation of their school and

“Caring for animals can be risky, but is a very rewarding experience for both the animals and the people. These animals need people to take care of them...” f light behaviors and are often even easier to scare when they have been abused or neglected in the past. They are creatures of habit and learn from repetitive behavior.

Any careless action from a caretaker that reminds the horse of a previous experience with an abusive owner might upset the horse. Most horses are roughly just above or

themselves, as the rescue programs have enough reliability on their hands.

If a student who knows little about horses chooses to volunteer, it will be a wonderful experience for him or her to get to know these animals. However, a student should keep precautions in mind until he or she learns more from others who have more experience with horses.

Feeding the horse might be a good place to begin before approaching and petting it. Horses are very aware of body language.

To a horse that might have been through a traumatic experience — as these animals have — the wrong posture could be a red f lag.

The most notable injuries in history have been caused by cases in which people have not paid enough attention to animals and, regrettably, paid dearly for it. One of the most notable injuries caused by an incident involving a horse is the accident in which Christopher Reeve, the portrayal of the famous superhero himself in “Superman (1978),” did not pay close enough attention to a jump in a competition and fell forward from his horse when it refused to jump the obstacle. This resulted in a cervical spinal injury that paralyzed the former actor from the neck down.

More common accidents that occur when handling horses are the result of a horse panicking in a trailer while being loaded, a person being thrown from horseback, a horse falling on someone due to a riding accident or a horse kicking a person.

If one is responsible for

Brooklyn Tucker is a senior majoring in kinesiology. She can be contacted at opinion@reflector. msstate.edu.

the care on non-domesticated animals, however, even more precautions should be enforced. Any animal is capable of causing injury to a human if provoked.

Caring for animals can be risky, but is a very rewarding experience for both the animals and the people. These animals need people to take care of them, and they will often show loyalty to those who choose to take time with them. Some animals are even known to be the best kind of therapy for people with chronic conditions, as is the case with horses and people with Down Syndrome. Opportunities like this are advantageous.

However, it is the responsibility of each person to adhere to the rules of each facility and know his or her limits around any kind of animal.

EDITORIAL POLICY

The Reflector is the official student newspaper of Mississippi State University. Content is determined solely by the student editorial staff.

The contents of The Reflector have not been approved by Mississippi State University.

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

RE F L E C T I O N S Saint Augustine 5th Century A.D.

“Do you wish to be great? Then begin by being.

Do you desire to construct a vast and lofty fabric?

Think first about the foundations of humility. The higher your structure is to be, the deeper must be its foundation.”

REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

An In-Class Distraction

CLASSIFIEDS POLICY

The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m.

Thursday; the deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. Classifieds are $5 per issue. Student and staff ads are $3 per issue, pre-paid. Lost and found: found items can be listed for free; lost items are listed for standard ad cost.

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This is a learning, handson position designed to get you ready for a career in Landfill Management.

Recent graduates are encouraged to apply.

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CLUB INFO

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

p.m. Tuesday.

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

activism? Come join SSC on Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. in McCool 111 to make a difference. Follow on Twitter @MSU_SSC. WESLEY FOUNDATION

Join us for a night of worship with Jenny and Tyler February 3 at 8 PM at the Wesley Foundation.

STATE RUGBY

Think you’re tough???

Think again… Join State Rugby. 2014 SEC Division Champions!

Practices T, W, R @ 5:30 at Rec Plex. For more info: rugby.org.msstate. edu or rugby-info@org. msstate.edu.

MSU HILLEL

BALLROOM DANCE CLUB

Jews wanted! If you’re Jewish, let us know!

Like us on Facebook at Hillel @ Mississippi State University. Join us for meetings. For more questions, contact Joseph Metz at 601-813-7720.

The Ballroom Dance Club is having its 10th Annual Moonlight Ball. It will be $20 for students and $25 for non-students and includes a catered dinner. It will be held April 11 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanderson Center.

