THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2022
137TH YEAR | ISSUE 14
New advising center will open on campus JOSHUA STEWART
LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Mississippi State University is planning to tackle one of the primary complaints of its students: advising. The university received a private donation to begin working on an advising center specifically tailored to help underclassmen and transfer students in the short term. Initially, the university will hire three professional advisers and add another adviser every year for four years. Dean of Students
Thomas Bourgeois said the advising center resulted from a task force that relied heavily on student feedback, especially as it related to advising. Bourgeois said one goal of the new advising center is to rethink the nature of advising in the first place. "We're really looking at what professional advising means. Does it have aspects of career counseling and career development? Does it have aspects of managing money and financial aid? I would say yes," Bourgeois said.
Bourgeois explained that while many higher learning research institutions have faculty who take on the dual role of professor and adviser, MSU wants to rethink that position. "It's not a good or bad model; it's just overly complicated in some departments. Every department is so uniquely different in how they structure advising," Bourgeois said. While the plan to rethink advising is long term, the new advising model will begin to roll out in the short term. ADVISING, 2
Landon Scheel | The Reflector
Due to student feedback, MSU is opening a special advising center on campus and hiring professional advisers for underclassmen.
Special Legislative Coverage
Medical marijuana is legal in MS: Oktibbeha County is set to redraw boundlegislators, residents discuss benefits aries after bill signed in legislative session HEATHER HARRISON NEWS EDITOR
Jeanne Tate was born with sickle cell anemia, and medical cannabis may be her pain medicine solution. Sickle cell anemia is a blood disease that afCourtesy Photo | Jeanne Tate fects red blood cells Jeanne Tate, MS Sickle Cell Foundation. and causes intense pain that can last for a short amount of time for tions for pain managesome people but causes ment: take opioid pain others to live in chronic pills or visit the hospital to receive medicine pain. Tate is the chairper- through an IV. When sickle cell pason of the Mississippi have "pain Sickle Cell Foundation. tients She said the group is crises," Tate said, they part of the Medical must visit the emerCannabis Alliance be- gency room and see a cause sickle cell anemia doctor. Wait times are patients can benefit long, and Tate says marijuana from medical marijua- medical could be a solution to na. According to Tate, skipping the emergency sickle cell anemia pa- room. "I think this will be a tients in Mississippi currently have two op- great alternative for pa-
tients living with sickle cell anemia in the state of Mississippi to have an alternative pain method," Tate said. Tate said she is thankful for the support medical marijuana has received and wants people to understand why the program is beneficial to people like her. "The one thing that I can tell people is that if you don't have a medical condition that you have to have pain meds for and you're in pain, then put yourselves in someone's shoes that really suffers from some type of pain each and every day," Tate said. About 3,000 Mississippians have sickle cell anemia, one of the more than 20 qualifying conditions one must have to partake in the medical cannabis program. CANNABIS, 2
PAYTON BROWN STAFF WRITER
On Jan. 24, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves signed a bill approving the redraw of Mississippi's four congressional districts. The commencement of this redistricting plan seeks to regulate the state's increasing and decreasing district populations. Ted Booth, Staff Counsel of the Mississippi Standing Joint Legislative Committee on Reapportionment & Redistricting, specified the developments around district elections and the state representatives involved. "The people who will be qualifying for office will be qualified to run in the districts that we drew, and they will be elected to those districts. When 2023 rolls around and they are sworn into Congress, they will be representing the new districts," Booth said. DISTRICTS, 2
Courtesy Photo | MARIS
Since Oktibbeha County’s population grew over 10 years, the county must redistrict.
Rotary Classic Rodeo ropes in donations from charities TAYLOR STIGALL
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Since 2004, the Starkville Rotary Club has held the annual Rotary Classic Rodeo at the nationally recognized Mississippi Horse Park, which won the Justin Boot Best Footing Award for the Southeastern Circuit. The rodeo has grown significantly in the last 18 years and has become a major event for the community and businesses of Starkville, with an estimated $750,000 economic impact on Starkville businesses throughout the weekend. The Rotary Classic has become a hotspot for riders, with cowboys and cowgirls from 23 different states and Canada competing. Even though one of the main goals of the rodeo is to have fun, the
Starkville Rotary Club has made it clear that the proceeds are going back into the community. The Rotary Club donates the money made from the rodeo to various charities, including Habitat for Humanity and Oktibbeha Young Leaders, a local youth development activity and a project that distributes dictionaries to the public. Though the rodeo was canceled in 2021 due to the pandemic, Starkville Rotary President John Forde pushed forward and said he was excited to be back at the Horse Park this year. "This is the largest fundraiser that we do every year for our club, and in addition to being a PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) event, which literally brings in some of the best
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contestants in the world, we also have dozens of volunteers of our members who are there each night. We also have the opportunity to express to the community the kinds of projects that we support with Rotary. So, it's really a great event, and I hope a lot of people will come out. We hated to miss last year, but we're so excited that we're able to have it again this year," Forde said. This year also saw the addition of an event called Women's Breakaway Roping, in which cowgirls rope calves then dismount and tie the calves.In some cases, this can be done in as little as two or three seconds. Forde said he was excited the Rotary Club could add this event to the rodeo and hopes the audience will enjoy the show. RODEO, 2
Ashok Manick | The Reflector
The Starkville Rotary Club held its annual Rotary Classic Rodeo last weekend at the Mississippi Horse Park to fundraise for local charities.
