2.22.23

FEBRUARY 22, 2023

History Month Edition Talented 100 will showcase minority performers

Mississippi State University’s Men of Excellence and I.D.E.A.L. Woman will host the Talented 100 event on Feb. 27 in Dorman Hall auditorium.

Talented 100 is a free, talent showcase that features the skills of ten minority performers to close out Black History Month celebrations. Acts include singers, dancers, rappers and spoken word poets.

The event started over eight years ago at MSU. It was the students’ way to honor W.E.B Dubois’ book “The Talented Tenth,” written to analyze the talent

in leadership of Black individuals. Men of Excellence and I.D.E.A.L. Woman will lead the way, running the event

with help from the MSU Student Association, Black Voices, Black Student Association and MSU’s NAACP chapter.

Men of Excellence is a student organization that brings Black men together through leadership.

I.D.E.A.L. Woman is an

On Tuesday nights in the Cotton District, a crowd of students gather outside of the locally-famous Fountain Bar on University Drive to enjoy the three drinks-for-$1 special.

The busy streets of downtown Starkville offer nightlife options for students to enjoy, including bars like the Fountain Bar.

This local bar has been offering the 3-4-1 special for almost 10 years. Despite taking place in the middle of the week, patrons flood the business weekly to partake in the decadelong Starkville tradition.

Owen Anderson, general manager at Fountain Bar, described a typical Tuesday night at work.

“We are definitely the busiest bar in the District on Tuesdays. The 3-4-1 special offers three drinks for the price of one, which is meant to encourage students to bring their friends and buy each other rounds,” said Anderson.

sippi State University who are in need of a good time for a cheap price. Compared to other bar prices, he said he felt the 3-4-1 special was among the best in the city.

Anderson explained why he thinks students are so drawn to the Tuesday night special.

meet at a 3-4-1 special, they are likely to meet there again. On the scene of a typical 3-4-1 special, there are many friendly faces smiling and laughing with their friends, according to this reporter's observation.

organization that provides a platform for minority women to be intelligent, dignified, elegant, ambitious leaders.

The two organizations have hosted many events together in the past, including the talent showcase, honoring Breast Cancer Awareness month, study sessions and game nights.

Jalen Wilson, a junior agricultural science major and president of Men of Excellence, said Talented 100's return after COVID19 excites him to be part of the showcase.

“Sometimes, you see students during their class time, but you don’t see what they do as a hobby,” Wilson said. “I want them to show their talent and what they do outside of class as well as inside the classroom.”

Research project explores cattle behavior among drones

This spring, two Mississippi State University graduate students are conducting a research project to study dairy cattle behavior using varying observation methods.

Lanie McAlister, a junior majoring in elementary education, said she is a Tuesday night regular at the Fountain Bar.

The Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station and the Bearden Dairy Research Center will host the study. The research will include both human observation and drone observation on two different herds of cattle in a pasture-based setting.

we do ... incorporates components of measuring behavior and welfare characteristics of dairy cattle.”

According to Braman, behavioral research studies help improve animal welfare across U.S. animal-focused industries.

Anderson said the bar created the drink deal to attract students at Missis-

“The price is unbeatable; it’s hard to pass up a deal as good as the 3-4-1. Not only that, but it provides a community for students to meet each other and make friends,” Anderson said.

Anderson said if students

“I honestly enjoy going out on a Tuesday. It’s a good break during the week,” McAlister said.

Kevin Braman and Jalyn Hawkins, graduate students majoring in agriculture, are leading the study under the guidance of Amanda Stone, an associate professor and extension dairy specialist.

Braman shared the goals of the project.

“The aims of this project are to determine how cows react to different methods for behavior and welfare observations,” Braman said. “A lot of the research

report indicates increase in sexual misconduct

Tara Sutton, an assistant professor in the sociology department, has conducted research focused on sexual assault and other deviant behavior among adolescents and young adults.

“We can help define appropriate methods for behavior sampling, which can lead to better data collection and increased opportunities for pasturebased behavior and welfare research," Braman said. FOUNTAIN, 2 Mississippi State University’s 2022 Annual Security and Fire Report indicated an increase in reported on-campus sexual misconduct since 2019.

Eighteen misconducts were reported in 2021, versus eight reported in 2020 and five in 2019. Additionally, the report indicated a marked increase in reports of fondling and stalking on campus since 2019.

MSU’s Office of Civil Rights Compliance oversees the investigation and resolution of civil rights complaints, including those that violate Title IX. While the Annual Security and Fire Report described reports of on-

campus sexual misconduct, OCRC Director Brett Harvey said most sexual misconduct happens offcampus. Both on and off campus, Harvey said the OCRC receives between 50 to 75 reports of sexual

misconduct in an academic year.

