THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021
137TH YEAR | ISSUE 12
Shooting occurs near campus Thursday night HEATHER HARRISON AND HANNAH BLANKENSHIP NEWS EDITOR, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Around 6:30 p.m. Thursday night, four gun shots rang out near Chadwick Place Apartments on East Lee Boulevard. Thomas McBride, a senior accounting major at Mississippi State University and resident of Chadwick Place Apartments, heard the shots and saw the aftermath. "I was sitting in my room talking with my roommate, Taylor, and we hear essentially four pistol shots, and we both kind of stare at each other for a second, and we both kind of go 'That
was gunshots,' and it sounded like it was right down the street, like very close, so we rushed and locked the doors, turned out all the lights," McBride said. McBride said they heard yelling and shouting and looked out the window. "We look down and there was a figure hunched over, on our block on our parking area three cars down from mine or so, relatively close. There's a guy hunched over on the ground. It was fairly dark outside, so we couldn’t really see but he was obviously hurt," McBride said. A car, what looked to be a 1980s or 1990s
brown Lincoln, then came down the street and pulled up at the scene. "They open up the (car) door and we hear some yelling and the only thing we could really hear was 'No, you can't leave them. We've got to pick 'em up,' as another guy rushes out of the car, picks him up, takes him to the car and they drive off," McBride said. MSU police believe a suspect then ran toward MSU’s campus on foot after the shooting. At 7:08 p.m. all MSU students received a Maroon Alert phone call notifying them of the incident and urging them to avoid the area. SHOOTING, 2
Haley Storey | The Reflector
MSU Police Department and the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office used K-9 units to assist with the search for last Thursday’s shooting suspect.
Starkville is keeping its options open for ARPA spending HEATHER HARRISON NEWS EDITOR
At a recent Starkville Board of Aldermen work session, the board decided to reconsider how Starkville is spending its funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The original ARPA Mary Georgia Hamilton | The Reflector plan gave parks $5.5 million of Starkville's Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill at her desk. allocated $6.2 million. Now, two other projects this allows us to add could either split the that complement to the ARPA funds with parks options that are availor solely receive the able to us to present to funds. him," Starkville Mayor Lt. Gov. Delbert Lynn Spruill said. Hosemann recently anFunds could potennounced that he plans tially go toward Main to fund-match Missis- Street renovations and sippi cities' ARPA the Highway 182 funds. Due to this, BUILD grant project. Starkville is reconfigurMain Street renovaing its ARPA spending tions include repaving to maximize its chances the street, removing of receiving the ad- turning lanes and reditional money. structuring sidewalks "We added to our op- for a more walkable tions, and that was be- downtown. cause my understanding The Highway 182 is Lt. Gov. Hosemann's BUILD plan also iminterest is stronger in proves pedestrian having water and sewer friendliness and makes infrastructure,and so the highway wheel-
chair-accessible. Additionally, broadband accessibility will improve, and other infrastructure and drainage issues are getting fixed. The U.S. Department of Transportation's Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development Transportation Discretionary Grant program granted $12.66 million to Starkville for Highway 182 renovations. However, Spruill said the city has already exceeded its budget due to time, labor and manufacturing costs. Receiving ARPA funds for the highway means that the city might not have to borrow more money from the state or federal government. Ward 2 Alderman Sandra Sistrunk clarified that ARPA funds could be used on any number of projects the city may wish to use the money on. However, the funds are limited, so the city and the Board of Aldermen must decide how much money to allocate to
Ivy Rose Ball| The Reflector
Highway 182 is set to see renovations completed in the next few years, including sidewalk, sewer, drainage and broadband improvements.
each project and how to pay for them. Spruill said she wanted to keep Starkville's options as flexible as possible to receive the maximum amount of matching funds available. "You have to take ad-
vantage of everything you can, and with the state having a good amount of money that they want to put toward municipalities, I wanted to make sure that the options that were available to us were as broad as possible based on
(Lt. Gov. Hosemann's) level of interest in some particular projects," Spruill said. Depending on the state's match, Starkville leaders will then decide which project will receive ARPA funds. ARPA, 2
MS House, Senate unanimously pass largest MSU Dining Services rolls out new potential teacher pay raise in state history features for the spring semester JOSHUA STEWART
LIFE & ENTERTAINmENT EDITOR
Two separate bills focused on the issue of teacher pay have passed both chambers of the Mississippi Legislature. House Bill 530, also referred to as the START Act (Strategically Accelerating the Recruitment and Retention of Teachers) of 2022, was introduced by Republican representatives and proposes $4,000 to $6,000 increases in teacher salary. The bill passed the House 114-6 in a bipartisan vote. The Senate unanimously passed their own version of a bill concerning teacher pay raises,
with a vote of 35-0. Senate Bill 2444 plans to increase salaries by $4,700, increasing yearly and every five years. Representative Lynn Wright, a Republican representing District 37, which encompasses parts of Clay, Lowndes and Oktibbeha counties, voted yes on HB530. Wright cites the current shortage of teachers in the state as one of the reasons why teacher pay has become a focal point in state government. "We have such a teacher shortage, not just in our state, but across the nation. Our teachers have a very, very tough job. A lot of people
TAYLOR STIGALL
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Courtesy Photo | MS House of Representatives
Mississippi Representative Lynn Wright.