FORECAST: After a sunny start to the week, Wednesday will be cloudy for most of the day and rain is expected at night. Thursday will be stormy all day, so make sure to wear your rain boots and carry an umbrella. The sun will come out on Friday just in time for the Diamond Dawgs to play their first game at Dudy Noble.
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DISTRICTS Booth noted the population growth of districts one, four and three and the decline in District two as a factor in the necessity of redistricting. "Any time you have changes like that in the population boundaries, all the districts have to be changed," Booth said. Booth explained how the boundaries of Oktibbeha County could see modifications ahead after being split amongst two congressional districts. "In the plan that the legislature enacted earlier in the session, Oktibbeha County is still split, but the boundary line for the split has changed. The whole county is still going to be split between District One and District Three," Booth said. Along with the redistricting of congressional districts, Oktibbeha County has
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“Any time you have changes like that in the population boundaries, all the districts have to be changed.” Ted Booth Staff Counsel Mississippi Joint Legislative Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting
arranged to reform its supervisor districts to redistribute populations. Toby Sanford, manager of the GIS Department with the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District, counted around 20 different areas where boundaries will be altered in the county. "We've already finished a lot out of the 20. I have 10 that are getting ready to
adopt a redistricting plan," Sanford said. Sanford clarified his role in the development of the redrawing and mentioned the two plans being considered currently. "The plans have turned into 1A and 1B. Anything you're doing with elected officials comes down to vote. These are the county's plans or the city's plans, but I just help direct them and
Courtesy Photo |MSJRC
MSJRC Staff Counsel Ted Booth.
show that these are ways we can redistribute," Sanford said. Sanford emphasized the importance of regulating population numbers in these districts because of the federal requirements that strive for balance. "By federal law, Oktibbeha County has to redistrict. I need the population numbers in each district to be as equal as I
can, or within sort of under that 10% mark," Sanford said. Sanford spoke of boundary adjustments near Avalon Apartments and the Rolling Hills subdivision due to both complexes being divided into separate districts. "That can cause a problem because if you get your building number wrong or if you write your address down wrong, your vote may not count because it's not in the same place you're supposed to be living. If I move all of that back into one, there is no more confusion," Sanford said. Sanford projected changes to occur in West Starkville to accommodate the area's need for an additional voting center and accessible parking. "In the area of Airport Road, Miley Drive, Industrial Park Road and
RODEO Although Breakaway Roping is new to the Starkville Rotary Classic, this event has been around for years. Women's Breakaway Roping has seen a recent spike in interest by rodeos across the nation, which caught the attention of Sid Salter, past president of the Starkville Rotary and member of the rodeo planning committee. "We watch the other rodeos around the region and around the country to look for events and activities that draw more people in. Obviously, we're interested— as an organization that has men and women members— we're
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interested in things that expand opportunities for young athletes. We're excited about it. It's the first time for that event, and this is one that we've seen be successful in other rodeos. We decided we want that in our lineup," Salter said. The Rotary Classic was held on Feb. 11 and 12 and saw the community come together to watch riders from across the nation that came to compete in Starkville. For most of the audience, this rodeo was a way back to normality and tradition after a tumultuous couple of years. Wesley Thompson, a resident of Starkville, attended the
rodeo on Friday. He said he and his family had a great time at the rodeo. "We've come maybe two other times. We love it; it's something fun to bring the kids to and something different. I'm sure we'll come back next year. Everybody needs to come see the rodeo at least once," Thompson said. The Horse Park was filled to the brim, with audience members having a blast watching the cowboys and cowgirls this weekend. The Rotary is thrilled with the success of the rodeo and the income it brought in for the community.
Ashok Manick | The Reflector
After skipping the 2021 rodeo due to the pandemic, Starkville Rotary Club welcomed contestants and fans back to the Horse Park.
