11.03.21

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021

Protestors assemble on fraternity row in response to sexual assault allegations TAnnER MARlAR

137TH YEAR | ISSUE 8

MSU faculty and staff march in protest against vaccine mandate HAnnAH blAnkEnSHIp EDITOR-In-cHIEf

SpORTS EDITOR

Protests broke out on the campus of Mississippi State University Wednesday night in front of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house. Around 11:30 p.m., approximately 50-100 individuals stood on the sidewalk in front of the house and shouted their frustrations into the damp night air.

Protests broke out on the campus of Mississippi State University Wednesday night in front of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house. Around 11:30 p.m., approximately 50-100 individuals stood on the sidewalk in front of the house and shouted their

Tanner Marlar | The Reflector

Students gathered near the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house lawn on Wednesday night.

frustrations into the damp night air.

The protests were in response to sexual assault allegations against a member

of the fraternity, according to one protestor, who asked to remain anonymous.

FRATERNITY, 2

On a sunny Tuesday afternoon, Mississippi State University faculty and staff, along with various unaffiliated members of the community, took to MSU's Drill Field to protest a vaccine mandate handed down by the Institutions of Higher Learning the day before.

The vaccine mandate, decided upon in a special called meeting by the IHL Board of Directors yesterday, directed all MSU employees to be fully vaccinated by Dec. 8.

MANDATE, 2

Adam Sullivan | The Reflector

Protesters took to the Drill Field to march against the IHL’s vaccine mandate for MSU employees.

Volunteers rally behind Cat herine Street eviction victims, help plan new af f ordable housing f acility in Maben,MS of her downtown art and jewelry store, Dunkington.

Kimberly Christy, a volunteer who housed two single mom families, said she chose to extend her home to the families because she saw the need in her community and knew she could offer help to the eviction victims.

"They were doing something that was caused by no fault of their own," Christy said empathetically.

The volunteer emphasized throughout the conversation that mental health was at the forefront of her concern.

"I do mental checks first," Christy said multiple times. "That's very important to me."

Another way displaced tenants found housing was through friends and family, said Cate Van Halsema, secretary for Starkville Strong and co-founder of The Village.

HEATHER HARRISOn nEWS EDITOR

Toward the end of August, tenants living in the Catherine Street apartments received a quick notice to pack up and leave their homes.

Shocked and with nowhere to go, tenants questioned why the landlord gave a rushed move-out timeline. Soon after Ferretti Property Services of Cleveland, Mississippi, issued an eviction notice to the residents, members of Starkville Strong and the Oktibbeha County NAACP chapter and Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill arrived at Catherine Street to assess the situation.

Then, 21 of the Catherine Street residents, with the help of Starkville Strong and Oktibbeha County NAACP representatives, contacted Austin Vollor, an attorney in

Courtesy Photo | Brandi Herrington

Brandi Herrington, Starkville Strong Director.

Starkville, to file a lawsuit against the property management services.

After multiple legal hearings and conjunctions, residents' move-out timeline "If they can find someone to stay with, we offer extra food for that household and we put money on the utility bill for that household as an incentive to allow someone to stay," Herrington said.

"And if they absolutely don't have family and friends, which is very rare, or they have those family and friends

Heather Harrison | The Reflector

The Catherine Street apartments need many integral changes before they will become habitable for renters. The last move-out day was Oct. 14.

but have a very bad relationship, then we try to find a temporary person that we've helped that sort of matches their personality … and see if we can allow somebody to stay there," the director said.

As Herrington said, some Starkville Strong and

community volunteers opened their homes to the displaced tenants and assisted them in applying for jobs and affordable housing as part of the Adopt-A-Family program, a new branch of Starkville Strong.was extended and spread over a period of multiple weeks,

with the last move-out day being Oct. 14.

Brandi Herrington, the executive director of Starkville Strong, explained the volunteer group's process of aiding the eviction victims as she sat at one of many tables filled with donations for Starkville Strong at the back

EVICTIONS, 2

Low salaries for Mississippi educators lead to difficulty buying homes

How are educators in the nation’s lowest-paying state affording to buy houses in college towns? Teachers and realtors weigh in on the struggle.

JOSHUA STEWART STAff WRITER

While salaries for educators in Mississippi remain low compared to similar states, home and real estate prices in the Starkville area remain high.

According to data obtained

by The Reflector, one local realtor's average new listing in 2021 is $277,307, compared to the 2020 average of $260,271, an increase of 6.5%.

Zillow's Home Value Index claims that the average value of a home in the state is $146,087 as of September.

Stephanie Arnett, a realtor and broker at Mississippi Magnolia ERA Town and Campus Realty, spoke about some of the reasons for the elevated prices.

"It's all about supply and demand. We live in a university town and have so many professors coming in and out." Arnett said.

Courtesy Photo | Diana Wickham

Diana Wickham, Armstrong Middle.

"We're seeing parents purchase homes for college students, and we're seeing people buy second homes.

I've been on the sales side of real estate for 18 years, and every year we have had an appreciation, even during the housing crisis."

Arnett also explained the experience of home buying as a lower-salaried worker in the area.

"It's very hard unless someone is a dual-income household. We see those dual-income households being able to purchase

homes on the lower end of the average, around $150200,000. The problem there is that those houses are very few and far between, and many of them need work. For a single person making $30,000, it is difficult to purchase a house in Starkville."

Arnett mentioned the disconnect between average salary and average home prices in the Starkville-Oktibbeha region.

"There are logical solutions to the problem, but unfortunately, I don't see that happening in Starkville. People who have the commodities to sell can sell for those prices. I do not see that adjusting."