think they want to go into education, and it really is a calling. Most teachers aren't in it for the money, but they should be justly compensated. It is still a very underpaid profession," Wright said. RAISE, 2
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As Mississippi State University began the spring semester of 2022, MSU Dining Services unveiled some fresh features that allow students to easily view Block Meals and Flex Dollars. Additionally, Dining Services added mobile purchases at campus fast food locations and the Dawg Bites Trial Meal Plan. Students can now view their remaining Block Meals and Flex Dollars by visiting dining.msstate.edu and creating an account using their nine-digit MSU ID. DINING, 2
FORECAST: It is looking to be another sunny and cold week in Starkville for the first full week of classes. Jack Frost is still controlling our weather, so make sure to wear your jackets and cozy pants. Highs range from the low 50s to the low 40s, while the lows are looking to be in the chilly 20 degree range. It is perfect weather for a bonfire or sitting by the fireplace indoors.
Courtesy of The Weather Channel
Ashok Manick | The Reflector
The Starbucks Mobile Order feature is now available to use at the Colvard Student Union.
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RAISE Wright applauded the bipartisan nature of HB530 and other bills he has voted on during his time in the House. "I've been so impressed by the bipartisan support on so many bills. Everybody seems to get along great in the House, and I'm sure it's the same way in the Senate as well. With so many bills, we have 122 representatives, and normally it is around 100 or more who are in favor of the bills being passed. Everybody is very cooperative," Wright said. Wright also mentioned the issue of teacher retention in Mississippi, as many educators have left the state in pursuit of h i g h e r - p a y i n g positions. "Our teachers do a great job. Mississippi has been one of the lowest-paying states in the nations, and I'm glad to see the pay getting closer," Wright said. "It's getting more and more competitive because we lose quality teachers to bordering states, and so many of them are choosing
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other professions after they get their degrees. A lot of them stop teaching, and it is a very challenging profession. There's so much required of teachers." While the bills in the House and Senate differ in some areas, Senator Bart Williams is excited to address teacher pay. Williams feels confident of the ability of both chambers to reach a compromise on the two bills. While the House bill includes a flat raise, the Senate version includes pay bumps every five years. Williams, who represents the 15th District which consists of Choctaw, Montgomery, Webster and Oktibbeha counties, voted yes on Senate Bill 2444. He echoed the need for bipartisanship on the issue of teacher pay. "We see the real need there. We want to compensate our teachers as fairly as we can. We know that if we look around the nearby states, there are big gaps. You've got thousands of teachers
that will be given a pay raise, and I think collectively, on either side, either party, we see that as a good thing for our economy," Williams said. Williams continued, saying that while these bills are important, they are just the first step in education reform. "They definitely are steps, but they are just pieces of the puzzle," Williams said. "We can have some scholarship things in place for people that may want to major in education. I think within the school system, there are always concerns about testing methodology. We need to be constantly tackling the issues and finding the right recipe." A n o t h e r representative who voted yes on the START bill is Rob Roberson, who represents District 43, which includes parts of Oktibbeha and most of Winston counties. Roberson talked about what is included in the House version of the teacher bill. Roberson alluded to
the average teacher salary in Mississippi being a factor in the support of this bill, as it is significantly lower than its southeastern counterparts. "One of the governing factors was to get us above not just the Southeastern average, but the national average as well, and increase our attractiveness to young teachers so that when they finish school, they'll teach and stay in Mississippi." Roberson, a Republican, said education is an inherently bipartisan issue. "I think it comes down to trust. House Republicans and House Democrats may not always agree on the way to get there, but we all want Mississippi to do better," Roberson said. "When you look at the big picture, you see that education doesn't have an R or a D on it. It's education. It is trying to take care of our kids. Both sides didn't feel the need to continue trying to trump each other. We're trying to actually
make a difference." Roberson talked about brain drain in the state and encouraged young professionals to stay in Mississippi. "The community, whether it be students or young people, I want to encourage them to give Mississippi a chance. We will try to keep as many of our young people as we can. What it comes down to is making sure they understand that they are part of the solution, and they're part of the plan to make our communities more viable and that their ideas matter. Don't be afraid to bring their ideas to the forefront and try to make Mississippi the best it can be," Roberson said. Now that both bills have passed their respective chambers, legislators from each body will meet to work on a bill to send to Governor Tate Reeves' desk. While it is unknown whether or not the governor will pass the future bill, Representative Lynn Wright "feels certain" that he will sign it.
