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To Kill a Mockingbird to be banned page 4

Choral homecoming concert

Faith before football

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132nd YEAR ISSUE 15

FRIDAY OCTOBER 20, 2017

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884 TAYLOR RAYBURN |

SPORTS EDITOR

H

omecoming queen was all but decided once a particular 6’1” senior decided she was going to rule two courts and throw her hat into the ring.

Many know her for her prowess on the court, her silky smooth jump shot, her slick passes and her lightning quick crossovers. Many know her long list of accomplishments: two-time All-SEC first team, three-time Gillom Trophy winner, AP All-American, two-time SEC academic honor roll and the list goes on.

There is no doubt Victoria Vivians is a phenomenal basketball player.

However, the Vivians fans and students will see waving to the crowd tomorrow is not Vivians, the basketball player, but Vivians, the homecoming queen, a senior human sciences major from Carthage.

To those around her, the Vivians on the court and off the court are different people. On the court, Vivians is a machine that puts up points and knocks down juggernauts like the University of Connecticut. Outside of the game, she is described as bubbly, wearing a smile every day.

Abby Hunt, her campaign manager, talked about the joy she and Vivians experienced when she went to fraternity houses and the Famous Maroon Band to campaign. Hunt said she was impressed by how authentically Vivians interacted with people.

“On the court, she is very professional,” Hunt said. “She comes in, she takes her shots, she does what she needs to do. She does not really show a lot of emotion outside of that because she is there take care of business and to win basketball games. Off the court, she does not have to be professional. She is goofy and smiles a lot. She is really personable.”

ABBY HAND | COURTESY PHOTO

CONTINUE ON 2 SAMANTHA NEARGARDER |

STAFF WRITER

F

or the first time in school history, Mississippi State University added a Homecoming King to the mix in this year’s homecoming election.

Anthony Daniels, a psychology and pre-nursing major, was elected Homecoming King by the student body and will be announced at the upcoming football game when the Bulldogs face The University of Kentucky.

Daniels, a Brookhaven native, is a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and is on the Executive Interfraternity Council of MSU. He is a part of Fashion Board and is also a mentor for the Brickfire’s home after school program. He also spends his time working at the Butler Guest House and the Retreat of Starkville.

Daniels said he found out about Homecoming King through the Student Association’s social media and decided to run for it.

“I’ve done a lot of things at Mississippi State as far as being involved from freshman year all the way up to senior year, and realizing that I’m getting older and running out of things to do,” Daniels said. “I decided I wanted to do just one last thing here at State and homecoming King just sounded like something that I could do.”

A lot of his campaign process, he added, was done through social media, specifically through Instagram.

“I’m a big Instagram guy and I got a big group of people to post and get the word out,” he said.

RUSS HOUSTON | MSU OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

CONTINUE ON 2

MIA RODRIGUEZ |

EMMA MOFFETT |

STAFF WRITER

M ississippi State University awarded two students

who embody the values of the university the titles of Mr. and Miss MSU. The titles are merit-based honors awarded each homecoming to two students who possess academic excellence, display commitment to the university and are able to distinguish themselves in a series of interviews.

The students crowned Mr. and Miss MSU represent the student body during Mississippi State’s Homecoming and host a variety of activities, such as the Pancakes on the Plaza.

They also receive the honor of being presented on the field during the homecoming football game.

Miss MSU 2017 is Anne Marie Currie of Caruthersville, Missouri, a senior biochemistry major. She is the daughter of alumni and said she grew up loving MSU. “I tried to convince myself some of the other SEC schools were better, but absolutely not,” Currie said.

“Mississippi State is home.”

The MSU community means a great deal to Currie. She said being crowned Miss MSU is an honor and a culmination of all the work she has put into the university.

She said she looks forward to representing the student body along with close friend and Mr. MSU, Nicholas Harris, who served with Currie as an orientation leader.

“We’ll truly just be a representation of Mississippi State welcoming alumni, students, friends, family throughout homecoming week,” Currie said.

Currie said she is was very excited about being named Miss MSU and believes she made a difference at the university which has made a large impact on her life.

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STAFF WRITER

A

fter a long time spent aiming to represent his university as Mr. MSU, Nicholas Harris has finally succeeded.

“I am truly honored and grateful,” Harris said.

“For the last year and a half, I have dreamed about what it would be like to be Mr. MSU, and now, it is a reality.”

Harris truly embodies what it means to be an accomplished student and an excellent representative of the university. Though Harris is originally from Millington, Alabama, he said he chose to come to Mississippi State University because he wanted to branch out and do something different.

As a freshman, Harris applied for the MSU Student Association but was rejected. Not one to be deterred, Harris pushed forward and continued to put himself out there.

Now, serving as the Chief of Staff for the MSU Student Association, he serves as the leader of the organization that initially turned him away.

Harris said it was through moments of rejection that he grew stronger and was inspired to work harder, which is why he encourages everyone to strive to do their best.

“Do not let one closed door stop you,” Harris said. “Instead, take that loss or closed door, reevaluate yourself and then use that to move forward.”

Now a senior, Harris said he is grateful for his experiences with organizations like Men of Excellence, the Montgomery Leadership Program, Residence Hall Association and Alumni Delegates. He also enjoyed being an orientation leader.

Harris said he believes he developed into the person he is today because of his involvement on campus.

CONTINUE ON 5

RUSS HOUSTON | MSU OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

FORECAST: Homecoming at MSU is looking to warm up

Readerʼs Guide:

Policy: Any person may

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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017

@REFLECTORONLINE

QUEEN

BAD DAWGS Monday, September 16 3:00 a.m. Three students arrested at Helix Apartment Starkville for felony burglary of a vehicle.

3:21 a.m. Two students arrested on Hardy Road for felony burglary of a vehicle and false information.

4:53 a.m. Custodian worker reported a suspicious male inside Carpenter Hall. No contact made with the subject.

11:18 a.m. Visitor reported via telephone his cell phone stolen on Oct. 14 from Davis Wade Stadium during MSU football game.

