10.6.21

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2021

137TH YEAR | ISSUE 5

Driver hits pedestrian on Hardy Road, students urge MSU to improve crosswalk conditions HeatHer Harrison news editor

Thursday night, a car hit a pedestrian on campus on Hardy Road, near the new Kent Sills Band Hall on the south side of Mississippi State University’s campus.

The pedestrian, who wishes to remain anonymous, was leaving State Singers’ practice at about 7:45 p.m. when the accident occurred.

An eyewitness who wishes to remain anonymous was walking out of the building with a choir member when they saw their friend at the crosswalk. The witness said she noticed the student looking as he was crossing the street and

Ivy Rose Ball | The Reflector

Thursday night, a car hit a pedestrian at the intersection of Hardy Road and State Street south of Mississippi State University’s campus.

confirmed the pedestrian was not looking at his phone.

“Then I saw a car just barrel into him, and it was

horrifying,” said the witness, who is friends with the pedestrian.

The witness said she saw her friend fly through the air

MSU communication professor named director of Magnolia Independent F ilm Festival maggie roBerts staff writer

The 25th annual Magnolia Film Festival will take place Feb. 24-26, 2022, in downtown Starkville, serving the community as a memorable experience for filmmakers and audience members. Nicknamed "The Mag," it is the longest-running film festival in Mississippi.

Ron Tibbett created The Mag in West Point but later moved to Starkville. Tibbett's priority was to bring entertaining films to Mississippi and help Mississippi filmmakers be recognized and appreciated for their work. For those interested in submitting a film to the festival, the late deadline is Nov. 1.

Chris Misun, a broadcast in-

Courtesy Photo | Chris Misun

Chris Misun, director of “The Mag” festival.

structor at Mississippi State University, has been hired as director for the upcoming film festival. Misun is still learning what the role of director at this festival consists of, but he explained an overview of the job.

"It's many different things.

I'm facilitating all the committees that go into (The Mag). I will oversee everyone and make sure we are all doing what

we need to do," Misun said.

Before his faculty position, Misun worked as creative services producer for the Mississippi State University Television Center.

While in that position, he was hands-on, working with students and behind the camera.

DIRECTOR, 2

as the car did not stop. He rolled off the vehicle and into the middle of the road.

Then the driver, shocked, got out of the car and walked

over to the sidewalk because he was disoriented.

Briana Taylor, a senior aerospace engineering major, is a State Singer like the pedestrian.

She recounted what she and other choir members heard because they did not see the accident occur.

“I heard a big, loud thud; we all turned around and looked and saw that someone had been run over,” Taylor said.

Taylor and a couple of choir members ran to aid the pedestrian. A car driving by on the opposite side of the road stopped to assist, too.

First, Taylor said the students stabilized the pedestrian’s head to protect

him from further injuries while they called 911.

Even though only a few people saw the crash, as more members exited the band hall, they rushed to assist the pedestrian. Some students grabbed traffic cones to block off the area and direct traffic because they were waiting on an ambulance to pick up the student who was hit. In addition, Taylor and other students tried to calm the driver who hit the pedestrian and make sure he was not injured.

Taylor measured the distance the pedestrian traveled as the car hit him, and it was an astounding 52 CROSSWALK, 2 feet.

Legislative process class urges students to vote HeatHer Harrison news editor

Since last Tuesday was Voter Registration Day, a legislative process class taught by assistant professor Thessalia Merivaki took the day to learn more about the voter registration process and register people to vote on Mississippi State University's campus.

In 2018, Merivaki started bringing a couple of her classes on the Drill Field for Voter Registration Day to register students to vote.

The assistant professor specializes in voter registration and participation research and studies the challenges of the voting process.

Allowing her students to be involved in the registration procedure is

Heather Harrison | The Reflector

A legislative process class taught by Thessalia Merivaki registered students to vote Tuesday.

one element Merivaki finds of utmost importance when teaching her classes about the legislative process.

Merivaki invited Tony Rook, Oktibbeha County circuit clerk, to speak to the class of about 20 people by the flagpole on the Drill Field to explain

why voting as college students is crucial, especially in this county.

One of Rook's top tips is to write legibly when filling out voter registration forms, so the person who checks the records can correctly enter the information into the system.

VOTER, 2

Starkville used to be underwater: MSU geologists analyze prehistoric fossils found in Mississippi daniel dye

managing editor

In October 2020, pictures featuring a collection of fossils were sent to Mississippi State University Extension Services and eventually reached the desk of Renee Clary, a geology professor and director of the Dunn-Seiler Museum located inside Hilbun Hall on campus.

Looking at the photographs, Clary was drawn to the large tooth in the collection, characteristic of a mosasaur specimen, a group of large marine reptiles dating back to the Late Cretaceous period.

According to Clary, the mosasaurs were fairly common in prehistoric Starkville, which, like the rest of Mississippi, was underwater for a vast period of time.

"In the very northeast corner of Mississippi, Tishomingo, we have a few of the Paleozoic

fossils that are older than the dinosaurs. Remains of trilobites, an organism called brachiopods, which tells us that Mississippi was underwater," Clary said, motioning to a display case in the Dunn-Seiler Museum. "Most of what we find is from the Cretaceous. What we know about Starkville and Mississippi from this period is that we were underwater. We find sharks' teeth, ammonites, mosasaur vertebrates, giant Exogyra oysters and great reefs."

Mississippi's aquatic past may come as a surprise to some, but the prehistory of the state is a subject of great interest to those involved with paleontology at Mississippi State University.

George Phillips, the curator of paleontology at the Museum of Natural Science in Jackson, MS, and a former MSU student, weighed in on

the photos sent to extension in 2020, and works regularly with the university as they put together the pieces of Mississippi's past.

Phillips discussed the multi-faceted approach to discovering these extinct species and the benefits it brings to the present day.

