THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022
137TH YEAR | ISSUE 18
Reports of sexploitation cases see significant rise on campus HEaTHER HaRRISON NEWS EDITOR
Sexploitation cases are on the rise at Mississippi State University. Sexploitation is when someone on a dating or social media app asks a person to send a nude photo. After receiving the picture, the perpetrator then tells the photo sender to give them money to keep the image private. This is also a form of extortion, which is when someone acquires money by using threats, violence or blackmail. Even if the person sends the exploiter
money to keep the picture private, the exploiter may ask the person to keep sending additional payments, Vice President of Student Affairs Regina Hyatt said. She said the exploiter might not even keep their promise and share the picture with the victims’ family and friends anyway. MSU Police Chief Vance Rice said the police department has seen at least one or more cases a week of extortion. These cases mainly involve Snapchat, but some involve dating apps. He confirmed that the station has seen an
increase in these reports within the last year, especially since the start of 2022. “It’s been happening all along, we’re just seeing it happen more often, and we’re getting more reports now,” Rice said. He said he does not know if sexploitation is truly more prevalent now or if people are now more comfortable making reports than in the past. “If you’re seeing an uptick in something, either one can be true,” Rice said. Dean of Students Thomas Bourgeois noted that sexploitation
on dating apps and social media is not just happening on campus; it is happening everywhere. He said COVID-19 and the pandemic might have played a part in the uptick of sexploitation on MSU’s campus—and worldwide. The dean said college students are more at risk of sexploitation because they are more likely to engage in risky behavior. Criminals are aware of this, so they prey on 18 to 24-yearolds. “Where there’s a market, ugly people fill in,” Bourgeois said. REPORTS, 2
Ivy Rose Ball | The Reflector
Snapchat and dating apps are commonly used for sexploitation, MSU Police Chief Vance Rice says.
Bulldog Way construction is near completion JORDaN BROCK STaff WRITER
Bulldog Way is a new road in progress on Mississippi State University’s campus that connects East Lee Boulevard to Blackjack Road. Construction has been underway for months for this multiple-phase project. Phase one of the project was to create a road from East Lee Boulevard to lead behind the Commuter East parking lots to The Social Campus and Campus Trails apartments. MSU Associate Vice President for Administration Les Potts said an east connector road, like Bulldog Way, has been a part of MSU’s master plans since the 1960s. The concept has been floating around the departments for decades, but due to the previous issues with pedestrian safety, there was a push now more than ever to complete this road.
Courtesy Photo | MSU
Associate VP for Administration Les Potts.
“When you do a road like this, taking traffic out of the core of campus and improving the signalization and making it well lit, it makes it pedestrian, transit and bicycle friendly,” Potts said. Phase two of the project is currently underway. The plan for this phase is to renovate the entrance to The Social Campus and Campus Trails. This entrance is currently under construction, so traffic uses Bulldog Way to enter the apartment complexes. Some residents find this to be an inconvenience. Parker
Hailey Storey| The Reflector
Bulldog Way connects East Lee Boulevard to Blackjack Road, offering easier access to campus for students who live on Blackjack. Phase one of construction is complete, and phase two is underway.
Manley is a senior marketing major who lives at The Social Campus and is new to driving on campus. “Instead of taking Blackjack, I am having to drive on campus constantly when I am not really used to driving
on campus,” Manley said. “Like today, I had to use my GPS to get into town. I’ve never driven on campus; I have walked every single day. It is really difficult for me to have to learn the streets of campus.”
Taylor Conn works for Burns Dirt Construction, the contractor for the Bulldog Way project. Conn says the completion of Blackjack was vital. “When we first got the plans, we were called just to put in a
concrete driveway right there. Well then the other project Bulldog Way started, so until it could be finished, we put in a temporary access drive right there until it could be redone,” Conn said. ROAD, 2
Through Camp Kesem, MSU students ‘Russia is just committing crimes against humanity’ help families affected by cancer MSU faculty, students discuss Ukrainian-Russian conflict LIZZIE TOMLIN STaff WRITER
Camp Kesem outlines its purpose in ensuring that children affected by parents with cancer are never alone. Kesem provides an environment where these children in need can meet others going through the same experiences and counselors who offer comfort and support. Mississippi State University students have a Camp Kesem chapter, and students volunteer at the camp and fundraising events. “Kesem is all about creating a community for children who are experiencing similar hardships," Make Magic Coordinator and
MSU student Sydney Desiderio said. "Our free summer camp allows children of any race, religion and background to let loose and set their worries aside for just a moment.” Camp Kesem is a national, non-profit organization that supports these families in need at no cost to the family. The organization hires college students as counselors to provide a fun, exciting way to tailor experiences specifically for the needs of families impacted by a parent with cancer. Each student volunteer has a unique experience of what Kesem means and has done for them. Desiderio said that once she heard about Kesem, she was im-
PaYTON BROWN STaff WRITER
Courtesy Photo | Camp Kesem
Camp Kesem has over 130 U.S. chapters.
mediately interested in working at the camp due to her background and future career in social work. Madelyn Slaten, founder of the Camp Kesem chapter at MSU, shared how Camp Kesem has impacted her life.