Arnett said. "A lot of people get stuck on Starkville, and the housing prices are insane. We are trying to get people to consider places like West Point and some of Lowndes County, where the prices for the same home could be

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

HI: 51 LO: 41 SKY: Chance of rain POP: 18

HI: 58 LO: 39 SKY: Chance of rain POP: 17

HI: 62 LO: 42 SKY: Mostly sunny POP: 9

Courtesy Photo | Paula Mabry

Paula Mabry, MSU communication dept.

halved. It'll be a longer drive, but you get more bang for your buck."

One Starkville area educator with experience in purchasing a home is Diana Wickham, who taught primarily at Armstrong Middle and Starkville High School for 25 years before retiring in 2020. Wickham explained the difficulty in breaking into the housing market as a rookie teacher.

"Unless they have a spouse with significant income and little debt, you

FORECAST: Another chilly week is in the books for us, Bulldogs! The middle of the week shows chances of rain and otherwise cloudy, cold days.

Going into the weekend, the sun will peek out from behind the shade of the clouds for a couple days and temperatures will hit the mid-60s and low-40s.

Courtesy of The Weather Channel

Ivy Rose Ball | The Reflector

While many properties are for sale in Starkville, affordable housing is a struggle to find.

cannot afford to buy a house. As a single teacher, unless you have family money or some other source of income, you can't afford to live. I stand behind that. My first year of teaching was 1995, and my contract was for $19,000," Wickham said.

"Unless they have a spouse with significant

income and little debt, you cannot afford to buy a house. As a single teacher, unless you have family money or some other source of income, you can't afford to live. I stand behind that. My first year of teaching was 1995, and my contract was for $19,000," Wickham said.

TEACHER, 2

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FRATERNITY

CONTINUED FROM 1

(messed) up that somebody has been able to rape multiple people and (that) nothing is being done about it ... so we're going to make something happen," Houston said.

As of Thursday morning, the university said they had not had a formal complaint filed but were looking into the events of the night before.

“Mississippi State University continues to monitor this matter and is aware of the protest. As with all situations of this nature, MSU has conducted a thorough

"If I had anything to say to Mississippi State University and the student body as a whole, (it is that) I've seen this across the country and it's happened to me twice and I don't want it to happen to anyone else. No means no ... we are calling for change and Mississippi State needs to respond as soon as possible," said the protestor.

Another protestor, MSU junior Brennan Houston, offered a statement on the protest.

"We're out here at Pike, and we think it's

review. But at this time, the university has not received a formal complaint alleging misconduct," Chief Communication Officer Sid Salter said in an email to the Reflector.

MSU Police Department Chief Vance Rice said they have not received any reports of sexual misconduct allegations in relation to last night's events. Rice added that the individual who supposedly committed the assault does not have any prior complaints filed against

him.

UPDATE: The next night, a cold and misty Thursday evening, about eight protestors gathered at The Junction and planned to march to Pi Kappa Alpha to call attention to their complaints. According to the attendees, they were protesting in response to a series of sexual assault allegations against a fraternity member that was spread on social media and GroupMe. "We want to stand for (sexual assault victims') rights because there's

actual victims, like myself, and we need to stand for this," said Nan Edwards, a protest attendee and freshman at MSU. "He shouldn't be able to get away with it, like— it's too many people for it not to be one victim—it's enough," said Kameron Bragg, a freshman social work major.

Similar to Edwards, Melanie Salazar, a freshman at MSU, said she was also a victim of sexual assault and wanted to raise awareness and garner support for victims.

While Thursday's protest did not draw a large crowd like the previous night's, the petite gathering held strong, firm beliefs. The group said the university and fraternities must be held accountable, so the fraternity member with the sexual assault claims must be expelled if the allegations are true.

This is an ongoing story. Check back here later for more updates as the situation progresses.

Hannah Blankenship and Heather Harrison contributed to this story.

TEACHER

CONTINUED FROM 1

Wickham also mentioned the recent pay increase approved by the state legislature earlier this year.

"It's not enough.

Spread over 12 months with taxes and everything else, it's not much. Three or four thousand extra: you're only looking at a couple hundred dollars extra per month

added in. It goes so quickly with expenses, car notes and house payments. It is not a significant bump," Wickham said.

Paula Mabry, an educator currently working in the Mississippi State University communication department, taught middle and high school from 1970 until 2003, instructing

students in English, theater and speech.

Mabry explained his experience with the market in the university town.

"The home market is awful in Starkville," Mabry said. "It is so much higher here to live in a normal house than it is 20 or 30 miles away. I'm sure that having the university makes

that a reality. It is a nice place to live, so people are willing to pay for housing costs."

Mabry also spoke of her early home buying experience in the early 1970s housing market.

"For a single person, it would have been probably impossible to purchase a house in a nice neighborhood. A lot of

teachers I knew were married, and the combined salaries made the difference.

Our first house was based on not just my salary, but my husband's salary," Mabry said.

Mabry advised novice teachers who may be discouraged by the tough constraints of the salary.

"Teaching is still a

valuable choice for one's life," Mabry said. "If you don't have the dedication and the love of the field, though, you shouldn't stay with it. It is a shame that teaching is not paid as well as it should be, but it has gotten better in Mississippi since I started. Make sure you keep improving your education opportunities."

EVICTIONS

CONTINUED FROM 1

However, she said living with friends and family disqualifies tenants in need from applying for benefits for people experiencing homelessness through programs like Rental Assistance for Mississippians (RAMP) and Mississippi United To End Homelessness (MUTEH).

