11.16.22

Court on the Road convenes on campus

heather harrison editor-in-chief

Last Wednesday, the Mississippi Court of Appeals traveled to Mis sissippi State Universi ty to hear two cases.

The Court on the Road program visits college campuses and other locations around the state for the public to have a better under standing of how appel late cases are tried. The University of Missis sippi, Alcorn State Uni versity and Rust Col lege also hosted the program this fall.

“Court on the Road is an excellent opportu nity for college stu dents, especially those

considering a career in law, to learn more about our court system and our appellate courts,” Judge Jack Wilson said in a press release.

Typically, three ap pellate judges hear each case, but four judges came to the Hunter Henry Center Wednes day: Wilson, Anthony Lawrence, David McCarty and John Em finger. Wilson and Em fingers’ districts in clude Starkville.

“They haven’t been able to do Court on the Road since the pan demic, so we’re excited that they can resume those,” said Beverly Kraft, public informa tion officer for the Ad

Study abroad offers students foreign experiences

As the fall semester ends at Mississippi State University, appli cations are opening up within the Office of Study Abroad.

The Office of Study Abroad works to broaden students’ global perspectives by offering hundreds of opportunities for stu dents to study in over 80 nations, from France to Guatemala.

According to the As sistant Director of Study Abroad Annika Campbell, MSU stu dents can study interna tionally through three different methods.

One option is through faculty-led programs, in which students take MSU courses taught by MSU faculty in a for eign country. Most last between three to five weeks, but some can be as short as ten days or as long as ten weeks.

While details vary from program to pro gram, most students

pay the program fees and live abroad with a group of peers while MSU faculty guide them through the experi ence. Last year, over 425 students partici pated in these pro grams. Another way students

can study abroad is through exchange pro grams. Students will either pay MSU tuition to study for a semester or pay an entire aca demic year at a part nered university abroad. Over 20 uni versities across the

globe are available for tuition exchange pro grams.

An additional alter native for students is to study internationally through affiliated pro vider companies. Through six outside companies, the Office

of Study Abroad can ad vise students to take one of the hundreds of different study abroad opportunities in places all over the world.

In these affiliate pro grams, students pay tu ition to the provider company and are en

rolled in an institution abroad. Regardless of a student's needs, Camp bell said the Office of Study Abroad has oppor tunities for individuals to broaden their world view while earning meaningful credit.

MSU center provides assistance for visually impaired individuals

For 41 years, the Na tional Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vi sion (NRTC) has helped improve employment and independent living outcomes for individuals with blindness and low vision across the coun try.

The NRTC, housed in the Industrial Education Building at Mississippi State University, has fo cused on research, train ing and technical assis tance toward affected individuals and profes sionals.

The center assisted professionals and em ployers who may work with these individuals in

the future.

NRTC is the only lowvision center funded by the United States De partment of Health and Human Services in the nation.

Most of its funding originates from the Na tional Institute on Dis ability, Independent Liv ing and Rehabilitation Research, the federal

government’s main dis ability research agency, for a Rehabilitation Re search and Training Center Program (RRTC) grant.

The RRTC grant is awarded on a five-year cycle and is aimed at conducting research and training activities in spe cific topic areas assigned by the national institute.

Anne Steverson, a re search associate for the center, has been with the NRTC since October 2013. She said the center has a history of receiving this funding from the institute.

“We have competed for that grant since 1981 and have won it every year it has been competed,” Steverson said. “We also have other grants and funding

sources with states, such as state evaluations for its older blind program ming.”

The center also re ceives funding for var ious federal projects, in cluding the Older Individuals who are Blind Training and Technical Assistance Center (OIB-TAC) through a grant from the

FORECAST: We’ve got sunshine in the forecast, folks! After a rainy Tuesday, the sun will return for several days. It’s officially sweater weather, so pull out your hoodies, beanies and sweatpants from storage. Temperatures this week range from highs in the low 50s to lows in the 20s. It’s going to be another cold game day Saturday in Davis Wade with a high of 51.

Rehabilitation Services Administration.

With assistance center, the NRTC has worked with program managers in all 50 states and most territories to train its staff on best practices for working with visually impaired employees on a basic level.

The grant also re quires the NRTC to col laborate with three other states more intensely, and the center has al ready collaborated with 15.

Cantrice Moffitt, the center’s rehabilitation training and outreach specialist, said the at mosphere when applying for these grants is re markable.

“It was a collaborative effort across the whole

team to get things done,” Moffitt said. “It (felt) like an achieve ment for all of us … no matter what our roles where in (the NRTC).”

The NRTC primarily focuses on research and training to further em ployment opportunities for blind and low-vi sioned individuals.

ministrative Office of Courts.

