11.02.22

Adderall shortage calls for substitute of prescriptions

On Oct. 12, the FDA officially announced a nationwide shortage in immediate release Adderall, a stimulant used to treat AttentionDeficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

The National Center for Biotechnology Information reported that around 25% of college students with disabilities are diagnosed with ADHD, many of whom are reliant on some form of ADHD medication.

Students diagnosed with ADHD at Mississippi State

University are also affected by the shortage. Douglas Turner, freshman majoring in psychology, said he has struggled with maintaining focus and motivation throughout his classes.

“I have been prescribed Adderall on and off for a few years. This is my first year of college, so I have been taking my prescription to help me with focusing during class and staying zoned in on my assignments and grades,” Turner said.

Turner said there was a vast difference between the way he functions with and without his prescription.

“My ADHD has been affecting me greatly since I was little. There is a big difference in the way I function without my prescription, and I am literally unable to focus on one thing without forgetting about it or turning it into something else,” Turner said.

Students like Turner who are reliant on the drug are now scrambling to find another alternative.

Alternative stimulants — some with different side effects and prices — have been prescribed to ADHD patients. Turner is taking an alternative to

Adderall with a lengthy list of side effects. He said he has been struggling to adjust to the medication change.

“The shortage has caused my prescriber to shift me to a different dose of an alternative that affects me completely different than the Adderall I am used to. I am not sleeping as well as I was. I am having trouble with motivation and forgetfulness. Overall, I am struggling,” Turner said.

Turner has noticed a difference in the price of his new medication in addition to differing effects.

McCarthy will be replaced with new facilities

Mississippi State Uni versity’s McCarthy Gymnasium is being re placed by the new Jim and Thomas Duff Center to update out dated facilities.

The center is named after Jim and Thomas Duff — brothers and en trepreneurs who do nated $15 million to the project.

MSU’s Director of Planning and Design J.D. Hardy said the $55 million project will pro vide state-of-the-art fa cilities to the Depart ment of Kinesiology and the Autism and De velopmental Disabil ities Clinic.

The project is set to begin in the summer of 2023, while a rough completion date is set for summer of 2025.

MSU is still deciding whether McCarthy will remain standing during the early stages of con struction or if it will be demolished before hand. Any parking lost

in the construction will be replaced with new parking elsewhere on campus.

According to Hardy, the building will reach more than 100,000 square feet across three stories — double the size of the McCarthy Gymnasium.

The project will in clude a new courtyard facing the Drill Field. The concrete surround ing the building will be transformed into a landscaped green space with trees and outdoor seating.

Hardy said that the combination of stu dents, faculty and com

munity members mov ing in and out of this area will make it unique.

"We want to activate these outdoor spaces," Hardy said. "We don’t want to make them a place to walk through but a place you want to

stop and be."

Hardy said a new building was necessary to meet the needs of the growing Department of Kinesiology.

Designed as a basket ball gym in 1950, the McCarthy Gymnasium was created for a pur

pose different from its current function.

"It'd be very chal lenging to meet their needs in that existing building even with a major renovation," Hardy said.

Stanley Brown, head of the Department of

Kinesiology, said the current laboratory ca pabilities in McCarthy Gymnasium are inade quate, and the Duff Center’s facilities will make MSU a contender amongst the SEC’s strongest kinesiology programs.

Student Veterans Association gives military-affiliated students a home on campus

The Student Vet erans Association at Mississippi State Uni versity has worked to provide a community and resources for mili tary-affiliated stu dents.

Isaiah Mills, a senior majoring in business administration, is the president of the SVA. Mills said all militaryaffiliated students — including ROTC, stu dent veterans and mili tary dependents — are welcome to join the or ganization.

“Our mission is basi cally just to empower our student veterans and their supporters to lead and live their best

lives,” Mills said.

The SVA started as a small branch of a larger organization called Student Veterans of America. It has over

1,500 chapters in all 50 states, connecting the MSU chapter with veterans and resources across the nation.

VETERANS, 2

On Oct. 12, the FDA announced a nationwide shortage in immediate release Adderall. Ivy Rose Ball | The Reflector

The Jim and Thomas Duff Center will replace McCarthy Gymnasium to meet the needs of the Department of Kinesiology and the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic.

Jacob Mitchell | The Reflector MCCARTHY, 2

CALLIE SIMONTON CONTRIbuTINg WRITER

SAMuEL hughES STAFF WRITER

LIZZIE TOMLIN STAFF WRITER

Director of Planning and Design J.D. Hardy.