ADVISING MSU is beginning the process of hiring the first batch of professional advisers and has already appointed an executive director, Sawyer Bowering. Bowering said one of the goals of the advising overhaul is to create a holistic experience for students. "I think students want somebody to go to that is available and knowledgeable and to make plans and have resources and get help and advice to guide them through their college experience," Bowering said. Bowering discussed
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the current advising model at MSU and how it relates to a new model of professional advising. "I think when advising is your primary role, you're literally dedicating 100% of your professional life to that. Unfortunately, for faculty, you're just not doing that. It's not a bad thing; it just is what it is. A faculty member's primary role is to teach, and in our case, as an R1 institution, to research," Bowering said. The Student Association is another group that is heavily involved in building this new advising center. SA
President Garrett Smith said that advising has been an important issue for students and is oftcited in student complaints. "The Student Association has handled a lot of complaints from students, and advising is near the top of that list. We have consistently been putting pressure on the university to make changes and reforms in that area," Smith said. Smith shared the concerns of Bourgeois that the current model of advising might be outdated and that an overhaul is welcome. "We think that if we
have people whose number one mission is to advise, they will be better equipped to do so. I think a midterm goal is to make sure that all underclassmen are advised by professional advisors," Smith said. While the role of the Student Association is not as involved as the Dean's office, Smith emphasized the lobbying role SA has taken. "When it comes to policy, we take the concerns of students and lobby the administration for change. We know that change isn't easy and change isn't automatic and that a lot of the
systems in place are there for a reason," Smith said. "But we've had a lot of conversations with Dean Bourgeois about changes to advising for a while, and this money allows them to make some of those changes." Bourgeois referenced the timetable of this overhaul and said it would be taking place over several years. Additionally, he mentioned how the university will evaluate the new model. "We'll be working with the activities office for pilot programs and try to match those professional advisors
CANNABIS After the Mississippi Supreme Court struck down Initiative 65, which over 70% of Mississippians voted for, it seemed like medical marijuana in the state was at a standstill. In September 2021, legislators started drafting a medical marijuana bill for Mississippi that could have been signed at a special legislative session in October. Governor Tate Reeves did not agree to have a special session, so the legislators had to wait to vote on the issue until the 2022 session. The Mississippi Senate passed medical marijuana bill SB 2095 in January and then the bill moved to the House of Representatives. The House decided to lower the amount of cannabis a patient may receive in a month from 3.5 ounces to three ounces. After that, the Senate agreed on the bill, voted yes and sent the bill to Gov. Reeves's office. Finally, on Feb. 2, Reeves signed the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act. Mississippians, like Tate,
Lynn Lane, we are taking that area, and we are moving it out of four and into five," Sanford said. Sheryl Elmore, Election Deputy Clerk of Oktibbeha County Circuit Court, additionally highlighted the zone change on Lynn Lane to explain the importance of her position. When the change occurs, Elmore will be involved in readdressing the individuals to their assigned districts and notifying them of their new voting precinct. "Anytime that there is a change of voting precinct, those people would need to be notified by a new voter registration card stating the new voting location," Elmore said. Elmore highlighted the Board of Supervisors meeting on Feb. 21 as the public's way to gain more information and ask questions about what the plan will entail.
with departments and then ask for data and evaluate. Does this model work? Are students being provided for in this new professional advising model? Are they better advised?" Bourgeois said. Bourgeois elaborated that while the old system works for some, there are reasons for the change. "Advising is not just X's and O's, where it's 'Hey, here's your classes, good luck.' It is a career d e v e l o p m e n t conversation, a financial aid conversation and an interpersonal well-being conversation," Bourgeois said. CONTINUED FROM 1
were overjoyed and relieved that they can have an alternative pain medicine. "We've waited two years, but we're almost at the finish line of this happening," Tate said. After Feb. 2, the Mississippi State Department of Health has 120 days to begin collecting applications, registering and licensing ID cards and practitioners. Then after 150 days, the Department of Revenue will register dispensaries who have submitted applications within 30 days. Medical marijuana is now a reality in Mississippi, something that over 70% of voters wanted in 2020. "I think the people understand why this is important, why this is needed," Tate said. District 43 Representative Rob Roberson said the Medical Cannabis Act got his vote because of the voters' overwhelming support and because of the research behind using marijuana for certain conditions. "The research is out
there on some of these things that show that there are some benefits for people," Roberson said. "I've heard that there may be benefits for pain management, things like that. I hope there is." Like Roberson, Mississippi Senator Bart Williams said his district's majority approval of medical marijuana led him to vote yes. "I was hired by those people to do a job and that spoke directly to it," Williams said. Williams said he believes in the positive results the Medical Cannabis Act will give to patients. "This is very good for the people it's targeted to benefit," Williams said. Along with benefits to patients who need medical cannabis, Roberson said he believes new dispensary businesses coming into the state will create jobs and will benefit the state economically. "There's also talk of manufacturing jobs coming (to Starkville)," he said.
Kathryn Beatty | The Reflector
Since medical cannabis is now legal in MS, stores like Hemp World in Starkville may begin selling marijuana by the end of the year.