The judges first heard the appeal of Chris

topher Smith versus the State of Mississippi. In 2021, the Copiah County Circuit judge

sentenced Smith to life in prison after the jury found him guilty of first-degree murder.

The second case was Steven L. Lewis versus the State of Mississippi from 2021.

Last Wednesday, the Mississippi Court of Appeals traveled to Mississippi State University’s Hunter Henry Center to hear two cases as part of the Court on the Road program.

Courtesy Photo | Court of Appeals

Last summer, a group of students from MSU traveled to Oxford, England, for a study abroad program. During the trip, the student s ventured to various locations around the United Kingdom. The London Eye is pictured.

Landon Scheel | The Reflector

ABROAD, 2

trey barrett life and entertainment editor

samuel hughes staff Writer

Courtesy Photo | MSU

NRTC Research Associate Anne Steverson.

Courtesy Photo | MSU NRTC Outreach Specialist Cantrice Moffitt.

Courtesy Photo | MSU Communications Coordinator Sarah Moody.

Circuit Judge Toni Terrett sentenced Lewis to life in prison plus 40 years to be served consecutively.

The jury found Lewis guilty of one count of both first-degree and second-degree murder.

Each appellate case has a defense lawyer and a prosecutor. Both sides had 30 minutes to state their arguments. The judges can ask questions while the law yers are speaking.

The judges do not de cide the cases' outcome during the hearing.

“We’re an independ ent view of what hap pened at the trial courts,” Judge Law rence said.

After the hearing, the

ABROAD

Students can study abroad to obtain a minor or over summer or winter break to graduate early.

“We can find courses for every major, and it's also important to remember that you don't have to take courses in your major to study abroad. You can take some elective courses or humanities courses, things that could count towards your degree in other ways,” Campbell said.

The requirements of these opportunities vary, but almost all programs re quire a 2.5 minimum GPA. Other requirements are listed in program applica tions, which can be found on the Office of Study Abroad’s website.

The cost of these pro grams vary based on dura tion, location and the amount of credit received.

According to Campbell, students who wish to study abroad can receive financial aid or pursue scholarship opportunities.

Students can check with their respective major de partments to see if they offer any department-spe cific scholarships. Gen erally, scholarships range from $250 to $2,000 per student, but award amounts vary by college, department and funding. Along with de partment funding, all finan cial aid that a student re ceives can be used for affiliated study abroad pro grams.

Students can also seek national scholarships to study abroad. While there are listings of national scholarships on the Office of Study Abroad’s website, Campbell recommends stu dents do some additional

judges spoke to the stu dents and answered questions about the court. Several students said they hoped to be lawyers, so watching the hearing was informative for their future careers.

Judge Emfinger said that while he was one of the older judges, he was

the newest elected. He gave advice to the at tendees.

“It doesn’t matter how old you are, how experienced you are, you need to read the book,” Emfinger said, speaking about the case brief.

The judges com mended the lawyers and their staff for their case presentations.

“Y’all got to witness some good lawyers, and you didn’t even realize it,” Lawrence said to the attendees.

Jessica Pettis, a sen ior political science major, attended the ear lier hearing as part of Professor Whit Waide’s Constitutional Powers class.

research on national schol arships.

Maud Barthes, a lecturer in the French department, will lead a study abroad pro gram in Tours, France. Lo cated two-and-a-half hours from Paris in the chateaufilled Loire Valley, students study French at a renowned language institute, while experiencing the vibrance of French culture through guided excursions around Tours and Paris.

Barthes said studying abroad can bring a new level of confidence and maturity to students. If students can manage it, a study abroad program is the time to see the world.

“You’re young, it's the time to be curious. It's time to put yourself out there. It's a time to get a little un comfortable, and it's a time also to just try to confront your cliches and your stereotypes that you have towards the world,” Barthes said.

Kennedy Kellen, a junior majoring in psychology and minoring in French, attend ed the Tours trip with Barthes last summer. She lived with a host family that spoke almost exclusively French, toured castles, at tended wine festivals and visited landmarks like the Notre Dame Cathedral.

Her weekends were left open, and Kellen took ad vantage of the low traveling cost within Europe to ex plore London and Belgium.

Through the program, she obtained a French minor and is on track to graduate early. Kellen said students should become involved in studying abroad.

“Take that opportunity. It's the perfect time to go

In 2020, the center re ceived a NIDILRR grant to establish a research and training program on the “employment of people who are blind or have low vision.”

The project will encom pass seven research proj ects aimed “to generate new knowledge and pro vide training and technical assistance with the goal of improving employment outcomes for people who are blind or have low vi sion,” according to the NRTC website.