Harvey said people often bring complaints to the OCRC then drop the claims, so it can be difficult to identify why reports are increasing. He said his guess is that it is partially related to the

COVID-19 pandemic.

“I know 18 is a high number for us; there’s no question about that. I think that does go definitely to the fact that we were getting in a cohort of students who had been essentially locked down ... and as a

result of that, may have been more alert and attuned, and maybe we were more worried about things,” Harvey said.

“And, in some cases, may not have been well prepared for how to conduct themselves in social situations and may have done something that they should not have done.”

In 2019, Sutton conducted a study among 1,500 MSU students and asked about a wide range of sexually violent behaviors, including unwanted touching, unwanted oral sex and unwanted penetration through coercion, incapacitation (use of drugs or alcohol) or by force.

She found that 36.3% of women had experienced any type of victimization while 15.7% of men experienced any sexual victimization. REPORT, 2

MEGAN GORDON STAFF WRITER

MSU's Men of Excellence and I.D.E.A.L. Women will cohost the Talented 100 showcase. MSU's SA, BSA, Black Voices and NAACP chapter will help the two organizations lead the event.

Courtesy Photo | Jaléa McCauley

MSU’s YMCA building is home to the Dean of Students, where departments such as Student Conduct are present. Samuel Hughes | The Reflector

ANNMARIE RAQUE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Courtesy Photo | MSU

Office of CRC Director Brett Harvey.

CATTLE, 2

Fountain Bar sits on University Drive next to the Maroon Mojos bar and the Bin 612. Madelyn Sykes | The Reflector

Two MSU graduate students will be conducting a research project to observe cattle behavior around both drones and humans.

Landon Scheel | The Reflector

Jaléa McCauley, a senior biochemistry major, is the president of I.D.E.A.L. Woman. She described Talented 100 as an outlet for students to express themselves to their peers.

“It’s up to us to uplift one another and to support one another, so I’m glad we’re able to have this platform and to be able to put other students out there,” McCauley said.

The leaders of both organizations held auditions to handpick the talent for their show. The participants they chose have an opportunity to win prizes for their performances. Some of the participants are members of the hosting organizations.

Breanna Spencer, a junior kinesiology major and member of I.D.E.A.L. Woman, plans to perform a “hip-hop majorette” piece, where she will do a hip-hop style dance with batons.

FOUNTAIN

Many students who were waiting in line to get into the bar on Tuesday night agreed with McAlister and expressed they needed a break from school work and an excuse to see friends.

The 3-4-1 special is not the only event on Tuesday nights in Starkville.

Ava Peeples, a local bartender and Fountain Bar regular, said she loved including bingo in

"With this research, we can better serve our dairy producers in the state of Mississippi and the industry as a whole."

Gracie Adams, a senior majoring in animal and dairy sciences, described the cattle observation study's potential impacts.

“I think this research project will be very beneficial, not only to our farm at MSU, but also to other dairies as well and will … allow us to observe cows in other ways we never have before,” Adams said.

Adams worked at the MAFES Bearden Dairy Research Center as a student worker and helped with dairy studies.

“As an undergraduate student, I enjoy helping and learning about research the graduate students do on the farm. I would not pursue my own, but it is always interesting to see them in action while I am at work,” Adams said.

Cattle behavior

“The gap between reported victimization and actual victimization is sometimes referred to as the ‘dark figure of crime’ — this gap is especially large for sexual assault. Since sexual assault is one of the least reported types of victimization, we cannot say rates are increasing just from reporting data,” Sutton said. “However, it is important to note that sexual assault is, unfortunately, very common.”

Sutton said several things could produce increased reports of sexual misconduct. For one, the amount of sexual misconduct could be increasing. "There are several

Spencer said she joined I.D.E.A.L. Woman to have a sisterhood of women like her. She said she plans to use the platform of Talented 100 to bring more Black performers together through dance.

Spencer said she has danced all her life. Most of her family dances, and she said her mother pushed her to join the hobby.

Spencer said dancing helped boost her confidence and step out of her comfort zone, and she hopes to help others do the same.

“Just step out of your comfort zone, and maybe we can change to something that may impact your life and change your life forever,” Spencer said.

Men of Excellence member Jaden Cleveland, a junior marketing major, said he plans to perform “Pretty Wings” by rhythm and blues artist Maxwell. He said he plans to record his own background

her Tuesday night plans.

“I love going to the 34-1. It’s the best place to go after bingo on Tuesday; the deal is just unbeatable,” said Peeples.

McAlister described these nights as “Turnt Tuesdays” and agreed with Peeples' excitement about Tuesday nights.

The crowd provides a popular party environment, but staff and long-time customers

research is typically conducted using stationary video cameras in barns, but this project will incorporate a remote-controlled drone in the pasture for data collection. Braman said it is pertinent for people to limit contact with the cattle during the study while drones are being used.

