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132nd YEAR ISSUE 22

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 14, 2017

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

MSU unable to pull off upset against Alabama FORREST BUCK STAFF WRITER

Noah Siano | The Reflector

DeVonta Smith powers through the outstretched arms of safety Janathan Abrahm in the fourth quarter. The Crimson Tide escaped Starkville after nearly being upset by the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Two indicted for 2016 killing of MSU student THE REFLECTOR STAFF

Two residents of Lowndes County were Katie Poe| The Reflector indicted on capital murder charges in the shooting of Kelsey Pearce standing in front of her art work, displayed in her new studio KP & Canvas. Pearce specializes in abstract settings of the south. the late Mississippi State University student Joseph Tillman from Greenwood, Mississippi.

Angie McGinnis, the interim circuit clerk confirms the indictment of KATIE POE school got really stressful, it startup ideas.

Jaylen Barker and Syboris STAFF WRITER was easy for me to come back “The funding helped a Pippins. Barker’s initial lot with getting art booths Laden with abstracts of to painting.” charge of murder was southern landscapes, the walls For the past two years, to be able to do different art upgraded to capital murder, of Mississippi State University Pearce has used Instagram and shows,” Pearce said. “They and Pippins was upgraded senior Kelsey Pearce’s new her website to sell her artwork. paid for that completely.” from robbery to capital art shop are full of color and However, between graduating Pearce said E-Center murder late last year. this semester and having her director Eric Hill was history.

Twenty-one-year-old Two years ago, Pearce sights set on veterinary school especially supportive and Joseph Tillman was shot turned a hobby into a profit, in the fall, Pearce decided to helped her establish her brand. and killed on Nov. 6 2016. as she developed her passion open her shop and work full- Hill complimented Pearce as a The incident occurred on for painting. On Friday, she time until school starts. unique individual who is both Maxwell Street adjacent cut the ribbon for her small Pearce said the help she creative and intelligent in the from StaggerIn Sports gallery in downtown Starkville. received from the MSU world of business.

Grill.

“Our advisory board Pearce, the creator of KP Center for Entrepreneurship Barker and Pippins & Canvas, said opening her was invaluable in making was impressed by her focus bond was set at $2 million business was “surreal.” The her business successful. on the market and not just each for the capital murder biological science major said She received a $2,000 Key artistic merit,” Hill said. charge. she has never taken an art Capital Expenditure grant “This was a perfect example The date and time for class and only started painting from the Entrepreneurship of where the startup grant their arraignment has not a few years ago.

Center Advisory Board, program is valuable to help been released, but it is likely “This was kind of a release which provides students and an entrepreneur cross a key to happen this week. for me,” Pearce said. “When faculty assistance with their hurdle.”

ART, 2

MSU student brightens downtown with artwork

The No. 16 Mississippi State University (7-3, 3-3 SEC) football team may have come up short Saturday night, but their performance is one to be remembered as another stepping stone on this program’s journey to become a nationally-relevant football program.

In 2014, MSU played another big game against No. 2 Alabama in which the Bulldogs were ranked number one in the nation for the first time in school history.

The Bulldogs came up short in the 2014 game as well, but the two games show MSU football has ventured into uncharted waters in comparison to the program’s mediocre history.

In recent years, embracing moral victories was the norm after a game like the one on Saturday, but in 2017 those are now games MSU is showing they are capable of winning.

Head coach Dan Mullen talked about his team’s expectations going into the game.

“Those guys in the locker room expected to win this game. They didn’t just expect it to be close they expected to win,” Mullen said. “That’s why they came to Mississippi State. They came here to go compete for championships and be a top team.”

In years past, MSU could do everything possible and still lose; over the last couple years and on Saturday night, this was not the case.

“As coaches, we have to make sure we are putting our guys in the best position,” Mullen said. “A couple times we didn’t do that today. If we did everything we could have done, we would have won the game.”

Mullen’s statements on defeat rang as loudly as the cowbells among the 61,000 plus sellout crowd who showed up to support their Bulldogs.

FOOTBALL, 6

Vaping issue still hazy after public hearing KATIE POE

who spoke on behalf of the American Cancer Society, and opposed the amendment. She said the city made great strides in choosing to include e-cigarettes in the definition of smoking products.

“With the passage of the original smoke-free ordinance, Starkville set the health and wellness bar high for all other Mississippi towns—that includes Tupelo, Oxford and even beyond the state,” Tiffin said.

“As a Healthy Hometown winner, Starkville would not be leading by example if this exception is allowed.

Everyone has the right to breath clean, smoke-free and aerosol-free air, regardless of where they work, and no one should have to choose between their health and their good job.”

STAFF WRITER

The Board of Aldermen listened to the public last week about amending the current smoking ordinance to include an indoor smoking exemption benefiting vape shops.