On one particular proj ect, Steverson said the NRTC will evaluate whether a virtual interview software system is works for individuals who are blind or have low vision.

The evaluation of an in teractive video aimed at employers serves as the third project for the center.

Sarah Moody, the center's communications coordinator, has worked on creating the video for the project. She said its creation aims to help em ployers and increase awareness for disabled in dividuals entering the workforce.

“This interactive video is

information that provides almost every single answer you can imagine possible,” Moody said. “It allows em ployers to work through different aspects of the video and makes it more re latable for these busi nesses.”

Steverson said the inter active video project will look at implicit bias and biofeedback.

“The main targets are hiring resource managers, so we are working with the College of Business to pilot some of the videos on its students,” Steverson said.

Another project will train adults for virtual job searching skills. It features a similar curriculum to a previous year’s study that trained teenagers.

Moffitt said her main takeaway from the skills training is how individuals learn new skills and con nect with others.

“It provides training on interviewing skills, resume writing and networking. They are (able to) use their own knowledge and experi ences (and) bring them to the table to help each other,” Moffitt said.

The NRTC conducted a

right now, I would say. And yeah, I feel like you would learn so much, not only about the history of a differ ent country, but really about how you respond to different situations, being

“It was a very cool ex perience to see what our courts do,” Pettis said.

Pettis said she liked

seeing how the court operates and flows while hearing a case. She said her class stud ied the cases before at

tending the hearing.

Sophomores Halley Cole and Emily Cox at tended the second hear ing.

“I’ve never been to court before, so it’s kind of intriguing to see how it all works,” said Cole, a political science major.

Cox agreed.

“Yes, and get to see all the lawyers go about it,” said Cox, a crim inology major. “We both want to be law yers.”

Kraft said the Court looks forward to making visits to college cam puses to inform stu dents and demonstrate the legal system.

“The judges do enjoy it,” Kraft said.

outside your comfort zone,” Kellen said.

Many summer program applications are already open, while others are set to open in the coming weeks. Application deadlines vary,

one-year study examining the accessibility of online job application forms. The project collaborated with the American Foundation for the Blind.

In addition to the re search projects, the center also has 15 training and technical assistance proj ects.

Moffitt shared an exam ple of one of these proj ects.

“One of them is the Blindness Experience Training. We are develop ing that for Vocational Re habilitation Agencies so those workers … can ex perience and overcome simple obstacles that visually impaired individ uals deal with.”

Moffitt said the training exercises will simulate complications like cata racts or diabetic retinopa thy and have participants try to do everyday activ ities.

NRTC also hosts webi nars, teaching disability employment topics, and records podcasts, where visually impaired individ uals share their employ ment experiences.

Moody shared the im pacts of the podcasts.

“It’s just different per spectives and has that edu cation aspect. It is also per sonable to individuals who are blind or have low vision to give them inspiration,” Moody said.

Alongside the research and training projects, the NRTC also provides 65 free continuing-education courses for individuals who

are in the blindness and low vision field. The cours es provide accreditation for individuals to retain their licenses or are new to the field.

The center provides an opportunity for visually im paired individuals to emerge in the workforce.

Moody said that through her experience, she real

ized how impactful her role can be.

“At our OIB conference at Denver, a few of our managers needed human guides. I got to human guide one of our program managers,” Moody said. “Getting to live that ex perience with someone just made what we do really im pactful.”

but students considering a summer program should expect a deadline in Febru ary or March. More information can be found through the Office of Study Abroad self-enroll

ment Canvas course, which can be found on its website. Students can also stop by the International Institute on the ground floor of Allen Hall for additional ques tions.

While in the United Kingdom, some Mississippi State students visited the prehistoric monument Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain nea r Salisbury, Wiltshire, England.

Landon Scheel | The Reflector

Heather Harrison | The Reflector

Senior Jessica Pettis attended the hearing.

Heather Harrison | The Reflector

Sophomores Halley Cole (left) and Emily Cox (right) waited to enter the hearing.

Ivy Rose Ball | The Reflector

The Industrial Education Building on campus houses the National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision.

The group of students who attended the study abroad program in Oxford, England, posed for a photo while representing Mississipp i State University internationally. Landon Scheel | The Reflector

Weekly Horoscopes

Pisces- In our initial conversation with the stargod residing in the great bey ond, they said you had been trouble some. However, we explained the situation with your sister, and you’re all clear.

Virgo- It’s not going to go well. You know exactly what I am referring to.

Aries - Your Venus connects with your ascendent Virgo and descendent Sagit tarius in the sky tonight. Astronomers across the world are scrambling to fig ure out how this is possible given the standard model, and Galileo is spin ning like a top in his grave.