DINING After an account is created, students can go back to this site to see their Flex and Block Meals balance instead of having to log into MyState. Haley Sweet, a freshman engineering major, said she frequently uses her Flex Dollars at locations such as the Colvard Student Union on campus. Sweet said she is looking forward to a new, faster way to view her available funds. "It's honestly a lot easier than having to log in to Banner on MyState, and it's set, so I'll actually get notifications
towards the end of the semester when I run low on Flex Dollars. I also like that I will be able to see a list of everything charged to my account so I can see exactly what I'm spending my Flex Dollars on," Sweet said. Sweet also said she was excited to use the new Transact Mobile Ordering App, which will soon be used to place orders at Chick-filA, Moe's Southwest Grill and Steak N Shake via the app. Additionally, MSU staff members can link their meal plans to the Transact app to spend Block Meals or Flex
Dollars at these campus restaurants. The option to pay with a credit or debit card is still available. Erik Pare is a freshman psychology major who said he has a hectic schedule with little time for lunch most days, like many full-time MSU students. He said he was enthusiastic to hear of the new mobile ordering app. "I feel like being able to order online will be an absolute help because you can order while you're coming out of classes and be able to get there and already have your food ready. A lot of
the time, students will not be able to eat until after their classes or won't be able to find the time throughout the day, but if they order online, it is a quick stop and pick up. I think it will be a huge help, especially to those who may not be getting enough food throughout the day," Pare said. The final update MSU Dining Services introduced was the Dawg Bites Trial Plan. This new plan is intended for MSU staff members and serves as a smaller, more affordable option. The Dawg Bites Trial Plan costs $100.00 plus tax
and includes ten Block Meals and an additional $25 in Flex Dollars. Andi Pichardo, the marketing manager for MSU Dining Services, explained the idea behind the new Dawg Bites Trial Plan. "There was a recent upgrade of point-of-sale systems at all dining locations, and with this, we wanted to give faculty and staff members who have never had a meal plan before a way to try it out. We are always looking to improve and create a better experience for our students and community. We are in
the process of looking at adding new meal plan options for students; this also means presenting them to the IHL for approval. As we grow and improve our locations, we hope to add new meal plan options as well," Pichardo said. While not every update has been released yet, the reception to these changes has been positive so far. Students and MSU faculty alike say they welcome these additions and anticipate any new updates MSU Dining Services may throw their way in the future.
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“The good news is, we have lots of projects and they all fit in the criteria somebody is looking at.” Sandra Sistrunk Ward 2 Alderman City of Starkille
much needed, and she is especially looking forward to having drainage and sewage problems solved. "There will definitely be growing pains," Hamilton said, "but I think it will be beautiful to bridge the gap between this older
part of Starkville (Highway 182) and Main Street." As a citizen of Starkville, Hamilton said she appreciates city leaders' initiatives to build Starkville to be the best it can be for its residents and visitors. She said she enjoys the
Courtesy Photo | City of Starkville
Ward 2 Alderman Sandra Sistrunk.
addition of sidewalks around town and says a walkable city is a great way to link Starkville with Mississippi State University's campus. Even though all three proposals may not receive ARPA funds, Spruill and Sistrunk say the city is set to start
and complete construction on each initiative within the next few years. "Every day is a new day, and some days I kind of worry that we won't get them all done," Sistrunk said, "but I think they're all worthwhile projects. I think they're all transformational projects for the city of Starkville ... And more ways than not, I think we can find a way to finance them that's palatable. Since Main Street, Highway 182 and parks renovations are all infrastructure related, Sistrunk said the city may borrow money from the state for 20 years, which keeps the individual payments
SHOOTING C h i e f Communications Officer Sid Salter said it is typical for the university to issue a Maroon Alert when someone who is armed with a weapon or has committed a crime attempts to move onto campus. Additionally, Salter said MSU officials try to assist MSU PD in any way possible during a potential threat. “The university has K9 capabilities, and the K9 was used to try to track an individual. That
Courtesy Photo | MS House
Rob Roberson, MS House of Representatives.
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ARPA "We are just trying to make sure that we fall under any category that may be acceptable to the legislature, to the Mississippi legislature, as they offer those matching dollars," Spruill said. Agreeing with the mayor, Sistrunk said Starkville has no shortage of ideas. "The good news is, we have lots of projects and they all fit in the criteria somebody is looking at," Sistrunk said. Paisley Hamilton owns Serendipity Hippie, which is located on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive East and is set to see improvements from the Highway 182 BUILD grant. Hamilton said the restructuring is
Courtesy Photo | MS Senate
Bart Williams, MS State Senator District 15.
lower to prevent the town from accruing more debt. Starkville is keeping its options open and will not narrow down a decision until Lt. Gov. Hosemann and Mississippi legislators decide how to fundmatch. Sistrunk said each plan for improvements around town is transformative to ensure long-lasting benefits. "I think they're the kind of projects that will impact our city for a long time and will position us to be one of those few cities in the state that has an opportunity to really grow and prosper," Sistrunk said, "and that's what this is all about."