Navigating housing and legal paperwork proves to be a challenge, especially for those without higher degrees of education, volunteer Christy said.

"It has been extremely hard and with the process— that's why we've been trying to get so many funds to be able to try to help these families because we did have a company, MUTEH, that was supposed to come in and do some assisting, but that didn't turn out how we thought it would," the Medicare employee said.

Christy said trying to find a

balance between landlords and funding is tricky.

"Landlords aren't really understanding the process of (MUTEH) because they're not getting the money up front," Christy said. "It's kind of like getting a promise to pay, and that's the part that's not really been fitting with landlords, in my opinion."

Although money may not be as green right now for longterm affordable housing, volunteers are in no short supply. Along with Starkville Strong, its off-branches and the NAACP are architecture professors and Young Women in Architecture students from Mississippi State University who decided to use their time and skills to help build the new housing facility in Maben, Mississippi.

The new facility in Maben is the old, abandoned West Oktibbeha County High School building. Starkville Strong Secretary Van Halsema

and Mississippi Representative Cheikh Taylor proposed its use in an Oktibbeha County Board of Aldermen meeting.

While the board said they liked the idea of the facility in Maben, the plans' proposal was not detailed enough at the time of the meeting for the council to decide whether or not to move forward with the project. Maben officials and residents voiced their concerns in the forum and wondered how the small town could house an additional influx of residents.

Starkville Strong Director Herrington said having roots in a long-term solution is essential for aiding those experiencing homelessness, which is why the organization heavily backs the facility in Maben.

"One of the things that we've instituted in this process is moving people beyond their situation, and then that goes back to treating the whole person," Herrington said.

Vandalized and missing some integral heating and cooling elements, the old high school is not in the best condition. Still, architecture students and professors are making the best of a dim situation and using creative problem-solving to improve the space. Some elements of the building show potential for transformations, and as a whole, a few broken windows are not of significant concern for volunteers, they say.

Alexis Gregory, an associate professor in Mississippi State University's school of architecture, said her struggle to find inexpensive housing as a resident of Starkville led her to help the Catherine Street victims.

"I can understand that it is very hard for people who work at least one, if not multiple, minimum wage jobs just to survive, how hard it is for them to find affordable housing," Gregory said.

The associate professor said a highlight of constructing the housing project is working alongside the architecture students who display passion and interest in helping the underserved.

Transportation is another problem underlined in red by volunteers. While the children can ride a school bus to their campuses, parents and adults may not have reliable transportation to their work or schooling since Maben is outside of the guiding lines of public transportation in the City of the Starkville and MSU community.

Gregory said she has asked Jeremiah Dumas, director of parking and transit services at MSU, to see the cost of expanding the S.M.A.R.T. bus transit system to Maben. But money heavily rules this process, and the timeline for increasing transportation outside the Starkville area is unsure.

However complex the process of finding affordable housing for those in need may be, Herrington expressed her gratitude for the solutionoriented community garnered in Starkville.

"I think that the community is really rallying behind solutions instead of continuing to place the underserved and the issues they face in a dark corner somewhere where it's easy to forget about it," Herrington sincerely said while shaking her head. "We don't need to do that anymore."

Agreeing with Herrington, Christy said that although the course has not been smooth, she feels grateful to be able to help the victims in any way possible.

"It's been a slow and tedious process, but slow and steady always wins the race.

"So," Christy said, "to be able to assist other people actually brings joy into my life."

MANDATE

CONTINUED FROM 1

Danny Gardner, a lecturer in the communication department, held a sign saying "Reject Marxist control." He stated that, because he had already had COVID-19, his doctor had told him not to get the vaccine.

"I am following the science," Gardner said.

As the protestors circled the Drill Field, a few of them stepped off the sidewalk and began directly engaging with bystanders. A group of students began to form around the protestors, some of them arguing with the protestors, some of them voicing their support of the protestors.

Brady Kruse, a senior computer science student, walked up to the back of the

The stream of protestors marched in circles around the Drill Field, waving signs with messages like "Reject Marxist Control," "My body my choice," "Take this jab and shove it," "Get vaxed or axed," "Not anti-vax, anti-mandate" and even a picture of MSU President Mark Keenum with a Hitler-esque mustache drawn on his face next to a swastika.

Suzanne McClain, an academic records assistant at MSU and member of the protest, said she was marching for "freedom and noncommunism."

"Basically, (we are marching for) them not being able to tell us what kind of poisons we have to inject into our body," McClain said.

group with his own makeshift sign that read "Dr. Keenum is awesome and the vax saved my grandma's life."

Caleb Murphy, the man holding the Keenum/Nazi sign, said he did not work for the university. When questioned whether Keenum had anything to do with the mandate, as it was handed down by executive order and the IHL, a fellow protestor said "Oh, it didn't have anything to do with him."

"If he doesn't stand with us, then he's against us … If you don't want a Nazi symbol beside your head then you need to be for freedom," Murphy replied.

There were a few younger members of the protest being pushed in a stroller by their

parents. A sign in the stroller read, "All I want for Christmas is my daddy's job."

Other faculty and staff members, such as Regina Hyatt, the vice president of student affairs and an outspoken proponent of the vaccine, stood by and watched the protest.

Cameron Wood, a senior producer at the University Television Center, held a sign that read "Not anti-vax, antimandate."

"I'm not anti-vax, I'm more anti-mandate. Get the vaccine if you want to get the vaccine. If that's what your conscience tells you to do, then do it, but don't force it on other people. That's not right. Other people should have a choice as

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deadline. There were three exemptions mentioned in the announcement.