Aquarius - Aquarius, maybe you should consider a new leadership role, such as a local office. I hear the Oktib beha County Treasury is looking for fresh, young faces.

Cancer- Criticize everyone and stop thinking before you speak. Jeer at leaders in your community and make frightening faces at every third child you see. The stargods and us have been getting bored, frankly.

Capricorn - Your love life only resides in a metaphysical sense. X’anthrai, the taller of the two stargods, told me to tell you they think you look cute.

Thursday, November 10, 2022

A student reported receiv ing a call in the ITS De partment from an unknown subject threaten ing to shoot up the school. A detective was notified.

Friday, November 11, 2022

An officer responded to Hand Lab to dispose of expired controlled sub stances.

An employee reported an older white male scream ing belligerently on South Farm. The subject left the scene and OCSO was alerted.

More Bad Dawgs can be found each week in our online edition.

Saturday, November 12, 2022

A student was arrested in the Hunter Henry Center parking lot for careless driving and DUI.

A student reported they were bitten by a dog while jogging on South Farm. The student was transported to OCH.

Sunday, November 13, 2022

A student was arrested on Tracy Drive for reckless driving and public intoxi cation.

A student reported his Yeti cooler stolen from a tail gating tent in the junction. Taking another man’s bevs...shame.

Hot take

Priority class registration for athletes points to unfair favoritism

comfort in the idea that everyone suffers equally.

It was a pleasant Tuesday afternoon as I sat in my office attempting to perfect my Spring 2023 Class Schedule Plan.

I intricately selected classes that would satisfy a variety of course requirements for my major, and I carefully took note of the seat restrictions for each course. As I ventured through the Master Class Schedule, I heard a stifled giggle from my coworker. “Imagine not being registered yet,” he jeered.

The remark was all in good jest, I suppose. Perplexed, I questioned his comment. How could he possibly be registered for classes already? I am an upperclass honors student, and my registration date was still over a week away, while this underclassman had been registered for days. How is this even possible?

He is a student athlete. Of course.

Mississippi State University’s official Academic Calendar adds a quick note, stating “some departments begin advising earlier.” Why is it that student athletes get to register so far ahead of the rest of us? While we all endure the harrowing registration process that typically ends with a sweaty brow and a massive grunt of defeat, athletes can cruise along and select whichever courses their hearts desire.

I draw issues on this for a multitude of reasons. The first is, admittedly, that misery loves company. If I have to struggle during registration, I find small

The second: why are athletes given more advantages than other hard-working students? They already get their own dining hall, extensive scholarships and priority dorm preferences. I understand that student athletes work hard and make the school a lot of money, but deep down, they are my regular peers. The school is, deep down, an educational institution, not a sports franchise.

Sarah Thuet of the Butler Collegian claimed that “a student-athlete’s typical day is not as flexible as the average student nor do they have the luxury of skipping games and practices without very convincing excuses.” While this may be true, students that do not participate in college sports have just as busy schedules. From working several jobs, attending student organization meetings and the sheer amount of studying required of some majors, “regular” students have obligations too.

The Pit News Editorial Board at the University of Pittsburg said it best. “Getting into a course that fits [a student athlete’s] lifestyle is obviously important to their success. But it’s just as important to the success of every other student on this campus.”

I am frustrated by the the university’s obsession with putting athletes on such a high pedestal. Every student just wants to register for the classes they need to graduate, not just athletes.

Bathroom reviews 3: McArthur door does not stay shut

lucy Hallmark StaFF Writer

Over the course of the past two weeks, I have begun to ask myself deeper questions. Why are some bathrooms disgusting, but others are practically spotless? Am I the only person on the planet who has thought to review bathrooms? How is there not a Yelp for this already?

The only thought that keeps me calm is the promise that someday college will end, and all I will have will be pictures that I will hate of my friends and myself, a degree that fulfilled my overwhelming need for academic validation and a concise 2,500-word document that outlines the virtues of (almost) all MSU bathrooms, which might be the most important article series I will ever write. Join me as my adventure continues into our penultimate week of bathroom reviews.

Giles Hall, 5/10 -Generally clean -Questionable style choices -Cave-like

This bathroom on the first floor of Giles Hall is comparable to an ‘80s fever dream. The color palette is slightly reminiscent of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse of my youth. The stalls are a bright orange, with a royal blue countertop and dim

lighting. The cleanliness of this bathroom was average, not great, but I have seen worse. There are not many stalls in this bathroom, but I doubt the population demand for this bathroom is extremely high. One interesting observation I had about this lavatory is the power of the flush. The toilets flush with a greater intensity than I have ever seen in my 18 years. I am not entirely sure whether to categorize this as a pro or a con.