10:35 p.m. Officer reported a sink hole in sidewalk in front of Barnes and Nobles. Officer secured the area.

Tuesday, September 17 5:39 p.m. Student reported missing money from his room in McKee Hall on 10/15/17.

11:13 p.m. Student was issued arrest citations and student referrals for possession of paraphernalia in Ruby Hall.

Wednesday, September 18 1:09 a.m. Employee reported his body camera fell striking the ground causing it to break.

4:43 p.m. Student reported her vehicle stolen from behind McCarthy Gym, last seen on 10/17/2017.

6:48 p.m. Student reported being hit by a vehicle on 10/17/2017 in the crosswalk in front of Thompson Hall.

7:44 p.m. Student reported her vehicle was hit while parked in IED gravel parking lot.

This was Vivians’ second run at homecoming queen. The first run did not go as planned; she ran for homecoming queen of Scott Central High School in Carthage but did not win. Vivians said she simply wanted another shot.

“I just wanted to try it one more time because it is a once in a lifetime experience in college,” Vivians said. “I saw people running and decided I wanted to try it.”

““Usually, I am running up and down the court, but now I will be walking with my dad.”

-Victoria Vivians Vivians ran with the campaign slogan of “#QueenOfAllCourts” and now has to transition from one type of court to the other. She outlined the difference between the two.

“Now I have to look cute,” Vivians said. “I mean, I am pretty on the basketball court, but now I have to dress up and wear a dress. You have to walk in front of more people.

Usually, I am running up and down the court, but now I will be walking with my dad.”

CONTINUED FROM 1

In order to run for queen, she had to get official permission from women’s basketball head coach Vic Schaefer. Schaefer said he gave it to her without a second thought.

“It’s my first time in 33 years of coaching I have had a player make the homecoming court and be homecoming queen.

It is really neat and really special,” Schaefer said. “We have a lot of kids who do a lot of different things here at State. They are not just going to class and being basketball players. I want them to experience a little bit of everything.”

While Vivians said she worried about her high school experience repeating itself, the opposite happened. The margin of victory was huge, as Vivians garnered 60.14 percent of the vote, while the next highest candidate had 10.84 percent.

Former roommate and teammate Dominque Dillingham said the vote shows how much respect Vivians has gained during her time at MSU. “It is a really big thing for her to get elected homecoming queen from her peers, not just from us,” Dillingham said. “It just shows how big of a deal women’s basketball is and how big of a deal Victoria Vivians is.”

Vivians said she chose her major, human development and sciences,

Abby Hand | Courtesy Photo

Senior Victoria Vivians plays guard with Mississippi State University’s women’s basketball.

because she plans on building an orphanage in a bigger city in the U.S. She said she also wants to try and open a Boys and Girls Club in her hometown.

Vivians said all of these dreams depend on her getting to the WNBA and making the money she would need to make in order to achieve her goals.

“I love kids and I

KING Once the results were in, Daniels said he was happy his hard work of campaigning paid off and he could not wait for his mom to be by his side to share the special moment come Saturday afternoon.

“She doesn’t get to

hate to see kids suffer,” Vivians said. “I was a kid growing up and basically had everything I wanted, but there was this one in my class who did not have anything. I just hate to see people like that and they can’t control it. So I feel like if I can control some of the situations kids are in, it will help them in the future.”

CONTINUED FROM 1

come up here a lot because she works and I want to see her smile and look at the crowd and be amazed,” Daniels said.

Daniels said one of his favorite things about MSU is the atmosphere, and being able to look around and be thankful that he goes to MSU. He said he chose MSU based off those things being proven at Super Bulldog Weekend, his favorite event that the university holds.

In five years, he would like to see himself graduating nursing school with his Bachelor of Science in Nursing and going into the traveling nursing program. Daniels is excited to see different

hospitals and meet many new people along the way.

The Homecoming King chose nursing because of his personal experiences in hospitals and being able to shadow the nurses with a program his high school offered.

“I like at [patients’] most desperate times you [the nurse] get to be there and help them through and put a smile on their face,” Daniels said.

Audrey Montalvo, a kinesiology major and one of Daniels’ longtime friends, said he was excited when Daniels expressed he was running for homecoming king.

“I knew as soon as Anthony told me he was

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running for homecoming king that there was no one else who could represent Mississippi State better because he is the prefect representation of our university,” Montalvo said.

One of Daniels’ fraternity brothers, Cole Herring of Woodlands, Texas, also helped the campaign process by letting other Greek chapters, posting on social media, and campaigning on the drill field the day of the election.

Herring has three words come to mind when he thinks of the Homecoming King: hardworking, dedicated and outgoing.

Daniels was grateful for all the support from his friends and the MSU students for helping him accomplish his goal of becoming Homecoming King and looks forward to the opportunity to represent MSU.

THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY OCTOBER 20, 2017 @REFLECTORONLINE

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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY OCTOBER 20, 2017

OPINION

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Incumbency aids politics Incumbency hurts politics WILL WELLS

is a senior majoring in communication and history.

Contact him at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.

If there is one thing Americans of all political stripes agree on, it is they do not like Congress. At least, a clear majority of Americans claim to not like Congress.

According to one Gallup poll from October of 2016, only 18 percent of Americans approved of Congress just weeks before election day.

However, when Nov. 8 came around, 97 percent of house members and 93 percent of senators seeking reelection won their race.

The fact such a large portion of Congress stays the same from election to election, despite low approval for the body, is due to a variety of factors; but most of it comes down to the myriad of advantages incumbency provides.

One idea which is frequently bandied about by political pundits as a way to improve Congress is to impose term limits on Congress members. This would be a horrible, undemocratic and likely ineffective solution to Congress’ abysmal approval numbers.

The idea is quite popular with voters.

A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey in 2016 found 74 percent of likely voters support limiting members of Congress to a set number of terms.

In 2015, a Reuters Ipsos poll found 66 percent support term limits for Supreme Court Justices.

The first issue with this proposed “solution” is evident by the very existence of a “problem.”