“Dairy cattle are typically in contact with humans several times a day, which may alter their behavior and motivations and … this may mean that having humans present for behavior observations may alter accuracy,”

Braman said.

He said this new research method can be used as a tool for researchers later on and will provide helpful and accurate data for future projects.

Braman will operate the drone, while Hawkins will be on foot as the human observer, as the duo works together to gather information on the two groups of cattle.

potential explanations for this," Sutton said. "For example, alcohol use by perpetrators is linked to increased sexual violence. We also know perpetrators actively seek out and target those who are using substances and have mental health difficulties. We are seeing young people on campus exhibit increased mental health issues during and post COVID, and substance use is a common way people cope with mental health issues."

Sutton said students are subject to broader national conversations around sexual assault in the digital age. “Second, people may be more aware of what

vocals prior to the event to liven up his performance.

Like Spencer, Cleveland has pursued his love of the arts throughout his life, and he grew up singing for others. He is part of the university’s choral ensembles, and he performed at other events highlighting the impact of Black culture.

Cleveland joined Men of Excellence to find a sense of belonging at Mississippi State University, a predominantly white institution (PWI) with 28% of students being persons of color. He said he sees a showcase of performing arts like Talented 100 as something part of a “bigger picture.”

“It just brings us all together, which we all need at this PWI, which is unity because it’s not that many of us here,” Cleveland said. “I think unity will be the big picture nowadays.”

may be overwhelmed by the long lines and limited space. Bryce Maniscalco, a former bartender at the Fountain Bar, described his experience working a 3-4-1 Tuesday.

“It’s three drinks for the price of one so it’s chaos and fun. From a bartender standpoint, it is a night of constant pouring,” said Maniscalco.

Though the night is fun for the customers,

“There will be cameras at different angles of the pastures so that we can review stressed or curious behaviors and latencies to approach either the human or the drone,” Hawkins said. “We will also look at the accuracy between the two methods to see whether or not a human can observe better than the camera from the drone.”

Hawkins and Braman said they hope combining humans and technology will provide some key information on why cattle behave in certain ways in the presence of either method.

Furthermore, Hawkins described the economic benefits his research could provide.

“If the cattle have a better reaction to the drone and the observations made are accurate, then producers could make a one-time purchase of a drone instead of continuously paying for human labor,” Hawkins said.

constitutes sexual assault, so self-report measures may be more accurate now than in the past. For example, when we ask people if they have been raped, they will also say no; but, if we ask questions about things like, ‘Did someone ever have sex with you when you did not consent?’, that same person will say yes. Given an increasing understanding of sexual assault, this mismatch may be less likely to occur,” Sutton said.

Third, Sutton said, individuals could feel more comfortable reporting to personnel on campus. However, a gap remains between the actual occurrence of sexual assault

Maniscalco described how hectic the night can be and the stress it can put on staff and management. Savannah Peterson, a long-time follower of the 3-4-1 special, provided a timeline of her experience.

“The 3-4-1 has always been the spot for me. I love it, but I used to love it a lot more. Now that it’s so busy and crowded, it can be chaotic and a little

too crazy,” said Peterson. Jenna Sutherland, a senior majoring in interdisciplinary studies, said she does not mind the crowded environment, as it is one of the main reasons she enjoys the special so much. She described why she is a devoted 3-4-1 fan.

“It’s like one of the spurs of the moment plans that always ends up being a good time. I don’t have to invite my friends or

plan ahead. I know I will run into people I know, and I know they will be there to have fun,” said Sutherland.

Though opinions on the 3-4-1 specials may differ, there was no lack of customers at the Fountain Bar last Tuesday night.

“See y’all next Tuesday,” said Sutherland as the bartenders yelled for last call.

victimization and reporting.

“Prosecution rates are very low for sexual assault, and victims often report they feel ‘revictimized’ by the experience of reporting and seeking justice. There is a similar issue with Title IX offices on campus — Title IX offices are not victims’ services offices. They provide resources but are neutral arbitrators on campus, and students sometimes misunderstand that,” Sutton said. There is often a lack of consequences or accountability for perpetrators of sexual violence on campus because of a lack of evidence, Sutton said.

To help victims of

sexual misconduct, MSU formed the Office of Survivor Support in July 2020.

OSS Director Yvett Roby said the office is dedicated to students who encounter sexual misconduct, regardless of it occurring recently or in the past. The office offers confidential service, helping students recover from victimization through academic, medical and legal assistance.

“If a student needs us after hours, we're on call. We will come out; we will meet that student wherever. If they need us at the hospital, we will go with them — 2 a.m., 3 a.m. — it doesn't matter because we're on call,”

Roby said. “We have an after-hours on-call service where we will physically present to assist that student.”

Roby said a contributing factor to students feeling comfortable about visiting the office would be the free will to do so.

