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WEDNESDAY JANUARY 20, 2021

136th YEAR ISSUE 12

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

MSU prepares for third semester during pandemic Annual MLK Unity Breakfast delivers messages of hope EMMA KING

STAFF WRITER

As the spring semester begins and the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, Mississippi State University is looking forward as they continue to meet the challenges.

Planning for the upcoming academic semester began before students headed home for winter break, with MSU encouraging everyone to get tested for COVID-19 before traveling.

According to Vice President of Student Affairs Regina Hyatt, over 2,000 students were tested before leaving campus for the holidays.

On Jan. 1, Hyatt sent out an email to the student body recommending selfquarantining starting that

day in order to reduce the spread upon their return. Hyatt believes communication is key in reducing the spread of COVID-19 on campus and making students aware of the resources available to them, like free testing.

“I think it’s all about the communication and continuing to communicate with students about the availability of testing, what the isolation and quarantine procedures are and all of the health behaviors that hopefully will help keep COVID-19 from spreading,” Hyatt said.

Over the break, MSU administration faced the difficult decision of moving back the start of classes from Jan. 6 to Jan. 11, hoping to avoid COVID-positive students

arriving to campus shortly after any New Year’s parties.

Hyatt believes this was the most appropriate choice for the safety of MSU students and faculty.

Dean of Students Thomas Bourgeois said he is happy to have students back on campus, albeit later than originally planned.

“We are excited students are back,” Bourgeois said, “and we look forward to a safe spring semester.”

With the spring semester now underway, Hyatt said the fall safety protocols still apply, including wearing masks, physical distancing and making good decisions.

“We recognize that the structures we have in place, particularly for classes and formal

activities, are working,” Hyatt said. “We feel a lot more confident in those strategies, and I don’t feel as anxious coming into the spring.”

MSU is using lessons learned last semester to encourage students to still have fun, including hosting in-person events and student organization activities safely. Some creative solutions used in the fall have also continued into this semester, such as the new class locations in the Gridiron and the Scoreboard Club at the stadium.

Hyatt encourages personal responsibility during these times and wants students to be aware of common spreading events, like carpooling and eating in groups.

COVID-19, 2

HEATHER HARRISON STAFF WRITER

As 2021 begins and the world seems to be far from normal, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s goals for transformation and healing remain as relevant as they did in the 1960s.

On Monday morning, about 30 people virtually tuned in to the 27th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Breakfast. Typically held at the Mill Conference Center in Starkville, Mississippi, the event reflects King’s legacy and reformations that occur each year.

Ra’Sheda Boddie Forbes, vice president for access, diversity and inclusion at Mississippi State University, helps organize the Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Breakfast each year. She said she hoped people leave the

event feeling motivated.

“I’m really hoping that people will walk away recognizing that the changes that take place around racial justice and social justice have to be both a collaborative and a unified effort,” Forbes said.

“I hope that people walk away, committed to working together in order for that to happen.”

Opening the event with words about King’s persistence, Donald Shaffer, director of African American studies at MSU, described the efforts it would take to fulfill King’s vision.

“Each year, we gather together as a reminder that Dr. King’s work is not yet complete,” Shaffer said. “Change does not come without controversy.

Change does not come without determination.”

MLK, 2

Jordan Smith | The Reflector

Clay Smith attends class via Webex at the Colvard Student Union while wearing a mask to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 on Mississippi State Universityʼs campus.

EcoCAR puts team members in the driver’s seat toward success MAGGIE PHILLIPS STAFF WRITER

Mississippi State University is home to a variety of clubs and organizations, each meant to be a place for students to find like-minded people and pursue their interests by getting experience and education in real-world topics.

MSU’s EcoCAR Mobility Challenge team is one of those groups, providing hands-on experience and extensive training to a diverse group of students and majors interested in automotive design, engineering and much more.

Morgan Cox, one of the team’s engineering managers and a student pursuing a master’s in mechanical engineering, has been involved with the MSU EcoCAR team for two years after

WEDNESDAY

spending two years on another school’s team.

She described the long term goals of the team including some of the innovative features of the car.

“The EcoCAR Mobility Challenge is a four-year automotive engineering competition where we are redesigning a 2019 Chevy Blazer to have a hybrid power train, as well as some semiautonomous features,” Cox said. “We still have an engine in the front of the car, and we’ve added an electric motor to the back and a high-voltage battery pack.”