"It is one thing to find a fossil of one thing and know that existed, but we want to know what existed along with it. We want to know how these communities were comprised," Phillips said. "Was it similar to how communities are comprised today, or different? The more information we have, the better we are able to glimpse into the past to see how different it is from the present."

Not only is this work valuable in piecing together a picture of the past, but also in predicting the picture of the future.

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

HI: 79 LO: 63 SKY: Stormy POP: 40

HI: 82 LO: 61 SKY: Sunny POP: 50

HI: 84 LO: 70 SKY: Mostly rainy POP: 60

FOSSIL, 2

Adam Sullivan | The Reflector

The left maxilla, part of the jawbone, of a mosasaur on display at Mississippi State University’s on-campus Dunn-Seiler Museum.

FORECAST: I can see clearly now; the rain is gone! Bulldogs, your fall break weekend forecast is looking to be filled with sunny and clear skies.

Wednesday has a slight chance of rain and likely will be foggy most of the day. Temperatures throughout the week will continue to swing between the low 80s and low 60s.

Courtesy of National Weather Service

Reader’s Guide: Bad Dawgs Bulletin Board Opinion

3 3 4

Contact Info Life&Entertainment Sports

4 5

6

Policy: Any person may pick up a single copy of The Reflector for free. Additional copies may be obtained from the Henry Meyer Student Media Center for 25 cents per copy.

2

THE REFLECTOR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6

@REFLECTORONLINE

VOTING

Rook also emphasized the importance of writing one's address correctly on the form so the individual is registered to vote in the correct district.

If students register to vote in Oktibbeha County, Rook said they are likely to be called for jury duty in the county. While if a student registers in their home county, they may be able to be released from jury duty since they attend college outside of the county. However, Rook encouraged students to uphold their civic duty and adequately prepare for jury duty if necessary.

"There are pros and cons to where you vote," Rook said, "but all I want to do is give the students the facts. I let them know the pros and the cons to registering in the two different areas and let them make an informed decision that is best for their particular situation."

Additionally, when someone moves to a new address, they need to correct their address at the

to host this registration drive with her students because peer-to-peer interaction, especially encouraging peers to vote, works better in many cases because people have a closer connection with

“It’s good to see that we grow this effort and build partnerships.”

Thessalia Merivaki Assistant Professor of Political Science Mississippi State University

individuals of the same age.

Agreeing with her professor, Sette said she believes urging her peers to vote is more effective because of their similarities in age and relatability.

Many drawbacks in the voter registration process lead to low registration and voting turnouts, according to Merivaki, including the busy schedules college students often have. The professor hosts the annual event to help students register to vote at convenient locations on campus.

"So, mobilization and information (are) important. To see that this is something that you need to do, that helps your community, you gain more knowledge on it and then you are empowered as a voter and as a student as well," Merivaki said.

Even though the only election coming up in Oktibbeha County is the School District Board of Trustees, Rook and Merivaki urged people to use their voices in all elections, even smaller ones.

"If we built a community where everybody's registered to vote, and everybody's involved in voter

registration efforts, then this spreads out," Merivaki said. "So, the more we talk about it, the more we do, it's proven to be useful in getting involved."

Sykina Butts, a youth civic engagement coordinator for Mississippi Votes, attended Tuesday's class and helped students register to vote. Her role at Mississippi Votes involves working with colleges like MSU to inform students of upcoming elections and voter registration drives and get students to vote when election day comes.

"I think it's important for young people to be active voters because although we're young now, there are people making decisions about our lives, about how much funding goes into our education," Butts said.

While some people may display some distrust in the voting system due to allegations from the 2020 presidential election, Rook confirms that the county counts every ballot.

FOSSIL Amy Moe-Hoffman, instructor of geology and curator of the Dunn-Seiler Museum, describes this duality of thinking and the value it holds in our understanding of how the Earth works.

"I think prehistory is really important because we tend to think of the Earth as a static place, that it's unchanging," Moe-Hoffman said. "It has changed so much throughout time, and it will continue to change into the future. So, understanding how it has changed, why it has changed and what the mechanisms are that drive change is really important for our understanding, but also our survival and ability to coexist with all the other spheres of the earth's system."

MSU's testament to the ancient past and the foreseeable future is

enshrined in the Dunn-Seiler Museum. The museum, located in Hilbun Hall, was founded in 1946 in order to educate the MSU and greater Starkville community of the vast prehistoric archives found in our state. The museum displays a rich collection of geologic and paleontologic finds, such as a variety of minerals, a large casting of a triceratops head and a vertebrate of a toothed whale, the state fossil of Mississippi.

Since the beginning of their time as faculty, Clary and Moe-Hoffman have set out to revitalize the museum and provide the best experience for those interested in paleontology by renovating the displays, increasing involvement for undergraduate and graduate students in the department and promoting paleontology through exciting events.

"I'd love to see more

people come and experience the thrill (of paleontology) and to see the big picture we are talking about. Any time you can reach more people, it is just important. We have a lot of resources that people aren't aware of," MoeHoffman said. "Take one of Dr. Clary's classes, come visit the museum, come to science night. Just that little bit of exposure might spark them to learn more. Because we are all in this together, we will have a better response when things change."

Clary spoke on some of the upcoming events for the Dunn-Seiler Museum, such as celebrations for National Fossil Day and Earth Day. Moe-Hoffman is also the chair of the Museums and Galleries Committee, which is responsible for Science Night at the Museums, a showcase of MSU's different scientific collections for the

community, of which the Dunn-Seiler will be included.

Clary hopes students will begin to take advantage of the paleontologic resources available to them in order to grasp the big picture.

"We are passionate about this, and we have such great resources and most people aren't aware of that. We understand that the decisions we make today will impact future generations. Geologic and paleontologic courses are courses that you can apply in your daily life, whether or not you go into the field. There are no passengers on spaceship Earth."

