10.5.22

HOMECOMING KING: HAYDEN FOIL HOMECOMING QUEEN: RAEGAN RUSHING

weekends attending games at LSU.

While his family consists of big-time fans of Louisiana State University, Homecoming King Hayden Foil has found a new home at Mississippi State University.

"Going through these past four years, I consider this to be my home now and not my hometown, which is really hard to say," Foil said.

While growing up on the Gulf Coast in Gautier, Mississippi, he spent

"I started to feel, when I was coming into my junior or senior year of high school, that LSU was not my home for college," Foil said.

Foil is a senior majoring in animal and dairy science. When applying to college, he looked for programs specific to the field and found Mississippi State during his senior year.

"I came to an academic insight then, and I absolutely fell in love with it. I fell in love

the people here. Everyone was so kind," Foil said.

At MSU, Foil has served as a staff counselor for New Maroon Camp, a Maroon VIP tour guide and selections committee member, a College of Agriculture and Life Sciences ambassador, and a member of the Beta Upsilon Chi fraternity.

He said he felt led to run for Homecoming King after watching his friend run for a homecoming position last semester.

Raegan Rushing, a senior industrial engineering major from Biloxi, Mississippi, has won Mississippi State University's 2022 Homecoming Queen.

Rushing has been involved in a multitude of organizations during her years at MSU and has held a variety of positions within them.

She has served as Phi Mu sorority president, assistant director of programming of the

Student Association cabinet, a director of Freshman Forum, an orientation leader and a member of the Society of Women Engineers.

MSU has always been a presence in Rushing's life, but it was not until her junior year of high school that she was sold on the university.

She attended spring preview day, accompanied by her mother and grandmother. What stood out to her were the small acts of kindness she encountered over the course of the day.

"I think it’s so neat how Mississippi State brings together so many different people in all types of ways and creates a lifelong family out of the students here," Rushing said.

Rushing said she knew MSU was something special, and she experienced the feeling of being called to a particular university for the first time.

She said she had always hoped that she would be in a position that would grant her the opportunity to run for Homecoming Queen.

MS. MISSISSIPPI STATE: MR. MISSISSIPPI STATE: DAVIS HELTONAVERY BRADDOCK

This fall, Mississippi State University named the 2022 Court. After interviewing for the position, Avery Braddock was appointed as the new Miss MSU.

Braddock described the moment she learned of her new title.

"When they called my name, I kind of freaked out and fell to the ground," Braddock said.

Braddock is a senior communication major from Cincinnati, Ohio. She is a member of MSU’s Diamond Girls and Kappa Delta

sorority. She has also worked as a recruiting intern for MSU football, a Gamma Chi for Panhellenic Recruitment, a mentor for the Brickfire Mentoring Program and as an active member of Pinelake Church.

"To see all of the things that I’ve poured my heart and soul into over the last three years, it’s kind of paid off and I get this honor of representing MSU. It was just the most surreal moment," Braddock said.

Addison Braddock, her older sister and Mississippi State alumna, said she had

screamed over the phone when she learned that her little sister won.

While on FaceTime with her sister, she listened for the Homecoming results. She could not hear the announcers well but noticed the reaction on her sister's face.

"She looked down at me and was like, 'I got it,' and I literally, like, screamed," Addison Braddock said.

Madee Thompson, a senior communication major and a friend of Avery Braddock, said she was out on the Drill Field when she learned her friend had won.

Homecoming callouts have been a long-standing tradition at Mississippi State University. Every election winner and homecoming court position has been announced in this way. For this year’s round of callouts, many candidates opted to bring their friends or campaign manager.

Not wanting to draw attention to himself, he stood at the back of the crowd to observe and wait alone. In fact, he had only told two people he applied to be Mr. MSU.

When the category was finally announced, he couldn’t believe it. He was

in shock. Suddenly, people began high-fiving him and celebrating.

Davis Helton was named Mr. MSU.

Helton is a senior biochemistry major with a pre-dental concentration from Amory, Mississippi.

Helton only knew a handful of people on campus when he arrived at MSU, but after years of involvement, that changed.

"Three years ago, I didn't know anybody," Helton said. "Now, it seems like every time I walk around campus that people are coming up and telling me congratulations, so it’s just really humbling to be able to see all the students and people on campus react

that way." Helton has been involved in a long list of extracurriculars and organizations over the last three years. He has served as president of Roadrunners, Derby Days coordinator of Sigma Chi Fraternity, a Student Association senator, a member of the Interfraternity Council and a member of Lambda Sigma.