Courtesy Photo | MSU

The Student Veterans Association offers a community, assistance and resources to military-affiliated students at MSU.

Francesco Botto | The Reflector

Francesco Botto | The Reflector

Throughout the year, Isaiah Mills has served as the Student Veterans Association president.

“The alternative my doctor put me on is also more expensive than what I normally take, meaning that my finances are being af fected as well. The shortage has affected my daily life,” Turner said.

Cynthia Sanders, an English professor at EMCC, has had stu dents with ADHD in her class. She ex plained how prescrip tion regulation was im portant for these students’ academic progress.

“Any time pharma ceuticals experience a shortage, patients suffer. Those who struggle with ADHD are affected both men tally and physically, and these effects can substantially sabotage a person’s life. Stu dents who are used to relying on Adderall to complete assignments and participate in class will struggle tremen dously without it,” Sanders said.

The Disability Re source Center (DRC) has worked as an oncampus resource to offer non-medical solu

VETERANS

In addition to connecting militaryaffiliated students with scholarships and resources, SVA has hosted community building events, professional development seminars, collaborated with other veteran organizations off-campus and partnered with philanthropies like Toys for Tots for service drives.

The SVA offices are located across from the Joe Frank Sanderson Center in the Center for America’s Veterans.

Mills said it can be difficult for student veterans to return to school after service or deployment. One of SVA's goals is to help bridge the gap and connect student veterans to a community that understands what they are going through.

“Everything is so strict and organized,” Mills said about the military. “Sometimes, you just want to come back to your hometown and just relax. We just want to have open arms for people that support

tions to ADHD stu dents who are having trouble obtaining their Adderall prescriptions.

The DRC can help stu dents with testing ac commodations, organ izational skills and time management.

Micah White, associ ate director of the Dis ability Resource Center at MSU, de scribed his view on the shortage.

“If the students can’t get their prescription, it will have an effect on their ability to think they can do classwork on their own. Even tually, they will have to figure out a way to find a medicine or solution that can work without the medicine to get the information right,” White said.

Niall Cook, an asso ciate with the DRC, de scribed the possible fi nancial impacts and changes in patients’ health caused by the shortage on ADHD pa tients.

“Basic, immediate re lease Adderall is fairly inexpensive. Some of these others, like Vy vanse or Concerta and a few others, are more

expensive. The disrup tive period of switching medications is also bound to cause issues, as patients will not re spond of all medicat ions the same,” Cook said.

While ADHD is known to hinder a pa tient’s ability to stay attentive, Sanders said ADHD can affect every aspect of someone’s life.

“No area of an ADHD student’s life will go unaffected if they are not treated for their symptoms,” Sanders said.

While the shortage affects many students on campus, Turner wanted to remind people to be consider ate of ADHD students who may be struggling.

“ADHD is sometimes misunderstood. People don’t realize that things like anxiety, de pression, panic attacks and personality dis orders go hand and hand with well-known symptoms of being dis tracted. When ADHD goes untreated, we struggle in our per sonal life too,” Turner said.

The Veteran Recognition Ceremony is Nov. 10 at 2 p.m. The event will be hosted on the Drill Field and feature speakers like Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Hyatt and university President Mark Keenum. Locke said the ceremony will be fairly short and all are welcome to attend.

us and try to bridge that gap between civilians and ex-military.”

Mills said it has been difficult to get SVA back to where it was before the COVID-19 pandemic, but he is looking forward to rebuilding the community.

Thaiena Williamson, a junior majoring in biological sciences, has worked as the secretary of SVA. As a military dependent, Williamson said SVA is a safe space for her and others to talk about their experiences with people who understand.

“We can all really

just relate to each other and actually understand each other and where we’re coming from,” Williamson said. “I can talk all day about how my parents are in the military, but nobody’s going to truly understand unless somebody has been through it.”

Williamson said SVA was not trying to be the best organization on campus; they just want to be the best for the people they serve.

“We’re simply just trying to create a safe space for ourselves and be able to reach out,

branch out and provide for others,” Williamson said. “There are so many scholarship opportunities that (military-affiliated students) don't know about, or the buildings, the centers, the resources available. Ultimately, we’re just trying to be a resource.”

Director for Veterans and Military Affairs at the Center for America’s Veterans Brian Locke has worked as the adviser for SVA.

He said he sees the organization as an extension of their staff because of the tight knit

relationship they have. This allows members easier access to the CAV.

“I think because they’re so tied into what we do here,” Locke said, “by joining the SVA, you get a firsthand view of what we do here.”