“They're given options, and they have an opportunity to be empowered because if you think about it, so much has already been taken away from them,” Roby said.

OSS's website at survivorsupport.msstate.e du and MSU's Safe Line at (662) 325-3333 provides more information for victims of sexual misconduct.

Courtesy Photo | Kevin Braman Kevin Braman (pictured) will operate the drone, while Jalyn Hawkins will be on foot as a human observer to gather information.

Courtesy Photo | Jaléa McCauley I.D.E.A.L Woman is an organization that gives a platform to minority women. Jaléa McCauley (far left) has served as president.

An In-Class Distraction

∙Coasters

February 14 - A student reported receiving an email about a potential job offer that turned out to be fraudulent.

February 15 - A non-resident/visitor suffered an arm injury at Chadwick Lake due to her dog running around a light pole, which caused her to fall.

February 17 - An employee reported a forklift hitting an MSU affiliated vehicle in the parking lot West of the Humphrey Coliseum.

Scorpio - This week, you’ll spend a much too significant amount of time writing four horoscopes for your editor again at the mere whim of the readers of your student paper.

Gemini - You’re given no reason as to why, just that sometimes these things draw out a laugh, and you play along with it, because it gives your days purpose. Is that truly a good thing, though?

Cancer - You had hopes and dreams. You could have seen the world, even. But no, you’re stuck at this desk, writing about the star gods you and another editor made up. Is that funny enough?

Pisces - You’re out of options, though, so here’s an actual horoscope: Your check engine light is definitely on along with another warning light that you’re totally unfamiliar with. Get that looked at.

Two years ago last week, poetic justice gave Mississippi State University students a week off of school in a semester where spring break was not on the calendar.

I am not one to look back at a natural disaster in a favorable light, but when snow and ice shuts down school for a week it is hard not to, at least a little bit, appreciate the gift.

I was a freshman in spring 2021, living in Deavenport Hall. When an ice storm hit, however, I, along with dozens of my brothers, decided to bunker down at our fraternity house.

Of course, people remember those that sledded on tables behind trucks that weekend, sliding down hills, and drifting a little too far in their cars. What was not seen, however, was what went down at frat houses. The number of people staying in the house nearly doubled. We lived off of ham sandwiches (made with hamburger buns because bread was not available).

We made “supply runs” just for beer. These are the

tame stories. Nobody slept. At any given hour, at least one person in the house was awake that week, at all hours, all week. We attempted to grill just to stay warm since the fireplace vent was broken. We played hockey in the frozen courtyard, and movie nights turned into everyone falling asleep during "Dunkirk".

Suitcases filled empty rooms of those who were not living at the house, packed tight like a Southwest terminal. Uphill walks to the dumpster became impossible. Trash built up in the driveway. By the end of the week, there were enough empty canisters of pre-workout to make one of those jacked GMO cows blush.

I could go into more detail, but you and I both know why I cannot. Obviously standard college things happened; drinks were had almost every night, music was played, couches were slept on and a few recap conversations were in order every morning. There may have been a sunrise crew a few nights. Although I am only sure of two, there could be more. When you are growing up and learning about what

college is, you do not hear about class. You do not hear about long study sessions or clubs. You hear about the memories that are made outside of the classroom.

Ice Week was the most fun week of college for me and my friends because it was the one week where there was no class, barely any assignments and nothing to do except make new memories. We were careful about what we did, of course, but we made the best of it.

I am not sure how to entirely sum up this week except by a rudimentary statistics card. I remember seven people slipping and falling on the ice (at least), three broken phones and one breakup (at the very least). We consumed 150 hamburger buns in either burgers or ham and cheese sandwiches, a few Northerners who thought we were being dramatic made eight supply runs and, on a particularly fraternal night, one person woke up with more pairs of pants on his legs than when he fell asleep.

Somehow, there were zero frozen pipes, zero medical issues and zero power outages. One great time.

Ice Week is an experience that those of us who watched it live could recall with ease, considering Starkville, Mississippi has snow on the ground for no more than four days a year. Although this is a time that many college students remember fondly, the spring break that was not supposed to happen, some of us did not have that experience. And by us, I mean myself.

It was Feb. 13, a historically calm-before-the-storm kind of day. The girls and I decided to have a Galentine's Day dinner to celebrate love and friendship for the holiday, before I celebrated Valentine’s with my boyfriend the next day.

The girls and I had an incredible dinner. We laughed, ate delicious food and enjoyed one another’s company. It was good. I was good. Life was simple, and I had not, importantly, been cheated on by my boyfriend who I had Valentine’s plans with. I was blissfully unaware of the turn that the night and following week would take.