More information on the Department of Geosciences and their resources, as well as the Dunn-Seiler Museum, can be found on their website.

Also, the Museum and Galleries website features all the university's museums and their events.

SUDOKU

An In-Class Distraction Across 1 6 9 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 23 24 25 28 30 35 38 39 40 42 43 45 47 49 50 51 53 55 59 63 64 66 67 68 69 70 71 72

Recurring event Distress call Carpet type Poppycock Before meal or cake Grassy plain Pointed arch ET carrier Main artery Soave purveyor Pollen producer Canal site Self-satis昀ed “I get it!”

Shopper’s aid Small anchors PA town Goddess of the hunt Headquarters Fathers Pecans, e.g.

Balances Musical dronings Leavening agents Olympic sled Attempt Corrida cries Kind of station Dining-room attendants Medical instrument In disguise, brie昀y Mai ___ Bounding main Building block Possess Giraffe relative Drunkards Dowel Mooned about

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

21

20 23

25

26

27

35

29

47

41 45

44

31

32

33

34

61

62

8

51

52

53

5

9 2 2 7 3 5 4

54

59 65

60

64

67

68

69

70

71

72

66

9

Copyright ©2021 PuzzleJunction.com

Vittles Cartoon bear Penny, e.g.

Embankment Optical unit Acerbic Bonehead Weather word Not too swift Snowshoe, for one 11 Chip in 12 Egg on 15 Fell behind

8

50

63

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1

46

58

Down

3 9

6

42

49

48

57

12

38

37 40

56

11

22

30

36

39

55

10

24 28

43

9

20 Zodiac sign 22 Razor-billed bird 24 Natural plant alcohols 25 Monastery 26 Throw 27 Cruising 29 Mason’s wedge 31 Flintstones pet 32 Scrawny 33 Door sign 34 Impudent 36 Egg producers 37 Waiter’s offering 41 Damp 44 Fall guy

46 48 52 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 65

Brit. cafe Crafty Bar, legally Perverted one, to some Slant Nullify Aberdeen native Hope and Crosby Croon Certain tide Stare, openmouthed Oklahoma city Wonderment

September 29 Puzzle Solutions

7 8 3 5

2 4 3

Animal Fact of the Week

Adam Sullivan | The Reflector

Geology professor Amy Moe-Hoffman shows the fossilized tooth of a mosasaur.

6 1

To hover, hummingbirds may beat their wings up to 200 times per second.

Stay in the know!

Publicize your club!

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @reflectoronline

via lonelyplanet.com

Email managing@reflector.msstate.edu

CONTINUED FROM 1

the same time. Likes has a background in media, while Misun currently works in media, so they work together in various ways. "(We do) anything that is involved in student media production, curriculum development, talking about technology needs for the department and the students, so we talk nearly every day together," Likes said.

After working so closely with Misun, Likes has gotten to know him well personally and

professionally.

Likes explained MSU's excitement for the university to be involved with this local event.

"We are delighted to help play a role in the continued development and success of the Magnolia Film Festival," Likes said.

"Since joining the department in the fall of 2019, Chris has guided the curriculum to offer new courses beyond journalism to meet the needs of students who wish to explore the variety of

avenues involving creative media. His professional media experience and his previous work at University Television all lend themselves to his leadership role as director with the Magnolia Film Festival. We are excited for him and for what the coming year will bring with the festival."

James Parker, senior documentary and special projects producer at the University Television Center, worked with Misun when serving as creative services producer. At the

time, Parker had the same role as Misun, so they worked closely together every day. In addition, their roles consisted of airing all commercials and social media videos, which allowed for a close relationship.

Parker explained the opportunity The Mag has given MSU and the value Misun will add to the festival.

"I think this will bridge a gap between the university and the town of Starkville.

Chris has a lot of great

CROSSWALK The police arrived at the scene first and went to examine the pedestrian and calm the driver. Then the Oktibbeha County Hospital EMTs arrived in an ambulance and took the pedestrian to the emergency room.

The State Singers’ choir director called the student’s parents, and the anonymous eyewitness said she and several other choir members went to the hospital for moral support and waited with their friend until the doctors discharged him later that night.

Thankfully, the pedestrian did not have any broken bones, but he is pretty bruised, according to Taylor.

Thursday night, Colton Hall, a graduate engineering student, along with Taylor and the anonymous witness penned a change.org petition that urged MSU to improve the safety hazards on Hardy Road by adding speed bumps, signs with blinking lights, better street lighting, speed limit signs and lights on the crosswalk.

According to a document from the MSU Management of

"I'm here to assure you that in Oktibbeha County, every legal vote counts," Rook said.

Furthermore, the circuit clerk explained the county received paper ballot machines and will be using paper ballots in its upcoming elections due to requests from Oktibbeha County voters.

As for the future of voter registration drives on campus, Merivaki said she is looking forward to growing the initiative even further among her department to register as many people as possible to vote.

"I'm happy that (Student Association) and MSU are committed to this, and we're able to build more partners. And I think more faculty should be involved," Merivaki said. "We're trying to bring in the political science department to do a week-long voter registration event … It's good to see that we grow this effort and build partnerships."

CONTINUED FROM 1

DIRECTOR "I don't have the opportunity to work on those projects (behind the camera), so I have really enjoyed being behind the camera assisting with students' projects for the Scene filmmaking club. It is fun to answer questions they may have and guide them in the process," Misun said.

Terry Likes, the communication department head, initially met Misun during his job interview in 2019. Likes and Misun started in the department at

BULLETIN BOARD

CONTINUED FROM 1

circuit clerk's office so the voter rolls for the counties are accurate.

After Rook talked to the class for a few minutes, the students dispersed to different areas around the Drill Field to register people to vote. The students gathered around tables and encouraged their peers to use their voices.