McCool Hall (first and second floor), 4/10 -Points for design -Stinks -Many stalls -Questionable lighting choices I have visited both the first and second floor bathrooms of McCool Hall, and there is absolutely no difference between them. I almost want to give points for consistency. The most outstanding observation I had upon entering this bathroom was the stench, which goes beyond standard bathroom stench. Whatever you are imagining, it is probably worse. The layout and design of the bathrooms are decent, and leaving out the smell, they are also clean. Another question I was left with after leaving the bathroom was: do business majors prefer darkness? Both bathrooms were horribly lit, and I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone would want a dark bathroom.

Mitchell Memorial Library (2nd floor), 6.75/10

-Small -Large handicap stall

This bathroom was a pleasant surprise. It is relatively off the beaten path, which I believe contributes to its spotless appearance. It is slightly cramped, but it gets the job done. There is also minimal lighting.

Mitchell Memorial Library (4th floor), 7/10 -Private -Clean Mississippi State University has an impressive collection of Lincolnia, as well as a museum of music, all located on the fourth floor of the library. What else is located on the fourth floor?

One single-stall bathroom with more space than a person could ever need. The bathroom was darkly lit but quite clean. Honestly, most sins of a bathroom can be forgiven by a door with a hefty lock (as well as some privacy).

Fresh Food Company, 7/10 -Lots of stalls -Not usually crowded -Secluded

This bathroom is a solid seven. It is usually not very busy (always a plus), and it is adequately clean. It is a large bathroom with many stalls to choose from. As much as it physically pains me to write, in this battle of bathrooms, Fresh is ranking much higher than Perry.

McArthur Hall, 5.5/10

-Very clean -Secluded

-Door locks need extreme work

McArthur Hall has some very clean bathrooms. That is what stood out to me as I checked out this first floor restroom. My only qualm with this bathroom was the quality of the stall lock mechanism. I had the unfortunate experience of having to hold the door closed while I used the restroom. This brings to mind a topic I am particularly passionate about, which is the quality of stall doors. Too many times have I entered a bathroom only to realize that I might as well have left the door open, since there is an inch wide gap in the door.

McArthur goes further and fails the minimum requirement of a door, which is being able to shut it. If there was any situation on Earth in which I would want a door that shuts effectively, it would be in the bathroom. I do not believe this is a complex issue, evidenced by the amount of functional doors I have seen in my life. I would be so incredibly pleased if I never have to make mutually awkward eye contact in the gap between a stall door again. It is 2022, for God’s sake.

The answer to last week's question of "how many consecutive bathroom reviews will they let me publish?" is four, apparently. Join me next week for our finale.

EDITORIAL POLICY CORRECTIONS

editor@reflector.msstate.edu

landon ScHeel

dontae ball

Metaphysical businesses enlighten Starkville community

Starkville holds a space for healing with its duo of magical businesses.

Metaphysical or spiri tual stores focus on the enlightenment of the soul by selling products or services that enhance conscious awareness.

300 Greensboro Street is home to Soulflower Healing Arts Studio, a spiritual sanctuary for peace and soul rejuvena tion.

After working as a mid dle school teacher and counselor for over 20 years, owner Miki Bryant opened up her holistic studio and began to work as a licensed professional counselor with an earth medicine focus.

“I knew when I opened it that it wasn’t just going to be a solo practice. I’m a group person,” Bryant said.

Along with Bryant, Amanda Anderson works as a Reiki master and wellness coordinator, while Juan Corrigan works as a guide of mas sage therapy.

The team at Soulflower offers Reiki healing, guided meditations, hyp notherapy, massage ther apy, card readings, ener getic clearing and balancing and many other healing alternatives.

Through the entrance of the tiny, square build

ing, a sitting area awaits to greet visitors with nat ural sounds and serene energy. The right-side walls are lined with CBD products, locally made pottery and books on spiritual and personal growth.

Jennilynn Hall sits at the front desk, waiting for members to check in for an appointment or to take a break in the med itation room.

Hall is a sophomore majoring in psychology at Mississippi State Uni versity. She began work ing at Soulflower in Oc tober 2022 after searching for an intern ship in town.

“I was honestly just looking, and I had no idea that Soulflower was even here. I didn’t even know there was a place in Starkville that could offer this kind of energy medi cine,” Hall said.

To the right of the wait ing room is a lending li brary full of spiritual books available for members and visitors.

The shelves contain hun dreds of books that can be borrowed from the li brary for free with the condition that they are brought back or lent to another person.

“It’s just another way to support people in their growth and devel opment,” Bryant said.

Near the library, the meditation and mindful

ness rooms are intercon nected areas filled with colorful tapestries, com fortable seating and eu phoric music. In the meditation room, a circle of dark blue cushions lay on a vibrant rug for members to enjoy at any time.