Williams agreed with the economic benefits of medical marijuana and said he has talked to several growing dispensaries who want to come to the state. The state senator said he thinks about 200 jobs will come into District 15, which includes Oktibbeha County. Some cities may choose to opt of the medical cannabis program, and
Williams said he liked that choice was available to the population who did not vote for medical marijuana. Williams and Tate explained misconceptions about marijuana in Mississippi, but both emphasized that the state is not legalizing recreational marijuana. "I think a lot of people are hearing marijuana and thinking that it's going to
be a bad thing," Tate said, "but we're looking at it at a place of medical marijuana and it comes in different forms." For patients like Tate, pain relief may only be a short few months away when medical cannabis is fully available later this year. "I truly believe that (medical marijuana) will be a big help for patients," Tate said.
THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2022 | @REFLECTORONLINE
BULLETIN BOARD
An In-Class Distraction
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February 9 Puzzle Solutions Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Friday, February 11, 2022
Employee reported a fraudulent unemployment claim was filed in her name.
A resident of the city/county reported her vehichle was damaged while parked at Stagger Inn Bar and Grill.
Thursday, February 10, 2022
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Student reported an old roommate trespassing at Ruby Hall. A ban letter was issued.
Student arrested on College View St. for public drunkenness, indecent exposure and failure to comply.
MSU Organization of the Week: Alumni Delegates 1. What is Alumni Delegates? —Alumni Delegates serve as a liason between Mississippi State University students and alumni. They strive to improve the understanding of the role of the Alumni Association by educating and involving current MSU students in the association’s events.
2. How can students get involved? — Students interested in joining Alumni Del-
egates can apply through Cowbell Connect by February 25.
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THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2022 | @REFLECTORONLINE
OPINION
Banning critical race theor y is a step in the wrong direction LIZZIE TOMLIN
CONTrIbuTINg WrITEr
Mississippi is a state with a historic tie and present predicament with the issue of racism. In fact, the Confederate States of America battle flag was not removed from the state flag until just last year. In a place with such a lengthy track record of racial discrimination, it is crucial for future generations to learn from past mistakes. According to Lee O. Sanderlin for The Clarion Ledger, critical race theory was originally developed in the latter part of the 20th century to analyze how systemic racism arose in the U.S. through public policy and institutional implementation. It was taught early on and primarily in law schools to study discriminatory practices as a result of legislation. Jan. 21, 2022 presented a different story regarding the educational value of race theory. The Senate chamber passed a bill that supposedly bans the critical race theory from being taught, although it does not explicitly say that. In response to the discussion of the
bill, Black lawmakers walked out in protest, withholding their votes. The motive behind this bill is complex. According to the same article by Lee O. Sanderlin for The Clarion Ledger, the Mississippi Department of Education said critical race theory has not been taught in any school. After walking off the Senate floor, Senate Minority Leader Derrick Simmons said he and other colleagues did not believe the bill was deserving of their time or vote, as reported by Bobby Har-
rison for Mississippi Today. Sen. Simmons explained there are more pressing issues to write legislation for within the state. "We have so many issues in the state that need to be addressed," Simmons said. "We did not need to spend time on this." Mississippi has a problem with discrimination and this bill impedes its reduction. History has always been taught with the intent of preventing past crises from repeating. When I was in school, I learned
much of my moral framework from history classes. The events and writings I have learned of the past are what shaped the beliefs I have today. When students are deprived from the entirety of a story, they have no framework to reference when forming their own beliefs. Moreover, Mississippi is a state heavily affected by racially charged actions and discriminatory barriers. The Associated Press with NPR reports on legislators who question the morality of the bill such as Sen. Barbara
Blackmon of Canton who describes the bill as "not morally right." It is important for the youth of the state to be educated on the events which got us to the place we are today. Racism is something our country has been fighting to end for ages. It is a step backwards to ban the future from learning about the racism which affects their everyday life. Critical race theory is consistently debated because some believe it pits people of color against white people. Other concerns about teaching this kind of subject are it can feed the notion that all whites are racist. According to NPR, some Republican senators in Mississippi even claim it teaches children "victim culture," which implies it is wrong to claim to be victimized by a real issue prevalent in our current climate. None of these beliefs are worth holding back essential education. Critical race theory is not advocating against white people. It is advocating against racism. The racial issues which have come to light in the past few years have spread awareness to many areas in dire need of improvement. America is learning
constantly about the discriminatory practices built into our system and spreading awareness is the first step to a solution. Students attending K-12 schools are at their most influentially vulnerable state. This is where they learn the basics they will use for the rest of their life. Teachers are faced with the crippling responsibility of shaping the minds of the future generations. Educators have an unspoken duty to make their classrooms inclusive and comfortable for their students while also relaying accurate and relevant information to them. In Stephen Sawchuk's article for Education Week, he writes that a majority educators support culturally relevant teaching and are open to strategies to make schools feel safe and supportive for people of color. Critical race theory provides understanding to an otherwise mind-boggling issue. Many students with cultural backgrounds grow up being taught by the media about discrimination which affects them daily. It is time for the education system to address these issues and finally take a step towards a solution.