While Americans might dislike the United States Congress, they consistently send their own member of Congress back to Washington.

The reasons Americans reelect incumbents at such a high rate likely vary from one office and state to another, but maybe we should not be so surprised voters value experience.

Maybe, just maybe, a person who already holds a job is better qualified for the job than whoever happens to apply.

If someone applied to work for your business, but all the positions were full, it would typically make more sense to keep the staff the same instead of hiring a new worker and letting an existing employee go.

Obviously, there will be some exceptions. Sometimes an employee is exceptionally bad. Other times, an applicant may be exceptionally good.

But those situations, both in this imaginary business and in American elections, are rare.

Other advocates for term limits will argue term limits lead to public servants being more willing to do what is best for the voters.

I not only doubt term limits would prevent corruption within the legislative branch, I believe it would cause more of it.

Many individuals begin jobs in government with the idea of staying in government for their entire life.

Many advocates for term limits view

this a serious issue, but I have a hard time seeing how the biggest problem with Congress could be people who are so dedicated to the government they want to make it their lives’ work.

I believe a far larger issue than the number of people who become career politicians, is the number of politicians who become lobbyists.

As lobbyists, these ex-government employees end up making more money trying to convince their former colleagues whether or not to pass certain laws because of what their business wants.

Now, this is a big problem—a bigger problem than some people thinking they can make the world a better place by continually working in government.

If congressional term limits were instituted, people who genuinely want to better the nation through public service will be discouraged from running or be forced out of office.

Meanwhile, people who are hoping to make a profit by ultimately becoming lobbyists will not be discouraged at all.

After all, the congressional job was never going to be anything but a temporary gig for them anyway.

Although the American public may be enraptured with the idea of congressional term limits as a way to improve Congress, limiting members of Congress to a set number of terms would only make the congressional problem worse.

CHRIS LOWE

is a junior majoring in business information systems. Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate. edu.

It is no secret the American government has issues from the top down. Congress is in gridlock 90 percent of the time, state governors frequently let their constituents down and a few powerful individuals have enough influence to catch some local governments in a stranglehold.

It would be foolish of me to pinpoint one factor as the cause of it all, but I can and will say one of them, in particular, does a good bit of the damage.

This factor is the incumbency advantage, and it hurts our government by promoting apathy and stagnation.

For those unaware, incumbency is the status of actively holding office, and in America, it virtually spells victory come reelection time.

Louis Jacobson for Politifact, in regards to the 2014 House of Representatives election, said, “We counted 390 incumbents who ran on Election Day. Of the remaining 386 incumbents, 373 won, for a winning percentage of 96.6 percent.”

This rate is utterly absurd; there are no two ways about it. Our government should not be so dynastic in nature.

Mississippi, in particular, reelected every incumbent for the House and Senate in their last respective elections.

To add insult to injury, 14 states have no laws preventing someone from winning the seat of governor as many times as they are able.

The fact is, many people do not care about elections other than the presidential election, and those who do are generally not going to vote for a new candidate.

This means, unless there is actual legislation in place to keep these incumbents from winning over and over again, they will generally keep winning elections.

I would be misleading you if I said the situation is black and white.

Molly Reynolds, a congressional expert with the Brookings Institution, outlines the cons of enforcing term limits on politicians.

“The logic goes, they (new candidates) have neither the time nor the incentive to develop the relevant expertise they need to be good at their jobs. If members don’t have that expertise themselves, they’re more likely to rely on outsiders, including lobbyists, to replace that expertise,” Reynolds said.

I understand these qualms completely.

However, if someone does not already have the relevant experience by the time they are elected, or at the very least within a year or two, they have no business serving in the first place.

Lobbyists are, of course, a cancer to our government, but they are an entirely different issue.

These reasons against term limits do not outweigh the need we have for proactive, honest politicians.

Even though it would be an immeasurably hard task to change the status quo (it would require a Congressional amendment), it is still immeasurably important to change it.

If you do not want to take some random business major’s word for it, listen to an actual politician. Representative Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin states it better than I ever could in an opinion piece for The Hill: “My predecessor—a true citizenlegislator who spent his life building a successful roofing company—made a point that has stuck with me. He said that his self-imposed term limit meant that every day he went to work in Congress he knew he had one less day to make a difference.

As a result, he woke up every day with a sense of urgency and fearlessness to do the right thing on behalf of his constituents, not do what was expedient for his political career.”

The key word from Gallagher is career.

Politics should be about serving the people, and incumbency furthers the opposite. It causes officer-holders to worry about extending their career instead of truly serving their constituents.

For all the “drain the swamp” talk in the past year, the swamp is only getting deeper.

The day America attacks this head-on is the day we rise up, and start back on the track we were set on in 1776.

That is the America I want to live in.

An America where the suits change once in a while.

Biloxi school banned ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ EMMA BRASWELL

is a freshman majoring in communication.

Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate. edu.

Recently, Harper Lee’s Pulitzer-Prize winning novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” was removed from the eighth-grade curriculum in Biloxi. The school’s reasoning behind the decision is the book makes some “uncomfortable.”

“Discomfort” is one of the vaguest reasons given for removing the book from a reading list, and while it may be true, some are arguing this is also a reason people

should read the book.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” has been banned in many places prior to this, as it has been considered controversial literature since the 1970s. Many people in the past have argued against the language or topics covered in Lee’s novel in order to ban the work.

According to Dominique Mosbergen for the Huffington Post, this book has been so controversial The American Library Association considers it to be ranked 21st in the topmost challenged books of the past decade.

Biloxi removing the novel from their curriculum only adds to the frustration people feel about this book being targeted.

People learn history so they know what to do

differently in the future, and because this book blatantly shows some of the racial mistakes of the United States, some want to cover it up.

While some do not want to admit mistakes the country has made, others want to accept these mistakes and improve upon them.

According to Avi Salk for Washington Post, last year, a school district in Virginia eliminated the book entirely, as numerous other schools have done since it was written.

This year, Biloxi’s refusal to keep the book on their reading list is bringing an even bigger protest into action, to the point where even politicians are getting involved. People feel the need to stand up for the

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this country’s history.

