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WEDNESDAY MARCH 3, 2021

136th YEAR ISSUE 17

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

Nightlife during COVID-19: what Starkville bars are doing to protect their businesses

and improvements to the bar to accommodate customers and boost business.

Outside of the bar, what used to be a small patio space for smokers was doubled into a larger seating area, with extra wooden tables and benches. To the right of the bar, Hood added bohemian tapestries for decoration.

Inside the dimly lit bar, customers still pack the bar as usual, with live music centered from the small stage and conversation filling the bar with activity. To avoid COVID-19 spread, tables are separated by large wooden panels, and employees and customers who are not sitting down wear masks at every part of the restaurant. At the bar table, to prevent crowding, the barstools have been removed.

After Executive Order 1535 was issued by Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, many restaurants and bars such as Dave’s Dark Horse Tavern were able to extend their space from 50% capacity to 75% in December of 2020. However, all employees and customers are still required to wear a mask indoors except while drinking or eating, and social distancing of at least six feet is still mandatory.

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KARIE PINNIX STAFF WRITER

On an average weekend in Starkville, residents and MSU students can often be found at one of several bars located throughout the city for good music, signature food and the social ambience.

However, that was not the case in the spring and summer of 2020 after COVID-19 spread among the MSU and Starkville community.

Many bars, such as Dave’s Dark Horse Tavern, closed early to prevent future spread of the virus.

Dave Hood, the owner of Dave’s Dark Horse Tavern, has said via email how he had closed his bar in early March to protect students from contracting COVID-19.

“I was the first to close on 3/15. I was very concerned about the students returning from all over the country because, at the time, there was little known and a lot to fear from the virus,” Hood said.

Because of the severity of the pandemic, Dave’s Dark Horse Tavern was closed for over seven months, resulting in his staff losing income and having to rely on stimulus checks from the government for their unemployment.

Mary Georgia Hamilton | The Reflector

Hobieʼs On Main, a popular bar for MSU students in downtown Starkville, was met with many challenges during COVID-19, including a lack of business and unemployment.

After Hood noticed this, he decided to start a fundraising effort to support his staff on March 20, 2020 called the Tavern Couch Concerts.

As word spread about the fundraiser over social media, more donors

Starkville responds to ice storm’s challenges JOSHUA STEWART STAFF WRITER

The southern region of the U.S. was blanketed in a snow and ice storm during the week of Feb. 14-20, disrupting many facets of everyday life with some states still having issues related to the storm. Starkville was no exception, with the town and its citizens being affected in a variety of ways. Roads were blocked by the weather and in-person lectures at Mississippi State University, already hampered by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, were canceled for days, moving online during that time period.

Utilities were, for the most part, unfazed by the cold and the ice.

Blackouts happened fairly infrequently and not for too long. Terry Kemp, general manager of Starkville Utilities, believes the preparation and support that went into the system was key in this success.

“While that week did create challenges, with ample support from our suppliers and the hard work we’ve done over the past year, our systems performed extremely well,” Kemp said. “We had very little trouble,

with the exception of a few trees falling, but from a capacity standpoint and issues from equipment, we did not experience any during the storm.”

Kemp also said that, while there were outages, they were generally minor and were due to ice laden trees affecting two different circuits in town.

While utilities were less affected by the storm, the hospitals had a slight uptick in injuries. Dr. Todd Smith, an orthopedic surgeon and chief medical officer at OCH Regional Medical Center, said the week of the ice storm was a busy one for his hospital.

“I had the pleasure of being on call from Saturday to Wednesday and from an orthopedic standpoint, I treated two groups of people: the elderly and 18-24 year olds who willingly ventured out into the storm, often for recreational activities.”

Dr. Smith operated on people who needed urgent surgery during the storm.

“Over that time period, I operated on four individuals who needed surgery urgently.

There were probably an additional eight to ten who had musculoskeletal orthopedic injuries who needed treatment but not on an urgent or emergent basis.”

ICE, 2

began to give, with $11,000 raised in one night alone. To Hood’s surprise, a woman from Atlanta who he had never met gave $5,000.

Over the next couple of weeks until the end of the fundraiser, $19,000

was raised, which was all given to his employees.

“I raised the total in like two months before the government finally helped and chipped in the $600 a week for all the people in the service industry,” Hood said. “I

was able to help them make ends meet until the government finally helped.”

During the time that the bar was closed, Hood was able to take advantage of that time and put in new additions

The University Florist celebrates a long tenure of serving MSU

John Griffin | The Reflector

The workshop at the University Florist is fully stocked for any occasion. The shop, run largely by student-workers, has served MSU and the Starkville area for over 80 years.

PRECIOUS COWART CONTRIBUTING WRITER

There are many different gems hidden throughout Mississippi State University’s campus with the University Florist being a prime example.

The floral arrangement shop, located next to the radio station, has served MSU and the Starkville area for the better part of a century and recently celebrated its 85-year anniversary.

The shop specializes in creating unique floral arrangements for a variety

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of events and occasions, such as Valentine’s Day and Greek bid day.

Emily Cartwright, one of the student managers at the shop and Starkville native, grew up knowing the importance of the shop even for those not necessarily from the area.

“The University Florist has been around for a very long time. I grew up in Starkville, so it’s always been a big staple of Mississippi State. On game days and big events on campus, people always come by the florist.”

Cultivating leaders and

FORECAST: The remainder of the week will be sunny with cooler temperatures. Expect clear temperatures with highs in the high 50s or low 60s and lows in the high 30s or low 40s.