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
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HI: 56 LO: 36 SKY: Cloudy POP: 10
HI: 63 LO: 39 SKY: Sunny POP: 7
HI: 68 LO: 25 SKY: Partly sunny POP: 24
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Feb. 24 marked the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and war between the two nations. News outlets like Al Jazeera and BBC have reported that the U.S., the European Union, Great Britain and others have imposed sanctions against Russia to condemn its actions and negatively impact its economy. Regarding the involvement of the U.S., Brian Shoup, head of Mississippi State University’s political science department, said he does not believe a direct confrontation with Russia will CONFLICT, 2 occur.
FORECAST: The sun will come out tomorrow, Bulldogs! While the start of the week was rainy, gray and cloudy, the end of the week is looking to be mostly sunny. A cold front has moved in, so we see highs in the 50s or 60s and lows in the 20s or 30s. Temperatures will warm up a little next week, but spring break is looking to be chilly in Starkville.
Courtesy of The Weather Channel
Courtesy Photo | U.S. Army
The U.S. recently gave Stinger missiles to the Ukrainian military to fight Russian forces.
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CONFLICT
“What we're doing right now is probably the smart thing and that is isolating Russia and making it pay a deep and severe economic cost for its decision,” Shoup said. Shoup described the purpose of these sanctions as a way to restrict Russia’s access to foreign reserves, remove its ability to transfer money between banks and target the specific people who help support Vladimir Putin. “I think the overall idea right now is to make the people who Putin depends upon deeply, deeply, deeply uncomfortable in order to sew internal problems within Russia,” Shoup said. Shoup explained how the sanctions would impact the U.S. economy due to Russia’s status as a major exporter of petroleum products. “This is going to increase energy costs,” Shoup said. “We already have an issue with inflation in the United States where it's impacting regular citizens in pretty significant ways, so it’s
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very likely the case that this is going to pinch the pocketbooks of a lot of people.” Besides the increase in gas prices, Shoup said Starkville would feel the effects of this crisis through the residents involved in military careers and organizations. “Those young people in our active duty and reserve are already being told that they should probably be prepared,” Shoup said. Shoup said UNICEF and the International Rescue Committee are reliable organizations that Starkville residents can donate to in order to support Ukrainian forces and refugees. Yuliya Gluhova, a senior anthropology major, suggested the humanitarian company Madre as a way to assist and donate to Ukrainian women and LGBTQ+ citizens. “It’s important to know where you're sending your money to, and it's important to recheck sources because some people can take advantage of that,” Gluhova said.
Kate Malaia, an assistant professor in the School of Architecture, said the best way for Starkville residents to support Ukrainians is to press U.S. politicians for an increase in action. “The economic sanctions are great, but the problem is we're not going to last long enough for the economic sanctions to ruin Russia from the inside,” Malaia said. As a Ukrainian native, Malaia described the difficulty her family faced when relocating from Kyiv, Ukraine. “The vacation from Kyiv right now means likely standing on a train for many hours. It could take seven to 10 hours to leave the western Ukrainian city, and you’d be standing for another 10 to 15 hours to cross the Polish border,” Malaia said. Due to the amount of walking and standing involved in evacuation, Malaia said immobile citizens cannot leave. The conflict also restricts travel for
Russians. Gluhova’s friend from Turkmenistan cannot leave Russia and travel to the U.S. for her Ph.D. program because of the conflict. Malaia compared the ongoing invasion and attacks in Ukraine to the 2015 Russian attacks in Syria. “Russia is just committing crimes against humanity. It's starting to look like a genocide,” Malaia said. Malaia said Ukraine required more immediate assistance from other nations. “We have a 20thcentury history of ignoring Hitler and letting him have the Czech Republic, and then within a couple of years, it was everybody's problem,” Malaia said. “This is the exact same situation repeating again, and that's what makes it feel even more tragic that apparently, the world has not learned from its mistakes.” While living in Turkmenistan, Gluhova remembered hearing of the 2014 conflict between Ukraine and
Russia with the emergence of Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republic. “Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic wanted to separate from Ukraine, and there are a lot of Russians living within those republics. I know that Russia gives dual citizenship to a lot of people there,” Gluhova said. Gluhova expressed a distaste in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s control of information on the conflict. “I don't think it's the right thing to do. There should be freedom of information. Right now, it's really hard for Russians to get legitimate news about the situation that is going on,” Gluhova said. According to Gluhova, many Russian citizens are in support of Ukraine. “They are just aware of it, and there are a lot of protests. A lot of Russians are sending money to Ukraine to support them, too,” Gluhova said.
