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TUESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2017

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MISSISS STA

UNIV 131st YEAR ISSUE 38

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

Keeping MSU safe: Chief of Police Vance Rice Get to know your chief of police:

by Samantha Neargarder Staff Writer

Vance Rice began working at Mississippi State University as chief of police in 2014.

While at MSU, he incorporated bodyworn cameras for police officers, hired MSU’s first Life Safety Manager and upgraded weapons for better active shooter response.

Rice is from a town close to Fayetteville, Prairie Grove in northwest Arkansas. He started in the law enforcement career by seeing an opportunity for his wife to go to school.

“I was working in security and I heard campus police were given discounts, University of Arkansas had a 50 percent discount for spouses of employees,” Rice said.

He planned to be in this career for only a few years and even left to work elsewhere. Yet he realized he enjoyed the work he was doing as campus law enforcement and has not left the career since.

Rice was at the University of Arkansas for 25 years, and when he left he was able to retire before becoming the police chief at MSU. His day-to-day

• Rice’s favorite place to vacation to was an allinclusive resort to Mexico a couple years after he and his wife got married • Rice was married in 1987 and has two children, a twenty-four-yearold son and a twenty-two-yearold daughter • Rice loves playing soccer and golf

Noah Siano | The Reflector

Vance Rice has served MSU for four years. He has 27 years of experience as a campus law enforcement officer. He is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, National Academy.

job varies, spending about 65 percent of the time in the office, overseeing his officers, doing paper work and making sure personnel with the university is good.

“There is more to campus police than law enforcement, we get involved in all aspects

of safety and security on campus,” Rice said. “It can even be with the fire department, when they get a call my officers respond.”

His biggest achievement, he feels, is being able to go to the FBI National Academy event.

This is a sponsored

event for local law enforcement and administrators. In order to be invited, one has to be nominated by their chief, the nominations go to the local FBI office, and then the selection process begins once an officer is chosen.

Rice’s experience at the University of Arkansas included creating a “life safety” division for the school, and the use of canine dogs.

“Canines are another big thing that help get the job here because it is what MSU wanted,” Rice said.

JM, The Reflector

RICE, 2 Jenn McFadden, The Reflector Information courtesy of : www.msstate.edu/about/history/

1926 College received accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

February 28, 1878 Mississippi State University was established as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi

1958 Mississippi Legislature changed the college’s name to Mississippi State University Today...

We celebrate with cake, ice cream, and drinks from 11a.m. to 1p.m. in the Dawg House in the Colvard Student Union!

1932 Mississippi Legislature changed the college’s name to Mississippi State College

Fall 1880 College welcomed its first students

HAPPY 139TH BIRTHDAY Dove represents as Writer-in-Residence

by Devin Edgar Managing Editor

At 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in McCool Hall’s Taylor Auditorium, Mississippi State University’s Institute for the Humanities, an extension of the College of Arts and Sciences, will be hosting Rita Dove as a continuation of the Writerin-Residence program.

The Institute for the Humanities runs programs on humanities initiatives that involve hosting different events, inviting speakers for the Distinguished Lecture

Weather

Reflections

Amy Lovely, Campus Connect Forecaster

Program and, beginning in 2014, the Writer-inResidence program.

William Anthony Hay, current director for The Humanities Institute, said he began organizing the lecture series in 2005, shortly after the institute began with Gary Myers.

Then, Myers was the director of the newly installed institute and the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

“We brought scholars from a range of humanities fields and noted artists and creative writers to campus,” Hay said. “The lecture series became a big draw

among students and many community members.”

Following Myers, Dr. Hay took over and began working with the creative writing faculty in the MSU English Department, which was when the Writer-in-Residence series was created.

Now, each public reading for the Writerin-Residence program doubles as an event in the Distinguished Lecture Series.

Since its beginning, the Writer-in-Residence program has hosted an impressive line-up, alternating poetry and

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fiction artists including Pulitzer Prize winning fiction writer Robert Olen Butler, Terrance Hayes, a poet who later went on to receive the MacArthur Foundation “genius” award and Dorothy Allison, who is also a Pulitzer Prize winner.