YOGA MOVES CLUB

School or work stressing you out? Get moving into Yoga Moves. Try our moves to get into shape and our relaxation techniques to handle the stress. Yoga Moves meets at the Sanderson Center in Studio C, Thursday evenings from 5:30-7 p.m. Like Yoga Moves Club - MSU on Facebook.

STUDENTS FOR A SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS

Care about the environment? Love

SOCIOLOGICAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION

The Sociological Student Association will meet the last Thursday of every month at 5 p.m. in Bowen Hall room 250.

All majors are welcome.

For more information, contact Dr. Lane at lane@soc.msstate.edu.

WESLEY FOUNDATION

Join us for Insight, a night of worship and Bible study at the Wesley Foundation, Tuesday nights at 8:00.

Feb. 24 solutions:

5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT SNOW 1. Winter storm death toll remains low. Three people have died as a result of the wintry mix that hit Mississippi this week. The first victim was killed Tuesday after losing control of his car on an icy road, and the second victim, two-year-old Bella Titus, died after the vehicle in which she was riding ran off the road. The third casualty occurred at the University of Mississippi when a student rode a sled into a road sign.

2. Tips for safe snow travel. Be sure to clear the top of your car of snow before putting it in drive, as snow has a tendency to slide off the ceiling onto the windshield as a result of sudden stops. Also, make sure your tailpipe is clear of snow or ice in order to avoid buildup of carbon monoxide. While driving up a hill, give the car plenty of momentum, but do not accelerate once you have reached the peak. Ride the brakes while going downhill, as accelerating will increase risk of sliding on ice.

3. Snow records. The most snow ever recorded over the period of 24 hours fell in Silver Lake, Colorado in 1921. 76 inches of snow accumulated, beating the previous record of 63 inches in Georgetown, Colorado in 1913.

4. Blizzards do not affect Mississippi. Though Mississippi isn’t exactly used to a steady accumulation of snow, what we experienced in Starkville this week doesn’t come close to what is technically defined as a blizzard, which occurs when winds are thirty-five miles an hour or more. The storm also must last at least 3 hours to be considered a blizzard, and people must be unable to see for at least 1/4 mile.

5. SNL sketch mocks South’s overreaction to winter storm. After last year’s Atlanta snowpocalypse, Saturday Night Live presented a caricature of the Southern white male’s reaction to the light accumulation of snow during its Weekend Update, in which fictional Atlanta native Buford Calloway, played by Taran Killam, melodramatically described the devilish approach of “Yankee slush.”

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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

‘McFarland, USA’ proves to be more than typical sports film

by Nicole Perry Staff Writer

Although Disney is known primarily for its animated fi lms and classic musicals depicting princesses and princes, its other fi lms are sometimes overlooked such as its recent movie “McFarland, USA.” The New York Times called the fi lm “an entirely, mostly honorable movie” and “McFarland, USA” did not stray far from this assessment.

The movie tells the 1987 true story of a recently fired coach and his family as they

travel to the rural central California valley town of McFarland for his new job.

Jim White, played by Kevin Costner, and his family become the minority in this predominantly Latino town and struggle to find their place of belonging amongst people that are clearly different from them, both racially and culturally.

As the movie progresses, White and his family find life in McFarland anything but pleasant. Their new home is nowhere nearly as glamorous as their previous one, and the schools are overrun with juvenile delinquents. To White, this is the last place he wants to

keep his family and plans to move to a neighboring town. However, they are unable to move because of their financial situation; McFarland is all they can afford.

White eventually forms a cross-country team in order to assist the school. White gradually bonds with his team of seven runners, and they expose him to a life different from the one he has always known.

“Rolling Stone” put it adequately when the magazine said, “Along the way, ‘McFarland, USA’ gives us a vital sense of hardscrabble lives and dreams of glory deferred.”

The movie, like many in the inspirational-sports genre, is expected to have the typical clichés people have come to expect, which could potentially turn people away from this movie. However, “McFarland, USA” uses those clichés to its advantage and adds its own twists.