"Employees may request an exemption from the vaccine requirement for the following reasons: (1) because of a medical condition which prohibits the employee from being vaccinated; (2) because of a sincerely held religious belief which would prevent an employee from being vaccinated; or (3) because an employee does not perform work on a university campus or in any other location owned, controlled, or rented by the University and because the employee does not perform work that is on or in connection with a federal contract," the announcement read.

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well. That's why we're here.

That's why I'm here," Wood said.

A student watching the protest, Andie Nanney, said she was skeptical how many of the protestors actually worked for the university. Another student said most of her professors seemed to be in favor of the vaccine.

"I've heard some people yelling 'You don't even go here.' It makes me wonder how many people, what their affiliation with the university actually is," Nanney said.

The email announcement detailing the mandate went out to all faculty and staff yesterday and included the necessary timeline employees should take to get vaccinated by the Dec. 8

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THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021 | @REFLECTORONLINE

LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT

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Party with HARDY: Bulldog Bash returns to Starkville Joshua stewart staff wrIter

Bulldog Bash is returning to downtown Starkville for the first time since 2019. This festival, which is held on Nov. 5, consists of the Maroon Market and a free outdoor concert. This year's headliningactisHARDY,acountrymusic singer from Philadelphia, Mississippi.Pastheadlinershaveincluded acts like T-Pain and The All-American Rejects.

Organizers have said they are thrilled to continue the legacy of past festivals. Liv Hunter, a senior fromAtlantaandthisyear'sdirector of the event, said that while obtaining talent was difficult, it was rewarding.

"It's a tough process. Coming out of COVID has been extremely difficult. People haven't played in over a year, so finding artists that have videos out in the last year has been challenging. Some people weren't comfortable performing," Hunter said.

Hunter mentioned the excitement surrounding the return of a popular event among students.

"I'm super excited to have it back. I think that we have everythingprettymuchreadytogo,andit is very exciting. I worked with the Student Association in past years, but this is my first time being so directly involved with the event."

Hunteralsospoketosomeofthe challenges that might go unseen by an unaffiliated observer.

"Itisachallengetomakesureeveryone knows where to go, and organizing shuttles is a lot. Many freshmen and sophomores have obviously never experienced a Bash here, so making sure everyone is aware of what to do, where to go, and what to bring has been

Mary Georgia Hamilton| The Reflector

Bulldog Bash, Starkville’s annual music festival, brings in crowds large enough to fill East Main Street. The festival will return to the downtown area on Nov. 5.

something to work through," Hunter said.

Amelia Rogers, associate director of student activities and adviser to Bulldog Bash, spoke about her involvement with the event this year.

"I work with the student group that plans the event and I help them withwhatevertheyneed.Ihelpwith anything from artist selection to working with the city to acquire the necessary permits. I mostly help them navigate that complicated process," Rogers said.

Rogers also mentioned some of the hidden struggles associated with hosting an event as large as Bulldog Bash.

"Being the largest free outdoor concert in the state takes a lot of planning and logistics. Even though this is an event that we hold year after year, there are still a lot of things that pop up, especially com-

ing out of last year, when we were not able to host the event. In this world of COVID, we're trying to meet all of the restrictions and requirements of that," Rogers said.

Rogers mentioned that Bulldog Bash returning after being cancelled last year due to COVID-19 was a mix of emotions.

"We're excited to bring it back and bring a sense of normalcy for our students and community. This is a huge event that provides not only great entertainment, but also the ability of our retailers to experienceadditionalpeoplecominginto town, shopping, staying at hotels and eating at restaurants. There are stillconcerns,becauseCOVIDstill exists, so we have been trying to thinkthroughallofthesafetyprotocols and throw an event where everyone will be safe and happy to attend," Rogers said.

One individual who is not as

heavily involved with the production of Bulldog Bash is Regina Hyatt, Mississippi State University vice president of student affairs.

Hyatt describes herself as a supporterandcheerleaderoftheevent.

Despitenotbeinginvolvedwiththe planning of the Bash, Hyatt understands what goes into putting on a large scale event.

"Thousands of tiny decisions andbigdecisionsgointoit.Bulldog Bash is a collaboration with the city and so much more planning has to go into it as a result. From getting insurance, to getting the Board of Alderman's approval, to working with the city for everything from trash pickup to police. We have a wonderful student committee who plans all of that and much more," Hyatt said.

Hyatt also spoke about the process of the committee selecting a headliner for past and present Bull-

Mary Georgia Hamilton| The Reflector

A concertgoer records the bassist of The Beaches during the 2019 Bulldog Bash.

dog Bashes.

"I'm not at all involved with the selection, but I know that the students do a survey every year and get feedback from students, and as I understand it, the number one selectiongetspicked.Iwillsaythatitis difficultforthestudentstoselectthe artist, and the genre has little to do with it. A lot of it is who is available and willing. I tell the students that you cannot please everyone, so you have to consider what we've done in previous years," Hyatt said.

Director Hunter emphasized the all-encompassing excitement involved with Bulldog Bash besides the headlining concert.

"I really want to highlight the Maroon Market. I think that it is such a cool event. Also the local music stage, there are some really amazinglocalartists.Theymightbe smaller than the headliner, but therearesometrulyincrediblemusicians. Y'all should come out and see them and shop around, too," Hunter said.

Today's forecast: Is it a bones or no bones day?

emma NIsBet

CoNtrIButINg wrIter

Are the stars aligned? Is the moon waxing? Is it Scorpio season? These are all questions many peopleusedtoaskthemselvesregularly before the world gained a new way to determine how a day will go. Thanks to Noodle, the most pressing question for some Mississippi State University students is, "Is today a bones or no bones day?"