Dove, distinguished poet and essayist, is no exception.

In 1987, the Akron, Ohio, native was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry for her poetry book “Thomas and Beulah,” making her the second African American to ever receive the distinguished award.

FORECAST: An upper level disturbance & return of moisture will bring us a high rain both Tues. & Wed. this week.

Thursday, sunny and warm conditions! Enjoy your week, Bulldogs!

DOVE, 2

Fred Viebahn | Courtesy Photo

Rita Dove was born on Aug. 28, 1952. She was the first African American to serve as Poet Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. She served from 1993-1995.

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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2017

RICE

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NEWS CONTINUED FROM 1

One of the craziest system is not the greatest,” two basketballs signed by events that Chief Rice Rice said. “We want to Arkansas (when he retired) has had to deal with in install a single system that and by Ben Howland. his career was the active hits everything. And [these Rice also shows off a shooter scare in the fall of systems] are out there, they proud cowbell that reads, 2015. just aren’t cheap.”

“Best Overall” which “That was a tough day While the chief has to is an award the police for a lot officers,” Rice said. decide what the money is department won for the “The tough thing about it spent on throughout the best Christmas video at is we all drill, we train, but department, he does not last year’s Christmas get you always know it’s not determine how much they together. real. But that was real, and get. The campus police Rice said he enjoys the what officers thought they received three budget cuts people he works with. were going into was real.” from the state recently.

“The MSU department While the end had a lot of issues result of that when I got here,” incident was a Rice said. “One of “Chief Rice works day in good one, there the things we don’t were some things have a problem and day out to make campus Rice saw needed with is people, there improvement. The are a lot of great safer for students and is communication people here.” accomplishing this each day between all outside Roxanne Raven, agencies to one Student Association through technological advances president of 2016place at MSU were not up to 2017 and senior and attracting great officers.” his standards. He political science believes there major, said MSU is -Roxanne Raven, former SA needed to be one lucky to have Rice. focal point from the “Chief Rice is so president and senior political outside to the inside hard working, has an science major having a face-toincredible amount face conversation. of knowledge and, Rice said facemost importantly, to-face is the best is compassionate solution in those situations.

Since Rice has towards students,” Raven After the incident, and progressed from an officer said. “Chief Rice works still to this day Rice said at Arkansas to a police day in and day out to make he encourages his officers chief now, the biggest campus safer for students to seek mental health, difference he sees between and is accomplishing especially being in the the top and the bottom is this each day through careers they are in. the way of looking at the technological advances and “We push it and talk job. attracting great officers.” about it [mental health] to “A patrol officer and Sid Salter, MSU’s chief our officers, Rice said. “We maybe even a fifth, sixth of communication officer, have the EAP Program, year officer’s main concern said Rice was a great Employee Assistance is doing there job, as a addition to MSU. Program, and there are chief I am looking at what “Chief Vance Rice counselors available all the they’re doing and how they has brought a culture time. We highly encourage are doing it, what affect it of professionalism and our officers to go talk to will have on the university dedication to MSUPD them.” and the media,” Rice said. that truly compliments Another improvement “So, I’m more concerned the overall Student found by Rice after the about the result.”

Affairs mission. He is active shooter scare was the Rice’s office is well-respected across the maroon alert system. decorated with his FBI university by faculty, staff “Our maroon alert National Academy frame, and students alike.

Good o g s

In place of Bad Dawgs this week, we will feature a good dog for a change. Maya gazes toward the camera for a moment before continuing to smooch guests who participated in the Oktibbeha County Humane Society’s student chapter kissing booth on Valentine’s Day. The event was to raise awareness towards adopting animals at the local shelter. Kate Martin and Jeremy Saway adopted Maya later that day.

The absence of Bad Dawgs is due to the Dean of Students’ office “working out kinks for confidentiality purposes,” according to an office member.

Photo: Alayna Stevens Caption: Sarah Dutton

DOVE Along with her award winning “Thomas and Beulah,” Dove published other works in the same genre, including “On the Bus with Rosa Parks” in 1999, “American Smooth” in 2004, and “Sonata Mulattica” in 2009.