Both issues will not go away unless they are addressed and too many school boards’ solution is to ignore them.

Despite the useful lessons to be learned from “To Kill a Mockingbird,” there are certainly some things readers should be more aware of within the book, which inspired a sequel “Go Set a Watchman.”

According to Becky Little for History, the newer book shows Atticus Finch, the hero in the first novel, in a more negative light, displaying even more accurately what the norm was in that time.

Again, the ignorance readers had toward Atticus in the original book is the reason many dislike the book and this can be easily

fixed by teaching the book more thoroughly rather than simply banning it.

Banning this book does nothing to better the society we live in. At best, this results in more controversy, as people form stronger opinions about the banning of books like “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

The issues brought up in the book will not dissolve because people stop talking about them and issues do not simply go away if hidden.

This literary work has been challenged for its content since it was written, which shows how remarkable it is. It is difficult to find the truth in anything because there are so many willing to lie, but at least Harper Lee was not afraid to write the truth.

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book because the schools are getting rid of it for revealing our nation’s unfair history.

The past is not something that can be erased easily, however, and no matter how deep people try to bury it, the truth will always resurface—as it should.

The entire point of making mistakes is so we can learn from them. How are we expected to do so if they are hidden away?

Eighth-graders are competent enough to handle a taste of the past.

Knowing all the facts is more important than being oblivious.

The book has been banned many times, most commonly for themes of racism and rape, which have both continuously been important issues throughout

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LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT

5

Choral homecoming concert to feature diverse music EMMA DRAY BRASWELL STAFF WRITER

Mississippi State University’s celebration of homecoming week includes the Choral Homecoming Concert. It will take place Friday at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church in downtown Starkville.

The performance is the choirs’ first concert of the school year.

Four different choirs will perform on Friday, directed

by Gary Packwood, the program administrator and director of choral activities.

Packwood said assistant director of choral activities Gail Kopetz will also conduct, along with student conductors Mitchell Crawford and Joseph Lindamood.

The accompanists for the concert will be Vicky Scites and Rebecca Moore.

Packwood said a lot of work has been put into this

concert at all levels.

“Planning a performance like this takes months,” Packwood said.

“Selecting the literature is a non-stop effort.”

One performer, John Williams, said the choir practices three times a week in addition to sectional rehearsals. To self-prepare, he listens to the music on repeat.

Williams said the work going into this performance is worth it, however, because of the way it affects the audience. Williams said the best part of performing is “definitely the impact we have on people.”

Williams said he expects the audience to especially enjoy a piece called “Please Stay.”

“The piece that’s probably going to have the biggest impact is called ‘Please Stay,’ by Jake Runestad,” Williams said.

“He took tweets that people had put out during a suicide awareness campaign and he

Jennifer McFadden, The Reflector

used it to write the text of this song, singing to people who are contemplating suicide and pleading them to stay.”

The concert will feature a variety of music styles.

Packwood said the audience

can expect “a variety of literature from as early as the 15th century to the 20th century, including music from the Renaissance and Baroque Periods.”

Williams said this variety will allow every

MISS MSU

MR. MSU

CONTINUED FROM 1

Currie was a member of the Freshman Forum, the Junior Panhellenic Council, Mortar Board Honor Society and is currently the President of Chi Omega sorority and the Secretary of the Lambda Sigma Honor Society.

Currie said she has cherished her time in the variety of organizations MSU has to offer.

Currie said she encourages people to get involved with campus organizations.

“Any time you have an inkling or wanting, go for it wholeheartedly,” Currie said. “If you are willing to give something your all that won’t go unnoticed. Do your research, be a servant and really show them that you have the passion and drive to be successful.”

Director of Orientation and Events Kylie Forrester said Currie is very deserving of this title.

“She is probably one of the most genuine, caring and compassionate people I have ever met,” Forrester said. “She has a servant’s heart.”

Lauren Blalock, secretary of Chi Omega, also said Currie’s character makes her stand out from the crowd.

“It’s a blessing (working with her). She’s so encouraging and so positive,” Blalock said. “It makes doing any job ten times easier.”

In addition, Blalock said Currie is able to make time for those she cares for, no matter how busy she may be, which she feels makes Currie the perfect Miss MSU. “She really embodies the hospitality and generosity that make Mississippi State such a great place to call home,” Blalock said.

member of the audience to get exactly the kind of musical experience they are seeking.

“There are some pieces that are going to get really emotional and there are also some really fun songs,”

Williams said Packwood said after all the effort the groups have put in, he believes it will be a successful homecoming concert.

“The hardest thing about these performances is logistics,” Packwood said, referring to the difficulties of moving 200 people on and off the stage for an hour and a half.

The choir still makes it work, however, determined to provide a phenomenal show that touches hearts.

“The best part is actually the rehearsals,” Packwood said. “(These students) have worked to deliver a message of hope and healing.”

Packwood said he believes the groups are prepared for the concert because of a deep understanding of music.

“They understand the critical role that the arts and particular choral arts play in the progress of humankind,” he said.

Russ Houston | MSU Office of Public Affairs

MSU 2017 Homecoming Court Freshman Maid Erin Linley

Marketing major

Sophomore Maid Myah Watson

Civil engineering major

Homecoming Queen Victoria Vivians

Human development and family science major

Homecoming King Anthony Daniels Psychology major

Sophomore Maid Meredith Bradford

Educational psychology major

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Freshman Maid

Malon Stratton

Biological engineering major

Junior Maid

Charley Rhea

Mechanical engineering major

Senior Maid Briazja Wade

Marketing major

Senior Maid Bridgette Hudak

Communication major

Junior Maid

Molly Wells

Elementary education major

“I have some amazing friends and stories, but all of those things have come from being involved,” Harris said. “My ultimate goal is to engage students to be involved. I can’t think of what my college career would have been like or the person I would have been if I wasn’t active and involved on campus.”

Harris, a communications major with a concentration in public relations, said he plans to get his masters in higher education with an emphasis in student affairs.