While most sports movies of the same caliber normally focus on more popular sports like football or baseball, this fi lm is centered on cross-country, making it a breath of fresh air.

Despite this twist to the plot, it has the standard, predictable storyline of a troubled sports team that overcomes its issues and

ultimately succeeds after numerous hardships. What saves this movie from becoming cliche are all of the emotional scenes throughout the fi lm.

There are plenty of times when the audience is left smiling, surprised or even close to tears as they watch the development of both White and his team.

Another pleasing aspect of the movie is the reversed role of cultural acclimation.

While it is common to hear of Hispanic immigrants trying to find their place among Americans, the fi lm shows just the opposite.

There are times when White struggles to

understand the way of life of the Latinos in McFarland, so to ensure the strength of his team, he actually makes an effort to learn and experience their culture first-hand.

Eventually, White and his family discover they feel at home among people that appear to be nothing like them on the surface. As USA Today put it, “’McFarland, USA’ is a feel-good sports movie that actually lives up to the notion.”

The refreshing change of pace in this movie will surely provide an enjoyable viewing experience, and just like the team in “McFarland, USA,” it is an underdog that should not be underestimated.

Snow brings days to relax Big Sean drops new album

by Samantha Jones Staff Writer

Mississippi State University authorities dangled the possibility of cancelling class due to inclement weather over the heads of students for days.

The teasing officially came to an end due to Wednesday’s rain, slow and sleet mix, and students were elated over the reality of a snow day.

Authorities predicted three to five inches of snow in Starkville, which had local residents preparing for the worst.

Students, on the other hand, prepared for a day of relaxation. La’Keisha Taylor, senior kinesiology major, said she feels this snow day is a much needed break from the stresses of senior year.

“I don’t know if I am more excited about sleeping in or

catching up on Netfl ix,” Taylor said.

The students employed on campus had a different perspective on the snow day.

Brooke Ratliff, senior interior design major, works as an information assistant in a resident hall on campus and, unfortunately, was still expected to show up for work.

“Any other time, being considered an essential employee is an honor,” Ratliff said. “I don’t feel very essential when I am forced to work in inclement weather.”

Information assistants are not the only employees required to travel through the snow to work.

Custodians, Dining Services and Sanderson staff were all expected to weather the storm for the sake of their jobs.

Campus employees were not the only ones dreading

the snow. Students who rely heavily on campus technologies were not too fond of the idea of campus closing.

Dominique Land, senior industrial engineering major, said time off from school is much needed, but not having access to campus resources can be somewhat of a setback.

“Being an engineering student, I love an off day just as much as the next student because it gives me a chance to catch up on sleep and school work,” Land said.

“Closing campus really puts me in a bind being that majority of my work is done using campus resources.”

Whether the snow day was used for extra sleep, catching up on homework or even getting up to date on one’s favorite TV shows, not having to see the inside of a classroom seemed to be what students were looking forward to the most.

MS PA R K

HORSE

UPCOMING EVENTS

F E B R UA RY

Rotary Rodeo

FRIDAY NIGHT: Kid’s Night 12 & under get in free. Gates open at 6.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Pony rides & petting zoo on arena floor 5-6:30 pm Main Event @ 7 pm both nights with admission to rodeo.

February 13-14

TICKET INFORMATION: Adult: $15 at the door $12 in advance Saturday Kid Ticket $5 (3 and under free) Advanced Tickets Available at:

Oktibbeha County Co-op (Starkville) Starkville Daily News (Starkville) Mitchell Dodge Automotive (West Point) Tractor Supply (Starkville & Columbus)

MSU/MAFES Equipment Auction Saturday, February 28 Doors open at 7 am Sale begins at 9 am Equipment preview is on Friday, February 27 from 8 am - 6 pm

Mississippi Toy Farmer’s Association Show February 28

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869 East Poor House Road - Starkville w w w.mshorsepark.com - 662-325-9350

by ShaCamree Gowdy Staff Writer

Detroit native Sean Michael Anderson, better known as Big Sean, released his third studio album “Dark Sky Paradise” Tuesday. The rapper has made a complete turnaround since his split with former fiancé Naya Rivera and from his last two albums, which did not do as well as the public expected.