REPORTS Hyatt added to Bourgeois's comment and said college-aged people are familiar with social media since they grew up on it, so they believe social media is harmless. Students will chat with strangers online and send them nude photos because they think the person also lives in Starkville or on campus, Hyatt said. "They just assume the person on the other side (of the screen) is a real person," Hyatt said. Rice said people in other countries and people outside of Mississippi are mainly the perpetrators of the sexploitation cases seen on campus. Since most college students have Snapchat and many
have dating apps, it is easy for random people to add or match with them on social media or dating apps, the police chief said. Because MSU PD believes the suspects are mainly international, the local department cannot find and charge the criminals due to the high costs of the i n v e s t i g a t i o n . Additionally, Rice said it is unlikely federal agents will pick up the cases because they typically only take cases involving a million dollars or more. “If the local police won’t take it, the feds won’t take it, so what’s going to happen? Nothing,” Rice said. However, students should still report to
police if they are victims of sexploitation. If the perpetrator lives in the U.S., they can be charged for the crime. MSU PD is working to combat the issue through education and awareness, Rice said. “I encourage people to report any time they’re a crime victim— no matter what the crime is,” Rice said. “If we don’t know about it, we can’t do anything about it.” Unfortunately, in the cases Rice has seen, he said it is “extremely unlikely” that a victim is able to get their money back. He said the cases generally involve less than $1,000 lost, but $1,000 can be a hefty price to pay as a college
student. Ultimately, Rice said he believes Snapchat algorithms should be changed to automatically block a user when they threaten someone or demand them for money or nude photos. Rice said reporting extortion cases could pressure Snapchat to become a safer app. Hyatt offered tips to those who have sent a nude photo or video and are being asked to send money. First, do not send the person money because money will not keep the photos private. Second, screenshot the conversation for evidence and block the person on the app. Lastly, report the crime to local police.
The Office of Survivor Support, the Student Counseling Center and MSU PD also offer on-campus resources for victims. Rice gave his top tip for online safety. “Never send a photo on social media that you wouldn’t want your mother to see,” Rice said. Bourgeois agreed with Rice; however, B o u r g e o i s acknowledged that college students often engage in risky behavior, so he said to think about the consequences and consider all negative options. The dean said students should meet strangers from online in a group setting in public, instead of a
Courtesy Photo | Yuliya Gluhova
Yuliya Gluhova, senior anthropology major.
private place. Additionally, having “awkward” dating conversations with friends is another way to stay safe while dating online. Hyatt agreed and said that while sexual safety conversations may be uncomfortable, being nonjudgemental and supportive of sexploitation victims is important. “It doesn’t do anyone any good to say, ‘Well, you shouldn’t have sent them pictures.’ At that point in time, that is not helpful,” Hyatt said. To report an extortion case, contact the MSU Police Department at 662325-2121 or Starkville Police Department at 662-323-4134. CONTINUED FROM 1
give to the community and the students. Potts said the university has only spent about half a million dollars of its own money towards the project. Another new addition to the Bulldog Way and East Lee connection is a stoplight in place of a four-way stop. Potts said the stoplight intends to make traffic flow easier for pedestrians and vehicles during congested times. The university conducted traffic studies at this intersection, and they
found a stoplight would be the most efficient. Bulldog Way also offers other exits to Commuter East parking lots. Roads surrounding the T.K. Martin building on campus became congested, so providing more than just one exit to these parking lots will help decongest Hardy Road, Potts said. The construction has also included new sidewalks and new paths for residents of the apartment complexes to walk to and from campus safely. Lastly, phase three
of the project is a plan to decongest traffic coming in from Blackjack Road onto Hardy Road. In recent months, vehicle and pedestrian conflicts have been a push to clear up the traffic on Hardy Road. “I think this has really played into our sense of urgency. OK, let’s get this done, even though the road was already in progress. But the safety aspect, I think, really doubled the effort,” Potts said. Construction is set to continue into the summer and is on track to finish in the fall.
Adam Sullivan | The Reflector
The entrances to The Social Campus and Campus Trails are blocked off for construction.
KESEM “I started my journey with Camp Kesem as a camper after my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer,” Slaten said. “My mom found the camp through Vanderbilt, and I spent four years (there), and I loved it. It had the world's biggest impact on me, and it made me who I am today.” Slaten grew up going to Camp Kesem, so when she came to MSU and realized there was not a chapter on campus, she founded the current active chapter. She has now served as the director, called “Peaches,” at Kesem for three years. Much like Slaten, Sam Stewart expressed only
Courtesy Photo | MSU
Kate Malaia, MSU School of Architecture.