According to Locke, it is important for more than just militaryaffiliated students to get involved with SVA. Non-military affiliated students can show their support by attending SVA and CAV events that are open to the public.

Mills said the best way to get involved in the SVA is to direct message the organization on Instagram at @msstatesva. He said students can further support student veterans and the SVA by sitting down and talking with them.

“A lot of people come back with stories to tell, and it's helpful to just sit down and say, ‘Hey, tell me about your military experience,’ even if you’re not interested in the military,” Mills said. “Just let them know that you appreciate what they’ve done, and tell them that you appreciate them.”

"We will have the newest facility in the SEC. It will definitely rival Texas A&M, Auburn and any of those new facilities that have come about last few years," Brown said.

Brown said the new facilities will include an environmental chamber with variable heat and humidity and a neuromechanics laboratory to conduct brain research. These laboratories will accompany new classrooms, offices and a new auditorium.

The new kinesiology laboratories will work with the new Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic to provide treatment for patients, conduct research and train future professionals.

Daniel Gadke, department head of Counseling, Educational Psychology & Foundations, said that while MSU has always supported the ADDC with above-average amenities, the new facilities in the Duff Center will bring the

ADDC to the forefront among U.S. universities.

Currently, the ADDC serves roughly 100 members of the community and 80 students. However, the new facilities will allow that number to double with new treatment rooms, intervention rooms and training facilities, Gadke said.

"We will now be moving into what is essentially going to be a state of the art, one of a kind, autism treatment and training facility for across the country," Gadke said.

Anna Lauren Green, a senior majoring in kinesiology, said

McCarthy Gymnasium was old, and an upgrade to the facilities will be a positive addition.

"I feel like the teachers deserve a better place to be, and the air system is awful. It's really hot in there or really cold. It's never just, you know, a happy medium," Green said.

James "Babe" McCarthy led the MSU Basketball team to SEC Championships in 1959, 1961, 1962 and 1963. After his death in 1975, the McCarthy Gymnasium was given his name.

MSU Chief Communications Officer Sid Salter said that McCarthy will never be forgotten by fans or by MSU, and Salter is looking to the future of MSU.

"I think there will be deference paid to McCarthy's memory in this process. I'm excited about the Duff Center, and I'm excited about what that offers our faculty, staff and students," Salter said. "We have a real potential to change lives."

MCCARTHY

“We have a real potential to change lives.”

Sid Salter Chief Communications Officer Mississippi State University

Ivy Rose Ball | The Reflector

Due to the nationwide shortage, individuals with Adderall prescriptions have been receiving substitutes like Vyvanse and Concer ta.

The Jim and Thomas Duff Center will include a variety of new technologies and services and a neuromechanics laboratory.

Jacob Mitchell | The Reflector

Middleton Hall houses students and faculty in MSU’s ROTC program. The Student Veterans Association works to help students in th e ROTC program find a support system.

Landon Scheel | The Reflector

Ivy Rose Ball | The Reflector

Behind the pharmacy counter at the Longest

Student Health Center, empl oyees worked to fill and distribute prescriptions.

Scorpio - Although this week has been absolutely terrible, it probably won’t get better. You should not invest in self help books; they are of no use to you and your current stature.

Taurus - An unexpected last will and testament will saddle you with the care of an aggressive elderly dog named En dymion. This experience will teach both of you a lesson of trust and vulner ability.

Gemini - Horoscope unavailable due to supply chain issues.

Pisces - Your chiropractor is plotting against you. Be wary of unconventional adjustments.

BOARD

Thursday, October 27, 2022

Virgo- It was foggy when I checked the stars, but you’re either supposed to meet a new friend this week or forfeit your right to citizenship due to a cleri cal error. Please let us know which.

Cancer - Your mother has a list of five or six shirts you wear that she thinks make you look insecure. She will deny it, though, if you dare to ask her about it.

for the

An officer responded to a fight at the Sigma Chi Fra ternity House. Student re ferrals were issued to two students and no charges were filed.

Friday, October 28, 2022

A student reported he was assaulted and robbed at the bus stop near the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fra ternity house. A referral was issued to the subject for possession of a fake ID.

A student reported his ve hicle was burglarized while parked on Bully Boulevard. A referral was issued and a subject was

later apprehended by MSU police.

Saturday, October 29, 2022

A student was arrested on Fraternity Row for DUI and minor in possession of alcohol.

Monday, October 31, 2022

An MSU Police vehicle was damaged by a rock striking the window. The time at which the damages occured are unknown.

A student reported his MacBook Pro laptop was stolen from his vehicle, and that it was last seen on 10/27/22.