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assistance was completed, the second Maroon Alert went out, and we basically notified the campus community that, to the best of our knowledge, the danger had passed,” Salter said. McBride mentioned there was a large blood puddle where the figure had been crouched down that was later hosed off by the fire department. Salter said two people who were not MSU students went to OCH Regional Medical Center after the incident. Their injuries were
not life-threatening, and they are expected to be released from the hospital on Friday. “No one from Mississippi State was injured to our knowledge,” Salter said. McBride, who grew up in Jackson and formerly lived in Aspen Heights, said incidents like these were not out of the ordinary where he was from, so he did not feel scared. He also said did not feel unsafe during the incident and thought the police handled it well.
“Taylor and I, honestly we weren’t that nervous, besides the four shots, that was the one point where we knew something was going down, but we never really felt unsafe ... It looked like all the action happened in one second and they were just trying to get out of there,” McBride said. Since the shooting occurred off-campus at the apartment complex, the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office took over the investigation once MSU PD believed
the suspect was no longer a threat to campus. McBride said the sheriff's department had the area taped off and remained on scene until late in the evening. Friday morning, the sheriff's department said their investigators were all out of the office working on the case and that a press release would be issued. Friday afternoon, the Oktibbeha County Sheriff's Office sent out a press release stating that an arrest has been made
from the incident. Samuel Lee Kirkland, 20, of Louisville, MS was arrested on charges of armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of controlled substance. The two gunshot victims were treated at OCH and released. The sheriff’s department is still searching for two other suspects they believe are juveniles as well as a “silver with heavy rust on top 1990 Oldsmobile 98 MS Tag number HLB 7359 believed to be driven by the juveniles.”
THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2022 | @REFLECTORONLINE
BULLETIN BOARD
December 1 Puzzle Solutions
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Monday, January 17, 2022
Saturday, January 22, 2022
Two students reported while walking on Hardy an unknown person in a dark colored car aimed a gun at them.
Resident of city/county arrested on Blackjack Road for DUI.
Tuesday, January 18, 2022 Student reported that her vehicle was hit while parked in G10 parking lot.
Friday, January 21, 2022 Two students reported an unknown male pulled a firearm on them at the Kappa Alpha Fraternity House.
Sunday, January 23, 2022 Student transported to Oktibbeha County Hospital from College View Apartments for medical assistance due to drinking something containing an unknown substance.
Monday, January 24, 2022 Employee reported missing inventory from Lloyd Ricks Building.
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Animal Fact of the Week
The world’s deadliest animal is not a shark, bear or tiger, but something far smaller – the mosquito. According to the World Health Organization, 725,000 people are killed each year from mosquito-borne diseases, such as Malaria, dengue fever and yellow fever. via factanimal.com
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THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2022 | @REFLECTORONLINE
OPINION
Inconsistent COVID-19 guidelines reduce ef ficacy and obedience EMMA DOTSON is a senior majoring in communication. Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu
We are all sick of the COVID-19 pandemic— some figuratively, some literally— but what I am the sickest of is the inconsistent guidelines. I get it, "We are in unprecedented times," but why does it seem that every other country knows what to do besides us? Sure, we were one of the earlier countries to have a COVID-19 vaccine authorized, but what do we have to say for ourselves besides that? At the start of the pandemic, we had one variant along with federal stay-at-home orders, travel bans, federal mask mandates and no vaccine. Now, cases are at an all-time high with each new week's numbers smashing the record of the previous. Additionally, we have ten variants, no federal stay-at-home orders, no travel bans, nor any federal mask mandates, but this time we do at least have a vaccine. I am not here to argue how this pandemic
should be managed, but in favor of logical and consistent rules. At the beginning of the pandemic, the national guidelines were put in place to promote citizens' well-being even in uncertainty. Current guidelines are no longer benefitting Americans' health but cater to America's economy. The one thing in particular which bothered me was the recent update on quarantine guidelines from ten days of isolation to five days of isolation and five more days of wearing a mask. The problem I have is not with the shorter quarantine period, but with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's
(CDC) decision to not require a negative test to return to work or school. Many doctors are unsettled with this decision as it places asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals in an unnecessary position to expose others. Dr. Michael Mina, a physician and former professor at Harvard's Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, calls this decision "reckless," according an article written by Jane Their for Fortune. The CDC's choice to go along with this measure is not for national health or well-being, but in reaction to the fear of economic decline. In an article by Abigail Johnson Hess for CNBC, Dr.