His long-term career goal is to become a dean of students.

A major part of Harris’s platform is his advocacy for minorities on campus. In January, Harris will host a workshop called “A Seat at the Table” teaching skills to help minorities gain a sphere of influence in future leadership roles or workplaces.

Tyler McMurray, Student Association president, said Harris is Mr. MSU not just because he is devoted to this school and academics, but because he is a man of the people.

“On the organizational level, he has done so many different things. But on the personality level too, he is everything MSU stands for,” McMurray said. “He cares about everything and wants to make sure everyone is included. He makes people feel important. It is because of that that he is Mr. MSU.” McMurray, a senior from Flowood, has known Harris since her sophomore year. She said since meeting Harris she has been amazed by his character.

“I wish I could tell you a few words to describe him, but he is one of those people who blow you away so much that you don’t have words to describe them,” McMurray

CONTINUED FROM 1

said. “If you haven’t had the chance to meet Nick, then you need to, because you are missing out on something amazing.”

McMurray said she believes Harris is a person who can accomplish

“He cares about everything and wants to make sure everyone is included.

He makes people feel important.”

-Tyler McMurray, SA president anything and she was not surprised when he was named Mr. MSU. Harris, on the other hand, said he was shocked. He said he never expected to win, as the pool of candidates was so competitive.

“At the end of the day, I want to tell everybody to never stop going for what you want and always go after your dreams,” Harris said.

McMurray said, above all things, Mr. MSU is a person who is genuine and intentional in every aspect of their lives, and Harris truly embodies those qualities.

“Mr. MSU is someone who is intentional,” McMurray said. “He is someone who is intentional in their academics, their relationships, in the goals they have and the ways they go about achieving their goals. Nick is that person.”

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Chew on This: apple pie bites are a customizable treat COURTNEY O’BRIEN STAFF WRITER

This recipe is a fun little treat during fall, when a lot of people go to apple orchards and pumpkin patches.

I love this recipe because it takes a little patience, but is great once mastered. It always makes me think of apple picking during the summer at my aunt’s house.

Another fun thing about this recipe is the many ways it can be customized.

If you want caramel apples, add some caramel chips, chopped fine before baking or drizzle on some caramel ice cream topping after baking.

This works for chocolate too.

I like to make my own a puff pastry because I have several friends who do not eat gluten. If you do not feel like researching glutenfree recipes, you can always

find a health store to buy it pre-made.

Now, and this is important, if you are one of the many freaks in this world who puts cheese on apple pie (I have met quite a few, and while I personally do not get it, to each his own) put the cheese on last.

If you put cheese on before baking, it will burn and you will have a gross mess that is hard to clean up. Burned cheese bakes into whatever dish you have used, and can only be cleaned off through soaking and vigorous scrubbing.

So, if you do not like a ton of work or dirty dishes, do not burn the cheese.

Add any other toppings that do not need to be mixed into the batter when the apple pie bites are cooling, but are still hot.

Instead of adding nuts, some of you might want to add peanut butter, cookie butter or hazelnut

spread. For those three, I would recommend mixing a teaspoon into the batter and going from there, or adding it to the puff pastry on top of the apples, before they get rolled up.

Play with this recipe.

It is filling and kind of healthy. After all, it has apples, which are a fruit.

Most importantly, this recipe is convenient. Most people will already have several of the ingredients.

For me, the biggest turnoff of a recipe is when I need to buy more than three ingredients to make it. You inevitably have some of the ingredients left over, but not enough to make the recipe again. Luckily, that is not something you will have to deal with here.

The only things most of you will have to buy are the apples. And, let us be honest, we should all be buying more produce anyway.

Apple Pie

Bites

3 tablespoon melted butter 1 can of puff pastry dough 1 tablespoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon nutmeg 1 teaspoon allspice

Add melted butter Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice and set aside Roll out puff pastry onto a flat, floured surface and cut into triangle pieces

2 apples (red or green)

1/4 cup brown sugar

Preheat oven at 375 degrees fahrenheit Core, peal and slice apples

Sprinkle one teaspoon of sugar and spice mixture into center of triangle pieces then place one apple slice onto the pastry traingle and roll like a crescent roll Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper (not wax paper) Combine one egg white with 1 tablespoon cold water and whisk before brushing overtop the pastries Place in the oven for 10 minutes or until pastry is golden

Jennifer McFadden, The Reflector

Starkville will host homecoming, lectures and more this weekend Softball Double Header

WILL WELLS

LIFE AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

What: The Mississippi State Bulldogs will be taking on the East Mississippi Community College Lions in a double header.

Admission is free to all.

When: Friday at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. in Nusz Park.

A wide range of events will take place in Starkville and on Mississippi State University’s campus this weekend, many of which will be part of homecoming weekend. Several events will provide students with the opportunity to expand their academic horizons. A variety of Mississippi State University athletic teams will also be in action this weekend.

Homecoming What: The Mississippi State University Bulldogs will take on the Kentucky Wildcats with homecoming festivities taking place at halftime. The game will be a stripeout, so fans should check which section they will sit in to know which color to wear.

When: Saturday at 3 p.m. at Scott Field in Davis Wade Stadium.

Anthropology Lecture What: Virgil “Duke” Beasley of the Tennessee Valley Archaeological Research firm will give a lecture entitled “Lemonade: Practicing Anthropology in a CRM Environment.”

The lecture is part of the Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures’ Afternoon Anthropology Lecture Series.

When: 11 a.m. on Friday .in Etheredge Hall room 224.

This is a free event.

True Maroon Friday What: MSU’s Student Association will give away t-shirts, phone wallets, cups and a variety of other MSU merchandise as a part of MSUs 2017 Homecoming Week. Students who attend the event will also have the opportunity to sign the homecoming banners that will hang in the Colvard Student Union When: Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Drill Field.

Jennifer McFadden, The Reflector

Grant Scholars Public Talk What: Three leading Grant scholars will be giving a talk and book signing for the recently completed “The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant: The Complete Annotated Edition.” The new edition provides context for Grant’s historic memoirs. Copies of the book can be purchased at the event.