Katelyn Sette, a senior biochemistry major, is a member of the legislative process class who helped register students to vote.

She encouraged young people to vote and be active in their communities.

"I think it's really important to be a voter because you get to take an opportunity to be involved in the political world. You get a voice," Sette said.

"You can say who's representing you on a state level, nationally … So, it's really important to be registered so that your voice is promoted throughout the world."

Merivaki said she likes

3

THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2021 | @REFLECTORONLINE

leadership skills, organizational skills and he really can bring people together. This will all play really well for the festival and elevate it even more," Parker said.

The Magnolia Film Festival gives filmmakers in Mississippi a chance to be recognized after often being overlooked. Misun will be a connection for MSU students to join in on this opportunity.

Individuals wanting to participate can submit their film to The Mag's website.

CONTINUED FROM 1

Traffic and Parking, the responsibility of the management services is to manage parking and traffic at the university. Taylor emphasized this responsibility and said it further proved her need to write the petition.

Early Friday morning, MSU added a three-way stop on Hardy Road and a sign with blinking lights where the crosswalk is located. The students who started the petition said they are grateful for how quickly the university implemented those changes.

Still, the students urge the university to add more speed limit signs, speed bumps and better lighting around the crosswalk.

The Capital Improvement Fee would fund the students’ plan, according to the petition and Taylor. Furthermore, the Capital Improvement Fee is partly how the university finances crosswalks and other roadwork needs.

Also, on Friday, MSU launched a pre-planned initiative on social media for Pedestrian Safety Month called

“Look Up, Look Out,” aimed to alert both drivers and pedestrians to use the crosswalks carefully.

The anonymous eyewitness said before the university posted to social media, MSU President Mark Keenum emailed the witness and informed her of the initiative.

According to Keenum, the university already planned to launch the initiative this month to alert drivers, pedestrians and bicyclers to be more aware of crossing the street during Pedestrian Safety Month.

According to a press release statement from MSU’s Chief Communications Officer Sid Salter, the university administration planned and approved the campaign before the student was hit on Hardy Road Thursday night. However, the university still approved the campaign to launch on Oct. 1 and posted an infographic on social media platforms that morning.

Even though Keenum told the student about the “Look Up, Look Out" initiative, the witness said she thought the first

post of the campaign was not appropriate due to the accident that had just occurred the night before the initiative.

“I believe that while the intention behind that infographic and the entire initiative is to keep our campus safe, I thought that particular post … was insensitive and in poor taste considering the events of (Thursday) night,” the witness said.

Immediately, the Instagram post started receiving masses of comments claiming MSU’s infographic to be “poorly timed” and seeming “victim blaming,” as the first post was aimed at pedestrians to get off their phones and look up as they are using the crosswalks.

The student who was hit on Hardy Road Thursday night added his experience to the comments.

“As someone who was hit last night using the crosswalk, not on my phone … this is sad to see,” the pedestrian wrote.

Instagram user @ronst3r._ expressed their disbelief in the comment section.

“I refuse to believe that you all thought this was an appropriate statement to make.

This is extremely insensitive.

Hold people accountable instead of shifting the blame on the blameless,” they commented.

So far, the original Instagram post has amassed 271 comments, with a majority of comments calling out the lack of sensitivity the commenters thought MSU had by posting the infographic after a student was hit in the crosswalk on campus the night before.

“In that moment, perhaps a more helpful message to spread at that time was to call to attention the actions of the driver first,” the witness said.

After the original Pedestrian Safety Month post, MSU added another post to their social media platforms that called attention to drivers’ safety and urged them to “look up and look out,” too.

The pedestrian's friends acknowledged the second safety graphic and said they think the university should have posted the second graphic first since a

driver had just hit a pedestrian the night before.

State Singer Taylor noted how grateful she, the pedestrian who was hit and other choir members are for the attention the accident is getting. She wants it to further enact change at the university so accidents do not occur frequently. The students said they are glad to see the new implementations on Hardy Road but still desire the other actions in the petition.

MSU concluded its press release statement by saying the university will continue to implement changes on campus as needed and confirmed the addition of safety measures on Hardy Road.

“At MSU President Mark Keenum’s direction early today, additional stops signs and speed bumps are being installed, and overall traffic and pedestrian rule enforcement is being reviewed. We will continue to seek ways to make a safe MSU campus even safer moving forward.”

Saturday, September 25, 2021

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Two non-resident/vistors were seen taking tailgating items from the Junction.

Employee reported a grill chained to a tree in the Junction. Officer took possession of the grill.

Sunday, September 26, 2021 Student issued a referral for smell of marijuana in Sessums Hall.

Monday, September 27, 2021 Student’s vehicle was hit in the College View Apartment parking lot.

Wednesday, September 29, 2021 Student reported his vehicle was hit in the F8 parking lot.

Non-resident/visitor reported her MacBook, headphones and backpack were stolen from the locker room at the Leo Seal football complex.

Student reported his MacBook Pro stolen. Later was found by a custodian.

Student reported a bag containing money was left at the Sanderson Center on Sept. 22.

Phone found at Davis Wade Stadium.

Student was hit in crosswalk on East Lee Boulevard.

4

THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2021 | @REFLECTORONLINE

OPINION

Community service benefits society and the overall health of those who volunteer PAYTON BROWN

is a junior majoring in philosophy and French. Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu

Communities bring together varieties of individuals and allow them to take part in the larger goal of nourishing the region. For college students, community service may seem like a tedious way to boost the appearance of their resume, but service participation can mean a lot more than appearances to the individual as well as the entire society. Students should strive to become involved in service to expand their connections, well-being and abilities.

According to Heather Lafferty, CEO and executive director of Habitat for Humanity Metro Denver, community service involvement helps build connections in a

technologically dominant world. The reliance on technology proves to isolate individuals from real life interaction which limits them from understanding others in their area.