Temperatures will reach into the higher 60s throughout the weekend.

Courtesy of National Weather Service

payroll and place orders for things we need,” Cartwright said.

Madison Templeton, a senior horticulture major, learned about the opportunities the florist offers through an advisor and a professor. Although she has not worked with the shop for very long, the experience has been greatly beneficial for her as it has prepared her for her career.

“I found out about an internship here at the University Florist, and I’ve been here ever since.”

enhancing business skills through its operation, the retail shop is run largely by savvy MSU students.

These students have a variety of responsibilities ranging from making floral arrangements to organizing the inventory in the storefront. Cartwright attests to this, discussing the largely student-run nature of the store.

“We make the customized flower arrangements, and we organize the show room floor. Mostly the shop is student-based, except for our superiors who handle

FLORAL, 2

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THE REFLECTOR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3

BAR Many bars in Starkville have complied with these regulations, closing at the correct times and avoiding the sale of alcohol after 11 p.m., a regulation listed in Governor Reeves’ executive order.

Lynn Spruill, the mayor of Starkville, said many bars in the city have been successful in following the ordinances passed, despite the challenge for many bars of crowds of people wanting to come into bars at the same time.

“I think, for the most part, they’re doing their best to comply. Again, it’s a challenge, because you have a lot of people who are exuberant and young and want to get out and be active,” Spruill said. “But the reality is, we are still in a position to comply.”

Tucked away on Main Street in Starkville, Hobie’s On Main, a bar known to cater to college students, has also experienced some setbacks in their operations in the last year from the

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closing of MSU in the middle of what is usually one of the busiest times of the year for the bar.

Hobie Hobart, the owner of Hobie’s On Main, can recall the moments when he knew his bar had to temporarily change its business operations.

During spring break of 2020, while driving back to Starkville from the MSU baseball game in Biloxi, Hobart learned classes were canceled for the rest of the spring semester.

To his disappointment, he also discovered he would lose $22,000 in revenue from canceled sorority date parties and the postponement of the gay pride parade.

“It was guaranteed money coming in. That was rent money for my building. So, you know, it was really tough,” Hobart said.

Hobart states how the bar had to resort to takeout during the spring and summer of 2020. Since

ICE Dr. Smith also spoke on how to avoid those injuries if another ice storm comes to the city.

“You should listen to the announcements that the local leaders, the media and the university leaders push, and often, that is to stay inside and not venture out unless you’re essential to your job function or there is an emergency. Clearly, in this last ice storm, those warnings were not entirely heeded.”

Dr. Smith emphasized the need for being ready for another event like this.

“Preparation is key.

Stocking up on items that you will need to shelter in place, have things that make navigation on slick surfaces easier and a good plan that helps reduce uncertainty.”

Another individual who had a stressful week was Lynn Spruill, mayor of Starkville.

“It was a time period in which we closely monitored the weather to determine what exactly we had to do from one day to the next, based on what

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most of his staff at that time were college students, Hobart found himself cooking the bar’s signature Hobie Dogs, Delta hot tamales and jambalaya.

“Best thing we did was takeout. When the mayor signed the order to go takeout only, we had to work hard. Nobody wants hot dogs to go, like us,” Hobart said. “You know, our food is limited to what we do ... that’s basically what kept me open, is just me only up here working.”

According to Hobart, with less strict COVID-19 restrictions this spring and more students coming in earlier to take advantage of the bar’s hours, business has picked up from last year.

“Spring’s always better for me. Fall semester, students study a little harder, they stay in class a little bit more. The colder it is, the better it is for me in the Cotton District ...

I get all that movement.

They come out here and hang out on the balcony.

So, it’s always a good time,” Hobart said.

As the pandemic begins to die down with vaccinations, Hobart hopes more Starkville residents can appreciate small businesses as much as other bigger, more established businesses in the city.

“I hope when it gets back to normal, the people in Starkville, even the locals here will go back to us. Small businesses, we’ve suffered a lot, you know.

We’ve been hit hard,” Hobart said.

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we were getting from the National Weather Service as well as our Emergency Management Services,” Spruill said Municipal government was not immune to the weather, however.

According to Spruill, any nonessential services were shut down.

“We were pretty much shut down,” Spruill said.

“Of course, our emergency services were running, so our police and fire were out doing what they needed to do. Aside from that, basic administration was shut down. When we had outages, our electric and utilities departments were out servicing them and repairing water leaks.

Other than that, we were pretty much closed down.

Only essential services were out during that week.”

Spruill spoke as well on the freak nature of the ice storm itself.

“The reality is that this was a fluke in several ways, that we had plunging temperatures to the extent that we did, because our climate change trend is to

be warmer and wetter and moving towards a tropical type of climate,” Spruill said. “When I was growing up in Mississippi in the 50s and 60s, we had snow but not as much ice, and that snow would last for a few weeks. That has changed dramatically. I think we’re preparing for this weather in certainly different ways than people up north; we’re preparing for it in a responsible way as things continue to change.”

Spruill also recommended people become better prepared for inclement weather.

“That’s a personal responsibility matter.

There are some things the government does for you, and some it does not. And going to Kroger is not going to be one of them.

From the government’s perspective, how we prepare is to closely monitor weather as it is coming up, just like we prepare for vestiges of a hurricane on the coast or tornadic weather that comes our way, and we rely on our government connections.”

FLORAL “It hasn’t been that long, but the skills that I’m learning here have a lot to do with my career field,” Templeton said.