The BOA first voted to include e-cigarettes in the definition of smoking products in the ordinance on Oct. 3. However, since smoking products are not allowed to be used inside many places, such as retail shops, it limits vape shops’ ability to let customers test products inside the store and learn how to use e-cigarettes.

The BOA hosted the first of two public hearings on the issue, and several citizens spoke at the podium.

First was Allison Tiffin, a Starkville resident

VAPING, 2

Representative Cheikh Taylor determined to serve community TORI BOATNER STAFF WRITER

Cheikh Taylor | Courtesy Photo

A Starkville native and newly elected Mississippi House of Representatives District 38 winner, Cheikh Taylor is passionate about helping and serving his community.

With two additional candidates running against him, Taylor received 59 percent of the total vote over former Ward 2 Alderman, Lisa Wynn and activist Narissa Bradford.

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“I want the public to know that I am appreciative of their support, and I plan to make bold moves for the state of Mississippi,” Taylor said.

Taylor graduated from Howard University in Washington, D.C., with a degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. While there, he worked with the National Institute of Health on the Human Genome Project.

“The overall work was rewarding, but I had a passion to make sure I was touching

people. I didn’t feel like I was being fulfilled in that laboratory,” Taylor said.

Straying away from his initial desire to become a medical doctor, Taylor decided to pursue other careers before returning to Starkville to better his community. In D.C., Taylor worked at one of the top law firms, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, and served as a lobbyist for a clean water act.

Returning home, Taylor helped launch the first and second computerized

FORECAST: Tuesday will be seasonal and dry with a high of 66 degrees under partly cloudy skies. Tuesday night will be mostly clear with a low of 42 degrees. Wednesday brings partly cloudy skies and a high of 68 degrees. Wednesday night’s low will be 48 degrees. Thursday warms to 70 degrees with mostly sunny skies.

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learning centers in the state of Mississippi for HUD Housing. Continuing to serve without ceasing, Taylor wrote two $250,000 grants.

“This just seemed so much more rewarding for me on a personal level,” Taylor said.

With a hidden propensity for politics, Taylor was involved in student government in junior high and high school. He was also the President of the junior NAACP during his teenage years. He credits his pursuit

of political office to former House of Rep. District 38 Tyrone Ellis.

“As far as I can remember, Tyrone Ellis has been a huge influencer in my life. When I was about nine years old, he told me I would be the next state representative,” Taylor said.

Ellis commends Taylor for being an inquisitive and bright young man. He remembers Taylor as an exceptional communicator and receptive to new ideas.

TAYLOR, 2

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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY NOVEMBER 14, 2017

TAYLOR

Ellis has fond memories of him being extremely courageous and standing up to bullies and what he believed in.

“He has a deep-rooted will to help those in need,” Ellis said.

Always open to listen, Ellis took pride in nurturing and encouraging him to capitalize on any political interests he had.

“With his ability to stand up and stand out, I knew one day I would have to step aside,” Ellis said.

The special election stemmed from former District 38 Rep. Tyrone Ellis’ resignation in June. As candidacy bids were in place, and Taylor expressed interest in running for the seat, Ellis supported him wholeheartedly.

Ellis acknowledges Taylor’s passion about MSU, childhood development, Starkville Consolidated School District and the criminal justice system.

“It was apparent that he was the ideal candidate

VAPING

Tiffin said although the stories of people using e-cigarettes to quit smoking combustible tobacco are touching, the Food and Drug Administration has not deemed them an approved form of therapy.

She said for young people, vaping is on the rise.

“The real issue about e-cigarettes, is that more and more young people are starting to vape,” Tiffin said. “According to the 2016 Surgeon General’s report, e-cigarettes are now the most commonly used tobacco product among young people.”

She said 3 percent of high school students in Mississippi vape.

“We are a college town, and the obligation to protect the health and well-

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because he had his heart in it and showed integrity; it was a no brainer, that’s why I endorsed him,” Ellis said.

An advocate for community improvement and the well-being of children and parents, Taylor is the Executive Director of the nonprofit organization Brickfire Project, founded by his mother, Helen Taylor over 40 years ago.

With this platform, he is able to promote early childhood education, nutrition programs, home construction and job skill programs.

“Brickfire gave me the resolve to serve and impact people that I knew,” Taylor said.

Located in Starkville, Brickfire welcomes those in need. The need is high in this area, and Taylor wanted there to be no barriers between Brickfire and the people needing to be served. The nonprofit also promotes performing arts and accepts volunteers looking to serve the community of Starkville.

Married for 18 years, with two children, Taylor values

family. Stepping away from lawmaking, Taylor enjoys supporting his daughter and son at Starkville High School’s volleyball and football events.

He also enjoys boxing with his son.

Having adolescent children, Taylor understands the importance of education and reform for the next generation. His passion and

standards, to bettering the roads we drive on, Taylor understands the weight of his new office. He is adamant about education and its many effects on the economy.

“If we look at our economy, it correlates to where we are in the nation with education,” Taylor said.