The album, “Dark Sky Paradise,” consists of hot tracks such as “Play No Games,” “Blessings,” “Stay Down,” “I Know” and the recently popular, “I Don’t F--k With You.” John Kennedy, a writer for Billboard magazine, gave the album four out of five stars and had some positive things to say. He, as well as many other fans, seems to think this album was exactly what Big Sean needed to redeem himself.

“The opening track, ‘Dark Sky,’ sets the tone for the rest of the album. Big Sean hops on a sparse Boi1da instrumental to shake off mooches, reflect on his hard work and the fruits it has afforded him,” Kennedy said. “Reflection, diligence, decadence, the chip-onhis-shoulder mentality — they’re all constant themes throughout the LP.” Big Sean’s fi rst official single on the album, “Blessings,” features big name artists Drake and Kanye West. In this song Big Sean proclaims

GOOD music and Def Jam Recordings| Courtesy Photograph

Big Sean released his third studio album ʻDark Sky Paradiseʼ Tuesday. The new album features big-name artists Drake, Kanye West, Chris Brown and others.

everything that he is grateful for including his music career, family and friends. Drake and Big Sean team up for the catchy hook, “I’m way up, I feel blessed.” West comes in during the last verse of the song with lyrics, “Just did a couple laps in my home pool/ And my daughter right there getting home schooled/ I’m blessed.”

Big Sean got fans singing along to his infamous breakup song allegedly about former fiancé Naya Rivera of “Glee” when it released as a single in September last year. It is the perfect song to blast after a bad breakup.

Kennedy described it perfectly, “‘I Don’t F--k With You’ is the type of record that could have emerged from a Friday night dorm room hangout in which a group of six friends

smoked like 1,000 blunts and drank 80 PBRs each.

Yet alas, with the elastic synchs of DJ Mustard’s most soulful beat, E-40’s signature lingo and D.J. Rogers ‘Say You Love Me, One More Time’ sample (fl ipped by co-producers DJ Dahi and West), Big Sean’s petty party becomes a contagious anthem to dedicate to fake friends and bitter ex-lovers: “Every day I wake up celebratin’, why?/ ‘Cause I just dodged a bullet from a crazy chick,” he said.

This showcases Big Sean’s depths as an artist, and it is a big step forward from almost two years ago when people barely knew who he was. With the release of his latest “Dark Sky Paradise,” it is safe to assume the future of his musical career is bright.

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Sports

7 THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Bulldogs fall to No. 1 UK, MSU continues win streak look toward South Carolina

by Shelby Anderton

by Blake Morgan Sports Editor

In front of the blackout crowd at Humphrey Coliseum, the Mississippi State University Bulldogs fell to the University of Kentucky Wildcats 74-56 Wednesday night.

MSU struggled with the Wildcats’ length for the majority of the game, causing the offense to stagnate.

The Bulldogs only had six assists in the game.

“That’s one of the better basketball teams I have ever seen,” Head Coach Rick Ray said.

The size of Kentucky’s front line frustrated the Bulldogs as well, causing MSU to lose the rebounding battle 35-30.

“They blocked a lot of shots,” guard Craig Sword said. “The blocked shots were a lot like a turnover because they push the ball up the court every time.”

Fred Thomas led the way for the Bulldogs scoring 14 points in the game. Sword tacked on another 10 points in the losing bid.

MSU struggled from the free throw line all game as well missing 11 on 27 attempts.

“A lot of our stuff just kept coming up,” Sword said.

“We really needed the free throws though. If we had hit free throws we probably would have still been in the game.”

The Bulldogs will return to action on the road against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday.

The Gamecocks come into the game with a 4-11 conference record and 13-14 overall.

Sophomore guard Duane Notice paces South Carolina with 11 points per game.

Notice is a volume shooter that has the ability to get hot; he takes an average of about 10 shots a game while making less than four of them a game.