Although the store specializes in floral arrangements, there is a variety of other items at the store to appease anyone.

One unique line of items the store supplies is McCarty’s Pottery, a Mississippimade pottery brand.

As the only authorized distributor of McCarty’s Pottery in Starkville, the Florist receives orders from all over.

“McCarty’s Pottery is a really big deal in Mississippi,” Cartwright said.

Templeton agreed with her coworker, saying that aside from arrangements, McCarty is a huge source of business for the shop.

“A big part of our

BAD DAWGS Thursday, February 18, 2021

Thursday, February 25, 2021

Property damage was reported at Bulldog Circle.

Student transported to OCH from College View Apartments for medical assistance.

Saturday, February 20, 2021 Possession of one ounce or less of marijuana was reported and exceptionally cleared.

Tuesday, February 23, 2021 Student transported to OCH from Intramural Field for medical assistance.

Wednesday, February 24, 2021 Employee reported her office in Pace Seed Lab was broken into.

Employee transported to OCH from Nunnelee Hall for medical assistance.

Non-resident/visitor transported to OCH from Wise Center for medical assistance.

Student reported being robbed in C1 parking lot.

Employee reported his identity had been stolen to obtain unemployment money.

Employee reported missing property at Tate County Extension Services.

Student reported her vehicle was damaged in D16 parking lot.

Friday, Feburary 26, 2021 Employee reported a fraudulent unemployment claim filed in her name.

Saturday, February 27, 2021 Student reported a water leak in Hand Chemical Lab. Sunday, February 28, 2021 A Discovery credit card was found in the Junction.

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retail is the pottery. Many of our customers come in and shop for it. It is something that sets us apart from others. Besides flowers, a ton of people call and ask about our pottery,” Templeton said.

It is no surprise many students have no idea what is beyond the window of the Florist.

Many students just look through and never venture inside, but those who have entered do not regret it. Cartwright said many visitors come in out of pure curiosity.

“Some people do come inside, and we ask, ‘Can I help you?’ And they often say, ‘I’ve just never seen this before,’ so they come in and explore or just look around,” Cartwright said.

Templeton echoed this sentiment, speaking on the amount of people who have never visited

the quaint little shop.

“I feel like there are a lot of people who’ve never been in here. It’s kind of like a hole-inthe-wall kind of place,” Templeton said.

One such student is Distand Standifer, a senior educational psychology student, who has walked past the windows of the shop repeatedly but looks forward to visiting the store.

“I never knew there was a flower shop here,” Standifer said. “One day, I’ll have to go inside.”

Located at the center of MSU’s campus, The University Florist is open Monday through Friday.

If you have not explored the retail shop, the student workers extend an open invitation for you to come check out one of Starkville’s hidden gems.

John Griffin | The Reflector

A student worker at the University Florist prepares a floral arrangement. The students handle a large amount of the responsibilities.

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THE REFLECTOR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021 @REFLECTORONLINE

BULLETIN BOARD

To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

PuzzleJunction.com

SUDOKU

An In-Class Distraction

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1 Tex-Mex treat 2 Graphics machine 3 Conductor and composer Leonard 4 Model material 5 Borders 6 Goya’s “Duchess of ___”

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Look of lust Bad feeling Originated Make over Chemical suffix Listening device Interstate sign Retina depressions City between Boston and Salem Modern (Prefix) ___ Quentin Chocolate substitute Prayer’s end Gambian cash Mordant Attacker

36 Invitation letters 37 Sparkler 38 Pay dirt 39 Guided missile payload 42 Collarless jacket 44 Puzzle type 45 Duel participant 47 Small lizard 48 Feel the same 49 Rundown 51 Like sour grapes 52 Maple genus 54 Merino mother 55 Cousin of calypso 56 High degree

Parker’s Pitch:weekly weekly music review Parker’s Pitch: music review CopyrightBy©2021 PuzzleJunction.com throughout the mix.

Parker Dorsey This week’s album review is on “For Those That Wish to Exist” by Architects. The ninth studio album from the British metalcore act is sure to be a divisive one.

“For Those That Wish to Exist” sees Architects reinvent their abrasive style into something much more accessible, replete with elements from EDM, industrial and orchestral strewn

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Copyright ©2021 PuzzleJunction.com

With 15 songs and a whopping 58-minute runtime, this record is an extended dark examination of climate change and the role humankind has played in it, with inspiration coming from the 2020 Australian wildfires. It is a bold record, but despite all its strengths, it somewhat feels like a step back from 2019’s emotionally-heavy “Holy Hell.”

Sudoku We areSolution hiring!

Interested in an editorial position?

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9 7 3 2 1 5 4 8 6 2 4 5 8 6 7 1 9 3 6 1 8 3 4 9 2 7 5 EVENTS ON CAMPUS 3 5 1 6 Entrepreneurship 7 8 9 Dawg 4 Talk 2 @MSU_SA March 4 49 2 5 Instagram 3 15:00Live8p.m.

6 7 7 8 6 4 9 2 5 3 1 MSU Softball vs. Ball State Park 1 2 Nusz 4 7 8 3 6 March 5 9 5 3:00 p.m.

5 6 7 9 2 4 3 1 8 MSU Baseball vs. Tennessee Tech Noble March 8 53 9 1 5 Dudy64:00 7p.m.Field 2 4

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A Seat at the Table McCool Hall, Taylor Auditorium 10:00 a.m- 2 p.m.