Noodle,a13yearoldpug,along with his owner, New York Citybased Jonathan Graziano, have been taking the immense world of TikTok by storm in recent weeks.

Like clockwork, Graziano posts a daily video to his rapidly growing account on the popular social media platform - which, as of 29 October 2021, has amassed over 4.1 million followers. According to NPR, every morning Graziano invites each and every one of those 4.1 million people to play a game simply titled "No Bones."

The rules of the game are simple. If Noodle manages to stay standing after being lifted from his plush bed, it is a "bones" day. However, if he just can't manage it today and falls back to resume his slumber, it is a "no bones" day.

According to the wide variety of TikToks regarding the game,

bones days are textbook "good days" and are reserved for complete and utter self care. At the reveal of a bones day, Graziano encourages his viewers to treat themselves. Whether that's through eating a nice lunch by a river, finally buying those rollerbladesorevenjustcallingsomeone and telling them that they are truly loved. Bones days are about being kind to oneself and spreading that kindness to others.

In contrast, No bones days are the "bad days." Taking it easy is absolutely essential for these occasions. Graziano heartens the audience to break out the soft pants, go ahead and spend five more minutes in bed and simply say no to any unwanted plans.

Both days are all about diverting much needed attention to oneself.

In a way, it's practically impossible to "lose" the game of "No Bones."

Noodle has touched hearts and left his mark on people all around the globe, providing that touch of positivity, motivation, self-love and — frankly — cuteness that so many need right now. Noodle's impact can be seen here at MSU, where many students check his account before beginning their day.

Callie Simonton, a sophomore communicationmajoratMSU,recalls the first time she stumbled

upon Noodle, the psychic pug.

"One day, I randomly scrolled up on my 'for-you-page' and found it. I saw that everyone in the comments and online was talking about it. I noticed that I had a good day on a bones day and, on a no bones day, I had a bad day. Then, I was like, 'This is law now,'" Simonton said.

Like any trend that seems to bubble up to the surface of the internet, Noodle and Graziano rose to social media relevance at an extremepace.Asophomoresecondary education major, Kylie Jackson, shared that she actually discovered the trend prior to its mainstream status.

"I saw the Tik Tok video before it was really a thing. The guy was all like, 'My pug doesn't have bones; here, I'll show you!' This was about two or three months ago," Jackson said.

Similar to any traditional forecast or even horoscope, Graziano uploads a new installment in the saga of Noodle's predictions daily.

Truly dedicated fans tune in accordingly to learn the verdict from the wizened pug. Lindsay Culpepper,asophomorewildlife,fisheries and aquaculture major at MSU, is one of these fans.

"I live with three other girls and we update each other every morning on what Noodle says," Cul-

pepper said.

There are even some who completely base the course of their upcoming day upon the state of this 13-year-old dog's bones. Culpepper provided further elaboration on this.

"I know it's 100% a placebo effect but I definitely do. I had a big test last week and I was thrilled when I realized that it was a bones day. I'm also on the debate team, and we had a tournament this weekend, so we all gathered around a phone and cheered when Noodle announced that our tournament was on a bones day. I feel like a bones day means that things willgowell,whereasanobonesday means that it's okay to relax and do less work," Culpepper said.

Simonton shared her own way of self-care on those inevitable no bones days.

"If it's a no bones day, I'll treat myself with ice cream or something else nice. So, I do treat myself on a no bones day. On a bones day though, I can't lie when I say that there is definitely a skip in my step," Simonton said.

Most trends on social media typically last as long as they can retain the general public's attention span.However,itseemsthat,since this whole game relies on the passage of time to be played, Noodle is here to stay for a while.

menu offers some pretty traditional staples, but also some adventurous foods that are not as common in a Starkville restaurant. Another notable aspect of the menu was how many vegan and vegetarian options were available.

Vegan and vegetarian options are not as common in Starkville, so it is encouraging to see the different food representations on the menu. Kung Pao Cauliflower is one of the menu options, with a description of "crispy fried cauliflower, crushed peanuts, roasted peppers, and scallions." They have two salads that are also vegan, and if you get the Poke nachos, you can get beets instead of salmon to make it vegetarian.

Another vegan option is the vegan chorizo tacos.

MSU educational psy-

green tomatoes; they were really good. Also the poke nachos with the beets. For the entree I got the salmon that was over some butternut squash," Donald said.

She also noted that the environment of the restaurant, especially the bar, was great.

"It was a 10/10 honestly … I am definitely wanting to try the fried oysters and get some tuna," Donald said.

When I ventured over to the new restaurant, I tried the Magnolia Social BLT. I am always a fan of fried green tomatoes and adding them into a BLT is just about the perfect Southern meal to me.

The sandwich was saMagnolia Social|Courtesy Photo Magnolia Social is serving up unique, budget-friendly dishes like these poke nachos. vory, flavorful and delicious. One thing I noted chology graduate student lia Social. was that the sandwich had Mallie Donald went to the "The bar area was really the perfect amount and opening week of Magno- nice and we got the fried size of tomatoes. Often-

Restaurant Review: Magnolia Social offers elevated cuisine emIly Butler staff wrIter

Magnolia Social, a new restaurant and beer garden, opened in downtown Starkville recently, aiming to bring some good food into Hotel Chester.

According to their Facebook, Magnolia Social advertises themselves as "elevated southern food + craft cocktails in a laid back environment."