Two hours later — you guessed it — I found out that I had, in fact, been cheated on. The next day started a week stuck inside, as Starkville

Starkville needs laser tag

Starkville has a lot to do at night: drop by the clock museum; go to a sports game of your choice for whatever season it is; go visit one of the parks around town; find a good local restaurant or bar and dig in. There are always things to do, as befits a college town, but there is one niche event missing: crossgenerational entertainment. There are some things you just cannot do above or below a certain age. Starkville is full up on those, but that green

zone in the middle where both kids and adults can enjoy something? Barren. There is a bowling/arcade over in Columbus, sure, but a thirty minute drive to roll a ball down an alley and heckle your friends over it is not worth it. In the same building, however, is something that might be worth it. The holy grail of fun activities that shocks me every time I remember its absence in Starkville: laser tag. Could there possibly be a more default staple of freetime activity than that? The center of birthday parties, gimmicky one-off celebra-

tions and cathartic, non-violent conflict resolutions galore. You can wander in off the street to play and pay by the game, unlike paintball’s time and money investment.

Imagine finishing a day of classes, grabbing some drinks on University Drive and then walking up the road to yuck it up, shooting people with laser guns.

It can even be good for you because you are burning off some calories hurtling around a neon arena. Wintrust Sports Complex actually attributes several health benefits to playing laser tag, including heart

strength, better sleep through energy burning and improved motor skills. Of course, the Wintrust Sports Complex of Bedford, Illinois, is trying to sell laser tag tickets, so check with your primary care provider before canceling your gym membership and going full lasers based fitness. There could even be a designated Mississippi State University laser tag tournament at the end of semesters to help burn off the stress of taking finals and the lethargy of being locked away in the library to prepare for all those hours. There is no doubt that

shuddered and heaved under the coming ice.

This was the beginning of my least favorite week of my entire college life.

Not 24 hours after my lovely Galentine’s, I found myself in a car with two of my best friends. To boost my morale, we had plans to grab some takeout and pile onto the futon in Nunnelee Hall to watch the new “After” film. Ice had begun covering the streets and every single restaurant in town had closed its doors. Despite their best efforts, morale was astronomically lower than it has been an hour prior, and was dropping still.

We woke up to winter wonderland in Zacharias Village. Students were rolling in the snow, building massive snowmen and having intense snowball fights. The scene could have come right out of a mediocre hallmark film about friendship during the holidays. This was no Hallmark film, though. This was Starkville, Mississippi. It was also postCOVID, which meant that instead of having canceled classes, students had to attend classes via WebEx. Things only got worse.

Virtual classes should have been the least of my worries. I, along with thousands of others, relied solely on the University for the majority of

our meals. This became extremely problematic when only one dining hall was open with extremely limited resources.

After a slick and harrowing journey from Griffis Hall to the Perry Cafeteria, all I wanted was a yummy and warm meal. Perry usually pulls through, but not this time. The dining hall staff was doing their best with what they had. The ice and lack of resources were completely out of their control. We were served a questionable meal that consisted of brown rice with a combination of vegetables that probably should not have been cooked together. The portion was small, and there was not enough food to give anyone seconds.

All of the P.O.D.s around campus had run out of food, too. When they were able to restock, it was every man for himself in there. Luckily, I was able to snatch a cup of EasyMac in the chaos, "Hunger Games" style, and it was absolutely scrumptious after eating the mysterious rice and vegetable bowl.

The lack of food, sitting in on painfully long virtual classes and the gettingcheated-on debacle made for an incredibly difficult week. Winter wonderland or not, I shiver at the thought of ever experiencing another one.

finding a spare 3,000 square feet of commercial real estate and establishing a laser tag business inside it would be

difficult and includes costs that have prevented it from happening so far, but I hope it happens at some point.

Two years ago, Starkville froze over for five days. Two writers offer their thoughts on how it went.

joHn baladi staff writer

Luke Copley

HannaH rae kennedy staff writer

Domtae Ball

& ENTERTAINMENT 5

Starkville server shines through positivity at cafe

Inside Starkville Cafe, at a small wooden table, a group of men sit and eat the baby ducks lunch special on their break from their jobs. The conversations ranged from work troubles to weekend plans.

It is opening weekend for Mississippi State University baseball, and it seems as though each man plans to attend at least one game.

“How’s everything tasting? You all need anything else?” said Mrs. Shirley, a storied Starkville Cafe employee.

She is dressed in printed floral leggings in an array of pink, yellow, blue, orange and white hues and an orange athletic tee, as she mans the front of the restaurant, seats guests, takes phone calls and occasionally taps the register, all with a smile on her face.

“Real good, Shirley,” one of the men seated at the table said to her. “A little salty, but it’s good.”

If you have ever been to Starkville Cafe, you most likely know Shirley Ross, better known as Mrs. Shirley, and chances are, she knows you as well.

Starkville Cafe has been a local commodity since most people can remember, and Ross has

been a crucial part of the restaurant for almost 23 years.