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ROAD
According to Potts, this project has been a complex one. This is not an Oktibbeha County project but an MSU one. The funding for the construction was given to MSU through the TIGER Grant, which gave the university $10 million. The National Department of Transportation awards the TIGER grant. This grant has specific qualifications to receive it. Some of the qualifications consider the size of the community, what the project will yield and what benefits it would
Courtesy Photo | MSU
Brian Shoup, political science dept. head.
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positive feelings about the camp. Stewart, a sophomore educational psychology major, began his work with Kesem to get involved on campus. He served as the online counselor, “Paprika,” and has traveled with the camp staff. Stewart now serves as a Make Magic Coordinator and helps plan fundraising events. “People talk about a home away from home, and that’s what Kesem is to me,” Stewart said. “It is such a loving environment that every time I go to a meeting, we mess around with each other. At the end of the day, those are the people who have my back.”
Though Kesem serves as a support system for the children, it has also brought many opportunities to the students involved. Sam said he has traveled to Chicago with other camp staff, and he plans fundraising events, like a Met Gala set to take place this April. This event is intended to raise $7,000 to help support the organization. Slaten said Camp Kesem at MSU is actively searching for more student volunteers interested in joining the non-profit organization. There are openings for volunteers who can help with fundraising events, parking monitors, servers and table
Courtesy Photo | Camp Kesem
Since its founding, Camp Kesem has served over 8,000 children, and over 5,000 students have volunteered for the organization nationwide.
hosts. Kesem is also looking for male volunteers willing to work as counselors at this year's summer camp.
Stewart explained that students can receive service hours and learn more about Kesem by participating in these events.
For more information, direct message the Camp Kesem Instagram account @campkesem.msstate or email mississippistate@kesem.org.
THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022 | @REFLECTORONLINE
BULLETIN BOARD
An In-Class Distraction
SUDOKU
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MSU Organization of the Week: TrebullDawgs March 3 Puzzle Solutions
1. What is TrebullDawgs? —The TrebullDawgs are the only a cappella group on Mississippi State University’s campus. They are made up of 12-16 students.
2. Where do the TrebullDawgs perform? —The TrebullDawgs perform throughout the school year for MSU and the greater Starkville community.
Monday, February 28, 2022
Friday, March 4, 2022
An officer assisted the Starkville Police Department with a student who reported she was sexually assaulted at a party.
A student reported he was assaulted on Feb. 26 at the SAE fraternity house by another student.
Tuesday, March 1, 2022
Saturday, March 5, 2022
An Aramark employee reported graffiti on the walls at the Perry Cafeteria.
A student reported her male guest had a weapon in Ruby Hall. The subject was escorted out of the building.
A student was extorted for money from a person he met on social media.
Stay in the know! Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @reflectoronline
A student reported finding a bullet in his room at Ruby Hall.
Thursday, March 3, 2022
Sunday, March 6, 2022
A non-resident of the city/county was arrested for improper equipment, no driver’s license and possession of marijuana.
A student was arrested in Oktibbeha County for disregard of traffic device and possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle.
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OPINION
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Mississippi State University does not provide proper support for the evolving mental health crisis
HANNAH KENNEDY is a sophomore majoring in English. Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu
With the surge in the mental health crisis among college students across the United States, questions regarding universities' policies have been called into question. Many wonder if these colleges are providing an ample amount of support or services for students in need of assistance with their mental health conditions. With this, the question arises: Is Mississippi State University doing enough to help its students who struggle with mental health issues? Unfortunately, as of now, MSU is failing those who need support in this area. According to the World Health Organization, there has been a 13% increase in
the amount of mental health conditions, along with substance abuse disorders, in just the last decade. This is quite a significant growth in the population which needs assistance with their disorders. A rapid rise of failing mental health requires an increase in the number of professionals who are specialized to treat those with these conditions. Because of this need, the amount of trained professionals necessary has not caught up with the amount of people who require treatment for their mental health struggles, and MSU is no exception. Currently, the university has a campus resource referred to as Student Counseling Services (SCS). According to Student Counseling Services, their goal is to help facilitate the social, psychological and academic functions of students in order to assist MSU and its
academic mission. The website for SCS is where students can make an appointment which takes place via video conferencing or face-toface.