March 7

A Walk-Through Mississippi Showcase Lee Hall, Bettersworth Auditorium 7:00 p.m.

Housing Fair Drill Field 10:00 a.m.- 1 p.m.

March 15

March 6

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MSU Startup Summit Colvard Student Union, Dawg House March 15-19

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OPINION

Tattoos should not be taboo in the workplace EMMA DOTSON

is a junior majoring in communication.

Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate. edu.

An artist posts a picture of a hyper-realistic portrait of a woman encased by a floral frame they just completed. Most people would agree this to be a work of art, but when I mention this portrait is not displayed in an art gallery but as a tattoo on someone’s skin, your opinion probably changes whether or not you like that art. Why is that?

The art of tattooing has been around since circa 2000 B.C. based on the discovery of female mummies which had tattoos in a dotted pattern near the abdomen, tops of thighs and breasts, according to Cate Lineberry for Smithsonian Magazine.

Egyptian belief was these tattoos would protect women during difficult pregnancies and appeared

on some priestesses.

Over time, tattooing evolved, showing symbols of status such as in Maori culture. The Maori people refer to this act of tattooing as “ta moko,” according to Aaron Smale of New Zealand National Geographic. Smale writes the primary purpose of “moko” was to indicate warrior status and was a rite of passage for male and female Maoris.

Tattoos have also been used in Western culture, becoming popularized by naval explorers and units.

It first became introduced to Captain James Cook after witnessing it from the Maori and transforming it into a practice sailors used to memorialize their

journeys, according to Veterans of Foreign Wars magazine. It then moved across the ocean to the U.S. as a form of identification for sailors to help avoid illegal recruiting tactics of the British navy and later on more as a camaraderie building technique.

However, it was not until the 1970s when it became widespread for everyday men and women to have tattoos in American society.

Olivia B. Waxman of Time magazine writes how “musicians like the Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin helped make tattoos even cooler,” which along with a cultural movement made formerly taboo subjects of interest now acceptable.

In current times, many

get tattoos for the same reasons those in the past did, such as to commemorate a person or experience, to display a symbol of societal belonging, to honor their heritage or often the same reason the rock stars of the 1970s did — because it looks cool. Tattooing has come a long way, just as people’s attitudes toward them have.

In the early 1900s, a deep fascination with tattoos developed, but this was in the case of traveling circuses, not in a professional or workplace setting. Usually, men could get away with having tattoos, considering most whitecollar jobs required the dress code of a suit. Still, women would be frowned upon and seen as less desirable candidates for a job because of viewable body art. This is not surprising, considering the 1930s through 1960s were years of extremely conservative attitudes toward anything which did not seem “natural.”

However, these attitudes have shifted over the years to become more accepting of the public display of tattoos in the workplace. This is because

of the recent movement which encourages personal expression through outfits, hairstyles and accessories.

Not to mention younger generations such as millennials, according to the Pew Research Center, “are more ethnically and racially diverse than older adults.”

In an article by Harvard Business Review, Alison Beard writes that Michael T. French of the University of Miami conducted a survey in which he found “23% of men and 37% of women had tattoos. Some estimates suggest that there is a tattooed person in 40% of U.S. households, up from 21% in 1999.”

With the workplace diversifying and allowing for more expression, there is no wonder why things are no longer in the same place as they were 20 to 30 years ago. Employers are being forced to be more accepting because if they do not change, they will miss out on great candidates as a result of outdated policies which have nothing on which to ground their prejudice. Their new policies accept appropriate visible tattoos on their employees,

excluding the neck and face.

While tattoos have no relevance to one’s intelligence of capabilities, it is understandable for them not to hire someone based on a visible, offensive tattoo which may display nudity, crude language or hateful imagery. Aside from these exceptions, there is no reason body art should play into a candidate’s likelihood of securing a job position.

In her article, Forbes Council Member Joanna Shevelenko mentions how business practices have, in recent years, shifted from Wall Street standard professionalism with suits, ties and strict agendas to Silicon Valley’s redefined notions of professionalism which focus more on ideas, innovation, collaboration and intelligence rather than one’s outer appearance.

Professionalism is not about what you look like; it is what you do which matters.

So, the next time you are trying to decide whether someone’s appearance is professional or not, keep in mind that professionalism is found in how one carries themselves, not how they present themselves.

Trivia Time!

1. To celebrate its 30th birthday in 2010, Google placed a playable

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version of what arcade game on its homepage?

George Orwell

2. How many letters are in the Greek alphabet?

3. In the movie “Bambi,” what type of animal is Bambi’s friend Flower?

4. On what continent would you not find bees?

“If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”

Source: trivia.fyi

Answer: 1. Pac-Man 2. 24 3. Skunk 4. Antarctica

Censorship in book reviews should cease to exist KATELYN WYATT

is a senior majoring in English. Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.

We all have opinions, and we use the internet to prove it. While leaving a rude comment on someone’s post is a good reason to receive backlash, what if you faced backlash for an honest review of a service, company or product? Censorship for reviews should not exist, but some people attempt to enforce unjust censorship.

This has been a recent phenomenon in the bookish community, which consists of readers, writers and publishers on the internet. The recent topic is whether or not authors should interact with reviews of their books, especially negative reviews. It has sparked controversies in the book-ish community, which is, ever so often, a traditionally supportive community. This online community exists on and is connected through every social media site but is primarily on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Goodreads.