After receiving the Pulitzer Prize, Dove became the first woman, the first African American, and the youngest person, at 41-years-old, to be appointed the position of poet laureate of the United States.

Co-director of Creative Writing and

CONTINUED FROM 1

Associate Professor Catherine Pierce, said it is her duty to help seek out prestigious writers who are also engaging speakers and teachers.

“Rita Dove was our first choice as this year’s visitor, and we were thrilled when she accepted our invitation,” Pierce said.

Speaking of the honor it is to host Dove on the MSU campus, Pierce said that she is one of the most significant, living American poets.

“I have no doubt that our students and

community will benefit from the chance to hear her share her work,” Pierce said. “I’m very glad that I have the chance to work with the institute to bring writers of such caliber to campus and to help facilitate such opportunities for our students.”

Over the course of her stay Dove will visit a class, hold a public reading, and meet and talk with students. This event will be free to the public and students of all majors are encouraged to attend.

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MSU GAMER’S GUILD The MSU Gamer’s Guild is celebrating the launch of the Nintendo Switch System this Friday in Oak Hall. For more information on how to get involved, contact vgcmsu@gmail. com

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OPINION

THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2017

Emotional awareness improves everyday interactions Roy Jafari is a graduate student in engineering.

He can be contacted at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.

Have you ever been so gripped by an emotion that you looked at or treated one of your closest family members or friends as if you did not know them? Have you ever experienced regret over something you did or said as soon as your emotions subsided?

If you have ever experienced these feelings, we have struggled with similar confusions and regrets.

Nearly six years ago, I stumbled upon a book titled “Emotions Revealed” by Paul Ekman that not only profoundly inf luenced my understanding of emotion, but also directly affected the way I lived

my life.

Ekman, a pioneer in the study of emotions and facial expressions, describes what we refer to as “being overwhelmed by or gripped by emotion” as the refractory period of an emotion.

During this period, we are only able to access information in our brain that is relevant to the emotion we are experiencing.

For instance, if your roommate is in the refractory period of anger during a heated conversation, he or she is only capable of thinking about your mistakes and errors in the past and not the times you supported and cared for them.

In other words, science acknowledges if an emotion is triggered in a person, they are not themselves anymore.

Their rational capabilities are limited and they can only remember events or experiences that feed their current emotional state. This understanding has the potential to open a world of choices for us

inwardly and outwardly.

If we change our focus and become interested in what is going on inside of us as much as what is going on outside, we can become more adept at handling our emotions.

The ability to recognize a rising emotion inside ourselves and create a choice to either let the emotion take over or not is called “emotional

theory of evolution.

Emotional responses take precedence over our conscious choices. This is why we only become aware of having become emotional.

This has been pivotal in human evolution and our daily lives.

For example, when driving we would get into more accidents if our emotional response

“Giving an emotionally overwhelming experience a name can remove the power it has over you. ”

awareness.”

However, emotions are not always dysfunctional and we do not want to dampen our emotions entirely. It is not an exaggeration to say humanity owes its survival to emotions.

Charles Darwin, in one of his works, uses the expressions of emotions in an effort to support his

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did not “steer the wheel” a little when another car comes out of nowhere.

While the importance of emotional responses should be acknowledged and appreciated, we should not ignore the times when we wished we had not become emotional.

It would be perfect if there was a way to stop

ourselves from becoming emotional when we know we will regret our behavior afterwards.

By striking a balance between being conscious of what is going on inside us and being aware of our surroundings, eventually we will have gathered enough information about ourselves that we know when we are on the verge of becoming overwhelmed by our emotions.

Growing in this conscious knowledge will allow you to study your own behavior patterns and either avoid certain situations or enter them with a higher level of consciousness and emotional control.

After learning more about our own feelings, we will have subconsciously trained ourselves to recognize when an emotion is developing.

This allows us to look more closely at ourselves and make smarter choices.

If we are diligent in our internal awareness, the next time a strong emotion begins to overwhelm us, we can remember the

Interested in studying abroad?