As student enrollment continues to rise at Mississippi

“He has a deep-rooted will to help those in need.”

-Tyrone Ellis, former House of Rep. District 38. drive stems from having children of his own, and wanting them to mature in an economically stable community where they can someday pursue an education or career.

“He always said he wanted to make things better for those coming behind him,” Ellis said.

From setting fuel

State University, Starkville experiences direct growth as well. Taylor acknowledges this fact, and recognizes the need for housing and further construction suitable for the growing student population.

He credits MSU for being the number one employer in the area, and a contributor to Starkville’s economy.

“Mississippi State is a

friend of Starkville and a friend of Mississippi,” Taylor said.

To continue to attract industry and businesses, Taylor recognizes there must be money and resources toward industrial parts.

Janette Self, Former Starkville Ward 7 Alderman is pleased with the proeducation platform and general liveliness Taylor will bring to the position.

“I’m excited, and Mr. Taylor ran a very organized campaign with a lot of energy.

I’m really pleased with his stance on education and I am looking forward to what he can do for District 38,” Self said.

Considering the great numbers from the election, Taylor is confident the state of Mississippi is ready for an increase of support in the education system. An advocate for economic growth, Taylor is convinced he and the community are primed to provide the infrastructure necessary for businesses to stimulate

economic growth.

“People want jobs, the ability to save to send their children to college and plan the rest of their lives without living check-to-check,” Taylor said.

For those interested in pursuing a political career and various other careers, Taylor encourages them to get involved now and immerse themselves in the subject material. He understands the value of familiarity with who and what one is fighting for.

“Passion develops your platform,” Taylor said.

Taylor believes true help comes from a person moving from one point to another, and seeing true transition.

This drive pushes him to further the cause at hand.

Taylor is also motivated to use his gifts and talents for the betterment of society.

“Everyone has a responsibility to develop their gifts for the advancement of human-kind; once I realized that, I knew that I could make an impact in this big world,” Taylor said.

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being of our community far outweighs the need to cater to a few,” Tiffin said.

Yolanda Pruitt, director of the Mississippi Tobacco Free Coalition of Oktibbeha, Clay and Lowndes Counties, said the original smoke-free ordinance was put in place to protect non-smokers.

Josef Enfinger, owner of 1810 Vapors on Stark Road, said he has done business in Starkville for more than a year. He said his business has grown in the short time and does not want the growth stunted.

“I need this exemption to continue growing, and to continue serving my customers to the best of my ability,” Enfinger said.

“Currently, I am able to allow the testing of e-liquids and devices that are causing

trouble. I demonstrate to new customers how to properly use these devices and help them if they are having issues learning to vape.”

Enfinger suggested the BOA should “do some research” to see how beneficial vaping can be.

Mike Jeffcoat, the vice president of Mississippi Vapid Advocacy Association and co-owner of Magnolia Vapes, said he is also in favor of amending the ordinance. He owns three shops throughout Mississippi and said he is considering opening one in Starkville.

The next public hearing is during the BOA meeting at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 21 in the courtroom at 110 West Main Street.

Jenn McFadden, The Reflector

ART “In Kelsey’s case, her award enabled her to acquire professional grade tradeshow materials, resulting in sufficient revenue growth to open her studio. We are thrilled to have her join a growing number of students setting up their worldwide headquarters in downtown Starkville,” Hill said.

Pearce said she wanted to open her business in Starkville because over the years she fell in love with the town.

“I’ve really grown to love Starkville over the last three and a half years,” Pearce said. “If [vet] school doesn’t work out, this is a great alternative and hopefully I can build my ground from there.”

Pearce said there is less of an art scene in Starkville compared to other large cities, so she wanted to “liven it up” with her paintings.

Her style includes abstract settings of the south. She has depicted areas such as The Mill, the Chapel of Memories and the Cotton District using

CONTINUED FROM 1

acrylic paint and palette knives, rarely using brushes.

“I think that’s something that makes it unique,” Pearce said.

Junior accounting major Kate Thomas said she met Pearce about two years ago through their sorority, Kappa Delta. Thomas said Pearce has a strong character of perseverance.

“Kelsey is very driven and talented,” Thomas said. “When Kelsey sets her mind to something, she is going to get it done no matter what. Her drive is just really incredible, and her talent, I mean, she just has an incredible gift.”

Thomas said she remembers when Pearce first started selling her paintings and when they became popular.

“We actually were sitting in her apartment about two years ago and she had this one painting that she’d done and we were like, ‘Kelsey, this is incredible. You need to sell this.’ So, she sold it, which made more people want paintings and now here we are two years later and she’s

opening her own store,” Thomas said.

Thomas said she is a big fan of Pearce’s art, and she thinks the business will be successful because the southern style is one everybody loves.

Pearce said she could not have gotten her idea off the ground without her friends and family.