In-person connections allow us to strengthen the definition of community by serving others and building local relationships. Lafferty expands her idea by saying, "Connections between people are what make us human."

Community service allows us to make these connections which can give us a chance to step back from our phone screens and focus on what it means to interact with others.

Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) states that community volunteering benefits mental and physical health. By participating in service projects, a sense of accomplishment gathered from the experience can improve the self-esteem of participants. This renewed selfesteem can lead to a more positive outlook on personal goals. While serv-

ice can heighten self-esteem, it can also diminish the effects of depression through consistent interaction. Depression is linked to social isolation and community service encourages interpersonal interaction. According to WCSU, being an active service member in your community has also been proven to lower mortality rate resulting in overall better physical help for participants.

Community participation benefits both the society we take part in and our personal well-being because of the support system acquired from the decision to serve. As we build the status of our surroundings, we are simultaneously building up and serving ourselves through a symbiotic relationship.

Mark Horoszowski of Forbes explains volunteering helps individuals develop new skills which can benefit their personal career goals. Communication capability and teamwork skills are sharpened through community involvement. Stu-

is a senior majoring in agronomy.

Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu

If you are a student, chances are, at some point, you have been slated to occupy a nondescript beige box. If you are particularly unlucky, your beige box — a "room" in a "dormitory," to use the standard charitable language — dates to middle of the last century, is a little musty when it rains and for some reason remains dark at all hours of the day even when the window is totally unobstructed. If you have a clean, modern beige box, count your blessings; but the fact remains that dormitories are, by design, bland rectangular prisms made more for easy maintenance than a particularly posh lifestyle.

No doubt this explains the use of posters, string lights and the like: nearly anything

will do to cover the oppressively drab swathes of drywall and cinder block. Even if you have arrived with armfuls of the standard decor, something is still missing. Especially when the windows are thoroughly covered to distract from your late-nighterdestroyed circadian rhythm, a room can seem lifeless —

and without houseplants, it is lifeless (we will forget about unwelcome insects for the moment). Perhaps if you have a "brown thumb" or picture all houseplants as particularly needy, you might not take kindly to the suggestion: but growing houseplants is easier than you think and is sure to enliven what

Courtesy Photo | Hands & Feet Club

Members of the Hands & Feet Club during their trash pick-up service project. This project’s goal was to keep Starkville beautiful.

dents also develop the ability to solve problems and step into leadership roles through these programs with challenging experiences which cause them to think outside the box. These skills are important to have when entering the career realm as they build rapport behind an applicant's ability to cooperate with others.

Students should endeavor upon volunteer opportunities to show

their support and care for the community they live in. The efforts made through volunteering show improvements in town operation and cooperation. Involvement builds the bonds between students and residents who share the common goal of making Starkville great. It is easy to get involved in Starkville because of the wide range of opportunities available to take part in.

Imagine how much Stark-

ville would develop if all hands were on deck.

Volunteer opportunities currently include, but are not limited to the Starkville Public Library, Ms. Smith's Educational Services, Maroon Edition Habitat for Humanity and Bully's Closet and Pantry.

For more information on how to become involved in the Starkville community, visit www.mvc.msstate.edu/p rograms.

can be an otherwise uninspiring space.

Houseplants have been enjoying a popular resurgence lately. Unfortunately, this popularity has placed many store-bought succulents sitting on dark desks, slowly shriveling away, sure to convince their owners that houseplants are just, well, difficult. There are two options then: getting some plastic foliage in a pot from Walmart or giving houseplants another shot. Needless to say, I advocate the latter.

Maybe because of increased environmental awareness, and no doubt the long durations spent at home due to the pandemic, houseplants are more popular among Millennials and Gen Z than ever before. Luke Revitsky, writing for Civic Science, notes the top three reasons people own houseplants are to improve indoor air quality, accentuate their interior design and to provide something beautiful to look at.

Interestingly, the desire to care for something alive — often dubbed "parenting" — is twice as prevalent among Gen Z 13 to 24-year-olds.

Not only do houseplants

serve decorative purposes, but they also fulfill a deeper desire to foster something dynamic and dependent. A cherished Philodendron can be something of a low-maintenance pet except there are no rules restricting houseplant ownership, and plants do not have a habit of chewing furniture or soiling carpet, unlike their animal counterparts. Caring for houseplants can become a soothing routine, with each new growth a cause for celebration.

While indoor gardening can seem to be an innately introspective activity, consisting entirely of peaceful and solitary moments spent watering or in simple admiration, the community of plant lovers opens many social opportunities to share enthusiasm and learn from collective experience. Casey Bond, in an article for Huffington Post, notes the enormous houseplant community on Instagram, which showcases users' plant collections and drives the popularity of such plants as Monstera and fiddle-leaf fig. The easy propagation of many houseplants from cuttings makes in-per-

son cutting swaps a simple way to expand a growing plant collection. Add to this local gardening clubs and dedicated plant societies, and the pastime becomes an eminently social pursuit.

Modern life is stressful, and a fast-paced work and school schedule takes its psychological toll. Min-sun Lee and colleagues, writing for the Journal of Physiological Anthropology, found that gardening tasks left study participants "more comfortable, soothed, and natural" when compared to computer-based tasks. Gardening was even found to significantly lower blood pressure.

Houseplants can really make a difference in personal wellbeing, and given the recent impetus of self-care practices, there is no better time to green up your space. Start with some easy, low-light tropicals like a snake plant (Sansevieria) or ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia).

The MSU Office of Sustainability is hosting Green Week Oct. 11 to Oct. 15. To get a free houseplant, stop by the MSU Horticulture Club table on the Drill Field, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 11.

with Ted evolve as the show progresses creates a heartwarming plot line for the viewer to follow in addition to the nonsensical main story.