Ross, a Maben, Mississippi, native, grew up in a single-parent household with three siblings by her side. She became a mother at 17, while continuing to attend school each day until graduating from East Webster High School in 1991. Just two years later, Ross gave birth to her second child and decided it was time to grow up.

Setting out on her own with two small children, Ross found her place and first job in Eupora. Then, she moved to West Point for two years before returning back to Maben.

While relocating back to Maben was not ideal at first, tables began to turn after Ross married her husband, Rick Powell, in April 2000. The two live together and support four grandchildren, ranging in age from two to 13.

Along with her waitressing job at Starkville Cafe, Ross is a full-time grandmother, student at Millsaps College and caregiver for her mother, who was diagnosed with severe dementia.

It never seemed to bother Ross how frequently she cared for others. Instead, she said she feels it is what she is meant to do.

“I always was a big sister, you know, making sure everything was done for my mom to help her out. That taught me as a child how to manage my life with my children and grandkids now. I was already prepared and knew

Movie Review: ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ fails to size up

“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” is another disappointing and forgettable Marvel film that fails to size up.

“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” the latest from director Peyton Reed, is the third Ant-Man film and the 31st film entry into the beloved Marvel Cinematic Universe.

“Quantumania” is the first installment in Marvel’s fifth phase of films and the beginning to the second part of Marvel’s “Multiverse Saga.”

The film follows Ant-Man Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), his girlfriend The Wasp Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), his daughter Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton), Hope’s father Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Hope’s mother Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer).

Set two years after the events of “Avengers: Endgame,” the latest “Ant-Man” film takes place almost entirely in the Quantum Realm after a quantum mapping device created by Cassie Lang and Hank Pym explodes, sending the focal characters flying into the alternate dimension.

The film introduces several hundred alien characters and environments in rapid succession, immersing the viewer in a bizarre wasteland that is very different from any past Marvel experience. Strange sciences and exciting futuristic technologies are shown, each with no attempted explanation past “things are just different here.”

The Quantum Realm is an entirely CGI-generated dimension with little cohesion between the environments shown. The film presents several terrains, from mushroom fields to large scale cities, creating a mismatched and disjointed world with infinite areas that, somehow, always seem to fit the intended mood of the scene.

Some scenes within the Quantum Realm are way too dark visually. This choice may have been made with the intent to mask some shoddy CGI, a criticism that has plagued recent Marvel productions like “She-Hulk” and “Thor: Love and Thunder.”

While in the Quantum Realm, Janet van Dyne encounters another seemingly

lost human looking to return home. The individual is Nathaniel Richards (Jonathan Majors), known to countless other universes as Kang the Conqueror.

The film depicts Kang the Conqueror's power and prowess to Janet van Dyne and the audience through a few quick flashbacks of his previous genocides. This does well to establish that Kang the Conqueror is no joke, but I wanted to see a little more of the villain in his ultimate element.

A large disappointment in the film is the introduction and demise of Kang the Conqueror’s Mechanized Organism Designed Only for Killing, or M.O.D.O.K. for short.

M.O.D.O.K. is essentially a large floating head, complete with tiny limbs and an insane number of weapons, buzzsaws and unfunny one-liners.

The story of M.O.D.O.K. was completely rewritten for “Quantumania”, introducing him as the new-and-improved physical form of Scott Lang’s first super-powered nemesis, Yellowjacket Darren Cross (Corey Stoll), a character presumed dead after the events of Marvel’s “Ant-Man.”

The reintroduction of Darren Cross as M.O.D.O.K. is a completely unnecessary choice that lends nothing but a few fits of uncontrollable laughter each time the film shows his ridiculous figure.

Aside from a redemption arc and funeral scene that drags on for, admittedly, way too long, M.O.D.O.K. could be missing from “Quantumania” entirely, and it would not negatively impact the film.

Majors’ performance as Kang the Conqueror is handsdown the highlight of the film. Marvel’s “Loki” introduced

the character, and the antagonist's presence in “Quantumania” delivers an epic and unhinged performance that excited audiences.

Majors was able to expand upon his character in Quantumania, showing brilliant flashes of uncontrolled anger and little remorse for those that stand in the way of his ultimate control over the entire multiverse.

For fans familiar with Marvel but not entirely well-versed with Kang the Conqueror, his character is as if Thanos was able to remain powerful across every single universe and time period.

Marvel is all-in on Kang the Conqueror becoming the antagonist focus of the MCU, and audiences should be, too. Kang the Conqueror’s story will culminate in 2025 in the recently announced film “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.”

For the lapsed Marvel fan worried about missing key details of the MCU’s next crossover Avengers film, this movie can be skipped entirely.