John Helton, his father, said he encouraged his son to apply for a bigger position on campus since he was so heavily involved. However, he had no idea that his son had applied to be Mr. MSU until after he interviewed.

EMMA

Before this fall, Foil had never applied for an executive position and preferred being a team player. He said he was inspired and influenced to run by his friend and others who felt he best represented the university.

"Going through that experience and watching her being able to serve through her service project and learning through that, I was just really interested in that," Foil said.

Foil chose to focus on the Oktibbeha County Humane Society for his campaign service project.

"I've actually volunteered here a few times, and most shelters all around are already overrun and in the middle of a lot of maintenance and such. Since that shelter is already near and dear to

my heart, why not further that and raise money for that?" Foil said.

He raised over $520 for the shelter through his campaign.

After homecoming season, Foil said he planned to host a bigger fundraiser for OCHS to help fund the shelter and get pets adopted.

Foil said he wanted to give back to the community and university because of the opportunities he has received in Starkville.

"Why not try to give back and represent them for this? I just couldn't explain how much this university has given me a blessing in my life," Foil said.

Casey Malone, an admissions counselor for campus visits, said Foil has worked in her office for a couple of years.

"He's a trip. He’s a lot of fun to work with," Malone said.

Taylor Lile, a senior majoring in social work, met Foil during her sophomore year at Pinelake Church.

"We really just crossed paths for a little bit until we started hanging out. We just kind of clicked because we're both goofy and funny and carefree," Lile said.

Lile described Foil as extremely loving and caring.

Malone said she felt Foil embodied the hospitable spirit that a homecoming king should represent.

"Everybody can find your home here, and homecoming king should reflect that kind of every-man mentality. I think Hayden definitely exemplifies that," Malone said.

According to Malone, Foil has thrown himself into what it means to be a MSU Bulldog.

Lile said a homecoming king should represent MSU through boldness. She said her friend’s passion made him a good fit for the role.

"Well, I'm proud to say that like he is our homecoming king and that he will be standing on the field in just a week," Lile said.

Along with being bold, Lile said Foil was very humble.

"It’s awesome that like he will get to say that he was homecoming king, but that was just not the reason why he like went out for this," Lile said. "It's that he is a good leader and people listened to him, and he was able to humbly say that like he loves Mississippi State."

"I was so extremely happy with her. My heart could not have been more happy that she won Miss MSU," Thompson said.

Thompson said she met Avery Braddock during freshman year at MSU where they connected in their shared classes. After bonding in class, they became friends and, eventually, roommates.

Addison Braddock said her sister was someone who helped her come out of her shell when she was younger.

"Avery has always had lots of energy and has always brought a lot of light and life to our family," Addison Braddock said.

Addison Braddock

QUEEN

During the twoweek-long campaign, Rushing would drag her wagon onto the Drill Field and campaign from early in the morning until late in the afternoon.

Her main goal was to meet as many members of the MSU student body as possible. She handed out candy and listened to everyone's stories about why they personally chose MSU.

Rushing was still very much on-the-fence about the campaigning, but she had many voices encouraging her to keep going.

Sophie Bellew, a senior majoring in educational psychology, was one of these voices urging her to continue despite the stresses and anxieties of the campaign.

"I was like, 'Raegan, you're such a light on campus. Whatever the outcome is, you've touched people. You've touched lives being here and just being a positive face,'" Bellew said.

In terms of assisting Rushing in her

MR. MSU

"When he called me to tell me when he interviewed, he downplayed it. He didn’t think he had an A-plus interview, but he still felt good about it," John Helton said.

Avent Vanhorn, associate director of Marketing and Recruitment and advisor to the Roadrunners organization, said that she has seen Helton grow significantly since he first joined Roadrunners.

"I have seen him come more out of his shell over the last couple years and just be a vibrant student from somebody who was a

described her sister as a unique and serving person who brought her out of her shell as a child.

"I would just want her to know that I am so proud of who she’s become and like the woman she’s become and the friend that she is to people and the sister that she is to me," Addison Braddock said.

The Braddock sisters have a family history at Mississippi State: both Avery and her two older sisters are third-generation Bulldogs.