...in 1953, Cambridge University scientists James D. Watson and Frances H.C. Crick announce that they have determined

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“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character that is the goal of true education.

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the double-helix structure of DNA, the molecule containing human genes.

refractory period we will experience.

Giving an emotionally overwhelming experience a name can remove the power it has over you. An extreme emotion can then be defi ned and addressed, rather than become a debilitating experience.

This also helps to see emotions in others for what they are and can help us forgive those who are trapped in the refractory period of emotion themselves. We can then easily feel the pain the person in front of us is feeling.

For instance, if your significant other is lashing out at you, not only will you forgive them instantly, because you are more aware of their pain, but you will also avoid becoming a participant in an angry conversation. This will avoid anger begetting more anger.

Recently, Dr. Ekman and his daughter, Eve Ekman, in a collaboration with the current Dalai Lama created an instructive and entertaining website, “Atlas of Emotions.” The website can be accessed and used for free.

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Studying abroad provides international perspective Holly Travis

is a senior majoring in political science and criminology. She can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.

The sun was setting quickly, panic was setting in, and the buildings around me were becoming less and less familiar as I suddenly realized I was lost.

I had been in Cusco, Peru, for less than four days and already managed to get on the wrong bus coming home from school. By the time the bus stopped and I was told to get off, it was dark outside and I was in the middle of nowhere.

I did not have too many options so I quickly began using the limited Spanish I knew at the time and finally grabbed a taxi to take me back to my host home.

I graduate in May so I have done quite a bit of

ref lecting on my time in college these past few weeks. And although this moment was terrifying at first, it still remains a distinct moment in my undergraduate experience.

You see, in this moment, and so many others while studying abroad, I learned what I was made of and the importance of having confidence while engaging with others in unfamiliar environments.

Now, I am by no means advocating that you head off to a foreign country and hop on a bus headed opposite of your home, but I am advocating studying abroad as one of the most beneficial experiences one could have while receiving their undergraduate degree.

The Institute of International Education reports that only 1 in 10 undergraduates will study abroad before receiving their degree. Although this number has more than doubled in this past 15 years, it is not nearly high enough.

Especially when considering the current resentment toward

certain beliefs, races and ethnicities in society, gaining a global perspective is more important now than ever before.

While studying abroad, you are consistently exposed to other cultures and practices up close.

These in depth looks at

“This fall I am moving back to South America to teach and because of my time abroad as an undergraduate, I am all the more confident of my ability to live in a foreign environment.” how others live garners your respect and works to break down certain preconceptions.

A certain preconception that fell as a result of my time in Peru was this idea of “American exceptionalism” or the desire to “Westernize” other countries.

The program I studied with required both coursework and volunteer

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assignments, so I spent my mornings volunteering at a home for victims of human trafficking.

I marched in there on the first day eager to help these girls and pull from my experiences with all those one-week long church mission trips I had participated in while in

high school.

Instead of being welcomed with open arms, however, these girls had little concern that an American had showed up to their rooms and wanted only to know if this meant there would be an extra set of hands to help with day to day chores.

I quickly learned the value of sitting quietly and learning before being too

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quick to rush and teach.

My time in that girls’ home taught me not to confuse cultural differences with differences between the right way and wrong way.

Not only did I garner a newfound appreciation for other cultures and beliefs, but I had the opportunity to expand and hone in on my foreign language skills.

Freakonomics reported in 2014 that only one percent of adults in the United States are proficient in a foreign language they studied in school. When compared to other countries, the United States’ lag in the area of foreign language is even more apparent.

The Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, stated in 2010 that only 18 percent of Americans could speak a second language as opposed to 53 percent of Europeans who can converse in other languages.

The lack of foreign language skills amongst U.S. citizens often strips many of a competitive advantage in the workplace.

Spending time in another country allows for students to gain

a more comprehensive experience in foreign language.

In addition to a global perspective and foreign language skills, studying abroad equips individuals with the confidence required to accomplish a wide range of tasks.