Beyond just being an engineering and design competition, EcoCAR is aimed at improving cars long-term, as well as providing a kind of reallife experience that cannot be attained anywhere else.

THURSDAY

ECOCAR, 2

FRIDAY

Bryanna Trulove | Courtesy Photo

The MSU EcoCAR team poses in front of Swalm. The team is comprised of students from a variety of majors and offers hands-on experience vital for their future careers.

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COVID-19

Students should avoid riding in a vehicle with anyone outside their households. Masks should be worn in the car with windows kept down when carpooling. Eating with large groups poses a high risk to students as well, especially indoors, because of the close seating and removal of masks.

“Those are two environments that I think people don’t think about as much,” Hyatt said. “We need to have them happen less often, or in safer ways.”

One important development from the fall semester is the creation of the COVID-19 vaccine.

While MSU does not currently have any vaccines, it has applied to be a distribution site for faculty, students and staff.

The Mississippi Department of Health is currently operating many vaccine sites across the state, including one at the MSU Horse Park which is serving as both a vaccine administration and testing site.

Despite the lack of

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Jordan Smith | The Reflector

Jordan Smith | The Reflector

Jay Smith wears a mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while using a vending machine.

Tim Walker follows Cowbell Well guidelines by distancing and wearing a mask while outside of the Union on MSU’s campus.

vaccines, Dr. Clifton Story, the executive director of the Longest Student Health Center, maintains the clinic has the measures of distributing them.

“We currently have no vaccines and are awaiting

get the vaccine.

Students are not expected to be eligible for the vaccine until March, but if MSU is not distributing vaccines at that time, they will be able to go to the Horse Park.

word on if and when we will get it, along with any instructions from the health department,” Dr. Story said. “We have a few options for distributing the vaccine, but that will depend on if and when we

As COVID-19 continues to evolve, Hyatt said she is proud of how MSU students have handled the challenges and continues to be optimistic.

“There is an end

ECOCAR “We also have students who are adding these autonomous features like a reactive cruise control where the car will break for us and capabilities for the car to communicate with others on the road.

That can ultimately lead to a better traffic scenario on a large scale and improves safety for the driver,” Cox said. “It’s seeing what students can do in preparing ourselves for industry and ultimately improving the automotive industry as a whole.”

The other engineering manager, Vance Hudson, is pursuing his master’s in general engineering. He is one of the most seasoned members of the MSU team, as he is working through his fifth year.

Hudson has been noticed as a successful, influential member of the EcoCAR team. His accomplishments on the team have made him an eligible candidate for internship and job offers, which he has so far turned down to stay with the team.

“One of the big

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taglines for EcoCAR is that it may be the best way on campus to get handson, technical experience,” Hudson said. “Whether you are related to the automotive industry or anything related to it, we have sponsors that span basically anything that you want to do.”

Ryan Stallcup, a graduate student in industrial and systems engineering and one of the project managers for the EcoCAR team, has spent two years leading the team to success.

“We are one of eleven North American universities in EcoCAR, so, ultimately, our goal is to do as well as we possibly can in the competition,” Stallcup said. “We are all pretty competitive, and we take pride in representing Mississippi State.”

As well as pushing his team to produce the best work they can, Stallcup has been pursuing new objectives to increase the advancements of the team. From promoting the idea any student interested in the EcoCAR

project can join the team to encouraging team unity, Stallcup is pushing the team towards success and opening opportunities to the members.

“One of the things that drives us is the opportunity to lead such a big team of undergraduates,” Stallcup said. “If somebody who is not from a typical major is interested then we are going to do our best to find a way for them to contribute because we really value the diversity that different perspectives bring.”

Throughout the 16 years MSU has had an EcoCAR Mobility Challenge team, they have had four first-place finishes, as well as a variety of other awards this past spring, despite challenges presented by COVID-19.

The MSU EcoCAR team goes far beyond simply a group of engineering majors.

Bryanna Trulove, a senior majoring in communication and philosophy, is the communications manager.

Trulove encourages

students outside of the typical STEM field to consider joining the team.

“I was nervous about joining something not only STEM-related but in the automotive industry with no previous experience with cars at all,” Trulove said. “However, joining the team was eye-opening, and, really, it’s just great to work with so many different people.”