While Marvel introduces its next big villain to the silver screen through this film, very little information about his motives or the source of his power is revealed, so understanding the story without watching “Avenger: The Kang Dynasty” is accomplishable.

As the film was wrapping up in the theater, nearly every section of the audience could be heard frantically describing entirely different explanations as to who Kang the Conqueror is and where the overall story of Marvel’s next big-bad is going. I can only imagine this exact scenario is what happened while Disney executives were making plans for the beginning of Marvel’s fifth phase.

renovations before the fire occurred, which forced them to completely start from scratch.

Many people would be completely broken after a hardship such as this, but not Mrs. Shirley. She never let it dim her light and still found the silver lining.

“We've lost a lot of things that we had over the years,” Ross said. “But, you know, I thank God we still have our lives.”

The Starkville community raised nearly $10,000 in support of the Ross family and helped them get back on their feet. Mrs. Shirley has a unique outlook on life and is thankful the community she has served for 23 years supported her with such prominence.

Shirley and helping her serve tables on busy mornings.

Julia said Ross is personal and intentional with every customer she encounters.

“It’s fun to see how fast and efficient she works and her personal connection with the customers. She knows so much about these people,” Julia said.

On her break, Mrs. Shirley sits at the same community table with other customers to eat and mingle with those she served only five minutes before. These simple conversations and relaxation with patrons show her character and kind nature.

what to do and how to be responsible,” Ross said. About a year ago, Ross and her family experienced a house fire that depleted just about everything they had. The family had just paid off their home and finished

“No matter if I'm having a bad day, I leave it at the back door. You still got to treat people right no matter what's going on and be a light to someone else,” Ross said. “When I lost my house, it made me feel so good that people can relate to me and to know they love me.”

Another employee at Starkville Cafe, Julia, who prefers not to have her last name printed, started in August 2022 and often finds herself working shifts with Mrs.

Mrs. Shirley is a landmark for the Starkville community all on her own. Her kindness and the work she does for others comes straight from her heart, and the Starkville community recognizes those characteristics.

To Starkville residents and her regulars at Starkville Cafe, Mrs. Shirley is well known and adored, but to her, she lives a normal life and enjoys nothing more than being with family.

“I like to take my family and my grandkids to go out to eat and go to movies. I like to go to church. I like to listen to music, you know, ease my mind.” Ross said.

Maben, Mississippi, native Shirley Ross has worked at Starkville Cafe for almost 23 years.

Jahari Bell | The Reflector

Five impactful Black athletes that made their mark on MSU football

Black History Month is a way to celebrate the achievements and lives of Black people around the world. To take part in that recognization and remembrance, here are five Black athletes that made their mark in Bulldog country.

DB Frank Dowsing Jr. (1969-1972)

When discussing the most impactful athletes in MSU history, one should always mention defensive back Frank Dowsing Jr. In 1969, Dowsing and defensive lineman Robert Bell became the first Black football players to step on the gridiron for the Bulldogs. Dowsing received many prestigious awards during his collegiate career such as

Academic All-SEC (19701972), All-SEC first-team defensive back (19711972), All-American defensive back (‘72) and Academic All-American (‘72).

Before the honorary game against Bowling Green University, MSU associate head coach Tony Hughes discussed the impact Dowsing and Bell had on him as a player and coach.

“It means a lot because I’m a minority that was raised in the state of Mississippi,” Hughes said. “Having an opportunity to coach at Mississippi State wouldn’t be that way if it hadn’t been for men like that that were willing to make the sacrifice when it wasn’t the popular thing to do.”

DL Robert Bell (19691973)

Defensive lineman Robert Bell possessed an

inspiring leadership quality that influenced many Bulldogs of the past, present and future. If you were to step foot in Davis Wade Stadium in the early 1970s, you could hear the the chants of “Give ‘em hell, Robert Bell” from the Bulldog faithful.

Bell was an outstanding athlete and helped lead MSU to its first winning season in seven years in 1970. Along with Dowsing, Bell was one of the first Black football players to attend MSU.

After Bell passed in late March 2022, MSU President Mark Keenum released a statement about Bell's character and the mark the football player left as a Bulldog.

"The Mississippi State University family is deeply saddened at the passing of the great Bulldog football defender Robert Bell,"

President Keenum said. "Robert played a pivotal roll in bringing change to our state and our university through his courage, character and zeal to compete."

WR Eric Moulds (1993-1995)

Lucedale, Mississippi, native wide receiver Eric Moulds made an immediate impact on the team as a Bulldog. He played in 31 games at MSU and recorded 2,022 yards on 118 receptions. He earned many All-American and All-SEC honors during his time as a Bulldog, while also running track during the indoor season. The Buffalo Bills drafted Moulds with the 24th overall pick in the first round of the NFL Draft. He had an outstanding professional career, as he finished with three Pro Bowls (1998,

2000, 2001) and became the first Bills player in history to make 100 catches in a single season.