At Soulflower, members become a part of their community. They

are invited to a variety of monthly events including Lunch with the Bunch, where regular partici pants and new faces can come together with their lunches and commune. With the remedies and supportive community found at Soulflower, Bryant said she has the goal of spreading con sciousness across the

Starkville community.

“Our tagline is 're awaken your soul’s pur pose,'” Bryant said. “It’s about bringing in that higher level, raising the vibration, raising the level of consciousness within this community by being the community that we want to perpetuate.”

A few streets over, on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, sits a brick building embossed with blue butterflies on the roof.

Serendipity Hippie is a bohemian studio and boutique full of artisti cally-designed clothing and metaphysical pro ducts. On the shelves lie herbs, teas, oils, books and locally made beeswax candles; tables are filled with elaborate trays of natural stones and crys tals.

Owner Paisley Hamil ton always greets cus tomers in with a welcom ing smile and cheerful personality. She started Serendipity Hippie in 2011 while still in col lege.

“For seven years, I vended art festivals and pop-up shops. I worked out of a spare bedroom in my home,” Hamilton said.

Her journey began as a product of her creativity. In 2017, her dreams and art were manifested into a physical location.

“What started out as a

space to share positivity and my creative visions quickly became a spirit depot and free-spirited hub within our commu nity,” Hamilton said.

The inventory at Seren dipity Hippie is dynamic and features Hamilton’s creations of clothing, textile and jewelry.

Along with her work, an array of heirloom goods, conscious odd ities and an apothecary of full ritual essentials and natural elements are on display.

“Everything needed to live a free-spirited and magical lifestyle,” Ham ilton said.

Hamilton said she hoped to provide a loving and accepting space to unify the community’s differences.

“My hope is to provide tools that help facilitate healing within the indi vidual and the whole — to open the connection to ourselves and one another on a deeper, soulful level,” Hamilton said.

She said she is forever grateful for the support she has received in Stark ville from her inspiring customers.

“My customers are light seeking, nature lov ing, free spirited, big dreaming folk that keep me inspired and make every day new and excit ing at the studio,” Hamil ton said.

Fraternity members to suit up for a cause in Pan's Man

Sullivan contributinG writer

This Friday, the Na tional Panhellenic Coun cil will host Pan’s Man from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Bettersworth Audito rium at Lee Hall.

Pan’s Man is a talent competition where fra ternity members wear a suit of their choice, par ticipate in a talent por tion and answer an on stage question.

The proceeds raised go directly to Panhelle nic’s philanthropy, the Autism Developmental and Disabilities Clinic (ADDC) located on cam pus.

ADCC provides serv ices for children with au tism and behavior dis orders. The money given to the clinic will go to ward hiring graduate students and providing services for all the chil dren.

Taylor McClure, a sen

ior communication major, is the director of activities for the Na tional Panhellenic Coun cil. She shared how Pan hellenic contributes to the philanthropy's cause.

“This is the Director of Community Service’s big thing that they get to do every year,” McClure said. “ ... I think this is one of the most fun events that Panhellenic has the privilege to put on because it is hilarious but also raising money for a good cause.”

The competition will have two winners who will each receive a prize.

Smith Wolford, a senior educational psychology major, is the director of community service for the National Panhellenic Council. She shared what types of prizes will be given to the winners.

“The winner will get a $1,000 scholarship with $500 going to them and

the other $500 going to ward their fraternity’s philanthropy. The sec ond winner is a fan fa vorite. So, throughout the week they will have fan favorite pages through our Instagram where you can go and donate and pick who you want to be the fan favor ite,” Wolford said. “The winner will get a $25 gift card to a restaurant of their choice in Stark ville.”

The fan favorite pages will be live the night of the event, allowing for donations to be added to the money raised for the clinic.

“A lot of important, well-known Mississippi State people will be there as well making guest appearances, and then we’ll have some other things going throughout the night that you can participate in,” Wolford said.

Panhellenic asked the

“I’m

Pan’s

“I’m very excited about it because the par ticipants are excited and the whole meaning be hind it is really impor tant to me. This cause is

bigger than people real ize because the

Clinic is so important here on our campus,” Wolford said.

Doors open Friday at 5:30 p.m., and tickets are $7. Tickets can be pur chased through the link on Panhellenic’s Instagram (@msu_panhellenic) as well as the Director of Community Serivce Wolf ord’s personal Instagram (@smith_wolford23).

‘Anne and Emmett’ reprisal spreads light on social injustices

The play “Anne and Emmett” opened with the statement: “The struggle between good and evil has been with us a long time.”

The resonating sen timent kicked off the rep risal performance of the play by Theatre MSU and the Starkville Community Theatre.