Though they moved often growing up, Avery Braddock said MSU was always a constant for her and her sisters.

"My dad came here and my grandpa, so this was the only college I applied to," Avery Braddock said.

"Moving from state to state and all of the different experiences that I had, Mississippi State was my home base."

Avery Braddock said being Miss MSU meant getting to represent the family environment on campus.

"Being Miss MSU is truly just you getting to show everybody what Mississippi State is all about. We are so family oriented. To me, it’s just getting to represent all of those people," Avery Braddock said.

campaign, Bellew did a little bit of everything: tabling every day, working on banners and finding more girls to join the team.

Anna Nash, a senior civil engineering major, would drive Rushing around from chapter to chapter on Greek Row during Monday night meetings to talk about her campaign. Nash viewed herself as playing more of a moral support role than anything else.

Rushing's campaign philanthropy of choice

was Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. She focused on raising money for its upcoming walk on Oct. 29 in Pearl, Mississippi.

This particular philanthropy is a personal one to Rushing, as her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019.

Rushing said she wanted to choose a charity that was important to her on a deeper level. She believed breast cancer awareness should be talked about more

among college students.

Rushing said she was touched by all of the students who approached her on the service day portion of the campaign and told her their own familial experiences with breast cancer.

Rushing, Bellew, Nash and many others gathered on the Drill Field at the conclusion of the voting period for the final results.

Bellew, standing right beside Rushing, was the first person to

receive a hug from the newly-announced homecoming queen. In Bellew's eyes, Rushing winning homecoming queen was physical proof that all of the connections Rushing had made over the course of her campaign were genuine.

Immediately after the announcement, the students began to sing the MSU alma mater.

"We were standing there, singing all together – people I didn't know and people I knew with arms

around each other and my legs were shaking. I felt like I couldn't stand up and I was like, 'This is so dramatic. This is not about me,'" Nash said.

As a senior, Rushing has started thinking about what her life will look like post-college.

According to Rushing, she has always laughed whenever people ask about her plans after graduation because, as an industrial engineering major, most people expect her to go out into the engineering world. Though, for Rushing, that is not the case.

She said she hoped to pursue a career in higher education by attaining a graduate degree in higher education with a concentration in student affairs. This path had never been on her mind until she came to MSU and discovered new options during her undergraduate years, she said.

Rushing said she hoped to give back to the school that has done so much for her.

little more shy and reserved," Vanhorn said.

Davis Helton said MSU is where he has always wanted to be, and it feels incredible to now be in this position.

"It means everything," Helton said. "I’ve grown up coming here. There are pictures of me when I couldn’t even walk yet, in Davis Wade Stadium. I’m a third-generation Bulldog. This has been the dream."

He said that he plans on giving back to the university and the community through this role and others that he will hold.

"I just want people to know that I’m not just going to be the guy that gets this and just becomes a hermit and just uses the title just to have a title," Helton said.

According to Helton, he has been planning to participate in service projects in his positions.

He mentioned he was interested in helping other members on the Homecoming Court with their own projects.

John Helton said he could not be prouder of his son and the work he is doing on campus.

"He’s worked tirelessly to help support

Mississippi State in any role he’s been needed," John Helton said. "As a result, he’s developed life-long friendships through these different roles, but MSU has given him endless opportunities to grow as an individual."

As the new Mr. MSU, Davis Helton said he hopes to live up to the honor that has been bestowed upon him.

"I do not take it lightly by any means," said Helton. "I’m just trying to make sure I appreciate the honor and just making sure I don’t waste it and make sure I don’t dishonor it."

Courtesy Photo | Avery Braddock Miss MSU Avery Braddock is a senior majoring in communication from Cincinnati, Ohio. She is involved with MSU’s Diamond Girls.

Courtesy Photo | Davis Helton

Mr. MSU Davis Helton is a senior majoring in biochemistry from Amory, Mississippi.

Courtesy Photo | Hayden Foil

Homecoming King Hayden Foil is from Gautier, Mississippi. He is involved in Maroon VIP.

Homecoming Queen Raegan Rushing is a senior from Biloxi, Mississippi. Since fall of 2021, she has served as the president of Phi Mu sorority. She is pictured with her sorority sisters.

Courtesy Photo | Raegan Rushing

Joke of the Day

Why did the photo go to jail?