MSU prepares for Ole Miss

by Zach Wagner Staff Writer

The fi nal regular season game for the Mississippi State University Bulldogs women’s basketball team will be Sunday at Humphrey Coliseum. However, before tournament and postseason play begins, the Bulldogs will need to defend their home court one more time against in-state rival Ole Miss.

Vic Schaefer said he is proud of what his team has accomplished this season.

“I don’t think you can say this is just another win,” Schaefer said in a news release. “There has been a lot of great basketball played at Mississippi State.

Coach (Sharon) Fanning had a lot of great teams and a lot of great players. For the youth on this team, for us to get to 25, is a tremendous accomplishment.”

With a third-place fi nish in the SEC on the line, the Bulldogs will more than likely need to beat the Rebels Sunday if they wish to hold on to their current position in the standings. The Rebels come into Starkville riding a newfound wave of momentum, as they have won two straight games after dropping the previous seven. One of those wins came against the No. 13 Kentucky Wildcats.

One of the biggest reasons for the Rebels’ turn around centers around the stellar play of their two senior forwards, Danielle McCray and Tia Faleru. McCray was able to fi ll up the boxscore against Kentucky, compiling 13 points, 15 rebounds, four blocks and two steals to help pull off the big conference upset.

Faleru has been on a tear as of late. She averaged 19 points and 10.5 rebounds over the last two games.

Contributing Writer

On Tuesday, the No. 13 Mississippi State University baseball team advanced to 9-0. Jesse McCord picked up his fi rst collegiate win as a Bulldog. McCord fi nished with six strikeouts, and allowed three earned hits and two earned runs.

McCord pitched throughout the game until he was lifted in the sixth inning.

“I just need to get in my rhythm and throw strikes,” McCord said, “I still have got to get better.” McCord now has a winning record of 1-0.”

SEC Freshman of the Week, Ryan Gridley helped lead the Bulldogs to victory once again. Gridley recorded MSU’s second four-hit game of the season. He became the fi rst Bulldog freshman to notch four hits in a game since Gavin Collins went 4-for5 against Kentucky in the SEC Tournament last season; he also was the fi rst Bulldog to be awarded the weekly award since 2012.

“It was a big deal to me to receive that, but now it is over,” Gridley said, “We need to move on to the next day.”

Gridley also had two RBIs and increased his batting average to .591.

“He makes things really simple,” Head Coach Cohen said, “I’ve been doing this 24 years, and I’m not sure I have ever seen a freshman come in and work as hard as he has.”

The Bulldogs fi nished with 14 hits. Jacob Robinson has now had five multi-hit games, and Seth Heck joins Gridley with four.

Jacob Follin| The Reflector

Freshman Jesse McCord throws a pitch to home plate.

The Bulldogs enter into this weekend remembering their routines. The team has their pre-game routine, and each individual player has their own routine they stick to. The Bulldogs will focus on one game at a time

over their four-game weekend. The Bulldogs will take on Arizona Friday at 6:30 p.m. then again at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The team will also play Samford at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday and again at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Emma Katherine Hutto| The Reflector

Martha Alwal defends the post against the Vanderbilt Commodores.

Faleru also averages a double-double for the season and leads the team in the total minutes played category at 838. The match-up between Faleru and Bulldog sophomore Breanna Richardson could ultimately play a very pivotal role in deciding the outcome of the game.

With the Bulldogs’ tendencies to play with long stretches of mediocre offense this season and the improved play on defense of the Rebels, Sunday’s match-up could prove to be another grinding game for both teams.

MSU enters into Sunday’s game riding the hot hand of freshman Victoria Vivians and the post play of senior Martha Alwal. Vivians, in particular, has been scoring

and rebounding at very high levels for a freshman. Her shot-making ability serves as a spark on most nights for her team, which tends to struggle on offense, only shooting 40 percent from the field as a whole.

The game against the Rebels begins at 1 p.m.

Sunday at the Humphrey Coliseum.

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