Janet Langhart Cohen’s “Anne and Emmett,” tells the tale of a hypothetical conversation between two young people gone too soon: Anne Frank and Emmett Till.

The duo’s conversation takes place in a fictional setting called Memory, where Frank and Till hope to never be for gotten.

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the Birmingham Jewish Fed eration and the Alabama Holocaust Education Center requested the reprisal performances.

There were three shows, with the first at the Starkville Community

Theatre Nov. 10. On Nov. 13, the play ran in Birmingham, Alabama, and again on Nov. 14 for high school students.

The reprisal precedes the opening of the “Em mett Till & Mamie TillMobley: Let the World See” exhibit at the Birm ingham Civil Rights Insti tute. Before the Nov. 13 show, Violins of Hope, a symphony performance played on violins of the Holocaust, performed before the play began.

Tonya Hays, an assis tant professor in the com munication department at Mississippi State Univer sity, directed the show. She said the reprisal was all a matter of getting ev eryone back together.

“We had to find new moments and make it fresh,” Hays said. “I think they were shocked by how much they re membered.”

A simple, almost barren set called for a powerful and intimate perform ance. A table, a few wooden chairs and a cou ple of trunks were the only things defining the

stage in the downtown Starkville theater. The cast’s lengthy lines and emotional cries left the audience’s eyes full of tears.

The showings in Birm ingham performed just the same. While the house held a larger au dience, the levels of sim plicity and intimacy were matched.

This is not the first time Theatre MSU and the

Starkville Community Theatre performed “Anne and Emmett.” Its first performance took place in November 2020 in the McComas Hall the ater.

This year, all but one performer from the initial performances reprised their roles.

Gabe Smith, an actor and director for the Starkville Community Theatre, took on the role

of J.W. Milam, one of the men responsible for Till's death. He took on the part in place of a stu dent who graduated.

Smith stepped in to give a short yet impactful appearance onstage to say derogatory words and phrases that he said he never thought of saying outside of this role.

“I’ve never had any show that I felt more acutely aware of an au dience watching me do something than I have in that moment,” Smith said in a Q&A after the dress rehearsal.

As the original cast re prised its roles, it utilized the new performances as an opportunity for reflec tion.

Cameron Mayers, a jun ior communication and political science major at MSU, played the role of Emmett Till. He said the preparation for the role in 2020 took him to the place where Till experi enced his struggles: Money, Mississippi. He also said the experience of his trip gave him a greater understanding of

his character.

Through all of the joy, the comeback of Theatre MSU’s production of “Anne and Emmett” ar rived at a time of great de mand.

Along with the Emmett Till memorial opening in Birmingham, Alabama, the newly-released “Till” movie dives deeper into Emmett’s and his mother, Mamie’s, story. On social media, an uproar of anti semitism rose through tweets and other posts from notable celebrities.

Allyn Hackman, a sen ior communication major, portrayed Anne with an emotional mes sage to counter the acts of antisemitism displayed in the show.

Mayers said the summer of 2020 and major events leading up to the reprisal performance allowed him and his cast to push the idea that “all races should be treated equally.”

“It’s to truly give those who are in struggle the spotlight and to really just empower them and show them that they are not alone,” Mayers said.

Panhellenic delegates of each sorority to share the event with their members. Natalie Berry, a junior nutrition major, heard about the event in her sorority’s chapter meeting several weeks ago.

very excited to go because I’ve never been before and would love to see what it’s all about. I have high expectations,” Berry said.

Man provides an opportunity to bring awareness and support to the ADDC, along with entertainment for stu dents. Wolford said she is passionate about this opportunity for the clinic.

Autism

MeGan Gordon Staff writer

Ivy Rose Ball | The Reflector

Paisley Hamilton started bohemian studio Serendipity Hippie in 2011 as a college student.

Cameron Mayers and Allyn Hackman reprised their roles as the titular “Anne and Emmett.”

Madelyn Sykes | The Reflector

Grace

MSU soccer achieves first NCAA Tournament win in program history

half of play.

The Mississippi State University soccer team secured a historic win over New Mexico State University in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament with a final score of 2-1, marking the first ever tournament win in program history.

It was a back and forth physical battle between the Bulldogs and NMSU in the opening 30 minutes of the contest. Neither team was able to find their way onto the scoreboard until 30 seconds before the end of the first half, when freshman Alivia Buxton secured the first goal of the match for the Bulldogs. With the goal from Buxton, MSU led 1-0 heading into the second

The physicality between the two teams did not waver in the final period as the intensity continued to increase in the second half. MSU and NMSU recorded a combined 27 fouls in the match — 13 of those coming from the Bulldogs. It was a nonstop battle between the two teams, as neither wanted to see their postseason hopes cut short.