When: Friday at 3 p.m. in Old Main Academic Center room 1200.

Men’s Basketball Exhibition What: Men’s basketball will play an exhibition game against the University of Nebraska to raise awarness for hurricane victims . Admission is free and two charties will be there taking donations.

When: Sunday at 1 p.m. in Humphrey Colisuem

Soccer vs. The University of Mississippi What: The Mississippi State Bulldogs’ soccer will take on their rivals the Ole Miss Rebels. Free t-shirts will be given away at the game.

When: Sunday at 4 p.m. at the MSU Soccer Field.

Review: ‘American Made’ takes viewers on a wild ride MIA RODRIGUEZ STAFF WRITER

The true story of airline pilot turned drug smuggler turned CIA aid Barry Seal comes to life in director Doug Liman’s film “American Made.”

The film’s charismatic anti-hero, Barry Seal, is played by Tom Cruise, who provides an excellent performance.

Cruise’s performance easily compares to his

performance in Top Gun. Seal, like Maverick, possesses both a talent for flying and an unhealthy amount of self-confidence.

The film is interestingly constructed. Scenes are organized chronologically and combined with a series of clips that show Seal reflecting on the events in what seems like a self-made video.

These clips help show the more human side of Seal’s character and almost

give those watching a feeling of foreboding about what is to become of the charming Cajun.

Actor Mauricio Mejia also gives a standout performance as Pablo Escobar, a menacing man of few words.

Mejia’s lack of dialogue gives his character a mysterious quality which steadily reveals a dark nature and creates even more fear for the fate of Barry Seal.

Jennifer McFadden, The Reflector

In addition, the cinematography and the locations for the film are stunning. During one scene that stands out, Seal and his wife attend a lavish party at Escobar’s.

The party scene shows

Escobar’s expansive and lavish dominion and some of the disturbing forms of entertainment he indulges in.

One such form of entertainment included throwing rolls of money into a ring with a bull while a man attempts to grab as much money as he can without being gored.

This scene feels like an analogy for Seal’s situation.

These same individuals are throwing him exorbitant amounts of money which he takes, like an idiot. It is clear he will eventually be gored by Escobar.

Another notable scene depicts the obscene amount of money Seal accrues from working with Escobar. Seal’s home is bursting at the seams with

at first appears comic and even enviable, little good comes from obtaining this much money, let alone drug money. Money with a questionable origin always comes at a price.

The movie is interesting, though it is not Oscar-worthy by any means. The movie provides an actionpacked, comic and tragic look at a figure associated with Escobar’s legendary drug empire, and I think most people would find it at least entertaining.

Although this movie claims to be “based on a true story,” this does not necessarily mean the film is entirely historically accurate.

Director Doug Liman said the film “a fun lie

7

THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY OCTOBER 20, 2017 @SPORTSREFLECTOR

SPORTS

Faith before football: how Gabe Myles coped with his roadblocks TAYLOR RAYBURN SPORTS EDITOR

There was an ironic meme that went around the internet earlier in the year about how athletes constantly preach work ethic and faith in God, and to an extent, there is merit to the irony, but not in the case of Mississippi State University wide receiver Gabe Myles.

Myles is someone who lives what he preaches.

Myles, a senior, is a local player, one who grew up in and was molded by the streets of Starkville. He spent his high school years a six-minute drive from the stadium he now plays in. However, Myles is more than Starkville’s son, he is a believer and follower of Christ and one who is not afraid to proclaim it.

Myles said he is so open about his faith because he wants others to feel like they are able to be. The modernday college athlete lives under a microscope. Every action they make is picked apart and criticized, so at first, Myles said was scared he “did not know what they are going to say if I am strong in my faith.”

He continued saying he did not want to be hypocritical and feel as if he was “holier than thou.” However, over time that changed. He is the first to admit his own faults and mistakes and has opened up about his faith in a more public manner because he puts things in God’s hands instead of his own.

“I just think that it can help others,” Myles said. “Others can be like, ‘okay I see what he is doing, he admits he is not perfect, let me be stronger in my faith and let me try to say Lord here take it,’ and I am going to try and get better and be stronger in mine as well.”

The most notable moment of his openness came on July 10 when Myles opened up

Noah Siano | The Reflector

Gabe Myles, senior receiver from Starkville, celebrates as one of his teammates scores a touchdown in MSU’s 35-10 win over BYU.

about idolizing football and how his struggles on the field in the 2016 season affected him. Myles has experienced roadblocks in his career. One of the few players remaining from MSU’s 2014 season, he saw action as a freshman and looked to be someone who could break out his sophomore year.

In the third game of his sophomore season, Myles recorded 111 allpurpose yards and scored two touchdowns. He carried that momentum into the next game against SEC foe Auburn, scoring on a 32-yard touchdown. However, in the next game he hurt his ankle and missed the following three games and struggled the rest of that season and then in the following season.

Then as things seemed to be on the upturn his senior season, scoring touchdowns in his first two games, he was hit with another roadblock.

His foot was back in a boot and he missed the following three games.

In the testimonial video released over the summer, he said his struggles on the field caused him to have an identity crisis.

“I lost myself to football, I lost myself to something of the world,” Myles said in the video. “I had taken God and replaced him with football. I was trying to do everything that was through football to please me.”

Myles is now back from

“I just think God is saying look I am going to hold you so you can make sure you can get done what you need to get done,” Myles said. “Get your priorities in order and so you know what you are playing for and who you are playing for.”

“How are you going to react? Are you going to be a good teammate to your team?

Are you going to be a good leader on and off? What are you going to do to really show

“I lost myself to football, I lost myself to something of the world. I had taken God and replaced him with football.”

-Gabe Myles, MSU wide receiver that injury this season, playing in the game against BYU and recording one reception for 20 yards. His roadblocks have done nothing but strengthen Myles and grow his faith in God. Myles said it hit him as he was driving off campus one day.

you are playing for my [God’s] glory?”