Dontae Ball
Hours available for appointments are located on the website as well. The service is only available on weekdays, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., which are typically the busiest parts of a student's day. Not to mention, Student Counseling Services does not even have its own building reserved for students to see professionals. SCS is located in Hathorn Hall, which is also utilized as a residence hall for students. So, if a student was to make an appointment, they would have to enter into a building which others use as a place to reside in order to see a professional. The problem is not just that, though. SCS has been so busy they cannot accommodate the influx of students who need appointments. Student Counseling Services
does their best to provide students with the best possible treatment in a timely manner; however, they cannot provide an ample amount of help if students must wait nearly two months to even get an appointment. It is a disservice to students if their only mental health resource on campus is unavailable to use for long periods of time. Beyond the overworked members of Student Counseling Services, the university has no preemptive policies in place for suicide prevention or mental health support besides a few days where mental health struggles are highlighted. According to MSU's Department of Health Promotion and Wellness (HPW), there is a backpack display, body positivity week and finals study break which are supposed to promote mental wellness. All are minute in impact, though. Students crave practical solutions for the mental health issues currently plaguing the adolescent population. Sure, the ini-
tiatives taken by HPW inspire good spirits, but students need tangible options which will allow them to improve their mental health while maintaining good academic standing. Even if the university cannot offer students what they need regarding support for mental health conditions, organizations on campus are inspiring change for the future of MSU. The Student Association Senate has recently passed a bill that would allow students and faculty to have one day away from class, per semester, free of penalty. This bill has been passed to promote the mental wellness of students and staff and is absolutely a first step in implementing practical solutions to this crisis. Even though MSU has not yet reviewed this policy, hopes for change are high among the student body. MSU could do so much more for their students who struggle with mental health conditions, and imminent change is necessary for the wellbeing of college students.
Humanities degrees and STEM degrees deserve equal respect
PAYTON BROWN is a junior majoring in philosophy and French. Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu
A declining number of students are participating in liberal arts programs and are instead choosing to take the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) route for their future endeavors. As of 2020, U.S. News reports 20% of Mississippi State University students majored in business and 17% chose a sector of engineering, while only 8% studied humanities, like social sciences and communication. The effects of these numbers result in a decrease in funding for humanities and a lack of necessities for teachers and students participating in these fields. Educational institutions neglect to pro-
mote the humanities when choosing to incorporate large amounts of funding into STEM fields. This leaves faculty in humanities departments without the funding for necessary tools as essential as dry-erase markers. It forces them to take a percent out of their own paycheck, so they are able to have the resources needed to teach their students. This semester, my philosophy professor complained about the decrease in department funding after having to ask students for a spare dry-erase marker; this is just one example of departments at MSU who are not being properly funded. Students can generalize the value an institution places on a major when comparing the quality of academic buildings, amount of faculty in a department and number of classes available to take in a subject. If the university does not supply resources equally among departments, then it is clear there is a higher value amongst some over others. Students have the liberty
to choose the major they feel best represents their aspirations, but the reputations of majors can also affect an individual's decision. The reputation of STEM subjects as superior, respectable and profitable draw students towards majoring in these fields. These assumptions put the liberal arts on the back burner as secondary options and make it seem as though a career in humanities is unattainable. George Calhoun of Forbes.com explains how the technological advancement of our society has increased the value of STEM degrees. This influences the pathways of students who are focused on maintaining success and generating a profit off the major they choose. Liberal arts majors offer a broad range of beneficial skills needed to succeed in the job market after college. The New York Times's Patricia Cohen takes note of the research done by the American Association of Colleges & Universities who claim that employers are focused on the analytic, communicative and prob-
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Landon Scheel | The Reflector
An adviser hands their advisee a physical CAPP compliance document. CAPP compliances allow students to track their class completion progress.
lem-solving skills typically obtained by humanities degrees, rather than an applicant's individual major. STEM majors focus on specific skills needed to perform a certain task, while humanities offer skills that could be applied in a vast number of different fields. A humanities degree refrains from attaching a student to their chosen academic
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major and teaches different aspects of thought. Freedom is accessible with a humanities degree while a STEM degree can prove itself to be binding to the chosen field of study. A humanities degree is an option for those who find themselves considering multiple opportunities after undergraduate school and can even branch out in grad-
uate school beyond their undergraduate studies. A humanities degree should be equally respected compared to a STEM degree because it provides a proper understanding of relevant career skills and includes the space to go beyond the degree one earned in college. Interests should guide a student instead of societal value of a subject.
Tu n e i n e v e r y w e e k fo r a n e w re v i e w fo r w h a t i s t re n d i n g o n yo u r s e r v i c e s.
Editor-in-Chief | Hannah Blankenship
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STREAMING NOW: “17 YEAR LOCUST” I had the pleasure of attending the Magnolia Independent Film Festival for its Friday showing of films and announced the start of the family films showing Saturday morning. The festival was welldoneanddidalovelyjobshowcasing local filmmaker's work, international films and even animators. Of the films I watched Friday evening, the short film "17 Year Locust," directed by Louisiana native Logan LeBlanc, was very compelling. The film follows the life of Haitian immigrant René, played by Stevenson Jean, who moved to
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Louisiana to forge a better life for his wife and their unborn child. René's life in the United States is not one of luxury, and it portrays the realities of assimilation among immigrants. René has adopted new ideals of the American Dream and hangs an American flag in the place of his home country's. He tries to hide his cultural roots in favor of cultural acceptance but is quickly reminded he cannot escape his identity when he receives a phone call about an old woman in hospice named Odile, portrayed by Becca Begnaud. Odile refuses to speak to
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the editor can be sent to the Meyer Student Media Center or mailed to The Reflector, PO Box 5407, Mississippi State, MS. They can also be emailed to editor@reflector.msstate.edu and have a maximum wordcount of 350 words. Letters must include name and telephone number for verification purposes. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.