It was framed

Today’s Motivation

If at times you don’t feel drippy, just remember you’re always flier than an ostrich.

Horoscopes

Cancer - Things have been hard for a while. This week is looking up, though. Go get some pumpkin spice and end this week on the right foot.

Scorpio- People will test you in the coming days, but remember the fable we learned last week about the ferret and the prison industrial complex. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you’re out of luck.

Sagitarius - An unexpected event could derail your week. Keep an eye out for debris from space and stuff like that.

Need a hand? Find last week’s answers down below

Remember

Thursday, September 29, 2022

A student reported that a tree branch fell on her ve hicle, breaking its back glass at B14 metered parking lot.

Friday, September 30, 2022 Student issued a referral for being passed out in class in McCain Engineer ing building due to being hung over. Those $2 wells will sneak up on you.

Saturday, October 1, 2022

Student was transported to OCH from Davis Wade due to intoxi cation.

Sunday, October 2, 2022

Student reported he was assaulted at the SAE fra ternity house by an un known male subject.

Student was issued a re ferral at the SAE fraternity house for wearing a fra ternity name plate that be longs to someone else. Wild weekend, huh fellas?

Monday, October 3, 2022

Employee reported un identified pills underneath the staircase at Carpenter Hall.

Employee reported mari juana in a room in Deav enport hall. Officer took possession of the mari juana.

Tailgating is weird, which is why we do it

Football season is upon us, which, of course, is just another way of saying the tailgating season is upon us. Some fans pass on mentioning the sport altogether because football is simply the event that happens for tailgating to be allowed.

At a certain point, I feel like something can be so conceptually strange but so practically genius that people cannot help but love it.

Tailgating must be a prime example. I know we all do it so much, it feels somehow elemental to this school, but really think about it for a second. How is this something we are allowed to do? Mark Keenum knows we do this?

I consider it even more odd that there are entire websites and articles dedicated to tailgating and the cities in which to do so.

Bleacher Report published a tourism article about us, penned by the University of Florida's GatorsTailgating [sic]. If they wanted to create a name in one word like that, they should have called it "tailgators." Missed naming

opportunities aside, of Starkville they say, "The main attraction that Starkville has is SEC sports, although there are a couple of downtown districts." Case in point. Bleacher Report published an article calling it our "main attraction." Tailgating is what people come here to do. Tailgating is just what we do here.

How did we end up here?

What makes it so great? What makes grilling burgers and drinking in preparation for a sporting event so appealing that by halftime most of us have left? Why am I siting in the Junction for hours on end in the sun the Friday before the game just to get the right spot?

Easy answer. At the end of the day, tailgating is an excuse for people to come together

and hang out in a stress-free environment. That is all. That is why it is so loved. Above all else, it is a time for college students to simply enjoy themselves and for adults to have a good time with their families. Amazingly, tailgating is even immune to stress from the football game. When we win, everyone is already there, celebrating together. If we lose, and we do, the tailgate is

fine. This has very little to do with the game. This is about the tailgate itself. Sure, as a concept it may be off, but in all practicality it works.

Given what we know about the intensity of the fanaticism at many sporting events, it is strange the tailgating environment is as healthy as it is. Healthy is a relative term, and in this case, of course, might not account

for the kidneys or stomach.

In terms of social environment, though, the mainstream opinion is overwhelmingly positive. According to Erik Alexander with CNN, "We’re all tailgating to have a good time. It’s important to respect everybody, regardless of team affiliation, and help maintain a safe, friendly environment."

Carl Stine over at Bleacher Report put it best when he stated, "Let's just be clear: There is no bad place to tailgate in the SEC."

Mississippi State is no different. We may not have the craziest place, wildest traditions or a way to set up tailgates that does not involve sitting in one spot for 12 hours, but we are in with the best.

At the end of the day, tailgating is one of the strangest concepts there is when it comes to college events. The university just asks us to do it outside, and everyone, for the most part, just kind of agrees not to look to see who is breaking school rules. Thanks the simplicity of it all, it leads to one of the most electric environments seen throughout all of college.

Take it one step at a time

Thoughts on stairs

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "You don’t have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step." This has very little to do with my point, but it is a killer hook.

Have you noticed any thing weird about the stairs on Mississippi State Univer sity's campus? I noticed something, and it has been driving me insane.