This fall I am moving back to South America to teach and because of my time abroad as an undergraduate, I am all the more confident of my ability to live in a foreign environment.

Without this experience, I am certain my plans following college would look very different.

Studying abroad has been one of the most rewarding and fun experiences during my time in college and I urge any student still undecided about summer plans to consider visiting MSU’s study abroad office.

Your experience in classrooms abroad will forever transform the way you consider issues both upon your return to American classrooms, and long after you leave the university’s halls.

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Content is determined solely by the student editorial staff. The contents of The Reflector have not been approved by Mississippi State University.

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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2017

Injured puppy rallies support from Starkville community

by Emily Wright Staff Writer

After a Starkville family was faced with a difficult situation just weeks before the birth of their first child, friends and strangers stepped in to support their financial needs.

Three weeks ago, Charlie and Tabbitha Jones were startled by the yelping noise of their three-yearold Maltese, Astro Jones, who was lying on the floor, unable to walk due to previous unknown events.

The Joneses believe he fell off the bed and turned the wrong way, which resulted in an injury that left him unable to move.

Around 1 to 2 a.m., the Joneses immediately rushed Astro to the Mississippi State University Vet School and within the following hour, Astro was evaluated and it was determined he was paralyzed from the chest down.

The family was faced with the difficult decision to either put Astro down due to high stress while expecting their child, or put Astro through surgery and pay the expensive medical bills to heal their furry pet.

Jones’ husband, Charlie,

soon realized putting down their furry friend was not an option.

“I was a mess,” Jones said.

“I cried all the time, and the first day that it happened I couldn’t get out of bed.”

Shortly after the incident, Jessica Baskett, an acquaintance of theirs, reached out and asked if she could create a GoFundMe page to help with some of the expenses. Although Jones was hesitant at first, she allowed Baskett to set a monetary limit to cover half of the expenses, $2,500.

“They have had some rough times,” Baskett said, “and when I was talking to Tabbitha right after it happened, she said a statement that reflected she felt she had brought this on them, as if it were her fault, when it can happen to anyone. I wanted to prove to her that people cared and would support this cause.”

Jones said she was hesitant because she assumed he was just a dog and did not realize the amount of support they would receive.

Jones said the total cost was $4,100. Within the first four days, the GoFundMe page received around $700 and after the Starkville Daily News featured their story, the number doubled

to $1,400. She claimed that without Baskett they would not have been able to go through with the medical attention Astro required.

“I am very grateful for it,” Jones said. “Without her, we probably wouldn’t have made the decision to keep the dog just because we did not think there was any hope.”

Baskett said she expected the large amount of feedback the page received due to her faith in people’s desire to help others and their love for dogs. She also mentioned the heartwarming feelings received when a celebrity donation from Ike Barinholtz, an actor on “The Mindy Project,” appeared on the page a few days ago. Baskett clarified the donation is equally appreciated as any other donation but it serves as a representation of the amount of support they received from not only friends and family but also total strangers.

The vet told the family that Astro would more than likely never walk again, so they rented a wheelchair for the dog. However, Jones said Astro is now moving his legs and walking with a few difficulties. They took the wheelchair back to the vet since it was a rental

Charlie Jones | Contributing photo

Tabbith Jones holds Astro after he returns from surgery. The surgery gave him partial mobility and he continues to gain strength.

and they have replaced it with a sling that he uses to walk around, with other assistance as well.

“My husband has to do most of the work since I am pregnant,” Jones said.

“So he should be prepared by the time the baby comes around.”

Jones said Astro continues to improve every day and has already weaned off his medication.

Now, they are preparing for Charlie Jr. who is due March 21, and said they are excited for Astro to meet the baby.

“This whole time we’ve

been expecting, we’ve been so excited about letting the baby meet him,” Jones said. “So it’s good that he is doing better.”

If anyone would like to donate to the cause, donations can be made on Astro’s GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/

Club Spotlight Psychology Club

As Megan Peck and Alex Wedderstrand sat in Careers in Psychology, a class intended to prepare psychology majors for their future, they realized psychology majors who hoped to succeed at Mississippi State were facing a problem.