In addition to the general comedic genius of the writers, "Ted Lasso" offers several instances of pure dra-

matic storytelling to keep the viewer invested. Overall, the writing is brilliant, the characters are real and perfect in the context of the overarching narrative and the comedy is hilarious. Anyone with access to Apple TV should immediately put "Ted Lasso" on their must watch list.

Tu n e i n e v e r y w e e k fo r a n e w re v i e w fo r w h a t i s t re n d i n g o n yo u r s e r v i c e s.

SERVICE: APPLE TV

STAFF WRITER

"Ted Lasso" follows the forever optimistic Division 2 football coach learning to adjust to London living as the head manager of AFC Richmond, a Premier League soccer team in England.

Hilarity ensues as the viewer watches Ted struggle to learn a game he himself has never experienced and a culture he has never encountered. The show is a resurgence of classic TV comedy, a truly sympathetic character who is doing the best he can

while it seems as if the world is waiting for him to fail as he struggles to overcome the impossible odds. Ted's hapless antics and misreading of British customs create the perfect storm of amusing interactions for the viewer to observe.

The central draw of the show lies with the characters, each brilliantly created to be an archetype fit perfectly within the universe and the context of the soccer team. Ted Lasso is the in-

editor@reflector.msstate.edu

Managing Editor | Daniel Dye managing@reflector.msstate.edu

News Editor | Heather Harrison news@reflector.msstate.edu

Opinion Editor | Emma Dotson opinion@reflector.msstate.edu

Sports Editor | Tanner Marlar sports@reflector.msstate.edu

“TED LASSO”

credibly positive but clueless hero in his new position as club manager. However, the viewer cannot help but root for Ted to succeed because he is such a likeable character.

The austere Roy Kent, a grizzled veteran who served as AFC Richmond's team captain, uses brutal honesty and hardline experience to motivate his teammates. Roy comes across as a massive jerk to anyone on the outside of the club, but his motiva-

CONTACT INFORMATION

Editor-in-Chief | Hannah Blankenship

SHOW TITLE:

Life Editor | Sarah Morgan Johnson life@reflector.msstate.edu

Photography Editor | Adam Sullivan Online Editor | Joshua Britt multimedia_editor@reflector.msstate.edu

Advertising sales | Brennan Weaver advertising@reflector.msstate.edu

Graphics Illustrator | Dontae Ball Circulation | Amiyah Brown circulation@reflector.msstate.edu

tion style inspires everyone around him.

Rebecca Welton becomes the owner of AFC Richmond after she divorces her husband, and as ultimate retribution to her husband for cheating on her she seeks to sabotage the club from the inside. She is the catalyst for the story, as she hires Ted Lasso to be the manager in the hopes he would destroy the team with his lack of experience and knowledge.

Watching her relationship

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the editor can be sent to the Meyer Student Media Center or mailed to The Reflector, PO Box 5407, Mississippi State, MS. They can also be emailed to editor@reflector.msstate.edu and have a maximum wordcount of 350 words.

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

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

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

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

5

Mississippi State University takes CHAARG A new health and fitness organization for college women comes to campus

Staff wrIter

STREAMING NOW: “TED LASSO” MICHAEL BOURGEOIS

LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT Mary Blake BraShIer

Take a "leaf" of faith with houseplants SAM COTHRON

THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2021 | @REFLECTORONLINE

Mississippi State University's newest health and wellness organization for girls, CHAARG, recently made its debut on campus. CHAARG stands for Changing Health Attitudes and Actions to Recreate Girls. This is their first year on MSU's campus and their goal is to give young women on campus a health and wellness community.

Rayne Jensen, a fifth-year senior in kinesiology at MSU, is the founding ambassador and president of CHAARG. "We are a women's health and wellness organization. We partner with different fitness studios around Starkville to help people find their fit as far as working out," Jensen said.

Jensen applied to be a founding ambassador for CHAARG on a whim. Getting the organization on its feet was no easy task. Despite the challenges, she worked hard to bring this group to campus.

"We don't have many health and wellness organizations on MSU's campus," Jensen said. "I knew it would be a huge hit since we don't have a lot of things like that."

CHAARG is a nationwide organization with members at 110 universities across the country. It was founded at Ohio State University in 2012. Membership is $47 a semester, and memberships can be purchased for the year or for the semester depending on the need of the member.

Through this membership, the girls can access the community as well as go to the weekly workouts, join a small group and attend social events throughout the year.

Sydni Vandevender, a junior

Sydni Vandevender| Courtesy Photo

CHAARG, a women’s health and fitness organization, has started a chapter on MSU’s campus. The organization partners with local fitness studios to encourage college women to be active.

communication major at MSU, is the vice president of media for CHAARG. "When you join CHAARG you get a community of girls who will support you along the way.

No matter where you are on your fitness journey, whether you have been working out for years or you have never worked out, you get to

see what you are interested in and what works for you," Vandevender said.

Every Wednesday, the group does their weekly workouts. They do a variety of workouts to allow the girls to try different ways to get fit. CHAARG has done many kinds of workouts already such as yoga and pilates, and they have

found that for many people, drinking coffee can cause health problems, especially when creamer and sugar are added.

After lots of research, Thomas was able to perfect a method for roasting beans that resulted in the signature blends he sells today.

On their website, umblecoffee.com, there is a Healthy Coffee Calculator.

This can be used to test the nutrition of any coffee.

Users can simply input the information from their coffee bag and check the health rating.

According to their website, it is this consideration of health and nutrition that sets Umble apart from other roasters.

"There is no other coffee company out there like Umble — we're the original healthy coffee. We're 100% focused on crafting the healthiest coffee imaginable."