Every set of stairs on this campus has a completely dif

ferent height per step. The steps in front of Critz Hall, for example, have an average height of 5 3/4 inches per step. The stairs behind Old Main Academic Center are approximately 6 inches tall.

For reference, the aver age step height in America is 7 1/2 inches.

These ridiculously under sized steps require each per son to make a calculated decision. One strategy would be to take the steps two at a time, which is, de cidedly, not ideal, as people

might think you want to im press them.

The only other reason able option would be to take the steps one at a time, which, of course, leads to the embarrassing half-step shuf fle to reach the next step.

Why should students at this great university have to worry about step height, of all things? Griffis Hall is the exception, with a step height of 7 1/2 inches. This sweetspot allows for the un equalled ability to run down stairs in the case of

oversleeping, fires or an axemurderer (unlikely, but al ways worth planning for).

Of course, not much can be done at this point to fix the vertically challenged steps, but perhaps some ef forts can be made to avoid this issue in the future. A regulated step height, for ex ample, could neuter the issue at the source. I will be the first to request the 7 1/2 average, as all my escape plans for worst-case-scenar ios are hinged on the stairs being that height.

women’s fashion trends report: Please, save the cowgirl boots for a little longer

predictable fashion traps, my self included.

I heard someone say that college students are a lot like kindergarteners, and after seeing some of the fashion choices on this campus, I can only agree.

Some students walked out of high school, realized they could wear whatever they wanted and promptly chose all of the wrong choices at the same time. Others still fall into

I could probably ignore the whole Lululemon wave if it was for athletic purposes. If you get dressed in the morn ing to play tennis, I have noth ing but respect for your com mitment. If you do not plan to go hard in the clay, though, ask yourself if it matches, or if you put both pieces on be cause of the logos.

The concept of matching outfits does not come from

brand loyalty; it comes from basic color theory. Blue skirts do not go with coral tops, and I refuse to keep pretending like they do. Eventually, you will end up putting your outfit underneath an oversized sweatshirt, like we know you want to. What do you care if people know you are wearing pants?

My Converse will be pried from my cold, dead hands, but I absolutely cannot defend wearing them for an entire day

of classes. These are probably great for people who can do without any arch support, but those of us unfit for military service are left to suffer. The Chuck is a timeless icon, but they are also unreasonably im practical for a campus as spa cious and uneven as ours.

Senior fashion design and merchandising major Sara Murphy agrees.

"Converse are cute in my opinion, but they have no sup port. My feet are so flat, and I

can’t even wear them comfort ably," Murphy said.

Further on shoes, unless someone is leaving immedi ately to go to work as a ranch hand or in a wet field, there is no reason to wear cowgirl boots, especially not on game days in September when the grass is dry and the heat pushes mid-90. I recognize that a wealth of people here are wearing cowgirl boots specifically because they do ranch and/or wet field based work, but for the rest of us, it is too hot to be wearing cow girl boots above 80 degrees. Some people make the heat even worse by pairing them with leather skirts that raise the internal body temperature high enough to warrant a trip to the Longest Student Health Center, or, on game days when the health center is closed, a trip to urgent care paid for out of pocket.

I will never shame modesty as a personal choice, but thinking "modest is hottest" and simultaneously wearing denim Bermuda shorts are di rectly oppositional. Laura Dern looked hot in Bermuda shorts in Jurassic Park. You are not Laura Dern.

Bermuda shorts might not crop up as much as other cur

rent trends, but I have seen it enough to get middle school flashbacks.

"The Bermuda short is not without controversy. To walk around publicly wearing the knee-grazing style 100 years ago was to potentially open yourself up to scandal, fines, and more," said Madge Maril with The Zoe Report.

Does this mean my opin ion on Bermuda shorts makes me a bad feminist? No, women in the past wore the shorts and paid the fines so we could avoid having to do either of those things.

Good fashion trends also exist, and Allie Middleton, a junior fashion design and merchandising major, had some more positive things to say about trends.

"Tote bags are the new backpack, and they’re much more comfortable for walks to class. Sweaters tied around the shoulder are seen all around now, as they can be thrown on and off in the un predictable weather," Mid dleton said.

This much I will agree with: using a tote bag as a backpack is the winning trend of Mississippi State Universi ty’s current fashion climate. Everybody loves a tote.