In the past few months, the book review side of Twitter has been getting spicy, and the drama has bled into BookTube. It started when authors

attacked reviewer and BookTuber Gavin Hetherington for negative reviews and his video “The Worst and Disappointing Books of 2020,” which is a video trend every year.

Children’s authors came at him from every angle.

Hetherington reviews a variety of books; however, he has a niche for reviewing children and middle grade books. Some of his attackers were authors he admired and supported while others were complete strangers, so he responded by removing their books from his shelves. It is important to note he did not tag any of the authors in his post or video, and authors whose books were not mentioned made this controversy their business.

Many have deleted their tweets they were so bold to post when the drama started; however, Jess Owens, a book reviewer, has found receipts and documents the events on her YouTube channel. One example from these authors which is still searchable is from author Sharon Bairden who tweeted, “I just think it would feel hurtful to be included in such a list, like imagine being on a list of the most disappointing bloggers of the year? So it’s not the reviews that I think are the issue. It’s just the list.” In the same thread, Hetherington responded by tweeting, “If someone did a list of most disappointing bloggers, that would be criticising the bloggers. A list of disappointing books

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is criticising the books, NOT the authors. There are millions of lists like this for books, TV, movies, games, etc. Don’t censor reviewers.”

A list of disappointing books is one person’s opinion despite the awards these writers have received. Hetherington also responded to another thread on Twitter saying, “Bad writing, bad characters, bad plot etc. are all valid criticisms. I never called the authors names or directed hate at them as people.

What is not respectful is authors invading reviewers spaces, or arguing with them about their right to review honestly.”

These authors should not have gone after

Hetherington. No one should be attacked for their opinion, and all reviews should be honest.

Furthermore, authors should avoid reading reviews on their books, especially when they are not tagged. Reviewers should not tag authors in negative reviews anyway because it is rude.

However, it is not rude to post an honest review of a book for other readers. The book review realm is for readers not authors. I personally have experience with authors commenting on my book reviews, whether or not I tagged them. However, each time was a positive review, so I did not get dragged through the dirt. It

may be tempting to search hashtags and doom-scroll through posts about your works, but along with invading reviewer territory, that is not a healthy hobby.

If authors believe negative reviews are hurtful, imagine having a swarm of authors invading the reviewers’ spaces for the attack. It is not a fair match.

To note, Hetherington is not the only reviewer to be attacked recently.

According to Herb Weisbaum with NBC News, “Congress has reaffirmed your right to post truthful negative reviews about a product or service provider — even if you signed an agreement that bans you from doing so.”

Of course, this right

applies to the U.S., but even Goodreads supports freedom of reviewing honestly. Goodreads states in their terms of use that reviewers can say anything, positive or negative, about a book; however, they also say their users should not use negative language toward an author. Finally, Goodreads’ terms refer directly to authors and state, “Don’t engage with people who negatively rate or review your books.” This policy should be the general rule to prevent authors from engaging in messy behavior. If you want more people to read your books, do not attack reviewers. If you do not want negative reviews, then do not look for them.

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LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT 5 THE REFLECTOR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021 @REFLECTORONLINE

From the White House to MSU’s campus: lecturer Karly Lyons takes teaching students personally

EMMA DOTSON

STAFF WRITER

At the end of a long workday in March of 2016, Mississippi State University lecturer Karly Lyons opened her inbox to glance over her nonwork-related emails. The words, “The President and Mrs. Obama” caught her eye, and upon opening the message, she read her presence was requested at the White House.

At first, Lyons wrote off the email as a scam.

Several correspondences ater, she was contacted by phone call inquiring why she had not accepted the president’s invitation.

The invitation was authentic after all, and after searching, “what to wear to the White House,” Lyons attended the 2016 Teacher of the Year ceremony as a guest for the Ohio Department of Education.

Lyons was working as a special education teacher at the time, and this experience helped give her the confidence to apply for the Ph.D. program she is currently n at MSU. Lyons taught kindergarten through 12th grade for 15 years n Cambridge, Ohio.

However, she sensed a different calling for herself — to be a college professor.

She is the highest educated member of her family as a first-generation college graduate but said receiving her doctorate would allow her to achieve her dreams of teaching at a collegiate level.

Lyons currently has a

teaching assistantship here at MSU where she teaches geoscience courses. She said her favorite course to teach is Survey of Earth Science.

“If I could teach this class every single day for the rest of my life, I would be a happy camper.

I love it,” Lyons said.

Lyons’ immense passion for what she does along with her love of people shape every part of her life, especially her teaching style.

Tricia LePage, one of Lyons’ best friends and former co-worker in Ohio, said Lyons has a unique relationship with students and places a high importance on them attending class.

“She called me when she first went back this year, and she was like kind of down,” LePage said. “I was like, ‘What is wrong?’ and she said, ‘Well, only like 79 kids of my 130 showed up for class today.’”

LePage explained Lyons takes it personally when her students do not show up. She does not want them to be there because they are just getting their participation points; Lyons wants them to enjoy being there.

However, Lyons’ heart for others extends far beyond the four walls of her classroom. She has fostered kids, boarded exchange students, coached volleyball teams, had a dog sitting business, has helped with political campaigns and volunteers.

As a special education teacher, Lyons has learned that experiences and surroundings are crucial

to each individual’s personal development.

She believes with strong support systems, people will tend to do the right thing.

“I think everybody has good in them, and I think you can find good in anybody,” Lyons said. “I think it is just circumstances, and people’s environments play a big role in some of the decisions that they make. But I do not know if I believe that there are really bad, evil people.”