Trulove said her

experience with the MSU EcoCAR project is something she never expected, and it goes far beyond the competition and team expectations she had. From working towards the future to providing opportunities for young people, Trulove said EcoCAR has greatly impacted her academic experience and future.

“I wish people knew that it is so much more

MLK “And change does not come without persisted effort.”

MSU President Mark Keenum followed Shaffer’s speech.

He said he was disappointed the community could not gather together for this year’s breakfast, but he noted the message’s importance was still evident, even transmitted through a computer screen.

in sight,” Hyatt said.

“I personally really appreciate how our students have stepped up and responded. I think it could have been a lot more challenging, and we have been very fortunate.”

than just a competition,” Trulove said. “It is something you are able to get involved with, and there is room for any different major: communications, business, engineering and beyond. We can come together as members of a team, gaining experience and a network, while having fun and getting to know people. I am so glad I get to be a part of that.”

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He continued to reflect upon the differences between this year’s unity breakfast and last year’s due to COVID-19, the Black Lives Matter movement and the storming of the U.S. Capitol which occurred a few weeks ago. Keenum said he was proud of Starkville residents’ support over the past year and the community’s strive for change.

After Keenum’s speech, the Mississippi State University Black Voices Gospel Choir shared its talents with a rendition of “Stand by Me” by Ben E. King, a befitting choice for the occasion. The members of the choir swayed along to the music as they shared a message of harmony.

Robert Barnes, a 1972 MSU graduate; Tyler Packer, a senior political

science major and student body president at MSU and Yulanda Haddix, president of the Oktibbeha County NAACP chapter and MSU alumna, each briefly spoke about Martin Luther King, Jr.’s influence in their lives.

Dunbar LLP, the first African American justice to serve on the Mississippi Supreme Court and chairman of the commission to redesign Mississippi’s state flag. In his speech, he described how Mississippians could continue King’s legacy in their lives.

“We’re the birthplace of America’s music.

We have a great climate. We have the most fertile land. We have the Mississippi River. We have 90 miles of beaches, but we have always lingered on the bottom. But that will change.

When that flag is hoisted, people around America will know we are an inclusive state.”

Reuben V. Anderson Former Mississippi Supreme Court Justice “If Dr. King was alive today, his dream would be the dream he’s always had: that we can be judged just by the content of our character, not by the color of our skin,” Haddix said.

The keynote speaker of the breakfast was Justice Reuben V. Anderson, a senior partner at Phelps CREATIVE INVESTMENT PROPERTIES

Justice Anderson discussed the challenges faced in 2020, and he wished 2021 to be far better. Even so, he said there was a crucial implementation in 2020 that will significantly affect Mississippians: the new state flag. He said the impact of the flag would set the state on a new course of action.

Continuing his speech, Justice Anderson noted Mississippi has been in last place for all of his life,

And that happens in spite of the fact that we have the greatest people, the most talented people, the greatest poets and authors. We’re the birthplace of America’s music. We have a great climate. We have the most fertile land. We have the Mississippi River. We have 90 miles of beaches, but we have always lingered on the bottom. But that will change. When that flag is hoisted, people around America will know we are an inclusive state,” Anderson said.

Anderson finished his speech with a plea for young Mississippians to consider staying in the state instead of moving away so the state’s future will be brighter for generations to come.

The final speaker of the morning was Alexis Wallace, assistant director of student leadership and community engagement at MSU. She emphasized that actions of service should not be something that only occur once a year, but rather, people should use each day to march toward progress and resilience.

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BAD DAWGS Friday, January 1, 2021 Justice court citation issued on Hail State Blvd for speeding 110/45.

Officer responded to a grass fire at South Farm.

SFD was called.

Tuesday, January 5, 2021 Student arrested on East Lee Blvd for improper equipment and possession of marijuana.

MSU citation issued for speeding 67/30 on East Lee Blvd.

Student reported she is being harrassed by her roommate and roommate’s friends.

Saturday, January 9, 2021 Student issued arrest citation and referral on

Sunday, January 10, 2021 Student reported his mountain bike stolen from bike rack at McCool Hall.

Student issued arrest citation and referral for public drunkenness.

Student reported her car was damaged while parked in E7 parking lot.

Monday, January 11, 2021 Employee reported witnessing a vehicle doing donuts on Hail State Blvd, causing damages.

Student issued referral for throwing snowballs at vehicles at Kappa Alpha house.