“I’d love to thank my family. Obviously, my parents have been incredibly supportive when I came to them with the idea,” Pearce said. “Telling them I was going to open up an art studio I thought they were going to be like, ‘Well, that’s ridiculous.

You’re 21 years old,’ and they were immediately like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’ So, they’ve been awesome, and all of my friends, my sorority and my soccer team, everyone’s been very supportive. I really appreciate that.”

Currently, KP & Canvas is open on weekends from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. However, when Pearce graduates, she plans to open full-time on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017 @REFLECTORONLINE

BULLETIN BOARD PB B SUDOKU

BAD DAWGS Friday, November 10 10:11 a.m. Student reported being stalked by an unknown subject.

10:43 a.m. Student reported Yeti cooler stolen off the back of truck while the vehicle was parked in Oak Hall parking lot.

Saturday, November 11 12:45 a.m. Officer responded to disturbance between mother and student in Hathorn Hall parking lot.

1:14 a.m. Student was unresponsive in Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house. Subject was transported to OCH by ambulance.

1:33 a.m. Student reported personal items from Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house, subject’s items were later found and returned.

2:10 a.m. Wallet was found on Stone Blvd belonging to non-resident.

1:15 p.m. Student experienced difficulty breathing in Hull Hall, and was transported to OCH by ambulance.

2:16 p.m. EOG worker reported an employee was charging people parking to park in an area that was not paid parking on Sorority Row. 4:45 p.m. Parking Service employee reported a vehicle backed into Parking Service vehicle on Walker Road.

5:08 p.m. Non-Resident/Visitor was found in possession of counterfeit money while in the Junction. No arrest was made at the time.

6:30 p.m. Student was arrested in Davis Wade Stadium for public drunkenness.

7:19 p.m. Student was arrested in the Junction for public drunkenness.

7:20 p.m. Student was arrested in Davis Wade Stadium for public

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drunkenness.

7:23 p.m. Student was arrested in Davis Wade Stadium for public drunkenness and possession of marijuana. Justice Court citation and student referral were issued.

7:23 p.m. Non-Resident/Visitor reported her son’s hoverboard stolen from tailgating area on Lee Blvd and Tracy Drive.

7:45 p.m. Non-Resident/Visitor reported a battery stolen from his vehicle while parked behind McKee Hall.

10:25 p.m. Non-Resident/Visitor reported stolen property from tailgating area in front of Allen Hall.

10:37 p.m. Student was transported from B.S. Hood to OCH for medical assistance.

10:50 p.m. Non-Resident/Visitor was arrested on Blackjack Road for obstructing traffic and subject’s third DUI. 11:19 p.m. Non-Resident/Visitor was arrested on Highway 182 for possession of marijuana in vehicle.

Justice Court citation issued.

11:52 p.m. Student reported his mirror was broken off his vehicle while parked behind Critz Hall.

Sunday, November 12 2:23 p.m. Student was unresponsive in Mosley Hall and was transported to OCH. 9:54 p.m. Student reported vehicle keyed while parked in Mosley Hall parking lot.

3:44 p.m. Student reported his backpack stolen from Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house.

8:47 p.m. Student reported money stolen from Deavenport Hall on November 6.

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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017 @REFLECTORONLINE

OPINION

Cancer does not have a gender bias, and neither should disease awareness MIA RODRIGUEZ

is a sophomore majoring in English.

Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate. edu.

Pink ribbons and feminine symbols aside, breast cancer also affects men. However, many assume men cannot develop breast cancer because campaigns are often focused on a female demographic.

In Theresa Brown’s article in the New York Times, she describes how the color pink underscores the concept of retaining femininity while battling breast cancer, and how it understates the severity of the disease as a whole. “’Be more than pink,’ the Susan G. Komen website says. […] The phrase suggests that pink doesn’t tell the whole story of breast cancer,” Brown says in the New York Times.

In fact, the phrase does not tell the whole story of what it is like to combat the disease as it focuses on a gendered color to raise awareness to a disease affecting males as well.

Upon exploration concerning breast cancer, the website for The National

Breast Cancer Foundation does not have immediate mention or outreach to men who suffer from the disease.

According to the Mayo Clinic, many men are not diagnosed with breast cancer until later stages, which often proves fatal.

“Men diagnosed with male breast cancer at an early stage have a good chance for a cure. Still, many men delay seeing their doctors if they notice one of the usual signs or symptoms, such as a breast lump,” staff of the Mayo Clinic says.

It is no wonder many men are not aware of their disease or even know breast cancer is a possibility they may face. The ignorance of breast cancer symptoms and ultimate fatality of male patients could be partially due to the pink-centric awareness focused on women.

The lack of knowledge to check for male breast cancer is also due to the rarity of this cancer in the male population.

According to The American Cancer Society, the likelihood of a man being diagnosed with breast cancer is drastically lower than females.