Anthony Fauci, the chief medical advisor to President Joe Biden, said the new guideline is a response to staffing shortages. "One of the things we want to be careful of is that we don't have so many people out," Fauci said in the article. However, this adjustment will not fix staffing shortages. Instead, it will force infected people to go back to work to infect more people, resulting in even more shortages. The rule also makes it so that people do not get the recovery time they need in order to make a full rehabilitation from the sickness. The economy is important, but you cannot have an economy without people, and
people are dying because of these careless rules. I have focused primarily on national guidelines, but the main source of my frustration has not been with the CDC but with Mississippi State University’s guidelines. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, MSU forced everyone to move back home and not come back from an extended spring break among the panic waves of uncertainty. During the following semester, fall 2020, hybrid and online classes were widely used, live streaming of classes was heavily encouraged, in-person classes were reduced in overall size with mask mandates, social distancing rules were enforced and indoor sporting events required masks. For the spring 2021 semester, hybrid classes and online classes were sprinkled in, masks were required, sporting events encouraged mask use, but social distancing guidelines were basically axed. For fall 2021 there were very few online classes, masks were required in classrooms but not when walking around buildings for vaccinated students (the virus disappears in the hallway, did you not hear?), staff and faculty were federally mandated to get vaccinated and live streaming of classes was not required for teachers, putting many students at risk of falling
behind in class. Now, faculty and staff are not required to be vaccinated and masks are required everywhere in buildings/classrooms again, but this rule is set to be reconsidered Feb. 1. Although the mask rule has been fully reinstated, I have seen a large number of students completely disregarding the guideline. While some students have opted not to mask from the start, the inconsistency in masking policy has led to many more students going mask-less. The reason for all of these changes is not because COVID19 is suddenly not as severe, but because of the public pressure to go "back to normal," even if it is not in the public health's best interest. MSU is a business after all, so they listen to public opinion, but make decisions based on monetary retention. Notice they did not announce the reinstatement of the mask mandate in all buildings until after tuition was due in order to retain the most students they possibly could. I am not asking MSU or U.S. leaders to resolve the pandemic already, because it is not an easy thing to manage. I am simply asking them to be consistent with their messaging and make decisions for the wellbeing of the public, because all this back and forth is exhausting; we are quite literally "sick" of it.
The wooden pencil is the most useful, versatile writing utensil
SAM COTHRON is a senior majoring in agronomy. Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu
With the spring semester beginning, students everywhere are dusting off their writing utensils to begin serious note-taking anew. Maybe you scarcely touched a pen over the winter break, much less wrote extensively by hand. Even as more and more students opt to take notes electronically, rather than on paper, there is a particular burning question in the mind of anyone who cares about stationery: what writing tool should you use? While there is a dizzying array of options available, from elegant fountain pens to five cent disposable ballpoints, one of the simplest— the wooden pencil— remains a firm favorite, despite being little more than lead encased by two pieces of wood.
Its simplicity is its greatest strength. The pencil is far more versatile than any other writing tool and is perfect for uses where ballpoints or other pens would be decidedly useless. The pencil is one of the most familiar school-related items in existence: usually yellow, cheap and with a short-lived pink eraser. These tools dominate elementary and middle schools. Even earlier, children learn to write using extra-chunky, wide pencils to accommodate undeveloped fine motor skills, and every art class has a drawer, or three, of drawing pencils, some with chew marks (ew). Pencils are ubiquitous for a reason: they always work, their marks are erasable and buying them in bulk will not break the bank. At the heart of a pencil is a lead, which is not actually made of lead, but rather a mixture of clay and graphite. The term "lead" comes from the Middle Ages, when artists would sometimes use styluses of lead to leave faint, silver marks on parchment or vellum, much like how one would use a modern pencil. According to Webmineral
Adam Sullivan | The Reflector
Adam Deeb erases notes in his notebook with a classic non-mechanical pencil.