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MAGNOLIA FILM FESTIVAL
anyone in any language other than French. Since René is from Haiti and Creole French is their main language, he is recruited by a co-worker to be her aide. Throughout the rest of the film, it explores the realities of cultural assimilation not only by U.S. immigrants, but also by Louisianians over the course of their rich history. I thought the film looked professionally made and was enjoyable. The symbolism of locusts and the two main characters were nice touches, and the film brings a certain calmness with its use of
EDITORIAL POLICY The Reflector is the official student newspaper of Mississippi State University. Content is determined solely by the student editorial staff. The contents of The Reflector have not been approved by Mississippi State University.
sound and cinematography. We feel as viewers as though we are right at Odile's bedside with René when she unfolds her story to him. There was only one part I think had an error in editing where it shows René putting up the Haitian flag, but right before that action it had a wide shot of that flag already back on the wall with René sitting on the bed contemplating the decision to do that. This could have been my mistake in recollection, but I noticed that while watching. Overall, this is an excellent film about a topical issue portrayed in a neat way.
CORRECTIONS The Reflector staff strives to maintain the integrity of this paper through accurate and honest reporting. If we publish an error, we will correct it. To report an error, email editor@reflector.msstate.edu or call 325-7905.
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LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT
5 Courtesy Photo | Elevate Mixology
Elevate Mixology offers bartending and mixology services to venues and parties that have obtained a liquor license. The business was recently opened by Rosa Dalomba, owner of The Pop Porium, a gourmet popcorn store.
Alcohol sales take on a different form in Starkville
Lydia PaLMer
Staff writer
In Starkville, Mississippi, there is a large market for alcohol. Nearly every restaurant n the town has a liquor license and alcoholic beverages on the menu. On top of this, there seems to be a liquor store around every corner. One may think that the colege town has enough alcohol related business to keep the public satisfied, but the addition of two new businesses begs to differ: Elevate Mixology, owned and operated by Rosa Dalomba, and Booze Cruise, co-owned and operated in Starkville by Jordon Stong. Elevate Mixology is not the only business in Starkville that Dalomba has created. She is also the owner of The Pop Porium, a gourmet popcorn shop downtown. It is with the knowledge gained from starting The Pop Porium that Dalomba ventured out to start Elevate Mixology. This new business of hers is a traveling special events staffng agency at venues that have obtained liquor licenses. Daomba says that after develop-
ing one business, she has figured out that owning a business works through a formula and learning that formula makes it easier to step out into new business ventures. "We specialize in providing high quality staff for events," Dalomba said. "We mainly specialize in mixology and bartending, but we also provide staffing such as servers, hospitality greeters and really anything that an organization or family is putting together, an event of any kind." Dalomba said they primarily work with sporting events and other professional events. They are open to working at private events, as long as the venue already has a liquor license. Dalomba said her staff provides the service, not the alcohol. Dalomba is looking forward to seeing the potential of her new business unveiled as the business takes off. She has started Elevate Mixology recently and just last week celebrated five years of The Pop Porium. The established business owner spoke passionately about giving people in her life an opportunity to make
money in a convenient way to pay off student loans. In all of her work, Dalomba shares that she is always looking for a way to give back through who she hires and where she invests. "They are looking for a way to make income, but they already have a nine to five," Dalomba said. "With Elevate, I will hire people who are already in their professions with high quality job training. They are able to take a few days off of work and make a very nice chunk of change off of bartending for a weekend." Similarly, another way for college students to make money with flexible hours in the realm of alcohol is through the app Booze Cruise, an alcohol delivery service in Starkville, Oxford and Hattiesburg. Jordan Stong, Anthony Depreo and Colton Miller launched this business in 2021, with Stong being the Starkville representative. Stong said he wanted to stay in Starkville because there is a market here for the business, but also because he is fond of the city. Similar to food delivery
apps, Booze Cruise operates via an app and has drivers who will deliver alcohol so that the buyer does not have to leave home to go out to a liquor store. This business has the tagline, "You drink, We drive." They deliver from multiple different stores in Starkville and, through this, act as a way for buyers to try out new stores and support local businesses. Vance Rice, Mississippi State University's chief of police, shared his thoughts on both of these businesses in an interview with The Reflector. In reference to Elevate Mixology and mixologist staffing agencies in Starkville, Rice shared that this business is likely to have success due to the desire of clients to have some of the liability of selling liquor fall off of them and onto the staffing agency. Although he was not aware of Booze Cruise, he shared a couple of pros and cons of the business. With consideration to the fact that there is potential for misuse of the application and business to get these products into the wrong hands, it could also be an effective way to keep people off
Courtesy Photo | Elevate Mixology
Rosa Dalomba (center) owns Elevate Mixology, a new bartending business.
of the streets while drinking. "Sometimes people run out and go to the store to get more," Rice said. "Most of the time, these people have already had more than enough to drink and probably shouldn't be driving."