Wednesday, January 13, 2021 Student issued arrest

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OPINION

Donald Trump’s tweets are technically a Twitter violation

EMMA DOTSON

is a junior majoring in communication.

Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate. edu.

As of Jan. 8, President Donald Trump is suspended from having a personal account on all major social media platforms.

“We are living Orwell’s 1984,” Donald Trump Jr. tweeted on Jan. 8. “Freespeech no longer exists in America.”

There has been much debate on the amount of power these companies should be allowed to have, especially in concerns to the government.

According to Monica Anderson with Pew Research Center, 72% of adults in the U.S. believe social media companies retain too much political power and influence. Most people agree on this aspect, but it becomes quickly divided with the issue of censorship.

The American Civil Liberties Union defines censorship as “the suppression of words, images, or ideas that are ‘offensive,’” and when carried out by the government, it is unconstitutional.

Before the past two presidential elections, the internet was a fairly open platform. There were some regulations, but for the most part, corporations were not taking any action to control the content posted to their platforms. This has changed drastically as of recently.

Within the last year, tech leaders have appeared before government committees to discuss the modification of their algorithms and advertising practices to create a more welcoming and civil environment for their users.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Nov. 17, 2020 to discuss content moderation issues and how Facebook would be moving forward with them.

These policies angered many people and evoked a vast number of responses claiming they violate the First Amendment.

The First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.” The amendment only applies to government restrictions, not private entities such as churches, employers or social media companies.

There are specific rule violations in media law which a private party

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S b S 1 b f p C a o M d can pursue, but the First Amendment is not being violated in this circumstance.

This is not to say people are not being censored, because they are. However, no action can be taken toward these companies under claims they violate free speech.

As far as banning the president, it works no differently. President Trump agreed to the same terms and conditions everyone else did when signing up for Twitter. He was suspended for violating these terms, specifically the Glorification of Violence policy.

His tweets were classified as statements which, according to Twitter, “were highly likely to encourage and inspire people to

replicate the criminal acts that took place at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021,” in response to the 2020 presidential election.

However, the president should be able to perform his job successfully without this platform and run the country as every other president has done before the digital age.

The president’s Twitter account was introduced during Barack Obama’s presidency in 2009, so it is a very new tool for addressing the public which can ultimately be done without.

President Trump will have to rely on the old ways of speeches, emails and press conferences to get his messages out, not

just a little blue bird.

As far as if this should be allowed, that is a moral question to be handled by the government. Will they pass a new legislature to crack down on Silicon Valley’s power, or is that an act of infringement?

Pew Research Center says about 53% of Republicans and 52% of Democrats support increased regulation of big tech industries. Both sides agree on some form of management, but deciding which aspects get supervised and who does the supervising is a whole other issue in itself.

Only time will tell where we are headed, but these are questions which must

be answered to maintain our status as a free nation which honors freedom of speech, assembly and above all, the press.

Freedom of speech is not gone, contrary to President Trump’s claims of oppression.

He can still address the country through government means as his right is protected as an American citizen. Trump can continue to spout his allegations free of any mediation outside of a private company’s platform because of the First Amendment. To say it no longer exists is misleading and untrue which is one of the reasons why he got banned in the first place.

Trivia Time!

1. What is the largest muscle in the human body?

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2. Born into a family of Dutch Americans, who was the only U.S.

Gabby Douglas

President to speak English as a second language?

“Sacrifices are not in vain. At the end, everything will pay off.”

3. Seen as a masterpiece of the Modernist movement, “The Love Song

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T MSU needs to vault into SEC gymnastics once COVID-19 ends t of J. Alfred Prufrock” is a poem by which late American-British poet?

Buren 3. T. S. Eliot

Source: trivia.fyi

Answer: 1. The gluteus maximus 2. Former President Martin Van

RILEY STEPHENS

is a senior majoring in English. Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.

Mississippi State University sponsors a variety of sports ranging from football and basketball to golf and cross country.

However, gymnastics is one prevalent sport MSU has yet to adopt.

The sport requires high precision, intense training and immense talent to both safely and gracefully execute the skills and acrobatics required, but overall, gymnastics is underrated and overshadowed by largername sports like football, especially in Mississippi where college gymnastics programs cease to exist.

Of the 14 schools in the Southeastern Conference, eight incorporate the sport in their athletics programs, yet none of these programs are located in Mississippi.