NMSU netted their first goal with 16:35 left in the second half when Loma McNeese scored with an assist from Bianca Chacon. McNeese's goal tied the match at 1-1.

Sophomore Rylie Combs achieved a huge feat against the Aggies by securing her very first goal of her career via an assist from teammate Haley McWhirter. Combs’ first goal also was the game-winning

goal, and as a result, MSU advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

After the game, Bulldog head coach James Armstrong spoke to the media about the message to the team heading into the second round of the tournament.

“First off, enjoy tonight,” Armstrong said. “This team is all about firsts, so we’ll make sure to enjoy it. We’ll regroup tomorrow, get a good training session, and for those that didn’t play, a good recovery session, and then we’ll just look forward to seeing where we go next and get back to work.”

After the big first round win against NMSU, Combs discussed the feelings of scoring her first career goal, which, arguably, was one of the biggest goals in program history.

“Our team has worked so hard all year and I just felt like I owe the team this. It was not just my goal but my team’s goal.” Combs said.

Following Combs, Buxton had similar things to say about her feelings toward her goal in the game and discussed the importance of the win over the Aggies.

“Like Riley (Combs) said, it was more for the team. It was just a really big moment for our whole team because I know we have worked so hard for this moment, and it's important to us all.” Buxton said in the postgame presser.

The Mississippi State Bulldogs move on the second round of the NCAA Tournament to face the University of Memphis in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The match against the Tigers is set to begin at 4 p.m.

MSU men’s basketball thumps Arkansas-Pine Bluff

two steals in the win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

The Mississippi State University men’s basketball program has started the Chris Jans era off hot, as the Bulldogs picked up their third consecutive win of the season with an 80-47 rout of the University of Arkansas Pine-Bluff.

MSU shot roughly 47% from the field and 79% from the charity stripe. Veteran forwards Tolu Smith and D.J. Jeffries led the Bulldogs with 10 points apiece. Smith added nine rebounds, three assists and one block, while Jeffries recorded six rebounds and

Cameron Matthews, Shakeel Moore, Tyler Stevenson and Kimani Hamilton each had eight points of their own, and six other Bulldogs scored. Nearly every team member had a few minutes of playing time by the time the final buzzer sounded.

The Lions jumped out to claim the first lead of the game, but it was all Bulldogs from there. Transfer guard Jamel Horton Jr. recorded the first points of the game for MSU via a drilled threepointer, and the Bulldogs eventually took the lead for good with 15:33 remaining before halftime.

The team added a few points here and there, but a 13-point scoring run that lasted nearly four minutes put the game out of reach. MSU headed into the locker room with a standing ovation from the crowd and a firm grasp on a dominant 41-19 lead.

Although the second half was a bit less lopsided in comparison to the game’s first frame, MSU outscored Arkansas Pine-Bluff by a 39-28 margin and never let the Lions sneak back into the contest.

Coach Jans experimented with his lineup — subbing in freshmen and transfers for significant minutes.

Martavious Russell quickly made his mark on fans with an incredible play. The rookie took advantage of a bit of space given by an APB defender late in the game and soared into the air, slamming home a thunderous dunk that had Humphrey Coliseum going berserk.

Russell described the moment he knew he had pulled off the huge play in the postgame press conference.

“After I dunked it, I was hoping it went in, and then when I got up, everybody was around me,” Russell said. “I was like, ‘Yeah, it went in.’”

MSU had 14 steals, in

comparison to 12 turnovers, and managed to score 20 total points off mistakes made by the Lions. The team dominated the glass with 46 total rebounds, including 15 on offense that resulted in 13 second-chance points.

MSU also saw significant contributions from bench players, with non-starters accounting for 47 of the team’s 80 points. Those numbers are a sure sign that the culture in Starkville could change drastically in the coming seasons.

As coach Jans said to media members following the game, the evenlydistributed contributions

for his players were a welcome sight.

“You have that many people that contribute in a bunch of different columns. It’s hard to prepare for,” Jans said. “Who knows how the season will unfold. I can’t imagine it’ll look like that that often, but when it does, it just helps team camaraderie. Everybody’s excited because they’re in the game.”

MSU returns to Humphrey Coliseum on Thursday as it faces the University of South Dakota in the Fort Myers Tipoff Regional Round. The game is set to begin at 8 p.m. and will be broadcast live on the SEC Network.

MSU soccer will face Memphis in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

In the 2-1 victory over NMSU, sophomore Rylie Combs recorded the first goal of her collegiate career. Combs’ goal was the game-winner, which advanced MSU soccer to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Kathryn Beatty | The Reflector

Kathryn Beatty | The Reflector

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