“Breast cancer is about 100 times less common among men than among women. For men, the lifetime risk of getting breast cancer

Nicholas Erebia | Courtesy Photo

Pictured above is a pink ribbon tied around a light post outside of Lee Hall, which matches other ribbons on campus during the month of October, also known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

is about one in 1,000,” staff with The American Cancer Society say.

In another article by American Cancer Society, they highlight Breast Cancer Awareness Month, yet fail to mention men.

“Thanks to earlier detection—through screening and increased awareness—and better

treatments, a woman’s risk of dying of breast dropped 38 percent between the late 1980s and 2014, translating into 297,300 fewer breast cancer deaths during that time,” staff with The American Cancer Society say.

While breast cancer for women is obviously a painful and terrible disease and affects a large number

Trivia Time!

of women which should be recognized, breast cancer in males can be harder to treat.

According to BreastCancer, men who face breast cancer experience larger cancerous masses, more aggressive cancer cells and metastasis in their lymph nodes. If male breast cancer received even half as much publicity as that of females,

there might be an increase of early diagnosis and maybe even a chance of remission.

Breast cancer should be treated as a serious disease and not be defined by the stereotypical color of femininity, which leaves males unaware and unprepared for a disease they could acquire or have already developed.

REFLECTIONS

1. The island of Saipan is a commonwealth of which country?

2. Cynophobia is the fear of what kind of animal?

3. In the Star Wars universe, who is Luke Skywalker’s mother?

Henry David Thoreau

“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”

Source: triviaq.fyi

Answer: 1. United States, 2. Dogs, 3. Padmé Amidala

America needs a Baby Boom, round two STEVEN WEIRICH

for a couple of decades, as evidenced by the fact our growth rate was 1.4 percent in 1994. This statistic may surprise people, but it makes more sense when fertility rates are also looked at.

is a senior majoring in economics. Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.

I am well aware of the fact that for college students with homework, exams and jobs to apply for, having a discussion about having kids is the last thing we want to do. Nevertheless, there are several trends occurring right now in the U.S. which should make us want to give this topic some thought.

Stephen Mihm in an article for Bloomberg View points out, the United States Census Bureau released data nearly a year ago showing the U.S. population grew only by 0.7 percent from 2015 to 2016.

This is actually the lowest growth rate for our population since 1936 and 1937, during the Great Depression.

This decline in our population growth is not new, however. We have been on a downward slope

“Low population growth can lead to decreases in innovation and entrepreneurship, and can lead to more reactionary and diverse politics.”

According to Daniella Emanuel at CNN, the U.S. fertility rate this year dropped to the lowest number reported since fertility records started being kept more than a century ago. The official numbers were 61.5 births per 1,000 women from the ages of 15 to 44 in 2017. This highlights a fall from 62.5 births per 1,000 women in 2016.

With our population growth and birth rates shrinking, what implications will this have

for the U.S.? This can be difficult to answer. In general, there is evidence a shrinking population can have a negative impact on a country’s economy.

In a policy brief from 2014, the Sheffield Political Economy Research Institute in England stated “growing economies need growing populations, increasing the supply of both workers and consumers, although

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conclude we should be slightly concerned about America’s shrinking growth in population. We are by no means facing a crisis, but if this trend continues, we could face some of the negative effects of depopulation in the near future.

Generally, there are two well-known options for staving off a continued population growth decline:

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Life Editor/Will Wells

Managing Editor/Kristina Domitrovich News Editor/Josh Beck

the precise nature of this relationship is of course complex and variable.”

An economist named Lyman Stone also analyzed these transformations in some of his articles. He pointed out low population growth can lead to decreases in innovation and entrepreneurship, and can lead to more reactionary and divisive politics.

From this, we can

increased immigration rates and increased birth rates.

In one of his pieces, Stone noted how estimated migration has fallen below predictions by roughly 200,000 people per year.

While immigration policy is its own animal, the question of birth rates could be more challenging for the U.S. and specifically for our generation to address.

We do not seem wellconditioned to be the generation to produce another baby boom, with the increasing pressure to establish stable careers before starting a family.

Nonetheless, it is quite possible this is what we could be facing.

If we want to stave off our decreasing population growth, the best way may be for us to have more children than we have been considering.

So now you are thoroughly freaked out, feel free to go back to your homework. However, after you have finished your degree, go out into the world and think about starting a family. It may be in the best interests of our country for you to have a couple more little bundles of joy than you may be planning.

Circulation/Erin Blake circulation@reflector.msstate.edu

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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017 @REFLECTORONLINE

LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT

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Review: Swift’s new album addresses her ‘reputation’ EMMA MOFFETT STAFF WRITER

Taylor Swift released her highly anticipated sixth album on Friday. Selling around 700,000 albums on Friday alone, Swift’s “reputation” is expected to top the charts and break records in all directions. “reputation” combines the old and new Taylor into one cohesive image representing not only her growth as a musician and recording artist, but also as an individual.

Swift is known for opening her diary to the world in her lyrics, and this album is no different.