Mineralogy Database, graphite is the principal component of the lead which is a crystalline allotrope of carbon that leaves dark marks on textured surfaces. By itself, graphite is too crumbly and smudgy to be an ideal writing tool. According to the Contè website, the modern pencil was invented by NicholasJacques Contè in 1795 when he mixed clay with graphite and sandwiched it between two wooden slats, thus cre-
ating the best writing utensil. The amount of clay added determines the hardness of a lead; today, you can buy a range of hardnesses, from 9B, which is ultra-dark and smudgy, to 9H, which is extremely hard and leaves faint lines on paper. Pencils are completely non-mechanical objects. As long as you have a sharpener, either a dedicated one for pencils or just a knife, you are good to go. Pens can run out
of ink, and mechanical pencils can jam. The marks made by a pencil are streaks of carbon: they cannot be washed off. Inks are a mix of pigments in a solvent, and thus are readily soluble. "Permanent" markers, for instance, are soluble in alcohol. Suppose that you need to label some sample tubes in the lab. If any alcohol gets on the tubes or your gloves, your labels could all be washed off. Most inks are also subject to degradation when exposed to ultraviolet radiation. Try writing something in permanent marker and leaving it in the sun for several months for guaranteed illegibility. Not so with pencil marks! They remain in place unless deliberately erased and are immune to chemical changes. Like silly putty pressed to newspaper, rubber erasers have a higher affinity for the pencil writing than the writing surface does, so with a few rubs, the otherwise-permanent trail of carbon comes off. Many erasers are also mildly abrasive, gently sanding off the topmost layer of paper fibers to completely remove the pencil marks. Erasability is perhaps the biggest advan-
tage of pencils over pens: whether you are doing math, writing an essay or bubbling in a Scantron, making changes to your work is easy. Now suppose you need to do some sketching in space. Most pens rely on Earth's gravity to disperse their ink and can fail to function in a microgravity environment like that of a space station. To circumvent this problem, both NASA astronauts and Russian cosmonauts were issued pencils as late as 1965, as Ciara Curtin writes in Scientific American. Smearing a stick of carbon onto a page requires nothing from gravity. Although NASA would later invent a pen with a pressurized ink cartridge, the pencil solved the writing problem while using far less taxpayers' money. And should you ever need to write underwater on your underwater paper... well, you know which writing instrument to pick. Whether you are an artist, scientist or casual notetaker, one writing tool is unmatched for its cost-efficiency, versatility and go-anywhere-doanything character: the oldfashioned wooden pencil.
STREAMING NOW: “THE GREAT” Tu n e i n e v e r y w e e k fo r a n e w re v i e w o f w h a t i s t re n d i n g o n yo u r s e r v i c e s. PAYTON BROWN
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Hulu's "The Great" is a series which comedically and colorfully portrays the rise of the female icon, Catherine the Great. A successful coup and forced abdication of her husband, Peter III, allowed her to claim her position as the empress of Russia. "The Great" begins by characterizing Catherine as a naïve, lovestruck German girl who is thrilled to take claim as Peter's wife, but it quickly transforms her into a powerful and bone-chilling woman keen on the idea of as-
sassinating her husband for his throne. Catherine is an optimistic, progressive woman who places a high value upon knowledge and equality. She uses her passions to openly advocate for women's education, the destruction of the serf system and the progression towards scientific modernization. She consistently proves herself to be the embodiment of strength because of her determination to survive both the brutal realities of an eighteenth century
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“THE GREAT”
Russia and her immature, narcissistic husband. While Catherine believes in using her rule to reflect the beauty of Enlightenment ideals and intellectual expansion, her husband's rule consists of beard bans, unnecessarily vulgar parties and neglect towards the unnecessary war he started in Sweden. The "dramedy" shows its audience the contrasting reigns of both Catherine and Peter to highlight the historically impressive impact which Cathe-
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rine began to slowly make in Russia once enthroned as empress. What makes "The Great" so great is the diverse and intriguing characters it introduces and then drastically transforms under Catherine's rule. My personal favorite is Count Orlo who originally appears as a shy and weak advisee to Peter but reinvents himself as a blunt and courageous man once becoming politically involved with Catherine. The outspoken and flamboyant Marial is worth
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the editor can be sent to the Meyer Student Media Center or mailed to The Reflector, PO Box 5407, Mississippi State, MS. They can also be emailed to editor@reflector.msstate.edu and have a maximum wordcount of 350 words. Letters must include name and telephone number for verification purposes. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.
mentioning as she is first portrayed as a disobedient serf who guides Catherine through her coup plans until she is rebirthed as a respected lady of the court during Catherine's rule. Besides the beautiful casting of Nicholas Hoult and Elle Fanning, this series is a true
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.
representation of women's empowerment and sheer rebellion as it uses Catherine to completely renovate the emotional setting and force Russia towards a new light. The only qualm I can hold against this fantastic series is that there is not more of it. Huzzah, indeed. Rating: 9/10
CORRECTIONS 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, email editor@reflector.msstate.edu or call 325-7905.