Once operations return to normal and the COVID-19 pandemic no longer threatens the well-being of others, MSU should make history by becoming the first

university in Mississippi to adopt a college gymnastics program.

The state of Mississippi contains multiple independent gymnastics programs which competitively train athletes to harness their strengths and perform skills on four training events — vault, bars, beam and floor. Unfortunately, many Mississippian gymnasts pursuing the sport for college scholarships are forced to seek college recruitment elsewhere because of the present lack within their home state.

According to Ernest Bowker of The Vicksburg Post, over 700 gymnasts from independent gymnastics groups within Mississippi participated in the 2019 Mississippi USA State Gymnastics Championship meet. Despite the hundreds of Mississippian gymnasts training and competing in the annual state championships, none of these athletes have

the opportunity to further their gymnastics careers at Mississippi colleges because their chances of in-state competition at the collegiate level are currently nonexistent.

One of the Mississippi groups which competes in state championships is the independent gymnastics company Dawg House Gymnastics, located here in Starkville, Mississippi. The gymnasts who train here and live within 20 minutes of MSU would ultimately have to enroll out-of-state to pursue any dreams of college gymnastics and scholarships.

The prospect of a college gymnastics team in Mississippi would allow local, independent gymnastics companies like Dawg House Gymnastics to flourish since young gymnasts would have a more realistic and accessible college sports career to aspire toward.

Having an MSU gymnastics program would better

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secure these young athletes’ dedication toward attending MSU rather than forcing them to resort to out-ofstate colleges for gymnastics scholarships.

Likely a major concern with implementing such a program is finance, but according to the Official Website of Mississippi State Athletics, the university has spent $68 million on the new Dudy Noble Baseball Field, $3.6 million on football locker rooms and $8 million on the MSU Tennis Pavilion for a combined total of roughly $79.6 million all within a two-year span. MSU also plans on renovating the Humphrey Coliseum in the near future, so these $79 million expenses are likely to increase.

As evident in the numbers, the university could push for a college gymnastics program. Though sports like basketball, football and tennis are currently more renowned in the MSU athletic department and naturally

acquire more attention for funding, gymnastics is a largely popular sport in the SEC colleges in which it is implemented and attains such an audience where millions of dollars in renovations and constructions for one sport may be justified.

According to Brandon Berrio with LSU Sports, LSU broke the SEC gymnastics attendance record in 2018 with over 12,000 fans in attendance for one gymnastics meet and an average of over 10,000 fans per meet. Meanwhile, the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s 2019 records show MSU’s attendance record for basketball, another coliseum sport, as just short of 8,000 average fans per game. MSU’s record for producing quality athletes in a variety of sports proves the university’s ability to jump in line with top SEC gymnastics programs like Louisiana State University too. Additionally, MSU gymnastics could expect decent attendance results once Bulldog fans begin to appreciate the sport as part of the university’s seasonal sporting routines.

As with any uncharted domain, the startup for a new program is always daunting and uncertain, especially when it comes to altering a university’s

athletics department; however, with the popularity of women’s gymnastics at SEC universities across Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia and Florida, MSU should consider taking the leap and joining in college gymnastics like its neighboring SEC rivals.

Based on the numbers and popularity of college gymnastics at schools like LSU, the potential costs to implement a gymnastics program would balance out with steady attendance, a wider recruitment base for stellar athletes and simple fan loyalty devoted to supporting the potential Bulldog gymnasts at MSU sporting events.

I am not saying MSU needs a gymnastics program immediately, especially with COVID-19 still persistently impacting our day-to-day lives, but the incorporation of gymnastics at MSU is certainly worth considering in the future when the health and safety of others is not compromised by a pandemic.

With a college gymnastics program, MSU has both the opportunity to create another strong program in its athletics department and the chance to become the first university in Mississippi to offer gymnastics in their sports roster.

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LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT 5 THE REFLECTOR WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021 @REFLECTORONLINE

MISSISSIPPI BLOOD SERVICES

HOSTS SUCCESSFUL DRIVE AT MSU

MARY BLAKE BRASHIER

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Mississippi Blood Services (MBS) hosted a blood drive at Mississippi State University from Jan. 11 through Jan. 15. The blood drive was conducted from one of MBS’s buses parked in between the Colvard Student Union and the YMCA building, offering students and MSU faculty easy access to donate.