STREAMING NOW: “YELLOWSTONE” SErVICE:
STAFF WrITEr
"Yellowstone" is not the kind of show I normally watch. I prefer my complex, inter-faction warring to happen on a backdrop of stars or fantastical elements, thank you very much. But for all that preference built up over time, "Yellowstone" is a good example of a show which defies all expectations. On the surface, this show is just about the relationships between the three main players: the leaders of an indigenous reservation, land developers
PArAMOuNT PLuS
and a truly gigantic cattle ranch. Deeper down the show is about a bunch of headstrong people all trying to get their own way and attempting to do whatever it would take to make it happen. For the reservation folks, it is the journey to reclaim their rights to property they feel was stolen. For the real estate developers, their pursuit is buying up as much land as possible to turn into residential space, and who cares what else is on there? For the ranching
SHOW TITLE: YELLOWSTONE
family, it is just holding onto what they have built by any means possible, up to and including detonating more dynamite than could possibly be legal for any group to have outside of the military— all to stop another group from getting their way. One thing this show does very well is there is no true morally just side. Every one of the participants are corrupt and are driven beyond the lengths any normal person would go to up until pursing actions of
On Feb. 2, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves passed Senate Bill 2095, legalizing medicinal marijuana within the state. You cannot give him too much credit since this should have been done last November. According to The Marijuana Policy Project, 69% of voters were in favor of the state adopting a medicinal marijuana program back during the 2020 election cycle. Of these votes, 3/4 were specifically cast in favor of Initiative 65, a much less restricted form of the policy than the offered alternative, 65A. Despite the overwhelming majority, the Mississippi Supreme Court struck down
David McNew | Courtesy Photo
Marijuana use can aid in reducing the effects of a number of ailments like relieving nausea or inducing appetite in people who have trouble eating.
the vote on confusing and esoteric grounds involving a flaw in the ballot initiative caused by an adjustment to the number of congressional districts in the year 2000, making it mathematically impossible to collect the necessary signatures to get medicinal marijuana legally on the ballot. If you look closely, this
means the constitution of Mississippi bars you from your right to petition the government. It also technically de-legitimized every voter initiative from the last 22 years. Despite that can of worms, Senate Bill 2095 was written to replace initiative 65, and was passed with a 103-13 majority in the House and a 46-4 majority in
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the Senate. This made it vetoproof, and after Reeves's signature on Feb. 2. as reported by the Associated Press with NPR, Mississippi became the 37th state in the union to legalize medicinal use marijuana. Nice, now what? According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Mississippi
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the editor can be sent to the Meyer Student Media Center or mailed to The Reflector, PO Box 5407, Mississippi State, MS. They can also be emailed to editor@reflector.msstate.edu and have a maximum wordcount of 350 words. Letters must include name and telephone number for verification purposes. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.
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Medical marijuana is a good first step in Mississippi’s much needed healthcare reform
is a junior majoring in English. Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu
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questionable legality. It is a monument to human stubbornness. Despite the characters' personal philosophies, it is impossible to deny the beautiful storytelling, wonderful score and gorgeous cinematography. The characters are written in an intriguing way and the backdrop of rural Montana makes it all feel grounded and authentic. It is easy to see why "Yellowstone" is popular enough to get a fifth season put into the works.
LUKE COPLEY
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Tu n e i n e v e r y w e e k fo r a n e w re v i e w fo r w h a t i s t re n d i n g o n yo u r s e r v i c e s. AArON WATErSON
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is in the "Middle 31," of the state healthcare rankings. Of the 151 measures which AHRQ evaluates a state's healthcare quality on, Mississippi is at or passed the benchmark on 68 of these. We tend to do well with elderly people since, of the state's five strongest categories, one deals with an amazingly low rate of UTI's in hospice patients, and two deal with the number of patients who demonstrate improved mobility when walking or getting out of bed. The bad is a little more attention grabbing. We are 20% off the benchmark for breast cancer deaths, 55% off for pneumonia-related deaths and 80% off for lung cancer deaths. We are 341% off the benchmark for new HIV cases in persons 13 and older, and 433% off base on HIV deaths. Lastly, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mississippi leads the nation in infant mortality as well, with a rate of 8.71. As much as I agree medicinal marijuana should have
EDITORIAL POLICY The Reflector is the official student newspaper of Mississippi State University. Content is determined solely by the student editorial staff. The contents of The Reflector have not been approved by Mississippi State University.
been passed, I cannot help but feel this whole situation was a bit of a red herring. The legalization of a pain-relief drug which has been relatively easily available to anyone who wants it while Mississippi's AHRQ statistic for hypertension hospitalization is 400% over the national benchmark is a bit like buying a new floor mat while your car has no wheels. These statistics get even uglier when they get demographic specific. For example, for Black individuals that number becomes 931% off the benchmark. Mississippi has a long road ahead of it. Medicinal marijuana is a good start, but to really bring Mississippi's healthcare to the quality we should demand, it takes more than letting terminal cancer patients smoke a joint. The conversation should now turn to the larger issues: a cultural mistrust of the medical field, poor health education in public schools and a lack of effort on behalf of the government to make sure Mississippians have what they need.