Songs like “Dancing With Our Hands Tied,” “Call It What You Want,” and “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things,” continue this tradition of secret-sharing.

However, “reputation” goes beyond the cookie cutter, girl-next-door image she has previously presented to the world.

Now, there is an edgy element to both the lyrics and music, which seems rawer than ever before.

The world has seen heartbroken Swift in “Tear Drops On My Guitar,” vengeful Swift in “Bad Blood” and lovesick Swift in “You Belong With Me.” Swift’s new album builds on her previous image and allows her to shine in a new light.

Each song in this album works to create a cohesive image of Swift and the many facets of her personality.

She experiences love, lust, rage, frustration and sentimentality, among other things.

Listen to The Reflector podcast to hear more about Taylor Swift’s

reputation Jenn McFadden, The Reflector

This album, while fully embracing the pop genre, is not a 180-degree turn from her previous works.

There are elements of the “old” Swift throughout the album, but each of these elements only builds on the idea of her “reputation.”

In the album, Swift is combining her past and present self into one unit, which seems like fire and ice battling against one another.

To some critics, this aspect of the album is contradictory to her

creation of a “new” Swift, but perhaps the “new” Swift is a contradiction.

Few people are perfect, or represent one clear image. Instead, people are a composition of varying parts of their emotions, actions and desires.

The “new” Swift is embracing her true self for the first time in her career, and is trying to embrace the snake imagery set in place by “Kimye.” She is taking the tools used against her and shaping them into something to help her

Review: ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ plays into expectations COLLIN SMITH ONLINE EDITOR

I went into “Murder on the Orient Express” with very few expectations.

Even without expectations, there were disappointing aspects of the movie.

This movie has an all-star cast, including legends like Johnny Depp and Judi Dench and relative newcomers like Daisy Riddley and Josh Gad, but sadly it felt like only half the cast was having fun through most of this movie.

There are a few actors and actresses in this movie you can tell are having fun with it, but everyone else just fades into the background, which should not be the case in such a character-driven movie.

Another fault of the movie is viewers go into it expecting a twist, which makes this twist far less interesting.

It is hard to see any murder-mystery film these days and not expect a twist of some kind, but the expectation of twists subverts any tension the movie is trying to build throughout the movie.

You know the first few plausible answers cannot be the true answer, because there has to be a twist somewhere at the end.

By doing this, the movie slowly writes itself into a corner.

I will give the movie some credit for its ending, which left me somewhat satisfied. I applaud the way they got themselves out of their corner, even if the answer does seem a little farfetched.

I also have a problem with the character arch of Hercule Poirot, the protagonist played by Kenneth Branaugh.

The movie does not set up this character like they

JM, TR

should have. The end of the movie shows his struggle with the nature of justice, and his new realization carries no weight to it because they did not set up his character well enough in the beginning of the movie.

They also pull a cheap stunt to make you care about him which seems completely forced and almost annoying.

There are also a few stylistic choices the movie makes which seem unnecessary.

There is a certain camera angle they use a few times during the film which feels out of place and does not serve much of a purpose.

It takes you completely out of the movie. I am all for creative shots, but this just felt awkward and unnecessary.

If you had to make me choose a bright spot in this film, it would easily be the conductor Bouc, played

by Tom Bateman. He was easily my favorite part of the movie. Every time he was on screen, I wanted to see more of him. You can tell he is having fun, and is consequently fun to watch.

Other than a fun introduction and a mostly satisfying ending, the rest of the movie is kind of a snooze. There is zero tension throughout, and I did not care about any of the characters. It all felt flat.

This movie is not worth your money in the theatre. I even hesitate to recommend it once it is on Pay Per View or Amazon. I believe in a week’s time, I will forget I even saw this movie.

career and future grow exponentially.

Critics have said this album presents nothing new about Taylor Swift, but with “reputation,” Swift is unveiled to the world for the first time.

She reveals intimate details about her current love, Joe Alywn, and shows how the drama surrounding her life has become substantially less important now that she is focused on him.

Swift is known for publicizing her

relationships.

However, with Alywn, she is turning over a new leaf.

By avoiding the paparazzi and refusing to document anything on social media, Swift is showing how highly she values and prioritizes their relationship.

Throughout countless songs on “reputation,” she finally allows the world a glimpse into their relationship, but, for once, it appears a glimpse is all she will be giving.

One major downside

to this album is the lack of collaborations. Besides her collaboration with Future and Ed Sheeran in “End Game,” the entire album is just Swift.

In the aftermath of the “Kimye” feud and #taylorswiftisoverpar ty, many people felt Swift’s image of being a connected and socially active woman was destroyed, and her previous friendships were dissolved.

By having so few collaborations, the idea Swift was and is isolated from many of her previous connections is reinforced.

Why has she never worked with Lorde, Selena Gomez or even Kesha? It is assumed these people are her friends, but by choosing to exclude those collaborations, it brings into question their friendship, or lack thereof.