The blood drive experienced a large turnout, enabling MBS to get blood from a multitude of donors in a very prompt manner.

Fortunately, MBS was well prepared to accommodate large numbers while still maintaining safety precautions. Donors were required to wear a mask Jordan Smith| The Reflector and be checked for fever Mississippi Blood Services hosted their blood drive in front of the Colvard Student Union to make donating blood more convenient for Mississippi State University students. upon entering the bus.

Staff members wore masks as well as other protective about working around free for over 14 days, as than ever. MSU rose to the and shared how gratifying gear. MBS was also schedules,” Mitchell said. antibodies aid in fighting occasion, as many students giving blood can be.

“It’s really cool when prepared to offer donors Katherine Berryhill, a the virus. Their blood can recognized the importance they text you that your hand sanitizer and masks sophomore in agricultural potentially be used to help of being a donor. if needed. The bus itself education, noted how treat other COVID-19 Berryhill explained she blood is going to a hospital was able to hold up to 10 gracious the staff members patients, especially those knows firsthand the impact for a person who really donors while complying were. with severe symptoms. blood transfusions have on needs it,” Beyer said.

To prepare, donors with social distancing “I’m from the state of As for how successful patients, especially cancer had to be mindful of their guidelines, and all surfaces Alabama, so that’s where the blood drive has been patients. were promptly sanitized I’ve given blood before. in terms of donors, Loria “My aunt actually has health, as well as their food after each donor.

The people here are way Windom, the mobile leukemia, so she had to get consumption that day.

“I made sure to eat a lot Lilli-Grace Mitchell, a nicer, especially the lady supervisor at MBS, gave platelets when she was sick. freshman at MSU majoring that I had. She was very her best estimate.

Her hospital thankfully of good stuff,” Beyer said. in kinesiology, said this accommodating,” Berryhill “Wow, between had a lot of resources, but “I drank a lot of water and was not her first time said.

Monday and yesterday, I smaller hospitals do not Gatorade throughout the donating blood. Mitchell MBS’s website urges want to say we’ve had about really have blood to give day.”

Berryhill encouraged expressed her satisfaction more people to donate as 70 something donors, if people. There is a blood with donating through blood drives have been not more,” Windom said. shortage. So that’s why I students to be mindful of MBS, emphasizing the hindered due to the virus.

Donating blood is a give blood,” Berryhill said. their daily habits to prepare convenience of her Those with COVID-19 noble thing to do anytime, Andrea Beyer, a senior for donating blood.

“To prepare, do daily experience. antibodies are especially but due to the recent spike chemical engineering your “It was really quick, encouraged to donate if in COVID-19 cases, the major, has given blood stuff—washing and they were good they have been symptom- need is more prevalent many times previously hands and making sure to

wear your mask in public and stay healthy,” Berryhill said.

All donors who were interviewed said they had a positive experience with MBS and expressed they would be more than willing to give blood again.

MBS’s mission is to help provide an ample supply of blood, donated by willing volunteers, for those who need it.

As MBS’s website states, “Receiving blood is not a choice; giving blood is.”

Despite Monday’s snowy weather, the blood drive continued running, further proving the dedication of Mississippi Blood Services’ staff and mission. MBS provides blood for hospitals and other medical facilities all over the state of Mississippi, all while being a non-profit blood service.

MBS posts their schedule and other helpful information on their website. As MBS runs blood drives across various locations, the website lists the locations of the next drive. There are blood drives daily, and there are many opportunities for those wishing to donate to do so. Successful donors receive a shirt and antibody testing. The results of the antibody testing are emailed to donors within 48 hours.

Those who were unable to donate Jan. 1115 can visit the Mississippi Blood Service’s website to find out where and when the next blood drive will be held.

The Idea Shop strives to make Starkville the innovation capitol of Mississippi

MAGGIE PHILLIPS

STAFF WRITER

Mississippi State University is home to hundreds of creative minds and potential business owners, and Starkville’s Idea Shop is determined to partner with locals to make pipe dreams into purchasable products.

Created for students, faculty and community members to have a place to carry out their innovative ideas, the Idea Shop helps anyone who desires to establish various skills which can lead anywhere from building unique furniture for homes to starting small businesses as entrepreneurs.

Landon Casey, the current manager of the Idea Shop, has been involved with the business for over two years and has assisted hundreds of people in reaching their inventive goals.