Bathroom reviews, week 1: Old Main wins, to no one’s surprise

to a positive college experi ence for me.

Dorman Hall, 6.5/10

As a freshman, every ex perience on campus is for eign and exciting. This is not just limited to new classes and dorm living.

In August, I entered a particularly nasty bathroom in Allen Hall and started a note on my phone entitled “MSU Bathroom Review.” Every bathroom I have en countered since that day is rated out of 10 and given a short review based on several qualities, including cleanli ness, location and level of se clusion. My rating system has worked well so far; ho wever, it does, obviously, ex clude all-men’s restrooms. I am dedicated to reviewing as many bathrooms as possible, but, respectfully, I do not think rating men’s bath rooms would be conducive

- Always relatively clean - Large mirrors - No gap in stall

Overall, these bathrooms are just a little above average. Dorman Hall itself is ex tremely run down, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that the bathrooms are in good shape. There is a sep arate room when you first enter the bathroom, which houses a large countertop and an equally large mirror. This counts as a pro, but I could not give you one good reason why it is necessarily needed.

Old Main Academic Center, 8/10 - Good design - Lots of stalls - No gap in stall

Generally lacking in cleanliness

Old Main Academic Center has some great bath rooms. I would even say they have the potential to be amazing, but the one thing holding them back is the cleanliness. I have never seen these bathrooms com pletely disgusting, but there are typically a few unflushed toilets and an overflowing trash can. That is, legiti mately, the only bad thing about these bathrooms. I am sure it can be blamed on the sheer volume of students that come through the build ing. Also, I cannot sing the praises of the doors enough. They are aesthetically pleas ing to the eye, have excellent locks and do not have a gap in sight. 10 out of 10 on doors. I wish all stalls had this design.

Marketplace at Perry (North end), 2/10 - No stalls (bathroom is

Make some room for an emotional support fish

caDence harvey contributing Writer

If it hadn’t been for my fish Sweetpea, my first year of college would have been a wash. That sweet, pink, tropical creature did more than just swim in circles and eat freeze-dried worms all day. He kept my sanity intact. Sitting at my desk, watching him move gracefully about his tank eased my worries and melted my stress away. Sweetpea has been a crucial part of my college experience, and for that reason, I think everyone could benefit from having a Sweetpea of their own.

There are many studies that show a positive correlation between owning pets and having improved mental health. According to The National Institutes of Health, research shows that interacting with pets can lower cortisol levels and blood pressure, as well as improve your mood.

The Federal Fair Housing Act now recognizes emotional support animals and their benefits, protecting them under federal law to be allowed in housing, even where pets are prohibited. Emotional support animals serve the purpose of relieving symptoms of depression and loneliness, preventing panic attacks and providing aid to those recovering from trauma.

Oftentimes, people associate emotional support from animals with larger, furrier creatures. But what about the little guys, our

reptilian roommates, feathered friends and aquatic allies? Research suggests that even these unconventional companions can have similar, positive effects on your mental well-being.

A study published in the National Library of Medicine provided evidence suggesting that interacting with fish can be beneficial for humans both psychologically and physiologically. The article further stated that having pet fish is associated with reduced stress and increased feelings of relaxation, as well as reported feelings of happiness and companionship.

Research published in the National Library of Medicine measured the anxiety levels of students who were about to give a speech to their class. One group was given the opportunity to watch a fish tank for five minutes beforehand, while the other was not. The results of this experiment concluded that those who watched the fish tank had

significantly decreased levels of anxiety compared to the others.

To no one’s surprise, one of the biggest challenges that students face while in school is stress. If getting hold of a small, blubbering fish is what it takes to put this stress to bed, why not give it a shot?

Their affordable, lowmaintenance lifestyle makes caring for a fish one of the easiest options for students’ busy lives. A $5 fish from PetSmart paired with Walmart's $25 tank setup is all you need to have a friend for life (or at least for a couple of months).

Sweetpea did a lot of good before his untimely passing. He eased my mind, softening all the sharp edges and providing comfort after each long, hard day. Now, the torch has been passed to his successor, Beaver the betta, who is currently entertained by his air bubbler. Consider swinging by your local pet store today to see what a $5 friend can do for you.

one at a time)

- Water is everywhere - Nasty

First off, this is by no means a reflection on Perry as a cafeteria. Anyone who reads The Reflector knows that I am a ride or die fan of Perry. But the bathrooms, oh God. The only positive for this bathroom is that it is a single person bathroom, so you are alone. But every thing else is bad. It has water leaking all over the floor, and overall, it is just extremely gross in there. It makes me want to hold the urge to use the bathroom for years on end.