Normally, I am a little hesitant of new Southern restaurants or restaurants that have a Southern twist. I have often found that in trying to emulate Southern food, many restaurants neglect rich Southern flavors and opt for heavy, greasy fried foods.

With that in mind, I was pretty excited about what I saw as I looked at Magnolia Social's menu. The

times, when sandwiches have tomatoes on them they can be way too thick and soggy to enjoy the full meal. However, these thin, crispy slices added to the other flavors rather than taking away from the sandwich.

Though I had wished the sandwich would automatically include a side, it was still a very satisfactory meal. I would highly recommend Magnolia Social to anyone. It has enough options to please every crowd and has a high range of diversity in food.

The prices on the menu are also highly diverse since customers can spend less by getting one of the handhelds, or go for more by getting a full entree.

No matter your price point or cravings, Magnolia Social offers a delicious full meal.

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THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021 | @REFLECTORONLINE

OPINION

Students band together through chants to demand the attention of President Joe Biden Michael Bourgeois is a senior majoring in English.

Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu

Saturdays at Davis Wade this football season would not be complete without the obligatory torrent of "f--- Joe Biden" chants instigated by the Mississippi State University student section.

The hatred of the sitting U.S. president is almost as unifying as cheering on the Bulldogs to victory. The student body here at MSU and hundreds of other institutions nationwide are making their displeasure publicly known.

In a way, the chants are a referendum. They are a message to the president that young college students are firmly situated against the presidential agenda and demand new political action from our commander-in-chief.

College students are not stupid.

We can see the writing on the wall and the chanting is our frustration coming to head—striking back at the sitting president in a way free from media disinforma-

tion. President Trump, for his flaws as a man and as a leader, never unhinged a chorus of enraged college students at a football game. His incompetence was never put on display in the public forum because he was, at the very least, an effective president. Joe Biden cannot make this same claim.

His radical left-wing agenda, economic illiteracy and an outright ignorance of the changing nature of the pandemic serves as the rational justification for the resistance to his governance from college students. Among the many of Biden's laughable performances as he competes for the most ineffective president in modern U.S. history is his stance on the economic issues regarding fossil fuels.

Biden admitted of his own volition, as reported by Samuel Chamberlain of the New York Post, that he has no plan in place to combat the rising prices of fuel.

"I must tell you, I do not have a near-term answer," Biden said when questioned about what the White House's strategy is for dealing with the rising cost of fuel. However, our fearless leader offers a glimmer of optimism in saying he "could probably reduce the price of gas maybe 18 cents or so per gallon (but) it is still gonna be above three

bucks." Of course, the spike can be attributed to the rising costs of energy nationwide regarding the closing of the Keystone Pipeline on the president's first day in office as well as reckless inflationary spending that erodes trust in the American dollar. Maybe to the Washington fat cats and the Biden family specifically, a threedollar hit per gallon is a drop in the bucket, but for the everyday college student spending $50 and upwards to go home on holiday is just not feasible. These are real costs affecting individuals and American families.

But what does the president have to say for himself in response to the outcry? The man stands by his failing agenda. As reported by Brianna Lyman of The Daily Caller, Biden responded to signs in Michigan that read "f*** Joe Biden" by saying, "I took this agenda to the country … an economy that looks from Howell, Michigan, and towns like it all over America that bring people from every race, background, religion into the game."

President Biden, in his infinite talent to say nothing as convolutely as possible, fully intends to weaponize the nation's diversity to equally distribute economic misery to the American family.

Most egregiously tone-deaf is Biden's call to think of the chil-

dren and watch our language in criticizing his policies, "I guess I am still surprised when people, even if they do not like me, are willing to be that profane around children." Yes, the economy is shambles and we have entered an absolute stagnation of COVID19 progress over the course of the entire Biden administration, but God forbid the leader of the free world must hear a few mean words, spare his precious feelings.

Regarding COVID-19, Biden's unwillingness to adjust his original plans in the face of new evidence is a criminal misreading of the changing nature of the pandemic. To begin, Pres-

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

Courtesy Photo | Hardy Official Website

Michael Wilson Hardy, known professionally as HARDY, is a country music singer from Philadelphia, MS. He is the 2021 Bulldog Bash headliner.

a person can be judged by their own vehicle? What ideals and messages is HARDY looking to send through his "redneck" persona?

HARDY's music appears to incorporate the commonly noted trope of a temperamental Southern woman. Natalie Morin of Mic.com believes this overused portrait of Southern

ident Biden, by order of executive fiat, demands all federal employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the White House's website. As the head of the executive branch this is fully within his right, but by superimposing a belief system on those you are sworn to lead, it casts the unvaccinated as social pariahs.

In addition, due to MSU's receiving of federal funds, all employees who draw a paycheck from the university are required to inject themselves or face termination of employment. The mandate is indiscriminate in application, affecting everyone from upper administration to resident

assistants. It is a massive overstepping of personal choice and a "conform or else" ultimatum which is fundamentally unAmerican. How fitting that it be the president of the United States to endorse such a unifying policy!

The Mississippi State University student body has decided to voice their displeasure, a resistance against what is seen as an eroding of basic freedom guaranteed to every American citizen. A referendum on incompetence and, in a unified voice, our students hope Joe Biden can hear us all the way in Washington, because we are here, and we are angry.

women painted by the country genre should be eradicated.

HARDY's Mississippi nativity makes this topic especially relevant as it connects his audience specifically to Mississippi women. His lyrics allow them to be characterized as untamed, rough around the edges and angry. By aligning this description to a Southern woman,

they are being unfairly grouped and identified by listeners solely based on these expected traits. Morin makes the analogy that if all Southern women fit that archetype, then "all California women would know how to surf."