Umble not only serves a healthy roast, but one that has a tried and true awardwinning taste. Umble is proud to represent Mississippi in competitions against large coffee companies from the Pacific Northwest and the Northeast. Some of their roasts have won top 15 in national competitions. The goal of the company is to become a regional and even national presence and provide some competition for companies like Starbucks by providing a healthier option that works with a busy lifestyle.

Umble employs two Mississippi State University students. Junior kinesiology major Mycah Sanders does a lot of the roasting and senior kinesiology major Walker Hardin packs, ships and delivers orders.

Sanders and Hardin have been able to play a vital role in the roasting and distribution of Umble Coffee.

Since working at Umble, Hardin has gained a deeper

appreciation for his morning beverage.

"I already enjoyed coffee, but working at Umble has really helped me gain a better appreciation because now I get to see all the hard work that goes into making a cup," Hardin said.

Thomas emphasized how skilled Sanders has become at roasting the beans.

"Mycah Sanders ... honestly does most of the roasting now and she does a phenomenal job, you know, I've kind of taught her but also she has wanted to learn and she really enjoys it and she's really good at it," Thomas said.

Umble produces five different roasts of coffee, and the beans for each are from a different country. "The Decaf" is made from beans grown in Colombia. The lightest, "The Breakaway," is made from Ethiopian beans. "Front Runner" is a medium roast brewed from Colombian beans and "Base Camp", from Brazil, is a dark roast. The fifth roast, "Upper 90," is what Thomas calls "coffee for a cause."

"We partner directly with a coffee farm and Christian-based orphanage in Zambia, and we give a lot of money back to them," Thomas said.

Like all businesses, COVID provided a challenge to the company.

"A lot of our customers are, you know, restaurants or coffee shops. And so I mean if they were down, then we were down. The places where coffee shined was in grocery stores at the time; we were not in grocery stores," Thomas said.

Luckily, the company was able to adapt and moved their product into grocery stores such as Kroger. Originally, the plan was to sell online, but wholesale took off in restaurants and coffee shops.

gone to classes in the Joe Frank Sanderson Center on campus. In the future, they plan to do CrossFit and other fitness routines throughout the year.

CHAARG puts a lot of emphasis on community. They strive to help young women get fit while forming lifelong friendships.

"For me, there's a lot of ac-

countability in it. Oftentimes you don't want to try new things alone," Vandevender said.

Abby Roberts, a junior in interior design at MSU, is one of the members of CHAARG. "I joined CHAARG because I wanted to get plugged in and make new friends," Roberts said.

"I love to work out, so CHAARG

seemed like a great opportunity for me to do both."

CHAARG is continuously growing, and those who are interested in becoming new members can sign up throughout the year.

So far, the group has had a few social events, including a Sunday brunch. Members can try out different types of workouts, but they are not required to do every activity. Their goal is to help young women find their fit, and they want everyone to feel comfortable while doing so.

"I signed up for this on my own. Normally I would ask a friend to try with me. I signed up by myself, walked into the first workout by myself," Roberts said. "Then, I really connected well with the organization. I know these friendships are friendships that are going to last awhile."

CHAARG offers a community of young women who are passionate about fitness and want to make new friends along the way.

They welcome all new members with open arms into their community.

"I get to know girls that I have probably passed a million times on campus and just never met," Vandevender said. "It is really cool to see a bunch of different people at different points in their lives coming together for this one thing that we have in common which is trying to take care of ourselves."

Health and wellness are important, especially for college students as they get bogged down by homework and studying.

"Trying different things and finding something you like is the first step to enjoying working out and getting fit," Jensen said.

Young women who are interested in joining CHAARG can visit the group's Instagram: @msstate_inchaarg or can visit their link tree.

Umble Coffee makes a proud pour Bronwen Maddox Staff wrIter

Umble Coffee Company's mission is to make healthy, delicious coffee accessible for everyone.

The Starkville company was founded in 2017 by Kenneth Thomas, a physician and the owner of Umble Coffee.

Thomas explained that "Umble" is really a play on the word humble. Thomas wanted a company that made good coffee without the pretension that usually follows specialty coffee.

"One issue we see in most specialty coffee is kind of a standoffishness or almost like a snootiness sometimes, or an intimidating factor you know with specialty coffee and we wanted to be really good coffee but approachable, so that all kind of fits," Thomas said.

Not only is Umble Coffee accessible for users, it is also a high quality brew.

Will Stanard, a senior political science major, has enjoyed the exceptional caliber of Umble Coffee.

"I love Umble Coffee because I find it to be very good quality and extremely enjoyable to drink! I also love the fact that it's a Starkville company and it's doing so well," Stanard said.

Crafting a cup of coffee that is both accessible, high quality and healthy takes skill and intention, along with extensive research.

With a background in chemical engineering and experience as a physician, Kenneth Thomas was able to research and perfect a roasting method that provides a fresher, tastier coffee. After his mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he realized that while coffee has potential to be a good source of antioxidants, most of what we drink is unhealthy. He

Kenneth Thomas | Courtesy Photo

Kenneth Thomas and his wife Rachel Thomas are excited to serve Umble Coffee, their own coffee brand, on MSU’s campus.

Umble's coffee is currently available in many locations in Starkville, including Proof Bakery, 929, Kroger and The Fountain Bakery on campus.

With five different roasts and so many different distributors, Umble offers a steaming mug to suit every coffee drinker in Starkville.

Hardin encourages local students and Starkville residents to get out and try a cup.

"I've had them all, and if you haven't tried the coffee, try it. It's really good," Hardin said.

6

SPORTS

THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2021 | @SPORTSREFLECTOR

Under-dawgs take down Aggies on the road ElizabEth kEEn

Contributing WritEr

Mississippi State University went into College Station this past Saturday as underdogs, but the real Dawgs came out on top with a 26-22 victory against Texas A&M University.

Will Rogers completed 46 of 59 passes for 408 yards and three touchdowns, and Makai Polk had 13 receptions for 126 yards and two touchdowns.