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THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2022 | @REFLECTORONLINE
LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT
5
Poet Laureate Catherine Pierce inspires with her writing
Katie rainWater
Staff Writer
In a fast-paced society where life moves a mile a minute, current Mississippi Poet Laureate and Mississippi State University professor Catherine Pierce credits poetry as a way to slow down and connect with reality. Pierce grew up in Wilmington, Del., constantly surrounding herself with books, movies, musicals and other works of art. From an early age, she was drawn to the intricacy of poetry. She remembers authoring one of her first poems. "I wrote a little haiku … about purple pansies," Pierce said. "I liked the dea of creating something that really focused closely on this one little thing." Her love of literature and poetry continued to grow into Pierce's adult years. She attended Susquehanna University, a small liberal arts college in Pennsylvania, for her undergraduate degree where she majored in English with an emphasis in creative writing and a minor n theatre. There, she found fellow creative individuals in an encouraging community. "I was doing a lot of writing and stage stuff, and I also made a lot of really good friends," Pierce said. Pierce attended Ohio State University for her MFA and the University of Missouri for her Ph.D. She came down to Starkville in 2007 to be an MSU
professor and has been ever since, teaching creative writing, literature and poetry classes. Professor Becky Hagenston is a colleague and friend of Pierce and a fellow educator in the MSU Department of English. She applauds Pierce for her ability to create poetry as well as foster a love of poetry among students. "I assign her work in my creative writing classes, and my students not only learn from her poems but also enjoy them, because they do what the best poems do: they make us think about and appreciate the world in a new way," Hagenston said. Pierce has published four books and a plethora of poems. She gains inspiration in many places, from world issues to her own home. "My interests and obsessions shift over time, as they do for everybody," Pierce said. "In the last bunch of years, I've found myself gravitating toward writing about the climate crisis, the Earth and the natural world. I also write about parenting." In April 2021, after an interview process and beating out several finalists, Pierce was chosen to be poet laureate of Mississippi by Governor Tate Reeves. She shares what the role entails and her commitment to growing a love of poetry in Mississippi. "I get to work with people across the state to help them gain access to poetry," Pierce said. "I'm really interested in help-
ing people see that poetry is something for everyone and something that connects to all parts of our lives." In this role, Pierce will visit schools and community events in hopes to inspire children and adults alike to pick up a poem. She has already jumped into multiple projects as poet laureate. She writes an interactive monthly column for the Mississippi Books page of the Clarion Ledger and Hattiesburg American Newspaper called "Poetry Break," which discusses poetry and includes a writing prompt for readers. She also recently launched "The City Poetry Podcast," highlighting Mississippi poets. Dan Punday is the head of the MSU English Department and a fan of Pierce's work. He said Pierce's column fostered a multigenerational love of poetry among his wife and father-in-law. "My wife reads 'Poetry Break' each month and has done some of the exercises, and has shared these with her dad, who has always been a bit baffled by poetry," Punday said. "They've both found this writing to be remarkably enlightening." In today's world, Pierce believes people need poetry now more than ever. She hopes to show communities how poetry is necessary to express life's highs, lows and every feeling in-between. "Poetry can make a genuine difference in people's lives and be a
Megan Bean | Office of Public Affairs
Mississippi Poet Laureate Catherine Pierce is teaching creative writing and advanced poetry classes at MSU.
source of comfort. It can be a way to amplify and galvanize voices and communities," Pierce said. "It's a way to anchor our own thoughts and take some time and space to sit with what we're feeling
and observing. She recognizes that in modern times, people are defined by productivity levels and accomplishments. She views poetry as a method of clutching to the present and dwelling
on a single moment. "Poetry allows us to take some time and feel our connection to the world and smaller aspects of our lives in a way that is really emotionally satisfying," Pierce said.
‘Souper Bowl’ provides warmth on a cold winter day
Lydia PaLmer
Staff Writer
This weekend's chilly Saturday morning proved to be a good day to be out and about in downtown Starkville. In conjunction with the annual Frostbite Half Marathon, 10k and 5k that took place on Saturday, the Greater Starkville Development Partnership held their annual Souper Bowl after the race from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to take ull advantage of the already closed end of Main Street. Paige Watson, Starkville's director of Main Street, said this event is an intentional effort to get the community together and interact with ocal businesses. "We began to colaborate in 2018 actually, because this is such a big street closure (for the race) and the race takes up so much time that we thought we might as well do something in conjunction with the event," Watson said. "So, we started doing this and it's been super successful and has grown every year." Watson also shared that the event has been going on for 10 years. She plays a key role in planning events like this one by organizing the event and recruiting restaurants and teams to participate in the event. The joint efforts of the Main Street Association with the half-marathon event provide the post-run meal for the runners that is included n their registration fee, as well as tickets being sold online and at the entrance of the event to keep it open to the pubic. Multiple businesses participated in the event, showcasing some
Lydia Palmer| The Reflector
Chef Leon Jefferson serves a cup of his roasted kale and artichoke soup with smoked gouda and pork belly. Jefferson took home first place at the event.
of Starkville's restaurants. One of the newer additions to the smalltown cuisine varieties is a restaurant located on Mississippi State University's campus called Power of the Almond. This small business caters to different health-related dietary needs.
Kirk Hutchinson, the restaurant's founder, is from Windsor, N.C., and attended MSU for college. He shared about the reasons he started this business in Starkville. "I started a Keto, celiac and diabetic restaurant for health reasons that were personal to me," Hutchinson said.