Marketplace at Perry (South end),1/10 - Dark - Not clean - Understocked

This bathroom was even more disappointing than the previous Perry bathroom. It

does not have the advantage of single stall bathrooms. It also had only one roll of toi let paper for three stalls. Maybe a quick game of Rock, Paper, Scissors is played be tween those waiting for a stall. Is this some kind of sick social experiment?

Allen Hall (Front Lobby), 4/10

- Dark - Loud Short ceilings (pro or con depending on personal preference)

This bathroom is like a cave honestly. The ceilings are extremely short, and you can constantly hear the sounds of what is either an air conditioner or a water heater above your head as you do your business. There is an antechamber in this bathroom similar to Dor man. Overall, this is not a very clean bathroom.

Allen Hall (6th floor), 6.75/10

- Hidden gem - Well decorated - Out of the way If someone would have asked me last week about Allen Hall’s bathrooms, I would have recommended dehydration just for the sole purpose of never using a bathroom in that building. However, I was recently rec ommended by both current students and my father (MSU class of 1998) to try out the bathrooms on the top floor of Allen. These bath rooms are quite the hidden gem. They were very clean, and aside from slightly dated design choices, overall very nice bathrooms. I loved the addition of a fake potted plant. It really added to the ambience of this bathroom.

More bathroom reviews next week

Evan Giia stole the show at Bulldog Bash

john baLaDi Staff Writer

Evan Giia is a name I had never heard of before Bulldog Bash, and now that the concert is over, it is a name that I will struggle to forget. I referred to Bryce Vine and Surfaces’ music as “feel-good” in a previous Bulldog Bash article. While that might could work for Giia, serotonin laced may be the only way to describe how she performed on stage.

As Giia took the stage, the feeling I got was that nearly nobody in the crowd, including myself, had ever heard of her. By her third song, I knew I was not going to move until she finished.

Starkville is not a town that regularly hosts EDM (Electric Dance Music) artists, so this was something entirely new to most everyone at Bulldog Bash. After she hit the stage, Giia went on to turn the hearts of the entire crowd.

Her energy and stage presence shone through for the first two songs, and then she proceeded to open a song with two statements I will not forget. Giia said,

“Raise your hand if you go to therapy,” to which many hands went up, as the crowd was mainly college students, and we are all just hanging in there. Giia followed, “Good, glad to see you guys working to get better. This next song is about when you are going through

guy at his computer pressing play. There is someone behind the sound, and there is a singer, but these artists usually work individually and collaborate on certain songs. The only real difference is that the singers usually get less recognition. Giia is one of these singers. She is an artist that was brought to the concert because of her incredible voice and energy, and she showed the city of Starkville her potential that night.

something, and you finally get to that one day where you feel yourself progressing.” She then performed to one of her most popular songs, “Feeling Better (Better).” She had won over the crowd, as the attendees were mainly college students, and we love when music is relatable.

For the uninitiated, EDM music it is not just a

POLICY

Walking away after seeing Government Plates, Evan Giia, Bryce Vine and Surfaces, I could not get Giia's music out of my head. Everyone had a great show, but hers was the one that stood out the most to me. She conveyed a love for music, people and living in the moment throughout the songs she performed.

Artists loving what they do is one thing, but artists loving how people react to their craft is an entirely different topic. To me, Giia is someone who loves how people react to what she has put her heart and soul into. This shone through at Bulldog Bash; she stole the show and gave the best performance of the night.

The Reflector staff strives to main

Evan Giia, a Brooklyn native, was one of the opening performers for Surfaces and Bryce Vine at Bulldog Bash this year.

Landon Scheel | The Reflector

Lexapro is cool; my fish, Sweetpea, is cooler.

“Raise your hands if you go to therapy”

Evan Giia Bulldog Bash Performer

& ENTERTAINMENT

Cotton District Arts Festival showcases artistic culture

Saturday, the Cotton District was flooded with artists and attend ees alike for the annual Cotton District Arts Festival hosted by the Starkville Area Arts Council.

There was a broad range of arts on display — including sculptures, ceramics, paintings, pottery, graphic arts, drawings and weavings. There was also a face painting booth that was particularly popular among children, indi cated by the number of rainbow butterflies and fearsome tigers roam ing around the festival.

As the festival was on Halloween weekend, a costume contest was held for the vendors as well as a pet parade that kicked off the festival in the morning.