Myles said at first he played for other people. He played for his family, friends and the city of Starkville. But he said by doing so he put a lot of pressure on himself to perform well and it caused constant worry about what

others would think of every drop or misstep.

He said the roadblocks have a way of teaching and growing him because there will come a day where he will be unable to continue playing football. However, his mentality eventually changed over time and he pointed to a specific devotional he was reading one day.

“I read a devotional that said, ‘anytime you are more worried about what other people think, you have a made an idol of those people’,” Myles said.

Now his mentality is not viewing how people see Gabe Myles on the football field but how people can see God through him.

“Every snap I am blessed to be out on this football Lord, I am going to go 100 percent for your glory, whatever happens, I am doing it for you [God],” Myles said.

“Whatever happens, how can people see God on the football field.”

He said the change in mentality not only changed things off the field but has made things easier on the field. He said he it takes pressure off of his shoulders, “because it is like I am no longer worried about what other people think of me.”

“That kind of human stuff, it happens everybody, to the best of us,” Myles said.

“But it changed my whole mindset. It is his plan, he is going to see me through it. All I have to do is keep my head up and know why I am playing and who I am playing for.”

His attitude has made waves throughout the rest of the team. Myles is one of the senior leaders in the receiver room and on the team.

Sophomore wide receiver Jamal Couch had high praise for Myles’s leadership in the locker room.

“Pretty much whatever I see him do, I try to do myself,” Couch, from Phenix City, Alabama, said.

Myles said he not only wants to leave a legacy on the field but also with the people he meets to try and grow them. He said he wants to leave a legacy that says, “Gabe, he had a purpose and he helped me.” He said that in doing so he not only grows others but they grow him.

Growing others is something he wants to continue to do after his playing days are done. While Myles thinks college football is fantastic, he wants to go coach and teach at the high school level. He said wants to be there to encourage hardnosed players who may not be going D-1.

“I just think high school football is the most carefree and fun football you can ever imagine,” Myles said. “You are going out with guys that are not five-star athletes all the time. My high school center was like 5’8” maybe, like 170 and we won the state championship. To see heart in guys, I am getting chills talking about it.”

He said part of the reason he wants to be a high school teacher and coach is because he felt like there were not a lot of male African American figures in high schools. Instead of complaining or asking why it was, he asked, “Why can’t I be a male figure?” and that drives him to become that leader for high schoolers.

“High school is the perfect time to help mold young people,” Myles said.

“To have another male figure that can say, ‘look, you can do whatever you want to do.’ To go be a positive influence.”

Myles is someone who has suffered setback after setback but continues to remain driven by faith and football.

to how far the conference has fallen.

The SEC has been replaced by the top-heavy Big Ten, which is far and away the best conference in college football right now.

They lead the way with three teams ranked in the top 10 of the preseason AP poll and a fourth team, Michigan, just outside at number 11.

Currently, the Big 10 has three schools ranked in the top 10 and five in the top 20.

The Big 10 is very reminiscent of the old SEC—dominating the polls and boasting multiple contenders.

In the past, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh even managed to get under the skin of some SEC coaches. He sent them crying to the NCAA about satellite camps because Michigan was starting to catch up to them in recruiting.

Maybe those SEC

coaches were jealous Harbaugh is a better coach than every SEC coach not named Saban. In his first two seasons, with another coach’s recruits, he produced a better record than every SEC team but Alabama.

Overall, SEC fans can no longer boast about being head and shoulders above the rest of the conferences.

Currently, the SEC is definitively not better than any of the other power five conferences.

The Pac-12, Big-12, ACC and SEC all have four ranked teams headed into this weekend. I will give the SEC the edge over the Pac12, which at the moment appears to be the only power five conference without a playoff contender.

Ultimately, however, the SEC is no longer notable among the conferences. It has been dethroned by the Big-10.

COLUMN: The SEC, how the mighty have fallen FORREST BUCK

is a graduate student majoring in Kinesiology with a concentration in sport pedagogy. Contact him at sports@ reflector.msstate.edu.

Growing up, I was a fan of the University of Miami Hurricanes. However, when I graduated high school, I decided to come to Mississippi State University.

Since then, I have engaged in heated debates with diehard SEC fans, somewhat envious of the undeniable success of the conference.

After all, my Hurricanes had fallen on tough times and were no longer the national powerhouse that drew me in as a child.

2012 was the year I finally decided to give in and join the SEC melee.

After living on campus a few years, going to MSU games with friends and enjoying the culture of the SEC, I started to lose my resolve and became the very SEC fan I once was against.

In 2012, MSU went 8-5 and was on the come up.

The conference had never been better, as six SEC teams finished with 10 or more wins. Five SEC teams finished in the final AP top 10 rankings that season.

There was no doubt the SEC was the best conference in the nation.

Fast-forward to 2017, and oh, how the mighty have fallen. Last season only one SEC team finished with 10 or more wins, and only one SEC team finished ranked in the top 10. By SEC standards, this was an embarrassment.

Even though I root for the Bulldogs now, I cannot help but relish in the fact the conference is down right

now. Nor can I omit the fact the Hurricanes are better than all but two SEC teams at the moment.

“Last season only one SEC team finished with 10 or more wins, and only one SEC team finished ranked in the top 10. By SEC standards, this was an embarrassment.”

All the fans of other SEC schools, who were high and mighty a few years ago, no longer text me back on Saturday nights after games.

Outside of Alabama fans, the SEC school faithful have not had much to say on socail

media in recent seasons.

Any conference can have a bum year, but last season seemed to be more of a trend of things to come, rather than a blip on the radar.

Let us look at this season.

Going back to the preseason AP poll, the SEC only had one team ranked in the top 10. Even worse, of the five major conferences, the SEC was the only conference without at least two teams in the top 10.

Sure, Georgia has now emerged as another dominant team, but overall the conference is still a far cry from what it used to be.

As the AP poll stands today, Alabama and Georgia are the only SEC teams ranked in the top 20 and only four SEC teams are ranked at all.