CORRECTIONS The Reflector staff strives to maintain the integrity of this paper through accurate and honest reporting. If we publish an error, we will correct it. To report an error, email editor@reflector.msstate.edu or call 325-7905.
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THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2022 | @REFLECTORONLINE
LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT
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Students, government officials discuss critical race theory
lydia Palmer
STaFF WriTer
In the Mississippi senate, a bill was passed that s intended to restrict critical race theory from being taught as part of the curriculum. Although every Black senator walked out of the room in protest of the bill, it eventually passed. The bill, though containing "critical race theory" in the name, did not define what exactly this theory means and, thus, why its absence from schools is significant to many. According to Stephen Sawchuk, a writer for Education Week, critical race theory can be defined as a more-than-40-year-old academic concept that states that race is embedded into U.S. legal systems and policies, is a social construct and is not just the outcome of one or a few people's prejudices. Don Shaffer, director of African American Studies at Mississippi State University, gave The Reflector a statement about critical race theory. "How we talk about race is certainly important," Shaffer wrote. "We must engage in positive and constructive dialogue that is grounded in mutual respect." Louisiana State University alumnus and current MSU graduate student Michael "Moe" Moore is studying anthropology with a focus on Black queer mascu-
linity. He gave The Reflector his opinion on the importance of teaching history in schools with the critical race theory involved to share how certain movements in the past were racially motivated as well as the history of multiple cultures in general. "We need to talk about movements and how different movements were racially based, because of the racial injustices, and talking about different cultures, other than white culture, because I think a lot of things in high school are centered for only white students," Moore said. "It kind of devalues the education that Black or brown students can have." With this definition and Moore's argument in mind, looking back at the comments from those who had the op-
“We must engage in positive and constructive dialogue that is grounded in mutual respect.” Don Shaffer Director African American Studies
portunity to affect the outcome of this bill is significant. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves spoke about this topic in his 2022 State of the State Address. In his introduction, he said that teaching critical race theory puts students in one of
two categories based on their skin color: the victim or the oppressor, with only a small group of ideologues being presented as saviors. "When you are a victim by birth, only their generosity can save you," Reeves said. "When you are an oppressor by birth, only your silent cooperation with their radical worldview can sanctify you." Mississippi Senator David Lee Jordan from Greenwood, a member of the democratic party, questioned the necessity of the legislation. "This to me is not necessary," Jordan is quoted in Mississippi Today. "It creates more problems than it solves. Teach the subject matter … As a retired teacher I think it does more harm than it does good." Leah Richardson, a junior communication major from Jackson, Mississippi, spoke about her experience as a white student taking a class in African American studies. She shared the discomfort at times of being in the class, a discomfort that precedes learning. "It's just opened my eyes a lot to more indepth things that have happened with the Black community and with Black history," Richardson shared. In Moore's discussion with The Reflector, he spoke about the way that the topic of race in schools makes students feel during class, specifically white high school students. He shared that
Courtesy Photo | Department of English
Don Shaffer is the director of AAS at MSU.
learning about the racial biases that have affected American history should make people uncomfortable. "I feel like we have to normalize it," Moore said about the topics that may make white students uncomfortable. "Because the thing about it is, African Americans feel uncomfortable all the time, you know? And they have to conform. They have to code switch." Code switching, as Moore explained, is a reality that affects African Americans far too often. It is the act of changing mannerisms around different ethnic groups. For example, an African American high school student may act differently around a group of white students than around a group of other Black students. Although the bill was
passed to abandon the critical race theory from being taught in Mississippi public schools, there are still split opinions on the topic as a whole. The theory has been argued to have been absent from schools for a while. Some say that encouraging this to be taught in schools incites a victim mentality in minorities, while others argue that ignoring the presence of racial influence in history is an injustice to all students.
Moore spoke passionately about how instructing students about all areas of American history is beneficial. He shared that it empowers Black and brown students and urges white students to educate themselves further and take action to learn about their fellow students. "It should make you feel uneasy," Moore said with emotion in his voice. "It should make you feel like you need to do something about it."