Overall, “reputation” is a success and will reap many awards and accolades in the coming years.

People will always love and hate Taylor Swift, but no one can deny her talent and marketing genius.

The promotion of this album, the cover art and the merchandise are all examples of how creative Swift is.

The music video for “Look What You Made Me Do” will definitely be nominated for video of the year during the next awards season, and I am sure other hits on “reputation” will be accompanied with equally impressive music videos.

Be prepared to hear “reputation” on repeat for the next couple of years, or at least until Swift moves on to her next album and the next version of herself.

6

THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017 @SPORTSREFLECTOR

SPORTS

Men’s and women’s basketball open season with doubleheader

HUNTER CLOUD STAFF WRITER

Mississippi State University men’s basketball dominated in game one of the season-opening doubleheader, as they gave a glimpse of what the program could be; and MSU women’s basketball won a tough game as they remembered their past success.

MEN DOMINATE FROM START TO FINISH

While MSU men’s basketball (1-0) won 96-68, fouls were the big take away for head coach Ben Howland after MSU’s season-opening game over Alabama State University (0-1).

Just eight minutes into the game, the two teams had a combined 20 fouls.

Howland addressed the foul situation as the refs called a really tight game.

“Officials came out calling things very tight. The game did not have a flow to it early on because there were so many fouls,” Howland said. “The players need to understand how the game is being called, so they can adjust their game to it.”

The team avoided any more foul trouble by switching to a zone defense.

Howland also credited big man Aric Holman, who had a double-double, and guard Eli Wright with a great performance in the victory.

“I think Aric Holman had a great first half, and ended up with a double-double, Eli Wright gave us great minutes today,” Howland said. “I’m very glad we got the first win of the year and got off to a great start. It will continue next Saturday.”

One of the reasons Holman played so much was because Xavian Stapleton

Olivia Zeringue | The Reflector

Sophomore Lamar Peters dribbles down the floor in MSU’s 96-68 win over Alabama State.

played only 5 minutes of the game due to a re-aggravation of an injury early in the game.

“Xavian Stapleton reinjured his knee that he has had surgery to repair twice,” Howland said. “We do not think it is that bad, based on the doctor looking at it, but you never know until we get an MRI. We will be trying to work that out for tomorrow.

That put a major wrench in our game,” Holman, a junior forward from Owensboro, Kentucky, scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in 21 minutes of playing time.

“I felt great, but at the end of the day I owe it all to my teammates, they are constantly telling me to score the ball and they help me build my confidence,” Holman said. “It’s just another part of me. That’s how I need to be though because I am skinnier, I need to be more aggressive to fit in.”

Howland was really proud of Holman’s versatility in tonight’s game, as he was

able to knock down a few threes, block some shots and make some great passes. He just needs Holman to stay strong when he is tired.

“I was very excited for him, he ended up with 21 minutes, and we need him to keep pushing himself through exhaustion,” Howland said. “He did a great job passing the ball, stretching the floor and blocking shots.”

Howland liked having two point guards on the court in Lamar Peters, and Nick Weatherspoon, a freshman guard from Canton, who had 11 points and three assists in his first college game.

“It was real good, I knew we would be fast together and how we find each other,“ Weatherspoon said. “It was great, the crowd just gets into the game. With this just being my first college game, it was wonderful, it was all that I had expected.”

Their next game will be in Starkville on Saturday.

They take on Florida A&M University and tipoff is set for 3 p.m.

Noah Siano | The Reflector

Senior Morgan William had eight assists in MSU’s 68-53 win over the University of Virginia.

HARD FOUGHT WIN GIVES WOMEN STRONG START TO SEASON

On the back end of the double-header, the No. 4 ranked MSU women’s basketball team (1-0) experienced a special night as the final four banner was raised high into the rafters before MSU women’s basketball took on the University of Virginia (0-1).

MSU was able to pull out the 68-53 and head coach Vic Schaefer felt the game matched the level of play of a postseason game.

“That felt like a NCAA tournament game, I just have so much respect for Virginia and their staff,” Schaefer said. “This was a crazy game to open with, I’ve been sick about it for a while. I thought Torrie was the difference in that she took great shots, and attacked the rim.”

Victoria Vivians, a senior guard from Carthage, scored 22 points, and grabbed seven rebounds in 37 minutes. She knows it will be her defense, not

her offense, to make the difference.

“I feel like if I produce on the defensive end then we will have a chance of winning games,” Vivians said. “We’ve got good chemistry, so there is no point in taking a bad shot. I feel like what coach always says, ‘make a good shot a great shot,’ if they make the extra pass and I’m open, I’m going to shoot it.”

Senior guard Roshunda Johnson, from Little Rock, Arkansas, also had a huge night as she scored 18 points, and forced three steals in 28 minutes, but she felt like she could have done some things better.