Starkville is a unique city, a relatively small one with a large college campus tied into it. This unlocks many job opportunities such as these two unique businesses housed within Starkville's business dynamic.
New Easy Street Brunch food truck rolls into Starkville
Bronwen Maddox
Staff writer
Easy Street Brunch Co. celebrated their grand opening in Starkville on Friday, Feb. 25. They have been working toward this point for almost six years. Once they had renovated the food truck, affectionately named Fiona, they were able to open up and get to work. Despite the cold, they had a good crowd show up to support the small business, and they deemed the day a success. During their first week of business, they could be found on Hospital Road, Main Street across from Regions Bank and in the Cotton District. They also traveled to Kosciusko for a food truck festival. There are three coowners in this business. The chefs are Doug Marcinkowska and Corey Patton. Patton's wife, Madalyn Patton, is the photographer and social media coordinator. Marcinkowska hails from Olive Branch, MS, and has been working in kitchens since he was 14 years old. His resume boasts the top restaurants in Starkville such as Restaurant Tyler, Bin 612, City Bagel Cafe and Commodore Bob's Yacht Club. Corey Patton, originally from Colorado, also worked at many of the best establishments in Starkville. He was head chef at Nine Twenty-nine Coffee Bar, the recently closed Veranda and at Commodore Bob's with Marcinkowska. Madalyn Patton leads a busy life. Besides
Santosh Kumar T K | The Reflector
L to R: Corey Patton, Madalyn Patton and Doug Marcinkowska, co-owners of Easy Street.
working in the food truck, she also takes care of their two kids and owns her own photography company, Radmad Photography. She uses this skill to take pictures of the food and customers, which are used on the Instagram account. Due to COVID-19, they saw an opportunity in the food industry. They took the chance to make the restaurant a reality. "When Covid hit, we just see a trend shifting from the sitting restaurants to more street fare. I think that was kind of the driving factor for us," Corey Patton said. "Yeah, I just feel like, you know, we have plenty of taco trucks and taco restaurants. You know, you got your fine dining, your Restaurant Tyler, Taste. I
guess it just seemed like something Starkville was missing, you know? Street-side breakfast, pick it up going to work or school, and it just felt right," Corey Patton said. "We're definitely going to be cycling through menus. For one, it's going to take a while to figure out what works and what doesn't, but we do want to keep it fresh and exciting for everyone, you know, wondering what's new coming up," Marcinkowska said. "We're going to be doing specials all the time once we get used to the flow of things. We'll do a little something different every day." The chefs recommend the steak and eggs burrito and the Brunch Burger, which comes
Santosh Kumar T K | The Reflector
Easy Street Brunch is a food truck that serves a menu primarily composed of brunch food. The truck held a grand opening last month.
topped with bacon jam, Captain Crunch cereal and a fried egg. Marcinkowska says that even though it sounds weird, all the flavors work together. Other items currently on the menu include Street Cakes, a Benedict Sandwich, a Brunch Bowl (bacon or sausage, hash, an egg, and cheddar cheese) and another original, the Traditional Twisted Burger. Andrew Atkinson, a
grad student studying computer science, went to brunch at the food truck. "I got the Twisted Traditional Burger. It's a burger with a bunch of different kinds of greens on it and different vegetables. I've never tried it before, but the menu looks good, so I'll probably come back to try the other stuff," Atkinson said. The food truck is open Tuesday through
Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. for breakfast and Tuesday through Sunday 11 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. for brunch. They park at various locations throughout the week. The exact schedule can be found on their Instagram page, @easystreetbrunchco. They recommend that everyone stop by to give them a try and check out their Instagram for locations and specials.
THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022 | @SPORTSREFLECTOR
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SPORTS
Can the Bulldogs still make it to the big dance? The answer is “yes”, but it won’t be an easy road. They’ll have to win the SEC Tournament. DaviD SMith Staff writer
This season has not gone as most Mississippi State University basketball fans had hoped, but best said by sophomore forward Andersson Garcia, “the season is not over yet.” The postseason begins in Tampa, Florida, for all fourteen SEC teams this week. Is there a way for the men’s squad to make it into the big dance, then? The answer is yes, but head coach Ben Howland knows what has to be done to make that a reality. “I think we’re going to have to win the conference
tournament to get in. There’s no doubt at this point,” Howland said. With this knowledge, the Bulldogs will have to win four games in four days throughout the tournament. MSU finished 10th in the conference standings, earning them the No. 10 seed, which secures them a first round bye. In their second round matchup, the Bulldogs will face off against No. 7 seed South Carolina. The two teams faced off twice this season, with each winning a game on their home court. The game will air on Thursday at 5 p.m. Central Time on SEC Network. Awaiting the winner of
this matchup is the No. 2 seed Tennessee Volunteers. MSU hosted Tennessee on Feb. 9, where the Bulldogs lost by nine. However, MSU led by one with five minutes remaining in the contest before Tennessee closed the game on an 11-2 run. Howland’s team has proven they can hang with the Volunteers’ stingy defense. This one will air at 6 p.m. Central Time on Friday, via the SEC Network. If MSU is able to get past South Carolina and Tennessee, they will find themselves in the semifinals. If the highest seeds win in each of the other games, this means
No. 3 seed Kentucky is up next. The Bulldogs traveled to Rupp Arena on Jan. 25, where they fell just short in an overtime thriller. MSU was without veteran forward Tolu Smith in this contest, who could have changed the outcome of this game. Last would come the SEC championship game against No. 1 seed Auburn, assuming they make it. The Bulldogs hosted Auburn last Wednesday, where MSU suffered another heartbreaking loss in overtime. MSU led with one minute remaining in regulation, but were unable to hold the lead. MSU has proven time and time again they can
compete with the best teams in the nation. They simply have not been able to make the big plays when they matter the most, or hold on to a lead late in a contest. “It comes down to us. We've got to learn how to close out close games,”
Tolu Smith said following the Auburn defeat. If the Bulldogs can fix these issues, they can absolutely win the SEC Tournament, and clinch a spot in the NCAA Tournament. If not, the season will be over very soon.
Softball continues to light up scoreboards Dylan flippo
contributing writer
This past weekend the Bulldogs looked to continue their success during the Bulldog Invitational, and Mia Davidson looked to continue to shatter records. The Mississippi State University Bulldogs started the Bulldog Invitational off Friday evening against Furman University. The starting pitcher for the Bulldogs was Annie Willis, and she went right to work getting two strikeouts in the first inning. Willis would finish the game with six total strikeouts. Mia Davidson continued her
early domination of the young season in the game. In the bottom half of the first inning, she hit her 10th home run of the year. The Bulldog offense continued to be successful at the plate as well, as they scored six runs in the bottom of the second inning. In the top of the fourth, Furman made it on the board with a solo home run. However, after a Chloe Malau’ulu two run home run, the Bulldog lead was extended to 10-1, where it came to rest after five innings of play. The second game of the Bulldog Invitational saw the Bulldogs taking on Alcorn State. On the rubber for the Bulldogs in game two was junior Kenley Hawk. Shattering records has
become a norm for Mia Davidson, and game two was no different. With a two run RBI double, Davidson broke the school career RBI record with 194 career RBI’s. After a huge bottom half of the second inning, the Bulldogs led Alcorn State 7-0. Kenley Hawk and the MSU defense played lights out and allowed no runs through four innings. Grace Fagan came in to close the game out for the Bulldogs. Fagan ended the game with 4 strikeouts, and MSU won game two by a score of 10-2 in five innings. The first game for the Bulldogs Saturday was against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. This ballgame went down to the
wire, as the Bulldogs and Gamecocks would be tied at 2 in the bottom of the seventh inning. However, infielder Paige Cook delivered a solo home run to walk the ball game off for the Bulldogs 3-2. MSU then played Furman once more to cap off Saturday. The Bulldogs' defense made some outstanding plays. However, a late game MSU rally at the plate wasn’t enough, and the Bulldogs fell to Furman 3-1. The last day of the Bulldog Invitational featured the Bulldogs facing Alcorn State for the second time over the weekend. Staying hot was an understatement for the Bulldog offense, as they scored 14 runsandroutedAlcornState14-1 in the last game of the tournament.
After the game, Mia Davidson spoke on the defensive side of the ball for the Bulldogs. “It helps you build momentumthroughouttherestof the game when you have a good play,” Davidson said. “You always want to cheer the team on. Say a pitcher is going through something, you just help them out and go from there”. MSU out-scored their opponents 38-9 over the weekend. When asked about the offensive success, head coach Samantha Ricketts attributed it to the game plan. “I think just having a good plan and being disciplined,” Ricketts said, “Not trying to do too much really. When we can kind of pass the bat up and down the
Courtesy Photo | MSU Athletics
Paige Cook and Brylie St. Clair embrace.
lineup, and you’re not just depending on a Mia home run or whatever it might be. I think that’s when we are most relaxed and do what we do well." The Bulldogs ended the weekend 4-1 and will play the University of North Alabama Wednesday in Starkville at 6 p.m. That game will be broadcast on SEC Network Plus.
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