Renee Clary, Lyons’ advisor and a fellow geoscience professor at MSU, said she has seen Lyons thrive in the classroom both as a student and an instructor.

“She walks into every class wanting to make sure that the lesson is fun and that it is engaging,” Clary said.

Clary also said Lyons is everything professors want to inspire students to be. Lyons’ love for learning shows in her teaching and in every facet of her life.

Lyons said she hopes getting her doctorate will be worth all the hardships and being away from her husband. She wants to finish because she wants her husband to know how appreciative she is of him and his support.

“When I finish, I am going to say ‘when,’ because I am going to finish. I love my husband, and our wedding day was beautiful. But I think the best day of my life will be the day that I get hooded on stage,” Lyons said.

“And I want to wear the fancy hat.”

Landon Scheel| The Reflector

MSU lecturer Karly Lyons is passionate about learning and connecting, both in her role as a Ph.D. student and a geoscience teacher.

MSU faculty members share the “why” behind their COVID-19 vaccinations

HEATHER HARRISON

STAFF WRITER

As COVID-19 vaccinations become more readily available to the public, reasons to receive the vaccine become more prevalent.

Mississippi State University’s Instagram page features several faculty members and the student body president in posts that briefly explain the person’s reason to get the vaccine.

Laura Dunn, interim director of student success, said she plans to receive the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available to educators.

Dunn listed many reasons why she wants to get the vaccine, with her top reason being her respect for her community.

“For me, I care about people. I think that’s the biggest thing. I care about my family, my neighbors, my community, my students ...” Dunn said.

“We’re ready to get back to normal, but normal is not going to happen until more people get that vaccine. I want to be a part of that.”

Dunn said she has seen the pandemic’s effects on her students, coworkers, family, friends and its toll on many individuals’ mental and physical health.

She said she wants that burden to be relieved.

More than anything, Dunn said she wants people to understand getting the COVID-19 vaccine is to help protect people in your community.

Receiving the vaccine, she explained, shows the responsibility people

Mississippi State University| Courtesy Photo

Mississippi State University assistant clinical professor Whit Waide participated in MSU’s “Here’s My Why” campaign, sharing his reasons for getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

play in society. She said part of college students’ responsibilities should include getting the vaccine to be part of the solution.

“It’s to protect other people, not just yourself,” Dunn said.

MSU Provost David Shaw had a unique experience with the COVID-19 vaccination.

Shaw tested positive for COVID-19 after receiving his first dose of the vaccine. This means he must wait 90 days to receive his second dose.

When asked if it made him wary of the vaccine’s effectiveness, he said no because he knew the first dose did not guarantee immunity from the virus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is 95% effective for preventing COVID-19 after the individual receives two doses. The vaccine is only about 50% effective after the first dose, which Shaw understood when he was diagnosed with COVID-19.

Nevertheless, Shaw said he will be receiving his second dose of the vaccine as soon as possible, and he has many reasons why he feels safe receiving it.

First, Shaw stated he is looking forward to normalcy. Like many people, he wants life to go back to its pre-COVID-19

ways, without social distancing and maskwearing.

“I would very much, just like all the college students, want to go into the fall semester with a normal semester. I think the only way we can do that is not only the older people but also college students getting the vaccine,” Shaw said.

Another reason Shaw felt comfortable receiving his vaccine is that he said he trusts the science behind it. As an avid reader of science, Shaw said he sees the research and technology it took to develop the COVID-19 vaccine, and he believes the vaccine is effective

and safe for the general population.

Like Shaw and Dunn, Elva Kaye Lance, MSU director of bands, said she is an advocate for the vaccine because she also wants life to return to normal.

Lance has family that lives in California, and she would like to visit them once it is safe to do so. She said she misses spending time with her family, friends and band students without worrying about spreading the coronavirus.

The Famous Maroon Band has over 400 members, and Lance said the band has not been able to practice or

meet all together since the pandemic began.

According to Lance, the band considers itself to be a family, but it is hard to have a family atmosphere with the restrictions in place.

She explained the challenges her students endure to navigate playing their instruments while social distancing, including using bell covers on instruments and wearing performance masks.

Getting the vaccine is the next step in returning to regular band activities, Lance noted.

“It’s the right thing to do to help us move ahead,” Lance said.

Developing the vaccine was quick, and Lance said she is grateful for that because of the struggles society has faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She has received her first dose of the vaccine and expects to get the second dose soon.

Lance noted there is a responsibility to one another as humans and getting the vaccine is part of that responsibility.

“I think there are things that we have to do as citizens that have an impact on the greater good, and I think the vaccine is one of those,” Lance said.

As the number of those eligible for vaccinations increases, the communal focus which characterizes the Bulldog family is becoming more evident, with faculty members and students expressing eagerness to do their part in putting an end to COVID-19.

66-Sports SPORTS

THE REFLECTOR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021 @SPORTSREFLECTOR

Bulldogs execute historic win over the Gamecocks JARED CONERLY STAFF WRITER

Deivon Smith caught the ball at the top of the key, and with under five seconds left in the half he drove toward the paint, bringing two defenders with him. Glancing to his left and seeing sophomore guard D.J. Stewart Jr. wide open from three, freshman guard Smith leapt into the air and threaded the ball right into the open hands of Stewart.

Cocking his arms back into his shot pocket and releasing the ball, Stewart hit nothing but net from deep as the horn sounded, emphatically putting the Bulldogs up 3823 at the half.

The 1000 fans in attendance jumped out of their seats and cheered as the first half came to an end off a terrific play.