“I think it could’ve been better, but I have my teammates behind me, and when I wasn’t doing anything, my team helped and stepped up,” Johnson said. “Help side a lot, and slowing down, but I have my teammates behind me, so when I’m not going, someone else is.”

The team shot poorly making 39.7 percent of their shots in the game. Schaefer said he felt the team came

FOOTBALL There were no underdog clichés from him like “we gave it everything we had,” or “I’m so proud of this team.”

Mullen and the rest of the players were extremely disappointed, but also held themselves accountable for the loss. The way the team played and their demeanor after the game was evidence this football team truly believed they could have beaten Alabama.

Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, a junior from Richmond Hill, Georgia, talked about the emotions in the locker room after the game, and the ability to bounce back from a tough loss.

“We lost. We lost a football game we feel like we should have won,” Fitzgerald said. “I feel like we could have won, so I’m disappointed, sad, but we can’t lean on it too much, we must keep moving forward.

We have two more games left in the regular season, must wins, and we have a bowl game, so we have to keep moving forward. We can’t dwell on this one.”

out cold in the first half, and believes his two seniors helped out a lot shootingwise going down the stretch.

“We missed a bunch of wide-open shots tonight that we don’t typically miss,” Schaefer said. “I thought Ro (Johnson) made some big shots in the third quarter, and I just thought Tori (Vivians) made some really critical shots for us. She took some really good shots.”

Freshman guard Chloe Bibby, from Warracknabeal, Australia, played in her first official game as a college player. She scored 13 points in 29 minutes. She said she did not feel any pressure stepping into a role with the team.

“It didn’t really bother me a whole lot, I’ve got great teammates around me who are always helping me on and off the court, so I didn’t really feel any pressure from that,” Bibby said. “I’m just glad I could contribute, and help out where I could. I was happening, and that was just the game.”

Schaefer believes Bibby will play an important role in this team going forward, and he was pleasantly surprised by her performance. However, he said she will have to learn some technical things to improve.

“Her skill set is really good, she’s from a skill set standpoint a little bit different.

That’s good, and that is something that will help us a bunch,” Schaefer said. “What she is going to have to deal with is some technique, blocking out, and dealing with some other things.”

Their next game will be on Thursday against Georgia State University. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be played in Starkville at Humphrey Coliseum.

CONTINUED FROM 1

Noah Siano| The Reflector

No. 16 Mississippi State University battled the No. 2 University of Alabama for four quarters, but fell short in the fourth by a score of 31-24.

Safety Mark McLaurin, a junior from Collins, shared similar sentiments as Fitzgerald.

“It is very disappointing.

We came out here and played so hard and just came up a little short. It was a game of inches,” McLaurin said.

“You think about it over the weekend, but come Monday, you move and it’s a whole new game plan because we got

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a big one coming up on the road this week.”

The players and coach Mullen were adamant about not letting this game affect the rest of the season, and moving on from the loss. The attitude of the players and coaches around the program are different from years past, and with good reason.

The Bulldogs came into last Saturday’s game ranked

18th in the AP poll. Despite their loss, MSU moved up one spot to number 17 in the AP poll, and their College Football Playoff ranking will be revealed tonight.

Even in defeat, MSU proved itself on Saturday night with a national audience watching as they went toe-totoe with the premier college football powerhouse, and gave them all they wanted and

then some.

The rankings reflect MSU as a legitimate team, despite three losses, and so do the numbers.

They currently have the 12th ranked rushing attack in the nation, averaging just over 250 yards rushing per game.

Defensively, the Bulldogs rank 11th in total yards allowed, holding opponents to just 305 yards per game, and 19th in points allowed, holding teams to just 19.3 points per game.

The three teams who have beaten MSU this season are all currently ranked in the top 10.

On Saturday, the Bulldogs resembled a top 20 team because they did not just keep it close, they out-played Alabama and entered the fourth quarter with a 24-17 lead.

MSU won the time of possession battle 38:56 to 21:04. They also rushed for 172 yards, which is the most Alabama has allowed since 2015 against Georgia. The Bulldogs looked like the more physical team as both Fitzgerald and Aeris Williams ran hard, and on a few

occasions, ran through the Alabama defenders.

The defense was disruptive, putting heat on Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts all night as they sacked him five times. Ultimately, big plays cost MSU as they gave up a pair of 60 plus yard receptions to Calvin Ridley and a 48 yard run by Damien Harris.

MSU must now focus its attention toward the future, because to validate this season and continue the progress Dak Prescott and many other former MSU greats have started, they must win out.

The final three-game stretch includes a game on the road at Razorback Stadium against a desperate Arkansas team looking to keep their bowl hopes alive, followed by an unpredictable game in the always-interesting egg bowl against rival Ole Miss. Then, the season concludes with a bowl game, potentially ending the season with 10 wins.

Kickoff against Arkansas is set for 11 a.m. on Saturday.

The game is in Fayetteville, Arkansas.