New artists pop up from all over the state of Mississippi, different foods roll through and more bands take to one of the handful of stages set up along the Cotton District. This year, there were three stages, all outfitted with local acts performing — bouncing between music, dancing, poetry, gospel acts and ending with a drag show.

Ian Burke, a senior wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture major, was one of the many artists putting their work on display at the festival. Burke’s business, Odd ities by Ian, and style were full of whimsy and fantasy, brought forth through bone necklaces and hand-painted pine cone magnets. Burke said the morn ing was definitely on the slower side for busi

ness because their work caters a bit more toward a younger audience, but as the day went on, more and more people started stopping by. Burke said the best part of selling homemade art is seeing people’s first reactions to it.

“It’s fun to see people wearing the stuff. Like, ‘Oh, you think this is cool, too?’ Because I make a lot of the stuff that I like, so it’s cool to see when other people like it,” Burke said.

The Cotton District Arts Festival is split up into a variety of differ ent villages. The Arti san’s Village is the most popular and largest of the villages, but there are many other areas to visit, such as the Writer’s Village, International Village and Children’s Village.

All of the food ven dors along the side walks — most of them representing local res taurants throughout town — represent the Tastes of Starkville portion of the festival.

However, due to the inclement weather and sporadic bouts of rain throughout the day, not all of the vendors who were slated to make ap pearances showed up.

There were about 97 artists signed up, but only around 67 of them set up their booths. Ad ditionally, out of the 30 food vendors, about 17 of them were present.

Despite all of this, there were many more vendors for the festival this year as opposed to last year, as the Stark ville area was still rid ing out the heights of the COVID-19 pan demic.

John Walrod of Wal rod Art had his first booth at the festival. Walrod graduated from MSU in 1988 with a de gree in electrical engi neering. About 10 years ago, Walrod de cided to transition to working halftime as an engineer and halftime as an artist.

Walrod sold his as semblage art sculptures at the festival. Assem blage art is “a fairly un usual art form,” accord ing to Walrod. He takes found objects — usually recycled things and old material that would typically be discarded — and turns them into 3D sculptures.

Some of his pieces on display included a dog with a camera for a head and a fly with mechani cal red lights for eyes.

“It’s actually very re warding to see people so enthusiastic about my work,” Walrod said.

Audrey Aldridge runs Cotton Rose Studio and weaves hanging art works by hand while working on her Ph.D. in computer science at MSU.

This was Aldridge’s second year selling art work at the festival, but she has expanded from one booth to two booths this time around.

“It’s really rewarding to see people’s faces when they find a piece they really connect with, and it’s really ex citing just to see them appreciating what I like to do as a stress re liever,” Aldridge said, laughing nervously.

Keats Lewis is the overseeing chair for the Artisan’s Village. She initially became in volved with the SAAC through the scholar

ships awarded to her during her time as a student at MSU.

Lewis said that she particularly encourages MSU students to take part in the festival.

“We love it when stu dents come; it’s such a great opportunity for them to meet local art

ists, for students them selves to have booths, to get Christmas pres ents for their parents — especially with it being toward the end of the year,” Lewis said.

As for next year, Ju liette Reid, program ming coordinator for the festival and the

Starkville Area Arts Council, said there was not an exact date an nounced just yet, but she hopes it will be at the tail-end of October again.

“We are hoping to an nounce that either late December or early January,” Reid said.

5 horror movies to watch this spooky season

Every fall, another “spooky season” arrives. Pumpkin themed drinks flood the menus of var ious coffee shops, orange and black becomes a prominent color scheme and daily conversations bring chatter of all things scary.

Even though Hallo ween, or this year’s “hal loweekend,” has wrapped up, the essence of the spooky season still lingers in the air. As stu dents go looking for their next “spooky” fix, watch ing a new horror movie can fill that void.

As the genre of horror continues to evolve from the simple beginnings of “Dracula” and “Nosfer atu,” the abundance of horror movies has be come a pain for lovers of the genre that elicits fear in the audience.

Endless scrolling through streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu in search of the right horror movie can become a chore. However, these five horror movies are sure to bring a sense of fright and spook, easing the choice of selection when searching for the perfect horror movie.

1. House

The 1977 Japanese horror film “House,” di rected by Nobuhiko Obayashi, is best de scribed as an experience. A good experience at that.

The experimental film follows Gorgeous (Ki miko Ikegami) and her

six friends traveling to her aunt’s house after Gorgeous meets her father’s new wife, Ryoko Ema (Haruko Wanibu chi). Upon arrival, Gor geous and her friends quickly discover the house and her auntie are not all that they seem as supernatural events begin to occur.