The SEC went from five teams ranked in the top 10 to less than five ranked in the top 25. That speaks volumes

8

THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY OCTOBER 20, 2017 @SPORTSREFLECTOR

SPORTS

Second Chance for MSU Secondary Men’s basketball to play exhibition for charity

JOSH BECK

STAFF WRITER

The Bulldog secondary aims to fix its communication issues before this Saturday as Mississippi State University (4-2, 1-2 SEC) reenters conference play against the University of Kentucky (5-1, 2-1 SEC).

With 5:54 left in the second quarter, MSU led BYU 14-0. The Cougars lined up with a bunch formation on the left side with a runner in the backfield. As the ball was snapped, the three Cougar receivers bolted down the field to run their routes.

BYU quarterback Tanner Mangum faked a toss to the running back which momentarily froze the linebackers and safeties in pass coverage. Under duress, Mangum rolled to his right and heaved the ball to a wide-open BYU receiver for a 43-yard completion. MSU fans let out a collective groan as they witnessed another large gain through the air due to a miscommunication, a reoccurring problem this season.

Corners coach Terrell Buckley explained pre-snap reads are similar to a game of telephone in the sense that the linebackers communicate with the safeties who have to communicate with the corners.

“The safeties make the check or calls and the corners have to relay it back and so it starts there, but it’s really the whole back seven: corners, safeties and linebackers all being on the same page,” Buckley said.

Buckley also said it comes down to players understanding the game plan and knowing their job as offenses reload into a different formation or bring

TAYLOR RAYBURN SPORTS EDITOR

Olivia Zeringue | The Reflector

Cameron Danztler, freshman cornerback from Hammond, Louisiana, lines up against a Charleston Southern receiver in MSUʼs season opener.

players into motion. Buckley also said the Wildcats use motions to generate advantageous matchups on offense.

Redshirt freshman cornerback Cam Dantzler said the Bulldogs’ two losses are due to miscommunication in the secondary.

“The defensive line is getting a good push on every play and the linebackers are doing their job,” Dantzler said. “The secondary just has to communicate better, because we have been getting beat on long plays. If we executed on those long plays we would be undefeated right now.”

Dantzler also said the Wildcats have a talented group of wide receivers who are all big physical players.

Dantzler aims to increase his physicality at the line of scrimmage in order to hinder the UK passing attack.

Junior cornerback Chris Rayford said he believes the solution to the miscommunication on the field is found in the film room.

“We are slowing down and studying what can hurt us as far as specific receivers and routes,” Rayford said.

“We are also understanding the defense better and talk with the safeties to understand where they are going to be during certain plays.”

Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said a successful pass rush forces opposing quarterbacks to get rid of the ball before they are ready which often leads to success in the secondary.

“The interception last week Brandon (Bryant) had wasn’t because of a sack but the quarterback had a choice, ‘either I’m going to throw this ball right now or I’m going to get hit’,” Grantham said.

“He chose to throw it and it led to the interception.”

Grantham was quick to praise the UK offense for finding ways to win close games.

Grantham said the Wildcat offense uses formations and motions in order to soften the edges in the running game. In

addition, Grantham said the UK senior quarterback Stephen Johnson II has demonstrated his abilities to pass and throw the ball at a high level.

“If a play breaks down he (Johnson) can bide time and make a throw downfield or can take off and run so we are accounting for that,” Grantham said.

Both coaches and players alike commented on the need for home-field support this weekend especially against the second-ranked team in the SEC East. The SEC network will televise the game at 3 p.m. and during halftime MSU will honor the 2017 homecoming court and Mr. and Mrs. MSU. “We seem to have some pretty tough battles with them year in and year out so we have the benefit of being at home for the second week in a row and hopefully we get a huge crowd and our fans give us the home-field advantage that we need,” said head football coach Dan Mullen.

The NCAA granted a waiver to schools which wanted to play for a cause, and the Mississippi State University men’s basketball team’s cause is helping the victims of Hurricane Irma.

They will take advantage of the NCAA waiver by hosting Nebraska in a charity exhibition game on Sunday.

“This is a great opportunity to help so many people in need who were affected by the hurricane,” MSU head coach Ben Howland said in a press release. “Hurricane Irma was devastating, and our hearts and prayers have been with everyone as they have dealt with horrific and tragic loss. This is a chance for us to do our part in helping those in need.”

Usually, teams are only allowed one exhibition before the start of their regular season. However, with the devastation Irma caused across Puerto Rico and the rest of the Caribbean, the NCAA made an exception for a school to try and do their part to help.

The first look fans were going to get at Howland’s team in year three was scheduled for Nov. 2, when MSU is set to take on the University of West Florida in an exhibition.

Now, fans will get two practice games before the team opens their season against Alabama State University on Nov. 10.

Howland said this game care about because Howland has a friend in the Nebraska athletics department, whom he met while coaching at the University of Pittsburg. He called this friend last Sunday,

who got Howland in contact with Nebraska head coach Tim Miles.

“For all of this to come together so quickly is miraculous,” Howland said in a press conference on Thursday.

Howland said Nebraska is getting no financial help to play this game. He said it was exceptionally nice of them to pay for their own charter jet to help the cause.

“Hurricane Irma was a devastating storm which affected many people in the Southeast and in the Caribbean,” Miles said in a press release. “Our goal is that we can raise a lot of money for those who need it.”

Admission to the game will be free, so it is a donation-driven fundraiser.

Two charities will be at the game to collect donations.

The Salvation Army and the MSU Student Relief fund will both be set up at the gates of the Hump.

“We are raising money for a very important cause,” Howland said. “I mean people were devastated by this hurricane. Everyone gets in for free so we are asking everyone to give and make a significant donation. This game is to help other people.”

The game is also a unique opportunity for MSU to grow as a basketball team. Most exhibitions are against lowertier schools, but Howland is excited to play a “high major” team he said is “in mid-season form offensively.”

“This will be a great experience for our young team to play against a team that is already on all cylinders,” Howland said.

Tip off is set for 1 p.m. and the gates will open at noon.