“Shout out to Deivon for finding me,” Stewart shared after the game. “If it wasn’t for him making that pass, then I wouldn’t have gotten the shot.”

That was just one of the many exhilarating plays Mississippi State University executed last Wednesday when they faced the University of South Carolina, coming away with a dominant win over the Gamecocks 69-48.

This Bulldog win improved their overall record to 13-11 and 7-8 in conference play. MSU has beaten South Carolina for the second time this year, ending this year’s match ups with a sweep, something the Bulldogs have not done against South Carolina since 2018. Historically, MSU has won 25 out of the 41 matchups against South Carolina, owning the Gamecocks’ 16 wins.

Head Coach Ben Howland reflected on that feat and said his team played with a lot of effort which helped propel them into the victory column.

“It (sweeping South Carolina for the first time since 2018) was huge,” Howland proudly commented. “I was really worried about this game because I have such respect for Frank (Martin), his program and all he’s accomplished. He’s such a

great competitor. Our guys came out and really built on what we did Saturday in Oxford. We really took a positive step by putting back-to-back great efforts together. That was the key, the effort and the execution defensively and offensively.”

Execution is what MSU did extremely well during the matchup. United by effort and a ferocious desire to win, the Bulldogs swatted six of South Carolina’s shot attempts, racked up eight steals, kept the ball moving with 16 assists and dominated the glass by grabbing an astounding 49 rebounds. Coach Howland said he thought his team played phenomenally, especially on the defensive end.

“I give D.J. and our team defense a lot of credit. I thought our defense was fantastic again. I love the rebounding,” Howland said about one of his key players. “I thought Tolu (Smith) with 13 rebounds and Abdul (Ado) with eight really anchored it. Tolu (Smith) was great tonight on the defensive glass. He had a career high in defensive rebounds. I thought Deivon (Smith) did a great job moving the ball, sharing the ball, and he knocked down a couple of big threes. I thought Derek (Fountain) was really good, especially early in the game. He hit a big three early, and he did a lot of good things for us.

That was a really good team win.”

There were many good things MSU did on the floor

against South Carolina, but they did not play a perfect game. As a team MSU had 21 turnovers, compared to the Gamecocks’ 11.

The Bulldogs played exceptionally well on defense, especially in the paint, but they still struggled to be a real defensive threat on the perimeter.

South Carolina shot an abysmal 19% from three off 21 attempts, and not all of those misses can be attributed to MSU’s defense.

Many of those shots were uncontested but just did not fall. South Carolina Head Coach Frank Martin recognized his team missing the mark from deep, and he said it is imperative his team makes shots.

“You just have to make shots. Listen, it’s not rocket science. Basketball is not really rocket science,” Martin said. “When you shoot 29% from the field on the road in the SEC, you are not winning. When you shoot 29% and you get outrebounded by 25 points, you are not winning. We got to open shots. You can make them all but you have to make some. Right now, we never make any. If we are not going to make open shots, it’s going to be hard as heck to win.”

MSU hosted the University of Alabama on Saturday, where the Bulldogs were taken down by the Crimson Tide 6459. Coming up next for the Bulldogs is a trip to BryanCollege Station, Texas, to play against Texas A&M University on March 3.

MSU Athletics|Courtesy Photo

D.J. Stewart Jr. goes up for a shot during the game between MSU and South Carolina.

Diamond Dawgs roll over Green Wave TANNER MARLAR STAFF WRITER

This past weekend, Feb. 26-28, Mississippi State University took on Tulane University in an insanely competitive weekend series on the diamond. It would be a roller coaster of a weekend filled with home runs, strikeouts and even walkoffs, and the cardiac kids of baseball, the MSU Diamond Dawgs, would shine through it all.

In the first game of the weekend on Friday, junior pitcher Christian MacLeod would draw the start and have a productive first two innings, striking out three and only walking one. The Bulldogs would then score one run in the bottom of the second. In the third inning, however, poor fielding would result in an even poorer day for MacLeod at the plate. After striking out the first two batters, MacLeod would hit the third, allowing him to take first.

After an error by second baseman and infielder graduate student Scotty Dubrule, the runner would advance to second. A tworun home run from Tulane then put the Green Wave up 2-1, and the day was downhill from there for MSU. In the sixth inning, an explosion of Tulane’s unearned runs would set the score at 5-1, Tulane’s lead. In the top of the ninth, the Green Wave would add some insurance runs and set the score at 7-2. In the second half of that frame, MSU would score one run on an error before a fly out would end the game.

On the second day, it

appeared to be the same story for the Bulldogs, with starter and junior pitcher Eric Cerantola showing some control issues early on, allowing Tulane to get up early 1-0 in the first inning. Senior outfielder Tanner Allen would then take the lead for MSU with a homer of the two-run variety, making the score 2-1, Bulldogs’ lead.

The control issues would continue for Cerantola, however, because after walking several batters, Tulane would pump out a two RBI single to set the score at 3-2. Tulane would go on to add to their lead in the sixth inning with an RBI double that would set the score at 4-2, with the lead belonging to the Green Wave. Kamren James, a sophomore infielder, would help MSU claw back into the game, however, with a solo shot to center field in the second half of the frame.

In the top of the eighth inning, Tulane would hit a solo home run that many thought to be a dagger for the Bulldogs. The cardiac kids of Dudy Noble, however, would have other plans.