The visual effects of the film, which Obayashi de scribed as wanting to feel like a child had created them, set the film apart from other supernatural films in the genre.

Throughout its 88 mi nute runtime, the unreal istic effects and frenzied editing make the film feel chaotic. However, the co medic atmosphere and amateur performances make every bizarre effect that happen in the film well worth the chaos.

“House” is one of the many films where the less one knows, the better. It can be streamed on HBO Max.

2. My Bloody Valen tine

Director George Mihal ka’s 1981 slasher film

“My Bloody Valentine” follows a Valentine’s Day party that invites the vengeful wrath of a serial killer dressed in mining gear. The mystery sur rounding the killer’s mo tives and reappearance after 20 years serves as the film’s plot.

“My Bloody Valentine” is a true testament to '80s slashers and is an engaging 90 minute fea ture that captivates viewers through its gore and intriguing cast of

characters. Mihalka’s ability to capture the hor rors awaiting a small town for defying one of its age-old traditions is sure to excite fans of clas sic slashers like “Scream,” “Friday the 13th” and “Halloween.”

“My Bloody Valentine” is available to stream on either HBO Max, Hulu or Pluto TV.

3. The Descent

Director Neil Mar shall’s 2005 “The Des cent” effectively high lights the horrors of confined, tight spaces.

The film explores the sur vivalist instincts of six women trapped inside a cave system in search of a

way out.

With every move the women make, the air around them becomes tighter, passageways be come narrower and the humanoid creatures be come more violent.

It is an anxiety-raising, skin-crawling film with a satisfying ending that’s sure to entice viewers looking for a thrill. It can be streamed on Prime Video, Paramount+, Tubi or Shudder.

4. In Fabric

While “In Fabric” may not be as high-stakes as other films in this list, it is still a captivating slow burn.

A haunted red dress

sold to patrons by the mysterious Miss Luck moore (Fatma Mohamed) destroys the lives of its hosts in unique ways. The avant-garde film is a sub tle comedy that utilizes late 1900s aesthetics marvelously through its set and costume design.

The film’s unique motifs and bizarre central loca tion of the department store are sure to soothe viewers looking for a more artistic viewing.

“In Fabric” can be streamed on Fubo TV, Kanopy or Showtime.

5. Malignant

In recent years, there has not been a film as wild as James Wan’s “Ma

The film utilizes visual and digital tricks to dis play an over-the-top yet suspenseful story that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. The exploration of a confus ing descent into madness pairs well with the film’s many genre shifts, rang ing from a subdued mys tery to an intense spec tacle of action.

“Malignant,” found on HBO Max, is a refreshing take on the horror genre. It is packed full of humor and thrilling scenes suit able for a late-night watch.

lignant.” The film follows Madison Lake-Mitchell (Annabelle Wallis) and her strange hallucina tions.

Lydia Palmer | The Reflector

At this year’s arts festival, crowds lined the streets of the Cotton District and browsed food and art vendors on either side.

Trey Barrett

Lydia Palmer | The Reflector

A local artisan sold his paintings and artwork at one of the many booths located at this year’s Cotton District Arts Festival.

MSU women’s golf battles at beach to conclude fall season

Mississippi, the University of Arkansas and the University of Missouri.

The Mississippi State University women’s golf team closed out the regular season Sunday with a fifthplace finish at Battle at the Beach in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

MSU women’s golf traveled to Mexico ranked seventh in the country and looked to continue to climb the rankings with a successful outing at Club Campestre San Jose.

However, the road to success would not come easy for the Bulldogs. MSU competed against ranked SEC teams Louisiana State University, Vanderbilt University, the University of

MSU opened the tournament with a rocky start in the first round but followed up with a sevenunder second round with three individual rounds in the 60s — ranking as the 15th-lowest team round in school history.

After 36 holes, the Bulldogs were sitting in seventh place by shooting eight over. All-American sophomore Julia Lopez Ramirez finished the second round in the 60s, which bumped her up from 55th to 15th place heading into the final round.

Other notable performances from the second round of the

tournament included senior Abbey Daniel (3-under, 68) and freshman Surapa Janthamunee (2-under, 69). Daniel moved from 77th to 39th, and Janthamunee jumped from 34th to 17th heading into the final round from Mexico.

In the final round Sunday, the Bulldogs came out swinging. Lopez Ramirez finished the front nine with a total of three birdies to put her in sixth place halfway through the round. Lopez Ramirez finished the tournament in fifth place (4-under, 209). In her debut wearing the maroon-and-white, Janthamunee performed outstandingly for the Bulldogs — sinking six

birdies and ending the tournament in ninth place (2-under, 211).