“We want to give entrepreneurs the tools and space to bring their ideas and potentially make something out of it,” Casey said. “It is a place where alumni, students, faculty, staff or even people coming up off the street can come in and get access to tools and equipment and workspaces that they might not have access to otherwise.”

Although Casey has only been manager since July 2020, he has faced harder challenges than many business leaders have ever faced due to the disaster of

anyone who may have an interest.

“We are slowly gaining our membership back,” Casey said. “What we offer is a space to try anything and get your idea out there.”

Recognizing the potential of the students at MSU and the residents of Starkville, Mississippi, Casey emphasized the Idea Shop can be a catalyst to many excellent ventures which can change people’s lives and, potentially, the world.

“We really want to make Starkville the innovation capital of Mississippi,” Casey said. “We’ve got a great university down the road, and we’ve got a lot of brilliant students and a lot of great faculty. We have the ingredients for something great.”

Casey explained the only thing required to access all the Idea Shop has to offer is a walk inside and conversation with the team.

Ethan Welford, one of the Idea Shop team members, has been a student worker at the Idea Shop for almost two years. Welford said he has had an interest in the socalled “maker movement” since childhood, and he discovered the Idea Shop was the ideal location to help manifest the movement in the Starkville community.

“I am what’s called a ‘maker specialist’,” Welford said. “I work in the shop in the back making fixtures for the front, assisting any kind

the Idea Shop has been a place of experience and education for many people, including himself, in more ways than he expected. Welford spoke in particular of the way his time at the shop has multiplied and developed the limited set of talents he had when he first started.

“I got here and pushed those skills to the limit,” Welford said. “It’s been a growing and learning experience.”

As well as developing technological and woodworking skills, Welford said he left his comfort zone and gained experience in outreach and networking, teaching a variety of skills and classes to the Idea Shop members.

From 3D printing and laser-engraving to making charcuterie boards and woodturning, the Idea Shop team offers instruction for over a dozen skills.

Welford reiterated the Idea Shop is open to anyone willing to give it a try, from high school students to retired professors.

“One of our goals for this quarter and this semester is to get more members and to increase outreach,” Welford said.

“Our purpose is to get people with ideas to a point where those ideas can be actualized. We promote learning, collaborations and invention.”

Madison Grant, a recently graduated MSU student with a major in business administration,

John Griffin | The Reflector

The Idea Shop, located on Starkville’s Main Street, is an extension of Mississippi State University’s Entrepreneurship Center.

Center). So I have a fun relationship with the Idea Shop since the Entrepreneurship Center is our ‘mothership’ on campus, and the Idea Shop is our extension into the community,” Grant said.

“When they had the initial opening on Main Street, coffee was the first retail product that was sold,” Grant said.

“It was super cool to have a product sold on Main Street and to have

a business, or even just possesses a desire to create, to come and look into a membership at the Idea Shop.

“The Idea Shop is for the people who have the mindsets that are really

66-Sports SPORTS

THE REFLECTOR JANUARY 20, 2021 @SPORTSREFLECTOR

Men’s basketball team holds best streak against the Florida Gators in over three decades of play AUTUMN ADAMS

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Mississippi State University men’s basketball team chomped the visiting Florida Gators on Saturday at the Humphrey Coliseum.

The Bulldogs put in an excellent performance in their 72-69 win over the Gators, pushing themselves to an impressive 9-5 overall record this season or a 4-2 record in SEC conference play. In the last three meetings between the Bulldogs and Gators, the Bulldogs have reigned supreme with a 3-0 record. According to the MSU Athletics website, This streak has not been achieved since the 19821983 basketball season.

As time expired on the clock, the Gators were in possession of the ball. Their shooting guard, Tre Mann, was able to get one final shot. Fortunately, the shot was an air ball, solidifying the win for MSU. The Bulldogs had a stellar outing at Saturday’s game which consisted of an impressive field goal percentage as well as outscoring Florida in the paint.

The Bulldogs’ field goal percentage was 48.3 from the floor, which was an

improvement from the 41.1 field goal percentage in the loss earlier in the week to Texas A&M. In Saturday’s game against the Gators, key Bulldog players such as Tolu Smith and Abdul Ado helped contribute to MSU

“I went out there and played with confidence and played as hard as I could today. Coach Howland emphasized to work as hard as we could to go out there and get this win today” Tolu Smith Redshirt Sophomore Forward

out-scoring Florida 52-28.