The ideas being portrayed through music are important, as Pavle Marinkovic of Medium.com explains how music can influence the way we see life, our emotions and behaviors. When we feed ourselves music involving violence, substance abuse or stereotyping, it can cause our behaviors and vision to adjust accordingly. For example, when HARDY sings about drowning his sorrows in alcohol, it can influence individuals to believe it is okay to handle sadness in destructive ways. The concepts being presented to an impressionable group of adults is important to consider.

It is also important to note what that particular person represents morally. According to Jessica Nicholson of Billboard, HARDY has recently spoken

out against the Country Music Awards for their decision to disqualify Morgan Wallen from attending this year's ceremony regardless of his collaborative nomination. Earlier this year, Wallen was recorded using a racial slur and has received widespread backlash ever since. HARDY seems to misunderstand that every action has a consequence. It is biased to disregard the behavior of a friend and not hold them accountable for wrongdoings. He should recognize how Black country artists might find it disrespectful if measures were not taken and Wallen was able to attend regardless. How are Black students at Mississippi State University being represented through the invitation of HARDY? Country music can be portrayed in an appropriate fashion, but one should beware when relying on an artist built upon stereotypical themes and controversial thoughts because of the influences, opinions and portrait it may paint as acceptable to an audience.

STREAMING NOW: “DUNE” SERVICE: HBO MAX

STAFF WRITER

The desert world of Dune is a monotonous, bleak sphere of sand. But hidden underneath the titular landform is a precious substance which grants virtual immortality, god-like prescience and the capability to travel to far-flung locales across the universe.

The film, released in both theaters and on HBO Max Oct. 22, is the second adaptation of Frank Herbert's acclaimed 1965 novel, possibly the most popular science fiction book of all

time, if sales are any indication. Directed by Denis Villeneuve and starring Timothée Chalamet, Oscar Isaac and Rebecca Ferguson, the movie is undoubtedly the year's highlight for its genre, combining thrilling visual drama with a unique story of political intrigue.

"Dune" is distinctive among a sea of other space epics by its overt rejection of futuristic technologies: set centuries after humanity destroyed all forms of artifi-

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

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more than the water conservation and recycling systems necessary in an extremely arid climate.

This refreshingly simple backdrop is the perfect foil for familial rivalry: a war between two fiefdoms engineered by an insecure and power-hungry emperor.

Once again betraying the sweeping scale typical of its genre, "Dune" focuses much of its runtime on the personal travails of protagonist Paul Atreides, heir to a prosperous dukedom who is

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.

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cial intelligence and banned any use of computers, the film depicts the use of analog machinery not unlike our own alongside psychic powers which resemble magic. If you expect laser crossfires, planet-hopping space travel and deus ex machina technobabble, "Dune" will surprise you instead with swords, human thinking machines and a story confined primarily to two locations. In fact, the most prominently featured technologies are nothing

h a 9 p fo h a t y w c t

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entirety of the southeastern U.S. These aspects draw up trouble because of the upcoming portrayal of them which will be shared among university students.

What message is HARDY sending to students when praising the "little Skoal mint dipper" in "WHERE YA AT" or claiming in "TRUCK" that

S

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Bulldog Bash headliner HARDY’s antics reinforce negative Southern stereotypes

HARDY, the 2021 Bulldog Bash headliner, was no commonly used name (outside of the country music realm) before the announcement of this year's lineup. Since the development of the annual show, many have wondered what HARDY will depict within his performance. A general concern has presented itself regarding what HARDY genuinely represents. His musical repertoire consists of rowdy references to "country women," the misuse of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products and trucks. His music ties into the stereotypical misrepresentation of what lies within the

D

forced to flee into the deep uncharted desert. Paul turns to the indigenous population of Dune for help but is forced to contend with their understandable mistrust of outsiders, who historically oppressed and enslaved them.

Near the end of the film, it becomes clear that

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.

"Dune" is only the first installment of a new franchise.

I for one eagerly anticipate the next! The film is a treat for both committed sci-fi fans and anyone in search of a good action movie, thanks to its clear plot, immaculate special effects and creative repudiation of conventional sci-fi tropes.

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

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THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021 | @SPORTSREFLECTOR

5

SPORTS

Don’t bring a cat to a Dawg fight

Sophomore quarterback Will Rogers leads MSU to big win over Kentucky Wildcats

elizabeTh keen

sTaff wriTer

A record-breaking performance from sophomore quarterback Will Rogers helped Mississippi State University to a 31-17 victory over the No. 12 Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday.

Rogers completed 36 of his 39 passes for 344 yards and one touchdown. His 92.3% completion percentage was the highest or a quarterback in SEC history with 30 or more pass attempts. Jaden Walley led the team with 95 receiving yards, and true freshman wide receiver Rara Thomas caught Rogers's lone touchdown.

Despite the Air Raid offense run by the Bulldogs, the team added the majority of their scores on the ground.

MSU had 94 rush yards to Kentucky's 66. Dillon Johnson added two touchdowns on 41 rushing yards, and Jo'quavious Marks accounted for 58 yards and one score.

MSU also dominated on defense. The team forced four Wildcat turnovers — three of which were nterceptions — and managed to score 14 points off of those turnovers. Jett Johnson led the team with nine total tackles and a fumble recovery.

The game started off well for MSU, but quickly turned sour. Kentucky fifth-year wide receiver Josh Ali returned Tucker Day's punt 74 yards for a touchdown to give the Wildcats an early 7-0 ead. On the following drive, MSU senior kicker Brandon Ruiz missed a 47-yard field goal, and the Wildcats took over once again.