In the bottom of the ninth, after Garth Brooks had serenaded all 2,473 Bulldog fans in attendance with his tales of all of his “Friends in Low Places,” a single from senior outfielder Rowdey Jordan would breathe some life into the Diamond Dawgs. A sophomore catcher, Logan Tanner’s single would follow, and that placed runners at the corners with no outs.

After an intentional walk of Tanner Allen, the bases were loaded, and junior catcher Luke Hancock would send a

walk-off grand slam straight to the Sanderson Center Parking lot. The Dude erupted, and the sun set on the second day of action in the opening weekend.

When asked about his performance after the game, Luke Hancock gave an emotional answer.

“That was the best moment of my life,” the Houston, Mississippi, native shared.

Even more magic would take place on Day 3, however, with Tulane leading again all the way up until the bottom of the sixth inning, where Luke Hancock and Kamren James would secure a 3-2 lead with an RBI double and a two-run homer. Tulane catcher Luis Alvies, who had a hot bat all weekend, would send a two-run shot deep over the centerfield wall in the top of the ninth, however, setting the score at 4-3, Green Wave’s lead. Team leader Tanner Allen would not be denied; as with runners on second and third, two outs and a full count; the veteran right fielder would hit a single through the middle to walk off the series clinching win, 5-4.

Tanner Allen has had plenty of memories with his team, from trips to Omaha, to other walk off wins, but when asked about his at bat and where it ranks to him, he had high things to say about the win.

“This one is probably at the top,” Allen said.

MSU will take on the University of Southern Mississippi on March 2nd before coming back to the Dude to face Tennessee Tech University in another weekend series on March 5-7.

Despite adversity, MSU softball competes in The Snowman TANNER MARLAR STAFF WRITER

This past weekend marked another year of “The Snowman: Alex Wilcox Memorial” softball tournament, and the top25-ranked Bulldogs came into the tournament as determined as ever.

On the first day of action, the Bulldogs split a pair of games between Stephen F. Austin State University and Southern Illinois University.

Against Stephen F. Austin, it would be a short burst of offense that would seal the

deal for Mississippi State University, with graduate student outfielder Christian Quinn starting the offense off with an RBI double off the leg of the Jacks’ pitcher.

In the second inning SFA would rally back in the fourth to tie, but fellow graduate student and team veteran Fa Leilua would send a solo shot over left field in the sixth inning to get the Dawgs back rolling.

Sophomore utility player Paige Cook and the aforementioned Quinn would follow up Leilua’s effort with a pair of RBI

singles to push the score to 4-1, MSU, before the end of the inning. The Jacks would attempt a rally in the seventh, giving senior pitcher Annie Willis the win from the rubber, per MSU stats.

In the second game, an early Southern Illinois rally would be the Achilles heel of the Bulldogs, as they would score in each of the first three innings and put SIU up 4-0. In the fifth frame, however, the Bulldogs would rally back behind three deep balls from junior outfielder Chloe Malau’ulu, senior infielder Montana

Davidson and junior catcher Jackie McKenna.

After the MSU salvo, the score sat at 5-4, MSU’s lead. Some clutch two-out play by SIU in the top of the seventh, however, would see the score tied, and extra innings would be in order after MSU could not find an answer in the bottom of the frame.

International tie breaker rules would place a runner on second, and SIU would capitalize in the eighth off of a throwing error and bring in an RBI that would prove to be the game winner.

The next day of games, however, would reveal a much more determined Bulldog softball team than the first. Sophomore pitcher Aspen Wesley would receive her first start of the year for the Bulldogs and would not disappoint in the first game of the day against Missouri State University, totaling eight strikeouts in five innings pitched.

Senior outfielder Carter Spexarth would start the scoring off in the third frame for MSU with an RBI double, and junior outfielder Anna Kate Seagers would follow her with a base clearing, two RBI double, setting the score at 3-0 MSU before the end of the inning.

Wesley would face some adversity throughout the next two frames, however, loading the bases in the fourth and putting another runner in scoring position in the fifth. The starter would work her way out of these

MSU Athletics|Courtesy Photo

Montana Davidson swings for the Bulldogs during The Snowman tournament last week.

jams in convincing fashion, however, with an infield fly and a strikeout to end each inning respectively.

In the bottom of the fifth, MSU would tack on two more runs behind a pair of RBI singles from sophomore utility player Phoebe Florian and the new look short stop and senior infielder and center Mia Davidson and push the score to 5-0, Bulldogs’ lead.

Senior pitcher Emily Williams would toe the rubber for MSU in the sixth and carry the shutout through the final inning, making the final of the first game of the second day 5-0 and ensuring the Bulldog softball team was back in full swing.

That “full swing” status was on full display in the next game, as Davidson would send a solo moonshot over the centerfield wall of the two run variety, breaking out of her recent hitting slump in dramatic fashion.

The deep ball would put MSU up 2-0 before a Cook groundout would end

the inning.

Mississippi Valley State University would come back in the second to score their only run of the game, but the MSU Bulldogs would go on to have an explosive third frame, scoring eight unanswered runs to force the run rule victory after the fourth inning.

After the game, sophomore Aspen Wesley gave her perspective on the preparation for her first start of the season.

“I just had to tell myself that I had been working up to this point …,” Wesley shared. “I just have to believe in myself and know that my teammates had my back.”

When asked about her team’s intensity early in the games, Head Coach Samantha Ricketts would also say this .

“I thought the dugout was awesome,” Head Coch Samantha Ricketts said.

“They were locked in. They were focused. They were loud and having fun, and that’s when we play our best.”