DL Chris Jones (20132015)

Just one week removed from his second Super Bowl win, defensive lineman Chris Jones continues his reign as one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL. Jones started his career at MSU in 2013 and instantly became a game-changer for the Bulldogs.

During his time at MSU, Jones received prestigious awards, such as Freshman All-American in 2013, as well as Second-Team AllAmerican in 2015. Jones played well for MSU, but his talent shines even brighter on the big stage.

Since the Kansas City Chiefs drafted Jones in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, he has recorded

243 tackles (168 of those solo), 65 sacks, 12 forced fumbles, 33 pass deflections and two interceptions.

QB Dak Prescott (2012-2015)

Last, but certainly not least, is Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Prescott’s love for MSU and his contributions off (and on) the field are the driving factors that make him one of the most beloved Bulldogs of all time.

During his time at MSU, Prescott reached the pinnacle of 38 school records. He recorded 9,376 passing yards and threw for 70 touchdowns and also used his impressive athletic ability to rush for 2,521 yards and 41 touchdowns. No matter where you go in Starkville, everyone will forever mention the years that Prescott led the Bulldogs to success.

MSU women’s hoops victorious on senior night

The Mississippi State University women’s basketball team cruised to a 60-45 win over the University of Alabama Sunday evening in Humphrey Coliseum.

Before tipoff, the Bulldogs honored graduating seniors Anastasia Hayes, Ahlana Smith, Asianae Johnson and Kourtney Weber.

Bulldogs head coach Sam Purcell said he was grateful for Sunday's fan support and wanted the team to give it their all for the seniors.

“We had what, 6,000 in

attendance tonight? And it was felt, especially the energy that my seniors deserve, what a special group,” Purcell said. “We went into the game, and we talked about it. Tonight, there’s something different than a normal night. You want to make sure you go out and give it your all for four quarters because you know the seniors have done that and that’s the biggest compliment you can give them for what they’ve done for this program.”

The victory over the Crimson Tide earned the Bulldogs another quad-one win to help boost MSU's NCAA Tournament resume heading into March. Being without starter Jessika

Carter, however, proved to be a difficult task for the Bulldogs at times against a tough Alabama squad.

The first quarter was a back-and-forth battle between the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs. With 3:06 remaining in the first half, Ramani Parker nailed a three-pointer as the shot clock expired to give MSU a slim 10-9 lead. The shot from Parker boosted MSU’s offensive attack, as they went on a 10-2 run to close out the quarter ahead 17-11.

MSU’s offensive firepower continued in the second quarter. In the Bulldogs’ first possession, JerKaila Jordan drilled a three-pointer to keep MSU

in front of the Tide. Defensively, the Bulldogs forced three early Tide turnovers to keep the momentum in MSU’s favor.

The Bulldogs' early shutdown ended at 7:42 when Sarah Ashlee Barker scored for Alabama, slimming MSU’s lead to 2313. Fortunately for MSU, this shot did not breathe life into Alabama’s offensive attack. For the Bulldogs, their offense continued to execute and they outscored the Crimson Tide 18-7 in the second quarter.

MSU graduate student Ahlana Smith spoke about how the coaches prepared the team to continue their success following a

commanding first-half performance.

“Honestly, he (Coach Purcell) kept us humble. He kept us on our toes, and he let us know that this (the score) is 0-0,” Smith said. “No matter what happened in that first half, it’s 0-0. It’s anybody’s game. So that first five minutes coming out of halftime is super important (for) kind of setting the tone for the rest of the half.”

Ahead 47-28 at the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs looked to carry on their impressive performance and earn a key victory. On the other hand, Alabama looked to silence the Bulldogs’ offense and find a way to win.

The MSU offense responded with 6 points to pull their lead to 17 with 1:05 remaining, making any chance of an Alabama comeback improbable. Even though Alabama outscored MSU 17-13 in the quarter, it was not enough to overcome the damage done in the first three quarters.

As the final buzzer sounded, the MSU faithful cheered as the Bulldogs ran away with a 60-45 victory over an SEC foe.

The Bulldogs 19-8 (8-6) will play their final regular season home game against the University of Arkansas on Thursday at 8 p.m. The game will be streamed live on SEC Network.

With the win against the Crimson Tide, the Bulldogs now have eight Southeastern Conference wins in 2023. Head coach Sam Purcell is the first coach in program history to ever reach eight conference wins in his first season at the helm.

Landon Scheel | The Reflector

Dylan flippo sports eDitor

Holly Harrison staff writer

MSU football honored the memory of Frank Dowsing Jr. and Robert Bell with alternate uniforms in late September.

Landon Scheel | The Reflector

There are currently 25 Black MSU football players playing in the National Football League as of 2023.

Landon Scheel | The Reflector