EDITORIAL POLICY CORRECTIONS

Lucy

A crowd tailgates outside of Dorman Hall in MSU’s central tailgating spot, the Junction. The Junction sits in the shadow of the Davis Wade Stadium, where cowbells are audible from inside.

Adam Sullivan | The Reflector

Luke Copley

Hispanic students find a new community at MSU

National Hispanic Her itage Month started in midSeptember, and students at Mississippi State University have been eager to bring the nationally recognized monthlong holiday back to campus.

As the second most diverse school in the Southeastern Conference behind Vander bilt University, Mississippi State is home to many His panic students. With the ad dition of new events, Na tional Hispanic Heritage Month is becoming more prevalent on campus than in previous years and allows both Hispanic and non-His panic students to appreciate the various cultures that many members of the student body identify with.

Thanks to MSU’s Holmes Cultural Diversity Center,

National Hispanic Heritage Month started strong with the annual Salsa in the Streets event Sept. 15. The popular event, which took place at the newly built YMCA plaza, fea tured salsa dance lessons and music for the public.

Additionally, Mississippi State’s Latino Student Asso ciation is responsible for co ordinating many other events for National Hispanic Her itage Month. For these stu dents, the month-long event on campus is more than just about having fun; it strengthens the community and allows Hispanic students at MSU to feel at home.

Even outside of the cele bratory month, the Latino Student Association has made strides in making La tino students feel welcomed at the university. Senior Mi chelle Trejo Acevedo said LSA was one of the major rea

sons she decided to attend MSU.

"I came to the Latinx Pre view Day, which they hosted in Fall of 2018, and it was basically a preview day aimed for Latinos. I just felt really at home," Acevedo said.

"They made an effort to tar get something for Latinos, which was more than other schools that I was looking at

at the time."

Acevedo, who now serves as an LSA co-president, said that being in the organization as an MSU student has al lowed her to connect with more Hispanics than she could in her hometown.

"I feel that I have met more Hispanics here at MSU than I ever have on the coast," Acevedo said. "I’m Mexican,

but aside from that, there are people from so many places here that it’s crazy to connect with not just my culture, but with other peoples’ culture."

Despite a prominent and growing Hispanic commu nity at MSU, Hispanic stu dents still many face unique day-to-day challenges. When asked about places Latino students can go to make His panic friends, Agustin As cencio, a junior biochemistry major and co-president of LSA, said there are not many.

"There are really not many places besides Holmes (Cul tural Diversity Center), and even in Holmes, we are a mi nority," Ascencio said.

Ascencio also said he and other Latino students on campus often feel excluded and looked down upon on campus.

Another student, Chris topher Rivera, a junior ac

counting and finance major, said he can thank some of MSU’s student organizations for helping introduce him to the university’s Latino com munity.

"Immediately, making friends was very hard as a stu dent, especially as a student of color," Rivera said. "It’s very clique based, and the clique does include people that are similar color or back grounds. Immediately, I was out of place, and it was hard to get over. But, joining dif ferent organizations such as Diversity Dawgs helped me break that barrier."

Due to many groups and organizations' participation in National Hispanic Her itage Month, many Hispanic students, like Rivera, feel more welcome on campus and become encouraged to learn more about their her itage and culture.

MSU creative arts journal opens its submissions

of The Streetcar.

The Streetcar, Missis sippi State University’s literary and visual arts journal, has opened its submissions for the 2023 publication.

Going on its 11th year since its start in 2012, the journal’s editorial and outreach staff work to gether to produce the journal and put together community-involved events.

"Submissions are open through Dec. 10. We accept writing, art, graphic design, photog raphy, all of that," said Zoe Maddox, co-editor

After the submission period, the journal under goes an intense editing process to reach the final manuscript that is printed and distributed.

"When a piece comes in, our editorial staff looks it over. We accept pieces, reject them and, sometimes, we accept with revisions if we see a lot of potential in the piece," Maddox said.

"We have our copy edi tors go over anything, and this just checks for small grammatical mistakes and some of our longer form fiction, things like that."

The works also go through a "culling pro

cess," which in literary arts means the order in which pieces are arranged in the journal.

"We lay everything out, and we decide what we want to start with, what we want to have in the middle and what needs to be at the end. That’s just kind of where we will develop our theme that year, based on what pieces we have.