Peck and Wedderstrand had both recently changed majors to psychology so neither had taken enough psychology classes to join Psi Chi, the psychology honors society, so they recognized that many psychology majors could not participate in Psi Chi, either because the students have not taken enough psychology courses or because their grades in the classes they had taken did not meet the requirements.

“So, we were trying to find a different way to get involved,” Wedderstrand said. “So, we decided that a psychology club would be a great way for people to get involved who are not involved yet and for people already in Psi Chi to get even more involved and connect with professors and things like that” Peck and Wedderstrand founded the Psychology Club and are the President and vice president of the club, respectively.

Peck said that she hopes the Psychology Club will continue to provide what she called an “open door” for students who would like to learn about the department and meet with professors in an environment that is not provided elsewhere.

Students interested in learning about the Psychology Club or becoming involved can email Peck or Wedderstrand at the addresses found on the Psychology Club’s Org Sync page, where the club’s social media information can also be found.

At this moment they do not have regulary scheduled meetings but when they are announced, they are posted on the group’s social media accounts.

- Will Wells, Staff Writer

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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2017

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SPORTS

Rooker shines in weekend victories

by Taylor Rayburn Staff Writer

Mississippi State (6-3) blew up the scoreboard with 41 runs and went 3-1 this weekend in their twogame series against the Indiana State Sycamores (3-4) and the Marist Red Foxes (5-2).

“We are really close to being really really good,” lead-off hitter Jake Manugm said after Sunday’s game. “I truly believe that. We have a lot a young guys that are getting experience.”

MSU won the fi rst three games, two over Indiana State and one over Marist, before falling to the Red Foxes in a rematch on Sunday. The story of the fi rst two games was the great hitting of Brent Rooker.

Rooker, a junior from Germantown, Tennessee, was on fi re on Friday and game one of Saturday.

On Friday, Rooker hit two home runs and two doubles, going 4-4 from the plate. He also drove in a career-high eight RBIs. He carried that performance into Saturday with another 4-4 performance at the plate and six RBIs. He cooled off in the last two games of the weekend and

went a combined 0-8 at the plate.

“Obviously it is good to get the fi rst one (home run) out of the way,” Rooker said after Friday’s game. “I made a small adjustment before the game during batting practice and I think that paid off pretty well.”

MSU found solid pitching over the course of the weekend. On Friday, Konnor Pilkington got the start and went a career-long eight innings and achieved the win. Pilkington, a sophomore from Hurley, Mississippi, only gave up four hits and struck out six batters. He gave up no runs.

“He is our best starter, he is one of the best sophomore starting pitchers in America,” Cannizaro said.

“He is going to continue to go out there on Friday and we feel really great about him.”

MSU played a double header on Saturday.

Freshman Graham Ashcraft started and got the 12-4 win over Marist.

Ashcraft, a freshman from Gruly, Alabama, had a rough start, giving up three runs in the first two innings before pitching three scoreless innings.

On Saturday, it was Peyton Plumlee who got the start and a 9-1 win over Indiana State. Plumlee, a sophomore from Olive

Branch, Mississippi, also went eight innings, giving up three hits and striking out five batters. He gave up no runs and issued two walks.

On Sunday, it was a reliever, not a starter, who shined. Riley Self, a freshman from Coldwater, Mississippi, came into MSU’s 9-8 loss to Marist with MSU trailing 8-3. He was able to stop the bleeding but it wasn’t enough, as MSU still fell short. He only surrendered two hits and no runs while striking out four batters.

Cannizaro said Self is doing everything they ask him to do.

“We want guys that can come out, pound the strike zone, that have a secondary pitch, that can get swings and misses, that get early contact, that works fast, keeps your defense on their toes, he did that again today for the third time in this short season. I like that guy [Self ] out on the mound,” Cannizaro said.