Following the game, MSU Head Coach Ben Howland had some positive remarks in regards to the team’s performance and the outcome of the game.

“The push to start the second half, to just take it right to them multiple times in a row — I think we scored three times in a row if I’m not mistaken, which was really huge for us and got us out to a great start in the second half, just the opposite of what we had in our last game.”

Redshirt sophomore Tolu Smith had a career

high double-double in Saturday’s game with 27 points and 14 rebounds as well as scoring 11 of his 13 field goal attempts.

“I went out there and played with confidence and played as hard as I could today,” Smith said. “Coach Howland emphasized to work as hard as we could to go out there and get this win today.”

MSU’s center Abdul Ado played excellent defense in this game and commented on how the Bulldogs were able to prevent the Gators from scoring.

“It honestly is a team effort,” Ado said. “The coaches watched a lot of film, and so did we. We didn’t want them to come out today and already establish themselves early in the game, so we talked as a team and made a team effort to stop them in the beginning.”

With the Bulldogs having a 9-5 record at this point in the season, they have a good chance of taking a spot in the NCAA tournament. If they can keep up their good work, the men’s basketball team is in for a bright rest of the season here at Mississippi State University.

Adam Sullivan | The Reflector

Abdul Ado goes up for the shot during the 2019-2020 season, where the Bulldogs of MSU defeated the UGA Bulldogs 91-59.

Women’s basketball gets lost in the Tide JARED CONERLY

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A hard-fought SEC basketball battle took place at the Humphrey Coliseum on Thursday, where the Crimson Tide wrestled back from a 10-point deficit and handed the Mississippi State University Bulldogs their second loss of conference play.

The Bulldogs started the game off strong by going on a 10-2 run by 6:34 in the first quarter, but no lead was safe from the Crimson Tide as they fought and ended the quarter only down one point, a foreshadowing event of what was to come throughout the rest of the match. By the end of the first half the Bulldogs had a 10-point lead over the Tide, and Bulldog sophomore Rickea Jackson and junior Sidney Cooks were the scoring leaders with nine and seven points respectively.

The second half is where the Crimson Tide did most of their damage, ending with three of their players scoring at least 10 points. One of those players, Jordan Lewis, scored 19 in the second half and 22 in the game.

Alabama’s head coach Kristy Curry said she is very proud of her team’s ability to battle back and

win tough games.

“I’m just really proud of the tremendous toughness and character of our kids down the stretch to make plays.

I thought that Jordan [Lewis] and Hannah [Barber] in our back court really controlled the tempo and made great decisions,” Curry said. “We were fortunate to get Jordan a couple of looks.”

“The first half we took away their layups, and the second half we didn’t take away any of it. They attacked us hard in the second half, but we just need to learn how to just finish a game.”

Myah Taylor

Redshirt Junior Gaurd

The Bulldogs shot 47% from the floor and 39% from behind the stripe. Jackson scored 15 points and junior Myah Taylor also scored 15 points, nine of those points coming from deep.

The Bulldogs scored when it was needed, but they were losing the rebound battle. This gave the Tide more chances to score. Winning the boards helped Alabama score 21 second chance points. Taylor said the Bulldogs just did not stick to the game plan, and that allowed the game to

get away from them.

“I think the things we were doing in the first half we just didn’t do in the second half. The game plan was to limit their threes, keep them off the free-throw line and limit their layups,” Taylor said. “The first half we took away their layups, and the second half we didn’t take away any of it. They attacked us hard in the second half, but we just need to learn how to just finish a game.”

Bulldog Head Coach Nikki McCray-Penson said her team has to know the scouting report for 40 minutes, and they cannot let the game plan get away from them.

McCray-Penson also said they are going to get to the root of their problems and prepare for their difficult schedule looming ahead.

“We have to come back as a group; that is the biggest thing. We have to talk about it as a team and as a staff, and we’ll dissect this,” McCray-Penson said.

“We have to get ready for our game on Sunday against Texas A&M and be ready to regroup. It’s part of our process.”

The Bulldogs traveled to College Station, Texas, to face the Texas A&M Aggies, who were ranked no. 7 nationally leading up to that game. In Texas, the Aggies took the Bulldogs with a 69-41 win.

The Mississippi State University women’s basketball team has