We lay it out on a path that makes sense," said Isabella Thompson, coeditor of The Streetcar.

The Streetcar is an ex tension of the Shackouls Honors College and the College of Arts & Sciences. It is meant to be a creative outlet for stu

dents at Mississippi State to freely express them selves through art.

"Our submissions are free. We accept from all students, not just honors students, and we really want to advocate for cre ative artists and have an outlet for students on campus," Thompson said.

The Streetcar plays an important role on MSU’s campus, according to its participants. Many stu dents, like sophomore mechanical engineering major Luke Salisbury, are not shy to talk about its importance to them.

"I think it is a wonder ful outlet to show the ar tistic side of MSU’s stu

SPORTS

dents, and I think it is a great outlet for talented artists to share their work with the world." Salisbury said.

The Streetcar is not only a creative outlet, but it is also an opportunity for students to have their work published some where that is likely to re ceive recognition.

The Streetcar also hosts events related to the cre ative arts, such as open mic nights in the Stark ville area for building community and network ing.

All events and submis sion information can be found on the journal’s web site, thestreetcarmsu.com,

or on its Instagram page, @thestreetcarmsu. Pre vious editions of The Streetcar can be purchased online or found in Griffis Hall.

Smith: MSU claims title of 'True Maroon' after trampling Texas A&M

From Midnight Yell to Davis Wade Stadium, Mississippi State University football made it clear there was only room for one maroon in the Southeastern Conference – and it resides in Starkville.

The Bulldog faithful gathered at MSU's intramural field Friday night to drown out the noises of Aggie fans participating in their Midnight Yell, a tradition at Texas A&M University that allows fans to get their head in the game with a series of

"insults" and trash talk directed at their opponent of the week. This time they were met with an influx of cowbells that could not be ignored – prepping the Aggies for what was to come Saturday.

As Saturday rolled around, Bulldog fans and athletes were more than ready to take their first SEC win of the season.

The atmosphere in Davis Wade was nothing short of exhilarating – and it never wavered. All four quarters were met with drive and electricity both on and off the field.

The first quarter only resulted in penalties, four to be exact, for

MSU and one for Texas A&M, but even through some less-exciting play, spirits stayed high.

Halfway through the second quarter, the Bulldogs waddled away with an early lead after a five-yard touchdown by wide receiver Caleb Ducking and a solid kick by Ben Raybon. They doubled their score just before halftime and returned to the locker room motivated and ready to get back at it.

Heading into the half, Bulldogs head coach Mike Leach commented on the importance of a play and the score going into halftime.

"I thought that was huge," Leach said. "I mean, scores just before half always have a bigger impact than they really should; they really do … It’s funny, 'cause those things can have an impact either direction, so always be aware of both positive and negative to scores right before half."

The motivation from the team and the overwhelming, electric support from the fans flowed into the second half as the Bulldogs' defense continued to apply intense pressure to Aggies quarterback Max Johnson – causing him to rush his passes,

resulting in four sacks. The Aggies could only manage a 24-yard field goal and one touchdown in the third quarter.

With a 21-10 lead and 15 minutes left in the game, fans were feeling rather optimistic, and the players thrived off of that environment.

When asked about what kind of effect fan involvement has on the team, running back Dillon Johnson said that MSU feeds off of the Bulldog fan base.

"Everybody’s attributes go up," Johnson said. "We feed off the fans, we feed off the energy from the

crowd. It makes us play harder, play faster. Big shoutout to the fans for coming out and supporting us."

The Bulldogs come out on top with a final score of 42-24 as the showdown against the University of Arkansas Razorbacks loom Saturday. The game between the Bulldogs and Razorbacks is scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m. at Davis Wade Stadium. The same support and energy from the fans noted by Johnson will be broadcasted live as SEC Nation travels to Starkville for the Dawgs versus Hogs showdown.

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State (5-0)

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State (4-1)

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State (4-1)

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(105),

State (66), Minnesota (55),

(35),

State

(49), Maryland (36),

Madison (29), Coastal Carolina (21), Florida (14),

(31),

LSA co-presidents Agustin Ascencio and Michelle Trejo Acevedo share their experiences at MSU. Ivy Rose Ball | The Reflector

Jacob Mitchell | The Reflector Senior Rachel Adair reads The Streetcar.