Education students examine teacher pay hike in Mississippi
Kerrigan ClarK
STaFF WriTer
According to the National Education Association, teachers in Mississippi rank 44th in the nation for average startng salaries and according to the 2021 Rankings and Estimates Report, there has been a 0.08% decrease in the number of teachers in K-12 education in Mississippi. To combat this, the Mississippi Senate passed a teacher pay raise plan on a 35-0 vote in January of 2022. With that plan, average salaries for teachers across Mississippi would rise by $4,700, with a first-year teacher coming in with a bachelor's degree startng at $39,000 instead of the previous $27,851. A separate plan was presented in the Mississippi House and now lawmakers from the two chambers will have to work together to come up with a bill together. Along with an increase n starting salaries, base salaries will increase $500 every year and $1,300 every fifth year depending on if the teacher has some advanced or specialized certification. But even with the pay raise, the low rate for starting salaries and decreasing number of teachers in the profession could affect upcoming teachers getting their degrees at Mississippi State University. Andrea Berryhill, a senor elementary education student, said she was aware of the average salary when entering into elementary education but that she does not mind the pay when the benefits of teaching are so great. "When you love it the way we do, it doesn't
matter how much money you make. Because it's the smile on your kids' faces at the end of every day or when they come in to tell you about this amazing thing that happened," Berryhill said. "To me, it's about choosing to spend the rest of my life influencing children because that's what I love to do. It's me wanting to do it versus the salary that we get." Berryhill also discussed how other elementary education students have
“It’s me wanting to do it versus the salary that we get.” Andrea Berryhill Student Elementary Education
different opinions on the starting salary while also staying and being teachers in Mississippi. "There are pros and cons. And a lot of people look more at the cons than the pros of teaching," Berryhill said. "For example, when we talked in our group chat about where you would think about moving after graduation nobody said Mississippi. They said we love it here but we need to go somewhere else to provide for my family." But just as the cons of teaching in Mississippi would outweigh the pros for some students, Berryhill also suggested that for some the pay raise could incentivize potential teachers to stay in the state. With the large pay increase, it could potentially make Mississippi a more competitive state
when considering average salaries across the U.S. Shelby Vaughn, a senior elementary education student, echoed Berryhill's thoughts regarding how the pay raise could benefit potential teachers but also brought up a point about teachers who have advanced degrees. "The pay raise is probably enough for most. In my instance, I would like to go back and get a masters and doctorate degree eventually, and of course you're going to get pay raises when you complete that. But that's so much more schooling and so much more money that's coming out of pocket to just get an extra $1,000 or $2,000 a year," Vaughn said. Vaughn also said she thinks experienced teachers who have been in the field with the full 25 years of experience should be getting compensated more than the people who have just begun teaching. "The pay raise sounds like a very significant pay raise for most teachers, but for teachers who have been in the classroom for 30 or more years and don't plan on retiring, they are already making more than they were when they started," Vaughn said. "So a little pay raise for them is no big deal. The pay raise is just a little extra spending money but for them it could also be $10-15,000 more because they have dedicated their life to education." Kennis Kingery, a senior elementary education student, discussed if the pay raise is enough considering the average starting and regular salaries of other states. She also agreed with Berryhill about future teachers wanting to leave the state due to the pay conditions. "It took so long for
Mississippi Department of Education Teacher Salary Schedule as of February 2022. The proposed bill would increase salary for teachers.
them to do something that is really minimal when it comes to the amount of the raise. They lose new teachers every single year when it comes to the pay raise," Kingery said. "They're losing a lot of new teachers who are learning more and more about what kids need in school. And there are just so many other things that they pay attention to like high school for example, sports, rather than the need for teachers to provide for kids." Looking to the future, Kingery thought that people are going to want to stay in Mississippi but not long-term considering the regional and national averages. "I think more people are going to want to stay just for their first two years of teaching to get a grasp on it. But once they have a couple of years under their belt, they'll probably want to go off somewhere that has more opportunities with better pay," Kingery said. "Because Mississippi is below the national average and regionally it is al-
Courtesy Photo | Andrea Berryyhill
Andrea Berryhill is one of over 1,000 education students at Mississippi State.
most 10,000 less." Kingery pointed out that considering new teachers' credentials, Mississippi might have to increase teacher pay more to become truly competitive with other states. "Mississippi State's education program is one of the harder ones in our region and the people coming out of our depart-
ment might have a little more under their belt when it comes to the development of kids, not just what they teach them but also how they teach them," Kingery explained. "I would think things could be a lot more structured than other places but still being in Mississippi doesn't help with the pay and all."
THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2022 | @SPORTSREFLECTOR
SPORTS
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MSU’s first Black cheerleader achieved many more “firsts” HannaH BlankensHip editor-in-cHief
This is not Allen Dean Jenkins’ first time being written about by The Reflector student newspaper. Back in 1983, he made headlines for being the first Black cheerleader in the history of Mississippi State University. Turns out, that "first" was only one of many for Jenkins. After graduating from MSU in 1987 with a degree in graphic design, Jenkins took a job with the Cirlot agency in Jackson. There, he was the first Black member to work in the creative department of a Mississippi advertising agency. He was then recruited to work for Guice & Guice advertising in Biloxi, Mississippi, where he won several national awards, before eventually working at Burrell Communications Group in Chicago, the largest African American owned agency in the nation. However, Jenkins' dream was always to open his own advertising agency. So, in 1993, he returned to Mississippi and opened Power Lines Advertising and Design, which became the first and only fullservice advertising agency, minority owned, in the state of Mississippi. "I had a great career in advertising, was able to build my dream home and all that kinda stuff. I had four full-time employees at one time and had regional clients, won some national awards," Jenkins said. Clients of his firm included Tuskegee University and the Mississippi State Port Authority. But, Jenkins sensed a
higher call on his life. Now, he is the senior pastor at First Missionary Baptist Church in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, and is pursuing a masters of theology and Biblical studies at Belhaven University. Jenkins remembers his time at MSU fondly, saying the school prepared him well for his career. "The university has served me well, I used my degree all my life and I still do freelance work in advertising," Jenkins said. MSU Professor Emeritus Brent Funderburk, one of Jenkins' professors at the time, recalled Jenkins' positive presence in his classroom. "He was a very sweet, fine and talented human being who got along with everyone! He had all the signs of success ahead- a warm, encouraging voice in a world who needs him," Funderburk said in an email to the Reflector. Jenkins was a standout student and trailblazer from the beginning. He grew up in the Mississippi Delta on a soybean and cotton farm. He graduated at the top of his class from tiny Glen Allen high school in Washington County and was the first member of his high school to ever attend MSU. Since his high school was so small, they did not even have a football team. But because he grew up on a farm, he was built athletically. When he got to college, he decided he would try out for the cheerleading team. "I never tried on a (pair of) football pads in my life. I was built like a football player, but I never played organized football. And so I said, 'Okay, well, hey, I can do this jumping and throwing girls in the air thing.' So I decided, okay, if I couldn't represent the team in
Allen Dean Jenkins | Courtesy Photo
Allen Dean Jenkins (present day) athletics, I tried cheerleading," Jenkins said. And Jenkins made the team. When he was interviewed for his article in the 1983 Reflector, Jenkins noted that a large amount of the players on the football and basketball teams were Black, but none of the cheerleaders were. "Motivation from a black or group of blacks on the cheering squad could possibly motivate our team members and give them a more dedicated sense of pride in knowing that they are being represented equally," Jenkins said in the 1983 article. He also said in that article that he hoped his being the first Black cheerleader would pave the way for more Black members of the squad. Indeed it did. Jenkins' roommate, inspired by Jenkins, actually became the first Black mascot, donning the iconic Bully costume. Jenkins said overall, he was treated fairly and equally on campus and in the squad, although he recalled one incident in particular where he heard from a friend that he was viewed negatively because of his race.
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Courtesy Photo|MSU Reville
Allen Dean Jenkins poses (far left) with the junior varsity cheer team in the 1984 edition of the MSU Reveille. "That was one of the For his on-campus job with body, the African American negative experiences. But other dining services, Jenkins was student body, as the only black than that, my partner was named the first "student cheerleader, I thought it meant terrific. Other teammates or banquet manager" and was in much to them. It gave me a squad mates were terrific. charge of serving meals to sense of pride as well," Jenkins Never, never had any racial dignitaries at the university said. blowbacks from anyone on presidents' home. Through Donald Shaffer, director of campus or anything like that. I this experience, he became African American studies at didn't realize I was sort of a good friends with Tommie MSU today, highlighted the celebrity after I graduated," Zacharias, the wife of Donald inherent difficulty of being "the Jenkins said. Zacharias, the president at the first" in previously all-white What Jenkins did not time and namesake of Zacharias spaces. realize is that a lot of the student Village on campus today. Not "We too often celebrate body knew who he was even if only did he serve the university civil rights milestones from the he did not know who they president in this role, he luxury of historical hindsight," were—a side effect of being on distinctly remembers serving Shaffer said in an email the field for every game. former U.S. president Gerald statement to the Reflector. "People told people, Ford once. "That perspective can often 'Yeah, I remember that guy. I Jenkins said his being on obscure the challenges that remember that guy,' but when the cheer team meant a lot to the come with being 'the first' to you're in the moment, you just Black community at the time. break down persistent social think you're a normal student," "It made them extremely barriers. To be sure, Allen Jenkins said. proud. To be a part of the team, Jenkins' achievement as the Aside from being on the representing the university as first African American cheer team, Jenkins was the the only Black cheerleader and cheerleader at MSU is a profile "first" to fill another position. then representing the student in courage."