"We've been in business for a year and a half now in Starkville." The inclusive restaurant's owner also spoke excitedly about the soup they prepared for the competition on Saturday. "We made a Greek chicken lemon soup today, and it is a diabetic friendly soup, but
you don't have to be a diabetic to eat it," Hutchinson said. The culinary competitors involved in the event in addition to Power of the Almond were Moe's Original Barbecue, Arepas Coffee Bar, Mom & Pop, Proof Bakery, Central Station Grill, Harveys, Starkville Country Club
and Tables at 4300. Runners and nonrunners alike were able to experience these restaurants. Laughter was heard down Lafayette Street as event-goers tried the soup and a local musician played live music. One of the runners who came to partake in the festivities, Julie Lord, shared her experience with the event between samples of soups. "I've done a number of the race events throughout the years and then when the Souper Bowl started we did that too," Lord said. "It's nice to have events this time of year, so it's a fun thing– wellmanaged and a great race. This is fun to see the different restaurants and getting to try stuff out." After trying out the different soups, the guests were able to fill out a ballot that contained both the names of the participating food vendors and their soups. Guests were asked to select their favorite soup and place their vote on the ballot. Once the votes were counted at the end of the event, titles were given out for first through third place and best of show. The first-place winner was Central Station Grill, with their roasted kale and artichoke soup with smoked gouda and pork belly. Second place in the competition went to Starkville Country Club, who served smoked corn and tasso chowder. The third place winner was The Power of the Almond, with their chicken avgolemono. Best of show was awarded to Tables at 4300 for their chicken and dumpling soup.
THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2022 | @SPORTSREFLECTOR
SPORTS
6
“I’ve never felt closer to 22 people in my life.” Spirit squads are enjoying full stadiums, packed gyms and even closer bonds
Bronwen Maddox staff writer
Finally back to normal, the Mississippi State University spirit squads are able to cheer on all the sports teams as they were meant to, and for some of them, it's all they could have ever asked for. Last season, the teams had to perform from certain constricted boundaries within Davis Wade Stadium, in front of a limited number of fans and students who were all socially distanced within the 60,000-plus seat stadium. This football season, though, they were in front of some of the largest crowds in recent memory — some of them for the first time — and it left an impression, to say the least. Coed cheer captain Jackson Smith, a senior broadcasting major, has been cheering since he stepped foot on campus. "It feels great," Smith said. "It feels like something of a return to normal. It feels kind of like we're back to being able to connect more with the fans and more interconnected with the game itself. Being behind the fence, we were still doing what we needed to do, but it didn't feel the same, so being back out there, I think a lot of people notice it. The whole team notices the difference." Both the coed and allgirls cheer teams practice twice a week, in addition to
Saturdays and other game Whitehead gave her walk in the stadium, and then depth, so it's kind of more can count on them in any days. Kendall Pitre, a senior emotional account of just basketball is exciting, but chill," Whitehead said. activity that we go to, and biomedical engineering what game days have meant it's different since people The spirit teams are that it's always going to be major, is a cheerleader on for her. are so close to us while we're close groups, according to something to look forward the all-girls team. Pitre said "They're all completely performing so it's cool to see Whitehead. to." that while practices are time different I would say, but fans' reactions. You really "It's something that I Smith noted a similar consuming, they are worth football is really big and fun, get to see them up close. And can always rely on," said sentiment, expressing how it. so it's exciting to get to see then baseball for us is very up Whitehead. "If I'm having a close he feels to his "It's a lot of time that many people. Honestly, close, so it's fun but it's not bad day, the people there are teammates. management and balance coming back from COVID, I as much pressure, I would always there for me, just "I've never felt closer to but honestly, cheer is my forgot what it felt like. I say, because our because we're always 22 people in my life, I don't outlet. It's a lot of fun for me. literally get chills every time I performances aren't as in- together so much. I know I think," Smith said. We practice twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays for two hours, and then we have football games on each Saturday with volleyball and basketball mixed in," Pitre said. The members of the dance team practice at least four times a week and a fifth day if there is a home game. These practices and the performances at games are overseen by their coach, Taylor Lee. The team attends a convention in June where they learn all of the choreography used in their dances. When they come back, Lee cleans up those moves and puts them together to make the dances seen on Saturdays in Davis Wade. Everyone thinks of football games when they think of the spirit squads, but they attend many of the other sporting events on campus as well. Cheer is at football, volleyball and men's and women's basketball. The dance team goes to football, men's and women's basketball and baseball. Ashok Manick | The Reflector Senior marketing major Members of the MSU all-girls cheer squad gather on the sidelines of Davis-Wade Stadium in support of the Bulldogs during the game against Tennessee State. and dancer Brehan
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