Ryan Gridley and Jake Mangum were the most consistent hitters throughout the weekend. Gridley, a junior from Milton, Georgia, got at least two hits in every game and went 13-17 at the plate over the weekend. Jake Mangum extended his hitting streak to 22-games

Blake Williams | MSU Athletics

Brent Rooker went 8-16 on the weekend with three homeruns, 14 RBIs, and three doubles. He is 8-8 on stolen bases this year.

this weekend. He got two hits in each game.

MSU continued their aggression on the base paths.

The team stole 13 bases over the course of the weekend, including six on Friday in their 11-6 win over Indiana State. Brent Rooker leads the team in stolen bases as he is 8-8 on steal attempts this season. Mangum and

Gridley both have six steal attempts, Mangum is 5-6 and Gridley is 6-6. MSU as a team is 23-26 on the season.

Brent Rooker said Coach Cannizaro is the reason behind their aggression on the base path.

“His philosophy is we are going to run and be aggressive,” Rooker said. “A lot of people don’t know but I can

run a little bit and so I am just able to put that to work, put that to use a little bit under him [Cannizaro].”

The Bulldogs will not play a midweek game this week.

Their next game will be on Friday in Eugene, Oregon, where they will take on the Oregon Ducks in their first three-game series of the season.

Column: Hate the rules, not the player

by Dalton Middleton Sports Editor

In the 110-pound weight class of the Texas girls state wrestling championship, 17-year-old transgender boy Mack Beggs defeated his opponent and improved to 56-0 on the season. As soon as he hit the ground to celebrate his championship win, he was faced with not only cheers, but also boos.

The boos come from fans and people who believe that Beggs should not have wrestled against girls this year. They say he is cheating because of the testosterone he is taking and because he is a boy facing girls. People are blaming Beggs for that.

What people do not realize is that Beggs asked to wrestle against boys, but was declined. This was because of a law that Texas superintendents passed requiring student athletes to compete as the sex listed on their birth certificate, Beggs was given an ultimatum in the situation.

He was told that he could either wrestle against girls, or quit wrestling.

I do not understand why people are giving the young boy so much hate when he tried to wrestle against boys because he held an unfair advantage. People are saying he should have quit and not wrestled, but I cannot imagine making a kid quit his favorite sport because he is transitioning from female to male.

After many kids forfeited their matches to Beggs because of a fear of an unfair advantage, Beggs

took to Facebook and said it is the parents and coaches who are making them forfeit, and the wrestlers still want to compete.

“The thing is, we want to wrestle each other. I feel so sick and disgusted by the discrimination not by the kids, the PARENTS AND COACHES,” Beggs posted. “These kids don’t care who you put in front of them to wrestle. We just want to WRESTLE. THEY are taking that away from me and from the people I’m competing with.”

After getting so much hate, friends are trying to get the Texas state laws to amend and copy those of the NCAA, which allows kids who are transitioning from female to male and taking testosterone to compete in men’s teams but not women’s’ teams.

My point is that I do not believe Mack Beggs deserves to be hated on.

If anything should be hated on, it is the rules that Texas has. If Texas allowed transgender teenagers to compete in the sex they have transitioned to, Beggs would be competing against boys, not forced to compete against girls.

Beggs agrees that he should not have competed against girls, and that is why he asked to compete against boys. When he was rejected and given the ultimatum to either wrestle girls or quit, he did what anybody else in his situation would have done.

He continued playing the sport he loved.

Another argument people are making is that he should not be allowed to compete because of the

testosterone he is taking, which enhances his body.

The Texas Education Code and University Interscholarship League rules allow the use of steroids if they are “dispensed, prescribed, delivered and administered by a medical practitioner for a valid medical purpose,” the AP reported.

So anyone saying that he should not have competed due to him taking testosterone which enhanced his body to give him an unfair advantage should know that his medical records were reviewed and approved before he began wrestling against girls.

No matter what, Beggs is going to be hated on by people who are transphobic and who believe that he is cheating by facing girls. That will not end.

In my opinion, people should take that hate and the criticism they have for Beggs and turn it against the state of Texas, which allowed him to face off against girls and whose laws forbid him to compete against boys. Beggs does not deserve to be hated simply because he is following the rules, and it is the rules that force him to compete against the sex he is transitioning away from.

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