In the second quarter,

MSU was finally able to stiffen up. After Kentucky extended its lead to 10, Rogers completed almost all of his passes on the following drive to push the ball down the field.

The drive was capped off with a 7-yard rushing touchdown by Marks. The defense forced the opposing team to go three-and-out, and MSU's offense kept up the momentum.

The Bulldogs marched down the field without ever facing a third down and added their second touchdown of the night on the ground off of a 9yard rush by Dillon Johnson with 1:40 left until halftime.

The clock should have eased down to zero pretty easily from there, but in true MSU fashion, there was drama involved. Kentucky used all three of their timeouts to stop the clock and scramble quickly down the field, threatening to score. MSU's defense stepped up big time: with 14 seconds left, Jalen Green intercepted Levis's pass in the end zone. The team went into the locker room with all of the momentum knowing they received the ball after the half.

MSU had new life coming back onto the field after halftime and managed to extend the lead greatly in the third quarter. After Ruiz kicked a 27-yard field goal with 6:34 left in the quarter, the defense capitalized. Jett Johnson forced a fumble on the Kentucky 22-yard line, which led to Dillon Johnson's second touchdown of the night. The defense was not ready to stop there. Kentucky got the ball back but couldn't hold onto it for longer than one play.

Levis threw his third interception of the night to Cameron Young, and he

returned it for five yards to the 24-yard line. On third down with 11 to go from the Wildcats' 25-yard line, Rogers aired a beautiful pass to Rara Thomas in the end zone to put the game away for good.

With Mississippi State leading 31-10 at the start of the fourth quarter, the visiting team had to act fast.

Kentucky quarterback Will Levis threw the offense's only touchdown of the night

when he completed a 17yarder to DeMarcus Harris.

After the Bulldogs were unable to drive on offense, the defense stepped up and forced Levis to throw three incomplete passes in a row.

MSU used the final eight minutes of the game on a slow and steady drive that ate away at the clock. When the clock hit zero, everyone in the stadium began celebrating the huge victory over a highly ranked SEC team.

In the postgame press conference, head coach Mike Leach said he was impressed with the outstanding job Rogers had done on the field.

"I thought he really did a good job seeing the field," Leach said. "I thought he did a good job checking on the plays that, you know, that he's in a position to check."

Rogers himself did not realize how high his completion percentage was until he was leaving the field

at the end of the game.

Speaking to reporters, he talked about how he felt during the game.

"I was just trying to do my job one play at a time.

Everybody else around me was doing their job really well," Rogers said.

Mississippi State University will be back in action next Saturday when they travel to Fayetteville to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Adam Sullivan | The Reflector

Sophomore running back Jo’quavious Marks bolts towards the end zone for one of MSU’s three rushing touchdowns in the game against Kentucky.

Magnolia Cup stays home for second straight year

Tanner marlar

sporTs ediTor

For the second straight time, the Mississippi State University women's soccer team bested the 13th ranked University of Mississippi Rebels this past Thursday night in the yearly Magnolia Cup game via a final score of 3-2.

This marked the fifth win of the season for the Bulldogs, putting their final record at 5-8-3. While this record wasn't enough to punch their ticket to the SEC tournament this year, it was enough to take home a win in a statement rivalry.

Senior forward Monigo Karnley detailed what this year meant to the senior members of the Bulldog soccer team like herself.

"It's amazing, I mean, all the seniors are such good

girls. They're going to be my best friends, so it's been good," Karnley said.

Karnley delivered in her senior performance with the Bulldogs' tying goal in the 61st minute of the game.

It would be the next goal, however, that would be the shining moment of the night for Bulldog fans in attendance and on Twitter.

In the 78th minute, with the game still tied, MSU was awarded a penalty kick off of an Ole Miss foul.

Much to the surprise of Bulldog fans, writers and everyone else in attendance, sophomore goalkeeper Maddy Anderson lined up to take the kick.

If she missed it, simply due to the physics of soccer, an essentially open net would have been plopped right into the laps of the Rebels.

If she made it, the

Magnolia Cup stayed home, the seniors got their sendoff and the slim hopes of a chance at an SEC tournament bid would have remained alive.

Anderson then reared back and fired what could only be described as a perfect penalty kick to set the score at 3-2. The Bulldogs held on to their narrow lead through to the final buzzer, and were able to finally tie a bow on what has been one roller coaster of a season.

When asked about her shining moment after the game, Anderson related it to the amount of work she has put in day after day in practice.

"I've been practicing for weeks and just waiting for my turn. I saw (coach) Nick just be like 'yep, you're up'... so I just put the ball down. I know what to do, it's not

Kathryn Beatty | The Reflector

Senior forward Hailey Farrington-Bentil fights for the ball in the team’s Magnolia Cup match against Ole Miss.

anything different than practice."

Even though the season did not end with a bid to the tournament, MSU Women's soccer head coach Jim Armstrong voiced his thoughts on the effort the girls gave this year.

"The girls have worked so hard all season and it's a testament to what they deserved," Armstrong said. "... We responded every time they threw something at us and I felt we were the better team on the night ... it's so huge that we're

keeping the Magnolia Cup here in Starkville."

That it is, coach.

MSU will certainly look forward to a good number of key players returning next season, as the Bulldogs will try for another bid to the coveted SEC tournament.

Kathryn Beatty | The Reflector

Sophomore goalkeeper Maddy Anderson of Seabrook, Texas, holds the Magnolia Cup after the Bulldogs’ 3-2 win on Thursday.

THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021 | @REFLECTORONLINE

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