After a gutsy performance, the MSU women’s golf team fought back to finish the Battle at the Beach in fifth place.

Bulldogs head coach Charlie Ewing spoke to the media about the performance from the women’s team in Mexico.

“I am really proud of the effort this team showed this week,” Ewing said. “Strong character and resilience have probably been the most consistent things this team has given this semester. You cannot coach that. I am so grateful for this group.”

MSU women’s golf battled and dug themselves out of a deep hole in the

second and third rounds. Overall impressive performances from the likes of Lopez Ramirez and Janthamunee aided the Bulldogs to fifth place at the Battle at the Beach.

After the fifth-place finish, coach Ewing discussed the struggles the Bulldogs faced during the first round and what MSU women’s golf can build on for the spring semester.

“We dug ourselves too deep of a hole the first 10 holes or so of that first round. If we want to compete in a field like that with some of the top teams in the country, we simply cannot give away that many shots to start the event," coach Ewing said. "From the middle of the first round

until the end of the tournament, we got on a roll and battled hard. I love that they keep showing themselves what they are capable of. That is only going to build confidence, which is irreplaceable.”

After an impressive performance from the MSU women’s golf team in Mexico, the Bulldogs have closed out the fall semester. According to Golfweek via USA Today Sports, the MSU women’s golf team ranks eighth in the nation and finished the fall semester with 10 wins against top-25 opponents. The future schedule will be announced at a later date while the Bulldogs look to carry their success from the fall into the spring.

Rumors “Ring True”: John Cohen’s tenure at MSU is over

John Cohen’s tenure as Mississippi State University’s athletic director has come to an end. It was rumored over the weekend that Cohen was being poached by Auburn University to step in as their athletic director and the rumors "rang true" on Monday.

Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated tweeted, “John Cohen has informed Mississippi State officials of his resignation from the school, sources tell @SINow. The expectations is he will be named the Auburn AD as soon as today in a deal that was being finalized over the weekend.”

Cohen attended Mississippi State University and played first base for the baseball team. Before serving his alma mater as athletic

director, Cohen coached MSU baseball from 2009-2016. In 2013, he led the Bulldogs to the College World Series where they ultimately lost to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

When hired as Mississippi State’s AD in 2016, Cohen had nothing but good things to say about MSU.

"I love Mississippi State University," Cohen said. "As a student, later as a coach, and now with this fantastic opportunity to lead MSU's athletics program, this was always where I wanted to be. I am profoundly grateful for the chance to lead the totality of MSU athletics as I have tried to lead MSU's baseball program — in daily and dogged pursuit of championships at the highest level.

Cohen witnessed the Bulldogs win the College World Series as athletic director in 2021. He also hired two new

head football coaches following the departure of Dan Mullen — including Joe Moorhead in 2018 and Mike Leach in 2020. Also under his reign, women’s basketball made it to the elite eight, and MSU had multiple players selected in the draft for professional sports.

Under his watch, MSU gained approval for upgrades to athletic facilities. Before the 2018 football season, Cohen approved a renovation for the locker rooms in Davis Wade Stadium. More recently, he approved the ongoing renovations to Humphrey Coliseum.

“Our student athletes and coaches deserve elite facilities,” John Cohen told Stadia Magazine. “This project will greatly enhance our team and recruiting operations in Davis Wade Stadium.”

Various sources have

reported Cohen’s five-year contract with Auburn is nearly $1.5 million annually. Those same sources have reported that this is an increase in what he made at MSU.

Moments after the deal with Auburn was finalized, news broke that Auburn’s head coach Bryan Harsin was fired.

Mark Keenum stated that MSU is searching for a new athletic director. In the meantime, Bracky Brett will fill in as interim AD.

“Together as the Bulldog family, we will move purposefully to find a new leader who can both embrace and build on that culture of success,” Mark Keenum said.

MSU football faces off against the Auburn Tigers in what will surely be in an intriguing matchup Saturday. Kickoff against Auburn is set for 6:30 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN2.

Sophomore Julia Lopez Ramirez has recorded 14 total rounds in the 60s in the 17 events she has competed in so far in her collegiate career. Lopez Ramirez recorded four birdies and an eagle in the final round of the Battle at the Beach tournament.

Courtesy| MSU Athletics

Mychaela ReynaRd Staff wRiteR

Courtesy| MSU Athletics

John Cohen is the new athletic director at Auburn University.