The Bulldogs played a wellrounded game from start to finish and showed improvement after struggling for most of the season.

Offensively, the Bulldogs finished with 438 total yards and had no turnovers.

The defense only gave up 297 yards to Texas A&M and had seven tackles for loss, including three sacks.

Although Texas A&M received the ball initially, MSU gained possession less than a minute into the game.

Fred Peters intercepted a pass from Zach Calzada and returned it 12 yards to the Texas A&M 25-yard line with 14:17 left in the first quarter. The Bulldogs scored six plays later when Nolan McCord connected on a 24-yard field goal to make it a 30 game. The Texas A&M offense gained momentum quickly upon receiving the ball again and caught the Bulldog defense off guard.

An 11-yard touchdown pass from Calzada to Jalen

Wydermyer and an extra point by kicker Seth Small put the Aggies ahead 7-3 with 9:26 remaining.

On the following drive, Will Rogers completed seven of eight passes, including a one-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Walley. Rogers was 10 of 11 for 77 yards in the first quarter alone. MSU took a 10-7 lead going into the second quarter.

Texas A&M started the second quarter 3rd and six at the MSU 14yard line, but the defense held the Aggies to a 40-yard field goal.

Neither team scored again until Small kicked another field goal — this one for 37 yards — with a little less than three minutes remaining. The Aggies reclaimed the lead, but the Bulldogs were ready to fight back. On the next drive, MSU marched down the field in five plays. Will Rogers completed all five passes he threw, including a 15-yard touchdown pass to Makai Polk. McCord made the extra point, and the Bulldogs went into halftime with a 1713 lead over Texas A&M. Each team had unsuccessful drives after the halftime break.

Finally, the Bulldogs scored on a 10-play drive halfway through the third quarter. Polk caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Rogers, his second of the day, with 6:54 remaining.

McCord’s extra point gave the Bulldogs an 11-point lead, the largest lead of the day for either team.

Texas A&M cut into

that lead towards the end of the quarter after Calzada ran for a 25yard touchdown. The Aggies attempted a twopoint conversion, but the Bulldogs played great defense and forced Calzada to throw an incomplete pass.

Heading into the final quarter of action, MSU had a 24-19 lead over Texas A&M. Through the first four games of the season, the Bulldogs were seen as a fourth quarter team. However, the fourth quarter was a sloppy ordeal for both teams. It started with a drive that consisted of 17 plays and lasted nearly eight minutes.

MSU's offense got the ball down to the Texas

A&M 14-yard line with a fresh set of downs.

Rogers’s first pass was incomplete, and he was sacked on 2nd down for a one-yard loss. A holding penalty against the offense on the next play pushed the Bulldogs back 10 yards.

Before the 3rd and 21 attempt could begin, a false start penalty made it 3rd and 26. The offense gained only three yards, and McCord came on to attempt a 44-yard field goal. MSU committed another false start penalty, which made the field goal 49 yards long.

McCord was off target, and Texas A&M took over with good field position.

MSU’s defense prevented

Texas A&M from getting a touchdown to take the lead, but Small made a 44-yard field goal to make it a twopoint game with a little more than five minutes remaining. MSU was forced to punt on the following drive, but Archer Trafford punted the ball to the Texas A&M 11-yard line. On 3rd and 11, Nathan Pickering sacked Calzada in the end zone, forcing a safety that sealed the victory. MSU ran the final two minutes off the clock and celebrated a hardfought and much needed win over the 15th ranked Texas A&M Aggies.

Head Coach Mike Leach had some praise

for his team after the game, specifically referring to fixing the "overthinking" people have been talking about.

"We did our share of it.

It was an improvement, we're not there yet."

And finally, in his first press conference of the season, quarterback Will Rogers had a strong message for those who picked the bulldogs to lose this game.

"Tell those guys to shove it if they don't want to pick us."

Message received.

MSU has a bye week next weekend but will return to Davis Wade Stadium to face Alabama on Oct. 16th.

Landon Scheel | The Reflector

Sophomore quarterback Will Rogers rushes for a first down in the LSU game. He was awarded the SEC offensive player of the week for his play agianst Texas A&M.

HEY, LET’S GET

Our Reporters Take Pride in Your Community

JESSICA LINDSEY

VACCINATED STUDENT ORGANIZATION INCENTIVE PROGRAM

with Around Town

DANNY P. SMITH with Sports

ROBBIE FAULK with Sports

CAL BROWN

with A Closer Look

Earn money for your organization! Prizes are as follows:

25 vaccines = $500 | 35 vaccines = $700 50 vaccines = $1000 Here’s how it works: •

Schedule a vaccine pop–up clinic for your members and others to be vaccinated.

•

Advertise your pop–up clinic and get people to attend.

•

Funds will be provided based upon the number of people vaccinated at your clinic.

Here are the rules:

SDN Digital*

Special Student E-Edition Subscription: Starkville, Oktibbeha County and Mississippi State University News *Powered by Starkville Daily News

•

Pop–ups must take place in between October 4 and October 22, 2021 & scheduled at least a week in advance.

•

First or second dose can count, however those getting booster shots will not.

•

People getting vaccinated do not have to be limited to your members.

Contact Brent Crocker at jcrocker@saffairs.msstate.edu to schedule.

Remember, you can always schedule an appointment at the Longest Student Health Center by calling (662) 325-7535.

MSU COVID-19 Hotline — (662) 325-2055 For more information, visit covidvaccine.msstate.edu or getyourshotms.org!

Click. Subscribe. Enjoy!

www.starkvilledailynews.com/site/forms/subscription_services [Bulldog Bash, Mississippi’s largest outdoor concert: Megan Bean, photo)

This ad is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award to Delta Health Alliance totaling $9,436,363 with 0% percentage financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an d t b S S th S G t i f ti l i it S